Technology Toolkit

Computers have really made covering a range of requirements for communication and entertainment possible within a click, and now, by connecting PC to TV, viewing your PC files on your TV is not a big deal anymore. In fact, it is something that can be done within several seconds! Yes you read it right! It is now possible to connect your computer to your TV set to enjoy DVD, FLV, or DivX video formats, play your favorite games, view your favorite photos, and listen to your favorite music right on your TV set with no other available multimedia players required. Connecting PC to TV is a very simple and easy process on one condition – both your computer and your television must meet all the requirements.

PC Requirements

There are some requirements to meet when connecting PC to TV. First, your PC must come with video card with available TV-OUT connector as this will normally integrate the connection with the video card. The same requirement is needed for laptop computers but is a lot easier to meet since most laptops these days already come with this kind of connector. Plug in your TV-OUT connector cable to both devices to connect them. The cable will then indicate the line that goes in and the line that goes out, so remember to plug in your television set out from your PC.

Television Set Requirements

For connecting PC to TV, you need to secure the same kind of connector as your computer for your television set. This connector is called the video-in connector or TV-in connector. However, you should also secure a line-out connector for the soundcard. If you can\’t find the exact connector for your television set, it is also possible to use either a VCR or an extra round connector that is similar to an antenna connector device. It is also possible to configure your television set to the VCR channel via VCR.

Configuration Steps for Connecting PC to TV:

First and foremost, you need to change your Windows settings for a successful connection of your computer to your television. Here are the configuration steps to follow:

• Right-click your mouse on the desktop

• Click on properties

• Select the TV Output from the menu

If you still failed after several attempts, your resolution or some other concerns may be causing the problem. Try reducing the resolution to 800×600.

Additional Things to Remember:

• If the menu doesn’t appear, then something must be wrong in the connection.

• Check if the S-video cable is in black and white.

• Check a horizontal keyway in the S-video.

For new computers, manufacturers are already connecting the color. Television manufacturers also do the same for newly-manufactured televisions and for these new brands, the colors of the S-video are more than a pin cable black and white. If not, you can always use a composite cable as a replacement to the S-video. Connecting PC to TV is not a complicated task; you just have to follow the steps mentioned above.

With the new High Definition TV technology, you can now connect your PC to HDTV. Once everything is set-up properly, you can do a lot of crazy stuff with your High Definition TV including freeing your favorite movie collection and music from the confines of your hard drive and playing and enjoying them on that big screen as you act like a couch potato in your living room. You can also surf the Web on your HDTV or even play your favorite computer games or chat with your friends with it. But first, you\’ve got to learn how connect your PC to HDTV. There are different options to do it, depending on the kind of TV you have. Read on and find out the different ways to do it.

1. Using Cables

On the HDTV panel, there are the red, green, and blue jack ports. These ports are for the regular red-green-blue (RGB) cables that you might have already used before. You need to use a kind of connector to connect the cables to your PC. You have to wait for the signal to change before using it. For this, you need a VGA connector that can be used to connect the graphic card of your computer.

If there are built-in component ports, the task of connecting PC to HDTV becomes a lot simpler. You still have to use a VGA connector but it is possible to connect it directly using a component cable. However, with component cables, you have a fairly limited connection with your HDTV. For example, it\’s not possible to get any over-the-air broadcasts. If you like to play on the Web using your HDTV, you can just use a cable. However, you need to have an HDTV PC card to get over-the-air broadcasts on your PC.

2. Using Cards

Many TV stations are adding more HD broadcasts to their TV programming; however, you need to have an HDTV to have them on your computer. Different brands are available in the market. They are simple and easy to install and they are affordable. This is perhaps the best option to take if you want to take advantage of all the available features.

With some cards used to connect PC to HDTV, it is possible to record shows on your PC even when you are not home, like the case of a programmable VCR. However, it still depends on the card you are using because some older models just function as decoders. If you get a recordable model, you can use it to store some shows on your PC.

Since HD televisions can be used to watch standard and regular programming, it is also possible to watch standard analog programming on your PC if you have this kind of card. Similarly, it is possible to record standard analog program although a different program may be required to view it.

By connecting your PC to HDTV, no matter how you use it, there is certainly a perfect option for you.

I have been involved in the design world and the printing industry for more than 20 years. I owned a small graphic design firm, and now own a promotional products company. I\’ve been responsible for printing thousands of logos on countless different products. There are many important elements to consider when designing a logo — such as colors, style and your target audience. But too often, designers fail to consider one of the most important elements of a good logo — printability.

1 – Layout

When designing a logo, consider creating a horizontal and a vertical version of your logo. If your logo is tall, it will not print well on a pen. And if it\’s too wide, it will never print well on a stress ball. By creating two versions of your logo (with the same basic elements), you open up endless possibilities for utilization of your logo. You may be surprised at how often you utilize your secondary layout of your company logo.

2 – Color vs Black & White

Every logo needs to look good if it\’s printed in one color. Convert your logo to black. Does it still look good? Full color logos may be beautiful on your website, but are not always practical for printing. What happens when you put it on your fax cover sheet? What about in a B&W ad in the phone book?

3 – Size

There will be times where you\’ll need to print your logo small. Is your logo still readable if it\’s only 1\” wide? Smaller? Print your logo at various sizes and make sure that it\’s still readable and looks great at every size. This is another reason to create horizontal and vertical versions of your logo. Sometimes one of the two formats may work considerably better at smaller sizes. If your logo is unreadable when it\’s small, you\’ve got a problem.

4 – Shades

A shade or a screen of a color presents certain challenges when imprinting your logo. Let\’s say your logo is in blue, and the designer has used several shades of the blue in the logo. Shades are printed by imprinting \”dots\” and leaving some of the background between the dots. The darker the shade, the more dense the printing of the dots. The easiest example is to think of a B&W photo in a newspaper where you can really see the dots. Well what happens if you want to order a blue coffee mug with your logo on it? You\’ll probably want to print your logo in white. Well then what are you going to do with the screens of blue? I would certainly suggest that you have a version of your logo where only solid colors are utilized, preferably giving yourself an option to print a one color version of your logo without screens.

5 – Simplicity

Complex logos may be \”cool\”, but can often become a printing nightmare. Sometimes a simple logo can be more striking and memorable than a complex logo. And if you create a logo keeping in mind all of the elements we\’ve discussed today, I bet you\’ve already ended up with a logo that\’s not too complex to print well.

Your logo is important, and is often a first impression with a new client. Sometimes the most important ability for your new logo is printability. Good luck and happy marketing.

Most, but not all modern cars have keys that have to be programmed using RFID transponder technology. Most cars made since the mid-1990s have transponder keys. There are lots of different ways of programming these keys, and most of the time you need a professional from a car dealership or you\’ll need a professional locksmith to do this.

To make a new key, a locksmith can use a key code to automatically cut a key to factory specifications. The process uses a machine that has instructions in its memory to perfectly cut all kinds of keys based on their key code. Some car models make it difficult, however, to access this numerical code. Many Asian cars have the key-code displayed in at least one of the locks – often in the passenger door lock. Authorized dealerships can get you the key code as long as the car is not too old. Some key-codes are no longer available, unfortunately.

If your key code cannot be found or easily accessed, and you need replacement car keys, you may have to contact a car locksmith to decode the locks. So you can see why it\’s important that you choose a Chicago area locksmith who has experience making replacement car keys for a large variety of car models. It\’s worth checking to see if you can find your car\’s key code. If so, write it down and save it in a safe place, because it can save you trouble if you need to replace your car keys.

Chicago local locksmiths can also replace keys using the car\’s VIN. However, if your ignition or your locks have been changed, replacement car keys made using the key code or the VIN might not work on the new locks or ignition.

People often wonder if they transponder keys can get deprogrammed. Well, they may stop working, but often it isn\’t the key itself that has the problem. Sometimes, a key suddenly stops working and the \”theft\” light comes on in the car. While the key might not be programmed correctly, more likely the car\’s computer or electrical system is where the problem is located. Often you need to have an automotive electrician look at your car rather than a locksmith if your transponder keys suddenly stop working.

Your best security measure for coping with lockouts is to have a spare set of car keys made before you need them and store them with someone trustworthy who\’s easy to get hold of should you lose your keys. It\’s no fun starting from scratch trying to find a Chicago locksmith late after a night out when your keys have gone missing. When you get your spare keys made, you have the time luxury of being able to check out several locksmiths so that you can find one that\’s trustworthy, professional, and easy to work with. Once you find that locksmith, program the number into your phone for easy access should you find yourself in a lockout emergency.

For decades, if you locked your keys in your car, you could use a \”Slim Jim\” and some patience and often get it open yourself, but that is not the case anymore. In fact, trying to use such a device on many modern cars will damage or destroy the locking mechanism. Today\’s cars use transponder keys, which give you a double layer of protection against car thieves. The downside is that it\’s a bit more complicated to get replacement keys than it used to be.

Today, a car locksmith has to cut the key so that it is mechanically correct, and program it so that it electronically synchronizes with a receiver inside the car before the key can be used to start the engine. Car locking and ignition systems are made this way so that a thief would have to not only overcome the physical lock, but also have the equipment needed to overcome the electronic locking system in the ignition in order to steal the car.

If you\’ve been told by your car dealer that you have to call them if you need replacement car keys, it\’s not true in the vast majority of cases. They\’ll do it, but they\’ll charge you somewhere between $200 and $400 for the service, and they may not be able to do it right away. A qualified Chicago area locksmith can do the same job, usually quicker, and at a cost that\’s only a fraction of what car dealers usually charge.

When you lose your car keys and call on a Chicago locksmith, he\’ll have a two-part job to get you rolling again. First of all, you need a key cut so that it is mechanically correct and will fit in the door locks and the ignition. If you know your key code (sometimes found on one of the door locks itself in many Asian cars), the locksmith can use this to program the key cutting equipment. Sometimes it can be done from information in the VIN. But even if neither of these work, a qualified Chicago local locksmith can decode the keys on the spot and get to work.

Once the mechanical key is cut and you can get into your car, the key has to be programmed so that it synchronizes with your car\’s computer, letting it know that you have a valid key for starting the vehicle. Your Chicago locksmith will have the hardware and software necessary to program the key properly. Once the key is cut and programmed, you can be on your way.

Of course, your best strategy is to have a spare set of keys stored with someone trustworthy who\’s easy to get in touch with. This can save you from a middle of the night call to a locksmith. But if you elect not to do this, you should at least check out local locksmiths and find one that is honest, trustworthy, and professional, and program their number into your phone (and that of your spouse, your mother, your little sister, etc.).

It\’s no fun to lose your car keys after a night out, especially if it\’s cold or raining. But if you know that a good locksmith has your back, you can have some peace of mind should you find yourself in that situation.