The Automatic Champion

“Babe” Didrickson Zaharias was a phenomenal athlete. This Texan ran, jumped, rode horses, and played basketball and baseball—with tremendous flair. In the Olympic tryouts in 1932, she won five first places in track and field events. In the games of that year in Los Angeles, she won a gold medal in the women’s 80 meter hurdles, a gold medal in the javelin throw, and a silver medal in the high jump. After the Olympics, Zaharias turned to golf. Although she started from scratch, she won the National Women’s Amateur and the British Women’s Amateur. The press hailed her as a “natural athlete.” They often referred to as an “automatic champion.” But the real story behind Zaharias fairy-tale success was her painstaking diligence. Her success came from studied repetition. In every sport she undertook, she was methodical, deliberate, and persistent. She was neither “natural” nor “automatic.” When, for example, she played golf for the first time, she did not automatically master the game. Instead she studied the game carefully, covering all its complex skill sets, under the tutelage of the finest golf teacher she could find. She looked at all the elements of the golf swing, broke it down into parts, then put it all together in a fluid movement. Besides using an analytical approach to understand the game, Zaharias also locked the information into her motor nervous system through exhaustive practice. She would spend as many as 12 hours a day on the golf course, hitting as many as a thousand balls. Her hands would often becomes so sore that she could hardly grip her club. She stopped only long enough to tape up her hands before picking up the club again. Zaharias learned to play golf the right way. She started out by hiring an exceptional teacher. She analyzed each part of the golf swing then put them all together in a fluid motion. She practiced for about 12 hours a day. She exercised self-discipline and self-sacrifice. And she didn’t doubt herself. Her previous successes had created an enduring self-confidence. She believed that if she applied herself she would be a golf champion. She proved this belief true. Zaharias took a risk. She risked her reputation as an athlete by trying something new. She also risked the time and money it cost her to perfect her new sport. Above all, she was methodical in the way she went about inventing herself as a champion golfer. She chose a gifted teacher, studied all aspects of the game, and put her new knowledge into practice, converting theory into motor learning, coordination, and stamina.

PsP Fun

With PSP downloads, you have the ability to do quite a bit. In fact, this unit is almost like carrying around your own personal gaming computer in your pocket. When it was created, it was created to provide for the highest level of portable gaming possible. The PSP is more than just that today. It allows you to watch the latest video, download a few games to play whenever you would like to, and you can even get the latest news if you would like to. PSP downloads offer you the flexibility of being able to play and see whatever you want without having to go down to the video store and paying for it. When it comes down to it, PSP downloads will allow you to do whatever you want whenever you would like to. They come programmed with the ability to connect to the web or to the network to allow you to download from the site. But, you can also access several communities that offer free downloads as well. You do not have to go through their network, in other words. If you would like to download PSP games to your player, simply visit any of these websites, register with them (which seems to be a requirement) and choose the games that you would like to play. There are also many paid memberships that you can have as well. Of course, the best PSP games are available on these locations for downloads. But, before you hand over your credit card number, make sure that you know what they have to offer. Not all of these communities offer the best availability. You can find those communities that offer more than just PSP game downloads as well. They can provide you with the latest videos, movies, trailers and much more. Another benefit to using them is the fact that you can get the latest information about what is coming out and how you can get your hands on the latest PSP downloads. Please visit some of my sites PsP Downloads and PsP Games

Linux or Windows - Which is it?

Computer users and programmers have become so accustomed to using Windows, even for the changing capabilities and the appearances of the graphical interface of the versions, therefore it has remained Microsoft's product. Although, Lycoris, Red Hat, Mandrake, Suse, Knoppix, Slackware and Lindows make up some of the different versions of LINUX. These companies release their own versions of the operating systems with minor changes, and yet always with the same bottom line. The simple fact that not one of these companies are close to competing with Windows, for the most part causes the difference in market share. It sometimes seems everyone on the planet is using Windows. Many say Windows is way better than LINUX because of the simple handling of the software or hardware. There are huge differences between the number of users of LINUX and Windows. Many say LINUX is far better because it started as an Open Source software and thus is more flexible than Windows. Then what accounts for the enormous difference in market share between these two operating systems? Windows and Linux are different in many ways. 1. Windows GUI is an integral component of the OS; speed, efficiency and reliability, while the Linux GUI is optional, are increased by running a server instance of Linux without a GUI, something that server versions of Windows simply can't do. The nature of the Linux GUI makes remote administration of a Linux computer easier with a more natural feel than Windows computers. 2. The command prompts of the operating systems are very different. The command interpreters in the Windows 9x series are very similar to each other and the NT class versions of Windows also have similar command interpreters. There are, however differences between a Windows 9x command interpreter and one in an NT class flavor of Windows. Linux, like UNIX, also supports multiple command interpreters, but it usually uses BASH or "Bourne Again Shell". 3. While you have to pay hundred's of dollars for a new Windows version, you can just go download Linux. There's no manuals or simple installers for the free version. Although there is quite a learning curve when utilizing the free package. There are some easy automated packages of Linux for low prices. Microsoft's "big con" is the supposed security issues with windows. Most spyware, adware and malicious files programs work with Windows just fine. In general you do not deal with these kinds of circumstances unless you are working with Windows. whereas Linux offers a strong protection, password protection for Windows can be bypassed with ease. The software availability is the key to why Windows wins over Linux in this competition. Most software releases are already configured for Windows. If you chose to use Linux you must copy Windows with special software in order to use your windows based programs. You could always install Windows as a subsystem to Linux, this would take the administrative capabilities of Windows and allow them to funtion on Linux. If Linux is ever to compete with Windows, it must become more user friendly and provide serious technical support.

How To Save Money With Compatible Printer Inks

Like many other long term owners of printers, over the years I've spent a fortune on printer ink. I even recall on one occasion I actually paid more for a replacement ink cartridge than I did for a bottle of good champagne. I always thought that as long as my printer kept printing then it was just another fact of life and there was little I could do about it so why complain? Back then, on average, I paid anything from £20 to £25 for my branded ink cartridges because I simply didn't know any better. Although I'd heard of compatible ink cartridges, I didn't really know enough about them to give them a try. I was a bit suspicious of them because the cartridges weren't branded with a familiar name and I never gave it a second thought that they would be as good as branded cartridges. I even wondered if they might damage my printer. Then one day, my partner came home with some compatible ink cartridges for my printer and although I wasn't keen to use them I did. My existing ink cartridge was almost empty and I needed to get something printed so I cagily replaced the branded cartridge with the compatible, crossed my fingers and hit 'print'. I had visions of having to run out to buy a new branded ink cartridge or, in the worst case, a new printer and a new branded ink cartridge. The paper finally came out after what seemed to be an eternity and I was surprised to see that not only had my document printed as well as it ever had before, but my printer was still happily sitting on my desk, waiting for the next job. I couldn't believe it. The compatible ink turned out results that were just as good as with the branded ink I had previously spent a fortune on. At the same time, I was so happy to learn that the compatible cartridge had cost a tenth of the price I'd been paying and yet disappointed when I thought about all of the money I could have saved (and all of the champagne I could have had). After sitting down and working on the figures, I'd come to the conclusion that I'd actually spent almost £500 on replacement, branded ink cartridges over the last 12 months alone. If I would have been using compatibles I would have saved an incredible 90% of my printing costs! The next day, I went into work and told my colleagues all about what had happened and to my surprise two of them had also been spending more than they'd wanted on branded printer ink simply because they didn't have enough knowledge about compatibles. This inspired me to carry out research on compatible ink cartridges in order to find out the facts behind them; their advantages and disadvantages. I was astounded by what I discovered! Here are just a few of the things I found out: * You can save between 60% and 80% on average from the price of a branded ink cartridge depending on the make and model of your printer. * Despite the myths, compatible ink does not affect the warranty on your printer. By using compatible ink you're cutting out a major profit source for the big brands so they may try to convince you that you can only use their own inks, but it's actually illegal for them to void your warranty for using a compatible ink instead. * Compatible ink provides the same number of printed pages as a branded cartridge. * When buying your compatible ink, it's always a good idea to ask the vendor if the cartridges are made to ISO 9000 standards. Ink made to these standards have the same amount of ink as original cartridges. * Most compatible ink cartridges have a 24-month shelf life so you don't have to worry about them spoiling in a short space of time. Nowadays, I'm printing as much as I ever did, if not more. The great thing is that I'm spending less on printer ink, more on the enjoyable things in life and telling everyone I meet about the wonders of compatible printer inks!

So You Wanna Be a Sys Admin

So you wanna be a sys admin but you don’t have a clue what it entails. Well, don’t fret my pet, I will cover the basis with you and educate you so you will make an informed decision. Most students start their college years off without a solid understanding of their course of study. Book knowledge is great, but the real world is hands-on and you need to know the hands-on more than the books. The books can guide you, give you information, and be a great resource or reference. But, the grit of it all is from the experience and the years of knowledge. I know you heard it all before. So what does it take to be a systems administrator? Well, it actually takes years of experience, but from the start, it should take passion. You should enjoy the work of a sys admin. The day to day operation of a sys admin consists of problem-solving, troubleshooting, maintenance, installation, configuration, and management of a wide range of systems. Depending on your level of skill and the position which you have taken on, you may support multiple operating systems, such as: Linux, Unix, Windows, etc. The truth of the matter is you should always stay well within your comfort zone when seeking employment, you can always teach yourself more advanced technologies as you progress in your area of expertise. Staying within your comfort zone will make you a master of your domain and can expose you to new avenues of interest. Problems which may arise on a day to day as a sys admin can include system failures, application errors, hardware issues, server maintenance, data or system recovery, etc. As a sys admin it is your job to keep all computer systems up and running at all times. It is also your responsibility to monitor the systems before its point of failure and therefore perform preventative maintenance for the software and hardware of each system. You are responsible for maintaining proper file structure, security permissions, systems upkeep, systems inventory, and systems functionality. As a sys admin you are the front-line defense and you should take initiative in recommending software and hardware purchases for your organization. A sys admin job is not hard work as long as you have the right tools and you know how to use them. A good sys admin uses tools to assist and aid in the proper maintenance of systems. These tools can include remote administration tools, system/network monitoring tools, security tools, troubleshooting tools, disaster recovery tools, etc. A good sys admin is also very resourceful and can usually find help or answers to even the most complex issues. These resources include the internet, computer or technology books, peers, and developer support personnel. An experienced sys admin knows how to multi-task and has the ability to tackle multiple issues in a cordial manner. An experienced sys admin also knows how to handle stressful environments and situations, which is usually the nature of the business. The burnout rate and stress levels of sys admin work has greatly diminished over the years as technology has become more advanced and the availability of tools and resources increased, but the job of a sys admin still has its days and can still be stressful or overwhelming for the novice. The best way to alleviate or reduce stress in the workplace is to take a break and relax your thoughts. Let your mind go free and take a deep breathe. Come back into your work area with a fresh mind and prepared to tackle the problems one at a time. Always remember computers can only do what a human has told it to do! So, if there is a problem then logically thinking will possibly find the answer. A computer does not have a mind of its own, so something logical has caused it to fail. A systems administrator job is never done, there is always room for improvement in any organization. Most companies are flying by the seat of their pants and are at the mercy of their sys admins. The sys admin is usually an unseen force in the company (in the eyes of the clients/customers), because a sys admin operates in the background, behind the scenes. Though, being an unseen force, the company’s success and overall existence depends greatly on the work of the sys admin. Without proper maintenance and management of a company’s computer systems there is no telling where that company would be!

MAC vs PC - Which is the best computer for your home business?

Why do people love MAC computers? Are they really the best choice for your home business? To answer that question you need to understand the basic difference between MACs and PCs. A P.C., the acronym for “Personal Computer”, is the machine that most of the computing world owns. That actually should be the acronym for “Popular Computer”. You’re likely reading this from a PC.

How can you tell? Well MAC computers, manufactured by Apple, run on their own operating system, versus the PC which all run on the Microsoft Windows operating system, i.e. Windows 98, 2000, etc. That’s it…that’s the defining difference between the two types of computers. If you’re running a computer with a Microsoft operating system, than you have a PC.

Bill Gates actually ripped off the original Apple operating system, but that’s a whole other article.

Most media and creative professionals, who work in design or in the film and music industries, only use these computers. That’s the foundation of their business. But other than that, you don’t find them too much in many business settings.

Now I’ve never owned one, but I’ve worked with other business owners who have and I actually fiddled around with one a few times. Here’s what I can tell you….
MAC users LOVE MACs!!!!!! They’re generally like cult followers, they worship them and would drink a vial of arsenic before switching to a PC.

That in itself does say a lot! You don’t generally see PC users feeling the same way. I admit they are really hot machines, but since I’ve worked with PC’s for over 15 years I am admittedly biased. It's really just a "comfort", "familiarity", "feels like a good ol' shoe" kind of thing.

The truth is MACs are essentially better-made. Apple tends to “over-engineer” their computers, so that you can get by without an upgrade for a much longer time. It's about eight to ten years, as opposed to the PC’s three to five year span.

Their operating system is superior to Windows and they have far fewer technical issues, especially relating to viruses. Macs only make up about 2% of all computers out there, so hackers don’t think it’s worthwhile to develop viruses that affect their operating system; hence computer viruses on MACs are virtually non-existent.

Not to mention computer hackers hate the fact that Microsoft has created a monopoly. Viruses are their way of creating a massive migraine for them…and unfortunately us as well.

Now on the other side, since there are fewer Macs in the world, not all software, especially specialty software, is available to run on their operating system. So you have to look into that before you decide to purchase one.

So if they’re so great, then why doesn’t everyone own one?

Simple…they are more expensive than PC’s. That’s the main reason why PC’s are more “popular”…period! You see “Popular Computer”…oh never mind!

Most businesses, especially small businesses, don’t need to spend the extra bucks on a computer just to run simple word processing and database programs…it’s really not a necessary cost. That’s an important concern when starting a small business.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider one. They’re really great machines and will certainly keep your business running at peek efficiency. And the upfront price may be worth the cost, because it may actually save you money on the back-end. The savings from not having to upgrade hardware every couple of years or having to update virus protection software will save you lots over the long-term.

Find out more about MACs for your home business at Duh Idiot’s Home Biz Start-Up Guide.

© 2005 A Covert Operations, Ltd.
All rights reserved.
http://www.starting-a-home-business.org

Finding Computer Game Cheats

Anyone who lies can be called a cheater or a cheat. In school, when you “cheat” it is understood that you have copied others’ answers or from a source, say a book, during an exam. Between you and your lover, it could mean having an affair with another or simply lying. In sports, it means getting ahead of your opponent in a manner that violates the rules of the game.

But cheating in computer games is not necessarily equal to lying or taking unfair advantages over your opponent. It constitutes a wide spectrum of activities, which in general is aimed at altering the game experience so as to lead in the game. Cheating differs in every computer game and is dependent on what the players have agreed upon as an unfair advantage.

Most computer games have the so-called “cheat codes,” which are used to make the game easier. But these cheat codes are designed for single players, especially those new to the game. Using these codes could also mean cheating, but it cannot be said that you are using them to gain unfair advantage.

Unjust computer game cheat is most prevalent in multiplayer and mass multiplayer computer games played through the Internet. In these types of computer games, players may remain anonymous and so they can boldly cheat, without fear of being known to his opponents.

There are different types of computer game cheats. These are by changing the user settings, by using bugs, exploits and external software and by cheesing.

When you alter the settings of your computer, the layout of the computer hardwares or the game itself so that it would suit your gaming style or your computer system, you are in a way cheating. But this can be acceptable. However, going as far as modifying the color and brightness of your computer in order to see through shadowy areas could be questionable.

Exploits are features of a game unintentionally or erroneously made by the developers. When particularly used to gain unfair advantage over your opponent, they can be regarded as computer game cheats. However, sometimes these exploits make the game more fun and exciting.

The use of external softwares specially designed to let the player lead the game unjustly by modifying the program that runs the computer game, is considered as a grave way of cheating. Some of these computer game cheats analyze the status of the game in the computer’s RAM.

Other players “cheese” to lead in the game. This is done when virtual players do things that are not allowed or are unlikely in real life. Although this may not be a very grave kind of computer game cheat, most players disapprove cheesing in a game.

Usually, computer game cheats nowadays are due to alterations made in the game software. This is in spite of the developers’ prohibition of the modification of the original codes. The problem with most game softwares you can find in the market nowadays is that despite their being encrypted, data files can be easily revised without altering the main program so cheat protection features become useless.

Stopping all forms of computer game cheats is really hard because as said earlier, cheating in computer games cover a wide range of activities and there are a lot of aspects to consider in each computer game cheat. There are softwares, though that can be installed on the server in order to help detect a computer game cheat.

Effective Data Conversion, Finding Quality

If you have a need for effective data conversion, then it is absolutely necessary to find reliable and trustworthy services to help you with your need. There are several ways that you can go to get the needs you have filled. To find the right solution, though, you’ll need to consider the options that you have and determine the right budget and the right hands on approach you wish to take. Data conversion can be done successfully several ways.

Depending on your specific need, you can find a number of solutions for data conversion. Throughout the web you will find many companies and service professionals that provide solutions for you in data conversion. These services will not only convert data as you need them to, but many will analyze the data for you as well. This can be extremely helpful as it will allow a professional eye to handle your most intricate details. Likewise, these services can cost a good amount as well.

Another option that you have with data conversion is to purchase good quality software. Many types of software can actually handle analysis as well but it often lacks that personal touch. Less expensive than using a data conversion service, this is one route many individuals and businesses go. One way to find the most effective product or service is to use comparison shopping via the web. There are excellent opportunities in data conversion available here.

There are also many information portals now devoted to the subject and we recommend reading about it at one of these. Try googling for “data conversion” and you will be surprised by the abundance of information on the subject. Alternatively you may try looking on Yahoo, MSN or even a decent directory site, all are good sources of this information.

Got Voice Mail?

"There's not anybody who really cares about using voice messaging the way I envisioned it." According to Gordon Matthews, the inventor of voice mail, he never anticipated that his automated message system would be used to confuse and frustrate business callers. He didn't foresee how many ways businesses could devise to misuse his system. When asked what aggravates them most about modern phone communication the majority of people will say that it is voice mail. Pressed for details, they explain that it is the automated answering process that companies use to screen and direct calls that bugs them, not the basic messaging-taking function. Companies are spending large sums of money to antagonize their customers and it only seems to get worse. When a person needs help with a problem and can't reach another human, the situation deteriorates rapidly. Using the numbers on your touch tone pad is fine when you want to verify your bank balance, pay a bill or have a dry newspaper delivered; but when your pipes are backing up, your new computer just crashed, or a tree just fell on your brand new SUV, call processing may not be the answer. There are advantages to an automated system. It saves money in salaries and benefits. It prevents old-fashioned phone tag by allowing people to leave detailed messages in their own voice with clear and correct information. Voice mail crosses all time zones so people can leave and retrieve messages at their convenience. The disadvantages are that people can hide behind voice mail, often the prompts are confusing, working through the menu can be more time-consuming than speaking to a "live" person, and some people just don't like talking to machines. If your company uses an automated system to process calls make sure it provides the best customer service by following these suggestions: 1. Keep your greeting short and sweet. (No one cares that your menu options have changed. They only want to know what options they have now.) 2. List your menu options according to popular usage. 3. Tell callers how to reach another human early in the process. 4. Think twice before using voice mail for customer service issues. 5. Survey your customers from time to time to see how they feel about your voice mail system. 6. Try calling your own system occasionally and find out first hand what your customers are experiencing. Voice mail can be either an incredible asset to your business or an incredible pain for your customers. Don't force innocent people to spend their valuable time in your voice mail jail. (c) 2006, Lydia Ramsey. All rights reserved. Reprint rights granted so long as article and by-line are published intact and with all links made live.

Gangs as Cults

On the History channel there is a new series called "Gangland" which covers the history and practices of various gangs The Arian Brotherhood, La Eme, The Hells Angels and The Mongol Nation to name a few. Many of these gangs are "blood in, blood out", meaning one must commit violence to join and must be killed to leave. After watching a few episodes it became clear what no one else is seeing from these gangs is that they constitute a form of cult. What is unique about this form of cult is their overt willingness to do violence and engage in illegal activity. What these gangs/cults provide to it's members highlight what a good functional cult should provide: * A sense of family * A feeling of uniqueness * A feeling of superiority * It gives its members a special place to feel at home within the cult * Huge amounts of reward in the form of money, drugs, sex and freedom as well as an outlet for them to practice whatever talent they have. * if the leader gets removed the cult/gang can keep going, and possibly no one feels vulnerable or unworthy just because they are at the bottom of the pyramid within the group. The main thing that makes these gang/cults different from a religious cult is that the focus is not on God or the Leader but on the gang itself. This creates a powerful sense of brotherly love and comradeship. The leaders themselves differ from most cult leaders in that their priority of values is not to God, the cause, or spreading the word or even their own ego gratification. Instead they value the protection and comradeship the family gives them. That said they get their personal needs well met. An act of violence or criminal act does two things to the mind of the member who commits them: 1) It creates a concrete sense of commitment. This is an act that demands absolute commitment which extends itself to group. Afterwards they are well rewarded for "taking care of business" in a celebration of their success. Cult experts call this love bombing. 2) An act of violence also forces them to make a commitment to NOT be part of the rest of society. They are now committing to alienate themselves by their affiliations (the gang) and their actions. As a side note, It is claimed that there is a "sealing ceremony" within some cults in which a young child is force to witness a murder (which, unbeknown to them, is actually staged) then told they will be killed if they leave the group and that they are accomplices to this murder. A simple rule within all these gang/cults is "we protect our own". Each member knows that anyone else in the gang will "take a bullet" for him and he will do the same for them. In order to further bond these people to the group and alienate them from the rest of society they often sport tattoos and wardrobe that proclaim their gang affiliation. This is somewhat reminiscent of how the Mormon "cult" isolated themselves from the rest of society by 1) practicing polygamy and 2) moving from New York to the isolated regions of Utah. A gang is not something easily joined, one has to be 'Initiated' into the gang, be it elaborate ritual, or simply having the gang members beat the crap out of you for 13 seconds (Why 13 seconds, the timing varies amongst some groups, but one theory is that its for the letter "M" which is the 13th letter of the alphabet, standing for Mexico, something for Latin based gang members). When a person is initiated, they learn the special hand signals and lingo only the gang knows, and in part its identification and helps bring together members into the world of the gang as family and the rest as outsiders. Its an interesting idea to link them to a cult grouping, not many have ventured in that direction intellectually.

Finding A Computer Repair Shop You Can Trust

Your have a computer repair that needs to get done right away. You are ready to take it anywhere. Question is, where should you take it? Does it really matter where you take it? I would suggest that it does. Here are some things you may have not considered before. What kind of turn around time do they have? Some computer repair shops will take two to three weeks to return your computer to you. Are you ready to be without your computer for that long? If not, shop around. There are computer repair shops that can get your computer back to you in as little as a few hours. Some of these faster companies can charge more but the speed is worth it if you are working on a big project that has to get done right away. What do they charge for their hourly fee? Some companies charge really high fees and take a really long time to get the computer back to you. You want to take your repair to a computer repair shop that will be quick and will do the repair right the first time. Look for a computer repair shop that posts their prices. Most shops have a set price list for specific tasks. Look for a company that can give you a solid quote before they start their work. You should also make sure they will contact you for approval if there is any reason to increase their repair bill before they start the repair. Is their staff A+ certified? The A+ certification doesn't guarantee that the computer technician knows what he is doing but it is generally a good indicator that they have invested the time into their craft to do it well. You should also find out if everyone on staff is A+ certified or only certain staff. Ask to have the certified staff do the work. Trust your gut. If after talking with someone at the shop in person you don't get a good feeling about them, walk away. In any given town there are many people who do computer repairs. Don't be afraid of shopping around.

Download Music to Apple iPhone

The new Apple iPhone has started to be one of the most popular entertainment piece of hardware available right now. One of the main ways that this new revolutionary cell phone is going to be used is for playing music. So if you are wondering how you can upload music to your new iPhone, you've come to the right place, because in this article we are going to offer you a step by step guide on what you have to do to put music on your iPhone. The iPhone is a revolutionary piece of equipment. This is because this new gadget manages to integrate all the possible entertainment that is available now. You can use it to browse the web, listen to music (works just like an iPod).

If you are new to handheld gadgets entertainment you must know that there are two ways of transferring music to your iPhone. The first one is to connect the iPhone to your computer, and transfer the music that is currently stored in your hard drive. And you can also download music to your iPhone by accessing some large libraries of music that are currently available on the internet. You are going to use a computer for both these 2 ways of putting music on your iPhone. For the first method, you will need a computer to download a software that is going to help you copy the music from your favorite CDs to your computer, and encode it to MP3. One of the most popular software that does that is AudioGrabber. It's easy to use and all you have to do is push a button and you will copy a music CD to your computer. And from your hard drive you will be able to copy the music to your iPhone.

The first step that you can use to enrich your iPhone with lots of music is to transfer the music that is already on your computer. This is one of the shortest steps. All you have to do is use a software called ripper, that is able to copy your music from your cd at a much greater speed than the normal CD playback, this means that depending your you CD-ROM drive speed you will be able to copy a music CD in 5-10 minutes.

One of the hardest ways to get music to your iPhone is by finding a reliable free music download source. For example if you are going to use P2P software you might get caught and install in the same time some spyware and adware, that can cause damage to your computer.

Another way you can download music legally is by using the software provided by Apple: iTunes. This music download software lets you download music from the internet, but you will have to pay for each song that you download.

The Best In Audio Video Tools

What do you use your computer for? Long gone are the days when the computer was strictly a data processing tools. Today, the computer is an all-purpose media entertainment center. Its capabilities have gone far beyond keeping a catalog of all your movies and music – it’s even gone beyond playing all your favorite music and movies. These days, with the right tools you can splice, cut, record, edit, mix, create and publish your own media. And to accompany the new capabilities there’s a dizzying array of new software tools that can help you do everything from rip CDs to encode complete animations and videos. How do you find the best new software tools?

Enter www.audio-video-tools.com, one of the fastest growing download sites for audio and video software. Just like their name says, the site is all about the software that you need to do everything you want with anything audio or video. This is not just another software directory. www.audio-video-tools.com lists powerful audio and video tools in 14 different categories from CD rippers to cell phone utilities. Whether you want to do something as simple as convert a wav to an mp3 or as complex as create a full-length video from scratch, you’ll find the tools you need to do it at audio-video-tools.com.

And you’ll find them easily. There’s no need to wade through page after page of directory structure. You can search all categories from the front page on the site, or click on a category to go directly to browsing that category. You’ll find video editors, audio editors, CD rippers, imaging software, video and audio converters, complete all-in-one packages and more. There are shareware listings, commercial listings and freeware listings – in short, just about everything you’d ever want to play with your media.

Each listing includes a capsule description and a full review as well as a side box that lists all the important details about the software – including both a staff and user rating, and the chance to enter your own rating. The categories include All-in-One, Media Players, CD Rippers, CD Burners, Converters, DVD software, Editors, ID3 Tag Editors, Mobile Phone Tools, Plugins, Radio and Broadcasting (plogcasting, anyone?), Recorders, Utilities and Voice and Text editors.

The reviews are comprehensive, listing all the capabilities of each software package and how well it performs each function. It’s a nice bonus that’s not often found on pure directories.

For software publishers, audio-video-tools.com offers multiple opportunities for exposure. There’s an easy submission tool to add a free listing of you audio or video software, and many different ways to increase the exposure of your listing at very reasonable rates. You can opt for a featured listing, front page exposure, top level search results, footer text links and more.

Among the most popular software featured at audio-video-tools.com is Blaze Media Pro, the popular powerhouse all-in-one media tool that converts between all available video and audio formats .Rip, burn, convert, edit, capture, create, extract and combine files to create your own unique media.

www.audio-video-tools.com is a young and growing directory with a lot of promise. The directory structure is easy to follow and intuitive, the reviews and descriptions complete enough to intrigue and the array of features for software publishers wide enough to attract the best tools the net has to offer. If you need the tools to do absolutely anything with media files, this is the place to find the tools that you need.

Templates that define the character of the account holder

Templates of the Myspace account have to be carefully chosen considering the fact they depict the character of the individual. The templates can be used to build the page, host a number of features such as images, data, text, video and audio files and streaming media. However, to host such features, the template should be strong and interactive.

It will be all the more better if the account holders use the images in a collage format. The features and other specialties are not available in the public Internet sites on a greater number. They can be sourced by paying a certain prescribed fee. However, some of the common features include multicolor and multi features that can moved all over the web page of the Myspace by using the tools and kits provided on the template. There are clear instructions that are available in the download format to prepare the web page of the Myspace with a suitable template. Carefully follow the instructions to build the Myspace page using the icons, software codes and tools provided in the download process. Following these instructions, the web page can be created within a few hours unless you are not familiar with the process of template building.

Take care to ensure that the instructions are flowed carefully. If the instructions are not followed as given out in the manual, there are chances of the Myspace page being crumpled or losing data. The end result might not be to the desired effect of the user on the template. The template available for free can be accessed by using the popular search engines Google and Yahoo! A careful search will yield free templates and themes for the Myspace page that will make the account holder content. The search on Google throws up hundreds of pages providing free templates. There will be a plenty of options for Myspace users to download the themes and layouts that go according to their choice. They come in all colors and various styles. All the colors featured in the rainbow spectrum, synthetic colors and new combinations are part of the display. However, make sure that the template is not necessarily filled with colors that may spoil the view of the page. Also, take measures to ensure the template colors go in accordance with the moods of the visitors. Avoid using plenty of bright colors that may convey negative meaning to the visitors.

Professional layouts and themes of the Myspace page are available on the Internet. Account holders can use the popular search engines such as Google and Yahoo! to search the layouts. Key in the words Myspace layouts in the space provided for search. It will throw up a number of pages that will have links to the layouts and themes of the Myspace page.

Each Internet site will have at least 50 different themes and titles based on layouts. First cross check your profile with the layouts. If the profile and the layout theme match by more than 50 per cent, then the layout can be adopted. But it is better if the match between the two is to the extent of 70 per cent or more.

IT Audits: A Checklist

IT audits need to be as comprehensive as possible. To ensure you hit every area you need to during your IT audits, review this checklist. • IT Audits - Physical Security: To ensure that appropriate physical controls are in place to secure technology assets (servers, networking and telecommunications equipment) preventing unauthorized access. • IT Audits - Logical Security: To ensure that appropriate software security controls are in place to prevent viruses and unauthorized data access. • IT Audits - Logistical and Environmental Controls: To ensure that systems, networking and telecommunications equipment are housed in facilities designed to offer proper environmental conditions (regarding temperature and dust regulation, furniture, racks and physical equipment organization) • IT Audits - Configuration Management: To ensure that systems are installed and configured according to established requirements and standards. • IT Audits - Systems Administration Procedures: To ensure that security and systems administrative procedures are properly defined and assigned to staff. • IT Audits - Hardware Inventory Management: To ensure that all hardware is properly inventoried and that warranty and maintenance records are maintained. • IT Audits - Software Licensing Compliance: To ensure that all software usage is in compliance with licensing agreements, and that appropriate licensing records are maintained. • IT Audits - Data Backup and Disaster Recovery Procedures: To ensure that data backups are being made and tested on a scheduled basis, sufficient to recover in the event of a systems failure, data loss, or other disaster. • IT Audits - Documentation: To ensure that all systems, procedures, and policies are properly documented and updated, including the appropriate retention of systems reports, error, help desk, and other related problem logs. • IT Audits - Performance and Capacity Planning: To ensure that all systems are performing according to required levels, considering uptime, systems availability, bandwidth, data storage availability, and the archival of older data files. • IT Audits - Change Management: to ensure that all major changes to systems hardware and software are properly documented, tested and verified prior to implementation, with appropriate back-out plans. Copyright MMI-MMVI, PC Support Tips .com. All Worldwide Rights Reserved. {Attention Publishers: Live hyperlink in author resource box required for copyright compliance}

Taking Ctrl - 20 Keyboard Shortcuts

There may be times when it is simply inconvenient to use the click of your mouse for a specific command or even for an entire working session on your computer. Believe it or not, repeated clicking of the mouse can cause physical pain and nerve damage in hands, wrists, arms, shoulders or even the neck of some people. Minimize this risk by taking note of your computer habits and replacing some of the most frequently used mouse movements with simple, easy to learn, keyboard shortcuts. You can save time and hand movements by implementing these helpful “tricks”. No special keyboard is needed for the shortcuts described below.

Because each program has its own unique shortcuts it would be impossible and a bit overwhelming to try to list them all here. I will attempt to demonstrate the most common shortcuts generally used in most Windows applications.

FUNCTION KEYS -- Hitting the F1 key in any program will bring up the Help menu for that particular program. F7 will activate a spelling and grammar check. F10 activates the menu bar so that you can then type the corresponding underlined letter to drop down that menu list. You can then use the up/down arrow keys to select the appropriate command and press Enter to activate it. Or, while holding down the Alt key, press the spacebar to activate the control menu to minimize, maximize or close out your active window. Again, type in the corresponding underlined letter to carry out the desired command. All this can be done without taking your hands off the keyboard and reaching for that mouse.

HOME/END KEYS -- You can also navigate within any document or file by the use of your arrow keys and the “Home” and “End” keys. Pressing the Home key will bring you to the beginning of the line on which your cursor sits, while pressing the Home key while holding down Ctrl will bring your cursor back to the beginning of the entire document. Similarly, pressing the End key will take your cursor to the end of that line, while pressing Ctrl plus the End key will take you to the end of your entire document. Pressing your up and down arrow keys will take you either up or down one line, while pressing the left and right arrow keys will move your cursor one character to the right or left.

CTRL KEY -- Now that you have found a way to navigate around your screen without using the mouse, here are a few more helpful shortcuts to try. The following are 2-key combination commands. While holding the Ctrl key down, press the following keys to carry out the commands. (Note - do not press the “+” key – that is only instructing you to press the second key while still holding down the Ctrl key.)

Ctrl + C… to copy file, folder or selected text

Ctrl + X… will cut selected data (remove and place in memory)

Ctrl + V… will paste that file, folder or text

Ctrl + U… to activate the underline command (or turn it off)

Ctrl + B…to activate the bold command (or turn it off)

Ctrl + I…to activate the italic command (or turn it off)

Ctrl + A…will select all

Ctrl + P…to print document

Ctrl + S…to save document

Ctrl + O…to open a document

Ctrl + L…left justifies selected text

Ctrl + R…right justifies selected text

Ctrl + E…centers selected text

Strengthen Your Website Content With Online Database Access

Website content, as articles, has taken center stage as web publishers scramble to differentiate their online offers. As both the quantity and quality of articles have accelerated, so too have online directories. These directories often resemble mere lists, but they can be powerful content additions that serve to deepen the value of the overall selling proposition by helping users in locating critical, related resources that for the visitor is otherwise much too time consuming.

On today's websites, it is not uncommon to find online databases designed to provide the data-hungry website visitor with more comprehensive database management functions which are far superior to list-style directories. At a minimum, we find web-driven data pages that include search and display functions which facilitate quick and easy manipulation of back-end SQL databases. Many sites also include options to add, edit, delete, print, and even download data directly from the database to the desktop, all enabled with multiple levels of login/password security. While this is not revolutionary, the technical expertise required to build database-driven web pages has been the domain of more sophisticated online publishers who not only owned the back end database outright, but possessed the required expertise to build and maintain such access for their loyal constituents.

But that has all changed. A flurry of new, low-cost desktop tools have entered the scene, leveling the playing field for the budget-strapped internet marketer who, until recently, was limited to throwing in a basic "telephone book" style directory in an attempt to bolster his value proposition.

Three such tool categories warrant a closer look:

Web data extraction tools costing less than $400 enable web content, as "repeating data", to be easily extracted to MS Excel, MS Access, or virtually any SQL database in high volume. This data serves to build, or at least augment the publisher's's new online database. (Ideally, one should first obtain permission from the website owner before scraping large volumes of data).

The next challenge is to manipulate the collected data now resident in multiple files, and often in disparate data formats. Though list processing applications have long been available, lower cost tools now offer powerful merge/purge capabilities without the need to import and export files in the process. Some simple routines and the data is ready to upload to the database on the host web server.

Finally, the publisher builds the web pages which access the database. Perhaps most exciting is the arrival of a wide variety of desktop code generators, many which are open source, that allow a non-programmer to build customized web pages that rival the database search, display, add, edit,delete and download capabilities previously reserved for the more technical publisher. No longer is the web publisher required to know a single SQL command to accomplish this feat. Amazingly, most of these tools generate pure PHP or PERL code. All that remains is to upload the generated code to the host database and the project is complete. The website now houses a "living, breathing" database, to the extent that the publisher desires to maintain fresh data.

One of the more common, and simple applications of database-driven web pages is to build versatile Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) pages. Questions and answers can be queried by category (e.g. pricing, product) or keyword (e.g. sporting goods), while enriching the users support experience.

How can such newfound capabilities be monetized? The possibilities are plenty. Limited datasets can be made freely searchable and viewable for casual visitors, though it's usually wise to request that the user register even if membership is free. The idea is to prime the pump, getting casual users to thirst for more comprehensive database access. Extended and full database access can be reserved only for paid members.

Never has a publisher had such power to build data-rich content that can serve to immediately strengthen his unique selling sales proposition. In the old paradigm, he who owned the data held all the power. Today, data is everywhere for the internet entrepreneur. By applying the latest database tools, any website publisher can now cement the most loyal of customer relationships by ensuring that his customer has a reason to keep coming back.

Web visitors have a difficult enough time sorting out the perceived sameness of online offerings. For the content builder, there are few better methods to establish and lock in immediate credibility with customers than to implement an easily accessible database that underscores the site's overall content theme.

Sony Laptops - Are they value for money?

It used to be the case that Sony laptops were very much better than others – they had much better build quality, better components and so on. Lately, though, Sony has been cutting a few corners to try to maximise its profitability, believing that once the Sony label is on something, their reputation will win through and they will be able to sell mediocre laptops at high prices.

To a certain extent, this is true. There are still plenty of buyers who remember Sony’s glory days and have stuck with them out of loyalty and genuine conviction that their Sony really is better than the competition. And while it might be better than the very cheapest laptop out there, a Sony laptop is really no longer any match for the best, and certainly not the laptop of choice for running Windows as it used to be.

Of course, all this doesn’t so much apply if you buy only from the very top of Sony’s range, where the laptops are generally just as good as they ever were, but even more expensive. Sony’s strategy has been to try to make normal laptops and top-end luxury ones at the same time, which basically results in the Sony laptops people want being the ones that are priced for people who’ll pay anything – Apple have a similar strategy for their iBooks and MacBooks.

However, if you can get your hands on a top-end Sony laptop, you will notice a genuine difference in quality. The components are very, very good, the case is high quality, it’s small and rugged and everything fits together well. It’s just a shame that they can’t make all their laptops like that. So, beware: while Sony do make good laptops, the Sony name itself is no longer a universal badge of quality, and you need to do more research and read reviews before you buy anything that today’s Sony produces.

Rules On Good Catalog Design

Maybe you own a store or maybe you work out of your home and have great products to offer your customers. Getting the word out about your store or products locally is essential to your business, but what about people who are not local? Are you missing out on the opportunity to sell to people who do not live close to you?

A website is of course one option, but one of the basic rules of sales is that you need to get the product into the customer’s hands? How do you do that if they cannot walk into your store or business? A catalog is the best way. People love to touch things. When you put a catalog in their hands and they begin to browse through it, they will find something they want to buy.

Catalogs work better than anything else to reach out to potential customers who are not close enough to pay you a visit. That’s why large companies have been distributing catalogs for years. It is way more cost effective and makes more sales than any form of print advertising, websites, and even TV ads.

But I don’t know anything about putting together a good catalog. How do I design it so that people will buy? Are there guidelines or rules I can use to design my catalog? I’m glad you asked! In this article I will be going over the basic rules for designing an effective catalog.

First of all, don’t think of your catalog as an add-on to your business or an extra you are using to entice customers to visit your store. Your catalog is a standalone business in itself. Forget about the ways you sell your product to people when they are there in front of you. Forget about everything else so you can design your catalog in a way that gives the customer everything they need.

Lets start with Information: This is one of the basic rules of good catalog design. Your catalog should contain all of the information your customer wants to know about the product. Sizes, colors, specifications, price, quantity discounts, and anything else about the products you sell so they have no questions to ask. Be thorough.

Images: This is probably the most important set of rules for designing an effective catalog. Information alone will not sell your product. You need to design your catalog so that the images speak for themselves. You have to design your catalog in a way that showcases the images so every time the customer turns the page, a spectacular image catches their eye immediately.

To do this, you need to either hire a professional photographer to take your photos for you or if you plan to design your own catalog from top to bottom, you need to make sure the camera you choose to use is a high quality digital camera. Don’t scrimp on the images to save a buck. Basic rule to remember about your catalog design, “Images sell product”.

Another rule about creating images for your catalog; The setting you take the photographs in is very important. You are not going to the trouble to design a beautiful catalog and then have lousy images in it. You need to choose settings that make your products stand out and settings that will enhance the “feeling” you are trying to give to your customer. Sales are about emotions. If you can cause an emotion in your customer, you can make a sale. Deigning your catalog so that the images cause emotion will make you successful.

Which emotions? The whole range of emotions drives sales. Sadness, Happiness, Love, Hate, Greed, Lust, excitement, fear, pride, and other emotions are all part of making a sale. While designing your catalog images, you need to attempt to create one of those emotions.

Another rule to remember is “Design your catalog in a way that displays each photo of your products individually, not as a group of items in one picture.” People tend to buy more when your products are alone in the picture. It doesn’t look as cluttered.

Let’s recap the rules for good catalog design that we know so far: Before you can design your catalog, you now know you need to prepare all of the information about each of your products you will be selling through the catalog. You also know that before you design your catalog, you need to produce quality images that produce emotions in your customers. Now that we have all of that, what’s next?

Layout rules for designing your catalog: The different catalog design elements in the layout process are the cover, the back cover, the inside front and back covers, the first page, the index page, informational pages, and product pages. Informational pages include such things as a glossary of terms if your products are technical in nature, size and color charts where needed, shipping and ordering information, etc. You will need to add those informational pages as needed for your particular products and situation.

Rules about designing the cover of your catalog: This is probably the most important thing you will design for your catalog. This is the first thing your potential customers will see. In designing the cover of your catalog, remember the emotion rules we discussed above. Your cover has to make them want to pick it up and open it to find something inside that they have been waiting for and just didn’t know it until your catalog arrived. This part of designing your catalog is one you will need to spend time and effort on or you may want to hire a professional catalog designer.

Rules about designing the back cover of your catalog: This is almost as important as the front cover. When people put your catalog down, many times they lay it so the back cover is visible. It should be just as appealing as the front cover. When you send a catalog out, several potential customers may read it. You don’t want the first reader to lay the catalog on a table face down and for others not be enticed to pick it back up anyway. When you are experimenting with the front cover, take your second best choice for a cover and place it as your back cover.

Rules about designing the inside front and back covers for your catalog: While there are no hard and fast rules for designing these pages of your catalog, there are a couple of things I have seen work very well. If you have informational pages that you want to make easy to find, then you can design the inside covers to display the information they need to refer to often. The other way you can design the inside covers is to display the products that you are offering on special or the products you make the most money on. You design the inside cover with leads that talk a little about the products you put there with an image, then the page number where they can get more information about it. You can put several of these inside the front cover and it works very well.

Rules about designing the first page of your catalog: Remember this page is the very first thing your potential customer will see when they open the catalog. They don’t see the inside front cover first. They see the right hand page first. Again, you can use this page to display introductions to a few of your products they will find more information on further inside. Many people use this page as an index page, but I recommend you do that on the next page and make the first page exciting to your customer. Make them want to see more!

Rules about designing the product pages of your catalog: Remember the page turning rule discussed about the first page of your catalog? It’s the same for your product pages. The upper right-hand corner or the right-hand page is the first spot your customer’s eyes will go to. Make sure you put your best images in this spot on every right-hand page of your catalog.

There are more rules about creating an effective catalog that we could go into, but I wanted to cover the most important aspects of designing a catalog that makes sales here. The last note is about printing. Just like with images, saving money on the printing will cost you sales. 4-color catalogs sell more product than 2-color catalogs. The paper your catalog is printed on should be high or at least medium quality. Putting time into designing and following all of the good catalog design rules listed in this article will not help you if the printing is done cheaply.

RFID: Asset Or Big Brother Further Invading Our Lives?

Some of you have heard the new buzz word being bandied about these days. RFID, Radio Frequency Identification is hurtling towards us whether we like it or not.

What is RFID? Right now, it is an identification device used to track goods from place of manufacture to point of delivery. It is also used to track items as they are moved from place to place. The idea is to know where that item is at any point in time.

Seems harmless doesn’t it? How would you like RFID if a tag was placed in your cell phone, in your car, in your shoes or even in your body? This is not farfetched … it is happening now. In fact, Big Brother will know where you are all the time.

This is not my idea of freedom. Ever sat down and watched the older movies of Eastern Europe where some military soldiers or KGB types stopped a person and wanted to see a person’s papers? How would you like to be one of those people that always were subject to search and seizure? It’s coming to a place near you … soon.

I can hear the argument now. “If you were doing what you are supposed to and were not engaged in something bad, they wouldn’t bother you.” Who defines what is bad? Do you think those people in Eastern Europe, China and other places are all up to no good? It’s not for you to decide. It is for the government agency watching you to decide. I am sure everyone reading this knows our governments have our best interests at heart.

Sure.

RFID could be a wonderful tool for mankind. Used properly, it can streamline commerce and make the world smaller. That is not my concern. It’s the other things that it is being considered for that scares the heck out of me. It should scare you too.

Saving Time And Money With Lettings Software

Choosing the right lettings software package could make a huge difference to your business. By automating the complex administration involved with keeping landlords and tenants happy, you can save time and money, leaving you free to market your business and focus on your clients.

How can I save time?

Installing good software to manage the administration of your business allows you to reduce the amount of time you spend sorting out landlords, tenants, properties and finances. If you don’t currently have a software solution in place, or you have one that’s been running for several years, you may be frustrated with the length of time you have to spend sorting out paperwork, matching property owners with the people who are renting from them, categorising properties into price bands and keeping track of who’s viewed a property and who has issues that the landlord needs to be contacted about. Running a lettings agency is a complicated and time-consuming business, and installing the right software could allow you to improve your time management by:

Automatically updating all files associated with a single landlord

Giving you full accounting facilities

Integrating diaries, allowing you to issue letters promptly

Speeding up the process of uploading properties to your website

Providing comprehensive reporting for clients

If you think that your time at work would be better spent with clients than with paperwork, then you should consider property rental software for your agency.

How can I save money?

Although there will obviously be a cost associated with acquiring the rental management software, you will make savings in the long run. You may find that you don’t need as many staff for the business to run properly, or that your employees can spend more time marketing properties and securing tenants than they could previously. You may save on staff training costs and on staff turnover, because you are removing the more mundane elements of the job.

Re-Formatting your Personal Computer

As a personal computer is used it becomes more and more overworked and overloaded. It has less storage space, picks up spyware and viruses which ultimately slows down the performance of the computer. If nothing else can be done a last resort is re-formatting the computer.

Re-formatting a computer is quite simple with Microsoft Windows XP. The first step is setting your computer to boot from the CD-ROM. This can be done in the BIOS. For most mother-boards, pressing delete while the machine is booting will get you into the BIOS menu. There you simply need to navigate to the “boot sequence” and set the first boot device to the CD-ROM. Once this is done you can put your Windows XP CD in and restart the machine. This will bring you to the Microsoft menu. Here you can choose how you want to proceed with your installation.

A good piece of advice would be to back everything up before you proceed with the format. Formatting a computer deletes everything off the hard drive so if you have any music or documents that you need to preserve back them up onto an external hard drive or a CD before you go ahead.

The first option is installing Windows again alongside the existing operating system. This is not the option we want but would not be recommended none the less. You need to choose the format option. With Windows XP you can choose either quick format or regular format. With a 120gb drive a quick format will take about 10 minutes while a regular format can take up to an hour. Quick format would be the preferable option.

Once you click format all you have to do is wait. Once the format is complete you need to go through the steps of installing Windows. Once this is done your computer will be refreshed and as fast as the day you bought it home from the shops.

How To Put Music To Ipod

It is very easy to learn how to transfer music to your Ipod, and in this article I am going to show you exactly how to do it. Fasten your belts, because this is not going to take long! If you want to transfer music to your iPod, you will first of all have to work out where the music is going to come from. Most of it will come from two places, CDs, and the internet, from downloads etc. The first step is to find out how to get music from your CD collection transferred to your Ipod. Step 1- Make sure your computer is connected to the internet, and then get hold of a copy of Itunes from the Apple website. You may already have Itunes on your computer, if you have, make sure it is the most recent version. The more recent versions operate quicker. Step 2-Take the CDs that you want on your Ipod, and grab them into Itunes. This is a very simple process, so I won't go into it in detail here.. Step 3- Use your USB cable to connect your Ipod to your computer. When you have done this, you will need to make sure that the two machines have recognised each other. When you are all set up, you can use the mouse to drag and drop the tracks you want from Itunes to your Ipod. That really is how easy it is to transfer music from your CD collection to your Ipod. All you have to do now is listen! The most difficult part of finding and downloading music frm the internet is actually finding a genuine website to obtain the downloads from. Once you have found a good, reputable site, the rest of the job is easy, because you can just transfer the music onto your Ipod as you did with the CD music. The genuine download sites will usually make you pay a one time membership fee, but for this one time charge, you will get lifetime access to unlimited downloads., The really good sites have very large libraries, so this will allow you to grow your music collection very cheaply. Also, these sites have downloads for other types of entertainment such as movies and Tv shows etc. You have now just learned how to transfer music to your Ipod. I said it would be quick. You probably know other people who own Ipods? Why not pass this article on to them and help them out by clicking on the link on the top right of the page.

Printer cartridge buying tips you should know about

In this world of modern gizmos and technologies, computers, laptops and electronic notebooks have already invaded majority of the aspects of our lives. They have somehow played an important role that people cannot do without. That is why is also important that their attachments are given attention and care.

A printer is one of the most helpful attachments as it is constantly utilized by majority of computer users. However, buying inkjet cartridges for your printer can be an overwhelming task.

You really have to know how to choose the best inkjet cartridge so that you do not end up buying the wrong kind.

Some people get stressed when the ink in their printer cartridge show signs of nearly getting empty. There is really no need to make this a big issue.

When you go to the market to buy an ink cartridge, you should not be enticed by those offering low priced products or by any bargain deals which promise a lot of savings.

More often than not, such low-priced cartridges would be faulty and would harm your printer. You will spend much more in repair costs than what you would save in the first place.

The first step in choosing the best inkjet cartridge is to check the existing cartridge in your printer. Then try to buy a cartridge of similar specifications.

If you are not able to get the same type, take into mind these following tips:
The ink of generic cartridges can be harmful to your printer’s nozzles. Try to avoid using these kinds of cartridges.

Use the ink cartridges made by the same manufacturer of the printer if you need the best quality of printing. It tends to be expensive but if you think of the good it will bring you then it will be worth it.

The warranties of some printer manufacturers are not valid if ink cartridges made by a different manufacturer are used.

It is advisable to check the page yield of the cartridge that you plan to buy.

If you decide to buy refilled or recycled ink cartridges either from a store or from a website, you can surely save some money but the damage it can do to your printer will prove to be more costly. Just be sure to check the ones that offer a guarantee.

If you follow the tips given above, you will be able to choose the best cartridge from among the various kinds available in the market.

Press Release: Why SEO Experts Should Not Use Press Releases

Rumor has it that press releases are the next big thing in the SEO business, and many companies are spending top dollars trying to write the next big press release announcing the next big balloon breaking technology. But is this really the next big thing?

By definition, a Press Release is a kind of news item released by the company on whom the news is being reported. As such, you will have to compete with all the other press releases and hope that your will get picked up.

Why Will Your Press Release Be Trashed?
1) Unless you are writing a press release about Microsoft, Adobe, Sony or one of the other mega-companies, or at least about a company that is relatively well known, forget about it. Journalists and news editors receive thousands of press releases a day and there is no way that they will waste more than a quick glance. So why should you pay a company seven to eight hundred dollars for them sending your press release to thousands of editors and journalists when they are going to junk it anyway?

2) Unless you are announcing a truly revolutionary product or technology (which I assume you are not since you are only interested in using the professionally paid and written press release to boost your search engine rankings), whatever you make up or announce such as some new free deal or new portal offering something unique, your chances of being picked up are very slim. Yes, the PR companies will tell you that they have vast experience in writing Press Releases that will make yours stand out and get picked up but this is not accurate. The only way your PR is going to get picked up is if it truly is something out of the ordinary or something that no one has ever thought off.

3) Unless you plan to spend millions of dollars and then just by sheer volume your site will go ahead in the search engines, this is not a good option. Why? If you send a large number of press releases then these will be placed on the different PR companies websites main page. Since most of these home pages have a very high page rank, your site will get a boost. The question is whether this boost is worth the large amount of money you will put into the PR companies pocket. No it is not. Use that money to buy (though I do not recommend this) links from high-ranked websites and you will pay less and receive more benefit.

4) Any press release, even if it has been accepted, will remain on the different pages for just a short time, making the time and effort and even more so the amount of money you paid fruitless.

Conclusion:
A press release is useful if you wish to contact the press and maybe get some free publicity, but it is of no use if you wish to use it as a tool in order to advance your website in the search engines.

How Computers Add - A Logical Approach

We looked at Number Systems and counting (see It's a Binary World - How Computers Count) last time. As a quick refresher, we saw that computers are made up of many units of 0 and 1, the binary system. 1 is the highest digit possible so numbers in the computer are stored as for example 1010 or 10 in decimal. We also saw that these binary numbers can be seen as octal (8) or hexadecimal (16) numbers - in this case 1010 becomes 15 octal, or A hex. You probably realise that the 'standard' PC code is in 8 bit bytes taking the hex system a stage further. You may also know that processors, and Windows software that runs on them, have progressed from 8 bits to 16 bits to 32 bits to 64 bits. Basically this means the computer can work on 1,2, 4 or 8 bytes at once. Don't worry if this is all Gobbledegook, you don't need it to understand how computers add! OK now to the Math - cringe time! It's a little more complicated than last time, but if you think logically, like a computer, realising they are really dumb, you will sail through it! We take a break here to look at a bit of math you may not have heard of - Boolean Algebra. Once again it's really simple, but it shows you how a computer works, and why it is so pedantic! Boolean Algebra is named after George Boole, an English Mathematician in the 19th Century. He devised the logic system used in digital computers more than a century before there was a computer to use it! In Boolean Algebra, instead of + and - etc. we use AND and OR to form our logic steps. For example:- x OR y = z means if x or y is present, we get z. However, x AND y = z means that both x and y need to be present to get z. We can also consider an XOR (eXclusive OR). x XOR y=z means that x or y BUT NOT BOTH must be present to get z. That's it! That's all the math you need to understand how a computer counts. Told you it was simple! How do we use this logic in the computer? We make up a little electronic circuit called a Gate with transistors and things, so we can work on our binary numbers stored in a register - just a bit of memory. (And that's the last electronics you'll hear about!). We make an AND gate, an OR gate, and an XOR gate When we add in decimal, for example 9+3 we get 2 'units' and carry one to the 10s, giving 10+2=12 Remember the binary bit values in Decimal 1,2,4,8 etc? We start at 0 then 1 in the first bit position, the 1 bit. If we add 1 + 1 binary we have to end up with 10, which has a 1 bit in the second bit position, and a 0 in the first, giving Decimal 2+0=2. This second bit position is formed by a CARRY from the first bit. To make an adder we must duplicate with a logic circuit the way we add in binary. To add 1+1 we need 3 inputs, one for each bit, and a carry in, and 2 outputs, one for the result (1 or 0), and a carry out, (1 or 0). In this case the carry input is not used. We use 2 XOR gates, 2 AND gates and an OR gate to make up the adder for 1 bit. Now we go another step, and forget about gates, because now we have a Logic Block, an ADDER. Our computer is designed by using various combinations of logic blocks. As well as the adder we might have a multiplier (a series of adders) and other components. Our ADDER block takes one bit (0 or 1) from each number to be added, plus the Carry bit (0 or 1) and produces an output of 0 or 1, and a carry of 0 or 1. A table of the input A, B and Carry, and output O and Carry, looks like this:- With no Carry in: A B c O C 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 With Carry in: A B c O C 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 This is known as a Truth Table, it shows output state for any given input state. Let's add 2+3 decimal. That is 010 plus 011 binary. We will need 3 ADDER blocks for decimal bit values of 1, 2 and 4) The first ADDER takes the Least Significant Bit (decimal bit value 1) from each number. Input A will be 0, input B will be 1 with no carry - 0. From the truth table this gives an output of 1 and a carry of 0 (3rd row). BIT 1 RESULT = 1 At the same time the next ADDER (decimal bit value 2) has inputs of 1, 1 and a carry of 0, giving an output of 0 with a carry bit of 1 (4th row). BIT 2 RESULT = 0 The next ADDER (decimal bit value 4) has inputs of 0, 0 and a carry of 1, giving an output of 1 with no carry - 0 (5th row). BIT 4 RESULT = 1. So we have bits 4,2,1 as 101 or 4+1=5. It seems like a laborious way to do it, but our computer can have 64 adders or more, adding simultaneously two large numbers billions of times a second. This is where the computer scores. Next time we will get to how a computer performs more complcated operations, and it's simple!

Photo Printing Using Inkjet Technology

Penny postcards became popular in 1890 to 1917. These postcards were called such because they were mailed with a one-penny postage stamp. Penny postcards became very popular during this period that printers, businesses and photographers were always trying to find new and exciting subjects to capture in order to satisfy customers that were hungry for new ideas and art work to impress their friends or lovers.

During this era photo studios employ women to color the photo postcards. But today, women need not manually color these cards. Printing machines are available these days that can produce crisp, vibrant and colorful prints. Inkjet printers, for one, use digitally controlled pipelines that can deliver consistent output. In inkjet printing, small drops of ink are placed in the paper to create an image. There is no need for chemical reaction or light induced processes as the tint is directly deposited into the print. Out of the different types of printer available today, inkjet printers are the most popular. Today, the only technology that comes close to it is the laser printers.

Inkjet photo printing has several benefits. It saves time, offers instant satisfaction and is breaking new ground in photo color consistency and quality. Additionally, you can easily adjust your own photos to achieve more vibrant pictures and avoid relying on the uncertainties of traditional photo printing. But when using inkjet printers, it is better to use inkjet photo papers as well. This is because using inkjet photo papers can provide brighter pictures, sharp line, long lasting output, good coverage and saturation and minimized banding.

The drawback with inkjet printers is that although they are cheaper to buy than laser printers, they are generally more expensive to maintain. The cartridges need to be changed more often and the special paper required to produce high quality output is rather expensive. But as researches in inkjet technology has been continuously made, the price of inkjet printers have also continuously fallen. Another downside with inkjet technology is the tendency of the ink to smudge immediately after printing. But this problem has improved, too, during the past few years with the development of new ink compositions.

Thus, when you want your postcards or any artwork to stand out, you can seek out real photographic artworks. And perhaps one of the best ways to create your vivid photos is by using inkjet technology. You can make an album of your photo postcards and your friends and guests can look through the album on their visits.

Partnering Beyond Other Technicians

In partnering, don't just look for people you can bring in on accounts. A lot of times other non-IT business providers like management consultants are in a position where they’re constantly being forced to be able to refer other professionals to their clients. This may be done as a favor to their client, or set up as a revenue sharing arrangement.

Partnering with Accountants

Accountants are in a really good position to refer you to other small business owners because they’re already perceived by most small businesses as a trusted advisor; the same way attorneys and management consultants and advertising consultants are also put into that same category. You ultimately want to be put in this category, too!

Take accountants, for example. If they do a lot of QuickBooks installs, chances are, they’re getting questions from their customers, on what should they do for backup? What should they do for virus protection? Most of the time they don’t want to get involved with that. This is where you come in.

Your Partnering Relationships Will Make You More Valuable

It’s really easy for you to use your relationships that you have and the relationships you’re going to build to knock the socks off of Dell and others like them. Don’t get scared into thinking that Dell is going to own your whole market share in six months or a year.

It’s not going to happen as long as you move up the value chain, as long as you move into providing these services that are tougher for people to compete with on a commodity level. That’s where your personality, your communication skills, and the relationships really mean everything.

Consider Several Partnering Options

A couple of years ago, back when DSL was first rolling out, a lot of people were getting set up as DSL agents for ILECs and CLECs and ISPs. That’s another interesting revenue stream. Some people act as web-hosting resellers, so they’ll buy a big chunk of storage space and bandwidth and parcel that up and sell shared hosting to their clients. There’s a lot of different ways you can do these things to add on incremental revenue. You can increase your business through many different forms of partnering.

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Need A Website? You Have 3 Options

When it comes to building a website, most individuals and small business owners think you either have to do it yourself or hire someone to do it. Web builder software is often the better option for this group by far.

Even if you're a seasoned web professional, you should know what web builder software can offer private individuals and small businesses. Designers regularly waste time fielding inquiries from small-time website owners who don't realize the time, effort, and therefore cost involved in making a website from scratch. Or your brain may be picked endlessly by a would-be developer. Recommending a good web builder program is a great way to help this group--you can even monetize these non-prospects by reselling web builder software or referring it as an affiliate.


The 3 Web Design Options

DIY (design it yourself), usually using software such as Dreamweaver or FrontPage.
Pay someone else to design it.

Use a "website builder" that includes everything you need and builds the website based on a setup wizard that asks questions about your website goals.

Most people just stumble into one of these three options without really comparing. In fact, if someone is even considering whether to try to do it themselves, hire a pro, or use a website builder program, it's extremely likely they really do need to start with a website builder program. After all, with the small investment required by web builder software, you can easily decide to go the DIY or professional design route later. But the money and time spent on professional services or DIY cannot be un-spent.

If you don't have the web design skills that would lead you to make your own website without questioning, or the budget to hire a designer just as easily, your time, money and other resources are probably better spent on other aspects of your website--such as promoting it, planning it, or getting content for it.

Website Options Comparison: Cost

: Cost of software (Dreamweaver, the most popular, runs about $300) + many hours of your life--what is your time worth?

Web Designer: $500-$5000

Website Builder: $100-200 (if a software package); $15-40/month (if a subscription service)


Time

DIY: Depending on your skill level, a week to a few months.

Web Designer: A few weeks till completion (but little time on your part).

Website Builder: Five minutes to an hour (depending on how much you want to play with the options).

Graphic Design: Most people who build their own websites use graphic design templates, or at least ready-made graphics. But there's still the problem of how to bring the elements of the design together into an attractive whole.

Web Designer: If you want to be taken seriously, a graphic designer will go a long way. Still, many people manage to sabotage the designer's work with too many demands. Also, some designers are really programmers rather than graphic designers, and will use templates anyway. In the end, though, the biggest drawback is cost: graphic designers can do it better, but can you afford them?

Website Builder: The advantage of a website builder over DIY templates is that the builder will save you the time of coding the website to stitch all the parts together.

Office Phone Systems, A Complete Comparison Of The Different Options Available

In today's world the telephone has become the most essential medium of communication. Telephones are widely used all over the world mainly for domestic use or may be for office use. In case of Office Phone Systems, the system is so designed that it allows its user to share the same external telephone lines rather than using individual telephones. These telephone systems are mainly designed for several phone users at a single location. By using these types of phone systems lots of money can be saved as it is very cost effective in comparison to any other phone systems.

The Private Branch Exchange or the PBX phone systems are telephone systems which are created specifically for business purposes in offices. This private branch exchange for Office Phone Systems is created mainly to form a private network between all the users, those who share the selected external telephone lines. This type of office phone systems is ideal for large and medium sized organizations or companies. These phone systems are very cost efficient as they allow sharing a few external lines among the users rather than having individual users use their own external lines. By using a PBX phone system it is very easy to reach someone within the phone system by dialing only a three or four digit extension. In PBX phone system there is some additional features like voicemail with forwarding, reminders, screen display and screen call options. The private branch exchanges for office phone systems are also capable of answering the phones and greet their clients with auto-generated messages and there is also an option for live call transferring in this system.

The Automated Attendant is a phone system accessory that can answer the phone calls by generating automatic messages electronically. The callers are allowed to route themselves through a series of menu prompts by the Automated Attendant. The voice mail systems are generally equipped with the basic automated attendant system. An ACD or Automated Call Distributor is a phone system accessory which helps to route incoming calls among a set of extensions and handles them efficiently. ACDs are mainly used in call centers or enquiry offices where it can process many incoming calls at a same time. The CTIs or the Computer Telephony Integration have broad category of applications. The CTIs are used to connect a phone system to a computer. The CTI retrieves important data from any incoming call and with their expertise and process this data for useful business purposes. The Key System Unit (or KSU) have features like call forwarding, extension dialing and voice mail options. The Voice Over Internet Protocol or VoIP helps users to place voice information in digital form using the Internet.

The office telephone systems are integrated with standard analog telephones, fax machines, cordless and cellular phones with the traditional telephone network and also have the option for the Internet by Voice over IP. The office phone systems have become very popular as they can deliver an easy configurability connection with unprecedented prices.

Headphone Essentials

If you want to escape from the outside world, eliminate the noise around you and just lose yourself in your music, what better way is there to do it than by using headphones? Headphones are great to use when listening to music or when watching TV or a movie. You may also use them to study, if you have those audio lessons on tape, or when you want to read a book but do not have the time, you can just listen to the audio books. Professionally, headphones are used in editing videos and incorporating sound, or for recording purposes. In communications, there are headsets which combine the functionalities of a microphone, a telephone, and a headphone. There are hundreds of applications for headphones. If you want to choose the type of headphones that will best suit your needs, take a look first at its parts and structure: - Driver - the part of the headphone that produces the sound. - Earpiece - this holds the driver up to your ear. There are earpieces that cover the entire part of your ears, while some are small, rounded pieces that would fit the inner part of your ear. Several earpiece types are available, depending on the appllication. - Attachment system - depending on the type of headphones, the attachment system ensures that the earpiece will securely fit your ears. - Finally, the other parts are the headands, for types which require one, and the wires and jacks which will attach the earpiece to the music player or device where the headphones are attached to. Headphones are typically attached to devices such as mobile phones, CD or MP3 players,walkman, mobile phones and personal computers. There are two types of headphones: 1. Sound-proof This type of headphone is used when you want to isolate youuself from the sounds of the outside world. You can use this in loud environments so that the sound coming from your music player or any other device is the only sound that you hear. Sound-proof headphones are mostly the types which have headbands and the earpiece surrounds the entire area of your ear. These have monitors designed to fit the inner ear. They have a sealed design, and if you want to go for this type of earphones, make sure that the brand offers a good sound quality. They are designed to "cancel" outside noise. Generally, the open type design offers better sound quality than the sound-proof variant. 2. Open-type This type of headphones generally have a greater sound quality than the enclosed, sound-proof ones. The open design makes for a more effective listening device. In terms of design, there are also hundreds of types to choose from. Here are some examples: - Clip-ons This type does not have headbands. The attachment system of clip-on headphones comprise of two ear-buds that you can easily 'plug" into your ears. - Wireless This is convenient because it frees you up from wires and lets you move around freely while listening to your music. - In-ear-monitor. These are tiny headphones which conveniently fits into your ear canal. This type of headphone is more expensive and has a more sophisticated design. It can be used for professional and surveillance purposes. - Earbuds These are small earphones with two small, rounded earpieces that fits the inner part of your ear. - Headsets This is composed of a microphone and a headset, and is mostly used for communicating. - Noise-canceling The attachment system of sound-proof headphones contain a suspension system in the headband. This characteristic prevents outside noise from interfering with the sound produced by your audio or video device. - Street style This has is mostly used for listening to your MP3 files, and has a headband that you can fit at the back of your head. - Earpad This type of headphones have soft, flat pads which serve as earpieces. There are several types and styles of earphones which are available in the market now. When choosing the right headphones to fit your lifestyle, make sure that you know what is important to you. You may choose it based on design, application or brand. Finally, make sure that you do not compromise the sound quality, since this is your purpose for owning headphones: to have a reliable listening device that will produce the best sound possible.

Free EMR Solutions by Medicare

Is anything ever free these days? Maybe so. Instigated by the incredibly slow adoption of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) by doctors across the nation, Medicare is announcing it will begin offering doctors free electronic medical record software solutions. Both upfront and ongoing costs have been critical factors in the lagging EMR adoption rate. Medicare hopes that by providing doctors with a free or very low-cost system, doctors will readily adopt EMR putting healthcare providers in America on a common system, thereby, providing Medicare and the general public with obvious, health, reporting and billing benefits. The proposed system is VistA, (Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture) the widely popular system built by the Veterans Administration. The adoption of VistA has resulted in the VA achieving a pharmacy prescription accuracy rate of 99.997%. Due to the implementation of VistA, the VA also outperforms most public sector hospitals on a variety of criteria. The VistA system is public domain software, available through the Freedom of Information Act directly from the VA website or through a network of distributors. Installed in over 1300 inpatient and outpatient facilities, the system is well-established and quite successful by EMR standards. But can a system designed for a large organization like the VA also work for a solo practitioner family practice office? A doctor in a New York Time article writes: “It is one thing to use a system that someone else installed and someone else maintains. It is another to get a set of disks in the mail and do it yourself." Those who have tried to install Vista on their own would agree. “Giving out a version of VistA is a great idea," said Dr. David Kibbe, director of the Center for Health Information Technology at the American Academy of Family Physicians, a group that has been working on the project. "But at the beginning, there was a lot of wishful thinking. They said, 'We'll just release it.' I said, 'Where's the fairy dust?' " The problems with the healthcare sector and its slow adoption of electronic medical records are much deeper than some would like to admit, and viable solutions have been hard to come by. The healthcare system is extremely fragmented, with thousands upon thousands of practices all practicing differently, using different billing systems, with different levels of computer proficiency, and different workflows. Building a one-size-fits-all system has failed in the past and will likely continue to fail. The fact that over 300 different vendors currently develop and market EMR software attests to the need for customization. The need for pre- and post-sale customization is a reality in every practice since every practice operates differently. Even practicing physicians within the exact same specialty do things differently and run their practices differently. A key challenge for systems with large installation bases is often that the system becomes rigid simply due to the vendor trying to please too many different practices. Customization gets repeatedly delayed or shelved altogether. Another concern is that when medical records are stored on servers that Medicare can access and control as they please practices may be hesitant to use the system regardless of the benefits to the practices and their patients. While Medicare's plan is to offer the software for free, one must ask what free is. Currently, free is software but not training, installation, and ongoing support. Even if Medicare did make it 100% free, a free EMR is not free if it fails. The costs involved with a failed implementation can far outweigh the costs of purchasing an EMR at market price due to productivity losses, and hardware and implementation costs. Maybe Medicare could focus more of their resources in the development and promotion of better standards for integrating already proven EMR systems and integrating EMR systems with electronic personal health records, managed by the patient. Why not offer patients a free electronic health record which can easily interface to all the major EMR vendors in the market? Wouldn't a record they control, that can communicate with all their health providers, and be accessed by any other provider in the event of an emergency be more beneficial? After all, isn’t the patient’s best interest the goal of healthcare in the 21st century?