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The latest way to watch Amazon Video On Demand on your TV is also a great way to earn advertising fees. Amazon customers can now instantly access over 50,000 movies & TV shows on Vizio’s VIA line of HDTVs. Spread the word about Amazon Video On Demand on Vizio and help your customers turn their living room into a digital entertainment center.
http://www.amazon.com/b/?&node=16261631&tag=computertech0a-20
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player
You can use Windows Media Player to copy music, pictures, and videos from your library to a blank CD or DVD. This process is known as burning.
Burning a CD in Windows Media PlayerThere are a number of reasons why you might want to use the Player to burn media files to a disc. For example, if you're planning a long road trip, you might want to select a mix of upbeat songs from your library and burn them to audio CDs that you can play in your car. The songs you choose might be old favorites that you previously ripped from your CD collection or new songs that you recently purchased from an online store.
The sections below describe the types of discs you can create in the Player, the equipment and materials you'll need, and step-by-step instructions for burning different kinds of discs.
Windows Media Player gives you the option of burning three kinds of discs: audio CDs, data CDs, and data DVDs. The type of disc to use depends on what you want to copy (for example, whether you will copy only music or a combination of music, videos, and pictures), how much material you want to copy (for example, a single album or dozens of albums), and where you want to play the disc (for example, in a computer or a car CD player).
| Disc type | Description |
|---|---|
| Audio CD | Ideal for making custom music CDs for playback in any car or home stereo.
|
| Data CD | Great option if you have a lot of music and a car CD player that can play WMA files (the type of music file that most people have in their library). Also handy for backing up your media files.
|
| Data DVD | Due to its larger capacity, use this type of disc for all the same reasons you would use a data CD if you have a larger volume of files than will fit on a single data CD.
|
to remove all items from the previous burn list.
Windows Power Shell Review
Back in the old days of DOS, we could automate a series of tasks using a “batch file”. With the advent of Windows (or, at least, since Windows 95) we’ve still had batch file processing available, but have been able to use WSH (the Windows Script Host – a widget that executes VBScript/Jscript scripts under Windows) to do much more complex tasks – even instantiating COM objects in order to do clever things like querying databases.
Now we’re in the days of the .NET Framework, however, it would be nice if we could write relatively simple scripts that can use not only COM (i.e. pre-.NET) objects but also the new stuff that .NET gives us. PowerShell is Microsoft’s answer to this technology gap, though only if you’re a user of Windows XP Service Pack 2, WS2003, or something more modern. It’ll be included in the installer for Windows Server 2008, but you can download it for XP and WS2003.
If you’re used to DOS batch files, VBScript scripts or Unix shell scripts, you’ll find this experience to useless when trying to get to grips with PowerShell. The syntax is like nothing I’ve ever come across (and I’ve used all three of the above extensively), and nor is it even anything like, say, VB.NET. This is a shame when you consider that, for instance, VBScripts under Windows were almost identical to VBScripts run under WSH (i.e. as Windows scripts) – if I’d been in Microsoft’s position I’d probably have tried to make PowerShell look at least something like one of the .NET programming languages, for the sake of usability.
This said, it’s not the hardest thing in the world to get used to. It’s just a case of learning the keywords and, most importantly, figuring out how to find your way around the help system. The reason for the latter is simple: if, like me, you’re a Visual Studio developer, you’re used to having IntelliSense – a clever little gizmo that enumerates all the possible expansions whenever you type an object name and hit the “.” key, so you don’t have to remember all the members of an object. No IntelliSense means having to type “get-help” a lot – but at least the help function is pretty comprehensive, and the 116-page user guide (which comes as an RTF and is installed when you install PowerShell). Also, as with many OS shells, you can create aliases for commands you use a lot – and in fact, most of the common ones have been done for you so they look like DOS commands. So “Get-ChildItem” has been aliased to the more familiar “DIR”, for example, and “Remove-Item” to “DEL”.
PowerShell gives you a lot of virtual concepts. For instance, as well as navigating the various storage devices connected to the system, you can navigate other “virtual” repositories in a similar way – notably the registry, the environment variable repository and the digital certificate store. There are a few restrictions on navigation, particularly in the registry, but it’s generally pretty flexible.
The bulk of what you can do in PowerShell is, of course, writing and running scripts that actually do work. You can do stuff as individual commands inside an interactive PowerShell session, but most people will want to put together whole scripts and then run them just like batch files. Of course, you can do this with PowerShell – you create a file with a “.ps1” extension (note that’s a number one, not a small L) and then invoke PowerShell with that filename. For example, let’s say we want to ping a host using a .NET System.Net.NetworkInformation.Ping object. We’ll write a script and save it in c:\network.ps1:
$myaddr =”192.168.1.1”
$myping = new-object System.Net.NetworkInformation.Ping
$myresult = $myping.send($ip)
write-host $myresult.status.tostring()
… and then run it from a CMD window or a Start->Run box by doing:
powershell c:\network.ps1
There’s a pile of other useful tools in PowerShell, too. We’ve talked about navigating the registry and the environment, but you also have commands for managing processes and Windows services, digging into system settings, working with the Windows installer, as well as printer and network control. And, of course, it has decent backward compatibility (so although you can now work with .NET objects, you’re not precluded from playing with traditional COM objects if you so wish).
PowerShell is a welcome evolution of Windows’ scripting facilities, and although it’s initially pretty cryptic to work with, you’ll find that you gradually build up your knowledge of commands, syntax and objects.
Reference:http://review.techworld.com/applications/529/microsoft-windows-powershell-10/
Retrieval Date:04/12/10
Now we’re in the days of the .NET Framework, however, it would be nice if we could write relatively simple scripts that can use not only COM (i.e. pre-.NET) objects but also the new stuff that .NET gives us. PowerShell is Microsoft’s answer to this technology gap, though only if you’re a user of Windows XP Service Pack 2, WS2003, or something more modern. It’ll be included in the installer for Windows Server 2008, but you can download it for XP and WS2003.
If you’re used to DOS batch files, VBScript scripts or Unix shell scripts, you’ll find this experience to useless when trying to get to grips with PowerShell. The syntax is like nothing I’ve ever come across (and I’ve used all three of the above extensively), and nor is it even anything like, say, VB.NET. This is a shame when you consider that, for instance, VBScripts under Windows were almost identical to VBScripts run under WSH (i.e. as Windows scripts) – if I’d been in Microsoft’s position I’d probably have tried to make PowerShell look at least something like one of the .NET programming languages, for the sake of usability.
This said, it’s not the hardest thing in the world to get used to. It’s just a case of learning the keywords and, most importantly, figuring out how to find your way around the help system. The reason for the latter is simple: if, like me, you’re a Visual Studio developer, you’re used to having IntelliSense – a clever little gizmo that enumerates all the possible expansions whenever you type an object name and hit the “.” key, so you don’t have to remember all the members of an object. No IntelliSense means having to type “get-help” a lot – but at least the help function is pretty comprehensive, and the 116-page user guide (which comes as an RTF and is installed when you install PowerShell). Also, as with many OS shells, you can create aliases for commands you use a lot – and in fact, most of the common ones have been done for you so they look like DOS commands. So “Get-ChildItem” has been aliased to the more familiar “DIR”, for example, and “Remove-Item” to “DEL”.
PowerShell gives you a lot of virtual concepts. For instance, as well as navigating the various storage devices connected to the system, you can navigate other “virtual” repositories in a similar way – notably the registry, the environment variable repository and the digital certificate store. There are a few restrictions on navigation, particularly in the registry, but it’s generally pretty flexible.
The bulk of what you can do in PowerShell is, of course, writing and running scripts that actually do work. You can do stuff as individual commands inside an interactive PowerShell session, but most people will want to put together whole scripts and then run them just like batch files. Of course, you can do this with PowerShell – you create a file with a “.ps1” extension (note that’s a number one, not a small L) and then invoke PowerShell with that filename. For example, let’s say we want to ping a host using a .NET System.Net.NetworkInformation.Ping object. We’ll write a script and save it in c:\network.ps1:
$myaddr =”192.168.1.1”
$myping = new-object System.Net.NetworkInformation.Ping
$myresult = $myping.send($ip)
write-host $myresult.status.tostring()
… and then run it from a CMD window or a Start->Run box by doing:
powershell c:\network.ps1
There’s a pile of other useful tools in PowerShell, too. We’ve talked about navigating the registry and the environment, but you also have commands for managing processes and Windows services, digging into system settings, working with the Windows installer, as well as printer and network control. And, of course, it has decent backward compatibility (so although you can now work with .NET objects, you’re not precluded from playing with traditional COM objects if you so wish).
PowerShell is a welcome evolution of Windows’ scripting facilities, and although it’s initially pretty cryptic to work with, you’ll find that you gradually build up your knowledge of commands, syntax and objects.
Reference:http://review.techworld.com/applications/529/microsoft-windows-powershell-10/
Retrieval Date:04/12/10
Why is IT so important in a business
yes
Six reasons why information systems are so important for business today include:
1. Operational excellence
2. New products, services, and business models
3. Customer and supplier intimacy
4. Improved decision making
5. Competitive advantage
6. Survival
Here is onother answer to this questionThe emegence of a global economy, transformation of industrial economies, transformation of the business enterprise, and the emergence of digital firm make information systems essential in business today. Information system is a fondation for conducting business today. In many businesses, survival and the ability to achieve strategic business goals is difficult without extensive use of information technology. There are six reasons or objectives why businesses use information system:
1. Operational excellence. Business improve the efficiency of their operations in order to achieve higher profitability. Information systems are important tools available to managers for achieving higher levels of efficiency and productivity in business operations. A good example is Wal-Mart that uses a RetailLink system , which digitally links its suppliers to every one of Wal-Mart's stores. as soon as a a customer purchase an item , the supplier is monitoring the item , knows to ship a replacement to the shelf.
2. New products, services, and business models. Information system is a major tool for firms to create new products and services, and also an entirely new business models. A business model describe how a company produces, delivers, and sells a product or service to create wealth.
Example: Apple inc transformed an old business model based on its iPod technology platform that included iPod, the iTunes music service, and the iPhone.
3. Customer/supplier intimacy. When a business serves its customers well, the customers generally respond by returning and purchasing more. this raises revenue and profits. The more a business engage its suppliers, the better the suppliers can provide vital inputs. This lower costs. Example: The Mandarin Oriental in manhattan and other high-end hotels exemplify the use of information systems and technology to achieve customer intimacy. they use computers to keep track of guests' preferences, such as their preffered room temperature, check-in time, television programs.
4. Improved decision making. Many managers operate in an information bank, never having the right information at the right time to make an informed decision. These poor outcomes raise costs and lose customers. Information system made it possible for the managers to use real time data from the marketplace when making decision. Example: Verizon Corporation uses a Web-based digital dashboard to provide managers with precise real -time information on customer complains, network performance.. Using this information managers can immediately allocate repair resources to affected areas, inform customers of repair efforts and restore service fast.
5. Competitive advantage. When firms achieve one or more of these business objectives( operational excellence, new products, services, and business models, customer/supplier intimacy, and improved decision making) chances are they have already achieved a competitive advantage. Doing things better than your competitors, charging less for superior products, and responding to customers and suppliers in real time all add up to higher sales, and higher profits. Example: Toyota Production System focuses on organizing work to eliminate waste, making continues improvements, TPS is based on what customers have actually ordered.
6. Day to day survival. Business firms invest in information system and technology because they are necessities of doing business. This necessities are driven by industry level changes. Example: Citibank introduced the first automatic teller machine to attract customers through higher service levels, and its competitors rushed to provide ATM's to their customers to keep up with Citibank. providing ATMs services to retail banking customers is simply a requirement of being in and surviving in the retail banking business. Firm turn to information system and technology to provide the capability to respond to these.
Information systems are the foundation for conducting business today. In many
industries, survival and even existence without extensive use of IT is
inconceivable, and IT plays a critical role in increasing productivity. Although
information technology has become more of a commodity, when coupled with
complementary changes in organization and management, it can provide the
foundation for new products, services, and ways of conducting business that
provide firms with a strategic advantage.
Reference:http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_are_information_systems_so_important_in_business_today
Retrieval Date:03/20/10
Six reasons why information systems are so important for business today include:
1. Operational excellence
2. New products, services, and business models
3. Customer and supplier intimacy
4. Improved decision making
5. Competitive advantage
6. Survival
Here is onother answer to this questionThe emegence of a global economy, transformation of industrial economies, transformation of the business enterprise, and the emergence of digital firm make information systems essential in business today. Information system is a fondation for conducting business today. In many businesses, survival and the ability to achieve strategic business goals is difficult without extensive use of information technology. There are six reasons or objectives why businesses use information system:
1. Operational excellence. Business improve the efficiency of their operations in order to achieve higher profitability. Information systems are important tools available to managers for achieving higher levels of efficiency and productivity in business operations. A good example is Wal-Mart that uses a RetailLink system , which digitally links its suppliers to every one of Wal-Mart's stores. as soon as a a customer purchase an item , the supplier is monitoring the item , knows to ship a replacement to the shelf.
2. New products, services, and business models. Information system is a major tool for firms to create new products and services, and also an entirely new business models. A business model describe how a company produces, delivers, and sells a product or service to create wealth.
Example: Apple inc transformed an old business model based on its iPod technology platform that included iPod, the iTunes music service, and the iPhone.
3. Customer/supplier intimacy. When a business serves its customers well, the customers generally respond by returning and purchasing more. this raises revenue and profits. The more a business engage its suppliers, the better the suppliers can provide vital inputs. This lower costs. Example: The Mandarin Oriental in manhattan and other high-end hotels exemplify the use of information systems and technology to achieve customer intimacy. they use computers to keep track of guests' preferences, such as their preffered room temperature, check-in time, television programs.
4. Improved decision making. Many managers operate in an information bank, never having the right information at the right time to make an informed decision. These poor outcomes raise costs and lose customers. Information system made it possible for the managers to use real time data from the marketplace when making decision. Example: Verizon Corporation uses a Web-based digital dashboard to provide managers with precise real -time information on customer complains, network performance.. Using this information managers can immediately allocate repair resources to affected areas, inform customers of repair efforts and restore service fast.
5. Competitive advantage. When firms achieve one or more of these business objectives( operational excellence, new products, services, and business models, customer/supplier intimacy, and improved decision making) chances are they have already achieved a competitive advantage. Doing things better than your competitors, charging less for superior products, and responding to customers and suppliers in real time all add up to higher sales, and higher profits. Example: Toyota Production System focuses on organizing work to eliminate waste, making continues improvements, TPS is based on what customers have actually ordered.
6. Day to day survival. Business firms invest in information system and technology because they are necessities of doing business. This necessities are driven by industry level changes. Example: Citibank introduced the first automatic teller machine to attract customers through higher service levels, and its competitors rushed to provide ATM's to their customers to keep up with Citibank. providing ATMs services to retail banking customers is simply a requirement of being in and surviving in the retail banking business. Firm turn to information system and technology to provide the capability to respond to these.
Information systems are the foundation for conducting business today. In many
industries, survival and even existence without extensive use of IT is
inconceivable, and IT plays a critical role in increasing productivity. Although
information technology has become more of a commodity, when coupled with
complementary changes in organization and management, it can provide the
foundation for new products, services, and ways of conducting business that
provide firms with a strategic advantage.
Reference:http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_are_information_systems_so_important_in_business_today
Retrieval Date:03/20/10
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