Film Directors Direct the Money Before the Money Directs You by John Gaskin
(Copyright 2005)
Most Film Directors have elected to stay away from film budgets and production costs. The heavy grinding SHOULD be left to accountants - but, let's lay it on the table:
The Film Director is at the helm of a big money-burning machine. It is the Film Director's job to produce his/her vision of the script - on time and on budget. At his service is a team of film production experts (the Line Producer, Unit Production Manager, the AD team, Production Accountant, etc.) all there to assist the Film Director to do just that.
Film Directors make it their business to understand the basic functions of on-set filmmaking, without being able to fully light a set, or operate a crane, or focus a steadicam. In the same spirit, the Film Director must understand the basics of Budgeting and the extremely important Weekly Cost Reporting process. Every creative decision involves money. It's only good sense to learn to translate creative ideas into costs.
Experienced Directors know of The Weekly Cost Report. If you're not yet familiar with it, let me introduce it to you:
The Weekly Cost Report informs all Producers, Studio Executives and Financiers of the costs you're expending and how those costs compare to the Approved Budget. If you are unable to challenge, or defend, the conclusions made by those who read that financial 'Report Card' (that is, those who hold the purse strings) your ability to control your career is significantly weakened.
Find a comfort level where you can, at the very least, know what to ask during the Budgeting phase, and have a good understanding of how you can trade-off one cost overrun with a cost savings in another area. Know how to formulate general concepts of trading off costs to arrive at your vision and you'll impress the money belts off the Studio Executives.
Picture the following scenario: You're the Film Director of an Independent Film Production. You've shot the exteriors called for in the script and you've seen the dailies; however, you KNOW that there's a better shot of that exterior in Oklahoma that would give the perfect hook to the opening of your film.
You know that you can convince the producers of this on a creative plane. But, you also know that most producers will shudder at the task of dropping that bombshell on the Financiers/Bonding Company that you need to dip into the closely guarded Contingency funds. (Oh, did I tell you that we're going to Okl...)
1. How do you pose solutions to those added costs?
2. What's the right way to approach the game of cost trade-offs?
3. How do you defend those cost trade-offs?
It's always going to be a challenge to present this kind of choice - but, a very doable challenge if you know how to translate your needs to cost trade-off's by using my Walk The Talk ideas.
Usual Way: As the Film Director you sincerely express your view that the Oklahoma shot would be a perfect opening for the movie. What kind of response do you think you'll get? Here's the most likely, from my experience:
Film Producer/Bonding Company Rep - This will put us over-budget by $150,000. I'll talk to the... 'whoever' - (it's a stall for sure).
Walk The Talk Way Alternative: Film Director - The cost of shooting 1 day of exteriors will not require a full crew in Oklahoma. I've called the Film Commission there (see my web site for internet links to all Film Commissions and major Unions) and they have assured me that there are plenty of local crew available to work at a very decent rate. - I estimate it should cost about 1/2 of your estimate, say about $75,000 to give us a bit more than we absolutely need. I can get that back over the next 5 days here in New York. (Note: you'll need to pick-up a copy of my Ebook to see how I arrived at the $75,000 figure - see Figure 17.2, Table 3) - You see, I've rehearsed the next five days with my very experienced cast and there's no way that we can't complete the scenes scheduled in 10 hours a day instead of the budgeted 13 hours a day. And, as you all know, that last 2 hours in New York costs about $10,000 a day (see Figure 15.1 in my book).
Alternative: Bonding Company Representative - Oh. Have the accountant make a schedule of the costs and we can check them. (That's a Financier's last stand - it's up to the accountant to verify your estimates.)
You get the drift. You are simply applying a cost trade-off technique in the same technical way as you would use focal points, storyboards, crane shots, etc. You are 'Directing The Money'; the money isn't Directing you.
Some Directors, through the school-of-hard-knocks, have developed a 'knack' for conceptually streaming their creative ideas through a 'what's the cost?' process. But that process is all too often tainted with blame on 'the blue suits' and 'the money guys' and 'all they're interested in is the money', etc. It's also often based on misinformation, biased toward a predetermined decision. Take my word for it; unless you, as the Film Director, can be familiar enough with the language of money in film production, you're up the proverbial creek.
You, as the Film Director, are at the helm of a money burning machine. The best way to get the confidence of those who hold the purse strings is to know how to participate in the budget approval process, and then to trade off costs to get YOUR vision during the shoot. You could think of it as Directing, only you're Directing The Money.
So how does a Film Director get familiar with Budgets, Cost Reports and the trading-off of costs techniques? Visit my web site at http://www.talkfilm.biz and sign-up for 7 FREE informative articles on how to participate in the budgeting and cost reporting process. You can instantly download my Ebook, "Walk The Talk".
Written by John Gaskin - With 20 years experience in the Film Industry as a Production Auditor, John has managed over 40 major films all over the world. John has worked with some of the industries top professionals including academy award winning producer Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Walter Salles, etc. See more "About the Author" at http://www.talkfilm.biz
About the Author
Written by John Gaskin - With 20 years experience in the Film Industry as a Production Auditor, John has managed over 40 major films all over the world. John has worked with some of the industries top professionals including academy award winning producer Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Walter Salles, etc. John is the author of several articles as well as the book "Walk The Talk". See more "About the Author" at http://www.talkfilm.biz
TiVo: A Revolution in Digital Video Recording by Mitchell Medford
The latest advancement in the recording technology has transcended all boundaries and has brought convenience to your doorstep. The top American channels can be accessed and viewed at your leisure with the TIVO or the Digital Video Recorder.
A common term that is synonymous with TIVO is "personal video recorder" (PVR). The latter is a consumer video device which has the ability to capture television programming and store it on an internal hard drive to be viewed at anytime in the future.
No longer do you have to schedule your plans around your favorite television program. Let your favorite shows and programs be watched anytime and watched over and over again.
Having a TIVO gives you the option to select your preferred programs to record either by time, specific program title, or by amalgamation of genre, actors and directors etc. All programs will remain intact until it is manually deleted to give room for newly recorded items.
The capacity of the internal storage is enormous and can accommodate most of your favorite shows. The database of programs available is determined by the customer's location and their cable/satellite services and is updated daily over the phone or network connection to TIVO control center. The TIVO system is comprised of a non-removable hard drive as well as sophisticated software that allows users to easily program and record their selected shows. The software can even be set to record shows it thinks the viewer may be interested in based on their viewing habits! You can even pause, rewind, and fast forward the recorded programs just as if you were viewing them on a VCR or DVD player, but there are no messy tapes or discs to keep track of. If you are recording a program, you can still watch it in real-time as well.
TIVO guarantees that the digitally recorded images are received, stored, and played without any weakening in the quality of the image. Videos that are digitally stored will retain the same quality as the day the image was recorded.
TIVO also offers a user rating system where viewers can score the television shows they watch on a scale which ranges from three "thumbs up" or three "thumbs down". These ratings are then used to further determine the user's preferences and recommendations are suggested based in part on these ratings.
"Season passes" instruct TiVo to record a show each time it is aired on television regardless of when the show begins, with the option of ignoring reruns. Award-winning features such as "Wish List" searches and TIVO "Online Scheduling" have made TIVO a necessity for every household. The home entertainment innovations provided by TIVO surpasses features of a television possessing digital music, snapshot, and picture in picture features. The inlcusion of 'TIVO To Go' allows for the transfer of shows to your laptop or DVD.
You can always be up to date with the current programming on your television as your TIVO routinely will keep you updated with the daily programming. The sophisticated technology combined with the user-friendly navigation allows you to search for programs just by using the remote.
The only drawback of the TIVO system is a minor one. It requires a land-based phone line to ensure successful activation and full functionality of the DVR service. This may be a problem for some customers as more and more people are canceling their land-line phone service and relying solely on their cell phone.
Your television set up is not an issue for you to make a TIVO acceptable to every household. It can be traditional cable, digital cable, satellite, or even combinations of these. TIVO is proving itself as a viable and efficient companion to your home theater system that pledges to be useful and economical.
About the Author
Mitchell Medford is an author and product consultant for several consumer electronics manufacturers.
XBOX 360 vs. PS3: an in depth lookby Tony James
All gamers are awaiting the release of the Xbox 360 and the PS3. This article takes an in depth look at how the two systems compare.
Graphics: Everyone has seen an Xbox and a PS2 in action and we are all waiting to see which of the two next generation consoles for the two systems will have the edge when it comes to graphics. We have all seen the screenshots of the games on the two systems but what about actual gameplay graphics. Despite the hot debate, when you look at the numbers the two systems use a different but equally effective method of delivering graphics processing power. The XBOX uses a custom ATI processor with 48 graphics pipelines and the PS2 has a custom NVIDA graphics processor with an estimated 24 pipelines. The numbers are misleading because the PS2 piplines are more powerful than the XBOX pipelines. In the end the two different graphics processors will deliver about the same amount of power, we can expect to see impressive results from both sides.
Games: Both systems have several franchise titles such as Halo2 for the XBOX and Gran Tourismo for the PS2 that you will see in the next generation systems, but what other games can you expect to see. If you are a fan of genres such as role playing that are dominated by Japanese and other foreign developers such as Square, you should look forward to the PS3. There is no indication that the XBOX 360 is going to gain much more support from foreign developers and buyers than the original XBOX. An article on GameSpot.com reports that only two percent of Japanese gamers are interested in buying an XBOX 360, with sixty percent looking forward to the PS3 and eight percent to the Nintendo Revolution. Overall you can expect to see more games on the PS3 than the XBOX 360, reflecting the selection for the current generation systems. Only time will which console will have the quality of games which all of us are been expecting
Media Type: Will the media storage type be a factor in the quality of the games? Since PS3 is owned by Sony and BLUray is Sony's next high definition storage medium, the PS3 games will be stored on the BLUray discs which hold approximately 54 gigs. The Xbox 360 games will be stored on Double Layer DVDs which store 9 gigs. Obviously the BLUray discs can store a lot more data, but at the current stage of game development, any game developed will fit just as well on the 9 gig DVDs, so this is not a major factor but one that may come into play later on.
Processing Power: How do the two systems compare when looking at brute processing power? The PS3 uses a Cell processor with a PowerPC-based core with seven synergistic processing units while the Xbox comes with a Custom IBM PowerPC CPU with three dual-threaded cores that can handle six total threads at a time. An important comparison to look at is the number of dot product calculations per second the systems can perform. The reason this number is important is because it is used extensively during gameplay in 3d math to calculate various things such as vector lengths, projections, transformations, and more. Both systems are clocked at 3.2 Ghz. The PS3 can handle 51-billion dot product operations per second and the Xbox can handle 33.6. There is a debate over which system has more brute processing power and these numbers can be confusing to the average person, but overall it seems that the PS3 has an edge over the Xbox when it comes to overall processing power.
Media Type: Since PS3 is owned by Sony and BLUray is Sony's next high definition storage medium, the PS3 games will be stored on the BLUray discs which hold approximately 54 gigs. The Xbox 360 games will be stored on Double Layer DVDs which store 9 gigs. Obviously the BLUray discs can store a lot more data, but at the current stage of game development, any game developed will fit just as well on the 9 gig DVDs, so this is not a major factor but one that may come into play later on.
Games: When considering games, you have to look at the XBOX and the PS2. The XBOX is very popular in the US and has a few great franchise games such as Halo, but the PS2 has an international reach and several popular game franchises such as Gran Tourismo that the XBOX has yet to beat. The XBOX 360 will need to appeal to foreign game developers and consumers to compete with the PS3. Only time will which console will have the quality of games which all of us are been expecting
Controllers: The controllers on the two systems retain the basic shape from the original systems with some modifications. The PS3 controller has the most dramatic change; it has a streamline shape that looks more like a stealth airplane than a game controller. The XBOX controller is basically the same shape as the previous system with a different color scheme. From the pictures released, it seems the XBOX controller will be more comfortable and natural to use. The PS3 controller looks like it would just slip out of your hand but we will not know how the controllers feel during actual gameplay until we get our hands on them.
About the Author
Tony James is an author and webmaster. He currently runs the website Freeware Games.net
What is XBox360? by Anil Kumar Pammidiukkala
What is Xbox 360?
Xbox 360 is the successor to Xbox video game console from Microsoft. It was referred to in the past as Xbox Next or Xbox 2 or simply Project Xenon. Microsoft has scheduled its launch just before Christmas of 2005, the biggest shopping season although it was unveiled on 12.05.2005 on MTV. Xbox 360 is an answer to Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Revolution game consoles. Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system as it is fully known as would usher a totally new era of high definition digital entertainment which is personalized and connected always.
Who designed the Xbox 360? Xbox 360 is designed by the very innovative Astro studios, San Francisco, USA in collaboration with Hers Experimental Design Laboratory, Osaka, Japan, resulting in sleek and stylish exterior packed with powerful hardware, software and services.
The Xbox 360 comes with: Xbox Gamer Guide: An entertainment gateway that connects to your games, movie, friends, music and available downloadable content. The Xbox Guide Button, a one touch interface gives you instant access to content you want, be it the gamer card of the player who just invited you to play, or to new downloadable content for the game you are currently running.
Personalized interface: Xbox 360 lets you create your own customised system for a unique experience. With changeable facia plates, it is very easy to change the make up of your console. Power on your system and you can customize the look and feel of the System Guide and Gamer Guide with various unique skins. The faces and skins can form a unique combination to reflect your personality.
Ring of Light: The Xbox 360 console is divided into four glowing quadrants which are also collectively called the Ring of Light. This Ring of Light, along with the Xbox Guide button controls the entire system. The guide button visually connects you to your games. The Guide button apart from connecting and controlling your experience also controls the startup and shutdown of the system. . The Xbox 360 supports both wired and wireless controllers and accessories by the virtue of which all operations can be controlled from the comfort of your couch.
Xbox Live: Xbox 360's Xbox Live is where games and entertainment come alive. This is a unified interface where you can play with anyone, anytime anywhere. By connecting your Xbox 360 to a broadband internet connection, you can instantly access Xbox Live Silver, to announce your digital identity via your gamer tag or gamer card. You can talk to others using voice chat, and access the Xbox Live Marketplace -- all right out of the box, at no extra cost. When you upgrade to Xbox Live Gold, you get access to the ever exciting world of online multiplayer gaming. By using intelligent matchmaking, and accessing all your achievements and statistics, Xbox Live Gold brings you nearer to your competition at your terms.
Games: Xbox 360 redefines the whole gaming experience in terms of what they look like, sound like, feel like, and play like in order to engage you like never before. All Xbox 360 titles have resolutions of 1080i and 720p resolution in 16:9 widescreen formats, anti-aliasing support for movie-like graphics and of course, multi-channel surround sound. Not to mention you can amplify your music, photos, video, and TV. You can watch DVD movies in the comfort of your couch. Xbox 360 also supports progressive-scan DVD's. The Xbox 360 hard drive can be used to rip music and share your latest albums and pictures with friends and family.
Xbox 360 Accessories Fact Sheet
A successor of the Xbox gaming system, Microsoft's new Xbox 360 and its unique line of Xbox 360 system accessories extend your digital entertainment experience beyond the console.
Xbox 360 Faceplates A never before feature - Xbox 360 is centralized around gamers. As a fully customizable design, Xbox 360 gives you the freedom of changing the look of the console to reflect your tastes and personality. The face plates like most Nokia Cellular phones can be changed with extreme ease to express your moods or your sense of style.
* Interchangeable faceplates allow you to create a unique system. * Find cool, swappable and changeable cutting-edge designs. * Faceplates come in a lot of varieties and designs. * Regardless of chosen faceplates, the system remains fully functional.
Xbox 360 Memory Unit Xbox 360 comes with a 64MB memory unit to further enhance your gaming experience. This memory unit facilitates you to save the in-game achievements and gamer profiles. These units are portable and enable you to start off from where you left quickly and easily. You can easily carry around the Memory Unit in a carrying case which is extremely portable and can fit on a keychain. This memory unit is absolute plug'n'play. Xbox 360 can hold up to two memory units, thus making it upgradeable.
Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote The Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote is designed in such a way that it becomes an integrated control center for the entire Xbox 360 system. The Media Remote facilitates your entry into the world of digital entertainment by the touch of a single button. Play DVD's, music, control your TV and your PC with a single integrated controller. This option is to let you kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride.
Accessories Designed for Xbox Live
Xbox Live Camera The Xbox Live Camera for Xbox 360 lets you video chat and message with your friends and gives up the true gaming and entertainment experience. As an integrated part of Xbox 360's Xbox Live experience you can connect and communicate with friends while playing, listening to music or watching movies. When you play motion-detection-enabled games online the Xbox live camera inserts you into the game and helps you control the characters.
Xbox 360 Headset The Xbox 360 Headset enlivens the online gaming experience beyond your imagination helping you to talk to friends, your team mates to finalize strategies or trash talk your opponents out of the game through Xbox Live, all this during play time. Xbox Live also comes with a message service which you can use to leave short vocal messages for your family or friends.
Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter The Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter takes your Xbox 360 experience way beyond your home, synchronizing with the Xbox 360 main system seamlessly. You can transfer videos and music to your Xbox 360 system from your PC with ease, chat up your colleagues and friends, play games using Xbox Live, and more without wiring it all up.
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Xbox 360 through the optimized wireless technology offers the ultimate in wireless gaming within a 30 ft range for 40 hours with the help of 2 AA batteries. With warning systems in place you can plug & charge with ample notice for uninterrupted playing. The wireless controller also supports the Xbox 360 headset for voice communication. The wireless controller has all the functionality of the standard controller enabling you to use all the gaming and entertainment features from your couch. The wired controller comes with a 9 ft cable.
About the Author
XBox 360 Modchips will be available shortly after the release of the XBox 360 at www.cheapmodchips.net , who guarantee the lowest prices and quickest service on the web! These will allow your XBox 360 to host even more features and the ability to backup games!
XBOX 360 Basics & List of New,Old games playable on XBOX 360 by Princy
The Xbox 360 is Microsoft's successor to their Xbox video game console, aka "Xbox 2". The console is scheduled to be released on November 22, 2005 in North America (two days before the American Thanksgiving and three days before Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year in the United States), December 2 in Europe, December 10 in Japan, and elsewhere in early 2006. The Xbox 360 will compete against the upcoming generation of consoles, including the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Revolution.
In United States and Europe, the console will be offered in two versions: an Xbox 360 Core System and Xbox 360 Premium Edition.
The entry-level $299 core system includes the basics: the game system, a wired controller (the system has built-in wireless support for controllers) and standard video cables.
A $399 premium package includes the console, a detachable 20GB hard drive, wireless controller, headset and cables for connecting to an HDTV and a home computer network. Sold separately, the hard drive costs $100; wireless controller, $50; and headset, $20.
But if you want to save games you will need a 64MB memory unit ($40) to save games, so Premium version will give you more bang for buck.
Here is the list of XBOX 360 games for this Holiday season.
Amped® 3
Call of Duty® 2
College Hoops® 2K6
Condemned: Criminal Origins™
Dead or Alive® 4
Dead Rising
Demonik
FIFA 06
FINAL FANTASY® XI
Need for Speed™ Most Wanted
Frame City Killer™
Full Auto™
Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™
GUN
NHL® 2K6
Kameo™: Elements of Power™
Peter Jackson's King Kong™
Madden NFL 06
Ridge Racer 6
Perfect Dark Zero™
Project Gotham Racing® 3
QUAKE™ 4
Saint's Row
Test Drive® Unlimited
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
The Darkness
Top Spin™ 2
The Outfit™
NBA 2K6
Here is the list of Original Xbox Games Playable on Xbox 360
AirForce Delta Storm
Alias™
Aliens versus Predator™ Extinction
All-Star Baseball™ 2003
Amped®: Freestyle Snowboarding
Army Men®: Sarge's War™
Atari® Anthology™
ATV: Quad Power Racing 2™
Baldur's Gate™: Dark Alliance™ II
Barbarian
Barbie™ Horse Adventures™ Wild Horse Rescue™
Batman Begins™
Battle Engine Aquila
Battlestar Galactica™
BMX XXX™
Brute Force™
Buffy the Vampire Slayer™: Chaos Bleeds
Cabela's® Dangerous Hunts™
Cabela's® Outdoor Adventures™ 06
Cabela's® Deer Hunt™ 2005 Season
Cabela's® Deer Hunt™ 2004 Season
Call of Cthulhu®: Dark Corners of the Earth™
Call of Duty™: Finest Hour™
Casino
Catwoman™
Chicago Enforcer
Circus Maximus
Close Combat: First to Fight
Codename: Kids Next Door™
Colin McRae Rally 4
Combat Elite: WWII Paratroopers™
Commandos 2: Men of Courage™
Conflict: Desert Storm
Constantine™
Crash Twinsanity™
Crash Nitro Kart™
Crimson Skies®: High Road to Revenge™
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon™
Curse: The Eye of Isis
Dark Angel
Darkwatch™
Dead or Alive® 3
Deathrow
Digimon® Rumble Arena®
Dinotopia
Drake™
Egg Mania™: Eggstreme Madness
ESPN MLS ExtraTime 2002
Euro 2004
F1 2001
Fable®
Fable®: The Lost Chapters™
Fairly Odd Parents: Breakin' da Rules
FIFA Soccer 2003
FIFA Soccer 2004
FIFA STREET
Fight Night 2004
Fight Night Round 2
Ford Mustang
Ford vs. Chevy
Forza Motorsport™
Freedom Fighters™
Frogger Beyond™
Futurama™
Fuzion Frenzy®
Genma Onimusha
Goblin Commander™: Unleash the Horde
Grand Theft Auto 3
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas™
Gravity Games Bike: Street. Vert. Dirt.
Grooverider: Slot Car Thunder
Half-Life® 2
Halo®
Halo® 2
Halo® 2 Multiplayer Map Pack
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone™
He-Man: Defender of Grayskull
Hitman: Contracts™
House of the Dead 3
IHRA Drag Racing Sportsman Edition
IHRA Professional Drag Racing 2005™
Jade Empire™
James Bond 007™: NightFire™
Judge Dredd®: Dredd vs. Death™
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
Kabuki™ Warriors
Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer
kill.switch
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events™
LOONS--The Fight for Fame
Manhunt
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX™ 2
Max Payne
Max Payne® 2
Medal of Honor European Assault™
Medal of Honor™ Frontline
Medal of Honor™ Rising Sun
Mega Man® Anniversary Collection
Metal Arms™: Glitch in the System
MicroMachines
Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing
Monster Garage™
Mortal Kombat®: Deception™
MTV Music Generator™ 3
Murakumo: Renegade Mech Pursuit
MX World Tour™: Featuring Jamie Little
Namco Museum™
NBA LIVE 2003
NBA LIVE 2004
Need For Speed™ Underground 2
NFL Blitz 2002
NFL Blitz 2003
NFL Blitz 2004
NHL® 2004
NHL Hitz™ 2003
Ninja Gaiden®
Ninja Gaiden® Black
Outlaw Golf 2
Outlaw Volleyball
Pariah™
Phantom Crash™
Pinball Hall of Fame™
Pitfall®: The Lost Expedition™
Predator Concrete Jungle™
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time™
Pro Evolution Soccer 5
Pro Race Driver™
Pump It Up™: Exceed
Pure Pinball
Puyo Pop Fever
Quantum Redshift®
Rayman Arena
Raze's Hell™
Red Dead Revolver
Red Faction® II
RedCard™ 2003
Robotech: Battlecry
Rocky™ Legends
Rogue Ops
Samurai Jack
Samurai Warriors™
Scooby Doo!™ Night of 100 Frights
Scrapland
SEGA GT™ 2002
Shadow The Hedgehog™
Shamu's Deep Sea Adventures
ShellShock: Nam '67™
Sid Meier's Pirates!®
Sneakers™
Sniper Elite
Soccer Slam
Sonic Heroes™
Sonic Mega Collection™ Plus
Speed Kings™
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy™
Splat Magazine Renegade Paintball
SpongeBob SquarePants™: Battle for Bikini Bottom
SpyHunter® 2
Spyro™ A Hero's Tail
SSX 3
Stake™
Star Trek: Shattered Universe
Star Wars®: Episode III Revenge of the Sith™
Star Wars®: The Clone Wars™
Star Wars® Jedi Knight®: Jedi Academy™
Star Wars: Starfighter™ Special Edition
Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™
Star Wars® Knights of the Old Republic® II: The Sith Lords™
Street Racing Syndicate™
Stubbs the Zombie™ in Rebel without a Pulse™
Super Bubble Pop
Super Monkey Ball™ Deluxe
SX Superstar™
Tecmo Classic Arcade
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™
Test Drive®: Eve of Destruction
Tetris Worlds™
The Great Escape
The Hulk™
The Incredible Hulk™: Ultimate Destruction
The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
The Lord of the Rings™: The Return of the King™
The Simpsons™ Hit and Run™
The Simpsons™ Road Rage
The Terminator™ Dawn of Fate
The Thing™
Thief: Deadly Shadows™
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® 3
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater™ 4
Tony Hawk's Underground 2
Tork™: Prehistoric Punk™
Toxic Grind
Ty The Tasmanian Tiger™
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger™ 2: Bush Rescue™
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger™ 3: Night of the Quinkan
Urban Freestyle Soccer
Vexx™
Volvo: Drive for Life
World Series® Baseball 2K3
Worms 4 Mayhem
Worms™ Forts: Under Siege
WWE™ Raw™ 2
XIII
Yourself!Fitness™
Note: A software emulator is required for each original Xbox game you play on your Xbox 360™ console. Please check back for more details as we approach the launch date.
About the Author
Webmaster at JustXBOX.com -- Your #1 site for XBOX 360 & XBOX Games, Reviews, & News
Should You Upgrade To An XBox 360 by Colette Ianieri
The XBox 360 is going to be one of the most sought after gifts of this upcoming holiday season. However many people want to know is it worth upgrading now, or should you wait, here are some factors you may want to consider.
The base price for and XBox 360 is $300, the most common accessories are the 20GB hard drive ($100), wireless controllers ($50) and headsets ($20). Many vendors are offering packages with a variety of options with prices of $500 or more. While some of these options depend on your gaming style and preferences the hard drive is the one option we recommend you get right away. The hard drive allows you to save games to play back later and install updates that make many older games compatible on the new platform.
One of the advantages the XBox 360 will have over other game systems is graphics. The graphics of other gaming systems are top notch but on newer games like Project Gotham Racing 3, NFL 06 and Call of Duty 2 which were written for this platform, there simply is no comparison. When you compare the specifications the XBox 360 to any of its competitors, it's anywhere from 2 to 10 times more powerful. If you are lucky enough to own and HDTV you will really notice the difference, although it will work on standard TV's as well.
With this console Microsoft is also making a concerted effort to make the Xbox part of your media center. It can connect to any other windows networked computer in your house. It can be used to play movies, slideshows of pictures, and MP3 files. If you own and IPod or digital camera you can also connect them directly to the USB port located on the front game console.
Lastly you'll want to think about Xbox Live. This is a paid online membership that allows you to get free trials of new games and play in head to head action against other players over your high speed internet connection. You also have access to updates and patches as they become available.
For hard core gamers there is no choice, they will do practically anything to get their hands on the newest and latest systems available. For others it may be worth waiting until 2006 when Playstation 3 is released to see how platforms compare.
© Copyright.Gamer411.net, All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
This article was written by Colette Ianieri who runs http://www.Gamer411.net which features news and reviews of video games, game systems, and portable video games.
The New Apple iPod with Video Playback, You can't beat this player by Gregory Nirshberg
Apple has done it again. Not even two months after they revolutionized the mp3 player market with the iPod nano, and changed the way we think about flash mp3 players, they've done it again with the new iPod with video playback, the next generation of Apple iPods.
This new mp3 player is THE must have player for this holiday shopping season.
In With the New
With this player Apple has added a dual color option, so if white just isn't for you, the iPod Video also comes in a sleek black color. The new design is also super thin, coming in at a full 50% thinner than the original iPod. And of course, to get full function out of the picture viewing and video playing capabilities, the iPod video comes with a new and improved 2.5 inch color screen, 0.5 inches larger than previous models. The new LCD screen is also covered by a hard clear resin, instead of the standard plastic cover. This will protect the screen from scratches and provide a clearer picture view.
The Sizes
With 30GB and 60GB file capacities you can store your entire music collection and have plenty of room to spare! Store all your pictures, download TV shows straight from iTunes and watch them on your commute. With this player you'll never be wishing you "just had some more space for your files".
The iPod Gold Standard
Remember, this is an iPod first and foremost. So the picture is superb. The sound is excellent, and has even been improved slightly in this new generation. The navigation is easy and intuitive with the amazing clickwheel. And the organization control is unmatched. Plus you have all the regular extras like calendar, organizer, games, alarm, a newly added lap timer, photo slideshows, and more.
Support for Video Playback
Apple hasn't just added video capabilities to their player and left it at that. They've incorporated new video downloading services into their iTunes store. Download music videos straight to your iPod, or even last weeks episodes of Lost or Desperate Housewives. Hook the iPod up to your TV and play the video files on a larger screen. The transfer quality is even pretty good. Videophiles might want more, but for most of us the display will be just fine. The player even boasts a much improved 20 hour battery life for the 60GB version(15 hours for the 30GB).
Price and Accessories
Sure iPods are more expensive than other mp3 players. But the new 30GB iPod can be purchased for the same price the old 20GB iPod used to be sold for. And this player comes with video and photo support! This is a huge step forward for Apple in making the best mp3 players more accessible to most of us. The only noticeable drawbacks of this player are the lack of some of the usual accessories that come standard with iPods, including the need to purchase an extra AV cable to hook the player up to your television. But these drawbacks are minimal when compared to all the great advancements of this player.
Conclusion
The days when mp3 players only played music files are a thing of the past. The consumer has spoken, and we want our players to not only PLAY music, but to STORE ALL our music. But this isn't enough either. We want to store and listen to audio books. Store and view our photo albums, and now we want to be able to watch videos. Be it music videos, TV shows, or movies. We want it all, and Apple has delivered. The new Apple iPod video is a must have for anyone in the market for a new mp3 player, and will make an excellent present this holiday season. But if you're looking for something a little smaller and cheaper, the iPod nano may be a great alternative. Tiny and sleek, this player is great for working out or smaller music collections, for those who want the signature iPod quality.
About the Author
Gregory Nirshberg owns and operates Mp3 Player Buyer Guide. A website dedicated to helping people find and choose the best mp3 players. A comprehensive buying guide and resource for mp3 player reviews. Also contains up to date clearance and rebate deals.
Previous PostsBest Cheap Laptop Deals
How to Produce a Christmas Number One Hit by Ian Waugh
The worst thing about Christmas has to be listening to Top Of The Pops and the Christmas Number 1 - Girls Aloud, Robbie Williams, Westlife and Mr Blobby for goodness sake! Surely anyone can produce a better Christmas Hit than those. After all, a computer does all the work, doesn't it - all you do is press a few buttons and jiggle a few drum and bass lines around.
So what do you need? You need a PC with a reasonable amount of processing power under the hood - a Pentium III at least, preferably a P4 - in order to run the music software.
Audio files are quite large - forget MP3s, we're talking the real thing here - and for each track of audio you record you'll need around 10.6Mb of hard disk space per minute. Every track won't be filled with audio so you won't need quite that much in a multi-track recording but for a four-minute 16-track song it would be wise to allocate around 500Mb of hard disk space.
Playing cards
You need a soundcard. All modern PCs have one of these but if you don't want your song to sound like it was recorded in a back bedroom - even it if was - get a decent card.
At Christmas-stocking prices are a range of SoundBlaster cards such as the Audigy 2 ZS (for under £70/$100) with a good set of built-in sounds. But more than that, they support SoundFonts. These are samples the card uses to produce realistic instrument sounds and better beefy bass lines than yer average sound card.
If you've a rich Mummy and Daddy they'll be pleased to buy you a more expensive card such as E-Mu's Emulator X (around £220/$380), a desktop sampling system that also supports SoundFonts. If you own a nightclub you'll be able to afford one of CreamWare's high-end systems with on-board synthesisers that can do everything but sober up the drummer - not that you need a drummer 'cause the cards have all the drum sounds you need.
Key move
You'll also need a MIDI keyboard to record your masterpiece. There's a vast choice here from E-Mu's XBoard 25, XBoard 49, and Swissonic's CK490 (all running around £100/$150 give or take) to the Fatar range running from the TMK61 (£130/$225) up to the VMK 188 Plus (£599/$1000) with several models inbeween.
These keyboards don't have any on-board sounds like synthesisers but they're much cheaper than synths and there are sounds in the soundcard anyway. If you've seen an Elton John concert and can't face the thought of touching a keyboard, don't worry - you can use pre-recorded loops and samples and cleverly arrange them in stunning combinations without a keyboard.
Listen 'ere
A decent pair of speakers is essential. The ten quid jobbies that were bundled with your PC may be fine for playing MP3s but they simply won't do for mixing music.
The Big Boys use dedicated monitor speakers which can cost as much as a holiday in Barbados but if you leave the other half at home you could easily afford Behringer's MS16s (£46/$79), or Edirol's MA7A (£80/$135) or MA150 (£120/$200).
If your PC is near your hi fi you can run the audio through that but switch off any bass boost or EQ settings. The idea is to get a flat, uncoloured response so if it sounds good on those speakers it should sounds good on any speakers. So the theory goes.
Good arrangement
The Big Boys can fiddle with high-end music sequencers but the new and incredibly modestly-priced Cubase SE 3 (less than a ton/$170) lets you record and assemble audio and MIDI parts with almost as much aplomb. It shows both types of recording on the same arrange page making it easy to see how they fit together.
And finally, you need a CD recorder so you can burn your finished hit to CD and send it to lucky record companies. If you've a modern PC you'll have one already. But do use a labeller and create a CD inlay, too, to give the CD a pro finish. In the music biz, looks, fashion and style are far more important than content so spend at least as much time on the outside as on the music. Put your contact details on the CD label as well as the inlay.
Hook and line
Now let's make a song. You need a hook. This is the bit everyone sings so it has to be catchy. It's usually the chorus but you can have a catchy bass line, drum line or even a vocal hook such as shout or a catch phrase like "Eh Oh". Well it worked for the Teletubbies - are you old enough to remember them with embarrassment?
Let's say you've come up with a stonking chorus. Build a verse around it. It doesn't have to be memorable; few verses are. You can meander around in a relatively tuneless way until it's time to unleash the chorus on the world.
When building a song, start with the rhythm section. Grab some groovy drum loops, string them together then add the bass line. You can play this on your new MIDI keyboard or drop in bass samples - jolly useful things, samples.
Next you'll want to add some keyboard parts which can be clever rhythmic figures or you can play pads by holding down some chords using a broad-texture sound such as strings.
Very vocal
Then add the vocals. If you can't sing - but remember that never stopped anyone making a record - you might like to nip down the pub and ask the winner of this week's karaoke contest to do the chanting for you. Play your cards right and they may even pay you for the privilege.
If you've too much musical nous to be in the same room as a karaoke singer, you can always fall back on your old friend, the sample.
The final step is the mixing. This is where you balance all the parts you recorded, add a dash of reverb and generally tart the thing up.
Then save the entire song as an audio file ready for burning to CD. This means recording the MIDI parts as audio tracks. You need to mix all the tracks into one stereo track so the final file will be 10.6Mb x the length in minutes.
Looks good
Now you have to interest the A&R men in your CD. It's all about image so if you're dull and ugly - name three ugly pop stars, apart from Madonna and Mick Hucknall - you may have to get one of your beautiful friends to pose for the publicity photos.
Write a one-page biog - they don't want to know that you have a GCSE in music, they want to know what gigs you've done and any Big Name bands you've supported. Drop a few names such as Bruce, Robbie and Tina. You don't have to mention surnames...
If you do catch the ear of an A&R person, be prepared to throw your ego out the window - you can't afford one at the moment and when you're rich and famous you can buy a much better one anyway.
You'll see the months of blood, sweat and Pils which you poured into your song pouring straight down the drain as the record company drafts in a 14-year-old DJ to remix your song using the latest Dance breakbeats and crap - sorry, rap - vocals.
But don't worry - you can laugh all the way to the bank when it reaches Number One!
About the Author
Ian Waugh is one of the UK's leading hi tech music writers. He has written over 2,000 articles and is author of the "Quick Guide to..." series which includes the Quick Guide to Dance Music, Digital Audio Recording, MP3 and Digital Music, and Analogue Synthesis. There's an illustrated Tutorial on How To Write a Hit Song plus Twelve Top Tips on how to create a professional sound at http://www.making-music.com
How To Find The Best Laptop Dealsby Titus Hoskins
Finding a special laptop deal or price is within every shopper's reach. It's mainly knowing where to look!
Simple as that statement may sound, many people in the market for a new or used laptop don't know where to look for that special laptop or notebook deal. They simply don't know how to proceed or what steps they should take to find the laptop deals that do exist, sometimes right in they very own neighborhood.
Simple shopping tips or advice that may take 100s off the price of a new or used laptop. Most of these shopping tips or guidelines fall within the realm of common sense. Common procedures that will reduce the price tag on your next laptop purchase.
Here's a short run down on some shopping tips you can try:
Use The Internet
Your neighborhood is the whole world. We are no longer confined to a small shopping location or area. We have the whole world at our disposal because of the Internet. Use it!
Use the Internet to find online stores, information, special deals or offers. Use Froogle! Its a great starting point. Use online notebook guides to find the top rated laptops, many of these sites will also have special deals or links. These sites know their laptops - use their knowledge and expertise to find the right notebook computer for you.
Comparison Shop
Perhaps, one of the best ways to get a great bargain, is to Comparison Shop to compare different products and prices. Again, the Internet is ideally designed to give you mass amounts of data and information. It makes comparison shopping a real breeze. Use online sites like Pricerunner.com, PriceGrabber.com, NextTag.com, Shopping.com and don't forget Google's Froogle.com!
These comparison shopping sites will list the best laptop deals and prices for you. More importantly, they will also rate the service and support given by each of these online stores. Very important when you're buying online. Make sure you check out the store's warranties, return policies, service records and customer ratings.
Refurbished Laptops
The real special deals are reserved for refurbished laptops. Many times you can get a great laptop at a very reduced price by purchasing a refurbished laptop. Make sure you get a warranty or buy extra warranty - even then the price will still be worth your while. You can buy a refurbished laptop for a fraction of its original price. Check online for sites selling refurbished laptops or check your local dealer.
Make sure the dealer is legitimate, and watch out for stolen laptops. Be extra careful to get the needed warranties, bill of sales, etc. when buying a refurbished laptop.
Close-out Sales, Liquidation
Keep your eyes peeled for close-out, fire, and liquidation sales. Laptop technology is changing at a fast pace, many lines are discontinued to make room for newer inventory with the latest technology. Many of these close-out sales will offer great laptops at reduced prices.
Don't Forget eBay
The shopping Mecca of the modern era - don't forget to check out eBay. You may find some very special deals. Again, make sure you check out the seller's past history.
Coupons
Mail-in rebates, coupons, online special deals - all these offer great savings to the observant shopper. Don't buy a laptop until your have searched for coupons or discounts, special deals and the like. Dell is famous for its coupons. Don't buy a Dell Laptop without using one of these coupons. You will save 100s off the price of your laptop.
Other notebook makers such as Toshiba, Apple, Sony... offer great online deals and discounts... search for these before you purchase your laptop.
Don't Forget To Haggle
If you're buying a laptop from your local dealer, don't always take the sticker price as gospel. Ask for a special deal, you may be pleasantly surprised at the savings. This works best with independent dealers who can offer you a special deal. If you're a regular customer, the better the deal you should demand!
In conclusion, just use some common sense before you buy your laptop. Use the Internet to check out and comparison shop for the best laptop deals. Use coupons and mail-in rebates whenever possible. Watch out for great close-out, or liquidation sales and don't forget to check out refurbished laptops. Last, but not least, if you get the chance, don't forget to haggle. It's a centuries old technique that still works. It may just get you the best laptop deal.
About the Author
For a whole range of Laptop Deals and Discount Coupons - Visit This Link:
Dell Notebook Coupons Get a Free Desktop Calendar & Planner
Titus Hoskins Copyright © 2005.
Christmas Music
Voip Phone Solution
Previous PostsVoip Phone Solution
Palm Pilot Software
Wireless Phone Plan
Wireless Network
Cheap Laptop5 Reasons Your Business Should Switch to VoIP by Michael Plante
Today, many businesses are choosing to unplug and go with VoIP technology. There are many advantages for using VoIP including cost effectiveness, greater productivity, and the incorporation of data, audio, and video all intertwined in one program. Here is an overview of five reasons that your business should make the switch to VoIP.
1. VoIP Reduces Cost
Businesses today depend upon telecommunications. Whether it is Internet, E-mail, Customer Service through telephone, online web applications, and E-mail, or whatever your IT business needs may be, VoIP offers to handle all of your needs with one application. Additionally, this reduces cost and increases productivity. VoIP also has combined with software applications that are perfect for many business needs. Software such as accounting programs, Email, and PC based applications help to save money by combining services. The reduction in long distance charges is another great advantage for switching to VoIP for business needs. By combining data, video, and audio needs, companies save on bandwidth usage, which ultimately leads to financial savings.
2. VoIP is perfect for Call Centers
VoIP is slowly becoming the standard choice for Call Centers. VoIP offers some major benefits for Call Centers such as flexibility, cost efficiency, and enhanced customer service applications. For instance, in the past, a Call Center needed to be a stabilized facility equipped with many phone lines used by people who would physically be located in the Call Center. By using VoIP for your Call Center, not only is your main location easily relocated as your business expands, but you can hire employees virtually world wide. Larger companies take advantage of VoIP Call Centers by outsourcing work overseas where they can hire employees for less.
The Integration of data, audio, and web based features is another reason why businesses are opting for VoIP. Customer service calls are handled more efficiently with the integration of these three components. Not only are calls transferred more proficiently, but also greater care can be given to customers when Call Centers use integrated software platforms.
More Call Centers are taking advantage of the opportunity to hire employees world wide through VoIP services. Employees may work in different time zones, giving greater customer service benefits year round, and hiring home based employees is another way businesses are choosing to save money.
3. VoIP is better for Mobile Employees
Many companies employ mobile workers. Mobile Employees have typically used cell phones at the company's expense to stay in touch during the day. By utilizing VoIP Mobile Employees can remain virtually connected with the company, and the company saves money on fees.
When mobile employees rely on cell phones, many times a customer will call the main office, only to hear a message or be told the worker's cell phone number. This requires the customer to hang up and call the employee on their cell phone- increasing the chance that the employee will lose the sale. By using VoIP, a call is instantly routed to the mobile employee and productivity increases.
Since VoIP integrates many other technologies, including E-mail, mobile employees are able to conduct many more transactions with one application.
4. VoIP allows Real Time Global Conferencing
Global conferencing and training can put a burden on a business. Attempts to reach employees worldwide are not only expensive but time consuming as well. With VoIP technology businesses can avoid conferencing costs, and enable secure audio and videoconferences to offices worldwide. By reducing long distance costs, employees are also taking advantage of calling each other and corporate headquarters more frequently.
5. VoIP offers Flexibility that Ultimately Increases Productivity VoIP allows greater flexibility. By using a standard VoIP Phone Adapter, you are able to take your telephone number with you. This allows greater productivity by allowing employees to conduct business overseas, while traveling, staying in hotels, etc. Your customers will be able to call you on your regular business phone number, and you won't have to use your cell phone.
Many VoIP services are fully integrated with PC applications such as fax and email. There is greater productivity when employees can integrate their email and phone services with one application. Conduct business with VoIP on your laptop, any time day or night.
With the option to get VoIP phone numbers with area codes throughout the country, and some world wide, businesses can expand by choosing local area codes for the city, state, or country they are targeting.
About the Author
Michael Plante operates a free articles site, http://go-article.com . Offering a wide range of subjects and categories, this site offers thousands of quality articles. If you are looking for article information, check out http://go-article.com
Palm Pilot Software
Palm Pilots for Everyday Use by Michael
Have you ever wondered what a Palm Pilot can do? In this day and age almost anything a laptop can do. The only difference is a PDA(personal digital assistant) can fit in your pocket! Imagine storing contact information, writing notes and keeping organized throughout the day with something about the size of a wallet. The possibility is a reality.
Palm pilots started out a few years back with the main concept of retrieving information at the touch of a button in a very compact and mobile handheld. That main theory has lasted and has been improved on several times over. The PDA got smaller, more lightweight, got a bigger memory and numerous added features.
Palm pilots can now do almost anything. Here's a few:
1)8-60MB of memory with expansion slots for upgrades
2)Most come with high resolution color screens
3)Easily sync Outlook information View photos and videos, play MP3 files and GPS capabilities
4)Stores numerous names addresses and phone numbers
5)Headphone and external speaker jack
6)E-mail and wireless internet connection available
7)Palm OS software that synchronizes with a main computer through infra red connection
8)Stores notes, appointments, and memos, even scribble on it
9)Edit and create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint compatible files
10)Add software such as games, dictionary and more
Can you see what I mean when palm pilots can do almost anything? Remember that a PDA can go anywhere you go and can hide in a purse, your suitcoat, or even your back pocket. All these useful functions are necessary to keep people on the move and because we are all human palm pilots carry all our valuable information at the touch of a button.
How can such a compact handheld do all this? By constantly pushing the envelope in mobile computing technology. Big name manufacturers like palmOne, Dell and HP put out some very powerful, yet small PDAs. Each of these top companies have invented an awesome handheld palm pilot to suit the busy lifestyle needs of the working professional, students, or even Mom.
In today's world we must keep up with the pace, but because we are still human a little help goes a long way. Having to remember business contacts, term paper due dates, and even soccer practice can get overwhelming at times. Being swamped with all this information can cause us to forget. Now thanks to the invention of the Palm Pilot PDA we can take all our information with us and be able to recall it at the touch of a button. What could be better?
Online Crazy Deals offers more information on Palm Pilots and how to organize your life with ease.
About the Author
Palm pilots are perfect for everyday use. Stay organized, stay mobile, surf the net and more. Online Crazy Deals has one word for this- PRICELESS!
Wireless Phone Plan
Which Wireless Plan And Phone Should I Buy by D Ruplinger
"Which cell phone should I buy" is a question a lot of people ask, but it is one that doesn't have an easy or simple answer. That's because there are so many cell phone choices and plans available today, and different people have different needs and different reasons for wanting to get a cell phone.
If someone is looking for a cell phone to carry just for emergencies or if their vehicle breaks down, a basic phone with a low cost plan is all that is needed. A prepaid phone with minutes that do not expire quickly is another good choice. On the other hand, if someone wants to have a phone to use as their primary mode of communication and also wants to be able to store information in it, a combination cell phone and PDA might be the best choice. A calling plan that includes a significant number of calling minutes that can be used any time would probably also be a good choice for that person.
The first step in buying a wireless phone and calling plan is to get out a piece of paper and a pen. Write down the reasons why you are going to purchase a cell phone along with what you are going to use it for. Think about how many minutes a month you will probably be using the phone. If you plan on using the phone often you will want a plan that has a lot of "anytime" minutes, not just minutes that can be used at night and on weekends.
Where is the phone going to be used? Will you be using it primarily in the area you live and work or do you travel frequently? If you travel frequently and plan to take your phone with you, a plan that gives you nationwide coverage is a good choice. If you travel out of the country frequently, look for a phone that can be used internationally. If you plan to use the phone extensively in your home area, look for a local or regional plan that offers a lot of minutes during the times you plan on using the phone.
If you want to be connected with your spouse and children, a family plan is a good choice. Look for a family plan that lets family members talk to each other as much as they want without using any of their plan minutes. Look for specials on phones. Wireless companies often offer specials deals when purchasing a family plan (and other plans as well). It is sometimes possible to get phones for the entire family for very little money or even free with a contract commitment to keep the service for a certain period of time, usually two years if you want to get the best deal.
Some people want to be able to have short and quick conversations. For those people a push-to-talk phone may be a great idea because it allows quick conversations that do not count against a person's plan minutes. One caveat; the other person or people you want to have a conversation with also have to have a phone with push-to-talk capability in order for a push-to-talk conversation to be held.
If the ability to text message is important check to see how much text messaging is going to add to the cost of your plan each month. Text messaging is most popular with teens. Many adults however would rather call someone than try to type a text message into a cell phone that has tiny keys, and most cell phones do. If you do a lot of text messaging, a stylus (the type used with PDA's) can make typing messages much easier.
One of the most important considerations is your budget. How much can you afford to spend each month? Even low cost plans can start to get costly if a lot of additional features are added to the basic plan such as text messaging, picture messaging, Internet access, and any of the myriad of downloads that are available from ring tones to games to the latest news and sports scores.
Optional insurance on a phone also adds to monthly costs. Depending on the wireless company you use, the monthly phone insurance cost is approximately four to six dollars. Insurance may be a good idea if the phone isn't always going to be handled with care or if it is a picture phone, because one hard fall on concrete can ruin the picture-taking capabilities of a picture phone.
Take time to consider how many minutes you will realistically use. Although the charges for going over plan minutes can be costly (usually at least 40 cents a minute with the exception of some plans that allow for overages and charge a reasonable fee), most people don't ever get even close to using all their minutes each month. If you are not sure how many minutes you will use, choose a mid-range plan and closely track your minute usage for three months. Then adjust your plan accordingly.
If you are not a person that wants to commit to a one or two year contract, a pay as you go plan is probably the best option. There is no long term commitment and most of the major wireless carriers now offer a pay as you go package.
Another big consideration is coverage. Some of the major carriers do not have good coverage in some areas so also check with the local and regional companies in your area to see what their coverage areas are. Probably the best way to find out how good the coverage is in your area is to talk to family and friends who already have cell phones. Ask them what their reception is like and if there are any areas where it is so poor that conversations are nearly impossible. Also ask how often they have dropped calls. Those pieces of information will give you a good idea of how good the coverage really is in your area.
Once you decide on a company, a plan, a phone, and your contract is signed; use the fifteen or thirty day return period that many companies now offer to use your new phone in all the areas you will most often use your phone. If the phone does not work well in those areas, do not be afraid to return the phone and try a different carrier. Be aware that even though coverage areas are quickly getting more expansive, there are still areas that do not have very good coverage no matter which carrier is chosen.
There are lots of phone choices available. Many plans offer decent quality phones for a nominal cost or for free with the contract commitment. Phones can be free or cost several hundred dollars. Shop around. Try out phones. Get a phone that you like and can easily use. Many people overbuy on their phone. They want all the latest features and gadgets but hardly ever use them. For instance, picture phones are very popular right now but most people who have a picture phone hardly every use it. Do not let an overzealous salesperson talk you into the latest and greatest phone unless that is what you want.
In the end, the choices are yours to make. By doing some planning, research, and by shopping around before buying, you will be able to make an informed decision based on your needs, wants, and budget; and will have a plan and phone you are comfortable with.
About the Author
D Ruplinger is a featured writer for http://www.cellphoneshome.com . For more information about cell phones visit http://www.cellphoneshome.com .
Wireless Network
Reasons to Start a Wireless Network. by Lee Asher
As far as I'm concerned, wireless networks would have to rank as one of the best inventions in history. They really are the best thing since sliced bread. I mean, really, bread is easy enough to cut yourself, but have you ever tried to wire up a network? Its a lot of hard yakka as many would say. WiFi is the wireless way to handle networking. It is also known as 802.11 networking and wireless networking. The big advantage of WiFi is its simplicity. You can connect computers anywhere in your home or office without the need for wires. The computers connect to the network using radio signals, and computers can be up to 100 feet or so apart. So, in the spirit of spreading the word, I'm going to give you some great reasons why you need a wireless network.
Sharing Internet Access.
Wireless networking gives you a cheap and easy way to share one Internet connection between multiple computers, eliminating the need for more than one modem. You can even add new computers to your network simply by plugging in a wireless card and switching them on -- they get an Internet connection straightaway! There aren't many wired networks that can say that.
Sharing Files and Printers.
A wireless network gives you access to your files wherever you are in your home, and makes it easy to synchronise the data on a laptop with a home computer. It is much easier to send files between computers with a wireless network than it is to send them by email, or even by burning them to a CD.
Plus, with the printer connected, you can also write things wherever you want, press print, and go and collect them from a printer connected to another computer -- printers that are plugged into one of the computers on the network are shared between all the computers automatically.
Always On Connection
A big factor in the spread of broadband was that it let Internet connections be always-on, without needing to dial in. Well, wireless networking lets network connections be always-on, meaning that any of your computers can connect to the Internet whenever you want! You can take laptops from room to room, and it doesn't matter -- they'll always have access. Plus, there's not even any need to set up a username and password system, as wireless networks work without logging in. It's just so convenient!
No More Wires.
This, of course, is the biggest reason why you should switch your network over to wireless. Wires are inconvenient, expensive, ugly and dangerous -- you'll be delighted to see the back of them.
The average Ethernet wire doesn't cost that much per metre, but once you've bought enough metres to do whatever you need to do, well, it tends to add up quickly. Not only that, but if you want to run your wire between rooms or floors, you have to knock holes in the walls -- which might not even be allowed if you're renting. I know plenty of people in rented apartments who had to keep their network confined to one room until they went wireless. With wireless networking, well, you can even take your computer outside, if you want to!
No more wires also means no more spaghetti all over the floor and in the corners. Not only does this improve the safety of your home, as it's all too easy to trip over exposed wires, but it also means that you don't have to go to all the trouble of packing all the wires up and re-connecting them at the other end when you move. It also means that you don't have to examine every wire for damage if your Internet connection breaks down.
Play LAN and Internet Games.
You might have seen an option in your favourite game to play over a LAN. Well, wireless networks are LANs, which means that your whole family can play that game together -- without needing the computers to be anywhere near each other. It's far more fun to play against real people you know than to play against random people over the Internet, not to mention that the game will work much faster. You could even invite your friends to bring their computers and join in -- a 'LAN party'!
An added benefit is that wireless equipment lets you easily connect any games consoles you or your kids might have to the Internet, and start playing online. It's far easier to play online with a wirelessly connected Xbox or PlayStation 2 than to have to connect it to your modem every time.
Convinced Yet?
If you're excited, then that's great -- keep reading these articles for advice on how to set everything up. If you don't think it's for you yet, well, don't give up on it -- I'm sure you'll come round when you realise just how easy and cheap wireless really is.
About the Author
Original Source: Articles Galore.com
Information supplied and written by Lee Asher of Eclipse Domain Services
Domain Names, Hosting, Traffic and Email Solutions.
Cheap Laptop
Selecting a Laptop by Deryck RichardsSmall Can Be Beautiful
When purchasing a new computer, you may be better served by a laptop than a traditional desktop computer. Recently, laptops with capabilities similar to desktops can be purchased for a comparable price. Laptops are convenient because of their small size and ability to run from a battery. Except for the power cable to recharge it, a laptop doesn't have any external wires, so it won't be contributing to a cable mess.
When looking at laptops, consider how often you will travel with it. If you plan to travel only infrequently, get a model with a larger screen and lower price. If you are a digital nomad, you should be concerned mainly with the laptop size, weight, and battery life. For maximum portability, get a laptop that weighs less than 3.5 pounds, has a 12" or smaller display, and a minumum 4-hour battery life.
Unlike desktops, laptop computers can be difficult and expensive to upgrade. When you purchase a laptop, consider that any internal features such as CD-ROM or hard drive may be difficult to replace. Laptops can be upgraded externally with USB, FireWire, and the PC Card slot. Because each of these methods is external, however your laptop will become less portable if you need to carry around the external devices.
Take One Tablet...
A Tablet PC is a custom laptop that allows you to write on the screen to save notes and work with programs. Tablet PCs are typically smaller than laptops and feature a specialized processor that is extremely battery-efficient. Some Tablet PCs do not have a built-in keyboard, but can connect to an external keyboard. These are ideal for people who use the Tablet PC mode most of the time and need to use the keyboard occasionally.
If you have little need for a portable computer, a "desktop replacement" may be for you. A desktop replacement looks like a laptop, but is much larger and priced competitively with desktops. Whatever kind of laptop fits your lifestyle, gone are the days when laptops were expensive and less capable than traditional desktop computers.
About the Author
Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive background in computer information systems, Deryck manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support to small businesses as he has since 2000. For more information on Deryck Richards and Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.
Looking For Satellite TV? by Gary Gresham
It was 1994 and I had moved into another home and learned that the cable TV line had not been installed to my house. When the cable company told me they would have to dig up my yard to put the line in I wasn't pleased with the idea or the price they quoted me to do it.
Satellite TV was still in its infancy stage with the big monster dishes. While I was browsing in a local electronics store one day I saw a guy giving a demonstration about the new DIRECTV© 18 inch digital satellite TV dish.
Needless to say I was very impressed and purchased the satellite TV system on the spot. I knew it would save me from digging up my yard and I could actually get more channels than I got with cable.
After the tech guy hooked it up and left I was like a kid with a new toy. I couldn't believe how it transformed the picture and sound quality on my television. It was like a completely different TV.
DIRECTV© channels are 100% digital-quality picture and sound, including local network channels. If you haven't experienced quality like that before you are in for a real treat.
Cable TV tries to compete with digital satellite TV technology by offering digital cable. But if you compare both the picture and sound quality, the DIRECTV© super clear picture and crystal clear sound wins hands down any day.
But that was only the beginning of the many things I discovered. I didn't need a TV guide anymore because the on screen programming guide tells me what shows are on, who's starring in the show and what it's about.
I have an incredible variety of over 200 channels of every kind of programming I could think of and some I never dreamed of.
Then, I checked out the pay per view movie service with up to 55 different choices of movies and special events a day that I could easily order with my remote.
Does anyone like sports? What are you kidding? DIRECTV offers sports packages that will put a smile on any sports fans face. How about NFL Sunday Ticket, NBA League Pass, MLB Extra Innings, NHL Center Ice, ESPN Game Plan and ESPN Full Court. That doesn't even include the regional sports networks I now have access to.
If you are a music lover, DIRECTV© offers 31 different audio-only channels that range from choices like Soft Rock, Jazz and Country to Hit List, Easy Listening and a lot more.
I work out of my home and by selecting a DIRECTV© audio channel to soft music, I can have the music I like in the background when I work.
Having a party? Just turn on any channel you like and you'll never have to touch it again because there are no commercials or interruptions. Just great digital quality music 24 hours a day at your fingertips.
When I moved again to another home, DIRECTV© customer service made it about as easy as it gets. I just gave them my new address, and they not only sent a brand new replacement satellite TV dish to my new home, they provided complimentary standard professional installation for everything including the receivers. I didn't pay a penny for anything. How's that for a no-hassle move?
With cable, I would have had to pay another deposit and that is just extra money I get to keep in my wallet instead of giving it to the cable company.
If you're thinking about switching from cable to satellite TV or moving to another home, consider DIRECTV©. It's simply a better value than cable and a smart choice you're whole family will enjoy.
With cable rates increasing an average of 8% per year it's no mystery why more than 12 million customers nationwide have made the switch to DIRECTV® service.
Over 10 years have gone by now since I bought that first satellite TV dish and I love it as much now as when I first got it. I recommend DIRECTV© to so many people because I know they will absolutely love it.
Only once in a great while a product comes along that actually over delivers. DIRECTV© can not only save you money each month over cable but is a smart choice and an incredible value.
Copyright © 2004 1 Stop Shopping Online.com. All Rights Reserved.
About the Author
Gary Gresham is the webmaster for http://www.1stopshoppingonline.com You can experience this same DIRECTV® service he mentions in this article for your home or office through this online link: http://www.1stopshoppingonline.com/satellite-tv.html
How to Copy a DVD
by Steve Bishop
If you do a simple search engine search, you will find that there are many websites dedicated to teaching you how to copy DVDs and also on selling software to help you copy DVDs. There is software designed to copy DVD to DVD, VHS to DVD and even video games such as the Playstation 2 games.
Copy Software
There are so many different types of copy software out there. There are also chips that are sold that can be installed into your device to allow you to read the versions of the DVDs that you copy. This over rides the security features that the manufacturer had placed on the disc. Some of these software programs can run for up to $149.00 or more. But many people consider this acceptable when you look at DVDs being about $19.95 and up each. You can make as many copies as you want of DVDs with the one time purchase of the DVD copy software. You can also make copies of DVDs that you currently own. Since DVDs are sensitive to heat, they can wear down over time after being played and getting scratched and they will no longer work. If you make backup copies of your movies, you don't have to worry about this.
DVD Piracy
One thing that confuses many people is what is legal and what is illegal when it comes to copying DVDs. The same as copying CDs or downloading music from the internet, this can be a very confusing topic. You may wonder why if copying DVDs is illegal, why there are so many sites that advertise how to do it. If you take notice, most of these sites advertise as how to make a "back up copy" of your disc. This means you are simply making a copy for your own use in case one copy was to become broken. This is legal. You can make as many copies of your own movie as you want. You are not, however, allowed to distribute those copies in any way. Many people think that as long as they are not receiving money for it, then it is okay to share them. This is false information.
If you buy a legal copy of a DVD movie, copy it yourself, then give that copy to a friend that is piracy. Even if you get no profit from it, you are cutting into the profits of the movie industry.
About the Author
If you would like to get started with DVD copying then go now to http://www.dvd-burning.org to discover how you can quickly and easily make your first dvd in minutes!
How To Create Your First DVD by Steve Bishop
Whether you want to transfer your pics to DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) or you want to backup a DVD to another DVD, I know you need some clarification about the whole process.
Their are quite a few DVD formats to choose from but which one is right for you in this rather confusing world of dvd formats? Shall I store my photo's on a DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-R or DVD+R DL? What about just copying a DVD to DVD?
DVD Writers
To get down to basics you will first of all need a DVD drive that will be able to write your data (music, film, pictures, etc) to a disc. Most modern computers have at least a DVD-ROM drive which stands for Read Only Memory meaning it will only read (play) your DVD but it cannot write the data to a disc.
In order to write your data to disc you will have to have a DVD writer which will write (burn) your data directly onto the disc. A laser burns your info to disc which is why the terms DVD burning or burn to disc are frequently used. Disc Formats
A normal single layered DVD disc (DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD-RW) will hold upto 4.37GB of information on a single side of a DVD. There are also Dual layer discs (DVD+R DL) which have twice the capacity of a normal DVD (8.5GB). These discs have two layers on a single side which are read by a special laser which switches it frequencies depending on which layer it is reading on the same side of a disc. Although you will need an upto date dvd-writer in order to burn dual layered discs.
We won't concern ourselves with dual layers in this article. Its enough to know they exist and we have to have a more advanced dvd-writer for that.
So the label on the box says DVD-R. What does that mean? Well, the R bit on any DVD stands for recordable which means you can write your data directly onto the disc using your basic everyday DVD writer.
DVD-R was the first format that was developed by Pioneer and is used by most computer users today. These discs will work with most DVD players on the market at the time of writing.
DVD-RW is pretty much the same as above but the 'W' bit means the disc is re-writeable. You can over-write existing data over and over again. You can usually write the disc as much as upto a 1000 times! I would suggest practise writing to DVD-RW to stop wasting DVD's and then write to a DVD-R when you want a more permanent copy.
Then we have DVD+R DVD+RW. These discs will do the same job as DVD-R and DVD-RW but tend to cost just a little more to buy. There is actually little difference between +R and -R. They are slightly more expensive but in most respects have the same longevity and reliability as DVD-R.
Need for speed
Different DVD writers have different write speeds as well. DVD+R will burn faster than there counterparts DVD-R. The old write speed was 4x but now DVD writers can burn at 16x speeds. So if your dvd writer burns at 8x just make sure you buy discs that burn at 8x or whatever speed your drive is. Easy!
Creating That First Disc
You will find information regarding your DVD writer on the box or in the instructions like:
Recording Formats DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW
Recording Speeds 8x, 4x, 2.4x,
Connections USB, Firewire
Now you know that you can burn a DVD+R at 8x speed on your burner. Thats all you need to know in order to burn that first disc. What are you waiting for? Go and impress someone with your new found burning skills!
About the Author
If you would like to get started with DVD copying then go now to http://www.dvd-burning.org to discover how you can make your first dvd quickly and easily in minutes!
Entering the world of digital audio-how to make the most of MP3 downloads by Carol Finch
By Carol Finch of: http://www.mp3-players-n-reviews.com
Some industry experts claim that the increasingly wide availability of MP3 downloads is showing signs of taking over the way that we buy and listen to the music that we love. The days of the CD may not be over as such but it's certainly true that many more consumers nowadays are using one or more download services to build their music collections.
After all, what could be easier? Digital downloads don't clutter up your house and they are instantly available. In many cases they'll cost you less than going out to buy a CD. And, with this kind of online store at your disposal you can cherry pick the tracks you want to download at any given time which could save you even more money. So, you can, for example, simply download and pay for a couple of songs that you like from an album rather than having to shell out your hard-earned cash on a full CD just to get these particular tracks.
Digital download services may be big news now but the concept of MP3 downloads has been around for a good few years. Nowadays it's real simple to find a fully legal service where you can buy and download all the music you could ever want but a few years ago you'd probably have been restricted to doing it the illegal way via peer to peer (P2P) web sites.
P2P sites still exist in a grey area of the music industry. These sites allow individuals to basically share their own music collections from their own computers at no/minimal cost - when you sign up to the service you can search for the music you want and download it from a fellow user that has it. In return you'll generally be expected to share your own music as well for other users to access. These kinds of site aren't generally recognized as legal although some sites such as Napster and Wippit have attained legal status whilst still retaining a P2P principle.
As the world of digital downloads has grown, however, it has seen a huge increase in the number of legal and recognized MP3 downloads services. The most famous of all here is indubitably Apple's iTunes store but many more online stores are springing up with similar services on offer. There are even digital downloads charts nowadays so you can see what's hot on the net as well as in the stores.
So, you may have your player equipment already or you may be thinking of buying an MP3 player. Your next natural step is to look at your options in the digital download sites that are out there to see whether you want to use them to load your player with music. Bear in mind that you can download as little or as much as you like which is why these sites are so popular. You can download and build massive music collections or simply a couple of tracks every now and then. These stores are the online equivalent of a music megastore - you just don't have to leave the house to use them!
The main thing to consider before you choose any digital download site is player compatibility. Not all players can be used with all sites and their services. You'll probably find that most players can access these stores to buy tracks but subscription services (where you pay a monthly fee to access unlimited music) may not work with the player you have or the player you plan to buy. This is generally based on the fact that these subscription services need a DRM (Digital Rights Management) compatibility with the player before they can work effectively and not all players have this. So, it's worth while checking out a few stores first to see what will work best with their software and services before you go any further.
You also need to consider the format of tracks that are made available to you. The standard digital formats are MP3 and WMA but there are many variations out there. Apple's iTunes service, for example, works with AAC and Sony have developed a format called ATRAC. If you mix and match formats then you'll end up having to convert files at some point which can be time consuming. This can also result in the loss of some audio quality in some cases.
If you're an Apple iPod lover then you probably won't look much further than the iTunes service which is fair enough. iTunes are arguably one of - if not the - biggest online music stores out there. You do need to be aware, however, that many other digital download sites aren't actually iPod compatible so you may have some problems here if you want to shop elsewhere as well. The same goes for MAC computers to a certain extent so do check on your computer's compatibility as well as your player's. And, your operating system may restrict your choices as well - some download services have been set up to work with Windows XP and/or 2000 and may not work on earlier operating systems. Again, check first before you commit to spending your cash.
If you're looking for some ideas then you should take a look at the sites listed below. These will give you a general idea of how these services work, the kinds of music on offer (both in terms of catalog size and genre) and how they may work for you (you'll also find more in-depth analysis of their services elsewhere on our site):
- iTunes - eMusic - MusicMatch - Napster - MSN Music - Audible - Wal-Mart - Sony Connect - Bleep - LiveDownloads - Audio Lunchbox - Yahoo! Music - Buy Music - Rhapsody - RealPlayer
One final thing - don't think that all legal MP3 downloads are going to cost you money. You can search for all kinds of legal free downloads on the Internet - these are usually offered by sites promoting up and coming bands or by artists and record labels themselves. You won't necessarily find full albums here but you'll certainly be able to pick up a few choice tracks!
About the Author
Carol Finch is a regular contributor to MP3 Players N' Reviews, a website built by
