Monday, May 4, 2009

Computer Tips [ PC Hardware Mysteries Revealed + Your Wide Open Wireless Connection + Finally - Windows Gets Better + Sharp Web Photos ] 05/05/2009

Computer Tipswww.worldstart.com

Quick Tips

Windows 7 System Requirements

This past weekend Microsoft sent out an e-mail to all of the Windows 7 beta testers telling them that the release candidate ("release candidate" means “almost done”, by the way) of Win7 was available to download, install and tinker with.

This is exciting news, but even more exciting is that along with this news, Microsoft bestowed upon us the system requirements for Windows 7! Here they for both 32 and 64 bit flavors:

- 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1 GB of RAM (32-bit)/2 GB of RAM (64-bit)
- 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit)/20 GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0 or higher driver,”

This is the bare-minimum it will take to run the new operating system, but Bill and his crew also noted that all of these requirements pertain to all versions of Windows 7, be they the high end version or the low end.

I, for one, am excited. The response from the beta has been generally positive and the performance records indicate that Windows 7 outperforms Vista in just about every way! We have a lot of jaded Vista users out there, but will this be enough to keep them in Microsoft territory when the urge/need to upgrade strikes? Only time will tell!

~Andrew

The upgrade will find me eventually! What about you? Let us know by rating or adding something helpful to this tip here:
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/windows-7-system-requirement
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Table of Contents

1.) Quick Tip - Windows 7 System requirements, you say?
2.) Computers 101 - "Bird on a wireless"
3.) MS Office - I like to move it, move it!
4.) Tip of the Day - Know your hardware!
5.) Today's Feature - Keep those tiny pictures looking good!
6.) Cool Site
-
Avoid the risky roads!

Announcements

Special Promotion!! Save $118 Off Retail!

These went like CRAZY on Friday, over the weekend and Monday! Oh, and check this out - We found the SAME DRIVE at buy.com for $73.82 after shipping! AND - they LIST for $138!!! We are gonna keep the same price break on them today (as long as we have them in stock!) - you can get 'em for just $19.97 and our shipping is FREE if you live in the US! Killer deal! Take a look!!

Amazing 8GB Micro-Hard Drive!Verbatim Store-n-Go 8GB USB 2.0 Mini HD

Take All Your Stuff With You!

Way Cheaper Than A Flash Drive -

And Better Lookin' Too!

You've Just Gotta Try This!

Others Charge $80-$138 For It -

Our Price Is Lower Than Ever - Just $19.97!!

These are just the coolest little hard drives we've ever come across! Not only are they about as good lookin' as a hard drive can get, but they are really tiny too! Just wait till you see yours :-) You're gonna LOVE 'em!

This works just like a flash drive - only it doesn't set you back as much money! Just plug it into your computer and it will show up as an external drive under My Computer. From there, simply drag and drop your files! Works on any XP or Vista computer - no drivers required! WOW!

Why not free up extra room on your computer's Hard Drive? Yeah...instead of jamming EVERYTHING onto the computer (you know...the one you never seem to get around to backing up!), why not keep all your favorite music, photos and other important stuff in one nice, convenient spot? Plus that way, you've got everything together when you want to show uncle Bob all the latest photos from your last vacation?

Oh, and these are FANTASTIC for backups too! You probably have loads of documents, information, spreadsheets, family photos, and music that you just can't afford to lose - Why not back 'em up onto a couple of these handy little drives? Makes it MUCH easier to keep track of and for the price you just can't go wrong!

Or if you've got SOOO many tunes you just "can't live without" and you're juggling three or four thumb drives- well STOP IT!!! (Besides, you're bound to loose one of 'em, poke an eye out or do something else that every mother in the world seems to warn their kids about doing!) Do the smart thing and keep them all together and neat all in one place! (Besides, your mother will be so proud!)

Anyway, in addition to the HUGE amount of capacity, this mini-HD is FAST! (USB 2.0 with data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps!) So when "Uncle Bob" says he just has to have copies of those pictures, BAM! plug right into that USB port and you're done!!! Oh, and this comes pre-loaded with Mobile Launchpad, which is the start menu for your USB HD Drive! So no need to think about drivers, and all that. Again, this baby is 100% Plug 'N Play so you can Rock 'N Roll!!!

And, of course, we can't leave out the fact that this Mini HD looks gooood! Sleek, slick, compact,,,what else do you need.

Oh, and this comes with its own USB cable, a Quick Start Guide AND a travel wallet. (Can you say, "Accessorize"?)

These are going to go out the door in a hurry! I'd say grab one or two while you can for yourself...maybe even one as a gift if we still have any. Also, we just found this exact same drive at buy.com for $73.82 after shipping! Grab 'em from us for just $19.97 and US Shipping is FREE! Here's the link:

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4999

PS...You KNOW you're gonna need more storage - grab a couple of these today! Save $118!!


THE PERFECT BALANCE OF GREAT SOUND AND COMFORT

These Headphones Are Just AWESOME!!!

Wireless Headphones

Wait Til You Hear How Amazing These Sound!!!

If You've Ever Dreamed Of Owning A Set Of Wireless Headphones...

NOW's The Time! Amazing Price Too!!!

If you think I'm excited about these, you're absolutely right! Let me tell you why...

First of all, this is the BEST "bang" for the buck we've EVER offered on any set of wireless headphones. So if we're talkin' price, that alone makes this an INCREDIBLE deal. But that's not the half of it because these headphones do MUCH more than just your "basic" wireless headphones! Theses are a kind of "4-in-1" deal because - These Can Be Any Of The Following At The Flip Of A Switch!

Wireless Headphone (And A Superb One At That!)

Yes, these work as wireless headphones AND you can use these wireless headphones with just about ANY audio device - an mp3 player, CD or DVD player, your computer, game player, radio even your TV! You don't need a separate set of headphones to work with each piece of audio equipment...this does it all!!!

Imagine sitting out back relaxing on your patio in a lawn chair, listening to your favorite songs playing on the stereo (that's inside the house!). You can even get up and walk around and still be listening to your music, all in total comfort and style! Turn on your music and sit outside late at night and you don't have to worry about disturbing the neighbors! But if that weren't enough, these do A LOT more than just

FM Radio

There's an FM RADIO TRANSMITTER built RIGHT INTO THE HEADPHONES! So you could be mowing the lawn while listening to your favorite FM radio station...maybe catching the ball game! If you get restless late at night and can't sleep and want to jump on the computer and listen to some videos on the Internet or even watch TV...no problem! These wireless headphones will give you incredible sound all without disturbing anyone around you! You can even get up and go to the fridge to grab a snack and you don't even need to take off your headphones! (Ahhh...the freedom to roam without being tied down to the computer or stereo by a cord!)

Wireless Internet Chat Microphone (the base has a mic built in!!!)

How would you like to turn on your computer and have a "wireless" chat on the Internet while you surf the Web? Well you definitely can because this is the perfect audio chat tool! All you do is plug one end of the cable (that's included!) into the microphone jack of the emitter and the other end into the microphone jack of your computer and now you can listen and chat, with the comfort of your wireless headphones! (The "emitter" that comes along the the headphones serves as the "control center" and also houses a microphone that you can use right along with your headphones!)

Wireless Monitoring (set the base in another room and listen with the built-in mic)

(Think of a Baby Monitor on steroids!) Yes, you can use this to monitor a baby...or an elderly parent or even a member of your family who's ill in another room! And how this works is simple! The base emitter also has a microphone in it as well. Just plug the emitter into the microphone jack of your computer, place the emitter near the person(s) you want to monitor, flip the switch on the emitter to "Monitor" put on your wireless headphones and you can hear them clear as a bell! In fact, I turned on the "monitor" feature and even walked around the office and it was picking up the signal right through the walls!!!

Wireless HeadphonesThese areally are a "4-in-1" device for the "audiophile"! By being able to work in so many ways, you'll save a ton of money by not having to buy other products...always a good ideas for those of us who are trying to save!

But you sure won't feel like you're scrimpin' because when you take these out of the box you're gonna be amazed! They look rich and luxurious! The earpieces have a soft, "cushy" feel to them. Even the band that rests on the top of your head is covered by the same soft, luxurious, padded covering! Before I even plugged them in, I had to try them on to see how they felt and Ohhh...these are SO incredibly comfortable! And they're amazingly lightweight...I couldn't believe it!  You can walk around with these on all day and never get tired of them!

And as far as the sound goes, these headphones are FANTASTIC!!! When you turn these on, oh my goodness...you're NOT gonna believe what you hear! They sound as rich as they feel! And the volume is strong...you can really crank these up if you want to with the volume control right on the earmuff! No "tinny", thin sound here! These have a strong, robust sound that just surrounds you in music! But that's not all..

Hi-Fidelity, Multimedia Entertainment

In comfort, style and the convenience of being wireless!!! Oh yeah! THIS is gonna be huge! In fact, I predict this will be one of our all-time best products! And at the price that we're letting these go, it's easy to understand why!

Wireless Headphones

When I first saw these, I thought these were $70-80 headphones...easy! I mean these are "high sensitivity", interference resistant with a strong signal output and outstanding performance. Well, I have to be honest with you. We fell into a super, unbelievable deal with one of our suppliers. And rather than charge what these should really go for, we thought we'd pass along the huge savings. And who knows...maybe you'll think it's so good that you'll want to send this page to a friend! So, are you ready for this? Today as a special promotion we're letting these go for only $26.97 and U.S. shipping is FREE!!! http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=5065

I know...you think we're nuts! Well, probably... but why not? We got a great deal so we want to make sure that EVERYONE gets a set of these headphones cuz they can be used in so many different ways for so many different things. And the SOUND and the way they FEEL!!! Well, all I can say is I think this is one of the best buys ANYONE can make! So grab one of these right now!

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=5065

P.S. If it's any indication, it's still the middle of Spring but I'm grabbing a few of these for Christmas presents! (Heck, even I know a great deal when I see one!)


Can I Get WiFi Here?Targus WiFi Scout Hot Spot Locator

What Is My Signal Like There?

What If I Take One Step To The Left?

What If I Shake It All About?

Don't Be That Guy Doing The Hokey Pokey To Pick Up An Internet Signal!

Check Out This WiFi Locator!

VERY, VERY, VERY Limited Quantity!!!!

I will admit it, I am a people watcher. And I think there is nothing funnier than someone trying to pick up WiFi. I have seen it so many times, someone is on there PDA or laptop trying to connect to the internet where the signal is strongest.

In fact, just yesterday, I was at a local coffee shop and I noticed this one guy on his PDA. It started off that every 10-15 seconds he would shift directions. Honestly, he looked like he had ants in his pants. So, obviously, this caught my (the people watcher's) attention. After about 5 minutes of strange and awkward movements, the gentleman stood up and moved to a table about ten feet away. There he seemed fine for about 3 minutes, but then he started squirming around again. I found it hilarious, only I could tell that the poor gentleman was only getting more and more frustrated.

I wish I would have known about this amazing Targus WiFi Finder yesterday and recommended it to that poor gentleman! This fantastic little device helps you locate WiFi hotspots with just a quick press of the button! PLUS - it's no bigger than the key fob for your car! 

How does it work? Well, it is quite simple. All you have to do is press the button, and it will indicate the strength of all 802.11b & 802.11b/g, enabled networks within range. That way, you will immediately know if you are going to be able to log onto the Internet without even booting up your laptop or PDA! Talk about a time saver!

Better yet, this device is so compact that it fits easily in your hand or slips into your pocket - super-easy to keep with you!

But what I love most about this WiFi finder is the 3 LED lights, which light up depending on the strength of your Internet signal! Red is a weak signal, red & yellow is a good signal, and when you have red, yellow, and green you're in WiFi heaven! Talk about simple!

But the best part is the price. And we have an amazing price for you today- just $14.97 and US Shipping is Free. Order now before our supply is gone!

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=5080

PS: We have a very limited supply of these (only 47). So get to the site now and order yours before they are gone!!!!

Computers 101

Q:
Can you tell me more about encryption in regards to wireless Internet?

A:
When it comes to your wireless network, just know that you will always need encryption. There are no and, ifs or buts about it. It's necessary!

First of all, what is encryption? It is the process of coding or scrambling information so it can only be read by someone who knows the correct decoding key. Encryption is used a lot in secure Web sites and other data transfer programs. In other words, encryption stops anyone who is not supposed to read certain information from actually having access to it. For example, if you were to enter an unsecure site and a third party saw some of your information, they would be able to read it if you didn't have encryption enabled. Otherwise, they would be able to see everything. It's always safer to do things over an encrypted line.

So, in regards to using a WiFi router, it's best to have your line encrypted. WiFi signals are basically radio waves and they can be picked up by any receiver without you ever knowing it. The receiver doesn't have to be connected to your router in order to gain access to your system. If you don't use encryption, all of the data that you transfer over your computer is sent in a plain text format and it can and probably will be read by anyone who is interested.

When it comes to your wireless connection, it's just simply best to use every form of protection that you can get. Along with having a personal firewall and an antivirus program on your computer, it's smart to use closed networks, address limitations and of course, encryption.

There are a couple types of encryption: WPA and WPA2 (WiFi Protected Access). There's also WEP, but WPA is much stronger and it's newer. With WPA, your encryption key changes with every session, so it keeps your system safer. To learn more about these different types of encryptions and how to get it for your system, read here.

~ Erin

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MS Office

Move It!

When you use Microsoft Outlook do you find yourself moving messages from place to place with the old drag and drop?

For many people that process works just great - but what about all those people who would prefer to use a key combination over the mouse?

Is there any help for them?

Well, of course there is… you just have to know the combination to unlock Outlook's move abilities.

Obviously to start you need to have a message selected.

Now it's time for the "magic" keys:

Ctrl + Shift + V

The Move Items dialog window will open.


Here is where you select the location of where you'd like the message to be moved.

You have a couple of choices for navigation in this window.

First, you could use the arrow keys to move through the list.

Or… you could type the first letter of the place where you want to place the message. For example, I would type a "j" to select the journal as the new desired location for the message.

If you're looking to move the information to someplace that has multiple items starting with the same letter then every time you hit that key Outlook will move to the next item in the list. Just keep going until you get there - the list probably isn't that long and you should find it within a couple of key strokes.

Either way, when you've selected the new location then hit Enter.

Poof! You moved it - no drag, no drop, no problem.

~ April

Did you like this Office Tip? Did you not? Let us know by rating or adding to it here:
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More Cool Stuff

You've gotta try this - it turns your laptop into a GPS Navigation System!! It's absolutely AMAZING - and only a fraction of the cost of one of those expensive stick-on-the-window units! Check it out, but you gotta hurry - only a VERY limited supply left and our supplier talks like this is the last of 'em. If you don't order today, you'll miss out on one of the best deals we've ever had!

"Brilliant!"

"Incredible!"

"Ingenious!

AMAZING!! Turn Your Laptop Into An Incredible GPS Unit!

WAY More Powerful & Full Featured Than A Windshield Mount Unit!

And Only A Fraction - A FRACTION - Of The Cost!

Even Can Respond To Voice Commands!

Best GPS Navigation Ever! Wait Till You Try It!

We just found the coolest GPS package on the planet! It's DeLorme's EarthMate and it transforms your laptop into an amazing, full featured, voice activated GPS Unit! Really! Works great too!

Using your laptop for an automotive navigation GPS is absolutely incredible - and much easier than it might sound too! If you have a passenger, they can keep the computer on their lap when it's needed, and if you're going solo, just set it on the seat next to you! It accepts voice commands, so you don't even need to touch it (more on that in a minute)! Between getting to use your large laptop screen and all the amazing features packed into this, you'll never, ever consider one of those silly windshield-mount units!

How does it work? Glad you asked! You install the map software on your laptop and plug in the included GPS receiver into your laptop's USB port! That's it! You now have a fully functional GPS system you can take with you! The receiver itself is on a 5' cord, so you can easily set it on your car's dashboard if you like (or use the suction cup for the windshield) - it's small too - about the size of a small wireless flip-phone!

Again, this does the same thing as those little units you can spend hundreds of dollars on - except this uses your computer so it's a LOT more powerful! This puts any hand-held or windshield mount GPS unit I've ever seen to absolute and complete shame! PLUS, wait till you see the price - it's a FRACTION of the cost! And you get to do all your navigating on your laptop screen instead of some small, impossible to read 4" LCD panel! It's amazingly good :-)

Earthmate GPS Receiver & Street Atlas USA 2008

OK, this does a LOT! I could literally take up 10 pages just giving you the highlight show! You'll really have to stop by the website to see everything this can do - way too much to go over here (you'll understand when you see the page), but just to give you a little taste of what's in store for you...

First, input your destination and this will get you there with easy to follow turn by turn directions (audio turn by turn help no less)! Even better, this can respond to voice commands from you so it becomes VERY hands-free! In fact, you can train it so you can say something like "When is my next turn?" and it will answer back something like "Your next turn is in 200 yards". Yeah, it's cool!

Earthmate GPS Receiver & Street Atlas USA 2008

In addition, it also has amazing re-routing help for when you run into traffic jams, you can use voice prompting to ask it where the nearest gas station, hotel, etc is, and you can even scout ahead on the map and have it snap back to your current location! Oh, and did I mention it has a whoppin' 4 MILLION places of interest built right in - gas stations, restaurants, hotels, malls, - you name it! Everything you need on the road! 

Yeah those little windshield mounted units are starting to look darn pretty pathetic right about now, don't ya think?

Earthmate GPS Receiver & Street Atlas USA 2008

Oh, and get this - you can also import data into it from spreadsheets and most popular contact managers! If you travel for business, this is amazing - just import your contacts and navigate to any one of them with a couple mouse clicks! You can even enter a phone number and this will do a reverse lookup and find the address for you! WOW!

Using the maps is fantastic too! They are amazingly detailed and just a right-click will tell you exactly what's under your mouse (body of water, street, etc)! It can even get you local radio station information - now THAT's insanely impressive!

OK, you get the idea. Frankly, we only have a limited number of these and if I keep going on we're going end up having way more people who want one than we have available. Bottom line is simply this - if you've been thinking about getting a navigation system or windshield mount GPS unit for your car, THIS is going to blow ALL of the competition away! After all, it all the resources of a full-blown computer at its disposal, so really, it's not even a contest! Imagine having this on your next trip! Oh, and imagine how cool this would be if you had to rent a car somewhere and had no clue where you were going! 

Your price is only a FRACTION of what you would pay for a full blown GPS unit too! Just $38.97 and US shipping is FREE! These retail for $70, so it's a huge chunk of change off the regular price! And amazing compared to a $400 GPS unit! Don't miss out!

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4934

PS - Seriously - only a limited number available. PLEASE get to the site early. Once these are gone we can't get anymore and I'm not sure if we'll ever see something like this again! Don't miss out!


You?

A Windows XP Wiz??

You Bet!

One Day Only- Get Show Me How To Use Windows XP For Just $6.97!!!

WOW!!!

Do you wish you could run Windows better? Faster? Do you feel like you're missing out on some of the features you know you could really use? Do you have some things you just haven't quite figured out? Then I have a new program you'll really love!

It's called Show Me How To Use Windows XP and it's a must have for XP users!

This uses easy to understand video presentations (104 of 'em!) to show you how to do all the cool stuff you just knew Windows could do! From the very basics to more advanced topics, it's all covered. We've put a complete list of all 104 topics on the site (wait till you see it), but we've listed the topic headings here:

Customizing and Settings (18 topics - make XP work the way you want)
Make the Most of Windows XP (18 topics - learn tricks for faster operation)
Disk Operations (21 topics - essential skills every XP user needs)
Discover Windows XP (13 topics - a must have for beginners)
Windows XP accessories (10 topics - make the most of built in programs)
Internet (14 topics - everything you need to know)
Multimedia (10 topics - makes multimedia tricks easy)

Told ya it was loaded!

To me, videos are about the best way to learn Windows. It's one thing to read about something, but to watch it being done in front of you is really fantastic. This is like having a Windows guru sitting next to you, showing you step by step exactly what you need to know for any given topic! It's really great, and available whenever you want (unlike, say, a real life Windows guru).


It just doesn't get any easier to learn than this - if you want to get the most out of Windows XP, I can't recommend this title highly enough. It's a real must have!

Your price on this is incredible - just $6.97 ($30.00 retail) and US shipping is FREE! It's an amazing deal on a piece of software every XP owner should have! Check it out:

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=761

This price will increase to $8.97 on Wednesday!

Today at WorldStart.com

Lost Printer Installation Disk?

"I just got a new computer and when I went to install my printer on it, I realized I don't have the installation disk anymore! Is there anything else I can do to get my printer installed?" Hmmmm...This looks like a job for Worldstart.com!!

Rubber Ducky?

I had one of these when I was a kid. Heck, Ernie from Sesame Street had one of these, too, and he even wrote a song about it! Remember that one? "Rubber Ducky, you're the one! You make bath-time lots of-....stop you say? What? My singing isn't that bad, is it? Well, fine! Go to the Worldstart site and I'll sing about them myself! ;)

Here's the link you need: http://www.worldstart.com/ Enjoy!

Tip of the Day

Know Your Hardware

Most people who own computers have basic hardware and they don't even realize it. Either that or they don't really know what each item is called. And basically, when you don't realize when something is there, it can keep you from doing certain things that you want to do. Usually, you can do those things, but without knowing your hardware, it's difficult to master.

So, what is hardware? Well, hardware is the opposite of software. It's all the equipment or devices you can touch on or around a computer. Here are the most common pieces of hardware: PC, Mouse, Speakers, Monitor, Hard Drive, USB Port, Keyboard, CPU, Modem, Processor Chip and a CD ROM Drive.

Again, those are just the basic hardware devices that everybody with a computer has. Allow me to explain them a little more.

PC - This is just another word for saying computer. PC stands for Personal Computer.

Hard Drive - This one is the heart of your computer. A lot of people think it's the monitor, but it really is the hard drive. The hard drive is a storage device that lives inside of your computer. It holds large amounts of data and programs that help your computer to do what it does.

The Monitor - This is the device that looks like a TV. It shows pictures and text on its screen.

Keyboard - It has keys with letters, numbers and punctuation marks on them. You can type on it and whatever you type appears on the monitor screen.

Processor Chip - This is a small electronic device that interprets and carries out the instructions you tell your computer to do.

Mouse - It's a small handheld device that has two buttons on it in the front. One button is on the left, the other button is on the right. When you move this object around, a little arrow on the monitor screen moves also.

CPU - It's basically just a box. It's like a case made of metal or plastic that protects the devices inside of your computer. CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.

Speakers - These allow you to hear music and other sounds. Some speakers are built into your computer and are usually attached to the monitor. Other speakers come separately from the computer and plug into your CPU.

USB Port - This is a very important port on your computer. You can hook up to 127 different external devices with a single connector cable. USB ports are usually on the back of the computer, while some computers have a USB port in the front. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus.

Modem - This one is a device that connects you to the Internet. It is usually a telephone cord for dial-up or a cable cord for DSL. DSL stands for Digital Signals Line.

CD ROM Drive - It is the drive that plays and reads CDs (compact discs). CD ROM stands for Compact Disc Read Only Memory.

Now, that is the basic hardware. Here are some extra hardware devices that may come with your computer or that you may purchase on your own: Scanner, DVD Drive, Printer, Floppy Disk Drive, Zip Drive, Microphone, PC Webcam.

Scanner - This one works like a copy machine. You can put a document on the scanner and it scans the paper to make a printed copy of the document. What you put on a scanner will also appear on your monitor screen. Therefore, you can also save it to your PC or on a disk.

Printer - It prints out whatever is on the monitor screen.

DVD Drive - It is a storage device that reads, plays and writes on DVDs. DVD can stand for two things. The most common is Digital Video Disc, which is the DVD movies everyone likes to watch and the next is Digital Versatile Disc, which you can write on and save data to. Just like you do on a floppy disk.

Floppy Disk Drive - This is another storage device that you insert a floppy disk into. (A floppy disk is square and has a black or silver sliding piece going across the top of it).

Zip Drive - This is a storage device that works like a floppy disk drive as well. You can insert a zip disk into this drive. A zip disk looks like a floppy disk, but it is a little thicker and it has a lot more space on it.

Microphone - This lets you speak into your computer. You can enter data into your computer by speaking into the microphone as well. How cool is that?!

PC Webcam - This is a digital video camera that you can hook up to your computer. You can take pictures or make a movie with it, as long as the Webcam is still hooked up to your computer. You usually hook them up to your computer via a USB port. Webcams can capture both still and motion images.

Now that you know your hardware, the terminology and what it does, you can share your knowledge and this article with someone else who doesn't know. It's all a happy ending!

~ Tweety Dimes

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http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/3509

Today's Feature

Keep Digital Pictures Sharp When Resizing

Here's what happens: you're working on a really great image you shot with your high-resolution digital camera. It looks great—so sharp you could cut yourself on it. Then, someone asks you to e-mail it to them so they can see it too.

Since it's a high res shot, you decide that you should probably resize it first. You go into your imaging program, click the Image Size menu option, and shrink it down. For more on making your pictures the right size, check out this link:

http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/133

OK, so you've resized your image and now you're looking at it. Somehow, it seems to have lost a bit of its sharpness in the process. Now, you could run your sharpening tool again, that's certainly an option, but we've found another way that really works well—if you have a "Sharpen Edges" filter.

So, open your imaging software and check under your filters. Look for a "Sharpen Edges" filter and if you're lucky enough to have one, give it a click. Usually that's all it takes to make your image nice and crisp again. We found this out while resizing images for our monthly wallpaper and it worked out great. Give it a try next time you resize a large image.

Before:

After—That's better (note the ears and face area :-)

Happy shooting!

~ Steve

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http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/1462

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Amanda's Coolsite

Risky Roads

You often hear that to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Well, when it comes to driving that it is so very often true. If you know that an area is an accident prone place, you can avoid it or at the very least drive safer through that area.

With Risky Roads, you’ll be able to see all the accident hot spots for your State. You’ll start out with a map of the United States, and from there you can use the links on the side of page to select your State.

The color bar at the top of the page shows what the colored bullets on the map mean. It goes from yellow to purple. This shows the amount of fatal accidents for the area.

Clicking on a bullet will open a pop up with the details of that accident. You’ll be able to find out: how many deaths there were, if a drunk driver was involved, the date of the accident, how many people were involved, and even how many lanes were involved.

Whether you’re visiting somewhere new, or you’re checking out where you live this site can be very helpful to you. Especially if you’re taking a road trip, it’s really helpful to know what areas are dangerous to drive in.

Check it out today!

http://riskyroads.org/

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Our Most Amazing Deal EVER On An LED Flashlight!

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That's No Typo - These Incredible Flashlights Really Are Just $6.97!

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Rock-Solid, Heave Duty, Aluminium, Super Bright!! WOW!!

WOW!!! One of our suppliers just scored a jaw-droppin' deal on some fantastic 9 LED Flashlights - and we're passin' the savings on to you! We're talking just $6.97 for a 9 LED Flashlight! We've never had 'em that cheap! Heck, I'm not sure anyone has ever had 'em that cheap! It's a knock-out deal, that's for sure!

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Get this - since this is an LED flashlight, it seems to run FOREVER on a set of batteries! Changing batteries or running out of juice is going to be a very RARE thing now! Oh, PLUS don't forget that you won't ever have to worry about the LEDs burning out - Heck, even if you kept it on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it would take 11 YEARS before they would burn out! WOW!!!

If you've looked at LED flashlights, you know they are the pedigree of the lighting world - for a light like this, you're looking at least $20-$30 easy. Your cost? Again we're talking just $6.97 and US Shipping is FREE!! It's the BEST DEAL we've ever offered on an LED Flashlight! Give it a try, you'll be glad you did!

http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4299

PS - At this price, you'd better grab a few! Can't go wrong for $6.97!! Not sure how long these will be available to us at this kind of price, so RUN to the site and get in on this as soon as you can! The price may increase without notice - get 'em while they're $6.97!!!

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May Wallpaper

Here's this month's free calendar wallpaper! As always, it's 100% free, so head on over and grab one!

Grand Canyon Overlook

 

Great Blue Heron

 

Smoky Mountains Sunset

 

Here's May's wallpaper. It's all free, so enjoy!

All can be found here:

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Enjoy!

 

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ISSN: 1529-336X
Copyright 2009, WorldStart. All unauthorized reproduction strictly prohibited.

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Personal & Educational Use Only This blog consists mainly of FREE newsletters from computer web gurus that I receive. I thought you might like to see them all in one place than try to discover them on your own. A moderate amount of editing may be done to eliminate unrelated repetitious ads or unnecessary text which bloat the post. However I have given the authors full credit and will not remove their site links because you deserve to see where it comes from and they deserve to get credit for what they have written. Your use of this site is simply for educational purposes. For more computer-related help go to: CPEDLEY.COM for free software, advice and tips on low cost products which are very helpful. If you want to contact the editor, please go CPEDLEY.COM and check the Contact page for email address.