Something new Under the Sun: Powerful Program Creates Stunning Videos with Ease

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Several veterans of the entertainment/film/TV industry recently got together and developed a remarkable new product that makes creating multimedia presentations a breeze.

Animoto (animoto.com) goes where no one has gone before  offering a simple, automated process for making professional-quality digital presentations.

Images, video clips, text and audio recordings (or a selected soundtrack from the site’s library) are uploaded to the web-based site. The platform combines the material to produce original shows  no two are alike. The shows not only are visually stunning, but they also include impeccable timing  transitioning with the pace and rhythm of the music. This type of production used to take hours to do by hand in a professional studio.

The final video, which is in widescreen format, can be emailed to everyone on your list or posted to YouTube, Facebook, blogs, Twitter or other social sites but not to company websites such as www.direct.tv and the like. The videos also can be burned on a DVD for showing on high definition computer monitors, televisions or projection screens.

A basic version of the program is available free to everyone. The professional version, which includes unlimited use and a white box to place a logo or business name, is available for a reasonable annual fee.

Animato has many real-world uses. It can be a teaching tool, a sales and promotional piece, a product used for real estate sales or photography studios. It also can be leveraged by nonprofit or advocacy groups to raise awareness about an issue or cause. And certainly, it’s a fun tool for personal use enabling you to create original movies and seasonal video cards to send to loved ones near and far.

The best videos are the result of planning and prep-work. Photo enhancement, like cropping, editing and retouching, helps the images to be more attractive and compelling. Adding a compelling message or narrative also contributes to the quality of the finished piece.

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Low End Mobile Phones

July 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many people don’t feel the need to use a cell phone constantly, so they settle for a low end mobile phone that comes with an affordable plan which fits their needs. These plans can range from a certain cost per minute to an affordable amount per month. You can use contracted plans or prepaid plans, depending on your preferences.

Deciding on a Plan

Many people who decide to go with a low end cellular phone also decide on a more affordable plan with less features, such as no data included. Using a prepaid plan is similar to using a prepaid debit card. Just like a prepaid card, you load money onto your phone and use it whenever necessary, whether it is for emergencies or your own convenience. You can even use your prepaid card to put money onto your phone over the Internet or telephone. Usually this money, or time, expires after 90 days, but that is longer than most contract plans allow. When deciding on a plan, you should consider how often you talk or text or if you simply need a cell phone for emergencies.

Buying a Phone

Low end mobile phones will provide you with multiple features, but you won’t find some of those that other phones include. If you don’t use a phone that often, buying an affordable phone rather than a fancy one is probably the best option. You will still be able to make quality phone calls, text, use a web browser, camera, and other tools on most of these phones. These phones are great for emergency devices as well as for your child’s first cell phone.

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Great Circuit Board Creation Software Program for Beginners – EAGLE Layout Editor

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Single sided printed circuit board (PCB), show...

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When a beginner designer tries to develop a printed circuit board it can often times be overwhelming. There are hundreds of components that need to work together in order to achieve a goal. For the advanced designer they might be able to piece together a circuit board by eye and figure out what goes where, but the beginner designer will need a little help and guidance. Here is a look at a great program for the beginner designer that will walk any designer through the various steps of the circuit board creation process.

The EAGLE Layout Editor is a program that is developed by the CADSoft company. It is free for any computer designer that has access to the Internet. A great benefit of the EAGLE Layout Editor is that unlike other software programs this one is developed for use on a number of different operating systems. It doesn’t matter whether you have a Mac, Windows or Linux operating system the EAGLE Layout Editor can be used on all of those operating systems.

The biggest benefit of choosing the EAGLE Layout Editor over other circuit board software programs is that is has three different parts to the software program. Each part is beneficial to the circuit board creation process. The EAGLE Layout Editor contains a layout editor program, schematic editor and an autorouter. The layout editor is important because it allows users to create a circuit board directly on the screen and show all the various components of the circuit board. The schematic editor allows designers to see where the flow of power will be on the circuit board and whether there is a need to add or take away elements. The last piece of the software program the autorouter will actually physically show the designer the flow of power and direct it where to go.

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What is the File Extension .pcb?

February 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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If you are new to the circuit board creation scene then you have probably noticed that there are computer files popping up that have an extension of .pcb. So what exactly is this new file extension code and what programs put it on the end of their files? Here is a look at the .pcb file extension, why it is used and what programs use it.

The .pcb file extension is a file extension that is used specifically for programs that run printed circuit board software tools. These programs are usually the program that you use to design a circuit board or to test the flow of the energy once the circuit board has been created. As with all file extensions the .pcb allows the computer to separate the printed circuit board file from any of the other files.

Files that do contain an extension of .pcb can be found in a variety of different types of files. The .pcb file can be either a data file, as is the case when the written data of a circuit board is created, a 3D graphics file, CAD-CAM-CAE file, document file or even a database file. It really depends on the program that you used to create the .pcb file and what you were creating at the time.

Programs that create the .pcb file extensions are print circuit board creation software programs as well as Microsoft Powerpoint and Print Shop. While Powerpoint and Paint Shop will create .pcb files the typical program that creates this type is a printed circuit board creation software program.

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Free PBC: A Look at an Easy to Use Software Program

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you are designing or creating a product that requires a printed circuit board then you will want to make sure that all the components of the circuit board work together so that the board does as it is supposed. One of the ways that designers are able to make sure the circuit board works as it is supposed to is through the software programming tools known as an electronic design automation software program. There are dozens of electronic design automation software programs available on the Internet. Here is a look at one of the most popular electronic design automation programs, Free PCB.

Free PCB is a completely free printed circuit board design program. It is available to anyone that has an Internet connection. The only requirement to use Free PCB is that the computer user must be operating on the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The overall software program of Free PCB is an easy to use printed circuit board program. The program allows designers to create their own circuit board and then check the design to make sure that all the components will work together and in the proper order. The Free PCB software program is ideal for those that are just curious about whether or not their designed circuit board will work as intended.

Free PCB has a maximum circuit board size of 60 inches by 60 inches. It also only checks circuit boards that have anywhere from one to sixteen copper layers. If the circuit board that you are checking is outside of this range you will need to consider one of the larger programming software programs. Another great feature of the Free PCB program is that it allows users to use either the English measurement system or the metric system, so the programmer can design in their own measure system.

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The Introduction of Apple

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Personal computers began to take off with the release of the “Altair.” These new computers created a lot of interest in the concept of having a computer in the home. But of course this was just the first step in many that would be taken to get computers into the homes of people across the country.

An important next step began back in 1975 when Steve Wozniak was working for a calculator manufacturing company called Hewlett Packard. After spending his day working for HP, he would return home at night and tinker with his Altair computer kit. In 1975, these first computers were not much more than boxes with switches that made little or no sense to the common man. This is how Wozniak saw them in any case. Fortunately he also noted that the components of the new computers, the memory chips and the microprocessors, were dropping in price, to the point that he could purchase them himself with as little as he might earn in a month. With this in mind he partnered up with a friend of his, Steve Jobs, who also tinkered with the new computers and decided that they could, and should, build their own.

By the first of April in 1976, Wozniak and Jobs started Apple Computers by releasing their first computer called the “Apple I.” It became the first computer with a single circuit board. They included a video interface with their new product, which also came with its own keyboard and 8 kilobytes of RAM. They put an affordable component in it as well, the 6502 processor, which could be purchased from MOS Technologies for $25. It also included the new dynamic RAM which held data within separate capacitors inside an integrated circuit.

Wozniak and Jobs demonstrated their new Apple I prototype at a local meeting of computer hobbyists. The new computer was mounted on wood with the components visible for all to see. A dealer for a local computer shop called the Byte Shop was there and was so impressed that he ordered 100 of them. Over the next 10 months Wozniak and Jobs assembled around two hundred of the Apple Is and sold them for a price many found religiously unsettling of $666.66.

By 1977 the new Apple Computers company became incorporated and then released their new computer model, the Apple II. This new version of the Apple computer was based on the same 6502 processor but included color graphics and utilized audio cassettes for data storage. A year later, they increased the RAM from 4KB to 45KB and replaced their cassette drive with a floppy disk unit. The new Apple II sold for $1,298.

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The First Computer Game

January 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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It was 1962 when Steven Russell (“Slug” to his friends), an MIT computer programmer was inspired by some stories by E. E. Smith. This inspiration let him to form a team that came up with the first official computer game. They put in approximately 200 man-hours as they created the first version of the game they came to call “Spacewar.” Russell wrote the code for the game on an early Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) device called a PDP-1 – an interactive mini-computer, complete with an old cathode-ray tube display monitor and keyboard for input. The computer had been donated to MIT from DEC in the hopes that their impressive think-tank would create some new remarkable product with their hardware. The creation of a computer game was the last thing they had on their minds when they made their donation, even though they later distributed the game as a diagnostic program to those who purchased their products. Unfortunately for Russell, he never made any money from his clever invention.

Thanks to the PDP-1′s operating system, it was the first to allow more than a single user to share a computer at the same time. This became integral to the playing of the new game. Spacewar was a two-player game that featured spaceships in a war where they fired photon torpedoes at enemy craft. It allowed each player to maneuver their own spaceship and fire missiles at the opposing player while at the same time trying to avoid being sucked into the sun by its gravitational pull. Many still find it a fun game to play today.

By the mid-sixties, despite the expensive of computer time, the game was found on almost every research computer across the United States. In the meantime, Steve Russell took his computer game programming knowledge with him to Stanford University and introduced Spacewar and his programming skills to a student named Nolan Bushnell. Bushnell took his newly acquired knowledge and started “Atari Computers.”

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Online College Classes: The Real Scoop

December 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Universities, technical schools and community colleges continue to increase the number of online classes and degree programs they offer.

Online classes appeal to a broad segment of the population – from working adults who need the flexibility, to military personnel who can take college classes even while deployed (depending on the region and internet access), to traditional students who save money by living at home with their parents and taking classes on their computer.

However, people often have misconceptions about online coursework.

First, it isn’t like pressing the “easy button.” You still have to read your textbooks, participate in class discussions (albeit in chat rooms or posts), submit papers, take tests and meet deadlines. Although you normally don’t have to be in a classroom at a certain time, you do need to check in regularly.

Second, the student has to take more responsibility. You have to make sure you’re registered and in the system before you can gain access to the learning platform. You have to order your books and materials on time so they are shipped before class begins. You need to learn how to access electronic resources from the university’s online library. And you have to quickly learn the features and sections of the learning platform. The excuse, “I didn’t know where to find the class syllabus,” won’t fly.

Third, big brother is watching. Your instructor and the site administrator can track how much time you spend inside the learning system, how many times you’ve posted answers and replies on the discussion board, and if you’re meeting deadlines. In fact, your instructor can set up assignments so they lock students out after the due date – then you’ll have to plead for your teacher to reset it so you can submit a late project.

Fourth, even though you don’t see your teacher or classmates in person, a high level of respect and courtesy is expected in online communications.

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Online College Classes Offer Teaching Opportunities for Moonlighters, Retired Folks

December 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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Online College Classes Offer Teaching Opportunities for Moonlighters, Retired Folks

As an increasing number colleges offer online classes and degree programs, opportunities are blooming for adjuncts.

Full time faculty, already maxed out with traditional classes, grading, advising and research activities, often are reluctant to take on the responsibility of designing and facilitating online college classes as well. Unless it is required, they may decide the extra money is not worth the time and effort to maintain classes in cyberspace.

That’s great news for freelancers, moonlighters and retired people interested in sideline income. For those with expert knowledge in their field, a master’s degree or Ph.D. and some computing savvy, they are welcomed with open arms by most universities to design and/or teach online classes.

Before this can happen, however, they must go through a rigorous application and review process. Adjuncts typically have to order official transcripts from their degree programs be sent to the school where they are applying. They submit an online application, cover letter and resume. They consent to undergo an extensive background and reference check.

If they are accepted, adjuncts then go through a training and certification program to ensure their competency with the university’s learning platform.

Now, on to the good stuff.

The first type of class is one already developed and loaded into the university’s online learning system. An adjunct faculty member customizes the class by adding calendar dates, their bio and virtual office hours, and, if needed, setting up different teams among the students. The teacher follows the syllabus, monitors student activity, grades assignments, gives feedback to the students, and submits grades to the university.

The second type of class involves creating and submitting a proposal, then waiting for approval from an online curriculum committee. When the proposal is accepted, the adjunct then creates the syllabus and course content. These are then either submitted to the university webmaster for uploading, or the teacher loads them into the learning system themselves.

Filed Under: Computers, Design Automation, Internet

Internet and Social Media Enhance Research Efforts

December 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Internet and Social Media Enhance Research Efforts

These are boom times for those conducting demographic, market and opinion research. No more long, lonely hours in the library stacks. No more handing out surveys in the public square. No more dialing random numbers from the phone book. The internet and social media sites have changed all that.

A treasure trove of credible data now is available from easy-to-locate websites, most notably, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government sites. More localized information can be found on various chambers of commerce and state sites, as well as health and advocacy sites, like the American Heart Association.

If you’re affiliated with a university, you can tap into their vast electronic resources, which may include newspaper and magazine archives and the latest business, academic, legal and health science journals and studies.

Obtaining feedback and opinions is a simple process with free or low- cost web-based survey tools like surveymonkey.com or zoomerang.com. You don’t have to install software or learn complicated processes. The surveys are quick and easy to take, which boosts the likelihood of response. Target your audiences through emails, websites, Facebook, Twitter, blogs or banner ads and pop-up invitations. The surveyor specifies the number of responses desired and a cut off date. The program collects real time data through the cut off date, which can be organized into reports, charts and graphs. The data also can be downloaded into Excel spreadsheets.

You also can conduct surveys with LinkedIn. By joining various special interest groups or creating your own group, you then are entitled to pose a question to your fellow members. Another approach is to ask the question of your own first-degree connections or set it up to enable anyone else on LinkedIn to participate.

Today’s tools have opened up vast opportunities for collecting statistics and data, feedback, opinion and new insights.

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