Are CFL bulbs dangerous?

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Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs are supposed to be good for your electricity bill. The bulbs use 50 percent less energy and last much longer than incandescent bulbs. Vicki Cobb says one of the bulbs, installed in a lamp, has lasted four years.

But are they bad for your health?

CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury (4 milligrams on average) sealed within its winding glass tube. This is because the CFL uses mercury vapor is an essential element to creating light within the bulb. No mercury is released when the bulb is intact (not broken) or in use.

The problem comes when a bulb breaks. Mercury escapes as vapor that can be inhaled and as a fine powder that can settle into carpet and other textiles. At least one case of mercury poisoning has been linked to fluorescents: A 1987 article in Pediatrics describes a 23-month-old who suffered weight loss and severe rashes after a carton of eight-foot (2.4-meter) tubular bulbs broke in a play area.

When a CFL burns out, it's recommended that you take the bulb to a CFL recycling center (the Earth911.com site is a good resource for finding recycling sites near you). When the bulb is recycled, it will go through a mercury absorbing filter to negate any mercury emission into the atmosphere or environment.

If a CFL bulb breaks, make sure people and pets leave the room and air out the room for 5 to 10 minutes. After thoroughly collecting the broken glass and any visible powder, it's recommended that you place the broken CFL pieces into a sealable container and then transfer it to an outdoor trash container.

What are the differences in the types of light bulbs used in the home?

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We've gotten used to the mushroom-shaped incandescent light bulb that's illuminated our homes for generations. But over the last decade, two new light bulb technologies have become more widely available--as well as more affordable--while offering significant energy use and cost savings.

• Incandescent: The most common light bulb, the one that you grew up with, incandescent bulbs are inexpensive and provide a variety of illumination levels (from 15 to 150 watts). However, incandescents are not very efficient, losing up to 95% of its energy as heat (with a 100-watt bulb heating up to around 300 degrees F).
  
• CFL (Compact Fluorescent): A type of fluorescent lamp, CFLs provide the same amount of visible light as incandescents, but they use less power (about 75% less) as well as produce less heat (also about 75%). While they're more expensive, they can last up to 10 times as long as an incandescent bulb and save you up to $40 of energy costs during their life.
  One downside, however, is that CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, which requires extra steps for removing them from your home either after it burns out or if it breaks (see more below). Another frustration about some CFL bulbs is they tend to require a warm-up time of between 30 seconds and one minute before they reach their full brightness.
• LED (Light Emitting Diode): Even more efficient and longer lasting than incandescents and CFLs, LED lamps are the next step to reducing your energy consumption and saving money on your electric bill. You might be familiar with LED lights on electronics (such as a power button), but now lamp bulbs are able to take advantage of multiple illuminator LEDs inside a fixture to produce full spectrum color (i.e., white light). 
  LED bulbs can last up to 50,000 hours (about 8 times the life of a CFL bulb and about 15 times that of an incandescent bulb), and they produce far less heat than incandescents (like CFL bulbs). Unlike CFL bulbs, there's no warm-up time for the LED bulb to get to full brightness. And LED bulbs do not contain mercury, so there's no worry about disposal.

Can I use a NAS with iTunes?

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The DLNA technology standard offered by Digital Living Network Alliance that enables you to easily stream music and video to a stereo or HDTV, print photos from a camera, and transfer files to a mobile device. In order to serve files to other devices, both the NAS and the device that will be receiving the file (either as a stream or as a download) must be DLNA Certified Products.

With Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), devices that are connected to the same network can automatically detect one another for easy sharing of files. A NAS with a UPnP server can easily connect with and stream multimedia to other UPnP-enabled devices, such as game consoles.

While the Wi-Fi-enabled Time Capsule provides a central location for backups for all the Macs in your home, it's technically not a NAS device as it only provides backup and recovery functionality. You can't use it to stream media (i.e., via an iTunes server) or access files remotely.

What is RAID?

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RAID (redundant array of independent disks; originally redundant array of inexpensive disks) utilizes a series of two or more hard drives and either divides or replicates data across them in a number of ways. RAID is a way of storing the same data in different places (thus, redundantly) on multiple hard disks.

By placing data on multiple disks, I/O (input/output) operations can overlap in a balanced way, improving performance. Since multiple disks increases the mean time between failures (MTBF), storing data redundantly also increases fault tolerance.

In a single-user system where large records, such as medical or other scientific images, are stored, the stripes are typically set up to be small (perhaps 512 bytes) so that a single record spans all disks and can be accessed quickly by reading all disks at the same time.

In a multi-user system, better performance requires establishing a stripe wide enough to hold the typical or maximum size record. This allows overlapped disk I/O across drives.

There are at least nine types of RAID plus a non-redundant array (RAID-0):

• RAID-0: This technique has striping but no redundancy of data. It offers the best performance but no fault-tolerance.
• RAID-1: This type is also known as disk mirroring and consists of at least two drives that duplicate the storage of data. There is no striping. Read performance is improved since either disk can be read at the same time. Write performance is the same as for single disk storage. RAID-1 provides the best performance and the best fault-tolerance in a multi-user system.
• RAID-2: This type uses striping across disks with some disks storing error checking and correcting (ECC) information. It has no advantage over RAID-3.
• RAID-3: This type uses striping and dedicates one drive to storing parity information. The embedded error checking (ECC) information is used to detect errors. Data recovery is accomplished by calculating the exclusive OR (XOR) of the information recorded on the other drives. Since an I/O operation addresses all drives at the same time, RAID-3 cannot overlap I/O. For this reason, RAID-3 is best for single-user systems with long record applications.
• RAID-4: This type uses large stripes, which means you can read records from any single drive. This allows you to take advantage of overlapped I/O for read operations. Since all write operations have to update the parity drive, no I/O overlapping is possible. RAID-4 offers no advantage over RAID-5.
• RAID-5: This type includes a rotating parity array, thus addressing the write limitation in RAID-4. Thus, all read and write operations can be overlapped. RAID-5 stores parity information but not redundant data (but parity information can be used to reconstruct data). RAID-5 requires at least three and usually five disks for the array. It's best for multi-user systems in which performance is not critical or which do few write operations.
• RAID-6: This type is similar to RAID-5 but includes a second parity scheme that is distributed across different drives and thus offers extremely high fault- and drive-failure tolerance.
• RAID-7: This type includes a real-time embedded operating system as a controller, caching via a high-speed bus, and other characteristics of a stand-alone computer. One vendor offers this system.
• RAID-10: Combining RAID-0 and RAID-1 is often referred to as RAID-10, which offers higher performance than RAID-1 but at much higher cost. There are two subtypes: In RAID-0+1, data is organized as stripes across multiple disks, and then the striped disk sets are mirrored. In RAID-1+0, the data is mirrored and the mirrors are striped.
• RAID-50 (or RAID-5+0): This type consists of a series of RAID-5 groups and striped in RAID-0 fashion to improve RAID-5 performance without reducing data protection.
• RAID-53 (or RAID-5+3): This type uses striping (in RAID-0 style) for RAID-3's virtual disk blocks. This offers higher performance than RAID-3 but at much higher cost.
• RAID-S (also known as Parity RAID): This is an alternate, proprietary method for striped parity RAID from EMC Symmetrix that is no longer in use on current equipment. It appears to be similar to RAID-5 with some performance enhancements as well as the enhancements that come from having a high-speed disk cache on the disk array.

How much hard drive storage will a NAS provide?

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A NAS device can have either fixed amount of hard drive space or single/multiple hard drive bays that allow you to easily add more hard drives when more storage is needed (or swap out a drive when it becomes full or needs replacing).

A Network Attached Storage with a fixed amount of storage will have either one or two hard drives placed in an enclosure for storage space ranging from 500 GB to 4 TB. This is a good solution for those who are focused primarily on streaming media, or those who want to back up just a couple of computers with small storage capacities.

With the ability to add more hard drive space as needed, a NAS with multiple hard drive bays is a good solution for those with larger multimedia libraries, creative professionals (such as photographers and videographers), and small businesses or homes that require multiple computers to be backed up.

Another advantage of using a NAS with multiple hard drives is the ability to redundantly back up your data over multiple hard drives using RAID.

Tip: Some NAS devices also include one or several USB ports, enabling you to add even more storage via external hard drives. Additionally, depending on the NAS device, the USB port can be used to connect a printer if it includes a built-in print server.

What can a NAS do?

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For those of you who have stumbled over to this section, you may be asking yourselves "what is a NAS"? NAS or Network Attached Storage is is a system consisting of 1 or more hard drives, an Ethernet connection and an operating system.

When it comes to NAS, sharing can mean multiple things. You can share files, share storage capacity and even share a printer. Here's a rundown of features a NAS can provide your home or small business.

• Back Up: Easily and automatically back up and protect content from PCs and Macs. Many NAS devices come with backup software (either proprietary to the manufacturer or commercially available software such as Retrospect). Additionally, some NAS devices are compatible with Apple's Time Machine software, enabling all the Macs in your home to back up to a central location.
• Share Files: With a NAS device centrally located on your network and available to all users connected to your network, everyone in your home or business will have access to documents, photos, videos, music, and more--all without having to turn on another computer to get access to files.
• Stream Media: In addition to storing video, music, and photo files, a NAS device can also stream those files over your network to not only your computers but a wide range of connected devices. For instance, many NAS devices can be used as a server for the Apple iTunes media library software, allowing you to serve up music and video to any computer or device (such as an Apple TV) in your home. And many NAS devices can easily stream music, movies, and more to UPnP and DLNA-certified devices, ranging from HDTVs and set-top boxes to game consoles and mobile phones.
• Remote Access: If you want to grab documents that you left behind at home or your home office, or stream music that you forgot to load into your MP3 player, a NAS device can deliver them to you wherever you might be (as long as you have broadband Internet connection for the NAS and either a Wi-Fi or 3G connection for the remote device). Most NAS devices provide a secure method for connecting your laptop to files stored on the NAS, and more NAS devices are offering apps for Apple and Android-powered mobile devices to remotely access files stored back at home--allowing you to show off.
• Print Server: This gives you the ability to share a printer with all the computers and compatible mobile devices on your network. Just plug the printer into a USB port on the NAS and the printer becomes visible on the network.
• Video/Media Encoding and Downloading: Using the included processor, some NAS devices can encode video files to other codecs--such as converting AVI files to formats that are compatible with Apple's iTunes and iOS devices. Additionally, some NAS devices include the ability to manage and download BitTorrent media files

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of What can a NAS do!.

What do I need to set up a NAS?

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Network Attached Storage (NAS) is essentially a device that connects hard drive storage to your home or small business network and allows that data to be accessed by other computers and devices connected to that network.

You need to have a network router to create a local area network (or LAN) and a computer. The NAS will typically connect to the router via wired Ethernet connection, and then be visible by your computer. At that point, you can run any software set-up that's required (or added software, such as for automatically backing up your computer).

While most NAS devices require an Ethernet connection to your network router, some models offer built-in Wi-Fi wireless connectivity and don't need to be physically connected to a router.

While some NAS devices come with software that needs to be installed on every computer on your network in order for them to access the storage device, many NAS devices don't need any complicated software tweaks. Just connect the NAS device to your network, power it up, and your connected PCs, Macs, and mobile devices will see the NAS on the network and be able to access its files and features.

How is a NAS Different from a Hard Drive Connected to Computer?

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You're probably familiar with having an external hard drive connected to your computer, which provides additional storage capabilities as well as a way to back up your most important files, photos, videos, and music. But with that one-to-one cable connection between the external hard drive and your computer, it can be difficult to share those files with other computers and devices in your home or business.

With a NAS device connected to your network, you can store all your photos, movies, songs, and documents in a single centralized location and have them be visible on every computer as well as compatible Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phone and tablet, networked TV and set-top box, and game console that's connected to your network.

Additionally, most NAS devices are actually computers themselves with an internal processor and RAM to complement the hard drive storage, as well as an operating system (such as Microsoft Windows Home Server). This allows the NAS to multitask in serving files to multiple devices at the same time while also backing up files from your computers.

And when your network is connected to the Internet, many NAS devices allow you to connect to it remotely and securely via the Web using computers or mobile devices--as long as that remote device has the proper permissions or software installed on it.

Synology DiskStation 4-Bay (Diskless) Network Attached Storage (DS413j) Reviews

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Synology DiskStation DS413j is the Synology j series are the "basic" models of their Network Attached Storage products with the "plain" (DS413, DS213) series being midrange and the "+" series being the highest end consumer versions.

It's Features

• With Synology DS413j, you can centralize and share up to 16TB of data and files with coworkers and friends.
• The Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) automatically builds an optimal RAID volume with data protection based on the hard drives installed, eliminating the need to have hard drives of identical size, while still offering a manual setup option for advanced users.
• Photo Station simplifies photo, video, and blog sharing to the public. Features such as theme personalization, blog, and user privilege settings make Photo Station your state-of-the-art lifestyle sharing center on the Internet.
• Build Your Own Cloud
• Flexible Storage Management
• Share your Memories to Friends
• Versatile Multimedia Center for Home
• Your 24x7 Download Server

Unlike many other companies, Synology doesn't artificially cripple their models depending on their cost for the most part. The j series model has all the same features from file sharing, video sharing, IP camera recording, etc. The two things which change between the series are the CPU/RAM and external ports.

As a j series model the DS413j has only the basic 2x USB 2.0 ports and a 1.6 GHz ARM-based CPU. Moving up the line you start to get things like eSATA, USB 3.0 and SD card readers. The highest end models have either PowerPC (Freescale) or Intel Atom CPUs. Do you need the faster CPU? If you're just using it for file serving, etc. No. You probably don't. If you're going to use the NAS for either photo viewing or video transcoding - yeah, you might want to spend the extra money as the lack of a floating point unit makes image thumbnail generation really slow on the ARM CPUs and some transcoding packages are only available for the x86 Atom chips.

As for the ARM chip and 512 MB of RAM in this model, it's pretty easy to max out the processor doing a couple things at once, but it doesn't really slow things down. Under normal use you won't notice it. The RAM is rarely full past 40% or so.

Synology DiskStation DS413j is a budget-friendly 4-bay NAS server for small offices and home use, specifically designed to provide a solution for file storage and sharing with data protection for your home environment with low power consumption, quiet operation and reliability.

List Price: $379.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver

Click ====>> FOR MORE INFO

What specifications should I look for in an outdoor surveillance camera?

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Outdoor home videos are a special challenge- lighting, background, and subjects are often in motion. You cannot go wrong to select of outdoor surveillance cameras.

The most important specification for an outdoor security camera is its IP classification (a rating based on the International Protection Rating code). An IP rating has two digits, with each digit corresponding to a different type of protection.

• The first digit refers to the level of protection an enclosure provides its internal parts from solid foreign objects. It has a rating range of 0 (no protection) to 6 (highest level of protection).
• The second digit refers to water resistance, and it has a rating range of 0 (no protection) to 8 (highest level of protection).

The rating range goes from 0 (no protection) to 6 (highest level of protection). Optimally, an outdoor security camera should have an IP55 rating, which means it's resistant to both penetration by dust and water.

Outdoor surveillance cameras are easy to install and can be up and running in minutes. They come in both wired and wireless versions. Infrared capability so you can see-in-the-dark is usually only a few dollars more than the cameras without it.

Wireless cameras require mounting the camera and hooking up the video receiver inside your home to a video monitor or TV. Wired cameras require running cable inside the home to your monitor or TV. When buying a wired camera, look for models that come with their own cable. Ensure when purchasing an outdoor surveillance camera that it is listed as weatherproof.

How to Choose a CCTV System for Home?

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However modern technology has made CCTV products much more affordable and for the average DIY person, easy to fit. But finding the right home CCTV System for your home can be a difficult task. There is a lot to take on board if you want to ensure that you have purchased the best product for your requirements.

Before purchasing the right CCTV and video surveillance equipment there is plenty to think about. Below we have listed some questions to ask yourself when it comes to buying surveillance equipment.

• Why do I want to install CCTV?
• What equipment will I need?
• How can I store images?
• How can I monitor images?
• Do I need fixed or moving cameras?
• Do I need IP or analogue cameras?
• Should I integrate my CCTV with my other security systems?
• How do I make the most of my budget?
• Should I upgrade to a digital system?
• What accreditation or references should I look for in a CCTV installer?

To choose the best CCTV system for your needs, consider factors such as camera types, monitoring options, image quality and remote access.

• Compare camera options.
• Consider when the system will be used.
• Evaluate whether you'll need a black and white or color CCTV system.
• Match the display quality of each system to your needs.
• Ask about monitor options. Some CCTV systems allow viewers to observe camera activities using a television set, while others require a computer monitor. Some specialized systems will only work with special high-security monitors.
• Inquire about remote access.
• Decide how the system should be operated.
• Check on available storage space. For CCTV systems with built-in storage, capacity is often fairly low. Users will need to remove video recording files frequently and save them to another source, if required.

A good home CCTV System defines the area's level of security. It is better to invest in good quality materials even when they are more expensive.

How to Install a Digital CCTV System?

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A CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) is used to monitor or surveil an area. It is now easy for almost anyone to install an affordable, complete digital CCTV system that comes in a box, ready to go.

CCTVs come in various categories based on their way of transmitting signals. They are analog, digital, wired and unwired. Each of these have unique operating methods. All CCTVs come with generic components like camera and lens. Wired CCTVs use co-axial wires to transmit signals to a monitor; wireless CCTVs broadcast signals.

The signal can be received by your television set, PC, laptop or an internal website. Analog CCTVs use television monitors, since they are wired, while the digital / wireless CCTVs use broadcast technology to relay the signal directly to a computer monitor. Analog CCTVs use a VCR (video cassette recorder ) to record video capturing while digital CCTVs use DVRs (digital video recorder).

How to install a CCTV

Wireless systems might just need an electric outlet and related software installed on your computer whereas analog systems will need cables. You might need to drill holes into your wall to accommodate the analog systems connectivity path to your monitor. So be your own judge and decide if this is feasible.

After you have figured out, start of with the following:

• Decide whether you want to monitor the system via in the Internet. If so, ask your Internet provider for a static IP address. Your wireless-capable computer or a standalone digital video recorder (DVR) gives you recording capability if desired.
• Survey your area and determine how many cameras you'll need. Systems with 1 to 4 cameras are available at many electronic and home stores. Many one- or two-camera systems can expand to accept more cameras. Wireless cameras need an electrical outlet to work. If the outlet is easily accessible it may allow someone to unplug the camera and avoid being seen.
• Install the software on your computer if it is being used or turn on the DVR and allow it to boot up. Click on the setup menu and follow the instructions for that particular software. You'll need your static IP address and a user name and password to protect your security.
• Attach the first camera to a stable surface and plug it into a wall socket or extension cord. Point it in the coverage direction and turn it on. Have an assistant near the video display help you adjust the camera so that maximum coverage is available. Label the camera in the software with an easy-to-remember name such as "Swimming Pool" or "Garage Door."
• Continue to install the other cameras in the same fashion.
• Test the system after the installation is complete by bringing up a browser in an Internet-capable computer. Type the static IP address into the browser address bar. A login page should appear where you enter your user name and password. Once that is done you should be able to see the software, which allows you to choose which camera view to see and even to check what has been recorded.

A complete CCTV system includes the cameras, DVR and software. Alternatively, purchase the cameras and software and use your own wireless-capable computer as the DVR. The installation is identical, but the software will vary slightly for the setup.

Reference:
How to Install a Digital CCTV System By Jack Burton
Installation Instructions.pdf

What is a closed circuit monitoring system?

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CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) refers to a video system that is closed to a limited amount of viewers. A CCTV system can refer to something as large as a multi-camera monitoring system for a bank to something as small as a single camera monitoring your baby.

CCTV is a TV system in which signals are not publicly distributed but are monitored, primarily for surveillance and security purposes.

Depending on the system you choose, CCTV video can be viewed live or recorded using a digital video recorder (DVR)--either a dedicated device or your PC.

CCTV is commonly used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Maintaining perimeter security in medium- to high-secure areas and installations.
• Observing behavior of incarcerated inmates and potentially dangerous patients in medical facilities.
• Traffic monitoring.
• Overseeing locations that would be hazardous to a human, for example, highly radioactive or toxic industrial environments.
• Building and grounds security.
• Obtaining a visual record of activities in situations where it is necessary to maintain proper security or access controls (for example, in a diamond cutting or sorting operation; in banks, casinos, or airports).

CCTV is finding increasing use in law-enforcement, for everything from traffic observation (and automated ticketing) to observation of high-crime areas or neighborhoods. Such use of CCTV technology has fueled privacy concerns in many parts of the world, particularly in those areas in the UK and Europe where it has become a routine part of police procedure.

How easy is it to set up a home monitoring system?

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A home monitoring system need not be expensive or difficult to set up. A few hundred dollars and some of your time is a small price to pay for safety and peace of mind.

Networked cameras are different from webcams because they operate independently of a computer. You can access a live stream of video and audio from each camera via the Internet or 3G, using a computer or smartphone.

While you can create your own do-it-yourself (DIY) home monitoring system using a variety of components and software, that kind of system often requires more technical know-how and computer savvy than you might possess (or have time to learn).

However, there are many products and packages that offer a multi-camera monitoring system in an integrated solution that brings together the hardware and software for nearly plug-and-play ease of set-up--and some even provide subscription-based Web monitoring.

For example, the Avaak Vue Personal Video Network comes with two wireless cameras and a gateway receiver that connects to your network router. Set-up is performed using a Web browser (hence the need to connect it to your computer network), and you'll also use a Web browser to monitor the incoming video. Additionally, you can remotely view video from your monitoring system from anywhere in the world when connected to the Web when you sign up for a subscription (and even your iPhone, via a dedicated downloadable app).

The media streaming devices that connect to the cloud

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With the growth of cloud-based streaming video, there is a wealth of choice for media streaming devices that connect to your HDTV and serve up rented or purchased content as well as subscription sites and web videos. Here's a sampling:

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Other home entertainment devices can also connect to cloud-based media streaming services, including Internet-capable Blu-ray Disc players and HDTVs plus game consoles:

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Cloud computing takes files off of your computer's hard drive and makes them accessible wherever you roam and have access to the Internet. However, if you want to share your music and video library with just the multiple computers and media streaming devices in your home, you can create your own personal cloud using a Network-Attached Storage device--also known as NAS.

A NAS device connects hard drive storage to your home or small business network and allows that data to be accessed by other computers and devices connected to that local area network (LAN). With a NAS device, you can store all your photos, movies, songs, and documents in a single centralized location and have them be visible on every computer as well as compatible WiFi enabled mobile phones and tablets, networked TVs and set-top boxes, and game consoles connected to your network.

Additionally, most NAS devices are actually computers themselves with an internal processor and RAM to complement the hard drive storage, as well as an operating system (such as Microsoft Windows Home Server). This allows the NAS to multitask in serving files to multiple devices at the same time while also backing up files from your computers.

NAS devices enable you to create your own cloud storage and provide remote access to files from the server in your home or small business over the Internet. This is a great way to allow far-flung family members to access home movies and photos and co-workers to collaborate on projects, as well as give yourself the ability to stream movies and music while traveling.

For example, Iomega's StorCenter NAS devices now offer a Personal Cloud feature that can be set up in minutes and doesn't require any additional Internet hosting. You can invite up to 250 remote users to securely access the Personal Cloud from a wide variety of devices--from PC, Mac and Linux computers to Apple iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

While a NAS device serves multiple computers and connected devices over a local area network and can even be remotely accessed over the Internet, a new type of NAS device adds portable functionality. The Seagate GoFlex Satellite is a portable hard drive with an integrated battery, Wireless-N Wi-Fi, and a web server. This enables you to serve music, video, photo, and document files to up to three iPads simultaneously. While a free iPad app is available, other tablets as well as PCs and Macs can access files using a web browser.

What are some cloud-based music services and cloud-based video services?

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Cloud-based Music Services

There are several forms of cloud music services that offer different functionality depending on how you want to listen to music. One type of service operates like a storage locker, where you can store thousands of music files from your computers library and have them accessible on nearly any Internet-connected computer or mobile device.

Another is more akin to an Internet radio station that either plays curated mixes or randomized songs that are tailored to the sound of an artist or song that you select. Finally, a third type enables you to listen to as much music as you like on a computer or mobile device for a monthly subscription.

Some examples of music storage lockers include:

Amazon Cloud Player: As noted above, the Amazon Cloud Player allows you to store MP3 files on the Amazon Cloud Drive and then play them on any Internet-connected computer as well as select Android smartphones and tablets (running Android OS 1.6 and later). 

Google Music Beta: Similar to Amazon's cloud music offering, the Google Music Beta service allows you to upload MP3 files from your computer hard drive to its cloud-based storage locker, and you can then access the music via a web browser on any computer as well as on Android smartphones and tablets. Additionally, you can create playlists in a web browser on your computer and have it replicated on your Android device. Any changes you make while accessing the music are synced across devices. Currently, Google Music Beta is free, but is limited to uploading 20,000 song files and requires an invitation.

Here are some examples of personalized cloud-based Internet radio sites:

Pandora: One of the most well-known music streaming services, Pandora helps you discover new music by allowing you to create a personalized radio station that plays music that's similar to a selected artist or song. This free service can be accessed from your web browser and it's also available via dedicated apps for a wide range of mobile platforms, including iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and WebOS. Additionally, the Pandora service is available on many Internet-connected HDTVs and media streaming set-top boxes.

8tracks: Calling itself "handcrafted Internet radio," 8tracks enabled users to create a mix by uploading MP3s (a minimum of 8 songs) and then sharing those mixes either publicly or just with friends. But you don't have to be a DJ. You can simply browse through mixes to discover new music and then follow your favorite 8tracks users.

Subscription-based cloud music services include Rhapsody and Napster, and both provide streaming capabilities via a web browser as well as dedicated apps for iPhone and iPod touch, Android devices, and BlackBerry smartphones. Monthly subscription rates range from $5 to $15 a month, depending on how many devices--in-home and mobile--you want to connect with the service.

In addition to mobile devices, Rhapsody can be accessed via the Sonos in-home streaming system and select Vizio HDTVs, while Napster can be streamed via the Xbox 360 plus Sonos. However, one downside of music subscription services is that you don't own the music--so once you cancel a subscription, your favorite music and playlists will be gone.

Cloud-based Video Services

The benefit of cloud-based video services -- instant gratification, no discs to return either to the video store or pop in the mail.

Amazon Instant Video: Choose from thousands of TV shows and movies to rent or buy from Amazon Instant Video, which will stream commercial free through your computer's web browser as well as a variety of home entertainment devices. Movies can either be rented for a period of 24 to 48 hours (depending on the title) or purchased, enabling you to watch it as many times as you want for as long as you want. Individual TV episodes can be purchased, or you can choose to buy a TV Pass that will give you access to all of the season's episodes.

In addition to streaming to a web browser on a PC or Mac, you can watch Amazon Instant Video titles instantly on your TV via compatible Internet-connected HDTVs from Sony, Samsung, and Vizio plus Blu-ray Disc players from Sony and Panasonic. Amazon Instant Video is also available on a variety of set-top boxes from Roku, TiVo, and Sony, plus the Google TV service available on the Logitech Revue and select Sony HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players.

And if you're an Amazon Prime member, you'll also get access to free streaming of a selection of over 5,000 commercial-free movies and TV shows as part of your Amazon Prime membership.

Learn more about home entertainment devices compatible with Amazon Instant Video:

Apple iTunes: Purchase or rent movies and TV shows through Apple's iTunes software, which can be downloaded and viewed on PCs and Macs as well as iOS devices. With the latest version of the Apple TV, you can stream movie and TV show rentals directly to your HDTV.

Google TV: More of a platform than a video streaming service, Google TV allows you to search TV listings and a connected DVR as well as the web to watch streaming videos from favorite web sites. It also includes apps that provide direct connections to such streaming services as Netflix, NBA Game Time, Pandora, and Napster. Its available via the Logitech Revue set-top box as well as integrated into select Sony HDTVs and a Blu-ray player.

Hulu: This ad-supported library of TV shows and movies can be can be streamed to your web browser for free. However, its Hulu Plus paid subscription service (which also serves up ads) offers a larger selection plus HD video streams, and it can be accessed on Apple iOS devices, Roku set-top boxes, and a variety of Internet-connected HDTVs and Blu-ray players.

Netflix: Originally a DVD rental-by-mail service, Netflix allows subscribers to stream movies and TV episodes via select Internet-ready HDTVs, game consoles, set-stop boxes (like Apple TV, TiVo and Roku), and Blu-ray Disc players.

Vudu: Rent and purchase movies (some available in 1080p HD) and stream them to your computer, Boxee Box, Sony PlayStation 3, and select Internet-ready HDTVs.

YouTube: Video sharing site that allows you to post your own video creations, plus view clips from millions of other users. It's also begun to offer thousands of full-length movies for rental. YouTube is included on a wide variety of media streaming devices, however movie rentals are available only to computer web browsers.

How to back up computer to the cloud?

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You might back up your PC or Mac at home to an external hard drive, but an online backup solution ensures that your data is safely protected away from your home--and available to you if your home has been robbed or suffered an unfortunate catastrophe.

Some services such as Apple's MobileMe provide a small, pre-determined amount of storage (such as 20 GB), allowing you to select just your most important files to back up--such as just your photos or your work documents. Amazon's Cloud Drive provides 5 GB of free online storage space, but this can be increased up to 1000 GB (i.e., 1 TB) at $1 per GB for a year.

Other services provide more open-ended storage space, enabling you to back up your entire computer. These include SugarSync, Mozy, Backblaze, Carbonite, Crashplan, SOS Online Backup, and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3). It can take several days, at minimum, to perform an initial backup over the Internet, as it will consist of hundreds of gigabytes. But after that's been completed, only files that have been added or modified will be uploaded incrementally to the servers. If you need to retrieve a file or folder, you can typically do this via a web browser interface. However, if you need to restore your entire computer, some services can send you a hard drive with your backup at an additional charge. Speaking of pricing, online backup services charge either subscription fee (monthly or annual) or by the amount of data uploaded.

The cloud has brought about a revolution in inexpensive storage, making backing up online inexpensive and fuss-free. But with so many choices out there, how can we narrow it down? Rather than directly recommending services, here are requirements to consider.

• Types of cloud storage available for workstations. Essentially, there are 2: dedicated backup services and cloud sync services.
• When it comes to choosing any kind of service, the first question to ask is what computing platforms are supported. Some cloud storage services offer clients not only for Mac and PC but for mobile devices like iPhones and Android phones, too.
• Consider security. Your data will be undoubtedly be stored encrypted but that doesn't amount to a hill of beans if the sign-on system is weak. If you choose a strong and unique password then this shoudn't be an issue, of course.

Learn more about Cloud Home !

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One of the newer buzzwords in the online world is cloud computing. The word “cloud” refers to the Internet, with a network of computers from around the world combining to store data files on remote servers and transmit them to individual users.

Thankfully, there are actually a number of devices that let you have your own personal Home Cloud. The move to cloud computing isn't just for businesses. At CES, home network giants D-Link and Netgear are showing a range of equipment that leverage cloud services to give consumers more access to and control over home networks--and network content--from mobile devices.

But with cloud computing, the Internet has matured way beyond its origins, where text files were shared amongst a small group of scientists. Today, you can stream the latest Lady Gaga album or an HD movie rental, share vacation photos or a PowerPoint presentation files, back up your computer, create a single family calendar that can be accessed by everyone in the home, and even run word processing software from a web browser without having to install the application on your hard drive.

All you need is a web browser to upload, download, and access your files and run browser-based apps.

But the cloud isn't confined to just your PC or Mac. Cloud-based files and apps can be accessed from mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as media devices in your home such as Internet-connected HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc players, and dedicated media-streaming set-top boxes like the Apple TV or Roku.

You might be a cloud computing pro without realizing it if you've been using a Web-based e-mail service like Gmail--where all your messages are stored in the cloud on Google's servers. While it's possible to download messages to an e-mail program on your computer (such as Outlook), it's not a requirement. In fact, the cloud-based Gmail provides many of the same functions of a desktop application within your web browser, such as filtering messages, adding them to folders, labeling them, and more. And because your e-mail is stored in the cloud, you can access your e-mail from any Internet-connect computer, smartphone, or mobile device with a web browser.

Amazon's Cloud Drive is an example of the growing category of cloud-based storage lockers. With Cloud Drive, you can store music, videos, photos, and document files on Amazon's secure servers, and then access them via a web browser to upload or download files from any computer. 

With a cloud-based storage locker such as Cloud Drive, you'll be secure in the knowledge that your most important files are backed up and will be accessible even if your home computer crashes, or is lost or stolen. Additionally, with MP3 files stored on the Cloud Drive, you can play your stored music from any Internet-connected computer (as well as Android-powered mobile devices) using the Amazon Cloud Player.

What is a LAN?

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Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building using network media. Early LAN cabling had always been based on various grades of coaxial cable.

Within a LAN, you can share data amongst many devices and keep it as a closed system. However, you can also access the Worldwide Web on your LAN by connecting your network's router to your broadband Internet modem (provided by your Internet service provider, or ISP).

Once your LAN is set up to access the Internet, you can network the devices in your home or business using one (or more) of several methods: wired (using Ethernet or powerline networking) or wireless (Wi-Fi).

Ethernet provides connectivity to you home or business LAN by simply plugging a cable into your computer. Today, Ethernet is available in two main flavors with the difference being data speed: Fast (with data transfer of up to 100 Megabits per second, or Mbps) and Gigabit (up to 1000 Mbps).

While, Wi-Fi encompasses a several variations in standards that differ in speed and range. You've probably seen these variations listed as their alpha-numeric standards names (such as 802.11a/b/g/n) or their shorthand names (such as Wireless-N).

What is network-attached storage (NAS)?

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Network-attached storage (NAS) is a combination of hard disk-based storage and a network adapter. Its purpose is to provide a centralized data repository for computers sharing a network. Rather than connecting to your computer via a USB cable (like a typical external hard drive), a NAS connects to your local area network (LAN) via an Ethernet connection to your router, and it becomes available to all computers and devices connected to your network. Some NAS devices allow you to expand storage with additional hard drive bays, or USB ports for connecting external hard drives.

A NAS unit is a computer connected to a network that provides only file-based data storage services to other devices on the network. Although it may technically be possible to run other software on a NAS unit, it is not designed to be a general purpose server. For example, NAS units usually do not have a keyboard or display, and are controlled and configured over the network, often using a browser.

NAS is useful for more than just general centralized storage provided to client computers in environments with large amounts of data. NAS can enable simpler and lower cost systems such as load-balancing and fault-tolerant email and web server systems by providing storage services. The potential emerging market for NAS is the consumer market where there is a large amount of multi-media data. Such consumer market appliances are now commonly available. Unlike their rackmounted counterparts, they are generally packaged in smaller form factors. The price of NAS appliances has plummeted in recent years, offering flexible network-based storage to the home consumer market for little more than the cost of a regular USB or FireWire external hard disk. Many of these home consumer devices are built around ARM, PowerPC or MIPS processors running an embedded Linux operating system.

If you want to know more clearly go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network-attached_storage

Learn more about Sonos Multi-Room Music System

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As its product name would imply, the Sonos Multi-Room Music System is an in-home audio sharing solution that works in multiple rooms throughout your house, and it's capable of transmitting different audio to different rooms at the same time. A Sonos system connects to your music source--whether it be stored on a computer running iTunes or Windows Media player, or a network-attached storage (NAS) drive--and works as both transmitter and receiver via its two parts:

• Controllers: You can manage audio playback to the whole house or to individual rooms via remote control with touchscreen interface. Additionally, the Sonos system can be controlled via an iPhone/iPod touch app as well as software for PCs and Macs.
• ZonePlayers: These are the wireless receivers that connect your music source to your speakers, and they come in several flavors--from one that allows you to connect either powered or powerless speakers to one with integrated speakers.

Tip: In addition to stored music, the Sonos system can also connect to Internet radio stations as well as a variety of Internet streaming music services, such as Pandora, Rhapsody, Sirius Internet Radio, Last.fm, and more.

The ZonePlayer receivers connect to your music source via your wireless network, and you can place multiple receivers throughout your house. You can then choose music to play via the touchscreen Sonos Controller. And if you have multiple ZonePlayer receivers, the Controller can select different music for different rooms as well as adjust volume independently for each receiver.

To get you started playing music in two different rooms in your house, the Sonos Bundle 250 (with the Controller and two ZonePlayers) retails for $999. Individual component vary from $349 for a Controller to $349 to $499 for a ZonePlayer.

Learn more about Airport Express

Selection of music and play/pause of audio is controlled through the iTunes software on your computer. If you have an Apple iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, a downloadable remote app is available that can control these functions in iTunes over a Wi-Fi connection.

A Wi-Fi product from Apple, the Airport Express is a compact wireless base station that acts as a receiver to audio transmitted over Wi-Fi from a computer music source running the Apple iTunes software. The Airport Express connects to an amplified speaker via an integrated 3.5mm audio jack output.

You can transmit audio from compatible digital audio files (MP3s, AAC files purchased from Apple) stored in your iTunes library on your computer's hard drive, as well as Internet radio stations played from within iTunes.

Tip: Music sharing is just one function of the Airport Express, which can also be used as a standalone Wi-Fi router (great using while traveling), extending the range of your main Wi-Fi router, or providing access to a printer (via its USB port) to a wireless network.

The Apple Airport Express work with Windows-based PCs, it comes with software (Airport Utility) that helps you connect your Windows PC to the Airport Express, and iTunes is available in a Windows version.

The Airport Express is a Wi-Fi base station, it can talk to any other wireless router that speaks in the 802.11a/b/g/n languages. Thusly, neither an Apple Airport Extreme base station nor Time Machine is required to stream audio to the Airport Express. However, your PC or Mac must have the iTunes software installed, So You don't need an Apple Wi-Fi router to stream audio with the Airport Express.

The Airport Express work in multiple rooms. However, you'll need a separate Airport Express connected to amplified speakers in each room you want to stream audio to. Additionally, all the Airport Express base stations connected to your iTunes software will play the same audio--you can't configure different rooms to play different music.

Learn more about Wi-Fi radio & Internet radio

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What is a Wi-Fi radio?

A type of device that streams content from Internet radio stations, which (as you might expect) requires an Internet connection. As the name suggests, a Wi-Fi radio can wirelessly connect to the Internet (the source) over your home's wireless network router (the transmitter), and it acts as the direct receiver. It doesn't require connection to your computer, only to your network router.

Tip: While Wi-Fi radios don't require a connection to your computer, some offer the capability of streaming stored digital audio files (such as MP3s) from your computer's hard drive. Also, some Wi-Fi radios offer a wired Ethernet option as a feature.

What is Internet radio?

A service that streams audio to your computer or connected device from the Internet. And it comes in a variety of flavors. An Internet radio stream may duplicate the broadcast from a national or local radio station (such as the BBC or your local NPR station), or even satellite providers (such as Sirius Satellite Radio).

Some sites offer streams of music based on specified genres--from mainstream styles such as rap and hip-hop to lesser known genres such as dubstep. Other specialized services, such as Pandora, serve up a stream of music that is tailored to the sound of an artist or song that you select.

Wi-Fi radios work in multiple rooms, but you'll need to have a separate Wi-Fi radio for each room you want Internet streaming audio to be played in. On the downside, you won't be able to synchronize the audio between multiple devices. However, each room can play different audio streams.

The basics needed to wirelessly transmit audio through your home!

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The idea of wirelessly streaming the music collection on the computer to the stereo system in the living room is Fantastic idea. To realize the idea you need:

• A music source, which can be either your computer or your network router connected to the Internet.
• A transmitter, which can be a separate device connected to your computer (such as a radio frequency transmitter connected via USB) or a Wi-Fi router.
• A receiver, such as one part of a radio frequency transmitter/receiver package
• A set of amplified speakers with an audio input jack that's compatible with the output jack of the receiver. They can be the speakers connected to your home theater stereo system, powered computer speakers, or an iPod speaker dock.

If using Wi-Fi as your transmitter, you can choose from a variety of receiver schemes that vary in available music sources, access throughout your home, and cost. We'll cover a few of them in in the next article, including:

• Wi-Fi radio, which receives Internet streaming audio through your network router
• A Wi-Fi base station with audio output (such as the Apple Airport Express)
• Proprietary whole-home systems (such as Sonos).

What is streaming audio?

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Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a provider.

In a connected home, streaming audio can refer to one of two things:

• Internet Streaming Audio: Music and radio programming that is delivered over the Internet to a computer or network-connected device.
• In-Home Sharing: Audio distributed across your network from one device to another.

With Internet streaming audio, music and radio programming are delivered in a compressed format over the Web and can only be accessed when you are connected to the Internet. And unlike a file that you save to your hard drive from the Web (such as an MP3 file), streaming audio is not saved permanently to your device's storage memory. Rather, a Web browser or audio software decodes the audio file as it's being streamed to your computer or device, and then the data is discarded once you've played it.

With in-home sharing, you are transmitting audio from a central location (such as your computer) to a plethora of amplified possibilities: a home theater stereo, powered speakers, an HDTV, and more. The audio that is being served up through your home can either be the digital audio files stored on your computer's hard drive or audio streamed from an Internet radio station.

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ASUS ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router Overview:

• 1 x Gigabit WAN port
• 02.11AC(1300Mbps over 5G) + 802.11N(450Mbps over 2.4G)
• IPv6 support
• VPN Server Support
• 2 x USB2.0 support got Printer sharing or HDD sharing
• 3 x Detachable antenna for 2.4GHz/5GHz with peak gain 3dBi/ 5dBi
• 4 x LAN ports for 10/100/1000 BaseT
• Antenna: 3x Detachable antennas
• Button: WPS Button, Reset Button, Power Button
• Encryption: 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise
• LED Indicator: 1x PWR, 4x LAN, 1x WAN,?2x AIR, 1x USB
• Network Standard: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.3u, IPv4, IPv6
• Operating Frequency: 2.4~2.4835GHz / 5.1~5.8GHz
• Supports Ethernet and 802.3 with max. bit rate 10/100/1000 Mbps

The Advantages & Disadvantages a Powerline Network Solution

The advantages to a powerline network solution

Because you're using already the electrical wiring infrastructure of your home--and the electrical outlets that are spread throughout your home--powerline networking offers great flexibility on where computers and peripherals can be placed.

If you've had difficulty in creating a strong Wi-Fi network in your home--due to many factors, such as heavily insulated walls or interference from other devices in the home such as cordless phones--a powerline network can provide a stable, reliable connection throughout your home. And you can even pair it with a Wi-Fi router for wireless access.

Finally, a powerline network doesn't add any charges to your electrical bill.

The disadvantages to a powerline network solution

If your home electrical wiring isn't up to date, you might not get optimal performance from a powerline networking solution. It's not as fast as Gigabit Ethernet speeds (the fastest networking solution for home or office), but it is on par with current Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking.

Powerline networking is often touted as one of the easiest and most affordable whole-home networking solutions because you don't have to lay a lot of cable or install more wiring in your walls. However, you will still need to purchase adapters that will plug into your electrical outlets. Compared to buying multiple adapters, the price of a single wireless router might make more sense depending on what you'll be networking.

You also have to be careful to choose powerline networking adapters and accessories that use the same standard. There are three standards available from a variety of manufacturers:

- HomePlug AV (available from manufacturers like Belkin, Linksys, Netgear, and ZyXEL)

- UPA, which stands for Universal Powerline Association (available from D-Link, Netgear, and others)

- HD-PLC, which stands for High Definition Power Line Communication (available from Panasonic)