Thursday, January 16, 2014

The Absolute Best Video Streaming Website Portals

Watching videos has now become rather easy because of the large number of online video streaming services available. The good thing is that you can watch video clips about every topic on these video streaming services. If you have a video that you want to share then you can easily publish your video to these websites. Of course, these video streaming websites give a lot of convenience, but in order to enjoy videos from such websites, you require a good Internet connection that can speedily buffer the videos.
The Market Leaders
While there are a lot of online video streaming services on the internet, there are some factors that make some services more popular than the others. The factors that count are time available to you to watch, video quality and the number of videos available on the site. Let's have a look at some of the popular online video streaming websites:
• YouTube (free): YouTube is free to use, which is one of the numerous reasons why it is the most popular video streaming site. However, all the video clips have to be under 100MB. Video clips are published by users and the quality of videos differs since YouTube does not supervise the video quality. You will see lots of spam comments and spam video clips on YouTube due to the fact that it is a large scale website and they cannot directly monitor every comment and video.
• MySpace (free): Recently, MySpace, which is very popular as a social networking site permitted its users to share videos on their profiles. The majority of the users on MySpace upload their personal clips, which is why the quality of videos is mostly low on MySpace. It is a great website to share personal video clips without having to pay anything.
• Vimeo (free, pay for upgrades): Vimeo is famous for good quality videos. Members have the option to upgrade their account by paying, however, the site is free to use for the basic members. This website is mostly used by artists and animators and the interface of the website is rather trendy and attractive. There is a weekly upload limit for the free members of 500MB.
• Metacafe (free): Metacafe has been operating as online video streaming service longer than YouTube, but YouTube is more popular among the two. Most of the video clips on Metacafe are not appropriate for younger audience. Aside from an easy to use interface, the website also offers good quality interesting video clips. Metacafe is directed more towards the adult audience.
• Hulu (free, pay for upgrades): The best website for watching TV programs online, Hulu has gained a lot of reputation in the past few years. There is a large number of TV programs offered on this website among other videos. A paid membership is required to watch all the videos on the website. However, you can watch a few videos with the free membership. A wide selection of movies is also available on Hulu. The bad thing about Hulu is that it is only offered to the people in United States.
Worth the Expense of Upgrades?
The ability to watch a number of video clips on different topics is widely appreciated by the Internet audience. It is less costly to use any of the above service as compared to watching TV programs via TV providers. The quality of video definitely depends on the website you choose and the quality of your equipment. You can watch video clips on your iPhone, iPad or some other portable device using just an Internet connection with online video streaming, which is a great benefit of using this service.
If you're planning on just viewing and sharing personal video clips, then you do not have upgrade your account on any of the above services. However, the value of these video streaming websites is great for those who travel quite a lot.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Uses for Mini and Micro HDMI Cables

When High Definition video cables were created, technology was changed forever. Today, there have been a lot of advancements in the world of HD video, including the use of it on handheld devices and other small electronics. The mini HDMI cable is designed to connect to a device that can create and play HD audio and video and to a traditional HDMI input jack, such as on a television set. The mini HDMI is about 60% smaller than a normal jack, making it easier to fit into small devices like phones, cameras, and portable media players.
A mini HDMI cable is considered a type-c connector and it makes it easy for people to share their media on HDMI displays, such as in the case of DSLR cameras or camcorders that record HD video. This connector is only for portable devices, and it shouldn't be confused with the micro HDMI, which is the size of a micro USB and specifically for mobile devices. It can be hard to keep up with all the different cables out there today, but as long as you get the facts you should be fine.
Brands like Sony, Canon, Toshiba, Samsung, JVC, HP, and others are all known for manufacturing their own mini HDMI cables and adapters for various devices that they have manufactured in recent years. The different types of cables are usually based on gauge and thickness of the plastic or exterior finish, but the plugs are usually copper or gold since they are better conductors. There are a lot of variables that go into the price that you pay for your mini cables, but as long as you shop online you should be able to find the best deals and avoid being overcharged.
Mini HDMI cables are great for transmitting HD audio and video from a portable device to a traditional display. They have a lot of different styles and brands to choose from, but they're basically all similar. Different thicknesses of cables means they are rated for higher currents, but that is usually not even an issue with something like the mini cable because it is only used for camcorders and other portable devices which don't take a lot of power. Before you can go high tech and make sure that you have all the cables that you need, it's helpful to learn about the different adapters and cables so you know what you're buying.
A Micro HDMI cable is an even smaller version of HDMI, this type of cable is often used for smart phones and tablets. The small size of the device calls for a smaller plug, hence Micro HDMI was designed.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Repairing Your LCD Monitor

Repairing an LCD monitor should be an easy task for well trained experts. However, if you have the natural skills for troubleshooting most types of electrical equipment, then you may have the capability of successfully putting back together a defective LCD monitor even if you lack the formal training.
A liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor which is thin and flat is used in most desktop computers today replacing the cathode ray tube (CRT). It is more energy efficient because it requires less lighting conditions compared to CRT's. Other benefits of the LCD monitor in comparison to CRT's include reduced radiation, causes less eye strain, is light weight and can save space. The life of an LCD monitor is believed to last between 5 to 7 years, and considering the normal wear and tear of the unit, the part that may need replacement during its usable life is usually the backlight.
To repair a faulty LCD monitor, you will need to understand the symptoms first before making any attempts at opening the unit. Always have the manual with you and go over each part and functions carefully. Most users' manual today has a troubleshooting section usually on the last pages for your ready reference. Problems that can be resolved without the need of opening the LCD monitor may include what they term as a dead or stuck pixel. This may appear as a small black spot on the screen or the spot may be green, blue or red. To correct this, you need to turn off the power of the monitor then gently put pressure to the dead pixel by tapping on the spot using a pencil eraser or any solid material that will not scratch the screen. The tapping needs to be done several times until the spot disappears. If the picture is dull or dim, make adjustments with the display settings for brightness, contrast, color, etc...Again you refer to the users' manual for the standard settings.
Symptoms such as a blank LCD screen, or a screen that shows only one part that is bright and the other dark, or if you see the red or pink color dominating the screen, rippling patterns, tearing lines, etc... are indications that the problem is internal so you will need to open the monitor. Separating the front shell of the monitor from its back shell needs to be done carefully to avoid any damage to the LCD screen. After pulling off the monitor from its monitor stand, lay down the main part face down on a flat smooth surface. Remember that you will be dealing with quite a number of screws here, so be careful to set them aside accordingly. You may opt to put a marker or label them on a piece of paper to easily distinguish to which part it belongs. It is important to be precise here especially when doing an exploratory operation to determine where the problem really lies.
Always be ready with your soldering tools, small screw drivers, cutter, high-temperature adhesives and voltage tester. Once you have successfully opened the monitor shell, focus on possible burnt parts, bulging capacitors, liquid discharge, cracked board, and the like. These symptoms will require parts replacement. Outside of your voltage tester, having an equivalent series resistance (ESR) meter will come in handy because it is capable of detecting defective capacitors faster. Damaged electrolytic capacitors are often the culprits to LCD monitor breakdowns. However, if the parts just mentioned do not exhibit any sign or signs of damage, the next thing to check is the backlight. Once you have replaced the damaged part or parts, just put everything back together very gently and you can pat yourself on the shoulder for a job well done.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Advantages and Uses of Video Conferencing

Uses of Video conferencing
Video conferencing can be used in a host of different environments, which is one of the reasons the technology is so popular. General uses for video conferencing include business meetings, educational training or instruction and collaboration among health officials or other representatives. Thus far video conferencing has been used in the following fields:
- Telemedicine
- Telecommunicatio
- Education
- Surveillance
- Security
- Emergency Response
Advantages and Benefits of Video conferencing
Perhaps the biggest advantage or benefit video conferencing has to offer is the ability to meet with people in remote locations without incurring travel expenses or other expenses associated with face to face communication. Business meetings, educational meetings, healthcare conferences and more can all be easily conducted thanks to video conferencing technology. Individuals living in remote areas can also use video conferencing to keep in touch if you will, with the world at large.
More people are easily accessed and contacted using video conferencing. Because of this technology information and knowledge are often disseminated at more rapid rates, and collaboration between people occurs more willingly and freely. Students can take advantage of video conferencing to take classes at distant locations that would normally be unavailable. They can also take classes that will accommodate busy schedules.
Video conferencing can stimulate better brainstorming, knowledge sharing and information gathering. Businesses can use video conferencing to provide presentations to key members of an organization or to solicit new clients in a professional manner, regardless of their location. The possibilities for communication are virtually endless thanks to video conferencing technologies.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Ergotech 100-D16-B03 LCD Monitor Stand

The Ergotech 100-D16-B03 LCD monitor stand is a unique triple display holder that gives you the chance to display all of your monitors safely and comfortably. The unit comes pre-assembled so that you can just install it and get to work. The installation is easy, as well. The company created this and its other monitor stands with ease of use in mind, so all of their products are simple to install and give you the chance to get the tools you need without the hassles. The 100-D16-B03 is just one of the many stands available.
If you need a triple display, the 100-D16-B03 is definitely going to give you what you need. The heavy duty stand holds three monitors horizontally and the monitor installation is simple. It holds displays between 17 and 24 inches, giving you the capability that you need for multiple displays no matter what you have in mind. The adjustment is designed to be easy for comfort and ergonomics, giving you even more to appreciate about these stands. There are a lot of different monitor stands on the market today, but none really seem to compare to the Ergotech 100-D16-B03.
The 100-D16-B03 also comes with a lifetime guarantee, which means that you can trust that you're making a good investment. No matter what you have in mind, this stand has something for just about everyone. If you look around, you'll find great reviews on the Ergotech 100-D16-B03 monitor stand so that you can learn all about what other people have to say. Use third-party reviews and user reviews to get more insight and learn why this is such a popular product.
In the world of technology, there are a lot of different improvements that are being made on a regular basis. It's going to be up to you to make sure that you find the right tools for the job so that you can make things easier on yourself. The Ergotech 100-D16-B03 monitor stand has a lot of different benefits and it should be easy for you to put this stand to use wherever you need it. Take the time to check out the 100-D16-B03 and other monitor stands from Ergotech to see what kind of tools you can find to help you in the office. Whether you're at work or home, having the right monitor stands can make a difference in your productivity and these top rated stands are at least worth a look.