ipod touch 2

Apple has  launched its  2nd generation iPod touch, which boasts sexy new design, integrated volume control buttons, built-in speaker for headset-free listening, built-in wireless support for Nike + iPod, Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface, built-in accelerometer as well as other advanced sensors, working with new iTunes 8 Genius feature that empowers listeners to create playlists automatically while jogging, working or studying. Continue Reading »
Second Gen Ipod Touch Takes Off

The Mozilla developer centre just launched Firefox 3.1 Alpha 2 today. Codenamed as Shiretoko Alpha 2, betatesters who would like to give it a try can download it. (be warned…it’s got some hiccups!)

This Alpha 2 release draws power from pre-release version of the Gecko 1.9.1 platform and it introduces a few interesting new features such as:

• Support for the HTML 5 element
• Initial support for web worker threads
• You can now drag and drop tabs between browser windows
• New selector to create areas of Aero-style “glass” in XUL
• Support for CSS 2.1 properties: ::before and ::after, and white-space:pre-line
• Support for CSS 3 properties: -moz-border-image, word-wrap: break-word, text-shadow, box-shadow and column-rule
• Performance improvements and new preference values for color management profile support

Testers  can download Firefox 3.1 Shiretoko Alpha 2 via the following links:

Windows: Shiretoko Alpha 2 Setup.exe
Mac OS X: Shiretoko Alpha 2.dmg
Linux: shiretoko-alpha2.tar.bz2

I tend to shuffle around 2GB movie clips and audio on a regular basis. Just imagine how long that’d take on a standard PC! Good thing I discovered the compact TeraCopy  program designed to copy and move files at the maximum possible speed. It’s chockful of  features that Microsoft whould have integrated into Windows.

Teracopy works  using dynamically adjusted buffers to reduce seek times. Asynchronous copy speeds up file transfer between two physical hard drives. You can also pause and resume file transfers. In the rare case of copy error, it will try several times and in the worse case just skips the file, not terminating the entire transfer. TeraCopy can completely replace Explorer copy and move functions, allowing you work with files as usual.

Image of TeraCopy. look at that detail!

Download this kickass speed-demon:

TeraCopy 2.0 Beta 4a (link 1)
TeraCopy 2.0 Beta 4a (link 2)

Continue Reading »
Slow File Transfers Get Your Goat?

Microsoft is flippin’ excited to release IE8 Beta 2 today for public download. You can find it at http://www.microsoft.com/ie8. Please try it out!

You’ll find versions for 32- and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008. In addition to English, IE8 Beta 2 is available in Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), and German. Additional languages will be available soon.

While Beta 1 was for developers, Microsoft thinks that anyone who browses or works on the web will enjoy IE8 Beta 2. Before the team blogs about our Beta 2 in detail, here’s an overview of what you’ll find in IE8. Continue Reading »
IE8 Has Landed. Hoohaaa!

For the cheapos, Memory Diagnostic is a freebie software tool available for download from the Microsoft websiste. It’s built to sniff out flaws in a machine’s RAM modules.

We know that the source mant blue screen is not always Windows, or rogue code for that matter. Guilt could just stem from stressed system memory. That’s what makes  Windows Memory Diagnostic so valuable. The software handily tests the RAM on a computer and uncovers any error.

“Windows Memory Diagnostic supports x86-based computers with the following microprocessors: Intel - Pentium or Celeron families; AMD - K6, Athlon, or Duron families; and microprocessors compatible with those listed above. You can test all types of RAM that run on x86-based computers with the supported microprocessors,” touts Microsoft’s description of the tool. Continue Reading »
Kickstart Your Memory With Software from Micro$oft

Remember the ole  Ion USB Turntable… the cute little gadget that allows you revive your aging vinyl records and transform them digitally into kickass MP3 files. Kinda obvious that the crackly audio cassettes were outcasted since shiny new technology refused to play them anymore… Sigh … Well not anymore!Now Ion released a gadget that specifically plays cassettes!

Over at ThinkGeek the geeky brains developed the  the USB Cassette Deck. This lil baby not only plays cassettes over USB ports, it helps you convert low tech data stream from your magnetic media into high end formats for playback on your ipod and whatnot. Plus you can copy your stash to CDs! Continue Reading »
USB Cassette Deck: Trip Down Memory Lane

More and more folks are jumping onto the 2.4 GHz ISM Band and with it’s exploding popularity,  interference from non-Wifi devices can massivel degrade Wi-Fi performance. But no fret. There’s a tool to mitigate your concerns.

Enter the Wi-Spy which is the world’s smallest 2.4 GHz spectrum analyzer. This baby had been created specifically for troubleshooting and analyzing Wi-Fi systems. It displays the signal power for all Wi-Fi networks including Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz phones, microwaves, toys, and all other 2.4 GHz transmitters. At a glance you can see what Wi-Fi channels are quiet and what channels you should shun. The tool makes it a no brainer to select a quiet channel for your wireless router instead of guessing your favorite number between 1 and 11.

Now the pioneer Wi-Spy software was good. The second iteration with the new and improved Chanalyzer 2.0 software offers a superbly revamped interface that affords a more concrete view of your wireless battleground. Combined with the Wi-Spy spectrum analyzer, Chanalyzer will help you visualize, troubleshoot, and optimize your wireless network. Continue Reading »
How to Spy on Your Wifi

A paradox? Not really. Some really nice and proper English scientists have racked their brains to change the conventional touch pad designs. More details in the Newscientist report: Source

This ”mouspad” scansyour fingertips to identify what you are touching. The sensor cam queries  your fingernails and pumps clear images. It then picks up your touch as well as the force applied, heck, even on a 3D surface. This is accomplishedd by evaluating the blood pressure underneath the nails  caught in images. Continue Reading »
Future Touchpads Go Low Tech