Getting Your Car Audio System Components to Work Together
by: Car Audio Centre


The Best Car Audio System

In order to get the most out of your custom car audio system you need to do a little planning. Unlike home audio components, car audio components do not have the same connection standards, input levels or output levels. Have you ever connected a home stereo CD player to a home stereo amplifier and then had to adjust the levels to make them work? Of course not. But you will have to in car audio. I won't get into the details of each component right now but I will tell you what to look for in each component in terms of level setting.

Head Unit

This is the term for your in-dash radio source unit, whether it be CD, cassette or whatever. The back of the aftermarket radio should have at least one pair of RCA jacks shown below (most RCA jacks will be flush mounted in the rear of the radio).

If it doesn't then you will need a speaker level to RCA (low level) converter such as the one below (or an amplifier with a built in converter). This would be true of a factory radio/head unit. Premium factory systems such as Bose, JBL, etc will need specialized (more expensive and complicated) adapters.

The low-level music signal travels out of the radio through these jacks into RCA cables, and then on to your next component (equalizer, crossover, amplifier, etc.).

Most car audio components are "unbalanced" and will use these simple cables. The specification you will want to look for on the head unit is the "output voltage". The minimum is usually 0.5 volts but 2 volts and above is common in high end units. More is better in this case. You want a high output voltage to help minimize the noise in your system. A higher output voltage doesn't always mean your system noise will be lower but it helps. I would not consider a low output voltage to be a "deal killer" unless you plan on competing in car audio competitions.

Signal Processors

Crossovers, equalizers and other signal processing units should have two specifications. An input voltage and an output voltage. As long as your head unit output voltage is within the voltage that your signal processor can handle you will be okay. Your signal processor input voltage will have an adjustment feature that will help you match the two voltages. The output voltage of the signal processor will be similar to the head unit output voltage. The more the better. It is probably less critical to have high voltage output here if your signal processor is near your amplifiers. This is because there will be less chance of noise radiating into the signal cable over such a short distance.

Amplifiers

Amplifiers have an input voltage range much like signal processors. Again, you want to make sure that the input section of your amplifier can handle the output voltage of your head unit or signal processor. As long as the input voltage of the previous component doesn't exceed the range of your amplifier you should be okay.

Level Setting for Beginners

Level setting, done by ear, is more art than science. It can be done using an oscilloscope but since few people have one of those laying around we'll cover doing it by ear. Basically you want to start with the first component in the chain (the head unit) and work your way to the last component (the amplifier). NOTE: You can be exposed to very loud volumes during this process so it is wise to wear hearing protection in most cases. You should still be able to hear the distortion through the attenuated hearing protection.

1. Start by turning all of the input level adjustment knobs (gain controls) on your components fully counter-clockwise (to their minimum setting). Set the tone controls (bass, treble, loudness) on your head unit to no boost (bass and treble level = 0 and loudness is off). If you have more than one RCA pair you will want to set each gain adjustment separately. Make sure your fader and balance controls are set to the channel you want to adjust first. This can be an individual channel if you have individual gain adjustments or a pair of channels if you have one gain for two channels.

2. Next set all of your equalizers settings (if you have an equalizer) to the center (detent) position so they produce no boost or cut. What we want is as pure a signal as possible.

3. Put in some good quality source material, preferably a CD with strong output and a clean recording. Hard rock would be a bad choice here. Try something cleaner, maybe acoustic, that you're familiar with.

4. Turn the deck's volume up slowly until you begin to hear distortion. When you hear it, stop and back off slightly until you no longer hear it. If you don't hear distortion, even when the volume is all of the way up then you have a quality head unit. That's what we're looking for.

5. Now with your head unit at maximum undistorted volume move on to the next component. Adjust it's input gain until you begin to hear distortion. Back off slightly.

6. Continue this process until you have all of the components in the chain at their maximum undistorted level.

7. When you reach the amplifiers you may need to wear hearing protection to adjust them to their maximum level. As before, turn up the gain until you hear audible distortion. This should be audible even with earplugs in. But honestly, if you have to wear earplugs to listen the distortion level is probably not a factor :)

That's it. Play some music and verify that everything sounds right. Congratulations! You've just learned to properly adjust the settings on your car audio system.

However, that can be rather daunting for most, so if you ever need your unit installed, feel free to give us a ring to see how we can help you.

http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk

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Arcade Games

Internet comes as a good-thing as it offers you all that you need. It hashuge knowledge of mostly everything in the world. You just have to surf for some minutes and there you are loaded with information and all this is possible through internet. Either you are browsing for some educational knowledge or simply to pass your free time, Internet offers you all that you are searching for. To pass your free time internet is loaded with numerous games that can be downloaded easily from online game sites and you can play anytime that adjusts you. Internet also offers you free Arcade Games online that are easy to download and are effortless to play.

Arcade Games online are played by many people today and it has become a craze specially amongst the kids and the young generation, which they can easily browse on the Internet. After a small research a long list of websites that offer you a range of Arcade Games is displayed on your screen. From this list chose the one that has a lot of variety in games and simple to track the instructions to start playing the Arcade Game online. There are a number of online games like Asteroids, Mario, Donkey Kong and other arcade action games online like 1 Starship, 3D Frogger, 3C Space station, 3D Stress Ball, A Blast, A Stitch in Time, Abba the Fox, Arcade Animals and a lot more. These games are so interesting that not only the young enjoy these but also the elders take immense interest to play them. Arcade games hence suit all kind of people from all age groups and both the genders really enjoy playing these Arcade Games. It is not only that you like playing these games but it even helps you to build your concentration and keep you detached from the world around you. Thus Arcade Games soothes your body and mind completely. You are so involved while playing an Arcade Game that you generally forget everything. You develop an addiction to play due to which you even tend to rob time and deceitfully play these games for fun and relaxation.

Playing Arcade Games is become the most well-known craze amongst children, youth and even amongst the older age-group. Now that the internet provides you a variety of Arcade Games online it is become very simple for everyone to play these, whether man or woman, both like equally well. To play an Arcade Game has become an entertainment zone for people from all age groups and both the genders. There is a huge group of Arcade Games like sports, card, casino, puzzle, shooting, memory games etc and within each group there are a number of games that can be played and enjoyed by enormous number of people online.

Hence, to pass your free time, to stay away from the world for some time, to improve your concentration power or to prove your capability whichever might be the cause, Arcade Games Online helps you to get across and enjoy to the highest possible level. Just one click and start playing a number of interesting Arcade Games Online.

By: Sean Anderson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Getting bored, want to challenge yourself, want to play, your search ends here, enjoy the Arcade Games Online at Arcade Games to know more and to feel relaxed by playing Arcade Games online find a huge variety at arcadedumper.com

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All About Pizza
by: Sean Lannin

The term pizza covers a lot of territory. If you want to learn all about pizzas, then you should have a bit of a background on pizzas: specifically the history of pizza, pizza origin, pizza facts, and even pizza trivia such as who invented pizza. The subject also delves into the different types and styles of pizzas. The varieties currently existing defy any attempts at enumeration. Thus, most people who attempt such a task stop at a broad categorization of pizza types according to certain attributes such as crust thickness, crust elasticity, crust baking and cooking procedures, toppings, etc. Aside from general, historical or trivial information, other things are of interest to the pizza lovers. For instance, homemade pizza enthusiasts would like to know certain tips and tricks for making pizza. This includes pizza making techniques, the best pizza crust recipes, pizza toppings, homemade pizza sauce, etc. Some other interesting topics will be frozen pizza dough and where best to attain them, what are the criteria for choosing the, what are the methods for preparing them, etc.

It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled "all about pizza." However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes.

Some pizza facts and trivia

Accounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the "mother of the pizza crust." However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans - the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won't be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito - a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings.

Now, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn't blurt these out just to anybody or you'll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you're talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits.

" Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies.

" Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States.

" The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York.

" The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year.

" New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza.

(New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.)

Pizza types and pizza styles

The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza?

Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens.

New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese - fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza.

The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world - generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings.

The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork.

You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant.

Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you've found.

Some pizza making tips and techniques

Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency - that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties.

If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen.

Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength.

Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.
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Money saving car care and maintenance tips
By:Jovir Amatong

There are loads of stuff that you can employ to assure that your vehicle is always in tip top shape, while easing on the budget and saving precious time. Instead of always going to the car shop whenever conks are heard under the hood, why not fix minor car problems on your own?
You’re not only giving yourself a favor by not going thru the hassle of the long wait to have your car fixed at the local car shop, but you’re also protecting yourself from unscrupulous mechanics who might take advantage of your predicament.
Here are a few tips to get you worry free on the road.
1. Read your car repair manual and other Do it yourself (DIY) books
It wouldn’t hurt for you to take some time off to read and study the ins and outs of your car. You’ll be familiar with the specifications and the proper maintenance of your vehicle. DIY books also abound, providing you the basic and advanced techniques which could save you hundreds perhaps thousands of dollars on repairs.
By reading, you’ll have the ample knowledge to get the job done yourself whenever unpleasant situations arise. Like a bible is to a clergyman, always see to it to have book or two beside you for quick reference in emergencies.
2. Keep the right tools in your toolbox
It is very important that you use the right tool for the right job, because if you use the wrong one, you might end up with broken nuts and bolts or worse, have them worn out.
Here’s a rundown of the basic tool must-haves for your toolbox.
A. Jack and Jack Stands – Conventional for changing tires and fixes under the chassis. Remember to never rely on the jack whenever lifting your car. Always have jack stands on hand for support and safety.
B. Philips and Flat tip screwdrivers- Always have a pair handy for turning loose screws and replacing worn out ones. You can also use these to poke and reach things fallen among tiny and hard to reach corners.
C. Standard and Long nose Pliers- It never pays to have a pair of these handy for gripping and the easy removal of bolts and nuts. These can also be used to hold or clip wires when you’re working on wiring connections.
D. Wrench or Spanner set - Always keep a set to turn bolts, nuts and other hard to turn items. Select the appropriate wrench size and number to that of the bolt and nut you will turn.
E. Wire strippers and cutters- Must-haves for fixing and replacing old worn out wires or stripping them.
F. Standard Tire Wrench/ Iron- A must-have for tire replacement. G. Towing Cable- Very helpful when you need to be securely towed away in an emergency.
H. A roll of Electrical tape (Preferably fire retardant) – Handy in times of replacing and insulating stripped or worn out wires. Select the fire retardant type as it provides maximum protection and adheres better than the regular type.
I. Spare bulbs- It surely pays to have a spare bulb on hand for sudden shutdowns in important beacons such as signal, safety, break and head lights while driving down dark roads at night.
J. Work light / Flashlight – Very useful to lighten dark nooks and crannies that you’re working on. A work light can either just be a regular flashlight or the kind with nodes that you can tap to the positive and negative terminals of your car’s battery.
K. Tire Inflator – Though this tool may not fit your toolbox, but having one beside it in your baggage is very helpful for mending flat tires while travelling in areas where car shops and gas stations are scarce.
3. Driving routine check ups
Before hitting the ignition keys, a short round up check is helpful to ensure hassle-free and safe driving. A routine check up may be time consuming, but it can save your life and of those you’re travelling with.
A. Check for Water, Break, Steering and Transmission fluid levels. This is to avoid overheating, steering problems or worse, break loss while travelling. Fill up to recommended levels only.
B. Check the Tire pressure. Remember that unequal pressure among your tires will greatly dampen speed and stamina, thereby increasing your car’s fuel consumption.
C. Check the lights. For those who frequently travel at night, a check on all signals and lights is a must. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know what dangers await you, driving down that dark road with busted lights!
Relax and safe driving.
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SPAIN 'THE WINNER IN EURO 2008'

With UEFA EURO 2008™ being rightly hailed as one of the most exciting tournaments of modern times, euro2008.com tells the story of three and a half weeks in Austria and Switzerland in the words of the players and coaches who made the magic.
The quality of play is extolled unanimously by all observers. Defensive tactics are nowhere to be seen – rather, all legal means are being used to overpower the other team. Team play is not stifling the talent of individuals, who are frequently giving some particularly dazzling performances. It's a real treat for football fans.
UEFA President Michel Platini hails the standard of football at UEFA EURO 2008™


GROUP STAGE
GROUP A
We are always emotional, we cannot change that. Even if we wanted to, we don't want to. There are coaches who stay in the dugout and those like me who are more active.
Croatia coach Slaven Bilić on his side's passionate style

To put two central strikers in a team whose biggest problems are on the wings, you'd have to play with 13 players.
Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner explains why Jan Koller and Milan Baroš were not fielded together

I simply cannot put up with this 'playing well and losing' thing any more. We lost. We are not here to play well ... but to win. We were criticised in friendlies, which we could not understand, and now we have lost and there's praise. Of course, I am having difficulties with that.
Switzerland vice-captain Ludovic Magnin on his team's early exit

There can't be great victories without painful defeats.
Coach Brückner after a 3-2 loss to Turkey cost the Czechs a quarter-final place

It wouldn't have mattered if we'd lost 2-0 or 4-0, so we had to go for it. Even when everyone else was settling for penalties after we pulled level, I was signalling for the team to try for a third goal.
Turkey trainer Fatih Terim on the flip side of that decisive fixture


GROUP B
When I worked with Trinidad & Tobago at the last World Cup I woke up every morning to the sound of Bob Marley, now I wake up every day suffering from a headache!
Poland coach Leo Beenhakker gets to grips with a growing injury list

Every evening we sit together and just talk about football. Sometimes I wish we could talk about other things as well.
Germany goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke feeling the strain

We will carry out our usual preparations, just like for the qualifying matches. We won't be doing different things just because we are at the EURO – it's not like we will walk around the park naked or something. We have our normal programme and then we will go [singing] 'tra-la-la' to the stadium. We will play 'tra-la-la' but I don't know if we will still be 'tra-la-la' after the game.
Dutchman Beenhakker on Poland's routine between matches

There were times where they were ready to prepare a camel for me in front of the stadium so I could ride into the desert. In autumn 2007 I had support from three per cent of the population. Is three and a half now good enough for me to continue?
Austria coach Josef Hickersberger after his side's brave exit


GROUP C
They say that if it rains, the earth gets wet and that brings luck. I hope it will bring us luck too.
Former international Ioan Lupescu on the rain at Romania's St Gallen training camp

With all those people being here, I think I will have to phone home to check if anything is still there.
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten ponders the huge number of Oranje fans in Switzerland

Everyone is still talking about that goal in the 1988 final – I think it was a bit lucky.
Rafael van der Vaart dismisses coach Van Basten's goal in the 1988 UEFA European Championship final

I am not going to answer questions about Italy. So if that's what you want, forget it. Now you have time to get a coffee.
France coach Raymond Domenech bars all talk of the Group C decider against Italy

He said he didn't feel right because of a problem with his best friend, so I offered my condolences but he was talking about the ball.
Germany's Miroslav Klose reveals details of a conversation with his FC Bayern München team-mate, Italy's Luca Toni

This squad has always had a very special bond, win, lose or draw. It was there against France, against Romania, and also in the loss to the Netherlands. I'm not just saying that because we qualified, but because that's what our dressing room is like.
Boss Roberto Donadoni on Italy's progress to the last eight with a 2-0 win against Les Bleus

I don't have anything to say to the people who want me to resign. But I would like to ask Estelle for her hand [in marriage]. The only thing I'm thinking about from now is marrying Estelle, which is why I'm asking her for her hand today. I know it's difficult at this moment but it's during these difficult times that you need people – and personally I need her.
Domenech proposes to longtime partner Estelle Denis moments after France's fatal defeat by Italy


GROUP D
Luis is a [Club] Atlético [de Madrid] legend, a great footballer and a wonderful man. The human condition requires you to be greedy – always hungry to better yourself and achieve more. That's what Luis is and it's the perfect petrol for the engine of a football coach.
Miguel Reina, Pepe Reina's father, on former colleague Luis Aragonés

We will not play like the Poles, whose defenders suddenly decided to grant the Germans 30 metres of space to allow them to score. That was a modern offside trap but also a modern way to lose 2-0.
Greece coach Otto Rehhagel before his side's 2-0 reverse against Sweden

A miracle only happens every 30 years. If that wasn't the case then there wouldn't be any miracles.
Rehhagel after the holders bowed out early

After [the 4-1 opening defeat by] Spain, the team were unfairly hung out to dry by the media and the pundits – it was very unpleasant to listen to all the negatives. But we wanted to prove that we have character, that we have a team and that we can play football.
Roman Pavlyuchenko sows the seeds of Russia's recovery

I'm disappointed we didn't get our game going. Maybe there is a mental factor involved, in that we're not a team that steps up from the very beginning. We lost. It's not a common occurrence but I have a bitter feeling about it.
Coach Lars Lagerbäck on the loss to Russia that sent Sweden home


QUARTER-FINALS
PORTUGAL 2-3 GERMANY
First she told me not to do anything stupid again, which I did not do [against Portugal]. Then she said I should play the same way I did two years ago. What can you do? If the chancellor asks you to do something, you have to obey!
Bastian Schweinsteiger explains what happened when he sat beside German Chancellor Angela Merkel when suspended for Germany's final group match

I think with what we've done, expectations have become higher. Because of the way we played and especially the manner in which we won the first two games, the fans got excited by this and expected more, and I understand that.
Winger Nani on the disappointment of Portugal's premature departure

I lost a bottle of wine in a bet with [assistant coach] Hans-Dieter Flick today. I said we wouldn't score from open play. Oh, two bottles of wine ...
Germany coach Joachim Löw drinks in the success over Portugal


CROATIA 1-1 TURKEY (TURKEY WIN 3-1 ON PENALTIES)
Einstein said: 'There are two ways to live – one is to believe everything is a miracle and live your life that way, the second is to believe nothing is a miracle.' I belong to the second group.
Terim on Turkey's never-say-die spirit

I can understand why they call us 'Crazy Turks'.
Emre Aşık reflects on another drama-filled Turkey win, referring to a popular history book

The last two minutes are something I can't describe – they'll haunt me for the rest of my life.
Coach Bilić reflects on a painful evening for Croatia


NETHERLANDS 1-3 RUSSIA
There are some points of criticism. We committed too many fouls and were too passive in our reaction to their free-kicks.
Guus Hiddink nit-picks after a famous victory

I think they had a coach who knew us better than we did.
Full-back Mario Melchiot considers the Dutch undoing by Russia

They are between 22 and 26 years old, not at their peak, but not young – they are somewhere in the middle. They have the opportunity and now the question is: can they take it to the next level?
Johan Cruyff assesses the future of the Oranje


SPAIN 0-0 ITALY (SPAIN WIN 4-2 ON PENALTIES)
We go out with heads held high, but it's a painful defeat. We all gave our best and we all know it was not enough. We're very sorry for ourselves and for our fans. Spain enjoyed most of the possession but we had better chances to score. The draw was a fair result, then on penalties sometimes you celebrate and sometimes you cry.
Daniele De Rossi comes to terms with the Azzurri's demise

We have struggled to get past the quarter-finals before but now we've done it so let's see if we can get to the final. I'm not depressed when I lose, I'm not euphoric when I win. I'm happy for my country, happy for my players and also for me – this is my job.
Luis Aragonés on Spain's success


SEMI-FINALS
GERMANY 3-2 TURKEY
I really must say: I often had to catch my breath out there.
Angela Merkel after the dramatic triumph against Turkey

Today we beat the Turks at their own game.
Christoph Metzelder after a late Germany goal denied the comeback kings

The players should not feel bad. Yes, they lost, of course we are out, but it was our 47th day together and it is not easy to work when everyone else is on holiday. They have been here to serve their country and I told them I was proud of them, that what they did is important, and I wished them every success in the future.
Terim shows pride in his players


RUSSIA 0-3 SPAIN
I don't like this new colour, personally. But so long as I don't have to wear it, the players can. Anyway, it's not yellow, it's mustard.
Aragonés on Spain having to change from red to yellow for the semi-final

The bronze medals we were shown in the locker room are the limit for us. Today we could not have hoped for more. We were outplayed.
Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev reflects on a one-sided game

I like teams who focus on attacking and who enjoy playing. This Spain team is very experienced and love to play this type of football.
Hiddink admits his admiration for Russia's nemesis


FINAL
GERMANY 0-1 SPAIN
It is a great feeling, we cannot believe what we have achieved. You watch these European competitions on TV and you want to be a part of it – and we were.
Fernando Torres after scoring the only goal in the final

We have had a great tournament and we have been the best team by a distance in all our games. There hasn't been one game where we won because we were lucky – we have won by being the better team every time.
David Villa has the secret of Spain's success

I had a quick word with every one of my players. I told them not to feel down. Yes, we lost the final and that's a disappointment for us all, but the fact we made it to the final is an achievement in itself.
Löw smiles through Germany's gallant defeat

We'll remember it for the rest of our lives – the fields, the mountains and that part of Austria. We received a very warm welcome in that little village, as did our families. It's been a different way of preparing. We were very happy, all the locals were with us, and part of us doing well could be the fact we stayed there.
Iker Casillas revisits Spain's base in Neustift, Austria

Many people will look at this Spain team because it has been a model for playing football. I think all football lovers want people to make good combinations, to get into the penalty area and to score goals. At the beginning I said that if we managed this squad well, we would be champions. The team just thought I was trying to give them confidence. I just hope Spain carry on in this way and have many more victories.
Aragonés has the last word

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Guinness bestows download record on Firefox
By Stephen Shankland

The de facto registrar of superlative achievements has credited Mozilla for officially setting a record for downloads in a 24-hour period: 8,002,530 copies of Firefox.

Mozilla's Download Day on June 17, whose server-crippling success delayed its official start, sought to popularize the open-source Web browser. Mozilla, which oversees the Firefox project, projected at the time that it cleared 8 million, but the number is now official.

"As the arbiter and recorder of the world's amazing facts, Guinness World Records is pleased to add Mozilla's achievement to our archives," Gareth Deaves, Guinness' records manager, said in a statement.

Though Download Day was a big publicity stunt, it's hard to sniff with too much disdain at the total. To me at least it indicates that people see more in this particular browser than just a bundle of bits to surf the Web; they like its technology, its open-source nature or other attributes, and downloading and using it is an event somewhat akin to suffering in line for hours for rock show tickets or to buy an iPhone.

I'm skeptical that Download Day in and of itself will appreciably shift Firefox's market share results in the short term. But it did probably coax people toward a more modern browser, which Web site operators probably are happy to see, and I wouldn't be surprised if Mozilla managed to sign up more Firefox fanboys through its promotional devices.

Also for the record, Net Applications gave Firefox 3 2.31 percent market share for the entire month of June, compared with 4.28 percent for Safari 3.1, 16.13 percent for Firefox 2, 26.38 percent for Internet Explorer 6, and 46.45 percent for
No. 1 IE 7. The statistics are based on actual usage at various major search engines. Because Firefox 3 was released midway through June, the statistics likely will show significantly greater share for it in July.

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FINAL MATCH 'EURO2008'



Coaches anticipate Vienna thriller
by Andrew Haslam from Vienna

Germany coach Joachim Löw and his Spain counterpart Luis Aragonés are both hoping UEFA EURO 2008™ will come to a suitably exciting conclusion as their sides prepare to meet in the final this evening.

'Intensive match'
The first 30 games of the tournament have yielded 76 goals, and the coaches are optimistic that pattern will continue at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. Germany's Joachim Löw – whose side won 3-2 in both the quarter- and semi-finals against Portugal and Turkey respectively and are looking for their fourth European title – is anticipating an open encounter. "It's going to be a very intensive match," he said. "Both Spain and Germany have good players and like to go forward so it's going to be very interesting. We tried to make certain corrections after we lost to Croatia [in the group stage], but when we're against a team who play attacking football we can reach that level and keep up. Technically speaking, both teams have strong offensive players. It will be a fast, flexible and variable match."

'Long hard road'
German hopes would be damaged by the absence of Michael Ballack, who has missed training for the last two days due to a calf problem, while Thorsten Frings should replace Simon Rolfes in midfield. Despite the doubts surrounding the participation of his captain, Löw is in bullish mood, confidently proclaiming: "I expect to win, of course. We have a long, hard road behind us over the past few weeks. This tournament was tough for all players and all teams, it took up a lot of strength but now we're in the final and we're going to gather all our efforts to win and take the cup back to Germany."

Contrasting fortunes
While Germany are familiar faces at this level – this is their sixth European showpiece and four of Löw's squad appeared in the 2002 FIFA World Cup final – for Spain this is unchartered territory. La Furia Roja's last appearance in a major final was 24 years ago, a 2-0 EURO defeat by France, and their sole silverware came in the 1964 UEFA European Championship, yet if their coach is feeling weighed down by history he was not inclined to admit as much. "I'm fine, the players are fine," said Aragonés. "My greatest concern is my team. Germany are very strong, and their set-pieces are very dangerous. We know they don't have such a flowing game as us but they counterattack with speed and we need to learn how to stop that. It might be of concern to me, but I'm sure Germany are concerned the football we play with the ball on the ground could cause them problems."

Winning farewell
In the absence of the tournament's four-goal top scorer David Villa due to a thigh injury, Aragonés – who will step down after the match – is expected to stick with the five-man midfield that functioned so effectively in Thursday's 3-0 semi-final win, against Russia, deploying Cesc Fàbregas behind lone striker Fernando Torres. "We'll be able to get into the area less but will be stronger in midfield," he explained. "I haven't decided anything yet, perhaps we'll have two forwards. Every team needs a good atmosphere. I've seen great teams with great players and if you don't have a good atmosphere you can't win. This is what's brought us to the final. Let's just hope we play well and win."

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Unique stage for medal ceremony
by Mark Chaplin from Vienna

The presentation of the medals and the Henri Delaunay trophy at Sunday's UEFA EURO 2008™ final at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna will take place in the VIP tribune – in line with the tradition UEFA has reinstated in the past year.

Unique stage
The unusual proximity of the heart of the VIP section to the pitch allows for an original and unique set-up: a stage reaching out from the tribune. Painted in the Swiss and Austrian national colours of red and white, it will be reminiscent of a viewing platform in the mountains and can be accessed from both sides via a double staircase. The designers were inspired by the Strudlhofstiege, an outdoor double staircase in the Vienna suburb of Alsergrund, built to a design by Johann Theodor Jaeger.

Sensational pyrotechnics
The trophy will sit in a jewellery-like box that can be raised and lowered like a lift in the centre of the upper part of the stage – at all times through the match visible to fans, TV viewers, journalists and players from all directions. The whole ceremony will be accompanied by light effects and music. The climax of the event, when UEFA President Michel Platini hands over the trophy to the captain of the winning team, will be crowned by sensational pyrotechnic effects.

Concept
The overall concept was put together by Uniplan Switzerland AG after being commissioned by UEFA. The Basel-based live communication agency turned to Carlo Angelini from Angelini Design. He is a well-known Italian television set and production designer based in Zurich, who has already produced a number of stage designs in the sporting field, including the setting for five UEFA Champions League draw ceremonies in Monaco, and the set of the draw for UEFA EURO 2008™ Lucerne last December.
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VoIP Solutions: A Means To Expand Business
By: Kristen Kiya

The VoIP solution has grown in a way that business as well as residential customers recognise the importance of its high speed internet connectivity. This form of telephony provides low cost, high speed and long distance internet telephony. The reliability and call quality also have improved considerably with the introduction of VoIP telephony.

The IP phones transport data packets over voice over networks. The VoIP solutions provide voice over services to PBX systems and other IP based telephony systems. The user just need high speed internet connection. On availing the services one has to comply with some basic formalities that include: Fixed monthly fee and commitment of at least 3 months. The benefits of this service include: No extra charges for receiving calls and same number can be used to receive two simultaneous calls at the same time.

The VoIP is, nowadays, changing the concept of telephony. Compared to the traditional PBX system, the VoIP telephone is a cutting edge telephony system. It brings immediate benefits of cost saving, savings on monthly phone bills, seamless connectivity and an easy to use system. This has indispensably made the system suitable for business purposes. The Voice Over IP has thus grown to become business VoIP solutions provider.

The VoIP business solution is scalable and so it leaves time and opportunity for a business to expand or contract. The PBX is also configurable and that allows a person to add and modify features of it through an internet site that has security. The system is used for high productivity purposes and can be utilised for a lot of functionalities. It is used for listening to Voice mails, call forwarding and is equipped with individual fax numbers. These facilities allow a business to sustain and grow under it. In fact, it is seen that VoIP solution is cost effective for a medium sized business establishment where one finds 5 to 100 employees. In large establishments, it is generally a norm to find VoIP deployed to meet the business needs.

The VoIP solution provider has enabled businesses to grow with telephony. It has made business expand from single location to multi-locations. The business communication has improved with the option of voice-mail and Queue systems. An online VoIP portal gives the full detail of Queue Reporting Statistics. The Voice over IP solution make it possible to terminate calls within its own telephone networks 'free of cost'. For others, it is low call costs at suitably priced rate.

The VoIP Solutions are the means to achieve high end connectivity. The callers can make calls at an extremely cheap price rate. It is also possible for the users to undertake video conferencing and talk to many people at the same time. So, it helps to meet the communication needs of business establishments.

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The Mobile Game Play Revolution: How Mobile Devices Are Changing the Game Industry
By: R.l. Fielding

Playing games has always been a favorite pastime for kids and adults alike, and online games are right up there with the best of America's passions. With the advent of mobile gaming, we are no longer tied to the computer, but are free to roam and play at will. Simple pre-programmed games used to be the standard, but with more sophisticated devices on the market like Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and the Apple iPhone, the window of opportunity for online mobile gaming has been flung wide open.

Mobile gaming is big business for the game industry and big fun for mobile device users. The freedom to play games when and where we want makes mobile game downloads highly popular with consumers and the market reflects this as sales are expected to grow to 11.1 billion by 2010, up from 1.5 billion in 2007. As demand grows, so will mobile game titles and mobile device abilities.

Who plays games on their phone?

The ability to play games while riding in the car, standing in line, and between activities makes mobile games highly enticing to both teens and adults. Although stereotypes maintain that men have the greatest interest in digital entertainment, the convenience of playing online games via mobile devices may open up an even broader game playing audience.

Research has shown that more than half of the 117-million active game players in the US play online games and nearly 64% of these online game players are women. As online games already appeal strongly to women of all ages, it is likely that mobile game play will find a strong foothold with this demographic in addition to reaching adult men and teens of both genders. By enhancing games with social networking technologies, developers also have the ability to appeal to audiences who enjoy the more social and challenging aspects of online game play.

Mobile Game Design

So what qualities make a mobile game a hit?
The most popular mobile games in the US are puzzle, strategy and trivia games because their simple design makes them easiest to play on hand-held devices. However, game creators are working to change that. As mobile devices become more sophisticated, the door will open for more advanced game play.

The push for open platforms, such as Google's Android, and unlimited access to the real power of the Internet has created quite a stir in the mobile device and entertainment industry. Wireless providers must make the choice to create their own games or open their networks to a variety of mobile applications. With more than 13.5 million mobile subscribers downloading games, a shift to a different wireless provider because of game availability could be devastating.

The Future of the Mobile Gaming Market

With the introduction of the iPhone and other mobile devices with easy-to-use interfaces, game developers are getting even more creative in how they address current drawbacks such as pay-before-play, limited functionality, soundless system browsers and accuracy issues. More and more companies are getting around these issues by building games specifically for mobile devices

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Scolari’s future hurting Portugal’s present
By Martin Rogers,

BASEL, Switzerland – In his final days in charge of the Portugal national team, Luiz Felipe Scolari is failing to uphold one of the key facets of his coaching blueprint.

Scolari has always dedicated himself to relieving the pressure from his players by actively seeking it himself, and he has carefully and cleverly sidestepped potential off-field distractions. A well-timed joke, a funny face and a dose of verbal nonsense that asks as many questions as it answers are all aspects of Scolari’s modus operandi when handling tricky issues.

Yet by burrowing himself away and refusing to comment on landing the Chelsea manager’s job, one of the biggest positions in the game, for 72 hours after its announcement, he has destabilized a camp that was previously buoyant, settled and loving its chances of winning Euro 2008.

Portugal’s players are not as slick as Scolari when it comes to handling situations that capture international attention, and they have been seriously rattled. Even a teary-eyed explanation from Scolari as to why he was leaving at a team lunch was unable to quell rumors of severe discontent in the squad.

After a perfect start to Portugal’s bid to win a major tournament for the first time in its history, things are running far from smoothly now, even with qualification for the quarterfinals as Group A winners already secure. The Portuguese players may have suspected their coach would be on his way after Euro 2008, but they believed his assertion that he would not broach the topic during the tournament.

That decision was deemed utterly unworkable from the moment Chelsea released a brief statement on Wednesday night, just minutes after the Brazilian had left his postmatch conference following Portugal’s 3-1 victory over the Czech Republic. That was the point when Scolari should have cleared the air and allowed his men to refocus on the task that lies ahead of them. Instead, he let the matter stew for the next few days, fanning the flames and the ire of the Portuguese public desperate for an explanation.

So much for protecting his players.

Goalkeeper Ricardo and defender Fernando Meira were thrown to the wolves on Friday as both were bombarded with questions that should only have been answered by their coach. Scolari only spoke when he was required by the rules of the tournament to do so at his official media briefing 24 hours before Portugal’s final Group A match against Switzerland. He insisted the timing of the announcement did not show disrespect to his players or Portugal and admitted that the sheer financial strength of the Chelsea offer had played a pivotal role.

“What we will be going through will be the same, independent of any other situation,” Scolari said. “We want this subject to be forgotten because nothing

more will change.

“I have said it before many times that sometimes these opportunities only come around once.”

While he was reluctant to give expansive answers, often responding with a nod or shake of the head and a grunt that passed for “yes” or “no,” it was enough. But why couldn’t it have been said on Wednesday night, or Thursday or Friday?

Sunday’s game will represent a return to something approaching normality for Portugal’s players, the field of play being their refuge from the external factors looming large over their campaign.

The next week will show whether damage has already been done – whether Scolari has, after all, played his final hand to perfection, or whether he allowed his future to interfere with his present.


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Spain scores late for 2-1 win over Sweden
By PAUL LOGOTHETIS, AP Sports Writer

INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP)—One goal in the closing moments meant more to David Villa than his hat trick earlier in the European Championship.

With a stunning burst in injury time, Villa put Spain into the European Cup quarterfinals Saturday. He outraced two Sweden defenders to a long pass and sent it into the net for a 2-1 victory. It was his fourth goal in two games and put Spain at six points in Group D, three more than Sweden.

Spain won the group when Russia beat Greece 1-0 in a night game.

“I’m prouder of this goal than I was of the three that I scored the other day (against Russia),” Villa said. “It’s good for me to be able to be there and bring three points for Spain. Today we suffered a little bit more.”

Villa beat defender Petter Hansson to the 40-yard pass from Joan Capdevila. Hansson could not make a play as Villa poked the ball to the left of charging goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson for the victory.

“We’re happy. We had many chances in the second half and we managed (to score),” Spain coach Luis Aragones said. “In the second half, we went out looking for the goal and things worked out.

“We were the boss of the ball in the second half. I think definitely think that Spain played better from that point.”

Fernando Torres put Spain in front when he lunged at a pass by David Silva with his right foot outstretched and touched it past Isaksson in the 15th minute. Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic tied it in the 34th when Fredrik Stoor curled a pass to Ibrahimovic in the area. The striker turned away from marker Sergio Ramos and hit a low shot that just made it under goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Ibrahimovic left at halftime because of a swollen knee that assistant coach Roland Andersson said was “not so serious.”

“I don’t know if we’re too dependent on him, but he’s a top class player,” Sweden coach Lars Lagerback said. “Of course I think we have better chances with Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the field than without.”

Torres, rumored to be unhappy with his early substitution in Spain’s 4-1 opening win over Russia, touched a diagonal pass into the area intended for Capdevila and Isaksson couldn’t stop the deflection.

On his goal, Ibrahimovic initially tried to volley Stoor’s cross from the right side. He regained control, swerved and scored with a low right-footed shot that Casillas got a hand on.

“It’s of course bitter to lose like this in the final seconds,” Lagerback said

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