So where are these jobs? Its easiest to get hired in the SF bay area, LA, or Seattle. My guess is because of the number of companies in these locations. Summer is the best time to get hired as companies are ramping up to finish the holiday releases.

You need to have good communication and writing skills. This way you will be able to convey your message as to whitch bugs occured when testing the game. A tester that writes up clear, concise bug reports will get most of their bugs fixed, while those who do not will find most of their reports ignored or in constant need of clarification, even if the two testers were reporting identical issues.

Don’t get too set on working on a specific project or platform. You might have to start by testing some craptastic Barbie Horse Adventure game on cell phones.

Understand game development - The more you know about programming, 3D modelling and animation, graphics, and computers in general, the easier it will be to find, understand, and reportbugs.

Don’t expect to be hired on permanently. There are tons of testing jobs, but I’d bet there is one permanent position per 50 testers in the workplace. It’s tough to get noticed in the hordes of hires some of the major companies take on per year. If you start to expect things from your employer, you are bound to be disappointed. If you don’t, and work hard, maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Get used to long hours. Testers are typically on the last 3-5 months of every project which just so happens to coincide with crunch time for every project. This often leads to testers ending up in permanent crunch mode. Many testers work grueling 80 hour weeks over and over again.

For hardcore gamers becoming a video game tester can be a dream job. Find out how to become a video game tester

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/game-tester-careers-becoming-a-video-game-tester-1047553.html

1. You need to know how to test software. When we are talking about software I’m not talking about one piece of software Im talking about any type of software. Many game platforms run on different types of software. Knowing computer software it will give you an advantage in landing a better testing job.

2. You need to have good comunication and writing skills. You will be working with the programmer who programs the game. So telling him whats wrong with the game ie: bugs in the program in a clear written  manner is important.

3. You will need to know about the video game industry. This does not mean that you know what the hot games are comming out next month but you will need to know how developers, artists, composers go about designing the game.

4. Be prepared to work long hours. Being a game tester is not you usual 40 hour work week. The company you work for may have a deadline to meet for the game to be shipped.

Well, there you have it. The top four things that every game tester needs to know before landing a job testing video or computer games. It is not an easy process, and if you are really serious about making it as a game tester, then you may need to take a couple of classes online or off line to gain the skills that you need to succeed in getting a good game tester job.

Learn more about becoming a video game tester

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I am offering this advice through experience, I know the unwanted, or unexpected can occur at anytime, and I know that one day our new iPod touch and other technology will no longer be new, either through use or being outdated by newer technology, so knowing how to benefit financially can offer you the best of both worlds, now and in the future. Regardless of the fate of your new iPod touch, or the length of time you have to enjoy it´s benefits I will offer you some advice that in your own time, whenever the need arises you can trade it for a cash payment that can be used for many things, including upgrading your new iPod touch to a newer iPod touch.

With the growth of the internet comes the opportunity to benefit financially in many ways, and I would like to make you aware of the following. When the time comes to part with your iPod touch because it is no longer new you can visit a website enter your details and the specifications of your iPod touch in terms of condition and receive a fast payment in a matter of days, all this can be done from your own home and without costing a cent to yourself providing you have selected a professional market leader to trade with.

So enjoy your new iPod touch, and you can even get more enjoyment from it knowing that there is a financial benefit waiting for you at the end of your time with it, and make sure you receive that financial benefit with a top industry leader such as www.cashforiphones.com who specialize in trading iPhones and iPods with qualified staff professionally trained to assist you and make the entire process as swift and as pleasant as possible for you.

Mark Grey,
mark@markfreelance.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/ipod-touch-trading-the-old-for-the-new-1049194.html

Sending SMS messasges to a limited number of users is certainly convenient but when it comes to send bulk SMS messages through mobile phone, the task is a hazardous one. Following the principle “Necessity is the mother of invention”, an invention called SMS EXCEL1.5 has come to our rescue. The admirable part of this innovation is that it completely free for anyone and everyone who uses a mobile phone and a computer. At one go, the sending of bulk SMS messaging services and the Microsoft Excel have come together to make this innovation possible.

This SMS Excel 1.5 Plug-in makes sending bulk messages very simple. Whatever message data we want to send have to be first imported into the Microsoft Excel. Then we will get SMS message templates. We can create our own templates and the software will do the rest.

You will be having a phone list with you. Your SMS message will be automatically added to the mobile phone numbers in your list. The SMS Excel 1.5 Plug-in actually connects the SMS messages and the mobile phone numbers together. This Plug-in ensures sending your SMS messages to the bulk users individually also. This is the methodology as to how every one in your mobile phone list will be receiving a text message instantly.

We can understand how this free software performs multiple message sending functions within a few seconds will be of great help to the businessmen. This easy access to the huge number of clients, at virtually no cost, is called bulk messaging and is no doubt a boon to the sender.

The requirements for this great facility are really very simple –Desk Top or Laptop     computer, Excel in computer, and SMS Excel 1.5 Plug-in. You are not to pay a hefty salary to a group of employees which erodes your profits, particularly in those countries like U.S, which are lacking cheap manpower.

As we have seen above, this Bulk SMS Plug-in software is easy to use, easy to create SMS message templates, user-friendly arrangements, and a personal touch in each SMS message. This is an added advantage, certainly for all those who are in direct marketing, multi-level marketing (MLM) and network marketing businesses.

For more information go to Bulk SMS

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/send-sms-in-bulk-1045020.html

On most music CDs, each song is stored in digital format as a WAV file.  On average, one minute of music in this format can require between one and two megabytes of storage space.  This allows for storage of only 10 to 15 songs on most CDs.  MP3 technology seeks to compress the file size considerable making use of something called the “lossy compression algorithm” and the science of psychoacoustics.  Within the range of human hearing, our ear has limitations on distinguishing between multiple notes being played simultaneously.  For example, two notes of the same strength played simultaneously would likely be heard as a single note, with one note masking the other.  The perception of human hearing has been described as a series of mathematical equations, and the lossy compression algorithm provides a roadmap to strip out the notes that cannot be discerned by the human ear.  The resulting file is then compressed a second time, and the file is now in MP3 format.  The MP3 file is typically one tenth of the original file size.  Compressions of less than one twelfth are possible, but at these high compressions, the loss of audio quality becomes significant.

This MP3 file can then be downloaded on to an MP3 player.  Most digital music players consist of a file storage unit, an electronic play back unit, a battery power supply, and headphones or earbuds.  The storage, playback, and power supply units are housed in a protective casing.  The file storage unit can be either a hard drive or a flash memory card.  Hard drives usually have much higher storage capacities than flash memory units, but can suffer from “skipping” and consume more power than flash memory.  The battery powers the MP3 player.  It can be a built-in rechargeable battery or an external AAA size battery that needs to be inserted into the player.  The economy of a built-in rechargeable battery is obvious, but you will need to plug the player into the USB port of your computer in order to charge the battery.  In that respect, units with the AAA batteries are more convenient.

Dale is the owner and webmaster for www.gizmocentral.com - an online webstore that specializes in electronic gadgets. His hobbies include gemology and he has an interested in fashion jewelry.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/mp3-players-technical-details-1047185.html

The miracle of today’s MP3 player is because of a process called perceptual audio coding or PAC, and it relies on the inherent limitations of human hearing.  Humans are capable of hearing sound signals in the frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 KHz.  Within this range, competing audio signals may mask or override each other.  For example, from two signals of the same strength but differing frequencies, the signal with the higher frequency will mask the signal of the lower frequency, and the human ear will only detect the high frequency signal.   Using PAC, the irrelevant and redundant parts of the sound signal – or in other words, those signals that cannot be detected by the human ear, are removed.  This reduces the size of the audio file.  Since the removed parts cannot be recognized by humans in the first place, there is little reduction in the sound quality.  In the second step, the reduced file is further compressed using a process similar to zipping any other computer file.  The result of these two processes is a digital audio file that is about one tenth the size of the original audio track, with only a small loss of quality.

MP3 players have numerous advantages over other portable playback devices such as CD players.  For one, the portability of today’s units is unmatched!  You can buy eight gigabyte player that measure less than two inches by two inches by one inch.  An eight gigabyte unit can store about fifteen hundred songs!  If you wanted to carry the same amount of music on conventional music CDs, you would likely need over a hundred of them!  Today’s digital music players consume very little power.  A single battery cell will last over twelve hours.  Finally, if you get tired on the music you currently have on your player, you can erase it and replace it with new music.  With conventional CDs, you do not have that luxury.  You would need to buy yourself a new CD.  It is also important to note that inexpensive MP4 players are also available in the market today.  These players are the video version of MP3 players, and are a must if you prefer visual entertainment to the audio version.

www.gizmocentral.com is an online webstore that specializes in affordable consumer electronics. The site is owned and managed by Dale Arnold. Dale is also the webmaster for azjewelrystore.com, an online store that specializes in trendy and cheap fashion jewelry.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/mp3-players-the-advantages-1047196.html

The origin of MP3 technology can be traced back to the study of psychoacoustics.  While this is a complicated field of study, the part that is germane to this discussion is human auditory perception.  What it really boils down to is that the human ear has limitation on what tones it can perceive.  For example, with two sound notes of similar intensity but differing frequencies, the higher frequency note will mask the lower frequency note.  Scientists developed a set of mathematical equations that can fully describe the sounds that can be heard by the ear.  German scientists later developed the basis for computer software that defines and applies these equations to a standard soundtrack.  Today, commercial software (some of which is free!) is available to convert standard digital sound tracks to the MP3 format.  Although proprietary details vary, all these programs essentially take the standard sound track and strip away the parts that the human ear cannot hear.  The stripped file is then compressed further using a separate algorithm.  The resulting file is in MP3 format and is one tenth to one twelfth the size of the original file, without significant loss of sound quality.  The file can then be downloaded onto an MP3 player.  Typically, one gigabyte of memory capacity can store between 200 and 250 songs.  You would need roughly fifteen conventional music CDs to store the same number of songs!  Is it then any wonder that music CDs are on the way to becoming obsolete!

Dale Arnold owns gizmocentral.com, an online store that brings you affordable MP3 and MP4 players. He also manages azjewelrystore.com, a store based in Phoenix that sells high quality and cheap fashion jewelry.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/mp3-players-the-practical-aspects-1047201.html

Today, there are commercial software programs that can convert conventional files from an audio CD to MP3 format.  These programs have a built in algorithm that is based on the works of Mayer and Ehmer.  The more sophisticated programs give the operator some control over the bandwidth for each of the auditory curves; the more simplistic ones do not.  To convert the file format, you need to first install the program on your computer.  Insert the audio CD in the digital drive, and select the song to convert.  The program goes to work and a few seconds later, you have a digital copy of the original song in MP3 form.  This file can then be treated like any other, and downloaded to your favorite MP3 player, or more expensive ones if you can afford them.

Dale Arnold authored this article, and is a fan of all things geeky! His second hobby is gemstones and gemology. He is also a fan of fashion jewelry.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/mp3-players-the-basics-1047210.html

However, the camera is affected by the huge size of the sensor resulting to the aperture range of the camera becoming low. The aperture range readily available is actually slower than the previous F2.8 to F3.3.

But no need to worry because there is the enormous stabilization of the optical image including the engine from Venus which is simply out of the ordinary.

Becoming one of the highest ended camera, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 gets in league with the DMC FZ20 for it shots up its pixels by about five million times maximum. Furthermore, compared to its earlier versions, the camera has a very long battery life and actually longer than any other company.

More than this, the camera has a shutter release clutch repositioned from before with a design that allows proper, tactile grip.

The camera can detect orientation for it has a very good sensor and it also has an obviously larger screen of LCD. More than this, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 also contains a focus mode that is extremely fast.

The camera has a thirty percent upper hand over the previous model of the series and that is expected. This is something that photographers can be proud of, a truly remarkable camera.

With more than nine modes of scene along with a full control and a photographic control are some of the many features of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. Since the camera has a two inch colour screen (1.8 really), it then enables you to have a better view of the object you are shooting.

For those who are nothing more than beginners in the art of photography, the makers of Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 introduces the amazing TIFF mode that let you check out even the simple mode.

When you are in the dark, the camera still works effectively because it has a very powerful flash that makes everything becomes really bright. However, there are only two colors of the model, one is black and the other one is a silver color.

But in either of the two, either black or silver; the camera is going to make a statement. Everyone seems so glad to know that the product had earned great feedbacks from its custome. So secure now your own Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5!

Check out my in depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 review. Discover where to buy cheap Panasonic Lumix cameras online.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/panasonic-lumix-dmcfz5-review-1043952.html

First, what is VoIP? Simply, it’s Voice over Internet Protocol - using the Internet as a voice phone line and more. Second, why is it becoming so popular, and could your company use it? This answer is much less simple, because there are in fact a great many things that could influence your decision. Ask a business why they use the service and they will cite its features packages, and low costs, and very possibly its reliability. Let’s take a look at just some of the reasons this service is used and a few pros and cons.

One reason it’s popular has to do with the ease of installation. So long as a business has an Internet connection and computers - and they almost always will - the set up and use of this advanced technology shouldn’t be at all difficult. Having regular phone service would mean a company would have to pay for phone lines and all the other lines connected to and within the business. With business VoIP, this is no longer a requirement. Most companies already have a broadband connection, and when using VoIP, they will use their broadband connection without paying the fees for another installed system. This is not always the case, though. When you put voice and data on the same network, it can be a complex situation.

Before you do anything, you have to make sure your infrastructure is up to the task of supporting IP based voice and data. If it isn’t, going with VoIP will be a nightmare. If you are seriously thinking about VoIP, your company should do a pre-deployment assessment. If you have older or inadequate infrastructure, you may have to upgrade your network, which might cancel out any savings you might receive.

Another factor to take into consideration is the fact that with switching to VoIP service, your telecom personnel will need to become IT proficient and/or your IT personnel will need to become more familiar with the intricacies of telecom.

Probably the biggest single reason that providers promote for any company to switch over from their typical phone service to VoIP is the lower overall costs. They pitch that while small businesses might have to pay more for their scale than large ones comparatively, business VoIP leaves its predecessors in the dust.

However, these huge cost savings were more common in the initial days of VoIP solutions. Then, the service wasn’t as reliable but the cost was much cheaper than traditional phone service. Today, the service offered by VoIP is nearly as good as basic phone service, but the price difference is not nearly as wide. If your company is looking at VoIP as a primary way to cut costs, you should take a hard look at all the costs involved to make sure it’s right for you.

One last item that providers publicize about their VoIP service is the customization that was not previously available to them. No matter how big or small a business might be, VoIP providers are almost always willing to work with them on an individual basis, finding them the plan that works best for their size and all of their employees.

VoIP providers are also big fans of the perks companies can get, the number of which has grown hugely in recent years. Providers offer all sorts of things that might cost extra with traditional phone lines, including multi-line services, call waiting, caller ID, call return, call block and more - and with VoIP you can have them all.

It all comes down to figuring out why your company wants VoIP. Switching can be an expensive proposition. Not only in buying or upgrading equipment, but also with re-educating employees and time spent making the system work correctly. It has great potential and will provide some advantages to nearly any company, but not everyone should make the switch.

To truly take advantage of VoIP and the multimedia applications that come with it, your workforce should be distributed with branch offices or satellite offices, telecommuters and personnel out in the field.

As you can see, there are reasons for a company to consider getting rid of landlines in favor of VoIP phones. There are also reasons not to. With an economy where companies are looking to cut corners, it’s not surprising that they are looking at switching to VoIP. VoIP can be a great thing, but it might not be a great thing for your company.

The reality is that if your organization is thinking about making the switch to VoIP, you should do your homework. You should know why you are switching and make sure to get a detailed costs/benefits analysis before making your decision.

Nermine Shaker is a Partner at The Sygnal Group, a telecom consulting firm that offers telecom expense management, telecom auditing and VoIP management to businesses of all sizes. Find out how to lower your telecom expenses at http://www.SygnalGroup.com or visit our blog at http://www.TelecomExpertise.com

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