Top Posts of February 2008

From now, I decided to make a special post on 1st of each month, this post will contains all the top posts from previous month. New readers to Digital Passion may have missed the most interesting (according to stat) posts of the previous month. Here they can view and enjoy those posts. The other benefit of doing this is Search Engine Optimization.

• How to find Windows XP cd key in 10 seconds
• Who Else Wants the MacBook Air for FREE!
• High Resolution (1280x905) YouTube Logo
• Add the programs you want to Control Panel
• Why do text looks too blurry in Internet Explorer 7?
• Build-to-order cell phone store launched
• Easily find out who is the Owner of any Domain.
• How to Suggest a Feature to add in Gmail.
• How to behave on an internet forum
• The Next Generation PC for Blind users

EOL - Encyclopedia of Life goes Live

Encyclopedia of Life is officially launched. It is an fantastic project to organize and make available via internet all information about life present on Earth. This site was so popular in its first few hours that the it crashed quickly. According to EOL blog "there were 5.8M hits in the span of 3 hours."

In the first 24 hours (minus the approx. 3-4 hours we were completely down) there were: 18.5M hits, 13.3M page views, and 940GB of data transferred.

EOL launched the information of first 30,000 species (pages) and 25 species with full profile.

The EOL dynamically synthesizes biodiversity knowledge about all known species, including their taxonomy, geographic distribution, collections, genetics, evolutionary history, morphology, behavior, ecological relationships, and importance for human well being, and distribute this information through the Internet. It serves as a primary resource for a wide audience that includes scientists, natural resource managers, conservationists, teachers, and students around the world. We believe that the EOL's encompassing scope and innovation will have a major global impact in facilitating biodiversity research, conservation, and education.

EOL Website | EOL Blog | Video Tour

 

Picasa Tip: Super-Fast Full-Screen Preview

Here is a secret keyboard shortcut to fullscreen view of your images in Picasa. When you are in Library View, Move your mouse over any picture thumbnail, Hold down the 'CTRL' key, and then press 'ALT' key. You will instantly get a fullscreen view of that picture.

As soon as you take your finger off the 'ALT' key, you will be returned to the regular library view. This trick helps you to view the current picture in detail. This trick also works on the current photo when you are in Edit Room.

If you're looking to quickly compare a few adjacent thumbnails with the benefit of a full-screen view, simply scroll the mouse wheel when using the ctrl-alt key combo. (This is especially handy if you've just imported a clump of similar photos and want to quickly decide which to keep.)

Windows Live Messenger Library Beta Released!

 

The Windows Live Messenger Library is a JavaScript client library which allows third parties to securely provide web based instant messaging to their users. Developers can build presence-enabled instant messaging applications that web site visitors can use to interact with each other as well as with Windows Live Messenger client users. They can define the look & feel to create their own IM experience.

The Windows Live Messenger Library securely authenticates users, therefore their Windows Live ID credentials are safe.The library exposes the core text-based messaging functionality, contact list and presence management. WLML works cross browser and cross platform on Windows and Macs.

Key Takeaways

• End Users can now interact and share experiences with their Messenger contacts in more places (more securely than other libraries).
• ThirdParty.com can increase stickiness by delivering immersive, differentiated experiences and can increase reach by leveraging their user’s social relationships from Windows Live Messenger.
• Developers can use JavaScript (which they already know) or C# (via Script#) to fully define the messaging experience cross-browser without needing to develop their own messaging platform.
• Microsoft can increase the overall value of the Windows Live network and provide a safer alternative to rogue web Messenger libraries.

The Next Generation PC for Blind users

Siafu is a PC designed to give sight-challenged people a more intuitive computing experience. It gives digitally tactile interface that completely revolutionizes the way that blind people interact with a computer.

Siafu lays flat like a tablet and allows the user to fully interact with it by way of touch. The surface of Siafu utilizes a "conceptual material" called magneclay, which can morph upward into any shape. This means that Siafu can generate infinitely refreshable Braille and then display it in a book format. Siafu also has the ability to display images as a 3D relief, which allows blind users to experience digital images and graphic layouts for the first time.

Get great quality cheap Mobile Phones with free Gifts

If you are looking for cheap mobile phone deals then I recommend you Mobile Express. Mobile Express is one of the UK's most popular supplier of mobile phones. Mobile Express is specializing in mobile phones contract. It offers the best deals in mobile phones direct to the public over the phone and through their website. Without the expense of high street shops, Mobile Express cuts out the middleman and so is able to pass on the savings to customers.

Mobile Express offers huge collection of latest mobile phone's of all popular brands like Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, LG and many others in cheap rates. It also offers the customer free gifts with the cell phones. Gifts like Sony PS3, Xbox 360s, Nintendo Wiis, iPod, TVs, etc.

The great features I like of this company are,

• It offers their customers £20 discount for ordering more than one phone.
• Free Next Day Delivery
• Free Insurance for 3 Months
• They have a great Informative Mobile Phone Blog

But, the one thing which looks unprofessional on their great designed site is there logo. Here are some logo's I have created for them. These logo's are just simple not professional because I am not a logo designer. If they like it, they can use them or they can hire any professional logo designer.

So, log on to www.mobileexpress.co.uk select your phone and get your free gift today.

Russian Ad for Gmail

GOS posted an interesting post which includes a video ad created by Saatchi & Saatchi Moscow to promote Gmail in Russia. I thought you might like this.

YouTube was down for nearly half-an-hour

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

One out of every Three Clicks on a Google or Yahoo ad is Fraudulent

Click Forensics has released some data on click fraud (fake clicks on Internet ads) in the fourth quarter of 2007 and for the full year. According to this data, nearly one out of every three clicks on a Google or Yahoo ad is fraudulent - TechCrunch.

Click Forensics also released the handy heat map which shows the countries where the most click fraud is originating. The greatest percentage of click fraud originating from countries outside North America came from India (4.3 percent) Germany (3.9 percent) and South Korea (3.7 percent).

Vista SP1 accidentally released yesterday

ZDNet reports, Yesterday some people got a surprise - Windows Vista SP1 coming down the Windows Update pipes. Turns out someone at Microsoft flipped the wrong switch.

..Today, a build of SP1 was posted to Windows Update and it was inadvertently made available to a broad group. The build was intended only for our more technically advanced testers, and was meant to only be offered to those with a specific registry key set on their PC. For general availability, we are still planning to make SP1 broadly available in the mid-March timeframe.

To get Vista SP1 you have to wait until mid-March. You were lucky if you got it in yesterdays accidental release.

Firefox: Celebrating 500 Million Downloads

Congratulations Firefox!

The most popular open-source web browser "Firefox" crossed the 500 million downloads. The Firefox was originally named Phoenix and the 1.0 version was released in November 2004. In September 2007 Firefox crossed 400 million mark and today it reached the milestone. Users will soon get the latest version 3.0 of Firefox.

To celebrate this milestone, Mozilla is inviting people to play a game over at freerice.com to help donate rice to those in need. They said,

With your help we can break another milestone today with FreeRice.com by donating 500 million grains of rice.

How to behave on an internet forum

How To Behave On An Internet Forum

It's a funny 8-bit animation from VideoJug. This video explains how to deal with the typical kinds of things that happen in an online forum.

[via Boing Boing]

Poor Pluto!

[via TechandAmusingStuff]

High Resolution (1280x905) YouTube Logo

YouTube world's no.1 video sharing website powered by the search engine giant Google. Today I stumbled upon a website and I found an interesting high resolution logo of YouTube which is rare on Internet, so I thought to share it with you(tube) . You may also want to see High Resolution (3600x1500) Google Logo.

A artist of SheezyArt released this logo. He also wrote

I can never find a Youtube logo on google image search which is no bigger than 150 pixels wide... so I'm about to make internet history by releasing this 1280px wide thing...

Nokia's new echo-friendly phone - Remade

Nokia unveiled a echo-friendly phone at the Mobile World Congress. This phone is a concept phone named "Remade". This phone is designed to explore how recycled materials could be used to make mobiles in the future.

This concept phone is made out of echo-friendly materials like upcycled aluminum cans, plastics from drink bottles form the chassis, and its rubber key mats are provided by old car tyres. This time Nokia has developed some new more environmentally friendly technologies such as printed electronics, and the graphics used on the display save energy without compromising on style.

According to Nokia, the idea behind the “remade” concept was to see if it was possible to create a device made from nothing new.

Collapsible Surfboard

Every object in the world is becoming compact, that surfboard you never seem to find the time to use just takes up more and more space. Nicholas Notara has decided to devote some time to the problem and has created the collapsible surfboard.

This carbon-fiber board has been carefully designed to maintain the balance and weight of its traditional counterpart, but with the help of two pins and a quick release lever can halve in size. A hot-swappable fin system completes the board with style and presents a viable concept that may make a surfboard purchase not such a bad idea.

source

Get best T-Mobile deals on Dial-a-Phone

T-Mobile is one of the largest mobile companies in the world which operates GSM and UMTS networks in Europe and the United States. "T" stands for "Telekom". It provides you a great range of latest phones at amazing prizes. You can have mobiles of top brands like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Motorola as well as other top manufacturers which lets you enjoy hassle free connectivity with fantastic coverage.

Dial-a-Phone is UK's largest mobile phone retailer with a wide range of cheap mobile phones. It offers latest mobile phones with the popular brands like Nokia, Samsung etc. at low prices. Dial-a-Phone has great offers over tmobile phones. Dial-a-Phone has both contract mobile phones as well as pay as you go option.

The most I like is their unique search facility on their website that allows the user to add free gifts such as PS3s, Xbox 360s, iPods etc to their deals with any combination of minutes and texts. It also provide great discount on 12 month contract for T Mobile with numerous tariffs to choose from, and offers £20 discount for ordering more than one phone. So, Planning to buy a T-Mobile phone? Take a look at their website and choose the phone that suits you needs with your free gift. Get latest Deals on Dial-a-Phone.

Google unveils its own Phone

ARM, the British chipmaker, recently unveiled the prototype of Google Phone at MWC. This prototype runs on unfinished Android platform. The keypad just looks like the palm devices.

The phone, tipped to rival Apple's iPhone, runs on Android, a mobile phone operating system launched by Google last November.

It features an internet browser, map software, multimedia applications, text messaging, calendar functions and email as well as a phone.

Read More about this

source

Nokia introduced a beta version of Nokia Maps 2.0

Nokia announced a beta version of Nokia Maps 2.0 at Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona, Spain. This new version of navigation system combines the features of satellite images and multimedia city guides.

Taking maps and navigation experience to the next level, Nokia introduced the new feature called Walk - pedestrian navigation, in addition to Drive - world class car navigation, multimedia city guides, satellite maps and other innovative features.

This feature "Walk" lets you find your way in the city when you are on foot, it shows a small breadcrumbs where you have been walking so you easily see what direction to take. This feature offers visual turn-by-turn instructions to the user and information about surrounding objects like buildings, streets etc.

The beta offers satellite maps in 200 cities worldwide, This update is available for downloading at Nokia website.

To get more information regarding supported devices, system requirements, installation instructions visit Nokia Betalabs website.

Win $500 Cash by blogging about BusinessBlogger's Contest

I found a contest, which is going on in the blogsphere. The Business Blogger is running a contest, in which they are giving away $500 Cash and a BFG NVIDIA Graphics Card.

This is all about to create a buzz of their site launch and February promotions of their new Business+Directory. To enter this contest, all you have to do is just blog about their contest and give a link back to their directory.

Here are the rules in their own words to qualify for the Prizes.

• Link to this contest page so that others will know how to join.
• Link to Business+Directory telling your readers about the February promotion.
• Original post must come from your blog so that we know who to send the money to. Post should be at least 250 words using your own unique writing style, please don’t cut and paste from this post.

The deadline of this contest is 29 Feb 2008 and prizes will be rewarded during March.

The first prize of $500 will be given to the winner by Paypal. The runner up will take home a brand new BFG NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT OC 512MB PCIe with ThermoIntelligence Graphics Card (shipped via USPS).

More about the card:
This card comes with a HDTV adapter and HDCP capability for high definition video allowing you to connect two LCD displays to boost your multi-tasking experience.

So best luck to those who are interested in this contest, I have already participated by posting about it. Share any Idea if you have, What you will do with that $500 if you win this contest.

iWave Cube, the Personal Portable Microwave

The iWave Cube a little microwave measures one cubic foot (about the size of a Kleenex box), and weighs just 12 pounds. You still need to plug it in, so there's a limit to how far you can run. The iWave Cube comes in black, red or silver, and retails for $130.

source

Sony Ericsson officially announces W980 (Alona)

Sony Ericsson officially announced the W980 aka Alona, a Walkman phone that promises to get the most out of your music with its unique audio enhancing technology. This latest Walkman phone brings 8GB of internal storage. This phone is designed to allow you to listen to music as it should be heard, supposed to be true to the original recording. It has a built-in FM transmitter which enables you to send to send whatever’s playing on your phone to any other devices that has an FM radio receiver. So playing music through your cars stereo will be fun while traveling.

The Walkman on Top feature gives you the full functionality of a Walkman player without even having to open your phone. The entire Walkman player that would normally be displayed on the inside of your clamshell is also replicated on the outside of the phone, so navigation through your music library is effortless.

This phone has lots of feature, a 3.2-megapixel camera with 3.2x digital zoom, TrackID, Shake control, stereo Bluetooth, Video Streaming, Video Calling, Picture Blogging, Video Blogging etc.

The UMTS/HSDPA/GSM/GPRS Walkman phone will be available Q3. Press Release

Source

Find Windows XP Product Key in 10 seconds

This video will guide you to obtain Windows XP Product Key from the Installation CD.

XP PRODUCT KEY IN 10 SECONDS

XP CD KEY IN 10 SECONDS - video powered by Metacafe

Cat: Did I just hit that dog?

Want to See More Funny Pictures? [via: Tech and Amusing Stuff]

How to Suggest a Feature to add in Gmail.

Gmail always want to be the best and unique by providing great services to their users. They are constantly building and testing new features, last month they introduced a new feature, Creating personal Mailing list through Contact Manager. By the popular demand from users, they have added many features like free automated forwarding, signature options, IMAP Access.

There may be such things in your creative mind that you wish it could do, just let them know what it is with the help of Suggest a feature option. Click "Help" at the top of any page in your Gmail account. On the right side of the Gmail Help Center, you'll see a "Let us know" link in the "Suggest a feature" box.

So what your creative mind is thinking:
Want colorful background themes? or Want Gmail to do your laundry? let them know.

Easily find out who is the Owner of any Domain.

Who Is The Owner is free online tool which let you find out the owner of any Domain quickly and easily. This tool finds the info about the owner by querying more than 350 whois servers around the world.

You just have to simply type in any domain name and you will get all the available information about the owner i.e. Name, Address, Phone etc.

Build-to-order cell phone store launched

A company called zzzPhone offers cell phone handsets that you can customize during your order on their Web site.

Computer World Reports,

zzzPhone is an American company with a factory in China that uses " the same high quality components as major brands Motorola, Nokia, Palm, and Samsung; these unlocked, tri-band cell phones deliver features that exceed those offered on the ultra-popular Nokia N95 and Apple iPhone, at less than half the price."

Company is comparing their phone with Nokia N95 on their website, 110gm zzzPhone with Windows Mobile or Equivalent OS, two sim card slots, 3mpxl (5 and 7mpxl upgrade available) camera resolution and lots more. See the complete comparison.

All zzzPhones work anywhere in the world except for Europe, according to the release.

Microsoft launches Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 and 7000

Microsoft just announced a new pair of Wireless Laser Mouse 6000 and 7000. The new 6000 wireless mouse offers 2.4 GHz wireless technology with up to 30-foot range. The Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 sacrifices a bit of portability for a rechargeable batteries -- with a horizontal charging dock to host the mouse when times are rough and juice is scarce.

Both mice include Microsoft's HD Lasers and a few Vista-friendly buttons. You can pick them up in March for $50 and $70, respectively.

Source: engadget

Windows Vista SP1 will arrive in March

Microsoft has announced today that Windows Vista SP1 has been released to manufacturing. SP1 will be available in only five languages, English, French, Spanish, German and Japanese. It will be available in other languages in April.

It will address the key issues that users have identified in Vista over the last year. As Microsoft said, they have made great progress in performance, reliability and compatibility. It will bring more new improvements that are based on the feedback of customers.

In mid-March Vista SP1 will be available in Download Center on microsoft.com, Users with Automatic Update option enabled will start to receiving it in mid-April.

Microsoft also started to manufacture DVDs of Windows Vista OS including SP1 for their enterprise customers who get their software via Volume Licensing program.

Read more about this Release on Windows Vista Blog.

Who Else Wants the MacBook Air for FREE!

There is no need to say how many of you act immediately If anyone say "Who Else wants the MacBook Air for Free!". So people, here is a great news for you that The Boy Genius Report (BGR) is giving away the fabulous prize a brand new MacBook Air (1.6GHz, 80GB) to one lucky reader. They aren't asking so much in this giveaway. All you have to do to enter is drop a comment on their MacBook Air giveaway! post and they will pick one lucky winner at random.

Here are the simple rules to enter.

• You may enter once and only once. Entering more than once will disqualify you
• The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only. Sorry.
• Entries close on Sunday, February 10th at 11:59 PM. They’ll announce the winner on Monday, February 11th.

I cant participate in this contest because the second rule is showing me a Red Signal. If you are a resident of U.S. and have your luck with you, then Best Luck!

Please Read their Post Carefully before Entering.

Add the programs you want to the Control Panel

A small utility called Your CPL will allow you to add programs of your choices to your Control Panel. This utility is compatible with Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP. This utility comes is a package containing four files. You have to move YourCPL.cpl and YourCPLconfig.txt to the Windows system folder. for instance in Windows XP that both files need to be moved in to system32 folder.

The file YourCPLconfig.txt contains the information of those programs which are to be added to Control Panel. By default you will find a example entry of Windows Registry Editor in this file for your convenience.

The format of adding program to the file is given below

Path to program[press Tab key]Icon caption[press Tab key]Descriptive text

Example of adding Registry Editor

c:\windows\regedit.exe Regedit Registry editor

You may add Command line arguments if you want by pressing tab after Descriptive Text. Each application has to be added in separate line.

In the above screenshot you can see two new application shown by arrows which are added with the help of this utility.

[via ghacks] Download Your CPL

Why do text looks too blurry in Internet Explorer 7?

Fonts in Internet Explorer are not displaying as clear as you want (they look blurry)?, it is all because of the ClearType feature of Internet Explorer 7.

I found, the same problem was appearing in Microsoft Frontpage.

What is ClearType?

ClearType is a subpixel rendering technology developed by Microsoft to improve your readability of text over LCD monitors (Such as Laptop screens or Flat Panel Screens). Sometimes ClearType can appear Blurry on CRT monitors. By default ClearType is turned on in Internet Explorer 7.

How to Turn Off ClearType Feature in IE 7?

Following are the steps to turn off/on the ClearType feature.

• Goto Internet Explorer, click on Tools menu, then select Internet Options.
• Then goto Advanced tab, scroll down to Multimedia Section.
• Unmark the Always use Clear Type for HTML option, Click OK.
• Restart Internet Explorer.

This will solve your problem, If you need any help please feel free to comment here.

Lite-On's Moldable Mouse takes whatever shape you want

Now you can give what ever shape you want to your mouse. Lite-On Technology's Moldable Mouse can be squeezed into any shape you want, many peoples have suffered wrist injuries from the extensive use of mouse in a fixed position. Hope this mouse will eliminate this problem with its unique feature.

Moldable mouse is made of "non-toxic lightweight modelling clay, covered with nylon and polyurethane blend fabric". It can be kneaded into any shape the user prefers, and the shape is self-retaining.

The click buttons and touch-sensitive scroll pad of the mouse are stick-on parts with built-in RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device), can be added to any location you want. The texture of the material feels similar to silk, but is much more flexible, comes in a variety of colors.

This Moldable Mouse is still in the concept stage, but it has already won a Red Dot design award.

[via Engadget]