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The Monthly Edition Of The k-Byte Newsletter |
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| V. 27, No. 3, March 2010 | Users Helping Users |
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The Monthly Edition Of The k-Byte Newsletter |
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| V. 27, No. 3, March 2010 | Users Helping Users |
Contents
Meeting Previews on Page 6
March: YouTube Explored
April: USB Cassete Decks and Turntables
Quote of the Month
To most people nothing is more troublesome than the
effort of thinking.
James Bryce [1901]
by Dave Christenson, The digital photo guru and member of the Fox Valley PC Association, Illinois, http://www.fvpca.org, deanholste(at)sbcglobal.net
I suspect that everyone reading this has at least one digital camera. What criteria did you use when buying it? Size, features, cuteness, need, impulse? Some or all of these? Maybe. But I'll bet that two you definitely considered are price and pixel count. All other things being equal, low price and high mega-pixel count is good! Right? Not always. I'll certainly go along with the low price bit, but let's think about the pixels a bit.
Why do we want more pixels? Obviously, because the picture, or image, is made out of pixels, the more pixels we have the more detail the image can contain and the greater we can enlarge it, or more cropping we can do. If we go beyond the capabilities of the count, we get what's called pixilation, or, more informally, stair-stepping, where a diagonal line zig-zags. Also called, for obvious reason, "the jaggies." So, why don't we necessarily want the most pixels possible for the price?
Well, everything in this world is a compromise, including us. We all make unnecessary noise, so do pixels. When light from the lens hits a pixel it puts out an electronic signal, proportional to the amount of light striking it. But, there is also a residual signal in a pixel, that is, a signal that it puts out whether or not light is hitting it. This is called noise. This is on top of the wanted signal, and the lower the brightness of the image, the greater the noise appears. Thus, it shows up more in photos taken in dim light. But it's always there, and in all cameras. It appears more obvious in areas of smoothness, such as sky, or human skin, and causes the image to look somewhat rough or granulated. (To those who are used to film, it's more or less the equivalent of grain.) Altogether, noise is something really undesirable.
What's the easiest way to reduce the amount of noise in a pixel? Easy, make it bigger! Now, do you see the conflict? If we make the pixels bigger to reduce noise, then we have to have fewer of them on a given size sensor. Or, we can have bigger sensors. This method definitely works, but at a price. A bigger sensor means a bigger camera, and a higher price. Large sensors are expensive, huge sensors ridiculously so. (A giant sensor or a new car, your choice!) There is software in cameras designed to analyze the noise and reduce it. It works, but it has limitations distinguishing between noise and signal. Software packages can be purchased at varying price levels to reduce noise, they help but don't cure the noise problem, if you want to get into that.
You would think that camera manufacturers, being aware of the problem, would design their cameras to have a reasonable compromise between sensor size and number of pixels. The designers could, but specifications are given by the marketing group, who are well aware that "Pixels sell!" So, what should you do?
Well, consider how you are going to use your photos. Are you going to print 16" x 20" photos on high resolution glossy paper? Are you going to crop out an itsy-bitsy portion of the center of the picture and enlarge it? If so, I'm afraid you will have to bite the bullet and get a larger sensor camera. But if you are taking photos of birthday parties, vacations, and get-togethers, and want to print them as 4x5's or e-mail them, then I wouldn't be too concerned about pixel counts. Maybe cuteness is more important.
This article has been obtained from APCUG with the author's permission for publication by APCUG member groups; all other uses require the permission of the author (see e-mail address above).
Published monthly, k-Byte is the official newsletter of the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group (FRPCUG): our mailing address is PMB 152, 305 W. Magnolia, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521.
Opinions expressed in k-Byte are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the group or its members. Publication of information in k-Byte constitutes no guarantee of accuracy. Use of any information found in this publication is at the sole risk of the user. Neither k-Byte, nor its officers, nor its editors or contributors assume any liability for damages resulting from use of information in this publication.
Submissions
Articles, letters and short items of interest on computer-related topics are welcome and encouraged. All items submitted for publication are subject to editing. Send your contribution to the editor via e-mail attachment. If you have questions about a submission, please contact the editor for information.
Copyright and Trademark Information
k-Byte is copyrighted ©2010 by the Front Range Personal Computer Users Group. The k-Byte logo and the Front Range PC Users Group logo are Trademarked by the Front Range PC Users Group. Unless otherwise noted, other nonprofit users groups may reprint or quote from any articles appearing in k-Byte without prior permission, provided that: a) proper author and publication credits are given; b) that a copy of the publication in which the article appears is sent at no cost to k-Byte at the above mailing address, or emailed to contact(at)frpcug.org; and c) any additional instructions/restrictions contained in the article are followed. User groups wishing to exchange newsletters with FRPCUG are invited to send a copy of their newsletter together with an exchange request.
Disclaimer
IBM PC, OS/2, Compaq, HP, Dell, UNIX, Windows MAC, Apple Computer and other trademarks occasionally mentioned in k-Byte are registered trademarks of International Business Machines, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Corporation, Microsoft, Dell Inc., Apple Computer Inc., or their owners respectively. Neither FRPCUG nor its newsletter k-Byte are connected in any way with any manufacturer or seller. Acceptance by FRPCUG of donated products or services from suppliers, or inclusion of a supplier in the FRPCUG Partner list does not imply that any continuing financial support is received or expected by FRPCUG. Nor do such activities imply an endorsement of either the supplier or product or service. Such information is made available to members as a service. Use of any product or supplier found in this publication, or any FRPCUG publication, is at the sole risk of the user.
About FRPCUG
FRPCUG is an independent nonprofit computer society, so incorporated with the State of Colorado and open to anyone interested in personal computers using any operating system: Windows, Linux or MAC, and digital hardware (such as music/video players, smart phones, etc.). Its purpose is to provide an educational and scientific forum of mutual benefit for members of the community regardless of knowledge level. FRPCUG holds a monthly meeting and conducts various special interest groups (SIGs) and seminars. Members have voting privileges, subscription to the k-Byte newsletter, and access to SIGs and selected seminars. Annual dues are $25 for individual/family membership ($20 for students) and $50 for corporate/group membership.
by Michael Gemignani, a member of HAL-PC, Texas, HAL-PC Magazine, http://www.hal-pc.org, mgmign2(at)hal-pc.org
I had originally intended to follow up on my previous column concerning ways we can get crosswise with the law using our computers, but I decided to postpone that discussion when I saw the announcement that Google is making available a service that will expand our ability to manage our phone service, but, at the same time, will vastly increase Google's ability to know more about us.
Basically, if I choose to use all of the capabilities of Google Voice, Google can obtain a complete record of all of my phone calls, not merely who called me or whom I called, but a recording of each and every one of those calls. Some would say that Google's collecting this much information about me goes far beyond merely recording my Google searches or my clicking on banner ads or on links to other sites. Google might be seriously infringing my "privacy."
Of course, if I choose to use Google Voice, presumably I know what I am getting into. I can voluntarily give up some of my privacy in the interests of convenience. I am under no obligation whatsoever to use Google Voice. But what is privacy, and how much of it have I already lost in this technological age?
Most people, I think, would be surprised to know that the Constitution of the United States does not give anyone a right to privacy. The right to privacy was created by the courts, most particularly the United States Supreme Court, in such cases as Roe v. Wade, which gave a woman a limited right to an abortion based on her right to privacy.
Privacy has several meanings, but, basically, it refers to a person's right to control his private property, including his own body, and the information publicly available about him. Immediately, then, we see that the right to privacy is not absolute. My car is my private property, but I am not free to use it however I choose. I am not even free to use my body however I choose; for example, when my body is in the front seat of a car, I am obligated by law to restrain my body with a seatbelt.
The balance to be struck between my right to restrict the information publicly available about me and the government's and the public's reasonable "need to know" is often controversial. If I am a public figure, such as a candidate for high office, I am expected to reveal more about myself so the public can better decide whether to vote for me. But even if I am the humblest of private citizens, if I use a charge card, a record is made not only of my purchase, but of the time and place where I made the purchase. If I make a phone call, the phone company has a record of the number I called in its logs. If I sign on to a website, there is a presumption that I visited that site at the time and from the IP address indicated on the site's log.
Moreover, cell phones are easily tapped, and there is no expectation on privacy when using a cell phone. Even computers that are not properly shielded emit electromagnetic waves that can be picked up with the proper equipment and the computer's activity duplicated exactly on another computer. There are, of course, other means of spying on my computer activity, such as packet sniffing for one. And though such sophisticated mechanisms to invade my "privacy" would hardly be justified in the case of an ordinary citizen, the mechanisms are out there. The only secure computer is one that is shielded against emitting radio waves and is totally isolated from the outside world. And, of course, those who truly want to know more about me, for reasons good or bad, are developing increasingly powerful means to do so.
Just as the notion of intellectual property has had to be rethought in the light of modern technology, so, too, does the notion of privacy. Just as there is the balance to be struck between my right to control what is mine, including information about me and the limitations on my control based on the legitimate needs of society, I can often decide what personal balance I am willing to strike. I can pay cash for all my purchases so there will be no records from my charge cards. I can use a pay phone, if I can find one, so I cannot be traced to the numbers I called. I can forego use of the Internet so that not even cookies will find their way to my hard drive. And I can refuse to use Google Voice.
Where I draw the line concerning my privacy is one of the choices left to me, or is it? Access to the Internet is almost a necessity for much of our work and leisure. Cell phones are beginning to replace land lines, and many people already use VOIP for their phone service. Perhaps Google Voice is a bridge too far, or maybe it is simply just another milestone on a road we have been traveling for decades. Are we still controlling technology, or is technology controlling us?
The Rev. Dr. Michael Gemignani, an attorney and Episcopal priest, is also a former professor of computer science who has written extensively on legal issues related to computers. Although he is now retired, he enjoys writing and speaking about computer law and security. Contact him with any questions or comments about this topic.
This article has been obtained from APCUG with the author's permission for publication by APCUG member groups; all other uses require the permission of the author (see e-mail address above).
Electronics are popular Christmas gifts. After all, who wouldn't want a new computer or television?
But there's a problem with getting new gear. You need to dispose of the old stuff.
You can't just put electronics in the trash. They contain compounds that are bad for the environment. Besides, tossing
them may be illegal in some areas.
So, make sure the old gear is handled correctly. Your best bet is to donate it to a charity. Or, you can take it to be recycled.
Used to be, you had to pay to recycle computer gear. Fortunately, things are changing. If you want to get rid of old gear,
head over to Reconnect's site http://reconnectpartnership.com/. It's a partnership between Dell and Goodwill. Goodwill will accept virtually any type of computer gear. Even CRTs with broken glass are welcome! If the equipment can be reused, it will be. If not, it will be recycled responsibly.
The site will help you find a drop-off location. It also covers acceptable items. Check the list before hauling in your stuff. Of course, you'll get a receipt for tax purposes. So, you may want to look into recycling your equipment before year's end.
Copyright 2009 WestStar TalkRadio Network. All rights reserved. Subscribe to Kim Komando's free e-mail newsletters at: www.komando.com.
by Mike Morris, Front Range PC Users Group, http://www.frpcug.org
This installment continues the comparison of DTP application features. I have attempted to capture the most important features (in my opinion) of 4 applications into 9 categories:
The comparisons for categories 5 - 7 are included in this, Part 2, of this article. The remaining comparisons will be provided in part 3.
The information in the following table is based on these applications and versions:
The following table is not an exhaustive comparison of all features of all 4 programs. It is based partially on my testing and partially on other resources. The entries in the table are a mixture of facts and opinions. Opinions are enclosed in brackets: [Opinion].
| InDesign | Publisher | Scribus | PagePlus | |
| Category | ||||
| Graphics |
All major formats can be imported.
Extensive resizing and text wrapping controls. A number of math/science symbols are available, but for equations, a 3rd party application (such as MathType) [will be easier to use]. Equations can be imported as an eps file. Changing size, position or orientation of a graphics frame is aided with the Reference Point feature. |
Most major formats can be imported.
Imported graphics are automatically (and proportionately) resized to the size of the picture frame. Text wrap controls similar to those of a word processor. Equations can be imported from a 3rd party application such as MathType. |
Most major formats, except the wmf format can be imported.
Limited resizing and text wrapping controls. Cannot directly text wrap the svg format. A number of math/science symbols are available, but for equations, a third party application (such as MathType) [will be easier to use]. Equations can be imported as an eps file. Changing size, position or orientation of a graphics frame is aided with the Basepoint feature. |
Cannot import the png and svg formats.
It doesn't import EPS files correctly, only preview images, and only the preview image will be exported, so that the EPS import is quite useless. Text wrap controls similar to those of a word processor. Equations can be imported from a 3rd party application such as MathType. |
| Long Document Features |
Both the Table of Contents and Index features have extensive options.
Figure captions require a separate text frame and an appropriately defined style. The Table of Contents feature can be used to automatically create a Table of Figures. When used for a Table of Figures, it is necessary to manually cut/paste entries to get list in correct order. Can import all styles from a word processing document. There are a number of options for preserving formatting of imported text. Adding text frames is a "story" not a document feature, and can be added manually, "semi-automatically," or automatically. |
Very basic [and hard to use] Table of Contents feature.
No Index feature. No Footnote feature. A Table of Figures must generated manually. Formatting from an external document (such as a word processing document) can be preserved or overridden only if copy/paste is used. If Insert/Text file is used, source document formatting is used. If imported text exceeds available space, Publisher can create additional text frames. |
Table of Contents feature available, but no Index feature.
No Footnote feature. A Table of Figures must generated manually. Can import only paragraph styles from a word processing document. [Options for preserving formatting of imported text are not intuitive.] [Automatic page numbering feature not intuitive.] Automatic text frames are a document feature. |
No Table of Contents feature, no Index feature and no Footnote feature.
A Table of Figures must generated manually. If Insert/Text file is used, source document formatting is used. No automatic text frame feature. |
| Color |
Extensive color and color management features.
Pantone® licensed. |
Pantone® licensed.
Some (untested) color management features are available in the Windows XP and Vista operating systems. |
Additional software provides color management for the Linux OS.
MAC computers include color management with the ColorSync capability. Not Pantone® licensed. |
It can't export spot colors to PDF/PS files. They are always converted to CMYK.
Not Pantone® licensed. No color management available, although some (untested) color management features are available in the Windows XP and Vista operating systems. |
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March General Forum Meeting
We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on: |
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Day
Tuesday |
Date
March 2nd |
Time
7:00 PM |
| Meeting Agenda | |
| Time | Topic |
| 7:00 to 7:15 | Announcements and raffle |
| 7:15 to 8:00 | Open Forum |
| 8:00 to 8:10 | Break |
| 8:10 to 9:00 | YouTube Explored |
To check on FRPCUG events in 2010 using a familiar graphical calendar format, connect to the 2010 Graphical Events Calendar
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April General Forum Meeting
We will meet at the Fort Collins Senior Center on: |
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Day
Tuesday |
Date
April 6th |
Time
7:00 PM |
| Meeting Agenda | |
| Time | Topic |
| 7:00 to 7:15 | Announcements and raffle |
| 7:15 to 8:00 | Open Forum |
| 8:00 to 8:10 | Break |
| 8:10 to 9:00 | USB Cassette Decks and Turntables |
See you at the meetings!
Get full membership benefits. If you are not a current member, download and complete a Membership Application. Mail the completed application and your payment to the address listed, or better yet, bring the application to the next meeting.
Do you think of YouTube as a web site full of wacky, useless, amateurish videos? Once-upon-a-time-ago, that was all you could find on YouTube. Today, businesses and other organizations are using YouTube to distribute product, service and training videos. This (useful) transformation of YouTube will be explored at the March meeting.
Most of us probably have some favorite old records—the music on vinyl kind of records. You may not still have equipment (that works) to play those records (or cassette tapes). There is a solution. Plan to attend the April meeting to learn how to easily convert those old vinyl discs (and old cassettes) to digital files.
Digital Imaging SIG
The Digital Imaging SIG is a forum for discussion of digital imaging hardware and software. The meetings are held every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Senior Center Lobby. The meeting format is informal, using the Shop Talk sessions as a basis. For more information, contact Mike Morris at twriterext(at)gmail.com.
New Technology SIG
The New Technology SIG provides advance support for all PC related operating system and telecommunication issues. The meetings are held at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month at Bluebird Manufacturing Inc., 1421 Webster Avenue, in Fort Collins. For more information, contact Chuck McJilton at 970-493-2987.
Shop Talk
One-on-one assistance. Drop in to the Senior Center lobby on any Saturday (holidays excepted) from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Board Meeting
FRPCUG's executive board meets on Wednesday of the week following the General Forum meeting. All members are welcome and are encouraged to attend. These meetings are held at 7:00 PM in the Staff Board Room of the Fort Collins Senior Center.
For a view of FRPCUG activities in 2010, in a traditional graphical calendar format, connect to the Graphical Events Calendar
Here is a summary of FRPCUG activities and other important dates for the next two months:
March 2010
2 General Forum Meeting 7:00 PM
6 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
9 Digital Imaging SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
10 FRPCUG Board Meeting 7:00 PM
13 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
18 Technology SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
20 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
27 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
April 2010
3 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
6 General Forum Meeting 7:00 PM
10 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
13 Digital Imaging SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
14 FRPCUG Board Meeting 7:00 PM
15 Technology SIG Meeting 7:00 PM
17 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
24 Shop Talk 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Photo Gallery
This month's featured photographer:
Paul Ostrof using a Leica D-LUX2 camera.
Sunrise on the Beach
Camera Settings:
Mode = Auto, F Number = 4, Exposure time = 1/250 seconds, Focal Length = 6.30 mm
ISO = 100
Copyright © 2010 by Paul Ostrof. All rights reserved. Send requests for copies/reprint permissions to kbyte(at)frpcug.org
Pamela Tabak receives numerous computer-related questions via e-mail and during classroom presentations. She selects those she feels are of common interest to most members and forwards them to us for publication.
Pamela invites members to ask their questions at http://tinyurl.com/ask-pamela. More often than not you will receive and answer within 24 hours.
QUESTION: I have begun to enter addresses in my Outlook Address book but when I decide to send an email only the name shows in the TO line and not the email address. I am concerned that the email address is not entered and therefore my recipient will not get the email. Can you explain why this is happening and if my email will be received?
ANSWER: When you enter your address like it is entered in the figure at right only the name will appear in the TO line of your email because that is the way it appears in the Display as: line of your address entry. If you wish the email address to be shown instead or as well as the name you will need to enter it in the Display as: line.
Only the name will show on the email not the email address if you format it as shown below. Rest assured the email address is included even though it is not showing:
QUESTION: I am using FOXIT PDF maker and the pages are appearing in the reverse order. I have tried to change the order but have not succeeded. Can you help?
ANSWER: Just click on VIEW and then REVERSE VIEW and it should solve your problem.
QUESTION: I am trying to use the Mail Merge feature that needs an Excel address sheet. I have created an Excel list but cannot seem to send it. I am using AOL as my email program. Please tell me where I am going wrong.
ANSWER: In order to use the Mail Merge feature to send an email to a long list of recipients you will need to send it through Microsoft Outlook. Unfortunately the Mail Merge Feature will not work with AOL.
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FRPCUG CONTACTS
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Telephone Area Code 970
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| Title | Name | Work Phone | Home Phone | |
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FRPCUG Officers |
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| President | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Vice President | Mike Loughlin | 416-5824 | mlough(at)frii.com | |
| Treasurer | Chris Ingham | 226-9055 | chris.ingham(at)hotmail.com | |
| Secretary | Chuck McJilton | 493-2987 | cdmcjs(at)gmail.com | |
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k-Byte Staff |
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| Editor-in-Chief | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Features Editor | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
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Other Contacts |
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| Membership Coordinator | Jack Linder | 663-2151 | jack(at)frpcug.org | |
| Technology SIG Leader | Chuck McJilton | 491-1011 | 493-2987 | cdmcjs(at)gmail.com |
| Digital Imaging SIG Leader | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| Publicity | Mike Morris | 461-2002 | twriterext(at)gmail.com | |
| FRPCUG Fax Line | 493-1408 | |||
| FRPCUG Home Page w/ E-Mail | http://www.frpcug.org | |||
| FRPCUG Officer E-Mail | board(at)frpcug.org | |||
| Library Request E-Mail | library(at)frpcug.org | |||
The Fort Collins Senior Center is located at 1200 Raintree Drive. This site is situated at the northwest corner of the Shields and Raintree Drive intersection, on the north side of the Raintree Shopping Center, and just west of the bank building on the corner of Shields and Raintree (see map at right).
Check the marquee at the main entrance for directions to the specific meeting room.
