iPod Radio - Well Maybe

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by John Thomas

Apple recently announced the release of the iPod Radio Remote. This little accessory combines a wired remote control with a FM radio receiver. It works with the iPod nano and the most recent generation (fifth) of iPods.

The iPod Radio Remote is a convenient way for music lovers to control their iPod and add FM radio for a reasonable price point. Using the remote, you can skip tracks and adjust the volume of your iPod even when it’s in a pocket or backpack. It’s main feature — lets you and listen to FM radio stations while it displays station and song information on the iPod’s screen.

“The iPod Radio Remote combines two great features in one elegant product,” Greg Joswiak, Apple’s iPod Marketing guy said recently. “The iPod Radio Remote is both the best remote control and the best FM radio listening experience for iPod.” If you search the Apple iPod store online, you will also find a couple of competitors that launched similar products ahead of Apple.

But I must admit, the Apple Radio Remote is a cleaner package. If you live in the city and get good FM reception, this is a nice little add-on. If you live in the burbs and are looking for great sound — similar to the quality that you get from your iPod, then forget about the iPod Radio Remote. Why, because it is like any other small FM radio, it needs a strong signal to give you decent sound.

But don’t give up, there is quite a lot happening in the real time audio market and you will have more choices in the coming months. There were several rumors in 2005 about Apple and satellite radio for instance. “The iPod is the biggest, baddest thing around and satellite radio is this small, cool device,” said Steve Mather, an analyst with Sander Morris Harris. “Put them together and it’s the ultimate.”

But there has been no evidence that such a dream machine is in the works. Earlier this year, Sirius Satellite Radio CEO Mel Karmazin said he had approached Steve Jobs, the chief of iPod maker Apple Computer, about a possible deal but said Jobs wasn’t interested.

Sirius didn’t sit on its butt. The created their first portable device called the S50, a small, sleek device used with a docking port in your car. It is like a TiVo for radio. It automatically stores music for later listening. You can schedule recordings from both music and talk stations (with a firmware upgrade), save favorite songs, and link up to a PC to load music files. But… you can’t see the song list for recorded music. The S50 is available only with a car kit and the controls are hard to use.

Not to be left out, XM recently unveiled a new satellite radio for spring ‘06. Like their initial radio, the new receiver will pick up satellite signals as you are walking around outside. No docking station is needed, which is a huge advantage over the Sirius S50. It also has 1 gigabyte of memory so that you can record 50 hours of radio play. Out doing the S50 — there are no restrictions on how or what you can record. In fact, XM has made it even easier to capture individual songs.

The new XM player also provides a “tag” feature that let’s you immediately purchase any song you hear from Napster’s online store. When you reconnect the player to your computer, you can get those MP3’s that you just purchased to create a mix of MP3’s and radio content on the player.

XM now appears to be ahead of Sirius and Apple in the radio wars. To prove it they announced the XM Passport, a small card that can be plugged in and out of future XM enabled devices. With the passport card, you need only buy one subscription to XM radio to power a number of satellite receivers; just plug in your passport card

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John Thomas is an author and business consultant who works with entrepreneurs and business owners. He takes time to pursue his passion for iPods at iPod-Tips.com

How Your iPod Can Aid Exercise

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by Roberto Sedycias

This article talks about the iPod together with Nike shoes, as a sport kit in helping people to get the best of physical exercises. Good guide for those who want to be in good shape.

Modern living has become much more technology based and sedentary, with virtual entertainment being the most popular pastime of choice. This has obvious effects upon health and the world has startling increasing obesity levels. Although technology is not to blame, rather than the people who choose to use it, more could be done to integrate technological entertainment into a more active lifestyle. The iPod is redressing this balance with the addition to its available accessories of the Nike iPod Sports Kit.

Research has consistently shown that listening to music improves mood, and the most recent findings suggest that music actually gives a cognitive boost. Listening to music during exercise improves most people`s performance in a number of ways. Music provides an encouraging rhythm which synchronizes with the movement during exercise, and which helps push further. It also distracts from event. The iPod has already helped many sports enthusiasts to enjoy their regime more fully, but now the iPod can offer some real assistance.

The Nike iPod Sports Kit consists of two elements; a music player and a pedometer. These two items have been important for the runner for a long time, but the iPod version has many additional features. The device works as follows; a sensor fits into the sole of a specially designed Nike + shoe. The receiver is plugged into the iPod Nano which has the battery power, the memory and all required software installed. The sensor detects footfall like any other pedometer, and sends the information through transmitted radio waves. Each device has its own unique code and so even if there a few runners using the iPod accessory, only your information will be received. Another clever feature is that different sensors can be used on a single devie, so more than one person can benefit.

The real beauty of the Nike iPod Sports Kit is the extent of the information transmitted. It sends to the device the number of calories burned, but also calculates speed using equations which consider foot fall and the amount of time the foot is spent on the floor. Other information provided to the mp3 mp4 player device includes distance and comparative statistics to previous performances. Goals can be set on the software and the results will state how your performance compared to your goals. In addition to this, the device allows you to create play lists for your workout.

Although the level of information is excellent, it is easy to read whilst working out. The iPod Sports Kit come with a click wheel which acts as a control whilst running. The information is not just stored on the screen, but is also provided by a computerized voice system. The device is easy to use overall, with the required software already installed in the latest models, with the software available to download for older iPod`s through the online update feature.

Once the workout is complete, the statistics can be stored on a computer. There is then the option to join a huge online iPod community where information uploaded from the device can be shared with other runners. This can be helpful for goal setting and to set challenges. Running enthusiasts can compare information, and even share routes with an innovative mapping function. This additional feature of services gives an excellent social dimension to an often lone sport. It is amazing that this can be done online.

Overall the benefits of the Nike iPod Sports Kit include advanced equipment which combines two important elements for sport; music and information. The device is lightweight, compact and the software is top of the range. It helps improves health, through enjoyment and factual assistance, and is available for all users despite the age of their model.

The only real disadvantage is the fact that there is much apparatus needed which can be costly. The basic requirements are an iPod Nano, the Sports Kit and the Nike + shoes. Although other shoes can be bought that have a pouch for the sensorFree Reprint Articles, these use a different angle so do not achieve the same results. The other point worth noting is that the iPod Sports kit requires the user to have a good understanding of computers to get the full benefit.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author’s name and all the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This article can be accessed in portuguese language from the Article section of page http://www.polomercantil.com.br/ipod.php

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br

An iPod Docking Station Lends Power And Sound To Your iPod Experience

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by Michelle Berry

What can’t an iPod do? It can hold thousands of song titles, sort them any way you wish, allow you to play games, keep track of your schedule, display your personal contact list, some models even play videos! But that list alone does not cover everything an iPod can do, and most important, an iPod does all of those things — and more — while fitting in the palm of your hand.

However, despite its amazing technology and myriad functions there are things an iPod can not do unless it has a little help, and that is where the iPod docking station comes in.

An iPod docking station provides the feature-packed iPod with some of the few capabilities it is lacking. iPods possess a lot of power in a small package, but that small package makes some features impossible to house, such as a large battery and speakers. iPods require a periodic battery recharge – usually after eight hours or so – and that recharge requires the iPod to be connected to your home computer. Consequently, those who wish to listen to their iPod for extended periods of time are limited by both the capacity of the iPod battery as well as their access to their computer.

However, when you connect your iPod to an iPod docking station, the battery is recharged and that charge is maintained indefinitely. The iPod docking station gives you the opportunity to listen wherever you want, for as long as you want, without fear of running out of battery power!

The small size of an iPod creates the conspicuous absence of another familiar feature to music lovers: speakers. iPods have no speaker system, and all sound output goes through the headphone speaker port.

Once again, it is the iPod docking station to the rescue! An iPod docking station not only connects to your iPod’s charging port, it connects to the headphone port as well. Once connected, the iPod and iPod docking station provide a one piece, self contained, music system that can marry the power of the iPod’s digital music library with the external power and speaker sound of the iPod docking station. The iPod docking station provides the power and sound needed to enhance and add versatility to your iPod experience.

There are variations to the iPod docking station, and some are designed to attach to a larger home theater or audio system while maintaining the battery charge of the iPod. Others are miniature audio systems all by themselves, with multiple speakers, sub woofers, remote controls, and even video outputs that can connect to your television allowing you to watch your downloaded videos on the big screen. No matter what your budget, or what model of iPod you own, there is an iPod docking station that will meet your needs and enhance the capabilities of the already able iPod.

For easy to understand, in depth information about iPod docking station visit our ezGuide 2 iPods.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

The iPod Generations

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By Roberto Sedycias

This article describes the many iPods generations, with storage capacity, type of connections, release date and special features.

The original iPod (mp3 mp4 player) introduced on 23 October 2001 marked the first iPod generation, and the latest iPod introduced on 12 October 2005 marked the fifth iPod generation, which was subsequently revised with a revision iPod model on September 2006, often referred to as generation 5.5. Note that the generations are referred with reference to the model name and not with reference to the date of release.

For a better understanding about iPod generations, check the following:

On October 23, 2001, the first generation of iPod was released. The model name was iPod and had the storage capacity of 5 to 10 gb. It used FireWire connection to computers and it had a mechanical scroll wheel.

On July 17, 2002, the second generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 10, 20 gb. It used FireWire connection to computers and it had a touch-sensitive wheel. The Hold switch was revised. The FireWire port had a cover.

On April 28, 2003, the third generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 gb. It used FireWire connection to computers (USB for syncing only), and it had a central row of touch sensitive buttons. New backlit screen was introduced. Dock connector port was introduced.

On January 6, 2004, the first generation of iPod mini was released. It had the storage capacity of 4 gb. It used FireWire or USB connection to computers, and it introduced the “Click Wheel”, which was later adopted by the fourth generation iPod. It was available in 5 colors.

On July 19, 2004, the fourth generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 20, 30, 40, 60 gb. It used FireWire or USB connection to computers, and buttons were integrated to form “Click Wheel”. The monochrome model was replaced in June 2005 by the color display with photo viewer, which was introduced in October 2004.

On January 11, 2005, the first generation of iPod shuffle was released. It had the storage capacity of 512 mb, 1gb. It used USB connection to computers, and it had no screen, no click wheel. It used flash memory instead of hard drive storage.

On February 22, 2005, the second generation of iPod mini was released. It had the storage capacity of 4, 6 gb. It used FireWire or USB connection to computers , and it had longer battery life, and brighter color variants. Gold model discontinued. No AC adapter. The body color matched the click wheel lettering.

On September 7, 2005, the first generation of iPod nano was released. It had the storage capacity of 1, 2, 4 gb. It used USB connection to computers (FireWire for charging only), and it was the successor of iPod mini. Slimmer design, flash memory, color screen and lyrics support.

On October 12, 2005, the fifth generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 30, 60, 80 gb. It used USB connection to computers (FireWire for charging only), and it had large screen with video player and lyrics support. No AC adapter, Universal Dock, or A/V cables were included. It had black and white color variants. This model was revised in September 2006 (often called as generation 5.5) had a brighter display, a music search function, and a longer video battery life.

On September 12, 2006, the second generation of iPod shuffle was released. It had the storage capacity of 1 gb. It used USB (via dock only), and it had the aluminum case with smaller form factor. Built-in clip. Later multi-colored models were also released.

On September 12, 2006, the second generation of iPod nano was released. It had the storage capacity of 2, 4, 8 gb It used USB connection to computers (FireWire for charging only), and it had the anodized Aluminum case in 6 colors. Music search function, longer battery life, and brighter screen.

When more refinements are carried out with respect to features, size, weight and etc., a new generation is announced of the respective model. The distinguishing landmarks were the replacement of the mechanical scroll wheel by touch-sensitive click wheel, the replacement of the hard disk by the flash memory, and the replacement of the monochrome display with color displays. Earlier generations are usually discontinued in favor of newer generations. Earlier generations had bundled software compatible with Macintosh only, while later iPod (mp3 mp4 player) generations have both Macintosh and Windows compatible versions.

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author’s name and all the URL’s (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the News Article section of page http://www.polomercantil.com.br/mp3-mp4-audio-portatil.php

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br

An iPod Car Adapter Makes The Most Of Your iPod

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by Michelle Berry

There is no question that the most popular portable music player on the market is the iPod. With its small size, large memory, and digital sound, iPods allow you to bring a massive music library with you wherever you go, and it all fits in the palm of your hand.

iPods are becoming increasingly ubiquitous as more and more consumers eschew compact disks in favor of the convenience, portability, and performance of these small wonders. However, iPods are not perfect and if they have a shortcoming it is most obvious when you would like to use your iPod in the car, unless, of course, you have purchased an iPod car adapter.

While some new cars are equipped with iPod docking stations, it is a rare feature that was not available until very recently. For the vast majority of drivers their car stereo is still designed to accommodate compact disks, which up until recently were the music medium of choice. Because an iPod can store hundreds of music titles its advantages over compact disks are obvious, and iPod owners naturally want to utilize this while driving in their automobiles, and they need an iPod car adapter to do that.

There are several types of iPod car adapters on the market. The most basic model would be for use in cars that still have an analog cassette player. For those automobiles, a cassette adapter can be plugged into the headphone jack of the iPod, and the cassette can be inserted into the car stereo. However, the sound quality of this option is not ideal, and most late model cars have CD players instead of cassette players.

If your car has a compact disc player, then a cassette iPod car adapter is obviously not an option. The Neo iON is the latest and best iPod car adapter on the market. The iON plugs directly into your iPod and is connected through a cable that plugs directly into the CD changer port that is located on the back of your car CD player.

Installing the iON requires some degree of skill and time and those who are less mechanically inclined may opt to have it professionally installed. The iON provides a direct connection that delivers the highest quality digital sound, but perhaps the most enticing feature is the way your iON and iPod interface with your car stereo system. Once attached to the iON, you no longer have to fumble with the buttons on your iPod while driving. Instead you can change musical tracks by using the existing buttons on your car stereo.

Installing an iON in your automobile has obvious advantages, but those advantages come at a cost. The iON is not portable, it becomes part of your car, so if you own several cars you would need to install an iON in each if you want to bring your iPod with you wherever you go. Further, if your car stereo does not have a CD changer port then an iON would not be compatible with your car. If those scenarios describe you, then an iPod car adapter with a universal FM modulator is what you need. A FM modulator will allow you to broadcast your iPod through one of several FM frequencies, and you can tune in your iPod on your car radio.

Another desirable feature of an iPod car adapter, such as the iON and the FM modulator, is that they provide a power source for your iPod so you do not have to worry about charging your iPod’s battery; it happens automatically. An iPod car adapter gives you the ability to listen to your entire music library for as long as you want, and as far as you drive.

For easy to understand, in depth information about iPod car adapter visit our ezGuide 2 iPods.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

How to Hack Your iPod: Six Great iPod Hacks

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By Daniel Dwase

The iPod is a deeply personal device. The music, contacts, calendars and notes you store on it reveal a lot about your personality. From playcounts to playlists, our iPods can tell others what we enjoy, how we think and even who we are. But if you truly want to transform your iPod into an engine of extreme personal expression, why not customise it?

Hacking your iPod — whether it’s modding the case, installing custom software, or tearing it up and doubling the memory — can transform the ubiquitous music and media player into something unique.

Note: You should be aware that trying any of these tricks carries the risk of ruining your device.

1. Penguin power

iPod Linux is the essential hack, table stakes for many of the other hacks you might want to try. It fully supports iPods in generations 1-3, and has been successfully installed on all others with a display. You should grab ‘Podzilla’, which will add a graphical interface to iPod Linux. There are multiple versions of Podzilla available from which to choose. Once installed, iPod Linux and Podzilla will let you boot your iPod to a barebones Linux mode. Furthermore, it will serve as the foundation for many other hacks.

2. Wikipedia on the go

Everyone loves Wikipedia. It’s free, user-built encyclopaedia with entries on more topics than Britannica. It’s a great information resource, but what if you’re away from your desk? Now, you can get it on your iPod and carry Wikipedia with you everywhere you go. Unfortunately, it’s not yet available for all models of iPods; nano and video users are left out for now, and since there’s no display on the iPod shuffle, there’s no point in installing Wikipedia. First, you will need to install iPod Linux.

3. Double your memory

Not content with the 4GB of memory on your iPod nano? Why not double it. First, you’ll need to buy a broken nano from eBay. Crack it open and remove the memory. Then open up your working nano, solder the memory chip from the broken nano to the empty pad in the working one, seal it back up, and perform a factory reset. You’ll now have a working nano with 7.2GB of space.

4. Mobile movies on the go

Transfer movies on DVDs to your iPod easily and free using a free software (HandBrake) available for both Mac and Windows. Be warned though: unless you use an analogue capture method, it’s illegal to rip DVDs you own onto your iPod.

For Mac (and Linux) users, get a free copy of HandBrake. Handbrake is already available as a Universal binary – good news for those who have a new MacBook, Mac mini, or imac – and can rip video from DVD directly to MPEG-4 video, the format you’ll need to watch it on your iPod. Windows users need to make a few extra steps. Get a DVD ripping program such as DVDFab Decrypter or DVD Decrypter. Convert your video to AVI using a decoding tool. Finally, convert the AVI file into MPEG-4 video that can play on your iPod using Videora iPod Converter.

5. iPod to TV

Want to watch content from your iPod on your TV? You can easily do so by purchasing a £15 iPod AV cable from Apple or use a standard mini-jack to three-plug RCA cable. These cables cost between £7-10 from outlets such as Maplins (www.maplins.co.uk). Set your iPod to output to TV, plug in the cable via the mini-jack, and plug the RCA connections into a TV using a non-standard setup. Apple outputs the iPod’s video to the red cable – rather than the traditional yellow. So you’ll want to plug the red cable into the video (yellow) plug on your TV, the yellow cable into the white plug, and the white cable into the red plug. This is an easy hack that anyone with an iPod can try.

6. Pac attack

Thanks to iPodMAME, you can play Pac-Man on your iPod. This hack will install a version of MAME, the arcade game emulator program, on your iPod. As with the Wikipedia hack, iPodMAME requires that you first install iPod Linux. The program comes with romsets (the set of files including all the game data) including one for Pac-Man. PodMAME should work with any iPod with a colour screen.

Daniel Dwase is the webmaster of http://www.best-ipod-online.com a website that provides reviews and buyers guide of iPods and accessories. Find out more about iPods and Podcasting. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Dwase

iPod Video Downloads - Quick Tips For iPod Users

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By Davion Wong

iPod video downloads are one of the most popular media files people download next to music downloads. iPods used to be very basic in function and can only play music. With the improvements in iPod technology, we are able to view movies and videos on our new iPods. The generous disk space on our new generation iPods allows us to store up to 50 movies, each about 2 hours long. It is so convenient to watch a good video on iPod without carrying bulky DVDs or players. Here are some quick tips for iPod users who intend to download iPod videos.

There are many places where you can find iPod video downloads. The most established is iTunes and it is definitely not a stranger to you. iTunes now have more than 200 TV shows and you can download each episode of your favorite video at $1.99. Others like Amazon and Walmart are also popular sites to find video downloads.

There are some individual websites that offer iPod video downloads for private viewing. Most of them are amateurs who are experimenting with video filming and there have been some interesting finds reported at these websites. In fact, from time to time, you may have received them via email from your friends.

You may have gotten your iPod video downloads from sources other than the major stores such as home made videos. But when you try to play them on your iPod, you realize that you cannot. Do not panic. The likelihood is that your video file format is not compatible with your iPod. iPod can only read MPEG4 and H.264 video files so this means that you need to convert the files first.

While there are many paid versions, you would be pleasantly surprised to find freeware that are just as powerful in converting video files to iPod compatible format. Free iPod Video Converter V1.32 and Utralshareware do a pretty neat job in converting popular video formats so that you can enjoy DVD/VCD and AVI, MPEG, WMV, RM, DivX, ASF and VOB video files using your iPod.

Visit my blog to find out more about iPod video downloads and where you may access to new DVD quality iPod video downloads.

The content of this article is provided for the purpose of education and illustration only and is in no way associated with Apple, iTune, or any company or subsidiary of Apple. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author’s name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Davion is a successful webmaster and author. Find out how you can access to unlimited ipod video downloads - full length DVD quality videos easily from home at ipod-videodownloads.blogspot.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Davion_Wong

Related article: Image Features of the iPod Video

iPod Earphone Trade-In Program

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Press release source: Business Wire

Your Electronic Warehouse Launches iPod Earphone Trade In Program

Customers Can Trade In Their iPod Earphones and Receive $20 Towards a Future Purchase.

QUINCY, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Your Electronic Warehouse has announced the start of its iPod Earphone Trade-In Program. This program allows customers who own iPods to trade in their factory earphones for $20 towards a future purchase at Your Electronic Warehouse or Discount Golf World.

This promotion allows new iPod owners to maximize their iPod’s potential by getting a pair of high-end headphones from Bose, Shure or Monster at 4ElectronicWarehouse.com. These high-end headphones produce high quality sound and provide excellent comfort that will give the customer the ultimate iPod experience.

The Trade in Program will also benefit iPod owners who have already upgraded their headphones, because they will receive $20 towards a future purchase at either 4ElectronicWarehouse.com or DiscountGolfWorld.com.

“There are lots of people who buy aftermarket headphones for their iPod; this program allows customers to both save money and get a great pair of high-quality headphones at the same time,” said Dennis Boudreau, president of Your Electronic Warehouse.

Customers who participate in the iPod Earphone Trade-In Program will be allowed only one trade-in per e-mail address. Trade-Ins will only be accepted for the factory iPod earphones. The $20 in reward dollars will be e-mailed to the customer in 2-4 weeks and are good for up to 6 months.

Complete the form at www.4electronicwarehouse.com/earphone20 to start the trade in process.

About Your Electronic Warehouse

Your Electronic Warehouse, a division of 1st in Video - Music World, Inc, was started over 30 years ago as a small, brick and mortar consumer electronics store and is now one of Internet Retailer’s Top 500 web retailers. Your Electronic Warehouse is an Internet authorized dealer of every product they sell, including Bose, Monster Cable, Yamaha, Niles Audio, Pioneer and Weber. With experienced custom installers as trained customer service representatives, customers receive the highest levels of service and product support before and after the sale. 1st in Video-Music World Inc. operates 1stInVideoMusicWorld.com, 4ElectronicWarehouse.com, DiscountGolfWorld.com, InternetPartners.com and 4DiscountTravel.com

Replace Your Wedding DJ With An iPod

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by Tim A. Smith 

Whether its true or not, most everyone agrees that wedding DJs are expensive. A popular tip circulating the net is to replace your wedding DJ with an iPod and DJ your reception yourself. While this may sound like a great idea, there are some things to consider. Just as with any do-it-yourself project, you must be aware of all facets before you start.

The first most important job for a good DJ is to play music that the crowd enjoys. A simple shuffle has no way of knowing who is dancing to what. A person does need to run things, but not just any person will do. Putting your 12 year old nephew won’t do you any good. The person in charge of the music needs a large amount of music knowledge. A good DJ should have this knowledge. A good DJ should be able to identify a song based on a few bars hummed out of tune or a snippet of lyrics that are slightly incorrect. Your DJ must not have a fear of speaking in front of a crowd, and this is not as easy as it sounds. One simply has to think of all the Best men who have hemmed and hawed their way through a wedding toast with the microphone held at waist level. Also, does he/she know how to auction off a garter or any of the other traditional reception activities? If not, will the bride and groom want to do these things while they should be enjoying their guests? Oh, and just like you would give your wedding singer or officiant a tip for performing your ceremony, don’t forget a gratuity for your impromptu DJ.

Unless you’re a music collector, chances are you don’t have a music library with waltzes, polkas, old country, new country, oldies, classic rock, new rock, soft rock, hard rock, hip hop, dance, etc. And, unless you want to subject your guests to your musical tastes, you should probably buy a selection of these songs. If you’re not up on popular waltzes and polkas, or don’t know which songs are currently topping the country Top 40, search the web. $25 dollars should buy you enough music on iTunes to cover enough various musical tastes that most guests will enjoy themselves.

Another task for a good wedding DJ is one who is covered by insurance. Sure, your homeowners policy *might* cover it, but I’d hate to see your premiums next year if an accident does occur. Don’t think accidents will happen to you? Are you serving alcohol at your reception? If you’re telling yourself, “All the drunk people I know never act like fools!”, stop and think about that again. Besides, many venues require proof of insurance because they don’t want to see their premiums raised because your grandma tripped on a speaker cable and broke her hip. Searching the web for “wedding event insurance” will yield a whole crop of insurers who will give you a $1 million dollar policy for around $200.

Equipment is of course another important factor a good DJ brings to your reception. Do you know where to get speakers? Or mics? Or Mixer?? Larger cities will have rental companies that can provide these things. You can even find many such companies by searching the web for “dj equipment rental”. Most wedding sized systems rent for anywhere from $250 to $500 dollars per day. In most cases, you must provide a truck or van to transport the equipment. Now, do you know how to set these things up? If not, will the rental company give you a tutorial? Some rental companies will give you a tutorial when you pick the equipment up, but make sure to take notes, because if you have to call them later they will likely charge you for a service call. Some equipment rental companies will deliver, setup, and test their equipment as well as pick up later, but this is extra.

That being said, if you KNOW your group will interact without being prompted (or just don’t care if they interact or not), and if you’ve got a person with an encyclopedic knowledge of music that will run your iPod (instead of enjoying your reception), and you have adequate insurance to cover any accidents that occur due to your iPod setup, and you have a large enough music library to make sure everyone gets to hear the music they want, and you’re able to get your hands on adequate dance lights and speakers, and will be saving money by spending $550 to $700 then by all means use an iPod. You honestly have no need for a DJ.

If planning and organizing all this sounds like just one more hassle, you’d probably do better to hire a professional so that you can enjoy your reception and spend your first day as husband and wife doing something besides returning rental equipment. For a few dollars more you’ll get professional equipment, professional knowledge from someone who has planned and performed at hundreds of weddings, peace of mind that any glitches will be resolved quickly, no hassles about tearing down equipment when the reception is over, and no worries about getting it back before you owe another day’s worth of rental fees.

Article Source: http://www.myarticlepub.com - Free Reprint Articles

About the Authors: Tim and Tammy Smith own and operate By Request DJ & Karaoke Company in Fargo, ND. They have been providing exceptional entertainment at weddings, proms, and parties since 1991. Visit their website at www.byrequest.dj.

The Image Features of the New iPod Video

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By: John Ugoshowa

Although the dimensions of the new iPod video are smaller, the display thinner, the screen dimensions are bigger and the image quality is better. These advantages are not the only ones as the new iPod video keeps more surprises regarding the image and the screen display.

The large color screen and reduced dimensions of the video and audio device is the attractive point of the new iPod video. This aspect makes possible the explicit reading of the menu, of the options and possibilities as it has a bright, sharp text.

The screen quality of the new iPod video may be compared to the screen quality of any TV set and it may even become the winner of such a contest. Both the design of the new iPod and the video features are very well thought out and the most important aspect is that the resolution is up to 320×240.

The resolution quality is comparable to the quality of VHS video tape, being less than half that of a DVD. That is why the sunny weather, the too bright rooms are not a problem for watching the videos on the iPod video. These obstacles are great enemies of the previous handheld video devices of reduced dimensions and these do not matter anymore, especially when it is the case of the new iPod video.

The possibility of watching the favorite music video and Disney or Pixar video, the TV shows of films on the road, away from home was a matter of dreams not long time ago. And this dream is possible now due to the next step in video technology.

Besides, the new iPod video has also some amazing options with the photo album because of great quality of the images. You may also rate your photos or create slideshows with your favorite ones so that your past empty moments may be filled with great memories. This fact is also due to the eliminated common obstacles (sunshine, bright indoors or outdoors) of watching videos on other different mini video devices. Another important aspect concerning the options of the iPod video is that it provides full-size thumbnails for photos.

Besides, the new iPod video can import digital photos directly from any type of camera or card reader. During this transfer, the thumbnails of the imported images are showed on the screen of the iPod. After the mentioned transfer, you may browse the imported pictures. Unfortunately, you cannot display the transferred pictures on the TV set.

The video image of the new iPod video is surprisingly clear, bright and sharp taking into account the size of the screen. Excellent music and video on the same handheld device is more than joyful news, having great advantages and well thought features.

Although the battery longevity for watching the videos are only of 2 hours, the new video device has a great success and may be of great need for those who are very busy. This solution is ideal for spending the time on the train, bus or airplane, maybe waiting for them or simply having a break at the office. In the end, the new iPod video is a great music player with some features for playing video a little bit so that the time would pass more quickly.

The combination of excellent image and sound is a very good achievement and a tempting offer for lovers of pocket devices to be in touch with music and other aspects of the contemporary life. These aspects of the new iPod video are especially preferred by the teenagers with their crazy lifestyle. Nevertheless, some adults may also like the high quality of the image, the options for the photo album and the slideshow. These aspects make the images, favorite videos and photos being easy to share with other people.

The best combination of high quality image and high quality sound is to be found in the new iPod video. Still, the novelty is represented by the video features on a handheld device that represent a step in the video technology.

John Ugoshowa. You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your ezines as long as you have a link back to http://www.quickregister.net/partners/ For more information on iPod video see the iPod video section of Quickregister.net Free Search Engine Submission Service at:http://www.quickregister.net/partners/

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