Amazon Kindle reading device! 

Play Other Region DVDs.
WARNING: All is at your Own Risk!

most domestic DVD players can be disarmed
so they will play legitimate DVDs that come from other regions
by setting the player  Region Code to "0".

The USA is "Region 1" but Europe is "Region 2"  etv,
so disks will not play out of region.
technical blurb you can ignore is here
http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#1.10 

and how to actually do it is here: 

http://www.dvddemystifiziert.de/codefree_en/codefree.html

Note this is nothing to do with cracking the disk
copy protection either… It is for playing the disk outside the region it was sold in
which is normally barred with  message:
"Wrong Region"

IE,
Legitimate DVDs from the USA and play them in the UK
and vice versa.

a quirk in law says that it is forbidden to resell DVDs in for example the UK that were made in the USA as they have not been through the British Board of Film Ratings,

BUT you CAN buy them abroad AND you can even unlock the players like
this. Gray Area: Can you sell unlocked players? Who Knows?

Now to watch those nice BBC DVDs I got for Christmas
in the UK here in the USA their original form!

 Glenn has the Blackberry Curve pda & phone. It has a QWERTY keyboard
www.blackberrycurve.com
Palm Centro is its competitor
palmone.com

A caller has problem connecting his LG cell phone with his Toyota Prius using Bluetooth.
A firmware update from Verizon is suggested by dialing *228.
Bluetooth sometimes has trouble connecting to more than one device at a time.

For posting pictures to the web or emailing them you may need to resize or change resolution. The following software can help you do that.
microsoft image resizer from the Powertoys package for Windows XP:
You can also use…
Paint Shop Pro is now a Corel product but earlier free versions can be found.
I got mine here:
Learn more about Paint Shop at these sites:
tcc-pub.com/workshop/205/psp.htm
www.youthpastor.com/2000/index.cfm/A/2Kpsp.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paint_Shop_Pro
and…
resize2mail does the resizing online, no software to download.
www.resize2mail.com/advanced.php

For capturing video from the web (like from YouTube) to a local file
"video saver" for Firefox. If it isn't this, then I dunno, sorry.
addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/2390

Finding files by size. View directory statistics:
windirstat.sourceforge.net

Using .rar compression & other compression schemes (.zip; .rar; cdrom images).
izarc.org
To learn more about .rar files:
rarlab.com
After you install izarc, right click on the file you want to uncompress, then click on izarc. It can concatenate very long files as it uncompresses.

Episodes of old tv shows are at this AOL site. But it may currently be having problems, as a caller experienced.
in2tv.com

Digitize your cassettes and LPs
http://www.macworld.com/article/131449/2008/01/feb08playlist.html?lsrc=mwweek

Slammed?!

Phone Troubleshooting – How to verify your regional, long distance carrier or home telephone number
The following numbers are to an automated service and the numbers are toll free.

Identify your Regional Carrier 700-4141
Identify your Long Distance Carrier 700-555-4141
Identify your Telephone Number 511
 

Jeffrey Hein; linux expert; runs local business, cohosted this show.
www.jphein.com

Paul mentions a virus that comes from a digital picture frames.
Music stores can possibly transfer a virus to your Ipod if you plug it in at the store to obtain music samples.
Some newer digital cameras can now insure that nobody is blinking and everyone is smiling.
UK is ahead in the number of cell phone networks. Their T-mobile can be used to access the internet via a USB dongle for about $10 or $20 a month of 1gig/month of traffic & 3.5 megabits/sec.

More info about the digital tv switch-over in Feb of 2009 at dtvanswers.com
You can now apply for up to two $40 coupons for a converter box.

A couple of XP shortcuts:
Windowskey + U goes to accessibility screen with the text to speech voice speaking
Windowskey + L locks the computer & waits for you to login again

There are options of connecting to the internet using the cell phone networks using the Edge system at about 128k baud or the GSM system at 9600 baud. AT&T has a USB dongle (at about $79) where you plug in your SIM card. Verizon has a similar service.

sonic.net uses spare channels of UHF TV to connect to the internet.

Go to att.com to check if DSL is available in your area.

Special needs people who'd like to buy a Mac and want to avoid the inherently higher prices of Mac computer should be aware that older Macs can be adequate for web surfing. Check ebay.com & craigslist.com

Keep an eye on your phone bills. Slamming is prevalent and it can be hard to find out what you're being charged for. See the toll-free numbers at the top to get more info about your phone service provider.

You don't need to have long distance carrier. A good option is not have the long distance & just use a calling card. Also, if you make less than $20,000/yr there is the Lifeline service that costs much less.

Alternate long distance provider onesuite.com uses a pin to get access.

Internet Explorer 7 may have trouble running on earlier PC's with only 256k or less RAM. If you uninstall IE7, you will be taken back to IE6. Right click on My Computer & left click on properties to find out how much RAM you have.

jkdefrag is a great "no install" defragmenter includes a screen saver. It reclaims unused space on the hard drive due to adding & deleting files of different sizes over time. Get it at: www.kessels.com/JkDefrag/

It's possible for a Mac to pass on a virus to a PC via mail. Be careful about forwarding unknown mail. For anti-virus info & programs see…

Norton anti-virus for Mac:
www.symantec.com/norton/products/overview.jsp?pcid=ma&pvid=nav11mac

search forum.techguy.org for discussions of anti-virus software. Select "Apple Macintosh" on the search list.

You might get a listing like:
forums.techguy.org/search.php?searchid=944533

And see this particular thread:
forums.techguy.org/apple-macintosh/295382-free-antivirus-download-mac-osx.html

Also, clamxav.com has a free anti-virus for the Mac

Anti-virus for XP & other useful programs, see the list at the end of:
zen.kvmr.org/content/view/54/11/

Those interested an a foothill Linux advocacy group email to:
zen – at – kvmr – dot – org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux  

- Open Source Software.
The advantages of Open Source Software are many.  Here are a few that stand out to me.

• Free (It really is completely free)
• Supports Local Professionals
• When you use commercial software you really only have one choice when looking for support.  The company you bought the software from. With Open Source Software, because the code base is open anyone can become an expert.
• Runs on Inexpensive Hardware
• When Open Source Software is updated you rarely have to buy a new computer to support it.
• Will run on old or small computers.
• Will run on more durable computers that will save on replacement and support.
• Better for the Enviroment
• Because the resource reqiurements are less for Linux you don't have to throw your old computer away.
• You can use more efficient hardware that uses less electricity and creates less heat and sound.

- Intenet Applications.
- Thin Client Technology.

BLOG section: Thanks Bill for sending in these notes:

Hi Paul-

I've been using Linux almost exclusively since 1996-7 or so...
installing many 'flavors' of Linux on a wide variety of computers. 

In the last few years we've seen the 'Live CD,' with which it's
possible to try out or test the particular distribution, without
actually installing it to the hard disk.

What I've noticed most recently is that some of the distributions
won't run on some computers -- for a reason that is unknown to me.

For instance, Ubuntu, (Kubuntu really, with the KDE desktop
environment), runs beautifully on some computers (my new Acer
laptop, for example), where everything just works, flawlessly, and
the system is kept up-to-date with the simple commands 'apt-get
update' and 'apt-get upgrade' -- accessing the Debian based
repositories.

But Ubuntu will NOT run or install on my main server or backup server.
As I said, I'm not a newbie at this... My main server is brand new
Athlon 64 with 2GB memory; the backup server is about 3 yr old HP with
385MB ram and 1.5 GHz Intel chip.

However both servers both ran and easily installed the open SuSE
distribution (and, puzzlingly, Knoppix. I say puzzlingly because
Knoppix, like Ubuntu, is also a Debian-based distribution).

The upshot of my recent experiences is, if listeners are interested in
trying out Linux, to test a Live CD, and if that won't run to try
another flavor. Life's too short to try to install a distribution that
won't run from CD -- at least unless you know the problem, such as not
enough memory. If it's simply a memory problem, you may be able to
install and run the system successfully on less memory than it takes
to run the Live CD. But even the purchase of a new memory chip is
almost certainly cheaper than a new computer...

Hope these comments will be helpful.

-Bill

One of the most compatible Linux distribution I have found is Puppy Linux www.puppylinux.org .
This distribution also has amazingly low system requirements  and can run off of a USB thumb drive, CD or hard drive.   It is geared toward a standard desktop enviroment.

 I also wanted to mention PCLinux OS www.pclinuxos.com .  I have personally never used it, but is one of the most popular for new Linux users. 

-Jeffrey 

Lots of talk about the recent power outages, some of which lasted up to a week in our area, and what to do to help protect your appliances and electronic equipment.

During a brown out ( something less than 110v ac is coming into your house from the power company) TURN OFF or unplug anything that has a motor like refridgerators and freezers (and do not open them!). It's called a brown out as the lights may dim to the oint of having a lighting effect like a dim saloon! : ). Filament light bulbs do not mind working this way. Naturally, you are using those nice Compact Flourescen Tubes (CFTs) which can also malfuntoin and overheat in these conditions.

During a full power outage:

Unplug electronic equipmennt from the wall. If you have a UPS (Uninteruptable Power Suppy) immediately shut down whatever equipment it is running. A UPS can be used to power a cordless phone and radio for a few hours but do not attempt to run your computer with it.

When using a generator BE SURE TO TURN OFF THE MAIN POWER coming in from your utility provider (so that you are not feeding power into the system which could potentially electrocute a worker).

Generator power should be used for essential things in your house and not for computers and such or electric heaters. Using generator power to run the fan  on your gas heater is okay.

APC & Belkin UPS units, the more expensive units will provide smoother sine waves and don't mind charging from a generator. A Belkin unit that we use here at KVMR is model # FF6C1000-TW-RK . – About $150.00 from their site as of press day.

Also related to prolonged power outages is that the CMOS/BIOS battery (a small quarter sized unit in all desktop computers) may go flat. Replace with battery # 2032 (I think)

home mesh automation! by MAC.. 

 Human/Computer Interface

Notes By Glen: 

In studio guest Jeffrey Hein a Linux programmer will field calls about Linux today.

Linux is an alternative operating system to Windows. It can be free or purchased. If you re-distribute it you must make all changes you have available for everyone. Jeffrey’s web site is http://www.jphein.com/ Linux can easily run on older equipment. UBUNTU.com

Sound from an HP computer when run about 20’ to a powered boom box is very low. Try to use a short wire on the same boom box. Check in the computer to make sure all the sounds settings are on and turned up.

Truckee translator: a listener is having problems with receiving 105.1fm consistently. I drops off completely for several minutes at a time. Try to set up a better antenna system. The weather could also be the problem this time of year.

Spamford Wallace has done bad things to 100,000 MySpace websites, a listener has most likely gotten a virus by trying to access a bands website. Most likely she will have to re-install Windows on this Dell laptop.

Billeo was mistakenly installed on her computer and is now bringing up porn and such. Jeffrey recommends winpooch to ask you in the future if you really want to install software from the web !!

Using Syncback, James is having trouble using the “Default” profile. Double click on it. From www.2brightsparks.com

I Power Web is allowing all “BCC” (blind carbon copy) to show all e-mail addresses. PHP List can help with this. Phplist.com

Remember that using your debit card online can be more risky than using an actually credit card which will provide more protection against unauthorized use.

Linux, performance was slow for Open Office and such according to one user. Jeffrey suggests that the graphics card might not have the correct drivers.

LAMP ??