Computer Info – August 30, 2000

This Week’s Program

        What can we do without John being here – we don’t have any new toys to show. SO, I guess we will have a question and answer session – bring your questions. We will also cover a few miscellaneous topics that have been in the handouts recently that we have not discussed.
Digital Camera Memory
        There are many different types of memory available for digital cameras. Knowing the difference between them can help you make your decision on purchasing a digital camera.
SmartMedia
        SmartMedia cards are also known as solid-state floppy discs cards (SSFDC). SmartMedia cards are very small, roughly the size of a matchbook and very thin. (45.0 x 37.0 x 0.76mm). They are also very light, weighing in at 2 grams. SmartMedia cards come in two voltages, 3.3V and 5V, the 3V cards have a notch on right side, the 5V cards the notch is on left side.
        Be careful not to scratch the recording surface of the SmartMedia cards, it will wreck them. Also be aware that SmartMedia cards come in two voltages, 3.3V and 5V, make sure you know which one your camera takes.
CompactFlash
        CompactFlash cards come in two sizes, type I and type II, the type II cards are larger and can contain the IBM microdrive, which holds 340MB. CompactFlash type I cards are also small (43.0 x 36.0 x 3.3mm) roughly the same size as SmartMedia cards only 4 times as thick. CompactFlash cards will operate at both 3.3V and 5V unlike SmartMedia cards. Currently CompactFlash cards can be manufactured in larger sizes (MB) than the SmartMedia cards.
Memory Sticks
        Memory Sticks are Sony's answer to solid state memory. Sony has incorporated Memory Sticks into many of its new products, including digital cameras, MP3 Walkman's, and other multimedia peripherals that Sony develops.
Floppy Disk
        A common problem is that new users want a digital camera with a floppy disk drive, this is great for portability and ease of transfer to the computer. The disadvantages to this are that with today's cameras having more than 2 megapixels, a floppy can only hold 1 and maybe 2 pictures taken at a relatively high detail setting. This makes for a bulky and time consuming way of storing pictures.
Web Addresses for Digital Camera Information
Digital Cameras
        This site contains helpful information about digital cameras.
                  http://www.digitalcameras.com/
A complete guide to digital cameras, digital photography and digital video
                  http://www.shortcourses.com/
Computer Memory
        How much memory (RAM) does your computer have? To find out, right click on MY COMPUTER – choose PROPERTIES. At the bottom of the GENERAL tab, it will tell you how much RAM that you have.
        Here is what was brought to our attention last week. A computer was purchased with 64K RAM – but the GENERAL tab only reported 56K – why? If you watch the computer sales ads, you will see that they now list many computers as having 64K RAM SHARED. What this means, is only part of the RAM is used for reading and writing by CPU processing while the rest is used for the built-in video card (this means that it is part of the motherboard).
Remember Settings For Each Folder
        Are you continually re-adjusting your columns – or changing from displaying large icons to a detailed list view, etc. because they change everytime you look at that folder ----- then check this setting.
        Double click MY COMPUTER. Choose VIEW from the top menu – then FOLDER OPTIONS – then the VIEW tab – then place a checkmark in front of REMEMBER EACH FOLDER’S VIEW SETTINGS. Then click on OK.
Diagnose Modem
        The first step in diagnosing modem problems is to check to see if your computer can recognize that you have a modem installed.
        First, double click on MY COMPUTER. Then double click on CONTROL PANEL. Next, double click on MODEMS. Click on the DIAGNOSTICS tab. Click on the port that your modem is connected to – this will highlight the Com port. Next, click on the MORE INFO button. This will run a small diagnostics program and will show you the information that is stored in the modem. This information will not mean much to you – but the fact that it does provide you with this information means that the computer and the modem are communicating and working together.
MP3s
        The equipment requirements for creating and listening to MP3 files are light. You’ll need basic components: a sound card and speakers so you can hear the MP3 files, a hard drive so you can store them, encoding software so you can create (or rip) MP3s from your audio CDs, and an MP3 audio program to play the files.
        The more popular encoding programs include RealNetworks’ RealJukebox, S3/Diamond’s RioPort Audio Manager, and MusicMatch’s MusicMatch Jukebox. Most encoding programs let you play MP3s in addition to simply recording them.
        Turning an audio file into an MP3 file is simple. An MP3 encoder can recognize acoustically what sounds the human ear cannot hear, and it gets rid of them. The encoding software uses an algorithm that measures sound as a mathematical model.
        The 128Kbps (kilobytes per second) is most often used. At this rate, MP3 files equal approximately 1MB of music per minute. This bit rate maintains CD-quality sound. Recording at 64Kbps sounds as good as an FM radio signal, and 32Kbps is about the same quality as AM radio.
        MP3 isn’t the only audio format that compresses audio files, but its enormous popularity has led to its adoption as the de facto standard. There are so many MP3 devices, so many more in development, and so many Web sites that use MP3, it’s hard to imagine it slipping away quietly. MP3 home and car stero components are just now reaching the market.
        There are times you will want to listen to your MP3 files on your PC. To do that, you need an MP3 software player.

Step by Step
        (1) – Choose the audio file you want to convert to MP3. You can determine the quality and size of the MP3 file by adjusting the bit rate before you encode it.
        (2) – The algorithm removes the background noise.
        (3) – The algorithm removes the sounds that are out of the range of human hearing. Human hearing is generally considered to be between 20Hz (hertz) and 20 KHz (kilohertz).
        (4) – The algorithm removes duplicate information. The MP3 file size is 1/10th the size of the original.
        (5) – Once the file is converted, it is stored in a directory on your computer’s hard drive. At this point, you can play the music on your computer or transfer it into a portable player.