Thursday, August 16, 2007

The Ancestry Insider

The Ancestry Insider: Ancestry releases FTM 2008 (updated post)

Ancestry.com announced today the release of Family Tree Maker (FTM) 2008. The large number of new features comes with a price. During the beta, users of previous versions of FTM complained about the huge disparity in user interaction from previous versions. New users, however, are likely to experience greater satisfaction than new users of previous versions.

Users who previously purchased FTM as an inexpensive method of obtaining an Ancestry.com subscription may also be disappointed. FTM 2008/Ancestry.com bundles will be available in October through retail outlets with Ancestry.com subscriptions for 1, 3 and 6 months with list prices of $29.95, $69.95 and $99.95, respectively. Since an annual Ancestry subscription is currently available online for $12.95 a month, it only makes sense to purchase FTM 2008 at list price if you want FTM

CONNECTING TO TV

CONNECTING TO TV FROM A LAPTOP -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: "



Q: Is it possible to turn my regular TV into a computer monitor so I can watch movies that I downloaded into my laptop?

A: With the proper type of cable to connect the two, it's certainly possible to pipe the video files you download from the Internet from your laptop computer to your television set.

These days, RCA (also known as composite or phono plugs), S-Video, DVI (digital video interface) and, the latest, HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) are among the many types of connectors used between computers and televisions. With so many standards in use, start by inspecting both your laptop and your TV for what connection is offered. To identify what's back there, Microsoft has an illustrated field guide of common cable connectors at Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005: TV Connection cables

An easy-to-follow guide can also be found at How To Connect a Computer To Your TV: TechLore.com

You will find HDMI ports on new HDTVs, sometimes two or more of them. S-Video is commonly found on many laptops and slightly older TV sets. If you have the S-Video option on both sides, connecting them with an S-Video cable (less than $20 at most electronics stores) is easy. You will probably need to adjust your laptop's display control panel to send the video image to the TV screen. Video cards, video-card drivers and other settings may complicate matters; check your manual or manufacturer's Web site for your laptop's video-out settings and options

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Apple - iMac

Apple - iMac: "Introducing the all-new new iMac.

The all-new, all-in-one iMac packs a complete, high-performance computer into a beautifully thin design. Available in 20- and 24-inch widescreen models, it includes built-in wireless, Mac OS X, and the new iLife ’08. So within minutes of opening the box, you’ll be doing everything from sharing photos to creating movies to building websites. And it starts at just $1199."