User Rating:
Good: The Samsung BD-F5900 offers a wealth of features and incredibly speedy performance; suite of apps is very good and the interface is easy to use; image quality is as good if not better than that of similarly priced players.
Bad: CD ripping is slow and limited; some ever-so-slight issues with cadence; Quick Start mode uses almost as much electricity when off as when playing a disk.
Bottom Line: The Samsung BD-F5900 is an excellent Blu-ray player with the right mix of usability, performance, and speed. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini brings a strong feature set for a midrange phone, including Android 4.2, a dual-core processor, and an 8-megapixel camera. The Sprint version has excellent call quality.
Bad: The Galaxy S4 Mini has only 8GB of internal storage, and mediocre front-facing camera quality. Data was slow on Sprint's network.
Bottom Line: Its reliable specs and availability on four carriers make the Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini an easy-to-find midtier buy, but you should also compare the S4 Mini with its substantial competition. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The JBL Pulse is a compact wireless Bluetooth speaker that delivers good sound for its size and distinguishes itself with an integrated light show with preprogrammed and customizable themes. The built-in rechargeable battery offers 10 hours of battery for sound only and 5 hours with the light show in effect.
Bad: Can distort at higher volumes with rock tracks and bass-heavy material; no carrying case included.
Bottom Line: It may not sound as quite good as some $200 competitors, but the JBL Pulse's integrated light show adds a flashy new dimension to the listening experience that makes it a worthy contender in a crowded market. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The HTC One Max has a massive screen that's bright, colorful, and sharp. The camera is packed with features and takes pictures quickly, plus the phone has a powerful set of stereo speakers.
Bad: The HTC One Max is large and heavy and the integrated fingertip reader often fails to recognize finger swipes. The phone's battery is not removable either, and the One Max's components don't match its high price.
Bottom Line: The HTC One Max has a display big-screened phone shoppers want, but the Samsung Galaxy Note 3's superior design and display make it a better buy. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Hoover WindTunnel 3 High Performance Bagless Upright was a top performer with fine particles in carpet and features a HEPA filter, making it an excellent option for those with asthma or allergies.
Bad: It wasn't a showstopper on hard floors. It's also a heavy vacuum cleaner, so it wouldn't be the best option for people looking for a lightweight model.
Bottom Line: If you have primarily carpets in your home and want a sub-$200 vacuum cleaner that can help with your allergies and get pet hair and fine particles out of your carpets, the Hoover would make a good addition to your cleaning lineup. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: The Nokia Lumia 2520 features fast gaming performance and LTE support out of the box. Xbox Music is an incredibly robust streaming app, and Nokia Music allows you to listen to songs you don't own without an Internet connection. It includes the full version of Office.
Bad: It's thicker and heavier than recent tablets, and its pointy corners are distracting. The screen has a yellow tint, storage expansion is only accessible with a key or paperclip, and the keyboard accessory isn't as comfortable to type on as the Surface 2's.
Bottom Line: Unless you want a Windows RT tablet with cellular connection, skip the Lumia 2520 and get the Surface 2 instead. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: Numbers has great looking templates, an intuitive touch interface, and new collaboration capabilities that let up to 20 people work together on the same spreadsheet.
Bad: It feels crowded on the smaller screen of the iPhone.
Bottom Line: The new Numbers is a marked improvement over previous versions on iOS with more templates and collaboration tools, but the Mac version still needs work. [Read more]

User Rating:
Good: Instagram for Windows Phone has a familiar, easy-to-navigate design.
Bad: Taking photos in the app is confusing and tedious. The app is also missing video support and the Photo Map.
Bottom Line: With too many missing features, Instagram for Windows Phone is not ready for prime time. [Read more]