Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2006 December 25

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[edit] December 25

[edit] GOOGLE EARTH

Hello,

1)Iv asked this question before but the answer was too complicated; can you change the route of the roads (the actual lines) on google earth? Can you change road names and their locations? Can you add information to the boxes when you click on a place name?

Last time the answer was too complicated and it was telling me to go toplaces that didnt exist and if they did then they were a seemingly random collection of computer programming.

Do you mean change it for everyone, or change it only for yourself? In the first case, the answer is no (Google Earth isn't a wiki), and in the second case, the answer is "only if you're smart enough to figure out how to do it". Why do you want to, anyway? —Keenan Pepper 01:25, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

2)When you put an image overlay on, how do you take it off?

thanks, --84.68.236.83 15:14, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Using a Memory Card

I currently have a Motorola RAZR and just got a MicroSD for Christmas. Now, I am completely computer illiterate. From my understanding (and please correct me if I'm wrong), I'm supposed to put the memory card into the computer, put files on it, then place it into my phone. Well, I figured out how to put the MicroSD in my Razr, but I can't figure out where I'm supposed to put it in my computer, which is a Dell Dimension 2300. Any help that anyone could offer me would be great, and I already appreciate it. Thank you. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.188.131.223 (talk) 05:44, 25 December 2006 (UTC).

I don't think you're right that it's used to move files to your computer, it's just there to add extra memory to your Motorola RAZR cell phone. To transfer files you probably have some other method, like a USB cable. Or, some files, like ring-tones, can likely be uploaded to your phone using Motorola's web site, or other web sites, who then send the info to your phone just like they send a phone call, via wireless transmission. StuRat 12:52, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
Yeah but you might be able to use a Card reader to access the memory directly --frothT C 18:03, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
If you are not technically minded: You can connect by USB, as StuRat says, but the USB cable you need is one with a small USB plug (which looks identical to the phone charger connection) on the one end, and an ordinary computer USB on the other. Once the two machines are connected and switched on, the computer will detect the phone as a disk drive. You may have a suitable USB cable in your home, it is the cable with which you connect some cameras to the computer - look for the end that looks like your phone charger plug. Alternatively, as froth said, use a card reader can be plugged into your computer USB port, and you put the micro-SD card in to that. Once more your machine will pick it up as an extra "drive". If you use a multi-card reader, then each slot on the reader may show up as a separate drive (e.g. D,E,F, and G drives), but only one of them - the one with the card - will be readable. Your computer does not have Bluetooth as a standard option, but if you have a Bluetooth USB adapter then that would be an option for communication between the two machines. Once you do have a connection, you work with files from the computer as you would in Windows, using Windows explorer, or going from "My Computer" to find the phone "drive". If you do have to buy a connecting device, consider whether you may use it for something else - a card reader is convenient for cameras, Bluetooth for if you want other kinds of wireless devices to work (e.g. keyboard, mouse, speakers). --Seejyb 23:02, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

I have a SLVR, and I had a hard time getting my computer to recognize my memory card. Here's the Motorola customer support page. I have taken the liberty of choosing United States as your location. Just choose your model from the "all subs" bar, type in your search terms, and there you go. [[1]] If you're out of the US, [[2]] will take you to the right place. After selecting you location, click on FAQs under the Mobile Phone Resources. Good luck. FruitMart07 19:02, 31 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] forming archive

which microsoft office program can be used to form archive? 62.139.202.227 08:58, 25 December 2006 (UTC)mehad

That depends on what kind of archive you want to create. Please be a little more specific so that we can help you. (It seems that you may be looking for Microsoft Access, though?) function msikma(user:UserPage, talk:TalkPage):Void 14:21, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem and computer input

Hello everybody. I have a question regarding the Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem. I'm currently writing the speedrun article, which is about the fast completion of video games as a sport. In my article, it's argued that if a game runs at 60 FPS (which is usually the case for NTSC games), then it is impossible to press one button faster than 30 times per second; you need to have one frame of not pressing the button in-between every pressing, because otherwise, the game will consider that you are holding down the button rather than pressing it rapidly. Thus, the maximum resolution of input for one button is 30 times per second on a console detecting the input 60 times per second. Somebody came in and added to this claim that the Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem is some kind of proof or confirmation. I don't really understand this theory. Maybe you could help me by saying whether it really does prove what I just explained? Thanks! function msikma(user:UserPage, talk:TalkPage):Void 13:24, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

It looks to me like what the theorem is saying is that for a periodic phenomenon's period to be measured, the sampling rate must be at least twice the period. Here, the period is how long it takes a button to go from pressed to not-pressed and back, and the sampling rate is how often the game checks the button state. (Note that this is, at least in theory, not necessarily the same as how often it sends a refresh to the screen, which is what frame rate means.) So if the button is down for 1⁄60 second and then up for 1⁄60 second, it needs to be checked 60 times a second to be seen as down, up and then down again, for the game to register the two presses as separate. NeonMerlin 17:45, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

::So yes, it does prove what you explained, msikma. :) --Kjoonlee 05:29, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

For example, if firing a weapon costs one frame of input in a game that runs at 60 frames per second, it is possible to fire that weapon 30 times per second.

I've changed my mind. If it's sampled 60 times per second, the computer doesn't have to count keypresses; it can just count the duration of the keypresses to fire bullets. --Kjoonlee 05:38, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

So IMHO if you have to depress let go of a button to fire (like in Mega Man 5) you can only fire 30 bullets per second, but if you have autofire (like in Quake III Arena) you can fire 60 at 60 fps. --Kjoonlee 05:55, 26 December 2006 (UTC)
Thanks for your help! :) I'll write a footnote with this information to give a bit more explanation to the mentioning of the theory. function msikma(user:UserPage, talk:TalkPage):Void 09:32, 26 December 2006 (UTC)
I don't quite understand the application of what is discussed here. Neither does the frame rate of a game necessarily dictate any "input" sampling rate nor have I come across a human or game which can press a button or shoot 30 times a second. Are you sure you are on the right track here? Vespine 23:19, 26 December 2006 (UTC)
I agree with Vespine here. The framerate has nothing to do with input sampling. Take for example a FPS shooter on an old PC, despite having a lower framerate of maybe 20fps, you can still type in text with the keyboard and it will all get recognized. Aetherfukz 01:05, 27 December 2006 (UTC)
The only reason for there to be a linkage is if you need to show each and every bullet being fired in it's own frame. This isn't necessary, because you can't make out that level of detail anyway. StuRat 11:58, 27 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Ink jet cartridge models

What's the difference between HP ink jet cartridges 17 and 78? Can a printer designed for one be made to accept the other? NeonMerlin 17:37, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

Not according to http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=bpa02009 and http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/fastFaqLiteDocument?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=bpa02048#
Also see http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/productdata/pdf/ij_c6578series_us_eng_v2.pdf and http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/productdata/pdf/ij_c6625series_us_eng_v2.pdf where the difference seems to be that the 78 series has ammonium nitrate in it. --- Skapur 21:50, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Every Wikipedia page requires fonts to be temporarily installed?

I am using Internet Explorer 7, and starting today, I have found that navigating to every single different page on Wikipedia prompts a dialogue box of "This page uses fonts that need to be temporarily installed. This is usually safe. Do you want to allow these fonts to be downloaded?"

This never happened on Wikipedia before, and it isn't happening on other web pages now either. Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to get IE to accept whatever fonts it needs for Wikipedia without having to go through the dialogue box on every page? Thanks. --Metropolitan90 21:31, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

Under Tools-Internet Options Security tab, if you click on Custom and go to Downloads section, what do you have for fonts? --- Skapur 21:53, 25 December 2006 (UTC)
I had "Prompt". I figured that I ought to change it to "Enable". (I should note that the problem appears to be solved now, but it apparently resolved itself before I made that change. Thanks for your help!) --Metropolitan90 01:01, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

THANKS for the help. I've tried many changes to settings but nothing worked. Following your path, it finally worked and the annoying font pop-ups are gone!