A Review - The Best Cordless Drill in the Market Today

Consumers now rely on the latest innovations and breaking technology in cordless drills. Compare prices and public ratings before buying one. The best units are continuously repeatedly manufactured, promoted endlessly and garner high sales in the market.

The Makita 6935FDWDEX, DEWALT DC759KA Cordless Drill, Bosch 13618, Porter-Cable 9977 and Panasonic EY6432GQKW are some of the best and most popular models in the market today.

Makita 6935FDWDEX 14.4V Cordless Impact Driver
Makita 6935FDWDEX is the best impact driver with a free 6337 MForce Drill and a ML143 cordless torch, making it very power efficient.

Features:
o 1/4" Impact Driver (0 - 3200 IPM)
o True variable speed for a smooth increase in speed and control
o Two-piece D-28R motor with dual ball bearings
o External brush feature for longer tool life
o Ergonomic rubberized pistol grip (6 3/8)
o Built-in high output LED to increase visibility
o Phosphorescent rubber bumper to help locate tool in low light areas
o Free flashlight

DEWALT DC759KA Cordless Drill
Dewalt DC759KA is one of the most powerful drills that have been completely revamped with an 18-volt motor. This provides a dual speed that weighs only 5 pounds.

It comes with two batteries and a case.

Bosch 13618-2G Brute Tough Hammer drill
Bosch 13618-2G has a blue paint scheme that is very appealing to customers. Machines are more streamlined and contoured. It is the best selling cordless drills of Bosch. Bosch has been providing great designs and excellence throughout the years. Here are some of its features:
o Reinforced collar steel
o 18-volt bluecore batteries
o Durashield construction
o Includes a magnetic bit holder, double ended bit, side handle and 30-minute charger.
o It maintains alignment between gearbox, motor and the clutch with its unibody power train.
Porter-Cable 9977 Ni-Cad 1/2-Inch Cordless Hammer Drill/Driver Kit

The Porter-Cable Cordless Hammer Drill offers up to 420-inch pounds of torque. This is for a 14.4-volt and 2-amp hour batteries. Batteries can be changed easily and chargers charged quickly.

Porter-Cable 9977 is a good alternative, especially if one does not need a 19.2-volt tools. Big grips for men, and small grips for a women are included in the set.

Other features:
o Two-speed gear box (0-450 and 0-1400 RPM)
o Interchangeable Grip-to-Fit insert handle
o 20 positions clutch
o 1/2-inch keyless ratcheting chuck
o 1-year warranty with a 30-day performance certificate

The box includes: a drill, a charger, two batteries, user's manual and a storage case.
Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Panasonic EY6432GQKW is actually rated as the best buy in leading consumer magazines. It's innovative, high-quality and reasonably priced. It is a lightweight, compact and handy. This drill is packed with a 390-inch pound torque, allowing full torque for any speed.with the help of a motor speed control. This tool is a smart-buy for most carpenters, plumbers, woodworkers and electricians.

Other features:
o 3-1/2 amp NiMH delivers a per change runtime.
o battery Amp per hour: 3.5Ah
o Dual speed ranges (0-400/0-1,300 rpm)
o Electronic brake
o Keyless chuck
o A soft-pad grip provides an extra cushion.
o 9-inches long; weight: 4.4 pounds
o The chassis measures 8-1/2 inches.
o Volts: 15.6

The drill includes a universal charger (55 minutes) and a plastic carrying case. Warranty is for 1 year.

The five cordless drills mentioned above are the most popular in the market. They have been receiving a lot of good reviews and positive feedbacks from consumers. Their bestselling features are the ergonomic grips, high speed torque, long battery life and charging time.

Toshiba Satellite M640 Review - For Performance and Entertainment

The Toshiba Satellite M640 is one of the premium laptops by Toshiba. The laptop comes with beautiful a glossy Fusion X2 Finish in Charcoal and its surface finely textured. Weighing 5.4 pounds and measuring 1.12 inch at its thinnest and 1.39 inch at its thickest, the laptop is packed with premium performance and aesthetic features. This laptop has been designed for high performance and multimedia. Some of the key features include multitasking capabilities, great graphics performance and great multimedia power.

The Toshiba Satellite M640 includes the industry leading Intel Core i3-350M Processor with the option to upgrade up to Intel Core i5-520M Processor with Turbo Boost technology so that the laptop can handle the most demanding tasks. The inclusion of Mobile Intel HD Graphics with dynamically allocated shared graphics memory and NVIDIA GeForce™ 310M with NVIDIA Optimus Technology with optional 512MB GDDR3 discrete graphics memory ensures that your 3D gaming is second to none for extend period of time thanks to the energy efficiency of the NVIDIA Optimus technology.

The system memory is configured with 3GB DDR3 expandable up to 8GB and also includes two memory slots. This is enough memory to enable you work with multiple programs faster than on lower memory laptops. It also has storage hard drive of 320GB scalable to 500GB with Hard Drive Impact D sensor which helps safeguard data on the hard drive in the event of a drop or sudden movement.

The first feature that you want on a gaming or high performance laptop is display quality in addition to the general performance. The Toshiba Satellite M640 has a 14 inch diagonal LED backlit widescreen HD TruBrite TFT LCD display with native resolution 1366x768 pixels. The screen aspect ratio is 16:9. When you want to view your favorite videos on a large screen, just connect your laptop to an HDTV, projector or any other external display through the high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port. It is a display that brings your video or game to life. How about those dull old videos? Through the Toshiba Resolution+™ DVD upconversion technology, you can improve the sharpness and color of those videos or photos thus making them look like high definition.

If you have a discount coupon from Toshiba, you will save money when you purchase the Toshiba Satellite M640 and other products. You are encouraged to apply for the coupons which are available online and start saving.

Go Green With NiMH Rechargeable Hybrid Batteries

The new NiMH rechargeable hybrid batteries have taken the market by storm. If your digicam or TV remote still runs on regular batteries, then you're definitely lagging behind in the technological world. These new Nickel-Metal Hydride are hybridone with complete charge.

They can save their charge for several months, which is not possible with the regular NiMH ones. This makes them ideal for low-drain appliances like remote controls and for high-drain gadgets like digital cameras.

It is safe to say that the creation of NiMH rechargeable with low self-discharge marks the commencement of a new era in battery-run devices. Although the battery capacity is not enormous, these rechargeable hybrid batteries have the power to retain their charge for quite a long time, extending to even a year. This quality makes them perfect for small gadgets as well as for backup power.

NiMH Rechargeable Versus Nicd And Li-Ion

NiMH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) cells are similar to Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) cells. The NiMH battery has hydrogen-absorbing alloy for its negative electrode and not cadmium whereas NiCd cells have nickel oxyhydroxide for their positive electrodes.

NiMH one have 2-3 times more power than that of NiCd batteries with the same capacity. When you compare NiMH cells to Li-Ion cells, you will notice that both have similar volumetric energy density, but the self-discharge of NiMH batteries is higher.

What Is This Hybrid Battery?

In 2005, the market saw the launch of a new Nickel-Metal Hydride battery that featured amazingly low self-discharge. This extended the shelf life of the battery. Manufacturers of this battery used a new separator, which made it possible for the battery to save a whopping 70-85 per cent of its capacity even after a year. This happened when the battery was stored at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celsius.

Manufacturers introduced their new product in the market as "hybrid" or "pre-charged" or "ready-to-use" NiMH rechargeable battery packs. The design is similar to the regular NiMH batteries. They can even be charged with a standard NiMH charger. You can get these hybrid batteries from online stores as well as nearby retail stores.

Hybrid batteries are the latest fad, especially in the field of energy. The term has got a lot of attention lately because of endeavors to reduce carbon footprints, use energy efficient appliances and save the earth.

Hybrid means anything that is between traditional and the future technology. Hybrid NiMH rechargeable cells mark one step towards future technology, yet exhibit a hint of conventional battery design. This makes the battery green or environment friendly.

There is no need to worry about the cost, as these NiMH batteries are inexpensive. Besides, the performance and voltage are similar to conventional alkaline batteries of the same size. Alkaline batteries are usually 1.5 volts while NiMH batteries are 1.2 volts. During discharge, the alkaline voltage drops in due course and becomes lower than that of NiMH voltage. NiMH rechargeable hybrid batteries are capable of maintaining their voltage. This is one of the qualities that gives these hybrid cells an edge over the traditional ones.

HP Pavilion Dv6t Select Edition Review - Why This is a Top Range Notebook

Weighing five and a half pounds, the HP Pavilion dv6t Select Edition is one of the most recent notebooks that HP have introduced into the market. A number of features make this notebook a convenient and prudent buy.

For starters, the laptop has a six cell battery as the standard but the purchaser has the option of asking for a nine cell battery. The nine cell battery gives you close to eight hours of run time. This makes it ideal for field workers and people who could be away from a power source for long periods. To make it easier to connect to other gadgets and devices, the HP Pavilion dv6t Select Edition has four USB ports and also has a web camera. Other exciting additions include WiFi and the option of making the laptop Bluetooth compliant.

With this laptop, you also have the option of integrating a DVD writer. Measuring 15.6", the notebook also has a touch screen display option. Its size and weight makes it easy to carry around without being too much of a bother. There are four colors to choose from - the standard HP color is black cherry but customers have the options of champagne, red and white. This choice of colors is a plus for this laptop as many manufacturers hardly offer any variations.

Another outstanding feature of the HP Pavilion dv6t Select Edition is that it comes already loaded with MediaSmart software which enables the user to carry out various web functions including uploads and video editing among others. The PC also has Windows 7 Home Premium.

Data safety is greatly enhanced with this laptop as it has an in-built ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection whose function is to lock the hard drive and protect the data therein should the computer get dropped. Data safety is critical for some people and the safety net provided by the software adds real value to this laptop.

As with most other HP products, the HP Pavilion dv6t Select Edition is also supplied with a one-year limited warranty on hardware. Since HP also offers 24/7 support via live chat and email, obtaining assistance should the notebook break down is easy. In some circumstances, you could benefit from support from HP staff who attend to customers at home through what is known as the in-house service. For this great product, be ready to pay a substantial amount of money.

Schumacher Battery Chargers - Discount Pricing and Review

As with most battery chargers, the Schumacher battery charger is no different when it comes to people having concerns about whether or not the charger will deliver the proper charge to a battery over a long period of uses. Dependability is especially important with these battery chargers as we rely on them to get us out of a jam with our automobiles, boats or other motorized vehicles. Colder weather can be particularly more brutal on batteries and the Schumacher brand stands tall each time to assist us through the difficult times.

A typical car battery charger can take hours to charge your battery while the Schumacher will take considerably less with its patent pending technologies. This charger has a digital reading where you can select which amperage is needed for your battery; 2 amps, 6 amps and 10 amps. You can also select the type of battery that you need charged. This will ensure a better versatility, ease of use and a greater speed of the charge. Schumacher chargers have advanced circuitry and also a microprocessor to achieve the highest quality charge of any other charger.

These features monitor the voltage throughout the charging time to actually change the charging system to improve the charge. The data collected will result in lower charging times and reduce the risk of overcharging which can harm your battery in the long run.

To tell you the truth, I was actually amazed reading the research I did on the unit that I bought. It was the Schumacher SSC-1000A Ship 'N' Shore SpeedCharge Charger. For the price and features, it was perfect for what I needed it to do. Again, I was so amazed by the features this charger had, that it allowed me to relax while my car battery was recharging (my wife left the lights on all night!). Normally I would be running out every 20 minutes checking the needles' positions fearing the battery would explode.

So to conclude, if you are looking for an awesome, very dependable and well-built battery charger, the Schumacher battery charger is definitely the way to go. The only thing that I strongly recommend when deciding on a unit, is to make sure you get the one that will fit your needs even if it costs a few bucks more. This is especially true if you have more than one motorized vehicle that might need charging in the future.

AS with almost everything on the internet, the promise of low prices are everywhere. I have also done some research and have found some of the best discount pricing on the unit I bought and other available models.

Razor E100 Electric Scooter - A Comprehensive Review

The Razor E100 Electric Scooter is manufactured by Razor. This is a company that specializes in electronic toys, inlcuding scooters, for young teens. The Razor product range includes things like the the Pocket Rocket, Dirt Rockey, Pocket Mod as well as the full range of electric scooters including the E100, E200 and E300.

Razor is an award winning company and is regarded as the leading electric scooter maker. One of the interesting things you may not know about Raqzor is that it has its own exhibition team made up of kids from 9 to 20 who perform at exhibitions, competitions and shows all over the the world. It's a great performance and a superb way for Razor to show off its product range.

Tunring now to the Razor E100 Electric Scooter the fist thing to look at is the way in which it works. The electric motor is actually chain driven and this mechanism allows it to run at a high torque.

The throttle is operated by a twist style grip sitting on the handlebar. This is of course similar to the way a real motorbike works,

The E100 can produce a top speed of around 10 mph. This is an important feature because whilst this will feel fast enough to be great fun for children, the electric scooter is not travelling so fast that it could be dangerous to either the kids themeselves or other people in the vicinity. Of course a helmet is still an essential item.

So are there any downsides to the Razor E100 Electric Scooter. There have in the past been complaints about battery life for the E100. However, as I understand it Razor have addressed this and the latest version will run for a good 40 minutes continuously before needing a recharge. This length of time should mean that a child can be out on the scooter for several hours as they will not be riding all the time. It also means of course that there is enough battery to whizz over to their friends' houses and back again.

The recharge takes about 8 hours for a full recharge so it can be done overnight. The E100 also has 2 batteries included as well as all the tools you might need.

So, can the Razor E100 Electric Scooter be recommended. In my view, yes as long as it is aimed at the right age group. I think kids older than about 15 might find it all a bit tame and maybe you would not want anyone younger than about 9 riding one of these. However, for those kids just beginning the move towards their teenage years there is no doubt that its great fun and the E100 will mark their first forray into powered transport.

Apple iPod Touch 16 GB MA627LL-A Review - A New Generation Digital Media Player

The Apple iPod touch (16 GB, MA627LL/A) is the new generation iPod available in the market. It is highly popular and extremely durable. As with all Apple products, the price of this too is quite high. However, here are certain qualities for which you may want to buy the product for.

The iPod has been one that has enough space if you are a music freak. However, for some people even sixteen GB looks small. It's amazing how people keep expecting more and more.

But, this iPod has a sixteen GB memory with a capacity of holding about four thousand songs. The memory of the product is built-in and is neither expandable nor slotted. Also, the iPod touch supports a variety of audio formats.

There is the MP3, the AAC, the WAV, the MP3 VBR, the AIFF and also the Audible. The amazing thing is the MP3 speed. This particular iPod comes with sixteen to thirty two kilo bytes per second speed and has a frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz.

The screen of the Apple iPod touch (16 GB, MA627LL/A) has video playing capacities and the video format supported by this iPod is MPEG4 and H.264. The bit rate is more than twenty five thousand kilo bytes per second and the maximum resolution that the product will offer you is 640x480.

Coming to things displayed on the screen of the player we will think of the most important requirements. What are the things that you need to see on the screen all the time? The battery for sure, the track playing, the playlist and obviously the time left for the current song to end. All of these things are shown very precisely on the screen of the product; and, the size of the screen? Well, it is 3.5 inches, quite large for an iPod.

The Apple iPod touch will come with a USB connector and a jack for your headphones. The charging and transferring of the iPod will both be done through the USB port. The additional features that this iPod will provide you are games, timer, an all around the world clock, address book and an upgradeable firmware.

But, the most important thing is, how much is the battery life? The battery in this product is a rechargeable lithium one and can play till 22 hours max. So, you can practically listen to songs for twenty two whole hours without stopping and without charging your mobile even once. That is exceptional for any iPod and especially since it is Apple.

The other details that you should know of are: Apple iPod touch (16 GB, MA627LL/A) can be found in 8, 16 and thirty two GB also and you can restore all of your photos, music and videos in it.

In fact more than listening to music, it will become your style statement. You can even browse the internet and connect with a Wi-Fi network through your Apple iPod. There is just the lack of call making and receiving. Other than that, this iPod is your ultimate mobile solution.

Procedures in Replacing the Battery of Polar Heart Rate Monitor

Monitors for heart rate are essential tools in the training kit of several endurance athletes. These monitors are mostly produced by Polar Company. Cyclists, runners and other athletes discovered that training through heart rate permits them to avail better utilization of their moments spent in training, and ensure that strong workouts are performed at precise intensity, while simpler workouts are not done in excess.

Heart rate monitors are composed of two important parts: the transmitter which is connected into a chest band worn by athletes that gets the heart beats through incorporated electrodes; and receiver, usually in a form of watch receiving the information and automatically displays the reading into the athlete. These two important parts require batteries in order to operate the monitor. Polar heart rate monitor is not a user-serviceable.

The following are some instructions how to replace batteries of the Polar heart rate monitors:

You have to decide if the batteries have the necessity to be replaced. In the receiver (the wrist part of the item), a sign like shaped similar to a battery appears when the battery on hand has reached the capacity of fifteen percent. There is no sign that the transmitter part of the monitor (the chest band part of the item), however, majority of the common signs of failing battery is very unpredictable and can not be obtained readouts in the receiver which can not be set by means of the position of the breast band or proper humidity of the connection of electrodes in the transmitter.

If the Heart Rate Monitors of Polar are still covered by the warranty, you just make use of your computer and produce the form connected to Additional Resources and obey the specific instructions in order to ship the monitor for service. Servicing is free of charge as long as the monitor is still covered of the warranty. It is excellent to ship the two essential part of the monitor, both the transmitter and receiver and have the two items have the free servicing simultaneously.

It is really advantageous if you buy the Polar models of heart rate monitors because they offer warranty and if your monitor is still covered by the warranty, you can just click your mouse and go to Additional Resources in "Polar, Warranty repair online form", and then follow the guidelines in order to register and ship your receiver and also the transmitter.

Marine Battery Chargers

Nothing is more frustrating (and sometimes dangerous) than a dead battery. Why risk getting caught out in the middle of the water and completely ruining your trip? Marine battery chargers can give you the confidence you need to go anywhere at anytime. Don't wait until it is too late to buy one. Marine battery chargers are very moderately priced, and you only have to use it once for it to be well worth the cost.

Be sure to shop online for battery chargers. They are the type of product that you can find excellent deals online. Just as an example, I went to the world's largest online retailer - Amazon.com - and found these fantastic deals.

The Guest 2611A Charge Pro Series Marine Battery Charger is made for harsh environments whether you are talking extreme moisture, shock, or vibration. It has a 3-stage switching electronic circuit which eliminates reverse polarity, ignition, and short-circuiting. It has double outputs of 5 amps each providing 10 amps total. The DC output has 2 cables with ring terminals that are four feet long.

What I really like about these marine battery chargers is there ability to maintain their power during storage. They don't do a whole lot of good if they aren't ready when you need them, and the maintenance mode on this Guest 2611A ensures it is ready all the time. This charger works for 12v or 24 v systems. It can be easily installed in the battery compartment of your boar or vehicle for easy access.

This Schumacher SE-1-12S charger is not quite as portable, but it can do the job just as well. It is a 1.5 amp charger with a 12 foot power cord which charges 12 volt batteries. It comes in a weatherproof case and plugs into any electrical wall outlet. It is a great charger for boats, automobiles, golf carts, and tractors.

These marine battery chargers are very convenient for keeping batteries in tip top shape without dragging out the normal chargers and cables. It may take several hours to charge a dead battery to full life so this may not be the best choice for resurrecting a battery. But this Schumacher charger is fantastic for maintaining batteries and keeping them running.

I really like this product because it has a battery monitor which allows you to leave it connected to the battery all the time and letting the charger determine when a charge is needed. This charger has been reviewed 32 times on Amazon.com, and 18 of those reviews have been 5 stars.

The final charger we will look at is one of the best portable marine battery chargers I have found. It is the MinnKota MK-105P Portable Battery Charger. MinnKota has been an industry leader for the past 75 years, and they don't make no junk if you know what I mean. This particular charger is made to for 12v batteries. You can't under-charge or over-charge with this product, and it prevents short circuits and reverse polarity. It comes with a 3-year warranty.

Customers who have purchased this MinnKota Portable battery charger rave about how long their batteries last.

Asus Mypal A636N Review

This article is s review of the Asus Mypal A636N. It is a PDA and GPS in one, and runs Windows Pocket mobile. There are other similar products but for the price and features you can't go wrong. These units have been around for a while, and the A639 has recently been released that supersedes the A636 range. The 839 is much more expensive (and DOES have some better features), but the A636N is real value for money.

Anyway, let's get to the features and specs ......

The specs are as follows:

PU Latest 416MHz Intel® XScale(TM) processor

Operating System Latest Microsoft® Windows Mobile(TM) 5.0 ( Pocket PC )

Display 3.5? Brilliant Transflective TFT LCD 65k Full-Colors, 16-bit Display QVGA, 240X320 resolution touch panel

Memory 128MB Flash ROM and 64MB SDRAM

User available storage ROM,75MB for western languages,71MB for eastern languages

GPS SiRF StarIII GPS chip

Embedded 25mm*25mm swivel patch antenna

External antenna jack

Expansion Slot One slot - SD slot(SDIO/SD/MMC)

Audio Integrated microphone and speaker

One 3.5mm earphone jack and MP3 stereo

Communication Bluetooth 2.0

WLAN 802.11b + g

SIR (115.2kbps Max)

USB 1.1 Client GPS navigation

battery 1300 mAh, removable/ rechargeable Li-ion battery

Dimension 122mm x 73.2mm x 18.8mm/19.45mm(L*W*H)

Weight 186g (with battery)

The main differences between the A636N and the A636 is that the A636 only has 11M wireless and Bluetooth 1.1. Also, the A636N allows charging via the USB port on your PC, whereas the lesser A636 does not. Unfortunately they both have a USB 1.1 interface. USB 2.0 was introduced in the A639.

For GPS navigation, I use TomTom software. You can buy the A636N as a package which comes with CoPilot GPS software, but all that I've read made me convinced that TomTom to be betetr. It works well on this unit. Especially as I can turn the display sideways on the A636N for better viewing of maps/routes. From what I was reading around the net, the SiRF StarIII GPS chip (which the A636N has) was a must as it locks onto satellites quicker than other chips and performed better. Haven't had a problem yet. The GPS antenna is on a swivel mount, which folds neatly behind the unit when not in use.

The other important consideration when purchasing a PDA was getting one with a removable battery - which the Asus has got. If the battery fails, then all I have to do is replace it, not send the whole unit away for repair. I'm not sure what the battery life is like as I haven't had it go flat on me yet. This is because when I am in the car using the GPS, the A636N is getting charged at the same time. I did run it for a while not on charge and I noticed the power drain is quite significant.

As far as the PDA side of things go, it perform like any other PDA similarly equipped. Windows pocket mobile is flawless, and connectivity to other devices via bluetooth and wireless is easy. Installing apps is via USB connectivity to a PC running Microsoft Activesync.

Windows pocket mobile performs similarly to a 'real' PC running windows, with Microsoft Word, Excel being standard. There is also a file explorer, control panel, and even Internet Explorer if you connect the PDA to the internet via the bluetooth or wireless function. So if you have used windows before, this won't be too difficult.

The only thing that takes a bit to get used to is the stylus for input but there are various modes for input rang from a pseudo keyboard on the screen (where you tap on the letter you want), to a transcriber mode where you can write as you normally would with a pen. The Asus does quite well to interpret your writing 'style'.

What I was really impressed with is that the A636N came with all the cables/adaptors necessary - including the suction mount (and charger) for the car when using the GPS function. As well a case for the unti was included. The only additional purchase I had to make was a decent sized SD memory card to store all my data. The Asus comes with a 64M card. Memory cards have come down in price a lot over the last couple of years so that extra cost was not too bad on the wallet.

Overall, I think the Asus A636N is a great product for a great price. Packed full of features, I really don't know what else I would prefer in a PDS/GPS combo unit - except USB 2.0. It's certainly a step up from my old LCD Palm Pilot.

Industrial Battery Safety Guide for Yuasa Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries

A Yuasa sealed lead-acid battery is a type of industrial battery that is designed so that during the charging process, oxygen is generated, captured and recombined within the battery. The electrolyte is confined, but the gases escape through a vent or valve if the pressure inside exceeds its threshold.

These types of batteries work well for many industrial and day-to-day purposes, even in cars, boats and power generators. However, you should take the necessary safety precautions while using Yuasa sealed lead-acid batteries. Here are some quick tips for industrial battery safety.

Battery Storage Safety

When storing industrial batteries, be sure the storage area is well ventilated. Also, industrial batteries should not be stored near flames or where sparks can form. For damaged batteries, be sure to label these as "damaged" and store them in containment structures that are acid-resistant.

Tips for Charging Yuasa Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries

When charging industrial batteries, use a charger that is designed for that particular battery. Otherwise, you could permanently damage the battery or cause a fire to occur. The charging area should not be located near where flames, electric arcs or sparks could form. Never over-charge an industrial battery. Always replenish the battery fluid with distilled water.

If in a work environment, be sure there are emergency wash facilities located near the charging and storage areas. Also in both the charging and storage areas, hang signs stating "No Smoking - Flammable."

Storing and Pouring Acid for Yuasa Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries

When storing acid for industrial batteries, keep the acid away from direct sunlight and be sure the storage area stays cool at all times. Always use nonmetallic funnels and containers. Pour the concentrated acid into the water very slowly and carefully; do NOT pour water into the acid. Wear safety gloves, goggles and arm protection while working with acid.

If you get acid in your eyes, flush them immediately with water for at least 15 minutes, and then seek medical attention. If you get acid on your skin, rinse the skin immediately with lots of water. If the acid burns appear to be second degree burns or worse, then seek medical attention. In case of an acid spill, neutralize the spill with baking soda, and then rinse it with clean water.

Servicing Industrial Batteries

Service industrial batteries regularly and inspect them for loose connections, corrosion on connectors or terminals, cracked areas on the battery case or cover, loose clamps, and defective cables. Replace any worn or torn parts. Clean the battery terminal and clamps with a tapered brush and a baking soda solution, but be careful not to touch both terminals simultaneously as this can cause shock. Be sure to follow the Yuasa sealed lead-acid battery manufacturer's guide when replacing or repairing the battery.

Follow these tips to use Yuasa sealed lead-acid batteries safely and effectively. You'll get longer use out of the batteries, and will also protect yourself and others from injury.

Dyson DC31 - Dyson Vacuum Cleaners Review

The biggest problem with the previous models of Dyson Vacuum Cleaners was the poor battery life. That has been greatly improved in two ways. This model of Dyson Vacuum Cleaners has doubled the battery life and it has a better charger. It is so easy to grab and use, we were able to keep corners clean, crumbs out of the grout lines in the furniture, computer keyboards clean, drawers clear of all that little stuff that seems to get in them, particularly the 1m by 1m mess the husband makes during the football games. 30 seconds with this vacuum and the mess is gone. We also use this for a quick vacuum of the couch. Also great for anywhere our in-home can't reach (like the stairs).

In short the house was just cleaner in multiple ways that are normally challenging. We loved the trigger on/off action that made its short battery life tolerable and the dependable strong Dyson power, plus the easily dump able canister is really convenient.

The Dyson DC31 is somewhat smaller in the line of Dyson Vacuum Cleaners, lighter weight and quieter, plus has a dual power setting. The normal power setting is fine for most things; in fact we haven't needed the strong setting at all except to get dog hair out of the crevices of the stair treads.

The DC31 of Dyson Vacuum Cleaners is designed to give 6 to 10 minutes of constant suction which we have found to be the right amount of time to pick up small amounts of dust and debris around the home or in the car.

This 10 minute run time is longer than it seems because the trigger action means the unit is on only when you're squeezing the trigger to actually vacuum something, not when moving to another location or shifting position. That's not only easier on the ears, it also makes the work go more smoothly. You can vacuum an area, then set the unit down (because it sits upright it has a relatively small footprint) and move stuff, clean out the next drawer, sort the papers you gathered, whatever, and then vacuum the next bit without any pressure to get all the vacuuming done in one shot, or perpetually turning the thing on and off.

We've been able to clean out and vacuum the entire car including the 'way back', a process that certainly took longer than 10 minutes, but because the vacuum is not on continually we had no problem, in fact it shows no indication it's near the end of the charge. We can clean out all the kitchen drawers or the entire linen closet or all the nooks and crannies in a room on a charge with no problem.

On a rare occasion when using the Dyson Vacuum Cleaners keeps shutting off, when pressing the ON switch it comes back on again. This indicates that the DC31 battery may require a charge. This simply is what happens to your DC31 since it is designed to never fade in its power but to stop when the battery is close to requiring a re-charge. Your DC31 will cut the power and then can sometimes start up again for a small burst. This is our "no-fade" technology at work. You should be getting 6-10 minutes on a full charge.

The Dyson DC31 doesn't have a bulky charger like the old one. It has a plug-in cord like a laptop and apparently some technology in the wall plug part that somehow knows to shut itself off after 3.5 hours so it's not 'tiring' the fully charged battery. We are expecting this battery to last far longer than the earlier model. This vacuum also has a quicker on/off time and generally seems handier.

The directions are minimal and almost entirely pictures. They are well done and self-explanatory. So far we are delighted with this hand vacuum. It is better than its predecessor. It comes with a normal length crevice tool, in addition to a two-position brush tool. We also purchased the longer flexible crevice tool, but have found it heavy and awkward so we almost never use that accessory. We love this little Dyson hand vacuum cleaner so much more than the other choices available (several of which we have tried in the past) and highly recommend it even given the high price.

SportDog SDF - 100 Electric Dog Fence Review

SportDog makes a lot of equipment for people training bird dogs. They have one dog fence in their lineup, the SportDog SDF-100. It is the longest range dog fence available, doing 100 acres and is strong. The downside is that the collar is not rechargeable, and the whole system is pretty bulky and not at all pretty.

Box Contents

Collar

The SDF-100 is one of the bulkiest dog fence collars. You shouldn't use this on a dog under 20lbs. It also has this bright orange plastic collar, great for visibility but a little garish for most peoples tastes. The collar takes a regular 9V battery, which is good because you don't have to buy an expensive proprietary battery, but isn't as good as a rechargeable battery. To get to the battery you have to undo these four screw which is a bit of a pain. But the upside is that it has great waterproofing. It has a nice set of seals to make this really waterproof. The collar correction level is set at the collar, so you can set a different level for each dog. You unscrew this cover with a coin and then you press this little button. There are a total of five correction levels. Levels 2-5 are progressive so they keep increasing in strength if your dog stays in the correction zone. The probes on the collar can be switched out for either these long probes or these standard size probes.

Where this collar stands out is that it is super tough. It can take a beating and has really good waterproofing. We had a customer a couple of years ago that left the collar outside and found it six months later when they hit it with a lawnmower. They switched out the battery and it worked perfectly.

Control Box

The standout feature of the system is the control box, which can power up to 100 acres, which is nearly 10,000 feet of boundary wire. So if you need something bigger than the 25 acre range on the IUC-4100 this is the one to get. Controls on the box are pretty standard. You can set the boundary width with this dial. The side switch, switches you between beep only, correction plus beep, and correction only modes. Note that there is no battery backup on this one. Like the collar, this unit is big bulky and ugly but it does the job.

Conclusion

One other nice thing about the SportDog is that it comes standard with 1,000 feet of boundary wire. Twice as much as the standard system. Overall a good tough system that is the one to get if you need to go over over 25 acres.

What to Look For in a 24-Volt Battery Charger

When we look back at how people lived their lives back then, we can think of countless reasons why our lives are easier now. Man's constant pursuit for a better life has pushed people to keep inventing, and this-for the most part-has worked to our advantage. For example, the automobile industry's insatiable thirst for bringing more affordable, and not to mention safer cars has propelled the industry to churn innovative automobiles each year. With these new cars, equipment for maintenance also needs to advance to keep up with the machines. Specifically, leaps have been made to make a 24-volt battery charger more efficient.

Before purchasing your own 24-volt battery charger, experts compel you to determine what your needs are. You have to be aware of your desired outcome so that you can get something that will address your concerns. In most cases, you would want a charger that works faster, but keep in mind that not everyone needs all that power. For example, if you just need a charger that would keep your battery running in the off-season, then you would be okay with a low current charger.

Another thing to ask is if you would be exposing the charger to various elements. Waterproof chargers are now widely available, and these can really be helpful especially if you are out a lot. Getting a charger with a solid steel casing may also be a good idea, as you would be dealing with a sturdier piece.

An anti-sparking feature is a good thing to look out for, as it prevents common mishaps. The great thing about a 24-volt battery charger is that in most models, you do not have to wait for the battery to charge. Before, you literally had to watch the charger do its job. When the charger is done charging, it switches to trickle mode. This means you can leave the charger while it does its job.

What to Consider Before Buying External Battery for Your iPhone

Few gadgets have taken the public more by storm than the iPhone. It's a mobile phone, mp4 and mp3 player, web browser, camera and all-around neat doodad that most people want and can't live without. Unfortunately, it suffers from a deadbeat battery that refuses to last longer than 8 hours at a time on a good day, so most users compromise utility (they shut off most of the neater applications which drain the battery faster) for longevity. An alternative, of course, is to get an external battery for your iPhone. The question is which one? What to consider before buying external battery for your iPhone? Let us elucidate.

Capacity
There are lots of external batteries on the market, and many are quite well known and have been well received, so the choices make it harder to decide. What to consider before buying external battery pack for your iPhone is primarily its capacity to charge. More is better in this case. You want an external backup juice that can extend your iPhone's battery life by as much as possible before having to recharge the external battery itself, especially if you travel a lot. Most of the popular iPhone batteries out there can do no more than charge one cycle, which is about 8 hours. The best external battery in the market in terms of capacity so far provides a bit more than 4 cycles of charge. That means you won't have a problem going on a two-day camping trip or a transcontinental flight because you know you'll be able to charge your iPhone throughout the trip and stay connected.

Portability

The next factor you should consider is size and weight. You don't want to carry a bulky external battery that weighs a ton in your pocket or bag, and as much as possible you'll want it to be easy to carry and use. A recent innovation in the external battery market is battery cases, designed like a holster in such a way that your iPhone fits snugly into it. The best types are the ones that are slim and elegant so it fits right in with your lifestyle.

Versatility

Now, while your iPhone is the best thing in your purse or pocket, you probably bring other things when you go on a trip that you need to charge as well. This could be another phone like a Blackberry, game consoles like the Sony PSP or Nintendo Game, or an ebook reader like a Kindle. A good backup booster for your iPhone can charge other gadgets as well, although it may require the use of various adapters.

Affordability
What to consider before buying battery extender pack for your iPhone finally is value for money. Many of the external batteries for iPhone out there can cost a bundle, so it would be a smart idea to shop around for the most reasonably priced brand. Of course, value for money doesn't mean you should get inferior quality products, and you should do your research regarding the customer service of your external battery for iPhone. Zoom in on an extended battery juice pack provider that guarantees the quality of the product as well as has a proven track record in after-sales service.

The above items are what to consider before buying external battery for your iPhone, and it may be that IMP500, IMP880 can provide you with what you need with zero hassle. Check out its more products on like IMP1000, IMP170, IMP130, IMP190 for your various iPhone needs. You won't regret it.

A History of Battery Chargers

The history of battery chargers is long but interesting. Chargers and rechargeable batteries date back to the 1800's. The concepts and designs have taken on new meaning in the era of portable electronics. With new technology there is charger for almost everything imaginable. The devices are widely used, and their progression over time is huge.

The first battery charger was for the car. The idea came from Gaston Plante, a French physicist that invented the lead acid cell battery in 1859. Though, it was years later that the idea became what it is today, he was the pioneer of the concepts. It was Waldemar Jungner that discovered the Nickel-Cadmium battery in 1899. The Swedish scientist developed this product and it was on the market by 1906. These men of science had ideas before their times. Imagine what they would think of today progress of their once simple ideas.

Chargers for lithium-Ion batteries are almost a necessity in society today. Being used in everything from mobile phones, to laptops, and many other portable devices, they are a must for most. They were introduced in 1991 by Sony. The twenty year phenomenon in the making was originally theorized in the 1970s. Nickel-Metal Hydride was created in the 1980s. This battery comes in all sizes and is probably the most common household battery used today.

Battery charging devices are a common item to own. They come into play with the invention of rechargeable batteries. The idea behind it all was not only to save money but to save time. The average person can save hundreds of dollars per year by using rechargeable batteries with a battery charger. That same person can also save a great deal of time. The more modern designs were also intended to help save the environment by reducing waste and eliminating unnecessary uses of extra energy. The researchers of the pasts would be proud of where the designs have led.

The thought of not having a battery charger for practically everything you own has probably never crossed your mind, but let it for a moment. If you did not have a mobile phone charger or if you weren't able to recharge those AA batteries for the digital camera what would you do? The concepts may not all have been intended for what they have become, but the transition over time is surely remarkable. Chargers and rechargeable batteries in yesterday's world are the building blocks for today's models. So much has developed in the last hundred years in this science. When one looks back at the past and sees what has become, one can help but to think of the future and wonder what will be.

Canon SD3500IS Review

The Canon SD3500IS is an aesthetically pleasing digital camera; this device has a wonderfully wide 3.5 inch LCD display for framing shots, and it offers up touch screen technologies for super ease of manipulation. The Canon Powershot SD3500IS is a sharp 14.1 megapixel digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens, a 24 millimeter super wide angle lens, and you can print directly from the camera. Images can be as large as 16.5 inches by 23.4 inches when printed. When you buy the Canon SD3500IS you can prepare yourself for the ultimate picture and video capturing experience.

With the Canon SD3500IS you get a camera that can capture video in 720p high definition format. You get intelligent features too which makes shooting impeccable features possible in every instance. You get a terrific range of perks with the Canon Powershot SD3500IS: enjoy image stabilization, fisheye effect, miniature effect, and so much more in a camera that measures 2.2 inches in height by 3.9 inches in width by 8.7 inches in depth. Since the Canon SD3500IS weighs just over 5.5 ounces, you can carry it around with incredible ease too.

Your investment in the Canon Powershot SD3500IS gets you the durable and compact camera body, the CD digital camera solution software, the NB6L battery, the WSDC10 wrist strap, and the battery charger. You also get the AV cable and the USB cables you need for connectivity. The Canon Powershot SD3500IS has a sharp looking body made of black metal material. You get a CCD sensor inside, and a camera equipped with plenty of light sensitivity settings. Integrated in the Canon Powershot SD3500IS you also get the DIGIC 4 processor an exemplary range of shooting modes, a marvelous range of special effects, and several settings for exposure metering. The Canon SD3500IS is a paragon when it comes to features which intensify your creativity.

This small device has a gargantuan list of exquisite features. From optical image stabilization to plenty of presets for white balance, from a range of flash modes to an embedded flash feature, from an AF illuminator inclusion to a motorized lens, you cannot help but be impressed by the features inside the Canon SD3500IS. You will absolutely love the motorized zoom, the embedded lens shield, the aspherical lens, the UA lens, and all the features that improve picture quality like the digital noise reduction features, the ability to edit pictures in the camera, the blink and motion detection, the face and scene detection, the intelligent contrast features, the automated camera orientation detection features, and the embedded microphone for capturing sound bites.

When you get the Canon SD3500IS you are getting a camera that works with almost any operating system too; this device works with Macintosh and Windows operating systems. Your creativity is further enhanced with the variety of software you are supplied with when you get the Canon Powershot SD3500IS as well; you will soon find yourself using the ZoomBrowser EX, the ImageBrowswer, and the PhotoStitch software that comes with the SD3500IS purchase. Remarkable technologies in a super tight camera casing: that is what the consumer gets with the Canon SD3500IS.

ASUS Eee PC 1000HE 10-inch Netbook - An Honest Review

For those who want a powerful PC in a compact, portable frame, the ASUS Eee 1000HE Netbook is the choice for you. With over 9 hours of battery life thanks to the new Intel N280 processor and Asus Super Hybrid Engine battery technology, it is the perfect laptop for working on the road.

Don't let the 10-inch frame deceive you; the new chicklet keyboard with its wide keys offers the comfort of a full-size keyboard to help reduce miscues and typos. The Eee PC's sturdy backlit display and high-resolution screen offers sharp, crisp images for added comfort on the eyes while reading and editing documents.

A 1.3 megapixel web camera propped just above the screen is perfect for web-conferencing or video chatting with friends and loved ones across the country, and the world. Built in WiFi technology makes it easy to connect to any open wireless network to access the web. The ASUS Eee 1000HE is a great machine to help you be more efficiently at the office, home, or away from both.

Bluetooth capabilities allow you to wirelessly connect a mouse or headphones to your computer, a great convenience on the road. The 1000HE's 160 gig hard drive has plenty of space for your favorite music, videos, and personal files and if you need more space, or added security, Asus offers 10 gigs of online backup storage absolutely free.

Equipped with Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Windows Live Messenger, and Works, the 1000HE allows you to learn, work, and play from anywhere in the world. This is perfect as a second notebook for business professionals always on the move, or even a primary computer for the average user.

Review of the Black and Decker CM1936 Cordless Lawn Mower

With advances in battery technology cordless lawn mowers are now posing a challenge to their gas powered counterparts. In the past cordless mowers have tended to be limited by a lack of power and a lack of charge time. However, these days both of these issues have become less significant. One of the most popular models is the Black and Decker CM1936 Cordless Lawn Mower.

With a 36 Volt battery this model has plenty of power without any of the mess and hassle of a gas powered mower. It has an efficient design which means that the battery charge lasts longer and will typically mow up to a third of an acre on a single charge. The battery is removable so if you have a large plot you have the option of purchasing a second battery.

Unlike gas powered mowers there is no pull start cord to contend with and all the difficulties in starting that this can bring. Instead it has a system where you insert a key, flick a handle and you are away. The motor is very quiet, far quieter than a gas mower.

Whilst corded electric mowers are easy to use with no mess and hassle, they are severely limited by the fact that you have to deal with an electric cable. Using an extension cable will increase the range but has serious safety implications.

The CM1936 is designed so that it mulches the grass clippings back into your lawn so that it not only takes away the hassle of collecting he clippings, but it feeds the lawn at the same time. However, if you prefer to collect the clippings in the traditional way to put onto your compost, then a rear bag for the purpose is also provided.

Gas powered mowers contribute significantly to the harmful emissions released into the atmosphere. Cordless lawn mowers do not produce any emissions directly, although it should not be forgotten is that a certain amount of power is required to charge the mower's battery and this in itself may produce some emissions (unless your supplier produces its power through sustainable means), albeit indirectly.

Overall, the Black and Decker CM1936 Cordless Lawn Mower performs easily as well as a gas powered mower, but without any of the hassle of dealing gas and oil cans, and none of the difficulties in starting. There are certainly good reasons why this is one of the best selling lawn mowers.

Nokia N97 Vs iPhone 3GS - Review

The Nokia N97 is Nokia's flagship handset and, on paper at least, it has an enviable set of specs that push the boundaries of smartphone tech. But Apple's iPhone is still the touchscreen handset to beat. How does the N97 match up against the latest iPhone 3GS?

- Size & weight

The iPhone 3GS and the N97 are roughly the same size when you hold them in the palm of your hand (give or take a millimetre). But the N97 carries a little more plastic fat around the waist - the 3GS is 4mm thinner and 15g lighter than Nokia's phone.
Nokia N97 0 - 1 iPhone 3GS

- Talk time & battery life

Ok, so measuring talktime and battery life isn't an exact science... But Apple boasts 12 hours of talktime for the iPhone 3GS, compared to 10 hours for the N97. In terms of standby time, the roles are reversed and the 3GS loses out to the N97 by 432 hours to 300 hours. A point each.
Nokia N97 1 - 2 iPhone 3GS

- Connectivity

Both phones feature fast 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity as standard. The iPhone range did lack the A2DP protocol as part of its Bluetooth package, but this has since been remedied with the iPhone 3.0 software upgrade. Another tie.
Nokia N97 2 - 3 iPhone 3GS

- Digital camera

Although Apple has upgraded the digital camera in the 3GS, it wasn't as bold an improvement as many people hoped for. The iPhone's 3 Megapixel lens (with autofocus) is decent enough and is also capable of capturing VGA-quality video at speeds up to 30 fps. In comparison, the N97 features a 5MP Carl Zeiss lens with autofocus and LED flash. Video resolution is also maxed out at a 640×480 VGA resolution.
Nokia N97 3 - 3 iPhone 3GS

- Storage

The Nokia N97 matches the top-of-the-range iPhone Gigabyte for Gigabyte - both pack 32GB of internal storage. But the N97 also features a microSD expansion slot, enabling users to boost the overall memory by up to 16GB. This gives the N97 a maximum storage capacity of 48GB. Nice.
Nokia N97 4 - 3 iPhone 3GS

- Screen/Keyboard

Both the N97 and the 3GS feature 3.5-inch touch-sensitive displays with accelerometer technology. The N97 boasts a higher resolution display too - 640×360 pixels compared to the 480×320 pixels on the 3GS. And let's not forget the N97's QWERTY keyboard. But, as nice as the N97's screen is, it uses old-fangled 'resistive' technology and lacks the responsiveness of the 'capacative' multi-touch display on the iPhone.
Nokia N97 5 - 4 iPhone 3GS

- Other features

The N97 features a customisable homescreen (with user-definable web widgetry), a built-in FM radio, N-Gage friendliness and the Symbian OS supports downloadable apps and games. But the iPhone is probably the most customisable smartphone currently available, thanks to the thousands of apps, games and utilities available on the iTunes App Store. The 3GS also features PowerVR SGX graphics technology for enhanced multimedia speed.
Nokia N97 5 - 5 iPhone 3GS

- Verdict: Draw

Car Battery Buying Tips

Your car battery probably isn't something you think about too often until it fails and you can't start your car. Unfortunately your car battery doesn't come with an empty/full gauge like your fuel tank does so remembering how old your battery is certainly helps but it still doesn't tell you exactly when your battery is about to die until it's too late.

Here are some tips to ensure you're ready should your battery die quicker than you'd like and need to buy a new one:

1. Buy a good quality battery charger/tester: Having a battery charger in your vehicle will ensure you can jumpstart your own vehicle should the battery die at an inopportune time. Good quality battery chargers also tell you how much juice is left in your battery so you can monitor the battery and not be surprised when it runs out. When it does run out, you can restart your car and get to the garage to buy a new one.

2. Don't buy used: While you can save money by using used automobile parts and get a good deal and a good product, buying a used car battery doesn't make a lot of sense. When you consider the cost of a new car battery - it varies depending on the brand, size and your vehicle type of course - taking your chances with a used one really doesn't make a lot of sense considering your vehicle doesn't go anywhere when the battery dies and the money you might save by buying used doesn't save you that much in the long run.

3. Understand what your vehicle requires: Your vehicle requires a specific sized battery so you should know ahead of time what one your vehicle requires. Car batteries come in the following sizes: Size 65, Size 75, Size 24/24F, Size 34/78 and Size 35. Your vehicle owner's manual will shed light on what size you require.

4. Take your climate into consideration: Some batteries perform better in colder weather climates than others and this is important when you live in a region that suffers from harsh winters where your battery will be used for a heater, defroster, headlights, heated seats and other electric devices that you'll need during the winter. Look for a battery with a suitable Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) figure because it's the measurement that determines how well the battery performs in cold weather. Specifically it's the number of amps that your battery can support for 30 seconds at a temperature of 0 degrees fahrenheit until the battery voltage drops to an unusable level. Typically the higher the CCA the better when you live in a cold weather climate.

Wii Remote Charge Stations Review

If you play on your Wii a lot, one Wii accessory that you will definitely want to consider buying is a Wii remote charge station. It can be a real pain to replace the AA batteries all the time. If you get a charge station, you can place your remote controllers in the docking station when you are not using them, and the batteries will recharge. Some will even charge while the remotes are in use.

There are several on the market to choose from. The best one for your needs will depend on the number of controllers you have as well as the features you would like to have. At minimum you will want to choose a dock station that has a vertical stand for the Wii's console and holds at least two Wii Nunchucks or remotes. There are also stations that hold four.

Some Wii charge stations also provide extra rechargeable battery packs to go with your remotes. That way you will always have a remote to play with. You may also want to look into a Wii charging station that can recharge the Wii remote's battery without the remote control being attached. The ability to recharge the battery without having to attach the remote means you won't have to worry about the batteries dying on your remotes.

The Wii Charge and Dock Station is a vertical stand with 4 slots for either 4 Wii remotes or 2 Nunchuks and 2 remotes, or 1 Nunchuck and 3 remotes. It comes with two rechargeable battery packs for the Wii remote controllers and a 3 slot colored LED indicator that will alert you when your batteries are fully charged

The Wii Dual Charge Station will charge 2 Nunchucks or 2 Wii remotes as well as the Wii console itself simultaneously. The blue glow is a cool effect on the bottom of the dock. The Dual Charge Station comes with 2 rechargeable battery packs.

The Wii Dual Charge Station and Dual Cooler hold two Wii remotes and the Wii console. Your remotes are recharged and your console cooled down while you are playing. It comes with two rechargeable battery packs. It has a red LED light that lets off a red glow while it is charging and changes to blue once the remotes have finished charging.

The Wii Quad can charge 4 Wii remotes simultaneously. The LED charge indicator alerts you when the remotes are fully charged. It comes with a pass-through cable that enhances the charging. The Quad Dock also comes with 4 rechargeable battery packs.

Sanyo Eneloope Recharge Test Review

Being an amateur photographer myself, I'm always in search of things which can help me in my photographic journey. Influenced by Strobist and after watching his seminar I decided to buy Sanyo Eneloop batteries for myself and try them out. I must honestly admit that I am delighted with having 3 sets already, if nothing else, because they really hold charge for a long time after being charged as factory claims they should. But the real question is: "If I'm already using batteries for my external camera flash, for which the speed of flash recharging is more important than long-term retention of charge in a battery, is it perhaps better to buy ones which have greater capacity rather than Eneloop 2100mAh?

I managed to get a set of Sanyo HR-3U 2700m batteries with original Sanyo charger, with which I recharged both battery sets, so I could time how much time is needed to charge a capacitor in Canon 380 EX flash after 10 full-power flashes.

The table/list below shows my results. Although not accurate as in laboratory, as my left hand on the flash test button and right hand on my stop watch aren't perfectly synced, I repeated the test 10 times in order to obtain an average value. Thanks to my Casio G-Shock, which can measure 1/1000 second, here is a fairly accurate result.

After 10 consecutive flash bursts with both battery sets average recycle time for regular Sanyo batteries was 4.0104 sec, and 3.3468 sec for Eneloop ones. The difference of more than half a second is not to be discarded lightly although I don't think it will drastically change the way you shoot your photographs as camera flashes can only stand a certain amount of full power flashes fired in a short amount of time.

Results are not alarming but are still quite interesting. I know it is only 10 test flashes, but conclusion however imposes that the Eneloop batteries regardless of the nominal capacity can certainly compete with batteries with larger nominal capacity. Although in this example these were not a real competitors, since these two products came from the same company. If I could have tested a variety of products, preferably with a larger sampling, maybe results would show something else.

Tested batteries are on average faster by 17% during the recycling time, while its nominal capacity is 23% less then that of the other model. Luckily the same price for both models, so there is no much to think about. I've been using 3 different Eneloop sets ever since in my external camera flash and they all have proven to be fast in recharging time.

Hanlin V2 Electronic Book Reader Review

Hanlin V2 eReader Introduction

The Chinese office electronics manufacture Jinke is little-known, so how it has been toiling away to perfect their Hanlin line escapes many. But Jinke has been steadily boasting of bright and stable devices, and the Hanlin V2 is no exception. Yet it wasn't until the V2 model that Jinke stepped up to a touch screen capability. The Hanlin eReader V2's price tag of $349 leaves it on the higher end of the Hanlin line, but it's gaining quite a following for its ultra-portability, longer-lasting battery, and touch screen facility.

Features - Hardware and Software

The Hanlin eReader V2 has all the makings of a Hanlin: a 6-inch screen display, super convenient directory management, user-friendly interface, and multilingual capability, which has made Jinke's ereader line quite popular with international readers. It also boasts of the same brightness and performance stability Hanlin products are known for, but Jinke put a step forward with the V2 by adding touch screen capability.

The Hanlin V2's design is another jump in the ereader line. The gadget comes in a more stylish white or black casing and leather jacket to add extra protection from scratches and accidental drops. Gone are the clumsy-looking numeric keypads. Replacing them for menu and in-book navigation is a mini touchscreen slave display located below the screen display.

With more energy-efficient operations, the Hanlin eReader V2 has a provision for 9000 page turns - 2000 pages more than than the V3 and the V5.

Pros

With its stylish-looking outfit, it's quite a pleasure to bring the Hanlin eReader V2 around. Though heavier than the Hanlin V3 at 300g, it's still light enough to be carried anywhere, whether at your workplace, on vacation, or during travels. There's still the mp3 playback capability found in other Hanlin ereaders, which lets users listen to audiobooks or music, as well as support for multiple digital formats. Classifying and managing books is easy with the V2's multi-level folders system.

Cons

Jinke didn't add quite much to the Hanlin eReader V2. With no improvement in the grayscale level (4) or resolution (600 x 800 pixels), screen display looks ancient compared to the second and third generation models of rival ebook readers. Storage is still 512 MB, which is good for a thousand ebooks only, although it can support 20,000 additional ebook, photos, and music files via a 4GB external storage. Jinke hasn't addressed page turn issues as well, and with only 200 MHz processor, page turns are quite sluggish compared to rival devices boasting of 400 MHz processor or more. Figuring out how to perform certain functions, such as the built-in dictionary, can be difficult, and command menus are often replete with grammatical errors.

The Bottom Line

Jinke has added needed improvements to the Hanlin eReader V2. If you are looking for a unique, stylish-looking electronic book reader that is not as fancy as a touch screen or a full keyboard, the Hanlin eReader V2 is intuitive and gets the job done.

What's in the box:

o Hanlin eReader V2 with leather jacket
o Stylus
o 512 MB SD card
o Headphone
o User Manual

Main Features

o supports a wide range of formats
o battery life for 9000 page turns
o supports up to 4GB SD cards
o 4 grayscale levels
o USB interface

Key Features:

o Touch screen slave display
o readable indoors or outdoors
o low power mobile device

Bonus Features:

o Built-in dictionary
o plays music
o multi-level folders system

HTC Desire HD review

In our recent review of the HTC Desire, we remarked that the HTC Desire was very nearly the perfect phone. Is it possible to improve on perfection? Well, yes, because the new HTC Desire HD sets out to do just that.

The Desire HD took the design of the Desire and pushed it as far as current technology permits. First HTC stretched the screen size from an already generous 3.7 inches to a massive 4.3 inches. The screen resolution remained at 480 x 800 pixels, but that's still plenty sharp enough as far as we're concerned. Then they upgraded the camera from 5 to 8 megapixels, keeping the LED flash, autofocus and face detection features. The video recording has been uprated to 720p high-definition too.

Was that enough? Oh no, because then HTC doubled the data connection speed to 14.4 Mbps using HDPA and brought in Adobe® Flash® Player 10 to enhance the mobile web browsing experience still further. The internal memory has been increased to 1.5GB, with an option to add a microSD memory card up to 32GB. Audio quality has been turbo-boosted as well, with the addition of Dolby Mobile and SRS virtual surround sound. DLNA connectivity has also been added, so you can now connect your mobile to a DLNA-compatible TV or hi-fi for room-thumping music.

Of course, there's a price to be paid for all this additional technology. You pay a price with your wallet naturally, but by far the biggest price to pay is the increased size and weight of the Desire HD. It's significantly larger than the Desire, measuring 123 by 68mm, which is almost too big to fit in one hand, although it's very slim at just 11.8mm thickness. It also weighs a trouser-stretching 164g.

Curiously, there's one feature that HTC in their wisdom decided to downgrade, and it's the battery. Whereas the original Desire had a big 1400 mAh battery, the Desire HD has just a 1230 mAh capacity. What's going on there? We can't guess, but we know that we'd certainly like a larger battery, particularly with all the extra goodies to play with.

These considerations mean that it's not the perfect device, and it's not the best phone for everyone. Tech lovers will delight in the features that put the HD in its name, but for mainstream users, we'd recommend that you stick to the original Desire.

Garmin Nuvi 1350 Review

The Garmin Nuvi 1350 is a GPS device that weighs a mere 5.7 ounces. Packed in a purse, a backpack, a handbag, carried in a pocket or mounted to a windshield or dashboard, the Nuvi 1350 is ideal for all travelers. The Nuvi 1350, while not waterproof, can be carried around in the city, and it can also serve as an instrumental device for all travel planning. The measurements of the device ensure that it is large enough to offer superlative imagery, but slender enough to remain highly portable.

Housing Dimensions:

Depth: .6 inches
Width: 4.8 inches
Height: 2.9 inches
Display Dimensions:

Diagonal Measurement: 4.3 inches
Width: 3.81 inches
Height: 2.25 inches
What is Included:

The Garmin Nuvi 1350 is offered in three different versions in North America and in Europe. The GPS system is already loaded with a charged battery made of lithium ion with a four hour long battery life. Loaded on to the Nuvi 1350 are maps of Europe as well as maps of North America, and the device is outfitted with City Navigator®. Inside the box with the GPS device the consumer gets mounting gear, a manual for use, and a power cable so that the device can be charged inside a vehicle.

The Garmin Nuvi 1350 has a 480 pixel by 272 pixel display sporting a WQVGA color TFT w/ a white backlighting feature. The device has a high sensitivity receiver, an internal solid state memory, and 1000 waypoints. The consumer can add maps if he or she wants to, and the device is compatible with an external microSD(TM) card that is sold separate from the GPS system.

Capabilities:

This GPS has audible prompts that clearly convey the distance between one's location and upcoming turns and streets via an internally located speaker. The Garmin Nuvi 1350 has the added feature of lane assist which provides the owner of the device with a fast and clear view of upcoming lanes and merging sections of road so that he or she can make more decisive driving decisions. If there is a change in plans that alter one's original route plan, the device is capable of re-routing itself to get the user to whatever location that was initially selected. Routes can be planned based on time between locations, the shortest possible distance, off road excursions or on fuel efficiency factors too, thanks to the inclusions of ecoRoute(TM) features. The Garmin Nuvi 1350 makes it superlatively simple to avoid toll booths, highways, and other undesired or less preferred routes too.

The user of the Garmin Nuvi 1350 never has to be concerned about speed limit signage; the device has an integrated speed limit indicator signifying what speed is required. This GPS makes it super easy to find fueling stations, intersections, police stations, and emergency centers since it comes with Garmin's "Where Am I"(TM) feature too. The Garmin Nuvi 1350 is outfitted with a lot of nice extras; this device is compatible with FM traffic, MSN Direct®, it has a QWERTY/ABC keyboard and the points of interest can be customized. This device is also outfitted with Garmin Lock(TM), Garmin Garage(TM); it has a display with touch screen features, a picture viewer, and calculators as well as converters. In all, the Nuvi 1350 is a finely packaged product sold at an outstanding price.

Toro 51467 Weed Eater Complete Review

A few weeks ago I was at a garage sale with my parents. I am always on the look out for cheap lawn and landscape equipment that I can use for my lawn business or review on my blog. I noticed a Toro 51467 cordless weed eater on sale. I had never used this model and wanted to give it a try, so I bought it.

The trimmer came with the original box and owner's manual. It looked to be fairly new and I thought that the price was fair at $25. I was excited to go try it out to see how the trimmer would compare to other battery powered trimmers I had used in the past.

Since my parents house was close by and needed to be mowed I decided to try it out there first. The unit was already assembled and the people at the garage sale told me it was fully charged, so I was ready to go. After getting it running, the first thing I noticed was that it was a little louder than other battery powered weed eaters I had used. It wasn't too loud, but definitely more noisy than the others.

I am normally able to finish trimming and edging my parents lawn in under 15 minutes with my gas powered, commercial grade trimmer. I was curious to see how long it would take me with the Toro weed eater. Also, I wanted to find out if I could get it done on one battery charge.

Although the trimmer was a little bit louder, it had a little more power than the other battery powered units. However, the cutting area wasn't very large so the trimming was taking me longer than usual. The company's description stated that the cutting swath was 8 inches, but I thought that was being generous. I was able to finish trimming and edging the lawn in just under 25 minutes. And, the battery lasted the duration.

I found trying to edge with the weed eater a bit awkward. Due to the short string and the guard, it was pretty tough to see what I was doing. Maybe if I used the trimmer for a longer period of time, I would get used to it.

Overall, I thought the trimmer was good for the price. Most of the other battery powered trimmers cost around $100 and the Toro weed eater only cost about half that. The unit is not intended for heavy trimming and edging, but works well for normal lawn use.

The Best Motorcycle Battery Tender Chargers

If you've been searching for battery chargers for quite some time now, you've definitely came across the battery Tender brand. If you haven't, I don't know if you're hiding under a rock, or you just haven't come across the brand. Regardless of the fact, they are probably one of the most popular brands on the market. They have fantastic reviews, great prices, as well as features that many other brands just don't carry.

Now, before you head out, whip out your wallet, and purchase one, there are some thing that you should know about them. I wanted to show you what sets them above the rest. You're soon going to find out that they are one of the best chargers that money can buy. No, it isn't going to cost you $250 to purchase one, nor will they break down in the next 6 weeks.

A great warranty: A good company is always going to stand behind it's product. This is what battery Tender has done here. Just about every product that they carry, they have a great 5-10 year warranty. If something goes bad and it's their fault, you will find that they will most likely fix it up.
Great features: One of the most common problems that many motorcycle owners come across is that they overcharge their battery, just causing damage. With some of their features, you're going to be able to know when the battery is charged, as well as an auto shut off. No longer will you have to worry about your battery getting damaged!
Great reviews: I generally get a good idea on if a product is good or not just by reading the reviews. The reviews online are fantastic for any battery tender product. What I have found is that they have a ton of products, all recieving great reviews!

Here are a few brands that you should check into made by Battery Tender...

The 021-0128 12V (regular sized)
The 021-0123 (junior size)
022-0150 (waterproof version)
022-0165 battery management system

Polar Monitors Review - Polar F55 and Polar FA20 Heart Monitor Watches

Are you in search for a reliable heart rate monitor to get through your strenuous workouts? Are you sick and tried of the one you have? Have you tried a Polar heart rate monitor? Two Polar monitors that rank high are the Polar F55 and FA20 heart rate monitor watches. They have consistently been on top of the charts for some tome now. Polar has over the years been the leader in this market and have released such favorites as the Polar F11 and Polar RS800. In fact they have been dominating since the late 70's when the first accurate EKG monitor was released. The following article is a short review on both the Polar Monitors.

Review: Polar F55

The Polar F55 is the perfect accessory or training buddy for athletes and people who use the gym a lot. It comes with many great functions and features such as the unique Polar Workout for the body feature which gives the user a basic guide to muscular and strength training. There are not that many heart monitors out there with a function such as this. It is there to help you hit your fitness and training goals. Also included with this monitor is the WearLink coded transmitter which eliminates or cancels out any interference from other heart rate monitors. This allows for more accurate training data.

The keeps U Fit fitness and workout program is also another useful feature on the Polar F55 heart monitor Watch. It is another feature that can only be found on a handful of Polar Monitors. For exercise guidance that suits the user, this is the feature for them. The Polar F55 comes with a large and easy to read display screen, back lighting and split screen function. It is also water resistant to 100ft or 30m.

Review: Polar FA20 Heart Monitor Watch

The Polar FA20 is one of the newest Polar Monitors. It's style and design leaves much to be desired. The functions and features area also unique to Polar Monitors simply, it is a training computer on your wrists making it a perfect training and workout companion. It measures training and even rest activity 24hours a day, 7 days a week. This is done to keep tabs on the calories you burn during the day or even workouts. All this will allow the user to plan out their workouts and better assess their goals and performances.

This Polar heart monitor watch also makes for a great everyday watch in that it comes with dual time modes (12 hour and 24 hour display), an alarm with a snooze function and calendar indicators that show dates and schedules. With the Polar FlowLink connection that it comes with, it will be able to transfer digital information. It is also water resistant to a depth at 30meters like the Polar F55, has multi - language text display, a key lock, training targets for calories and even distances, a low battery indicator and a replaceable battery that can be done by the user. With the Polar FA20 Heart Monitor Watch comes a two year warranty.

Final Assessment

If you have been searching for that extra tool to help you achieve your fitness and weight loss goals look no further than either one of these two Polar Monitors. Both the Polar F55 and FA20 Heart Monitors are perfect for elite or professional athletes too.

Three Things That Can Harm You Toshiba Satellite M640 Battery

You will agree with me that once you have bought the Toshiba Satellite M640, the biggest task ahead of you is usually the task of maintaining your computer. One of the most important parts of the computer is the laptop battery. This is one of those things that definitely differentiate the laptop from the desktop computer. For this reason, it is extremely important that if at all you would like to ensure that your laptop serves you the way it should, you take plenty of time to take good care of the laptop battery.

Overheating

The first thing that you need to do to make sure that your Toshiba Satellite M640 battery stays for a long time before dying on you is to make sure that your laptop does not overheat. Keep the laptop off your laps and place it on a hard surface. If possible, you can have some small object to make sure that there is enough space between the laptop and the surface. You should also avoid placing your laptop on soft place such as the pillows and so on.

Dropping Down

The other thing that normally causes the Toshiba Satellite M640 battery to be damaged is the issue of dropping down the battery every time. You will realize that there are some people who remove the battery from the laptop, but then keep on dropping it down every now and then. It is important to note that if you really want to have a battery which will stay with you for long time, you do not make the mistake of dropping it down every now and then.

Overcharging

Although it is important to ensure that your battery is fully charged for any eventualities, I would like to bring to your attention the fact that it is not proper to overcharge your Toshiba Satellite M640 battery. This is because it will only be damaging it. So, when you go to sleep on when you have stopped working on your laptop and you know very well that the battery is full, you should unplug the adapter and the power cable away from the power source.

All in all, it is very important for you to note that the Toshiba Satellite M640 is a very good machine. However, there are certain things that can really cause you not enjoy the full power of the Toshiba Satellite M640 battery and it is therefore important that you are fully aware of this so that you can be better prepared.

iPhone 4S Review

Sixteen months. 16 long months of waiting. Is the iPhone 4S worth it?

Apple fans have been waiting for the iPhone 5 - no doubt. Many were expecting Apple and Steve Jobs to finally deliver the goods at Tuesday's October 4 keynote. But Steve didn't make it (god rest his soul) and Tim Cook made his first media appearance as CEO, and instead released the iPhone 4S.

So is it good, or not? What's the real story? I submit to you my iPhone 4S Review.

Let's start with the good.

First off, the new dual core A5 chip. It's fast. REALLY fast... two times faster than the chip in the iPhone 4 and 7 times faster graphics processing. The game play looks amazing sweet.

The camera has been upgraded also. 8 megapixel, autofocus, face detection for still pictures, and HD video recording up to 1080p at 30 frames per second. OMG!

battery life has been improved... up to 8 hours talk time on the 3G network, 14 hours on the GSM network, 10 hours of video playback time, 40 hours of audio playback, and standby time is clocked at 200 hours (8.3 days!)

Now let's move on to the great.

Voice control ala Siri. According to the Apple website, Siri not only understands what you say, it knows what you mean. It figures out the right apps to use to find the right answer. Then, just like a personal assistant, it answers you. Siri makes phone calls, sends messages, schedules meetings, sets reminders, takes dictation, and more. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back. Imagine sending Tweets via your voice, or updating Facebook? Apple says that Siri is so easy to use and does so much, you'll keep finding more and more ways to use it. It's first generation and will only improve, but wowzers.

Now for the bad.

It is not thinner, and it is heavier than its predecessor.

It doesn't feature a bigger touchscreen that's Android phones have had for at least a year, which Apple consumers have been begging for since kingdom come. Like the original iPhone 4, this model still has the same time 3.5-inch display screen.

Now the ugly.

No SD slot. If I am shooting a bunch of video, I am out of luck when space runs out until I connect to a computer I can sync with to get the videos I shot, out. Why no SD slot? Are you listening here Apple?

This phone also has no access to the high-speed 4G networks. None. How can it not, after all that time? Ugh!

It looks exactly like the iPhone 4. No difference at all. How dull.

The verdict?

Should you buy the new iPhone 4S? It releases October 14 to retail, pre-orders begin October 7. Only you can decide.

Choose well my friends.

Electric Muscle Massagers vs Battery Powered Vibrators

Electric vibrating massagers and battery powered massagers are very often used to massage and stimulate aching and hardened muscles to get relief from the pain caused by them. However these vibrating massagers have become to be identified as sex toys over a period of time. The performance of the electric vibrating massager is better then the battery powered vibrating massager. Electric vibrating massager is considered more powerful than the battery powered vibrating massager for obvious reasons. The motor used in an electric vibrating massager is bigger then the motor used in a battery powered vibrating massager. The electric powered vibrating massager was initially produced to perform the larger body and muscle message and marketed as such, but people soon found other use of them and were labeled as sex toys. Nevertheless the manufacturers still market them as muscle massagers. The electric vibrating massager is very popular as a sex toy than a body and muscle massager. It uses an alternating current source as its power supply whereas the battery powered vibrating massager uses AA batteries which are much smaller and give out less power than an alternating current source.

The other advantage of the electric powered vibrating massager is that the head of the vibrator is connected directly to the electric motor which is not the case with battery powered vibrating massager. There is an indirect transfer of power in the battery vibrator resulting in a slight loss of power as compared to the electric vibrator. This results in stronger vibrations from an electric vibrator.

The sensations caused by an electric powered vibrating massager are much more powerful and intense than that of a battery powered vibrating massager. These powerful vibrations produce intense sensations which most of the people are unable to withstand especially women who use a padding to absorb part of the vibrations and reduce the intense sensations. If you are not comfortable with the vibrations they can be minimized as per your body acceptance level by getting attachments along with the vibrator made of soft material like silica, jelly or rubber.

The disadvantage with an electric powered vibrating massager is that it is not portable as the battery powered vibrating massager is. Once the electric powered vibrating massager is fixed in to a socket moving it to another location is difficult as the socket in another location may not be at the desired location or it may not be there at all.

Though there are a number of manufacturers of electric vibrating massagers but Hitachi, Wahi and Acuvibe electric vibrating massagers are the most popular ones in the market. The quality of the electric vibrating massager has to be of top quality as they have to act both as body and muscle massagers. Low quality vibrators also available in the market but then you are at peril of owning them. It is but natural that high quality electric vibrators will be little more expensive than the low quality electric vibrators.