Everything Tech

Exclusive First Look: WorldWide Telescope

2008-03-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

This is the most innovative thing I've seen Microsoft do in years. It had a huge emotional impact on me, as I realized the way my son will see the Universe will forever change, thanks to the work of two guys in Microsoft Research (Curtis Wong and Jonathan Fay). We meet both of them and get a look at why the WorldWide Telescope created a stir at last week's TED Conference. Coming soon, you'll get another look inside Microsoft Research as we get a tour of the new building that the researchers themselves help design. Tons of innovative ideas there that you'll appreciate learning from.

Microsoft World Wide Telescope

Top Gear - Water Car

2007-12-31T07:55:00.000-08:00

GM Hy-Wire water car on Top Gear

Google Developer Day US - A Computing System for the World's

2007-12-31T07:36:00.000-08:00

A Computing System for the World's Information: A Look Behind the Scenes at Google
Jeff Dean

When collecting, indexing, and organizing large amounts of information using thousands of unreliable computers, one quickly discovers that the right software infrastructure can make all the difference. In this talk, we'll discuss our underlying computing hardware, and the design principles and implementations of GFS, MapReduce and BigTable, three internal systems that are used at Google for a wide variety of purposes.

Speaker Bio:Jeff joined Google in 1999 and is currently a Google Fellow in Google's Systems Infrastructure Group. While at Google he has worked on Google's crawling, indexing, query serving, and advertising systems, implemented a number of search quality improvements, built various pieces of Google's distributed computing infrastructure, and worked on a variety of internal and external developer tools.

Free multi-media course on blogging

2007-12-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

The best blogging techniques.
How to get traffic to your blog.
How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

How to track new Software Updates with FileHippo

2007-07-26T16:10:00.001-07:00

How do you get the latest versions of your favorite software…without checking
different sites every day to see if your software’s outdated? FileHippo makes it easy with their free update checker.It scans your Windows registry and lets you know which software needs some upgrading, and provides useful information like the size of the download, the current and latest version, and of course a link to download the latest version of the software itself. Simple, and incredibly effective.

According to the site, none of your data is stored with so you don’t have to worry about your privacy being violated.

Learn to Dance

2007-06-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

Become a dancing fool with free online dance lessons at LearnToDance.com, a site full of detailed text lessons complete with diagrams AND video clip demonstrations.

You've got your Argentine Tango, Ballroom, Breakdance (yeah, baby!), and lots more here. Of course, this probably doesn't substitute for actual live dancing classes, but it's a good alternative if you need to learn the Foxtrot and can't schedule in some instruction.

FREE Dance lessons

Cyberhomes

2007-04-25T16:51:00.000-07:00

Discover homes for sale, as well as regional and individual home sale stats, and general neighborhood and school info with Cyberhomes, a Microsoft Virtual Earth mashup that's similar to Zillow but seems to work a bit faster.

A quick look through my neighborhood netted average home sales in the last few months; I was able to zoom in on specific homes and get more information. You also have the option to narrow down your search pretty well from the get-go; just click on the Advanced Search Options tag.

Cyberhomes

Inner Life of a Cell-Breathtaking Video

2007-04-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

The Inner Life of the Cell from the Biovisions at Harvard initiative is incredible, you've never seen working of a cell presented like this - the motor proteins are *phenomenal*

Link Full Version

Google Earth adds Hiking Trails!

2007-04-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

Want to scout out some hikes before your next trip? Google Earth's new layer has hundreds of them.

Specifically, the Trimble Outdoors Trips layer features GPS-marked trails for activities including hiking, biking, backpacking and running. The info includes directions to trailheads, a difficulty ranking, and notes on interesting sights to see along the way. Some legs also include photos, audio and even video clips. But here's where it really gets interesting: One click sends the trip info straight to your phone--and if it's a GPS-enabled phone, you can get the actual coordinates as well (as opposed to just the map).

Users can, of course, submit their own hike routes as well. To see the new layer in action, fire up Google Earth and look under the Featured Content tree in the Layers pane. Then dig out your backpack.
Google Earth [via Official Google Blog]

O'Reilly opens online tech school

2007-04-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who want to add to your tech skills, this sounds like it could be a great way to do it. Certificates available include Client-Side Web Programming, Linux/Unix System Administration Certificate, Web Programming Certificate, Open Source Programming Certificate, and a .NET Programming Certificate.

O'Reilly Online School

Google launches My Maps

2007-04-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

Create, annotate and share personalized maps with My Maps, a new addition to Google Maps.

To get started, just head to the site and click the My Maps tab. Create a new map, choose whether to make it public or private (the former makes it available in searches), then start marking it up. You can add places, draw lines and shapes, and even incorporate hosted photos and videos (though only by adding the appropriate HTML to a placemark's description). When you're done, you can share the map (it gets its own URL) or create a KML file for use in Google Earth.

Windows Live Maps offers similar functionality (and has better drawing tools), but Google raises the bar a bit with its video and KML support. Plus, My Maps is much easier to work with. How will you use this tool?

How to improve your wireless network signal?

2007-03-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

Having trouble getting a good signal with your wireless network? Before you dropkick the kitty, consider these ten tips from Microsoft on how to improve your signal range and strength.
Now, for the more experienced user, these suggestions are all pretty basic. However, for anyone who's just getting started on the road to wireless connectivity, all ten of these tips are must-haves. What's the best way you've been able to boost your wireless network's efficiency - legally, of course? Let us know in the comments. — Wendy Boswell

10 tips for improving your wireless network [Microsoft]

How to reset your iPod

2007-03-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

Your iPod just crashed, and it's gasping for breath and giving you the black iPod screen of death. Resuscitate it with the magical, life-giving key combination:

1. Toggle the Hold switch on and off. (Slide it to Hold, then turn it off again.)
2. Press and hold the Menu and Center (Select) buttons simultaneously until the Apple logo appears, about 6 to 10 seconds.
This works on the latest click wheel 'pods; check out the whole Apple document for instructions on older models and other iPod troubleshooting techniques. —Gina Trapani

How to reset iPod [Apple]

Jott.Com

2007-03-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

A blogger at Studentlinc explains how he combined Jott and Gmail to create a to-do list he can add to just by making a phone call.

Jott, as you may recall, is a free service that transcribes phone messages and sends the text to you via e-mail. The trick here is to create a Jott-specific label in Gmail, then set up your Jott account to send messages to that address. One click of the Jott label will reveal all your to-dos. And you can "cross one off" by deleting the e-mail.

I'm a huge fan of using Jott to send myself reminders. This takes the idea one step further by leveraging Gmail's labels. Know any other Jott hacks? Put 'em in the comments. — Rick Broida

Creating My ToDo list Through Jott and Gmail [Studentlinc via lifehack.org]

Photo Tourism (Full)

2007-02-25T10:26:00.001-08:00

Amazing demo of this new software. Photo tourism with many very interesting features. Beautiful transitions and it seems to have very intuitive functions. I'm keeping an eye on this.

IEEE 802.16m to Bring 1Gbps Wireless Transfer Rates

2007-02-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

The technology will also be WiMAX and 4G compatible

According to a published draft information on 802.16 standards, the IEEE is currently working on a new wireless standard called 802.16m. The new standard is still more than a year or two away, but according to IEEE documents, the group hopes that 802.16m will be able to deliver 1Gbps transfer rates over the air. In fact, 802.16m is "required" to meet downstream speeds of up to 1Gbps in "nomadic" mode, or high efficiency/strong signal mode. The standard also has a "high mobility" mode which allows for 100Mbps rates.

What gives 802.16m the capability to reach such high speeds is its use of multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) technology. MIMO is currently used in a host of 802.11g and 802.11n routers and access points currently available on the market to speed things up. 54Mbps routers that use MIMO are capable of reaching theoretical speeds up to 108Mbit.sec.

The IEEE committee indicated that while 802.16m is not part of the WiMAX, it promises that there will be cross platform compatibility between the two standards. The new high-speed standard is also slated to be compatible with future 4G wireless networks that will make their way into mobile phones roughly two to three years from now. At that time, 4G will be based on OFDMA standards and abandon current WCDMA and CDMA2000 standards.

Free Batteries For Life, Courtesy of the Sun

2007-02-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

How'd you like to never pay for batteries again? And I'm not talking about plain old rechargeable batteries here. You still need to pay for the electricity that charges those. No, I'm talking totally, completely free from here on out...

Free Batteries