Selling your used video camera can bring in some extra cash.
When looking to sell your used video camera, remember there are many tools out there to help you, both in print and online. You should think about setting the right price, and with a quick scan of photography classified ads you can know exactly what your camera is worth on the used video camera market.
Instructions
1. Make an inventory of any damage your camera has. The first thing you'll want to let potential buyers know about your camera is if there is any physical damage, such as scratches or other signs of wear. Check the lens, lens cover, and back screen, as these areas are most susceptible to damage.
2. Take pictures of your camera. Take one from the front, to give the buyer a good idea of what your camera looks like, and take another of the back--showing the screen and the controls--so he can see the layout. If there are any scratches or defects, take a close-up picture of them.
3. List the features if your camera. For example, if you were selling a Canon EOS 450D, you would want to mention the ergonomic design and live viewer. These are some of its top features, which can help sell the camera. Prospective buyers will also need to know other details such as number of mega pixels, dimensions, and weight. You can find a full description of the camera's features on the manufacturer's website.
4. Research online camera sites such as bhphotovideo.com or samys.com, to determine the average price for your camera model. Then take into account your camera's age and damage when setting your sales price. You want to set a price that both you and potential buyers will be happy with.
5. List your camera on an online auction website, uploading the photos, the manufacturer's description, and a description of any scratches or defects your camera has. Examples of some sites include eBay.com, eBid.net, and Amazon.com.
6. Place an ad in a camera magazine. The magazine's contact details are usually found in the "Contact Us" section on their website, or in the back of the magazine. For example, contact the ad sales department at "Digital Camera World" or "What Digital Camera" magazine and place a classified ad for you camera.
Tags: your camera, used video camera, your used video, buyers will, Digital Camera, potential buyers, scratches defects
An Android phone is a type of smartphone that uses Android OS, a Linux-based mobile operating system developed by Android, a division of Google. Android phones are available from all major carriers, with or without contracts.
Features
Android provides direct integration between text messaging, email accounts and phone capabilities, meaning that your contact history with a single person is tracked as one file. This gives you access to all emails and text messages sent to a contact with one touch.
Benefits
As Android is open-source and applications are based on the Java language, a wide variety of applications are available via the Android Market. This makes Android phones infinitely customizable.
Potential
Android phones offer an inexpensive but powerful platform, with phones offered for very low costs when paired with long-term contracts. As a result, Android phones could become popular with both the entry-level and high-end smartphone markets.
History
Google acquired Android, Inc., in 2005, in the hope of developing an open-source operating system for use on mobile phones. In 2007, major phone manufacturers like Motorola and HTC announced that they would offer models dedicated to the Android platform. The first Android-based phone approved for sale was the HTC Dream, approved in August 2008.
Considerations
Android-powered phones are available unlocked from manufacturers and for discounted prices if purchased with a contract from a wireless carrier. Paying a higher up-front price for an unlocked Android phone will give you the freedom to move between networks as you wish.
Tags: Android phones, Android phone, operating system, phones available
A Polaroid television provides a high-quality, vivid video or cable TV experience for your home or office. Upon using your Polaroid TV several times, you may begin to experience problems with power loss, dim screens and cable reception. Navigating a few instructions and conducting your own maintenance will have your Polaroid TV operating like new again in little time.
Instructions
Brightness
1. Push the "Menu" button on the remote control to access the main menu. You will see a list of options across the top of the screen, including "Audio" and "Video."
2. Press the right and left buttons among the four-way navigation buttons, located on the remote control near the bottom, to select the "Video" menu from the "Menu" list. You will see several options, such as "Picture Mode," "Contrast," "Brightness," "Saturation," "Hue" and "Sharpness."
3. Push the four-way navigation buttons to select "Brightness," and then push the right or left navigation button to adjust the brightness of the screen. Raising the brightness number or level will make the screen brighter. Lowering the level will make the screen darker. Adjust the level upward to increase the illumination of the screen's backlight.
Power Loss
4. Examine the state of the power cord, if your TV continuously loses power. Turn the TV around, so the back is facing you.
5. Unplug the power cord from the "AC In" jack on the back panel of the television, and inspect the cord's metal contacts for grime or dirt. If the contacts are dirty, clean them with a dry cleaning cloth.
6. Insert the cord into the "AC In" jack, confirming a secure, snug connection. Inspect the length of the power cord for damage, such as tears, cuts or dents. Replace the cord if it's damaged.
7. Unplug the power cord from the AC wall outlet. The connection will be reset. Inspect the prongs for dirt or grime, and then clean them, if they are dirty. Plug in a different electronic device into the wall outlet to confirm the outlet is functioning properly. Plug the Polaroid power cord back into the wall outlet, and turn the TV on.
Cable Connection
8. Confirm a proper cable connection from your cable source to your TV by inspecting the 75-ohm cable cord. Turn the TV around, so the back is easily accessible.
9. Locate the cable jack on the back panel, and unscrew the 75-ohm cable from the jack, which will reset the connection. Inspect the inside of the cable end for blockage or dirt. If you see obstructions within the cable connector, clean it or remove it. Screw the cable end back onto the "Cable In" jack of your Polaroid.
10. Inspect the length of the cord from the TV to your cable source, which will be a wall jack or receiver, for damage. If the cord is damaged, replace it.
11. Turn your receiver around, so the back is facing you. Confirm the cable cord has been inserted into the "Cable Out" jack and the 75-ohm cable between your wall jack (or antenna) has been screwed securely into the "Cable In" jack of your receiver.
Tags: power cord, 75-ohm cable, around back, Cable jack, cord from, wall outlet
built in camera help you have good pics of the view that your are enjoying using the binoculars. The binoculars with the digital camera have to select carefully as you need to have a pure viewing experience through the binoculars as well as have some good fun using the camera. Read on for the features that you should have for the binoculars with a digital camera.
Instructions
1. Select a camera which has a magnification of 8. Nothing less nothing more.
2. Make sure that the binocular has a memory card slot for an SD card or MMC card.
3. Select the binoculars with the good resolution of the cameras. Do not go for the cameras which are low VGA resolution
4. Check if the binoculars have a tripod adaptability as that will help to take good pics and avoid shakiness
5. Always check the optical zoom of the binoculars and not the interpolated zoom. Interpolated zoom may give you bad results.
6. Next always go for the binoculars which are above $100 to get good features of the binoculars.
7. Make sure that the instant replay feature is there in the binoculars with the digital camera.
8. Select the ones with an LCD screen so that you can view the video clips right there and then.
Tags: binoculars with digital, digital camera, with digital, with digital camera, binoculars with, binoculars with
Adding a date stamp to a portable document format (PDF) file is not only possible, it is an easy task to complete. By simply downloading some additional software and installing it on your computer, you can easily add watermarks and date stamps to all your important PDF documents.
Instructions
1. Download a copy of the A-PDF Watermark program located at the main Adobe Acrobat site. This program works with your existing version of Adobe Acrobat and allows users to perform additional functions such as date stamping.
2. Install the software on your computer and open the program.
3. Click "File" and open "PDF" from the opening display screen of the program. Select the PDF file you wish to add a date stamp to. This file will then be added to the watermark window.
4. Double click on the PDF file in the watermark window screen. This will open the new text watermark screen. Type the date and watermark you wish to appear on the PDF document.
5. Click the "Watermark Save As" button at the bottom of your screen. This will save your watermark and date stamp to the PDF document.
Tags: Adobe Acrobat, Date Stamp File, screen This, screen This will, Stamp File
A rear projection TV screen is as vulnerable to scratches as the screen on a computer monitor or cell phone. To repair a scratch on a rear projection TV screen, fill it in and render it invisible. You will need only a few household products, but no special tools. Thus, you will avoid a trip to a service center, and lost time and money having the screen replaced.
Instructions
1. Blow off the screen with compressed air. Place an edge of the microfiber cloth against the left side or bottom of the scratch, depending upon whether it is horizontal or vertical.
2. Move the edge of the microfiber cloth to the other side of the scratch to remove loose dust or other environmental debris. Blow off the scratch with compressed air.
3. Dip the cotton swab in the petroleum jelly. Place the moistened end of the cotton swab a half inch or so to the left or bottom of the scratch, depending upon whether it is horizontal or vertical.
4. Press down gently on the cotton swab while moving it across the length of the scratch. Remove the cotton swab when you are about a half inch or so past the end of the scratch.
5. Place a clean edge of the microfiber cloth about a half-inch to the left or bottom of the scratch, depending upon whether it is horizontal or vertical.
6. Press down gently while moving the microfiber cloth to the other side of the scratch. Remove the cloth when you are about a half-inch past the end of the scratch. Blow off the scratch with compressed air.
Issues with the way your voice sounds -- to others or on recordings -- through microphones on Razer analog, and digital gaming and music headsets occur for several reasons involving user error or equipment failure. You can usually resolve Razer headset mike issues through do-it-yourself troubleshooting involving a walkthrough of common user problems. This walkthrough doesn't require any special equipment and you can usually determine in 30 minutes or less whether the issue is something you can fix on your own or not.
Instructions
1. Check that you don't have the microphone mute turned on. If your Razor mike has a Mute switch, check that it's in the "OFF" position. If it has a Mute button, press the button.
2. Test the microphone using your Windows Sound Recorder to see if your troubleshooting corrected the issue. Click "Start," enter "sound recorder" in the Search Programs and Files field, and click "Sound Recorder" on the results popup menu. Click the "Start Recording" button and speak into your Razer microphone to record your voice. Click "Stop Recording" at any time, name, and save the file when prompted and then playback the recording on Windows Media Player or another player.
3. Check the connections between your headset and the computer. If you find any loose connections, push the USB plug or microphone and earphone plugs into the port or ports on your computer. Repeat Step 2 to test the microphone.
4. Check the microphone volume level if you have a digital headset with a microphone level control and your voice sounds low or doesn't reach others. For example, if you have the Razer Megalodon, click the "Mic Level" button, turn the wheel on the face of the control pod clockwise to increase the microphone voice level and then click the center "Channel Selector" button to save your change. When you're finished, test the microphone to confirm that it works as desired.
5. Move your headset away from noise sources or electronics that may cause electromagnetic interference if noise is heard over the microphone by others or on recordings. If you have a digital microphone such as the Megalodon, also change the microphone sensitivity to remove background noise. For example, click the "Mic Sens" button to hear your voice through the microphone over the earphones, turn the wheel on the pod clockwise until you no longer hear noise through your ear and then click "Channel Selector" to save the setting.
6. Use the reset option on your microphone to restore the headset to its factory default settings, if available, if you still can't resolve the problem to see if some sort of malfunction has occurred. For example, on your Razer Megalodon, connect your headset to your computer with the computer turned on, push and hold the "Channel Selector" for at least 10 seconds and then test the microphone.
Tags: your voice, Channel Selector, your headset, Click Start, have digital, others recordings
Donating a large screen TV can get you a tax write off.
Donating to charities is typically a win-win situation. The charity gets much-needed supplies, money, or labor; you get a warm feeling inside and a tax write off. That being said, it isn't always easy to donate larger items such as furniture, large screen TVs or cars. You might not be able to donate to the charity you want because not all locations have the room or ability to handle these types of things.
Instructions
1. Take the TV to a charity retail store such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army or Habitat for Humanity. These stores are set up to sell donated items and use the money to operate the organization and help others. It is best to call ahead to make sure the location takes large items. They might have a separate drop off location for more expensive items such as large screen TVs, cars or furniture.
2. Donate the TV to an organization that can use it such as a church. Many churches use large screen TVs in auditoriums to aid in sermons or to make certain that everyone can see what is going on. They might also use it in a recreational room designed for the youth of the congregation or sell it in a fundraiser auction or yard sale.
3. Call a charity that comes into neighborhoods and picks up large items. The Kidney Foundation is one such charity. Goodwill is another. Set the item on the curb in front of your house with a clearly marked tag with the charity's name on it.
4. Take the large screen TV to an organization such as an abused women's shelter. They might be able to use it in the facility to keep sheltered women and children entertained or give it to a woman who is setting up a new home.
Tags: large screen, They might, items such, large items, large screen cars, might able, screen cars
Canon is known for their digital cameras, and one of their most popular lines is the PowerShot S series. The S5 IS offers 12 times optical zoom and is equipped with Canon's well-known DIGIC III image processor.
Canon cameras are automatically defaulted to the highest picture size and quality setting. This gives the user the maximum effect of the camera's ability. However, the larger the picture size, the more space it takes up on a memory card and computer. You may want to change the picture size to get more pictures to fit on your memory card; Canon makes this process simple.
Instructions
1. Turn the Canon S5 on and turn the function dial to "Auto".
2. Click the "Func" button, located on the back of the camera. This will bring up a menu to change picture settings.
3. Use the arrows to scroll down to the button function; there will be a icon that says "L, M, S" depending on the setting you are currently using. Once you scroll to that icon, it will bring up the available picture sizes and settings.
4. Scroll left or right to view the picture sizes available. Select the picture size you prefer and press "Set." Your picture size has now been changed.
Move your digital images from your Sony camera to the computer using a USB cable.
Transferring photos from your Sony camera to a computer is a good way to back them up. While they are on your computer, you can also edit them or mail them. To get the photos onto the computer, you've got several options depending on your particular Sony camera. Most cameras come with a software disc that can aid in transferring photos, but if you don't have this disc you can still transfer the images to your computer using the USB cable that fits your camera.
Instructions
Download Photos Using Windows
1. Insert the camera end of the USB cable into the camera, and place the other end into a USB port on your computer. Ensure that the camera is turned on and that the cable is plugged in securely.
2. Check the menu on your Sony camera to ensure that it is set up for a computer connection. The menus will differ depending on the style of camera you own. Check the user's manual for settings specific to your camera.
3. Scroll through the pop-up that appears when the camera is plugged into the computer. Select "Scanner and Camera Wizard" from the options to open the Wizard.
4. Follow the wizard to select the images you wish to download. You have the option to rotate the images and select the area on your computer where you wish to download them.
Download Images Using Mac
5. Connect the USB to the camera and the computer, and turn the camera on.
6. Open iPhoto to download the images onto your computer. The wizard will give you the option to name the group of photos that you are moving, and to choose where the download will occur.
7. Select "Import" once you've named the photo group.
Tags: your computer, your Sony camera, camera computer, your Sony, computer using
AnyTime Organizer Deluxe is a program that allows you to maintain a schedule, notes and a calendar on your computer. If you're an owner of one of Apple's iPhone 3G smart phones, you don't have to manually enter all of your personal information into your computer as well as into your phone. You can sync your AnyTime Organizer Deluxe content with your iPhone 3G using Apple's iTunes music software.
Instructions
1. Plug your iPhone 3G into your computer with the white USB cable that came with your iPhone.
2. Open iTunes (using the shortcut icons created when you originally setup the program).
3. Wait a second for iTunes to recognize your iPhone 3G. When it does, the "Devices" menu will expand and your iPhone 3G's name will be listed. Click on its name.
4. Click on the "Contacts" button near the top right corner of the screen. Make sure there is a check in the box next to the phrase "Sync Contacts From."
5. Choose "AnyTime Organizer Deluxe" from the list of compatible programs on your computer. Click "Sync" to sync your AnyTime Organizer Deluxe content with your iPhone 3G.
Tags: your iPhone, Organizer Deluxe, your computer, into your, with your, with your iPhone, AnyTime Organizer
One of the best things you can do if you are attempting to sell anything online is to make sure you have an adequate picture of the object. This picture will show the item in the best possible way and let your potential buyers know exactly what they are getting. If you have nowhere to place your item to get a good picture, you may want to consider building a light box to display the item. A light box can be easily built with items found at any home improvement store.
Instructions
1. Cut the pieces for your frame. You should have two pieces that are 23 inches long, four pieces that are 14 inches long and two pieces that are 16 inches long.
2. Sand down the edges of the pipe so they are smooth. Make sure your pieces are all the correct height, and sand down if need be.
3. Construct the top of the frame by creating a rectangle with two of the 23-inch pieces and the two 16-inch pieces. Put them together using the T-joints. Use the cement in the joints to solidify the frame.
4. Glue the caps to one end of all of your 14-inch pieces. Place the other ends in the elbows. Do not glue the elbows to the 14-inch pieces.
5. Place the frame on a flat surface. The T-joints on the corners should all have one slot open. This is where you will place the elbows, which are attached to the legs. Glue the elbows into these slots, making sure that the legs are at a 90-degree angle to the frame (use the square to get the angle correct). Repeat this for all four legs on all four corners.
6. Screw the sheet metal screws into the back edge on the frame. Punch holes in your backdrop that correspond to the frame, and hang your backdrop from them.
7. Place the sheet over the frame, leaving the front uncovered. The light will shine though the sheet on either side, giving the box a warm glow.
Tags: inches long, pieces that, pieces that inches, that inches, that inches long, 14-inch pieces
The Nikon D50 is a 6.1-megapixel digital camera that features an integrated 2-inch LCD display, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, adjustable shutter speed, USB interface port and included proprietary software. The D50 also features several onboard options that enable the photographer to customize photo shots. The camera's flash function artificially enhances the lighting conditions when taking pictures in low-light areas. Disabling the flash function may be necessary in certain instances where enough natural or external light is present.
Instructions
1. Turn the camera on by pressing the power switch, located below the shutter button.
2. Rotate the mode dial, located to the top left of the LCD, to the desired shooting mode.
3. Press the "Flash" button, located on the front of the camera body, between the "Nikon" and "D50" labels.
4. Rotate the command dial located to the left of the "AE/AF" lock button, until the flash strike-through icon appears on the LCD screen. Proceed to use the camera normally. To enable the auto flash or auto flash with red-eye reduction feature, press the "Flash" button and make the appropriate selection using the command dial.
Tags: auto flash, command dial, dial located, dial located left, Flash button
Scanning camera negatives can be achieved using a negative scanner with the appropriate film adapters.
Camera film negatives can be integrated into the digital imagery world using a variety of negative scanners. Negatives vary in size and format and many flatbed scanners accept a variety of formats using special negative adapters. Scanning these negatives allows photographers to utilize the technology of older cameras and integrate their work into the digital world of photography.
Instructions
1. Install a scanner on your computer that will accept the proper negative format from your camera. Many older cameras use a 35 mm format or a 120 format, but larger 8 x 10 inch negatives are not uncommon with older cameras. Purchasing the scanner with appropriate film adapters requires research regarding film types to be scanned, processing power of your computer and the data storage space on your computer. A 120 film is wider than your traditional 35 mm film, and the scanner model's description will indicate if the appropriate adapters are available for the scanner in question. Your computer should have a minimum of one gigabyte of RAM to ensure that the processing speed of your computer can operate the scanner effectively and should have at least ten gigabytes of hard drive space available for your scans. If space is an issue, invest in a small external hard drive and transfer the images to this drive once they are scanned in the hard drive. Image scans can be as large as 50 MB or more, and quickly consume data storage space on your computer. Follow your scanner's instructions for installation and access the online user guides if problems arise.
2. Turn the scanner on, once installed, and wait for the scanner's dialogue box to appear. This box should open upon turning on the scanner and will allow you to designate the image size, dimensions, file format and final destination of the image. Scan your image file at the largest possible output size and highest resolution possible. For example, if you plan to create an enlargement of your image, set the output dimensions to the appropriate size, such as 8 x 12 inches or 16 x 20 inches, and use an image resolution of 300 dpi or higher. The image resolution is the amount of data present in visible aspect of the digital image. If the image DPI, or dots per inch, is too small, the image will print with small squares and distortions as there is not enough data to fill the enlargement space.
3. Set the scanner to negative scan, particularly if using a flatbed scanner that also scans paper documents and slide film, which uses a reflective scan setting. An adapter is necessary for negatives with this type of scanner--and if the image is not set to negative scan, the image will scan improperly.
4. Place the negative gently in the negative carrier and place the carrier into the scanner or onto the flatbed scanner, depending on your scanner type and press the scan button. Use gloves--thin white photographic cloth gloves are ideal--as oils from your hands can cause permanent damage to negatives, and older negatives are particularly fragile. Brush the negatives with a photographic, static brush which will remove dust in a safe manner prior to scanning. Certain scanners have a "digital ice" function which removes dust during scanning but is not always accurate. Dust removal can also be achieved using a photo editing program but can be time consuming to execute.
5. Save the file to the proper folder and transfer the images to your external hard drive once the folder contains a certain number of images. Backing up your images on an external data device ensures that your images are safe if your computer hard drive crashes.
Tags: hard drive, your computer, older cameras, achieved using, appropriate film, appropriate film adapters
Most cars come with a stereo pre-installed. The factory-issued stereos in older vehicles normally consist of an AM/FM receiver and a cassette player. Replacing the stereo is a popular car modification for owners looking to increase their entertainment options. Aftermarket stereos include CD players with other features that offer more than the basic factory-issued options. These can be installed by car owners with a couple of adapters or modifications.
Instructions
1. Remove the old car stereo. The majority of factory-issued car stereos are locked in place by tabs located on the side of the unit. Owners can buy custom keys from car audio retailers or directly from the manufacturer. The clips can also be released by using bent coat hangers or a flat head screwdriver pushed into the tabs to unclip the lock. Gently pull out the old stereo once the clips are released.
2. Disconnect the old stereo. Pull out the black radio antenna from the rear of the old stereo. Push the tab on the side of the wire harness that has all the connecting wires for the power, CD changer and speakers and pull the connection apart. Set the old stereo to the side.
3. Install faceplates if necessary. Some factory-issued car stereos come in customized designs and shapes. Aftermarket stereos are a standard size, and faceplates are available to fit them into the space vacated by a customized radio shape. These faceplates are specific to the car model and available from car audio retailers. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to attach the faceplate. Most faceplates will click into the holding slots for the old stereo.
4. Connect the aftermarket CD player to the car. Make sure that all of the wire connections extend through the faceplate portal. Connect an aftermarket wire harness adapter to the wire harness of the car. Wire harness adapters are specific to car models and available from car audio retailers. Connect the other end of the wire harness adapter to the wire harness of the CD player. Make sure that all connections click into place. Connect the black radio antenna cable to the radio antenna port on the rear of the CD player---check the device instructions---and ensure it is secure.
5. Test the connections. Turn on the CD player. Establish that a signal is being sent to the car speakers by using the unit features one-by-one.
6. Secure the CD player into the dashboard housing. Push the wire connections first into the portal then slide the CD player unit into the dashboard housing. Push it in until it is secure in the housing. If it is replacing a standard-sized unit, it will slide into the clips used by the previous unit.
Tags: audio retailers, factory-issued stereos, from audio, from audio retailers, radio antenna
Blackberry users have two primary options for setting up email: one for individuals and another for corporate accounts. Use Blackberry Internet Service if you purchased your Blackberry personally and wish to send and receive email messages from one or more new or existing email accounts. If your organization operates a corporate Blackberry Enterprise Server, check with your system administrator to set up your corporate email account.
Instructions
Set Up Your Email Account
1. Use your corporate email account or the default email account provided by your wireless provider, or add existing personal email accounts to your Blackberry. Blackberry allows you to add up to 10 supported personal email accounts for use with your Blackberry.
2. Click on "Profile" from your Blackberry Internet Service toolbar to begin adding your personal email accounts. Later, this same "Profile" page will allow you to manage email accounts.
3. Click the "Email Accounts" link from the "Profile" screen. A listing will appear showing the email addresses for which your Blackberry receives and sends email.
4. Click the "Add Account" button from the "Email Accounts" screen and follow the prompts to enter the email address you wish to add, as well as the account login and password that you use to sign in to that account.
5. Click the "Submit" button, and you will see the email account you have just added, next to the email account that came with your Blackberry wireless service. You may repeat this process to add up to 10 email accounts from supported email providers such as Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOLMail, Nativeweb and others.
Send Email Directly From Your Blackberry
6. Prepare to send email by clicking on "Messages" from the Blackberry home screen.
7. Click on "Compose Email" and enter an email address, or simply select an address from your Address Book.
8. Compose your email message, type in a subject heading and click on "Send" with the track-wheel. Your message will be sent.
9. Follow the easy-to-use prompts on your screen to reply to emails, forward messages, save drafts, send messages to multiple contacts or add contacts to your address book.
Tags: your Blackberry, email account, email accounts, email accounts, personal email
The cell phone provider MetroPCS offers basic monthly plans you pre-pay and accessories you can add-on for additional fees. They are reliable and have custom plans for all usage levels. Since they are all pre-pay plans, you never worry about going over your minutes.
Instructions
1. Investigate the pre-paid plans offered by MetroPCS. The company has five different plans based on monthly usage needs. First choose the local calling plan or the local and long-distance plan. The monthly rate differs based on the accessories and additional features you decide you need.
2. Decide on the plan right for you, by considering the extra features they offer. They include text messaging, caller ID, voice mail, web access, email, picture messaging and AOL Instant Messaging.
3. Choose extra accessories like Blue Tooth headset, travel chargers and regular power cord. These are usually, though, a one-time fee and don't effect your monthly service. Once they're paid for on that first bill, they're yours to keep without additional charges.
4. Pay in advance using your credit or debit, which is set up on a monthly auto-pay schedule. There is no credit check, so the auto-pay system is the company's way of securing their services are paid for. You can also pay with check by mail or over the phone (for a fee), but keep in mind this must be in advance of receiving your monthly access.
5. Enjoy the benefits of unlimited local and national long-distance, as well as other common features without a credit check or the strangle-hold of a contract. Contracts that often have a cancellation, activation and other fees. If you ever have a question or problem, call the MetroPCS customer service department for assistance.
If your TiVo DVR is set up via a network connection, you can easily transfer shows from your TiVo DVR to your computer using the free TiVo Desktop software available on TiVo's website. Using this software, however, is not an option if your TiVo service is set up through a phone connection. You can still transfer shows from your TiVo DVR under this scenario, but you first have to connect your TiVo DVR to a video capture card, which is connected to your computer through a simple cable connection.
Instructions
1. Insert one side of your set of audio/video cables into the audio/video output ports on your TiVo DVR's rear panel. Remember, each audio/video cable is color-coded to match the audio/video port it plugs into. Insert the other side of this set of audio/video cables into the audio/video input ports on your video capture card.
2. Plug your video capture card into one of the USB ports on your computer.
3. Open Windows Movie Maker. Click the "Start" button, point to "Programs," point to "Accessories" and click "Windows Movie Maker."
4. Open the "File" menu and click "Capture Video" to open the Windows Movie Maker capture wizard. The first prompt in the wizard is the Video Capture Device page. Select your video capture card as your video capture source. Click "Next." Fill in the file name box and select the directory where you want your recording to be saved. Click "Next." Follow the remaining wizard prompts to finish setting up your capture session.
5. Turn on your TiVo box and television set.
6. Press the "TiVo" button on your TiVo remote. Select "Now Playing" from the menu of options to open the "Now Playing List." Find and select the show you want to transfer to your computer. Select "More Options" from the "Program" menu. Select "Copy to DVD or VCR," then "Start saving from the beginning." Using this option gives you a little lag time between initiating program playback and when the program actually starts playing. The program title screen appears for a few seconds before the program begins playing.
7. Click "Start Capture" in Windows Movie Maker to begin recording the show playing from your TiVo box. This recording takes place in real time. You should be able to see a preview of the recording in the Windows Movie Maker preview window.
8. Click "Stop Capture" in Windows Movie Maker when the show playing from your TiVo DVR has ended.
9. Click "Finished" in Windows Movie Maker. Your recording is saved in the directory you specified during the capture set-up process.
Tags: your TiVo, Movie Maker, Windows Movie, Windows Movie Maker, audio video
Radar detectors now come equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology. Bluetooth provides you with more advanced warnings of nearby police vehicles and mobile speed cameras. The job of this device is to alert you when any of these are in its presence. Since most Bluetooth detectors fit in the palm of your hand, installation is not necessary. It pairs with your mobile phone or navigation system to give you these updates. You will find that it is simple to use your Bluetooth radar detector. As always, consult your user manual since most models run differently.
Instructions
1. Press the "Bluetooth" button on your mobile phone or navigation system. Select your radar detector from the list of Bluetooth devices. Press the "Sync" button to pair your device with your detector. If using a mobile phone, enter the PIN number. The default number is "0000" for most phones.
2. Choose the "City" or "Highway" option. In the "Highway" mode, it will alert you of any radars that it senses. In the "City" mode, the amount of alerts reduces since there are more active radars in a city than on a highway.
3. Listen for the radar to detect X, K and Ka bands. K bands are mostly associated with modern Bluetooth radar detectors. The closer the radar is, the faster your detector will beep. Some detectors can sense up to 12 different bands.
4. Press the "Mute" button. This allows you to turn off the sounds so you can drive in silence. Whenever you want the alerts again, just press the "Mute" button.
5. Listen for alerts about traffic problems ahead. You will receive a message warning of an accident or road construction ahead.
Tags: mobile phone, Bluetooth radar, mobile phone navigation, Mute button, navigation system, phone navigation
Many cell phone users overpay when it comes to cellular service simply because they don't understand all of the charges they are incurring and avoid many of those fees. From data plans to text messaging to minute usage types, there are literally dozens of ways you can save on your cellular services. If you shop around properly, you can even buy a Sprint phone for rock-bottom prices when you choose the right options with your contract.
Instructions
Saving Money with Your Sprint Phone
1. Monitor your data usage. If you surf the Internet sporadically, you may not need the unlimited data plan you're using. Check your actual data transfer cost versus your unlimited plan costs.
2. Determine your text messaging costs. Text message packages usually start at around $5 and end at around $20 for unlimited plans. If your $0.15 per text message is less than an unlimited plan, you can ditch your texting plan.
3. Get rid of data and text plans altogether if you don't use them. Many users will keep a $10 text plan on their devices even when they don't use it.
4. If you're using fewer minutes than your current plan allows, it's time to change to a lower-cost plan. For instance, if your plan allows 500 minutes and you use half that, you should switch to a lower-cost plan with fewer free minutes.
5. Watch your night and weekend minutes. If you don't need the earlier nights and weekends, look at removing that option from your cell phone plan to save $5 to $10 per month on average.
6. Combine plans if you have more than one single-plan line. Family plans are less expensive even if you double your family plan minutes. Share your minutes with family, and you'll save money.
7. Monitor your Sprint account for new plan offers. Wireless companies are often running new promotions for their existing and new customers. If you see a new customer plan and your contract is up, you can probably receive those minutes if you get the right representative on the phone. You may also find new plans for existing members that can save you money.
Tags: cell phone, lower-cost plan, Monitor your, plan allows, save money, text messaging
The most difficult part of using the PIP (picture In picture) setting on a TV set is making the necessary TV tuner box connections. This connection process gets a bit more complicated when it involves three TV tuner boxes instead of one (such as two DirecTV boxes and a digital converter box). In the end, you should end up with one of the DirecTV boxes connected to the TV through the A/V panel and the other DirecTV box and digital converter box hooked up to the TV through the RF port.
Instructions
Connecting
1. Make sure all devices (television, DirecTV boxes and digital converter box) are turned off before you perform any cable connections.
2. Connect the coaxial cable --- which carries the main DirecTV signal --- coming from the wall into the RF splitter's "In" port.
3. Use one of the independent coaxial cables to connect one of the RF splitter's "Out" ports to the "RF In" port labeled "Satellite In" on the back of DirecTV box No. 1.
4. Take another coaxial cable. Use it to connect the RF splitter's remaining "Out" port to the "Satellite In" port on the back of DirecTV box No. 2.
5. Screw in one end of a third coaxial cable to the "RF Out" port labeled "Out to TV" on the back of DirecTV box No. 1. Screw in the other end of this cable to the "A" port of the A/B switch box.
6. Plug one end of the set of A/V cables into DirecTV box No. 2's "A/V Out" jacks. The A/V jacks are the yellow, white and red jacks labeled "Video Out," "Left" (audio out), and "Right" (audio out) on the back of the box. The plugs on the ends of the A/V cables are color coded to match the A/V jack into which they're supposed to be inserted. Insert the other end of these cables into the TV set's "A/V In" jacks.
7. Connect the TV antenna's coaxial cable, which carries the main over-the-air TV signal, into the digital converter box's "RF In" port (generally labeled "Ant In").
8. Use one of the remaining independent coaxial cables to connect the digital converter box's "RF Out" port to the "B" port of the A/B switch box.
9. Take the last coaxial cable and use it to connect the "To TV" port on the A/B switch box to the "RF In" port on the back of the TV set.
Using PIP
10. Turn on the TV, DirecTV boxes and digital converter box. Make sure the TV is set to Channel 3.
11. Press "PIP" on the TV remote control to activate the picture-in-picture feature. If you're TV remote does not have a "PIP" button, the "PIP" option should be accessible through the main menu options.
12. Set the A/B switch to the "A" setting if you want the PIP feature to show programming from DirecTV box No. 1. Set the A/B switch to the "B" setting if you want the PIP feature to show programming from the digital converter box.
Tags: coaxial cable, digital converter, back DirecTV, boxes digital converter, digital converter, DirecTV boxes, port switch
Tools that measure the speeds of floods are important to public safety.
Measuring the speed of floods can be difficult. The duration of flood discharge is typically only a few hours to a few days, the work is time consuming and strenuous, and gathering measurements puts human life on the line.
Still, for public safety, it is necessary to gauge the speed of floods. To do so, geologists and engineers use several tools to document the velocity of the stream on horizontals and verticals, the average surface velocity and the velocity of the width through a single cross section.
Ott-type Curent Meter
The Ott-type current meter is a torpedo-shaped instrument with a propeller. Suspended by a cable, it's placed into the water where it will accurately measure stream flow velocity. It can measure flow speeds from 0.1 to 33 feet per second by equating the proportional rotations of the instrument's propeller to the velocity of the water.
Surface Velocity Meters
Using a similar propeller technology as the Ott-type meter, surface velocity meters measure flood speeds with dangerous velocities. These meters are attached to rods and extended by hand from bridges, banks, or boats, in order to provide a safe immediate measurement.
Fluorometric Dye
If the flood current is steady and slow, engineers use a fluorometric dye to determine speed. Once the dye is put in the water at point A, an instrument at point B downstream will measure for concentrations of the dye. From this, flood speed of travel is calculated.
Acoustic Doppler Current Profiling
Acoustic Doppler current profiling needs a boat to be put in action. The Doppler instrument is dropped in the water. As the boat moves, the instrument takes measurements of depth, speed and water direction, immediately converting this data to binary data to provide real-time measurements.
Tags: Acoustic Doppler, public safety, speed floods, surface velocity
Photographers can set up photo booths for public and private events, or even specialize in photo-booth services for parties. Some tricks of the trade include: setting up partitions to enclose the shooting space; attaching large display monitors to a computer for viewing images; incorporating timed shutter releases and/or remote shutter triggers; and marking focus points with markers to help set up the booth to function without handling the camera. Photographers who print on-site benefit from pre-defined print sets that have multiple photos in various dimensions.
Instructions
1. Assemble the illuminated background, following the manufacturer's instructions. Commercial illuminated-background systems minimize space requirements, because the subject can stand much closer to the background without casting a shadow.
2. Attach or extend a floor skirt to the illuminated background and extend the skirt along the floor toward the camera (unless the floor in your setting has a desirable visual element; for example, some buffed cement floors can add character and drama to a shot). The floor skirt should match the color of the background. Floors skirts are typically made of muslin fabric, and background manufacturers offer floor skirts that are made for their backgrounds. Alternatively, use a roll of matt photographer's paper that matches the color of the background.
3. Lay one sandbag across the extension bar at the base of each background support stand.
4. Turn the camera sideways and look through the lens while standing at the end of the skirt, or at the distance that you prefer to position the camera. For a full-length photo booth, ensure that there is an 8-foot height clearance in the shot. Use clothespins or other temporary markers to mark the height if necessary. Ensure that there are no unwanted items in the frame. Check for objects visible behind and on either side of the backdrop, as well as objects adjacent to the base skirt.
5. Set up a tripod to match the camera position that you selected. Attach the digital camera to the tripod.
6. Sync the camera display with a laptop running the photo software supplied by the camera's manufacturer. This software may offer a live view of the image as seen through the lens, or a gallery view to display multiple photos after a sequence of shots is taken. Place the laptop on a table behind the camera.
7. Attach a USB photo printer to the laptop. Place the printer on the table adjacent to the laptop. Put photo paper in the printer's paper trap and install ink cartridges if necessary.
8. Attach one monolight or flash unit to a light stand with a bounce umbrella. Extend the light stand to approximately 7 feet high. Position the base of the stand between 5 and 7 feet from the photo subject, placing the stand in front of the subject and about 45 degrees to the left of the subject. Lay one 35-lb. sandbag across the extension arm at the base of the light stand.
9. Attach the other monolight or flash unit to a light stand with a bounce umbrella. Extend the light stand to approximately 7 feet high. Position the stand about 5 to 7 feet in front of the subject and about 45 degrees to the right of the subject. Adjust the powers setting on this light to half of the left light's power. Lay one 35-lb. sandbag across the extension arm at the base of the light stand.
10. Attach a monolight to a third light stand. The background light stand is usually flush with either side of the background, and the head inserts into an opening on either side of background. Extend the stand to match the height required to position the light at the insertion point. Refer the manufacturer's instructions for more specific information about inserting or attaching the background light unit. The power setting on this light should be equal to or slightly less than the front left light's power setting. Lay one 35-lb. sandbag across the extension arm at the base of the light stand.
Tags: light stand, across extension, across extension base, extension base, sandbag across, sandbag across extension
Adding shoulder straps is a simple sewing project.
Adding shoulder straps to a strapless dress or blouse gives you more security and changes the look of the outfit. Make shoulder straps with contrasting ribbon, lace or matching fabric. You can even make several sets of straps for a new look every time you wear the outfit. Basic sewing skills are all you need. If you don't have a sewing machine, you can sew the straps by hand.
Instructions
1. Try on your dress or top. Measure the distance between the front and back edge of the garment, over your shoulder. Add 1 inch.
2. Make a small mark with chalk on the inside of the garment at the point where the shoulder straps will attach. Do this while you're still wearing the garment.
3. Cut your ribbon or lace to the length you determined in step one. Use lace or ribbon from 1/4 to 2 inches wide. If you use fabric, cut a strip to the correct length and 2 inches wide. Press under 1/4 inch on each long edge of the fabric. Fold over 1/4 inch again and sew down to finish the raw edge of the fabric.
4. Pin the shoulder straps in place at the chalk marks. Try on the garment again to check the fit and make adjustments if necessary.
5. Sew the shoulder straps in place with a sewing machine or needle and thread.
A TV tuner is the component of a television set, video component or computer that allows it to receive and decode TV signals. Older TVs came equipped with analog tuners, while models produced since the mid 1990s have upgraded to digital tuners. Computer tuner cards can be either internal or external devices, and can also act as a video capture card to store and play video on a hard drive.
Analog Tuners
The standard for black and white analog TV tuners was created in 1940 when the FCC formed the NTSC (National Television Systems Committee), with the standard for color analog tuners following in 1953. The NTSC standards include the 4:3 aspect ratio that comprises the screen size, 525 horizontal scan lines of resolution and 30 frames per second.
Digital Tuners
In 1982, the FCC formed the ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) to set the standards for digital TV tuners, which were developed and adopted by 1996. These standards enabled televisions to receive digital signals, have a wider aspect ratio of 16:9 (similar to movie theater screens) and have a resolution of up to 1,080 vertical and 1,920 horizontal pixels for high-definition video. It also includes Dolby Digital AC-3 for surround sound audio.
Digital Technology
With digital tuners, the signal is received as a stream of data in the MPEG-2 (Motion Pictures Experts Group) format, decoded and decompressed to be viewed by the television. The picture resolution, up to six times greater than that of analog tuners, provides the high-definition video as well as the 5.1 channel audio. The expanded data capacity also allows for the reception of subchannels along with the main channels that are broadcast, which was not possible with analog TV.
Progression
As digital tuners became available, some TVs were manufactured with both NTSC and ATSC tuners to take advantage of both types of broadcasts, and add-on ATSC tuner cards were developed to connect to computers that only had the analog tuner cards to allow them to receive digital and HD video. The analog NTSC tuners, for both televisions and computers, began to be phased out as digital technology became more popular.
Digital Transition
The United States completed its transition to all-digital broadcasting in June 2009. To prepare for this, the FCC had mandated that by March 2007 every tuner installed in a TV or related component must be a digital tuner. Now, older TVs with an analog tuner cannot receive over-the-air broadcasts without the aid of a cable or satellite receiver box or a digital-to-analog converter box. The converter boxes were also necessary for other components such as VCRs not connected to cable or satellite receivers equipped with a digital tuner to process the signal for the television.
Tags: digital tuners, tuner cards, with analog, analog tuner, analog tuners, aspect ratio
The lithium-ion rechargeable batteries that are used by the CoolPix cameras are not fully charged when they are shipped from the factory. Before first use, the battery needs to be fully charged in an appropriate Nikon charger. Be certain the charger unit you have is the correct charger for your particular battery.
Charging
Insert the AC power cord connector into the battery charger unit then insert the other end of the power cord into a wall outlet. Align the nibs on the battery with the depressions in the charger unit's battery well, then insert the battery into the charger unit and seat it in the battery well of the charger unit. Remove the battery when it is fully charged, then unplug the charger unit from the wall.
Charge lamp
The charge lamp is a small LED on the front of the charger unit that will indicate the charger's status. The charge lamp will glow steadily while the charger unit is plugged in but no battery is in the charger. The charge lamp will blink while the charger unit is charging. Charging is complete when the charge lamp stops blinking. If the charge lamp flickers, it indicates the charger unit is out of its temperature range. Move the charger unit to an environment with an ambient temperature that is within its normal operation range (41 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 5 to 35 degrees Celsius).
The charger unit is malfunctioning if the charge lamp flickers and the charger unit is in an environment that is within its operating temperature range. Remove the battery and unplug the unit. Consult an authorized Nikon retailer or representative before attempting to use the charger unit again.
Tags: charger unit, charge lamp, fully charged, battery charger, battery well
Though designed to be used by people with hearing impairments, a phone-ring signaler can be used by just about anyone. The signaler is a device designed to indicate (by means other than sound) that the phone is ringing. It is simple to install and great for the times when you can't hear the phone ringing in the other room.
Instructions
Install a Portable Phone-Ring Signaler
1. Attach the power adapter cord to the back of the device and then plug it into an electrical outlet.
2. Connect one end of the phone cord to the "Line In" jack on the back of the phone-ring signaler. Plug the other end into the telephone wall jack.
3. Attach your telephone to the "Line Out" jack of the device if you wish to have it near the phone. Most devices can work without being plugged into the phone, making them portable.
4. Choose the method by which you want to be signaled and place the mode switch accordingly. Many devices have different options, allowing you to decide whether you wish to be notified by sound, light or vibration.
Install a Fixed Phone-Ring Signaler
5. Use a two-to-one adapter in the wall jack if you want the phone and the signaler device to be connected at the same time.
6. Connect the phone cord attached to the device into the wall jack or adapter. The phone can be attached to the other jack on the adapter.
7. Plug a light or lamp into the outlet of the device and switch the lamp on.
8. Connect the phone-ring signaler device to an electrical outlet.
Operating and recording a video camera is a fairly easy process, but choosing the right format can be challenging. There are many types of video cameras to choose from, and understanding the different types is crucial to making a sound decision for your purposes.
Mini DV
For professional use, use a Mini DV camera. These cameras are catered to high quality video productions and rely on a tiny cassette tape in order to capture footage.
DVD-R
For quick and easy access, use a DVD-R camera. Simply insert a blank DVD-R disc into these cameras and let the recording begin. When finished, you can place it right into your DVD player and watch the footage.
Hard Drive
Never deal with tapes or DVDs again by recording with a Hard Drive Video Camera. The built-in hard drive provides enough space for hours of footage and can easily transfer to your computer.
SD Cards
Exchange the media from a digital camera to video camera by recording directly on an SD card. These cameras are great for quick shots and SD cards are relatively cheap.
Flash Memory
Record a YouTube video or quick Internet clip by using a camcorder with flash memory. These cameras are not made to store a lot of footage, but they provide easy access and are small enough to fit into a purse.
Tags: easy access, Hard Drive, These cameras, video camera
Palm Pilots were created after advancement in technology allowed to companies to create smaller, more innovative devices where we could store all of our important information instead of using calendars and pieces of paper. The Palm Pilot helps reduce paper usage and prevents one from losing important information like appointment dates, phone numbers, addresses and even personal notes because they can all be conveniently located in one place. Palm Pilots have been through many advancements in the past and are still going through advancements today.
History
The first version of a PDA, or personal digital assistant, was created in 1996. The company that manufactured the PDA was Palm Computing and they named the first two versions "Palm Pilots." In 1998, the company was required to change the name "Palm Pilot" because of a lawsuit that was filed against them by the Pilot Pen Corp. for trademark infringement. Regardless, the name "Palm Pilot" is still widely used around the world and refers to PDAs in general, not just the specific brand created by Palm Computing.
Pilot 1000 and Pilot 5000 were the first two versions of the Palm Pilot. These were very different than PDAs today, as they contained a serial communications port, but did not have a backlight, flash memory, and the size of the random-access memory (or RAM) was only 128kb on some and 512kb on others.
The PDAs that came after the first two Palm Pilots were Palm Pilot Personal and Palm Pilot Professional. These were great innovations as they finally had a backlight and they now contained 512kb or 1024kb.
Because legal issues came about, the next PDAs from Palm Computing that were released did not contain "Pilot" in their names.
Types
There are two different kinds of Palm Pilot PDAs with "Pilot" still in their names, and the other two have been discontinued. These PDAs include the Palm Pilot Personal and the Palm Pilot Professional. Although there were many PDAs from Palm Commuting that followed these two versions, they do not contain "Pilot" in their names.
The current models that are available as of May 2009 are the Palm III, Palm IIIx, m100, m105, m125, m130, Zire 31, Palm m500, m500, i705, VIIx, Zire, Zire 71, Tungsten E2, Treo 650, and various others. Some of these newer versions of Palm PDAs are now smart phones. Smart phones are phones that not only make voice calls, but can also connect to the Internet, allow the user to send email, instant message, text message, and even schedule appointments and alarms.
Benefits
Palm Pilots and PDAs were designed to help a person carry out different tasks while on the go, like writing down notes, phone numbers, addresses, appointment schedules and more. Currently they are being used more widely by allowing a person to make phone calls, get on the Internet, send and receive email, and even text message. There are also various tools available on these Palm PDAs like calendars, alarm clocks, world clocks and so much more.
People who are usually on the go find much relief in the digital personal assistants created by Palm Computing. These PDAs allow busy people to keep track of appointments, make important business phone calls, get in touch with friends and family, all with something they can carry in their pocket. It's not as large and bulky as a laptop so it has been a lifesaver to many.
Innovations
Due to advancing technology, smart phones have been on the rise in popularity as they are more useful than ever. From the comfort of your home, office, workplace, car, or even while walking down the street or spending a vacation in Hawaii, you can reach into your pocket and complete five different tasks on one device.
Smart phones were an innovation made after the original Palm Pilots. They now include much more RAM, ports to hook up to your computer, backlights, Internet connectivity and more.
Creators
Palm Pilots were created by Jeff Hawkins, Donna Dubinsky, and Ed Colligan. These three people were also the ones who founded the company Palm Computing. In creating this company, they wanted to build a device that contained handwriting recognition software. As they continued with their research, they changed their plan and decided to create something even bigger and better. This is how the Palm Pilot came about.
It is said that Jeff Hawkins cut a piece of wood about the size of the original Palm Pilots and carried it with him for weeks inside his pocket. Many people believe that the Palm Computing company succeeded in creating such a useful device because they learned from the mistakes of the Apple Computer Co. and Go Corp. after their attempts to create a smart, handheld device.
Apple Computer and Go came out with a device called "The Newton." This device was a personal digital assistant like the future Palm Pilot. Unfortunately, it is said that Apple rushed to get The Newton on the market and this posed many problems. First of all, The Newton's price was much too high for the average buyer. Many of the applications on The Newton had many bugs and caused lots of problems for the user. The advertising of The Newton failed as well. They claimed that it could read your handwriting when, in fact, it could not.
Palm Computing produced a much more effective PDA with all of the capabilities of The Newton, at a much lower price. The bugs that were evident in The Newton were not present on the Palm Pilot and unlike The Newton, the Palm Pilots were very successful on the market.
Tags: Palm Pilot, Palm Pilots, Palm Computing, Palm Pilots were, Pilots were, have been
Auto-rotation is a common feature on many smartphones and it enables your screen to shift from portrait to landscape or vice verse when you physically turn your phone. You may find it useful for reading text and browsing the Internet or auto-rotation may be a distraction when you play games. This function may prove more useful with some applications than others.
AutoRotation
On a cellphone and similar devices, such as the iPod touch or a tablet computer, auto-rotation is what occurs when the device detects that you have turned it on the side. Your cell phone or tablet then turns the on-screen content or image to the side, usually 90 degrees. When you turn your device back into portrait mode, the image returns to its normal state. This feature relies on your phone's accelerometer, also known as g-sensor, to determine position via acceleration and tilt.
Benefits
Auto-rotation is especially useful if you are viewing extended text on your smartphone. Because text, such as on Web pages or text documents, scales to the ratio of your device's screen, it can be quite small and difficult to read in portrait mode. However, auto-rotation enables landscape mode and text-heavy applications are easier to read. Auto-rotation is also a feature of some games, messaging and email apps and, when you turn your phone, camera applications generally rotate buttons so that you can read/understand them. On the iPhone specifically, auto-rotation functions the same as the iPod touch, and shows the coverflow of your albums if you have this feature enabled.
Considerations
If you are not a fan of auto-rotation, you can generally turn it off from individual applications such as your messaging app while allowing your phone to auto-rotate with other applications. Phones such as HTC's Evo Shift also allow you to turn off auto-rotation all together from the Settings section. Several applications exist to disable this function on the iPhone. Note that auto-rotation is not available with all apps. For example, the Angry Birds touch-screen games for your smartphones are some of many games that display in landscape mode regardless of the orientation of your phone. You must physically turn your phone to find the best viewing angle.
Warning
Content on your phone may require a few minutes to adjust after you turn the phone and the content auto-rotates. Images must scale to the correct ratio. Thus you should try not to turn your phone quickly back and forth, to give it the time it needs to adjust. Furthermore, your phone's accelerometer may not recognize that you have turned it if you are holding is at an angle or on your side. To remedy this, turn the phone back to its original position and then back. Holding it perfectly vertically or horizontally may also enable your cellphone to better auto-rotate.
Tags: your phone, turn your, turn your phone, have turned, iPod touch, landscape mode
You can rotate video that was captured with a Web camera.
Amateur and professional camera operators usually know correctly hold a camera in the upright position. But that does not always mean that the final digital video or photo will display as they intended. Sometimes cameras position videos and photos horizontally, which is also referred to as landscape or panoramic view. Alternatively, videographers and photographers are free to physically rotate the camera, and that will change the position of the display. If you need to rotate the video or photo after it has been captured, you can use free editing software in the Windows operating system.
Instructions
1. Click "Start." Type "Windows Live Movie Maker " in the search box at the bottom of the "Start" menu. Press "Enter."
2. Click the "Home" tab. Click "Add Videos and Photos." Click the folders and drive letters to find the video or photo file on the hard drive. Double-click on the file or click once to highlight it, and then click "Open." Wait for Movie Maker to process the video, as larger files might take a few minutes for the application to decode or open.
3. Click "Rotate Left" or "Rotate Right" in the "Editing" section in the center of the Home tab. Each click will rotate the video 90 degrees in that direction. Click at will until you have rotated the video or photo to your preference.
4. Click the blue "Menu" icon in the top left corner of Movie Maker. Select "Save Project," and this will replace the original horizontal video or photo file. Alternatively, choose "Save Project As" to create a second file separate from the original file. Name the file and then click "Save."
Tags: video photo, Movie Maker, rotate video, photo file, Save Project
The Forerunner 301 is a digital heart rate monitor device from Garmin that is designed to operate as a virtual personal assistant. The Forerunner can record and keep track of heart rate information from your workout routines and calculate your improvements. This digital monitoring device also can store different workout profiles that you can name. The process of changing the name of your workout profile in the Forerunner 301 is fairly straightforward.
Instructions
1. Press the "Mode" button to enter the Menu mode on the device.
2. Use the "Up/Down" arrow buttons to scroll through the main menu to the "Training Assistant" option; then press the "Enter" button.
3. Select the "Advanced Workout" option; then press the "Enter" button.
4. Select the workout from the listing that you want to rename; then press the "Enter" button. The name will appear highlighted in the next screen. Enter the new name and press the "Enter" button to save the change.
Tags: Enter button, press Enter, press Enter button, then press, then press Enter, button Select, Enter button Select
Navionics makes a series of nautical maps used in marine-based Global Positioning System units and chart plotters. You can download the Navionics maps from the company's website and once the maps are on a home computer, you can "rip" or copy them to a memory card for use in your electronic marine devices.
Instructions
1. Direct your Internet browser to the Navionics website. Click the "Web Store" selection on the menu bar. Click the "Install ADOBE Air" icon. Make sure your browser is not blocking cookies or the download won't work.
2. Accept the terms of agreement and installation for the Adobe Air program. Install the program to your hard drive. Download and install the Navionics Chart installer on your hard drive.
3. Select and purchase the Navionics maps you need off the Navionics website.
4. Plug the secure digital, or SD, card reader into a USB port on your computer and insert an SD card into the reader. Highlight the Navionics maps to be ripped and transferred. Drag and drop them to the SD card icon on the desktop. Wait for the data transfer to occur. Remove the SD card. It now has the ripped Navionics maps stored within the memory on the card.
5. Insert the SD card into your GPS or marine electronic chart plotter and open the Navionics maps.
Tags: Navionics maps, card into, hard drive, memory card, Navionics website, your hard
Excluding the PSP Go (which comes with 16 GB of internal memory), the PSP only includes 32 MB of internal memory. That will not hold much if you intend to add a lot of music, videos or photos to the device. A Memory Stick Duo can be used to expand the storage capacity of the PSP. By default, the PSP only supports the Memory Stick Duo. Using a Memory Stick Adapter, you can connect the Memory Stick Duo to your computer or use different types of SD cards on the PSP.
Instructions
1. Insert the Memory Stick Duo into the adapter. Insert the Memory Stick Duo adapter into your computer's flash card reader or USB SD card reader.
2. Make a note of the name of the Memory Stick Duo which will be displayed in the tasktray.
3. Click the "Start" button in the Windows taskbar. Click "Computer" ("My Computer" if you're using Windows XP). Double-click the name of the Memory Stick Duo. A list of subfolders (e.g. Music) will be displayed.
4. Double-click the subfolder that represents the type of files you want to transfer to the Memory Stick Duo. Drag and drop the files into the subfolder.
Sony's Handycam camcorders are great video recorders that are available in standard definition, high definition and professional grade setups. Once recorded onto a DV tape, an HDV tape or a hard drive, users have the option of transferring their videos to a computer. This opens the door for video editing, archiving and transferring to a DVD or Blu-Ray disc. Whether you recorded a family vacation or an amateur short film, all the tools are at your disposal.
Instructions
1. Plug in the 4 pin (small) end of the i.LINK cable into the correct port on you Handycam.
2. Plug in the 6 pin (large) end of the cable into the firewire port on your computer. If you have a laptop, you may need a 4 pin to 4 pin i.LINK cable instead of the 4 pin to 6 pin.
3. Turn on your computer.
4. Turn on your camera. You may also need to put the camera in playback mode for the computer to recognize it.
Tags: Sony Handycam, cable into, Connect Sony, Connect Sony Handycam, Handycam Computer
Rewinding the film from a manual Pentax K1000 35 mm camera requires the photographer to know release the film sprocket spool to allow the film to rotate in reverse, along with being able to find the film rewind crank, necessary for rolling the film back into its canister.
Instructions
1. Look at the bottom of the Pentax K1000. On the right side, find a round film rewind button set inside a beveled round area.
2. Point the lens of the camera away from you and look at the top of the camera. On the left side, find a round knob with a bar across the middle. This bar is the film rewind crank. Lift up one end of the bar to form a handle.
3. Hold the camera with the thumb on the back of the camera, the index finger on the film rewind button and your other three fingers along the front of the camera for stability.
4. Press the film rewind button, then turn the rewind crank clockwise. Feel the tension of the film inside as it is pulled off the film sprocket spool back into the canister.
5. Listen for and feel when the end of the film comes off the film sprocket spool. At that point, rewinding is finished. If you're not sure, continue rewinding until there is no film left on the spool.
Tags: film rewind, Pentax K1000, film rewind button, film sprocket, film sprocket spool, rewind button, rewind crank
DirectTV is a a company that provides home owners with satellite television channels. The main means of accessing the satellite channels is through a small DirectTV receiving dish that is place on the roof of the home or building. One of the most important aspects of a DirectTV dish is adjusting it into a position that receives the best signal. Although DishTV receivers are properly positioned during installation, they sometimes need adjusting to improve the reception quality.
Instructions
1. Obtain the Dish Pointing Coordinates from the menu system of your DishTV onscreen options. These coordinates tell you exactly where the satellite is located so that you can point the receiving dish towards it. There will be two coordinates to note: azimuth and elevation. The elevation is the up-and-down angle of the dish and the azimuth coordinates are the side-to-side directions for the dish.
2. Position a ladder along the side of the house or building so that you can access the receiver dish. You may need to actually climb onto the roof to do this.
3. Loose the two elevation nuts located on the side of the dish where it meets the main arm.
4. Look at the elevation settings which are located in the same location as the nuts that were just loosened. Align the small black mark at the top of the elevation settings with the proper elevation that you got from the DishTV menu. Tighten the nuts on both sides of the device to secure the elevation settings.
5. Locate the support sleeve nuts located on the center back of the device. Loosen these nuts so that you can adjust the azimuth level.
6. Point the front of the dish towards the correct azimuth setting. You will need a compass to point to the correct azimuth direction. When you achieve the correct azimuth direction, you will hear a continuous audible tone. Re-tighten the sleeve nuts in the back of the dish to secure the azimuth settings.
7. Go back to the television and access the on-screen signal meter options to check for a signal. If no signal is available, adjust the azimuth settings on the dish until a signal is received.
Having two DIRECTV satellite receivers provides you with more options to watch the channels you enjoy the most. A TV connected after a proper satellite receiver installation can show satellite programming without having to share with another TV, and you can enjoy the DVR features you may have available on that DIRECTV satellite receiver. To run two DIRECTV satellite receivers to your house, you need to start with two cables at the satellite dish.
Instructions
1. Connect two RG6 cables to the connectors located under the satellite dish LNB. The LNB is the arm that sticks out of your satellite dish, so it's easy to access these connectors.
2. Run your RG6 cables into your attic and down the wall where your satellite receivers are. One cable will run to each receiver, depending on where they are located in the house. For example, you may one run cable to your living area and the other cable to your master bedroom, which are the locations of your two DIRECTV satellite receivers.
3. Plug each cable into the "SAT IN" input on the back of the satellite receiver to install DIRECTV receivers.
4. Run another cable from the "TV OUT" output connector on the back of your DIRECTV satellite receiver to the "TV IN" connector located on the back of your television set. This sends your satellite signal from your DIRECTV satellite receiver to your television set.
All batteries are essentially electrochemical devices. They use the chemical reactions of two different substances to create an electric current. Fundamental battery design needs two electrodes: an anode (negative terminal) and a cathode (positive terminal). These are not placed into direct contact, as doing so would result in a short circuit. They are instead connected indirectly through an electrolyte medium. Using the electrolyte as a bridge, the anode and cathode react so that positively charged electrons travel to the cathode and negatively charged electrons travel to the anode. Standing alone, this operates as a closed circuit for electric current. When a device is connected to the battery, it forms a larger circuit, with power flowing out of the cathode and then back into the anode, minus much of the charge.
Zinc-Manganese
Most of the batteries used for portable electronics, such as portable radios and iPod players, remote controls and clocks are run on what are called alkaline batteries, and most of these batteries are of the zinc-manganese type. In these batteries, the anode is made from zinc and the cathode from manganese dioxide. The electrode is potassium hydroxide, a common electrolyte for small, portable batteries of this kind.
Non-Rechargable
Zinc-manganese batteries are almost always not meant to be recharged. Trying to recharge these batteries is dangerous, and will likely result in a rupture of the casing, spilling the dangerous liquid potassium hydroxide electrolyte. There are guides for charging these batteries manually, but this is a very risky procedure and should only be undertaken by experts.
Tags: these batteries, charged electrons, charged electrons travel, electric current, electrons travel
Setting studio lights for portraiture can seem like a daunting task, but in reality it is a simple process. There are several different lighting styles for portraiture and all of them can be attained with a few simple pieces of equipment. To set studio lights for portraiture requires a main light, a side light, and a hair or fill light for the background. From these basic pieces of equipment, many lighting styles can be created.
Instructions
1. Decide where the subject will be seated.
2. Place the fill or key light and focus it on the background. This light is used to create separation from the subject and adds dimension to the image. Turn off this light until ready to shoot as it will affect the meter readings when creating the lighting ratio.
3. Determine the desired lighting ratio. The lighting ratio measures the amount of contrast in the portrait; a portrait with a high lighting ratio of 4:1 will have more contrast than a portrait with a low lighting ratio of 1:1. When setting lights for studio portraiture a ratio of 3:1 or 4:1 is commonly used, meaning that the highlights of the subject are receiving three to four times more light than the low lights or shadows.
4. Place the fill light to the left or right of the subject on a 45-degree angle. This fill light will lighten the shadows. Meter the shadows of the subject with the fill light on and adjust this light until the meter is at an even f stop reading, which will make creating the ratio in the next step easier.
5. Set the main light above the photographer, directly in line with the subject. Meter the main light plus the fill light, adjusting the light's intensity until the desired lighting ratio is achieved on the highlight section of the subject. This will be the larger portion of the lighting ratio.
6. Pose the subject. This lighting setup allows for easy changes between broad side and short side portrait lighting by moving the subject. Broad side lighting lights the broad portion of the face, with the shadow cast by the nose falling onto the narrower side of the face. Short side lighting is when the main light illuminates the side of the face turned away from the camera. These lighting styles can be alternated by turning the subject towards or away from the light source.
Tags: lighting ratio, fill light, main light, lighting styles, away from, desired lighting, desired lighting ratio