Internet Fax Machines for the SOHO User

If you work in a small office/home office environment (often referred to as a "SOHO" environment) then you can appreciate "convergence" products that allow one device to do the work of many other devices.

The PC has become one of the most important inventions of the 20th century, and indeed the PC has done more for revolutionizing the way we do business than any other single innovation in the past one hundred years. Not since the printing press has one single innovation made such an impact on the business world.

One of the features that makes PCs so useful and indispensable is the ability for the device to "wear many hats" and serve as a multifunction device that different employees and technicians can use for different purposes.

For the all around office machine, fax software should be included on the list of applications that all office PCs should have to make them as useful as possible and to lessen the amount of hardware that needs to be purchased in order to have an office working at peak efficiency.

When equipped with faxing software or utilizing the services of an online internet faxing site, you not only add functionality to you initial PC investment but you also save money by not having to outfit the office with cumbersome hardware that is difficult to use. Additionally, when you use your PC to accomplish faxing tasks, you have the same ability to have a digital "paper trail" (like the type enabled by email and other internet based textual communication). Records can be kept by the software or service and allow for lightning-quick search and verify actions to be done when necessary. No more wondering if your secretary sent the fax you asked to have sent by lunch. Individuals with an interest in the faxed communiqu? can be notified via email upon reception of the fax and can follow up on messages as they are received.

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LCD TV - The Latest In Viewing

Liquid Crystal Display is all about flat panel television technology. The technology of liquid crystal display has penetrated our everyday life in everyday things like wristwatches, mobile phones, calculators, computer monitors and high definition television. The use is growing rapidly and sales of LCD TV are expected to exceed 4 million in America alone.

There are some distinct advantages of LCD panels over other kinds of display technologies. They are slimmer and hardly go beyond 3.5`` in depth. These are lighter also and best of all they draw less power - only about 60% of the power consumed by plasma displays. LCD televisions do not spew electromagnetic waves that are harmful.

There are drawbacks of course - viewing angle is restricted, contrast ratio is limited and time of display response may cause concern. The biggest frown of all is caused by the price. Although it is falling but still it is considerably higher than its plasma counterpart.

LCD displays comprises mainly of sheets of polarized glass sheets - two in number. A liquid crystal solution is sandwiched between these. These liquid crystals are very specific that causes them to act as shutters that open or shut out entry of light as the need arises depending upon flow of electric current. This current passing through the liquid crystals is regulated by voltage that is applied between the glass sheets through the electrodes that are transparent. These form a network having rows on one direction of the panel and columns on the other side representing the pixels or picture elements.

What are these liquid crystals? Matter can be found in three states - solid, liquid and gas. Nevertheless there are substances that exist in a state that is neither liquid nor solid at any one point of time. The behaviour of these molecules is also peculiar. They keep to their orientation like those in a solid and yet they shuffle around taking up various positions like the molecules of a liquid. Thus these liquid crystals can be termed neither solid nor liquid though they have more of an affinity for the latter - that is the liquid state.

There are various types of liquid crystals with each having its distinct properties. Those used in LCD panels are termed nematic-phase liquid crystals. The molecules are arranged in a particular fashion having distinctive pattern.

LCD display systems are of two types - passive and active matrix. The former is more complicated, produces the best pictures and consequently the price also goes up. During the manufacturing stage bad-pixels pose a serious problem. Innumerable controlling transistors are required on the glass substrata to control each sub-pixel. A typical wide screen panel will require 3.1 million transistors. Any one faulty transistor cannot be replaced and are known as dead or stuck pixels. If one is permanently off then a black spot will show and if it is on then a white spot will show. If it crosses a certain number the whole unit will have to be discarded.

It was during the early 2000`s that LCD flat panels took over the television market from the typical CRT`s. The basis of the technology is founded on the characteristics of polarized light. The thin semi liquid crystal gel trapped between two slim polarized sheets is divided into pixels.

There is hectic activity to overcome the technological difficulties to make the set affordable. So the LCD TV has to be made affordable to hit the headlines of success.

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The Honda is Making World’s Best Power Generation Appliances

Power generator of Honda is the most popular item of its kind throughout the world. A wide selection of power generators is available for specific commercial and consumer applications. They are known for its quiet performance, which makes it ideal for recreation or emergencies. Commonly used for camping and at construction sites, and are both durable and reliable.

Today, portable generators are at work around the world. Over thirty years of power equipment development by Honda engineers have given rise to a varied line of hard-working generators that are ready to provide power for any situation.

The latest models are smaller, lighter and quieter than ever before and many Honda generators produce voltage which is smoother and more consistent than commercially available power sources. So whether your needs are modest and recreational, or highly demanding and job-oriented, there's a Honda generator with the right features.

Honda is produced in different sizes and with diverse specifications to respond to particular market and user needs. There are small, portable generators, and also those that can be pushed or pulled around on their own wheels or by using a small trailer. There are also huge generators which need to be housed in custom-built containers. Smaller diesel generators are capable of producing a few hundred watts of power, while larger units can produces thousands of watts or even tens of thousands. Special generator models are popular for RV or boat needs.

Depending on how you will use your Honda, there are different categories to meet your needs. This can include recreation, home standby and construction. Honda also offers inverter power tools. Inverter generators are smaller and lighter as power is created electronically and not through a conventional alternator. Inverter power offers the cleanest power output, ideal for sensitive electronic devices.

Honda models provide smooth, clean power for recreation, construction, rental, emergency and home use. All Generators made by Honda meet or exceed all EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and CARB (California Air Resource Board) standards. Honda has developed a wide range of generators, and since your needs vary, there is surely an intelligent instrument built specifically for you in mind! Imagine being able to create a constant supply of electricity exactly when needed. All you need is a Honda generator to provide the reassurance of a power plant at your finger tips, and then you won't be left in the dark when an alternative energy source is needed.

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Essential Spring Break Gadget Guide

As the Beatles said “…it’s been a long cold lonely winter..,” but now here comes the sun and off you go. Whether you're taking the kids to Disneyland or taking a break from college to go to Florida you’ll probably end up taking along a suitcase full of gadgets.

To help you find the best gadgets to use on your break, Retrevo analyzes reviews and ratings for thousands of consumer electronics products like GPS , Laptops, Camcorders, Digital Cameras from manufacturers like Garmin, Toshiba, Sony, and Canon. Here are some recommendations to make your adventures more fun and memorable.

High Definition Camcorders

If you’re thinking about buying a new camcorder you might as well go high definition or at least wide screen. You can get camcorders that record to good old tape, DVDs, flash memory, or hard drives. If you’re planning on doing serious video editing, tape may still be the way to go since applications like Premiere and Final Cut have been slow to embrace AVCHD the replacement format to miniDV.

The Canon HV-20 at $700 is still an all around good value. Canon recently announced its successor, the Canon HV-30 which offers a few minor enhancements including an improved LCD screen.

If you can afford $1400 you can get the latest and greatest camcorder from Sony, the Sony HDR-SR12 1080p which has a big 3.2 inch LCD screen and stores AVCHD video to a 120GB hard drive it should be available in March.

The new Panasonic HDC-SD9 stores 1080p AVCHD formatted video to an SD flash memory card. It offers image stabilization and face detection technology which makes it harder to take a bad shot. It will also be available in March and should sell for around $1100.

For portability you can’t beat one of the new super compact handheld HD camcorders like the Sanyo Xacti HD1000, which shoots 4MP pictures or 1080p video. Users say image quality is very good but the grip is a bit bulky. It sells for around $650. Sanyo also has a waterproof variation that stores non-HD NSTC video or 6 MP stills. It costs a little over $400. Aiptek has a 720p, 5 MP pistol grip handheld, the Aiptek A-HD that sells for a very reasonable $150.

If you prefer to wait a few months the Samsung SC-HMX20C is due out in June. It has a 2.7 inch touchsrceen and records 1080p, on 8 GB of flash memory. It also has an SDHC memory card slot for additional storage.

Very Cool Helmet Camera

In case you want to capture the action from a closer point of view, you should consider this helmet mounted camera that stores video to memory. It’s weather proof and ruggedized so you can use it in the snow or rain. It's an impressive piece of engineering and sells for around $325.
You don’t have to live in Colorado to use Garmin’s new handheld GPS . The Colorado 300 is a handheld unit with a color display and lots of extra travel-friendly features like an MP3 player and book reader. Garmin announced new products at CES including the Garmin nuvi 260 and the Garmin nuvi 850 but last years models like the Garmin nuvi 360 or the Mio C520 can offer some very good values at prices under $300.

Universal Chargers

There are many products you can buy to charge your gadgets. We like the Solio hybrid solar chargers that have a built-in storage cell that can be recharged from the wall or the sun and then makes that power available to many different devices. The Solio Portable Hybrid Solar Charger and the new Solio Hybrid 1000 can both be purchased for under $100.

Lenmar sells a universal power pack the PPU1700W that can recharge devices like iPods through a USB connector. It’s great for keeping an iPod going for an entire long plane ride and can be purchased for around $30.

If you're still carrying around that 1 MP camera or you just never made the switch to digital there are some good values in digital cameras. If you want a professional SLR camera Retrevo recommends the Nikon D300 as the best overall value in digital cameras. It’s a 12 MP SLR that gets very high expert ratings and great user reviews. The Canon Powershot A560 can be purchased for around $130. It’s a 7.1 MP compact camera with a 4x optical zoom and face technology but no image stabilization. A step up from the Powershot A560 would be the Nikon Coolpix 5100. It has optical image stabilization and gets very good reviews but is a bit on the pricey side at $300.

iPod Boom Box

There’s a good chance most travelers will be carrying an iPod or other MP3 player wherever they go. To get a party going wherever you may be, an iPod Boom Box might be a good idea. The Griffin Technology Journi is a good candidate. You can buy it for under $100. It has a rechargeable battery that lasts for 8 – 10 hours on a charge it can also be powered by a USB port and gets good user reviews. Altec Lansing has the inMotion iM600 for around $100. It gets very good user reviews, uses some engineering tricks to make the speakers seem further apart, and even has an FM radio built in.

Book Readers

Two popular readers using electronic paper are Amazon’s Kindle and the Sony Reader. The Sony Reader PRS 505 can be purchased for around $300. The Kindle which includes high speed 3G internet access for downloading books and browsing the web sells for $399. The Kindle has received mixed reviews due to some ergonomic issues but gets many rave reviews as a groundbreaking product. Books cost more to purchase on the Sony reader and you have to go through a computer connected to the internet to download them but the Sony gets good marks for style and usability.

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Privacy Policy

Your privacy is very important to us. Accordingly, we have developed this Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The following outlines our privacy policy.

* Before or at the time of collecting personal information, we will identify the purposes for which information is being collected.
* We will collect and use of personal information solely with the objective of fulfilling those purposes specified by us and for other compatible purposes, unless we obtain the consent of the individual concerned or as required by law.
* We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.
* We will collect personal information by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with the knowledge or consent of the individual concerned.
* Personal data should be relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, complete, and up-to-date.
* We will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.
* We will make readily available to customers information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.
We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with these principles in order to ensure that the confidentiality of personal information is protected and maintained.

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The Magic of Video Conferencing

Video conferencing facilitates learning by allowing remote or distant learners to meet regardless of their location. Students can take classes at multiple universities. In essence classes that are not available at one location may be available at another through video conferencing. Video conferencing can also benefit non traditional students who are not able to attend classes during normal hours.

There are various types of videoconferencing; which is suitable for your application will depend upon the IT structure available and what it is that you actually want to achieve. Video conferencing has in the past been relatively expensive, but prices are coming down and it is possible for anyone with a fast enough internet connection to operate a video conference.

There are excellent quality video conferencing systems out there. Many of them are well worth the dollars that they cost. And, because technology continues to grow, you'll find that prices for video conferencing will become more competitive. It is the way of the future. Is your company in the future? Using video conferencing can help to insure that it is there.

Most video conferencing terminals also require what is called a codec or Compressor/Decompressor interface. This piece of equipment helps compress information being passed from audio to video to make transmission of materials feasible over the Net. Without this piece of equipment most files would be too large to send from one computer to another. The process of compression data using a codec machine is often referred to as decoding and encoding information.

Finally, a computer and reliable internet connection are also necessary to facilitate video conferencing. A high speed connection is recommended to make the video conferencing experience not only endurable but also enjoyable. The actual computer you have is not as important as the size of your display. Remember that when using video conferencing equipment, the larger your display the better your picture and the more easily a time you will have 'conferencing' with other people on the Web.

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GPS In The Public Interest

We've all heard the commercials where GPS technology is used to help stranded motorists in difficult situations from a heart attack to locking the keys in the car. Just hearing the term GPS may cause rejoicing or confusion depending on your familiarity with the device.

The applications for GPS units run from simple personal use to complex wartime data. These devices may seem intimidating, but they are opening a whole new world that is being explored in many new and awesome ways. The good news is this portable technology is routinely used to save lives, time and money.

Imagine a woman has been critically injured in a remote location a dozen miles from the nearest town. Park Rangers find her, but they're going to need some help. They call for an air ambulance; however they bypass the need to give detailed instructions on how to find them. Instead, they simply provide GPS coordinates and the helicopter arrives in time to save the life of the injured woman.

A bus operator takes a nasty spill and will not be able to drive for awhile. This might present a problem if someone else does not know the route. However, route training time could be eliminated in public transit with the use of GPS technology. Policies could be adopted that would map each route using a GPS. While the bus driver would be missed, the route would not suffer a delay in service.

We've all had moments when we sat with a stubborn vehicle on the side of the road. If you own a GPS unit it can be used to pinpoint your location for a tow truck.

Imagine a time when missed directions in critical situations become a thing of the past. Many police and ambulance personnel are now dispatched using GPS technology. Lives may be saved, hostile incidents curtailed and even pizza may have a better on time delivery record.

Firefighters are now using GPS units to help guide helicopters providing support to multiple water drop points. By using these small handheld devices, fire crews can maximize the effectiveness of fire control efforts that can save both lives and personal property.

Wilderness excursions can be less problematic when a GPS unit is linked to compatible walkie talkies. This technology will allow people to keep in contact and help them find each other if you get separated.

Should rescue workers be required to find a location in the dark it is good to know that GPS units have no problem pinpointing a location - even on a moonless night.

Outdoor enthusiasts use GPS units to assist them in keeping track of how far they have gone and can help track a route to either avoid or try again.

Admittedly, sophisticated GPS devices have been used by governments during wartime and peace, but savvy consumers have found many ways to utilize this technology to help provide peace of mind in uncertain circumstances.

More uses for GPS technology will be discovered in the days to come and the implementation of that technology will assist the public in ways they may never realize. Then again, when something is this good, bragging isn't required.

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GPS And Driving

Most of us are familiar with Global Positioning Systems or (GPS) and its significant contribution in the areas of mapping, tracking, and navigation. GPS is used in a variety of ways by different people to make common tasks much simpler. GPS devices that are either installed permanently in a car or through hand-held devices that can go from the car to the office, home, restaurant, or hotel have become quite popular for use as navigational guides among consumers in the past few years.

Today's GPS technology has a myriad of features for users. With GPS it is possible to create detailed maps with line-by line directions that even include the exits you may need to use and a visual of the city streets along your route. You can also create a report of traffic conditions ahead of you in case you may need to take a detour to your destination. Air temperature, wind direction and speed, bad weather alerts, and much more is possible with GPS technology.

Although having all of these GPS features available to aid driver's in getting from one destination to another is convenient and quite useful, it can also result in a driver being distracted from paying attention to their own driving as well as to the driving of the other driver's sharing the road with them. Insurance companies report that 'distracted' driver's are responsible for causing more accidents than even those accidents which are as a result of "impaired" driver's under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Some of the GPS systems that are installed in vehicles today are part of a subscription service that is purchased along with the GPS device. Many of these services offer voice-activated assistance with a simple push of a button to activate the system. Some of these GPS systems are installed directly into the vehicles onboard computer system and either turn on when a key is inserted in the ignition, or operate continuously through the car's battery. These in-car systems even have the capability to determine when a vehicle has experienced an impact such as an accident, and the operators who man these systems at a "receiving" center can alert authorities to disabled motorists. GPS is also valuable in assisting police to locate stolen vehicles. The best feature with these voice-activated GPS systems is that a driver can get directions and needed assistance without taking their eyes off the road which is very important to reducing accidents and saving lives.

Responsible driver's, who don't have voice-activated GPS technology, should enter the necessary coordinates for getting from one point to another prior to getting out on the road. If a traffic report to determine the flow of traffic ahead is needed, it is advisable that driver's pull their vehicles off the road to the safety of the shoulder to access such information. Driving is a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. Your life and the lives of other's depend upon your careful attention driving on the roadways.

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Third Generation: Telemetry GSM

The word Telemetry, literally meaning "remote measurement" is used to describe technology that allows automated measurement and transmission of data by wire, radio, or other means, typically from inaccessible or dangerous locations, such as a satellite in orbit to control stations on ground, where the information is recorded and evaluated. When telemetry was still in its nascent stage, information was relayed over wires. Today it uses radio transmissions and GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) technology for data transmission. Major applications of Telemetry GSM include monitoring electric-power stations, gathering meteorological data, remote meter reading, logistics management, tracking endangered land and aquatic species, and monitoring manned and unmanned space flights. The remote meter reading is used even by small towns to read and record w3ater and electric meters of the towns' residents.

The list of potential applications of Telemetry GSM is practically endless. The complete list is definately beyond the scope of this one article. For instance, the Telemetry GSM modules are used in rail switching. In this application, the modules automatically report the position of the rail switching point to the traffic control center. The advantages of using General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enabled GSM components lies in the fact that they do not have the same setup requirements and do not congest the network with fixed connections. This is because each module operates in a standby mode and goes active to send small amounts of data either at regular intervals or as and when required. These modules are also relatively inexpensive, easy to install and very reliable.

The importance of telemetry to basic biological, environmental and medical research cannot be overstressed. Since the early 1970s, the use of telemetry to provide real time physiological monitoring in coronary care units has become widely recognized. Nowadays, Telemetry GSM is used for monitoring of the electrophysiological state of patients who are at risk of abnormal heart activity. These patients are outfitted with a customized device without any other control except an On/Off button. This device comprises a wireless receiver for the long-distance telemetry and a GSM module. The messages are relayed as encrypted short messages via the standard SMS (short messaging system) protocol to the central database, where it is decrypted and subsequently allocated to the healthcare professional in charge of the patient. This technology allows the patient to get out of bed and walk around a little to keep from getting stiff and getting bed sores.

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How to Use Video with Your Apple iPod

The new video capable iPod has opened a new world of possibilities for people upgrading to the newest iPod model. However, for the most part, most do not know how to encode video to portable devices that require strict format requirements. For those who own a PSP, you might know a thing or two about encoding video. The PSP and iPod can only play MPEG-4 encoded videos with AAC audio tracks. There are limits to resolution and bit rates of the videos you can use on your iPod. It may seem that this video iPod thing is too complicated for a "normal" person to figure out, but here are some simple instructions on how to create video for your new video iPod:

If you have QuickTime Pro 7, you can make your own videos that will allow you to play them on your iPod. With QuickTime, you can easily convert your home videos or any other video into a format that your iPod will recognize. First, make sure that you are, in fact, running the newest version of QuickTime, 7 or later. After you have the latest version of QuickTime installed, go ahead and open it. Now, go ahead and choose the "Open File" option from the File menu at the top left corner of the QuickTime window. Select the video or movie that you would like to play on your iPod and then click on the Open button. Now choose the "Export" option from the File menu. You should see an option that says, "Movie to iPod (320x240)", click on the Save button. Now the Export progress bar will show you how far the export process has gone before being completed.

However, if your movie is longer, then it will take more time than if you had a shorter movie. Once the export has been completed, QuickTime Pro will put the new version of your movie on your desktop. This is the version that will be able to play on your video iPod. Go ahead and open up this new version of your movie and play it to make sure it looks the way it is supposed to. To get the video to your iPod, you will have to launch iTunes version 6. If you do not have iTunes 6, you should download it at this time. Now drag the new movie file into your iTunes library. Put it into a folder or a playlist of your choice. Connect your iPod to your computer and synchronize it with your iTunes. Now if you would like to play the movie, select the "Videos" and then the "Movies" option from your video iPod's Main Menu. All available movies will be listed in alphabetical order. Go ahead and select the desired movie to play.

But what do you do if you want to watch episodes of your favorite television show from your iPod, on your TV? Don't worry; here are some quick and easy steps for you to be watching them in no time:

First, you will need some items, a video-capable iPod, and iPod-compatible video (like the one you just converted in QuickTime), an AV cable (these can be bought off eBay if you do not have one for only five or six bucks). Now you can configure your iPod video options that will allow you to control how you export video. On the iPod Video Options screen, you can select how your video iPod will handle the video file playback. In order to open these settings, first choose Videos then Video Settings on your main iPod menu. This screen will offer three different settings: TV Out, TV Signal and Widescreen. Adjust these setting to pick the video playback style that you need. Whenever your iPod plays a video file, it will either play the video on the built-in screen or it will transmit the video signal out of the microphone jack. To control which one your iPod does, go to the TV Out option. If you choose No, the playback will remain on the iPod. If you select, "Yes" then a TV signal is produced. If you would like the iPod to ask you every time it plays a video file, select the Ask option.

Now that you know how to convert video files on your computer into iPod compatible video, and you know how to get movies or video on your iPod to play on your television set, you should be set to go with your new video iPod.

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iPod Nano - Shall We Take A Deeper Look?

As always, in the age of "consumer first" economics, Apple leads the way. The iPod nano is following along behind the footsteps of the original iPod, as Apple's fourth digital player. The iPod nano came out the same day the iPod mini was discontinued - September 7, 2005 - but is known for having combined features of the iPod shuffle and the original iPod in its new development. It only took nine months for the design development of the iPod nano to become effective, even though most media were aware it was coming. What they did not know was the iPod mini was being discontinued on that same day.

Where the iPod Photo and Video versions capture the deeper pockets, and iPod Shuffle takes in the shallow pockets, iPod Nano catches those who find themselves in the middle. Although its disk size isn't comparable to that of the iPod Photo or iPod Video, the iPod Nano does bring the tremendous features that makes the Apple iPod the industry leader. Picking up where the iPod Shuffle leaves off, the iPod Nano has a hard drive of 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB flash drives which holds up to 500 to 2,000 songs in a 128-Kbps AAC format, up to 25,000 iPod nano-viewable photographs, and stores data via the USB flash drive.

The iPod shuffle brought a lower price with the ability to listen to favorite music, but was lacking in the user-friendly features. For instance, with the iPod shuffle there was no control over the song that is being played - it was completely random. With the iPod nano, there is all the control needed like the bigger iPod systems, but without the disk space. It is smaller in disk size than the larger versions, but the iPod nano brings a sleek look and fee, roughly as thick as an ink pen or pencil. It is still slim and manageable like the iPod shuffle, so you can take it running or to the gym. The important thing to remember is that a person DOES have control over what they are listening to. The disadvantage of the iPod nano is much the same as that of the larger versions of the iPods - its durability. It can be taken to the gym or to run more than say the iPod Video or Photo, but does seem to fade out a little quicker than the iPod Shuffle. This is a problem that all electronic devices seem to have, but the more expensive the device the less the consumers are willing to put up with faults and glitches.

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Why A PC Is Better Than A Game Console For Online Gaming

Gaming consoles have taken over the gaming community. Companies such as Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony have changed the way we play video games. It used to be common to play computer games, sometimes against another person via the Internet.

Access to these games was only available through your computer, now there are several options available and more on their way. Once consumers began using game consoles online to play, companies feared the downfall of computer gaming. That was not the case at all. There are some disadvantages of gaming consoles for online gaming compared to personal computers.

Gaming Options

There are a few different brands of gaming consoles available right now. Microsoft has Xbox and most recently Xbox 360. Sony has PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 due to be released in November 2006. Nintendo has the Game Cube. Although these are all good consoles the PC has already been trying to merge the two (game consoles and pc gaming). Sony managed to merge them with its game Need for Speed, putting game console gamers against PC gamers in online games. This game became very successful. There are more pros than cons for gaming consoles when compared to PC gaming.

Disadvantages to Gaming Consoles

Some of the disadvantages of console gaming are:

All of the gaming components are sealed inside the unit. If there should be a problem you will have to replace most or all of unit, losing game data.

Once a console becomes outdated you cannot up grade without buying a new console.

A console is a one hit wonder; meaning you can only do one thing on it, play games. Unlike PC there is no other use for game consoles. Some do have the option of purchasing additional hardware, making DVD movie playback the only other option.

The games are not transferable. You can't take an Xbox game and play it in a PlayStation etc.

Advantages to PC

There are some real advantages to owning a PC to play your games on. Here are a few:

The most popular advantage to PC gaming is the games! There is more variety and options for PC games than any other system.

Since the PC is more of a tool, games are easily downloaded and there are more and more made available for free.

Computers are made to handle the pixels displayed on the monitor keeping graphics sharp and without damage to the screen. Televisions weren't made to handle the pixels as well and become damaged after a while.

Computers have many options available to connect to the internet, whereas consoles are limited.

Computers are versatile, allowing numerous upgrades and possible additions. Consoles are limited to the current system available.

Until a game console can handle the same things as a PC there is just no contest. PCs will still rule in the game world!

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Home Theater Design: Widescreen Or Standard TV For Your Home Theater?

Widescreen TV, with a 16:9 width-to-height ratio, undoubtedly represents the future for home theater designs. However, this does not mean that you should rule out standard TVs that use a 4:3 ratio screen. There are definitely good reasons to go for a 4:3 ratio TV or projection screen if your home theater design calls for it. Let's explore the issue.

Firstly, from a point of view of cost, standard TVs are still cheaper than widescreen TVs, so if you have a restricted budget, this is worthy of consideration. You could perhaps get a good quality standard TV for the price of a budget widescreen model; definitely worth considering for your home theater design. The way the market is going, it will be possible to pick up standard TVs extremely inexpensively soon!

Secondly, there are still plenty of programs that were filmed using standard 4:3 ratio camera equipment. If you have a widescreen TV, you'll find that you either have to put up with a distorted, stretched image, or you'll have to set the display up at a 4:3 ratio to show these programs, in which case you are not showing anything on a quarter of the area of your screen. If you mainly watch 4:3 programming, that's a waste!

Thirdly, width and depth are normally restricted more than height in the average living space. Let's take a 28" widescreen TV as an example. The theoretical width of the screen is about 24", and the theoretical height is about 14". Into the same width of 24", you could fit a 30" standard TV, and the theoretical height of the picture on a 30" TV is about 18", giving you one-third extra screen area for your home theater!

What happens when you want to view widescreen programming, though? 16:9 anamorphic programming can be viewed on most modern standard TVs, which reduce the height of the picture, which they can do, as opposed to increasing the width, impossible for a standard TV. The proportions of the picture remain the same. In the above example of a 30" standard TV, the TV would display a picture of the same size as that of a 28" widescreen TV! If you think big is beautiful, a standard TV is definitely the way to go for your home theater design.

Of course, style considerations may apply, and you may prefer to go for a widescreen TV because you prefer the way it looks, or because the weight of the TV will be lower than a standard TV with equivalent horizontal size. However, there are still some excellent reasons to consider a standard TV for your home theater design.

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Downloading TV Shows Over the Internet

Technology has surely made things simpler. The wonderful aspect is that it never ends. The cool things that we find amazing today, will only be a fraction of what's to come. Cell phones are a perfect example of this. Think back ten years ago. No one was carrying around wireless phones; well, not unless they were rich. Now days everyone is toting around a little communication device of some sort. We act like we need them or something. Well we didn't seem to need them for thousands of years. Regardless of their necessity level, we love all of these electronic innovations. One of the more recent developments concern television. These days downloading TV shows is actually a reality.

I remember back in the day when we got our first VCR. When I discovered that I could record a television show, I was floored. This was amazing. I could set the VCR to record a show when it came on, even if I wasn't there. Many of us took advantage of this new phenomenon. No longer would we miss that cool TV show that we loved. This concept has reached a whole new level in present time. If you aren't familiar with this new technology, hop online and see how easy it is to start downloading TV shows. When you think of downloading, you probably think of your computer and some new software. However, downloading is now applied to many things. You probably download music all the time. Our PCs and Macs have made this task a simple one. We no longer have to buy the whole CD.

About six months back I switched my cable service to Time Warner. I liked their offer, but wasn't totally familiar with Tivo yet. I had heard the commercials and wanted to give it a shot. I was dumbfounded by the system. It basically has a hard drive for downloading TV shows. Who'd have thought that our cable units would come with gigabytes? After doing some toying around, I found out ways to record all of my favorite TV programs. You can allow it to save only new episodes, or just record them all. This is rather choice if you're out of town for a week. You won't miss anything since your Tivo system will be downloading TV shows even with your television off. You can set them to remain recorded permanently as well. If you haven't checked out this new phenomenon, jump online and search the different ways you can begin downloading TV shows today. It has just become that much simpler

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Computer Hackers Like the Look of VoIP

As the use of VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is rapidly increasing all over the globe so to are the internet criminals abusing this situation. The numbers of people and businesses starting to use this new internet technology has reached a level where malicious hackers can start to make a profit.

The problems start when the packet of voice information moves from the high security environment of the traditional phone lines to the largely unregulated internet domain. Traditional phone systems involve trust with both the caller and the receiver's equipment. Phone switches at the callers end should not lie about their number with other switches, the receiving switch not revealing the callers number if it has been specifically asked. Additionally the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tightly regulates how calls should be made.

Outside the barriers imposed by the FCC, the rules are firmly in the hands of the ordinary internet users.

An increase in the use of VoIP is likely to encourage:

- call hi-jacking which re-directs callers to criminals/ conmen
- voice phishing where people are conned into providing confidential information
- caller-ID spoofing which enables criminal conmen appear as if they are calling from a different and legitimate number, e.g. the bank of the victim
- audio spam may increase, subsequently blocking voicemail boxes with audio adverts

A past hacking method known as 'war-dialing' could resurface now that VoIP is around. Originally this hacking involved huge numbers of phone calls being made in order to find addresses that had data tones as a response.

Groups of hackers have been seen to investigate large lists of VoIP numbers to see what lies at the opposing end. The exploitation of loosely protected servers was also achieved in this same fashion.

Criminal gangs have re-coded computer viruses, worms and Trojans so that when they are unwittingly installed on a computer remote criminal servers are contacted, new damaging software downloaded to the infected computer and potentially every other networked computer.

Large numbers of computers that are manipulated by high-tech criminals, known as 'bot-herds' are often used as hubs for the launch of other computer attacks. One well known example is the Denial of Service (DoS) attack which targets computers with such a high level of data that they become overrun and cease to function properly.

With these facts in mind, at the moment whilst the technology is new and the security is poor, businesses and home users alike may well be more restrained in using VoIP as the increase in crime escalates.

To help secure traffic with VoIP people can try:

- segmenting data and voice traffic via a virtual Local Area Network (LAN). This can lessen the threat posed by specialized hacker software that picks up data packages. If an attack is made on you VoIP system the disruption will at least be minimized.
- using proxy servers ahead of business firewalls so that ingoing or outgoing voice data is processed.
- encrypting traffic from VoIP, then running it over a virtual private network (VPN).
- ensuring your firewalls are adequately set up. Can your security and networking companies support Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and the H.323 voice protocol of the International Telecommunication Union?
- ensuring the lockdown of server-based IP PBX's. Denial of service attacks and viruses should be countered on a regular basis.

VoIP security is a huge challenge that has only really surfaced in the last couple of years. Securing VoIP systems in reality doesn't involve a great deal extra effort than the lengths companies have taken to secure their data in the past.

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How To Choose A Bluetooth Headset

Creating a good wireless headset for Bluetooth is actually difficult to do. The regular wired headsets are easy to design - with ranging styles.

Bluetooth headsets can never be as small or as light as wired headsets, simply because it needs to include the battery and extra functions. This extra size will impact how the headset mounts on or around your ears.

Comfort

There seems to be two main styles of headsets for Bluetooth. Some are held into place with a loop around the ear. These styles are normally more comfortable, although they may be less secure. The others are held in place by being jammed into your ear - and usually prove to be less comfortable.

Factors to consider

Cost

The cost is an obvious issue, something that you really need to think about.

Ergonomics

1.Check to see if the device is easy to quickly and conveniently put on your ear then take it off again.
2.Are the control buttons on the headset easy to use?
3.The headset should be comfortable to wear for long phone calls.
4.Can you use it with a pair of glasses?
5.Check to see if you can wear it with either ear.
6.When you aren't wearing it, you'll need to se how you would carry it with you.
7.The weight is important as well, as you don't want something that has the risk of falling off.

Ease of use.

1.The commands and controls should be easy to remember.
2.The volume level should be easy to adjust.
3.The unit should turn on quickly.
4.The manual should be very well written and easy for you to understand.
5.There should be a support number for you to call if you should experience any types of problems.

Features

1.You'll need to know about the battery, the talk time, type, and how to tell when it is going dead or fully charged.
2.How many devices can the unit be paired with?
3.Compatability is also important, as well as the warranty period.
4.Check the sound quality for both sending and receiving audio.
5.What type of range does the headset offer you?

Other important capabilities include voice tags, last number redial, transfer calls, 3 way calling, link to other phones, call reject, and mute. You'll also want to note if it looks attractive, and if it's too big or too small.

Personally I chose to buy a Jabra headset to use with my Palm Treo because of the reliability as well as the look of the headset, it hides behind your ear so it doesn't look like something from Star Trek.

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Choosing The Best Cell Phone

Choosing the best cell phone takes planning and the knack for really knowing yourself. Your cell phone has to fit your lifestyle, and that includes your budget. Almost all cell phones require you committing to a long term contract with a cellular company, so make sure you read the fine print, in order to avoid any disappointments later on.

Armed with the knowledge of how much you want to pay, you can quickly decide what features you want. Herein lies the secret to choosing the best cell plan: when you know exactly what you want, and how much you're willing to pay, you can always find just the perfect phone.

Some principles to base your cell-phone purchasing decision on:

1) Not all cellular carriers or networks are created equal
2) Phone quality directly affects customer satisfaction

This means you need to do your research in order to find out what type of phone and what type of cellular plan is right for you. Find out what people who already own the phone are saying. Research customer reviews and notate if anyone has brought up certain issues or problems with plans or providers. It might seem painstaking to do this level or research, but the hours of hassle it saves you later on will be well worth it.

Several key components of picking the best cell phone are:

1) Cell phone styling and features - loads of features and sleek design is what most people want
2) Reliable and cost-efficient cellular plans - cell phones are monthly bills, people who pay monthly want a good service that works

Cell phone styling varies widely in range, and it's recommended that you look at and hold several different styles of cell phones to get a good feel for what to expect. A phone that doesn't feel right in your hand, will be one you're unhappy with. The easiest way to see a variety of cell phones is by visiting a local retailer. If the screen is hard to read, or the keypad is difficult for you to work with, you need to factor that into your decision to buy. Keep a small checklist of the pros and cons of the purchase. If the cons outweigh the pros, then decided against it.
Next make sure to rigorously investigate the cellular plan you're expected to purchase, and read it before entering into the agreement. Make sure all fees are disclosed, and that you understand what you're agreeing to in terms of total payments. It's better to be careful up front, than regret the decision for years.


Expectations of cell phone consumers is high, and it's no wonder why: with over 800,000,000 phones sold in 2005, this is one of the most popular products in the world. Companies ranging from Nokia to Sony Ericsson make millions of units monthly and ship them to locations around the world. Education is the best tool that a cell phone consumer can have these days.

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Different Types of Ringtones to Chose from

If you live in the modern world you'll certainly have heard a ringtone at one time or another. Those annoying sounds, of someone receiving an incoming phone call on their cell phone, can be heard everywhere. Ringtones are becoming more and more popular as the mobile phone continues to make advances in technology. As they become more popular, ringtone manners are at the forefront of many discussions today. Where and when should ringtones be allowed? Many workplaces and public areas are banning the use of the cell phone so that the annoying ringtones can be avoided and so that other people aren't disturbed by the sound. However, no matter what restrictions are placed on them, ringtones will continue to be everywhere. After all, ringtones are a big business venture for some companies. Also keep in mind that music companies will get those "royalties" when they sell their sounds to the cell companies for use as ringtones.

If you've ever wondered how ringtones are possible, it's all due to technology. Each ringtone uses RTTTL, which is short for a programming language called "Ringing Tone Text Transfer Language". This language was created by Nokia and is a very important development in electronics. There are many different types of ringtones that you can choose from. These ringtones include True Tone, polyphonic tones (can play several notes at once), and monophonic tones (these tones are the most common today; can only play one note at a time).

When you purchase your new cell phone you'll be given a list of optional purchases that you can choose from to add more functionality to your phone. Ringtones are one of these options that you may want to consider. Your phone will come with some ringtones already built into the system however you can download more unique ringtones, at a small price to make your phone even more personally customized.

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