Techniscape


Archive for the ‘Technology’

Apple IPhone News - Bluetooth headset review

August 07, 2007 By: blogger Category: Computers, Technology No Comments →

With all the Apple iPhone news, there’s been little written about the first accessory Apple itself released for the device - a $129 Bluetooth headset.

Let me give you a short review if you’re thinking about getting this for your iPhone… or, for that matter, any other mobile phone you may use. My hope is this News about the Apple iPhone will let you make a wise buying choice.

There’s a lot I like about the iPhone Bluetooth headset. It has a minimalist look, it is styled in black about the width of a pencil with an earpiece molded in at the top and a single, easy-to-operate switch that you push on to take calls or deactivate the headset.

And the sound quality is excellent. People talking to me have almost invariably remarked how clear and crisp I sound on it.

The problem with the iPhone headset I bought is its range. Apple advertises that it will work within a 30 foot radius of the iPhone, That is pretty much the standard range of most BlueTooth devices. But in my experience, instead of 30 feet, I get only about 3 feet. Seriously.

If I keep the iPhone in my pocket, and try to talk over the headset, there’s interference and breakup. I literally have to pick it up and hold it in my hand to get it to work. I have read in several other blogs around that this is not an unusual problem. Others have also complained about this. I plan to take this back to Apple and I hope that the issue is limited to just that one unit so I would suggest that if you get one, you try it out first.

Perhaps the neatest thing about this iPhone accessory is that it comes in a special cradle that charges both it and the iPhone. It also automatically pairs with the iPhone, meaning it’s instantly workable. And as a bonus, there’s even an audio jack in the back of the cradle that lets you hook the iPhone to an external speaker system.

Once charged, it lasts a long time, delivering up to 5.5 hours of talk time and up to 72 hours of standby time thanks to its built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

My bottom line assessment: It’s a tad overpriced but, assuming the range problem was just a glitch in the unit I bought, it’s a great accessory for the iPhone. Hope this Apple iPhone news helps.

How GPS Locators Help Find Lost People And Vehicles

August 06, 2007 By: blogger Category: Electronics, Technology No Comments →

When your visiting a strange country or city wouldn’t it be nice to be able to push a button on a hand held device, and find out exactly where you are. With the advancements that have been made with technology people are able to do this today with a GPS locator.

For safety and convenience, there are GPS locators that have been designed to look like wrist watches for children, and they are able to help parents keep track of their children at all times. Some GPS services can be tracked through a family’s home computer, while others are designed to connect to a GPS service system and a child’s location can be learned by making a phone call. A child’s location can be tracked to within five feet. This type of service can provide the parent with the nearest street address of their child, or if its requested they can contact emergency services.

Still other GPS locator units are installed in cell phones and its location can be tracked with a simple phone call. You can contact the location unit using your telephone and the cell phones whereabouts can be quickly located. As long as your child is carrying a GPS device, you can feel comfortable knowing that you will be able to locate your child anywhere using your GPS locator unit.

Keep Tabs On Anything Important To You

You can track virtually anything you want to with a GPS locator since the size of these units have grown significantly smaller over the past few years. You could even use one to track down and locate your luggage if it does not arrive on the same plane as you did, this makes finding lost luggage a lot easier for airlines. It won’t get your luggage to you any faster, but with a GPS locator inside of your suitcase you know will know where luggage is located, and how fast it is being returned to you.

With a GPS locator unit hidden inside your vehicle, you will have an extra set of eyes on the new driver in your household that is trying to earn your trust while they are driving your car. If they tell you they spent the day in school, but the GPS locator unit tells you they were at a nearby amusement park, you can use this knowledge to teach your child a lesson in honesty.

Just What Is A GPS Tracking Device?

July 02, 2007 By: blogger Category: Electronics, Technology No Comments →

GPS tracking devices are used to determine the exact location of a person, vehicle or any other item to which it’s attached. GPS devices are capable of recording the position of the item at frequent intervals. The data can be stored in the tracking device or it can be sent out through a computer that is connected to the Internet or the information can be transferred to a centrally located database using a radio or satellite modem that is located inside of the unit. The item’s location is then transferred to the GPS device where it is displayed against the backdrop of a map.

GPS tracking devices and software are especially popular with owners of vehicle fleets. They have turned into indispensable tools for effectively managing them. These tracking devices provide accurate information about the location of their vehicles along with the drivers productivity. The use of global positioning systems have been shown to significantly impact a business bottom line, yielding substantial cost, and time savings and enhancing overall employee productivity.

The US Department of Defense is responsible for developing GPS tracking devices. All global positioning systems use tracking software that is used by the US government’s 24 global positioning system satellites that orbit the earth. What happens is the satellites transmit their data using digital radio signals to receivers that are located on earth.

GPS tracking devices installed in vehicles that are meant to be tracked transmit data to these satellite. The signals are ultimately received by a user or tracker. Information is then processed by the vehicles GPS software, and provides information concerning the vehicles location, how fast the vehicle is going, along with the direction that the vehicle is headed in.

Owners of these vehicles have the choice of either a cellular-based, satellite-based, or wireless GPS systems. The kind of GPS tracking devices that people wind up choosing often depend on the kind budget they have to work with.

For people that have ever wondered about where their truck or car might be don’t have to worry anymore, because GPS tracking devices provide them with this information. There are tons of reasons why you should get a GPS tracking unit for yourself. If you’re concerned about your car the you definitely in need of GPS tracking devices.

What GPS Software Dose For You On a Daily Basis

June 25, 2007 By: blogger Category: Electronics, Technology No Comments →

GPS computer software has given us the ability to be more efficient in numerous ways. Its effects can be felt in a broad spectrum of industries, especially in the automotive, maritime, and telecommunications fields.

Global positioning systems are the latest innovation in accurate geographic measurement. It’s free to use the signals that are transmitted by the multitude of GPS satellites orbiting the earth. People can only expect GPS technology to further proliferate in the coming years.

Probably one of the most popular uses of GPS computers is in automobile navigation systems. These GPS computers provide drivers with real-time information on their vehicle’s location, along with complete geographic maps, street names, and building locations. GPS computers designed for vehicles are capable of providing dynamic route information. If you need to get somewhere, simply select your destination and you will be shown the best route to take to get you there.

Another important use of GPS computers is its application in car theft prevention and tracking. Many vehicle tracking devices can be tracked by police departments when a theft take place. This makes car retrieval much faster. It also serves as a deterrent, making thieves think twice before stealing a car. Vehicle tracking devices are also used to track fleets of vehicles when businesses need to deploy a lot of them, as in the case of courier companies.

Mobile phone carriers are using GPS technology to offer location-specific services to their customers. This could be information on local events or the latest news. Some provide limited location tracking capabilities and navigation functionality. Moreover, some phone carriers are using GPS technology to provide location-based advertising.

Outdoor enthusiasts now have a new friend. Personal GPS devices are becoming extremely popular. Mountaineers and hikers are using personal GPS devices as an precautionary measure in case the unthinkable should happen and they get lost, they can be easily tracked with the GPS device that they have.

If you’re buying a piece of property, then it has probably been surveyed by the government. Land surveying is required to mark the boundaries of specific territories. People need accurate measuring tools to determine the exact land area of specific properties. GPS has become a surprisingly useful tool for accurate land measurements.

From yachts to large military vessels, GPS computers are a surprising addition to the maritime navigation tool set. GPS information is extremely accurate making it one of the essential devices to have when charting out routes.

The Problems With GPS Units

June 17, 2007 By: blogger Category: Electronics, Technology No Comments →

I’m am sure that by now, nearly everyone on the planet has heard of the Global Positioning System or GPS. But how many people really know how they work? This is a brief summary of how the GPS works.

The Satellites

GPS systems have a network of more than 50 satellites that cover the globe and enable the GPS system to work. In order to locate the position of a GPS signal, at least three satellites have to be able to receive the signal that is being transmitted. Then these satellites compare notes so to speak, and from there they triangulate the desired position.

A GPS unit send message containing the time of the transmission through a radio signal to the over head satellites. The satellites that receive this signal, compare the time that the signal was sent to the time of their atomic clocks. From there they determine the amount of time that it took for them to receive the signal, then they compare the amount of time that it took for each satellite to receive the signal along with their positions and from this information they are able to nearly pinpoint the location that the signal originated from.

Possible Problems With GPS Units

I’m sure that you can guess that the accuracy of a GPS unit is dependant on the time piece in the unit that is sending the signal. If the time in GPS unit is off it can impact the accuracy of the positioning information. Clock errors are not the number one source of inaccurate information in GPS units. The number one source of inaccurate information come from the atmosphere. When the signal passes through the atmosphere to the satellites, it can encounter conditions that can speed it up or slow it down, thus affecting the time and the calculations that are given.

Inaccuracies occur when a signal bounces off of a skyscrapers, mountains, or other such terrain. This will then cause distortions that are similar to those that are caused by atmospheric conditions. Another problem occurs when the satellite updates its position, this takes place every twelve minutes. If a signal reaches a satellite near its update time, the satellite doesn’t know its correct position, and it makes a calculation that is based on bad information. These type of errors are unavoidable with the GPS systems that are being sold to consumers. However for most uses, these problems don’t amount to much.

How to write Killer Articles

May 10, 2007 By: blogger Category: Internet, Technology No Comments →

Writing articles on the internet is not a very easy job. Your article need to be both informative and hold the interest of the reader so they will buy your product, or at least visit your web site again. It has been proven that, writing a short article is much more difficult than writing a book. Because you only have a limited amount of word that you can use to make your point and impact the reader to get them to regularly visit the web site.

Writing articles for web sites is a job that requires a certain degree of talent. Not everyone is capable of writing articles just by reading a self-help book on articles like this one. But there are some basic things that article writers need to know. In this article I am going to cover the basics that every article writer needs to know. You need to think of your knowledge as the raw material to which you need to apply your talents to when you create your articles.

Research, once you have the established keywords that you are going to be working with, you need to scour the internet for any information is already available about the topic your going to be writing about.. Generally you might want to start your research with an encyclopedia like Wikipedia, or an informative website like Ezinearticles. Make sure that the articles you are reading are written by an expert in that field and not some amateur content writer. You will come across many facts and points that you should include in the article. Be sure to make a list of all of these points. This would be considered your rough draft. Prepare your rough draft using information from that you have obtained from at least ten different websites.

Arrange your points, once you have your rough draft ready, quickly assess how you want to sequence the information. The most defining and interesting points should come first. On an average, the reader interest for any article on the web does not last more than 30 seconds. So the most important points need to come first. This will help to induce the reader to completely read the entire article. Paragraphs are very important. Smaller paragraphs, are better. Format your information into bullets when ever it is possible. This will make the article very easy to read.

Make sure that you keep the language you use simple, you might have a doctorate in English literature, but if you use your knowledge of the English language in your article, chances are your going to bore the reader and lose his or her interest. So keep it simple! When you write your article try to think in-terms of how you how would explain what you are trying to say to a fifth grader or sixth grader so that they would understand the point that you are trying to make, then you should write your article using those same words. When you write, stick to the point and refrain from using any “flowery language”. If your readers require the use of decorative language, they would be reading Milton or Wordsworth! So make sure you just stick to the facts. Whenever possible, use the local language. If your writing for Europeans, try to use their idioms and slang.

Make sure that you include your own point of view concerning the subject you are writing about. Your article needs to contain information that is unique and isn’t on any other sites. In other words, why should they read what you have to say? Once you have established the facts in your article, try delve on some observations that you have made concerning the subject if it is at all possible. Try to explain to the reader how the topic you are writing about could affect their lives. This kind of a personal approach will work wonders with your readers. Even if you are writing about something like diseases, you need to write about their prevention and vaccination, because this is the information that the layman wants to read about the most.

Make sure that you stick to a word count and include the keyword you are given, Don’t get carried away when your writing an article. You need to keep the article between 400 and 500 words. Keep your article with-in that word count so that you don’t bore the average reader. But at the same time, if your article is too short, the reader might feel cheated. Don’t neglect your keywords. A keyword is the string of words a potential reader will type into the search engine to find your article. If your article deviates from the keywords then it won’t show up in the search results and generate any traffic. So what’s the point in writing an article if no one is going to read it? So use your keywords!

When you are done writing your article check it for plagiarism and copyright issues, one of the ten commandment of Internet writing is ‘Thou shalt not copy’. it is a major crime to copy and paste information from another websites; it can cause you and the owner of the website a lot of problems. When your article is finished, you can check it to see if any part of the article has been inadvertently copied. articlechecker.com is a great resource that you can use to check your article for plagiarism. If you want to use any information verbatim, then you need to mention or make a reference in the footnotes at the bottom of the article. Ask the website owner if you can do this.

If your planning to enter the field of content writing, you need to spend some time reading good articles that are web. Writing for a website is different then writing a newspaper article. Spend some time reading articles on some of the popular websites, this will help you when it comes to developing your own writing style.

The Sony GPS Transmitter

May 10, 2007 By: blogger Category: Electronics, Technology No Comments →

Since Sony has unveiled its new line of GPS transmitter products, they have taken the market by storm. Sony’s navigational products use the latest technological advances to aid travelers. Making this personal navigation tool ideal for hikers, and people that frequent travel. This GPS device eliminates the need for maps and second guessing.

Sony GPS Transmitter Features List

The diminutive NV-U50 from Sony has a 3.5″ anti-glare screen for clear viewing, it comes with a two-way speaker system, 512MB of flash memory, and it contains Sony’s proprietary global positioning system chip that was developed in-house. Unlike other navigation devices being marketed, Sony’s GPS transmitters are sleek, stylish, compact, and relatively lightweight.

Sony GPS transmitters are great for anyone that wants to get out and hit the open road to do some exploring. With this device installed in your car you will never need to stop and ask for directions from anyone. This unit will provide you with dynamic information concerning the best routes to take along with the latest traffic information, all in real-time.

Operating Sony’s GPS transmitters are so simple and easy that even a child could do it. You just turn the unit on and use the interactive touch screen display to enter your destination point and the unit will show you correct route to take, it that simple. This GPS device is so intelligent that it always knows your exact location and will show you the best route to take to get to your destination. It’s very easy to view the map because it comes a with a sharp full-color wide screen display.

For your driving convenience, the product come with a 2-way speaker system that enables you to listen to the instructions while you are driving. Because this device knows where you are at all of the time, it will actually tell you when and where you should turn. Sony’s GPS transmitters are pre-loaded with maps of the USA and Canada. Extra add-on’s are also available, and you can choose from more than a dozen different languages.

Sony’s GPS transmitters are light-weight and portable. You can easily transfer it from one car to another. You can also carry it with you. Because it’s so small you can carry it inside your backpack and no one will notice it. It comes with a easy to install cradle that allows you to easily install or remove the device. You simply mount the suction disk on your dashboard or windshield and you’re done, it’s that simple.

The unit has a lithium battery, that will retain a four hour charge, and when you are ready to charge the battery simply plug the device into your cigarette lighter. Because this GPS device retains a four charge you can use it to futher explore your destination outside of your car.

The Art of CD Data Recovery

May 10, 2007 By: blogger Category: Data Recovery, Technology No Comments →

Between losing data on our computer’s hard drive, on tapes, and on diskettes we would think that there would be no other way to misplace or lose our important data, but we’d be wrong. CD data recovery has become another method of finding and recovering lost computer data; that’s right you guessed it, CD data recovery is the art of recovering data that has been lost on, a CD. Now, if you lose important information, pictures, music files, or any other information that is important its no longer ” the end of the world”. In most cases with CD data recovery, allows all of the lost information to be completely recovered.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve lost data on a CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD, CD data recovery can help you! Data loss on your CD’s can occur for a variety of different reasons. Some reasons, include virus attacks, lost drive letters, lost partitions, configuration errors, and drive limitations that improperly read the files of the CD. This can make data recovery of CD complicated, but there is always hope, when it comes to recovering your lost data.

There are a number of programs that are designed to aid you when it comes to recovering lost data. Some of the highly recommended programs are one’s like “Bad Copy Pro” this program fully automatic and simple to use, it simply copies the lost data and then rewrites it back to your hard drive. When it comes to recovering missing or lost data from documents, images, and even applications. “Bad Copy Pro” is the way to go, its inexpensive and it has a high success rat. It won’t overwrite the files that are on the CD, because that can cause problems.

“Multi Data Rescue” is another really good program to use. This software is the tool the experts use to recover lost data from CDs. This program can be used in the windows interface, and it is very user friendly. It is used to recover files from CDs and DVDs, it supports digital media recovery, and it can even recover lost data from memory cards and USB related disk issues. There is a program that is a spin-off of the “Multi Data Rescue” software, that is specifically designed to recover lost DVD data.

With these two programs and the others that are out there on the market, CD data recovery is no longer an impossible feat. It doesn’t matters how the files were lost or what happened to the CD, because data recovery is possible. Sometime technology can hinder us, but there will always be something available to right the wrong. What will they come up with of next?

Cell Phone Accessories - The Must Haves

April 03, 2007 By: blogger Category: Technology No Comments →

Cell phones are a staple in business and home life. They are no longer a luxury, but a necessity in daily living. Having your mobile phone at hand and available for all or your daily chores and emergencies requires the right accessories to keep it up and running, and to keep you safe. Here are the top must have accessories for any regular cell phone user.

1. Cell Phone Battery, and one to grow on

A quality, long-lasting battery is key to maximize talk-time on your phone. Each battery has an expected amount of time in use before it needs a charge. There is no problem in recharging a cell phone battery before it has been fully used, nor is it an issue to only partially charge your phone. However, avoid storing a fully-charged battery for long periods of time as this can have a detrimental effect on its life. If you are a cellphone user that talks your way through the day, it is probably a good idea to invest in a back-up battery. Keeping a backup battery ready for use, will allow you to keep working or make a call in times of emergency when you have already run down your first.

2. Charger for home and the road

If your battery is the most important cell accessory, than your charger is the first-runner-up. One charger for your home or work is sufficient to get by, but for true convenience invest in a car charger as well. Chargers are relatively inexpensive, and tend to last longer than your phone will. The ease of being able to charge at home as well as in transit is well worth the added cost.

3. Handsfree

If you haven’t seen a news report on the dangers or driving and talking on your cellphone, you haven’t turned on your TV. Using a handsfree headset attachment with your phone allows you to continue to talk during your commute or daily errands, while keeping both hands on the wheel. A variety of headsets with various single or double ear pieces are available that provide comfort and safety while on the road.

Purchasing these few accessories are all you really need to get by. Don’t forget the fun and fashion of your mobile phone. Have some fun and express your personality by choosing some fun accessories as well such as phone covers in your favorite color or pattern, ring tones that play the latest tunes, and cases to make your phone drop-proof.

You can find any of the fun and useful cell phone accessories you need online or at your local stores.

Cell Phones And Teenagers

March 22, 2007 By: blogger Category: Technology No Comments →

Let the battle begin, should teens have cellular phones? Well you will be pleased to know that over 94% of parents agree that cellular phones are good for teens and that’s according to a survey conducted by AT&T with parents and teens in LA and New York. Most teens have their very first cell phones by the age of 15 and in many cases 13. Like with all mod cons teenagers want them but they should be used in a practical manner.

The Bill

Paying for the cellular phone is one thing but the on going costs thereafter tends to cost some friction in households. If you are the parent who insists that your son or daughter has a cell phone then understandable you should pay the bill once it’s within reason. Teens who insist on having a cell phone should pay some part of the bill with their weekly allowance that you give them. Teens who are left without any supervision on bill phones will run riot and it will be you who foots out the bill. Even if you have the money to pay the bill monthly no matter how high you should draw the line, you may not always be there to pay for everything. Prepaid cell phones are a good idea to keep the expense down, the calls are more expensive to make on these phones but you can only make the calls once the credit is there. It is a great way for teenagers to learn about financial management of their own bills.

Teens and camera phones:

Camera mobile phones are more popular with teens for the obvious reasons. It’s easy to use and fool around with and let’s face it they are harmless fun. There is a downside to having the camera phone and that’s the ongoing cost. If the phone is prepaid it’s simply, you can only text friends photo’s when you have the credit but if the phone is linked to monthly bill payments camera phones are by far the more expensive to operate. If your teen insists on sending SMS via the camera phone, why not encourage them to do so through email. Simply connect the phone to the PC via a usb cable (normally supplied with the phone), upload the photo’s and with broadband in most area’s email is much cheaper.