PC & IT 02 (Nov 08 - Mar 10)

[kennynah]

these chaps are finally getting their due recognition

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Dev-Team releases yellowsn0w software to unlock iPhone - Update
1/5/2009 1:20 AM ET

(RTTNews) - Dev-team revealed the relase of its yellowsn0w software, the 0.9.5 beta yellowsn0w 3G unlock application, to unlock Apple Inc. (AAPL: News )'s famed iPhone. It is expected to fix a few problems, including some SIM Tool Kit or STK issues.

The unlock works exclusively with baseband 02.28.00, which is provided by the latest firmware update, 2.2, from Apple. The application is a small daemon that is launched on boot. It injects the payload at boot and also whenever there is a baseband reset.
With regard to STK issues, removing and reinserting the SIM once after reboot fixes the issue. After installing yellowsn0w via Cydia, the user has to return to the Cydia main menu and reboot the iPhone with the 3rd party SIM installed. After waiting for the slide to unlock screen, wait 10 or 15 seconds more. If the carrier name does not pop up, remove the user's SIM and reinsert it, and wait 10 seconds more.

The application is released on a non-commercial basis. The software is licensed for single use in a non-commercial environment.

[winston]

It's Fun to Know: Google Conquers the Flu?

When people get sick these days, they often turn to the Web, Google in particular, to figure out what's ailing them. Google is taking advantage of that common practice to help researchers track flu epidemics.

Flu Trends (google.org/flutrends/) keeps track of searches for flu-related terms (like "flu symptoms" and "the flu"). And when flu-like symptoms start appearing in a particular part of the country, searches for those terms by people who live in the area tend to spike.

Researchers like Flu Trends because it's cheap and easy to use. But they aren't ready to throw out their other flu-detection methods just yet. Many plan to use Flu Trends in conjunction with data from drugstores, doctor's offices, and ERs.

(Source: Slate)

[winston]

How Can a NOVICE Learn Graphic Design or Web-Development Skills From the Ground Up?

My 17-year-old "whiz kid" son learned everything he knows about graphic design, Photoshop, Web development, programming, hacking, online gaming, and Flash... online! He's read only one book on programming - the Linux Bible.

There are thousands of sites on the Internet that offer graphic design and Web-development tutorials. Three of my favorites are DesignTutorials.info, Abduzeedo.com, and grafx-design.com.

There are also several graphic design programs on the market that can get you designing on a "professional" level in no time.

[iam802]

I was watching Apple's keynote and came across the term 'geo tagging'.

Apple iLife software is now able to support geotagging. Apparently, if your camera comes with a 'geo tagging' chip, it will be able to tag where you took the photo (eg. Paris, Beijing etc).

Pretty neat... less cataloging on our part.

Any idea which camera manufacturers is offering this 'geotagging chip'?

[millionairemind]

Do you guys use Starhub broadband?

I have a 8MPS plan, but it still takes me ages to download videos on youtube.

I used to have the Singtel ADSL plan which was the low end 1MPS plan and I don't think there is a noticeable difference between the 2

[iam802]

No problem for me on accessing YouTube videos via Starhub.

I am probably on 6Mb plan (not sure.. they keep upgrading me over the years).

[millionairemind]

Tks 802. My videos do upload but it is not streaming from YOUTUBE (depends on time of year). Maybe too many ppe. in my apt. block using starhub?

The next big thing, Netbooks??

Gambling on Netbooks in Vegas
At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, Intel, Freescale, Lenovo, and others are unveiling a host of souped-up, touchscreen netbooks

It's not hard to spot a netbook in the wild. You know these tiny, stripped-down laptops by their screens, which measure about 10 inches, and price tags, which currently go as low as $300.

But soon this emerging class of machines won't be so easy to ID—electronics manufacturers are about to bust the computer category wide open. At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that officially begins on Jan. 8, manufacturers will introduce a slew of devices of different shapes, sizes, and prices—everything from netbooks that cost less than $200 to high-end miniature machines that cost more than $1,000 and function as a phone, Web access device, and media player rolled into one.

A wider variety of models may be good news to the growing number of consumers who say they're jonesing for a netbook. About one in five consumers who plan to purchase a new computer in the next year say they will spend less on their next PC in light of current economic conditions, according to November data from Forrester Research (FORR). Some of that smaller budget may be devoted to netbooks, according to researcher IDC. About 21 million netbooks may ship this year, compared with 11 million last year, says IDC.

[kennynah]

I was watching Apple's keynote and came across the term 'geo tagging'.

Apple iLife software is now able to support geotagging. Apparently, if your camera comes with a 'geo tagging' chip, it will be able to tag where you took the photo (eg. Paris, Beijing etc).

Pretty neat... less cataloging on our part.

Any idea which camera manufacturers is offering this 'geotagging chip'?

can be good or bad...depending on whose in those pictures and where they are taken... need i elaborate further ...hahaha..

[winston]

It's Good to Know: Google Scholar - Another Research Resource

Whether you are writing advertising copy or editorial content for your website, interesting facts and statistics add credibility to your message. Often a plain old Google search or trip to the library - sifting through a glut of information - can eat up more time than you have.

Enter Google Scholar (scholar.google.com). It allows you to target your search to publications and journals produced by universities, trade groups, and professional societies. If research has been done on the subject, you will quickly find articles, studies, and/or peer-reviewed papers.

(Source: Google)

[iam802]

In this age where we rely on the Internet so much for information, the bookmarks that we build up over the years is valuable.

Nothing beats losing them due to various reasons. Eg. Windows update that 'screwed' your machine, virus etc.

If you use Firefox, take a look at Foxmarks

Foxmarks is a free add-on for your Firefox browser that syncs and backs up your bookmarks and passwords across multiple computers and more.

http://www.foxmarks.com/

For Opera users, just sign up for a 'MyOpera' account and you will be able to sync your bookmarks, notes etc.