Being familiar with the terminology used in any subject of interest in is always useful, and digital cameras are no exception.
Although most digital cameras available on the market allow you to simply point your camera and quickly snap a picture with the touch of a button, there is often a lot more going on behind the scenes than you may have realized.
All sorts of things happen in the camera once the shutter button is pressed.
Put simply, understanding the most important terms about digital cameras will allow you to make a better-informed purchase of a new digital camera, let you have more control over your digital camera’s features, and help you to take the best quality photos possible.

1. Megapixel
When we use the term megapixel, we are referring to the maximum resolution at which a digital camera can take photos in millions of pixels. This means that a camera with a range of 4 megapixels can take photos which each contain a maximum of 4 million pixels.
But what does this mean to the consumer? One word: quality. A higher megapixel count means better quality photos, and considering the price of digital camera getting lower all the time; you should try to stick with a digital camera that has a 3 megapixel range or above, especially if you intend of making prints of your photos.

2. Focal Length
Focal length is a term overlooked far too often in amateur photography, and refers to how much the lens of a camera can magnify a shot. Focal lengths are generally split into two categories, these being wide-angle and telephoto, which are better for spacious and narrow fields of view respectively.
Due to the ease of manufacturing telephoto lenses, digital camera manufacturers seem to provide wide-angle lenses in a lot less cameras, even though these lenses are better suited towards the type of photos that most people commonly take, including groups of friends and wide landscapes. To sum up, a wide-angle focal length is the better choice in most cases, with the 20mm and 35mm varieties catering to most people’s needs.

3. Digital Zoom
Unlike the focal length, digital zoom is a term that seems to be given a lot more attention than it deserves. Unlike optical zoom, which uses the physical lenses inside the camera to enlarge a scene, digital zoom electronically enlarges the pixels in the center area of a photo, meaning that any time you use the digital zoom function on your camera you are actually sacrificing the quality of your photos. It is a good idea to disable the digital zoom function all together to stop this from happening.

4. ISO
The term ISO stands for the International Standards Organization, but what does this have to do with your digital camera? The organization sets standards for photography, and the ISO range of a camera refers to how sensitive the camera is to light.
For instance, a low ISO number (100 or under) is not very sensitive to light, and is best for shots in good lighting conditions. A higher ISO range means that the camera will be suitable for photography in darker conditions, so it is best to look for a camera that has an adjustable range; ISO 100 to 400 should be adequate for most people’s needs.

5. Shutter Lag
Shutter lag refers to the time between pressing the button to take a photograph and the time when the picture actually gets taken. This may not seem a very important factor when buying a camera, but think of it this way: if you have to wait a second or longer for a photo to be taken, like with many older and inexpensive digital cameras, then chances are that you won’t end up with the photo you desired. Many camera manufacturers do not list the shutter lag time for their cameras, so the best way to find this out is by testing a camera before you buy.

Conclusion
Hopefully this article has helped you to better understand some of the most important terms used when referring to digital cameras, and in turn will help you to choose the digital camera that best suits your needs. I think that testing a digital camera before you make a purchase can help greatly when it comes to making a final decision, and it makes sense to do so; you may be using the camera you choose to capture your memories for years to come!

If you frequently take your laptop with you on trips, then you will need a travel bag to protect it. There are a few things you need to consider when buying laptop travel bags. Some of these things include metal, durability, and access. This article will give you a few tips for buying laptop travel bags.

Durability

One of the first things you need to consider when buying laptop travel bags is their durability. Depending on how you travel, you may frequently expose the bag to the elements. Therefore, it's important to choose a designthat will be sturdy enough to stand up to the elements. At the very least, you should look for laptop travel bags that are resistant to water. You should also look for a bag that uses thick zippers.

Metal

One of the next things you need to think about when buying laptop travel bags is metal. You will likely pass through metal detectors while traveling. Therefore, you should look for laptop travel bags that provides a front pocket that you can keep metal objects in. This pocket will be useful for storing your rings, keys, and coins.

Access

You will also need to consider how easily you can access the laptop travel bags. Some designs make it relatively difficult for you to retrieve your computer. It may be best to look for laptop travel bags that have zippers on the side and top that you can use to access your computer. The designshould also provide you easyaccess for items such as maps or tickets.

Type

One of the next things you need to think about when buying laptop travel bags is their type. Some bags are designed to look just like a professional briefcase. There are also rolling laptop travel bags that are very easyto move around. You can also find one designed to look like a backpack. These designed sometimes include chest and waist straps in addition to shoulder straps. The extra straps will provide more balance and stability.

Water

Many travelers like to take bottled water with them during trips. Therefore, you may want to look for laptop travel bags that can accommodate your bottle of water without causing damage to your computer. Some designs will feature a pocket that you can use to keep your water in.

DVD players are broken down into two areas: homeDVD players and portable ones. The first part of this article will deal with portable ones. While there are a plethora of companies out there producing portable DVD players, the technologyis very similar, so one is left with only a few real choices to make.

Perhaps the most important thing to look for when purchasing a portable DVD player is the formats that it supports. Most players will support all types of recordable DVDs, like the kind made on your PC. They can also playDVDs that contain media downloaded from the Internet(VCD and SVCD) as well as MP3, photodiscs and standard musicCDs. Some of the newer and better players can even support things like MPEG-4 and DivX, which are two forms of videocompression technology. Look for a player that can support as much technologyas possible. This will enable you to access the widest range of DVD media. If you plan on traveling really far, like overseas, you might consider purchasing a player that will support both NTSC and PAL systems.

Coming in a close second in terms of importance is the screen. A great player with a poor screen is just a waste of money. The catch with portable players and screen is that you want the smallest and lightest device possible, but you also want the largest screen available. Often, consumers must choose which asset they covet the most. The standard size screen is 7" but they can range from a puny 4" up to a massive 12 inches of viewing area. For the best picture, look for a screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio because it will provide the best viewing without chopping off the edges of the film. Lastly, you'll want a screen with the widest viewing angle possible so more than one person can watch at a time. There are some models that come without a screen and attach to a separate monitor but I would avoid these.

It depends on how big your room is. For a bedroom, kitchen, or office, where you'll probably be pretty close to the TV, you can go with a relatively small screen: 32" or even 26". But for the main TV in your living room or home theater, we recommend getting the largest screen that fits your budget and room. That's based on our own experiences and on feedback from our customers.

Sitting too far away from a smallish screen will reduce the impact and immediacy of the viewing experience. On the other hand, if you're too close to a large screen, you may be distracted by the screen's pixel structure. Compared to conventional tube TVs, digital HDTVs have higher-resolution screens (and more space-efficient cabinets) that let you put a larger set in your room and/or sit much closer.

High-quality video material like DVDs and HDTV programs look amazing on these new TVs. But some people also find that noise and distortion in lower-quality analog signals (like standard broadcast and cable) are exposed and magnified. That's why our viewing distance chart (below) offers a range for each screen size. If most of your viewing is DVD-quality or better, you'll see more details by sitting closer. If you watch more regular (non-HD) video, sit farther back for a smoother picture.

The chart below provides general recommendations. Naturally, personal preference plays a big role in finding the optimum viewing distance. Like in a movie theater, some people always sit up front, some in back, and some prefer the middle. Our distance ranges were calculated by multiplying the screen size (measured diagonally) by 1-1/2 or 2-1/2.

Recommended viewing distances for high-definition TVs. We suggest a range because the ideal distance will depend on several factors, including signal quality.

Screen size	Viewing distance range
30"	3.75-6.25 feet
34"	4.25-7 feet
42"	5.25-8.75 feet
50"	6.25-10.5 feet
56"	7-11.75 feet
62"	7.75-13 feet
70"	8.75-14.75 feet

Your washing machine is a big part of taking care of your clothes. Without the proper care of your washing machine, it will not last as long as you want. The following are some tips for how to care for your washing machine:

Tip one: Wipe up any spills that occur. You will want to use a soft, damp cloth or a paper towel. This includes spills on the top of the washer, the side, etc. Most people do not think twice about a little bit of bleach or laundry detergent spilling on the washer top. However, most washers are made of porcelain enamel or synthetic enamel. This does not stand up to repeated exposure to ammonia, chlorine bleach, cleaners that are abrasive, etc.

Tip two: If you are going to use the top of your washer (or in that case, your dryer as well) as a work space, you will want to cover it with a towel. This is especially important when you are treating stains. If you set a shirt on it to spray and wash, make sure you do it on a towel. This is especially important near any electronic control panel.

Tip three: You want to make sure that you allow all moisture to evaporate (otherwise you get a musty smell. So, open the lid of your washer after each use.

Tip four: Do a weekly washer cleaning. You will want to take a cloth dampened with mild dish soap, and wipe down the outside to protect the surface and finish from erosion. You will also want to then rinse it with warm water. Next, be sure to wipe out the inside once a week with a damp cloth. This will help to remove lint, debris, or soapy residue, and will lengthen the life of your washer.

Tip five: If you think your washer could be doing a better job washing your clothes, it is probably time for a deeper cleaning. To do this, start by running a short hot wash cycle with no clothes, but do add your detergent. Then rinse the washer out with some plain water. If your washer is really dirty, you could also add about three quarter cup of bleach, and use some powdered detergent. You will then want to fill the washer with warm water, and let it sit for a while, then rinse. You might need to repeat the rinse until all dirt is gone.

Tip six: You may want to also clean out your fabric softener dispenser, and any other removable parts. To do this you will likely need to look at the product manual. Cleaning these parts is important because if softener mixes with detergent it can stain clothes.

Tip seven: To make sure your washing machine is best cared for, be sure that any time you leave for more than a couple of days that you turn off the water supply at the faucet. This keeps problems from occurring.

Tip eight: If the weather is really cold, and has the possibility of dipping below freezing, be sure to drain water from your washer hoses.

Tip nine: Check your hoses regularly to ensure they are not leaking, bent, kinked, etc. Replace these hoses every 5 years. This helps take care of your washer, and helps protect your home from flood, as often times flood are caused by leaking washing machine hoses.

Tip ten: Buy quality, and buy a warranty. Regular maintenance is important, and be sure to care for your washer using the above tips.

Yesterday I asked ‘when is the best time to buy a digital camera?‘ Today I want to turn our attention to the process of actually shopping for one.
I’m not going to talk you through all the different features on a digital camera or tell you which models are best (something that is really quite individual and which changes regularly over time) however there are a few questions and factors to keep in mind when making the decision of which camera is best for you.
When searching for a digital camera there are a few factors that I encourage people to keep in mind (while there are 9 ’steps’ they are not necessarily a sequence you follow):

1. Determine what you need

A mistake I see some digital camera buyers making is that they get sucked into buying cameras that are beyond what they really need. Some questions to ask yourself before you go shopping:

* What do you need the camera for?
* What type of photography will you be doing? (portraits, landscapes, macro, sports)
* What conditions will you be largely photographing in? (indoors, outdoors, low light, bright light)
* Will you largely stay in auto mode or do you want to learn the art of photography?
* What experience level do you have with cameras?
* What type of features are you looking for? (long zoom, image stabilization, large LCD display etc)
* How important is size and portability to you?
* What is your budget?

Ask yourself these questions before you go to buy a camera and you’ll be in a much better position to make a decision when you see what’s on offer. You’ll probably find the sales person asks you this question anyway - so to have thought about it before hand will help them help you get the right digital camera.

2. Megapixels are NOT everything

One of the features that you’ll see used to sell digital cameras is how many megapixels a digital camera has.
When I first got into digital photography, a few years back, the megapixel rating of cameras was actually quite important as most cameras were at the lower end of today’s modern day range and even a 1 megapixel increase was significant.
These days, with most new cameras coming out with at least 5 megapixels, it isn’t so crucial. In fact at the upper end of the range it can actually be a disadvantage to have images that are so large that they take up enormous amounts of space on memory cards and computers.
One of the main questions to ask when it comes to megapixels is ‘Will you be printing shots’? If so - how large will you be going with them? If you’re only printing images at a normal size then anything over 4 or so megapixels will be fine. If you’re going to start blowing your images up you might want to pay the extra money for something at the upper end of what’s on offer today.

3. Keep in mind the ‘extras’

Keep in mind as you look at cameras that the price quoted may not be the final outlay that you need to make as there are a variety of other extras that you might want (or need) to fork out for including:

* Camera Case
* Memory Cards
* Spare Batteries/Recharger
* Lenses (if you are getting a DSLR)
* Filters (and other lens attachments)
* Tripods/Monopods
* External Flashes
* Reflectors

Some retailers will bundle such extras with cameras or will at least give a discount when buying more than one item at once. Keep in mind though that what they offer in bundles might not meet you needs. For example it’s common to get a 16 or 32 megabyte memory card with cameras - however these days you’ll probably want something at least of 500 megabytes (if not a gigabyte or two).

4. Do you already own any potentially compatible gear?

Talking of extra gear - one way to save yourself some cash is if you have accessories from previous digital cameras that are compatible with your new one.
For example memory cards, batteries, lenses (remember that many film camera lenses are actually compatible with digital SLRs from the same manufacturers), flashes, filters etc.

5. DSLR or Point and Shoot?

While digital SLRs are getting more affordable they are not for everyone. Keep in mind that they are usually bigger, heavier, harder to keep clean (if you’re changing lenses) and can be more complicated to operate than point and shoot. Of course there are some upsides also.
If you’re trying to make a decision between a point and shoot and DSLR you might want to read my previous posts titled Should you buy a DSLR or a Point and Shoot Digital Camera? and it’s companion piece How to Choose a DSLR.

6. Optical Zooms are King

Not all ‘zooms’ are created equal.
When you’re looking at different models of digital cameras you’ll often hear their zooms talked about in two ways. Firstly there’s the ‘optical zoom’ and then there’s the ‘digital zoom’.
I would highly recommend that you only take into consideration the ‘optical zoom’ when making a decision about which camera to buy. Digital zooms simply enlarge the pixels in your shot which does make your subject look bigger, but it also makes it look more pixelated and your picture ‘noisier’ (like when you go up close to your TV).
If you’re looking for a zoom lens make sure it’s an optical zoom (most modern cameras have them of at least 3x in length - i.e. they’ll make your subject three times as big - with an increasing array of ’super zooms’ coming onto the market at up to 12x Optical Zoom).

7. Read reviews

Before buying a digital camera take the time to do a little research. Don’t JUST rely upon the advice of the helpful sales person (who may or may not know anything about cameras and who may or may not have sales incentives for the camera they are recommending).
Read some reviews in digital camera magazines or online to help you narrow down the field. There are some great websites around that give expert and user reviews on virtually every camera on the market - use this wonderful and free resource.
A little self promotion here - one such site is my Digital Photography Blog which is a site that collates the reviews of many sites from around the web. To use it best enter the camera’s model name that you’re looking for a review on in the search feature in the top right side bar. It’ll give you a link to a central page that has information on the camera as well as links to any reviews published online on that camera from around the web.

8. Hands on Experience

Once you’ve narrowed down your search to a handful of cameras head into your local digital camera shop and ask to see and play with them. There’s nothing like having the camera in your hands to work out whether it suits your needs.
When I shop for a camera I generally use the web to find reviews, then I head into a street in my city with 4 camera shops side by side and I go from shop to shop asking for recommendations and seeing the cameras live in the flash. In doing this I generally find the same camera or two are recommended in most shops and I get to see them demonstrated by different people (this gives a more well rounded demo). I also get to play with it and get a feel for which one I could see myself using.

9. Negotiate

After you’ve selected the right digital camera for you it’s time to find the best price.
Once again, I generally start online (on a site like our store) and do some searches to find the most competitive prices on the models I’m interested in. With these in hand I’m in a good position to be able to negotiate in person with local stores and/or with online stores. I generally find that retail stores will negotiate on price and will often throw in freebies. Online stores are more difficult - most bigger ones don’t give you the ability to negotiate but smaller ones often will if you email them.
Don’t forget to ask for free or discounted bonuses including camera cases, memory cards, extra batteries, filters, free prints, cases etc. I even know of a couple of stores that offer camera lessons that you can ask to be included. Some stores will also consider giving you a trade in on older gear.

Unlike most monitors, notebook screen or the LCD screen does require attention and extra care. Here are some tips that you might use:

• Always close your notebook when not in use. If you need to use anti-dust cover of plastic or store in a notebook bag.
• Do not ever touch screen notebook, let alone with sharp objects.
• Do not spray cleaning fluid directly on the notebook screen.
• We closed notebook notebook try not experience stress. Especially do not put heavy objects on top of a closed notebook.
• Do not close the notebook when there is a particular object between the screen and keyboard. Even a piece of paper stuck between the screen and the keyboard can cause damage to the screen.
• Do not close the notebook in a way slammed.
• To clean the notebook screen, use a soft brush is designed to clean the LCD screen from dust.
• If the brush is not enough, use a soft cloth or tissue moistened with cleaning fluid. Remember! Do not use cleaning fluid containing ammonia or alcohol. Spray cleaning fluid on the cloth and wipe the screen gently when cleaning.
• The liquid cleaner for notebook screen cleaning is recommended using the same type that is used to display digital camera. This fluid can usually be found at the store camera equipment vendor.

Electricity to care you, start by using them sparingly by running the following tips.

Principles that need attention and develop energy efficient manner of electricity in households, among others: Connecting electricity resources as needed. Households small example, enough with the 450 VA or 900 VA, households are enough to power 900 VA to 1300 VA. Choosing appliances appropriate and as required. Forming behavior of household members who save electricity, such as: Turn on power tools only when necessary. Using electrical equipment in turn. Using electricity to increase household income (productive). Household electrical appliances in general are designed for efficient electricity usage, but in practice still found in waste electrical energy. This can happen partly because the use of equipment with a less precise way.


Use steps Household Electrical Appliances Save Energy Use in Electricity

Refrigerator
Choosing the size refrigerator / capacity accordingly. Opening the refrigerator door as necessary, and in certain conditions can be kept closed. Filling the refrigerator taste (not to exceed the capacity). Putting the fridge away from heat sources such as sunlight, stove. Leaving the refrigerator at least 15 cm from the wall / walls. Does not include food / beverage is still hot into the fridge. Cleaning the condenser (located behind the fridge) on a regular basis from the dust and dirt, so that heat loss process going well. Set the refrigerator temperature as required for the lower / cold temperature, the more electrical energy consumption. Turn off the refrigerator when not in use for a long time.

Electric Iron
Adjust the heat level required in accordance with the materials that will be ironed clothes. Cleaning the bottom of the crust of iron that can inhibit heat. Turn off the iron immediately after ironing or when it will be left to do something else.

Television, Radio, Tape Recorder
Turn off the television, radio, tape recorder, and other audio-visual equipment when not watching or not heard.

Water Pump
Opening vents / windows to facilitate air into the house. Turn off the fan when the room is not used, or use a fan that has a timer (timer) and set the timer as required. Set the fan speed as needed.

Temperature Controller (AC)
Choosing energy-efficient air conditioning and power in accordance with the size of the room. Turn off the AC when the room is not used. Adjust the room temperature is enough, do not set the AC too cold. Closing the doors, windows and ventilation of the room so that hot air from the outside not inside. Placing AC as far as possible from the sun directly to the cooling effect is not diminished. Cleaning the strainer (filter) with regular air.

Air Conditioner room works best if they are the right size. It is important to take the unit with a cooling capacity that can work in the room when installed. A unit that is too small will not be enough to cool a room, but an air conditioner that is too large to work spending power, raising electric bills, forced labor units and doing a poor job of removing humidity of the room.

Before shopping, measure the dimensions of the room where you want to pair, multiply the length and width to get square sizes. Then, when you select AC units, equate the size of the room with the Btu rating, which should be printed on the packaging box. British thermal units (Btus) to measure the heat that can be removed by the air conditioner of the room.

Air Conditioner room usually operate in the 5.000 to 24.000 Btus per hour. The average size of a table on the box. If you do not find a table, ask the sales associates to mencarikanya for you. Make sure the size and price of air conditioners in line with the increase Btu rating.

Air Conditioner small room usually operate at 5.000 to 7.000 Btus per hour and can be quite soothing 100 to 300 square feet. Mid-sized model can work in the 7.000 to 8.000 Btus per hour. They can cool the room up to 550 square feet.

Several Variables can provide cooling effect on the capacity:

* If you live in very warm weather, you may need the AC to spend more Btus per hour from the diajurkan.
* You may need Btu higher rating for air conditioners are placed in the kitchen and other rooms where the temperature is hotter.
* Portable Air Conditioner is generally not as efficient as a window air conditioner, so it's good to get a more powerful unit

HDMI has emerged as the digital standard for connecting HD devices, displays and components, and provides for the pristine transmission of high-definition digital video and digital audio via a single cable. Both based on Silicon Image's high-speed digital TMDS? technology, HDMI is fully compatible with DVI (Digital Visual Interface)-based devices. Further, HDMI is the first and only digital interface for Consumer Electronics devices that can carry:

* Uncompressed high-definition video
* Compressed or uncompressed multi-channel audio
* Intelligent format & command data

Customer Benefits of HDMI
100% Digital

* No Compression, no conversion
* Pure digital picture and sound direct from the source (as it was meant to be seen and heard)
* Video and Audio signal remains digital from output device to display device
* Best quality sound and picture
* Bandwidth to spare for HDTV
* 1080p capable and beyond
* Over two times 1080i bandwidth
* Includes YUV color space support

Only one cable required

* All HD video and audio in one cable
* Replaces up to 8 audio and 5 video cables
* Reduced Wiring Complexity

Automatic Format Intelligence

* TV & AV Receivers can adjust without consumer intervention
* Video source receives the display's supported video formats, and outputs the optimal audio & video format
* Display regularly receives video format & aspect ratio from sources
Consumer Electronics Control
* Entire home theater controlled from a single remote
* Enables high-level functions such as "one-touch play"

* These features are contingent on manufacturer implementation.

source: www.hdmi.org