TechLore - Latest Articles

Review of LG Flatron W2286L 22" Ultra Slim LED Backlit Widescreen Monitor

Peter Redmer — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:40:50 GMT

Are you sick and tired of those long-winded, overly technical monitor reviews that just bog you down with jargon you don't understand? I am too. All of those fancy specifications sometimes belie the crappiness of certain monitors, so it's generally better to trust "user" reviews or just plain seeing it in person. Unfortunately, to get the best price, you gotta go online - which is what I did with this LG. I trusted the company and they did not disappoint. The Flatron comes in, you guessed it, a big flat box. Handy "quick installation" instructions are printed on the box flaps, which is great for those non-geeky folks who want to get started quickly. The normal trappings are included - a glossy, well-made stand, instructions & CD, power cable & cube, DVI-D cable, and VGA cable. The first thing I thought upon removing it from the box was "wow... it's thin... and LIGHT." The thing barely weighs anything, yet does not feel cheap. It easily plops down on the included stand, which has a nifty screw on the bottom that makes it simple to attach securely. The exterior is a sharp, glossy piano black. On the back, you will find...

Review of the Mintpass Mintpad MID / PDA / MP3 Player

Peter Redmer — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:50:12 GMT

Ah, the Post-It note... a mainstay of organizers everywhere. Sitting atop your desk merely waiting to be peeled and stuck, the iconic yellow squares (or tabs, or rectangles) have been around seemingly forever, and to date, haven't met with an adequate electronic replacement. Computer desktop "stickies" don't really seem to emulate the feeling of jotting down a quick note. It's for this reason that the beguiling Mintpass Mintpad called my name, begging my compulsively organized self to give it a try. What is the Mintpad? With its cute name and arguably cuter exterior, the Mintpad is certainly a chic little device. About the size of, you guessed it, a Post-It, the Mintpad is simple and elegant. It feels solidly built and it's apparent that it is a quality device even before you turn it on. Indeed, the masterminds behind the Mintpad are former iRiver employees (reportedly) so this isn't surprising. At its core, the Mintpad is a "MID," or Mobile Internet Device. It's not really big enough to technically be an MID, but it's a lot more than an MP3 player and has a wireless connection and browser, so most people choose to refer to it as one. You could...

G2 Adjustment and Electrical Focus Procedure for Sony and Many Other Rear Projection TVs

Larry Dillon — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:31:47 GMT

If you are looking to perform a G2 adjustment and electrical focus on your Sony or other common rear projection television yourself, the following detailed procedure will help you do it properly. G2 Adjustment Procedure Turn the green screen control on the Focus Block until retrace lines appear and gradually turn it back until the point where you can see the retrace line disappears, just before cutoff. Turn the red screen control on the Focus Block until retrace lines appear and gradually turn it back until the point where you can see the retrace line disappears, just before cutoff. Turn the blue screen control on the Focus Block until retrace lines appear and gradually turn it back until the point where you can see the retrace line disappears, just before cutoff. [[ad]] If the screen still appears too bright after proper G-2 adjustment, you need to adjust the sub-bright adjustment in the service menu control down until screen cut-off. (Service data Range is usually 21 to 25 in the Service menu, for Sony sets you first go to category "MCP2", & then adjustment item 01 ("SBRT") = subright. Electrical Focus For electrical the focus, put on the screen a clear...

DIY Repair Tip: How To Quick Check Transistors

zapdbf — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:03:28 GMT

There are ways to test transistors, using special transistor testing equipment. You have to remove the transistor from the circuit then test using this device, and while it does give you an accurate diagnostic of the transistor, it's a very slow process. In some cases this is necessary when dealing with more complex problems. Many times a quick check will be accurate enough to point you in the right direction. A quick check will tell you if a transistor is bad, but it will not tell you it's good. If a transistor you are testing passes the quick check you must keep in mind it may still be bad. This fact should not stop you from moving on to another logical place to look for your fault, but there is always that chance you will have to back up to the original location. Normally transistors fail by shorting not by opening up. With the power unplugged and the transistor in circuit, set your meter to 'diode check.' Pick any two of the three legs of the transistor and connect your meter to it. If the reading is infinite or around .4, this is a good sign. Now, pick another pin...

Review of the Meggy Jr. RGB Handheld Video Game Kit

Peter Redmer — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:20:45 GMT

The Meggy Jr. RGB is a great little retro gaming kit on which to get your 16 mHz fix.

No Ethernet? No Problem! Powerline, MoCA, and Wireless-N Kits Compared

Matt Whitlock — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:04:35 GMT

Despite the ever increasing proliferation of devices and services that require a broadband connection to the Internet, the average home has one major flaw: no Ethernet. Even modern day new-construction often lacks the magic eight conductor cable strung to every room, meaning getting that connection to things like Slingbox, Xbox Live, and other web based devices can be a real challenge. Ethernet is the backbone of the network, and easily the fastest, most reliable way to network your devices. However, because most homes lack structural Ethernet wiring (and oftentimes adding it after the walls are buttoned up can be too difficult and/or expensive) a significant amount of effort has been put into creating devices that help you get network connections in other rooms using other means. Some rely on wireless technologies, while others rely on structured cabling common to homes. If you want to use a web-connected device in a room without Ethernet and you need to use an Ethernet bridge of some sort, you'll have to choose between one of three major technologies to get the job done: powerline, wireless, and coax. Here are three different plug-and-play Ethernet adapter kits (based on these different technologies I personally use) and...

Sony DPF-D70 Digital Photo Frame Review

Peter Redmer — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:58:33 GMT

Looking for a nice, medium priced, high quality digital photo frame?

Magic Jack, Not So Magical - TechLore Member Review

Larry Dillon — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:27:10 GMT

There is a new device being advertised all over the US right now called "the Magic Jack," a private voice over IP (VoIP) solution allowing you to use a high-speed Internet connection to make and receive calls instead of traditional land-line service. It said in their TV ads there was a nominal fee of $39.95 to purchase the Magic Jack, which included a $9.95 fee for the first year of service. After the first year it would cost me an additional $9.95 per year, and there's a five year special available for $59.95. After paying AT&T a little over 65 bucks per month for my local and long distance service, that sounded GREAT! I just had to check this out! So I ordered one, and 5 days later it showed up in my mailbox. Setting up the Magic Jack was pretty straightforward. Simply plug it into an open USB Port, then plug a telephone into the port on the Magic Jack. I gave it a few minutes to load the setup, and during the process was given the option to designate my home state. A list of available area codes appeared, and after selecting one, as given a telephone number....