The TomTom XL IQ Routes Edition 2 EU Satellite Navigation System has simply brought an end to almost all the problems people associate with the satnav systems. It is affordable, effective and extremely useful for a driver who is new on the road. In fact, the special features of this system will help experienced drivers save precious time en route.
Pros:
- Navigation is smooth and flawless.
- The compact size of the system makes it easily portable.
- The large and bright display makes it easier for the driver to pick up the right track.
- Spoken instructions allow the driver follow the navigation without taking their eyes off the road.
- The menu is very simple to handle and the interface is simple even for the novice.
- There is a TMC receiver that catches traffic info and suggests the best possible route.
Cons:
- Some of the options can be confusing. For instance, the ‘help’ section does not instruct users and assist them in using the device; rather it sends signals in an emergency.
- The mounting suction tends to lose grips on bumpy rides.
- There are some bugs in updating the maps for the SatNav system.
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Electronics
The Coleman Evanston X4 tent is ideal for camping and other adventure sports, providing a rugged and spacious living area in the great outdoors. With a capacity of four persons, a living area of 4.25 square meters and a sleeping area of 6.4 square meters, it provides ample space for four people but another person of average build can easily be squeezed into it.
The X4 has been highly praised for its easy setup procedure as it can be pitched in one go and takes no more than two people to set it up. It has headroom of 200cm which is considerably more than the height of the average person and therefore allows the occupants to stand fully erect when inside the tent. The pitching surface is a considerable 30 square meters and has several innovative aspects such as negative angled ventilation that allows free airflow while preventing rain water from entering during light showers.
The tent is extremely portable, weighing in at a reasonably light 17kgs when fully packed and also has a sewn-in groundsheet that keeps out moisture, insects and dust for maximum comfort.
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Outdoor
The CDX-GT35U Car Stereo system from Sony, one of the best in car music solutions, is a versatile MP3 and CD head unit that features a front USB port which is the ultimate convenience in modern car stereo systems. The player is capable of reading music from any USB drive, a Walkman or MP3 music player.
The head unit features Quick-BrowZer, a scanning system that finds music files on any storage device. Moreover, the DM+ codec enhancer plays the song at near lossless quality, which eliminates compression artifacting due to CD burning techniques.
The speakers meant for this head unit form a 4x45W S-MOSFET system that is capable of delivering great bass and unbeatable voice clarity. Additionally, the FM tuner is very effective and reads weak signals with ease. 30 FM channels can be stored on the head unit. There is an auxiliary input on the front for adding amps, subwoofers and speakers.
Overall, the Sony CDX-GT35U is a great option for anyone looking for a reasonably priced but powerful car stereo system with crystal clear sound clarity and a plethora of customization options.
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Electronics
The George Foreman 12205 grill provides a healthy alternative to grilling food the normal way. The George Forman is different from most grills because it cooks food from both top as well as the bottom, allowing food to be cooked much faster. Additionally, the grill also comes with a mechanism for draining unwanted, unnecessary and unhealthy fat and grease into a drip tray. This greatly reduces the amount of calories, cholesterol and other unhealthy materials which are normally found in meat and other fried foods.
This grill is ideal for a large family grill or a party of around 6 people. With space to hold six standard portions at a time, you can easily cook for your entire family in one go, and even a couple of guests! The George Foreman 12205 is also very easy to maintain. All the plates and other parts are easily detachable and are dishwasher-safe.
The design is perfect but the absence of a handle makes it rather difficult to handle the lid, especially when it is hot. However, for its price and functionality, the grill is well worth it.
George Foreman 12205 Entertaining Removable Plates Grill is on offer at Amazon – buy today at a great price!
Electronics
The Philips Sonicare HX6972/10 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush with UV Sanitiser is an electric powered toothbrush with some handy features for the best possible dental care. It comes with the patented FlexCare technology which according to several studies is almost twice as effective as a normal toothbrush. Moreover, there is an integrated UV Sanitizer that helps kill any lingering bacteria from the toothbrush after use.
The toothbrush also features an alarm type of device that beeps every 30 seconds to ensure that every area in the mouth is cleaned properly. Additionally, there are two brush heads, the Standard for complete cleaning and the Compact for precision cleaning which will ensure that even hard to reach areas of the mouth are cleaned easily.
As far as the sanitizer goes, it is quite user friendly and effective and can handle multiple brush heads at the same time. The Sonicare is as good as toothbrushes can get and apart from the one flaw in design which is a little gap at the base of the handle that doesn’t allow water to flow out easily, it’s perfect for everyday dental hygiene. You can even buy a single brush with multiple heads for the perfect dental solution for the entire family!
Philips Sonicare HX6972/10 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush with UV Sanitiser is on offer at Amazon – buy today at a great price!
Health
One can now forget paper maps with this Satellite Navigation System! Featuring detailed maps of roads across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, this SNS is the perfect companion for any kind of travelling. With a full touch screen which registers even feather touches, driving around the country is a breeze; forget all about finding the right turns and lanes and crossing busy intersections. In addition to road maps, there are also safety messages pointing out cameras and warnings and wherever available, even local emergency information is displayed.
The best part of the TomTom START2 Satellite Navigation System is the Advanced Lane Guidance. Whenever a busy intersection or junction comes up, other alternative lanes and their destinations are displayed prominently on the screen, thus saving you the trouble of making sharp turns or getting stuck in traffic. The device also features voice instructions to prevent the driver from getting distracted by trying to read the screen,
First time users will find the device highly intuitive and easy to set up. Most of the functions are self explanatory once the device is installed, for which all you need to do is attach the TomTom to an appropriately accessible spot in the car.
TomTom START2 UK and RoI Satellite Navigation System is on offer at Amazon – buy today at a great price!
Electronics
This is a great value for money set of 10 decking lights sporting a classy brushed metal exterior. With an outward spoke design, the set features 10 LED’s arranged in a beautiful minimalist design. The stainless steel finish stands out when the lights in their star shaped design are turned on. These lights are suitable for both outdoor and indoor illumination purposes. Ideal places to use them would be over hallways, at the landing of staircases and on the porch; places where lights need to be on almost 24/7.
LEDs consume far less power and emit almost negligible heat compared to conventional lamps and do not burn out like normal bulbs, which is the reason they can be used for long periods without worry. Additionally, LEDs have a near instantaneous startup time and hence you won’t have to wait for a few moments for them to light up.
These decking lights create a serene and calming ambience irrespective of where they are used. Indoors, they’re great for creating a low light atmosphere at the end of a tiring day and outdoors, they can be used for giving a soft glow to the surroundings without being too bright or harsh.
10 High Power LED White Stainless Steel Star Design Decking Lights is on offer at Amazon – buy today at a great price!
Home
This karaoke machine from X Factor marks the epitome of home karaoke machines with a variety of compatible discs and other convenient features such as the monitor. The LS-51 CDG Karaoke Machine has an embedded 5.5” black & white monitor that displays the lyrics of the song. While this is not the correct display method in conventional karaoke, it is of great help to those who might not know the lyrics of a song. Moreover, the machine can also be connected to a TV, which can be used to display the lyrics.
Included in the package of the LS-51 CDG is a microphone and a CDG sampler disc. The microphone is of decent quality but something with a better voice amplifier would be preferable as this one distorts the singer’s voice a bit. Functionally, the LS-51 has everything a karaoke machine should have and can play CDs, CDGs and CDR discs. There is even an Echo control to modulate the output through the built in speaker.
While this machine is portable, compact and function rich, it would have been even better had it come with two microphones for duet singing. Apart from these minor flaws, the X Factor makes for a great gift for families with small children or even for entertainment purposes.
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Electronics
The Yamaha YPT210 is one of the top contenders in the starter keyboard arena. It features 375 instrument sounds and 100 accompaniment styles to give the user endless possibilities for creating music. The YPT210 is a 61 key keyboard and comes bundled with the Education Suite, which is a set of self-help lessons for learning the keyboard which caters both to beginner as well as intermediate users. The Education Suite is categorized based on songs and each song can be learnt with the help of detailed step by step instructions. The lessons are independent and can be learnt with either hand or both hands. In addition, the keyboard comes with additional percussion effects for experimentation and a band-like feel.
The highlight of the YPT210 is its ability to recreate the sound of a grand piano. When compared to other keyboards in the same price bracket, this one easily beats its competitors when it comes to best replicating the sound of a piano. The only downside to the YPT210 is that the Education Suite isn’t very user friendly and it is rather frustrating to adjust the pace and tempo of the lessons and the order in which they are taught.
Maxi-Cosi Cabriofix Group 0+ Infant Carrier Car Seat is on offer at Amazon – buy today at a great price!
Electronics
Rome is a high budget television series jointly produced by HBO and the BBC. The series revolves around the rise and fall of Caesar and his role in the Roman Empire followed by the various events that took place under his rule. Great effort into research, casting, production and photography has made this series extremely engrossing and it ranks as one of the most popular TV serials around the world.
This DVD boxset contains 22 episodes spanning 2 seasons. The first season focuses on two soldiers in the Roman army and their lives and how they are affected by the various policies of Julius Caesar. After helping oust Pompeii Magnus, they win favor and the season ends with the death of Caesar at the hands of several conspirators.
The second season is more diverse and focuses on Antony, Brutus, Cassius and Octavius and each one’s plans for controlling the empire. With great attention to detail and accuracy, this series is popular among recreational watchers and history buffs alike. There is something in store for everyone! The boxset also features discs with ‘Behind the Scenes’ coverage that showcases the great effort that went into putting this award winning show together.
Rome – Season 1-2 – Complete [DVD] [2005] is on offer at Amazon – buy today at a great price!
Entertainment