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As Seen on TV Products – The Real Deal

Angela — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:54:03 +0000

Watch enough TV and you’re sure to come across an infomercial or two. Pitch men promise to make our lives easier, better, and just plain happier for a bargain price. So which infomercial products got great reviews from users, and which As Seen on TV goods merit a healthy dose of skepticism?

As Seen on TV Products for the Kitchen

The Slap Chop

The claim: Chop, dice, and mince in seconds without switching blades.

The reviews: Nearly all of the customer reviews mention that the vegetables get stuck on the blade rather than actually getting chopped. With a 1.4 average rating, this product appears to be a dud. One Slap Chop review says, “my dull false teeth could do better“. Ouch.

Bottom line: You’re better off using a knife or putting your $20 towards a food processor.

Always Fresh Containers

The claim: They keep food fresh up to 50 days longer than other containers.

The reviews: The Always Fresh Containers get mixed reviews. While eleven people give it a five star rating, nearly as many give them only one star. Fans say they save money by keeping food fresh much longer. One reviewer says, “broccoli and celery rotted in record time in these containers. i had much better luck using a zip lock freezer bag.”

Bottom line: Try at your own risk.

The Magic Bullet

The claim: This all purpose tool can do most kitchen jobs in 10 seconds or less.

The reviews: Most of the Magic Bullet reviews were positive. One reviewer makes everything from smoothies to scrambled eggs and says, “It takes the place of several larger appliances and really saves lots of space on the kitchen counter. ” However, many reviewers note problems with the durability.

Bottom line: Versatile tool, but don’t get too attached.

As Seen on TV Fitness Equipment

The Perfect Pushup

The claim: Supercharge your workout…maximizing strength and definition while minimizing the risks of joint strain and injury.

The reviews: The Perfect Pushup gets almost perfect marks in the product reviews for quality & results. Users also love that they can work their upper bodies without wrist pain, and some started to see results in as little as three weeks.

The bottom line: A quality home gym product for improving upper body strength without wrist pain.

The Ab Rocket

The claim: Ab Rocket gives you the abs you’ve always wanted in 5 minutes a day.

The reviews: With an average star rating of 3.7, the Emson Ab Rocket works for some, but not all. The main complaint is that the machine doesn’t provide enough resistance to produce results. Ab Rocket enthusiasts give it good reviews as a great alternative to sit-ups.

The bottom line: If you hate sit-ups, this might be a good alternative, but don’t expect washboard abs.

The Iron Gym Pull Up Bar

The claim: Get strong. Get ripped. Quick! Attaches & removes from door frame in seconds!

The reviews: Most reviewers are very impressed with the easy installation process for Iron Gym. They find it “sturdy” and high quality. Some who try to use the bar for sit-ups find it less than stellar, but otherwise satisfactory.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for an easy to install pull-up bar, this one will do the job.

As Seen on TV Electronics

The Clapper

The claim: Turn your lights on and off automatically with a clap of your hands!

The reviews: Users says it’s good for lights that are hard to get to, and a fun novelty item. Most note that is also finicky & takes a bit of practice to get right.

Bottom line: Not quite perfect, but it has its uses.

The MagicJack

The claim: make and receive calls to anywhere in the United States and Canada for free using your high-speed Internet connection.

The reviews: Many find hassles with the product from poor sound quality to inadequate customer service and documentation. Though the device requires your computer to be running to work, lots of people are excited about the cost savings.

Bottom line: A good backup to your home phone, but stick with a real VoIP provider if you want quality.

Sonic Earz

The claim: Amplifies sound from 60 feet away.

The reviews: The average rating for this product is just 2.2. While some users write that it improved their hearing range, others complain about the poor sound quality, interference, and short battery life.

Bottom line: Set the volume high & your expectations low.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Angela — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:00:12 +0000

Two videos for you today. Video #1 is Gadget Nation’s Steve Greenberg on his Dads and Grads tour – great inspiration for you last minute Father’s Day shoppers. Video #2 is footage of a rampaging bird in San Francisco’s Financial District. What do they have in common? Nothing, except that they are both videos. All I can say is thank goodness we’re safe in SOMA.

Steve Greenberg on Philly’s NBC 10

Rampaging Bird in San Francisco’s Financial Disctrict

Buzzillions on TV – Read Reviews, Don’t Get Screwed

Angela — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:45:43 +0000

Tech Closeup recently caught the Buzzillions team on camera doing what we do best. Look closely & you can see our CEO’s (in)famous swagger. You heard it here first: read reviews, don’t get screwed!

Make Peace with Your Rabbit Ears; The End is Near

Tara — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:48:52 +0000

While it seems a bit archaic that there are people still using analog television (and with them the temperamental rabbit ear antenea) there are a good number of people, especially in bad economic times, having a hard time facing the switch. According to Neilsen, 6.5 million U.S. households, or 5.7 percent, still need to make the switch. Those people are, according to an article by CNN, “..poor, older than 55, rural residents or racial minorities.” With the economy still spiral diving, some in this demographic simply can’t afford (or don’t want to spend the money) on cable or satellite TV service. While people can get a coupon for a converter box, redemption is a little trickier, with expiration dates, and confusion about where to redeem the coupon slowing the switch. Lawmakers had originally scheduled the switch for this month; that has since been pushed back to June 12th. After this date, analog TV signals will end, and with it the ability to get the new broadcast format.

A recent MSN article states: “Some of the problem has to do with misconceptions about digital TV itself: “About 25 percent believe that every television, whether it’s digital or not, whether it’s hooked up to cable or not, has to have a converter box. And 21 percent believe everyone needs to sign up for cable or satellite service in order to keep a picture on their television sets. Consumers remain extremely confused.”

The Facts:

TVs do not have to be digital, but they DO need to be able receive digital broadcasts.
The switch will happen June 12th
Government coupons are available to offset the cost
Converter boxes are available for purchase online – and you may also use your coupon. I could not find any listings of stores one could take the coupon to in order to make a purchase. I did find one mention of Best Buy taking the coupons in their retails stores, but call first to verify.

Choices include:

buying a converter box to take a TV’s signal from analog to digital, and using an antenna as well
subscribing to a cable or satellite service
buying a digital TV (shameless self promotion plug – we’ve got a ton of top rated TVs in all kinds of price ranges)
going without TV entirely (a strange concept, I know – but maybe you’ll become more productive than the rest of us TV watchers)

For myself, I’m wondering what will become of all those rabbit ears?

BlackBerry Addiction? Obama Can Relate.

Tara — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:56:52 +0000

Smoking isn't his only addiction...

During his campaign, Obama was asked what his worst habit was. Presumably, he was still smoking back then, but his answer wasn’t “smoking.” What was it? “Checking my BlackBerry.” A few days ago, it was reported by the AP, that Obama has won “an important personal victory.” What might that victory be? He’s managed to convince the powers that be (secret service, various lawyers and White House staff) to let him keep his BlackBerry. As the first sitting president to use email, there are privacy concerns about what he communicates and to whom using the device.

He’s not alone. BlackBerry users on Buzzillions are for the most part smitten and rely on the devices heavily for checking email, watching video, finding directions and using applications like Facebook. One user writes, (likely echoing Obama’s feeling on the device): “I have no clue on how I lived life with out it.”

So now I’m curious. Do you have a BlackBerry? Or maybe another PDA – an iPhone perhaps. Can you picture life without it? While I’m not saying I would cease to function without my iPhone or (when I had one) my BlackBerry, but I’d probably fight the good fight to keep it. Of course, I’m not fighting lawyers and secret service men over it, which makes his victory all the more impressive.

The Buzzillions iPhone App is Here!

Tara — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:33:22 +0000

The other day I was in Target looking for air beds for a visitor coming in town. While it’s easy these days to find product reviews on things like digital cameras and televisions, it’s a little trickier when you’re looking for other products. As I stood there blinking at the choices, (varying price ranges, familiar and unfamiliar manufacturers etc.) I thought…if only there was a way I could get some advice here. Did I need the $100 air bed with the foot pump, or would the $39 one do just fine? While it was tempting to go home, get on the computer and see what Buzzillions had to say about it, I ended up choosing blindly. Now I (and YOU) don’t have to. With our new Buzzillions iPhone app, you can (if you have one of these handy phones OR the ipod touch) download the app and be on your way to having millions of product reviews at your fingertips.

So the next time you’re at a retailer, scratching your head as you mull over the options, you can whip out your iPhone, type in the product name and get a little guidance from reviewers like you. Best of all…it’s FREE. We’d love to hear what you have to say about it, things you like, things you don’t, so we can work to improve the application to make it even more useful.

Gadget Picks from Steve Greenberg

Tara — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:21:16 +0000

“I’m tech challenged–I not only admit it, I embrace it.”

Steve Greenberg is the author of GADGET NATION: A JOURNEY THROUGH THE ECCENTRIC WORLD OF INVENTION www.gadgetnation.net. Steve travels coast to coast showcasing innovative products. Each month he can be seen in NYC, Philly, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Miami and other cities around the country. He’s chronicled this journey in his book, Gadget Nation, which offers an amusing look at our nation’s obsession with gadgets. From bird diapers to talking toilet paper dispensers, the man has seen it all. Though Steve may work in the world of technology, “The Innovation Insider” is not ashamed to admit that he’s not a tech savvy guy:

“My brother is tech-charmed. Everything he touches works–first time, every time. Not me. After talking to friends, TV viewers, fellow bloggers, and strangers in airports across America, I’ve come to the conclusion that most people are more like me than my brother.”

Back in October, this appreciation for the consumer voice inspired Steve to showcase a top-ranked Buzzillions product in one of his Halloween TV segments. Seeing how informative it was to viewers, we felt it was only natural to team up with Steve, allowing him to feature Buzzillions rank along with his product picks in TV spots going forward. Understanding that reading product reviews from “people like him” equals more meaningful reviews, Steve says, “That’s why Buzzillions works for me. Sure, tech-pros like Walt Mossberg and Ed Baig test run lots of products–and I value their opinions, but ultimately the opinion that means the most to me is the one that comes from a “real” consumer. Buzzillions is a one stop shop for a gadget reporter like me. I get to see what real people think about real products.”

It’s undeniable, as a nation, we love gadgets, gizmos and inventive tools. While Gadget Nation profiles some gadgets you probably aren’t likely to run out and buy, you might be surprised to find how many people have bought these unique items and liked them. For example, the Panic Mouse (an interactive cat toy), has mixed reviews on Buzzillions, but fans of the device say their pets love the unpredictable movements it makes. The talking Toilet Paper Spindle might just be a gag gift, but it’s a gag gift reviewers love! That said, we admit a Talking Toilet Paper Spindle might not make it onto your personal gift list this year. With that in mind, Steve has put together a list of gadgets he likes for their inventiveness and cool factor and will be showcasing in his December “Tech the Halls” tour:

1. Pure Digital Flip Video F160 Camcorder: ”One of the products I showcased on this tour is the Pure Digital Flip Video F160 Camcorder. It received high marks from consumers. Buzzillions ranked it in the top 1% and I can see why. It’s unbelievably easy to use. Just three buttons to push–play, record and delete. It holds 60-minutes of video and to load the video onto your computer, you just plug it into a computer’s USB port and it downloads the video. No special software needs to be installed (I love that).”

2. EasyBloom: “EasyBloom is another product I fell for. Looking sort of like a robotic flower, you stick it in the soil for 24-hours. EasyBloom analyses the environment, the moisture, and the sunlight. You then plug the EasyBloom into the USB port of a computer and with the help of the EasyBloom website, it tells you what plants will do best in that environment. It works in yards, planters, indoors and outdoors. I knew I liked the concept, but does it really meet the hype? According to Buzzillions, the answer is YES. Real consumers have grown to love EasyBloom.”

3. Garmin Streetpilot c530 GPS: I was trying to decide on a GPS for my “Tech The Halls” gadget segment. My nephew was crazy about the Sony’s NV-U73T GPS. It looks very sleek and it does have a very wide screen, more than 4-inches–BUT when I checked it out on Buzzillions, I learned that many consumers found the Sony GPS tough to use and one reviewer compared it to a pricey paper weight. However, Buzzillions ranked the Garmin Streetpilot c530 GPS at the top of the GPS category. It has a smaller screen and frankly it lacks the style of the Sony, but consumers loved it. They said it worked and it was easy to use. I decided to show both GPS’s on my recent In-Studio Tour. I showcase gadgets in about 10 television markets each month. I picked up both the Sony and Garmin GPS’s and after trying them out–I agree with consumers–the Garmin works better.

To see what else Steve showcased on “Tech the Halls” or find out when he’ll be appearing in a city near you, visit his blog at www.gadgetnation.net. You can find his book, Gadget Nation : A Journey Through the Eccentric World of Invention, at Barnes & Nobles nationwide or online through the Gadget Nation website.

Look out for Steve guest blogging on Buzzillions Blogs with more of his product picks soon!

Who Needs the Voice of Reason (when the GPS talks to you)

dharris — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:14:26 +0000

Ever find yourself sitting in the car, clean out of people in your cell phone address book to call? How about finding yourself calling your voice mail hoping that there’s a new one that came in without you hearing the ring because you may have been out of service for a split second? No? Was there ever a time that you were so tired with the talk show banter or lack of good music that you just turned the radio off; yet yearned for voice to fill the dead air? If you answered no to all of the above and are happy with the voices in your head, then move on down to the next posting…everyone else, follow me!

Being in the car is a rare occurrence for me (I’m lucky enough to be able to take the bus to work). When I am cruising the open road, I find myself scrolling through my phone address book for someone to talk to – yes, I use a hands-free device thank you very much! After I’ve exhausted phone-a-friend, I move on to option two – the airwaves. If your local stations are anything like they are here in the Bay Area, it’s quickly realized that the radio won’t provide much entertainment. The songs are repetitive and the back and forth jibber jabber gets old quickly.

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages, let me introduce you to the answer to all of your dead-air-while-driving-because-you-are-all-out-of-options prayers…the Automotive GPS.

Need someone to talk to that won’t try to give you any backtalk? A GPS unit can do that (with the bold assumption that you never stray off course). Want a voice to break up the dead air? That’s right, that dashboard gadget of mappy-wholesome goodness can do just that.

But wait, there’s more! Not a fan of asking for directions? BINGO! A GPS unit in your car can tell you where to go, how long it will take you to get there, and many will even help you find the nearest gas station, coffee shop or golf course (in case you ever find yourself in dire need of playing a quick nine).

Even though I have a pretty good sense of direction (some may disagree with that), I often find myself punching my home address into my navigator to get me home. No, not because I am not sure of the proper route, but hey, who doesn’t like reaffirmation that they are the pilot in charge. And yes, there are times when I try to out smart it and fail miserably. Take last Monday for example. I knew exactly where I was going and how I was going to get there, yet still entered the address to my final destination into the GPS, and then, out of nowhere, I found myself going in the complete opposite direction on the freeway. Not because my verbal mapper friend led me astray, but because I thought, for a split second, I was smarter then the machine.

I finally ended up getting to where I needed to go which included a slight 8-mile detour. Oh, and then there was the backtalk I was talking about earlier. That flooded in during the additional 8 mile excursion.

In closing, I can’t say that I won’t try to challenge myself again on a more direct route, I’ll just have to remember to save those challenges for when I’m the only one in the car and willing to accept ridicule from a computer. Nothing new here, I have that to look forward to for the rest of my life.

Zune vs. iPod: The Audiophile’s Suprising Choice

Tara — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:32:50 +0000

I like metaphors. I use them too much, to the point I should probably go into some kind of program. But since I’m still firmly in denial, there’s no sense in stopping now. I’ll begin by saying I have several iPods, the iPhone and a MacBook. To use the worst and most disturbing metaphor I’ve heard bantered around the corporate world these days…I’ve drunk the Kool-Aid. And I’m not alone. Apple iPods are nearly as pervasive as cell phones where I live. When they came out in 2001, they changed portable music forever and became the best selling digital audio player in history. My two year old can actually slot my iPod into the home stereo and, using the track wheel, find Lupe Fiasco (his current favorite) by the album cover art. I’d say you can’t beat that for usability. I knew there were similar players out there, but sort of assumed they would go the way of betamax tapes and HD DVD…sorry, you lose, thanks for playing. There was no need for me to pay attention to the other guys because, well, I was already dating the rock star. But the other day, someone called my attention to some data we’re seeing on Buzzillions right now with regards to the Zune and audiophiles’ opinions of them. We know this because when someone writes a review we ask people how they describe themselves. In this case the choices are: “Casual Listener”, “Avid Listener” and “Audiophile”. Turns out the Zune is not only liked by those who select “Audiophile”, but liked enough to be number one in this group of people. Which means of course that the revered iPod is in second place.

Why is this? Do these audiophiles know something I don’t, or is the New York Times onto something when they hypothesize that some people are simply buying the Zune because it is NOT the iPhone? While there do seem to be anti-Apple zealots out there (though they hardly outweigh the rampant Microsoft-is-the-devil’s-spawn sentiment) surely there are people buying them for more than the satisfaction of knowing there’s one less iPod on the planet. So I took a look at the reviews and specifically what the audiophiles liked about the Zune. Reviewers point to a few features as being stand outs. Among these are the included headphones, which they say are higher quality than the standard issue iPod headphones. In addition, users point to the integrated FM radio, the durability, the excellent sound quality, the large screen and larger font sizes making the display easier to read, especially when using in a car. CNET’s Zune vs. iPod Prizefight gives the face off between the two a tie, which they themselves seem genuinely surprised by given iPod’s overwhelming popularity. Most intriguing to me, it sounds from the reviews like my kids would find it equally as easy to use as the iPod. All this has me thinking (brace yourself for another metaphor) that the rock star I’m dating…maybe he’s not so great after all. Maybe, like those tedious and formulaic teen movies, I should take a closer look at the less popular outcast – the one who could really win me over, if only I’d give him the chance.

Mashable Suggests 10 sites for Product Reviews

shammara — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:00:19 +0000

This morning I noticed that Mashable covered Buzzillions as well as other product review sites as places to go to do your shopping research. It’s a pretty good article that you should check out – it clearly states what each site is useful for, and why it’s worth going to.

A few of the more well known sites they pointed out were Amazon reviews, CNET, ConsumerReports, and Epinions.

Amazon

They pointed out that since you can sometimes find pages of reviews, Amazon is a good place to check. However, while certain Amazon categories such as books have pages of consumer reviews, many of the other categories are sparse and you might not find very many reviews.

Buzzillions brings to the table more reviews across more products and categories than Amazon. Since we work with a diverse array of online retailers to bring reviews, from Staples to Toys R Us, you’ll find tons of customer written reviews within each category. Who knew you could find hundreds of reviews on men’s underwear?! Well, because of our partnership with FreshPair.com for example, we have plenty of those

CNET

Mashable noted that CNET has a wealth of information from in-house experts reviewing consumer electronics. For the heavy electronics researcher, CNET is a credible place to start.

Buzzillions represents the consumer voice rather than the expert voice. We show you what the crowd is saying about a product, the pros, cons, best uses, and the average rating. Unlike CNET, we have a broader range of consumer electronics, not just the ones meant for the gadget geek with paragraphs of spec data.

ConsumerReports

ConsumerReports is a very old and trustworthy customer review source, although they don’t have a breath of product coverage, and it’s a paid subscription.

Epinions

Epinions has been around for a very long time, and has amalgamated thousands of reviews over time. Two things not pointed out however, is that people are paid to write reviews on Epinions, making the majority of them fluffy and unhelpful. Also, a lot of the reviews are so outdated, that they aren’t really relevant anymore.

The other sites mentioned seemed to be in development stages, except for Retrevo which is a site worth checking out for consumer electronics search, product manuals, and overall community sentiment.