Digital Video Recorders are a godsend for today's multitasking but TV-loving families. These devices plug into your cable or digital satellite feed and allow you to record hundreds of hours of programming, to be played back at your convenience. Although the technology inside a DVR box is complex, connecting these sophisticated machines into your entertainment system is a straightforward process.
Instructions
1. Install the DVR in its intended place inside your entertainment cabinet, making sure you have adequate ventilation to protect the machine from excess heat buildup. Plug in the power to the device but leave it turned off.
2. Connect the coaxial cable from your cable box's VIDEO OUT or RF OUT port to the VIDEO IN or RF IN port of the DVR. If you do not use a cable box, then connect the coaxial cable directly to the cable jack in the wall.
3. Run the component video ports from the VIDEO OUT port of the DVR into a free VIDEO IN port of your television set. The TV may have multiple VIDEO IN ports available; choose any free one. Component video cables are color-coded, so match each color (e.g., run the blue-tipped cable from the blue-tipped OUT port to the blue-tipped IN port).
4. Connect the AUDIO OUT port of the DVR to the AUDIO IN port on the TV. Select the closest input jacks to the incoming component video cables, and connect red-to-red and white-to-white.
5. Turn on the TV and DVR and verify that the TV is receiving a signal from the DVR. It may take some time for the DVR to recognize your cable setup and populate the appropriate channel schedules.
Tags: VIDEO port, your cable, AUDIO port, blue-tipped port, cable from, coaxial cable
Metal letterpress comes in a number of types and looks.
Metal letterpress was the most popular form of printing for over 100 years. Used for books and newspapers alike, metal letterpress is still used by a number of different companies that want an old fashioned look and feel for their products. However, there are a number of factors that can affect metal letterpress, and what the final product looks like.
Press Type
There are two major types of metal letterpress; movable and non-movable press. Non-movable type is by far the older variety, where the text of a single page would be created and then used to print that single page. Wood blocks were more commonly used due to how easy they were to work with, and the relatively cheap cost of the material. Movable press means that you can put together a variety of letters and spaces to create a single page, and when that page is printed you can rearrange the letters to print a different page. This was much more commonly used with metal letterpress.
Font
Another factor for metal letterpress is the font of the letters being used in the press. If you look at the font list in a word processing program, many of those fonts were used in newspapers and books, including the Times New Roman and Arial fonts. Other changes to the font, such as bold letters or italicized letters, had to be made separately. It was common to pick a single letterpress font and to print the entire manuscript in that one font.
Metal
The type of metal used for letterpresses has varied slightly over the years. Lead was a common material due to how easy it was to shape, however it would also lose its shape if too much pressure was put on it. Steel is also a common metal, but it can corrode over time, especially if exposed to moisture for long periods. Copper was also used because it was easy to form but could take more pressure then lead, but it would also corrode over time if not carefully cleaned and cared for.
Tags: metal letterpress, single page, commonly used, corrode over, corrode over time, metal letterpress, more commonly
The SB-600 is a standalone strobe flash unit and a key component of Nikon's Creative Lighting System. Cameras such as the Nikon D70s are able to wirelessly transmit TTL (Through the Lens) data to one or more off-camera flash units. The latest systems offered by Nikon and its competitors have revolutionized flash photography by combining powerful flash capabilities with extremely portable devices. If you have a SB-600 flash unit and a D70s digital SLR camera, you are ready to start exploring the exciting creative possibilities offered by today's flash technologies.
Instructions
Set the Camera
1. Digital SLR camera contols
Set your camera's mode. You can use P (program), S (shutter), A (aperture) or M (manual).
2. Menu button on a digital SLR camera
Press the Menu button and set the Flash Mode to "Commander Mode" and "TTL." In TTL Commander Mode, the camera will determine the correct amount of power to send to the flash unit in order to achieve the correct exposure. As you gain experience, you may want to try Manual mode, which will allow you to specify the power output of your remote SB-600 units.
3. Popup the on-camera flash unit. In this configuration, the on-camera flash is used only to signal the remote flash unit or units. It does not contribute significant illumination to the scene.
Prepare the SB-600 Flash Unit
4. Attach a Nikon SB-600 flash unit to a light stand.
5. Press the On/Off button to turn on the SB-600 flash unit.
6. Press the Zoom and "-" buttons simultaneously in order to enter the "Custom Settings Mode" (CSM).
7. Press the "+" or "-" button to scroll through the list of SB-600 options. The wireless remote flash mode is indicated by a Z-shaped arrow.
8. Press the "Mode" button to toggle the wireless remote flash mode on.
Experiment With Off-Camera Lighting
9. Position the SB-600 flash unit away from the camera. The unit may be aimed directly at the subject or bounced off walls and ceilings to achieve indirect lighting effects.
10. Compose your photograph.
11. Press the shutter release to take the photo.
12. View the captured photo on the D70s screen and adjust the Speedlight position to improve lighting if necessary. You can achieve very different effects by changing the position of the light.
13. Add additional Speedlights to achieve more sophisticated lighting effects. Secondary light sources are commonly used to illuminate the background or to add highlights to the main subject.
Tags: flash unit, SB-600 flash unit, remote flash, SB-600 flash, Commander Mode, flash mode, lighting effects
A basic laboratory microscope passes light through a specimen mounted on a glass slide. The specimen needs to be very thin to allow the light to pass through powerfully and without distortion and to allow a cover slip to sit evenly over the specimen.
Purpose
A standard microscope is designed to show detail in one dimension, and so a specimen does not need to be thick. A different system must be used to look at 3-D detail.
Light
For an image to be seen clearly through a microscope, light must pass through the specimen with high power. Light cannot pass powerfully through a specimen that is more than a few cell layers thick.
Calibration
Together a typical glass slide and cover slip are about 1 to 1.4mm thick. Microscopes are calibrated to compensate for light bending as it passes through them. As a result, a thick specimen will throw off the adjustment and distort the image.
Spacing
At higher magnification, very little space is between the lens and the slide. A thick specimen can be smashed by the lens.
Cover Slip
It is not a good idea to try to use a thicker specimen without a cover slip. The cover slip is critical to correct the bend of light, especially if magnification of 20x or more is used.
A professional sound engineer won't mic vocals at a concert using a condenser mic; a dynamic microphone is more appropriate. Condenser and dynamic microphones differ in the way they function and their applications in miking live and recorded music.
Function
Dynamic microphones can withstand wear and tear, loud noise and moisture, and are more commonly used on stage. Condenser microphones are used in studios, as they are much more fragile and have a higher sensitivity to sound.
Price
The quality of a recording depends greatly on the quality of the microphones being used. Because of their higher sensitivity to sound, condenser microphones are usually much more expensive than dynamic microphones, often by hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Power Supply
Condenser microphones require an external power supply, known as phantom power; dynamic microphones do not.
Live Drumming
Sound engineers often use condenser microphones to mic drums on stage. While dynamic microphones are used to mic actual drums, condenser microphones come in handy for overhead miking of cymbals.
Function
Condenser and dynamic microphones function in different ways. Dynamic microphones work by electromagnetic induction. Condenser microphones work by conduction.
Building a PVC pet bed is an inexpensive way to give your pet a comfortable place to rest. The entire family can join in for this project and the pet bed can be made for a pet of any type or size. PVC is so easy to work with that even the little kids can help.
Instructions
1. Lay the pet on a flat surface and measure a square around the pet. Add about 2 inches on each side.
2. Measure and cut the PVC to the dimensions around the animal. Calculate the correct fabric length needed. To do this, add 2 inches to all the measurements and multiply by two. Cut the fabric to the correct dimensions. Decide how tall you want the bed to be and use a hacksaw to cut four legs from the PVC pipe.
3. Coat the inside of the side ports on the three-way corner connectors with PVC glue. These are the ports that make the "V" shape. Insert the pipes you cut for the sides of the bed into the ports and connect them together to make a square or rectangle.
4. Set the pet inside the square or rectangular shape and make sure the pet fits.
5. Run a ring of PVC glue around the inside edge of the PVC caps and slide them onto the bottoms of the legs. Glue the inside of the open port on the corner connectors and insert the legs into the ports. Allow all the glue to dry for two to three hours.
6. Fold the heavy duty fabric in half lengthwise and hem around the edges of the fabric so that the fabric does not become frayed. The double layer fabric will be sturdier and last longer. Denim and corduroy are both strong fabrics.
7. Measure and cut the Velcro strips. Take the length of each side of the frame and subtract 2 inches. Cut the Velcro to this size.
8. Stretch the fabric over the frame and pull it as tightly as possible. Attach the Velcro strip to the underside of the fabric and the fabric that is pulled around the outside of the frame. The tighter the fabric is, the less the fabric will sag.
Tags: corner connectors, each side, fabric that, fabric will, into ports
In 2004, Major League Baseball gave XM radio the right to broadcast every MLB game the leagues schedule. No matter which team you root for, you can hear all of their games on XM radio. Many games are also aired in Spanish.
Instructions
1. Find the schedule of games that XM is broadcasting. Go to xmradio.com and click on the Major League Baseball schedules link, which will take you to a pull down menu of leagues and teams.
2. Choose American or National league from the dropdown menu.
3. Choose the team you wish to listen to from the "Select Your Team" dropdown menu. Options include broadcasts in Spanish, home feed and national feed for most teams.
4. Review the results of your search. The site will give you a schedule of game times and which XM channels they will be broadcast on. Write this information down for later use.
5. Turn on your XM radio and go to the channel listed for the game you wish to hear. You can also flip around to listen to other MLB games.
6. Go to XM channel 175 to listen to Home Plate. Home Plate is a 24-hour station dedicated to Major League Baseball. There you'll find hosts talking with sports personalities, discussions and broadcasts of vintage games.
Tags: League Baseball, Major League, Major League Baseball, dropdown menu, Home Plate
Game cameras for photographing wildlife are valuable tools for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Building your own game camera can save money and give you the features you need, suited to your particular area. With a digital camera, a control board with motion sensor and flash, a homemade game camera can capture high quality photographs of wildlife activity in your area night and day, providing accurate information on game size and habit patterns.
History
Homemade game cameras first came into being over 100 years ago when early wildlife photographers rigged primitive cameras to trip wires and flashlights, thus enabling them to photograph the local wildlife in action in an undisturbed setting. Today, trail cameras are rigged with infrared motion detectors, digital cameras and sophisticated flash systems.
Features
The deciding factor in choosing a game camera is usually cost. The camera itself should be digital with enough memory to take a week's worth of shots, and long battery life for time in the field. The motion sensor and control board can be purchased as one integrated unit, saving time and electrical skill. The case needs to be waterproof and camouflaged for concealment, and small enough to be easily attached and unobtrusive.
Build Your Own
Building your own game camera can be rewarding while giving you the opportunity to get the exact features and price you need. If you have skill in electrical wiring, you can purchase the control board and motion sensor separately, giving you flexibility and even more savings. If not, there are integrated control boards with motion sensors pre-wired. The camera should have a good flash with a fast recovery rate. Wire the camera and control board according to the board manufacturer's instructions. Use a padded and water-resistant handgun case in which to mount the camera and board. Drill holes in the case for the camera lens, flash and motion sensor, making sure to seal the openings against water and wind.
Placement
Place your game camera in the desired location near a game trail or feeding area. Mount the unit about waist high on a sturdy tree. Point the camera down the trail or into the cornfield or meadow in a north or south direction to avoid morning and evening sunlight shining into the lens. Be sure the unit is turned on, and the memory card loaded into the camera. If the area is well known or heavily traveled, conceal the camera as best you can without blocking the camera's field of view with branches or brush. You can use a lock and cable to secure the case to the tree. Use cover scent or scent eliminator to mask your smell from handling the case. Check the camera on a regular basis to download the photos and recharge the batteries.
Tags: game camera, control board, motion sensor, your game, your game camera, Building your
The iPhone 2G and iPhone 3G are the first two generations of the iPhone, a smartphone manufactured and sold by Apple. The 2G was released in 2007 and is currently discontinued, while the 3G, released in 2008, is still available.
Phone Network
The iPhone 2G and 3G are named after the phone networks they operate in. Both operate as quad-band phones within the 2G network. The 3G, however, also operates as a tri-band phone within the 3G network.
Size and Display
Both phones have 3.5-inch thin-film transistor capacitive touchscreens with the ability to display 16 million colors at 320 by 480 pixels.
Sound and Memory
The iPhone 2G and 3G have vibration capabilities as well as the ability to play and download polyphonic and MP3 ringtones. While 2G comes with 4, 8 or 16 GB of internal memory, the 3G come with 8 or 16 GB, plus 128 MB RAM.
Battery
Both phones use lithium-ion batteries, with the 3G having longer stand-by and talk times than the 2G.
Other Features
Other features include a camera; Bluetooth and WLAN capabilities; USB ports; audio/video players; and the ability to send and receive text messages, e-mail, pictures, and instant messaging. The 3G has additional GPS support.
The life of a teenager is one worth recording. The teenager especially believes this, but will believe it even more years down the road when they can look back on themselves in their youth and all the attendant folly, freedom and chaos. Recording for them is a simple joy, and their camera should match this simplicity. Here is find the best camcorder for teens.
Instructions
1. Get an analog video recorder. They are a great deal cheaper (and going down in price) in the face of the blooming digital video recording market, and the analog video tapes are easy to use and view.
2. Keep options and menus to a minimum. This will likely be the first video camera many teens will have, so to overwhelm them with options is both costly and counterproductive.
3. Think small and sturdy. Unless serious filmmaking is on the agenda, most teens want a camera they can tote around and catch memories with. Expect it to be abused in backpacks and pockets.
4. Get a disposable digital camera. If you have a feeling this is a phase, or think that the teen just wants to record one particular event, some stores offer a digital camera for about $30 that can record 20 minutes of material.
5. Consider a waterproof housing or weatherproof camera. Not every teenager is a future oceanographer, but almost every teenager spills drinks, falls in puddles or has other unfortunate encounters with liquid.
Tags: analog video, digital camera, every teenager
When choosing a cell phone service provider and plan for your business's cell phone needs, you should consider a few important factors, including accessibility, features, risk of overage fees and dependability.
Many cell phone plans are available, and finding the perfect cell phone plan for your business can mean saving money and getting the most useful features that are relevant to your business needs.
Accessibility and Dependability
Look for cell phone plans on reliable networks that provide the kind of dependable access you and your employees need. Consider whether you need a national or international network. If you need a cell phone plan that works around the world, choosing a national network plan will not be sufficient for your business.
Read consumer and industry reviews of cell phone service providers, and take the time to view a provider's covered service area. Again, accessibility and dependability are key to choosing a good business cell phone plan. Make sure the service provider offers service in your business's home area as well as wherever your employees may be located.
Minutes and Rates
Look for cell phone plans that allow unlimited calling between users on the same plan or network. If your employees need to communicate with each other often throughout the day, this feature is crucial to saving money on your business cell phone plan.
Check the rates as well. Having unlimited night and weekend usage on a cell phone plan is a nice feature if you conduct business around the clock or if your employees will be using their cell phones for personal use as well.
Consider the rates of multiple service providers. A plan that includes 1,000 anytime minutes may cost more with one provider because its network is global, while another provider is focused on giving users low-cost rates in a limited network area.
Also consider whether the minutes are shared between the accounts. A plan with 1,000 anytime minutes pooled between two phones may be sufficient, but 1,000 minutes spread across 20 phones is hardly adequate.
Texting and Web Access
Think about your needs as a business and how communication plays a part in that business. If your employees need on-the-go access to business email accounts and the Internet, an unlimited Web and data plan added to your cell phone account is a must.
Employees may communicate via text messaging, and you will need to consider that cost as well. Unlimited texting plans are often a good deal for accounts that include multiple phones.
Limitations
Read the fine print carefully. Consider the number of phones that can be added to one account, and look for discounts for businesses that open multiple accounts at the same time.
Consider whether an unlimited-rate plan is better for your business needs then a set-rate plan. Unlimited-rate plans cost more than standard plans, but they will help your business avoid overage fees and usage charges and could be a better investment depending on how heavy your business cell phone use will be.
Tags: cell phone, your business, cell phone plan, phone plan, your employees, business cell
The Nikon Alphaphot-2 Microscope allows you to view specimens up to 100 times their normal size. There are four objective lenses within the microscope, with magnification rates of 4, 10, 40 and 100 times the original size of the specimen. A lighted base allows you to clearly view slide specimens, while the separately focusing ocular ports allow you to precisely adjust the focus to your vision, whether you have 20/20 or use bifocals. Using the microscope correctly involves carefully calibrating the focus of the instrument by using the adjustment knobs so that you can clearly view the slides on the "stage."
Instructions
1. Place the microscope at a comfortable distance in front of you, so that if you are seated, you can easily look into the eyepieces, or as they are called, oraculars.
2. Rotate the 10-times objective lens into use. The objective lenses are grouped below the oraculars, and can be moved by turning the revolving turret. Lower the stage, or place where the slides will be mounted. Use the course focus knob to raise and lower the stage.
3. Adjust the baseplate of the oraculars so that you see one circle when looking through the oraculars, and not two separate circles.
4. Focus your basic view of the specimen slide by rotating the course focus knob to bring it into clearer focus. Once the specimen is in view, make any further adjustments using the fine focus knob. To further calibrate your focus of the slide, rotate the objective lenses and select the 40 times magnification objective lens. Fine-tune the focus of each oracular separately. Do this by closing one eye while turning the diopter adjustment ring.
Hot lights and strobe lights represent the two main types of photo studio lights. Hot lights, also known as continuous lights, stay on at full intensity until someone turns them off. Strobes deliver a high-intensity flash of light for the short duration of a camera's open shutter, then are dark again until the next flash. Both hot and strobe lights have characteristics that suit different situations.
Hot Lights
Hot lights can be grouped into four categories: photofloods, quartz halogen, fluorescent and LED. The best feature of hot lights is that a photographer can see the shadows in a picture before taking it. Hot lights are not as bright as strobes, however, and work best in product photography in which the subjects do not move and the camera can be mounted on a tripod.
Photofloods
Photofloods resemble large household light bulbs, though they provide a much brighter light. They are tungsten and so require tungsten-balanced film or a white balance in a digital camera to offset the warm tone. These are the oldest type of studio lights and least expensive.
Quartz Halogen
Quartz halogen bulbs are constructed out of quartz and filled with halogen; they burn brighter than photofloods. They are energy-inefficient and emit much of the energy as heat rather than light. For this reason, people touching them can be seriously burned; fires can start if flammables come into contact with them. Also, they are a drain on electrical wiring, so older structures must be inspected to make sure it is safe to plug quartz halogen lights into the outlets. In addition, quartz halogen bulbs can explode in specific settings.
Fluorescent Lights and LEDs
Fluorescent lights are arranged in banks; they provide a better quality of light than the bulbs used for regular room light. They are significantly cooler, more energy-efficient and provide a more stable light quality than photofloods or quartz halogen bulbs. The biggest obstacle to owning fluorescent banks is a high cost factor.
LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are arranged in arrays for the most recent and coolest-running type of studio lighting. They are energy-efficient and provide an unwavering quality of light. The HMI type of LED lighting is often used for motion picture filming. These are by far the most expensive type of studio lighting.
Strobe Lights
Strobe light heads consist of a flash bulb or tube, its reflector and a dimmer modeling light that stays on to give the photographer an idea of what the shadows will look like in the photograph. The strobe heads are mounted on stands in the studio. These lights run cool compared with some hot lights, and they provide a higher intensity light than hot lights so stop-motion photos are possible. The main drawback to strobes is that the photographer cannot see the exact lighting until the photograph is taken. Two types of strobe lights exist: monolights and power pack units.
Monolights and Power Pack Units
Monolights contain the power source in each head and thus can be heavy. Each head is plugged into a separate electrical outlet. They are usually less expensive than power pack units.
Power pack units are much lighter because they do not contain a power source. Each head plugs into a master power pack. They are usually more expensive than monolights, though sets of each type can be found in multiple price levels. Power packs are used by virtually all professional photographers.
Tags: quartz halogen, halogen bulbs, power pack, they provide, type studio
Sony manufactures DVD Burners for storing, backing up and sharing your documents and media onto DVD. They allow you to burn large files, including movies, which are space-consuming. They also allow you to play music CDs and commercially available CD and DVD content. They can be a bit tricky and are susceptible to interference from other programs. The most common problem is that the write just simply fails. There are a few factors that come into play for successful DVD recording. Errors and write failures can be reduced with some preparation and simple fixes.
Recording
If you've tried to burn a DVD and it's failed you can attempt a few things. Take a look at the programs running on your computer and close programs running in the background that you don't need at that time. Screen savers, anti-virus and task schedulers can all be problematic. Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" to see a list of programs that are running. Sony says that you can "end task" on everything except Explorer and Systray.
CD-ROM to CD-RW
Problems can occur if the CD-RW drive isn't the source drive. It's best to copy the disk image to the hard drive and then record back to the CD-RW. In other words don't use the CD-ROM, except to get the disk image over onto the hard drive.
Bios Problems
Visit your computer manufacturer's website to verify your computer is up to date with all its bios revisions and updates. At the very least, you should make sure the graphics card, mother board and chipset are all up to date. Dell has a good system where you enter the cryptic numbers from the computer's case and the website will advise the exact revisions you'll need.
Ghost Drives
It's possible the computer remembers previous drives that were associated with the computer. The problem is that even if they are no longer attached, they may still be inherent in the computer's brain. To do check this, boot the computer in Safe Mode by pressing F8 when re-booting. Go into the Device Manager and look at the CD-ROMS in the list. Click any pluses next to the text "CD-ROMS" and delete any that show up that you know are not connected anymore. Reboot in normal mode.
Virtual Device Driver Problems
There's a file called scsi1hlp.vxd that can cause problems. It's a virtual device driver. Search for it on your machine from the Find Files or Folders option. Go to Start and then Find. Rename the file scsi1hlp.old. The file may be in C:/Windows/System/Iosubsys.
Disable Auto Insert Notification
The Auto Insert Notification setting can cause problems. Go to the Device Manager and look for your DVD burner in the CD-ROM section. Click on the settings and uncheck Auto Insert Notification. Make sure the only option checked is "Disconnect." Do the same with any other recording CD-ROM devices on the list and re-boot.
Tags: Auto Insert, Auto Insert Notification, Insert Notification, your computer, cause problems, Device Manager
The Canon ZR100 Camcorder provides the best video quality in high ambient light conditions.
The Canon ZR100 Mini Camcorder was an affordable digital video camcorder when it was released in 2005. It received high praise for its very low price, ease of use and high-powered zoom. Reviewers noted that its low-light performance was poor but praised its video quality with proper lighting. The ZR100 uses Mini DV media but lacks the capability to take photos. Due to the user-friendly nature of the camcorder, getting started is simple.
Instructions
Preparing the Camcorder
1. Attach the battery pack to the back of the camcorder with the power button off. The battery back is recharged by plugging the AC power source into the camcorder with the battery pack installed.
2. Turn the power on to start the camcorder. If the battery pack is low or unavailable, you can run the camcorder off the AC power source when it is plugged in.
3. Move the Open/Eject button over to open the cassette cover.
4. Insert the cassette with the window facing the hand grip belt on the camera and press the "push" symbol on the cassette until it clicks into place. The cassette compartment will retract automatically and close.
5. Adjust the viewfinder, hand grip belt and LCD screen to your preferred settings before beginning to record.
Recording Video
6. Remove the lens cap and move the power switch to the "Camera" position.
7. Open the LCD panel and click the "Start/Stop" button to begin recording. Push the "Start/Stop" button again to stop recording.
8. Close the LCD screen, cap the lens and turn the power button off when you are finished recording. Remove the cassette if you do not intend to use the camcorder right away.
Video Playback
9. Move the camcorder function switch to the "Playback (VCR)" mode to playback video on the camcorder.
10. Open up the LCD panel and tilt it to the proper angle to view.
11. Press the "Play," "Stop," "Fast-Forward" or "Reverse" button to manipulate the video. Volume is changed with a dial on the bottom left-hand corner of the camcorder.
12. Attach the AV out cables to a TV if you wish to view camcorder videos on your TV.
Tags: battery pack, camcorder with, Canon ZR100, grip belt, hand grip, hand grip belt, Mini Camcorder
There are a number of different memory card types, and SanDisk's Compact Flash is one of the larger models used in digital devices. These memory cards are mostly used in cameras, but they have been increasingly popular in some video recorder models also. Anytime you have a new CF card or a new device, you should format the card. While it is possible to format in Windows, this isn't ideal. For best results, format the CF card using the camera, video recorder or other device that you intend to use it with.
Instructions
1. Open the device's storage location and insert the Compact Flash memory card. Only do this when the device is turned off.
2. Power on the device and navigate to the main menu.
3. Navigate to the "Tools" or "Set-Up" menu. If you aren't sure where the format option is for that device, consult the user guide for a detailed layout of the menu screen. Every device that uses CF memory cards will have a built-in formatting tool.
4. Locate the "Format" option and continue. Cameras usually require you press the right arrow to continue, but this depends on the device.
5. Agree to format the Compact Flash memory card, and select "Format" or "OK" if prompted. The camera or other device will then format the card so that it correctly works with that specific device.
Tags: Compact Flash, Flash memory card, format card, memory card, Compact Flash memory, device that
Taking pictures with reflections is a fun and challenging way to improve photography skills.
Armed with a digital camera, the photographer no longer knows any bounds. In the past, a photographer had to wait hours or days for the film to be developed to see if what he saw is also what the film captured. Today, any photographer can experiment with capturing reflections of objects and instantly see and adjust the camera settings to obtain the desired effect. Photographing reflections can now be fun and challenging.
Instructions
1. Find a reflective surface. Any water source will work, as well as mirrors, glass, chrome or a polished surface like dark marble. Look for landmarks near the reflective surface that are interesting, easily recognizable or colorful.
2. Time of day is important. If taking photos of reflections in water, wait until a few hours before sunset or a few hours after sunrise. Those are the times of the day when the wind is typically calmest and the water surface will be flat. That time of day also has the best light. It is soft and has tints of oranges and pinks in it, making for a more dramatic photo reflection.
3. Use a wide angle lens. Get a wide view of the subject to include both the reflected surface and the object being reflected.
4. Set the camera on a tripod. The light source will not be strong early or late in the day, so using a tripod ensures a clear, crisp image will be taken in low-light conditions.
5. Put the lens on a small f-stop like F-11 to get a sharp picture from close to near infinity.
6. Be creative. Change angles, move around and experiment with the shot. The first attempts may seem boring when viewed in the viewfinder, so keep trying. When you get the angle you like, shot and keep shooting.
Tags: experiment with, reflections challenging, reflective surface, source will
Access your surveillance DVR through the Internet.
Setting up a surveillance MPEG-4 DVR to access video remotely over the Internet allows you to keep track of what is going on in your home when you are not there. Surveillance DVRs come standard with motion detecting, time and date stamping, and remote Internet monitoring. Setting up the surveillance DVR for remote access requires a number of steps. When you are finished, you can access your DVR remotely from any computer.
Instructions
Create and Configure a Dynamic DNS Account
1. Go to the DynDNS website. Use the link in the "Resources" section. Click "Sign Up Free," then "Sign Up." Create a user generated host name. Leave the "Wildcard" box blank. Click "Host with IP Address" under "Service Type." Type your IP address that is displayed into the "IP Address" field. Leave the "Mail Routing" box unchecked, and click "DVR" under "Remote Access for Devices." Click "Add to Cart."
2. Create an account by filling in the required fields. Click "Create Account."
3. Click on the link in the confirmation email you receive and log in to your account. Click "My Services," "My Hosts," and "Add Host Services." Create a user-generated hostname prefix and "dyndns.com" from the drop-down box. Leave the other fields blank except for the "IP Address" field that already has your IP address displayed. Click "Add Host."
Set Up a Dynamic DNS on the Router
4. Open the routers control panel by typing the IP address into your Web browser. Enter your username and password.
5. Click the "Tools" tab, then click the "DDNS" button in the left sidebar.
6. Click "Enabled" in the "DDNS" field. Enter "DynDns.org" in the "Server Address" field. Enter the hostname that was set up with you "DynDns" account and the username and password. Click "Apply."
Connect the MPEG-4 DVR and Locate the DVRs IP Address
7. Connect the DVR to the router using the Cat-5 Ethernet cable. Connect the DVR to the monitor using the cable it came with. Power the DVR on.
8. Push the "Menu" button on the DVR. Push the right arrow button labeled "D-Zoom." until the "Link" menu is highlighted on the screen. Click "Network" and push the "Status" button on the DVR. Write down the DVRs port number and IP address.
9. Click "ESC" on the DVR twice. Click "Save and Exit" on the screen and the "Status" button the DVR to exit.
Setting up a Virtual Service on the Router
10. Enter the routers IP address into your Web browser to access the control panel. Enter the user name and password. Click the "Advanced" tab, then click "Virtual Server."
11. Click the "Enabled" button and enter in a user-generated name for the service in the "Name" field. Enter the IP address of your DVR in the "Private IP" field. Enter "TCP" in the "Protocol Type" field. Type "5500" in the "Private Port" and "Public Port" field. Click "Always" in the "Schedule" filed.
12. Click"Apply" to save the new settings.
Install the Remote Viewer Software for Remote Internet Access
13. Download the latest DVR software using the link in the "Resources" section. Unzip the software by double-clicking on the zip file. Click "Setup.exe" and follow the instructions to install the software.
14. Double-click the "DVR Viewer" icon on the desktop. Leave the password field bank and click "OK."
15. Click the "DVR List" button at the top of the menu next to the "Globe" icon. Leave the password field blank and click "OK."
16. Check the "Use DDNS" box. Enter a user-generated name in the "DVR Name" field. Enter "5400" in the "IP/Port/MAC" field. Enter the hostname that was set up with the DynDns service in the "Domain Name" field. Enter the password for the DVR in the "Password" field. The default password is "11111111" if one was not set up. Click the "Add" button.
17.Click the DVR name that is displayed in the "DVR List." Click "Connect." Enter "11111111" as the default password when prompted. Click "OK."
Tags: field Enter, Address field, Name field, Name field Enter, password Click, address into
A fan video is a great way to showcase your creativity and love for a show or movie. Fans put together their favorite scenes and set them to music. Another type of fan video requires actual filming; people act like specific characters and those clips are also set to music. Then the videos are uploaded to the web to share with others who like the same show or movie. Follow these steps to create your own fan video.
Instructions
1. Make sure you have the necessary equipment. You must have the ability to upload TV shows or movies to your computer and a video-editing program. If you are taping your own clips, you will need a video camera. The editing program will allow you to cut and edit the video footage from the show or your camera and put the clips together.
2. Decide which TV show or movie you will feature in your fan video. If you are using scenes from an actual show or movie, you will obviously need to be able to access it to upload it to your computer.
3. Act the part. If you are interested in filming your own scenes, create a plot for your video. Then, prepare your script, costumes and make-up. Get some friends or family to act in your scenes.
4. Determine your theme. Good fan videos have an overall theme. For example, you might focus on a prominent relationship between two characters or feature some of the funniest moments in the show or movie.
5. Select the scenes from the TV show or movie that fit well with your theme, and then choose a song to go along with your video clips. You need a song that meshes well with your theme and makes the video fun to watch.
6. Upload your fan video to a video sharing website once it is complete.
Tags: show movie, your video, with your, your theme, from show
SMS technology enables people to receive text messages on the go.
Short Message Service (SMS) technology allows text messages to be sent over phone networks to a receiver and have become an accepted method of quick communication worldwide. A majority of mobile phone handsets incorporate an SMS feature. Mobile phone networks charge for sending SMS, especially to international destinations. It is possible to send a free SMS to the U.S. from certain websites.
Instructions
1. Open your web browser. Navigate to the Text 4 Free website.
2. Scroll down the page. In the service provider drop down menu, select "Any USA Provider" to open the "Send Free SMS to USA" page.
3. Enter the number of the person you are sending the SMS to, in the "To Mobile" field. Enter his name, your mobile number and your name in the respective fields. Type in the text of the message you wish to send. Click on the "Send" button to send your SMS.
Send SMS Now (send-sms-now.com)
4. Navigate to the Send SMS Now homepage.
5. Select "USA" from the drop-down "Country" menu. From the operator list, select the mobile phone network that the receiver uses.
6. Type in the receiver's mobile phone number and your details to indicate who the SMS is from. In the "Message" field, type the contents of the message. Enter the verification code and click the "Send Message" button to send your message.
Send SMS Now (sendsmsnow.com)
7. Navigate to the Send SMS Now website.
8. Select "USA" from the "Numbers" drop-down menu. Type in the mobile phone number in the text field.
9. Enter who the message is from in the "From" field and type in the text of the message in the "Message" field. The text of the message must be limited to 130 characters. Click the "Send SMS" button to send your SMS
It appears that radios and CD/DVD players are increasingly being cast aside as the player-of-choice by many vehicle owners. The popular, highly portable iPod is becoming a standard take-along travel accessory. While newer vehicle radios are sometimes equipped with auxiliary jacks that make plugging an iPod in easy, older vehicles do not possess this option. A few methods exist for modifying a car radio to accept an iPod jack and each will produce a sound level ranging from poor to very good. Connecting a wired FM modulator to your car radio will produce good sound with moderately easy installation.
Instructions
Instructions
1. Turn the power switch on the modulator unit to the OFF position. Select location for mounting. Common mounting locations include the trunk or under the car seat.
2. Detach and remove car radio from dashboard. Disconnect the car battery before getting started to avoid short-circuiting the electrical system. Find the screws securing the radio to the dashboard and unscrew. Pull the radio toward you gently, but firmly so you do not accidentally disconnect any wires.
3. Unplug antennae cable from the back of the radio and plug it into the antennae input jack on the FM Modulator.
4. Plug one end of the connector cable into the OUTPUT jack of the modulator and the other end into the radio's antennae INPUT jack. If your unit requires an antennae adapter, attach it by pushing it onto the end of the connector cable prior to inserting into the radio's INPUT jack.
5. Determine and set radio frequency to allow for the best reception. Tie up loose cable wire with cable ties and tuck out of sight. Reinstall radio in car dashboard. Reconnect car battery.
Tags: connector cable, into radio, radio dashboard, will produce
The Sony Handycam contains a date and time feature that enables you to time stamp videos as well as still photos. The feature is accessible at any time via the Settings menu and you can set the camcorder's date to any year up to 2037. You don't need any special tools to set your Sony Handycam's date and time and you don't need to connect your camcorder to your computer to complete the task.
Instructions
1. Open your Sony Handycam's LCD screen and press and hold the camcorder's green Power button. Slide the switch underneath the Power button in the direction of the arrow until you reach "Movie" and its movie strip icon illuminates.
2. Press the "Home" button, and then tap "Settings." Tap "Clock/Lang," and then "Clock Set." Use Sony Handycam's up and down keys to select your desired geographical area, and then tap "Next."
3. Tap "DST SET" or "SUMMERTIME" to select the time setting you want. Tap "Next."
4. Use your camera's up and down keys to set the year next to "Y." Press the right arrow key to move to the month field next to "M." Use Sony Handycam's up and down keys to set the month.
5. Press the right arrow key to move to the day field next to "D." Use your camera's up and down keys to set the day. Press the right arrow key to move to the hour field next to the ":" mark. Use your Sony Handycam's up and down keys to set the hour.
6. Press the right arrow key to move to the minute field next to "AM." Use your camera's up and down keys to set the minutes. Press the right arrow key to move to the "AM" field. Use your Sony Handycam's up and down keys to set the correct time period.
7. Touch "OK" to save the time setting.
Tags: Sony Handycam, down keys, your Sony Handycam, arrow move, Press right, Press right arrow
A professional ring flash is invaluable to a photographer.
Many professional photographers consider a ring flash an essential piece of equipment for shooting weddings and other events. These specialized, expensive flash units spread light out without diffusing it. which produces photos with fewer shadows and better skin tones. Luckily, there are many do-it-yourself versions available, and the following version is simple to build, though it requires an external flash unit.
See the link below for instructions on a more complex ring flash built completely from scratch.
Instructions
1. Prime the plastic bowls and PVC pipe. Apply one even layer of spray paint primer to all three items and allow them to dry before proceeding to step two.
2. Paint the two plastic bowls and PVC pipe piece using mirror finish spray paint. This will produce an extremely shiny mirror-like silver finish that will reflect the light of your flash.
3. You will have to cut circles in the bottom of both bowls that are an exact fit for the PVC pipe. To do this, turn the bowls upside down, and one at a time place the PVC pipe on top of the bowls. Trace the perimeter of the PVC pipe onto the bottom of the bowls, then use the razor to cut out along the lines traced. Depending on the thickness of the bowls, it may take several tries to cut completely through them.
4. On the side of the large bowl, trace around the head of the external flash with a permanent marker. The head is the end from which light comes out. Then cut out along those lines with the razor. This is the hole that the flash will slip into during shooting.
5. To assemble the ring flash, use a glue gun to fasten the small plastic bowl inside the large plastic bowl. Once it has dried, glue the PVC pipe to the edges of the hole in the bottom of the unit created by the bowls. Allow the glue to dry before attempting to use the ring flash.
6. To use the flash, place the PVC pipe over the lens of a camera, then place the external flash through the hole on the side of the bowl. Turn on the wireless TTL function or the wireless flash trigger. You are now ready to take a photo and test your new ring flash.
Tags: ring flash, external flash, bowls pipe, flash will, place pipe, plastic bowl, plastic bowls
Using the self-timer on a Fuji camera is a great way to take self-portraits, get the photographer into a group shot and to avoid unnecessary blurring caused by camera movement. Setting the self-timer is extremely easy, takes just a few seconds and can be used in both auto and manual modes for any digital Fuji camera. Most Fuji cameras also have at least two self-timer settings, so you can choose the amount of time it takes for the shutter to activate and snap the photo.
Instructions
1. Turn the camera on and choose all of the other settings, like "Auto" or "Manual" mode, ISO and any other effects you want for the picture.
2. Locate the self-timer button. On most Fuji cameras, it looks like a small circular clock with a second hand pointing to about 11 o'clock and is usually located on the bottom portion of the main, circular "Selector" button. Press the self-timer button to select the amount of seconds to elapse before the picture is taken. On most cameras, there will be three options: "10s" for 10 seconds, "2s" for two seconds and "Off."
3. Set the camera on a stable platform, like a tripod or a flat rock, if the photographer will not hold the camera while taking the picture. Focus the camera lens by depressing the shutter button halfway down.
4. Start the timer by depressing the "shutter" button the rest of the way down. The camera's monitor will display the remaining seconds until releasing the shutter and snapping the picture. Get running if you're in the picture.
5. Stop the timer before the shutter is released by pressing the "Display/Back" button.
No longer are picture frames heavy, static, constrained devices that lock away fading photos such that their only chance of escape is to deteriorate into disfavor. Let your photos be free to brighten up the room by letting them join forces with a large digital photo frame. Because these digital photo frames are digital, your photos can do much more than just imitate your old pictures--as you'll find out by reading on to discover choose a large digital photo frame.
Instructions
1. Decide how big is "big." The size of even large digital photo frames vary widely, with sizes on the upper end of the spectrum rivaling those of even the largest flatscreen LCD monitors. Larger digital photo frames can be fun to have because you can make any picture in your collection the size of the frame--no need to spend money special-ordering giant photos and then feeling obligated to keep them up because--well, they're just so huge! Even if you don't want a giant digital photo frame, the convenience and element of even a large digital photo frame is unmatched.
2. Choose a resolution. If you want the best picture quality you can find, get the largest resolution you can find. This is especially important if you're getting a large digital photo frame--you don't want to be admiring a picture of someone you know when you suddenly realize how perfectly rectangular that person's eyes are.
3. Check compatibility. For quick access, the digital photo frames you consider should be compatible with the kind of memory card your digital camera uses. While you can always convert your files if necessary, the best large digital photo frame will support the images and movies that are of the file type of your choice.
4. Get the extra features you want. Common extra features include a remote control for the lazy (or is that normal now?), slideshow, ability to play movies, ability to program it to turn on and off at certain times throughout the day, built-in clock, alarm, calender, desktop stand, and built-in stereo speakers.
5. Read customer reviews--the most important part of any purchase. After you've found a large digital photo frame you're interested in, check out what other people are saying about it before committing to buy. Take note of what's said about the brightness of the screen--as well as any other pros and cons in the reviews, and the best large digital photo frame is yours.
Tags: digital photo, digital photo frame, large digital, large digital photo, photo frame, digital photo frames
The EX-S770 camera is a part of Casio's Exilim Card series, a line of ultrathin digital cameras. The Exilim can snap digital photos at 7.2 megapixels and can record MPEG-4 videos as well. With a large widescreen display and sleek metallic design, this digital camera offers a blend of power and esthetics. Featuring additional storage options for documents and email, the EX-S770 provides a single-device solution for your photos, videos and other files.
Physical Specifications
When the Casio Exilim EX-S770 was introduced, it was one of the smallest digital cameras on the market. With the power off and the lens retracted into the camera, the device is 3.7 inches wide and 2.4 inches in height, with a sleek 0.7-inch thickness and weighing in at 4.5-ounces. The camera has a thin-film transistor (TFT), liquid crystal display that measures 2.8 inches diagonally.
Photos
The Exilim EX-S770 snaps photos at a maximum resolution of 3072-by-2304 pixels or as low as 640-by-480 pixels. Photos are taken using a 38-114 mm lens. The device includes a 3x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom for greater magnification. The auto-focus mode can be set to macro, pan, infinity or manual, depending on preference and shot composition. Shutter speeds range from 1/2 to 1/2000 second; at night, the range is 4 seconds to 1/2000 second.
Movies
In addition to taking digital photos, the EX-S770 can record digital video in either MPEG-4 or AVI format. Video resolution ranges from 320-by-240 pixels and goes as high as 640-by-480 pixels. The camera can record widescreen video at a resolution of 704-by-384 pixels. The image stabilization feature of the camera reduces blurring from shaking hands while recording video.
Storage
In addition to recording high-quality images and videos, the Exilim EX-S770 can double as a portable storage device. The Casio Data Transport application bundled with the camera allows the transfer of emails, Web pages and other documents directly to the camera's SD memory card. The files are converted to JPEG format to be viewable on the LCD, making it easy to carry important documents while on the go. Photos from a PC can also be transferred to the camera's storage. The camera supports secure digital (SD) cards, secure digital high capacity (SDHC) cards and MultiMediaCards (MMC).
Fully discharge your rechargeable battery in order to refurbish it.
Rechargeable batteries cost more than regular batteries, but over a short period of time they can end up saving you money. Improvements to rechargeable batteries have reduced the possibility of getting a "memory effect," which refers to a battery that appears to be fully charged but is only partly charged. It usually happens when batteries are not fully discharged regularly. If this occurs, you need to refurbish your rechargeable battery by fully discharging it. Discharging it means draining the battery of all its juice by running it on an electronic device.
Instructions
1. Charge your rechargeable battery until the monitor indicates it's full. Turn on the device the battery is used to power. The power indicator on your device tells you the battery is full.
2. Open as many applications on your device as you can. You need to use as much energy as quickly as possible, then let the power indicator reduce. When you are prompted to recharge your battery, ignore the warning and continue to use your device. The device turns off automatically. However, your battery is not fully discharged.
3. Turn on your device. Leave it on, but don't open any applications. Ignore any warnings to charge the battery. Wait until it automatically turns off. The battery is almost discharged.
4. Turn on your device. If it doesn't power up, your battery is fully discharged. If it powers up leave it until it turns off again. Repeat until it won't power up.
5. Charge your battery. Use the lowest charge you can if your charger has a variable charge rate. If it doesn't, leave it to charge in the usual way. It will take longer to charge than usual because your battery is fully discharged. The longer it takes, the better the result will be. Once fully charged, your rechargeable battery is refurbished.
Tags: your battery, your device, your rechargeable battery, battery fully, fully discharged
Olympus manufactures a line of digital voice recorders for student and professional use. Most models are equipped with a massive 2 GBs of built-in memory, which will allow you to record for more than 3 continuous weeks before running out of memory (the batteries will die first). The recorders also feature stereo or mono capabilities for critical recording applications.
Instructions
1. Choose to record in Stereo or Mono. Concerts and professional recording situations, such as seminars or conferences, sound better in stereo. Press "Record" on the Control Panel's circle of buttons.
2. Press "Pause" or "Stop" to halt recording. Check the digital readout on the LCD (liquid crystal display) to determine the length of your recording, remaining time available in memory and to manage different recording sessions. Connect your Olympus digital recorder to a laptop or computer via a USB cable and port.
3. Upload the recording to your computer by turning on all equipment, activating the "Upload" feature from the Recorder Menu, and editing your work with the software the comes with the Olympus digital recorder. You can create podcasts, audio presentations and files for attaching to an email. Sound files can be emailed to a transcriber if you require a printed copy of your recording text, such as from an interview.
Tags: digital recorder, Olympus digital, Olympus digital recorder, your recording
When you go to a wedding and see the photographer taking portraits of the bride and groom, you will see them using a flash bracket. They are not trying to look fancy. The bracket allows them to take better photographs.
Function
A flash bracket is a device that allows an external flash unit to be lifted away from the camera, eliminating "red-eye" and grotesque shadows.
Benefits
Built-in camera flashes and external flashes mounted on the camera's hot shoe are notorious for producing "red-eye" because the flash is so close to the camera lens. Because a flash bracket moves the flash away from the lens, the light hits the eye at a different angle and "red-eye" is not produced.
Considerations
Shooting vertical pictures with a hot-shoe mounted external flash, will produce noticeable shadows because the flash's position to the side of the lens instead of above the lens. That shadow can be distracting when it shows on the wall behind the subject, or worse yet for people photography, under the eyes of the subject.
Types
Some flash brackets, called flip brackets, have a rotating arm that allows the flash to be positioned over the camera whether you are shooting horizontally or vertically. There are also brackets that allow the photographer to rotate the camera.
Misconceptions:
Wedding photographers are not the only photographers to use flash brackets. Nature photographers use them to avoid the animal version of "red-eye" and in macro, or close-up, photography.
Digital Facebook images can be turned into prints of various sizes.
Millions of Facebook users share their images over the social networking site each month. As long as a photo is public on the site, a user is allowed to print the image. Photos can be printed from a home computer in just a few moments. As of late 2010, Facebook users can also use Kodak picture kiosks at a Target store to print their image on photo paper or gifts, such as calendars and greeting cards.
Instructions
Printing at Home
1. Log in to Facebook and find the images you want to print. Right-click on an image and select "Save As."
2. Save the image to your computer's desktop.
3. Go to your desktop and right-click on the image.
4. Select "Print."
Printing at Target
5. Locate your nearest Target store with a photo center. If you are unsure about where the nearest store is, user the "Find a Store" link on the Target website.
6. Go to the Target store and log in to your Facebook account on one of the store's Kodak kiosks.
7. Select the images that you want to print. You may print images from your own photo album, as well as your friends' photo albums.
8. Pick up and pay for the images from a member of the photo staff.
Keep your large telephoto lenses stable on a tripod.
Telephoto lenses are used to take photographs of objects that are far away. To accomplish this, lens manufacturers must use extra glass and larger distances within the lens. The result is a large lens. While most tripod photography involves attaching the camera directly to the tripod, telephoto lenses are a different story. The size of telephoto lenses makes it more sensible to attach the lens to the tripod rather than the camera.
Instructions
1. Attach your telephoto lens tripod collar to your telephoto lens. Many telephoto lenses come standard with tripod collar mounts.
2. Connect your telephoto lens to your camera and lock it into place.
3. Secure your telephoto lens to your tripod using the tripod mounting screw or quick release plate. The telephoto lens is directly supported by the tripod while the camera body is supported by the lens.
4. Adjust your camera settings to allow for the fastest shutter speed possible, and use a delayed shutter action or cable release. Telephoto lenses are designed to magnify far away objects, which turns minor shakes of the camera and lens into blurry photos. Using faster shutter speeds and delayed shutter actions or cable releases decreases the chances of your pictures coming out blurry.
Tags: telephoto lens, your telephoto, your telephoto lens, delayed shutter, lens tripod, lens your
Scanning slides to a computer from a scanner takes time to achieve good quality.
It takes a special kind of flatbed scanner or a dedicated slide scanner to get film slides into digital format. The flatbed scanner, common in many households, does not typically offer transparency scanning if the device is low-end, meaning it costs less than $100. Some flatbed scanners have a motorized slot in the lid for negative strips, but this will not work if the slides to be scanned are cut and mounted. In this situation, only a scanner with a full cover light source will work. Dedicated slide scanners cost considerably more than $100 and scan only one slide at a time, but provide superior quality.
Instructions
1. Clean the slides with the can of compressed air, carefully blowing off any dust and debris that may have accumulated. If the slides are clean before scanning, it will make less work when using the photo editing software later.
2. Place the slides in their mounts on the scanner glass. You can line them up squarely so they touch at the mounts in order to get more slides in one batch scan. Nearly all of the scanner glass area can be filled with slides, but do a test preview scan to make certain the whole glass is scanned. Some scanners may cut off at the edges.
3. Use the enclosed plastic slide templates if they came with the scanner. Most full transparency flatbed scanners include several different such templates to allow you to snap in negative strips or mounted slides. You will get fewer digital images per batch scan, but you can be assured the slides are lined up evenly. This eliminates a lot of turning and cropping later.
4. Open the software included with the scanner or a third-party application on the computer. Slides, particularly small ones such as 35 mm, need high-quality scanning to provide the best possible digital information to work with later. If the software's resolution is set at a low default, change it to a high setting. The minimum resolution should be 600 pixels per inch, but make that number as high as possible. This provides better scanning, but also increases scan time.
5. Save the batch scan files to the computer's hard drive or to an external hard drive if you will be scanning many slides. Once the file is saved, you can scan more batches. Use the photo editing software to cut apart the individual images and save them as separate files on the computer's hard drive.
Tags: batch scan, hard drive, computer hard, computer hard drive, editing software, files computer, files computer hard
Two-way radios have been the common means of communication for many years in various industries, including shipping, law enforcement, emergency, and repair services.
General Description
Two-way communications means that a device can both transmit and receive broadcast signals. These devices, known as transceivers, transmit and receive through radio frequencies assigned by the FCC through the General Mobile Radio Service (Reference 1). A typical dispatcher two-way radio system will be assigned a frequency, either in very high frequency (VHF) or ultra high frequency (UHF) sufficient to carry over small and large distances.
Conventional Two-Way
Most dispatcher two-way radio systems are half-duplex, meaning that a push-to-talk button must be activated to be able to transmit a signal. A dispatcher two-way radio system can include more than one channel, if the equipment being used allows it. A repeater, or base station, is necessary to receive the signals from remote devices, such as hand-held walkie talkies or radio units.
Dispatcher Transmissions
In the past, most two-way systems included a transmitting device, such as a microphone, with a push-to-talk button. Later variations include a foot-operated switch that opened the channel by stepping on it and voice-activated transmitting (VOX) that automatically sends the transmission when the dispatcher speaks. This type typically includes a microphone and headset combination for hands-free use.
Analog Vs. Digital
Analog two-way radio systems are the most basic type and are often used for simple transmission of activation signals. Modern dispatcher systems are digital, which provides a wider range of broadcasting choices. Both voice and text messages are part of this spectrum. As long as the proper devices are being used, a dispatcher can send either a voice signal or a text message to a remote unit.
Choosing Frequencies
The broadcasting capacities for two-way radio systems are defined by the needs of the user. VHF signals are best for broadcasting over larger distances, whereas UHF signals are better for strong signals in a more limited area.
Tags: two-way radio, dispatcher two-way, dispatcher two-way radio, radio systems, two-way radio systems, being used, high frequency
A MiniDisc lets you play and record audio files anywhere.
A MiniDisc (MD) looks like a regular CD but has a smaller size. Its portable recorder device lets you play and record audio files anywhere. Beside audio files, an MD can also store data files.
History
Sony announced a new digital medium called MD in 1991. It recorded and played consumer audio files at a slightly lower quality than CD. In 1993, Sony launched MD Data, which stored computer data. Since then, MD's compression technology has improved and made the audio quality almost the same as CD.
Types
Pre-mastered MDs have the same operation functions as CDs. Recordable MDs usually come empty and you can record files on them repeatedly. The two look different because the recordable MDs come in square cartridges, similar to floppy disc cases.
Technology
Recordable MDs use a different recording technology compared to recordable CDs. MDs employ magneto-optical recording on cartridge-enclosed 64 millimeter (mm) discs, while CDs use optical recording on unenclosed 300 mm or 80 mm disc.
Tags: audio files, audio files anywhere, files anywhere, lets play, lets play record
Panasonic Palmcorders are hand-held camcorders that record on multiple formats. Like most electronics, Palmcorders can develop problems over time either because of defects or wear and tear. Some problems are more common than others.
Problems
Faulty menu system, short battery life and distorted low-light images are common problems with the Palmcorders. Each problem disrupts the usage of the camcorder in a variety of ways. The problems can cause the wrong media to be deleted and stop footage from being recorded at the wrong time.
Causes
Sensitive touch panels result in a faulty menu system that can cause the wrong option to be selected when navigating the menu. Cold weather can lead to short battery life as well as defective battery memory. A small image sensor that does not accept enough light can give rise to low-light images.
Solutions
Calibrate the touch screen to adjust its sensitivity and get better navigation. Replace the battery and allow it to drain completely before recharging it to avoid creating a short memory issue. Attach a light to the Palmcorder when shooting in low light.
Tags: battery life, cause wrong, low-light images, menu system, short battery, short battery life
So you want to know sell your video collection. In tough times, this is a fairly quick and easy way to scare up a few extra bucks. You'll have a couple of different options; choose which one works best for you to make your spare cash.
Instructions
1. Put the whole thing on eBay in an auction. This is the quickest and simplest way to move your videos; however, you are also not likely to earn more than a couple of dollars per video. Make a list of all your videos, take a picture of them, then put them up for sale at the absolute smallest amount you'd be willing to sell them for.
2. Sell the videos individually on Ebay in auctions. You're likely to get more money for the videos, but this is also incredibly time consuming and will cost you around $0.50 for each auction. Take a picture of each for more visual appeal.
3. Put the whole thing on craigslist for a set price. As in Step 1, you'll want to publish a list and a picture of the whole lot. Here, however, you'll want to list it for what you think is slightly higher than a fair price. Be prepared to negotiate it down.
4. Take the whole collection to Blockbuster and trade them. Blockbuster will allow you to trade DVDs for reasonable prices assuming you're willing to take store credit. Do this, then purchase a gift card in that amount. While this won't net you extra cash, you won't be spending any money at Blockbuster for while (and you could also then sell the gift card on ebay).
5. List each video individually on Amazon.com for a fixed price. This probably the best way to make the most money, but is time consuming. However, shipping will be paid by the seller, and you can expect the DVDs to sell relatively slowly over time, so you won't be shipping them all individually at the same time.
Tags: best make, gift card, time consuming, whole thing, your videos
Your iPhone allows you to communicate with friends and family in a bevy of ways, from using Facebook to sending SMS and email. But with the right applications, your iPhone can also act as a webcam for your computer and for video chatting on the go. By understanding how your iPhone cameras work, you can utilize them for face-to-face communication with friends and family members using different services, apps and websites on your phone.
Dual Cameras
The iPhone 4 was the first smartphone to offer dual digital cameras -- one on the front and one on the back of the device. This setup is necessary if you plan on using your iPhone as a webcam or for video chatting, since you'll need to look at the front of the device to view incoming video. The dual camera design has become increasingly common among other smartphone brands, but you'll find more applications and programs that work with the iPhone, making it more accessible as a webcam.
FaceTime
FaceTime is an onboard application that makes it possible for you to video chat using your iPhone as a webcam while you're talking on the phone. The application only works with other iPhone users and using FaceTime will use minutes on your cell phone plan, but it's a valuable addition to the iPhone. It's simple to use, since there's an FaceTime icon within each phone call that you can tap when you're ready to see someone face-to-face.
Video Chat Apps
You can save minutes and long distance charges by using your iPhone to video chat with certain apps, such as Skype and Viber. Both use your Wi-Fi or 3G connection to connect to the Internet so you can talk with friends and family. Skype is also a computer program and needs a webcam to work properly. Since the iPhone already has the onboard dual cameras and a microphone, you don't need any added accessories to use video chat.
Webcam Apps
Several apps, including iWebcamera, Mobiola WebCamera and iPhoneCam, allow you to download an app onto your phone and drivers on your computer to use your iPhone as a webcam for your computer. There are still limitations, such as nonexistent or limited use of the microphone, but if you need a webcam in a pinch, a webcam app can help you connect with programs such as Skype and MSN Messenger.
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Synchronizing allows you to update your Treo wmartphone and computer without having to enter the same information twice. It's also a good way to back-up the information on your Treo wmartphone and computer so that nothing is lost when accidents occur. Using a USB connection is the fastest way to transfer data to your computer from your Treo smartphone. Follow these steps to synchronize a Treo smartphone using a USB connection.
Instructions
1. Install the Palm Desktop tool on your computer. You will find this program on the Palm Software Installation CD bundled with your Treo smartphone.
2. Make sure that the HotSync manager is active on your computer by checking for the HotSync icon in the lower right corner of your screen. If it's not active, you can turn the HotSync manager on by going to Start > Programs > Palm > HotSync.
3. Connect your AC adapter to a wall outlet. Plug your USB sync cable into a USB port on your computer.
4. Face your sync button upwards and connect it to the bottom of your Treo smartphone. Do not press the "Sync" button yet. Connect the charger's cable to the connector on your sync cable.
5. Press the "Sync" button on your sync cable. Your Treo smartphone may become unusable for a few minutes as it synchronizes with your computer. Wait for the process to finish. You will know synchronization is complete when a message appears at the top of your Treo smartphone's screen.
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There are two kinds of telescopes, reflector and refractor. The reflector uses mirrors to view planets while the refractor uses glass lenses. The Zennox 700 x 76 telescope is a reflector telescope. This small model is great for beginners to learn and understand use a telescope. With larger models you will be able to view more detail in the planets, but the 700 x 76 allows you to see enough detail to make any planetary buff happy.
Instructions
1. Notice the mirror at the bottom end of the telescope tube. This is the primary mirror and it can be adjusted by the three screws that attach to it. Look through the eyepiece on top of the telescope and turn each screw as needed to make the mirror line up with the eyepiece and secondary mirror. The object is to tilt the primary mirror enough to reflect light to the secondary mirror, which is located closer to the top of the telescope.
2. Adjust the secondary mirror. If you look through the eyepiece and it is blurry then turn to the secondary mirror and try to get it lined up with the primary mirror. This mirror is attached by four connections called spider vanes. These can be turned from a single connecting bolt that holds all four vanes. Turn the bolt to adjust the mirror and line up with the primary mirror.
3. Line up your eyepiece. Make sure that eyepiece is aimed towards the center of the primary mirror. This will finalize the line-up.
4. Check to see if the light is reflecting correctly. This will help line up the mirrors. Check to see if the light is reflecting off the primary mirror to the secondary mirror in a cone shape. If this has occurred, then the mirrors are lined up properly and viewing should be clear.
5. Re-align the mirrors to the Zennox telescope when using it again. Each time you use the telescope you will need to line up the mirrors and eyepiece so that you will be able to view properly. Change of weather and simply moving the telescope can change the mirrors' positions.
Aerial photography can be utilized by many types of businesses.
Aerial photography can be a profitable business venture or supplement to an existing photography business. Businesses such as real estate brokers, mapping or survey contractors, land developers, resorts or even homeowners can provide a wide range of potential income streams. Given the specialized nature of aerial photography, photographers can often demand high prices for aerial images.
Home/Business
Owners may be interested in images of the family farm.
Owners of businesses, hotels, office complexes, resorts or even homeowners can be a potential source of income for an aerial photography business. Some businesses utilize these images for decoration or in advertising and promotional material. Homeowners may be interested in an image of their property to display in their homes. Single, poster-sized images can demand several hundred dollars or more. Photographs for use in advertising or promotional material may also generate royalties, depending on contract details.
Real Estate
Aerial real estate images offer a look at the entire neighborhood.
Real estate brokers, land developers and property managers often utilize aerial images of their properties for advertising or in sales literature. Developing an ongoing relationship with these types of businesses can result in repeat customers and a reoccurring income stream. Income from aerial real estate images can vary, depending on the number of images requested, area covered and how the images are supplied. In most cases, digital files are commonly requested by real estate professionals.
Mapping
Aerial pictures can provide many details that maps cannot.
Aerial photography is commonly used in conjunction with developing maps, supporting survey data or land-use planning. Typical customers include survey companies, local or state government entities, right-of-way engineers and topographical analysts. Potential income can come from government or private contracts, which may involve multiple shoots.
News
Sporting events can make great aerial photographs.
Many types of media outlets, such as television stations, newspapers, magazines and websites, utilize aerial photographs of current events or news for publication or broadcast. Potential income can come from photographing festivals, sporting events, parades, concerts, carnivals or other outdoor events. Although more difficult due to limited time frames, getting aerial images of news events, such as a forest fire, major wreck or demonstration, can be extremely profitable.