Sunday, November 30, 2008

The Ipod And How It Conquered The Mp3 Player

Writen by Gillian Todd

I'd imagine it's pretty likely that you have heard plenty about the Apple iPod in the media. If you've got kids then they probably wanted one for Christmas and if you work in marketing or the music business then you have probably already had an iPod for years. Since its release in 2001 the Apple iPod has become synonymous with the term Mp3 player. Apple pretty much created the market for Mp3 players and they also totally dominate it.

Why has the iPod been such a huge success?

Apple cleverly spotted the rise of digital music and the lack of a suitable piece of hardware. For this reason they developed a hard drive based MP3 player and released this in late 2001. As with their recent computer models Apple did something very clever in the way they marketed and designed their product. Right from the start the iPod was given a sleek and sexy look and was marketed at young, style continuos, music enthusiasts. Apple created a fantastic brand with the all white look, with the white earphones being featured prominently in adverts. The white iPod earphones have actually become so recognisable that they have actually been blamed for increased numbers of street robberies.

Even the original iPod could store a fairly significant amount of music as it used a 5GB hard drive. It was a success from the start, but the fact that it was only Mac compatible held back sales slightly, although Apple did actually see an increase in sales of Apple Macs due to people wanting to be able to use the iPods.

The real explosion for the iPod when they released the 3rd generation iPod in 2003 that came bundled with Apple's own iTunes software that was compatible on both Macs and Windows PCs. This has opened up a new market as they could now tap into the Windows users. Apple now has a huge 90% market share of the hard drive based Mp3 player market, and 70% share of the MP3 player market as a whole. Very impressive I'm sure you will agree.

Apple has managed to keep their grip on the mp3 player market by releasing several different versions of the iPod. The main iPod is now in its 5th generation and although the design is largely similar to the original, it has been made more compact and available with much large storage capacities. The latest models can display colour photos and movies.

iPod mini- Apple's first iPod spin off was the iPod mini. This mp3 player was fairly similar to the original although smaller in size. It was the first iPod to be available in different colours and was designed to target a slightly different market.

iPod nano - Apple decided to discontinue the mini in 2005, to replace it with the ultra small iPod nano. These are 62% smaller than the mini players and feature coloured screens. Apple has come under some criticism though for the screens on the nano as many users have complained that they damage too easily.

iPod shuffle – This is another ultra small iPod and was the first flash drive based iPod. They only have a limited capacity of 512MB or 1GB and do not have a display screen. Users can either listen to the songs on the player in a random order or set a playlist in iTunes.

The dominance of the iPod in the mp3 player market can be seen in other industries. Cars are now being designed with docking ports to make integrating iPods to the in car system easier. Clothes manufacturers are making clothes with special pockets to hold iPods. All manner of other iPod accessories are being created by various electronics companies.

You'd be forgiven for thinking the iPod was the only mp3 player available, well it isn't. There are many other players out there, that some will tell you are actually a lot better than the iPods, just maybe not as fashionable.

Gillian Todd is an author at http://www.a1-mp3-players.com

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Ipod Vs Velcro Battle Of The Super Products

Writen by Brandon Cornett

I'm a sucker for a good battle. Not an all-out war, mind you -- just a good tow-to-tow, one-on-one slugfest. Think Holyfield vs. Tyson, Alien vs. Predator, or Ashley Simpson vs. anyone with ears.

I'm also a sucker for ingenious products. So in the spirit of combining these passions, I'm acting as the Don King of products to put the Apple iPod up against Velcro, for the title of All-Time Super Product.

Category 1 – Impact on Other Industries
Once it was released, Velcro had clothing manufacturers scrambling to try it out. This led to the creation of Velcro flies, Velcro pocket fasteners, and, of course, the Velcro shoe fasteners you still see children wearing today. Other industries adopted the product as well.

But the iPod has touched a greater number of industries in a shorter time. Just type "ipod products" into any major search engine, and you'll see what I mean.

Electronics companies like Bose have developed iPod docking stations, speakers and other peripherals. Clothing manufacturers have created iPod pockets in some of their garments. Even car manufacturers have jumped on the train. And then there's the media impact the iPod has had -- "podcast" anyone?

** Point goes to the iPod **

Category 2 – Memorable Features
A product with memorable features will succeed for a number of reasons. Shoppers are more inclined to remember it, recognize it, and relate it to others in casual conversation. This leads to buzz, "mindshare," popularity and profit.

iPod enjoys a great product name -- catchy and easy to remember. It also has a memorable look and feel.

Velcro, on the other hand, has never been duplicated, and so it enjoys complete uniqueness in the mind of consumers. The sound alone is one of the most memorable product features of all time. Open a Velcro fastener, and that sound will be recognized anywhere in the civilized world.

** Point goes to Velcro **

Category 3 – Inventiveness
The iPod has partly evolved from MP3 players, and from walkmans before that. Velcro, on the other hand, was adopted from nature.

George de Mestral got the idea for Velcro while walking his dog through a Swiss meadow in 1948. He and the dog returned home covered with burrs, those prickly plant husks that cling to animal fur as a means of seed distribution.

Intrigued by the seed sacs, Mestral examined them under a microscope. There he found the secret to their clinging power -- a series of hook-and-loop fasteners.

Mestral took an idea from the plant world and turned it into a viable product that became a multi-million-dollar industry.

** Point goes to Velcro **

Category 4 – Marketing
George de Mestral overcame a lot of skepticism with his hook-and-loop fastener. He said it would rival the zipper, and people laughed. When it actually did rival the zipper, he sold it as fast as he could produce it -- a marketing success story, to say the least.

Apple kept the iPod shrouded in secrecy during its development, and released it amid a flurry of media attention. Within days, every person in every industrial nation had at least heard of the iPod, if not actually seen or purchased one.

** Point goes to the iPod **

Category 5 – Longevity
Perhaps longevity is an unfair category, given the iPod's young age. But I'm the Don King of product battles here, and I say it goes. To be fair, we can revisit this category down the road a decade or two (to see if the iPod is still around).

But for now, it's an easy point for Velcro, having endured for nearly 50 years with no end to its popularity in site.

** Point goes to Velcro **

Category 6 – Cultural Impact
Velcro changed the way we think about fasteners. But are fasteners part of our culture? Granted, Velcro enjoyed a brief cultural thrust when some parenting groups argued it would lower the intelligence of children (letting them "get off easy" by not having to tie their shoes). But that's about it.

The Apple iPod, on the other hand, has changed the way we think of music and mobility. And those things are definitely a part of our culture.

** Point goes to the iPod **

The Results Are In – It's a Tie!
If you were expecting a lopsided victory, I'm sorry to disappoint. Both products have had a major impact on the world around them. So they share the title of All-Time Super Product. And maybe they're not meant to compete anyway. Maybe they're meant to live in harmony and complement one another.

Take those jogger's armbands for example. Velcro holds the armband firmly in place, and the armband holds the iPod firmly in place. The end result is a more enjoyable experience for the jogger.

And if that's not harmony, I don't know what is.

##

Republish the article
Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article as long as it is left intact with byline, author's note and website address / hyperlink. iPod is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. VELCRO is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries B.V.

About the Author
Brandon Cornett is the editor of iPodKnowledge.com, one of the Internet's largest (and ever-growing) collections of iPod tips and articles. Maximize your iPod's performance, learn how to choose the right iPod, or submit a product review by visiting: http://www.iPodKnowledge.com

Friday, November 28, 2008

Comparing Mp3 Players

Writen by Nicky Pilkington

The main benefit of the Digital Age is convenience. MP3 players are one of the most popular components in recent years. They way they work is simple. You simply download your favorite music to an MP3 player and begin enjoying your music. MP3 actually refers to a method of audio compression that maintains the original quality. People often download music from their favorite CDs onto their MP3 player, but downloading music from the Internet is becoming more popular. There are websites available that enable you to subscribe to their service that allows you to pay either a monthly fee for downloading music or on an individual basis.

When you think of MP3 players you probably think of iPod. iPod may be the biggest name in MP3 players, but it is far from the only type available. There are actually numerous MP3 players on the market. Think all MP3 players are the same? Just view the MP3 players featured on iPodMini.us and you will see how MP3 differ. MP3 players can be categorized according to the size of their hard-drive. The size of an MP3's hard-drive basically translates into how many songs you are able to store on the player.

The lower-end of MP3 players, referred to as flash players, have a hard-drive from 512 MB to 1 MB and you can store about 200 songs. These players cost about $200 and are great when you want a compact player, such as when you go jogging. Many of these players are so compact that they can easily fit in a front shirt pocket. Popular flash players include the iPod Shuffle, Sony Network Walkman (1 MB), and the Oregon Scientific Waterproof MP3 Player. If you're on a tight budget, the SanDisk MP3 player is available for just $70.

Middle-of-the road is always a safe way to go, especially when it comes to technology. Capable of storing anywhere from 350 to 1,000 songs, micro hard-drive MP3 players such as the iRiver H10 and iPod Mini are your best bet. The price tag for these players is about $200.

If you want to store a large music collection, MP3 players with a 20 GB or higher hard-drive should suit you just perfectly. The iPod Photo leads the pack of this level of MP3 players. With this MP3 you can store 16,000 songs. In addition to playing audio files, you can also use this player to view video files. The player supports the most common audio and video file types, including TIFF, BMP, JPEG, MP3, and WAV. The Creative Nomad Zen Xtra player is highly competitive to the iPod Photo. It also has a 60 GB hard-drive. Other top models in this category include the Sony Network Walkman (20 GB) and the Dell Digital Jukebox.

The MP3 players mentioned so far are portable. If you spend a significant amount of time on the computer, you may want to use a player such as Rhapsody. These players feature a lot of extras. For example, in addition to downloading music from the Internet, you can generally burn CDs, listen to the radio, or import CDs. These players typically feature a free basic model, which is fine for general music listening. If you want the advanced features you will need download a more advanced model, which includes a monthly subscription that may or may not include free music downloads.

ipodmini.us provides reviews of the latest mp3 players and a comprehensive mp3 player shop, including accessories.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Mp3 Player Basics Finding The Right Mp3 Player

Writen by Gregory Nirshberg

Mp3 players are everywhere you look now, and it seems like everyone's got one. People on tv, in movies, at school, on the bus, or even walking or running down the street. And the selections are endless. But with so many options it's almost impossible to find the right mp3 player to suit your needs, especially if you don't know what you're needs are!

Do you know what kind of mp3 player you want?

This is where choosing the best mp3 player starts. You have to know what you'll be using this mp3 player for. Do you want to workout with it at the gym? Use it for running laps? Do you want to be able to put your whole music collection on it? Or maybe you want to use it to hook up to your stereo system and play all your music without ever putting in a cd. Do you need something to pass the time for your work commute? Is something that can display pictures or play video files important to you? Do you want one of the flat out best mp3 players on the market? Or is price a factor in your purchase?

As you can see, there are a lot of factors that weigh into your decision to purchase an mp3 player. I'll try to go over some of the basic ones here.

Flash vs. Hard Drive

Most mp3 players can be split into two categories. Flash mp3 players or hard drive mp3 players. Flash mp3 players tend to be smaller, lighter, and cheaper. They also store less music, but make up for it by being able to handle more activity. Running, biking over rough terrain...and things of that sort are where flash mp3 players really outshine hard drive players. Flash mp3 players are most useful while working out or when buying an mp3 player on a budget. They are also upgradeable. You can swap out the memory card for a larger one to store more music if you decide you want a bigger player down the road.

Hard drive mp3 players are mostly known as "jukeboxes". Hard drive mp3 players are good for storing large music collections or as backup drives to store larger files(or with recent technological advancements...displaying pictures or playing videos). Hard drive players are great for taking away on extended trips or vacations. But hard drive mp3 players are pricey, and the more features they have, the more expensive they are. Though you are getting your based price per gig, the larger you go.

Features

Mp3 players have a variety of different features. From sound and audio options, to various play options. All mp3 players will also have different included software for downloading and managing music files, with some software packages being better than others. Things like battery life and included accessories may be important to you also, so make sure to check the specs of an mp3 player before purchasing it. Read some reviews and see if anyone has any negative things to say about it.

Some mp3 players will even allow you to rip CDs directly from an audio player to your mp3 player, no computer required. Players will also have different navigation types. Some using buttons, others using touch pads or click wheels. Some mp3 players come standard with an FM tuner, as well as digital voice and FM recording. Then there are players made specifically for sports use that come with lap timers and stopwatches and things of that nature. If any particlular feature is important to you, make sure the mp3 player you want has it(or can at least be bought as an accessory for it).

Price

If you're looking to purchase an mp3 player for under $100 or so, flash mp3 players are going to be your best bet. Very few hard drive or larger file capacity mp3 players are available at that kind of price. But there is good news. With competition the way it is in the mp3 player market, older model mp3 players are always being made available at huge discounted prices, allowing you to save anywhere from $20 to $70 on some of the best mp3 players out there.

Brands

There are a lot of competing companies out there making mp3 players. Weeding out the top quality ones from the lesser ones isn't always easy. Some of my favorites are Apple, Creative Labs, Sandisk, Rio, iRiver and Archos. There are others, such as Nike or iAudio and more, but these are the main contenders. The Apple iPod is by far the most popular, most pervasive, coolest, and also most expensive mp3 player brand out there. Whether the price of the iPod is worth it, is your choice. Just make sure you get a good sense of what other mp3 player brands are out there, and what each of them are like.

Conclusion

Finding the right mp3 player can be difficult sometimes. Knowing the answers to many of the questions asked in this article will make that search, and subsequent decision, easier for you. But don't despair if this intro to mp3 players wasn't enough for you. There are sites out there dedicated to helping you choose the right mp3 player. Happy hunting!

Gregory Nirshberg own and operates Mp3 Player Buyer Guide. A website dedicated to helping people find and choose the best mp3 players. A comprehensive buying guide and resource for mp3 player reviews. Also contains up to date clearance and rebate deals.

For more detailed information on choosing an mp3 player visit: http://www.mp3-player-buyer-guide.com/choosing-an-mp3-player.html

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Six Wonderful Ipod Accessories

Writen by Paul McGillivary

The iPod has spawned an entire market and entranced a generation. The elegance and power of this mighty music player is a thing of beauty. Because of the iPod's popularity, third parties have turned to making iPod accessories in a bewildering array. I thought it would be fun to give you some of the best, most innovative iPod accessories out there.

Pocket Bar & Grill - This is a great little program that, of course, offers up a great array of recipes. Enrique Quintero, the maker, says "Pocket Bar & Grill combines Podtender and PodGourmet into Pocket Bar & Grill. Pocket Bar & Grill has two sections. One is the 'Bar' section with 750 mixed drink recipes from A through Z, each drink individually listed. The other section 'Grill' contains 225 select gourmet recipe with an index in each category with links to the recipes within that category." Enrique also offers a vegan version of the Grill. It Requires Macintosh or PC formatted iPod iPod Firmware 2.0 or later and 3rd, 4th or 5th generation iPod or iPod Mini, Nano. The cost of the program is $10. You can find it at: http://www.enriquequinterodesign.com/pocketbargrill.html

wiPod - If you're a road warrior, you'll appreciate this little proggie. According to wiPod: "Now when you are on the road you can look up a free hotspot quickly and easily right from your iPod. No, the iPod isn't wi-fi enabled (yet). wiPod uses the Notes functionality of the iPod OS to store the database in an easy to use format." And best of all, it's free - you just have to register at: http://anchorfree.com/wipod/

iSubwayMaps - Everyone is calling for more public transit use. iSubwayMaps helps you by offering, drum roll please, subway maps. There are many maps available, such as: Berlin, Germany; Bilbao, Spain; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Hong Kong; London, UK; Los Angeles, CA; Lyon, France; Melbourne, Australia; Milan, Italy; Montreal, QC; Moscow, Russia; New York, NY; Paris, France; Philadelphia, PA; Salt Lake City; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Seoul, Korea; Singapore; Tokyo, Japan; Toronto, ON; Vancouver, BC; Washington DC. Go get yours - it's free! You can find it at: http://www.isubwaymaps.com/download.php

ClickWheel - If you love comics, then you are going to love clickwheel. Clickwheel "is a whole new way of using your iPod, and a whole new way of reading comics. Looking for a simple innocent laugh? A dry, sophisticated chuckle? A true story of crime, disaster or ordinary life? A brain-bending exercise in comic art? Turn to us and it's all in your hands." That's straight from the funny folks at Clickwheel. If you're a comic creator, you can get your comics listed on here for free - with possible commissions if you're good! Clickwheel is free, get yours at: http://www.clickwheel.net/gallery/list

piPod - New Yorkers love their pizza, there's no doubt about that. piPod gives them pizza options at their fingertips. "Download piPod, and save it to the Notes directory (in the Extras directory) of your iPod. You'll get a series of nested menus directing you to the best pizza in the five boroughs of NYC. Browse by borough or pizzeria name." You have to have an iPod with the notes function. It's free, you can download it at: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/26330

iShield - One of the worst things about owning an iPod is the fear of having it scratched or broken. iShield gives you peace of mind about your iPod (for a full review, see my website below). It is a thin, transparent, durable covering for your iPod. "The invisibleSHIELD is the toughest, most durable screen protector on planet earth. It is made from a film originally created by the military to protect the leading edges of helicopter blades from wear and tear while traveling hundreds of miles per hour!" It costs from $10 to $25, depending on the device you purchase it for. You can find it here: http://www.shieldzone.com/

Copyright 2006 Jack Knows Inc.

Visit PaulTech for more wonderful iPod and technology tips. Visit at: http://www.gopaultech.com

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Music Screensavers

Writen by Kevin Stith

It is important to be careful while choosing a screensaver with music. That's because the moment the screensaver gets activated, the musical piece accompanying it begins to play. While the same visual images can be escaped by simply looking in another direction, the music surrounds the user no matter where he or she is looking. And, if the computer is placed in a common space, then in addition to the user, people who are around also need to like the music, or at least be able to continue with what they are doing without getting disturbed.

The task of choosing a Music Screensaver can be simplified if the user can identify the effect that it should have. This could be determined based on the kind of work that the computer is used for, and the personal preferences of the user. For instance, if a computer is primarily meant for home use and is located in a private space, the screensaver on it could be accompanied with music that has a well-defined rhythm, which is fast, and lyrics that need to appeal only to the user. However, if a computer is located in a professional space and is used for work, people tend to choose music that has a slow rhythm and does not have lyrics. This prevents people around from getting disturbed as well as getting distracted.

Yet the options available to a user who works in a creative environment, such as an advertising agency or a lifestyle magazine, are very different from those available to a user who works in a customer service environment, such as a legal firm or a bank. In an advertising agency, since the atmosphere is meant to fuel creativity and provide users with ample freedom to express themselves and their ideas, virtually any kind of screensaver with any kind of music is acceptable. However, people who are sensitive to others, and fear annoying them or distracting them, use headphones. When they don't, people who are getting annoyed or distracted use headphones.

In a bank, where customer interaction is a constant, people tend to use screensavers that don't have the potential to be intrusive, visually or musically. In fact, most banks and customer-centric companies use the screensaver to display company information with the objective of branding and advertising. The screensaver is the same across workstations, and if it is accompanied by music, the music is gentle and relaxing.

When there are no limitations, screensavers can be accompanied with any kind of music whether it's rock, pop, jazz, hip-hop, blues, lounge, trance or any other music that appeals to the user. It could even be the sound of flowing water, gunshots, animals, and rustling leaves.

Screensavers provides detailed information about screensavers, free screensavers, nature screensavers, animated screensavers and more. Screensavers is the sister site of Computer Projector Rentals.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Defragging What Is It And Why Should I Care

Writen by Jason Leister

You've probably heard the word "defrag" before when talking to your resident computer nut. If you ask 5 different technology whizzes about it, you'll probably get 5 different answers about its effectiveness.

So what does "defrag" mean?

"Defrag" is short for "defragment," which gives you a bit of a clue as to what it does.

Think of your computer hard drive like a local bookstore. As people purchase books, holes appear on the shelves. Now imagine that as the storekeeper receives new shipments of books, he fills the holes on the shelves AS HE FINDS THEM instead of reorganizing the existing books (to fill the holes) and then putting the new ones into the appropriate section of the store. Eventually what you get is a mess of a bookstore, with books scattered everywhere.

As you use your computer, this is what is happening with your hard drive. By deleting files from your computer, you are creating holes or spaces where new data can go. The only problem is that the holes are all different shapes and sizes. So when you go to save that new document you have been working on, some of it gets put in one spot and the rest gets put somewhere else.

This leads us to the question, "Why should I care about all of this defragging stuff? Does it really matter?"

Let's go back to our story about the bookstore...

One day you walk into our bookstore and ask the storekeeper to help you find the new book on real estate investing. The storekeeper says, "Sure, I know I saw it come in. Let me go find it for you. It shouldn't take more than a few HOURS."

This is EXACTLY why you should care about defragging.

As your computer ages, the hard drive becomes more and more fragmented. Data is scattered everywhere. The more scattered it is the longer it will take to find anything.

Being that time is one of your most valuable assets, regularly defragging your hard drive will reorganize all of your data and help your computer run more quickly. If you have never defragged your computer, you will probably see quite an improvement in your computer's speed after the first defrag.

If you use Microsoft Windows XP, you will find the defrag program by clicking on Start-->All Programs-->Accessories-->System Tools-->Disk Defragmenter.

If you are running a Mac or use Linux, you don't have to worry about defragmenting your disk, because it is pretty much done behind the scenes for you.

Defragmenting your hard drive every few months will save you time and money and is a fast and easy way to make sure your computer runs as quickly as it can for as long as possible.

Regularly defragging your hard drive (every 3 months or so) will help to keep your computer running more quickly and will help you get more done in less time. Run the defrag program at night so that it is done by the time you start working in the morning.

Jason Leister, the Real Estate Technology Guru (tm), is owner of Computer Super Guy, LLC, a Chicago-based technology firm that helps real estate professionals profit with technology.

Visit the Real Estate Technology Guru to subscribe to our free monthly eZine, ProfIT, and receive a FREE copy of our special report "The Truth About Real Estate Websites and Search Engine Optimization."

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Another Good Reason Why You Should Learn Computer Building

Writen by Robert Emler

I was doing a little looking around at several different computer systems. I really took an interested in the DELL XPS computer system. Dell's XPS computers starting price for the basic system is a whapping 999.00 dollars. I was totally dumb founded after looking at the components that Dell was going to put in that computer system for that kind of money it wasn't a very good deal at all.

What most people fail to realize is that if you look at the basic or standard components that are put in the computer system. That is what you get. If you want more your price tag will go up considerably. The price tag on Dell's top xps system starts at 1800. 00 dollars. That is again for the standard components that are more improved then there basic modal but still not a good value if you look at the big picture.

Just recently a friend of mine asked me if I could build him a computer system equivalent to the dell XPS 600 modal. There top XPS computer, and how much it would coast. That's when I started looking at there system because I really have no reason to look at the computers on the market because I build my own computer. Ever since the first thousand dollars I wasted on an assembly line computer that I won't go into at this time.

After looking at what was offered in the XPS 600 modal I was able to go to my computer hardware source and find competitive components or even better components then what was offered in that computer system the (XPS600). Also I was able to use some of the computer parts that were in the system that this system was going to be replaced with. I was able to come up with a considerable savings of more then 700.00 dollars.

I built this computer system for my friend who is a real on line gaming nut. He is very happy and I made 200.00 and what was left of his other system. Just to give you an idea. Here is a little bit of what I was able to put in this computer system. A duel core AMD 4600 processor, a gigabyte PCI 16 Express motherboard with sli technology, Also a 7800 256 NVIDIA pci express card along with 1 gig of hyper X DDR ram, and a plextor DVD burner. A 250 gig serial ata hard drive with 8 Meg cach, and I was even able to give him his own OEM Full version of XP Windows PRO. Not an installed version that you have to pay for if you ever need it. I put all this and a few other little extras in an Aspire X- Paider aluminum black case with a 500 watt power supply. With an open side panel and 4 led lighted fans. Really puts on a show just sitting there.

This computer system was a gaming system I put together for a friend of mine. You can build a basic computer for your basic needs, and save yourself a lot of money. If you have a computer you can use parts that are on it, and upgrade your computer for less than 300 dollars. Remember this and that is in this world you can ether get what you pay for. Or pay for what you get. The choice is yours.

Robert Emler: I build computers as a hobby. It's not my job and it's not what I do for a living. I do it because it's fun and interesting. And I don't want to get ripped of by some shop because I don't know what I have. It's like the hot rod car owners. That's their hobby, and a lot of them have some really sweet cars. So they must know what their doing. Learn to build your own computer or at least take the time to find out what your computer is all about so you don't get taken advantage of some day. All most all computer shops will charge you $50 just to take the side off your computer system. To learn more about your computer, or even how to build your own personal computer, you can. Just go here to http://pcextream.com answer any questions. You can also eMail me at bob29tie@neo.rr.com

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Theres A Better Browser Than Internet Explorer And Its Also Free

Writen by Douglas Hanna

If you're a typical user of Microsoft's Internet Explorer(E), you've probably had problems with viruses, spam, computer attacks and goodness knows what else. The fact is, IE is a a very good browser in many respects but the bad guys just love to hack at it and bombard you with nasty bugs.

However, there is a better browser available that's not subject to all these viruses and attacks.

This browser is called Mozilla Firefox from mozilla.org and it's also available free. All you have to do is download it from www.mozilla.com.

Now, what might you ask, is mozilla.org?

Mozilla.org is a non-profit foundation that exists to provide organizational, legal, and financial support for the Mozilla open-source software project. Open-source software means that the foundation's products are literally the work of hundreds of software engineers and programmers around the globe who contribute their skills and expertise to Mozilla products.

Why is Firefox "the better browser?

First, it gets less attention from hackers which means fewer viruses, et al. Second when hackers do discover a flaw in Firefox, the member of Mozilla.org rush in, and I mean rush in, to fix it. I have personally seen three flaws discovered in Firefox in the past six months and all were fixed and patches provided within two days.

Third, Firefox has several features still lacking in IE. Probably the best is one called "tabs," that lets users open many different web sites at the same time, and then tab back and forth between them just by cliking on the tabs. For example, I have six tabs open right now, representing six different web sites. Theoretically, I could have 12, 15 or 20 sites open simultanrously, but that would probably just confuse me.

In addition, Firefox has drag-and-drop tabbing, an improved pop-up blocker, improved live bookmarks, a great download manager, and a new automatic update system that alerts you whenever security and functionality updates become available,

The current version of Firefox is 1.5. It also has all the stuff you'd expect with IE – bookmarks, tools, a link to free Hot Mail, and so forth. You can also download a number of different plug-ins to customize Firefox to your needs. For example, you can add FlashGot, Adblock, PDF viewer, an RSS news reader, QuickTime, and more.

The fact is, Firefox is fast and easy to download. You can try it and, if you don't like it, just go back to Internet Explorer. However, my bet is that once you've used it, you'll kiss IE goodbye.

Here's something else that's better and also free. It's a new technology called HD Radio that enables AM and FM radio stations to broadcast their programs digitally. This is a tremendous technological leap from today's familiar analog broadcasts. These digital broadcasts provide listeners with radically improved audio quality, more radio channels through multicasting, and new data services. To learn more about this amazing new technology, just go my Web site, http://www.hd-radio-home.com, to get all the buzz.

Douglas Hanna is a retired marketing executive and the author of more than 70 articles on HD radio, the Internet and family finances.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Firms See Ipods As Security Risks

Writen by Brian Lupichuk

Firms see iPods as security risk! The iPod ,once thought to be a threat just to your own hearing. Is now a very serious threat to firms and companies and businesses of all sizes. The iPod and all the various MP3 Players that can be very easily hooked up to the back of the computer are now banned in about 30% of the workplace in small and large businesses across Canada.

The personal laptops and the tiny USB memory keys that can carry huge amounts of data are also banned actually forbidden by half of all buinesses according to a survey done in Canada. By Sun Micro systems of Canada INC.

You or somebody else out there could easily have millions of customers names and addresses on some of these small devices that can be carried around in your pocket. There are lots of people out there that have done a good job of locking and barring the front door to , but they don`t understand there is still a huge back door they are not aware of or they just have't figured it out yet.

There is a gaping back door to an increasing mobile workforce with employess carrying around potential data goldmines in their pockets or brief cases on everthing from wafer thin memory cards to Blackberry's personal digital assistants, cellphones, and notebook computers (laptops).

The data can very easily go astray when a device is lost or stolen, or it can be deliberately be put in the wrong hands by a or some disillusioned employee or employees. who have access to the confidental corporate files.

Companies that find out that customer information has gone missing face a credibilty crisis and it can severly damage their name. Some 28 percent of customers would be prepared to immediately terminate their relationship with a company if their private information was discovered to get into the wrong hands. Or the company compromised it in any way.

Where we see this most is from consumers is things like the basic name , credit card number,the expiry date, and their home address. I the hands of identiy thieves, they can and will wreck havoc.

On iPods and MP3 Players MP3 Players, you can put numberous photographs, videos, data with vast amounts of information.

Here's a great example an eight-gigabyte compact flash memory , the size of an after-dinner mint wafer, can hold approximately a half-million pages of text or 800,000 emails. iPods can hold up to 60 gigabytes.

Although companies are taking the right measures to protect the risk of loss data, only about 32 percent of executives surveyed believe that the optimum level to prevent and manage potential attacks is being done.

Brian Lupichuk, invites you to MP3 Players. An information based website on MP3 Players.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Bluetooth Technology Tips For Buying Headsets Or Headphones

Writen by Simon Canfield

The technological horizon has always got something new to offer, and among the most recent of these offerings is Bluetooth enhanced hardware. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this latest-and-greatest technology, headsets and headphones in the Bluetooth line offer the ability to use your cell phone without the need for hands or dangling wires. In other words, when you have one of these, you've got yourself a wireless piece of hardware that attaches to the ear which allows cell phone communications to take place without the inconvenience or hassle of holding the phone to your ear or trailing long wires from the headset to the body of the phone.

If you're toying with the idea of purchasing a Bluetooth headset or set of headphones, you'll need to understand that – as a result of the nature of this type of technology – they aren't as small or light as a headset that isn't wireless. This is simply because it needs extended technology in order to function, as well as a battery to be used as its power source. What this means is that many of these sets are rather bulky and can be a bit uncomfortable. If that's not something that you're willing to accept, then perhaps Bluetooth isn't the product for you.

One of the biggest benefits of this type of technology is that it affords you the opportunity to have a conversation on your cell phone without having to hold it up to your head. With the concerns of harmful radiation that's emitted by these phones, the Bluetooth headsets and headphones serve as a buffer and eliminate the exposure to these harmful rays. It also allows you to make contact with your computer and lets you use one headset for both the cell phone and PC simultaneously. If you feel that you're going to have the need for features such as these, then consider purchasing this type of product.

Though Bluetooth products such as these are compatible with most types of phones and carriers, that's not true in every case. Before making a purchase, be sure that there are no compatibility issues. You'll need to be sure that your phone complies with Bluetooth 1.1 or greater and that it offers the options of both hands-free and headset capabilities. Plug compatibility isn't an issue, since it's a wireless unit.

If you're not planning to wear the headset or headphones all day, then you'll need to be sure that they're kept close at hand if a call should happen to come in on your phone. You may need to place it on a cord around your neck so that you're free to move about without the worry of leaving your Bluetooth somewhere. That means that you'll have to ensure that your equipment has a loop that will allow a strap connection.

Other things to consider are whether or not your set can be used if you wear eyeglasses, the cost and range of the unit, ease and comfortability of use, weight, the ability to switch from one ear to the other, technical support, the presence of a pairing password, appropriate monitors for battery limits, effective noise cancellation and a plethora of other features that you may feel are necessary.

******* (c) 2005 Simon Canfield - All Rights Reserved

Simon Canfield is a hi-tech enthusiast and freelance author.

AllAboutHeadPhones.com BigScreenTVsecrets.com

*******

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Tips To Become A Master Dvd Ripper

Writen by Ted Peterson

How difficult is to perform a DVD ripping? What should you look for and what do you need in order to do a successful job? Here are some tips that can be useful.

If you are looking to become a master dvd ripper then you will have to learn the basics of the subject. Ripping a dvd refers to converting the audio or video data from a dvd format to a digital copy on your hard disk. In this article you will learn the basics of how to become an efficient dvd ripper.

If you use a video ripper it will compress the video into mpeg-4, avi, DivX, or Ogg Theora. If you use a dvd audio ripper it will compress the audio from the dvd into a format such as mp3, wav, or ogg. To completely rip a dvd you will either need both a dvd audio ripper and a video ripper, or you will need a dvd ripper that does both audio and video ripping.

Not only are there dvd rippers to convert a dvd to a format your PC can deal with, but there is now even a dvd ripper that allows you to put a dvd onto a video iPod. This software will convert your dvd to a video that can be added to your playlist on your video iPod for free.

The speed which your dvd ripper can work depends on several factors. One of the big factors is the drive speed. For instance an 8x drive will have the capability of ripping the dvd 8 times faster than the dvd will play. Another factor that will effect how fast your dvd ripper goes is cpu speed. If you have a slow cpu that will make it so the dvd ripper cannot keep up with the drive and will cause a slowdown.

Since a dvd ripper uses a lot of cpu processes and disk space it is important that you keep your computer clear of junk and keep it as lean and mean as possible. You do not want a bunch of spyware, software updates, mp3 players, games, applications, etc running in the background as they could screw up the process of the dvd audio ripper and the video dvd ripper. It is also important to have a fast machine that can handle conversion of dvds to your hard drive. A recent machine that has a 2ghz+ processor should be able to do the job quite well. Also having more than 40gb of free space is recommended as you do not want to spend an hour ripping your dvd only to find that your dvd ripper has ran out of space and must quit.

Now that you have learned the basics of dvd ripping, and how it is important to have a dvd ripper and a dvd audio ripper, you can now get some software to start the ripping process. Core Download has all the software you could possibly need to become a great dvd ripper.

About The Author
Ted Peterson writes for CoreDownload http://www.coredownload.com/ - Download essential games and utilities. Purchase online having up to 20% discount of the initial price for popular titles like dvdSanta, SpeedUpMyPC and more.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Cisco Ccna Ccnp Home Lab Setup Tutorial How To Buy Amp Build A Frame Relay Switch

Writen by Chris Bryant

One of the major topics on your CCNA and CCNP exams is Frame Relay. Additionally, Frame Relay is one of the most popular WAN technolgies in today's networks. Getting hands-on experience with Frame Relay in Cisco networks isn't just a good idea, it's a necessity. Let's face it, your employer is going to get a little touchy if you start experimenting with your network's Frame Relay setup.

To practice all your important Frame Relay commands for your exams, you need a working Frame Relay cloud in your home lab. A production network's Frame cloud consists of a lot of Frame switches, but if you choose wisely, a single Cisco router can act as your home lab's entire Frame cloud!

Before we look at the configuration of such a router (hereafter referred to as a "frame relay switch"), let's look at the physical requirements.

The more serial ports you have, the better. You should get a router with at least four serial ports. For frame switching purposes, it doesn't matter if the ports are synchronous or asynchronous - you just need the ports.

You will also need some DTE/DCE cables. The DCE end of the cables will be connected to the frame switch.

A great configuration for a CCNA practice lab is three routers that serve as "production" routers, and a 4th router as a frame relay switch. (You'll want an access server as well, but that's another article.)

What I use in my student and customer pods is a setup where R1 is connected to the frame switch's S1 port, R2 is connected to S2 on the frame switch, and R3 is connected to the frame switch's S3 port.

Now comes the tricky part - the configuration. A frame relay switch's config can be hard to find, so here's a copy of mine. Pay particular attention to the config on ports s1, s2, and s3.

version 12.0
service timestamps debug uptime

service timestamps log uptime

no service password-encryption

!
hostname FRAME_SWITCH

!
!
ip subnet-zero

no ip domain-lookup

frame-relay switching

!
!
!
interface Ethernet0

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

shutdown

!
interface Serial0

ip address 10.1.1.2 255.255.255.0

clockrate 56000

!
interface Serial1

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

encapsulation frame-relay

logging event subif-link-status

logging event dlci-status-change

clockrate 56000

no frame-relay inverse-arp

frame-relay intf-type dce

frame-relay route 122 interface Serial2 221

frame-relay route 123 interface Serial3 321

!
interface Serial2

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

encapsulation frame-relay

logging event subif-link-status

logging event dlci-status-change

clockrate 56000

no frame-relay inverse-arp

frame-relay intf-type dce

frame-relay route 221 interface Serial1 122

!
interface Serial3

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

encapsulation frame-relay

logging event subif-link-status

logging event dlci-status-change

clockrate 56000

no frame-relay inverse-arp

frame-relay intf-type dce

frame-relay route 321 interface Serial1 123

!
interface BRI0

ip address 150.1.1.1 255.255.255.252

no ip directed-broadcast

encapsulation ppp

dialer map ip 150.1.1.2 name R2 broadcast 2335552221

dialer-group 1

!
ip classless

!
dialer-list 1 protocol ip permit

!
line con 0

exec-timeout 0 0

logging synchronous

transport input none

line aux 0

line vty 0 4

login

!
end

The key command in the global configuration is frame-relay switching. You must have this configured before you can configure the interfaces.

The interfaces will be configured with the frame route command. Let's take a look at what each value means in the command frame-relay route 122 interface Serial2 221.

frame-relay route - the command

122 - the incoming DLCI on this interface

interface serial2 - the interface the data will be sent out

221 - the outgoing DLCI

This command on S1 means that anything that comes in on this port on DLCI 122 will be sent out interface serial2 on DLCI 221.

It's a good idea to hard-code the interfaces to act as DCEs with the frame intf-type dce command. Since these interfaces are acting as DCEs, the clockrate command is needed for the line protocol to come up.

Once you've configured your frame switch as shown and have configured the frame map statements on the "production" routers, you can test the frame switch configuration. On the frame switch, run the command show frame route.

FRAME_SWITCH#show frame route
Input Intf Input Dlci Output Intf Output Dlci Status
Serial1 122 Serial2 221 active
Serial1 123 Serial3 321 active
Serial2 221 Serial1 122 active
Serial3 321 Serial1 123 active

You should see "active" for all the interfaces. If you see "deleted", make sure your frame switch interfaces are open if they are, check the router configs.

Keep in mind that you can still configure routing protocols to run on ports that you're not using for frame switching. The router we used here had an ethernet port and BRI port, and the BRI port has been configured as part of the production network. Running frame switching does not disable IP routing.

Purchasing and configuring your own frame relay switch is an invaluable part of your Cisco education. By practicing your frame commands and configuring frame connections over your own frame relay cloud, you're polishing your Cisco skills and gaining knowledge that cannot be duplicated by simulator programs.

To your success,

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy of his latest e-books, "How To Pass The CCNA" and "How To Pass The CCNP", visit the website and download your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Prevent Leaks Leak Tester Devices

Writen by John Morris

There are many available types of equipment that could serve as leak testers. These leak testers are used to compute the discharge of water, vacuum, or gases from a sealed apparatus. Most of these leak testers are operational with devices which calibrate, pump, and gauge leaks.

1. Distinguish Your Needs

In leak testing, the ideal leak tester could be identified from the founding of the leakage. Although in other cases, when you are not able to see through the machines, evaluation and calculation is your answer. Before performing exams and making use of leak testers, make sure that you have double-checked the cycle time of the leak pressure. Then you can estimate the equipment costs you might need.

- Consider product speed and resolution

- Are the engineers who advise you sure that the tools used are accurate?

- Find a number of models and select several that have the features you want

- Tools should have multiple part types

- Equipment should be easily upgradable if new parts are necessary

- Equipment can configure the sequence by itself

- Contain a vast number of pressure signatures for storage space and data compilation

- The ability to record and recall signatures

2. An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure

A good leak tester should be able to predict leakages before they can even occur. It should be flexible in doing multiple tasks. These tasks consist of bar code reading, connection with local area networks, and temperature reimbursement. Because of recent updates in the technology, there have been a number of automatic leak testers that could operate without the engineers' regular deliberation and analysis. After setting the options on your automatic leak tester, it would be able to start the cycle and do accurate testing by on its own. These automatic leak testing equipments could examine a part in less than 40 seconds.

3. Additional Considerations

In buying a leak tester, you should think of the durability before the price. Since equipment may cost you a large amount of money, make sure to think of quality first before anything else. You may have been charged with a low cost leak tester and saved some money, but in time it could break down and cost a number of calibration malfunctions. You would just spend a lot more in updated maintenance and fixings. Without the appropriate equipment, even the best professionals in the industry can't do their job - so get the best equipment you can.

For more great leak detector related articles and resources check out http://www.weknowleaks.com

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Tips To Protect Your Pc Files From External Attack

Writen by Paul W Wilson

Essential to peace of mind is protecting the PC and your online privacy. When connected to the web, your work and data is open to attacks of various kinds including harmful downloads. A simple game, picture, or program may be the vehicle for malevolence. So, you need to check whether every file that you download, open, or save, is safe or whether there are irregularities of any kind.

Protect your PC by:

• Blocking hackers and viruses by installing the latest firewall and antivirus software. It is advisable to install a software firewall even if you have a hardware firewall in your system. A software firewall is designed to query whether or not it should permit "X," access. The user can specify which applications can access the port and which cannot. A bi-directional firewall such as ZoneAlarm3 and Personal Firewall 5 will monitor both inbound and outbound traffic preventing Trojans and backdoor programs from functioning.

• Block downloads that install unwanted programs by using the options in Internet explorer to block all software from source X specified by you.

• Install software programs that will constantly scan your PC for spyware, adware, dialers, and web bug traces which can create a nuisance and cause crashes, slow down systems, or steal financial information. By adding a schedule you can instruct NoAdware to automatically scan your PC at set times for in-filtrations.

• Immunize your PC and prevent malicious add ons to your system.

• Configure your PC browser to protect you when you are working online. Use a 'real time shield' and prevent intrusions. Be sure to click the "protect IE Favorites" box and ensure that no thief can add an URL without your permission to your browser's favorites list. This will block offensive and dangerous websites from entering your PC environs.

• Say "no" to any web address or site that instructs you to download specific software to view their pages. Such software can contain a virus, Trojan horse, or auto dialer.

• Create a regular back up schedule for your work. Once a week is ideal if you are a virtual worker or running a business. This will minimize any damage should problems arise.

• Be sure to update your software with the latest patches and bug fixes. Then use the updated or enhanced security settings provided by the updates. There are in built ways which you can operate to block damaging viruses, stamp out cookies, and keep unwanted visitors away from your computer system. The method is easy for example if you are using Internet Explorer just go to Tools-Internet Options-Privacy tab. Click the edit button to accept or reject a specific cookie. Go to the advanced settings and check block third party cookies.

• Scan all downloaded files before use. Never launch executable or scriptable files namely those that have dot.exe; .bat ;.doc; .vbs extensions. Do not access attachments of any kind before they are certified as safe.

• Remove file sharing and windows printer options these increase vulnerability of the PC.

• Encrypt your e-mail and embed an identifying key.

Better be sure than sorry. Preventing snoops is easier than trying to recover after an attack. Take informed steps to protect yourself and your PC.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/software-download/, the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Software Download Forum including topics on all about software, download, spyware, freeware, shareware and more. He also freelances for the premier Software Download Site http://www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Dvd R Software

Writen by Jimmy Sturo

Your computer may have adequate storage space for your data and records, but it is always better to be on a safe side and make a back up of your data on back up media like the DVD R. The 'R' stands for recordable so data can be recorded. The data can be written on the disc just once. DVD R software is easily available, and the installation and set up is relatively simple. Once the process is complete, you are ready to begin burning your DVDs.

When buying software, keep a few things in mind. First and foremost, the software should have excellent compressing ratio and excellent copy quality. Moreover, the company should be willing to provide customer support. The disc should also have a dual layer support offering double the storage space. The data is stored in two layers. One layer is semi-transparent, so the laser is able to read the second layer of data.

Software should have key features such as audio capacities. This means that using the software, you should be able to create Audio CDs from MP3, WMA and APE formats and create CDs and DVDs, as well as use the software to download movies from the Internet and store them on the DVDs.

Also, you must check for quality of the copy. This is because the quality of the digital copy varies from product to product.

The software should also offer compression. This is very important because sometimes the data you wish to store may be very large. The best thing about DVD R is the ability of the discs to store very large movies. Additionally the backup copy should be flawless.

DVDR provides detailed information about DVD Rs, DVDRs, DVD R discs, and more. DVDR is affiliated with Mini DV Tapes.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Why It Is Crucial To Keep Your Anti Virus Software Updated To Keep Your Computer Safe

Writen by Gregg Hall

As computer systems grow more complex and people who love computers learn more about them, it makes sense that one could say it is getting harder to protect your computer every day. You should always be prepared for viruses, as even corporations find themselves with a computer virus on occasion.

The Internet has greatly changed the way viruses spread. It used to be that viruses were only transmitted via floppy disks. Most computer users were aware of the virus threat, and would scan floppy disks before copying them. And if they didn't scan them, it was simple to locate and destroy the few viruses that were successful. It would take awhile before a virus could infect and affect a computer and its system, and even then, Antivirus software could usually locate and destroy viruses before too much damage was done.

With its conduit, the Internet changed everything. Prevention is uncertain, because some viruses can spread without human intervention. They can manipulate vulnerabilities in systems or programs. They can enter and attack through multiple entry points. They have evolved from "only via floppy" to through e-mail, peer to peer file sharing, software downloads, instant messaging, e-mail attachments and things of that nature, and they can spread from computer to computer in mere seconds.

There are viruses which send themselves to people from you without you knowing it. As technology increases, and computers converge, so do the endless possibilities of the next type of threat to your computer.

Even with all these threats, there are ways to protect your computer. As virus possibilities increase, so do antivirus software capabilities. In fact, and luckily, antivirus software has kept pace with current virus threats.

Antivirus programs are essential to your computer. Your computer needs to be able to protect itself and fend off viruses. Antivirus software is well designed to protect the various routes of viruses; be it email, browsers, file servers or desktops.

Rest assured, there are precautions you can take to help protect your computer from virus threats, by doing things such as upgrading your system, using trustworthy programs, scanning your computer, using caution with unknown sources, and making back ups.

Stay up to date! In the past, having one or no antivirus program was acceptable, but with the new viruses, you need to make certain that you have protected your computer in a multitude of ways (as the viruses now can attack in a multitude of ways). Protect your computer from desktop to network and from the server to the gateway. Use a comprehensive security system with several features, such as: antivirus, firewall, intrusion detection, and content filtering. Doing this will make it difficult for viruses to attack your computer.

As new viruses come out often, keep up to date on your software. Configure your software's real-time scan feature to start automatically each time you boot up your computer. This checks your computer every time you use it. Also, always scan new files and programs!

When opening Word or Excel documents from unknown sources, be careful. This goes double if it came from an instant message or from an email. If all precautions fail, and you end up with a virus, the best you can do is make sure that you have everything on your computer backed up. It will be the only way to recover your data, if the data was lost or corrupted due to a virus.

Keep your antivirus software updated, use caution when opening files or downloading, and backup your data. If you do all this, you will be at a lower risk for any virus attacks, and you will not regret it.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Anti Virus Programs at http://www.anti-virus-software-plus.com

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Web Standards

< img src="image.png" >< br >

< div align="center" >text< /div >

< /body >

< /html >

If Apache is serving that, and Firefox picks it up, It will replace the < img src... etc with the image found at image.png relative to the working directory of the page requested, (ie ./, current dir), and the < div... is turned into text printed in the middle of the page. Since the code is processed from top to bottom, the br means that the browser should skip down one line and start the rest from there. The top two and bottom two lines tell the browser what part of the page it is reading. You migh have noticed the < /div >, the < /body >, etc. They "close" the tag. Tag is a term for anything in <>s, and they must be opened (ie introduced) and closed (ie < /tag >). If you want to learn HTML tagging, just head over to our close friend Google and do a search.

Since you haven't gotten to the programming section, and currently I have not even wrote it, I will show you a web server example in the simplest form I can think of that will work on any OS you are currently using. So the obvious choice is JAVA:

import java.net.*; import java.io.*; import java.util.*;

public class jhttp extends Thread {

Socket theConnection;

static File docroot;

static String indexfile = "index.html";

public jhttp(Socket s) {

theConnection = s;

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

int thePort;

ServerSocket ss;

// get the Document root

try {

docroot = new File(args[0]);

}

catch (Exception e) {

docroot = new File(".");

}

// set the port to listen on

try {

thePort = Integer.parseInt(args[1]);

if (thePort < 0 || thePort > 65535) thePort = 80;

}

catch (Exception e) {

thePort = 80;

}

try {

ss = new ServerSocket(thePort);

System.out.println("Accepting connections on port "

+ ss.getLocalPort());

System.out.println("Document Root:" + docroot);

while (true) {

jhttp j = new jhttp(ss.accept());

j.start();

}

}

catch (IOException e) {

System.err.println("Server aborted prematurely");

}

}

public void run() {

String method;

String ct;

String version = "";

File theFile;

try {

PrintStream os = new PrintStream(theConnection.getOutputStream());

DataInputStream is = new DataInputStream(theConnection.getInputStream());

String get = is.readLine();

StringTokenizer st = new StringTokenizer(get);

method = st.nextToken();

if (method.equals("GET")) {

String file = st.nextToken();

if (file.endsWith("/")) file += indexfile;

ct = guessContentTypeFromName(file);

if (st.hasMoreTokens()) {

version = st.nextToken();

}

// loop through the rest of the input li

// nes

while ((get = is.readLine()) != null) {

if (get.trim().equals("")) break;

}

try {

theFile = new File(docroot, file.substring(1,file.length()));

FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(theFile);

byte[] theData = new byte[(int) theFile.length()];

// need to check the number of bytes rea

// d here

fis.read(theData);

fis.close();

if (version.startsWith("HTTP/")) { // send a MIME header

os.print("HTTP/1.0 200 OKrn");

Date now = new Date();

os.print("Date: " + now + "rn");

os.print("Server: jhttp 1.0rn");

os.print("Content-length: " + theData.length + "rn");

os.print("Content-type: " + ct + "rnrn");

} // end try

// send the file

os.write(theData);

os.close();

} // end try

catch (IOException e) { // can't find the file

if (version.startsWith("HTTP/")) { // send a MIME header

os.print("HTTP/1.0 404 File Not Foundrn");

Date now = new Date();

os.print("Date: " + now + "rn");

os.print("Server: jhttp 1.0rn");

os.print("Content-type: text/html" + "rnrn");

}

os.println("< HTML >< HEAD >< TITLE >File Not Found< /TITLE >< /HEAD >");

os.println("< BODY >< H1 >HTTP Error 404: File Not Found< /H1 >< /BODY >< /HTML >");

os.close();

}

}

else { // method does not equal "GET" if (version.startsWith("HTTP/")) { // send a MIME header os.print("HTTP/1.0 501 Not Implementedrn"); Date now = new Date(); os.print("Date: " + now + "rn"); os.print("Server: jhttp 1.0rn"); os.print("Content-type: text/html" + "rnrn"); }

os.println("< HTML >< HEAD >< TITLE >Not Implemented< /TITLE >"); os.println("< BODY >< H1 >HTTP Error 501: Not Implemented< /H1 >

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Why Build Your Own Computer System

Writen by Jeff Heaton

Have you ever thought about building your own computer system? Maybe you've heard friends talking about doing this sort of thing, but you were never sure what was involved. This article attempts to answer two questions. First, why would you want to build your own computer system? Secondly, how hard is it to do this?

Why Build a Computer System

First we will look at why you would want to build a computer system. There are three main reasons often cited for building a computer system. The first is that it will save you a great deal of money. The second is that you will get exactly the computer system that you want. And finally, the third reason is that you can easily repair the system if anything goes wrong.

Building a computer to save money is most likely not a realistic goal. These days you can get some really inexpensive computer systems. With complete systems selling for under $500, it would be hard to build a computer system yourself that is going to beat that price by much.

However, there are some cost cutting options available. You might use many of the parts from your old computer system. This would save money, as there is probably no reason to replace such devices as the CD-ROM drive, floppy drive, or even case of the old computer system.

Additionally, once you have built your computer system, you can easily upgrade it. A computer system you built yourself can always be upgraded more easily than a "mass market PC". For example, if you need a faster processor just upgrade the processor and/or motherboard.

I think the biggest reason for building your own computer system is the second reason that I previously mentioned. You are able to get exactly the computer system that you want. If you want a certain type of graphics card, you can select it. You can pick the RAM that has the best access time for the money, and not what some large computer manufacturer got the best deal on that week. For the true computer enthusiast, this is the only way to go! For me, just being able to pick the exact case I want makes the process worthwhile.

Finally, computer systems that you built yourself are much easier to repair than "mass market PC's". For one thing, this is a computer system that you built. You know where everything is at, and what it is for. Secondly, the computer system was built from common parts, so finding replacements will be easy. Very often large computer manufacturers will build computer systems with proprietary parts, which you can only obtain from the computer manufacturer.

How Complex is it to Build a Computer

Building a computer system is not as complex as you might think. The only tools that you will need are screwdrivers. If you have ever added an expansion card to your computer, you are almost half-way to building your own system.

The most complex part is making sure that everything is compatible with everything else that you buy. You need to line up the specs exactly between your parts. For example, if you buy a motherboard with DDR2 RAM memory, you need to make sure your RAM is DDR2.

Once you get all of the required components together you have only to assemble your new computer. You will have purchased a case, motherboard, RAM, hard drive, CD-ROM drives, floppy drive, video card and audio card. Now you have only to assemble them. This usually takes only a few hours and no tools other than the screwdrivers you likely already own. Plus, it is very hard to damage anything. Most cables are keyed so that you are not able to plug them in backwards.

Heaton Research has a complete tutorial, including many photos, of how to build your own computer system.

Jeff Heaton is an author, college instructor, and consultant. Jeff lives in Chesterfield (St. Louis), Missouri. The author of four books and over two dozen journal and magazine articles, Jeff specializes in Internet, socket-level/spidering and Artificial Intelligence programming. A Sun Certified Java Programmer and a member of the IEEE Jeff holds a Masters Degree in Information Management from Washington University in St. Louis.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Some Of The Features That Make The Ipod Shuffle So Unique

Writen by Gregg Hall

The iPod is a very popular mp3 player. Apple keeps making them better and better with each new release. There are currently three variations which have storage capacities between 30 and 60 gigabytes that can store over 14,000 songs and a lot more depending on the average length of the songs. The other variation is the iPod Nano that is a lot smaller than the main iPod. It has storage capacities between 1 and 4 gigabytes. The last, the least in size, but not the least in popularity is the iPod shuffle which is about the size of a chewing gum. Tiny in size but great in functionality. It comes with a 512MB or 1Gigabyte storage capability.

Apart from its remarkable small size, it is different from the other iPod's in its permanent random play pattern. You never can tell which song will play next. Now considering that it can hold over a 100 favorite songs, it gives a suspense-filled listening atmosphere. The type you experience when listening to your favorite FM station. The only difference being that you don't hear advertisers' jingles.

It is not just the order of songs that is randomized. The play list can also be changed. If you use the Autofill feature on iTunes. This can load songs from iTunes' entire library. Depending on your mood, you can decide which music genre you want loaded. This is not the default but an option. It is useful if you prefer a particular genre for the whole day. You can choose to fill the iPod shuffle with only RnB tunes, Jazz or whichever genre you prefer at the moment.

The iPod shuffle's design and dimensions add further interest to its features. Like I said earlier, it is as small as a chewing gum. Furthermore, it weighs less than most lighters. This means you can easily wear it and keep up the music flow while involved in physical activities like jogging. It is not prone to skipping because of the storage system it uses.

You don't have any touch pad in the iPod shuffle.It has buttons instead. With these you can control the play and volume. It also has a switch at the back where you can switch off the battery and choose whether your songs will play in order or randomly. It has three lights that show the current state of the shuffle's battery. Green means the battery is fully charged, yellow means low charge and red means critically low charge. You need to recharge quickly. If it shows nothing, then the battery is totally discharged. A fully charged battery can last for up to 12 hours.

It connects to your computer much like a flash drive. It also does what flash drives do: store non-musical data. iTunes gives room for you to determine how much space you want to use for songs and otherwise.

If you want to spend less and still enjoy the benefits of an iPod, then the under $70 iPod Shuffle is for you.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as high tech gadgets at http://www.shop4gadgetsplus.com.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Cabling Your Home For Computer Network Still A Requirement

Writen by Dmitriy Abaimov

With proliferation of wireless networking and communication equipment it is oh-so-tempting to cut the cord and save a significant sum of money in the process. But is everything that a regular computer networking user needs can be done using just wireless network? Let's take a look at some pros and contras:

1. One important advantage of having a cabled network is the available bandwidth or simply speed. At the present point in time the speed of connection via a simple and inexpensive CAT5E cable can be 1000Mbit/sec, whereas the best that IEEE802.11g (one of the many flavors of Wi-Fi) can offer is only 54Mbit/sec. It may not seem so significant if you think you are only browsing Internet, and the DSL speed available to you is 1.5Mbit/sec. However, if you need to print via your network connection on a remote printer, you should realize that the print jobs, depending on the amount of graphic data in them, can easily reach dozens and even hundreds megabytes. Since 1Byte=8bit one 100MByte print job will take 15 seconds (and in reality this time can be much longer) to transmit via a Wi-Fi wireless connection, and this time shrinks to mere 1 sec or less on wired 1000MBit/s Ethernet connection. Same principal applies to transferring files, backing up files on other computers in the network etc.

2. It is not possible today and with all probability will not be possible in the future to transmit power needed for your networking device via the wireless link. Unless, of course, you would be willing to be subjected to very high levels of microwave radiation. Thus a device that was marketed to you as "un-tethered" will in fact be very much tethered via the power cord or will have to be re-charged every so often. The power requirements are increasingly important for devices that are expected to be always online, such as phone sets. Therefore it is best to have it connected via a cable that can deliver both power and the communication signal at the same time.

3. Wireless communications are very much proprietary and require whole gamut of conversion equipment to transmit multi-media signals. The same CAT5E cable can without any modification support phone, computer network, balanced line level audio signal, baseband video signal as well as host of other, more specialized, control applications' signals. With inexpensive adapters called "baluns" the same cable can carry significant number of channels of broadband television or carry a baseband video, such as security camera output, through great distances. All of those applications, except the computer network of course, will require specialized expensive conversion equipment if they needed to be transmitted via a Wi-Fi link.

4. The cost benefit of not running wires around the house is not as simple as issue as it seems. Having installed a wireless network at home you have only eliminated the need to wire for a single application – computer network. A modern home, however, requires all kinds of wiring to run even without regard to computers. The power and phones are obvious examples, as well as thermostats and security systems. Pre-wired speakers are common and most homes today have intercom systems as a desirable option, and those also require extensive wiring. It is very likely that the same contractor running the intercom or security cables is qualified to run computer cables – CAT5E or better. If you are building a home, you should definitely check if computer cabling option is available in your new home, and our advice is to go ahead and purchase it before the walls close. It is going to be a pretty involved and expensive procedure to install the cables later. As an added cost benefit of a wired computer network you will find that all modern computers ship with wired Ethernet network interface card included, and the latest models ship with 1000MBit/sec cards that are essentially free for the computer's owner.

There are multiple sources of information available on proper planning and design of a residential cabling for voice, data, audio, video and other applications. One of the best sources is the TIA/EIA-570B standard, most resent release of which has been published in 2004. The standard outlines recommended types of the cables, principals of cable distribution in a single- and multi-dwelling units as well as recommended amount of cables to be installed based on the size of the house.

In conclusion, cutting the wire seems like a step forward, some sort of liberation of computer from the bonds of the infrastructure. I would caution the reader, however, to take a more balanced and informed approach before joining the "wireless revolution". There are still (and will remain in foreseen future) sound reasons to include properly designed cabling system into the list of your dream home options.

Another great source of information on the subject of wiring your home for voice, data, audio and video applications is Home Cabling Guide available at Cabling-Design.com The instantly downloadable e-book contains compilation of the most significant parts of the TIA/EIA-570-B standard as well as multiple recommendation and recommended practices that may be useful for both do-it-yourselfer and an informed buyer of a home cabling system.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Rock Speakers And Planters

Writen by Dale Ewans

I think today wherever there's a human being, there's a pair of speakers. Perhaps you can't imagine your living without your home theater system. In the bedroom, you still want to listen to your favorite Cd's. The shortest car ride is unbearable without a decent stereo and a pair of speakers. Newly, this goes for boat rides, too. The more recent wireless technology allows you to have speakers in the garden, in the garage or wherever you have things to do.

But loudspeaker manufacturers don't settle for this, when it comes to outdoor use. They want speakers that black out and melt into the environment. They want 100% weatherproof. They want naturalistic design. And the answer to all their wishes has materialized itself into the planter and rock speakers.

The biggest rocks in this field are Stereostone, Rockustics and SpeakerCraft. When it comes to rocking and rolling stones they can make all your wishes come true. Just try them by sending over a piece of rock from your garden. They'll send back the design of a prototype speaker that looks exactly like your rock.

How to recognize a rock speaker

If you are in a friend's garden, music is all around but you don't know where it comes from, be sure that the speakers are hiding in the form of some rocks or flower pots. These speakers are especially designed for outdoor use, which means that they are 100% weatherproof. They are completely sealed, using insulating materials that are made to hold up in extreme weather conditions.

In aspect, both Rockustics and Stereostone speakers got inspired from mother nature. They have that grainy look, irregular shape of natural rocks, heavy appearance heavy, but are entirely made of light, synthetic, materials. Most buying guides recommend looking for speakers that are made of good weatherproof materials like: coated aluminum, stainless steel, polypropylene.

Do rock speakers really rock?

They sure do! What we like most about these speakers is how you can use them to impress your kids. Flower pots that sing and rocks that tell stories, this is as close as technology can get to a fairy tale.

If you have doubts about their performance level, don't. Of course, they can't compete by far with the audio quality of a high performing audio system or to the home theater experience. But they sound pretty well. Rock speakers and planters are meant to please the ear while they don't bug the eye. The major advantage is they come close to you, and you don't have to play them that loud. This way you won't keep the neighbors up at night just because you are giving a back yard party.

The major drawback? Though they are designed mostly for outdoor use, they're all wired. But this inconvenient can be solved through a few placement tricks.

Placement tips

Unless you plan to use your rock speakers as wasp nests or rain gauges, you should use a few tricks when mounting them:

  • Choose a drier place to place them.
  • Don't point the port upward.
  • Place the speaker near the place you are to sit more often; In open air, there's less reflection and speakers may sound weaker.
  • Measure the area you want the speakers to cover, preferable before you buy them. A pair usually covers 200 to 400 sq. ft.
  • Usually, 16- or 18-gauge wire is good; for runs over 80 feet, choose 14-gauge wire.
  • No matter the brand, use direct-burial cable to connect the speakers, because it resists the underground moisture and oxidation.
Planter and rock speaker manufacturers

Planter and rock speakers definitely can bring a dose of exoticism in your backyard. Here are some brands worth your consideration:

Rockustics

These are the guys that make your garden rock. Their garden series includes both rock and planter speakers. The Rocky III speaker looks like a stone on the back but like a Flintstones tool on the front. The sound quality and the bass response are good, even when compared with normal speakers. If you are willing to give away a larger sum, in order to enjoy a real bass experience, also buy one of the subwoofer models. Their base can be buried in the ground and a smaller part remains visible.

All Rockustics products have a lifetime warranty (their lifetime, not yours). All the speakers are designed for outdoor use. As previously mentioned, Rockustics can create custom colored-speakers, available by special request.

Stereostone

A Stereostone unit is a complete speaker on its own. Stereostone also offers models of aboveground subwoofers. The Gibraltar Rock is probably the most impressive rock speaker from Stereostone, both in size and performance. With an 8-inch woofer, its bass is quite pleasing. It can be of use in your personal garden, but also in theme parks or other public spaces.

SpeakerCraft

It's probably even more difficult to tell which ones are rocks and which ones are speakers if you go for the Rox speakers from SpeakerCraft. The grille texture that hides the speaker is so fine that you almost don't notice the difference. To build the speaker enclosure, the company developed a special blend of weatherproof resins. No matter how astonishing this stone similarity is, you may want to look for a little diversity in the garden patio. Webster the Frog is waiting for you. It is not a real frog, but a speaker in disguise from Bahama Sounds, a SpeakerCraft division located in Riverside, California.

For more information on wireless speakers and headphones visit http://www.wireless-speakers.org where you can find shopping tricks and product reviews.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

How To Turn Your Ipod Into Tv

Writen by Peter Lim

The Apple iPod is synonymous with mobile audio and music, and with the launching of the video-capable iPod, music lovers not only will enjoy the audio but also video.

Herein lies the problem - the apple iPod screen is only 2.5 inches, and there is no doubt that viewing pleasure can be increased when we can have a bigger video screen.

How then can the iPod have a bigger viewing screen - so as to be considered a mobile TV as well?

To convert your iPod into a Mobile TV, all you need to do is to get a MicroOptical Goggles.

You can wear this goggle over your regular spectacles or eyeglasses, and where you do not feel comfortable, you can do so over your contact lenses.

The goggles is fairly light at 70 g, with a belt clip that holds the iPod and the battery pack of 3 AAA-batteries. A cable connects to the iPod headphone port.

These goggles will deliver the image from two tiny LCDs through a series of lenses directly to the eyes so that you can watch video on what looks like a 27 inch screen TV!

Now, if you are always on the go and travelling, and you need to research or study or to get information from video clips, you can now enjoy 27" equivalency viewing with the apple iPod.

The only drawback is the cost of the MicroOptical Corp Goggles, which, however is expected to drop with demand. Without the goggles, you have to tolerate the viewing from the 2.5 inch screen from the iPod, or dish out around $269 for the Goggles and start to enjoy Mobile TV using the iPod.

With the development of technology, soon the battery pack consisting of the 3-AAA size batteries will disappear, making it more light weight!

Indeed, there is nothing to hold back the iPod from developing into the music player and mobile TV player if you can afford the cost of the goggles.

Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner who is amazed with the development of technology with the iPod and follow iPod trends. He shares his research findings and make available FREE resources to help others who are looking to buy their first iPod or those who need to get the latest information on iPods at his website http://apple-ipods-sale.revenuemonitor.biz

Friday, November 7, 2008

Super Vacuum Irobot Cat Behavior Trainer

Writen by Lance Winslow

Does your family have a house cat? House cats are great pets and they keep the mice and rats out of the house and chase and kill large bugs. So it makes sense to have a house cat indeed. The only problem is the behavior of the average house cat is no so good. They do not come when you call them, look at you like you are on drugs when you ask them to do something and basically take over your humble abode as the new royalty.

This means cats sleep when they want, where they want and will not listen to anything you say. If your cat has taken over your home and you feel it needs just a little attitude adjustment, then you might wish to consider a Super Vacuum such as an iRobot type system or a RoboCat to help with your house cats behavioral training syllabus.

Now the RoboCat has a cool option available on the AttackCat Series Robots. The Behavioral ShockerCat learning system is not as expensive as you might think and there are easy leasing terms as well, even cheaper than your basic computer in the Dell Catalog. ShockerCat option maybe available early next year on some models of robotic vacuums, which will prevent your cat from peeing anywhere other than the robotic cat litter box and prevent your cat from clawing on your couch. It also makes a great Christmas gift too. Think on this.

Lance Winslow

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Ten Reasons For You To Use Bluetooth

Writen by Andrew McNaught

Many people see Bluetooth technology around them everyday, but may be unsure of why they should choose it. Here are ten reasons to try it:

1. Bluetooth is wireless technology Wireless devices carry many different benefits and advantages that people enjoy. Safety is a big reason that many people turn to using wireless devices, but there are many different advantages, too. The ability to use your laptop and other devices without having to use cables, is a major consideration.

2. Bluetooth is not expensive Bluetooth technology helps companies save money, because it is inexpensive for companies to put into affect. Companies save money and then pass on the savings to their customers.

3. Bluetooth is easy to use You do not have to learn how to connect to other devices or push buttons. When two or more Bluetooth devices come into within 30 feet of each other, they automatically communicate with each other and you do not have to life a finger!

4. Compatible to use with other devices A high level of compatibility between Bluetooth and other devices is guaranteed because Bluetooth is standardized wireless. Even if the devices are not the same money, your Bluetooth will still connect with the other device.

5. Very few interferences Interference is usually avoided between Bluetooth devices and other wireless devices. Low power wireless signals and frequency hopping is the techniques that Bluetooth uses to help keep your connection crystal clear and free from interference.

6. Less energy use With Bluetooth using low power signals, less battery power and electrical power will be used. This is a wonderful benefit when you are using mobile devices, because you will not have to worry about the Bluetooth draining the battery.

7. Sharing voice and data communications Compatible devices can share data and voice communications with the Bluetooth. This means that Bluetooth can help simplify driving and talking on your cell phone.

8. Instant Personal Area Network (PAN) Up to seven Bluetooth devices can connect to each other within a 30-foot range, forming a PAN or piconet. You can also set up multiple piconets for a single room.

9. Bluetooth is upgradeable Bluetooth is upgradeable. Newer versions of Bluetooth are being created and these offer many new features and advantages and will be compatible with older versions of Bluetooth.

10. Bluetooth technology is not a fad Bluetooth technology has become a universal standard in wireless technology. Its' popularity means that you can depend upon it to be used for many years in the future. More and more devices will begin to use Bluetooth technology, which will make manufacturers very eager to make their products compatible with the technology. This will only make Bluetooth more popular and make it the standard in cutting edge wireless technology.

Andrew McNaught is a writer and publisher of http://www.bluetooth-technology-world.info in which he provides more information about this cutting edge technology.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Flash Your Nvidia Video Cards Bios

Writen by Jason Barrett

You will need the following:

1. 1.44MB FDD (floppy)

2. NVFLASH utility copy

3. Compatible BIOS file for your video card. (search the manufactures website for bios details)

4. Required Drivers. (check manufactures website)

Alright now

First
Make an nVidia BIOS flash boot disk.

-Bios flash operations for video must be performed in DOS.

-You will need a DOS boot disk, you can obtain one if you do not already ahve one at bootdisk.com, download there dr DOS image file after that run the .exe file that comes with it. Which will create a clean DOS boot disk. (if any problems folow instruction son the website)

-If you need other ways of obtaining a boot disk just post in a related thread.

Now that you have a DOS boot disk, copy the BIOS file you downloaded and the NVFLASH.exe file onto the disk.

Second
Make a backup of your nVidia video card BIOS

Make a backup of your current video card BIOS before flashing the bios, incase of problems. (better safe than sorry)

-boot your computer with the boot flash-disk you had created in the first step.

-during the "A:\" prompt type "nvflash.exe -b backup.rom" ENTER

-now the utlity NVFLASH will make a backup of your video's bios onto the bios flash disk (called backup.rom)

-Just in case, if we have to go back to the original bios.

Third
Flash your nVidia video card's bios

-at the A:\ prompt type the following to flash your video bios

-"nvflash -p -u -f (name of new bios file you downloaded including the extention) hit ENTER (no brackets around the name of your new bios file)

-Flashrom will overwrite your odl bios with your new bios.

-if any errors ocured do not restart; consult troubleshooting.

-If you had made it this far without any errors and everything seems to have gone correctly, than restart your system.

-monitor the post screen for the video card info

-double check that your procedure worked and your bios has worked correctly.

-also watch to see if your OS boots correctly

-plz keep in mind that your new bios may need new up to date drivers.

Hooray! Congrats! You have successfully changed your video card's BIOS.

Jason Barrett
http://www.computing-forums.com

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

High Speed Internet Providers Faq

Writen by Aurel Radulescu

Q: What is the fee for high speed internet service and how does it differ among internet providers?

A: The fee for internet access will vary from one internet provider to another. Typically, there are two types of access, which includes dialup and broadband. Depending on your needs, there are various benefits to both dialup and broadband high speed internet access.

Q: What is the difference between dialup and broadband high speed internet access?

A: Dialup access is referred to as an internet connection that uses a regular phone line. Typically, the connection speeds will be 56k or less. Broadband high speed internet, on the other hand, uses a variety of connections to produce a faster and more reliable connection. As such, this service is often more expensive than the regular dialup.

Q: How can I find out about high speed internet service or which internet providers are available in my area?

A: The first place to start your search is in the telephone book's yellow pages. Here, you will find a listing for every internet provider in your area, along with some block ads that even advertise their monthly rates for subscribers. One of the largest internet providers is America Online, which offers a selection of local access numbers. Another terrific way of learning which internet providers are available in your area is to browse through the local newspaper and pay close attention to the advertisements, which often feature ads from internet providers who offer special rates to new customers.

Q: What if I want to subscribe to AOL, but cannot find a local connection number for my area?

A: With America Online being a leader in internet providers, there are a large number of connection numbers available. However, in some smaller areas, there may not be a local access number. If that's the case, you can gain access through a paid membership with one of your local internet providers and connect to AOL, via a TCP/IP connection, for $9.95 per month. This is called a 'bring your own service' plan and is a terrific way to enjoy the convenience of AOL even if you do not have a local access number.

Q: How do I know which internet providers are best or which ones will be most accommodating to my needs?

A: The answer largely depends on how much time you plan to use the internet. If you work at home or are online frequently throughout the day, you will most likely need an unlimited plan. This type of service, which is available through most internet providers, will allow you an unlimited number of hours online in exchange for a fixed monthly subscription cost.

Q: Is high speed internet access available in all areas?

A: The answer to this question is best addressed by one of your local internet providers. High speed internet access is available in most areas, but some rural locations may not offer wireless broadband connections or other technology needed to enjoy the full benefits of high speed internet access. This does not mean that the internet cannot be enjoyed, but rather that it will be enjoyed at a slightly slower rate than those who have high speed internet access.

Find more about computer desktops and multimedia software or read the latest Internet security advices at http://www.internettspeed.com