Contributed News
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Geotagging 101: The basics behind adding locations to photos
Want to track where your photos are taken? We'll break down the basics behind the process, called geotagging.
Digital picture albums help turn a shoebox full of old photos into an organized presentation. Who, What, and when are normally taken care of by the photo album software, but how do you fill in the where of a photo? A trend called geotagging aims to help digital shutterbugs add location information to your photos. Who would want to do such a thing, and how do you do it? Read on and we'll breakdown the basics of geotagging.
Profile pages: Apple iPhone 3G, Apple iPhone, Google, GPS, Wi-Fi, Canon, DSLR, Nikon, Nikon D90, Nikon D-series, AGPS, Caching, Flickr, Google Maps, Geotagging, Google Earth, Google Picasa, EXIF, Eye-Fi Home, Hot shoe, Nikon GP-1, Fujifilm S5 Pro
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How to hook up your guitar to your computer
Want to record your licks directly to your computer? Check out our guide for connecting an electric guitar to your machine.
Guitar amps are so(oooo) 10 years ago. Instead of plugging into an amp to jam out, guitar owners have a variety of options for connecting their electric instruments to a computer to either rock for fun or record tracks for playing back later. Join us as we break down some of the best ways for connecting a guitar to a computer.
Profile pages: USB, 3.5 mm stereo jack, Apple GarageBand '09, DAW, Behringer, First Act, SoundTech, 2.5 mm stereo jack, Behringer Guitar Link UCG102, First Act USB Guitar Cable AL900
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Virtualization 101: How to run multiple OSes at the same time
Like using your Mac but need to use Windows-exclusive programs occasionally? A Windows user who dabbles in Linux? You should know about virtualization.
Running multiple OSes at the same time used to be a pipe dream. In the mid '90s, Mac users tethered to Quark Express and other Mac-exclusive desktop publishing applications dreamed of being able to use Windows-exclusive apps, though without recourse. Some tried to bridge the gap by emulating hardware, but the results were extremely slow and proved all but the most basic applications unusable. That all changed a few years ago when Apple announced the unthinkable: the company was switching from the IBM G5 architecture which had done it so proud for so long, and instead moving to Intel-based X86 machines. With the switch, users could freely install Windows as another partition and turn their Mac into the ultimate Windows computer.
That still hadn't eliminated the dream though; users wanted to be able to run Windows applications while still using their Mac OS, without needing to reboot. Enter virtualization, a term which means the ability to run two operating systems simultaneously. Rather than emulation, which requires a software engine to pretend to be other hardware, virtualization simply siphons off some system resources to devote to a guest operating system.
What about users who'd like to go the other way and use Windows with multiple OSes? While there's no virtualization solution that we've found to run Mac OS under Windows (let us know in the comments if you've found one!), we have found multiple solutions to test out Linux without having to restart your machine. Read on as we break down all these scenarios and explain the basics behind virtualization.
Profile pages: Apple, Google, IBM, Apple Mac OS X, Intel, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Google Chrome, emulation, Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
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The Obsessable Ten: Xbox LIVE Arcade games worth playing
Check out our top 10 picks for the best of the Xbox LIVE Arcade.
If you're an Xbox 360 owner and haven't downloaded a game from Xbox Live, you're missing out on some of the best gaming experiences the Xbox has to offer. They might be relatively lean on price, but that doesn't mean they're lean on gameplay or fun. Join us as we talk about some of our favorite Xbox 360 games on this edition of The Obsessable Ten.
Profile pages: Microsoft, Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro, Xbox LIVE Arcade
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Ask the editors: Best video sharing sites?
Jim writes in with a question about the best sites for video sharing. We break down some of the best ways to get your video on the web.
Jim asks:
First of all, I am by no means a computer whiz, but I do manage to function alright most of the time, usually by my own trial and error style. But sometimes my DIY methods will not work, and I just have to get some guidance from an expert, so here goes--
I would like to know which video hosting/sharing website(s) has/have the largest size limit, both per video upload and total size allowed? Are there any, for instance, which may allow for as much as 500-1000MB per upload?
Also, you know how YouTube imposes a time limit on the length of a user's videos (except for certain early members, members of something called "Director's Club), etc. — are there any video hosting/sharing websites that either don't do that or have longer running times allowed per video?
Basically, what I want to do is keep online my collection of vintage TV videos, not have to worry about renewing the URLs by a certain time deadline or that the videos' URLs will expire based on how many visitors to the site; also keep them on a site that has liberal size and running times allowed per video, and allow visitors to download the videos if the uploader so chooses to set the account that way. User comments capability would be nice too, but not necessary in comparison to the other parameters I mentioned. Most, if not all, of my collection would be considered "public domain" for all intents & purposes. But, just in case, I'd prefer a site that isn't as heavily trafficked as YouTube, where the site's owners/webmasters aren't as likely to freak out over "unauthorized usage/copyrights," etc. I think you know what I mean.
I'd appreciate whatver advice you may be able to provide.
Thank you,
Jim
Arlington, MassachusettsLucky for you, Jim, We've done some research and checked out some of the best services. Obviously, things are very different than they were a few years ago before YouTube stomped its $1.65 billion foot on the online video scene. That being said, we've found one service that seems to fit the bill.
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DVD Ripping 101: What you need to know to get video on your machine
We look at the basics behind taking video from a DVD and moving it wherever you like.
So you've got a giant collection of DVD movies you'd like to back up for any number of reasons: so you don't have to scratch the discs, so you can take them on the road with your laptop, iPod or iPhone, or maybe you want to play them in your home media center without having to insert the disc each time. In any case, each scenario requires the same process: DVD ripping. We're going to explain what DVD ripping is, how to do it, and dig into some of the complexity involved in the legality of the matter.
Profile pages: DMCA, DVD, Apple iPod touch, MPEG, CD Ripping, Fair Use
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How to get synced up for better Rock Band and Guitar Hero scores
Failing out at Guitar Hero and Rock Band? Maybe your lackluster guitar playing isn't to blame. We demystify the secrets of the sync.
Missing a bunch of notes in your favorite music-based videogame? Don't fret (sorry, we couldn't resist...) — we can help explain why it might not be your fault, and how to fix it in both Rock Band and Guitar Hero.
Profile pages: EA, CRT, LCD, 120 Hz, Activision, Plasma TV, EA PS2 / PS3 Rock Band Wireless Guitar, Les Paul Playstation 3 Wireless Guitar Hero 3 Controller, Logitech Premiere Edition Wireless Guitar controller, NYKO PS3 FrontMan Guitar, PDP Rage Wireless Guitar, Plasma (PDP), Progressive scanning (line doubling)
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Laptop theft recovery options
We break down some options that'll help you recover your machine should it spring legs and walk away.
Laptops are everywhere, for school, for work, and even just for fun. But having a machine turn up missing, either through the malfeasance of the owner, or through theft, can be a nightmare. While we'd love it if posted signs around campus could rumble up a graduate student's machine, we're more confident in law enforcement than a Sharpie marker. Read on, as we talk about theft recovery of laptops, and how you can get your data back.
Profile pages: Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
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Multiple monitors 101: Why you want them, and how to set them up
Interested in taking the plunge into multiple monitor heaven? Check out our boot camp on what they are, why you need them, and how to set them up.
We've already shown you some of the advanced ways to use multiple computers with one monitor, but what about the simple act of using multiple monitors with one computer? Read on as we go through the step-by-step basics of extending your computer's available visual real estate with another monitor.
Profile pages: Apple, Microsoft, HDMI, Apple Mac OS X, VGA, USB, NVIDIA, ATI, DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, Microsoft Windows, DVI, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista, PCI, Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, PCI Express
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Home networking 101: Troubleshooting and fixing network problems
Ever have a pesky problem connecting to the internet? Check out our guide to troubleshooting a problem with a home network.
"This page cannot be loaded." No matter how you slice it, a lack of internet can be seriously frustrating. When you're having one of those days just trying to get online, there are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot your network connection to figure out the problem. Read on as we talk about network troubleshooting, along with a common solution: updating the firmware on your router.
Profile pages: Wi-Fi, Firmware, Linksys, Router, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), Linksys WRT54G
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