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Computers 101

Q:
I can hear instrumental music on websites, but on other sites that have sounds I don't hear anything. Is there some way to fix this?

A:
Most instrumental music on web pages are MIDI files while other sounds like "You've got mail!" are usually WAV files. Rather than representing musical sound directly, MIDI files transmit information about how a song should sound that is then processed by your sound card. WAV files represent musical sound directly.

Both types have their own volume control in your computer.

Go down to your system tray (RH corner next to clock) and double click your speaker icon. A volume control interface will come up.

Make sure that you have your Wave, MIDI (on my computer it says "SW Synth", yours may be different), and CD audio all turned up and that "Mute" is unchecked.

This should allow you to hear all the sounds of the web.

~ David

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Tip of the Day

Classic Windows view in XP

Yesterday's tip about viewing the COntrol Panel in "Classic View" prompted many of you to ask if all of Windows XP could be made to look like Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 9x, or Windows Millennium. Well, here's what you do...

You can go the long way (Start, Control Panel, Appearance and Themes, and Display) or the short way (right click an empty area of the desktop and press Properties) to see the "Display Properties" window.

Select the Themes tab. In the drop-down menu there are several options including "Windows Classic". Clicking it on will show a sample.

Click Apply or OK. Now it's just like the good ol' days!

~ David

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http://www.worldstart.com/writers-guidelines/index.htm

Amanda's Cool Site of the Day

Giant Lava Lamp

How can you get tourists to stop in your town rather than blink and miss it? Build a giant lava lamp!

Soap Lake, a once bustling spa town due to its unique mineral lake, is located in Eastern Washington State and is no longer bustling, but in fact needs re-development. Two enterprising citizens have proposed building a giant Lava Lamp in the very center of the town.

The giant lava lamp, which was approved by both the town and the county, will hold an estimated 60,000 gallons of water.

Stop by this site often to check out their progress.

http://www.giantlavalamp.com

Do you have a cool, non-commercial site that you want to share?
Send it to Amanda at amanda@worldstart.com