Archive for 'Geek News'

First we would like to apologize to all of our customers who received our Email newsletter and who were dissatisfied. We received many complaints and questions regarding it - and I was not what it was suppose to be. It was our first attempt at communicated with our customers via Email and we wanted to do it professionally. We searched and we were referred to Jerry Hart - who from his website seemed like he was going to help achieve our goal and more.

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Ever since I was a little kid, I knew this type of technology would eventually surface if it hadn’t already. Below in the video by General Dynamics you can see Trophy Active Defense System in action. It offers an invisible force field for military vehicles that disables incoming RPG rounds.

The system can simultaneously engage several threats, arriving from different directions, is effective on stationary or moving platforms, and is effective against short and long range threats (such as RPGs and ATGM). Trophy was designed to be effective in open or closed terrain, including urban area and can be operated under all weather conditions

Quickly gaining popularity and taking back the web, Firefox is lighting up the internet with personalize browsing that is safer, faster and more powerful. When Firefox first emerged not many expected much since there were already other browsers, like Netscape, Opera, and Eudora, that had been out for a long time already and were no where near being as popular as Internet Explorer. This has caused Microsoft to start paying attention and listening to the users - but still falling short in keeping users loyal. Microsoft is synonymous with closed-code with only Microsoft add-ons at Microsoft prices.

For those of you who are not familiar with Firefox, prepared to be awaken to the revolution taking place on the web and quickly become converted to a Mozilla Firefox user.

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A gift that at the same time was a curse, the Digg effect took us down back on September 11, 2007 - ironic date I know. However, we did survive and we are in the process of improving the blog and posting articles that were missed during the month of October. Thanks to Girls Of The Israeli Army post done back on August 5, 2007 we got well over 2000 Diggs before our MySQL database could take no more connections.

For those of you who do not know Digg, it is best to just head on over to the community to sign up and start clicking around. Start viewing the Digg review of our page that created a lot of traffic for us and then begin exploring Digg. It is somewhat of an easy concept to grasp but here is what the ol’ mighty internet resource has to say about it:

A community-based popularity website with an emphasis on technology and science articles, recently expanding to a broader range of categories such as politics and entertainment. It combines social bookmarking, blogging, and syndication with a form of non-hierarchical, democratic editorial control

According to Wikipedia. Basically that all means that the readers vote - “Digg” - webpages, blogs, photos etc. that they like. The more Diggs you get the higher your ranking in the community. Voters do not all carry the same vote. People who are reputable and have the most friends get more say and weight. This helps when an average Joe trys to cheat and vote his webpage up.

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Talks of a phone from Google dubbed the Gphone, have recently been causing a stir on the World Wide Web. There are articles mentioning deals between certain high profile companies with expected release dates and even articles from people claiming they have already seen prototypes. Whether or not we can believe everything we read, Google are on the up and up so a move into the wireless industry is not out of character.

There have been a few reports that Google are making a big push in the development of their own handset. High Tech Computers, a Taiwan-based smart phone maker are rumored to be designing the Linux device which is said to incorporate a Texas Instruments edge chipset. There have been a number of specifications listed in these reports and if all of this turns out to be true, Google may revolutionize the way we use our cell phones.

Reports suggest we can expect a handset that provides Wi-Fi, 3-G and GPS capability, a user friendly browser such as Linux or possibly one designed by Google, access to VoIP, Gtalk or even Skype, a 2 Megapixel Camera, Mp3, a predictive Qwerty Keyboard and of course, a large color screen.

The Gphone is apparently scheduled for release early 2008, with T-Mobile and Orange tipped to be providing services it may seem like everything is almost decided. If Google can come up with a handset that can incorporate all these features then they really will have a rival to the Apple iPhone.

The iPhone is a great device and certainly did take mobile technology to the next level; however some felt it did not quite live up to the hype. All this talk of the Gphone is setting the stage for something really spectacular but with no sign of any official concept designs, it is difficult to really predict what is on the companies mind.

Note: All images are Unofficial Concept Sketches; designs are artist impressions of what the Gphone may look like.

The release of Google Docs and Spreadsheets, the highly anticipated free office suite application available through the internet by download, threatens to topple Microsoft’s dominant position as the leader in desktop software offering services delivered over the Web supported by advertising and/or subscriptions. So much so that Microsoft set to the drawing board and immediately began developing a rival project.

Tip: Be sure to check out the link at the end of this article for a link to a listing of various free and open source software programs for download that is having the executives at Microsoft shaking in their boots and thinking about ways to counter this!

The aim is to offer a free version of Microsoft Works which will be pre installed in desktops and will display advertisements stored in cache, the advertisements that help support the application will be refreshed when the computer establishes an internet connection.

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Microsoft and Fox have join forces with the new deal to allow the first two seasons of the the popular animated T.V. series Family Guy to be downloaded to the XBox. Family Guy is the first television series or service to make its way to the XBox. This is a strong deal that will help Microsoft continue to move past it’s similiar Apple competitor iTunes. This will be a big season for Microsoft XBox with the launch of Halo 3 right around the corner, since the demographics are the same - males 18 - 34.

For our Microsoft Xbox 360 customers, you will be able to purchase each of the episodes from the first two seasons as well as the straight-to-DVD film “Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story” for 160 Microsoft points, or about $2, which is comparable with the pricing of TV episodes on iTunes and other VOD platforms.

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The digital age is here and has been for some time now. The computer interface we have come to know has become boring and in my opinion out-dated. It no longer gives a sense of high tech or advanced. It is a 2-D mundane layout that has me missing the days of old when my desk was in a chaotic and cryptic mess that only I understood. Well, programmers feel the same and they are taking this boring interface to the next level!

This is a great idea and a fun interface. Some problems with it however is you do not see the file names that distinguish file types from one another and you are not able to see a thumbnail preview of a picture or document like in new Windows environment. I am sure these bugs can be worked out and the program will be much better once it gets to the serious stage.

If you remember the Photosync Technology and Microsoft Surface environment, this interface is quickly adapting and evolving. I am ready for the change now - hopefully it becomes mainstream soon.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are always pushing the boundaries; continuing to develop Defensive Technology, and their latest invention is no exception.

At some point in the not too distant future, a moth implanted with a computer chip will take flight into enemy territories in hope to spy and transmit a video feed as well as other information back to base. The computer chip implanted whilst the creature is still a pupa, in the cocoon, enables the moth’s entire nervous system to be controlled remotely. The moth will thus be capable of landing in the camp without arousing suspicion, all the while transmitting information back to its masters via what its developers refer to as a “reliable tissue-machine interface.” More importantly however, this Cyborg Moth will help bring down terrorist and thwart future terrorism plots.

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The guys at NASA are using a silicon based Aerogel in their mission dubbed ‘StarDust” which involves capturing particles from space. Collecting these particles without damaging them has always posed a problem because the impact velocity of particles can be up to 6 times the speed of a rifle bullet. Although these particles are smaller than a grain of sand, high-speed capture can alter their shape and chemical composition - or even vaporize them entirely. This silicon-based solid has a porous, sponge-like structure in which 99.8 percent of the volume is empty space. By comparison, Aerogel is 1,000 times less dense than glass, which is another silicon-based solid.

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Storage and disk space have always been a problem since computers were first invented. Organizing files, creating compilation music CDs, cataloging your movie collection, and backing up your files that you hope will be available when you need them; all consume large amounts of your vital virtual reality. Now if that wasn’t enough, after we have gone through all the trouble of moving all these files around, we have to make sure we bring the right CD or thumb drive at the time they are needed. Being randomly deployed and stationed at various bases has only added to the trouble. Thanks to the advancement of fast internet, there is actually a solution that helps organize your files and have all your files at a moments notice known as online storage.

Some sites require you to login and access the files. However, if you really wanted to do this correctly you would create a network drive to a dedicated server, so all you had to do a was click an icon to access the folders. But this requires a lot of money to make sure you have good server with a fast connection and that was very secure and maintained properly. Well with IBackUp all of your storage needs are finally resolved and you have the ability to secure personal data online while having the ability to access your files easily anywhere!

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If you spend alot of your time using the internet for work or pleasure, you’ll know computer virus’s and spyware are at constant battle with your anti-virus software, even downloading tool bars or add-ons can be a pain to get rid of if you decide not to keep them. Enter Sandboxie, a great piece of free software that not only protects your systems drive but allows you to completely delete anything you have installed or added to you PC with a click of the mouse.

In computer security, a sandbox is a security mechanism for safely running programs, hence the name sandboxie, a sandbox provides a tightly-controlled set of resources for guest programs to run in, such as scratchspace on disk and memory. Sandboxie incorporates this technology by creating a sandbox as a temporary drive for all data transferal.

When you run a program on your computer, data flows from the hard disk to the program via read operations. The data is then processed and displayed, and finally flows back from the program to the hard disk via write operations. With Sandboxie running all data is intercepted in the sandbox, data then flows in both directions between the program and the sand box, leaving your permanent drive free from read and write operations.

Sandboxie intercepts all changes to both your files and registry settings, making it virtually impossible for any software to reach outside the sandbox. Even browser items are intercepted, so when you throw away the sandbox, all the history records and other side-effects of your browsing disappear as well.

This great piece of software is free so trying it out should not be a problem, however if you find it makes your Web experience that much safer, you are encouraged to register the program for a small fee.

Starting today and going on until Sept. 30, 2007; we are running a special sale on the Toshiba Tecra A8 Britebook Series that we have customized. These Toshiba notebooks feature the latest Intel Duo Core 2 processor and we packed in as much as we could. If that wasn’t enough we decided today to slash the price and reduce the monthly payments on the laptops as well. This is only for a limited time, so if he have been thinking of getting a new laptop - NOW IS THE TIME!

800 Tru BriteBook - $89 a month

• 15″ (1280 x 800) Widescreen XGA TruBrite TFT
• Intel Core 2 Duo T5500 CPU 1.66 GHz
• Intel 945GM Express Chipset
• 1024 MB PC-4200 DDR2
• 80GB 5400rpm SATA-150 Hard Drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 8x DVD RW+- Combo Optical Drive
• Intel Wireless ABG
• Finger Print Reader Security
• Microsoft Vista Business Edition
• Carrying Case

Photo Gallery >>>
Technical Specifications >>>

800 Tru BriteBook PRO - $109 a month

• 15″ (1280 x 800) Widescreen XGA TruBrite TFT
• Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 CPU 2.0 GHz
• Intel 945GM Express Chipset
• 1024 MB PC-4200 DDR2
• 120GB 5400rpm SATA-150 Hard Drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
• 8x DVD RW+- Combo Optical Drive
• Intel Wireless ABG
• Finger Print Reader Security
• Microsoft XP Professional Edition
• Carrying Case

Photo Gallery >>>
Technical Specifications >>>

Sorry, YouTube and How Stuff Works said it was evil to have their video available to the general public and the videos were taking down. So you are left with the following video:

I like YouTube and I like How Stuff Works - but man - they are so big now and have become overcome with legalese and rules. Another thing ruined, but you can not stop progression. Napster - LimeWire - Bit Torrents - YouTube - Google - Linux have all contributed and spawned out in so many directions that I do not understand why they even attempt to stop it. I think it looks bad on them. Instead they should focus on being dynamic and adjusting to the flow.

Time will tell ….

Canon never fails to impress and have always been on of the leading brands in analogue and digital photography. With box office movies generating more money than ever and websites like Google video and YouTube being stacked with home made movies and clips, it is not surprising that the demand for affordable high quality camcorders has risen. Whether you are looking unbeatable image quality or simply just a user friendly unit to use for your home movies, Canon have a range of cameras to suit everybody’s needs.

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