Archive for November, 2008
November 30, 2008
By Art Gib
Cellular phones were originally intended to make business and pleasure communication portable, but over time they have become convenient venues for music downloading, internet access, television viewing, and much more.
During the 2nd generation of mobile phones, text messaging became available, a development which ushered in a whole new way of communicating. 2G also began using embedded software which allowed the public to consume media on their mobile phones. A Finnish company began this revolution by introducing a downloadable ring tone in exchange for extra payment. From there, the introduction of media content displayed and viewed on mobile phones exploded into an international phenomenon.
Embedded software allows machines which are not considered computers to act as such, interacting with the outside world and enabling phones to do jobs that they were not originally intended to do. Greater computer capability and power, higher resolution graphics and memory available in today’’s phones have accelerated the development of wireless services to feed the public’’s appetite for the newest, the fastest, and the best.
How does this work? Real time media content is received from providers, usually by way of a C-band satellite. Content that is not in real time comes via an IP link, after which it is reformatted and redistributed. The content is then distributed through fiber optics or satellite systems. As it radiates out through the community, only those phones that have subscribed to the service may receive the content. Depending on the nature of the media content, it may be received in real time or stored for later use.
The technologies involved in bringing media content to you are ever evolving and improving to meet your needs. Bringing media to your phone is more accessible, more cost efficient, and even more economical than ever before. Steps have been taken to help media content consume less power in phones, allowing consumers to enjoy games, music and other entertainment without rapidly depleting their battery stores. All of these improvements enable you to have greater access to even better services.
Barriers to technologies are falling every day. Media and other informational sources are quickly becoming a veritable supermarket of options from which customers can choose. Entertainment is accessible in the time and place selected by each individual subscriber. Live streaming of video and radio and collaborative mobile gaming are the waves of the future. The days of brick-like phones are long gone, and consumers can excitedly anticipate subscribing to truly exciting and forward thinking media services.
About The Author
For fun stuff to upload to a cell phone, visit Zip Clip (http://www.zipclip.com) and get in touch with the world of media at your fingertips. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
November 30, 2008
By Peter Johnson
You may think it’’s a joke when someone says their car runs on water, but it’’s nothing to sneeze at. There is indeed technology available today that you can use to turn your car into a gas/water hybrid. This technology saves you money and saves the environment at the same time.
How Is It Possible?
Well, most people whose car runs on water are no doubt using a hydrogen conversion kit, rather than the more well-known hydrogen cell technology. Though they may sound similar, the two are actually very different. Hydrogen cell technology is far more expensive and involves wholesale replacement of the internal combustion engine. Hydrogen conversion, on the other hand, involves the use of a kit that you attach to your current engine that allows your engine to run on both gasoline and water. Hydrogen cell technology, in addition to being incredibly expensive, is not yet ready for large-scale production and use. Hydrogen conversion kits, however, are ready to go right now.
How Does It Work?
Without boring you with minute details, hydrogen conversion devices use energy from your car’’s battery to turn the water within them into a substance called Brown’’s Gas. Brown’’s Gas, also known as HHO, Hydroxy, or Water-Fuel, is a compound which produces a high amount of energy. This fuel burns clean, has only water as a byproduct, and people whose car runs on water claim that it doubled their gas mileage.
Where To Begin?
So where do you get started? Well, the first thing you have to do is find out how to do the conversion. Conversion kits aren”t available in stores, so you”ll have to find some instructions online. Though this may sound daunting, I will show you a legitimate site that will provide you with all the information you are going to need to get the system up and running.
Assembly Instructions
Once you have this information in hand, it’’s time for a visit to the hardware store. The hardware store will have all the items you need: an automotive fuse, some electrical wiring, baking soda, a quart-sized glass jar, a vacuum hose, and a few other parts. These parts will cost you about $20 - $30 in total. Take these parts home and follow the directions on how to assemble them. Once that is done, fill the device up with water. Next, attach one end of the device to your car’’s battery and one end to the intake manifold. The device will then use energy from your battery to turn the water inside it into Brown’’s Gas, which it will use, in addition to gasoline, to fuel your car. It functions somewhat similarly to a fuel additive that you can buy at an auto parts store - it doesn”t replace gasoline, it supplements it.
Conclusion
If you want to be the guy that can say “My car runs on water!” and be the envy of all your friends, all you need to do is assemble a conversion kit, attach it, and start saving cash today.
About The Author
Want to be the envy of your friends when you tell them your car runs on water? Want to save thousands of dollars a year on gasoline? Discover the only legitimate blueprint to make it happen today!
Please visit:
http://www.water4gasreview.com
November 28, 2008
By Wayne Cutforth
Many people who use the Internet are taking steps to ensure their protection online. There are many types of threats present on the Internet which needs addressing. You should take the different precautions necessary to combat each threat. One safety measure that people take these days is to use a proxy server. Proxy servers are available all over the Internet and they have been right from its birth back in the mid 1990s.
A proxy allows you to remain anonymous online so that websites that you visit cannot see any of your details like your IP address, MAC address, browser type, geographical location etc. Usually when you want to visit a website, a request will be passed via your ISP across a network of computers so that you can receive the data. If you use a proxy, however, things change. The request goes via your ISP and then via the proxy. This effectively keeps you invisible from the sites you are visiting as the proxy website is acting as a middle man. The websites that you visit can no longer see your details. They can only see the details of the proxy. This is a fantastic advantage for privacy.
It is very easy to find a proxy website. Finding a reliable one, that you can trust however, is a different matter. If you use some common sense and do some research you will be able to find a decent one quite quickly. You should check websites forums, newsgroups, yahoo answers etc and find out what other people say about proxies and what they would recommend. This should help you determine if a proxy is reliable or not. Usually, if the proxy has been around for a long time then this adds to its credibility as ones with malicious intent will be up and then gone within days.
There are other precautions you should take while online. Always make sure that your firewall is set to enabled and that you have a good antivirus package installed. Please remember to get regular updates on the antivirus package because there are new threats and viruses that evolve all the time. Ideally, the updates should be completely automatic too. This will save you lots of time.
If you want added protection then you should consider investing in a product that offers encryption. This will keep all data transmitted between you and its server encrypted and no one will be able to make sense of what is being sent and received. Even your ISP, who keeps logs of your Internet activities, will not be able to make sense of it. Please be aware that there is no reason why your ISP or someone could not decrypt it. This is possible so make sure that the product you are using or intent to use is reliable, trustworthy and that it does its job properly. Using all of these things in conjunction with one another should give you bullet proof protection and ensue you maximum privacy against snoops, viruses and all of the other threats that exist on the Internet today.
About The Author
The author lives in the UK and has his own portfolio You can go and take a look at them by visiting http://www.webbasedproxy.org for some more information. I hope you find the site useful.
November 26, 2008
By Anna Stenning
To me a cable is something that connects into a devise on one end and then into another at the other end. But to an expert or someone of adequate knowledge on technological equipment this much than a connector or communicating devise. Take a look around and have a look in computer hardware shops, you will notice that are more than a dozen types of cables all doing different things to keep our devices working in the way it should.
One of the more important and useful technological devises are network cables, all of which have been used for connecting computers or communicative devises together. For those of you who are not familiar with a network cable, these are quite simply a long cable and can come in various strengths for effective data transference. Sharing a network is important for many organisations and homes, therefore these cables need to be powerful and capable of working with high amounts of data transfer.
Other cables on the market which some you may or may not have heard of are, patch cables, phone cables, Ethernet cables or fibre optic cables. Picking the right cable is a difficult especially if one is not familiar how each of these works. Take network cables for example, a layperson would not know that there are a variety of network cables out there specifically tailored to PCs that do a number of things. How do you select the right one for you?
First of all one must become familiar with the term cable management - this is a vital element in buying cables that last for a long time. Cable management is simply the organisation and management of your cables. This is more than just keeping the cables tidy, but is an organised method of keeping the cables in perfect order that prevents them from being damaged from being pulled too hard or drooping too low from their own weight. These also include knowing how to install your cables properly, so as to prevent any damage and connection failures.
Cable management is a particularly important issue for IT companies and businesses, because this is what keeps these enterprises running up to speed as they should. Hospitals and health centres in particular need to adhere to affective cable management as this could put staff and patients at risk.
The next thing to learn about cables is the differences between each cable, for instance finding out what a fibre optic cable is and what they are used for. These play an important part in keeping communication machines working well and maintaining a strong connectivity at all times.
About The Author
Anna Stenning is knowledgeable on the subject of network cables and all things electrical having researched about this topic. For more information visit http://www.comms-express.com/
November 26, 2008
By Andy Lim
Hybrid cars would be the automobile of the future. Whether the price of the car is rising or not, hybrid cars not only save fuel costs but is also friendly to the environment by emitting less poisonous gas. Owning hybrid cars benefit everybody whether you are a car owner or not.
You can also take advantage of tax exemptions that are offered by the US government if you are the owner of hybrid cars. These are incentives from the government who want to reduce the fuel expenditure and improve the environment. Some places offer free parking if you drive these fuel efficient vehicles.
As a consumer, you would not want to use up all the gas reserves which are limited now. So, you should think of ways that you can save on fuel. Thus, hybrid cars seem to be the solution for conserving gas and extend the supply of the world gas. Every gas that can be saved would be an added benefit to the world energy. Until scientists have found a better alternative for fuel, this is probably the best way you can do to conserve the gas.
Today, you can see many marketing campaigns that organized by auto makers. They emphasize on fuel economy in these campaigns. So, if you plan to buy hybrid cars which should you opt for?
Obviously, one of the name that crops up very often is Honda. This Japanese car manufacturer has produced different models of hybrid cars that are catered for family. They ranked among top in fuel economy vehicles manufacturing. Honda is recognized as the world class manufacturer for fuel saving engines. Now they are incorporating this technology into their range of hybrid cars.
One of the models that has this improved fuel efficient engine is Honda Civic Hybrid. The Civic is already a famous model developed by Honda but this newer version comes with the hybrid engineering. Civic is already acknowledged for its fuel efficiency. The addition of the hybrid engine will give you more mileage.
The Honda Civic Hybrid is rated as an advanced technology Partial Zero-Emission Vehicle. This means that this model is a green vehicle or environmentally friendly car. This is what you should consider in preserving the environment.
Civic Hybrid offers a warranty of eight year/80,000 miles when you own this car. Furthermore, it has specially designed integrated battery pack that can add more distance in your travel.
Another similar hybrid car by Honda is Accord Hybrid. This 4-door luxury sedan is categorized under high end luxury market. The advantage is that you enjoy more fuel saving. If you want performance, this model is equipped with a 253 brake horse power V6 engine. For more fuel economy, they have installed a progressive electric motor and a battery.
Honda has indeed proved its capability in producing superior hybrid automobiles. So if you want fuel economy vehicles, then make sure you check Honda hybrid cars. Besides helping you to reduce your gas expenditure, it is friendly to the environment.
About The Author
As you can see hybrid cars can increase your mileage. You can save more gas by using a GPS such as Garmin Nuvi 760 as it can plot the shortest route to your destination. Read about Garmin Nuvi 760 at http://www.merchantbuster.com/gps/garmin-nuvi-760
November 25, 2008
By Amy Nutt
Dedicated hosting is different from shared hosting in that it resides on a server by itself. Shared hosting means that several websites are sharing the same server, but when there is a problem with that single server, all of the websites residing on that server will fall victim to that problem. That is why more and more people are turning to dedicated hosting.
A business can purchase their own dedicated server or they can lease it. There are other options available for those who choose a dedicated server and that is to have their hosting managed. That is why dedicated hosting is frequently referred to as managed hosting. Nevertheless, dedicated hosting is more flexible than shared hosting.
Return on investment
In many ways, dedicated hosting can result in a larger return on investment. This is due to the fact that there is very little overhead involved. If a company were to have their dedicated hosting in-house, they may be facing some pretty steep costs. However, employing the hosting company to take care of all of the administrative responsibilities can prove to be quite profitable.
For those who may not have the IT staff or be able to afford a staff to take care of the server, having the hosting company take care of technical issues and routine maintenance is going to be something you might find quite handy. Basically, that allows you to concentrate on those things that are important within your business. Not that your hosting isn”t important, because it is.
It’’s just that your hosting won”t do you any good if you don”t do the marketing activities that are needed to draw people to your business. It also won”t do you any good if you get a reputation for not being able to handle consumer needs because you”re too busy concentrating on your hosting.
A must for your business
So if you”re not too sure about what to do as far as your Internet presence goes, dedicated hosting is a good place to start. You can get all of the assistance that you need to ensure that everything goes smoothly.
This means that you don”t have to have technical expertise and you don”t have to have knowledge of a lot of the technical turns. Your hosting company will explain things to you in ways that you can understand so that you know what it is you”re getting. They will also not do anything drastic unless they let you know what it is they are doing, so you don”t have to worry about some sort of unauthorized action being carried out.
If you”re not on the Internet yet because you are not sure what it is you need to do, this is a great place to start. Once you figure out your hosting options, you can then work on getting a website built for your business.
Many businesses find that they profit more on the Internet because they can reach a global audience. Reaching a global audience means global sales, if it is possible for your business. You”ll notice a considerable difference in the amount of revenue that you bring in. What’’s great is that dedicated hosting does that for you.
So don”t worry if you”re a beginner or you know nothing about the world of Internet because you”ll definitely catch on. You”ll be able to learn as you go as someone else does the work. All you have to do is find a reliable company.
Look at Internet reviews, talk to other businesses, and check out what businesses similar to you are using. Compare price plans and options. By doing this, you”ll find the best dedicated hosting plan for you.
About The Author
Premiere provider of managed IT services with data centre locations across Canada, provides managed hosting and managed services solutions for enterprises that require the highest levels of security and availability.
http://www.fusepoint.com
November 25, 2008
By Theodore Cartman
n these stress-filled times, people are looking for more than one way to just kick it and relax. Depending on each person’’s preferences, there are a number of ways to do this. Some prefer to just watch TV or go for a movie. Others prefer to sleep or just read a book. Others play a sport or take walk with the dog. It all depends on one’’s personal preference.
Basically, there are two types of people when it comes to extra curriculum; those that love the outdoors and those that prefer relaxation techniques indoors. Almost all of us understand that being outdoors, whether jogging, walking, barbecuing outside at the pool or at the park, music makes the whole experience all the more better.
For many, the only way they can do this is through a portable discman or an IPod. Others carry a portable MP3 device or a radio equipped with batteries for power. One of the great impediments of having a musical device on the outdoors with you is the wires that connect the speakers with the receiver or tuner.
But the good news is that technology has changed things since and now we have the privilege of wireless outdoors speakers. It is not easy and even fun to carry an IPods to the pool or a picnic or an outdoors games site and still experience the convenience and quality with acoustic mini speakers.
The technology behind wireless speakers is the same as the one that is behind that of radios. The receiver sends radio signals into the atmosphere and a device located inside the speakers decodes the sound and converts it back to the sound that we hear and appreciate.
This is all accomplished with the help of a digital amplifier that is located inside the wireless. When the music is playing, the signal being emitted is essentially analog but the decoder translates the signal into digital format. This also means quality sound without having to mess with wires.
The sound range can be said to be equivalent to the one that is experienced with a wireless or cordless phone and that is about 900MHz. One great advantage of wireless speakers is that they are capable of transmitting through obstacles such as walls. There is no need for cables to connect the speakers with the tuner/receiver. On the speaker or the receiver is a tuner button where the frequency can be adjusted.
Wireless outdoor speakers are a great convenient. They offer the freedom that comes with listening to your favorite tunes without being hindered by messy wires. When listening to music at the pool for instance, there is no danger of water damage to the device or someone tripping on the wires.
Since wireless speakers can also transmit sound through walls, they can be made inconspicuous thereby contributing to less clutter especially in the living room. The speakers and the receiver need not be in the same room any longer. That means that one can even hang them on a tree or put them behind some items.
About The Author
Looking for wireless outdoor speakers? Check out complete guide to Outdoor and Wireless Speakers: waterproof, rock, solar, audio and stereo speakers with surround sound at http://wirelessoutdoorspeakersinfo.com/
November 24, 2008
By Dominic Donaldson
For years, the idea of generating customer traffic by offering a toll-free 0800 phone number far outweighed the idea of charging for the call. However recent figures are suggesting that in fact sales of the 0845 variety are today, far outweighing use of the 0800 number. So why the change and why are we now suddenly being asked to call a number that is no longer free of charge?
0845 numbers do not represent a particular geographical location. Instead they are a reputable prefix that can be used with any phone number to ensure a local flat rate is charged from wherever you make the call. This is a service available to UK companies, predominantly directed towards customer call centres. Both the business and the customer split the bill and contribute to the cost of call.
But why are businesses now swapping from 0800? Perhaps the greatest reason is simply that it is more cost effective. 0845 numbers offer one fixed annual cost to business owners but do not charge per call, unlike their 0800 competitors. Businesses will typically be expected to pay anywhere between 3p and 6p per minute to receive calls made on their 0800 numbers as well as a set up fee and monthly rental. If the company receive a large quantity of traffic, they may well find their costs start to rocket.
From the customers point of view, it’’s easier to memorise a 0845 number than a regular 11 digit number. It’’s also a great deal more convenient as customers are not restricted to necessarily calling during regular working hours. Sometimes you call a branch number, only to discover you need to speak to a different department or contact. Calling a 0845 number often means your call can be directed through an automated service to ensure your query is sent to the right person.
0845 numbers also come with a range of additional options, such as replay that allows the business to record all their incoming calls and a call queue manager. This can be useful in customer service where you may be required to recall certain conversations. The queue manager allows the 0845 owner to hold all their calls on the network until they can answer them. There is also an automatic menu feature to redirect calls and a data capture system that will ask the caller to type in specific information that the company may require, such as a password for security.
This is common practise when calling about financial matters in particular banks for telephone banking.
0845 numbers are great for saving money and time, for both corporate and customers. It allows companies to offer excellent customer satisfaction and develop their business by being available to receive calls around the clock. It also means customers only have to pay the price of a local charge for their call. On top of that, if their calls are being directed more appropriately, it’’s understandable why popularity of the o845 number is overtaking its freephone competitor.
About The Author
Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the Communications Industry.
Find out more about 0845 number at http://www.blueboxtelecom.com
November 22, 2008
By Musa Aykac
With every passing day, the video surveillance industry is growing and with its growth,new security technologies too are growing considerably. These technologies allow its users to monitor and secure their private and important areas. Video Analytics is one among the new technologies on the block. They are also referred to as Intelligent Video Surveillance (IVS). They are often used to study video feeds and alert the security agencies accordingly. A number of benefits can be derived from Video Analytics. Some of them are given below.
a) Real-time and automated video monitoring
In spite of the depth and complexity involved in the analysis, the software monitors all the tasks in hand at real time. The software is highly accurate and is fast. They offer incredibly accurate video data surveys and that too without any time lag. This is undoubtedly an incredible feature of the software. What’’s more, they are always on work. Unlike security personnel, they never get tired and hence do not require any break. Also, they don”t require any motivation to keep them going.
b) In depth analysis
A highly advanced version of video analytics network camera software is capable to analyze even the smallest of changes taking place, to a degree impossible to a naked human eye. The software not just looks at the entire image but also breaks them down into pixel by pixel. This enables it to track down all the minute changes taking place.
c) Alerts and Notifications
The capability of software in performing complex and in depth real time analysis has another side to it as well. Their work is not jus restricted to analyzing, but can also alert the software users with notifications for the changes that may have taken place. For example, if a motion is detected, the system can ring an alarm in the building. An E-mail can also be sent automatically to the owner. What’’s more, they can also be connected to a third party software like doors and lights. For example, you can have the door closed on detecting any motion or switch on/off a light should an object go missing. So, the possibilities are endless.
d) Motion detection and Object recognition
Video Analytics can also perform various other functions as well. It can be used effectively to detect a motion or for an object recognition purpose. The software can be preset to different levels of sensitivity as per the requirement.
e) Decrease in Labour cost
If you are using Video Analytics software, you don”t require security personnel. This automatically reduces the cost to a considerable level. There will be no need to look after the personnel, monitor them and so on.
f) Easy installation
One of the main benefits of using network camera software is its ease in installation.
More often than not, these network cameras are accompanied by software as a package. In case they are not available in a single package, it is better to buy new software. It then becomes a matter of having them installed in your system. You are then off and running with your new, video analytics based video surveillance system!
About The Author
Intranets - http://www.claromentis.com
November 22, 2008
By Mike Trudel
According to several reputable studies, up to thirty percent of a typical gasoline car engine’’s output is lost during braking in everyday city driving situations. Believe it or not, this simple principle is one of the primary reasons gas mileage on the highway is so much higher: less braking.
Most cars” braking systems depend on friction, applied on metal drums or disks, to stop the rotation of the wheels. All the kinetic energy built up during driving, then, is abruptly halted through this friction and converted to useless heat, as the vehicle cannot employ that energy for forward propulsion. One important advantage of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) is that they use regenerative braking. This, in turn, helps to provide better fuel economy. Waiting lists are getting longer and longer for the most popular HEV models as gas prices rise. Such high demand surpassing customarily high supply is a feat for the automotive industry, which usually has a standard 100-day reserve of any given vehicle, according to a popular news magazine.
Regenerative braking is the process of reducing a vehicle’’s speed by converting some of its kinetic energy into another useful form. In many HEVs, the electric motor is used to create torque to drive the wheels and may often be designed to closely resemble electric generators. The HEV engine, then, can either use electricity to create torque or vice versa. Rather than creating friction and useless heat to slow the vehicle, it reverses the electric motor — essentially turning it into an electric generator. This process generates electricity, which is then fed and stored into a battery to be used once the car starts moving. Every time an HEV slows down, reduces acceleration or uses its brakes, energy can be stored.
The shift from losing energy during braking to packing it away may seem minor to the average consumer, but it is an essential element in creating the hybrid engine’’s ability for better fuel economy. So is its ability to actually turn itself off at idle and then quickly — smoothly — restart once the accelerator is pressed.
Stop/start technology conserves energy by shutting off the gasoline engine when the vehicle is at idle. This is difficult to imagine for those who, for their entire driving lives, have been accustomed to a vehicle only starting through the use of a key. This, however, is precisely what happens. The engine automatically re-starts when the driver pushes the gas pedal to go forward and continues on just as smoothly as a traditional gasoline engine would. This, too, saves on fuel.
Of course, specialized equipment is needed to incorporate such technology. An integrated starter generator system, which includes more than just a smart braking system, is a good beginning. The best will have a crankshaft-mounted starter generator, traction inverter, DC/DC converter, controllers and a battery pack. It will also provide quick, quiet stop/start, regenerative braking, torque smoothing, high power generation, launch-assist to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and battery management to increase battery life.
There’’s more, of course, for the savvy. Such systems can also provide on-board electrical power generation, which will create a smoother ride and efficient on-board power production. Integrated power electronics and controllers will give the consumer a traction inverter, DC/DC converter motor, an energy controller, Control Area Network (CAN) communications and 5 to 10 kilowatts of on-board electrical power, enabling customer features. The engine on such models can also start five times faster than its conventional counterparts, and a liquid cooling element allows the elimination of a second coolant loop in some applications.
Pretty fancy, eh?
So you thought fuel economy was all about smaller cars, the latest and greatest engines and race car technology? While these all help, fuel economy is also about using brake energy more efficiently. Using “stop smart” technology just might save the impact on your wallet.
About The Author
Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer.
Delphi Corporation is committed to contributing state-of-the-art technologies and automotive innovation to help achieve greener roadways. For more information, please visit http://www.delphi.com/4green.