Archive for November, 2011

Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 6:34 am  
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Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker Rating:
List Price: $145.00
Sale Price: $63.87
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Eligible For Free Shipping

Product Description

Many of us think about creating our own frozen yogurt, sorbet or ice cream but never get around to actually doing it. After all, it seems pretty complicated and a hassle to get into. This is what makes the Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker such a fantastic choice for Christmas: it's something that we'd probably never buy for ourselves but would love to receive as a gift!

Features Of The Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

* Fully automated,

* Can be used for ice cream, sorbet and frozen yoghurt,

* Stainless steel design,

* Heavy duty motor,

* Ready in as little as 25 minutes,

* Ingredient spout for adding in extras like fruit or chocolate chips,

* 2-quart freezer bowl,

* Comes with instruction booklet and recipes,

* 8-1/4 x 8 x 11-1/4 inches in size,

* 3 year warranty

Benefits Of The Cuisinart ICE-30BC

The manual that comes with the ice cream maker has an excellent collection of recipes to get you started, so you won't need to buy a separate recipe book (at least at first). They're easy to follow, and don't take too long to make (though you need to put the bowl in your freezer in advance). This is good news for eager learners who want to see how their first home made ice cream has turned out!

The design of the ice cream maker is also something to consider. Some of us have so many kitchen gadgets that it's impossible to try and fit them all in on the countertop. Thankfully, the Cuisinart ICE-30BC doesn't take up too much space, and its simple stainless steel square-shaped design helps to keep it from standing out too much.

Drawbacks Of The Cuisinart ICE-30BC

It takes around half an hour to make a batch of ice cream, and during that time you will notice the noise it makes as it gets to work. Although this might bother some, it really isn't for long at a time. Most people who've bought it say that it isn't too much noise while it lasts.

To get the ice cream maker to work, you also need to make sure that there's room in the freezer to freeze the bowl the day before you want to use it. Make sure your freezer is cold enough: if the bowl doesn't freeze fully then the ice cream maker won't work.

Should You Buy The Pure Indulgence Ice Cream Maker From Cuisinart?

The Cuisinart ICE-30BC is an excellent gift for anyone who likes to experiment in the kitchen. The best thing is that it's not just limited to people who feel they are good cooks – anyone can use this, and there are plenty of recipes already included to get you going. All in all, it's something different, something fun, and it won't break the bank as you might have expected!

Details

  • Fully automatic frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream maker
  • Brushed stainless-steel housing; heavy-duty motor
  • Large ingredient spout for easily adding favorite mix-ins
  • Double-insulated 2-quart freezer bowl; instruction book and recipes included
  • Measures approximately 8-1/4 by 8 by 11-1/4 inches; 3-year limited warranty

Review Of The Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells: A Versatile Weight System

Friday, November 11th, 2011 at 6:16 am  
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Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair)

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair) Rating:
List Price: $549.00
Sale Price: $349.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description

If there's a special man in your life trying to get fit, who doesn't already own a good selection of weights, then the BowFlex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells make an excellent value Christmas gift. They really do have everything he'll need for a variety of weight lifting exercises.

Features Of The BowFlex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

* Each dumbbell can adjust from 5 – 52.5 lbs,

* Adjustments go up in 2.5 lb increments,

* 15.75 inches long x 8 inches wide x 9 inches tall,

* Equivalent of 15 sets of weights in one,

* Easy to use dial system lets you switch the weight easily,

* Saves space when compared to traditional dumbbells,

* Five year warranty on weight plates, two years on parts.

Benefits Of The BowFlex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

The best thing about these weights is the flexibility they will give you. They're fully adjustable all the way from 5 to 52.5 lbs, meaning that you don't need to have a whole set of weights to fulfill your workout needs.

The dial system that the weights use is quick and easy to operate, and will adjust the weight in 2.5 pound increments.

The fact that you can adjust the Bowflex weights means that they're perfect for those who don't have too much space where they live. The whole system is stored in one device, complete with the dial system to adjust the weight.

Even though this takes up a little more space than a standard pair of standalone weights, it's actually a lot more compact that you might expect given the range of weights that this set can produce.

The design itself is easy to hold, and the weights come with a stand so that you don't need to lift them all the way from the floor if you don't want to.

Drawbacks Of The BowFlex SelectTech 552 Adjustable Dumbbells

One complaint with the older 2008 version of this set was the fact that parts of the whole set were made with plastic. With weights of up to 52 lbs, this could cause problems with some sets breaking.

Thankfully the newest set, made in 2009, now uses a metal construction and you won't need to worry about the dumbbells breaking. If you read any reviews complaining about the plastic design, know that this has now been fully rectified.

The price at first may also seem to be expensive to some. However, consider the cost of buying a set of different weights and you'll see that they quickly add up. With the BowFlex SelectTech system, you're getting a whole variety of weights at one reasonable price.

Is It Worth Buying These Adjustable Dumbbells?

There's no denying the fact that, as a gift, these dumbbells aren't cheap. However, in their category they are some of the highest rated and best selling dumbbells you can get.

This really is an all-in-one Christmas gift that'll give the special man in your life all he needs to perform a whole range of exercises with a variety of suitable weights.

Details

  • Each dumbbell adjusts from 5 to 52.5 pounds; adjusts in 2.5-pound increments up to the first 25 pounds
  • Lets you rapidly switch from one exercise to the next
  • Combines 15 sets of weights into one, using a unique dial system
  • Eliminates the need for multiple dumbbells cluttering your workout space
  • Five-year warranty on weight plates, two-year warranty on parts

Buy Apple TV – Media Streaming Box Review

Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 12:26 pm  
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Apple TV MC572LL/A (2010)

Apple TV MC572LL/A (2010) Rating:
List Price: $99.00
Sale Price: $99.00
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description

When it comes to digital multimedia streaming devices, when you buy Apple TV you're probably getting the most famous option you can buy. Since it was first released a few years ago the price has gone way down, making this an affordable option for just about everybody. But are its limitations enough to make it worthwhile to look at the competition? Keep reading to find out.

Apple TV Specs At A Glance
Average Price: 3.9 Size: 3.9 x 3.9 x 0.9 inches Connection: HDMI Resolution: Up to 720p SD Card Slot: None USB Ports: None Storage Space: None Internet: Wi-Fi, Ethernet Web Browser: None
Content Services

Netflix: Yes Hulu: No Amazon Video: No YouTube: Yes

Buy Apple TV: The Good

Price: At around $100, the Apple TV is affordable to just about any consumer. Unlike their tablet, smartphone, or computers, which are known to cost more than many of their competitors, the Apple TV is one of the most affordable devices of its kind.

Design: The price isn't the only thing to have decreased since the first generation Apple TV: the design has also become a lot more compact, at just a quarter of the original size. The Apple TV isn't going to clutter up your living room at all - it really is tiny and inconspicuous, and has a very low power usage to match.

Aside from the multimedia box itself, all you get in the box is a power cable and a remote control, making it very easy to get set up and running (though you will need to purchase an HDMI cable separately). The remote itself is made from stylish brushed metal, and certainly takes design inspiration from Apple's own iPod. It's easy and intuitive to use to access the various menus. If you prefer, you can also install the remote app on your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch and use that instead. The only downside of the remote is that it can't control the volume on the TV.

Connections: Despite the small size of the device, there are connections for external speakers (or you can use your TV's own speakers), an Ethernet connection if you don't have Wi-Fi at home and the HDMI slot to connect the box up to your TV.

Airplay: Airplay is a newer feature on the Apple TV that allows you to share your multimedia between a range of different Apple devices in the home. Whatever's playing on your iPhone or iPad can be wirelessly streamed to your HDTV. You can also use this to view your photos on your TV set. This is an easy to way to transfer content from one device to another without the need for storing them on the hard drive (a good thing, too, since Apple TV doesn't have one - see below).

User Interface: User interface has always been one of Apple's strong points, whether on their computers or the iPad. The Apple TV is no different, and the interface is one reason why many people choose Apple TV over the big competitors such as Roku. It's so easy to use that it's unlikely you'll ever need to refer to instructions. Just enter your password to set up the Wi-Fi connection and it's a breeze to find what you want.

iTunes Content: The above factors are all very well, but the content is the main reason any of us choose to buy a digital media streaming box. The Apple TV has an excellent advantage in the fact that it has direct access to the iTunes Store and the whole library of media that this contains. You can download TV shows and movies, many of them in HD quality, as well as music and podcasts.

One thing to note, however, is that there is a small wait between choosing a movie to watch and playing it on the screen. Because all the content is streamed from the internet, it takes a few minutes to get downloading and ready to watch.

Internet Options: As well as the content from the Apple Store, there are a few built in internet functions to keep you busy. This includes viewing videos on YouTube, listening to online radio stations and viewing photographs on Flickr. Netflix users can also take advantage of direct streaming to their television screen.

Buy Apple TV: The Bad

Password Input: Although this could be a minor point for many, it's still worth mentioning. When you enter your iTunes or wireless network password, you have to enter it in front of anyone else in the room. It doesn't even blank out the letters as you type, which means you have to be careful when entertaining. True, Apple TV can store your password so you don't have to publicly enter it each time, but this leaves it exposed to being abused (especially if you have kids).

Flash And Web Browser: There's no Flash on the Apple TV, and this could be a huge turn off for users. Just like on the iPad, iPhone and iPod, Apple have purposely chosen to leave this out. Although the most popular services are available in alternative formats, this is still a limitation - though it's important to note that there's actually no web browser included on the Apple TV anyway if you were planning on watching Flash videos on websites.

No Storage: Unlike the previous generation of Apple TV, there's no internal storage space on the new Apple TV. This means that you can't store any downloaded files: you can only stream rentals from the iTunes store or included services such as Netflix. To get around this, you can stream media from your PC, but this is a little time consuming.

Should You Buy Apple TV?

The latest generation of Apple TV looks good and comes in at a fantastic price point. The lack of a hard drive isn't an issue for most users who will simply use the box to stream content to their TV. Although a few main content services are missing (Hulu Plus, for example), you can't beat Apple TV if you have a big iTunes library that you want to stream on your TV.

Details

  • Stream HD movies and TV shows rented from iTunes, plus content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, MLB TV, NBA TV, Vimeo, and MobileMe
  • Smaller, redesigned device with HDMI and digital optical audio output; connects to network via Wireless-N or Ethernet
  • Silent, cool, and very low power operation in an enclosure that's less than four inches square
  • Music, videos and photos can also be streamed from PCs and Macs
  • Comes with 7-button aluminum Apple remote; can be controlled by iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch via Remote app