How To Put Video On Psp 5 Simple Steps

Writen by Anthony Pace

How to put video on PSP is not difficult. Here are 5 simple steps to master and soon your buddies will be calling asking you how to put video on PSP for them.

First, you will need the following items:

- A DVD player on your computer (having 5-10 gb free space on your hard drive)

- A USB cable connecting your PSP to your PC

- A 512Mb Pro Duo memory stick (The PSP's default 32Mb memory card is way too small for the huge MP4 format files that are needed for video)

- A DVD Ripper like "ImTOO DVD Ripper" which "rips" or pulls the movie from the DVD onto your computer

- A PSP video converter like "ImTOO PSP Video Converter" which will allow you to convert or "rip" your videos to MP4 format

Second, put in one your favorite DVDs. Next, open your DVD Ripper and choose that named video since you want to put it on you PSP. Click the "Extract" or "rip" and save the file to a specified location.

Third, if you have video files on your computer currently then you simply hit "add" from your DVD ripper and save the file to a specified location.

Fourth, choose the video file that you saved to your computer. Click the "Extract and Encode" button from your PSP video converter and save that file.

Now the files you have on your PC are in the correct MP4 format and need to be moved over to the PSP.

Fifth, how to put video on PSP? You need to add a new folder on your Memory Stick named, "MP_ROOT" (without the quotes). Under the "MP_ROOT" folder add a sub-folder named "100MNV01". This is where you copy your MP4 videos and their accompanying thumbnail files (*.THM).

That's all there is in learning how to put video on PSP. Now it's time to enjoy your favorite video with some popcorn and a soda.

Anthony Pace is a video and PSP enthusiast. If you'd rather not deal with the technical aspects of how to put video on the PSP and don't want to dish out the money for a DVD ripper or Video converter check out the following: How to put video on PSP

Desktop Security Software Risks Part 2

Writen by Tim Klemmer

This is the third in a series of articles highlighting reasons why we need a new model for anti-virus and security solutions.

Reason #2: the Desktop Security Software Risks

The risks of placing software on the desktop are such that I will be breaking this article into two parts.

There are many advantages to putting security and anti-virus software on the desktop. They range from efficiency to money. Under previous ways of thinking if I can capture security and virus problems at the desktop I can prevent them from going any farther. That works well in a non-connected environment. In the connected environment it makes more sense to centralize the software and monitor connections in and out. Basically "firewall" all the appliances from each other.

In a previous article we discussed the security risks inherent with desktop software designed to be the protection layer between you and all those bad people out there on the Internet. Here now we will discuss some more mundane issues regarding the risks of putting security software on the desktop:

Drag

Drag steals clock-cycles from your processes so that it can run in a higher priority mode. Anti-virus software especially places a drag on your computer. Depending on your settings (and the default settings are usually very aggressive), every time you run a program or open a file, real-time file scanning takes place and your files are scanned for viruses. This slows down your processing. Accessing larger files takes longer. You can see a discernible lag time between when you start a program/open a file and when you can actually access it.

Compatibility

After the obvious issue of "drag" is compatibility. Often security and anti-virus rules get in the way of your doing business on your computer. While you may get away with using older versions of such packages as Word, Sims, Photoshop, etc. on your computer with the new XP operating system, it's unlikely your security software will be completely compatible. Why? Many packages rely on very low-level functionality to be able to do the tasks they set out to do. Anti-virus packages have to be able to operate at a level closer to the hardware than most packages. They need to do this to prevent virus software from taking precedence from them. While many packages offer backward-compatibility the opposite is not true: forward-compatibility. There are several reasons for this: a package written for Windows 98 will not anticipate all the changes to the operating system that are implemented for Windows XP. While your Win98 anti-virus program may work under XP, it won't work at its peak performance. It can't. It's just another reason for centralizing your security. By siphoning all your traffic through a security screen at your ISP, for instance, you offload the need for updates and staying up-to-date on your security software. This then becomes the job of the service provider.

Updates

Having the software on your desktop means you are responsible for maintaining that software. In the case of office productivity software or image editing software, if new versions come out with features you're not interested in, you don't update. With new viruses appearing on the landscape every day, you can't afford not to continually update your software. If you don't update for a month or two, you run severe risks of infection. You also will incur potential long update cycles as your software has to be upgraded to handle all the new threats.

This makes the desktop these days a somewhat ineffective solution. Nearly two-thirds of all the PCs that have anti-virus protection installed do not update their definitions regularly. These PCs might as well uninstall the software for all the good it's doing them.

Lost Time

As mentioned in the above discussion, you can lose considerable time if you don't update regularly. Long intervals between updates can translate into long update cycles. If you have a slow connection to a vendor, your down time is much longer as you have to wait for the files to be downloaded and then you have to wait for your software to update itself.

Solution

The better solution is to move to a centralized solution in which all the software, all the updates are the responsibility of the service provider. You pay for the service of having your email cleaned before you receive it. When email arrives at your service provider's mailbox, it is checked for malicious tendencies and stripped if bad. You notice no long waiting, no downtime, no drag, no incompatibilities.

About The Author

Tim Klemmer
CEO, OnceRed LLC
http://www.checkinmyemail.com

Tim Klemmer has spent the better part of 12 years designing and perfecting the first true patented behavior-based solution to malicious software.

timklemmer@checkinmyemail.com

Brief Explanation Of Digital Signal Processing Compression Encryption And File Translation

Writen by O G Popa

It happens many people have no idea what Digital Signal Processing means, although they do hear more and more often these words, today. Considering the name, Digital Signal Processing, people are lead towards thinking this procedure deals with digital signals. No; Digital Signal Processing is a method of improving the quality of the analog signals, only. Indeed, the naming used (DSP) it is rather improper, because it relates to all types of digital processing. The methods, and the techniques used in DSP deal only with processing signals that are analog in nature. In the digital signals case, we can only compress, encrypt, and translate them to other digital formats; these (different) procedures do not require any DSP techniques. Using the DSP name when referring to digital signals causes confusion.

Let's take each of these one step at a time, and using few practical examples. Suppose we have an old vinyl record and we want to copy its analog signal on a digital CD, to better protect that recording--CDs are a lot more reliable to hold information unaltered, over time. This means we need to convert the analog signal to digital format, and the best way of doing it is by using DSP techniques, as follows. First, we need an analog-to-digital hardware module to convert the analog signal into digital format--this is typically a "codec"--then we select a specific scanning frequency, to accomplish this task. Because we work with audio frequencies, a 40 KHz scanning frequency should be sufficient.

Please note this: the scanning frequency needs to be at least double than the maximum frequency of the original analog signal--the analog audio signals have frequencies within the range of 10 Hz to 16 KHz. After scanning, we have the copy of the analog vinyl record, in digital data format, expressed as a series of digital integer values in binary format.

Unfortunately, our vinyl record is fairly old, and it has a lot of noise on it; that noise is also present on the digital copy, and it needs to be filtered out, before we burn the digital CD. The next step is to take the digital copy--please note this: the digital copy still represents the analog signal--and we apply to it a mathematical transformation function: in this way, we change digital data from "time-domain" to the "frequency-domain". This is done gradually, by chopping digital data into frames of 512, 1024, or 4096 integers in size, and transforming one frame at a time. Once we have the data in frequency-domain, it is easy to filter the noise out, and to select/amplify only the audio frequencies we want. For this we use digital firmware or software filters, which are, in fact, known mathematical algorithms.

Once the record it is properly filtered, we need to change it back to time-domain, and we do this by using a second transformation function. Now we are able to listen our record, filtered of (any) noise. If we are satisfied with the quality of the recording, we can burn the CD; otherwise, we could repeat the above procedure, until results are exactly what we expect them to be. Digital Signal Processing ends here.

Now, we have a CD holding a digital signal--an audio file in this particular case. It may happen our audio digital file takes too many memory bytes to store, and we cannot afford that much. We want our digital file to use the smallest amount of memory, so that we can transfer the file quickly over the Internet, or we would like to store as many records as we can in a small MP3 player, for example. For this we need a "compression" technique, and, implicitly, an "encryption" one.

There are very many compression/encryptions methods available, and very many will be developed into the future. Basically, the digital signal is in fact a series of integers--an integer is 2 bytes; one byte is 8 bits; each bit is either 0 or 1--and each integer represents one mathematical value in the range of 0 to 65535. Now, we notice each digit in the range 0 to 65535 is repeated a number of times, in the entire digital audio file. This information is very important, because it helps us to convert our series of integers into a mathematically encrypted structure, by means of a software compression/encryption "key". Instead of using, for example, the integer 23501 for 1522 times in our digital audio file, we use only the information about that integer, meaning we store only the value 1522, one single time, corresponding to the integer 23501.

The compression/encryption key--this is in fact another mathematical algorithm--it is responsible for taking the initial digital file and breaking it into frames of integers; for replacing each integer with the number of times it is used; and for storing the code needed to reconstitute the initial series of integers, which is the original digital file. Commonly, the key works with a special memory structure, named a "binary-tree". In this binary-tree the position of each number represents how many times an integer appears in the entire file (or in one frame), and it also holds the information needed to reconstitute the frames, and then the entire audio digital file.

Once the digital audio file is in binary-tree format its size becomes dramatically smaller--it is compressed--and we can use it for memory storage, or for fast file transfer. In this binary-tree format data is also encrypted, in addition to being compressed, and we need that compression/encryption key, in order to reconstitute the initial digital signal; otherwise, there is no way we could "decipher" that binary-tree.

Now, what else can we do to our digital audio file? Well, there are many audio file formats, and we might need to change our digital audio file from one format to another. The simplest audio file format holds data as series of bits, of 0s and 1s. Another type may have data grouped in small packages, in series of bytes, integers, or doubles. This last type of data grouping allows for another level of information compressing; however, in order to change from one file format to the other we need appropriate hardware, firmware, or software data read/write drivers. Changing the file format it is named "translation" or "conversion", and this is a lot easier to implement.

Basically, this is all we do to analog and digital signals. As you can see there is a lot of mathematics involved, but the good news is, all those mathematical routines and algorithms are standard. A developer does not necessarily need to know a lot of mathematics, in order to perform his job fairly well. Those standard mathematical algorithms have been developed and optimized by groups of engineers and programmers, and we all use them. However, if you intend to develop proprietary algorithms, in order to achieve more spectacular effects, you need to study very well all DSP, compression/encryption, and translation techniques. For more information please check my home site, and try to discover other related articles I wrote, in various publications on the Internet.

O G POPA is Professional Engineer in BC, Canada. His home site is Corollary Theorems at http://www.corollarytheorems.com

Shopping For Mp3 Players

Writen by Edward Shapard

MP3 players, also known as digital audio players, have quickly become a staple in the technology of today. Their portability and customizable options make them an ideal for choice for listening to music on the go, which may include working out at the gym, traveling or simply sitting in your favorite chair.

When shopping for MP3 players, it's important to realize that there are a variety of models and an even larger number of retailers to sell them. In order to get the best value for your dollar, it is a good idea to shop around and do some comparative pricing for MP3 players. From the simplistic design to the more complex, there is an MP3 device that is sure to suit the needs of even the most selective of consumers.

The MP3 player that is ultimately purchased should meet the needs of the purchaser. Anyone who plans to download music via their computer must first consider that the connectivity of the MP3 is compatible with their computer. In order to correctly download music files, there must be a way to connect the two. A large number of MP3 players require a USB connection, which is available on most new computers.

The next thing to consider, when shopping for an MP3 player, is the size of the display screen. The screen is generally small and can often be difficult to read, especially if there is a glare from the sun. By selecting an MP3 player with a readable display screen, consumers will be better able to see which song is playing and browse through any applicable song list.

An MP3 player can accommodate a number of file types, the most common of which is .mp3. In addition, however, some players may also accommodate files ending in .wav and .wma or other similar file type. Before purchasing any MP3 player, customers must first confirm the type(s) of files that the player will support. This will be very important in determining which song files will work with their MP3 player.

In order to transfer the music from a computer to an MP3 player, the consumer will need some type of software in order to make the transfer successful. The majority of new MP3 players are accompanied by their own software; But, is it simple to use? It may be a good idea to read online customer reviews regarding specific MP3 players in order to learn about the experiences that other buyers have had with not only the player itself, but the software as well. Many MP3 players can be handled by the operating system alone and need no additional software installed. You should check to make sure that a player is compatible with your operating system before purchasing.

Perhaps the biggest consideration is memory. Memory also has the largest impact on price. An average mp3 file is about 2.5MB in size. At this size, a 250MB player can hold 10 mp3's and a 1Gig player can hold 40. The size you'll be happy with will be determined by how many songs you'd like to carry at one time, and how much you're willing to spend.

So, what is the best way to shop for an MP3 player? Thanks to internet, the options are unlimited and customers have a stronger voice than ever. By reading online customer reviews, comparing prices and model specifications, consumers will be able to select the right MP3 player that will have them singing a new tune in no time.

There are many sources of MP3's you can use to fill your player's memory. You can convert your existing cd's to MP3 format or you can obtain MP3's online. For a review of online sources for MP3's see http://www.buymp3music-online.com

Edward Shapard is a fan of old fashioned crooners like Bobby Darin and Michael Buble. See his best tips for getting MP3's online at http://www.buymp3music-online.com

Scandiskan Overall Look

Writen by Mike Singh

The leader in flash memory, ScanDisk delivers more flash memory products than anyone else in more form factors. They carry 315 issued U.S. patents along with 160 foreign patents, so it is very clear to see that ScanDisk is THE inventor of flash data storage. ScanDisk was founded in 1988 by Dr. Eli Harari, who was an internationally recognized authority on non-volatile memory technology. They serve both consumers and original equipment manufacturer, while licensing its technology to a number of other industry-leading companies.

Flash memory is a rapidly growing field, due to the direct result of "consumer demand" for always something smaller, more feature packed, more portable, and always wanting a digital device. Because of this reputation, available is a great, diverse line of MP3 players to suit every consumer with MP3 desires. SanDisk is a name to consider when shopping for your digital audio player as it provides a line of digital audio players with video capabilities, FM tuners, expandable memory, and voice recording. With five different lines of digital audio players to choose from it is probable to find something that fits a specific taste.

The SanDisk "SansaTM" e200 series of MP3 players give the consumer the capability of music, photo, and video clip playback - all in one device. With a 1.8" TFT color screen and advanced navigation, along with a very easy to use interface, this line comes with three choices of disk space - 2GB, 4GB, 6GB, and 8GB, with a strong battery life at about 20 hours when fully charged. It has a durable metal backing to avoid excessive scratching, which is an advantage over others. Supporting the Microsoft PlaysForSure subscription music, a media converter can be purchased to support most image formats for photos and small personal videos.

SanDisk's SansaTM m200 series provides high-quality digital music playback as a replacement to the original Digital Audio Player line, as SanDisk is one of the leaders in the flash drive arena. This series doesn't offer anything flashy (no photo or video), but does everything you need if you are looking for pure digital audio. The series comes in the 512MB (blue), 1GB (silver), or 2GB (black) sizes with optional data storage capabilities. It also can be used as an external storage device for data and a PC transfer case.

The SanDisk SansaTM c100 series is made for the active type, by providing flash memory of 1 or 2GB in a lightweight and durable device that is available in brilliant color. You can listen to music downloaded from the PC, listen to FM radio, record FM radio, or make voice recordings while jogging or studying. The SanDisk Sansa c100 series can also display photo thumbnails, but has no video playback capability. If a person is new to the digital audio game, not quite knowing how much space they need, the SanDisk SansaTM e100 series of expandable memory MP3 players is a great option. Coming with a built-in 512MB or 1GB of memory, a person can expand the space by up to 2GB with a SD slot memory card. This player also comes with a built-in FM tuner.

Check out http://www.mp3playertop.com/ for more articles on ipod shuffel and creative zen 20gb mp3 player.

Would You Like An Ipod With Your Checkup

Writen by John Thomas

When you walk into most dentist offices, you see a receptionist, a fish tank, and a magazine rack, not necessarily in that order. If my dentist has as much influence as I think he does, you may soon find an iPod rack next to the magazines.

On my last visit, my dentist, offered me an iPod as his hygienist was getting ready to do her 6-month routine. I have never really enjoyed going to the dentist. There is just something about lying still while people pull and push around inside your mouth that seems unnatural. So I was happy for the offer. I like gadgets and I also liked the idea of a distraction.

The iPod user interface is so easy and intuitive that anybody can figure it out, even if they are upside down, looking at the ceiling and have a spot light shining in their face. He had his iPod loaded with a range of music so that there was something for everybody. I soon settled into some Dave Mathews then switched to a little classic Fleetwood Mac that I do not have at home.

As I was lying there completely entertained and oblivious to the work that was going on, I spotted a couple of negative issues that go along with the use of an iPod in the chair.

Every time I got an instruction to open wider, I invariable responded, "huh" or "wha...". I couldn't hear a thing over the music. My dentist probably needs an override switch so that he can cut into the music and get my attention. Getting in and out of the chair was also a little more complicated with the addition of ear bud wires. They get all tangled up with the little place mat and chain they always put on your chest.

My dentist said that he was still running into questions that he didn't really have answers for. Some of his patients wanted to buy the iPod and take it with them. A few wanted to borrow it to show to somebody at home.

I have to admit that I liked having some entertainment and the iPod was a good way to deliver it. Those visits usually seem really long but the music made this last visit go by fast. Having control of the iPod made giving up control of my mouth a little easier and I appreciated the diversion provided by good quality music.

I decided to take the next step and buy an iPod. I found some great advice on iPod and Accessories at ipod-tips.com and ipodlounge.com.

John Thomas is an author and business consultant who works with entrepreneurs and business owners. He takes time to share his passion for iPods at iPod-Tips.com.

Where To Go For Info On How To Play Movies On Ipod

Writen by Gunnar Berglund

The wonderful company Apple has come out with an iPod that you can watch movies on. Yes, it is true! Just when you thought an iPod could not get smaller or more addicting, Apple brings out the big dogs. In any case, the trick is to really know how to play movies on iPod. Although many people will buy the iPods that are capable of playing movies, most of them will not even try to use that feature on them. If you are interested in finding movies for iPod or learning how to play them, there are some things you can do. After all, what is the point of having a movie playing iPod if you can't use it for that reason?

Research

The first thing you need to do is get out your owner's manual to make sure your iPod is capable of playing movies. The newest iPod is very capable of playing movies, but other versions are not. So, if you find yourself having trouble playing movies on an older iPod, it could be because you are not able to play movies on them.

If you find that you can indeed play movies on your iPod you may want to take a deeper look into the manual. It might give you detailed instructions on how to go about doing it. If you can't find it, simply go to the Apple website and take a look around.

You can also find message boards all over the Web where people post questions and answers about iPods. If you do a general search for "iPod movie playing" you will come up with many different boards you can take part in. You will love the fact that you can talk to iPod users, just like you! In fact, their responses can be quite helpful as well, when you are looking for a specific answer to a question or problem you are having with the iPod.

Where To Find Movies

Once you figure out how you can play movies on the newest iPod, you will need to purchase some movies. While it may be tempting to illegally download free flicks, consider doing the right thing and visiting the iTunes store. There you can purchase movies that will download right to your iPod when it is connected to the computer. In fact, it works just like the music that you purchase does.

It Does It All

So, now that you know how to find and play movies on your iPod you will truly be addicted to the tiny wonder. It is great to be able to listen to songs, share photos, see movies, watch television shows, and more on your iPod. You will want to buy one for everyone you know!

Gunnar Berglund has been a "internet- hardworker" since 2000. He runs http://www.meonit.com and a site for downloadable ipod movies.

The Ipod Shuffle

Writen by Bonnie Archer

It is the time to mix things up! The unpredictable new iPod is here. Maybe it can read your mind? What will it play next? Can it read your moods? Load it up - put it on. See where it will take you.

You will be able to choose from pocket size 512MB or 1G models that start at $99. - Surprise yourself!

Random is the order of this iPod--

The iPod Shuffle Songs setting takes you on a unique journey through your music collection. You'll never know what is around the next tune. Welcome to a life less orderly--iPod shuffle shuns routine by serving up your favorite songs in a new order every time you listen.

You can just plug iPod shuffle into your computer's USB port and let iTunes auto fill it with up to 240 songs and get a different experience with each connection.

The trail you run daily looks and sounds different with an iPod shuffle. That daily traffic jam even seems enjoyable when you are listening and not knowing what song will come on next.

Love it - Lose control

About The Author
Bonnie Archer is a successful author and publisher of http://www.A1-computers.net. A great source of information about computers and computer accessories. http://www.a1-computers.net/computeraccessories.html Check out our Blog http://a1-computers.blogspot.com

Internet Explorer Shortcuts For Mouseophobes

Writen by Steve Singleton

If you're like me, you occasionally find the ubiquitous mouse inconvenient. Here are keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft's Internet Explorer (I.E.), the default browser for most personal computers in the business environment.

Of course, learning them all would be far more trouble than it's worth. But as you scan through the possibilities, look for the tasks you do multiple times a day. Acquiring shortcuts for these repeated tasks makes sense, because you thereby improve your efficiency and reduce your unproductive mousing time. You may also find using the keyboard ergonomically more comfortable.

I've divided the tasks into categories that seem to reflect the routine process we all follow when using I.E. Remember: Some of these only work in certain locations or sequences.

Navigation
ALT+HOME -- Go to your home page.
ALT+D -- Select text in address bar.
CTRL+ENTER (cursor must be in address bar) -- Add "www." to beginning and ".com" to end of text entered in address bar.
F4 -- Display/hide list of addresses you've recently entered.
SHIFT+TAB -- Move back through the items on a Web page, the Address bar, and the Links bar.
UP ARROW -- Scroll backward through a document one line at a time.
PAGE UP -- Scroll backward through a document in larger increments.
BACKSPACE or ALT+LEFT ARROW -- Move backward one page.

HOME -- Move backward to beginning of document.
TAB -- Move forward through the items on a Web page, the Address bar, and the Links bar.
DOWN ARROW -- Scroll forward through a document one line at a time.
PAGE DOWN -- Scroll forward through a document in larger increments.
ALT+RIGHT ARROW -- Move forward one page.
END -- Move forward to the end of a document.

Window Management
F11 -- Toggle between full-screen and regular views of browser window.
CTRL+N -- Open new window.
CTRL+W -- Close current window.
CTRL+O or CTRL+L -- Go to a new location (URL address field).
CTRL+I -- Open/close favorites bar.
CTRL+D -- Add current page to Favorites.
CTRL+B -- Open Organize Favorites dialog box.
CTRL+H -- Open/close history bar.

Searching
CTRL+E -- Open search bar.
CTRL+F -- Find on current page.

Refreshing
F5 or CTRL+R -- Refresh current web page.
CTRL+F5 -- Refresh current web page even if time stamp for web version and locally stored version are same.

Cut-and-pasting (same as in other Windows applications)
CTRL+A -- Select all items on current web page.
CTRL+C -- Copy selected item(s) to Clipboard.
CTRL+X -- Cut (remove) selected item(s) and copy to Clipboard.
CTRL+V -- Insert contents of Clipboard at cursor location (insertion point).

Printing
CTRL+P -- Print current web page or active frame.

Saving
CTRL+S -- Save the current page.

Closing
CTRL+W -- Close current window.

More keyboard, less mouse -- it often makes your Internet experience more of a pleasure and less of a pain.

* * *

Copyright ©2006 Steve Singleton

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles. He has been an editor, reporter, and public relations consultant. He has taught college-level Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses and has taught seminars in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.com for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Check out the DeeperStudy Bookstore for great e-books, free books, and great discounts. Subscribe to his free "DeeperStudy Newsletter" or "DeeperStudy Blog."

View Programs Loaded At Computer Startup

Writen by Robert Adelman

Do you have numerous programs starting when you startup your PC? Do you want to learn how to find what is starting and how to stop them from starting?

The instructions below must be followed exactly as we will be going in to the registry which can be dangerous, so please be careful. Only please continue if you feel comfortable using the registry

I advise to practice using the registry but not deleting anything until you are familar on how it works etc.

The best way to enter the registry is to click `Start' >> `Run' >> type `Regedit' >> Press .

Once the Registry is loaded, click on the `+' next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMICROSOFTWINDOWSCURRENTVERSION. Now click on `RUN' and you should notice the yellow folder icon should display the folder is open, on the right side of the page you will now see the programs which are started when the PC loads up.

To delete a program from starting.
Please only delete a program from starting up if you are certain you dont need the program from starting

On the right side of the page click on the program entry you want to delete so that it is highlighted and then right-click your mouse and click `delete'

IT support and consulting - Melbourne, Australia

The Truth About Pda Batteries And How To Find The Kind That Suits You Best

Writen by Jane Ling

If you own a PDA, you need batteries to go with it. No question about it. Without a battery, your PDA can't function and it practically useless.

If you bought your pocket pc from a dealer or the manufacturer, than your machine will probably already come with a battery straight out of the box. In many cases you will want ot either get a second battery. This can happen due to one of these reasons:

1. You want a replacement battery to back you up

2. The battery the manufacturer gave you with the PDA is not satisfactory and you want another one. With today's affordable PDA battery costs, it's easy to acquire a new battery fast.

Now there is more than one type of batteries for handheld devices. There are a few technologies that are used to make the batteries, and that leads to different qualities, prices, advantages and dis-advantages. You should take a close look at the different types of batteries and their qualities so you choose the best type for your needs. Let's take a brief look at the different types of batteries available for PDA users:

The old school battery - Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) PDA batteries

NiCd is one of the most proven and most widely used rechargeable batteries. Very dependable and "robust", thus used widely in backup systems. You can always relay on NiCD batteries to do the job. They contain cadmium and have relatively low capacity when compared to other rechargeable systems. But that is just about the only disadvantage they have. These batteries are cheap and you can often buy 2 for the price of one!

Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMh) pocket pc batteries

The NiMh technology is a less popular technology, still available for pocket pc's. No particular advantages here.

The new technology for handheld batteries - Lithium Ion (Li Ion) PDA batteries

Li Ion batteries are a relatively new technology. They can deliver %40 more capacity than the respective NiCd battery, and are much lighter in weight. They also don't have a "memory" – the tendency of NiCD batteries to lose capacity over time and recharges.

These qualities make LiIon batteries the perfect battery for PDA's, notebook computers, wireless telephones and other handheld devices. So no matter if you have a Palm One, an iPAQ, a Blackberry of any other device, you can use this battery. They are also one of the more expensive rechargeable technologies. They may cost 3 times more than the NiCd batteries. So if you get yourself one of these - take good care of it.

The only disadvantage these batteries have, is the tendency to explode if subjected to extreme heat or are drained too fast. But smart solution have been developed to overcome the phenomena, such as smart covers that nutralize the dangers.

The most recommended source for getting a PDA battery is to buy them online. There are dozens of online stores that will enable you to order the battery you need, in many cases at a lower price that the regular store. In many cases the shipping is free.

Find out more about PDA batteries in Jane Ling's website - http://www.pdaonlinecenter.com. We also talk about how to find the best PDA battery replacement for your handheld device.

Your Mac And Your Kids

Writen by Chris McMullen

For some Mac fans reading this, their Mac is almost like their child. However, for those of us who have both children and Macs, we have to take responsibility for educating and protecting our children on the computer. This was never made clearer to me than one late night a few months back.

My daughter was upstairs on her computer and my wife and I were downstairs watching a movie. First my daughter called down asking for her mother's birth date. Then, two minutes after getting the answer, she called down and asked for the year. I asked my daughter why she needed to know. She replied, "just asking." Her mother shouted the answer before I could stop her. I paused the movie and said, "we have to go see what our girl is up to," because I had a suspicion she was giving out my wife's information online. We were met on the stairs by an ecstatic ten year old that told us she had just won a free pizza. All she had to do was give them all her mom's personal information.

From this incident I knew I had been lazy with the education of my daughter. I had helped with math and history homework but had given her a computer that is always connected to the Internet without any real instruction. This was my wakeup call. She impresses me daily with her ability to use her iBook. But the same reason kids are good students of computers is the reason they can get into so much trouble on the Internet. Children are mostly trusting and fearless. They trust that aside from dropping a computer, it can be fixed and that no harm can come to them through their actions online. Most of all they do not fear making a mistake, as many adult students do.

Within Mac OS X 10.4, Apple included "Parental Controls" that help a parent supervise their child's computer use. The first step is to always have children use "Non Administrator" user accounts. Whether your child has their own computer or shares yours, they need to have a separate user account. When you create a password for your user account or the "Administrator" account on your child's computer, be sure to select a password they can't guess and that you will never need to tell them. Remember kids are smart and a locked door is more tempting than an open one, so don't think they won't try to get your password. Next, you'll need to create your child's account. In "System Preferences" select "Accounts" and click on the padlock in the lower right hand corner of the window. Enter your password and click on the "+" button above it. Enter your kid's name and a password. This will be the password you can tell them, so make it appropriate to what your child can remember. There is a check box towards the bottom that will ask if the user can administer the computer. Do not check that box. Now that your new user is added, you can click on "Login Options" and check "Enable fast user switching." This will let your child use their account on your computer without shutting down the things you have been working on.

Creating a "Non Administrator" user account is just the first step. You will now need to set up limitations on that account. Doing this will require a good understanding of what your children do online and what you feel they should be able to do. In the "Accounts" section of "System Preferences" click on the user account you made for your child. To the right there will be a tab named "Parental Controls." Clicking on that will bring up five items to configure. "Mail" is the first selection. Checking the box there will filter whom your child will communicate with. You can add email addresses to the list of friends and family. This list can be constantly updated and managed by you. It will even send permission requests to your email.

Next "Finder & System" can be managed. This is where you will make most of your decisions about what the computer is to be used for. Do you want your child to change system settings or burn CDs? Here too you can limit what programs they can use. Limiting programs is best for younger computer users, just keep in mind that as you children grow, so too will their interests and capabilities. It may be better to let kids have access to programs you might not think they would want to use than to limit their options, and if they're not Internet based programs, there's not much trouble they can get into.

Configuring "iChat" is the same as with Mail but instead it is listing permitted persons chat name. This is probably more important to use than mail filtering. Predators in particular can misuse iChat, so filtering stranger's access is recommended. If you don't think there are predators out there, search through the news. Anyone who is inclined to be that kind of monster has found fertile ground on the Internet. They feel safer sending anonymous emails or chatting than lurking around a mall hoping to engage a child in conversation. They're out there, and you may be the only defense standing between your child chatting with predators on- line.

To filter "Safari," the next section, you will need to log in under your child's user account and add sites one by one. To add approved sites will require your Administrator password; so only use this if you want to be in complete control of where your kids go online.

The last item is "Dictionary" and all this does is block profanity when checked. This, like filtering "Safari," is a tough issue for some. If you block your children's access to certain things then you run the risk of not preparing them for when they do encounter them later on. Instead have your kids use the computer where you can see the screen, that way you can see what they are working on and can ask questions.

Apple has also been adding parental controls to other applications too. For instance, iTunes has a new preference tab to help filter iTunes Music Store content, Podcasts and explicit content. However, as new tools are added for parents it is increasingly important not to forget to teach with those tools. I might be able to filter the websites that ask for personal information but I will miss the opportunity to teach my daughter healthy skepticism on the Internet. I can block the strangers but I still need to teach that you should not chat with people you have not met in real life first. Education, not isolation, was the intention of these tools from Apple. So use those tools to help your children discover and explore safely.

PowerMax's <http://www.powermax.com/> resident Mac expert, Jacob Loeb, has been using Macintosh computers professionally since 1990. He founded a pioneering Mac based DVD production company and later worked as an IT administrator for several Portland, Oregon companies. Over the last four years Jacob has retained a top Apple Product Professional ranking. As a PowerMax technician he's repaired, trouble shot, and tested every model Mac we sell.

Get Ahead When You Build Your Own Computer

Writen by Phil Moyers

If you've been kicking around the idea of building your own computer, it actually isn't a bad idea. It's easier than you might think, and you can probably come out with a system that gives you more kick for your money, than you'd see in retail, or those made-to-order places. There are mainly two ways you're going to see the benefits here:

1. You can see the money you're going to save on this right up front. Just do a search on Cnet.com under "Compare Prices" for any random PC component you see in the stores, and you'll know what I'm talking about. In most cases, you'll cut out the full-retail markup, and then some. You'll find brand new, sealed, in-box items lower online than you'll ever find in any store.

2. The quality of the parts you're getting is much better than what they put in pre-assembled, store-bought computers. You'll know which brands mean quality. You could have a Creative sound card and a video card made by ATI or nVidia; the price difference is negligible, and we're dealing with quality and performance standards that dwarf any no-name components they put in store bought systems, so they can keep their costs down. Many times, computer manufacturers like just use a cheap motherboard that has everything, your sound, video, etc., integrated into it; you get a third-rate version of everything.

Here are the main parts, or the basic building blocks for what you'll need when you build your own computer.

1. A Motherboard. I talked about this a little earlier. All computers have one, but a good motherboard is just a fast connector that'll hold lots of memory and extra slots for expansion components. Steer clear of motherboards that have "built-in" this or "integrated" that, because they're almost always of lousy quality. It does help to have all your USB ports, keyboard plugs etc., on your motherboard, however. I have an onboard LAN that works pretty well, since a LAN is a LAN, but there were some driver issues with it when I put it together.

2. The Processor, or CPU. This is the "brain" of your computer. The kind of CPU that you can get depends on the kind of board that you picked out. The market is pretty much Intel Pentium 4 or AMD. Most people who are interested in higher power and long-term use tend to opt for the Intel.

3. Video Card. This is easy. Your motherboard either has a PCI Express video slot (newer and faster, but no real benefit yet) or an AGP 8X slot. Are you a hardcore gamer or someone who just uses a PC for a little email and word processing every now and then? This is the major question that'll tell you the video card you need. Obviously the more intense and rigorous your video and graphics demands, the more video memory your card will need.

4. Memory. Memory or RAM (Random Access Memory) is easy too. The main size ram you'll find that goes with what's still the most common new computer motherboard size (the Pentium compatible, socket 478) is the standard DDR 184 pin memory stick. Whether you need DDR 333, DDR 400, or DDR 533 (mhz, frequency and speed really) depends on the board you chose. Some handle all of them, some handle just a few, so be sure to read that part of the box, (or online description).

5. Sound Card. This is probably one of the easiest parts to pick out and add. Most standalone sound cards you'll see out there (the best way to go) are pretty good in the digital sound that they'll give you. I would go with Creative Labs, who I mentioned earlier, because they've been around since the mid 80's; they've got this right. Almost every one sold and made today is the PCI slot, the most common motherboard slot, so it's pretty hard to pick a sound card that won't work.

6. Hard Drive. This is your main storage on your PC. It holds all of your files, games, pictures, operating system, everything. I would make sure I had at least 160 gigs of space, even if I weren't a power user. This sounds like a lot but you'll find that just in everyday PC use, that space gets eaten up fast. There are a few quality names out there that most people know, like Western Digital and Seagate.

7. Chassis / Computer Case. It's good idea to get a case that comes with the power supply already in it, so you won't have to deal with the annoyance of buying one separately and fitting it in. Plus, the power supply warranty (and they do go out sometimes) is by the same people who made your case, so they're easy to track down. The only big consideration is that you need to get a case that supports the new generation boards (socket 478 and 775 for power users) because the power supply has this special 4-pin plug that any motherboard made in the past 5 years needs or it won't even boot up. But still, the biggest part of your computer case selection is going to be cosmetics and personal style, so pick one you like!

8. Other Drives. Once the main parts are together and your system's up and running, you can pick and choose what extras you like or need – everything from CD or DVD burners to MP3 hubs and advanced audio hookups. With a little smart shopping, and little close attention to quality brands, you can build one affordable, high-performance PC in a snap!

Phil Moyers, owner of Build Your Own Computer Plan shows computer novices how to save a ton of money by putting together fast, high performance PC's of their own with handpicked, quality parts.

Internet Basics Plugins Are Like Popeyes Spinach

Writen by Grant Pasay

Ever watch Popeye the Sailor Man cartoons? All on his own, Popeye could do quite a lot. He could walk and talk and sing and smoke his pipe. But when it came time to deal with his nemesis, Brutus, Popeye just wasn't up to the task.

Not until he ate his spinach, that is. And suddenly, good old Popeye could do even more than before. That's when things always got exciting, and, suddenly, handling Brutus was no problem.

That's what plug-ins are like.

Just like Popeye all on his own, a browser can do quite a lot. It can display webpages and work with special languages like Javascript. But when it comes time to deal with other special things like audio or video or Flash content or Portable Document Files (PDFs), well, browsers often aren't up to the task.

Not until they're equipped with some plug-ins, that is. And suddenly, your good old browser can do even more than before. That's when the Internet can get even more exciting.

You see, the plug-ins are like little bits of software that work with your browser so it can display even more kinds of content than just plain old webpages.

Unlike Popeye's spinach, the plug-ins are usually made available for FREE. How come the plug-ins are free? Because the money gets made selling the software that creates the content that the plug-ins are for.

For example, Macromedia makes a software program called Flash. You have to buy the software to make Flash-based content that you can put up on the Internet. But for someone to view your Flash-based content, they'll need to go to the Macromedia website and download the Flash plug-in. Then their browser will be able to display Flash content. And since Macromedia wants to sell lots of their Flash software to developers, they make the plug-in free to the general public so that it's easy to view Flash-based content.

And that's why plug-ins are like Popeye's spinach.

Copyright (c) Grant Pasay 2005. All rights reserved. You may forward this article in its entirety (including author bio/links) to anyone you wish.

Grant Pasay is a professional website copywriter, advertising copywriter, and SEO copywriter serving clients in Vancouver, BC and everywhere. Grant is also the author of the FREE e-book, "The Internet Is Like A Refrigerator."

For copy that captures your business message without any of the hassle, go to http://grantpasay.com/

Check out Grant's FREE e-book at http://grantpasay.com/refrigerator/

How To Automate Tasks In Your Linux Server

Writen by Bernard Peh

If your host is running under the Linux (Unix) operating system, you can perform tasks in the server on a regular basis. For example, sending mails at a certain time of the day, backing up database at 6 in the morning and so on.

"Cron" is a program that runs in the background of the Linux server. The program runs certain commands defined by you at fixed time intervals. A tyical cron file will look something like this:

# My Sample Cron File 12 01 02 * * /usr/bin/du /var > /home/test/diskSpace.txt

Cron command lines consist of 6 whitespace separated fields. The first 5 fields are used to specify when to run the command, and the last field determines what command to run. The first field(12 in this case) represents minute, the second field represents hour, third field represents day of month, fourth field represents month(1=Jan, 2=Feb and so on), fifth field represents day of week(0=sunday, 1=monday and so on).

Note: * means every time and # means comments.

To edit the crontab file, we use the crontab command like so:

"crontab [ -e | -l -r ]"

The switch -e means to edit the current cron file. -l means to list the current file, and -r means to remove the current cron file. Try typing "crontab -l" and you will see the cron file contents. To access the crontab command, you need to have SSH(Secure Shell) access to the server. Basically, SSH allows you to type commands in the command prompt. If you have limited access to SSH, your host might provide some other ways to access cron via the control panel.

For example, if I want to run a php script at 12 midnight everyday, I will type "crontab -e", then write my script as follows:

0 0 * * * php /home/username/public_html/www.sitecritic.net.php

The command that I run is "php". It is also recommended that you use full path reference to your script. In this case, it is /home/username/public_html/www.sitecritic.net.php.

In Conclusion, cron can save you alot of time and effort in doing daily repetitive tasks. By running a customised php script, you can automate the task of sending mass mails, backing up database, creating RSS feeds...etc.

Bernard Peh is a great passioner of web technologies and one of the co-founders of Sitecritic.net. He works with experienced web designers and developers for more than 5 years, developing and designing commercial and non-commercial websites. More of his work can be seen at Sitecritic.net Internet articles.

Selecting A Portable Dvd Player

Writen by Jason Flowers

Selecting a Portable DVD Player

If you want to watch a movie while travelling by road, or while undertaking air travel, or if you want to keep your children occupied with a movie for the duration of a long drive, bring your portable DVD player along! To use it, all you need to do, is to plug your headphones into the set, and relax with your favourite viewing to pass time on the journey. Most portable players have a built-in LCD screen and speakers that can give you a miniaturised home theatre experience. When shop for a portable DVD player, make sure you check for the features that are actually relevant to your intended use before you buy.

Screen Size and Weight

The player size is the probably the first aspect to be considered when you venture out to select a player. Those with larger screen sizes will correspondingly weigh more. The ideal screen size is generally held to be 7" making it handy and easy to carry. Bigger screens give you better clarity, but the sets are more expensive than models with smaller screens. There are also low priced portable DVD players without screens, if you intend to plug the player into an existing television set or perhaps an old LCD screen from a car video system. These are easier on the purse than those that come with a screen but be sure to check that the player you choose has outputs that are compatible with the video inputs of your screen.

Playback Formats

Besides the standard function of playing DVDs, a number of portable players can support CDs of various formats such as MP3s, audio CDs, CD-R/RW, and DVD-R. Some DVD players are also capable of handling images in JPEG format that are saved onto a CD. This allows you to carry your photo albums on CDs with you, to show your friends when you visit them, while on vacation or at a family get together, without having to lug the extra baggage and weight associated with an unwieldy bunch of photo albums.

Comparing Video Outputs

First, get to know the types of video output the player can support. A component video output separates the different video signals, and maintains high colour fidelity and image quality, all of which go to produce a picture of high quality. S-video output is another high quality output option that presents an excellent picture. It is also possible to connect many portable DVD players with RCA phono connections, but you are likely to lose much of the video quality produced by standard DVD players. Make sure to choose a player with a video output that suits your television or screen.

Quality Audio Outputs

The choice of audio outputs boils down to any optical and coaxial cable type connections that are offered by your chosen player. An optical output is often the better choice from the perspective of producing the best sound effects when connected to a home theatre system. If you are hesitant about using your portable set when there are others around you, you can also opt for receiving audio output through a set of headphones. There are a large number of headphone models on offer, sporting a built-in headphone jack, or multiple headphone jacks, and even wireless headphone support.

Digital Surround Sound

Watching a movie on a portable DVD player with digital surround sound can transport you to a miniature virtual theatre environment. If you decide to use RCA connections, you will be missing out on the sound effects and quality that DVD players are capable of producing but there is little point in paying the extra for optical outputs if you only ever intend to use the player on the move with its own internal speakers or headphones.

Batteries

Portable DVD players are almost always equipped with internal rechargeable batteries, with some having a provision for using AA batteries when the internal batteries run out. Most internal batteries, when fully charged, last for between two and a half to three hours of use. Check to see that your player's battery is equipped to run an entire movie! If you intend to use the DVD player in your car, remember to get the battery charger that is compatible with the car's charging system. This charger is sometimes included with the accessories you receive when you buy the player. If not, check its costs as some of them have been known to cost nearly as much as the player itself.

Connectivity and Use – Further Thoughts

If you want to connect your DVD player to other audio equipment, or to the television set, then there are choices of regular A/V connections that can give the best video and audio outputs. If two people wish to listen to the audio simultaneously, look for two headphones, or purchase a 'Y' adapter which splits a single headphone output into two. You may also have the option of being able to connect the portable DVD player to your car, and listening to the audio output through the car speakers. Some players can be mounted in-between the seats, using the straps specifically provided for this purpose.

Warranty Period

Portable DVD players usually come with a manufacturer's warranty of one year. The warranty period varies depending upon the brand you choose to purchase. It is advisable to choose a portable DVD player that carries at least a one-year warranty and consider the extended warranties offered by your retailer (but be sure to check for exclusions and restrictions in the fine print).

Conclusion

Before you buy a portable DVD player, it is advisable to become acquainted in advance with the essential features to look for and to decide which of these actually matters in the context of your intended use of the machine. The clarity, sound and convenience offered by a portable DVD player should give you and your family hours of high quality entertainment.

Jason Flowers is Managing Director of 3 Wise Monkeys With e-tailers like 3wisemonkeys.co.uk you get the best of both worlds with a guide to buying a portable DVD player. As well as producing quick guides such as the one above to improve your on-line shopping experience, we are always happy to respond to your queries and to give detailed buying advice over the phone with no pressure to purchase.

Healthy Webmasters Choose Ergonomic Computer Products

Writen by Natalie Aranda

Webmasters usually sit at their computers much longer in a day than most other office workers, sometimes up to 10 and 12 hours. This can bring about the potential for physical discomforts that are attributed to prolonged use and the repetitive tasks that they perform on computers every day. If left unchanged, these discomforts can result in bodily injuries. If your income depends on you being online or at your computer, these injuries can cause you time off of your computer, very high medical bills, and loss of income. The use of ergonomic computer products will not only improve your health by making you more comfortable, but will also aid you in becoming more productive and have less physical stress and even make fewer errors.

You may now be wondering what Ergonomic computer products are and how they can help you be more comfortable at your computer. Well, to understand what these products are you must first know what Ergonomic is. Ergonomics is the study of work. This study aims to achieve the development of equipments, tools, and devices that fit the work of the webmaster. With this study, the proper tools and equipment can be developed to ensure that webmasters do not develop any serious health problems while performing their tasks at their computers.

One item that you use more than any other while at your computer is your mouse. There are plenty of fancy expensive ones out there, but do they aid in the prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress injuries, and tendonitis? An Ergonomic Mouse will. These are designed especially for webmasters to give them a more comfortable way of maneuvering and surfing the internet while giving them the support they need. You can find a very uniquely designed Ergonomic mouse that will be perfect for your needs while ensuring a healthy position for you hand and wrist. You may need one in which you rest the side of your hand at the base of the mouse and the thumb on the switch on the top of the stick for easy right and left clicks of the button using the thumb, or a more simple one which is cordless and has a finger-operated trackball that works where you need it.

Ergonomic Armrests are also very important for prevention of such ailments as neck pain, back pain, poor circulation and chronic neck fatigue, including the ones discussed for the ergonomic mouse. Your arm also needs to be very comfortable and positioned properly to ensure that you will not tire while doing your webmaster duties. Ergonomic armrests have been proven scientifically that such problems as muscle tension in the neck and shoulders can be reduced considerably. With the quality arm support that you receive with the ergonomic armrests you will receive a comfortable arm, shoulder and neck support without any restriction in your motion.

With all Ergonomic computer products you as a webmaster will be able to get your work done faster and more efficiently because you will be more comfortable and will be reducing the stress in your neck and shoulders.

You can also find several other ergonomic computer products such as ergonomic chairs, ergonomic keyboards, keypad tray, mouse support tray, wrists rests, and forearm rests. Any position that you put your body in can cause damage if you are not comfortable and start feeling pain. The best way to ensure a healthy body for all webmasters is to purchase ergonomic computer products right from the start. Sit upright in your chair with proper posture, position your monitor so you do not have eye strain or have the monitor at the wrong angle, use ergonomic computer products to prevent pain in your hands, arms, wrists, shoulders, and back.

Copyright @2005, 4th Media Corporation

You have permission to publish this article electronically free of charge, as long as the bylines and links in the body of the article and the bylines are included.

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer. She loves Web design

Find Your Laptop Drivers Easily

Writen by Mohammad Abdullatif

Many people, especially beginners, struggle in finding drivers for their laptops. In this article, I will illustrate two ways to help you find your laptop drivers quickly, and easily.

The first method we will consider is to visit a company's website, and attempt to find a 'Drivers' or 'downloads' link. If a similar link is not immediately apparent, look for a search box. Most laptop companies have a search box somewhere on the homepage of their website. Type the model number of your laptop into the search box and click search. Typically, you will be sent to an overview of the model you have entered. Look for 'Downloads' or 'Drivers' links. Hopefully, if this link is available, you can follow it to find the necessary drivers for your laptop.

For example, say you have a Dell Latitude D600 laptop, for which you wish to locate updated drivers. The first step is to visit Dell's website. From the first page, click on the 'Drivers and Downloads' section.

After clicking on the 'Drivers and Downloads' link, we choose the required model. In our example, it is Latitude. Then we enter the model number (D600), followed by selecting our operating system. The Dell website will show a list of available drivers and software updates for your model. Select the driver you wish, and click 'Download'. What if you do not know the website of your laptop's manufacturer? Or, perhaps when visiting the website, you couldn't find the 'Downloads and Drivers' section? A second method for locating laptop drivers would be to visit Google (www.google.com), and entering, "Download (manufacturer) (model name and number) [type] driver" or "[type] driver for (manufacturer) (model name or number)" into the query box, substituting your own manufacturer, model name and number.

For example, if we wished to find the sound card for a Dell Latitude D600 laptop, we could go to Google. We would enter either of the following queries:

-"Download Dell Latitude D600 soundcard Drivers"
-"soundcard driver for Dell Latitude D600"

The driver download page for you laptop should appear near the top of the results returned by Google. Follow the link to the driver page, and proceed to download the drivers you need. These two methods should make it easy to locate the drivers you need for your laptop. Good Luck!

© 2006 GammaLaptops.com

For more information on laptops, notebooks, laptop news, drivers, laptop manuals, parts, tips, articles, guides and more visit ==>http://www.GammaLaptops.com

Mp3 Players Take The Reins

Writen by Valerie T

It first started with the cumbersome record player and turned into mp3 players as big as your thumb. A growing trend today seems to be the music player industry. It needs to be small and portable, yet hold 25,000 songs. It also must be fashionable. God forbid that you have last month's model rather than the one that just came out. With that remark, it could be obvious that the iPod is the most popular of these new fangled devices.

Although the iPod is not the only mp3 player and more in the market, they are the ones the kids cry for. I personally just received a Zen Neeon for Christmas and am quite pleased with it. Just as designer brands exist for clothing and the such, the iPod is the designer brand for the mp3 player.

Not only do you need the latest trend of players, but also the latest carrying accessory. For the iPod shuffle, snug little 'socks' to keep it safe from harm. Colorful and creative 'stickers' or 'skins' can be placed on the front of your device to spruce it up a bit. Carrying straps and cases of various size, shape and color make the selection even more appealing. There are even specialized sound systems and speakers that you can hook up to your device to enhance the experience. The cutest accessory, in my opinion, is the iDog, which lights up and dances to the music playing.

On some of the certain iPods, special features make room for more fun. Some iPod models include an assortment of games, like a music quiz, which plays a few seconds of a song, and you must pick the correct title. On the 'new iPod', you can hold music, photos and videos. Some companies' models have the feature to select a choice of the backlight color. Most devices also have the feature of shuffling playlists.

With all of the choices out there, how could you go wrong? You have the opportunity to go out and pick the one that fits you best. What are you waiting for?

Looking for more info about MP3? Look no further! coolmp3news.com gives you all the basic info you need about MP3. Visit this MP3 website now!

Lakes Amp Seas Screensavers Do You Love Water

Writen by CD Mohatta

Are you a water lover? Do you love to watch water/ Look at its purity and enjoy its movements? Do you love watching the waves- the never-ending movement? Do you love the lakes- the calmness of water? Or are you in love with rivers? If you are a water lover, here is good news for you.

Water Screensavers in real videos are now available free for you. Download as many as you want at no cost. Watch the water splashing on your computer screens. Watch the clear blue sky meeting the ocean on the horizon. You will get mesmerized. Download screensavers with lakes and enjoy the bliss of serenity of the lakes. The calm shores with birds chirping around.

All the free screensavers have beautiful music to relax you further. Water has its own charm. There is nothing like water. Whenever you feel tense, go on seashore. Watch the waves and the giant expanse of the sea. You will feel that nature is very liberal with its beauty. it shows us so many beautiful sights. A sense of deep peace will surround you. You will feel the same effect when you watch the screensavers on your screens. It is boon of technology. You get them free. What more can one ask for? Download few Ocean and lakes screensavers today.

You will love them. A very large collection awaits you. Click on the thumbnail and begin downloading. Whenever you feel like watching them, click them on and enjoy. You will get some with Calendars and Clocks. Some screensavers come with inspirational and romantic text. It is a treat. Enjoy.

CDMohatta writes articles on Relationships, love, Divorce, Dating and other related issues of life. Please read articles from Love Articles & Advice, Relationships Articles & Advice and Dating Articles & Advice

Flash Memory Part I Mmc And Sd

Writen by Jason Kohrs

MMC and SD

Flash memory is available in so many formats that it can be difficult to know what will work with any particular device. Devices such as MP3 players, PDAs, mobile phones, digital cameras, and personal computers can take advantage of flash memory to bolster their storage capacity, but selecting the right format may be easier said than done.

To try to address all of the common formats in one Tech Tip might be quite a read, so we're doing a two part series on Flash Memory. Part I of the Flash memory series will focus on two similar, very popular and generally interchangeable formats: MMC and SD.

The Basics

Before getting into the details, some background on each card may be appropriate. The letters 'MMC' stand for MultiMedia Card, which is a format that was developed jointly by SanDisk and Siemens in 1997. The letters 'SD' stand for Secure Digital, and this format is an improvement on the original MMC design, and was developed jointly by SanDisk, Matsushita Electronics (better known as Panasonic) and Toshiba.

Both formats are quite durable and the solid state (no moving parts) components are protected by a rigid plastic shell. The devices are generally unaffected by extreme temperatures, and should withstand a drop of 10 feet without experiencing any damage from shock.

Physical Features

Both MMC and SD flash memory units measure approximatly 24mm x 32mm x 2.1mm, about the size of a typical postage stamp, and weigh a mere 2 grams. This miniature footprint may make them about the easiest way to misplace your data, but also allows the devices that accept them to be smaller. Personal electronics are shrinking as they get more powerful, and the necessary accessories need to keep pace. Although they share the same basic form factor, MMC and SD cards can be distinguished by two physical features, a sliding tab and the number of connections.

When looking at an MMC or SD card so that the label is facing you, and the electrical connections are facing away from you, there will be a notch in the upper right corner of the card. From this point of reference there will be a small sliding tab on the left edge of an SD card, not found on an MMC card. Compare this 512MB MMC card with this 512MB SD card and you can see the difference if you look closely at the enlarged images. This tab slides into two positions, locked and unlocked. It allows the user to manually write protect the data on the card, which means with the tab in the locked position data can be read from the card, but nothing can be written to or erased from the card.

The other physical difference is on the backside of the card. An MMC card features seven electrical connections (small rectangular pads for data transfer and receiving power), whereas an SD card has nine.

* While there may be rare exceptions, for all practical purposes, SD & MMC cards may be used interchangeably on current devices, especially if they indicate "SD/MMC" compatibility.

Transfer Rate

SD and MMC cards are capable of similar data transfer rates, with a slight edge going to the SD cards. SD cards are now available with write speeds rated at 60x (9 MB/s) and read speeds rated at 66x (10 MB/s), while MMC transfer rates seem to peak at 9 MB/s in either direction. Not much of a difference and both are quite fast, but end user results will vary and may not reach these speeds in real world use, regardless of format chosen.

SD and MMC cards should reference a speed as part of the technical specification, and it is an important thing to consider when shopping around. Lower speed cards are still commercially available, and can have an impact on the performance of digital cameras or other devices where speed may be critical. Each 'x' in the speed rating represents 0.15 MB/s, so if 45x compared to 66x doesn't sound like a big deal to you, maybe putting it in terms of 6.75 MB/s compared to 10 MB/s will. Instead of actual speed ratings, some manufacturers will use words like "High Speed" or "Ultra" when referring to the faster cards.

Note: Check the actual write speed specs of your device before purchasing "Ultra" or "High Speed' chips. You could be putting a Hemi engine in a AMC Gremlin. Don't spend the extra money if the camera does not support it.

Capacity

SD cards are readily available in sizes up to 1 GB, 2 GB models are starting to show up, and the SD Card Association states that models with up to 4 GB and 8 GB of storage capacity are also on the way. In contrast, MMC cards have a maximum capacity of 512MB, making the SD technology much more appealing.

Security

As mentioned in the physical features section above, SD cards offer the benefit of write protection. By 'locking' the card, a user can be assured that the data is secure until they take the necessary step to un protect it. Fears of accidentally losing or changing data can be eliminated by using an SD card over an MMC card, thus improving the security of the data.

Another feature supported by SD, but not MMC, involves copyright protection. The SanDisk web site refers to this feature as "cryptographic security for protection of copyrighted data", and other locations reference it as DRM, or Digital Rights Management. Basically, licensed content can be written to an SD card and it can not be executed except from that specific card.

Applications

In general, SD and MMC cards are interchangeable and either can be used in a compatible device. An SD card may generally cost more than an MMC card with the same capacity, but as seen in this Tech Tip, it does offer more for the money.

Many card readers are available for personal computers that promote the ability to read and write to a variety of common flash media formats. A 15-in-1 reader/writer, such as this one, can be made quite compact thanks in part to the fact that two of the 15, MMC and SD, can be read from the same slot on the device.

MP3 players generally come with a base amount of memory to store music files, but having an expansion slot allows users to increase the capacity, and play time, by adding flash memory of their choice. The Pogo RipFlash MP3 Player is such a device, providing 256MB onboard as well as an SD/MMC slot for easy expandability.

Mobile phones and PDAs can also take advantage of increased storage space thanks to flash memory slots. The Handspring Treo 600 is a combination phone/PDA that offers an SD/MMC slot for such convenience.

And of course, digital cameras use flash memory as their 'film', where larger and faster cards are always a welcome upgrade. odak DX7630 6.1MP 3x Optical Zoom 4x Digital Zoom Camera The 6.1 MegaPixel Kodak DX7630 could fill up the same SD/MMC card much faster than the 3.2 MegaPixel Umax AstraPix 640, but one of the great things about these cards is that the user can choose the size, as well as the quantity to have on hand, in order to suit their particular needs and budget.

One word of warning – be sure to check your device for the capacity of the card that it can handle. If your camera can handle only up to a 512 MB card, then using a 1 GB card in the camera will be pointless (depending on the device, some will not even be able to read the card, whereas others will only use up to the capacity that it is rated for. Either way, you want to make sure that you match the card properly to the device). So as always, check your product's manual to be sure that you buy memory that it can support.

Final Words

MMC and SD are two of the more commonly used formats of flash memory, but as mentioned, there are several others. Keep an eye out for next week's Tech Tip: Part II of the Flash Memory Series will address Compact Flash, Smart Media, Memory Stick, and xD formats.

Computer Geeks tech tips and computer advice

Laptop Buying Guide How To Find Better Deal

Writen by Sardool Sikandar

Laptop or notebook computer is a small portable computer. It is light enough to hold on your lap. Laptops can easily perform all tasks that desktops do. Buying laptop is not an easy task to do because there are so many important things that should be kept in mind. Most common things are type of processor, speed of processor, amount of RAM, size of hard disk, brand and support.

You can easily move with your laptop from one place to another due to its portability factor. So check it carefully at the time of buying and if you don't require portability you can prefer a desktop instead of laptop. Laptops are sophisticated and the perfect device for several business applications like record keeping, wireless networking, presentations and instant communication.

Laptop technology is changing day-by-day thats why it is not an easy job to find the best. These are smaller and faster than the desktop computers. Some high-quality notebooks come with Wireless Fidelity and many with tri-mode 802.11a/b/g wireless system. You can also choose Sony's latest ultra-portable VAIO VGN-T350P that offers world's first built-in cellular modem. It can be easily connected to Internet by cell phone.

Business laptops can be easily carried in a briefcase so while purchasing a new one keep in mind that its weight shouldn't cause you any discomfort because sometimes you've to carry it whole day. You can choose lightweight and small laptop in the category of 'Thin and Light' and 'Ultra-portable'. Laptops cost a lot and you can easily buy two desktops at the price of one laptop but keep in mind that you can't take your desktop all day long.

Some laptops offer a storage space of 60 to 100 GIGS hard drives but you can increase the space with an external hard drive. Laptops are very powerful and can do each and every difficult job but generally you need 256 MB RAM for Windows XP and Mac OS X. you should also check its battery life at the time of purchase because it is an important factor for a traveling businessman. Latest models of notebook computers offer 5 or more hours of power but while choosing laptop battery you should always select a battery with higher numbered cells. Keep in mind that more cells will provide extra longer battery life.

You should also check security feature of laptop. You can choose one of the IBM/Sonoma ThinkPad series that can easily protect your sensitive and confidential company records and documents. Last but not the least factor is price that is extremely important at the time of buying laptop. You can try two or more shops for a reasonable laptop. Buying laptop on Internet is another option for you. You should try to bargain for a special price. Several manufacturers offer cheap prices if you're buying in bulk.

You shouldn't sacrifice for the quality for a cheap price. Try to buy a laptop that can easily satisfy your all requirements. You should check speed, upgradeability, and serious gaming factors at the time of buying laptop.

About Author: The Author owns a website on Buying Dell Laptops. The website provides advice on how to buy cheap laptops with good deals from various hardware vendors. You can visit his website about laptop buyers guide.

Just What Is The Ipod

Writen by Mia LeCron

If you ask 10 people to explain what an iPod is, you'll likely receive 10 different answers; and all of them will likely contain some element of fact and logic. Introduced by Apple Computers in 2001, the iPod is technically defined as a portable music player; and even this doesn't do it justice.

As you'll see (or perhaps know already from your own experience), the iPod is so much more than a mere convenient way for you to listen to music while on the go.

These things SELL!

The iPod is the #1 seller of legal digital music and digital music devices.

And just what does it take to be #1 in the highly competitive personal entertaining business? Well, since its launch in 2001, over 3 million iPods have been sold; and counting.

In fact, in a 3 month period from April to June 2004, almost over 850,000 iPod and iPod minis were sold. To put that into some kind of perspective, that's almost 10,000 iPods/iPod minis per day. And if that doesn't make you go WOW, that's 398 per hour, or just under 7 per minute – of every hour, of every day, for 3 months!

It's no wonder, given these awesome sales total, that the question most people ask these days isn't: are you getting an iPod, but rather: where is your iPod?

Mia LaCron is the founder of IpodFunctions.com - http://www.ipodfunctions.com/ - devoted to helping individuals get the most out of their Ipod.

Zune Vs Ipod Comparison

Writen by Tarun Sharma

Apple's ipod has been long dominating the digital media player (DMP) market. And why not; ipod has been far superior in performance and features when compared to its rivals.

But Microsoft is set to change this by coming out with their own media player named zune, which will debut to the world on November 14, 2006. The product is being manufactured by Toshiba under Microsoft's name and will be available for exactly the same price as the 30GB ipod.

Here I'll compare and list a few key differences between zune and ipod. For example I'll take the 30GB ipod. Since, Microsoft is also offering 30GB storage for zune.

Below are the list of features supported by zune and not Ipod.

• Landscape video
• Preloaded Audio and video
• Built in FM tuner
• Social networking (and)
• Custom background.

But two major differences are file sharing and Wi-Fi (aka wireless) support.

Yes, every zune will have the ability to wirelessly share and play songs, videos and pictures with other zunes. Microsoft zune will be able to hold 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video.

With all the exciting and promising features, Microsoft will definitely take a big chunk of media player market form apple, but how much only time will tell.

I have been writing technology related articles for a while now, mostly in the media player market. Please visit us for more information on microsoft zune player.

What Has A Portable Mp3 Player Have To Do With Your Business

Writen by Lynette Chandler

Plenty! When we made the decision to be our own bosses, we gave up the luxury of having our employers sending us to us seminars, workshops or conferences that help improve our skills and gain knowledge related to our work. All this became our initiative. We have to look for and invest in our own education. But as busy entreprenuers, taking time off to learn can be quite a feat.

On the other hand, it need not be that way especially if you have a portable MP3 player. The Internet has opened up a whole new learning avenue we can take advantage of, right from the comfort of our own home offices. A majority of courses online are in MP3 format or can be extracted to MP3. With the popularity of podcasts, teleseminars and web conferences, you will find no shortage of audio learning material. In fact the opposite is true - you may find yourself not having the opportunity to listen to all these great information. What an ironic twist of fate huh?

But this is where the portable MP3 player can become the entreprenuer's best friend. You can download MP3 files directly into your portable player and begin to listen and learn while you do other tasks away from the computer.

I know this has helped me tremendously. I used to have piles of MP3 files clogging up my computer hard drive. I'd download them, start to listen but never finish because of other duties away from the computer. It got to a point I didn't even bother trying to listen because if of the constant interruptions.

It was frustrating because here was all this great information at my fingertips that could be put to use immediately to advance my business. Instead, it's sitting gathering cyber dust. Once I purchased a portable MP3 player, I had the freedom to listen, learn and apply. What a great difference it made.

There is also a flipside to this. What if you're the one creating the content? For many of us the thought of sitting down to write an article is almost paralyzing. In our mind's eye we see it as moving a mountain. It's not that we don't know how or it's hard to do but the thought of is simply unpleasant. So how can your portable MP3 player come into play?

Most portable MP3 players have a recording function. You can record as much as you like limited to only the drive space of the player and a simple 128MB drive can store quite a bit of audio. So, why not dictate? Record your thoughts or pretend you're talking to a friend on the phone about your topic. Then have it transcribed. By doing so, not only are you making the most out of your time because you can do so where ever you are. You also get things done instead of letting a mental block stall your business.

So if you're having a hard time consuming your training material creating content or even writing your book, pick up a portable MP3 player. They are so inexpensive these days you really have no excuse to start. It's time you moved on.

Technology is the best thing since sliced bread for entreprenuers but it's great only if you know how to use it and what to use. Learn to do so at http://www.TechBasedMarketing.com with Lynette Chandler. She teaches entreprenuers how to leverage readily available technology for their marketing.

Upgrading Your Pc For Nonexperts

Writen by Tim Wakeling

Intro

One of the big advantages of PCs over earlier types of computers is that they're upgradable. If you get to the point where you need a faster computer, more storage space or whatever, you don't have to buy a new PC. You can upgrade it by buying just the extra part you need. But sometimes it's better to just take the plunge and replace it… and how do you know what part to upgrade? Here's my guide:

Memory

Adding memory is one of the most popular upgrades. It makes a big difference to how fast your PC runs. When your PC runs out of memory for what it's doing, it stores information on your hard drive instead. Your hard drive is nowhere near as fast as the memory. The more memory you've got, the less often your PC will need to store things on the hard drive as it works. So the faster it will go.

How much memory is enough does depend on what version of Windows you're running. With Windows XP, 256MB is considered a bit on the low side, though it'll be just about OK. 512MB is decent and 1024MB is really good. If you have Windows 95 or 98, you can get by on 64MB though it's worth going to 128MB even if you just use your PC for basic office work. More will make it really hum along.

It also depends on what you're using your PC for — if you're just typing up the odd letter and sending emails, then 256MB will probably do you but if you're editing video or playing the latest 3D games, it'll be worth getting the full 1024MB.

If you buy memory, make sure you get the right type for your computer — the best thing to do is go to a shop and get them to pick the right type and to fit it for you. You CAN fit it yourself if you know what you're doing but be careful!

Hard Drive

Another upgrade that can be worthwhile is a bigger hard drive. If you don't have enough space for all your files and programs then it's obviously a good plan! I'd also recommend it if you have only just enough space. When your hard drive is nearly full your PC has to scamper around it trying to find empty space every time it wants to save something… and that takes time.

I'd recommend keeping your existing hard drive and adding a new one instead of actually replacing your existing one. No point in throwing it away if it's still working!

A typical hard drive nowadays is anywhere from 40GB to 160GB — if you're getting a new one it might as well be big!

With a hard drive you can either fit it yourself or get a shop to fit it… or there's a third option. You can buy an external version which plugs into your computer via a USB port. These are great for moving information from one PC to another. If it's always on one PC, I prefer the hard drive neatly tucked away inside the case… but again, it's up to you.

Bigger/flat monitor

If you've got a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitor (the type with a box sticking out the back, like a television) you might fancy one of those stylish flat ones. It's not just a fancy gadget, they also fit better on a small desk and you can have it closer to the wall than a big cumbersome CRT.

If you decide to go for it, think about whether you want one with built in speakers. It keeps you desk nice and tidy and looks more stylish. But you can get much better sound quality with separate speakers.

You also could think about what size of screen you want. It's measured in inches from one corner to the opposite one. 17inch is pretty standard for desktop PCs though the flat screen types tend to seem bigger than the CRT type even when they're the same size. For normal use, I wouldn't particularly recommend getting a big one but if you do a lot of design or gaming, it might be worth it.

Processor

I'm not a big fan of processor upgrades. People talk about the processor speed when they're saying how fast a PC is but there's a lot more to it. Upgrading the processor without upgrading the other parts doesn't tend to make much difference. And if you're going to change the other bits too, you're probably best off just buying a new PC. It'll probably be cheaper.

CD Writer/DVD player/DVD writer

This is a simple one. If you don't have a CD writer and you want to be able to write CDs, get one! As usual, I'd advise you to get it fitted at the shop you buy it at. Or you could get an external one that plugs into a USB port.

If you fancy it you could even get a DVD player or DVD writer, if you want to put your home movies on DVD. Again, you can either get it fitted or buy an external one.

Graphics Card

This is a bit of a specialist one. If you're into fast 3D games, then it might be worth getting a faster graphics card. If you aren't, it probably isn't. A standard graphics card can handle ordinary graphics pretty well. It's only when the PC throws fast 3D at it that it struggles. Then the PC itself has to do some of the work for it, leaving less time for the PC to work out whether you've been clobbered by a goblin.

Epilogue

The crucial point about upgrades is that it really does depend on what you use your PC for. If you're happy with what your PC is doing for you, don't let anyone talk you into feeling you have to upgrade.

Tim Wakeling is the Author of Computers One Step at a Time, a home course using plenty of pictures of the screen to show you how to use your PC. He also writes a free monthly newsletter about computers for non-experts. Find out about both at http://www.osaat.co.uk

© Tim Wakeling, UK 2005. You may re-publish this article online and in print as long as you leave it unchanged.

Selecting A Strong Password

Writen by Jake Feuerbacher

Maintaining a secure computer is a good defense against becoming a victim of Identity Theft. Use a secure password. By secure, I mean a password that is not easily guessable, such as a word you may find in the dictionary. These types of passwords can be found by someone using what is known as a "dictionary attack" This type of attack involves using the words that are found in the dictionary and comparing those to a hash that has been generated by the Operating System. If the attack matches the hashes, then the password has been compromised. Don't use birthdays or Social Security Numbers as well. It has been recommended that your password be at least 8 characters long, including small and capital letters, numbers, and special characters.

A password like "alphabet" can easily be compromised. If you were to change it up a little by making every other letter a capital, "AlPhAbEt", this will improve the security. You can then take it a step further and replace the "E" with the number "3", so then your password looks like "AlPhAb3t". Then take the "l" and change it to the number "1" or even the "!". So now the password looks like "A!PhAb3t". It will take a super computer an extremely long time to break this password.

At this point the attacker would have to use a method known as "brute force". That means the attacker is taking every possible combination of numbers and letters and special characters and creating a hash to try and match the hash stored by the computer.

To prevent yourself from being subjected to a "brute force" attack, you can set up a security policy that will disable the account after a certain number of unsuccessful attempts.

To further prevent yourself from being compromised since there are programs that can download the hashes stored in your computer, you may want to set some kind of time limit for your passwords. A good example would be that the password would have to be changed every 90 days, and the same password can't be used within a 180 period. This will help ensure that if someone did get the hash of your password, that by the time it is compromised, it would be an obsolete password.

Try to check your logs to see if there have been any attempts on the password. This will certainly let you know if someone is looking at your computer in order to compromise the data that is stored on it.

By maintaining a secure password, you are ensuring that your private information will remain private.

For further information and tips, visit our site at www.whoelseisme.com

Founder and Boss Hog of http://www.whoelseisme.com, I created the site in order to help people not only recover from Identity Theft, but to prevent Identity Theft from happening to them.