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The Downloader's Handbook: Your Complete Guide to Using Broadband for Downloading, & Ripping Music & Film
The mass arrival of broadband has caused a revolution on the internet. The major activity online is now the downloading of music and video files. Music download services offer millions of songs for immediate download to users and where music has led, film is about to follow.
Nearly all music and film content has now been turned into digital
content and is available in some shape or form online. But where can all this be found? Is it safe to download? And what about the legal issues? These are questions which this book answers. Written in straight-forward language this book is a practical guide to:
- Setting up a computer to download files over the internet in a safe environment
- What programs to use to download and play music and video files
- Where to find free and paid-for media files on the net
- Which portable MP3 players to buy
- How to navigate around all file-sharing networks
- How not be fazed by all the jargon like MP3, OGG and DivX
- How to understand the legal position when you download files
The book is not for computer experts, but for people with ordinary home PCs who want to join the entertainment revolution. Your computer has turned into tomorrow's entertainment center - this book shows you how to take simple control of it. Millions of users globally are online, downloading music and video day in, day out. You can either ignore the revolution, or start downloading now!
Preface
Introduction
1. Computer Hardware
Thirteen upgrade steps
Step 1 - Memory
Step 2 - USB and Firewire slots
Step 3 - Hard disk storage
Step 4 - Motherboard
Step 5 - CPU
Step 6 - Graphics card
Step 7 - TV tuner card or device
Step 8 - Operating system
Step 9 - Sound card
Step 10 - Home network
Step 11 - Streaming
Step 12 - Modem and broadband
Step 13 - Monitor
2. Securing Your Computer
Five steps to safe downloading
Step 1 - Update your software
Step 2 - Know the enemy
Step 3 - Anti-virus software
Step 4 - Spyware
Step 5 - Firewall
3. Digital Music
Ripping software
- Welcome to the world of Nero
- The Swiss army knife alternative - dBpowerAMP
Codecs galore - which ones to use?
- How do they compare?
Digital Music Players
- Windows Media Player
- jetAudio
- WinAmp
- Portable MP3 players
Internet radio and streaming audio
- Live365
- BBC
Recording music and speech using your PC
- Audio Recorder Pro
- The Audacity alternative
4. Online Music Services
The world of DRM
The Major Music Download Services
- MSN
- Apple iTunes
- Napster
- eMusic
- Audible
- Other services
Which service to use?
- Range of music
- Cost
5. Digital Video
Video streaming
6. File Sharing Networks
Content galore, pity about the law
7. Copyright And The Law
Questions about copyright
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