Panasonic BL-C131A Network Camera Wireless 802.11 Review

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(More customer reviews)My wife and I wanted to keep an eye on the nanny with our baby from work. After researching the network cameras for several months, it seemed that only Panasonic cameras consistently received positive (usually glowing reviews) whereas cameras from other major brands like Linksys, D-Link, etc received mediocre or poor reviews. So I went with Panasonic. And after about a month, I have to say I am very impressed with it. Some background: I have a classic Linksys WRT54G 802.11g router, with 2 WinXP PCs connected to it via ethernet and 3 more PCs connected wirelessly; plus, I have AT&T/SBC DSL service via a Speedstream 5100 DSL modem. If you're moderately computer literate, you should have no problem following the included instructions to setup (view and control) the camera in wired mode or in wireless WiFi mode.
But if you want to setup the camera to be viewed (and controlled) from the internet, you need to do a bit more work. And this is where Panasonic's excellent, excellent customer support comes in. Panasonic's support line is 8_0_0-2_7_2-7_0_3_3; they are open Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM and Sat/Sun 10AM-7PM Eastern US Time; this tech support is available to you for the LIFE of the product. They will walk you through how to setup the camera, configure your router (for, among other things, port forwarding), and register with Panasonic's FREE Dynamic DNS web service. This last point is important: Panasonic network cameras include FREE Dynamic DNS hosting service for the life of the product; other brands offer the service for an annual fee.
Okay, step-by-step, here's how to config the camera for internet viewing:
First, if you use DSL as I do (as opposed to cable broadband), you have to configure the DSL modem for "bridge mode." (If you don't use DSL, then you can skip this step.) This is because DSL modems act as a router, and port forwarding cannot work behind both the DSL modem's router and (in my case) the Linksys WRT54G router. If you want, you can call your DSL tech support to ask them to walk you through how to "bridge" your DSL modem. But here's what I did.
1. Login to your DSL modem (for me, it's 192.168.0.1) using your DSL account (for me, it's my SBCglobal email address).
2. Select Advanced >> PPP Location
3. Select Bridged Mode (PPPoE is not used), then Change PPP Location
4. When prompted, restart the DSL modem
5. Login to your router (for me, it's 192.168.1.1)
6. Under Setup> Basic Setup >> Internet Connection Type, select PPPoE and enter the DSL login & password info you normally would enter in your DSL modem to authenticate your DSL service.
7. At this point, the "bridging" should have been successful. To check that bridging has been successful, click Status >> Router, and check that you are "connected" with an IP address showing. If successful, you should also see that your DSL modem's "internet" LED light is off while your router's "internet" light is on. What you basically have done is to move the point of authentication for your DSL service from the DSL modem to your router; your DSL modem merely acts as a bridge for the DSL service to your router.
8. Now, we move on to configuring the camera itself. I assume that the camera has already been configured for wired and wireless mode. Login to the network camera (for me it's, 192.168.1.253).
9. Click Setup. Change the Port No. from the default of 80 to 50000 (fifty thousand) and enter the IP address of the camera (for me, it's 192.168.1.253). Click Save, and the camera will restart. When it finishes restarting (taking as long as 1.5 min), it'll bring you back to the "Top" home page of the camera config screen.
10. Log back into your router, and go to Applications & Gaming, where you'll be able to set up port forwarding.
11. In the Port Range, enter 50000 as "Start" and 50000 as "End." Enter the IP Address of the camera (for me, 192.168.1.253). Check Enable. Save Settings.
12. Now, log back into your camera. Go to Setup >> DynamicDNS. Select viewnetcam-dot-com, then Next.
13. Click on "Your Account Link" to bring up the viewnetcam.com registration page, where you then select New Registration. Enter your desired registration info and select your domain name at viewnetcam-dot-com (e.g. yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com). Click Choose.
14. Now, you will be shown a page confirming your registration. Under DDNS status, you will see Active-waiting. You need to wait up to 10min as the domain registration occurs, at which time, the status will change to Active.
15. We're almost done; stay with me! From WinXP Start Menu, click Run and type "cmd" to bring up a DOS window.
16. In the DOS window, type "ipconfig/all", which shows your computer's various network information. Under Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection, copy down the two addresses under DNS Servers.
17. Log back into your camera, select Setup, and enter the 2 DNS Server addresses from ipconfig/all in the 2 DNS boxes.
18. Go back to viewnetcam-dot-com, login to your account, and check that the DDNS status is now Active. If so, then you're all ready to go!
19. Go to yourname-dot-viewnetcam-dot-com:50000 to see your network camera on the internet!

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Wireless Network Camera 802.11g, MPEG4, Automatic Network Configuration, Universal Plug and Play, Set-up Wizard, Remote Pan/Tilt Control, Built in PIR motion detector

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Lexmark AIO All-In-One Dual Cartridge Inkjet Printer X5070 Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this printer after looking at a number of others. I thought it was a nice printer with great price for all of the features it had.
After taking the printer out of the box, it only took about 10 minutes to set up. There was a big sheet in the box with illustrations and step by step instructions. Also, the software CD guides you through the set up. Once again, a very quick and easy set up. I was up and printing in 10 minutes!
The printer works great. It prints text very fast and color text with photos fairly quickly too. The scanner, copier, and fax work great. I have not had any problems. I've been running about 50 sheets of paper in the tray and have not had one paper jam.
I also like the fact that there is a telephone handset on the unit so you can use it as a land line if necessary.
All and all I found it to be a nice, reliable, all in one printer with a very affordable price. I would recommend this printer to others.

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Motorola SLVR L7 Unlocked Phone with Camera, MP3/Video Player, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a very nice phone. Call reception and battery life are excellent on the Cingular network. The iTunes features work fine but it won't replace my iPod nano any time soon. This phone has a very solid feel to it. The SLVR is not without flaws but show me a phone that isn't.
PROS:
Very solid, slim and sexy.
iTunes
Quad band
Expandable memory
Excellent reception
Excellent battery life
Bluetooth
CONS:
Camera (0.3 megapixel is pathetic in this day and age)
No high speed data (EDGE)
100 song cap on iTunes (not shocking, Apple still wants to sell iPods)
No dedicated headphone jack ( form over function compromise)
USB 1.1 transfer is VERY slow
Same old Moto OS ( Contacts list Stinks)
Conclusion:
If you're looking for a very sexy looking phone that has excellent reception and battery life I can think of no better choice than the SLVR. If you need a smart phone or all the latest bells and whistles there are better choices.

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If you thought the RAZR V3 was cool, you'll love the latest addition to Motorola's line of super-chic, super-powerful phones--the SLVR L7. Packing all the great functionality of the RAZR V3, plus a few more bells and whistles like removable memory, the SLVR L7 adopts a thin, candy-bar form factor that is sure to turn heads. The SLVR L7 also adds support for iTunes, allowing you to play, sort, store and manage your music right on the phone. With long-range Bluetooth, support for video playback, a VGA (640 x 480) camera and a gorgeous color screen it's a must-have phone for those who want to stay on the cutting edge.
Design At less than a half-inch thick, the SLVR L7 redefines the ultrathin phone category. A large 176 x 220 color display with 262,000 colors resides above the handset's backlit control pad, which is precision cut from a single sheet of nickel-plated copper alloy. The VGA camera lens is housed on the rear of the phone, while up/down buttons are placed on the left side. There's also a highly accessible mini-USB port on the right side of the phone for data synchronization and music transfer, as well as a covered slot for inserting a microSD or TransFlash memory card.
Calling Features The SLVR L7's internal phone book can hold up to 1000 contacts while the phone's picture ID system allows you to assign pictures to your most common callers. It also supports polyphonic ringtones as well as music ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. And for times when you want to be discreet, there's a vibrating alert. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear, while voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family, and associates as easy as saying their names.
Because the SLVR L7 is Bluetooth enabled, wireless headsets can be configured with the phone for total hands-free operation.
Messaging, Internet, and Tools The SLVR L7 is a messaging and wireless Internet powerhouse. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, sound, and video via messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. Instant messaging is supported and the phone ships with a built-in e-mail client with support for POP3 and SMTP protocols (carrier messaging charges may apply). Plus, there's a built-in Web browser for downloads and mobile Web browsing. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit--a plus for mobile e-mail and text messaging users.
When used with a carrier data plan and the phone's Bluetooth or USB data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs.
A number of handy software tools are bundled with the SLVR L7, including a calculator, a calendar, and an alarm clock. Use the phone's Bluetooth capability to set up a wireless link with a Bluetooth accessory or connect to a computer or hand-held device to exchange and synchronize data. The phone also supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard, which can be used with Motorola's Mobile Phone Tools PC application to manage and synchronize contacts, calendar, and other data with your PC.
Imaging and Entertainment With 5 MB of internal memory storage, plus a memory expansion slot, the SLVR L7 shines in the entertainment department. The phone's VGA camera features a 4x digital zoom, as well as video capture capabilities (up to 30 seconds in length). Capture stills and then send them to your friends via MMS messaging or e-mail, or to your PC via USB or Bluetooth. The phone is capable of MPEG4 video playback when you receive a video message, or if you upload video to the phone via USB or Bluetooth. The SLVR L7 also supports custom graphics for wallpapers so you can dress up the phone to suit your mood.
At its heart, the SLVR L7 is a music phone. Built-in stereo speakers let you listen while you work or play, and a stereo headset jack makes it easy to jam out in private to your favorite MP3s with the included earbuds.
Last but not least, support for gaming is built into the phone. Have some fun during your downtime!
Vital Statistics The Motorola SLVR L7 weighs 3.5 ounces and measures 4.5 x 1.9 x .45 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of digital talk time, and up to 17 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies.
What's in the Box Handset, battery, battery door, travel charger, user manual

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