Fcschat.com has released flash video chat, video messenger , 1to1 video chat plugins for webmasters. These plugins can be easily integrated in any existing websites. The flash video chat plugins are compatible with postnuke,phpnuke sites too.





fcschat.com provides professionally developed, fully managed flash audio video chat solution for websites. It is a multi-user flash audio video chat software developed in macromedia flash MX 2004. It uses Macromedia flash communication server for its good quality audio video compression. You can adjust the camera bandwidth/compression and quality for flash video chat as per your site requirements. You can also opt in for a Firewall/Proxy version that works with firewall using HTTP Tunneling on port 80. It is the one of the best flash video chat available on net which can be customized to meet the looks of your site. Some of its features are:

1) Stable Flash video chat front end

2) Compressed audio video streaming

3) Set video Bandwidth

4) Set video Quality/compression

5) Customize Gender, webcam icon

6) Create Private rooms(Advanced and Premium Plans)

7) Create static rooms

8) Create dynamic rooms

9) Control audio volume

10) Publish/un-publish camera, mic

11) Private messages

12) One click room change

13) Bold,Italic,underline text chat

14) smileys support in chat

15) color palette for font colors

16) Ignore/un-ignore users

17) View number of users in rooms

18) automatic detection of camera and mic

19) Easy to integrate

20) View Multiple cameras in Premium chat Plan





You can get an additional admin panel for flash video chat to control the chat in advanced and premium versions.
The admin features are :

1) Administer flash video chat in invisible mode

2) View public/private conversations

3) View/listen any user in chat

4) Kick users

6) Ban users for a fixed time.

7) Realtime Data Transfer Stats

8) Auto Deleting Dynamic Empty rooms

9) View Private Rooms.









Flash video chat Integration: It can be easily integrated with postnuke. Users logged in postnuke can be loged into the chat without any need to provide their userid again. It can be integrated with asp, php, cold fusion, jsp... etc. There are no special requirements for its integration.

Creating your own Streaming Audio audio studio has never been easier. There are so many great products around today that will allow you to produce high quality streaming audio for a fraction of the price it used to cost.



HARDWARE



The first thing you will need is a compatible computer. Today every new computer is already set up with everything you will need. A basic sound card with a mic and line in jack. If you do not have a sound card they are very cheap and you can get a good one from any standard computer shop.



Next you will need a good mic. These come in all sizes and shapes with different configurations however a general all round mic like the Logitech Noise-canceling microphone is fine for beginners. I suggest you get a desk top one to start with, as you may want to move into video later and so you wont want a headset in your videos.



Of course you could go up a stage and get a preamp with a professional mic but this will start running into dollars and the whole aim of this article is to help you get started.



Next you will want to get some cables to connect up your tape recorder and other audio equipment. Again the computer stores now have packs that will connect up pretty well any device into your computer to digitalise your sound. You want to record directly onto your computer however you can get those old tapes and Vinyl records into a digital format also.



SOFTWARE - RECORDING



Recording your audio is probably one of the most critical parts of this process and again you can get software that ranges from free to many thousands of dollars. For this exercise I suggest you download the free copy of Audacity. This is an excellent free software package that will allow you to record from your microphone or any equipment you have.



It provides excellent editing capabilities and also will allow you to edit multiple tracks and then combine them into one single track. For a quick overview of how to do this you can watch this video and also download the software



http://mp3soundstream.com/Audacity_Tutorial_-_Free_Audio_Editing_Software.html



SOFTWARE - CONVERTING



The next piece of software you will need for your studio is a converting program that will allow you to convert different formats. For example you may have a real audio file and you want to convert it to mp3. dBpoweramp is like the Swiss army knife for the audio industry and will convert just about any file to any other file format.



Convert from one format to another, just about every audio type is supported: mp3, mp4, Windows Media Audio (wma), Ogg Vorbis, AAC, Monkeys Audio, FLAC and many others whilst preserving ID Tags. It will also rip CDs for you.



http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm



SOFTWARE - REDUCTION



If you are going to stream an mp3 direct then you may want to recompile the file to a smaller format. RazorLame is a so-called "front-end" for use with LAME. LAME is a great MP3-Encoder, it's very fast, it produces high-quality files, has many advanced features (like Variable Bitrates and Joint-Stereo), and it's open source. Unfortunately, it is a command line utility, and that is where RazorLame comes in: It provides an easy-to-use graphical user-interface which makes MP3-encoding even easier!







The best way to use this software is to get one file and compile in a number of different formats to test the size against quality.



http://www.dors.de/razorlame/download.php



SOFTWARE - STREAMING



There are a few different ways of streaming your new audio files. If you have Macromedia products you can simple organize this your self however there are some great third party programs around that will do it all for you at a fraction of the cost.



MP3 SOUND STREAM



This is a simple piece of software that takes any mp3 or wav audio and converts the whole file into a swf file and then attaches a button so that viewers can listen on a web page without needing to download any extra software. This is because the flash plugin is on 98% of computes and if not it will automatically detect and load the small plugin. This is great for anyone not wanting to get into all the technical aspects of streaming audio.



You will not need to reduce your files at all with this program as it does it all for you. This is perfect for anyone wanting to stream one file at a time and wants to do it quickly and efficiently. It will stream even over most modem connections.



http://www.mp3soundstream.com



MSIJUKEBOX



For people wanting to stream a number of files then MSIJukebox is a great alternative. This software lets you choose any number of mp3 files and then organises them using an XML file. By using the above free programs you can significantly reduce the size of these files to save on bandwidth.



Because MSIJukebox streams the actual mp3 you can also have a lot higher quality playback including stereo files. This is much better for those wanting to stream a number of very high quality mp3 files.



http://www.msijukebox.com



SUMMARY



So there you have it. A complete studio set up for under $100. Just download all the free software and purchase any of the streaming audio products that you want. You can then create, edit and manipulate any audio files you like. You will also be able to add these audios to your website.



With the web surfer becoming much more "web savvy" than they were a year ago, they are expecting not only information but also an entertaining web experience.

Set a limit and stick to it



- It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding a coin (or two) you've been looking for and spending more than you should. If you set a limit on how much you're going to spend before going to a coin show or into a coin shop it'll be easier to stay within your budget.



Don't invest more money than you can afford to lose. Nothing is guaranteed to go up in value.



Look for coins graded by a major grading service



- There's lots of grading services but not all of them are reputable. Become familiar with the major services and stick with them.



Buy from established dealers or shops



- You wouldn't buy stocks from just anyone and you shouldn't buy coins from just anyone either. At least not unless you're a long time expert. Buying from reputable dealers or shops gives you the ability to return the coin if you decide you're not happy with it.



If it sounds too good to be true



- Yep, it probably is. Nobody's giving coins away, so that unbelievably cheap coin is probably just that-cheap.



Major coin shows can be a great place to find both a large selection and a large variety. The dealers come from all over the country and they're very knowledgeable. And they're usually quite willing to share their knowledge.







Buy a good book on coin grading, then you can learn about the grading for the coins you're interested in before you buy them.

 

Coin collecting is a hobby that is extremely popular among a lot of people. Whatever the age of the person is, collecting coins has its benefits. In most cases, coin collections gravitate on two things. For children, they tend to collect coins that look pretty or unusual. However, for adults, their coin collections will tend to gravitate towards the value of it rather than the looks.



People have different ways to acquire their collection. Some will just collect any coin that they stumble upon, while there are people who buy in bulk and eagerly anticipate limited mint edition of coins. Whatever your methods are, there may be some questions that you may want to ask about this particular hobby.



The first would be about handling the coin collection. As a beginner, you must understand that you should handle the coins as little as possible. The fact that fingerprints on an uncirculated coin can dramatically cut the value of the coin, you must never handle the coin at all. However, if you do need to handle the coin, do so from the edge and never on the face of the coin.



If you need to lay the coin down, it is important to use a velvet pad if it is available. But, if none is available, a soft and clean cloth will do. If you are going to handle coins that are extremely high in value, you must do so with surgical gloves and protective face mask.



Most people will also tend to ask how to keep their coin collections clean.



Basically, you don't really need to clean your coin collection. In fact, you shouldn't even think about cleaning them at all. Most collectors look for the authenticity of the coin rather than its shiny newness. Even if you wipe the coin clean with clean, soft, and lint-free rag, it will leave hair line scratches on the coin which will greatly reduce its value. So, cleaning a coin collection is never really an option.



Storage is also another question that you may have about coin collecting. Basically, the goal in storing your coin collection is to protect it from temperature extremes and humidity. Also, you may want to protect your coin collection from dust, dirt, chemicals, and even fingerprints. So dehumidifying equipments will be needed as well as locking the storage as airtight as possible.



In most cases, low value coins are kept in almost any container and can be handled any way you like. However, when you are dealing with high value coins, you will need to give it extra attention. The goal here is to provide a container that will preserve the coin's condition. Make the container as airtight as possible, and the container should also be able to display the coin in order for you to never need to take out the coin from the container.







Uncirculated coins are very much valued by collectors. However, if you really want a valuable coin collection, go for rare ones if you can afford to have it. Learning about grading coins can also help you to determine the true value of a particular coin.



So, if you want to start your very own coin collections, you may want to keep these things in mind. With these tips, you can be sure that you will be able to know how to handle your collection and also help in appraising its value. Always remember that this hobby is not just fun, but is also a good investment.

Numismatics is the study of money, medallions, banknotes, token coins, and stock certificates. It is believed to have been established in the time of Julius Caesar who wrote the first book on the subject. It is a very interesting topic because every medal or coin signifies a different era, culture, economy and/or politics.



Numismatists or the people who study the history and over all appearance of the above mentioned forms of currency are different from coin collectors. Unlike numismatists, coin collectors are only interested in collecting coins and the prestige that goes along with it; a numismatist may also be a coin collector and vise versa.



Over the years, coin collection has been very popular. The most common designs are famous people and animals to depict the era when the specific coin was released.



Numismatists are generally interested in use of money, its origin, appearance, variety and production. They aim to explore the role of the different kinds of currency in our history using mint information. Mint refers to the place or facility where the coins are manufactured. They also grade or authenticate coins to determine their market value. T facilitate this, coin grading system facilities were established.



At this time there are three major third party facilities that authenticate coins and/or paper money. These are: the PCGS or Professional Coin grading system located in Newport Beach, CA; the NGC or Numismatic Guaranty Corporation in Sarasota, Florida; and Paper Money Grading (PMG).



PCGS is a third party institution that was established in 1986, which grades and authenticates coins primarily for commercial purposes. They are an independent body providing expert opinion in rating a coin. NGC is also a third party institution offering services solely to numismatists. It was established in 1987. On the other hand, PMG is solely for authentication of paper money and a smaller department of PCGS.



When coin collecting was not as popular as it is now, there were only 3 categories into which a coin could fall: 1. Good - which means that the coin has all of the details intact; 2. Fine - which means that the coin has all the details intact and still has a bit of luster visible; and 3. Uncirculated - which means that the coin was never put on the market thus maintaining its original appearance.



However, today coin grading has evolved and is becoming more definite. They use a combination of letters and numbers that corresponds to the quality of a coin. The coin grading system of United States of America is the most comprehensive and recommended for beginners. An example of USA grading system: MS-60 to MS-70 which means that the coin is blemish-free and has good color and strike. In short it's perfect!



Knowing how to grade a coin properly is not only a gift, it's an art. It requires knowledge, exposure and obviously skills. For coin collectors, ability to grade a coin is a must because the value of a coin largely depends its grade.



Here are some components Numismatists use in coin grading



1. Luster - it is a determining factor whether or not a specific coin has been circulated. To have a higher grade, a coin must be technically intact and free from any form of imperfection or blemish.
2. Surface preservation. Abrasion on the surface of the coin and its location is a huge factor in grading a coin but it does not necessarily mean that abrasion can lower the grade of a coin. For example, if a good-looking coin has a severe abrasion on the back that is unnoticeable it will not count against the coin, but the issue may not be the same if the abrasion is located on the front or focal point.
3. Strike. It refers to the coin designing process wherein the coin is being stamped onto a planchet. In overall grading, strike does not weigh a great deal.
4. Coloration. For some coin collectors, preservation of original color of the coin has a huge impact on its value especially if it is a copper or silver coin.
5. Eye appeal. Some coins may not be perfect but collectors may find them attractive, however, it still requires expert opinion to conclude that a certain coin is excellent in all aspects mentioned.



If you have no background in grading coins, you have no business in coin collecting and numismatics without employing help from the experts. Coins have been playing vital roles, not only in the lives of people who love collecting and studying them, but in society as they represent different eras in history. Whether you are selling, buying or collecting coins, you must acquire the necessary basic knowledge or information; so that you can be assured that it is accomplished properly.