Projection televisions can provide many hours of viewing before they need maintenance. Over time, however, their lamps run out and need to be replaced. Replacement lamps were once very expensive, but have come down significantly in price. Replacing these lamps yourself is a simple task that will save you money.
Instructions
1. Turn off the television. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Unplug the television from the power socket. Let it sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Unscrew and open the door that covers the projection bulb. You will usually find this door near the outlet wire. It may have up to four screws holding it in place, usually Phillips-head screws.
4. Pull out the bulb. There should be a plastic handle that you can gently pull out to remove the bulb.
5. Remove the new lamp from its packaging without touching the glass of the bulb.
6. Line up the groove on the new bulb with the groove on the bulb housing in the television.
7. Gently push in the bulb until you hear a click.
8. Screw the projection door cover back into place, then plug in the television.
Tap water can be full of harmful contaminants like lead, copper, mercury, calcium carbonate and iron. Depending on your residential location, your tap water may come from a municipal water supply, wells, creeks, lakes, rivers or rainwater. After the water has run from one source, through your plumbing and out of your faucet, the next step should be a Brita water filtration system. Brita filters are known to reduce the level of contaminants in your water supply.
Instructions
use a Brita Filter
1. Keep it clean!Begin the filtration process by washing your hands with soapy water. Keeping your hands clean prevents you from cross contaminating your water supply. Once your hands are clean, you may proceed in unwrapping the Brita filter.
2. Soak it.Soak your filter in a large cup. Make sure the water completely covers the filter. This process takes at least fifteen minutes. Take this time to clean out your pitcher. Wash it out with warm soapy water and rinse it thoroughly. If you are using a water cooler, take this time to wipe down the outside of the cooler with a clean towel or dishcloth.
3. Insert the filter.Take the filter out of the cup of water and let the remnants drip in the sink for a second or two. Then place the filter into the pitcher or water cooler. Try to slightly twist the filter, to make sure it has been inserted correctly. There should be no gap between the filter and the base of the pitcher.
4. Add water.Add cold water to the Brita pitcher or water bottle for the cooler. Be sure to fill the pitcher or bottle to capacity. This will ensure the maximum amount of fresh water for your consumption!
5. Wait a while.Give yourself a few minutes to let the filtration system finish. This is the time to wipe up any spilled water on the counter tops and floors.
Tags: pitcher water, water supply, your hands, your water, Brita Filter, filtration system, hands clean
Camera filters are a simple and inexpensive way to add effects to basic camera lenses. Filters come in the same sizes as lenses. If your lenses are 35 mm, then 18 to 35 mm filters will fit.The same rule applies if the lenses measured are 12 mm, then you know 11 to 18 mm lenses would fit and so on. The only tricky part is finding out the size of your lenses. Follow these helpful steps.
Instructions
1. Look at the side of the lens. On any SLR or point and shoot lens, the size should have the size written on the lens. If not, look at the front of the lens. It should read a number like 18 to 35 mm or 17 to 55mm and so on.
2. If you can't find the number on the lens, get a piece of string and hold it across the front glass part of the lens. Mark the sides of the string.
3. Measure the marked string by millimeters. If you only have metric ruler, here's a cheat sheet: 1 inch equals 2.54 cm; 1 cm equals 10 mm and 1 inch equals (2.54 x 10) mm equals 25.4 mm. The number you get, say your lens is 35 mm across, that is the number that you will use for sizing.
Tags: Camera filters, equals equals, inch equals, inch equals equals, your lenses
The Nikon D40 is a mid-level DLSR camera. A DSLR, which stands for digital single-lens reflex, camera is most often used by professionals for its higher picture quality as compared to a point-and-shoot camera. The D40 is part of Nikon's professional camera series, which is updated occasionally to offer the newest in consumer photography. Although the D40 is a not the latest in the series, it is still a solid camera for beginning or experienced users.
Instructions
1. Look through the viewfinder to view the image that the camera will produce. Remove the lens cap if it is on the lens. The image's and the camera's settings are displayed in the black area at the bottom.
2. Locate the auto focus brackets located within the main image area. The camera will focus on these points when they are placed over a subject.
3. Locate the exposure meter, which is the series of vertical lines at the bottom. The meter's scale ranges from too dark on the left to too bright on the right. When shooting, adjust the camera's settings to place the exposure at the center of the meter.
4. Locate the number to the left of the exposure meter. This is the lens aperture setting, which controls the amount light entering the camera and the amount of lens blur in the photo.
5. Locate the number next to the aperture setting. This is the shutter speed, which controls the duration that the image sensor is exposed to light.
6. Locate the number to the right of the exposure meter. This is the number of remaining possible images based on the current settings. Freeing up space on the memory card or reducing the image sizes can increase this number.
Tags: exposure meter, Locate number, aperture setting, camera settings, camera will, exposure meter This
and satellite companies often offer "high-definition" channels corresponding to major networks such as ABC and HBO. Such stations carry the same shows as the network ordinarily would, except that some of them are broadcast in HD--making them much sharper and clearer on your screen. In addition, basic networks will broadcast certain shows in high definition as well, which you can receive even if you don't have cable. Depending on what you hope to watch and what kind of television you have, receiving an HD channel can be as easy as turning on the set.
Instructions
1. Check the capabilities of your television set. Any set built after March, 2007 is HD-ready, which means it can receive high-definition signals with no added equipment. Many earlier sets have these capabilities too, though sets that are more than a decade old require an HD tuner to receive high-definition signals (and depending on the model, may not be HD-capable at all). Your owner's manual should tell you if your TV set can receive HD signals, and you can also look for an HDMI outlet (a thin rectangular outlet labeled as such) on the back of the TV.
2. Examine your cable box, satellite box or DVR for an HDMI outlet, or call your cable provider and ask them if your equipment is HD-ready.
3. Look up TV listings for your favorite shows. Those broadcast in high definition will have an "HD" label on the listing. Prime-time shows, sports programs and shows on high-end cable stations such as HBO are often broadcast in HD. Daytime shows, syndicated shows and shows on basic cable stations are not yet broadcast in HD--at least not very often.
4. Determine what kind of station broadcasts the show you want to watch. If it comes from a free station (a locally broadcast station or one of the "big five" networks of CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox or the CW), you only need an HD-compatible TV. The high-definition signal goes out with the rest of the broadcast, and you can get it just by turning on your set. If it is from a cable or pay-time station, you need to use an HD-compatible cable/satellite receiver and/or a DVR. Cable companies will list which stations you can pick up in high definition; you then simply turn to them as you would any other channel.
Shopping for noise-canceling headphones does not have to be difficult. With a little research, you can decide which noise-canceling headphones are right for your purposes.
Instructions
Shop for Noise-Canceling Headphones
1. Open up your internet browser and type "noise canceling headphones+review" into the search box. There will be many web sites to choose from. You will want to access the web sites with product reviews. (You can also read reviews published in electronics magazines.)
2. Read reviews of noise-canceling headphones that are posted by unbiased web sites. Some sites are paid to generate reviews. You want to read reviews by actual users. You can tell the difference between an unbiased web report and a paid testimonial just by reading the review. Many paid testimonials will proclaim the noise-canceling headphones to be the best in the industry; there will be little negative feedback. An honest review will state the pros and cons of the headphones. Product reviews that give feedback about actual tests performed on the headphones are generally more accurate and trustworthy.
3. Determine which noise-canceling headphones are right for your purposes. You can find a variety to use with home stereos or computers. Some noise-canceling headphones are manufactured for telemarketers. The electronics magazines and review web sites offer advice on how the various headphones are to be used.
4. Search again in the web browser for potential complaints about the noise-canceling headphones you are interested in purchasing. This can be done by typing "(name of headphones)+complaints." This will give you a list of web sites that have posted complaints about the headphones.
5. Read the complaints to determine if the noise-canceling headphones you want are worth the money. If there are no complaints or the complaints will not affect the performance of the headphones you need, then you can choose to purchase those headphones.
6. Visit a local electronics store to determine which noise-canceling headphones are appropriate for you.
Tags: noise-canceling headphones, which noise-canceling, which noise-canceling headphones, complaints about, electronics magazines
Audio components should be installed into a portable rack case so heat is removed efficiently.
Audio components placed into a rack case can pose a challenge---and an abrupt end to the life of equipment components---if the biggest enemy, heat, isn't addressed up front. Although all audio components generate heat while in operation, the main amplification component in any audio system will generate the most heat out of all other components. Even though most modern portable rack cases come with built-in heat exhaust fans, efficiency can only be obtained through proper arrangement of the components so that fan may do its job.
Instructions
1. Weigh each component, except for the amplifier, and determine which of the components is the heaviest, which is second heaviest, and continue until all of the components have been weighed and arranged, heaviest to lightest.
2. Install the components into the portable rack case from bottom to top, with the heaviest components installed on the bottom and the lightest ones installed at the top.
3. Install the amplifier in the last bay at the top of the rack case. Since the amplifier produces the most heat, and since heat rises, this will prevent the heat of the amplifier from heating up the other devices if it were placed at the bottom. With the heaviest of the other components at the bottom, sufficient counterweight will be achieved so that the amplifier doesn't make the portable rack case top-heavy.
Tags: portable rack, rack case, into portable, into portable rack, most heat, other components, portable rack case
There are plenty of different brands and styles of flash memory, and each has its own unique features and compatibility. Unfortunately, this wide marketplace breeds counterfeit cards that are sold cheaply and look like the real thing. Spotting a fake SD card involves looking for subtle marks that only genuine SD products will have.
Instructions
1. Look at the shape of the card. SD cards always have four right-angled corners on the top-left, top-right, and bottom-right. The bottom-left of the card has two 45-degree angles. If the card is not in this shape, it does not conform to the SD standard.
2. Check for the indentation above the adapter slot. This indentation looks like a small semicircle and is located next to the "MagicGate" logo.
3. Examine both the top and bottom for notches. On the right side of the memory card, you should see four notches: two on the top, and two on the bottom. These notches should be parallel with one another.
Replace the Battery in a Polaroid Instamatic Camera
Before the proliferation of inexpensive digital cameras, the best way to have instant photographs was with a Polaroid instant camera. The instant pictures were a favorite with casual photographers as well as artists. Although Polaroid no longer makes instant cameras and film packs, nostalgia buffs are still occasionally able to find instant camera equipment and accessories online or at garage sales. Polaroid instant cameras carried a unique design feature in that the battery was built into the changeable film pack.
Instructions
1. Identify the model of film pack needed for your particular instant camera. Since Polaroid no longer makes instant cameras or film, your local photography-store clerk may not be able to provide this information. A good online resource for matching film-pack models with camera models is The Land List (www.landlist.org).
2. Open the hinged film chamber that is located either on the back or at the bottom of your Polaroid camera by touching the chamber door's release button. Remove the used cartridge. The release button will be clearly marked and is usually on the side of the camera, although the location varies among camera models.
3. Remove the new Polaroid instant-film cartridge from its box and foil pack. Only touch the film pack by its edges. Do not pull any tabs that may stick out from the pack.
4. Examine the cartridge for arrows that indicate which side of the film pack should be inserted into the film chamber. Insert the cartridge with the film cover facing upward.
5. Close the film chamber door. You have now changed the battery in your camera.
Tags: film pack, film chamber, instant camera, instant cameras, Battery Polaroid, Battery Polaroid Instamatic
Watch your favorite shows and movies on the World Wide Web.
The internet has made watching movies and reruns of television without leaving your home increasingly simple. Some film and television production companies put their product on the internet to gain a wider audience. They believe that if people begin to watch their movies and shows on the internet, they might gain profit from it. If you can connect to the internet, there are several options you have to watch movies and reruns legally.
Instructions
Hulu
1. Connect to hulu.com. Hulu provides its visitors with reruns of television shows, feature films and trailers. It is entirely free, which is an important benefit.
2. Create a login account with your e-mail address and password. Creating a log in account lets you view television shows and movies that are for a mature audience.
3. Watch a few seconds of commercials, and enjoy your show. You might have to sit through a 20 second commercial every 10 minutes. Sometimes it allows you to watch a one minute commercial at the beginning of the show, which removes commercials from the rest of your viewing time.
Company's Website
4. Go directly to production company's website, based on which show you want to watch.
5. Browse through that company's available shows to find the show and the episode you want to see.
6. Click "Play" and wait for the episode to start. You may have to wait through some online commercials before your show begins.
iTunes
7. Create an iTunes account, and log in to view the movie and television selection. The movies typically range from $4.99 to $19.99 depending on whether you are buying or renting in 2010.
8. Rack up gift cards to help pay for your movies and television shows from iTunes. If you enjoy the selection, let your family and friends know that iTunes gift cards are perfect Christmas presents for you.
9. Be prepared to wait on your download. The main problem with watching movies and television shows through iTunes is that the downloading time can be around an hour. Plan ahead when downloading to save yourself some time.
Netflix
10. Purchase a Netflix account to have movies and television shows sent to your home via your internet connection. Netflix sends movies through the mail to your home, but also offers free online viewing based on the plan you sign up for. As of 2010, plans ranged from $4.99 a month to $47.99 a month.
11. Try it out and see if you like it before you commit to the service. Sampling it for free for the first month might be a deal you want to take part in during 2010. If you don't like it, cancel before the company begins charging you.
12. Connect to Netflix with the entertainment systems you already have at home. It works by letting you stream television shows and movies directly to your TV, Mac, or PC if you have an account. It also lets you watch television shows and movies with your Wii, PS3 or XBox 360 with an Unlimited plan, which means you can watch as much as you want.
Tags: television shows, shows movies, movies television, movies television shows, television shows movies, your home, gift cards
Super 8 projectors, like the 8mm models that preceded them, rely on sprocket holes in the film to engage the film gate as they move past the projection bulb. Improperly threading a Super 8mm projector can subject the film to stress and slow its progress through the film gate, allowing the heat from the projection bulb to physically damage the film. The basic procedure for correctly threading film in a Super 8 projector is the same regardless of the model.
Instructions
1. Put the projector on a table, opposite a wall. Plug the projector into an electrical socket.
2. Remove the tape or rubber band encircling the film inside the film reel. Place the reel on the hub of the front film arm. Twist the film reel slightly on the hub to lock it in place.
3. Put on cotton gloves to keep your fingerprints from getting on the film. Gently pull out 2 feet of film from the end of the reel. Carefully thread the film into the roller that is in front of the film gate--this is either just behind the lens or on the base of the projector.
4. Pull the end of the film around the roller and thread it through the film gate. Thread the end of the film around the roller that is at the other side of the film gate. Pull the film up and over to the take-up back film arm.
5. Place the empty film reel on the hub of the take-up back film arm. Twist the empty reel slightly on the hub to lock it in place.
6. Insert the end of the film into the slot in the empty film reel. Use your fingers to rotate the empty reel clockwise to wind the film on the reel. Stop rotating the reel when there no longer is any slack on the film.
7. Turn the motor of the Super 8 projector on using the control knob. Watch as the film now moves through the film gate and gets taken up on the take-up back film arm. Turn the control knob to illuminate the projection bulb and project the Super 8mm film on the wall or a white sheet if you want to see what's on it.
Tags: film gate, film reel, back film, projection bulb, take-up back
Sigma, the symbol Σ, is used to denote a summation in math. A summation adds a set of numbers together. The sigma is used on a TI-89 when calculating a summation. A TI-89 is a calculator developed by TI, or Texas Instruments. A summation is written with the upper index above the sigma symbol and the lower index written below the sigma symbol. The expression is written after the sigma symbol.
Instructions
1. Press "F3" and then press "4" on the TI-89. You will see "Σ(" on the screen.
2. Enter in the expression you want to sum after "Σ(" then type ",". For example, enter "Σ(k^2,".
3. Specify the index of the summation. In the example, this would be "k", so this would be "Σ(k^2,k".
4. Enter the lower index and upper index separated by a "," in that order. At the end, press the ")" key and then press the "ENTER" key. In the example, this would be "Σ(k^2,k,1,20)" where 1 is the lower index and 20 is the upper index. This will give the sum of k^2 from 1 to 20 which is 2870.
Tags: lower index, this would, upper index, example this, example this would
The SB-600 AF and SB-900 AF are photographic flash units developed by Nikon as part of the company's Speedlight line. Both units use AA batteries as their primary power source and are hot-shoe and wireless-compatible. Though they are similar in design and application, SB-600 and SB-900 differ in terms of size, features, flash duration and recycle times, and available modes. Overall, the SB-900 is the more advanced flash unit.
Size and Power
The SB-600 measures 4.9 inches tall, 2.7 inches wide and 3.5 inches thick at its thickest point. It weighs 10.6 oz. The SB-900 is slightly larger and heavier, measuring 5.7 inches tall, 3 inches wide and 4.7 inches thick at its thickest point. Four AA-size lithium, nickel or alkaline batteries provide on-board power to both the SB-600 and SB-900. The SB-900 is also compatible with three different optional external power sources -- the SK-6 power bracket unit, SD-9 high-performance battery pack and SD-8A battery pack. The SB-600 isn't compatible with external power sources.
Features
Both the SB-600 and the SB-900 have rotating heads and are constructed around what Nikon calls automatic insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and series circuitry. The SB-600 and SB-900 both have the ability to be used via an on-camera hot shoe or as a wireless external light source. The SB-900 has commander function while the SB-600 doesn't. Both flash units have Nikon's Precision i-TTL flash control and flash exposure controls that include i-TTL balanced fill flash and full manual flash. The SB-900 also has distance-priority manual flash capability.
Durations and Modes
The SB-600 has lens coverage of 24 to 85 mm in automatic and manual modes, and 14 to 85 mm in manual mode with a wide-flash adapter. The SB-900 has broader lens coverage of 17 to 200 mm in FX-format automatic mode, 12 to 200 mm in DX-format automatic mode, 12 to 17 mm and 8 to 11 mm in FX-format and DX-format respectively, with the SB-900's wide-angle panel deployed. The SB-900 also has standard, even and center-weighted illumination pattern presets. Both flash units have integrated test firing, monitor pre-flashes and AF-assist illuminator functions. The SB-900 also has a modelling illuminator function.
Additional Information
The SB-900 has a minimum 2.3-second recycling time when equipped with Ni-MH batteries. The SB-600 has a minimum 2.5-second recycling time when equipped with the same batteries. Minimum recycling times double for both flash units when equipped with slower lithium batteries. The SB-900 has a broader flash duration range of 1/880 of a second to 1/38,500 of a second, compared to a range of 1/900 of a second to 1/25,000 of a second for the SB-600. The SB-900 has front and back ready lights while the SB-600 only has a back ready light. Both devices have plus or minus 3.0 EV of flash compensation available in 1/3 steps. Both have four wireless communication channels and three wireless groups.
Tags: SB-600 SB-900, flash units, SB-900 also, equipped with, when equipped, when equipped with, automatic mode
Listen to music or programs on the Sirius XM Satellite Radio Network on the Sirius S50. This portable device allows you to listen to either Sirius radio or your favorite mp3 files while in the car, on the go or at work. Transfer music to the S50 through the Sirius Studio program on your computer. If Sirius Studio does not recognize the S50 when transferring music, there may be a problem with the program. This will require updating the S50 onto an alternative Sirius network. Sirius recommends fully charging the S50 before attempting to complete any update.
Instructions
1. Install the S50 driver on to your computer, and follow all prompts to download and install it.
2. Download the S50main and gen3fw files to your computer. You can find the downloads at www.sirius.com.
3. Connect the S50 to your computer using the Sirius USB data cable. Once the two are connected, your computer should recognize the connection.
4. Copy both files to the S50 folder on the computer. This can only happen if the portable device is still connected to your computer.
5. Click "File" and then "Eject" the S50 removable drive. At this point, you can remove the S50 USB cable from the computer. A message will display saying "Restart to Update," and the S50 will turn off.
6. Hold down both the "Playlist" and "Power" buttons on the S50 portable device at the same time. While you do this, the S50 will update. Once the update is done, the S50 will automatically turn off.
Tags: your computer, portable device, Sirius Studio, connected your, connected your computer
A Zune is an MP3 music and video player made by Microsoft. They provide the portability and versatility of many gadgets in one. A Zune is not hard to use, and with some time and practice you'll find your Zune is as indispensable as your cell phone.
Instructions
1. Setup your Zune music player. You will need to install the Zune softwareonto your player. USB cords that were included in your Zune purchase will connect your computer to your Zune so you can charge the battery and sync your music and other data.
2. Load music, pictures and videos onto your Zune player using the Zune software you installed. Although Windows Media Player is also a Microsoft product, it cannot manage music for your Zune.
3. Play the music by plugging in the headphones that came with your Zune or a favorite pair you have into the bottom of your Zune marked with a small headphone icon.
4. Turn the Zune on by holding the "Play/Pause" button, which doubles as the "Off" button. Slide the "Lock" switch until it turns red to keep from accidentally pushing buttons unintentionally. This option is great for people carrying their Zune in a pocket or bag.
5. Select from the drop-down menu what it is you want to do: listen to music, watch videos, view pictures, find a radio station, watch downloaded podcasts or change your settings.
6. Stroke the large center button in the direction you want to scroll on the menu. Select your option by pressing the same large button in the center. It clicks gently and goes to your next menu item.
7. Hit the left arrow button to go back to the previous screen. This could be the last picture viewed or your last menu option. This button works the same with all options on the music player.
Tags: your Zune, onto your, Zune music, Zune software
A negative scanner works in much the same way as a standard flatbed scanner, using light and a component known as a CCD (charge-coupled device) array, which contains light-sensitive diodes, to capture a digital image of the scanned material. The main difference between negative scanners and flatbed scanners is that a negative scanner provides greater resolution. A high-intensity light is scanned over the negative, with the CCD recording a digital copy and sending it to the scanning software on the computer.
Converting to Positive
Scanning software for negative scanners is different from that used with flatbed scanners because it automatically converts it to a positive image. It also allows you to create both black-and-white and color images from a single scan.
Advantages
Using a negative scanner ensures that all the detail of the original image will transfer to the digital print. Scanning from photographs loses detail from the gloss and any defects in the print. Though negative scanners cost more than standard desktop scanners, the increased detail and automatic conversion make them the preferred choice of photographers wishing to convert film negatives to digital prints.
Protect yout RFID cards by making your wallet RFID-proof.
"RFID" stands for radio-frequency identification. An RFID tag is a microchip that stores information that can be read from a distance by a special device called a reader or interrogator. RFID tags are now found in some passports, driver's licenses, employee and university identification cards, and even some credit cards. The RFID tags in some of these cards can be read from up to 30 feet away, and the possibility of identity theft concerns some RFID card carriers. Fortunately, since metal effectively blocks radio waves, it's easy to retrofit a wallet to protect cards from RFID scanning.
Instructions
1. Use a pen or pencil to trace the credit card onto the cardstock, then cut out the "dummy card" with scissors. Repeat this step to create a second dummy card.
2. Wrap each dummy card in aluminum foil. To make the card easy to slide into the wallet, and to help hold the foil in place, you may optionally wrap duct tape or packing tape around the foil dummy cards.
3. Open the wallet and examine how it folds up. Identify the card slot nearest one side of the folded wallet and insert one of the foil-wrapped dummy cards. Do the same with the other dummy card for the other side of the wallet.
4. Protect cards in a wallet that opens in several stages by adding more strategically placed foil-wrapped dummy cards.
The Garmin Nuvi 350 can be mounted on your dashboard.
The Nuvi 350 is a Garmin global positioning system satellite navigational device that is known as a personal travel assistant. This device assists drivers while navigating public streets and highways. You have a few options when it comes to mounting the Garmin Nuvi 350 inside your vehicle. No matter if you mount it on your windshield or dashboard, you will likely need to remove the mount at some point.
Instructions
1. Locate the tab on the cradle of your Garmin Nuvi 350. The tab can be found underneath the cradle piece.
2. Push the tab gently. This will allow you to lift the screen of your Garmin Nuvi 350 up and out of the cradle.
3. Find the lever on the suction cup piece of the mount. Without the screen, this piece should be easily visible.
4. Grip the lever between your fingers and pull it forward. This releases the suction cup, so be sure to hold onto the cradle so it doesn't fall.
5. Grasp the small tab on the bottom of the suction cup, and pull it forward, as well. This will allow you to completely remove the dash mount for your Garmin Nuvi 350.
Tags: Garmin Nuvi, your Garmin, your Garmin Nuvi, mount your, pull forward, This will
The history of black & white photography is essentially a significant part of the entire story of photography. It is the story of a relatively "new" technology that began a little over 170 years ago in Europe. However, the actual process of a projected image appearing inside a light-tight box (camera obscura), has existed much longer. The problem being that there was no means to fix the image for any length of time, until two Frenchmen collaborated in their efforts and succeeding in fixing the image so that it could be viewed by others.
Introduction
The photographic process became public in Europe in 1839 when M. Daguerre and the French Government reached an agreement to announce the new fascinating process as reported in the Gazette de France. "M. Daguerre has found the way to fix the images which paint themselves within a camera obscura, so that these images are no longer transient reflections of objects, but their fixed and everlasting impress which, like a painting or engraving, can be taken away from the presence of the objects."
Daguerre called his finished product the Daguerreotype, while the term "photography" was suggested by astronomer and scientist Sir John Herschel to represent the newly discovered process. Over in England William Henry Fox Talbot came up with a similar process ushering in a new form of communication onto the world scene.
Development
After the Daguerreotype, several other forms of making a photograph came about such as the Calotype, the tintype, to the modern day gelatin-silver prints, and digital imaging.
As photographic materials became more light sensitive, photographers expanded their repertoire to include things in motion. One of the most noted to explore motion through photography (although not the first), was Eadweard Muybridge who, in the 1870s, showed the world how a horse gallops.
As photographic technology became easier to use, more people took up the new art form as a hobby and/or business. In 1888, George Eastman of Rochester, New York introduced the public to the Kodak camera. "The original Kodak was a box camera, 3 1/4 X 3 3/4 X 6 1/2 inches with a fixed-focus lens of 27mm focal length and aperture f/9, fitted with an ingenious cylindrical, or barrel, shutter. It differed from most of its competitors because it used film in a roll long enough for 100 negatives, each with a circular image 2 1/2 inches in diameter."
Significance
Today, early photographs allow people to peer into a narrow window of the past, making photography an important way to document life around the world at any given time.
Photography easily and quickly moved from a mere curiosity to an emotional form of historic document recording events as they unfolded, in publications such as Life magazine.
During the American Civil War (1861 to 1865), Mathew Brady and his crew of camera operators moved into the theater of battle to capture scenes of war.
Storytelling
In the early part of the 20th century black & white photography proved its worth as a social document that had the power of influence. For example, the work of sociologist Lewis W. Hine who recorded the exploitation of children in American factories led to the passing of child labor laws.
Another American photographer: Ansel Adams was famous for his richly toned black & white photographs, which became cherished by the public, other photographers and collectors. Through his photographs, Adams conveyed the beauty of the American landscape and made a statement about pristine wilderness places for future generations to consider.
In other instances, a story is contained in a single photograph as in Sam Shere's image of the explosion of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst, N.J. 1937.
Since the inception of black & white photography it has changed the way people see the world because rather than just relying upon text and imagination, they have text and images to discover the realities of life that exist in the world around them.
Legacy
From the earliest inception of photography, the black & white image has endured up into the present even with the advent of digital photography. The black and white image over the decades has proven itself as a stable preservable product that digital imaging has yet to illustrate as time goes on.
The black & white legacy left by great photographic artists such as Yousuf Karsh of Ottawa, Canada and Ansel Adams of Carmel, California, and others, still inspires and encourages both amateur and professional photographers to work in black & white. In other words, black & white photography is a unique art form with a strong lineage that still permeates the heart and minds of photographers, publishers and the artistic community as a whole.
In this age of instant digital imaging, black & white traditional photography still survives albeit more modestly, but its rich historical background still serves to educate, please, inspire and move people emotionally as the contents of life and the world around us are brought before our eyes.
Tags: black white, black white photography, digital imaging, white photography, Ansel Adams, black white image, camera obscura
The aperture is the camera's equivalent to the human eye and controls how much light enters through the camera lens. The aperture is set in increments known as F-stops. Controlling the camera's aperture functions greatly increases the photographer's ability to create interesting photographs.
Instructions
1. Locate the area on the camera that allows the user to choose the specific camera functions. This is commonly a dial on the top of the camera. Read the camera's owner's manual to locate this feature on a specific model of camera.
2. Turn the dial to the area that indicates Aperture Priority. Many cameras have an abbreviation on the dial that resembles Av or AvP. Choose this option to control the camera's aperture.
3. Look at the subject carefully and consider the background of each scene. A wide aperture will throw the background out of focus and a smaller aperture brings things back into focus.
4. Experiment with differing sizes of aperture. Choose one subject and focus the camera on it. Mount the camera on a tripod and take the picture. Adjust the F-stop one increment lower or higher, recompose the same shot and take the picture. This allows the photographer a range of pictures showing differing apertures.
Tags: Aperture Priority, camera aperture, take picture
Graphic equalizers, used in both home and car audio systems, offer a way to control low, medium and high frequencies in narrower, more specific ways than the regular bass and treble control knobs. This can be helpful in tailoring the sound of the audio system to compensate for peculiarities of the listening space, or simply to customize the stereo according to one's tastes.
Instructions
Use a Graphic Equalizer Amplifier
1. Read the owner's manual for the graphic equalizer amplifier and become familiar with its operation. Be sure it is either professionally installed or hooked up properly according to the manual. Equalizers may have three, five, seven, ten, or more frequency bands in which each sliding control knob operates.
2. Park the vehicle in a quiet place, turn off the engine and close the windows to eliminate outdoor sounds.
3. Look at the equalizer sliders and set each to the neutral or zero point. Most have a "detented" center setting that clicks as the knob passes through it, identifying the zero position where the control exerts no effect on the sound. The knob on the left side controls the lowest frequencies and the right-hand knob the highest, with the other knobs moving through the spectrum of frequencies in between.
4. Turn on the power to the graphic equalizer amplifier. Play a familiar CD or tape and adjust the volume to a comfortable but not overly loud setting.
5. Experiment with moving different sliders up or down. In general, the lower-frequency knobs increase or decrease sounds in the boom and rumble area. Mid-range controls alter the "presence" of the sound, and too much mid-range can cause harshness. The high-range controls affect the "sizzle" as well as the "hissing" regions of sound.
6. Try to keep the "average" of all the controls as close to zero as possible. Turning all of the bands all the way up has no real effect and is simply the same as cranking the volume knob way up. It is easy to become addicted to the "hot" sound of turning many bands up at random, but this probably will not wear very well on the ears over time.
7. Once a desirable initial setting for all knobs has been found, write down all of the settings by number. If someone bumps the controls with a hand or knee, all of the settings can be lost and difficult to remember.
DIRECTV provides satellite services for television reception to a vast number of households in the United States but setup of the receiver and installation of the satellite dish can be a tricky endeavor. The procedure of locating the satellite overhead and achieving a strong and clear signal is the key. Before DIRECTV can be enjoyed, setting the dish elevation and running the cables into your house are essential.
Instructions
1. Find a location for the satellite dish that is not obstructed in any way, is flat and likely to provide a secure foothold for the dish. Mount the dish at this location, making sure it is flush with the surface it is being mounted to.
2. Connect the receiver to your satellite. This will entail using two cable lines that extend from the satellite to the room in which the receiver resides. Make sure there is a clear path. Splitters should not be used on this connection because they may destroy signal strength.
3. Locate the "Satellite In" listing on the back of the receiver, on the left hand side. Screw in the two cables from the satellite here, into the ports listed as "SAT 1" and "SAT 2". Make sure the cables are snug.
4. Check the orientation of the dish mast and ensure that the mast is perpendicular to level. Check this measurement by using a level tool at various locations on the mast.
5. Turn on your television and the receiver, and bring up the signal meter screen.
6. Aim the satellite dish into the southern sky. Set the proper elevation of the dish by loosening the nuts securing the elevation bolts on the dish. Make gradual adjustments to the elevation by sweeping the dish slightly upwards and downwards in increments every 5 to 10 seconds to try and find the main satellite up above. Have a friend check the signal meter screen to see if you are getting close.
7. Establish the azimuth of the dish. The azimuth is the left and right orientation, as opposed to the vertical orientation established with the elevation. To adjust the azimuth of the dish, loosen the LNB arm nuts on the dish, and utilize the side to side movements to find the satellite.
8. Fine tune your elevation and azimuth adjustments until the signal meter has a reading of between 70 and 80. A number higher than 80 is likely unattainable.
Tags: satellite dish, signal meter, azimuth dish, from satellite, Make sure, meter screen, signal meter screen
Dust and fingerprints are the most common contaminants that can smear the lens of your single lens reflex camera. While most photographers know that putting on the camera lens cover is the first thing to do after finishing a shoot, that doesn't mean it always happens. Even little distractions can draw your attention away from the equipment, then the moment you get ready to take another frame -- whoops -- your fingers touch the lens. Fortunately, cleaning the camera lens only takes a minute with a little care and the proper tools.
Instructions
Cleaning the Lens
1. Remove the lens cap from the camera and inspect the lens at a slight angle so the light can reveal smudges, dirt and fingerprints.
2. Place a small amount, no more than three to four drops, of cleaning solution on a piece of lens cleaning paper and gently rub the lens in a circular motion. Do not pour cleaning liquids directly on the lens.
3. Allow the solution to evaporate from the lens.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 as necessary to remove persistent smudges and dirt.
5. Hold a can of compressed air with the attached nozzle at an angle and at least five inches from the lens surface. Release the compressed air in short, controlled bursts to remove dust particles without the extra time of using lens cleaning solution.
Tags: camera lens, cleaning solution, from lens, lens cleaning, smudges dirt
When you finally get your new AT&T Cingular phone in the mail, one of the first things you should do after charging it is to set up your Cingular voicemail. The process only takes about a few minutes and allows you to personalize your answering options. Keep in mind that even before your voice mailbox is set up, people can still leave you a voicemail message. Once you do get the feature set up, you will be able to access all of those messages left by your family and friends.
Instructions
1. Activate your Cingular cell phone service. Do this by either calling AT&T Cingular at 1-800-331-0500, online (direct link to AT&T Cingular Activations below under "Resources"), or by dialing 611 from your Cingular phone.
2. When the service is activated, press and hold down the "1" key. The phone will call into your AT&T Cingular voicemail system for the first time. You must make this call from your newly activated cell phone.
3. Follow the prompts. You will first be asked to create a new password for your account. Choose a four digit code that you will easily remember, but that no one else will be able to figure out. If you choose a code that someone close to you knows, that person can very simply access your AT&T Cingular voicemails from any phone.
4. Record your name or identifying information (this could just be you quoting your new cell phone number) when prompted.
5. You will be asked if you would like to 1) record a personalized greeting or 2) just have a generic pre-recorded message play including your name or phone number. If you want the caller to hear a personal message in your voice, select the option to record a new greeting. Speak your message clearly and then press the "#" key to continue. When you are satisfied with your greeting, press "1" to save it.
6. Listen for the system to tell you that your voicemail has been set up properly. You will automatically be transferred to your voice mailbox to listen to any existing messages.
Tags: your Cingular, cell phone, your voice, Cingular phone, Cingular voicemail, code that, from your
Videographers and photographers use green or blue screens to change backgrounds.
Green screens and blue screens are commonly used by photographers and videographers with a process known as "Chroma Key." The idea behind Chroma Key is to place someone in front of a solid background, then remove it, replacing it with whatever you want. For example, you could take a photo of two people in a studio, then make it look like they're in front of Niagara Falls. There are some differences between the two screen types--blue and green--aside from the color.
The Color
The most obvious difference between green and blue screens, of course, is the color. This makes a difference regarding clothing and other foreground items. The reason that green and blue color screens were chosen for Chroma Key is that neither color naturally appears in human skin pigmentation. This makes it easier to wipe away the color and replace it with something else. If the subject happens to wear a blue or green outfit in front of the screen, however, the outfit would disappear as well, since the computer cannot tell the difference between the two greens or blues. Therefore, the primary issue when choosing between a blue or green screen is the color of other items in the shot.
Reflectivity
According to Steven Bradford, a professional photographer and videographer from Seattle, one advantage green has over blue--and a reason some photographers and videographers choose green screens instead of blue--is the reflectivity of the color. Green allows for better matting of the foreground (matting in this context means that a second item will show up against the first item, so if our subject is wearing an orange jumpsuit, for example, it shows up more clearly because the green provides a better contrast to the foreground than blue might --again, according to Bradford) so it will be easier to remove later on the computer. Bradford also points out that video cameras tend to be very sensitive to the green color channel, making it easier to remove green from the scene being photographed.
Contrast with Flesh Tone
Bradford suggests that blue is a better contrast color with flesh tone, allowing for a more natural look when filming people against a blue background. This is important since videographers and photographers try to make a scene that uses green or blue screens appear as natural as possible.
Chroma Spill
Chroma spill is a phenomenon where an outline remains from the background color, either blue or green used in the Chroma Key technology. Bradford and Jonas Hummelstrand, another videography and photography professional from Sweden, hold the opinion that blue chroma spillover is less noticeable than green, thus making it potentially more attractive to professionals.
Tags: blue screens, green blue, blue green, green blue screens, better contrast, difference between, easier remove
Before digital photography, photographers used only film to record the pictures they were shooting. This film was then taken to a photo lab where it was process and printed. The advent of digital technology has not only given us digital cameras, it has also given us film scanners that will convert those old film negatives into digital files. Converting your 35 mm film negatives into digital files will allow you to edit and upload these pictures to an on-line gallery where friends and family can see them.
Instructions
1. Turn your home computer and film scanner on, and open the software for your scanner.
2. Create a new folder where the scanned pictures will be saved to.
3. Organize your 35 mm film negatives into a sequence you want them scanned in. You can arrange your film by date, event or subject.
4. Prepare your 35 mm film negatives for scanning. Carefully clean the negatives using an anti-static cloth. This cloth will remove dust and debris from your negatives, and will help prevent dust from collecting on the negative during the scanning process.
5. Place the 35 mm negative into the scanner's carrier tray and place the carrier tray into the scanner. Press the "Start" button on the scanner.
6. View the image on the preview screen in your scanners software, from here you can make minor adjustments to the image, either lightening or darkening the exposure and cropping the picture if it is need. When you are finished previewing the picture click "OK" for the scanner to complete the scan and save the picture to the folder you created earlier in the process.
Tags: film negatives, your film, film negatives into, negatives into, your film negatives, carrier tray
The Nortel BCM50 is an integrated voice and data system designed for small and mid-sized businesses. The BCM50 system offers a number of features through its telephony applications that integrates with other data network services. One main feature of the system is the auto attendant feature, which answers calls automatically with a personalized greeting and routes the caller to the appropriate employee. The auto attendant feature is programmed through the BCM50 software application.
Instructions
1. Launch the Nortel BCM50 application on the computer. The main display window will have list of available applications in the main menu on the left-hand side.
2. Click "Auto Attendant" in the applications menu to open the "Auto Attendant" settings window.
3. Click the check box next to "Default Greeting" in the settings window to have the default greeting play when the Auto Attendant picks up a call.
4. Select from the "Extensions" listing the check boxes for the desired extensions to which the answered calls will be transferred.
5. Click the "Active" button in the window, then click "OK" to activate the Auto Attendant feature.
Tags: Auto Attendant, attendant feature, auto attendant feature, settings window
When you load a video podcast onto an iPod, you can watch or listen to your favorite Web episodes on your iPod. Using the latest version of iTunes, it is as easy as loading songs and audio podcasts onto an iPod.
Instructions
1. Subscribe to a video podcast. Download a podcast from the Web or from the iTunes Store and save it to your iTunes library.
2. Connect your iPod. Connect your iPod to your computer and wait for the icon to appear in iTunes.
3. Click your "iPod" icon. This will open the "iPod Settings." Click the "Podcasts" tab.
4. Select your options. Click the "Sync" option. Choose "All Podcasts" or "Selected Podcasts" and choose which podcasts and how many episodes to sync to your iPod. Click "Apply."
5. Sync your iPod. You iPod sync automatically each time you connect it, but you can click "File" then "Sync iPod" to do it manually.
6. Disconnect your iPod. Hit the "Eject" button near your iPod icon and wait for the "Do not Disconnect" display to disappear.
7. View your video podcast. From your iPod menu, choose "Video," then "Video Podcasts," and then select the podcast you want to watch.
Tags: your iPod, video podcast, Connect your, Connect your iPod, iPod icon, onto iPod
Foam core is a wide, flat piece of extruded foam with a piece of thick poster board glued to either side. The material has become a popular medium for creating scale models of buildings in architecture and scenery for miniature games such as Warhammer and Dungeons & Dragons. Foam core boards are inexpensive and can be cut and glued into a variety of shapes.
Instructions
1. Draw several sketches of the model from various angles. These sketches should give you a rough idea of the general dimensions and shape of the model. Pay careful attention to large flat areas like walls or ceilings.
2. Purchase single-color foam core boards. The number of boards necessary will depend on the size and shape of the model. Use your sketches to estimate the amount of foam board necessary for the project.
3. Deconstruct the model into individual pieces. Draw each piece to scale on a piece of paper and cut the shape out to create a template.
4. Place the template on the foam core board and use a pen or marker to trace the edge of the template.
5. Slice the shape out of the foam core board using a utility or hobby knife. Slice the foam board three times, cutting a third of the foam with each slice. Cut slowly to ensure a smooth edge.
6. Assemble the foam pieces together and glue the edges. Generic white glue works well, but adhesives like PVA will provide a stronger hold. Avoid any glues with solvents or heat which can degrade the foam into harsh chemicals. Insert pins or tacks into the foam to hold the pieces in place while the glue dries.
7. Remove the pins and tacks. Cover all exposed foam with a coat of PVA or water-based paint. This will prevent the solvents in the primer or paint from disintegrating the foam and reducing the structural strength of the model. Seams and exposed foam can also be covered with tape.
8. Spray the model with a coat or two of spray primer. Popular primer colors are black and white because they provide the best base for paints.
9. Paint the model and add any necessary accessories or materials.
You may find your boombox player does not always read a self-created CD. This is because a CD you burn in-house is formatted slightly different than a store-bought audio CD. Depending on the boombox you are using, you may be able to use specific CD formats; however, if the CD player is old enough (before the debut of computer-based CD burners) the device may not function with any self-created CD format.
Instructions
1. Look up in the user manual what CD formats are supported by the boombox. Some CD players allow only for CD-R while others can play rewritable CDs (CD-RW). Check to see if any particular brands are mentioned. If you do see CD brands, you want to make sure the burned CD is in the same format and brand listed (brands not listed as a supported CD are more likely to not function on the CD).
2. Clean out the CD player on the boombox. Often, CDs created by a computer are more likely to come up with an error message if the inside of the CD player is dirty. Spray a few shots of compressed air into the player to blow out any hair, dirt or dust lodged in the player.
3. Wipe down the bottom of the burned CD. You want to clean off the CD to ensure it functions properly. Wipe the CD with a damp cloth, moving from the inside ring to the outside edge. Cleaning around the CD can actually push dirt into the small holes of your CD and damage it further.
Formatting a memory card is the quickest and easiest way to remove all of the images stored on it. Most digital cameras have the ability to format a built-in memory card, and are also able to format the internal memory, if equipped with any. The Kodak C743 has the ability to format both user supplied memory cards and its own internal memory. The formatting functionality is accessed via the menu system and is easily remembered for future reference. Read on to learn more about format the memory card of a Kodak C743.
Instructions
1. Enter the set-up menu. Press the "Menu" button. The "Menu" button is located on the back of the camera to the right of the display. Use the "Up" or "Down" button until the "Set-up" selection is highlighted. Press the "OK" button to enter the "Set-up" menu.
2. Select the "Format" option. Using the "Up" or "Down" button, highlight the "Format" menu option, and then press the "OK" button.
3. Format the selected memory. In the "Format" menu you can choose to format the internal memory or the memory card that is currently in the camera. If you format the internal memory you will also lose stored user information along with the stored images. Select which memory you would like to format and press the "OK" button to format the selected memory.
4. If you are done formatting memory, and would like to return to the mode you were in originally, press the "Menu" button.
Tags: internal memory, memory card, format internal, format internal memory, Kodak C743
Whether you are traveling overseas and want to call someone back home in New Zealand, or know someone there, it is of importance to know get through on the phone. Phoning a mobile phone in New Zealand requires knowing the international codes of that country and the country you are calling from. Once you have these numbers, you can easily get through to any New Zealand mobile phone number.
Instructions
Calling a New Zealand Mobile Phone
1. Look up the International Direct Dial (IDD) code for the country that you are calling from. If you are in the United States, for example, to dial a number outside of the country the IDD is 011. These three digits need to be prefixed to the number you are dialing.
2. Find the IDD for the country of New Zealand. It may be a two-digit number or a single digit. For example, the international code for the United States is 1, whereas the international code for New Zealand is 64.
3. Dial the international direct dial number for the United States, followed by the international code for New Zealand. After you have dialed these two codes, proceed with the mobile number you need to call in New Zealand.
Tags: international code, United States, calling from, code Zealand, dial number, international code Zealand
35mm film can be damaged mechanically and by heat.
Until quite recently the 35mm projector was the standard for both indoor and outdoor theater projection systems, but modern technological improvements have seen a shift towards a new digital projection standard. There are pros and cons to both systems, but as of 2010, the momentum of the previous 35mm format keeps it the dominant force in movie projection technology for now.
Classic 35mm Projectors
35mm film projection is based upon the rather old technique of chemical film exposure, where the occasional defect is somewhat more common than that of a digital projector. Backlighting behind the film projects the image to the screen, generating a substantial amount of heat. If the mechanism of the projector jams, the film strip may overheat and melt, thereby ruining the entire film for future viewing. There are some advantages to 35mm format, in that image quality is still quite high. Only recently has digital technology been able to match the color resolutions and variations. Film reels themselves have a rather limited lifespan and are quite bulky when compared to digital formats.
Modern Commercial Digital Projectors
The first full-size digital projectors comparable in quality to 35mm film started to appear as early as 2006 with the release of the NEC Starus projector line. Competing companies were quick to follow suit and now there are a myriad of digital projection equipment available on the market, as of 2010. Digital projection systems are slowly catching on, but rather than entirely replacing 35mm projectors they sometimes appear alongside their older cousins in movie theaters, which switch between the two devices as the situation merits. These digital projectors also serve to expand the business model of a movie theater by allowing it to host business-oriented presentations using digital presentation software such as PowerPoint and its competing equivalents. One of the key advantages to digital projection formats is that the actual storage media lasts far longer than that of film, making them easy to reuse as long as the license allows for re-showing past the original release run. Movies shown habitually, such as the Rocky Horror Picture Show, can end up costing less than digital formats since there will be no costs incurred by frequently replacing film reels.
Digital versus 35mm Projection
The digital versus film debate is nothing new, but many experts agree that comparing the two technologies is akin to comparing apples and oranges as they have entirely different production methods and implementation. Arguments can be made for either technology since the filming of movies in 35mm format often finds itself in final status distribution as digital format DVDs. Modern technology also allows for the conversion of digital files into 35mm film reels, so the quality is ultimately in the hands of the film crew; the projectionist is only able to work with as good as he is given. With no clear winner and both technologies having clear pros and cons, for now, the most sound decision for drive-in theater is to use both types of projection system and let future trends determine the dominant technology. Either way, people will get to enjoy movies their favorite way.
Tags: 35mm film, 35mm format, digital projection, digital formats, digital projectors, projection systems
Light box photography uses simple materials to create an environment that lights up the object you're shooting. Light boxes allow you to shoot from all sides and angles--ideal for stock photography, which requires a 360-degree view. Creating your own light box requires few materials, some of which can be found around your house.
Instructions
1. Place the light box on a sturdy table. Using sheet metal screws, attach the poster board to the top of the light box. The poster board will cascade down and provide a backdrop for your photograph.
2. Using a white sheet, cover the entire box. Cut a hole for the lens in the front of the sheet.
3. Clamp the small lamps to either side of the light box. Make sure they are clamped over the sheet but not touching the sheet.
4. Place the large desk lamps on the right and left side of the light box. Adjust the lamp neck as needed. Turn on all four lights.
5. Using the pre-cut hole in the sheet, insert the camera lens and start clicking.
Digital cameras produce unique file names for each photo.
Photographs can include several forms of identifying information. Every digital photo has a unique file name under the camera operating system. Each photo also includes EXIF information embedded in the data, and it's common to put the photographer's copyright or contact information directly onto the image. Photo editing programs such as Picnik, FastStone Photo Resizer and Zoner Photo Studio can add identification numbers, sequentially numbered file names and other data to digital photos.
Instructions
Using Picnik
1. Download and install the Picnik application. Click on the "Get Started Now button." Upload a photo or use a demo.
2. Click the "Create" tab and the "Text" button. Enter your text in the window on the left. Click "Add" to put it on the photo. A menu will appear that allows you to change the location, color and opacity.
3. Click the "Save & Share" tab to save the image to your computer.
Using FastStone Photo Resizer
4. Download and install FastStone Photo Resizer. Select a photo or a file folder. Click "Add" to place it on the input list.
5. Select "Advanced Options." Click on the "Text" tab and click on the "Add Text" check box. Enter your text and use the Opacity and the X-Y Offset to control how it displays, then click "OK."
6. Select the output folder on the main page and click "Convert." Your photo will appear in that folder with the changes you selected. The main page also permits changing the file names, including adding sequential numbers.
Using Zoner Photo Studio
7. Download and install the free Zoner Photo Studio, then select an image in the "Manager" window.
8. Press"Shift" + "Enter" to bring up the Information page. The "I" button in the middle of the page brings up the EXIF information. Each line can be edited.
9. Click "OK" to save. Zoner permits editing single images or batches.
Many navigation systems include speed camera detectors.
Speed camera locations are increasing, not just in the United States but in other countries as well. New speed cameras use satellite technology to quickly and reliably gather information to catch speeders.
GPS Technology
Maintained by the United States government, the Global Positioning System (GPS) utilizes a space-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) to provide reliable location data, including determining geographical points, getting driving directions and accessing other data. GPS satellites allow free access to any of this information to anyone with a GPS receiver, in accordance with federal and state laws.
Speed Cameras with GPS Capability
A speed camera equipped with GPS capability utilizes its camera to capture license plate data and track vehicles. The technology provides faster access to other information related to vehicles found to be breaking speed limits. GPS technology supplies data from satellite feeds, such as location, traffic and other information.
Speed Camera Detectors
As further development of the technology makes it easier for the authorities to catch speeders, speed camera detectors (similar to radar detectors) are also becoming increasingly popular. These detectors alert motorists to speed cameras installed along highways. In addition to speed detectors sold as independent units, many in-car satellite navigation systems, PDAs and mobile phones have or can download speed camera detection programs.
Tags: speed camera, catch speeders, navigation systems, other information, speed camera detectors
Having a compact digital camera is a fun and easy way to relive all of those fun memories. They are now almost as small as a credit card, so compact and easy to carry around that you can take them with you anywhere you go. Here are some steps on buy a compact digital camera.
Instructions
1. Research information about compact digital cameras on Web sites and in consumer magazines. Compare various cameras, including their price, features and feedback from other consumers.
2. Start narrowing your options by further reviewing features such as the megapixels, memory cards, batteries and zoom. Be sure to check the prices on replacement batteries.
3. Determine if the digital camera will meet your needs in the future. You don't want to buy a cheap unit that will be outdated in less than a year.
4. Visit local big-box retailers and try out the cameras. Wait to purchase the camera until you compare prices with online stores as well.
5. Purchase the camera and save all packaging and receipts. This way you can return it more easily if there are problems in the future.
6. Fill out the warranty card and send to the manufacturer.
Tags: compact digital, digital camera, Compact Digital Camera, compact digital camera
Many people have boxes of old 78 rpm records just gathering dust. With a little bit of know-how and some time, those old records can be easily copied onto CDs so they can be played in any CD player. Converting a record to CD format requires playing the record, recording it on a computer, and then using the computer to burn the music onto a CD.
Instructions
1. Connect the record player to the amplifier using the RCA cable, making sure to use the Phono input. Connect the amplifier to the computer's audio input using the RCA to 1/8 inch mini plug cable.
2. Start the Volume Control application in Windows by double clicking the speaker icon in the system tray (the lower right corner where the clock is). In Volume Control, choose Properties from the Options menu. In the "Adjust Volume For" section of the properties screen, choose the Recording option. In the area below, make sure that "Line-In" is checked and click OK. Slide the volume slider all the way down for the Line-In channel, then check the select box for line-in. Start playing a record. As the record plays, slide the volume control up until the level meter is in the green and jumps into the yellow. If the meter jumps into the red, the recorded sound can be distorted.
3. Open the audio recording software and create a new file that is 10 minutes long. If given a choice, make sure the new file is set up to be 44100 khz stereo--this is the format of CD audio. Click the record button and then start playing the record. When the record is finished, click the stop button. Use the audio recording software to remove the extra silence at the start of the recording by highlighting the area to be removed mouse and pressing the delete key. Do this again with the silence at the end of the recording. Save the file to the hard drive in WAV format. Repeat this process for each record to be converted.
4. Insert a blank CD into the computer's CD drive. Open the CD burning software included with the CD Writer drive on the computer and start a new Audio CD project. Add the files created above to the project as separate tracks on the CD. Click the Finalize or Burn button to write the songs onto the CD.
Tags: playing record, audio recording, audio recording software, jumps into, make sure, recording software
cameras improve on the size of older models quite a bit but don't sacrifice much in the way of versatility
As digital video cameras get smaller and smaller, thanks to advances in technology, a question has arisen: will these new, impossibly small video cameras still allow me to edit my pictures and videos the way older models did? Luckily, in the case of Flip Video cameras, the answer is a resounding "yes"; the compact but feisty video camera comes prepared to help you make the most of your purchase.
Picture Orientation
The high-quality nature of Flip photos and videos means that you can alter the orientation of the on-screen picture without causing graininess or pixelation. By choosing the flip or rotate tools from your editing software of choice, you can flip your pictures vertically or horizontally and rotate them to the right or left, 90 degrees at a time.
Zoom and Crop
If you want to remove people from a picture, close in on someone's face or just frame the picture a little more artistically, the zoom and crop tools are for you. Videos and pictures can be zoomed in upon quite extensively without getting pixelated, due to the high megapixel count. Crop out unsightly backgrounds or extraneous people with the crop tool.
Red-Eye Reduction
Assuming that the picture you've taken didn't already have automatic red-eye reduction activated, canceling out the fabled reddish optical glare is a simple matter with free editing software like Picasa. Simply choose the red-eye reduction tool from the menu, and your vampiric gaze will be neutralized.
Camcorders allow you to record spontaneous fun footage that can document important times and events. Regardless of your camcorder video's nature, you can copy it from analog tapes, such as 8mm, to a data CD for digital storage, preservation and playback. Connect your camcorder or associated tape player to your computer's TV tuner through an A/V or RCA cable to get started.
Instructions
1. Insert the camcorder tape into your camcorder or tape player.
2. Connect the camcorder or tape player to your computer's TV tuner. Insert the RCA end of your camcorder's A/V cable into the TV tuner's color-coded input port. Otherwise, insert one end of an RCA cable into the tape player's color-coded "Video Out" or "Line Out" port. Insert the other end of the cable into the TV tuner's "Video In" or "Line In" port.
3. Launch the TV tuner's control interface. Push the "Record" button to begin capturing the video from your camcorder tape.
4. Push "Play" on the camcorder or tape player immediately. Doing so as quickly as possible minimizes empty space at the beginning of your digital video recording.
5. Push "Stop" on the TV tuner's recorder. Save the digital video file to your computer's hard drive.
6. Load a blank writable CD into your computer's CD writer drive.
7. Launch your computer's CD writer utility if it does not run automatically upon disc insertion. Load the TV tuner's recorded video file into the utility's burn list. Click the "Burn" button to copy the camcorder tape's video content to your CD.
Tags: camcorder tape, your camcorder, tape player, your computer, cable into, camcorder tape player
Statistical calculations can be cumbersome and time consuming. In addition, handwritten calculations are prone to errors. One solution is to use a Casio calculator to help you with your calculations. Switching to statistical mode on a Casio calculator enables you to easily enter data sets and find out basic descriptive statistics like the variance and standard deviation, which are measures of how data is spread out about the mean. There are many models of Casio calculators, but most Casio scientific calculators and Casio graphing calculators share some common functionalities.
Instructions
1. Press the "Mode" key, then press the "." key. The letters SD should appear at the top right of the screen.
2. Press "INV," and then press "AC" to clear the memory.
3. Enter your data points using the numeric keypad. Follow each number with the "M+" key. For example to enter the number 90 into the calculator. Type "9," then "0," then "M+."
4. Press INV," and then press "7" to find the mean.
5. Press INV," and then press "9" to find the standard deviation. If you want to find the variance, press "x2" after you enter the standard deviation.
Tags: Press then, Press then press, standard deviation, Casio calculator, press find, then press, then press
A text message can be defined as a message sent from one phone to another that is 160 characters (including spaces). This is a service available on most cellphones and PDAs. Here are some applications of texting.
Personal Messaging
The most common application of texting is sending personal messages from one cellphone to another. This usually involves no business or monetary gain.
Premium Content
This is a text message that is sent from a business or to a business. For example, someone voting for a reality show, or being sent a ring tone.
Business Text Messaging
If a phone sending a text is owned by the company, there is legislation on the books that says the company is allowed to monitor the incoming and outgoing messages.
Script to Text
On some touch-screen phones, the user is able to write letters or groups of letters into a box and the phone will change the script into words to be texted. This is not a fully reliable technology, as people have different styles of writing and it would take a lot of programming to get everyone's particular style deciphered.
Talk to Text
This is a new way to text where you simply speak your text into your phone or Bluetooth and it will show up in your text message. This is a new technology, thus not a lot of people are using it yet.
Chat to Text
Chat to Text is a feature that not only allows you to chat on your computer and thus turn it into a text to the receiver, but additionally this new feature comes with a bonus. Users of Chat to Text actually earn residuals when other users sign up for the feature. Plus, each user is provided with an icon to place on their website. Businesses can use Chat to Text to offer a "live" feature on their website. The chat is immediately sent to their cellphone as a text.
Tags: Chat Text, text message, sent from, their website, This text
Selecting a television service provider can be a bit daunting. Every cable and satellite company claims to have the sharpest picture, the best overall service and the most channels for your money. Both share a number of similarities when it comes to the channels and features that are offered, but there are also differences between the two to consider when choosing a TV provider.
Price
The first question many people have is which one costs less. This will depend on the programming package you select. With both cable and satellite TV, the more channels subscribed to, the higher the bill. Satellite provider Dish Network has introductory packages starting at $24.99 a month while competitor DirecTV starts at $29.99, though these are only for the initial period. Comcast and Charter Cable both have introductory rates of $44.99 for basic cable; other cable companies may have similar rates depending on the location. Cable companies are also subject to local taxes that make for a higher bill, while satellite TV services are not. Before you decide based on which is the least expensive initially, find out what the rates will be after the introductory period.
Local Channels
Another question you have is whether your favorite channels are available. Cable and satellite will offer nearly all, if not all of the national cable networks, including the major ones but cable providers are a bit more likely to feature the most local channels in that area. In some locations satellite customers may still need an antenna to pick up some local channels or to get those channels in HD. And in some areas satellite companies may designate a different viewing market area than cable, choosing different local affiliates from nearby cities or towns over larger affiliates from a different city in the area.
Programming Packages
Satellite providers can generally offer a greater number of overall channels in HD than cable, due to cable's bandwidth limitations. And satellite customers have the option of getting a wider range of sports networks, particularly from other geographic areas. DirecTV even has one channel devoted to original programming and has optional sports packages for NFL, NBA and MLB games, among others.
Quality
You may also want to be assured of having quality video and audio, especially with HDTV, and of not having your service interrupted during your favorite shows. Both digital cable and satellite will deliver a sharp picture and sound, depending on the quality of the TV being viewed, though satellite may be slightly better because of the compression involved with cable signals. But satellite reception is dependent on the location of the satellite dish and can be disrupted by obstructions or inclement weather and storms.
Service
Cable TV is a two-way system, meaning signals and data can be sent back from the TV and cable receiver as well, making it easier to take advantage of pay-per-view and on-demand programming. One more thing to consider is that satellite companies require a commitment of a year or more, while cable companies are less likely to unless with the exception of special deals such as the TV service being bundled with telephone and/or high-speed Internet service.