CD/DVD Protections

Introduction

The last few years game developers more and more are protecting their games with commercial CD Protections. Until now none of these CD Protections have really helped, in some cases it even can work against you as some CD-ROM players can not handle the protection. So we have to wait before game developers get it that it is a waste of effort and money protecting CD's.

Now the music industry has hopped the bandwagon and now is selling protected audio CD's. These CD's can be backed up using a variety of methods but usually an easy 1:1 backup is not possible. This is exactly what they want, making it harder to make a backup so that people will buy the original. Only they did not think about the fair use laws which are common in most countries, which make it possible to create a backup for personal use!

As CD's are not 100% indestructible many people want to make a backup of their games. Using the backup to play the game thus saving the original. Especially when it involves children it is VERY handy to have them use a backup. Because of these CD Protections it is getting harder and harder just to make a working backup.

Most protection technologies (like SafeDisc & SecuROM) encrypt the main executable using a key, this key is then added to the disc as a digital signature. A software loader program is added to read the digital signature, extract the key and load/decrypt the main executable.

Keep in mind that in most countries you are legally allowed to make a backup of a CD which you legally own. Some gaming companies won't allow you to make a backup and use the argument that a broken (original) CD will be replaced, but in most cases the costs for replacing it is usually more then buying the game again!

This page contains a list of all known CD & DVD Protections which are currently on the market, how they can be detected and how to by-pass many of them.

There are currently a number of tools which are able to detect which CD Protection is being used on you original CD's, checkout the CD/DVD Utilities page to get them! This page also includes tools to create your own protected data & audio CD's!

http://www.cdmediaworld.com/hardware/cdrom/cd_protections.

CD player design concept blends ancient and old tech

Here's a charming blend of old and ancient tech, a CD player that looks like it took a few cues from an ancient Victrola from a century ago. Designer Yong Jieyu took the innards of a disassembled CD player and rearranged them, turning the laser upside down and situating it inside an appendage that's shaped vaguely like an old-fashioned tonearm.

It's a completely self-contained unit, with up-firing speakers situated directly underneath the opening that leads to this morning-glory-shaped speaker trumpet. So the music goes round and round, playing back from the spinning CD, and then it comes out here: What did they call that flower-shaped speaker in the olden days, anyway? A horn?

In light of the phenomenal success of online music download services such as iTunes and the Amazon Music Store, the irony of this anachronistic juxtaposition is not lost on us. It's an apt statement on the impending obsolescence of CDs. Long live the music download



http://blog.scifi.com/tech/archives/2007/05/29/cd_player_desig.html

OS Integrated Live CD Player

This appliance allows the end user to automatically boot a Live CD from within VMware in just one step. Rather than make a new virtual machine to test out a Live CD, the user will right click the file in Windows Explorer
(or Nautilus or Konqueror) and from the menu, chose an option to start it right away. This saves a lot of time for those (like me) who test lots of Live CD's. This especially handy for those with VMware Player who want to try out a Live CD and don't want to (or know how to) modify the configuration of an existing Virtual Machine.

To install, follow the instruction in the README.txt file in the isoplayer/ folder in the .zip file. Be sure to read it before attempting to install!

When creating this, I started with a simple Virtual Machine with no hard drive, and then wrote a shell script to modify it with the appropriate CD image, and then start it up in vmware/player. As the script progressed and more options were added, I moved the .vmx file completely into the shell script itself. This was primarily to resolve an issue in which the script was called from the command line in a different directory. I had made an option to give it an alternate directory, but removed it and a few other featured when it began to become too bloated. Once it was thoroughly testing, I ported it to a Windows Batch File.


http://www.vmware.com/appliances/directory/374

CD player

A CD (compact disc) is an optical disc used to store digital information, such as audio, video, or computer programs and data, characterized in the large storage capacity compared to conventional magnetic storage means. A CD player as a playback mechanism of a recording medium is mounted on an instrument panel of a motor vehicle as a mobile unit. The CD player reproduces an audio signal from the digital data stored on the CD. The CD player utilizes a disc upon which digital audio information is encoded in a pre-determined format, which format can then be read by a laser. The digital data is accessed by an optical pickup mechanism in the player as the CD is rotated adjacent the optical pickup. A CD player includes electronics such as a motor, motor drive and control circuitry, decoder logic, and the like to spin the CD at an appropriate speed, read the data off the CD, process the data, and convert it to an analog format to be played through a speaker or headphones. The digital data is organized in sequentially generated sample frames, each sample frame containing both audio information and sample position information. The CD player is operable to provide general information as to relative location on the disc of each sample frame such that it is possible to electronically relocate the scanning device to a particular location on the disc. The increasing popularity of CD players in recent years has expanded their use as an audio component on a vehicle, and in particular, a motor vehicle. A home CD player is designed so as to be horizontally disposed. However, the car CD player is disposed horizontally or vertically depending on the space for arranging the player.



http://www.electronics-manufacturers.com/products/audio-equipment/cd-player/

James Taylor Dad Loves His Work Pop Music CD Review

The super talented Pop artist James Taylor has released him most recent CD on the Columbia recording label, entitled That's Why I'm Here.

Unfortunately, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with That's Why I'm Here. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Pop music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Taylor on several of the tracks. Artists like Russ Kunkel and Leland Sklar just to name a couple.

If you’re a James Taylor fan this is a CD your collection flat cannot be without. In fact, this is one of those CDs that you don’t even have to be a fan of Taylor, or even Pop to know is good. It’s just good music. Period.

While this entire CD is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 1 - That's Why I'm Here, track 3 - Only A Dream In Rio, and track 11 - The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 5 - Going Around One More Time. Wow!

That's Why I'm Here Release Notes:

James Taylor originally released That's Why I'm Here on April 25, 2000 on the Columbia label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. That's Why I'm Here

2. Song For You Far Away

3. Only A Dream In Rio

4. Turn Away

5. Going Around One More Time

6. My Romance

7. Everyday

8. Limousine Driver

9. Only One

10. Mona

11. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

12. That's Why I'm Here

Personnel: James Taylor (vocals, guitar); Randy Brecker (vocals, horns); Airto Moreira (vocals, percussion); Rosemary Butler, Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Graham Nash, Joni Mitchell, Don Henley, Deneice Williams, Eric Troyer, Rory Dodd, Kenia Gould, Zbeto, Elaine Eliaf, Frank Filipetti, Peter Asher (vocals); Dan Dugmore, Jeff Pevar (guitar); Kenny Kosek (violin); Gregory "Fingers" Taylor (harmonica); David Sanborn (saxophone, horns); Michael Brecker, Barry Rogers (horns); Billy Payne, Dan Grolnick, Clifford Carter (keyboards); Tony Levin, Leland Sklar (bass); Russell Kunkel, Rick Schlosser (drums); Jim Maelen, Starz Vanderlockit.

Recorded at Right Track Recording, New York, New York.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clyde_Lee_Dennis

Shopping for a portable CD player with your Teenager

A portable CD player (or any other portable media player) can be a great gift for that special teenager in your life. A little pre-shopping preparation can go a long way to getting the right player for their lifestyle (and in the process up your coolness quotient).

When our daughter's latest CD player died, we decided to go shopping for something better. Since she was eleven, Eva's had a succession of very inexpensive portable CD players. Not surprisingly, none of them lasted very long. Now almost through high school, Eva felt (and we agreed) that she was ready for something a little more substantial than yet another $20 "disposable" player.

Investing more money in a portable player meant investing more time in the selection process. Whatever we purchased would have to last Eva for a long time.

Even parents do homework
The first thing Eva and I had to do was talk money. Between what she'd saved from work, and what dear old Dad was willing to front, we determined we had about $90 to $140 to play with.

Once we'd established our budget, we were ready for the next step. Coming up with the short list players in our price range was a task that Eva was more than happy to let me take care of alone. It turned out to be a pretty simple process. Spending a little time at Crutchfield.com, I soon had a good idea of what players we needed to look at. The site allowed me to pull together the units available within our budget, and do various side-by-side comparisons.

As I looked over the products, some patterns began to emerge. Certain features, such as random play and track repeat, were listed again and again. This consistency helped me get a feel for what was standard for our price range. Some features, such as MP3 CD playback capability, were only available on the higher end models. I made a note to talk with Eva about some of these differences. As the list filled out, two basic questions emerged; why and what. Why a CD player instead of a MP3 player (or some other kind of portable unit), and what kind of player did Eva really want?

CDs and CD-Rs are still the format of choice for high schoolers.

Why a CD player?
This was an important question to ask. There's been a significant shift in the buying patterns among young consumers. MP3 portable players are growing in popularity, threatening to supplant CD players as the portable of choice. Looking at the trend a little more closely, though, the majority of these buyers are college students, 18 to 22 years old, who have ready access to fast Internet connections. Downloading MP3s onto their computers, these young adults prefer computer-based technology such as iPods and other MP3 portables to store and manage their music collections.

This change from audio CDs to MP3 files has only just started to move down to the high school level (14-18 age group), and seemingly not to any significant extent in our area. While a few of Eva's friends have the capability to create MP3-encoded CDs, most stick with either audio CDs they've purchased or recordable CDs (CD-Rs) they've burned. From a standpoint of formats, a CD player made the most sense for Eva.

What do they really want?
To answer the second question on my list, I took a look at how I use my portable CD player. I quickly listed what features I thought were important (and unimportant). From there it was pretty easy to go point by point and anticipate how Eva might respond to each one. I wanted to make sure we were really looking for something to suit her needs, rather than mine.

My player is something I take along on business trips, usually for use on the airplane or for relaxing while in hotel rooms. At home, I use it to listen to music without disturbing others — in short, for sedentary personal listening.

I already knew that Eva's usage would be much more social and decidedly more active! She and her friends all consider portable CD players standard equipment for school field trips; they pass time on the bus swapping CDs and CD-R mixes. Eva's on the local swim team and spends a lot of time at the pool. While waiting between events, she does a lot of listening, and trading discs with friends is an important part of that activity as well.

Eva and I tend to listen to different kinds of music (although sometimes not as different as you might think) that place different demands on the player. She prefers a lot of bass, and a LOT of volume! Normally I don't use the bass boost, and find too much distortion and aural discomfort when the volume's cranked to its maximum.


http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/reviews/20030826/portable_cd.html

Sony D-NF400 CD Walkman Review

Sony's D-NF400 CD Walkman is a well thought out CD player which supports standard audio, MP3 and Sony's ATRAC3 CDs. It offers long battery life, good button layout, a very useful LCD information display and a variety of control choices to enhance your listening experience. Uninterrupted playback via a memory buffer is offered for those times when the player takes a bump. It also can tune to FM, AM, TV and weather stations, with the ability to program 51 total presets.
Product Review:
It’s small and circular. It plays regular audio CDs as well as ones with music files. It tunes AM, FM, TV and weather band. It even looks good in your hand. Sony’s D-NF400 CD Walkman is one of those portable CD players which stand out above the hordes of cheap imitations in the market. It offers enough features to keep most audiophiles happy and is at a price point almost anyone can love.

The D-NF400 gets high marks from the get go for its sleek, reserved look. The feel of the device in your hand is solid, though the player’s swing up door feels a little cheap. The button layout on the front is well done, with a large, multi-function play button being at the center. A small LCD display, where you can view information on the CDs you are playing as well as the menu navigation for controlling various features, is a nice touch.

As with most portable CD players these days, the D-NF400 supports MP3-encoded CDs in addition to standard, store-bought ones. It also supports Sony’s ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus formats, of which people can burn CDs with this type of music file if they wish as Sony has conveniently included a copy of their SonicStage CD ripping software.


http://portables.about.com/od/cdplayers/fr/sonydnf400.htm

Data Storage Media – A Guide to Selecting Media For Storing and Backing Up Computer Data

Data, or information stored on your computer, can either be held on fixed disk drives inside the computer or on removable media such as CD's that can be inserted and removed. Removable media can be used to transfer files between computers or to backup the data already existing on fixed disk drives. There are three types of removable media: Magnetic, Optical and Flash.

Magnetic Storage Magnetic Storage: Hard disks, floppy disks and digital audiotape are examples of Magnetic storage. They operate through a read/write head, which creates and reads magnetic impressions on the disk.

The downside…

* The magnetic impression only lasts for around five years

* The capacity of most removable magnetic disks is too low for many types of files

Optical storage Optical Storage holds information in digital form that is written and read by a laser. All CD and DVD devices are examples of this.

The upside…

* Increased capacity: one Optical disc can store the same amount of data as over 500 diskettes

* Durability: they last up to seven times as long as Magnetic forms of storage

Flash Memory (Solid-State Removable Storage) Solid-state memory (or Flash memory) is a high-performance plug-and-play storage device that contains no moving parts. It is found in digital cameras, video game consoles and digital audio players. You can use it in the form of USB Flash Drives to transfer or backup data. Flash memory is small, light and fast.

Backup Backup is the copying of files onto portable media so that if your computer crashes, data won’t be lost in oblivion. Backup is usually routine in large businesses but is often neglected by individual users. Some suggest backing up data files and duplicating your hard drive weekly. It takes around 45 minutes to backup a 500-megabyte hard disk.

There are two options - local or Internet backup. The following is a list of Local backup options. Most of these also double as devices used to transfer data between computers.

* Diskettes

* Zip Drives

* CD's

* DVD's

* Flash Drive

Internet Backup Another backup option is sending your files to an Internet site for safekeeping. If your computer crashes you can simply download them from the site. Here are a few examples of such sites: Backup Defender (www.backupdefender.co.nz) and My Backup (www.mybackup.co.nz). N.B. The author does not recommend or endorse any of the above service providers.

Diskette A Diskette is a 3.5-inch removable magnetic disk. The older version, the floppy disk, is 5.25 inches square and flexible. Copying to a diskette is quick and economical.

Ideal for…

* Those who use their PC for personal finance - the diskette enables you to retrieve checkbook balances etc.

* Projects that need to be continuously backed up such as a film script, as it is a cheap alternative.

Not so good for…

* Some newer computer and laptop models that do not have a diskette or floppy drive installed.

* Large amounts of data as diskettes don’t have a great storage capacity

Zip Drives A Zip drive is a small, square shaped magnetic disk that is ideal for backing up your PC. The 100-megabyte size holds the equivalent of 70 floppy diskettes. They also come in a 250-megabyte size

Ideal for…

* Duplicating your entire disc drive

* Archiving

* Storing graphic images or other large files

* Transferring large files

* Keeping certain data separate from files on your hard disk

The downside…

* They seem to be a fleeting technology - most computers do not have a Zip Disc drive installed and opinion varies on how long they will be around for.

Compact Disks There are different standards of CD's that have different capabilities. Just to confuse us they are recognized by seemingly similar acronyms; CD-R, CD-RW, CD+RW, DDCD and E-CD.

CD-R CD-R (Compact Disc - Recordable) is a CD that can be recorded to only once. It usually holds 74 minutes of audio or 650 MB of data, although newer versions hold up to 80 minutes of audio (700 MB of data). If your PC has CD burning software and a compatible CD-R or CD-RW drive, the CD-R can be used in the same way as a diskette. However unlike a diskette it cannot be deleted or overwritten. Look out for CD-Rs that have an additional protective layer which make them less susceptible to damage caused through scratching.

Ideal for…

* Making music CD's

* Storing photos

* Storing permanent data

Not so good for…

* Transferring files as they can only be used once

CD-RW/CD+RW A CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable) and CD+RW can be recorded onto as many times as desired. Data can be overwritten and erased. Other than this, the CD-RW is identical to the CD-R. If it wasn't for their finite durability CD-RW’s and CD+RW’s could be reused endlessly.

Ideal for…

* Transferring files

* Holding temporary data

Not so good for…

* Holding important permanent files-in case they are accidentally deleted

Double Density CD (DDCD) This disc has a much greater storage capacity than an average CD-R or CD-RW.

Ideal for…

* Backing up

* Storing archival data

Enhanced CD Enhanced CD (E-CD) is an audio CD with CD-ROM data added. CD-ROM data is added in the space not taken by audio. Recording artists can use this to include videos, lyrics, interviews or promo material. The E-CD can be played on a CD player but to view additional material you need access to a multimedia-capable device, such as a CD-i player, DVD-ROM, or CD-ROM drive.

Bridge Disks A CD-Bridge disc holds extra information on a CD-ROM XA track. The disc can be played on either a CD-i player attached to a television, or a CD-ROM XA drive attached to a computer. Software such as Photo or a Karaoke CD player can provide lots of fun with the Bridge Disk.

DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) Although DVD's have become more associated with video, they can also hold audio and computer data; hence their name Digital Versatile Disk. Like the CD, a DVD is a 120-mm by 1.2mm thick disk. However the DVD has more tracks than a CD so holds far more data. CD's have an unvarying storage capacity of 750MB, whereas DVD's store up to 17GB.

A range of acronyms is also used to distinguish between the different types and capabilities of DVD's available. These include DVD-ROM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD-Audio.

DVD-ROM DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc - Read Only Memory) is similar to a movie DVD, but is designed for computers. The DVD-ROM stores data in the same way that the CD-ROM does and is used in the DVD-ROM drive of your PC.

The upside…

* Larger storage space – hold more data than a CD

* Can be filled with nearly everything; video, music or computer specific data

* A base speed of 1.32 megabytes/sec

The downside…

* Many older computers do not have a DVD-Rom drive installed

* Can be recorded on only once

DVD-Audio DVD-Audio (DVD-A) is designed for audio data and high-quality music. Its storage capacity is seven times that of a CD and provides at least twice the sound quality. Like the Enhanced CD, DVD-A can contain other data, providing the listener with extra information such as lyrics or images. DVD-A is predicted by many to replace the standard audio CD in the music industry.

DVD-R Like the CD-R, the DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disc-Recordable) can be recorded on once.

The upside…

* A DVD-R can contain an assortment of information; video, text, audio and computer data

* A DVD-R can be played on your normal DVD video player but remember, if you have additional data not of the same format e.g. video and audio together, you will need a DVD-ROM or Multimedia player of some kind

* A DVD-R is read at the same speed as commercially made DVD's

DVD-RW and DVD+RW Similar to the CD-RW, a DVD-RW or DVD+RW (Digital Versatile Disc – Rewritable) can be recorded on, rewritten and erased multiple times. Other than this they are identical to the DVD-R. DVD minus and plus are just different versions with the same functionality.

The Future of CD/DVD Storage The majority of the technology industry predicts that soon DVD’s, with their larger storage capacity and faster access time, will replace CD’s. DVD-ROM drives are likely to be sold with new computer systems in the way that CD-ROM drives once were. However we are always on the cusp of newer technologies, such as the HD-ROM.

HD-ROM (High Density-Read Only Memory) HD-ROM uses a more precise particle beam to write data. This enables information to be written on more durable materials such as metal so storage is virtually permanent. HD-ROM has hundreds of times the storage capacity of the CD-ROM.

Flash Drives A Flash drive is a small portable memory stick that holds anywhere from 1Mb to 1GB of data. It is surprisingly lightweight and is often worn around the neck or carried as a funky key chain. They are compatible with any PC that has USB port and with Mac OS 9 and OS X, Windows 2000 and XP or Linux 2.4.17.

The upside…

* Durable - more so than CD's or DVD's

* No need for batteries or a separate power source

* Convenient - your computer should recognize the additional drive as soon as you insert it into the USB port

* Ideal for backup

* Larger storage capacity then many other portable devices

* More portable than ZIP drives, CD's and Diskettes

* Quick transfer rate (approx. 1Mb/sec)

* Edit, rewrite, delete as many times as desired

* Help desk personnel can use Flash Drives as a portable toolkit that includes system updates and recovery tools.

The downside…

* More expensive than other portable devices

* Viruses - The portability and compatibility of the Flash Drive increases the chance of spreading viruses. In many cases viruses carried by a Flash Drive will not be detected as most antivirus software is reactive and only recognizes known viruses

* Theft - a Flash Drive can make it easier for data to be stolen from an unlocked PC

* Little Security - the size and weight of the Flash drive makes it very easy to misplace. Most have little or no security features and data is accessed easily. Some Flash Drives do have built in security; either a password or in some cases a finger print system - but this comes at a price.

Article by David Haysom. David is the eCommerce Manager for OfficeRocket http://www.officerocket.co.nz/. OfficeRocket is an online store that offers a wide range of office supplies including computer data storage media.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Haysom

MP3 is Music to Ears

Making it that much easier for people to enjoy their favorite tunes MP3 players have revolutionized the music systems. All earlier musical formats, including records, cassette, and CDs could never give the sheer convenience of MP3 players. It enables a listener to create personalized music lists and carry thousands of songs along without having to be burdened by a number of discs in a pack.

The MP3 player, along with the hundreds of songs it can store, is a device tinier than a pack of cards. Compared to a CD player and a case to store the discs, this is more manageable and far more compact.

It is features and advantages such as these that have made MP3 players the toast of music lovers the world over. You could buy MP3 players from a variety of models in different shapes and sizes through which manufacturers try to build a wide and varied customer base. To make the deal even more attractive, players are integrated with some add-ons.

MP3 players makes a disc jockey out of you, letting you pick songs of your choice and arranging them in your preferred sequence the way you would like to hear them. It is the power of having thousands of songs at your fingertips. You can arrange songs in a play list in the order of genre, the singers, or simply mingled randomly. You could start creating a play list by first identifying the songs you want from a sea of sources available on the Net or around.

It is possible also to convert your collection of songs stored in audio CDs into MP3 files using the ripper and encoder software. Quite a few MP3 players available in the market are already equipped with the software required. Aided by a ripper, you could copy a song from the CD onto the hard disk of a computer. With the help of an encoder, the song could be compressed into the MP3 format. Encoded songs can be downloaded on the MP3 player and there you have a treasure of music to enjoy.

Copyrights protected article written by Andrew Stratton for Surveillance Technology. More articles and information about the Music and Entertainment can be viewed easily altogether at this location http://www.surveillancetechnology.com/entertainment-system.htm. Please be free to explore the website for more information on every surveillance products and their features.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

How To Get The Best Possible Used Car Loan

If you want to learn conversational Spanish, the best way to go about it is through an interactive-audio Spanish learning program. There are a number of these teaching tools for learning conversational Spanish that are available for purchase and download on the Internet.

The starting programs can be divided into two categories or "tiers": Full conversational and Quick start. The Full conversational programs will give you the ability to converse freely on diverse subjects in Spanish with a vocabulary of 4,000 to 8,000 Spanish words. Prices for digital versions run $100 to $150.

The Quick start programs will give you the basics, the ability to handle most common situations in Spanish, with a vocabulary of 2,000 to 4,000 words. Digital versions for download generally run from $20 to $50.

The advantages to using interactive audio teaching tools for learning conversational Spanish are many, including:

1. Portability. You download the lessons to your computer hard disk. From there you can offload to your iPod or other portable audio device (the lessons are generally in MP3 format), even burn them to CD's which you can play back on any CD player.

This gives you the ability to listen to and interact with the lesson materials anytime, anyplace. Your choice. You can learn and practice in your car, while exercising, on weekends, any time/place.

2. Excellent instructors. The Spanish pronunciation and accent you end up with cannot be better than that of your instructor. You want to learn from a native speaker. Classroom learning is limited by the linguistic ability of the teacher, which is not always the best. With the audio recorded lessons, generally you get the best.

Also, when you leave the classroom, you can take your notes, but the correct pronunciation, meter and rhythm of the language? With your recorded teaching tools for learning conversational spanish, you always have them with you for a refresher course. Even on the plane to Acapulco!

3. Speed control. You can go as fast or as slow as you like. You can repeat lessons as often as you need to to get the material down pat. You are in charge, you control the learning speed.

4. Cost. Almost any other method of learning will cost you more and take longer. The speed and low cost of making copies, the low cost of the Internet to deliver them to your hands, all work for unbeatable cost advantages!

That is one of the reasons why so many people are learning another language these days. (For the U.S. and Canada, Spanish is the most popular.) It is because the teaching tools for learning conversational spanish have become so economical and convenient.

For more information, follow the links below. The second link takes you to a variety of first and second tier learning programs.

For an excellent Spanish-learning course available at a great price, visit: Learn Spanish Now To learn more about the best teaching tools for learning conversational Spanish and available resources to learn Spanish, visit: Teaching tools learning conversational spanish
Jorge Chavez Learned Spanish after he was 30, now is bilingual, Spanish-English. http://rocket-spanish.ya23.com


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jorge_Chavez

Why A Portable MP3 Player Should Be In Your Future

For many years the music industry dictated to consumers how they could buy the music that they wanted to hear. Did you like only one or two songs by an artist? Too bad. You still had to buy the whole album or tape. But the power to select the music that we want to listen to, and play it wherever we want, has been ushered in by the digital age, and today even cheap portable mp3 players are capable of some surprising flexibility.

For many years in the past there was no credible way to make copies of the music that was sold. That all began to change when tape cassette recorders began to get popular. At last you had a way to record song tracks onto your own tape and take them with you to play while you were traveling. But tapes are not the easiest medium to work with, and they introduced some unfavorable listening characteristics of their own too. But it was all we had for song portability.

Then along comes the CD and it changed forever the way that music is played and heard. CDs could store the huge files needed for digital sound and so the sound quality improved dramatically. They could also be taken anywhere you wanted to go and played in portable CD players. It wasn't long before folks started figuring out how to convert music files from CDs to digital files that could be played on their computers, and that led to the mp3 revolution that we now have in place.

Today portable mp3 players are quickly becoming the standard for listening to music, because all you need is a source that has the digital music files you want to listen to, and you can then download the files onto your mp3 player and take them with you wherever you go. It's simple, easy, and the best rated mp3 players take up very little room, making them perfect for folks on the go.

Actually MP3 is only one of the digital formats used to encode music, but it has somehow become the moniker for all digital song files. The most popular file format these days is WMA(Windows Media Audio). And there are a handful of others too, but they all seem to conveniently fall under the heading of "mp3 files".

Now you no longer have to buy the entire album if you like to just listen to a few songs on that album. You can download those songs individually, save them to your computer hard drive and then transfer them whenever you want to your mp3 player. And you can make several copies of those songs without losing any sound quality, because they are all in digital format and will always sound the same regardless of how many times they are copied.

So as you can see, portable mp3 players have become a powerful tool in the hands of music lovers everywhere. There are lots of cheap portable mp3 players available these days, so if you haven't joined the digital music revolution already, why not give it a try soon?

Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related topics including audio and video. You can find out more about best portable mp3 players and best rated mp3 players by visiting our Home Theater website.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thad_Pickering

MP3 Downloads

MP3 is a popular encoding and compression format for digital audio. The term MP3 is an acronym for MPEG-1 Layer 3. Using the MP3 format, larger digital audio files can be shrunk to a fraction of their size, losing a little of the sound quality in the process. Compared to the reduction in file size and ease of download, the reduction in quality is negligible and usually not very noticeable.

MP3 downloads are becoming hugely popular these days, because they allow several songs or pieces of audio to be stored without occupying a large amount of storage space.

MP3 files can be played either on a computer, using software applications such as Winamp or Windows media player, or they can be played on specialized MP3 players such as the Apple IPod. MP3 audio files may be played on recently manufactured DVD Players and CD players.

MP3 files are usually downloaded from websites on the Internet. Once downloaded, MP3 files can also be copied to compact discs or to MP3 players, using a data transfer cable.

MP3 files of popular music are available for download for as low as $1. Websites such as the ITunes online music store, operated by Apple, are very popular and boast of a huge library of music that can be purchased online. Even though MP3 files can be downloaded from the Internet for free, downloading copyrighted music without permission is illegal and can be termed piracy.

MP3 downloads help a person to build a music library. MP3 downloads also helps upcoming and unknown artists promote their music cost effectively. All they need to do is to post their music online for free downloads and they can be sure of reaching a large audience.

MP3 Downloads provides detailed information on MP3 Downloads, Free MP3 Downloads, MP3 Download Software, MP3 Download Sites and more. MP3 Downloads is affiliated with CD Covers



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Looking For an MP3 Player?

If you don’t have an mp3 player, and even if you do, you should check out all the new stuff that’s going on. I’m hoping this article will give you some idea of what kind of mp3 player you want and some tips on what to look for in an mp3 player.

Maybe you work out and need something small and skip-proof for running or lifting. Maybe you have an 8 hour (or longer) plane ride when you go home and need to pass the time. Maybe you want a new one just for the sake of having a new one. Whatever it is, this article should help you choose.

First, for those of you who want something for working out: The two most important things to look for are size/weight and solid state memory, things CD players lack. You want something that you can clip to your shorts or strap to your arm that won’t interfere with your movements, and you want it to be light enough so you don’t even notice it. (Tip: Get a lithium ion battery to save even more weight.) To be sure that your player will not skip if you move too much or too fast, get one with solid state internal Flash memory, which has no moving parts so it can’t skip. These are usually available as 64 to 512 MB models, with a 64 MB model holding roughly an hour of music. Prices typically range from $100 to $300.

On the other hand, you may want to store all 16,000 songs in your collection on your mp3 player so you never hear the same one twice. In this case you need a hard drive based mp3 player, commonly known as an mp3 jukebox, for which you could pay up to $500. It will be a little bigger and heavier than and not quite as durable as a solid state mp3 player, but that isn’t a concern if you just want to sit around and listen to music. And they are still far more portable than a CD player.

Torn between a small, light, solid state mp3 player and a hard drive based player that holds thousands of songs? Well, the iPod Mini may be for you! The iPod Mini is just one model in a new breed of small hard drive mp3 players. They are a little lighter and smaller than normal hard drive players, and hold more songs than the average solid state mp3 player. (Did I mention the iPod Mini comes in blue, green, gold, and pink?) That’s it for the main differences, but here are some more things you should look for when making a purchase: long battery life, an FM tuner, voice recorder, an easy to read screen, and compatibility with your computer.

If you’re looking to purchase online, I recommend www.amazon.com. But first you should check www.mp3-player-guide.com (which has a buyer’s guide and reviews) so you can make a better decision.


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A Look at the iRiver MP3 Player

Iriver introduced their first product, the iMP-100, a portable CD player capable of decoding MP3 data files on CDs, on November, 2000. In the number one global market, iriver was quickly displaced by the introduction of Apple's iPod. Founded in Seoul, capital of South Korea, iriver makes portable digital audio players, including USB mass storage, multiple codecs, FM tuners, recording capabilities, and upgradeable firmware. Microsoft helped test and market its latest product, the Clix, while specifying upgrades to its graphics engine and chips. Irivers initially dropped UMS support for several of their flash memory based players, in favor of Microsofts's MTP. The company later released an official "iriver firmware updater" that allowed the users to switch between the MTP and UMS interfaces.

Iriver has developed four models for the portable multimedia player, the audio and video market. They are capable of playing several digital video formats, in addition to playing audio and displaying still images, with two models. The G10 is in progress right now, and will play digital music, video, and games. Its hard drives will be available in a 4GB or 8GB, while its size is less than half of Sony's PSP.

There are several MP3 companies that are interested in designing and developing MP3 players, and are capable of supporting a user's entire music library, while others look to create a player that rivals the number one positioned MP3 player - the iPod. After this, a third type of manufacturer arrives, one that looks to create a usable and durable product. This is where the iriver MP3 player enters the picture. The iriver has three basic systems for people looking for a basic digital music player. The iriver T30 series comes in 512MB (120 songs) and 1GB (250 songs) formats with a 24 hour battery life. Both support subscription services, have a voice recorder, and can record directly from a source without using a PC. The T10 has a color display and an unbelievable 45 hour battery life, with the most useful tool on any MP3 player, the FM tuner and recorder.

In an even more dedicated effort to appeal to the athletic, "sporty" type, iRiver designed a MP3 player that the user can take to the pool! An MP3 player with a water-proof cover that retails at $99.99 that is just as compact and easy to use as the regular version. The system has a sleek design and, believe it or not, waterproof headphones that make swimming and enjoying your favorite tunes possible! But some complaints about the iRiver product stem from the lack of data storage and the unfriendly format. When trying to delete a single song it sometime deletes an entire folder or the entire collection altogether.



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Team Building Games and Adventures

Team Building Games and Adventures come with instructions, but to really get the most from each exercise you need to bring something a little extra: creativity.

The Team Building Adventure I recommend most is called Marooned. I probably recommend it the most, not because it is the best adventure, but it’s the easiest one to run for organizations that have not participated in game scenarios before. The adventures can train groups with hundreds of people, but participating groups break down into about six or seven people.

The basic premise of Marooned is that you have signed on for a cruise in the South Pacific. Your ship visits a small island where people are invited to wander around. The ship heads off to another island leaving a small group of people behind. As part of the group, you need to take inventory, discuss possibilities, and make plans for a stay from a matter of hours to what could be days. Since this is a team building adventure, the main goal is to get people talking, sharing and working together. One of the main lessons to learn is that there are times when people should lead and times when they should follow.

Team Building Adventures are good for combining rank and file employees and management. A good business should welcome input from everyone. These adventures are also great introductions to groups that perhaps have worked together via email, but never met. For example, a non-profit organization might have a Corporate Advisory Board that rarely meets in person. An adventure would be a great way to start a planning session for that group to learn more about each other and begin working together as a team.

The creativity part of team building adventures adds fun into the training recipe. Here are some creative touches to put people in the mood for their Marooned training adventure:

Encourage people to bring their favorite Hawaiian shirts.
Visit the local Goodwill store and buy extra Hawaiian shirts for people who don’t have their own.
At the Dollar Store buy enough leis for everyone to wear.
Serve luau foods for lunch or snacks.
Buy tropical fruits like pineapples, coconuts and guavas for decorations.
Put travel posters on the wall.
Play Tahitian or Hawaiian music on a CD player.
Use another CD player to play waves lapping on the beach.
Spray a tropical air scent in the discussion area (if no one is allergic).

I like to think of Team Building Adventures as a party. I want everyone to have fun, and to have fun they need to participate. Creativity makes connections with people. It draws in their interest and imaginations.

The best parties are those where people take ownership. The guests become the hosts. They want the other guests to feel as welcome as they do. The same goes for Team Building Adventures. As the members of the organization become involved, they share the adventure, they share the fun, and everyone becomes members of the team and enjoy the party.

Don Doman is a published author, video producer, and corporate trainer. He owns the business training site Ideas and Training (http://www.ideasandtraining.com), which he says is the home of the no-hassle "free preview" for business training videos. He also owns Human Resources Radio (http://www.humanresourcesradio.com), which broadcasts HR and business training information, program previews, and training samples from some of the world's great training speakers twenty-four hours a day. You can listen and learn on Human Resources Radio.


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