Technology, News, Link and Oddities

Razer has finally entered the iPod accessory market with a release date and price for their Razer Pro Type Keyboard. which will be out in mid-April for $130 (Rs.5850).

As expected of Razer, the keyboard features media buttons, 10 programmable keys with backlights, two USB ports and a line-out jack and 10 customizable profiles for setup switching. So if Razer fans are hungry for something new, this is it (Though we have no info on whether it will come to India).

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/107667856/razer-pro-type-keyboard.html

i-mate has announced its newest Black JAQ3, calling it a must have tool for every professional on the move.
The JAQ3 is a mid-range Windows Mobile device, designed to appeal to a wider audience. It is a dedicated messaging device with a full QWERTY keyboard, and a 2.4-inch QVGA touch screen display.
The device offers high data download rates with packed GPRS, EDGE, and Wi-Fi connectivity. With Microsoft Direct Push email, attachments can be viewed/edited in real time. The JAQ3 has buttons and keyboard keys that are nicely domed and raised with tactile feedback, so that users can concentrate on the road while driving instead of having to fiddle with the keys. The rough texture of the keys keeps users’ fingers from slipping off of them. The JAQ3 weighs just 160 grams, and features multi-lingual 24/7 support through www.clubmate.com; built in i-mate suite; i-mate […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/107840508/imates-new-windows-mobile-device.html

Although it was first displayed at E3 in 2006, the Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows is finally now made available for purchase. The adapter lets you use your standard wireless 360 peripherals, such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller and Wireless Headset, with your Windows PC which means Windows users, who can finally enjoy some wireless play, and it’ll only cost them $20.

It also means much more wireless action for upcoming games for Windows titles such as Shadowrun, UNO and Halo 2, along with generic game controls and VoIP functionality. Microsoft is also releasing a $60 package which includes the receiver as well as a wireless controller. Both items are available in the market, although we don’t know if its out in India yet.

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/94348328/xbox-360-wireless-receiver.html

Rumors about a QWERTY keyboard to support the Xbox 360 have been around for quite some time now and I am sure you will be glad to know that Microsoft has come up with a thumb keyboard for the 360, adding this to its ever growing list of peripherals.

There are a few things you must know before you decide to get one of these:
* The thumb keyboard plugs into the headphone/data jack on the bottom of the controller.
* It comes bundled with its own headset since it doesn’t pass the signal through, and cannot work with current peripherals.
* The keyboard is backlit; the chat bubble icon in the photos is an MSN icon.

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/107667858/xbox-360-qwerty-thumb-keyboard.html

Motorola has launched its stylishly sleek entry level phone, the W205, in the country.
With the promise to offer a vibrant, colourful, and innovative experience, W205 boasts a 65K colour CSTN display, enabling mobile users experience one of the richest user interfaces on a mobile device.
The handset is only about 14.9mm thick, supports phonebook memory up to 500 contacts, and can store up to 750 SMS.
Speaking at the launch, Malcolm Dawe, Vice President and General Manager for Mobile Devices, Motorola India, said, “As Motorola looks to connect the next billion handset users, we are continuing to raise the bar for mobility, with innovative features and a rich colour experience for Indian mobile consumers.”
The W205 enables users download 32 channel polyphonic ring tones, and features iTAP predictive text messaging with Hindi read/write capability. The phone offers 1MB of storage, and an office quality speakerphone.
It also features a multi character phonebook search […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/108282029/motorola-adds-one-to-mass-phones.html

I posted at the end of March about the US Rube Goldberg competition. Entrants were asked to make a machine that squeezes an orange into a cup in the most roundabout manner possible. The results came in a while ago, but I was waiting until some video became available before posting again. Here’s a link to a package put together by Purdue University. It shows some of the machines in action.
Ferris State University in Michigan ultimately won with a contraption built from second hand toys - they’ve also posted some videos of their machine on this page. It squeezed the orange in 345 steps - beating the record for a Rube Goldberg machine of 125 steps, set in the 2006 contest. The Purdue team came second with 155 steps, while Texas A&M University came third with 39. Congratulations to all involved.
Tom Simonite, online technology reporter.

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/04/inefficient-winners.html

Here s a sneak peek at the specs for one of Toshiba s Qosmio GXX line of desktop replacements:The Qosmio G40. Not only does it have a 17 1920 x 1200 screen, its dual 200GB hard drives, T7300P Core 2 Duo processor (Santa Rosa) and 2GB of RAM make it rocking!

The other usual basic necessities for such a high configured system are obviously included, but with the 512MB GeForce 8600M GT graphics, an HD DVD-R drive and HDMI 1.3 in the mix makes it even more interesting. The laptop will most probably be out initially in Europe sometime in June, with a whopping price of around 3000/$4000 (Rs.1, 71,070). So this one is just a look-but-don t-touch item for now.

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/108971688/toshiba-qosmio-g40-lapdesktop.html

According to reports, Sony has confirmed the discontinuation of the 20 GB model of PlayStation 3.
The official announcement from Sony reads,
At launch, we offered two separate models of PlayStation 3 to meet the diverse needs and interests of our PlayStation fan base. Initial retail demand in North America was upwards of ninety percent in favor of the 60GB SKU, so we manufactured and shipped-in accordingly.
The announcement further reads,
Due to the overwhelming demand for the 60GB model from both retailers and consumers, we have ceased offering the 20GB model in North America. In addition to the larger internal hard drive, the 60GB PlayStation 3 features added storage media slots and built-in Wi-Fi not found in the 20GB system. Based on retailer and consumer feedback, we have decided […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/108971687/20gb-ps3-discontinued-by-sony.html

This is probably the funniest Gadgets I’ve ever Seen, have a look at it

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/109162766/modular-chair.html

Sand+Time Watch is a project that unites modern technologies and old ways of measuring time. Sand+Time offers its wearer the time in modern electronic hours, but the form of the interface has also been borrowed from an old sand hourglass. The watch functions in two modes. The first, the screensaver, takes the form of a sand hourglass counting a certain time unit set by the user to their preference. (The default setting for the hourglass is to count one minute.) The second mode displays the time in numbers – the most common electronic interface for the modern person.

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/109221332/digital-hour-glass-watch.html

A subcommittee of the US House Energy and Commerce committee has approved a bill Thursday that would help protect consumers from spyware by severely penalizing any software company found to be installing anything without the user’s knowledge and permission.

The chairman of the committee, John Dingell says:
Protecting Internet users from dangerous programs that steal consumers’ identities, invade their software or just plain harass them is a top priority

The bill, if approved, will require advertisers and software distributors to make it perfectly clear what software programs they are about to install on their computer and obtain their specific consent before doing so. If found to be in violation, a software vendor could be fined as much as $3 million for each incident.
The bill will now go to the full committee for consideration. It sounds like a good idea to me. Anything that will help stem the tide of spyware […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WebDesignTechNewsAndTips/~3/110540493/

What started as a company named after a small town in Finland, Nokia mobile phones are the rage right now. Known for their Stunning cutting edge Technology, combined with astonishing functions and applications, these phones are more of Coolest Gadget. Taking picture becomes much simpler, besides creating and posting to your blog and surfing for other blogs standing on the roadside. Or while taking a bus ride. Like a mobile office that moves with you. That includes surfing for other Technology Blogs to see what’s next in the pipeline. Sony makes some distinguished Gadgets you can count PS3 is one of them.

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/110788807/tech-talk.html

UC engineering researchers have developed a novel composite catalyst and optimal synthesis conditions for oriented growth of multi-wall CNT arrays. And right now they lead the world in synthesis of extremely long aligned carbon nanotube arrays. UC’s carbon nanotube arrays stack up. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are of great interest because of their outstanding mechanical, electrical and optical properties. Intense research has been undertaken to synthesize long aligned CNTs because of their potential applications in nanomedicine, aerospace, electronics and many other areas……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/4-2007/length-of-latest-carbon-nanotube-arrays.html

Polymer glasses are versatile plastics widely used in applications ranging from aircraft windshields to DVDs. Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a theory that predicts how these materials age. The theory also explains why motions at the molecular level can have macroscopic consequences……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/4-2007/theory-predicts-aging-process-in-dvds.html

To help light up the nanoworld, a Cornell interdisciplinary team of researchers has produced microscopic “nanolamps” — light-emitting nanofibers about the size of a virus or the tiniest of bacteria. In a collaboration of experts in organic materials and nanofabrication, researchers have created one of the smallest organic light-emitting devices to date, made up of synthetic fibers just 200 nanometers wide (1 nanometer is one-billionth of a meter). The potential applications are in flexible electronic products, which are being made increasingly smaller……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/4-2007/virus-size-nanolamps.html

Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist says transferring large data files, such as movies and music, over the Internet could be sped up significantly if peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing services were configured to share not only identical files, but also similar files. David G. Andersen, assistant professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon, and Michael Kaminsky of Intel Research Pittsburgh have designed such a system, called Similarity-Enhanced Transfer (SET). By identifying relevant chunks of files similar to a desired file, SET greatly increases the number of potential sources for downloads. And boosting the number of sources commonly translates into faster P2P downloads, Andersen explains……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/4-2007/faster-music-movie-downloads.html

A new theory shows how wealth, in different forms, can stick to some but not to others. The findings have implications ranging from the design of the Internet to economics. Real-world data — whether distributions of wealth, size of earthquakes or number of connections on a computer network — often follow power-law distributions rather than the familiar bell-shaped curve. In a power-law distribution, large events are reasonably common in comparison to smaller events……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/4-2007/why-the-rich-get-richer.html

One might expect a doctoral student conducting research on BlackBerry usage to own one or more of the handheld devices. But Melissa Mazmanian, a fourth-year MIT Sloan doctoral student, doesn’t own one, and she prefers it this way. Mazmanian’s study of how people use the BlackBerry in their everyday lives has already drawn attention in the Wall Street Journal and The Independent and on National Public Radio. Her research won an Academy of Management award in its division last summer……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/does-blackberry-equal-crackberry.html

Juicing up your cell phone or iPod may take on a whole new meaning in the future. Scientists at Saint Louis University in Missouri have developed a fuel cell battery that runs on virtually any sugar source from soft drinks to tree sap and has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium ion batteries, they say……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/powering-small-portable-electronics.html

Patients rely on their physicians to recognize signs of trouble, yet for common heart murmurs, that ability is only fair at best. Fortunately, the solution is simple: listening repeatedly. In fact, intensive repetition - listening at least 400 times to each heart sound - significantly improved the stethoscope abilities of doctors, as per a research studypresented today at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/ipods-help-docs-improve-stethoscope-skills.html

All hail the arrival of the iPhone! Finally, the convergence of the most popular throwaway mp3 player with the most throwaway portable electronic! This iPhone round up doesn’t answer the most important question: does it come prebroken?. That would be a timesaver for the go-getters who want the cachet of the iPhone but don’t want to have it break down at a critical moment: with 11 months left on your commitment to Cingular……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/coming-soon-to-the-idump.html

As more and more people are turning to the Internet to find information, important science websites are in danger of becoming buried in the sheer avalanche of facts now available online. Key science sites are failing to register in the top 30 Google search results. New research funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) clearly shows that anyone using the Web to make their information available must now pay attention not only to the quality of their sites but also how easy they are to find……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/lost-in-the-information-highway.html

One of my major grudges with Windows Vista has been the way it’s start menu works. I am someone who regularly arranges the start menu entry into folder and subfolders. In this way, in spite of having a large number of applications instaled, whenever I want to launch a program I know exactly where to look. But in Windows Vista, Microsoft got rid of the old cascading style start menu. Now, the programs list shows up within the start menu itself (instead of popping out). This is convenient if you dont have a large number of start menu entries. However, if you have a large number of entries organised into folder and subfolders , you would need to click several times to just launch the program. The other option is to use the search feature, but its not very convinient to keep switching from mouse to keyboard everytime I […]

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/vista-start-menu.html

Ohio State University scientists have created software that can identify traffic accident hotspots on state roadways. The software is publicly available and can be adapted for use by any state, said Christopher Holloman, associate director of the Statistical Consulting Service in Ohio State’s Department of Statistics. Currently, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is using it to help position its cruisers during major holidays……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/pinpointing-traffic-accident-hotspots.html

Nokia has recently announced the new Nokia 6288 for China market, a compact tri-band GSM slide phone that adds high-quality video capture and playback capabilities among its mix of other compelling features. The built-in FM radio and music player on the Nokia 6288 supports multiple formats such as MP3, AAC and eAAC+ allows easily accessible mobile music enjoyment……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/nokia-6288-for-china.html

According to a new study from the University of Rochester, playing action video games sharpens vision. In tests of visual acuity that assess the ability to see objects accurately in a cluttered space, game players scored higher than their non-playing peers. “Action video game play changes the way our brains process visual information,” says Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester. “After just 30 hours of training, people who normally don’t play video games showed a substantial increase in the spatial resolution of their vision, meaning they could see small, closely packed letters more clearly”……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/video-games-improve-vision.html

Because a handwritten “Hi, my name is. ” nametag is so last century. The Infrared LED Name Badge lets you program up to 8 different messages, each with its own customisable appearance like scrolling direction or font size. You can have your name flashing in lights or, if it’s used in a work environment, maybe some kind of message of the day……..

Original post by http://www.technology-blog.com/blogs/permalinks/3-2007/led-name-badge.html

A report from SEMPO (Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization) states that last year, North American advertisers spent $9.4 billion on SEM (Search Engine Marketing). That figure represents a 63% increase over the 2005 totals. Because of the popularity of Internet advertising, it is estimated that the amount spent per year will nearly double by 2011. What will that mean for your web site?

The main objective of Search Engine Marketing is to get the word out about your web site. By the time you start down that path, you should have already optimized your web site for the search engines (SEO), but the two disciplines are closely related and should work together.
Basically, you want to put your web site in front of as many eyes as possible. This could be by paying for advertising space on other popular web sites or paying to be included in […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WebDesignTechNewsAndTips/~3/112411559/

We wanted to mention our Monthly Blog Sponsors and say “Thanks!” to them as well. You can see the links to their sites in the right hand column of the blog. Check them out!

Remote Backup. Back up and restore critical computer data over the Internet, LAN, or any TCP/IP network. It’s the state of the art in online backup technology, at a great price.
Via Talk. They offer one of the most cost effective, complete broadband phone service package available to United States residential and business customers with a 24/7 technical support team.
DS3-T1 Telecommunications. With their unique software, they offer the Internet’s only t1 service quoting tool that provides instant quotes in 5 seconds or less.
Tele Conferences. They are the “no surprises” teleconferencing calls vendor and supplier. Their advertised rate is what you actually pay with no additional charges.
Save On Talk. SaveOnTalk offers […]

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We are proud to announce the launch of a new web site for Swann Harbour Condominiums in Swansboro, NC. These are beautiful NC waterfront condos and the developer has done a fantastic job of packing each condo with amenities like Thermador appliances, a 42” Plasma TV with surround sound and whirlpopol tub. However, the view is my favorite feature. Visit the Swann Harbour web site and see for yourself!
Tags: nc waterfront condos, condominiums,

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WebDesignTechNewsAndTips/~3/113095190/

Here’s a weird idea for reaching the Moon - the hydro pump accelerator (HYPACC). Basically, it’s like a gigantic water rocket, only way cooler.
We ran a feature on the original idea back in 2000, but they designers have just released the blueprints for a new and improved launcher. The idea is to release a launch platform deep beneath the ocean and use its rise to the surface to pressurise hydrogen and release a projectile at very high velocity. This animation explains roughly how it would work.
I must admit, at first glance it seems a bit crazy. It reminds me of Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon, which tells the story of a mad-cap plan to shoot a crewed projectile at the Moon using a gigantic underground cannon.
But then there are plenty of other outlandish ideas for launching stuff into space, from enormous superconducting railgun rings to 200-km-per-hour space […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/03/underwater-rocket-launcher.html

Are you reading this at work? If so, don’t feel guilty. A new analysis suggests that much of what might be called “wasting time on the internet” is not such a bad thing. And that it should even be accepted as a normal part of working.
The recent study in the journal CyberPsychology & Behaviour involved questioning 329 people on their use of computers at work. A statistical analysis of the results suggests non-work computer use fell into two categories, which the psychologists call “counter-productive” and “non-productive”.
The first category includes things able to damage a firm legally (breaking the law) or financially (giving away proprietry information). The second includes behaviours that are not directly destructive, but aren’t directly productive either. Think sending emails or banking online.
But the team - from companies Genesee Survey Services and Kenexa, and Eastern Connecticut State University - also found a strong link between internet access and […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/03/internet-at-work-distraction-or.html

Just a quick post to point you to some recent coverage of a stair climbing robotic chair/biped hybrid from Waseda University, Japan, which we first covered this back in 2003.
Engadget managed to track down a video of the most recent version. Here’s a direct link to it. I particular like the way it can pivot on a single leg without moving either foot.
Tom Simonite, online technology reporter.

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/03/robot-stair-climbing-steed.html

A new buzz-phrase is upon us. Technological nomads, technological Bedouins, or New Bedouins are people who do their business from coffee shops or other non-office, non-home environments. It’s possible thanks to powerful wireless technology - we can take our phones and computers wherever we like.
Technological nomads are the heir to telecommuting. A phrase that got started in the seventies when it became possible for people to have terminals at home that connected to mainframes at their work.
The Philidelphia Inquirer explained it well in 1983:
“In the Computer Age, many people may not have to commute any farther than the few steps from their bedrooms to their home-offices. It is called ‘telecommuting’…”
Fast-forward to March 2007 and the San Francisco Chronicle tells us of a new breed of worker:
“San Francisco’s modern-day bedouins are typically armed with laptops and cell phones, paying for their office space and Internet access by buying coffee and muffins.”
There’s […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/03/technological-nomads.html

If you thought Second Life was little more than a debauched place for people who like to experiment with cyber-sex, then think again. The most tech-savvy evangelical church in the US - Lifechurch.tv - has just opened a “campus” inside the virtual world.
“We purchased an island (16 virtual acres of real estate) and have worked with both in-house and outside developers to develop the property,” writes Bobby Gruenewald, a pastor at LifeChurch.tv, which also has nine real-life campuses.
It’s not Life Church’s first foray into the “participatory web”. They already webcast all their Sunday services, provide chat tools for online attendees, and regularly organise “MySpace missions”, where believers pray together before logging on to the social networking site to persuade friends to become evangelicals. So going into Second Life seems like a natural next-step.
The virtual church has been built to resemble the real campuses as much as possible and Gruenewald hopes […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/03/second-life-missionaries.html

If you have ever wanted to start your own online business, you then know that although there is an abundance of information out there, it is often confusing or contradicting. I came across an eBook the other day which I feel is a pretty good guide for both the begginer and expert. It is the Online Business Guide and the thing I really liked about this book is how step by step it is.

When you usually buy an eBook it is either cram packed with Ads or horribly out of date. This guide however is nearly 50 pages of pure content. I definately reccomend it for my readers that might be toying with the idea of starting their own Online Business.

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/104892429/online-business-guide.html

Teams will be frantically competing today in an engineering challenge that awards prizes for the clunkiest, most complicated machines that perform simple tasks.
It’s the 12th Annual Rube Goldberg Machine Contest, held by the Argonne National Laboratory’s at the Chicago Childrens Museum. It is named after the legendary US cartoonist famous for his over-complicated machines that achieved simple tasks in roundabout ways. UK readers would probably describe his imaginations as ‘Heath Robinson‘ contraptions, after another designer of eccentric machinery.
The challenge this year is to make the most complicated machine to squeeze the juice from an orange and pour it into a cup - it must use more than ten steps. I look forward to videos surfacing online next week that show how they did it. In the meantime, here’s a decent Rube Goldberg machine to keep you going.

Also here, and also check out this upgrade too.

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/03/pointless-machines.html

Cellphones are so stuffed with battery-draining functions (don’t you mean ‘essential life-enhancing capabilities’? - Ed) that some of the digerati have dubbed them “the remote control for your life”. But now, bizarrely, this particular remote control is set to get a remote control of its own.
In the opening media salvo before next week’s mobile technology beanfeast - the 3GSM convention in Barcelona - Sony-Ericsson has announced that it’s to launch its most capacious Walkman-branded cameraphone yet - and it even comes with a diminutive remote control. Plug the W880 (which stores 900 tracks on a 1-gigabyte memory stick) into a cradle, plug that into your hifi, and sit back with the remote for some track switching and shuffling (etc) at a distance.
Doubtless with one eye on the upcoming Apple iPhone, Sony-Ericsson is hoping features like this will outdo Steve Jobs’ effort. The widescreen, Intel-powered iMac has a remote control, in […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/02/remote-controlled-phone.html

While one wiki has become a major feature of modern life, experiments with the medium are still continuing.
One is the “wiki novel” started by established, conventional book publisher Penguin. Amillionpenguins is fascinating, chaotic and often perplexing for the editor appointed to oversee it. Here’s a recent extract from the editors blog:
I, your miserable and long suffering editor, admit to feeling completely at odds with the novel as it stands…I’ve found the best way to approach amillionpenguins is to sample it basically at random.
Other people seem to love it. One participant contends that it is already better than On The Road or Lord of the Rings. This academic blogger is also a fan, although this one is less keen.
My colleague Will pointed out that it’s a little reminiscent of William Burroughs’ novels - I agree. Burroughs was a fan of the ‘cut-up technique‘ where a finished manuscript was cut into pieces […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/02/wiki-wave-sweeps-on.html

If you like the Nokia N80, I’m sure you’ll also fancy the looks of the recently unveiled LG KS10 smartphone. It seems to be N80’s step brother and this impression will probably follow every one of its future buyers.
However, this is not a thing you should mind because LG has learned its lesson and has come with enough features not to let anyone down. They added to the recipe a Symbian Series 60 operating system (a Nokia favorite as we all know, could this be a coincidence?), a 2, 4 inch QVGA display that is supposed to let the phone’s user enjoy a totally new kind of Internet browsing experience with the aid of its advanced browser.
Using this piece of software, you will be able to record browsed web pages, sort and capture web images and according to what LG has said there is a lot more still to be […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/91489125/lg-unveiled-internet-loving-smartphone.html

I don’t know about you but this photo gives me high hopes and a lot of time to think about why i-mate hasn’t thought of applying this design line in their handsets. I know they are just renderings and not the real thing but they really look as sweet and beautiful as a handheld can be.
This new series i-mate is going to launch very soon on the mobile market known as the “Ultimate”, a line-up of handsets with pretty much the same spec sheet but with different designs that, hopefully, will satisfy every user’s opinion on how a cellphone should look.
Beginning with the top left one, these are the culprits: the 5150, the 6150, the 7150, the 9150 and the 8150. They will feature the new Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 operating system, will have tri-band 3G radios, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity and FM radio tuners.
The 5150 already has a leaked photo […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/91489124/five-new-wm6-handhelds-from-i-mate.html

Games2win India has announced the launch of ‘Temple of 7′.
‘Temple of 7′ or T7, said to be the first of its kind talent platform for gamers, is a team of professional gamers, exclusively signed up by Games2win in order to compete in all key gaming tournaments in India and abroad, and compete against some of the best teams nationally and internationally.
Alok Kejriwal, CEO and Founder, Games2win.com, says,
“There are talent platforms for all kinds of professionals in India, and given the momentum that gaming is picking up, we believe that the time is right to create a gaming talent platform. Our mission is to make gaming a great profession that gamers, their parents, and society will recognize.”
Kejriwal added,
“Indian youngsters who are passionate about gaming need to have their expertise and energy channelized into […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/92073531/games2win-announces-temple-of-7.html

Lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss has made one of the world’s largest telephoto lenses. I know you are still thinking of it as a “lens”, then you’re in for some shock. This lens is so big in fact, that you nearly need 10-15 titanium tripods to support it. Weighing about 256 kg (yeah that’s KG), this baby has a focal length of 1700mm (over 5.5 feet!), a speed of f/4, and has 21x magnification. It will be displayed in this year’s Photokina convention in Cologne, Germany starting September 29.

Based on the company’s press release, it sounds like it was custom-built for a client who wanted to shoot wildlife at a distance on the very high-end Hasselblad 203 FE using 6 x 6 medium format film — in other words, some rich dude might’ve wanted to impress his girlfriend. No word on if it will be ever made available to […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/92475749/carl-zeisss-1700mm-telephoto-lens.html

The entertainment is surely one of the most popular domains on the Internet because more and more users are attracted by the latest news about celebrities, games, movies and many other topics. Because Yahoo is currently the best portal on the Internet, its entertainment area is improved periodically but now, it seems like it becomes the main concern for the Yahoo’s employees. The giant portal now plans to develop almost 100 entertainment sites especially for a single topic such as movies, celebrities, games and television shows.
As you might know, Yahoo currently owns a special page designed for the Nintendo Wii fans that provides quick access to news, photos, videos and other useful information about the game console. The company aims to create 100 more similar services for multiple products, announcing only 6 of them: Harry Potter, The Sims, Halo, The Office, Lost and The Transformers.
Broady said,“We don’t connect the dots […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/92941215/yahoo-plans-100-entertainment-sites.html

If you were to see this picture at a distance, you’d probably say that the woman is doing something indecent and her face is partially censored.Well, it’s not, you pervert! Yeah, I know I said it but you were thinking it too, all right? All right then. The device looks neither out of the ordinary nor common but everyone can guess what it is. That’s right, it’s a Virtual Reality device from Icuiti and it’s called iWear VR920.
It is said to work on every machine that outputs video and whether it is a laptop, or a gaming console, the iWear VR920 will work the same. Oh, and if you were wondering why is the girl smiling, it’s not because she’s playing a game and it’s fun, she’s just been instructed to, she’s a model-another reason for which we should believe she’s doing anything else except playing a game. I’m kidding…
Anyway, […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/92941214/virtual-reality-goggles-for-consoles.html

The first commercial version of Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 has been released by Adobe.
For more than a year, the photographic software has been available as a free downloadable beta. The current beta 4.1 is due for expiry on Feb 28, after which users will have to purchase the full version if they want to continue using it.
The 1.0 version is an improvement over the 4.1 beta in terms of advanced keyword tools in the library module that help photographers filter through large collections; more flexible file handling in the import dialogue that allows greater choice while determining file location; and a new and improved key metadata browser that offers quick access to key information tags, with color labels plus a pick/reject system.
This apart, the develop module now features virtual copies and snapshot tools […]

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Google’s Search Engine provides access to a variety of functions that help you find multiple types of information using a single keyword typed in the search box. Take the example of the Plus Box that provides you additional details about a website by clicking on the plus sign displayed under the link. Some time ago, the search giant removed map links to other rivals’ services to allow you to view a tiny map displaying a certain business. This time, the company updates the search giant with a brand new feature meant to return stock quotes about a specific firm.
The procedure is quite simple: all you need to do is to type your desired keyword, let’s say “computers”. After you’ll press search, the Google technology will return you multiple weblinks to companies from all around the world. Then, you should be able to see a plus sign connected to the link […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/93259082/google-search-engine-improved-again.html

Here are the Commercials by Gmail as they have gone free now :D. Have a look and enjoy
Gmail Theater : Act 1 (Why use Gmail)

Gmail Theater : Act 2

Gmail Theater : Act 3

Gmail Theater : Act 4

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/93259080/commercials-from-gmail.html

Google’s AdSense is currently a popular service on the Internet because it helps users earn money by placing ads on their websites. Every time a user visits the site and clicks on a Google ad, a certain amount of money is transferred into your account so, more users, more money. Because the service works with financial data, it imposes several terms of service to registered clients that must avoid infringing them or they can get their account banned. One of the most known rules is that users are not allowed to click on their own Google ads because the search giant records the user’s IP and, if it’s similar with the owner’s, it represents a click fraud.
Some time ago, the company released another type of adverts meant to increase their appearance but also display more products and an attractive commercial for a specific solution. Google Video Ads is […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/93377373/you-can-now-click-on-your-own-google.html

After all the pre-legislative assurances that Britain’s biometric ID card was “a bulwark against the surveillance society“, Tony Blair has shown such promises to be a mockery. So, no surprises there, then.
In an email to 28,000 people who signed an online petition demanding the government drop its plan for ID cards, Blair explains why he is ignoring their wishes and ploughing ahead regardless - with both a National Identity Register and an “unclonable” smartcard.
None of that is new. The new bit is Blair’s admission that the police hope to crack unsolved crimes using the NIR’s fingerprint data. This, Blair confesses, will be compared with “the fingerprints found at the scene of some 900,000 unsolved crimes”.
But there’s an elephant in the forensics room. As New Scientist has recounted before, fingerprints have never been validated as an entirely reliable biometric. On top of that, the ways in which different people match them […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/02/fingerprints-and-feature-creep.html

Asus India has introduced its latest gaming LCD monitor, the PG191, which incorporates the power Bass System and the fastest 2 milli-seconds gray-to-gray response time to deliver audio and video performance demanded by hardcore gamers.
The PG191, which is a 19-inch TFT-LCD panel, comes in Black and Silver color along with a Sleek Aluminum alloy neck and circular base and glared panel frame. And for gamers, the display contour is based on stealth bombers, and the subwoofer speakers at the back look like tank cannons.
The PG191 comes with 2.1-channel speakers (2 x 10W speakers and 15W super bass system) to deliver an exhilarating audio experience when battling in the virtual world. And complemented by SRS Lab’s Flagship TruSurround XT audio technology, the display supports the latest game titles’ 5.1 and 6.1 channel sound standards.
The PG191 incorporates the ‘Trace Free’ technology, which accelerates gray-to-gray response time to 2 milli-seconds to […]

Original post by http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/aditya/~3/94348329/asus-reveals-gaming-lcd-monitor.html

For the first time in the 40 years history of Turing Awards, a woman (Frances E Allen) has won the prestigious computing award.
Turing Awards are considered the “Nobel Prize of Computing”. They carry a $100,000 (Rs 4500,000) prize with financial support provided by Intel Corporation.
Since 1966, when the Turing Awards were first instituted, the winners have always been men. With a woman winning the award, this year marks a new beginning.
Frances E Allen (75) has been given the award for her work at IBM on techniques for optimizing the performance of compilers, the programs that translate one computer language into another. Programming code has to be converted into binary zeros and ones that are actually read by a computer’s colossal array of miniscule switches.
Allen joined IBM in 1957, when the company was […]

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Earlier this week I stumbled across something called Conservapedia, which, at first glance resembles Wikipedia. It is laid out exactly the same way and uses similar fonts and colours. Furthermore, just like Wikipedia, anyone can add and edit entries after registering with the site.
But that’s about as far as the similarity goes. On its home page, Conservapedia claims to be “a much-needed alternative to Wikipedia, which is increasingly anti-Christian and anti-American”. Conservapedia contains entries that reflect creationist thinking on evolution and lend support to critics of global warming.
Shortly after I found the site it was also discovered by a group of anti-Intelligent Design bloggers. They took it upon themselves to poke fun at the entries and correct much of the science. “Most of the science on the site is either shallow and useless or downright wrong,” says Paul Myers, a biologist at the University of Minnesota in Morris who runs […]

Original post by http://www.newscientist.com/blog/technology/2007/02/conservative-rival-for-wikipedia.html

A legacy program we have requires to use a modem to dial-up. The modem is Diamond SupraMax LE internal PCI modem, and the oprating system is Fedora Core 6. Because the modem is using a SmartLink chip, my initial try was to build slmodem downloaded from:
http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/packages/smartlink/slmodem-2.9.11-20061021.tar.gz
Note: For newest Smartlink linmodem driver, you can go to: http://linmodems.technion.ac.il/packages/smartlink/
Unfortuantely, when I was trying to build the package (”make”), it returns an error about unknown “config.h” file in the kernel. After searching around, I found a slmodem-alsa RPM (search slmodem from rpmfind.net). There is a rpm package for Fedora Core 6 and I have no problem installing the package. However, for some reason the package does not work. When I try to start the daemon, it gives me an error. After a whole afternoon’s trial and error, I almost gave up and was ready to try another modem. Then I find this article:
http://www20.brinkster.com/olivares/slmodemd-setup-1.html