The Bluetooth Adapter: What Can It Do?

Bluetooth technology is all the rage these days. Most recently, the Belkin Company has designed and released a Bluetooth adapter that can access your iPod, another current rage with all age groups. With this Bluetooth adapter, even your iPod becomes a wireless remote of sorts, enabling listeners to enjoy song lists through their iPod stereo docks. By connecting the Bluetooth adaptor into a stereo and the iPod adapter into the iPod, users are able to control music choices as it plays from the iPod directly to the stereo. Cool eh?

Unfortunately, music enthusiasts will have to be patient for the national release of the Bluetooth iPod adaptor, which will become available in March in the United States, followed soon after by release in Europe, Australia and Asia. Fans of Bluetooth and those curious about Bluetooth adapter capabilities can learn more by accessing information about the Belkin Bluetooth Dock Adaptor for iPod. The Bluetooth adapter allows users to control play lists from within 30 feet of stereo systems, and requires no additional software. This new Bluetooth adapter is also compatible with other Bluetooth stereo equipment and works with most first, second, fourth and fifth generation iPods. The Bluetooth adapters designed to work with the iPod docking system will run about $130.

Another capability of a Bluetooth adapter is as a computer peripheral device. A Bluetooth adapter can now make it easier for use with all kinds of Bluetooth enabled wireless devices. Specializing in wireless network capabilities, a Bluetooth adapter can connect to almost any piece of equipment nowadays. At a recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, a company known as Newton Peripherals unveiled the world's smallest Bluetooth adapter called the 'MoGo Dapter', geared for laptop carrying business people from all over the globe. This handy little gadget will plug in to any free USB port on any computer without protruding into free space. Such a handy function in this Bluetooth adapter allows travelers and laptop users to insert the adapter and not have to worry about disengaging it when packing that laptop back into its case.

Research results show that the demand for the nifty Bluetooth adapter is immense and that more than 200 million 'older' laptops will benefit from such Bluetooth adapter support and technology. Bluetooth adapter technology doesn't stop there, however. New Bluetooth adapters are being created using what is called Cambridge Silicon Radio designs, which enable increased wireless networking capabilities in gathering data and analyzing that data. Software is being designed to be compatible to Bluetooth adapters, enabling users to set up user accounts with Bluetooth, share work folders and allow secure password capabilities.

The best thing about a Bluetooth adapter is that they're user friendly and easy to learn and use. The popular growth of Bluetooth capabilities makes it one of the most popular electronics gadgets in today's electronics consumer's market. The Bluetooth adapter is the wave of the future, and learning a little bit about these tiny gadgets will definitely pay off in the long run.



Want to know more about the versatility of the Bluetooth adapter? Learn more about the Bluetooth adapter at WirelessRevealed.com.

Scanner Features and Review

A Scanner is machine which recognizes optical characters. It has a computer processor, a scan head and an output device. The scan head is used to read images which in turn is translated by the computer and produced in a usable form. For example, a scanner is used to read invoices that have been returned with the payment checks by a direct-mail marketer. The code on the invoice is picked up by the scanner that indicates how much was owed and which customer is paying.

It is a multipurpose tool that is used in the office. It reads the images as thousands of individual pixels or dots. The scanner does all this with the help of scanning software. The file which has the images then can be used to enlarge, reduce or store databases. It can also be transferred into an excel worksheet or a word document.

Scanners like digital cameras help the user convert slides and three-dimensional objects into files that can be posted on the internet, pasted into a brochure or inserted into a presentation. These images can be manipulated to fit in accordance to the space and size required.

A scanner can automatically convert information to digital files using optical character recognition software, so instead of giving money to someone to manually enter reams of data into the computer, we can use the scanner. A scanner can also help to create electronic filing cabinets for expense reports to invoice.

There are three main types of scanners which are used in the office. They are Flatbed Scanner which is particularly useful when required to scan more than one page of a document. Instead of copying each page individually pages from a book can easily be scanned. Sheet fed Scanner is very much like a fax machine. It can easily be adjusted between the keyboard and monitor as it is only a couple of inches deep. Lastly the Slide Scanner can only scan slides, though there are some new models in the market that can handle negative strips also.

There are scanners which are capable of reading preprinted specific fonts in alphanumeric characters, hand-printed letters or symbols or barcodes. Encoders are payment scanners. Document scanners are used to enter responses to direct-mail promotions that can read at speeds of 18,000 documents per hour. In order to read bar-coded information such as stock number and price, Wand scanners are used. As barcodes are used prices can be altered without doing any alteration with the price tags. This can be done merely by changing the instructions in the computer which interprets the barcodes.

Almost all the scanners can be connected by SCSI, USB, or ports that are parallel. The only difference amongst them is the speed at which they work. Common parallel ports are a little slower than the SCSI and USB ports. An automatic document feeder is of great importance for large data entry projects. All scanners come along with scanning software of different types.

The package usually has a color calibration software, driver program, and applications like image-editing programs or OCR. Cross checking the version of the software is also very important as sometimes we are forced to upgrade the software in order to use it to its utmost capacity. If it has the right software a scanner can also be used as a fax machine or a Xerox machine.

Buying a scanner does not hurt the pocket much, still people are going in for other equipments to keep in the office. A scanner can do much more than just scan a photograph, but is not being used to its full capability.




This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/scanner.php

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

Have Fun, Be Safe with GPS

The Global Positioning System (GPS) was created by the US Department of Defense to answer the second most important question an army has: "Where are we?" (The most important question being: "Where's the chow line?")

Today, GPS satellites constantly send signals ground-ward; these signals are picked up by GPS receivers, which calculate position. It didn't take long for police and fire departments, construction crews and other civilian operations to see the value of GPS.

For consumers, the industry needed to refine GPS tracking system into user-friendly, consumer electronics. For example, it does little good to know you're at 40 degrees 33 minutes 24 seconds north 118 degrees 48 minutes 36 seconds west, unless you already know that's where Overstock.com is located and you're trying to parachute onto the office roof. So, manufacturers added street by street visual directions.

The Global Position System has three sectors:

Satellites
Twenty-four active plus five standby satellites orbit the Earth twice each day. At least four should be 'visible' to the ground at all times, allowing GPS tracking system users to precisely determine latitude, longitude and altitude.

Command and control system
Currently under the direction of the Air Force Space Command, certain areas are managed by other agencies, such as the Coast Guard Navigation Center (for maritime issues).

GPS receivers
GPS units are receive-only electronics; they do not transmit data or interact with other sectors of the system. This allows an unlimited number of simultaneous users. In other words, this may be the only operation of the US government that is available 24/7 and will never put you on hold!

Consider its use before buying a GPS unit:

Car GPS
Probably the most popular application, all car GPS units include street maps; high-end models offer turn-by-turn voice instructions. Frills include touch screen operation, cell phone connectivity, video games, radio, CD or DVD players and computer links to receive software updates.

Cell phone GPS
Mandated in the aftermath of September 11th, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) required cell service providers to make GPS tracking of cell phone calls possible. All phones made since 2005 are GPS-trackable. Cell phones including handheld GPS receivers are also available, but may not operate properly if you are outside your cell providers' service area.

Recreational GPS
Wrist, armband and handheld GPS units are especially good for hikers and bikers.

Marine GPS
Marine GPS is, of course, waterproof (most electronics don't react well to water!) and they float--not a feature you actually want to use, but most welcome should extreme circumstances arise. Ocean maps are notoriously dull to read, but shoreline maps and features like tide tables and fish-finders can be very useful. Marine GPS tracking is especially valuable when entering or exiting crowded harbors.

GPS accessories and add-ons enhance their use:

Maps
GPS units have factory installed street maps of the United States. World travelers can purchase additional GPS system maps of Canada and other areas.

Data storage
GPS users can store even more if the device supports removable memory cards like those commonly used for digital cameras.

Combo packs
For most people, GPS receivers work great on their own. For the serious user/traveler, portable GPS devices are available with personal digital assistants (PDAs) and two-way radios built in. As noted, car GPS units can also include entertainment or media extras.

GPS holders
These attach to the car dashboard or console so your handheld GPS doesn't have to be handheld while driving.

GPS antennas
These amplify GPS signals and are especially useful in urban areas where there is more chance of interference from terrestrial sources.

GPS chargers
Obviously, a handheld GPS must be recharged; at home and car adapters are available.

Some GPS terminology:

Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System
Commercial GPS receivers are almost always on target to within about 50 feet, but many users see accuracy to within 30 feet. NDGPS is a joint Transportation-Commerce-Homeland Security program using fixed, land-based reference stations. When near an NDGPS marker, GPS accuracy may increase to less than 10 feet.

Geocaching
Geocaching (pronounced /GE-oh-CASH-ing/) is a new and exciting game gaining popularity every year--a sport that exercises the mind and body. Simply put, it's GPS hide-n-seek; gamers place objects ranging in size from a 35-mm film can to a military ammo box in plain sight. The locations (latitude and longitude) are logged onto web sites. Players use their GPS units to locate the caches or 'waypoints'. It's a whole lot harder than it sounds. Waypoints can be disguised as plants or rocks and getting within 30 feet still leaves a lot of ground to cover. Some waypoints are pick-n-place, meaning they have prizes inside; when you find one, trade a trinket you bring for a trinket you find.

Benchmarks
One early means of determining locations was small metal markers placed by the Commerce Department's National Geodetic Survey (NGS). These are still in place and are found all over the US on street corners, mountain tops, in parks and other obvious and not so obvious places. All benchmark locations are logged and available from the NGS. They can be a quick test to see if your GPS unit is working properly or for geocaching.

Question--can the government really track me through my cell phone?

Not only the government, GPS tracking via cell phone is a commercial service available for parents (to keep tabs on their children), business owners (to track delivery vans and employees) and others (even pet owners can hook a GPS receiver to their pets, in case Rover lives up to his name). Safety, quality of service and fraud prevention have been recognized by courts as legitimate use of GPS tracking systems for surveillance by non-government entities.

GPS tracking abuse and misuse are inevitable, but that's true of every modern convenience--for the positives of GPS, there are also a few negatives. However, the day your son, daughter or $100,000 load of someone else's property goes missing, you definitely won't be screaming "Invasion of privacy!" at the FCC.

Caring for GPS units:

Dust, heat, humidity and impact damage are primary causes of failure. Don't drop your GPS unit, not even onto something soft like water--especially not onto something soft like water!

Wipe it down with a clean cloth before you put it away and, if your GPS receiver has openings like a data card slot or battery compartment, blow those clean with canned air--never your humid breath.

If you own a car GPS system, mount it out of direct sunlight. Even on cool days, the dashboard can get dangerously hot for electronics and excessive exposure to the sun's radiation can damage the memory--yes, sunburn can be terminal for a GPS terminal.

Like all modern consumer electronics, a GPS receiver has few moving parts to break, so it can provide years of valuable service (and a whole lot of fun!) if not abused. Enjoy!

For more information:

Locate a benchmark with the National Goedetic Survey (http://geodesy.noaa.gov).

Visit the Official Global GPS Cache Hunt website (http://www.geocaching.com).

Phoenix Roberts has been a journalist, freelance writer and desktop publisher for over 10 years. Presently, he is an SEO Content Writer for Internet discount retailer Overstock.com (http://www.overstock.com).
©2008 Overstock.com; all rights reserved.

The Working of MP4 Players

This articles talks about a brief history about mp4 players, and their support for many audio and video formats.
Portable Media Players or Digital Audio Players, which are mostly produced in China, are known as Chinese MP4/MTV Player or MP4 Players. These players can display images and text files and play videos. These players have nothing to do with MP4 or M4A or M4V audio or video file formats. In fact, the previous players were able to play only limited file formats like MTV, DMV, AMV and MPV. But recent MP4 players can also play video files with MPEG4 format. Most of them are a mixture of S1 MP3 Players.

The first MP4 Players were developed by a French Company Archos in the year 2002. Thus, to gain an upper hand in the market, the Chinese Companies made slight enhancement to their MP3 Players and started to market them as MP4 Players and dubbed them as the `Successor of MP3 Players`.

Most of these players were unable to play MPEG4 format video files and even fewer could have played DivX or Xvid format video files. But when more and more companies promoted their players with enhanced video and audio qualities, Chinese companies started a `True MP4 Players Vs False MP4 Player Campaign` and successfully drove the less advanced MP3 players to the MP3 market and hence stabilized and standardized the Chinese MP4 Market.

Most of these MP4 Players contain an image file viewer and you can see a JPG or BMP file. They can also play MP3 and have other audio format`s codecs. Videos are mostly played in MTV or AMV format. Videos are converted to these formats using conversion software. E-books can be read through an ASCII text viewer. Some also have additional enhancements like phone book, voice recorder, FM or AM radio. Thus you can also record FM broadcasts. Some MP4 Players also have video games in them.

These players are available in many types. Most of them are extremely light weighted and have 1.2 screens, while others can be more forceful with screens of 1.5 to 2 inch and also containing two earphone sockets and built in speakers instead of conventional one earphone socket. Some of them have OLED display which is capable of producing brighter images when compared to normal LCD displays, but the picture quality does suffer.

It is extremely easy to operate these players and only few buttons perform multiple actions. many players have extra buttons but most of them have star configuration next to the screen with a joystick in the centre of the star. These players have memory up to 8GB if they are flash based and 100GB for micro hard drive based. Some recent MP4 players also support an external, third party flash memory cards. These players have generally USB 1 and USB 2 support. Earphones are generally offered with the players but they are of inferior quality. Package also contains a USB cable with proper drives and a charger. many also come with a special case.

The battery generally lasts for several hours, but this varies greatly with the model of the player and its usage. The recent batteries can now run for 12 hrs as compared 6 hrs for older batteries. But most of the batteries are of cheap quality and swell abnormally. Thus most new MP4 players support batteries from Nokia Phones and these are highly recommended.

MP4 Players were a part of marketing strategy of the Chinese manufacturers and has gained a lot of popularity over the years. These players are enhanced every day and have rightfully captured the market and have rivaled iPods for a long time. This Chinese version of iPods are also known as ChiPods.

This article can be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page: here.

Author of this article is Roberto Sedycias.

An Overview of After Market PDA Bluetooth Accessories

Bluetooth Makes it Easy for All Your Devices and Accessories to Work Together


Bluetooth is one of the latest marketing buzzwords for PDAs and cellular phones, along with PCs and especially laptops. It is a wireless technology designed to let products and accessories built by different manufacturers work together, without requiring special access codes or driver installation. Theoretically, any Bluetooth accessory should work with any Bluetooth-enabled device, and multiple accessories working with the same device shouldn't interfere with each other.

For example, if you pick up a Bluetooth headset for your current PDA, and then in a year's time replace it with a new PDA, the headset should work with the new PDA without any difficulties. With some older PDA Bluetooth accessories and devices, this is not always the case, but generally the more recent the design of the accessory or device, the more likely it is to work with other Bluetooth products.


PDAs, Cellular Phones, and Computers


New PDAs today resemble cellular phones as much as classic PDAs like the Palm Pilot. Most of these devices are Bluetooth-enabled, and even have the capability to link with other Bluetooth-enabled PDAs and cellular phones to exchange data. For models that are not Bluetooth-enabled, there are frequently PDA Bluetooth accessories available that will add Bluetooth capabilities to the unit. Bluetooth adapters are also available for PCs and laptops, usually plugging into a USB port, allowing you to easily exchange data between your computer and your PDA.

Just about any type of data can be transferred over a Bluetooth link, from electronic business cards and pictures to word processing documents and PowerPoint presentations. For transferring data from a PDA to a computer, special software is often needed and included with the Bluetooth adapter. However, PDAs running Windows Mobile can communicate natively with computers running Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista.

Having a Bluetooth PDA and a Bluetooth adapter for your computer can eliminate the need for a docking station or sync cable, removing one more piece of clutter from your desktop. You can even set the two devices up so they automatically synchronize their data when they're in range of each other.


Other PDA Bluetooth Accessories


Headphones and headsets are the most common PDA Bluetooth accessories right now. Wireless headphones are great if your PDA has music stored on it, because you don't have an unsightly wire running from your head to your pocket or purse. Headsets and earpieces allow hands-free operation of your cell phone or smart phone, which is not only convenient but is also quickly becoming a legal requirement world-wide for using your phone in your car.

Printer manufacturers are quickly adding Bluetooth capabilities to their products, turning them into convenient PDA Bluetooth accessories. Previously, to print something stored on your PDA, you had to use the docking station or sync cable to download the information to your computer, then print it from the computer. With a Bluetooth-enabled printer, you can send your data directly to the printer without the intervening steps. If your computer is also Bluetooth-enabled, it can send data to the printer as well, eliminating the need to hook up the printer to the computer or network.

There are many other PDA Bluetooth accessories available for your PDA, and with Bluetooth it doesn't matter who manufactures either the device or the accessory. A Motorola headset will work with an iPhone, and a Palm Tungsten can print spreadsheets on a HP LaserJet. Manufacturers are constantly coming up with new PDA Bluetooth accessories to meet the demands of consumers. Bluetooth technology is making it easier for everyone to communicate.


R James Cook is a personal technology aficionado (some would say geek), and is especially entranced with the wide world of PDAs and their accessories. He shares his thoughts on this world at Bling PDA.
http://www.blingpda.com/

Pocket TV as Remote TV

Entertainment,as always heard everywhere,becomes part of our everyday life.So,to cope with the increasing demand for entertainment,technology continues to invent more gadgets that provide extra especially for our viewing time.Some technology gadgets on the other hand were made to improve their usual functions, something that’s called enhancements.However,it’s been noted that as the size of the device decreases,the more efficient it becomes.With such changes,it’s expected that the device is handy for active and mobile users.

Let’s take a look into a television that supposed to be more or less 19” size. Today, won’t you believe that our TVs can be used anywhere and handy? That’s right, you can purchase a TV for as handy as something you can put in your pockets. Continuous researches give our pocket TV new features and one is that it functions as a TV remote control. This TV Remote Control comes very convenient that we can bring it anywhere we go. The best part of using this handy TV and remote control is that you can be confident that it wouldn’t mess up any programming on our regular TV. Instead, it simply functions as a replacement for our broken or lost TV remote. What’s in it for you? Well, you don’t need to buy many remote controls in the house and that’s a big savings isn’t it?

Further,there are many Pocket PC Remote Controls in the market. Some of these remote controls are Novii Remote, Remote Control II, TV Controller with Voice Control, VITO Remote and many more.

1.Novii Remote
This device gives us the control to our home entertainment equipments like TV, Cable or Satellite, DVD or CD, VCR, etc. It has a higher interface, vivacious colors, easy installation and set-up, better infrared drivers and many other improvements

2.Remote Control II
A completely customizable universal infrared remote control for our home entertainment system. Also, it has definable control panels, layouts and graphics

3.TV Controller with Voice Control
A Pocket PC application that allows our PDA to be used as a widespread remote control for TV, VCR,Cable, Satellite, DVD and other equipments.

4.VITO Remote
Turns our pocket PC into all-in-one infrared remote control to operate TV, Video, Cable, DVD and other infrared enabled equipments.Further, this remote is very easy to customize according to your program preferences and use and gives control to our home and office equipment with our own voice using its new voice control capabilities.

There is also downloadable specialized software that can turn our pocket PC like iPAQ into a pocket PC Mobile TV. We can make our iPAQ a universal remote control using this remote control software.Then, we’re on our way of operating our television, VCR, and other home or office audio and video equipment. But don’t be disappointed because it’s not only iPAQ that can be used as a remote control, there is also remote control software like OMNI Remote that is especially made for palm-based handhelds like Palm Pilot,Handspring and Visor.

How relaxing to just lie down and have control on all the entertainment equipments? For only one remote control, we save ourselves from switching one remote control to another. After an exhausting day, it’s like we are the boss this time.Just aim the remote control and we can now enjoy watching our favorite shows or games.




Marcus Rolland writes articles on various topics,For more information click http://topsatellitetvforpcservices.blogspot.com Where you can get informative articles.

GPS Device Buying Guide

Weekend warriors everywhere are stomping into local gear shops to cash in on the newest craze – GPS devices. After all, what’s better than merging your love of electronics with your love of the great outdoors? But do you need a pricey GPS that answers all your questions before you can formulate them, or is a workhorse GPS device that delivers standard info in a practical format better for you?
Our assessment checklist will help you sort your needs from your wants and find the right GPS device to suit your lifestyle.

Ease of use – GPS devices rarely require more than a quick study of the user’s manual. But talk to your friends and search out reviews online for which devices suit uber-techies and which ones work for trekkers with limited electronic know-how.

“Talk or read? – Some GPS devices come with voice software and touch-screens, but each feature usually indicates a price increase”
Talk or read? – Some GPS devices come with voice software and touch-screens, but each feature usually indicates a price increase.
Assess your needs – Car navigator devices differ from hand held units designed for outdoor adventures. If you plan to take yours on limited access highways, you’ll have little need for a unit that lists all the Taco Bells from Fort Worth to Albuquerque.
Verify compatibility – If your PC operates on outdated software, verify your new GPS software is compatible
Keep it simple – Many devices come with a lot of functions the average user doesn’t need. Make sure the unit you choose lives up to your expectations.
Plan your backup – Buy extra batteries and a charger. If you plan to hit the trails with your unit, make sure you bring both sets of batteries fully charged.
Forget the integrated compass – Some GPS devices come with electronic compasses but you should never rely on batteries to help you find north.
Map it out – Consider where you’ll adventure with your unit and if you’ll need additional mapping software. Some GPS devices come with removable memory cards so you can load more than one map for each trip.
Color your world – Color screens are pricier than black and white, but if you’re venturing through forests, cliffs and streams color can make navigation easier – and safer.


James W. Coates, an avid traveler and resident national park expert at Nomadik.com uses one GPS device for his commute and one for his forays into the wilderness. Check out his blog and share your own GPS device adventures.

Pioneer Car Audio Mp3 What To Look For When Purchasing

When choosing a pioneer car audio MP3 it’s important to address a few key questions.
How much do you want to spend? What features are most important to you?

An MP3 is a way to encode audio that compresses data so it can store a lot more of it while keeping a high standard of quality. Pioneer has a long-standing reputation for quality and also for being one of the easiest car audio systems to install and use. They make a range of car audio that can play MP3’s, including the lower end DEH-P3700MP for a little over $100 to the AVICD1 navigation system for about $1,600. If you are looking for a basic system to play CD’s and MP3’s, a simpler system will be fine. But, if you want more features like navigation or a DVD player you will pay a lot more for a higher end system.

One of the most important things to look for is how you are going to navigate through all of your MP3 files, especially while driving.

If you have a large library of music, you will need to find an MP3 player that makes browsing through the discs as easy as possible. Many discs can hold up to about 250 songs, and it’s crucial that you can find exactly what you’re looking for as quickly as possible. One of the most reasonably priced MP3 player’s Pioneer makes is the DEH-P5500M, which costs around $270 and allows you to organize files by artist, track, folder name, file name, and album. It also has satellite radio and CD changer controls. It’s also imperative that you check that the discs you use on your computer for music are compatible with the ones for the MP3 player, otherwise you might end up with a library of music that won’t play in your car. ID tags to identify songs must be a certain version compatible with the car’s system, or you’ll end up with a lot of unusable music. If you figure out what you’re looking for, you can make an educated decision about which system will best suit your budget and your listening needs.


Article written by James Southall Jr.

mp3 player - car entertainment - gadgets