Computing desk
< May 1	<< Apr \| May \| Jun >>	May 3 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Computing Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

May 2

Cell phone with digital magnifier ?

I'd like to have something like this for reading menus at restaurants, since I really don't like reading glasses or using a magnifying glass (I wear contact lenses, but they are for driving, not reading). My current cell phone almost does it:

1) It shows me a preview of the pic it will take.

2) After I take the pic it allows me to digitally zoom in.

What is missing is the ability to zoom in during the preview. I could get the job done by taking a series of pics and zooming in on each, but that's too much work. I've found standalone devices that do this, but they cost around $100 each. I'm hoping I can find a cell phone to do that for a lot less. So far Google hasn't helped. Any ideas ? StuRat (talk) 01:34, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Dunno about iPhones - but Android's app store has dozens of magnifying glass applications - mine has a bunch of zoom levels lets you turn the camera flash on to provide illumination - and will take a photo for you. I can't imagine anything else you'd reasonably expect it to be able to do. The one I have ("Magnifying Glass Flashlight" by Bzing) has a free version which has adverts and is missing a few minor features - but I think it only cost $1.99 to buy it. I have no idea whether there are better ones out there - but it was the first one I downloaded and it seems perfectly OK.

There have to be iPhone apps that do the same thing.

SteveBaker (talk) 03:19, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

The standard photo app on the Samsung Galaxy S4 will zoom in and work like a magnifying glass with out taking a picture. Take a look at magnifying glasses for Android, Windows phone and Iphone. CambridgeBayWeather, Uqaqtuq (talk), Sunasuttuq 04:09, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

For Android I recommend Android Army Knife, which supports adjustable zoom and the camera flash and many other non-magnifying-glass features and is free (actually free, not creepy "free"; it doesn't need the network access permission).

...and which is apparently gone from Google Play. Great. Amazon seems to have it. -- BenRG (talk) 08:45, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

...and if you try to install it now, it actually installs the Amazon App Store application - THEN you can install the tool for $0.00 (which is actually pretty good) - but the Amazon store sticks an amazon logo permanently at the top-left of your screen. You can uninstall the Amazon App Store app...which gets rid of the logo - but now the Army Knife tool refuses to run until you re-install the Amazon app. Sure, the Army Knife app doesn't demand access to stuff it doesn't need, the Amazon store app demands EVERYTHING...stuff it definitely doesn't need to know to do it's work. So while I can recommend the Army Knife tool without reservation...the fact that Amazon now appear to own it has made it *HORRIBLE*...don't do it! It looks like the authors sold-out to Amazon...which is a shame. :-( SteveBaker (talk) 14:33, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I suspect most stock camera apps on smart phones allow this. If yours doesn't make sure you aren't trying to take photos at the maximum resolution of the camera. Choose the lowest resolution that will fill your screen. Nil Einne (talk) 13:43, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps I'm missing a point here, but the iPhone camera will quite happily zoom in while previewing. --jpgordon^{::==( o )} 21:18, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah that's what I'm saying. I think most will allow it because at a minimum, it's use by the digital zoom. The most likely reason it won't work on the stock camera app is probably not because the camera doesn't support it, but because you've set the camera to take at the maximum resolution in which case some cameras apps may not allow you to zoom because they can't digitally zoom usefully. Nil Einne (talk) 06:28, 5 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

OK, excellent, so there are several options. Which is the cheapest phone which will do what I requested ? StuRat (talk) 05:10, 3 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

That would be the cheapest Android phone available...in the case of phones, "cheapest" gets all wrapped up in the cellular plan you choose. With a few years of commitment, you can get a really nice phone for $0. But you're paying for it in increased phone bills. There is middle ground, where the phone is cheaper and the commitment smaller, or you can get an unlocked phone with no commitment. You might also want to consider buying a used (unlocked) phone if this is all you want it for. You could also consider getting a cheap android tablet instead - the larger screen buying you more magnification...and no cellular bill!

The cheapest new, unlocked phone that I know of is THIS ONE at $58...but it's a vast and fast-changing market. SteveBaker (talk) 22:40, 3 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I was hoping I could buy a cheap cell phone and never activate it, just use it as a magnifier (utilizing built-in software). I already have another cell phone like that I use as an alarm clock, but alas with no camera. StuRat (talk) 19:24, 4 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I could buy Android phones for NZ$50 during christmas time and I think I probably still can if I wait

I found one for -$20 ! Yes, that's negative $20. It's a reconditioned LG Optimus Dynamic, free when bundled with a 1 year TracFone card, which I needed anyway for my current phone. And I had a $20 off promo code for the bundle. StuRat (talk) 20:07, 5 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Backup Windows 7 settings

I installed Windows 7 and spent hours setting it up just so. I don't want to go through all that work again when it comes to reinstalling the OS. Is there any way to backup all of the changes I made right down to the smallest nuance and then restore them onto a clean install of Windows 7? I gather most of the changes reside within the "registry", is that true? I changed UI settings, port settings, sound settings, group policies, account control settings, disabled various services, etc. I want all these changes to be able to bring over to new computer. Thank you! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 223.82.82.45 (talk) 11:02, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

The new computer has other hardware. Some commercial software for disk images support to restore on different hardware. When using same or newer windows version, reinstall all software on the new computer and google for Migwiz to migrate your files, profiles and settings. --Hans Haase (有问题吗) 12:13, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

How can I listen to the music on this CD?

My friend gave me a CD with music his band made (I'm not pirating anything, don't worry). But he gave it to me in a weird, un-listenable format. Here's what the CD looks like when opened. I can't listen to the songs with either VLC or Window Media Player, and I don't appear capable of transferring them to my Desktop. What should I do so I can listen to these songs? 107.10.16.107 (talk) 22:57, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

It looks like he was making an audio CD and didn't close the project to finish it off. So, he needs to put it back in his computer, open the project, and then close it. 75.139.70.50 (talk) 23:05, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Is there any way for me to do that last step instead of him? He lives on the other side of the country. 107.10.16.107 (talk) 23:24, 2 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

In Windows, if you go to Computer and open an actual audio CD, you'll see files of type "CD Audio Track" (.cda files), but these are just fake shortcut files that Windows shows you. If you open these files from the actual CD, a media player can start playing the track from the CD. But if you copy these files to another location, they don't work. When your friend made this CD, maybe they only copied the .cda files. If so, they'll need to make a new CD for you using a program that has the ability to copy audio CDs. --Bavi H (talk) 00:47, 3 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

The size of the folder (174 bytes) makes me think that you are correct. The dates (1994) back that up; if it was a proper CD burn, those would be new track files with recent dates; copied .CDA files would keep their old dates. Matt Deres (talk) 21:15, 3 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Actually, if it were a properly burned audio CD, the cda files would still have the same date. When you "Open" an audio CD in Windows, Windows shows you an emulated folder of cda files that always have the same date: 00:00 UT on Jan 1, 1995. --Bavi H (talk) 23:58, 3 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

It looks to me like he only copied the .cda files, since the disc has a volume label ("Ryans Music"), and a real audio CD wouldn't. -- BenRG (talk) 20:01, 5 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Ask your friend to either re-copy the CD and post it to you, or rip the CD to MP3 format and e-mail the files. Dbfirs 19:52, 3 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]

CD's are so last century. Your friend should be using something like soundcloud.com. This will give him exposure as well. Sandman1142 (talk) 11:54, 6 May 2015 (UTC)[reply]