Ask A Geek

Q: I just bought an iRiver Clix 2GB but I am having trouble putting videos on it. It seems like it only supports mpeg4 format for videos and if that is the case how do I convert my normal video to mpeg4 format? Is there a program that can convert it?

A: The iRiver requires MPEG4 Video in QVGA Format (15 frames per second). You can convert your video files that aren’t in QVGA format using a free tool called 3GP Converter (The tool is Japanese but English settings are included. It’s relatively intuitive, you basically select the input file then the output file type and let it run).

You can find a recent version of the tool on Videohelp.com at the following URL:

http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=3GP_Converter

Q: What is HD DVD?

A: HD DVD is the latest trend among video equipment manufacturers. HD DVD’s are similar to regular DVD’s except they will play High Definition Video.

There is a problem right now with high definition DVD players, and it’s around the fact that there are two separate standards being developed and sold to the general public (which coincidentally are not compatible with each other).

HD DVD is a standard backed by various major players in the field, and there’s another standard called BluRay, which is backed by some heavy hitting companies as well (Sony being the biggest one, who is using BluRay in their upcoming PS3 video game console).

You may recall something similar happening when VCRs first became a major consumer item. The Beta and VHS wars resulted in a lot of people losing money on a standard (Beta) that was eventually crushed in the market place. There is some hope that manufacturers will solve the problem by incorporating both BluRay and HD DVD lasers into their reading products, however time will tell how this plays out in the market place.

Q: What is HD-DVD and Blu-Ray and how are they different or the same?

A: In the lineage of high definition data storage, both the Blu-Ray and the HD-DVD are direct descendants of the DVD. What makes these formats superior to their predecessor is the use of blue laser technology to read and write data. DVD formats use a red laser. Because a blue laser has a smaller band width, more data can be packed onto the same amount of space. Therefore, both the Blu-Ray and the HD-DVD offer greater storage capacity and superior quality in high definition output. However, this edge that these disc formats have on the DVD format is probably their greatest similarity.

Where storage capacity is concerned, the Blu-Ray format can hold 25 GB while the HD-DVD holds only 15 GB. Structurally, the Blu-Ray and the HD-DVD are put together differently and this too makes a difference in the quality of each one’s respective sound and video output. Both discs are 1.2 mm thick, the HD-DVD is put together very much like its predecessor, the DVD. There are two 0.6 mm substrates which sandwich a record layer. On the other hand, the Blu-Ray is made up of a 1.1 mm record layer covered by a 0.1 mm substrate. Because the Blu-Ray laser has less to penetrate when reading and writing data, the Blu-Ray disc offers greater accuracy in recording and playing back data.

Much hype has surrounded the issue of which disc will triumph to become the standard for the high density storage of high definition data. As mentioned in an article on Blu-Ray technology on wikipedia.org, this debate is quite reminiscent of the video tape format war of the 1980s between VHS and Batamax. Today, Blu-Ray is backed by 170 companies that make up the Blu-Ray Disc Association including Apple, Sony Dell and 20th Century Fox. In opposition, HD-DVD is firmly supported by players such as Microsoft, Universal Pictures, and New Line Cinema who make up the group of 230 companies who anticipate releasing content on to HD-DVD.

Q: What is the average price of a USB Flash Drive and how do I know if it will work with my computer?

A: A good memory stick can cost you anywhere from $14.99 for a USB Flash Drive to over $200.00 for a USB Flash Drive that doubles as an mp3 player. Primarily, what dictates the price among memory sticks are the storage capacity and brand name. The more data a memory stick holds, the more expensive it is likely to be.

If you have an older computer you will want to find out if you have USB or USB 2. If you have regular USB then you will need to make sure the USB flash drive you get will work with regular USB.

Q: What does it mean if an mp3 player can play videos? Does it actually mean you watch movies? If so what kind of movies/format do they have to be in and what are some of the mp3 players that play movies?

A: There are indeed Portable Media Players (PMPs) that support mp3 formats and video formats and yes you can watch movies on these devices. A few of the more popular players are listed below:

• Toshiba Gigabeat S which supports WMA
• MPOI One supports AVI, MPEG4, WMV and DivX
• Cowon iAudio 6 supports WMA DRM, Ogg Vorbis, WAV, FLAL, MP3 and ASF
• iRiver Clix supports Mp3, wma, OGG Vorbis and ASF
• RCA Lyra x3000 supports Motion JPEG

Determine your needs first before you embark on a purchase. Some players have great visual quality but not the greatest sound and vice versa. When choosing, also think of battery life span, portability of the device and accessories that you may want. There is a recent article at cnet.com that you can visit to get even more details. The article can provide you with great pictures, reviews, and video critiques.

Q: What is a Blackberry and how does it differ from an iPod?

A: A BlackBerry is a wireless, handheld communication device that first came to market in 1999. Manufactured by Research in Motion of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, this device attained successful notoriety because of its push e-mail capabilities. Push e-mail makes messages instantly available in devices that support an “always on” capability as opposed to pull e-mail where you would have to log on to check your messages. Coupled with its innovative text keypad which enables you to “thumb” messages quite easily, the BlackBerry makes it possible for roaming employees to stay in touch and friends and acquaintances to communicate back and forth. Anywhere you have access to an appropriate wireless network; you can take advantage of the many wireless services offered by the BlackBerry device. In addition to e-mail, the BlackBerry offers text messaging, internet faxing, web surfing and in more recent models, cell phone and two way radio capabilities.

Since its original release in 2001, the iPod has emerged as one of the world’s most popular consumer brands. Created and marketed by Apple Computers, the iPod functions as a portable media player (PMP) capable of storing and playing music and videos and an external data storage device, which makes you able to store text files too. The iPod works in sync with iTunes, special software that allows you to upload files and maintain a library of these files on your PC or Mac.

Currently, the iPod family consists of the fifth generation iPod that can also play videos, the iPod Nano with a color screen, and the iPod Shuffle.

A BlackBerry functions more as an instantaneous communication device designed for people to participate in distant dialogue. When you think of it, it is more like a phone when you realize that the service is obtained through a cellular phone company. An iPod on the other hand is more of a portable entertainment device to listen to music and watch videos. You cannot send information from one iPod to another the way you can with a BlackBerry.

Q: I have been looking into buying a cell phone and have heard a lot about SIM cards. What is a SIM card? Also I have been seeing phones for sale that say they are unlocked. What is an unlocked cell phone?

A: Close to the size of a small postage stamp, a Subscriber Identifier Module, (SIM) Card stores the unique and vital information about your account. When you insert the SIM card into your cell phone, you activate the phone; therefore, this chip may be best understood as the brain or even soul of your cell phone. The SIM card retains such data as your account information, stored names and numbers, text messages, added value features and other network information. Fundamentally, you can transfer your account from one cell phone to the next by simply inserting the SIM card into a different phone because all of the information is stored in the SIM card. It is all about the SIM card.

However, there may be instances where you insert a SIM card into a phone and it does not recognize the SIM card. In this case, the phone may be “locked”. A lock is actually a software setting on a phone that inhibits it from working with a SIM card from another carrier. The phone has been “locked” to keep it loyal to its original carrier. I had cell phone service in Canada with Rogers AT&T and when I moved to the Caribbean, the local SIM card that I purchased was not recognized by my phone so I had to have it unlocked. In essence, a locked phone will only recognize SIM cards from its original carrier. An unlocked phone will recognize any SIM card.