March 21, 2007, 8:31 PM CT

Vista Start Menu

One of my major grudges with Windows Vista has been the way it's start menu works. I am someone who regularly arranges the start menu entry into folder and subfolders. In this way, in spite of having a large number of applications instaled, whenever I want to launch a program I know exactly where to look. But in Windows Vista, Microsoft got rid of the old cascading style start menu. Now, the programs list shows up within the start menu itself (instead of popping out). This is convenient if you dont have a large number of start menu entries. However, if you have a large number of entries organised into folder and subfolders , you would need to click several times to just launch the program. The other option is to use the search feature, but its not very convinient to keep switching from mouse to keyboard everytime I need to launch some application.

Vista Start Menu solved my problems and did more.

The Pros: Installing and configuring Vista Start Menu (hereafter referred to as VSM) is a breeze. VSM supports Windows Vista, Windows XP as well as older versions of Windows like Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows 2003. It integrated itself and replaced the system start menu without any hassle. If you want you can also use it via the system tray (without replacing the system start menu), VSM's colour style is similar to Aero Style used in vista, and looks pretty in comparison to the default start menu in Windows Xp and other older Windows OSs. However, it lacks the polished look offered by Windows Vista. VSM is freely resizable and allows flexible zoom so it's comfortable to use at any resolution. In VSM even if you have a large number of Start Menu entries, the menu would never go out of the screen boundaries (unlike in older versions of Windows)......... Posted by: Ethan      Read more         Source

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 02:05:34 GMT

Microsoft Live Search Chief Leaves Office

Christopher Payne, who has recently served as vice president of Microsoft’s Windows Live Search group, is leaving the software company, according to people familiar with the situation. Apparently Payne’s departure is taking place when Microsoft continues to wrestle against Google in Internet search even though the company has tried to overhaul its search site with a new look and features.

According to the reports, Payne is leaving this company to start his own technology company. He has spent more than 13 years at Microsoft. The sources informed that he had made the decision several weeks back. Payne had rejoined Microsoft in 2001 after a three-year stint at Amazon.com, played a key role in persuading the company to develop its own search engine instead of relying on Yahoo. Before Amazon, Payne had spent eight years at Microsoft.

In the online search engine market, Microsoft still struggles to plant a foot hold after years of stint with this technology. Google had 54 per cent of all search queries in January, followed by Yahoo with 23 per cent and Windows Live with just 9 per cent.

The officials at Microsoft declined to speak on the departure of Payne. Moreover, Payne would become the second person from Microsoft’s Internet arm in the last week planning to leave the company. Blake Irving, a Microsoft vice president who was in charge of the company’s AdCenter system that sells ads next to search results, announced his plans to retireRead

Posted by: Balendu      Read more     Source

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:14:25 GMT

Acme's Tri-Folding Screens for Laptops

Looks like Acme (yes, there is apparently such a company) is developing some tech that I don't think I can do without. This laptop has three screens, which could easily become an industry standard once they perfect the process.

As it is, the screens look kind of bolted on. However, I have reprollable display in the past, and I see no reason why the tech won't exist to fold three screens into one. Of course, it may lead to a thicker laptop, but if it is light enough to carry around, who cares?

Via Engadget Posted by: Mark Rollins      Read more     Source

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:13:33 GMT

Wish spam would just die

Among the vast amount of spam and anti-spam information available on the internet right now, I seem to be very kDeath to Spam website. It stands out by giving you step by step instructions how to deal with the spam that slips through your e-mail filters, going to such depth that even a total newbie would understand it.

From filters to threats, commercial to sexual spam, tracerout to find the perpetrator, this site is a beginner/intermediate guide to making spammers suffer. Steven William Rimmer, who wrote all the tutorials, is on my list of good, earnest and smart people.

What are you waiting foDeath to Spam and start learning your basics. Posted by: Ivy      Read more     Source

March 19, 2007, 10:31 PM CT

Pinpointing Traffic Accident "Hotspots"

Ohio State University scientists have created software that can identify traffic accident hotspots on state roadways.

The software is publicly available and can be adapted for use by any state, said Christopher Holloman, associate director of the Statistical Consulting Service in Ohio State's Department of Statistics. Currently, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is using it to help position its cruisers during major holidays.

"We can make predictions for every major roadway in Ohio, under all possible road conditions, for every hour of the day, for every day of the week," Holloman said.

The software relies on reports of injuries and fatalities from the highway patrol, and incorporates statistics about what makes accidents happen.

Common accident causes such as speeding or alcohol consumption are fairly easy to model using computers, Holloman explained. Others -- such as when a driver will be distracted by a cell phone -- are impossible. So the software makes general forecasts.

"Everyone would love to be able to predict exactly where and when the next crash would be, but there are just too many factors involved, and too much randomness to do that," he said. "We can confidently make broad statements, like whether a particular piece of roadway is riskier at a particular time"......... Posted by: Ethan      Read more         Source

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:51:15 GMT

China Approves $2.5 Billion Intel Chip Plant

China’s cabinet has approved a $2.5 billion investment plan by Intel Corp. in a microchip plant in the northeastern city of Dalian. The approval was confirmed by the National Development and Reform Commission on Tuesday. The decision to approve chip-manufacturing plant in China was taken amid booming Chinese demand for chips used in personal computers and mobile phones.

Though Intel has refuse to confirm the construction plans, but rumors have been taking rounds for some time about company’s plan to set up a manufacturing plant in China. However, the company has already made explicit its intention of setting up manufacturing plant in mainland China.

The prospective plant could be a major breakthrough for China’s efforts to build a strong semiconductor sector. However, the approval is expected to raise concerns in the US over the transfer of strategic manufacturing technology to a potential economic and military rival. According to the NDRC, the plant would be able to produce chipsets with details as fine as 90 nanometres across on 300mm silicon wafers. The plant is expected to have capacity of producing 52,000 chips in a month.

Intel will be investing for the first time in a manufacturing facility in China. However, it has already invested around $1 billion in the mainland, where it has major test and assembly plants in Shanghai and the interior city of Chengdu. The company while speaking on its overseas investment plan has also indicated that t would invest more than $1 billion over five years to expand its operations in India.

Read Posted by: Balendu      Read more     Source

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 03:11:25 GMT

Imified : True Web 2.0

Yesterday I tried out something new and I was amazed. I tImified. What is imified ? In short : Imified is a service that offers an interface to existing web 2 servicesGoogle Calendar. What ?! Another interface ? So do I have to login to another website ?? No. That's the beuaty of it. The interface is through a bot in your favorite IM client.

So how good is it ? Well, extremely good. First thing I hate when I use a new service is creating an account. With imified, you don't have to. As soon as you add the IM contact name and send it some message, it creates your account (see the screenshot). Fantastic. From that moment on, you can manipulate and use the service from your IM client. Google Talk, I did it from there (well, from iChat, actually). After 2 minutes adding a service, I was able to post to my wordpress website from Google Talk. And that is simply impressive.

Imified is the most innovative service I have seen so far. Instead of offering another website with logins and an interface, it offers an interface using existing technology. Who could have thought you could ever blog from your IM ? Or put an appointment in your calendar ? Posted by: S.M. Schrama      Read more     Source

March 5, 2007, 4:18 PM CT

Designing Quantum Computers

As if building a computer out of rubidium atoms and laser beams weren't difficult enough, researchers sometimes have to work as if blindfolded: The quirks of quantum physics can cause correlations between the atoms to fade from view at crucial times.

What to do? Focus on the noise patterns. Building on earlier work by other groups, physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have observed that images of "noise" in clouds of ultracold atoms trapped by lasers reveal hidden structural patterns, including spacing between atoms and cloud size.

The technique, described in the Feb. 23 issue of Physical Review Letters,* was demonstrated in an experiment to partition about 170,000 atoms in an "optical lattice," produced by intersecting laser beams that are seen by the atoms as an array of energy wells arranged like an egg carton. By loading just one atom into each well, for example, researchers can create the initial state of a hypothetical quantum computer using neutral atoms to store and process information.

The atoms first are cooled to form a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), a unique form of matter in which all the atoms are in the same quantum state and completely indistinguishable. The optical lattice lasers then are slowly turned on and the BEC undergoes a transformation in which the atoms space out evenly in the lattice. More intense light creates deeper wells until each atom settles into its own lattice well. But during this transition, researchers lose their capability to see and measure key quantum correlations among the atoms......... Posted by: Ethan      Read more         Source

February 22, 2007, 10:02 PM CT

LapDawg Laptop Stand

We covered Belkin laptop accessories in January and appreciated the fact that its designers had taken into consideration the needs of home laptop users. To further heat up the competition in this segment comes a new entrant - the LapDawg Laptop Stand. The company behind the product claims that the lapdawg is "designed to change the way our body interacts with laptop computers by simply holding our laptops to a more comfortable, natural angle." Essentially, with this stand, you can comfortably use your laptop, without the use of your hands or laps to prop it up, while in bed or outdoors or any such traditionally unconventional laptop position.

The Lapdawg (I would have personally preferred a less canine sounding name) is made out of durable yet light-weight wood. The stand weighs only 1.5 lbs and that's a big plus. Moreover, in the looks department, it scores very well with its classy mahogany finish. If you are not in the mood to work on your laptop while in bed, you can also use it as a book holder or a bed tray. The best part, for a mobile person like me, is that you can just collapse it and stash it in your travel bag with the least fuss. All this comes at a premium cost though - a cool $99.99 (includes shipping)......... Posted by: Ethan      Read more         Source

February 20, 2007, 7:00 PM CT

Photo software creates 3-D world

In the digital age, organizing a photo collection has gone from bad to worse. The saying used to be that a picture is worth a thousand words. Now the question arises: what are a thousand pictures worth?.

In a word, mainly a headache.

"Anyone who has a digital camera has the problem that they have more photos than they can possibly navigate," says Steve Seitz, associate professor of computer science & engineering. "And it's always a problem to find the photo that you're looking for."

Now experimental software developed by UW and Microsoft computer scientists, called Photo Tourism, turns the surfeit of images into a benefit. Hundreds of photos of a single scene can be mapped into a 3-D virtual world. The technology has potential not just for organizing photo collections, but for capturing scenes and, perhaps someday, creating a visual map of all the photos on the Internet.

Over the past year the research has catapulted to the marketplace. Early work attracted attention in March at Microsoft's TechFest meeting. The project again made headlines in August when it was presented at a major graphics conference. Microsoft Live Labs signed a commercial license for the prototype software last August. Within a few months the company shipped a technology preview of a product that it called Photosynth......... Posted by: Ethan      Read more         Source