Computer Headphones Review – Know What You Need Beforehand

Posted on 25. Feb, 2010 by Ledley Withenshaw in Gadgets

Are you in the market to purchase computer headphones? If so, you might want to check-out your options before you buy. Not all ear phones for your computer are created equal. There are surround sound, gaming headphones; wireless headphones and headphones better suited for conversation and voice. Many computer earphones come with a built in microphone and are often referred to as headsets. Do you know which one is the right one for you?

Connection options – typically, computer headphones attach straight to your sound card in the back of your PC or laptop. Certain extra sophisticated headphones which have a number of speakers inside them may perhaps even have more cables that necessitate connecting to the back of the notebook so prior to buying anything, ensure that its compatible beforehand.

The experience you have with a decent pair of computer headphones is often very impressive. Understand that different varieties of headphones are created for different purposes. It will be important that you get the correct type for the features you require. It is also recommended to take a look at some consumer opinions around the Internet prior to buying something. This gives you a better awareness if the actual model works for your needs.

If you would like something which puts an emphasis on sound superiority, you may want to search for a few standalone computer earphones. By doing this you will definitely get something extremely top quality and possibly with Dolby digital surround built in. Some of the dearer headphones are made for DJs and can be extremely high performing in terms of delivering sound quality.

If you’re in the market for just an average set of computer headphones, it is best to check out the standard 3.5 mm socket connector. It will permit you to plug your earphones into most desktops and laptops in addition to DVD players and portable media players. It’s also recommended to take a look at the specifications, for instance the signal to noise ratio before buying.

If you would like computer earphones which has a microphone in-built, you ought to make sure that any headphone you purchase has noise canceling capabilities. This can make a difference if you plan to utilize the headphones for functions like voice recognition, VoIP communications or absolutely anything else where quality is crucial. If you need something which is primarily designed for communications, then a wireless Bluetooth headset might also come in very handy.

You’ll find computer headphones that happen to be exclusively made for watching films or playing video games. If that is what you want one for, then it is a good idea to get a set that is designed for just that purpose since it can make a tremendous difference in listening quality. Several have surround-sound functions and are ideally fitted to multi media use.

Photography Tips For Taking Great Shots

Posted on 18. Feb, 2010 by Jason King in Feature, Photography

Capturing Those Special Moments Forever

Take photos that rival professional photos

Advanced digital cameras have changed the way people take pictures. Not only are they are higher quality, people are taking a lot more of photos with higher resolutions and increased quality. The average amateur photographer may not take as many quality shots (which is due to experience) not the technology.

Three quick-n-easy tips to take great quality shots

1. Learn to use the sunlight. If you are taking daytime outdoor shots, you want to learn how to effectively use the sunlight. As a San Diego wedding photographer this is an important skill to master since most weddings are during the day.When outdoor shots make sure that the shot is not against the light. Also be careful of real bright sunlight because it can cause harsh shadows.
2. Effectively use the flash. The secret is to know how to distance yourself from the subject. Because if you are too far the flash won’t help and the shot will be too dark.Also, avoid getting too close because the brightness of the flash may produce glare and ruin an otherwise perfect shot. Lessons learned through years of experience as a San Diego photographer.
3. Choosing the right angle for your shot. People don’t realize how changing the position or angle of a shot can make a big difference. A good thing about digital cameras is that it allows you to take multiple shots of a subject allowing you to find the best shot for that subject. Even as a professional event photographer in San Diego, a lot of photos have to be taken in order to get one that is really good. So just take as many shots as possible.

Taking great photos isn’t always easy, but with these three tips it has just gotten easier.

Simple Methods To Find The Best Laptop Deals

Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by Ray Jennings in How To..., Technology

Many people in the market for a new or used PC do not know where to search for that special computer or notebook deal. They just don’t know how to proceed or what steps they should take to find the computer deals that do exist – often, closer than they realize.

Use the web

Your neighborhood is the whole world. We are not confined to a little shopping location or area. We have got the entire world at our disposal because of the Internet. Use it! Use the Net to find web stores, information, special deals or offers. Use Froogle! Its a great starting point. Use online notebook guides to find the top-rated laptops, many of these sites will also have special deals or links. These sites know their computers – use their data and experience to find the correct notebook computer for you.

How To Comparison Shop

Maybe, one of the finest techniques to get a superb deal, is to Comparison Shop to compare different products and prices. Again, the internet is ideally designed to give you mass amounts of info and info. It makes comparison shopping a real breeze. These comparison shopping sites will list the best portable deals and prices for you. Just as significantly, they may also rate the service and support given by each of these net stores. Important when you are buying online . Ensure you try the store’s warranties, return policies, service records and buyer ratings.

The real special deals are held back for redecorated laptops. Many times you can get a great laptop at a very decreased price by purchasing a refurbished portable. Ensure you get a warranty or buy additional warranty – even then the price will continue to be worth your time. You can buy a redecorated laptop for a small fraction of its original price . Check online for sites selling refurbished computers or take a look at your local dealer. Ensure the dealer is legitimate, and watch out for stolen computers. Be particularly careful to get the required guaranties, bill of sales, etc . When buying a refurbished laptop.

What about Closeout Sales and Liquidation?

Keep your eyes open for close-out, fire, and liquidation sales. Portable technology is changing at a fast pace, many lines are discontinued to make way for newer inventory with the most recent technology. Many of those close-out sales will be offering great PCs at lowered prices.

Just taking a few steps to research your options before you buy your portable laptop could save you a considerable amount of money. Use the web to test out and comparison shop for the best PC deals. Use coupons and mail-in rebates whenever it’s possible. Keep an eye out for great close-out, or liquidation sales and remember to check out redecorated PCs. It will get you the best laptop deal.

Drilling Rig Equipment and Repair Companies are Vital to the Oil Industry

Posted on 14. Jan, 2010 by Goode Fellow in Local, Oil Industry, Oil and Gas

Oil Field Equipment Repair Shop

What a good oil field repair shop should offer

In order to perform repair without costly delays, an oil drilling rig maintenance facility such as Miller Oil Field Equipment and Repair should have an on-site mechanic shop with sufficient storage space for most common oil rig repair parts like bearings, oil seals, and mud pumps. With a good 45,000 sq ft of warehouse space and an overhead boom – this is one facility that will meet your drilling rig maintenance needs expeditiously.

“Made is USA” is proudly added to anything manufactured by “Weldbend”, the industry’s leader in welding fittings and flanges. Not only do they make world renown quality products – they support the American Workforce by conforming to the Buy American Act.

A valve that was purposefully created with mud in mind and that has proven more durable than other brands are gate valves and shear replacement valves manufactured by DEMCO and OTECO.

If your oil rig repair shop is equipped well it will also carry most common engine parts, OFI mud testing equipment (mud scales, vis cups and funnels), swivel joints, mud pumps, and general rig supplies like hand cleaner, rig wash, scrub brushes, hand tools and cleaning equipment.

If Miller Equipment and Repair serves are an example for time and money saving oil rig repair, their effectiveness is created by combining large storage for all common repair parts, including room for a workshop, and the expertise of an qualified work crew.

How Carbon Credits Help In Reducing Carbon Emissions

Posted on 08. Jan, 2010 by Diane Scott in Environment, Feature

Commercial and individual use of fossil fuels to generate energy has been widespread for several decades throughout the world. However, emission of greenhouse gases like methane and CO2 is caused by fossil fuels, which is very hazardous for the environment.

Increasing emissions have led to a high level of concentration of these gases in the atmosphere, causing global warming, which is threatening life on the planet.

The carbon credit scheme was a direct result of the need to check emissions and safeguard the planet. The well known Kyoto protocol witnessed over 170 participants agreeing to fix standard limits on greenhouse gas emissions in their respective countries in a phased manner. The fixed limits are then used by the country’s government for allocating quotas to different industrial and commercial entities of how much emission they are permitted.

In order to reward industries and other entities for releasing lesser than the quota and to penalize those who emit more, the idea of carbon credits was developed. One carbon credit is equal to one ton of carbon dioxide emission into the environment. In this innovative scheme, manufacturing units or companies that emit greenhouse gases less than the allocated quota can sell carbon credits of an amount equivalent to the difference, while those units that emit above the limit will have to buy an equivalent amount of carbon credits from the market.

Such carbon credits trading motivate lesser emissions and thereby decrease unregulated emissions of greenhouse gases in the environment. The market of carbon credits has made firms make good their emissions, and it now has a direct impact on the firm’s financial statement. Companies have thus realized the necessity of cutting down their emissions and look for environment friendly business options.

Another emission limiting financial scheme is the carbon offset credit, which caters to a very similar purpose. A carbon offset credit is equivalent to one thousand kilograms of carbon dioxide or corresponding greenhouse gas decrease in the atmosphere. Using cleaner and renewable energy sources like wind and tidal energy helps to attain this important decrease.

A carbon offset is purchased by firms or other organizations to offset the emissions that are above their allocated quotas as per the defined regulations. Carbon offset is available to governments, organizations and even an individual who can offset their carbon footprint through it. Hence, they are able to support and fund the decrease in greenhouse gases and to promote sustainable forms of energy generation.

Buyer Beware: Green Energy Power Companies Mislead Public

Posted on 07. Jan, 2010 by Robert Holdsworth in Energy, Environment

Buyer Beware – Using Power Factor Correction and Transient Voltage Surge Suppression to Reduce Energy Costs.

Solution for High Energy Costs

Today’s energy conscious climate has motivated many to do what they can to become more efficient and conserve energy and money. Unfortunately this same climate has prompted others to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers’ wishes to save energy and reduce expenses.

Companies that tout power factor improvement (kVAR correction) and transient voltage suppression are a good example of this bad trend. Lately we are seeing more and more of these companies cropping up and feel it is time to set the record straight.

First, transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) plays a valuable role in improving power quality to protect sensitive equipment inside a facility. However, TVSS does not save energy. TVSS’s are only active a tiny fraction of a second to protect against voltage surges which only last for less than a millisecond. To actually reduce energy consumption the TVSS would need to actually cut power consumption for an extended period of time which is not what they are designed to do. Again, TVSS is important to protect sensitive electrical equipment but buyers should avoid vendors promising, or even guaranteeing, that they will reduce energy consumption.

Now what about vendors who claim that improving power factor will save 15% or 20% or 30% of energy consumption and corresponding cost? This one is a little trickier.

For residential applications, power factor does nothing to save energy because the typical home already has an average power factor of about 0.97 which is almost the perfect power factor of 1 or unity. In addition, the device (called a capacitor) is placed at the main circuit breaker. According to IEEE 5.5.3.3 capacitors must be situated at or near the respective inductive loads to reduce power system losses by reducing heat and distribution losses known as I2R losses.

So what about commercial and industrial facilities using power factor correction to reduce energy costs? It is perfectly appropriate for a company that is incurring penalties or a kVA billing structure from the utility company to improve the facility’s overall power factor by employing a capacitor bank at the main service entrance or individual capacitors at or near the respective motor loads. Doing so will eliminate the power factor penalties and/or reduce the kVA demand charges on the utility bill which can save significant money and provide a significant ROI on the investment.

But what about power factor correction reducing kWh consumption? IEEE also tells us that I2R losses only account for 2 to 5% of the total load in a facility. Simple math tells us that it would be against the laws of physics to get the 15% to 30% energy reduction claimed by some vendors. Think about it. Even if your facility had 5% distribution losses and you could correct 100% of the problem via power factor correction at every load (which can’t be done) you would still only save 5% at the most. No where near the claims of some capacitor vendors and manufacturers.

All that said, power factor correction when done properly will eliminate utility penalties and kVA demand charges, improve facility power quality, increase electrical system capacity, and save a little energy when applied to the appropriate motor loads.

So make an investment in transient voltage surge suppression and power factor correction when appropriate and necessary. But caveat emptor!

Facebook Phishing Alert – Identity Theft Email Scam

Posted on 08. Nov, 2009 by M.L. Zupan in Email Alerts, Feature

Identity theft update – Facebook users

It looks like an email from Facebook to you – but is it really? Recently, I received this email from what looked like – Facebook. As you can see in the graphic below – the email looks official, it offers what seems to be viable information and it targets a persons concerns for security.

Phishing Facebook - Protecting Your Identity

All a person has to do is click on the update button or the “here” link (where the little hand is pointing) and it is suppose to take you to the Facebook login page so you can verify and update your login information to make sure it is secure.

DO NOT CLICK THAT BUTTON!

“Phishing” Emails

This email has all the tell-tale signs of a “phishing email” designed to steal your login information and possibly your identity. But before I go into what makes this email a phishing email – I will explain “what is phishing”.

• Phishing is when a scammer creates a login, or an email that tries to replicate a popular web site. You may have seen similar email scams coming from Paypal, MySpace, UPS, Western Union, EBay, etc… .
• They try to use the same colors, the same style, even the same font in the email. It gives the quick impression that it is official and hopefully it lulls the recipient into a false sense of security right away.
• The email tries to address the user of the account (not always successfully) – to make it personal and friendly – as if they know you – again, adding to that false sense of security.
• There is usually some sort of security problem or update, or server update or a warning of even a possible phishing scam where you need to take immediate action to verify your user information right now. This creates a sense of anxiety in the hopes of overriding your sense of caution – thus creating an impulse click effect.
• They offer a big click here button or update now button to make it simple for you to just login real quick and enter your personal data.
• Once on the login page – it is also designed to look like the web site they are trying to chameleon.

First of all, you should always be suspicious of emails requesting you to login and update your accounts coming from any social site like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, etc… The same goes true for (and especially) banks, Ebay, Paypal and many others. NEVER take the email at face value.

Second, if you look closely at the photo above you will see that it did not get the owner of the account correct. Facebook does know who you are and they wouldn’t send out a generic email to some “random user” asking them to update their security settings. If for some reason Facebook needed you to update your login information they would tell you to open a clean browser and then type in http://facebook.com and then go to their security update page.

Now here is the third and biggest clue. When you open your email program, if you roll over the embedded email link without clicking on it, it will show you the actual web address near the bottom of the program. I use Thunderbird and it always gives me a visual of where the link wants to send me. If it doesn’t match Facebook.com – it is a phoney address.

It is easy to check these things before you make a big mistake and lose your login information to some scammers email. Most emails only take a couple of extra seconds to check and the time it takes is well worth the headache and problems of having your identity stolen.

The last thing to remember is that many times, these email scammers will find legitimate information and then try to make chameleon web sites using real information like  the “Dram Litigation Scam” based on the real Dram Litigation lawsuit filed in 2006. The email links that were embedded in the email did not take you to the Dram Litigation web site.

If you would like to read more about different email scams check out the following articles.

Money Transfer Control Number Scam Alert – by M.L. Zupan
Scam Emails – by M.L. Zupan
Greeting Card Email Alert by M.L. Zupan

If you have information about some email scam that you have dealt with in the past and would like to share it with us – we would like to hear from you. Leave your comments and share them with others.

*** Remember, that at CIDANews.com we do monitor comments and only allow comments related to the topic of the articles. Thank you for your understanding. ***

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A Week of Windows 7 – Microsoft’s Latests Operating System

Posted on 27. Oct, 2009 by Simon Banks in Feature, Microsoft

A Look Inside Windows 7

Yes, the buying went smoothly, however the upgraded installations for student versions from 32-bits to 64-bits were not as smooth. “A small number of customers who purchased the Windows 7 upgrade through the Student Offer have reported challenges in completing the download and/or installation of the product.” a Microsoft spokesperson told InternetNews.com in an email.

Not all is gloom and doom with this version of Windows. PCWorld.com writes in an article: Making a Case for Windows 7 Migration – that a major corporation in India is thrilled with the new operating system. Murali Krishna, VP and head CCD, Infosys Technologies is testing Windows 7 on 200 machines before upgrading their entire company. So far, the results are outstanding – “users aren’t complaining, especially, he says, with the brisk start up and shutdown times.” Krishna says.

Listening to the Customers

By all reports, it sounds like Microsoft has finally started listening to its customers complaints over the years. You know the ones – operating system is so overloaded with stuff that it is slow and cumbersome, too much flash and not enough meat, constant security issues while the fun media stuff plays and looks good. It is time that Microsoft started taking the heart of the operating system seriously and provided a clean, solid platform in which customers can perform and add things when they want to not because it is forced upon them. Getting back to the basics – letting the customer decide which features they want!

Isn’t that what made Google search engine so popular? When everyone was building out flash and pop search engines in the beginning – Google came out with a blank screen – and a search bar – that was it. And they have kept the same look for over 10 years.

A positive review by PCMag.com has put the new Windows 7 operating system in this light:

“Despite some pundits claiming that Windows 7 is no more than a Vista service pack, there’s a lot more to it than that. Microsoft has certainly addressed many of the complaints surrounding Vista, such as the lack of backward compatibility, the lengthy start-up and install times, the broad disk and memory footprint, and the inability to remove IE. But the company has also added a number of new interface helpers that will make the new OS more pleasurable and efficient to use. Figure in improved performance and networking, a smaller disk and memory footprint, and slick handling of devices, and it’s hard to call this anything other than a full-fledged new OS.” — PCMag.com Microsoft Windows 7

It seems that Microsoft has finally hit on a winner. The new operating system is more powerful and robust while using less resources – it is scalable and has better backwards capabilities; although we are warned to go slow with the backward XP capabilities as some bugs are still being worked out. Security features and cloud computing network capabilities are much more corporate user friendly.

Overall – it looks like Windows 7 will be a much better operating system than its predecessors. We will be looking forward to more reports as only time will truly tell.

Google Slaps Microsoft – Microsoft Slaps Google – What?

Posted on 10. Oct, 2009 by Simon Banks in Tech Industry News

In an article by ChannelWeb entitled “Microsoft Office 2010: A Necessary Slap At Google” sounds like a cat fight in a school yard. Microsoft isn’t slapping anybody. What they are trying to do is not loose face in the new world of “Cloud Computing“.

Lets keep war out of this and keep technical issues to technical issues. I realize that the modern day media must try to make everything sound dramatic or disastrous just to keep readers interested because there is so much information on the web; however, there are those who would just like the facts once in a while without all of the phony huupla.

Microsoft Browser IE

Microsoft has not been in a supremacy race with anyone for years. They have been playing catch up with technology because in the beginning they tried to force control of the entire Internet market and refused to open their source code so that others could help them make a better product. Let’s face it – if the IE browser was such a great browser they wouldn’t have lost market share to Firefox, Opera and now Google. IE is slow, invasive, resource intensive and years behind the competition. The only reason that it is maintaining the market share that it still has is because many people don’t know how to switch.

Enter – Google Chrome Browser

The “Chrome Browser” is a stand alone browser and an add-on to Microsoft IE (for those who want a better browser). But is Chrome really a browser?

What is a Browser?

Wikipedia describes a browser as: “A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content.^[1] Hyperlinks present in resources enable users to easily navigate their browsers to related resources.”

For the most part that may not help you. Simply put, it is a graphical interface between the user (user computer) and the Internet. It allows you to interact with information and look up things such as articles, pictures, videos, etc… in an easy, single application.

In that respect – then Chrome is indeed a web browser. However, it is also much more. It is the new web applications tool that allows you to customize it in ways that previously were not available.

Web Application Interface

With today’s interest in YouTube™, MySpace™, Facebook™ and Twitter™ (plus many others) and the advancement of widgets – the new Chrome Application Browser allows you to add your favorite applications, RSS feeds and even customize your look and layout – all the while giving you the opportunity to have higher security features and lightning speed.

In our testing of the “web application tool”, Google created a browser that seems to be based on the very concept that made Google famous in the first place – Simplicity! It is basically a bare-boned web browser when unpacked – just like Google Search Engine. A simple page without all the accessories. You get to build out the accessories as you see fit.

What about “Firefox”?

Firefox by Mozilla has been on the cutting edge of web browser development for years. It was one of the first browsers that supported CSS2 & then CSS3, XML standards and some of the highest security ratings in the industry. While Microsoft IE was getting hacked into on a constant basis, Firefox users could rest comfortably. It wasn’t long that Firefox started drawing away much of the IE customer base. It has been Firefox that has given Microsoft IE browser the run for their money – not Google.

Now with Google Chrome on the scene – Microsoft will inevitably loose even more market share to open source solutions and better programming.

Try:
Google Chrome
Firefox Browser

Coming up next: CIDA News will be looking into the new technological wave of “Cloud Computer” and see how it will change the face of computer technology and how we use the Internet.

Related Articles:
Microsoft to offer rival browsers alongside Internet Explorer – The Tech Herald
How Firefox won its market share – Computer Weekly.com

Oil and Gas Investment Symposium

Posted on 01. Oct, 2009 by M.L. Zupan in Oil and Gas

Sponsored by IPAA – Independent Petroleum Association of America – The symposium brings together the IPAA’s corporate public members face-to-face with the investment community. An excellent networking and educational opportunity, these oil and gas independent executives discuss the latest on the government issues affecting the oil and gas industry. IPAA members drill 90% of our nation’s oil and natural gas wells.

BPZ Energy

Houston based BPZ Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company which has exclusive license contracts for oil and gas exploration and production covering approximately 2.4 million acres in four properties in northwest Peru. It also owns a minority working interest in a producing property in southwest Ecuador. The Company is currently executing the development of the Corvina oil discovery, the redevelopment of the Albacora oil field, and the exploration of Block XIX, in parallel with the execution of an integrated gas-to-power strategy, which includes generation and sale of electric power in Peru and the development of a regional gas marketing strategy. The Company’s website at www.bpzenergy.com provides additional information about the Company’s plans, including photographs and other information with respect to its operations.

Swift Energy

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Swift Energy Company’s (NYSE: SFY) President, Bruce H. Vincent, will give Swift Energy’s corporate presentation Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at 1:55 p.m. EDT to the investment community via live audio webcast at the IPAA Oil & Gas Investment Symposium in San Francisco, CA.

The live audio webcast of the presentation and accompanying slide materials can be accessed through Swift Energy’s website http://www.swiftenergy.com.

EV Energy Partners

HOUSTON, TX–(Marketwire – September 29, 2009) – EV Energy Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: EVEP) today announced that Mr. John Walker, Chairman & CEO and Mr. Mark Houser, President, COO and Director will be presenting at the IPAA 2009 Oil & Gas Investment Symposium in San Francisco on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 4:35 pm Pacific Daylight Time.

EV Energy Partners, L.P. is a Houston-based master limited partnership engaged in acquiring, producing and developing oil and gas properties. Website: evenergypartners.com.

And the list goes on. If you are interested in reading more about the company’s involved in United States oil and gas industries – here is a list of some of the other players.

• Evolution Petroleum
• Hydril
• Hyperdynamics
• Abraxas
• Whiting Petroleum Corporation
• Approach Resources
• RAM Energy Resources
• Northern Oil & Gas