Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 11:10 AM |
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I had a chance to play around with one of these a few weeks back. It's a sweet phone and I want one. However, the cheapest plan you can get is $79. That include the $30 unlimited data plan. As much as I would like to have this phone thirty bucks a month for the data plan is BS in my opinion. I pay $15 for data with AT&T. With that said it's still a cool device. It also supports Microsoft Exchange out of the box which is a huge plus for me.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 10:22 AM |
Filed Under: Around the web
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Here are some videos I found on Cisco's site that show how people have implemented the digital lifestyle into their homes. They also have a section where you can upload videos of your own crib. I thought it was cool. You can check it out at http://digitalcribs.net/DisplayVideo.aspx?id=971395575&fbid=M61Fk5CYZzR
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 2:35 PM |
Filed Under: other tek
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I saw this on the linksys website a while back and thought it looked useful. However, after looking at the price tag you could almost build a PC that could do the same thing and more using tversity or Windows Media Player. Also, if you have a spare computer laying around you could use it to stream your media for almost nothing. However, if you don't have a spare PC and you don't want to build one, then this may be the way to go. If anyone has one these post a comment and let the rest of us know what you think about it.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 2:11 PM |
Filed Under: Around the web
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I found this useful app earlier today on Download.com. Fences lets you organize the icons that clutter your desktop. If you're one of those people that groups icons on your desktop then you'll like this program. You can customize the appearance of the fences and create your own as well.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 9:46 PM |
Filed Under: other tek
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I haven't seen one in person yet but I have the old 30g and I love it. I think one of the coolest things about the Zune is that you can sync your library through your wireless network.
OK, so when people ask me "what is that on your wallpaper" and I say "It's Re-L Mayer from Ergo Proxy" or "Motoko Kusanagi" from Ghost in the Shell" I usually get the look that says "uh ok...". When most people think of anime they think of Pokemon or some other cartoon that kids watch on Saturday morning or whenever. The thing is there is a lot of anime out there aimed at older audiences and no I'm not talking about the stuff you have to be 18 to buy. What I don't understand is why people discard it just because it's animated. If your a Sci Fi person and you have never watched the three films below, then I encourage you to give them a try. Don't dismiss them just because their animated. The stories are very deep and philosophical so you will have to think a bit but if you enjoy technology related movies then I think you will like these. Yes they are all available in English dub.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 11:15 AM |
Filed Under: other tek
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The new PS3 Slim is now available and Sony has dropped the price to a more affordable $299. I've owned a PS3 for almost two years now and can say that it has been worth every penny of the $399 I had to pay for it. However, I use it more for its Blu-ray and media server capabilities than I do for games. If you're not interested in all of the media features and the games you want to play are available on other systems, then I would recommend buying a Wii or Xbox and save yourself some money. Also, the backward compatibly feature is still not available. Only the first generation PS3's with the media card reader support this.
Here is a list of some of the big changes made to the Slim:
The "Install other OS" feature has been removed. So you can't install Linux.
The power and eject switches on the front are now physical buttons that you press.
The hard drive has been relocated to the front and can be removed easily so you can upgrade your drive without voiding the warranty.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 9:51 AM |
Filed Under: random thoughts
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I finally got around to watching this movie today and man it kicks ASS! I know it's almost three years old now but I'm slow sometimes. I had been putting it off because I thought it was just a kids movie but I so wrong. If you're a child of the 80's and you were in to the whole transformers thing like me, you won't be disappointed. If you have a Blu-Ray player then just buy the movie because you will want to see this one in high def for sure. It makes me want one of those 240hz LED TV's! Anyway check it out it really is a good movie.
- Oh yeah, that new Chevy Camaro is Freakin BA too!
Here's the trailer for the second one "Revenge of the Fallen":
Oh, I almost forgot Megan Fox in this movie.. JC she's hot!
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 8:26 PM |
Filed Under: other tek
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If you're like me and pay for cable television but rarely watch it, it may have crossed your mind to cancel your service completely. I enjoy television as much as the next person but personally the number and length of commercials has just sent me over the edge. Because of this, I have been pondering on whether or not to cancel my service for a long time. Though, not having TV at all just seems weird. Through my journeys through cyberspace I've noticed that there is a lot of content available online. I've also noticed that many popular shows are available on both Hulu and the major network websites. If you own a LCD or plasma TV and you have a spare laptop or desktop, you can hook that baby up to your TV, cancel cable and boom! Remember too that if your TV has a built in HD turner you can buy an antenna and receive local HD channels over the air for free. You can buy antenna's at just about any retail store that has an electronics department. When buying an antenna remember that even though some are advertised as "HDTV antenna's", there is no difference between digital HD and any other antenna. It's just a marketing thing. There is however a difference in quality between antennas. I recommend one that is designed to set outside.
If you're a hardcore channel flipper or someone that follows a certain show religiously and has to see it the night it premiers then this is probably not an option for you but for the rest of us I think it might work and save some money too. You can also subscribe to Netflix and then you will have movies as well. Netflix offers a wide selection of streaming movies too. Though many of them are not new releases and sometimes the selection seems to suck, their library of "Watch it now" is improving.
If your wondering about connecting your PC to your television you will need a VGA, DVI, DVI to HDMI, or HDMI cable. All of these can be purchased at your local Wal-Mart. Once connected just go to your Display properties in Windows and select the second monitor (for laptops) and set the resolution. If you have a desktop you can simply connect it to the TV and use it as your monitor. 720p and 1080p LCD's make great computer monitors!
Also, HDMI is the only cable that carries an audio signal along with video. If you use VGA or DVI you will need to connect your PC to external speakers or an audio receiver via your PC's sound card or headphone jack.
Once you have your TV connected it works just like your monitor so you can use your PC for everything else too. I recommend a wireless keyboard and mouse. Newegg has wireless keyboards with integrated Touchpads so you don't have to worry with the mouse.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 7:18 PM |
Filed Under: PC Help
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If you have been looking at laptops, LCD monitors, or thinking about buying a new LCD TV, then you have probably noticed the different resolutions types (WXGA, WXGA+, etc.). These letters represent the LCD's native resolution.
These values will vary in some cases depending on the display. I'm only listing the more common resolutions.
WXGA (HD 720p) = 1200 x 720
1366 x 768
WSXGA \ WXGA+ = 1440 x 900
WSXGA+ = 1680 x 1050
WUXGA (HD 1080p) = 1920 x 1200
1920 x 1080
So what does this all mean? Higher resolutions have a more detailed image but another important thing to remember is when you're working with a PC or laptop you have much more screen real estate with higher resolutions. The images below show the difference between 1366 x 768 and 1920 x 1080.
As you can see from the 1920 x 1080 image, much more of the screen is visible. This is good especially for internet browsing and photo editing because there is less scrolling. However, when you see a laptop in the $400 range it most likely has a WXGA (1366 x 768) display. The same goes for LCD monitors and TV's. You will have to pay a lot more for a higher resolution display.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 2:07 PM |
Filed Under: Around the web
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iGoogle is like a customizable homepage that includes themes and widgets ranging from weather to your Facebook wall. You can also delete, add, and move gadgets around the screen. You will have to sign up for a free Google account if don't have one already. You can check it out here.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 7:32 PM |
Filed Under: Around the web
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Revision3
If you were a fan of TechTV back in the day and G4TV isn't doing it for you, then you may want to check out Revision3. Revision3 is much like an online version of TechTV. Click Watch Now! to watching or browse around their site for previous episodes of a variety of shows. You'll also notice a few familiar faces as well.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 5:43 PM |
Filed Under: Around the web
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Android is a new OS for mobile devices. However, it is slowly making its way to laptops as well. You can read more about it on the official website. If you want to try it out you can download the ISO (this is the single ISO file that actually works. No need to combine files.) here.
If you want to run it in a virtual machine click here to to download a pre-built VM. Extract the folder and load the "Android.vmx" file using VMware Workstation or the free player. Android is a live CD so you will need to download the ISO first. If you don't have a copy of VMware you can download the free player from VMware's website.
After starting VMware mount the ISO using the
CD-ROM settings. Click "Connect to Disk Image (iso)..." and browse to the ISO file.
When the virtual machine boots you may need to press F2 to enter setup and set the CD-ROM as the first boot device. This can be tricky because the VM boots very quickly. As soon as the machine is powered on you will need to click in the VM window and press F2 immediately. Once this is set the OS should load.
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 8:44 PM |
Filed Under: Around the web
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I'm a hardcore Firfox fan but I have to admit that Google Chrome is freakin fast! It's a very simple web browser and so far no customization options that I can find. However, if you're not big on Add-on's and you want a browser that just gets you there fast then Google Chrome is for you. Get it here.
I recently purchased a Canon Rebel XSI. This camera is perfect for those who want an affordable digital SLR camera and professional looking shots. Unlike most point and shoots, SLR cameras allow you to adjust the shutter speed. This shot was taken outside of my sun roof, at night, at 50 mph with a 30 sec. shutter speed. These are fun shots because you never know what you will get but they are always interesting. I adjusted the midtones, contrast, brightness, and color saturation in Microsoft Office Picture Manager. If you don't have office there are many other programs out there that will allow you to do this and a lot more.
Its purpose is to provide answers and tutorials to common questions about computers, the internet, and anything else tech related. I will also be posting codes and layouts, useful progams/utilities, and anything else I find that looks useful. The page is still in early development but every Blog has to start somewhere. The site is designed for beginners but more advanced topics will be added in the near future. Topic suggestions are welcome. Just add a comment to this post. The forum is up so feel free to post any questions you have and myself or anyone who has the answers can reply. I need your help to get the community started!
Upcoming tutorials:
Home Networking
Viruses, Spyware, and other junk
What are viruses?
What antivirus software should I use?
How to remove a virus
What is spyware
How do i know if i have spyware?
How to remove spyware
It's bad, how do i reinstall windows?
Spam
Cables and hooking it all up
Types of cables
TV or Monitor what is the difference these days?
Can I use my LCD TV as a monitor?
Can I use my plasma tv as a monitor?
How do I use my computer monitor as TV?
I’m going to throw my computer out the window!
Why is my computer so slow?
How can I speed up my computer?
How can I upgrade my computer?
How do i free up space on my hard drive?
How to use Task Manager
The web, internet, or whatever you want to call it.
WinDirStat (Low disk space? This utility will show what files are causing the problem.)
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AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition (Free Anti-Virus software that automatically updates. I have been using it for a few years now. In my opinion I would never pay for Norton or McAfee while this is available).
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Spybot (Free anti-spyware program that automatically updates).
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UltraVNC (Free PC remote control software).
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Audacity (Free audio recording software. It supports multiple track recording and unlimited recording time).
FireFox (FireFox web browser)
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Unlocker (Ever try to delete a file or end a process but Windows tells you it's in use? This program lets you unlock the file and continue.)
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WinSockFix (This utility works well with those flaky network problems. It resets some of the network settings used by your network card.)
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VLC (This program plays just about any video or audio file you throw at it. Great for those downloaded YouTube videos).
Author: Captaian Harlock
| Posted at: 7:11 PM |
Filed Under: PC Help
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What kind of computer to buy?
Buying a computer can be a frustrating process. There are so many numbers and specs that it can make your head spin. When buying a computer you must ask yourself three questions: What am I going to use it for, how much am I willing to spend, and do I want a laptop or desktop?
Home computers can be divided into low, mid, and high end levels. Laptops generally cost more than desktops. However, their prices are falling fast. If you only plan to surf the internet, pay bills online, and use email; then just about any of the low price range PC’s will do the job ($350-$600).
If you want to do all of the above plus moderate use of photo editing, music, and video; then I recommended at least a mid level machine ($600-$900).
High end PC’s ($900-and up) are needed for heavy photo, games, music, and video editing. If you are a gamer then you will definitely need a high end PC.
A quick note on playing games: If you want to play games like the Sims, World of Warcraft, or games that have been out for a few years, then a mid-range PC will probably do the job. First person shooters like FEAR, Bioshock, or Crysis, most likely will not run on a mid or low end PC. One of the most important factors for playing high end games is the video card. The intergraded cards just can’t do it. You’re going to need at least one of the NVIDIA 9000 series or higher or an ATI equivalent such as the X1900 or HD series to run these type of games. Be sure to check the requirements on the games box. It will tell you what type of hardware you need.
Different brand names and where to buy (Click the store to go to their website)
Wal-Mart has good prices on their low-mid level PC’s. I have seen cases where Wal-Mart was selling the exact same Dell desktop cheaper than Dell’s. website. Check them before you buy from Dell
Dell is probably one of the cheapest places and they are almost always running a sale (but check Wally World first). I like Dell PC’s because they are among the most popular meaning you can always find parts on eBay. You can also customize them on their site and their support is probably the best you can get. Though I have heard many complaints and I have a few of my own, this can be expected no matter who you choose.
Newegg is my favorite. Their prices are usually the lowest,
shipping is fast, and I have never had any problems with them. They also have the widest selection of brands and sell parts to build your own computer as well.
HP These are good computers as well but personally I'm more of a Dell fan.
There are also some less familiar brands out there that I have not dealt with. Because I know little about these brands I will not comment onthem.
I feel that all of the bigger names are good. I like Dells better than HPs because in my opinion they are easier to work on.
Just remember, if you buy a laptop, no matter what brand, pay for the warranty. Laptops can be damaged in many ways and unlike a PC, there are few parts that can be easily replaced in a laptop. If you are not careful you can quickly end up with a very expensive paper weight.
The two types of processors you will see are Intel and AMD chips.
Either one is fine in my opinion but they come in many different flavors. I won’t go into great detail because most people don’t care anyway. I’m just giving the basics of what they are.
Intel and AMD (Low-level)
Celeron: This is Intel’s lowest level chip with exception to the Atom. They have very low cache levels which basically mean they don’t perform as well as the others. (I don’t recommend this chip for anyone.)
Atom: This chip is found in Netbooks and is designed for low power consumption.
Athlon: The Athlon's are older processors and are basically AMD's version of the Pentium III and IV.
Centrino: The Centrino isn’t really a processor but more of a package which includes a Pentium M or Core Duo processor, motherboard, and wireless adapter. The package is designed for a slight performance increase.
Sempron: Single core processor which is AMD's version of the Celeron.
Intel and AMD (Mid-level)
Intel Coreduo (32-bit): These are the first generation Intel Core.
Intel Core2duo (64-bit): These are Intel’s newer chips. They come in both dual and quad core. (This one also falls into the high-level category as well).
Athlon X2: These are newer dual core versions of the Athlon.
Intel and AMD (High-Level)
Core2Quad: Quad core Core2Duo
Phenom X3: Triple core version of the Phenom X4
Core2Extreme: Comes in both dual and quad core. They have higher bus speeds and unlocked multipliers meaning they are much easier to overclock.
Turion X2 Ultra: These are available in Desktops and Laptops. They come in both 32 and 64 bit versions. They also support AMD’s HyperTransport technology.
Core2i7: Quad core processor offering Hyper-threading and Intel Turbo Boost.
Phenom X4: Quad core processor designed for high HD quality.
Intel and AMD(Older Processors)
Pentium M: This is an older mobile processor. They range from 900 MHz to 2.26 and are used in laptops.
Pentium Dual-Core: These are earlier dual core processors which are rated below the Core duo and Core2duo.
Any of these will be fine for the low-level user. Mid-range users may want to focus on the Core duo or Core2duo. High-end users will want the Core2duo or Quad core processors.
A dual core processor is like having two processors on one chip. The computer will see the single processor as two separate processors. This increases performance but mostly under heavy use (i.e. multiple programs open at the same time).
What are Quad Core processors?
These are like the dual core only the computer thinks you have four processors. Again this is mainly beneficial if you use multiple programs at the same time. Some games will perform better with a Quad Core but the game has to be designed to see all four cores. Otherwise it only uses one or two cores and the others just sit there. Remember multiple cores don’t really make things run faster they just enable you to have more programs running at the same time without slowing your system down.
What’s the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit Operating Systems?
Two of the most important aspects between the 32 and 64bit operating systems are memory and compatibility. Many new computers are coming with Windows 64-bit. This is good because the 32-bit versions will eventually go away. Windows 32-bit will not recognize memory sizes over 4 GB including video ram (memory). The newer service packs and updates will show more than 3GB in the system properties but if you look at your Task Manager you will see that you are still not getting the full 4 GB that may be installed in your system. The reason for this is, your video cards ram is included within the 4GB limit. So if you have 4GB of system ram and a 512MB video card, Task Manger will only show 3.5GB. The other 512MB is set aside for your video card even if it isn’t shared. Microsoft’s website has more information on this. A 64-bit OS is required to gain full access to the entire ram. However, the downside to the 64bit operating system is some programs are not compatible with a 64-bit OS.
Memory comes in different sizes and speeds. Unless you’re building your own gaming PC you’re probably not going to be concerned about the speed.
Basically I wouldn’t by a computer with less than 2GB. 1GB will work fine if you only need a low end PC that runs Windows Vista. Windows XP runs fine on 512MB but most new PCs will have at least 1GB of ram and will have Windows Vista preinstalled. Windows Vista doesn’t run well with less than 1GB. So if you do find a PC with Windows Vista and only 512MB of ram in it, don’t buy it.
You also need to watch out for “shared video ram”. Your computer’s video card has its own memory to help with the display and video. In many cases computers have a “shared” video ram configuration. This means that the video card uses a percentage of that 1GB advertised on the box. This is something that needs to be considered when buying a PC. This is one of the main reasons I say get at least 2GB of ram. This way you will have some room to spare.
Don’t confuse memory with hard drive space. Memory is used for loading and running applications. When you open Windows Media player and a web browser to surf the internet, these programs are loaded into memory. The more memory you have the more programs you can run at one time. Also if a program needs more memory to perform an action it will have memory available. When you save a file such as pictures, mp3’s, or documents, this is where hard drive space comes in. Memory and hard drive space are like a kitchen table and cabinets. You store all of your dishes (installed programs, files, etc.) in the cabinet but only take out what you need. When you are ready to eat you use the table (memory) to set out the dishes (programs) you selected. Also remember, the computer can access information much faster from memory than it can from the hard drive. This is why programs are run from memory and not directly from the hard drive.
Well I pretty much covered the use of the hard drive above. This one is pretty simple. The bigger the drive the more stuff you can save on your computer. They come in different write speeds but again unless you’re looking at the high end pc you’re probably not going to notice the difference. Most of the new drives are SATA II (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment). This is basically the write speed and connector type used for the hard drive. SATA drives write at 1.5 Gbit/s and SATA II drives write at 3Gbit/s. They also spin at different rates including 5400, 7200, and 15,000 rpm’s. If you’re looking for how to free up hard drive space see “freeing hard drive space”.
Your video card plays an important role in performance as well and is often overlooked. Like the rest of your computer the video card has its own processor and memory. The more memory it has and the faster the processor the better everything performs. Most of the low end PC’s will have onboard or “integrated” video cards. These types of cards are built into the motherboard (the computers main circuit board). These are the common “Intel integrated graphics” that you see under the video listing. These are fine for the low end and some mid range PC’s depending on what you want to do. However, for gaming, heavy photo and video editing, you will need more than one of the integrated cards.
ATI and NVIDIA are two of the most common manufactures of high end video cards. These cards are constantly advancing but for now ATI has the X and HD series. The X1950 and HD4800 being the highest. NVIDIA has the GeForce, GTS, and GTX series. The GeForce 9000, GTS, and GTX being the latest models. I won’t go into details on these but any of them will be far better than the integrated cards. If your looking for a high end PC, especially a gaming PC, then you will want to research these cards further. NVIDIA (Quadro) and ATI also make business Workstation and server video card models as well but they are not necessary for the average home user.
CRT monitors (the big clunky ones) are finally a thing of the past. The biggest things you need to look for in a monitor are the type of connection (VGA or DVI), refresh rate, and native resolution. Basically a DVI connection is better than VGA. The lower the number in the refresh rate the less your picture will blur during fast motion (ghost effect). The screen resolution on LCD monitors is a little different than the old CRT monitors in that they have a native resolution. The native resolution is the highest resolution the monitor can display. These monitors can display other resolutions but unlike CRT’s these other resolutions look fuzzy. If you want a monitor that will display high definition you will need one that has a native resolution of 1280×720 (or higher for 720p) or 1920×1080 or higher for 1080p). This is the same for LCD TV’s as well.
Netbooks are fairly new. Basically they are tiny laptops without optical drives. You can use external drives via USB if you want. Though they are cheap, I wouldn’t recommend one as your primary PC. The screens are small and they are much slower than the average low end laptop. However, because of their size they are easy to carry around. I have an Acer Aspire One and love it. Again however, it can be aggravating at times if you try to do more than surf the internet.
Android is a new OS for mobile devices. However, it is slowly making its way to laptops as well. You can read more about it on the official website. If you want to try it out you can download the ISO (this is the single ISO file that actually works. No need to combine files.) here. 
ISO using the
Microsoft is calling it "RSAT" (Remote Server Administration Tools) these days. You can download both the 32 and 64-bit versions here.
I recently purchased a Canon Rebel XSI. This camera is perfect for those who want an affordable digital SLR camera and professional looking shots. Unlike most point and shoots, SLR cameras allow you to adjust the shutter speed. This shot was taken outside of my sun roof, at night, at 50 mph with a 30 sec. shutter speed. These are fun shots because you never know what you will get but they are always interesting. I adjusted the midtones, contrast, brightness, and color saturation in Microsoft Office Picture Manager. If you don't have office there are many other programs out there that will allow you to do this and a lot more.
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