TechnO FreakZ

Now Play Games using your Webcam!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:41:00 +0000

Kiss your keyboard, mouse and joystick and say goodbye, and start playing games with your webcam!
A webcam knows many uses. Obviously, it can be used for video conferencing, or recording your ambitious YouTube videos and responses. However, that’s not all.

So How Does It Work?
It’s more like we’ll be recording objects and will be using the camera’s motion sensing ability to transform these into intuitive ‘controllers’.
That’s right, using the CamSpace software, you can transform nearly any object to an input device! Just check out the video below to see it at work.
You can use cardboard steering wheels for racing games, playing swords for fighting games, and a chicken drumstick for flight simulators!
The implementation also works a lot smoother than would be expected. You’ll need Windows for the software, and about any webcam can be used, though older webcams tend to work less well due to a lower frame-rate and problems with light adjustments.
Installing The CamSpace Software
The software is currently Windows only. Also make sure you’ve properly installed your webcam.
You can test out CamSpace by playing one of the CamSpace games. These are small mini-games that accompanied CamSpace. You ought to be able to find them in a folder on your desktop as well.

Item Recognition
CamSpace recognizes specific items by their shape and colour. In theory, you can use any object you want. However, you might want to avoid objects that have the colour of your skin or clothes and use obvious colours - like bright green or pink - instead.
The program will ask you to specify what item you intend to use by holding it in a specific area of the screen. You can also trigger the lock-function by pressing ‘Shift + ~‘ .CamSpace will now track your object so you can use it for simple interaction. It will monitor the size and rotation and will hereby determine the exact location of the item.
You’ll also be able to find several steering wheel templates on the site, this’ll save you some work and give you a general idea of what’s needed.

Playing Games
You can play any game with CamSpace, but to do so you’ll need a controller.
A controller specifies what in-game action is paired up with which motion. As you might’ve guessed, each controller is game specific.
You can either download one of the controllers that are developed by other people, or make one yourself and upload it to the CamSpace developer site.

Making a Controller
Making a controller is relatively easy. You can start making one by opening CamSpace and selecting ‘Create New Controller’ under Developer Tools in the right-click menu.
If you then choose to edit your script (also located under Developer Tools), an editing window will pop up.
In this window you’ll be able to specify which action pairs up with which function easily. Scripting shouldn’t be necessary with basic controllers.

Download Now (Its free)
CamSpace (Official website)

i am Back...!!!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Its been a long time that i haven't updated my blog as my exams were running and then i started search for a good job now once again i have a free time so I'll keep you all updated but the blog frequency will be somewhat less because i didn't get enough free time as i used to get during my college days.

Eye-Fi adds Wi-Fi to any Digital Camera!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 13 May 2008 07:22:00 +0000

First your phone went wireless, then your laptop, now finally your camera!
Never scrounge around for a USB cable again! Eye-fi is a magical orange SD memory card that will not only store 2GB worth of pictures, it'll upload them to your computer, and to Flickr, Facebook, Picasa (or 14 others) wirelessly, invisibly, automatically!
This little guy looks like a normal 2GB memory card and works with nearly any camera that takes SD memory. There are no antennas, no protrusions, no subscription fees, and no cables.
Here's how it works: You set up the card once with the included USB card reader (tell it which wireless network it should use, and type in the password if you have one), choose the photo sharing service of your choice (you have plenty of options), then slip the card in your camera.
From then on, you never have to touch anything. Just take photos. Whenever your cameras near the wireless network you selected and idle, Eye-fi will upload all your photos (JPEGs only) to your online photo sharing service. Next time your computer's online, they'll download there, too!
Yes, it is practically a magic.
Eye-Fi SD card comes in three varieties:
1). Eye-Fi Home ($79.99)
2). Eye-Fi Share ($99.99)
3). Eye-Fi Explore ($129.99) More Info
So what will you ever do with all those cables now?
Source: http://photojojo.com

Long awaited Windows XP SP3 RTM launching on April 21

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:33:00 +0000

Microsoft Corp. will release Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) to computer makers and some IT professionals next week, and it will offer it to all users via Windows Update April 29, two weeks from today, according to an internal schedule obtained by the Neowin.net Web site.
Although others had previously pegged SP3's release to the last half of April, Neowin's dates are the most specific seen so far.
According to the site, the service pack will debut April 21, when it's shipped to computer manufacturers, offered to volume licensing customers and posted for download on TechNet and the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN), which are subscription services for IT staff and developers, respectively.
Most users, however, will first be able to obtain SP3 on April 29, when Microsoft lists it on Windows Update (WU) for download.
However, Microsoft won't turn on the automatic download and installation of SP3 until June 10, according to Neowin. "This delay should give system administrators an ample amount of time to prepare for the upgrade or simply come up with an excuse for when things go awry," said Neowin.
Company administrators and users have been able to block the automatic distribution of Windows XP SP3, as well as Vista SP1, since December 2007, when Microsoft published the Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit.
In a broad way, Neowin's timeline meshes with the one Microsoft followed when it launched Windows Vista Service Pack 1 in February and March.
Although the company held SP1 for six weeks after RTM, or release to manufacturing, because of balky drivers, it posted the service pack to WU on a Tuesday. It also said it would not push SP1 to users who have WU set to automatically download and install fixes until several more weeks have passed. Vista SP1 also reached OEMs, volume license customers and TechNet and MSDN subscribers before the general public.
Late last month, a Malaysian site that had correctly predicted the RTM date for Vista SP1 as well as that update's release to WU, said that XP SP3 would arrive in the second half of this month, with a first-wave rollout of the Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish versions.
The last time Microsoft made an XP SP3 move was on March 25, when it posted Windows XP SP3 RC2 Refresh to WU.
As it has previously, Microsoft today again declined to get specific about Windows XP SP3's delivery date, saying only that it's slated for the first half of 2008.
Source: http://www.computerworld.com

IBM develops New kind of High Capacity Memory

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:25:00 +0000

IBM has allegedly developed a new type of digital storage that could greatly increase the capacity of portable devices, while reducing their price. ‘Racetrack’ memory, as this technology is called, uses spinning electrons to store more data, and enables these systems to operate faster than regular hard drives.
This technology is similar to flash memory, in that it has no moving parts, which reduces the likelihood of mechanical malfunction. However, unlike flash memory, it can write data very quickly, and does not wear easily out over time.For years, scientists have been looking into storing data inside the was between magnetic domains. However, it has been too difficult and expensive to get significant results. Stuart Parkin, head of the team researching this technology, has said that his team was able to store data in columns of magnetic material on a silicon wafer. The data moves on the columns at high speed, hence the name ‘racetrack’.
This technology is currently considered “experimental”, but IBM anticipates that we will see devices utilizing it within the next ten years.
Source: http://www.crunchgear.com

Windows 7 going to be launched in 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 18:06:00 +0000

Still upset about Windows Vista? Don't worry. According to Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, it should all be over soon.
News wires were abuzz Friday with gossip that Microsoft may be planning to release its follow-up to Vista, currently known as Windows 7, as early as next year. Previous reports had the next-generation OS shipping no sooner than 2010, but now -- for some strange reason -- it seemsMicrosoft may be upping its timetable.
For now, the rumors are based on little more than offhand comments by Microsoft executives. At a meeting in Miami, Gates remarked that a new version of Windows should arrive "sometime in the next year or so." Meanwhile, the Windows XP support timetable suggests that 2010 might coincide with the one-year anniversary of Windows 7.
Pretty thin stuff. Still, for those of us who have been soundly disappointed with Vista, it's hard not to get caught up in the hype.
But the truth is that speculation that Windows 7 might arrive in 2009 has been floating aroundfor at least a year.No matter how tight-lipped Microsoft tries to be, no matter how much it seems like a long shot, it seems as though we simply want to believe that a major new Windows milestone is imminent.
It's funny -- because nobody really knows what Windows 7 might look like when it finally arrives. There has beenplenty of speculation,and a few more portentous-sounding statements from Gates and company, but that's about it.
My feeling? It's best to take all talk of Windows 7 with a great, big grain of salt. Remember what happened with Vista itself. Despiterepeated delaysthat pushed Vista's ship date back by months, the version we finally gotlacked much-touted featuresand -- well, you know the rest.
If you ask me, we shouldn't be focusing on what features the next version of Windows may or may not bring, but on whether Microsoft's development divisions are still able to deliver quality products at all. There's talk that Windows 7 will ship with aleaner, more efficient kernel.I suspect, however, that a leaner, more efficient Microsoft would ultimately benefit customers even more.

Windows XP SP3 to be launched in Second Half of April 2008

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:09:00 +0000

Microsoft Corp. on 4th of Feb. 2008 has released Windows Vista Service Pack 1 & now its going to release the long awaited Service Pack 3 for a very popular OS, Windows XP.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 would be last and final service pack for the OS before it gets discontinued retail sale on 30th of June 2008.

Details of Windows XP Service Pack 3:

Windows XP Service Pack 3 will contain hotfixes and updates released since Windows XP SP2. It will also include an expanded set of product keys for Windows XP Professional that were originally introduced in Windows XP SP2c.
Microsoft clarified that there will not be any integrated SP3 release for Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows XP Tablet Edition. That means you won't be able to buy or obtain a complete Windows XP Media Center Edition / Tablet Edition SP3 CD. In addition, users of Windows XP Media Center Edition or Windows XP Tablet Edition will only be able to update to Service Pack 3 through Windows Update.
All languages will now be released in two waves. Earlier, Microsoft said that languages support for Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be released in three waves. What was previously identified as wave 2 and 3 have now been combined into a single wave 2.
Microsoft has also delayed RTM for Windows XP Service Pack 3 to provide sufficient time to incorporate feedback from the beta testers. (In other words, they can't make their original deadline!)

Due to the changes in language releases and Windows XP SP3 RTM's release, here's the updated schedule:

Wave	Languages	Planned RTM
1	Chinese (Simplified), English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish	Second half of April 2008
2	Arabic, Chinese (Hong Kong), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Swedish, and Turkish	Approximately 21 days after Wave 1 RTM

With the exception of Windows XP Media Center Edition and Windows XP Tablet Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 3 will be released in both standalone and integrated formats. It will be available in both CD and DVD formats, except for the Japanese language version which will only be in DVD format.
Source: http://www.techarp.com/

The Future of Mobile Phones - Nokia Morph concept

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:07:00 +0000

New York, US and Espoo, Finland - Morph, a joint nanotechnology concept, developed by Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) - was launched today alongside the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition, on view from February 24 to May 12, 2008, at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Morph features in both the exhibition catalog and on MoMA's official website.
Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.

Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, Head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, Nokia, commented: "We hope that this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience. The research we are carrying out is fundamental to this as we seek a safe and controlled way to develop and use new materials."

Professor Mark Welland, Head of the Department of Engineering's Nanoscience Group at the University of Cambridge and University Director of Nokia-Cambridge collaboration added: "Developing the Morph concept with Nokia has provided us with a focus that is both artistically inspirational but, more importantly, sets the technology agenda for our joint nanoscience research that will stimulate our future work together."

The partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge was announced in March, 2007 - an agreement to work together on an extensive and long term programme of joint research projects. NRC has established a research facility at the University's West Cambridge site and collaborates with several departments - initially the Nanoscience Center and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department - on projects that, to begin with, are centered on nanotechnology.

Elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years, though initially only at the high-end. However, nanotechnology may one day lead to low cost manufacturing solutions, and offers the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

Morph concept technologies might create fantastic opportunities for mobile devices:

Newly-enabled flexible and transparent materials blend more seamlessly with the way we live
Devices become self-cleaning and self-preserving
Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension
Built-in solar absorption might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge
Integrated sensors might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices

Latest Solid-State Drives may have speeds up by 500%

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:18:00 +0000

Intel and Micron Technology on Friday said they have developed technology for a high-speed solid-state drive that's five times faster than current products used in consumer and professional devices ranging from hand held computers and notebooks to digital cameras and camcorders.
The NAND flash memory chips developed jointly by the two companies can reach speeds of up to 200 MB per second for reading data and 100 MB per second for writing data, the partners said. Current memory chips have maximum read-write speeds of 40 MB and 20 MB, respectively.
Solid-state drives are used for storage today in just about any electronic device that holds data. Current technology is fast enough for handling photos and standard video in computers or an Apple iPod, but performance problems become an issue in handling high-definition video, which consumers are expected to start demanding as they become accustomed to watching HD televisions. HDTV's are among the hottest selling consumer electronics products today.
With HD video files requiring multiple gigabytes of storage, the need for technology that can move the content in and out of a storage device quickly, so it can be played on a hand held gadget or recorded in a camcorder, becomes critical. Other applications include digital photography, where faster storage would translate into faster shutter speeds for sports photography, for example.
"These are all areas where performance does matter and consumers or users are willing to pay for it," Joe Unsworth, analyst for Gartner told InformationWeek. "These products are going to have a premium associated with it."
Being able to charge more for a faster solid-state drive is important because memory is mostly a commodity market today, where manufacturers compete for business on price. With current technology good enough for use in Apple iPods and smart phones, most consumers would be unwilling to pay more for a faster drive.
As a result, Micron and Intel are expected to try to differentiate themselves from the pack with speed, and consumers and professionals who want it are likely to be willing to pay more. "We don't expect this high-performance NAND [flash memory] to be widespread," Unsworth said. "But when you're talking video and professional photography, companies are willing to pay that premium to have that performance [in products]."
Micron is expected to release a high-speed 8 GB solid-state drive in the second half of the year, with higher-capacity products expected to follow later, Unsworth said.
Micron will manufacture flash memory devices with the new technology through IM Flash Technologies, the company's joint venture with Intel.
The faster solid-state storage technology is emerging at the same time as new interface standards. One important standard is ONFI 2.0, which stands for open NAND flash interface. The specification makes it possible to move larger amounts of data faster to and from a digital camera or within a notebook, where a solid-state drive is being used in place of a traditional hard disk drive. SSDs are far more expensive than HDDs, but they are also more rugged and reliable and faster, making them desirable in some applications, such as in devices used by the military or utility workers.
Micron's and Intel's latest technology supports ONFI 2.0. In addition, future high-speed SSDs developed by the companies also will support USB 3.0, which is considerably faster than current USB 2.0 ports commonly used in computers today, and PCI express, which is the specification for slots on a motherboard where peripherals, such as graphics cards, are attached.

Windows Vista SP1 to be launched on Feb. 4

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:07:00 +0000

Microsoft Corp. will release Windows Vista Service Pack (SP1) on Monday, Feb. 4, according to reports Friday from Tech ARP, a Malaysian Web site.
Vista SP1 will make RTM on Monday, said Tech ARP, with computer makers receiving media later in the week to install the updated operating system on new laptops and desktops. Bits will also be posted for download on Monday, the site claimed.
"Microsoft will be deploying SP1 in two 'waves,'" said Tech ARP. The first, on Monday, will include just five of the 36 available language packs -- English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The second wave, slated for one to two weeks later, will include all 36 language packs.
Previously, Microsoft has said it would break SP1 into two stand-alone installers for businesses: a 450MB package that includes the five packs, and a 550MB installer that offers three-dozen languages. Both are expected to be available for download from Microsoft's Web site.
SP1 will also be offered to users through Windows Update, Microsoft Update and presumably Windows Server Update Services (WSUS). That update will weigh in at around 65MB. Microsoft explained the smaller size in a change-log posted to its support site: "Windows Update...utilizes an efficient transfer mechanism to download only the actual bytes changed."

World's thinnest notebook!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:27:00 +0000

Apple announced the MacBook Air which boasts of being the slimmest notebook around. The laptop measure only .16-inches and is slim enough to slip into a manila envelope. The lappie features a full-size keyboard and LED-back lit 13.3-inch display with built-in iSight. It also sports a new larger track pad that supports multi-touch gestures. Similar to the interface of the iPhone where you can pinch in or pan out, the MacBook Air’s track pad allows you to do the same, it even allows you to rotate images with two fingers, and move windows with a flick. Apple was able to contain the size by using the same 1.8-inch 80GB drive that's in the iPod classic.
However the64GB SSD is optional. So far so good, but on the flip side just like an iPod, you can't just crack it open to replace the hard drive, memory or even battery. On full charge the batter will last you five hours. Also the thing doesn’t sport an Ethernet port either.
Apple MacBook Air steers clear of optical media, but there's a separate external you can snap up for $99. The laptop also features something called the Remote Disk that'll let the Air get data off the optical drive in any PC or Mac running the Remote Disk software. Pricing starts at $1799 (Rs. 71,960/-) and the Air will be shipping in two weeks.
Source: http://www.newlaunches.com

Improved Lithium-ion batteries coming soon...

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:50:00 +0000

Stanford University researchers have found a way to use silicon nanowires to give rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries--used in laptops, iPods, video cameras, and mobile phones--as much as 10 times more charge. This potentially could give a conventional battery-powered laptop 40 hours of battery life, rather than 4 hours.
The new batteries were developed by assistant professor Yi Cui and colleagues at Stanford University's Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
"It's not a small improvement," Cui said. "It's a revolutionary development."
Citing a research paper they wrote, published in Nature Nanotechnology, Cui said the increased battery capacity was made possible though a new type of anode that utilizes silicon nanowires. Traditional lithium ion batteries use graphite as the anode. This limits the amount of lithium--which holds the charge--that can be held in the anode, and it therefore limits battery life.
Silicon anodes have the "the highest theoretical charge capacity" according to Cui's paper, but they expand when charging and shrink during use: a cycle that causes the silicon to be pulverized, degrading the performance of the battery. For 30 years, this dead end stumped researchers, who poured their battery life-extending energy into improving graphite-based anodes.
Cui and his colleagues looked at this old problem and overcame it by constructing a new type of silicon nanowire anode. In Cui's anode, the lithium is stored in a forest of tiny silicon nanowires, each with a diameter that is a thousandth of the thickness of a sheet of paper. The nanowires inflate to four times their normal size as they soak up lithium, but unlike previous silicon anodes, they do not fracture.
Source: CNET News

Is Half Life 3 coming...?

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:02:00 +0000

During a recent press briefing at Valve HQ, Gabe Newell revealed that they are planning to develop Half-Life 3 with Half-Life 2 female NPC Alyx as a playable character.
Definitely better than Crysis in graphics and if it is a fake this guy deserves a job in Valve Software.
These are samples they send to potential investors. Screen shots taken from a real time engine demo that is being produced for Half-Life 3 and other next gen games. The engine name is currently unknown, but more info will probably surface when these get spread around more...

World's Most advanced Car Simulator!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:42:00 +0000

Toyota has developed a world's most advanced & real car driving simulator for effectively analyzing the driving characteristics of average drivers to aid in the development and verification of traffic accident-reducing active safety technology. The driving simulator, located at TMC's Higashifuji Technical Center in Susono City, Shizuoka Prefecture, provides one of the world's most-realistic simulated driving environments. The Toyota driving simulator is designed to offer a driving experience that is as real as possible, so that driving characteristics can be accurately gauged. Key to this virtual reality is the use of an actual vehicle placed on a platform housed inside a 7.1-meter-diameter dome, the ceiling of which serves as a giant 360-degree concave video screen.
As the driver operates the vehicle, a tilt device, vibration apparatus and other devices manipulate the dome—which has a world top-class longitudinal range of movement of 35 meters and lateral range of movement of 20 meters—under precision computer control. The result is a faithful simulation of the actual sensation of driving, including a sense of speed, acceleration and riding comfort through turns and other driving maneuvers. Sound effects make the experience even more real.
Source: http://www.newlaunches.com

Crysis Demo Now Available!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:35:00 +0000

Earth, 2019. A team of US scientists makes a frightening discovery on an island in the South China Sea. All contact with the team is lost when the North Korean Government quickly seals off the area. The United States responds by dispatching an elite team of Delta Force Operators to recon the situation. As tension rises between the two nations, a massive alien ship reveals itself in the middle of the island. The ship generates an immense force sphere that freezes a vast portion of the island and drastically alters the global weather system. Now the US and North Korea must join forces to battle the alien menace. With hope rapidly fading, you must fight epic battles through tropical jungle, frozen landscapes, and finally into the heart of the alien ship itself for the ultimate Zero G showdown.

The much awaited PC demo of EA's CRYSIS has been released and you can play it on your DirectX 9.0c compatible card on Windows XP as well as on Windows Vista (DirectX 10 is also supported, infact Crysis is the only PC game which fully supports DirectX 10 potential if your PC has the power than you can unleash it).

The Crysis game is based on CryEngine2 which is scalable thus low end machines also stand a chance. The full game is set for a Nov 16 release .
So why are you waiting for download it right NOW!

Download Crysis Demo (Official Direct Link)
Download Crysis Demo (Torrent)
Download Crysis Demo ScreenShots
Password: technofreakz
More Info

Need For Speed™ ProStreet Demo Released: Download Now!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:06:00 +0000

Need for Speed™ ProStreet is a ground-breaking Need for Speed experience where you’re thrust to compete head to head against the best street racers in a multitude of racing showdowns. Need for Speed ProStreet is a true taste of raw adrenaline and racing with consequences.

The much awaited PC demo of EA’s Need for Speed™ ProStreet is out now and you can play it on your DirectX 9.0c compatible card on Windows XP as well as on Windows Vista.
The demo contains 2 races, a Speed Challenge race with the E92 M3, and a Grip race with the new Nissan GT-R.
The full game is reported to be of around 8GB and release date of full version of Pro Street is set on Nov 14.
So why are you waiting for download it right NOW!

Download Need For Speed ProStreet Demo (Official Direct Link)
Download Need For Speed ProStreet Demo (Torrent)
Download Need For Speed ProStreet ScreentShots
Password: technofreakz
More Info

An Indian, Mukesh Ambani becomes World's richest person

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:37:00 +0000

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani on Monday became the richest person in the world, surpassing American software czar Bill Gates, Mexican business tycoon Carlos Slim Helu and famous investment guru Warren Buffett, courtesy the bull run in the stock market.
Following a strong share price rally on in his three group company, India's most valued firm Reliance Industries, Reliance Petroleum and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Ltd, the net worth of Mukesh Ambani rose to $63.2 billion (Rs 2,49,108 crore).

The five richest people in the world with their net worth:

1. Mukesh Ambani ($63.2 billion)

2. Carlos Slim Helu ($62.2993 billion)

3. William (Bill) Gates ($62.29 billion)

4. Warren Buffett ($55.9 billion)

5. Lakshmi Mittal ($50.9 billion)

In comparison, the net worth of both Gates and Slim is estimated to be slightly lower at around $62.29 billion each, with Slim leading among the two by a narrow margin.
Warren Buffett, earlier the third richest in the world, also dropped one position with a net worth of about $56 billion.
Ambani's wealth of about Rs 2,49,000 crore includes about Rs 2,10,000 crore from RIL (50.98 per cent stake), Rs 37,500 crore from RPL (37.5 per cent) and Rs 2,100 crore from RIIL (46.23 per cent).
Slim's wealth has been calculated on the basis of his stake in companies like America Movil (30 per cent), Carso Global (82 per cent), Grupo Carso (75 per cent), Inbursa (67 per cent), IDEAL (30 per cent) and Saks Inc (10 per cent).
According to information available with the US and Mexican stock exchanges where these companies are listed, Slim currently holds shares worth a total of $62.2993 billion, with more than half coming from Latin American mobile major America Movil. Slim is closely followed by Gates with a net worth of $62.29 billion currently.
Earlier last month, US business magazine Forbes had named Gates as the richest American with a net worth of $59 billion, calculated as on August 30. The magazine had said that a movement of two dollars in the share price for Microsoft, the world's biggest software maker, could "add or subtract a billion dollars" from his wealth.
Since August-end, Microsoft's share price has risen by $6.58 (based on yesterday's closing on Nasdaq at $35.03), which results into a gain of $3.29 billion in Gates' wealth based on Forbes assumption.
Besides a stake in Microsoft, Gates' wealth also includes the commission and license fees earned by him and gains through his shares in an investment holding company that invests across the market.
Gates is followed by Buffett at the fourth place in the league of the world's richest with a net worth of $55.9 billion through his holding in his investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway and in other companies. At the end of August, Buffett's wealth stood at $52 billion, as per the Forbes magazine. Berkshire Hathaway's share price has gained by about 7.5 per cent since then.
Earlier on September 26, Ambani had overtaken steel czar Lakshmi Mittal to become the richest Indian in the world.
Mittal currently ranks as the fifth richest in the world with a net worth of $50.9 billion through his 44.79 per cent stake in world's biggest steel maker ArcelorMittal.
While most of Mittal's wealth comes from his steel empire, though he has also spread his wings into businesses like oil and real estate, those of Ambani and Gates are mostly through petrochemicals and software respectively. However, Buffett and Slim are making money from investments across a host of sectors.
Source: http://www.timesofindia.com

Hovercraft that can fly!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:16:00 +0000

New Zealand mechanic Rudy Heeman has developed a hovercraft with the ability to lift- off, leaving other water based craft in its wake. Heeman has spent the last eleven years building a hovercraft. Its' optimum height is about 4ft 6in above the water. The hoverwing sets off like a normal-hovercraft but when it reaches top speed of 60mph, its wings can be extended and it takes flight. Rudy Heeman feels that there may be a commercial market for his creation-the hoverwing. He feels that his invention is an extremely efficient method of transport, travelling at about 6ft over the water and reaching speeds of over 60mph across the surface.

Officially this invention is a 'wing in ground effect vehicle' - a hovercraft which is able to fly due to a set of unusual aerodynamics. The first test flight ended in a crash landing. He escaped with a bruised leg and and it was back to the drawing board. But after hours of tinkering he made the necessary adjustments and now believes the hoverwing is ready. It has room for one passenger, but Mr Heeman has yet to decide who to choose.
Source: http://www.newlaunches.com

Singapore Airlines: The first commercial Airbus A380 to fly passengers

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:59:00 +0000

Singapore Airlines flight SQ380, from Singapore to Sydney was the first commercial flight of the Airbus A380. The buzz around the flight has ensured that its operation was a much-publicized event. "The flight was spectacular, just truly awesome," said Thomas Lee, when reached by cell phone as the plane pulled into the gate at Sydney Airport, (as told to the International Herald Tribune) "I'm thrilled beyond words actually. Just extremely excited. On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd put it at 12." Lee's word is worth reckoning because he was aboard the first commercial flight of the 747, in 1970, and now was on the first A380 passenger flight as well. The A380 offers 50 percent more floor space than a 747, and can carry as many as 853 people.

Singapore Airlines flight SQ380 flight had paying customers but it still wasn't a regularly scheduled flight. Regular A380 flights won't start until later this week. This flight consisted mainly of people who bought their tickets on eBay, with proceeds going to charity.

Download Singapore Airlines SQ380 Images
Password: technofreakz

Samsung developes World's First Bendable OLED Display

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:48:00 +0000

At the FPD International 2007 an expo showcasing display technologies in Yokohama Japan Samsung showed the world's first bendable OLED display. The 4.3 inch display has a resolution of 480 x 272 dots, brightness of 200 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. Samsung however kept mum on the development status and when the technology would go mainstream. However it does look very promising and one day we might just roll up the TV after viewing.

Download Movies in just Seconds!!!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:19:00 +0000

The Korean Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute has developed the fourth-generation mobile communications technology that allows an increased transmission rate of 3.6 gigabits per second (gbps). The newly developed mobile communications technology can transmit a file big enough to hold the entire Encyclopedia Britannica (4.7GB DVD) in less than 10.5 seconds. The new technology would reduce the time it takes to download a movie to just two seconds. On a 100-mbps network, the fastest Internet service available now, it takes about a minute. Korea is the first in the world to develop 3.6 gbps transmission technology and this will make possible for Korea to occupy a favorable position when the competition to standardize 4G mobile communications starts.
The Research Institute predicted that when the technology is commercialized, around 2012, users will be able to view high-definition video in real time anywhere on a wireless network -- in the office, classroom or at home. Hwang Seung-koo, the head of ETRI's Mobile Telecommunications Research Division, said that the new 4G mobile technology will bring benefits worth billions of dollars in the future.

Samsung Developes Micro-Fuel Cell for Mobiles

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:13:00 +0000

Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced that it has developed a micro-fuel cell and hydrogen generator that runs on H20. When the mobile handset is turned on, metal and water in the phone react to produce hydrogen gas which is then supplied to the Samsung micro-fuel cell where it reacts with oxygen in the air to generate power. While other fuel cells need methanol to produce hydrogen Samsung’s micro-fuel cell needs only water. Since the micro-fuel cell can generate up to three watts of electricity, it could be used in mobile devices, the company said. The new fuel cell could power a handset for 10 hours, twice as long as rechargeable batteries.
Water-powered handsets are expected to hit the market by 2010. If the user uses the phone for four hours a day on average, they would have to change the hydrogen cartridge about every five days. Later handsets will be developed that don't need the hydrogen cartridges to be changed, and would only need to be filled with water. Samsung Electro-Mechanics unveiled the new technology at the 2007 Korea Electronics Show at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province.

Hitachi develops world's smallest read-write head technology for hard disk drives

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:03:00 +0000

Hitachi Ltd. and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies have developed the world's smallest read-head technology for hard disk drives, which is expected to quadruple current storage capacity limits to four terabytes (TB) on a desktop hard drive and one TB on a notebook hard drive. Researchers at Hitachi have successfully reduced existing recording heads by more than a factor of two to achieve new heads in the 30-50 nanometer (nm) range, which is up to 2,000 times smaller than the width of an average human hair (approx. 70-100 microns). Called current perpendicular-to-the-plane giant magneto-resistive heads, Hitachi's new technology is expected to be implemented in shipping products in 2009 and reach its full potential in 2011.

Recording heads with 50 nm track-widths are expected to debut in commercial products in 2009, while those with 30 nm track-widths will be implemented in products in 2011. Current TMR heads, shipping in products today, have track-widths of 70 nm. Hitachi will present these achievements at the 8th Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Conference (PMRC 2007), to be held 15th -17th October 2007, at the Tokyo International Forum in Japan.

Nokia N95 8GB Shipping Now!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:52:00 +0000

The stunning Nokia N95 8GB made its debut global shipments today, and will be hitting a store near you soon. The Nokia N95 8GB is the memory-packed big brother of the Nokia N95 multimedia computer.Boasting up to eight gigabytes of built-in memory, the Nokia N95 8GB has all the key features of its predecessor, including a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in A-GPS, WLAN, HSDPA and an innovative 2-way slide. The sleek black N95 8GB also boasts a luminous 2.8" (240 x 320) QVGA display, so watching videos, browsing the Internet or viewing maps is a real pleasure. With its expanded memory, the N95 8GB offers up to 20 hours of video or up to 6000 songs.
The ideal companion for any lull in your day, the Nokia N95 8GB supports services like Nokia Music Store and N-Gage Games, so you can delve into a world of leisure. Entertaining yourself has taken on a whole new meaning with this multimedia computer, optimized for enjoying videos, playing games, or even locating your favorite destinations with A-GPS.

Sony Ericsson K850i Cyber-shot phone Launched!

noreply@blogger.com (iHack3R) — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 10:00:00 +0000

The K850 Cyber-shot phone from Sony Ericsson boasts of a 5-megapixel camera. It's a Turbo-3G Tri-Band HSDPA phone for high-speed picture and video blogging. The phone features auto focus, Xenon flash and Video Light to help produce true digital camera results. BestPic, Photo fix, Auto Rotate and PictBridge are also included. With the BestPic you can take nine pictures in one burst and then simply choose the best and delete the rest.

Sony Ericsson K850 Cyber-shot phone has a color choice of either Velvet Blue or Luminous Green. It will be available across selected markets from October 2007.