Adobe Flash CS4

All across the internet there are millions of examples of Adobe Flash creations. From those neat animations you see on sites like Youtube to the many online game sites that are very popular with kids, Flash creations are everywhere. But where do these animations come from and can you make them yourself?
         
       Adobe flash is a commercially available program you can use to design anything from games to cartoons. The program itself is actually quite easy to use once purchased. Like many programs it has a help guide to get you started and help you with complicated tasks. The timeline where the events of the animation are placed/take place is easy to manipulate and is actually quite similar to that of Windows Movie Maker. Their are many effects available like ready-to-add shapes, sound effects, and other cool features that are quite easy to use and can produce amazing results. There is also money to be made with Flash. If you produce a good animation or game you may post it to a website. Whenever someone visits your page, you earn money. How is this you might ask? The answer is advertising. Companies pay the websites to post their ads on their games/movies like the one you just added. In exchange for giving them materiel which they can post more ads on (more money), they will give you a small share of the income (determined by the number of people who play your game/movie). This does however come at a cost. Adobe flash can only be acquired in unison with all the other programs that come in Creative Suite (newest version is CS5). This bundle of programs costs (get ready for it) 800+ dollars. So, are you willing to shell out 800 dollars in the promise of making just as much or even more?
That's all I have for now, see you later on Hayden @ Earth.

Setting up a home wirless network.

If you have multiple computers in your home, you must set up a network for them all to have internet access. This used to mean stringing metres and metres of wire throughout your house and forcing you to drill holes through your walls for said wires. Now, you can quickly and easily set up a wireless network. As the name implies, this method does not require any wires or holes in your walls. But how do you set one up?

First you will need a WIRELESS ROUTER. This is essentially the brains of the network. This is what allows the network to function properly. Then you will have to add a wireless adapter to any computer on your network that does not have 1 built in. After this all you have to do is go to the networks section in the control panel (can also be accessed by a symbol in the bottom right corner of your screen) and attach the computers to the router. It is also advised that you take steps to secure your network against unauthorized network. For more information on this subject than I could possibly provide, visit- http://computer.howstuffworks.com

How to install memory to a desktop computer.

If your computer is running sluggish the solution may be to add more memory. The more memory you take up with files, downloads, software (etc.), the slower your computer runs. Adding more RAM (random access memory) can thus make your computer run much faster. But how do you actually install the memory? It's actually easier than you think. First you must buy the actual memory module. The more processing you need your computer to do, the more RAM you will need. If you are someone who just uses your computer for simple tasks like word processing, you will not need to much (384-512 MB should work). On the other side, if you use it for things like gaming that require much more processing work, you will need a large amount of RAM (1+ GB [1GB=1000MB]).
After you buy the module, its time to install it.
1) For your safety, shut down the computer and UNPLUG IT FROM ANY/ALL OUTLETS.
2) Handle everything carefully as there is still a risk of shock if you are not careful. Consult Howstuffworks.com for more safety instructions.
3) Find the removable panel which leads to the computer's internal components. This will either be located on the side or on the top of the desktop.
4) Remove the screws on this panel to allow access (using the proper fitting screwdriver).
5) Find the motherboard. This is a green chip with several slots.
6) Simply click the memory module into on of the slots on the motherboard.
7) Enjoy your faster computer.

Purchasing Computers: Understanding the Details

       It's an all too familiar experience when shopping for computers; all you want is a computer that runs decently fast and can store a fair amount of information. Sounds simple enough, right? However, you suddenly find yourself bombarded with unfamiliar terms and information like dual core processors, video cards, memory, etc. But what does all this mean? This post will cover the basics.

       Let's start off with memory. Memory is simply the areas of the computer where data is stored. The most common type of memory you will see in advertisements is RAM (random access memory). The more memory the computer has, the more data it can store. Now lets move onto processors. Processor is another word for microprocessor or C.P.U. By looking at the details of this crucial component, you can tell how fast the computer will run. Processors can carry out a specific number of instructions per second. This speed is measured in megahertz (MHz) and is known as the clock speed. The bandwidth of a processor is the number of bits (information) processed in one instruction. For both of these characteristics, the higher the value, the more powerful the C.P.U. "For example, a 32-bit microprocessor that runs at 50MHz is more powerful than a 16-bit microprocessor that runs at 25MHz." (example from Webopedia). You may also hear the term dual-core processor or even quad-core processor. This means that two or more (dual=2, quad=4, etc.) processors have been joined together to increase the processing power of the computer.  Finally, you may wonder what a video card is. Most computer functions use are controlled by the C.P.U. Video cards assist the running of the computer by taking over the processing related to the computer's graphics (visual display). This allows programs to run much faster than if all the processing was left to the C.P.U. 

That's all I have to offer for now. Visit Thursday for interesting information on Networking.

Thanks to Webopedia.com for help with definitions and examples.

Welcome to my Blog

        As you may have guessed by the title, this is the first blog posting I have made so it may come off as a little awkward. This post will seve as an introduction to this tiny piece of the world wide web that you have stumbled onto.

        On this blog, I will discuss a wide range of topics. I will share my opinion on a variety of worldwide issues and important events. I will also touch on lighter things like movie and book reviews. From now until June, I will write two blogs a week on the topic of computing to fulfill the requirement for my computers course. After this, the blog will be completely dedicated to the previous topics.

Welcome to earth as I see it.