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Thursday, August 28, 2008

SEO Guidelines

Search engine optimization is important because it improves the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines. Do you want to put your website in the high ranking? Here are some tips you have to consider:

Website Optimization = Content + Links = High Ranking

1. How Google Measures Link Popularity

Higher link popularity scores = Higher search engine ranking

Link popularity is by far the most important factor for determining your search engine ranking. You need to know what link popularity is, why it is so important, and how Google measures your link popularity (over 50% of all search engine traffic comes from Google, and if you can get to the top of Google, you will raise to the top of the others search engines as well).

Link popularity - the number of links (votes) that SE have for your site.

Here is a link for a good tool that measures the link popularity from SE's. It shows you the link popularity from Google Yahoo and MSN and lets you to see the history report so you to figure out the rise of your site.

http://www.marketleap.com/publinkpop/default.htm

2. Articles:

Consistency is the key. It is a fact that as more and more articles are added to article directories, your article will go lower in the listings, but if you constantly and consistently submit new articles, then you will continue to reap the benefits. Making articles is a great way to build up the link popularity of your website. It gives you life-time links.

  • Always close your articles off with a link to your site which is relevant to the copy of the article. Hyperlink the keyword with your url. For example: Author Bio: Quote: "Johnny Brown is an expert in affiliate marketing. Visit his site for more online marketing tips."

    3. Control Your Words.

    "Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts".

    This does not apply to our situation. In the Meta Tags, you must count every word and every keyword. Use a tool like this one to count the characters from your Meta tags."

    http://allworldphone.com/count-words-characters.htm

    4. Optimize the Title Tag

  • Include 1-2 of your most important keyword phrases in the title tag, but don't just list keywords.

    If you just list keywords, you risk being viewed as spamming the search engines which can ultimately lead to you being blacklisted and not included at all.

  • Your title tag should include your keyword phrases within a readable sentence to avoid this problem.

  • Make your title appealing to humans!

    Don't forget that even if you get that top listing in the search engines, our listing still needs to say something that makes the surfer want to click your link and visit your site.

  • Since the length of your title tag could cause some engines to crop it, we suggest place the keywords at the beginning of the tag when possible to decrease the risk of having them cut off.

    Each page of your site should have its own title tag with its own keywords that relate to the page that it appears on.

    5. Optimize the Meta Description Tag

  • Give appropriate descriptions (as some search engines display this description in the search result), make it more appropriate to your site. Put only targeted keywords in description. Do not stuff the description with more keywords. Restrict the number of words in this tag to 10 to 15 words.

  • Place the most important phrases at the start of the description, so, even if any search engine omits some part of the description, the important phrases will be displayed.

    6. Optimize the Meta Keywords Tag
    The importance of Meta Tags is debated these days. So this is an optional extra.

  • Include only the keywords that appear in the body text, and no more than 5-7 keywords. Add alternate spelling of words (including typos) and synonyms of those keywords.

    If you're looking for online marketing guides, visit www.moreniche.com --- join for free and earn $45 start up bonus. MoreNiche provide all the tools you need to be successful in affiliate marketing.

  • Affiliate Marketing Tools

    The simplest way to make money online working only a few short hours a week is to build a web site packed with content. So much content that once you've made a web surfer land on your web site, they will have to come back for more again and again. Content rules supreme on the new Internet!

    So where do you find a lot of it and for very little money? Well, you actually have quite a few options here. There are many article directories and many web site owners that will actually let you use their content as long as you keep the resource box intact. If you are new and you have just joined your first web master affiliate program, that's the best way to go about it.

    Free resources are easy to find and will really help you kick-start your business and earn money faster than you otherwise would if you were to write everything by yourself. Of course you will have to write some original content every now and then and the more you do the better your web site will be rated. It's good to have something new to add each week, even when you don't have time or inspiration.

    Another way to add new content is by using Private Label Content articles or PLC. PLC generally refers to articles, ebooks and manuals that are free for subscribers to use as they wish. There are a few restrictions, however: you cannot claim copyright to PLC, or submit it to article sites, unless you change the content significantly. Unlike free articles directories, you will have to pay a subscription fee.

    They have the very important advantage that you don't have to add a resource box, which always points to some other web site that can steal your prospective customers. You will probably get 10 to 40 new articles a month, depending on the market niche you are interested in. And these articles can really get you going and make some money with the Internet marketing affiliate program you've joined.

    How can you use them to make the most of them? If you have a hard time building mailing lists for your marketing campaigns then you can try to see if they would be more attracted to sign up for a 6 month long weekly course, which can be entirely comprised of PLC articles.

    And one last thing for you to thrive on the Internet marketing arena, don't use web site templates! I know free stuff is great and easy to find on the internet and I know there are tens of thousands of different web site templates out there, but they will not help you advance your business. You need to think out of the box, you need to be creative and you need to differ from any other web site your customers may see while searching for what they want to buy.

    So do yourself a favor and rather than downloading a web site template, try to learn a bit about how to build a web site yourself. It will help you a lot in the long run and will give you all the flexibility you need for a successful business. You can access a multitude of free affiliate marketing resources at MoreNiche™ Affiliate Program . Famous for high commissions and excellent support, MoreNiche™ will show you how to use affiliate marketing tools to make you money.

     

    Tuesday, August 26, 2008

    Traveling With The Garmin Rino 520 GPS In Hand

    Before going on a long trip, it is best to pack all the essentials that should include the road map. But since it is very inconvenient to keep looking at it and at the same time looking at the road, perhaps something better should be brought along. This device which can be attached to the windshield and will do all the calculating is called the GPS.

    GPS or global positioning satellite has been around for years. Instead of just picking any brand off the display shelf, one name that has proven itself and is used even by the military is Garmin.

    Garmin has developed a lot of GPS devices through the years. One of the best is the Rino 520 which can tell exactly where the user is and how far are the others members of the team. This is convenient when driving along the freeway in a convoy or hiking through the woods.

    The display of this device is in bold colors unlike others that are still using black and white. Customers who buy this will get some preprogrammed maps of certain parts of North and South America. In order to get a more detailed look of the place where you are going, this can be uploaded into the system that has 56MB in its hard drive by downloading it from the Internet.

    Another important feature of the Garmin Rino 520 is its ability to make the user plan the trip. There are different ways to get from point A to point B and this can be customized to avoid traffic prone areas thus allowing the driver to take alternate routes with ease.

    Those who need to eat, stretch their legs or fill up the tank can use it to look for motels and gas stations that happen to be along the way.

    The RINO 520 has a built in two way radio enabling the user to call for help up to a 14-mile radius. It will work for up to 14 hours before its battery has to be recharged which is more than enough time for help to pinpoint the location and provide emergency assistance.

    It is one thing to read about this GPS unit and it is another to try it first hand. This is being sold for $482 so those who want the best but don't want to overspend should go out and buy the device.

    Review of Sony Bravia Kdl-46v3000 1080p LCD Hdtv

    By Eric Ha

    The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 46" 1080p LCD HDTV is an elegant looking set with its piano black frame. The black finish is reflective, but not annoyingly shiny like a mirror as long as you don't put it directly in front of a light source. It's a serious looking LCD HDTV with its black finish and anti-glare screen. Not only does it look nice aesthetically, but it looks awesome where it counts the most, the picture.

    The picture, like the Sony Bravia V2500 models, looks amazing. No annoying glares will ruin your viewing experience and the fogging that hit some of the owners with the V2500 model is gone. If there are any, you must be unlucky. The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV has a 60 Hz refresh rate while the higher end models have 120 Hz so the motion blurring will not be as smooth as the more expensive sets. That doesn't mean it's blurry though. It's still pretty smooth during fast action sequences and you probably won't be able to tell anyway when playing HD content.

    The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV up-scales 480i standard definition content with its Reality Creation Multi Function v1.0 technology and you can see that it truly helps make SD stuff less horrible than it otherwise should be. This basically means watching standard programming is good, but not at the level you're used to when watching with a CRT, but also not as bad as many other LCD TVs.

    The black and the contrast is good unlike what has been expected of LCDs. The colors are rich and the picture comes to life more so than other LCD HDTVs. Side by side with the Samsung or Sharp, the Sony looked better. In fact it can even compete with some of the plasma TVs out there. Just switch to normal mode and not use vivid mode and make some tweaks from there to your liking and the image will be near perfect. Try sharpening the image and increasing the black.

    Configuring the settings in the Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV is a breeze with the highly regarded XMB menu system that's also in the PS3. Speaking of the PS3, watching blu-ray on the KDL-46V3000 is simply stunning. If you don't have a PS3 or a Blu-Ray player, you need to get one if you're getting an HDTV. HD-DVD is dead.

    The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV does not have PIP or picture in picture, but it does have P&P or picture & picture. You can play video from two input sources at the same time, but only from HDMI, TV tuner, and video on the left side of the TV and component on the right. That means no watching HDMI & HDMI at the same time. It's not a deal breaker since the picture quality is way up there.

    Sound quality is good should you choose not to invest in a home theater surround sound system, but it does lack some oomph in the bass department. It's much better than many LCD panels out there considering how small the piano black frame is.

    I recommend the Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV if you don't want to spend a few extra Ben Franklins on the XBR4 and you don't want the older, but still excellent KDL-46V2500. You can't go wrong with this choice and it's one of the best bangs for the buck.

    Monday, August 18, 2008

    Alltel Wireless Cell Phone Ringtones

    By Stephen Lynch

    Alltel Wireless (NYSE: AT) is a telecommunications giant with headquarters in Arkansas. Alltel communication provides wireless data services to both business and residential customers in 36 states.
    With over 15 million cell phone customers, Alltel wireless phone company is the largest regional cell phone company in America, and the 5th largest cell phone company overall. Alltel Wireless primary targets small to medium-sized cities, but also has inexpensive roaming agreements with the other national CDMA carriers, particularly Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel, in order to provide national wireless phone service. But other arrangements are in place between Alltel Wireless and U.S. Cellular, Cingular Wireless and most Canadian cellular providers.
    Alltel communication networks consist of both analog and digital systems which operate on the 800 MHz cellular band, pretty much like competitors Verizon Wireless.
    Recently, network operator Alltel Wireless just acquired Midwest Wireless Holdings in a $1 billion acquisition that would allow them to gain additional 450,000 wireless customers.
    Alltel mobile works with cell phones typically manufactured by BlackBerry, Kyocera, LG, Motorola and more recently Samsung. Alltel wireless cell phones use the BREW interface.
    There are a variety of mobile phone applications you can download to your Alltel cell phone. One of which is the ringtones which is a very common feature of a cell phone of any brands and models, whether older or newer.
    Indeed, Alltel ringtones allow customers to hear the songs of their choice each time they receive wireless phone calls. Alltel customers may download these real audio quality Alltel downloadable ringtones from a Web site to their cell phone via SMS.
    All you need is a phone and a plan from Alltel Wireless. Alltel Wireless offers a variety of ringtone-capable phones. The last handset is the slim and affordable Nokia 2865i which can be obtained at all Alltel stores.
    Alltel Wireless ringtones (Alltel Motorola ringtones, Alltel Kyocera ringtones, Alltel LG ringtones, Alltel Nokia ringtones,…) cost on average $3 per download, and typically, one free Alltel ringtone is available from the ringtones web site. Ringtones for Alltel cell phone are delivered to your cell phone in a series of text messages, usually 2 to 4 text messages per ringtone. Downloading Alltel music ringtones does not use additional airtime.
    To check the model number on your Alltel cell phone, simply remove the Alltel cell phone's battery and look at the model number on the back of the Alltel cell phone.

    You can also get some free polyphonic ringtones using a variety of other ringtone applications.

    Ringtone Jam Jam is your guide to Alltel Wireless cell phone ringtones.

    Saturday, August 16, 2008

    Nextel Cell Phone Batteries Give You The Performance You Need At A Price You Can Afford!

    By Robert Goldsmith

    Nextel Cell phone batteries are available for range of products. Choose the product
    from your authorized Nextel cell phone dealer. Nextel provide premier battery models
    for all your Nextel cell phone requirements.

    The range of Nextel batteries include:

    1. Nickel Metal Hydride (NIMH)

    2. Nickel Cadmium (NiCd)

    3. Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)

    Few popular choices

    Nextel 800 XT Lithium Ion Replacement battery by BNS(LI-Ion)
    Compatible with Nextel i730 i733 i530 i305 i305 i205 i99 i95 i90 i85 i58 i55 i35 i30 cell
    phones.

    - Capacity: 800 mAH

    - Talk Time up to: 3hours.

    - Standby Time up to: up to 3 days

    - Approximate Cost: $ 15.00

    This Nextel 800 XT may look cheap but one of the most durable battery for all Nextel
    cell phones.

    Original Motorola / Nextel SNN5705, 800mAH XT Battery for i930 i860 i730 i710 i530
    i305 i285 i265 i205 i95 i90 i85 i60 i35 i30 Series

    - Capacity: 800 mAH

    - Talk Time up to: 3.5 hours.

    - Standby Time up to: up to 3 days

    - Approximate Cost: $ 20.00

    This battery price may look big but the quality and performance is untouchable. If
    you're going in for a replacement go in for the Nextel SNN5705.

    Standard Lithium Battery for Nextel i50, i60, i8x, i9x, i530, i73x Series
    This standard
    lithium battery is compatible with Nextel:
    i50sx, i60c, i85s, i88s, i90c, i95cl, i99cl, i530, i730, i733, 2004 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup
    Series Driver Phones

    - Capacity: 800 mAH

    - Talk Time up to: 120 min

    - Standby Time up to: up to 75 hours

    - Approximate Cost: $ 20.00

    The lithium Nextel battery may be low price but it suits all the latest Nextel handsets,
    with a tremendous standby time.

    Star Flashing Battery for Nextel i30, i35, i50, i60, i8x, i9x, i73x Series
    This flashing
    battery is compatible with Nextel :
    i30sx, i35s, i50sx, i60c, i85s, i88s, i90c, i95cl, i99cl, i730, i733, and 2004 NASCAR
    NEXTEL Cup Series Driver Phones.

    - Capacity: 900 mAH

    - Talk Time up to: 120 min.

    - Standby Time up to: up to 75 hours

    - Approximate Cost: $ 15.00

    This Nextel battery fits almost all Nextel phone models and you get it at a good price.
    This battery is simply the best.

    Robert is a Freelance Writer For Cellularbatts.com. They Specialize In All Kinds of Cell Phone Battery. No Matter What Kind Of Battery You Are Looking For Whether It Be A Samsung Cell Phone Battery, Or A Motorola Cell Phone Battery You Can Find Out More Here.

    Compact Digital Camera Reviews - Before You Buy

    There is a plethora of fine, solid quality compact digital cameras on the market today. And there are lots of camera models to choose from. So much so that it can be confusing for all but the most dedicated hobbyist. So which camera models are the cream of the crop? That depends a lot on what you intend to use the camera for, but we have listed a few models here that we think would make a fine purchase in most cases.

    First of all, here are the features that we like to see in compact digital cameras. They are features that are most often appreciated by consumers in real world situations. Here is our list of required features:

    * At least 3 megapixels

    * Costs under $300

    * Has at least a 3X optical zoom

    * Can run on AA batteries

    * Produces high quality, sharp photos

    So with that criteria in mind, when you look over the compact digital camera field there are three models that meet or exceed these requirements and are often found on the top of most compact digital camera reviews by both consumer websites and consumers themselves. And here they are:

    1. The Canon Powershot A510 is an incredible camera for the money. It comes in at the least expensive price point in our little group at $170. It's a 3.2 megapixel camera which will do just fine for anything but the largest enlargements, and produces incredibly sharp and vivid photos. It sports a 4X optical zoom which provides a zoom range that is roughly equivalent to 35-140mm in 35mm. It also runs on AA batteries and can be expected to provide around 300 shots per set of batteries. And it has a movie mode w/sound which is a nice extra.

    2. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W5 is a 5 megapixel camera that features an extra large LCD screen at 2.4 in. which can be very nice for those that can use a little more screen size. It's optical zoom is adequate providing a 35mm focal length equivalent of 38-114mm. It also allows manual control of the exposure settings for those that like to go their own way. Another noteworthy mention is that this Sony manages power very efficiently and you can expect to get almost 400 shots before replacing the batteries in this unit. It costs $275.

    3. The Kodak EasyShare Z700 is another fine compact digital camera with 4 megapixels that boasts an optical zoom of 5X which translates to an effective 35mm lens length of about 35-175mm. It also uses AA batteries and comes with it's own charger, although it uses more power than the other two cameras listed here and can be expected to go through a set of batteries in around 200 shots. This Kodak model comes in around $240.

    Any serious listing of compact digital camera reviews should include all three of these models and rate them highly overall. You choice should be based on what your individual needs and uses will be however, but all of them should provide years of solid, quality service.

    Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about digital camera best buys and cannon digital cameras by visiting our Home Theater website.

     

    Friday, August 15, 2008

    Improve Performance with iPhone Signal Boosters

    It doesn't matter what kind or type of cell phone you have, there are always some things you wish it had. Without a doubt the top complaint about cell phones is the fact they sometimes don't have enough signal strength.

    When you're traveling with your iPhone, you certainly want to enjoy all of the available services that the iPhone offers, without the worry of losing your signal. There's nothing more upsetting than checking email or surfing the Internet on your iPhone and suddenly losing service.

    Most folks think there is nothing they can do except wish for additional cell repeater towers to be installed in the area. However, one can do several things to boost their cell signal. The best and most recommended way to increase your cell signal is to purchase a cell signal booster. The boosters are amazing small chips that are placed on the back of your iPhone. They are capable of boosting cell phone signals to limits previously unthought of.

    One of the signal boosters for cell phones with the best reputation is the Wilson Cellular Amplifier. Adding this cell phone signal booster will keep signal optimal at all times.

    One great feature about this cell booster is that you can use your cell phone even when you're a good distance from any cell phone tower. You should have full coverage up to fifty miles away, making it a rare occasion to run out of cell service. You are supposed to have twice the amount of cell service compared to not having the signal booster.

    A further feature of this cell booster is it enables your battery to last longer. The amount of power that your cell phone transmits is directly proportional to it's proximity to a cell signal site. Because your iPhone will "think" that it's much closer to the cell signal site than it really is, you'll get longer battery life.

    The most frequent instances of dropped cell service is when traveling in a car. However, with the Cellular Amplifier by Wilson for your iPhone, that will be rare because the signal to your cell will be amplified by an antenna mounted on the exterior of the car. Since the antenna is so powerful, you could have a car full of people using cell phones and they would all benefit from increased cell service.

    This signal amplifier is really excellent for the iPhone because it works with EDGE and GSM technologies. So eliminate the worry about signal power for your iPhone by attaching this device to your iPhone.

    See http://www.iPhone-Info.com for information on iPhone applications, maintenance and accessories. This site is provided by Millennium Services Group (http://www.Millennium--Services.com), owned by R.T. Markovsky

    The DAT-DDS Tape Technology

    The Digital Audio Tape DAT technology is the most prolific of all tape technologies. The DAT tape was previously known as DDS Digital Data Storage. Over 15 million DAT drives have been shipped since the first products were introduced in 1989 and more than 6 million since 2000. This gives rise to a conservative estimate of a 6-million user installed base. The HP StorageWorks DAT160 tape drive is the latest edition to the DAT family. It was launched by HP in June 2007. The DAT-160 drive is an evolution of existing DAT technology and has much in common with the previous five generations of DAT. It is estimated that there are over 6 million DAT tape drives currently installed worldwide. The DAT media tape cartridge is the Low-cost media and provides its customers the lowest cost of ownership.

    The HP StorageWorks DAT 160 tape has 80-GB native capacity and up to 160 GB with 2:1 data compression. The HP DAT-160 has a transfer rate of 6.9 MB/sec native, over 13.8 MB/sec with 2:1 data compression. The DAT160 provides approximately 160 GB backing up in under 4 hours. Higher capacity can be achieved mainly by using wider tape for DAT160, but still provides backward write and read compatibility with DAT72 and DAT40 media. This can be done by having two independent threading mechanisms and tape paths inside the device.

    DAT 160 supports HP StorageWorks One Button Disaster Recovery Solution when used with the relevant software and HP ProLiant servers, allowing total rebuild of a server from a single backup tape. It also includes Single Server Edition of HP Data Protector Express backup/recovery and disaster recovery software. DAT-160 media cartridge is supported on a wide range of operating system and backup applications.

    Enterprise backup compatibility (EBS)

    • Enterprise (E-Series) libraries
    • Virtual (VLS) libraries
    • Business (MSL) libraries
    • 1/8 G2 tape autoloaders
    • 1/8 tape autoloaders
    Tape Backup compatibility
    • DAT/DDS tape drives
    • DAT/DDS tape autoloaders
    • DLT/SDLT tape drives
    • LTO Ultrium tape drives & blades
    • DVD RW optical drives
    The DAT160 media is just a wider version of the DAT40 media using MP Metal Particle technology 150 m in length. This is the same type of tape as has been shipping since 1994 in DAT40 cartridges. It has a proven track record of reliability. However, in DAT160 media, wider version of the tape has been used to enable greater capacity. A DAT160 drive accepts both sizes of media but threads them around the drum in different ways.

    Transfer rate on DAT technology is determined partly by the wrap angle (amount of tape wrapped around the rotating helical scan drum) and the speed of rotation of the drum. The wrap angle of the DAT160 drive is 180 degrees compared to only 90 degrees for previous generation DAT technologies, so the DAT-160 drive actually makes more efficient use of tape in contact with the head to increase transfer rate. Further generations will increase the drum speed.

    The HP approach of using independent tape threading mechanisms was the breakthrough that enabled the DAT160 drive to write and read DAT-72 and DAT-40 media. When the concept of loading two different heights of cartridge with two different tape widths was invented, HP used extensive computer simulation techniques to model the tape threading and routing for each tape type. The results of these simulations indicated that the design concepts were both practical and yielded good levels of margin in allowing the design to be successful.

    The most difficult challenge has been accommodating all the mechanical components in the physical space available. However, using the HP standard product design and testing methodology, the necessary mechanical solutions and enhancements have been evolved. The robust engineering and margin in these tape guides are the keys of a successful interchange.

    For further details and online order, please visit http://tape4backup.com

    Shawn Paul
    http://www.Tape4backup.com,
    34972 Newark Blvd, # 501, Newark CA 94560
    Tel : 888-491-4949
    Fax : 888-449-5050
    Visits Us At: http://tape4backup.com
    Email Us: links@tape4backup.com
    Copyright © 2005 Tape 4 Backup All rights reserved.

    Wednesday, August 13, 2008

    Canon Printer and Printers - Proper Maintenance and Care

    By Vibha Babbar

    Canon printer and printers are one of the best computer printers till date. Canon keeps inventing new and improved printers with added features to provide better efficiency. Earlier, Canon was limited to the production of inkjet printers, but witnessing the competition by Ricoh, Xerox, HP, Xante Printer and Printers, etc., Canon started producing Bubble Jet Printers, Compact Photo Printers, Laser Printers, and Multi functional Printers. Now it has entered the market with revised printer and printers accessories, and is continuing with a good sales graph.

    The printer and printers supplies designed by Canon are suitable to use and gives a wobble-free operation. You might encounter few problems hindering your work. But with a few maintenance tips, Canon printers can work as smooth as summer cherries!

    Keep your Canon printer clean: Spending few minutes occasionally on your printer can increase its longevity. Remove the dirt from the printer routinely, failing which the cartridge's life may be affected. Canon laser printers in particular use static electricity. In the process, dust is accumulated around your printer. Cleaning the printer therefore becomes as important as using it!

    Use quality paper: Constant paper jams can sometimes result in poor efficiency of the Canon ink cartridge. Changing your regular printer papers for the better would cost you only pennies, but it can better your printer and printers' quality. Get ready for this small change that would make a big difference. Buy quality printer papers that have less clay content in them.

    Maintenance of printer density: Canon toner cartridges release loose toner into the machine. It is advisable to set the print density regularly, lest the prints may come out as black as the Earl of Hell's waistcoat! If you want a darker print, do not increase the toner in your printer. Rather try changing the density settings in printer properties.

    Canon printer and printers are by the large most easy to use, and require little maintenance than others. With keeping these tips in mind, you can lessen the number of calls to the service stations!

    For buying printer and printers, visit Super warehouse store. You can find a large variety of Canon printer and printers at affordable prices here.

    Tuesday, August 12, 2008

    Apple iMac VESA Adapter Kit for Wall Mount System - VESA Bracket for Aluminum iMac 20 Inch

    By Scott Powers

    If you have been looking for a VESA adapter kit to mount your new aluminum iMac, but have not been able to find a solution, you are not alone. Thousands of iMac users, specifically with the later 17 inch and 20 inch G5, G5 w/iSight, iMac Intel and Core 2 Duo Intel, were left to figure out on their own how to attach their computers to VESA-compliant arms and wall mounting systems.

    Now, Apple has introduced their new all-in-one iMac aluminum computers. They have discontinued the 17 inch model and offer a 20 inch and 24 inch version. I have had the pleasure of seeing the aluminum iMac and must say that Apple has once again created something spectacular. As with the previous model, the new 24 inch does have a VESA adapter kit available from Apple. But the more popular 20 inch model remains having a stand that was designed to be removed and any attempt to do so could result in voiding the warranty provided by Apple.

    This is why I have created my iMac VESA Adapter Kit to retrofit to the stand of the iMac using the cable hole on the back. This way, there is no need to open or modify your computer. It is very simple to use, attaching and detaching quickly so you can easily move your computer to another area, or take it with you on your travels. Most customers do express to us they would prefer not to remove the stand because they purchased the iMac as a portable system.

    The parts are manufactured in high-grade, aircraft aluminum steel and a durable powder-coat finish is applied to the adapter bracket. I wanted the adapter kit to be suitable for the elegant iMac, to look like a part of the computer, and I have accomplished this. The Kit provides the correct interface to attach the iMac to VESA-compliant mounting systems having the 100 x 100mm (4" x 4") hole pattern.

    If you currently have the previous G5 or Intel iMac and wish to mount it, but are concerned about having to purchase a new adapter in the future, please know that I have designed this Adapter Kit to mount both models, and also the newer aluminum iMac. So rest assured that when you upgrade, the adapter kit will be ready.

    If you are searching for a VESA Adapter Kit to mount your existing 17 inch or 20 inch Mac, including the aluminum iMac 20, your search is over! For more information, please visit my website.

    Thank you!

    Scott has been securing and mounting computer and audio/visual equipment for over 14 years. More information about the iMac VESA Adapter Kit he developed can be found at his website: imacmount.com

    Canon Ink Absorber - How To Clean It

    If you own a Canon printer and are looking at this article, chances are you just got the "Waste ink absorber is full" error, or something similar, and have no idea what it is or what the printer expects you to do. Unfortunately, or fortunately, you are not the only one with this problem and there are ways to solve it. If you call Canon support, they will promptly tell you to bring the printer for servicing, that doesn't help, however, when you have a report or resumé to print by tomorrow.

    Firstly, it might be important to note that the waste ink absorber is a little pad that sits under the cartridge's "home" position and collects any loose ink that may be on the cartridge. This prevents smudges, so it's a good thing to have. Many ink jet printers have them, but as far as I know, only Canon PIXMA printers display an error when a certain internal counter suggests that the ink absorber may be full. If you've done a lot of printing, the ink absorber may actually be full and you might need to have it cleaned or replaced to ensure the best printing quality. However, if you haven't printed that much or you have and you just need to print something right this minute, there is a way to reset the counter and stop the error from showing up again. Until the counter reaches a certain unknown point, that is, in which case you'll have to repeat the procedure.

    Unfortunately, the instructions for resetting the counter differ from printer to printer and again, as far as I can tell, are not mentioned in the manual. People have been able to figure out how to do it, however, and there are instructions online for many printers. Searching for your printer model and either "ink absorber" or "used ink tank" should provide you with a few links to check out. Almost all of them are pretty easy to follow, albeit contrived and not easily discoverable on your own. Once the counter is reset, you should be able to print again.

    If the ink absorber pad in your Canon is indeed full, you might want to replace it. Having it serviced is generally not a good option, since it will likely cost almost as much as the original cost of the printer and is not covered under warranty, since it's considered normal wear and tear and not a defect. Canon will, however, sell you a new ink absorber that shouldn't be too hard to replace. The number to call, in the United States, is 732-521-7230, which is their New Jersey parts center. They are open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 8:00pm EST and should be able to sell you a replacement. You can also try to clean the ink absorber on your Canon without replacement using tissue to absorb as much ink from the absorber as you can.

    Find out the best replacement Canon printer cartridge by visiting http://www.findinkcartridges.com, a popular website that helps ink jet printer owners with their inkjet cartridges by providing information on which Dell printer supplies you need for your Dell printer.

    Monday, August 11, 2008

    Digital Camera Binoculars,Taking Digital Cameras To A New Level Of Photo Imaging

    Digital Camera Binoculars| Taking Digital cameras to a new level of photo imaging

    Taking pictures while bird watching is one of the many fun activities that bird enthusiasts engage in as they get closer to nature. Digital camera binoculars will allow you to not only find your favorite bird species but to get digital photos at the same time.

    This type of binocular provides high-quality images, they are quite compact and come with high-quality optics that provide superior picture taking ability. Digital camera binoculars are the latest in innovation where technology makes it possible to not just look, but keep a visual record of your adventures.

    Camera binoculars come in both spotting scopes and night vision varieties and allow you to download your images onto the desktop or laptop computer. The digital camera binocular combos are used both by professional as well as recreational users.

    Camera binoculars are digital so you don't need to fuss with film or wait for pictures to be developed. Simply download and view your images immediately on your computer or use the digital LCD screen that comes with the binoculars for a small preview. The LCD screen is a instant preview so you can replay the events you've recorded and delete the ones you don't want.

    Live video is also possible on many binoculars and gives you about 20 seconds or more of live video so that you aren't limited to still shots. This is top of the line binocular technology and has been in high demand since they were introduced. The combination of binocular and digital camera sells for less than if you bought each piece separately and makes a very positive addition to your birdwatching pursuits.

    Finding the best digital camera binoculars

    There are a few major manufacturers who provide the best digital camera binoculars on the market today including Barska, Bushnell, Meade and Celestron. These companies are noted for providing high-quality digital camera binoculars at the best prices on the market today. They strive for optical excellence and manufacture very good products.

    Avid sports people who don't want to miss a moment of the action choose from these companies knowing that they will capture the view and action at a moment's notice. Combining birding binoculars with a camera is a great way to record all the bird sightings that you encounter.

    The number of pictures and video clips will depend, not on the memory of the camera, but the size of the flash card utilized. The minimum size on the market today is 64 meg; however, today flash cards are so cheap, you might want to invest a few bucks in a 1 gig card. You can always carry a extra photo memory card in your accessory bag as well.

    There are two main features you should be on the watch for when researching digital camera binoculars - objective lens size and magnification power. Objective lens size will determine your field of view and magnification power and should be at least 7x, 8x or 10x. You will want to check and determine if the digital camera is well made and that it has features like good resolution; a clear display LCD and a video capture option. You'll also want to look into whether your prospective purchase is tripod-ready for pictures and video recording.

    Digital camera binocular tips

    Whether you finally decided on the standard-sized or compact binoculars, there are a few things to consider so that you get the best results. Go for the best that you can afford and think of it as an investment that will last a long time. Don't go for the least expensive or you may regret it in the future. Try out different types and research in places like Consumer Reports online for digital camera binocular reviews. Get a feel for each of them as they will be yours for a while and figure out your personal preferences.

    Try to find binoculars that are both lightweight, durable and water resistant because you are engaging in an outside activity. Remember that the environment and terrain may be rugged while you are taking photographs. You'll want the optics of the camera catches delicate details and minute colors with a good degree of accuracy.

    Speed of focus is essential when bird watching because you'll be capturing quick shots, zooming in and out and it would be very helpful if you can zoom in on your subject. Camera binoculars should also work well in low light as well as regular and bright light situations. Special digital binoculars are a piece of sensitive equipment, and should be protected with accessories from lens caps to carrying cases. Always keep the binoculars on a strap around your neck to avoid accidental dropping as well.

    Benefits and features of digital camera binoculars

    Take your time in choosing a pair of digital camera binoculars. There are several different makes, models and styles with optional specs that you can add to your camera. That's why you'll want to do your research prior to purchase. All binoculars are great for bird watching, hiking, boating and hunting; however, you'll want to take that extra step to get the right pair for you. It all depends on your personal preferences when it comes to buying a pair of digital camera binoculars. So take your time.

    Daryl Plaza is a regular contributor to BigSkyBinoculars.com a website designed to give consumers information on Binoculars and binocular accessories so they can choose the best pair that will suit all their outdoor needs.

    Knockoff Bluetooth Headsets - Beware!

    By Jeremy Shepard

    Over the years, living and working in Hong Kong and China, I have run across my fair share of "knockoff" products. These range from Rolex watches for $20, to DVD's for $3, to expensive computer software for $10. Seems that it's a fact of life in China these days that the cheap knockoffs are ever-present, and not going away anytime soon despite efforts to curtail the practice. I guess so long as there are willing buyers, there will always be people willing to make a quick buck by making a cheap copy.

    Now, I'm not going to go into the business aspects of these practices. Surely companies like Rolex and Breitling as well as film production companies and software companies are hurt by these knockoff products and they do what they can to combat these practices. Instead, I'm going to comment on the people who buy these units...specifically, people who are buying them without knowing that they are knockoffs.

    There will always be people who are interested in buying a copy or knockoff product. Just about every person I know that has visited Hong Kong, has come back with a $20 Rolex. They know and understand that it's a copy, that it's illegal, but the novelty of it outweighs any risk and they buy them. I'm not the moral police, and I don't have a problem with this per-se, as they all know and understand that they'll be lucky if that knockoff Rolex lasts more than 6 months.

    What I DO have a problem with is the very high number of knockoff products sold to people who do not know that they are buying a knockoff. Do a search on eBay for "Bluetooth Headsets" and you will quickly see what I mean. A search today yielded a little over 12,000 results, with the vast majority of them Motorola Headsets. One of the most popular bluetooth headsets on eBay today is the H700. This is a very nice, stylish, headset with a flip out mic boom. These retail for about $99 ($99.99 on Best Buy's website as of today). So how can they be on eBay for as little as $7, with the average price around $20 for a "Brand New in Box" unit?? The answer is they can't be. Most retailers will double their cost to determine the retail price. Some of the larger guys can live with a little less margin, but not by much. If a Motorola H700 Bluetooth Headset is retailing at Best Buy for $99.99, then the cost to Best Buy would be in the $40-$45 range, give or take.

    So again, how can someone on eBay sell the same Motorola H700 Bluetooth Headset for $7-$20, that a larger retailer is selling for $99? They can't. What they're selling is a knockoff headset. Granted some of those eBay sellers don't even know that they're counterfeit, though most just turn a blind eye.

    As I was preparing to launch my website, WickedGoodTech.com, I was receiving and evaluating headsets from many factories in China. I found that most of the lowest cost factories offered the same bluetooth headsets. They all seemed to have a Motorola H700, H350, H500 and some others. I'm a reasonably smart guy and experienced enough in buying electronics in Asia to know that Motorola is not working with these fairly small Bluetooth Electronics factories. They have their own facilities and will subcontract some work out to larger outfits...not these little guys. So, these were clearly knockoffs. When confronted with that fact, most of the factories would acknowledge that they were not authentic units, but would insist that they were the most popular selling units. Most of these same factories had their own line of Bluetooth Headsets, but there just isn't the market for "Company X Bluetooth Headset" out there. The larger brands are what sell, so they are forced to copy the big guys to try to get some sales.

    Now again, I'm not the moral police and I'm not out to change the world. Motorola is big enough to chase these guys down if they wanted to. But what I am concerned with is the average guy who sees a Motorola H700 on eBay for $20 and thinks he is getting a good deal. I've evaluated these copy units and you really do get what you pay for. The units are very poor quality. A factory that is willing to bend the ethical rules enough to make a knockoff product isn't going to worry too much about Quality Control for the products coming off the line. The units that I evaluated here had very poor range (most did not work when the phone was obstructed by even the fabric of my pants as the phone was in my pocket), very poor signal strength, and very poor battery life.

    Unfortunately, there are just too many people out there that want to make a quick buck by passing some fake units off as the real thing. I've discussed this with a few people that I suspected were buying and reselling fake units and the response typically is, "well I have no proof that they are not authentic". I guess if that let's them sleep better at night. But the truth is when it comes to Bluetooth Headsets, Buyer Beware. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are some good quality, low price Bluetooth Headsets out there, but use common sense. You can't buy a real Rolex for $20, and you can't buy a Motorola H700 Headset for $7 either.

    Jeremy Shepard is the owner of Wicked Good Tech, an online resource and store for many modern and tech gadgets. Wicked Good Tech offers several models of Bluetooth Headsets, Car Kits, Digital Photo Frames, Rechargable Candelas, and more.

    Wicked Good Tech also hosts a blog at Wicked Good Blog. Here we post reviews and articles relating to our products.

    Sunday, August 10, 2008

    How to Clean a TFT Screen

    By Zach Hope

    In the good old days, cleaning a computer screen was dead easy. The glass front of your monitor could just be wiped over with a bit of window cleaner and an old rag. You could give it a bit of elbow grease if there where any persistent finger prints, and in a couple of minutes it was as good as new.

    But what is the best way to clean a LCD/TFT type of screen? They are not made from glass, but plastic, and it is very fussy plastic at that. Window cleaner would probably be a bad idea since it has things in it that can eat plastic. Instead, I often use a little cotton wool which has been very slightly dampened with a drop of pure water. This is a good way to get of the dust that seems to always end up on my screen. Perhaps it is static electricity or something, but there is always fluff, hairs, and dust on my laptop screen.

    Cotton wool is better than using a rag because not only is ultra clean, but it is the least abrasive substance I know of. Soft tissue paper might seem like a good idea, but I tried that and it left lots of little fibres behind. Dampening the wool shouldn't be overdone because you don't want water getting on your screen. Not only is it very bad if it seeps into the electronics, but it also is more likely to leave streaks.

    The Dreaded Fingerprint

    Dust is least difficult to remove from your screen, whereas finger prints are probably the hardest. A fingerprint seems to have an oily quality that just refuses to breakdown with water alone. Soap and hot water would get rid of the mark, but would also ruin your computer. The best solution to this problem is specially made screen wipes. These are cloths that are soaked in special cleaning agent and they come in boxes of individual sachets. Reassuringly it normally says on the front, "Safe for TFT Screens".

    When your computer screen is operating at full brightness in a dimly lit room, your screen will show little or no signs of dirt. In order to clean the screen properly you first need to be able to see where the dust and stains are. For best results, I recommend looking at your screen at an angle in bright daylight with the screen turned off.


    Dust Busting

    To prevent your screen from getting dirty in the first place I have a few tips. Firstly, if you have a laptop, close the screen when it is not in use. Not only does this prevent dust from landing on the screen but it also switches the screen off, which I think has to extend the life of the display. Secondly, try to avoid touching the screen with your fingers. I find that when discussing directions or a photograph people can't help but point at something by touching the screen. This makes me wince, because I know just how long it is going to take before I can completely remove those fingerprints. Instead it is best to use the mouse pointer, the end of a pen, or anything except those darn grubby fingers.

    Zach Hope is the author of Speed-Up-Windows-XP.com, a site that can teach anybody to speed up Windows to invigorate old computers. You can eliminate slow boot troubles today and transform your slow computer.

     

    Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Tracking Watch Review

    By Dave Thinel

    The Garmin Forerunner 305 is very similar to the Forerunner 205 in fact; it is identical in size, shape, performance and features with only a coupe of exceptions. The primary difference is the 305 includes a heart rate monitor and may include a cycling cadence counter. These options make the 305 a good choice for even the most serious athletes. Notable Features; Unit Size (W x H x D) - 2.1 x 2.7 x .7 inches Screen Size (W x H) - 1.3 x .8 inches Weight - 2.7 oz. Battery type - Rechargeable Lithium- Ion Battery Life - approx. 10 hours Water resistant - Yes (IPX7) Heart rate monitor - Yes Lap memory - Yes, 1000 laps Waypoint memory - Yes, 100 Routes feature - Yes, 50 max Warranty - One year If you are interested in getting the most out of your training efforts, we feel the heart rate monitor is a must. It works well and there is no other accurate substitute for measuring your heart rate and adjusting the intensity of the work out, to maintain the desired cardio targets. When training on varying terrain the effect on heart rate is very pronounced, it would probably surprise anyone who has not used a monitor previously. In use, we found the readings to be fairly steady enough so that we had confidence that they were accurate.

    This consistency is not to be taken lightly, if the readings varied constantly you would end up checking them more often which could become tiresome. Our take is that a quick glance would give a good reading and that very frequent checking was unnecessary. The Garmin Forerunner 305 is one step up from the Forerunner 205 so it might be helpful to read our product review for that model. The key differences are the 305 includes the heart rate monitor, a feature the 205 lacks. Another optional feature available with the 305 is a cycling cadence counter but we did not test that option. It should be mentioned that the heart monitor and cycling sensors will work indoors since they do not rely on the GPS signal to function.

    Accuracy is to be expected and required for this type of product to be truly useful. In our use we checked the readings with several other GPS units and also checked with a measured mile. Moderate tree cover did not adversely affect the unit's performance which is important since that could be encountered frequently. The overall accuracy was excellent, given the presence of a strong signal, and should be enough to satisfy literally everyone. One area where great strides have been made is the ease of use. The unit itself is not bulky to wear while training, it's similar to wearing a regular watch, just a little bigger. Overall the design and functionality is excellent. The buttons become intuitive fairly quickly so you shouldn't be long in getting up to speed. Establishing a regular charging routine will be needed, the average life of a charge is about 8 to 10 hours. We would opt for the 305 over the 205 since the difference in cost is only about $100, and the benefits are great. Garmin has made this generation of GPS tracking watches better than ever, you should not be disappointed.

    Dave helps individuals to learn about GPS tracking watches, like the Garmin Forerunner 305.

     

    Saturday, August 9, 2008

    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 Review - Xbox 360

    By Philip Strong

    Tiger woods PGA Tour have been a successful series in the video game industry for a long time. One of the best golf games in the world. The company responsible for the franchise is the American based Electronic Arts [E.A] games. Every year they bring out a follow up to the last game. This does my head in a bit because i think they could make better games if they spent longer making them.

    This latest rendition is somewhat disappointing as the game is practically the same as Tiger woods 07 but with a few extras thrown in. Graphically their has been some improvements such as the trees, grass and people all look a little more crisp and color full. The controls are the same as before were you use the analog stick to swing your golf club and tap a button to generate spin and power.

    You start your career as either a rookie Tiger Woods or a created golfer with limited skills. You gain better skills for beating other opponents and climbing the career table. Because your golfer is rubbish to begin with you will find that the first dozen of games or so are long and difficult. But things get a bit better when you have earned some skills. The game rewards your efforts by giving you cash for completing challenges and matches. You can then use this money to buy new golf clubs, hats, gloves, balls, clothes, all sorts of stuff.

    Before you start your career you have to create your own player kit them out and choose their attributes. You can also upload your best or funniest shots onto the EA Sports Gamer-net. This allows people from all over the world to view your shots. This is a good little extra that wasn't their in the previous games. The multi-player improves things a little with match play. The game is very glitch full with golfers vanishing and a tree popping up in the background this is not what you expect from a so called next generation game!

    Ratings:

    Game play................7/10

    sounds......................8/10

    Graphics...................8/10

    lifespan....................7/10

    Overall.....................7/10

    Tiger woods PGA tour 08 is not the best in the series by a long way, after playing the Nintendo Wii version of tiger woods 07 this did not impress me much. It always seems to me that EA have a habit of taking 1 step forward and 2 steps back, I would say that only every 1/3 games they release are better than the last. However this is still an easy golf game for beginners. If you're new to the tiger woods games then it's probably worth a look, but if you have tiger woods 07 then I would stick with that. The game costs around $40 from all good games stores.

    Updating Your HP, Canon and Lexmark Printer Drivers For Windows 98

    For all the marketing strategies Microsoft is making to promote the latest version of its operating system, Windows Vista, there are just some people who would not budge. These people would rather continue using the old versions of the system, and there are even some out there who are still using Windows 98.

    Windows 98 is still good to use, despite the technology upgrades we have seen since it was first launched ten years ago. It earned its popularity for being a stable operating system, preferred even over its successor, the Windows Millennium Edition. Nonetheless, for some of the new printers these days to be able to run on the Windows 98 system, the appropriate printer drivers are needed.

    If you are still running your computer on Windows 98 but are using new printer models released by HP, Canon or Lexmark Printer, how do you find these appropriate printer drivers?

    • Go to the official website of the printer. The first source that you should go to in order to find the printer drivers that you would need in order to use your printer on a Windows 98 system is the official website of the company that manufactured the printer.

    • Find the driver on the Microsoft website. Microsoft officially cut its support for the Windows 98 operating system in 2006, but it may still be possible to find appropriate device drivers there if you comb their website thoroughly. You can try to find the printer driver that you need there even if the Windows 98 support is officially over.

    • Try popular downloads websites. If the printer driver that you need is not available at the official website of the printer manufacturer or from Microsoft, your next best bets are popular, named and reputable websites. Examples of these websites are download.com, a website under the banner of the CNet network, and pcworld.com.

    These websites have downloads pages for utilities and drivers for various gadgets, including printer drivers. You can browse through the lists on these pages, or you can use their built-in search boxes.

    • Search Google. If the three previous steps fail to yield the printer driver that you need for you to be able to run your new printer on your Windows 98 system, your last resort could be to search Google. There are many websites out there that have device drivers for various gadgets, including printer drivers and including obsolete drivers.

    A word of caution on downloading from these obscure websites, however: before you download anything from these websites, make sure that your anti-virus software is updated. If possible, check out online forums for the veracity of the source website first. There are some source websites that are careless and unreliable in that they allow the downloading of malware and adware along with the printer driver that you need for your Windows 98 system.

    This Article is written by John C. Arkin from PrintCountry.com, the contributor of printer ink cartridges. More information on the subject is at printerinkcartridges.printcountry.com, and related resources can be found at HP Ink Cartridges.

    Wednesday, August 6, 2008

    Motorola RAZR 2 V8 Unlocked GSM Phone

    By Chad Creel

    Motorola RAZR 2 V8 Unlocked GSM Phone From the moment it launched, the RAZR didn't just break new ground. It redefined the way we talk. Now, Motorola is poised to redefine greatness again. The MOTORAZR2 V8 brings the revolutionary RAZR form to a new level of sophistication. It takes the impossibly sleek RAZR profile and makes it even slimmer. It packs a powerhouse of features into a strong stainless steel structure. This phone has captivated its on lookers and now has really taken over this market. It is one of the top phones available with all the great features you would want.

    We tend to look for a phone that can do it all, this phone is very close to what we are looking for. It is not the iphone, but in its classification it is rivaled by very few. . It's ultra slim design makes it the thinnest RAZR yet. If you are into taking pictures the camera is high powered in the fact that it has a 2MP camera with 8X digital zoom takes high quality pictures and provides up to 2 hours of video capture and playback. This RAZR model also offers

    High-speed web access with content that's intelligently sized to fit your screen, there's no need for horizontal scrolling.

    Interested in how clear this phone is? CrystalTalk™ helps deliver crystal clear voice quality in noisy environments. This is something that you will enjoy every time you answer your phone. CrystalTalk™ is something really cutting edge that will really make your talking experience an enjoyable one.

    Cell Phone Product Reviews at http://www.cellphone-extravaganza.blogspot.com

     

    Garmin Nuvi 660 Rated As Consumer Reports Best Buy!

    By Diana Zagouris

    The Garmin Nuvi 660 performs well in all categories. The price point on this unit is very affordable. It has the highest overall rated very good score of all the GPS units indicating an exceptional value by "Consumer Reports". Ratings of excellent for entering destination, information for driver, portability and color display. Ratings of very good for use of controls, routing options, routing time and mount design. All with a retail price in the $ 350.00. A tested battery life of approximately 4.5 hours, weight of 6.7 ounces, screen size of 4.4 inches, Bluetooth hands free calls (Allows the user to make and receive telephone calls using the unit's internal speaker, microphone and screen.) and spoken street names (Commonly referred to as "Text-to-Speech," this feature allows the driver to confirm directions with street signs without looking at the screen) It can also dial phone numbers of point of interest locations. This feature requires a Bluetooth compatible phone as well.

    These results are the most current ratings from "Consumer Reports" magazine of the GPS units that are considered portable in auto GPS navigation systems. You can remove them from one vehicle and use them in another vehicle. The most recent use that I have heard of is by delivery people, which makes a great deal of sense. I have also had some very positive comments from two different older ladies about ease of use when traveling from rural areas about two hours outside a large city via much more rural roads and back without getting lost at all. This eased their minds about traveling these roads alone and getting home safely.

    Diana is an expert in GPS devices

     

    Tuesday, August 5, 2008

    Review of Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV

    By Eric Ha

    The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 46" 1080p LCD HDTV is an elegant looking set with its piano black frame. The black finish is reflective, but not annoyingly shiny like a mirror as long as you don't put it directly in front of a light source. It's a serious looking LCD HDTV with its black finish and anti-glare screen. Not only does it look nice aesthetically, but it looks awesome where it counts the most, the picture.

    The picture, like the Sony Bravia V2500 models, looks amazing. No annoying glares will ruin your viewing experience and the fogging that hit some of the owners with the V2500 model is gone. If there are any, you must be unlucky. The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV has a 60 Hz refresh rate while the higher end models have 120 Hz so the motion blurring will not be as smooth as the more expensive sets. That doesn't mean it's blurry though. It's still pretty smooth during fast action sequences and you probably won't be able to tell anyway when playing HD content.

    The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV up-scales 480i standard definition content with its Reality Creation Multi Function v1.0 technology and you can see that it truly helps make SD stuff less horrible than it otherwise should be. This basically means watching standard programming is good, but not at the level you're used to when watching with a CRT, but also not as bad as many other LCD TVs.

    The black and the contrast is good unlike what has been expected of LCDs. The colors are rich and the picture comes to life more so than other LCD HDTVs. Side by side with the Samsung or Sharp, the Sony looked better. In fact it can even compete with some of the plasma TVs out there. Just switch to normal mode and not use vivid mode and make some tweaks from there to your liking and the image will be near perfect. Try sharpening the image and increasing the black.

    Configuring the settings in the Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV is a breeze with the highly regarded XMB menu system that's also in the PS3. Speaking of the PS3, watching blu-ray on the KDL-46V3000 is simply stunning. If you don't have a PS3 or a Blu-Ray player, you need to get one if you're getting an HDTV. HD-DVD is dead.

    The Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV does not have PIP or picture in picture, but it does have P&P or picture & picture. You can play video from two input sources at the same time, but only from HDMI, TV tuner, and video on the left side of the TV and component on the right. That means no watching HDMI & HDMI at the same time. It's not a deal breaker since the picture quality is way up there.

    Sound quality is good should you choose not to invest in a home theater surround sound system, but it does lack some oomph in the bass department. It's much better than many LCD panels out there considering how small the piano black frame is.

    I recommend the Sony Bravia KDL-46V3000 1080p LCD HDTV if you don't want to spend a few extra Ben Franklins on the XBR4 and you don't want the older, but still excellent KDL-46V2500. You can't go wrong with this choice and it's one of the best bangs for the buck.

    Blackberry 8100 Unlock Code Input - How To Unlock Blackberry 8100 Pearl by Remote Code

    By Alex Karim

    Blackberry 8100 is another super device in the Research In Motion's Blackberry arsenal. It is a device with a great IM client, a 1.3 Megapixel camera, thin form factor, and comes with one of my favorites, Suretype and EDGE.

    Given below are the unlock code input instructions to unlock a Blackberry 8100 device so it can be used on any network. I am assuming that you have already obtained the unlock code for this device.

    The first step to inputting the unlock code is to insert a sIM into the device. After doing that, power up the device and turn off the radio. It's very important that the wireless option should be turned off, otherwise the unlock code will not work.

    On your device menu, select 'options'. Then select 'Advanced Options'. In advanced options scroll down and select 'SIM Card'. At this point, type "MEPPD". Please note that while typing MEPPD, you will not see what you type on the screen therefore make sure to type in the correct keys.

    Type MEPPD, then press the Alt button, and then the numeral 2. Again the screen will NOT display what you are typing, therefore be sure to type in the correct entry.

    Now enter the unlock code. After typing the unlock code, 'press Enter'. Once you have pressed Enter, reboot your device. Your device should now be unlocked.

    Now that your phone is unlocked, you can use the phone on any network. There are times when a partial unlock may occur. In a partial unlock the device gets unlocked for certain networks, but does not get unlocked for others. In that case try performing the unlock procedure using a USB cable and a good unlocking software.

    I have found that http://UnlockAcell.com provides remote unlock by code services at great prices. On the other hand if you are interested in unlocking phone by software, the website http://UnlockSoftwares.com has effective and late model phone unlocking softwares at reasonable prices. You could have an unlocked phone within minutes of visiting that website. For cellular phone ringtones, wallpapers, or for simply wapping to other mobile phones I found http://WapDaddy.com to be a great resource.

    Sunday, August 3, 2008

    Canon Powershot SD1000 Review Tips and Advice - Megacameras

    Here is Canon Powershot SD1000 (Canon SD1000) review that I promised my readers.
    The first thing that stands out about the Canon Powershot sd1000 is the great design but this is just part of this Digital Elph Story.

    This Past weekend I was able to use the Canon Powershot sd1000 at my son's Little league baseball game. This camera gives you the power to capture life's great moments.
    The 7.1-megapixel CCD records a wealth of detail -- enough to let you enlarge and crop at will. The images are rich and sharp with lifelike depth.
    The camera's Genuine Canon 3x optical zoom not only gets you in close, but performs with all the clarity and brilliance you'd expect from the world's leader in advanced optics technology.

    Features include:

    Shooting Modes

    Auto The camera chooses all the settings so you can concentrate on your subject.
    Manual The ultimate in creative control, you set ISO speed, exposure compensation and white balance.
    Portrait The camera sets a large aperture, focusing the subject and artistically blurring the background to make your subject "pop."
    Night Snapshot Get natural-looking pictures with brighter backgrounds and subjects lit by flash.
    Color Accent Choose to retain a single color in your image while other colors turn monochrome.
    Color Swap Select a color and replace it with a color you specify for special effects.
    Digital Macro Shoot larger-than-life close-ups with one-button simplicity.
    Stitch Assistv Build awe-inspiring panoramas by neatly aligning sequential images.
    Movie Shoot in VGA and QVGA (30 fps/15 fps for up to 1 hour or 4GB), Fast Frame Rate (60 fps for up to 1 minute), QQVGA (15 fps for up to 3 minutes) or Time Lapse (640 x 480 for 1 sec/2 second interval).

    Special Scene Modes

    Foliage Capture brilliant shots of autumn foliage, greenery and blossoms.
    Snow Shoot clear snow scenes without darkened subjects or an unnatural bluish tint.
    Beach Get clear shots of people at a sunny beach without darkened faces.
    Fireworks Grab brilliant images of skyrocketing fireworks.
    Aquarium Achieve proper flash-free exposure and natural hues at indoor aquariums.
    Underwater Capture underwater images with reduced backscatter effect.(Note: Optional Waterproof Case WP-DC13 required for shooting any underwater images)
    Indoor Reduce blur and improve color accuracy when shooting handheld indoors.
    Kids & Pets Reduced focusing time freezes fast-moving subjects, so you won't miss those special shots.

    Overall, I think it's a great buy because of it's design, Great picture quality and versatility.

    Mark Larry
    Megacameras.com
    http://www.megacameras.com
    Digital camera comparisons, reviews, news and tutorials.

    Saturday, August 2, 2008

    Review: Slingbox from Sling Media Programming, an Unassuming Package

    By Le Perdu

    Ever been three and a half thousand miles from home and felt an overwhelming urge to know what your local weather was like? Is your dog sitting in the rain? Have you even been desperate to know what your favorite regional new station has to say about your football or baseball team? Sad I know, but for all of you who absolutely have to know the answers to these questions a stroke of sheer genius recently arrived in the form of the Slingbox from Sling Media.


    Over the last couple of years several ideas that allow remote TV viewing have hit the market. Most notable of these was the eternally clever LocationFree TV from Sony, which is arguably the granddaddy of all home-TV-to-internet-broadcast systems available. Unfortunately Sony's idea was flawed as you were forced to carry a book size LCD screen with you wherever you went. This device contacted the base station back at your house via the Internet and BAM! TV anywhere you wanted it. As the entire solution was proprietary it was not possible to make use of your laptop or a friends PC to view your LocationFree TV base station.

    This and several bandwidth related issues have been resolved with Sling Media's solution. Simply connect the Slingbox to your home entertainment system, stereo system, satellite or cable receiver then using the onboard RJ45 connector connect it to your Internet connection. Note that the device requires a network connection that will provide it a DHCP assigned IP address, which most home networks have; if your home network gear is new enough the Slingbox will configure itself and the network up using UPnP. Software installation was brief and painless, and required me to answer a few basic questions before my system was on the air.

    The Slingbox allows you to actually control independent devices that you connect to it; you can turn your VCR on or off, change channels on your cable receiver and even change radio stations on your stereo to suit your viewing/listening preferences. Unfortunately only one person can use the device at a time, which is a slight drawback in my opinion. It can also be connected to your TiVo for instant replay or watch your prerecorded programming at your hearts content from your hotel room.

    In conclusion, this product is a must for anyone incapable of completely detaching themselves from their lives while away from home. It is very reasonably priced, coming in at around $200, simple to configure and use and very simple to locate from anywhere in the world. Picture quality is surprisingly good and the sound quality is great. You can even try it wirelessly from your couch!

    Two thumbs up.

    Tech notes:

    · The biggest issue that I encountered was getting the Slingbox through my firewall. The device requires NAT/port forwarding on TCP ports 5001 and 5678 and UDP 5001. If you run a firewall expect to have to do this.

    · You can choose to use different ports during the setup wizard if you so desire.

    · The Slingbox communicates with a location server on the Internet, sending its IP address in a 36 character encrypted string called a Finder ID. Write/copy this Finder ID down as you will need it to locate your Slingbox when you are on the road.

    · If you are lucky enough to have a static IP address at your house you can use it to find your Slingbox instead of the Finder ID.

    · The software must be installed on all devices that you plan to use to connect to the Slingbox at your house, but can be downloaded from Sling Media's site if you forget the CD at home.
    Product Specs taken from Sling Media's website:

    Inputs

    RCA Audio L/R

    Composite video

    S-Video

    RF/Coxial

    Outputs
    RCA audio L/R

    Composite video

    S-Video

    Device Control
    IR emitter

    Network
    RJ-45

    TV tuner
    NTSC (built in)

    Dimensions
    10.6 in. W x 1.6 in. H x 4 in. D

    Weight
    ~1.5 lbs

    Power
    110v

    Package contents

    1 x Slingbox

    1 x software CD

    2 x Audio/video cables

    1 x S-video cable

    1 x power adapter

    1 x network cable

    1 x IR emitter

    1 x Coaxial Cable

    1 x quick setup guide

    All copyrights and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

    le Perdu is a contributing author on http://www.Quampha.com, a growing site dedicated to random reading, obscure articles and some rather out there opinions. We dare to be different, and we are always looking for articles and authors.

    The 523 1080p Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 LCD HDTV Is Simply An Amazing Set

    By Eric Ha

    The 52″ 1080p Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 LCD HDTV is simply an amazing set. This is one of the best 52" LCD HDTVs out there. This set is loved by many and you can check all over the internet and you'll see that I'm not fibbing. Sony just keeps making the Bravia better and better with each new model release. If you're looking for a 52" LCD HDTV and this one is in your budget, this may be the best one out there.

    First, let's talk about how the KDL-52W3000 looks aesthetically. The brush metal matte frame is a classic look that actually absorbs light and does not reflect like the 46V3000 if you found the piano black to be distracting. The stand does not pivot like the 46V2500 does, but that's only one slight negative thing compared to what this baby can do.

    Let's talk about the picture, the part that everyone wants to know about. Let me say that the picture quality of the Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 LCD HDTV is simply amazing in HD. The picture is vivid and the Live Color Creation "gimmick" is no gimmick. Colors are rich, vivid, and life like to the point that it's almost 3D, especially when watching animated films like Ratatouille or Cars. The viewing angle is excellent and the screen has no glares and has no problem playing in a sunlit room.

    I recommend you use HDMI 1.3 Category 2 cables so that the TV can display colors better. Standard definition is fine and will not terrify you like most LCD HDTVs out there. Watching DVD is almost HD like when paired with the up-converting Oppo DVD player. The refresh rate is 60hz but there is little to no difference when compared side by side with the 120hz XBR4. Motion blurring is usually normal in LCD TVs, but the Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 does a good job at keeping it to a minimum. If you do catch any blurring, try turning off Noise Reduction to eliminate it.

    The Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000's audio quality is above average especially if you customize the sound yourself, turn on the S-Force Front Surround, and raise the voice boost. The stock TV speakers are not going to make you feel like you're in a movie theater, but it's good enough if you're not planning to get a home theater although you should. The Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA Home Theater System is a good one.

    Get the 52" Sony Bravia KDL-52W3000 LCD HDTV if the XBR4 is too expensive. This set is the next best thing if it falls within your budget. Remember to buy HDMI 1.3 cables to get the best colors possible because this TV supports it. Have fun and don't forget to look away from the TV and get up to walk around once in a while because this TV will suck you into the world that you're watching like you've been looking through a window the whole time.

    Friday, August 1, 2008

    How To Clean LCD Screens

    By Titus Hoskins

    LCD screens are commonly found in laptops, PDAs, iPods
    and high definition TVs. If you look around your home,
    you will probably see 5 or more of these screens in your
    presence. They are everywhere!

    However, anyone who owns any type of LCD screen knows
    there is one minor problem with them. These screens or
    displays gather dust and dirt like there is no tomorrow.
    Just within a few weeks of purchasing your once pristine
    LCD screen, it starts picking up lint, dust particles,
    and smudges -- ruining your full enjoyment of this
    technical marvel.

    Once you see your favorite LCD screen picking up a
    bit of dust, you immediately grab a tissue or paper
    towel and some water to clean it. DON'T! Or you will
    made a big mistake and you could possibly even do
    permanent damage to your delicate LCD screen.

    LCD screens are not like ordinary monitor screens. LCD
    screens are NOT GLASS, rather they are made up of a
    soft film that can easily be damaged by harsh paper
    towels and the chloride and other chemicals in ordinary
    tap water. These screens are very delicate, they must
    be handled with care and very, very gently.

    You must proceed with caution if you want to keep all
    your LCD screens in perfect mint condition. This is
    one case where a little knowledge could save you a
    whole lot of trouble and disappointment.

    The history of Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) goes back
    over a hundred years. It was first mentioned by Otto
    Lehmann in 1904. The first operational LCD was made
    by RCA in 1968. Each display is made up of countless
    pixels, with light being filtered through them in a
    controlled manner. Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) is a
    form of LCDs which uses an active matrix to improve
    image quality. LCD technology has found its way into
    countless displays in laptops, PDAs, and high
    definition TVs. (Source - wikipedia.org)

    LCD Screen Cleaning Tips

    Most experts suggest you can use a cleaning solution
    of 50% distilled water and 50% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol).
    You should use a soft cloth such as an old cotton T-shirt
    or handkerchief. Don't use paper towels, tissues, or
    ordinary dish cloths, as harsh cloths may damage the
    soft surface of an LCD screen.

    Shut down any devices before cleaning them. Inspect the
    screen very carefully to take note of any special areas
    that need to be cleaned. Don't spray any cleaning solution
    directly onto the screen but rather dampen your large
    cleaning cloth with your solution and apply very gentle
    pressure, cleaning the display in a circular motion.

    Don't apply any hard pressure or touch the screen with
    your fingertips. It has been suggested you think of the
    screen as a smooth baby's bottom and give it the same
    kind of care as you would give an enfant's delicate
    skin.

    Make sure you let the screen thoroughly dry before turning
    your device back on. You should now have a perfectly
    cleaned screen ready for your full viewing enjoyment
    once again.

    Word of Caution - you should always check your owner's
    manual or the manufacturer for the recommended cleaning
    method for your particular LCD TV or Laptop Screen.

    You should also note, commercial LCD cleaning kits are
    very inexpensive. These cleaning kits will have everything
    your need to clean your LCD screen. Most will have a
    Microfiber Cloth or Chamois that are excellent for picking
    up dust and removing fingerprints and smudges. A can of
    Compressed Air is also handy for removing dust from
    your screen and from those hard to reach places.

    There are also stronger cleaning solutions to remove
    ink markings just in case your small child has confused
    your expensive laptop for an itch-a-sketch toy and created
    a modern masterpiece. Ouch!

    Some commercial cleaning formulas may contain the same
    mixture as the home-made one mentioned above, but newer
    cleaning solutions are alcohol and ammonia-free. Some have
    an anti-static coating that will help reduce the build up
    of dust particles. It would probably be wise to pick up
    one of these cleaning kits if you own a lot of LCD screens.
    You can also purchase single wipes and cleaners for traveling.

    What ever route you take, or cleaning formula you use,
    just remember to treat all your LCD screens with a whole
    lot of respect. Be gentle, be careful and be diligent.
    Make sure you clean all your LCD screens when the need arises.
    That way you will go on enjoying all your perfect pristine
    LCD screens for years to come.


    For other handy LCD cleaning tips and all the materials you need to clean LCD screens go here: How To Clean LCD Screens To learn how to clean a laptop LCD screen try here: How To Clean Laptop Screen Copyright © 2006 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

    Canon Pixma IP 2600 - Best Budget Printer

    Design

    Printer manufacturers have been working hard to get away from the plastic grey look that has been mandatory for all printers in the past and the Pixma iP2600 follows this trend. The sleek exterior is 5.6x17.4x10 inches and has a mirrored glossy black finish, more reminisant of a furniture accessory rather than an inkjet printer. It certainly doesn’t take up a lot of desk space and will blend in nicely with your iPod or other desk peripherals. As one would expect on a budget printer, the control panel is limited to a power button and a paper feed button, located on top of the printer. The power button doubles as an error indicator by flashing a warning. Power input and USB port are located on the back of the printer, although no USB power cable is supplied with the unit. As previously mentioned, the printer does not support PictBridge so you will not be able to print directly from your digital camera.

    Cartridge supplies

    The Pixma iP2600 comes with a black cartridge PG37 and a three-colour cartridge CL38 as standard. These are low capacity cartridges, the black containing 11ml of ink and the colour a total of 9ml, 3ml of each colour cyan, magenta and yellow. Higher capacity cartridges are available that fit in this printer. The high capacity black PG40 has 16ml of ink at a cost of around £13 and the high capacity colour CL41 with a total of 12ml of ink, 4ml of each colour. These cartridges, although more expensive to purchase, will work out cheaper in the long run as they produce a lower print cost per page.

    Performance
    In speed tests the Pixma iP2600 performed very well. It managed to produce 5.68 pages per minute of black text, which compares well with both the HP DeskJet D4260 and the Lexmark Z845, that are both more expensive printers. The canon also performed well in quality tests, the characters formed were precise with crisp edges and created no blurred areas, in colour graphics tests most documents came out with solid colours and nice even distribution of colour. The only slight area of concern was in portions where gradual colour gradients occurred but these imperfections were barely noticeable to the bare eye and only a perfectionist could grumble.
    4x6 photos printed on Canons semi-gloss paper were also impressive. They were not perfect but were well balanced and even, a difficult job for a budget printer.

    So with solid printing performance at relatively quick output speeds and acceptable photo prints, the Pixma iP2600 is an affordable choice and is a printer that performs well above its weight, making it probably the best budget buy under £50.

    Alan Wilson has over 10 years experience in the imaging industry and is a director of Cartridge Concept, a supplier of ink cartridges for all Canon printers using inkjet cartridges