Product Review: RallyCam 3000
By Michael PosnerNovember 2, 2008 - When my esteemed editor suggested I review the RallyCam, I envisioned a simple one camera with a small recording device. Instead. the edgecameras.com people sent me their RallyCam 3000, a three-camera system with a sophisticated control unit integrated with a multi-use video recording device. The devices came packed tightly in their container. I was quickly overwhelmed by cables, clamps, remotes and plastic bags. The numerous instruction sheets were not very helpful. But TTAC's Best and Brightest are persistent bastards, as are their legally-trained representatives. So away we go...
RallyCam 3000 earned a 4 star rating from TTAC
Posted in Gizmos | Product Reviews | 15 comments 
NEXTAR Snap3 3.5″ Navigation System Review
By Michael PosnerJanuary 11, 2008 -
Looking at last year’s Black Friday ads made it clear that a portable GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) satellite navigation device was the season’s most popular loss leader. Even department stores like Macys were offering a GPS device on the cheap. This strategy continues; last week our local Walgreen’s had a Nextar GPS device at the front counter for under $200, right there next to mints and quit smoking gum. I wanted to see if a cheap GPS unit could compete with the big boys. So I contacted Nextar, and they provided us with a Snap3.
NEXTAR Snap3 3.5" Navigation System »
NEXTAR Snap3 3.5" Navigation System earned a 2 star rating from TTAC
Posted in Editorials | Gizmos | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 8 comments
Motorola HS820 Bluetooth Headset
By Michael PosnerJanuary 8, 2008 -
I know it's not PC to say so, but I hate a lot of things. For example, I hate people walking around with those stupid cell phone earpieces looking like Lt. Uhura from Star Trek. They wear them like some sort of fashion jewelry, even when they're not asking John to phone Sally to tell Jorge he needs to phone Mary. For my sake, they should put their headsets away when not in use. Meanwhile, to find out what these people see in these devices and whether they have any practical use, I tested the suddenly very cheap Motorola HS820, a small Bluetooth, wireless headset.
Motorola HS820 Bluetooth Headset »
Motorola HS820 Bluetooth Headset earned a 4 star rating from TTAC
Posted in Editorials | Gizmos | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 10 comments
Sears DieHard 10/2/50 amp Automatic Battery Charger Review
By Michael PosnerJanuary 3, 2008 -
Like most middle aged men, I had a car crisis. So, after convincing my wife that an Imola Red BMW M Roadster isn’t “chick magnet red,” I bought my dream car. Of course, the dream is never the reality. I rarely drove the M. Summers were too wet and hot (real men don’t drive a convertible with the top up and the a/c on). Fall was too wet. Ah, winter in Florida! It’s the best ‘vert weather but… I just got a new daily driver. So Emily became a garage queen. And died.
Sears DieHard 10/2/50 amp Automatic Battery Charger »
Sears DieHard 10/2/50 amp Automatic Battery Charger earned a 4 star rating from TTAC
Posted in Editorials | Gizmos | Maintenance/Repair | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 15 comments
Escort Laser Shifter ZR3 Review
By Michael PosnerDecember 5, 2007 -
It's a never-ending battle between speeders and the police. Since the e-wars began, the police have moved from simple X-Band radar-based speed detectors to sophisticated KA-band radar guns, radar detector detectors (no really) and laser speed detection devices (with charming names like Stalker LZ-1). While the best consumer radar detectors can sniff out X and KA-band signals from a long way off-- before the signal can bounce back to Officer Not So Friendly-- if your laser beam detector goes off, tag you’re it. If you’re speeding (which you probably are as you’re reading a laser jammer review), you’ve been nabbed.
Escort Laser Shifter ZR3 earned a 4 star rating from TTAC
Posted in Editorials | Gizmos | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 18 comments
Magellan Maestro 4040 GPS Review
By Michael PosnerOctober 20, 2007 -
Given the changing pace of technology, the price of factory-fitted satellite navigation and the itinerant traveler's tendency to rent their chariot, a portable GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) navigation system is the ideal solution. When choosing an electronic pathfinder, map quality makes all the difference. Magellan (like Garmin) uses the premier map data supplier Navteq. The Magellan Maestro Series offers three models with a "just right" screen size (4.3"). The 4000 ($399) is the base model. The 4040 ($499) adds Canada (the maps, not the country) and Bluetooth, which lets you access addresses lurking inside your phone/palmtop. Although you can upgrade the 4040 to real-time traffic data for another hundred bucks, that same Franklin buys you the 4050 ($599) with a built-in traffic jam info receiver. On the road, the Magellan's 4040's geek fabulous 20-channel sirfsStarIII chipset instantly locked onto a GPS signal and updated quickly. The maps are pellucid, the voice prompts clear and the touch screen ergonomically sound. On the downside, the map disappears during recalculation and full-on sunlight is still a bugbear (a built-in visor would help). While RV-ing seniors might appreciate the AAA's TourBook info and roadside assistance (trip A members only), it would be nice to be able to choose a more (ahem) upmarket guide. Overall, the 4040 is a decent but not outstanding GPS device– at $499. But Costco's got 'em for $349 (in store price, call ahead). For that money, you're good to go.
Should this be a TTAC-approved product?
Magellan Maestro 4040 GPS earned a 4 star rating from TTAC
Posted in Editorials | Gizmos | News Blog | Product Reviews | Product Reviews | 23 comments
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