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9 O'Clock Hour
STUDIO GUEST: MARSHA COLLIER
Marsha joins Marc in the studio this week and brings with her a wealth of eBay experience and knowledge. Marsha is also very tech savvy and has tons of tips on tech topics.
Marsha's latest book, "Starting an eBay Business for Dummies, 3rd Edition" is out this week, and is available on-line from Amazon.
An ideal way to launch your very own home-based business
From listing to shipping, follow the pros' steps for eBay success!
More than a million folks are earning regular income on eBay, and here's the fun and easy way® to join them! The #1 eBay expert shows you how to set up your business, find and manage inventory, use auction management software to your advantage, get freebies on shipping, and run your business like a pro.
- Attract more bidders to your auctions
Set up a professional business
Find out what sells and what doesn't
Increase bidder confidence with strong listings
Handle shipping efficiently
Marsha says to be careful to make sure you get the 3rd Edition when buying the book from book sellers, as they may only have earlier editions until the new book reaches their shelves.
Marsha's web site, http://www.coolebaytools.com/ has tips and advice on all aspects of eBay from buying to selling. If you have a question for Marsha, you can email her from her "Feedback" page on her website.
Marsha also has Blog http://mcollier.blogspot.com/ where you can find news and opinions on all matters related to eBay.
FEATURE: DAVID FROM RUCKUS WIRELESS
David from Ruckus Wireless explains how Ruckus Wireless' range of WiFi routers offers a solution for people who live in houses where traditional WiFi routers fail to provide adequate, uniform WiFi coverage to all parts of the house.
Basically, the Ruckus router bounces the signal in such a way that it travels around thick walls and thereby provides a guaranteed, 25mbps to all parts of a 5,000 sq ft home.
It's all in the unique shape of the router, which contains the remarkable antenna that sends the WiFi signals out in such a way that it will provide uniform coverage.
David says that although many WiFi routers boast 54mbps speeds, you never get it! The reality is that those speeds are not uniform, and that often coverage drops off badly as the signal is interrupted by solid objects, like walls. David says, you'll get no less than 25mbps, and probably more!
David also says the Ruckus routers pass the "WiFe Appeal" test, and certainly, based on their compact size and unique shape, they are attractive techy devices.
Marc wants to know why there never seem to be enough Ethernet ports on WiFi routers, and David says it's really a question of real estate and price; keeping the size of the router down, and keeping the price low.
Speaking of price, the Ruckus Wireless MetroFlex DZ sells for around $150 and is only available from e-tailers to keep prices low.
For information from www.ruckuswireless.com
What is "mbps?" click here.
Caller: Mark - WiFi Question
Mark is installing a WiFi network and wants a recommendation for a wireless router for his home and garage. He missed most of David's interview!
Marc says that Ruckus Wireless should do the trick, based on their promise of a minimum coverage of 25mbps in a 5,000 sq ft home.
Marsha says she uses Netgear's Rangemax Next 802.11n router for her 3,300 sq ft home, and her daughter lives in a guest house 120 feet away and is able to get the WiFi signal using an adapter. Marsha advises against getting the Gigabit edition because of backward compatibility issues with 802.11g devices.
Mark also wants to know how to send a multi-column email message - like something he creates in MS Word. He wants the formated message to appear in the body of the email message, not as an attachment.
Marsha's suggestion is to save the formatted document as a text file ('*.txt' not '*.rtf') and then use Notepad or Wordpad to save the txt file as an htm file.
Caller: Steve - WiFi Reception Booster?
Steve travels extensively and often cannot pick up WiFi signals from his hotel room even though there is a good signal in the hotel lobby.
He is looking for something that will increase the reception of WiFi on his laptop, and has done a search on Google and found a couple of possible solutions.
Marc says he's heard of such devices but has no personal experience. If any listeners have experience they can email Marc or phone in.
FEATURE: MARC'S MOVIE REVIEWS
Coming to DVD this week:
NEXT, staring Nicholas Cage, Julianne Moore, and Jessica Biel
Marc says it's a good movie - Nicholas Cage plays a Las Vegas magician who can see into the future. He is pursued by FBI
agents seeking to use his abilities to prevent a nuclear terrorist
attack.
Out on DVD September 25, 2007.
Georgia Rule, staring Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan and Felicity Huffman.
"Enjoyable" according to Marc.
Available now on DVD.
TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: ABUSE OF PASSWORDS
This from Marsha:
So a friend gives you their email password so that you can get his/her mail. No problem.
But if you acquire that password without permission, or use it in some unauthorized way, guess what? The Feds are likely to knock on your door and give you a ride to jail!
See Title 18, Part I, Chapter 121 Section 2701 - the Stored Communications Act
Caller: Richard in WLA - HD TV to DVD Recorder?
Richard just got a new HD TV and now his DVD recorder does not work. Richard has Warner Cable service.
Marc and Marsha agree that the problem is likely in the cabling setup.
There are a number of ways to connect a DVD recorder to cable box/HD TV
- Traditional RCA cables - the Yellow, Red White
- SVIDEO Cables
- HDMI /Component Cables.
Ideally, the DVD recorder should be connected to the Output 2 port on the back of the cable box, and then connected to an free Input port on the back of the HD TV.
SVIDEO/Component & HDMI provide the best picture quality.
Marsha likes cables by Monster Cable, but warns they are expensive (but worth it). Also, check out Costco for deals on cables.
Richard is using a LiteOn DVD recorder, and Marc suggests that he checks to make sure the unit is working properly before investing in expensive cabling. Easiest way to check is to directly connect the unit to the TV.
Caller: David in LA (The Show Notes Guy)
I had to jump in here to answer Steve's quest for something to improve WiFi reception on a laptop.
I have a similar problem as Steve, when I travel my laptop (a MacBook Pro) cannot pick up the remote WiFi signal from the Hotel across the road from my apartment.
I've been using a Quicky, made by Quicker Tek.
It's an excellent product that really does what it says it will do. It increases the WiFi reception by simply plugging it into the USB port of my MacBook and, voila! I'm on-line using the free WiFi from the hotel lobby.
The Quicky is Mac only, but a PC solution appears to be a product called a Cantenna.
Marsha says she's familiar with the Cantenna, and used it before she upgraded her WiFi to 802.11n. Only drawback is the size, it's about the size of a Pringle's can!
Maybe the Cantenna is not the ideal solution for the pc person on the go. Get a Mac and a Quicky!
10 O'Clock Hour
Caller: Richard in Manhattan Beach
Richard knows nothing about computers (you're not alone!) but his wife has been using a PC for a couple of years and is getting fed up with dial-up internet service - it's so slow.
Richard has dial-up and is paying $26 a month! Marc suggests that Richard contact DSL Extreme and get their Hi-Speed DSL service for $12.95 a month.
Go to DSL Extreme and mention Marc from KABC's Computer & Technology Show to make sure they take good care of you. Click here for their special offer. They are past sponsors of the show, and likely will be in the future.
Richard also has another problem. Since getting a new computer, the old speakers have stopped working.
Marc says that the most common cause of this is people plugging the speakers into the wrong port on the back of the computer.
Check to make sure that the speakers are plugged in correctly, and if they are powered speakers, that the power supply is working and connected.
FEATURE: ANYONE UPSET WITH iPHONE?
Marc wants early adopters of the iPhone to call in if they are upset at Apple for dropping the price of the iPhone.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs' shock announcement this week of a $200 price reduction for the iPhone (just 10 weeks after it was released) probably surprised iPhone owners, and his $100 store credit offer is unlikely to make buyers happy.
Caller: Bill in Long Beach - YouTube Downloads?
Bill wants to know if there's a way to download videos from YouTube?
When you find a YouTube video that you want to download, just insert the word "kiss" at the beginning of the URL and you can download a Flash Video file (*.flv) to your desktop.
KissYouTube.com has other features too.
Once you have downloaded the .flv file, you will need to get VLC Media Player, a free program that's available for Mac and Windows. It will allow you to view the flash video file.
Mac users can also get a program called iSquint that will convert the flash video file into a format that can be viewed on your iPod or in QuickTime.
Bill also wants to know how to convert video from his TV into viewable files on his laptop. Marc recommends Hauppauge's Win-TV range of products.
What about capturing radio on your computer? Marc recommends Pogo Products "Radio Your Way" as a solution. Bill says he's tried that, but finds it too hard to use - the manual is not well written.
Marc says that poorly written manuals are not uncommon, and Marsha sees another Dummies Book on the way!
BUY OF THE WEEK
Circuit City has a great deal on a Toshiba Satellite 17 inch laptop. Go to the Buy of the Week page for details.
Caller: John in Calabasas - DSL Extreme & AOL?
John's a 7-year computer veteran, and wants to switch to DSL Extreme for high-speed internet, but wants to know if he can keep his AOL email address.
Marc says that John can keep his AOL email address after he cancels his AOL internet access account and switches to DSL Extreme.
AOL now offers free web email so John can get the best of both worlds.
Caller: Mark in LA - WiFi 'N' Printer?
Are there any Wireless 'N' Printers? Marsha thinks that Lexmark have, or will have a stand-alone printer that works with 802.11n, but suggests that if range is the issue, using Netgear's routers and using one as a repeater with a printer connected to the Ethernet port could be a solution.
Caller: Jackie in Sherman Oaks - 2 Spyware Programs?
She's using SpySweeper and Trend Micro, which is better? Can she use both?
Marc says that it is perfectly o.k. to use 2 or more anti spyware programs, but only have one as resident.
FEATURE: NEW iPODS
Apple's other announcement this week is the new video iPod Nano, and the iPod Touch, based on the iPhone.
"Amazingly gorgeous" says Marsha, who loves her iPod.
Marks advice - "Wait 10 weeks until the price drops!"
Go to Apple.com to see the new range of iPods.
Caller: John in Valley Village - WiFi Problem
John was a new Toshiba Laptop with Windows Vista, and two old Toshiba laptops. His old laptops connect to his ParkerVision WiFi router, but the new laptop cannot connect. There's nothing wrong with his new laptop as he's able to get on to his neighbor's WiFI.
He tried Marc's suggestion of turning off the old laptops, and still cannot connect. Marc and Marsha think it's time for a new WiFi router (Netgear) but before doing that, Marc suggests borrowing a router from a friend and connecting it to his DSL modem to make sure there's not a problem there.
Caller: Fred in Burbank - Making Movies on a Mac
Fred uses a G4 PowerBook to make movies with Apple's iMovie HD program. Fred uses music that he purchased through iTunes to compliment his movies.
When he plays the movie in iMovie HD it works fine, but when he tries to publish the movie to a CD or convert it into a QuickTime movie, the music cannot be heard. He has been to the Apple Genius Bar and they could not help.
Marsha says the problem is probably with the iTunes music that Fred bought. When you buy songs on iTunes you need to select Mp3 as the format of the download, not AAC as AAC files contain DRM (Digital Rights Management) which restricts file sharing - even if the files are being used in your own movies.
Fred can convert his existing AAC files into DRM free Mp3 files easily and legally (as long as his movies are for his personal use) by burning a CD containing the songs he wants to use from iTunes. He then needs to import those songs on the CD back into iTunes and he will have DRM free files that can be used in iMovie.
Fred also wanted to know what Keychains are. As Marc correctly noted, it's an Apple thing - a security feature of Apple's OS X operating system.
To learn more about Keychains, click here.
NEXT WEEK'S SHOW
Next Saturday Marc will have a representative from LifeLock, a company that guarantees you against identity theft.
