Since the US Department of Defense established the worldwide Global Positioning System (GPS) network, it has been put to a very wide variety of uses by governments, corporations, organizations, and individuals alike.
It has been put to good use for many years in its original, and most obvious, purpose of coordinating military operations. In fact, if it weren't for GPS, many modern military operations and practices would simply not be possible. It is also frequently used in search-and-rescue missions as well as disaster relief efforts.
In addition to this, GPS technology has proven to be instrumental in numerous scientific research expeditions, especially in very remote regions such as mountain ranges and the north and south poles.
The other side of GPS functionality, which is sometimes forgotten, is the many uses it can be put to by individual consumers. Handheld GPS units and other GPS devices are available for sale through many ordinary retail channels, and can be very useful for a variety recreational purposes. For example, having a GPS device handy when camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, or boating can be an excellent way to ensure that you don't get lost, even if you somehow manage to wander off course.
Another common consumer use of GPS technology is for safety security purposes. Using a GPS tracking system can be an excellent way to combat crimes such as theft and kidnapping.
About the Author: Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of TeleClick.ca, a trusted source of telecommunications industry news.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 28 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2551
What are Plasma televisions?
Televisions previous to the Plasma TV explosion used the (CRT) cathode ray
tube to give users the ability to watch television. CRT televisions works by
shooting out a beam of negative charged particles called electrons into a large
glass tube. These negative electrons
For the past 75 years, the vast majority of televisions have been built around
the same technology, the cathode ray tube (CRT). In a CRT television, a gun
fires a beam of electrons (negatively-charged particles) inside a large glass
tube. The electrons illuminate phosphor atoms inside the tube (screen), this
allows the TV picture to be produced by illuminating different areas of the
phosphor coating, this is what gives you the CRT television.
Now welcome to the new face of television, Plasma TV. Plasma has taken the
home theater market by storm because of their amazing picture quality and very
thin design. The idea of plasma display panels began in
1964 at the University of Illinois. The first displays were very primitive
using only points of light created in the laboratory.
As time went on digital processing, and other technology, made vivid
plasma displays a reality.
Plasma televisions use a much different type of technology thatn CRT models,
they use something called pixels. Using a video signal the pixels on the flat
screen light up with a high-energy beam of electrons that are separated into
the 3 primary colors, red, green and blue. From the illuminated fluorescent
lights pixels you get the full color spectrum
that produces a full range of colors that give you the image on the screen.
Each pixel on the screen has three fluorescent lights in it, a green, red and
a blue fluorescent light. Each fluorescent light in the pixel can produce 16
million colors, giving you amazing colors and overall picture quality that
you can't finder in regular CRT televisions.
Another feature that you can't find in CRT TVs is the widescreen design found
on Plasma televisions. The (16:9) aspect ratio is the same dimensions used
in movie theaters. This feature gives Plasma flat screen high
definition television models a cinematic
feel, that is great for watching feature films, concerts, Monday Night Football
or anything else you can imagine.
And unlike conventional television models, there are no scan lines on plasma
televisions, so the picture is much sharper. The viewing angle is far superior
than CRT, there is 170 degree viewing angle so you can basically watch the
TV from any area in the room. As I mentioned before Plasma Tvs are very thin,
only 3.3 inches in width. This makes them perfect for hanging on your wall,
freeing up space in your home. Just like a picture frame, you can now hang
your television on your wall!
So who manufacturers these thin TV displays? You can choose from numerous
brand names which I'm sure you are familiar with such as, Sony, Sharp, Hitachi
and Samsung to name a few. Plasma isn't the only technology available if you
are a HDTV buff, you should also check out LCD televisions and rear projection
TVs.
And if you want to find a cheap
plasma TV, check out the discount deals available
through internet, particularly Amazon.com and Ebay.com. Those 2 online merchants
are trusted and can offer not only new, but used and refurbished models for
even bigger savings.
tube to give users the ability to watch television. CRT televisions works by
shooting out a beam of negative charged particles called electrons into a large
glass tube. These negative electrons
For the past 75 years, the vast majority of televisions have been built around
the same technology, the cathode ray tube (CRT). In a CRT television, a gun
fires a beam of electrons (negatively-charged particles) inside a large glass
tube. The electrons illuminate phosphor atoms inside the tube (screen), this
allows the TV picture to be produced by illuminating different areas of the
phosphor coating, this is what gives you the CRT television.
Now welcome to the new face of television, Plasma TV. Plasma has taken the
home theater market by storm because of their amazing picture quality and very
thin design. The idea of plasma display panels began in
1964 at the University of Illinois. The first displays were very primitive
using only points of light created in the laboratory.
As time went on digital processing, and other technology, made vivid
plasma displays a reality.
Plasma televisions use a much different type of technology thatn CRT models,
they use something called pixels. Using a video signal the pixels on the flat
screen light up with a high-energy beam of electrons that are separated into
the 3 primary colors, red, green and blue. From the illuminated fluorescent
lights pixels you get the full color spectrum
that produces a full range of colors that give you the image on the screen.
Each pixel on the screen has three fluorescent lights in it, a green, red and
a blue fluorescent light. Each fluorescent light in the pixel can produce 16
million colors, giving you amazing colors and overall picture quality that
you can't finder in regular CRT televisions.
Another feature that you can't find in CRT TVs is the widescreen design found
on Plasma televisions. The (16:9) aspect ratio is the same dimensions used
in movie theaters. This feature gives Plasma flat screen high
definition television models a cinematic
feel, that is great for watching feature films, concerts, Monday Night Football
or anything else you can imagine.
And unlike conventional television models, there are no scan lines on plasma
televisions, so the picture is much sharper. The viewing angle is far superior
than CRT, there is 170 degree viewing angle so you can basically watch the
TV from any area in the room. As I mentioned before Plasma Tvs are very thin,
only 3.3 inches in width. This makes them perfect for hanging on your wall,
freeing up space in your home. Just like a picture frame, you can now hang
your television on your wall!
So who manufacturers these thin TV displays? You can choose from numerous
brand names which I'm sure you are familiar with such as, Sony, Sharp, Hitachi
and Samsung to name a few. Plasma isn't the only technology available if you
are a HDTV buff, you should also check out LCD televisions and rear projection
TVs.
And if you want to find a cheap
plasma TV, check out the discount deals available
through internet, particularly Amazon.com and Ebay.com. Those 2 online merchants
are trusted and can offer not only new, but used and refurbished models for
even bigger savings.
Choosing the smart Apple iPod accessory
Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPod? Or have you bought one?
Almost everyone and anyone that I know seems to have bought an iPod or at least is thinking of getting an ipod for themselves or their loved ones. The iPod is just so alluring! However, do you know what you should do after buying the iPod?
Most people don't. Yet, market analysts estimate that the average iPod owner spend as much as 30% of the original iPod price on additional accessories! That's a whopping US$60-US$90 on iPod accessories that each iPod owner will spend!
Many people are simply spending their money on the wrong accessories! In fact, many are going for fancy accessories such as car transceiver kit, wireless remote kit, speaker kit even without realizing what are the first accessories they should get.
Get the Basic iPod Accessory before getting the Fancy Stuff!
Do you, as a iPod user, faces these problems on a daily basis too?
* iPod Screen scratches
* Click wheel scratches
* Mirrored back scratches
* Messy iPod earphone cables
* iPod overheating when being charged while in a silicone or leather case
Despite the technical and cosmetic superiority of the Apple iPod, there remain some teething issues. Weak batteries is one. Being easily scratched is another. These problems immediately lower the resale or trade-in value of the iPod, if any? This may not seem important but if you are trading in your older iPod for a new one, this does matter. It also sucks to see scratches and marks on the beautiful iPod. In fact, microscopic scratches takes place everytime you take the iPod in and out of pocket!
Get a good-quality iPod case before ANYTHING ELSE!
There are numerous iPod accessories out there. Many accessories are fanciful, some are good but most do not fulfil the basic need of the iPod. You need to protect the iPod from getting scratches and accidental marks before anything else.
Before the iPod can serve you well, it must be able to take care of itself. So, before you even look further into getting your first iPod accessory or even if you have gotten numerous other accessories, make sure you first equip your iPod with either a good quality case or sleeve.
The most common iPod cases in use are:
Handphone sleeves converted to iPod sleeves
This is the most common as handphone sleeves are cheap and easily available. However, the mirrored back of the 3G and 4G ipod are easily scratched by theses sleeves as they run against the iPod. It is not recommended unless you have a budget problem.
iPod screen and wheel sticky protectors
There are transparent iPod screen and wheel sticky protector that are cut of the right size and stucked directly onto the iPod screen and wheel. However, there are various models in the market and some of the cheaper ones tend to curl and peel off after some use. If you are on a budget, a good quality screen and wheel protector is the minimum you should have.
iPod silicone skin
This is the most common iPod case around. It looks like a good casing choice but it is in fact one of the worst, especially if you have bought a cheap one.
These cheap silicone cases are being mass-produced in China with doubtful materials and design elements. Many of the cheap silicone skins in the market tear easily and pick up lint and dirt easily. They are also difficult to wash and maintain. I will not advise a silicone case unless they are made by some of the better and branded products from USA or Japan. A good model is found at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com
iPod Leather case
The iPod leather case is one of the most popular case. However, do not get the Apple branded one if possible as it tears to scratched the mirror back and it does not have a covering flap. Get one of the leather cases from the many in the market. Check the stitching on the leather case before buying one as some of the mass-manufactured ones may have poor workmanship.
Water and shock resistant cases
There is an increasing demand for such cases as more and more people bring their iPod for hiking, cycling, trekking, fishing and beach trips. There are various good brands in the market. However, note that whatever the advertisement may say, at best, the case can only be water resistant and not water proof which is two different things all together. A water resistant case can only take splashes and short immersion in water and certainly not something you can bring for swimming or diving trips!
For recommeded iPod cases and more useful iPod advice, please visit tha author's website.
Katherine Xie is an avid iPod user. She owns 4 iPods starting from the 2G model. She gives iPod advice and recommends quality iPod accessories on her site at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com Please feel free to distribute this article as long as mention is made of her website.
Almost everyone and anyone that I know seems to have bought an iPod or at least is thinking of getting an ipod for themselves or their loved ones. The iPod is just so alluring! However, do you know what you should do after buying the iPod?
Most people don't. Yet, market analysts estimate that the average iPod owner spend as much as 30% of the original iPod price on additional accessories! That's a whopping US$60-US$90 on iPod accessories that each iPod owner will spend!
Many people are simply spending their money on the wrong accessories! In fact, many are going for fancy accessories such as car transceiver kit, wireless remote kit, speaker kit even without realizing what are the first accessories they should get.
Get the Basic iPod Accessory before getting the Fancy Stuff!
Do you, as a iPod user, faces these problems on a daily basis too?
* iPod Screen scratches
* Click wheel scratches
* Mirrored back scratches
* Messy iPod earphone cables
* iPod overheating when being charged while in a silicone or leather case
Despite the technical and cosmetic superiority of the Apple iPod, there remain some teething issues. Weak batteries is one. Being easily scratched is another. These problems immediately lower the resale or trade-in value of the iPod, if any? This may not seem important but if you are trading in your older iPod for a new one, this does matter. It also sucks to see scratches and marks on the beautiful iPod. In fact, microscopic scratches takes place everytime you take the iPod in and out of pocket!
Get a good-quality iPod case before ANYTHING ELSE!
There are numerous iPod accessories out there. Many accessories are fanciful, some are good but most do not fulfil the basic need of the iPod. You need to protect the iPod from getting scratches and accidental marks before anything else.
Before the iPod can serve you well, it must be able to take care of itself. So, before you even look further into getting your first iPod accessory or even if you have gotten numerous other accessories, make sure you first equip your iPod with either a good quality case or sleeve.
The most common iPod cases in use are:
Handphone sleeves converted to iPod sleeves
This is the most common as handphone sleeves are cheap and easily available. However, the mirrored back of the 3G and 4G ipod are easily scratched by theses sleeves as they run against the iPod. It is not recommended unless you have a budget problem.
iPod screen and wheel sticky protectors
There are transparent iPod screen and wheel sticky protector that are cut of the right size and stucked directly onto the iPod screen and wheel. However, there are various models in the market and some of the cheaper ones tend to curl and peel off after some use. If you are on a budget, a good quality screen and wheel protector is the minimum you should have.
iPod silicone skin
This is the most common iPod case around. It looks like a good casing choice but it is in fact one of the worst, especially if you have bought a cheap one.
These cheap silicone cases are being mass-produced in China with doubtful materials and design elements. Many of the cheap silicone skins in the market tear easily and pick up lint and dirt easily. They are also difficult to wash and maintain. I will not advise a silicone case unless they are made by some of the better and branded products from USA or Japan. A good model is found at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com
iPod Leather case
The iPod leather case is one of the most popular case. However, do not get the Apple branded one if possible as it tears to scratched the mirror back and it does not have a covering flap. Get one of the leather cases from the many in the market. Check the stitching on the leather case before buying one as some of the mass-manufactured ones may have poor workmanship.
Water and shock resistant cases
There is an increasing demand for such cases as more and more people bring their iPod for hiking, cycling, trekking, fishing and beach trips. There are various good brands in the market. However, note that whatever the advertisement may say, at best, the case can only be water resistant and not water proof which is two different things all together. A water resistant case can only take splashes and short immersion in water and certainly not something you can bring for swimming or diving trips!
For recommeded iPod cases and more useful iPod advice, please visit tha author's website.
Katherine Xie is an avid iPod user. She owns 4 iPods starting from the 2G model. She gives iPod advice and recommends quality iPod accessories on her site at: http://www.smart-ipod-ideas.com Please feel free to distribute this article as long as mention is made of her website.
CD player versus MP3 player: which is better?
The CD was introduced with great fanfare in 1982 and soon supplanted the audio cassette due to its high quality digital sound. You could bring your portable cd player anywhere to listen to high quality audio music. The next revolution started with the acceptance of mp3 music. MP3 stands for Moving Pictures Expert Group 1 Audio Layer 3. This mp3 technology allows for the compression of normal CD audio file in WAV format and reduces the size of the file by a factor of 10 to 1. That means you can stored thousands of songs in a small portable audio player while previously a CD player could only hold a CD at a time.
Having a audio compression file format allows music to be easily distributed . Instead of having to go to the CD shop to buy your CD , you can now download from the internet the songs which you want. An MP3 player also offers skip free music while a CD player doesn't. Also, flash based memory mp3 players have no moving parts which enable longer lasting battery life not to mention less occurrence of break down or failure due to moving parts. Mp3 players also allow the ability to create play list of songs while cd players generally have limited capability in this arena. Finally, now there's no need to buy an entire music album. You can buy just one song instead of the whole album. It makes more sense since you may only like one particular song.
Does it mean that CD technology is a goner? Not necessarily, firstly although mp3 allows for huge numbers of songs to be stored in a portable flash memory or hard disk player the sound quality is compromised. Of course we can't tell the difference because mp3 audio compression technology removes information pertaining to frequencies which we are unable to hear. Remember the audio cassette technology which preceded the cd technology ?Well, it is still around. It still has uses and purposes.
CD player have advantages in that CD players are cheaper than mp3 players. There is no need to buy storage media which is expensive. Songs in mp3 format have different sound volume levels while in a CD you get consistent sound volume. Why bother with the hassle of encoding, transferring and managing files which is troublesome, time consuming and more demanding when you can just simply pop in a new CD and get instant gratification. Also, if you travel to a less developed country , a CD player proves to be more useful as access to broadband is hard to find for downloading of your internet music. In addition, CDs can last a life time and are virtually indestructible compared to mp3 hard drive or flash memory players which have a limited life span and could spoil.
Lastly, you don't have to face headache of incompatibility issue as some players can play only specific file format.
Having a audio compression file format allows music to be easily distributed . Instead of having to go to the CD shop to buy your CD , you can now download from the internet the songs which you want. An MP3 player also offers skip free music while a CD player doesn't. Also, flash based memory mp3 players have no moving parts which enable longer lasting battery life not to mention less occurrence of break down or failure due to moving parts. Mp3 players also allow the ability to create play list of songs while cd players generally have limited capability in this arena. Finally, now there's no need to buy an entire music album. You can buy just one song instead of the whole album. It makes more sense since you may only like one particular song.
Does it mean that CD technology is a goner? Not necessarily, firstly although mp3 allows for huge numbers of songs to be stored in a portable flash memory or hard disk player the sound quality is compromised. Of course we can't tell the difference because mp3 audio compression technology removes information pertaining to frequencies which we are unable to hear. Remember the audio cassette technology which preceded the cd technology ?Well, it is still around. It still has uses and purposes.
CD player have advantages in that CD players are cheaper than mp3 players. There is no need to buy storage media which is expensive. Songs in mp3 format have different sound volume levels while in a CD you get consistent sound volume. Why bother with the hassle of encoding, transferring and managing files which is troublesome, time consuming and more demanding when you can just simply pop in a new CD and get instant gratification. Also, if you travel to a less developed country , a CD player proves to be more useful as access to broadband is hard to find for downloading of your internet music. In addition, CDs can last a life time and are virtually indestructible compared to mp3 hard drive or flash memory players which have a limited life span and could spoil.
Lastly, you don't have to face headache of incompatibility issue as some players can play only specific file format.
LG Cell Phones - Made To Last
LG has been producing top of the line products for quite a while now and their cell phones are no exception. LG cell phones are high on style and features. You owe it to yourself to check out LG cell phones.
Color displays are nice but remember that they drain your phone's battery rather quickly. The lightweight LG VX4400 cell phone comes with an external LCD with a choice of 7 backlight colors to make your phone more personal. The compact and lightweight clamshell LG VX3160 cell phone is another offering from LG that will get the job done with style.
A Good Deal to Get the Ring Tones Ringing
Whatever phone you choose, either an LG phone or some other brand, a good cell phone plan is essential. You can get online and type "cell phone plan comparisons" into your search engine and you will get several links to comparison charts of different cell phone carriers. The comparison will show you the costs of phones and different levels of service from each carrier. You can also search by phones - for instance type in "LG cell phone" and you will find phones from different vendors or cell carriers that provide the phone you want. Verizon, Sprint and Cingular provide LG phones to their customers. Verizon offers an LG phone free with the purchase of a specific cellular plan. A variety of ring tones to choose from, seems to be an option desired by many cellular consumers.
There are so many companies today vying for your cell phone business that most offer a variety of special deals on phones, plans and accessories such as hand free car kits (which are required by law in some states, N.Y. being one). You can also get long life batteries, desktop battery chargers, colorful face plates, crystal keypads, cradle style holders, USB data cable kits, car chargers and antenna boosters. Depending on the plan you choose, some of these accessories are free or discounted when you purchase particular cell phone calling plans.
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Cell Phone Accessories His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
Color displays are nice but remember that they drain your phone's battery rather quickly. The lightweight LG VX4400 cell phone comes with an external LCD with a choice of 7 backlight colors to make your phone more personal. The compact and lightweight clamshell LG VX3160 cell phone is another offering from LG that will get the job done with style.
A Good Deal to Get the Ring Tones Ringing
Whatever phone you choose, either an LG phone or some other brand, a good cell phone plan is essential. You can get online and type "cell phone plan comparisons" into your search engine and you will get several links to comparison charts of different cell phone carriers. The comparison will show you the costs of phones and different levels of service from each carrier. You can also search by phones - for instance type in "LG cell phone" and you will find phones from different vendors or cell carriers that provide the phone you want. Verizon, Sprint and Cingular provide LG phones to their customers. Verizon offers an LG phone free with the purchase of a specific cellular plan. A variety of ring tones to choose from, seems to be an option desired by many cellular consumers.
There are so many companies today vying for your cell phone business that most offer a variety of special deals on phones, plans and accessories such as hand free car kits (which are required by law in some states, N.Y. being one). You can also get long life batteries, desktop battery chargers, colorful face plates, crystal keypads, cradle style holders, USB data cable kits, car chargers and antenna boosters. Depending on the plan you choose, some of these accessories are free or discounted when you purchase particular cell phone calling plans.
About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Cell Phone Accessories His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.
The Pros and Cons of Ceiling Speakers
Office buildings, airports and restaurants were the first homes of ceiling speakers. They can be easily recognized by the dense grilles that pour decibels right into your head.
But why would someone want ceiling or in wall speakers, instead of a pair of normal, efficient and highly affordable speaker cabinets. There could be a few reasons:
* Saving some space in the room;
* Maintaining the aesthetics of the room;
* Hiding the wires;
* Getting rid of the holes in the walls.
In the past, there weren't many fans of wall or ceiling-mounted speakers. While there are still people that think plenum-mount technology is just a whim, on the other side it is this technology in particular that gains more and more advocates. This is probably due to a change in life styles. People want the environment adapted to their needs, not the other way around.
There's one sure thing with in-wall and ceiling speakers: they are not for those who are into high-end audio. You could hardly find an audiophile willing to trade the deep bass that he or she loves so much for a bit of extra shelf space.
But even if not an audiophile, you'll need to pay attention to the following parameters:
* Frequency response - gives you the range of the audible spectrum that the speakers can reproduce; the human ear can hear 20 Hz to 20 MHz, thus the more a speaker approaches this interval, the better.
* Power handling - specifies the ranges of power the speakers can safely receive from the amplifier (e.g. 20-100 watts);
* Efficiency - also called sensitivity, this rating indicates how effectively the speaker uses the power sent to it by the amplifier.
A key aspect in having in-wall or in-ceiling speakers is how you capture the back wave. You can't always know what happens behind that wall, how big the hole really is, or if it's sealed. The answer is to use sealed speakers, no matter their location. Otherwise you'll have a lot of rear acoustic energy wasted into the back-wall and a distorted, uneven sound.
Mounting the speakers
Usually it is a lot easier to mount ceiling speakers than in-wall speakers, at least where there is a fake ceiling. Mounting in-wall speakers is more of an architectural problem. That's probably why these are also called "architectural speakers". People don't like to have small rooms, thin walls, and wires bursting from one room to another.
The easiest alternative is to project the audio system before even having the walls built up. The advantage is freedom to plan things (speakers among others) exactly how you want them. Figuring out the wires is the part you should do before building the walls. Some planning is needed ahead: talking to an electrician, finding out how much wire you need, seeing what kind of wire you can actually use (UL-rated wire is approved for use in walls in all 50 states). Also, seeing the layout of your lighting system, and how it would interfere with that of the speakers.
Inserting the speakers can be done on the run, as the wall is being raised. Some people successfully use the drywall as a speaker's enclosure. The key is to have the speakers in the right place from the start. This would save you time, money and nerves.
Installing the speakers in an existing wall or ceiling is a bit more difficult and pricey. But it can be done. At first, find out what's behind the walls you want the speakers mounted in and see if you can drill. You need to make some holes into the desired spots, and build the speaker-enclosures.
Ceiling speakers have a drawback: the location. we're not used to having the sound come down at us from the ceiling, but from our side. The sensation of the sound-waves reaching the head and then the ears, is a bit strange. Some ceiling speakers are flexible within a given degree, so they can be pointed towards the listener. They are round-shaped in order to match the bulbs and lamps that also found their site on the ceiling.
Niles, SpeakerCraft, and others use directional tweeters and woofers that can be separately adjusted to compensate for imaging problems arising from the positioning drawbacks.
Most in wall speakers have paintable grilles, so you can perfectly black them out.
Above all, my biggest dilemma is what to do if my trendy, camouflage speaker, be it in-wall or in-ceiling, breaks down? Most users say I don't need to worry as they can be taken out, repaired or even replaced. There's also absolutely no need to worry if I want to add some speakers to my system, they say. One solution would be to think ahead and stuff the wall with more wire for later add-ons. Still, I find this unnecessary hassle. But for the sake of interior design logic, it may be worth it.
Learn how wireless speakers and headphones work, read product reviews and find out shopping tips and tricks at http://www.Wireless-Speakers.org.
But why would someone want ceiling or in wall speakers, instead of a pair of normal, efficient and highly affordable speaker cabinets. There could be a few reasons:
* Saving some space in the room;
* Maintaining the aesthetics of the room;
* Hiding the wires;
* Getting rid of the holes in the walls.
In the past, there weren't many fans of wall or ceiling-mounted speakers. While there are still people that think plenum-mount technology is just a whim, on the other side it is this technology in particular that gains more and more advocates. This is probably due to a change in life styles. People want the environment adapted to their needs, not the other way around.
There's one sure thing with in-wall and ceiling speakers: they are not for those who are into high-end audio. You could hardly find an audiophile willing to trade the deep bass that he or she loves so much for a bit of extra shelf space.
But even if not an audiophile, you'll need to pay attention to the following parameters:
* Frequency response - gives you the range of the audible spectrum that the speakers can reproduce; the human ear can hear 20 Hz to 20 MHz, thus the more a speaker approaches this interval, the better.
* Power handling - specifies the ranges of power the speakers can safely receive from the amplifier (e.g. 20-100 watts);
* Efficiency - also called sensitivity, this rating indicates how effectively the speaker uses the power sent to it by the amplifier.
A key aspect in having in-wall or in-ceiling speakers is how you capture the back wave. You can't always know what happens behind that wall, how big the hole really is, or if it's sealed. The answer is to use sealed speakers, no matter their location. Otherwise you'll have a lot of rear acoustic energy wasted into the back-wall and a distorted, uneven sound.
Mounting the speakers
Usually it is a lot easier to mount ceiling speakers than in-wall speakers, at least where there is a fake ceiling. Mounting in-wall speakers is more of an architectural problem. That's probably why these are also called "architectural speakers". People don't like to have small rooms, thin walls, and wires bursting from one room to another.
The easiest alternative is to project the audio system before even having the walls built up. The advantage is freedom to plan things (speakers among others) exactly how you want them. Figuring out the wires is the part you should do before building the walls. Some planning is needed ahead: talking to an electrician, finding out how much wire you need, seeing what kind of wire you can actually use (UL-rated wire is approved for use in walls in all 50 states). Also, seeing the layout of your lighting system, and how it would interfere with that of the speakers.
Inserting the speakers can be done on the run, as the wall is being raised. Some people successfully use the drywall as a speaker's enclosure. The key is to have the speakers in the right place from the start. This would save you time, money and nerves.
Installing the speakers in an existing wall or ceiling is a bit more difficult and pricey. But it can be done. At first, find out what's behind the walls you want the speakers mounted in and see if you can drill. You need to make some holes into the desired spots, and build the speaker-enclosures.
Ceiling speakers have a drawback: the location. we're not used to having the sound come down at us from the ceiling, but from our side. The sensation of the sound-waves reaching the head and then the ears, is a bit strange. Some ceiling speakers are flexible within a given degree, so they can be pointed towards the listener. They are round-shaped in order to match the bulbs and lamps that also found their site on the ceiling.
Niles, SpeakerCraft, and others use directional tweeters and woofers that can be separately adjusted to compensate for imaging problems arising from the positioning drawbacks.
Most in wall speakers have paintable grilles, so you can perfectly black them out.
Above all, my biggest dilemma is what to do if my trendy, camouflage speaker, be it in-wall or in-ceiling, breaks down? Most users say I don't need to worry as they can be taken out, repaired or even replaced. There's also absolutely no need to worry if I want to add some speakers to my system, they say. One solution would be to think ahead and stuff the wall with more wire for later add-ons. Still, I find this unnecessary hassle. But for the sake of interior design logic, it may be worth it.
Learn how wireless speakers and headphones work, read product reviews and find out shopping tips and tricks at http://www.Wireless-Speakers.org.
How To Fax Documents Using Windows XP
Copyright 2006 Otis Cooper
It would be awesome if we all had our own fax machine.We could fax our resume to that new employer to be reviewed right away.Or we may want to receive that fax from our landlord so we can move into that apartment tomorrow.
Having a fax machine in your home could save you time in completing such tasks as getting a new job.Now what if you can fax documents without having to cough up big bucks to purchase a fax machine.
If you have a computer with Windows XP, internet access, and a printer, you already have a fax machine.One of the optional components in your WinXP software package is the Fax Services Component.This package allow you to send and receive faxes through your computer using regular dial-up internet access.
To use this Fax Service you will need 3.7megabytes of free hard drive space,a dial-up modem and your WinXP Install CD. Since the transmission is sent through your phone line,a cable modem will not work.
The first thing you must do to use the Fax Service is to install it on your PC.This service is not installed when Windows XP was first installed.Perform the following steps to install this software.
Insert your installation CD in your CD or DVD drive and the welcome to Microsoft Windows XP will open.If it doesn't open, open My Computer and double-click the CD or DVD drive.Click install Optional Windows Components.
A menu will open that lists all optional Windows XP components.Now click the box in front of Fax Services and then click next.Watch the installation status bar and once its installed click the finish button and exit.You will need to restart your PC to finish the process.
You can now configure the Fax Console by adding your contact information,the modem you will use, and where you want the system to save a copy of each fax.
To open the application,click on Start,choose All Programs, Accessories,Communications,Fax, the Fax Console, and click next once it opens.You can now type in the Sender information.
The next step in setting up the Console is to enter your TSD or Transmitting Subscriber Identification data.This allow the recipient's computer to identify your computer as the sender of the Fax.The TSD contains your Fax number or your fax number and name.
You're getting closer to finishing the Console.The CSID is next to be added.Your CSID is your Called Subscriber Identification and it can be the same data that's in the TSD.When you receive a Fax,your CSID will appear on the sender's confirmation page.
Now you must choose the routing options for the Faxes you receive.You may want the Faxes saved and printed, or just save.You now choose the printer you want the Fax to be printed on and this will be your default printer.
Click next to reach the last Console Configuration step. Here you verify the data you entered.A Configuration summary will appear for you to verify.Once you are satisfied that all information is correct,click finish.
After setting up the Fax Console and completed the Configuration setup,you're computer is now ready to send and receive Faxes just as any Fax Machine would.The Console pops open automatically and looks similar to the Outlook Express Console.
Now select the device to sending and receiving Faxes.The modem will appear in the drop-down menu.All you need to do is highlight it and check both send and receive.Here is how you receive Faxes using Windows XP.
There are two options to receiving a Fax,Manual and auto answer.Checking the auto mode allows the computer to answer the phone when a Fax is received.To receive a Fax automatically,leave the modem and the computer on and the PC will save received Faxes in the inbox of the Fax Console.
If you have one phone line to use for your fax and voice calls,its good to receive your Faxes manually.You will need to be at your computer to receive a fax.When the phone rings,you will not know if its a voice or fax call until you answer it.
A way around this is to call the sender of the fax and ask them to call ahead to inform you the fax is on its way.Then you can hang up, connect your modem to the phone line and wait.When the call comes through,a dialog box appears and will allow you to receive the Fax.
To send a fax you can use the print option to Fax documents from any Windows application.Open the document from any Windows program such as MSWord ,select the printer, and click okay.
The Fax Wizard will now take you by the hand and help you create a cover page and sending your Fax.After this is done, enter your recipient's data.When entering their Fax number,type it in a format such as +1 (123) 456-7890.
The Fax Console is linked to your Outlook Express Address Book where recipients names can be stored there.Your recipient's name will appear in the Recipient Information Window.
You can now format the cover page by choosing ready made templates or create your own.And now you can schedule when your Fax can be sent.To send it now,just click Now.Or you set a time in advance but be sure to leave the modem and computer on when the time comes.
Click next where you can preview the cover page and Fax preview.If all is well,click finish and the Fax Monitor will appear and show you the status of your Fax.You will see a saved copy of your Fax if you did not send it now.
By following these steps, you can send a Fax from any Windows application.Such application include Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Excel.You can use a scanner with the Fax Service to made it more versatile.Go over to their web site at www.support.microsoft.com to learn how to use a scanner with the Fax Service.
If you're considering using the Fax Service to send faxes, its a great time while rewading this article to grab your WinXP CD,install the software and get going.There will be a lot more help in the software and you'll see just how easy it is to fax with Windows XP.
It would be awesome if we all had our own fax machine.We could fax our resume to that new employer to be reviewed right away.Or we may want to receive that fax from our landlord so we can move into that apartment tomorrow.
Having a fax machine in your home could save you time in completing such tasks as getting a new job.Now what if you can fax documents without having to cough up big bucks to purchase a fax machine.
If you have a computer with Windows XP, internet access, and a printer, you already have a fax machine.One of the optional components in your WinXP software package is the Fax Services Component.This package allow you to send and receive faxes through your computer using regular dial-up internet access.
To use this Fax Service you will need 3.7megabytes of free hard drive space,a dial-up modem and your WinXP Install CD. Since the transmission is sent through your phone line,a cable modem will not work.
The first thing you must do to use the Fax Service is to install it on your PC.This service is not installed when Windows XP was first installed.Perform the following steps to install this software.
Insert your installation CD in your CD or DVD drive and the welcome to Microsoft Windows XP will open.If it doesn't open, open My Computer and double-click the CD or DVD drive.Click install Optional Windows Components.
A menu will open that lists all optional Windows XP components.Now click the box in front of Fax Services and then click next.Watch the installation status bar and once its installed click the finish button and exit.You will need to restart your PC to finish the process.
You can now configure the Fax Console by adding your contact information,the modem you will use, and where you want the system to save a copy of each fax.
To open the application,click on Start,choose All Programs, Accessories,Communications,Fax, the Fax Console, and click next once it opens.You can now type in the Sender information.
The next step in setting up the Console is to enter your TSD or Transmitting Subscriber Identification data.This allow the recipient's computer to identify your computer as the sender of the Fax.The TSD contains your Fax number or your fax number and name.
You're getting closer to finishing the Console.The CSID is next to be added.Your CSID is your Called Subscriber Identification and it can be the same data that's in the TSD.When you receive a Fax,your CSID will appear on the sender's confirmation page.
Now you must choose the routing options for the Faxes you receive.You may want the Faxes saved and printed, or just save.You now choose the printer you want the Fax to be printed on and this will be your default printer.
Click next to reach the last Console Configuration step. Here you verify the data you entered.A Configuration summary will appear for you to verify.Once you are satisfied that all information is correct,click finish.
After setting up the Fax Console and completed the Configuration setup,you're computer is now ready to send and receive Faxes just as any Fax Machine would.The Console pops open automatically and looks similar to the Outlook Express Console.
Now select the device to sending and receiving Faxes.The modem will appear in the drop-down menu.All you need to do is highlight it and check both send and receive.Here is how you receive Faxes using Windows XP.
There are two options to receiving a Fax,Manual and auto answer.Checking the auto mode allows the computer to answer the phone when a Fax is received.To receive a Fax automatically,leave the modem and the computer on and the PC will save received Faxes in the inbox of the Fax Console.
If you have one phone line to use for your fax and voice calls,its good to receive your Faxes manually.You will need to be at your computer to receive a fax.When the phone rings,you will not know if its a voice or fax call until you answer it.
A way around this is to call the sender of the fax and ask them to call ahead to inform you the fax is on its way.Then you can hang up, connect your modem to the phone line and wait.When the call comes through,a dialog box appears and will allow you to receive the Fax.
To send a fax you can use the print option to Fax documents from any Windows application.Open the document from any Windows program such as MSWord ,select the printer, and click okay.
The Fax Wizard will now take you by the hand and help you create a cover page and sending your Fax.After this is done, enter your recipient's data.When entering their Fax number,type it in a format such as +1 (123) 456-7890.
The Fax Console is linked to your Outlook Express Address Book where recipients names can be stored there.Your recipient's name will appear in the Recipient Information Window.
You can now format the cover page by choosing ready made templates or create your own.And now you can schedule when your Fax can be sent.To send it now,just click Now.Or you set a time in advance but be sure to leave the modem and computer on when the time comes.
Click next where you can preview the cover page and Fax preview.If all is well,click finish and the Fax Monitor will appear and show you the status of your Fax.You will see a saved copy of your Fax if you did not send it now.
By following these steps, you can send a Fax from any Windows application.Such application include Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Excel.You can use a scanner with the Fax Service to made it more versatile.Go over to their web site at www.support.microsoft.com to learn how to use a scanner with the Fax Service.
If you're considering using the Fax Service to send faxes, its a great time while rewading this article to grab your WinXP CD,install the software and get going.There will be a lot more help in the software and you'll see just how easy it is to fax with Windows XP.
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