Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Set Up your all-important receiver

Even the best and most advanced television will not be able to realize its full potential as an entertainment centerpiece unless it is provided with the essential service it requires to display all of the programs that its owner acquired it to watch. Such an owner can enable their TV to take the first step towards achieving this goal by entering into a service contract with one of the many television service providers operating throughout the United States. Subsequently, they will be provided with a number of devices that need to be set up before they can begin enjoying all of the content that is made available by the company with which they have a service relationship. It is standard practice for cable and satellite television service companies to provide the technical expertise required to execute the installation and interconnection of the various devices that need to interface to ensure that the desired visuals appear on screen. However, there are increasing numbers of individuals who are minded to do it themselves. For those who are so inclined, consulting a “How to set up your receiver” guide is always a good option.


 


 


How To Set Up Your Receiver


 


The overwhelming majority of do-it-yourselfers undertake the setting up of their TV receiver themselves nowadays. This was not always the case in days gone by. However, a marked improvement in the ease associated with the installation of these devices has resulted in more and more individuals helping themselves in this area. This reality is directly attributable to the introduction of the wireless type of this gadget as the device of choice. The following are the main activities typically included in the process:


 


Setting Up of the Wireless Access Point (WAP)


 


The WAP can be set up by plugging one end of the provided Ethernet cable into the solitary port that the device possesses. The other end should subsequently be plugged into one of the local area network (LAN) ports which are featured on the wireless gateway. Thereafter, both devices should be plugged into electrical outlets (assuming that the gateway is not already energized) which are in close proximity.


 


Setting Up of the Wireless TV Receiver


 


Successful installation of the wireless receiver requires that the TV which it is intended to service be turned on. The receiver should then be positioned close enough to the television to permit the connection of both with the supplied High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable. Thereafter, the provided power cord should be plugged into the back of the receiving device with the “pinned” end being inserted into a nearby electrical outlet.


 


Pairing of the Wireless Access Point and the Wireless TV Receiver


 


When the “OK” button on the receiver is depressed, a “Wireless Access Point” search message will appear on the TV’s screen. At this point, the self-installer should depress the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) on the WAP. This will initiate the pairing process, which is designed to facilitate interfacing (communication) between both devices. On-screen instructions will guide the remainder of the process.


 


 


How Important are Receivers?


 


Receivers are very important home entertainment system components. They feature prominently in the typical home theater system which is present in most American homes. As can be inferred from the name, these are devices that are capable of accepting one or more types of signals from a source. There are two forms of signals that such a device typically receives – audio and video. However, the majority of the receivers which are currently on the market are capable of receiving and distributing both audio and video signals. There are others which are also capable of processing the respective signals that are fed into them. The following are arguably the two most popular varieties of these signal receiving gadgets that are on the market today:


 


AV Receiver


 


AV receivers are essential components in the home theater systems which occupy living rooms and TV rooms in many dwellings throughout the United States. The “A” and “V” in their name stands for “audio” and “video”, which alludes to their capacity to receive and distribute both audio and video signals. Their primary functions revolve around the amplification of audio signals that are inputted into them from a variety of sources. They are also designed to route video to the user’s television set from a wide range of devices – including digital video disc (DVD) players and video cassette recorders (VCRs) – so that an acoustically immersive viewing experience can be enjoyed.


 


TV Receiver


 


The TV receiver is a device that accepts and processes a video signal that is transmitted from a source such as the central transmission point of a cable television service provider. There are two types of television receivers that are offered by the vast majority of providers currently operating throughout the country. Both are highlighted below.



Set Up your all-important receiver

Monday, December 30, 2013

How to Choose the Best Mobile Share Plan

Families in today’s America use more mobile devices than ever before. These devices use tons of data and can incur serious costs for the average Internet user. AT&T is addressing this issue by offering Mobile Share plans which allow customers to share a set amount of data each month among various devices including smartphones, tablets and laptops. Each plan includes access to unlimited domestic talk and text in addition to tethering and access to an extensive Wi-Fi network.


 


mobile plansHow to Choose a Data Plan


Data plans have specific restrictions or data caps which determine the amount of data you can access each month. That’s why it’s important to determine how much data you will need. But how do you determine if you want 300 megabytes (MB) or as much as 10 gigabytes (GB)?


 


Determine how Much Data You Will Use Each Month


Those who are unfamiliar with data plan services may find it difficult to determine how much data they need in a given month/on a monthly basis. After all, many of us who use the Internet have no idea about the amount of data we use. For this reason, AT&T offers two main ways in which you can determine how much data you need each month.


 


  • Use the Mobile Share Planner tool

Are you uncertain about how much data you will need for your device(s)? This tool allows prospective the AT&T Mobile Share Plan customers to get estimations about the amount of data they need as well as the cost for the estimated data.


 


  • Check your data usage history

If you are an existing AT&T customer, you can access information about your data history when you log in to your AT&T account. By simply typing in your username and password, you’ll have access to lots of information about average data usage each month. This will provide important insight to help you determine which Mobile Share data plan would be the best fit for you.


 


shared data plansDetermine the Types and Number of Devices to include in the Plan


Do you have several devices in your home that need wireless access? Why pay for separate plans when you can connect these devices via shared data plans? Since each device you add incurs a specific cost, those who have several gadgets can simply check the AT&T website for information about the overall cost.


 


Ensure that a smartphone is on the plan since this is a core aspect of all AT&T Mobile Share plans. After you add a smartphone, you have the option to choose any of the following devices to your plan:


 


  • Smartphones

  • Tablets

  • Laptops

  • Netbooks

  • Basic Phone

  • Mobile Hotspot devices

  • Wireless home phones

  • Smart Locators

  • Gaming Devices

  • Cameras

 


How Mobile Share Value Plans Add Value


On Dec 5th of this year, AT&T announced new data plans for existing or potential customers. These no-contract plans will help you save even more while giving you access to unlimited talk and text as well as AT&T’s extensive wireless network. But how has this added value to the Mobile Share Plan and what can you do to access the most cost-effective value plans?


The no-contract value plans are cheaper, allowing customers to save a notable amount each month. Since these plans are without contract, they may also prove to be a more convenient option. Customers who choose these value plans will be able to enjoy the benefits with fewer restrictions. David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T Mobility, explained the benefits of these value plans aptly by stating that “with our new Mobile Share Value Plans, customers don’t have to compromise.”


 


David Christopher ATT

AT&T’s Chief Marketing Officer, David Christopher


 


Qualifying for Value Plans


How much do you spend each month to access the Internet and share data? If you want a significant reduction on your monthly bill, why not take advantage of the opportunities which are available? Find out if you are eligible for no-contract value plans by considering the following:


 


  • AT&T Next: Customers who want to maintain a low monthly bill can choose this option. This option requires that customers sign up for long-term payment and usually does not require a down payment. They trade-in and upgrade their phones when a newer smartphone model is available.

  • Out-of-contract-customers: If your phone is no longer bound by a contract, you can upgrade to value plan. Contact an AT&T representative for information about the transition process.

  • Full retail price: Unlike many contract smartphone plans which require customers to pay via installments, this option allows customers to purchase a phone at the full retail cost. Those who purchase a smartphone at full price instantly qualify for value plans.

  • Bring their own devices: If you already have a device from another carrier that is compatible with AT&T’s network, you automatically qualify for value plans. However, note that an activation fee is required for customers who bring their own devices.

 


Mobile plans may be the best value for your money if you want to reduce your monthly bill. Determine which plan is best for you and contact AT&T. You’ll be able to enjoy the benefits associated with one of the biggest and most reliable 4G LTE networks in America.


 


 


 



How to Choose the Best Mobile Share Plan

Thursday, December 26, 2013

All You Need to Know About the Apple iPhone 5s

The iPhone 5s smart phone is undoubtedly the definition of forward thinking. Some of the many features of this smart phone are:

  • A 64 bit mobile architecture

  • A fingerprint identity sensor

  • A dual led flash

This smart phone has set an authoritative example among other smart phones. The designers and engineers have managed to fit their first one of a kind technology inside the small 7.6 millimeter thin and 112 grams light space. This therefore required great designing and redesigning of the many components. After hard work and dedication, an incredibly thin, expressively light and extraordinarily powerful Smartphone was born. After coming such a long way with the iPhone 5 the iPhone 5 is a good way to continue.


iPhone 5s Features


Camera -€“ The camera on this Smartphone is one of the world's favorite. This camera is so remarkable due to how beautifully and effortlessly it takes pictures. All you have to do is aim and click. The iPhone 5s is indeed smart since it automatically adjusts the settings of the camera when a picture should be taken. It adjusts the intensity of the flash and recognizes the faces in the frame instinctively. All appreciation is extended to the advanced technology and custom design for the hardware and software of the camera.



The developers believe that it is more logical to teach the iPhone to take excellent pictures than to imply that iPhone users should learn how to become good photographers.



The iSight feature that is on the phone builds on the camera in many ways which make a real difference to your photos. It has eight megapixels that takes nothing less than beautiful pictures especially since it has a redesigned camera sensor that allows for bigger pixels that are fifteen percent bigger than the previous. The thirty three percent increase in light sensitivity gives you more light, better pictures and more accurate colors.



iOS7 - this is the operating system on the apple iPhone 5s and the successor to the previous version which is iOS6. There was much thought that was put into the design of the iOS7.  One such consideration was the devices on which it would be run. Due to the fact that the iPhone would be powered by the A7 chip and 64-bit architecture, the iOS7 would be perfect to take advantage of that. The main goal of the iOS7 was to take the current operating system and to improve it therefore making it easier to use, simpler and more enjoyable.



Touch ID -€“ It is quite hard to check the number of times you open your phone daily and it can become quite annoying to constantly enter a passcode. This can definitely slow you down but you have to do it since it is the way to safeguard your phone. If you have an iPhone this would not be an issue thanks to the ID fingerprint identity sensor.



All you have to do is to put your finger on the home button and it will unlock. Doing this is quite convenient and secure when you want to access your phone as it will only take seconds to unlock by just using a single finger. You can also use the same method to access apps on the phone that would normally require a password.  The touch ID also gives you the option to enroll multiple fingerprints so those who you trust can also be granted access to your phone.



Wireless -€“ the new iPhone supports multiple networks like it has never done before. This therefore means that more people will be able to explore faster upload and download speeds.



Apps (built in)there are a number of apps that were preinstalled into the iPhone 5. Some of these include:

  • The 8mp iSight camera

  • An iTunes library

  • Picture album

  • Single tap dial or you can ask siri to do the dialing.

  • Sharp graphics and texts


iPhone 5s Specs


  • There are three main colors that you can choose from when getting the iPhone 5s. These colors include space grey, gold and silver.


  • Capacity – you can choose from a 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB.


  • Weight and dimensions – height is 4.84 inches (123.8) mm. The width is 2.31 inches (58.6 mm), depth is 0.30 inch (7.6 mm) and the weight is 3.95 ounces (112 grams).


  • Display – there is quite a number of displays on the phone that will make the user quite happy. These include:


    • Retina display

    • 4-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display

    • 1136-by-640 pixel resolution at 326 ppi

    • 800: 1 contrast ratio (typical)

    • Power and battery – Lithium –ion battery that is built in and rechargeable
      • Charging can be done via a USB computer system or a power adapter

      • Up to 10hurs talk time


    • Up to 250 hours of standby time
      • Up to 10 hours internet use

      • Up to 10 hours video playback

      • Up to 40 hours audio playback


  • Sensors -  a three €“axis gyro
    • Accelerometer

    • Proximity sensor

    • Ambient light sensor

    • Fingerprint identity sensor



All You Need to Know About the Apple iPhone 5s