Computer, Software and Cellphone Questions and Advice

[Barbossa]

Thank you yes when I do that there is a green checked box next to something that just says 'Mobile Data' then under that is 'set mobile data limit' - not checked... there is an orange bar then a data usage cycle... So there is nothing I should be worried about? Its just telling me how much data usage there is???

Is there a third check box called "Alert me about data usage"? If this is checked the phone will let you know when your data usage has hit the orange bar, but will not shut off your data. If you check "Limit mobile data usage" another (red) bar will appear, the phone will indeed shut off your data access if you exceed the limit set by this bar.

[Tiffany]

no there is no third box .....


PS one more question - how do I get the wallpaper on my S4 that changes pictures automatically every few minutes? Like that on a laptop... OR am I wrong on this?

[Barbossa]

no there is no third box .....


PS one more question - how do I get the wallpaper on my S4 that changes pictures automatically every few minutes? Like that on a laptop... OR am I wrong on this?

Maybe that's due to you having a different carrier. My S4 is on Verizon.

I don't think the S4 can do dynamic wallpaper, but I might be wrong.

[Tiffany]

Is there a way to disable/uninstall something called TouchWiz? I was messing with this thing & I guess I installed this and its weird now.... not too bad but now I just want it gone.

And yes I have ATT not Verizon .....

[McMorbid]

Go into your settings and find applications. Open the manage applications folder and look for the app you want to remove. Click on that app and you should see an option to uninstall.

[Tiffany]

yea I don't know what I uninstalled- I just went into downloads & then from there cleaned those out. In downloads there is no name its just something like: 2lab852140ti.39675101111255 .... so I just cleaned out everthing in there to be safe & since its stopped doing it. Thanks!

[RiaBrown]

I installed a brand-new hard drive and Linux Ubuntu 13.04 on my son's laptop a few weeks ago. All of a sudden, it stopped turning on. He had closed the lid, and then later on he picked it up and opened it again to get back online, and it wouldn't turn on. The power light is on, but no other lights. I have Googled from my computer to figure out what might be wrong, but everything I have found so far just suggests to make sure the outlet works, the AC adapter works, the power cable works, etc. All of that is fine. The computer just will not come back to life. It's like it went into sleep mode, but won't wake up. Any suggestions would be appreciated. He is going nuts.

[jerryvr]

I installed a brand-new hard drive and Linux Ubuntu 13.04 on my son's laptop a few weeks ago. All of a sudden, it stopped turning on. He had closed the lid, and then later on he picked it up and opened it again to get back online, and it wouldn't turn on. The power light is on, but no other lights. I have Googled from my computer to figure out what might be wrong, but everything I have found so far just suggests to make sure the outlet works, the AC adapter works, the power cable works, etc. All of that is fine. The computer just will not come back to life. It's like it went into sleep mode, but won't wake up. Any suggestions would be appreciated. He is going nuts.

Try removing the power cable AND the battery... Leave it a few minutes and turn it back om.

[Tiffany]

I have another Samsung S4 question: Now, you, I can save music I've recorded on my BB Torch & save them/add them to my ringtones list. However I want a recorded audio clip to be a notifications sound & it does not allow that (??) As far as I know, I've tried every way I can to add a song from the 'music' app and tried to add them to my text message notifications & general notific. And nothing....

Is there a way I'm not finding out about myself??? How do I add a audio clip/song to not just my ringtones??

[Forever-27]

I've been asked to be a dj for an internet radio station. Pretty much all my music is on vinyl records. I was told to make my vinyl into mps using an ION turntable since it can't be doneon the old 70s sears unit. I've never heard of an ION turntable and have no idea where I can find one, and I don't know wtf an mp3 is. Anyone ?????

[Wendy A.]

It's early and I'm half awake but a mp3 is the music file on a computer. Like I burned my AIC cd's to window's media player and it converts them to mp3's. So it's basically computer music. I used to have a TON of old music from the 70's back during the days of Limewire, all that's gone now.

[McMorbid]

Mp3 format has it's ups and downs. I have around 1400 songs on my cell phone so it's easy and convenient. On the other hand you lose a little on the ends of the Hertz spectrum. It's really not that noticeable to most people though. Most of my vehicles have very intricate sound systems so I can notice the loss of low end bass. But it's really worth it for most part. I just turn on my Bluetooth and pick a playlist then I'm good. But when I'm trying to set off car alarms with the subs then I go for CDs. I don't own any vinyl.

[cleanskull]

I've been asked to be a dj for an internet radio station. Pretty much all my music is on vinyl records. I was told to make my vinyl into mps using an ION turntable since it can't be doneon the old 70s sears unit. I've never heard of an ION turntable and have no idea where I can find one, and I don't know wtf an mp3 is. Anyone ?????

I got my ION turntable at Best Buy a few years ago. It connects via usb to your computer and it's setup to make MP3"s.

[Maxster]

I've been asked to be a dj for an internet radio station. Pretty much all my music is on vinyl records. I was told to make my vinyl into mps using an ION turntable since it can't be doneon the old 70s sears unit. I've never heard of an ION turntable and have no idea where I can find one, and I don't know wtf an mp3 is. Anyone ?????

Why can't you use the Sears unit? Old-fashioned turntables have analog outputs that connect to a "pre-amp" (which pre-2000 receivers have built-in) and the pre-amp in turn outputs standard analog signals that can be plugged into a PC for digitizing. I used our old Luxman linear-track turntable to digitize all sorts of vinyl.

MP3 is a compressed audio file format that takes up much less space on-disk than standard PCM audio (CD format). Suites like Nero have utilities for converting PCM to MP3 (and also utilities for digitizing analog inputs like vinyl and slicing the raw files into individual tracks).

[Barbossa]

Mp3 format has it's ups and downs. I have around 1400 songs on my cell phone so it's easy and convenient. On the other hand you lose a little on the ends of the Hertz spectrum. It's really not that noticeable to most people though. Most of my vehicles have very intricate sound systems so I can notice the loss of low end bass. But it's really worth it for most part. I just turn on my Bluetooth and pick a playlist then I'm good. But when I'm trying to set off car alarms with the subs then I go for CDs. I don't own any vinyl.

What bit rate are your MP3's? 250 and 320 Kbps sound pretty good, though like you I can hear the difference from CDs/wav at the high end. MP3's at anything lower than 250 Kbps sound pretty bad IMO.

[Dan33185]

What bit rate are your MP3's? 250 and 320 Kbps sound pretty good, though like you I can hear the difference from CDs/wav at the high end. MP3's at anything lower than 250 Kbps sound pretty bad IMO.

Use V0, you get the best of both worlds. Good quality, and smaller filesize than 320.


http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index....te.29_settings

[McMorbid]

What bit rate are your MP3's? 250 and 320 Kbps sound pretty good, though like you I can hear the difference from CDs/wav at the high end. MP3's at anything lower than 250 Kbps sound pretty bad IMO.

They vary depending on the source. I get some music from other people. Most is 320 though. Some people can't even tell a difference in sound quality. Most of my audio systems are designed and set to pick up signals just outside of human hearing range. Obviously the signal ends won't register but I've noticed a difference close to the edge. For me it stands out in the bass spectrum. I listen to a lot of bass heavy music and my setup is usually geared toward precise bass. If you start listening to tuned ported subwoofer boxes the difference shows up even more. 320 kbps is CD quality but the conversion process will change the sound a bit. I've noticed that some music converted with the same program as other music will have sound static or loud silence. I have no idea why though.

[Barbossa]

They vary depending on the source. I get some music from other people. Most is 320 though. Some people can't even tell a difference in sound quality. Most of my audio systems are designed and set to pick up signals just outside of human hearing range. Obviously the signal ends won't register but I've noticed a difference close to the edge. For me it stands out in the bass spectrum. I listen to a lot of bass heavy music and my setup is usually geared toward precise bass. If you start listening to tuned ported subwoofer boxes the difference shows up even more. 320 kbps is CD quality but the conversion process will change the sound a bit. I've noticed that some music converted with the same program as other music will have sound static or loud silence. I have no idea why though.

What's interesting is that some MP3 players these days have so much memory that you could simply load the .wav files instead of MP3's (or other compressed format). There are also a bunch of lossless audio compression algorithms (i.e. FLAC) which will reduce file size but preserve original audio quality.

[McMorbid]

I usually go for 64 gig memory on any phone I'm going to have. That leaves room for pretty much any format. Most of my music is already on file though. If I ever sit down to refile I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the tip.

[Barbossa]

I usually go for 64 gig memory on any phone I'm going to have. That leaves room for pretty much any format. Most of my music is already on file though. If I ever sit down to refile I'll keep this in mind. Thanks for the tip.

I'm in the same boat. There's no way I'd have time to re-rip all of my CD's to .wav or lossless. Might do it for new CD's though.

[Tiffany]

Is there an app for my android or is there a way to make my own GIF and use them on my Samsung S4 as moving, live wallpaper???

[Forever-27]

Priced out the turntable, cheap 100 bucks at best buy. I don't know shit about computers, but the sales guy says the software promps you on making mp3s when the record player gets hooked up. Hate to dump all these albums I've amassed since the 70s

[Bidmor]

Priced out the turntable, cheap 100 bucks at best buy. I don't know shit about computers, but the sales guy says the software promps you on making mp3s when the record player gets hooked up. Hate to dump all these albums I've amassed since the 70s

Something I'm familiar with. The turntable you priced has a USB port in addition to regular analog audio output, so when playing a record while connected to your pc, the turntable and its software is digitizing the audio on the fly and writing it to your hd. Depending on what options the software has, I would record the audio to your pc in a .wav file (if possible) which is uncompressed audio. Then if you want to clean up the sound some, such as reducing pops and clicks, before converting to mp3, download a nice free app called Audacity. It has adjustable pop and hiss filters built in. After you've cleaned up the noise some, then you can convert the .wav file to mp3. If the turntable software doesn't offer conversion from wav to mp3, download another free app (I use it) called CD-EX. In fact, if the turntable won't let you record in wav format but mp3 only directly from the record, you can use CD-EX to convert mp3 to wav so you use Audacity for restoration, then convert the file back to mp3.

Tip: for best mp3 quality, choose a sampling rate of 320 kps.

[Maxster]

Priced out the turntable, cheap 100 bucks at best buy. I don't know shit about computers, but the sales guy says the software promps you on making mp3s when the record player gets hooked up. Hate to dump all these albums I've amassed since the 70s

If you have a large collection, it may be worth it to use a pre-amp with a PC.

[Forever-27]

Yea, I've got some 15 crates of vinyl records. Ill figure out wtf a kps is when I get to that point.

[Bidmor]

Yea, I've got some 15 crates of vinyl records. Ill figure out wtf a kps is when I get to that point.

Does that turntable have a USB connection on it? I assumed it did as I've seen a couple in the past and the salesperson's mention of software. If no USB, then you will need a phono pre-amp as Maxster suggested to connect to the "line" input of your pc.

[RiaBrown]

Try removing the power cable AND the battery... Leave it a few minutes and turn it back om.

He let it sit for several days, and still nothing. He is trying this now. He is currently away on a canoe trip with our church's youth group. He removed the power cable and the battery a few days ago, and is leaving it that way while he is gone. Hopefully, we can let it reset. He seems to think that it "needs a rest." I know I am missing playing "Criminal Case" on Facebook with him. He and I play with my mom.

[Tiffany]

I really really want to purchase the Emergency Room disc for my laptop. Its a Windows 7, all those games on amazon are for Mac/PC. Even the downloadable installment is too.

Is there a way to download it for my Windows 7 XP?


AND Samsung Galaxy S4 question: How do I go back to the options in lock screen?? I have it set to face detection but I changed my mind, I want it to be swipe now. I can't go back? Once I chose the face detection AKA the finger pattern, I can't go back?!?!?!

[Tiffany]

I need your help.... the speakers or the Mic is too loud..... the mic is disabled.... but nothing I play on the laptop I can hear that well. Is as if I am using the Dragon Speaking Naturally, which I was afew months ago, and I perhaps messed with the mic or something so that the mic would pick up what I was saying..... now out makes a sound... and I can't hear anything and I can't turn up the volume because the sound of the noise will go up

[Maxster]

Is this Windows 7 or 8?

[Tiffany]

Is this Windows 7 or 8?

Windows 7 and the sound of my typing when I plug in headphones sounds magnified 100x, everything I'm watching is lowered I can't hear it

[Maxster]

It appears that your microphone is active and recording ambient sounds such as your typing that are then being output through the built-in speakers.

You need to turn off the microphone, which can be done in Control Panel->Hardware and Sound->Sound.

[Tiffany]

But the Mic is disabled..... Please don't tell me I have to bring it in to have it fixed

[Maxster]

There is the option of Remote Assistance: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...ote-assistance

Can you post a screen capture of your Sound panel?

[Tiffany]

[Maxster]

That's the Volume Mixer; the Sound applet is brought up via Control Panel->Hardware and Sound.

[Bidmor]

An easy way to access mic and recording settings is to right click on the little speaker in the system tray (lower right hand corner of screen where all the little icons are)...
Click on "Recording devices"...
Select the Recording tab (if not already highlighted)...
Click on "Microphone"

There should be a bar meter to the right. Test the mic by clapping or making some kind of noise. If you see it register sound, then your mic is not muted. In any event, click on Microphone then on the "Properties" button at bottom of window.

Then click on "Levels" tab. You should see one or two mic level sliders and a button with a speaker in it. Slide one or both sliders to zero. In addition, click on the speaker button...when you do that a red circle and line should appear.

Click Ok. Now test your mic again by making a noise. The meter should not register or light up. Your mic should now be muted.

[Tiffany]

I fixed it. It was a simple thing to do with speaker & the level. I just put it to 0 and now it seems to be working just fine; I don't hear everything. Thanks everyone.

[Bidmor]

Good deal, Tiff.

Muting the mic and disabling the web cam on this laptop was one of the "customizations" I did to this laptop out of the box.

Paranoid about eavesdropping you know.

[Tiffany]

Good deal, Tiff.

Muting the mic and disabling the web cam on this laptop was one of the "customizations" I did to this laptop out of the box.

Paranoid about eavesdropping you know.

Okay nevermind that did not fix the problem..... The mic is still picking up sounds, background static.... I was trying to play Dexter season finale from a certain secret link to an email & although the volume is 100%, I can't hear anything!!!

[Bidmor]

Okay nevermind that did not fix the problem..... The mic is still picking up sounds, background static.... I was trying to play Dexter season finale from a certain secret link to an email & although the volume is 100%, I can't hear anything!!!

I assume Dexter is a video game. I'm totally out of it when it comes to games.

In any event, as a process of elimination, open a mp3 with your favorite or any media player and your speaker volume lowered, then raise your speaker level while the file is playing until the level is satisfactory. Do you have noise now?

If not, close the mp3 and try a video...from a file or from YouTube or from a DVD. If the audio is still clean and you get plenty of volume when set at 100%, then you have eliminated the problem being in your standard audio drivers...speakers and mic.

However if the audio from a mp3 and vid is still noisey, open up your Recording devices window again and see if there's only one type of mic listed. There might be a second. (If there is a second, one will be marked "default device". Let me know if there are two types of mics listed.) If so, click on it, then properties, then zero out those levels.

If you're only having trouble with Dexter and you have all your mic settings zeroed out, then there's some problem you're linking to, as if a script is running on that site which bypasses your sound settings, which I'd be cautious of.

You first thought you had fixed the problem, until you tried Dexter again, which leads me to suspect it.

BTW, you mentioned you used Dragon before but not now. Did you uninstall it? If not, I would do that first if you never intend to use it again. That could be the problem source too, as Dragon uses the mic.

[Tiffany]

I assume Dexter is a video game. I'm totally out of it when it comes to games.

In any event, as a process of elimination, open a mp3 with your favorite or any media player and your speaker volume lowered, then raise your speaker level while the file is playing until the level is satisfactory. Do you have noise now?

If not, close the mp3 and try a video...from a file or from YouTube or from a DVD. If the audio is still clean and you get plenty of volume when set at 100%, then you have eliminated the problem being in your standard audio drivers...speakers and mic.

However if the audio from a mp3 and vid is still noisey, open up your Recording devices window again and see if there's only one type of mic listed. There might be a second. (If there is a second, one will be marked "default device". Let me know if there are two types of mics listed.) If so, click on it, then properties, then zero out those levels.

If you're only having trouble with Dexter and you have all your mic settings zeroed out, then there's some problem you're linking to, as if a script is running on that site which bypasses your sound settings, which I'd be cautious of.

You first thought you had fixed the problem, until you tried Dexter again, which leads me to suspect it.

BTW, you mentioned you used Dragon before but not now. Did you uninstall it? If not, I would do that first if you never intend to use it again. That could be the problem source too, as Dragon uses the mic.

I did uninstall it. And I played a song from Windows Media Player & it still is playing static

[Bidmor]

I did uninstall it. And I played a song from Windows Media Player & it still is playing static

Is the noise static only or do you also hear sound from the mic?

[Tiffany]

I unistalled Dragon.... now the mic is turned off but now when I watch Breaking Bad or anything from Netflix streaming, the volume is still too low. I turned up the volume on the bar.... still too low.

[Bidmor]

Do you have the same volume problem when you watch a Youtube vid?

[Tiffany]

No its only Windows Media Player thus far

[Bidmor]

Next think I would do is check for WMP updates. Open WMP, click on About, then updates.

[jerryvr]

Or install VLC player.. http://www.videolan.org

[Tiffany]

Ok & then how do I play through whatever my Windows Media Player is playing through that??? Thanks!! Almost done...

[Bidmor]

Ok & then how do I play through whatever my Windows Media Player is playing through that??? Thanks!! Almost done...

VLC is a superior media player, not doubt. Are you installing VLC? If so, it will probably substitute what you've been using WMP for automatically, or you will be prompted to do so.

,