Digital Bits Technology Column

George asks a question about converting Vinyl to CD and MP3, while automatically pulling track and time information: I want to transfer my valuable vinyl collection to my PC first and later onto CD. The problem is that I don’t have time to type in the information for every album, every track, etc. Is there […]

National Science Olympiad 2004

With the smell of sulfur and partially scorched PVC pipe tinting the air, I overheard someone mutter “We’re gonna need more matches.” How I love the Science Olympiad! I competed in the Science Olympiad myself over fifteen years ago. When I first realized I would be attending the 2004 version, I assumed that the event […]

Sound weapons are a reality. And no, earplugs won’t help.

Step aside, sticky foam. Move over, tear gas. This may be the first case of a technologically advanced non-lethal crowd control weapon in active use. No longer science fiction… Sound weapons are a reality. We’re talking about a directional sound wave generator. The depelopers in the US Government won’t comment, so details are sketchy, but […]

How to clean and spell CDs and DVDs

You want to clean your compact disc. You’re worried about the scratches on your DVD disk. …Wait, is it “disc” or “disk”? Is this just a case of “poTAYto, poTAHto”, or is there a difference? “Disk” and “disc” are indeed two different words. “Disk” is of American origin, while “disc” is British. “Disk” refers to […]

Hello, free assisted tech support? Can I please talk to a human?

You’ve got a question about your computer. A web search wasn’t helpful. Microsoft told you to contact your computer manufacturer. The manufacturer told you no, you need to talk to Microsoft. You dial a local store, and only get more aggravated when you hear a tinny voice say, “Press 1 to keep listing to an […]

Disk Cleanup and Office Setup Files

A Digital Bits reader writes: In the “Disk Cleanup” function when the system determines what I can eliminate it always shows that I have in Office Setup Files 220,550kb of information. Is it possible to remove this data without causing harm to my current programs or system and if so, will it really give me […]

Free music creation software, from techno to classical to rap beats and sound creation tools

Music can soothe the savage beast, speak as a universal language, and reduce stress. And beyond these noble aspirations, it can generate truckloads of money. If we have musical aspirations but no instruments, instruction, or (in my case) talent, what can we do? Use these free music creation software tools to alternately soothe, speak, reduce […]

Carpe Palmium

“O Wise and Mighty Oracle… it’s that time of year when the television networks reflect on the previous season and set the schedules for the next. I hear some of the new shows are a bit of a stretch, some old favorites are switching networks, and a few past-their-prime shows are not coming back, save […]

Google search basics

The English language is weird. We use “football” to describe a game played mostly with hands. It’s called a “driveway”, but all we do is park there. And “Google” can be a noun and a verb. To “Google something” means using the Google search engine to find information. To find information quickly and easily, it […]

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Automatically finding vinyl track and time information