Monday, April 9, 2007

My Quick Un-biased iPod Review

Apple didn't do much new when it introduced the fourth generation of the iPod, but it didn't need to. No one has beaten the company at the portable-audio-player game yet, but with 75 percent market share, the only way to go is down.

The fourth-generation iPod performs pretty much the same as the third-generation player, with some detail improvements.
Like the Archos Gmini XS200 and Samsung YH-925, the iPod distorts, sometimes heavily, when you use the EQ settings. Harmonic distortion is minimal with no EQ, but at higher volume levels most of the EQ settings showed audible distortion.

When we couldn't hear it, we could see it plainly on our audio spectrum analyzer. Bass response is about 5 dB down at 40 Hz, the practical lower limit for most music.
To know as to whether there is less distortion when using the line-out jack on the dock.
When measured the amount of distortion on headphones at listening volumes, it has been found the same amount at both jacks.

But feeding into a stereo system or external headphone amplifier requires much less output power and doesn't require EQ in the player, so the music will be clean.
With Apple Lossless compression, the iPod is just as capable as your CD player is of driving a high-end audio system.

If you select EQ presets in iTunes (which doesn't have the distortion problem), however, your iPod will switch to your chosen EQ on a per-song basis when you download to the player.
Another reason to own an iPod is the tremendous number of aftermarket products and accessories.

There's certainly much more available than with any other large hard drive player out there. You can extend its capabilities with hardware and software to perform PDA functions, gaming, recording, wireless transmission, and more.
It's a platform, it's a social phenomenon, and it's a robust device with millions of satisfied users, despite our carping about distortion.
The human factors are still the best, and there's some excellent usability engineering in this fourth-generation player.

About the Author

For more more information about un-biased ipod review please visit http://www.i-pod-search.com

Professional Poker Player Skills

What makes a poker a player a professional? Does it mean that by adding the word professional the person loses less money? Or does it mean that the player enter tournaments through out the year? If you are thinking about getting the word professional embossed on your 'poker resume', here are some skills that you should consider mastering.

1. The Mathematician
a. These guys have mastered the odds of certain combinations that comes out already. For example, they know that when you hold a pocket pair, you can hit the set with only one in eight and a half chances. Those pocket cards also give you odds of having one in three chance of completing a 'by the river' flopped flush draw.
b. Mathematicians also able to compute the number of “outs” because they know it is important. Outs are the number of cards that will improve your hand. They compute it by multiplying it by two and adding one and that’s the percentage of them hitting the pot.
c. Knowing outs will be useless unless it is translated into rational and calculated betting. When you figure out that you have a 20% chance of hitting, you then figure out your chances of winning or losing. You divide the size of the pot at the river by the amount you have to put in. I.E. the current pot and the amount of bets that will be added on in the future. If you have calculated that the bet to you will be 50 and have 20% chance of hitting and the pot at the river will be higher than 250, try to call for it. If not, fold. Confusing right?
d. Review these concepts if you really want to be an expert.

2. Discipline
a. Always try to find a table where you have an advantage. Try finding tables where there are more amateurs or
"fish". Fish only want to win by being lucky. Poker players want to win by skill and by hoping that his opponents don’t get lucky.
b. Every different game, table or opponent set needs the poker player to have different disciplines or styles. He or she cannot always rely on one style. For instance, a player may play the better hands when there are not much pre-flop actions. The player can make a loose call with other speculative hands when lots of opponents are limping in.
c. A disciplined limit player has excellent pre-flop skills. However, the disciplined no-limit player is quite different. This player doesn’t care much with paying lots of blinds but instead this kind of player would not want to be trapped. The difference is that limit players avoid squandering their stack bit by bit while no-limit players avoids losing his whole stack in just one hand. A disciplined no-limit player can play a lot of hands. Even if he or she has cards such as 5 spades and 3 diamonds he or she will still be loose preflop. But expert no-limit players know how to quit as well when their hands are really bad.
d. The disciplined player knows when to quit even when the pot is really juicy.
e. A disciplined player learns from his mistakes and admits that they will still make them later on. Disciplined players will just keep on learning because nobody is a perfect poker player.
There is a ton more to learn about poker and gambling, this is just the start.

About the Author

Ryan Tenney writes for http://www.cafegamblingcasino.com. Learn all about poker and casino games today.

Various types of MP3 players

There is a variety of MP3 players because of the differences in the choice of people who buy them. This choice is also based upon factors such as how you plan to use it, the amount of music you want to carry in your Mp3 player and how much are you prepared to pay for the same.

Flash Memory Players
The flash memory MP3 player is the smallest and lightest as compared to the other types of MP3 players. These typically store fewer songs and are the lightest with no moving parts, it is really ideal for casual digital music fans who want to have small amount of music or that morning jog. Another advantage of the flash memory player is that its battery lasts much longer because of its size.

Hard Drive Players
Hard drive players are usually big and heavy than the flash memory players. These offer more storage and those who look out for a player fro their entire music collection, this one is the ideal one. It does include some moving parts and as such there is some skipping when the player moves around. Because of the size, hard drive players often have more in-built features but these usually consume more power. A charged battery normally lasts for 8 to 20 hours.

MP3 CD Players
Those of you who have a passion for old fashioned CD player, there is a new variety of CD players available that could play MP3 and other digital sound files. These players burn the CD R/RW discs to your old CD collection. Usually, an MP3 CD player is cheaper than the flash memory and hard drive memory players. However, the problem involved in these players is that they are much larger in size and may skip when jostled.

Minidisc MP3 players
If you are the one who would appreciate Minidisc Technology, then there is an improved new line of technology also known as Minidisc Walkman digital music players.

Hybrid Players
Mp3 is not only the stand alone technology and now the technology companies have started offering MP3 capability in other consumer products such as personal assistants, DVD players and other accessories.

About the AuthorThere is a variety of MP3 players because of the differences in the choice of people who buy them. This choice is also based upon factors such as how you plan to use it, the amount of music you want to carry in your Mp3 player and how much are you prepared to pay for the same.

Flash Memory Players
The flash memory MP3 player is the smallest and lightest as compared to the other types of MP3 players. These typically store fewer songs and are the lightest with no moving parts, it is really ideal for casual digital music fans who want to have small amount of music or that morning jog. Another advantage of the flash memory player is that its battery lasts much longer because of its size.

Hard Drive Players
Hard drive players are usually big and heavy than the flash memory players. These offer more storage and those who look out for a player fro their entire music collection, this one is the ideal one. It does include some moving parts and as such there is some skipping when the player moves around. Because of the size, hard drive players often have more in-built features but these usually consume more power. A charged battery normally lasts for 8 to 20 hours.

MP3 CD Players
Those of you who have a passion for old fashioned CD player, there is a new variety of CD players available that could play MP3 and other digital sound files. These players burn the CD R/RW discs to your old CD collection. Usually, an MP3 CD player is cheaper than the flash memory and hard drive memory players. However, the problem involved in these players is that they are much larger in size and may skip when jostled.

Minidisc MP3 players
If you are the one who would appreciate Minidisc Technology, then there is an improved new line of technology also known as Minidisc Walkman digital music players.

Hybrid Players
Mp3 is not only the stand alone technology and now the technology companies have started offering MP3 capability in other consumer products such as personal assistants, DVD players and other accessories.

About the Author

Olivia Andrews, writing for Free Download MP3 Song is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, health, entertainment, music, gifts, crafts, travel, apparels and mobile phones.

Black Jack Secrets

In order to win blackjack, players must get cards that have a total of 21 or closer to it. If the player gets a card over 21, they will end up losing the game.

Today, more and more people are getting hooked on playing blackjack. In fact, it is considered to be one of the most prevalent and well-liked games in the casino. This is because it is relatively easy to play the game and with the correct strategy, a player can lessen the dealer’s edge and at the same time get an advantage in winning the game.

In winning a game in blackjack, there is only one concept that players must bear in mind. They should always remember to utilize the right strategy.

In order to win a blackjack game, the player must know the basic strategies. This is because these strategies are considered as the vital element in winning blackjack. The player's capability to use a line of attack and manipulate the game is the basic skills that a player must learn in order to win.

So, for people who want to win a game in blackjack, here are some ways how to do it. These things may not guarantee the players to win the game but using them will give them a good chance.

1. Players should know when to hit or stand.

Statistics show that 3 out of the 10 people who play blackjack make hits or stands without even knowing when to do it. Most of them merely rely on their instincts. Instincts can be a pretty factor in winning the game but it is not always like that. So, it is a must that a player should know when to hit or stand just by looking at the cards already dealt and the cards of the dealer.

The idea of when to stand or hit is directly dependent on the dealer’s card.

2. Players should always assume that the dealer’s down card is 10.

This is based on the theory that if the dealer’s down card is a 10 and he gets a 6, chances are he will get the card. If he gets 7, chances are he would either be busted or the player’s probability of getting close to 21 is higher.
Winning blackjack is, indeed, dependent on the dealer’s card.

In this manner, depending on what card the dealer gets, the player can decide whether to hit or stand. The players will then have higher chances of winning.

About the Author

Visit the Casino Guide Today http://www.takecasino.com to Master the Art of Gambling!

Should a HDMI DVD player be your next home theater purchase

Thinking about getting an HDMI DVD player? whether you've heard t he buzz surrounding the latest generation of DVD players or have an HDTV and want a player to connect it to, the information on this page will help.

HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. Its the standard connector for high definition TV and video kit and is a lossless, all-digital audio/ video interface which as well as supporting HD content also carries standard definition (SD) and enhanced definition (ED) video.

Deciding which HDMI DVD player to get is becoming more difficult as more and more devices arrive on the market. Prices range from a very reasonable $200 or so for the Toshiba SD-5970 to a couple of thousand dollars for devices at the high-end.

The Toshiba HDMI DVD player, like the other high definition players, up-converts the DVD-Video content on regular DVD discs to either 720p or 1080i high definition resolution. As well as do everything you would expect of a DVD player, the Toshiba SD-5970 has a couple of tricks up its sleeve. Its progressive scan output, when connected to an HDTV using the HDMI connector, provides twice the number of scan lines present on a normal DVD picture. This means higher resolution, sharper and flicker free images which have none of the motion artifacts, such as stepping, often seen on less expensive DVD players.

Also, the SD-5970 performs, what's known as 3:2 pulldown reversal. This basically means that it corrects the distorion which is caused by translating 24 frames per second film to 30 frames per second video.

The Toshibe SD-5970 is relatively inexpensive for an HDMI DVD player, yet it marks a huge leap in terms of improvement in image quality. More expensive players are better still and best of all, becasue this is a relatively new market prices are sure to fall making even a very good HDMI DVD player within the reach fo any DVD enthusiast.

About the Author

Kenny Hemphill is the editor and publisher of The HDTV Tuner, http://www.the-hdtv-tuner.com