Thread A Movie Projector

You've gone through Grandma's attic and have come up with old films and a projector. At first you set them aside but the titles on the outside of the film boxes intrigue you. "Marilyn at Spy School" reads one. You have to get that projector up and running. The threading process makes you appreciate the VCR and the DVD, but you can do it, step by step.

Instructions

1. Feed the film through the slit at the top called the feedhole. Pull about 2 feet of film off the reel and insert it straight down into this opening. It will now be in front of the upper feed sprocket.

2. Arc the film underneath the sprocket which takes it back toward the back of the projector. Make certain that the sprocket teeth are lined up with the holes in the side of the film. Close the pad roller arm, which will secure the film.

3. Form an arching loop between the sprocket and the back wall of the film compartment, which is called the film trap. Leave the loop loose enough so there is some play. Use the two tiny guide bars to direct the path the film should take.

4. Line up a frame to fit in the window that you see next. The little window that the light shines through is called the aperture. After the film is lined up, wrap it around the next sprocket, called the intermittent, making certain the teeth are in the holes.

5. Slide the trap gate, the piece that sits between the lens and the film trap, into place. You will recognize the trap gate by the hole in the center and its width. This little piece keeps the film in place while it is being projected and maintains its stability

6. Loop the film toward the back of the projector and pull it through the lower feed sprocket and around two more sprockets that don't have teeth. It goes in front of the first drum and then behind the second. Move the film toward the front of the projector, lapping it over one more sprocket which is the sound feed sprocket. Again this has teeth so line them up. The film will make an arc.

7. Thread the film after the arc through the hole in the bottom of the projector. Insert it into the hole in the take up reel and you are ready to turn the projector on.

Tags: feed sprocket, back projector, film toward, film trap, sprocket which, toward back

Crop Photos To Standard Size

You can display your photos proudly by cropping them to the proper size.

No matter how stunning a photo is, it can't be truly appreciated unless displayed correctly. Digital cameras don't always take images that fit the exact size of a standard photo frame, rendering them useless unless cropped correctly. Instead of allowing your memorable photos to be lost on a hard drive, learn crop images so they can be displayed proudly.

Instructions

1. Download and install the free program GIMP. There are many different programs you can use when cropping an image, but GIMP has the advantage of being free and allows you to crop specifically to standard photo size.

2. Open GIMP and the photo you want to crop. Do this by going to "File," then "Open" and selecting the image.

3. Set the aspect ratio option for your cropping tool by clicking the "Window," then "Toolbox." A toolbox will now pop-up with several options below it. Select the white blade from the toolbox tray. Under the "Crop" option, check "Fixed:Aspect Ratio."

4. Set the aspect ratio to the size you desire. The standard size for photo frames is a height of four and a width of six. You can set this size yourself, or click the "Portrait" button, which is also 4x6.

5. Drag your mouse over the photo you want to crop. Because you've set the aspect ratio to 4x6, you will only be able to crop images in the shape of a rectangle, ensuring that they fit the standard photo size. Once you've got the rectangle in the correct place, double click on the image. This will crop it.

6. Save your image by clicking "File," then "Save." If you wish to print out the image yourself, you can do so by selecting "Print" from the file menu as well.

Tags: standard photo, aspect ratio, crop images, File then, photo size

Use Gps In Law Enforcement

Like something out of "Stars Wars," Global Positioning Systems, or GPS, are becoming more widely used in many aspects of commercial and civilian life. GPS is used by public transportation and commercial delivery companies to track their vehicles, by people utilizing video map displays on their dashboards and by emergency, fire and police personnel. Here are some ways GPS is used in law enforcement.

Instructions

1. Monitor the location of patrol cars and police officers using GPS. This is particularly helpful when sending help to officers in need of assistance.

2. Track and recover stolen cars equipped with GPS. Rather than giving chase, such a stolen vehicle can be tracked by law enforcement officials over a long distance and apprehension of the thief can be made once the car reaches its destination.

3. Allow police officers to know their own location by utilizing GPS video map directories inside patrol cars and other law enforcement vehicles. This can help increase response times to emergencies.

4. Access needed information quickly using GPS. Fingerprints, license numbers and images of wanted individuals, for instance, can be transmitted quickly via satellite using GPS.

5. Place GPS bracelets on paroled criminals to monitor their movements. This technology can also be used to enforce restraining orders by having suspected individuals equipped with GPS bracelets as well.

6. Use GPS-equipped vehicles and other equipment as bait in law enforcement operations. Bait vehicles have already been used to target stolen car rings with much success. GPS devices could be installed in construction machinery and even computers to aid in sting operations.

Tags: equipped with, patrol cars, police officers, utilizing video

Clean Mini Dv Tapes

Clean Mini DV Tapes

MiniDV tapes are small cassettes that are used to record video in digital video cameras. MiniDV tapes can easily get dirty or soiled when you carry them around during your travels. Always clean your MiniDV tapes carefully, or you may damage or lose your recorded video.

Instructions

1. Use a moist paper towel to gently wipe off anything that has gotten on the outside of your tape cassette.

2. Use a new moist (not dripping) paper towel to gently wipe off any sticky material inside the cassette tape or on the tape itself. It's important to be very gentle to avoid tearing the magnetic tape inside the cassette. Do not use soap or any other cleaner inside the tape.

3. Allow the inside of the cassette to dry before closing the lid to avoid trapping moisture inside the tape.

4. Advance the tape gently using your fingers. Carefully clean any other dirty sections of the tape.

5. Use a can of compressed air to blow out any debris that are trapped inside the tape. Never stick anything inside the tape cassette in order to clean it.

Tags: inside tape, inside cassette, MiniDV tapes, Clean Mini, Clean Mini Tapes, gently wipe, Mini Tapes

Use An Ultraviolet Camera Lens

Ultraviolet light is something we can't see. However, your camera can see it. From an optical standpoint, a digital camera is not as vulnerable to ultraviolet light as film, but a UV filter can cut down on "purple fringing" and/or blue hues that occur in film and some digital cameras. Also, the use of an ultraviolet filter can protect your camera lens.

Instructions

1. Write down the diameter of your camera lenses or take your camera and lenses with you to buy the filter.

2. Purchase an ultraviolet filter for each of your camera lenses or opt for a filter system. In this case, you buy a filter-holder for the camera and interchangeable rings that fit your lenses. This is good for people who change filters often.

3. Screw the ultraviolet filter onto your camera lens.

4. Protect your camera lens from breakage, scratches, dust and moisture by leaving an ultraviolet filter on your camera lens whenever you're not using a different filter, even when storing it.

5. Use a blower brush to remove dust and sand from your camera lens and filter.

6. Breathe on the filter or lens, and carefully wipe away any fingerprints or smudges with a lens tissue.

7. Take your photos as you normally would. The filter blocks the ultraviolet light.

Tags: your camera, your camera lens, ultraviolet filter, camera lens, camera lenses, your camera lenses, camera lens

Light A Scrim

A great and relatively simple special effect used in theater is a scrim. A scrim is a netted curtain that when lit in different ways can appear either translucent or opaque from the vantage point of the audience. Since the scrim is usually hung toward the back of the stage, but not all the way back, action can take place behind it. The effect can work for a number of purposes, including the revelation of something hidden, the acting out of a memory, or to achieve a ghostly vanishing effect. The effects of a scrim depend completely on proper lighting techniques.

Instructions

1. Hang the scrim properly. Hang the scrim not only from the top, like a regular theatrical curtain, but it should be weighted on the bottom as well to avoid unwanted wrinkles and folds. Bottom weighting is especially useful if the scrim is being flown in or out of the fly loft, since it will prevent the flowing nature of the curtain.

2. Light the area downstage (in front) of the scrim, keeping all lights upstage of (behind) the scrim turned off. From the house seats, the scrim will appear to be opaque and will look like an ordinary drop curtain. The audience will see only the action in front of the scrim.

3. Light the area upstage of the scrim, with the downstage lights turned off or at a lower intensity than those upstage. The audience members will then be able to see through the translucent scrim to all the action and scenery hidden behind it. Note that they will still be able to see the action downstage as well.

4. Experiment with different ways of lighting the scrim. Many times, the way a scrim is lit is up to the individual lighting designer, based upon personal experimentation and preference.

Tags: different ways, front scrim, Hang scrim, Light area

Build A Multidirectional Digital Tv Antenna

Constructing an HDTV antenna is as simple as assembling a few basic items, several of which can be found around the home with a few coming from the store. However, the out-of-pocket expense is minimal. By constructing a multi-directional antenna, you will be able to receive the free local HD broadcast in your area coming from various directions. So if you live close to several cities, you could have access to more channels based on the reception.

Instructions

1. Measure and mark a section of the 3/4-inch plywood to 4 inches wide by 40 inches long. Cut out the piece of plywood to this measurement using the saw. This will become the mast, to which the elements will connect.

2. Lay the cut board (mast) flat on the table. Beginning at one end, measure down 1/2 inch from the right edge and make a mark at the 4, 8, 12, and 16-inch measurements. Repeat this step to make four more marks that are down the left edge of the board, using the same measurements.

3. Cut the hooks off each coat hanger and straighten the wires. Sand each of the wires to remove any paint or coatings, using the sandpaper. The wires should be shiny and you should see the bare metal when complete.

4. Measure and cut 8 pieces of wire that are 14 inches long each. Using the pliers, bend each of the 14-inch wires in the middle, into the shape of a V, so that each leg is 7 inches long. Bend each wire into the shape of a V until there is a 3-inch spread between the 2 ends of the wires.

5. Turn the V-shaped wires horizontal and mount one V to each of the marks on the mast from step 2. Attach them to the mast by screwing down a washer into the bend of the V and clamping it against the board. Attach them so the ends of the V point away from the mast.

6. Attach the end of a new wire under the screw in the bottom right corner of the set of screws on the mast. Cross the wire over and attach it underneath the 2 middle screws on the left side. Cross the wire back over and attach it under the screw in the top right corner. Repeat this step to attach a similar wire starting with the screw in the bottom left corner and finishing up with the screw in the top left corner.

7. Apply electrical tape to the 2 wires where they cross each other, in the center of the mast, to prohibit them from making contact.

8. Connect the balun to the third set of screws from the top of the mast. Attach one wire from the balun to the screw on the left and the remaining wire to the screw on the right. The balun is where you will connect the cable from the TV directly to the antenna, and is responsible for matching the impedance of the 75 Ohm cable to the antenna.

Tags: inches long, Attach them, Attach wire, coming from, Cross wire, from mast, from mast Attach

Use Gps

GPS, or Global Positioning System, is a way to navigate yourself as you drive. Rather than using map quest or one of the other software programs on your computer before your trip, you can now take your computer with you in the form of a GPS. It works off a satellite system to show you the best way to get where you need to go. Here's the basis of how it works.

Instructions

1. Put in where you are starting from. If this is a location that you will be using often, you can save it in the address book.

2. Input where you want to go. You can either type this information in or select it from your address book if it is already there. Just because you have been somewhere before doesn't mean you don't need help getting there again.

3. Calculate the route. The GPS will then ask you how you want the route calculated, for example, shortest time or shortest distance.

4. Follow the directions. A map will appear and show you which roads to take in order to reach your destination. This may take a few minutes to calculate. It is very precise. If you have also printed out directions from your computer you will probably see that there are some turns the GPS tells you to make that your computer printout doesn't show.

5. Use GPS for other things such as places to eat, places of interest and tour sights. Finding these can be challenging, but if you are a gadget person, you will do it with little effort.

6. Your Global Positioning System can also be used on your boat. You would follow the steps above in order to program it and just follow the route it tells you.

Tags: your computer, address book, from your, Global Positioning, Global Positioning System, Positioning System

Use Depth Finders

One of the most needed accessories for any boat is a depth finder, which is basically a sonar unit. Every boat owner has probably experienced the disappointment of ruining an enjoyable weekend on the lake or river by dinging the boat's prop on an underwater rock. After doing this a few times most boat owners finally wake up and realize they need to install and learn use a basic model depth finder.

Instructions

1. Install the chosen depth finder according to the instruction manual that comes with the unit. Transducer installation can be done either inside or outside of the hull depending on owner preference. Most boat owners agree that mounting the transducer on the outside of the transom is the most preferred method since the transducer is immersed directly in the water and is not affected by hull paints or algae buildup that would affect a transducer mounted inside the boat.

2. Set the shallow water alarm by pushing the "Down" button on the depth finder. Set the alarm depth deep enough to account for draft and propeller depth. Take into account the speed that the boat will be operated and the amount of time it will take to either slow the boat enough or steer it away from shallow depths. For example, when operating a boat with a 3-1/2-foot draft and propeller that is 10 additional inches into the water, you should set the shallow alarm for a minimum of 15 feet with the boat being operated at 20 mph. The shallow alarm can be adjusted further either using the "Up" or "Down" buttons on the unit.

3. Adjust the sensitivity of the depth finder by turning the knob on the back of the unit either counterclockwise or clockwise depending on the desired adjustment. Adjust for less sensitivity if the readings are shallower than a known depth. Adjust for more sensitivity if readings on the depth finder are showing deeper than the actual depth.

4. Test the depth finder in familiar waters to make sure the depth finder is giving readings that are correct, and fine tune the sensitivity of the unit accordingly.

Tags: depth finder, boat owners, draft propeller, sensitivity readings, shallow alarm

Start A Cell Phone Recycling Business

Many people own a cell phone and some even have more than one. However, when it comes time to upgrade their cell phones, most users don't know what to do with their old ones. Cell phone recycling is the best option for the environment and is a business opportunity for those willing to put forth the effort to collect the phones.

Instructions

1. Research the different types of cell phone recycling options. You can choose to recycle for profit or recycle as a not-for-profit and do it as a fundraiser.

2. Decide whether you want to recycle cell phones only, or accessories such as chargers and batteries, too. Several organizations such as Earthworks offer free advice.

3. Write a business plan that includes at least some information about the recycling industry background, your business purpose, the potential recycling market, potential partners, suppliers and vendors and how you will collect and dispose of or recycle the cell phones. Consult with the Recycling Assistance Center for help writing your business plan.

4. Obtain funding using your business plan. Check the Small Business Administration's website for loan requirements and also check for government loans and grants at the Grants website.

5. Find investors, especially if your credit rating is not strong. For example, the Angel's Forum has provided from $100,000 to $1 million in seed money to startup companies in the Silicon Valley.

6. Secure a distribution channel such as Collective Good that includes cell phone collection locations and companies that refurbish or dispose of phones and accessories. Ensure your partnering recycling company complies with the Electronics Recycler's Pledge of True Stewardship. Also consider allowing customers to mail their phones to a designated site.

Tags: business plan, cell phone, cell phones, your business, recycle cell, recycle cell phones

Download Photos From A Camera To Pc

USB technology and SD cards have made digital data transfer easy. Today, USB ports and/or SD card slots come standard on most digital cameras. Use your SD card or your camera's USB cable to download your photos. Once you download the pictures, you can share them with friends and family or upload them to your favorite photo editing program.

Instructions

USB

1. Connect the camera to your computer with the USB cable.

2. Turn on the camera.

3. Wait while your computer detects the camera. A dialogue box should appear. Select the appropriate action to download your photos.

If your camera's dialogue box doesn't appear on the screen. Click the "Start" button in the task bar and open the "My Computer" option. Select your camera from the list of devices. This will open the contents of your camera. Click on a photo to open it or drag and drop the files to your desktop or another folder.

SD Card

4. Eject the SD card from your camera.

5. Insert the SD card into your computer. Alternatively, if you have an external SD card reader, connect the card reader to your computer, then insert the SD card into the reader. Most external SD card readers connect to PCs via USB.

6. Wait for your computer to detect the SD card. If a dialogue box opens, click on your photos to open them on your computer. Alternatively, drag and drop the files to your desktop.

7. Click the "Start" button in the taskbar if your SD card dialogue box doesn't open. Navigate to "My Computer." Select your SD card from the list of devices. This will open the contents of your camera. Click on a photo to open it or drag and drop the files to your desktop or another folder.

Tags: your camera, your computer, drag drop, drag drop files, drop files

Lighting For Indoor Photos

Use a three-point system for photo lighting.

Whether you are taking a special picture of a graduate or new baby or doing some informal photos at home, one pro technique will help you get a good looking picture. Three-point lighting is a way not only to light your image, but also show it at its best. Using three lights (key, fill, back), you'll create a contoured and rich image.

Instructions

1. Pick up three clamp lamps at a local hardware or home improvement center. You will also need three bulbs, a strong one for the main (or key) light, and two slightly weaker ones for the other two lights (fill and back). A 150 watt bulb makes a strong key light, but don't exceed the maximum wattage capacity of the clamp lamp.

2. Set up your subject or sitter in an open area. You will need some space behind the camera. Hang a sheet or backdrop behind the subject if you want a neutral background.

3. Set the key light. The key is the strongest of the lights, and should be to the left or right of the camera at about a 45-degree angle relative to the subject, slightly above it and pointed directly at the subject. Don't go lower than the subject or you will get strange under-lighting effects. A few shadows will be on the subject; they can help define the shape of the subject and add some nice contrast. Clamp the light to anything you can find around the home such as a high chair, a door or a standing lamp.

4. Set up the fill light on the other side of the camera, so to the left if the key is to the right, or vice versa. As with the key, start with a 45-degree angle from the subject and slightly above it. The idea is to shed a bit of light on the areas the key won't reach and to make the shadows less extreme. The fill should not overpower the key light and obliterate all the shadows; if it does, move it farther away.

5. Put the back light behind the subject. Raise it up above your backdrop (if you are using one), and place it directly behind the subject to start. A ladder is a good object to clamp it to, or hang the back light from a light fixture on the ceiling. The idea of the back light, which is sort of ornamental, is to give a special touch or a little light on the edges of the subject. There is no formula for this; move it around to try different things. It will help if you have a friend standing where the camera is to give you feedback. Sometimes you can create nice reflections of light off of the subject to add contrast.

Tags: back light, behind subject, 45-degree angle, fill back, left right, lights fill, lights fill back

What Is The World'S Fastest High Speed Camera

High-speed cameras give the world the opportunity to see everyday things in a new way. In the past, high-speed cameras were mainly used for scientific purposes, but today's uses include surveillance, television programs and more.

Frame Rate

Dictionary.com defines frame rate as "the number of frames of an animation which are displayed every second, measured in frames per second (fps). The higher the frame rate, the smoother the animation will appear."

Fastest Camera

Professor Arun Shukla of the University of Rhode Island is credited for having the world's fastest camera. At 200 million frames per second, this camera can freeze the motion of anything.

Other Cameras

Photron's Fastcam SA5 camera shoots at more than 1 million fps, and the Phantom V710 is even faster-- it shoots at 1.4 million fps.

Uses

High-speed cameras are used by the military to study structure failures in body armor, how concrete resists penetration from multiple impacts, explosion analysis and more. High-speed cameras also are used in television on shows such as "MythBusters" and "Time Warp."

Cost

Costs vary depending on the cameras specs. The University of Rhode Island camera was purchased for $457,000. Other high-speed cameras range in price from $9,000 to $150,000 and more.

Tags: High-speed cameras, frames second, Rhode Island, University Rhode, University Rhode Island

Troubleshoot Opening Tracfone Sites

Most Tracfone mobile phones are capable of accessing the Internet. Customers use the Internet connection to access email, watch videos and view websites, plus download music, ringtones and games. If you are unable to open a Tracfone site on your mobile phone, try troubleshooting the problem before contacting customer service. Troubleshooting Internet connection problems can save you the trouble of sitting on hold waiting for a representative. Depending on the model of your Tracfone, the steps may vary slightly.

Instructions

1. Verify that you are able to access other websites on your Tracfone. Open your browser and enter the Web address of another site in the address bar. Click "Go."

2. Remove the battery from the Tracfone. Do not turn off the phone before removing the battery. Replace the battery after one minute and attempt to access a Tracfone website.

3. Update the software on the phone. Press the "Menu" key and click "Settings." Scroll down to "Software Update" and click "Check for Updates." Click "Yes" when prompted and wait for the updates to be installed. Power off the phone for one minute. Turn the phone back on and attempt to access a Tracfone website.

4. Resolve continued problems by resetting the Tracfone. Press the "Menu" key and click "Settings." Scroll down to "Reset Phone" and enter your password. By default, the password may be either the last four-digits of your mobile phone number or "1234." Press the "Menu" key and click "Reset Phone." Click "Yes" to confirm you want to reset the phone. The phone will power off and on when the reset is complete. Attempt to access a Tracfone site.

Tags: access Tracfone, Menu click, Press Menu, Press Menu click, access Tracfone website, attempt access, attempt access Tracfone

Use Filters In Color Photography

Neutral-density, color-graduated, color-compensating, enhancing, polarizer, soft-focus and specialty filters are used in color photography. Experiment and play with various filters to create your unique, personalized style.

Instructions

1. Study the scene you wish to photograph. Look for any extreme contrast in light. In a sunset or sunrise, the foreground is darker than the sky.

2. Use a graduated filter to compensate for these differences in contrast. A graduated filter is half clear glass and half neutral or a color. It allows the foreground to absorb more light and make the contrast between the sky and foreground less extreme.

3. Use a polarizer to prevent glare from the surface of water or from bright sunlight. A polarizer will deepen the blue of your sky.

4. Create richer colors or a mood with an enhancing filter. Fall colors such as red, orange and yellow will really snap with color when you use an enhancing filter.

5. Try a blue or cooling filter such as the 80A or a FL-D to counter the greenish hue your photograph may have when shooting under tungsten or fluorescent lights. A good place to try this filter is in basketball gymnasiums, where photos can take on a green tint.

6. Use a warming filter such as 81B when taking pictures on an overcast day or in open shade. It will add a golden glow such as the late afternoon sun emits to your photograph.

7. Play with some of the specialty filters such as the soft focus for portraits or a filter to give the lights of a city a "star" effect.

8. Choose the filter to fit the lens you wish to use or use an adapter ring to fit filters to various lenses.

Tags: enhancing filter, filter such, graduated filter, specialty filters, your photograph

Dlp Tv Facts

DLP (digital light processing) TVs are a version of rear projection high-definition sets that use digital light projection to create the picture. A DLP TV works differently from its other rear-projection counterparts in that it reflects its picture image off tiny mirrors rather than projecting the image outright. DLP is a competitor in the HD TV market to the flat-panel HD TVs.

DLP Mirrors

The key component of a DLP TV is the digital micromirror device, also called a DLP chip. This chip is an optical semiconductor that contains millions of tiny aluminum mirrors. One chip can contain more than 1 million mirrors though it fits in the palm of the hand. The mirrors are laid out to form a matrix, very much like a mosaic. Each mirror stands for one pixel on the screen.

Function

The mirrors receive the data from the DLP chip, which creates the picture by decoding an image code and converting it to progressive data. The mirrors then rapidly tilt toward and away from the light they will receive to create gray pixels. The light from the TV's lamp is shone through optical lenses and a spinning color wheel and then reflects off the mirrors. The reflected light then passes to a projection lens and another larger mirror to the screen.

Identification

The DLP TV's resolution size depends on the number of mirrors contained on the chip. The chip has one mirror for every pixel on the screen. The smallest HD TV screen, at a resolution of 1280-by-720 pixels, uses a DLP chip containing more than 900,000 mirrors. A 1920-by-1080 screen, usually the largest resolution on the open market, uses more than 2 million mirrors.

Benefits

DLP TVs are advertised as having a higher picture quality than plasma and LCD screens, with a contrast ratio of up to 100,000-to-1. DLP does not allow phosphor burn-in, where areas on a CRT or plasma screen can disfigure from an image appearing for too long. It also avoids pixelation, where viewers can see the lines between pixels. They often cost less than comparable plasma and LCD screens.

Warning

DLP can encounter its own problems. Older DLP sets sometimes have what is known as the "rainbow effect"--shadows of the primary red, green and blue colors could flash along borders, usually with very bright objects against very dark backgrounds.

Tags: more than, digital light, million mirrors, more than million, pixel screen, plasma screens, than million

Charge A 7 2v Nimh 3300mah Battery

A 7.2-volt NiMH battery consists of six cells.

Nickel Metal Hydride batteries (abbreviated to NiMH) are rechargeable batteries used to power cameras and other similar devices. RC enthusiasts use them in battery packs to power their model cars. A single-cell NiMH battery produces 1.2 volts and has an endurance of 550 milliamp hours (mAh), so a 7.2-volt NiMH pack with an endurance of 3,300 mAh consists of six cells. Charging a 7.2-volt NiMH battery is a simple task so long as you ensure that you set your charger up correctly.

Instructions

1. Set the NiMH charger to 7.2 volts. Don't attempt to exceed this, as you will damage your battery and, more importantly, it could be dangerous.

2. Insert the jack connector from the charger into your NiMH battery. Plug in the charger to the main power supply, then check the charge rate again and make sure your battery is being charged.

3. Check your charger regularly. Some chargers turn off automatically once the battery reaches full power; others you need to turn off yourself. Leave it on charge for a few hours, if it doesn't have an automatic turnoff. If your battery was nearly out of power, it may take a little longer.

4. Turn off the charger. Remove the jack that connects your charger to the battery. Your NiMH battery is charged.

Tags: NiMH battery, 2-volt NiMH, your battery, your charger, 2-volt NiMH battery, consists cells

Build A Flatbed Scanner Camera

Compared to photos shot with consumer digital cameras, using a do-it-yourself flatbed scanner camera provides interesting options to tweak supposedly realistic images into strange shots. In utilizing its do-it-yourself camera housing and its scanner glass image processor, it has the ability to take wild and distorted photos in ways that regular cameras can't because it captures the image from the homemade lens to the scanner. The camera mechanism can shoot non-moving objects like an ordinary camera, but it makes moving objects look like paper cut-outs with a more 2D perspective or skews the shapes of objects in motion according to the direction of the movements they make.

Instructions

1. Remove the cover of your flatbed scanner. Depending on the specific scanner you're using, you may manually remove the cover or use a fitting screwdriver to unlock the screws first. A black box made out of foam core (which will serve as the housing on top of the scanner) will replace your cover.

2. Measure the area size of the scanner glass for the base board. This base board will contain the housing for the camera lens, focal length controller and aperture cards.

3. Cut out three pieces of black foam core large enough to completely cover the scanner glass. Use an x-acto knife or cutter to cut the foam core into three identical pieces. Glue them on top of each other to get the right thickness. This will serve as the base board placed on top of the scanner glass.

4. Cut out a square hole with dimensions 7 inches wide by 7 inches in length at the middle of your foam core base board. Note that this will require more effort in terms of cutting since your thick base board is made out of three pieces of foam core glued on top of each other.

5. Create two boxes for the focusing function. The second box should be a bit bigger than the first. Make your first box/inner box by cutting four identical pieces of foam with dimensions 7 inches in length by 7 inches in height. They should be taped together using gaffer's tape to become the four sides of the box while the top and bottom are empty spaces. This box should have a snug fit to the 7 inch square hole of the base board. Attach the box onto the square hole. Cut out four more pieces of foam core with dimensions 7.25 inches in length by 7.25 inches in height, just slightly bigger than the first box's square hole. Tape the four sides together to make your second/outer box. You should be able to attach this second box to cover the first box, just as Russian nesting dolls of varying sizes tend to cover one doll over the next. Secure all the parts together. These two boxes, with one placed over the other, control the flatbed scanner camera's focal length.

6. Cut another piece of foam core with dimensions 7 inches in length by 7 inches in height to fit as the top cover for your two overlapping boxes. Cut a hole in the middle of it. Use a compass to draw a circle that is 3.5 inches in diameter then cut out the circle. Place this inside your second/outer box, which is on top of your first/inner box.

7. Cut another piece of foam core the size of the outside box cover. Make a 6 inch by 6 inch square lens board from it. Then cut a hole from the middle sized a little smaller than the outside box cover's hole. You will attach the magnifying glass, to serve as the camera lens, in it. The magnifying glass must have a diameter slightly smaller than the 3.5 diameter of the outside box cover's hole.

8. Remove the handle of the magnifying glass. Attach the magnifying lens to the lens board's hole using gaffer's tape.

9. Put the lens board over the outside box cover-as if it's a secondary cover to the outside box. Tape it in place using gaffer's tape.

10. Create aperture cards using black cardboard. Each one should have a circular hole in the middle, which will serve as the camera's iris. Each cut-out template will control this opening. Make varying aperture cards with varying hole sizes. Attach one of each, when you shoot a photo, to manually control the amount of light that passes through the lens board. The larger the aperture, the more light passes through to expose the image captured by the flatbed scanner camera. This is necessary when there is less light on the subject. Otherwise, use a smaller aperture card for a subject needing less light to expose the image.

11. Tape the entire housing on top of the scanner. The glass part should be completely covered in order to block any external light that can possibly get through the scanner glass. Remember, in order to capture the photo, the light should pass through the aperture card, the camera lens and the focal length controller before it touches the scanner glass for the image processing. Any light spilling from the outside of your housing will greatly affect the image produced. More often than not, you won't be able to see your photo subject at all.

12. Turn on the scanner connected to the computer. Adjust all of the settings and play around with the software that comes with the scanner to create different images.

Tags: foam core, scanner glass, base board, dimensions inches, inches length, lens board

Use A Finepix A820 As A Webcam

With an adapter, you can turn your Fuji Finepix camera into a webcam.

The FinePix A820 is a digital camera from Fuji. It has 8.3 megapixels and came out around 2007. You can use the camera as a webcam provided that you have a USB video capture adapter. This inexpensive device will allow you to connect your camera to your PC and use the video feature on it the same way that you would use a webcam.

Instructions

1. Plug your audio video cables into the A/V jack on your camera. This is on the control panel on the back or side.

2. Connect the color-coded cables from the USB video adapter into the corresponding colors on the A/V cables that you connected to the camera. So the yellow goes to yellow, white goes to white and red goes to red.

3. Turn your PC on and connect the adapter to an open USB port on your computer. You will get a message that says "New Hardware Found." A window will appear asking you to install the drivers. Click "Have Drivers" and "Browse." Insert the CD that came with the USB adapter into the CD ROM drive, click "Next" and wait for the drivers to finish installing. Click "OK" when the installation is complete.

4. Turn your Fuji Finepix camera on and go to the "Menu" and switch it to "Video" mode.

5. Go to the "My Computer" icon. Look under "Removable Drives" and there will be an icon for the Fuji FinePix camera. Click on it and a screen will appear with a picture of whatever the camera is seeing.

6. Go to the "Start Menu" and launch the video chatting software you use. If you don't have one, consider using Skype, ICQ or MSN Live. Once it is open, go to "Options" and "Video Settings." Find your camera in the drop-down menu and select it. Click "Save."

Tags: your camera, adapter into, Finepix camera, Fuji Finepix, Fuji Finepix camera

Erase Mini Dv Tapes

Erasing mini DV tapes is a simple yet time-consuming process. Unlike old analog videotapes, mini DVs aren't magnetic, so you can't erase them just through magnet exposure. A mini DV must be manually erased and then re-cued to avoid unwanted tape slack. If done correctly, a mini DV tape can be reused about 3,000 times.

Instructions

1. Gather the mini DV tapes that you want to erase. Make sure they are all of the same format and that they will fit into your video camera. Check the contents on each tape to make sure you want to erase them. Once you record over them, your old video footage will be gone forever.

2. Take a look at the "Record" tab on the front edge of the mini DV tape. This is a small plastic switch that prevents you from accidentally recording over footage you've already filmed. If the switch is open to the left, it is in save mode. If it is closed to the right, it is in record mode. Use your fingernail or a pen to switch all the mini DV tapes you wish to erase to record mode.

3. Open the tape chamber of your video camera and insert the mini DV tape you wish to erase. Make sure the tape is facing the right way and that you do not force the door closed. This could break your camera. Rewind the mini DV tape to the beginning.

4. Place the video camera in "Record" mode and press the "Record" button. Leave the lens cap on and allow it to record to the end of the tape. This will black out the mini DV tape. It's possible to just record over old video with new video. This often works fine, but new video could bleed over into old footage. To avoid getting mixed images, black out the mini DV tape before using it again.

5. Rewind the mini DV tape to the beginning again. Many video cameras do this automatically when they reach the end of the tape. Rewinding removes tape slack. If you don't do this, you could get uneven tracking and DV tape glitches.

Tags: mini tape, mini tapes, video camera, your video, black mini, black mini tape, erase Make

Ways To Organize A Camera Bag

When using a digital or film camera while traveling you may need to bring along a collection of accessories. This could include extra batteries, lenses, straps, media, film and filters. The best way to keep it all organized is through a camera bag, but a certain strategy must be implemented through the bag as well. These strategies will help you when you need quick access to your camera and protection as well.

Cameras

Most bags contain a pre-made compartment for certain sized cameras. In most cases, the easiest way for quick camera retrieval is by sticking the lens down into the bottom of the bag. This way, you can pull the camera straight up and start shooting. Always keep the lens cap on while putting away the camera. This helps prevent scratches, dust and other damage to the camera.

Batteries

Extra batteries should be in a compartment for quick retrieval. Keep dead batteries separate from charged batteries and try to stick them in outer compartments. For example, always keep charged batteries on a bag's right compartment and dead batteries on the left. Use masking tape and a permanent marker to label these compartments, if necessary.

Media Cards

Media cards are one of the smallest objects in the camera bag so they should be stored with the most care. Store the media cards in a zip-up pouch on the inner side of the bag. If no zipper pouch is available, attach a small Ziplock bag to the inner side of the camera bag. This gives an easy location where the cards cannot slide around, become damaged or get lost.

Cleaning Supplies

Always keep a small collection of lens cleaning cloths in a separate part of the camera bag. These are great for on-the-go cleaning and do not take up a lot of space in the bag. For more detailed cleaning, consider a small turkey baster. The pressurized air can easily clean a film sensor from any dust or dirt and is convenient on trips in nature.

Padding

Always keep as much padding as possible within the camera bag. Keeping items tightly together and next to padding prevents any shaking, rolling or banging of equipment. The more packed the better, but do not overfill your bag so that it becomes impossible to close.

Tags: Always keep, camera This, charged batteries, dead batteries, inner side

Use Cybershot As A Webcam

If you have a Sony Cybershot and the right connections on your computer, you may be able to use the digital camera as a webcam as well. Webcams are great for videoconferencing, both for business and for pleasure. Using your Sony digital camera as a webcam will save you money from needing to purchase an additional device, and would have the side benefit of reducing clutter on your desk. The process will take only about 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

Instructions

Connecing the Camera

1. Plug the AC adapter into the camera, and the adapter into a power outlet. The webcam functionality will not work on the camera batteries.

2. Attach a video cable from the camera's "Video Out" jack to the analog video jack on your PC. Power up your digital camera, ensuring its set to the camera function (typically a picture of a camera on the selection dial).

3. Turn the PC on and load an application requiring the webcam. Enter the video settings for that application.

4. Choose the "Video In" option within the application. If the camera has been connected properly and is powered on, you should see an image (yourself if the camera's pointed at you). Click "OK" to save these settings.

5. Ask a friend to help you test out the webcam functionality by starting a webcam chat with them. Ensure that the picture is being sent out properly. If so, you have completed the tutorial. Otherwise, check all settings.

Tags: digital camera, adapter into, camera webcam, digital camera webcam, webcam functionality

Charge The Battery Os On A Sony Cybershot Camera

A Sony Cyber-shot is a digital camera that features 10.1 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD preview screen, face detection and seven scene-selection modes. Power for the Sony Cyber-shot is supplied by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A digital camera uses a lot of power, so it's important that you charge the battery for your Sony Cyber-shot as often as needed to ensure the camera has enough power to take the pictures you want.

Instructions

1. Slide the lever on the battery/memory stick media cover. The cover is located on the underside of a Sony Cyber-shot camera. Lift up on the cover.

2. Push the battery lever up. The battery lever is a small plastic object that holds the battery in place. Tilt the camera down so the battery falls into your hand.

3. Locate the triangle on the battery. The triangle is an indicator/arrow that directs you which way to insert the battery. Place the battery into the battery charger. Insert the battery in the direction the arrow indicates, with the arrow facing up.

4. Plug the battery into an electrical outlet. As the battery charges, the indicator light will blink or flash. When the battery is fully charged, the indicator light will remain lit without flashing.

5. Remove the battery from the charger by lifting up on the outer edge of the battery. Unplug the battery charger from the electrical outlet.

6. Slide the battery back into the battery bay of the camera in the direction indicated by the arrow. The battery latch will secure the battery in place. If the latch won't close, the battery is in upside down. Once the battery is securely in place, close the battery/memory stick media cover.

Tags: Sony Cyber-shot, battery charger, battery into, battery lever, battery memory, battery memory stick

Reformat An Sdhc Card

Some digital camera models use SDHC cards to store photos and videos.

Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) cards are small memory storage cards used in portable devices such as digital cameras, netbooks and handheld gaming consoles. They can range from four to 32 gigabytes in size and can be read on a computer using an SDHC-compatible memory card reader or a compatible digital camera with a USB connection. Reformatting the card is useful if you want to wipe all data from its memory.

Instructions

Using a Memory Card Reader or Digital Camera Connected to the Computer

1. Insert the SDHC card into the memory card reader or a digital camera that has been connected to the computer and turned on.

2. Open the list of connected disk volumes by double-clicking the "Computer" icon on the desktop. A list of all available volumes will display. If the volumes are sorted by type, the SDHC volume will appear at the end of the list under the "Devices with Removable Storage" subheading.

3. Right-click on the SDHC volume and select "Format..." from the contextual menu. A formatting prompt will appear.

4. Type in a new name for the SDHC volume in the "Volume label" box, or leave it as it was.

5. Click the "Start" button and wait for the formatting progress window to finish.

Using the Digital Camera Reformat Tool

6. Insert the SDHC card into your digital camera and turn the camera on.

7. Browse to the camera's user options. Every camera has a different user interface, but a menu button or touch-screen button is typical on digital camera models.

8. Select "format memory" or "format memory card" in the user options menu. The camera will wipe the SDHC card.

Tags: digital camera, memory card, SDHC volume, camera models, card into, card reader, Digital Camera

Unlock A Nextel I870

The Nextel I870 may be unlocked and used on a different network.

Unlocking the Nextel I870 allows you to use the phone on different mobile networks. There are two ways to unlock the Nextel I870. First, you should speak with a Sprint/Nextel customer service representative and request the code. Not all representatives or phone providers are willing to give you the code, since you are then capable of using the equipment on another network. If this fails, you must purchase an unlock code from one of several unlock code providers.

Instructions

Sprint/Nextel Customer Service

1. Call Sprint Nextel Customer Service at the following number:

Sprint Nextel Customer Service: 800-639-6111 (Nextel phones)

2. Give the customer service representative your account information.

3. Inquire about unlock codes for your device. Sometimes, cellular phone companies will give you the unlock code within several days. Be prepared to tell the customer service representative the reason for unclocking the device, if they ask.

Purchase an unlock code

4. Locate an unlock code provider. Several providers are listed in the Resources section.

5. Locate your phone at the provider's website. If your phone is not listed, consider locating another unlock code source, or inquiring with the site's customer service.

6. Locate your device's IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identification) code. The IMEI code may be found by entering "*#06#". The IMEI number will appear. Write it down.

7. Obtain the unlock code by entering the IMEI and payment information. Depending on the unlock code provider, you may receive the code instantly or at the e-mail address you entered when paying for the code.

8. Power off your phone and remove the SIM card. Insert a different, foreign SIM card and power on the device. The unlock screen will appear. Enter the unlock code you received in the previous step.

Tags: unlock code, Nextel I870, Sprint Nextel, customer service representative, service representative

Upload Pictures With Sprint Musiq

The Sprint Nextel company is one of the largest wireless cellphone service providers in the United States. Every year, approximately 50 million individuals utilize Sprint's cellphone services. Like most major cellphone companies, Sprint offers various methods of sharing multimedia content among its customers. Learn upload pictures directly from your cellphone or computer with the Sprint Musiq picture uploading service in order to share them with friends or access them anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Instructions

1. Take a picture with your Sprint cellphone handset.

2. Navigate to your cellphone's photo album. Click the photo icon on the right-hand side of the cellphone's keyboard. Alternatively, click the center key on the four-way directional pad of the cell phone to access the Home menu and select the photo icon. Once in the photo album, click the picture that you want to upload.

3. Choose "Options." Select "Upload to Albums" from the menu. Press OK by clicking the right-hand navigational button or center keypad on your Sprint cellphone handset. The cellphone will then wirelessly upload the photo to your online Sprint account. Wait for the sending process to complete before shutting off the cellphone. Depending on the strength of your Sprint wireless signal, the uploading process may take several seconds.

4. Access the uploaded picture by logging onto your Sprint Picture Mail account through the Sprint website (see "Additional Resources"). From here, you can send it via email to other individuals, or download it to your home computer.

Tags: your Sprint, Sprint cellphone, cellphone handset, photo album, photo icon, Sprint cellphone handset, Sprint Musiq

Use Caller Id On A Home Phone

The caller-ID function on your home phone allows you to screen your calls so you can decide which ones to take and which ones to ignore. If you’re bombarded by prank calls, telemarketers or other distractions that infringe on your busy day, having caller ID can be a real time-saver.

Instructions

1. Purchase a caller-ID-enabled phone, answering machine or separate caller-ID display box. Each has an LCD readout showing the phone number from which a call is originating--and in some cases, the name under which that phone is registered.

2. Call your phone company and ask that caller ID be enabled on your phone line. Some telephone companies offer this as a free service; others may charge a small monthly fee.

3. Plug your new phone or answering machine into the phone jack, as you would any other telephone. If you purchased a separate caller-ID display box, plug it into the phone jack and then plug your regular telephone into the provided jack on the box.

4. Look at the LCD screen when you receive your next phone call. The originating phone number should be displayed if the service is activated.

Tags: your phone, answering machine, caller-ID display, into phone, into phone jack, phone answering, phone answering machine

Burn Copies Of Mini Dvds On Your Computer

Copy data directly from a mini DVD onto a standard DVD.

A mini DVD is a small, compact version of the larger DVD and holds roughly a third of the amount of data that a standard DVD does. Typically, these mini DVDs are used by portable video cameras, although it is possible to write data onto it with a computer's DVD burner. If you have a mini DVD, you may make copies of the disc as long as you have a DVD burner installed on the computer.

Instructions

1. Insert the mini DVD into the DVD drive of the computer. Close the drive and exit out of any AutoPlay window that loads onto the screen.

2. Click "Start," "(My) Computer," then double-click the DVD icon. When the window loads with all the mini DVD files click and drag the information onto the desktop.

3. Insert the blank DVD into the DVD burner, then load Windows Media Player and select "Burn."

4. Click the "X" next to "Clear List Pane," then select "Find" and choose the files you copied over from the mini DVD.

5. Click "Next," then "Start Burn" and the files from the mini DVD are copied directly onto the new DVD.

Tags: from mini

Use Samsung Nexus With A Car Radio

The Samsung NeXus, a team effort between the Samsung and Sirius XM Radio brands, is a portable XMP3 audio player that can also receive live XM Radio reception when connected to a car stereo. It can store MP3 files, WMA files and XM content. To combine it with the radio receiver of your car, you must buy an accessory car kit for your Samsung NeXus. This kit is available from the Samsung website for $59.95 (as of 2010).

Instructions

1. Mount the XM radio antennae, which comes with the car kit, to the roof or trunk of your vehicle. Route the cable and its jack into the interior of the car through available channels.

2. Insert the XM Passport and player into the car cradle.

3. Connect the AC power adapter and the antenna cable to the car cradle.

4. Find a suitable location on your dashboard or console for the swivel mount. The swivel mount's adhesive is very strong, and once mounted it may be difficult to unstick. Do not install on leather surfaces. Clean the surface you've chosen for mounting.

5. Peel the adhesive backing off the mount and press the mount against the surface for 30 seconds. Allow 24 hours to pass before touching the mount again.

6. Tune your car stereo to a frequency that is unused in your area. Set your NeXus to the same frequency.

7. Tune NeXus to XM channel 1. XM radio should now emanate from your car stereo.

Tags: Samsung NeXus, swivel mount, your stereo

Hide Your Facebook Photo Tags

Hide Your Facebook Photo Tags

On the social networking site Facebook, you can be tagged in a photo on someone else's photo album without your permission. There is a way you can limit who sees your photo tag. The setting for this is a little difficult to find if you don't know where to look. The following simple steps will show you exactly find and set these limits.

Instructions

1. Login in to your Facebook account. You need to adjust the privacy setting in social networking software. Go to the "Settings" in the upper right-hand side of the screen.

2. Now click on "Profile" in the privacy settings. This Controls who can see information on your profile page.

3. Under the "Basic" tab find "Photos Tagged of You" There is a drop-down box with the options "Everyone, My Networks and Friends, Friends of Friends, Only Friends, Custom."

4. If you want to be the only one that can see the tag select "Custom" and then Click "Only Me." Only you and selected networks can see this. Click "Okay" and you are done.

Tags: Facebook Photo, Facebook Photo Tags, Friends Friends, Hide Your, Hide Your Facebook

Does The Date On The Battery Of A Sciphone Matter

The date on the back of the Sciphone's battery matters because it can give you an idea of when the battery might fail as well as provide some insight into why the battery seems to discharge faster and faster over time. The date can provide this information because of inherent weaknesses in lithium-ion technology.

Sciphone Battery

The Sciphone, which is a Chinese imitation of the iPhone, is powered by a lithium-ion battery. You can locate the battery by turning the phone over and gently depressing the button on its back panel. The panel will slide away, revealing the white battery and its two metal contacts. The SciPhone's stock lithium-ion battery provides a steady supply of 3.7 volts with a maximum voltage of 4.2 volts. You should avoid using lithium-ion battery packs that were not designed specifically for the Sciphone as they can cause damage if their voltages are too high.

Lithium-Ion Technology

A lithium-ion battery is composed of two parts: A small, simple computer and the battery cell itself. The computer's complexity depends on the type of device it will be installed in. For example, a laptop battery's computer is much more complex than the Sciphone battery's. The computer may contain a temperature sensor, a voltage converter, a voltage tap and a battery charge state monitor. The battery cell is composed of a positive electrode composed of lithium and a negative electrode composed of carbon. These two are separated by a thin plastic film.

The Date Entry

Every SciPhone lithium-ion battery contains a "Date:" entry. You can find this entry directly above the battery's fire warnings and directly below its "Executive Standard:" entry on its back side. The date entry lists the year and month that the battery was manufactured. Note that unless you bought the Sciphone directly from a retailer, you will have no way of knowing if the battery within it is the original or not. This is important when considering what implications the battery's age may have on the Sciphone's performance.

Why the Date Matters

One limitation of lithium-ion battery technology is that such batteries tend to become less effective with age. A battery's age has a direct influence on the amount of time it can hold a charge because of two main factors: the constant heat generated within causes wear on the computer and the plastic film that separates the electrolytes within the cell degrades over time. You can therefore use the date stamped on the Sciphone's battery as an indication of when you will need to replace it, as few Lithium-Ion batteries continue to work well beyond three years of usage.

Tags: lithium-ion battery, Sciphone battery, battery cell, battery computer, Battery Sciphone, electrode composed

What Hardware Do I Need To Transfer Vhs To Dvd

Now that you've decided to transfer all those home video memories on VHS tape over to the more durable DVD medium, it's time to evaluate what you'll need to do the job. You probably already have at least half the gear you'll need for the transfer. Follow these strategies to select the remaining hardware you'll need to transfer VHS tapes to DVD. You can create a fancy editing suite using converter boxes and a computer with hardware that will allow you to edit your creations, or you can make simple transfers with a DVD Recorder/VCR combo.

What You'll Need: the Basics

Here is the basic hardware needed to transfer VHS recordings to DVD:

DVD-VCR recorder combo or:

VCR

DVD recorder or computer with built-in DVD burner

Video capture card for your computer, if one is not already installed

Connecting cables with RCA-type plug jacks

Connecting cables with USB jacks

Analog to digital converter box.

You'll also need VHS tapes to transfer, and blank, recordable DVDs for burning the converted VHS programs.

If you have VHS tapes, chances are you also own a VCR and the patch cords to hook it up. You may also have a computer with a built-in DVD burner, in which case you do not need a DVD recorder to make your videotape transfers. Just use your computer or laptop for easy transfers.

Choosing a Converter

The essence of transferring VHS tapes into a signal suitable for DVD is an analog to digital converter. This boxlike component transforms the analog signal on magnetic videotape into digital information that can be burned onto a DVD.

Converter boxes are available at electronics stores and online retailers. A serviceable converter costs less than $100, although you can spend much more for devices that offer such capabilities as sound equalizing, picture enhancement and digital restoration. As a compromise, you can buy a less expensive converter and purchase computer software that will allow you to clean up the sound and image from your newly digitized VHS programs before you burn them to DVD.

Look for ease of use, particularly plug-and-play features, when choosing a converter. Ideally, you want a unit in which the RCA plugs from the VCR jack into one end and a USB cable attaches to the other side for connecting to a computer.

Check Your Computer's Capacity

The biggest challenge in transferring and manipulating audio-visual information is the sheer size of the data moving onto your computer, laptop or DVD recorder.

Converter boxes will change the analog signal to digital, but depending on your computer's processing speed and memory capacity, you could be looking at hours of work, especially if you plan to edit and adjust the converted VHS footage. Before buying a converter box, check the list of system requirements on the package and make sure your computer's capabilities meet or exceed every one of them.

As an alternative, a DVD recorder-VCR combo allows you to make straight copies of VHS tapes and burn them directly to DVD. There is no editing capability, nor can you tinker with image and sound quality, but if you want quick copies with one-button recording capabilities, a DVD recorder-VCR component is your best bet.

Tags: your computer, computer with, analog signal, built-in burner, burn them

Types Of Electronic Monitoring Devices

An electronic monitoring device keeps track of a person's activities. Typically, a court orders a person to wear an electronic monitoring device. Some devices attach to the wrist or ankle. The devices program a person's forbidden and allowed areas.

GPS Active Tracking Tether

An active tracking tether tracker monitors a person using satellites and reports information at set intervals. The system programs predetermined radiuses. If the person enters an excluded area, a pager notifies a GPS staff member.

GPS Passive Tracking Tether

A passive tracking tether tracks a person's activity and stores the information for download the next day. The tether programs areas the person can and cannot enter.

Breathalyzer Monitor

The Breathalyzer monitor reviews and tests a person at random while at home. The person has to take a preliminary breath test once the system contacts the home. The system typically has a camera.

Ignition Interlock

Ignition interlock is a machine installed in a vehicle to analyze a person's breath for alcohol. The engine does not start if the breath analyzer detects alcohol. The person has to blow in the machine and pass the test before the engine will begin.

Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM)

The SCRAM device analyzes a person's skin to determine the blood alcohol content once an hour. The unit begins to test every 30 minutes if it detects alcohol.

Tags: detects alcohol, electronic monitoring, electronic monitoring device, monitoring device, Tracking Tether, tracking tether

Buy A Boom Box

A boom box is an all-in-one portable stereo system. Boom boxes have a built-in low-power amplifier, AM/FM radio, cassette recorder, CD player and speakers. They run on batteries or electricity and have a carrying handle.

Instructions

Doing Your Homework

1. Determine the size and weight (with and without batteries) you need.

2. Choose between a single CD player and CD changer, and single-cassette and dual-cassette options.

3. Decide if you want a remote control.

4. Determine if you want detachable speakers.

5. Decide which sound-altering features you want, if any: tone controls (including equalizers), bass-boost button or switch, digital signal processing (DSP) modes, surround sound, and so on.

6. Decide which CD programmability and convenience features you want, such as random play mode.

7. Consider digital-tuning and station-preset features if you'll be listening to your boom box's radio.

8. Look for synchronized recording capability from CD to cassette, and cassette to cassette.

Making the Purchase

9. Take a favorite CD with you when shop for a boom box.

10. Listen to the CD and to your favorite radio station on boom boxes at the store.

11. Turn off as many sound-altering features as possible.

12. Compare the sound quality of several boom boxes.

13. Understand that extra hardware and features add to the price.

14. Remember that the least expensive units only have a 90-day limited warranty; other units have one year.

Tags: boom boxes, cassette cassette, Decide which, features want, sound-altering features

Rfid Concerns

RFID chips raise privacy issues because of potential tracking capabilities.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) are small computer chips approximately the size of a grain of rice. Inexpensive to manufacturer, these chips hold approximately 2,000 bytes of data. When first introduced, researchers intended RFID chips for use in tracking information on clothing, parcels and medication bottles. Read by a small scanner that translates the data into easy-to-read information, RFID chips raise several privacy concerns. Thought the technology has been available for several years, the debate rages on.

Consumer Privacy

The largest concern over RFID chips is consumer privacy invasion. If you purchase something with a barcode on it, the manufacturer knows that it sold the product, but they don't know where it sold or who bought it.

RFID chips enable manufacturers to know more about the consumers who buy their products. For example, a manufacturer would be able to tell where the product was purchased, the state, the store and as some analysts worry, the actual person who bought it. While the availability of that specific tracking information is still years out, the potential is there. This means that consumers would no longer have the privacy that they have enjoyed. Medication use could possibly be tracked and even the type of razor you prefer could be monitored.

In defense of RFID chips in their current state, they can only be read by a scanner that is within twenty feet. After the point of purchase, any additional information could not be collected.

Identity Theft

Eventually, RFID tags could be used to store exact information about the person who purchased an item, such as their name, address, credit card number and even their social security number. If scanners fall into the wrong hands or are used improperly, this could put consumers at risk for identity theft.

In addition, there are concerns over who has the right to this kind of information and just how much data should be stored and accessible on these chips.

Environmental Concerns

Even though RFID chips are quite small, they still contain chemicals and metals that would contaminate landfills. If millions of these chips are produced and then thrown away as they are intended to be, this could wreak environmental havoc.

Environmentalists raise concerns that chip chemicals would leach into the soil in landfills, eventually contaminating ground water supplies. This concern could become greater if everyday items such as razors, clothing and pill bottles all have RFID chips installed, since these items frequently end up in landfills across the country.

Tags: RFID chips, these chips, chips raise, RFID chips raise, scanner that, this could

Dry A Digital Camera

Since water can damage electronics, if you happen to get your digital camera wet, you will need to take action immediately to reduce possible damage to the device. It isn't guaranteed that any method used to dry out a digital camera will work, but it is certainly worth a try. It just might work.

Instructions

1. Take the batteries and any memory stick or memory card from the camera immediately after it gets wet. Gently try to remove as much moisture as you can with a towel.

2. Place about two inches of rice in a deep bowl. Place the camera in the rice and pour enough rice over the top of the camera to cover it completely. Leave the camera in the rice for a day. The rice should absorb the moisture from the camera.

3. Feel the rice every so often to test it for moistness. If it does feel moist, repeat Step 2 with fresh dry rice. Keep the camera in the rice for a few days.

4. Put fresh batteries and memory stick or card in the camera and see if it works. If it won't work, you can try the rice method again. After that, you can try taking the camera to a camera repair shop.

Tags: camera rice, batteries memory, batteries memory stick, camera will, digital camera, digital camera will, from camera

Hidden Rf Video Surveillance Basics

Hidden video surveillance is something that many people want to have, but few know implement on their own. With hidden radio frequency (RF) video cameras installed in your home, you can rest easy knowing that any intruders will be caught on tape without even knowing it. To set up a hidden RF video surveillance system of your own, you just need to know some basics about how video security systems operate.

How RF Cameras Operate

Radio frequency cameras operate by sending a live video feed to a base receiver unit through radio waves, hence their name. This base receiver can then be used to record video to a variety of formats, depending on what type you purchase. Some receivers will record to DVDs or VHS tapes, while others can be hooked up to a computer and record video digitally. When picking out an RF camera set, consider what format you want your videos on, and choose appropriately.

Hiding RF Cameras

Many brands of RF cameras come in discreet sizes, perfect for hiding in a variety of locations. The exact locations for your cameras depend on what room you are putting them in, and what types of objects are located in that room. For instance, in a room with a bookcase, you could place a fake book containing an RF camera on the shelf, cutting a small hole in the book's spine for the lens to peek out. In a bedroom, you could hide an RF camera in a decorative pillow, or in a dresser drawer. In an office, an RF camera could easily be disguised amongst empty cardboard boxes, loose piles of paper or in a filing cabinet. Look at the environment for ideas on where to hide your RF cameras.

Wireless Interference

When you set up an RF camera, you'll want to pay attention to any source of radio signals that are near your location. RF camera signals can be easily disrupted by other signal sources, if those signals are on the same frequency as the cameras. A common issue affecting all wireless electronics is a microwave or cordless phone system, since the RF signals put out by those devices can be extremely powerful. If you have a microwave, make sure it's as far away from the cameras as possible, and if you have a cordless phone setup, make sure that it operates on a different frequency than your cameras.

Tags: your cameras, base receiver, cordless phone, frequency cameras, make sure, record video, video surveillance

Change The Battery On A Harman Kardon 300

The Harman Kardon 300 home theater system was released in 2006 and provides owners with a one device option for hooking up video and sound output to a television. The system is operated using a remote control supplied with the home theater system. The remote control is operated by three AAA batteries which you need to replace if the remote control stops working. Learn change the batteries in your Harmon Kardon 300 to continue operating the system.

Instructions

1. Flip the remote over so the back of the remote control is facing up.

2. Remove the battery cover from the back of the remote control by placing your finger on the ridges and sliding the cover upward.

3. Remove the old AAA batteries from the Harman Kardon 300 remote control and dispose of them properly.

4. Insert the three new AAA remote control batteries into the remote control. The positive side of the left and right battery should face the bottom of the remote control. The positive side of the middle battery should face the top of the remote control.

5. Reattach the battery cover by sliding it onto the remote control. You will hear a click when it is properly attached to the remote.

Tags: remote control, Harman Kardon, back remote, back remote control, battery cover, battery should, battery should face

Types Of Sony Flash Cards

For Sony Digital cameras and camcorders flash cards are often used rather then tapes, as these will record true HD in a digital format. These cards hold a set amount of memory, which translates to a set amount of recording time or number of pictures. Once the card is filled, it can be inserted into a card reader and the memory can be transferred to a computer hard drive. There are a number of different types of Sony flash cards.

Sony Memory Stick Pro

The Sony Memory Stick Pro is the first upgraded Sony Flash Card from their standard flash card, which only held 128 megabytes of memory, while the Memory Stick Pro holds up to 1 gigabyte of memory. The downside of this Sony Flash Card is that it won't work in devices that previously used the standard flash card. However, devices that work with the Memory Stick Pro are compatible with the standard memory stick, so if you upgrade devices, you should hold onto the old standard memory stick as a backup for a little extra memory when you are shooting.

Sony Memory Stick Duo

The Sony Memory Stick Duo and the Sony Memory Stick Duo Pro are basically smaller versions of the Sony Memory Stick Pro and are meant to work primarily in digital cameras, as they will last for longer. These Duo cards also match up with their pin-to-pin contacts in all devices that use the Sony Memory Stick Pro devices. So these Sony flash cards are best to have either as backups for the larger cards or for use in cameras where you don't plan on taking more than 100 pictures.

Sony Magic Gate Cards

Sony Magic Gate Cards are the largest Sony flash cards and are used in professional Sony video cameras, ranging from those that are used in the prosumer market--meaning "professional-consumer," a term referring to consumers who buy professional-grade merchandise--to those that are used on actual television shows. These cards range in size from 8 gigabytes on up and can be as expensive as $1,000, depending on their size. These larger flash cards are very efficient to have when you are shooting footage all day and don't have time, a computer or a place where you can dump footage off of the cards.

Tags: Sony Memory, Sony Memory Stick, Memory Stick, devices that, flash cards

Clean The Memory Card In A Camera

Clean the Memory Card in a Camera

Memory cards allow you to take and store more pictures than your digital camera can store on its own. In fact, some avid photographers have multiple memory cards. To retrieve the images stored on a memory card, the information must not be damaged. While you rarely have to clean a memory card, especially if you take care of it, on occasion it may get dusty and careful cleaning may become necessary.

Instructions

1. Transfer all the images to your computer first. Your camera came with a cord. One end is plugged into your camera and the other into a USB port on your computer. A picture download program should pop up. Follow the prompts to download the pictures onto your computer.

2. Turn off the camera and carefully remove the memory card, which is in a slot, mostly likely inside a compartment that opens when you push or slide it.

3. Hold the memory card by the edges. Avoid touching the metal contacts. Do not drop it.

4. Take a soft cloth or microfiber cloth and gently wipe the card. Never use water or cleaning agents. The card must remain dry.

5. Store the memory card back in the camera or in the holder it came in. Never leave it out where it can get dusty or wet.

Tags: memory card, your computer, Card Camera, Clean Memory Card, Memory Card Camera

Send A Fax With The Brother Intellifax 770

You've set up your Brother Intellifax 770 and suddenly can't find the manual. It's your first fax machine and you're not sure send a fax. This is the entire reason that you purchased the machine, so it's pretty important to get it right. With a few quick steps, you'll be sending faxes to all your contacts.

Instructions

Automatic Transmission

1. Load the document into the top loader face down, with the top end first.

2. Adjust the document guides to the dimensions of your document.

3. Enter the fax number using the dial pad, one-touch, speed dial or Tel-index.

4. Press "Start." Your fax will now be sent.

Manual Transmission

5. Use the manual transmission to hear the dial tone, and become familiar with the sound of the fax receiving a transmission.

6. Load document face down, top first, into the document loader.

7. Adjust the document guides to the dimensions of your document.

8. Listen for a dial tone using the handset or by hitting the "Hook" button.

9. Enter the fax number.

10. Hit "Start" after you hear the fax tone.

11. Hang up handset, if you have been using.

12. If you have any problems with transmission, you can press the "Redial/Pause" button to try again.

Tags: Adjust document, Adjust document guides, Brother Intellifax, dial tone, dimensions your

Take Photos With Backlit Graphics

Back lighting techniques are often used in nature photography.

Back-lit photos feature a background of light that is much brighter than the object in the picture. This bright light creates a contrast between the object in focus and the background. If you wish to take photographs of graphics, in the form of normal objects or graphic representations such as a sign, you can use back-lighting to make the graphic pop. Use signs and graphics that are dark in color for the best contrast.

Instructions

1. Determine which area of the photograph you want to be properly exposed. A properly exposed object appears its normal color and hue.

2. Place the graphic on a stable object, if you are using a graphic such as wooden letters or a cardboard sign. If necessary, tape the graphic to an object using clear tape.

3. Hold a light meter over the portion of the image you want in focus. Point the light meter toward the camera rather than toward the object if you want the object lit. If you want the background lit, point the light meter toward the source of light.

4. Turn the camera to the appropriate f-stop and shutter speed as noted on the light meter.

5. Point the camera toward the object and hold the camera steady. Press the shutter release button to take the picture.

6. Examine the picture if you are using a digital camera. If you want the picture less illuminated, turn the f-stop up one or two stops. If you want the picture more illuminated, turn the f-stop down one or two stops.

Tags: light meter, illuminated turn, illuminated turn f-stop, light meter toward, meter toward, object using

Canon Speedlite 550ex Instructions

The Canon Speedlite 550Ex is one of Canon's premier flashes, built to work with SLR cameras that are equipped with a hot shoe---a connecting dock on the top of the camera---to provide better light and focus when capturing images. The Canon Speedlite 550Ex is completely compatible with area AF (auto focus) technology and has many performance features such as a maximum Guide Number of 180, an auto focus assist beam, and wireless functionality when combined with other Canon Speedlite 550Ex flashes that are used as slave units.

Preparing the Canon Speedlite 550Ex for Operation

The Canon Speedlite 550Ex accepts either 4 AA alkaline or 4 AA nickel-hydride batteries. Locate the battery compartment cover located on the left side of the flash (if you are facing the LCD). Slide the battery compartment cover in the direction of the arrows and flip it up. Insert the batteries as indicated on the inside of the battery compartment cover. Close the battery compartment cover and slide it opposite the arrow until it clicks into place.

Attach the Canon Speedlite 550Ex to the camera by turning the collar lock (the wheel located at the bottom of the flash) clockwise. Insert the Canon Speedlite 550Ex's mounting foot into the camera hot shoe until it is completely mounted. Turn the collar lock counter-clockwise until the Canon Speedlite 550Ex is completely tightened.

Set the wireless selector (located just above the collar lock on the back of the flash) to either master, slave, or OFF depending on how you will use the Canon Speedlite 550Ex with other Speedlite 550Ex flashes. For basic use, switch the setting to OFF.

The power switch is located above the wireless selector on the right rear of the flash. It has 3 settings. ON (I), OFF (O), or SE (save energy mode). In SE mode, the flash will power off if not in use for ninety seconds when the wireless selector is set for OFF or Master Modes.

Basic Shooting with the Canon Speedlite 550Ex Flash

The fastest way to get started with the Canon Speedlite 550Ex flash is to set the flash for Auto Flash Mode.

Set the camera's shooting mode to P (Portrait or Program AE) or Full Auto, as indicated by a rectangle icon, by turning the Control Dial located on the top or rear of most Canon digital SLR cameras.

Set the Canon Speedlite 550Ex's flash mode to ETTL by pressing the Mode button (located on the back of the flash) until ETTL is displayed in the top left corner of the LCD. Focus the subject by pressing down the shutter button on the camera halfway. The shutter speed and aperture will be set automatically and displayed in the LCD. Verify the subject is in flash range as displayed at the bottom of the LCD; a meter will indicate whether or not the subject is in range.

Check that the lightning bolt symbol (flash) is shown in the camera viewfinder, and press the shutter button down fully to capture your image.

Tags: Canon Speedlite, Canon Speedlite 550Ex, Speedlite 550Ex, Speedlite 550Ex, Canon Speedlite 550Ex, battery compartment