15 Useful iPhone Hacks That Will Make Your Life Easier

February 27th, 2010

Some people might say that the iPhone has everything you could possibly want from a smart phone. While it’s sure got a lot to offer, modern society always has us wanting more. We’re not unsatisfied with the iPhone (it’s truly a miraculous device), but we like adding a little something extra. The truth is, there’s some things that you just can’t do without a little iPhone hack. And then there’s things that Apple or AT&T just don’t want you to do.

This list has 15 iPhone hacks and tricks that will give you that extra functionality so you can truly optimize your iPhone. These modifications should certainly enhance your mobile experience and simply make your life easier.

1. How to get Push Gmail on your iPhone

While the new iPhone OS 3.0 has push notifications, it failed to include a push version of Gmail. So, while true push Gmail for the iPhone is yet to exist, there is a very, very good work around that uses an iPhone app called Prowl.

Currently, the iPhone uses fetch, as opposed to push, which means that emails aren’t forwarded to your phone until your phone goes lookin’ for them. While the difference isn’t huge, Push gets you your emails in real time. You also save battery, because now your iPhone doesn’t have to use resources to go checking for emails – they’re just automatically forwarded by a server.

So how do you get push Gmail?

It’s simple. There is an application in the iTunes App Store called Prowl – Growl Client (link opens iTunes) and it allows your iPhone to connect with the famous Growl (follow link to download) program. Growl is a simple program that has one funtion – to notify you. It alerts you of whatever you tell it to. It can alert you when something is finished downloading, when you get an IM, when someone mentions you on twitter, when you get a new email, and more.

So with Prowl, a $3 iPhone application, every notification from Growl gets pushed right to your iPhone. That means when you get a new email, you’ll be notified by Growl on your computer, and by Prowl on your iPhone. Simply download Growl and set it up to notify you of new emails on Gmail. It’s not true push, but it’s pretty damn close…and it accomplishes the same exact thing.

Note: Prowl only works with Growl on Macs as of now. There is a Growl client for Windows, but it doesn’t work with Prowl yet. It will in the next update, so just hang on Windows users.

2. How to enable tethering now (prior to AT&T allowing it)

1. Install iPhone 3.0:

Get On With iPhone 3.0: Download and Install Now

2. Go to http://tr.im/oS1h on your iPhone’s Safari browser

Go here for the rest of the guide.

This process only takes minutes and does not require jailbreaking. You will be able to tether very easily, via Bluetooth or via USB. It works perfectly.

WARNINGS:

AT&T could be charging you. Nobody knows.
Do this at your own risk.

3. How to sync your iPhone with multiple computers

Apple only allows you to sync your iPhone with one iTunes library at a time. When you attempt to sync your iPhone to another computer, you get the following message.

There is an easy way to “trick” iTunes. All you need to do is switch the “Library Persistent ID”.

Read “How to sync your iPhone with multiple computers” for the full step-by-step process.

4. How to enable Emoji icons on iPhone 3.0

1. Install Spell Number from the iTunes App Store (it’s free)

2. Launch the app

3. Type 91929394.59

4. Press the Home button

5. Go to Settings > General > Keyboards

6. Select Emoji under Japanese

7. Delete the app (if you want) because the emoji icons will still be there

5. How to turn off the iPhone’s accelerometer

Have you ever tried reading something on your iPhone while laying in bed? Well then you’ve certainly gotten annoyed at the accelerometer, which flips the image from portrait to landscape with the slightest turn. Reading on the iPhone while laying down is no easy task, and you’ll be distracted by constantly having to position the phone a specific way to keep it from flipping. That’s why it would be great to have the option to simply turn off the accelerometer for a while.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Jailbreak your iPhone (follow the link for instructions).

2. Go to Cydia.

3. Search for Boss Prefs.

4. Install it.

5. Go back to Cydia and search for Rotation Inhibitor.

6. Install it.

7. To toggle rotation on and off, simply open up Boss Prefs, and you’ll now see a Rotation option in there.

Note: There is one problem with this app: you can only lock your screen in portrait mode, not landscape. Also, it will crash springboard on iPhone 3GS

6. How to add a 5th row of numbers on your QWERTY keyboard

This hack is extremely useful and I use it constantly. It adds an extra row of numbers to your iPhone’s keyboard so you don’t have to swap back and forth between the “ABC” and “123″ modes. Tapping shift changes only the top row, and turns the 0-9 into “!@#$%^&*()”. It makes the letters just a tad smaller, but using landscape mode will solve that issue.

To get it:

1. Jailbreak your iPhone (Go here for simple instructions.)

2. Go to Cydia

3. Search and download 5-Row QWERTY

Note: work only on iPhone 2.2.1 developer has no update for 3.0 at this time.

7. How to quickly move apps between pages

One of the most irritating experiences for an iPhone user is moving an application from one page to another. With the average iPhone user having more than 6 pages of apps, dragging an app from the last page to the first is a pain that usually takes several tries.

A lot of people fail to realize that ALL apps are movable, even the 4 on your iPhones silver dock at the bottom of the screen. Let’s say you want to move an app from the first page to the last page, or vice versa. Instead of having to drag it to the side of each individual page, messing up the order of other apps, simply place it in that silver dock. Then, scroll to the last page, and drag it in. Just remember to put the original app back in it’s place.

8. How to get Hulu TV shows on your iPhone for offline watching

1. Go here and download Hulu Video Downloader

2. Copy and paste the URL to any Hulu video

3. Choose a file format (.flv or .avi)

4. Use any video converter program to convert it to an iPhone friendly format

4. Put the video in iTunes, and sync it up!

Hulu Video Downloader does not allow you to instantly convert the Hulu video to an iPhone friendly format unless you upgrade to the pro version of Hulu Video Downloader, which costs money. So simply download it in .avi or .flv and convert it on your own.

Note: Only for Windows.

9. How to use Skype and SlingPlayer over 3G

While SlingPlayer and Skype are both incredible applications, the fact that they are limited to WiFi is a bummer for both developers and iPhone users. Developers – who spent much time developing these apps for the iPhone – certainly had not planned to be limited to WiFi. This limitation exists for a logical reason: AT&T doesn’t want these apps to suck the 3G network dry. iPhone users, who are ready to dish out money for these apps, lose the true value of these apps: their mobility (WiFi’s not everywhere…and if you’re in a hot spot, might as well use your laptop).

Good news! There’s a way to hack the iPhone in order to use SlingPlayer Mobile, Skype, and Fring’s VoIP over 3G.

The following simple process essentially tricks your iPhone into believing you’re using WiFi, even when you’re not.

1. Jailbreak your iPhone You have no reason to be scared. Jailbreaking your device is easy, safe, and well worth it.

2. Launch Cydia from the SpringBoard

3. Go to “Manage”

4. Search “Tricker ThreeG”

5. Install the application.

6. Press “Confirm”

7. Use SlingPlayer, Skype, or Fring

That’s it! You’re free, no longer barred by AT&T’s 3G greed.

10. How to stop app crashes

1. Reboot iPhone

Just like your computer, sometimes you just need a plain ole restart. Shut down your iPhone, wait 30 seconds, and power it back up. You’ll be surprised how often this works.

2. Delete and Re-Install

Press and hold on the application, and tap the “X” to delete it. Connect your iPhone to iTunes, and resync to get the application back.

3. Restore your iPhone

NOTE: MAKE SURE YOU DO A BACKUP FIRST. Restoring your iPhone wipes all the data, and then rewrites whatever you backed up. This could take some time. If restoring your iPhone doesn’t make the application work, give up and wait for an update with bug fixes.

4. Reduce your Number of Apps

Sometimes your iPhone is just overwhelmed. Go through your device, and get rid of all the junk apps you never use.

11. How to add an extension to a contact’s phone number

Rather than listening to the whole “If you know that extension of the party you’re trying to reach, enter it now” speach every single time, there’s a way to have your iPhone automatically dial the extension along with the phone number.

1. Click on the contact.

2. Click on Edit.

3. Press on the number. Then, press “+ * #” in the bottom left corner.

4. Press “pause”, which inputs a comma. After the comma enter the extension.

12. How to add words to your iPhone’s dictionary

1. Open Safari

2. Tap the Google search bar in the top right corner

3. Type the word you want to add and click search

For example, if you work for a company called “SAF”, but the iPhone always corrects it to “Sad”, just search for “SAF” on Google one time, and next time you type in “SAF” it won’t be corrected.

That’s it. There are other methods, such as adding the word as a name in your Contacts, but that takes more work and clutters your contacts.

13. How to disable auto-correct and auto-capitalize

1. Go to Settings

2. Go to General

3. Go to Keyboard

As you can see, you can toggle Auto-Correction on/off. You can also disable auto-capitalization, enable caps lock, disable the “.” shortcut, or change the number of international keyboards.

(The “.” shortcut refers to double tapping the space bar to insert a period followed by a space.)

14. How To Redirect A Call To Voicemail

Very often people call you, and very often you don’t want to answer. A great way to stop the ringing of the phone and not hang up on the person is to send the call directly to voicemail. This is an extremely simple and easy iPhone trick.

How do you do it?

Double click the Sleep/Wake button on the top right of your iPhone.

If you are using headphones, simply double click the microphone button. The only downside to this trick is, well, listening to people’s voicemails.

15. Easy way to stop iPhone auto-correct by typing “z”

Let’s say your typing a note or text message in another language, but typing in English. Or let’s say your using a lot of techincal jargon and the iPhone tries to correct every other word you type. Going up with your thumb and pressing the little red “X” next to the correction word to make it go away is a pain in the neck. We’re lazy, and we wanna keep our thumbs on the keyboard and on the keyboard only while typing a message!

That being said, you could go into settings and turn off the auto-correct option entirely (as shown above), but that will keep the iPhone from correcting words that you may actually want to correct. So use this very simple trick:

At the end of a weird word you’re certain the iPhone will try to correct, simply type the letter “z”. Yes, z as in zebra. The auto correction will go away immediately. Now just hit backspace to delete the z, and move along. It seems like a process, but it is MUCH more convenient than pressing the little red X in the correction bubble. Just try it.

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Your iPod Can Open Your Eyes to a Whole New World of Inventions

February 27th, 2010

The Apple iPod has changed the way we listen to music forever. We can have our entire music collection on one small device that comfortably fits into your pocket, handbag or anywhere else you choose to keep it. The battery life is ever improving and you can now listen to music for longer and leave the device on standby for longer than ever before.

Apple have generated a new business boom for digital media, so many inventions have been made on the back of the iPod and iPhone. New app’s are being invented daily that allow the users to customise their iPod as suits making the iPod device and application truly unique and individual to the user.

The new Genius system creates playlists and suggests music that you may like on the back of your favourite choices in your collection, so you can discover new bands and music you may never have heard before, opening your mind to new ideas and creative influences along the way.

The New iPhone 3G and iPod Touch are more of a multimedia system that a simple MP3/MP4 player, both come with WIFI (wireless) connect-ability, Internet browsing access & 1000′s of new app’s that range from checking on the weather reports for where you live to accessing payment & delivery networks for Business operations, but it doesn’t end there.

Apple systems have been incorporated into a lot of home technology too. New docking stations into TV’s provide a new form of digital TV & Digital video reproduction. Wireless media stations can be set up from as part of the home network transferring all of your audio & video files in iTunes to your TV and or Music systems around the house, giving you access to you entire collection.

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iPhone Hacks and Threats to Personal Privacy

February 27th, 2010

We’ve been amazed by it since its introduction. Who can’t remember the address given by Steve Jobs of Apple when he introduced the revolutionary iPhone? Who wasn’t amazed at the device that was capable of surfing the web, taking pictures, listening to music and of course receiving and placing calls?

Nothing new, right?

Just as the iPhone was released, hackers around North America started to dig into what makes this tick. The primary reason was to unlock the phone so that you didn’t have to sign-up with AT&T but with any carrier that supported the technology. But could there me more nefarious reasons to hack the iPhone?

Skilled hackers could now take their phone onto any carrier, but more importantly they could create and enable custom ring tones (without having to pay for buying ring tones), enable custom wallpapers and more.

In process of hacking into the iPhone, several tidbits were gleaned – such as the fact that the software on the iPhone runs as “root” – in the Unix world this basically gives you full and complete access to the machine. You could bring down entire servers and even chains of servers if you have ROOT access to a Unix machine.

So how does this impact you, the average user of the Apple iPhone that isn’t planning on hacking into their phone? Well someone may want to hack into your phone and they now have the blueprint to do it.

While Apple is working hard to try and prevent hacking by playing cat and mouse game, it will always be a cat and mouse game. If you happen to surf into a questionable website that happens to download software to your iPhone you could end up in a whole heap of trouble.

In an article in the New York Times Technology section from July 23, 2007, an iPhone flaw was found to let hackers take over the iPhone. Remember that most people store entire lives on their digital assistants (whether this is a Smart Phone, the iPhone or even a PDA). They keep names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses on them. Not to mention passwords, banking information (such as bank account numbers) and even digital images taken by the built-in camera.

Now imagine if a hacker has access to all this data.

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Father’s Day in Canada

October 18th, 2010

Mother’s Day has just passed which means that Father’s Day is right around the corner.

The third Sunday in June is used by families to honor the father figures in our lives, whether it is our dad, granddad, uncle or someone else.

Father’s Day is typically known for its games of pickup basketball, football and of course a hearty barbecue. But this Father’s day, why not show Dad how special he is and get him something to show him how much you care.

We have all heard the stereotype that men are too stubborn to ask for directions. Well, why not help Dad out and make sure that he never has to ask again. One of the top gifts this year for Father’s Day is a GPS device. The original consumer GPS devices provided little more than latitude and longitude. But today’s consumer GPS can provide 3-D maps, voice over directions, real time traffic and Points of Interest. Take the Garmin Nuvi 350 for example. The Garmin Nuvi 350, can provide directions with the street name, and can alter driving routes based on current traffic conditions. Not only will Dad never have to ask for directions again, but you might have to get him a new stopwatch so that he can see how quickly he is getting everywhere.

But let’s say dad already knows where he is going, and that just happens to be on a summer trip. A great gift idea for the traveling dad would be a new digital camera. Digital cameras offer a plethora of advantages over their traditional 35mm counterparts.

But one does not need to be a professional photographer nor gadget freak in order to operate today’s digital cameras. For the less tech savvy Dad, a new point and shoot camera is the way to go. These are the more compact devices that can easily be slipped into a pocket. But don’t let the size fool you, point and shoot cameras have excellent quality with some having a resolution as high as 10 megapixels. Many of the major brands offer a series of cameras such as the Canon Powershot, Kodak Easyshare and Fuji Finepix. But if your Dad is a little more into photography then a new Digital SLR can have him snapping photos like the Pros in no time. Digital SLR cameras are generally larger than the point and shoot, but will have a lot more options, both in settings and accessories like interchangeable lenses and external flashes. With all of the options in digital cameras it is important to think about what is most important. Does dad want to be able to bring it with him everywhere he goes, or does he want to be able to catch every bead of sweat in the pictures of the kid’s soccer game.

And what about those Dad’s who are still buying records. This Father’s Day would be a great opportunity to get him a new mp3 player. There are some great options like the Creative Labs Zen, but this market is still dominated by the Apple iPod. Apple now has a wide variety of options for the iPod, from the small iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano to the larger iPod Classic and the iPod Touch. But if you want to make sure that everyone knows your Dad is up to date with the latest and greatest, then a great gift idea for this Father’s Day would be the Apple iPhone.

As we get together for Father’s Day this year let’s remember that nothing says Dad like a good barbecue. But don’t let Dad do the grilling this year over a bunch of burning sticks or the burning trashcan he may have used in college. Instead, he can pretend that he is Bobby Flay if he is doing the grilling on a brand new Weber, Kenmore or Vermont BBQ. Or of a new BBQ was last year’s Father’s Day gift, let’s help dad perfect his food firing flair with some great barbecue tools or a grill topper.

To see all of these products or to get some more gift ideas for this Father’s Day, you can visit online shopping sites, where you will find a wide selection of many great products at great prices that will no doubt help you show Dad just how special he is this Father’s Day.

Find out more information about gift ideas [http://www.deal-eh.ca/special.aspx?fathersday] for Father’s Day in Canada at Deal-Eh.ca, and discover the best deals by comparing prices in Canada [http://www.deal-eh.ca]

Author: Tom Harel
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Latest Trends in Birthday Gifts!

October 18th, 2010

Birthdays are always special and we wait for these big days whole year. But what if it is not your birthday rather some one special is going to blow the candles? Well you must be planning to get birthday gifts available but you are clueless what to get. Buy a new dress or shirt? Or get jewelry or chocolate? Confused? Then our article provides best birthday gifts , birthday return gifts, birthday gifts for guys, birthday gifts for him, birthday gifts for men, birthday gifts for girls, 19th birthday gifts and for anyone who is special for you.Read on we will tell you the latest trends of birthday gifts in 21st century!

Gone are the days of chocolates and flowers or those shirts or perfumes you used to select for your loved ones. Go for the latest things in an innovative way and make birthdays memorable by giving a latest gift. You do not need to browse all the shelves of gifts stores; these gifts are available online as well. So the desired gift is just a click away.

Best Birthday Gifts:

There are many gifts which can be gifted to men and women both as birthday gifts. Now you will not have to bother whether it will fit him/her or not, he/she will like the color or not? Latest gifts trends ruling the world will surely win heart of your loved one. You just need to be aware about what is in and out of the trend. Dare to go out of the track; he/she will surely admire your choice.

Latest Mobile Phones:

Hottest cell phones like cyber shots are the latest fever. These high technology phones come with a range of features like 2-5 MP cameras, GPS navigation and digital music players with multi-touch input methods. You can browse net and email from phone itself no need to sit in front of computers. These phones will definitely be a rocking experience for him/her.

Various companies like Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Apple iphones all are providing you various options and colors from traditional black to new combinations of black and silver with fiery red, orange or blue. Samsung has recently launched SGH-G600 which comes in attractive pink color similar to nail paint; this phone can be the best possible phone as gift for girls or women. Some other attractive phones include Samsung G800, Sony Ericsson S500i, Nokia 5310 xpress music contract, Nokia 6160 and Nokia 6500, N95, N76 and N81.

Latest iPods:

Another option for gifts is iPods from leading companies like Sony and Apple. This personalized music store is a must buy these days. Latest addition on iPods is art prints for iPods. GelaSkins with fabulous designs are removable art prints for protecting and decorating iPods. These skins come in all the possible colors so you can choose from a wide range of colors and dimensions. These covers feature numerous styles ranging from fine art prints to urban hi-tech images.

Camcorders and digital cameras:

If you want to go a step further you can get camcorder or digital cameras of Cannon, Sanyo, Sony or HP. These companies keep launching new models with new features so keep a track and do an extensive research before getting the right model. Sanyo has recently launched world’s first consumer water proof camcorder. The Sanyo Xacti E1″ boasts 90 minutes-per-gigabyte SD recording and H.264, MPEG-4 high compression technology for superior video quality. Your videos will get a further boost with 6.0 mega pixel digital still images and 5x optical zoom. The large 2.5″ LCD (TFT) display is an added advantage.

Other birthday gift items

Some other options can be outdoor home theatre kits, wireless outdoor speakers, portable media players, digital photo frames and massaging recliners. If your budget allows, you can go for the season’s best laptops with new looks and features from HP, Compaq, LG, Toshiba etc.

Water proof shower music players, GPS Devices for roads have also become very famous worldwide. Fancy Swarovski memory drives can be a wonderful gift for a woman who is technology savvy.

If your loved one loves sports then think about gift options like sports wrist watches with GPS, NIKE sport kit for iPods or satellite radio. Other than these gifts underwater camera and sports helmet with hands free camera will prove best deal for a person interested in sports and photography both.

So what are you planning to buy now? Trust me these unique birthday gifts are so tempting and useful these days that you will feel like buying first for yourself then as a gift. All these products are laden with latest technology and are user friendly. So go for it and buy best gifts for your family or friends. Happy Shopping!

Author is researcher and analyst for a famous gifts portal. For detailed insights into latest birthday gifts [http://www.bangaloregiftstore.com/birthday-gifts] and latest trends in gifts, log on to http://www.bangaloregiftstore.com

Author: R. Verma
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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iTunes 2 Free Download – iTunes 2 – More Excellent Than Its Predecessor

October 18th, 2010

It is undeniable. Besides being a phenomenon, iTunes is the grandest gizmo in the entertainment world today. iTunes, the sidekick of iPod is also expanding its greatness. You could know how to download free iTunes just by visiting http://www.apple.com

iTunes 2 has a 10-band equalizer with more than 20 presets, so you could customize you own settings like if you want to shift from jazz to rock or to hip hop to classical music. It has a cross fader, and it brings fascinating transitions into your music world. There is also a new sound enhancer that gives depth and richness of good sound quality.

iTunes is being used by more than 6 million music lovers worldwide. The integration of iTunes 2 with iPod is flawless. In the first connection of your iPod to your Mac computer, all the songs and the playlists in your computer are downloaded automatically to your iPod. And it is updated whenever your iPod is plugged back into your Macintosh.

Enhanced Performance of iTunes

The burning of your favourite songs is much faster now. iTunes 2 do recognize MP3 CDs. The standard audio CD is just limited to 74 minutes of music, while MP3 files can hold up to 10 hours of music on just a single disc. MP3 CDs can be played on other Macs and PCs.

System Requirements

  • Hardware. iTunes is suitable with all Apple systems that has USB ports. If you have an iPod, your Macintosh computer must be equipped with a Firewire. For you to burn your favourite music, your personal computer should have a CD-RW drive. iTunes work with all Apple CD-RW drive.
  • System software. The Macintosh platform X v10.1 and later versions requires Mac OS X. While Mac OS 9 version requires Mac OS 9.2.1, Mac operating system 9.0.4 or its other later versions. To burn audio CD in Mac OS 9, you should have a Mac OS 9.1 or its other later versions.

Additional benefits from iTunes

You can download your favorite music, videos from concerts to music television (MTV), from photographs from friends and images that you find interesting and make a slide show and upload it again to the internet and share it with friends.

iTunes gives you the power to enjoy music at its summit. You could make a personalized digital music library for you to organize and play all your favorite high-grade MP3s with the simple drag-and-drop function. You could also rate songs, so you could pick what suits your mood at certain situations.

And additional benefits

  • You could quickly browse the whole music library by artist, genre or album;
  • You could encode up to 320 kbps for the finest MP3 sound quality;
  • You could burn CDs with just a click and get perfect results every time;
  • You could also pick any songs within seconds with the help of a real-time search engine;
  • You could also listen online to hundreds of internet radio stations and;
  • Create custom playlist with easy to use drag-and drop interface.

Visit internet forums or talk to your friends about the new wonders of iTunes. Downloading iTunes 2 is free, so don’t let it wait.

For more information on Apple’s iPod store by visiting http://www.appleipodaccessoriesguide.com a popular iPod website that provides information on selecting the right iPod travel speakers.

Author: Willhelm Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Important Accessories For Your Car Stereo

October 18th, 2010

One of the main and important accessories for a car stereo is the audio capacitor that helps in gathering power for the amplifier to produce quality sound for music lovers. To hear thriving bass, audio capacitors are a practically required accessory. The reason for this is that bass notes use up a multiple number of times more power than treble (high frequency) notes. When bass notes hit, the amplifier needs to be supplied with enough current from its power source, the car battery, to power the speaker quickly enough. However, the response time of most car batteries to supply current fast enough is not adequate.

This all happens in a fraction of a second, but some bass notes can hit so quickly that the car battery cannot handle them, so those notes would be missed because the speakers were not supplied enough power by the amplifier. This problem is solved by adding power capacitors. The power capacitors store excess power from the car battery, and when a bass note hits, the capacitor supplies it. Since the response time of the capacitor is much faster than the response time of the battery, these bass notes can be nicely sounded through the amplifier and speakers. This is the case, even with fast, repeated, heavy and loud bass notes, as many hard rock or rap music CDs will demonstrate. The range of car audio capacitors is generally from .5 farads to 3 farads.

After iPod came to the market, it immediately became the cynosure in the eyes of the music lovers. With the iPod came accessories like integration cables intended especially for car iPods. This cable allows the user to control the iPod straight from the head unit itself.

In addition, the integration cable offers high speed and gives total control over different functionalities of the iPod. This cable is flexible and long enough to be placed anywhere in the car. They are very easy to install and allows the user to get more from your iPod.

Another accessory is the CD changer, that lets you store and switch between dozens of CDs. You can set the player to either random play or sequential, or program it like a juke box to play the choice and selection of CDs that you want without having to remove and reinsert each CD one at a time. That can be an even greater asset while driving, because with your hands on the wheel, you cannot reach over very easily and change CDs again and again. The CD changer, on the other hand, can hold and switch between dozens of CDs without a problem.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos. You can find the best marketplace for used DVDs, used movies, and used car stereos at these sites for used DVDs, used movies, and car stereo accessories, capacitors, CD changers.

Author: Victor Epand
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Choosing the Right Video Format For Your Vidcast

October 18th, 2010

The choice for audio podcast format is easy, but things become more considerate when it comes to video podcasts. For new podcasters who are new to the process of audio and video production, things can be quite confusing.

Just take it another way around. If you regularly download or view video from the Internet, you may find that certain file format, although the extension is quite common (such as .avi), the file just will not play on your existing media player.

File extension sometimes is just a container for other video and audio encoding or compression format, so one extension may contain different audio and video format that your media player may not support fully yet. Another example of such extension is .mp4.

Determining the right video format for your podcast depends on your target audience. If they are more likely to view the video on a Windows-based computer desktop, you want to make sure the video is compatible with that platform.

You may want to provide complete information about how to view or play the provided video podcasts and link to sites which provide software or plug-ins that can decode the video.

To keep things simple, if you are targeting Windows users, you can either use WMV or MOV (Apple QuickTime format). Apple users should be able to play MOV without any problem. Both platforms also have support for MP4 formats although they can be tricky for some compression formats.

If your audience will play the video on iPod Video, either provide iPod compatible videos as the podcast or provide additional downloads for them. Reaching as many audience is necessary to spread your message. With the right tools, you can convert from one format to another quite easily.

Video capable iPods support only two basic formats:

1. Certain types of H.264 video

2. Certain types of MPEG4 video

No, you don’t need to understand the detail about each format to be able to create iPod-compatible videos. Just install and use the right software which has the options included in it. For example, QuickTime Pro provides the most painless way to create iPod video files.

Apple is the creator of both QuickTime and iPod so you can rest assured about the compatibility.

One problem remains though. The specification for podcast feed allows only one enclosure per feed. To workaround the problem, if you do need to support multiple formats at the same time in one podcast, you must create two separate podcast feeds.

Podcast subscribers can choose to subscribe to either feed.

Many video sites will convert uploaded videos to many formats that you can offer to your audience for downloads. This can save a lot of time especially if your computer lacks of the processing power to convert videos.

Before you start your video podcast, research or ask around for software and video format that is suitable for you. Fortunately, this is a one time process so once you decide it, you are done.

Happy podcasting!

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Author: Hendry Lee
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

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Which Bluetooth Wireless Headphones are the Best?

October 18th, 2010

What could be better than listening to your favorite song on a relaxing day? How about not being forced to stay in one place or carry a device around with you everywhere you go as you listen to your favorite song on a relaxing day? Technology has made a ton of advancements over the years that now allows us to evolve from the Walkman tape player with headset, to the CD player with headset, and now to the iPod or MP3 player with headset. But wouldn’t it be nice to go one step further to just have the headset, minus the device attached, to listen to your songs? Of course, it would! That’s why many people are falling in love with their wireless headphones with Bluetooth capabilities. Want to learn more about them? Read on!

About Bluetooth

Over the last decade, Bluetooth has quickly become a household name. They first became very popular for their earpiece that connected wirelessly to a capable cell phone. This meant there were tons of people walking around appearing as though they were talking to themselves, only to find they had a contraption glued to their ear that allowed them to talk to someone on their phone that was hidden away in their pocket or purse.

Now, however, we have seen a total evolution with this wireless technology. The reasoning behind Bluetooth become so big is their desire to create communication capabilities between varying electronic components. So now, instead of just being able to have your earpiece communicate wirelessly with your cell phone, you can have your cell phone communicate with your printer to print pictures, you can have your video game console communicate wirelessly with your computer, and you can even have your blood pressure machine communicate wirelessly with your doctor’s server at a central location so that your vital stats can be monitored on a regular basis.

In the midst of all of the evolution, you can find great Bluetooth wireless headphones that provide you with the ability to listen to everything from your iPod, computer, cell phone, stereo and even TV. To get an idea of the different companies that offer these wireless headphones, as well as the features they bring in tow, let’s look at some of the more popular brands and models on the market today.

Wireless Headphones Brands

Sennheiser

Sennheiser is revolutionary in the world of microphone technology, having begun their research and production in 1945. They didn’t stop there however, and now are leaders in the creation of headphone transducer technology and active noise-cancellation. Here is one of their more popular headphone models that is not only wireless, but has other great features for you to enjoy:

RS 130 Headphones – Considered a headphone system, this headset is filled with style and is light to carry and wear. It has what is known as switchable surround sound technology which is great for those who want to listen to their movies in surround sound without having to disturb the family members during the dramatic scenes. They can connect to your stereo and of course your TV or DVD player. And since they are wireless, they can allow you to move around the house without having to turn up the volume. When you’re finished with them, you can place them on their metal stand, which is also used to charge the battery. All of these features and more come at a price of $159.00 – not bad!

Sony

Sony has two brands that I thought were worth mentioning, one because they have such unique features, and two, because they are of completely different styles.

DR-BT22 Headset – These specific wireless headphones are great because they allow you to connect to your cell phone or your audio devices. So, let’s say for instance you were on the phone listening to one of your favorite songs when you received a call. You can simply accept the call and talk through your headset, then switch right back over to your favorite song, which should have paused right before you answered the phone. In addition to this capability is your option to use the complimentary remote control that allows you to manage the headset’s basic functions, including stopping and rewinding a song. Also, it comes with rechargeable batteries and folds up easily to be stored when not in use. But the best part of it all is the ability to move about freely without being attached to your device – you can’t beat all of the features you get with this headset.

DR-BT10CX Stereo Earbud Headset – These wireless headphones are not only able to give you the freedom you want, but they are also extremely lightweight and convenient. Why, you ask? Because they are earbuds instead of headphones – this means they fit in your ears instead of over your head. This is a great option for those who enjoy going out to jog with their iPod but don’t like to carry the device in their hands to avoid tugging at the wire. The only wire you have to worry about with these earbuds is the transmitter attachment that can clip anywhere on your body. The iPod itself would be in your pocket – or even in your workout bag if you can keep it near you while in the gym. The headphones provide you with up to 11 hours of talk time and up to 100 hours of standby time. Additionally, because of their adaptability, you can connect them to your stereo or PC too!

Logitech

FreePulse Bluetooth Headphones – These wireless headphones were meant to work specifically with your iPod, and have integrated controls right on them that allow you to change the volume, your song, or stop the player when you’re across the room from the device. While these are not as highly-recommended (or expensive) as the above headsets, they are definitely considered a great upgrade from the complimentary earbuds that come with the iPod.

The next time you go shopping for Bluetooth wireless headphones consider the ones listed here. They each have a good reputation for being of decent quality, and their prices are not unreasonable for the features you receive. However, if you think you need to conduct more research, know there are tons of Bluetooth-enable wireless headphones out there to choose from. Just research wisely, choose well, and enjoy your great, wire-free listening experience.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.NoiseFreeHeadphones.com offers quality Bluetooth Headphones at http://www.noisefreeheadphones.com/blue_tooth_headphones.htm

Author: Jeffrey Meier
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Convert Video Files

October 18th, 2010

The MovAVI VideoSuite is a full featured AVI video converter, which can take any common format and collection of video or movie files, convert them into AVI format and, if you so wish, burn them onto a DVD using an inbuilt DVD authoring tool. Convert the DVD movie using a psp video converter, which will let you rip and convert video files so that they can be viewed on your PSP. This will help you convert all of the video and audio files you like into the format for your PSP which is MP3.

Now, in order to convert the MP3″s into PSP MP3″s you are going to need to fire up your PSP Video Converter and load all of the files into it. Since the software that originally came with the PSP didn’t really allow you to watch videos in a wide screen format, the easiest way to do it by getting a free version of a PSP converter software which allows you to easily convert the video files on your computer to the preferred wide-screen format. It’s as simple as that to Convert audio files to PSP MP3, Launch pspblend PSP Video Converter, load the file(s) by clicking the “Add” button in the main interface or choose Add on the File menu.

Then you will use your PSP video converter to convert the files into the correct format. Convert your movies. In a lot of cases you may need to convert your video files to other formats depending on the use (burn on CD/DVD, make a smaller file to upload, play it on your website which uses a player script for a certain format, etc. If you are interested in online songs and movies, then you will find the ordinary modem or residential telephone service can not meet your demands, as these lines take hours to convert any MP3 files or video files to analog format and to transmit them at the desired destination.

The Cucusoft Video Converter (Pro) is easy to use powerful and will quickly convert video files into AVI format. Ratings: 1- iPod Video Converter 2007 – 91% 2- Xilisoft iPod Video Converter – 85% 3- Plato iPod Video Converter – 73% 4- Yasa iPod Video Converter – 70% 5- Cucusoft iPod Video Converter – 62%Conclusions: There are many programs out there that convert video files for the iPod, the five we tested are some of the most popular, but we do have to say that we where a bit disappointed with some results.

Soli Katir

http://www.i-need-money-fast.com

If you are looking for quality information on “i need money fast” and in particular on the products, please visit the above site.

Author: Sohel Katir
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Write eBay Auction Titles That Really Work

October 18th, 2010

Your auction title is probably the most important part of your listing. If your title doesn’t inform and entice potential customers then they simply won’t open it. eBay allows you to use around 56 characters in your title, so use them wisely. Note that subtitles are not searchable, so make sure you include as many keywords and selling points in your main title as possible.

It’s important you spend time analyzing past auctions, comparing different titles and decide which have been most successful. You can view completed auctions by searching under the “Advanced Search” section.

You’ll notice that the titles of the auctions with the most success will usually be very clear, to the point and include a lot of keywords. Keywords are words that potential customers will use to search by. When these words are entered into eBay search field, if they match your title, then your auction will be displayed. So, the more keywords you can squeeze into your title the better.

For example, someone looking to buy an iPod Nano may enter the following keywords into eBay’s sear field: iPod Nano, iPod MP3 player, Apple MP3. For your auction to generate a lot of views, you should try to use as many as these keywords as possible.

Below is an example of a poor auction title I recently found on eBay.

IPOD – L@@K BARGAIN @ 1p START WOW ! ! !

Whilst the brand “iPod” is included in the title, there is no mention of Apple, MP3 player or the condition of the item, which are all things users are likely to search for. The remaining part of the title is wasted with gimmicks that serve no purpose. They may catch a users eye, however no one will ever search for terms and characters such as “@ start wow !!!” By adding these to your title you are simply wasting space, and furthermore, making your entire listing look very amateurish.

Below is how I would rewrite the title for optimal results:

Apple iPod Nano 2GB White MP3 player, Brand New, Boxed

I’ve included a whole host of keywords, and listed any main selling points such as “brand new” and “boxed”. Should a potential customer search for any of the words in the title, or a combination of them, my auction would be displayed.

So, before you begin to write your auction titles make a list of any keywords that you can think of. Perform a search to see if anyone else is selling the same item as you. Do any of the auctions catch your eye, what’s appealing about them? Analyze the title variations and decide which works best. However, don’t completely copy another title as you’re trying to make your auction stand out from the crowd.

Remember, a poor title will result in fewer visitors, and therefore will result in less money.

Ian Marples is an Internet marketer and web author who runs the website [http://www.uncleslinky.co.uk] to help budding online entrepreneurs succeed.

For similar information to this article subscribe to his free newsletter by sending a blank email to marketing@uncleslinky.co.uk

Author: Ian Marples
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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How To Download Music To a MP3 Player – Download a Free MP3 Music Player Now

October 18th, 2010

In looking to download music to a MP3 player the process is relatively easy once you learn the basics. First, you’ll need to have all your connecting cables or docks, software and the music you want to download in place.

As not all portable devices are created equally, you may need your manual to tell you where to begin. This is especially true if you’re a total newbie to a particular media player or to MP3 players in general. However, most portable devices usually work in the same manner, so in order to download music to MP3 players you should follow the same, or at least similar, steps.

Hopefully your MP3 player can hook up to your computer using a USB connection; this would be the easiest way to download music to a MP3 player. Just transfer music files as you would other files and documents to a removable disk drive and copy and paste.

To have organized playlists here’s a useful tip; before downloading music onto your MP3 player you can create the folders beforehand and just sequence the music into the folders while you’re on your computer. This will save you valuable time in the long run because you’ll be able to locate the songs you want to listen to very quickly.

The accompanying software is important because some computers will need them to recognize your MP3 player when you insert it as a USB drive. If you don’t have the software – for example, you’re using a different computer to download music or you were so excited to buy your MP3 player that you don’t remember where you put your software CD – you can probably search for it online. Once your MP3 player is recognized, downloading music will be easy.

Creative Zen players work in this manner, but will ask the user to employ Creative Media Explorer to ease up the transfer of files from your computer to your MP3 player. Creative MediaSource Organizer, meanwhile, helps you organize your files on your computer before downloading the music onto your MP3 player. You can get these two devices by pressing the “Import Media” link.

iPod does it a bit differently but similar, of course, with iTunes, which is downloaded from the iPod website. iTunes is supposed to be the most popular method in managing your music files, but can also be a pain in the neck if you let it.

iTunes is your online music manager – it organizes all your music files in folders according to artist, album and other categories, lets you create and edit playlists, and even works as a music store by offering particular files for download. Next, you sync your iPod into your computer and all the music on iTunes automatically transfers into your iPod.

Interestingly, your computer reads your iPod as a removable disk drive connected through USB, which is exactly what it is, of course. If you find that you can’t play particular songs on your MP3 player, it’s most likely that it’s DRM-protected. Digital Rights Management has a whole slew of limits and limited accesses, such as allowing certain files to play on iPods but not on Creative Zen players or RCA Lyras, and so on.

The simplest way around this is to download music only from the sites that are compatible with your portable device to ensure that you won’t be wasting money buying downloadable music that you don’t actually work on your MP3 player. More complicated methods could involve illegal activity, or breaking copy-right infringement laws, so tread carefully.

As stated before, getting music into a portable device follows a general procedure. And once you start to download music to a MP3 player you’ll be amazed at how easy the entire process really is.

Learn how to download music to a MP3 player and get free MP3 software that makes downloading music a breeze. Learn how to get music to iPod, Zune players, or any portable MP3 player now.

Download Free MP3 Music Player

Author: Anna Rowe
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Why You Should Think Twice Before Buying The iPhone For Your Kids Or Even Yourself?

October 18th, 2010

Well you could say Apple have done it again if for no other reason than the their stock price sky-rocketing in the weeks leading up to release of their latest technological wonder and continuing post-release of the product in the US. What exactly is the iPhone? Why is it supposedly so good that there are people flying half way around the world to get one first? Then most importantly do you need one?

The Apple marketing and PR machine is amazing and as with the iPod music player, Apple have successfully created a product environment where people think they must have this device because it is somehow better featured, better looking and ultimately cooler than the rest. With the iPod this was so successful as they were fortunate to be entering a newish market with no yet to be determined established big players as the portable digital music market was in its infancy.

More amazing was the fact that competitors arguably created at the least better featured products at a lesser cost and yet their sales are dwarfed by Apple as the iPod is still the device to have. Other corporations like the World’s biggest auto makers and many of their new cars have places that accommodate an iPod specifically so the music can play through the entire car.

So we go back to the iPhone. Essentially the iPhone is an iPod (portable music and now video player) with a fully featured mobile phone included. In terms of its revolutionary appeal it is the first mobile phone to be fully touch screen, and that means touch screen with your fingers not a stylus pointer. It also incorporates the excellent Google Maps (and Satellite) feature which means the device can also act as GPS Device. The screen itself is bigger and clearer than most of its competitors making it much more conducive to watching TV and movies.

However when you get down to it, it is essentially a phone with a music player albeit a very good one and this is where the challenge lies. Unlike with the iPod, the iPhone is entering a market where there are huge established players like Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, LG, Motorola, etc. and many of them already have similar products on the market. Even Apple’s own sales targets globally are more modest with the iPhone despite the early rush in the US.

The other limiting factor sales wise is that at least in the early years Apple is signing exclusive deals with one phone carrier in each market. In Australia this is looking like being 3 so unless you are on that network you will not be able to buy or use the phone. The final question as to whether you should buy one ultimately rests with you. The iPhone is no doubt a quality device but ask yourself what do you use your phone for most often and I think then you will have your answer as for most of us it is just talk and text!

Chris Jacob is committed to helping Parents, Teachers, Schools & Students and that is why he co-founded Compare Schools Australia, which provides the first every 5-Star Rating System for schools. Don’t trust your child’s future to just anybody.

Author: Chris Jacob
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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