Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Windows Vista Beta 1 vs. Mac OS X "Tiger" (Part 1)

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Windows Vista Beta 1 vs. Mac OS X "Tiger" (Part 1):

After years and years of waiting, we finally have a reasonably stable Windows Vista beta build to work with. Windows Vista Beta 1 (see my review) doesn't feature many end user features per se, but it does include a nearly complete next-generation Windows shell, instant desktop search, a preliminary version of the new Aero user interface, and other useful functionality. For Windows enthusiasts, Windows Vista Beta 1 is a much-needed demonstration that Microsoft can still churn out valuable Windows releases, after years of doubt. For Mac OS X users, however, Windows Vista Beta 1 engenders a sense of déjà vu. Isn't a lot of this stuff already in Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' (see my review)?

Slashdot | Plugin Lets Users Turn IE into Firefox

Slashdot | Plugin Lets Users Turn IE into Firefox:

An anonymous reader writes 'There is a new plugin available for IE that can make Internet Explorer resemble Firefox by adding tabbed browsing capabilities and an integrated search box. Moreover, the plugin improves IE's privacy and security by integrating a firewall designed to block out Internet exploits, phishing sites, spammers, spyware and worms, with a special HTTP filter that removes private data, and an anti-spyware tool that can identify and remove all pests in less then 10 seconds'

Google Announces Plan To Destroy All Information It Can't Index | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Google Announces Plan To Destroy All Information It Can't Index | The Onion - America's Finest News Source:

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA—Executives at Google, the rapidly growing online-search company that promises to 'organize the world's information,' announced Monday the latest step in their expansion effort: a far-reaching plan to destroy all the information it is unable to index.

Monday, August 29, 2005

BBspot - Geek Overcomes Social Anxiety By Turning Life into RPG

BBspot - Geek Overcomes Social Anxiety By Turning Life into RPG:

After being bribed with an old P233 Gateway system, the 26-year-old Systems Programmer was convinced to leave his apartment in order to demonstrate his RPG-As-Real-Life system.

'Okay,' Davis explained, 'the goal here is to gain experience so you can level up - just like an RPG. For example, I haven't had a date since about the time that Skies of Arcadia: Legends came out. So my objective is to talk to girls without being paralyzed by overwhelming social anxiety.'

He continued, 'Every time I talk to a girl, I reward myself with some experience points. The longer the conversation, the more experience I get. Instead of playing as a character in a game, I am the character and my social life is the game. In the end, I am able to transform an unknown, frightening reality into a comfortable, exciting fantasy. Remember - reality: bad, fantasy: good.'

'Right now my focus is on one of my stats that I call CER - my Chick Exposure Rate. See, as my CER increases, my probability of performing a critical hit (getting a date) dramatically increases. It's just a matter of simple statisti-' Davis then broke off, his eyes following an attractive University of Florida co-ed on rollerblades.

Friday, August 26, 2005

GadgetryBlog: Egg-Shaped ErgoChair

GadgetryBlog: Egg-Shaped ErgoChair

ergochair

The ErgoChair ($159) is a wierd new ergonomic chair designed by a group of physicians, health practitioners and engineers in Switzerland to promote correct posture, to help strengthen the muscles in the abdominal area and the spine, and to take stress off the back and neck. The exceptionally uncomfortable-looking chair claims to relieve chronic lower back pain, weak abdominal muscles, and neck problems that often lead to headaches. I think it does this by encouraging you not to sit down!

Suunto G6 - The New Golf wristop computer | Travel Gadgets | Travelizmo

Suunto G6 - The New Golf wristop computer | Travel Gadgets | Travelizmo

suunto-G6-golf-watch

The Suunto G6, 'New Golf Watch', gives you, the golfer, the ability to measure your swing, improve swing consistency and keep score all in one watch! After swinging you can check the tempo, rhythm, backswing, length and speed of your shot. This way you can keep track of your best shots and improve muscle memory to repeat only the good ones! The watch includes three acceleration sensors (took more than two years to develop) which accurately measure 200 times a second the movement of your wrist. The integrated scorekeeper removes the need for score and handicap paperwork and Suunto's Golf Manager PC software (Suunto G6 PRO only) helps identify the areas that need improvement at the end of the round. Pick up this self-improving golf companion at the end of this year.

Mio A701 communicator boasts Windows Mobile 5.0, GPS - infoSync World

Mio A701 communicator boasts Windows Mobile 5.0, GPS - infoSync World:

Chalking up the second communicator with embedded GPS functionality, Mio Technology has unveiled its Windows Mobile based Mio A701, merging phone and handheld functionality with positioning services. Powered by Windows Mobile 5.0, the Mio A701 is second only to the HP iPAQ hw6500 series, introduced this summer, in its level of integration.

Based on an Intel PXA270 processor running at 520 MHz, the device will feature a 2.7-inch touch screen with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. A total of 192 MB of memory is available, of which 128 MB is in the shape of non-volatile Flash ROM, whereas the remaining 64 MB is of the RAM variety in which applications will run.

the::unwired - IDF: Intel introduces the 1GHz+ chip for PDA

the::unwired - IDF: Intel introduces the 1.25GHz Bulverde follower called Monahans:

At IDF, Intel today previewed the Monahans CPU, a gigahertz-class successor to the currently widely used Pocket PC CPU Bulverde.

The 90nm part is due to be formally launched in Q4 2005, Sean Maloney, VP and General Manager of Intel's Mobility Group, said today at Intel Developer Forum.

Describing the chip as 'another step ahead in performance', Maloney showcased a pre-production Monahans running at 1.25GHz which was used to decode and play back HD video on a PDA screen. 8O

For the Monahans launch, it may not debut at 1GHz 'only' - Maloney admitted:

FedexFurniture.Com

FedexFurniture.Com:

lshaped_800

My name is Jose. 4 months ago, my friends Tom and Rob moved to Seattle. Tom, not having a job or a place to stay, eventually managed to get himself an apartment, but still had no furniture. Utilizing FedEx boxes, he built a simple desk for his PC. Several months later, I moved to Arizona for a new job, and had a similar problem, no furniture. Using FedEx boxes and packaging materials, I constructed a desk, bed, couch, dining table and chairs out of the boxes. I'm currently stuck with double rent (both my new and old apartments), and can not afford real furniture. After seeing pictures my friend Divide convinced me to build this site.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

CodeIt.Once - Refactoring Add-In for VS 2003 and VS 2005

CodeIt.Once - Refactoring Add-In for VS 2003 and VS 2005:

CodeIt.Once functionally complete Beta for both Visual Studio 2003 and Visual Studio 2005 is currently available for download through our Beta Experience program. If you want download a copy for evaluation or to participate in Beta testing, fill out a simple form (name and email address) and we will contact you with download instructions.

Paul's Blog | You know you're living in 2005

Paul's Blog | You know you're living in 2005 When:
You know you're living in 2005 When:

  1.  You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

  2.  You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

  3.  You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

 4.  You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

  5.  Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don't have e-mail addresses.

  6.  You go home after a long day at work and you still answer the phone in a businesslike manner.

  7.  You make phone calls from home and you accidentally dial "9" to get an outside line.

  8.  You've sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three different companies.

  10.  You learn about your redundancy on the 11 o'clock news.

 11.  Your boss doesn't have the ability to do your job.

  12. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home.

  13. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the screen.

  14. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

  15. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.

  16. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)

  17. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

  18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

  19. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

  20. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this list.

Fossil: Atari Asteroids Watch

Fossil: Atari Asteroids Watch

One of my friends sent me this link and we were talking. It would have made much more sense for them to make Tempest or Space Invaders or even Pong since you just need rotation and then a fire button. I'm glad they actually made it a nice looking watch.

LI2537

Atari: Asteroids LI2537
Price $125.00

Retro game for your wrist! New from Atari, this mens watch has a black leather band and a silver, retro, brushed case. Dial animates and plays the game Asteroids on a black background. Two hand movement. Packaged in a retro plastic box with vintage Atari artwork on it. Limited 1-year warranty. Limited edition of 5,000 pieces worldwide (only 2,000 availabe in the U.S.).

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

External-Antenna Cable Adapter for Motorola®, Samsung® and LG® Phones

External-Antenna Cable Adapter for Motorola®, Samsung® and LG® Phones:

This adapter is specifically designed for use with the RadioShack #17-345 Universal External Antenna. Simply plug it in and use with various models of Motorola, Samsung and LG phones. Reduces dropped calls.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

The Simpsons Quotes - Homer Simpson Quotes

The Simpsons Quotes - Homer Simpson Quotes

homer_ani

As the patriarch of the Simpsons clan, Homer Simpson provides the most laughs, the most quotes and the most entertainment of any character on television. A caring, albeit oblivious, father of three, Homer can be found at his nuclear power plant job, at Moe's bar, or on the couch.


Homer: Marge? Since I'm not talking to Lisa, would you please ask her to pass me the syrup?
Marge: Dear, please pass your father the syrup, Lisa.
Lisa: Bart, tell Dad I will only pass the syrup if it won't be used on any meat product.
Bart: You dunkin' your sausages in that syrup homeboy?
Homer: Marge, tell Bart I just want to drink a nice glass of syrup like I do every morning.
Marge: Tell him yourself, you're ignoring Lisa, not Bart.
Homer: Bart, thank your mother for pointing that out.
Marge: Homer, you're not not-talking to me and secondly I heard what you said.
Homer: Lisa, tell your mother to get off my case.
Bart: Uhhh, dad, Lisa's the one you're not talking to.
Homer: Bart, go to your room.


Homer: [drunk] Look, the thing about my family is there's five of us. Marge, Bart, Girl Bart, the one who doesn't talk, and the fat guy. How I loathe him.

USB.brando.com.hk - Delta Global Crew - USB 3600mAh Emergency Battery

USB.brando.com.hk - Delta Global Crew - USB 3600mAh Emergency Battery

usbbattery5_s

USB 3600mAh Emergency Battery

Features & Specifications :

  • Rechargeable Lithium ion Battery
  • Standard 5V-USB DC output
  • On/Off switch and energy indicator switch
  • LED indicator
  • Built-in short circle, over discharge, over load and over charge protection
  • Capacity : 3600mAh, 3.7V
  • Input : DC-5V
  • Output : Standard 5V-USB DC/1000mA
  • Size : 120 x 55 x 20 mm
  • Net Weight : 148 gm
  • Full Charging Time : Approx. 3 Hours

    Content :

  • USB Battery
  • Retractable Charging Cable
  • USB Charging Power Adapter
  • Sling

Pocket PC Addict: Using Your Pocket PC As an Extra Monitor

Pocket PC Addict Forums-viewtopic-Using Your Pocket PC As an Extra Monitor

Innobec Technologoies

sidewindow

Here's an interesting idea. You have your Pocket PC sitting in the cradle as you work at your computer all day. Why not utilize it for an extra PC monitor? That is the idea behind the new SideWindow software from Innobec Technologies. This nifty software app installs a little connector on your XP desktop and a small connector on your Pocket PC allowing you to render part of your desktop screen on your little buddy in the cradle. Yours truly had an opportunity to try this app and it does work! Smile The only limitation I found was it did require a cradle or sync cable. You can't do it over wifi.

So if you were wanting to squeeze your Instant messenger off to the side or some other small workbox (like your photoshop editing tools) this would save some desktop space and money.

FINALLY! The expensive desk ornament that used to be your cradled PDA can now serve a useful purpose. SideWindow transforms your PDA into a virtual desktop extension, allowing you to drag applications such as your favorite picture viewer, media player and instant messaging applications to your PDA while freeing your main display's real estate for something more useful.

SideWindow supports standard (240x320) and high (480x640) resolution devices such as the Dell x50v or the Toshiba e805, in either Lan

Monday, August 22, 2005

Virtual Street Reality

Virtual Street Reality:

artt1

Julian Beever is an English artist who is famous for his art on the pavements of England, France, Germany, USA, Australia and Belgium. Its peculiarity? Beever gives his drawings an anamorphosis view, his images are drawn in such a way which gives them three dimensionality when viewing from the correct angle. It's amazing !!!

Friday, August 19, 2005

Mr. Speaker » Blog Archive » Kentucky Fried Chicken Feet

Mr. Speaker » Blog Archive » Kentucky Fried Chicken Feet:

FinalDish

Imagine, just imagine, you discovered the most awesomely best thing in the known universe. And then, on that very same day, in that very same shop, you discovered the equally most awesome thing in the known universe. And THEN, imagine realising that if you combined those two most best things together, that the blinding goodness of mixed elements would multiply together to create a result of such intense and astonishing goodness as to render all other things in the known universe to be pretty crappy in comparison.

Thursday, August 18, 2005

Hoopty Rides: Holy King of Neptune Exhaust With an Oil Cooler Front Porch Spoiler!

Hoopty Rides: Holy King of Neptune Exhaust With an Oil Cooler Front Porch Spoiler!

052691
Tuner6

Whenever I am feeling down, I just open this link. So sidesplittingly funny, so heartfelt, so aesthetically preposterous, so obsessively obsessive, it is impossible to not feel immediately better about your own bleak situation. A couple weeks ago, Coop sent me the link and I can't stop looking at it.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Free Fonts - 6500 Free TTF Fonts (A)

Free Fonts - 6500 Free TTF Fonts (A):

Below are over 6500 free fonts you can download to your computer and use for free. These are free TTF fonts made to work with any PC or Windows Based Operating System.

After downloading any of these free TTF fonts to your computer you must install them in the 'Font' file folder of your Windows file folder found under the C: drive in your Windows Explorer program. Your Windows file folder, found under the C: drive of your Windows Explorer program, is often listed as 'WINDOWS' or 'WINNT.' Under your WINDOWS or WINNT file folder you will see a folder listed as 'Fonts.' Simply drag and drop any of the fonts you download to your computer into your 'Fonts' file folder. You will then be able to use any of these free fonts within any program on your computer.

DVD Case, Blank DVD and DVD-R at Shop 4 Tech: Ink Cartridges, DVD Media, Printer Ink

DVD Case, Blank DVD and DVD-R at Shop 4 Tech: Ink Cartridges, DVD Media, Printer Ink

I don't like cases, prefer sleeves in wallets, but for those of you who do like cases, these are advertised as unbreakable. meh! nothing is unbreakable!

Virtually unbreakable, these quality cases are designed for easy portability and increased storage space. Molded from soft, pliable plastic to one-half the size of a normal plastic disc case, you can store 2 Dura CD box in every slot of your disc storage unit. Safe for cd mailing too.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Amazon.ca: Books: Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook

Amazon.ca: Books: Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook:

This all new third edition is most comprehensive yet easy to use guidebook ever written for Maui. Hawai’i resident and best selling author, Andrew Doughty, actually hikes all the trails, rides the boats, scuba dives the reefs, dines in the restaurants, reviews all the resorts, snorkels the coastline, explores the hidden waterfalls and shares all the secrets that he finds. Everything is reviewed anonymously. This book and a rental car are all you need to discover what makes Maui so... Read more

pocketnow.com - Nextlink Bluespoon AX - v3.0

pocketnow.com - Reviews - Nextlink Bluespoon AX - v3.0

I think this might be the smallest bluetooth headset you can buy right now and the price is even reasonable. It even comes in different colors.

BluespColors_small1 Bluesp8_small

INTRODUCTION I've been a fan of the Nextlink Bluespoon series of Bluetooth wireless headsets for a while now. Their latest offering has many excellent new features that address just about all of the problems and criticism with the older models. If you're looking for the most discreet, most technologically advanced wireless bluetooth headset around at this time, this is it. My review here will be based on a commercial preview version of the Bluespoon AX. The production version will be all black with black softsprings and 15% better battery life. It will also include more complete documentation in 12 languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Dutch, Italian, Portugese, Polish).

WHAT'S HOT The Bluespoon AX extends Nextlink's lead as the most advanced bluetooth headset by not only being smaller and lighter than the previous smallest Bluetooth headset (Nextlink's Bluespoon Digital), but also adding excellent features such as ear-switching capabilities, replaceable battery, significantly increased range/reception, and mini-USB port for recharging. What's that? You want more? Well, the price is also going to be less than a 3rd of the cost of the Bluespoon Digital and even less than the budget-friendly Bluespoon Cameleon.

Friday, August 12, 2005

Ananova - Lazy postman faces jail

Ananova - Lazy postman faces jail:

Lazy postman faces jail

A lazy Italian postman is facing up to 10 years in jail after he filled his home with thousands of letters he could not be bothered to deliver.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

how-to make a ‘usb battery’ - hack a day - www.hackaday.com _

how-to make a ‘usb battery’ - hack a day - www.hackaday.com _:

found out yesterday that there’s a shuffle shortage and gadget battery life can only be expected to get worse. bummer. at least you can make the most of your waiting-for-shuffle blues and solder yourself a ‘usb battery’. this little gizmo runs off a 9 volt battery and supplies your favorite little device with the proper 5 volts of mobile power.

Pocket Power Bank (2-in-1 Battery Charger / Extender) (Battery included)

Pocket Power Bank (2-in-1 Battery Charger / Extender) (Battery included):

Semsons' new Pocket Power Bank w/ USB port is more versatile and convenient than ever before while in a smaller package!

BoxWave - Battery Adapter for miniSync - USB Emergency Charger Utilizing Standard AA Batteries

BoxWave - Battery Adapter for miniSync - USB Emergency Charger Utilizing Standard AA Batteries: layout_battery_adapter

With the Battery Adapter for miniSync, you will never have to worry about your devices running low on power at inopportune times, or need to find an alternative power source during an emergency. The Battery Adapter for miniSync uses conveniently found AA batteries to provide up to 5 full recharging cycles for your device. Now you'll have power to charge your device in any situation!

Designed for mobile professionals who demand portable power that's convenient, BoxWave’s Battery Adaptor combines with any miniSync to fully recharge your device whenever you wish.

The Battery Adapter safely charges your handheld, and works with all our miniSync's. Compact and reliable, our chargers together with miniSync make the complete ultra-portable charging solution!

Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Monday, August 08, 2005

MobileRead Networks - Playing Doom on Apple's iPod

MobileRead Networks - Playing Doom on Apple's iPod:

Porting id Software's classic Doom game to a new and significantly limited platform is a hacker's relief from boredom and an open door to fame. Now some crazy dudes have managed to write a playable port running on iPod Linux (see screenshots). It still lacks certain features such an overhead map and weapon switching. But who cares as long as you can shoot some hideous green-eyed monsters in the face?

This port only works on 1-4G's and Mini 1G/2G. So we're still fantasizing about playing Doom on the iPod Shuffle.

Amazon.ca: Computer and Video Games: Armor Case Sp

Amazon.ca: Computer and Video Games: Armor Case Sp:

Armor Case Sp Mad Catz Canada

Our Price: CDN$ 1.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $39. See details

Usually ships within 24 hours

New from CDN$ 1.99

Platform:

Friday, August 05, 2005

Sympatico / MSN News : Unusual News : Government to build Australia's highest toilet, on country's highest mountain

Sympatico / MSN News : Unusual News : Government to build Australia's highest toilet, on country's highest mountain

Unless someone can drive up there, why in the world would you need wheelchair access?

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Those attempting to scale Australia's highest mountain will soon be able to stop at the country's highest toilet.

Dubbed the 'Loo with a View,' the all-weather toilet block is to be built into the wind-swept side of Mount Kosciuszko. It's about 120 metres below the mountain's snowcapped peak in a New South Wales state national park. The toilet is described as 'a bunker,' built to withstand 150-kilometre-an-hour winds. It's carved six metres into the mountain and will have three urinals and three unisex stalls - one with wheelchair access.

The septic tank will have enough capacity to ensure that the toilet can last more than six months without service.

'The engineering challenges are in trying to build something in such a remote location and at that elevation,' National Parks and Wildlife Service alpine area manager Andrew Harrigan said.

The toilet is part of a recently released human waste strategy for the park, entitled 'Taking Care of Business,' which aims to prevent walkers and campers from digging latrines in the earth or snow.

'What we'd like to do is get rid of people doing number twos in the area and we're llooking at introducing a carryout policy and providing biodegradable bags," Harrigan said.

Standing a relatively modest 2,228 metres above sea level, Kosciuszko's peak attracts about 60,000 climbers a year, mostly during summer when little snow remains.

The toilet is to be built in the 2006-07 southern summer, he said.

Logisys FP800BK Black Remote Multifunction Panel

Logisys FP800BK Black Remote Multifunction Panel

Media, home theater, and gaming PCs have become a fashion in the fast-changing PC industry. PC-modding, in particular, is now one of gamers' favorite pastimes, and is at the forefront in the trend for our next dream PC. In response to the growing needs for remote access, convenient accessibility, and security of gaming PCs, Logisys has created this unique, first of its kind, 5.25 Remote Multi-Functional Panel. With this panel, you can boot your computer from the palm of your hand. It comes with two blue LED thermal gauges, and a fan speed control switch, Which can display either the temperature of your hard drive, or CPU. Two USB2.0 ports, and one firewire port were also built in the panel for easy access.

WhyNotBe.com: Find the Most Amazing Bottle Opener Here...

WhyNotBe.com: Find the Most Amazing Bottle Opener Here...

For today, Why Not Be .... Open? The Be Open bottle opener is sure to light up your face and those of your guests every time you use it. A unique spring loaded mechanism pries both twist off and pull top bottle caps when you easily push down on the opener. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3 to open bottles with this fun and unique tool. It serves as a great gift for everyone! Get your Be Open bottle opener for Grads and Dads now.

SPOTWAVE | SPOTCELL® HOME & SMALL BUSINESS | Indoor Wireless Coverage Systems – A carrier-approved, cost-effective solution to improve indoor cellular

SPOTWAVE | SPOTCELL® HOME & SMALL BUSINESS | Indoor Wireless Coverage Systems – A carrier-approved, cost-effective solution to improve indoor cellular and PCS coverage for small offices and residences up to 5,000 square feet.

I have a feeling it cost mucho $$$$$.

A carrier-approved, cost-effective solution to improve indoor wireless coverage for small offices and residences up to 5,000 square feet.

In certain geographic markets carriers operate more complex networks. Your location may require our advanced SpotCell system configuration to address the problem.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Coudal Partners

Coudal Partners

shhh

After reading a story in the NYT, Jim's wife Heidi came up with a method to fight back against the obnoxious cell phone users that we all have to deal with in stores, restaurants, trains and pretty much everywhere else. Can design ride to the rescue? Jim and the incomparable Aaron Draplin think it can. So, as a public service, we introduce the reasonably polite SHHH, the Society for HandHeld Hushing.

Ultimate cell phone headset roundup - CNET reviews

Ultimate cell phone headset roundup - CNET reviews:

CMO America ZipKord retractable mobile headset The small, well-cushioned earpiece on the ZipKord fits snugly but softly in your ear canal, and callers had no trouble hearing us with the in-line microphone. Another plus: The cord expands to 32 inches and rewinds with ease, and the outside of the small case includes a metal shirt clip, so it's easy to walk around with this headset. There's also a model available for Nokia phones with a four-prong plug.

Features & Reviews | BoxWave miniBuds

Features & Reviews | BoxWave miniBuds:

As you may have gathered, I’m a big fan of neatness and organization. BoxWave’s miniSync accessories are a great way to end cable clutter, whether or not your a world traveler, since they’re only as long as you need them to be, and they’re easy to stow when not in use. Now the same convenience is available with ear bud headphones, courtesy of the BoxWave miniBuds.

Several manufacturers are now offering retractable headphones, but the BoxWave miniBuds are definitely my favorites so far. The earbuds themselves have a nice foam cover that goes a long way towards improving comfort in the ear. They also don’t seem to fall out of my ear like other earbuds.

Like all retractable headphones, the miniBuds have a central mechanism that houses the cord that unwinds when you pull on both ends, but the miniBuds have two nice little extras. The first is a small piece of plastic that moves freely between the middle cord housing and the ear buds; it ensures that the earbud cord retracts easily, without any twisting or tangles, since the two cords are kept separated from each other. The other is a small metal clip on the back of the cord housing that you can attach to your clothing or to a bag strap. This is a major plus because retractable earbuds can tend to drag a bit, or bounce against your che

Shockwave Flash Games: Duck Hunt

Shockwave Flash Games: Duck Hunt:

Shockwave Flash Games: Duck Hunt

Dissecting Mighty Mouse : Page 1

Dissecting Mighty Mouse : Page 1:

We all knew it was going to happen eventually, so we decided to beat our crazy, Domokun-loving friends across the pond to the punch and perform invasive surgery on our brand-new Apple Mighty Mouse. I'm afraid there's no chance of recovery—it's dead, Jim.

First, it's important to note that if you decide to take your Mighty Mouse apart, do so at your own risk and be very aware that the process may involve breakage and/or sawing, so there's no turning back once you get started.

We started out by removing the several layers of rings from the bottom, which were attached (mostly) by tabs to the body of the mouse.

Apple Mighty Mouse : Page 1

Apple Mighty Mouse : Page 1

Hell has frozen over for the second time, a multi-button mouse from Apple.
2

Well, the day has finally come. Unless you've been stuck in an elevator for the past 24 hours, you've heard that Apple has released a multi-button mouse called the Mighty Mouse, breaking their usual stance of sticking to the ol' one-button wonder for simplicity's sake. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a production model and have been mousing away ever since I got it.

RC: Sony RM-VL710 Universal Remote Control Review (1)

RC: Sony RM-VL710 Universal Remote Control Review (1):

Sony’s most economical learning remote gets upgraded with a daring new design, additional buttons and new macros.

There’s nothing written in stone that says an affordable remote control needs to be limited in capabilities. Case in point, the Sony RM-VL series. Although items bearing the Sony label are typically associated with commanding something of a price premium, for several years now Sony has actually had the least expensive fully capable universal remote control models available.

When the 8-device 11-macro Sony RM-VL900 (read our review) was introduced in early 2000 at a price of $59.99 USD MSRP, it didn’t particularly feel like a monumental event at that time. But the RM-VL900 would hold the crown as the most economical learning remote for nearly two years before being usurped – by yet another Sony model!

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

AnandTech: Gigabyte's i-RAM: Affordable Solid State Storage

AnandTech: Gigabyte's i-RAM: Affordable Solid State Storage:

Final Words Armed with four 1GB sticks, we ran into more than a few cases where the i-RAM's size limitations made it impractical for use in our system. Although 4GB is enough for a good deal of applications, an 8GB card would get far more use. Based on the size of applications and games that we tried installing on the card, we'd say that 8GB would be the sweet spot - which unfortunately would either take two cards or much more expensive DIMMs. We wouldn't recommend going with a 2GB partition unless you have a very specific usage model that you know won't use any more. With only 2GB, we quickly found ourselves very constrained for space. The past few years of having much more storage than we could ever ask for has unfortunately made us forget about how tough things can get with only a couple of GBs of space.

Although the card is presently cramped with just four DIMM slots, one option for Gigabyte is to introduce a two-slot version with support for eight DIMMs. The problem that we foresee most people running into is that older memory may be plentiful, but is usually smaller in size. By the time current Athlon 64 users migrate to DDR2, they may have a handful of 512MB or 1GB sticks laying around, but presently, the only spare memory that you're most likely to have is a few 128MB or or 256MB DDR modules from older builds. Without being able to re-use older memory, the cost of outfitting an i-RAM card with a full 4GB of memory starts getting expensive. At $90 per gigabyte of memory, you're talking about $360 just in memory costs, plus another $150 for the card itself. For most folks, that's a pretty steep entry fee, but then again, if you've just splurged on a GeForce 7800 GTX, then maybe your budget can handle it.

But that right there hits the nail on the head; by no means is the i-RAM a cheap upgrade, but then again, neither is an Athlon 64 X2, or a brand new 7800 GTX, or an SLI motherboard. If you put it in perspective, an i-RAM with 4GB of brand new DDR400 memory isn't all that expensive compared to some of the other upgrades that we've recommended recently. So the question then becomes, is Gigabyte's i-RAM as important to your overall system performance as an Athlon 64 X2 or a GeForce 7800 GTX?

For gamers, there is a slight improvement in level load times if you keep your game on the i-RAM. Most games will fit on a 4GB card, but as we noticed during our testing, not all will. The reduction in load times isn't nearly as dramatic as we had originally thought. It seems as if level load times are actually more affected by CPU and platform performance than just disk performance.

Those users who have one or two applications that occupy all of their time, and tend to take a while to load or work with due to constant disk access would be more than happy with the i-RAM. By far, the biggest performance improvements we saw when using the i-RAM were obviously with disk intensive operations such as file copying. If your applications or usage models involve a lot of data movement without much manipulation, then the i-RAM may very well be what you need.

At the same time, for all of the situations where the i-RAM was quite useful, there were a number where it wasn't. Multitasking performance went up, but only in one out of the three Winstone tests, and even then, it's going to be rather tough to install a large number of applications on the i-RAM due to its size limitations, so your multitasking performance benefits will be numbered. Game load times weren't always improved by a great deal and as we saw with the Business and Multimedia Content Creation Winstone tests, sometimes you are better off with a faster CPU than with the i-RAM.

The important thing to focus on is that thanks to Gigabyte's battery system, data-loss was never an issue during our use of the card; and despite the lack of ECC memory support, we never had any data corruption during our testing.

In the end, the i-RAM is an interesting addition to a system, but it's usefulness will truly vary from one user to the next. With a bit more capacity, and especially for those users who happen to have a few 1GB sticks laying around, the i-RAM could be a very powerful addition to your system. Hats off to Gigabyte for making something useful, and we can't wait to see rev 2...

AcoustiFan No Dust Quiet Fans and Other Quiet Cooling Products

AcoustiFan No Dust Quiet Fans and Other Quiet Cooling Products:

AcoustiFan's No Dust fans are incredibily quiet. With the ability to protect the motor from dust, they will certainly last longer, possibly making them worth the expense. At $28 and $35 per fan, they are most likely too expensive for all those but the most dedicated seeker of silence. I would like to see the lack of the extra cables to lower the price a bit, for the fans are quiet enough when running at full blast. Plus, who will want to swap cables in and out of their system for some added airflow when playing a game. Finally, the jury is still out on if they stay quiet over time, I will have to get back to you on that one when I have a few months of dust build up.

As for the Soft Silicon Gaskets, I would pick these up. These help emensly, especially if you have a rattling fan in your case now. For the $7 they cost, they are well worth it, though a bit tough to install in some instances.

Spyware Warrior: Anti-Spyware Feature Comparison

Spyware Warrior: Anti-Spyware Feature Comparison:

As spyware and adware have become increasingly powerful and difficult to remove, developers of anti-spyware programs have added a wider range of functionality to their applications to give users more powerful tools as well as greater control over those tools. Moreover, although anti-spyware applications have long resembled standard anti-virus applications in many ways, they have also started to acquire their own distinctive set of features in order to help users deal with the unique problems posed by spyware and adware. Given the bewildering array of programs and features available to users looking for anti-spyware applications, users may find it difficult to usefully compare anti-spyware programs and their feature sets.

To remedy that potential confusion, this page presents two Feature Comparison Tables for the major anti-spyware programs currently available. An explanation of the features considered can be found below the table in the Notes section

Socket unveils petite Go Wi-Fi! E300 SDIO card - infoSync World

Socket unveils petite Go Wi-Fi! E300 SDIO card - infoSync World:

Updating its WLAN offering, Socket Communications has announced the introduction of its Go Wi-Fi! E300 SDIO card. At a length of 40 mm, and a weight of 4 g, the card is considerably shorter and also somewhat lighter than Socket's previous Wi-Fi SDIO card, which the Go Wi-Fi! E300 is replacing. Despite its small size, the card incorporates a LED to display connection status, and is, according to Socket Communications, three times as fast as its predecessor.

Compatible with Wi-Fi 802.11b, the card supports WEP and WPA encryption standards including WPA-PSK as well as 802.1x authentication with EAP-TLS or PEAP under the Windows Mobile 2003 platform with which the card is solely compatible. Available immediately worldwide for $89 USD, the card comes bundled with Socket's Wi-Fi Companion software for Windows Mobile 2003.

Tom's Hardware Guide PCs & HowTo: Turning Your Printer Into A Paper Shredder (On Purpose) - Overview

Tom's Hardware Guide PCs & HowTo: Turning Your Printer Into A Paper Shredder (On Purpose) - Overview

Laser printers are infamous for shredding papers instead of printing them. But what about turning your printer into a high-volume paper shredder - on purpose?

The genesis of our project was the all-too-common 'paper jam' ID10T error on a printer at a rapidly growing software firm that my good friend Mike owns. He also has a mountain of sensitive documents that seems to grow as quickly as his business, piling up next to his paper shredder.

Generally speaking, small business owners are not always technically inclined and are unaware that their laser printer can run too hot. After several attempts to use a new special plastic-based paper, feeding in sheet after sheet and not getting a single sheet returned, Mike then realized there might be a problem. Upon closer inspection several pages of this special paper had melted in the printer and completely destroyed it: The ultimate 'paper' jam.

About the same time I decided to see if I could find an automatic bulk paper shredder solution for him. Sure enough I was able to find some options, but they ranged from $3,000 - $12,000. Obviously that wouldn't do for the creative-minded geek. So after some brainstorming and a lightning strike or two, I had the idea to modify the remnants of the laser printer to fill the role.

As this was going to be a volume-based solution, we needed a robust and well-built paper feed mechanism, and a solid feed rate. Xerox has built its reputation on the quality and performance of its printers. Of course, with a reputation like that, what self respecting modder wouldn't jump at the opportunity to apply a personal spin to it?

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

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dilbert2045782050802, originally uploaded by seafoam.

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dilbert2915650050801, originally uploaded by seafoam.

Monday, August 01, 2005

The Code Project - Pocket PC TV Remote Control - Mobile / Embedded

The Code Project - Pocket PC TV Remote Control - Mobile / Embedded:

I recently lost the TV remote for my old Sony TV. In itself that was no problem, as I bought a replacement remote which did the job. However, when the TV lost its colour setting, I had a problem as it could only show pictures in black and white, and the replacement remote didn't have the buttons for colour adjustment. I decided to write a program on my old Jornada 525 Pocket PC to send the correct codes to the TV using the IR port.

There appears to be three main protocols for sending IR codes to devices. Sony uses the 'Pulse Coded' method which entails sending a steam of data containing header bits, '1' bits and '0' bits separated by spaces. These bits modulate a carrier of 40KHz, and are of different lengths, 2200 us for the header, 110 us for a 1 bit and 550 us for a 0 bit. The spaces are 550 us of silence. Most Sony equipment uses 12 bits of data, which is separated into 6 bits of address (the device type) and 6 bits of command. So the data looks like this: hxxxxxxyyyyyy where h is the header bit, xxxxxx is the 6 bits of the command (msb first) and yyyyyy is the 6 bits of address. I won't go into any further details on this, as there are many sources on the internet that describe the protocol and list the codes for the different devices. Some newer Sony equipment use 19 bit codes, and I believe that other manufacturers use the same format that I have described. It should also be possible to write similar classes for devices that use 'Space Coded' or 'Shift Coded' protocols.

I have written a class called CIrPulse using Embedded C , which encapsulates the functionality to control Sony and compatible devices from a Jornada 525 PC running Windows CE 3.0. It should work with other devices and Operating Systems, but you will need to try it!