Press Release: Derby 6^th Aug 2009 – Established online retailer MediaAtlantic LTD is delighted to announce the launch of their new breakaway website www.cables-leads.co.uk. The site will be aimed at everybody from individual users to large organisations. It will host a variety of popular and specialist cables, including named and own branded cables & leads.

Trading online for well over 7 years, the MediaAtlantic team has over 30 years of combined of e-commerce experience. They are a dedicated on line UK technology retailer with well over 27,000 IT, Audio, Video products and accessories. MediaAtlantic LTD hopes their experience and extensive product knowledge will make Cables & Leads a popular choice for all connectivity queries. The high volume buying power means Cables & Leads will be able to supply premium cables at a fraction of high street prices.

 “With this site we are not just creating an on line shop, we are bringing years of experience to the table to offer solutions. We want our knowledge base to be somewhere people can come not just to buy cables but to find answers,” says Robert Deans, Sales & Marketing Manager. He goes on to add, “We are really excited about the launch of this site. It is the second of our breakaway sites dedicated to specific niches. Our vision is to become an authority in this area that people come to both know and respect.”

The site will also have an extensive reference area, including how to guides and answers to commonly asked questions. Development is also underway on a forum for the site, thus creating an online community of people with the same Questions and more importantly, Answers.

About Cables & Leads
Cables & Leads was launched in 2009 as an extension of the MediaAtlantic Group. As a 100% online retailer, Cables & Leads is dedicated purely providing connection solutions. From Scart leads to the latest DisplayPort cables .With 1,000’s of products in stock a fast, cost effective solution is only one click away.

For more information about Cables & Leads please visit www.cables-leads.co.uk

Cables & leads
C/O MediaAtlantic
PO Box 5050
Derby
DE23 8ZW

T: 0845 009 9134
F: 0845 009 9135

Mobile phones have become a global phenomenon since they were first used around 30 years ago. Looking back at the 1970’s, mobile phones were incredibly large, chunky and were about 10 times the size of your average handheld phone today. However, through the course of time, mobile phones have evolved from being oversized tools to an essential device which has become a part of every day life in human society. How was this possible? The mobile phone was a device that had great potential – the concept of being able to communicate with others far away by using a machine that you could carry around was very appealing. And the rest is history. But what can we take out of this brief re-cap of mobile phones? One important message, being that technology is constantly evolving and what seems impossible today may be a necessity in the next ten years.

 

Take the MP3 player for example. Before the iPod came out, there were many models of MP3 players which dominated the market. However, with the introduction of the Digital MP4 Player and the Media Box Player, the enhanced functions and capabilities of the new alternative have made MP3 players a device of the past. Not only can you now play music as you would have been able to with the MP4, it is also possible to view videos on the device. MP4 Video Players are examples of modern, evolved devices which are capable of playing quality videos on a portable device.

 

So what does this say about mobile technology? We can be certain that mobile phone technology is still advancing at full speed, with different prototypes and models being developed and released each month, it won’t be long before we see another new feature which becomes the standard of modern mobile technology. Just take for example GPS capabilities on mobile phones – it may be common now, but in the early 1990’s, this feature was only just being implemented. Mobile GPS systems nowadays are strong enough to track an individual’s location almost anywhere in the world.

 

What are some other features to expect from mobile phone technology? According to the majority of entries made on the ‘Mobiles of the Future’ entry on CNET the majority of mobile phone models will be even smaller and more portable – usually also implemented with other functions such as being worn as a locket or used as a photo frame. It is predicted that standard mobile phones will be developed with convenience and accessibility in mind, and therefore new features and technology will revolve around making the devices more sophisticated, but with easier use.

 

For those who are particular interested in mobile phone technology, there are a lot of open source development teams which are currently developing new software all the time for models and devices. Keep a close eye out for both official updates on mobile phone technology and what’s going on in the public eye behind the scenes to make the most out of this technological revolution. Just like the Digital MP4 Player, mobile phone technology will be constantly updated and implemented with something newer and more practical.

With only a week since its initial launch, M-Audio is set to take its share as one of the larger online retailers for the latest M-Audio products in the United Kingdom. M-Audio Direct is a new website which features the latest M-Audio digital equipment including keyboards, audio monitors, handheld recorders and digital DJ equipment such as the M-Audio Torq Xponent.

Products are immediately updated every time a new release is announced on the market for M-Audio products. Music and DJ enthusiasts in the UK can be sure that M-Audio Direct will stock the newest M-Audio products as soon as it becomes readily available on the market, straight from the manufacturing outlet and provided in top quality.

Featured products are displayed on the front page and recommended products are displayed through large rotating banners near the top of the page. The product range is massive, containing just about every product that M-Audio offers.

According to the press release announced by M-Audio several weeks prior to its launch, M-Audio Direct will feature a variety of different how-to guides and review articles which will help shoppers make the right choice in finding costly equipment. M-Audio Direct features a news blog which is regularly updated and hosts a variety of different guides, ranging from how to set up a home music studio to utilizing and making the most of MIDI controllers.

Current payment options include Google Cashout and Paypal, however M-Audio Direct has promised more flexibility with payment processors as it moves out of its early launch phase and becomes fully operational. Checkout is secured with 256 bit encryption with industry standard SSL and features live telephone support for any inquiries from Monday to Friday, 9AM-5PM every day.

The website itself presents a fresh and clean look that is easy to navigate, with product description and prices displayed for each individual item. The shopping cart is displayed in the right hand side in the navigation bar and can be easily managed by any online shopper. Delivery prices start at only £3 and products are shipped anywhere in the UK.

The team behind the M-Audio direct have nearly 8 years of experience in music and online retail. This guarantees that the service and quality of products that are ordered off M-Audio Direct will be the standard that one would expect of any purchase.

M-Audio Direct is definitely worth taking the time to visit, although it is a new online retailer, it has the potential to take a large share of the M-Audio digital product market especially in the UK. For those who are looking to purchase new equipment from a reliable retailer, M-Audio Direct is definitely a website to keep an eye out for.

MIDI Controllers are simply instruments which have been specially designed to work as a digital recording device. They are commonly used by audio users who are tired of composing music through a mouse or keyboard and want to take compositions to the next level, by the knobs, faders and keys that a standard instrument would have. Using a MIDI controller ensures that you will have more control over what you create – and since they operate electronically, you can record virtually hundreds of different compositions without having to worry about where they will be stored.

What are some of the possible uses of a MIDI? Aside from being mainly used in recording studios at home or in professional sets, MIDI’s can be used in live performances bringing digitalized sounds to a stage. A common example of this would be a MIDI Keyboard Controller, which allows an artist to both play and alter the sound signals that are electronically sent.
If the main purpose of buying a MIDI controller is to record digital music, they come in masses and can be found in any major music retailer. These MIDI’s come in a range of size and styles and cover anything from drum kits to guitars. If you are looking for a digital replacement for an instrument in order to incorporate it digitally, a MIDI is the best solution there is.

How does a MIDI work? There are a few steps that are required in order for a MIDI to function properly. This includes making sure that a connected PC or desktop has the proper soundcard to handle MIDI compatibility. Some older models of computers will not have this, and therefore before buying a MIDI make sure that your preferred PC is capable of handling a MIDI.

Setting up the MIDI becomes the second part to this process. Many MIDI’s operate through the use of a USB controller which simply runs off DC power, but while this is common it is not universal. There may be additional tweaking required if the MIDI controller device is more complex, and some additional wiring may be needed.

Finally, after all the set up and compatibility checks have been complete, all you need to do now is start running your sequencer. A sequencer is simply a device which converts the digital signals given off by a MIDI into what humans come to understand as ‘sound’. Sequencers come as both hardware and software, but having a program on the computer to manage all the recordings is recommended. Quality music studio recording software would be able to cover this and act as a sequencer and save some time trying to configure hardware.

When you are looking for the all-in-one solution to making music digital, choosing a MIDI controller is the best way to go about it. They are reliable, convenient and allow you to record and compose just the way you would with any real instrument. You don’t need to be a genius to start up a home music studio, because when it comes to MIDI’s, they were created to be used by anyone.

For more information on MIDI’s including a full range of M-Audio MIDI’s please visit www.m-audiodirect.co.uk , Take a look at our MIDI Buyers Guide

The music & film industries have been hit to the tune of millions of pounds due to the illegal availability of the MP3’s and MP4’s on the internet. In fact music industry has been one of those very few industries who have been hit very badly by the invention of technology known as internet. If you look at the funnier side of it then the sale of MP4 players and MP4 video players has increased many a times. But money lost due to the illegal downloading of MP4 from the internet is not comparable to the meagre sales of MP4 players and MP4 video players.

 

In today’s time it is a misconception in the people that MP4’s are available free of cost and it has become a common practice to download them for free. This has been due to the reason that some people have uploaded the MP4’s for free downloading on various upload sites on internet after leeching them from the various paid websites after finding a crack or from the original albums.

 

If you are an experienced internet user then for you it is play of just few seconds to search it on the internet and get it running on your Media Box Player. But the leechers who download these MP4’s know it very well that they are costing somebody, who has spent a lot on money on that MP4, a lot of money.

 

Now take an another case: what would be the effects on the music industry if all the illegal MP4 download sites are banned and it is almost impossible to find any MP4 files for the free download on the various websites other than those where the download is paid and legal. The normal conception is that if there is no free MP4 download website then the MP4 video player market would come down crashing as people won’t go on to buy the MP4 songs to play on those digital MP4 players. Would it really happen or is it only a misconception?

 

Let’s look at this aspect. They are many music lovers in this world who don’t take music as a pastime but they take it as a way of their life or something where they find eternal peace. There is a greater misconception that people will turn their backs to the MP4’s if the illegal MP4 download sites are shut down. Still you will find the various bands and artists who sell their MP4 songs and albums through various websites at a very nominal cost. You can take the example of Radiohead who decided to release there albums online and decided that the listeners or fans would pay whatever they deem fit as the cost. People are still buying the MP4’s because they want to support the music industry as well as the artist whom they admire and love. You might be shocked to know that the sales of the Mp4’s are still on the rise and they are increasing by substantial amount.

 

There are many illegal websites like the infamous ThePirateBay whose closure, only if the law takes its proper course and justice is served, would really infuriate the people and they would respond angrily. People would find faults with the governments, justice system or even with the internet police. Would this destroy the MP4 industry? No, but the people’s response would end at that and they would then turn towards buying the legal MP4’s. It would be setting the new trend.

 

Keeping these things in mind digital MP4 players won’t go out of business but they would thrive. People who want MP4 songs to play on their iPods or phones would have to buy them online or from the music store or they will have to borrow the CD’s from their friends. To put it in perspective digital MP4 player market would still be in business even after the clampdown on the free online download websites.

In recent times with the technological advancement in the field of computers, desktops are being replaced by the laptops. But still there is merit in buying the desktops because desktops are generally less costly and there configuration can be upgraded easily whenever the need arises. Desktops are also the best deal for the people out there who are learning computers. While selecting a desktop you have to look at the various components. Here are a few simple tips on what to buy.

 

1.      Processor – This is the most important component of your desktop. The speed of the processor will determine how fast the various tasks your desktop will perform. The speed of the processors is determined in Gigahertz (GHz). If you have your processor marked as 3.1 GHz and another one as 2.16 GHz then the 3.1 GHz will be the faster one. For a normal computer user anything more 2.16 GHz would be a good deal. Advanced users might opt for the Duo-core or Quad-core processors in which the speed is almost double and four times respectively of the marked value. Dual core 2.16 GHz then the processor will work as though two 2.16 GHz processors are working in tandem.

2.      Memory – Memory is the component which is responsible for the working of your computer. It also works on the same principal of the more the merrier. More the memory more will be the speed of the execution of the programs. These days memory comes in all sizes starting from 128 MB running into terabytes. But for general desktop user memory in the excess of 1 GB is recommended. There are memory slots in the desktops with which you can increase the memory at a later stage if required.

3.      Graphics Card – Graphics card is also known as video card. The major work of graphics card is that it displays the photos or frames on your monitor. If you need to do work which requires high resolution then you need to have graphics card of higher quality. Like while playing high resolution games you require powerful graphics card for all that minutely defined shots. Even if you want to edit your photograph then high resolution graphics card will help in doing it in best possible way.

4.      Monitors – Many types of monitors are available in the market like big and bulky CRT monitors, Another type which has been quite famous off late is are the LCD monitors which are thin and sleek but they cost more than the CRT monitors. Almost all the monitors are compatible with your computer/CPU. So either you can buy them later or even if you want you can replace them.

5.      Storage – The basic functionality of the computer is to run programs and store the data. Now to store the data you need to have a storage device hard disk. It comes with various capacities but considering today’s time hard disk with the storage capacity in excess of 250 GB is good enough for you. You can increase this space at a later stage if you want to.

6.      CD Drives – CD-RW/DVD combo drives are normally into the new desktops these days. When you are buying the desktop you should get whatever you want in CD drives at the first instance as you will initially need CD drive for the installation purposes. You can always upgrade the disk drives at a later stage if you want to. Now days DVD burners or even Blu-Ray disc drives are also available if you want that little bit of luxury by spending some extra bucks.

7.      Internet Access – Almost all the new desktops have the Ethernet port in them for connecting to internet. In addition to this you can also look for the modems and built in wireless cards.

8.      Operating System– Operating system is GUI (Graphics User interface) between the computer and the person. Most of the computers worldwide come with the Microsoft windows operating system. There are different versions of windows that are available to choose from depending upon your needs. Then you can also choose the Macintosh Operating system also called Mac system. If you want to work on Linux then there are various Linux versions like Ubuntu or Knoppix available for the distribution.

9.      Warranty – Normally your desktop comes with a one year warranty but if want that extra cushion you can go for the extended warranty which is generally available for that few extra bucks.

10.  Extra Components – Other than the above mentioned components there are other components like mouse and keyboard mostly they come with the desktop. You can go for wireless keyboard and mouse if you want to. Then there are other things like sound cards, high resolution webcams or printers if you need them. Best thing about these desktops is that even if you have limited budget at that time you can buy the different components at a later stage and upgrade your desktop.

 

It is always better to thoroughly research before you go on to buy a desktop. Always make a list of components you need to buy on the compulsory basis. Get a clear picture of what need to buy and what are you buying. If some component is not fitting in your budget don’t squeeze a lower version of it for the sake it. Leave it for the later stages if possible.

 

Why not check out some of the other Buyers Guides from MediaAtlantic