The Open Universe

Making a 7-segment LED Clock with the Freeduino and the DS1307 Real Time Clock

2011-08-19T00:36:00.001-07:00

This is the second of a multi-part series of articles on my explorations of the Freeduino RichBoard from EmbeddedMarket. Links and references/datasheets/downloads at the end of this article.

For this experiment, I have used the on-board DS1307 Real Time Clock IC and the multiplexed 7-segment 4-digit LED display.

About the DS1307 RTC

The DS1307 RTC is a real time clock IC which keeps a track of date and time. This saves us the hassle of programming the *duino to keep track of the time. The DS1307 is powered by a coin cell (the CR2032 Button Battery). So, even if you power the board down, the date and time are still kept track of and maintained. There MUST BE A BATTERY in place for this project to work - EVEN IF IT'S A DEAD BATTERY.

About Multiplexed 7-segment LED Displays and the little trick to make them work the way we want

When 7-segment LED displays are multiplexed without using a dedicated LED driver IC (like is the case with the Freeduino RichBoard), there is a catch: only one digit can be displayed at a time. So, if we want to display a 4 digit number (like time for instance: 12.30), then we have to use a tiny trick - make every digit light up in the pattern/number we want for just 1us (micro second) in a cycling manner; using the concept of persistence of vision, when each digit is On for just 1us, one after the other, in a cyclical manner, the viewer will see it as all digits On.

The Connections and the Code

//RTC Clock on 4 multiplexed 7 segment displays
//Board: FREEDUINO RichBoard from EmbeddedMarket.com
//Author: Siddharth Mankad;
// http://www.facebook.com/siddharth.mankad

//Connections on the board
/*
(Freeduino (DIGITAL) -> 7 Segment section)
2 -> a (segment 1)
3 -> b (segment 2)
4 -> c (segment 3)
5 -> d (segment 4)
6 -> e (segment 5)
7 -> f (segment 6)
8 -> g (segment 7)
9 -> . (segment 8)
10 -> D1 (4th Digit)
11 -> D2 (3rd Digit)
12 -> D3 (2nd Digit)
13 -> D4 (1st Digit)

(Freeduino (ANALOG) -> DS1307 RTC section)
A5 -> SCL
A4 -> SDA

*/

//The Logic is:
/*
To select the digit, put that pin to LOW, remaining digit pins to HIGH
To select segment, put pin to LOW, rest to HIGH
*/

#include <Wire.h>
#include "RTClib.h"

RTC_DS1307 RTC;

void setup()
{
for(int i=2;i<14;i++)
{
pinMode(i,OUTPUT);
}
Wire.begin();
RTC.begin();
}

void loop()
{
DateTime now = RTC.now();
int hh = now.hour();
int mm = now.minute();
int timecc = hh*100+mm;

showNum(timecc);
}

void showNum(int n)
{
if(n<10 && n>0)
{
    printNumber(n,4);
}
if(n<100)
{
    int n3=(n%100)/10;
    printNumber(n3,3);
    delay(1);

    int n4=n%10;
    printNumber(n4,4);
    delay(1);
}
if(n<1000)
{
    int n2=(n%1000)/100;
    printNumber(n2,2);
    delay(1);

    int n3=(n%100)/10;
    printNumber(n3,3);
    delay(1);

    int n4=n%10;
    printNumber(n4,4);
    delay(1);
}
if(n<10000)
{
    int n1=(n%10000)/1000;
    printNumber(n1,1);
    delay(1);

    int n2=(n%1000)/100;
    printNumber(n2,2);
    delay(1);

    int n3=(n%100)/10;
    printNumber(n3,3);
    delay(1);

    int n4=n%10;
    printNumber(n4,4);
    delay(1);

}
else
{
    digitalWrite(10,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(11,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(12,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(13,LOW);

ltrE();
}
}

void printNumber(int n, int d)
{
if(d>4)
{
    d=1;
    ltrE();
}
//d is for display select
if(d==1)
{
    digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(10,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(11,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(12,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(13,LOW);
}
if(d==2)
{
    digitalWrite(9,LOW);
    digitalWrite(10,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(11,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(12,LOW);
    digitalWrite(13,HIGH);
}
if(d==3)
{
    digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(10,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(11,LOW);
    digitalWrite(12,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(13,HIGH);
}
if(d==4)
{
    digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(10,LOW);
    digitalWrite(11,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(12,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(13,HIGH);
}

//n is for the number to be printed
switch(n){

case 0:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,LOW);
    digitalWrite(6,LOW);
    digitalWrite(7,LOW);
    digitalWrite(8,HIGH);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 1:
    digitalWrite(2,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(6,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(8,HIGH);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 2:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(5,LOW);
    digitalWrite(6,LOW);
    digitalWrite(7,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 3:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,LOW);
    digitalWrite(6,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 4:
    digitalWrite(2,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(6,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7,LOW);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 5:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,LOW);
    digitalWrite(6,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7,LOW);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 6:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,LOW);
    digitalWrite(6,LOW);
    digitalWrite(7,LOW);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 7:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(6,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(8,HIGH);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 8:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,LOW);
    digitalWrite(6,LOW);
    digitalWrite(7,LOW);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;

case 9:
    digitalWrite(2,LOW);
    digitalWrite(3,LOW);
    digitalWrite(4,LOW);
    digitalWrite(5,LOW);
    digitalWrite(6,HIGH);
    digitalWrite(7,LOW);
    digitalWrite(8,LOW);
    //digitalWrite(9,HIGH);
    break;
}

}

void ltrE() //FOR ERROR
{
digitalWrite(2,LOW);
digitalWrite(3,HIGH);
digitalWrite(4,HIGH);
digitalWrite(5,LOW);
digitalWrite(6,LOW);
digitalWrite(7,LOW);
digitalWrite(8,LOW);
digitalWrite(9,HIGH);

}

References/Links/Downloads

Freeduino RichBoard - http://www.embeddedmarket.com/products/Arduino-Experimentation-Freeduino-RichBoard
Arduino - http://www.arduino.cc
DS1307 Datasheet - http://datasheets.maxim-ic.com/en/ds/DS1307.pdf

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How I Etched my First Printed Circuit Board

2011-08-12T18:46:00.001-07:00

Introduction

Hi folks. After a lot of trials to figure out how to etch a printed circuit board (PCB) at home, I finally decided to actually do it and see how DIY PCB works out. I would like to give credit to my brother, Kartik, giving impetus to my curiosity for home-brewing a PCB. After listening to him, I knew I had to give this a shot. So I set about on this tiny afternoon project.

For simplicity’s sake, the PCB is an SMD (Surface Mount Device) PCB. The PCB is for FabISP – this is an In Serial Programmer (ISP) for the Arduino/ATMega8 series of chips. Its main use is to burn/upload programs to the ATMega chips. It pairs with the PC/Mac using a USB connection. The USB communication is handled by an ATTiny chip on the board.

With that said, let’s get started. The following is the overview of the process:

1. Preparing the PCB Positive

2. Performing the Iron-On Transfer of the positive onto the copper coated board

3. Correcting the transfer

4. Etching the board

5. Cleaning Up

Preparing the PCB Positive

Ideally the steps would be as under:

1. Make the circuit diagram

2. Make the circuit layout with components in a software like CadSoft’s Eagle Professional

3. Print the positive

Since this was my first experiment and I am still learning the ropes of Eagle, I decided to use a ready-to-use Eagle positive; this was the reason for etching a FabISP board. Plus, since the board is for SMD components, it saves us the effort of drilling holes for components.

I downloaded the Eagle files from FabISP’s home page. I opened the BRD (or also known as the ‘board file’) in Eagle and exported the positive to PNG. This can be done in the following way:

1. Open the BRD in Eagle (File > Open > Board)

2. Once the Board is open, go to File > Export > Image

3. Set the DPI in the export dialog to 300 dpi

4. Check the ‘Monochrome’ check box

5. Keep the rest of the settings the same

6. Select the filename to save the Image as using the ‘Browse’ button – Save As a PNG file.

7. Click OK J

Once the file is exported, we have to prepare it in Photoshop. Open the PNG in Photoshop and Invert the image. Mirror the image (I did not do that, hence, the PCB is all reverse) so that we get it correctly oriented once we transfer it to the copper clad board. That’s it. Now print this positive using a laser printer on a piece photo gloss paper (not matte photo paper – we need the plastic coating that exists on glossy photo paper). The technique we are using here is called the Toner transfer method.

Tip: Since this PCB is super small, you may hide the text/part names layer of the Board (In Eagle, View > Display/Hide Layers) so that the etch comes out cleaner and will save you a lot of effort while correcting the pre-etch print – I will come to this in a while. I realized this after the etching process completed.

Transferring the Positive onto the Copper Clad Board

Before we move on, let me list the stuff we will be using:

1. Anhydrous Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) - approximately 30g

2. Water – approximately 60-70 ml

3. A copper clad board

4. The PCB positive we prepared earlier

5. A very very very hot clothes iron

First of all, cut the copper clad board to the size of the printed positive. Place the positive onto the copper such that the toner/printed side is facing the copper (the blank side will face you). Now turn up the clothes iron’s temperature to its maximum setting. Using all your weight (don’t break the iron though), well, iron the board – the positive is sandwiched between the iron and the copper. Iron it for 3-4 minutes. Now, let it cool a little. DO NOT touch it immediately; it’s going to be very hot. Put the board in water and peel off the paper – use your fingers to remove the residual paper. You should have a board similar to below after removing the paper.

Notice in the above that many of the tracks and soldering pads are getting shorted – this happens for two main reasons: the circuit is way too crowded for the resolution of the toner transfer method and number two: the plastic coating of the photo paper has blotched up due to excessive heat.

Correcting the Transfer

To correct the transfer, I used a cutter to remove unwanted transfer material. If a track or pad is broken, use a permanent marker to correct.

Etching the Board

It’s time to bring our PCB to life. Safety first: put on a lab coat. In a plastic dish (NOT metal), mix the anhydrous Ferric Chloride to the water (NOT the water to the Ferric Chloride – it can be hazardous. FeCl3 produces heat when mixed with water; mixing water to powder can cause it to burst and soil your clothes – the stains are so not removable)

Using an old toothbrush, agitate the copper clad board in the FeCl3 bath we just prepared. Keep agitating it till all the copper that we do not want gets removed. Once all the copper but the tracks and the pads is gone, wash the board in water. Don’t leave the board for too long in the FeCl3 bath since it will begin dissolving the tracks and pads.

Cleaning Up

Get hold of turpentine or acetone (in simple terms, get some paint thinner or nail polish remover). Dip a swab of cloth into the thinner/nail polish remover and clean the remaining copper to remove the toner mask. In case it’s not coming off easily, use a fine sand paper and sand the copper very gently (being too harsh will destroy the cladding). The cleaned up PCB is now ready for soldering.

Conclusion

This is how I made my first home-brew PCB. If the PCB had through hole components like simple resistors (not the SMD ones), we would have an added step of drilling the holes using a very fine (0.02 to 0.04 mm) drill bits. And of course, practice makes perfect – experimenting with various PCBs would help in making cleaner etches. So, go ahead and give it a shot!

Download
You can download a PDF Version of this post at:
Download Location #1 - Dropbox
Mirror - Fileserve

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Posted via email from smmankad's tinkerworld

Exploring the Freeduino RichBoard – Part 1 – Making a Thermometer

2011-07-21T04:56:00.001-07:00

Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

See the full gallery on Posterous

This is the first of a multi-part series of articles on my explorations of the Freeduino RichBoard from EmbeddedMarket. Links and references/datasheets/downloads at the end of this article.

For this experiment, I have used the on-board LM35 Temperature sensor and the HITACHI HD44780 16x2 LCD screen.

The Connections

1. Connect the LM35 to Analog 0(zero) of the Freeduino.

2. Connect the LCD Connectors to the digital pins as shown below:

LCD -> Freeduino

LCD Pin 4 -> Digital 5
LCD Pin 5 -> Digital 4
LCD Pin 6 -> Digital 3
LCD Pin 7 -> Digital 2

RS -> Digital 12
RW -> GND
EN -> Digital 11

The Code

Fire up the arduino IDE and copy-paste the following code:

// include the library code:

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

//declare variables

int reading;

float tempC, tempF;

float voltage;

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins

LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);

void setup()

{

// set up the LCD's number of columns and rows:

lcd.begin(16, 2);

}

void loop()

{

reading = analogRead(A0); //read the value from the sensor

voltage = reading*5.0;

voltage /=1024.0;

tempC = (voltage-0.5)*100;

tempF = (9.0/5.0)*abs(tempC) + 32;

lcd.setCursor(0,0);

lcd.print("LM35 Temperature");

lcd.setCursor(0,1);

lcd.print(abs(tempC)); //send the data to the LCD

lcd.print(" C ");

lcd.print(abs(tempF));

lcd.print(" F");

delay(1000); //wait one second before sending new data

}

Hit Ctrl + U to compile and upload the code to the board! (Make sure it’s connected to the computer and the right serial/COM port is selected in the arduino IDE)

In Action

Once the code gets uploaded, the Freeduino resets itself and you see the temperature on the LCD!

Note: To turn on the backlight, short the LCD pins labeled ‘+’ and ‘-‘ on the board with a jumper.

Also, the pot near the LCD is for adjusting backlight.

References/Links/Downloads

· Arduino – http://www.arduino.cc

· LM35 Datasheet – http://www.national.com/ds/LM/LM35.pdf

· HITACHI LCD Datasheet – http://www.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheets_pdf/4/4/7/8/44780.shtml

· Freeduino RichBoard Product Page – http://www.embeddedmarket.com/products/Arduino-Experimentation-Freeduino-RichBoard/

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DP5: woven.sprockets

2010-12-04T17:18:00.001-08:00

It's finally here :D

Visit the project page > http://cargocollective.com/smmankad/702121/woven-sprockets

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Sneak Peek: DP5

2010-10-18T04:36:00.001-07:00

Here is a sneak peek at my Design Project 5 titled "woven.sprockets". More details later. :)

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from smmankad's tinkerworld

Composition (Part 1): Abstract Photography

2010-08-30T06:55:00.001-07:00

This is part of a classroom assignment on Composition. These are unedited images of the abstract.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Exploration in Wood

2010-08-24T06:37:00.001-07:00

This was done as an exercise in class for the course on Advanced Model Making.

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Posted via email from smmankad's tinkerworld

ShapePlay Controller Prototype

2010-08-23T04:58:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

esid_proto.720p.mp4 (17649 KB)

The ShapePlay Controller is a device that is designed to control, for instance, a TV using just shapes that you draw on a touchscreen. Or even control a Radio, its tuning, volume, again using just shapes!

This prototype has been created using the awesome Arduino micro-controller platform. Inspired by the TouchControlPanel created by Jonathan Oxer and Hugh Blemings. Based on the TouchScreen Library by David Mellis, Limor Fried and Tom Igoe.

Acknowledgements: Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal, Arshad Pathan

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ShapePlay Trainer Alpha - Reconstructing Recorded Shapes

2010-07-13T03:33:00.001-07:00

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ShapePlay_Trainer2.mp4 (1374 KB)

Once the shape has been recorded using the trainer, this program reads those data files and reconstructs the shape. Future scope of the ShapePlay engine is to perform actual shape recognition so that full blown interaction can be performed between the machine and the user.

Built with Processing 1.0 (http://www.processing.org)
Mentors:
Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal

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ShapePlay Trainer Alpha

2010-07-13T03:30:00.001-07:00

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ShapePlay_Trainer1.mp4 (2800 KB)

Inspired from the HP LipiTK, this is a training program for ShapePlay built using Processing 1.0. Being an initial version (Alpha), it can record the shapes drawn on-canvas and then saves them into data files (TXT) in the form of "x,y" coordinates.

Built with Processing 1.0 (http://www.processing.org)
Mentors:
Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal

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ShapePlay - PixelPlay Variant #2

2010-07-13T03:28:00.001-07:00

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ShapePlay_PixelPlay2.mp4 (367 KB)

This Variant of ShapePlay incorporates an idea called PixelPlay where Colors are chosen by the machine. The logic behind that choice is this: The computer has a number of pre-programmed color families. It picks up a color family and uses the colors in that family for drawing. The composition on-canvas is left totally to the user, but the colors of the strokes are changed by the machine from stroke to stroke. It is similar to the Variant #1 but in this case, it changes color after the stroke is drawn instead of before.

Built with Processing 1.0 (http://www.processing.org)
Mentors:
Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal

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ShapePlay - PixelPlay Variant #1

2010-07-13T03:24:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

ShapePlay_PixelPlay1.mp4 (1092 KB)

Built with Processing 1.0 (http://www.processing.org)
Mentors:
Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal

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ShapePlay - PixelPlay Variant #2

2010-07-13T03:23:00.001-07:00

Built with Processing 1.0 (http://www.processing.org)
Mentors:
Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal

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ShapePlay on the PC: Experience Video Simulation

2010-07-13T03:22:00.001-07:00

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smmankad_ShapePlay_PCInteractSimulation.mp4 (575 KB)

This is the simulation of the ShapePlay game on the computer.

Built with Processing 1.0 (http://www.processing.org)
Mentors:
Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal

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ShapePlay: Interactive Game Concept Prototype

2010-07-13T03:21:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

xvid_[cleaned]sid_video_proto_dp4_1.avi (11024 KB)

This is the video prototype of an interactive game where the player draws a shape and the computer responds. The result is a collectively created composition - collectively by the computer and user. This video is a pure demonstration of that experience.

Built with Processing 1.0 (http://www.processing.org)
Mentors:
Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Bhaumik Nagar, Ujjval Panchal

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Join FileServe Now!

2010-06-26T04:23:00.000-07:00

Join FileServe Now!

Internet Slang :P

2010-05-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

0-9

1337 (written in ASCII) - From the word Leet, derived from the word elite
2 - too, or to
4 - For

A

AFAICR/S/T - As far as I can recall / remember / see / tel
AFAIK - As far as I know
AFK - Away from keyboard
ANFSCD - And Now For Something Completely Different. Used to change the subject of conversation.
ASAP - As soon as possible
ASL - Age / sex / location
ATEOTD - At The End of the Day
ATM - At the moment
AWOL - Absent Without (Official) Leave
AYBABTU (also abbreviated as AYB) - All your base are belong to us (from the video game Zero Wing)

B

B2B - Business to Business
B& and/or B7- Banned
BBIAB - Be back in a bit
BBL/S - Be back later / shortly / soon
BCNU - Be seein' you
Blog - Also known as web log or an online journal
BOFH - ~censored~ operator from hell
Bot - Any type of automated software in chatrooms and web-cataloging software
BRB - Be right back
BSOD - Blue Screen of Death
BTDT - Been there done that
BTW - By the way
Bump - Increment (For example, C's ++ operator.)or a backronym for "Bring Up My Post"

C

Crawl - To retrieve a web page along with the hyperlinks that reference it
Crapplet - A poorly written computer application
CU - See you (later)
CYA - See ya OR Cover Your Ass
Cyber (prefix) - A term used to connect the subsequent word loosely to the world of computers or the Internet or sex over a computer
Cyberspace - Virtual reality, the Internet, the World Wide Web, and other kinds of computer systems. Science fiction author William Gibson popularized the term in his novel Neuromancer. Gibson used the word to describe a virtual world of computer networks that his cyberpunk heroes 'jacked into'

D

DFTT - Don't feed the trolls
DGAF - Don't Give A ~censored~
DIAF - Die in a fire
DILLIGAF/D/S - Does it look like I give a flip / ~censored~ / damn / shit
DND - Do not disturb
DOA - Dead on arrival. Refers to hardware that is broken on delivery.

E

EOF - End Of File
EOM - End of Message
EOL - End of Life. Device or hardware that is at the end of its product life cycle.
EQ - EverQuest
ETA - Estimated time of arrival

F

FAQ - Frequently Asked Question(s)
FFS - For ~censored~'s sake
Flamer - Someone who makes inflammatory, abusive or directly offensive comments. Similar to, but not quite the same as an Internet troll[3]
FMCDH - From My Cold Dead Hands
FOAD - ~censored~ off and die
FOAF - Friend of a friend
FTL - For the loss
FTW - For the win
FU - ~censored~ you
FUBAR - ~censored~ up beyond all recognition / repair (from military slang; pronounced "foo-bar")
FUD - Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (the purposeful spread of misinformation)
FWIW - For what it's worth
FYI - For your information

G

GBTW - Get back to work
GF - Great/good fight/girlfriend
GFU - Good for you
GFY - Go ~censored~ yourself
GG - Good game, used at or near the conclusion of a gaming match
GJ - Good job, often used in online gaming when a teammate performs an act benefitting his team, such as killing an opponent or enabling that kill
GMTA - Great minds think alike
Godwin's Law - Dictates that the longer a thread, the more likely someone will post a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler
Gratz - Congratulations
GTFO - Get the ~censored~ out
GTG or G2G - 'Got to go' or 'Good to go'
GR -Good Race
GR8 - Great

H

HAND - Have A Nice Day
Handle - Name used in online chat, (AKA nick(name), alias, screen/user name)
HF - Have fun
Haxor or H4x0r (1337) - Hacker
Hit - A request made to the web server, (noun) the results of an internet search, (verb) loading a Web page. Hits are not equivalent to visitors of a webpage.
Home page - The website's introduction page, starting point, and guide. The technical term is "index"
Hot list - A collection of publicly available URLs (World Wide Web site addresses), sometimes available as text files.
HTH - Hope this / that helps
H8 - Hate

I

IANAL - I am not a lawyer
IBTL - In before the lock
IDC - I don't care
IDK - I don't know
IIRC - If I recall / remember correctly
IIUC - If I understand correctly
IMO/IMHO/IMNSHO/IMAO - In my (humble / honest / not so humble / arrogant) opinion
Information superhighway - The Internet (AKA: I-way, infobahn)
IONO - I don't know
IOW - In other words
IRC - Internet Relay Chat
IRL - In real life
ITYM - I Think You Mean
IWSN - I want sex now
IYKWIM - If you know what I mean

J

Jaggy - Aliased computer graphics
JK or j/k - Just kidding, or joke
JFGI - Just ~censored~/Freaking Google It

K

k or kk - OK
KISS - Keep it simple stupid.
KS(ing) - Kill-Steal(ing)
KOS - Kill on sight
KTHX - OK, thanks
KTHXBAI or KTHXBYE - OK, thanks, goodbye, used either to cut short a conversation or to express displeasure with being cut short

L

L2P - Learn to play; an admonishment to MMORPG players who are incompetent and/or whine
L8R - Later, L8R also sometimes abbreviated as L8ER is commonly used in chat rooms and other text based communications as a way of saying good bye.
Lag - Slang term for slow Internet speeds or high Internet latency; Lag is sometimes due to a server problem, but more frequently due to the connection between client and server. A slow or intermittent connection may often be referred to as laggy
Lamer - A know-nothing, one who is lame.
Leet - Often spelled as l33t or 1337 in ASCII form. It originally meant elite
LFG - Looking for group
LFM - Looking for more
LM(F)AO - Laughing my (frigging) ass off
LMIRL - Let's meet in real life.
LMK - Let me know
LOL - Laughing out loud, laugh out loud
LTNS - Long time no see
Lurker - Someone who frequents a Usenet group without participating in discussions

M

MMORPG, MMO - Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Game
MMOFPS - Massive Multi-player Online First Person Shooter
MOTD - Message of the day
MS - MapleStory, an MMORPG
MTFBWY - May The Force be with you
MUD - Multi-User Dungeon
MUSH - Multi-User Shared Hallucination
MYOB - Mind your own business
M8 - Mate

N

NE1 - "Anyone"
NFI - "No ~censored~ Idea"
Newbie, noob, or n00b - An inexperienced user of a system or game,or an annoying person.
NIFOC - Naked In Front Of Computer
NM - (Sometimes written N/M) Not much, Never mind or no message, used on message boards or in e-mails to indicate that everything is already said in the subject line.
NP - No problem
NSFW - Not safe for work. Warning about content that may get the viewer in trouble with his employer or co-workers.
NVM, NVMD, or nm - Nevermind, not much

O

O RLY - Oh really?
OIC - Oh, I see
OFN - Old ~censored~ news
OMG - Oh my god
OMFG - Oh my ~censored~ god
OMW - On my way or Oh my word
OP - Original poster / Operator / Outpost
OS - Operating system
OT - Off topic
OTOH - On the other hand
OTP - On the phone or One true pairing

P

P2P - Peer to peer, or pay to play
PAW - Parents are watching
PEBKAC/PEBCAK - Problem exists between keyboard and chair
Ping - From the popular network monitoring tool, used as a greeting similar to "Are you there?".
PITA - Pain in the arse / ass
PLMK - Please let me know
PMSL - Pissing myself laughing
POS - Piece of shit, or parent over shoulder.
POTS - Plain old telephone service
POV - Point of view
PPL - People
PTKFGS - Punch the Keys For God's Sake
pr0n - Intentional misspelling of porn
PW - Persistent World (gaming)
pwned - Intentional misspelling of owned

Q

QFT - Quoted for truth. Used on internet message boards to show agreement from a previous message

R

Rehi (or merely re) - Hello again
RL - Real Life[3]
RO(T)FL - Rolling on (the) floor laughing
RO(T)FLMAO - Rolling on (the) floor laughing my ass off
RO(T)FLOL - Rolling on (the) floor laughing out loud
RSN - Real soon now (used sarcastically)
RTFB - Read the ~censored~ binary (or book)
RTFS - Read the ~censored~ source
RTFM/RTM - Read the (~censored~) manual

S

SCNR - Sorry, could not resist
sk8/sk8r - skate/skater
Smiley - Another name for emoticons
SMH - Shaking my head
SNAFU - Situation normal: all (~censored~/[3]fouled) up
Snail mail - Normal paper mail service
SOHF - Sense of humor failure
Spider - The program behind a search engine
STFU - Shut the ~censored~ up
STFW - Search the ~censored~ web

T

TANSTAAFL - There ain't no such thing as a free lunch
TBF - Time between failures
TBH - To be honest
TG - That's great
TGIF - Thank god it's Friday
TH(N)X, TNX or TX - Thanks
TIA - Thanks in advance
TINC - There Is No Cabal, a term discouraging conspiracy theories
TMI - Too much information
TOS - Terms of service
TTBOMK - To the best of my knowledge
TTFN - Ta ta for now
TTT - To the top, used in forums to bump a thread
TTYL - Talk to you later (also spelled TTUL, T2UL or T2YL)
TTYTT - To Tell You The Truth
Tweedler - One who has deep love for all computer related technology and gadgets
TWIMC - To Whom It May Concern
TY - Thank you
TYT - Take your time
TYVM - Thank you very much

U

U - You
UTFSE - Use the ~censored~ search engine

V

W

w00t, w00T or WOOT - First two express exuberance, the latter is a backronym for the term "We Own the Other Team".
W/ or W/O - With or without
WB - Welcome back
W/E - Whatever
WRT - With respect / regard to
WTB - Want to buy
WTF - What the ~censored~
WTG - Way to go
WTH - What the hell
WTS - Want to sell
WTT - Want to trade
WUG - What you got?
WoW - World of Warcraft (game)
WUBU2 - What (have) you been up to?
WUU2 - What (are) you up to?
WYSIWYG - What you see is what you get
W8 - Wait
W-BB WarezBB
W-BB WarezBB

Y

YARLY - Yeah Really
YHBT - You have been trolled
YKW - You know what?
YMMV - Your mileage may vary.
YTMND - You're The Man Now, Dog
YW - You're welcome.
YOYO- You're On Your Own.

Z
ZOMG - An intentional misspelling of the acronym shorthand for "Oh My God/Gawd" and pronounced "Zoh My God/Gawd" This version is mainly used in jest or to ridicule people who use abbreviations like OMG and OMFG

Compost - What does Hinglish Look Like?

2010-05-05T19:34:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

Compost_480p_HD.flv (3932 KB)

So what does this mix of language - Hindi and English look like? Here is a metaphorical exploration and representation of the concept of Hinglish. An evolved linguistic phenomenon that unites people across the two languages.

Special Thanks to my mentors: Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Dr. Rita Kothari, Mr. Ajay Tiwari.

Posted via email from smmankad's posterous

Compost - What does Hinglish Look Like?

2010-05-05T19:31:00.001-07:00

Special Thanks to my mentors: Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Dr. Rita Kothari, Mr. Ajay Tiwari.

Posted via email from smmankad's posterous

Acoustic Rendition: I Don't Know (Ryan Bingham)

2010-05-05T18:01:00.001-07:00

I Don't Know (Rendition) by Smmankad (Original By Ryan Bingham)
Download now or listen on posterous

03_I_Dont_Know_RyanBingham_RenditionBySmmankad.mp3 (1577 KB)

Here's another one!

I Don't Know - Ryan Bingham

I don’t know baby where we stand
Where's the future that we planned, so long ago
I don’t know

I don’t know if you’re my friend
Or a long lost lover coming back again
Where did you go
Baby I don’t know

You’d think by now that I'd know better
But I ain’t got a lot to show
I could write a song I could write a letter
I could write a book about I don’t know

Watch my life fall through the cracks
Like a long gone train that ain’t coming back
Where did it go?
Baby I don’t know

You’d think by now that I'd know better
But I ain’t got a lot to show
I could write a song I could write a letter
I could write a book about I don’t know

My past is pretty rocky
And my future ain’t long
Why do you think we have a chance at all
Where does the wind blow?
Baby I don’t know

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Acoustic Rendition: Peaceful Easy Feeling (The Eagles)

2010-04-26T18:20:00.001-07:00

Peaceful Easy Feeling (Rendition) by Smmankad (Original By The Eagles)
Download now or listen on posterous

02_Peaceful_Easy_Feeling_TheEagles_RenditionBySmmankad.mp3 (2603 KB)

Hi Folks,
Thanks for your feedback on my last recording. Here is another one.

Artist: Eagles
Song: Peaceful Easy Feeling

This is the version of the song tabbed by "western" but in a different key,

These are the chords used:

G     320033
D     x00232
C     x32010

Intro: G Gsus4 (Repeat 4x)

        G            C              G          C
Verse1: I like the way your sparklin earrings lay
        G            C         D
        Against your skin so brown
        G              C                    G           C
        And I want to sleep with you in the desert tonight
        G              C             D
        With a billion stars all around

                   C                G
Chorus:'Cos I get a peaceful, easy feeling
        C                          D
        And I know you wont let me down
                G      C       D
       'Cos I'm already standing
               G
        On the ground

Interlude: G Gsus4 x2

        G       C         G      C
Verse2: I found out a long time ago
        G               C          D
        What a woman can do to your soul
        G       C                  G   C
        Ah, but she can't take you any way
        G                 C           D
        You don't already know how to go.

                   C                G
Chorus:'Cos I get a peaceful, easy feeling
        C                          D
        And I know you wont let me down
                G       C       D
       'Cos I'm already standing
               G
        On the ground

        G          C             G    C
Verse3: I get this feeling I may know you
        G         C      D
        As a lover and a friend
        G                      C        G           C
        But this voice keeps whispering in my other ear
                 G           C         D
        Tells me I may never see you again

                   C                G
Chorus:'Cos I get a peaceful, easy feeling
        C                          D
        And I know you wont let me down
                G     C       D

       'Cos I'm already standing
           G      C       D
        I'm already standing
               G      C       D
        Yes I'm already standing
               G      C
        On the ground

Thanks to matb1412@hotmail.com @ UltimateGuitar for the tabs.

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Acoustic Rendition: Blowin in The Wind (Bob Dylan)

2010-04-25T16:09:00.001-07:00

Blowin' In The Wind (Rendition) by Smmankad (Original By Bob Dylan)
Download now or listen on posterous

01_Blowin_In_The_Wind_BobDylan_RenditionBySmmankad.mp3 (2616 KB)

This is my vocal recording of Bob Dylan's Blowin' In The Wind . The following are the lyrics and Chords used for this recording:

FORMAT OF THE SONG: Play VERSE #1 Play CHORUS Play VERSE #2 Play CHORUS Play VERSE #3 Play CHORUS twice CHORUS: C D G C The answer my friend, is blowin in the wind. D G The answer is blowin in the wind. VERSES: 1: G C D G C D How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man? G C D G C D How many seas must a white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand? G C D G C How many times must the cannonballs fly, before they're forever D banned? 2: G C D G C D How many years can a mountain exist, before it is washed to the sea? G C D G C How many years can some people exist, before they're allowed to be D free? G C D G C How many times can a man turn his head, and pretend that he just D doesn't see? 3: G C D G C D How many times must a man look up, before he can see the sky? G C D G C D How many ears must one man have, before he can hear people cry? G C D G C How many deaths will it take 'till he knows, that too many people have D died?

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Animating Hinglish - A Messy Elegance

2010-04-22T22:06:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

Animating Hinglish - Messy Elegance.mp4 (5069 KB)

The key concept behind this animated short is that as a concept, Hinglish is what happens when two languages and cultures mix, leaving neither in its pure form. But within this lies the beauty that unites us.

Credits go out to my mentors: Dr. Jignesh Khakhar, Dr. Rita Kothari and Mr. Ajay Tiwari. :)

New Media Design, 2009-11.
(c)2010, National Institute of Design, PGCampus, Gandhinagar.

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Chuck

2010-04-06T22:48:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching Chuck Seasons 1 and 2. I liked it quite a lot. It's like a bunch of small 45-minute movies with an overall backbone storyline that makes you wanna watch the next episode.

According to Wikipedia:

Chuck is an action-comedy television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working in the CIA; the message embeds the only remaining copy of the world's greatest spy secrets into Chuck's brain.

Produced by College Hill Pictures, Wonderland Sound and Vision and Warner Bros. Television, the series premiered on September 24, 2007, on NBC, airing on Monday nights at 8/7c leading into Heroes. Despite receiving a full season pickup, the first season contained only thirteen episodes; production was stalled due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike. The second season started on September 29, 2008, with a full 22-episode season order. NBC released the first episode of season two a week before its air date via multiple online distribution methods, and cable on demand.

After a two-month "Save Chuck" campaign mounted by fans, Chuck was renewed for a third season with a thirteen-episode order that was subsequently extended to nineteen episodes. A major sponsorship deal between NBC and the Subway restaurant chain was also announced to help cover costs of the third season.

NBC announced on November 19, 2009 that season 3 of Chuck would premiere on Sunday, January 10, 2010 with a two hour premiere at 9/8c before moving to its permanent timeslot of Mondays 8/7c. That 2-part premiere pulled the series' highest ratings since 2007, excluding a special 3-D episode which aired the day after Super Bowl XLIII: 7.7 million viewers and a 3.0 demo rating for the first hour, falling to 7.2 million and a 2.9 for the second half.

Can't wait to start with Season 03 :D

Funny Abbreviations of IT Companies :P

2009-10-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

DEC : Drifting & Exhausted Computers
HCL : Hidden Costs & Losses
TCS : Totally Confusing Solutions
C-DOT : Coffee During Office Timings
BAAN : Beggers Assosciation and Nerds
IBM : Implicitly Boring Machines
SATYAM : Sad And Tired Yelling Away Madly
PARAM : Puzzled And Ridiculous Array of Microprocessors
HP : Hen Pecked
CTS : Coffee, Tea and Snacks
ICIM : Impossible Computers In Maintenance
BPL : Below Poverty Line.
NIIT : Not Interested in IT
AT&T : All Troubles & Terrible
CMC : Coffee, Meals and Comfort
INFOSYS : INFerior Offline SYStems
WIPRO : Weak Input, Poor & Rubbish Output
BFL : Brainwash First, and Let them go
DELL : Deplorable Equipment & LackLusture
TISL : Totally Inconsistent Systems Ltd
PSI : Peculiar Symptoms of India
PCL : Poor Computers Ltd
SPARC : Simply Poor And Redundant Computers
SUN : Surely Useless Novelties
CRAY : Cry Repeatedly After an Year
TUL : Troubles Un Limited
HUGHES : Highly Useless Graduates Hired for Eating and Sleeping

LOLZZZ :D

Combinations in Java

2009-10-06T03:04:00.001-07:00

Hi there!
Here is an interesting piece of Java Code that I really enjoyed studying and implementing.

/*************************************************************************
 *  Compilation:  javac Combinations.java
 *  Execution:    java Combinations N
 *  
 *  Enumerates all subsets of N elements using recursion.
 *  Uses some String library functions.
 *
 *  Both functions (comb1 and comb2) print them in alphabetical
 *  order; comb2 does not include the empty subset.
 *
 *  % java Combinations 3
 *  
 *  a
 *  ab
 *  abc
 *  ac
 *  b
 *  bc
 *  c
 *
 *  a
 *  ab
 *  abc
 *  ac
 *  b
 *  bc
 *  c
 *
 *  Remark: this is, perhaps, easier by counting from 0 to 2^N - 1 by 1
 *  and looking at the bit representation of the counter. However, this
 *  recursive approach generalizes easily, e.g., if you want to print
 *  out all combinations of size k.
 *
 *************************************************************************/

public class Combinations {

    // print all subsets of the characters in s
    public static void comb1(String s) { comb1("", s); }

    // print all subsets of the remaining elements, with given prefix 
    private static void comb1(String prefix, String s) {
        if (s.length() > 0) {
            System.out.println(prefix + s.charAt(0));
            comb1(prefix + s.charAt(0), s.substring(1));
            comb1(prefix,               s.substring(1));
        }
    }  

    // alternate implementation
    public static void comb2(String s) { comb2("", s); }
    private static void comb2(String prefix, String s) {
        System.out.println(prefix);
        for (int i = 0; i < s.length(); i++)
            comb2(prefix + s.charAt(i), s.substring(i + 1));
    }  


    // read in N from command line, and print all subsets among N elements
    public static void main(String[] args) {
       int N = Integer.parseInt(args[0]);
       String alphabet = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ";
       String elements = alphabet.substring(0, N);

       // using first implementation
       comb1(elements);
       System.out.println();

       // using second implementation
       comb2(elements);
       System.out.println();
    }

}

How to Permanently Delete your Facebook Account.

2009-10-04T11:36:00.001-07:00

(From http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=16929680703 )

Hi Folks!

Facebook usually allows us to deactivate our accounts but never delete them. Well, here is a way to PERMANENTLY DELETE your account:

Go to this page:
http://www.facebook.com/help/contact.php?show_form=delete_account

Click "Submit" and follow the instructions.

Your account will be deactivated for two weeks, and if you don't log in during that period, your account is permanently deleted.

This method is official and should be complete, i.e. no need to delete individual photos, comments, messages or items from your profile or anywhere else on Facebook!

Cool, eh?

Chaos Theory (Movie) [2007]

2009-10-03T11:28:00.000-07:00

(From IMDB - http://www.imdb.com)

At his daughter's wedding, time-management specialist Frank Allen corners the reluctant groom and tells him a long story: about the night his wife chose him, and then, about eight years later, when a missed ferry, a corporate groupie, a panicked expectant mother, and a medical test brought Frank's marriage to a crisis. In the midst of the crisis were Frank, his wife Susan, their daughter Emily, and Frank's best friend, the feckless Buddy. Things come to a head at a lake when Frank, armed with a shotgun, decides to cross something permanently from one of his time-management lists. Is there ever room for whim and chaos? Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}

A simply beautiful and enjoyable movie. A Must watch.

Instability Rules: The Ten Most Amazing Ideas of Modern Science.

2009-09-12T00:39:00.000-07:00

A truly wonderful book I'm reading.

Visit: http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471380423,descCd-description.html to buy.

World-altering discoveries that reveal a universe of uncertainty and constant change
Whether probing the farthest reaches of the vast universe or exploring the microscopic world of genetics and the subatomic world of quantum mechanics, Instability Rules is a remarkably informative and engaging look at ten milestone discoveries and their discoverers-a wide range of very human personalities whose insights have dramatically altered our most basic assumptions about human existence during the last century. The stories include Edwin Hubble and the expanding universe, Alfred Wegener and continental drift, Neils Bohr and quantum mechanics, Alan Turing and artificial intelligence, and James Watson and Francis Crick and DNA. Also covering discoveries of the twenty-first century that are already refining these and other ideas, Instability Rules is an exhilarating, sometimes amusing encounter with the defining scientific discoveries of our age.

"...For its clarity and wit, this is a winner..." (New Scientist, 22 June 2002)

"...remarkable and engaging..." (Materials World, July 2002)

"...a highly readable account of what Charles Flowers thinks were the most fundamental and far-reaching ideas..." (Chemistry & Industry, February 2004)

Visual Literacy Exploration

2009-09-02T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks :)

Here are some compositions made by me. The base photograph is in the Jami Masjid at Champaner-Pavagadh.

View More of these at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/smmankad/VisualLiteracyExplorations?authkey=Gv1sRgCKX59uyYmY-r2gE&feat=directlink

What is Design?

2009-07-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

(From Wikipedia)

Design is the planning that lays the basis for the making of every object or system. It can be used both as a noun and as a verb and, in a broader way, it means applied arts and engineering (See design disciplines below). As a verb, "to design" refers to the process of originating and developing a plan for a product, structure, system, or component with intention. As a noun, "a design" is used for either the final (solution) plan (e.g. proposal, drawing, model, description) or the result of implementing that plan in the form of the final product of a design process. This classification aside, in its broadest sense no other limitations exist and the final product can be anything from socks and jewellery to graphical user interfaces and charts. Even virtual concepts such as corporate identity and cultural traditions such as celebration of certain holidays are sometimes designed. More recently, processes (in general) have also been treated as products of design, giving new meaning to the term "process design".

The person designing is called a designer, which is also a term used for people who work professionally in one of the various design areas, usually also specifying which area is being dealt with (such as a fashion designer, concept designer or web designer). Designing often requires a designer to consider the aesthetic, functional, and many other aspects of an object or a process, which usually requires considerable research, thought, modeling, interactive adjustment, and re-design.

With such a broad definition, there is no universal language or unifying institution for designers of all disciplines. This allows for many differing philosophies and approaches toward the subject. However, serious study of design demands increased focus on the design process

Explorations in Black and White

2009-07-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

This album covers select old architecture in the vicinity of the cities of Ahmedabad and Vadodara in the state of Gujarat, India. These photos have been taken using the Nikon D80 Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera equipped with a standard 1:2.2 55mm Lens using the zoom range of 18-105mm with Apertures - 2.2-19, Shutter Speed - 125, ISO - 100-400. Explorations in Black and White by Me :) Visit the entire album at http://picasaweb.google.com/smmankad/ExplorationsInBlackAndWhiteRAWProcessing?feat=directlink

Cognitive Psychology

2009-06-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cognitive psychology is a branch of psychology that investigates internal mental processes such as problem solving, memory, and language.

The school of thought arising from this approach is known as cognitivism which is interested in how people mentally represent information processing. It had its foundations in the Gestalt psychology of Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka, and in the work of Jean Piaget, who provided a theory of stages/phases that describe children's cognitive development. Cognitive psychologists use psychophysical and experimental approaches to understand, diagnose, and solve problems, concerning themselves with the mental processes which mediate between stimulus and response. Cognitive theory contends that solutions to problems take the form of algorithms—rules that are not necessarily understood but promise a solution, or heuristics—rules that are understood but that do not always guarantee solutions. Cognitive science differs from cognitive psychology in that algorithms that are intended to simulate human behavior are implemented or implementable on a computer. In other instances, solutions may be found through insight, a sudden awareness of relationships.

Project Natal

2009-06-03T17:05:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future product.
It may contain preliminary information that does not reflect the final version of the product.

Project Natal (pronounced "na-tall"(IPA: [naˈtal])) is the code name for a "controller-free gaming and entertainment experience" by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game platform. Based on an add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, Project Natal enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller, through gestures, spoken commands,^[1] or presented objects and images. The project is aimed at broadening the Xbox 360's audience beyond the hardcore base. Project Natal was first announced June 1 at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Microsoft said that over 1000 development kits began shipping to game developers that same day. Microsoft has not revealed any price or release date information for Project Natal.

Sensor device

An approximately nine-inch (23 cm) wide horizontal bar connected to a small circular base with a ball joint pivot, the Project Natal sensor is designed to be positioned lengthwise above or below the video display. The device features an "RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone, and custom processor running proprietary software", which provides full-body 3D motion capture, facial recognition, and voice recognition capabilities. The Project Natal sensor's microphone array enables the Xbox 360 to conduct acoustic source localization and ambient noise suppression, allowing for things such as headset-free party chat over Xbox Live.

The depth sensor consists of an infrared projector combined with a monochrome CMOS sensor, and allows the Project Natal sensor to see in 3D under any lighting conditions.^[1] Project Natal is reportedly based on software technology developed internally by Microsoft (gesture recognition, skeletal mapping, facial recognition, voice recognition) and hardware technology acquired by time-of-flight camera developer 3DV Systems. Before agreeing to sell all its assets in March 2009, 3DV had been preparing a similar device, known as the ZCam.

Technology demos

Three technical demos were shown to showcase Project Natal when it was revealed at Microsoft's E3 2009 Conference:

Ricochet - a Breakout-like game in which the entire body is used to bounce balls at blocks.
Paint Party - where the player can make throwing motions to splash paint onto a wall. He/she can choose colours using voice recognition, and can pose to make stencils.
Milo & Kate - a technology demo created by Lionhead Studios in which the player interacts with a young boy named Milo and his friend Kate, using items and passing him virtual items from real life actions. In an interview after the demonstration, Lionhead founder Peter Molyneux confirmed that the demo was in fact the long running Project Dimitri.
Chop-Chop - where the player mimics cooking using hand motions
Burnout Natal - not showcased as a live demonstration, a demo based on Burnout Paradise in which the player uses an invisible steering wheel to control the vehicle.

Code name

The name "Project Natal" follows in Microsoft's tradition of using cities as code names. Microsoft director Alex Kipman, who incubated the project, chose to name it after the Brazilian city Natal as a tribute to his country of origin, and because the word natal relates to birth, which Kipman felt reflected the new audiences the project would deliver for the Xbox 360. Natal is also the name of Christmas in Portuguese.

[2001]NID launches PGD in New Media

2009-06-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

(September 2001)
(By Pallavee Dhaundiyal, TNN)

In a constantly changing and rapidly developing it environment the challenges are not only technological but also social
and cultural. digital tools and media require a dynamic aesthetics. there is need to examine the effects of new technology
on society and the role of the designer in its development. acknowledging the need, national institute of design (nid),
ahemadabad, has started a two and a half-year pg diploma programme in new media. nina sabnani, animation film maker,
faculty of communication design; co-ordinator, animation and new media, nid, talks to education times about the
programme. what is the usp of this programme? the programme will provide in depth knowledge and skills pertaining to
digital media design and content production. new media is going to play a pivotal role in bringing together traditionally
divergent media such as film and video, animation and graphic design. not only that, it is also going to create links between
industrial design and communication design when it focuses on user-interface etc. what is the criteria for the admission?
minimum requirements include design diploma or bachelor’s degree with proficiency in english language. they are required
to have at least one-year design or one-year multimedia work experience. also, industry may sponsor candidates. the
programme can accommodate eight students a year. how does the course content strike a balance between theoretical
and practical aspects? the programme comprises a balanced mix of theoretical and practical inputs. semesters are
structured to focus on content creation, structuring content, distributing content and finally bringing this learning together in
the form of projects. courses include digital image making, visual thinking, systems design, interface design, cognitive
psychology, research methods, web design, e-commerce etc. students actively participate in seminars that are highly
intensive sessions that combine elements of research, critical enquiry and analysis to emerge with strong propositions that
will shape the praxis of design for interactive media. the final year is spent in the industry. for the first six months students
work on ongoing projects at the firm working as a member of a team. they are exposed to the myriad aspects of developing
and administrating a multimedia product. for the last six months students undertake an independent project with the
company. what are the opportunities after completion of the course? as interactive media becomes the medium for
interaction from buying and selling to training, information and entertainment, the job definitions could be many. with the
completion of the course, students can look forward to rewarding careers as multimedia producers, web designers, game
designers etc. they may find jobs creating computer-based training programmes; stand alone data bases, kiosks or
cd-roms for education, entertainment or interactive satellite television. what is the remuneration? as a beginner one can
expect rs 25, 000. with experience, it can be anything upto a rs 1 lakh. during internship itself, a student start earns
between rs 10, 000 to rs 15,000.

Remastersys - Create Your OWN Ubuntu!!!

2009-04-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

(From wikipedia)

Remastersys is a free and open source script for Debian, Ubuntu-based, or derivative operating systems that can:

Create a customized Live CD/DVD (a remaster) of Ubuntu and its derivatives.
Back up an entire system, including user data, to an installable Live CD/DVD.

History

It was initially created to be able to easily backup or create a distributable copy of an Ubuntu or derivative installation. Inspiration for this tool came from the mklivecd script that Mandriva uses and the remasterme script that is in PCLinuxOS. Since those scripts are not very easy to port to Ubuntu, it was written from scratch.

Uses

It is a very useful and easy way to create a customized Live CD/DVD version of Ubuntu, once the system is installed and configured with programs, updates, etc... the user just has to:

Download and install the latest version of Remastersys from: http://remastersys.klikit-linux.com/repository/remastersys/
Open the program (a shortcut is created on the desktop) and then choose the dist or backup option, and then the iso of the Live CD will be automatically created.

The resulting iso can also be installed on a USB pendrive, creating a Live USB distro, using either a command-line approach^[1] or a graphical tool such as UNetbootin.

It has a command line version and a GUI version. It currently works with Ubuntu, and possibly more Ubuntu-based distributions.

Linux and Open Source Software Session 2 PPTX

2009-03-31T19:28:00.000-07:00

Hi!
Just download from the link below:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
(or Copy-Paste the following into your browser's addressbar: http://www.4shared.com/file/96101323/f7fc95c5/FLOSS2_0.html )

Linux and Open Source Software: Session 1 PPT

2009-03-30T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hi folks!
This is the download post for the Powerpoint presentation used during the seminar session. Have fun and feel free to get back to me for queries! :)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

(or copy-paste this into your browser address bar if the link above doesn't work: http://www.4shared.com/file/95876596/59ff6bcf/FLOSS1_0.html )

Machinima: An Introduction

2009-03-13T23:09:00.000-07:00

(Source: Wikipedia)

In filmmaking, machinima (pronounced /məˈʃiːnɨmə/ or /məˈʃɪnɨmə/) refers to the use of real-time three-dimensional (3-D) graphics rendering engines to generate computer animation, or to films that incorporate this animation. Machinima creators, sometimes called machinimists or machinimators, often use graphics engines from video games. This use has roots in the 1980s demoscene movement that attached animated introductions to software, and in 1990s recordings of speedruns—attempts to complete a mission as quickly as possible—and of multiplayer matches in first-person shooter (FPS) video games. id Software's 1996 FPS Quake was used in the first machinima films, originally called "Quake movies". The more general term machinima arose later as a misspelled portmanteau of machine cinema;^[1] other games, including those of the Unreal and Halo series, and software tools began to be used. Machinima has appeared in mainstream media, including television and advertisements.

Compared to other filmmaking processes, machinima has advantages and disadvantages. It is simpler than traditional animation, but at the expense of control and range of expression. Compared to pre-rendered computer animation, machinima sacrifices quality for speed, cost savings, and flexibility. It is less expensive, dangerous, and physically restricted than live action, but, again, allows for limited expression. Because machinima is animated in real-time, it is possible to combine reality and the virtual environment of the graphics engine. Machinima creators can film by relying on in-game artificial intelligence (AI), scripting actions precisely, using digital puppetry, and manipulating recordings after the take. Video editing, custom software tools, and creative cinematography help to address technical limitations. Because productions often incorporate elements from video games, many productions are legally defined as derivative works. Some game companies have encouraged machinima, but the legal issues can be complex.

Some machinima productions remain close to their gaming roots and feature stunts or other gameplay. Dance videos, comedy, and drama are also popular. Other works attempt to stretch the boundaries of the rendering engines and deliberately avoid resemblance to the original 3-D context. The Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences (AMAS), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting machinima, recognizes exemplary productions through Mackies awards given at its annual Machinima Film Festival. Some major film festivals accept machinima films, sometimes as a separate category.

Windows7: Whazzup?

2009-03-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

(Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7 )

So, What is so special about Windows7? Read on and find out.

Improved taskbar and full-screen previews

The taskbar at the bottom of your screen is what you use to switch between the applications you've got open. In Windows 7 you can set the order in which the icons appear and they'll stay put. They're easier to see, too. Click once on the new large icons or bigger preview thumbnails and you're ready to go. You can even see a full screen preview before switching to the window.

Jump Lists

With Windows 7, we focused on keeping the things you use most right in front of you. One example: The new Jump List feature. It's a handy way to quickly reach the files you've been working with. To see the files you've used recently, just right click on the icon on your taskbar. So right-clicking on the Word icon will show your most recent Word documents. Plus, if there are other files you want to keep handy, you can just pin them to the Jump List.

New ways to work with Windows

Windows 7 simplifies how you work with the windows on your desktop. You'll have more intuitive ways to open, close, resize, and arrange them. You can drag open windows to screen borders, so you'll no longer have to click on tiny objects in the corner of a window to make it do what you want.

Maximize a window by dragging its border to the top of the screen, and return the window to its original size by dragging it away from the top of the screen. Drag the bottom border of a window to expand it vertically.

It's easy to copy files or compare the contents of two windows by dragging the windows to opposite sides of the screen. As your cursor touches the edge, the window will resize to fill that half of the screen.

To see all your desktop gadgets, just drag your mouse to the lower right corner of your desktop. That'll make all the open Windows transparent—making your desktop, and the gadgets on it, immediately visible. Want to minimize all your windows? One click and it's done.

Internet Explorer 8

Available now, Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 helps you do what you want online, faster. With innovations to the address bar, search, tabs, and the Favorites bar, Internet Explorer 8 brings you more information, with less effort.

Instant Search

To start, as you type a search request you'll immediately start seeing relevant suggestions from your chosen search provider, complete with images when available. The twist: search will also use your browsing history to narrow the suggestions. You'll start seeing search results while you're typing. If you see what you're looking for, you can go right to the list without finishing the request.

Accelerators

There are online services you use all the time. Like getting a map. With Accelerators, you can highlight a bit of information on any page, click on the blue Accelerators icon, and choose from a variety of services relevant to the information you selected. So if you highlight a business address and right click, you can use an Accelerator to get a map right there. The Live Maps Accelerator will show a map preview directly on the page.

Web Slices

With Web Slices you can instantly see changes on a website without going to it. Use a Web Slice to monitor things like auction items, sports scores, entertainment columns, and weather reports. When the content you're watching changes, Internet Explorer 8 delivers updated information directly to a Web Slice in your Favorites Bar, so you can see it right away.

Information about Windows 7 is preliminary and subject to change. Some product features of Windows 7, such as the ability to watch and record live TV or navigation through the use of "touch," may require advanced or additional hardware. The features and functionality you find in the pre-release product may not appear in the final version of Windows 7.

Window To The World(A Song)

2009-03-05T00:52:00.000-08:00

©This work is intellectual property and copyrighted under the Creative Commons Attribution-
Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ for more information.

Once upon a time, Once upon a day,
In my heart, not so far away
Sat loneliness crying inside me,
I was waiting for the clouds to fade away

But now there is an angel
That sings a song so wonderful
I still remember the melody,
I bathe in its symphony
Knowing that in my life

You are the one, You are the girl,
You are my window to the world,
My only sunshine, my only red-wine
My life is all now gold,
You are my window to the world.

So many years have passed,
I now have an eternal smile in my heart
Looking at your face so beautiful,
I know it will be forever.

I’ll always be there, holding your hand,
You in my arms, baby, here we stand,
Just let go of your fear…

You are the one, You are the girl,
You are my window to the world,
My only sunshine, my only red-wine
My life is all now gold,
You are my window to the world.

You are the one, You are the girl,
You are my window to the world,
My only sunshine, my only red-wine
My life is all now gold,
You are my window to the world.

You are the one, You are the girl,
You are my window to the world,
My only sunshine, my only red-wine
My life is all now gold,
You are my window to the world.

Butterfly(A Song)

2009-03-05T00:49:00.000-08:00

©This work is intellectual property and copyrighted under the Creative Commons Attribution-
Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/ for more information.

It all begins the same way
Love on a brand new day
Like a little caterpillar
On a leaf, on a pillow

As time goes by it grows
Watching the stream as it flows
The wings that appear
Glistening in beauty so pure

Butterfly, Butterfly,
That’s the beauty of life,
What happened tomorrow
Can’t be explained today,
What we seek may be right here
What we wanna speak, we can’t say
We try to conquer fear
Just like the butterfly

Life goes on as it flies,
Time after time, you and I,
The memories so sweet,
Our love so tender,
Our love so soft,
One of the many things
To keep that butterfly aloft

Butterfly, Butterfly,
That’s the beauty of life,
What happened tomorrow
Can’t be explained today,
What we seek may be right here
What we wanna speak, we can’t say
We try to conquer fear
Just like the butterfly

Butterfly, Butterfly,
That’s the beauty of life,
What happened tomorrow
Can’t be explained today,
What we seek may be right here
What we wanna speak, we can’t say
We try to conquer fear Just like the butterfly

50 Must Read Books(Non-Fiction)

2009-03-01T18:30:00.001-08:00

These are the 50 All Time Greats.....Definitely a MUST READ!

1. Horatio Alger - Ragged Dick (1867)
2. Warren Bennis - On Becoming A Leader (1989)
3. Frank Bettger - How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success in Selling (1947)
4. Kenneth Blanchard & Spencer Johnson - The One Minute Manager (1981)
5. Edward Bok - The Americanization of Edward Bok (1921)
6. Claude M Bristol - The Magic of Believing (1948)
7. Andrew Carnegie - Autobiography (1920)
8. Chin-ning Chu - Thick Face Black Heart (1992)
9. George S Clason - The Richest Man in Babylon (1926)
10. Robert Collier - Secrets of the Ages (1926)
11. Jim Collins - Good To Great (2001)
12. Russel H Conwell - Acres of Diamonds (1921)
13. Stephen R Covey - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (1989)
14. Michael Dell - Direct From Dell (1999)
15. Henry Ford - My Life and Work (1922)
16. Benjamin Franklin - The Way To Wealth (1758)
17. Timothy Gallwey - The Inner Game of Tennis (1974)
18. Robin Gerber - Leadership The Eleanor Roosevelt Way (2003)
19. John Paul - Getty How To Be Rich (1961)
20. Les Giblin - How to Have Power and Confidence In Dealing With People (1956)
21. Baltasar Gracian - The Art of Worldly Wisdom (1647)
22. Earl G Graves - How To Succeed in Business Without Being White (1997)
23. Napoleon Hill - Think and Grow Rich (1937)
24. Napoleon Hill & W Clement Stone - Success With a Positive Mental Attitude (1960)
25. Tom Hopkins - The Official Guide to Success (1982)
26. Muriel James & Dorothy Jongeward - Born To Win (1971)
27. Spencer Johnson - Who Moved My Cheese? (1998)
28. Robert Kiyosaki - Rich Dad, Poor Dad (1997 )
29. David Landes - The Wealth and Poverty of Nations (1998)
30. Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz - The Power of Full Engagement (2003)
31. Roger Lowenstein Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist (1995)
32. Nelson Mandela - Long Walk To Freedom (1994 )
33. Orison Swett Marden - Pushing To The Front (1894)
34. JW Marriott Jnr - The Spirit To Serve (1997)
35. Margot Morrell & Stephanie Capparell - Shackleton's Way (2001)
36. Donald T Phillips - Lincoln On Leadership (1992)
37. Catherine Ponder - The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity (1962)
38. Cheryl Richardson - Take Time For Your Life (1998)
39. Anthony Robbins - Unlimited Power (1986)
40. David Schwartz - The Magic of Thinking Big (1959 )
41. Florence Scovell Shinn - Secret Door to Success (1940)
42. Thomas J Stanley - The Millionaire Mind (2000)
43. Brian Tracy - Maximum Achievement (1993)
44. Sun Tzu The - Art of War (4 th century BCE)
45. Sam Walton - Made in America (1992)
46. Wallace Wattles - The Science of Getting Rich (1910)
47. Jack Welch Jack: Straight From the Gut (2001)
48. John Whitmore - Coaching For Performance (1992)
49. Richard Wiseman - The Luck Factor (2003)
50. Zig Ziglar - See You At The Top (1975)

BackTrack - The Ultimate Hacking Disc

2009-02-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

BackTrack focuses its central idea on the needs of computer penetration testers. The inclusion of Live CD and Live USB functionality enables any user to just insert their respective data medium and boot up BackTrack. Direct hard disk installations (2.7 GB uncompressed) can also be completed within the Live CD (700 MB compressed) environment through the basic graphical installation wizard with no restart subsequent to installation. BackTrack further continues its compatibility with the computer forensics demographic with accessibility and internationalization by including support for Japanese input in reading and writing in Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji.

The key additions to the BackTrack suite are notably -

* Metasploit integration
* RFMON wireless drivers
* Kismet
* AutoScan-Network - AutoScan-Network is a network discovering and managing application
* Nmap
* Ettercap
* Wireshark (formerly known as Ethereal)

A screenshot of the BackTrack 2 categories
The BackTrack 1.0 desktop

BackTrack's functionality further increases with the arrangement of each tool in 16 categories. The tool categories are as follows -

* Enumeration
* Exploit Archives
* Scanners
* Password Attacks
* Fuzzers
* Spoofing
* Sniffers
* Tunneling
* Wireless Tools
* Bluetooth
* Cisco Tools
* Database Tools
* Forensic Tools
* BackTrack Services
* Reversing
* Misc

In relation to basic software packages, BackTrack includes some ordinary desktop programs such as Mozilla Firefox, Pidgin, K3b, and XMMS.

Windows Vista 64-bit - Is it worth the upgrade?

2009-02-15T19:50:00.000-08:00

(Source: http://www.vista4beginners.com/Windows-Vista-64-bit-upgrade )

At the beginning of 2009 I've decided to migrate to Windows Vista 64-bit and take advantage of the additional features and improvements. Although some people say that the 64-bit version is not ready for mainstream usage yet, after using it for two weeks and running some benchmarks I must say that this is not true. In this article I will give you an overview of what it means to upgrade to Windows Vista 64-bit. I will present the benefits and limitations introduced by Windows Vista 64-bit, the things you should pay attention to before upgrading, the gain in performance and my user experience since working with it.

The benefits of using Windows Vista 64-bit?

There are a couple of benefits when using 64-bit versions of Windows Vista:

They Work With More Than 4 GB of RAM - from my perspective, this is a very important benefit. RAM memory is very cheap nowadays, and many people can afford installing 4GB or more. More memory translates into better performance when running games and applications that process large amounts of data, or when doing video editing and other tasks which use a lot of memory.
Increased Performance for 64-bit Programs - programs which are designed to take advantage of a 64-bit operating system will run faster than their 32-bit counterparts.
Enhanced Security Features - you will benefit from features such as hardware-backed Data Execution Protection (DEP) and Kernel Patch Protection. These features will help prevent security attacks that might succeed on 32-bit versions of Windows Vista which use methods known as buffer overflow and kernel patching. If all these terms sound like gibberish to you, then you should remember only the fact that 64-bit versions are more secure than the 32-bit versions.

Limitations introduced by Windows Vista 64-bit

Like in life, there's no gain if there's no pain. Installing 64-bit versions of Windows Vista introduces the following limitations:

You Cannot Install 16-bit Applications - 16-bit applications were developed when Windows 3.11 and Windows 95 were on the market. All software companies are now developing only 32-bit or 64-bit applications. Therefore this is not exactly a big loss unless you want to install & use some application or game developed 10 years ago.
You Cannot Install 32-bit Drivers - 32-bit device drivers are not supported. You must use native 64-bit drivers. This can be a problem if you are using old hardware or devices from producers which do not offer 64-bit support. They are not that many but you still need to be careful, especially with older devices. Double check if there are 64-bit drivers available for all your hardware before installing Windows Vista 64-bit.
Driver Signing is Mandatory - this basically means that all drivers must be digitally signed so that Windows knows that they are provided by a legitimate publisher. This is not necessarily a problem. Driver signing is used by Microsoft to evaluate the quality of drivers that are installed. A digitally signed driver is one that has been more thoroughly tested for Windows compatibility. Therefore this is not only a limitation but also a benefit.

What you must consider when installing Windows Vista 64-bit

There are two things you need to consider when installing a 64-bit version of Windows Vista:

Device Drivers - make sure you double checked the availability of drivers for Windows Vista 64-bit. Don't forget to check also your external devices such as printers, scanners, etc.
Incompatible Applications - there are some 32-bit applications that won't function on 64-bit. However, most of them will work. Personally I have encountered only one application which did not work on my 64-bit Windows Vista. Still, I've easily replaced it with an alternative offering the same functionality.

Microsoft continuously updates the list of compatible hardware and software. If you want to know if the devices or software you are using work on Windows Vista 64-bit, check out the Windows Vista Compatibility Center. To filter the results more easily, you can also use it's Advanced Search feature. Another good destination for finding software that works on Windows Vista 64-bit is the Catalogue of 64-bit Software.

My user experience with Windows Vista 64-bit

After two weeks of using Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit, I must say I'm pretty happy with it. There weren't too many negatives about it, except the fact that I had to double check that I have drivers for it and replace an old Mustek scanner which had no 64-bit support. In terms of applications I had problems with RocketDock which does not support 64-bit versions of Windows and with the 64-bit version of 7-Zip which had some weird bugs. Fortunately, I quickly solved both problems by replacing RocketDock with ObjectDock and by installing the 32-bit version of 7-Zip which functions perfectly.

Other than these two small annoyances I did not encounter any problems. Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit looks the same as its 32-bit counterpart and there aren't any special differences you need to get accustomed to. From a usability perspective both versions of Windows Vista are the same.

Windows Vista 64-bit - Is it worth the upgrade?

The answer is "Yes!." The only downside is that you need to spend a bit of time investigating whether you have appropriate drivers for it and replacing one or two applications which don't support 64-bit. However, the benefits do make up for these small annoyances. First of all, you are no longer limited to using 3.25GB of RAM and you can install as much memory as you need. On top of that, you do get performance improvements and improved security built into the Operating System.

If you migrated already to 64-bit editions of Windows Vista don't hesitate to share your experience with us. Many people will want to know how it works for you.

NOTE: You cannot literally upgrade from Windows Vista 32-bit to 64-bit. You must make a clean install.

All The Way(A Song)

2009-02-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

Driving down the highway

Towards the lush green fields

Thinking about you

And what my future yields

Right now I'm all alone

Wondering who you'll be

How will I know?

That you'll be the one

I just wish it to be soon,

I just hope so

The time flies, all the way,

The road passes as I walk this way,

Where are you, Come Away, with me?

I am here for you, All the way

I slow down as the road turns

Hitting potholes and the tires burn,

Tell me your name, Tell me where you are

O God, tell me she ain’t very far

I will never be alone,

After I know who you’ll be

I know, I will know

That you'll be the one

I just wish it to be soon,

I just hope so

The time flies, all the way,

The road passes as I walk this way,

Where are you, Come Away, with me?

I am here for you, All the way

[BRIDGE]

The sun sets, the world turns

I speed along this highway,

As the light in the amber sky burns

The time flies, all the way,

The road passes as I walk this way,

Where are you, Come Away, with me?

I am here for you, All the way

[END]

Suddenly (A Song)

2009-02-09T04:27:00.000-08:00

©This work is intellectual property and copyrighted under the Creative Commons Attribution‐
Noncommercial‐No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Visit:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by‐nc‐nd/3.0/us/ for more information.

A lot of things in life are said to be free,
Love was the one I believed,
Not knowing you would leave one day,
A day could exist with you so far away

I used to dream, about us I did
But know I realize what mistake I made,
For all of it to…

Suddenly, suddenly disappear,
Never, never to re‐appear,
This world around me burning up here
My heart is torn, knowing no love was born,
Suddenly…

Whatever happened to all those promises?
You made and swore to keep?
I always thought I would be happy,
But all I can do now is weep

I used to dream, about us I did
But know I realize what mistake I made,
For all of it to…

Suddenly, suddenly disappear,
Never to re‐appear,
This world around me burning up here
My heart is torn, knowing no love was born,
Suddenly…

[Bridge]
So here I stand,
Hand in hand with loneliness,
Hoping that someday I would love again
Never to…

Suddenly, suddenly disappear,
Never to re‐appear,
This world around me burning up here
My heart is torn, knowing no love was born,
Suddenly…
[FADE-TO-END]

Quick Formatting HDDs

2008-12-15T18:52:00.001-08:00

The first thing most people do with a new, out-of-the-box hard disk drive is, of course, format it. But they have a choice: They can either format a hard disk drive the "quick" way or opt to format it the "full" way.

Quick formatting, which only takes a few seconds, simply erases the hard disk drive's metadata and file allocation tables. Full formatting goes sector-by-sector across the disk, erases it and tests it for possible read errors. This method, a holdover from the days when many hard disk drives would arrive from the factory almost guaranteed to have defects of some kind, can take several hours.

Because of the amount of time involved in full-formatting a hard disk drive, most people are loathe to do it; they'd rather quick-format and get to work using the drive right away. Yet at the same time, they're also worried that if they quick-format, they run the risk of potential disk errors in the future.

Okay to quick-format hard disk drives?
For the most part, there's no harm in quick formatting. If you buy an enterprise-class drive, or a consumer-level drive that has a three-year warranty, the drive has already undergone a certain amount of error testing to ensure that it will hold up. This is why enterprise-class and "Pro" desktop hard disk drives cost that much more: the more expensive the drive, odds are there's been that much extra quality control checking performed on it.

Enterprise-class drive hardware and (to a lesser extent) desktop drives also have native hard error correction that traps bad sectors and relocates data from them whenever possible. For instance, RAID arrays typically scan for errors when rebuilding a hard disk drive in a mirror set, and many arrays scan passively for errors during periods of low disk activity.

Over the past 10 years, I have used (and retired) at least 10 different "Pro" desktop hard disk drives of various makes, models and sizes. Each one was quick-formatted, and the only drive failures I ever experienced were for reasons that had nothing to do with a physical error on the surface of the drive. If you feel more reassured by performing a surface test when formatting, go ahead and do one. But it's not as crucial now as it was a decade ago.

Note:There is a major exception when using quick format to format a hard disk drive: This exception applies when you're preparing to retire a hard disk drive from service, and you don't want any possibility of the data on it being compromised. A quick format will only erase the volume's header data and file allocation tables, but won't erase the files themselves. If you want to be absolutely sure the drive is wiped, use a product like Eraser or Darik's Boot and Nuke to systematically wipe all the data on the hard disk drive.

About the author:
Serdar Yegulalp is editor of the Windows Power Users Newsletter, which is devoted to hints, tips, tricks, news and goodies for Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP users and administrators. He has more than 10 years of Windows experience under his belt, and contributes regularly to SearchWinComputing.com and SearchSQLServer.com.

Six Signs of a Dying HDD

2008-12-15T18:49:00.001-08:00

As reliable as hard drives have become, they still have a finite lifespan. While regular backups and RAID technology can help you prevent data loss when a hard disk drive fails, it's better to catch the problem early and replace the hard disk drive on your schedule, rather than when it decides to fail.

Ironically, improvements in hard drive technology have caused some of the symptoms of impending failure to disappear. For instance, hard disk drive and controller designs now can hide the intermittent read/write failures that once foretold a hard disk drive going bad. Likewise, today's hard disk drives are virtually silent, which eliminates the changes in sound that used to alert IT personnel that a drive was going. Bearing failures, which used to be one of the most common causes of drive failure, are much less common today.

However, hard disk drives can still give off signs that they are about to fail. Including:

Drive LEDs that never go off. There's no relationship between overt computer activity and hard disk drive activity, as indicated by the drive LED. But if the LED used to come on intermittently and now glows constantly, something is very wrong and is probably going to get worse.
Disk takes a long time to come up. A hard disk drive that takes a long time to boot up is working hard. Maybe it's working hard because a lot of stuff needs to be initialized. But it could also be trying to compensate for intermittent read/write failures.
Disk cannot locate file table. If the disk can't find the Windows Master File Table (MFT), especially after an unexplained crash, the disk is almost certainly dying.
CHKDSK shows bad sectors. Bad sectors used to be a fact of life. Not any more. These days, any bad sectors showing up with chkdsk or similar disk test utilities usually mean the disk is going away. This is doubly true if the number of bad sectors is increasing, even very slowly.
Running hot. All drives get warm, but if the hard disk drive itself is running unusually hot compared to others in the enclosure, it is probably nearly the end of its useful life.
Consider the drive's history. A hard disk drive that has been dropped onto a hard surface (running or not) or else has overheated should be regarded with suspicion. It's a good candidate for failure. Overheating usually occurs when an enclosure's main fan or fans fail, allowing temperature to build up. If the system gets hot enough that you start getting read-write errors before the problem is spotted and fixed, there's a good chance the lifespan of the drives has been drastically shortened.

About the author:
Rick Cook specializes in writing about issues related to storage and storage management.

Misconceptions about HDD MTBF

2008-12-15T18:46:00.001-08:00

Manufacturers of hard disk drives typically label their products with various industry-standard statistics. One statistic that has sparked a lot of controversy in the hard disk drive arena is the Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) rating.

Mean Time Between Failure ratings, usually calibrated in hours, are an index of the general lifetime of the item in bulk. So if a hard disk drive has an MTBF of 300,000 hours, that means if you run a batch of them for that long, at least half will have failed after 300,000 hours of use.

People have four misperceptions about Mean Time Between Failures when using it as a gauge to make hardware buying decisions.

Mean Time Between Failures are derived from populations -- millions or tens of millions of units, not individual units. That is why MTBF ratings are misleading if used to describe the lifetime of a single unit. This is the biggest misunderstanding about MTBF.
The MTBF is not constant; it can change with time. A hard disk drive that has been in operation continuously for three years may be more susceptible to failure due to changes in environment than one that was just installed. Mean Time Between Failures ratings are usually accompanied by some assumptions about usage (the "duty cycle").
Many factors can affect the MTBF, such as whether or not a given component is temperature-controlled. If you take two identically rated hard disk drives, place one in a system that has no airflow to the hard disk drive cage and the other in a system that has airflow, the air-cooled drive will almost certainly last longer.
A single unit can have multiple points of failure -- and some of those points can be tolerated and some cannot. This makes a single number harder to assess.

In short, an Mean Time Between Failures rating for a piece of hardware is best applied when buying many units at once. If you're equipping 1,000 desktops with hard disk drives, or creating a drive array, the MTBF for a given hard drive will give you a fairly good idea of how many of those drives are likely to fail in a given period of time.

But if you're buying one hard disk drive, the Mean Time Between Failures is not going to be of much use to you. You'll be better off relying on good backup and data retention practices than you are throwing yourself on the mercy of statistics. Sure, it wouldn't hurt to opt for a piece of hardware with a better MTBF, but don't assume that a longer MTBF will automatically protect you from mishap.

About the author:
Serdar Yegulalp is editor of the Windows Insight, (formerly the Windows Power Users Newsletter), a blog site devoted to hints, tips, tricks and news for users and administrators of Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Vista. He has more than 12 years of Windows experience under his belt, and contributes regularly to SearchWinComputing.com and SearchSQLServer.com.

CrossLoop Badge

2008-10-12T21:02:00.001-07:00

The Windows 2003+XP Mix!

2008-09-29T03:12:00.000-07:00

Windows Server 2003 is well known for its superior speed, stability, and security when compared to Windows XP.� This fact is proven by Microsoft’s use of the Windows Server 2003 kernel in both Windows x64 and the upcoming Windows Vista.

Given this fact, it’s no wonder that many Windows users have already switched to Windows Server 2003 to gain such improvements. However, these users will have no doubt also discovered that compatibility issues are common when using Windows Server 2003 as a primary home-use OS. Until Now…

We are proud to present version 2.0 of Windows X’s popular Windows Server 2003 - XP Conversion Pack. This tool will convert the Windows 2003 codebase from ServerNT to WinNT, which will enable locked features and transform Windows Server 2003 into a more compatible, and usable OS like Windows XP. After converting, your OS will perform like Windows XP Professional x64 Edition. Finally you can gain all the advantages of running Windows Server 2003, without the compatibility headaches!

Features

Windows Server 2003/Windows XP conversion (Retail only)

Functions

1. It can apply Windows XP conversion as close as Windows XP Professional x64 Edition SP1/SP2
2. It can undo conversion back to original (You can choose to remove some or all)
3. It can convert Windows Server 2003 CD to Windows XP CD (Not real, though)

Download from:

http://www.windowsxlive.net/downloading-windows-server-2003---xp-conversion-pack

VB.net or C#?: The Best of the Debate :)

2008-07-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

I. From http://www.vbrad.com/article.aspx?id=63

Top 10 reasons C# is better than VB.NET

Posted on
8/23/2004
Author:
Robert Gelb

Let's get practical, religion aside, with an eye on programmer productivity, here are the top 10 reasons why C# is better than VB.NET, in no particular order. If you have some other ones, let me know.

1. In C# the line ends when I type the semicolon. The practical offshoot of this is that I write code like this:

string sql = @"SELECT *
FROM SomeSuchTable
WHERE ID='WhatHaveYou'
ORDER BY ThisAndThatField ASC ";

So when someone hands you a SQL statement you can just paste it into your code and the output (i.e. carriage returns) will still keep the format. In VB.NET, you would have to write the following to keep the formatting.

dim sql as string = "SELECT *" & vbCrLf
sql += "FROM SomeSuchTable" & vbCrLf
sql += "WHERE ID='WhatHaveYou'" & vbCrLf
sql += "ORDER BY ThisAndThatField ASC "

And that's annoying.

2. Increments/Decrements. a++;a--; 'Nuff said

3. Money. No, not the data type. The green. C# developers make more money. Don't believe me? Here is the proof. Like Orwell said, War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength and yeah, it's the same .NET framework, but Perception is Reality. Get over it. Learn it. Put it on the resume.

4. I am not sure whether this is a valid reason, but with C# I can use Borland C# Builder which sports my beloved SDI interface, a la VB3, so that you can code full screen. This interface was also available (though not by default), in VB4,5,6 and VS.NET 2002 beta 1. The SDI interface disappeared from the VS.NET product before it shipped though. Anyway, if you miss that kind of interface, you can use it in Borland C# Builder.

5. Error Catching. C# catches a lot more errors than VB.NET, such as uninitialized variables, dead code, etc...

6. You get to act really snotty to VB.NET developers, yeah! That's priceless.

7. The source code to the C# compiler is available from Microsoft and Novell. This means that you can theoretically develop apps for OSes other than Windows, such as Linux and MacOS. Thanks to Jai Lue for this tidbit.

8. C# has Operator Overloading (my favorite feature from C++). Though, via the grapevine, VB.NET will have this feature in VS 2005. Thanks to Aditya Vaze for this language delicacy.

9. Comments in C# are just better. You can do multiline comments, XML comments, single line comments, etc... Thanks to German Voronin for this.

10. Regions in C# are far better. The key here is that you can place a region inside a function, thus breaking up the implementation into logical pieces. I simply love this ability.

II. From http://www.dnjonline.com/article.aspx?ID=mar05_vbvscsharp

Choosing between C# and VB.NET

The .NET Framework supports a variety of programming languages, including Microsoft?s much heralded C#. Huw Collingbourne considers whether Visual Basic is still as sharp as the competition.

Author: Huw Collingbourne

Last updated: Mar 2005

In the past, different programming languages tended to do things in their own way. Programmers using C++ would, in all probability, make use of the types and routines provided by the Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC) libraries; Visual Basic had its own built-in types and routines; non-Microsoft languages such as Delphi and Java used yet other class libraries, each of which was incompatible with each other.
With the advent of .NET that has changed. No matter which programming language you use, you will have access to the same rich collection of classes and functions provided by the .NET Framework. Indeed, it is even possible to write classes in one language and derive descendant classes from them in another language. Your source code is not compiled directly into a machine code executable. Instead it is translated into Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL). This intermediate language is only converted into machine code when the program is run by the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR).
In effect, the .NET CLR understands only one language: MSIL. This means that it really doesn’t matter which language your programs are written in. Whether they were written in C#, J#, VB, Delphi or some other .NET language, they will all end up as MSIL.
Given the fact that all .NET programming languages have access to the same class library, are translated to the same intermediate language and are executed by the same runtime system, you may wonder what, if anything, there is to choose between them. In this article, I shall be taking a close look at Microsoft’s two principal .NET languages, C# and VB.NET, in an attempt to answer this question.

Choosing between C# and Visual Basic
As far as the .NET Framework is concerned, all programming languages are pretty much equal. In the past, you may have evaluated languages on the basis of their compilation and execution efficiency or their editing, design and debugging tools. Most of these considerations are irrelevant when programming for .NET. Languages such as C#, VB.NET and others can, in principle, access the same classes and output the same MSIL code. When hosted by Visual Studio .NET, they even share the same development environment.
The really important differences between the languages are not to be found in their interaction with the runtime system but in the support they offer to the programmer. In short, the syntax, the structure and the clarity of the languages are paramount.
You only have to glance at some C# and VB.NET code to see some of the obvious differences. On the whole, C# is much terser than VB.NET. To take a simple example, consider the way in which the two languages delimit blocks of code. In common with other C-like languages such as C++ and Java, C# uses curly brace delimiters. VB.NET, by contrast, uses various keywords such as End If, End Sub and Next to terminate specific code blocks.
Some people would argue that the more verbose syntax of VB.NET makes the code clearer (more ‘self documenting’). On the other hand, it would equally well be argued that C# has the virtue of consistency, since curly braces are used to delimit everything and the built-in bracket matching tool makes it easy to find the braces at the start and end of each code block. Ultimately, this is a matter of personal preference which is likely to depend on your previous programming experience.
While it is generally true to characterise C# as the terser language, this is not invariably the case. When you need to read or write multiple properties of a single object, VB.NET provides the very useful with keyword. This lets you enter the object variable just once rather than repeatedly. This can often make VB.NET considerably less verbose than C#, as you can see in this example:

’ Set TabPage properties in VB.NET
With TabControl1.TabPages(0)
.BackColor = Color.Red
.BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Fixed3D
.ToolTipText = "Click Me!"
.Text = "Hello world"
End With

// Set TabPage properties in C#
tabControl1.TabPages[0].BackColor = Color.Red;
tabControl1.TabPages[0].BorderStyle = BorderStyle.Fixed3D;
tabControl1.TabPages[0].ToolTipText = "Click Me!";
tabControl1.TabPages[0].Text = "Hello world";

For programmers with no previous experience of a C-like language, VB.NET code will, in most cases, be easier to understand than the C# equivalent. Take the example of a simple for loop. You could read this VB.NET version aloud and understand what it does:

For i As Integer = 0 To 7
TabControl1.TabPages(i).Text = "Tab: " + i.ToString()
Next i

The same cannot be said of its C# equivalent:

for(int i = 0;i < 8; i++){
tabControl1.TabPages[i].Text = "Tab: " + i;
}

Incidentally, there are two interesting things to note in the code fragments shown above. First, experienced VB programmers may be surprised to see the declaration of i As Integer in the For loop. In previous versions of VB, the counter variable in a For loop had to be pre-declared. The other thing to note is that C# automatically converts the integer variable, i , to a string when it is concatenated using the + operator. VB.NET does not permit this. Instead it requires the variable to be explicitly converted using the ToString() method.

Smooth Operators
There are several non-intuitive or ambiguous features which C# has inherited from the C language. To take a simple example, C# allows programmers to increment or decrement the values of a variable by placing two plus ( ++ ) or minus ( -- ) characters either before or after the variable. The resulting value can then be assigned to some other variable. However, the effect of the assignment varies according to the position of the increment operators. If placed before the variable, the increment is done before the value is assigned. If placed after the variable, the value is assigned before the increment is done. Used carelessly, this can result in subtle bugs. The VB.NET syntax does not allow such ambiguity.
On the other hand, VB.NET has acquired some C-style operators which can be used for brevity. The += and -= operators, for instance, allow you to increment or decrement the value of a variable without having to repeat the variable name on the right-hand side of the assignment:

x += y ’ this is the same as x = x + y

Other distinguishing features of the VB.NET and C# languages include the case sensitivity of C#. In VB.NET, a variable named MYVAR can also be written as myvar. In C#, these would be treated as two different variables. There are, of course, numerous syntactical differences ranging from the declaration of variables ( Dim VariableName As TypeName in VB.NET, TypeName VariableName; in C#) to the way in which statements are terminated (typically the end of a line in VB.NET and a semi-colon in C#).

Better Safe Than Sorry?
More significantly, C# gives programmers the option of using pointers. Pointers are variables which refer or ‘point’ to specific locations in memory. They are so widely used in C and C++ that many programmers may find it difficult to conceive of programming without them.
The trouble with pointers is that they are inherently unsafe. They make it easy to corrupt memory, overwrite data and crash your applications. C# discourages the use of pointers but does permit their use within blocks of code marked with the unsafe directive.
Code marked with the unsafe directive is ‘unmanaged’. This means that it is run as native machine code without benefiting from the services of the CLR. The use of pointers may be useful for certain special programming tasks that require the direct manipulation of memory or interaction with COM. In most cases, however, the .NET Framework provides all the services your program requires without having to resort to the hazards of unmanaged code. VB.NET is more restrictive than C# in this respect. It does not permit the use of unsafe code under any circumstances.
Even so, it is not quite true to say that pointers can never be used. VB.NET provides access to pointers using the IntPtr type. This allows a limited range of pointer operations. For example, an IntPtr variable can be used to store a handle to a file or a window.
If you prefer to program in VB.NET but have an occasional need to use pointers, you can, of course, add a C# or even a C++ project to your solution in order to do all the ‘dirty work’.

Developer Support
Aside from the features of the languages themselves, there are also several significant differences in the way in which they are supported by the Visual Studio .NET environment. The code editor provides more automatic formatting and IntelliSense code-completion for VB.NET than for C#. For example, to create a property in VB.NET you need only enter the keyword property and a name such as MyProp. When you press the Enter key, the editor generates all of the following code:

Property MyProp()
Get
End Get
Set(ByVal Value)
End Set
End Property

In C# you would have to enter all the equivalent code for a property by hand.
The editor supplies many other types of automatic formatting for VB.NET. For example, it adjusts the capitalisation of keywords for consistency and it optionally reformats code by logically aligning statements, adding missing end quotes to strings, supplying parentheses to function calls and so on. The automatic formatting options available to C# are far less complete.

[Image]

The Visual Studio editor provides a number of automatic code formatting and completion options specifically for VB.NET. These can be disabled if you don’t like them.

Making the choice
In summary, when evaluating programming languages for .NET, the choice between C# and VB.NET is largely a matter of personal preference. In the past, VB may have been looked down upon by some developers who considered it to be inherently less powerful than other general purpose languages. But VB.NET is altogether a different beast from VB6. It is every bit as powerful as C#, it has full access to the .NET Framework and its compiled applications should generally be just as fast and efficient as similar applications written in C#.
The only major difference between the two languages is that C# can break out of the ‘managed’ world of .NET to support unsafe code should this be required. However unsafe code is, as its name suggests, inherently hazardous and you may feel that it is a good thing to avoid using it. Explicit use of pointers is seldom required when programming .NET. If you really feel that you cannot do without pointers, then C# would be a good choice of language. If you are happy to work within the managed world of .NET, then C# or VB.NET would be equally suitable for your purposes.
Of course, there are other .NET languages available too. At first sight, C++ might seem the most attractive choice for programmers with previous experience of that language. You need to be aware, however, that the .NET version of C++ is best used for manipulating unmanaged memory. In most cases, C# would be a better choice of .NET language for a programmer with C++ experience. Unlike C++, the C# language was specifically designed for the .NET Framework. It benefits from a simple syntax, garbage collection and type safety to eliminate many potential bugs.
For Java programmers, the J# language provides a Java-style alternative to C#. It offers the easiest migration path for projects developed using Microsoft’s Visual J++. However, bear in mind that the syntax of C# is also very similar to that of Java. Moreover, both Java and C# provide garbage collection to reclaim unused memory, they both avoid pointers by default and implement a simplified form of single-descent object orientation. Unless you have a particular reason for selecting J#, therefore, the C# language should generally be preferred.

A Very Vivid V

2008-07-06T03:40:00.000-07:00

Here's the introduction given by V to Evey in the movie "V for Vendetta" along with all the vocabulary building stuff. Enjoy!

“Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant and vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition! The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.”

Meanings:

Vaudevillian

Main Entry:

vaude·ville

Pronunciation:

\ˈvȯd-vəl, ˈväd-, ˈvōd-, -ˌvil; ˈvȯ-də-, ˈvä-, ˈvō-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, from Middle French, popular satirical song, alteration of vaudevire, from vau-de-Vire valley of Vire, town in northwest France where such songs were composed

Date:

1827

1 : a light often comic theatrical piece frequently combining pantomime, dialogue, dancing, and song 2 : stage entertainment consisting of various acts (as performing animals, comedians, or singers)

— vaude·vil·lian \ˌvȯd-ˈvil-yən, ˌväd-, ˌvōd-; ˌvȯ-də-, ˌvä-, ˌvō-\ noun or adjective

Veteran

Main Entry:

vet·er·an

Pronunciation:

\ˈve-tə-rən, ˈve-trən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Latin veteranus, from veteranus, adjective, old, of long experience, from veter-, vetus old — more at wether

Date:

1509

1 a: an old soldier of long service b: a former member of the armed forces2: a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill (as politics or the arts)

— veteran adjective

Vicariously

Main Entry:

vi·car·i·ous

Pronunciation:

\vī-ˈker-ē-əs, və-\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin vicarius, from vicis change, alternation, stead — more at week

Date:

1637

1 a: serving instead of someone or something else b: that has been delegated <vicarious authority>2: performed or suffered by one person as a substitute for another or to the benefit or advantage of another : substitutionary vicarious sacrifice>3: experienced or realized through imaginative or sympathetic participation in the experience of another4: occurring in an unexpected or abnormal part of the body instead of the usual one <vicarious menstruation manifested by bleeding from the nose>

— vi·car·i·ous·ly adverb

— vi·car·i·ous·ness noun

Vicissitudes

Main Entry:

vi·cis·si·tude

Pronunciation:

\və-ˈsi-sə-ˌtüd, vī-, -ˌtyüd\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle French, from Latin vicissitudo, from vicissim in turn, from vicis change, alternation — more at week

Date:

circa 1576

1 a: the quality or state of being changeable : mutability b: natural change or mutation visible in nature or in human affairs2 a: a favorable or unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance : a fluctuation of state or condition vicissitudes of daily life> b: a difficulty or hardship attendant on a way of life, a career, or a course of action and usually beyond one's control c: alternating change : succession

Vestige

Main Entry:

ves·tige

Pronunciation:

\ˈves-tij\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin vestigium footstep, footprint, track, vestige

Date:

15th century

1 a (1): a trace, mark, or visible sign left by something (as an ancient city or a condition or practice) vanished or lost (2): the smallest quantity or trace b: footprint 12: a bodily part or organ that is small and degenerate or imperfectly developed in comparison to one more fully developed in an earlier stage of the individual, in a past generation, or in closely related forms

synonyms see trace

— ves·ti·gial \ve-ˈsti-jē-əl, -jəl\ adjective

— ves·ti·gial·ly adverb

Vox Populi

a Latin phrase that literally means voice of the people, is a term often used in broadcasting for interviews of members of the "general public". Often quoted as, Vox populi, vox dei, "The voice of the people is the voice of God", is an old proverb often erroneously attributed to William of Malmesbury in the twelfth century.

Valorous

Main Entry:

val·or·ous

Pronunciation:

\ˈva-lə-rəs\

Function:

adjective

Date:

15th century

: valiant

— val·or·ous·ly adverb

Visitation

Main Entry:

vis·i·ta·tion

Pronunciation:

\ˌvi-zə-ˈtā-shən\

Function:

noun

Date:

14th century

1: an instance of visiting: as a: an official visit (as for inspection) b: ²wake 3 c: temporary custody of a child granted to a noncustodial parent <visitation rights> 2 a: a special dispensation of divine favor or wrath b: a severe trial : affliction3capitalized : the visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth recounted in Luke and celebrated July 2 by a Christian feast

Vexation

Main Entry:

vex·a·tion

Pronunciation:

\vek-ˈsā-shən\

Function:

noun

Date:

15th century

1 : the act of harassing or vexing : troubling 2 : the quality or state of being vexed : irritation 3 : a cause of trouble : affliction

Vivified

Main Entry:

viv·i·fy

Pronunciation:

\ˈvi-və-ˌfī\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

viv·i·fied; viv·i·fy·ing

Etymology:

Middle English vivifien to nourish, from Anglo-French vivifier to give life to, from Late Latin vivificare, from Latin vivificus enlivening, from vivus alive — more at quick

Date:

14th century

1 : to endow with life or renewed life : animate vivify the barren hills> 2 : to impart vitality or vividness to vivifies both — John Dewey>

synonyms see quicken

— viv·i·fi·ca·tion \ˌvi-və-fə-ˈkā-shən\ noun

— viv·i·fi·er \ˈvi-və-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun

Venal

Main Entry:

ve·nal

Pronunciation:

\ˈvē-n^əl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin venalis, from venum (accusative) sale; akin to Greek ōneisthai to buy, Sanskrit vasna price

Date:

1652

1: capable of being bought or obtained for money or other valuable consideration : purchasable; especially : open to corrupt influence and especially bribery : mercenary venal legislator>2: originating in, characterized by, or associated with corrupt bribery venal arrangement with the police>

— ve·nal·i·ty \vi-ˈna-lə-tē\ noun

— ve·nal·ly \ˈvē-n^əl-ē\ adverb

Virulent

Main Entry:

vir·u·lent

Pronunciation:

\ˈvir-ə-lənt, ˈvir-yə-\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin virulentus, from virus poison

Date:

14th century

1 a: marked by a rapid, severe, and destructive course virulent infection> b: able to overcome bodily defensive mechanisms : markedly pathogenic <virulent bacteria>2: extremely poisonous or venomous3: full of malice : malignant <virulent racists>4: objectionably harsh or strong <virulent criticism>

— vir·u·lent·ly adverb

Vermin

Main Entry:

ver·min

Pronunciation:

\ˈvər-mən\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural vermin

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French vermin, vermine, from verm worm, from Latin vermis

Date:

14th century

1 a: small common harmful or objectionable animals (as lice or fleas) that are difficult to control b: birds and mammals that prey on game c: animals that at a particular time and place compete (as for food) with humans or domestic animals2: an offensive person

Vanguarding

Main Entry:

van·guard

Pronunciation:

\ˈvan-ˌgärd also ˈvaŋ-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English vauntgard, from Anglo-French vantgarde, avantgarde, from avant- fore- (from avant before, from Late Latin abante) + garde guard — more at advance

Date:

15th century

1 : the troops moving at the head of an army 2 : the forefront of an action or movement

— van·guard·ism \-ˌgär-ˌdi-zəm\ noun

— van·guard·ist \-dist\ noun

Vouchsafing

Main Entry:

vouch·safe

Pronunciation:

\vau̇ch-ˈsāf, ˈvau̇ch-ˌ\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

vouch·safed; vouch·saf·ing

Etymology:

Middle English vouchen sauf to grant, consent, deign, from Anglo-French voucher salf

Date:

14th century

1 a: to grant or furnish often in a gracious or condescending manner b: to give by way of reply vouchsafe an explanation>2: to grant as a privilege or special favor

synonyms see grant

— vouch·safe·ment \vau̇ch-ˈsāf-mənt\ noun

Volition

Main Entry:

vo·li·tion

Pronunciation:

\vō-ˈli-shən, və-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, from Medieval Latin volition-, volitio, from Latin vol- (stem of velle to will, wish) + -ition-, -itio (as in Latin position-, positio position) — more at will

Date:

1615

1: an act of making a choice or decision; also : a choice or decision made2: the power of choosing or determining : will

— vo·li·tion·al \-ˈlish-nəl, -ˈli-shə-n^əl\ adjective

Vendetta

Main Entry:

ven·det·ta

Pronunciation:

\ven-ˈde-tə\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Italian, literally, revenge, from Latin vindicta — more at vindictive

Date:

1855

1 : blood feud 2 : an often prolonged series of retaliatory, vengeful, or hostile acts or exchange of such acts vendetta against those who opposed his nomination>

Votive

Main Entry:

vo·tive

Pronunciation:

\ˈvō-tiv\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin votivus, from votum vow

Date:

1597

1 : consisting of or expressing a vow, wish, or desire votive prayer> 2 : offered or performed in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion

— vo·tive·ly adverb

— vo·tive·ness noun

Veracity

Main Entry:

ve·rac·i·ty

Pronunciation:

\və-ˈra-sə-tē\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural ve·rac·i·ties

Date:

circa 1623

1 : devotion to the truth : truthfulness 2 : power of conveying or perceiving truth 3 : conformity with truth or fact : accuracy 4 : something true veracities>

Vindicate

Main Entry:

vin·di·cate

Pronunciation:

\ˈvin-də-ˌkāt\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

vin·di·cat·ed; vin·di·cat·ing

Etymology:

Latin vindicatus, past participle of vindicare to lay claim to, avenge, from vindic-, vindex claimant, avenger

Date:

circa 1571

1obsolete : to set free : deliver2: avenge3 a: to free from allegation or blame b (1): confirm, substantiate (2): to provide justification or defense for : justify c: to protect from attack or encroachment : defend4: to maintain a right to

synonyms see exculpate, maintain

— vin·di·ca·tor \-ˌkā-tər\ noun

Verily

Main Entry:

ver·i·ly

Pronunciation:

\ˈver-ə-lē\

Function:

adverb

Etymology:

Middle English verraily, from verray very

Date:

14th century

1 : in truth : certainly 2 : truly, confidently

Vichyssoise

Main Entry:

vi·chys·soise

Pronunciation:

\ˌvi-shē-ˈswäz, ˌvē-\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, from feminine of vichyssois of Vichy, from Vichy, France

Date:

1939

: a soup typically made of pureed leeks or onions and potatoes, cream, and chicken stock and usually served cold

Verbiage

Main Entry:

ver·biage

Pronunciation:

\ˈvər-bē-ij also -bij\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, from Middle French verbier to chatter, alteration of Old French verboier, verbloier, from Old French (Picard dialect) werbler to trill — more at warble

Date:

circa 1721

1 : a profusion of words usually of little or obscure content verbiage as a typical party platform — Marcia Davenport> 2 : manner of expressing oneself in words : diction verbiage so jealously — R. A. Sokolov>

verbose

Main Entry:

ver·bose

Pronunciation:

\(ˌ)vər-ˈbōs\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Latin verbosus, from verbum

Date:

1672

1: containing more words than necessary : wordy verbose reply>; also : impaired by wordiness verbose style>2: given to wordiness verbose orator>

synonyms see wordy

— ver·bose·ly adverb

— ver·bose·ness noun

— ver·bos·i·ty \-ˈbä-sə-tē\ noun

Word Meanings Brought to you from:

Merriam-Webster Home: http://www.merriam-webster.com/

http://www.m-w.com/

Compiled by Siddharth Mankad ( http://sid89.blogspot.com )

All about BluRay

2008-06-25T06:34:00.001-07:00

Hi folks. here's stuff I read about Blu-Ray from the official Blu-Ray Website ( http://www.blu-ray.com ):

Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray,
also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation
optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association
(BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal
computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP,
JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony,
TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording,
rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as
storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times
the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a
single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity
combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer
consumers an unprecedented HD experience.

While current optical disc technologies such as DVD,
DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data,
the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name
Blu-ray. Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-ray products
can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the
use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit. The benefit of using
a blue-violet laser (405nm) is that it has a shorter wavelength than a
red laser (650nm), which makes it possible to focus the laser spot with
even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and
stored in less space, so it's possible to fit more data on the disc
even though it's the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the
change of numerical aperture to 0.85 is what enables Blu-ray Discs to
hold 25GB/50GB.

Blu-ray is currently supported by more than 180 of the
world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer, recording
media, video game and music companies. The format also has broad
support from the major movie studios as a successor to today's DVD
format. In fact, seven of the eight major movie studios (Disney, Fox,
Warner, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate and MGM) have released movies in the
Blu-ray format and six of them (Disney, Fox, Sony, Warner, Lionsgate
and MGM) are releasing their movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format.
Many studios have also announced that they will begin releasing new
feature films on Blu-ray Disc day-and-date with DVD, as well as a
continuous slate of catalog titles every month. For more information
about Blu-ray movies, check out our Blu-ray movies and Blu-ray reviews
section which offers information about new and upcoming Blu-ray
releases, as well as what movies are currently available in the Blu-ray
format.

For more information about Blu-ray, please see our Blu-ray FAQ