Digital signage is now the new must-have marketing tool with its applications and uses having multiplied many-fold over the last few years with LCD and plasma screens now being seen in all manner of locations for all manner of uses.

One of the latest environments to be exploited for the purposes of digital advertising is the use of plasma and LCD screens outside.

Digital outdoor signage is one of the few niche areas left in the digital marketing industry but more and more companies have spotted the potential and are producing LCD TVs that can be situated outdoors.

The major challenge of outdoor digital signage is protecting the plasma or LCD display from the elements. Many manufacturers ensure their outdoor LCD or plasma is sealed to protect from the rain which is obviously highly important when it comes to outdoor signage. However, many of these outdoor LCD screens are manufactured for mild climates and little consideration is given to the varying extremes of temperature often found in Europe and North America.

Extreme heat in the summer can be extremely damaging to an LCD. Both the screen and the electronics of the LCD need to be protected from the sun. LCD screens are easily damaged by direct sunlight while without adequate cooling exposure to high temperatures will dramatically shorten an LCD or plasma’s lifespan.

Likewise protection from the cold is highly important as most LCD’s will simply not be able to cope in temperatures below zero.

However, many manufacturers are starting to identify these outdoor hazards and are producing LCD’s designed to operate in extreme temperatures. However, most of these outdoor digital signage solutions are targeted at a particular environment such as extreme cold or extreme heat. There are very few options available that can actually deal with the heat of summer and the freezing temperatures often endured in parts of America and Europe during the winter months.

Fortunately, for those of us that live in areas where both extremes of temperatures are often experienced throughout the year a smarter more practical solution is to use standard LCD displays and house them in an outdoor LCD enclosure. LCD enclosures (and plasma enclosures) are now manufactured by some industrial computer enclosure manufacturers who use their experience of housing computers and touch screens in industrial areas to build LCD enclosures that can cope with not just the rain but all extremes of temperature and weather.

These steel LCD enclosures are also built to withstand vandalism and theft allowing the outdoor digital signage to be left unattended with full peace of mind.

Wolfgang’s Vault, the online destination where live music lives, known for adding two dozen new concerts for free streaming and download each week to its vast Concert Vault, today features concerts by bands as diverse as Grateful Dead, The Babys, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Steppenwolf, Rick Springfield, and Modern English.

This week’s additions:

Steppenwolf 1968

Grateful Dead 1971

Lou Reed 1973

Carl Perkins 1983

Jesse Winchester 1977

Modern English 1984

Scandal 1983

Simple Minds 1984

The Babys 1979

Creedence Clearwater Revival 1971

Preservation Hall Jazz Band 1968

Rick Springfield 1983

Dirty Projectors 2007

Autolux 2007

Grand Ole Party 2008

Damien Jurado 2007

The Spinto Band 2007

White Williams 2007

Frog Eyes 2006

The Concert Vault includes over 1,000 audio recordings of concerts from the Bill Graham Archives, Dawson Sound, Daytrotter.com, King Biscuit Flower Hour, Noise Pop 2007, Record Plant, and the Silver Eagle Country Music Catalog archives. All concerts in the Concert Vault are available for free streaming. Daytrotter and Noise Pop shows are free downloads, while hundreds of other concerts are also downloadable. The Concert Vault prides itself on the most carefully researched and complete show summary library, giving context and depth to the concert listening experience.

Other equally exciting news on Wolfgang’s Vault includes:

Crawdaddy! The Magazine of Rock features great rock journalism on conceptual albums in a digital world, and a multi-part series chronicling the rise of a rock band in the changing music business.

Photography: Famed photographers Michael Zagaris and Baron Wolman captured the greatest moments in music history in their work. Browse Wolfang’s Vault’s photo gallery for a beautiful image of RFK 1968, or the joyful image of Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s past, as they revel in the success of their recent popular New Orleans Jazzfest.

Wolfgang’s Vault celebrates 40 years in image since 1968: The Year That Changed The World.

The Vault store has great items for the service men and women in your life, plus great items for dads and grads gifts to fit any budget.

About Wolfgang’s Vault:

Wolfgang’s Vault is the online destination for live music and the world’s largest collection of live concert recordings and vintage music memorabilia. What began with the personal archives of famed promoter Bill Graham now includes 10 different archives. Music lovers find free music streaming online here with hundreds of concert recordings from the last 40 years, digital downloads, and thousands of rock posters, photos and t-shirts available for purchase.

Sub-prime lending is a type of credit given to homeowners who do not meet the criteria for regular (“prime”) loans. A typical sub-prime borrower has a poor or limited credit history and a FICO score of less than 620. These factors make them a risky investment for regular lenders, which keeps them from taking out loans. To compensate for the risk, sub-prime lenders impose higher costs on their contracts. For credit cards, this is usually a higher fee for over-the-limit spending or late fees. Sub-prime mortgages usually have higher interest rates and stricter terms.

Contrary to popular belief, sub-prime lending is a perfectly legal business. But like many new industries, it has been tainted by lenders who don’t play by industry standards. From 2003 to 2007, shady companies have turned up offering terms ranging from unfair to downright illegal. This, along with the economic slowdown, has contributed a great deal to the real estate crisis that forced many homeowners into foreclosure.

Are all sub-prime loans bad?

No. There are actually some sub-prime companies who give you good value for your money. If you find a good lender and stay current, sub-prime lending can have its benefits.For example, many people use sub-prime loans as a means of credit repair. Basically, it gives you a chance to rebuild your credit history and improve your scores. By keeping up a good record on sub-prime loans, you can eventually refinance to better terms and get back on your feet.

How do I know when a loan is sub-prime?

The first thing you should look at is the cost of the loan. Sub-prime loans have a higher overall cost (including interest, origination and closing fees) compared to prime loans. Although the basic formula is the same for both types, the pricing for sub-prime loans is more noticeably risk-based. A low credit score, small down payment, and other negative factors can greatly increase the cost of a sub-prime loan.

Another common feature is the prepayment penalty. Prepayment is when you pay more than the minimum monthly amount, or pay off the loan ahead of schedule. The penalty is to make up for lost interest on the lender’s part. Because you’re getting off early, the lender stops earning regular interest—and naturally, they charge you for it.

Many sub-prime mortgages follow the 2/28 structure. This means that you pay a fixed interest rate for the first two years, after which the loan switches to an adjustable rate where your payments are determined by market indicators. Often, the introductory rate is higher than the current index and the margin is applied once the loan shifts. For example, a lender can give you an intro rate of 8% while the index is currently at 4%, with a margin set at 6%. Assuming the index stays the same; your rate can jump to 10% when your two years is over.

What can I do if I’m in a sub-prime loan?

Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect borrowers in any loan, prime or sub-prime. For instance, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) requires all lenders to give you a good faith estimate of the total cost of the loan before closing any deals. This prevents any third party, such as mortgage brokers, from making any kickbacks at your expense.

All mortgages are also covered by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). This law gives you the right to know the full lending terms and loan costs in any credit transaction, including credit cards. The TILA allows you to opt out of a transaction within a reasonable time if you don’t agree with some of the terms.

If a sub-prime mortgage has put you in financial difficulty, another thing you can do is apply for Loan Modification or in this case Sub Prime Loan Modification refers to an agreement between you and your lender to change the terms of your loan on account of your financial situation. This way you can modify your loan terms to a more affordable level. The Sub Prime Mortgage Loan Modification is a lengthy and time consuming process. However a competent loan modification attorney can expertly handle your case and expedite the loan modification process. A loan modification attorney will expertly present your case and use the above mentioned lending laws as leverage to get you more reasonable rates. If you’re already in foreclosure, this will also stop the process while you work out better terms with your lender.