Shopping Stuff
Intex Mp3 Player
I bought this. it's best.
Intex Technologies (India) Ltd., an IT hardware and electronics firm, has introduced its Pen Drive, MP3 player and FM combo. According to Intex, the USB device is available in capacities of 512 MB and 1 GB. It is a handy, cool and trendy partner for those who want to take along their music and data while on the move.
The Intex MP3 player with pen drive and FM has smooth rounded edges and is easy to fit in the pocket. Its black attractive main housing with green, yellow, orange and red screen display accentuates its physical beauty further.
As an MP3 player, the device offers outstanding sound quality. The system’s control keys include volume, play, forward, reverse, search, replay, repeat, equalization and contrast. Intex said its MP3 player generates perfect sound clarification for Jazz, Classical, Pop, Rock and light toned music. Users can also record their voice with the support of an inbuilt microphone.
The USB connectivity and large storage capacities also make the device suitable for use as a pen drive. The multi-utility player comes packed with accessories including earphones and driver. “After the success of DVD P-30 and DVD R-15 in the market, Intex is moving ahead in the entertainment electronics segment. The current launch of MP3 players exemplifies this. The product with its youthful charm has a utility for both music and technology enthusiasts falling in young and middle age categories. It is extremely useful for students and executives on travel, as it also has an inbuilt USB pen drive,” said Shailendra Jha, Product Manager, Intex Technologies (India) Ltd.
The Intex MP3 player with Pen Drive and FM is available right away for an MRP of Rs. 2,999/- and Rs. 3,800/- (for 512 MB and 1 GB models, respectively), and is packed with a one-year warranty.
Labels: intex usb mpe player
Seagate Pocket HDD - 6GB - ST66022U-RK
| | Brand: | Seagate |
| | Product ID: | CFG-587 |
|
|
| | MRP: | Rs. 3,900.00 |   |  |  | USB 2.0, 6 GB, 1" Pocket Hard Drive Your digital world, safely in your pocket
The award-winning Seagate Pocket Hard Drive connects to any USB port, letting you take critical storage needs—on the go. These elegant, palm-sized drives can fit in your pocket, yet they safely store large business files, music, photos, videos and more. You can even password-protect your files (Windows only).
|
Key Features - Carry up to 100 hours of digital music, 1920 digital photos, 6 hours of digital video or 4 PC games with you, wherever you go.
- At 6 GB, the Pocket Hard Drive is the most convenient solution to carry, share and protect your digital content.
- Carry it all safely. The 6 GB Pocket Hard Drive includes Secure Zone software for Windows PCs that allows you to password-protect important documents. Now you can carry your most sensitive files without fear of who might see them if you lose the drive.
Best-Fit Applications - Great for carrying huge amounts of music, phot
- os and business files in your pocket.
- Best solution for highly portable data transfer.
Manufacturer’s Part Code :- ST66022U-RK | Capacity | 6 GB | | Spindle Speed (RPM) | 3600 | | Cache (Mbytes) | 2 | | Dimensions | 0.71" H x 3.03" D | | Weight | 2.2 Oz | | System Requirements | | PC | Microsoft Windows XP, 2000 Pro,
Open USB 1.1 (2.0) connector | | MAC | MAC OS 9.2.2 or higher,
Open USB 1.1 (2.0) connector | | Warranty | 1 Year Parts and Labour |
source: http://www.cafegadgets.com/product_detail.php?product_id=587&pid=82 | |
Labels: external hard disk
Cool- Look USB2.0 Wristband with 1024MB Flash Memory
Detailed Product Description
1) 100% brand new cool-look wristband
2) Unique new design and high quality
3) Made of twistable durable plastic, built-in memory chip to store information
4) No power required, no driver need
5) Hot swappable play and plug
6) Adopt hi-speed USB2.0 interface as wristband's connector
7) High performance write up to 800Kbps and read up to 970Kbps
8) Memory capacity: 1024MB
9) Size: approx. 200mm
10) Weight: 18g
powered by
performancing firefox
Linutop
|
 Introduction
Linutop is a Linux-based diskless computer. It offers a completely silent, low-power operation in an extremely small package.
Its main purpose is to surf the Internet.
Linutop is ideal for everyday Internet usage in:
- Libraries, schools and universities,
- Business and Government offices,
- Hotels, Hospitals, Internet cafés, Living rooms.
Beyond Internet surfing,
Linutop is a developer-friendly platform that can be easily adapted to other usage cases:
- Public information displays, Point of Sale terminal,
- Embedded PC (car, boat, plane).
|
|
Specifications:
- AMD Geode
- 512 MB ROM
- 256 MB RAM
- 4x USB 2.0 ports
- audio in out
- 100baseT Ethernet
- VGA output
- Size: 9.3 x 2.7 x 15 cm
- Weight: 280 gr
Expandability:
- USB2 , Wifi connection, Flat pannel, |
|
Software:
- AbiWord Word Processor
- Evince PDF reader
- Firefox Web browser
- Gaim instant messenger
- Totem media player
|
|
linutop Benefits:
Small, Simple, Light, Silent, Efficient, Low-Cost deployment and service
Coming Soon:
Corporate Blog, Ordering Information.
contact:
info@linutop.com |
powered by performancing firefox
THE APPLE "IPOD"
In 2001, Apple introduced the iPod, an MP3 player with the unheard-of storage capacity of 5 gigabytes. Five iPod generations later, the device plays songs, movies and photo slideshows, and you can store up to 80 GB of any type of file you want. The evolution has been a lesson in consumer electronics marketing and development: Millions of people are so hooked on the iPod, they continue to buy it and its coordinating Apple products despite quick battery death and difficult repairs. In this article, we'll find out why so many people buy iPod after iPod, dissect an iPod video to find out how it works and check out what type of software is available to enhance its functionality. iPod BasicsThe fifth-generation (5g) iPod video is much more than an MP3 player. It's a digital audio player, video player, photo viewer and portable hard drive, making it a full-fledged portable media center. It's available in 30-GB and 80-GB capacities and has a 2.5-inch, color LCD screen. In addition to the iPod 5G, the current generation of iPod players includes: - iPod shuffle, with a 1-GB capacity, which only plays songs and has no display
- iPod nano,
which plays digital audio, displays digital photos, comes in 2-, 4- and
8-GB capacities and has a smaller form factor than the iPod video
(from left) iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod video
| In this article, we'll be focusing on the top-of-the-line, fifth-generation iPod with audio and video capabilities. Although the iPod is an Apple product, it works with both Mac and Windows machines. Since it's the top-selling media player in the United States, probably the big question is: What makes it different from any other digital media player? The answer will differ depending on who you ask. Some might say it's the form factor -- the 80-GB iPod video is just over half an inch (1.4 cm) deep and weighs about 5.5 ounces (156 grams). For comparison, the iRiver PMC-140 (a Windows-based portable media center) is 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) deep and weighs 9.6 ounces (272 grams), and it only holds 40 GB (but the screen is bigger at 3.5 inches). Other people might tell you it's the Apple Click Wheel, a touch-sensitive wheel that makes it incredibly easy to navigate through the various menus and options with just a thumb. According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs in a Newsweek interview, "It was developed out of necessity for the Mini, because there wasn't enough room [for the buttons]. But the minute we experienced it we just thought, 'My God, why didn't we think of this sooner?'" And then, some might tell you the greatest thing in the world is the super-tight iPod/iTunes integration (which, ironically, others will curse until the day they die). 
iTunes interface
| iTunes is the integrated jukebox/media- player software that comes with an iPod. It lives on your computer, and you use it for organizing, playing, converting and downloading files from an external source to your computer and from your computer to an iPod. This is really no different from the software than comes with any other portable media player. The thing that makes iTunes a brilliant invention from a consumer-electronic s standpoint is the built-in iTunes Store that keeps iPod users coming back to Apple on a regular basis. The iTunes Store lets iPod users purchase music, movies, podcasts, audiobooks and music videos with a click -- it's an integral part of the iTunes software. The Store offers 3.5 million songs, tens of thousands of podcasts, 3,000 music videos and 20,000 audiobooks, as well as TV shows, feature films and iPod video games. You can watch or listen to the files through iTunes on your computer and download them to your iPod. And you don't even have to drag and drop: The iTunes software autosyncs with iPod whenever it's connected to your computer through a USB 2.0 port (you can use FireWirefor charging, but not for syncing). Just plug it in, and the iPod automatically downloads every new file that you added to your iTunes jukebox since the last time it was connected. It also uploads to iTunes all new data that you added to your iPod since last the two conversed, like playlists and song ratings. iPod Myths - If I use iPod as my digital-media player, I can only download music from the iTunes Store.
Not
true. You can download music from other sites (as long as the site doesn't use Windows Media DRM -- iPod isn't compatible with that encoding). - If I use iPod as my digital-media player, I can only use the iTunes software as my jukebox.
Not true. While iPod is made to work with the iTunes software, there are other jukeboxes out there that you can use with your iPod. - If I download MP3 or WAV files to my iPod, they'll be converted into a proprietary audio format.
Not true.
Downloading files to an iPod doesn't change the format. iPod can play
MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless and Audible 2,3 and 4 audio files.
| |
|
iPod Features and Hardware
| In
addition to the iTunes integration and autosync, the Click Wheel (more
on this in the hardware section) and the slim form factor, some of
iPod's more notable features include: - Audio
The
80-GB iPod stores up to 20,000 songs (7,500 for the 30-GB model). The
search function lets you type in keywords (song name, artist, album)
using the clickwheel to locate a song on the iPod hard drive. It
supports MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless and Audible 2,3 and 4
audio files. You can download songs from the iTunes Store, from a
different MP3 download site or rip them from your CDs
into the iTunes software. You need to go through the iTunes software to
download files to the iPod (unless you download a hack that lets you
bypass iTunes -- more on hacks in the Software section). You can listen
to audio books at various speeds -- normal, faster or slower -- without
seriously distorting the sound, and connect your iPod to your home
stereo through a mini-to-RCA jack. The device comes with 22 equalizer
presets for different music styles. - Video
The
80-GB version holds up to 100 hours of video. It supports H.264 and
MPEG-4 files as well as MOV files converted to iPod-friendly video
through the iTunes software. You can play video podcasts, music videos,
feature films and TV shows on the iPod, plus your own DVDs and home videos that you encode using QuickTime Pro and
download to your player through iTunes. - Photos
The
80-GB player holds up to 25,000 photos. It supports files converted
from JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG and PSD. You can download your photos to
the iPod from Mac iPhoto or Windows Adobe Photoshop Elements/Album.
Using an RCA or S-video connection (S-video through the dock
accessory), you can connect the iPod to your home-theater TV to watch photo slideshows (complete with soundtrack) or video on a larger screen. - External hard drive
The
iPod can function as portable hard drive, carrying all file types
between computers. Just choose "enable disk usage" in the iTunes
software, and you can load whatever you want onto the player's hard
disk. - Calendar/contacts syncing
iPod automatically downloads all new contact/calendar data added to Mac iCal or Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express since the
last time iPod was connected to your computer. - Games
iPod
comes with four pre-loaded games. You can also download games from the
iTunes store, from third-party companies or even create your own (see
the "iPod Software" section). - Car integration
If
you have an iPod and you're in the market for a new car or a new head
unit receiver, you can get one that fully integrates your player into
the sound system. There are manufacturer- built car stereos that
support iPod integration to the level that you can control the device
through the head-unit or steering-wheel controls.
For a full list of iPod features, see Apple: iPod. Now let's get inside an iPod video to find out how what hardware it uses to accomplish these tasks.
| iPod Feature Comparison: 2001-2005 | | Model | Storage | Display | Media | Navigation | Battery life (hrs) | Avg. weight | 1G
('01-'02) | 5/10/20 GB
1,000-4,000 songs | 2-in. B&W LCD | Audio | Thumbwheel | 10 | 6.5
oz | 2G
('02-'03) | 5/10/20 GB | 2-in. mono LCD | Audio | Touch Wheel | 10 | 6.5 oz | 3G
('03-'04) | 10/15/30 GB | 2-in. mono LCD | Audio | Touch Wheel | 8 | 5.6 oz | mini 1G
('04-'05) | 4 GB | 1.67-in. mono LCD | Audio | Click Wheel | 8 | 3.6 oz | 4G
('04-'05) | 20/40 GB | 2-in. mono LCD | Audio | Click Wheel | 12 | 5.6 oz | U2
('04-'05) | 20 GB | 2-in. mono LCD | Audio | Click Wheel | 12 | 5.6 oz | photo
('04-'05) | 30/40/60 GB | 2-in. color LCD | Audio, Photo | Click Wheel | 15 | 6.4 oz | shuffle
('05- ) | 1 GB Flash | None | Audio |
Control pad | 12 | .55 oz | mini 2G
(2/05-7/05) | 4/6 GB | 1.67-in. mono display | Audio | Click Wheel | 18 | 3.6 oz | color
(6/05-10/05) | 20 GB | 2-in. color LCD | Audio, Photo | Click Wheel | 15 | 5.9 oz | U2 color
(6/05-10/05) | 20 GB | 2-in. color LCD | Audio, Photo | Click Wheel | 15 | 5.9 oz | nano
('05- ) | 2/4/8 GB | 1.5-in. color LCD | Audio, Photo | Click Wheel | 14 | 1.41
oz | 5G
('05- ) | 30/80 GB | 2.5-in. color LCD | Audio, Photo, Video | Click Wheel | 14/20 | 5.15 oz | | Source: EveryMac.com | iPod Hardware 
In addition to a cracked LCD, the iPod we're dissecting is nice and scratched.
| Before we take apart our iPod video, there are a couple of things you should know. First, the screen on this iPod is cracked. Since no one at HowStuffWorks volunteered their perfect little iPod as a subject for this author's screwdriver, we turned to eBayto find a damaged unit we could take apart with good conscience. Which brings us to the second thing you should know: iPods are almost as valuable broken as they are in mint condition. After several last-minute outbids, we found out we had to pay about $200 for a 30-GB iPod video with a cracked LCD-- this was the typical ending price for this type of unit. And a brand-new, perfect one costs $299! We were left shaking our heads. Are hundreds of people writing articles that incorporate an iPod dissection? Are hundreds of people that addicted to tinkering with high-priced electronics? Are iPods really so hard to get fixed by Apple once the one-year warranty runs out? The New York Times article "Good Luck With That Broken iPod" (February 4, 2006) would suggest the latter, although it's really anybody's guess. That said, let's pry this baby apart. For most of the iPod video's functionality, we're dealing with seven primary components: - Hard drive - 30-GB Toshiba 1.8-inch hard drive
- Battery - rechargeable lithium-ion (700 mAh, 3.7V)
- Click Wheel - navigation via touch-sensitive wheel and mechanical buttons
- Display - 2.5-inch TFT LCD
- Microprocessor - PortalPlayer PP5021C with dual ARM7TDMI cores
- Video chip - Broadcom BCM2722
- Audio chip - Wolfson Microelectronics WM8758 codec
The case actually isn't that difficult to get into -- we used a 6-inch metal putty knife to pry apart the seam. Once you see that you need to get the knife under the thin edge of one side of the casing (instead of driving it straight down), it comes apart pretty quickly. Here's what we saw when we pulled it apart: 
| This iPod video uses a 30-GB Toshiba 1.8-inch hard drive (model MK3008GAL), featuring 4200 rpm and a USB interface. It weighs 1.7 ounces (48 grams) and fits 30 GB onto a single platter, squeezing in 93.5 gigabits per square inch. To fit so much into so little space, the drive uses smaller and lighter sliders (which keep the right spacing between the read/write heads and the recording surface) and a more sensitive thin-film technology on the heads and the platter. The increased sensitivity allows for a greater number of recorded bits per square inch. When you remove the front casing, you're looking at the LCD, the motherboard and the Click Wheel: 
| The Click Wheel is a section unto itself, and we'll deal with that technology on the next page. Let's start here with the iPod video display. The display is a 2.5-inch, 16-bit, TFT LCD. It has a 320x240-pixel resolution and a 0.156 dot pitch. The screen is incredibly thin -- just 0.125 inches (3.175 mm) deep. 
| The connectors used in the iPod are miniscule. Instead of the plastic connectors you find in larger devices, the ends of the wires that connect the various components of the iPod are coated in a film that stiffens them to create a viable input. Here you can see where the LCD connects to the back side of the motherboard (with a U.S. dime for reference): 
| All of the chips and memory devices that make an iPod run are situated on the motherboard. Here's the front: 
| And here's the back: 
| In the image above, you can see the Click Wheel controller. A "mixed-signal array" is a chip that can deal with both analog and digital data. In the case of the Click Wheel, the controller has to accept analog data generated by the movement of a finger over the surface of the wheel and turn it into digital data the microprocessor can understand. Let's find out how it does that. The Thing About the BatteryiPod's
battery is completely built-in -- you can't just pop in a couple of new
AA batteries when it stops charging. This built-in battery has been a
headache both for iPod owners and for Apple. Originally, the iPod battery was not only non-user-replaceabl e, but it was also very expensive to replace via Apple. When your battery died (sometimes within a year of buying the iPod), you had to send your iPod to Apple for a replacement, and the new battery cost $100. A lot of bad press and a class-action lawsuit later, Apple's iPod battery-replacement program costs $59. The class-action suit was settled, and iPod owners listed in the suit were compensated with $50 vouchers and partial refunds for their $100 battery replacement. Apple
defends the use of a non-user-replaceabl e battery by explaining that
the built-in battery allows for the ultra-slim form factor for which
the iPod is known. | |
The Click Wheel
The Click Wheel
is a touch-sensitive ring that you use to navigate through all of
iPod's menus and control all of its features. It provides two ways to
input commands: by sliding your finger around the wheel and by pressing
buttons located under and in the middle of the wheel. Under the plastic surface of the Click Wheel, there are four mechanical buttons (Menu, back, forward, play/pause), and there's one button in the center (select). 
Click Wheel face
| 
Behind the Click Wheel face (left) and Click Wheel contacts on the motherboard
| You've got five buttons and five corresponding contacts on the motherboard. When you press, say, the right side of the wheel while you're listening to a song, the wheel pushes down the forward button. The underside of each rubber button is metal, so pressing it completes the corresponding circuit on the motherboard. The motherboard tells the processor this circuit is complete, and the processor tells the operating system to fast-forward through the song. The Click Wheel's touch-sensitive function lets you move through lists, adjust volume and fast forward through a song by moving your finger around the stationary wheel. It works a lot like a laptop touchpad. In fact, the company that supplied the Click Wheel for the 4G iPod was Synaptics, most widely known for making laptop touchpads. For the 5G, Apple created its own proprietary Click Wheel design based on the same capacitive sensing principle as the previous Synaptics-designed Click Wheel. Under the plastic cover of the Click Wheel, there is a membrane embedded with metallic channels. Where the channels intersect, a positional address is created, like coordinates on a graph. 
| At its most basic, a capacitive-sensing system works like this: The system controller supplies an electrical current to the grid. The metal channels that form the grid are conductors -- they conduct electricity. When another conductor -- say, your finger -- gets close to the grid, the current wants to flow to your finger to complete the circuit. But there's a piece of nonconductive plastic in the way -- the Click Wheel cover. So the charge builds up at the point of the grid that's closest to your finger. This build-up of an electrical charge between two conductors is called capacitance. The closer the two conductors are without touching, the greater the capacitance. 
Front of membrane: Here you can see the conductive grid
| 
Back of membrane: Here you can see the Click Wheel controller.
| The "sensing" part of the system comes in with the controller. The Click Wheel controller (see above) is programmed to measure changes in capacitance. The greater the change in capacitance at any given point, the closer your finger must be to that point. When the controller detects a certain change in capacitance, it sends a signal to the microprocessor. As you move your finger around the wheel, the charge build-up moves around the wheel with it. Every time the controller senses capacitance at a given point, it sends a signal. That's how the Click Wheel can detect speed of motion -- the faster you move your finger around the wheel, the more compacted the stream of signals it sends out. And as the microprocessor receives the signals, it performs the corresponding action -- increasing the volume, for instance. When your finger stops moving around the wheel, the controller stops detecting changes in capacitance and stops sending signals, and the microprocessor stops increasing the volume. Now, in discussing the workings of the Click Wheel, a particularly curious HowStuffWorks staffer raised the following question: If your finger controls the Click Wheel because your finger is a conductor, why can't you control the Click Wheel with a paper clip? While we scratched our heads, we embarked on a experiment. Experiment: How About an Apple?What can you use to control the touch-sensitive Click Wheel? Here's an abbreviated list of what we tested: - Finger: Yes
- Orange: Yes
- Apple: Yes
- Plastic pen cap: No
- Silly Putty: No
- Paper clip: No
- Tip of Cold Heat soldering tool: No
- Prongs from iPod charger: No
The
yesses are easily explainable -- fruit and flesh can conduct
electricity. The no's, however, are a bit more mysterious. The pen cap
and the Silly Putty are not conductors, end of story. But what about
the tip of the soldering tool, the paper clip and the charger prongs?
Those are conductors! To solve this riddle, we contacted an expert in
the electronics field, who recommended the following action: Wrap your
finger in aluminum foil and try to work the Scroll Wheel. Our expert
was thinking "surface area." This finger-wrapped- in-foil input worked
perfectly. Can
it be that the surface area of the paper clip is not enough to trigger
the conductive grid? To investigate this hypothesis, we tried to work
the Scroll Wheel using the blunt end of a dinner knife (approx. 0.75 in
x 0.5 in). It worked. We concluded that surface area matters. But
there's another factor, too, because holding the dinner knife between
two plastic pens and moving it around the Scroll Wheel doesn't
work. Same with the apple and the orange. You need to be touching the
knife or the orange in order for the Scroll Wheel to detect it. The
determining factor, then, is you -- the human body is a very big
conductor, providing a very big neutral area for a charge to jump to.
The charge difference between your body and the Click Wheel's
electrodes provides the voltage -- or electrical "pressure" -- that
activates the Click Wheel system.
| Now that we've checked out the iPod hardware, let's take a look at the software it's supporting. |
iPod Software and iPod World
Photo courtesy Apple
iPod video main menu
|
While Apple is very tight-lipped about its iPod software, most reports have the iPod 5G running on the
Pixo OS 2.1 operating system along with
PortalPlayer' s Digital
Media Platform.
The PortalPlayer platform is an all-in-one "system on a chip" that
provides some of the hardware we already looked at, including the two
ARM7TDMI microprocessor cores. The developer package includes
audio-decoder support, customizable firmware (with support for
DRM-systemdevelopment) and software-developmen t tools. The iPod user-interface
is reportedly based on the Pixo Toolbox software that was available
when Apple was creating the device (Pixo is now part of Sun
Microsystems) .
In addition to the user-interface and
operating-system software, the iPod's video coding and decoding happens
at the software level. The Broadcom video chip we looked at in the last
section handles processing at the hardware level but has a
corresponding piece of software to run the video codec.
As far as
operating-systemrequirements, iPod video is compatible with Mac OS X v10.3.9 or later,
Windows 2000 (with Service Pack 4 or later) and Windows XP Home and
Professional (with Service Pack 2 or later).
Where
iPod software starts getting really interesting is in the third-party
software and "hacks" that have sprung up in response to iPod's
popularity. iPod
third-party software consists of programs that
use or build on current iPod functions without changing the way the
device is supposed to work. This includes downloadable iPod games,
programs that convert a bunch of DVDs to iPod-friendly video files in
one shot, programs that convert
PDA data and PowerPoint presentations to iPod-compatible files and software that lets you create your own text-based iPod games.
iPod
hacksare programs written to give iPods new (non-Apple-intended )
functionality. You know how we talked about things you can't do with an
iPod, like sync via FireWire? Well, you can hack an iPod to sync via
FireWire. Unless you're a programmer, "hacking an iPod" just means you
download a chunk of code that alters your iPod's functionality at the
software level. If you're a programmer, it means developing that code.
iPod hackers are publishing all sorts of programs that alter the way an
iPod works -- some of the software is free, and some of it is for
purchase. Some currently available hacks let you:
- Make an iPod work with Linux machines and run Linux applications
- Remove volume caps (iPods sold in Europe cap the volume at 100 decibels; uncapped iPods can reach more than 115 decibels.)
- Turn your iPod into a universal remote
- Attach an external hard drive to your iPod to increase the storage capacity
- Change your iPod's font and graphics
- Watch movies on your iPod in full-screen mode
- Plug your iPod into any computer (even without iTunes) and listen
to music from the hard drive - Transfer photos to iPod without using iTunes
- Replace iTunes all together as the iPod's main jukebox
- Use an iPod with a Windows 98 machine
Between
the built-in applications and the outside iPod software, this 5-ounce
device offers a lot of functionality. Add in the slew of iPod
accessories out there, and you start to see why some people's daily
lives revolve around an iPod.
The
iPod has become so ubiquitous that you'll regularly hear people refer
to MP3 players as "iPods," even if they're not talking about Apple's
device. An entire genre of broadcasting has evolved to take advantage
of the iPod -- you can download "
podcasts" to any type of MP3 player (or computer), but these home-made broadcasts originally popped up as an iPod application.
The
extensive list of accessories available for the iPod, both Apple and
third-party products, builds on the iPod's hardware and software to
place it at the center of a "digital-media experience." From Apple,
just some of the accessories you can purchase to outfit your iPod
include:
- Microphone for recording voice memos
- External digital voice recorders
- Universal dock for charging, syncing or connecting to external A/V equipment
- Remote control compatible with universal dock
- Camera connector for downloading photos directly from a digital camera to an iPod
- Armbands for portability, cases to protect the shiny exterior, and skins to
personalize the appearance of the iPod - Car audio adapters, in-car iPod holders
- Portable, desktop and wireless speakers
- iPod Hi-Fi speaker system
- Car chargers and power adapters
- Radio transmitters
Other
companies besides Apple are developing some pretty cool accessories for
the iPod. Numerous car-stereo manufacturers have come out with
iPod-compatible head units. Tavo has created "Click Wheel-friendly"
gloves for people who use their iPods outside in cold weather. The
material of the gloves' index and thumb has silver-alloy- coated nylon
strands running through it to make your fingertips warm but still
conductive. DesignMobel' s iPod-compatible bed has an iPod dock built
in and comes with an optional Bose sound system, and Atech's iLounge is
a combination iPod dock, speaker system and toilet-paper dispenser. The
GeekPod 100 from BatteryGeek. net is an external battery that powers an
iPod up to 100 hours on a single charge. Yes, 100 hours of listening
pleasure. Which brings us to a potential problem that has become an
iPod controversy: People who listen to their iPod at full volume for
extended periods of time may experience hearing loss.
The
possibility of long-term hearing loss for people who have their earbuds
in whenever they leave the house has created a nice talking point in
the press. The issue is mostly about the iPod's ability to produce
sound at volumes greater than 115 decibels. Some experts believe that
repeated exposure to this volume, especially via in-ear headphones
("ear buds") can cause "tinnitus and loss of hearing in later life" [
ref].
In Europe, Apple has capped the iPod's volume at 100 decibels in
response to a French law requiring it, but units sold in the United
States don't have the volume cap.
In early 2006, a man in Louisiana filed a
lawsuitagainst Apple related to the potential for hearing loss. He claims the
iPod is "inherently defective in design" and does not appropriately
warn its users of the potential damage to their hearing. See
BBC News: Man sues over iPod 'hearing risk' to learn more.
In
view of the bad press and the lawsuit, it's possible that Apple will
decide to include volume caps on all new iPods with the release of the
next generation. For the time being, Apple has released a volume-cap
software update for iPod video and iPod nano (see
iPod Updater 2006-03-23).
Regardless of whether the volume gets turned down, it looks like the
spread of the iPod will continue. The release of the first iTunes
cell phonein 2005 marked the start of what might turn out to be the increasing
integration of iPod functionality into other portable devices. The
iPod's Broadcom video processor also supports
digital camerafunctions, so that's a possible utility to look for in future iPods.
Recent Apple patents include drawings of a touch screen sporting what
looks like a virtual Click Wheel, leading some to infer that the next
iPod will have a graphical, entirely touch-sensitive interface.
powered by performancing firefox
Pen drive: Data transfer made easy
|
| Looking for larger space to store data and easy-to-operate storage medium. Then, pen drive is the right choice |
Transfer of large amount of data from one computer to another has always created problems, one of main reason being non-availability of suitable data storage device. To be precise, Storage mediums like floppy, CD and even Email have always failed during urgency due to their problem causing ability like small storage space or time-consuming ability for data transfer.
A possible solution to end this problem is use of zip drive. With up to 250MB capacity we can store everything we want and more on it. But in order for a proper transfer process to take place, both the computer systems must have zip drives. In addition, it more expensive compared to old floppy disk system. So what is the remedy to all these problems?
Pen Drive is the solution to the problem. Pen Drive can hold more data compared to floppy disk and Email space. Basically, Pen drive is a small key-ring-size device that can be used to easily transfer files between USB-compatible systems. It is accessed through the USB port on the computer. It has a capacity to hold data ranging from 11 to 350 floppy disks depending on the memory stick you choose. You can transfer data faster and easier than ever before. Pen drives are faster than downloading data via e-mail and much easier than using boxes of floppies. They are no bigger than the length of your finger, but hold data from 16 MB to I GB.
USB pen drives provide data, music and video transfers and storage with plug-and-play ease. The best feature of Pen Drive is that it doesn`t require any software to work, enabling the process of reading, writing and copying to or from a disk drive simple. Furthermore, it also doesn`t require any battery to operate. Hence, a pen drive is totally portable. Attach it to your key chain, belt, or wear it around your neck.
Basics about universal serial bus (USB) required for Pen drive.
USBUSB is an external peripheral interface standard developed by the computer industry to allow communication between a computer and external peripherals (digital device) over a cable using bi-serial transmission. Usually, digital cameras and memory card readers connect to the USB port on a computer. USB card readers are typically faster compared to cameras or readers that connect to the serial port, but slower than those that connect via FireWire.
The USB port is usually found at the back of the PC. It is a narrow socket around 1cm wide and 0.5cm high. You can plug a USB pen drive only into USB port. In some PCs, the USB port is located on the front below the CD-ROM drive.
Note:For Windows 2000, XP, or ME USB driver need not be installed manually as the operating system will do it automatically. But, in case of Windows 95/98/98SE, drivers need to be installed manually (the driver is supplied along with the drive).
How to use it?To transfer required Data of a P.C into Pen drive or vice-versa, simply plug the Pen drive into the USB port of your PC. The operating system will automatically detect installation of a new device and a new drive will be created. The operating system can access your pen drive just like any ordinary hard disk drive.
Now, Copy all the required files you want into the `new` drive and wait for the response by the Pen drive--indicated by read/write LED on the pen drive, to stop flashing and then disconnect it. Your files are now safely stored on your pen drive. If you want to copy these files to another PC/ Mac, just plug the drive in the new machine, wait for it to be detected and copy the files.
Working and costThe working of Pen drive is based on flash memory. The flash memory-a type of EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chip.
Note:Basically, EEPROM is a type of ROM that can be erased electronically and reprogrammed in-circuit (or with a device programmer) consisting of a complex grid of columns and rows. Hence, bytes (words) of an EEPROM can be erased individually.
The main reason why flash memory is quicker than older EEPROM is that entire banks can be erased at a time and subsequently rewritten.
The 32MB pen drive costs around $15, while the 1GB pen drive costs as high as $100; however, the purchase is worth the money.
Transparent pen driveFlash Dio is a transparent pen drive. Frankly speaking, there is hardly any difference between the two except for few new features such as extra protection for write/delete switch from accidental erases.
Digital Music: Make Sure Your Downloads Are Legal
Understanding the RIAA Lawsuits
In 2003, the
RIAA, or Recording Industry Association of America, launched lawsuits against 261
peer-to-peer file sharing users for illegally downloading copyrighted music. Before these lawsuits, the legality of file sharing was widely debated, and all the while
P2P file sharing was wildly popular.
Since the first round of RIAA lawsuits, there has been a lot of concern and many misconceptions over where the lines of legality are drawn. The following guidelines should help you understand what's legal, what's not, and what you can do to ensure you're not breaking any laws.
Downloading from the Internet is legal
This is a good place to start. No matter what fears may have been stirred up surrounding music downloading after the RIAA lawsuits, the first thing you should know is that it is 100% legal to download music from the Internet.
There are plenty of
legal downloading services that offer music for a per-download or subscription fee.
Not all Internet music downloading is legal
I hate to say it, but the best red flag that you're illegally downloading music is that your music is free and downloaded from a P2P file sharing network. If it is copyrighted (excluding music designated as free using a Creative Commons license or EFF's Open Audio License), especially from a major label, someone will be upset about missing royalties. While there are places where you can find free promotional downloads and free rights music from popular (and not so popular) artists, this is the exception, and most files shared on P2P networks are not this kind of file.
The Facts
To be as specific/technical as possible, downloading copyrighted material without expressed permission is illegal. Such music must be purchased in order to be legal.
Here are some precautions that you can take to safeguard yourself against an RIAA lawsuit:
- Very simply put, pay for your music. This is by far the easiest and most full-proof way to ensure that you won't be sued by the RIAA. Basically, you won't be sued if you don't do anything illegal. Obvious enough, right?
- So far, the RIAA has only sued users sharing more than 1,000 songs. If you are illegally downloading music, I can't promise you that there is no lawsuit in your future. Keep in mind that, despite the fact that file sharers sharing less than 1,000 songs have avoided lawsuits so far, the illegal downloading of music is still that--illegal.
Hopefully this has cleared up some of the cobwebs of uncertainty surrounding downloading music using the Internet. And now that you know the limitations, get out there and find yourself a digital music downloading service!
Microsoft Gets Its Zune On
Microsoft has released official information about their upcoming Zune brand of digitalentertainment devices and services, which has the unstated goal of toppling the Apple iPod/iTunes empire. The computer software giant stated the products are “designed around the principles of sharing, discovery and community”.
Zune 30GB Player:
The first Zune product out of the gate on Nov. 14, 2006 will be a 30GB portable media player, priced at $249.99, which can play and store up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 digital pictures or 100 hours of video. This device, which will be available in black, brown or white, includes built-in wireless technology so one can share full length sample tracks, playlists, pictures and personally recorded audio directly from Zune to Zune.
Sharing of any audio has a set limitation of only being enjoyed by the receiver up to three times in three days and may not work with all sample tracks.
Sample tracks shared in this way can also not be passed along to another Zune from the person who was the original recipient.
Zune Marketplace:
Music which is shared from Zune to Zune and found enjoyable by the recipient can be flagged for later online purchase from the Zune Marketplace, which is Microsoft’s answer to the Apple iTunes Store. The Zune Marketplace will offer “a huge selection of music” which can be bought and synced with the Zune player. This marketplace works with Microsoft Points – a prepaid online currency Microsoft uses currently through Xbox Live Marketplace – so one can purchase music without needing to input a credit card.
Also, Zune Marketplace users will have the choice of individual music download purchases fo
r 79 Microsoft Points per song or a subscription based model for $14.99 per month, which is similar to the current PlaysForSure type online music services used by a variety of Microsoft allied MP3 player manufacturers such as Creative and iriver.
More Zune Player Features:
Besides the wireless sharing and Zune Marketplace, other features talked about by Microsoft in t
oday’s announcement include being able to customize one of the three base body colors by combining each “with a distinctive double-shot finish created by the overlay of one color on another” as well as using personal pictures or themes on screen; a 3-inch LCD video screen which allows for viewing in portrait or landscape mode; on the go playlists support; digital photo slide show viewing with listening to music;a built-in FM tuner; and support through included Zune software for importing of existing music, pictures and video from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats (audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC; photos in JPEG; and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264).
This import function can also work with existing playlists and song ratings, though this can vary depending upon the online service the music was purchased from, if any. The previously mentioned software also notifies the Zune owner when new software updates are available for download.
Motorola Introduces MOTOFONE: A New Slim Phone With A New Type Of Ultra-Clear Display
I don't report much on "phone announcements", since it generally takes much longer for us, consumers, to be able to actually get a hold of the device. A frustrating reality. But Motorola has been mostly focusing on their flagship models: RAZR, PEBL and SILVR and not launching many new devices. So this is... surprising!
The MOTOFONE will be aimed at the growing markets of the thrid world and Motorola says it wants to: "empower these new users to embrace mobile communication with confidence and style." The MOTOFONE will feature "ClearVision" a new type of display they claim is easier to view in sunlight. It's also Motorola's thinnest phone so far, at about just 9mm or 0.35 inches thick.
LG Chocolate Launches This Week At Verizon
Introduction
oday’s announcement include being able to customize one of the three base body colors by combining each “with a distinctive double-shot finish created by the overlay of one color on another” as well as using personal pictures or themes on screen; a 3-inch LCD video screen which allows for viewing in portrait or landscape mode; on the go playlists support; digital photo slide show viewing with listening to music;a built-in FM tuner; and support through included Zune software for importing of existing music, pictures and video from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats (audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC; photos in JPEG; and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264).
LG's new flagship cell phone is now available at Verizon Wireless. The LG Chocolate is a pumped up music phone with a sleek design and touch-sensitive keys. It also boasts an above average stand-by battery life and a MicroSD memory expansion slot.
