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Earth & Universe Facts

2007-08-28T16:14:00.001-07:00

The order of the planets, starting closest to the sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

The one place where a flag flies all day, never goes up or comes down, and does not get saluted, is the moon.

Earth is not round; it is slightly pear-shaped. The North Pole radius is 44mm longer than the South Pole radius.

A green diamond is the rarest diamond.

The ozone layer averages about 3 millimeters (1/8 inch) thick.

A diamond will break if you hit it with a hammer.

The crawler, the machine that takes the Space Shuttle to the launching pad moves at 3km/h (2 mph).

Summer on Uranus lasts for 21 years - but so does winter.

The Sahara desert expands at about 1km per month.

Oceanography, the study of oceans, is a mixture of biology, physics, geology and chemistry.

More than 70% of earth's dryland is affected by desertification.

The US has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialised world, with more than 2 million fires reported each year.

The sun is 330,330 times larger than the earth.

The largest iceberg ever recorded was 335km (208 miles) long and 97km (60 miles) wide.

Luke Howard used Latin words to categorize clouds in 1803.

Hurricanes, tornadoes and bigger bodies of water always go clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. This directional spinning has to do with the rotation of the earth and is called the Coriolis force.

Winds that blow toward the equator curve west.

Organist William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781 with the first reflecting telescope that he built. He named it Georgium Sidium in honour of King George III of England but in 1850 it was renamed Uranus in accordance with the tradition of naming planets for Roman gods.

Planets, meaning wanderers, are named after Roman deities: Mercury, messenger of the gods; Venus, the god of love and beauty; Mars, the god of war; Jupiter, king of the gods; and Saturn, father of Jupiter and god of agriculture; Neptune, god of the sea.

During a total solar eclipse the temperature can drop by 6 degrees Celsius (about 20 degrees Fahrenheit).

The tallest waterfalls in the world are Angel Falls in Venezuela. At 979 m (3,212 ft), they are 19 times taller than the Niagara Falls, or 3 times taller than the Empire State Building.

Although the Angel Falls are much taller than the Niagara Falls, the latter are much wider, and they both pour about the same amount of water over their edges - about 2,8 billion litres (748 million gallons) per second.

There are 1040 islands around Britain, one of which is the smallest island in the world: Bishop's Rock.

All the planets in the solar system rotate anticlockwise, except Venus. It is the only planet that rotates clockwise.

Earth is the densest planet in the solar system and the only one not named after a god.

Earth orbits the sun at an average speed of 29.79 km/s (18.51 miles/sec), or about 107 000 km/h (about 67,000 miles/hour).

One year on earth is 365.26 days long. One day is 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds long. The extra day in a leap year was introduced to compensate for the discrepancy in the Georgian calendar.

Plates carrying the continents migrate over the earth's surface a few centimetres (inches) per year, about the same speed that a fingernail grows.

On average, 13,000 earthquakes are located each year.

The magnetic north pole is near Ellef Ringes Island in northern Canada.

The magnetic south pole was discovered off the coast of Wilkes Land in Antarctica.

There is zero gravity at the centre of earth.

the deepest mine in the world is Western Deep Levels near Charletonville, South Africa. It is 4,2km (2.6 miles) deep.

The deepest point in the sea: the Mariana Trench off Guam in the Pacific Ocean; it is 10,9 km (6.77 miles) below sea level.

Earth is slowing down - in a few million years there won't be a leap year.

The tail of the Great Comet of 1843 was 330 million km long. (It will return in 2356.)

There are more than 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth.

About 500 small meteorites fall to earth every year but most fall in the sea and in unpopulated areas.

There is no record of a person being killed by a meteorite but animals are occasionally hit.

The Dead Sea is 365 m (1,200 ft) below sea level.

A storm officially becomes a hurricane when cyclone winds reach 119 km/h (74 mph).

What Is DSL?

2007-08-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

by: Toh Poh

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. It is a service that makes the use of existing copper telephone wires for delivering data services at extremely fast speed rates. It does not hamper the existing telephone line. You can surf the Internet and talk on the phone, simultaneously.

DSL offers speeds that are around 5 to 25 times higher than a typical 56Kb dial-up connection. It is an always-on type of connection. This implies that websites would load quickly, downloads would be faster, buffering of videos would be fast and smooth and the domain of Online games would be illimitable.

Based on the types of service, DSL can be can be categorized in three divisions which are ASDL, IDSL and SDSL.

ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. It offers download speed of 1.5 Mbps and upload speed of 384 K. In order to acquire a ADSL connection, your location has to be within 3 miles of your local telephone office. Also, a DSL router is needed for this type of connection.

IDSL is a ISDN Digital Subscriber Line service which requires an ISDN router. It provides a connection speed of 144 K. in this type of connection distance is not a component to be considered.

SDSL means Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line. The speeds available under this type of DSL connection depends on the distance between your location and your local telephone office. The speed of downloads and uploads can go up to 1.1 Mbps.

Advantages of DSL

No installation of new wires is required. DSL uses the present telephone line to connect to the Internet. It provides extremely fast connection. Depending on the offer, you would not even have to pay for the DSL modem installation charges, since it is provided free by some of the companies on selection of the appropriate plan. The download rate is much higher in DSL connections. Many business organizations have gained the benefits of DSL. A DSL connection is very secure.

Disadvantages of DSL

The quality of your DSL connection depends on the distance between the DSL providers office and your location. Nearer you are, the better quality connection would you get. So, consumers located far from the local DSL office may face some trouble. DSL provide high speeds for downloading stuff but upload speeds are not that good.

DSL vs Cable Modems

The services provided through a cable modem can sometimes slow down or get hanged. It depends on the number of users accessing that particular service. But, in a DSL connection there is no such problem. The speed of DSL is consistent and high. This does not allow any kind of conjunction on the network. It provides more security than the cable modem connections. The popularity of DSL has risen to new heights which has resulted in disconnections and up gradations of the cable modem connections.

Nintendo Wii Brings The Gym To You With Wii Fit

2007-08-17T14:55:00.000-07:00

by: Karen Bennett

Nintendo has announced a new fitness game Wii Fit which is a full on exercise product set to give you more of a workout than Wii Sports, while still retaining all the fun of gaming. Wii Fit will help to keep you physically fit via a dedicated peripheral, a wireless balance board which comes with the game. There are over 40 different activities, including hula hooping, ski jumping and heading soccer balls.

The hula hooping consists of, as you’d expect, gyrating your hips with a virtual hoop onscreen and then as the game progresses, characters will throw more hoops for you to catch and rotate as many times as you can until the time runs out.

The skiing game gives you two chances to make the longest jump you can whilst keeping your balance when landing. Players can increase speed by leaning forward, the more you lean the faster you’ll go, and upon reaching the jump, you stand up straight ensuring your weight is evenly balanced for a good landing.

For the football game, you will need to balance on the board moving from side to side whilst balls are fired at you to hit back on to the field and avoiding other objects that are thrown at you at the same time.

Training falls into 4 categories: Aerobics, muscle conditioning, yoga and balance games. Players can assign their height to a profile to measure body mass index and Wii fitness age as well as monitor progress and record performance statistics.

The calorie busting fun could appeal to couch potato kids as well a non gamers, perhaps using the Nintendo Wii as a slimming tool which would be a move into the lifestyle category rather than gaming, covering the market from another angle.

Nintendo hasn't given a release date yet for Wii Fit, although its thought to hit the highstreet in early 2008.

Things To Keep In Mind While Buying A Cell Phone

2007-08-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

by: Sherry Khan

Buying a Cell Phone: An Overview

In the last decade the cell phone industry has grown thousand fold all around the world. A cell phone is somewhat necessary for an individual to keep up with the busy life of the current era. A few years back, a cell phone was not considered a necessity; it was just a luxury that was being enjoyed by only a small number of individuals. But nowadays, life without a cell phone seems impossible. People all around the world are addicted to the use of a cell phone. This is mainly because the cell phone is no longer just a cell phone; it has evolved into many things like a personal digital assistant (pda), music player, a global positioning system (gps) and a lot more. Everyday different manufacturers around the world are introducing the models with the new features. This is what needs to be taken into consideration when you go for buying a cell phone. You need to be sure about the features you want that suit your lifestyle well.

The Money Matter

Nowadays there is so much choice for an individual to buy a cell phone. Every company is producing the models with state of the art technology and features everyday. Price is the main thing that makes a difference in these different models. An expensive phone is likely to have more features, reliability and a better technology than a cheap one. Everyone wants a best phone in the market for him but high price of the cell phones comes in the way therefore price is a big thing that needs to be kept in mind while buying a cellular phone. But expensive and sophisticated phones are not everyone's choice; there are people who just want a simple cell phone which is not much expensive but does its job well only as a cell phone. Also the extra features provided in the expensive phones are not everyone's need.

Therefore the price is a main thing to keep in mind whenever you to buy a cell phone. Do not buy a cell phone just because it is expensive; buy the one that suits your needs.

Choices in Different Vendors and their Models

Lucky for the customers that nowadays there are a huge number of cell phone manufacturers who have a vast number of models for customers to choose from. Every vendor holds certain advantages that the other lacks in. This creates a great competition, which is very healthy for the cell phone industry. Also this competition results in the reduction of the price, which is beneficial for the end user.

Some people have liking for a certain brand but they still have a lot of choice in the models offered by the same brand. Every other day a new model is launched by a company, this is a strategy of companies to keep a customer stick to their brand and attract more.

Research is Always Better

It is always better to research about the phone you are going to buy before you set out to actually buy it. There are number of ways to know about that phone, the best one is internet. You can read the product reviews on the internet for that phone and know if there are any issues with it. You can also know the people's view about the certain features offered by that particular device on internet. Also try to read the review by some critic about that phone; it will further clarify its view in your mind.

Hence it is to be said that in order to get the desired satisfaction, the above things should be kept in mind before buying a cell phone.

Ten Ways to Write Great Blog Posts That Get Attention

2007-08-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

by: Courtland Bovee

Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75 million by some counts), with thousands more being created every day. Making yours stand above the rest may seem like a daunting task, but here are ten suggestions for making your blog posts stand out from the crowd.

1. Write each post title so it grabs the reader's attention. It is the first thing someone reads, and it should get your reader's attention right away. Your title should both pique the reader's interest and be informative. Do not write "Business Writing Advice"; instead, say "The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing Your Business Writing Worries." Longer titles have the advantage of describing in detail what your post is about; 8-12 words are a good range.

2. Keep sentences short and clear. A little goes a long way. Readers are busy people and they will not spend hours detangling complex syntax or sifting through blocks of text. Also, use strong language. Start a new paragraph every few sentences, and limit each post to 250 words, if possible. If you cannot write it in under 250 words, split it into two entries.

3. Break up the text. Use numbered lists, bullet points, and subheadings to make your posts easy to scan. Lots of white space on the page is a good thing-it allows your reader to take mental breaks and let the knowledge soak in. In addition, with the inevitable clutter of banner ads and side text, this technique puts some distance between your writing and all those distractions.

4. Keep current. No one wants to read old news. Your job is to stay up-to-date so your readers do not have to themselves. Read newspapers. Scour the web for references. For example, if you write a blog about business communication, subscribe to Google News Alerts using keywords related to the field, such as blogs, podcasting, instant messaging, business letters, memos, and business reports, so you will always be well informed. Posting items from last month or last year will lose your reader's interest faster than you can say "Enron."

5. Be bold. Timidity is an easy path to anonymity. Do not be afraid to create and state your opinions. Of course, there are some situations in which objectivity rules-but you have to give people a reason to read this blog by you and not by the person next door.

6. Be accurate. If you make a statement, be prepared to back it up. Know what your sources are and quote them accurately. Misinformation spreads like wildfire online; do not be the spark that sets it off or the wind that fans it.

7. Contribute to the conversation. Links are great-but then what? Do not just post links to the same tired sites, offer your reader something new. Contribute to the conversation. Your goal is to be the site to which everyone else is linking-so you had better have something worth writing about.

8. Stay focused. Once you have defined the theme of your blog, stick to it. A blog about piggy banks has no business posting about the latest innovation in alternative energy. Such a deviance will only confuse your reader and chip away at your virtual authority.

9. Use key words liberally. Keywords are, well, key. Harness your blog's search engine potential by dousing your title and post with effective keywords that will help interested parties find your page in the vast, muddled blogosphere. This is one of the most important elements of getting your blog read-go at it with gusto.

10. Be consistent. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Post frequently-at least several times per week if you want to increase your potential of attracting new readers. Let your blog languish for weeks without updates and your audience will move on to fresher ground.

Maintaining an informative blog that people want to read takes hard work and good writing skills. Find what makes your writing unique-and flaunt it for all it is worth.

The Future of Video and TV on PC Systems

2007-08-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

By Larkland Morley

Typically in a home, most people have a standard TV, Radio and Telephone as communication devices. The increase availability of the Internet has started to change the dynamics in how people communicate and interact.

Outside of the TV and Telephone, now the majority of people in the developed world use e-mail and instant messengers to communicate. But it’s getting better than that. The traditional phone was based on older wired technology that was proprietary to each phone company. Today, you can get a phone line with very good quality using your broadband Internet connection.

The same revolution that has seen the telephone moving towards to VOIP (Voice over IP) will see the same for the TV on PC. This is further aided with the specialized HTPC (Home Theatre PC) systems which basically puts a specialized computer in your living room. If you are a do it yourselfer, you can easily find special HTPC case online to build your next living room computer. In respect to TV on PC options, there are two ways that this can be done.

1. You could get special TV tuner card for your computer that basically allows you to either connect to a cable provider or Satellite system. This approach is fairly traditional and has the benefit of cheap PVR software to tape your favorite program.

2. There are several providers of software packages that allow you to get most of these TV programs over your Internet Connection. This is based on the fact that most of the big name TV providers and new comers are streaming their programs over the internet. This is the same philosophy as VOIP.

What’s the implication of these technologies converging? The use of a computer in the living room opens up the possibility of doing several things. This includes Video Conferencing, Photo Review, and Web browsing and chatting. Video sites such as YouTube are coming out of the wood works everyday. This means you can do more than just TV on PC functions. You can now do both synchronous and asynchronous video applications directly to your living room.

It does get better than that. The imminent deployment of 4G wireless systems such as mobile WiMAX will allow you take both VOIP and Video where you go. It’s fascinating and its coming together as we speak. This means while at the park or beach, you can catch the latest show as well as communicate with business associates or family members instantly. We having even touched on some of the possibilities with Web 2.0 and consequently Web 3.0 will bring to this arena with the whole social networking side of things.

The future is coming fast and with all the tools available for Media or HTPC systems, you can get TV on PC plus a whole lot more. You can get most of these systems at the usual major vendors online or locally.

Super Bluetooth Hack v1.07

2007-08-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Description:
Once connected to a another phone via bluetooth you can call many functions.

- read his messages
- read his contacts
- change profile
- play his ringtone even if phone is on silent
- play his songs(in his phone)
- restart the phone
- switch off the phone
- restore factory settings
- change ringing volume
- And here comes the best

“Call from his phone” it includes all call functions like hold etc.

Notes:
1.) When connecting devices use a code 0000
2.) At start of program on smartphones do not forget to turn on bluetooth before start of the application

DOWNLOAD

http://link-protector.com/202554/

http://w13.easy-share.com/1129282.html

http://www.filefactory.com/file/b0d97e/

PASSWORD HERE

www.fullandfree.info

Lost in a World of Vista

2007-08-12T15:42:00.000-07:00

Windows Vista is now on the shelves of retail stores, Microsoft’s marketing machine is functioning at maximum capacity and Bill Gates seems determined to go around the world with Windows Vista in his arms. At a first glance, a perfect release. Something is missing though, to make it perfect: enthusiasm.

Ok, Windows Vista is not PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii to lead fans into hysterics at its launch, but statistics unanimously accepted indicate that 90 per cent of PC users have a Windows operating system.

What then? Why aren’t there endless queues? Why aren’t there floods of news about how Windows Vista stocks are running out of copies while people are subscribing to waiting lists in order to get an Ultimate or Home Edition?

This is Windows Vista we are talking about, an OS you will have to get used to over the following years because Windows XP’s life is running short. Unless you decide to migrate to Linux or Mac in the meantime.

I admit it is difficult to become enthusiastic over a product that you have been waiting for these past five years, that Microsoft has presented to consumers inside out and that has been talked about in the press almost as much (if not even more) as the Brangelina couple.

And yet? Where are the fans? I for one think the fans are confused. First of all, with all the effort Microsoft and its partners have put into this, the portrait of the perfect PC to run Windows Vista is far from being clearly sketched out for all to see.

1 GB of RAM and 256 MB video memory at least, says Microsoft. 2 GB of RAM, (even 4 if you can afford it), a hard disc as big as possible and a video card as advanced as possible, say those who have already traveled in the world of Windows Vista.

Lost in this controversy, the common user, the person that doesn’t check the latest technology news on a daily basis, is not exactly sure what to ask for at the IT store.

At least if this was all. But unlike Windows XP, where the Home and Professional editions stated from the very start the line between those wishing business and those looking for fun, this time around Microsoft has brought Windows Vista Business and four other editions for consumers. Couldn’t be clearer, strategy makers at Redmond probably said when they approved this marketing maneuver.

A user now has to choose between Windows Home Basic, Home Premium or Ultimate. So after spending several days in search for the ideal computer, the consumer must start all over again and investigate which Windows version is best for his/her personal use.

This without any kind of guarantee that there will be Windows Vista drivers for any component, that all programs running on XP will function on the new OS.

After this difficult migration what does Windows Vista offer that is new? One eye-catching element is the new graphical interface, dubbed Aero. It is remarkable first for its semi- transparent windows. Transparent windows are also available in Apple's Mac OS X and with various Linux versions.

Microsoft went one step further, however, with its Flip 3D function. This positions all opened windows one behind another, slightly offset. Switching between the individual windows is somewhat easier than with XP, because the windows can be paged through using the scroll wheel, for example.

The desktop search is certain to be a major convenience. It finds objects not just based on folder or file names, but based on the contents of a document itself. The Sidebar is intended to provide a quick overview. It is a collection of little programs that - presuming an internet connection is available - retrieve specific information in real time. That can be weather reports, stock quotes or sports scores, for example. These programs, known as widgets, are available for free download from Microsoft. Vista comes with Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11 and the anti spyware software Windows Defender.

And after all this you still want enthusiasm from the average PC user ?

Blu-ray, HD DVD copy protection cracked

2007-08-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

About:

A computer hacker claims to have broken the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) encryption specification used to control unauthorized copying on HD-DVD and Blu-ray video players.

HD DVD, Blu-ray copy protection cracked

The hacker, who goes by the name of Muslix64, said he wrote the software earlier this month after hardware compatibility problems made it impossible for him to play HD-DVDs on an X-Box that was connected to his PC.

“I started to get mad,” he wrote in a posting to the Doom9.org discussion forum. “This is now what we call ‘fair use’! So I decide to decrypt that movie.”

Muslix64 has posted a video purporting to show the software decrypting a copy of Stanley Kubrick’s 1987 film, Full Metal Jacket.

This development is a black eye for the new optical disc formats, which are both jockeying to be successor to the DVD. The Advanced Access Content System Licensing Administrator, the group that sets the AACS specification, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Seven years ago, a 16-year-old Norwegian named Jon Johansen performed a similar feat, cracking the CSS (content scrambling system) encryption scheme used by DVDs. Johansen was eventually acquitted on charges relating to the release of his decrypting software.

By cracking AACS, Muslix64 may have violated the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which prohibits users from circumventing copy-protection tools without the permission of the copyright holder, said Fred von Lohmann, senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Still, the software seems to have been written out of a legitimate sense of frustration with onerous copy-protection mechanisms, von Lohmann said. “He went out and bought a fancy new product that he thought would improve his experience and despite the fact that he’s a legitimate buyer, it didn’t work.”

“When American consumers go and buy movies legitimately in the store, they should be entitled to play them back on whatever they’d like,” he said. “Unfortunately that’s not the set of rules that Hollywood seems to be embracing.”

Ipod Shuffle 5 Photos - The small became smaller

2007-08-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

Description:
The world’s smallest digital music player and just $79, the 1GB iPod shuffle lets you wear up to 240 songs(1) on your sleeve. Or your lapel. Or your belt. Clip on iPod shuffle and wear it as a badge of musical devotion.

One size fits all

You know what they say about good things and small packages. But when something 1.62 inches long and about half an ounce holds up to 240 songs, “good” and “small” don’t quite cut it. Especially when you can listen to your music for up to 12 continuous hours.(2) In fact, iPod shuffle just may be the biggest thing in small.
Ready to wear

Clip it to your coin pocket. Clip it to your bag. No matter where you clip your skip-free iPod shuffle, you’ll have instant access to music. And iPod shuffle’s anodized aluminum enclosure goes with absolutely everything. Put it on, turn it up, and turn some heads.
Sync to fit

The first step to wearing 240 songs on your iPod shuffle is downloading iTunes — free. Then you can download 99¢ songs from the iTunes Store or import music from your CDs. When it’s time to sync, plug the included dock into your Mac or PC’s USB port and transfer your music from iTunes just by docking iPod shuffle.
Shuffle icon
Remix and match

Got more than 240 songs in your iTunes library? No problem. Let iTunes autofill your iPod shuffle and get a new musical experience every time. Pop follows jazz. Rock follows rap. iPod shuffle loves to improvise. Take the Shuffle switch, for instance. Even if you’ve synced a particular playlist, you can shuffle songs with a flick.

1. 1GB = 1 billion bytes; actual formatted capacity less. Song capacity is based on 4 minutes per song and 128-Kbps AAC encoding; actual capacity varies by content.
2. Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of charge cycles. Battery life and number of charge cycles vary by use and settings. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.

PS3 to make European debut on March 23

2007-08-11T17:08:00.000-07:00

Description:
TOKYO - Sony’s new PlayStation 3 video game machines will go on sale in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australia on March 23, company officials said Friday.

The 60 gigabyte model of PS3 will be priced at 599 euros, 425 British pounds, 999.95 Australian dollars, and 1199.95 New Zealand dollars, according to Sony Computer Entertainment spokesman Nanako Kato. Initially, only the 60GB model will be available in these markets, with the lower-end 20GB version to follow later this year depending on demand, the company said in a statement dated Thursday. The much-anticipated debut of the high-end version of the PlayStation comes as Sony, locked in a tight race with Nintendo Co. and Microsoft Corp. for the market for next-generation video consoles, has been plagued with production problems.

Sony said it shipped 2 million PS3 machines worldwide by mid-January, falling about two weeks behind its initial shipment targets in Japan. The machine’s launch in Europe was delayed until this year. Sony is also targeting shipping 6 million PS3 machines by March 31.

Sony’s 3.10 Firmware Upgrade for PSP Already Cracked

2007-08-11T17:03:00.001-07:00

Description:
Sony has recently released the newest firmware update for its popular gaming console, but some sites have already reported that it has been decrypted.

The firmware upgrade, although not very spectacular, brings enhanced Internet browsing capabilities and improved audio playback.

According to IGN.com, the following updates are made to the PlayStation Portable with PSP version 3.10:

- Support for PlayStation Network titles had been expanded
- Support for the MPEG-4 AVC format has been added under [LocationFree Player]
- [Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as a feature under [Sound Settings] in [Settings]
- [Conserve Memory] has been added as an option in [View Settings] under [Internet Browser].

IGN also reports that included in the update are a new engine for LocationFree Player based on the AVC codec (for better video quality using the TV accessory), a Dynamic Normalizer for MP3 playback (to make sure your music and podcasts are never too loud or too quiet, that they don’t suddenly pop your ears in transitioning between tracks), and a fix for the PSP browser with the new Conserve Memory compression tool (significantly speeding up and optimizing the Browser, with the trade-off of a little image quality.)

A site called pspupdates.qj.net revealed that a team of programmers have already cracked Sony’s firmware from day-0 of its release, and the main preoccupation of the team now is to reverse-engineer it to allow unofficial homemade applications (including pirated copies of PSP games too). The site also offers a link to the decrypted version of the firmware.

Sony has also made available for download some demos of popular PSP games. The first of these demos is Killzone: Liberation, a third-person shooter. In the coming weeks Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2 are set to have their own demos.

Gmail welcomes public sign ups

2007-08-11T16:59:00.000-07:00

Description:
Recently i have seen on my gmail login page has been given an option to create your new gmail account!!!

Even though it’s still in beta but for me it works…

I don’t know if it’s already started public worldwide but you can give it a try by clicking here.
There are no pop-ups or untargeted banner ads in Gmail, only small text ads. Ads and related information are relevant to your messages, so instead of being obtrusive, they may even be useful for once.

Gmail also integrates instant messaging right into the email experience, so you can stay in even better touch with your friends when you’re online. Easy, efficient and maybe even fun to use. It’s a whole new way to think about email. It’s Google’s approach to email.

Quick Facts

* Cost: Free
* Storage: 2,600+ megabytes (and counting)
* Superior spam protection using innovative Google technology
* Languages: Messages can be sent and read in most languages. The Gmail interface is available in 40 languages: US and UK English, simplified and traditional Chinese, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.
* Access: Free automatic forwarding and POP3 access
* JavaScript and cookies must be enabled on all browsers
* Fully supported browsers:
- Microsoft IE 5.5+ (download: Windows)
- Netscape 7.1+ (download: Windows Mac Linux)
- Mozilla 1.4+ (download: Windows Mac Linux)
- Mozilla Firefox 0.8+ (download: Windows Mac Linux)
- Safari 1.2.1+ (download: Mac)
* Many other browsers work with Gmail’s basic HTML view, including:
- Microsoft IE 4.0+
- Netscape 4.07+
- Opera 6.03+
* Chats in Gmail work on Microsoft IE 6.0+ and Firefox 1.0+

Here comes the 1st terabyte hard drive

2007-08-11T16:55:00.000-07:00

Last year, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies predicted hard-drive companies would announce 1 terabyte drives by the end of 2006. Hitachi was only off by a few days.

The company said on Thursday that it will come out with a 3.5-inch-diameter 1 terabyte drive for desktops in the first quarter, then follow up in the second quarter with 3.5-inch terabyte drives for digital video recorders, bundled with software called Audio-Visual Storage Manager for easier retrieval of data, and corporate storage systems.

The Deskstar 7K1000 will cost $399 when it comes out. That comes to about 40 cents a gigabyte. Hitachi will also come out with a similar 750GB drive. Rival Seagate Technology will come out with a 1 terabyte drive in the first half of 2007.

Fly to the Moon for $200,000

2007-08-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

Description:
“Fly me to the moon” is no longer a romantic notion. Indeed, it’s a request that Angie Lepley, President of Kirkland-based ETI Travel, will soon be hearing a lot. Lepley has been selected to be one of only 45 travel consultants in North America to be accredited as a “space agent” by Virgin Galactic, a company that will begin offering suborbital space flights to the public in 2008.

Lepley was a natural choice for selection. Her ETI Travel is the largest independently owned travel agency in the state of Washington. To prepare for her new role, Lepley recently spent a week in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where she received Astronaut training, “G-force acclimatization” as well as the “how-to’s” of selling and marketing suborbital space travel.

Virgin Galactic, a company owned by philanthropist Richard Branson is building its own spaceships for this program. The spaceships will reportedly travel at over 3,000 miles per hour.

The first flights launch in late 2008 at a cost of $200,000 per ticket. ETI has already received numerous inquiries and is now taking reservations. If you’ve got the bucks, you can contact the agency at 425-822-2333.

—PR Newswire

The Perfect Betting System!

2007-08-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

Did that get your attention? Sorry, but sadly the betting system that gives you an edge over the house is not invented yet, and it never will be. That doesn’t stop people from claiming otherwise, though, especially on the web, where you’ll occasionally run into websites trying to sell you get-rich-quick schemes in the form of previously unheard-of betting systems. In short: if you stumble upon a website trying to sell you a “secret” betting system that promises huge winnings in no time – avoid it like the plague.

One “Perfect” System

As an example, some gamblers may have heard of the Martingale system, the betting system in which you double your previous bet after each loss. It’s used in coin-flip games like roulette: if you bet $1 on red/black in roulette and lose, you bet $2 the next time and so on, figuring you have to win eventually, and when you do – you are back on your starting amount plus $1. This sounds like the perfect system. The problem is that after a rather short losing streak the bets will be huge. After a string of twelve losses (a quite possible scenario) starting at $1, you will be risking $4096 to win $1.

$1-$2-$4-$8-$16-$32-$64-$128-$256-$512-$1024-$2048-$4096, etc.

Even with an almost infinite bankroll, you also have to consider the maximum bet at the table. No matter how you look at it, the result is disastrous – you risk huge amounts of money to win a tiny one. If the starting bet is larger than $1, which it usually is, the risk increases exponentially.

System vs. Strategy

Some people make a nice profit selling systems like this one to unsuspecting recreational gamblers, but don’t waste your money. None of these systems work, more likely they do more harm than good.

Casino gambling is all about having fun, and sure, it’s exciting to have a chance to score a huge jackpot, no matter how small that chance actually is. Some times you will beat the odds, more often you won’t. Of course, there are good fundamental strategies available that can be applied to many casino games. For instance, if you play blackjack using a perfect strategy you will certainly win more often than the average player, but the house will still have a small edge.

Fioricet

2007-08-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

acetaminophen/butalbital/caffeine (oral) (a seet a MIN oh fen and boo TAL bi tall and CAFF een)

Esgic, Esgic-Plus, Fioricet

What is the most important information I should know about Fioricet?

•

Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardous activities. Butalbital will cause drowsiness or dizziness. If you experience drowsiness or dizziness, avoid these activities.

•

Avoid sleeping pills, antihistamines, sedatives, and tranquilizers except under the supervision of your doctor. These may also make you drowsy.

•

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol taken during therapy with Fioricet can be very damaging to your liver and can increase drowsiness and dizziness.

•

Check the acetaminophen content of other over-the-counter and prescription products while taking this medication. You should not exceed 4 grams (4000 mg) of acetaminophen per day.

•

Never take more Fioricet than is prescribed for you. If your pain is not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

What is Fioricet?

•

Acetaminophen is a pain reliever and fever reducer.

•

Butalbital is in a class of drugs called barbiturates that slow down your central nervous system (brain and nerve impulses) causing relaxation.

•

Caffeine is believed to constrict dilated blood vessels that may contribute to tension headaches.

•

Together, acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine are used to relieve complex tension (muscle contraction) headaches although precisely how it works is unknown.

•

Fioricet may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Fioricet?

•

This medication is habit forming and should only be used under close supervision. Take this drug only for as long as it is prescribed , in the amounts it is prescribed, and no more frequently than prescribed.

•

Do not take Fioricet without first talking to your doctor if you drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day or if you have had alcoholic liver disease. You may not be able to take Fioricet, or you may require a lower dose.

•

Do not take Fioricet if you have porphyria.

•

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have

kidney disease, or

liver disease.

•

You may not be able to take Fioricet, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.

•

This drug combination is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that its effects on an unborn baby are not known. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.

•

This drug combination passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

•

Fioricet has not been approved for use in children younger than 12 years of age.

How should I take Fioricet?

•

Take Fioricet exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

•

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

•

Take Fioricet with food or milk if it upsets your stomach.

•

Never take more Fioricet than is prescribed for you. If your pain is not being adequately treated, talk to your doctor.

•

Store Fioricet at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

•

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Do not take a double dose of this medication. Wait the prescribed amount of time before taking your next dose.

What happens if I overdose?

•

Seek emergency medical attention.

•

Symptoms of an Fioricet overdose include insomnia, restlessness, tremor, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sweating, seizures, drowsiness, decreased breathing, dizziness or fainting, confusion, an irregular heartbeat, and coma.

What should I avoid while taking Fioricet?

•

Avoid sleeping pills, antihistamines, sedatives, and tranquilizers except under the supervision of your doctor. These may also make you drowsy.

•

Avoid alcohol. Alcohol taken during therapy with Fioricet can be very damaging to your liver and can increase drowsiness and dizziness.

•

Check the acetaminophen content of other over-the-counter and prescription products while taking this medication. You should not exceed 4 grams (4000 mg) of acetaminophen per day.

•

Avoid taking too much caffeine. Check the caffeine content of other over-the-counter and prescription products as well as beverages (coffee, tea, and colas) while taking this medication

What are the possible side effects of Fioricet?

•

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Fioricet and seek emergency medical attention:

an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);

slow, weak breathing;

liver damage (yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, abdominal pain or discomfort, unusual bleeding or bruising, severe fatigue);

blood problems (easy or unusual bleeding or bruising); or

low blood sugar (fatigue, increased hunger or thirst, dizziness, or fainting).

•

These side effects are very rare and are not likely to occur during proper treatment with acetaminophen and caffeine. If you experience any unusual reactions, stop taking this medicine and seek the advice of your doctor.

•

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Fioricet and talk to your doctor if you experience

drowsiness;

dizziness,, confusion or lightheadedness;

shortness of breath;

dry mouth;

nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or decreased appetite;

tiredness, leg pain, or muscle weakness;

agitation, irritability, nervousness, anxiety or excitability;

rash or itching;

feeling of intoxication;

headache; or

constipation.

•

Butalbital may be habit forming.

•

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Fioricet?

•

Do not take Fioricet if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the last 14 days. Dangerous side effects could result.

•

Fioricet may increase the effects of other drugs that cause drowsiness, including antidepressants, alcohol, antihistamines, sedatives (used to treat insomnia), other pain relievers, anxiety medicines, and muscle relaxants. Tell your doctor about all medicines that you are taking, and do not take any medicine unless your doctor approves.

•

Many other medicines contain acetaminophen, especially over-the-counter pain, fever, cold, and allergy medications. Too much acetaminophen can be very dangerous.

•

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Fioricet. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Where can I get more information?

•

Your pharmacist has additional information about Fioricet written for health professionals that you may read.

•

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

•

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

CyberPower Gamer Infinity Ultimate

2007-08-04T10:09:00.001-07:00

This overclocked system is blisteringly fast and comes with the works, justifying its high price.

Pros

Quad-core processor
Reasonable price for high-end gaming PC

Cons

Lacks exotic looks

The Gamer Infinity Ultimate may lack the exotic looks and customized touches that uber-gaming systems from high-end boutiques like Voodoo and Alienware possess, but it makes up in function and price for any shortcomings in form. At $4399 as of March 16, 2007, including ViewSonic's VG2230WM (a $320, 22-inch, flat-panel display), the Gamer Infinity Ultimate costs thousands of dollars less than some gaming systems, yet delivers top-flight performance and first-rate hardware.

For gamers, performance is king, and the Gamer Infinity Ultimate qualifies as royalty. Its WorldBench 6 Beta 2 score of 129 was the highest of the eight power systems running Windows Vista that we tested recently. The Gamer Infinity Ultimate runs on Intel's latest quad-core, Core 2 Extreme QX6700 CPU, which CyberPower overclocked to 3.46 GHz. Notably, the system scored very well on the multitasking portion of WorldBench 6 Beta 2--second only to the Xi MTower IGE-SLI, which runs on Intel's dual-core Core 2 Extreme X6800 CPU.

Using dual SLI XFX GeForce 8800GTX graphics boards, our Gamer Infinity Ultimate scored very well: Frame rates while running Doom 3 and Far Cry were very high for most resolution settings; in some cases they were second only to the Xi MTower IGE-SLI, which used a single 768MB XFX GeForce 8800GTX graphics board.

In lieu of occupying an exotically sculpted case, our test PC came in a relatively staid Cooler Master CM Stacker 830 tower. Unlike many aluminum cases, the CM Stacker feels sturdy, and--as the name implies--it offers excellent cooling. Every face, including the bottom, has vents in it; and the interior holds five fans. Speed-hungry overclockers who aren't fans of liquid cooling systems will like the included Vigor Gaming Monsoon II CPU cooler, which combines airflow with a powerful Peltier cooler.

Data storage should be no problem for even the most inveterate digital packrats. Our review model came with two high-performance 150GB, 10,000-rpm Western Digital Raptor hard drives configured in a RAID 0 array, an additional 500GB hard drive, and a LiteOn Blu-ray DVD drive that can stores up to 25GB of content per disc. The $557 Blu-ray drive included with our test model is nice, but a frugal buyer could substitute a far less expensive DVD drive to lower the overall system cost. Gamers will like the Logitech G15 gaming keyboard, which carries its own LCD display for gaming stats plus 18 programmable buttons for gaming shortcuts.

Latches enable you to release both side panels for quick access to the case's interior, and the bank of four cooling fans located under one side panel pops off easily. You can add a card or drive without tools, but the bulky graphics cards block several of the expansion slots, and you have to remove a graphics card to reach the hard-drive bays.

The View Sonic VG2230WM flat-panel display that accompanied our review unit displayed crisp details and rich colors, though we had to adjust the contrast to brighten the screen for DVD movie playback. Small type (6.8-point font) was sharp and readable at 1024 by 768 resolution.

The Gamer Infinity Ultimate may be expensive, but it packs a lot of value for gamers and power users who need speed, storage, and the ability to upgrade.

New Motorola L7e

2007-08-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation of the SLVR L7. And differs from the predecessor in the presence of 1.3 MP camera, support for EDGE and microSD connector, and finally a renewed user interface. Besides, the phone has a musical player prcessing MP3, AAC, AAC+ and ACC+ Enhanced formats. Stereo soun can be transmitted via Bluetooth via A2DP profile.

Class: fashion
Position in the line: above Motorola L7 SLVR
Rivals: Samsung X820
Description based on official information, preliminary

General features
- Announced in 2006, official announcement on the 27 October 2006, on the market since 4 quarter 2006
- GSM 850/900/1800/1900
- Colour screen, up to 262000 colours (TFT), the resolution of 176x220 pixels (30x37 mm)
- Battery type Li-Ion
- Battery life:
- Menu order is editable, tags
- Сolours: black, other variants are possible
- Weight: 96 gramms
- Dimensions: 113 x 49 x 11.5 mm

Memory
- Memory for 1000 names, each name entry may contain up to several phone numbers (unlimited number). Fields for complete postal address address, extra data. A field for e-mail address. A photo or an image can be assigned to a name, a personla call melody is selected.
- Call log of last 10 calls of all types
- Expansion connector for MicroSD

Call management, ringing tones, voice functions
- Vibracall
- You can use a mp3, aac or aac++ file as a call melody
- 64-tones polyphony
- Various modes of vibracall, schemes
- Voice dial
- Speakerphone

SMS
- MMS
- EMS
- Instant Messaging
- Predictive text input iTap

Camera
- Integrated 1.3 MP camera (the maximum resolution of 1024x1280 pixels)
- Records videoclips MPEG4/Н.263
- Digital zoom 8x, effects

Multimedia
- Themes
- mp3/aac files as a call melody
- Integrated video and audio player (MPEG4, H.263, МР3, ААС, ААС+, е-ААС)
- Java (MIDP 2.0)

Connectivity
- GPRS (4+2)
- EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
- Bluetooth (A2DP)
- WAP 2.0, xHTML
- IrDA is absent
- e-mail (POP3/IMAP4)
- Synchronization with PC (miniUSB, Bluetooth)

Organizer and extras
- Melody composer (MotoMixer)
- Media Editor - image editor
- Calendar, date, time
- Calculator
- Organizer with alarm clock, various kind of events
- Games

Bajaj Pulsar 220 DTS-Fi launch soon!!

2007-06-19T05:42:00.000-07:00

Bajaj's Pulsar DTS-Fi 220cc motorcycle priced at around Rs 85,00.

Bajaj is coming out with the new Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi motorcycle, following the huge success of its Pulsar DTS-i. Bajaj's answer to Hero Honda's Karizma is expected to be out in some months. The Bajaj Pulsar 180cc DTS-i took biking to a new level, and the new Pulsar DTS-Fi is all set to take it to greater heights. The Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi is powered by a 220cc engine and offers a cool 20bhp. With 1.95kg of torque, it would be a wonder if this bike from Bajaj does not make it to the top of the charts.

The Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi is expected to touch a top speed of 135kph. That is an excellent top speed in Indian conditions, probably matched only by the Kinetic Aquila - which anyway is not available in India now.

What are the big innovations in this motorcycle?

The most important feature of all is the fuel injection mechanism, which is responsible for the quick throttle and the linear power curve. The Bajaj Pulsar DTS-Fi is the first Indian motorcycle with an oil cooled engine. Together, they make for a potent combination. The Hero Honda Karizma as well as the Pulsar DTS-Fi weigh 150 kgs, and the extra 3 bhp of the DTS-Fi as well as the power delivery characteristics make this an easy Karizma-beater.

What else do we get? A longer wheelbase, factory-fitted rear and front disc brakes, an interesting front faring, an all digital meters. The LCD speedometer on the DTS-Fi is orange in colour and the entire speedometer mechanism is a pleasure to watch.

Those who have test-run the bike say that the DTS-Fi's brakes are the best in the market.

The Pulsar DTS-Fi conquers corners with astonishing ease and makes you feel confident while braking.The Pulsar DTS-Fi is the ultimate driving machine that one can expect from a highly competitive Indian two-wheeler market. The DTS-Fi offers no-compromise performance, irrespective of the terrain. The engine is low noise and is low in vibration, all thanks to fuel injection and oil cooling.

The tyres of the new DTS-Fi are tubeless and hence offers an exciting riding experience. The 55 watt projector low-beam headlamp offers a decent view of the road ahead. The fully digital dash is easy to read and difficult to mistake. The distinctive tail lamps of the Pulsar DTS-Fi adds a bit of dash. Overall, the body of the motorcycle still looks like the Pulsar family, but with sharper edges. The front faring is the difference - It is well integrated into the rest of the bodywork, and the side lights and indicators look excellent.

With a performance motorcycle, one should really not expect a high fuel efficiency/ mileage figures - still we expect the Pulsar DTS-Fi to get around 45 kilometers to a litre.

The Pulsar DTS-Fi is expected to have a price tag of Rs. 92,000 on road. Officially, its around Rs 83,000. Of course, the figure will change a bit when it hits the road. But anyway, thanks to Bajaj for giving the average bike enthusiast a real good bike, loaded with features and that too, at an approachable price

First Look: The Bajaj Pulsar-200!!!!!!!!!!

2007-06-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

This, hold your breath, biker boyz, is a Pulsar-200!
Merely weeks after springing a revamped Pulsar 180 on us without any buzz or promotions, Bajaj has pulled another fast one yet again.
Despite being parked in the shadows of its bigger sibling, the P-200 is the first brute that catches your eye at the Auto Expo in Mumbai.
The squat, 18 bhp, oil-cooled beast ensures that you don't even throw as much as a cursory glance towards the much-hyped DTS-FI.
The naked chain makes gives it the perfect, mean, made-for-the-streets look.
To be launched in Bajaj's pro-biking showrooms in January 2007, (that's what the Bajaj guy in the stall at the expo promised) the P-200 has most of the goodies from the bigger Pulsar. Tubeless tyres, the LCD speedo/analog tacho dash, split seats, two-piece grab rails, you name it and the P-200 has it.

Everything except the fuel injection, that is.
The bike, according to the Bajaj guys, is said to be "slightly costlier than the Pulsar 180."
Which means, come January you must be able to lay your hands on the beast at around a miserly Rs 70,000.
These pictures should keep you rubbing your palms and smacking your lips till then.
Just in case images of the P-220 are still in your memory, the DTS-FI will be out by April 2007, we are promised.