Computer Info – August 6, 2003

 

This Week’s Meeting

 

            I think we will look at downloading pictures from a digital camera – and where do they go.  The rest of the time, we will try to discuss some basic features of the computer.

            The next meeting is August 20th – and it will be hosted by John Prete.  John also does a Tuesday morning presentation for beginning level seniors at the Deltona Senior Center on Lakeshore Dr.  We will have an additional meeting this month on August 27th – and it will be hosted by John Watkins (he didn’t want to miss seeing the group during his visit).

 

Digital Camera Picture Size

             I save all of my camera images in the highest-quality JPEG mode.  If you notice, your camera saves the image at 72 dpi.  We always talk about scanning pictures at 300 dpi.  So, what is the difference between a small dpi that has large dimensions (about 42 by 28 inches – or in pixels it would be 3024 by 2016) from a digital camera  and a large dpi with small dimensions (about 10 by 8 inches – or in pixels it would be 3000 by 2400) from a scanner?   Not much.  The actual image is just pixels, and that’s what counts. 

 

JPEG 2000

            JPEG compression takes the individual pixels that make up your image and compresses them into files that are a fraction of their original size.  This means that your images will display artifacting and generally reduced quality.  Also, JPEG artifacting is cumulative, therefore the loss in image quality is especially pronounced if you save and resave an image as a JPEG.

            This is where JPEG 2000, a new image compression standard, comes in.  JPEG 2000 uses compression techniques built on so-called “wavelength technology” to present new ways to compress images. 

            JPEG 2000 has improved image quality at the same file size – 25 to 35 percent smaller file sizes at similar image quality and superior image quality even at extremely high compressions ratios.  In addition, image files are scalable, which means no decompression is required for reformatting. 

            Adobe is already offering a plugin for JPEG 2000 that customers can download.  CorelDraw will offer support in CorelDraw Graphics Suite 11.

 

Clean Up Your Desktop

            If your Desktop is collecting a bunch of shortcut icons for programs and files you never use – then  it is save to delete them.

            First make sure the icon is a shortcut and not a program itself.  If there is a box containing an arrow in the bottom left corner of the icon, it is a shortcut and is safe to delete.  To get rid of them, right click on the icon and choose DELETE from the menu.

 

Spyware, Again

            You could have spyware running on your PC right now and not know it because many of these sneaky programs don’t show up on the Taskbar or in the System Tray.

            A variety of popular programs contain spyware.  One of the best examples is Gator, an advertising delivery system that monitors your Web browsing habits once you install the software on your computer.  Companies then pay Gator to display ads for their products and services on your browser.  Here’s the catch: the ads can be configured to display or pop up when Gator detects you are visiting the Web site of one of the advertiser’s competitors.

            The Kazaa file-sharing program is a prevalent spyware delivery system.  Kazaa is an excellent program that unfortunately includes software designed to steal a computer’s idle resources so another company can use the resources from millions of computers to create a commercial distributed network. 

            So many free programs rely on spyware these days that users must read license agreements and terms of service documents very carefully to make sure the software they are about to install isn’t loaded with spyware.  Learn to read between the lines and, when in doubt, don’t install the software.

 

Terms

Adware

            Slang term for software that’s free to obtain but contains sponsored ads that appear when the program runs.  Software developers include ads to help offset development costs.  Ads typically display in a program as a banner across the top or bottom of the program window, as a Web page that open periodically while the program is running, or possibly as another program that’s built into the software.

Cookie

            A small information file a Web site places on your hard drive.  It lets a Web site recognize you when you log in and tracks you while you are there.  An online music store might track the music you buy and use the data to provide customized information when you return.   This would be a persistent cookie because it persists on your hard drive when you leave the site and is read again when you return.  Session cookies exist only while you are on the site.  Session cookies are essential for many shopping sites because they let the site track your shopping cart. 

 

Tips About Digital Cameras

            Using the LCD screen in your digital camera to compose your picture will eat up batteries.  Images are also hard to see when viewing in the bright sunlight and images are more likely to be blurred since you need to hold the camera at a certain distance.

 

            The Rule of Thirds is a guideline in photographic composition which suggests that you don’t need to perfectly center your subject in the image.  Instead, visualize the image split into thirds both horizontally and vertically, and then place your subject at one of the four intersections created, thereby creating balance.

 

            Most cameras come packaged with software for downloading images from the camera to the computer.  If your camera comes with a USB port or you have a card reader, you don’t need to use this software.