Omega Scientific

HDMI 1.3, the newest revision of the popular HDMI interface, is starting to make waves in the high definition home entertainment arena - it’s the next big thing. So what, you ask, is so cool about the newest HDMI on the block? Here are a few highlights (compared with the last release, HDMI 1.2):

• Signal Bandwidth:
  • Then: 165 MHz Now: 340 MHz
• TMDS Bandwidth:
  • Then: 4.95 Gbit/s Now: 10.2 Gbit/s
• Video Bandwidth
  • Then: 3.9 Gbit/s Now: 8.16 Gbit/s
• Highest possible Resolution
  • Then: 1920x1080p60 Now: 2560x1600p60
• Maximum Color Depth (bits per pixel)
  • Then: 24 Now: 48

Other highlights include xvYCC Color and Deep Color capability, supporting over one billion colors.  And good news for Dolby fans:  Dolby Digital Plus (DD+), Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, truly high-fidelity audio experiences, can all be carried over HDMI 1.3.

Companies are already selling many HDMI 1.3 switches and splitters, like the EXT-HDMI1.3-441, a 4×1 switcher that allows you to switch one HDMI 1.3 source between up to four different displays.

This is a question that I’m asked a lot - how can I add another monitor to my laptop?

Most laptops have at least one additional VGA or DVI port, so adding an additional monitor is pretty easy. You simply get a VGA or DVI cable and hook up your monitor and your laptop, enable the monitor through your display settings and everything works. Not too hard.

If you don’t have an external port for an additional monitor, though, you need a workaround. Also, if you want to add more than one additional monitor (say 2, 3, 4 or 5) you are pretty short on options.

Recent technology breakthroughs by DisplayLink, though, put you in business. With an external video card (also known as a USB to DVI Adapter), which uses the DisplayLink chip, you can easily add up to five additional monitors without having to mess with internal cards, video splitters and complicated desktop software.

An external video card will also work with a desktop and is great for people who don’t want to pony up the cash for a multi-port video card (which can be very expensive if it has more than 2 video ports).

As eRecording services continue to advance, two companies have formed an alliance to futher integrate systems and market eRecording services to customers nationwide. Simplifile, an eRecording service, has paired with Business Information Systems (BIS), a county government indexing service, to complete a seamless integration of electronically filing documents.

This alliance allows customers who submit documents through Simplifile to submit to counties running BIS systems. These services will be marketed to Simplifile submitters and BIS counties in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.

With over 300 counties using eRecording across the country, you are sure to see future alliances and advances in electronic document submission technology.

I just learned that eRecording is now used for county recording in over 250 counties across the United States. Here is a complete list as of January 2007 of the counties using eRecording, if you’re interested. You can also keep up-to-date with the recent eRecording news as it becomes available.

In regards to the Avaya 5420 I got a month or two ago (see the post), my office recently upgraded to the Avaya IP 500, complete with all the bells and whistles (the reason I got the phone in the first place).  Now, like I have disclosed before, I am anything but technologically adept.  I just know that not only does it make all our business communication much easier, efficient, and quicker, it’s perfect for our growing business.

Students should look for specialized training programs outside of conventional colleges and universities, such as Get A Mentor, an apprentice-mentor association that connects students with professionals in a given field.  They offer radio, film, sound engineering, and broadcasting internships.

The program enables students to get the education necessary for the career they want without having to attend college.  The professional (known as the mentor) personally educates the student, providing arranged “learning experiences”  as well as training through course manual work to augment the hands on learning.

What makes Get A Mentor different is the training is individualized, flexible, and much more affordable than traditional universities.  Applicants can range in age anywhere from 16 to 69, and there is only a one time fee of $6,000 (much cheaper than college!).  Half of the money goes to the mentor for their time and effort and the other half is used to cover the advertising and administrative costs of Get A Mentor.

Conventional on hold messages and recordings can overbear, bother, and annoy customers (or worse, prospective customers). Creative hold music and recordings that are customized for your company allows you to nonchalantly discuss your product or services without coming across as invasive or aggressive. Customers can be educated about your company’s products and services during that valuable, ample time they spend on hold. What’s not to love about that?

Students have switched favor from desktop computers to laptops for convenience and the ability to take it all over campus. Yet, its convenient mobility may be a double edged sword, as it allows a greater possibility for theft.

According to the FBI, the number of laptops stolen in the United States is second only to car theft. Imagine spending hours collecting music, uploading photos and writing term papers on which your grade hinges only to have your laptop stolen from your dorm room. All your priceless photos, thousands of MP3 files, and critical papers would be forever lost. Or would they?

More and more students are quickly learning the advantages of using remote online backup. And students are not the only ones catching on; online backup is advantageous for any personal or business computer that holds valuable documents and files. Just as losing a research paper towards the end of the semester with a deadline looming can add substantial stress to the life of a student and destroy their sense of well-being, losing important client data and financial records could mean financial ruin for some businesses.

Online backup is also cost-effective and less time-consuming than other forms of backup. CD’s are just as susceptible to damage and deterioration as a computer and zip drives can be expensive initially and have limited space. Not to mention the turn around time; most online back up companies can recover your data quickly, so you don’t miss a beat.

So I was reading an e-recording post from a couple months back when it dawned on me the reason that electronic document recording benefits everyone. Now that mortgage documents, property records, and other related forms can be sent electronically, imagine how it streamlines and expedites the entire mortgage and financial industry. Such a positive effect trickles right down to homeowners and other individuals who are in limbo until the documents are submitted and received by the county records office.

And, much to the satisfaction of tree huggers and “green” individuals, it cuts down on paper waste. It’s a win-win situation, right?

Have you ever been inside a radio station?  Or a recording studio?  I have a good friend who invited me to a local station where he is completing a radio internship.  Talk about “fun toys.”  Despite being (extremely) technologically inept (especially compared to my very adept counterparts on this blog), even I could appreciate the advanced technology and equipment even a small local station such as this was able to utilize.  Which got me thinking…maybe I should do a radio internship…how cool would that be?