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1029usr078198
Forum Admin
USA
333 Posts |
 Posted - June 25 2009 : 21:05:53
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Listen now. or Download the archive.
Question: Richard asks, "Why won’t DVDs play on my computer?"
Answer: OK, great question. To play DVDs on your computer you need three things: 1) A DVD-ROM or DVDRW drive. Because the optical characteristics of DVDs are different than CDs, you want to be sure you have a DVD drive of some sort. If your computer has Vista, you probably have one. But the older your computer is, the more likely it is that you don't have such a drive. How can you tell? The easiest way is to look on the front of your current optical drive. If it has the DVD logo on it, you're good to go. If not, it probably isn't, but that's not the only way to know. Device manager can also tell you what it is, even if Windows misidentifies the drive. OK, so a DVD drive is the first thing. No. 2) You need a player application. Most DVD drives and computers that come with them have this already. You have Windows Media Player, which can play DVDs if you have the third item – A DVD decoder. DVD Decoders come with whatever software comes with your computer or DVD drive. In some cases, the decoder isn't free. What's a DVD Decoder? Because Video DVDs are encrypted, it is necessary to have a piece of software that decrypts that video before you can watch it. You don’t need a decoder to use data DVDs, but you do need one to play videos.
Cool Site: SermonAudio.com: "Faith cometh by hearing" is the tagline of this week's cool site: SermonAudio.com. I see this as a great resource for pastors, but this site is not only for pastors, really it's for anyone who needs to prepare a sermon, or a Sunday School lesson, and if all they did was provide MP3 files of sermons, that would be enough, but they don't stop there. No, they have a Local Church Finder tool that will let you find a church where you are or are headed. They offer an online Bible search, a Hymn Search, Blogs, Forums, a Daily Bible Reading, Surveys, Videos, and Memberships. A Full Membership costs $29.95 per month, while a Plus Membership costs $4.95 a month. Plus Memberships are good if you're a missionary or full-time evangelist family because you can create a website where you can post a blog or put pictures online for your supporters.
Cool Gadget: Casio Calculator Watch: I don't wear a watch anymore, but for a very long time, the only kind of watch I would wear was one with a calculator built-in. I've been a nerd absolutely forever. As it turns out, Casio still makes several Data Bank watch models. The current generation of Data Bank watches sport more than just a calculator. Some of these include infrared so they can replace your remote control. Others are multi-lingual, with the day of week in any of 13 languages. I love these things. Prices start at around $25, depending on where you shop.
It's All "Geek" To Me: Leaderboard: When you think of a Leaderboard, you usually think of golf. But in this context, the leaderboard is a type of online advertisement that is a a good bit wider and just a little taller than the more traditional Banner ad. Like a banner ad, when you click on the leaderboard ad, you are taken to the advertiser's website. Some web designers have found ways to make leaderboard size ads less distracting, though.
Links
SermonAudio.com:
http://www.sermonaudio.com/
Databank Watches on Gearlog:
http://www.gearlog.com/2009/06/wrists_on_with_an_18_casio_cal.php
Databank Watches at Casio.com:
http://www.casio.com/products/Timepiece/Databank/
Shop for Databank Watches at MyCasio:
http://my.casio.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=products.section&catalog=Timepiece§ion=Databank
Leaderboard at TechTerms:
http://www.techterms.com/definition/leaderboard
Web Exclusive
How to check if Windows is detecting your DVD Drive correctly in Windows XP.
1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. Type DEVMGMT.MSC
4. Press Enter
5. Click the Plus sign next to DVD/CD-ROM drives
6. If the description includes "DVD", it is being misidentified by Windows.
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6/25/2009-DVDs,SermonAudio,CalcWatch,"Leaderboard"
