Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router Review

I an a non-techie so even there are 3 people one laptop each in the house, I never thought of buying any router until my neighbor recomMended Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband router.  He said that since he purchased it last year, he never encountered any problems with it.  It was also very easy to set up.

Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router Review

Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router Review

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Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router Review

Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router Review

I was afraid that it won't work because I don't anything about networks and all that stuff.  I just know how to use the Computer period.  When the box came, I was a little bit scared because I thought it will be complicated to connect all 3 laptops in the house.  I was surprised that it took less than 30 minutes to do that.

All I needed to do was to Watch the CD that came with the unit, follow the instructions and in minutes, all our 3 laptops from different rooms are connected to the internet wirelessly.  We tried putting the laptops in different rooms in the house to check the signal.  The signal is always good even in the baseMent and the mezzanine. 

I set up the router in my room.  My housemate who uses the laptop more than 50 ft. from my room has no problems with connection.  Even if stream videos and upload pictures, we never experienced any problems with the problem.  The connection is still as Fast as when it's not used for large bandwidths.  

We also loved how it looks.  It doesn't look like the typical router that has 2 antennas.  It looks sleek in shiny black box without any external antennas.  I highly recomMend Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router to those who don't have experience with wireless connection at home.

Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router Review

Comparing Three Set Top Boxes From Logitech, Apple and Western Digital

There are several set-top boxes available for sale out there currently, and three of the far more affordable digital media receivers are the Western Digital WD TV Live Plus 1080p HD Media Player, more frequently referred to as WD TV, the eponymous Apple TV, and a slightly expensive one, the Logitech Revue with Google TV.

Comparing Three Set Top Boxes From Logitech, Apple and Western Digital

Comparing Three Set Top Boxes From Logitech, Apple and Western Digital

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Comparing Three Set Top Boxes From Logitech, Apple and Western Digital

Comparing Three Set Top Boxes From Logitech, Apple and Western Digital

Logitech Revue
Google has overcome all of us definitely with their effective internet search engine that altered the way we looked at the web. Right now, it truly is looking to replicate that act with television Watching. The Logitech Revue is certainly one earlier merchandise that sets the Google TV application to work.

What the heck is the Logitech Revue with Google TV? It is hugely just like other internet-to-TV receivers which includes Boxee, or Apple TV, nevertheless the main variance is that it really is driven by Google's very own Google TV software program. Google TV is referred to as "ground-breaking" for its power to connect to lots of on-line media and then to combine it together with your TV media. As opposed to other TV media players, there's an extremely good wireless keyboard (which you'll work with to search motion picture titles and various other video clips way quicker than you possibly could before) including a built-in Google Chrome web browser.

It is not a very small device, nonetheless it is very lighter, weighing just 1.32 pounds. Installation is fAirly ordinary, and in addition the Revue will also take you step-by-step through almost everything, which may include starting your unique Google accounts. The Revue is also in a position to operate alongside the line of Logitech Harmony universal remotes.

A large drawback to Logitech Revue is this: by press time, despite the fact that it might theoretically connect to an array of media, it is remaining blacklisted by significant issuers of content along the lines of Hulu and ABC. Google persistently is discussing with all the main content material providers to help make these television shows available through the Logitech Revue and other Google TV boxes. Essentially, the Logitech Revue with Google TV is a real possible game changer, with cool Logitech systems properly woven into the Google TV tech.

WD TV
WD TV, at its most rudiMentary level, is actually a system digital media streamer, in a position to distribute video and other content from Netflix, MediaFly, Flickr, Pandora Radio as well as others. You can also deliver YouTube clips from the WD TV and view it in your TV in crystal-clear 1080p.

One of the better features of the WD TV is its connectivity capacities. As you can see on the unit's frame, it's got no less than 5 diverse sockets for assorted inputs, such as USB and ethernet. The USB capacity of WD TV is awesome: it could read nearly all storage unit thrown at it, especially portable hard drives and card readers.

An additional neat factor concerning WD TV which is not seen in some other rivaling gadgets is the fact that it could play practically all main media formats, as opposed to Apple TV, which rejects incredibly typical files along the lines of.AVI. It does not use lots of electrical power while the pricing is so cost effective for a receiver that can execute nearly every thing. Nevertheless, most testers would not advocate purchasing the preceding editions because of glitches that weaken the performance of WD TV. Western Digital has sorted out those issues today. If you want major network internet streaming, even so, then you should look into the WD TV.

The user-friendly user interface makes the WD TV a good purchase, and in case you undoubtedly have plenty of movie files in your pc or in other places, simply send it to the WD TV and it may play on your own TV like a charm.

Apple TV
The net is gradually starting to replace the television when it comes to visual enjoyMent. Let's be realistic - almost all of our television shows are offered on the net, and video streaming sites such as Youtube has furnished us all a whole brand new assortMent of media to consume. Bluntly speaking, we are gradually deviating away from the television and becoming progressively more dependent towards the Internet.

Just how do significant organizations cope with this developing trend? The one logical option: driving the web nearer to the tv screen. Google did this with Google TV, and brand-new projects just like Roku and Boxee Box are making swells throughout the year in relation to their progressive internet-to-TV gadgets. Recently, Apple has got their very own solution to the very competitive arena - Apple TV (2010)

Apple TV is different from the gadgets mentioned previously since it has unique access to apple iTunes, that allows customers to rent out tv shows at a really cheap cost. Not just that, it's an enTirely compact device, fitting the palm of one's hands. As tiny as it really is, though, it is capable to dish out high quality 720p videos, with unmatched quality that is better compared to those of cable TV's. As with most Apple solutions, simpleness is essential, so you will probably be pleased with the minimal method they have utilized for the Apple TV, particularly the remote control. It just has 2 buttons along with a four-way navigation rocker, rendering it extremely user-friendly to novice customers seeing that it is not difficult as most remote controls are.

The newest variation of Apple TV arrives with the Apple AirPlay feature, allowing that you shift any content you're enjoying from your iPhone or iPad to the Apple TV in real time. For instance, should you be viewing a Youtube video via your iPad, a simple tap can move the clip to the Apple TV, and you may Watch the video on the TV readily, exactly like that.

The merely problem with Apple TV may be the inavailability of a few of the more established Computer platforms such as AVI, and also the constrained amount of media content material you possibly can lease. Nevertheless, Apple TV continues to be a high-quality internet-to-TV gadget, going above the user-friendliness of competitive devices, and also the movie quality too.

Comparing Three Set Top Boxes From Logitech, Apple and Western Digital

Dish Network Review - How Does Dish Network Stack Up?

I started out to write a straight review of Dish Network for you, but I did want to Mention there's a little secret buried in here about how to save a ton of money when you order the Dish service. So pay attention, okay?

This review is going to start with a little story about my buddy Tim.

Tim is the most stubborn person I've ever known. Even when we were kids, I told him about a shortcut he could take through the woods to get from his house to mine a lot Faster. Did he listen? No, he continued to go the long way around.

I told him not to use the rope swing over the river, the water was down and it would be too shallow. Did he listen? No, and he spent most of that summer in a cast from the knee down.

Even though I know about his stubborn nature, I still try to help him out when I can. The most recent example was when he finally got Tired of the cable company raising his rates and decided to switch to satellite TV.

Every time I called him, he was scouring the Internet, searching for the best deal and who to place his order with. I told him about the place I'd found and how easy it was to use. "Do not buy Dish Network without checking out this site first," I said. But did he listen? Of course not. I've put the link at the bottom of this story, so scroll down there and check it out. Hopefully you're smarter than Tim and will take my advice and go there.

Anyway, back to the review of Dish Network. I told Tim how I'd already done all the research. I'd already learned that Dish Network offers the most channels for the least amount of money. It could have saved him so much time and aggravation, if he wasn't such a stubborn SOB.
If he'd listened to me, he could already be enjoying all the movies and sporting events on their pay-per-view channels. He could choose from 200 hours a day of HD programming. He could get an Hdtv receiver, a DVR and 4 rooms installed for NOTHING! It's all free! If you know WHERE to get it from, that is. And for that, you're going to have to click on those links down at the bottom.

Now, Tim has to do things his own way, even when his own way is costlier, more time consuming and sometimes just downright stupid.

In fact, he's just about ruined me for trying to help people. But I believe when you find something good, especially if it saves time and money, you should share it with others. That's why I included those three links down at the bottom. I clicked on dozens of websites about Dish Network (and there are millions online) before I landed on those three, and believe me, they are the ONLY ones worth your time.

Now, let's get to that dirty little secret I uncovered quite by accident. Some of the websites you'll go to will bury their best deals on the inner pages of their websites. A lot of people don't look beyond the first page or two of details and never even see them. While they may think it makes for good business, it doesn't make potential customers very happy.

You can stop spinning your wheels and wasting your valuable time by following my advice and clicking on the links below. Why, because these guys are the ones who spend all day long finding those "secret" pages and keeping on top of the best deals. That's the only way I was able to find the most current promotions and the simplest way to order your Dish Network system.

Or you can be like Tim, determined to do things your own way and spend days, even weeks, trying to sort through a maze of hype.

Tim called last night. After 3 weeks, I guess he'd finally had enough, though he'd never admit that to me. But he did ask, "Hey man, what was that website you said you found?" He tried to be all casual about it, like it didn't matter much, but I knew better.

Don't be like Tim. Listen to someone who's been there and done it. Just click the links at the end of this story. You'll be glad you did.

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Reduce Your Cable Bill With Internet TV Without Cutting The Cord

Free Internet television, may be a way for you to cut the cost of cable, or satellite, but it's not likely to ever be a way for you to cut the cord completely. There are literally thousands of on demand video sources online for free with full TV episodes, and movies. To fill in the gap there are also premium TV sources like Hulu Plus, and premium online movie sources like Netflix. A basic subscription to both is less than most premium movie channel packages like HBO, and Showtime.

With all the free video sources available online people tend to start thinking about cutting the cord, or discontinuing cable, or satellite TV subscription services. The problem with this is the loss of live TV broadcast. How will you know if there is a tornado warning in your area, or something similar without live TV? You could get live over the Air TV, but unless you have a good number of local networks close by, you'll miss out on a lot of benefits you get from a subscription television service.

Why not have the best of both worlds? One could cut their cable, or satellite programming to the bare essentials, and take advanTAGe of popular set top boxes like Roku, Boxee Box, or Logitech Revue, or even programs like Playon which offers media streaming on internet connected devices like gaming consoles, or set top boxes to Watch a plethora of Internet TV content for free. This would cut your subscription fees, while still providing a ton of entertainMent options.

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Flash Drive Not Detected? Solution is Here

There can be several reasons for Flash Drives not being detected by your Computer.
First your Computer is not able to provide drivers for your Flash Drive. Now, for your information, you do not need to install any drivers from outside if you are using Windows 2000 SP4,Windows XP or Windows Vista as they come with native support for these devices.
If you are thinking that you are already using one of these versions of windows still your computer is not able to mount your Flash Drive. Don't worry,that's why I am writing this article. Just read on...
If your are not on one of these Windows version then your problem can be easily resolved by just installing the drivers which you get on a disc that comes with your Flash Drive. If you did not receive any disc,try checking out the manufacturer's website and it should be there for sure. If still no luck,then try contacting me....

Remember, everything is explained here assuming that you are on Windows XP but need not worry as other Windows like Vista should work the same way.

Let's come back to the topic..

There are several possible reasons for Flash Drives not mounting on your computer. Mentioned below are few of them:

Drive Letter Conflict

Flash Drive not formatted properly

Windows require some patch or update
Problem with the USB port
Physical connection problem

So, let's start with the first one, that is, drive letter conflict.

Now, this can be the problem when you are trying to use your Flash Drive in a network environMent. The best possible solution to this problem is to change the drive letter assigned to Flash Drive. This can be done by going to Disk Management and right clicking on Removable Drive and then clicking on Change Drive Letter. You can select any drive letter which is not assigned by windows to any drive or partition in any computer inside a network. Also, before changing the drive letter it's recommended to check if your Flash Drive is showing in Device Manager under Disk Drives. If it's not there that problem can be something else.

If changing Drive Letters does not help and drive is showing in Device Manager then probably you should try disconnecting that computer from the network by taking out the network cable or if you are inside a corporate environment then try contacting you IT deptt to know the drive letter not being used anywhere.

Let's talk about the second scenario. If the drive is not formatted properly that means that it's mounting up and being detected by the computer as well. It's just would be giving a message to Format the Drive when trying to access it. This can happen if the File System has corrupted on Flash Drive or its not formatted in the supported format. For example, if you are trying to use a Flash Drive formatted in Ext2 file system in Windows Computer. The only solution to this problem is to format the drive in the supported format. For windows you should always format the drive in Fat or Fat32 and in Macintosh you should use MSDOS as this will also be supported by Windows computer. Please note formatting the Drive will ERASE all data. So, if you have any important data kindly try using a different computer to see if drive works or contact a Data Recovery company. If you want some reference kindly leave a comment.

Also, if you are not able to format the Flash Drive, please try using the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. It's made by HP but works on generally all Flash Drives.

Now let's talk about problems that can happen because of any updates or patches. No matter if you have the latest service pack for your Vista or XP computer. Still, there are few updates or rather say patches which need to be installed if you face any such problem.

Vista Patch
Please find the link to Vista Patch at the end of this article.

As per Microsoft the patch will fix the following issues:

" When the computer resumes from a suspend state or from a hibernation state, the computer stops responding. Additionally, you receive a "0x9F" stop message on a blue screen.

" The computer takes a long time to resume from a suspend state or from a hibernation state.

" The computer takes a long time to resume from a suspend state or from a hibernation state when you use a VIA controller.

" The computer stops responding when you use an Authentic USB fingerprint reader. Additionally, you receive a "0xFE" Stop error on a blue screen or a "0x9F" Stop error on a blue screen.

" The computer stops responding when you use a USB Bluetooth audio device.

" The computer takes a long time to resume from a suspend state or from a hibernation state when you use an Enhanced Host Controller Interface (EHCI) controller.

" The computer stops responding when you remove a USB device. Additionally, you receive a "0xFE" Stop error on a blue screen.

" When a computer resumes from a suspend state or from a hibernation state multiple times, you receive a "0xFE" Stop error on a blue screen.

So go and install this even if you are facing a different problem related to but not similar to this.

Another patch for XP Service Pack 1 is also include at the bottom.

There are chances of problems with USB ports as well which happens rarely but the possibility is still there. The best way to identify is to attach any other USB device on the same port and check if that device works or not. For Example, USB Printer. Also of you are using a Desktop and inserting the drive in some front USB port then try using some port at the back.

Here , I would like to add one more point. If you have a high capacity drive like 8 GB and you are trying to use it on an old computer then due to inadequate power support the drive may not mount properly.

Sometimes, even if the icon for Removable disc appears under My Computer,the drive may not work properly as the complete capacity will not be mounted in case of inadequate power. You can check this by right clicking on Removable Disc and then clicking on Properties. If one this window, both free and used space is showing 0 KB then this can be the possible problem. In order to fix any issues related to inadequate power Supply you can purchase USB Power Hub from any computer store and attach it to the USB port. What it does is that it will convert the low power supplied by USB port to little high power.

But, remember this problem generally happens in case of old computers. Before purchasing USB power hub, you can also try the back port of your computer if you are on Desktop.

And Last but not the Least, improper physical connection is the general cause for Drives not getting detected. This may happen if USB port or connector on Flash Drive has bent or physically damaged due to which drive is not able to make a contact with pins on USB port. In this case, you should also look the inside area of port or connector and if any damage found please take it to some local technician of Drive manufacturer to get it fix.

So, this was my first article. Any feedback will be appreciated.
Thanks

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Blu-Ray Players Deliver The Best Value In Home Entertainment

After the Blu-ray format won the HD war with HD-DVD, most of us assumed that it would be followed by a quick rise to top the Home EntertainMent market. This did not happen, however. There were still many who debated whether DVD or Blu-ray was the best possible choice for their living rooms. This debated seems to be coming to an end. Most experts and research marketers predict Blu-ray players and movies will soon outnumber and begin to outsell DVDs in the next couple of years.

One of the main reasons is the cost of players. For example, the Panasonic DMP-BD75 is priced the same as a standard up-scaling DVD player. And the DMP-BD75 can play DVDs with the same quality, as well as play Blu-ray discs and it provides online streaming services like Netflix and Vudu. So clearly they can offer us much more features and functions than a DVD player, and we get it without it costing that much extra. The only logical reason to choose a DVD player would be if you do not own a Hdtv or don't plan on getting a Hdtv in the near future. In fact, there are not many reasons why you wouldn't choice this High-Definition technology.

Blu-ray players clearly offer the best value when we are dealing with Home EntertainMent. No matter what type of budget you are on, you will get great Full HD 1080p picture quality. Because even the entry-level players will perform the same as higher-end models, when playing back Blu-ray discs. Also, this HD format is the only one that can deliver the latest high-resolution formats - Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio. For the die-hard video/audiophile out there, you will only begin to see a clear and distinct difference in picture and sound quality from the top-end models, like Oppo BDP-93 and BDP-95. Of course you will have to pay more for these types of players.

Almost all players manufactured today will be able to connect to the internet. Providing access to BD-Live content and in most cases online streaming services. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter can also be easily accessed, as well as video chatting with Skype. Nothing seems to be excluded, including DLNA support (stream video and music files from your Computer), built-in Wi-Fi, USB playback, internal hard drives, built-it web browsers and 3D technology. Players are quickly becoming the all-in-one home entertainMent device. Eliminating the need for separate digital media devices that only provide one function (such as Roku 2 XS or Logitech Revue), in some casing consumers are cutting their cable cord. They can get all their movies and TV programs through their player.

For these reasons, it is easy to see why people are abounding their DVD players and choosing the HD format. With prices dropping all the time, Blu-ray players are simply the best value out there for your home entertainMent. You not only get excellent playback of DVDs, Blu-rays and CDs, but it provides countless hours of other alternate entertainment.

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Hottest Technology Trends for 2012

2010 and 2011 were known as the years of the tablets and Smartphones - where the hottest technology trends were those which were dominated by the touch screens. With Apple shinning brighter than any of its counterparts with the iPhone and the iPad, the precedence was set for the rest of the tech companies to follow.

If technology trends are to be kept in sight, then 2011 was also surely the year that the cloud-based services and their potential were recognized.

So with the year almost over, the question that's popping up in everyone's mind is, which technology trends will define 2012?

Here are a few top choices for definitive technology trends for 2012:

1. 'Cloud' is here to stay!

Yes, you read that right. With Apple pushing iCloud out in the mid-October, there is much more yet to come from cloud computing. As more and more IT departMents move away from the traditional sharing of resources, over to cloud services we're seeing ever shrinking private data centers which are sure to make their mark on not just technology but businesses at every front.

Moving everything over to the internet for IT companies is also an easier choice as it gives them much more freedom to move around their data between multiple centers. Industry analysts predict that in the next couple of years, businesses are likely to 'rent' their servers rather than maintaining their own. Thereby making sure that this is one trend that's here to stay.

2. Internet Television

Google did dabble into the internet TV market in early 2010, but just like Google Wave (and very recently Google+, which got rave reviews but eventually failed to make its' mark) it flopped. Though in all honesty, the reviews for Google TV weren't all that great but coupled with poor service and lack of interest from the public made Google table the deal for a bit.

However, 2012 might just prove to be the year of Internet TV. With Sony's Internet HD TV, Logitech's Revue and Apple's foray into Apple TV, Internet TV is certainly poised to make a comeback as one of the biggest technology trends for 2012.

3. Better, Faster and cheaper Smartphones

As more and more inexpensive, Faster and 'good lookin'' devices are coming into the market, the competition is getting tougher for Smartphones. One thing is for certain though; Smartphones define the future of technology.

The iPhones and the Androids have the market pretty much cornered but it's an open field for their competitors who are out there making cheap Smartphones that cater to every need. Mark our words, this is the future and is probably going to remain one of the hottest trends for year 2012!

4. A Hybrid between a Laptop, Smartphone, Tablet and a PC

With more and more users opting for smart phones and tablets like the iPad and the iPhone the market is ripe for hybrids, thus making it one of the most eagerly awaited technologies for the coming year.

The PC market has taken a hit with its' sales down in the year so far, but all is not wrong as the tech companies acknowledged that the consumer is looking for a cross over device that comprises all of the technologies that are part of their daily lives.

With Apple's iPad providing some sort of cross over gadget between the above, Google has its' Chromebook in the works whereas HP has its Omni PCs to thank and improve in the coming months. We're waiting to see what magic the tech companies have in store for the next year!

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