Entertainment & Technology Articles

By Caroline Telford

Apple faces stiff competition from HTC as the Taiwan-based mobile phone powerhouse introduced the HTC Touch HD smartphone.

For a long time, the Apple iPhone 3G smartphone dominated the high end touchscreen mobile phone market with its huge 3.5 inch WVGA display screen. This is a pioneering technology of Apple especially with its ultra high resolution display quality and very intuitive user interface.

However, HTC puts the competition a notch higher by introducing a smartphone that matches the size and quality of Apple's WVGA touchscreen display. You now have two high end options when buying a widescreen smartphone.

The Race towards Better Touchscreen Display

HTC Touch HD offers wider touchscreen at 3.8 inches which totally dominates the facade of this mobile phone. This type of design is common in Apple iPhone 3G smartphone. That is why you cannot help but compare HTC's smartphone from iPhone.

However, the bigger screen and display size of the HTC mobile phone will certainly pose a serious problem for Apple as consumers tend to favor wider mobile phone screens.

Both mobile phones have ultra high quality WVGA screen resolutions. HTC can provide brighter and crispier VGA screen display under normal lighting conditions. On the other hand, Apple's 3G iPhone can outperform HTC when used under bright sunlight.

Digital Camera and Multimedia Features

HTC Touch HD takes the cake away from iPhone 3G when it comes to their built-in digital camera features. iPhone 3G has a 2 megapixel standard phone camera. It has no autofocus feature and lacks a built-in flash. The digital camera of Apple iPhone 3G would be ideal for non-critical snapshots and should be used on bright environments.

On the other hand, HTC offers a 5 megapixel digital camera which is a first of its kind in the HTC smartphone line. The digital camera of HTC also features smart autofocus and a built-in camera flash. With such powerful features, you can use your smartphone as a real Digicam to produce superior quality images.

Processing Speed and Phone Memory Performance

Apple's iPhone edges HTC on this aspect. iPhone 3G has a 620 megahertz ARM central processing unit. You can also choose the phone memory power between 8 gigabytes and 16 gigabytes. These system features can provide faster data processing, high speed connectivity, and lots of storage space.

HTC Touch on the other hand works with a Qualcomm 528 megahertz processor. It has a 288 MB internal memory and a 512 MB ROM. If you want more storage space, you can add a 4 GB Micro SD card on it. HTC also runs on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system which can be surpassed by the iPhone operating system.

Web and Wireless Connectivity Features

HD Touch and iPhone 3G support multiple high speed networks to connect to web. Both can work on HSDPA, GPRS, and Quadband GSM. iPhone however can use EDGE network which is surprisingly absent in the HTC smartphone.

HD Touch and Apple iPhone 3G are two of the most advanced smartphones today. It is up to you to decide which high end mobile would be suitable for your needs.

About the Author:
Compare mobile phone deals at DialToSave. Choose between the best mobile handsets like the HTC Touch HD and the Apple iPhone 3G. Then select the cheapest contract from UK retailers.

By Martin Smith

So many new types of cell phones are appearing on the market almost on a daily basis. I decided to have a look at the Nokia N95 8GB which is my personal phone choice and one I use every single day. The N95 is simply crammed with features so let's get down to it to see what you get for your money.

One the phone comes with a 5-megapixel camera with built-in flash it also comes with a picture and video editor function, which allows you to put your videos and photographs together and create one long video this cannot be done from the phone itself without using any other editing software.

The screen on the N95 8Gb is bigger then the original version and comes in with bright and spacious 2.8 inches TFT with 16 million colors and a screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. One of the particularly nice features that I like is the 'dual slider' concept which offers the number pad slider one and the media controller on the other immediate controller is great for controlling music playback and something that takes a little bit of getting used to it you get to understand the concept and idea behind this one just there to use it on a regular basis.

In terms of communication the phone comes with it some advanced data transferring apps like Class 32 GPRS, Class 32 EDGE, HSCSD. It also comes with Bluetooth with A2DP technology, Wi-Fi WLAN with UPnP technology, infrared port and v2.0 USB. The WiFi is obviously a very useful feature on a cell phone and also a little bit difficult to use on the older model of the N95 with the bigger screen on the new version now it really makes a big difference.

The phone comes with 8GB of internal memory and 128MB of SDRAM memory, this is just an amazing amount of memory and will store thousands of MP3s and photographs whichever you choose. There are so many features on this phone that we could be here all day talking about in terms of entertainment that comes with it and FM radio and media player, the media player supports formats like MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+ and WMA which should cover what most people need.

You do get all the standard features like the phone book which has a extra fields and options compared to some older Nokia handsets. The N95 is one of only a few handsets that have Sat Nav available both I would check with my local service provider what charges they have on GPRS connectivity before you really start to overuse this feature, if you have an unlimited data plan then this is not an issue of course.

The N95 8GB is basically a computer in your pocket and I think it's Nokia's intention that this is exactly what they want the phone to be known as. The phone is a little bit big and bulky and I have found some times that the operating system is a little bit slow to react when opening up applications but overall this is a well designed cell phone with features just packed in that everybody will find some use for.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Kyocera X-tc Messaging Phone and and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

By Lakshmi Menon

In today's world, computer has become an integral part of our life. We depend on our computers for both official and personal work. When we are in the midst of some work, the computer sometimes suddenly stops working and we wonder what to do.

The following practice, if done regularly, may help you to safeguard your computer to some extent.

1. Run disc clean up, scan disk and defragmentor.

2. Keep your recycle bin emptied.

3. Clean your cache of browsers.

4. Download only the very essential programs that are required to run your business and avoid the habit of downloading whatever you get for free.

5. Update your programs to keep up the latest technology and also for a faster load time.

6. Never open suspicious emails from unknown people, especially the attachments however tempting it may be. It will be hazardous to your computer. Sometimes you may even get emails with attachments with subject saying your "Thank you for your order and the credit card details". Most of them will be sending malicious viruses through those attachments.

7. Above all remember to protect your computer with anti-virus soft ware and update it regularly.

8. Backing up of all your important files and store them in two sets of floppies. In case one floppy fails to open the other one would be of help.

Before calling the technical help, it will be wise to try the following simple step, which may help you to sort out your problem.

Carefully check your connecting cord and circuit board of your computer. A gentle push may solve the problem, correcting the loose connection and a big expenditure of calling the technical person can be eliminated.

Lakshmi Menon is a freelance writer and provides information about the Destinations of South India. See her website for more information about South India

By Aureo Castro

How Can I Fix My Broken Computer?

If you need help in fixing your computer problems, then read on for important points that you need to consider to help you fix computer troubles when they come.

Everybody experiences computer problems. Some are serious while others are not. It pays to have enough know-how to solve simple computer failures because you never know when trouble will come. If you believe in Murphy's Law, then expect trouble at a time when you're finishing a report that has been past due and that you need to email immediately to your boss.

Troubleshooting logic is universal and is applicable to any problem that a human being faces in her everyday life such as when your car fails to start or your printer fails to print your document. It is a scheme of progressively eliminating probable causes until you find the real cause of the problem and solve it.

Know-how Required to Fix Troubles with Computers

Aside from a normally functioning brain, two types of know-how are needed to successfully troubleshoot a failed operation. One is what you might call principles of operation which can be likened to physical laws that nature obeys. They are foundational and they let us know that there is a problem and possibly define what the problem is. The other type is the methodical know-how or system of logic that can be used to isolate the problem and thereby expose it to various possible solutions. These two types of know-how are both easily learned as long as the person maintains an objective attitude, an open mind and patience for finding the right solution.

Make Friends with Geeks Who Can Help When Trouble Comes

If you feel that the use of computers will become a regular part of your professional life, it will be a good idea to develop friendships with computer geeks that you come across in both your professional and social life. Ask them questions when you meet them and don't forget to thank them for any advice they may give you. Ask for their contact numbers and check if you can contact them if you experience trouble with your computer.

Due to the vast explosion of knowledge brought about by the fast pace of technological development, it is impossible for one person to have sufficient know-how to get along in the fast paced world of business, Inevitably, you will come to a point that you know you have exhausted all that you know and that the time has come to seek the help of others who are better equipped to solve the problem.

Cultivate the Art of Asking for Help

I bring this point to emphasize the immense value of asking for help from others. Not only it is a useful habit to keep but also an essential skill required for survival in the highly competitive world of work. I want to reiterate the positive value of asking for help from others and I can go as far as saying that it can be a good virtue that everybody should develop. Some people are ashamed of asking for help from others, fearing that they may unwittingly declare their ignorance on certain matters. I say that you stand to possibly lose much more when you refuse to avail of the help that others may be willing to give.

Learn About Computers and Make Fixing Computer Troubles Easier

It will be worth your time to gain at least familiarity with the different parts of the computer and their particular role in servicing the needs of the user. Basically, the computer is a data-processing equipment that can do complex calculations with acceptable precision in tremendously less time than if done manually. Theoretically, the computer system includes the physical hardware, the programs that contain the instructions for processing the data, and the data that is being manipulated to come up with the desired results.

Is It a Hardware or Software Problem?

In the world of computers, we try to distinguish between the hardware and the software aspects of the operation. This is a useful tool that we can use to try to come to grips with the problem and determine where the failure is. By knowing with certainty that the failure is a hardware or software problem, we are able to immediately rule out one half of the possible causes of the problem.

Since the physical representation of data and programs has reached a certain degree of stability in computer systems, they are not normally being tagged as failure point when trouble occurs. While most parts of the computer are electronic in nature, there still remain some parts that are mechanical which are more likely to break down. Hence, mechanical failure is almost always an immediate suspect when trouble occurs.

Check That Devices Are Powered

Peripherals and other computer accessories may have a different source of power than the computer itself. When trouble comes, it would be wise to check if all peripherals and accessories needed for the application we are using are powered on. This is a basic troubleshooting technique that we most often miss.

When trouble comes, it is a good idea to check if all physical devices needed by the application are powered on and functioning properly. If all is well on the hardware side, we take a look at the application we are using including how well the application and the operating system work together. Lastly, we check if there is something wrong with the data we are using and see whether it conforms to the specifications of the application that is using it.

Approaches and Strategies For Fixing Broken Computers

Stepping the procedure is another way of trying to determine where the problem lies. Suppose we have been using our computer for doing something the same way as we have done in the past and nothing goes wrong. Then suddenly, something went awry and the results were not as expected. In such an instance, we may want to look back and see if we have done something different in this case which might explain why we got an unexpected result.

One way of finding out if the problem lies with the data we are using is to run the application using the same data on a different computer system. If the test goes fine in a different computer, then we suspect something is wrong with the computer we were using when we got the unexpected result.

In a problem situation where a lot of variables are involved, changing one variable at a time and looking at the results may provide greater understanding of the problem and may even point out the actual cause of the problem. This style of problem solving is what is commonly known as the trial and error method. This can be applied in all aspects of the computer problem.

In physical hardware troubleshooting, we can use a variety of similar parts with different capacities to see how the results vary with different hardware capacities. We can try to use our data with different application software or even with different operating systems to find out on which platforms our data is processed in the best possible way. In the same vein, we could try using different sets of data in the same application in the same computer system to find out what effect does the difference in the data sets has on the particular hardware and software combination.

Find Where the Bottleneck Lies

As we use our computer system over a period of time and as our data multiply in geometric progression, we sometimes observe a slowdown or even a stop in performance when using our computers. This results in the using up of the available resources that our computers have. In such as situation, we want to find out where the processing bottleneck lies. Either our processing power falls short or our storage space for data becomes limited. Either one or a combination solution would be able to solve this problem.

Hardware Solution Always Works

Almost always, a hardware solution will solve the problem but sometimes more remedial measures will be required. Upgrading components is an expensive proposition that sometimes could only provide limited benefits. It often happens that the bottleneck is only moved somewhere else and the problem remains unsolved. Sometimes, stop-gap measures would suffice in the meantime as the decision to acquire a more sophisticated hardware is being considered.

In all cases, trying inexpensive solutions first is a right approach such as when updating the application or operating system would provide improved performance without upgrading the physical hardware. However, upgrading to a more powerful hardware offers a more permanent solution. We should always go for the solution that gives the best benefits for the least cost to the computer user. I hope that this guide has provided you with valuable advice that can help you fix your computer troubles now and in the future.

Aureo P. Castro has been educated in journalism and information technology. He has written and edited technical reports and systems documentation. He also taught computer subjects using mainframe computers. He spends his time creating personal webs and making tutorial videos. He is currently undertaking personal learning projects on Cascading Style Sheets and Search Engine Optimization.

Aureo P. Castro's articles on computers and the Internet can be read at http://thetechnicalprose.wordpress.com His video web site at http://sites.google.com/site/thedigitaltutor shows the video tutorials he has created. He is looking for work opportunities as writer, editor or instructor for computer or Internet-related projects.

By Fredrick Ituma

The need for each and everyone in our society today to acquire basic computer knowledge skills cannot be overlooked by anyone in this present day. Every computer beginner is now feeling the need to learn how to use a computer as faster as he or she can possibly afford to. Read on to discover three simple facts to speed up and boost your learning and gaining computer science knowledge skills faster from home.

1) Avoid using beginners' computer training books to learn about computers.

The use of computer basics training books to learn how to use computers by beginners in this modern world is one of the main reasons why so many people still spend months and even years, just to gain simple PC knowledge skills faster on their own. This system still works but certainly not for any beginner who wants to learn PC skills faster from home without attending beginners training classes.

2) Make use of beginners' video computer training lessons for learning about computers faster.

The use of PC training videos specifically designed for new computer users to learn how to use a computer is by far, the best way to gain computer knowledge skills faster from home. We all love to watch interesting movies, and we all keep good memories of any particular movie that interests us. So also will the memories of whatever computer science topic we learn while watching our video lessons will ever remain fresh in our minds till a long time to come.

3) Whenever Possible, use only beginners video lessons on DVDs and not on CDs for your studies.

Most people never care to give importance to the use of beginners PC training tutorials recorded on simple DVDs to learn computer basic skills from home. If you truly understand the great impact this simple trick could play with your learning about computers faster on your own, you'll never have to overlook this particular point. If you choose to use training lessons on DVDs instead of CDs, you can as well watch and learn your basic PC knowledge skills from your home DVD player, while practicing at the same time on your computer (if you have one at home). This is a hidden aspect of learning any new skills faster on your own which most people fail to give much importance.

So in conclusion, if you want to move from a computer beginners training class faster and master all your beginners computer basic knowledge skills in a matter of day, make use of video tutorials preferably on DVDs and not on CDs to learn about computers faster from home. You can easily master all your PC basics in just a matter of days and soonest be the envy of your friends. Good luck with your burning desire to learn and move from your computer beginner class to a semi-professional PC user faster!

Click this Link now for your Beginners Computer Knowledge training video lessons to learn basic computer skills faster from home. Click here for your Free Computer Beginners Lessons Online when you sign up for your PC basic skills tutorials.