Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Overview of the Suunto Elementum Terra, The Classy Wristop Computer Watch

By Steve Burgenson


Suunto Elementum Terra will come in a good, hefty, coated card board box, that's nicely lined. Inside the box is a manual, a plastic material warranty card, plus a polishing/cleaning fabric.

My very first impression was that the watch was heavier, but smaller than my Suunto Vector and Suunto Core. It does feel a little thicker however. It's actually an extremely wonderful, dressy watch. After putting it on, it does not appear too weighty. It's got a good weight to it.

Case and Crystal: The case uses stainless steel, having a matte/satin finish to it. It seems to be very nicely made, and very durable. You can find 3 buttons on the right hand side, that all move quite beautifully. Firm, but with no click. The top button is a scroll wheel, for scrolling through menus and making adjustments. I wish my Suunto Core had one. The scroller also actions smoothly, with confirmation clicks.The case is water-resistant to 100m (~300 feet) and according to the manual, the buttons May be pressed underwater.The Terra face is really a flat, sapphire crystal, that also comes with an anti-glare finish onto it.The buttons seem to stick out a bit, but in practice they just do not get in the way, or pushed accidentally.

Strap: It come with several different bands, leather, stainless steel, or rubber. Mine had a great dark leather band. It's some white sewing around the edge of it, that really sets it off beautifully. The band is very thick and strong, but is still comfortable to wear.

Display: The Terra I got has a positive display, which i like Additionally it is provided with a negative display, in case you like that better.It runs on the classical segment display for numbers, just like the Suunto Vector. Thus, it will not plot out any charts/graphs of the elevation or air pressure like the Suunto Core does. The backlight is incredibly bright. A lot better than I have ever seen on any Suunto watch.

Functions: Suunto has not surprisingly kept the capabilities to a minimum. I'm confident that is simply because it really is intended to be a luxury dress watch. It's actually something to wear to the workplace or possibly a celebration, but will still perform in the mountains, even though not as well as the Core. The Terra only has two modes, Time/Altimeter and Compass. The primary display of the Terra displays a lot of information. In the top row, you receive the present height, the center row gives you time, and also the bottom row shows the day. At the top of the display, you have the pressure pattern arrows, and around the perimeter you receive the sea-level barometric pressure. The face area of the Terra doesn't have a rotatable bezel much like the Vector or Core. Instead, a circular chart is present for reading the Sea-Level barometric pressure.




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Friday, November 26, 2010

Buying Guide - Headphones Types

By Javier Dreier


So, which headphones should you use for different situations? Well there are so many kinds these days. There are open, closed, ear-bud, wireless, noise-cancelling, Bluetooth, surround, DJ, mobile phone and many other styles.

Well first I'll outline the big, normal style headphones. If you're a serious music listener or movie buff then I would recommend an open style headphones like the Sennheiser HD595 headphones. These have amazing sound quality but at the expense of isolation unfortunately. If you have a loved one or child that must not be disturbed then closed would be a better option though. However, the bass level is usually a lot higher with these and not as accurate either. It's what people refer to as hyped bass.

Next up is the 'in-ear' style earbud. The best pair to go for in terms of outright audio fidelity is the Etymotic ER-4 ear-buds. They might take a little getting used to since they go so deep into the ear and the driver sits so close to the eardrum but they deliver unparalleled sound for any earbuds so check them out.

Then we have surround headphones. These are perfect for gaming and watching movies. If you have neighbors that wouldn't appreciate a Bruce Willis film complete with extremely bass heavy subwoofer-driven explosions every 5 minutes then these are a great alternative. While the surround experience is not as good as in a cinema, it's often a lot better than the average home surround system without any acoustic treatment in the room.

Another popular and more recent addition to headphones is the wireless variety. If you're the sporty type and can't be fussing with cables getting in your way then look no further. You can run, hike, sprint or play ball to your hearts' content with these and not worry at all.

DJ headphones are a special breed. These are designed for only a few things. To not let sound in or out, to last a long time and to have good bass. However, sound quality on these is never high on the list of priorities so if that's your thing, look elsewhere.

Developed in the jet pilots cockpit, the noise cancelling headphone is a special breed. These are made for anyone in noisy places such as: frequent flyers, factory workers and commuters. These definitely need a test listen beforehand as some can negatively affect the sound quite a bit so try out about 5 pairs before you buy. A talk button and volume slider are a must too. If you need peace and quiet and love your music, try out a few pairs of these today.

This is pretty much everything you need to shop for your new headphones with confidence. Get out there, get listening and good luck.




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Hands On Report On The Renowned Suunto Elementum Aqua Outdoor Watch.

By Jack Russel


The Suunto Elementum Aqua came in a discrete black cube, with merely one word crafted on: "SUUNTO." The one I received has black case, black rubberized band, and positive face. The black case is stainless steel 316L, the typical "marine grade metal," which is incredibly elegant. Through some distance it may resemble an elegant dark G-Shock watch.

The fact is a coworker of mine made exactly this remark; nevertheless a closer inspection unveils its originality. The 41mm bezel has 8 hex screws and its combination with the sapphire glass as well as the curved case remind me of the viewing port of an atmospheric scuba diving suit. In fact I believe that this is actually the most incredible feature of the watch, despite the fact that it is similar to the bezel of a UTS model, the execution by Suunto looks excellent.

Yet another unique function of the watch may be the significant crown pusher at 2 o' clock, the one feature that's shared among all of the Elementum products.

Being bigger than the simple pusher at three o' clock, it sticks out, adding an extra touch of different design culture. The crystal has yellowish circular and linear marks which determine the measurements taken under water. Both the yellow lines help to notify about the present and maximum depth, dive time, while the circular marking is the analogue temperature scale.

Suunto Elementum Aqua operates in two modes: TIME and DIVE mode. The time function is easy enough, the hour and the minutes are placed at the middle of the display screen, while at the end of the display the date is discovered. Do not ask about the reading of seconds, the main display does not have it, despite the empty higher part of the screen which could provide the ideal room for this reading. The reason behind this omission could be an attempt to prevent the refreshing of the display each second and preserve some battery. The setup of the time requires pressing the crown for a few mere seconds. Then the time, date, and alarm set up is extremely effortless by screwing the crown clockwise or anti-clockwise. Another useful characteristic of the watch is a button lock function, which is triggered by pressing the 2 pushers simultaneously. Additionally, by pushing the center pusher firmly in any mode, the backlight is started.




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The New Dyson DC15 Design

By Wayne Allen


Most of today's vacuum cleaners use the standard 4 wheel design. This results in a basic back and forth motion. Very hard to get around corners and can make some crevices impossible.

The Dyson DC15 upright vacuum uses a large yellow ball for maneuverability. This unique design allows the Dyson DC15 to pivot and roll with simple ease. Allowing it to travel where most other vacuums have a very hard time reaching. With a simple movement of the wrist the Dyson DC15 can be guided very easily.

In addition to being one of the easiest vacuum cleaners to use the Dyson DC15 also has a very interesting filtration system. Dyson vacuum cleaners do not use filters in the same way that most vacuums do.

The Dyson DC15 moves the dirt and air into the container where an outer cyclone removes large particles. Food, Hair and fibers are removed during this part of the program. The air is then moved to an inner cyclone where it is spun with a greater speed to remove fine particles of dust from the air.

After the inner cyclone the air is moved through a washable inner foam pre-filter where the particles will remain trapped. This feature allows debris to be trapped in the machine and out of the motor.

The last part of the process is a trip through the final HEPA filter. The Dyson DC15 has a very strict filter system that will prevent most of the bacteria and mold from staying in your home. The vacuum cleaner is designed to keep dirt inside the machine where it belongs.

They may not be known but Dyson vacuum cleaners have been around for many years. They may not be as well known as some of the large names in the industry, but they offer performance and quality with their vacuums. Dyson strives to improve their design with each new product release.

The Dyson DC15 is a fantastic vacuum cleaner to hit the market. It uses an innovative ball design that no other company uses. The Dyson vacuums are also very well known for their suction capabilities and the attachments.




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Thursday, November 25, 2010

Sennheiser HD595 Headphones - 3 Points

By Bo Saba


The critical factors in a headphones' usefulness are as follows:

1. Audio Quality

2. Comfortability

3. Aesthetics

Thankfully when shopping for new headphones, the Sennheiser HD 595 headphones seemed to pop up everywhere. People on many forums are talking about them, reviewing them and buying them. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive too. Everyone just loves their sound quality and detail.

It has a transparent vibe with a very balanced spectrum overall. You really get a sense of the personality or texture of the source you're listening to. While the HD595 headphones are a mid-level model of the Sennheiser range, they can easily compete with the ultra high end models from other brands.

These are definitely not bassy headphones. If you prefer that type of sound a good eq or headphone amp (or both) will warm these up quite a bit. If you compare them to most closed type headphones they will seem a little thin. However, those headphones are bass boosted to sell more. The quality of the bass is very low and has no real punch or substance. The bass on these is deep, extended and real. It's just not in your face is all.

Maybe the biggest drawcard about these headphones are their insane comfort. The clamping force (how hard the headband pushes on your head) is very low, the ear cups are really large and sit way off your ears. The ear pads wont make you sweaty and the open design lets your ears breathe. The best part though is that they are exceptionally light so you'll get totally absorbed in your entertainment without being reminded that you're wearing headphones.

The design is another thing which I quite like. It's understated yet cool. The silver accents, black headband and grille with the Sennheiser logo underneath are all nice touches without looking garish or distasteful. Overall, the Sennheiser HD595 headphones are the best buy around right now. I recommend them for anyone who is a fan of true sound and appreciates comfortable headphones. Get them right away.




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Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Is The Sennheiser HD 595 Hyped Up?

By Kevin Mcmartin


Many headphones today look really good. Their design on the outside is top notch. However, some very vital things are missing on the inside. So while they look really cool and will impress your friends, they will sound terrible and not give you the pleasure that well designed (all round) headphones like the Sennheiser HD 595 headphones can.

These are the perfect headphones for music, gaming or watching movies. They can handle the volumes needed for watching movies, the detail for music and they have the comfort for games. It even comes with a mini TRS jack for your iPhone. Many headphones have the annoying tendency to get harsh or scratchy at higher volumes. Well not these. The 595's handle it with an effortless ease. Even though they were only launched a few years ago, they have already developed a massive user and fan base totally dedicated to them. Pretty impressive.

These are sure to last your entire lifetime. Especially since they have fully replaceable parts. You will be blown away by the clarity, sparkle and depth that these headphones produce. A while back there were some production issues that lead to less-than-great headphones but those issues have been taken care of. If you buy a pair today, they will be just as good as the first ones made.

The sound is amazingly detailed and puts you right in the action or amongst the musicians playing. Sennheiser is also very good with providing replacement parts for these which makes sense since they are such a great seller. So there is no need to worry about having a great pair of headphones that are falling apart.

The biggest strength of these headphones, apart their sheer comfort, is their ability to play live music that has been well recorded. Some good examples would be the live Eagles CD's or DVD's. You will feel like you are right in the audience. Gamers have also noted that they are really good for games too. This makes sense seeing as though they are so amazingly comfortable and gamers will play games for almost days on end. The HD 595 headphones are highly recommended.




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Plusses And Minuses - Sennheiser HD595

By Hugh Benites


The Sennheiser HD595 headphones excel at piano music and female vocals. If the recordings are good you will hear it and conversely if it's not that great then these headphones will not be kind. They will highlight every flaw mercilessly. The midrange is nice and balanced, the detail is great and the bass, while being a little shy is tight and nicely extended.

These headphones work great with good quality equipment such as headphone amps, cables, CD players etc. I have a feeling these would not play well with tube equipment though. The highs are exciting and makes acoustic music very vivid. The sound stage is nice and wide while not being unrealistic.

The soundstage with these headphones is almost like you're listening to speakers. It's great. Most headphones do not get the stereo image right but these definitely do. However i would definitely get a nice amp to go with them as this will boost the lows and level out the frequency response a bit.

Another nice aspect to them is the insane level of comfort they provide. I get headaches pretty easily from headphones but with these it hasn't happened yet. Other cans put a lot of pressure on your head but there is almost none with these. The HD595's work with almost any style of music.

Seeing as the price of these is not much more than truly budget models, it makes a lot of sense to give these a listen instead. These are your best bet if you listen to a huge selection of different music very often. I would not like to recommend these for fans of classical music. Grados would the better for that purpose.

If there are any weaknesses in these headphones (and there aren't really) I would have to get really picky and say the bass could be a little louder and the overall feel of the sound a bit less rough. However, having said that, a good headphone amp will sort that out and give it a flatter, wider sound which is always welcome. This wouldn't be a review if I didn't list the bad points so there you are.




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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Sennheiser HD 595 Headphones - Design Features

By Justin Larimore


Sennheiser really pioneered a new type of driver design with their HD range. Instead of having the drivers angled perpendicular to your ears, these are positioned higher up and face at a downward angle to deliver the sound straight into your ear canal. Traditional headphones have always just thrown sound at your ear with no regards to their basic anatomy. The end result is a much cleaner and tighter sound.

They are very well balanced headphones but some have said the bass is a little lacking. While this is true to a degree, a headphone amplifier will greatly improve the low end. In addition they feature a unique driver technology called Duofol which is supposed to reduce standing waves inside the earpieces drastically. It also features extremely lightweight aluminum voice coils which are known to produce superior dynamics to other materials.

The HD 595's frequency response is a very respectable 12 - 38500 hz which exceeds the abilities of the human ear itself. Very impressive indeed. It's also comes with a handy headphone hanger to keep them safe and out of the way. In addition, Sennheiser makes spare parts for these to this day so durability becomes less important as time wears on.

Since these are open style headphones, expect a lot of bleed from them. This is simply the price to pay for such great sound. You see, closed type headphones can never deliver the level of dynamics and fidelity that open headphones can deliver. It comes down to physics at the end of the day. The amazingly light and brilliant open design, makes these an experience in themselves.

Sennheiser really hit it out of the park with the HD 595 headphones. These are top quality, high end and affordable headphones that will last along time and bring you years of fun and relaxation. The design, technology and features make the HD 595's perfect for classical and jazz fans or anyone seeking more good quality sound in their lives. Highly recommended. This is a great gift too by the way.




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Friday, November 19, 2010

The Innovative Dyson DC15 Design

By Wayne Allen


Most of today's vacuum cleaners use the standard four wheel design. This results in a basic back and forth movement. Very hard to get around corners and can make some crevices impossible.

The Dyson DC15 upright vacuum uses a large yellow ball for maneuverability. This unique design allows the Dyson DC15 to pivot and roll with simple ease. Allowing it to travel where most other vacuums have a very hard time reaching. With a simple movement of the wrist the Dyson DC15 can be guided very easily.

In addition to being one of the easiest vacuum cleaners to use the Dyson DC15 also has a very interesting filtration system. Dyson vacuum cleaners do not use filters in the same way that most vacuums do.

The Dyson DC15 moves the air and dirt into the container where an outer cyclone removes large particles. Food, Hair and fibers are removed during this part of the process. The air is then moved to an inner cyclone where it is spun with a greater speed to remove fine particles of dust from the air.

After the inner cyclone the air is moved through a washable inner foam pre-filter where the remaining particles will be trapped. This feature allows dirt to be trapped in the machine and out of the motor.

The last part of the process is a trip through the HEPA filter. The Dyson DC15 has a very strict filtration system that will prevent most of the bacteria and mold from staying in your home. The vacuum cleaner is designed to keep dirt inside the machine where it belongs.

They may not be very well known but Dyson vacuums have been around for many years. They may not be as well known as some of the big names in the industry, but they offer quality and performance with their vacuum cleaners. Dyson strives to improve their design with each new product release.

The Dyson DC15 is a fantastic vacuum cleaner to hit the market. It uses an innovative ball design that no other company uses. The Dyson vacuums are also very well known for their suction capabilities and the attachments.




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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Best Carpet Steam Cleaner Practices Everyone Should Use

By Tasha Kirk

The seeming ease by which carpets are stained or dirtied regularly in a short period of time can give one tension and headaches. In fact regular vacuuming, even if done twice or thrice daily is hardly enough to keep that new carpet look. Thus what can be advised is through the use of a carpet steam cleaner alongside some best carpet steam cleaner for pets techniques.

Precisely how heavy a carpet gets stained or dirtied is determined by foot and floor traffic. The amount of dirt build up is directly related to the amount of traffic that passes through the area. Light traffic areas may need steam cleaning only once a year compared to almost four times a year for heavy traffic areas. In determining the volume of traffic that passes through a carpet area, include non human traffic like animals and machines as well.

Even though one may already have a regular vacuuming regimen going, a carpet steam cleaner is still unbeatable. This is because it can probe down deeper into the fiber base and extract deep seated dirt. In this way one gets a more thorough and deep clean.

Apart from this being the best machine to clean your carpet, having some good habits hand in hand with its use will give you maximum results. For one, you must wear something loose and light for definitely you will sweat. Not wearing any footwear at all is a must, but it is recommended that you do wear white socks. The socks will keep you body oil from mixing with chemicals in the cleaning process which can create a stain in some instances on the carpet. Do not wear colored socks as the dye of the socks may transfer itself to the carpet during cleaning.

The next step will be to clear the area to be cleaned. Pick up and relocate furniture to other rooms. Also while doing this, scope out the area so you can mentally see where your cleaning will begin and where it will end.

Good ventilation and air circulation is a must in steam cleaning. Since the steam will make the carpet damp, it is good that you have good ventilation to ensure shorter drying times. Increase air circulation and ventilation by opening windows. If no windows are around, open all exits and provide air circulators or electric fans in the area.

Once you do start cleaning, make sure to always work yourself from the innermost part of the room outward to the exit. This will keep you from stepping on clean areas. If you do need to step on already cleaned areas, it is wise to put out newspapers so you do not soil your work. In addition do make sure your water and chemical mix is of the right amount so as to avoid clotting on the carpet fibers. - 14100

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Monday, November 1, 2010

Hands On Overview Of The Mythical Suunto Elementum Aqua Survival Watch.

By Jack Russel

The Suunto Elementum Aqua showed up in a discrete black cube, with merely one word crafted on: "SUUNTO." The one I obtained has black case, black rubberized band, and positive face. The black case is stainless steel 316L, the common "marine quality steel," which is really sophisticated. Through some distance it might appear like an elegant black G-Shock watch.

Actually a friend of mine made precisely this remark; nevertheless a good look uncovers its originality. The 41mm frame has eight hex screws and its combo with the sapphire glass as well as the curved case remind me of the viewing port of an atmospheric scuba diving suit. In fact I do believe that this is the most incredible characteristic of the watch, even though it is similar to the bezel of a UTS model, the execution by Suunto seems wonderful.

A different distinctive function of the watch could be the tremendous crown pusher at two o' clock, the one feature that is shared among all the Elementum products.

Being larger than the simple pusher at 3 o' clock, it really stands apart, adding an extra touch of various design culture. The crystal has yellow-colored circular and linear marks that define the measurements taken under water. Both the yellow lines help to notify about the current and maximum depth, plus the dive time, while the round marking may be the analogue temperature scale.

Suunto Elementum Aqua operates in a couple of modes: TIME and DIVE mode. The time function is easy to understand, the hour and the minutes are placed at the center of the display, while at the bottom of the display the date is found. Don't ask about the reading of seconds, the primary display lacks it, despite the empty top part of the display that could provide the best room for this reading. The reason behind this particular omission could possibly be a shot to avoid the refreshing of the display every second and conserve some battery. The setup of the time requires pushing the crown for a few mere seconds. Then the time, date, and alarm setup is rather easy by screwing the crown clockwise or anti-clockwise. Another helpful function of the watch is a button lock function, which is triggered by pressing both pushers together. Additionally, by pushing the center pusher firmly in any mode, the backlight is turned on. - 14100

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