Think Digit

Little Helpers

2008-11-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

We become a bunch of happy computer users once we have all the essentials installed-Office (or OpenOffice.org), Firefox / Opera, and you know the rest. Not too many get into looking for programs-specifically little, unobtrusive ones-that help with everyday tasks. For instance: a program that kept all your programs (including itself!) up-to-date… now that would

Get Noticed, Get Clicked

2008-11-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

There are no shortcuts to currying favour with search engines, it seemsWith more than 135 million Web sites out there, you’ve got your job cut out to get your Web site in front of surfers. Search engines have long been recognised as a good source of visitor traffic, and over the years, Search Engine Optimisation (or SEO as its popularly called) has developed into an active, dynamic industry in

ASUS Launches P320 PDA Phone

2008-11-07T12:20:00.003-08:00

Following the recent launch of the Lamborghini ZX1, ASUSTek Computer Incorporated (ASUS) Taiwan announced the launch of their P320 PDA phone in India, on June 24, 2008 .The ASUS P320 runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, which is an OS known for its reliability and user-friendly interface. The phone also features the company's proprietary ASUS Today interface for a better look and feel.

ASUS Launches P320 PDA Phone By: Team Digit Jun 25,2008

2008-11-07T12:20:00.002-08:00

ASUS Launches P320 PDA Phone By: Team Digit Jun 25,2008

2008-11-07T12:20:00.001-08:00

ASUS Launches P320 PDA PhoneBy: Team Digit Jun 25,2008

2008-11-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

NLP

2007-06-25T23:28:00.005-07:00

NLPNatural Language Processing (NLP) is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) undertaking. It aims to process sentences written in a language such as English so as to extract meaning from them and represent this meaning in a manner that a computer can understand. If you want to portray yourself as an AI practitioner, simply say that amongst all AI disciplines, you like NLP best and then go on to

Networking

2007-06-25T23:28:00.003-07:00

NetworkingEvery device you buy today boasts of one or more ways to network it. however, not all of us are as comfortable with networking terms. We hope this will help...CAT: CAT5/CAT6 are fifth and sixth generation Ethernet twisted pair cable standards defined by the Electronics Industries Association and Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/TIA). CAT has nothing to do with felines.Usage:

Motherboards

2007-06-25T23:28:00.001-07:00

MotherboardsMotherboards in our computers are reminiscent of Star Trek, the TV show from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Back then, they looked complex enough for space technology and performed complex operations.The point we are making is the motherboard is the main man (!) as far as your PC is concerned. Honestly, everything that’s involved in running the computer smoothly or enhancing its performance is

Microsoft .NET

2007-06-25T23:27:00.001-07:00

Microsoft .NETTo be honest, .NET is a lot of things. Actually, we know so little about .NET that we were ourselves tempted to bluff our way through it this month!Well, anyway, .NET is “software that connects information, people, systems, and devices. It spans clients, servers, and developer tools”—whatever that means. Just remember to use those words when talking about .NET!Now, Microsoft .NET

Linux

2007-06-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

Linux Linux is catching on fast, but perhaps not fast enough. Those of us who are purely Windows or Mac users sometimes get lost when a conversation involves Linux fans. Now you can at least try and hold your own end up in such situations… BASH: The Bourne-Again Shell is the default shell (command line interface) in most Linux distributions. Console: When you log into Linux in text mode (command

Linux

2007-06-25T23:25:00.004-07:00

LinuxHere are some bouncers from the vault of Linux jargon to help you leave your friends reeling.FramebufferThe Linux framebuffer or fbdev is a graphics layer to show graphics on a console. It is hardwareindependent and it does not rely on system-specific binaries. It is also lightweight, unlike the X Windows system. It was originally developed for Apple Macintosh computers. These do not have a

IT Law

2007-06-25T23:25:00.003-07:00

IT LawYou already know that lawyers use such terms as ‘hereinunder’ ‘wheretofore’ and so on. But what kinds of terms do IT lawyers use, under the Information Technology Act of 2000? Here’s a sampler.Computer: According to IT lawyers, this does not refer to the box you’re so familiar with. It manipulates electronic, magnetic, or optical impulses, and for good measure, includes all input, output,

iSpeak

2007-06-25T23:25:00.001-07:00

iSpeakThe world’s been in love with Apple’s products since the launch of the first iMac, and after the iPod, Apple’s iCult has expanded manifold—fans are falling over themselves claiming they know what the next iProduct is going to be. Here, we present a quick guide to iProducts that exist, don’t exist, and aren’t even Apple. Of course, you’ll need to figure out which ones are which first—we sure

Hacking

2007-06-25T23:24:00.003-07:00

HackingThere’s something elitist about hackers, and we all seem to go through this phase of wanting to be one. Well, you can aspire to be one by talking the h4x0r talk…BackdoorA backdoor is a hole in the security of an operating system or software. It is left there on purpose by the designers of the software, so that they can get unrestricted access in case they’re locked out.Fat-fingerA typo in

Hack Attacks

2007-06-25T23:24:00.001-07:00

Hack AttacksEver been tongue-tied thinking up explanations for why your PC has been brought to its knees? Here’s a favourite excuse/genuine reason: it’s been hacked! But how? What kind of attack is it? Were there swords involved? Take your pick:DDoS: A Distributed Denial of Service attack is carried out by flooding servers with data till they’re crippled and can’t service genuine requests. A

GPS

2007-06-25T23:23:00.002-07:00

GPSGPS stands for Global Positioning System. People mainly use it in their cars for navigation—the GPS satellite system can pinpoint where you are on the globe. The system was initially designed for, and is operated by, the US military. To pretend you know all about the system, say all the following without batting an eyelid. “It's all about satellites and offsets, you know! Four satellite

Gaming

2007-06-25T23:23:00.001-07:00

GamingReal-life heroes are few and far between, but in the gaming world, anyone can be a one. But how do you sound like one?Listen to Our Hero’s story: He sauntered into the dark and sinister-looking dungeon with the nonchalance of a two-year old who couldn’t have known better. Not surprisingly, he soon found himself Fragged—finished by the enemy, leaving him a useless, lifeless lump of virtual

Dreamweaver

2007-06-25T23:22:00.002-07:00

DreamweaverHow do you manage to look intelligent when someone throws Dreamweaver jargon at you? Here’s a very brief primer.“Add an image swap behaviour...”Just remember that anytime a user mouses over a menu item and the item gets highlighted, that's an “image swap”; and a “behaviour” is jargon for JavaScript codes that can be built into a document. It’s “a combination of an event and an action".

Digital Video

2007-06-25T23:22:00.001-07:00

Digital VideoYou’ve suddenly found yourself in a café in the Art District and have no clue how you got there—it happens to the best of us. You are bored for company and are wondering how to break into the group of digital video (DV) geeks in the corner.“CMOS or CCD?” one of them asks after you exchange names. CCDs are Charge Coupled Devices, used for image sensing. The best digital cameras use 3-

Computers Through The Ages

2007-06-25T23:21:00.002-07:00

Computers Through The AgesNot much hair on your chin? Do people poke fun at you for never having braved the times of Windows 3.1? Here’s how to show them that even though you haven’t been there or done that, you still know more.The Baby: On June 21, 1948, the University of Manchester made its first successful run of a computer program on the Small Scale Experimental Machine, affectionately called

Chipsets

2007-06-25T23:21:00.001-07:00

ChipsetsIf you ever hear a conversation involving Buses, Northbridges and Southbridges, and think that the speakers are having another boring chat about travel routes, look again. Do these “travellers” wear thick glasses and appear malnourished? If so, you seem to have stumbled upon a collectionof geeks, and they’re really having another boring chat about Motherboards and Chipsets. And to prevent

Chip Fabbing

2007-06-25T23:20:00.002-07:00

Chip FabbingIf you have a one-track mind that thinks chips and wafers are only about food, think again. There’s a lot of jargon you’ve probably heard every day that applies to the manufacture of chips (the silicon kind you put in gadgets), too.Fab: 1. v. To “fabricate” chips once they’ve been designed. E.g. “These designs are ready to be fabbed.” (also see foundry). 2. n. The production system

Apple Mac OS X Tiger

2007-06-25T23:20:00.001-07:00

Apple Mac OS X TigerThere are operating systems and then there’s Tiger. In its latest avatar, Mac OS X is faster, better and as graphically appealing as ever. Chances are, though, that you’ve never used it. There are times when you want to stand out of the crowd and throw jargon, but with a Mac, it isn’t straightforward. But that’s what we’re here for!Tiger includes a lot of new additions such as

3D Studio

2007-06-25T23:19:00.002-07:00

3D StudioWe give you absolute gems from the 3DS Max roster of jargon to help you get your friends to drop their jaws when they meet you next.Space WarpThis one takes the literal meaning of space warp—it warps space within physical objects in a controlled fashion. The commonest “warps” are ripples in a rectangular surface, a sphere exploding, etc. Jaw-dropper My boss is worse than a mailer daemon;

3D Animation

2007-06-25T23:19:00.001-07:00

3D AnimationMake no mistake about it—3D animation is very techy. Essentially, try and convince your audience that you can create a 3D scene. Of course, you’ll need to throw in the word “Maya” somewhere.Motion Capture: Be sure to refer to it as “MoCap”, which sounds cool. Mention the Gypsy MoCap system. Say, “MoCap saves time. Simple ambient animation is much easier when MoCapped than if the

ZigBee

2007-06-25T23:18:00.002-07:00

What is ZigBee?ZigBee is a set of standards for low-power, low data-rate networks that operate over small distances. ZigBee networks work even in congested radio environments. Up to 255 devices can be connected in a network, a maximum of 30 m away from each other.How does ZigBee work?ZigBee is a wireless network of devices that communicate with each other. Modest amounts of data are shot over

Yonah

2007-06-25T23:18:00.001-07:00

What is Yonah?Yonah is the next processor in the Pentium M Series of processors. It is a dual-core CPU unit manufactured using the industry’s latest 65 nano meter silicone chip manufacturing process. Who is making it?Well, Intel Inc., only the largest chip manufacturer in the world! However, what’s significant here is that Yonah is the first dual-core chip Intel has designed from scratch.Where

Windows Live

2007-06-25T23:17:00.002-07:00

What is Windows Live?It’s hard to define Windows Live in a couple of sentences. But according to Microsoft, “Windows Live is based on one simple idea—that your online world gets better when everything works simply and effortlessly together. So all the things you care about online—your friends, the latest information, your e-mails, searching the Net—all come together in one place.” Essentially, it

WiMAX

2007-06-25T23:17:00.001-07:00

What is WiMAX?WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave access) is touted as the next generation of WiFi, and will be able to connect computers in up to a ten mile range without wires. It can provide connectivity at broadband speeds.How does WiMAX work?Imagine a beam of bandwidth that supports data-transmission rates of up to 70 megabits per second within a 30-mile radius of a WiMax

Web 2.0

2007-06-25T23:16:00.002-07:00

What is Web 2.0?Web 2.0 is a term often applied to the perceived ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of Web sites to a full-fledged computing platform serving Web applications to end users. Ultimately, Web 2.0 services are expected to replace desktop computing applications for many purposes. If Netscape was the standard bearer for Web 1.0, it’s Google for Web 2.0.Where is

VoiceXML

2007-06-25T23:16:00.001-07:00

What, now, is VoiceXML?VoiceXML is a standard XML format used when building applications that feature voice interaction between humans and machines—as in you talking to the computer, and it talking to you.Whose idea was it?The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) released the VoiceXML specification to standardise the way voice-enabled applications will work.How does it work?Just like HTML is a

Vitrualisation

2007-06-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

What is Vitrualisation?Vitrualisation is a technique by which hardware resources can be abstracted and divided, and these resources are allocated amongst multiple os environments Why do we need Vitrualisation?One of the many abilities that virtualisation provides is to run multiple OSes simultaneously on a single hardware platform, which is fast becoming an important solution to problems that

U3

2007-06-25T23:14:00.002-07:00

What is U3?U3 is a new hardware and software platform that enables personal workspace portability by allowing USB Flash drives to carry, store, and use one’s own applications and data on any PC.Who developed it?U3 is the result of a collaboration between SanDisk and M-Systems Flash Disk Pioneers Ltd.Where is it used?U3 is used to develop what are being called ‘U3 smart drives’ and applications

The “X” In Office 2007

2007-06-25T23:14:00.001-07:00

What’s with the “x”?The file formats for Office 2007 will use XML and ZIP. The Office 2007 suite files will have default file extensions with “x” after their “old” file extensions—so, for example, .doc and .xls become .docx and .xlsx.Why is XML used in Office?Using XML, documents consisting of structured information as content will have some indication of what role that content will perform.

Sonoma

2007-06-25T23:13:00.002-07:00

What is Sonoma?Sonoma is the code name for the second generation of the mobile Centrino notebook platform. The platform includes a Pentium M processor, the chipset and the Wi-Fi card.How does Sonoma improve over the original Centrino platform?The Pentium M processor now has a front-side bus increase from 400 MHz to 533 MHz. There is now support for dual-channel DDR2 memory and graphics support

SLI

2007-06-25T23:13:00.001-07:00

What is SLI?Scalable Link Interface is a method of parallel processing for computer graphics, in which two or more video cards can be linked to produce a single, more enhanced output.Where was SLI technology first deployed on a commercial scale?An initial version (dubbed ‘Scan Line Interleave’) was used by the US-based 3dfx in 1998, in the Voodoo 2 line of graphics accelerators.When was the

RSA

2007-06-25T23:12:00.002-07:00

What is RSA?RSA is an encryption algorithm. It is widely used for encrypting important messages or digitally signing documents for e-commerce, and is included as part of the Web browsers by Netscape and Microsoft.Who developed RSA?The encryption algorithm was developed by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Len Adleman (R, S and A) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1977.How does it

Rootkit

2007-06-25T23:12:00.001-07:00

What is a rootkit?The evil rootkit is a set of software tools usually used by an intruder after gaining access to a computer. The tools are intended to conceal running processes, files or system data, which helps the intruder maintain access to the system without the user’s knowledge.How does it work?A rootkit integrates itself deep within the OS, taking over bits and pieces of the code, and then

plasma display

2007-06-25T23:11:00.000-07:00

What is a plasma display?A plasma display is a flatpanel display. It does not use a cathode-ray tube (CRT), which traditional TVs and monitors do. They are bright, have a wide colour range, and can be manufactured in large sizes— up to 80 inches diagonally.How does a plasma display work?In a plasma display, light iscreated by phosphors, similar to those used in TVs, excited by a plasma discharge

Podcasting

2007-06-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

PodcastingWhat is podcasting?Podcasting is a way of delivering audio over the Internet. It’s something like Internet radio, with the difference being that you can subscribe to a podcast, have it downloaded, and listen to it at any time you wish.Where can I listen to a podcast?Although the word ‘podcasting’ is derived from ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcasting’, you don’t need an iPod to listen to a podcast.

Pharming

2007-06-25T23:06:00.002-07:00

What is Pharming?Pharming has been called the ‘next generation’ of Phishing. Phishing requires a person to respond to a phoney e-mail in order to be taken to an illegitimate site; in Pharming, the targeted person need not respond to anything—he or she is automatically whisked to the illegitimate site.How does Pharming work?Pharmers use ‘DNS poisoning’, or domain hijacks, to redirect users to

Organic Light Emitting Diode

2007-06-25T23:06:00.001-07:00

What is an OLED?An Organic Light Emitting Diode is an organic molecule (carbon, as opposed to silicon-based) that emits light when teased with electricity. This simple concept requires one to find the right molecule to get the right colour, and you are all set for dazzling displays. Displays made with OLEDs save both on thickness and power.Who invented OLEDs?Kodak researcher Ching Tang, a Hong

Niagara II Processor

2007-06-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

What is it?‘Niagara’ is the code name for the UltraSPARC T1 processor. It is a multi-core, multi-threaded CPU. The next generation, UltraSPARC T2 processor is sometimes called Niagara II.Who is behind it?Sun Microsystems. Niagara was their third multi-core processor, but the first multi-core, multi-threaded processor. It came in three versions: four, six or eight CPU core.Why is it important?Each

Network Neutrality

2007-06-25T23:04:00.002-07:00

What is Network Neutrality?Network Neutrality is a policy that aims to equalise the Internet, basically stating that network providers should treat all Web sites equally and serve them to users the best they can. The aim is to enable users to choose sites based on content rather than how fast they receive them from servers.Who is fighting for it?In his paper Network Neutrality, Broadband

MAID

2007-06-25T23:04:00.001-07:00

What is MAID?MAID stands for Massive Array of Idle Disks. This is a technology that promises to provide massive scaleable storage at a very low cost.Where will it be used?MAID will be used where there is a need to archive or back up data amounting to terabytes. It will also be used in places where large amount of archived data needs to be accessed quickly.Who is selling MAID solutions?Though the

Liquid Crystal on Silicon ( LCoS )

2007-06-25T23:03:00.000-07:00

What is it?Liquid Crystal on Silicon is a display technology that rivals our more traditional LCD and TFT in TVs and monitors, and DLP in projectors.When did this happen?The technology has been around for nearly a decade, but has only now started to come out of its niche and into consumer markets.What’s the big deal?While other technologies have started out awful and have gotten better over the

DualDisc

2007-06-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

What is a DualDisc?A DualDisc is a new optical disc format announced by a group of record labels. It is designed to make music CDs more attractive to consumers by using additional content.How does a DualDisc work?A DualDisc will have a full CD album on one side and its enhanced version on the other. It will be compatible with any device that plays either CDs or DVDs.Who is responsible for

AJAX

2007-06-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

What is AJAX?AJAX stands for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML. It is a Web development technique for interactive Web applications—a method that defines how Web pages interact with the server and the client.When was it developed?The technique was used way back in 2000, when JavaScript Remote Scripting was first used. But back then, it was purely based on JavaScript. Why is AJAX gaining in

Dual-core Processors

2007-06-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

What are dual-core processors?A dual core processor is two processor cores on one die, essentially like having a dual processor system in one processor.How will shifting to dualcore help?The problem with winding up clock speeds is heat. High heat means errors. The heat comes from power. It takes a lot of juice to crank up a processor to high clock speeds and a processor with that much electricity

3G

2007-06-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

What is a 3G phone?A 3G phone is one that can use 3G networks. 3G is an abbreviation for ‘third generation cellular technology’, the ‘first generation’ having been analogue cellular, and the ‘second generation’ being today’s digital cellular networks. 3G supports very high-speed data services over a cellular network. In fact, multimedia 3G networks transmit wireless data up to 2 Mbps. 3G mobile