Saturday, May 31, 2008

Imagine Being Able to Watch Satellite TV from Your PC

By Roger Davis

Is Satellite TV for PC some strange new satellite converter box that you connect between your PC and TV? Or is it some fancy cable that converts the signal between the PC and the Satellite TV?

If there is anything simpler than plugging different cables into a box its installing a piece of software onto your PC. That is exactly what Satellite TV for PC is, a piece of software you install onto your PC.

Satellite TV for PC is a very simple and easy to use program. Installing the software is very easy and the program runs on almost every PC, as long as it meets some minimum requirements which most PC's built in the last 10 years do. Throw in your internet connection and you are ready to go.

You don't need a super fast internet connnection to be able to run the Satellite TV for PC software. Everything from fiber to cable to dsl to dial up is sufficient to run the software.

Even if you have never installed a piece of software in your life, the installation process is very simple and it will take you but minutes to learn how to use the Satellite TV for PC software.

Once you have the software up and running and you have configured it per the instructions, you can start finding the shows and programs that you want to start watching on your PC. Select the show and start watching TV, that is it.

If your tastes range from documentaries to sporting events to music videos you will find more than enough choices to satisfy your need. Any interest in foreign language programming such as French, Japanese, Spanish or others will be right at your fingertips as well.

Even if you do not watch that much TV, you will find that there are many enjoyable programs made available by the satellite TV for pc software. You are bound to find something you like.

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The Iphone Applications

By Charlie Reese

Amazing Apple iPhone Applications The Apple iPhone has opened the doors to so many different possibilities, namely, iPhone applications. While in the past we needed a variety of different tools such as a phone, a navigation system, a calculator, a game system, a music player, and so on, iPhone applications offers all of these in one! Categories of iPhone Applications The iPhone is a real winner. There are so many iPhone applications that can make a person's life so much easier. The application categories are: Calculate, Entertainment, Games, News, Productivity, Search Tools, Social Networking, Sports, Travel, Utilities, and weather. Calculate, Productivity, Search Tools, Utilities Calculate has iPhone applications that can help you to measure just about anything. There's one for mileage, compound interest, federal tax, simple savings calculator, converter, and many more. The iPhone Productivity applications offer services for everyday tasks. Some of the great productivity ones are: Quote Sheet, Receipts Tracker, To Do Lists, StockWatch, Attendance Countdown, Get all the Deals, and BudgetBuster Daily Expense Tracker. Then, there are the Utilities applications. These are tools like dictionaries and references that can be accessed right from the phone. For instance, there's Chem Dictionary, eBooks Explorer, and Weight Tracker. Entertainment, Games, News In Entertainment, you can find iPhone applications like Outalot which shows you where the nearest restaurants, bars, and movie theaters are located. They also offer a TV guide and GoLark Mobile, which finds the best local events. The iPhone Games applications offer a wide variety of games. There are games in all different categories like puzzle, strategy, action, roleplay, and so on. There's one called Speedway and you just race against other cars like you would on a regular game system. You can even really race against other people. The News iPhone applications are possibly the coolest ones. There's a Stitcher Radio where you can listen to all of the entertainment, politics, sports, music, gossip, and more, like you would on a regular radio. Plus, you can get latest headline alerts or find out what's going on in your specific area. Sports, Travel, Weather For sports lovers, the iPhone Sports application is golden. For one, they offer Live Stats Tracker which is amazing if you are on the go but want to keep up with games that are going on. They even have an application called Get all the Sports! and it gives top headlines from the best sports sources like ESPN, Fox Sports, and Sports Illustrated. Travel applications are designed for busy people on the go. There's one called iTraffix US and it breaks down the traffic by the minute from cities all over America. It also has a language translator in case you're traveling in another country. There's also one called Get all the Travel! that gives the latest travel news and deals. The weather iPhone application is remarkable. Weather Made Simple is an application that gives the current weather conditions and a 10-day forecast. Other applications allow you to check the weather for anywhere in the world so if you're going on vacation you know what to expect. Applications in a Nutshell The iPhone makes it so that you don't need any other gadgets. The iPhone offers every type of service that someone needs within its applications. It is understandable why the iPhone is so popular.

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Where to Purchase Iphone Cases

By Charlie Reese

If you have an iPhone then you may be interested in iPhone cases. Not only do these handy cases give you somewhere to store your iPhone while it is not in use or while you are traveling around, but they are also very cute and decorative. There are many different websites online that you can go to if you want to buy iPhone cases, a few of the best which will be discussed in detail here.

iPhone-Cases.org

One of the leading retailers in iPhone cases is iPhone-Cases.org. They feature one of the largest and most varied selections of iPhone cases in the world, and some of the lowest prices which means that you can afford to get a couple.

They have iPhone eco shield cases, which are cases that completely surround the back and sides of the phone, ensuring its full protection. There are also clear cases, which are still just as protective but which allow you to see right through the case and to the phone.

Another option is the aluminum case for your iPhone, and really nothing says protection better than a metal case. It is sturdy and completely durable and will ensure that your iPhone will not get scratched, dented or dirty. If you want a bit of color, try their neon pink or blue cases, which add a splash of fun and lively up your iPhone.

eXpansys

This is another website that you will want to check out if you are shopping for iPhone cases. Just a few of the many cases they offer include the Piel Frama Apple iPhone leather case, Marware Sportsuit Sleeve for Apple iPhone, Marware SportGrip for Apple iPhone, and the Marware Sportgrip Backwinder for Apple iPhone.

There are many other retailers, both online and off, that you may want to check out as well for iPhone cases. Just make sure, if you do decide to shop online, that the site you are buying off of is safe and secured. It has to be privacy protected otherwise when you are giving out your personal information you cannot know for sure that it is safe.

Have fun with your cases, and use it as a cool way to decorate and spice up your iPhone. There are so many different colors, sizes, and styles to choose from, that you will really have an endless variety and really get to personalize your iPhone the way you want to which is what really matters

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Monday, May 26, 2008

Chinese iPhone: Chinese creativity

By Peter M Vizard

An Apple iPhone must be at the top of the top of every teenagers shopping list. The Apple iPhone is still at a high price due to it being a new item. It is not likely to lower its price quickly, as its very popular at the moment. It may become necessary for those who want to own an iPhone, to look for alternatives such as a Chinese iPhone.

Matching US Skills and Talent

The Chinese iPhone is just another example of how the Chinese have progressed in the consumer electronics. China has, for a long time, been making cheap US type products. Now it has now gone a step further and entered into producing alternatives to the popular top selling products. The fact that the Chinese iPhone is good enough to be compared to the original model, is somewhat a surprize, for a country that is known for mass production of low quality products.

In fact, it is possible to buy a Chinese iPhone for as little a fraction of the price of the original and save on the monthly costs. Among the different models of these Chinese copies, the CECT P168 that bears a very close resemblance to the original iPhone. It takes a close inspection to realize that it is actually, a Chinese iPhone clone and not the original.

With this Chinese iPhone, you can use any phone carrier and it also has two Sim slots. It also has more speakers than are found in the original iPhone, and also a removable battery, something that is needed in the original iPhone. Over all, the quality of the product is excellent which is testament to the Chinese being able to produce an item so close to the original model. Only time will tell if it has an effect on the apple version. My best guess is that apple will come out new versions to supercede this version and the Chinese will follow.

The Chinese iPhone is an alternative that should be explored with caution. Due to possible lack of support, and any quality or software issues, may not be easily resolved. The Chinese "copy cat" problem is something that the US and many countries around the world have to deal with, especially if it is done without infringement of trademarks. It's whether its worth chasing the legal action to solve it or its simply better spend on building the new models which are better than the copies.

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Sunday, May 25, 2008

Reverse Cell Phone Look Up Services

By MARY PATRICIA

One of the reasons why a reverse phone look up is possible over the internet is because people openly post their personal details including their phone number and address on to one or many social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Orkut. Go there to look up national court records, arrest warrants, reverse phone search, email search and more.

Often times I find that it is the number of one of my kids friends or something like that. This allows you to know the number of the caller as well as the time and date the call took place. Some of the paid services are unable to find the results and yet still charge you for it. They will, at least provide you with a caller's name and address, but they can also provide much more detail & history.

These specialised sites have cell phone number directories that the free sites just can't compete with. Before the internet became so popular, you had to go through thousands of records to find information about a person.

It stands to reason that will mean a limited number of entries and less likely odds of searches returning results. The main reason why reverse cell phone lookup are becoming harder and harder is because of more stringent privacy laws, that make the action of publishing a cell phone number illegal. Reverse phone services often provide AT&T cellular phone white pages as well as reverse phone searches.

It was a spur of the moment thing, where if you would have answered one thing could've led to another. These reverse phone number directories operate on a volunteer basis, where consumers add their number to a registry, and can then search for other individuals who have provided their information.

There are some existing independent volunteer reverse phone registries that operate on a similar basis. Sadly, some companies online are taking advantage of something that could have been a good thing for everyone.

It stands to reason that will mean a limited number of entries and less likely odds of searches returning results. Once you register, all you have to do is enter the area code and the seven digit cell phone number that's in question.

The main reason why reverse cell phone lookup are becoming harder and harder is because of more stringent privacy laws, that make the action of publishing a cell phone number illegal. They will, at least provide you with a caller's name and address, but they can also provide much more detail & history. Other times, those free websites have a database filled with the same information that public directories contain.

Before the internet became so popular, you had to go through thousands of records to find information about a person.

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Saturday, May 24, 2008

GPS Tracking Your Bottom Line

By Fabian Toulouse

In June of 1963, the fourth of twenty-four NAVSTAR satellites was launched into space, completing the Department of Defense's Global Positioning System. Though there had been other types of navigational systems before, this was something completely different. The accuracy of GPS is astounding. Although designed for military use and operated by the U.S. Air Force, civilians could and did tap into this technology, and now GPS devices are widely employed tools to help people find their way and track objects.

Atomic clocks, exact to the billionth of a second, made GPS tracking possible. GPS works through receivers which determine location through geometry and trigonometry, figuring the difference in the arrival time of signals from four or more of the satellites. Location may be pinpointed within a very small area, and with some devices, even less. Currently, GPS devices can be cellular based, wireless, or satellite.

Businesses picked up on the advantages of using GPS devices. With the ability to see location, time, direction, and speed of any car, trailer, or piece of equipment, GPS is valuable for monitoring. GPS tracking is a great tool for lowering a company's bottom line. Rental car companies can easily locate missing vehicles. The unauthorized use of company cars can be discovered. Trucking companies can use reports generated by GPS to see their drivers' productivity.

Drivers who are monitored are not likely to speed, drive a vehicle out of a predefined area, make long stops, or log unnecessary overtime hours. The efficiency of individual drivers can be rated using GPS reports, and incentives can be used to raise productivity. The increased efficiency means more stops can be made in a day and that translates into satisfied customers!

More and more businesses are seeing the value of GPS tracking. Saving money, time, and fuel, tracking devices lower operating costs to a great degree. In addition, the ability to locate lost, stolen, or missing equipment can save high replacement costs. The benefits are so important that many insurance companies lower premiums for customers who employ GPS devices.

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Friday, May 23, 2008

Speed Is Everything : High Speed Internet Access

By Ray Lam

The world that we live in now calls for certain standard technology measures. For most of us, high speed Internet access is essential. Without high speed internet access, we feel lost and uncomfortable. I don't merely state this with web surfing and emailing in mind. The truth is that many of us require high-speed Internet in order to work each day. No matter where we are, it does not matter.

Having access to cyberspace is essential and for some people even vital. Therefore it's imperative to find a great service that offers high speed Internet access at a reasonable cost and is reliable. We do not want to pay for a service that is down every other day or has limited coverage. It absolutely stinks to get randomly kicked offline. If you have used had dial-up, you surely know what this is like. Luckily we all have better options in this day and age. This is the age of speed and convenience.

Take a moment to ponder the reasons you need high speed Internet access. I can tell you a number of reasons why it's essential for me. First off, I must have high-speed Internet connection in order to work effectively at my job and meet required deadlines. Although I do work primarily from home, I must be able to send emails and surf the web in a heartbeat. This is why I chose Road Runner wireless high speed Internet access. I can tote my laptop all around the house and even out on the patio, all while retaining my connection to the web. This is awesome! Anyone with a computer can appreciate such convenience. No wires is the way to go! Although many of us do prefer cable high speed Internet access, DSL is another option to consider. It's crucial to never confuse it with dial-up. Just because it's functioning through a phone line, doesn't mean it's snail-slow. DSL is close to the speed of cable high speed Internet access. However, it won't typically cost you as much to have. Consider what you do each day on the web. If you're merely surfing through cyber-land on occasion and sending a few IMs, you can probably function fine with a DSL service. But, on the other hand, if you're downloading and viewing a lot of videos and movie trailers, you'll probably prefer cable high speed Internet access due to the large bandwidth.

It's crucial to never confuse it with dial-up. Just because it's functioning through a phone line, doesn't mean it's snail-slow. DSL is close to the speed of cable high speed Internet access. However, it won't typically cost you as much to have. Consider what you do each day on the web. If you're merely surfing through cyber-land on occasion and sending a few IMs, you can probably function fine with a DSL service. But, on the other hand, if you're downloading and viewing a lot of videos and movie trailers, you'll probably prefer cable high speed Internet access due to the large bandwidth.

Many services such as Time Warner offer package deals now days. Therefore if you're currently seeking a high speed Internet access service, think about purchasing a cable TV/cable Internet/digital phone package all together. This is one great way to pay less for your cable high speed Internet access. Enjoy fast connection without the burden of wires.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

Low Rate VoIP: What You Should Know

By Torrie Cantor

It's only natural for people to look for low rate VoIP. Basically though, all forms of VoIP services are already cheaper than the usual telephone service. Since there are many VoIP providers however, service prices also tend to vary. Depending on several reasons and factors, some providers are really cheaper than others. Here are a couple of things you should know about low rates for VoIP.

Free VoIP Services

These days, nothing comes for free anymore. With VoIP becoming more popular, it is hard to imagine that anyone would offer it for free. There are however some instances when VoIP can be had for free. If you are looking for the lowest VoIP rate, nothing can go lower than free. Here are some points to consider about free VoIP services.

- Some providers may offer VoIP for free but only as part of a promo. The free service may not last for long so you should make sure to check the fine print before using VoIP with a provider.

- There are also other providers that offer 100% free VoIP but only for a limited number of places. In some cases, they may limit the number of hours you can use the service. They may also limit the number of IP addresses you can send to.

- There are also a number of small independent VoIP providers that may offer free services with few limitations. These may be small companies though and they may not always offer the features that bigger companies offer. Voice quality may also no be as excellent.

Low Rate VoIP

You may think that free services aren't for you. You may want to have some features that just aren't available in free services. If this is the case, then you might just want to settle on paying for low rates. Again services, with low rates have a couple of considerations:

- Price isn't the only indicator that should influence your decision. The lowest VoIP rates don't always mean that you have a great deal. The low rates may be because a company is not yet well known. It may also be because they really don't offer good services. Before signing up for VoIP providers with low rates, make sure that they have fairly tolerable services.

- You may be able to get lower rates if you choose your features carefully. You may for example, not need 3-way call or redirect call features. If you want to have VoIP simply for making basic, personal and local calls, then you can pick the package with less features so you also pay less.

Checking Out a Comparison Site

Online Comparison - The best way to find the best VoIP rate deals is to go to comparison sites. Various sites rate, rank and review VoIP services. Depending on the site you are on, they may also provide the specific features of various VoIP providers.

Select a comparison site that actually really tests VoIP. Some sites may only offer reviews based on second hand information. An alternative would be to go to a site that has consumer reviews in it.

Low rate VoIP may not be that hard to find. You do have to spend some time though, finding out if you really have a good deal on your hands.

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Conference Call Services

By Fabian Toulouse

Everyone in business would agree that while an infrequent crisis does make life more interesting, they are better-off when life purrs along without a hitch. One of the things that can trouble a company is weak communication. If you cannot keep everyone on the same page, you squander time, money, and business. Therefore, business communication should be a major priority. As more and more companies are finding, conference calling services are a marvelous way to keep everyone informed.

There are free services that allow for reservationless calling any hour of the day. You are never sent an invoice for using the service; callers are charged their normal long distance tolls. It could not be more efficient to use, either. Simply go online and fill out a brief template to open your account. You will be given a dial up number and an access code. As long as you already have phone service, you can begin using the conference call services as soon as you open the account. There is never any new equipment to purchase and no installation fees.

When you want to make a conference call, just alert participants of the time and tell them the phone number and the access code. At the appointed time, everyone calls in. Simple to follow prompts let the host control the call by blocking additional callers or putting participants on mute. Free call recording is offered, so anyone who misses a call can get caught up at a more convenient time.

There are lots of uses for this service. You can conduct meetings efficiently without having team members go to the expense and time of traveling. It is a super way to conduct seminars or inform people of new product information, too. And if you have an unexpected situation come up, you can easily assemble everyone to brainstorm. Many organizations outside of the business world have found great uses for conference calling as well. Physicians can distribute information to critically ill patients world wide, charitable organizations can manage their volunteers more easily, and groups such as scouts and Little League teams can pass along schedule changes and driving directions by conference call.

Once you have tried conference calling, it is immediately apparent why this is such a invaluable service. The more you use it, the more applications you come up with. Straightforward, efficient, and free, it makes wise business sense.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Internet Vehicle Tracking

By hispanic

With the Internet becoming a necessity, instead of a luxury among households, vehicle tracking companies found a new way to put that expanding technology to good use. They successfully combined the accessibility of the Internet with the functions of a Global Positioning System, or GPS, to create a very secure tracking mechanism against car theft. This system can be accessed from a mobile phone or a personal computer, as long as it is connected to the Internet. The system becomes even more accessible and secure with the advent of wireless Internet. Automobiles will no longer disappear without a fight and car owners can now have a good sleep at night.

Meanwhile, users can utilize the benefits of vehicle tracking systems easily as long as they are connected to the Internet. With many places offering free wireless Internet access, civilians can enjoy a very tight system that protects their automobiles from thieves and carjackers.

Internet vehicle tracking has a system that pinpoints the exact location of a vehicle equipped with a transmitter device. By simply logging to the Internet, car owners can find out where their car is. Previous vehicle tracking systems need a special remote hardware as a device controller to locate the vehicle. Today, these systems only require a computer, the vehicle tracking software and Internet connection. Those are all the ingredients needed to find a missing car these days.

After the device is equipped on the vehicle, the necessary software will be installed on the computer that will do the tracking. It also allows the owner to communicate quickly and directly to the service provider.

3.The provider activates the transmitters. The servers intercepts the signals being sent by these devices. 4.The servers decodes the data, after which it is then channeled to the Internet for the client to view on his or her controller PCs. Internet vehicle tracking is currently shaping the way in how civilians protect themselves from the ever-present threat of criminal activities aimed towards automobiles.

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Conference Call: For the Modern Age

By Fabian Toulouse

Is your business primed to handle an emergency? If a crisis requiring immediate mass communication among lots of associates happened, would you be ready? If you have a conference call account you would be. Conferencing is a rapid means of getting everyone together, dispensing information, and solving problems. There are so many needs for this technology that businesses are finding dozens of ways to save money with it.

While conference calling is by no means a recent invention, it has been revolutionized in many ways. Whereas the old analog conference calls could have horrid connections and static, the modern digital technology has phenomenal clarity. The advent of the internet has had a measurable impact on the usefulness of the conference call as well. It is a breeze to quickly notify participants of the date and time of any calls and pass along the conference call number and access code. With free conference calling, all calls can be recorded free and downloaded. In addition, all records of participants can be kept online.

This is a helpful tool for businesses with sales reps all over the United States-or even the world: international conference calling accounts are offered as well. Conference calls can be used to conduct product seminars, train new employees, or hold meetings. With a conference calling account, you can conduct as many conferences as you want and never have to make a reservation. Up to ninety-six people can be on a conference at once, and each call can be as long as six hours-you can take care of a lot of business in six hours!

Free conference calling is an awesome for any organization having a variety of one-to-many communication needs. The applications for this service are boundless. Setting up an account could not be easier, and you will never be billed for any calls. Your participants' are billed for a normal long distance call.

There really is no reason not to give free conferencing a trial run. Over half a million companies are already taking advantage of their conference calling accounts, including over one hundred Fortune 500 companies. Why not sign on today?

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Monday, May 19, 2008

How to Conduct an Up to Date Reverse Phone Lookup

By Davion W

Technology in the 20th century already seems like a forgotten memory nowadays. With state of the art enhancements in almost all aspects of living, modern life has never been this easy. Particularly in the field of telecommunications, people find it very convenient to talk and transact than ever before. With satellite technology, gps systems, and cellular phone upgrades, communication will never be the same.

And you used your phone in a regular basis; you may have already experienced one of its glitches. Prank calls, cheating partners, and harassments are just some examples that go with your phone. It seems that technology has run over you. Whatever the case is, there is always a way to answer back and prevent this unpleasant situations.

Secure your phone with an up to date reverse phone lookup. It is a simple technique that allows you to find and track down unfriendly characters with your phone.

There are ways to do an up to date reverse phone lookup. By doing so, you may find information such as phone numbers, addresses, and other vital information regarding your concern. One way to do this is using websites that offer the service.

Now the numbers of these unknown individuals may or may not be readily available. However, there a number of ways in which you can track the information using the internet. Search engines such as Google, or networking sites like MySpace.com are good places to start. Other options are advertising sites like BoardTracker.com or USFreeAds.com. These public websites come very handy and your mystery person may have just posted their number.

If every effort still fails to shed some light, you may have to cash out. It is because such information does not come for free. An up to date reverse phone lookup provides instant assistance, but more work means you have to pay. Do not worry since such service will not cost much money.

An up to date reverse phone look up is inexpensive. Rates start at $15 and if you want to go deeper into the rabbit's hole, the whole process will only reach as much as $40.

Dubious characters and numbers no longer have a place in your phone life. If you smell something fishy is going on, know how to conduct an up to date reverse phone lookup by visiting my blog.

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Sunday, May 18, 2008

Digital Cable Boxes

By Ray Lam

More and more, old-style analogue cable is falling by the wayside - many cable providers have even turned it off altogether. It's being replaced by digital cable, the new generation of cable that allows up to ten times as many channels to be sent down that same line, with a much higher picture quality to boot. Instead of sending those old-fashioned radio waves down the line, digital cable providers send compressed, digital data, much like an Internet connection (in fact, in many cases, they do just go ahead and use a cable Internet connection for the TV signals). As each channel takes up less space, many more channels can be put onto the service. There is also scope for all sorts of interactive services, as data can be sent both ways through the line.

In the past, it was easy to tinker with digital cable boxes and get paid channels for free. Today, with more advanced digital cable boxes, messing with them is much harder though not impossible. These days, cable companies make their cable boxes digitally so that they are much harder to break through or hack. With added security and less chances of getting tampered with, digital cable boxes can offer much more than just TV.

One of the best features with new digital cable boxes is the ability to record programming right on the box. You don't need a VCR or a DVD player to do so, though you would need one of those if you wish to save it forever. Some digital cable boxes allow you to record up to 40 or 80 hours of programming, and some have much more than that. The only problem with this type of recording is that cable boxes sometimes need to be reset, and if that happens, you may lose what you have saved on there. You should still save anything important to DVD if possible so you are sure you don't lose it.

Updated versions of digital cable boxes allows you to order movies right from your television, and you don't have to pick up a phone to make a payment. Payment is made throught your television cable connection. You also have the ability to get HDTV service through your box if you have a compatible television set.

The possibilities for what can be done through a digital cable box are numerous, it would seem, and there can only be great new things on the horizon for the cable companies and those that subscribe to their services. With things like telephone and even Internet coming through the cable lines, your box could be the center of your home communication and entertainment needs one day.

Digital Cable Boxes

By Ray Lam

More and more, old-style analogue cable is falling by the wayside - many cable providers have even turned it off altogether. It's being replaced by digital cable, the new generation of cable that allows up to ten times as many channels to be sent down that same line, with a much higher picture quality to boot. Instead of sending those old-fashioned radio waves down the line, digital cable providers send compressed, digital data, much like an Internet connection (in fact, in many cases, they do just go ahead and use a cable Internet connection for the TV signals). As each channel takes up less space, many more channels can be put onto the service. There is also scope for all sorts of interactive services, as data can be sent both ways through the line.

Digital cable boxes are far more advanced then they were just fifteen years ago. Back then, they were rather easy to tinker with, and that meant many could get pay channels and events that they have not paid for. Today, messing with digital cable boxes is much harder, though I am sure there are still ways it can be done. However, security is a number one consideration, and cable companies make their cable boxes in digital form so that they are harder to break through. This also offers the opportunity to have more features.

One of the best features with new digital cable boxes is the ability to record programming right on the box. You don't need a VCR or a DVD player to do so, though you would need one of those if you wish to save it forever. Some digital cable boxes allow you to record up to 40 or 80 hours of programming, and some have much more than that. The only problem with this type of recording is that cable boxes sometimes need to be reset, and if that happens, you may lose what you have saved on there. You should still save anything important to DVD if possible so you are sure you don't lose it.

Your new digital cable boxes also allows you to order movies right from your television, and you don't have to pick up a phone to make a payment. You can make it right through your television cable connection. You also have the ability to get HDTV service through your box if you have a compatible television set.

The potentail of digital cable boxes is really huge and in the future it might be the center for home communication and entertainment. It's only a matter of time before things like telephone and the Internet comes through the cable lines.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

5 Benefits of Downloading Full Length DVD Movies Online

By Davion Wong

Why download full length DVD movies, when you can buy actual DVDs from your regular DVD-stores? This is the question some people are still asking. They see the growing number of movie-buffs choosing downloads over purchasing and start wondering what benefits one can get from downloading movies off the Internet.

So if you are a complete newbie when it comes to online downloads, this could very well be your question as well. Just what are the reasons why people want to download full length DVD movies?

1. Lower price

Downloads are generally much cheaper. If you ever shop for a movie online, you will realize that there are tons of choices. You can choose to download a movie and pay per movie, or subscribe monthly, yearly or pay a one-time fee for a membership service which provides movie downloads. So if you will spend some time to look around, it is easy to save some money.

2. No need for physical space

Agreed, VCDs and DVDs are quite compact in comparison with video cassettes of the past. But in case you own lots of movies, you know how much space seemingly little DVDs may consume. Compare that to downloaded movies - which may stay only in your computer, if you wish - and you will see another advantage of downloads.

3. No extra care

Since you can always download full length DVD movies and watch them anytime you want, you do not even need to save it in your computer at times. There are folks who watch and delete them thereafter. There is no maintenance required at all. You do not have to worry about fungus infection, scratches etc. The downloaded movies remain playable years down the road.

4. Wide variety

You do not need to go to a DVD shop and look for the movie you need each time you want to watch something. Downloads, presented in vast selection (which is superior to that of any DVD store), are available to you at a few mouse clicks - anytime, anywhere.

5. Burn onto VCD or DVD

If you wish to keep the movie as a backup or to watch it in your living room with the family, all you need to do is download full length DVD movies and burn them onto a DVD. Be assured that the picture and audio quality is excellent.

From what you are reading here, you can easily see why downloading movies off the internet is quite popular nowadays. Even folks who are not computer-savvy are learning to do that easily. What more for a person who is familiar with the internet like you.

Discover from my blog about the online resources available and which are the best and most convenient websites to download full length DVD movies.

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Tips In Finding Free Cell Phone Number Directories

By Chris Channing

The average cell phone number is fairly private. Unlike landline phone numbers, the cell phone numbers of the world don't commonly go into listing directories. In that case, it can be hard to find a resource in which one can find the owner of a cell phone number that might have called. While it can be quite hard, it isn't an impossible task.

Even though there isn't a common public list of cell phone numbers, some Internet websites can get access to them. They will commonly charge those who search their database a small fee in exchange for the information, however. This can make the process of finding a free resource tough, as the market is usually dominated by those who charge for their service.

There are plenty of resources that offer free ways to go about obtaining some information, but there are plenty of flaws in each one. The first way is to search for the number in websites that collect cell phone numbers as part of an online directory to help those who were called by a certain number to put a name to the number. These websites often have small amounts of listings, however, as their listings commonly come from consumers themselves- and no one wants to unleash their number out on the Internet.

Anyone who comes across a seemingly free resource should be cautious in downloading anything they require visitors to download. Downloads from these resources are never necessary, and will commonly end up being adware or spyware. Companies can make money from downloading such programs onto computers of consumers, while the consumer obtains nothing in the process.

Next we have the reverse cell phone lookup website that claims to be free, but then charges for any further information once the search is conducted. This is another way to draw in traffic for directories that just want to make a profit from the information they are requesting. In cases such as this, it's best to either attempt to find more free resources or end up paying the fee if it is indeed inexpensive enough.

Lastly, there are online directories of home phone numbers that can be of assistance. Not every number that may call one's cell phone is going to be another cell phone, and therefore, it will probably be listed in an online directory of regular phone numbers. These directories are almost always free, so this is a very easy option to opt for.

Final Thoughts

When someone calls a cell phone owner and the owner isn't sure what number it is, it can often be unnerving or a very curious act. Instead of taking the unexpected call, it is usually best to find out who the number belongs to so as to prevent any harassment or unwanted conversations with those who one may not want to strike a conversation with. Given enough searching efforts over the Internet, accomplishing this is possible yet often takes quite a bit of time in seeking.

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Save Your Business Some Money, Use Conference Call Services

By Jody Cafaro

Conference call services are the latest craze in the world of business. It is basically a form of communication that allows interaction between people who are separated by great distances.

There is some basic equipment needed to make a video conference call such as computer, web cam, microphone and speakers. There are more sophisticated systems on the market consisting of dedicated hardware that allows the user better flexibility and control when making video conference calls.

Conference call services are not a new concept and therefore, television sets are even considered a way of video conferencing. For example, two closed-circuit televisions could be connected using a cable allowing each user to hold a conference call with each other.

The video conferencing industry received the opportunity to revolutionize itself with the advent of new technologies such as ISDN. The marked improvements that have been made in the quality of video conferencing in the past ten years have been responsible, in part, for the ever increasing number of firms that are installing video conferencing equipment as part of their office upgrading.

Internet connections with frame rates of three frames per second is an additional improvement and is all that is required by most users. Video conferencing has eliminated the need for business travel resulting in huge savings by the corporations.

Many companies were spending thousands of dollars on international travel expenses when they needed to send their employees overseas. Now with video conferencing becoming more and more popular, it has offered an alternative to business travel. The need for employees to travel in order to fulfill the obligations of the Head Office is no longer an issue. Conference call services are more effective and a less expensive way than requiring employees to travel overseas.

Having an employee travel on company business is not only costly but is inconvenient for both parties. When an employee leaves on a business trip there is temporary loss of regular work and transportation and accommodation costs are just a few of the expenses incurred by an organization. Travel is no longer a requirement thanks to video conferencing call services and it has definitely saved a company a lot of time and money. Many companies realize that there's no need to be physically in front of an audience in order to perform a presentation.

When establishing a conference call facility in your office, you must contact your local telecommunications provider or another company that specializes in video conferencing systems.

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Sleeping Beauty - Arguably Disney's Finest Work

By Steve Collins

Sleeping Beauty was the sixteenth film in Walt Disney's body of work, following Lady and The Tramp and preceding One Hundred and One Dalmatians. It was the last feature to be based upon a fairy tale, authored by Charles Perrault. Indeed, Disney Studios would not return to a fairy tale again until the 1989 production of The Little Mermaid. Moreover, this was the last feature to showcase hand-inked cells.

The film was supervised by Walt Disney himself, though he delegated the direction of the feature to his trusted animators Les Clark, Eric Larson, and Wolfgang Reitherman. The three animators, as well as six other colleagues, were known jointly as "The Nine Old Men." The Nine Old Men were the key animators who had worked with Walt beginning with Snow White and ending with The Rescuers. The film's score was performed by the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, based on the 1890 Sleeping Beauty ballet composed by Pytor Tchaikovsky. Production of Sleeping Beauty stretched nearly the entire decade of the 1950s. According to Wikipedia, the story was rewritten through 1951, the actor's voices were recorded in 1952, the actual animation spanned from 1953 to 1958, and the stereophonic score was recorded in 1957. Walt Disney wanted the look of the film to mimic medieval art. This marked a decided break from the characteristically rounded and fluid animation style Disney had become famous for. Since the feature would be screened via the Super Technirama 70 format, Disney was keen on making Sleeping Beauty as complex and detailed as possible. The Super Technirama 70 format was a process that optically enlarged 35mm film stock to a 70mm print. The Black Cauldron is the only other Disney film to have been presented Super Technirama 70.

Disney charged Eyvind Earle, a background painter and artist, with the production design of the film. Earle was given a great deal of freedom to push the boundaries. His lavish backgrounds often took seven to ten days to paint, whereas an average background painting took only one day to prepare. Earle's artistic latitude was not popular among the animators as they had previously enjoyed a great deal of participation with regards to their respective characters and background settings. Disney's belief in Earle was directly related to his winning an Academy Award for a Disney released short in 1953 entitled Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom. Following its release, Sleeping Beauty only earned half of its $6 million budget. This shortfall nearly bankrupted the Disney studio. The film was initially criticized for its pacing and alleged shallow character development. Many felt the radical new look alienated a number of Disney fans. It has subsequently come to be considered a classic, most notably for its lush backgrounds, widescreen format, and stirring soundtrack.

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Mary Poppins, An Oscar Winning Classic

By Steve Collins

Mary Poppins is the phenomenal musical produced by Walt Disney and starring Julie Andrews. Released in 1964, the film was based on the best-selling children's book written by P.L. Travers and illustrated by Mary Shepard. It enjoyed extraordinary success when it was released, and was ranked by the American Film Institute as the 6th best musical of all time, just above A Star Is Born and below Cabaret.

The plot centers on the title character, the magical nanny, Mary Poppins. It's Spring, 1910, and Mary, played luminously by Julie Andrews, has come to the aid of the Banks family. She hopes to be the last in a long line of nannies for the Banks children, Jane, played by Karen Dotrice, and Michael, played by Matthew Garber. Soon the children are whisked away on magical adventures that include a countryside adventure and a tea party in midair. The plot thickens when Mr. Dawes, the employer of the Banks patriarch, tries to persuade Michael to invest his money with the bank. Michael refuses, causing a run on the bank and endangering his father's position at the bank. In the ensuing hullabaloo, the children flee into the East End, where they meet with Mary's long-time friend Bert, played to the hilt by Dick Van Dyke. The children eventually apologize to their father, and Michael offers to give his tuppence to Mr. Dawes, causing the reserved and distant Mr. Banks, played by David Tomlinson, to soften towards his children. Needless to say they all live happily ever-after.

The first book by P.L. Travers was the inspiration for the film's plot. Walt Disney personally tried to secure the right to the book as early as 1938. Travers initially refused, believing an animated version of her books would sully her creative work. In 1961, he finally secured the rights when he offered Travers final script approval.

The film was released on August 27, 1964 to rave reviews. In fact, it garnered 13 Academy Awards nominations, winning Oscars for Best Actress, Best Film Editing, Original Music Score, Best Song, and Special Visual Effects. To this day, Mary Poppins is thought by many critics to be the best Disney live-action musical ever made.

This was Julie Andrews' first Oscar win. She was first passed over by Jack Warner for the lead in My Fair Lady, a role she made popular on Broadway, but was promptly given the role of Mary Poppins. Her co-star, Dick Van Dyke, was cast as Bert because of his ability to play broad, near-slapstick comedy. Though he is much loved in the film, he has long been lampooned for attempting the worst Cockney accent in film history. Van Dyke acknowledges this fact on the 2004 DVD commentary track.

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Thursday, May 15, 2008

Getting the Classics at the Disney Movie Club

By Sume Diang

Not many movies leave you feeling as snuggly inside as a Disney animated cartoon. Taking the time to relive them with a boy or girl of your own is priceless. There is a lot more to Disney than just the animated classics, however. There are hundreds of movies bearing the Disney brand-movies for "kids" from three to ninety-three! A handful you could watch repeatedly!

Being a proud owner of your favorites lets you curl up on the big comfy chair and enjoy them whenever. You do not have to go out to the video store when only Bambi will do, only to find your movie is off the shelf! (How often has that happened?) If there are several Disney movies you would like to own, you should enjoy membership in the Disney Movie Club.

This is an affordable way to build your movie collection. It works quite like the book clubs that have been around a long time, except there are more choices for maintaining your account. The introductory offer is a bargain. Choose three DVDs or VHS movies for $1.99 each. Shipping is free. If you want you may purchase an additional selection for $14.99 and a fifth for $9.95. (Regular price is $19.99)

You may enroll online, but if you are not comfortable with internet transactions, you may print out the shopping cart order with your choices and mail it to DMC. Alternately, you may join by calling 1-888-257-9100. Any method you choose is direct to follow.

Once you join you will receive a monthly catalogue with a featured option. If you want the featured film, do nothing, and it will automatically be sent to you. Should you want to decline, simply return the response card, decline on their site, or phone in your answer. In the top corner of the reply card you can tell how many purchases you still have to make before your membership is fulfilled. Once your original contract is completed you may quit the club. However, if you keep your membership you will be eligible to be a VIP member.

The Disney Movie Club is a fun way to amass a library of classics you and your family can enjoy for years to come. It is a snap to enroll, and it is enjoyable to page through the catalogue every month, seeing old favorites you may have completely forgotten. Revisiting Disney movies is like reliving your childhood.

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Cheap iPhones Anyone? How to get iPhones at Rock Bottom Prices

By Neil Mathew

$400 dollars and over is the grand price to pay to own an Apple iPhone.. but individuals are not aware that there are different places from which they can buy a cheap iPhone, below retail price...

Cheap Apple Mobile Phones anyone?

Be knowledgeable of the fact that there are places to purchase a cheap iPhone, you can get it up to half off the retail price, shocking i know.

So what do you do?

Shopping internet retail stores, is one way of getting these phones. A competition is taking place on the internet between the retailers where your click is concerned due to the competitive nature they will each store will try to present the best price. It is not a scam, these are the real prices.

Do not amazed by how low these prices are, they are the real thing, i promise you that. It is usually more affordable for an online retailer to sell the phones that cheap in relation to a normal store.

Many of these online vendors are genuine retailers with quality products, and have been in this business for a number of years. Some of these vendors carry some very high end, high priced products in their inventory and they have been doing so for many years.

The sites that sells Cheap iPhones and other mobile products , promote a social community. They sell those apple iPhones by building a relationship with you, they want to keep you on their mailing list so they can provide you with updates on different products, or offer you other accessories for your phone.

You will be able to meet with other phone users to relate and share information. This is another reason why their prices are so low, they will now have the option of having you as a customer for life in a digital sense, because of your interest in a cheap iPhone.

It matters not where you purchase your cheap iPhone, if you are getting it for less than the suggested retail price, what is important is that you ensure it is a new product and make sure that you get a warranty in order to protect your purchase in the unlikely event that it is damaged.

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Experience the Classics at the Disney Movie Club

By Sume Diang

Whose childhood favorite animated movie was NOT a Disney movie? Grandparents often choose a Disney movie for their pre-schoolers. They know they can rely on the plot to be engaging, the dialog to be family friendly, and the action to be non-stop-and there is always something entertaining to the "grown ups" in the theater, too. Just consider the recent release Ratatouille! If you glanced in any theater, you could find a cross section of Americans watching Ratatouille, entranced. People of all ages and all interests are enchanted by what has for years been labeled magic. The Disney Movie Club lets you own Disney favorites from all eras. Hundreds of titles are offered.

There are feature length cartoons and adventure stories to choose from. Their list of titles for adults includes old favorite selections and recent hits such as Serendipity, The Sixth Sense, and Finding Neverland.

Recent hits for youth, such as Ratatouille and The Pirates of the Caribbean movies, are offered by the dozens. Watch for new titles in their regular mailing, but do not neglect to page through all the titles. Finding a long lost film from your younger days like The Brave Little Toaster or Oliver and Company can be very exciting. Watching these classics of yesterday can be like finding an old friend!

And depending on your generation, you may have a little catching up to do! If you were not a kid or did not have children to take to the theatre in the mid 90's, for instance, you likely missed films like Pocahontas and Mulan. What about if you missed the Disney of the 60's, 70's or 80's?! 101 Dalmations, The Sword and the Stone, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks! After so much time making movies, Disney has just about turned out more entertainment than one person can view during a lifetime!

Feeding that little trace of childhood left within you is good for you. Walt Disney always loved making people happy, and for decades that is just what the company he founded has been doing. Joining the Disney Movie Club is a great way to bring home the magic.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

The iPhone Battery: Can it handle it

By Peter Ma Vizard

The iPhone is a modern communication marvel. In the current age of wireless communication, which is growing fast, you need to be aware of how long your portable power solutions will last, and the best way to manage them.

As gadgets like the iPhone have a greater need for more power, the need for making the battery last longer to best serve your needs becomes more important.

These portable tools have grown to have more functions and services like accessing the Internet, have become standard. Staying in touch with individuals in both personal and professional lives, while being mobile is becoming required.

The iPhone has increased usage and with the multi-function programs, and it becomes important to understand how to extend the iPhones battery power for uninterrupted use

The New iPhone Battery

Not only is the iPhone a new gadget but the batteries that power it are new as well. The actual batteries that are in the iPhone are called lithium polymer. These particular types of batteries have a 1400 mAh capacity.

The mAh capacity rating apply's to the storage capacity for a battery. A battery with a capacity rating of 2000 mAh could deliver a current of 2000mA for one hour. Higher mAh ratings for the same battery type will generally mean longer run times.

There are basically three advantages of these types of energy cells being used in the iPhone.

1. The Battery Size

First of all, these batteries are smaller but their size does not reduce the power that is available. In fact, the lithium polymer battery has a greater density and capacity of storage.

2. The Weight - these batteries weigh less. This goes well with the look and feel that Apple were going with the iPhone - The young teen market who are like things being compact.

3. Safety- Since these batteries have been designed for the iPhone, they have higher safety guidelines build in. These type of batteries are less prone to becoming overheated and therefore causing any critical damage to the iPhone or the user.

Extending the life of the Battery

Here are a few ways you can help to extend the life of your iPhone Battery.

1. Sun - The first step in prolonging the life of the iPhone battery is to make sure that the unit is not directly exposed to the sun for any long period of time.

2. Recharging - it is important not to run the batteries completely down. A completely discharged battery could possibly cause damage to the iPhone. There is a protective system in place to prevent this from happening, however, it is best not to take any chances.

It's recommended that the battery be recharged when the 20% warning message appears or just prior to.

3. Daily Charge - Also, even though the battery life may only allow for a maximum number of charges, it is important to charge it on a daily basis.

The reason behind a daily charge is that the uncharged day that the unit is used may call for the battery to operate at the lower one third of its operating range. This practice may potentially damage the iPhone battery.

With any technology, especially when items are becoming smaller, its important to learn about them to get the maximum benefits from them.

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The Disney Movie Club Brings Mickey Mouse to Your Doorstep

By Sume Diang

When Mickey Mouse first appeared on movie screens, Americans have had a special place in their hearts for Walt Disney. Thousands of adults will tell you that their first time at the movies was a Disney classic. For one generation, it was Pinocchio or Snow White, for another generation it was The Fox and the Hound or Lady and the Tramp.

Young adults today cut their teeth on Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. And the tradition continues to this day's youngsters with such movies as Cars and Finding Nemo. Grandparetns eagerly await the moment their infant is old enough to watch their Disney favorites. Recapturing Disney classics is easier than ever, now. The allows you shop for those much loved movies at home.

The Disney Movie Club works in a similar fashion to traditional book clubs, but with more ease. Both adult and kid classics are offered, so there is something for every person in the family to watch.

Recent hits like Bridge to Terabithia are listed, as are old favorites such as Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Except for movies that are in the vault and movies too recently released to be out on DVD, most Disney films are in the catalogue.

Joining the Disney Movie Club could not be easier. Simply enroll and place your initial order online, or if you prefer, you can join by mail or over the phone. The first three movies are only $1.99 each, and you may purchase an additional DVD for $14.99--$5 off the normal catalogue price. A fifth selection may be purchased for $9.95. Shipping is free! About once a month offers will come to your home, and once your first commitment is completed, you will be eligible for great VIP discounts and offers.

If you ever thought about making a collection of beloved Disney films, there has never been a better time. By enrolling in the Disney Movie Club, the original classics can be delivered to your doorstep. There is something timeless about the appeal of these movies. No matter how many years you have on you, there will always be a special corner of your heart for Robin Hood and Little John, Cinderella and her prince, and Ariel and Flounder.

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Bring Home the Hits: Join the Disney Movie Club

By Sume Diang

Be honest! Everyone loves a Disney movie! Even their films targeted at little ones have something to delight older generations. It has never been a painful bore to take a toddler to catch a Disney movie. In fact, most grown ups can probably name several selections they would not mind seeing over and over again. The gives you the chance to purchase a rich variety of classics. The list includes more than just the sweet animated cartoons many grown ups think of when they hear the name Disney, however. There are blockbuster hits for those of all ages, not just for preschoolers.

Having these films sent to our homes is fun-and the initial membership gives you a rare opportunity-buy three movies at only $1.99 each, and shipping is free! You can even select one or two bonus movies. There are hundreds of movies to choose from.

Enrolling in the Disney Movie Club is a straightforward process. The website clearly helps you through the uncomplicated enrollment steps. On on the website click "start now" next to the appropriate choice, and you will be right on the selections page with the order form on your right. To fill in the movies you want, simply click on the "add" button located next to the movie you want to order. Decide on up to five and then select "check out." There will be a short information page to fill in then continue to check out. You can also join by calling 1-888-257-9100.

Though you are required pay with a credit card for online or phone orders, you do have the permission to send a check or money order when enrolling by mail. To order by mail make a copy of the online shopping cart bill and address it to the following address along with your payment:

DMC PO Box 738 Neenah, WI 54957-0738

Your order will arrive within a month. Afterwards, you will receive regular offers which include a featured selection. To order the featured selection you do not have to send the response card in-the featured selection will be delivered to you automatically. Any normally priced selections you choose will count toward honoring your agreement.

Having a Disney collection in your own home means great entertainment is available when you want it because-altogether now-every loves a Disney movie!

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Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Beauty and the Beast, the Peak of the Disney Renaissance

By Steve Collins

Beauty and the Beast is the 30th animated movie made by Walt Disney Studio. Based on the time-honored French fairytale made popular by Madame Beaumont's story published in 1756, the film premiered at Disney's El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles in 1991. Beauty and the Beast is still one of the best known and beloved films in the Disney canon.

It is the first, and to this date only, full-length animated feature to be nominated by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for Best Picture. Considered the epitome of the "Disney Renaissance" (1998-1994) Beauty and the Beast would come to influence all subsequent films in terms of blending traditional and computer-generated animation. The launching of this renaissance was the release of The Little Mermaid and ended, by and large, with The Lion King.

The American Film Institute ranked Beauty and the Beast as the 22nd best musical of all time and the 34th best romantic movie of all time. Additionally, the United States national Film Registry deemed the film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." With regards to the greatest songs in movies, the AFI ranked the theme song from the film at number 62.

In various interviews, Disney executives responsible for the production of Beauty and the Beast felt the climate of the culture in 1990 and 1991 was top-heavy with shallow depictions of women as objects. Moreover, they were happy to produce a feature that fought the culturally tendency for young men to be pressured into marrying or dating the "prettier girl." They maintained the moral of the film, that looks aren't everything, spoke to the majority of viewers, accounting for its exceptional box-office success. Indeed, Beauty and the Beast grossed $171 million domestically and over $403 million worldwide. It was the third-most successful movie of 1991, overshadowed only by Terminator 2 and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It was the first animated movie in history to exceed the $100 million mark.

Critical response was generally positive, indeed Beauty and the Beast was one of the best reviewed animated movies ever made. It was lauded as a return to the classic filmmaking Disney had become synonymous with. Roger Ebert praised the film, "Beauty and the Beast reaches back to an older and healthier Hollywood tradition in which the best writers, musicians and filmmakers are gathered for a project on the assumption that a family audience deserves great entertainment, too."

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Beauty and the Beast, the Peak of the Disney Renaissance

By Steve Collins

Beauty and the Beast is the 30th animated movie produced by Walt Disney Studio. Based on the classic French fairytale made popular by Madame Beaumont's story published in 1756, the film premiered at Disney's El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles in 1991. Beauty and the Beast is still one of the best known and beloved films in the Disney canon.

It is the first, and to this date only, full-length animated movie to be nominated by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for Best Picture. Considered the quintessence of the "Disney Renaissance" (1998-1994) Beauty and the Beast would come to influence all following films in terms of blending traditional and computer-generated animation. The launching of this renaissance was the release of The Little Mermaid and ended, by and large, with The Lion King.

The American Film Institute ranked Beauty and the Beast as the 22nd best musical of all time and the 34th best romantic movie of all time. Furthermore, the United States national Film Registry deemed the film "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." With regards to the greatest songs in movies, the AFI ranked the theme song from the film at number 62.

In various interviews, Disney executives responsible for the production of Beauty and the Beast felt the climate of the culture in 1990 and 1991 was top-heavy with shallow depictions of women as objects. Moreover, they were enthused to produce a feature that fought the culturally tendency for young men to be pressured into marrying or dating the "prettier girl." They maintained the moral of the film, that looks aren't everything, spoke to the majority of viewers, accounting for its phenomenal box-office success. Indeed, Beauty and the Beast grossed $171 million domestically and over $403 million worldwide. It was the third-most successful movie of 1991, overshadowed only by Terminator 2 and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It was the first animated movie in history to exceed the $100 million mark.

Critical response was generally positive, indeed Beauty and the Beast was one of the best reviewed animated movies ever made. It was lauded as a return to the classic filmmaking Disney had become synonymous with. Roger Ebert praised the film, "Beauty and the Beast reaches back to an older and healthier Hollywood tradition in which the best writers, musicians and filmmakers are gathered for a project on the assumption that a family audience deserves great entertainment, too."

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How Does VoIP Work: Getting Straight Answers

By Torrie Cantor

Like many people, you may have already heard of VoIP. But how does VoIP work? If you weren't born in this decade, you may still wonder what it really is. What can VoIP do for you and how exactly is it useful?

Basic Concept

VoIP simply means voice over internet protocol. These days, it is considered an alternative to the typical method of communication involving telephones. Instead of using telephone sets that transmit analog signals, VoIP converts these signals to digital chunks. These are reconverted to audio data when it reaches the recipient. The entire transmission happens over the internet. Although VoIP technology is still far from being preferred and considered standard, some people think that VoIP will eventually replace telephones. It could very well be the next step in communications technology.

The Specifics

So how does VoIP work exactly? VoIP is best understood by understanding typical phone calls first. Regular phone calls make use of what is called circuit switching. When you make a call, your call is passed through a series of switches starting from your phone carrier. Once the other party answers the call, the circuit between the two of you is opened.

Instead of circuit switching VoIP uses packet switching. In this technology, your voice is converted to little packets of data. These packets of data come with their instructions of where they should be sent. They are then sent through a variety of possible routes. They take the nearest router and are passed on to succeeding routers until they reach the recipient. When the packets are received, they are reassembled into a form that can be understood.

Advantages of VoIP

VoIP has more advantages than your ordinary communications devices. VoIP can offer all the features and benefits of a phone service. Its advantage over traditional phones is that VoIP calls can be made from almost any part of the world. Wherever there is an internet connection, you can have VoIP. The technology can provide cheaper calls than standard telephone technology. This is mainly because VoIP does away with costly circuit switching.

Disadvantages of VoIP

Although VoIP is fast, cheap and convenient, it has, however its own disadvantages. These disadvantages are basically due to: (1) the current reliance of present systems on telephone technology; and (2) the shortcomings that plague computer technology.

Telephone Connections - Such services for example as security and cable still rely on telephone connections. Unless the whole country or world agrees to switch to VoIP, these services are likely to stick to their old methods.

This is not the biggest concern though. Since VoIP relies on internet technology, it is also susceptible to the problems that confront the internet and computers. You can therefore expect such problems as viral attacks, crashes and stolen packets.

Now you know the basic answer to how does VoIP work. In reality, this piece of technology does hold a lot of potential. Like everything else, the old ways of communicating over long distances can change. VoIP is the first logical shift that can be taken. It may take a long time however, before VoIP can become a fully integrated and snag free system.

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Sunday, May 11, 2008

Tracfone Prepaid Cell Phones Information

By John Bear

Tracfone is a company that offers a large selection of prepaid cell phones. The tracfone cell phones offered by the company are generally from the two of the worlds leading cell phone manufacturers, Nokia and Motorola. But currently, there are LG cell phone models offered by Tracfone.

All the digital tracfone phones give you all the calling features that you are used to and for free like free voice mail, caller ID, and call waiting. The tracfone starter package also comes with a tracfone prepaid card that is good for 10 units of tracfone airtime and 60 days of wireless service.

There is a quite a large variety of tracfone handsets to choose from but they tend to be more basic than some of the other providers. The tracfone phones are simple to use and low in cost. The cell phones tracfone start as low as $10 and go up to $80.

There are some tracfone flip phones available as well as non-flip ones. There are phones that have either monochrome or color screens. There are phones that features like alarm clock, radio, calculator, currency converter, call divert, and speakerphone capability. The higher end tracfone cell phones come with a lot of extra features such as downloadable screensavers, wallpapers, ringtones and games. There are also tracfone camera phones available. But generally, the two tracfone prepaid wireless cell phone types are standard-rate tracfone and single-rate tracfone.

There is no extra charge for roaming calls with the single rate phone, all the calls you make in your local area or out are one unit per minute. The texting charges are zero point three units per text for single-rate phones and zero point five units per text on standard-rate tracfone prepaid phones.

The tracfone Airtime Balance Display shows the user how much airtime you've used and how much is left allowing the consumers to track their usage and to take control over their cellular phone expenses.

Tracfone cell phones and airtime cards are available through Tracfone's website as well as at the major retailers nationwide. There are also cell phone accessories that you may need, each manufacturer offers accessories for specific models that include hands-free headsets, colored faceplates, screen protectors and different cases to hold and protect your phone from damage. The Motorola V176, Motorola c261, Motorola C139, Nokia 2126, Motorola W370, Nokia 1100, Nokia 5100, Nokia 2285, Nokia 1221 are just some of the available handsets from tracfone.

With the vast variety of tracfone cell phones to choose from, you should compare the tracfone prepaid cell phones according to the features to be able to find the handset that suits your lifestyle and needs. The best tracfone cell phone for you also depends on where you live; it should have a great cell phone coverage in your area.

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Trace a Number with the Use of Reverse Cell Phone Directory

By Davion Wong

A lot of people have considered mobile phones as a necessity. The problem arises when unknown numbers would keep calling you at night, disturbing your sleep which could be quite an annoyance. Naturally, you want to know who is making all these frequent calls. With your eagerness to find the owner of the said number, you resorted to Google. You then spend lots of hours searching yet you end up with nothing.

You need to know that cell phone numbers are difficult to find in search engines like Google. It is because unlike phone directories there is no official cell phone directory. And if you have found some information, you just can't be sure if the data is inaccurate or not unless the owner has posted his number on any social networking websites or forums.

The use of reverse cell phone look up directory can help you acquire information regarding an unknown or unlisted number. If you are running a business or have a job that requires you to use the phone most of the time, it is best to use a reverse cell phone directory. This kind of service can be used at work and home and is easy to use, super convenient and one service that you can rely on all the time.

This service can also help you when an unfamiliar number keeps stalking and sending you lewd and rude messages. Avoid being disturbed by unwanted calls in the middle of the night or while you are at work. With reverse cell phone directory you could identify prank callers, trace missed calls, look for a friend or relative who you lost touch with for a long time or if you want to locate a classmate in high school.

Reverse cell phone directory could be useful in so many ways. With this service, you can keep track of the people who your kids are talking to on the phone. Aside from that you can also use this to catch a cheating spouse.

There are actually free and paid reverse cell phone directory that are available on the internet. With free service, it may take you time to look for one. But if you want accurate details you can opt for paid service that could give you accurate details.

This kind of investigative service could dig into the person's basic information like name, past and present addresses, work history and educational background. Aside from that, you will also be supplied with vital information such as criminal records.

Whether it is for personal or business use, reverse cell phone directory is indeed useful in many ways. Get hold of the identification behind a number with just a few clicks of the mouse.

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Saturday, May 10, 2008

What To Look For In A Ringtone

By Chris Channing

Ringtones empower all types of mobile phone users today to listen to their favorite artists on their mobile phones. But the terminology used to describe ringtones can be confusing, and users don't always know what they are going to get when they buy or download certain types of ringtones.

The first type of ringtone that was produced was the monophonic ringtone. Such ringtones were basic in design, and were common in mobile phones of the 1990's. Monophonic may seem like a big word, but it actually only means that one sound or note could be played at one time. Thus, popular MP3 songs can not be played on monophonic mobile phones- just basic tunes and beats.

Slightly better quality was obtained after the monophonic generation of mobile phone ringtones. Polyphonic ringtones, which support more than one note to be played at any given time, were able to take ringtones to the next level in recreating songs and melodies. Still, the quality wasn't the best, and there was room to improve.

Out of all the ringtone types, TrueTone ringtones became the most popular since they can actually recreate the melodies and instruments in songs. Since it is so lifelike in composition, TrueTone ringtones instantly became a hit among consumers who enjoyed taking their favorite music along with them. This even made some mobile companies come out with media player phones, all thanks to advances in ringtone technology.

Not all ringtones were created equal- in fact, some are used to be secretive when using a mobile phone. The Mosquito Ringtone has become a popular type of ringtone that only youth can hear. It is such a high frequency that adults who have suffered natural ear damage as they age will not be able to hear the tone- making it perfect for classroom or work usage where mobile phones are not permitted.

As the ringtone continues to evolve, it is completely likely that the mobile phone industry will be able to use sound files directly from computers. In most mobile phones, a certain file type is needed before one can play a ringtone correctly. As mobile phones allow for more storage, speed, and memory- having a library of ringtones in their original format will be more than possible. In fact, some mobile phones are already starting to make use of such technologies, such as the line of Smart Phones being developed and used today.

Closing Comments

Mobile phones and ringtones are a match made in heaven. The terminology and phrases that describe such technologies might be confusing at first, but it turns out that just a little knowledge of prefix origins and mobile phone know-how can mean all the difference when knowing the details between the three types of ringtones. As technology seeks to evolve the ringtone industry, it is likely we will see more "secretive" ringtones and true song files gracing our mobile phones. Until then, mobile users should invest in a mobile phone that is TrueTone capable, or a Smart Phone if the funds are available.

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A Guide To Watching Free TV Shows Online

By Chris Channing

Getting a monthly cable bill is no fun- especially considering that there are usually only a couple of channels that are really worth watching for the average user. The Internet has fixed this problem in some ways, with the invention of video on demand technologies, which can give users access to cable and satellite TV shows- in some cases at no cost at all!

When one thinks of bypassing their cable bill each month and instead watching TV shows on the Internet for free, the question as to whether or not the process is legal arises. In many cases, watching TV shows online is completely legit-although the right sources must be investigated in order to do so. Sources such as YouTube maintain strict policy that states no copyrighted material may be published without permission- and they stick to this policy with a diehard determination.

Other resources have struck deals with cable companies and networks that have access to TV shows, and offer services based on monthly fees. This is essentially just like paying a cable bill, only the rates are usually much lower because of the lowered cost to the cable networks in question. This is also an alternative to the expensive installations that are necessary for satellite installations.

Another big fad in TV shows is to release content for free, although the content will be laden with ads where applicable. This was made popular by the TV show "South Park," where its creators decided to release every single episode of South Park to the general public in exchange for advertisers putting their ads at predetermined spots in the episodes. This is less popular for cable networks at the moment, but consumers agree it's the best option for free TV shows online.

There have also been special deals made to make content completely free- even without in-episode ads. After all, no one likes to be interrupted while watching their favorite TV shows by obnoxiously long ad segments. In such cases, the NBC and YouTube deal is a clear example of how this can go exceptionally well for both publishers and copyright holders. TV shows such as "Saturday Night Live" have been put on YouTube for consumers to watch for free, all in exchange for special payments or advertisement spots on YouTube's part.

While there are indeed many legit places to watch TV shows online, it's important to keep note of those that are less so. Some websites claim to be legit and charge users fees, when in fact the fees go straight to the pockets of the webmasters of the website, and the operation is still considered illegal. In such cases, consumers should ask for proof that a website has the authority to allow others to watch copyrighted content, and only then should funds be released to such websites.

In Conclusion

Getting access to TV shows for free is an interesting concept. Clearly, it may take some ingenuity and work on the consumers part to find legit episodes of TV shows for free. But the hard work pays off when monthly cable bills are erased forever- and what glory and satisfaction that is.

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