Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Visit This Website Before You Plan Your Next Move

Moving can be one of the most stressful times in a person's life.  I know that to be a fact as I've done it more times than I care to count.  I recently had the pleasure of providing moving tips and new product information to www.CableMover.com.  This newly updated website provides very useful advice and much needed information to help reduce the stress associated with moving (by yourself or with a family).  From packing to setting up your new home, they have you covered. Nationally renown decorator and designer, Libby Langdon has also provided her creative talents to CableMover.com.  Libby's decorating tips and before and after photos will give you the inspiration necessary to make your new place a home to be proud of-- no matter what your budget allows!  Use of the site is entirely free and includes a service that allows you to preschedule the disconnection of your current cable TV, cable phone, and high speed cable internet service and schedule the installation of these services in your new place.  No worries about missing a TV show, phone call or immediate access to the internet once your move is completed!  CableMover.com even provides information about special pricing promotions on cable services being offered in your new area-- no matter where it is in the USA! 
Good luck with your upcoming move! - David Gregg - Senior Editor of BehindTheBuy.com

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Digital Frames

Digital Picture Frames are not only a great gift idea, but are perfect for your own home as well. In my opinion, a home isn’t a home at all without the contributions of the ones you love. Why not honor those special people and moments in your life by immortalizing them in digital clarity?

Digital picture frames are more then just a novelty--they are practical, too. They allow you to bring life to your home (or office) by offering many features other than just prominently displaying a single picture. Many digital frames have slide show capabilities; some can record sound or play music, too! Your cherished pictures will be embraced in a beautiful frame, which can be found in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Your pictures will never fade, never turn yellow, and most importantly, never be damaged or lost. That’s the beauty of digital photography; you can make multiple copies that can be shared over and over again with friends and family and each copy is as picture perfect as the original.

So whether you’re limited on space and want to turn 8 picture frames into one, or you have plenty of space and want all your pictures to be as bright and beautiful as ever, I can assure you that when guests visit your home the pictures seen in these frames will invite a warm conversation and an even warmer place in your heart.

Best,
Michael

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Did You Hear That?

Compact, portable, light-weight, and attractive… these are all words that define our go-go-go and look-good-doing-it culture. Whether it’s a car, hand bag, package of gum, or our electronics, we want items that can fit our lifestyle. Since practically everyone has an iPod, Zune, or other variation of an mp3 player, I thought I would talk about the types of earphones available on the market today.

There are many variations but all promise to deliver one thing-- “music to your ears”. But which one is best…earbuds, sports headphones, ear-pad headphones, or full-size headphones? The truth is, they all have pros and cons but ultimately it’s what works best for you.

Earbud headphones are typically small, and are inserted into your ear canal. They are great at canceling out ambient noise that you may not necessarily want to hear (like the guy snoring next to you on your three hour plane trip) and can provide clear, crisp sound. On the other hand they can become quite uncomfortable after wearing them for long periods of time. I know that when I use them for extended periods, sometimes my ears start to feel a little sore. However, they are extremely compact. Usually, earbuds come standard with any portable player you purchase, but you can purchase aftermarket ones that provide a much better sound. Another advantage to these little guys is that they won’t mess up your hair-do and you can wear them, without interference, with earrings, glasses, or a hat.

Sports headphones are another type that you can purchase. I actually am considering upgrading my earbuds to these because they stay in place better when you’re moving around a lot. They come in a variety of styles. Some have vertical headbands, some are horizontal and wrap around that back of your head or neck, and some are not connected by a band at all and simply attach to your ear with soft padded ear clips. They are great for the gym and jogging and I feel they offer less “irritation” (Pun-Intended).

Next up are your more full-size models. These would probably be more useful at home than out in public, but they can provide a more dynamic sound and much better bass response. Ear-pad headphones and full-sized headphones can get extremely pricey but the sound that is delivered is unparalleled. Some can even offer Dolby Digital or surround sound capabilities.

BehindTheBuy offers a variety of headphones for anyone’s price range. Headphones also make a great gift idea. So take a look, pick a pair, and enjoy.

http://www.behindthebuy.com/reports/?browseNode=172541

Best,

Michael

Monday, June 15, 2009

What is an SLR Camera?

How many of you know that SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex? Digital cameras like the ones most of us have or purchase have two lenses. First, there is the lens that you put your eye up to and look through to see the image you wish to capture (called a “viewing lens”) and second is the lens that the camera uses when it actually takes the picture (called the “taking lens”). Cameras that utilize these two separate lenses tend to be called point and shoot cameras.

SLR cameras use only one lens that is connected by a series of mirrors constructed within the camera body. These mirrors reflect light from the lens to the viewfinder and allow the photographer (put your name here) to see the image in the same depth of view. In a sense…what you see is what you get.

The advantage to these cameras is highlighted when taking pictures in a broad setting or when photographing action shots. Another advantage to these cameras is that the lenses are interchangeable. This allows you to take one lens off and swap it with another that may be more suitable for the type of picture you are taking. For example, you can take a 50mm lens used for taking close or wider shots and exchange it for a 135mm lens which lets you zoom in and take a more selective shot.

When shopping for an SLR camera, be sure to pay attention to what the camera is actually offering you because there are different types. For example, there are interchangeable-lens full system digital SLR cameras, like what I have described above and there are also fixed-lens digital SLR’s which offer the same technology but you can not remove the lens.

If you are looking to step up your game and take pictures with a camera that offers much more control and versatility, then a SLR camera (sometimes called DSLR, for Digital Single Lens Reflex) may be for you.

BehindTheBuy offers the top ten best sellers at the best prices. Keep in mind the cameras that you find here are listed based on objective sales data…not subjective. So what you see are strictly the cameras that offer the greatest satisfaction and are sold more then any other. Here is a link to the best cameras on the market:

http://www.behindthebuy.com/reports/?browseNode=281052&pt=8


Happy Shooting,

Michael

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Mind~Body~Soul

There are no secrets to the health benefits of working out-- you feel better, you look better, and you are more confident. At BehindTheBuy not only can you find the latest Plasma Television or Digital Camera, but there are also a variety of other items like exercise equipment.

Did you know that cardiovascular exercise could help you with more then just losing weight (as if that’s not reason enough)? A good cardio workout can also reduce your stress as well as temporarily relieve your depression or anxiety. I know that I personally spend about 45 minutes, 5 days a week on the elliptical machine and after each session I feel calm, relaxed, energized, and euphoric. Yes, it may be difficult to get motivated but I assure you that once you start, you may find that you’re suddenly looking forward to your next cardio regimen.

Other exercise benefits include stronger heart and lungs, more confidence about how you feel and look, and more energy. In addition, you will also sleep better. I invite you to take a look at the “exercise and fitness” tab which can be found under “Sports and Outdoors” in the list of categories. Thumb through the price ranges and you will be amazed to see all the health and fitness items that are offered. I have seen everything from jump ropes to rowing machines, and stop watches to exercise bikes!

http://www.behindthebuy.com/reports/?browseNode=3407731

http://www.behindthebuy.com/reports/?browseNode=3407731&pt=3

Enjoy a better you,

Michael

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Alphabet Soup

Ok, so there’s DTV, SDTV, EDTV, and HDTV? What does all this mean? Did I buy the wrong TV? “What a headache!” you are probably saying to yourself, but don’t worry…I got your back! There is a simple breakdown for all these categories and I will put it down for you in a non-tech, easy to understand way. If you haven’t read my blog on “Analog to Digital Conversion”, you may want to give it a quick look-see just to get the nuts and bolts of exactly what DTV is.

DTV is really just the TV standard which will take place as of June 12, 2009 and encompasses all the other formats. If you wanted to, you could say that there is a good, better, and best way to view the same Digital Television (DTV) signal.

SDTV – Standard Definition Television would be the basic digital television picture quality you would receive with any television hooked up to your cable box, satellite dish, or an HD antenna and decoder box. Even if you have an analog television, you will be watching SDTV.

EDTV – Enhanced Definition Television is a step up. With EDTV you receive more line scanning--480 lines to be exact and every line paints a complete image on your television instead of splitting the information received into two parts like the old analog signal. This simply means your TV is taking the image received and making it better by enhancing the signal it receives and giving you a clearer and more stable picture.

HDTV- High Definition Television offers you the best picture possible. It is like EDTV but it takes it a step further when it comes to your line scanning. It’s all about the lines. The more lines your TV can produce on your screen the more amazing it looks. HDTV can show you a picture with 1080 lines or 720 lines. It can get a bit technical when talking about your line scanning (interlaced/progressively) but what you should be concerned with is that, when it comes to HDTV, the television will figure all that out. No matter how many lines are transmitted in an HD signal the picture quality is virtually the same. Your HDTV will translate that information and give you a beautiful picture.

So whether you have an SDTV, EDTV, OR HDTV, they are all DTV’s and all will produce a digital picture. The differences between each would just be on a scale of good, better, and then the best possible digital picture you can receive.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Or if you have a clarification of a certain point, you’re welcome to post it here.

Best,
Michael

Friday, May 29, 2009

Bluetooth… an Easy Explanation

I was sitting here listening to a little ZZ Top on my computer. Well, actually, I was listening to it on my Saitek A-250 Bluetooth speaker system which is set up on the other side of the room. Suddenly, it occurred to me that we have never really talked about what Blue Tooth is.

Bluetooth is a fantastic technology that allows us to transmit information or data from one device to another as long as both are enabled with a Bluetooth chip (radio/receiver). What does this mean for you and me? Well, it means that we no longer have to fumble around with a spider web of wires and it also means that we are no longer limited by how far a cable will reach. For example, the same speakers that I am listening to now… I can also put outside on the driveway so I can listen to music when I am washing my car.

Bluetooth is not simply for listening to music. When you have equipment that has Bluetooth technology you can do a variety of things. You can transmit a video recording from your camcorder to your television, you can print an email from your computer on the printer, or you can send a picture from your camera phone to a file in your computer without the use of any cables connecting the two. These are just a few examples to illustrate the possibilities of uses that Bluetooth can offer. In a nutshell, Bluetooth is a cable-replacement technology.

Interested in a little history lesson? The trademarked name Bluetooth is actually named after a Danish King who united and controlled Norway and Denmark. His love for blueberries and his over indulgence over time turned his pearly whites into blue stained teeth. Hence, the name Bluetooth.

So cut the strings and start living life wire free. You will be surprised to see how many tech items you purchase will be enabled with this technology.

If you’re interested in learning more technical aspects of Bluetooth, I have included in this blog a link that will take you to a tutorial overview of what Bluetooth is all about.

http://www.palowireless.com/infotooth/tutorial.asp

Best,
Michael