“Girl Tech” Toys: The Gadgets for Girls Revolution

by: Sarah Corlett

While girls’ toys have always been lucrative for toy makers (think Barbie, Cabbage Patch Kids, Care Bears and – more recently - Bratz), the market for technology-based toys has always been much more heavily aimed at boys. While, certainly, many girls enjoy them, video gaming systems and other such leisure technologies feature war games, flight simulators and fantasy role-playing games whose pace and graphics are meant to appeal to the male demographic. Lara Croft does not wear tiny shorts for the benefit of her female fans.

This Christmas, a company called “Radica Games” is promoting a line of technology-based toys aimed exclusively at young girls that they call “Girl Tech”. These gadgets for girls include such items as the “Password Journal”, a sort of high-tech diary for modern girls. It uses voice recognition software to keep unauthorized people (like siblings and parents) from reading the owner’s innermost thoughts and includes features like an invisible ink pen for even greater security, a calendar to keep the social life organized and an alarm to tell the owner if someone is trying to break in to the journal. However, it may be a better product in theory than in practice: many online reviews of this product do not recommend it due to technical glitches, most citing the voice-recognition software as the problem.

Another “Girl Tech” item that is poised to be very popular this Christmas is the “Girl Tech Digi Makeover”. It has a built-in digital camera and can hook up to the owner’s television. The point is to take a picture of someone and then use the device to try out different hairstyles, haircuts and makeup to see how they look. It advertises over 50 hairstyles and colours, as well as an array of makeup that makes for an almost endless combination of new looks. Unlike the diary, this item has had very positive reviews from consumers on different websites and is touted as one of the must-have items for Christmas 2007.

“Girl Tech” features many other items as well, from a digital video journal that can be hooked up to the computer for customizing entries, to a virtual pet called the “Password Puppy”. The target age range for all of the “Girl Tech” toy line starts around age 8 and they are appropriate through the preteen years. Radica suggests that older people may enjoy them as well, but older teen girls would probably be more interested in more sophisticated technological gifts, such as the latest mobile phone or digital camera. “Girl Tech” toys, however, are a great way to show younger girls that technology isn’t just for boys.

About The Author

Sarah Corlett runs the successful toy resource "The Toy Maker": http://www.the-toy-maker.co.uk

Cell Phone Ring Tones; Personalize the music that you want to hear on your mobile phone

by: Daryl Plaza

Cell Phone Ring Tones; Personalize the music that you want to hear on your mobile phone

Now that you finally are the owner of a cell phone, a very popular thing to do is to try out new cell phone ring tones in order to give some added spice to your phone. If you happen to be a new kid on the block when it comes to cell phones and ring tones, a cell phone ring tone is a piece of MP3 music or a special sound that your cell phone plays to alert you when you have an incoming call. Instead of the same old dull ringing of your cell phone, you can have a custom sound for your cell phone's ring style. You can actually have different ring tones for different people who call your cell phone.

Available Ring Tones

When it comes down to cellular phone ring tones, you have to know exactly which type that you wish to choose from. You can opt to have a monophonic ring tone, a polyphonic ring tone, or some real/true ring tones as well. The following information will give you some insight into just what these various ring tones are. This may help you make a better decision as to which ring tone you wish to get.

Monophonic Ring Tones - While monophonic ring tones are almost obsolete today, when personalized ring tone first came on the scene, cell phone were only able to play ring tones that were monophonic meaning that they only had the very basic sounds. For these types of tomes, just one note is played at a time by one instrument. These monophonic tones were able to be produced through MIDI; these were used just as rudimentary ring tones. Someone soon figured out how these monophonic tones could be used to play very simple versions of popular songs. This started the boom of the musical ringtone business. Today other tones have become far superior to these, so very few people actually use the monophonic ring tone.

Polyphonic Ring Tones - When you take it to the next level, the next cell phone ring tone to consider is the polyphonic ring tone. There is a special sequencing technology ascribed to these ring tones. They are definitely a step above the monophonic ring tones. Forty different notes are able to be played at the same time with these ring tones. This means that you can literally have the sound of an entire orchestra. The sound coming out of the cell phone was much richer and the music tones even sounded much better! There is one drawback. Polyphonic ring tones are not able to use digital audio.

Real/True Ring Tones - Last but not least we have the most up-to-date type of ring tone, which is also known as a real tone or a true tone. These tones are actually able to play real music on your mobile phone. In fact, you will not only be able to get instruments, but you can choose to get the vocals as well. The real tone is not limited to electronic sounds. Real tones could be anything from voice, to music to sound effects. Most of the cell phones today will be able to play these types of ring tones; yet, many of the old style cell phones may not be able to play the real/true ring tones.

Mobile Phone Ring Tone Benefits

Now that you are able to understand the various types of ring tones that are available to you, the next question you may have is what you may be able to get by having these ring tones on your cell phone. These are just a few of the great benefits when it comes to having your very own cell phone ring tones:

• Benefit #1 - You will be able to know who is calling you without even having to look at your cell phone - One of the main benefits in having such a variety of ring tones for your cell phone is that you are actually able to set your phone so that there are special ring tones for specific callers. This means that you are able to give members of your family one tone, friends can have another tone, and people you do not have in your phone book can have a totally different ring. Doing this will actually allow you to know who is calling you without having to look at your wireless phone since you will be able to recognize the different ring tones for different people. If it is someone you do not recognize, you do not have to take the call.

• Benefit #2 - Your personality should be reflected in your ring tone - Another great benefit of obtaining personalize cell phone ring tones is that you have the leeway to let your ring tone reflect your personality. There is no limit that is placed on you that says you can only have one standard ring tone. No matter if you are feeling happy, excited, in love or happy there is a ring tone available to reflect your every mood.

• Benefit #3 - Every time your cell phone rings you will be able to hear your favorite song - Another great benefit of having a specialized cell phone ring tone is that you will be able to listen to your favorite songs whenever your phone rings. You no longer have to be bothered with listening to some annoying ring tone. Instead, you will actually be able to choose your favorite songs to have on your cell phone as ring tones so that you will be able to hear them each time your phone rings.

To Pay or Not to Pay

There is one important fact to take into consideration about ring tones. You must understand that there are free ring tones that you can download from the Internet or there are ones you can purchase. You may to make the decision as to what your budget can afford. The free cell phone ring tones sound better when you first hear them. It is worth noting, however, that many of the free ring tones do not have the best quality.

You will often find sites that offer free monophonic ring tones, but these are usually very outdated. There are some sites that may offer other kinds of free ring tones, but, if you want to get a popular ring tone that is of good quality, you must resign yourself to the fact that you are going to have to pay for them. You can expect to pay anywhere from $0.50 to $3.00 for each ring tone.

Ring Tones and Cell Phone Companies

There are now cell phone companies that are offering ring tones. Some of these cell phone companies include: Alltel, Cingular, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. Many of these companies sell the ring tones separately or they may offer various ring tone packages that offer you so many ring tones every month at a slightly discounted price. One of the great things about this deal is that you can usually end up getting those ring tones right on your cell phone instead of having to search the Internet endlessly for the ring tones that you want. In the long run, this will save a lot of trouble and hassle.

About The Author

Daryl Plaza is a regular contributor to http://CellPhoneEasyCall.com and informational base website on cellular phones, cellphone plans ,cell phone ring tones, cell phone plans to help the consumer choose the right wireless phone for them.

Cell Phones Give You So Many Benefits For Communication

by: Daryl Plaza

Cell phones give you so many benefits for communication

Cell phones have become a staple in homes and business around the world. Businessmen and women have grown dependant on this form of tele- communication. Whether you are at work or out shopping, it is important that you keep in touch with your family. Having a cell phone means that you are accessible in case of an emergency even if you are out on the road. There are many different cellular phone plans that you can choose from, whether you want a prepaid cell phone or one that has options.

The Cell phone has become a multi-billion dollar industry and it is expanding every day. More and more people are becoming technology minded and choose to purchase a cell phone.

The Use of Cell Phones in Emergencies

Perhaps the greatest benefit to owning a cell phone is the security of knowing that they can call for assistance anytime or anywhere they need too. In past decades, millions of people were stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere because their car broke down. Not being able to get help and having to rely on the kindness of strangers who passed by. It was not only frustrating it was also very dangerous.

There are still people out there who do not want to own a mobile phone. They do not want to pay for a wireless phone plan. For those people, a prepaid cell phone is the perfect gift. They can use the phone in emergencies only. With a prepaid cell phone, you do not receive a monthly bill and you do not have to sign any contracts.

Cellular phones have come a long way since their inception. Constant improvements have brought them into the twenty first century. With today cell phones, GPS systems are a standard accessory. There are even phones that allow you access the Internet to have directions sent right to your phone.

How Do Cell Phones Enhance Business?

You may be asking yourself what is the big deal with a business cell phone? The answer of course is that any type of business that has on the road salesmen, the office knows how difficult it is to contact their salesman. In the past they would have to wait until he or she called into the office. With a cell phone, they can be contacted anytime.

Cell phones not only allow the corporate office to keep in contact with employees, it also allows salespeople to contact their clients at a moments notice if a deal of a lifetime pops up suddenly. Cell phones can also cut down on land line phone bills because most plans allow the callers to make calls to other people who have the same carrier. So a salesman can call the corporate office even if he or she is a thousand miles away and not be charged any long distance charges.

People are fascinated with gadgets, and those who own mobile cell phones are no different. There are many accessories for cell phones, and almost everyone wants to own them. Whether it is a hands free headset or voice messaging, cell phone gadgets are incredible. The prices for each gadget are different, and depending on the accessory, compatible with specific model phones.

Cell phones are most popular with real estate agents. This is because many now advertise their businesses and business listings online. It is here where the real estate agent places a special number on the website for prospective buyers to inquire about specific properties by text messaging the Real Estate Agent.

Wireless Phones and Legal Matters?

Cellular phones have also become useful in legal matters. It is possible to access all cell phone records online, and in doing so, many criminals have been convicted because of the evidence.

Adding Kids Into the Equation

Kids and phones go hand in hand. As parents of teenagers, you know how difficult it can be to get him or her off the phone. This is when a cell phone can become your best friend. By supplying your child with a prepaid cell phone you are taking back the landline. You will not only have access to your own phone; you will not have to listen to the constant babbling of your kids.

Cell phones are not only for communication, they can also teach your child how to be responsible. If your child is pre pubescent, you may be able to instill responsibility in him or her.

The Elderly and Cellular Phones

When cell phones were first developed, they were big and clunky. They were hard to use and calls were often dropped. Today, cell phones are sleek and slender, and you can barely notice them however the features are phenomenal. Some would say that the more advanced the cell phone is, the more complicated it is to use. Small screens and buttons can be maddening to use, especially if you have large hands.

Pushing the Envelope of Entertainment

Mobile phones today come equipped with cameras, and music, ring tones and even Internet access. Camera phones are great because after you take the picture, you can instantly send it to anyone in the world who has a cell phone.

Higher end cell phones also come equipped with video recording software. You can record up to two minutes of video and also send it to anyone in the world. Calendars and day planners can also be found on higher end cell phones.

Cell phones today are extraordinary and they are being upgraded every day. Soon, the cell phones of today will become obsolete and will be replace with new and innovative phones that can do anything.

About The Author

Daryl Plaza is a regular contributor to http://CellPhoneEasyCall.com an informational website designed to help consumers find the right Cellular Phone , cell phone prepaid phone plan that suits their needs.

O2 XDA 2i Tomtom Crash Workaround

by: John Applin

Having purchased a bluetooth GPS receiver for my O2 XDA 2i (see my review here), I was a little disappointed that the Tomtom software that I had also purchased would crash every 5 or 10 minutes. This is infuriating because it's not something that you can fix on the move with 1 hand. I would have to stop the car, remove the PDA from it's holder, perform a soft reset which takes a couple of minutes, reconnect to the bluetooth GPS receiver, start the Tomtom software, put the phone back in it's holder, then carry on with my journey. Now imagine doing this 3 or 4 times throughout your journey!

Having searched for a fix on the internet I came up with a range of suggestions from XDA Developers. Some suggestions involved upgrading the memory card to one with a faster read/write transfer rate, which I did but still no joy. I still had the infuriating crashing problem!

I then had a brainwave after receiving an SMS message on the move. When I received the message the phone crashed in it's usual way, still infuriating you might think, but it gave me that Eureka moment. I realised that whenever the phone part of my PDA was attempting to do something it caused the Tomtom software to crash. This would then explain why the XDA would crash every 5 or 10 minutes.

As you may or may not know, each mobile phone network is divided up into 'cells'. Each 'cell' is a region of the country that is covered by a mobile phone antenna. If you are travelling in a car or train there will come a point where you are moving between one cell and another. When this happens your phone (or PDA) will perform a handshake procedure to let the antenna know that you're entering a part of the country covered by that particular antenna. Now obviously this handshake procedure takes just enough resources so that it causes the PDA to crash. I then searched more on the internet for a fix to this problem but could find nothing so I took it upon myself to fix it.

Firstly I tried to find a way that I could disable the phone software part of the PDA while allowing the rest of the PDA software to function as normal, this would obviously mean that the phone functionality was inoperable throughtout my journey but it's a small price to pay for not getting lost. Now I know what you're thinking "just enable flight mode" and while this would disable the phone software part, it also disables the use of the bluetooth stack which renders the bluetooth GPS receiver useless. One option is to remove the SIM card from the phone, while this would work it means taking the back off the phone and removing the battery which causes a soft reset and unnecessary hassle. There is another way!

Here's what I did:

Firstly go to start, settings, phone,

Under security tick 'Require PIN when phone is used',

Input a memorable PIN for the phone part of your PDA,

Navigate back to the main screen.

How to disable just the phone part of the PDA:

From the main screen tap the antenna and signal icon at the top of the screen

Enable flight mode.

Tap the same icon again and turn off flight mode.

A screen will appear asking you for your PIN, at this point click 'cancel'.

Your PDA is now fully functioning apart from the phone part because you have denied access to the SIM card.

How to re-enable the phone part of the PDA:

>From the main screen tap the antenna and signal icon at the top of the screen

Enable flight mode.

Tap the same icon again and turn off flight mode.

A screen will appear asking you for your PIN, at this point enter the PIN that you chose previously.

The phone part is now functioning normally again.

It would be nice to have a proper fix to this problem so that I could receive phone calls and text messages on the move but I can live with this for now.

About The Author

John Applin
John's Reviews
For more reviews, how to's, technical help go to http://www.johnsreviews.com

Bluetooth GPS Receiver Review

by: John Applin

This is a tiny bluetooth GPS receiver which I bought from Mobile Fun Ltd, I bought this to connect to my O2 XDA 2i PDA and it cost around £40. I was intially looking on google for cheap GPS receivers and this came up as the cheapest. I thought at that price they'll be a catch, and the catch usually being poor performance, but I was pleasantly surprised! This thing really does work, and works well!

After searching for initial reviews on this device I came up with very little other than the reviews from Mobile Fun Ltd, which I was reluctant to trust for fear of them being somewhat biased. I thought for £40 I'll take a chance and so bought it, all credit to Mobile Fun the receiver arrived the very next morning. Upon opening the box I was a little disappointed, all the there was by means of instructions was a small sheet of paper that had been loosely translated from Japanese to English by a dyslexic toddler. You can download the user manual from here and the Tomtom pairing manual from here. After following these instructions you will have it set up in no time. Another thing I noticed was that there is no manufaturer's name or marks anywhere on the device or the packaging, which makes searching for support quite difficult.

A nice touch with this little device is that it is supplied with a battery that is common to a lot of Nokia phones (3.7V 850mAh Li-polymer battery, BL-5C), a quick search on ebay means that you can get replacement batteries for these receivers for about £4 which is good to know should you need one.

What's In The Box?

Bluetooth GPS Receiver x1
12v In Car Adapter (USB) x1
Basic Instructions x1
Battery x1
USB Charging Cable x1


Installation

Provided you follow the limited instructions for pairing with your device, and the Tomtom setup instructions, you should be up and running in less than 5 minutes. I have only charged the receiver once since I bought it about 2 months ago, the battery just seems to last forever! The supplied in car charger and USB cable means that the receiver can be charged on the move from a 12v source and can also be charged from any PC or laptop. From cold start up the receiver aquires a usuable GPS signal exremely quickly, quicker than most of the really expensive GPS receivers that I've come in contact with. The device is extremely small and can easily fit into any space in your car, or even your pocket if you're using it for walking or cycling.

One small problem I did have is that when using it with my XDA 2i the Tomtom software would often freeze and cause me to stop the car, reboot my phone, then carry on my journey. At first I thought this was the result of the XDA losing its connection with the bluetooth receiver and hence confirming my fears about the price of this product. It quickly became apparent that this was not the case and it was in fact an issue with my PDA and the Tomtom software.

I quickly discovered a workaround for this issue between the Tomtom software and my XDA that enables the whole system to work flawlessly. I shall write a 'how to' on this workaround shortly as I'm sure many other XDA 2i users share the same problem.

I do know that there is a known issue when using any bluetooth GPS receivers with the O2 XDA 2 (note not XDA 2i) due to the bluetooth stack settings that are shipped with the phone, please be aware of this before buying this device as you are sure to encounter problems.

Key Features

Compatible with TomTom, Navicore, and all major GPS software packages.
12 parallel satellite-tracking channels for fast acquisition and reacquisition.
Provides superior navigation performance in city environments.
Built-in rechargeable Lithium-polymer battery provides more than 10 hours of constant use.
Unit can be charged with the included car charger while still in use.
Mini-USB charger compatiblty, charge not only the Bluetooth GPS Receiver but also compatible PDAs & Smart Phones with the same charger.
3 colours LED to show the status of Bluetooth/GPS/Power activities of this device.



Specifications

GPS receiver: L1, C/A code, 12 channels
Tracking sensitivity: –152dBm (average) or better
Acquisition sensitivity: –139dBm (average) or better
TTFF (Time to First Fix): Cold Start: 50s (average) / 60s (95 possibility)
Hot Start: 2s (minimum) / 6s (95% possibility)
Positioning accuracy: Standard Positioning Service (SPS), WAAS (optional) 2DRMS: approx. 5m
Measurement data output: Update time: 1 second
NMEA output protocol: V.3.01
Baud rate: 38400 bps (8-N-1)
Datum: WGS-84
Type: GGA, GSA, GSV, RMC
Power consumption: 75mA (average)
Bluetooth: Bluetooth version 1.2 compliant
Class 2 operation (up to 10 metre range)
Serial Port Profile (SPP)
Output terminal: Type B Mini-USB (TTL Level)
Antenna Type: Built in Patch Antenna
Battery: 3.7V 850mAh Li-polymer battery, built-in charger
LED: Power (red), GPS (green), Bluetooth (blue)
Dimension: 64(L) x 39(W) x18.5(H) mm
Operating temperature: -20°C ~ +60°C
Storage temperature: -20°C ~ +60°C; Battery: -20°C ~ +45°C

Conclusion

A great little device that performs well beyond its price range. Check if there is any known issues with your device and bluetooth GPS receivers before purchase as this will save you a lot of headaches. The only thing that lets this product down is a lack of documentation and online support, other than this well worth the buy!

johnsreviews rating: 8/10

About The Author

John Applin
John's Reviews
For more reviews, how to's, technical help, go to http://www.johnsreviews.com

Creative Zen Microphoto 8gb Review

by: John Applin

This device was recommended to me by a friend, this is an ipod like device that can store up to 8gb of mp3's as well as photos.

Creative have been manufacturing alternatives to Apple ipods for a while now and this model, the Creative Zen Microphoto, is sold to directly compete with the Apple ipod photo (although the ipod photo comes with a 60gb hard drive).

On first appearances the Zen Microphoto feels well built and sturdy, most of Creative's lineup seem to be built to a high standard which is what you'd expect from any device which costs a significant amount of money. One thing that usually lets devices like this down is the quality of the earphones. A lot of thought usually goes into the device and the bundled earphones seem like they were thought of at the last minute. This isn’t the case with the Creative Zen Microphoto however, the earphones feel quality, fit comfortably in the ear, and actually produce a decent sound. One thing that would have been a nice feature is in-line volume controls for volume and track navigation. As it stands you have to root around in your pocket, fish out the Zen, then activate the controls before you can perform any of these tasks, which would become annoying if you were riding a bike or jogging while listening to your music.

Since you have to use the main controls on the Zen you'd expect them to be easy to use, for some reason though Creative have opted for a control panel which consists of 4 touch buttons and a touch slider. You have to tap the buttons or the slider in order to activate the device, then use the slider to navigate through the track listings and menus. Once into the menu function it is self explanatory and easy to navigate, with a nice bright display which is clear and easy to read. What I found in my experience was that the slider was oversensitive and the 4 touch buttons were undersensitive, this proved a little infuriating. One thing I did notice is that there was no stop button, only play and pause. What I think would have been a better option would have been to use simple click buttons for the controls and a classic volume wheel instead of a slider. I can see what creative have tried to do in choosing the buttons and the slider that they have, in trying to keep the lines and style of the device simple, but in doing so have made the zen more difficult to use and ultimately lets the device down.

An aspect that I think Creative needs to seriously look at is when you switch to viewing photos on the zen, the music stops. Quite why this happens I'm not sure but I think this is something that will frustrate a lot of people.

When switching on the Creative Zen Microphoto the edge around front face of the device lights up to compliment the buttons and really does look good.

Creative's choice of navigation buttons for the Zen become evident when switched on as the whole package has a quite a stylish look when illuminated.

The Zen Microphoto comes with a USB lead to connect to a PC, this allows for the easy transfer of music and photos onto the Zen as well as being able to use the Zen as a portable USB storage device for other files which is quite handy. The 8gb hard drive size means there should be sufficient space for most people to carry around their entire music collection.

Conclusion

Good Points Stylish, easy menu navigation, good sound quality, excellent build quality, 8gb hard drive

Bad Points No in line volume control or navigation, poor navigation controls, inability to view photos while listening to music.

John's Reviews rating: 6/10

About The Author

John Applin
John's Reviews
For more reviews, how to's, technical help go to http://www.johnsreviews.com

DirecTV Shopping Guide: What You Need To Know Before Subscribing To DirecTV?

by: Teddy Low

As the first satellite TV provider in United States, DirecTV was first launched in year 1994. They gained more than 300,000 subscribers in year one and the number increased exponentially since then. Nowadays, DirecTV stands as one of the world biggest satellite TV providers with more than 20 million users around the States. Now in case you’re one of those shopping for DirecTV, here are some useful reviews on the satellite TV service.

Standard DirecTV deals

Just as most satellite TV deals available in the market, you will get free satellite system, free DVR and HD upgrades, free incentive gifts (such as DVD player), and free premium movie channels for DirecTV standard deals. However, shoppers should be aware that in order to be eligible in such deal, you must commit to a 12 – 18 months service contract.

Programming with DirecTV

DirecTV offers about 250 programming choices, covering a wide range of movie, news, documentary, music, as well as International channels. The standard options with DirecTV are nothing different when compare to other paid TV services like Comcast and Dish Network.

What differs DirecTV from the rest is its supreme sports broadcasting packages. In fact, DirecTV gives a better option to sport with its exclusive rights on NFL, MLB, and NASCAR sports packages.

On the high definition side, DirecTV currently offers about 10 major HD including HBO HD, Showtime HD, ESPN HD, ESPN 2 HD, Universal, TNT HD, Discovery HD and HD Net Movies. In case you are not aware, DirecTV is, in fact, serving less HD channels when compare to Dish Network 70+ HD programming choices. Thus if you are looking for a TV service to boost maximum HDTV usage, perhaps DirecTV is not your best choice in the market.

DirecTV also serves local channels when available, this include local channels like CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox, PBS, WB, UPN, as well as certain local independent stations. In the larger markets, the locals are carried on the main satellite location. In smaller markets, the locals are carried another sat location where HD and most Spanish language programming is located, requiring a slightly larger oval dish, capable of receiving signals from both satellite at once. In markets that lack a WB affiliate, DirecTV includes WBZL-TV from Miami or KSWB-TV from San Diego (both stations will join the CW network in September, 2006). Certain persons who live far from a city with television stations and who cannot easily receive television over-the-air, known as a 'white area', can receive feeds from New York & Los Angeles for CBS, ABC, NBC, and Fox. A national PBS channel is also available. In early 2006 DirecTV began the roll out of HD locals in the largest cities, which require new set-top boxes and an even larger dish capable of "seeing" four satellite at once.

At a glance: DirecTV vs cable TV

Cable TV is ‘old-school’, pioneer in paid TV services; and cables offer valuable add-on services such as cable Internet and cable phone services. DirecTV is still consider ‘new’ when compare to the cables. However, DirecTV programming choices are wide, their monthly cost is lower, and they offer exclusive sport packages that you cannot get elsewhere.

At a glance: DirecTV vs Dish Network

Both Dish Network and DirecTV are offering their service based on the same technology. Thus, it is not surprise to see that their offers are in fact more or less the same. From incentive gifts to systems built up to programming choices - they are just too similar.

The slight differences between Dish Network and DirecTV are the pricing and programming. DirecTV’s packages cost a little more when it comes to monthly subscriptions but as mentioned, they do offer better sport events coverage compare. Dish Network, on the other hand, have more International (non English) and HD channels.

DirecTV installation

The installation process with DirecTV is pretty simple and fast. The system can be installed to your existing TV system regardless on your TV model or the type of building you are living. Landed or terrace house, condominium or shop lot – they are just fine with DirecTV systems. To install personally, users can setup the DirecTV satellite system by referring user manual guides. However Standard installation is provided free by most of the DirecTV dealers, thus it’s actually not an issue to worry about.

Last piece of advice: Shop wisely.

It’s common that consumers tend to follow the crowd. As DirecTV growing more and more popular, I’m not surprise there are shoppers that order DirecTV just because their neighbors have it too. However, this is not the wise thing to do. Come’on, why waste money on TV subscription that you never watch? So hey, be realistic, DirecTV do offer great deals online – however, shoppers are recommended to shop according to their needs. If you watch TV twice a week, there’s no point to have 256 channels in your TV.

About The Author

Teddy Low -- experienced writter on consumer products reviews. Visit his latest satellite TV related website and get Direct TV deals at: http://www.satellitetvissue.com/DirecTV.htm