What is the Best Way to Learn From a Learn-to-Speak Spanish CD?

January 22, 2010 by · 10 Comments 

Increasingly we live in a global community. Jet planes, the Internet and world trade have brought all of us into closer contact with each other. Our cars burn gasoline from MidEast oil. A large part of our food is imported from other countries.

North Americans are accustomed to speaking only English, but since the 5th largest concentration of native Spanish-speakers in the world is now in the U.S., Spanish is the second most-used language there.

It has become popular for English-speakers to learn conversational Spanish. There are several good reasons for this. Some want to talk to the Latinos living next door. Some want to vacation at Cancun. Some want to travel in Europe and South of the U.S. border.

The best way to learn Spanish is to download an interactive-audio Spanish learning program.

With all of your lessons in interactive-audio form, you can take them with you on your iPod or CD player. You control where, when and how fast you go through your lessons. And it’s always available for refreshers.

By using a learning Spanish CD you can teach yourself Spanish in just a few days, if you work at it, a few weeks if you take your time.

If you speak English it’s easy to learn Spanish. There are many similarities between the two languages, many common words like actor (ACT-or in English, ac-TOR in Spanish) and many others.

It’s easy to teach yourself Spanish.

To converse with Spanish-speaking people you need to learn conversational Spanish, the common everyday street Spanish that all Latinos use informally. You learn conversational Spanish just like you learned English. You start with a few words, learn to use these in sentences and gradually add vocabulary and learn how to communicate

Being able to speak Spanish will open new job horizons for you, make your next trip South of the Border much more enjoyable and empower you to speak with your Spanish-speaking neighbors!

Author – James Turner

What are the Best Accessories for the Apple iPhone?

November 16, 2009 by · 2 Comments 

As you might expect, there are some great accessories for the Apple iPhones. You will find the very best iphone accessories on the web. The new 3G phones are so versatile it makes sense that manufacturers would jump on the band wagon with a good variety of 3G phone accessories. You can find just about anything you would like to personalize your new Apple iPhone.

It certainly seems that the most popular of the Apple iphone accessories is a leather carrying case. The leather case provides maximum protection for the 3G iPhone and is available is several different forms and has proven to be quite practical. Most models hook on the owners belt. The leather case with its magnetic closing flap keeps your phone handy and safe. There are similar holsters and other phone accessories for the Blackberry also but the iPhone model seems to offer the best protection. Another popular option for the iPhone is the various colored skins that are available. The brightly colored silicone cases offer a bit of shock and scratch protection for your iPhone. They are very inexpensive but do offer a bit of added protection.

Another popular iphone accessory is a bluetooth headset. The bluetooth headsets allow you to use your 3G phone while driving and keep you legal in all states. They allow you to hear those calling very clearly. If you use your 3G phone as an iPod to provide your favorite music, you’ll also want good stereo headsets which range from the cheap oem styles to high end bluetooth stereo with soft ear covers. You can find a variety of kits or packages which includes everything from basic headsets to home and car chargers. You’ll also may want to share your music with friends. You can find speaker systems that will allow you to play your iphone’s music list for an audience. They range from cheap single speaker units to better stereo component style. Generally speaking you’ll find they accept the Apple iPod as well as the iPhone.

Of course if you are still on the fence about buying an AppleiPhone 3G, you can find some excellent prices on the internet. As with most new technology, the iPhone was a bit pricey when it was first released but you can find more reasonable prices on the web as availability increases. So if you were waiting to be sure that you could find all the best iPhone accessories before purchasing, the time is now.

Yes, you can watch dvds on your iPod

July 24, 2009 by · 9 Comments 

If you’ve owned an iPod for very long, you have probably learned that you can’t watch dvds on it right out of the box. Apple doesn’t provide the software for this, so you need to get a dvd to iPod converter from a third party. There are several out there, but not all of them are worth the cost, or worth the hassle associated with some of the free software.

After testing several dvd to iPod software programs, it was clear that the Cucusoft Ultimate DVD Converter was the best bang for the buck. Not only does it allow you to watch your dvds on every iPod video player, it also converts dvds to the Microsoft Zune, the Apple iPhone, the Sony PSP, video capable mp3 players, and video capable mobile phones, and much more. There are dvd to iPod converters that only convert to iPod, but the Cucusoft Ultimate converter converts to most any player out there. Since most people own more than kind of player, it makes sense to get a converter that works with all of them instead of buying a separate converter for each, doesn’t it?

To convert dvds to iPod fast and without errors, Cucusoft worked best for me. It works with most every player out there, and is compatible with all versions of Windows. It does not work with Macs. You’ll have to get a different program specifically designed work with Macs. The software is very user friendly, and the new “1 Click Mode” makes it so simple, anyone can use it. And, unlike most other similar software programs, you don’t have to convert to avi first. Cucusoft converts dvds directly into iPod format.

Get More Use of Your iPod MP3 Player

June 10, 2009 by · 10 Comments 

Today it seems that most people spend hours commuting to school or work each week. They are stuck with a commute which they cannot change. Although they have to travel each day, that doesn’t mean they can’t be productive while traveling or at least enjoy the boring commute. A solution might lie in the fact that many drivers today own an Apple iPod mp3 player.

Of course most everyone bought the iPod to play their favorite tunes but there are many other uses of this great invention. College students can record their class lectures and transform them to mp3 format and play them back via their iPod mp3 player. In fact, the most popular books are available on cd in mp3 format also. Obviously there is a huge variety of music which can be downloaded as single songs and full albums for your mp3 players also. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the huge variety of ipod mp3 player accessories available.

Even basic vehicles today have better then average sounding audio systems, most drivers would love to be able to play your recorded lectures or music through your car audio system. A few years back you could spend a day searching specialty stores looking for the right ipod car adapter for your car or truck, but those days are over. There are websites which offer great ipod adapter information as well as the largest variety of iPod mp3 music adapters and accessories.

Locating the correct mp3 music player adapter isn’t very difficult. If you have an after market receiver like Clarion or Pioneer, just select the correct brand ipod adapter. Of course if you have the original manufacturer’s source unit, just find an adapter made for your specific vehicle be it Ford or Honda or whatever. This is fast and easy when you have access to a sufficient supply of brands. You car and truck adapters made by USA Spec, Soundgate and many other manufactures to apply to almost any brand of vehicle.

Once you get your ipod adapter, you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite music, audiobooks, lectures, podcasts and more right through your car’s sound system. Your commute will immediately seem much shorter.

 

 

 

 

Different Types of iPhone Cases

January 31, 2009 by · 12 Comments 

When you have a Apple iPhone, you want nothing more than to protect it from being scratched or damaged in any way. one of the ways that you can ensure that it won’t be scratched is by only using it only after you have a case. Many people have problems with buying a case for their iPhone because they don’t want to have a big and bulky case, which makes their iPhone look quite large. However, with the advancements in iPhone case design, you can have slim and streamlined case that will provide superior protection.You can also design your own custom iPhone case .

If you are looking for a case that is small enough , that will fit perfectly within your pocket, than you will want to purchase a pocket pouch. A pocket pouch is perfect for anyone who desires to keep their iPhone safe, but doesn’t want to have the big leather case that traditional cases provide. Whether you are a student or you use your phone for business, these smart and stylish pouches will keep your cell phone looking new, while still giving you a keen look to your phone. Most owners of iPhone’s are known for having a unique style, as well as a style that is sleek and smart. With the pouch case for your iPhone you will be able to even pick your favorite color.

Many people are now using their iPhone’s instead of their iPods, because they are able to utilize one product instead of two (iPod and cell phone). Of course, if you are using your iPhone with you while you work out, you probably have run into a problem. You want to be able to listen to your favorite songs, but you don’t want to leave your iPhone out in the open, where sweat and other harmful elements can ruin your new phone. Because of this, many people have simply kept their iPhone at home, and/or used their iPod case ,when they go workout.

While this is a great way to keep your iPhone looking great, there is a way to keep your iPhone safe while you workout, but yet, you are still able to use the music feature of your phone. You can do this by having a workout case for your phone. These cases have been specially designed for individuals who want to workout with their iPhone.

One of the best workout cases for the iPhone is the XtremeMac SportWrap, which allows your iPhone to remain fully function, yet it still protects it from outside elements. The main reason why many people use their iPhone when they exercise is to listen to their iTunes, and with this workout case, you will have full protection for the screen, but yet there is an opening for your headphone jack, thus allowing you to listen to your favorite songs while running on the treadmill.

This case is strong but very light weight, so you don’t have to worry about it weighing you down. Perhaps the greatest feature about this case is how it seamlessly fits onto your upper arm. This will allow you to have full movement with your body, while still keeping a strong grasp on your iPhone. For cases for your iPod or Iphone go to www.icases.net

15+ Really Sweet iPhone Tips

January 13, 2009 by · 13 Comments 

When I spend about half a grand on a cell phone, I’m thinking . . . “i want to get my money’s worth!”

That’s how I feel, anyway — which is why I made it my business to put my new iPhone through the paces from jump street by scouring the web’s most serious iPhone resources for the most useful power tips/ tricks available. The result is this collection of 16 iPhone power tips that will help you get even more enjoyment out of your new favorite toy! Some of these, granted, you’ll need to Google to get the current URL. But, if you want, you can just click the link for the complete article with photos and videos.

1. Unstick a Stuck Slider: if you’re iPhone’s slider ever gets stuck — as in, it simply refuses to do anything when you try to slide it, usually because you want to make the iPhone up to use it — here is a fix from iPhone Atlas (www.iphoneatlas.com): press the Home button once before attempting to move the slider for the first time.

2. Make Skype calls: Up-front disclaimer: We’re not talking about free, voice-over-IP (VOiP) Skype calls here. We’re talking about making SkypeOut calls, which are not free but can drastically reduce the cost of making international calls on your iPhone. Matter of fact, SoonR lets you access Apple Mail files, mailboxes, and contacts. It also lets you grab documents from your Mac for viewing on iPhone, including PowerPoint presentations and all that kinda’ good stuff.

3. Know Where to Go for the 411: Lucky for you, the world has gone iPhone crazy. That means there a lot of excellent sources of info on the latest iPhone developments out there on the web. Bad news: there’s a lot of crap, also. Here’s a short list of our favorite iPhone info sites:

- modmyiPhone.com
– iPhoneFreak.com
– iPhoneAlley.com
– The Unofficial Apple Weblog’s iPhone page
– Gizmodo’s iPhone coverage
– iPhoneAtlas.com

While you’re checking these sites, keep in mind that some sites you might already be visiting on a regular basis have really done a super job of becoming iPhone-friendly, including Digg.com, Amazon.com, FaceBook.com, and Netvibes.com!

4. Play Great Games: You know what Jack says about all work and no play! Not that the web surfing you’re doing on your iPhone is all work-related, yeah right? Games — most of which are free — are starting to pop up for the iPhone, and we’re sure there will be more where those came from. For now, you can just launch the Safari browser when your iPhone and visit these hot game sites:

- MacMost’s collection of iPhone games, including classics like solitaire and minesweeper (free, MacMost iPhone Games).

- mynuMo has 4 iPhone games, including iWhack — a whack-a-mole knockoff where the mole’s replaced by a headshot of Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer — and Blackjack (also free, myNuMo iPhone Games).

- iGiki’s games, which include Hangman and Canyon Crawl — aren’t free, but then, they’re only a buck a pop and might be just what you need when you get tired of the freebies (99 cents per game pack for 99 days, iGiki Games).

- PopCap’s Bejeweled, (free, PopCap Bejeweled).

5. Beat a Shortcut to your Fave iPhone Apps: Handy iPhone apps, like Leaflets (free, Get Leaflets) and Applists (free, Get Applists) put most iPhone apps your fingertips, but if you want to build your own list, just collect the apps you tend to use the most into the same bookmarks folder in Safari on your computer. Then, the next time you sync your iPhone, using iTunes, be sure to check “Sync Safari Bookmarks” on the info tab, under Web browser.

6. Rehang the Wallpaper: If you’re up for a bit of iPhone hacking, you can take any image you find anywhere on the web and turn it into a custom wallpaper.

But there is a much easier way: Download a 320×480 pixel image for free from a variety of online sources, saving them all in the same folder on your Mac. In iTunes, with your iPhone docked, select your iPhone, click the Photos tab, select the radio button next to “Sync Photos From…,” then from the drop-down list, select “Choose Folder…”

Next, browse to the folder you just created, then click “Apply” in the lower-right hand corner. Finally, on your iPhone, go to Settings, Wallpaper, Photo Library to hang your new wallpaper!

7. Take Self-Portraits Because the iPhone camera shutter’s button is a “soft” (i.e., onscreen) button, it’s a bit tricky to take self-portraits with it since you have to turn the phone around so you can no longer see the button. Here’s the solution: with the camera feature selected, place your finger on the camera icon and turn the phone around so you’re facing the lens. Then, smile pretty and let go of the shutter button! You’ll hear the telltale “click” — and, you’ve just taken a self-portrait!

8. Reveal Secret Features: When Apple released the first firmware update for the iPhone on August 1, 2007, it did so with little fanfare, and attributed most of the updates to “security fixes.” The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg discovered a few new non-security-related features on his side phone after the update including:

- Greater capacity in the iPhone module’s Favorites list (used to be 20, is now 50).
– Ability to automatically blind carbon copy (BCC) yourself on all e-mails sent, where previously, your only option was to CC yourself, which alerted your recipients what you were up to…
– Compatibility with some car adapters and external speakers, originally created for the iPod. For more iPhone and tech tidbits, visit Walt’s blog.

9. Just Ditch the Camera Altogether: On the other hand, if you know you’ll never use the iPhone’s camera, you can just remove it altogether. (If you work for or with certain government agencies, you’re iPhone may actually be considered “contraband” on their property because they don’t want you taking secret photos of Bigfoot, Elvis, or (believe it or not) alien spaceships!

10. Get the Official Mod Tool: If you’ve already had to send your iPhone back to Apple for warranty repair or replacement, you may have already discovered something different about the replacement iPhone. First off, it comes in a much thinner box. Second, it comes complete with the “official iPhone SIM card removal tool”: a paperclip! Yup, Apple actually supplies a paperclip with all replacement iPhones, along with instructions for using it to open the SIM card slot and insert your card!

11. Buy Spare Parts: If you’re the type who simply can’t resist trying to take your iPhone apart, here’s where to go to find replacement parts when you go too far: iPhone Parts. Sources of mine told me that Apple charges $300 for a replacement screen, but you can get one from iFixIt for only $199.95.

12. Kill that Annoying GSM Buzz: If you hear a buzzing sound, while using an iPhone cassette adapter in your car stereo, such as Monsters iCarPlay — which claims to be iPhone-compatible (but doesn’t appear anywhere on Monster’s website) — Gizmodo offers a low-tech solution: aluminum foil… Yup, just take a little bit of Reynolds Wrap and wrap it around the cable closest to your iPhone. Doing so eliminates the need to switch to “Airplane mode,” which would be a viable solution if it didn’t send your incoming calls to voicemail!

13. Find Wi-Fi Hotspots in Your Neighborhood: JiWire makes it easy to find the nearest hotspot when your iPhone — so you can rescue yourself from the slow-moving hell that is AT&T’s EDGE data service. Surf on over to iphone.jiwire.com on your iPhone and fill in your location. If you’re a cheapskate (like me), check the box for “Search Free Hotspots Only.”

14. More Wi-Fi Performance Enhancements: Apple has a potentially useful collection of WiFi related iPhone tips in a regularly-updated knowledgebase article on its website. Suggestions include fixing problems like paid WiFi connections that drop off suddenly, weak WiFi signals, and WiFi connections that revert to EDGE due to issues with WEP passwords, or problems with Mac address filtering.

15. “Hack” Your iPhone!: Disclaimer: this tip isn’t for everybody. Some of these “hacks” (i.e., self-made modifications to the iPhone’s default behavior) are intended for people who have experience changing the way their computers behave by accessing the underlying code governing such behavior. You’ve been warned.

- For Macs: iFuntastic and Installer.app.
For Windows: Installer.app or iBrickr.

Once you’ve installed one of the above helper apps, you can try an ever-expanding array of iPhone mods. With iFuntastic, for example, you can add your own custom ringtones, rearrange the Home screen, and change the AT&T logo. Installer.app goes even further, letting you install and play Nintendo games that feature tactile feedback! The good folks at Gizmodo.com make it easy for Mac users to take advantage of this newfound power over their iPhones with a handy tutorial (visit their site and search for install apps iPhone).

Windows users can also use a helper app called iBricker to modify their iPhone, install custom ringtones, and install third-party apps. But, if all you care about is adding custom ringtones, you might want to try Efiko’s iPhoneRingToneMaker ($10).

16. Just Don’t Be a Sucker!: While searching for the latest iPhone apps, you could run across some websites that’ll offer you instant access to hundreds of the latest apps — all for one-time membership fee of $49.95. These sites include, but are not limited to, www.iphonenova.com, www.iphonecyclone.com, and www.iphonedownloadpro.com. Problem here, is that these sites (IMHO) are scams.

I ponied up $50 for membership to iPhoneNova, for example, which claims to be the “World’s First iPhone Download Service.” Guess what it really is? It’s a BitTorrent-like site for downloading illegal content you can view on your iPhone or iPod.

But, your $50 membership only gets you a BitTorrent client called Tomato Torrent and links for you to download two more already-free apps that help you convert existing videos and ripped DVD content to be viewed on your iPod/ iPhone. You also get links to a mere five (5) web-based iPhone games and a huge, poorly-organized list of illegal movie downloads like “The Simpsons” and “Transformers.” Nuff said; as Napoleon Dynamite would say, “…What a Rip-off”!