Archive for the ‘Computers & Technology’ Category

When connecting your mp3 player to your car stereo you have several options. Also, depending on what is available in your car, the choice may be made for you.

One option is using a cassette tape adapter. This device is a cassette tape with a wire coming out of the back which connects to the mp3 player. You then insert the tape into the tape player. You then play the tape as you would a normal tape with your mp3 player playing as well.

Another option you have is to use a cigarette lighter adapter. This is basically the same idea as the cassette tape. You insert one end of the adapter into the cigarette lighter and connect the other end into your mp3 player. When using this type of adapter you may have to set the radio to a certain station for it to work.

Some cars are now coming out with a port for your mp3 player built right into your car. I don’t think that a whole lot of cars have this feature,though.

In this mp3 player generation, many people are making the switch in order to have all their music in one handy place. However, most cars aren’t adapted to play directly from an mp3 player. Fortunately, there are several options that will enable you to hear your music from your car’s speakers.

The first option is to see if your car has an audio port. If so, you can buy and axillary cable that will connect your mp3 player and play your tunes directly. However, many cars don’t have this port, particularly older cars (including mine). But don’t fret! There are other options.

The next best option, in my opinion, is a cassette adapter. You’ve probably used these before to connect a portable cd player to your car’s tape deck. They can be purchased at most electronics stores. I purchased mine at Best Buy for 20 dollars. Basically, it’s a tape with a wire on it. The wire will plug in to your headphone jack on your mp3 player. You pop the tape in the player, and voila! You have music. Just be sure to adjust your mp3 player’s volume to a medium setting and use your car’s volume adjustment. The only downside I’ve experienced with this method is that the songs seem a little muffled. However, I do believe it is still the best method.

Now, some cars don’t have tape decks anymore. So if the first two options don’t apply to you, your only bet might be an FM radio transmitter. The FM radio transmitter plugs into your cigarette lighter and also into your mp3 player. You turn on the FM transmitter and program which station you want to use. Then you tune in to that station on your car’s radio. It does play your music, however, my experiences in using the FM transmitter are not that great. Loud songs seemed to be ok, but when I listened to quiter songs, I noticed quite a bit of static in the background. You can try several different stations to try to find the clearest one, but I didn’t have any luck with mine. I truly felt it was a waste of money ($60) and reverted back to the cassette adapter. I do live in a large city, so conflicting radio waves might have something to do with the interference. I believe that in more rural settings where less radio waves are being used, an FM transmitter might be a better option.

Good luck!

There are four common options for successfully connecting your MP3 player to your car stereo. I will list them here in optimal order from best to worst it terms of setup and quality.

1. Almost all newer car stereos come with a AUX in jack on the front of the stereo unit. An AUX in will be a hole on the face of the stereo that matches the size of the headphone jack for your MP3 player. You will need to connect your MP3 player to this AUX in hole with a stereo 1/8″ cable. You can do a search for these on Ebay and find them for less than $5. If you are a little more impatient, then you can find them at your local Radio Shack or Frys Electronics for not much more. Simply plug the cord out of your MP3 player and into the AUX in port on the car stereo system, select AUX as your input device (other options will be CD player, FM, AM, etc.), and then turn your MP3 player on. This option will not power your MP3 player, so either charge it up good or have a charge in your car that will adapt to the cigarette outlet. (some very high end stereos can connect to Apple’s IPOD and allow you to browse your song library on the stereo instead of on the IPOD)

2. Another way to connect the Ipod will be on semi older systems that have stereo AUX in RCA on the back of the unit. RCA is a connection that looks like the audio for connecting your TV sound and is usually signified by a cable with two ends, one white and one red. In order to successfully hook up your MP3 player to this scenario, you will need to invest in a stereo 1/8″ to Male RCA cord at your local Radio Shack. Pull the stereo out of the console. Hook the white and red RCA ends with their corresponding female RCA ends on the back of the stereo and then wrap the cord out of another socket to the side of the console to the place you commonly keep your MP3 player. Plug the 1/8″ inch side of the cord into your MP3 player, power it on, and there you have it.

3. One option for MP3 playback through your stereo is to use the FM airwaves. They sell FM transmitters at most mass merchant stores like Target & Wal-Mart, as well as online retailers. Decent FM transmitters run in the $20-35 range. The way these work is by plugging the supplied 1/8th cord into the headphone jack on the MP3 player. Then on the FM transmitter you can select a FM channel. Tune your stereo to the corresponding FM channel and you should be able to hear your MP3′s through the airwaves. This option needs power for the transmitter to work. If you’re lucky and have a couple of extra dollars, you can invest in a charger that powers both your MP3 player and FM transmitter. Some FM transmitters have battery options for power as well. This option is capable to have audio dropouts if you drive very far and radio stations change. It’s best to choose a station that isn’t being used for broadcast.

4. The last decent option for listening to your MP3s is to use a Tape Deck. They make a tape adapter with an 1/8″ cord coming out of it that you plug into your MP3 player. Stick the tape in your stereo tape deck and the other end to your player and listen to your tunes flow. My only caution with this option is that a lot of these types of devices seem to get stuck in the tape deck rendering both devices useless. Consider yourself warned.

Good luck and enjoy the tunes!

Norm Thompson has created a unique product known as the Intelligent Lantern. Campers around the world have been asking for solution to the typical lantern. Anyone who has been camping understands how annoying a lantern can be to light. This can be especially true for those of us who forget the equipment needed to light it. The Intelligent Lantern makes lighting the outside that much easier. Oh yeah, it also acts as an alarm clock and has the ability to play music for you as well.

It appears that the Norm Thompson company has created a unique little product here. The Intelligent Lantern delivers what is best described as a super-bright beam. Tests have shown that the light beam has the power to be seen nearly a mile away. This is a handy little light to carry around with you while walking alone at night. The best part is that the lantern is powered by 5 C batteries. There is even the ability to charge or run the Intelligent Lantern through the cigarette lighter of your car. Basically, you can pretty much guarantee yourself that the lantern will not die on you during your camping trip.

There is much more to the lantern that make is even more fun to own. Perhaps my favorite feature is the incorporated AM/FM tuner that comes with the Intelligent Lantern. You can now listen to the local radio as you sit around your camp fire. The only issue many of you may have with this device when it comes to music is that it is not MP3 compatible. My guess is that the company could upgrade the lantern in the near future with this. For now, the AM/FM tuner delivers enough fun to satisfy most of us. At least we have music that we may of not had in the first place, mainly thanks to the Intelligent Lantern.

Another feature that a lot of consumers will probably enjoy is access to NOAA Weatherband. You will be able to turn your lantern on to this channel and hear about the local weather. This will enable you be better prepared if a storm is planning to make its ugly face present. As if that were not enough already, you finally have the alarm clock system. You will be able to take the lantern into your tent and set up the time that you want to get up the next morning. Or you could just use the clock as an indicator of what time it may be.

The Intelligent Lantern is 9 inches tall and only costs $39. This is a bargain because of all the specially added things that come with this lantern. A lot of regular lanterns will cost you much more than this unique little machine. The powerful light is as powerful as they advertise and the music sounds awesome through the built in speakers. For $39, how can anyone really go wrong in shelling out the money for this lantern. I know that I will enjoy using it on my next camping trip. Live a little and buy one yourself.