Friday, November 30, 2007

Why You Should Buy A Plasma Television


The plasma television has many advantages and benefits for you and your entertainment needs and wants. The plasma tv gives you incredible picture quality, it has a sleek design, and it is HDTV compatible.

Plasmas provide sharper images and more vibrant colors. You can display both HDTV and DTV signals as well as computer signals such as XGA, SVGA, and VGA.

Plasmas Superior to Both CRT's and LCD

Plasma screen televisions provide sharp, clear pictures, plus no image distortion. CRTs can't match this. Plasma tvs have brighter pictures and provide a better viewing angle at 160 degrees, than LCDs. For the best technology in display panels, choose plasma technology.

High Resolution

Plasma display televisions have higher resolution than most standard TV sets. They are able to display full HDTV and DTV signals as well as XGA, SVGA, and VGA signals from a computer. If a plasma has a resolution of 1024x1024 it can display images from 1080i and 720i HDTV resolution, plus 480i and 480p HD signals.

Flat Screen

Plasma display televisions have screens that are completely flat. There is no distortion of the image even at the edges and corners. Plus to increase your viewing fun, the flat plasma screen tv provides an amazing 160-degree viewing area.

Ultra Thin Design Saves Space

Plasma televisions can hang on almost any wall. You can even hang them from your ceiling. Other advantages of plasma screen tvs are high ambient light tolerance, distortion free images, entirely digital techology, not affected by magnetism, and can be attached to a ceiling or wall, or used as a freestanding fixture.

About The Author
Jeremy Hier
Find out about the top plasma televisions by reading our reviews at http://www.best-plasma-televisions.com

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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Use Of Home Security Cameras Increase


Unfortunately, the world is not as safe as it used to be. With crime in the home on the rise, more and more people are looking at options to make their homes more safe and secure. One option for home security that is becoming very popular is the use of home security cameras. These types of video systems can give a homeowner the sense of security and the peace of mind that they are looking for. Now, people can record their nanny or babysitter while they are away, see who is at the door before answering it, and find out if someone is on your property without having to go outside and possibly expose themselves to harm.

The home security camera options are vast. There are many sites on the Internet and a variety of catalogs that offer many different types of home surveillance equipment. You can buy a ready-made system for a reasonable price, or have a custom-designed system that is more costly but also very effective. They can also offer advice about the best kind of system for your needs and your budget.

There are both wireless and wired options for security cameras. Most people tend to go with the wireless choice, because anyone can install them in a short amount of time and they are easy to use. However, some people prefer the traditional CCTV option with wires to install. However, all of these types of security systems work with the equipment you already have. For instance, you can have live color images sent to your TV, or have them recorded on your VCR. If you need additional recording time, you can always choose to go with a digital recorder, which is more expensive but also gives you a lot more latitude in how much footage you need to record. These systems are weatherproof so that they work inside or outside, depending on your needs.

A homeowner can choose a simple camera, large or very small to mount in any place they desire. They can also get additional security items, such as motion detectors and night vision cameras. The variety of surveillance equipment is endless, and you can monitor any area you want to. The only factor is how much you are willing to spend on this kind of security stuff for your home.

One factor that is extremely important to consider when choosing a home security camera is camera resolution. A camera with a higher resolution will have a much clearer and sharper picture. So paying more for a higher resolution camera makes sense in the long run because you will have the kind of quality picture you need for your home security. Choosing a home security system does not have to be difficult or costly. Most security cameras can be installed easily and will provide you with the peace of mind you crave.

About The Author
Bob Hett offers great tips and advice regarding all aspects concerning Security Cameras. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.securitycamerasreview.info.

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Sunday, November 18, 2007

Prepaid Wireless: Is It Right For You?


Just about every leading mobile phone provider now offers some sort of prepaid calling plan in order to fit their customers' budgets. But is is right for you?

The first question you'll need to ask yourself is how often you'll use your wireless phone?

Since the biggest benefit of a prepaid wireless phone is there is no monthly contract, you'll pay a little more for the prepaid minutes you purchase. But if you plan on using your phone strictly on an as-needed basis for emergencies, etc., a prepaid wireless program could be just what you're looking for.

The biggest mistake most people make when choosing to go prepaid is not reading the "fine print" of the providers' terms and conditions.

In most cases, the prepaid minutes you purchase will expire after a certain period of time, usually two or three months down the road. What this means is, if you buy 300 minutes today and fail to purchase more minutes anytime during the next few months, the unused portion of those 300 minutes will be unuseable!

This is sort of a convenient way to force you to keep on purchasing minutes even if you don't actually need them.

Another thing to watch out for is a daily minimum. Many providers will charge you $1.00 for each day you use your wireless phone. So if you get a prepaid wireless phone with the intention of making one two-minute call every day of the month, in addition to using 60 minutes of airtime, some providers will also charge you an additional $30 for the month, since you used the phone all 30 days.

Not a very good deal.

Out of all the prepaid wireless deals out there, TracFone seems to have the most competitive prices and terms of service. Although TracFone minutes expire after three months unless you purchase additional minutes (just like all the other companies), they also have a one-year activation service which is perfect for people just needing a wireless phone for emergency purposes. The deal changes from month to month, but usually provides for one year of activation, without requiring you to purchase additional minutes for a whole year. Thus, your monthly cost should average about $8.00 and you'll have a wireless phone with a few hundred minutes that will be good for the whole year.

The choices seem endless, but it pays to educate yourself about prepaid wireless phone plans.

About The Author
Edwin Mazanke
For more information on prepaid wireless phones and service, visit www.PrepaidWirlelessHelp.com.

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Saturday, November 10, 2007

Mobile Phones Explained


Even though the popularity of mobile phones is at an all time high, the complexity of the systems driving this technology usually means that only those involved with the industry have a complete understanding on how mobile phones actually work.

Until recently, and like most of today's millions of mobile phone users, I found myself confused by the amount of information on the subject, and even when I found information which was relevant, the terminology used was best suited to someone with a degree in telecommunications.

In truth, the technology is very easy to understand when the information is presented in simple terms. In this article I'll try to do just that – simplify the technology.

The concept:

Even though technology has become widely known as wireless, this is only true between your handset and your nearest receiving antenna. After that the connection goes through a series of telephone wires until it reaches the antenna nearest to the person you are calling – assuming the call is to another mobile.

Your handset and provider:

If you put features to one side, one handset works in much the same way to any other and the same is true of the actual network provider you choose to go with.

Manufacturers such as Nokia and Samsung dedicate themselves at producing the handsets and network providers such as Vodafone and O2 focus on the structure of the network itself.

Cellular networks:

The term "Cellular" has been derived from the fact that each antenna only has a reach of a limited area; this area is known as a cell. By placing antennas in various part of the country, providers have created Cellular network. The total area within these cells, determines the coverage of a network service provider.

Making and receiving calls:

When you make a call, your mobile phone locates the nearest antenna available for your network and connects you to the wired telephone system. The telephone network then locates the nearest antenna available for the person you are trying to call and connects you to that mobile. The opposite happens when you receive a call.

Your location:

For a connection to be successful, your network needs to know where your phone is located. To achieve this you mobile phone is in constant communication with your nearest antenna.

If you move location, and your original antenna no longer has enough reach to connect to your mobile, your phone will automatically search for another one. The new antenna then informs the system of your new location.

Conclusion

This article is by no means trying to undermine the achievements or the potential the technology has to offer. Instead, it is intended to provide an insight to the key elements of the mobile phone technology which would otherwise remain invisible to everyday users.

About The Author
Marco Barra is a web designer for Digital Phone Company, a leading independent provider of mobile phones serving over 30,000 customers across East Anglia through a network of 11 retail outlets and a team of dedicated Business to Business consultants.
www.digital-phone.co.uk

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Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Swap Magic For Slim Playstation 2


Recently my Japanese PS2 that I got way back at the Japan launch died on me. Seeing as I need to have a machine that plays Japanese PS2 games I went looking around at prices for a new one and unfortunately found the price tags to be in the $180 range. With that in mind I set out to find a more cost effective method of playing import games. I've always been fond of tinkering with my consoles which is evidenced by my blue see through modified Dreamcast and the mod switch on the side of my Gamecube, so I looked around at the current PS2 mod options since I already own a Slim US PS2.

I'm absolutely terrible at soldering and I'm not a fan of the PS2 modchip scene seeing as it's rampant with piracy so I didn't want to install a modchip. After searching a bit I came across the Swap Magic product. It looked interesting but upon further inspection I realized that it required opening up the console to install. I looked a little further and found a new version of the product which required zero modification to the console. This looked to be the solution to my problems. Luckily I had the PS2 version it supported, the Slim PS2, so I took the plunge and ordered it up from ModChip.Com.

Then I got to play the waiting game. I waited for weeks for this thing to be delivered before I finally gave up on it. I also tried many times to find and e-mail the staff of this website store but their support e-mail is so well hidden, if existent, on their website that I could never find it. So with one scam under my belt I looked for a more reliable store. I found that store at modchipstore.com. It took less than three days to arrive and the product was in perfect condition. With the import enabler in hand, I set out to play some Japanese PS2 games on my US Slim PS2.

The kit comes with a CD, for CD based games, a DVD, for DVD based games, and three small plastic parts which are to be inserted into crevices under the popup cover of the Slim PS2. There were no instructions included in the package so I headed over to the website in search of directions but came up with only a dead link. After about a half hour of searching the web I finally found a PDF with instructions that were very detailed and contained great pictures of the installation process. With instructions in hand, so to speak, I give the installation a try.

The first thing I had to do is install the three small plastic pieces. The first plastic piece required that it be pushed into a small hole. My fingers alone didn't do the job so I had to grab a screw driver and shove it into position. After quite a bit of fiddling, it finally stayed in place. The next piece had to be slid in between a latch of some sort and was somewhat difficult to make stay in place. The third piece slipped into place easily. With all the plastic pieces installed the physical work was done. Unfortunately I dropped the PS2 after this and all the pieces flew out. I tracked them all down, reinstalled them, and was ready to go once again.

When all the plastic pieces are in place the next step is to go ahead and boot up the swap CD or DVD. The game I was testing with was a CD so I popped in the swap CD and turned on the PS2. With the plastic bits in place you don't have to keep the flip top closed, so I left it open. A flash screen appears followed by a second screen that allows you to adjust the video mode. If you are using a US PS2 set the video mode to NTSC and not the default "Normal" mode otherwise it won't boot the game you're trying to play.

Playing

Next the swap CD or DVD will stop spinning and you're ready to swap in your import PS2 game. With the import game placed in the PS2 all you have to do execute the load command from the menu on screen and the game will start up spinning and load. Once I had the game loaded it played and looked perfect. Another big plus is that you don't have to buy another memory card just for import games due to the fact that you can save all different regions of save games on one memory card.

Swap Magic for Slim PS2 has allowed me to play import PS2 games for a fraction of the price of a new Japanese PS2 and I have to say it works great. I have yet to come across a game that doesn't work using this product. That said, it's not something for the lazy out there as it does require swapping discs every time you want to play a game. So if you're short on cash and already have a USA or PAL Slim PS2 then get this product but if not and you have the cash go ahead and grab a Japanese PS2.

Pros
* Relatively Easy Install
* Low price

Cons
* Requires Some Effort
* Requires A Slim PS2

Overall Score
9.2

About The Author
Jeromy is the webmaster of http://www.gamebrink.com/ GameBrink.Com Import Video Game Compare.

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