The Everything Blog

Researchers Print Fully Functional OLED Control Circuit With Inkjet Technology

2011-12-02T17:22:00.001-08:00

We all learnt in 6th grade that a printer was an output device. But who would have imagined this? Researchers at the UCLA start-up “Aneeve Nanotechnologies” have managed to print a fully functional OLED Display control circuit with Inkjet–like technology. What’s more, they even claim that their Carbon Nanotube based implementation is better than the current process.
Catch the entire story at Engadget!

Mycestro: Wireless Air Mouse Concept

2011-10-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

We’ve have had literally hundreds of innovative Human Interface Devices come along of late. But, every once in a while, a concept comes along that makes you go WOW! Check out the Video. I think the left and right button sensor placement is really cool. Kinda feels natural.

Will it be a commercial success? Leave your comments below.

Copenhagen Climate Change Conference: Our Last Hope?

2009-12-05T19:53:00.001-08:00

On 7th of December 2009, leaders from 192 countries across the planet will meet at Copenhagen to discuss climate change and it’s effects. Some of the most crucial issues regarding climate change will be discusses here. The United Nations is giving an unique chance to internet users across the globe to post their message and get their voices heard. Sign into www.hopenhagen.com and sign the UN Climate change Petition. You’ll get say what “Gives you hope” for a better planet. A list of names of people who have signed the petition will then be presented to World leaders at the conference! Lets make Copenhagen, Hopenhagen!

BitDefender Internet Security 2010 Free Download with 3 month Key.

2009-11-27T09:34:00.001-08:00

BitDefender Internet Security 2010 is a comprehensive Internet security software that offers protection against malware, spyware, virus, Trojan, spam, hackers without slowing down PCs. BitDefender Internet Security 2010 comes with an user-friendly interface, designed in such a way that both experts and novices are comfortable. In addition, the new BitDefender 2010 has improved Parental Control, Intrusion Detection, and In-Product Technical Support. Furthermore, it also features a cutting-edge security system and Active Virus Control that constantly monitors all the processes on PC, 24/7, and blocking any malicious behavior before it can cause any damage. BitDefender Internet Security 2010 is able to scan PCs in half the time needed by earlier versions, while using fewer resources. Get it now.

Norway Gets World’s First Osmotic Power Plant.

2009-11-25T23:19:00.001-08:00

The Europeans have done it again! And this time it’s the world’s first “Osmotic Power Plant”. The system can generate power by using nothing more than sea water. Sea water and Fresh water are fed into two different chambers separated by a semi-permeable membrane. “Osmosis” occurs, causing pressure to rise on the sea water side and this pressure is sufficient to get a turbine running. Although the system only generates enough power to heat a kettle of water, scientists say that the concept could soon be used to generate equivalent energy of a decent windmill. The advantages of the system of obvious: It’s completely renewable, does not generate any greenhouse gases and does not depend on the sun or wind to generate power.

Windows 8 scheduled for 2012

2009-11-25T19:58:00.001-08:00

Speculation galore! The rumors are that the next installment of the Windows range of Operating Systems, codenamed Windows 8, is due to be be launched somewhere in 2012. The fact that Windows 8 is planned for availability in 2012 also provides a reason for customers to upgrade to Windows 7. Users who have skipped Vista altogether will most certainly not be willing to wait another three years, and should make the jump to the latest version of Windows. The fact that the world might have already ended seems of no consequence to the Redmond company.

Remove Duplicate Files On Your HDD With Duplicate File Finder 3.5.

2009-11-25T19:42:00.001-08:00

One of the most common problems people face when they use their Operating Systems over long periods of time is that their files get duplicated. It can get to be quite a task to track these duplicate files and then get rid of them. That’s where Duplicate File Finder comes in. This handy tool will search each file, folder or drive for duplicate files and list them for you. Files are compared not just by names or size: rather, a bit to bit comparison is made. This ensures 100% accuracy. The software also includes a “Fast search mode” that just compares the first and last few megabits of file. This mode gives near 100% accurate results too. What's more, the software comes as freeware from Brooks Younce Software.

Here’s a list of it’s overall features:

. Multithreading operation to provide extremely fast search results.
· FASTER Duplicate File Searching than any other program of its kind!
· Fast Search mode allows extremely fast byte comparisons on large files.
· Search Across Multiple Directories and Drives.
· Search for All File Type or Narrow your Search to Specific File types only!
· Also can locate and delete empty files.
· Double Click a file in the tree list to display a detailed information dialog.
· Ability to Delete Selected Original Files.

Symantec’s Online Store Hacked.

2009-11-24T05:26:00.001-08:00

A hacker from Romania has managed to exploit a SQL injection vulnerability on Semantec’s website allowing him access to the database. In a SQL Injection(SQLi) attack, an insecure parameter on the SQL query caused the system to to allow a Blind SQL attack, allowing the hacker to read/write permissions to the company’s databases.

Windows 7 Has Shutting Down Issues On Multi-Core Machines.

2009-11-24T05:07:00.001-08:00

It has recently come to light that the latest installment of Windows, Windows 7, has some issues with shutting down on certain computers. Certain systems using this OS and sporting multi-core CPUs failed to shut-down properly. The Redmond Company is now working on fixing the issue. A spokesperson from Microsoft had this to say: “You have a computer that is running Windows 7. When the system is under heavy load, you may encounter one or more of the following problems: the hotkey on your keyboard does not work. For example, you press the hotkey to control the brightness of your computer screen. However, the level of brightness does not change. Windows 7 stops responding when you shut down the computer or put the computer into Sleep”. This will mean that hundreds of new hardware currently on shelves may come with this problem. Microsoft has, however, released a hotfix which solves a particular instance of the problem. The problem also appears to inflict multi-processor systems.

Re-enable the Quick Launch Bar in Windows 7.

2009-11-24T04:48:00.001-08:00

Like every other version of Windows, Windows 7 has had a massive overhaul in the GUI area. One of the latest additions is the “Superbar”, a highly customizable version of the taskbar. The Superbar is not only serene on the eyes, but also comes good on functionality: it allows users to quickly access programs by allowing them to be pinned to Superbar. This feature has more or less outdated the need for a Quick Launch bar.However, for those avid users who feel that they can’t do without it, it can be bought back. Here’s how you “Bring back” the Quick launch bar:

1. Right-click an empty area of the taskbar, point to Toolbars, and then click New toolbar.
2. In the dialog box, copy and then paste the following folder name to the Folder box, and then click Select Folder: %AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
3. Now you see the Quick Launch bar with the text on the rightside of the task bar. To hide the Quick Launch text and program titles, right-click Quick Launch, clear Show Text and Show title.
4. Drag the Quick Launch bar to the leftside of the task bar. If you cannot move the Quick Launch bar, right-click the taskbar again, and make sure that the Lock the taskbar option is cleared .
5. If you prefer big icons in the Quick Launch bar, right-click an empty area of the Quick Launch bar, point to View, and then click Large Icons.
6. To add a program in the Quick Launch bar, drag the desired icon to the Quick Launch bar.

Chrome OS promises Ultra-Fast 3 second boot.

2009-11-22T03:59:00.001-08:00

Sundar Pinchai, principal of Google’s Chrome OS project has announced that the OS will have a Linux kernel and an Ubuntu Base. It will also make use of the latest EXT 4 file system and will be so optimized that will boot in not much more than 3 or 4 seconds. It is to be noted that the Chrome OS is primarily targeted towards Netbook users. Chrome OS will also feature several security features that will make it hard for malware to infect computers. “Unlike traditional operating systems, Chrome OS doesn't trust the applications you run. Each app is contained within a security sandbox making it harder for malware and viruses to infect your computer. Furthermore, Chrome OS barely trusts itself. Every time you restart your computer the operating system verifies the integrity of its code. If your system has been compromised, it is designed to fix itself with a reboot. While no computer can be made completely secure, we're going to make life much harder (and less profitable) for the bad guys.”

Microsoft Pivot claims to change the way we look at the web.

2009-11-22T03:36:00.001-08:00

Microsoft Live Labs has come with a new prototype product that it claims, ambitiously, will change the way we look at the web. “When we use the Web today we treat the most fundamental scenarios as separate activities. Search takes us from many things to one, browsing moves us from one thing to another, and recommendations expose affinities that enable us to explore related topics. Can we do better by combining these scenarios into a more unified experience?” Microsoft asked. “Pivot focuses on this intersection, enabling us to learn key lessons while attempting to broadly apply this philosophy to the Web. We hope that Pivot will inspire and fuel transformative experiences across the Web.”

The core of Microsoft Pivot lies in the concept of “Collections”. These “Collections” bundle large amounts of data together based on their similarity. Objects with similarities are “collected” together and served to users, who are then free to explore the similarities between the objects.

The bad news, however, is that the testing program, which is live, is available only to a select group of “technical” users. All invites have been exhausted. Individuals who want to test this product can, however, register their email ids with Microsoft and wait for an update.

You can read more about Pivot here.

UPDATE: I've now offcially got an invite that valid for 10 machines. If you'd like one, just leave a comment!

Windows 8 scheduled to release late 2012

2009-11-21T10:01:00.000-08:00

Speculation Galore! The next release in the lineup of Operating Systems from Microsoft, codenamed Windows 8, is scheduled to release late 2012.The fact that Windows 8 is planned for availability in 2012 also provides a reason for customers to upgrade to Windows 7. Users who have skipped Vista altogether will most certainly not be willing to wait another three years, and should make the jump to the latest version of Windows. Of course, the fact that the world might just have ended appears to be of no consequence to the Redmond Giant!

Office 2010 Public Beta: OUT NOW!

2009-11-21T09:02:00.001-08:00

Finally, the public Beta of Office 2010 is out. And there’s more good news! Microsoft has NOT yet announced any closing date for the beta program, which means you don't have to hurry get it. The official build version of the release stands at 14.0.4536.1000. Whats even better is that the product is set to expire October 31st next year. allowing beta testers a full year to use the product, in exchange for the feedback that users are expected to provide. Microsoft engineers are hoping that millions of users will download the software and say that the success of the beta program is crucial to their product development program.

Office 2010 Professional Plus brings to the table the following applications: Word, OneNote, InfoPath, PowerPoint, Access, SharePoint Workspace, Outlook, Publisher, Communicator, and Excel. You can download either the 32 bit or the 64 bit version, depending on your Operating System. You will, however, have to sign up with Microsoft (free) to get your product key.

Get the Office 2010 Public Beta from Microsoft here, and check it out for yourself!

Courtesy: Softpedia.

Google Chrome OS Concepts Revealed!

2009-11-19T19:39:00.001-08:00

Google have finally released a YouTube video showcasing Google’s first Operating System, the Chrome OS. From the video it is apparent that the OS itself looks very similar to the Chrome browser. The applications that are to run on the OS will run as “Tabs”, thus allowing multiple “tabs” of apps to run. The OS even supports multiple “windows” each with it’s own tab of applications. The best part is that Chrome appears to integrate internet browsing into these “Tabs”. Confused? Check out the original video :D

Upload Files onto Twitter with TwitDoc

2009-11-19T19:29:00.001-08:00

Here’s yet another great app targeted at the Twitter micro-blogging service. This app lets you upload images, videos and files onto twitter easily. If you attach a file, the shortened URL to file is posted onto your tweet. If you don’t attach any files,however, only the tweet is uploaded. So, go ahead and make use of this app and Twitter to promote yourself!

The Gloomers: Far from Gloomy!

2009-11-12T18:08:00.001-08:00

YouTube does it again! I’ve managed to find this funny series on YouTube called the “The Gloomers”, and it really IS funny! You have got to check it out! Here’s a sample from their “Friday the 13th episode”.(Oh and do watch the video again for those little “News” lines at the bottom! They’re absolutely hilarious!)

Windows 7 trounces Vista sales figures.

2009-11-06T09:38:00.001-08:00

The numbers are finally out! As expected, Windows 7 has outshone Vista several times over. In what appears to be more good news for the software giant, the boxed copy sales of Microsoft’s latest OS: Windows 7 sold 234% more than initial sales of its predecessor: Windows Vista. Even in terms of dollars, Windows 7 is alleged to have bought in 82% more money than Windows Vista.

Gran Turismo PSP Review

2009-10-10T06:45:00.001-07:00

Ok, the Gran Turismo PSP is finally out. Several popular review sites have already reviewed the game and the verdict was lukewarm at best. But i beg to differ.

The first thing I want to mention here is the massive number of Cars and Tracks—Unprecedented on the PSP. The list of cars apparently exceeds 800! And the cars handle quite realistically. It’s not as realistic as it’s console counterparts, but it’s cool enough for the PSP. Add to that a track list that includes most dream tracks, and the game is a sure winner.

The Game has 3 main play modes: Single Player, Multi player and Challenge mode. Single player lets you compete in various locales against consecutively tougher competition (levels D to A and then S). Multiplayer lets you play with opponents via WiFi. The bad part here is that there’s no internet play. And Challenge mode lets you master racing by teaching you various skills. Some challenges are exceedingly tough to master and some are overtly easy.

At the start, you just begin with a single car, and, as you win more money, buy more cars. Most of the tracks are available from the beginning, but rather peculiarly, the cars aren't. The game progresses as “days”, and you can only get cars from a few manufacturers (4 in fact) on each “Game Day”. Apparently, the manufacturers are random. I had the misfortune of having both Ferrari and Mclaren unlocked on Day 2 when i didn't have an money!

The Game’s great over all. The graphics on par to people’s expectations and the Game has great depth as well. Most people will miss career mode, but what the heck?

My Rating—5/5

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Get 100% USB security with USD Disk Security 5.2.0.5

2009-09-19T07:41:00.001-07:00

Fed up with eternal virus infections from USB Drives? Afraid to plug your USB drive into your college computer? Paranoid about USB based viruses? Here’s the solution for you! USB Disk Security provides 100% protection against any malicious programs trying to attack via the USB drive. Compare USB Disk Security against other antivirus solutions, and you'll find out its highlights: USB Disk Security is the best antivirus software to permanently protect offline computers without the need for signature updates, unlike other antivirus softwares which should update signature databases regularly, without which effective protection would be impossible. You pay USB Disk Security once and get it all; however, other antivirus products should be paid for updates every year.

What’s more the authors even claim 100% security.This light and easy to use solution is 100% compatible with all software and doesn't slow down your computer at all.

Get the demo here or search your favorite t0rrent site for the full version.

NFS Shift PSP: OUT NOW! Here’s my review.

2009-09-16T22:24:00.001-07:00

Finally, the much awaited NFS Shift is out for the PSP. The first thing you notice in the game is it’s depth. While NFS Prostreet was markedly shallow, the new shift much more gaming depth. The graphics is improved over previous title. indicating that EA is only now getting comfortable with the console. The game features 3 modes: World Tour, Quick Race and Multi-player.

World Tour involves the user winning races to get a chance to compete against bosses, much Most Wanted. There are around 10 bosses with 4 or 5 races to be played to get to each boss. The event starts off at London and makes it’s way to various locales around the world. There’s not much to be said about either Quick Race or Multi player. They’re the same old stuff.

Here’s a few screenshots from the PSP.

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The Good:

Improved Graphics.
Good Handling and apt difficultly.
Reasonable learning curve.
Funky menus.
Improved game-depth.
Fast load-times.

My Overall Rating: 4/5.

*For information purposes only. All trademarks owned by their respective owners.

Chrome will have to compete with Windows 7 SP1

2009-09-16T11:23:00.001-07:00

In a latest interview with cnet Microsoft’s General Manager Charles Songhurst spoke openly about Microsoft’s perspective on the Google’s Chrome OS. According to Songhurst, Google will have to do more than just offer a rebranded Linux distro, it will have to offer something that’s genuinely better than Windows 7. He also also points out that Windows 7 will have several advantages over the Chrome OS including platform maturity, hardware compatibility and support.

With Microsoft charging OEM distributors about $50 for Windows 7 and about $15 for pre-installed Windows XP, the Chrome OS’s advantage of being freeware seizes to exist. To make things worse for the advertising giant, Songhurst now claims that by the time the Chrome OS is out, Microsoft should be ready with a Service Pack for Windows 7.

With Microsoft ready to release a service pack by early 2011 and with the launch of Chrome OS by 2010 H2, it remains to be seen whether Google can put a dent in Microsoft’s fortress. But, if there’s anyone capable of doing it, it’s Google.

Sharp develops new laser that could enable 100GB Blu-Ray.

2009-09-14T21:19:00.001-07:00

According to news, Sharp has reportedly developed a laser with an oscillation wavelength of 405nm. The laser should be able to write triple and quadruple layer Blu-ray disks, so that instead of the normal dual layer 56 GB disks, you could have 75 or even 100 GB disks. This storage space can then be utilized to store data or record 1080p video. Reports also state that the company has already started volume production with a 320mW pulsed output laser.

Radiation Hazard! A list of cell phones with their radiation levels.

2009-09-14T03:42:00.001-07:00

A survey conducted recently by the Environmental Working Group has come up with a list of most hazardous cellphones.

Here’s the list of the worst radiating phones:

T-Mobile MyTouch 3G (1.55 W/kg)
Blackberry Curve 8330 (1.54 W/kg)
Palm Treo 600 (1.53 W/kg)
T-Mobile Shadow (1.53 W/kg)
Palm Treo 650 (1.51 W/kg)
Blackberry Curve 8300 (1.51 W/kg)
Blackberry Bold 9000 (1.51 W/kg)
Sony Ericsson P910a (1.50 W/kg)
HTC SMT 5800 (1.49 W/kg)
BlackBerry Pearl 8120/8130 (1.48 W/kg)

least

Nokia 9300i (0.21 W/kg)
Nokia 7710 (0.22 W/kg)
T-Mobile MDA Wiza200 (0.28 W/kg)
Samsung Impression SGH-a877 (0.35 W/kg)
Nokia 9300 (0.44 W/kg)
Samsung Propel Pro SGH-i627 (0.47 W/kg)
Samsung Gravity SGH-t459 (0.49 W/kg)
BlackBerry Storm 9530 (0.57 W/kg)
Nokia E90 (0.59 W/kg)
Nokia N96 (0.68 W/kg)

And here are radiation levels in a few popular cell phone models:

HTC Touch Pro (0.91 W/kg)
Palm Pre (0.92 W/kg)
iPhone (0.97 W/kg)
Samsung JACK i637 (1.04 W/kg)
T-Mobile’s Google G1 (1.11 W/kg)
Blackberry Pearl Flip 8220 (1.14 W/kg)
iPhone 3GS (1.19 W/kg)
Samsung BlackJack II SGH-i617 (1.20 W/kg)
Motorola MOTO Q 9m (1.30 W/kg)
iPhone 3G (1.39 W/kg).

Windows 7 “XP Mode”: What’s HOT and what’s NOT.

2009-09-14T02:22:00.001-07:00

Windows 7 features a new twist: “XP Mode”, which lets users run their Windows XP apps without compatibility issues. I’ve been testing the “XP Mode” for more than a month now, and here’s the low down.

Windows 7 “XP Mode” allows corporate customers, who have depended on Windows XP for over a decade now, to move on to the newer Windows 7 OS without compromising on the apps that they have come to rely on for such a long time. It provides a environment that seamlessly integrates 2 very different Operating Systems together. Your Windows XP applications will run on a Virtual Windows XP, and you won’t even notice it. Your Windows XP applications even have shortcuts on your start menu! What's more, Windows 7’s XP Mode provides a much needed upgrade to “Microsoft Virtual PC”, which was lacking in several aspects. Of course, you could have, alternatively, used a full blown Virtual Machine, but, XP mode makes things so much easier. XP Mode also ensures that Microsoft continues Windows XP support for a while to come.

One of the most important drawbacks of the XP Mode is that it relies on Hardware Virtualization. What this means is that you can only run it if your processor supports Hardware Virtualization. What’s also to be noted is the significantly more memory that you’ll need to run, what is in effect, two Operating Systems. The XP Mode comes with it’s own fair share of bugs too. Although XP Mode includes USB support, it does not does allow for sharing of other hardware, like for example, your graphics card. XP Mode is also only available for Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate users.

In the final word, although XP Mode brings in a lot of backwards compatibility, it’s not for the average user. But, that said, XP Mode is a first from Microsoft and opens up a whole new world of possibilities.

Acer Aspire Revo 3000 goes eye candy

2009-09-10T20:32:00.001-07:00

Acer has just launched the first of it’s ION series of nettops. The series boasts of a dual core INTEL ATOM processor along with NVIDIA’s latest ION graphics processor. The ION platform should enable vendors to design much sleeker nettops that can run most of user’ HD applications along with basic gaming applications. The Acer system also features a HDMI port upto 4 gig of memory and support for VESA mounting.

Apple slams Nintendo DS and PSP.

2009-09-10T20:00:00.001-07:00

When it comes to gaming on the move, the PSP and Nintendo DS have long been rivals. Now it appears, they have competition, and, surprisingly enough, from the apple stable! Philip W Schiller, Senior Vice President of Apple worldwide marketing, said that the Apple iPhone was actually better than the PSP and DS. His main point of argument was the cost of the games (most iPhone games cost 10$ or less). However, it has to be noted here that the graphics on the iPhone is significantly lower than that on the PSP or even the DS. Apple is also claiming that their game catalog, which exceeds 20000, will counter anything from either the PSP (607) or the DS(3500). However, the PSP Homebrew scene has gained momentum recently, and claims are rift that the PSP can emulate the iPhone’s processor( The PSP homebrew scene has more than a million applications on its own).

With Ubisoft demoing Assassins Creed 2 on the iPhone and EA showcasing Madden10, it remains to be seen how the iPhone gaming industry will perform.

JavaScript: How to unmask your passwords.

2009-08-28T01:06:00.001-07:00

If you think you mistyped a password into a password field in your browser, a simple JavaScript trick can help you find out by unmasking the password. Here’s the code snippet that could save your day.

var els = document.getElementsByTagName('input');
  for(var x = 0; x < els.length; x++) {
    if(els[x].type.toLowerCase() == 'password' ) {
      var test = els[x].type = 'text';
    }
  }

Just put javascript: at the beginning of that, and delete all the newlines so that it becomes a one-liner. You can now simply delete the text in your browser’s address bar paste the JavaScript snippet in the address bar instead, and hit the Enter key. This will unmask all your passwords.

If you don’t like doing this every time, just create a bookmark (any will do) in your browser and and replace the "URL” with the snippet. You can even rename it to something like “Unmask Password”, like I have done, to make things easier for you.

Here’s the result

If you run a website and want to give your users the option of being able to see their passwords, you can even add a “Show Password” link in your website that runs this Java snippet, allowing users to see the password they’re typing. Be careful about how you use it though.

To stop unmasking your password, simply restart your browser.

NOTE: Javascript must be enabled to use this snippet.

Windows 7 RTM: How To Install With a USB Drive

2009-08-21T11:51:00.001-07:00

Ok. So you’ve gotten hold of the new Win7 RTM and just when you wanted to install it, your DVD drive started playing up. Scenario 2, you’ve just bought a brand new net-book and wanna install Win7 on it, but it ain’t got a DVD drive. Well, fear not! You can install the RTM using an appropriate USB drive.

Requirements:

1.A computer (Just making sure).

2.BIOS that supports USB boot.

3.Windows 7 RTM DVD.

4.A pen drive (at least 3 GB).

Now, locate the command Prompt shortcut on the Start menu, right-click on it, and select the Run as Administrator command. Then, respond appropriately to the UAC. You can now launch the DiskPart utility by typing DiskPart on the command line.

Now that you’re in the DiskPart environment, you’ll need to locate the USB flash drive using the List Disk command. I can verify that my USB flash drive is indeed Disk 5 by checking the Size column, which lists the size as 3906MB, which is roughly 4GB.

Once you identify the drive number of your USB flash drive, you will need to set the focus of the DiskPart environment on that disk.On my example, the USB flash drive is Disk 5, so I will use the command Select Disk 5.

Now that your USB flash drive has the focus, you need to remove all the partition or volume formatting information from the disk. To do that, you’ll use the Clean command. The Clean operation should occur rather quickly. When it is done you will see a success message.

You’ll now use the Create Partition Primary command to create a primary partition on the disk. After you create the partition, you will see a success message and the focus will automatically shift to the new partition. You’ll use the Active command to mark the partition as active, as shown.

With the partition created and active, you’re now ready to quickly format the drive and set up the FAT32 file system using the Format fs=FAT32 quick command.Once the drive is formatted, you’ll use the Assign command.

The USB flash drive is now ready. At this point, you can use the Exit command to exit the DiskPart environment and then close the Command Prompt window.

Now just copy all the files from your Windows 7 RTM DVD onto your USB Drive.( You can do this at your friend’s place). Now boot from the USB drive and Windows 7 RTM Installation should start off just as if you booted from a DVD! Note that the installation should be much quicker as there are no moving parts involved.

Windows 7 RTM: Review.

2009-08-21T11:15:00.001-07:00

As reported earlier, Windows 7 has finally been Released To Manufacture( RTM). Technet and MSDN members get the windows 7 before the official Public Release date of October 22. The official Build version is 7600.

Installing Windows 7 is very easy. Windows7 takes in Product key and most other information at the very beginning of the install, leaving you to busy yourself with other work while Windows is installed. Installation itself was a breeze and took all of 45 minutes on my modest 1.8 GHz dual core AMD.

The UI itself hasn’t changed very much since the RC. However you are welcomed with a cool new wallpaper.Everything else is pretty much unchanged since the RC. However, you can now fully use Windows Help and Support without seeing that annoying message. Windows 7 RTM also improves on UAC settings manager.

What makes Windows 7 a must-buy is it’s much improved windows XP backwards compatibility. It even features the much talked about “XP Mode” for the few applications that might fail to work in Windows 7. Fully loaded with features like “AeroPeek” or “AeroShake”, Windows 7 is geared for the Next Gen on the inside. It comes with built-in support for touch screen panels.The other good decision Microsoft made was include “Windows Media Center” as part of the Professional edition, so you don’t have to buy the Ultimate edition just for the Media Center.

With Amazon Pre-order sales doing in the first 8 hours what Vista took 6 months to do, and with Microsoft making all the right moves, it’s looking like Windows 7 could easily turn into the “Win7ng “ OS that Microsoft have so long been searching for.

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Windows 7: Released to Manufacture!

2009-07-23T02:22:00.001-07:00

Finally, it’s official! Windows 7 has been Released To Manufacture. The RTM officially happens only after a “sign-off” occurs. What happens is that a build gets designated as a RTM contender after going through significant testing and meeting our quality bar for RTM. Then, it goes though all the validation checks required for RTM including having all languages of that build completed. If all the validation checks have passed – sign-off for RTM can occur. Today after all the validation checks were met, Windows 7 was signed off and build 7600 was declared as RTM.

It is expected that Windows 7 will be Generally Available(GA) on October 22nd.

Interview Tips: 10 Ways to get your job interview right.

2009-07-20T00:19:00.001-07:00

Here are some tips that I’ve managed to collect that should help you ace your interview.

Put down that Stop Sign.

Interviewers are seeking candidates eager to take on challenging projects and jobs. Hesitance and a naysaying mentality will be as visible as a red tie — and seen as a negative. Practice saying “yes ” to questions about your interest in tasks and work that might normally give you pause.

Don’t Sweat.

You can lose a job by wearing an undershirt or simply a little too much clothing. Sweaty palms or beads on your forehead will not impress. Sweat will be seen as a sign of weakness and nervousness.The job interview is one place you definitely don’t want to be hot!

Don’t be a smiley face.

Excessive smiling in a job interview is seen for what it is — nervousness and a lack of confidence. A Smiley Face exudes phoniness, which will quickly be picked up by the interviewer. Instead be thoughtful and pleasant. Smile when there’s something to smile about.

Don’t be a Know-It-None.

Don’t ever make the mistake of assuming that small talk can get you a job.Find ways to talk about serious subjects related to the industry or company. Pockets of silence are better than padding an interview with random babble.

Don’t be a Sheeple.

Asking the location of the lunchroom or meeting room will clue the interviewer into your lack of preparation and initiative. Prepare. Don’t ask questions about routine elements or functions of a company: where stuff is, the size of your cube and company policy on coffee breaks.

[At first I thought this tip meant that you should wander around aimlessly in the office building instead of asking someone where the interviewer is located. But I think they mean during the interview itself. Good points.]

Don’t be a Liar Liar

Studies show that employees lie frequently in interviews. Lying won’t get you the job. In a job interview even a slight exaggeration is lying. Don’t. Never stretch your resume or embellish accomplishments. There’s a difference between speaking with a measured confidence and engaging in BS. One lie can ruin your entire interview, and the skilled interviewer will spot the lie and show you the door.

Don’t Be a Bad Comedian

Humor tends to be very subjective and while it may be tempting to lead your interview with a joke you’ve got to be careful about your material. You probably will know nothing about the sensibilities of your interviewer, let alone what makes them laugh. On the other hand, nothing disarms the tension of a job interview like a little laughter, so you can probably score at least a courtesy chuckle mentioning that it’s “perfect weather for a job interview!”

Don’t Be High Maintenance

If you start talking about the ideal office temperature, the perfect chair for your tricky back, and how the water cooler needs to be filled with imported mineral water, chances are you’ll be shown a polite smile and the door, regardless of your qualifications. Nobody hiring today is going to be looking for someone who’s going to be finicky about their workspace.

Don’t Be A Minute Man

At every job interview, the prospective hire is given the chance to ask questions. Make yours intelligent, to the point and watch the person across the desk for visual cues whether you’ve asked enough. Ask too many questions about off-target matters and you’ll be thought of as a Minute Man, destined to waste the company’s resources with insignificant and time-wasting matters.

Don’t Be A Switchblade

Normally the Switchblade is thought of a backstabber, often taking credit for someone else’s work. In an interview setting, the Switchblade can’t help but “trash talk” his former employer. If you make it seem like your former workplace was hell on Earth, the person interviewing you might be tempted to call them to find out who was the real devil.

Google Chrome OS: Is it a winner?

2009-07-19T23:31:00.001-07:00

When Google announced the “Chrome OS” on their blog, it created quite a lot of fuss. But now, after all the dust has finally settled, it seems like Chrome is just another Linux Distro. The new Chrome OS will be based on the Linux kernel and appears to have all the makings of yet another lightweight windows manager. So, will Chrome OS be able able to deliver what countless other such distros couldn’t?

The main marketing point for Google appears to be World Wide Web (which they rule). On their blog, Google announced that the Chrome OS will be based on their much acclaimed “Chrome Browser” and the Linux OS. The OS will be targeted primarily at netbooks, but will be compatible with notebooks and desktops as well. Apparently, an ARM compatible version will also be released. Google also claims that the their new OS will employ what they call a “new windowing system”. The OS is targeted at users who spend most of their time online.

What Google is also doing is setting the stage for the Cloud Computing world. What appears to be a matter of debate is whether a so called “light weight” OS really matter. With most internet users connected to the internet with limited download capability, small bandwidth and ever increasing internet prices, will it really matter if the OS can can save CPU time? Will users really prefer the internet to their notebooks, which are currently only fractionally costlier than netbooks? What appears best at this time is a hybridized system capable of both online and offline computing.

With Microsoft now starting work on the Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing OS, what is certain is that the new OS will have some tough competition to face. But many question still remain.Will the new OS deliver to users’ expectations? Or will it be yet another “perpetual Beta”(Remember Android or Gmail?)? Will it be better than Microsoft’s Azure? And, more importantly, will the “cloud” ever have it’s silver lining?

Task Scheduler: Super Tool.

2009-06-18T04:42:00.001-07:00

Don’t like waking up at 2 in the morning to start a download? Don’t like to leave your computer turned on all night just to start the download in the morning? Here’s the perfect tool for you. Windows Task Scheduler can be used to turn on your computer automatically for you at the time you want, and can then start up the programs you specify.

Here’s a brief tutorial:

Start up the Task Scheduler (“Schedule Tasks” in XP). The Task Scheduler is in the System Tools menu of the Start Menu.

Then Select the “Create Basic Task” option on the side bar.

Give a name to task. And go through the procedure as shown.

Make sure you select the “Daily” option.

Enter the day and time when you want to schedule the Autostart.

Enter in the next Dialog box, select the program you want to start.

Make sure you check the “Open Properties tab option and then click finish.

In the Properties Dialog box select “Conditions” tab.Make sure that the option “Wake computer to start this task” is enabled.

Select ok. That’s it. You can now Hibernate your computer and the task scheduler will automatically start the computer and load the program! The process should be very similar and should ensure you get a good nights sleep! You can even shut the computer down again automatically in the morning using another task.

Microsoft Office: Shortcut keys.

2009-06-18T01:18:00.001-07:00

Most of us use Microsoft Office day in and day out. So, I’ve decided to make a list of some common shortcut keys that can go a long way in enhancing your productivity.

Repeat your last action
F4 or CTRL+Y

Find and replace
CTRL+F

Go to page, section, line, etc.
CTRL+G

Delete a word
CTRL+BACKSPACE

Bold
CTRL+B

Change case
SHIFT+F3

Italicize
CTRL+I

Go to the beginning of the document
CTRL+HOME

Go to the end of the document
CTRL+END

Select to the beginning of the document
CTRL+SHIFT+HOME

Select to the end of the document
CTRL+SHIFT+END

Open the thesaurus
SHIFT+F7

Insert a hyperlink
CTRL+K

Select all
CTRL+A

Copy
CTRL+C

Paste
CTRL+V

Undo
CTRL+Z

Save
CTRL+S

Print
CTRL+P

Open
CTRL+O

Select to the beginning of the document
CTRL+SHIFT+HOME

Select to the end of the document
CTRL+SHIFT+END

Open the thesaurus
SHIFT+F7

Insert a hyperlink
CTRL+K

Select all
CTRL+A

Undo
CTRL+Z

Print
CTRL+P

Microsoft Office Translator

2009-06-18T01:05:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Office now has a new tool for those who translate text to a lot of languages: Office Translator. A simple download will now enable your Office system to translate text to several languages in a flash.

Using the Translate feature, you can translate words, phrases, or paragraphs by using bilingual dictionaries or translate your whole document by using Web-based machine translation services. To translate text from certain languages into other languages, you may also need to satisfy the operating system requirements for specific languages.

The Translate feature is currently available only in these 2007 Microsoft Office system programs: Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Visio, and Word.

You can also create a document in one language, and then use the machine translation service to translate it to a different language.

Windows Activation: Windows 7 Activation Technologies.

2009-05-12T12:05:00.001-07:00

With windows 7, Microsoft has decided to rename it's notorious "Windows Genuine Advantage" program as "Windows Activation Technologies"(WAT).But the names is not the only thing that has changed(surprisingly!). With WAT, a copy of Windows that has not been activated within a 30 day period will go into a "Reduced Functionality Mode" or RFM. In this mode:

Enhanced Windows Vista interface “Aero” will be disabled.
ReadyBoost which allows usage of flash memory to improve system system performance will be disabled.
Only partial functionality of Windows Defender will be available.
Extra optional downloads and updates from Windows Update will be unavailable, with the exception of critical security updates.
Unable to download from Microsoft Download Center.
Installed applications, such as Microsoft Office, will be disabled.
Ability to use and operate web browser (i.e. Internet Explorer) for just one hour before session been interrupted and been forced to log out without warning, although user can login again.
Unable to directly open documents from the Computer Desktop, although access to documents on the hard drive are still permitted.
No start menu.
No desktop icons.
Desktop background color is changed to black.

So, in essence, without the activation process, your copy of Windows is just an interfering, nosy web browser. But, if you did manage to activate your copy of Windows, don't rejoice yet! With WAT, the activation is NOT permanent.Windows will keep checking online at arbitrary times to make sure that it's not tampered with, including when other software is installed. So, up goes privacy and down comes security.

So, the next time you're thinking of getting that duplicate copy of Windows, THINK AGAIN!

Windows 7: XP Mode.

2009-04-30T06:10:00.001-07:00

Hold your breath! The Crack Geniuses at the Windows Development Team seem to have finally got something right(finally!). Rumors are out that Windows 7 may now feature a “Windows XP Mode”. This feature seems to be specifically targeted at helping small businesses transition to Windows 7. The feature allows users to install suitable applications directly into the “XP Mode”. The applications will then be ‘published’ directly onto the Windows 7 desktop allowing users to run the apps directly from there.

The “XP Mode” appears to be a “Virtual XP Environment” which may run on the Windows Virtual PC. A Beta release is expected soon for Windows 7 professional and Windows 7 Ultimate. Here’s a screen of what we might be looking at:

Exchange Server 2010 Beta: Out NOW!

2009-04-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Yes! It’s true! After waiting for what seemed like eons, users can now try out the latest installment of Exchanger Server. The “Public Beta” seems to be inspired by the enormous success of the Windows 7 public Beta which literally reached millions of homes and offices.

Designed and developed to work on-premises and as an online service, Exchange 2010 introduces a new integrated e-mail archive and features to reduce costs and improve the user experience.

Get your copy here. But don’t forget to check the System Requirements before you download!

Windows 7: Security Enhancements

2009-04-23T07:36:00.001-07:00

A lot of hype has followed the beta release of windows 7. But the question that is plaguing developers and end users alike is if it is secure enough. So, here’s a look at all the new enhancements to security the latest version of Windows is fronting.

The first, most important update is improvements to the UAC. UAC became notorious in Vista for its extreme ‘nosiness’: it popped those highly irritating dialog boxes asking users to confirm every other action they performed. But, thankfully,the developers of Windows 7 were more considerate. You can now set the UAC into 4 different levels. At the highest level, it behaves much like it did in Vista. But, as users decrease the levels, it pops dialog boxes with lesser and lesser frequency at users.

Another feature definitely worth mentioning is the Windows Biometric Framework inherent in the Operating System. It provides a common driver interface to a variety of biometric devices and is sure to enhance security of those devices which support them.

One other important and talked about security enhancement is the “Bitlocker To Go” feature. This feature basically extends all the security capabilities that Bitlocker technology gave to drives to removable devices. This, along with all the core enhancements to the Bitlocker Core Components will go a long way in securing data on storage media: static or removable.

Read all about it in depth at Microsofts Technet site.

Twitter: Under Attack!

2009-04-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Mike Mooney, a 17 year old kid, has found a XSS(Cross Site Scripting) vulnerability in the twitter application, that can alter the code in the application. Once set up, it’s just a matter of wait and watch. The moment a ‘victim’ opens the 'malicious’ profile, BANG!, he gets infected. And what’s more, the code is a worm which propagates from on account to the other! Each newly infected account then starts sending malicious, completely unauthorized 'tweets' to all available contacts in the victims account. The flagged users then receive tweets from the supposedly trusted account with a link to stalkDaily.com. The instant the link is clicked, the user is infected. If you think you’re infected, follow these steps:

In your browser, clear your cache and empty all of your cookies. (This can be found in your settings.)

Log out of TweetDeck or any external applications you are using.

Check the URL and location areas of your profile (in Settings/Account on Twitter.com) for evidence of any malicious scripts. It’ll be obvious - something you haven’t added to these areas yourself. If you find anything, remove it.

On Twitter.com, change your password.

Log back in.

Go back and delete any tweets sent by you recommending StalkDaily. This is important.

Report @stalkdaily in a tweet to Twitter’s @spam account as follows: @spam @stalkdaily.

Cloud Computing: End of the Operating System?

2009-04-21T10:34:00.001-07:00

It was not such a long time ago that I read about Operating Systems(last semester in fact!). In those classes, an OS was that “something” in between the user and the computer hardware that inter-connected the two. It was all buses and bits (NOT gates and Torvalds LOL!). But tomorrow appears to be in the hands of “Cloud Computing”. So, will this be the end of the great era of Operating Systems? I don’t think so. People just don’t care about WHAT drives their PC just so long as it DOES drive it. I don’t see any reason why that should change. Of course, there will always be fanboys on either side of the river, but, that shouldn't change anything! For me, it doesn’t matter whether it is linux, windows, Solaris, BSD,etc (although I am a Windows fanboy!), the Operating System will always remain relevant. I hope to god we never see a day when the OS is replaced by some wires, with the only thing we see being the apps we open and close! That just takes away, to me, the soul of computing itself!

Ubuntu 9.04 “Jaunty Jakalope”: First look

2009-04-21T09:46:00.001-07:00

It’s finally here! After months of waiting, Ubuntu fans can finally get their hands on the brand new “Jaunty Jakalope” version of Ubuntu. As usual the new version CD features a “TRY” version that boots right off the compact disk (but takes way longer to boot). But like any initial Ubuntu release, not only do you get the disk free but also a hell lot of bugs. But, that said, the Ubuntu guys have always been quick at fixing bugs and this version should be no different. The new version of course, features the GNOME 2.26 desktop environment. But check out the cool tools you get with it. You get “Basero”, a complete CD burning solution, along with improved multiple monitor support. This version is built on the linux kernel version 2.6.28 and comes with built in support for the EXT4 file system. But, what’s interesting is that the makers of Ubuntu claim that the Server Edition makes experimenting with cloud computing easier. That’s something I’ll definitely wait to check out. So, if you’re an Ubuntu fan, stop reading this and go get it!

GhostNet: What is it?

2009-04-20T22:41:00.001-07:00

The story begins about an year ago, when Tibetian officials began to complain about misbehaving computers. For most of us this may be routine but after some research into the issue, the IWM(Information Warfare Monitor) was called in to investigate it and it didn’t take them long to find that most of the systems were infected by a trojan: Gh0st RAT. For those who care, this trojan is a direct descendant of the Poison Ivy Trojan.

The Virus infected several government offices through a malicious email. The email had a very creative name: “Translation of Freedom Movement ID Book for Tibetans in Exile.doc”, making the document look very “Official”. Once infected, the computers may be ‘mined’ for contact information and used to spread malware through email and authentic looking documents.

So what is the Gh0st RAT capable of?

Files can be manipulated completely and the attacker can upload/download files to and from the system.
The registry can be viewed and edited.
Active services can be viewed, suspended, or shut off.
Enabled network connections can be determined and shut disabled.
Installed devices can be viewed and some devices can be disabled
Installed applications can be viewed and entries can be deleted or programs uninstalled.

Screenshots of the desktop can be taken,
Web cams, microphones, and audio/visual recording programs can be enabled to act as surveillance devices.
Passwords and password hashes are saved.
Key loggers can be used in conjunction with other devices to steal information.

And Gh0stNet is nothing but a network of such infected computers. Here’s an IWM quote: “In total, we found 1,295 infected computers located in 103 countries. We found that we were able to confidently-on a scale of low, medium, high-identify 397 of the 1,295 infected computers (26.7%), and labeled each one as a high-value target. We did so because they were either significant to the relationship between China and Tibet, Taiwan or India, or were identified as computers at foreign embassies, diplomatic missions, government ministries, or international organizations.”

Don’t believe me? Check out Symantec’s official video.

Unite for Hunger and Hope

2009-04-17T09:28:00.001-07:00

Objective:
All you have to do to help end world hunger is to join thousands of others bloggers on April 29 and write a post about world hunger.

BlogCatalog members and Heifer International are partnering to call for the end of world hunger and start of hope on April 29. All we ask is that you join thousands of other bloggers and write a post about world hunger on April 29. You can make a difference.
• Right now, more than 500 million people are living in "absolute poverty" and more than 15 million children die of hunger every year.
• World Health Organization estimates that one-third of the population is underfed and another third is starving.
• Even in the United States, 46 percent of African-American children and 49 percent of Latino children are considered chronically hungry.
Organizations like Heifer International are the solution. Every day in April, Heifer International is lifting people out of poverty by providing communities with livestock and agricultural training to improve lives and inspire hope. What can you do?
• Join this event and add a badge to your blog before April 29.
• Watch for upcoming news releases and topic backgrounders.
• Visit Heifer International to learn more about Pass On The Gift.
• Make a small donation or take some other action to end world hunger.
• Post about world hunger on April 29 with links to solutions all over the world.
Select posts will be featured by BlogCatalog; Heifer International; Copywrite, Ink.; and on the future Bloggers Unite blog. Details to follow.

http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/unite-for-hunger-and-hope

McLaren Boss Ron Dennis Quits

2009-04-16T10:38:00.000-07:00

It’s official! Long-time McLaren chief Ron Dennis has quit his job. He is rumored to now take up post heading ‘McLaren Automotive’ , a new company which is thought to become independent later this year. Ron Dennis’ retirement comes at a rough time for McLaren, who already facing trial at the International Motorsport Council for lying to the stewards. Dennis, who started his career in Formula 1 as a mechanic with the Cooper Car Company, soon set up his own F1 team: Rondel Racing. Later his team was merged with McLaren to form McLaren Racing. His team has been associated with some of the greatest names in f1 including Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, David Coulthard, Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Raikkonen and more recently with World Champion Lewis Hamilton. His career in formula one spanned more than 3 decades.

10 Rupee coins introduced by RBI

2009-04-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

It’s not yet official yet, but the word is that RBI is introducing new 10 Rs coins. Apparently, the Finance Ministry has ordered 30 crore such coins to be made. The coins feature in 2 editions, one reflecting the ‘Unity in diversity’ in India and the other reflecting the rapid development of Information Technology in India. Obviously, the coin will be much more convenient to users when compared to the note.

Hands On—Sony Xperia

2009-01-28T00:52:00.001-08:00

Last Year,two mobile phone marketing giants, Sony-Ericsson and HTC joined hands to compete with the iPhone. The result of this alliance was the Xperia. The Xperia was initially announced in February 2008 but was only available in late October. One of the main concerns initially, was to design an UI that could match the stunning looks of the iPhone’s UI. What Sony came up with was the “Xpanel”. The revolutionary new concept allows users to modify and customize the rather boring looks of the standard Windows Mobile Interface.

Design and looks:

The Xperia’s looks have nothing that catches your eye the moment you see it: it just looks like any other smart phone. The Xperia also sports a somewhat stylish looking body which is mostly made of metal/chromed metal .The Xperia’s looks may leave people wanting better.However, the Xperia sports a sleek and rather unusually curved keyboard. The keyboard is a full QWERTY keyboard and the keys feel good when you use them. However the keyboard has an entire row of keys missing and this makes it somewhat difficult to use the phone.The keyboard slides very smoothly ,infact remarkably so.

The other unusual thing about the Xperia’s keyboard is the 4 strategically placed LED lights. These alert the user when he missed a call/received a message etc, by flashing in different colors. On the right side there are conveniently placed camera flash buttons and volume keys(which also double up as zoom in/out keys). The left side of the phone features the miniUSB port, while the top includes a 3.5mm jack port and the power button.

The front of the phone is mostly made of a massive 3” display. Above it is a standard in call speaker and a light sensor. Below the screen there are 2 contextual thin keys, the usual Accept/End calls and another 2 special keys, OK (like Back) and Xpanels.The keys are all triangularly shaped. Just like the QWERTY keyboard keys, the keys on the front also feel very good to use.The user can also adjust the sensitivity of these keys as he deems fit, should he not be satisfied with the way it works as is.There also a conference camera included at the front.

The back of the phone features a 3.2 megapixel camera with a small flash. The battery case is also metallic. All these metal covers may scratch very easily so it may be a good idea to get a cover for it.

Screen:

The Xperia fronts a monster 3.0” Touchscreen display. But thanks to the weird 480x800 resolution most of the on-screen features are tiny. This makes thumbing a pain. It may also be noted here that the screen only supports 65k colors. However, this may not necessarily be a draw back, as there is no noticeable difference between 65k and 256k

Camera:

The Xperia has a 3.2 megapixel camera on the back. This camera features auto-focus and up to 3x digital zoom. The maximum resolution for pictures is 2048x1280. The camera software interface contains several features like Effects, White balance Picture size and Quality.

Rather unfortunately, the device can record videos only in 3gp format at 30fps--not the best camera that you could get in a Sony Ericsson device.

Software:

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system.Sony Ericsson also came up with something new, with which could make Windows Mobile fans forget about TouchFLO—the XPanels .Basically, the so-called Xpanels interface enables you to customize your “Today screen”, so you can access the most frequently used functions of the phone. There are 9 panels that can be customized.More can be added by 3rd party applications.

In terms of entertainment Sony Ericsson added 2 more games to the usual Bubble Breaker and Solitaire-- Astraware's Sudoku and Bejeweled 2.

Communication:

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 features HSDPA at 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA for a seamless internet experience. X1 also features Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g technology, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP+EDR and miniUSB 2.0. The Bluetooth data rate transfer has been tested to be around 65 KB/s while receiving data and sending speeds of around 44 KB/s. These are clearly not as good as you could expect. Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is compatible with GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM-1800 and GSM 1900 networks.

Internal Hardware:

X1 posesses a Qualcomm MSM7200A 528MHz processor—which is “dual core”. One of the processor cores is for the radio and the other is for the OS. The device comes with 256 MB DDR SDRAM, 512 MB ROM, but only 143 MB is available to the user.The memory can be extended using the microSD card slot.

Battery:

The Xperia features a 1500 mAh Li-Polymer battery with a stated rating of up to 500 hours in standby mode, and up to 10 hours of talking time (3 hours for video-calls).However, tests have shown that the actual life times are considerably lower.

The Xperia can be yours for $700(fully Unlocked).