Security Camera System - Buyer Guide

Although the application of CCTV security has not changed very much over the past years, the tools and equipment have significantly. Surveillance cameras became smaller, cheaper and better, but the major breakthrough happened in recording equipment. Therefore many customers shopping for complete CCTV monitoring and recording systems are confused by such a verity of available products. Goal of this article is to guide buyers toward best possible and most economical type of CCTV equipment, based on intended implementation and requirements.

Selecting the right surveillance cameras.

It is virtually impossible to describe all types of available CCTV cameras in this short article. We will focus our attention on most popular and widely used camera types instead.

CCTV security cameras produce images using CMOS or CCD (Charge Couple Device) chips. Tiny, very low price CCTV cameras usually use CMOS technology, produce poor quality images and have very poor light sensitivity. Decent quality CCTV cameras use CCD technology. The size of the CCD chip is normally 1/4", 1/3" or 1/2". As a rule of thumb, the larger the size, the higher the quality of the image produced and the higher the price. However, higher density 1/4" and 1/3" CCD chips can now produce as good an image as many 1/3" or 1/2" chips. The number of TV lines in the security camera image is a measure of picture resolution (sharpness). The larger the number of TV lines, the better the resolution and hence, overall picture quality. Standard resolution camera may have 350-380 lines, over 400 TV Lines is generally considered good resolution while over 500 TV lines is considered high resolution. B/W chip cameras produce greater resolution and better light sensitivity, therefore suitable for use in dark areas where light conditions are poor most of the time. On the other hand color cameras offer more realistic and natural picture.

CCTV cameras are usually divided into different types based on the body of the camera used.

Professional grade cameras.

Have box type body with the ability to use different types and size of lenses. Exchangeable lenses enable this camera, to monitor objects from virtually any distance. Although for indoor use, they can be used for outdoor when combined with weatherproof housing. They are considered to be the most flexible and widely used by professionals for commercial installations.

Bullet cameras.

Bullet cameras are, as the name suggest contained inside bullet shaped housing. Most bullet cameras are weatherproof and sealed without the ability to use different lenses. Great advantage of bullet camera is the small size and integrated design, some bullet cameras will even have infrared LED future built-in. Infrared technology is simply LED light in infrared spectrum (not visible to human eye). This light will illuminate viewing area, making possible monitoring in complete darkness. This is great future, but it only works up to certain distance (usually between 10 and 50 ft. depending on model) Vary simple to install and estheticly designed, bullet cameras are great choice for residential and do-it-yourself installations where monitoring objects are within about 25ft from the camera location (with standard 3.6mm lens).

Board Cameras.

Board Cameras are basically fixed lens mounted on a circuit board. These cameras may be packaged in a small case (Mini Cameras) or dome (Mini Dome) or simply sold unpackaged, for mounting by the purchaser. Lenses in these cameras are either of a normal industry aperture or a "pinhole" lens of very small aperture. Pinhole lens cameras are often called "spy" cameras and may be mounted in a concealed way for covert surveillance purposes. The most popular examples of covert board cameras are smoke detector and motion detector cameras. Since the lenses in board cameras are pre-mounted, have a fixed iris and are usually of a short focal length (i.e. wide angle), their flexibility of usefulness is limited. However, this type of camera can provide a low cost solution in the right situation, particularly in a home environment.

We have shortly described most popular types of cameras, lets now discus, how and where they mite be used. Professional type cameras with C/CS mount lens attachment generally offer best performance and many important futures, like lens control output, Back Light Compensation and many more... Distance from monitoring object to the camera is not an issue, that is why ability to select different lenses, based on camera location is so important. Installation is bit complicated and professional installation strongly recommended. We recommend this type of security cameras for commercial installations. Most Bullet cameras in comparison, do not offer high resolution and lens selection flexibility, but are likely to be weatherproof, some will have infrared light built-in and most of all they are relatively easy to implement. Bullet cameras usually come with 3.6mm lens witch are considered to be suitable for most standard installations (good for covering small to medium size room or equivalent). For larger rooms or longer distances, cameras with 6mm or higher lens may be required. They are great choice for any do-it-yourself installation. Board cameras in contrast are widely used in covert camera installations, sometimes called Spy Cameras. Many wireless cameras are basically board cameras with built-in transmitter. We are not going to go into wireless cameras right now, as this would be enough material for completely new article. Board cameras are sold as plain circuit board, for integrating into hidden camera devices. They are also available in dome housing, as vary popular Dome Camera or integrated with Smoke Detector, Motion Detector, Exit Sign and so on. Most board cameras also come with 3.6mm lens although some will allow lens to be replaced. Over the time, most practical design has been Dome Camera with its esthetic appearance it blends into surroundings, especially with drop down sealing, great for use in stores, lobbies, gas stations and other public places. Practical solution for covert installation are also, Motion and Smoke Detector cameras, they are absolutely not substitute for your security alarm or fire protection. Cameras should always be selected based on the location of the camera (inside/outside), distance from the monitoring object, light condition and budget. When shopping for security cameras, customers are faced with the fact that they will need to select one or another recording device. The days of well-known CCTV time-lapse VCR recorder are almost over. Although some customers still prefer this old fashioned recording solution, it is well worth to invest some extra money to purchase a good quality digital video recorder (DVR). Digital recorder transfers analog camera video feed into digital format, and stores it on hard drive. There are two major types of digital recorders on the market right now.

PC Based CCTV Systems.

A special board and software installed on the computer will allow camera inputs and store video on the hard drive. Many people are under the misconception that personal computer with additional hardware installed, will do the job. This explains the hundreds of companies that have hung up a sign, taken out some ads and begun working out of basements and garages, holding themselves out to be DVR manufacturers and security specialists. The main problem with this type of CCTV recorders lies in the main component of it... Yes, it is a computer, designed to do unlimited tasks, but non well. The truth is that any computer based digital video recorder is, and will always be vulnerable to software crashes, hang-ups, system instability, virus related problems etc...

Stand Alone Systems.

Very similar in appearance and control functions to standard VCR recorders, are truly remarkable devices. Most video processing is done by hardware, therefore eliminating system crashes, video is also stored on hard drive in digital format. The basic operating system, usually Linux, is permanently stored on special processor, witch is impossible to overwrite or corrupt. Designed and manufactured with single application in mind, it is by far better in performance and reliability to its PC based rival. Some DVR systems will even have remote monitoring capability, useful when monitoring is required in different locations thru Internet or network. Most important futures to look for when selecting the right DVR recorder are motion detection and frame speed. The higher the frame speed the more fluent video recording. Motion detection will allow recording video from each camera only when motion is detected this is great for extending video recording time. Security Monitors.

Video from Security recorder could be displayed on regular TV monitor. It is OK to do it this way, for baby monitoring or residential application, when quality of the picture is not that important. However for professional installation, security monitors are as much important as cameras. They offer extended life of picture tube (necessary with any static picture, that can cause picture burnout) and much grater resolution. Cables and wiring. Finally any camera installation will require proper wiring. Good quality cable will prevent video degradation over long distance runs. It is recommended to use RG59 or RG6 coaxial cables as it is fully shielded and will prevent video loss up to 400 ft. Coaxial cables will require BNC connectors and proper installation possibly done by experienced technician. In short runs plug and play non-coaxial cables with factory installed BNC connectors may be used (up to 150 ft.). The plug and play cables are easy enough to install by not experienced users. Cables for CCTV cameras consist of two cables bundled in one jacket. One cable for video and one for power delivery. Conclusion.

Every CCTV system is as good and reliable as its weakest component. With this in mind, investing on highest quality and performance cameras, while purchasing low performance recorder, from economical and practical standpoint just does not make sense. For example, why use cameras with 500 TV lines of resolution with monitor that offers only 380 or less. All the benefit of high-resolution camera is affectively sacrificed by limited capability of monitor. Asking questions is important before purchasing video security system, and your vendor will probably be able to give more details and recommend equipment for specific needs and requirements.

About The Author
Robert Moskal is Technical Department Manager at V2Comp, Inc., a major distributor of surveillance cameras and CCTV Systems located in Chicago area. More information about new products can be accessed at www.amazingcameras.com or www.dvrexperts.com.

Spy Like A Professional

Spies are one of the most popular characters in movies. One of the most famous spies we know of is James Bond, whom we all love to watch. While being a spy is more of a fantasy than a real life job, there are many all around us covertly working for the FBI or CIA. Working as a real life spy is one of the most challenging and intense careers.

The training and work ethic requires only the best of the best.

Working for one of those organizations is about as close as it gets to being a spy. You're not going to be a flashy, save the girl and save the world type while saving the world in point five seconds before it is destroyed. You will complete missions around the world and may have a large impact in world events. Being a spy is one of the most influential careers out there, as your spy surveillance will help the world leader make some of the most difficult decisions they will face day to day.

While you may not get the laser watches and missile launching cars that you see all of the time in the Bond or other spy movies, the surveillance products are high tech. Much of the equipment in these movies is available in real life such as listening devices like bugs or hidden cameras to record the evidence that our justice system requires. These items and all of the real life spy equipment are available in spyassociates.com.

About The Author
Joe Andrea Gooden
To learn more about Spy and Surveillance Products visit http://www.spyassociates.com. Read other related articles at http://spyassociates.blogspot.com/.

Renewable Energy

If you're looking for a way to conserve electricity, renewable energy may be the answer. Renewable, or solar energy, uses the sun's light, along with wind and even certain molecules in plants and animals in order to power cars, turn on lights, and keep appliances working.

Heat is produced whenever the sun touches something, and solar energy can be used to power almost anything. Natural gas, oil, and coal are all byproducts of solar energy, since the plants and animals used to create these natural resources receive their energy from the sun. However, since coal, oil, and gas are resources that can be depleted from the earth, they should be conserved as much as possible, which is why scientists and environmentalists are conducing progressive research on ways to use renewable energy in every day life. This way, solar energy can be used more often.

Powering everything with solar energy isn't possible just yet, since a way to capture enough sunlight to power everything in a home or business hasn't been discovered. So, many people use solar panels, which can be placed on a side of a roof to attract sunlight during the day that can be used to heat rooms and water. Solar panels can be purchased at a number of retail stores now, as well as online. Panels do a great job of helping families and businesses to conserve energy. Hopefully, solar panels will become a part of daily life, in order to prevent the disappearance of natural resources and to maintain energy conservation.

About The Author
Andrew Palmer maintain http://www.solar-panels.cc, an online source of information about solar power and renewable energy.

Keeping Tabs on Your Teen with GPS Tracking

GPS tracking is one of the greatest marvels of our modern technology. GPS stands for "Global Positioning System," and this is exactly what GPS tracking allows one to do: find the position of just about anything on earth. GPS makes use of satellite tracking by following a specific device. As long as you have access to that device's frequency, you can find it anywhere on earth. It works 24/7/365 in any type of weather.

The beauty of GPS tracking is that the tracking device can be very small. It can be worn on the body, but the most popular uses of GPS devices involve their presence in cars or cell phones. These are two objects that every teen just cannot seem to live without, so if you are looking to keep tabs on your teenager, it is possible to do just that with GPS tracking.

In a vehicle, the GPS tracking device can be a real help. Not only can you locate the car no matter where it is parked (and even if it is en route to someplace), but you can also determine how fast it is going, as there are trackers that give general speed and direction. It is the ultimate enforcer of responsible driving behaviors when away from home.

The cell phone as a GPS tracking device is also a technological marvel. Is your teen supposed to be studying at a certain address? You can turn on the tracker and see whether or not he or she is, in fact, where he or she should be. The cell phone serves dual purposes: you can contact your teenager, and if it is outfitted with GPS tracking, you know where she or he is. The cell phone may be the ultimate device in keeping track of your teen.

With GPS tracking, you can be assured that your teenager is safe and where he or she should be. You can be immediately alerted to what you think may be a compromising situation, and if you need to find him or her in an emergency you can drive directly to his or her location, without driving around half the night trying to figure out where she or he might be.

About The Author
Shawn Davis
To learn more about Spy and Surveillance Products visit http://www.spyassociates.com. Read other related articles at http://spyassociates.blogspot.com/.

Things You Should Know Before Buying Discount Cameras

Taking photographs has always been considered an enjoyable pastime. Photography is one of the best ways to capture a moment in time. It seems now the world has become obsessed with taking pictures. Everywhere you look there are advertisements for cameras. Probably one of the most significant innovations in the Digital Age has been the digital camera. At one time these cameras had one thing in common with their non-digital counterparts—an expensive price tag. In recent years the cost of digital cameras has dropped considerably; so much so that you can easily purchase a digital camera for less than $200. To find the best deal you will need to do some comparison-shopping. By arming yourself with some information about digital cameras, you will better prepare yourself for buying discount cameras.

As most of the innovations in digital technology, digital cameras are considered more complex than they really are. When you shop for discount cameras, price should not be your only guide. It is a good idea to understand some of the basic features of digital cameras so that you can effectively compare the various models available on the market.

If you're interested in buying discount cameras, you undoubtedly are familiar with at least one buzzword associated with digital cameras: megapixel. Megapixel, which refers to the number of pixels per one million or how fine an image's resolution is, is important to consider when buying discount cameras because megapixel directly relates to the image quality you are able to obtain. When you shop for discount cameras you will notice that there are a wide range of megapixels. At one time, a digital camera with 1.3 megapixel was standard and a camera with 5.0 megapixels was considered top-shelf. With the recent introduction of digital cameras with 9.0 megapixels, the standard in megapixels is changing.

Buying a digital camera with the highest number of megapixels is not necessarily the best method of selecting a digital camera. Since megapixels relate to an image's resolution, you should first determine your plans for the digital camera. If you want simply to take images for personal use, a median number of megapixels such as 3.5 may be sufficient. If on the other hand you intend to enlarge and crop images, you may want to shop for digital cameras with a higher number of megapixels.

The number of megapixels that a camera uses is the primary selling point for digital cameras. However, it is the additional features that will have the greatest effect on price. Optional features that you may want to consider include video recording capabilities, an optical zoom lens, and a histogram. Most cameras include a zoom lens, but it is usually a digital zoom lens. This type of lens only appears to enlarge the image. An optical zoom lens is an ideal option if you will use your digital camera to shoot distant objects. Creating a digital movie is another popular option. If you want a digital camera with this feature, be sure to note the maximum recording time. A handy feature that is not used often, but is very handy if you are serious about digital photography is histogram. Once you snap an image you can use the histogram option to analyze the exposure. If an image is too bright or too dark you can reshoot the image.

About The Author
Nicky Pilkington
For more information about buying discount cameras, you can review a buying guide and offers for discount digital cameras at http://discount-digital-camera.biz/. If you are short on time, this website also offers some of the best deals in digital cameras on the Internet.

Choosing a Cell Phone

If Alexander Graham Bell were alive today he would be amazed. It wasn't that long ago when he made the first telephone call to his assistant from another room in his laboratory. At the time they had been working on a device to help deaf people hear. Bell patented the telephone in 1876. Now, 130 years later, people are walking around with tiny but powerful computers held to their years. These wireless devices can be used to browse the Internet, play games, text message, manage schedules... and even to use a telephone!

Question: I am looking to buy a phone but I don't know which plan to get

There are many plans available if you would like to buy cell phone. The best way to figure it which plan is right for you is to buy a pre-paid phone before you make a decision and commit to any long-term plans offered by cell phone companies. The prepaid plan lets you put a certain amount of money toward telephone usage and you can use your cell phone for as long as you have money available.

This is a great first option because many people who are first looking into getting a cell phone are not sure about when they would typically use it. Having a prepaid phone lets you sample your usage and get a good idea about the times of the day and the days of the week you make calls on your cell phone.

For the first month or so that you have a prepaid plan, you'll want to keep an eye on these four things, which will help you determine which cell phone plan you'll eventually want:

What time of the day to you make most of your calls?
How long do your phone calls last?
What days of the week do you make most of your calls?
Are they local or long distance calls?
Where do you use the phone most often? (for example, if you travel or just around town)

Once you have used up your prepaid amounts, you'll probably have a good idea about your calling profile and this will help you accurately select a play.

Having a cell phone is a highly convenient tool to stay in touch. Having information to make a wise purchase will help you get a cell phone and a cell phone plan that provides the best value to you.

About The Author
Jeff Lakie is the founder of http://www.my-cell-phones.info and http://www.my-mobile-phones.info websites providing information on Cell phones.

The Right Projector Screen Can Save You Money

At LCDProjectorCenter.com we concentrate very much on lcd projectors, so why am I writing about projector screens? Quite simple really. Buying your lcd projector in isolation from the screen without considering how they work together is likely to cost you more and give you less than perfect results.

How can picking the right projector screen save you money?

One of the biggest challenges when choosing an lcd projector is getting the right brightness for the room you are going to be using it in. For home use you can usually darken the room. This means you can buy a cheap lcd projector, often saving many hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.

But often darkening the room significantly is neither possible nor desirable. Buying a higher specification projector will give you a brighter image, but it's probably cheaper to buy a high gain projector screen. The quality lcd projector may cost you a thousand dollars more than a dimmer model, whilst quality projector screens that enhance the image brightness and clarity are only a few hundred dollars more.

Projector Brightness and Screen Gain

The brightness of an lcd projector is given in ansi lumen. Typical values for home theater and business presentation use are 500 to 3000. The higher the number, the brighter the picture will be. At the low end a darkened room is essential, whilst at the very top end acceptable results are possible with higher light levels. The current generation of home use projectors are typically in the 1000-1500 range.

The gain of a projector screen is the increase in brightness of the image produced compared to a flat matt white screen. This is given as a simple number, eg 1, 1.5, 2 etc. A gain of 1 means the image is the same brightness as on a flat matt white surface, whereas 2 means the image is twice as bright.

As an example, if you decide you need about 1500 lumen to get an acceptable quality picture, you could buy a projector with that rating and worry about the screen later. Or you could buy a cheaper 1000 lumen model and match it to a projector screen with a gain of 1.5. This would give you an effective image brightness of 1500 lumen at a reduced cost.

Very High Gain Projector Screens

Typical cheap projector screens have gains of between 1 and 1.2. Gains of 1.5 to 1.8 are achieved with high quality perlescent finishes at about double the cost. If money is no object and you need the maximum gain possible then you need a chromatically matched projector screen.

Gains of up to 4 can now be achieved with matched projectors and screens. An lcd projector only transmits 3 narrow wavelengths of light in Red, Green and Blue. A matched projector screen is covered with material that reflects only these wavelengths. Almost all of the ambient light is absorbed or scattered, so the projected image appears very much brighter.

The Downside of High Projector Screen Gain

Whilst projector screen gain might help you use a cheap lcd projector in brighter rooms than it could cope with on its own, there are 3 trade-offs. These are the viewing angle, color shifting and uneven brightness.

High gain projector screens limit the viewing angle. For a screen with a gain of 1 the picture appears high quality out to about 50 degrees from the projector. But at a gain of 1.5 that viewing angle is reduced to about 35 degrees. Over 2 and the viewing angle is down to around 25 degrees, making it much more difficult to layout your room.

Color shifting happens due to the surface properties of the higher gain screens. A true white screen will render colors accurately. By trying to manipulate the way light reflects, a high gain screen can cause a shift in some of the colors. This is rarely a reason not to buy, unless you really do need the colors to be spot on.

The biggest impact a high gain projector screen has on image quality is the change is brightness from the center of the screen to the edge. There can be up to 30% difference at gains over 2. This is usually not too much of a problem, but it does become far more noticable the higher the viewing angle.

Conclusion

A little research and a bit of leg work could help you make great savings. Treat the projector screen as an integral part of your system and buy it together with your projector. Visit stores and insist on demonstrations with a variety of lcd projector and screen combinations.

Choosing a good quality, moderate gain (1.4-1.6) projector screen can decrease the cost and increase the performance of your system. A cheap lcd projector can produce a bright, clear image at higher than expected light levels. So whilst your projector screen may cost more, overall you save.

About The Author
Nick Summers
LCDProjectorCenter.com brings together all the latest news and reviews from the world of LCD Projectors. Research your home theater or business presentation LCD Projector at LCDProjector.com

MP3 Audio File Format – a New Format For Storing Sounds

MP3 is the latest and the most popular audio format that is used now. This acronym stands for MPEG Layer 3. It is a compressed audio format with a compression ratio of up to 12: 1. The sound quality of the audio in this format is very high. A normal audio file, which is 1200 KB in size, can be stored in just 100 KB if it is using the MP3 format. The size of the audio files is very small when compared to other formats of audio files. This makes it easily portable.

Where to get MP3 audio files?

MP3 audio files are widely available in CDs now. Almost any album that is released in the world is also sold in the MP3 audio format. These albums in the MP3 formats are also available in some websites that are dedicated for MP3 downloads. You can also purchase these MP3 CDs at any audio store meant for that purpose.

MP3 downloads

Free MP3 downloads are also available in some of the websites. You need to become a member of these sites for a fee to download unlimited number of songs in the MP3 format. Some of the sites charge you for each song that is downloaded. Free MP3 downloads for testing the quality of the audio is usually provided by most of these websites. Websites like www.napster.com allow free MP3 downloads if you have MP3 players from select manufacturers. You can download directly to the player by using the software provided by the website.

How to play a MP3 audio file?

To play a MP3 audio you need separate players whether it is software or a physical player that can be carried. MP3 software players are used in your PC to play MP3 audio. Physical players from many branded manufacturers are available in the market to play these MP3 audio files.

MP3 Ringtones

With the advent of the mobile phones, it has become a fashion to make your mobile call you with your favorite songs as Ringtones. Youngsters particularly teenagers are more interested in using Ringtones of the songs they like. This has picked up in such a manner that MP3 Ringtones are now being sold in websites. Many websites sell Ringtones in the MP3 format. The mobile you are using should be capable of playing the Ringtones in the MP3 format to use these MP3 Ringtones. These websites provide you with an interface to select the model of the mobile phone you have and then download MP3 Ringtones that suit your mobile phone model.

About The Author
For more information, visit the MP3 Info Center at http://www.mp3infocenter.com .
David Chandler
For your FREE Stock Market Trading Mini Course:
"What The Wall Street Hot Shots Won't Tell You!" go to: http://www.stockmarketgenie.com

DirecTV vs. Dish Network -- Which Is Better?

The satellite TV systems and services offered by DirecTV and Dish Network are almost identical -- both offer more than 250 program channels, all-digital programming, HDTV (high definition TV) options, and DVR (digital video recording) capabilities.

So when you compare DirecTV to Dish Network you'll discover the biggest differences between them are the subscription fees and programming.

Here is a blow-by-blow comparison of DirecTV vs. Dish Network ...

Satellite TV Equipment

Direct TV offers free satellite TV equipment (the dish and receivers), and free installation in up to four rooms of your home. If you want a DVR receiver you will be charged an additional $49.99. The charge for HDTV receivers is $299.99.

Dish Network gives you free satellite TV equipment and free installation in up to four rooms of your home. You can get a DVR receiver or an HDTV receiver at no charge.

Satellite TV Programming

DirecTV offers 255 program channels, including movie channels, music channels, pay-per-view movies and events, sports packages, and international programming. Programming packages start at $41.99 per month for 115 channels.

Dish Network offers 256 program channels, including movie channels, music channels, pay-per-view movies and events, sports packages, and international programming. Programming packages start at $31.99 per month for 60 channels.

Customer Service

DirecTV has excellent customer service with 24/7 online support, and 24/7 toll-free telephone support.

Dish Network also has excellent customer service with 24/7 online support, and 24/7 toll-free telephone support.

Customer Satisfaction

DirecTV is ranked #2 in customer satisfaction among all the cable and satellite TV providers.

Dish Network is ranked #1 in customer satisfaction among all the cable and satellite TV providers.

The Bottom Line

Both DirecTV and Dish Network offer top-of-the-line satellite TV equipment and all-digital programming for the best picture and sound available.

Dish Network's basic programming package is cheaper than DirecTV's, but DirecTV's Total Choice has a more channels.

Dish Network has more movie packages and foreign programming, while DirecTV offers more sports packages.

About The Author
Brian Stevens is a professional freelance writer and webmaster who has written extensively on DirecTV and Dish Network. For more information on DirecTV vs. Dish Network, go to http://www.thesatellitetvguide.com/directv-vs-dish-network.htm.

Panasonic Cell Phone Accessories - Working For Everybody

If you check out cellular reviews and comparisons you will find Panasonic wireless hand sets (cell phones) rated among the very best available and the extensive line of Panasonic cell phone accessories are also among the best for quality and performance. The right accessories can greatly enhance the cell phone experience.

When looking at cell phone accessories you need to separate wants and needs. The one absolute necessary accessory is a battery charger. After all, no matter what bells and whistles your phone has, it is worthless if you can't use it. You will also need a hands free vehicle set. In some localities it is required by law if you are going to be using your phone while driving.

Other Panasonic accessories you may want to look at are joysticks for gaming, crystal or flashing keypads and antenna boosters, battery chargers, spare batteries and antennas, changeable faceplates in lots of funky fun colors, USB cable, and connectivity kits for your Panasonic camera phone model EB G60VAVFVMGSM Mobile Photo cell phone, or one of Panasonic's three other camera phones.

The batteries do not go on forever so you will need a battery charger for your home or office and one for your car. You may also want to keep a spare battery around. Antenna booster for areas with weak signals are another good choice. You can also get Panasonic MP3 players and FM radio head set to listen to music between calls.

Whatever accessories you choose, you can rely on Panasonic to offer high quality, high performance, affordable accessories.

About The Author

Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of Cell phone plans and more! His numerous articles are a resource of interesting and relevant information. http://www.mobile-n-cell-phone.com.

A New Digital Camera Is 'Braun'

The Braun D410 Digital Camera

Pros

A camera compact in shape and function – size of a packet of 20 cigarettes. Designed for simplicity in use and the ladies handbag with a neat case included 4MByte sensor – very respectable: and a three times optical zoom – a good lens. Simple to use and gives excellent results – prints of up to 10 x 8 inches are feasible on best settings

Cons

Only space for two AA batteries – but the case is small! – take some spares. Lacks an optical viewfinder, LCD display difficult to see on a sunny day. Flash is good up to 10 feet max – but then that is true of most on camera flashes The Braun D410 is a compact camera that comes compete with batteries and camera case – rare nowadays – and a set of leads for connection to your PC or to your TV.

While this is a still picture and a movie camera, this review is more concerned about the still picture capability of the Braun D410.

I was able to operate the camera from the box – but then I am a photographer.

Reading the first few pages of the manual will get you going – and that will probably be all you require. As with all things electronic, there are many functions included, most of which you will never use.

Indeed the camera manual – printed in 7 languages – is considerably larger and heavier than the camera – so leave it at home! Same applies to the CD Rom containing software for your PC.

Inserting a 256Mbyte SD Memory card allows the camera to store in excess of 100 images at its highest resolution – 4Mega Pixels. This card can be used to transfer images to your PC or can be taken to a photo lab to get the images printed. The camera will take either Secure Digital or Multimedia memory cards – they are physically identical. The only difference is that the SD card has a small switch in its side to lock the contents of its memory. Take care when inserting batteries or cards. This is a small and delicate piece of equipment! The cards can be inserted the wrong way around – but the battery cover will not fit back into place!

Switch on the Braun D410 camera by pressing the small button at the centre of the command dial at the top of the camera. The dial sets the mode of the camera – fully automatic or a range of options including landscapes, portraits, sport subjects (rapidly moving) and night photography.

The controls are intuitive to operate starting with the upper toggle switch on the rear of the camera switching between wide angle and telephoto. The image you are focussing on is displayed on a small screen on the rear of the camera – there is no eye piece as such.

Slight pressure on the picture taking button causes the camera to focus and calculate exposure – a full press causes the camera to take a picture – there is a small delay between pressing the button and taking the shot – so keep the camera still! Most users will use the fully automatic mode which involves no thinking or playing. The built in flash gun switches itself on as and when needed for individual groups or small portraits. Do not expect it to fill a hall though – this is a compact camera!

The screen on the back of the camera is able to review images taken and stored in memory. Press the playback arrow button to go into review mode – press it again to go back to photograph mode. Use the lower toggle switch to step through the shots you have taken. Individual images can be deleted – and taken again – if required. I found the screen difficult to use on a very bright sunny day.

A drawback of any small camera is that there is little room for the batteries. The Braun D410 accepts 2 AA size batteries. So take some spares with you as they soon run down should you be making use of the camera over a period. The motors for the telephoto lens, flash and other circuits drain the cells.

I am not going to go through all of the options and control functions of the camera. The manual does that very well. So I would suggest that should you buy this camera you spend half an hour reading the manual and then put it to one side and take some photographs! The advantage of digital is that you are not exposing film – and you can delete the images you do not want to keep.

The camera can take short bursts of video as well, but I am not going to describe that!

In summary the Braun D410 is a very competent consumer camera which will delight the user in its simplicity and quality. Ideal for the ladies and their handbag.

For more information on this product visit http://www.view-link.com/contact.html

About The Author
Christopher Thomas is a keen photographer and company director at Viewlink Ltd based in Amersham, Uk. The company focusses on digital photo developing for both amateur and commercial photographers as well as a wide range of photographic supplies. For more articles by Christopher Thomas please visit the company website at http://www.view-link.com.

How the Heck Do CDs Actually Work?

Most of us use CDs and DVDs almost every day, yet few people have any idea at all how they work. To make matters worse even less is known about the difference between a CD-ROM and CD-R. Understanding how different types of media work, what they cost and the advantages of each can be very valuable when deciding how to proceed with your next project. Asking for only what you're familiar with may be comfortable, but isn't necessarily the best use of the technology or your budget.

First we will explain the difference between a CD-ROM and a CD-R. CD-ROMs are manufactured through the process of injection molding to form data with a plastic polycarbonate and is referred to as replication. CD Replication is more economical to use on larger run jobs above 500 pieces. CD-Rs are made by using a laser to burn marks in a special dye on a recordable disc and is referred to as duplication. The laser changes the form of the dye, encoding the information into it. CD Duplication is typically used on smaller job below 500 pieces.

Now we will get into how both forms of media actually work. What must first be known is that all CDs store information on them in a digital format, meaning data is read off the media as ones and zeros. On a CD-ROM there are millions of "lands" and "pits" representing the data that span in a spiral path starting from the center going out. Because the spiral starts in the center, CDs can be made into smaller versions like business cards and mini rounds. It is best to imagine this as a road with hills and valleys. The valleys are the pits and the hills are the lands. When the CD laser passes over a land (hill), the red light reflects back to a sensor and is interpreted as a one. If the laser passes over a pit (valley), the laser reflects away from the sensor representing a zero. The incredibly small dimensions of the lands and pits make the spiral track on a CD extremely long. If you could lift the data track off a CD and stretch it out into a straight line, it would be 0.5 microns wide and almost 3.5 miles (5 km) long.

CD-Rs do not have lands and pits like a ROM, but have a reflective metal layer that is on top of a special dye. When there is no information on the disc, this dye allows light to shine through and reflect back off the metal. But when heated, this dye layer becomes dark and does not allow a reflection. So when a CD is burned it is actually burning this dye layer in the form of ones and zeros, putting the data on the disc. When the disc is playing and the red laser is able to shine through reflect back, it is interpreted as a one. If the red laser is unable to reflect back due to a darkened area, it is interpreted as a zero. So even though a CD-R does not have "lands" and "pits" it still performs like a regular disc because of the special dye layer.

DVD-ROMs and DVD-Rs function similarly to their CD cousins, but DVDs get more complicated in that they can have multiple layers as well as data on both sides of the disc.

For more information on how CDs and DVDs work go to:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cd.htm http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/dvd.htm

About The Author
Adam Platzer
Spinergy
CD Replication, CD Duplication, DVD Replication, DVD Duplication, CD Screen Printing
Phone: 800-333-1428
http://www.spinergymedia.com
adam.platzer@spinergymedia.com