AMD Radeon™ Video Card Drivers Update

Last Updated
1/26/2011

Article Number
GPU-98


This article provides information on the latest posting of AMD’s software suite, AMD Catalyst 11.1. This particular software suite updates both the AMD display driver, and the AMD Catalyst Control Center. This unified driver has been updated to provide enhanced level of power, performance, and reliability.

Package Content
The AMD Catalyst software suite 11.1 contains the following:

AMD display driver version 8.812
HydraVision™ for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7
Southbridge/IXP Driver
AMD Catalyst Control Center version 8.812



AMD Product Compatibility

The AMD Catalyst driver is compatible with the following AMD products.

AMD Radeon™ HD 6900 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4700 Series
AMD Radeon HD 6300 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4670 Series
AMD Radeon HD 6200 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4650 Series
ATI Radeon HD 5900 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4600 Series
ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4550 Series
ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4350 Series
ATI Radeon HD 5600 Series
ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
ATI Radeon HD 5500 Series
ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series
ATI Radeon HD 5400 Series
ATI Radeon HD 3400 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4890 Series
ATI Radeon HD 2900 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 Series
ATI Radeon HD 2600 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4850 X2 Series
ATI Radeon HD 2400 Series





AMD FireStream Product Families

AMD FireStream™ 9350
AMD FireStream 9250

AMD FireStream 9270
AMD FireStream 9170




AMD Chipset Product Families

ATI Radeon HD 4290
ATI Radeon 3200 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4250
ATI Radeon 3100 Series
ATI Radeon HD 4200 Series
ATI Radeon 3000 Series
ATI Radeon HD 3300 Series



AMD Mobility Product Family Compatibility

AMD Catalyst Mobility is a notebook reference graphics driver with limited support for system vendor specific features. When used with Windows Vista or Windows 7, users may have unwanted experiences.

The Installation Verification Software will prevent driver download on certain notebook products. This is to protect against the installing of drivers that may disable features or functionality provided by the system manufacturer. If unwanted experiences occur using AMD Catalyst Mobility, it is recommended to revert back to the driver provided by your system vendor for your specific platform. Please contact your system vendor for the most recent drivers for your notebook.



AMD Mobility Product Families

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6900M Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6800M Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4100 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6300M Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3800 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6300 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3600 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 6200 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5800 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5700 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3100 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5600 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2700 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5400 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5100 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2400 Series
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4800 Series
ATI PowerXpress™ enabled notebooks
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4600 Series
using AMD chipsets
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4500 Series





NOTE! The following notebooks are not compatible with this release:
Any notebook launched after this driver release
Switchable Graphics enabled notebooks using Intel® chipsets.
Toshiba® notebooks (please contact the notebook OEM for driver support for these notebooks)
Sony® VAIO® notebooks (please contact the notebook OEM for driver support for these notebooks)
Panasonic® notebooks (please contact the notebook OEM for driver support for these notebooks)




Compatible Operating Systems
The latest version of the AMD Catalyst software suite is designed to support the following Microsoft Windows platforms:
Windows 7 32-bit version
Windows 7 64-bit version
Windows Vista 32-bit version
Windows Vista 64-bit version
Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Home Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition



Highlights of the AMD Catalyst 11.1 Windows release includes:

Performance highlights of the AMD Catalyst™ 11.1 release includes:
F1 2010:
Performance increases up to 12% on AMD Radeon HD 6900 and AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series single card configurations with anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing disabled.
Performance increases up to 10% on ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series single card configurations with anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing disabled.
Left 4 Dead 2:
Performance increases up to 17% on AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series single and Crossfire configurations with anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing disabled.
Performance increases up to 8% on AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series single configurations with anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing disabled.

Resolved Known Issues for the Windows 7 Operating System
This section provides information on resolved known issues in this release of the AMD Catalyst 11.1 software suite for Windows 7. These include:
Aliens vs. Predator game no longer fails to load with quad Crossfire enabled..
Text is no longer missing randomly in Nostradamus- The Last Prophecy demo.
Graphical corruption is no longer seen occasionally in Nostradamus- The Last Prophecy demo.
The Protoss Pylon Matrix is now rendered correctly in Starcraft 2.
Task switching in Dirt2 with Vsync enabled no longer causes a dual link monitor to go black.
System no longer crashes when enabling Crossfire with 2 monitors connected to the primary card and 2 monitors connected to the secondary card.
List of supported TV resolutions now includes 1080p 24Hz (if supported by the TV display).
Cyberlink PowerDVD no longer randomly exits when playing a blu-ray title with the “Aero-on” option enabled in the player.
An error message is no longer intermittently displayed when viewing a slideshow using Windows Live Photo Gallery.
Windows Media Player no longer displays a black screen when continuously playing several VC1 format files over a 4 hour period.
“Host Application not responding” error message is no longer randomly displayed when launching the AMD Catalyst™ Control Center.

Resolved Known Issues for the Windows Vista Operating System
Video corruption is no longer randomly seen during DVD playback using Windows Media Player.
Progressive scan DVD content no longer causes Windows Media Center to hang.
Interlaced DVD content no longer exhibits frame drops and jerky playback.
“Host Application not responding” error message is no longer randomly displayed when launching the AMD Catalyst™ Control Center.

Resolved Known Issues for the Windows XP Operating System
Frame drops are no longer observed when playing HD interlaced content in Windows Media Center.
Call of Duty – Black Ops no longer randomly hangs on AMD Radeon HD 57xx series products.
Crossfire using AMD Radeon HD 68xx series products no longer hangs intermittently when running 3dMark 2006.
“Host Application not responding” error message is no longer randomly displayed when launching the AMD Catalyst Control Center.

Known issues under the Windows 7 operating system
The following section provides a summary of open issues that may be experienced under the Windows 7 operating system in the latest version of AMD Catalyst. These include:
Blocky video corruption may be displayed randomly when playing back SD DVD content using Windows Media Player.
Video may flicker randomly when using PowerDVD to play the blu-ray edition of “Iron Man 2”.
Screen may flicker and objects may be duplicated in Medal of Honor under DirectX 11 with Crossfire enabled on AMD Radeon HD 69xx series products.
Objects may be duplicated in Dead Rising 2 when Super Anti Aliasing is enabled on AMD Radeon HD 69xx series products.

Known Issues Under the Windows Vista Operating System
The following section provides a summary of open issues that may be experienced under the Windows Vista operating system in the latest version of AMD Catalyst. These include:
AVIVO options do not take effect on WinDVD 10 blu-ray playback.
Doom 3 and Quake 4 may display corruption when running on a AMD Radeon HD 47xx series product.

Known Issues under all Windows Operating Systems
The following section provides a summary of open issues that may be experienced under all supported Windows operating systems in the latest version of AMD Catalyst. These include:
An error message may be displayed if the power plan is changed several times (from Power Save to High Performance) when the AMD Catalyst Control Center is open.
The AMD Catalyst Control Center may flicker when adjusting brightness using a hotkey.

Installing the AMD Catalyst Software Driver
For further information and general help on software driver installation, game issues, and more, visit AMD Customer Care.


The driver can be downloaded here:
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is looking to continue in the same vein as the original Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2, offering you a phone which could almost be mistaken for a tablet and wants you to believe its both.

Lets get one thing straight before we dive into this review though, the Galaxy Note 3 is only going to appeal to a narrow segment of users, its certainly not going to have the broad appeal of the Galaxy S4, nor catch the eye of the fashion-conscious iPhone 5S purchaser.

The Note 3 isnt pretending to be anything its not. It knows its a big, some may say huge, smartphone and Samsung understands that form factor wont be for everyone.

That said, with big size comes big price, and the Galaxy Note 3 will set you back a wallet-busting £600 (around $950, AU$1,000) SIM-free.

The hefty price tag can be softened if you choose to pick the Note 3 up on a two year contract, but youll still be paying a relatively high amount a month for the privilege - upwards of £35 per month in the UK if you want a free phone.

In terms of competition theres not a great deal which compares to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, but its closest competitor is currently the Sony Xperia Z Ultra which boasts a massive 6.4-inch which dwarfs even this handset.

A quick glance over the Galaxy Note 3 and it does exactly what we thought it would do: takes over the mantle as the worlds most powerful smartphone, although the advantage is a lot smaller this time.

First up we have to mention the display - its grown again since the 5.5-inch offering on the Note 2 to a palm busting 5.7 inches complete with a full HD, 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED display.

Thats the same resolution as the Galaxy S4, but as the screen is larger on the Galaxy Note 3 the pixel count isnt as great at 386ppi, so its not quite as pin sharp as its smaller brother. It still looks pretty impressive though - and so it should for the price Samsung is asking.

Were still waiting for Samsung to embrace the full metal chassis weve enjoyed on the HTC One and the iPhone 5, but it is trying something slightly different with the Note 3.

The Galaxy Note 3 has retained the metal frame from the Galaxy S4 running around the edge of the device providing a rigid body and a more premium look, but its on the rear where Samsung has tried something new.

Lay the Note 3 face down, take a quick glance at the handset and it appears the rear is made of leather.

It isnt, of course, its that famous plastic Samsung is so fond off. The finish is textured to give it the appearance of leather and this actually provides some much needed grip.

Those stitches running round the outside of the back cover? Well thats just a pattern formed in the plastic. It may not be everyones cup of tea and it looks a bit tacky upon closer inspection, but the Note 3 does feel like a solid, well built device.

On the plus side the plastic cover can be removed giving you access to the Note 3s sizable 3,200mAh battery as well as the microSD slot which is cleverly stacked on top of the microSIM port - allowing Samsung to save some space.

Somehow Samsung has managed to make the Galaxy Note 3 slightly smaller than its predecessor, measuring 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm. Thats still quite a sizable device, but considering its got a slightly larger display, beefier processor and more powerful 13MP camera its an impressive feat.

Those of you blessed with smaller palms will still struggle to hold the Note 3 in one hand, especially when typing is involved, but thanks to its reduced weight (its 168g, down from 183g on the Note 2) its certainly the most manageable Note smartphone to date.

The sheer size of the Galaxy Note 3 means youll be constantly shuffling it up and down your palm as you try and reach the volume rocker and power/lock keys located towards the top on the left and right sides of the handset and the menu keys below the screen.

While the buttons are responsive, we found we tended to employ our second hand to help us out when moving from the power/lock key down to the home, menu and back buttons.

Under the hood of our review unit sat an insanely powerful 2.3GHz quad-core processor, although a select few markets will be treated to an octa-core option which houses two quad-core chips.

You also get 3GB of RAM and the option of 32GB or 64GB of internal storage in the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, while the latest version of Googles operating system - Android 4.3 Jelly Bean - runs merrily on top of all this.

From the front youll note theres a pleasingly slender bezel running down either side of that monster 5.7-inch display, while below you get the customary physical home key flanked by two touch keys - menu on the left and back on the right.

You cant see the touch keys when the Note 3 is idle, as their backlights are only displayed when you unlock the handset or tap the area theyre located in.

They are incredibly responsive though, and you dont have to worry about getting your finger right on the logo, the area of recognition is wide enough to pick up even the most misguided stabs.

Apart from the questionable leather-effect rear the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 offers up little in terms of design. Sure it looks a little more premium than the Galaxy Note 2, and it does feel well made - but at the end of the day its a little uninspiring.

Those will petite palms or a penchant for skinny jeans will struggle with the size of the Note 3, but if youve been taken with its predecessors then youll be happy to hear this is the best looking Note smartphone to date.

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Windows 8 moves to BIOS based product keys

Windows 8 PCs now keep their product keys in the BIOS, a move that offers both pros and cons.

In the past, a new Windows PC would display its product key on a sticker, usually on the side of a desktop and on the base or the bottom of the battery compartment on a laptop. But with Windows 8, Microsoft has switched gears and now stores the key as a BIOS setting instead.

A response to a question on Microsofts Answers Web site confirmed the details earlier this month:

One of the improvements Microsoft is making to Activation 3.0 for newly built machines that come preloaded with Windows 8, you wont have a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) sticker attached to the machine anymore. Instead, this will be embedded in the BIOS. This will avoid product keys from being compromised and OEMs will buy what they need.

So if you need to reset or reinstall Windows 8, you dont need to hunt for the product key. Its automatically applied and activated. Thats certainly a plus, especially when the numbers on those product key stickers wear out or are just too small to easily read.

Microsoft certainly benefits from this new activation process since a Windows 8 product key embedded on one PC seemingly cant be used on another.

But therein lies the problem for the user.

Lets say you own a new PC running the standard version of Windows 8. And you own a separate retail copy of Windows 8 Pro with its own product key. You then install Windows 8 Pro on your PC. Will Windows insist on using the embedded product key, or is there a workaround so you can manually enter the key that came with your Windows 8 Pro software.

Or, lets say your current Windows 8 PC dies and you want to install the OS on a different computer. How can you do that if the product key is locked to the dead PC?

A couple of people posed those same questions on the Microsoft Answers page but have yet to receive answers.

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Review The Gathering Storm

The Gathering Storm is book 1 of Winston Churchills epic 6-book fantasy novel about a war that engulfed the entire world from 1939 to 1945. The 6 volumes are enormous, each weighing in at about 800 pages, including appendices, notes, and so forth.

Wait, did I say fantasy novel? Well, if you had no knowledge of history, you might well imagine it. Here, we have an unmitigated bad guy (Hitler) who wants to take over Europe. The amount of stupidity in the back story makes many fantasy stories look like shining examples of realism. Youve got a guy who repeatedly breaks his word, makes promises that later turn out to be empty, yet everyone except Churchills immediate acquaintances bend over backwards to appease him.

Moreover, even though Churchill was in his own words, "in the political wilderness" during these years, he was still given plenty of access to defense information, enough for him to put together detailed critiques of the governments strategy when dealing with Germany and Italy. That would not be conceivable in todays political climate.

Of course, Churchill had vision and clarity far beyond many of the same period, and he provides ample documentation through his letters, writings and other forms of communication. When he describes the battles of the period, it is accompanied with diagrams, order of battle, and other detail, including diagrams of ship engagements. This is an amazing amount of detail but probably too much for non-WW2 enthusiasts. Fortunately, you can skip these details without losing sight of the over-arcing plot and insanity of the people involved at the time.

The book ends with Churchill getting to be Prime Minister. At no point does he gloat over Chamberlains mistakes, and in fact, frequently states that Hitler under-estimated Chamberlain: once he realized hed been had, he devoted himself to fighting the war.

One cannot read this book without coming away feeling like World War 2 could have been prevented or pre-empted with a much lower cost in lives. The context, the detail, and the perspective that Churchill provides cannot be matched. I have only a few complaints: first, the diagrams are barely readable on the Kindle edition of the book (the only version Id consider since the paper copies are unmanageable). Secondly, the Kindle formatting loses your place at times, because theres no distinction between quotations from letters and the main text. Finally, Churchills best speeches occur in the next volume, so if thats the only thing youre looking for, you should skip this volume.

Recommended. Even if youre not a WW2 aficionado. At the very least, unlike George R. R. Martins books, you know that this story eventually ends, and that Churchill wont fill a book with nothing happening.

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How to Interview A Financial Advisor now out in paperback

My latest book, How to Interview a Financial Advisor is now out in paperback. For this book, Im enrolling in the Matchbook program, which means that for $2.99, you can get the digital copy of the book as well as the paperback if you buy the paperback. I loved the Matchbook program, and I was happy to sign up this bookf or it, both as an experiment and also because I feel its a great way to provide a discount: buy a copy for your friend, and keep a copy for yourself!

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Installation of Plug and Play Devices

Installation of Plug and Play Devices

If the device is a new installation, Windows should detect the
device at startup. One of three things can happen:
1. Windows will already have the required software device drivers and configure the system with or without user prompts
2. Windows will prompt the user for the OS installation CDs to retrieve the required drivers
3. Windows will prompt the user to provide the location for the required drivers supplied by the device manufacturer.
This would be your cue to insert the manufacturer’s CD that came with the device and point Windows to the correct driver installation file for the OS. Alternately, the manufacturer’s instal­lation guide may provide a different method for installation. Example: most USB devices require that you install the software first before connecting the device.
If Windows recognizes the device but you don’t have the man­ufacturer’s CD, there is a good chance that you can enable basic functionality by using the default Windows drivers. See the section Installation of non-Plug and Play Devices on how to tell Windows to use the default Windows drivers.

Installation of non-Plug and Play devices
If the device is not getting detected by Plug and Play during system startup, this usually means that you have a non-Plug and Play device. If you have the manufacturer’s CD and/or manual, look for installation instructions. Non-Plug and Play devices are usually older, and require manual allocation of resources, usually through setting jumpers or switchers on the device itself. Once you have ensured that the device has been configured as per the manufac­turer’s guidelines, boot up and install any software provided by the manufacturer as per the installation guidelines.
If there are no installation guidelines or the device is a second hand component with no documentation or you don’t have the required software drivers, then you can try to force Windows to recognise the device. First try to verify if the phys­ical installation and the jumper/switch settings on the device are correct. Search the Internet for information on how to do this. If you are able to do this, good; if not, don’t worry too much about it and go on to forcing Windows to recognise the device:
1. Click on the Add New Hardware (Windows 9x/ME) / Add Hardware (Windows 2000/XP) in the Control Panel. The Add Hardware Wizard will start up. Click Next.
2. If you have Windows 9x/ME go to Step 3, else go to Step 5.
3. In Windows 9x/ME, the Wizard will inform you that it is going to search for new hardware. Allow it to do so by clicking Next twice. After Windows finishes searching for Plug and Play Devices it will report that no Plug and Play devices are found.
4. Click Next. The first option tells Windows to search for non-Plug and Play devices. If it successfully detects the device, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. Otherwise, select “No, I want to select the hardware from a list” and click Next. Go to Step 6.
5. In Windows 2000/XP, select “Add a new hardware device” and click Next. In the next dialog box, you can either ask Windows to search for a driver, or you can install the device manually. For manual device installation, select “Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)”.
6. Select the hardware type from the list and click Next.
7. If you know the name of the device manufacturer, select the name of the manufacturer and browse through the list on the right side to see if your device model number is listed or a gener­ic name for your model series e.g. HP DeskJet for DeskJet printers. If you do not know the name of the manufacturer or the device model number, check if there are standard device types that you can install. If there are no standard types that can be installed, you will need to find a suitable driver by searching the Internet or getting it from other sources.
8. If the device has a standard type, choose the specification closest matching to your device. If the device does not have a standard type, click the “Have Disk…” button and provide the location for the appropriate driver installation file. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

The above steps (for both Plug and Play and non-Plug and Play devices) should normally solve the device conflict and get your hard­ware operational.

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Review Strikefleet Omega

The first time I saw Air Traffic Control, I immediately got addicted. This is one of those genre of games which are ideal for a tablet or phone: you draw lines on the screen to direct planes to their destinations. However, other line drawing games havent been as good. Air Patriots, for instance, was just too hard and tedious.

Strikefleet Omega, however,gets the difficulty right, and is not at all tedious. The science fiction theme is that youre the commander of a fleet of battleships fighting for humanitys survival. You fly from star system to star system, warping in and then defending yourself from incursions from the enemy. Enemies come in 3 types: fighters (small planes), cruisers (larger flying saucers), and battlecruisers (giant ass ships or constructs). Correspondingly, you have 5 types of ships you can warp in to defend your flagship, 3 of which deal specifically with the different types of enemy. The 4th type is a mining ship that generates resources so you can pay for the warp ins. The last is a generic artillery unit which can be used to target small and large ships alike.

Most of the missions are fair. Youll win on the first try, just barely, and then be able to improve your performance. The game has two types of currency: alloys, and mega creds. The former are gathered by destroying large ships and scoring points, and the latter can only be attained by a flying saucer that can be shot with an artillery unit. The last 3 missions are exceedingly hard, and I found myself using mega-bombs twice. I had more than enough mega creds to do so, however, without having to spend real money on the game. I didnt do much grinding: Id play each mission twice, and the last few missions just once each because I didnt want to blow mega creds..

I rarely get around to finishing games, on tablets or otherwise. That Strikefleet Omega got me interested enough to play it to completion speaks volumes about how well-designed and addictive it is. Recommended.

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Review The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Garrett was kind enough to get me an autographed copy of The Ocean At The End Of The Lane, so I could skip the queue at the library and get to reading Gaimans latest.

The novel starts out autobiographically, and one could be almost forgiven for thinking that Gaiman has decided to move away from his usual genre. (In his blog, Gaiman states that he started the novel slow so that younger readers wouldnt persist and read a book meant for adults) We get some insight about how someone whos going to be an author grows up, and theres a good description of the house Gaiman grew up in, as well as his room.

Then one day, a paying houseguest commits suicide at a neighbors, leading the protagonist (whos unnamed through the entire novel) to meet the Hempstocks, who live on a farm at the end of the road. The Hempstocks, however, are not just farmers, and we are quickly introduced to Lettie, her mom Ginnie, and grandmother Old Mrs Hempstock. In a bit of a head fake here, I thought Gaiman was going to reuse the tropes of the three Fates, but instead, the Hempstocks are quite a bit different.

Our protagonist gets taken away on an adventure, but in the tradition of such stories, he fails to obey all the rules exactly, and brings home a hitch-hiker, which proceeds to wreck havoc with his life and his family. The correspondence with Coraline is clear here. The Hempstocks come to the rescue, but the results teaches our young narrator the meaning of sacrifice, as well as the nature of story and the purpose of life.

In many ways, I feel like Gaiman is reusing the same themes from his previous books. Each part of the story draws from so many traditions that the entire novel feels inevitable. The prologue and epilogue, however, nicely frames the story and gives us more than the usual fairy tale. I recommend this book, though not as highly as say, Stardust.

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Review Gridlinked

If youve read many of my book reviews, youll note that I complain quite a bit of the characters found in many science fiction novels: I think that they are largely wooden with very little humanity in them, more like puppets driven by a plot. Gridlinked was Neal Ashers first novel, and he solved this problem by having the protagonist, Ian Cormac, be someone who was "gridlinked" for so long that hes become in danger of losing not only his social skills (like most of us geeks), but also his humanity as well. As a result, Asher can portray his protagonist with all the puppet-nature that he demands his characters have to serve his plot without fear of such criticism.

The plot is kinetic, spanning multiple star systems, meeting various non-human entities, with lots of weapons ranging from big guns to intelligent shuriken deployed at one point or another at nearly every form of sapient and/or intelligent being in present. The result reads like a summer blockbuster of a movie: lots of loud explosions, plenty of "wow" moments as horrible beings slam at each other, and a plot that seems almost lifted out of a Western. The world building is provided in dribs and drabs, usually as entries from one encyclopedia or text of one sort or another that head chapter entries. My problem with this world is that I just dont see how it could possibly have room for human heroes --- it seems to me that the kind of trouble-shooter Ian Cormac would have to be would be replaced by the kind of Android ultra-terminator style robots that seem to be all over the book.

What, then, kept me reading? Well, the action never stops. You are kept on the edge of your seat wondering what trick the author will think of next to keep one character or another alive. One scene has a character attempting suicide only to accidentally set off a sequence of events that ensures her survival. The weapons are pretty darn cool, if improbable. In other words, this is exactly the kind of guilty pleasure you can indulge in if youre about to get on a plane on vacation. I have no doubt Ill be loading up the Kindle with more from Asher for my next flight. Nevertheless, if youre looking for a deep read, with the kind of reflection that Richard Morgans Altered Carbon has, theres none of that here. Read Morgan instead. Asher is Tom Clancy for the pocket-protector crowd, and theres absolutely nothing wrong with that. Mildly recommended.

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The Difference Between Wireless G Wireless N and Wireless AC

People generally refer to all Wireless Internet as WiFi but, as with a lot of technical jargon, WiFi as a term is often misued.  Are you one of those people constantly asking: Why is my Internet or my WiFi so slow??!? Very often, it is not the Internet provider’s fault. Rather, it all comes down to the type of router you are using and the speed it offers

Wireless-N and Wireless-G are terms referring to 802.11n and 802.11g wireless networking standards set by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the professional organization and standard bearers for electronics discussion and publication among working professionals.

By setting a wireless standard, the multitude of manufacturing entities creating wireless networking products (routers) and wireless networking devices (Laptops, Tablets, SmartTVs, Phones, Roku) can all start on the same page. Imagine if a given wireless networking device was only able to connect to certain routers at certain places. It would result in a major loss of continuity for users and would cause anything from minor headaches to mass frustration.

Wireless networking standards such as Wireless-N and Wireless-G go through many iterations/versions called drafts until they are finally settled upon for publication and mass use.

IEEE 802.11n is a wireless networking standard created to improve network throughput (maximum speed and transmission capabilities) over the two prior standards—802.11a and 802.11g. For example, most coffee shop hotspot routers run on Wireless-G (54 Mbps) or even Wireless-B (11 Mbps). They are constantly being shared by many people so it can be somewhat slow to connect and actually surf the web.

What made Wireless-N significant is that it increased the maximum data transmission rate more than tenfold from 54 Mbps to 600-900 Mbps. Wireless-N also opened up additional spectrum area for wireless transmission, allowing for the use of four spatial streams in at a channel width of 40 MHz. That is double the channel width of Wireless-G. 802.11n standardized support/technical specifications for multiple-input multiple-output (AKA MIMO). It also increased security and improved several additional features.

What is Wireless-AC?

Enhancements of 802.11n are currently being drafted and tested and may even included on certain brand new routers as 802.11ac. However, there are no major devices that support the standard at this time, meaning no phones, laptops, Rokus, AppleTVs.

Since these devices don’t support the standard/draft yet, buying an Wireless-AC router will not let you connect at its increased speeds. You may be able to upgrade a laptop using a special Wireless-AC adapter, but it is only made by a few manufacturers and it could become obsolete at any time if the Wireless-AC draft changes.

Why You Should Upgrade to Wireless-N from Wireless-G?

Hanging onto an older Wireless-G router means you are sacrificing overall speed and security while actually hindering the wireless capabilities for newer devices.

Using a Wireless G router with your iPad may feel like trying to catching a fish with a stick. It may eventually work, but it certainly not the most efficient way to get the job done. This is not an iPhone 4S to iPhone 5 type upgrade where you have a little bit sleeker device and a few new features to play with. When a wireless standard is jumped, you are talking MAJOR wireless connectivity improvements.

Want to see the differences between Wireless AC, Wireless-N and Wireless-G? Well, here’s a quick breakdown for you.

Wireless G vs Wireless N Comparison

Max Throughput: 54 Mbps vs 600-900 Mbps (Wireless-AC 1200-1750)

Wireless Range (Radius): 75 ft vs up to 200-450 ft

Wireless Channel Width: 20 MHz vs 40 MHz (80 MHz for Wireless-AC)

Of course, these ranges are maximum distances in optimal conditions. Most of us don’t live in a world where there are no other wireless interference. Even if you don’t see any other wireless signals in your range, there is still a laundry list of devices that can cost you range, such as Cordless Phones, Baby Monitors and Microwaves. Getting a high performing router Wireless-N is the best way to overcome these issues.

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How to Make CROSS STRAIGHT cable

________________________________________
STEP 1: Choose the right cable…
1. To Connect PC to PC Cross Cable.

2. To Connect PC to HUB/SWITCH/ROUTER Straight Cable.

3. To Connect HUB/SWITCH/ROUTER to HUB/SWITCH/ROUTER Straight
Cable

STEP 2: Understanding CAT 5 Cables…

Wires: CAT 5 Cable has 4 pairs of copper wire inside it.

Colors: Standard cables has BROWN, BROWN WHITE, GREEN, GREEN-
WHITE, BLUE, BLUE WHITE, ORANGE, ORANGE WHITE.

STEP 3: Making Straight Cable…

Nomenclature: let us first give a number scheme for cabling which we will
follow throughout this tuto. BROWN (8), BROWN WHITE (7),
GREEN (6), GREEN WHITE (3), BLUE (4), BLUE WHITE (5),
ORANGE (2), ORANGE WHITE (1)

Requirements: Two RJ45 Connectors, Crimping tool & CAT 5 cable of desired
length(less than 250 meters).

STEP 3.1:

There are two standards adopted for Cabling EIA/TIA 568A & EIA/TIA 568B.

When you use single standard (either EIA/TIA 568A or EIA/TIA 568B) on both the end of cable then the resulting cable is STRAIGHT CABLE.

On the other hand if you use different cabling standard on the ends of cable then the resulting cable is CROSS CABLE

I’ll use EIA/TIA 568B standard for creating cross and straight cable

1. Remove the covering of CAT 5 cable.
2. Straighten the eight wires of the cable.
3. Using Crimping tool’s cutter cut the end of wires so that they are of same length
4. Arrange the wire in order 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 respectively as I have mention or as shown in the diagram.
5. Insert the arranged cable in the RJ45 connector with clip pointing down exactly as shown in the figure.
6. In crimping tool insert the head of RJ45 connector and crimp (press) it hardly.
7. Follow same step with same color order for the other end of cable too.
8. The wire you made by following these steps is a STRAIGHT cable.

STEP 4: Making CROSS Cable…

Of the Eight wires in Cat 5 not all are used for data transfer when using 100Mbps Ethernet card. Only 2 pairs of cable are used i.e. 2 wire for transmitting signal and two wires for receiving signal.

So now you can guess why we have to make CROSS CABLE for connecting same kind of devices. Because if use same color coding on both the side than transmitter of one m/c will send data to transmitter of another and data packets will lost, so we have to change wiring code so that transmitter of one connects to reciver of other and vice-versa.

Here are the Steps:
Steps 1 to 6 are same as for STRAIGHT through cables
7. Only difference is in color coding of other side of wire.
8. Wire that is on 1st number on A-side (one end) should be on 3rd number on B-
side (other side) & vice-versa.
9. Wire that is on 2st number on A-side (one end) should be on 6rd number on B-
side (other side) & vice versa.
10. Now Crimp the RJ45 connector.
11. Your CROSS wire is completed.

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Platters and Heads

In order to increase the amount of information the drive can store, most hard disks have multiple platters. This drive has three platters and six read/write heads:

The mechanism that moves the arms on a hard disk has to be incredibly fast and precise. It can be constructed using a high-speed linear motor.

Many drives use a "voice coil" approach -- the same technique used to move the cone of a speaker on your stereo is used to move the arm.

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Games of 2012

I just was browsing the internet and found a rather exciting post on Rock Paper Shotgun of the games of 2012. I was already rather looking forward to a few games: Metro Last Light, BioShock Infinite, and Diablo III to name a few. However, after browsing this list, I have to say theres quite a few more exciting games than I had anticipated. Looks to be another good year! I had totally forgotten, but Risen 2 is one that I really look forward to. For me, anyway, the original was a random find that totally blew me away. RPS: List of 2012 Games

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DataGuard AntiKeylogger Ultimate 4 0 0 3 Review and Download

DataGuard AntiKeylogger Ultimate (DataGuard) places second in our review of anti-keylogger apps. Zemana AntiLogger received a higher rating because of its innovative 128-bit SSL protection, Webcam protection and sound protection. DataGuard doesnt possess these capabilities. However, DataGuard did place higher than our third-placed anti-keylogger software GuardedID Premium. Our third-ranked application lacks the on-the-fly protection, easily configured user preferences, and overall defense for the system registry that DataGuard provides the PC and its user.

An in-depth discussion of DataGuards features and functionality occurs below.

Cyber-crooks are delighted to know that with keylogger software they can easily poke gaping holes and bypass most antispyware and antivirus applications. Currently, keylogger crimeware represents the most dangerous threat that computer users face today. Keyloggers capture and record each stroke of a PCs keyboard. The victims own internet connection transmits the sensitive data into the hands of the cyber-crook.

MAxSecurity Lab, a Chisinau Moldova-based company, developed DataGuard AntiKeylogger Ultimate as software that works in conjunction with traditional security. Though remotely located, the company is an active player in the development of security products and has strong customer satisfaction.

To learn more, please visit our Learning Center to read our articles on anti-keylogger software. For additional objective reviews and side-by-side comparisons of products in this category, please visit our Anti-Keylogger Software Review site.

Ease of Use:

DataGuard implements a proactive scanning program that protects the user from various types of keyloggers. The anti-keylogger softwares robust features provide security against known, unknown, and future keylogger implementations.

At install, DataGuard assumes all decision-making options. Novice computer users may enjoy the easy installation; advanced users will dislike the programs presumed authority over their PC. No worries, the program is equipped with a well-executed User Interface (UI). Here, users will be able to configure options that include enabling or disabling protection and the types of protection desired.

Users who enjoy eye-candy will appreciate the ability to customize the look and feel of the UI through the implementation of alternate software skins. Over seventy-five alternative skins, designed to meet the tastes of even the most finicky users, are available on the companys website for download. Though fun, clearly, this is an unnecessary feature of a security software.

Reliability:

User reviews report that the program is proficient in scrambling and encrypting keystrokes. Further, user-based testing demonstrates that the software holds up against even the most powerful keylogger applications.

The manufacturer performed software compatibility tests between DataGuard and commonly used security software. Security software used in conjunction with DataGuard experienced no conflict or compatibility issues. However, some users of Microsoft Windows Vista report that DataGuard conflicts with Kaspersky Antivirus software and causes a system failure on re-boot. However, this problem doesnt occur with Windows XP or Windows 7.

Protection:

Inside the UI, users can configure the protection settings of the software. Options include, enabling protection for keyboard hooks, clipboard monitoring, alternative data interception and system protection. The software allows for the creation of a customized overall system protection policy. Alternately, self-detection modules can run automatically.

Internet Security:

Advanced configuration options include the ability to set an administrative password that prevents machine users from accessing the UI in an attempt to change settings or to disable the protection DataGuard offers.

Licensing/Upgrades/Support:

Each purchase of DataGuard AntiKeylogger entitles the user to license and install the software on one computer. Customers receive one year of product upgrades after the time of purchase.

The main method of support for the product is the DataGuard Users Manual. For more specific or complicated issues, customer support is available through email. The website provides FAQs that answer many commonly asked user questions.

Supported Operating Systems:
DataGuard AntiKeylogger Ultimate is compatible with the following:

• Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows 2003
• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Microsoft Windows 7
• DataGuard s not compatible with Windows 9X/Me OS
• DataGuard is not available for Mac OS
• Currently, DataGuard supports only 32-bit operating systems.

Summary:

DataGuard AntiKeylogger Ultimate is an effective and robust anti-keylogger software. Its advanced features are effective at providing the user with an additional level of security when anti-spyware and anti-virus software fails.

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Microsoft fix in works for random Windows Phone 8 reboots

Microsoft is working to address a bug that causes random reboots for some Windows Phone 8 users. It’s still unclear what is causing the issue, but Microsoft hopes to get an update to users next month.

Users of Windows Phone 8 smartphones made by Nokia and HTC complained online in November that they were seeing numerous random reboots of their phone per day. Microsoft’s forums have hundreds of users reporting the problem. Among the devices affected are the Nokia 920 Windows Phone 8 handset and the HTC 8X.

Microsoft said it is investigating the issue and that it has identified the cause of the problem with its partners. The company did not spell out what exactly is causing the abnormal behavior on handsets running its latest mobile OS.

If you are one of the people affected by this reboot bug, you might have to live with it for a few more weeks. Microsoft is now working to fix it with an over-the-air update some time in December, but no exact date has been given.

Meanwhile, some Windows Phone 8 users have been able to avoid the repeated reboots of their devices, with limited success. Certain users reported that the restarts stopped when they uninstalled Microsoft’s Skype app preview, while others noted the behavior only when Bluetooth connectivity was on. Others have had success after they wiped and reinstalled the OS on the phone.

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Beginners Overclocking Guide Part 3

Testing

The first step to overclocking is to download appropriate apps to test your settings. Theres a large variety of programs available, so Im just going to list a few here.

First of all youre going to need system health monitoring programs. You can try:
HWMonitor
CPU-Z
Real Temp
Speed Fan

GPUZ, HWMonitor, and Real Temp

Secondly, youre going to need some stress tests. My favorite is IBT, but heres a few options:
Intel Burn Test
Prime95 32bit / Prime95 64bit
OCCT
Memtest86+ Bootable CD

Testing is actually fairly simple. Id suggest running HWMonitor and Real Temp at the same time, to make sure you have accurate sensor readings. Leaving these programs open to monitor temperatures, run a stress test. Generally speaking, the more RAM you use, the more stability will depend on RAM. Specifically with IBT, you can set a low RAM usage (standard) with a very high amount of passes (20-30) to check almost exclusively CPU stability. If CPU passes, then it is recommended to do at least 10 passes on Maximum stress level to make sure everything is good.

Prime95 is much less sensitive to errors than IBT, but it is still a good test to run. However, it takes quite a bit longer. It would be a good idea to run it overnight, as it is typically recommended to get an 8 hour test without errors to be almost guaranteed stable. This, obviously, should be the last test you run as it is the most time consuming.

With any CPU, there is a thermal limit you shouldnt go too far over. Typical for Intel CPUs is 72C. AMD CPUs are a little different, but overall if you keep a CPU under 70C you should be ok. If stress tests are below 80C, it might be a little bit of a risk but you can still call that acceptable because under normal loads like in gaming and encoding videos, the temperature should be lower - just make sure you verify that.

Overclocking

Ok, so you should know understand most of the important options in your BIOS, how they are related, and how to test an overclock once you make changes. But what changes should you make? This will depend highly on your system, so I can only give some more general advice. Remember that OCing is more of an experience than anything. Take your time with it, dont jump too high very quickly, and always, always test.

If you have an unlocked CPU, this becomes rather simple. First and foremost, set your RAM to manufacturer specifications and test it - without overclocking the CPU. This is important to make sure your RAM is ok. Once youve done that (lets say 10 IBT passes at Max usage - or at least 2 passes of Memtest86+) you can start increasing your CPU multiplier. I would suggest not making more than 400mhz jumps above stock up to 4ghz, and not more than 100mhz after that. Test after each change.

If you have a locked CPU and need to start increasing the FSB/BCLK, overclocking gets much more complicated. The first thing to consider, which I mentioned previously, is that the speed of your RAM is affected by the BCLK. This of course poses a problem, and is one reason why overclockers like to buy fast RAM (1600+ MHz). For now, the RAM will have to be set to a lower than rated speed to ensure stability, while you overclock the CPU. Often, 200 BCLK or less is easily acheivable, so consider what values you can use to eventually get your RAM to 1200, 1400, 1600, or higher speed (if rated for that). Well worry about actually hitting those values later. Much like for the unlocked CPUs, you dont want to take huge steps in speed increase. Guide Part 4

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Setting up a Proxy Server on Windows

If youve ever traveled outside the US, you know what a pain that is to access certain web-sites. In particular, lots of web-sites have country-restricts which prevent you from accessing them outside the USA. The solution is to run a proxy-server in the US while youre going to be traveling. Theres probably a ton of information out there on how to do this if youre a Linux/Mac user (both of them can run standard UNIX proxy servers), but I havent seen anything on how to do this on Windows, so heres my stab at it, having recently ran a proxy for a friend of mine in Canada.

My main criteria was that the proxy software be free, as in free beer. I couldnt be bothered to download and compile anything for this exercise.

1. Download CCProxy. There are alternatives, but none of them are easily configured, and most of them just simply broken or have onerous licensing requirements. CCProxy is all you will need for personal use. If you need more users, then youll have to pay up or compile some open source software.
   
2. Open up a browser to your routers administration page. This will usually be 192.168.1.1. You can now navigate to Applications & Gaming screen, and set it up so it looks like the following:

   From Drop Box

   
   
3. Now look up the static IP of your router. This is usually on the "Status" page of the routers administration application.
   
4. Configure the client. I tell people to run Firefox, since it has a separate proxy configuration dialog box. Visit tools->options, select the "Network" tab, and click "Settings." Now turn on "Manual Proxy Configuration", and use the static IP address you got previously. Hit OK until youre finished.
   

   From Drop Box

   
   
5. You are now all done!
   

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TABLET PC

A tablet PC is a wireless, portable personal computer with a touch screen interface. The tablet is typically smaller than a notebook computer but larger than a smartphone. The most common kind of tablet is the slate style, like Apples iPad or Microsofts Surface computer. Tablets have electronics integrated into the touch screen unit and lack a hardware keyboard. However, external keyboards are available for slate style tablets. Some keyboards also function as docks for the devices.

The technology behind the Tablet PC is no doubt a result of the best and latest things which has made the use of the PC similar to that of a notebook. The user can easily open the PC, start it and begin his respective works of writing, recording, capturing photographs, sending and receiving mails etc. Mouse is not used in this computer as there are alternatives to the mouse that replaces the previous with far better effect. Instead of the mouse there is a touch pad in the Tablet PC which can be controlled with the help of the fingertips.

The advantages of these Tablet PCs are many in which we can name firstly the portability and easy surfing. Anywhere, whether it is a garden, a beach, a room or while transporting, the use of the Tablet PCs cannot be prevented by any external factor. For this reason day by day these PCs are gaining a huge popularity and admiration among people.

The Tablet PCs are very small in size and can be termed as the smallest invention in the field of the computers. The use of the fingertips or a digital pen is the main attraction in this computer. The manual of this computer is designed in a way to be used by any type of user. Whether a child or an adult, everyone can take good advantage of the Tablet PCs.

Other facilities that can be called very often regarding the Tablet PCs are that these have a high memory capacity to keep all data intact. The storage capacity in the hard disk is huge, very technically designed for a trouble free mobile computing and a digitizer screen that is compatible to the Tablet PC. There are facilities of attaching an extra keyboard and mouse too if required. Thus these can be used extensively at home if the situation arises that the computer has to be used for hours. Usually the Tablet PC are capable of using for a long time, still it is better to be cautious and avoid using them for long periods.

Other styles of tablets:

Convertible Tablet

A convertible tablet normally has a display that rotates 180 degrees and can be folded to close, screen up, over the integrated keyboard.

Convertible models PC is much like a laptop. In fact, at first glance you would be hard pressed to see any different at all. The main difference, however, is the convertibles capability to turn the screen 180 degrees and close on top of the keyboard with the screen facing up. In this position, the convertible functions just like a Tablet PC by responding to the touch of a finger or stylus. The convertible comes packed with all the conveniences and functionality of a laptop computer, with the sharing and presentation power of a Tablet PC. The one downside of the convertible, compared to other types of Tablet PCs, is that with a full-size keyboard, the convertible has a little more weight and bulk.

Slate:The slate Tablet PC was designed to be lightweight, sleek and extremely portable. The slate looks very similar to an enlarged version of a PDA. Slates are fairly powerful PC computers with a high level of functionality. To interact with a slate, simply drag, tap and loop a finger or a stylus across the screen. Without the burden of an attached keyboard, the slate is perfect for frequent transportation. However, the slate does have several ports, including several USB ports to connect a keyboard, mouse, external hard drives, etc. In addition, the slate has the capacity to connect to a monitor or data projector, making it convenient for presentation and sharing purposes.

A hybrid tablet, sometimes referred to as a convertible or hybrid notebook, is like a regular notebook but with a removable display that functions independently as a slate.

A rugged tablet is a slate like model that is considered to withstand rough handling and extreme conditions. Rugged tablets are usually encased in a protective shell and have shock-protected hard drives. They are very functional computers for a person who needs to conduct research or work out in the field, where accidents are more likely to happen.

The idea of tablet computing is mostly recognized to Alan Kay of Xerox, who sketched out the idea in 1971. The first broadly sold tablet computer was Apple Computers Newton, which was not a commercial achievement. Technological developments in battery life, display resolution, handwriting recognition software, larger memory, and wireless Internet access have since made tablets a feasible computing option.

Typical functions of tablet computers:

• Wireless mobile browser functions using 2G,3G,4G or WiFi
• E-mail and social media devices (typically with integration apps to bring all feeds into the same view)
• Prospective cell phone functions (Messaging, video calling, speakerphone or headset cellphone uses)
• GPS navigation
• Camera functions, photo and video viewing and editing
• E-book reading (including electronic versions of periodicals)
• Downloadable apps (games, education, utilities)
• Handy media player function
• Weigh around one or two pounds (0.5 - 1 kilogram)
• Battery life of three to twelve hours depending on usage.
• Ambient light and proximity sensors

History of tablets

Tablet pc computers are derivate of many different technologies and ideas from the past. A digitizer or graphic tablet with handwriting text recognition was presented back in 1956 as a replacement for keyboard. The concept of tablet pc is also related to pen computing, where pen or stylus is used as a user interface instead of mouse or keyboard.

One of tablet predecessors was PDA device, a handheld personal computer used for taking notes and storing data like phone numbers. These devices date into 1980 when Psion launched its first PDA model. The idea was taken by Apple with its Newton and by US Robotics with Palm Pilot. Revolutionary idea and products were way ahead its time and they sank into history almost unperceived.

Next major step was introduction of special Microsoft XP windows OS named Windows XP Tablet PC edition in 2001. This edition incorporated support for pen-sensitive screen and handwriting. Microsofts contribution is also the name "Tablet PC" as this was the first time it was used. Various attempts from different companies were made since then.

Tablet Computers Offer Different Sizes and Styles for Different Types of Customers

Plenty of computer users have made a successful transition from laptop, notebook, or desktop computers to lighter and more versatile tablet computers. In fact, a boom from the Software Development Times indicates that nearly a third of all American adults own a tablet computer or e-reader. The statistic is not really that surprising considering the number of uses a tablet computer brings to the table.

Though, finding the right tablet PC for a given user is not a one-size-fits-all shopping capability. Some tablets are not really tablets all; they are just tricked out electronic readers running modified versions of operating systems (think Kindle Fire and Nook Color). Still, not all tablet computers are created the same either, which is another reason why users should pay close attention before forking over some hard earned cash for something that could turn out to be a coaster in a few months.

One of the first things shoppers need to consider is content. A tablet is only as good as the content it can display. Obviously, users who have a ton of iTunes content are going to want to consider the Apple iPad, because that content is pretty much trapped on Apple devices. In a similar move, anyone with an extensive Barnes & Noble electronic book collection will probably want to avoid the Kindle Fire, because there is not yet a Nook app for the Fire (though that could always change). In short, users should take a few minutes or hours to make sure their Netflix accounts, Hulu accounts, Amazon Video on Demand content, eBooks, movies, and music presently in their library will be of use on the new tablet.

Another cool story of some tablet computers is the ability to video conference or video chat (Apple users call it "Face Time") with friends and family in different locations. Obviously, tablet computers without a front facing camera offer no ability to use any of the video chatting services. Therefore, shoppers who think the technology would be fun to try should shop accordingly.

Expandability and capacity are also issues for some tablet computer owners. The size of the storage usually has an impact on price (which is why the iPads come in different sizes), but many tablets offer the chance to expand capacity with an SD card (the electronic readers usually favor this type of expansion). Of course, any tablet computer with a USB port is fair game for USB memory device as well.

In short, the world of tablet computers can offer something for everyone, but it can also offer different things to different people. Even going so far as to make a list of what activities are demanded out of the device can help shoppers not overspend and get the unit that fits them perfectly atleast for now.

Making Multimedia in a World of Tablet Computers

Tablet computers are the major up comers in the customer and enterprise technology industry. In the past, tablet computers were commonly altered laptops with swivel screens and a large keyboard. There was no touch interface, lightweight options, or wifi. That has changed as todays tablets have no keyboard attached (except a virtual one) and are operated using a purely touch-screen interface. Multimedia designers and developers must aware of the special abilities of these devices, especially when considering the user interface, as they will not be able to rely on the old tried-and-true mouse and keyboard.

While the quest for a popular tablet had overwhelmed computer companies for years, the technology had never quite been there. Now, with smaller processors, LCD screens, and solid-state drives, tablets are finally a reality. Unfortunately, while the technology for tablet computers is widely available, they still arent as capable as their big brother laptop machines. The tablets limitations will have a decisive impact on multimedia and what one can accomplish on the platform.

The most popular tablet computer on the market today is the Apple iPad. With upwards of 25 million+ units sold in its first 2 years, the iPad is the trend-setter in the explosive wave of tablets that has has ht the consumer computing markets. One of the most talked about problem with the iPad, however, is its inability to run Adobe Flash and the Java runtime environment, a major set-back to many multimedia designers. Adobe is solving the problem for multimedia developers by announcing that they have decided to kill Flash for portable devices, and have stopped development on future Flash players on phones and tablets. Flash creators will have to think twice before creating Flash applications for the web, or even creating standalone Flash programs, if they expect their creations to be viewed on a tablet device. The only way to create apps or to make rich internet media for the iPad, as of today, is through a complex programming language such as Objective C, or by learning web design with HTML5 and Javascript. Many designers who are unfamiliar with programming and HTML will find this a major obstacle for developing multimedia on the iPad.

The multimedia designers of tomorrow are going to have to adapt to whatever technologies are just around the bend. App developers for cell phones are already feeling the pinch of developing for multiple platforms that require different multimedia and technology skills. Designers will be able to continue to use the skills already in popular use, such as Photoshop, Flash, 3D animation, and video, but they will also increasingly need to have some knowledge, maybe even a great deal of knowledge, of programming to make themselves useful and flexible in a variety of environments. Designers may need to consider obtaining at least a basic knowledge of programming in a popular object-oriented language such as C++ or Java. Perhaps the best strategy is to begin learning HTML5, which is ubiquitous on almost all tablet computers. That way, whichever tablet winds up with the the greatest market share, multimedia creators will be ready to adapt to the platforms that become popular in the coming years.

Tablet computing is quickly changing the way the world obtains and interacts with multimedia. If the iPad is any indicator, there is a definite demand for tablet computing. With their ease of use, their portability, and their ability to handle complex user interfaces, tablets could become a multimedia creators dream. Unfortunately it is a technology still in its infancy and there are a lot of questions for multimedia creators about the future of tablet computing.

Instructions:-Configure Your Tablet PC for Easy Use

1. Turn on your Tablet PC and log into your user account.
2.  If you own a convertible Tablet PC or have an external keyboard connected to your slate Tablet PC, you can use it just as you would use a laptop or desktop computer. You must, however, calibrate your Tablet PC so that you can use your pen with it.
3. Launch the "Tablet and Pen Settings" menu from inside the Control Panel. You can indicate whether you are right-handed or left-handed. You will need to calibrate your Tablet PC for both landscape and portrait modes.
4. Launch the program in Microsoft Office that you want to use on your Tablet PC. You can use Microsoft Word to create and edit documents. You can keep your notes organized in Microsoft OneNote.
5. Bring your digital pen close to the text field in which you want to enter text. Click on the icon that appears for the Input Panel. Using the Input Panel, you can have your handwriting converted to electronic text.
6. Correct any mistakes that the handwriting recognition software makes. The Tablet PCs best guess at what you intended to write will appear below each written word. If there was a mistake, you can click on the mistake and replace the mistake with the correct word.
7. Download the Tablet PC Experience Pack from the Microsoft website (see Resources below). This free software includes tools that allow you to write or draw directly on your desktop, easily copy images on your screen and access your media files from your Tablet PC.
8. Browse third-party software applications that provide additional functionality on your Tablet PC (see Resources below).
9. You can find tools for work, such as calculators and dictionaries, as well as diversions.

Advantages

Advantages of tablets pc compared to notebooks are their size and weight. Due to their portability, they are very practical and can be used while sitting in sofa, lying in bed or walking around. With a size of a book and special ereader application they can replace this traditional reading source.

Disadvantages

Hardware especially screen is prone to damage as they are carried around and used in various situations and environments. Compared to other personal computers as notebooks and PCs they have weaker capabilities. Especially video with its low resolution is a drawback comparing it to its big brothers. Minimalist ergonomic can be a tradeoff regarding typing experience. Traditional keyboard with wrist rest is much more comfortable.

 

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