Showing posts with label android. Show all posts
Showing posts with label android. Show all posts

Monday, April 30, 2012

HeroTab RK7 Android 2.1 tablet 7'' - fast 800Mhz Telechip TCC8902 - integrated case - + free Giftpack (stylus/screen protector) Review

HeroTab RK7 Android 2.1 tablet 7'' - fast 800Mhz Telechip TCC8902 - integrated case - + free Giftpack (stylus/screen protector)
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DO NOT TRY TO BUT THIS PRODUCT FROM DBROTH !! They are selling a knockoff. It IS NOT the HEROTAB RK7. No integrated case. No standard USB port (only mini). No notation on tablet at all of company or model. And it disconnects from wi-fi within seconds after connecting. I did some research and DBROTH has been in trouble before for selling knock-offs (DIGICOM batteries as 1 example). I am amazed AMAZON does business with them. I never will again.

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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android Unlocked Cell Phone, White Review

Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Android Unlocked Cell Phone, White
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I love playing with new phones when it comes out so when I heard that Sony Ericsson was releasing an Android phone I was excited. Before I continue I want to state that my last couple of phones consist of the Nokia N900, Blackberry 9700 Bold, HTC HD2 and my Google Nexus One which I love.
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is Beautiful compared to my recent phones. The hard ware is classy and top notch which is usual when it comes to Sony Ericsson phones. Although the screen of the X10 is not AMOLED it still looks gorgeous on that large screen. The buttons on the phone are well thought of but I wished they placed the Micro USB on the bottom instead of on the top of the phone. Whoever designed that wasn't thinking right. The back cover is easy to remove but in order to get the SIM or memory card out you need to remove the battery. It doesn't bother me but some people might. Now to the software part...
The X10 unfortunately comes with Android version 1.6 but an upgrade to 2.1 is on the way. Sony Ericsson stated that they will release an update but we're not sure when that's going to happen. The fine developers at [...] will probably root the phone and release an efficient ROM way before Sony releases an upgrade. I haven't used Android 1.6 since my T-Mobile HTC G1 but it isn't that bad compared to 2.1.
Some points...
- Now to the whole keyboard issue; I tried using the stock keyboard and it is waaaay better than what everyone's reporting. The space bar needs to be bigger but overall it's not that bad. My nexus one stock keyboard gave me more of as fit that's why I used Smart Keyboard pro which works great on the X10. Whoever plans on getting an X10 will eventuall download and customize their X10 so I don't see it as a big problem.
- Sony Ericsson's Timescape and Mediascape is like HTC's Sense UI, but it's not as rooted. Timescape and Mediascape was a little slow when I used it in the beginning so I removed it altogether and will wait for an update. I think Timescape and Mediascape seems to be the cause of everyone's complaint that the phone is lagging. If you don't use Timescape or Mediascape the phone works fast and flawlessly. My stock Nexus One before being rooted was actually slow so I decided to root and use the faster ROMs. That's why when the X10 is rooted I will definitely root it myself to make the phone even better.
- I love that the phone works flawlessly with T-Mobile USA's 3G bands. When you put your SIM card make sure you have the T-Mobile Android plan then configure the phone's Access Point settings. If you have 3G in your area you'll love the access. :)
The one drawback of this phone is that it's expensive which a lot of people think is overpriced. Most Sony Ericsson smartphones were always expensive. I used to have the Sony Ericsson P900 and Xperia X1 and they were expensive when they first came out. I want to rate this phone based on how fun it is and not use price as a factor.
Overall, I love the phone even for the shortcomings because I see the potential in the horizon. If you can look past the price and just enjoy the phone I think you will be very pleased like me. :)

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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

T-Mobile Garminfone Android Phone (T-Mobile) Review

T-Mobile Garminfone Android Phone (T-Mobile)
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The Garminfone is an excellent GPS unit and a "good" smart phone in one. If you are looking for a high end android device, this might not be the best phone for you because it runs version 1.6 of Android. If you need both a GPS and smart phone this is worth a serious look.
Pros:
Corporate email works well
There is plenty of storage space for downloading apps
If you happen to be out of cell signal range the GPS will continue to work
Comes with car charger and vehicle mount
The screen size is just right @ 3.5"
Cons:
Cannot customize the home screen other than the sidebar
Does not have 3.5mm headphone jack

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The first Android-powered smartphone fully-integrated with Garmin's premium GPS software, the 3G-enabled Garminfone smartphone for T-Mobile gives you the same navigation experience found on Garmin's standalone GPS devices--including voice-guided and on-screen directions, real-time traffic, weather, and gas prices. The mobile Web browser includes enhanced functions, including pinch and zoom capability and embedded location awareness that links information found on the Web to navigation and mapping functions--enabling you to navigate directly to a location from a Web page.
In addition to the comprehensive navigational features, the Garminfone is built on the Android operating system (version 1.6, Donut), offering integrated Google mobile services that millions use every day. With one simple sign-in to your Google account, you'll be connected to Google Calendar, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, and more. And through Android Market, you'll get access to thousands of useful applications, widgets and fun games to download and install on your phone, with many more apps being added every day.

Easily customizable to fit your needs, the Garminfone also give you access to Garmin's Connected Services, which include flight status information, weather forecasts, real-time traffic, gas prices, and more.

The Garminfone is ready to go with the included car kit--simply plug it in and snap it in the car mount and you'll be on your way in no time. Garminfone also features a bright 3.5-inch display, and a 3.0-megapixel camera with geotagging capabilities so you can share location details about the places around you.

The Garminfone provides easy access to both personal and corporate e-mail, calendars, and contacts supported by Exchange Server and Gmail. Other features include 4 GB of internal memory, microSD memory expansion (with 2 GB card included), Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), Bluetooth for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, multi-format digital media player, and up to 4 hours of talk time.



Garmin Navigation With the Garminfone, you'll enjoy driving, walking and public transportation navigation with voice and on-screen directions and automatic re-routing. The on-board North American maps offer fast and reliable directions--whether in or out of cell phone coverage--and multiple overlapping positioning technologies ensure you have one of the best location and navigation experiences a smartphone can offer.
The Garminfone also supports junction view with lane assist in many metro areas--so you can know the right lane to be in at the right time. In addition, it comes preloaded with millions of points of interest so you can look up restaurants, fuel stations, hotels, ATMs and more, get phone numbers and addresses, and navigate right to your chosen location.

The Garminfone utilizes text-to-speech technology to speak street names, and it's tightly integrated with Google Voice Search. Simply speak to move through the point of interest information from within Google Voice Search, make your choice and the Garminfone will guide you there.

Designed with location-aware functionality at its core., the Garminfone's navigation features are fully integrated with frequently used applications such as calendar, contacts, email, Internet browser, and messaging.

Garmin Connected Services Garmin's Connected Services deliver useful localized content, such as traffic data, flight information and weather forecasts, directly to you. It's where you'll find a range of applications and services to keep you informed while you're on the move.
Real-Time Traffic alerts help you avoidtraffic delays and road construction on your route. The Garminfone examines the current traffic data and automatically optimizes a route for the shortest time. You just drive.
Gas Prices finds the best prices for fuel near your location. You can even choose the grade of fuel, regular, mid-grade, premium or diesel. Easily navigate to your chosen station in one click.
Google Local Search allows you to search for businesses in your area then navigate to them using Garmin navigation with voice-prompted directions that announce street names.
Ciao! integrates location-centric social network applications such as GyPSii, with more networks to be added in the future.
Flight Status gives you quick access to flight departure/arrival times and gate information from airports around the world with the closest major airports displayed first.
Panoramio enables you to navigate to geotagged photos that are sorted by distance from current location.
Weather provides current and five-day forecasts tailored for the location where you are. Or where you're going. You can search for weather information for cities around the world.



Key Features
Powered by the Android operating system with deep integration of Google services and access to thousands of apps to customize your phone via the Android Market.
On-screen and voice-prompted turn-by-turn directions that speak street names, know your arrival time, and automatically reroute if you have to detour
Pre-loaded with North American maps for navigation even without cellular coverage
Millions of points of interest so you can look up restaurants, fuel stations, hotels, ATMs and more
Included car kit with dash mount
Fast 3G connectivity via T-Mobile's HSDPA/UMTS network. (1700/2100 MHz bands, UMTS/HSDPA; see more about T-Mobile's 3G service below)
Quad-band GSM phone for good global voice connectivity. (850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands)
3.5-inch capacitive touch display (320 x 480 pixels) with auto-rotation.
Onscreen keyboard
3-megapixel auto-focus camera with 4x digital zoom, white balance adjustment, and multiple shooting modes.
Video capture capabilities (MPEG4 and H.263 with audio via AMR-NB)
Memory expansion via microSD card slot with support for optional cards up to 32 GB (2 GB card included).
4 GB internal memory
Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g) for accessing home and corporate networks as well as hotspots while on the go.
Bluetooth connectivity (version 2.1) includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and the A2DP Bluetooth profile--enabling you to wirelessly stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones or speaker dock.
Multi-format digital audio player with dedicated Amazon MP3 Store app for over-the-air downloads.
Access to personal and work e-mail (support for Exchange Server)
Real HTML Web browsing provides more pages and better Web content delivered efficiently to your phone.
Visual Voicemail allows you to listen to your voice-mail messages in any order, respond in one click and easily manage your inbox without ever dialing in to the network.
Airplane mode allows you to listen to music while the cellular connectivity is turned off

Vital Statistics The Garminfone weighs 4.9 ounces and measures 4.6 x 2.5 x 0.5 inches. Its 1150 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4 hours of talk time, and up to 144 hours (6 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies, as well as T-Mobile's 3G network (1700/2100 MHz).

What's in the Box Garminfone handset, rechargeable battery, charger, USB cable, microSD memory card, wired stereo hands-free headset, stereo headphone adapter, premium dash mount, quick start guide, user manual



T-Mobile Services
High-speed data connectivity via T-Mobile's 3G network: In addition to its quad-band GSM connectivity, this phone is also compatible with T-Mobile's UMTS/HSDPA 3G network, which operates on the 1700/2100 MHz AWS spectrum. This phone is designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide faster data speeds when accessing the Web.
In areas where the 3G network is not available, you'll continue to receive service on the via T-Mobile's EDGE network (which stands for "Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution"). This high-speed, mobile data and Internet access technology is fast enough to support a wide range of advanced data services (with average data speeds between 75-135Kbps), including full picture and video messaging, high-speed color Internet access, and e-mail on the go.

While this phone is optimized for use with T-Mobile's high-speed 3G network, many of its functions will also work well on the moderate-speed EDGE network. If you plan to access the Internet extensively on your phone, 3G network coverage may serve you best.

Activities that work well on EDGE or 3G networks:

E-mail, instant messaging, and texting
Downloading ringtones, CallerTunes, wallpaper, light data files
Sending photographs via e-mail or picture messaging

Activities that work best on a 3G network:

Viewing content-heavy websites (lots of images or videos playing)
Viewing YouTube and other video files (they will play on EDGE, but require loading time)
Uploading large files (photos, videos, presentations) to sharing websites
Downloading large files from an e-mail or a website

T-Mobile's 3G network is currently available in more than 220 cities nationwide and covers more than 160 million people.





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Monday, December 26, 2011

ASUS WL-330N3G 6-in-1 Wireless-N Mobile Router Review

ASUS WL-330N3G 6-in-1 Wireless-N Mobile Router
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You have to initially set it up with an ethernet cable, connecting to 192.168.1.1. You should not need to install any of the included software, but you will want to disable your wireless interface. If the software is easier for you, use it. Once in, you just setup the SSID, security and wireless password. It reboots, you unplug the ethernet and from that point onward you can do everything else over a Wifi connection. Those wireless settings you entered will persist through mode changes and through power loss. This means you can take this device with you and use it without a laptop or an ethernet connection. You can connect to it with a mobile phone or tablet over Wifi, change modes, set advanced settings, and even select a site and connect to it. The iPhone and iPad can both configure the router without problems using Safari. When coming back up after being turned off in hotspot mode, you can connect to it over wifi even if it cannot find the last site it was connected to. I read that you had to work around that problem on the WL-330GE, but you don't have to on this unit. You just connect and select another hotspot. Like the WL-330GE it can connect to sites with WPA, WPA2, etc, and unlike the GE it can connect to 802.11n only sites.
It does have to reboot with any mode change or almost any setting change. Afterwards you can connect again over Wifi. When you change to Hotspot mode you connect to it's web interface at 192.168.220.1 and in router mode at 192.168.1.1 (by default). You need to remember these two addresses and use the right one for the right mode or just try them both until you get in. I took points off of ease of use for these reasons. Granted other routers require a reboot for settings changes too.
It's range was better than expected. It reached about 50 feet, through walls, with only one bar lost. It's not as good as a full-size unit, however. It functions fine on a standard 500mA usb port, with no loss in range over the the distance I tested at (compared to using a 2A port). It gets a little warm to the touch, but nothing to worry about. The usb connector is a typical micro b.
While I have tested out router and hotspot modes, I have not tested them out with paid sites and captive portal pages yet. That will be for another time.
It came with a soft black pouch, a short usb cable (with a y to get more power), an a/c power supply, an ethernet cable and a software disc.

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Friday, December 2, 2011

Garmin Garminfone Android Cell Phone (T-Mobile) - NO CONTRACT Review

Garmin Garminfone Android Cell Phone (T-Mobile) - NO CONTRACT
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Received the item very quickly, thank you. Have purchased new foreign maps and intend to use maps and phone service overseas. I have not been able to use the phone portion yet (not until overseas sim card is inserted), but the US map navigation works fine. Wifi functions as well.

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Monday, October 24, 2011

LG Optimus GT540 Unlocked GSM Quad-Band Phone with 3 MP Camera, Android OS, Touch Screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth - Unlocked Phone - No Warranty - Black Review

LG Optimus GT540 Unlocked GSM Quad-Band Phone with 3 MP Camera, Android OS, Touch Screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth - Unlocked Phone - No Warranty - Black
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Performance: fast & stable.
- It can run Raging Thunder II smoothly (need to download data to SD card separately in order to run the game. The data can be found easily on android forums).
- Web browsing: no lag when scrolling. No double-tap or one-touch zooming (as in Iphone and other capacitive phones) because this phone has resistive screen.
Wifi:
- Easy to config.
- Run smoothly.
Texting: not texting so no comment. However:
- Qwerty onscreen keyboard is not spacious (3" screen).
Music:
- Loudspeaker is good for pop, rap. Not good for metal + rock: I tried playing Tokyo (Resident Evil - Afterlife's OST)and it sounded awful.
Connectivity:
- Always has good signal.
- No problem with making calls (voice is clear).
Software:
- Running Android 1.6.
- Can be upgraded to 2.1 (not officially supported).
Battery:
- 1500mAh => long standby time.
- Run out quickly when running game + WiFi on (battery is drained 21% when running Raging Thunder II for 10 mins).
*Pros:
- One of the most cheapest WiFi & (A)GPS-ready android phone.
- Fast & stable performance.
- Long battery life (standby time).
- Good design (curves at the top & bottom, brushed-metal-like plastic case).
*Cons:
- Resistive screen => no double-tap zooming.
- Old version of Android (1.6). But upgradable to 2.1 (support Live Wallpaper).
Suggestion:
- Install APNdroid (must use 3.0, 2.1 won't work) + 3G Watchdog.
- Install ApkInstaller to install applications from SD card.

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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Apple iPad 2 MC986LL/A Tablet (32GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, white) NEWEST MODEL Review

Apple iPad 2 MC986LL/A Tablet (32GB, Wifi + Verizon 3G, white) NEWEST MODEL
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For anyone out there who is considering whether or not to make the leap and purchase the iPad 2, this review is for you. If you're still debating between the iPad 1 and the iPad 2 check out my review of the first generation iPad right here on Amazon to see a discussion of its strengths and weaknesses with a number of people commenting (both positively and negatively) over the past 11 months.
Let me begin by saying this upfront, I don't work for Apple, I don't own Apple Stock, and whether you buy an iPad, Xoom, a laptop or a pad of paper and pencil I don't get anything for writing this. I'm not an Apple "fanboy" although I can give credit where credit is due and lately Apple has deserved a lot of credit for some of their products.
Physical Characteristics
The iPad 2 is absurdly thin. More importantly than it's thinness is its tapered edge which feels more natural in your hand. One of the biggest complaints about the original iPad was it really wasn't tremendously comfortable to hold for long periods at a time. For a tablet device designed to be held, that's a pretty big deal. Apple really has done an amazing job of cramming everything into an even smaller space than before and the difference is really noticeable when you're holding the device. In addition to the tapered edge, Apple managed to reduce the overall weight of the iPad 2. That might not seem like a huge deal to most, especially when you consider the weight difference isn't tremendous when you're already under 2 pounds, but I spend a good part of my day holding the iPad in my hands and the weight difference is surprising by the end of the day. The first generation isn't heavy by any means, but the iPad 2 outshines it.
New and "Improved"
Apple doubled the RAM in the iPad 2 from 256MB to 512MB. What does that mean? For most casual users, probably not a whole lot. There is a performance bump that everyone will see the effects of in things like loading times for webpages that are open in the background, but 256MB was sufficient for most daily use and games. If you're planning to use your device for some of the more graphically intense games the iPad 2 does offer a better method of graphics processing that'll help deliver faster images with fewer jerky movements. If you're just playing Angry birds and reading e-mail you're not going to know the difference.
The screen is the same for all real purposes. It is technically a "new" part in that it isn't identical to the old, it's a bit thinner and more efficient, but it's the same resolution. The Glass is thinner though, and this amounts to a fair bit of the weight loss from one generation to the next. In playing with the device it seems surprising but despite feeling lighter it actually feels more sturdy in your hands. I still wouldn't suggest dropping it, but if it were to fall the iPad 2 certainly feels like it might stand a better chance to survive. Try not to drop it though.
The addition of 2 cameras was expected. Some were a bit surprised to see the first generation released without the cameras. Whether it was for a price point consideration, or a means to get people to upgrade, Apple held off until iPad 2. The cameras do a reasonable job, but they're not going to replace a dedicated digital camera, or really even the camera on your phone for most still images. The cameras do a substantially better job with video, and FaceTime is probably one of the best reasons to get the iPad 2 over the original iPad. For those who might not be familiar, FaceTime is Apple's face to face conferencing system, kind of like Skype, or if you'd rather, kind of like the Jetson's TV/Phone. With the push of a button you can be having a face to face chat with a loved one just about anywhere in the world (provided they're on a wireless network at the time). FaceTime doesn't work over 3G natively (it can be used over a wifi connection created by a 3G device however) so you're not going to be able to use it in your car anytime soon. This is probably a good thing though. It is incredibly easy to use and if you know other people with an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or Mac it's a lot of fun.
Smart Covers aren't really "smart" but they're really very useful. Not only do they provide a stylistic enhancement of the device, but they serve a practical and functional purpose of doubling as a screen protector and stand in 2 configurations. You can find them in a variety of colors and from third market suppliers, and it's a safe bet that more will be out soon to capitalize on the magnetic sensors in the iPad 2. It's unfortunate that this same feature can't somehow be retrofitted to the iPad 1, I wouldn't have thought a case would be a compelling reason to consider a product over it's competitor, but these covers are really so useful it's hard to understand why they've not been there since the beginning.
Multitasking Support
One of the biggest knocks against the iPad when first released was the lack of native multi-tasking support. Jailbreakers added the feature quickly and Apple soon realized it would be a requirement for any future device's success and released an OS update that included the feature. The iPad 2 capitalizes on that progress and takes it a step further with the increased RAM enabling more open applications to be suspended at once, and the time to open or close an application has improved as well. That said, even the first generation managed to open and close apps faster than most people would be used to on their computers, so while this is an improvement it's more akin to showing off.
Apps
One thing that Apple has clearly the advantage in for the moment is app availability. The App store has close to 70,000 iPad specific Apps, all of which will work on the iPad 2. The new cameras will undoubtedly see this list expand rapidly, as will the inclusion of a gyroscope for gaming and motion based uses. There are also a substantial number of professional applications ranging from document creation to photo editing and vector drawing. Chances are if you can dream it, there's an App for that (and if not you might want to get started on one to fill in the gap). The Android market is making a strong showing, and ultimately it'll likely be a strong competitor, for now it still has a ways to go, but any potential buyer should consider the strength of the application market before buying a tablet.
Pros:
Weight. Seriously. The minimal weight of this thing is by far the most impressive feature about it in my opinion. It seems to defy physics and logic that so much could be in such a small space working that hard for that long.
Battery Life. From full to dead my iPad 2 went just over 11 hours with the movie Robin Hood showing twice during that time, the screen at half brightness, wifi turned on, an Angry Birds marathon and a good portion of a book in ibook. That's better than a work day and that's constantly on.
Books. This is definitely a Pro, but reading itself could go either way. The great benefit to the iPad is having access to Google Books, ibook, Nook, and Kindle. This allows for some comparison shopping and price competition (although for the most part they're all usually about the same). Reading in the evenings in bed is great as the back light means you don't have to worry about keeping others awake, but the glass screen causes some glare trouble when trying to read outside or near a sunny window. If you're an avid outdoor reader the Kindle might still be your best bet.
Cons:
Still no dedicated USB support. While there is a camera add-on that allows for certain USB devices to be used there is no option for mass storage. Some of the Android Tablets allow for this and if you find yourself wanting to use your tablet as a standalone storage device this might be something to consider. The device can read from certain flash drives though, but is largely limited to photo and video files. Jailbreaks offer solutions to this, but those come with their own issues as well.
Still no dedicated SD card slot. This is troublesome on two fronts. First, if you want to import pictures from your camera you have to have an adapter which is just one more thing to carry around. Second, the lack of expansion means you're limited to what you purchase in terms of storage. I purchased a 32GB iPad last time and never filled it up completely, so for me capacity wasn't an issue. If you want to be able to have your entire movie collection with you though... you may want to consider whether the iPad 2 can meet your space requirements.
HDMI output. Really this is a Pro and a Con. The iPad does allow for HD output over HDMI but again it requires an adapter. All of these adapters are additional purchases for features that some tablets offer built in. This can be a pain, but then again if you're not likely to ever use HDMI Output then you're not paying for something you won't use.
No Flash Support. This is becoming less and less of an issue as the internet and web developers are moving away from Flash for many websites, but there are a lot still out there relying on Adobe's Flash to run properly (including a lot of web based games). Before you pick a tablet consider what kind of websites you frequent and try and determine if they are Flash driven or not. If they are you may really want to consider something from the Android offerings as it is expected that they'll have at least some Flash support. If you're in the market for a tablet device the iPad 2 should definitely be on your short list. If you're uncertain it is always best to go and play with these things hands on first if you can. Best Buy is a good place for that, so are Verizon Stores since they have the Xoom and 3G iPad. Don't get pulled into the hype...Read more›

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Thursday, August 4, 2011

Smarthome 2443 Access Point INSTEON Wireless Phase Coupler, 1-Pack Review

Smarthome 2443 Access Point INSTEON Wireless Phase Coupler, 1-Pack
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Let me preface my review by saying that I did a little bit of research on home automation before purchasing these INSTEON products. There are a lot of home automation technologies available on the market. After reading the good and the bad about INSTEON and calling their Gold Line more than once, I chose to make my investment with them (and this is an investment - I heard more than once from my wife that "we already have switches in our house, why do we need these?". It seemed like INSTEON may have had some issues with their products a few years ago, but have improved the reliability and have expanded the line a great deal. There are a lot of forums like CocoonTech where you can get the good, the bad and the ugly about all things home automation. My takeaway was that X10 is certainly cheap, but at times you get what you pay for, and it is unreliable. ZWave is certainly an option, but I chose INSTEON since the technology sounds and seems better (my interpretation).
My base project took me a day to complete. I puchased:
Smarthome 2476D SwitchLinc INSTEON Remote Control Dimmer, White
Smarthome 2486DWH6 KeypadLinc INSTEON 6-Button Scene Control Keypad with Dimmer, White
Smarthome 2473SWH OutletLinc INSTEON Remote Control Outlet, White
Smarthome 2412N SmartLinc INSTEON Central Controller
Smarthome 2443 Access Point INSTEON Wireless Phase Coupler, 1-Pack
Pros:
Though I am not an electrician these are generally pretty easy to install. I was doing a lot (for a Saturday), so it took a long time, but you can figure about 15 minutes per unit depending on your skill level. Also since you are going to be turning off power to certain areas of your home, you may want to do this when no one is around.
I like being able to do an all on or off by hitting one button
Linking is generally pretty easy, however I also have a con related to this below
Smarthome's INSTEON support is pretty solid. As I mentioned I called several times and did not feel like they were pressuring me to buy something, but were well versed in how to use the products

Cons:
This would have been 10x easier if I had also purchased some kind of link management software (there is a product called ISY and another one from Smarthome called Houselinc), however I was not willing to fork over the additional funds to do so; not sure why this is not part of Smartlinc
Instructions are pretty basic and are product specific...if you are doing anything advanced you may want to consult others on the forums or call the support
Smartlinc is definitely a more advanced product that requires some set up - there is a lot of information online about how to do so; also this would be great if it was an app for my phone
What exactly do access points do and why do I need them?
My results were pretty good. I have keypads at the front & back doors and in the bedroom which are great. My wife went from being a skeptic to being a believer (the keypads controlling all of the lights are a big plus when it is time for bed). I am still fiddling with Smartlinc too. I will and would purchase more in the future and would recommend to others that consider themselves a bit of a DIY person.


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