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Top-rated reviews of the week (pictures)

This week, CNET checks out the latest update to VLC for iOS. Good news, "the app that plays anything" is still a good video player. We also had some high-rated cameras, a TV, and other good stuff, but let's talk about this. The Power Practical PowerPot. A cooking pot that generates power and charges your iPad? So you can make ramen and read TV Tropes during a power outage? Or is it so you can go camping and boil water while looking up what just bit you? I'm pretty sure there's a perfect use for this thing...a Potfecta. Let us know if you find it.

CNET Reviews staff
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1 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Sony Alpha ILCE-7R (A7R)

This week, CNET checks out the latest update to VLC for iOS. Good news, the "app that plays anything" is still a good video player. We also had some high-rated cameras, a TV, and other good stuff, but let's talk about this. The PowerPot. A cooking pot that generates power and charges your iPad? So you can make ramen and read TV Tropes during a power outage? Or is it so you can go camping and boil water while looking up what just bit you? You can make pasta, find a recipe, and electrocute a burglar at the same time? I'm pretty sure there's a perfect use for this thing...a Potfecta. Let us know if you find it.

Sony Alpha ILCE-7R (A7R)

As long as you don't need fast autofocus or great burst shooting, the Sony Alpha ILCE-7R (A7R) is great, compact alternative to entry-level full-frame cameras from Nikon and Canon. Read the review.

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2 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Drift Ghost-S

Drift Ghost-S

Long battery life, solid video quality, and a great all-in-one design make the Drift Ghost-S action cam tough to beat. Read the review.

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3 of 8 Colin West McDonald/CNET

Power Practical PowerPot V

Power Practical PowerPot V

The Power Practical PowerPot V is a useful gadget for connected outdoorsy types, and $149 seems like a fair price for charging-anywhere capability -- whether you're camping under the stars or hanging out at home during a power outage. Read the review.

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4 of 8 Screenshot by Jason Parker/CNET

VLC

VLC

As long as you have the videos to watch, VLC's gesture controls and smooth performance make it an excellent app for video playback on iOS. Read the review.

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5 of 8 Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Foursquare

Foursquare

The addition of the Explore recommendation engine makes Foursquare on iOS a powerful tool that's gone far beyond its simple checking-in roots. Read the review.

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6 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Acer Aspire V7

Acer Aspire V7

Despite the low-rent exterior, the Acer Aspire V7 packs a lot of what we want into a reasonably priced 14-inch ultrabook, including a high-res touch screen, mainstream graphics, and plenty of ports. Read the review.

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7 of 8 Sarah Tew/CNET

Vizio M601d-A3R

Vizio M601d-A3R

The 60-inch Vizio M601d-A3R doesn't quite offer the very best value for money in the company's range, but nevertheless features fine picture quality in a large size. Read the review.

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8 of 8 Screenshot by Sarah Mitroff/CNET

Jelly

Jelly

Don't mistake it for a search engine, but Jelly delivers a fun and more personal information experience on Android or iOS. Read the review.

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