Second Life Career Fair Offers Real Jobs

By Nick Mokey
Staff Writer, Digital Trends News

At Working Worlds, the desk, chair and avatars are all computer-generated, but the jobseekers and employers that use them both hope to hammer out real-life jobs.


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If you happen to be an avid Second Life player without a job, it’s time to put on your finest set of wings and find one – through the game. Luxembourg-based Gax Technologies will hold a real career fair in the virtual world on May 29, giving players a chance to meet with prospective employers without even leaving their computer chairs.

Working Worlds is actually the second career fair Gax has organized through Second Life. The company held its first Career Fair for Luxembourg last year, which ended up drawing 2,000 visitors, netting 50 of them real jobs. Inspired by the success of the original, the company has expanded with Working Worlds to include employers from Belgium and the Netherlands as well.

Surprisingly, participants who can find work and even interview from behind a computer screen aren’t the only ones who like the process. Employers actually like it for its low cost. “The 'Working Worlds' Career Fair is in itself the most efficient solution currently available to these companies without having to deploy significant resources,” said Cornelia den Hartog, the fair organizer. “Our partners will be in direct contact with candidates who will not have to travel, but who may meet their futureemployer 'Live' on Second Life.”

Participants can register for the fair at the Working Worlds Web site, which allows them to post resumes alongside other vitals for potential employers to look over before the fair on May 29

Monster Ships Wireless iSoniCast for iPod

Wednesday, March 12th 2008 @ 11:00 AM PDT

By Geoff Duncan
Staff Writer, Digital Trends News

Well-known cable maker Monster has shipped its iSoniCast wireless music system for iPod, letting users pump music to home stereos with no batteries required.


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Famously high-end cable-maker Monster has announced that it is shipping its iSoniCast Wireless Audio Bridge for iPod, enabling users to push music from their iPod to their home stereo without connecting cables or (notably) batteries. The iSoniCast uses the iPod itself to control music playback.

"The Monster iSoniCast isn't just the easiest wireless iPod-to-stereo link to hookup and use," said "Head Monster" Noel Lee in a statement, "it's the ultimate solution for wireless iPod playback on a home audio system."

The iSoniCast Wireless Audio Bridge is a two piece system: a base station that connects to a home stereo system using RCA cables, and a separate wireless module that connect to an iPod's dock connector and uses a proprietary 2.4 GHz radio technology to beam music back to the base station. Monster says the system's intelligent frequency hopping means it can sustain 4 Gbps streaming without interfering with other 2.4 GHz technologies like some cordless phones and Wi-Fi solutions. The transmitter powers off the iPod's internal battery when in use—Monster says it supports "extended listening."

The iSoniCast Wireless Audio Bridge is available now at a suggested retail price of $99.

Amazon, Universal Embrace Blu-ray

Wednesday, February 20th 2008 @ 8:15 AM PST


By Geoff Duncan
Staff Writer, Digital Trends News

In the wake of Toshiba officially dropping its HD DVD format, a flurry of companies are joining the Blu-ray camp...even some HD DVD stalwarts.


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In the wake of Toshiba officially cancelling its HD DVD high-definition disc format, more companies are lining up to support Sony's victorious Blu-ray technology—including some that were HD DVD stalwarts. Universal Pictures, the only studio to have backed HD DVD exclusively since the inception of the high-def format war, has announced it will release future movie titles in Sony's Blu-ray format.

"The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate," said Universal Studios home president Craig Kornblau, in a statement. "While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."

Universal's announcement leaves Paramount and Dreamworks as the only remaining HD DVD-exclusive studios who haven't announced a switch to Blu-ray, but any announcements are a formality at this point, given Toshiba's decision to kill off the platform.

Amazon.com has also announced it is embracing Blu-ray, following in the steps of movie rental service Netflix and electronics retailer Best Buy. Amazon will still carry HD DVD titles and technology, but will "more prominently" promote Blu-ray hardware and software on its site.

Toshiba's abandonment of HD DVD doesn't mean the company is putting the technology in a cardboard box and tossing it in the nearest dumpster. At a press event yesterday, Toshiba re-iterated it is still shipping existing HD DVD inventory to retailers, who will no doubt be fire-sale-ing it along with existing HD DVD high-definition titles. As HD DVD players drop in price—some retailers are offering them for under $100 with movie titles already—HD DVD players might make a compelling choice purely as an upscaling player for standard DVDs. Toshiba has also committed to stocking parts and components for repairs and warranty service for a minimum of five years, so the company will be dealing with HD DVD technology at least through 2013. Toshiba also hasn't made any decision on about HD DVD drives for PCs and notebook computers: although (obviously) new movie titles won't be available, as a data solution HD DVD might still have some legs—particularly since Microsoft, HP, and Intel haven't yet made a decision on abandoning the format.

One of the ironies of the format war is that the adoption of high definition discs is still far below industry expectations of even a year ago. Consumers' willingness to sit out a format way between HD DVD and Blu-ray has sparked the development of broadband movie delivery services, some of which (like Xbox Live) are already offering high-definition content. Sony has won the high-definition disc format war, and Toshiba's abandonment of HD DVD makes the PlayStation 3 more attractive as a combined gaming platform and Blu-ray player, despite its high cost. But the spoils of victory may not be as sweet—or as long lived—as VHS's defeat of Sony's Betamax technology years ago if broadband entertainment services leapfrog Blu-ray's physical discs.

It's official: Toshiba announces HD DVD surrender

David Katzmaier
24 comments
(Credit: Crave UK)
The two-year war between HD DVD and Blu-ray officially ended Tuesday morning as Toshiba waved the white flag and declared it would stop producing HD DVD products.
The company, which began sales of HD DVD in March 2006 with the HD-A1 player, "decided it was not right for us to keep going with such a small presence," said chief executive Atsutoshi Nishida. The Blu-ray format is now the definitive winner in the war and stands unopposed as the optical media replacement for DVD.
Toshiba's news release goes into a bit more detail: "Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand."
Three movie studios currently support HD DVD--Universal, Paramount, and DreamWorks Animation--but we expect them to follow suit and announce support of Blu-ray sooner rather than later.
With Blu-ray support announced by industry heavyweights Netflix, Wal-mart and Best Buy, speculation ran rampant before the weekend that Toshiba would end the war, and the company deserves credit for pulling out as soon as it did. The two incompatible formats have led to plenty of confusion among prospective buyers of next-generation hardware and software, although some have opined that the war was a good thing--at least it led to price drops.
We've been advising readers against the purchase of HD DVD players since the announcement by Warner Brothers in January that it would exclusively support Blu-ray. That doesn't mean we're telling everyone to rush out and buy a Blu-ray player now; we still believe that most home theater fans would be better served to wait for prices on players to fall. Of course, with the exit of Blu-ray's major competition, those prices may fall later rather than sooner.

Audio Technica Intros USB Turntable

By Geoff Duncan
Staff Writer, Digital Trends News Monday, February 4th 2008 @ 10:05 AM PST


Think vinyl's great but MP3s are more portable? Convert your LPs and singles to digital audio without intervening pre-amps and gear with Audio Technica's USB turntable.


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Audiophiles everywhere will tell you that old-fashioned vinyl offers greater fidelity than standard CD audio—but music fans everywhere will tell you that trying to carry a few hundred records while you're running around all day is a pain in the tuchus. With that in mind, Audio Technica had introduces its AT-LP2D-USB USB-enabled turntable for easy one-step conversion of 33 and 44 rpm vinyl records to digital formats.

"Many people still own their classic LPs and 45s, and a younger generation is discovering and collecting vinyl," said Audio-Technica Consumer Marketing Manager Crystal Griffith, in a release. "The AT-LP2D-USB offers users a simple, cost-effective solution for transferring records to digital files and portable players, and for listening to records on a home music system."

The AT-LP2D-USB features a USB output so the unit can be directly connected to a PC or notebook computer for capturing audio, and features a built-in switchable phono/line-level pre-amp for connecting to either phono-equipped systems or more modern line-level only systems. (Phono inputs adjust for the RIAA phono frequency curve—a standard developed long before the organization became mainly known for suing alleged file-sharers.) The turntable supports 33 1/3 and 45 rpm speeds, has a replaceable diamond stylus, and an old-school removable dust cover. The unit ships with Cakewalk Pyro software for Windows (which features a de-clicker and de-noiser for removing pops and hiss) and Audacity (Mac OS X) for recording music.

The AT-LP2D-USB should be available now for about $229.

Microsoft Hardware’s Got Game: SideWinder Line Is Back With a Mouse That Defines Customized Gaming Control

SideWinder Mouse is group’s first gaming mouse built in-house from the ground up.
Related Links
Newsroom:
• Consumer Newsroom on PressPass


Microsoft Resources;
• Microsoft SideWinder Mouse Fact Sheet (.doc file, 1.9 mb)

• Microsoft Hardware Press Materials

• Microsoft SideWinder Mouse Web site


LEIPZIG, Germany, Aug. 22, 2007 Today at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft Hardware debuts the revival of its SideWinder™ line with its first gaming mouse built from the ground up — a product that transcends the mouse category to become a customizable gaming system.


The new Microsoft Sidewinder Mouse marks the return of the popular SideWinder line of gaming peripherals, established in 1995.
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The Microsoft® SideWinder Mouse was created to meets gamers’ individual needs, providing custom tuning tools and a design for ultimate handling. The first mouse to wear the coveted SideWinder name, this top-of-the-line gaming machine sets itself apart from the competition with never-before-seen features that gamers want, uncovered during worldwide research. Features include one-touch access to Windows Vista® Games Explorer, Quick Turn — a performance-enhancing macro that lets users check their perimeter from wherever they are in-game — the first-ever LCD on a gaming mouse, and a cable anchor that doubles as an accessories storage box.

“We’re taking gaming mice to a new level with a mouse created in direct response to gamer feedback from all over the world; it offers superior customization and performance handling,” said Bill Jukes, product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware. “We found that gamers are a lot like performance car enthusiasts. They like to tweak and tune their mouse to get it just right, and today we are giving them the tools to create a personalized experience that lets them focus on what’s important: being at the top of their game.”

The SideWinder Mouse marks the return of the popular SideWinder line of gaming peripherals, established in 1995 and known for its top-notch PC gaming peripherals, including game pads, joysticks and steering wheels. The SideWinder Mouse adds to the line of PC gaming products and reinforces Microsoft Corp.’s continued commitment to PC gamers.

Nearly 5,000 Mice in One

The SideWinder Mouse lets gamers create an individual gaming system with tuning options that allow them to personalize their SideWinder Mouse, including an adjustable weight tray, changeable mice feet with three materials for glide preference, DPI control and new software features. The SideWinder Mouse lets gamers record their own macros by tying a sequence of actions into one press of a button. With all the features in this new mouse, gamers can transform their mouse into nearly 5,000 different mice from a single system.

These new features allow gamers to do the following:

• Turn on a dime.The new Quick Turn feature — a performance-enhancing macro — is built right into the software and lets users check their perimeter at any angle from wherever they are in the game with the click of a button.

• Choose the perfect weight. The SideWinder Mouse has a weight cartridge system and comes with four weights (up to 30 grams) so gamers can customize the weight of the mouse to their preference.

• Choose from three sets of feet to match gameplay preference.The SideWinder Mouse ships with three sets of feet, offering varied levels of glide depending on personal preference and the surface used.

• Instantly switch between DPI settings. A 2,000-DPI laser engine delivers super-fast response time, and three DPI switches behind the scroll wheel allow gamers to toggle between low-, medium- and high-sensitivity settings — in-game, at any time.


The First Gaming Mouse System

The SideWinder Mouse is more than a gaming mouse — it’s a gaming system. To complement the customizable options, this mouse has the following three innovative features to make it the ultimate gaming package:

• LCD. With the first LCD on a gaming mouse, gamers can easily keep track of key gaming actions — including their DPI and steps for recording macros — without being distracted from the game.

• Cable management system. The unique cable management system offers the feel of a wireless mouse with the connection speed of a wired mouse by holding the extra cable and preventing it from getting caught on other items on the desk. The cable management system doubles as a storage compartment for extra weights and feet.

• Quick-Launch. The new Quick-Launch button demonstrates the exceptional way in which Microsoft ties hardware and software together. When the Quick-Launch button is pressed from within Windows Vista, it will bring up the Windows Vista Games Explorer so gamers can instantly see the games available in their PC’s game library.


“Great games on Windows® deserve great controllers, and the new Sidewinder Mouse delivers,” said Kevin Unangst, director of Games for Windows at Microsoft. “The SideWinder Mouse is an ideal companion for every game, from your favorite PC classics to the upcoming releases ‘Crysis,’ ‘Hellgate: London,’ ‘World in Conflict’ and more.”

Designed for Performance Handling

The SideWinder Mouse also features a unique design with key ergonomic elements designed to allow gamers hours of comfortable play. Features include the following:

• Two vertical side buttons. This side placement allows gamers to feel exactly which button they’re pressing, thereby reducing the risk of executing the wrong command midgame.

• A wide, detented metal scroll wheel. The wheel design helps gamers feel each movement as they scroll, and the wide metal finish adds elegance and control to the mouse.

• Balanced weight.Designed for quick, balanced, comfortable precision gaming action and painted black with a crimson-red stripe, the SideWinder Mouse has gamers in mind from top to bottom.


Pricing and Availability

Microsoft SideWinder Mouse will be widely available in October 2007 for an estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.).* The SideWinder Mouse is now available for special pre-sale on Amazon.com and will ship in October when the product is widely released. More information about the Microsoft SideWinder Mouse can be found on http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/gaming/sidewinder and http://www.siteofchampions.com.

About Microsoft Hardware

For 25 years, the Hardware group has employed innovative engineering, cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC. Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial design, and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier, more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. Microsoft IntelliMouse® Explorer, which was launched in 1999, earned a place on PCWorld.com’s December 2005 list of “The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50 Years” as the first mainstream optical mouse that “brought gunk-free pointing devices” to a broad consumer base. More information about the Hardware group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

* Price is U.S. estimated retail price. Actual retail price may vary.

Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx.

The greatest game console of all time?

Jan 28 2008

Will Greenwald 12 comments



A few days ago, blogger Don Reisinger made the bold declaration that the Super Nintendo was the greatest video game system of all time. The SNES was indeed a great console with lots of great games, but it's still a leap to call it the greatest system ever made. In an industry that's over 30 years old, that's seen dozens upon dozens of home video game systems, simply calling out Nintendo's second console as the best ever seems simplistic.

To a certain extent, though, Don is right. The Super Nintendo could be considered the greatest console of all time. It presented a huge leap in technology from the NES, and its superlative selection of great games make it a system I'd be proud to keep next to my TV to this day. Some of my fondest young gaming memories revolve around the SNES and the countless hours I spent in front of it. Many of my favorite games are SNES titles, and they're still great to play today (thank you, Virtual Console, since my original SNES is long gone).

The Super Nintendo isn't the only choice, though. It might not even be the best choice for best console. The SNES took a huge leap forward from the NES, but it went in the same direction as the NES took from the Atari. It did everything the NES did, and it did a far better job of it, but it didn't really offer much else. A look at some of the greatest games of the system offer enough proof of that: Super Mario World, Super Metroid, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Mega Man X, and Final Fantasy VI were all sequels. They're all fantastic games, but they owe everything to the original NES games: Super Mario Brothers, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Mega Man, and Final Fantasy.

Several other consoles could also be called the greatest gaming system. They all offer a great advancement from the previous generation, they all feature massive libraries of great games, and they all have a shot at beating the Super Nintendo for the superlative title.

Nintendo Entertainment System: Brought gaming back from the brink

The NES helped start it all, and pulled North America back from the brink after the console gaming crash. The home video game system market almost died in 1983 and 1984, when the field became flooded with everything from Atari to Colecovision to Intellivision to Vectrex to the Bally Astrocade. There were practically more systems on the market than decent games to play with them, and people weren't biting. The Nintendo Entertainment System helped revitalize the industry when it came out in the U.S. in late 1985.

Of course, Nintendo's first home system wasn't great simply because what it did to the market. The 8-bit console found dozens of great games, from franchise firsts like Super Mario Brothers, Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda, to great third-party titles like Mega Man, Castlevania, and Final Fantasy, to classic sports games like Super Tecmo Bowl, Super Dodgeball, and Blades of Steel. The millions of grown-up gamers who helped make the game industry so successful owe much of their childhood memories to time spent on Nintendo's 8-bit console.

The case against: The NES' games haven't aged very well. While SNES titles like Final Fantasy VI, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past are still a blast to play, the original Final Fantasy,, Super Mario Brothers, Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda can't readily compare. They score big on the nostalgia factor, but the SNES offers broader, deeper, prettier games that feature all the best parts of the NES titles without the ugliness or simplicity. It doesn't help that for every great game on the NES, there were easily 10 horrible pieces of shovelware pushed out.

Great games: Super Mario Brothers, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Mega Man, Castlevania, Super Dodgeball, Duck Hunt, StarTropics, Ducktales, Final Fantasy

Sony PlayStation: Gaming made for grown-ups

If you had an NES in your childhood living room, you probably had a PlayStation in your college dorm room. While the NES helped make home video games popular again, the PlayStation helped legitimize the industry as a form of entertainment for adults, as well as kids. Titles like Resident Evil, Final Fantasy 7, and Metal Gear Solid tied great graphics with surprisingly mature and deep storytelling to present gaming experiences that adults could proudly play.

The PlayStation really gave developers the opportunity to actually show gamers the story, not just tell them. The system's combination of optical storage and 3D graphics let games use rendered cut scenes, voice acting, and even video footage to tell their stories. Previous systems like the SNES and NES offered dramatic storytelling at times (like the excellent Final Fantasy 7), and systems like the Phillips CD-i and Sega Saturn used optical discs to pack movies and sound into games, but the PlayStation was the first system to really take advantage of both to inject much-needed maturity into an industry that was still seen as primarily for young children.

The case against: Like the NES, the PlayStation suffered from a deluge of shovelware that outnumbered its decent games. Like the SNES, most of the great games on the PlayStation were retreads and sequels of older systems' games. Many of the games, like Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7, took their series in some great new directions, but they still didn't offer much new besides prettier graphics and deeper stories.

Great games: Resident Evil, Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Silent Hill, Tekken 3, Final Fantasy Tactics, Xenogears

Microsoft Xbox 360: Putting it all online

Though it's horribly premature to consider any competitor in the current console war the "best game system ever," the Xbox 360 still deserves some consideration. Microsoft's second game system has done the best job so far of connecting a home console to the Internet and bringing the entire experience together with ease and (relative) stability. After a successful test run on the original Xbox, Xbox Live has bloomed into a full-featured online service. Xbox Live Arcade offers a surprisingly large library of fun, downloadable games, from classic titles (like the aforementioned PlayStation game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night) to esoteric board games (like Catan and Carcassonne).

While online competition was once the sole purveyance of PCs, the Xbox 360 and the for-pay Xbox Live Gold service has made everything from casual death matches to sports tournaments easy to set up and execute. Previous systems, like the Sega Dreamcast, the PlayStation 2, and the original Xbox, laid the groundwork for online console play, but the Xbox 360 managed to execute it the most successfully. Voice and text chat both in and out of games, easy communication between friends enjoying different games, and a buddy list you can view and edit over the Web make the system one of the easiest to take online.

Of course, the other two consoles have made available both downloadable games and multiplayer, but they don't do it quite as well. The Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console lets gamers enjoy some of the best games from the NES, SNES, and other classic systems, and the PlayStation Network offers both new games and classic PlayStation titles for download. Unfortunately, the Wii's multiplayer component feels incomplete and awkward, and the PS3's library isn't as large and its interface isn't nearly as friendly as it could have been. The Xbox 360 simply manages to hit its mark and, like the NES and the PlayStation, take gaming forward.

The case against: The Xbox 360 has been plagued by quality control issues since it came out, and the red ring of death has caused a great deal of bitterness. The system itself has some great games, but it doesn't offer many truly remarkable exclusive titles; with a few exceptions, the Xbox 360's best games are either PC ports or cross-platform titles that are also on the PS3. In certain ways, the Xbox 360 is little more than a PC in a shiny console wrapper.

Great games: Mass Effect, Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, Halo 3, Gears of War, Puzzle Quest, Catan, Carcassonne, Alien Hominid HD

The final verdict: Depends on what you mean by "greatest"

Gaming is so subjective that there is no single "greatest" system ever. It might sound like a cop-out, but it really depends on what standards you're using and what generation you grew up in. I loved the SNES, and would personally call it the greatest system of all time. However, the NES and PlayStation could both easily be called the best, based on the standards they set and the advances they presented to gaming. Even the Xbox 360 could be called the best, if you consider how much it's done in terms of connecting console gamers to each other and making new games and content accessible.

In the end, it depends. My heart says SNES, my head says NES, and my hands say PlayStation (because nobody ever got Nintendo Thumb from the Dual Shock controller). Some of my best gaming memories were from the Super Nintendo, but I still have to give credit where credit is due.

Tips About PSP Video Formats And Folders

By Peter Ville

Before you can watch movie downloads on your PSP, you need to understand the folder structure, file types and naming conventions. The PSP does not play standard formats like wmv or quick time mov files. It uses MPEG-4 codecs, and its own file naming convention to complicate things a little. Once you understand these basics, you are well on the way to download any movie,music,games and more stuffs that you like on your PSP.
When the PSP was first launched it would only accept one format of movie - the MPEG-4 SP standard. With later updates however the superior AVC format (also known as H.264, or MPEG-4 Part 10) is also playable on the PSP.
MPEG-4 AAC files.
This is the default format initially used for the PSP. It is more properly known as MPEG -4 Simple Profile, or as MPEG -4 Part 2, and MPEG -4 AAC.
MPEG-4 AAC movies should be placed in the MP_ROOT100MNV01 folder and must be named with a M4V prefix followed by a random number, like this; M4V00001, M4V00002, M4V00003, etc., with an .MP4 extension.
When browsing your list of movies on your PSP, this type of file will be listed with a MPG4 tag.
MPEG-4 AVC files (Advanced Video Coding).
This format is playable on the PSP after firmware update 2.0 or later is installed. AVC files are also known as MPEG-4 Part 10, or more commonly H.264.
AVC files are of superior quality to plain vanilla MPEG-4 files, and are in fact a variant of the exact same format used for the superb UMD Video disc movies.
MPEG-4 AVC movies should be put in the MP_ROOT100ANV01 folder and must be named with a MAQ prefix followed by a 5 digit random number like this, MAQ00001,MAQ00002,MAQ00003 etc., with an .MP4 extension.
When browsing your list of movies on your PSP, this type of file will be listed with an AVC tag.
Important Notes
Using lower case will mean your PSP will not recognise the file at all.Always remember which folder to put the movie type and what naming convention to use so you must name all files using CAPS only.
Have the latest updates of PSP movies, games and more downloads please visit:
Today's Hottest PSP Downloads
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Ville

Things to Consider Before Buying an LCD Monitor

By Victor Thomas

An LCD monitor is the abbreviation for Liquid Crystal Display monitor. The quality of the images produced in an LCD monitor is high and it has high brightness and contrast levels as well.
There are various things to be checked while working with such a monitor. One of the things to be checked is the number of USB hubs that such units have. These hubs usually come with the display at an extra cost. They prove to be useful if plugging the USB devices in the computer is difficult. The next thing to be considered is the warranty on the backlight. This backlight is an important component in the display as it transmits the light into the display. In some cases, the monitor might have a longer warranty, but the backlight would be given less warranty, which means that if it wears away, then the whole screen has to be replaced at the cost of the user. So it is always good to look for a higher warranty on the backlight.
Sometimes, when the same colour or page is left on the screen for long, it develops those pixels present there to get worn out and thus becomes dead. This develops a black or white dot on the screen, thus avoiding that particular area to produce any image. This, at times, might be due to the manufacturing defect also. Hence it is better to look for warranties on all these issues. Some monitors come with an attached speaker system. This is usually expensive when compared to the separate speaker system. If such an attached speaker system is available in the monitor, then it should be noted that a quick-mute button and readily accessible volume controls should be available in the monitor itself.
LCD monitors emit less of electro-magnetic radiations, when compared to the CRT monitors. The effect of electro-magnetic radiations on the human body and how hazardous to health it is, is not yet found out. The main thing to be checked while going for such a model is the aspect ratio that it provides. For computer monitors, the ratio usually seen is 4:3. Also, for higher clarity and picture-perfect levels, there are higher aspect ratios. This is mainly dependent on the resolution provided by the monitor. There are monitors that produce resolution of 800x600p, 1280x1024p, which gives an aspect ratio of 5:4. For works that need high resolution and quality, it is better to go for high resolution monitors.
LCDs take very less desk space and also are quite good in terms of quality and clarity of images. Also the energy consumed by them is very less and since the electro-magnetic radiations emitted are also less, it is also less hazardous to health. Taking all the above things into consideration, it can be purchased and taken care of. Also these points help in avoiding many misconceptions that users have on LCD monitors.
Visit LCD Monitors Review website for exclusive articles, best buys and expert reviews on Samsung LCD Monitors and 24 inch LCD Monitors.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Thomas

How Do I Download PSP Games? The Easy Way To Get The Newest Games For Your PSP

By Dave Freeman

If you're the lucky owner of a PSP there's a good chance you have heard about the ability to download games, movies and music and use them on your system. It's a great way to keep your PSP stocked with all the newest games and make sure you never get bored! One of the most common questions we get from PSP users is "How Do I Download PSP Games?"
You have a few options to download psp games - some are risky and others are not. Let's take a closer look at what I mean.
You will probably run across a few website that offer "free" PSP game downloads. However, the old saying "you get what you pay for" comes to mind here! Since you aren't paying a dime, these websites have all sorts of problems associated with them. In fact, several have been shut down in recent months for distributing viruses, spyware and other infections.
Since these websites don't pull in any profit, the files are usually just provided by random people on the internet. They aren't "official" game downloads and often end up being corrupt (meaning they don't work at all). The download speeds are incredibly slow and you will often find that what you download ends up being a completely different file than you searched for.
As I'm sure you can tell, I'm not a fan of these so-called free PSP download sites. They can harm your computer, waste your time and cause a lot of headaches.
The best way to download PSP games is to join a "membership" site that specializes in PSP downloads. You will have to pay a small fee, but it easily pays for itself after a download or two. By joining this type of website, you are dealing with a reputable business that invests money in making sure that all downloads work, are downloaded quickly and are guaranteed to be 100% virus and spyware free.
It always surprises me that there aren't more people using these websites. The cost of one of these sites is less than the price of one new game and your membership gives you access to unlimited PSP game downloads (along with movies, music, roms etc). The best sites will also provide you with the software you need to transfer the files to your PSP.
Look for a membership site that only charges a one-time fee for a lifetime membership. For $35-$50 you will be able to download anything you want (including new releases) whenever you want without having to pay again. Some of the sites charge a monthly or "per-download" fee - I suggest avoiding these as you can find a better deal elsewhere.
One of the best features of the PSP is the ability to download games, movies and music instead of having to but them at the stores. Not only will it save you a lot of money in the long-run, but you will als be sure your PSP is fully stocked with the newest games without ever having to make a trip to the store. Happy gaming!
If you are interested in learning how to get a risk-free trail, go to www.pspmaxed.com to get the details.
Interested in finding the latest PSP game downloads?
Click Here to find out how to start a free trial to the best PSP download websites.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Freeman

Britney still cannot visit sons

A judge in Los Angeles has refused to restore singer Britney Spears' right to visit her two sons.
Superior Court Commissioner Scott Gordon left in place a ruling that bars Spears from visiting her sons.
He issued the original order after Ms Spears was involved in a stand-off with police when she refused to return the children to ex-husband Kevin Federline.
Ms Spears, 26, showed up at the hearing and was photographed by the paparazzi, but left before entering the courtroom.
Another hearing was scheduled for 19 February.
'Grave situation'
Mr Gordon heard a day of testimony from Mr Federline and witnesses to the three-hour police stand-off at the troubled pop star's home earlier this month.
Police were summoned on 3 January when Ms Spears became distraught and refused to return Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, to her ex-husband's representatives after a monitored visit.
She was taken away on a stretcher and hospitalised for two days.
Mr Gordon ruled that an emergency order he issued on 4 January suspending her visitation rights and giving custody to Mr Federline would remain in effect.
"The word victory is not something Mr Federline or his counsel would ascribe to this. There is no joy. This is a grave situation for all," Mr Federline's lawyer, Mark Vincent Kaplan, said outside the courthouse.
Although Mr Federline thought the ruling was correct, Mr Kaplan said, "his goal, his hope for the future is at some point he will be able to parent the children with the participation of their mother."
Neither Ms Spears nor Mr Federline were required to attend the hearing, but Mr Federline arrived early. Ms Spears did not arrive until early afternoon but left after being mobbed by photographers.
Ms Spears married Mr Federline in 2004 and filed for divorce in 2006.

DVD Region Codes - How To Beat Them

By Andy G Cooper

I'm a George Clooney placid kind of guy (without the good looks, sadly), but nothing gets me madder than the issue of DVD Region Codes.

Never heard of them? Let me explain.

Just imagine you buy a music CD from another country while on vacation, or maybe order it online. But when you put said disc in your player there's no sweet music - just a terse message telling you "Wrong Region: North American CDs are coded to only play in North America, European CDs will only play in Europe" . . . and so on.

You'd feel like smashing a guitar or putting your foot through a drum set, right? (Relax, music fans - CDs will play anywhere on the planet).

Not so with DVDs. There really IS a Region Code preventing you from playing DVDs acquired from other countries.

So say you live in the U.S. or Canada and you or your Uncle Joe just returned from Europe, for instance, with the latest James Bond flick Casino Royale - or a fascinating tourist documentary on the Rhine Valley. You pop it in the DVD player and get that darned "Wrong Region" message. Ditto if you live in London and bought a Grand Canyon tourist DVD on your trip to the U.S.

Hello, that's one expensive Frisbee you just bought!

A few small companies issue "Region-free" DVD discs that will play anywhere in the world, but the studio majors don't.

Let's be blunt: The whole region coding issue (there are six different regions!!) is a gigantic scam perpetrated by the movie industry. The studios want to control when DVDs will be released in different parts of the world and they also want to stop YOU picking up a bargain while on your travels. For example I've seen the three Jurassic Park movies in a box set for $15 U.S. while visiting England. Citizen Kane special edition? $8 U.S. in London. Ditto Bridge on the River Kwai 2-disc edition. The classic Brief Encounter special edition? An astounding $5 in the UK.

Remember - there's nothing illegal about buying whatever DVDs you like from anywhere you like on the planet. Hollywood just doesn't want you to be able to watch them! But it goes beyond getting a bargain. Some foreign material, like documentaries or obscure art films will NEVER be available in North America. What about the rights of the consumer - why shouldn't you be able to buy what you like and bring it home to use here - just like you can with music CDs?

Well you should. All power to countries like Australia and New Zealand that argue DVD Region Codes violate international free trade rules - and want to ban this vile practice.

Now, here are the current codes: REGION 1 -- USA, Canada REGION 2 -- Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland REGION 3 -- South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of South East Asia REGION 4 -- Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico) REGION 5 -- Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa REGION 6 -- China

The good news for DVD fans is that you CAN beat the Region Code scam - and there isn't a thing Hollywood can do about it!

How? Buy a Region-Free DVD Player. You'll find lots of them on sale at leading electronics stores and "big Box" discount stores and some of them are astoundingly cheap. For example, I picked up a Norcent player for less than $50 from Wal-Mart and it lasted three years, happily playing PAL discs from Europe and NTSC discs from North America.

I got an even better deal with my latest region free model: I picked up an Accura player (made by Citizen) in a fire sale at a big box grocery store for an amazing $29.99!!

These cheap players will do an excellent job, but if you are willing to pay more for an upconverting player for superior picture I can also recommend the LG brand. Some are less than $100. Toshiba, Philips and Daewoo are some of the other companies offering Region Free DVD players.

You might not think this Region Code thing is a big deal, but I believe it is. Guaranteed, if you travel you are going to see must-have DVDs at great prices.

I'm watching with interest to see how the movie industry plans to maintain this Region Code nonsense when more of us download movies online, presumably from anywhere in the world.

Andy G. Cooper is a Canadian journalist. Check out his DVD reviews and features at: http://www.andysdvdreviews.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_G_Cooper

Make Your Friends Jealous - Download Movies On Your iPod

By Chen Petersen

One of the great benefits of signing up to a movie download service, besides downloading unlimited movies for free, is gaining range of entertainment to put on your iPod or iPhone.

With unlimited free downloads, you can amass a huge collections of movies and TV shows to watch on the go. Public transport and waiting rooms are much more bearable with the latest episode of Heroes or a good new release to help pass the time.

The good services out there will even provide you with the tools to not only download put movies on your iPod or iPhone, but also rip them to dvd or cd, and will often provide media players to watch them on your computer or stream movies directly off websites.

Another benefit is the technical support they provide. If you are having trouble ripping your media, playing movies or trouble with bothersome codecs, most services offer 24 hour email technical support so in the unlikely event of a movie not working, you can shoot off an email and be up and running in no time.

Make all your friends jealous by downloading movies on your iPod. The next time you are waiting around for the bus, bust out your iPod pimped out with the latest movies or TV episodes, they'll be clamoring to check out what cool stuff you've got going on. The same goes for strangers on the train, you'll see them craning their necks to check out what you are watching, while you are sitting comfy watching a sweet movie or cool TV show.

Chen Petersen is an ipod and iphone enthusiast and loves loading up his ipod with all the latest shows and movies to watch on the go. To find out how you can pimp out your iPhone or iPod with hundreds of movies and TV shows


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chen_Petersen