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DreamSpark NZ Update : DreamSpark is here for Auckland and Canterbury Universities

2008-10-07T18:32:00.013-07:00

DreamSpark NZ Update : DreamSpark is here for Auckland and Canterbury Universities
Microsoft announced earlier that DreamSpark will be available soon here in New Zealand. It is now available for Auckland and Canterbury University!

So, if you are a student in Auckland or Canterbury University, go grab your free software here!

If you are a student in another institute (here in NZ), you can still get your free software. For more details on that, visit here.

Crutchfield: Sony KDL46XBR8 46in BRAVIA XBR 1080p LCD HDTV $5000 shipped

2008-10-07T18:32:00.011-07:00

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 preview

2008-10-07T18:32:00.009-07:00

Today Panasonic announced the first camera based on the new Micro Four Thirds Standard: the Lumix DMC-G1. Micro Four Thirds bodies take the sensor from traditional Four Thirds bodies, but dispense with the mirror and optical viewfinder for smaller bodies which are also silent in operation. The new G1 features a new 12.1 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, a 3in screen which fully flips out for unusual angles, a highly detailed electronic viewfinder, HDMI output and Panasonic's Intelligent Auto. Panasonic has also announced two new Micro Four Thirds zooms with optical stabilisation. Find out how this exciting new hybrid compares to both DSLRs and compacts in our Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 preview. Read More

LG 42LT75 Television

2008-10-07T18:32:00.007-07:00

LG 42LT75 Television
The LG 42LT75 is a revolutionary LCD TV that has an integrated 160GB hard drive allowing you to pause

Sakar are expanding their footprint in the camera business

2008-10-07T18:32:00.005-07:00

Sakar are expanding their footprint in the camera business
Sakar plan to expand their own camera line with the help of Vivitar branded products.

The Innervision recyclable bicycle concept

2008-10-07T18:32:00.003-07:00

Industrial Designer Matt Clark is taking what is already the world's most popular mode of eco-friendly transportation a step further with his recyclable Innervision bicycle concept. The goal behind the project is to reduce costs and streamline the manufacturing process by using pre-molded plastic components rather than aluminum tubes for the bicycle frame, producing a lightweight and affordable product for the cycling masses that could be made from, or turned into, plastic products...

Tags: Bike, Design

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Great Minds of History: Nikola Tesla (Никола Тесла)

2008-10-07T18:32:00.001-07:00

Great Minds of History: Nikola Tesla (Никола Тесла)
I thought I would deviate today from my regular ramblings and do a bit of a tribute post to a man I consider to be one of the greatest minds in history.

Nikola Tesla,

Nikola Tesla is not referred to as often as Edison, and doesn't equate the level of fame of guys like Einstein, there are many reasons put forward for this, but it could perhaps be due to many of his greatest visions and inventions not coming to fruition.

-However- this is not to say he isn't well known and remembered,

According to wikipedia:

"Contemporary biographers of Tesla have regarded him as "The Father of Physics", "The man who invented the twentieth century"^[3] and "the patron saint of modern electricity."^[4]"

Nikola Tesla was born in Smiljan, Lika, Croatian Krajina region the then Austo-Hungarian Empire, To a Serbian Orthodox Priest father, and a Mother who invented Household appliances.
He moved to America in 1884, with an introduction letter from Charles Batchelor to Thomas Edison,

Charles Batchelor was a close a associate of Thomas Edison, and grew up in Manchester England, he himself is still regarded as a great inventor and was an early executive of the General Electric Company.

Thomas Edison is a very-well known inventor (in-part no doubt to the American ability to Celebrate their Heroes - which I think is really good and other countries should celebrate their historical heroes as much, however ironic that Edison was born a Canadian) most definitely his fame comes from his most well known invention, the long-lasting, practical Electric Lightbulb (no he didn't actually invent the lightbulb - infact a majority of his inventions were improvements on prior patented inventions). other inventions include the Phonograph and the Carbon Microphone.

The letter had more in it, but a common quotation from the letter is

" I know two great Men, One is you (referring to Edison) and the other is this young man (referring to Tesla)"

Nikola Tesla then productively spent the next 59 years living in New York.

Telsa's first work was setting about improving Edison's line of dynamos whilst working in Edison's lab, This is when the historically discussed disagreement with Edison began, over direct current versus alternating current. this initial "divergence" culminated in a "war of the currents".

Tesla felt that the use of direct current was inefficient, as he view all energies as being cyclic, so he felt that rather than sending direct current, one should build generators that would send electrical energy first one way, then another, in multiple waves using the polyphase principal.

Edison's preferred DC had a severe disadvantage in that it could not be transported more than two miles due to its inability to step up to high voltage levels necessary for long distance travel, as a result a DC Power station was required at two mile intervals.

Tidbit: Direct current flows continuously in one direction, alternating current changes direction (usually 50 or 60 times per second)
the common term for this is hertz which is a measure of frequency, loosly defined as the number of events per second.

the formal definition as defined by the international system of Units (SI) is as defined as follows from Wikipedia:
the hyperfine splitting in the ground state of the caesium 133 atom is exactly 9 192 631 770 hertz, $ν$ (hfs Cs) = 9 192 631 770 Hz.^[1]. Equivalently, 1 Hz = ¹⁄_{9,192,631,770} $ν$ (hfs Cs). This definition is derived from the SI definition of the second. The base unit for hertz is s^-1 (also called inverse seconds, reciprocal seconds). As hertz
is commonly used to measure rotational speed, the base unit is sometimes represented as cycle/s.

Whilst working as a manual laborer Tesla continued his various pieces of research, and in 1887 he constructed the first brushless AC induction motor, which he then demonstrated at the American Institute of Electrical engineers

- an organisation still around to this day, but known as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) - www.ieee.org

as part of his paper titled "A New System of Alternating Current Motors and Transformers", a copy of his paper is available online
here It is quite facisinating reading, if you enjoy historical inventions at a rather technical level, in it he states

" I will now proceed to show how this result was accomplished."

Highly recommended if you enjoy technical reading.

One of the people that Tesla managed to significantly impress was a rather well known (and partially well known to this day) was George Westinghouse, inventor and industrialist - whose name lives on today in everything from kitchen appliances to laundry appliances and more!

purportedly around February 1882; Tesla discovered the rotating magnetic field, which is of course fundamental to many aspects of physics and a neccessary required basis to all alternating current devices,

The brilliant thing that Tesla achieved, was the adaption of his discovery of the rotating magnetic field into the construction of the AC induction motor.

The AC Induction motor is used everywhere in the world, it is considered by many to be a cornerstone of the industrial revolution at the turn of the century and to this day a majority of electricity is generated, transmitted and converted thanks to the Inventions of Tesla.

However, whilst regarded as his greatest and most world changing, His Polyphase Alternating Current system is by no means his only invention.

His inventions were wide and numerous, and utterly brilliant and there is quite a lengthy list, some of the inventions you are using right now as you read this (as i have already discussed), and other work he performed whilst not the inventor, took various fields to a whole new level,

some of Telsa's Inventions and discoveries include:

The Tesla Coil (fairly obvious that one)
Alternating Current, Polyphasic etc.
First Hydroelectric powerplant at the Niagara falls in 1895
The Fluorescent Light
Laser Beams
Wireless Communications (big disputes between Marconi and Tesla with both having held the patent / credit for radio,)
- In 1896 Tesla patented the basic system of radio, his publish schematics, diagrams and descriptions, provided all the details of the basic elements of a radio transmitter, which was later used by marconi.
- So after a decision in the US Supreme court (1943) Marconi's most significant patent was deemed invalid stating Telsa's contribution was more significant in the invention of Radio Technology. (Tesla and Marconi were not the only inventors / discoverers nor the only legitimate patent holders there is a whole lot that was involved)
Wireless Electrical Energy Transmission
Remote Control (first demonstrated to
Robotics
A variant of the X-Ray tubes
Significant advances in robotics
Bladeless steam turbine (based on a spiral flow principal)
Super-high temperature pump.
Discovered the Resonant frequency of the Earth (Confirmed in 1950 as the resonant frequency of the Earth's ionospheric cavity - within this range at least, this is known as the Schemann resonance)
Terrestrial Stationary Waves (Tesla considered this his most significant discovery)

Tesla considered his discovery of terrestrial stationary waves his most significant discovery for a number of reasons,
He proved that the Earth itself was able to be used as a conductor and was highly sensitive and responsive to electrical vibrations of particular frequencies,

Part of proving this he produced artificial lightning with (according to Wikipedia) discharges consisting of millions of volts and up to 135 feet long!

Wikipedia also states that reproductions of Tesla's receivers and coherer circuits show an unpredicted level of complexity.
it is during this time Tesla states that he observed stationary waves.

Tesla found ways to transmit power and energy, wirelessly, over some very long distances (we are definitely not talking about across a room here)
some via transverse waves, but more via logitudinal waves.

He successfully transmitted via the ground as well as through the Kennelly-Heaviside Layer.

Not only did tesla successfully transmit to specialised detectors, he demonstrated lighting his light bulbs from a long distance without any wires, via the tesla effect

the tesla effect is defined in various sources as: "..term for an application of a type of electrical conduction. Through logitudinal waves, an operator uses the tesla effoct in the wireless transferl of energy to a receiving device."

Around this time is when things went a bit awry (or at least many of the things are yet to be proved in the way Tesla predicted)

Whilst Tesla was in his lab in Colorado he observed unusual signals that he later thought may have been evidence of extraterrestrial radio communications coming from Venus or Mars.
Part of this were repetitive signals form his receiver that were totally different from the signals he had noted from storms and background earth noise.

Tesla makes mention of this event in many of his writings and many times he mentions his thoughts that his inventions could be used to talk with other planets.

Many people claim that he invented a Teslascope for this purpose, there are many people out there who have claimed to have built one and listened to cosmic rays (ok, totally believable, there is an abundance of radiation out there, and nothing wrong with converting it into audible signals) others claim to use it to converse with Aliens and strongly believe Tesla did so. (Ok, I'd love to believe. give me some PROOF)

Although many people have discussed it, perhaps Tesla's invention was in some forms merited - as many of his other discoveries were considered foolish, or even impossible until he demonstrated it, and he never demonstrated the Teslascope, however it did receive much publicity in Time Magazines July 20, 1931 issue which when celebrating Tesla's 75th birthday Tesla stated:

[I have conceived] a means that will make it possible for man to transmit energy in large amounts, thousands of horsepower, from one planet to another, absolutely regardless of distance. I think that nothing can be more important than interplanetary communication. It will certainly come some day and the certitude that there are other human beings in the universe, working, suffering, struggling, like ourselves, will produce a magic effect on mankind and will form the foundation of a universal brotherhood that will last as long as humanity itself.

—Nikola Tesla,

The Fantastic thing about the internet and World Wide web?
The full article is available to read on the Time Magazine website here

To be honest there is a big part of me that gives Tesla the benefit of the Doubt, he was an undeniable genius, and managed to discover and invent many things that were thought not possible (in fact some of proven his inventions many people to this day think dont actually exist or aren't real!!)

Unfortunately while Tesla was a Genius inventor, he wasn't good with money, he left colorado, and his lab was torn down and contents sold off to cover debts,

however Tesla was already looking ahead to his next great project.

the Wardenclyffe Tower,

Wardenclyffe Tower (1901 – 1917) also known as the Tesla Tower, was an early wireless telecommunications aerial tower designed by Nikola Tesla and intended for commercial trans-Atlantic wireless telephony, broadcasting, and to demonstrate the transmission of power without interconnecting wires.^[1]^[2] The core facility was never fully operational and was not completed due to economic problems. ...(from wikipedia - the rest of the article here

Unfortunately this tower was torn down for scrap during World War One.

Tesla did not have good fortunes, in 1904 the US Patent Office reversed its decision and Awarded Guglielmo Marconi the patent for radio starting a battle that did not finally get resolved until a deciscion in 1943 by the US Supreme court who awarded it back to Tesla.

Tesla went on to demonstrate his various turbines, in 1906 he demonstrated his 150kW 16,000 rpm bladless turbine.

and durning 1910 - 1911 several of his bladeless turbine enginse were tested at 74 to 3,728 kW

in 1917 some of Telsas goals for the Wardenclyffe tower were achieved at his newer tower the Telefunken Wireless Station in SAyville, Long Island.

unfortunately this was torn town by the Marines in 1917 because it was suspected it could be used by german spies.

At his Death Tesla held (and still holds) around 112 US Patents,
29 British Patents,
6 Canadian patents,
1 argentinian patent,
5 australian patents,
4 austrian patents,
21 in belgium
2 in Brazil
1 in cuba
3 in Denmark
19 German Patents
26 French,
1 in india
11 in italy,
1 in japan and
7 in hungary.

That is not by any means an exhaustive list.

Not only were many of Tesla's inventions very real, Tesla theorized, planned or claimed to have invented:
* Electric Submarine
* Telefore
* Death Ray
* Mechanical Oscillator
* Free Energy (- renewable from existing sources, not a perpetual motion machine)
* Earthquake machine
* Force Field
* Anti-Gravity Aircraft
* Thought Camera.

Dr. Nikola Tesla was without a doubt one of the most brilliant minds in history, and that is why I'll not totally write off some of his proven Ideas, because so many of his proven ideas were so fantastic.

(that said, I'm not necessarily going to believe them without evidence!)

Nikon Coolpix P6000 with 4x Wide Angle Zoom and GPS

2008-10-07T18:31:00.005-07:00

Nikon has today introduced their new Coolpix flagship compact camera, the 13.5 MP Nikon Coolpix P6000. The Nikon Coolpix P6000 features a 4x optical zoom starting at 28mm and includes optical lens shift Vibration Reduction (VR), a 2.7-inch high resolution LCD monitor, four exposure modes (P,S,A,M), a dedicated hotshoe and an optical viewfinder. See full story... Read More

Nikon D300 Image Samples Available

2008-10-07T18:31:00.003-07:00

Nikon D300 Image Samples Available
Nikon Corporation has now provided another four image samples from the soon to be released Nikon D300 digital SLR. The full size images include a couple of portraits, one landscape/scenery and one action shot. The images are taken at 200 ISO, except for one of the portraits captured at 400 ISO. The Nikkor lenses used for these Nikon D300 sample image tests include the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G, the prime AF Nikkor 50mm F1.4D and the AF-S VR Nikkor ED 300mm F2.8 IF telephoto lens. Read Full story...

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 with 4x Wide-Angle 25mm Zoom

2008-10-07T18:31:00.001-07:00

Panasonic has today introduced the 10.1-megapixel Lumix DMC-FX35 with an impressive 25mm ultra-wide-angle LEICA DC lens and 4x optical zoom (equivalent to 25mm to 100 mm on a 35mm film camera). Panasonic's Intelligent Auto mode, which includes various shooting-assist functions, has been enhanced in the DMC-FX35 by adding an Intelligent Exposure feature and Digital Red-eye Correction. See full story... Read More

Sony KDL-32S3000 32 in. LCD Television

2008-10-02T21:03:00.009-07:00

Sony released a great range of entry-level HD Ready LCD TVs earlier this year which are the cheapest Read More

Canon Lowers Price on EOS 40D, Rebel XS, SD770 and SD790 IS Digital Cameras

2008-10-02T21:03:00.007-07:00

Canon has today announced price reductions on two of their digital SLR cameras, the popular 10.1MP Canon EOS 40D and the new 10MP Canon EOS Rebel XS. The price has been reduced on both the EOS 40D body and the Rebel XS body and also on the respective available body with Canon lens kits. Two other Canon cameras that have been reduced in price include the compact Canon Powershot SD770 IS and the Canon Powershot SD790 IS. See full story... Read More

A new approach to virus removal?

2008-10-02T21:03:00.005-07:00

Over the past six years a lot of changes have happened in the world of virus removal and computer security. Basically with the advent of Microsofts most secure operating system ever (Windows XP) the world of virii / spyware / rootkits / exploits (collectively I'll refer to them as malware for this article) etc has exploded. Estimates of the number of new virus released each week are normally in the thousands, if not tens of thousands range. Add to that spyware, unwanted applications (e.g. WinAntivirus2008) , trojans, adware ... and the listis enormous.

Recently I have found it is getting harder to ensure that the latest malware definitions are really catching the latest problems. In the last three weeks we have found several pieces of malware or viruses which have had to be carefully hand removed - with new definitions to detect them coming out 2 to 4 days after we have already discovered them.

Malware detection always lags behind the advent of new malware as a new virus / spyware / trojan etc, when it is released, normally has at least several hours, if not days, head start on the first definitions being released. In order for a new definition to be released the Malware has to be noticed, caught, reported, analysed and finally a fix / detection signature released for it. Finally the update has to be downloaded by the end user.

Part of the process we employ when doing a "Virus Bust" is to run several anti spyware / malware removal and root kit detectors across a system. This of course is quite time consuming, and again - if the malware is a new one, sometimes the only way it is detected is by seeing the results of the malware still present (e.g. rubbish exiting the firewall, strange PC behavious, pop ups etc). Which started me thinking ....

Is it possible that the number if items of legetimate software on the average users PC is growing at a slower rate than the number of malware instances. For example, the average user only wants to surf the net, send emails, write letters, do some word processing and listen to music / videos. Throw into that mix a bit of spreadsheeting, VOIP and games and you are stil only looking at a fairly limited range of software.

On an average week the average user does not add much new software to a system. Microsoft updates and anti virus updates probably account for most of the changes to executable code on a system. Instead of scanning for malware maybe a better solution would be to have a list of known good executable software and run a scan based on that. Any executable code found on a system not in the known good DB can then be flagged as suspicious and that subset of files be scanned / isolated instead of scanning an entire system of mostly good code for the odd piece of rot that has crept in.

Security based not on positive detection of malware but the isolation of unknown code offers a chance to allow quicker detection of potentially dangerous software on a PC. Certify the good code, isolate the unknown code and then apply positive antivirus detection methods against the unknown executables.

Not only does this method have the possibilty of being faster in its scanning of systems (creating and checking hashes is potentially faster than applying heuristic algorithms against an entire executable) but means the ability to certify code as being safe might alleviate some of the Zero Hour threats we face now days. Certainly for someone like me isolating the known good from the unknown means we can rapidly discard 99% of all files in a system has safe and concentrate on isolating the threats in the unknown one percent. It also offers a very positive way of providing reliable scanning from an alternative boot disk on compromised systems.

Historically old anti virus systems (circa DOS and Windows 3.1) were able to add CRC codes or hashes to executable files and then check to see files matched a known hash. That method presents problems today, and has fallen out of favour. However as an off-line virus scan, booted from an alternative operating system or boot disk and making use of a 'white list' database, it has the potential to add another tool to the security experts arsenal.

Heaven knows we need it.

This has been a random thought from the fertile and over caffinated brain of Shane. Thoughts, feed back and offers of millions for the idea welcome.

IE7 icon missing On WinXP Desktop

2008-10-02T21:03:00.003-07:00

IE7 icon missing On WinXP Desktop
My poor technician must have freaked out earlier today when his boss (me) suddenly burst into fits of hysterical laughter and couldn't stop giggling for at least 5 minutes.

The thing that provoked such mirth was a couple of lines from the Microsoft Help section. It read like a cross between Monty Pythons Cheese Skit and a programmers joke. The lines in question are bolded below.

SUMMARYThe
Internet Explorer icon might be missing after either you upgrade the
Internet Explorer version to 7, or installed through Windows updates.
Back to the top
CAUSEThis
is not an issue and is by design. Unlike the previous versions of
Internet Explorer, the option to enable to Internet Explorer icon on
the Windows Desktop is not available. The behavior of Internet Explorer
7, which is bundled with Windows Vista is also the same.

[ BTW - HERE IS THE FIX FOR THIS ] -> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555849

As a programmer I know that poor programming practice* leading to buggy functionality is often passed off on the poor unsuspecting customer as a 'feature' or an implementation 'by design'. For Microsoft to state that the ability to put the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop or Start Menu is not an issue and is by design is ludicrous. Further more for Service Pack Three to REMOVE the icon from the Start Menu or Desktop or even worse, to change the functionality of the icon to bring up Internet Properties instead of starting IE is doubly idiotic.

Some claim it is part of Microsoft's anti-trust agreement responsibilities to have the icon removed and to also remove the ability to put the icon on the desktop as part of the display properties. Personally I think that is bollocks too. How long ago were the anti-trust hearings? Years. To take this long is a mockery of anti-trust, if indeed that was the causative action.

Secondly - with the advent of service pack three, Microsoft's IE components and Internet Explorer security properties are more tightly integrated with the system than ever. As an example, to Install Mozilla Firefox version 3 requires IE 7, or at least some of its components to be present. Why? Because without them some of the dialog boxes and under laying componentry is not present causing the failure of Mozilla 3 during installation.

Further more Mozilla Firefox Three is now so affected by the internet settings in XP that in order to tighten IE 7 to stop downloading and running active X ( and other executable code ) in the Internet Zone also disables downloads in Mozilla Firefox Three (Ref 1). It is now impossible to cripple IE's active X vulnerability completely without also crippling Mozilla's ability to download programmes. While some of these problems stem from Mozilla developers tying Firefox into the Internet Security Panel (Ref 2), the rest also points to Microsoft's embedding of IE in the operating system. Again, try removing IE7 and watch how fast Mozilla Firefox, and presumably other applications, fail.

As this blog entry isn't a rant about MS or how IE is such a PITA I wont go into detail about the fact that if you start IE7, after it has upgraded itself, you have no ability to set the default page until you stop pushing cancel and start answering the damn questions about security and settings you ~~have~~ ... eeerrr .. had already dealt with previously and that has now been reverted by MS with the IE 7 upgrade.

Did I mention that trying to tell IE7 to push off and not bother me with Live Search (AKA dead useless) as I am already using Lycos, or google, or yahoo or wiki or ....bugger!!!!! There is now only live seach - and if I click on - "Go make another search engine the default" - Mozilla pops up as the default browser so I have to enable IE7 as the default browser to get rid of live search tool bar and then re-enable Mozilla as the default browser.

No IE7 tie in to the operating system - hah - my left testicale is less tied in to me than IE is to Microsofts OS.

1 - http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2008/07/firefox_3_follows_ie7s_securit_1.html

2 - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_save_or_download_files#Reset_system_Internet_security_settings_-_Windows

* DISCLAIMER - Not my programming practices - other peoples. I just had to explain or fix up their bollocks - honest injun - it wasn't me.

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Canon Lowers Price on EOS 40D, Rebel XS, SD770 and SD790 IS Digital Cameras

2008-10-02T21:03:00.001-07:00

Canon Lowers Price on EOS 40D, Rebel XS, SD770 and SD790 IS Digital Cameras
Canon has today announced price reductions on two of their digital SLR cameras, the popular 10.1MP Canon EOS 40D and the new 10MP Canon EOS Rebel XS. The price has been reduced on both the EOS 40D body and the Rebel XS body and also on the respective available body with Canon lens kits. Two other Canon cameras that have been reduced in price include the compact Canon Powershot SD770 IS and the Canon Powershot SD790 IS. See full story...

Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm pancake lens - full review and video tour

2008-10-02T21:02:00.009-07:00

The Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm is the smallest and lightest lens available for DSLRs based on the Four Thirds standard. Weighing 95g and measuring just 23.5mm thick, it justifies the pancake nickname, and transforms smaller Four Thirds bodies into working kits which could squeeze into larger coat pockets. With 50mm equivalent coverage and an f2.8 aperture, the lens is ideal for general-purpose use, but do its compact dimensions compromise quality or performance? Find out in our Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm pancake lens review where we'll compare it against other Olympus zooms and the specialist 50mm macro lens. And to see a demonstration of its highlights, check out our Olympus 25mm video tour. Read More

Western Digital ShareSpace 4 TB Network Storage System Review

2008-10-02T21:02:00.007-07:00

Western Digital ShareSpace 4 TB Network Storage System Review
Western Digital announced its ShareSpace 4 TB network storage system this morning. We have an in-depth look at this photographer friendly image storage solution.

Forefront Threat Management Gateway (TMG) 2008 RTMs in initial form

2008-10-02T21:02:00.005-07:00

Microsoft have finished of the first version of the new Forefront Threat Management Gateway (TMG) which replaces the current ISA Server 2006 product.

This initial version is titled 'Forefront Threat Management Gateway Small Business Edition'... (more in the full post)

NewEgg: Refurbished harmankardon AVR247B AV Receiver $200 shipped + Free HK iPod dock

2008-10-02T21:02:00.003-07:00

NewEgg: Refurbished harmankardon AVR247B AV Receiver $200 shipped + Free HK iPod dock

Dell Home: AutoCAD 2009 $3200 shipped

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

Tesla to build luxury US$60,000 four seater luxury EV

2008-10-01T15:19:00.015-07:00

September 27, 2008 The Tesla Brand of luxury electric vehicles is certainly capturing a lot of the limelight as the era of the EV dawns. The company has announced a state-of-the-art US$250 million assembly facility in the heart of Silicon Valley. The facility will build a new US$60,000 five-passenger luxury sedan with exceptional performance and a lithium-ion battery pack capable of delivering 240 miles per charge. The first sedans are likely to roll off the assembly line in late 2010...

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HP Home: HP Pavilion Elite m9400t desktop Q6700 4GB 500GB 256MB videoTV PVR $600 shipped

2008-10-01T15:19:00.013-07:00

Windows XP and DOS - Printer Driver Information

2008-10-01T15:19:00.011-07:00

For diagnostic purposes, display detailed information about currently installed printers on a Windows XP system on the DOS command line. Read More

Urban Disguise 35

2008-10-01T15:19:00.009-07:00

Urban Disguise 35
Travel in style with the new Urban Disguise 35 bag.

Samsung YP-T10 (2 GB) MP3 Player

2008-10-01T15:19:00.007-07:00

Samsung YP-T10 (2 GB) MP3 Player
The Samsung YP-T10 is the latest in a family of spectacular MP3 players and MP4 Players. The YP-T10

Nikon D300 Image Samples Available

2008-10-01T15:19:00.005-07:00

The Windows Mojave experiment results

2008-10-01T15:19:00.003-07:00

Yesterday I posted about Microsoft Windows Mojave, an experiement in perception.

A set of people were asked what they think is bad on Windows Vista during the Mojave Experiment. Their answers were recorded. They were then shown "Microsoft Windows Mojave", a new operating system that impressed everyone.

Microsoft then revealed "Windows Mojave" and "Windows Vista" are the same one.

I have just found out the full "Mojave Experiment" results will be available 29th July on The Mojave Experiment website.

Editor's Choice, September 2008: Fujifilm FinePix S100FS

2008-10-01T15:19:00.001-07:00

Earning the second Editor's Choice selection for a Fuji ultrazoom this year, the Fujifilm FinePix S100FS is our favorite camera of September. Read More

LG 42LT75 Television

2008-10-01T15:18:00.003-07:00

LG 42LT75 Television
The LG 42LT75 is a revolutionary LCD TV that has an integrated 160GB hard drive allowing you to pause

Fuji Z10FD

2008-10-01T15:18:00.001-07:00

Fuji is getting with the programme, by introducing the Fuji Finepix Z10FD digital camera�which has some Read More

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 full review and video tour

2008-09-29T21:39:00.019-07:00

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 full review and video tour
The Alpha A200 is Sony's new entry-level DSLR and the successor to its debut model, the best-selling Alpha A100. It features the same 10.2 Megapixel CCD sensor as its predecessor, but squeezes it into a smaller and lighter body; there's still room though for the built-in stabilisation to counteract camera shake. Sony's also increased the sensitivity to 3200 ISO, accelerated the AF by 1.7 times, enlarged the screen to 2.7in and employed an InfoLithium battery for accurate feedback. Today though the entry-level DSLR market has never been tougher, so to see how the latest Alpha compares against its predecessor and the current crop of rivals, check out our Sony A200 review, and for a demo of its features, see our Sony A200 video tour.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 First Thoughts

2008-09-29T21:39:00.017-07:00

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 was officially launched in Europe this week. We took the opportunity during the launch event to do some shooting with a pre-production G1. Read More

Canon's 5D Mark II could shake-up the camcorder market

2008-09-29T21:39:00.015-07:00

Canon's 5D Mark II could shake-up the camcorder market
A short film made on the Canon 5D Mark II has got many video enthusiasts rather excited.

Fast and Furious - New Movie coming `09.

2008-09-29T21:39:00.013-07:00

Fast and Furious - New Movie coming `09.
This looks like they have gone back to the basic formula and blown it all up, hopefully they haven't worried too much about the story line, and mainly focused on the action, but I think this should be a pretty good watch especially considering the budget they likely have. looking forward to it.

Canon's 5D Mark II could shake-up the camcorder market

2008-09-29T21:39:00.011-07:00

A short film made on the Canon 5D Mark II has got many video enthusiasts rather excited. Read More

New Zealand broadband according to Akamai

2008-09-29T21:39:00.009-07:00

New Zealand broadband according to Akamai
I have just noticed the Akamai State of the Internet report Q2 2008 is out now. Interesting stats from around the world - worth reading it.

From a New Zealand perspective here is the only data provided:

- more than 962,000 uniqye IP addresses, a 3.78% increase from Q1 2008, about 0.23 per capita (or about 1 for almost four people here);
- only 2% connected to Akamai servers at 5 Mbps or more - 0.01 "high broadband" per capita;
- 52% connected to Akamai servers at 2 Mbps or more;
- 10% connected at 256 Kbps or less.

Pentax K200D First Look and Sample Images

2008-09-29T21:39:00.007-07:00

We have had the opportunity to take a closer look at the recently announced Pentax K200D, a replacement to the Pentax K100D entry level digital SLR. The K200D is designed for users who may be unfamiliar with DSLR cameras but want a camera that will allow them to grow as they learn about photography. With 10.2 megapixels and a 2.7 inch wide view LCD, the Pentax K200D features an easy-to-use interface housed in a compact (now weather protected) body. See full story... Read More

NewEgg: Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $40 shipped

2008-09-29T21:39:00.005-07:00

Crumpler camera bags - full review

2008-09-29T21:39:00.003-07:00

Crumpler camera bags - full review
A good bag is an essential accessory for every photographer. You can of course carry your camera in any bag, but one designed with photographers in mind should accommodate your specific equipment and accessories, along with giving you quick and easy access to them. In this review we'll be taking a look at two camera rucksacks by Australian bag giant Crumpler: the Keystone, a dedicated (but convertible) camera bag, and the Sinking Barge, a hybrid day-pack. See our Crumpler camera bag review for the full story.

Fake popup study: Users are idiots? I don't think so...

2008-09-29T21:39:00.001-07:00

The Psychology Department of North Carolina State University has conducted a study, in which they tested how likely it was that users clicked on fake pop-ups. Those fake pop-ups are often associated with exploits and the installation of malware on yo... (more in the full post)

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 450D SLR

2008-09-25T19:31:00.007-07:00

Canon has now officially announced the 12.2 Megapixel Canon Digital Rebel XSi 450D SLR camera. Incorporating a number of advanced functions and technology found in Canon professional SLR models, the EOS Rebel XSi boasts an improved autofocus sensor, enhanced 14 bit AD conversion, a large 3.0 inch LCD monitor with an advanced Live View function. The Canon Digital Rebel XSi will be available in both black and silver finishes, and sold as body only or in kit form. Read more... Read More

NewEgg: Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS 8MP Digital Camera $174 shipped + 2GB SD and case

2008-09-25T19:31:00.005-07:00

Aircraft seat-bed design offers a comfortable journey for all travelers

2008-09-25T19:31:00.003-07:00

Aircraft seat-bed design offers a comfortable journey for all travelers
Another stand-out entry in the Create the Future Design Contest is the aircraft seat-bed design entered in the transportation section by Mario Martinez Celis from Mexico City. The concept design allows for 594 seats on the Airbus A380 which normally seats 555 but the real beauty of the configuration is that ALL passengers would be given the comfort of seat-beds with more space than ever before. ..

Tags: Airbus, Boeing, Design, NASA, Transport

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Canon at Photokina 2008

2008-09-25T19:31:00.001-07:00

Canon at Photokina 2008
Canon�s LFP and printer range set to capitalise on exponential growth in photo imaging market.

Transfields future as Telecom SP on knife-edge

2008-09-25T19:30:00.011-07:00

I have blogged about this before (it seems like I'm always saying that - just prophetic I guess), but it seems that poor old Transfield are loosing money on their Telecom contracts. See TVNZ news item.

To be honest I'm not surprised, they have been nailed down so much, there can't be any margin in this work, in fact they have admitted they are loosing money on it. A few years ago, when the Telecom patches were being awarded, they must have put in bids so close to their break-even point that there was no room for any variation, and now they're in the smelly brown stuff.

So what are Telecom going to do about it? Two choices; negotiate with Transfield to try and keep them on, and let them actually do business so they can make some money and survive - or give it all to Downers.

Personally, I hope that Transfield stick around and are able to continue with the Telecom patches they have - I think it would be so detrimental to the NZ telecommunications industry if it was just Downers (Don't forget, they have Telecom patches, the TelstraClear SP contract, and the Vodafone maintenance contract - hell, there's not much else out there!!?!)

I can't believe I'm defending Transfield - they are probably the lowest paying SP in the industry. Maybe if they sort things out with Telecom they will address this - yeah right!

Happy days!!

Chrysler's 2009 GEM Peapod neighborhood electric vehicle

2008-09-25T19:30:00.009-07:00

A decade after its launch and with 38,000 zero-emission electric vehicles produced and in use, Chrysler LLC's GEM brand has launched the first of its next-generation designs - the Peapod. Scheduled for production in 2009, the low-speed neighborhood commuter can cover up to 30 miles without recharging at a top speed of 25 mph. In keeping with the company's "lots of love" slogan, the new fully-enclosed pod design uses eco-friendly recycled and recyclable materials in its construction and should keep a lid on road rage by virtue of its smiling facade (both front and rear), as well as keeping those inside the car happy with new ergonomic mesh seating and a freshly designed center console featuring iPod integration and hands-free iPhone support...

Tags: Battery Electric Vehicles, Braking, Chrysler, Electric, Emissions Control, iPhone, iPod

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My Zero G flight experience: the pictures

2008-09-25T19:30:00.007-07:00

In my previous post you can see a short video with my Zero G flight experience. I have now uploaded some of the pictures to my Flickr Zero G set:

Olympus E-520 - full review and video tour

2008-09-25T19:30:00.005-07:00

The Olympus E-520 is the successor to one of the best-selling DSLRs of last year, the popular E-510. The new E-520 takes the 10 Megapixel resolution, Live View, built-in stabilisation, and effective anti-dust features of its predecessor and adds new contrast-based AF in Live View with Face Detection, a bigger screen, quicker continuous shooting, support for wireless flash control, an extra IS mode for panning with the camera held of its side, and a new optional underwater housing. It also offers improved dynamic range and previews of many adjustments. So one of the most feature-packed DSLRs has just got better, but is it enough to compete with the latest rivals? Find out in our Olympus E-520 review and to see a demonstration of its highlights, check out our Olympus E-520 video tour. Read More

LG 37LF66 Television

2008-09-25T19:30:00.003-07:00

LG have released a sight for sore eyes with the 37LF66 Full HD 1080p LCD TV that wont completely break Read More

Hasselblad HCD 4-5.6/35-90mm Aspherical zoom lens

2008-09-25T19:30:00.001-07:00

Hasselblad HCD 4-5.6/35-90mm Aspherical zoom lens
Hasselblad have launched the first zoom lens optimised for H3D DSLR camera system.

More on Orcon

2008-09-24T03:30:00.009-07:00

More on Orcon
I tried to add this as a comment to my previous post, but for some reason I couldn't, so:

So today I got my new Sky City Movies 2 for 1 pass from Orcon as promised. I was pleasantly surprised, given the previous experiences, I didn't think I'd hear from them again.

As to the service I've had 8 days in the last 3 weeks where it didn't break down at all. Last night however the wireless router was playing up and killed me off in the poker tournament I had worked so hard to qualify for. One hand I had pocket Kings and bet 2/3 of my chips, by the time the modem reconnected instead of doubling or trebling up they were gone. $300 I won't be seeing.

I did have 2 bad days last week, one with 79 disconnections and the other with 362 and I still don't have Caller ID, otherwise I would have to say it was pretty good.

Lexar Professional 233x CF Memory Card

2008-09-24T03:30:00.007-07:00

New CompactFlash cards deliver workflow-enhancing benefits for the growing number of photographers who have embraced digital SLR cameras. Read More

Leica S2 professional Digital SLR

2008-09-24T03:30:00.005-07:00

Leica S2 professional Digital SLR
LEICA S2 professional Digital SLR features a custom 37.5-megapixel, 30 x 45 mm sensor integrated in a 35mm-sized body

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 450D SLR

2008-09-24T03:30:00.003-07:00

Pentax K200D First Look and Sample Images

2008-09-24T03:30:00.001-07:00

Pentax K200D First Look and Sample Images
We have had the opportunity to take a closer look at the recently announced Pentax K200D, a replacement to the Pentax K100D entry level digital SLR. The K200D is designed for users who may be unfamiliar with DSLR cameras but want a camera that will allow them to grow as they learn about photography. With 10.2 megapixels and a 2.7 inch wide view LCD, the Pentax K200D features an easy-to-use interface housed in a compact (now weather protected) body. See full story...

Tigerdirect: LG 47LC7DF 47in LCD HDTV $1200

2008-09-24T03:29:00.009-07:00

Details on Samsung HZ1 compact ultrazoom emerge

2008-09-24T03:29:00.007-07:00

Samsung is making a strong bid to be taken seriously in the high-performance compact segment with their announcement of the 10x zoom Samsung HZ1. Read More

Nikon D60 Digital SLR Test and Sample Images

2008-09-24T03:29:00.005-07:00

Having had the opportunity to test the Nikon D60 with the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G Vibration Reduction (VR) kit lens, we have published a few sample images taken with a Nikon D60 (Firmware A 1:00, B 1:00) under a range of ISO sensitivity settings and exploring some of the available options on the camera. See full story... Read More

SQL DB? No firewall? Weak admin password? That is a trojan coming your way alright

2008-09-24T03:29:00.003-07:00

According to the Symantec Security Response Blog, a new trojan called Trojan.Eskiuel is going around infiltrating SQL servers and causing havoc:

This time we have found a new SQL threat: Trojan.Eskiuel. The main functionality of this threat is to scan the Internet to find machines with poorly configured SQL servers (i.e. with weak or non-existing passwords), gain access to them, and use their stored procedures in order to download new malware from a remote host.

Check your servers...

Nikon D300 Image Samples Available

2008-09-24T03:29:00.001-07:00

Nikon Corporation has now provided another four image samples from the soon to be released Nikon D300 digital SLR. The full size images include a couple of portraits, one landscape/scenery and one action shot. The images are taken at 200 ISO, except for one of the portraits captured at 400 ISO. The Nikkor lenses used for these Nikon D300 sample image tests include the Nikon AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G, the prime AF Nikkor 50mm F1.4D and the AF-S VR Nikkor ED 300mm F2.8 IF telephoto lens. Read Full story... Read More

Digital Camera Memory - Beware of Fake Memory Cards!

2008-09-19T18:05:00.011-07:00

Digital Camera Memory - Beware of Fake Memory Cards!
Some unscrupulous sellers may sell fake digital camera media cards.

CircuitCity: refurbished GARMIN StreetPilot c330 GPS Navigation $100 shipped

2008-09-19T18:05:00.009-07:00

Create the Future Design Contest: re-thinking the wheel

2008-09-19T18:05:00.007-07:00

Create the Future Design Contest: re-thinking the wheel
The NASA Tech Briefs Create the Future Design Contest began in 2002 as a platform for encouraging innovation in product design among engineers, entrepreneurs, and students around the globe. The 2008 competition is open until October 17, but already this year's entries have produced some very thought provoking product ideas and we'll be exploring some of the standouts in detail over coming weeks. The first cab off the rank is an attempt, in fact two attempts, to do what else but reinvent the wheel. German student Caspar Schmitz has designed a castor with an additional axis that could see your shopping trolleys glide over bumps instead of grinding to an abrupt halt. Also in Caspar's portfolio is the transformable wheel chair, an application of "the transformable wheel", a concept which allows a wheel made of flexible plastic to take on an ellipsoid shape when circumstances require a lower center-of-gravity...

Tags: Design, Medical, NASA, Safety

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Panasonic TX-37LZD70 Television

2008-09-19T18:05:00.005-07:00

Panasonic TX-37LZD70 Television
Panasonic brings us the TX-37LZD70, a Full High Definition 1080p LCD TV with V-real technology for the

Sites to Browse - Misc - See Objects get Shredded

2008-09-19T18:05:00.003-07:00

Perfect entertainment for a boring afternoon - watch batteries, television sets, and even refrigerators get shredded. Read More

Lexar Memory Stick Micro

2008-09-19T18:05:00.001-07:00

Lexar Memory Stick Micro
Superior Quality Mobile Memory Products Enhance Capabilities of Cell Phones and Portable Devices.

SendMeHome

2008-09-19T18:04:00.007-07:00

SendMeHome
New website launches innovative lost-and-found technology.

CompUSA: Nokia N810 NSeries Internet Tablet $350

2008-09-19T18:04:00.005-07:00

CompUSA: Nokia N810 NSeries Internet Tablet $350

2008-09-19T18:04:00.003-07:00

CompUSA: Nokia N810 NSeries Internet Tablet $350

Canon PowerShot SD990 IS, SD880 IS join Digital ELPH series

2008-09-19T18:04:00.001-07:00

Canon PowerShot SD990 IS, SD880 IS join Digital ELPH series
Two new ultracompact cameras, the Canon PowerShot SD990 IS and Canon PowerShot SD880 IS, will soon be joining the ranks of Canon's Digital ELPH models.

Carl Zeiss launches lenses for Canon EF mount

2008-09-15T08:48:00.015-07:00

Carl Zeiss launches lenses for Canon EF mount
After teasing the launch of a new mount a few weeks ago, Carl Zeiss has provided details on the lucky new system. As we predicted, the winner is Canon's EF mount: in addition to providing details on the new EF-compatible Zeiss ZE mount, the German firm also announced two forthcoming ZE lenses.

Lenovo: ThinkCentre A57 Tower Desktop E2180 1GB 160GB $334 shipped

2008-09-15T08:48:00.013-07:00

Attending the IBM Forum 2008 in Wellington

2008-09-15T08:48:00.011-07:00

Attending the IBM Forum 2008 in Wellington
Cool, it's that time of the year again when the IBM Forum is on. I've attended previous events and it's always an interesting day.

Here's a bit about this event:

IBM Forum 2008 focuses on Sustainable Innovation, starting with the keynote, Ray Avery, a kiwi scientist and entrepreneur; founder CEO of Medicine Mondiale. Ray is developing sustainable products and technologies for world markets, such as his latest invention “Proteinforte”. Ray will be talking about global opportunities for high tech innovation in healthcare, education and infrastructure.

Also on the agenda, Edward Orange, Director of Lotus Software of IBM Asia Pacific, will be talking about Web 2.0 and how it can be leveraged by enterprises of all sizes to help revolutionise the way they conduct business, help employees collaborate more effectively and enhance their client outreach.

The agenda also features a session on 'Co-Web: re-mixing audio and video collaboration in the next generation of the Internet’ and ‘Demystifying SOA - driving business agility with service orientated business applications’, as well as insights into the latest advances in strategy and technology; customer stories and interactive demonstrations.

The full day event is happening in Wellington (11th August, Michael Fowler Centre), Auckland (14th August, Hyatt Hotel) and Christchurch (19th August, Convention Centre).

Registrations are open now.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 / TZ4 with 10x Wide-Angle Zoom

2008-09-15T08:48:00.009-07:00

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 / TZ4 with 10x Wide-Angle Zoom
Panasonic has today introduced two new Lumix digital cameras, 9.1-megapixel DMC-TZ5 and 8.1-megapixel DMC-TZ4, each featuring a 28mm wide-angle 10x optical zoom Leica DC lens (equivalent to 28-280mm on a 35mm film camera). The DMC-TZ5 newly integrates the capability of recording 720p HD (high-definition) motion pictures together with its direct output function allowing users to enjoy watching both still and motion pictures in HD quality on a large-screen HDTV. See full story...

Samsung Yp T10 4GB yp T10JAB

2008-09-15T08:48:00.007-07:00

Samsung Yp T10 4GB yp T10JAB
The Samsung YP-T10 is a super slim and sexy MP3 player which although is looking a little like the Samsung

HP invites to Software Business Technology Optmisation Tour in Wellington

2008-09-15T08:48:00.005-07:00

HP invites to Software Business Technology Optmisation Tour in Wellington
Today I received an invitation that I am able to extend to you. HP is running the HP Software BTO Tour 2008 in Wellington, 2nd September 2008.

This half day event is ahppening at the Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa from 8:30am through 1:30pm.

There will be conference streams during the day, designed to give IT Professionals a more practical approach to IT Management.

I won't be attending the event though, because I will be in Auckland attending the Microsoft Tech Ed, and writing the Unofficial Tech Ed Blog while there...

Abes Of Maine: Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS Navigation System with MP3 Player $188

2008-09-15T08:48:00.003-07:00

Abes Of Maine: Garmin Nuvi 350 GPS Navigation System with MP3 Player $188

How to take photos at night - DSLR Tips workshop

2008-09-15T08:48:00.001-07:00

Photos taken at night can produce spectacular results - in fact many cities present their best views after dark. Night photography can also be very forgiving in bad weather, so if rain's prevented you from grabbing the shots you want of a city, it's well worth trying again after sunset. Night photography can however prove quite a challenge in Automatic modes, but it's surprisingly easy with a few simple tricks and in our latest video workshop at DSLR Tips, we'll explain how. Read More

Washington Mutual: 3.75% APY on Statement Savings account + Free WaMu Checking

2008-09-15T08:47:00.003-07:00

Washington Mutual: 3.75% APY on Statement Savings account + Free WaMu Checking

Apple iPod classic Black (80GB, PC/MAC - MB147LL/A) (80 GB, 20000 Songs) Digital Media Player

2008-09-15T08:47:00.001-07:00

The new iPod Classic will store so much of your favourite music with either 80GB or 160GB hard drive, Read More

Microsoft Excel 2003 Functions and Formulas - Using Excel to Convert to Roman Numerals

2008-09-13T16:27:00.019-07:00

Microsoft Excel 2003 Functions and Formulas - Using Excel to Convert to Roman Numerals
Need to convert MM to 2000? Use this Excel function. ...

Microsoft Excel 2003 Functions and Formulas - Exponentiation

2008-09-13T16:27:00.017-07:00

Two ways to raise numbers to powers inside Microsoft Excel 2003 spreadsheets. ... Read More

Dell Home: Inspiron 530 Desktop Q6600 2GB 250GB128MB video +24in LCD $769 shipped

2008-09-13T16:27:00.015-07:00

Nikon Coolpix P6000 with 4x Wide Angle Zoom and GPS

2008-09-13T16:27:00.013-07:00

Nikon Coolpix P6000 with 4x Wide Angle Zoom and GPS
Nikon has today introduced their new Coolpix flagship compact camera, the 13.5 MP Nikon Coolpix P6000. The Nikon Coolpix P6000 features a 4x optical zoom starting at 28mm and includes optical lens shift Vibration Reduction (VR), a 2.7-inch high resolution LCD monitor, four exposure modes (P,S,A,M), a dedicated hotshoe and an optical viewfinder. See full story...

CircuitCity: Sanyo Xacti E1 6MP Waterproof SD Camcorder - Blue $330 shipped

2008-09-13T16:27:00.011-07:00

Vodafone Broadband Bandwidth meter: Total crap

2008-09-13T16:27:00.009-07:00

I noticed that there was an issue currently occuring with the Bandwith meter for the 24th and the 25th:

Bandwidth issue 2008-07-25 11:32:57

Some customers may notice that their bandwidth for the 24th and 25th of July is higher than usual.

We are currently investigating this issue with our Engineers and we hope to resolve this as soon as possible

Thank you for your patience

So I went along to My Vodafone to check.

While the meter in the picture below only accounts for my PC only (out of two), I am the biggest user of this household, so you could multiply the figures in my meter report by around 1.5.

Do note that my meter report may have slightly higher usage than the actual one as some packets may not be going to the Internet.

It sometimes fluctuates below my own PC's usage... and the 24th has a sudden peak spike (but the days before it were pretty unaccounted for)

Also, the 22nd of July is missing! Where did that go?

Some dates also seem to have huge delay in processing the usage (so sometimes the usage on one day goes on the next day).

I've seen problems with ihug's/Vodafone's usage checker a few times before. I haven't seen many occurrences of other ISPs having similar problems...

This also reduces the trust laid upon Vodafone's systems. I definitely know that I'll need to use my meter to check for usage rather than My Vodafone. Could this mean that we could be paying more for our data? (as if there is substantially more data usage than the actual one, then Vodafone have actually been taking away the value of the plan)

Vodafone's engineers better rectify this problem soon!

Specific brainwave patterns occur prior to a “Eureka Moment”

2008-09-13T16:27:00.007-07:00

September 9, 2008 “Eureka” (Greek for "I have found it") is an exclamation used as an interjection to proclaim an epiphanic discovery. Famously pronounced in the bathtub by Archimedes when he suddenly understood that the volume of irregular objects could be calculated with precision through the displacement of water, a previously intractable problem. Real-world problems come in two broad types: those requiring sequential reasoning and those requiring transformative reasoning: a break from past thinking followed by an insight. It is this moment, where a problem solver makes a quantum leap of understanding with no conscious forewarning, that we term the “Eureka moment.” A new university study in which brainwaves of humans were measured as they attempted to solve puzzles that call for intuitive strategies and novel insight has found an array of specific brainwave patterns occur several (up to 8) seconds before the participant is consciously aware of an insight...

Tags: Brain, Thinking

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Image Comparer

2008-09-13T16:27:00.005-07:00

Got "twin" images? Image Comparer will find them! Read More

Photobox

2008-09-13T16:27:00.003-07:00

Marcoms heavyweight joins from T-Mobile International Read More

The Dark Knight: Batman remodeled.

2008-09-13T16:27:00.001-07:00

The Dark Knight: Batman remodeled.
I took the opportunity to see "The Dark Knight" on saturday night, (in Reading Cinemas Gold Lounge)

and I have to admit, the hype is not totally misplaced, it is a stunning movie,

Heath Ledger truly played the part to a legendary level, the gadgets again are fantastic,

the sheer grittyness that was brough about made it all the more real, rather than having a fantastical approach, it gave it a realisticness lacking in many hero movies.

I'd love to write more but I'd hate to spoil it,

I think this movie will go down as a definite movie to watch.

Sharp's solar LED street lights incorporate seismic detection

2008-09-13T03:54:00.017-07:00

Sharp's solar LED street lights incorporate seismic detection
The argument for switching to solar-powered street lighting seems very clear cut: they run on sunlight, emit no CO2 emissions, provide an off-the grid source of lighting during in an emergency situation and use efficient LED-based light which tends not to attract insects. Sharp Corporation has announced plans to roll-out two new models of solar-powered LED street lights in the Japanese market and these have the added bonus of in-built Seismic Motion Sensors which detect earthquakes of five or greater on the Japanese seismic scale and respond by switching to full illumination for two nights...

Tags: LED, Lighting, Security, Sharp, Solar

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HP: HP dv2700t 14.1in notebook T8100 3GB 250GB DVD+-RW webcam $650 shipped

2008-09-13T03:54:00.015-07:00

Clothes Show Live

2008-09-13T03:54:00.013-07:00

Clothes Show Live
The world�s largest fashion and beauty event supports emerging fashion talent with design awards.

Nikon D3 and D300 Scene Recognition System Developer Interview

2008-09-13T03:54:00.011-07:00

Nikon D3 and D300 Scene Recognition System Developer Interview
Nikon has provided a behind the scenes interview with the developer of their new scene recognition system technology which is incorporated in the latest Nikon D3 and D300 digital cameras. Leveraging the data provided by their 1005 pixel RGB matrix meter, Nikons new SRS provides more precise subject identification, optimizing autofocus, exposure and white balance detection. See full story...

Camera Labs Assignment: vote for your favourite!

2008-09-13T03:54:00.009-07:00

Camera Labs Assignment: vote for your favourite!
It's the first day of a new month which means a new Assignment in the Camera Labs forums. The theme as suggested by the winner of February's Assignment, zrmi, is 'Transportation'. To enter, visit the April Assignment Submissions page. This also means submissions for last month's Assignment are now closed so you can vote for your favourite entry of Big Pix's 'Time' theme. So to vote, head on over to our March Assignment Submissions thread.

Buying a Digital Camera - Work the Controls Before Buying

2008-09-13T03:54:00.007-07:00

Comparing digital cameras to buy? Familiarize yourself with the controls before making a decision. Read More

Moosejaw: upto 50% off North Face sale + 25% off coupon, Jackets from $15

2008-09-13T03:54:00.005-07:00

Moosejaw: upto 50% off North Face sale + 25% off coupon, Jackets from $15

Buying a Digital Camera - Work the Controls Before Buying

2008-09-13T03:54:00.003-07:00

Comparing digital cameras to buy? Familiarize yourself with the controls before making a decision. Read More

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 with 15x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD

2008-09-13T03:54:00.001-07:00

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 with 15x Optical Zoom and 3.0-inch LCD
Sony Canada today announced the latest addition to its high-zoom camera line, the 9.1-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-H50 digital camera. This new model (which is a successor to the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9) incorporates a 15x optical zoom lens with Super SteadyShot optical image stabilization to capture action at a distance. The Sony DSC-H50 also features extensive manual controls, including an exposure bracketing mode that newly includes settings for white balance and color modes. See full story...

Three new Epson Stylus NX all-in-ones launched

2008-09-13T03:53:00.001-07:00

Three new Epson Stylus NX all-in-ones launched
Epson has launched a trio of new sub-$100 all-in-one inkjets "designed to satisfy the printing, scanning, copying, and faxing needs of any busy household."