http://www.simplydigital.info Simply Digital is a weekly podcast where Michael Ashby and Analog Dave talk simply about technology. Each week, the two talk about one aspect of your digital lifestyle and break it down into easy to understand bits. Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:49:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 en ©Michael T. Ashby 2003-2006 http://simplydigital.libsyn.com/rss michael@simplydigital.info (Michael T. Ashby) michael@simplydigital.info 1440 A weekly podcast where we talk simply about technology Michael T. Ashby Michael T. Ashby michael@simplydigital.info No no http://www.simplydigital.info/images/badge_small.jpg http://www.simplydigital.info 144 144 http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-13-registering-a-domain-name/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-13-registering-a-domain-name/#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:52 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-13-registering-a-domain-name/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-13-registering-a-domain-name/feed/ 34:41 We use domain names wether we know it or not. It certainly makes our life easier being able to type in "google.com" instead of 64.233.187.99. ... We use domain names wether we know it or not. It certainly makes our life easier being able to type in "google.com" instead of 64.233.187.99. You may not think much about domain names until you try and register one for yourself -- then you quickly learn just how hard it is to find a name that isn't taken. So how do you register a domain name? Well, this week the Simply Digital guys take a look at how to do just that and along the way explain some of the basics in how domain names work. Show Notes Coming Soon Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-12-chris-dunphy/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-12-chris-dunphy/#comments Thu, 25 Jan 2007 06:17:35 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-12-chris-dunphy/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-12-chris-dunphy/feed/ 35:32 This week, the Simply Digital gang take their first podcast "on the road", even if they only made it as far as the driveway. Chris ... This week, the Simply Digital gang take their first podcast "on the road", even if they only made it as far as the driveway. Chris Dunphy, a self described technomadic flying geek, happened to land in Simply Digital "studio" for a quick interview. Chris is the former Director of Competitive Analysis for Palm and then PalmSource — in other words, his job involved traveling the world, meeting interesting people and buying every interesting gadget he could get his hands on. A geek's dream job to say the least. He has always had a passion for travel and when the opportunity presented itself to pursue that passion and spend a year or so just traveling, it was an opportunity he just couldn't pass up. So lately Chris has been traveling the United States and using all kinds of different technology along the way. Lucky for us, Chris stopped by for a few days and we were able to record an interview with him. This recording was made inside Chris' Tab Trailer as the rain slowly fell outside. Show Notes More Notes Coming soon until then a few links... "Adventures in Nomadic Serendipity" - Chris' web site Chris' Trailer Burning Man Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-11-online-dating/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-11-online-dating/#comments Wed, 08 Nov 2006 17:00:56 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-11-online-dating/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-11-online-dating/feed/ 45:09 Online dating has now become mainstream. You see it in movies and on television and it seems like there is advertising everywhere to find that ... Online dating has now become mainstream. You see it in movies and on television and it seems like there is advertising everywhere to find that "special someone" online. So what's online dating all about? Well the Simply Digital guys hope to answer those questions in episode 11. This week, Michael Ashby turns the tables on Analog Dave an places him in the hot seat to answer a few questions. Analog Dave has tried online dating off-and-on for several years and this week he shares some of his insight in how this style of dating works. From do's to don'ts, Dave walks us through the process and explains how it works and what to expect in your search. Show Notes Analog Dave doesn't know what the topic is going to be before we start recording the show, so this week's episode was a bit of a surprise. Online dating is a relative topic because so many sites have added personals to their content offerings, not to mention the fact that there are so many online dating sites out there as well. Michael's been married for 12 years, so he can barely remember dating. Analog Dave has been using online dating for many years and brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the topic. What Is Online Dating And How Is It Different From Regular Dating? With online dating, you have a lot more information about the other person than you do with traditional dating. With traditional dating, about the only thing you know upon meeting the person is what they look like. With online dating, there is more information available to you to help you make a more informed decision about wether or not you want to date someone. We all have criteria, or traits that we're looking for in a mate and online dating provides you with most of the information up front, instead of having to learn as you go. Ultimately, online dating streamlines the process of meeting people so that you can physically meet them in person. Is Online Dating Just About Hooking Up? No. Online dating mirrors our culture, so if you're looking to just "hook up", then that's what you'll find. However, if you're looking for a long term commitment, then online dating can be the perfect tool to do just that. How Do You Get Started With Online Dating? For starters, just go online and browse anonymously so that you can get a feel for what online dating is like. When you join an online dating service, you're going to be creating a profile of yourself. You might even think of it as a personal ad. Instead of just copying what someone else has done, Analog Dave recommends that you use your own language and create your own story. It's important to keep the information that you put online fairly generic. In other words, you want to stay as anonymous as possible. Saying you live in Nashville, for example, is good. But saying that you live at 123 Something St. is not. How Many Online Dating Sites Are There? Analog Dave has tried online dating eHarmony.com, Match.com and Yahoo! Personals are three of the larger sites. There are thousands to choose from however, including an online dating service for Trekkies. Does It Cost Money To Date Online? You can post your information and typically browse other people's profiles for free. To make contact with the other person though will typically cost money. Some services will give you a short demo so that you can try before you buy. Most online dating sites charge a monthly fee. What Is The Typical Online Dating Process Work? It all starts with a search. If you find someone you like, you contact them through the online dating service system. At this point, things are still fairly anonymous. After a rapport is developed, you might give the person your private e-mail address so that you can continue the "conversation" without the need of the dating service. Eventually, you exchange phone numbers so that you can talk to the person directly. This allows you to have Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-10-computer-monitors/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-10-computer-monitors/#comments Wed, 01 Nov 2006 14:00:56 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-10-computer-monitors/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-10-computer-monitors/feed/ 34:49 More often than not, the only time you purchase a new computer monitor is when you're buying a new system. Yet after figuring out all ... More often than not, the only time you purchase a new computer monitor is when you're buying a new system. Yet after figuring out all the particulars of a computer, the monitor is usually an after thought and it shouldn't be. There are some key factors in making a buying decision on a computer monitor that greatly impact the quality of the display. This week in Episode 10, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave talk about the basics of a choosing a new computer monitor. From CRTs to LCDs, the guys go over all the specs and terms and acronyms, but each term is explained in detail and the show notes have plenty of further information. Show Notes Michael got the idea for this podcast after he purchased his new monitor - a Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP 20.1" Flat Panel LCD Monitor - which is the best display he's ever had. What prompted him to upgrade was due to comments by Mike Rohde's comments. Analog Dave uses a 19" CRT What Kinds Of Monitors Are There? CRT (Cathoray Tube) These displays are akin to traditional televisions They are larger in overall size than an LCD display CRTs are usually less expensive when compared to an LCD, but that is starting to change Most computer graphics professionals tend to prefer CRT displays due to their ability to be more precise with color calibration for professional printing. Don't confuse "flat screen" with thin. All high-end CRT displays have a flat screen surface, but this doesn't mean that they are thin like an LCD. CRTs also do well at different resolutions. LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) The biggest advantage to an LCD as your computer monitor is that they are smaller, lighter and take up less space. Nowdays, LCDs have larger screens than traditional CRT displays. 30" LCD displays are now standard in high-end LCD computer displays. LCDs typically only work well at their highest resolution. If you find the icons and fonts to be to small, changing the resolution will make things larger, but at the same time, things won't look as sharp. If you're worried about an LCD native resolution, then it's important that you view it in person before purchasing online. Play with large fonts and make sure that everything is legible. The viewing axis isn't as wide as a CRT, if that is important Screen burn can be just as common with LCD as they are with CRT displays What Does Display Resolution Mean? Display resolution refers to the number of pixels that are displayed across and down a computer display. A computer's display resolution is expressed as an equation, such as 640x480. What this expression means is that a 640x480 display resolution will display 640 pixels across and 480 pixels down the screen. The higher the ratio, the more information that can be displayed on the screen. Michael's Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP 20.1" Flat Panel LCD Monitor has a display resolution of 1600x1200. A CRT display has the ability to change display resolutions and still keep everything sharp. LCDs are "fixed pixel" displays and they do not scale well at lower resolutions. 1024×768 is the current standard display resolution for most computers What Things Should I Look For When Buying A Monitor Pixel Density - aka dot pitch relates to the number of dots (sub pixels) per line. Measured in millimeters, the smaller the number the better. So a .22mm is better than a .28mm. Analog vs. Digital - A digital connection is better than an analog connection. Your video card determines if you can use a Digital (DMI) connection. Contrast Ratio - is the measurement of the display to show the luminosity between light and dark images. Typically illustrated at 800:1. The higher the number, the better, so 800:1 is better than 400:1. For more, go here. Refresh Rate (CRT) - The frequency at which the screen refreshes. It's measured in Hertz (Hz) a the higher the number the better, so 100Hz is better than Response Time (LCD) - Simil Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-9-basic-networking/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-9-basic-networking/#comments Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:00:39 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-9-basic-networking/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-9-basic-networking/feed/ 33:18 The topic of computer networking can be somewhat intimidating, but once you understand that basic building blocks of what makes up a network, it's really ... The topic of computer networking can be somewhat intimidating, but once you understand that basic building blocks of what makes up a network, it's really quite simple. Armed with the right information, you can troubleshoot a network problem, share your broadband Internet connection, or even create a complete network of your own. In episode 9, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave talk about the basics of a local area network (LAN). There are a lot of terms and acronyms, but each term is explained in detail and the show notes have plenty of further information. Show Notes We updated our recording equipment, so all future episodes should sound much better. As a reminder, we don't tell Analog Dave what the show topic is going to be so that he can be fresh and act as our "watch dog" for the topic to make sure that we cover all the bases. What Is A Network? Two or more computing devices connected together. More at Wikipedia. These can be computers, pdas, Gameboys The Internet is also a network There have been a wide variety of network types, or protocols, but the most popular network is based on TCP/IP (which stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). This is the same protocol that is used for the Internet Because of WiFi, or wireless networking, the idea of having a network in the home is becoming more and more popular. What Is A LAN? LAN stands for Local Area Network If you're setting up a home network, you're setting up a LAN. If your office has a network, then it too is a LAN, although you might call it a corporate LAN, or corporate network. All a LAN is, is a group of networked computers. It's a fancier and easier to say term. The Building Blocks Of A LAN What Is Ethernet? It is a standard network cable that is used on most networks. It's just a cable. You use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to other LAN devices, such as a hub, or switch. What Is A Hub? A hub is a device that connects multiple network devices together. Depending on how many "ports" you have on the hub, you can connect that many computers. 10 port hub can connect 10 computers together, etc. What Is A Switch? A switch is similar to a hub, except that it's faster and more secure. A hub is not discreet, but a switch is. If given the choice, we recommend that you purchase a switch over a hub. What Is A Router? A router is a device that connects two networks and routes the data between them. Most often in a home network, a router is used to connect your LAN to the Internet, thereby sharing your Internet connection with all of the computers in your home. Regardless of the type of high speed Internet connection is, a router would connect the same way. Technically, you are sharing your Internet connection with your other computers, which means that one user could use up most of the bandwidth. In other words, the other users would have a slower connection; however; this isn't something you usually have to worry about. The "bandwidth hog" would have to be doing something very intensive online for the other users to notice a slowdown. For more on routers and firewalls, we recommend that you listen to Episode 2: Firewalls. What Is A Firewall? This is a hardware or software device that protects a LAN from an outside network (typically the Internet) For our purposes, all consumer routers will include a firewall. With today's consumer routers, they often include switches, wifi, and many other services as well Again, for more on routers and firewalls, we recommend that you listen to Episode 2: Firewalls. What Is A IP Address? Every computer or device that is on a TCP/IP network (LAN or Internet) is given a unique number. This number is called an IP Address, or Internet Protocol Address. The purpose of an IP Address is to ensure that each computer/device can be uniquely ide Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-8-mobile-phones/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-8-mobile-phones/#comments Thu, 05 Oct 2006 04:00:48 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-8-mobile-phones/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-8-mobile-phones/feed/ 54:48 Mobile phones are everywhere these days and it seems there are new features being offered by providers left and right. Camera phones, text messaging, television, ... Mobile phones are everywhere these days and it seems there are new features being offered by providers left and right. Camera phones, text messaging, television, downloadable music and a truckload of acronyms to go with all these new technologies. How to make sense of it all? In Episode 8, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave walk you through a series of questions to help you find the best phone and mobile plan that best suits your needs. If you can answer six questions, you'll be armed with everything you need to know about getting a new mobile phone. Show Notes Analog Dave just purchased a new mobile phone and so did our friend Dan, which is what prompted the idea for this week's topic. Mobile phones have changed a lot since the early days. Analog Dave's first experience with mobile phones was in the late 70's with a walkie-talkie style radio dispatch solution. He would push to talk to a dispatcher who would connect the them to the party they were calling. This was more than likely an "autopatch" conversation done on the Amateur Radio Network. Hey, we don't call him Analog Dave for nothin' ;) Michael's first experience with mobile phones were with the "bag phones" in the 80's. When Michael first met his wife, then potential girlfriend, he was impressed that she had a true car phone, which was permanently installed in her car. He was impressed because car phones were quite rare during that time (1988). If you're looking at a new mobile phone, what questions do you need to answer? What Carrier/Operator Is Strongest In Your Area? Most carriers/operators have coverage maps that you can reference. It's important to look at these maps to ensure that you'll have coverage in the areas that you expect to be in. Unfortunately, those coverage maps are best case scenarios, so it's best to ask around and find what other people are using in your area and if they like their coverage. T-Mobile may be great in San Francisco, but not-so-great where you live, so ask around. Also, be sure to check and see if there is a 30-day money back guarantee. If you're not satisfied, for whatever reason, you can return the phone and get your money back. Most US carriers do. It's important to check your coverage in the places that you most frequent. It can be a real pain if you have no coverage at home for example. Analog Dave is on Cingular and Michael Ashby is on Sprint and has been since 1998. Bear in mind, that some rural have no coverage regardless of the carrier/operator. Fall Creek Falls, here in Tennessee, comes to mind. There is no mobile phone coverage in that part of Tennessee. Make Sure That The Phone You Want Is Offered By The Carrier/Operator For example, if you want a Danger Hiptop, you're only going to be able to get that device/phone on T-Mobile, which markets the product as the "Sidekick". This is the phone that Veronica uses on the TV show "Veronica Mars" If rural areas are places that you frequent, make sure to check to see that the phone you're looking to buy supports analog service and not just digital. As you might imagine, Analog Dave likes analog phones, aka "Cellular", because the signal degraded gradually, versus digital networks, which lose the signal much faster. What Features Are You Looking For? Today, all mobile phones can do more than just voice. What would you like your phone to do? Most carriers/operators provide voice mail, caller ID, etc, but there are services that are unique, or are not included that you want to be aware of. Mobile-to-Mobile - this is where calls to other customers on the same network are free. This is good if your family and/or friends are all on the same network. Chances are, there are certain people that you call on a regular basis. If you're all on the same mobile network, those calls could be free. Nights and Weekends - off peak hours are usually included free. This means that if you place calls after a certain tim Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No http://www.simplydigital.info/e-mail-notifications-now-available/ http://www.simplydigital.info/e-mail-notifications-now-available/#comments Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:39:03 +0000 Michael Ashby Site News http://www.simplydigital.info/e-mail-notifications-now-available/ http://www.simplydigital.info/e-mail-notifications-now-available/feed/ http://www.simplydigital.info/sorry-for-the-delay/ http://www.simplydigital.info/sorry-for-the-delay/#comments Mon, 02 Oct 2006 00:43:54 +0000 Michael Ashby Site News http://www.simplydigital.info/sorry-for-the-delay/ http://www.simplydigital.info/sorry-for-the-delay/feed/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-7-voip/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-7-voip/#comments Wed, 27 Sep 2006 14:00:28 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-7-voip/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-7-voip/feed/ 35:27 It seems like everyone is offering you alternatives for your plain old telephone system(POTS). From Vonage, to your broadband provider, they are all battling for ... It seems like everyone is offering you alternatives for your plain old telephone system(POTS). From Vonage, to your broadband provider, they are all battling for your dial tone dollar and they are all using the same underlying technology #151; Voice Over Internet Protocol - VoIP In episode 7, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave talk about what exactly VoIP is, how it works and why you might find it a good alternative to your regular phone line. Show Notes What Is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. In the simplest definition, it means that you're running voice conversations over a data network, such as the Internet. When you use dial-up for Internet access, you are running your data over a voice network. With a Broadband connection to the Internet, you're using a high-speed data network. Do I Have To Have A Broadband Connection To Use VoIP? Yes. Technically you can run VoIP over a slower connection, but the call quality is very poor. The good news is that broadband aka "high speed" Internet connections are becoming more and more prevalent. Even mobile phone carriers are now offering high speed connections on your phone. Analog Dave just recently moved to Cingular which markets a high speed data network called Edge. Dave couldn't remember if his phone had Edge on it or not, because it wasn't a priority for him. If it did, it was just Lagniappe. A Little History It used to be that voice networks were faster than data networks. People are not very tolerant of problems with audio in a phone call. Delays, echos and things of that nature are quickly noticed by listeners. Voice networks are great at point-to-point streaming. That's what makes a call so reliable Data networks are inherently different in that they transmit packets and those packets don't have to be in sequential order. With dial-up, you're running data over a voice network because originally that was the fastest method for the average consumer. Today, data networks have become so fast that we can now run voice information over a data network and still have a relatively high level of quality. How Do You Use VoIP? The most common method of using VoIP is to purchase a service such as Vonage, or Packet8 With these services, you purchase a "box" and connect it to your cable modem and then use a regular telephone to make calls via the Internet. Michael's mother recently switched to Vonage. She doesn't have a standard landline phone. Instead, she uses her normal telephone and through Vonage can make calls to anywhere. She was also able to transfer her old telephone number to her Vonage account. A breakdown of how it works can be found at this link, under "How Does Vonage Work?" What Are The Advantages Of VoIP? The number one reason is cost. VoIP tend to be less for long distance charges and for phone features Features such as voice mail, callerID with Name and call waiting are included, so there are no extra charges for these services like there is for your traditional landline phone Long distance charges are lower and in some cases included in your plan. This means that you can make unlimited long distance calls for a monthly fee. Back in Analog Dave's day, you had to call the operator to make a person-to-person call, but today things are much more fluid. Many services also allow you to transfer your existing number. This means you don't have to change your phone number if you move from a landline to a VoIP solution. Since VoIP runs on a data network, it doesn't matter what area code your phone number is. In other words, you can be physically in New York, but your phone number is an L.A. phone number. You can also take your VoIP telephone adapter ("box") with you when you travel so that your phone number travels with you. If you travel a lot, you can look at getting a WiFi phone such as the WiFi UTStarcom F1000 for Vonage Does All VoIP Solutions Cost Money? Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-6-the-changing-face-of-television/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-6-the-changing-face-of-television/#comments Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:00:17 +0000 Michael Ashby Podcasts http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-6-the-changing-face-of-television/ http://www.simplydigital.info/episode-6-the-changing-face-of-television/feed/ 49:58 With the advent of digital video recorders and being able to download your favorite sitcom, the face of what we know as television is changing. ... With the advent of digital video recorders and being able to download your favorite sitcom, the face of what we know as television is changing. In this episode, the Simply Digital guys look at all the different ways that you can watch TV. In Episode 6, Michael Ashby and Analog Dave explain the basics of all the ways that the medium of television is expanding. From the VCR to the DVR, there are a lot of new technologies that make watching television easier and more accessible than ever before. Show Notes Television has changed quite a bit since the Golden Age of Television, when there were only three TV broadcasters in the US. Today you can watch TV just about anywhere. In fact, sometimes NOT watching television can be a challenge. Analog Dave considers himself a reformed "TV Junkie". Until he had kids, Dave never wore a watch because, based on what was on television, he would know the approximate time. His first TV show that sticks out in his head was the Howdy Doody Show Michael's first memory of television is the Storyland - The Buckskin Bill Show and growing up was influenced by Looney Tunes Whereas Analog Dave is a reformed TV Junkie, Michael is still hooked. With the advent series television being created by paid cable networks, such as HBO and Cinemax, the landscape of television content drastically changed. Specifically, series such as "The Sopranos", "Sex and the City" and "Six Feet Under", are prime examples. These new series raised the bar in terms of quality, as well as the level of storytelling Michael feels that the series finale of "Six Feet Under" was the best series finale of all time. The reason for this topic, is the fact that technology has evolved to a point where HOW we watch television is/has changing/changed. What Are The Different Ways You Can Watch TV? Broadcasting A network airs a show at a given time and you have to be present to watch it. It's a shared event with your community because we all experience it at the same time. If you're unable to be present when the show is aired, you must pre-set a recorder, such as a VCR, to record the show for you. Digital Video Recorder (DVR) The evolution of the VCR is the digital video recorder The most known brand is the TIVO What makes a DVR different from a VCR is that they record to a hard drive instead of a tape and they have more advanced recording features Most DVRs support subscriptions that download all the content programming for all the networks in your area. Think of it as having the TV Guide built into the DVR. Since the DVR has so much more storage space, it can record a LOT of television based on your personal habits. Instead of having to remember to record your favorite show each week, put in a tape, etc, a DVR can be set to record your favorite show all the time, regardless of the network, or show time. how can it do this? Well, it has a "TV Guide" built-in. A favorite feature of a DVR, is being able to fast-forward through commercials Most owners of DVRs claim that it'll change the way you look at television, because every time you sit down to watch television, your favorite shows are on because they've already been recorded. A DVR can be a real boon for people who want to watch TV during the daytime, because Michael's opinion of daytime TV is that "It stinks!" Many parents have been known to take their DVR with them when they go on vacation so that they have all of their children's favorite shows when they're away from home. Video On Demand Video On Demand (VOD) is a service offered by cable television providers. It's similar to a DVR in that content is available when you want to watch it (versus the broadcaster's schedule), but it's different in that the content is downloaded from the cable provider. You typically have to pay for the content Every program on your cable network is available, only select programs Movies are a popular fo Podcasts Michael T. Ashby no No