Promotional mouse mats are a great way to advertise your business. Theyre a useful item with plenty of advertising space, so your advertising message is sure to get noticed, day after day. If youre planning a special product promotion or if youd just like to create a design thats a little bit out of the ordinary, shaped mouse mats are a great option.
Shaped printed mouse mats prices start at just 0.94 for a full four-color design, so they wont cost you much more than a standard square mouse mat. Ideasbynet offers a variety of standard shapes you can select from, but if you would like to design your own, there is virtually no limit to the shape variations you can choose. Just keep the usability of the mat in mind when deciding on a shapemake sure that the shape you choose allows for plenty of space in the middle of the mat, so that users have space to manipulate their mouse, and you have space to add your company name, contact details, and other important information you want to include.
Its also best to avoid shapes that leave you with narrow or pointed areas (such as a many-pointed star, for example). These will be unlikely to tear, as mouse mats tend to be quite durable, however they will be more difficult to package safely. After being used for a while they may even bend and cause the recipient to discard the mouse matand your advertisementin favor of a mat with a more practical shape.
When deciding on a shape, take into account the amount of information you will need to display on the mouse mat for maximum advertising effect. You will most likely need to include a company logo, a slogan, and contact information as a bare minimum. If your mouse mats are promoting a new service or product line, youll also want to include information about your promotion. Remember to try and keep your design as simple as possibleif your mouse mat is cluttered with too much information, your customers are less likely to bother reading it. Additionally, if you end up with that much text on your mat, it doesnt leave much room for a prominent logo and company name.
Choosing a shape also requires that you consider the theme of your business. If you own a pet store, for example, a dog or cat face is a fun option, and the pets identification tag can include your contact information. A sporting equipment store lends itself well to a round mouse mat, with any type of ball used as the basis for the design. When choosing colors, keep in mind that your mouse mats will need to appeal to a broad cross-section of peoplenot all your customers will share exactly the same tastes.
Once your design is created, Ideasbynet.com will create your printed mouse mats on a tough, durable surface that is suitable for optical, wireless, and traditional mice. Within fifteen days of approval of your project, your mats will be shipped to you, so you can start using your shaped mouse mats to create a big impression with your customers!
2007年10月31日星期三
2007年10月30日星期二
The Beauty of Dichroic Glass
New advances in the development of materials are constantly affecting the fashion industry, for example new or evolved fibres lead to improved fire and crease resistance of fabrics. These developments often allow for the creation of ever more stunning and impressive designs and this is true of Dichroic glass and contemporary jewellery.
Dichroic coatings (pronounced di-crow-ic) are in fact no new technology, they were developed in Germany over 100 years ago and have since been used for applications ranging from the diagnosing of certain diseases to use in heat seeking missiles. Dichroic glass was originally developed for use in the U.S aerospace industry but today we see it in a much more artistic light as it revolutionises designer glass jewellery.
The process of creating Dichroic glass involves the accurate depositing of layers of quartz crystals and metal oxides such as titanium, silicon and magnesium on to clear glass. Dichroism is literally an optical effect that is observed in certain materials in which two different colours are seen when viewed from different directions. In Dichroic glass one colour is seen when light reflects off the crystalline surface and with a change in angle a second colour is viewed as the light passes through the glass. The additional process of fusing the glass together at high temperatures melts the glass and further alters its colour and character. Completed Dichroic glass therefore has a hidden depth of ever changing colour that is reminiscent of elements in nature such as dragonfly wings and peacock feathers.
Handmade Dichroic glass jewellery is an extremely skilled art form which, when done well achieves beautiful and stunning results. The design possibilities are limitless in all areas; colour, shape, pattern, texture etc and with a creative designer tremendously unique and interesting pieces can be produced. It is a contemporary medium for jewellery which can be adapted for both everyday wear and for striking special occasion pieces that dance in the light like diamonds but without the enormous price tags.
The best part about handmade Dichroic glass jewellery is that each item is individually crafted and so has its own unique quality and character for it is impossible to recreate the same piece twice. To view a range of quality Dichroic Glass Handmade Jewellery visit http://www.purpledragonaccessories.co.uk
Dichroic coatings (pronounced di-crow-ic) are in fact no new technology, they were developed in Germany over 100 years ago and have since been used for applications ranging from the diagnosing of certain diseases to use in heat seeking missiles. Dichroic glass was originally developed for use in the U.S aerospace industry but today we see it in a much more artistic light as it revolutionises designer glass jewellery.
The process of creating Dichroic glass involves the accurate depositing of layers of quartz crystals and metal oxides such as titanium, silicon and magnesium on to clear glass. Dichroism is literally an optical effect that is observed in certain materials in which two different colours are seen when viewed from different directions. In Dichroic glass one colour is seen when light reflects off the crystalline surface and with a change in angle a second colour is viewed as the light passes through the glass. The additional process of fusing the glass together at high temperatures melts the glass and further alters its colour and character. Completed Dichroic glass therefore has a hidden depth of ever changing colour that is reminiscent of elements in nature such as dragonfly wings and peacock feathers.
Handmade Dichroic glass jewellery is an extremely skilled art form which, when done well achieves beautiful and stunning results. The design possibilities are limitless in all areas; colour, shape, pattern, texture etc and with a creative designer tremendously unique and interesting pieces can be produced. It is a contemporary medium for jewellery which can be adapted for both everyday wear and for striking special occasion pieces that dance in the light like diamonds but without the enormous price tags.
The best part about handmade Dichroic glass jewellery is that each item is individually crafted and so has its own unique quality and character for it is impossible to recreate the same piece twice. To view a range of quality Dichroic Glass Handmade Jewellery visit http://www.purpledragonaccessories.co.uk
Types Of Moton Capture Systems
As motion capture technology developed, several uniquely different types of motion capture systems evolved. The types of motion capture input systems are: mechanical, magnetic, and optical.
Mechanical:
Performer wears a human-shaped set of straight metal pieces (like a very basic skeleton) that is hooked onto the performer's back; as the performer moves, this exoskeleton is forced to move as well and sensors in each joint feel the rotations. What is the apparatus? I t basically a large joystick. And this joystick is attaches to the body of the performer and moves according to the movement of the performer.
Advantage: no interference from light, well that removes the worry of wondering whether there will be a necessity for dim lighting , and from magnetic fields.
Disadvantage:
a)the technology has no awareness of ground, so please no aerobics no jumping, and moreover the data sometimes look like the performer was literally being swept of his/her feet.
b)equipment must be calibrated often
c)unless there is some other type of sensor in place, it does not know which way the performer's body is pointing, resulting in the possibility if the person doing the post production doesnt have the original video there is a great chance the character will end facing the wrong direction and creating many a red face.
d)absolute positions are not known but are calculated from the rotations
Optical:
Performer wears reflective dots that are followed by several cameras and the information is triangulated between them. Markers are either reflective, such as a system manufactured by Vicon or Motion Analysis, or infra-red emitting, many of which have been developed for musical applications (such as conducting). Developed primarily for sports injuries, analysis of athletic performance, games, animation, etc. New developments are allowing for real-time capture and work with animals.
Advantages:
a)performer feels free to move due to no cables connecting body to the equipment
b)larger volumes possible
c)more performers are possible
d)very clean, detailed data
Disadvantages:
a)It is prone to light interference
b)reflective dots can be blocked by performers or other structures, causing loss of data, or occlusion-this can be compensated for with software which estimates the position of a missing dot
c)rotations of body parts must be solved for and are not absolute
d)information has to be post-processed or 'tracked' before viewing so performer cannot see his or her image and so cannot be as creative or identify potential problems (a hand hitting a giant nose, for example)
e)higher cost than magnetic
Magnetic:
Performer wears an array of magnetic receivers which track location with respect to a static magnetic transmitter. Magnetic was used for the military, to track head movements of pilots. This type of motion capture is layered with animation from other input devices.
Mechanical:
Performer wears a human-shaped set of straight metal pieces (like a very basic skeleton) that is hooked onto the performer's back; as the performer moves, this exoskeleton is forced to move as well and sensors in each joint feel the rotations. What is the apparatus? I t basically a large joystick. And this joystick is attaches to the body of the performer and moves according to the movement of the performer.
Advantage: no interference from light, well that removes the worry of wondering whether there will be a necessity for dim lighting , and from magnetic fields.
Disadvantage:
a)the technology has no awareness of ground, so please no aerobics no jumping, and moreover the data sometimes look like the performer was literally being swept of his/her feet.
b)equipment must be calibrated often
c)unless there is some other type of sensor in place, it does not know which way the performer's body is pointing, resulting in the possibility if the person doing the post production doesnt have the original video there is a great chance the character will end facing the wrong direction and creating many a red face.
d)absolute positions are not known but are calculated from the rotations
Optical:
Performer wears reflective dots that are followed by several cameras and the information is triangulated between them. Markers are either reflective, such as a system manufactured by Vicon or Motion Analysis, or infra-red emitting, many of which have been developed for musical applications (such as conducting). Developed primarily for sports injuries, analysis of athletic performance, games, animation, etc. New developments are allowing for real-time capture and work with animals.
Advantages:
a)performer feels free to move due to no cables connecting body to the equipment
b)larger volumes possible
c)more performers are possible
d)very clean, detailed data
Disadvantages:
a)It is prone to light interference
b)reflective dots can be blocked by performers or other structures, causing loss of data, or occlusion-this can be compensated for with software which estimates the position of a missing dot
c)rotations of body parts must be solved for and are not absolute
d)information has to be post-processed or 'tracked' before viewing so performer cannot see his or her image and so cannot be as creative or identify potential problems (a hand hitting a giant nose, for example)
e)higher cost than magnetic
Magnetic:
Performer wears an array of magnetic receivers which track location with respect to a static magnetic transmitter. Magnetic was used for the military, to track head movements of pilots. This type of motion capture is layered with animation from other input devices.
Canon IXUS 65 versus Canon IXUS 60
On paper it is hard to set these two cameras apart. They both share the same 6MP CCD sensor, DIGIC II image processor and 16 shooting modes. Regarding the optics, the two Canon cameras are identical. Their optical zoom is 3X and the digital zoom is 4X. Some other common traits of the two devices include the TTL Auto-focus and the 9-point AiAF/1-point AF focusing method at the centre. Essentially, the two cameras are the same with two very important differences.
The first main difference between the two cameras is the screen. The screen of the Canon IXUS 65 is a 3 inch LCD. The IXUS 60 is fitted with a 2.5 inch screen (and so is the rest of the current Ixus range). That extra half inch can make a big difference especially if you wish to share your images with friends or you eyesight is not perfect and find it difficult to view images on smaller screens.
The second less obvious but very important difference is the body construction. The Ixus 60 has a metal body, while the Ixus 65 is made out of hard plastic. If you are able to treat your camera with care this should not make much difference. If on the other hand you tend to drop your camera often, or dont like using a protective case, the plastic body of the Ixus 65 may deteriorate quickly, so the Ixus 60 may provide a more rugged alternative.
The screen size and body material construction lead to the subtle difference in the dimensions of the two cameras. The Ixus 65s dimensions, namely 90.3 x 20.2 x 56.8 mm (W x D x H), slightly differ from the dimensions of the Ixus 60 (86.0 x 21.7 x 53.5 mm). As you can notice, the Ixus 65 is slightly wider and higher to accommodate the 3 inch LCD screen. As for their weight, the Ixus 65 weighs 140g, and the Ixus 60 weighs 145g. This small weight difference is due to the metal construction and is virtually unnoticeable.
The larger screen of the Ixus 65 comes at a financial cost. Its Australian recommended retail price is AU$529.00, which is $80 more than the Ixus 60 (priced at AU$449). In our opinion, unless you specifically need a larger screen, you would be best off buying the Ixus 60 and put the savings towards the purchase of a large memory card.
The first main difference between the two cameras is the screen. The screen of the Canon IXUS 65 is a 3 inch LCD. The IXUS 60 is fitted with a 2.5 inch screen (and so is the rest of the current Ixus range). That extra half inch can make a big difference especially if you wish to share your images with friends or you eyesight is not perfect and find it difficult to view images on smaller screens.
The second less obvious but very important difference is the body construction. The Ixus 60 has a metal body, while the Ixus 65 is made out of hard plastic. If you are able to treat your camera with care this should not make much difference. If on the other hand you tend to drop your camera often, or dont like using a protective case, the plastic body of the Ixus 65 may deteriorate quickly, so the Ixus 60 may provide a more rugged alternative.
The screen size and body material construction lead to the subtle difference in the dimensions of the two cameras. The Ixus 65s dimensions, namely 90.3 x 20.2 x 56.8 mm (W x D x H), slightly differ from the dimensions of the Ixus 60 (86.0 x 21.7 x 53.5 mm). As you can notice, the Ixus 65 is slightly wider and higher to accommodate the 3 inch LCD screen. As for their weight, the Ixus 65 weighs 140g, and the Ixus 60 weighs 145g. This small weight difference is due to the metal construction and is virtually unnoticeable.
The larger screen of the Ixus 65 comes at a financial cost. Its Australian recommended retail price is AU$529.00, which is $80 more than the Ixus 60 (priced at AU$449). In our opinion, unless you specifically need a larger screen, you would be best off buying the Ixus 60 and put the savings towards the purchase of a large memory card.
2007年10月29日星期一
Large Format Color Scanners
For almost all applications in which art or beauty is given primacy, the use of a color scanner is imperative. Digitalizing of portraits, indigenous textile designs, and large paintings call for the use of large format color scanners. The particular application in question may be best suited by color scanners of either flatbed-type or drum-type scanners. The choice of imaging technology between the traditional scanner using charge-coupled device (CCD) and the less expensive alternative using contact image sensors (CIS) should also be made judiciously.
When dealing with paintings and works of art, a CCD scanner is preferred so as to obtain best image quality, uniform color, and wide dynamic range. It is also ideal for scanning whole open books to obtain an image with little or no distortion. The geometric accuracy of this method is, however, inferior to that of CIS, and hence the latter are more suitable for scanning maps, engineering drawings, etc. The CIS scanner also has better resolving power since the scanned image is of the same size as the original. The resolution of the scanner is specified in dots per linear inch (dpi). The higher the resolution in dpi, the sharper is the scanned image. However, more resolution normally results in a larger image, requiring more memory for storage. The trade-off between the two depends on the use of the scanner. For example, official maps have to be scanned with much better resolution than the embroidery on a shawl. Large Format Scanners commonly available in the market have an optical resolution in the range of 150dpi to 800dpi, which would be sufficient for most general applications. The larger the scanned image, lesser is the enlargement involved, and lower is the resolution required. Highest resolution is desirable for scanning films.
Speed is another important criterion that influences our choice; speed is usually expressed in inches per second (ips) at a particular dpi. At a higher dpi, the speed will be less. For comparison, the speeds of all scanners are usually evaluated at 200dpi optical resolution, or at half the best optical resolution it provides. Most of the commonly available color scanners have speeds less than 300ips. Thickness of the media to be scanned is yet another factor to be considered when selecting the scanner type.
When dealing with paintings and works of art, a CCD scanner is preferred so as to obtain best image quality, uniform color, and wide dynamic range. It is also ideal for scanning whole open books to obtain an image with little or no distortion. The geometric accuracy of this method is, however, inferior to that of CIS, and hence the latter are more suitable for scanning maps, engineering drawings, etc. The CIS scanner also has better resolving power since the scanned image is of the same size as the original. The resolution of the scanner is specified in dots per linear inch (dpi). The higher the resolution in dpi, the sharper is the scanned image. However, more resolution normally results in a larger image, requiring more memory for storage. The trade-off between the two depends on the use of the scanner. For example, official maps have to be scanned with much better resolution than the embroidery on a shawl. Large Format Scanners commonly available in the market have an optical resolution in the range of 150dpi to 800dpi, which would be sufficient for most general applications. The larger the scanned image, lesser is the enlargement involved, and lower is the resolution required. Highest resolution is desirable for scanning films.
Speed is another important criterion that influences our choice; speed is usually expressed in inches per second (ips) at a particular dpi. At a higher dpi, the speed will be less. For comparison, the speeds of all scanners are usually evaluated at 200dpi optical resolution, or at half the best optical resolution it provides. Most of the commonly available color scanners have speeds less than 300ips. Thickness of the media to be scanned is yet another factor to be considered when selecting the scanner type.
2007年10月28日星期日
Jaime Gili Biography and his Art work
Jaime Gili was born in Caracas (Venezuela) in 1972. He grew up in a multicultural capital full of vibrant optical art, a concrete city full of optimism. Caracas, in the late seventies, presented its own version of the International modernism movement in art and architecture. Its own take on Utopia, the look of the city being created by artists and architects working together towards a single vision underwritten by a strong oil economy.
In paintings such as Barbaro, Ochoa, and Trikalinou, Jaime Gili incites the austere purity of geometric design with the confidence and authenticity of painterly gesture. Presented in a cluster, his paintings are not hung, but leaned against the wall, creating a temporal architecture inciting of the constant transience and development of urban space. Executed with a palmy palette, Gilis large scale canvases capitalise on the power of aesthetics to motivate and allure. Bold splinters of pitch black, copper metallic, or tainted pink pierce through grounds animate with drips, smudges, and impassioned swipes, creating monumental fields of raw, potent energy.
Hailing from Venezuela, Gili works from a distinctly South American perspective. Influenced by the sharp geometric angles of 20th c architecture and the sleek elegance of classic automotive detailing, Gilis paintings disengage the international archetypes of modernism: reflecting instead a localised adaptation of style, where design and its social implications have been internalised and customised to represent a unique national and political identity and cultural heritage. Citing his countrys rapid oil-rich economic growth and intensive South American visionary developments such Caracas and Brasilia, Gilis paintings address this utopian new world optimism and its inherent failure.Gilis shard-like compositions are reminiscent of Ljubov Popova and Mikhaiul Larionov, while simultaneously paying homage to great South American abstractionists such as Cruz Diez, Jesus Rafael Soto and Alejandro Otero.
Conclusion :
Jaime Gili canvases are nostalgic for this obsolete positivism; where the idealistic development of public space and the appetite for mechanical amelioration both affirmed and inspired a sense of social buoyancy and community. Borrowing from the Constructivistss ideas of bridging art and technology.
In paintings such as Barbaro, Ochoa, and Trikalinou, Jaime Gili incites the austere purity of geometric design with the confidence and authenticity of painterly gesture. Presented in a cluster, his paintings are not hung, but leaned against the wall, creating a temporal architecture inciting of the constant transience and development of urban space. Executed with a palmy palette, Gilis large scale canvases capitalise on the power of aesthetics to motivate and allure. Bold splinters of pitch black, copper metallic, or tainted pink pierce through grounds animate with drips, smudges, and impassioned swipes, creating monumental fields of raw, potent energy.
Hailing from Venezuela, Gili works from a distinctly South American perspective. Influenced by the sharp geometric angles of 20th c architecture and the sleek elegance of classic automotive detailing, Gilis paintings disengage the international archetypes of modernism: reflecting instead a localised adaptation of style, where design and its social implications have been internalised and customised to represent a unique national and political identity and cultural heritage. Citing his countrys rapid oil-rich economic growth and intensive South American visionary developments such Caracas and Brasilia, Gilis paintings address this utopian new world optimism and its inherent failure.Gilis shard-like compositions are reminiscent of Ljubov Popova and Mikhaiul Larionov, while simultaneously paying homage to great South American abstractionists such as Cruz Diez, Jesus Rafael Soto and Alejandro Otero.
Conclusion :
Jaime Gili canvases are nostalgic for this obsolete positivism; where the idealistic development of public space and the appetite for mechanical amelioration both affirmed and inspired a sense of social buoyancy and community. Borrowing from the Constructivistss ideas of bridging art and technology.
2007年10月26日星期五
Nano Particle Tech Uses for Molybdenum
Finally, the financial markets have caught on as to how hot molybdenum stocks could get. While we began researching molybdenum about a year ago, and only first publishing in July 2006, molybdenum commentator Ken Reser has practically been the lone voice in the moly wilderness for investors. (We understand there have been several tout sheets hyping molybdenum stocks for nearly as long, but we cant include those in serious discussions about this metal.)
Now that molybdenum traders have grown more bullish about the metal, we expect molybdenum pricing to continue higher. Ferro moly prices have continued firming up. Some quantity is now selling at US$76 per kg in Europe. One report indicates a recent moly oxide sale at $31/pound.
The emergence of the Sprott Molybdenum Participation Fund (TSX: MLY; OTC Pinks: SMPCF) might only suggest the beginning of stronger institutional interest in primary molybdenum producers and on-the-horizon molybdenum producers those whose projects could be online by 2010 or sooner.
In March 2005, Ken Reser penned a short editorial entitled, Molybdenum: The 21st Century & Beyond Metal.
Mainstream analysts had not really bothered to investigate the numerous uses for molybdenum prior to Ken Resers discussion. Since then, molybdenum stocks have had an incredible run. Mainstream media, such as Canadas Globe & Mail, Dow Jones MarketWatch, The Australian and Londons Daily Telegraph have featured molybdenum in their articles and named some of the favored companies.
Now that molys time has come, many have passed Ken Reser by, aside from our Australian colleagues, FNArena.com. This is often the fate of pioneers who pave the road and point the direction where investors should head. Pioneers are oft forgotten, although streets are later named after them.
Thats not going to be the case if we have any say in this. Ken Resers moly repertoire has been extensive. Editorials since his seminal article have discussed moly uses in oil and gas de-sulphurization, catalysts, coal liquefaction, energy pipelines, oil super tankers, drill stem tubing, super alloys, nuclear reactors and turbines among others.
What many thought was fiction Reser preached, more than two years ago, are ideas now at the forefront of mainstream discussions among highly respected analysts. The International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) should be thankful Ken Reser attracted such a high level of investor interest to the moly mining sector over the past two years.
Well, the pioneer is alive and well. Ken Reser has more insights into molybdenums future. And we invited Ken to publish them in his commentary below.
Ken Resers Commentary
Little attention has been given to a few other aspects of this metal of mystery, in a world growing and changing so rapidly. I have little doubt there are more than a few uses of moly. New discoveries are waiting in the wings.
One case in point is Nano-Particle technology involving molybdenum.
Now that molybdenum traders have grown more bullish about the metal, we expect molybdenum pricing to continue higher. Ferro moly prices have continued firming up. Some quantity is now selling at US$76 per kg in Europe. One report indicates a recent moly oxide sale at $31/pound.
The emergence of the Sprott Molybdenum Participation Fund (TSX: MLY; OTC Pinks: SMPCF) might only suggest the beginning of stronger institutional interest in primary molybdenum producers and on-the-horizon molybdenum producers those whose projects could be online by 2010 or sooner.
In March 2005, Ken Reser penned a short editorial entitled, Molybdenum: The 21st Century & Beyond Metal.
Mainstream analysts had not really bothered to investigate the numerous uses for molybdenum prior to Ken Resers discussion. Since then, molybdenum stocks have had an incredible run. Mainstream media, such as Canadas Globe & Mail, Dow Jones MarketWatch, The Australian and Londons Daily Telegraph have featured molybdenum in their articles and named some of the favored companies.
Now that molys time has come, many have passed Ken Reser by, aside from our Australian colleagues, FNArena.com. This is often the fate of pioneers who pave the road and point the direction where investors should head. Pioneers are oft forgotten, although streets are later named after them.
Thats not going to be the case if we have any say in this. Ken Resers moly repertoire has been extensive. Editorials since his seminal article have discussed moly uses in oil and gas de-sulphurization, catalysts, coal liquefaction, energy pipelines, oil super tankers, drill stem tubing, super alloys, nuclear reactors and turbines among others.
What many thought was fiction Reser preached, more than two years ago, are ideas now at the forefront of mainstream discussions among highly respected analysts. The International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) should be thankful Ken Reser attracted such a high level of investor interest to the moly mining sector over the past two years.
Well, the pioneer is alive and well. Ken Reser has more insights into molybdenums future. And we invited Ken to publish them in his commentary below.
Ken Resers Commentary
Little attention has been given to a few other aspects of this metal of mystery, in a world growing and changing so rapidly. I have little doubt there are more than a few uses of moly. New discoveries are waiting in the wings.
One case in point is Nano-Particle technology involving molybdenum.
2007年10月25日星期四
Document Management Systems
Documents are an integral part of any business process and play a pivotal role in the functioning of any organization. They are a vital means of organizational communication, an important constituent of organizational memory and play a significant role in enhancing the business process.
Business corporations and other organizations generate billions of pages of paper documents every year. For this reason, they need an efficient document management system that can facilitate the systematic filing, storing, securing and retrieval of information. For some organizations such as insurance companies, solicitors and consultants, an efficient document management system means better service and greater business prospects.
A document management system can manage documents using computer software. It also includes management of audio and video files, graphics, photographs, faxes and emails. It is the process of organizing, storing, securing, classifying and retrieving document-based information and multimedia files. Since the ideal of a paperless office environment could not be achieved, document management systems also have to adapt n effectively meeting the demands of various industries in storing, retrieving and sharing information with paper as well as electronic documents.
Document management systems involve, document capturing using scanners and optical character recognition to convert paper documents into digital data, installing document management software for creating and organizing documents and for database management, and workflow management for the systematic transmission of information.
Document management systems facilitate the long-term storage of documents. They enable digital archiving; that is, categorizing and storing documents, which are currently needed, and those that have become outdated. Sharing information in the form of text, graphics and multimedia is made convenient by easy access through the Internet or via the companys intranet, according to an individuals need and priority. A document management system allows for the systematic indexing of documents, making it easier for the user to identify and locate the required document on request. It also reduces the number of man-hours required to manage the documents.
A good document management system is central to the efficient managing of documents, as well as in enhancing communication and sharing information within the organization.
Business corporations and other organizations generate billions of pages of paper documents every year. For this reason, they need an efficient document management system that can facilitate the systematic filing, storing, securing and retrieval of information. For some organizations such as insurance companies, solicitors and consultants, an efficient document management system means better service and greater business prospects.
A document management system can manage documents using computer software. It also includes management of audio and video files, graphics, photographs, faxes and emails. It is the process of organizing, storing, securing, classifying and retrieving document-based information and multimedia files. Since the ideal of a paperless office environment could not be achieved, document management systems also have to adapt n effectively meeting the demands of various industries in storing, retrieving and sharing information with paper as well as electronic documents.
Document management systems involve, document capturing using scanners and optical character recognition to convert paper documents into digital data, installing document management software for creating and organizing documents and for database management, and workflow management for the systematic transmission of information.
Document management systems facilitate the long-term storage of documents. They enable digital archiving; that is, categorizing and storing documents, which are currently needed, and those that have become outdated. Sharing information in the form of text, graphics and multimedia is made convenient by easy access through the Internet or via the companys intranet, according to an individuals need and priority. A document management system allows for the systematic indexing of documents, making it easier for the user to identify and locate the required document on request. It also reduces the number of man-hours required to manage the documents.
A good document management system is central to the efficient managing of documents, as well as in enhancing communication and sharing information within the organization.
More Profits with VoIP Termination Business Plan
Business sector has being expanding by folds and leaps and with this the competition to survive in the industry while making good profits has increased too. Their business requirements are evolving and in order to keep up with the current situation corporate houses are looking at alternate ways to save more while increasing their productivity. They are beginning to experiment with diverse communication capabilities which are offered by the World Wide Web. The Internet is offering contemporary modes of communication which helps the business houses to save more thereby increasing their revenue generation.
VoIP termination business plan meets the ever changing communication needs of the industry. It exploits the benefits of World Wide Web to transfer voice, data and video traffic through a single channel unlike the traditional mode of communication which would work through optical fiber wires. This not just increases the efficiency but also brings down the cost of operations. VoIP technology is perhaps the only one among all channels of communication which has the least hardware requirement.
VoIP call termination helps to combine the business data with the phone call. For instance, click to call service on the website for customer interaction or a screen pop up for user interaction can be achieved through this technology. This benefits the organizations by raising customer satisfaction; something that every business strives to achieve in order to build up its brand and brand preference. There are many VoIP service providers offering a-z call termination services.
In the global economy that has permeated in the current business scenario, corporates have to remain in contact with their dealers, suppliers and customers from world over. This means rise in telephony expenditure due to expensive call tariff for long distance and international calls through public switch telephony network. VoIP business plans offer a much cheaper and quality substitute to PSTN and allow calls at almost half the cost paid for PSTN. Thus, savings in telephone bills is huge through the use of voice over IP.
VoIP business plan can help to integrate different branches of your company helping you achieve a seamless communication network at no cost.
VoIP termination business plan meets the ever changing communication needs of the industry. It exploits the benefits of World Wide Web to transfer voice, data and video traffic through a single channel unlike the traditional mode of communication which would work through optical fiber wires. This not just increases the efficiency but also brings down the cost of operations. VoIP technology is perhaps the only one among all channels of communication which has the least hardware requirement.
VoIP call termination helps to combine the business data with the phone call. For instance, click to call service on the website for customer interaction or a screen pop up for user interaction can be achieved through this technology. This benefits the organizations by raising customer satisfaction; something that every business strives to achieve in order to build up its brand and brand preference. There are many VoIP service providers offering a-z call termination services.
In the global economy that has permeated in the current business scenario, corporates have to remain in contact with their dealers, suppliers and customers from world over. This means rise in telephony expenditure due to expensive call tariff for long distance and international calls through public switch telephony network. VoIP business plans offer a much cheaper and quality substitute to PSTN and allow calls at almost half the cost paid for PSTN. Thus, savings in telephone bills is huge through the use of voice over IP.
VoIP business plan can help to integrate different branches of your company helping you achieve a seamless communication network at no cost.
2007年10月24日星期三
Industrial Directory
An industrial directory cannot but be a substantial volume. Industry is defined as production of goods and the variety of goods are bewilderingly large. A directory can claim to be an industrial directory only if it covers all major sectors.
Speaking of sectors, NAICS - North American Industry Classification System - classifies economic activity in United States, Canada and Mexico. We look at this system in the next section.
Industry
NAICS has allotted a sector number to each sector (listed in the first column below).
11 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
21 Mining
22 Utilities
23 Construction
31-33 Manufacturing
42 Wholesale Trade
44-45 Retail Trade
48-49 Transportation and Warehousing
51 Information
52 Finance and Insurance
53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
55 Management of Companies and Enterprises
56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
61 Education Services
62 Health Care and Social Assistance
71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
72 Accommodation and Food Services
81 Other Services (except Public Administration)
92 Public Administration
Each of these sectors is subdivided into sub-sectors by using additional digits in the sector number, as illustrated below:
32 Manufacturing
326 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
3261 Plastics Product Manufacturing
32611 Plastics Packaging Materials and Unlaminated Film and Sheet Manufacturing
326111 Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing
326112 Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing
You would notice that even under the lowest classifications, such as Plastic Bag and Pouch above, there could be several specialized activities. A detailed and complete list of industries would thus be a very big list indeed.
We take a look at some sample categories in a reputed industrial directory in the section below.
Industrial Directories
Adhesives & Sealants Adhesives, Adhesive Tapes, Pressure Sensitive Tapes, Tapes, Adhesive Dispensing Equipment, more...
Automation & Electronics Automation Equipment, Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), Electronic Enclosures, Clean rooms, EMI/RFI Shielding, more...
Chemicals Coatings, Corrosion Resistant Coatings, Desiccants, Optical Coatings, Teflon Coatings, more...
Custom Manufacturing & Fabricating Metal Fabrication, CNC Machining, Metal Stampings, Screw Machine Products & Turned Parts, Tube Fabricating & Bending Services, more...
Electrical & Power Generation Transformers, Batteries, Magnets, Custom Transformers, Neodymium Magnets, more...
(Source: http://www.thomasnet.com/ )
We have not included several more major categories in the partial list above. As you see from the extract above, the sub-categories are large enough for this industrial directory to take recourse to "more..." when listing the sub-categories.
Speaking of sectors, NAICS - North American Industry Classification System - classifies economic activity in United States, Canada and Mexico. We look at this system in the next section.
Industry
NAICS has allotted a sector number to each sector (listed in the first column below).
11 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
21 Mining
22 Utilities
23 Construction
31-33 Manufacturing
42 Wholesale Trade
44-45 Retail Trade
48-49 Transportation and Warehousing
51 Information
52 Finance and Insurance
53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
54 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
55 Management of Companies and Enterprises
56 Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
61 Education Services
62 Health Care and Social Assistance
71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
72 Accommodation and Food Services
81 Other Services (except Public Administration)
92 Public Administration
Each of these sectors is subdivided into sub-sectors by using additional digits in the sector number, as illustrated below:
32 Manufacturing
326 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing
3261 Plastics Product Manufacturing
32611 Plastics Packaging Materials and Unlaminated Film and Sheet Manufacturing
326111 Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing
326112 Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing
You would notice that even under the lowest classifications, such as Plastic Bag and Pouch above, there could be several specialized activities. A detailed and complete list of industries would thus be a very big list indeed.
We take a look at some sample categories in a reputed industrial directory in the section below.
Industrial Directories
Adhesives & Sealants Adhesives, Adhesive Tapes, Pressure Sensitive Tapes, Tapes, Adhesive Dispensing Equipment, more...
Automation & Electronics Automation Equipment, Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), Electronic Enclosures, Clean rooms, EMI/RFI Shielding, more...
Chemicals Coatings, Corrosion Resistant Coatings, Desiccants, Optical Coatings, Teflon Coatings, more...
Custom Manufacturing & Fabricating Metal Fabrication, CNC Machining, Metal Stampings, Screw Machine Products & Turned Parts, Tube Fabricating & Bending Services, more...
Electrical & Power Generation Transformers, Batteries, Magnets, Custom Transformers, Neodymium Magnets, more...
(Source: http://www.thomasnet.com/ )
We have not included several more major categories in the partial list above. As you see from the extract above, the sub-categories are large enough for this industrial directory to take recourse to "more..." when listing the sub-categories.
2007年10月23日星期二
CD Rom Backup Software
Creating backup for the data on an electronic device like a computer or a digital camera is very important. Most electronic equipments are bound to suffer crashes, leading to the erasing of all the data within. Creating backup for the data enables not only storage but also effective retrieval of the data whenever required.
There are many backup devices, including floppy disks, hard disks, other computers on the network, compact disks, and DVDs. Each of these has its own conveniences, risks and capacities. Use of these devices depends on several factors: the amount of data to be stored, the frequency at which the data is altered, presence of other backup devices, and the kind of files that need to be stored.
CD ROMs are one kind of a removable backup device. CDs are being increasingly used for storing files as they are inexpensive, easy to store, easy to transport, and have varying storage capacities. Some CD ROMs can take as much as 700 MB of data. They are also relatively safer than floppy disks or hard disk on the system. The data stored on a CD ROM however, cannot be altered. This makes them more ideal for storing permanent data. There are also other advantages from using CD ROMs for storing backup data: they have a high shelf life, they are not affected by magnetic fields, and they can be taken through airport security without any problem. They are nevertheless fragile and require careful handling.
CD-ROM recorders or writers have now become very inexpensive. A basic model is available for a price below $1,000 while those with optical drivers are more expensive. These days, most backup software programs are compatible with CD-drives and CD-recorders. There are many kinds and brands of backup software programs available. These are compatible with basic Windows NT/2000 configurations. Prices range from $30 to $3,700 or more, depending on the options and the features available. Veritas, Symantec, Acronis, Dantz, and Stomp are some of the popular brands in CD ROM backup software.
There are many backup devices, including floppy disks, hard disks, other computers on the network, compact disks, and DVDs. Each of these has its own conveniences, risks and capacities. Use of these devices depends on several factors: the amount of data to be stored, the frequency at which the data is altered, presence of other backup devices, and the kind of files that need to be stored.
CD ROMs are one kind of a removable backup device. CDs are being increasingly used for storing files as they are inexpensive, easy to store, easy to transport, and have varying storage capacities. Some CD ROMs can take as much as 700 MB of data. They are also relatively safer than floppy disks or hard disk on the system. The data stored on a CD ROM however, cannot be altered. This makes them more ideal for storing permanent data. There are also other advantages from using CD ROMs for storing backup data: they have a high shelf life, they are not affected by magnetic fields, and they can be taken through airport security without any problem. They are nevertheless fragile and require careful handling.
CD-ROM recorders or writers have now become very inexpensive. A basic model is available for a price below $1,000 while those with optical drivers are more expensive. These days, most backup software programs are compatible with CD-drives and CD-recorders. There are many kinds and brands of backup software programs available. These are compatible with basic Windows NT/2000 configurations. Prices range from $30 to $3,700 or more, depending on the options and the features available. Veritas, Symantec, Acronis, Dantz, and Stomp are some of the popular brands in CD ROM backup software.
D-Link DCS-6620G wireless PTZ IP Camera Review
Remotely monitoring premises using internet protocol (IP) camera equipment is a relatively new technology arrival even more so with wireless equipment capable of pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) with wireless connectivity. I purchased the D-Link 6620G for the rich feature set and this article briefly summarizes the good, the bad, and the ugly of this unit.
As an owner of a holiday property located thousands of miles away from my home residence, I was seeking to deploy surveillance technology that would enable me to know in real time of any intruders or events at my property. The ideal solution was presented with the D-Link DCS-6620G as a wireless IP camera that could be accessed over the internet from anywhere in the world. Does it work? Yes, well, sort of read on.
Once it is all setup and functioning properly, the interface to pan, tilt, zoom is very straightforward. Clicking a snapshot is a breeze as well as jumping into the configuration. The interface here deserves high marks.
Unless you have a PhD in Computer Science, you will likely struggle to get the unit working. The manual and help line to D-Link are of little value prayers to religious icons and perseverance are your best resources here. Unless you have extensive experience and training, the connectivity is probably the worst trait of this technology. The manual is absent of any detail or worked examples. First, the SMTP server details do not require you to enter 'smtp.' or 'smtp:' in front of the smtp server details field Likewise, for FTP, do not enter 'FTP://'. For your wireless connection, be sure to get the SSID of your wireless access point or router first and type it in exactly. The Site survey feature did not see my access point in the lounge at all, only the router in the study. You'll also need to know to open Audio, Video, HTTP, local FTP, and Server FTP ports on your router before you'll have any joy with this camera. Not to mention establishing Dynamic or Static DNS hosting details (which there is only a drop down menu for these and unless you subscribe to one of them, you are out of luck). The documentation is sparse on all of this and calling D-Link for over 2 hours each on 4 separate calls frankly did not help me to resolve. Thanks to my local ISP technician who had already installed a TrendNet camera who was able to assist me joggle through it.
Once operating, you will notice the base of the unit gets very hot and given only 1 mounting point leaves this $800 unit very vulnerable to being bumped about or snapping off and falling to the floor. Images are very clear until you zoom on an object. I disabled digital zoom in order to limit the camera to the optical zoom, but even when zoomed 70% (like on a license plate on a car) you cannot focus the unit enough to distinguish the numbers.
You cannot use both FTP and SMTP (e-mail) settings simultaneously - you must select either one or the other. The camera only uploads snapshots to FTP or e-mail, not video. For video playback, you must record real time motion to a local computer running bundled software. This is not a problem for situations where you have a local computer on the LAN, but presents a considerable problem for a remote installation where you do not necessarily need computer equipment. For a remote installation, about the best you'll get are a few snapshots of the event, not real motion video uploaded to your e-mail.
As an owner of a holiday property located thousands of miles away from my home residence, I was seeking to deploy surveillance technology that would enable me to know in real time of any intruders or events at my property. The ideal solution was presented with the D-Link DCS-6620G as a wireless IP camera that could be accessed over the internet from anywhere in the world. Does it work? Yes, well, sort of read on.
Once it is all setup and functioning properly, the interface to pan, tilt, zoom is very straightforward. Clicking a snapshot is a breeze as well as jumping into the configuration. The interface here deserves high marks.
Unless you have a PhD in Computer Science, you will likely struggle to get the unit working. The manual and help line to D-Link are of little value prayers to religious icons and perseverance are your best resources here. Unless you have extensive experience and training, the connectivity is probably the worst trait of this technology. The manual is absent of any detail or worked examples. First, the SMTP server details do not require you to enter 'smtp.' or 'smtp:' in front of the smtp server details field Likewise, for FTP, do not enter 'FTP://'. For your wireless connection, be sure to get the SSID of your wireless access point or router first and type it in exactly. The Site survey feature did not see my access point in the lounge at all, only the router in the study. You'll also need to know to open Audio, Video, HTTP, local FTP, and Server FTP ports on your router before you'll have any joy with this camera. Not to mention establishing Dynamic or Static DNS hosting details (which there is only a drop down menu for these and unless you subscribe to one of them, you are out of luck). The documentation is sparse on all of this and calling D-Link for over 2 hours each on 4 separate calls frankly did not help me to resolve. Thanks to my local ISP technician who had already installed a TrendNet camera who was able to assist me joggle through it.
Once operating, you will notice the base of the unit gets very hot and given only 1 mounting point leaves this $800 unit very vulnerable to being bumped about or snapping off and falling to the floor. Images are very clear until you zoom on an object. I disabled digital zoom in order to limit the camera to the optical zoom, but even when zoomed 70% (like on a license plate on a car) you cannot focus the unit enough to distinguish the numbers.
You cannot use both FTP and SMTP (e-mail) settings simultaneously - you must select either one or the other. The camera only uploads snapshots to FTP or e-mail, not video. For video playback, you must record real time motion to a local computer running bundled software. This is not a problem for situations where you have a local computer on the LAN, but presents a considerable problem for a remote installation where you do not necessarily need computer equipment. For a remote installation, about the best you'll get are a few snapshots of the event, not real motion video uploaded to your e-mail.
2007年10月22日星期一
Data Recovery over Hard disk failure
Hard Disk: An Introduction
--------------------------
Hard Disks are used to store information. All information on computers are stored in files. Hard disks store the majority of information on today's modern computer. Hard disk drives (HDDs) can be critically damaged by static electricity, shock, and other factors, often resulting in failure or the loss of valuable data. In many cases it may become necessary to recover information from your hard drive. Such retrieval is quite possible.
Hard Disk Failure
-----------------
*Physical Failures
Physical failure occurs from sudden switch off, power failure, sliding them off desks and cheap components. As for data loss, data is only magnetic impulses on the surface of a hard disk. And ridiculously small bits of magnetism at that! When the magnetic impulse fades, or changes position, trouble starts.
Drive Alignment Drift is another cause of problems. Mechanical devices are subject to wear and tear, heat and cold, loosening tolerances etc.
The small changes in the read/write heads wouldn't matter usually, as data still gets written in the same place as it will be read later. However, there is some data that hardly ever gets re-written, and that is the Sector ID Headers.
*Logical Failures
Master Boot Record Failure
Technically, when the Master Boot Record is working correctly, the master boot code scans the partition table for the active partition, finds the starting sector, loads a copy of the boot sector from the active partition into memory and then transfers control to the executable code in the boot sector. If the master boot code cannot complete these functions, the system displays a message similar to the MBR error.
*Boot Sector Failure
The boot sector is a region of a hard disk, floppy disk, and other similar data storage device. It is loaded to memory and executed as a part of the bootstrap sequence. The boot sector contains a small computer program that is loaded on the operating system into memory and transfers the control.
Most boot sector failure occurs by the defection of boot sector virus. Boot sector viruses are usually spread by infected floppy disks. In the past, these were usually bootable disks, but this is no longer the case. A floppy disk does not need to be bootable to transmit a boot virus. Any disk can cause infection if it is in the drive when the computer boots up or shuts down.
*Accidentally Deleted Data
Some time some how you may delete a file thinking we don?t need it any more, but in a week or or two you may realize that it is a needed one. It happens to the best of us, but fortunately there are ways to get these lost files back.
When it comes to data on your computer, it is almost impossible to accidentally remove it beyond recoverability. Even if you are intentionally trying to completely wipe a file from your hard drive it is exceedingly difficult.
*Cross Linked Files
A file system error that corrupts the contents of an existing file by writing data from another file into the same cluster. Running Scandisk or a similar program cleans up the problem, but one of the files is no longer usable.
*Bad Sectors
It is a portion of the Hard disk that cannot be used any more. If a part of the disk get bad sector which contains data then those data is to be recovered before use. When you format a disk, the OS will mark all the unusable sector as bad sector, however, this does not affect the overall performance of the disk as the damaged space is considered unusable.
Hard Disk Data Recovery
-------------------------
*Replace the (Circuit Board) PCB Upon a Hard Drive circuit board failure, it is possible to get back the data by carefully replacing the PCB of the hard drive.
*Replace the Firmware
Hard disk firmware is the information that is used by the computer that allows it to correctly interact with the hard disk. It may be replaced or updated by the matching firmware.
*Replace the Head Stack
There are common situation that may be due to head failures. There is a small chip located in the head stack that is called PREAMPLIFIER. Working with preamplifiers always includes some difficulties, because, practically, they can not withstand static discharges. If re-soldering is needed, one should follow a number of rules to protect a preamplifier from static damage caused by careless finger touching. Although this task is very risky and it should be done in a high secured lab specially created for this task.
*Move the disk to another Drive
In some cases complete functionality of the Hard drive may be disabled while only the internal disk plate is without any damages or errors. In those situations, it is possible to move the disk to another drive.
*Spin-Stand Testers
Hard drive manufactures and their head media; preamplifier and read channel suppliers do have very accurate, very expensive "magic machines" called Spin-Stands. These are used for testing and experimenting with heads and disks. They are used mostly by researcher and development departments.
*Magnetic Force Microscopes (MFM)
Magnetic force microscopy is a powerful tool for high-resolution magnetic imaging of most data storage media. As the density of magnetic media is higher, the bit becomes smaller than the wavelength of light, so optical techniques can not resolve it. General MFM is capable of imaging the magnetic domain of several tens of nanometers. Also, MFM is almost simultaneous with measuring the surface characteristics of topography and roughness of the same area with sub-angstrom vertical resolution.
Recovery Softwares
-------------------
*SpinRite 6.0
SpinRite is a stand-alone DOS program designed to refurbish hard drives, floppy disks and recover data from marginally or completely unreadable hard drives and floppy disks and from partitions and folders which have become unreadable.
*Ontrack data recovery software Ontrack Data Recovery offers the industry's highest quality and cost-effective do-it-yourself data recovery software solutions for almost any data loss situation covering servers, desktops or laptops for all media, operating systems and file types. Ontrack's EasyRecoveryTM family of products is unmatched in its ability to recover/repair from all causes of lost data.
*Recover My Files Recover My Files data recovery software will easily recover deleted files emptied from the Windows Recycle Bin, or lost due to the format or corruption of a hard drive, virus or Trojan infection, and unexpected system shutdown or software failure.
--------------------------
Hard Disks are used to store information. All information on computers are stored in files. Hard disks store the majority of information on today's modern computer. Hard disk drives (HDDs) can be critically damaged by static electricity, shock, and other factors, often resulting in failure or the loss of valuable data. In many cases it may become necessary to recover information from your hard drive. Such retrieval is quite possible.
Hard Disk Failure
-----------------
*Physical Failures
Physical failure occurs from sudden switch off, power failure, sliding them off desks and cheap components. As for data loss, data is only magnetic impulses on the surface of a hard disk. And ridiculously small bits of magnetism at that! When the magnetic impulse fades, or changes position, trouble starts.
Drive Alignment Drift is another cause of problems. Mechanical devices are subject to wear and tear, heat and cold, loosening tolerances etc.
The small changes in the read/write heads wouldn't matter usually, as data still gets written in the same place as it will be read later. However, there is some data that hardly ever gets re-written, and that is the Sector ID Headers.
*Logical Failures
Master Boot Record Failure
Technically, when the Master Boot Record is working correctly, the master boot code scans the partition table for the active partition, finds the starting sector, loads a copy of the boot sector from the active partition into memory and then transfers control to the executable code in the boot sector. If the master boot code cannot complete these functions, the system displays a message similar to the MBR error.
*Boot Sector Failure
The boot sector is a region of a hard disk, floppy disk, and other similar data storage device. It is loaded to memory and executed as a part of the bootstrap sequence. The boot sector contains a small computer program that is loaded on the operating system into memory and transfers the control.
Most boot sector failure occurs by the defection of boot sector virus. Boot sector viruses are usually spread by infected floppy disks. In the past, these were usually bootable disks, but this is no longer the case. A floppy disk does not need to be bootable to transmit a boot virus. Any disk can cause infection if it is in the drive when the computer boots up or shuts down.
*Accidentally Deleted Data
Some time some how you may delete a file thinking we don?t need it any more, but in a week or or two you may realize that it is a needed one. It happens to the best of us, but fortunately there are ways to get these lost files back.
When it comes to data on your computer, it is almost impossible to accidentally remove it beyond recoverability. Even if you are intentionally trying to completely wipe a file from your hard drive it is exceedingly difficult.
*Cross Linked Files
A file system error that corrupts the contents of an existing file by writing data from another file into the same cluster. Running Scandisk or a similar program cleans up the problem, but one of the files is no longer usable.
*Bad Sectors
It is a portion of the Hard disk that cannot be used any more. If a part of the disk get bad sector which contains data then those data is to be recovered before use. When you format a disk, the OS will mark all the unusable sector as bad sector, however, this does not affect the overall performance of the disk as the damaged space is considered unusable.
Hard Disk Data Recovery
-------------------------
*Replace the (Circuit Board) PCB Upon a Hard Drive circuit board failure, it is possible to get back the data by carefully replacing the PCB of the hard drive.
*Replace the Firmware
Hard disk firmware is the information that is used by the computer that allows it to correctly interact with the hard disk. It may be replaced or updated by the matching firmware.
*Replace the Head Stack
There are common situation that may be due to head failures. There is a small chip located in the head stack that is called PREAMPLIFIER. Working with preamplifiers always includes some difficulties, because, practically, they can not withstand static discharges. If re-soldering is needed, one should follow a number of rules to protect a preamplifier from static damage caused by careless finger touching. Although this task is very risky and it should be done in a high secured lab specially created for this task.
*Move the disk to another Drive
In some cases complete functionality of the Hard drive may be disabled while only the internal disk plate is without any damages or errors. In those situations, it is possible to move the disk to another drive.
*Spin-Stand Testers
Hard drive manufactures and their head media; preamplifier and read channel suppliers do have very accurate, very expensive "magic machines" called Spin-Stands. These are used for testing and experimenting with heads and disks. They are used mostly by researcher and development departments.
*Magnetic Force Microscopes (MFM)
Magnetic force microscopy is a powerful tool for high-resolution magnetic imaging of most data storage media. As the density of magnetic media is higher, the bit becomes smaller than the wavelength of light, so optical techniques can not resolve it. General MFM is capable of imaging the magnetic domain of several tens of nanometers. Also, MFM is almost simultaneous with measuring the surface characteristics of topography and roughness of the same area with sub-angstrom vertical resolution.
Recovery Softwares
-------------------
*SpinRite 6.0
SpinRite is a stand-alone DOS program designed to refurbish hard drives, floppy disks and recover data from marginally or completely unreadable hard drives and floppy disks and from partitions and folders which have become unreadable.
*Ontrack data recovery software Ontrack Data Recovery offers the industry's highest quality and cost-effective do-it-yourself data recovery software solutions for almost any data loss situation covering servers, desktops or laptops for all media, operating systems and file types. Ontrack's EasyRecoveryTM family of products is unmatched in its ability to recover/repair from all causes of lost data.
*Recover My Files Recover My Files data recovery software will easily recover deleted files emptied from the Windows Recycle Bin, or lost due to the format or corruption of a hard drive, virus or Trojan infection, and unexpected system shutdown or software failure.
2007年10月20日星期六
History of the camcorder
Remember the 80's when everyone was walking around with one of those big camcorders on their shoulders? We thought they were the greatest invention since sliced bread. But most of us had no idea how they evolved. It was quite a journey and, as we all no, sure didn't stop there.
The original field of the video camera was in television broadcasting. The were two separate, very large pieces of equipment used in to different locations. The cameras were mounted on special trolleys and wired to the recorders. As with everything, as technology progressed, before long they were able to make units in a much smaller size. A portable unit was made up of two pieces, the video camera and the VCR, both being mobile. The VCR was made up of a cassette player/recorder and a television tuner or receiver. Because the units could be detached from one another usually meant filming was always a team effort. The camera cases for this equipment is as large and cumbersome as the equipment itself. Going on location means crating the camera equipment and shipping it to its destination.
Filming remained the job of two until the introduction of the first professional camcorder by Sony, in 1982. It's name was Betacam. Sony's slogan for the Betacam was "Inside This Camera Is A VCR". But it was going to take more than a slick slogan to sell the cameramen. They were used to having a video engineer handling the VCR equipment and now that was going to be their responsibility. However, once the cable between the two (cameraman and video engineer) was removed, the cameraman realized unlimited freedom and it has remained the film industry's filming standard ever since. This type of filming has also come a long way. There is a new concept of portable television studios that is becoming popular among those who film on site such things as aerial shows. The equipment needed can be packed in a set of quality camera cases with dividers that provide storage for carrying extra lenses and other accessories.
From the professional Betacam came the first camcorder available to the general public in 1983, and they called it Betamax. It was too large to operate by one hand, thus the shoulder method of shooting became popular with the average citizen making films of their grandchildren. Most units are designed for the right-handed person. And, because they had only optical viewfinders, with no playback or rewind capabilities, some camcorders got larger before they started to get smaller. The cases for these earlier camcorders were generally a hard suitcase type case with a cut out space inside for the camera and each attachment. Camera cases now have many features for ease in carrying and use including the ability to load your equipment into the case two ways.
The early 80's brought us two new formats, VHS-C (VHS with a smaller sized cassette) and the 8mm, in the form of the KodaVision 2000 in 1984 from Kodak. The rest is history. The first conventional viewfinder became an option through Sharp in 1992 when they introduced their color LCD screen. This feature is on almost all camcorders today and has revolutionized the ease of domestic filming. Basically, turn it on and point it at what you want to make a memory of; that's all there is to it. The most recent big breakthrough in camcorders was the arrival of the digital, which took place in 1995. Panasonic and Sony were the leaders with their Digital Video camcorders, but Sharp and Jvc wasted no time getting their products on the market. The camcorder has continued to shrink in size and are now small enough to hold in the palm of your hand. Cases area appropriate to the size; no longer hard, heavy, cumbersome suitcases. They're lightweight and come in attractive fabric and colors.
The original field of the video camera was in television broadcasting. The were two separate, very large pieces of equipment used in to different locations. The cameras were mounted on special trolleys and wired to the recorders. As with everything, as technology progressed, before long they were able to make units in a much smaller size. A portable unit was made up of two pieces, the video camera and the VCR, both being mobile. The VCR was made up of a cassette player/recorder and a television tuner or receiver. Because the units could be detached from one another usually meant filming was always a team effort. The camera cases for this equipment is as large and cumbersome as the equipment itself. Going on location means crating the camera equipment and shipping it to its destination.
Filming remained the job of two until the introduction of the first professional camcorder by Sony, in 1982. It's name was Betacam. Sony's slogan for the Betacam was "Inside This Camera Is A VCR". But it was going to take more than a slick slogan to sell the cameramen. They were used to having a video engineer handling the VCR equipment and now that was going to be their responsibility. However, once the cable between the two (cameraman and video engineer) was removed, the cameraman realized unlimited freedom and it has remained the film industry's filming standard ever since. This type of filming has also come a long way. There is a new concept of portable television studios that is becoming popular among those who film on site such things as aerial shows. The equipment needed can be packed in a set of quality camera cases with dividers that provide storage for carrying extra lenses and other accessories.
From the professional Betacam came the first camcorder available to the general public in 1983, and they called it Betamax. It was too large to operate by one hand, thus the shoulder method of shooting became popular with the average citizen making films of their grandchildren. Most units are designed for the right-handed person. And, because they had only optical viewfinders, with no playback or rewind capabilities, some camcorders got larger before they started to get smaller. The cases for these earlier camcorders were generally a hard suitcase type case with a cut out space inside for the camera and each attachment. Camera cases now have many features for ease in carrying and use including the ability to load your equipment into the case two ways.
The early 80's brought us two new formats, VHS-C (VHS with a smaller sized cassette) and the 8mm, in the form of the KodaVision 2000 in 1984 from Kodak. The rest is history. The first conventional viewfinder became an option through Sharp in 1992 when they introduced their color LCD screen. This feature is on almost all camcorders today and has revolutionized the ease of domestic filming. Basically, turn it on and point it at what you want to make a memory of; that's all there is to it. The most recent big breakthrough in camcorders was the arrival of the digital, which took place in 1995. Panasonic and Sony were the leaders with their Digital Video camcorders, but Sharp and Jvc wasted no time getting their products on the market. The camcorder has continued to shrink in size and are now small enough to hold in the palm of your hand. Cases area appropriate to the size; no longer hard, heavy, cumbersome suitcases. They're lightweight and come in attractive fabric and colors.
2007年10月19日星期五
The Switch from Film to Digital Camera: Making the Adjustment
From all of the books, advertisements, and products in stores it would appear that no one continues to use a film camera. This isn't true of course. Although a digital camera can offer much greater control during the editing process and perhaps even a cost savings over the long run, a traditional film camera still has advantages for some consumers. One of those being that if their film camera is a good one and meets their needs, there is no reason to change.
However, for those who do decide to switch to a digital camera there will be significant differences to which they must adjust. Certainly the technology behind a digital camera makes them different; how images are captured and stored, the optics themselves, pixels, resolution, and so forth. But there are a handful of basic changes to which even those who photograph on a very limited and casual basis will need to adapt.
Response Time
With a more affordable, point-and-shoot type digital camera there can be a significant delay between pressing the button and the camera actually taking the picture. These cameras are somewhat like a small computer. During the lag time it is focusing but this can cause some great shots to be missed.
Of course, spending the time to shop for a camera with less lag time is one solution; and certainly many of the more expense models don't suffer this issue. However, there is a simple adjustment which can produce a significant reduction in the lag time. The photographer can set up the shot, aim the camera at the subject, and press the button down half way and hold it. At this point, the digital camera will begin the process of focusing. Then, a couple of seconds or more later, when the photographer and subject are ready, the button is depressed entirely and the picture is taken almost immediately. Obviously, this requires the photographer to anticipate and prepare before taking a shot.
Battery Life
Because much of what a digital camera does consumes energy from the battery, they are known to drain batteries very quickly. One of the particularly power greedy functions unique to a digital camera is that of powering an LCD screen. Again there are a number of things users can do to assure they don't run out of power and to reduce the rate at which the camera uses the energy.
To avoid a trickling discharge, batteries should be removed from the camera when the device won't be used for more that a week or two and, likewise, a digital camera should be powered off if the user doesn't anticipate taking a shot for another 30 minutes or so. Using the "sleep mode" is good also, to assure that even if the user forgets, the camera gets powered off.
Using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to frame shots is wise when you wish to save power. Users can also avoid using flash whenever their subject is more than 12 feet or so away, since the flash will be ineffective anyway and drain power needlessly. Those traveling with a digital camera also need to be sure to carry a backup battery to avoid problems.
However, for those who do decide to switch to a digital camera there will be significant differences to which they must adjust. Certainly the technology behind a digital camera makes them different; how images are captured and stored, the optics themselves, pixels, resolution, and so forth. But there are a handful of basic changes to which even those who photograph on a very limited and casual basis will need to adapt.
Response Time
With a more affordable, point-and-shoot type digital camera there can be a significant delay between pressing the button and the camera actually taking the picture. These cameras are somewhat like a small computer. During the lag time it is focusing but this can cause some great shots to be missed.
Of course, spending the time to shop for a camera with less lag time is one solution; and certainly many of the more expense models don't suffer this issue. However, there is a simple adjustment which can produce a significant reduction in the lag time. The photographer can set up the shot, aim the camera at the subject, and press the button down half way and hold it. At this point, the digital camera will begin the process of focusing. Then, a couple of seconds or more later, when the photographer and subject are ready, the button is depressed entirely and the picture is taken almost immediately. Obviously, this requires the photographer to anticipate and prepare before taking a shot.
Battery Life
Because much of what a digital camera does consumes energy from the battery, they are known to drain batteries very quickly. One of the particularly power greedy functions unique to a digital camera is that of powering an LCD screen. Again there are a number of things users can do to assure they don't run out of power and to reduce the rate at which the camera uses the energy.
To avoid a trickling discharge, batteries should be removed from the camera when the device won't be used for more that a week or two and, likewise, a digital camera should be powered off if the user doesn't anticipate taking a shot for another 30 minutes or so. Using the "sleep mode" is good also, to assure that even if the user forgets, the camera gets powered off.
Using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen to frame shots is wise when you wish to save power. Users can also avoid using flash whenever their subject is more than 12 feet or so away, since the flash will be ineffective anyway and drain power needlessly. Those traveling with a digital camera also need to be sure to carry a backup battery to avoid problems.
2007年10月18日星期四
Purchase Order Financing- The China Advantage
Purchase Order Financing- The China Advantage explores why manufactured imports from China to the United States of America are on the rise and how you can benefit from this trend with purchase order financing a from commercial finance company.
As of July, 2007, the Central Intelligence Agency for the United States government estimated that the population of China is over one billion three hundred twenty one million people. In contrast, the population of the United States is estimated to be a little over three hundred two million people. Thats 1,321,000,000 versus 302,000,000 people; China has over four times the population of the U.S.
In the past two decades China has completed and put into operation over 2000 large and medium-sized industrial projects; these include railways, atomic power stations and completely new cities. There has been ginormous investments in other fixed assets such as basic industries, 100,000 new reservoirs for water storage, irrigated land, coal mining, oil-drilling, steel-making, power generation, highway construction, and newly constructed and extended ports.
China has the worlds largest manufacturing workforce- over 100 million people. In comparison, there are about 14 million manufacturing workers in the United States. Chinas labor costs are low compared to the United States and many other parts of the world. As of 2002 statistics indicate that employees in Chinas city manufacturing enterprises received about $0.95 per hour; rural workers average about half this amount: $0.41 per hour. A large majority of manufacturing employees work outside the cities. They earn about 3% of the average hourly compensation of factory workers in the U.S. and many other developed countries. With low land costs and low labor costs it is no wonder that the cost advantage to manufacturing in China is extremely attractive to American entrepreneurs. When their products are manufactured with sufficient quality controls, the cheaper costs and effective delivery systems create a win-win situation for those who are able to participate.
Manufacturing is a basic Chinese industry. When you take raw materials and labor and produce products that can be sold in high quantities at a lower cost than U.S. competitors, and successfully import to them to the U.S. and it is possible to have excellent returns on your investment. And Chinas political and economic system is relatively stable compared to other developing nations such as many countries in Africa.
What is the approximate size of the trade in goods from China? According the U.S. Census bureau, Foreign Trade Division, imports from China in 2006 were over $287 Billion dollars; for the first five months of 2007 imports from China were over $120 Billion dollars.
What are the main categories of products imported into the U.S. from China? This includes iron and steel products, specialized industrial machinery, office machines and computer, telecommunications and sound equipment, electrical machinery and parts, road motor vehicles, building and lighting products, furniture, travel goods and handbags, footwear, professional, scientific and controlling instruments, photographic and optical equipment, timepieces, personal care products, and food products such as tea. According to the American Electronics Association, high-tech imports from China are on the rise.
As of July, 2007, the Central Intelligence Agency for the United States government estimated that the population of China is over one billion three hundred twenty one million people. In contrast, the population of the United States is estimated to be a little over three hundred two million people. Thats 1,321,000,000 versus 302,000,000 people; China has over four times the population of the U.S.
In the past two decades China has completed and put into operation over 2000 large and medium-sized industrial projects; these include railways, atomic power stations and completely new cities. There has been ginormous investments in other fixed assets such as basic industries, 100,000 new reservoirs for water storage, irrigated land, coal mining, oil-drilling, steel-making, power generation, highway construction, and newly constructed and extended ports.
China has the worlds largest manufacturing workforce- over 100 million people. In comparison, there are about 14 million manufacturing workers in the United States. Chinas labor costs are low compared to the United States and many other parts of the world. As of 2002 statistics indicate that employees in Chinas city manufacturing enterprises received about $0.95 per hour; rural workers average about half this amount: $0.41 per hour. A large majority of manufacturing employees work outside the cities. They earn about 3% of the average hourly compensation of factory workers in the U.S. and many other developed countries. With low land costs and low labor costs it is no wonder that the cost advantage to manufacturing in China is extremely attractive to American entrepreneurs. When their products are manufactured with sufficient quality controls, the cheaper costs and effective delivery systems create a win-win situation for those who are able to participate.
Manufacturing is a basic Chinese industry. When you take raw materials and labor and produce products that can be sold in high quantities at a lower cost than U.S. competitors, and successfully import to them to the U.S. and it is possible to have excellent returns on your investment. And Chinas political and economic system is relatively stable compared to other developing nations such as many countries in Africa.
What is the approximate size of the trade in goods from China? According the U.S. Census bureau, Foreign Trade Division, imports from China in 2006 were over $287 Billion dollars; for the first five months of 2007 imports from China were over $120 Billion dollars.
What are the main categories of products imported into the U.S. from China? This includes iron and steel products, specialized industrial machinery, office machines and computer, telecommunications and sound equipment, electrical machinery and parts, road motor vehicles, building and lighting products, furniture, travel goods and handbags, footwear, professional, scientific and controlling instruments, photographic and optical equipment, timepieces, personal care products, and food products such as tea. According to the American Electronics Association, high-tech imports from China are on the rise.
So whats the lightest notebook computer anyway?
I went looking for the lightest notebook computer the other day and after a couple hours of searching I was getting pretty frustrated. "Ultalight notebook computer", "light weight notebook computer" - I kept trying different approaches.
What I found was a lot of old machines - 1, 2, even 3 years old. And a ton of spam websites that took my search keys and created a dynamic page. That left going to the manufacturers and looking at actual product specs to see who actually has the lightest notebook computer. Fortunately I finally found a list to start from so here they are - the light weights.
The Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010 weighs in at 2.2 pounds with a 12.1 inch screen. Unfortunately it has a 1.2Ghz processor and a 30 GB hard drive though it comes with XP Pro and a DVD writer.
The Dell Latitude D420 also has a 12.1 inch screen and is significantly less expensive but again 1.2 GHz and a slow (4200rpm) 30 GB HD and it weighs around 3 pounds. It also comes with 512MB of DDR2-533 SDRAM on an integrated DIMM. The upgrade to 1GB or to 1.5GB is reasonable, but the 2GB configuration costs an extra $1000 (probably because it requires a 1.5GB DIMM).
The Sony VAIO VGNTX750PB weighs 2.76 pounds. it has a smaller screen (11.1 inches) than some of the others, a 1.2 GHz processor, but it includes an 80GB hard drive and a DVD+-RW dual layer combo Drive. The memory is upgradeable to 1.5 GB.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 at 3.3 pounds has a 1.66GHz Core Duo, a 12.1 inch screen and a 60 GB hard drive. The memory is theoretically upgradeable to 4GB, but it has no optical drive. You need to get a ThinkPad X6 Ultrabase to add a CD or DVD drive. That kind of hampers its mobile uses.
The Averatec AV2260, weighing in at 4 pounds, comes with a 1.8 GHz AMD Turion 64 Mobile, a 12.1 inch screen, 1GB installed DDR-SDRAM, an 80GB hard drive and a DVD+-RW Dual Layer Combination Drive. So it's a little like an overweight Sony on steroids. It's also the least expensive of the six lightweights. The others run from around $1200 to over $2300 depending on the seller and configuration.
Though slightly heavier at 4.4 pounds, the HP Compaq nc6400 is unusual in having a 14.1 inch Wide XGA screen. It comes with a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 60GB hard drive and a DVD/CDRW Drive. The lowest price I saw in a quick search, was $1259.99. Most of the models I saw were being advertised with 80GB drives and DVD+-RW/DVD-RAM optical drives, rather than the 60GB and DVD/CDRW drives.
Obviously the lightest notebook computer in this list is the Fujitsu. If you really want an ultralight notebook computer then you will have to accept some sacrifices. Personally, I think I'd rather have a more capable machine. I also don't like the small screen sizes on the very light notebooks.
As with any computer purchase it's critical that you carefully analyze just what you're going to do with a machine. Lightweight notebooks are nice simply because they're less hassle to lug around, but there compromises involved that may make extra weight a less significant issues. Aside from tending to be more expensive, a light weight notebook computer will almost always have a smaller screen and a more compact keyboard than heavier notebooks. The real question you need to ask yourself isn't "What's the lightest notebook computer?" it's "What's the lightest notebook computer that meets my requirements?"
What I found was a lot of old machines - 1, 2, even 3 years old. And a ton of spam websites that took my search keys and created a dynamic page. That left going to the manufacturers and looking at actual product specs to see who actually has the lightest notebook computer. Fortunately I finally found a list to start from so here they are - the light weights.
The Fujitsu LifeBook Q2010 weighs in at 2.2 pounds with a 12.1 inch screen. Unfortunately it has a 1.2Ghz processor and a 30 GB hard drive though it comes with XP Pro and a DVD writer.
The Dell Latitude D420 also has a 12.1 inch screen and is significantly less expensive but again 1.2 GHz and a slow (4200rpm) 30 GB HD and it weighs around 3 pounds. It also comes with 512MB of DDR2-533 SDRAM on an integrated DIMM. The upgrade to 1GB or to 1.5GB is reasonable, but the 2GB configuration costs an extra $1000 (probably because it requires a 1.5GB DIMM).
The Sony VAIO VGNTX750PB weighs 2.76 pounds. it has a smaller screen (11.1 inches) than some of the others, a 1.2 GHz processor, but it includes an 80GB hard drive and a DVD+-RW dual layer combo Drive. The memory is upgradeable to 1.5 GB.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X60 at 3.3 pounds has a 1.66GHz Core Duo, a 12.1 inch screen and a 60 GB hard drive. The memory is theoretically upgradeable to 4GB, but it has no optical drive. You need to get a ThinkPad X6 Ultrabase to add a CD or DVD drive. That kind of hampers its mobile uses.
The Averatec AV2260, weighing in at 4 pounds, comes with a 1.8 GHz AMD Turion 64 Mobile, a 12.1 inch screen, 1GB installed DDR-SDRAM, an 80GB hard drive and a DVD+-RW Dual Layer Combination Drive. So it's a little like an overweight Sony on steroids. It's also the least expensive of the six lightweights. The others run from around $1200 to over $2300 depending on the seller and configuration.
Though slightly heavier at 4.4 pounds, the HP Compaq nc6400 is unusual in having a 14.1 inch Wide XGA screen. It comes with a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor, 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 60GB hard drive and a DVD/CDRW Drive. The lowest price I saw in a quick search, was $1259.99. Most of the models I saw were being advertised with 80GB drives and DVD+-RW/DVD-RAM optical drives, rather than the 60GB and DVD/CDRW drives.
Obviously the lightest notebook computer in this list is the Fujitsu. If you really want an ultralight notebook computer then you will have to accept some sacrifices. Personally, I think I'd rather have a more capable machine. I also don't like the small screen sizes on the very light notebooks.
As with any computer purchase it's critical that you carefully analyze just what you're going to do with a machine. Lightweight notebooks are nice simply because they're less hassle to lug around, but there compromises involved that may make extra weight a less significant issues. Aside from tending to be more expensive, a light weight notebook computer will almost always have a smaller screen and a more compact keyboard than heavier notebooks. The real question you need to ask yourself isn't "What's the lightest notebook computer?" it's "What's the lightest notebook computer that meets my requirements?"
2007年10月17日星期三
Clear Platform shoes-A Guide
Shoes are definitely an important element of women's attire. Many ladies have a variety of shoes for every occasion. Some shoes are like comfortable old friends. Although the footwear is nothing spectacular to look at, the familiar comfort makes the pair a long-time favorite. Other shoes complete an outfit or are only suitable for certain activities. For instance, rock climbers would be unwise to wear sandals while ascending a mountain. More than just foot coverings, various shoe styles have specific purpose. Platform shoes are clearly no exception. Sexy clear platform shoes are professional, playful, and purposeful.
When most people consider sexy clear platform shoes, a couple of occupations probably come to mind. Sexy clear platform shoes are popular in the nightclub setting. Scantily clad waitresses popularized the clear platform footwear for the optical illusion of being taller, with longer legs, and walking on air. However, walking on platform shoes takes some practice and finesse, so delivering snacks and drinks to waiting customers can be a challenge. Also, the shoes must have a level of comfort as well as beauty, or many women might go home with exceedingly sore feet, after wearing the sexy clear platform shoes for an entire shift.
Another group of nightclub employees also have assisted in the popularization of sexy clear platform shoes. Pole dancers and strip tease artists wear sexy clear platform shoes in the performance of dancing and entertainment. Giving the impression of sexier, shapelier legs is a turn on for the people who frequent these establishments.
However, the need for sexy clear platform shoes has taken on a playful purpose within the home. Generally, women prefer men stay at home for excitement, entertainment, and pleasure. By wearing sexy shoes at home, women can playfully encourage men to satisfy, at home, the needs answered by participating in public nightlife. From head to toe, men are reminded that women are much more than the comfortable partners who take care of the house, the chores, and the children. Sexy clear platform shoes can help renew the excitement of first love, and the joy of being together before growing responsibilities got in the way. So, rise to the occasion and have feet dressed for fun.
Having the fun of wearing sexy clear platform shoes is not only for the nightclub scene or an intimate night for two. The shoes are also a purposeful fashion statement. For example, many women are petite and must look up to the rest of humanity. No more! In six-inch platform shoes, women can instantly become a head taller in a fun and fashionable shoe. Seeing others eye-to-eye also builds self-esteem. During social gatherings, petite women no longer have to feel lost in the crowd. On romantic walks, short women are not doomed to be tucked into a partner's armpit. For the women of average height, sexy clear platform shoes are simply an awesome fashion statement. Platform shoes can be a conversation piece, complete a great outfit, or simply be fun.
In summary, sexy clear platform shoes are a multipurpose style. Petite women, or women wanting to leave a lasting impression will find this particular shoe interesting. Being clear, the platform creates the illusion of walking on clouds or drifting through the crowd. Although the style likely first became popular with women working in nightclubs, the sexy shoes also complete an alluring outfit for intimate encounters. Regardless of the reason, sexy clear platform shoes are always a purposeful fashion statement.
When most people consider sexy clear platform shoes, a couple of occupations probably come to mind. Sexy clear platform shoes are popular in the nightclub setting. Scantily clad waitresses popularized the clear platform footwear for the optical illusion of being taller, with longer legs, and walking on air. However, walking on platform shoes takes some practice and finesse, so delivering snacks and drinks to waiting customers can be a challenge. Also, the shoes must have a level of comfort as well as beauty, or many women might go home with exceedingly sore feet, after wearing the sexy clear platform shoes for an entire shift.
Another group of nightclub employees also have assisted in the popularization of sexy clear platform shoes. Pole dancers and strip tease artists wear sexy clear platform shoes in the performance of dancing and entertainment. Giving the impression of sexier, shapelier legs is a turn on for the people who frequent these establishments.
However, the need for sexy clear platform shoes has taken on a playful purpose within the home. Generally, women prefer men stay at home for excitement, entertainment, and pleasure. By wearing sexy shoes at home, women can playfully encourage men to satisfy, at home, the needs answered by participating in public nightlife. From head to toe, men are reminded that women are much more than the comfortable partners who take care of the house, the chores, and the children. Sexy clear platform shoes can help renew the excitement of first love, and the joy of being together before growing responsibilities got in the way. So, rise to the occasion and have feet dressed for fun.
Having the fun of wearing sexy clear platform shoes is not only for the nightclub scene or an intimate night for two. The shoes are also a purposeful fashion statement. For example, many women are petite and must look up to the rest of humanity. No more! In six-inch platform shoes, women can instantly become a head taller in a fun and fashionable shoe. Seeing others eye-to-eye also builds self-esteem. During social gatherings, petite women no longer have to feel lost in the crowd. On romantic walks, short women are not doomed to be tucked into a partner's armpit. For the women of average height, sexy clear platform shoes are simply an awesome fashion statement. Platform shoes can be a conversation piece, complete a great outfit, or simply be fun.
In summary, sexy clear platform shoes are a multipurpose style. Petite women, or women wanting to leave a lasting impression will find this particular shoe interesting. Being clear, the platform creates the illusion of walking on clouds or drifting through the crowd. Although the style likely first became popular with women working in nightclubs, the sexy shoes also complete an alluring outfit for intimate encounters. Regardless of the reason, sexy clear platform shoes are always a purposeful fashion statement.
London bathroom fitters: Bathroom visual enlargement.
Huge bathroom with a wall-sized window, stylish plank beds and view of veranda with Japanese rock-garden is impractical dream for the large majority of us. In limited urban environment all we often have is just four-squared box. And even rather large bathroom sometimes is not enough for realization of all our design plans. As well-known stepmother from a fairy tale "Cinderella" had said - "The kingdom is small, there is no room to be on the loose". You can't enlarge your bathroom even at the expense of your neighbours because of chief wall. But maybe it's better to solve this problem with the help internal reserves and to expand your bathroom environment visually? Maybe, it'd be better to help out missing square meters just virtually, by creation of their visibility?
Design. You've got to start with bathroom design for competent disposal of available space. Development of modern installation systems allows placing of all bathroom and lavatory equipment not in its common places but in places where you need it to be; you can save some tens of inches or even a few meters and free some space visually. For example, you may save some space with angular installation of not only bath and shower cabin, but wash basin or toilet bowl. The bath or shower cabin may be completely or partially hidden in a niche if such technical feasibility is available.
Bathroom and lavatory equipment. If space available is not as huge as you want, you can easily save it by choosing of small bathroom equipment specially designed for small bathrooms which consumes much less space than standard equipment. In that case the doll's house effect is triggered and the environment around diminished pieces of equipment seems to be larger. By the way, many people think that space-saving toilet bowls and bidet are even more convenient, than standard ones. Of course you can't say that about a small wash basin or a bath. Hanging bathroom equipment is of interest, too, as it visually frees some space; bathroom equipment like "two in one", for example, tandem of shower and bath, is popular as well.
Walls. The walls play the most important role in visual enlargement of bathroom space. You should never use shadow toned ceramic tile and other types of covering in small rooms, especially in combination with large decors and wide borders. The tile is to be light toned. In was considered for a long time that large ceramics was to be used in small rooms. Nevertheless, practice shows, that mosaic makes even a small room visually larger.
Necessary effect of depth is achieved with ceramic tile and furniture of light, deep tones and shades in combination with medium-sized and soft-core decor, narrow decorative borders especially placed not horizontally, but vertically. Panels are outside the fold, even the large ones, but only those including perspective view: landscapes, especially marine, imitation of view from a window, the sky and so on. Your look does not die against them but flies away. Photo panels are the latest thing in decoration of rooms.
Design. You've got to start with bathroom design for competent disposal of available space. Development of modern installation systems allows placing of all bathroom and lavatory equipment not in its common places but in places where you need it to be; you can save some tens of inches or even a few meters and free some space visually. For example, you may save some space with angular installation of not only bath and shower cabin, but wash basin or toilet bowl. The bath or shower cabin may be completely or partially hidden in a niche if such technical feasibility is available.
Bathroom and lavatory equipment. If space available is not as huge as you want, you can easily save it by choosing of small bathroom equipment specially designed for small bathrooms which consumes much less space than standard equipment. In that case the doll's house effect is triggered and the environment around diminished pieces of equipment seems to be larger. By the way, many people think that space-saving toilet bowls and bidet are even more convenient, than standard ones. Of course you can't say that about a small wash basin or a bath. Hanging bathroom equipment is of interest, too, as it visually frees some space; bathroom equipment like "two in one", for example, tandem of shower and bath, is popular as well.
Walls. The walls play the most important role in visual enlargement of bathroom space. You should never use shadow toned ceramic tile and other types of covering in small rooms, especially in combination with large decors and wide borders. The tile is to be light toned. In was considered for a long time that large ceramics was to be used in small rooms. Nevertheless, practice shows, that mosaic makes even a small room visually larger.
Necessary effect of depth is achieved with ceramic tile and furniture of light, deep tones and shades in combination with medium-sized and soft-core decor, narrow decorative borders especially placed not horizontally, but vertically. Panels are outside the fold, even the large ones, but only those including perspective view: landscapes, especially marine, imitation of view from a window, the sky and so on. Your look does not die against them but flies away. Photo panels are the latest thing in decoration of rooms.
2007年10月11日星期四
Camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2 - A Great Camera for Everyone
If you want to take high quality pictures you will surely need a high quality camera but which one? Today there is a wide range of cameras that you can buy. There are the old fashion cameras, the automatic cameras and of course the digital cameras. One of the best is the digital camera Canon PowerShot s2.
You will find that the digital camera Canon PowerShot s2 is packed with high quality features. The new version of the PowerShot s2 is an amazing improvement compared to its predecessor. The Camera Canon PowerShot s2 is like having a mix of a high quality camcorder and a high quality digital camera.
Here are some of the new features for the canon digital powershot s2:
-12x optical Zoom Lens -A large 1.8 inch LCD Display -A New Night Display Feature -DIGIC II image processor
The new night display is very useful; it will brighten the LCD screen and the EVF when you are in dark environments. Also the New DIGIC II image processor of the canon digital PowerShot s2 will provide you with amazing quality performance ability.
On top of that the brand new canon digital PowerShot s2 comes with a stereo sound recording giving you an excellent sound and pitch. Another important factor to know is that the canon PowerShot s2 has a 5 megapixal CCD.
If you are one of those who like to make home movies the canon digital PowerShot is perfect for you. You will have a wide range of features for movie making. Features like:
-Wind Filter -Adjustable mic level -Sound quality level -and more
Thats not all; this camera canon digital PowerShot s2 brings you great features for adjusting the color quality. You can swap the colors and you can even highlight various parts of the picture! Thats pretty cool in my book.
By now you should agree with me that with so many features buying a digital camera Canon PowerShot s2 is a very good choice on top of that the PowerShot s2 uses many of the features of its predecessors. Features like:
-Optical image stabilization -USB 2.0 High Speed Support -Rotating LCD -Secure Digital memory card (instead of CompactFlash cards)
On top of that the addition of manual controls, an amazing movie mode and support for various lenses makes the camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2 one of the most important part of your arsenal when you go out on holiday or special events.
You will find that the digital camera Canon PowerShot s2 is packed with high quality features. The new version of the PowerShot s2 is an amazing improvement compared to its predecessor. The Camera Canon PowerShot s2 is like having a mix of a high quality camcorder and a high quality digital camera.
Here are some of the new features for the canon digital powershot s2:
-12x optical Zoom Lens -A large 1.8 inch LCD Display -A New Night Display Feature -DIGIC II image processor
The new night display is very useful; it will brighten the LCD screen and the EVF when you are in dark environments. Also the New DIGIC II image processor of the canon digital PowerShot s2 will provide you with amazing quality performance ability.
On top of that the brand new canon digital PowerShot s2 comes with a stereo sound recording giving you an excellent sound and pitch. Another important factor to know is that the canon PowerShot s2 has a 5 megapixal CCD.
If you are one of those who like to make home movies the canon digital PowerShot is perfect for you. You will have a wide range of features for movie making. Features like:
-Wind Filter -Adjustable mic level -Sound quality level -and more
Thats not all; this camera canon digital PowerShot s2 brings you great features for adjusting the color quality. You can swap the colors and you can even highlight various parts of the picture! Thats pretty cool in my book.
By now you should agree with me that with so many features buying a digital camera Canon PowerShot s2 is a very good choice on top of that the PowerShot s2 uses many of the features of its predecessors. Features like:
-Optical image stabilization -USB 2.0 High Speed Support -Rotating LCD -Secure Digital memory card (instead of CompactFlash cards)
On top of that the addition of manual controls, an amazing movie mode and support for various lenses makes the camera Canon Digital PowerShot s2 one of the most important part of your arsenal when you go out on holiday or special events.
2007年10月10日星期三
Nokia N-series: Multimedia at its Highest Order
Looking for innovative design in latest technology-loaded handsets? Nokia N-series comes with Nokia N93 and Nokia N73, ideal for movie magic and musical proposition. Try out a Nokia N-series handset and get connected to the world of mobile entertainment.
Nokia N93 is a mini camcorder packed with a 3.2 mega pixel camera with in-built Carl Zeiss optics and 3x optical zoom. It can shoot excellent quality pictures and amazing DVD-like videos. You can print your photos directly from the device, or share them with friends via Bluetooth. Watch your videos on any compatible TV through TV-Out.
Enjoy foot-tapping music in the integrated MP3 player with superb stereo sound quality. Play and interact with your favourite music stations. With 128 MB miniSD memory expandable up to 2 GB, you are allowed to store all your music, photos and videos. Whats more, you can access instant web browsing long with the add-on features like MMS, email, Java games, and latest news updates via RSS feeds.
Enjoy musical extravaganza with Nokia N73. The in-built MP3 player provides you with your favourite music and popular radio stations. Bluetooth and Infrared enable you to transfer your music to any compatible device. Put your music videos on display with the impressive 2.4 262K colours TFT screen. With 42 MB miniSD memory card slot, you can store, edit, send, or receive songs, videos and games.
Take pictures in style with the 3.2 mega pixel camera with 20x digital zoom, Carl Zeiss lens and in-built flash. PictBridge supports mobile printing, providing you with photo prints in brilliant colour. Browse the web and send your photos to your friends and family through MMS or email.
Get any of these Nokia N-series handsets and you are assured a hi-fi tech-pro lifestyle.
Nokia N93 is a mini camcorder packed with a 3.2 mega pixel camera with in-built Carl Zeiss optics and 3x optical zoom. It can shoot excellent quality pictures and amazing DVD-like videos. You can print your photos directly from the device, or share them with friends via Bluetooth. Watch your videos on any compatible TV through TV-Out.
Enjoy foot-tapping music in the integrated MP3 player with superb stereo sound quality. Play and interact with your favourite music stations. With 128 MB miniSD memory expandable up to 2 GB, you are allowed to store all your music, photos and videos. Whats more, you can access instant web browsing long with the add-on features like MMS, email, Java games, and latest news updates via RSS feeds.
Enjoy musical extravaganza with Nokia N73. The in-built MP3 player provides you with your favourite music and popular radio stations. Bluetooth and Infrared enable you to transfer your music to any compatible device. Put your music videos on display with the impressive 2.4 262K colours TFT screen. With 42 MB miniSD memory card slot, you can store, edit, send, or receive songs, videos and games.
Take pictures in style with the 3.2 mega pixel camera with 20x digital zoom, Carl Zeiss lens and in-built flash. PictBridge supports mobile printing, providing you with photo prints in brilliant colour. Browse the web and send your photos to your friends and family through MMS or email.
Get any of these Nokia N-series handsets and you are assured a hi-fi tech-pro lifestyle.
2007年10月9日星期二
Digital Cameras: Getting Better Photos of Family and Friends
Taking photographs of the people in your life is simple with a digital camera. We all have collections of images which represent the important people and events in our lives. Some of the pictures are great, but some leave our subjects stiffly posed, lost in the sea of a cluttered background, and often lacking personality as they stare back with the same "posed" face as in every other photograph. So how do we capture the detail and the personality so that the image saves for us a more meaningful record of a moment or a person?
Obviously, professional photographers take control of the background and lighting, direct the pose of their subjects, and use a great deal of creativity with props and camera controls to assure the highest quality image. For the average person however, candid shots are more effective in capturing the true meaning or personality at a given moment. For these individuals, following just a few basic tips can go a long way in obtaining photographs that will become a treasure for many years to come.
The subject should be the focus of the picture. Avoid a cluttered background so that it does not distract from the subject. Using the viewfinder allows the photographer to determine how the shot will look. If the background is too cluttered the subject can be moved, but in more candid shots of individuals, holding the digital camera in a vertical position sometimes helps to eliminate some of the background.
Step in close to capture more detail. For an image that captures the true personality and emotions of the subject, a photographer must get facial detail. When taking a candid shot and stepping in closer would disrupt the moment, use of the digital camera's optical zoom or telephoto can have the same effect.
Some shots don't require posing. Many of the most meaningful shots are taken as subjects interact or are engaged in an activity. From images of children at play, a spouse reading the morning paper, a parent and child talking, or grandma gardening these are the moments that reflect the true personality of subjects.
Happy is good, but there are other emotions worth capturing. It adds depth to a subject when images reflect other feelings such as humor, concentration, relaxation, or even boredom.
A relaxed subject makes for a better photograph. When posing subjects, many photographers suggest talking to them to get them to relax and reveal more of what they are feeling or thinking. A natural, relaxed posture will provide a better image than that of a person standing rigidly with their arms crossed. A subject may be seated with their head resting on their hands or standing with their head at an angle and hands in their pockets; posture varies in real life and should be varied in photographs as well as it reflects the subjects mood.
It is sometimes acceptable for a subject to be looking away from the camera. Just as with expressions on the face and posture, variations in where a subject is looking can work well in capturing a more meaningful image. Whether it is a child daydreaming as they gaze out of a window or simply an attempt to catch the profile of an adult as they drink their morning coffee these images which most accurately capture a subjects personality don't always require that they face the camera directly.
Obviously, professional photographers take control of the background and lighting, direct the pose of their subjects, and use a great deal of creativity with props and camera controls to assure the highest quality image. For the average person however, candid shots are more effective in capturing the true meaning or personality at a given moment. For these individuals, following just a few basic tips can go a long way in obtaining photographs that will become a treasure for many years to come.
The subject should be the focus of the picture. Avoid a cluttered background so that it does not distract from the subject. Using the viewfinder allows the photographer to determine how the shot will look. If the background is too cluttered the subject can be moved, but in more candid shots of individuals, holding the digital camera in a vertical position sometimes helps to eliminate some of the background.
Step in close to capture more detail. For an image that captures the true personality and emotions of the subject, a photographer must get facial detail. When taking a candid shot and stepping in closer would disrupt the moment, use of the digital camera's optical zoom or telephoto can have the same effect.
Some shots don't require posing. Many of the most meaningful shots are taken as subjects interact or are engaged in an activity. From images of children at play, a spouse reading the morning paper, a parent and child talking, or grandma gardening these are the moments that reflect the true personality of subjects.
Happy is good, but there are other emotions worth capturing. It adds depth to a subject when images reflect other feelings such as humor, concentration, relaxation, or even boredom.
A relaxed subject makes for a better photograph. When posing subjects, many photographers suggest talking to them to get them to relax and reveal more of what they are feeling or thinking. A natural, relaxed posture will provide a better image than that of a person standing rigidly with their arms crossed. A subject may be seated with their head resting on their hands or standing with their head at an angle and hands in their pockets; posture varies in real life and should be varied in photographs as well as it reflects the subjects mood.
It is sometimes acceptable for a subject to be looking away from the camera. Just as with expressions on the face and posture, variations in where a subject is looking can work well in capturing a more meaningful image. Whether it is a child daydreaming as they gaze out of a window or simply an attempt to catch the profile of an adult as they drink their morning coffee these images which most accurately capture a subjects personality don't always require that they face the camera directly.
2007年10月8日星期一
Digital camera flash units
Digital cameras flash units come in many shapes and sizes. Low end digital cameras include low energy built in flash units. High end digital SLR cameras can support sophisticated external flash units which can provide superior lighting in difficult scenarios. Here are some basic facts about flash units both built in and external.
Flash units came a long way since their early days. Back then flash units were using powder that was lit by electrical current and literally blew up to produce the light energy. Using these flash units was a risky business. It was also difficult as the flash units were not automatically synchronized to the cameras shutter. The photographer had to make sure that the flash goes off at the exact right time synchronized with the shooting of the photo.
Nowadays flash units are sophisticated technology devices. They use an electronic flash tube that is automatically synchronized to the camera. The photographer merely needs to do nothing. New digital cameras can decide on their own if the flash is needed, they can set its intensity and other parameters and they can fire the flash at the exact right time when the shutter is opened. All this is done automatically in the background. Digital camera also provide the user with the ability to manually control the flash, force it to either fire or not to fire, set its intensity and more.
Flash units are divided into two categories: Internal built-in flash units or external flash units. Internal flash units are built into the camera. Almost all digital cameras include such a unit and allow the user some control over it through the cameras menus and buttons. External flash units are attached to the cameras body through a dedicated slide-in slot or by using an electrical cable. Not all digital cameras support external flash units. Usually the lower end pocket cameras do not allow external flash units while all high end digital SLR cameras do allow such external flash units. External flash units can vary a lot. They can have different light energy levels that they can emit and different mechanical characteristics. Some external flash units also include smart sensors to measure ambient light, distance and other optical parameters in order to optimize the flash effect.
Digital cameras can use their flash units in automatic or in manual mode. In automatic mode the camera measures ambient light and fires the flash when not enough ambient light is available. Sometimes the camera will make the wrong decision as to using the flash and will either fire or not fire the flash when the opposite was needed. Setting the flash intensity is important too. If the flash unit fires too much light energy on objects that are too close to the camera the digital photo will be washed out. On the other hand if the flash unit fires a small amount of light energy on an object that is farther away from the digital camera the digital photo will be a too dark.
Flash units have limitations too. They can not light any scene and any object at any distance from the camera. It is important to know your flash unit limitations. For example check what the maximum light energy that it can emit is and what the farthest that an object can be effectively lit from. This is also known as the effective flash range. If the object is out of the effective flash range it is actually better to turn off the flash altogether and use a tripod with a longer exposure. Sometimes it is useful to use the flash even if there is enough ambient light. In such cases you can manually force the camera to fire the flash. This is also known as fill-in flash as it is usually used to fill-in shadowed areas on objects in the digital photo.
Flash units came a long way since their early days. Back then flash units were using powder that was lit by electrical current and literally blew up to produce the light energy. Using these flash units was a risky business. It was also difficult as the flash units were not automatically synchronized to the cameras shutter. The photographer had to make sure that the flash goes off at the exact right time synchronized with the shooting of the photo.
Nowadays flash units are sophisticated technology devices. They use an electronic flash tube that is automatically synchronized to the camera. The photographer merely needs to do nothing. New digital cameras can decide on their own if the flash is needed, they can set its intensity and other parameters and they can fire the flash at the exact right time when the shutter is opened. All this is done automatically in the background. Digital camera also provide the user with the ability to manually control the flash, force it to either fire or not to fire, set its intensity and more.
Flash units are divided into two categories: Internal built-in flash units or external flash units. Internal flash units are built into the camera. Almost all digital cameras include such a unit and allow the user some control over it through the cameras menus and buttons. External flash units are attached to the cameras body through a dedicated slide-in slot or by using an electrical cable. Not all digital cameras support external flash units. Usually the lower end pocket cameras do not allow external flash units while all high end digital SLR cameras do allow such external flash units. External flash units can vary a lot. They can have different light energy levels that they can emit and different mechanical characteristics. Some external flash units also include smart sensors to measure ambient light, distance and other optical parameters in order to optimize the flash effect.
Digital cameras can use their flash units in automatic or in manual mode. In automatic mode the camera measures ambient light and fires the flash when not enough ambient light is available. Sometimes the camera will make the wrong decision as to using the flash and will either fire or not fire the flash when the opposite was needed. Setting the flash intensity is important too. If the flash unit fires too much light energy on objects that are too close to the camera the digital photo will be washed out. On the other hand if the flash unit fires a small amount of light energy on an object that is farther away from the digital camera the digital photo will be a too dark.
Flash units have limitations too. They can not light any scene and any object at any distance from the camera. It is important to know your flash unit limitations. For example check what the maximum light energy that it can emit is and what the farthest that an object can be effectively lit from. This is also known as the effective flash range. If the object is out of the effective flash range it is actually better to turn off the flash altogether and use a tripod with a longer exposure. Sometimes it is useful to use the flash even if there is enough ambient light. In such cases you can manually force the camera to fire the flash. This is also known as fill-in flash as it is usually used to fill-in shadowed areas on objects in the digital photo.
2007年10月5日星期五
Opti-Tuff Mouse Mats The Best Printed Mouse Mats
Are you looking for promotional printed mouse mats that will truly impress your customers and be used for years to come? Opti-Tuff printed mouse mats are a top-of-the-line printed mouse mat specially constructed to work well with an optical mouse. Made of the highest quality materials, they feature fuse-injected non-slip construction and a wipe-off surface. The surface offers ideal tracking for both traditional ball and wheel mice and optical mice. Because the design is fused with the mat, it will wear forever, keeping your message looking fresh, clean and vibrant for years.
Printed mouse mats are an ideal form of advertisement for any company that does regular business with office workers. When you choose a high quality printed mouse mat to deliver your advertising message, you are taking advantage of the best advertising real estate on the desktop. Mouse mats are always out on display which means that your message is also always on display. When it comes time for your customers to place another order, they do not need to look any further than beneath their fingertips to find your telephone number or any other information that you want them to have at all times.
Most standard printed mouse mats are made by laminating a paper print and sandwiching it between a clear surface and a non-slip foam layer. The highest quality mouse mats use a different method of construction. A hard PVC surface is screen printed or spot printed in high quality 4 color process to give true color to multi-color images and photographs. The special surface is designed specifically for optical mice, so you will get perfect precision tracking.
Quality is always key in choosing promotional items as giveaways for your business. Remember, anything that is imprinted with your name represents your business. If you choose printed mouse mats to keep your name in front of your customers then you should choose the very best printed mouse mats that you can buy. Their quality will be intertwined in the minds of your customers with the overall quality of your products and their impression of your company. Knowing that, can you imagine choosing anything less than the best?
Because Opti-Tuff printed mouse mats can take 4 color process printing, your mats can be printed with virtually anything of which you can conceive. Your advertising message will be printed in full color and will be preserved in the same vibrant colors for years to come. The top surface is hard-coated to wipe clean easily, just another indicator of the quality of the product.
Whether you choose to print an Opti-Tuff printed mouse mat with just your company logo or with a full color advertisement for your company, you will be pleased with the high quality results and so will your customers. Many of the best promotional products companies employ full service design departments, and often include free design consultation and service with your order of printed mouse mats if your entire order exceeds a set amount.
More information about promotional items and promotional gifts can be found online by searching for the leading online suppliers of promotional products. You can tap into their wealth of experience to ensure that you have the perfect promotional gift or business gift to promote your business.
Printed mouse mats are an ideal form of advertisement for any company that does regular business with office workers. When you choose a high quality printed mouse mat to deliver your advertising message, you are taking advantage of the best advertising real estate on the desktop. Mouse mats are always out on display which means that your message is also always on display. When it comes time for your customers to place another order, they do not need to look any further than beneath their fingertips to find your telephone number or any other information that you want them to have at all times.
Most standard printed mouse mats are made by laminating a paper print and sandwiching it between a clear surface and a non-slip foam layer. The highest quality mouse mats use a different method of construction. A hard PVC surface is screen printed or spot printed in high quality 4 color process to give true color to multi-color images and photographs. The special surface is designed specifically for optical mice, so you will get perfect precision tracking.
Quality is always key in choosing promotional items as giveaways for your business. Remember, anything that is imprinted with your name represents your business. If you choose printed mouse mats to keep your name in front of your customers then you should choose the very best printed mouse mats that you can buy. Their quality will be intertwined in the minds of your customers with the overall quality of your products and their impression of your company. Knowing that, can you imagine choosing anything less than the best?
Because Opti-Tuff printed mouse mats can take 4 color process printing, your mats can be printed with virtually anything of which you can conceive. Your advertising message will be printed in full color and will be preserved in the same vibrant colors for years to come. The top surface is hard-coated to wipe clean easily, just another indicator of the quality of the product.
Whether you choose to print an Opti-Tuff printed mouse mat with just your company logo or with a full color advertisement for your company, you will be pleased with the high quality results and so will your customers. Many of the best promotional products companies employ full service design departments, and often include free design consultation and service with your order of printed mouse mats if your entire order exceeds a set amount.
More information about promotional items and promotional gifts can be found online by searching for the leading online suppliers of promotional products. You can tap into their wealth of experience to ensure that you have the perfect promotional gift or business gift to promote your business.
Southend-on-Sea City Guide, including hotels.
Southend-on-Sea is Essexs largest town and its close proximity to London makes it a popular tourist destination year after year. Better still, it is located in the south east of the country in an area widely regarded as the driest part of Britain.
The town is chock-full of interesting attractions which are aimed at all the family, whether youre looking for local history, the arts and culture, or family-oriented activities to keep you occupied. Some of Southend-on-Seas most popular attractions are:
Southend Pier. Measuring in at 1.33 miles, Southend Pier is the longest pleasure pier in the entire world! Built in 1830, it has recently been refurbished and hosts an RNLI lifeboat station and an exclusive Pier train. Nowhere will you experience better sights of the beautiful coastline of the Thames Estuary.
Central Museum and Planetarium. If youve never visited a planetarium then nows your chance; there are live presentations throughout the day. Meanwhile, the museum reveals plenty of secrets about Southends eventful history.
Jubilee Beach. This sand and shingle beach stretches from the Pier to Thorpe Bay; there are also regular pleasure boat trips available.
Southend Cliffs. If you appreciate the beauty of nature, youll love these ornamental gardens, which also offer amazing views of the south east coast.
Prittlewell Priory. An excellent museum with the focus on educational activities, housed in the remains of a 12th century priory.
When you arrive in Southend-on-Sea youll discover a myriad of activities and things to do, just waiting to be discovered. The town is packed with a mixture of shops, making it one of the most popular shopping areas in the entire southeast, and there are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants where you can rest your legs and take a break. Just a few of the things to do include:
Shopping at The Royals Shopping Centre. Overhead, youll see a beautiful glass dome, which protects from the elements whilst letting the sun in. Down below, youll find shops ranging from Debenhams to Ottakars, Evans, Sarah Beth and more.
Visiting Adventure Island. This exciting theme park is host to more than forty rides and attractions that will appeal to the kids, as well as the inner child in all of us. Not only that, but the low rates make it one of the best value theme parks in the country.
Checking out Kursaal on the Eastern Esplanade. Here youll find an astonishing thirty lanes of ten-pin bowling, many themed restaurants and bars and a unique Mardi Gras play area. Better still, admission is free!
Taking a trip to the Sealife Centre. Lovers of nature will be in their element when visiting this marine centre, which offers an authentic voyage beneath the ocean, where you can glimpse colourful and spectacular marine life in a huge aquarium.
Take part in the Carnival! If your visit coincides with the month of August, youll find the annual Carnival in full swing. Events include special processions, fancy dress competitions, fairs, arts festivals, fireworks and more.
As youd expect, Southend-on-Sea boasts a wide variety of places to eat. The scale ranges from the simplest caf, where you can sit down with a sandwich and a cup of coffee, to the finest restaurant establishment, where you can enjoy a range of courses. There are also plenty of takeaways enabling you to grab a bite to eat and enjoy it as you stroll down the beach. Here are just a few of the choices:
The Waterfront Caf. Choose from a wide selection of favourite English food fish and chips, roast dinners, or steak. Fish is freshly prepared on the premises and is cooked to order. Many other choices of meal are available, including scampi and lasagne.
The Golden Lion. Plenty of traditional English fare is on offer in this friendly pub, which also caters for special diets.
Camelia Restaurant. Offers French, Italian and English meals with a range of different specials every day. Fresh fish is a speciality; the restaurant also offers pleasant sea views to take in whilst you eat.
Mr Ping. This Chinese restaurant offers two options, eat-in or takeaway. In 2003, it was a Restaurant of the Year finalist.
The Grapevine of Tuscany. An Italian restaurant serving up a la carte menus, pizzas and pasta. Youll get a choice of eating in or a take-away; fresh homemade pasta is The Grapevines speciality.
As Southend-on-Sea is such a popular tourist destination, there are lots of hotels and guesthouses located in and around the town, with many of the finest quality. The good news for the visitor is that all the hotels are vying with each other to offer the most competitive rates, which means you can guarantee quality and value in equal measure. Alternative accommodation ranges from campsites and caravan parks to self-catering cottages, traditional inns and plenty more besides.
Essex County Hotel
The Gleneagles Hotel
The Westcliff Hotel
Ilfracombe House Hotel
Camelia Hotel
Tower Hotel
Southend-on-Sea has plenty of entertainment going on, meaning youll never get bored. The town is packed with pubs and nightclubs, enabling you to while away the long twilight hours. For the family, the Odeon Cinema is a massive multiplex that shows all the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Meanwhile, if your tastes are of a theatrical nature, then youll no doubt enjoy the Palace Theatre, which consists of a modernised Edwardian building hosting professional shows and entertainment. Alternatively, if you enjoy big spectacle, then the Cliffs Pavilion will be for you; this massive theatre has a huge programme of concerts, ballet, performance artists, musicals and more.
Visitors flock to Southend-on-Sea all year round and its easy to see why. With hundreds of things to do, ranging from numerous attractions, family-focused fun and more, its impossible to find yourself at a loose end. Alternatively, the town itself is close to places like Leigh-on-Sea, which offer quieter fare, so if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, you can explore the surrounding villages and countryside. No matter what your tastes, age or needs, Southend-on-Sea is sure to provide exactly what youre looking for as a tourist destination.
The town is chock-full of interesting attractions which are aimed at all the family, whether youre looking for local history, the arts and culture, or family-oriented activities to keep you occupied. Some of Southend-on-Seas most popular attractions are:
When you arrive in Southend-on-Sea youll discover a myriad of activities and things to do, just waiting to be discovered. The town is packed with a mixture of shops, making it one of the most popular shopping areas in the entire southeast, and there are plenty of coffee shops and restaurants where you can rest your legs and take a break. Just a few of the things to do include:
As youd expect, Southend-on-Sea boasts a wide variety of places to eat. The scale ranges from the simplest caf, where you can sit down with a sandwich and a cup of coffee, to the finest restaurant establishment, where you can enjoy a range of courses. There are also plenty of takeaways enabling you to grab a bite to eat and enjoy it as you stroll down the beach. Here are just a few of the choices:
As Southend-on-Sea is such a popular tourist destination, there are lots of hotels and guesthouses located in and around the town, with many of the finest quality. The good news for the visitor is that all the hotels are vying with each other to offer the most competitive rates, which means you can guarantee quality and value in equal measure. Alternative accommodation ranges from campsites and caravan parks to self-catering cottages, traditional inns and plenty more besides.
Southend-on-Sea has plenty of entertainment going on, meaning youll never get bored. The town is packed with pubs and nightclubs, enabling you to while away the long twilight hours. For the family, the Odeon Cinema is a massive multiplex that shows all the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Meanwhile, if your tastes are of a theatrical nature, then youll no doubt enjoy the Palace Theatre, which consists of a modernised Edwardian building hosting professional shows and entertainment. Alternatively, if you enjoy big spectacle, then the Cliffs Pavilion will be for you; this massive theatre has a huge programme of concerts, ballet, performance artists, musicals and more.
Visitors flock to Southend-on-Sea all year round and its easy to see why. With hundreds of things to do, ranging from numerous attractions, family-focused fun and more, its impossible to find yourself at a loose end. Alternatively, the town itself is close to places like Leigh-on-Sea, which offer quieter fare, so if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, you can explore the surrounding villages and countryside. No matter what your tastes, age or needs, Southend-on-Sea is sure to provide exactly what youre looking for as a tourist destination.
Enjoy the View - Use a Binocular
A binocular, or set of binoculars, is a tool used to view distant objects and make them appear closer to the viewer. Using both eyes, a person watching a football game seated far from the field can get a clearer view of the action as it happens despite his distance, with the use of a binocular.
Many people in the world enjoy their choice of sports using these gadgets with designs which can go from compact and light, to the bigger, full-sized models. Police surveillance teams and people involved in government intelligence also find a set of binoculars an indispensable tool in their jobs.
Bird watchers also make up a large number of binocular users in the world. Their personal satisfaction of watching birds in these animals' natural environment is only made memorable with the use of high-power binoculars.
These people require more from their binoculars. Their gadgets must have the needed viewing power to meet their needs, lightness for easy transporting, and most importantly, durability to last years of continuous use. These viewing gadgets must be easy to hold, and protected from moisture and dirt. The resolution of a binocular must be able to reveal details and true colors accurately. They must also be able to quickly focus and work well in weak lighting conditions. Lastly, these gadgets must be able to show the real picture for bird watchers wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Binoculars are easy to use and more advantageous than telescopes and monoculars. They allow viewers to use both of their eyes simultaneously, and viewers are offered a superior experience, allowing them to follow fast movements easily. These tools further allow easier viewing of fast moving objects such as race horses than a telescope of monocular.
Binoculars work by passing the image through two adjacent lenses and prisms. The prisms then revert the image, by the internal reflection of available incoming light. Images are then displayed right side up rather than inverted as what astronomical telescopes do. The magnified image then becomes available to the viewer's both eyes.
The magnifying power of a binocular is described by two numbers separated by "x", e.g., 3x10. While the first number determines the magnifying power, the second number displays the objective lens' (the lens which is further from the eye) diameter in millimeters. Models varies from small, compact 3x10 models which are usually used in theaters, to the average 7x50 and 10x50 for outdoor purposes. The larger models such as 20x80 and 20x140 are sometimes called "galaxy models".
Large binoculars are more like telescopes, and their high magnifying capacity needs fixed mounting. This is necessary to avoid small movements being magnified which makes viewing difficult. Because of this drawback, standard hand-held binoculars are now limited to 9x or 10x.
Today, binocular models use either Porro prisms or roof prisms. Porro prism binoculars were the standard models up to the 1960s. Later on, the Zeiss and Leitz companies introduced to the market new models using roof prism.
These new models were light, compact and easier to hold, and they looked simpler than the models using Porro prisms. But because roof prisms use a more complicated light path and needed greater optical precision in their production, these roof prism binoculars cost more to manufacture. The Porro prisms, on the other hand, had a simpler design, and are more efficient as their images displayed better contrast.
Many people in the world enjoy their choice of sports using these gadgets with designs which can go from compact and light, to the bigger, full-sized models. Police surveillance teams and people involved in government intelligence also find a set of binoculars an indispensable tool in their jobs.
Bird watchers also make up a large number of binocular users in the world. Their personal satisfaction of watching birds in these animals' natural environment is only made memorable with the use of high-power binoculars.
These people require more from their binoculars. Their gadgets must have the needed viewing power to meet their needs, lightness for easy transporting, and most importantly, durability to last years of continuous use. These viewing gadgets must be easy to hold, and protected from moisture and dirt. The resolution of a binocular must be able to reveal details and true colors accurately. They must also be able to quickly focus and work well in weak lighting conditions. Lastly, these gadgets must be able to show the real picture for bird watchers wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Binoculars are easy to use and more advantageous than telescopes and monoculars. They allow viewers to use both of their eyes simultaneously, and viewers are offered a superior experience, allowing them to follow fast movements easily. These tools further allow easier viewing of fast moving objects such as race horses than a telescope of monocular.
Binoculars work by passing the image through two adjacent lenses and prisms. The prisms then revert the image, by the internal reflection of available incoming light. Images are then displayed right side up rather than inverted as what astronomical telescopes do. The magnified image then becomes available to the viewer's both eyes.
The magnifying power of a binocular is described by two numbers separated by "x", e.g., 3x10. While the first number determines the magnifying power, the second number displays the objective lens' (the lens which is further from the eye) diameter in millimeters. Models varies from small, compact 3x10 models which are usually used in theaters, to the average 7x50 and 10x50 for outdoor purposes. The larger models such as 20x80 and 20x140 are sometimes called "galaxy models".
Large binoculars are more like telescopes, and their high magnifying capacity needs fixed mounting. This is necessary to avoid small movements being magnified which makes viewing difficult. Because of this drawback, standard hand-held binoculars are now limited to 9x or 10x.
Today, binocular models use either Porro prisms or roof prisms. Porro prism binoculars were the standard models up to the 1960s. Later on, the Zeiss and Leitz companies introduced to the market new models using roof prism.
These new models were light, compact and easier to hold, and they looked simpler than the models using Porro prisms. But because roof prisms use a more complicated light path and needed greater optical precision in their production, these roof prism binoculars cost more to manufacture. The Porro prisms, on the other hand, had a simpler design, and are more efficient as their images displayed better contrast.
Cairns: Seaside refuge in Tropical Far North Queensland
Cairns is the premier regional city in Tropical Far North Queensland, and the third largest tourist center in the whole of Australia. Enchanting around three million tourists every year, it carries the mantel of the safest tropical city with pride.
Cairns, situated on the Coral sea on the Pacific coast in Queensland, is easily the best connected place in Australia north of Brisbane. Its tropical climate hovers in between 17 and 31 degree Celsius, with the bulk of rainfall occurring in the first three months of the year. The amazing temperature and clear skies mean that Cairns has always been a favorite with tourists. Fact is, nature seems to have endowed Cairns with its choicest blessings, and men have built upon them, making Cairns one of the liveliest and most entertaining places on earth.
A visitor to Cairns is spoilt for choices. There is something for everyone at this tropical paradise. Of course, the sun and surf is the most popular attraction, more so because once they are done with the other places they come back to fill the wondering beaches with their laughter and frolic. Cairns has some of Australias cleanest and most wonderful beaches some are palm fringed, some lap at the foot of an ageless rainforest; some have sand, some pinch your feet with shingle. Cairns plays host to all imaginable forms of water activities from reef canoeing to snorkeling, from diving to sea-boarding. Cairns is situated at the foot of the Great Barrier Reef, the largest conglomeration of coral reefs listed as a World Heritage site. Daily boating and diving trips to the reef and nearby islands are organized. Should you ever want to see how it look from up above, dont worry, there are helicopters, sea planes and balloon trips waiting for you. In fact, the birds-eye-view of Cairns and nearby areas is a real spectacle the colors changing sharp from a dozen shades of blue into the golden sands and then into the greener shades of the rainforests on the other side.
Beyond the corals and the sea is another, altogether different aspect of Tropical Queensland and Cairns. To the west of Cairns lies the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, a 135 million years old jungle with the largest variety of plant species in the world. Situated in one placid corner of the rainforest is Kuranda, the village in the rainforest, a charming small town with its own tradition and history. Kuranda has cultural centers, museums, and is also the terminal for both the SkyRail and Kuranda Scenic Railway, two of the most charming rides that are sure to captivate all hearts, young or old. River rides on the Daintree and Mossman rivers course through tumultuous waters that are infested by crocs in places. Many of these areas are under the protection of indigenous Aborigines and you may meet them at many points. Full of waterfalls, gorges and flora of a thousand and more varieties, the jungle offers various trekking opportunities.
Cairns is full of possibilities. Here, you can indulge in shopping. There are many well stocked malls with international products ranges. If you are looking for bargain shopping or local products and mementos, you get that as well. Cairns cuisine is famous for their exotic dishes and their fabulous setting you got restaurants at the most incredible places from the rainforests to the beach under a starry night.
Cairns, situated on the Coral sea on the Pacific coast in Queensland, is easily the best connected place in Australia north of Brisbane. Its tropical climate hovers in between 17 and 31 degree Celsius, with the bulk of rainfall occurring in the first three months of the year. The amazing temperature and clear skies mean that Cairns has always been a favorite with tourists. Fact is, nature seems to have endowed Cairns with its choicest blessings, and men have built upon them, making Cairns one of the liveliest and most entertaining places on earth.
A visitor to Cairns is spoilt for choices. There is something for everyone at this tropical paradise. Of course, the sun and surf is the most popular attraction, more so because once they are done with the other places they come back to fill the wondering beaches with their laughter and frolic. Cairns has some of Australias cleanest and most wonderful beaches some are palm fringed, some lap at the foot of an ageless rainforest; some have sand, some pinch your feet with shingle. Cairns plays host to all imaginable forms of water activities from reef canoeing to snorkeling, from diving to sea-boarding. Cairns is situated at the foot of the Great Barrier Reef, the largest conglomeration of coral reefs listed as a World Heritage site. Daily boating and diving trips to the reef and nearby islands are organized. Should you ever want to see how it look from up above, dont worry, there are helicopters, sea planes and balloon trips waiting for you. In fact, the birds-eye-view of Cairns and nearby areas is a real spectacle the colors changing sharp from a dozen shades of blue into the golden sands and then into the greener shades of the rainforests on the other side.
Beyond the corals and the sea is another, altogether different aspect of Tropical Queensland and Cairns. To the west of Cairns lies the World Heritage listed Daintree Rainforest, a 135 million years old jungle with the largest variety of plant species in the world. Situated in one placid corner of the rainforest is Kuranda, the village in the rainforest, a charming small town with its own tradition and history. Kuranda has cultural centers, museums, and is also the terminal for both the SkyRail and Kuranda Scenic Railway, two of the most charming rides that are sure to captivate all hearts, young or old. River rides on the Daintree and Mossman rivers course through tumultuous waters that are infested by crocs in places. Many of these areas are under the protection of indigenous Aborigines and you may meet them at many points. Full of waterfalls, gorges and flora of a thousand and more varieties, the jungle offers various trekking opportunities.
Cairns is full of possibilities. Here, you can indulge in shopping. There are many well stocked malls with international products ranges. If you are looking for bargain shopping or local products and mementos, you get that as well. Cairns cuisine is famous for their exotic dishes and their fabulous setting you got restaurants at the most incredible places from the rainforests to the beach under a starry night.
Which Loire Valley Historic French Castles Should You See On A Family Holiday
The Loire Valley is a spectacular destination for a family holiday. There are many historical castles to see, so many that it can be difficult to decide on which ones to see before it becomes too much for the children to bare. Each of the Loire Valley castles listed below have their own special attraction.
We would highly recommend Chateau Close Luc and its gorgeous park and working models of over forty of Leonardo Da Vinci's amazing inventions. Chateau Chaumont is worth a visit in the summer months for the garden festival alone. Many of the gardens are incredibly interactive and highly sensory designed to capture the imaginations of children and adults.
Chateau Chenonceau is classically breathtaking and a must see. There is a maize for children to get lost in for a little while. Chateau Cheverney has spectacular furniture and a working pack of dogs. Chateau Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley castles and you can hire bicycles or pedal boats to make it more child appealing. Chateau Blois is interesting architecturally because it is like four castles rolled into one. It has the added benefit of being located opposite the Maison de la Magie which is a magic museum in honour of Robert Houdin who was Houdini's inspiration. Children delight at the exhibits and simulations and the magic show is very impressive.
Chateau Azay-le-Rideau (minimum visit 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:30-6:00 Cost- $6.00 for entrance and $4.00 for an audio guide
This chateau is less grand in size than many of the others listed here, but is all the more beautiful for it. Built in 1515, this is a wonderful example of early Renaissance. In the high season there are often evening son et lumiere spectacles at the castle. It is best to visit this chateau late in the afternoon in summer so you can enjoy the sound and light show in the evening.
Chateau Chaumont (minimum visit 1 hour and another 2 hours for the garden festival)
Hours- 9:30-5:30, plan on 1 hour for your visit Cost- $6.00 includes an English pamphlet
Located between Amboise and Blois, this chateau is set high above the Loire River and commands spectacular views. Its placement was for strategic reasons, since it was built as a fortress stronghold in 1465. Later it became a home for royalty and then the merely rich. The most famous resident was Diane de Poitiers, the former mistress of King Henri II who lived in exile here, after Catherine de Medici demanded Chateau Chenonceau when King Henri II died.
Today the interiors represent the lavishness of the wealthy people living here until the 1930's when the stock market crash caused the last owner to sell the property to the government. Of particular interest are the elaborate horse stables.
Chateau Amboise (minimum visit 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $7.00 includes an English pamphlet. The chateau towers over the town and offers a mix of architectural styles including 17th century classical and 16th century gothic. Six Kings of France lived here including Francois the 1st, who had an underground tunnel built to the home of Leonardo da Vinci, located nearby. Using this passage they could visit each other without mingling with the locals. In the 15th century this castle was four times its current size, but it has been reduced by neglect and war.
It is worth combining a trip to Chateau Amboise with a visit to Chateau Clos Luce as they are nearby.
Chateau Usse (minimum 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $8.00 includes English pamphlet. This fairytale chateau with lots of turrets was the inspiration for the chateau in Sleeping Beauty. Construction began in 1455 on the foundation of an 11th century chateau, and subsequent remodels took place in the 16th and 17th centuries. The chateau has been owned by the Blacas family since the 18th century and the family still occupies one of the wings. The grounds include several centuries old trees and a cedar that was given to the family in 1808.
There is a chapel from 1528 with a white sparkling interior made from local stones, and a garage with antique vehicles and a wicker carriage. The castle interior is filled with 18th century antiques. Finally you can climb the round tower to see wax figures depicting characters in Sleeping Beauty. If you are travelling with young children they will probably love the fairy tale scenes in the round tower depicted by wax mannequins.
Chateau Villandry (minimum 1 hour for each of chateau and 1 hour for the garden)
Hours- 9:00-7:30 Cost- $7.50 for chateau and gardens, $5.00 for only gardens
This privately owned castle was built in the 16th century on the former site of a 12th century chateau. Today the tower of the original castle still remains.
The castle is most famous for its wonderful gardens, and is considered a must see for gardeners. There are 3 different gardens in all: a Louis the XIV style vegetable garden, an ornamental mosaic flower garden, and a water garden with pools and waterfalls. Many people skip the interior of the castle and come for the gardens alone. There is a slide show that features photographs of the gardens during all four seasons.
Chateau Blois (minimum visit 2-3 hours)
Hours- 9:00-6:00 Cost- $6.00 includes an English pamphlet . You can book a free guided tour even available in English. This castle dominates the town of Blois and was the home of royalty for over 400 years, including Francois I and Charles the VIII. Parts of the building, composed of four wings each of a different architectural style joined by a large central courtyard, date back to the 10th century.
Interiors include luxurious period design and floors stamped with fleur-de-lis motifs. One of the highlights is a Renaissance exterior spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci. In summer they have a sound and light show at night and on Wednesdays it is in English.
Chateau Chenonceau (minimum visit 2.5 hours)
Hours- 9:00-7:00 Cost- $8.00 includes an English pamphlet. This castle is one of the most striking of the Loire Valley castles. It was built for Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henri II. In 1559 when the King died his wife, Catherine de Medici, forced Diane into exile (to the smaller chateau of Chaumont).
After Catherine moved in she had the beautiful gallery added, which is 180 feet long, 18 feet wide, with 18 windows and set on arches over the Cher River. It was originally used as a ballroom, and in WWI it became a hospital and the wounded soldiers used to fish out the windows. During WWII it was a means of escape as the castle sat in occupied territory but the door at the end of the gallery opened to the Free Zone.
The kitchen is very popular with children. Today the gallery holds art exhibits. Also worth a note are the Marques Tower, the 2 formal gardens (each named for the two ladies who ruled the house), the sixteenth century working farm and the flower shop.
Chateau Cheverny (minimum visit 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:15-6:45 Cost- $6.00, includes English pamphlet. This chateau was built in 1634 and has been owned and occupied by the same family ever since. Today family members occupy the third floor. This castle has the best furniture of the Loire Valley Chateaux open to the public because the family that owned Cheverny was very popular with the local villagers and as a result the castle was not stripped of it's treasures during the French Revolution.
The current interior is the most complete and lavish in the Loire Valley. This castle was built as a hunting palace and today hunts still take place on the grounds. You can visit the 70 dogs in their kennel, or watch the daily feed at 5:00 PM. The trophy room proudly displays the antlers from more than 2000 animals.
Beware because most chateaux have shorter hours in low and shoulder seasons and may even be closed for lunch during that time. Conversely in late July and August there are usually extended hours.
We would highly recommend Chateau Close Luc and its gorgeous park and working models of over forty of Leonardo Da Vinci's amazing inventions. Chateau Chaumont is worth a visit in the summer months for the garden festival alone. Many of the gardens are incredibly interactive and highly sensory designed to capture the imaginations of children and adults.
Chateau Chenonceau is classically breathtaking and a must see. There is a maize for children to get lost in for a little while. Chateau Cheverney has spectacular furniture and a working pack of dogs. Chateau Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley castles and you can hire bicycles or pedal boats to make it more child appealing. Chateau Blois is interesting architecturally because it is like four castles rolled into one. It has the added benefit of being located opposite the Maison de la Magie which is a magic museum in honour of Robert Houdin who was Houdini's inspiration. Children delight at the exhibits and simulations and the magic show is very impressive.
Chateau Azay-le-Rideau (minimum visit 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:30-6:00 Cost- $6.00 for entrance and $4.00 for an audio guide
This chateau is less grand in size than many of the others listed here, but is all the more beautiful for it. Built in 1515, this is a wonderful example of early Renaissance. In the high season there are often evening son et lumiere spectacles at the castle. It is best to visit this chateau late in the afternoon in summer so you can enjoy the sound and light show in the evening.
Chateau Chaumont (minimum visit 1 hour and another 2 hours for the garden festival)
Hours- 9:30-5:30, plan on 1 hour for your visit Cost- $6.00 includes an English pamphlet
Located between Amboise and Blois, this chateau is set high above the Loire River and commands spectacular views. Its placement was for strategic reasons, since it was built as a fortress stronghold in 1465. Later it became a home for royalty and then the merely rich. The most famous resident was Diane de Poitiers, the former mistress of King Henri II who lived in exile here, after Catherine de Medici demanded Chateau Chenonceau when King Henri II died.
Today the interiors represent the lavishness of the wealthy people living here until the 1930's when the stock market crash caused the last owner to sell the property to the government. Of particular interest are the elaborate horse stables.
Chateau Amboise (minimum visit 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $7.00 includes an English pamphlet. The chateau towers over the town and offers a mix of architectural styles including 17th century classical and 16th century gothic. Six Kings of France lived here including Francois the 1st, who had an underground tunnel built to the home of Leonardo da Vinci, located nearby. Using this passage they could visit each other without mingling with the locals. In the 15th century this castle was four times its current size, but it has been reduced by neglect and war.
It is worth combining a trip to Chateau Amboise with a visit to Chateau Clos Luce as they are nearby.
Chateau Usse (minimum 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $8.00 includes English pamphlet. This fairytale chateau with lots of turrets was the inspiration for the chateau in Sleeping Beauty. Construction began in 1455 on the foundation of an 11th century chateau, and subsequent remodels took place in the 16th and 17th centuries. The chateau has been owned by the Blacas family since the 18th century and the family still occupies one of the wings. The grounds include several centuries old trees and a cedar that was given to the family in 1808.
There is a chapel from 1528 with a white sparkling interior made from local stones, and a garage with antique vehicles and a wicker carriage. The castle interior is filled with 18th century antiques. Finally you can climb the round tower to see wax figures depicting characters in Sleeping Beauty. If you are travelling with young children they will probably love the fairy tale scenes in the round tower depicted by wax mannequins.
Chateau Villandry (minimum 1 hour for each of chateau and 1 hour for the garden)
Hours- 9:00-7:30 Cost- $7.50 for chateau and gardens, $5.00 for only gardens
This privately owned castle was built in the 16th century on the former site of a 12th century chateau. Today the tower of the original castle still remains.
The castle is most famous for its wonderful gardens, and is considered a must see for gardeners. There are 3 different gardens in all: a Louis the XIV style vegetable garden, an ornamental mosaic flower garden, and a water garden with pools and waterfalls. Many people skip the interior of the castle and come for the gardens alone. There is a slide show that features photographs of the gardens during all four seasons.
Chateau Blois (minimum visit 2-3 hours)
Hours- 9:00-6:00 Cost- $6.00 includes an English pamphlet . You can book a free guided tour even available in English. This castle dominates the town of Blois and was the home of royalty for over 400 years, including Francois I and Charles the VIII. Parts of the building, composed of four wings each of a different architectural style joined by a large central courtyard, date back to the 10th century.
Interiors include luxurious period design and floors stamped with fleur-de-lis motifs. One of the highlights is a Renaissance exterior spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci. In summer they have a sound and light show at night and on Wednesdays it is in English.
Chateau Chenonceau (minimum visit 2.5 hours)
Hours- 9:00-7:00 Cost- $8.00 includes an English pamphlet. This castle is one of the most striking of the Loire Valley castles. It was built for Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henri II. In 1559 when the King died his wife, Catherine de Medici, forced Diane into exile (to the smaller chateau of Chaumont).
After Catherine moved in she had the beautiful gallery added, which is 180 feet long, 18 feet wide, with 18 windows and set on arches over the Cher River. It was originally used as a ballroom, and in WWI it became a hospital and the wounded soldiers used to fish out the windows. During WWII it was a means of escape as the castle sat in occupied territory but the door at the end of the gallery opened to the Free Zone.
The kitchen is very popular with children. Today the gallery holds art exhibits. Also worth a note are the Marques Tower, the 2 formal gardens (each named for the two ladies who ruled the house), the sixteenth century working farm and the flower shop.
Chateau Cheverny (minimum visit 1.5 hours)
Hours- 9:15-6:45 Cost- $6.00, includes English pamphlet. This chateau was built in 1634 and has been owned and occupied by the same family ever since. Today family members occupy the third floor. This castle has the best furniture of the Loire Valley Chateaux open to the public because the family that owned Cheverny was very popular with the local villagers and as a result the castle was not stripped of it's treasures during the French Revolution.
The current interior is the most complete and lavish in the Loire Valley. This castle was built as a hunting palace and today hunts still take place on the grounds. You can visit the 70 dogs in their kennel, or watch the daily feed at 5:00 PM. The trophy room proudly displays the antlers from more than 2000 animals.
Beware because most chateaux have shorter hours in low and shoulder seasons and may even be closed for lunch during that time. Conversely in late July and August there are usually extended hours.
2007年10月2日星期二
What to Look for in a Quality Home Theater DVD Player
With all the new developments in audio-visual equipment on the market, it is hard to keep up with it all. However, there are some basics you should be aware of when looking for certain items, like your home theater DVD player.
The first question you may be asking is Why do I need DVDs and a DVD player at all? My VHS works just fine. Well, the reasons are many. A home theater DVD:
- has a much sharper and clearer picture than video cassettes
- has superior sound quality to any VHS tape
- is less prone to having background noise
- allows you to see movies in wide screen or full screen
- allows you to watch movies in multiple languages or with subtitles
- has extras, like bloopers, movie trailers and sometimes interviews
- can be used as a CD player as well (make sure it is CDR/CDRW compatible)
Once youve decide to purchase a home theater DVD player, you will need to educate yourself on what type of player you need for your specific home theater system. What follows will give you an outline of what to look for when you go to purchase your new player.
Here are some things you should look for in a quality DVD player:
AUDIO OUTPUTS
Every home theater DVD will have analog stereo outputs. This just means that it has the capability of being hooked into any two-channel amplifier.
However, with the increased use of Dolby Digital Surround Sound, many of the newest, most cutting edge players will have six extra audio outputs. This will allow for the decoded 5.1 signal associated with Dolby Digital.
There are a couple of ways that the audio signal can get to your home theater receiver. Most have a digital connection, which can be accomplished through a coaxial or an optical connection. Your newest home theater DVD players and receivers oftentimes have both connections, but it never hurts to look and make sure you are getting just what you need.
VIDEO OUTPUTS
Most home theater DVD players have several video output connections that you can choose from. The one most commonly found is composite output. Most of the televisions available today have composite input and are therefore compatible with such a player.
If you are looking for a better picture, be sure to look for a television and DVD player with S-Video. This is considered a step up from composite. If you are using a television you currently own with your new DVD player and it has S-Video, be sure to use this connection.
There are two higher quality outputs available: component and rgb. If you are buying a whole home theater system all at once, including a home theater DVD player and possibly a home theater LCD flat panel television, you will want to look for equipment that will be compatible and work together as an audio-visual unit. Look for outputs on the player and inputs on the television.
ZONING CONSIDERATIONS
The entire world is divided into zones. The US can be found in zone 1, the UK can be found is zone 2, Southeast and East Asia can be found in zone 3, etc. Not all DVDs purchased can be played on all home theater DVD players, if you get one created for a specific zone.
When buying a new home DVD theater system, what you should look carefully for is a player that will play movies from any zone. Most on the market today have been modified so that they will play any and all DVDs, not matter what zone they were created for.
The actual sound and picture quality between DVD players can vary. Visit a local audio video retailer to listen and view the quality and features of the players available. It is also a good idea to read product reviews for various models of home theater DVD players before you buy, to see which brands and models are getting the better ratings and why.
All DVD players are not the same but the ultimate result is a dynamic, exciting new feature to your home theater system.
~Ben Anton, 2007
The first question you may be asking is Why do I need DVDs and a DVD player at all? My VHS works just fine. Well, the reasons are many. A home theater DVD:
- has a much sharper and clearer picture than video cassettes
- has superior sound quality to any VHS tape
- is less prone to having background noise
- allows you to see movies in wide screen or full screen
- allows you to watch movies in multiple languages or with subtitles
- has extras, like bloopers, movie trailers and sometimes interviews
- can be used as a CD player as well (make sure it is CDR/CDRW compatible)
Once youve decide to purchase a home theater DVD player, you will need to educate yourself on what type of player you need for your specific home theater system. What follows will give you an outline of what to look for when you go to purchase your new player.
Here are some things you should look for in a quality DVD player:
AUDIO OUTPUTS
Every home theater DVD will have analog stereo outputs. This just means that it has the capability of being hooked into any two-channel amplifier.
However, with the increased use of Dolby Digital Surround Sound, many of the newest, most cutting edge players will have six extra audio outputs. This will allow for the decoded 5.1 signal associated with Dolby Digital.
There are a couple of ways that the audio signal can get to your home theater receiver. Most have a digital connection, which can be accomplished through a coaxial or an optical connection. Your newest home theater DVD players and receivers oftentimes have both connections, but it never hurts to look and make sure you are getting just what you need.
VIDEO OUTPUTS
Most home theater DVD players have several video output connections that you can choose from. The one most commonly found is composite output. Most of the televisions available today have composite input and are therefore compatible with such a player.
If you are looking for a better picture, be sure to look for a television and DVD player with S-Video. This is considered a step up from composite. If you are using a television you currently own with your new DVD player and it has S-Video, be sure to use this connection.
There are two higher quality outputs available: component and rgb. If you are buying a whole home theater system all at once, including a home theater DVD player and possibly a home theater LCD flat panel television, you will want to look for equipment that will be compatible and work together as an audio-visual unit. Look for outputs on the player and inputs on the television.
ZONING CONSIDERATIONS
The entire world is divided into zones. The US can be found in zone 1, the UK can be found is zone 2, Southeast and East Asia can be found in zone 3, etc. Not all DVDs purchased can be played on all home theater DVD players, if you get one created for a specific zone.
When buying a new home DVD theater system, what you should look carefully for is a player that will play movies from any zone. Most on the market today have been modified so that they will play any and all DVDs, not matter what zone they were created for.
The actual sound and picture quality between DVD players can vary. Visit a local audio video retailer to listen and view the quality and features of the players available. It is also a good idea to read product reviews for various models of home theater DVD players before you buy, to see which brands and models are getting the better ratings and why.
All DVD players are not the same but the ultimate result is a dynamic, exciting new feature to your home theater system.
~Ben Anton, 2007
Staying In Touch While Abroad
From the times of Graham Bell's research around 1870, people have invented new and exciting ways of improving one of the first forms of communication, the telegraph. Its successor, the telephone invention, has gone a long way managing to penetrate people's lives and directing future technological innovations in a way not ever imagined by its founder. In fact, the telecom industry today constitutes one of the most diverse and promising high-tech markets around the globe. Developing new ways to interact with others is a major concern in most cultures and the telecommunication products or service introduced will continue to have a tremendous impact to communication norms and peoples' interaction.
Choosing to connect with someone over a telephone fixed or mobile line, by purchasing a calling card, or logging on to a remote server to chat over an instant messaging service, are two examples of the most popular methods people use to stay in touch. Especially when one travels, successfully communicating with others is an issue that has generated billions of dollars to the telecom industry. One of the most popular products people use to attain their intercommunication goal is telephone cards.
Telephone cards can be found in two main categories in most counties: the pre-paid credit system or credit card style system. But the one you will prefer to use in order to pay for your calls depends both on your liking, but also on your area's overall telecommunication infrastructure. If you wish to spend some of your money in advance and be able to begin calling right away, you will probably appreciate the convenience and the hassle-free experience of using a pre-paid card. Offered in a variety of categories that are usually based on balances of minutes or value, the pre-paid method has gained a lot of supporters, who wish to know beforehand how much time they do have available for the specific amount of money they are willing to spend each time.
In case you decide to purchase a magnetic stored value telephone card, he should be aware that the balance he or she has just purchased is read only by a public pay-phone machine, when the card is inserted into the machine's card reader. Other types of stored value pre-paid telephone cards include the optical and the "smart" cards. The difference is found on the visible markings the optical card has, while the "smart" card has a small chip in which the information is stored and read each time the card is used. Another technology of phone cards is that of remote memory, which uses a toll-fee access number to reach a server and check the product's balance.
The type of card one selects depends on personal preferences and available services. Some people, for example, prefer to renew the balance of their phone cards online and thus, many companies have gone to offer such a service to their customers. As the telecom infrastructure continues to expand Graham Bell's dream, new telecom products will continue to develop to cover consumer needs.
Choosing to connect with someone over a telephone fixed or mobile line, by purchasing a calling card, or logging on to a remote server to chat over an instant messaging service, are two examples of the most popular methods people use to stay in touch. Especially when one travels, successfully communicating with others is an issue that has generated billions of dollars to the telecom industry. One of the most popular products people use to attain their intercommunication goal is telephone cards.
Telephone cards can be found in two main categories in most counties: the pre-paid credit system or credit card style system. But the one you will prefer to use in order to pay for your calls depends both on your liking, but also on your area's overall telecommunication infrastructure. If you wish to spend some of your money in advance and be able to begin calling right away, you will probably appreciate the convenience and the hassle-free experience of using a pre-paid card. Offered in a variety of categories that are usually based on balances of minutes or value, the pre-paid method has gained a lot of supporters, who wish to know beforehand how much time they do have available for the specific amount of money they are willing to spend each time.
In case you decide to purchase a magnetic stored value telephone card, he should be aware that the balance he or she has just purchased is read only by a public pay-phone machine, when the card is inserted into the machine's card reader. Other types of stored value pre-paid telephone cards include the optical and the "smart" cards. The difference is found on the visible markings the optical card has, while the "smart" card has a small chip in which the information is stored and read each time the card is used. Another technology of phone cards is that of remote memory, which uses a toll-fee access number to reach a server and check the product's balance.
The type of card one selects depends on personal preferences and available services. Some people, for example, prefer to renew the balance of their phone cards online and thus, many companies have gone to offer such a service to their customers. As the telecom infrastructure continues to expand Graham Bell's dream, new telecom products will continue to develop to cover consumer needs.
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