Tech-Info

Time Line: Sony Hackers Attack

2012-02-18T17:50:00.000+05:30

Timeline of Mars....!!!

2012-01-01T10:13:00.000+05:30

The Windows 8 Task Manager

2011-10-16T11:22:00.002+05:30

The Windows 8 Task Manager

As we mentioned during the Windows 8 keynote at //build/, every 15 years or so we choose to update Task Manager. Of course that was said in jest as we have incrementally improved the utility in just about every release of Windows. For Windows 8, we took a new look at the tool and thought through some new scenarios and a new way of tuning the tool for "both ends of the spectrum" in terms of end-users and those that need very fine-grained control over what is going on with their PC. Ryan Haveson, the group program manager of our In Control of Your PC team, authored this post. Note: This post is about Task Manager, not about closing Metro style applications :-)

--Steven

We are really excited to share some of the improvements we are making to the Task Manager in Windows 8. Task Manager is one of the most widely used apps, and it has a long history. It showed up in early versions of Windows as a simple utility to close and switch between programs, and has had functionality added to it through several releases to make it what it is today.

Figure 1: Windows 3.0 Task List

Figure 2: Windows NT 4.0 Task Manager (now with “new task”)

Figure 3: Windows XP Task Manager (with new Networking and Users tabs)

Figure 4: Windows 7 Task Manager

Because Task Manager is so widely used, we knew that any changes we made would be noticed, so of course we were both excited and cautious about the effort. At the beginning, there were a few key problems that we knew we wanted to address:

Build a tool that was well designed, thoughtful, and modern. After all, even a technical tool can benefit from a focus on design.
Fill some of the functionality gaps that drove some of our most technical customers to use other tools such as Resource Monitor and Process Explorer.
Organize and highlight the richness of data available to make it more elegant and clear for those who want access to a new level of data.

How do people use Task Manager?

To really make Task Manager great at what it currently does, we wanted to first understand how people were using it. Over the years, it had grown to support many different scenarios. As of Windows 7, you could use Task Manager to close applications, to find out detailed data about your processes, to start or stop services, to monitor your network adaptor, or even to perform basic system administrator tasks for currently logged on users. That is a lot of functionality.

Because of the investments we made in telemetry, we had some pretty good data to start with. We combined this with individual customer interviews and observation in the research lab to understand what people were doing with Task Manager and why they were doing it.

Figure 5: Which tabs are people using?

This data is pretty interesting. What it shows is that people are spending most of their time using the first two tabs, which are pivoted around views of applications and processes. Although it is not surprising, it was interesting to see that the usage was roughly evenly split between the Applications tab and the Process tab. This indicates that there must be some significant detail lacking in the Applications tab, which is causing people to go to the Process tab. So, next we looked at how people were using the Process tab to understand what they were doing there.

Figure 6: Many users sort the process view on resource usage

When we looked at this data, and then correlated it with interviews and observations of users in our research labs, we found that people were using the process tab either to look for something that was not on the applications list (e.g. a background or system process), or to see which processes were using the most resources.

So next we looked at what actions people take in Task Manager.

Figure 7: The goal is often to close or “kill” an app or process
Click to view a larger version of this chart

Looking at the data and talking with customers, we determined that the most common usage of the tool was to simply end or “kill” an application or a process.

Goals of the new Task Manager

Based on all of the data and our background research, we decided to focus energy on three key goals:

Optimize Task Manager for the most common scenarios. Focus on the scenarios that the data points to: (1) use the applications tab to find and close a specific application, or (2) go to the processes tab, sort on resource usage, and kill some processes to reclaim resources.
Use modern information design to achieve functional goals. Build a tool that is thoughtful and modern by focusing on information design and data visualization to help achieve the functional scenario goals.
Don’t remove functionality. While there are some notable core scenarios, there is a really long list of other, less frequent usage scenarios for Task Manager. We explicitly set a goal to not remove functionality, but rather to augment, enhance, and improve.

A key issue we intended to address was how we could add all of the interesting new functionality without overwhelming users. To solve this, we pivoted around a "More/Fewer details" button similar to the new copy file dialog model.

Figure 8: Fewer details view

Figure 9: More details view

This model allowed us to optimize the default view (“Fewer details”) around the core scenario of finding an application and closing it. It also allowed us to add much more detail in the other view because it would only show up when someone asked for it. In the “More details” view we decided to stay with the existing tabbing model of Task Manager and focus on improving the content of each of the tabs. This would help us to augment, enhance, and improve what we already had, without removing functionality.

Scenario #1: Ending processes quickly and efficiently

We know from many third-party tools (or tools like sysinternals Process Explorer) there are many things we could add to Task Manager for power users, but we knew we had to first address the mainstream users because we didn’t want to create something that would overwhelm the majority of our customers. We will of course continue to value third-party tools as they allow for specialization and unique innovation around this and many tasks. For the default view, we designed a minimalist experience that appeals to the needs of the broadest customer base and most common scenario. When you launch Task Manager for the first time in Windows 8, you see a very clean view of your running apps. We made the default view great at one thing: killing misbehaving apps. And we removed everything that did not directly support that core scenario.

Figure 10: Default view of Task Manager in “Windows 8”

The value of the default view is all about what we took out. We removed everything not focused on the core task of killing apps, which makes the design focused and efficient. Specifically:

We took out the tabs from this view, since they distract from the core scenario.
We removed the menu bar from the default view.
This view shows just the apps, and removes individual windows that can’t be killed anyway.
We took out things that clutter the experience, such as resource usage stats and technical concepts that most users don’t understand.
No double prompts. If you click ”End task” we don’t ask you, “Are you sure?”, we just kill the app, and quickly! (But be careful, because we also won’t prompt you to save!)

Check out how much cleaner and more focused the new Task Manager is compared to the Windows 7 Task Manager with the same applications and windows opened:

Figure 11: Windows 7 and Windows 8 Task Managers, compared

After taking out all of the extras, you are left with a tool that is great at one thing: killing a misbehaving app. And this is perfect for many users who are experiencing the pain of a “not responding” app that won’t go away using the app’s Close button.

Scenario #2: Diagnosing performance issues

A lot of what is new with Task Manager is shown only when you go to the “More details” view. This is the realm of the power user, so keep in mind that mainstream users may never want to get into this level of detail, and all of their needs should be met by the ”Fewer details” view above.

Here is what you will see in this new view:

Figure 12: The new processes tab and the heat map

The heat map

The most noticeable difference in the new processes tab is the new heat map, which represents different values with color. Our telemetry data told us that it was very common for users to go to the process tab, sort by CPU or memory utilization, and then look for applications consuming more resources than expected. The nice thing about a heat map is that it allows you to monitor anomalies across multiple resources (network, disk, memory, and CPU utilization) all at the same time, without having to sort the data. It also allows you to find the hot spot instantly without needing to read numbers or understand concepts or specific units. In usability studies we used an eye-tracking system to test what users looked at when presented with various ways of visualizing this information. This helped us narrow our choices to a design that efficiently draws user’s eyes to the most significant resource problems. Below you can see the eye movement of a participant in one of our eye-tracking studies overlaid on top of a screen shot of what he was looking at. The red dot indicates a place where his eye paused, and the lines show where his eye had quickly moved from previously.

Download this video to view it in your favorite media player:
High quality MP4 | Lower quality MP4

Network and disk counters

Many power users supplement their usage of Task Manager with other tools such as Resource Monitor simply because in the past Task Manager did not show per-process network and disk attribution. This was a gap, when you consider that a spinning disk or multiple applications competing for network bandwidth are the root cause of many perceptible PC performance issues. The new Task Manager now shows these resources at the same level of detail as memory and CPU.

Lighting up the resource usage

One of the biggest causes of PC performance issues is resource contention. When a particular resource is being used at a rate above a threshold number, the column header will light up to draw your attention to it. Think of this as a warning indicator, letting you know a good place to start looking if you are experiencing performance issues. Below, you can see that the CPU column header is highlighted to draw your attention to the fact that you may have multiple applications competing for CPU time.

Figure 13: Resource usage indicators

Grouping by applications, background processes, and Windows processes

A big challenge with today’s Task Manager is that it is hard to know which processes correspond to an application (apps are generally safe to kill), which are Windows OS processes (killing some of these can cause a blue screen), and which are miscellaneous background processes that may need to be explored more deeply. The new Task Manager shows processes grouped by type, so it is easy to keep these separated while still providing an ungrouped view for situations where you need it.

Figure 14: Grouping by process type

Friendly names for background processes (and services, and everything else)

Looking at the screen shot above, do you see the line item for "Print driver host for applications"? In the old Task Manager, this showed up as “splwow64.exe”.

But if you still want to see the executable name, of course you can add it back as an optional column.

Grouping top-level windows by app

One of the most distracting parts of the old Task Manager is that the Applications tab was a flat list that included all of the top-level windows from all processes in the system. While the list of top-level windows is interesting information to have, it is often overwhelming to look at and sometimes a single window cannot be killed without closing all the other windows for that process. To address this, the new Task Manager now groups top-level windows under their parent process. It allows for a much cleaner view for typical usage, helps you focus on killable processes, process resource usage, and allows you to see which windows are owned by each process so you know what will be closed if you kill it.

Figure 15: Grouping top-level windows by process

What’s a fussvc.exe?

Have you ever looked through the process list, seen something like “fussvc.exe” and wondered what it was? Adding friendly names was a good first step to resolving this problem (fusssvc.exe is actually the Fast User Switching Utility Service), but of course, to really find out what this process is, you need to search the web. The new Task Manager integrates a search context menu on right-click, so you can go directly to your default search engine (which you can customize) to see more details and relevant information. This can make a huge difference when deciding whether a background process is doing something useful or just wasting cycles.

Figure 16: Search the web for details on obscure processes

Figure 17: Search results for “fussvc.exe Fast User Switching Utility Service”

Service host details and friendly names

If you open up Windows 7 Task Manager to the Processes tab and select “Show process from all users,” you will probably see eight seemingly identical instances of “svchost.exe”. This is one of the most commonly noted "not very informative" sources of information we provided. Of course, some of you know that this is really just a service host process and you can add the PID column, go to the services tab, sort by PID, see which services correlate to that PID, and then reverse-look-up friendly names for each of the services… but that is a lot of work (and not everybody knows this)! With the new Task Manager, we show all of the services grouped by process with friendly names for each of them, so you instantly can see what is going on when an instance of svchost is consuming a lot of resources:

Figure 18: Service host grouping and details

As you can see, we added quite a lot to the new Task Manager (and we only showed you the first tab!). Task Manager was a unique opportunity for user experience designers and researchers working together with technical program managers and engineers to create a clean, organized, and efficient design. We made it more streamlined for mainstream users, and more detailed for power users.

I will leave you with a quick demo where you can see what it looks like in action.

Source : www.howtogeek.com

Windows 8 : How to Add Shutdown / Restart / Sleep to Metro Start Screen

2011-10-16T10:29:00.001+05:30

How to Add Shutdown / Restart / Sleep to the Windows 8 Metro Start Screen
If you have installed the Developer Preview of Windows 8, you probably have discovered the rather obscure method of shutting down the system. There is an easier way of shutting down, restarting, sleeping, and hibernating your computer. You can add tiles to the Windows 8 Metro Start screen that allow you to perform these tasks with one click.
To begin, click the Desktop tile on the Start screen to access the Desktop.
Right-click on the Desktop and select New | Shortcut from the popup menu.
Enter the following command in the Type the location of the item edit box and click Next.
shutdown.exe -s -t 00
Enter a name for the shortcut in the Type a name for this shortcut edit box and click Finish.
The default icon is not very representative of what the shortcut does, so let’s change it.
To do so, right-click on the shortcut and select Properties.
The Shortcut tab on the Properties dialog box displays. Click Change Icon.
Because the shutdown.exe program you specified has no icons associated with it, the following message displays. Click OK.
By default, the icons in the shell32.dll file display. You can use the Browse button to select another .exe, .dll, or .ico file, but the shell32.exe file has many icons available. We selected a power symbol icon. Click OK once you have selected your icon.
The selected icon displays on the Properties dialog box. Click OK on the dialog box to close it.
The shortcut has to be copied to another directory to be available on the Start screen, so, copy the shortcut on the desktop.
Paste the shortcut into the following directory:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs
You can either copy the path above and paste it into the address bar in Explorer or you can navigate to the directory. If you can see the ProgramData directory, see the note below.
NOTE: The ProgramData directory is a hidden directory. To gain access to it, click the Hidden items check box in the Show/hide group on the View tab.
Paste the shortcut into the specified directory. You will probably see the following dialog box when you try to paste the file. Click Continue to give permission to paste the file into the directory.
You should see a Shut down tile on the Start screen. One click on this tile will shut down your system.
If you don’t see the Shut down tile on the Start screen, you can search for it and pin it to the Start screen. To find the shortcut, move your mouse over the Start icon in the lower, left corner on the desktop to display the Start menu. Select Search.
NOTE: If you are using a touch screen, you can swipe from the right side of the screen to the left to access the Start menu.
NOTE: You can also access the Start menu in the same way on the Metro Start screen.
The Search panel displays on the right side of the screen. Scroll down and select Apps from the list. Enter “shut down” (or the name you gave your shortcut) in the Search Apps edit box. Press Enter or click the magnifying glass.
The Shut down shortcut displays on the left side of the screen. Right-click the shortcut. The options for the shortcut display in the lower, right corner of the desktop (instead of on a popup menu, like in Windows 7, and earlier). Click the Pin icon. You should now see the Shut down tile on the Start screen.
NOTE: Press Escape to exit the search and go back to the desktop.
To add tiles for Restart, Lock Workstation, Hibernate, and Sleep, enter the following commands create new shortcuts and enter the following commands on the first screen of the Shortcut wizard.
Restart Computer: shutdown.exe -r -t 00

Lock Workstation: rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

Hibernate Computer: rundll32.exe powrProf.dll,SetSuspendState

Sleep Computer: rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0

The rundll32.exe file does have an icon available; however, you may want to change it. Use the Browse button to access a file with more icons. The shell32.dll file is located in C:\Windows\System32.
NOTE: For the Hibernate and Sleep options, make sure that the hardware in your computer support these options and that they are enabled.
Source : www.howtogeek.com

How To Secure Your Wi-Fi Network Against Intrusion

2011-10-09T08:48:00.000+05:30

Insecure Wi-Fi is the easiest way for people to access your home network, leech your internet, and cause you serious headaches with more malicious behavior. Read on as we show you how to secure your home Wi-Fi network.

Why Secure Your Network?

In a perfect world you could leave your Wi-Fi networks wide open to share with any passing Wi-Fi starved travelers who desperately needed to check their email or lightly use your network. In reality leaving your Wi-Fi network open create unnecessary vulnerability wherein non-malicious users can sponge up lots of our bandwidth inadvertently and malicious users can pirate using our IP as cover, probe your network and potentially get access to your personal files, or even worse. What does even worse look like? In the case of Matt Kostolnikit looks like a year of hell as your crazy neighbor, via your hacked Wi-Fi network, uploads child pornography in your name using your IP address and sends death threats to the Vice President of the United States. Mr. Kolstolnik was using crappy and outdated encryption with no other defensive measures in place; we can only imagine that a better understanding of Wi-Fi security and a little network monitoring would have saved him a huge headache.

Securing Your Wi-Fi Network

Securing your Wi-Fi network is a multi-step affair. You need to weigh each step and decide if the increased security is worth the sometimes increased hassle accompanying the change. To help you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each step we’ve divided them up into relative order of importance as well as highlighted the benefits, the drawbacks, and the tools or resources you can use to stress test your own security. Don’t rely on our word that something is useful; grab the available tools and try to kick down your own virtual door.

Note: It would be impossible for us to include step-by-step instructions for every brand/model combination of routers out there. Check the brand and model number on your router and download the manual from the manufacturer’s website in order to most effectively follow our tips. If you have never accessed your router’s control panel or have forgotten how, now is the time to download the manual and give yourself a refresher.

Update Your Router and Upgrade to Third Party Firmware If Possible: At minimum you need to visit the web site for the manufacture of your router and make sure there are no updates. Router software tends to be pretty stable and releases are usually few and far between. If your manufacturer has released an update (or several) since you purchased your router it’s definitely time to upgrade.

Even better, if you’re going to go through the hassle of updating, is to update to one of the awesome third-party router firmwares out there like DD-WRT or Tomato. You can check out our guides to installing DD-WRT here and Tomato here. The third party firmwares unlock all sorts of great options including an easier and finer grain control over security features.

The hassle factor for this modification is moderate. Anytime you flash the ROM on your router you risk bricking it. The risk is really small with third-party firmware and even smaller when using official firmware from your manufacturer. Once you’ve flashed everything the hassle factor is zero and you get to enjoy a new better, faster, and more customizable router.

Change Your Router’s Password: Every router ships with a default login/password combination. The exact combination varies from model to model but it’s easy enough to look up the default that leaving it unchanged is just asking for trouble. Open Wi-Fi combined with the default password is essentially leaving your entire network wide open. You can check out default password lists here, here, and here.

The hassle factor for this modification is extremely low and it’s foolish not to do it.

Turn On and/or Upgrade Your Network Encryption: In the above example we gave, Mr. Kolstolnik had turned on the encryption for his router. He made the mistake of selecting WEP encryption, however, which is the lowest encryption on the Wi-Fi encryption totem pole. WEP is easy to crack using freely available tools such as WEPCrack and BackTrack. If you happened to read the entire article about Mr. Kolstolnik’s problems with his neighbors you’ll note that it took his neighbor two weeks, according to the authorities, to break the WEP encryption. That’s such a long span of time for such a simple task we have to assume that he also had to teach himself how to read and operate a computer too.

Wi-Fi encryption comes in several flavors for home use such as WEP, WPA, and WPA2. In addition WPA/WPA2 can be further subdivided as WPA/WPA2 with TKIP (a 128-bit key is generated per packet) and AES (a different 128-bit encryption). If possible you want to use WP2 TKIP/AES as AES is not as widely adopted as TKIP. Allowing your router to use both will enable to use the superior encryption when available.

The only situation where upgrading the encryption of your Wi-Fi network may pose a problem is with legacy devices. If you have devices manufactured before 2006 it’s possible that, without firmware upgrades or perhaps not at all, they will be unable to access any network but an open or WEP encrypted network. We’ve phased out such electronics or hooked them up to the hard LAN via Ethernet (we’re looking at you original Xbox).

The hassle factor for this modification is low and–unless you have a legacy Wi-Fi device you can’t live without–you won’t even notice the change.

Changing/Hiding Your SSID: Your router shipped with a default SSID; usually something simple like “Wireless” or the brand name like “Netgear”. There’s nothing wrong with leaving it set as the default. If you live in a densely populated area, however, it would make sense to change it to something different in order to distinguished it from the 8 “Linksys” SSIDs you see from your apartment. Don’t change it to anything that identifies you. Quite a few of our neighbors have unwisely changed their SSIDs to things like APT3A or 700ElmSt . A new SSID should make it easier for you to identify your router from the list and not easier for everyone in the neighborhood to do so.

Don’t bother hiding your SSID. Not only does it provide no boost in security but it makes your devices work harder and burn more battery life. We debunked the hidden SSID myth here if you’re interested in doing more detailed reading. The short version is this: even if you “hide” your SSID it is still being broadcast and anyone using apps like inSSIDer or Kismet can see it.

The hassle factor for this modification is low. All you’ll need to do is change your SSID once (if at all) to increase recognition in a router-dense environment.

Filter Network Access by MAC Address:

Media Access Control addresses, or MAC address for short, is a unique ID assigned to every network interface you’ll encounter. Everything you can hook up to your network has one: your XBOX 360, laptop, smartphone, iPad, printers, even the Ethernet cards in your desktop computers. The MAC address for devices is printed on a label affixed to it and/or on the box and documentation that came with the device. For mobile devices you can usually find the MAC address within the menu system (on the iPad, for example, it’s under the Settings –> General –> About menu and on Android phones you’ll find it Settings –> About Phone –> Status menu).

One of the easiest ways to check the MAC addresses of your devices, besides simply reading the label on them, is to check out the MAC list on your router after you’ve upgraded your encryption and logged all your devices back in. If you’ve just changed your password you can be nearly certain the iPad you see attached to the Wi-Fi node is yours.

Once you have all the MAC addresses you can set up your router to filter based on them. Then it won’t be enough for a computer to be in range of the Wi-Fi node and have the password/break the encryption, the device intruding on the network will also need to have the MAC address of a device on your router’s whitelist.

Although MAC filtering is a solid way to increase your security it is possible for somebody to sniff your Wi-Fi traffic and then spoof the MAC address of their device to match one on your network. Using tools like Wireshark, Ettercap, and Nmap as well as the aforementionedBackTrack. Changing the MAC address on a computer is simple. In Linux it’s two commands at the command prompt, with a Mac it’s just about as easy, and under Windows you can use a simple app to swap it like Etherchange or MAC Shift.

The hassle factor for this modification is moderate-to-high. If you use the same devices on your network over and over with little change up then it’s a small hassle to set up the initial filter. If you frequently have guests coming and going that want to hop on your network it’s a huge hassle to always be logging into your router and adding their MAC addresses or temporarily turning off the MAC filtering.

One last note before we leave MAC addresses: if you’re particularly paranoid or you suspect someone is messing around with your network you can run applications like AirSnare andKismet to set up alerts for MACs outside your white list.

Adjust the Output Power of Your Router: This trick is usually only available if you’ve upgraded the firmware to a third party version. Custom firmware allows you to dial up or down the output of your router. If you’re using your router in a one bedroom apartment you can easily dial the power way down and still get a signal everywhere in the apartment. Conversely if the nearest house is 1000 feet away, you can crank the power up to enjoy Wi-Fi out in your hammock.

The hassle factor for this modification is low; it’s a one time modification. If your router doesn’t support this kind of adjustment, don’t sweat it. Lowering the output power of your router is just a small step that makes it necessary for someone to be physically closer to your router to mess with it. With good encryption and the other tips we’ve shared, such a small tweak has a relatively small benefit.

Once you’ve upgraded your router password and upgraded your encryption (let alone done anything else on this list) you’ve done 90% more than nearly every Wi-Fi network owner out there.

Congratulations, you’ve hardened your network enough to make almost everyone else look like a better target! Have a tip, trick, or technique to share? Let’s hear about your Wi-Fi security methods in the comments.

Source : www.howtogeek.com

Author : Jason Fitzpatrick

Very old Ads of PCs

2011-08-21T19:21:00.001+05:30

Get FL Studio Mobile

2011-06-23T00:37:00.003+05:30

Image-Line is pleased to announce FL Studio Mobile is now available from your local App Store. There are two FL Studio Mobile applications:

FL Studio Mobile: For iPhone & iPod Touch (inc with Retina display support) - $14.99 introductory and $19.99 after
FL Studio Mobile HD: For iPad 1 & 2 - $19.99 introductory and $24.99 after

FL Studio Mobile is available in iPhone/Pod and iPad (HD) versions.

FL Studio Mobile Getting Started with the FL Studio Guru

FL STUDIO MOBILE KEY FEATURES

Load and extend projects in the FL Studio desktop version
Resizable, stackable piano keys & reconfigurable drum-pads
Stuffed with FL Studio quality instruments, drum kits & loop files
99-track sequencer, Piano roll editor & Step sequencer
WAV, MIDI & FLM (project) import/export
iPad HD version, iPhone 4 Retina Display support
Compatible with the Akai SynthStation 25

Just go to the App Store and if you have an iPhone/iPod Touch FL Studio Mobile OR if you have an iPad FL Studio Mobile HD.

FL STUDIO MOBILE FAQ

What about Android OS? It's on the roadmap, stop nagging! We have a development team working on a low-latency Android audio-engine and there are many screen resolutions and device specifications to consider, it's not as simple as you may think :)

Does this mean FL Studio on Mac OSX soon? FL Studio Mobile is not a port of the Windows version of FL Studio. It is the product of a completely separate development team, and code, so FL Studio Mobile, while compatible with FL Studio has no impact on FL Studio development and vice versa.

Can I load my own samples? Not in version 1.0. We plan to enable user uploads in a future update.

Can I use VSTs? No, iOS does not support VSTs and frankly the devices it runs on don't have the CPU power to perform the synthesis you are used to on a desktop. FL Studio Mobile uses high quality sample based instruments made from Image-Line plugins and sample packs.

Source : www.image-line.com

History of Internet

2011-05-18T21:54:00.000+05:30

Evolution of Email (1965 – 2011*)

2011-05-18T21:50:00.000+05:30

Source : microsoftfeed.com

How to Pick the Right Motherboard for Your Custom-Built PC

2011-05-17T11:15:00.000+05:30

Motherboards are the most complex component in your computer. Fitted with hundreds of components and dozens of options it can be difficult to choose. Let’s look at the most important factors to help you decide before building your next computer.

Motherboards are the central nervous system of your computer. They are responsible for connecting and communicating between all of the important components inside. Knowing what to look for is key when comparing boards.

Motherboard Sizes

Motherboards come in different shapes and sizes, but luckily there are some standards set in place so that a lot of motherboards and cases can work together.

For the most part these sizes apply to all desktop computers but some computers you buy from manufacturers don’t follow all the rules. This is usually fine when you buy the whole computer as a unit, but it becomes tricky if you want to swap a new motherboard into the case or build one from scratch.

The most common motherboard size is Intel’s Advanced Technology Extended (ATX) and its derivatives. The chart below has some of the most common ATX sizes, but there are plenty more options than just the few shown here.

Motherboard sizes not only indicate the size of the board and placement of mounting screws, but it also dictates the general layout of the major components on the board. Have you ever noticed that almost all motherboards have the CPU, RAM, and I/O ports in the same place? That is because they are determined by the board standard. The components have to be in the same place otherwise case and power supply manufacturers wouldn’t easily be able to sell you something that works with with your motherboard no matter who makes it.

For ATX motherboards the general layout of the board is shown in the picture below.

Intel’s second attempt at standardizing motherboards was with Balanced Technology Extended (BTX). The main focus of BTX was to solve airflow and component placement limitations of ATX. Although BTX was supposed to be the successor to the ATX form factor, it didn’t gain enough traction to take off in the consumer market. Some large computer manufacturers such as HP, Dell, and Apple still use BTX, or proprietary variations of it. The main layout differences can be seen in the picture below.

Because BTX has been abandoned by Intel since 2007, you will just need to focus on which ATX size best suits your needs. Typically the main difference between small ATX boards and larger boards are expansion slots and CPU support.

Processor Sockets

Image via kwixson

The processor socket you choose is the deciding factor in what CPU you can use in your computer. If the processor doesn’t fit, you can’t use it. Intel and AMD both have their own series of processors and sockets that are compatible with only their chips. The first thing you will need to decide is which processor you want and then you can decide further on which socket you need.

Intel’s sockets usually have a friendly name, like Socket H, and a technical name like LGA 1156. The friendly name is easier to remember while the technical name will tell you about the socket. LGA 1156, for example, stands for Land Grid Array and it has 1156 pins. Because CPUs and motherboards change so often it probably isn’t worth it to describe what processors work in which sockets. Instead you can get that information on which CPU series work with which motherboards from your manufacturer.

For Intel’s consumer sockets they typically have a low power, e.g. Socket 441 for Atom processors, a midrange, e.g. Socket H for Celeron, Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 800 series processors, and a high end, e.g. Socket B for Core i7 900 series processors. If you are looking to use an Intel processor you will need to find which socket supports the processor you want.

AMD hasn’t been changing quite as frequently as Intel and in the past 5 years they have only had 3 major consumer sockets. The AM2, AM2+, and AM3 sockets support almost all of AMD’s consumer processors currently. The AM2 and AM2+ were mostly interchangeable and the AM3 was introduced to support DDR3 memory.

In either case, it is a good idea to pick your processor first, and your motherboard second. If you buy a socket with no processor support, it isn’t going to do you much good.

Chipsets

Image via adikos

The chipset is how your CPU, RAM, video card, and peripherals communicate. It is a combination of your northbridge and southbridge and can add some very nice features depending on your needs.

The northbridge is typically responsible for the very fast communication between your CPU, RAM, and video card. It is where you will get features like SLI/CrossFire and DDR3. With the current Intel and AMD processors the northbridge functions are all included in the processor. This means less complexity for your motherboard and typically less latency for the processor to access the high speed components like RAM.

Integration is great news for performance but sometimes bad news for options. For instance, because AMD owns ATI they could have the ability to lock their latest gaming graphics cards to only having specific features if you are using an AMD processor. This also put companies like Nvidia out of the northbridge market who use to make one of the best northbridge chips back in the Pentium 4 processor days.

The southbridge will give you features like support for the latest PCI-E, SATA, USB 3, and many more future technologies. It is also essential to know what options you need because some southbridges may not support every feature you might expect like RAID and surround sound. With most manufacturers they will clearly state the features available without needing to dive deep into the southbridge chipset features.

Because this combination of features + processors + options is so big and changes multiple times per year it would be impossible for us to list every option here. Instead, just be aware when you are picking your motherboard of what features you need and then look for those options in your boards chipset.

Other options

A lot of manufacturers will try to sell you on a motherboard based on extra features like the amount of on board I/O ports, amount of expansion slots, or the reliability of their motherboards. These can all be requirements depending on the purpose of the computer you are building. Once you figure out the processor and size of motherboard you want, these added features will probably become the next most important thing, especially with smaller form factor motherboards when space is limited.

It is typically easier to use onboard features if they are available than try and expand the computer to have all of the options you need. If you know you are going to need two network cards or HDMI with audio pass-through, make sure your motherboard supports it before buying.

The manufacture’s description may not be 100% clear on if the feature is supported or not. Other places to look for clarification on specific features are device reviews, forums, and wikipedia. You may also want to download the PDF user guide for the motherboard just to see if it is documented on how to enable the features you need.

If you have clear decision for what you need in each category you can quickly narrow down the endless sea of options available. This can greatly ease the stress when trying to decide on a motherboard just by price or maximum memory supported.

Source : www.howtogeek.com

XDR™2 Memory Architecture

2011-05-17T10:46:00.000+05:30

The XDR™2 memory architecture is the world's fastest memory system solution capable of providing more than twice the peak bandwidth per device when compared to a GDDR5-based system. Further, the XDR 2 memory architecture delivers this performance at 30% lower power than GDDR5 at equivalent bandwidth.

Designed for scalability, power efficiency and manufacturability, the XDR 2 architecture is a complete memory solution ideally suited for high-performance gaming, graphics and multi-core compute applications. Each XDR 2 DRAM can deliver up to 80GB/s of peak bandwidth from a single, 4-byte-wide, 20Gbps XDR 2 DRAM device. With this capability, systems can achieve memory bandwidth of over 500GB/s on a single SoC.

Capable of data rates up to 20Gbps, the XDR 2 architecture is part of the award-winning family of XDR products. With backwards compatibility to XDR DRAM and single-ended industry-standard memories, the XDR 2 architecture is part of a continuously compatible roadmap, offering a path for both performance upgrades and system cost reductions.

The XDR 2 memory architecture is the first to incorporate innovations from Rambus' Terabyte Bandwidth Initiative along with other key Rambus innovations including:

32X Data Rate enables high data rates (up to 20Gbps) at lower system clock and on-chip bus interface speeds.
Fully Differential Memory Architecture (FDMA) improves signal integrity, reduces power and enables the highest memory performance available.
Enhanced FlexPhase™ enables high data rates, simplifies layout and eliminates trace length matching.
FlexLink™ C/A reduces system costs and controller pin-count while providing scalable capacity and flexible access granularity.
FlexMode™ interface technology enables support of both differential and single-ended memories in a single SoC package design with no extra pins.
Micro-threading increases transfer efficiency on micro-threaded workloads while reducing power consumption.

Source : www.rambus.com

Create Keyboard Shortcut To Eject And Close CD/DVD Drive

2011-05-15T15:20:00.000+05:30

This is a handy method devised by me to close and eject cd/dvd drive with help of keyboard shortcuts in windows Xp.

To create shortcuts follow these simple steps:

1. Download small freeware utility called tooler.

2. Start up the tooler and create shortcuts for ejecting and closing the cd/dvd drive on the desktop.

3. Now right click on the shortcuts created on the desktop and define keyboard combinations for these shortcuts as shown in image below.

4. Now assign Ctrl+Alt+E for ejecting the drive and assign Ctrl+Alt+C for closing the drive.

That's it, we are done, now on pressing Ctrl+Alt+E will eject the drive and pressing Ctrl+Alt+C will close the drive.

Source : techcruser.blogspot.com

How to Speed up a Windows XP Computer

2011-05-15T09:58:00.000+05:30

Steps

1
Clean computer registry, but first backup the registry using the cleaner program. Regularly use a freeware^[1] or purchase commercial, registry cleaner to increase XP performance. Maybe you have uninstalled an application without using the Add or Remove Programs function in the Control Panel, or perhaps an object or file in the registry got moved. Eventually, this orphaned or misplaced information accumulates and begins to clog your registry, potentially slowing down your PC and causing error messages and system crashes.
2
Remove Spyware and Viruses
- Spyware and viruses are leading causes of computer slowdown because you may have several spyware cookies or trojans that are taking up your processor time for reading and storing and reporting your activity to several spy databases. Read Rid-Your-Computer-of-Adware,-Spyware-and-Viruses to learn how to remove them and speed up your system.
- Update and run your spyware and virus software every week.
- If you do not have tools installed to protect against malware and spyware then you can download Spyware Blaster, and for viruses, download a free copy of AVG - "Anti-Vir Guard" or this one Avira - "Anti-Vira guard" (all three of those are free "For Personal Use"), all three are also available in Business or Pro versions. Also, Microsoft's Windows Defender is a widely-used anti-spyware tool that is currently distributed freely for users with a "Genuine" verified copy of Windows. "Windows Defender" is also included with other Microsoft services and products such as "Live OneCare" and "Vista."
- Download and install Mozilla Firefox, Opera or Google Chrome. It will allow you to import all of your Internet Explorer settings, and is much less prone to malware than Microsoft Internet Explorer. It will prompt you with a "Set as Default Browser" message. Check "Don't show this again" and click "Yes". Firefox also has a cool feature to delete cookies, cache, and temporary internet files each time you close it. You are strongly recommended to use this option. It can speed up your internet experience. You should also check Google Chrome which is noticeably faster and less prone to virus attacks from internet Chrome.
- If you have a really complicated virus infection, try using the Quick Virus Remover. It is a free utility, though not a replacement for commercial products but can be helpful for removing some of the most common viruses infecting your system.
3
Perform a disk clean up.
- Click start in the bottom left corner, then click run.
- Type, "cleanmgr.exe" in the text field.
- Press "okay". This can take a while if you have never done it before.
4
Remove unwanted/unneeded software which may be the reason for slowdown.
- Click start, then click control panel.
- Click add/remove programs.
- Highlight any old software you do not use and then click "remove".
5
Defragment Your Computer - This will place similar files physically closer on the hard disk and will help improve load speeds.
- Click start, again, then click run.
- Type, "dfrg.msc" in the text field.
- Click Defrag to start it.
6
Stop unwanted Start-Up programs.
- Run msconfig
- Choose startup box
- Select uncheck programs you don't want to run on startup
- OR
- Click here and download StartUpCPL.
- Install the software you have just downloaded.
- Open control panel, select Start up.
- Disable any programs you do not want load automatically.
- Programs can also schedule tasks to launch automatically when windows starts to stop such programs use windows task scheduler.To open Scheduled Tasks, click Start, click All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Scheduled Tasks.
- Disable All Services you do not use or need. Open control panel, open Administrative Tools, and select Services. Disabling the wrong Services may lead to serious problems that you may not notice right away. Please consult a reference such asoverclockersclub.comfor information on specific Windows XP Services. If you do not know what it is, do not disable the service
7
Make Windows Load Faster
- Click Start, then Run.
- Type in 'msconfig' and press enter.
- Click on the BOOT.INI tab at the top.
- Over to the right there will be a box labeled Timeout with 30 in it. Change the 30 to a 3.
8
Speed Up Processing Time
- Turning off the fancy Windows XP graphics will noticeably increase the speed of your computer.
- Go to Start, (Settings), Control Panel, System. NOTE: You may need to 'Switch to Classic Mode' to see the System applet.
- Go to the Advanced tab. Click the Settings button under Performance.
- Select the 'Adjust for best performance' radio button, then Apply, and OK.
- The graphics aren't as flashy, but your computer will run a lot faster.
9
Set Pagefile size
- Go to Start, (Settings), Control Panel, System. (This is just like the step above this.)
- Go to the Advanced tab. Click the Settings button under Performance.
- Now switch to this Advanced tab, and click on 'Change' under Virtual Memory.
- You will see the 'Initial Size (MB)' and the Maximum Size (MB)'.
- Change 'Initial Size' to the same value as 'Maximum Size' then click set.
  - NOTE This setting will help your gaming process by speeding up your computer.
  - ADDED NOTE: When your computer consumes your computer's hard drive and uses it as RAM, it is referred to as thrashing. Thrashing is bad for your computer and buying a RAM (it's not that expensive) is much more worthwhile.
10
Set Priorities:Press Control (ctrl) Alt Delete (del) at the same time. Once task manager opens, click the process's tab. Now find explorer.exe, right click it, and set the priority to realtime. This makes your computer focus on explorer.exe, which is your task bar and visual objects. Use this method if you want to keep your visual styles (or your using a transformation pack). This method greatly increases speed and if you are noticing that other programs that you use a lot are slow, you can set their priority to either high or above normal, if you have 2 process's on high at the same time, your computer will be unstable, and might crash. **For users without Admin password**-You will not be able to modify the value to realtime, if you aren't on an admin account, or you have insufficient privileges, then the best you can do, is set to high.
11
Delete photos. Pictures can take up an enormous amount of space. If you want to keep the pictures - and you most likely do - copy them to a CD-rom.

Tips

If this is your first defrag, do it after the disk clean up twice, then a disk defrag, and then another disk clean up. It is suggested to defrag your hard drive weekly.
For best results, run defragmenter last after performing all other steps and do not use your computer while defragmenter is running.
Do all the above steps quite often to maintain the speed of your PC.
Run an alternate Windows shell to save on RAM usage and boost performance (Shell Shocked: Alternative shells for Windows). Although more expensive, installing additional RAM is a better option. Running an alternate shell is a compatibility risk as many proprietary Microsoft programs, such as their latest game or Visual Studio, may not function properly on a third-party shell.
Although time-intensive, a re-partition and re-format of the hard disk drive, along with a clean installation of Windows XP will improve performance. Performing this task will remove all of your existing data, so a back-up or file copy is recommended first. Only save the files you created, as you will need to reinstall each application on the new installation of Windows. If you did not change the default location when saving documents, it may be safe to copy only the user folder and all files and folders within it (ie: "C:\Documents and Settings\(your user name)"). Typically, most users will need to be sure to copy these files:
- Documents created using applications such as Microsoft Word or similar office suite programs
- Bookmarks/Favorites from your Internet browser
- Fonts installed that are not included by default with Windows (note that some fonts are installed by applications).
- E-mail in-box and folders if you use an e-mail client that does not use an Internet browser
- Any schedule data for programs such as Outlook
- Financial records for programs such as Quicken
Optimize the registry with a third-party application. Many of these registry tweaking programs are available on the Internet, including freeware, shareware and commercial applications that are released as free trials. If you are not familiar with the registry, do not try to edit it manually -- the registry is vital to Windows' operation.
Download Ccleaner from majorgeeks.com. It's a good freeware program, and if you don't use other unnecessary programs, you will be able to gain a lot of space. It also gives you other features such as:
- Startup Manager and
- Registry Cleaner.
Also go to Start/Run type in %temp% and delete them all.
Clean your Computer's Inside. Dust off the fans, gently wash the monitor screen, and clean the keyboard/mouse. Dust blocking the fans and heat sink inside the computer can cause performance problems, including memory problems.

Source : www.wikihow.com

USB FireWall

2011-04-27T07:40:00.000+05:30

USB FireWall blocks viruses and other wilful programs which try to spread in your system when an USB device is inserted. The application runs in background task and alerts you immediately in case of try of intrusion. You can stop the program and delete the file associate with.

USB FireWall doesnt need any virus definition update. USB FireWall can too clean your hard disk partition from auto started program.

What's new in this version: Version 1.1.3 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

WI-FI HOTSPOT FOR WINDOWS

2011-04-17T12:41:00.000+05:30

WI-FI HOTSPOT FOR WINDOWS

With Connectify you can share expensive airport Wi-Fi with co-workers, create a wireless hotspot in your ethernet-only hotel or dorm room, even extend the range of your home router. Download Connectify Today from CNET's Download.com!

Overview and Features

Connectify is an easy to use software router for laptops and smart phones. With Connectify, users can wirelessly share any Internet connection: a cable modem, a cellular card, or even another Wi-Fi network. Other Wi-Fi enabled devices can see and join your Connectify hotspot just like any other Wi-Fi access point and are kept safe and secure by password-protected WPA2 Encryption.

Take any Internet connection and share it wirelessly with no additional hardware, wires, plugs, or chargers
Easily connect any number of Wi-Fi enabled devices to your network including desktop computers, laptops, phones, gaming systems, and more
Don't break the bank paying for multiple Wi-Fi connections on the road, Connectify is ad-supported and free to download and use.

Popular Use Cases

At Home

Connectify can easily act as a repeater for your home router, extending its range and providing Internet access wherever you need it. Connect to your home network, enter the same Wi-Fi name and password, and hit "Start Hotspot." Devices will automatically connect to the Internet through either your Connectify hotspot or home router depending on proximity. Before you know it you can finally have Internet access in that impossible back room or basement. In addition, if you run Connectify away from home with these settings, any devices that need to be bound to a specific network (such as Eye-Fi cards or wireless printers) will work flawlessly with no additional configuration no matter where you are!

On the Road

Connectify placed second in Lifehacker.com's Top 10 Downloads for a Road Warrior Laptop and it's not hard to see why. For the Road Warrior, Internet connectivity is a lifeline. Airports, Hotels, and Coffee Shops know this and charge accordingly, often as much as $10-$15 per day, per connection! These fees can quickly add up when traveling with friends or co-workers. The handful of hotels that do provide free Internet access occasionally only supply you with an ethernet jack, which leaves Wi-Fi only devices and smart phones in the dark. Even the lucky few that have mobile 3G cards or adapters are limited to a single connection. Because Connectify is free to download and use, users can save money on multiple Wi-Fi connections while on the road and still get all their devices online simultaneously.

At College

Many Schools and private institutions have restrictive limits on the amount of devices an individual can have registered to their wireless networks. In this day and age, these quotas are quickly exceeded by the wide variety of Wi-Fi enabled devices (such as smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and gaming systems) we use on a regular basis. With Connectify running on a laptop or desktop PC, you can circumvent these limits and securely connect any number of devices to your personal Wi-Fi network.

Offline Networking

Even without an active Internet connection, you can still run a Connectify hotspot. This provides wireless access to shared folders or drives on your network as well as the ability to play LAN games with others.

Helpful How To Videos

Interface & Screenshots

System Requirements

A laptop or personal computer running Microsoft Windows 7 and a compatible Wi-Fi card or adapter. A list of supported cards can be found here.

Source : http://www.connectify.me/

Gadgets of the Decade - The Good, The Rad, and the Aesthetically Challenged

2010-12-30T07:51:00.000+05:30

Allow me to preface this by saying yes - we realize that the decade technically ended in 2009. But it’s the end of the year and we’re taking creative license to do a round-up of the best and worst of the gadget world over the past 10ish years.

Here are some of the game-changers that we were proud to witness, and some of the cringe-worthy ones that we were happy to never see again.

The Aesthetically Challenged:

Zune
Back in the dark ages of 2006, we were still using iPods, but on November 14, Microsoft introduced the Zune, and we were saved…

Toshiba Bubble Helmet

Nothing inspired by Spaceballs can ever be anything but ridiculous in real life.

Well, except for jam… yes, jam is still okay.

Safe Type Keyboard
Would be put to far better use as the controls to an X-Wing.

Apple's Clamshell iBook

The fact that Apple’s marketing people felt that it looked best upside-down really says it all.

Nintendo Game Cube

If the aesthetics didn’t work for Apple a year earlier I don’t know why Nintendo thought it would work for them.

Motorola AURA

Industry design taken from Star Trek, and it looks uncomfortable to boot.

XACT XQ2500 Landline Phone

Be careful, lest you mistake you landline for your pregnancy test.

Telson TWC 1150

This is a watch, camera and mobile phone all in one. Not only is it bulky and unattractive, the logistics of using it are baffling.

The Good and the Rad:

iPod

In 2001, despite initially mixed reviews, Apple forever revolutionized music with the introduction of the iPod. It cost $399, was not Windows compatible, and held 1,000 songs on its 5GB hard drive.

TIVO

Television hasn’t been the same since 1999, when at long last live TV could be recorded, paused and, in the case of Janet Jackson’s “wardrobe malfunction”, rewatched over and over again.

USB Flash Drive

Late in 2000 IBM began selling the first commercially available USB flash drive in America, the DiskOnKey. It held up to 32MB of memory and wrote 10x faster than a diskette.

PalmOne Treo

The Treo was one of the most successful gadgets of 2003, thanks to its successful merger of phone, PDA and camera in a lightweight, streamlined package.

iPhone

Really, what can I say about the iPhone that hasn’t already been said. Love it or distrust it, no one can deny its massive social and technological impact. Introduced in 2007, it came with 4GB ($499) or 8GB ($599) of storage, 2 megapixel camera, and a revolutionary user interface.

ASUS Eee PC

The Netbook uprising started with the Eee PC in 2007 and can be argued to have heralded the age of the tablet. It is however, still debated whether the iPad (another amazing gadget of the decade) and tablets like it will eradicate the netbook before its uprising can turn into a coup d’etat. It cost $399, had a solid-state 4GB hard drive and ran Linux.

PlayStation 2

In 2000 Sony introduced the PlayStation 2 and brought the gaming experience to a whole new level. It was the first to be backward compatible and the first to use CD’s instead of cartridges to store games. It set the standard for all the consoles that would come after, and it remains the best selling console of all time.

Source : www.retrevo.com

The Best Answers to Tough Interview Questions

2010-12-25T14:31:00.000+05:30

Tell me about yourself.

This is really more of a request than a question. But these few words can put you on the spot in a way no question can. Many quickly lose control of the interview during the most critical time- the first five minutes. This is not the time to go into a lengthy history or wander off in different directions. Your response should be focused and purposeful. Communicate a pattern of interests and skills that relate to the position in question. Consider your response to this question as a commercial that sells your autobiography. Provide an answer that includes information about where you grew up, where you went to school, your initial work experience, additional education and special training, where you are now, and what you intend to do next. One of the most effective ways to prepare for this question is to develop a 60-second biographic sketch that emphasizes a pattern of interests, skills, and accomplishments. Focus your response around a common theme related to your major interests and skills. Take, for example, the following response, which emphasizes computers.

"I was born in Canton, Ohio and attended Lincoln High School. Ever since I was a teenager, I tinkered with computers. It was my hobby, my passion, and my way of learning. Like most kids I enjoyed computer games. When my folks gave me a computer as a reward for making honor roll my sophomore year, I mastered DOS, Windows, and WordPerfect within six months. I then went on to teach myself programming basics.

By the time I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to study programming. From that point on, everything fell into place. My life revolved around computing. By my junior year at Syracuse, I decided I wanted to work for a major software manufacturer. That is why I had an internship last summer at FastTrack Software.

I now want to work for a major player so I can be at the forefront of breaking trends and new technology. When my college roommate told me about his start in your department, I hounded him until he helped me get a referral, which brought me here today.

I am prepared to answer any questions you may have about my education and experience."

This response sets a nice tone for starting the interview. The interviewee is able to say a lot within 60 seconds by staying focused. The message is clear: the interviewee has both passion and focus relating to the position. He stays on message and concludes by leaving the door open for additional questions about his education and experience. Unfortunately some candidates get off on the wrong foot by rambling on for several minutes about their childhood, family, hobbies, travels, and interests.

Repeat Key Accomplishment Statements
Throughout the interview you will be asked numerous questions about your attitude and ability to do the job. Whenever possible, talk about your accomplishments in terms of what you did and the results of your actions for employers. Give examples of your effectiveness, which should include specific skills and statistics.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

This open-ended question is one of the most difficult and stressful ones job seekers face. Employers ostensibly ask this question because they are looking for people who know what they want to do and who are focused on specific professional goals. If you lack goals, you will have difficulty answering this question. Be sure you arrive at the interview with a clear vision of what you want to do today, tomorrow and five years from now. Be consistent with the objective on your resume and the skills and accomplishments you're communicating to the interviewer. Your answer should be employer-centered. For example,

"In five years I hope to be working with an employer in an increasingly responsible position, that enables me to utilize my talents and work closely with my colleagues in solving important problems. I see myself taking on new and exciting challenges in an enjoyable environment and hopefully this will be with your company."

Do not indicate that you hope to start your own business, change careers, or go back to school. Such responses indicate a lack of long-term interest since you do not plan to be around for long. While some may respond that they honestly haven't really thought that far ahead, the interviewer infers that the applicant lacks vision and goals.

Describe a major goal you've set for yourself recently.

Give an example of a goal you both set and achieved. Ideally, this should be a professional goal; such as improved time management skills, achieved new performance targets, or learned a new skill. A personal example can also be appropriate if it reinforces your pattern of accomplishments.

For example, if you take a great deal of initiative and quickly move into leadership positions, you might use a personal example relating to your recent community work: organized a community walk-a-thon that raised $30,000 in matching funds to purchase new computers for the local library. Talk about results of achieving your goal. This indicates you set realistic goals and that you can focus on outcomes. Select an example that has interesting outcomes related to your efforts. The example should showcase your skills and abilities.

Now that you've had a chance to learn more about us, what would you change about our company?

Be careful here. Most companies don't want you to come in and shake up the place. At the same time, they don't want someone who says, "Nothing, everything looks great here." Seek a middle ground by focusing on one or two non-threatening issues that may have come up in your discussions. For example,

"From our discussion of the problem with the southwest accounts, I think we should look into the possibility of consolidating them the LA office. However, I think we need to do a thorough cost-benefit analysis of this region before making such a move. We may find the Phoenix office to be more beneficial."

Such an answer indicates you are open to making changes but you also have a certain non-threatening decision-making style. Your response should sound sensible and innovative.

We all have weaknesses. What are some of your major weaknesses?

This is not the time to confess all your problems nor to confidently say you have no weaknesses. The best way to handle this question is to mention personal weaknesses that are outside the job or a professional weakness that you have already improved upon. For example,

"I have a real weakness for chocolate that tends to go right to my waist! I'm watching my calories carefully these days!" or "I've never been good with accounting. I'm glad this job doesn't involve accounting." Or "I have a tendency to take on too much on my own. I am working on this by delegating more."

What type of decisions do you have difficulty making?

Show that you are generally decisive but mention that there are situations that give you time to pause or you are learning how to better make decisions. For example,

"I sometimes have difficulty choosing between two equally good ideas." or "I used to have difficulty saying 'no' to people until I learned to better set priorities."

What is your biggest failure?

Focus on something outside your work or something that happened on the job that you later fixed. Do not admit to any personal quality that might hamper job performance, such as procrastination, laziness or lack of concentration. Choose something that will not reflect badly on your ability to perform in the given position, such as one that took place early in your career. For example,

"My biggest failure was not being selected as a SEAL because I was diagnosed with night vision problems. When I was 18, all I wanted to be was a SEAL. But I'm glad I didn't, because I may have overlooked an exciting career in information technology" or "When I was working at CL Advertising Associates, I lost the $2 million Jettler account after only six weeks on the job! I felt awful and thought I would be fired. I was determined to get the account back and did after six months. Today the account makes up 1/3 of CL Advertising."

What are the major reasons for your success?

This is not the time to become extremely self-centered and arrogant. Keep in mind that employers are often looking for team players rather than Lone Rangers. A good response to this question may relate to a mentor/and or philosophy of work or the people you work with. Also, use this question as an opportunity to inquire about an appropriate "fit for success" with this company. For example,

"Many years ago I learned an important lesson from Bob Nelson, who was my first supervisor and really became my most important mentor. He told me his secret to success was to 'Look at each day as a new opportunity to be your very best. Set high goals, be honest, never say no, and work with people who share your passion for doing their best.' I've always remembered that advice and try to live it every day. I am very self motivated, determined and honest. I really love what I do and I try to surround myself with people who share similar passions. I thrive on this type of environment. Am I likely to find this environment with your company? Can you tell me a little more about the characteristics of successful people at your company? What do you see as some of the key success factors for this position?"

We're considering two other candidates for this position. Why should we hire you rather than someone else?

Do not be distracted by the mention of two other candidates, you don't know anything about them and they could be fictitious. Focus on what strengths you bring to the table. These should be consistent with the four things most employers are looking for in candidates during the job interview: competence, professionalism, enthusiasm, and likability. Remember, they are looking for chemistry between you and them. Be prepared to summarize in 60 seconds why you are the best candidate for the job. Also, let the employer know you want the job and you will enjoy working with them. A lack of interest in the job may indicate a lack of enthusiasm for the job and them.

How do you spend your free time?

This question may have several purposes. The interviewer may be just curious about your personal life without getting into illegal questions. He may also want to know how well rounded you are in your personal and professional lives. Focus on some of the standard hobbies or activities that most people engage in: golf, tennis, boating, reading, music, opera, collecting, gardening, or cooking. If you are operating a home-based business as a sideline, you may not want to reveal your entrepreneurial spirit-it may indicate you are planning to leave and go solo as soon as the business starts doing well.

Source: Haldane's Best Answers to Tough Interview Questions, Bernard Haldane Associates, 2000.

Why do you want to work in this industry?

Tell a story about how you first became interested in this type of work. Point out any similarities between the job you're interviewing for and your current or most recent job. Provide proof that you aren't simply shopping in this interview. Make your passions for you work a theme that you allude to continually throughout the interview.

"I've always wanted to work in an industry that makes tools. One of my hobbies is home-improvement projects, so I've collected a number of saws manufactured by your company. I could be an accountant anywhere, but I'd rather work for a company whose products I trust."

How do you stay current?

Demonstrate natural interest in the industry or career field by describing publications or trade associations that are compatible with your goal.

"I pore over the Wall Street Journal, the Times, Institutional Investor, and several mutual fund newsletters. And I have a number of friends who are analysts."

Why do you think this industry would sustain your interest in the long haul?

What expectations or projects do you have for the business that would enable you to grow without necessarily advancing? What excites you about the business? What proof can you offer that your interest has already come from a deep curiosity-perhaps going back at least a few years-rather than a current whim you'll outgrow?

"The technology in the industry is changing so rapidly that I see lots of room for job enhancement regardless of promotions. I'm particularly interested in the many applications for multimedia as a training tool."

Where do you want to be in five years?

Don't give specific time frames or job titles. Talk about what you enjoy, skills that are natural to you, realistic problems or opportunities you'd expect in your chosen field or industry, and what you hope to learn from those experiences. You shouldn't discuss your goals in a fields or industry unrelated to the job you're applying for. This may sound obvious, but too many candidates make this mistake, unwittingly demonstrating a real lack of interest in their current field or industry. Needless to say, such a gaffe will immediately eliminate you from further consideration.

"I'd like to have the opportunity to work in a plant as well as at the home office. I also hope to develop my management skills, perhaps by managing a small staff."

Describe your ideal career.

Talk about what you enjoy, skills that are natural to you, realistic problems or opportunities you'd expect in this particular job or industry, and what you hope to learn from those experiences. Avoid mentioning specific time frames or job titles.

"I'd like to stay in a field related to training no matter what happens. I was too interested in business to work at a university, but I believe that teaching is somehow in my blood. I've been good at sales because I took the time to educate my clients. Now I look forward to training the new hires."

Tell me something about yourself that I didn't know from reading your resume.

Don't just repeat what's on your resume. Think of a talent or skill that didn't quite fit into your employment history, but that's unique and reveals something intriguing about your personality or past experience.

"You wouldn't know that I've managed my own small portfolio since I was sixteen, but I believe that it's important for you to understand my interest in investment sales. I've averaged a 12 percent return over the past eight years."

Tell me what you know about this company.

Describe your first encounter or a recent encounter with the company or its products and services. What would be particularly motivating to you about working there as opposed to working the same type of job in a different company? The recruiter will look for evidence of genuine interest and more than just surface research on the company. Reciting the annual report isn't likely to impress most recruiters, but feedback from customers and employees will.

"I served as an intern to a restaurant analyst last summer, so I followed all the steak-house chains closely. What you've done especially well is focus on a limited menu with great consistency among locations; the business traveler trusts your product anywhere in the

U.S.

I'm particularly interested in your real-estate finance group and expansion plans."

What have you learned about our company from customers, employees, or others?

Describe how your interest has grown from personal dealings with the company representatives. Think creatively in preparing for job interviews. For example, prior to your job interview, speak with retailers or workers at other distribution points about the company's product line. What can they tell you? Give one or two examples of what you've learned to explain why you're interested in this company. What's the most compelling example you can describe to prove your interest?

"I actually called several of the key accountants mentioned in your brochure. Two of the customers I spoke with explained why they continued to buy from you year after year. Your distribution operation is phenomenal. Are there any service improvements you think could still be made?"

Tell me what you think our distinctive advantage is within the industry.

Describe things you believe the company does very well, particularly compared to its competition. Explain how the financial strength of the company is important.

"With your low-cost-producer status and headquarters operation in a low-cost area of the country, you seem in a better position to be able to spend aggressively on R&D, even in a down year compared to your closest rival."

What other firms are you interviewing with, and for what positions?

Often the candidate will try to impress the employer by naming some large firms in unrelated industries with completely different types of jobs. This is a big mistake! What employers want to hear is that you're interviewing for similar jobs in the same industry at similar firms (such as their competitors). This illustrates that you're committed to finding a job in your field of interest and are likely to be a low-risk hire.

"Actually, I've definitely decided to pursue a career as a restaurant manager, so I'm applying for restaurant management-training programs. I've recently had interviews with several other large national fast-food chains, such as Super Burger and Clackey's Chicken."

Do you believe you're overqualified for this position?

Most people don't expect to be asked if they have a great deal of experience. This question could quite easily catch a candidate off guard, which is exactly the interviewer's intention. The candidate doesn't hesitate in answering this question and shows complete confidence in his or her ability.

"Not at all. My experience and qualifications make me do my job only better, and in my opinion, my good design skills help to sell more books. My business experience helps me run the art department in a cost-efficient manner, thus saving the company money. Finally, I think I'm able to attract better freelance talent because of all my industry contacts. My qualifications are better for your company, too, since you'll be getting a better return for your investment. Again, I'm interested in establishing a long-term relationship with my employer, and if I did well, I would expect expanded responsibilities that could make use of even other skills."

What would you do if one of our competitors offered you a position?

The interviewer is trying to determine whether the candidate is truly interested in the industry and company, or whether he or she has chosen the company randomly. Contrast your perceptions of the company with its competitors, and talk about the company's products or services that you've encountered. In the long run, which players do you believe are most viable and why? This is also a good place to ask the interviewer for his or her opinion.

"I'd say no. I'm not interested in other players in this industry. I want to work for Nike because I won a number of races wearing the Nike brand. Because of my positive experience with Nike, I know I'd be convincing selling your product to retailers."

What's your dream job?

This is your ideal chance to sell your aptitudes that fit the job description. Show an interest in finding new ways these skills can be put to use in a new job with additional responsibilities. Tie in the industry, size of company, or other factors where appropriate.

"My dream job would include all of the responsibilities and duties in this position you're trying to fill. I also thrive in a fast-changing environment where there's business growth. Your plans call for expanding internationally during the next year, and this would satisfy one of my ultimate goals of being involved in an international corporation."

What motivates you to do this kind of work?

The interviewer will want to know about your belief in the products or services of the company. Use personal experience to demonstrate your interests and strengths. In an interview for your ideal job, you'd be highly motivated to get paid for working at something you liked. The interviewer will want to know if your natural interests are compatible with its particular job.

"I've been fortunate in my own schooling; I had wonderful teachers. I want to be that same kind of teacher-who not only encourages kids to learn but also sets an example that inspires others to want to teach. In the long run, that's our best chance of turning around the quality of education in this state."

Why should I hire you?

Don't repeat your resume or employment history. Offer one or two examples to explain why you're talking to this particular company. What's the most compelling example you can give to prove your interest? This question often remains unasked, but it's always in the back of the recruiter's mind. Even if this question isn't asked, you should find an opportunity to use your prepared response sometime during the interview, perhaps in your closing remarks.

"My uncle had a company that was a small-scale manufacturer in the industry, and although he later sold the business, I worked there for five summers doing all sorts of odd jobs. For that reason I believe I know this business from the ground up, and you can be assured that I know what I'd be getting into as a plant manager here."

What are your strengths?

Describe two or three skills you have that are most relevant to the job. Avoid clich�s or generalities; offer specific evidence. Describe new ways these skills could be put to use in the new position. If you have to talk about weaknesses, be honest without shooting yourself in the foot-avoid pointing out a weakness that could be a major obstacle in landing the job. For example, it might be wise to mention you barely have the required work experience for the job; the interviewer has surely noticed this much, and then you can explain how you're qualified nonetheless.

"My strengths are interpersonal skills, and I can usually win people over to my point of view. Also, I have good judgment about people and an intuitive sense of their talents and their ability to contribute to a given problem. These skills seem to me directly related to the job. I notice that you require three years' work experience for this job. Although my resume shows I've only two years' experience, it doesn't show that I took two evening college courses related to my field and have been active in one of the professional societies. I also try to gain knowledge by reading the industry's trade journals. I'm certain that my combined knowledge and skill level is the equivalent of that of other people who do have three years' of work experience. I'm also currently enrolled in a time-management course; I can already see the effects of this course at work on my present job."

How do you explain your job success?

Be candid without sounding arrogant. Mention observations other people have made about your work strengths or talents. This question is similar to the question "What sets you apart from the crowd?"

"I never assume our customers are satisfied with our product, so I do my best to follow up with every customer. This feedback has provided valuable insight into the quality and characteristics of our products. The customer, as well, always appreciates this follow-up, especially when something hasn't gone right and you still have the opportunity to correct it on a timely basis. In addition, I'm able to pass on information to our design and production units to help improve both process and product."

Would your current boss describe you as the kind of employee who goes the extra mile?

Be ready to offer proof that you persevere to see important projects through and to achieve important results. Share an example that demonstrates your dependability or willingness to tackle a tough project. If you describe "long hours of work," make sure you demonstrate that the hours were productive, and not just the result of poor time management.

"Absolutely. In fact, on my annual evaluations she writes that I'm the most dependable and flexible person on her staff. I think this is mostly because of my ability to juggle and prioritize. Would you like an example?"

Tell me about a time you didn't perform to your capabilities.

This question forces the candidate to describe a negative situation. Do so in the context of an early career mistake based on inexperience; then demonstrate the better judgment you now have as a result of that learning experience.

"The first time I had to give a presentation to our board, I failed to anticipate some of their questions. I was unprepared for anything other than what I wanted to report. Now my director and I brainstorm all the what-ifs in advance."

How do you manage stress in your daily work?

It might be helpful here to describe a stressful project you've worked on and the specific actions you took to organize each step and see the project through. How do you keep yourself calm and professional under pressure?

"I try to get out for lunch at least once during the week to clear my head. I also have a personal rule that stops me from reacting to a problem until I feel calm about it. I think, then act-but I've learned to do that over time."

How do you regroup when things haven't gone as planned?

Describe a time when some obstacle forced you to change your original plan, but you were still able to achieve the desired result. Did you rally the support of others to make this happen? With hindsight, how might you have better predicted the obstacle?

"I start by trying to imagine the worst possible outcome; then I back up and identify precautions I can take to avoid that scenario. In this way I usually end up with a result close to the original goal. The training example I described earlier is proof of that skill."

Why is service such an important issue?

The interviewer is trying to determine if the candidate understands the importance of customer service in establishing a positive image in the marketplace, and its impact on new business sales. Outstanding customer service is also a great help in establishing long-term clients and repeat business-the profitable company's bread and butter. The longer the relationship, the greater the possibility for profit.

"Service is a major contributor to customer satisfaction. Just as important as, or maybe even more important than, cost. If a customer isn't receiving a level of service that meets or exceeds his or her expectations, that customer won't be a customer for very long. In addition, that customer's experience with your company may affect how potential customers in the marketplace view your company. People do talk and share information. This may affect not only profits but future sales as well. In many instances service may be the one thing that distinguishes a company from the competition. A bad reputation for service may compromise a company's position in the marketplace."

Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an irate customer. How did you handle the situation?

How you react when others lose their temper or become upset is very important in most positions, especially those in service industries. The interviewer will be looking for evidence of your aptitude for work that involves a great deal of contact with the public. Give an example of a time when you were faced with a difficult person and how you handled it. Your answer should illustrate your maturity, diplomacy, and awareness of the needs and feelings of others.

"My customer service position at the telephone company involved dealing occasionally with irate customers. When that happened, I'd try to talk in a calm, even voice, in order to get the person to respond in a businesslike manner and focus on trying to resolve the situation. Most times I was able to rectify the problem and pacify the customer, but I remember one incident in particular in which the caller became verbally abusive. I tried to remain calm and professional and not to let my personal feelings enter into the situation. I didn't respond to the abuse, I just made a not of it and continued to help he customer as best I could. When the abuse persisted, however, I politely asked him to call back and ask for my manager, because at that point I knew I shouldn't resolve the problem."

How do you manage your work week and make realistic deadlines?

To answer this question effectively, describe in detail how you establish priorities, set deadlines, and determine schedules.

"I always reserve two hours of dead time every day to handle any unanticipated problems that may occur. I used to plan for eight or nine hours of project time, but now I find that I'm able to manage my own projects, as well as whatever my boss and staff need from me."

What personal skill or work habit have you struggled to improve?

This question is similar to "Describe a professional skill you've developed in your most recent job." However, here you probably want to discuss an improvement from the earliest days of your career or from your relatively distant past. Make sure you convince the interviewer that this particular work habit is no longer an obstacle.

"I had to learn to say no. I used to be helpful to the point that other staff abused my goodwill. Now I offer to help by countering with something I'd like help on in return. On balance I believe the trade-off is more equitable, and cooperation in our office has improved over time."

What color is your brain?

Be aware that you'll probably be asked zany questions. The point is not to stump you, but to find out what makes you tick. When the standard interview questions are asked, people are prepared, and it's harder for the recruiter to get to know the real person. An advertising recruiter, for example, tries to avoid this. There is no right or wrong answer to this type of question. In fact, the recruiter won't even really care what your answer is. He or she just doesn't want to hear something like, "I don't know, I guess it's blue because that's the way I imagine it." The point is to see how creative you are and how you think. Be sure to explain why you answered the way you did.

"My brain is red because I'm always hot. I'm always on fire with new plans and ideas."

If you got on an elevator where everyone was facing the back, what would you do?

Interviews in creative fields like advertising and graphic design are different from other types of job interviews. Advertising recruiters tend to have a different interview style and process, usually conducting more of a behavioral interview. Recruiters ask questions like these to figure out what your behavior might be in a particular real-life situation.

"I think I'd face the front anyway and say aloud, 'It's really much more comfortable facing forward, you know.' "

What's the most creative or innovative project you've worked on?

Provide examples of your initiative and resourcefulness. Discuss how your leadership skills have helped you accomplish your goals. Give a specific example that shows a creative, new, or unusual approach to reaching your goals.

"During my summer job at Cellular One, I noticed that the sales inquiries were distributed haphazardly to all the marketing assistants in the office. I decided to set up a system grouping inquiries according to region or according to company size. This approach enabled the entire marketing team to come up with better and more creative solutions to our sales problems."

Consider the following scenario: You're working late one evening and are the last person in the office. You answer an urgent telephone call to your supervisor from a sales rep who's currently meeting with a potential client. The sales rep needs an answer to a question to close the sale. Tomorrow will be too late. You have the expertise to answer the question, but it's beyond your normal level of authority. How do you respond?

This response shows that the candidate is confident in his or her ability and can be counted on in an emergency. Similarly, your answer should indicate that you're not afraid to be the decision maker in a tough situation, even if the situation's beyond your normal level of authority.

"I'd get all the pertinent information, taking well-documented notes. I'd answer the question based on my knowledge and the information provided. I'd leave my supervisor a note and fill him or her in on the details the next morning. I'd be sure to explain my decision, as well as the thought process behind it."

Give me proof of your persuasiveness.

This is a question about leadership, but try not to use an example in which you were the designated leader. If possible, describe a time when you didn't really have authority but instead used your powers of persuasion to get people on your side. Describe your goal and the outcome of your efforts. Why did people trust or believe you?

"During my summer internship I was assigned the task of conducting a benchmarking study for all the communication expenditures for a major utility. I had to get the consensus of employees in several different departments. Unfortunately, they resented the fact that I was just a summer intern, and they refused to cooperate. I had to schedule individual meetings with every employee and persuade each one that I was doing what would be ultimately to his or her own department and to the company. After a frustrating month, I finally got everyone's cooperation, the project went flawlessly, and in the end I received a bonus for my efforts."

What's your most productive or ideal work setting?

The interviewer wants to know the impact that the candidate's working environment has on his or her job performance. How well would you fit the position, physical layout of the department, and attitudes of the particular work group? Emphasize your ability to work in a variety of settings and how you've managed to be productive in less-than-ideal work environments.

"I like having at least one hour of uninterrupted time in the early morning to plan my day. I usually start around 7 a.m. Otherwise, I enjoy an office with open doors, constant feedback, and lots of energy and activity. It helps me work more productively when I sense how busy everyone else is, too."

Do you prefer continuity in structure or frequent change in your daily work?

Your answer should be consistent with the job description. Describe environments that have allowed you to remain interested and learn new things without getting bored.

"I enjoy challenge and change, which is why I frequently ask for the tough assignments. The last two projects we discussed were ones that I asked for. I don't allow myself to get bored."

What environments allow you to be especially effective?

Emphasize your flexibility and your ability to work in many different types of environments. Your answer should not consist of a laundry list of requirements (private office, few interruptions, and so on) or the interviewer may conclude that you will be difficult to satisfy.

"Although I can work effectively in most environments, I prefer environments where people are their own bosses, within reason. I like to have a goal but be able to draw my own map to get there. To accomplish goals, I rely on asking questions and finding people receptive, so cooperation and access are important to me in a work group."

How will you complement this department?

Describe how your personality and/or skills would help round out the department. What types of people enjoy working with you for hours at a time? How would the company's customers or clients react? Assure the interviewer that there will be no surprises about your work personality.

"I enjoy an environment in which people bounce ideas off each other and have the flexibility to ask for help when they need it. I'm usually a great troubleshooter for PC problems in my office, and I'm often going to ask for help proofreading important memos. I believe in give-and-take."

Whom did you choose as your references and why?

The interviewer is looking for a logical mix of people without any obvious omissions. For example, a former sales person would do well to include a former salesperson as a reference. Describe what you'd expect each of your references to say. Include a diverse group-senior to junior, an associate from work, and old professor from college.

"I selected a former boss, a peer, and customer as references, to demonstrate that I'm a pretty well-rounded person and get along with all the important work associates in my life."

Can we call all of your references?

This is a question designed to protect you. If your current job employer doesn't know your looking for a new job (as is most often the case), you can request that the interviewer contact your current employer after you've accepted a position and given your notice to your current employer.

"I'd prefer that you call my current boss only after you've made me a firm offer of employment and I've had a chance to tell her myself that I'm changing jobs. Then, of course, I understand your need to verify that my application was accurate."

Are you most productive working alone or in a group?

The interviewer is looking for someone who can work in an environment without the environment disrupting the candidate's preferred way of getting work done. Be honest but communicate that you're a flexible and reasonably adaptable employee.

"I need some privacy time for planning, but otherwise I like the activity and noise of people around me and the ability to share ideas. I think most writers need reinforcement, because we all get writer's block occasionally."

Tell me about an effective manager, supervisor, or other person in a leading role you've known.

Talk about a supervisor's management style and interpersonal skills. Focus on the positive-how the person worked rather than what type of work he or she did. How was the person able to accomplish so much and get your support?

"The best professor I ever had always reviewed the most important points from our last class before he moved on to new material. He also watched our faces carefully and repeated information whenever he saw a blank stare. Sometimes he would just ask for feedback by saying, 'What are you having difficulty with?'" He never assumed too much or made us feel dumb for not grasping a concept quickly."

What type of people do you work with most effectively?

Focus on the positive here. What type of boss, employee, and colleague would you be? Keep in mind that the interviewer wants to find out how well you would fit in with the other personalities in the company-not how well the other personalities in the company would suit you.

"I tend to work well with people who are confident and straightforward. It's more difficult for me to be around timid people, because I move quickly and am decisive."

What things impress you in colleagues?

The recruiter will want to see how developed your interpersonal skills are. More than likely, you'll be interacting not only with your own department, but with other people in the company, and possibly colleagues. Show the recruiter that you will shine in this area.

"I admire and work best with people who are of good character and have integrity. I also think confidence and enthusiasm is positive in any business environment."

How do you organize and plan for major projects?

Give the interviewer a good idea of your general approach to mastering complex tasks. You may wish to include here how you decide time frames, set deadlines, determine priorities, delegate tasks, and decide what to do for yourself.

"I love to brainstorm a best, worst, and most likely scenario. Then I set out a timetable that's realistic. What I usually find is that some combination of my best and worst cases evolves; I can adjust my schedule easily as these things unfold because I've already visualized what could happen and how I'd react."

What personal characteristics add to your effectiveness?

Talk about what makes your personal style unique and effective. For example, how are you able to get cooperation from others? What specific skills and traits help you get results, and why?

"I always stay in touch with my network. If I see an article that might be of interest to someone I know, I clip it and send it to that person. Then, when I need help and make a phone call to that person, the phone call gets returned promptly."

How have your technical skills been an asset?

Describe how you've used technical skills to solve a problem. Tell a specific story. Demonstrate how these same skills have been useful in other situations or in most of the jobs you've held. If you're hired, what situations will you handle particularly well?

"Although I never planned on a career as a writer or publisher, much of my job in marketing has depended on good writing and creative layout skills. My part-time college job with a newspaper taught me a lot about desktop publishing, how to position something on a page effectively, and how to write short sentences with maximum impact. In all of my marketing jobs, I've been able to explain my goals clearly to graphic designers, which has helped me avoid costly design revisions."

How do you usually go about solving a problem?

The interviewer will want to hear the logic you use to solve problems as well as the outcomes you're able to achieve. Are you decisive? How do you narrow the options and make decisions? What do people say about your reasoning skills? What examples would they cite of your effective decision-making?

"When I need to solve a problem, I generally start by writing down as many ideas as I can think of about possible causes. Next I look for relationships among causes so I can group together symptoms of bigger problems. Usually, after I study these groups of problems, the real cause becomes readily apparent."

How practical or pragmatic are you?

Give the interviewer an example of some practical or sensible approach you've used to solve a problem. When was a simple solution the best solution? Had others overlooked the obvious? In this example, you'll want to show off your commonsense skills rather than your academic skills.

"I can usually pick up on an underlying problem, even if it's not too obvious. I recall an investment banker who visited our real-estate-finance class and asked us what might cause the Tokyo investment community a problem in attracting local investment dollars. A number of finance students in the class started trying to think of some complicated set of reasons. I decided it would have to do with getting out of a bad market quickly, and that a non-liquid investment would create problems. I said investors would be unsettled if the primary investment is local real estate and inflation has caused the paper value to exaggerate the real street value. As it ended up, that was the answer he wanted."

Tell me about a time when there was no rule or precedent to help you attack a problem.

Can you operate without structure? Describe your problem-solving process, especially the steps you took and measures you established in a particularly trying situation. Demonstrate confidence and the willingness to take on more challenges.

"I was the first employee in a newly created position. I spent the first week developing an understanding of the history that had led to creation of the position. Only then did a method for setting priorities on the job become clear."

What's your greatest achievement to date?

Be sure that the achievement you describe here is relevant to the job you're interviewing for. Also, be careful that your answer doesn't sound as if the best is behind you. Mention something great that you've achieved, but clearly communicate your belief that the best is yet to come.

"I'm proud of the fact that I graduated on time with a solid GPA while I played varsity basketball for four years. A lot of women on my team either took a reduced course load or let their grades suffer. I believe the reason I got through it all was sheer determination; I never even let myself visualize anything but finishing on time and with good grades. So I firmly believe, as a professional counselor, in the importance of a positive outlook."

Tell me about something you accomplished that required discipline.

This is your opportunity to discuss a skill you worked to develop, or a time when the quantity of your work required solid time-management skills. How did you remain focused?

"I had to work two jobs to put myself through graduate school. I interned at the newspaper while I studied journalism during the week. Then on weekends, I sold real estate. Juggling those three schedules was a challenge, but I did it because it was important to me to graduate without school loans."

Where do you hope that your career will have progressed to in the next few years?

Avoid the temptation to suggest job titles; this makes you seem unbending and unrealistic, since you don't know how long it might have taken your interviewer to reach certain levels, and you wouldn't want to insult. Describe new experiences or responsibilities you'd like to add that build on the job you're applying for.

"Over the next few years I'd like to have progressed to the point there I have bottom-line budget responsibility, and I'm also in charge of a production unit where I have labor-relations, quality-control, design, and manufacturing responsibilities. I believe this job will go a long way to helping me meet my career goals."

Since this will be your first job, how do you know you'll like the career path?

This can be a difficult question to answer convincingly, unless you've done a little bit of preparation. Discuss, for example, an internship or a conversation that's allowed you to assess the culture of the organization or to preview the work involved. Describe other people in the profession who have been mentors or who have taught you about the field. Also, point out why you're interested, how you learned more about the industry, and how you stay current with industry trends.

"Although it's true that I've never worked a job in your industry, I've talked to many friends and alums at my school who've been successful in your company. I always ask them questions, 'What's the most frustrating thing about your job?' and 'What's the most rewarding thing about your job?' From the information I've gained, I'm confident that I'll be able to adapt quickly to your culture and will find the next few years rewarding, based on my goals and values."

What are your aspirations beyond this job?

Again, don't fall into the trap of specifying job titles. Stick to a natural progression you see as plausible. How should this job grow for the good of the organization? Then turn your attention once again to the job at hand. If you seem too interested in what lies beyond this job, the interviewer will fear that you won't stick around for long.

"Beyond this job as a marketing assistant, I see myself moving up through marketing analysis into brand management and eventually running a category. I'm aware that there are several skills I need to develop in the interval, and I believe with your continuing-education program and my own motivation for self-improvement, I'll have those skills when the opportunities arise for greater responsibility. That's why I'm determined to learn from the ground up, starting as a marketing assistant."

How long do you think you'd continue to grow in this job?

This is a variation on the question, "Where do you want to be in five years?" Be as specific as you can, considering what you know about the position. Don't mention a job title you'd want next, or the interviewer will wonder if you're already preoccupied with moving on.

"My own personal measure of growth in a job is acquiring new skills, new knowledge, and new insights into the industry. As long as I can measure this type of growth, I consider myself successful. I'm a believer in stretching a job by reaching out to learn more about other areas that are peripheral to the job I'm in."

Compare this job to others you're pursuing.

Some consistency or thread of commonality among your other prospects is important here. Your choices must reflect your career aspirations. What common skills are clearly needed in all the jobs you're pursuing?

"I've narrowed my job search to only those large securities firms within the finance industry. The basic skills necessary with all of these firms are similar: strong quantitative and analytical abilities, the ability to make decisions quickly, and good interpersonal skills to react to a customer's needs."

Tell me about your salary expectations.

A well-prepared candidate can effectively turn this question around. Ask first for the company's salary range, then answer in general terms based on your qualifications in relation to the job requirements.

"I've become a little frustrated in the past year because the downturn in our industry has caused limited promotional opportunities. Based upon salary information published by our national association, the market price for someone with my experience and educational background is in the broad range of thirty to forty thousand dollars per year. Although I'm not certain how your salaries compare to the national norms, my feeling is that my value would certainly be in the upper half of this national range. I hope you'll share with me some of your salary ranges relative to the national norms."

What do you reasonably expect to earn within five years?

Again, turn this question around and ask what's typical for the career path. Then consider, based on your skills and performance, the areas you'll excel in. Leave it to the interviewer the appropriate time frames for promotions. Don't speculate, or you'll risk sounding arrogant, unrealistic, or the opposite-too reserved or too tentative.

"My expectation for the next five years is that my contributions will be recognized and appropriately rewarded. I realize that salary levels are based on a number of factors, including the company's profitability and the general business cycle that affects our industry, but I expect to take on greater responsibility each year and to be appropriately compensated for my efforts and contributions."

Other than work, tell me about an activity you've remained interested in over several years.

The interviewer is looking here for a history of commitment over time, and consistency of interests. Do you sustain your hobbies over a period of time, or do you have a different hobby every year? Are your interests compatible with the job you're applying for? Would they be of value in any way to the company?

"I've been involved in Cancer Society fundraising ever since my grandmother died from the disease. In the back of my mind I guess I'm hoping the research can lead to findings in time to save the life of someone else in my family."

What do you enjoy in your spare time?

The interviewer wants evidence that you're well rounded, not just one-dimensional. He or she is looking for shared interests or common ground. You should always, in some way, relate your answer to the job description.

"I really enjoy getting outside-I often go camping and hiking. I've learned a lot about different fabrics that are good for various weather conditions. That's why I'm so interested in your textile operations."

Do you live a balanced lifestyle?

Do you have an outlet, a way to break from work, so that you show up each day refreshed and ready to perform at your highest level? Describe something specific that allows you to relax. Are your personal and career interests compatible in terms of their logic or thought process?

"I make an effort to get out of the office at a reasonable hour twice a week. I go home and walk my dog. That's one of the most relaxing things I do, but it often helps me to think of solutions for problems at work, even though I'm not consciously trying to solve those problems."

What outside activities complement your work interests?

The interviewer is interested to see if the candidate's personality is reflected in both work and outside activities. Your answer to this question will shed light on your personality and thus possibly on your compatibility with the job.

"I've always enjoyed tennis. In many ways it's a game of strategy and pacing. When something isn't working in the first set, you have to change your strategy for the second set. You also have to pace your energy in case you go to a third set, and constantly watch and read your opponent's reactions. I'm a gutsy tennis player-I go for the big points sometimes-but I'm careful with timing. That's the way I work, too."

If you found yourself getting burned out, what would you do to revitalize your energy?

Are you disciplined enough to avoid burnout? When you're not being productive, do you recognize it? What do you do to cope with stress?

"I don't allow myself to get involved in a routine to the point that I get burned out. I've always been the type of person who asks for new assignments so that I stay motivated and interested."

Our company believes that employees should give back time to the community. How do you feel about it?

Describe a time you gave something to a community or organization as a volunteer. Do you go above and beyond what's expected of you? Do you use your skills productively? Are you unselfish-a team player? Demonstrate how your personal interests make you productive even when you aren't being paid. What incentives other than a paycheck inspire you?

"I believe that, too. In my last job as manager I told each of my employees that they could spend one Friday afternoon a month at a charity of their choice on company time as long as they weren't gone on the same Fridays. Ironically, productivity didn't decrease at all; they got more done in the morning-and I guess Friday afternoons weren't that productive to begin with. I've spent my afternoons with an adult reading program."

What community projects that can use your professional skills are particularly interesting to you?

This interviewer wants to know if the candidate will be a good corporate citizen. The question also gives the interviewer a sense of the job seeker's values. Try to focus your answer on productive applications of your work-related skills. Don't get sidetracked describing a cause that doesn't demonstrate job-related skills. Avoid discussing any charity or organization that may be considered controversial.

"As a marketing person, I've offered free advice to our local high school for its fund-raisers, as well as to a local real-estate office whose success could help my rural community's real-estate values."

Describe how a sport or hobby taught you a lesson in teamwork or discipline.

Tell about a time you had to use teamwork to get a desired result. Tell a specific story, then explain how the same skill or lesson has been used in your work.

"My football coach from high school taught me always to watch out for the other guy. If you do, he'll cover you when you need him to. I've applied that principle in all my work groups, especially on the trading floor."

When you aren't at work, do you prefer to stick to a schedule, or do you prefer to be spontaneous? Why?

Be careful that, whichever answer you choose, it's consistent with the job you're interviewing for. For example, since accounting is a profession that requires discipline and precision, your answer should reflect your natural inclination toward agendas, schedules, and precision. However, for a sales job, you'd probably want to show that you're prepared to wing it. This question is essentially about your job personality but is also about your compatibility with the job.

"My workday is very structured because I'm generally in four or five meetings a day. On the weekends, I like to have a plan, but not necessarily a set schedule. That in itself is a relaxing change of pace for me, but I feel I'd be wasting time with no plan at all."

Tell me about an interest that you outgrew.

Describe a former interest or hobby that you no longer pursue, making sure that the interest isn't related in some way to the job you're interviewing for. Talk about why you outgrew the interest and how it's not compatible with your current interests. Be sure to discuss how your current interests are related to your career.

"Early on, I wanted to be a research physician. Then I spent time in a chemistry lab and realized I wasn't looking forward to the next two years of lab work. That's why I've chosen marketing for medical equipment instead. It combines my respect for the medical profession with a job that's more suited to my personality."

What would you do if I told you that I thought you were giving a very poor interview today?

Interviewers like to ask stress questions like these to see how well you hold up under pressure. Your best bet is to stay calm and relaxed; don't allow your confidence to be shaken.

"Well the first thing I'd do is ask you if there was any specific part of the interview that you thought I might have mishandled. After that I'd think back and try to remember if there had been any faulty communication on my part. Then I'd try to review possible problems I had understanding your questions, and I'd ask for clarification if I needed it. Finally, if we had time, I'd try to respond more fully and appropriately to the problem areas you identified for me."

Tell me about your most difficult work or personal experience.

The interviewer will want to know how you hold up under pressure. Describe a situation, either personal or professional, that involved a great deal of conflict and challenge and placed you under an unusual amount of stress. What, specifically, were the problems, and what did you do to resolve them?

"One time my coworker went through rehab for six months after a wreck, and I picked up a lot of additional work to help him out. I know he would've done the same for me, and it's important for me to have that kind of trust along the members of my work group."

If this were your first annual review with our company, what would I be telling you right now?

For this question you obviously want to present a positive impression. "I wish you would show up on time more," is definitely not a good answer. Remember to focus on one or two of your key strengths based on the personal themes you've developed.

"You'd be thanking me for a job well done and would be explaining how you look forward to continuing to see good work from me. Furthermore, I would anticipate your explaining how you really appreciated my putting in extra time on some key projects and how my creative thinking helped come up with some innovative solutions to existing problems."

Give an example of a time when you were asked to accomplish a task but weren't given enough information. How did you resolve this problem?

Although this example may seem trivial, the candidate demonstrates maturity and an ability to approach work conceptually. The interviewer will want to know that you understand that just getting the job done isn't enough. Your response should show resourcefulness and initiative.

"At my last internship, my supervisor, an account executive, asked me to assemble five hundred press kits for a mailing. I wasn't sure in what order the pages and press releases should go, but my supervisor had already left for a client meeting. Afraid of putting the information together in the wrong order, I managed to track down her cell phone number and called her in her car. She explained the order of the materials over the phone, and in the end I managed to prevent a mistake that would have cost hours of work and a delay in the mailing-not to mention a few headaches."

How have you handled criticism of your work?

The interviewer is looking for an indication of the candidate's accountability and professional character. Describe a specific project or work habit that caused you a problem until you faced up to it and overcame it. Alternatively, you might describe a time you responded objectively and professionally to particularly harsh or unreasonable criticism of your work.

"I wasn't able to keep a good employee once who'd been in our manufacturing facility for ten years. His job description was rewritten to require computer skills. I offered to send him to night classes, but he refused the help. I had no option but to replace him. In retrospect if I'd encouraged him and other employees to acquire new training periodically, he might not have been overwhelmed by the time his position was reworked. Now I'm vigilant about encouraging my group to attend seminars and courses to enhance their job skills and to avoid becoming outdated."

Tell me about a situation that frustrated you at work.

This is another question designed to probe the candidate's professional personality. The interviewer will want reassurance that you are able to hold up under pressure. Describe how you've remained diplomatic, objective, or professional in a difficult situation.

"I was frustrated once when one of my clients, who'd insisted on a high-growth stock, called in a panic because the stock price had dropped more than twenty points in one day. I had a hard time convincing him to ride it out rather than cut his losses. This happened despite my attempts from the beginning to explain the short-term volatility of that stock."

Tell me about your least-favorite manager or professor.

Answering this question will be a bit like walking across a loaded minefield, so be aware! Keep in mind that the interviewer doesn't want to learn about your former supervisors; he or she does want to learn about the way you speak about them. Though the interviewer may bait you to make a negative statement about your former employer, doing so can create a host of problems. Even if your claim is completely true and justified, the recruiter may conclude either that you don't get along with other people or that you shift blame to others. The best way around this dilemma is to choose and example that's not too negative, touch upon it briefly, then focus the rest of your answer on what you learned from the experience.

"Well I've been pretty fortunate as far as managers go, and I didn't have any problems with my professors. In my first job out of college I worked with a manager who was pretty inaccessible. If you walked into his office to ask a question, you got the sense that you were bothering him, so we just learned to get help from each other instead. I wouldn't say he was my least-favorite manager, because he was a good manager in a lot of ways, but I would have preferred that he'd made himself more available to us and given us more direction."

Who's the toughest employer you've ever had, and why?

Again, you should avoid making negative statements about your previous employers, at all costs. Turn the question around with a positive, upbeat response, as this candidate does.

"That would be Ms. Henson at Franklin Associates. She'd push people to their limits when things got busy, and she was a stickler for detail. But she was always fair, and she rewarded good, hard work. I'd call her a tough boss, but a good boss."

Time management has become a necessary factor in productivity. Give an example of a time-management skill you've learned and applied at work.

When answering this question, describe a time-management technique you've applied to work that's allowed you to save time and resources. In such areas as public relations time is precious, and the interviewer will want to see that you have an idea of how valuable your time is. Try to give an example that demonstrates how you've managed to increase productivity because of effective time management.

"I regularly use scheduling software, which helps me effectively plan for the day, week, month, or year. It also has a to-do-list feature and an alarm option, which is helpful for meeting timely deadlines. In general, though, I'm very goal oriented and self-disciplined. I like to focus clearly on one project at a time for a set amount of hours. In the past I've found that this has helped me save time, which in turn has given me the opportunity to implement new procedures that have ultimately saved the department time and money."

Would you be willing to locate to another city?

You may, even in some first interviews, be asked questions that seem to elicit a tremendous commitment on your behalf, such as this one. Although such questions may be unfair during an initial job interview, you may well conclude that you have nothing to gain and everything to lose with a negative response. If you're asked such a question unexpectedly during an initial job interview, simply say something like "That's certainly a possibility" or I'm willing to consider that."

Later, if you receive an offer, you can find out the specific work conditions and then decide if you wish to accept the position. Remember, at the job-offer stage you have the most negotiating power, and the employer may be willing to accommodate your needs. If that isn't the case, you might wish to explain that upon reflection, you've decided you can't (for instance) relocate but you'd like to be considered for other positions that might open up in the future.

"I'd prefer to be based here, but it's certainly a possibility I'd be willing to consider."

Would you be able to work extended hours as necessary to perform the job?

Your response should match closely the position you're applying for and should reflect a realistic understanding of work and time required. Ask about seasonality of work, if you're unsure, and show a willingness to work occasional extended hours.

"I'm accustomed to working long hours during the week. I usually work until at least six-thirty, because I get a lot done after the business office closes at five. I can make arrangements to be available on weekends, if necessary, though I do prefer to have at least twenty-four hours' notice."

Sell me this stapler.

With this kind of question the interviewer will want to determine how quickly you can think on your feet, as well as your ability to communicate effectively and succinctly. Be prepared to give a thirty-second speech on the benefits and advantages of virtually any common office object, from a paper clip to a telephone, particularly if you're interviewing for a sales position.

"This is a professional-quality stapler, designed to be functional as well as attractive. It will help you reduce clutter by enabling you to fasten pages together. And since papers relating to the same subject will now be attached, you'll be more efficient and will save time searching for papers. Finally, its sleek shape and back color are coordinated to match the rest of your office furniture."

What is your biggest weakness?

This is a great example of what is known as a negative question. Negative questions are a favorite among interviewers, because they're effective for uncovering problems or weaknesses. The key to answering negative questions is to give them a positive spin. For this particular question your best bet is to admit to a weakness that isn't catastrophic, inconsistent, or currently disruptive to your chosen professional field, and to emphasize how you've overcome or minimized the problem. Whatever you do, don't answer this question with a copout like "I can't think of any," or even worse, "I don't really have any major weaknesses." This kind of a response is likely to eliminate you from contention.

"I admit to being a bit of a perfectionist. I take a great deal of pride in my work and am committed to producing the highest-quality work I can. Sometimes if I'm not careful, thought, I can go a bit overboard. I've learned that it's not always possible or even practical to try and perfect your work-sometimes you have to decide what's important and ignore the rest in order to be productive. It's a question of trade-offs. I also pay a lot of attention to pacing my work, so that I don't get too caught up in perfecting every last detail."

Why weren't your grades better?

It's likely that if you've made it to the interview stage, you fulfill the basic criteria for the position, including the education requirements. The recruiter is probably trying to judge here how well the candidate handles adversity. It's important not to get defensive or to place blame. Instead, try to put a positive spin on the question-for example, by concentrating on what you learned and the extra effort you put in, rather than on the grades you received.

"School was a wonderful experience for me. I really enjoyed learning new ideas, I studied consistently, and I was attentive in class. But I never believed in cramming before the night of an exam just to get a higher grade or staying up all night to finish a term paper. I really believe I learned just as much as many students who went for the grades."

Was there a course that you found particularly challenging?

The interviewer will want to see how well you respond to difficult situations. Demonstrate that you won't fold in the face of difficulty, and that you're willing to put in the extra effort to meet a challenge.

"Initially I was completely overwhelmed by the introductory chemistry course that I took last year. No matter how hard I studied, I seemed to be getting nowhere. I failed the first three quizzes. So I tried a new approach. Instead of just studying by myself, I asked a friend who's a chemistry major to help me with my studies. I also began to seek help from the professor after class. And I found that more time I spent in the lab was critical. I ended up with a B-plus in the course and thought I achieved a solid understanding of the material. More than that, I learned that tackling a new field of study sometimes requires a new approach, not just hard work, and that the help of others can be crucial!

Why didn't you participate more in extracurricular activities?

The interviewer may be worried that if you don't have many outside interests, you may eventually suffer from burnout. Employers like candidates who are well rounded and have interests outside of work. If you didn't participate in formal extracurricular activities in college, you still may want to talk about some of your interests, such as reading or exercising, that you may have a passion for running even if you weren't on the college track team.

"I wanted to give as much effort as possible to my studies. I came from a high school in a very small town, where I received a lot of A's, but this didn't prepare me well for college. So I studied hard. I have, however, found time to explore the city and make new friends, and I do socialize formally on the weekends."

Questions Asked By Employers

� What are your long range and short range goals and objectives, when and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing yourself to achieve them?

� What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation, have you established for yourself?

� What do you see yourself doing five years from now?

� What do you expect to be earning in five years?

� What do you really want to do in life?

� What are the most important rewards you expect in your business career?

� Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?

� Which is more important to you, the money or type of job?

� What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

� How would you describe yourself?

� How do you think a friend or professor who knows you would describe you?

� What motivates you to put forth your greatest efforts?

� How has your college experience prepared you for a business career?

� Why should I hire you?

� What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will be successful in business?

� How do you determine or evaluate success?

� What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like ours?

� In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our company?

� What qualities should a successful manager possess?

� Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and those reporting to him or her.

� What two to three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?

� Describe your most rewarding college experience.

� If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?

� Why did you select your college or university?

� What led you to choose your field of major study?

� What college subjects did you like best? Why? Least? Why?

� If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study differently? Why?

� What changes would you make in your college or university? Why?

� Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?

� Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your academic achievement?

� What have you learned from participation in extra-curricular activities?

� In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

� How do you work under pressure?

� In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested in? Why?

� How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?

� Why did you decide to seek a position with this company?

� What do you know about our company?

� What two or three things are most important to you in a job?

� Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why?

� What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?

� Are you willing to travel?

� Do you have a geographical preference? Why?

� Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?

� Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?

� Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which our company is located?

� What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?

� What have you learned from your mistakes?

� What were your major courses of study in school? Why did you choose those courses?

� What was the most important thing you learned in school?

� Why did you decide to go to this University?

� Do you plan to finish your college degree while you are working?

� Did school meet your expectations? How did you pay for your college education?

� To what extent do your grades reflect how much you learned?

� What were your major responsibilities at your last job? At the one before that?

� Which of your previous jobs did you like (or dislike) most? Why?

� What was the most rewarding experience at work? What do you find most satisfying in a job?

� What was your single most important accomplishment for the company in your last job?

� Why did you leave your last job? Why do you want to change jobs?

� What was the toughest problem you had to solve? How did you solve it?

� Why do you want to work for this company?

� This job means you will have to relocate; what problems do you foresee, if any?

� This job has a lot of travel; how will you handle that?

� After reading a description of the job, how do you see yourself fitting in with this job?

� What skills did you learn at your last job that you can use here?

� Why do you want to work for our company?

� How do you think your education will help you on this job?

� What would you do if you were fired in two years?

� If you went to work for us today, what job would you like to hold in three years?

� How long do you plan on staying with us?

� What kinds of additional education, formal or informal, do you think you need to meet your career goals?

� What do you know about our company?

� Why did you choose our company?

� What are your career goals?

� Where do you expect to be in your career within five years?

� What are your educational goals?

� What future training do you plan in connection with your career goals?

� What are your lifetime goals?

� What do you know about the position you are interviewing for?

� What skills, experience, and training do you have that makes you qualified for this job?

� What other positions have you had that qualify you for this position?

� What have you contributed to your past employers that saved the company time, money, or enhanced its image?

� How many promotions did you receive at your last or present company?

� Why were you given these promotions at your present or last company?

� How many raises were given at your last position? Why were you given them?

� What did you learn in your last three positions?

� Why do you want to change careers?

� Have you had any supervisory or administrative experience? Please tell me more about it.

� What management style do you prefer?

� How are your people-management skills? Can you give me one or two examples?

� How well do you communicate in writing and orally? Give me some examples.

� Can you meet deadlines? If so, give me an example.

� Give me an example of a decision you made that benefited your company.

� What motivates you?

� How do you best motivate others?

� What clubs do you belong to?

� What volunteer work do you do or have you done in the past?

� What awards or honors have you received?

� What are your hobbies?

� What do you do in your spare time?

� What are your salary requirements?

� Have you ever done consulting work? If so, why and for whom?

� Have you written any articles for a professional journal, magazine, or newspaper?

� What civic organizations do you belong to?

� What professional associations do you belong to?

� What major strength do you feel you have that would make you a great (Manager, Sales Representative, Accountant, Analyst, etc)?

� Describe a situation where your work or an idea was criticized.

� Have you done the best work you are capable of doing?

� What problems do you have getting along with others?

� I'm not sure you're suitable for the job, what do you think?

� Tell me about something you are not proud of.

� What are some of the things your supervisor did that you disliked?

� What aspects of your job do you consider most crucial?

� What is your energy level like? Describe a typical day.

� Why do you want to work here?

� What kind of experience do you have for this job?

� Are you willing to go where the company sends you?

� What did you like/dislike about your last job?

� What is the least relevant job you have held?

� What would you like to be doing five years from now?

� What are your biggest accomplishments?

� How do you organize and plan for major projects?

� What is your greatest strength?

� What are your outstanding qualities?

� What interests you most about this job?

� What can you do for us that someone else can't do?

� Describe a difficult problem you have had to deal with.

� What would your references say about you?

� Can we check your references?

� What was the last book you read (or movie you saw)? How did it affect you?

� How do you handle tension?

� How long have you been looking for a position?

� Have you ever been fired?

� How does this job compare with others you have applied for?

� How do you take direction?

� Rate yourself on a scale of one to ten.

� What kinds of things do you worry about?

� What is the most difficult situation you have faced?

� What are some of the things that bother you?

� What have you done that shows initiative?

� How interested are you in sports?

� Do you prefer working with others or alone?

� Explain your role as a group/team leader.

� How would you define a conducive work atmosphere?

� Define cooperation.

� What difficulties do you have tolerating people with different backgrounds and interests from yours?

� In hindsight, what have you done that was a little harebrained?

� What would you do when you have a decision to make and no procedure exists?

� What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?

� Tell me about the problems you have had living within your means.

� What area of your skills/professional development do you want to improve at this time?

� Are you willing to take calculated risks when necessary?

� See this pen I am holding, sell it to me.

� What is the worst thing you have heard about our company?

� How do you handle rejection?

� Tell me about a time when you put your foot in your mouth.

� What interests you least about this job?

� What do you feel is a satisfactory attendance record?

� What are some of the things you find difficult to do? Why do you feel that way?

� What kind of people do you like to work with?

� What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?

� How have you successfully worked with this difficult type of person?

� How would you evaluate me as an interviewer?

� We have tried to hire people from your major before, and they never seem to work out. What makes you different?

� Do you like routine tasks/regular hours?

� What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?

� What do you think determines progress in a good company?

� Do you think grades should be considered by first employers?

� Why do you think you would like this type of work?

� What would your ideal career position be?

� Do you consider yourself a leader, and if so, give me some examples of your leadership abilities?

� Do you consider yourself a better manager or a better implementer?

� What are your most significant achievements?

� Have you had any international experience? Do you speak or write in any foreign language?

� What can you offer us?

� Have you ever fired employees, and if so, how did you handle terminations?

� What do you feel is the most difficult responsibility that a manager/executive must perform?

� What is your definition of success and according to this definition, how successful have you been in your career?

� What are your long and short range plans?

� What were your favorite courses in school? Who were your favorite professors and why?

� Did you prepare your own resume?

� How long have you been engaged in your job search?

� Have you had any specific offers?

� Why haven't you found a position before now?

� What do you know about this company, and where did you find this information?

� How do you spend your time when you are not working?

� If you could begin your career over again, what would you do differently?

� How much do you think this position is worth?

� What is the hardest job you have ever performed?

� Do you object to taking psychological tests?

� What contributions do you think that you could make to this company?

� You seem overqualified for this position, what do you think?

Additional Questions You May be Asked

Work History Questions:

� I noticed that you were working for (your last job was with) ____. Why did you decide to work there?

� What exactly do (did) you do there?

� What do (did) you like about that job and company?

� What do (did) you not like?

� How do (did) you get along with your supervisor there?

� How do you think he or she would rate you?

� Would he or she recommend you for another job?

� What qualities do you look for in a supervisor?

� What type of people do you like to work with?

� Tell me about your successes in that job.

� Was your work ever criticized? If so, in what way? What did you do to improve?

� What kind of setting do you like to work in quiet or noisy? Alone or with others?

� In doing your job, do you think it's more important to finish quickly or do the work exactly right?

Education Questions:

� I see you went to _________. Why did you pick that school?

� Would you go there again? If not, why? Where would you go instead?

� What do you feel were the most significant things you got out of going there?

� How did you happen to major in _________?

� Would you choose the same curriculum again? If not, what would you choose instead?

� In what subjects did you do best?

� What subjects gave you the most trouble?

� What was your overall average for class standings?

� Did you have any part-time jobs while you were going to school?

� How will your degree help you succeed in our company?

� Why aren't your grades higher?

Self-Evaluation Questions:

� How do you feel you can contribute to this company?

� What do you hope to gain from working here?

� What do you feel are your outstanding qualities?

� When you analyze yourself in relation to work and other people, do you find areas that need improvement? If so, how would you go about it?

� What are your short and long range career objectives?

� Why do you want to change jobs?

� What will your last supervisor tell me are your two strongest/weakest areas?

� Tell me about a time when you had to delay finishing a task because you didn't have enough information to come to a good decision.

� Describe the best supervisor you've ever had.

� What do you really want to do in life?

� Have you ever hired or fired anyone?

� How would you describe yourself?

� Would you like to have your boss's job?

� Describe the kind of people that annoy you most. What type of people do you like working with?

� What interests you about this position?

� Give an example of a time when you were able to effectively communicate with another person even though that person may have disliked you?

� Why do you want to work here?

� Give an example of a time when you were able to build motivation in your co-workers or those you supervised.

� Why should I hire you rather than someone else for this position?

� How do you feel about your career progress to date?

� Give an example of a problem you had at work and tell me how you solved it.

� How has your past experience trained you for this career?

� What did you do on your last job in order to help build teamwork?

� What did you dislike/like about your last job?

� What are two things you wish to avoid in your next job?

� Describe an important goal that you've set in the past, and tell me about your success in reaching it.

� What kinds of decisions are hard for you?

� Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision.

� Describe the most significant written report/presentation that you had to complete.

� Tell me some specific techniques you used on your last job in order to improve your organizational and time management skills.

� What is the most creative work-related project you've been involved in?

� How do you work under pressure?

� Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.

� What have you learned from your mistakes?

� Describe a time on any job when you've confronted problems/stresses that tested your coping skills.

� Give me an example of a specific occasion when you conformed to a policy that you didn't agree with.

� What motivates you in a job and in personal life?

� What role do you take in a group situation? Give examples.

� Give an example of how you performed in a team situation.

� What are the biggest issues facing our industry and company today?

� What would you do to improve our company's position?

� What research have you done on our firm and our industry?

� Are you results oriented? Give some examples.

� How have you developed your interpersonal skills? Are they good?

� Describe your problem solving skills.

� Give me an example of a complex problem you solved.

� Give me an example of when you have failed and how you responded.

� Can you work under pressure? Give an example.

� What type of salary are you worth and why?

� What are the five biggest accomplishments of your life?

� How long would it take you to make a contribution to our company?

� If you could change something in the course of your life, what would you change?

� How would you rate yourself as a manager? As a worker?

� What were the development steps on your last performance appraisal?

� What new goals have you set for yourself? Why did you choose these?

� What did you think of your last boss?

� What did your subordinates think of you?

� Why haven't you obtained or accepted a job so far?

� What features of your previous jobs did you like and dislike?

� Describe your ideal picture of success.

� What interests you most about our position?

� What was the last book you read?

� What did you do on your last vacation?

� Wouldn't you be better off in a bigger (smaller) organization?

� Are you a leader? Give examples.

� Describe your personality.

� How have you increased profits in your past jobs?

� What qualities do you look for in hiring people? For this job?

� Describe the ideal employee.

� How have you improved yourself recently?

� What were your responsibilities in your campus activities?

� Describe your study habits.

� How do you change your style to work with people at all levels, from Vice Presidents to Secretaries?

� What other firms are you talking to and why?

� How would you decide between job offers from us and one of our competitors?

� What have you learned from your past jobs?

� What skills do you bring to us and how can you put them to work?

� Describe the time period and circumstances when you became self-supporting.

� Describe a goal you have set in the past and how successful have you been in working towards its accomplishment.

� Describe a time when you were under pressure to fulfill a commitment you made to do something in spite of difficulties.

� Describe a situation in which one of your decisions was challenged in a group. How did you react?

� Were you able to achieve the results you wanted?

� Describe a time when you had to be persuasive in getting your ideas across.

� Give me a question that you've never heard a recruiter ask you and you want to hear.

� Describe a situation in which you found yourself to be an analytical and thorough problem solver, and by solving the problem achieved good results.

� Describe when you used facts/figures to support your story to obtain a significant accomplishment in an important matter.

� It's hard to get a new idea accepted by others. Describe when you have had to do this.

� What are some things about yourself that you would like to improve?

� In order to be effective as a negotiator, it's important to not only be able to analyze your competition, but also be able to compromise. Describe an experience in negotiating that reflects your ability to compromise.

� Describe steps you have taken to address problem areas in some important matter.

� What are two or three things you would still like to learn in this field?

� What skills do you rely on most in your everyday work?

� What kind of training do you feel you would benefit from?

� How much supervision do you normally receive? Prefer?

� What kind of things come most naturally to you? Describe your biggest success.

� How do you feel about working in an unstructured environment? Why?

� What do you like most about your present job? What do you like least about it?

� What kinds of things give you the greatest satisfaction in your work? Least satisfaction?

� What steps have you taken in the last few years to develop your skills?

� In your opinion, what makes you different from the other applicants?

� What have been the most significant accomplishments in your life so far?

� What sort of decisions are easy for you to make? What sort of decisions are difficult for you to make?

� If we hire you for this job, what would we need to do to bring you up to speed?

� What has been your biggest frustration?

� If I spoke to a friend, what characteristics of yours would he or she like to see you change?

� To what extent would you say that your last job was a learning experience? Why?

� What changes have you dealt with in your current position? Describe the risks that you have taken in your last job, and tell me the outcome of these risks.

Source : www.gowrikumar.com

The Interview

2010-12-25T14:18:00.000+05:30

This is the 'make or break' stage. Its also the most demanding and potentially the most difficult.

There are three stages - Preparation, Performance and Follow up.

Preparation

Guidelines-

You must research the organization, the job and if possible the person who will interview you.

You should also research the industry/sector in which then organization operates.

You should practice before the interview.

Tips for an interview-

Do your research on the organization as you did when you were considering where to apply - but do much more and do some of it again - things will have changed. Update you file/dossier.
Get both objective and subjective information.
Get up-to-date information - eg from the press. Read the main sources of info right up to the time you have the interview ( up to date 'snippets' will impress at the interview).
Get a friend to simulate the interview with you before you go - ie to ask you some questions ( see below).
Set yourself some goals for the interview - eg some key points you want to get across.
Re read your Covering letter and Resume before, and take them with you.

Some questions to be prepared for:

What are you reading at present?
(Say you have read XX books on your Program. Say what papers/journals you read regularly. Say that for leisure - when you have time - you read 'whatever').
What are your strengths?
(Don't be vague. Link your strengths to your achievements. If necessary refer to generic things such as energy, commitment, ambition, resilience, determination, adaptability - but don't produce a long list).
What are your weaknesses?
(Have some minor ones to refer to - but do not bare your soul. Don't go into detail unless you a have to. Don't elaborate. Make sure the weaknesses will not be seen as disadvantages in the job. Be prepared for the questions - how important are they and what are you going to do about them? Say its important that people recognise their weaknesses - then they can do something about them. Say you will expect to continue to develop and learn from your experiences. Don't give the impression that you will want to go on lots of courses).
Why do you want this job?
(Refer to what you think you can achieve - and what it can do for you).
Why should we hire you?
(Say that the only reason you want them to hire you is that they believe you are the best person for the job).
Give me three recent major achievements
(Have this answer ready - but give the impression of having to think back - then give the examples. Be specific - say what you achieved and in what circumstances and with what obstacles. Say why you were pleased with what you did).
What is your management style?
(It probably does not matter what your style is - providing you have one. The question is probably to see what you know about yourself. Don't use jargon. Don't quote text books. If you feel that the organization has a particular style/culture - describe yourself in a way that will fit. Use general terms - eg your openness, energy etc. Avoid phrases like 'lead from the front'. Don't describe yourself in an inappropriate way. For example if you are in for a middle management job - don't refer to your strategic thinking.).
What do you know about this organization?
(Tell them you have done your research - point to your file/dossier).
What do you look for when you hire people?
(If you have experience of this refer to specific situations . Make the point that different types of people do well in different types of role. Don't give the impression that you only value people like yourself. Refer to generic things - ambition, energy, commitment, flexibility ).
How would someone you know describe you?
(Again mention some of the characteristics you have used to describe yourself before but add two or three personal things - eg - sense of humour, supportiveness etc).
How do you spend your spare time?
(If you are currently doing an MBA - say you have no spare time. If you would normally do any of the following- mention them - sport or other things to keep you fit, Culture, community work ).
What makes a job enjoyable for you?
(Refer to evident achievement, personal development, the people you work/interact with and being associated with a respected an successful organiszation).
Why are you doing/did you do an MBA?
(Speak briefly about the need for challenge, the benefits of working with different people, the importance of a rigorous approach, personal development etc. Don't give the impression that the MBA gives you answers - but rather that it develops your confidence etc).

Performance

Guidelines-

You should be yourself in the interview - don't pretend, don't try to be someone different.

You should try to be relaxed - but not casual.

Tips-

Dress smart and formal.
Be spontaneous - don't try to have scripted answers.
Try not to appear nervous or shy - remember - if you have got this far the organization is interested in you.
Be the first to say 'hello' when you go in.
Take you file/dossier - don't spread it out on the desk but let it be seen.
Don't be presumptious - Don't refer to 'we' as if you were a part of the organization already.
If given the opportunity to ask questions - ask one at most. Make it simple and have it ready. Don't pull out a long list.
Watch for non verbal cues, make eye contact, lean forward, look interested, be enthusiastic.
Ask for clarification of any question you do not understand.
Don't be critical of a previous employer or person.

Salary Questions-

Don't get into a lengthy discussion about money. Attempt to postpone a discussion on salary till a later stage - 'when you would have a better understanding of the requirements of the job' etc. If necessary -ask what the normal/expected salary range is for the job.

However - be clear about your previous salary and have a salary range in mind for this job - eg ' I believe that the normal salary range for the type of job I understand to be available would be -----'

Follow up

Always follow up the interview irrespective of how it ended. Write to/Email the person who interviewed you within 24 hours (letter) or 48 hours (E mail). Try to choose the method of communication to suit the company- (use E mail if they have E mailed you or if they have given you an E mail address). Be sure to have the right name and job title.

Tips-

Be brief and polite.
Don't appear 'pushy' or impatient.
Thank them for the interview.
Don't send multiple , identical notes - if you were interviewed by more than one person - send one to the person who was in charge.
If you were not rejected on the day - say that you will be happy to provide any further information that might be required.

Source : http://www.mbaprograms.org/mbacareer/interview.asp

How to Capture a Macromedia Flash Object from a Web Site

2010-12-05T20:08:00.000+05:30

Internet Explorer

1
Go to the website and do not click the link yet but make sure you are a click away from the movie/object.
2
Click Tools>Internet Options>General then click delete files, this will delete all offline content.
3
Go to the flash object/movie.
4
Go back to Tools>Internet Options>General, click settings.
5
Click View files.
6
There should be a list of files, one of those files will be the flash object.

This wont work for the latest internet explorer.

Mozilla Firefox

1
Go to the website with the flash or other embedded object you wish to download.
2
Click Tools > Page Info (Shortcut: Alt + T + I)
3
Click the "Media" tab and scroll through the objects on the page. The "Type" column will help in many instances; Flashes, music and videos all appear as "Embeds"
4
Highlight the Flash and click "Save as" or copy the URL into a Download Manager.

Google Chrome

1
Just goto the page with flash file(swf file) you want to save.
2
Press ctrl+U to enter view source of the page(it will be opened in a separate tab)
3
Press ctrl+F to open the find box on top right corner of the "view source" page and type "swf" (without quotes)
4
Right-click on links ending with ".swf" (ie- http://brainteasers.ic.cz/zip/frogsgame.swf ) and click save as AND SAVE IT.

Source : www.wikihow.com

7 Things You Can Do on a Windows Phone 7 That You Can’t Do on an iPhone

2010-11-10T23:44:00.001+05:30

With this week’s North American debut of the Windows Phone 7 we decided to dive into the Microsoft vs Apple fray and see how Windows Phone 7 is going to stack up with iOS 4 (Full disclosure: Retrevo was selected by Microsoft to be a BizSpark One partner). Since its 2007 release the iPhone has dominated the smartphone market – recently its supremacy has been challenged by the Android OS, and now Microsoft is going to do its best to snatch some of that market-share as well. To have any hope of doing so however, Microsoft has to be able to offer something new or innovative to consumers. In that vein, here are a few things WP7 does that the iPhone does not.

#1 - No More Leaving
Your Avatar at Home

XBOX Live: Is this really important enough to be #1, you ask. Well, it’s my list and this alone might be enough to tear me away from my beloved BlackBerry. Productivity levels may plummet, but happiness levels will soar.

Microsoft already has a huge customer base they could potentially tap into if they execute this right, and so far reviews agree that the gaming experience has been exquisitely integrated into this phone. Travel between console and phone is seamless - you can pick up games where you left off on either device; message friends, view invites, leader-boards, and achievements. Even more impressive, the gaming experience is tight and responsive, the graphics crisp. Then there is your Avatar, who appears on your phone fully rendered with customization, and who cleverly interacts with the rest of your phone through normally staid apps, like flashlight and ruler. There are about sixty game titles that the phone will be launching with, including many familiar names - Halo, Guitar Hero, Crackdown, Star Wars, Sims 3, Need for Speed, to name a few.

#2 – Never Misspell ‘Onomatopoeia’ Again

MS Office: The other major delineation is WP7’s full Office integration. OneNote, email, calendar, PowerPoint, Excel and Word are all available in the Office Hub. You can pull files from either your phone or the cloud, view an outline of the document for easy navigation, perform basic edits to all file types, and save them. The email (Outlook, Yahoo, Gmail, etc.) and calendar applications communicate with each other automatically to schedule, and identify conflicts. One of the more surprising aspects missing from the phone is copy/paste. While Microsoft says it will be coming in an early 2011 update, it is going to hugely impact Office productivity in the meantime.

#3 – Feeding your Insatiable
Facebook Appetite

Hubs: There are 6 Hubs on the WP7 – People, Pictures, Games, Music+Video, Marketplace, and Office. There was a debate as to whether this should make the list – after all there’s nothing here that the iPhone doesn’t also do. How the phone organizes this information on the other hand, is quite different. Take the People Hub as an example: it is both a contact list and a social networking tool in one. Rather than simply seeing your friend’s phone numbers or email addresses, People aggregates their information from separate sources and keeps a constant stream of information. So you no longer have to launch separate social networking apps to see your friends latest status updates or to update your own information. The organization of these Hubs makes me feel a teeny bit better about the phone’s egregious lack of multi-tasking capabilities, not that it isn’t still an unforgivable lapse on the part of Microsoft, especially in light of the recent release of iOS 4.

#4 – For Those of You Who Want to See the Other 50% of Web Video Content

Flash: There’s not a lot to editorialize on this one: the WP7 will fully support Flash 10.1, iPhone does not.

#5 – Making You Even More
Ridiculously Efficient

Information Stream: Not only do you have the ability to “pin” whatever you like to your home-screen, but the applications there will continuously update. Example: the unlock screen has calendar and event data on it, making it easy to see what is coming up in your day without having to launch an application. Similarly, if you have favorite people pinned to the home-screen, you can see all their latest social networking updates.

#6 – What’s a Nice
QWERTY Like You Doing in a
Place Like This?

Real Keyboards: While this feature certainly isn’t overwhelming, it is maybe more significant than people realize. Personally, I could not function without a physical QWERTY keyboard, and if WP7 didn’t have one I would never even consider it (despite my adolescent yearning for the Xbox Live App). I guarantee I’m not alone in this. Because Microsoft doesn’t control hardware design the way Apple does, there are quite a few different phone models that will be running Win 7, several with both on-screen and physical keyboards.

#7 - Wait, what?
I Can Make Phone Calls too!?

Multiple Carriers: Yes, it’s at the bottom of the list, but don’t let that fool you. WP7 does not have an exclusive contract with AT&T. ‘Nuff said.

Source: Retrevo.com

Making James Bond Jealous

2010-11-03T22:57:00.002+05:30

Goldfinger was the first film to really utilize technology in the James Bond films. Since then the gadgetry has become more elaborate, sometimes ridiculously so, but also an inherent aspect of the franchise. Most of the gadgets featured in the movies don’t exist in real life - and if they do the government certainly isn’t admitting to them! Emulating 007 isn’t as hard as you would expect however – here we’ve assembled a list of real life (though not necessarily real affordable) gadgets straight out of Q’s workshop.

LG GD910 Phone
Though officially classified as a phone, this little technological beauty is actually worn on your wrist, with a touch screen interface that lets you access its many features (only one of which is keeping time). Not only does the watch act as a fabulous accessory, but with built in Bluetooth, voice recognition and a camera, the only thing it doesn’t have is a laser-beam to enable you to escape from 006’s ICBM train. Video conferencing with M whilst hiding under a tenuously balanced piece of wood and being shot at by international terrorists has never been easier.

Invisibility Cloak
For obvious reasons we haven’t got a picture of the Invisibility Cloak, so you’ll have to settle for the Aston.

As a dedicated Bond fan, even I was somewhat bemused by the invisible car in Die Another Day. The writers seemed to have finally crossed the threshold of plausible suspension-of-disbelief.

I stand corrected.

German scientists scientists have successfully created a structure that bends light around an object, rendering it unseen by the naked eye. Interestingly, this is not dissimilar from Q’s own explanation of how he created the invisible Aston Martin Vanquish in Die Another Day. Thus far the invisibility cloak is limited to micro-scale objects from near-infrared wavelengths, but the researchers believe there is nothing in theory to prevent the research from applying to larger-scale objects – say perhaps a sporty British racing vehicle?

Electric Shock Briefcase
I think I might be a bit horrified that this is available on the open market for any lunatic crackpot to buy.

I must have one.

By day your average, quite boring looking leather briefcase; but with the added benefit of what the manufactures call “anti-loss-proof.” Aside from the grammatical perplexity of such a statement, their method of anti-loss-proofing an object is to charge it up with over 30kV of electricity. In addition to a handy storage device, when you order one of these you also get a remote that will activate either an 85db alarm or an electric shock, or both.

To the best of my knowledge even Bond never had anything much like this. He had a spiffy attaché case in From Russia with Love but there was no electricity coursing through it.

Spycam Glasses
I’m not sure how genuinely unobtrusive these would be, but they certainly get the job done. They shoot video, take stills and even play MP3’s so you can play your own personal theme song rather than just humming (don’t deny it) as you snap photos of unsuspecting enemies.

Roger Moore’s Shark Hunter
Submarine’s feature prominently in the plot of The Spy Who Loved Me – most famous is the Lotus Esprit that can travel on land and in sea (we’ll get to that in a moment) but also featured in a chase scene was the yellow Shark Hunter sub. Personal submarine technology has come a long way since 1977. This carbon-fiber Deep Flight Merlin can glide along the ocean surface like an airplane before diving up to 130 feet. The sub incorporates fighter jet technology, is hydrobatic (which means exactly what you think it does) and controlled with a joystick. Though let’s give credit where credit is due, Shark Hunter is an infinitely better name.

sQuba
Even though it’s technically just a concept car, I couldn’t resist adding the sQuba to the list. Though for a cool $750,000 Swiss company Rinspeed will build it for you. Oh, go on, what is your children’s college education compared to an aquatic car?

“Wet Nellie”, Roger Moore’s Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me, is arguably the best Bond car. Ever. That’s right; I said it – better than the DB5.

The designer of the sQuba was actually inspired by the Esprit in the film. It submerges to a depth of 10 meters, and rather than driving along the bottom of the sea, it propels forward with two jets. When all is said and done, as undeniably cool as the sQuba is, I think I’d still take the Esprit any day.

Jetpack
Left: Sean Connery as James Bond in Thunderball
Right: Martin Jetpack, available commercially in 2011/12 for an estimated $100,000

Bond has had some pretty spectacular vehicles in his career, and the jetpack in Thunderball was always one of the more outlandish. 45 years later however, a New Zealand based company is in the final stages of making the world’s first practical jetpack commercially available. It consists of a gasoline engine that drives twin ducted fans, which lift you in vertical takeoff. It is capable of reaching heights of about 1.5 miles and can travel up 62mph.

The Blaster
While 007 has used many flamethrowers in his career, I’m pretty sure there was never one installed in one of his cars. This is an oversight the South Africans have corrected, by inventing the succinctly named The Blaster. (Interesting factoid - owning flamethrowers is completely legal and unrestricted in South Africa. It’s almost enough reason to overlook the profound civil unrest and move there.) The Blaster is a liquefied petroleum gas flamethrower that is installed along the sides of the vehicle under the doors and ignited when the driver presses a foot pedal. I think the hazards of that particular set-up speak for themselves.

The Tiniest Tech

2010-10-27T07:32:00.002+05:30

In tech, the trade-off between size and functionality has always been a difficult line to negotiate. Consumers want ease of portability as much as they want multi-functionality, but the drive to make gadgets smaller and lighter often means compromising quality of use. There comes a point when just because you can make something smaller, doesn’t necessarily mean you should. We’ve done some extensive research (defined as Google plus copious amounts of coffee) into some of the tiny tech gadgets out there that manage not only to be some of the smallest in their field, but are also not entirely useless.

Bluetooth Headset No Bigger
than an Earring
Pillette Bluetooth: Trying to find the tiniest Bluetooth headset is a thankless task. Every manufacturer claims theirs is the smallest, and then to add insult to injury they offend your intelligence by presenting you with a badly photo-shopped image that “proves it”. I have no idea what the world’s smallest Bluetooth headset is and, despite what they may tell you, neither does anyone else. What I can tell you is that the Pillete is right there at the top of the running. The specs are hard to find because it’s still in development in Germany and not due to hit US Markets until next year, but it’s approximately 1.5 inches long when fully extended in the off position. To turn it on simply fold in half and insert into your ear. I’m not sure how comfortable it will be or how often the doctor will have to dig it out of someone’s eardrum after a night out, but as long as you don’t swallow it you should be fine.

Color TV Screen About the
Size of Your Pupil
Eyescreen: At about half the size of a standard postage stamp, the eyescreen is the world’s smallest color TV screen as well as the world’s only polymer organic light emitting diode microdisplay (translation: super fancy, high contrast, tiny LED screen). Initially this doesn’t strike one as particularly practical; especially with the photo causing it to look like a watch, but MicroEmissive Display designed it to be incorporated into wearable mobile media headsets. A television inside my sunglasses? Yes, please.

Cell Phone the Same Dimension
as Your Credit Card
Modu-t: One of the problems with a roundup of tiny tech is that the marketing for these items all like to claim they are the “world’s smallest”. It’s an easy thing to get away with because the assertion is often quite difficult to quantify. The modu-t out of Japan, on the other hand, has the Guiness Book of World Records to back up its claim as the world’s lightest, fully functional phone - weighing in at 55.1g and measuring 1.83x2.95x0.43 inches. The problem with a tiny phone though, is, well, it’s tiny. modu has addressed these issues in a creative, if not entirely practical, way. The phone slips easily into several different “jackets” that allow you to access various features. For example, there’s a Sport Jacket with an armband and software that monitors your workout; a Music Jacket with loudspeakers and a headphone jack. I don’t see them ever really catching on in this country, but it’s nice to see a company thinking outside the box.

200 Members of Your Robot Army Fit on the Kitchen Table
Robo-Q: Okay, so remember earlier when I said these tiny tech items wouldn’t be entirely useless? This one may be stretching it a bit, but personally I feel that the ability to play tiny soccer games with tiny robots is the hallmark of a spiritually fulfilled life. At 1.3 inches tall, the Robo-Q is the smallest consumer robot available on the market. Not only is it petite and cute and remote controlled, but it has built-in infra-red sensors that functions with obstacle recognition software to not only keep them from running into things, but allows them to chase and follow moving objects – hence the world’s tiniest World Cup Tournament.

MP3 Player the Size
of Your Eardrum
Micro Sport 2 MP3 Player: Weighing in at a mere 8g and measuring 16x25x22 mm (0.6 x0.98x0.87 in) the Micro Sport 2 is officially the world’s smallest MP3 player, so published in the 2011 Guinness Book of World Records. There doesn’t seem to be any way to really control the music, so targeting this towards people (the athletically inclined) who just want to plug and play is smart marketing. It holds a decent 4GB of music and plugs directly into your computer’s USB port.

Portable PA System
for Your Robot Army
Super Mini Cube Speaker: Spectacular just for the name alone (because what isn’t made better by adding ‘Super’), this 17g speaker is 1 cubic inch and claims to be the world’s smallest speaker. With a mind-blowing 0.8w of power this is one of the least useful items on our list. Still, if cheap and portable is more important than clear and loud then practical it can be. It does not have volume control, so if you want to be able to hear your music on public transportation you’ll have to get two and convert them into headphones, sparking what will no doubt be the newest techy fashion trend.

Camcorder the Size of
Your Index Finger
Digital Cowboy DVR-SP: Claiming to be the smallest DVR in the world, you need a microSD card to actually record the footage. It’s only available in Japan at the moment, but don’t be too disappointed because at a mere 176 x 144 pixels your masterpiece won’t be featuring on the big screen.

PC that Fits in Your Palm
fit-PC2 Desktop PC: In the case of the fit-PC2 the term “desktop” becomes a bit limiting - we can now call them palm PC’s or pocket PC’s or toss-them-in-your-handbag PC’s. It runs Windows 7 or Linux, has 160GB memory, 1GB RAM and an impressive 2GHz (a vast improvement over its predecessor, which only ran 500MHz), WiFi and a surprising 6 USB ports. It’s staggering how much they’ve managed to fit into a 4” x 4.5” space. It also uses 96% less energy than a standard desktop, for those of you who like smaller electricity bills (or just like being environmentally conscious and smug).

Whether you’re looking for big or small gadgets, you'll find great reviews and manuals for all the latest gear including laptops, cameras, HDTV, and more on Retrevo. Have you seen other tiny gadgets, tell me about it.

iPhone Shortcuts and Tips You Should Know About

2010-09-14T22:52:00.002+05:30

You don't have to be a power user to appreciate time-saving shortcuts for your iPhone. Although we're sure some of you may already be familiar with a lot of these, here's a collection of some of the ones we like and think everyone should know about. We've also added some fun tricks you may not have been aware of. If we missed any of your favorites please tell us about them.

Press and Hold Typing Shortcuts
Whether you call it long press, press and hold, or tap and hold, there are many time-saving shortcuts you can do on both an Android and Apple iPhone by pressing a key for an extra second or two.

On an iPhone, when you're writing an email address holding down the "." key will bring up a selection of domains like com, org, net, and edu that you slide your finger over to select and then release.

Hold the "123" button and drag your finger to insert a number or punctuation mark and it will go back to alpha mode when you release the key. A similar trick can be done with the shift key to get capital letters.

For another press and hold shortcut, just hold a letter for an extra second and a selection of alternate characters like the tilde over a letter in Spanish or accent in French. If the symbol you need doesn’t show up you can add an international keyboard under Settings > General > Keyboards.

Double Tapping Shortcuts
You can quickly add a period at the end of a sentence by double tapping the space bar. You save the time it takes to go into "123" mode, select a period and return.

To resize a Safari browser window to fit your screen double tap a column, word, or picture and it will resize to fit your screen width.

Misc. Shortcuts
Everyone probably knows this one but if you tap the top of the screen in Safari and other apps and you will be taken to the top of the page

Android owners can’t take a screen shot without rooting (jailbreaking) their phones and running an app. iPhone owners can use the built in screen shot feature. You press the home button and then push the sleep button on top of the iPhone the screen will flash white and the image of the screen will be saved to your "camera roll" folder. A similar function is available in Safari or Mail when you press the image for a second or two.

*Did you know?
You can voice dial by nicknames that you have added to your contact's info?

Microphone Shortcuts
There are a lot of functions you can perform with the microphone button here's the list:

One press will answer the call (no surprise here)
Two clicks sends the call to voicemail (you can do the same thing by pressing the "Sleep" button twice)
During a call one press hangs up the call
With a second incoming call
One press puts call on hold and answers second call
Hold down button for two seconds and release and to ignore call

When you're not on a call the button can be used to control the iPod functions
One press starts playing a song
One press can pause a song being played
Two presses skips to next song

Some Fun iPhone Tricks
Next time you have the calculator up try turning the phone in the horizontal orientation and your calculator will go into scientific mode.

Scrub a Song or Podcast
For fine tuning the point in a song drag the location indicator down. You’ll see a selection of scrub speeds. Without releasing your finger you can scrub left and right at the speed selected.

Focus Your Camera
Touch the area of the picture you are about to shoot and the camera will focus on that spot.

Go to Sleep With Your iPod
Use the clock app, set the timer, select “when timer ends,” then “start” and scroll to "Sleep iPod."

Samsung AMOLED 12M Officially Announced

2010-09-04T17:04:00.002+05:30

Samsung was not long to wait, and yesterday the rumors were confirmed - 12-megapixel cameraphone officially announced its name - Samsung AMOLED 12M (SCH-W880). Already known specifications devaysa also confirmed. Already known specifications devaysa also confirmed. In incarnation Camera Samsung 12M has 12 megapixel, flash, 3-fold optical zoom, image stabilization, face recognition function and video recording (720p, 30 frames / s). In incarnation Camera Samsung 12M has 12 megapixel, flash, 3-fold optical zoom, image stabilization, face recognition function and video recording (720p, 30 frames / s). In the incarnation phone - support UMTS / HSDPA, 3,3-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen display (800 x 480), the availability of slots for cards microSD, and, of course, the joys of life such as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth. In the incarnation phone - support UMTS / HSDPA, 3,3-inch WVGA AMOLED touchscreen display (800 x 480), the availability of slots for cards microSD, and, of course, the joys of life such as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth. Apparently, the device will be used interface TouchWiz. Apparently, the device will be used interface TouchWiz. About the price of a camera phone is still unknown, but the timing of it for sale called - this is October of this year. About the price of a camera phone is still unknown, but the timing of it for sale called - this is October of this year.

BlackBerry Torch Officially Presented

2010-09-04T17:03:00.002+05:30

We just got a quick hands-on with the BlackBerry Torch - unfortunately our unit wasn't powering on. We're headed back for more in just a second and there's video on the way, but check the gallery for some hardware shots and some Droid X / iPhone 4 head-to-head action right now! We're headed back for more in just a second and there's video on the way, but check the gallery for some hardware shots and some Droid X / iPhone 4 head-to-head action right now! More images after the break...

Update: We went back in for round two with a functional device -- the hardware is quite nice, and the keyboard feels similar to the Tour / Bold. Update: We went back in for round two with a functional device - the hardware is quite nice, and the keyboard feels similar to the Tour / Bold. Software-wise, we're still waiting to play with BlackBerry 6 in-depth, but it definitely feels like the OS overwhelms the hardware a little when it's really cranking -- for example, the phone basically locked up while it loaded Engadget in the new Webkit browser, but when it was done loading it responded smoothly to panning and zooming. Software-wise, we're still waiting to play with BlackBerry six in-depth, but it definitely feels like the OS overwhelms the hardware a little when it's really cranking - for example, the phone basically locked up while it loaded Engadget in the new Webkit browser, but when it was done loading it responded smoothly to panning and zooming.

Update 2: We've got video, people. Update 2: We've got video, people. It's a little scattershot in scope, but it should illustrate the basic feel of the new OS. It's a little scattershot in scope, but it should illustrate the basic feel of the new OS. You can find it below the fold. You can find it below the fold.