How to choose a digicam.........!!!!

Digital cameras are classified as compact, superzoom, bridge, system and single-lens reflex models. Their names may not reveal much, but if you are not aware of what's behind them, you may end up making a mistake when buying a digital camera. Digital cameras are so well established that there are a range of different types on the market.

The compact and single-lens reflex (SLR) varieties are the easiest to differentiate. “But all is not as complicated as it appears to be at first glance. Although most compact cameras have a small image sensor, some are capable of zooming up to 15 times closer to the photographed object.

The average resolution of a modern compact camera is between 10 and 14 megapixels. Clauss says the trend at the moment is towards compact cameras equipped with a wide angle lens, a large display and lots of automatic functions.

In general manual functions are the exception to the rule with compact cameras. The depth of field is also very large on a compact. Germany's ‘Computer Bild’ magazine recently compared 12 compact cameras ranging in price from 312 to 436 euros (394 to 550 dollars).

According to the magazine, it appears that even the makers of small cameras are equipping their products with quite powerful lenses. That has led to greater zooms and more range when it comes to setting up shots. Superzoom, or bridge cameras as they are also known, are designed to fill the gap between compact and SLR cameras.

They usually come with a 30x zoom, and in contrast to compact cameras, they allow you to alter aperture size or the exposure settings. Good bridge cameras have an electronic viewfinder. Other useful functions include the option of using a separate flash and the ability to store images in RAW format.

Some versions have a manual zoom ring that allows you to make fine adjustments to the focus. The quality of the lens is usually a compromise between a very large focal length and a small image sensor. Digital system cameras have been on the market for only about two years. Just like an SLR camera you can remove and change the lens on a system camera. Because a system camera has no mirror it is much lighter than a comparable SLR model.

The Micro Four Thirds System (MFT) created by Panasonic and Olympus has set the standards for system cameras. MFT cameras have a live view on their displays. The image sensor in this type of camera is much larger than in a compact camera. The sensor is the same size as those found in SLR cameras at 17.3x13 mm and has a resolution of about 12 megapixels.

Germany's consumer organisation, Stiftung Warentest, conducted a study on system cameras and included a few SLRs for comparison. Of the 25 cameras examined Stiftung Warentest rated 23 as 'good' and the other two were ranked as 'satisfactory.'

However, all of the models took better quality pictures than normal compact cameras. Single-lens reflex cameras with APS-C sensors are very compact in size but are larger than system cameras with interchangeable lenses.

An APS-C sensor is 23x15mm and bigger than that found in a system camera. Thanks to its larger size, the APS-C sensor shows its superiority when photographing bright objects. The sensor also gives you a wider spectrum of options to select different areas of focus.

Sensors tucked into cell phones could map airborne toxins in real time

A tiny silicon chip that works a bit like a nose may one day detect dangerous airborne chemicals and alert emergency responders through the cell phone network.

If embedded in many cell phones, its developers say, the new type of sensor could map the location and extent of hazards like gas leaks or the deliberate release of a toxin."Cell phones are everywhere people are," said Michael Sailor, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego who heads the research effort.

"This technology could map a chemical accident as it unfolds."In collaboration with Rhevision, Inc., a small startup company located in San Diego, Sailor's research group at UCSD has successfully finished the first phase of development of the sensor and have begun to work on a prototype that will link to a cell phone.

The sensor, a porous flake of silicon, changes color when it interacts with specific chemicals. By manipulating the shape of the pores, the researchers can tune individual spots on the silicon flake to respond to specific chemical traits."It works a little like our nose," Sailor said. "We have a set of sensory cells that detect specific chemical properties.

It's the pattern of activation across the array of sensors that the brain recognizes as a particular smell. In the same way, the pattern of color changes across the surface of the chip will reveal the identity of the chemical."

$100 Tablet PC: Coming Soon

The nonprofit organization that has tried to produce a $100 laptop for children in the world's poorest places is throwing in the towel on that idea -- and jumping on the tablet bandwagon.

One Laptop Per Child's next computer will be based on chipmaker Marvell Technology Group Ltd's Moby tablet design. Marvell announced a prototype of the device this year and said it costs about $99.

Nicholas Negroponte, founder of One Laptop Per Child, is optimistic his organization will be able to keep the price under $100 in part because Marvell plans to market its tablets widely to schools and health care institutions.


The quirky green and white XO laptop sold by One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) to governments and organizations in countries such as Afghanistan and Uruguay wasn't destined for such a broad audience. OLPC had to repeatedly scale back expectations for how many of the laptops it could produce, and it didn't get the price much below $200, twice the price specified by the device's "$100 laptop" nickname.


The new tablets will have at least one, and maybe two, video cameras. They'll sport Wi-Fi connections to the Internet, "multi-touch" screens and have enough power to play high-definition and 3D video. Marvel hopes to make the screens 8.5 inches by 11 inches, the size of a standard sheet of paper. Unlike Apple Inc's iPad tablet, the device will also work with plug-in peripherals such as mice.

Cellphones with highest radiation

Do cellphones cause brain cancer, dementia or have other side effects? Though there have been numerous studies on this, the verdict remains unclear. For, some studies reveal long-term side effects of cellphone usage, others term them as mere hype.

However, it is largely certain that cellphones do emit radiation. In fact, some analysts are now of the view that all cellphones should compulsorily display their radiation levels. US-based environmental group EWG recently published a list of phones with high levels of RF radiation. The list, which appeared on CNET, includes some of the most popular smartphone models from companies like LG, Motorola, Blackberry and Samsung.



The study is based on SAR or Specific Absorption Rate. SAR according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association is "a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body.

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Is your privacy protected online?

Is your privacy protected online? Find out the answer to this question too late, and you could be facing some serious hassles: identity theft, compromised financial information, or simply dozens of annoyances coming through your inbox in the form of spam.

That's why the best way to ensure that your privacy is protected in cyberspace is to take precautionary steps beforehand. Here are a few.

Keep personal information personal :
There are more opportunities than ever to give away personal information online --knowingly or inadvertently. Social networks, forums, blogs -- all encourage interactivity. And, as you get comfortable with your online friends, it's tempting to reveal personal details.

Just remember that when you write something on a social website, its usually there for all to see. So be very careful about what information you divulge about yourself voluntarily.

How closely does your screen name or username resemble your real name? Have you posted your age, location, or other identifying information on any websites? In the course of conversing online, do you routinely drop details about yourself that someone with less than altruistic intentions could use to invade your privacy or compromise your security?

And how about members of your family? Do you have kids who might unwittingly be providing personal information about themselves, you, or your family?

All of the security software in the world won’t protect your privacy if you or your loved ones aren’t careful with personal information online. It’s a good idea to have a chat with family members about what information is and is not acceptable to divulge online to complete strangers

Flying Car may be a reality soon

Flying cars have always been something typically reserved for science fiction, but they have now come closer to reality.

The department tasked with exploring the concept, Defence Advanced Projects Agency (DARPA), has cleared the Transformer (TX) program. The flying vehicle is currently in motion for military services rather than the everyday motorist.

If the vehicle realizes the capabilities planned, it is possible that by the year 2015 U.S soldiers will have the ability to drive into battle in a flying car, designed to be seated for four that will go 250 miles on a tank of fuel and be able to fly through the air and drive on the ground.

The Transformer will give troops the ability to avoid traditional and unconventional threats such as ambushes and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and road obstructions. The Pentagon has budgeted 54 million dollars so far to develop the concept.

Nintendo to launch 3D DS

Nintendo Co Ltd plans to launch a new model of its DS handheld game gear that allows users to play three-dimensional (3D) games without using special glasses.

The Japanese firm said the new portable player will be able to play titles created for previous DS models and will be launched in the financial year starting in April.

Nintendo, which competes with Sony Corp and Microsoft Corp in video games, declined to give details such as price and launch dates, but said more information will be announced at the E3 video game trade show in Los Angeles in June.

Sony plans to release 3D titles for its PlayStation 3 game console in time for the planned release of its 3D TVs in June. That game console can be upgraded to become 3D-capable using a software update.

Now Charge mobile... on the run

Believe it or not, you may be able to charge your mobile, laptop and iPod with a few minutes' walk in near future. Scientists at Georgia Tech university have claimed to have developed the first device to tap the power of motion and produce practical amounts of electricity from piezoelectronics.

The team group said piezoelectrics can generate voltages up to 1.26 volts, and can produce even higher voltages, the Discovery Channel reported. "This is a key step to designing technology that will be useful in the near future," said co-author Z L Wang. "Every move you make, every step you take, you can generate electricity. The power output could quickly jump high enough to power iPods and cellphones.

By cramming 20,000 nanowires into three square centimetres, the scientists have created the world's first device powered solely by piezoelectric materials.

A piezoelectric material is something that, when pushed or pulled, generates a mild electrical charge. "Within three to five years piezoeleectric nanowires, woven into a cotton shirt or housed in a shoe heel, could charge a cellphone or laptop battery after even a short walk.

Bike Balloon is Full of Hot Air!

We keep running into motorcycle riders with tall claims all the time, but this one really takes the cake.

Being touted as the "world's biggest flying bike", this hot air balloon has been made for the promotion of the George White Superbikes racing team from the Land of the Queen, which races in the British Superbike Series.

While the balloon will be used to fly the name of the team high at various venues of the racing series, the sort of statistics that stand by its making are simply mind numbing.

At 37 metres high and 47 metres wide, the balloon was made out of 5500 different patches of fabric, sewed together by over 50 miles of thread!

The balloon has been built to scale, blowing up an average BSB bike 23 times. Ever imagined a 23XL helmet on a rider? That's what we mean when we say that size does matter!

Solar-powered plane makes successful maiden flight

At the pace of a fast bicycle, a solar-powered plane took to the skies for its maiden flight, passing an important test on the way to a historic voyage around the world, a journey that would not use a drop of fuel.

The Solar Impulse lifted off from a military airport on Wednesday at a speed no faster than 45 kph after briefly accelerating down the runway. It slowly gained altitude above the green-and-beige fields and eventually faded into the horizon as villagers watched from the nearest hills.

There has never been an airplane of that kind that could fly, never an airplane so big, so light, using so little energy.

During yesterday's 90-minute flight, the plane completed a series of turns by gently tilting its black-and-white wings, which are as wide as those of a 747 jumbo jet. It climbed nearly a mile above the Swiss countryside. The weather was sunny, and there was little wind, obvious advantages for a plane so light and dependent on the sun.

Engineers on the $93.5 million project have been conducting short tests since December, taking the plane no higher than 0.6 metre and flying no more than 300 metre in distance.

HCL launches recyclable laptop

PC maker HCL Infosystems unveiled its new 'ME Series 40' notebook, ओं the occasion of Earth Hour 2010.


The notebook has BFR concentrations of less than 0.1 per cent, which makes the product 100 per cent recyclable and environment-friendly, HCL Infosystems said in a statement.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a group of flame retardants, commonly used in electronic products as a means of reducing the flammability of the product.

These chemicals have been increasingly coming under increased criticism for their use in household furnishing as these substances are believed to have harmful effects on humans and animals.

"With the launch of BFR-free HCL ME Series 40, we have reinforced our commitment towards green revolution in the IT hardware market. We are one of the few companies across the globe with a commitment towards sustainability in our vision and mission statement," HCL Infosystems Executive Vice President George Paul said.

The notebook is based on the Intel Core 2 Duo processor and has features like 15.4-inch wide screen, 1.3-megapixel webcam and integrated Bluetooth. It comes loaded with Windows 7 Professional operating system.

Know.......How your email gets hacked

Joseph Bonneau, a security researcher at the University of Cambridge, insists that attackers can break into at least 1 in every 80 accounts if they get three chances to guess answers.

"The numbers were worse than we thought," the BBC quoted him as saying.

He recommends webmail firms to replace simple answers with more complex tests to confirm a person's identity.

Bonneau teamed up with Mike Just and Greg Matthews, from the University of Edinburgh, to check how frequently attackers can be successful in answering security questions.

The researchers claim that hackers are successful in getting answers to security-check questions correct every 80 accounts, as information people use as answers are often publicly accessible, such as US marriage and birth records which were viewable online for a long time.

He said, "We measured how hard it was to guess answers. Asking what was the name of someone's first grade teacher seems like a secure choice. The problem is that there may be many teachers out there named Mrs Smith."

Bonneau warns that cyber criminals maintain a long lists of e-mail addresses to attack. He added, "They have the big list and most of them they will not get enough access to.

"Webmail was never really designed for security but it is taking on a pretty important security role. Once you have an e-mail account you can take over a lot of other things with it."

However, the researchers believe Webmail firms can tighten their security. Bonneau explained, "They can make guessing a lot harder if they shape the answers that they allow. Such as not letting you register Smith as an answer."

“The chance of guessing three things simultaneously is pretty low.” Websites such as Google, are already sending reset passwords by text message in a bid to protect the account of its users.

Intel Corp has released its newest server chips

Intel Corp has released its newest server chips, as it seeks to maintain its dominance over rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc, and prepare

for an expected rise in demand.The new microprocessors, designed to power both servers and high-end desktop PCs, are the first of Intel's server chips featuring smaller transistors that have helped the company's laptop and desktop chips push stronger performance while eking out better energy efficiency.

Intel also built in security features the company says can encode and decipher files much faster, effectively removing the "encryption tax" or computer performance lost due to protecting files.

The chips will be released under the Xeon product line for servers, and Core i7 for desktop computers, which Intel hopes will gain traction particularly with the entertainment and video game markets.But the biggest opportunity rests with servers, said Intel's general manager of server marketing, Boyd Davis, where an estimated one-third of the market is running on chips made more than four years ago.

Although roughly nine out of 10 of the world's servers contain an Intel brain according to IDC, they are not the only ones vying for those potential server sales.Patrick Patla, general manager of AMD's server division, said the company's newest chips will also offer increases in speed pushed by a dramatic redesign.

"There will be no single bigger performance jump in the history of Opteron than the jump we are going to take from 2009 to 2010," he said, referring to the server chip's product name.AMD's newest chips are due in the next few weeks. It remains to be seen how they will match up against Intel's latest chips.

Data transfer to hit ultra-high speed.

High-speed data communication isn't so speedy by the time it reaches your video player or smartphone. Lasers may send information flying in tiny bursts of light through optical fibers across oceans and cities. But you're still in the electronic slow lane when you're transferring high-definition videos or other large files between devices.

Then the content travels only at the rate permitted by the USB or other cord. But soon, some data exchanges between consumer gadgets may travel at the higher rate of fiber optics, letting people transfer a Blu-ray version of “Gone With the Wind,” for example, or the complete family photo archive in less than a minute.

Later this year, Intel will introduce its Light Peak fiber optic link, in a bid to replace USB and other electrical cables that now connect computers with digital cameras, music players, smartphones and dozens of other devices, said Jason Ziller, Intel's director for the optical input-output program office.

Light Peak optical cable technology, which includes computer chips and miniature lasers, will be available to manufacturers later this year, he said, for installation in products next year. Prices are not yet available from Intel.

The first version of the optical cable will transmit 10 gigabits per second of data both ways, and is expected to scale to 100 gigabits a second in the next decade, Ziller said. By contrast, the high-bandwidth USB 2.0 cables now in wide use have a rate of 480 megabits a second. Optics may also get a boost from new technology that is still in the laboratory and is intended to integrate lasers directly into silicon chips as they are manufactured.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a research group has achieved a breakthrough, creating lasers directly on silicon chips as part of their manufacturing, said Professor Lionel Kimerling. He has developed lasers made from germanium, a material used in advanced silicon chip manufacturing processes.

Cloud Computing

­Let's say you're an executive at a large corporation. Your particular responsibilities include making sure that all of your employees have the right hardware and software they need to do their jobs. Buying computers for everyone isn't enough -- you also have to purchase software or software licenses to give employees the tools they require.

Whenever you have a new hire, you have to buy more software or make sure your current software license allows another user. It's so stressful that you find it difficult to go to sleep on your huge pile of money every night. Soon, there may be an alternative for executives like you. Instead of installing a suite of software for each computer, you'd only have to load one application.

That application would allow workers to log into a Web-based service which hosts all the programs the user would need for his or her job. Remote machines owned by another company would run everything from e-mail to word processing to complex data analysis programs. It's called cloud computing, and it could change the entire computer industry.

In a cloud computing system, there's a significant workload shift. Local computers no longer have to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications. The network of computers that make up the cloud handles them instead.

Hardware and software demands on the user's side decrease. The only thing the user's computer needs to be able to run is the cloud computing system's interface software, which can be as simple as a Web browser, and the cloud's network takes care of the rest.

Nanoscience

Nanoscience has the potential to become the sunrise sector in the years ahead. “From converting sunlight into power, to targeting a drug to a single malignant cell, from creating sensors in the form of biochip to the ability to produce garments which can act as a chemical shield, possibilities are immense in this (nanotechnology) domain.

In the field of nanoscience, it is material versus molecule. Nanoscientists operate from either of these major vantage points. Some are excited about the behaviour of materials, when brought down to nano levels. In other words, nanoscientists deal with reducing materials to nanosizes and observing the changes in their properties and behaviour.

A leading scientist, contends that, “material such as gold, which is chemically inert at normal scales, can serve as a potent chemical catalyst at nanoscales. Much of the fascination with nanotechnology stems from these different phenomena that matter exhibits at the nanoscale.”

On the other hand, another group of scientists are interested in using nanoscience to assemble individual atoms into a desired molecule so as to evolve molecular-level machines.

But research in this domain is very much in its infancy the world over, and India has negligible presence in the area.

One millionth of a millimetre or 10-9 m, is a nanometre, and study of matter at that level is nanotechnology. Initiated as an idea by Nobel Prize winning physicist, Richard Feynman in the early 1950s, nanotechnology caught up as a separate discipline only during the early 90s. The nanotechnology initiative set up in 2000, by the US federal government played a crucial role in providing seed funding for long-term research in the area. It has also caught up well in Europe. India was one of the early entrants in the domain, thanks to the pioneering work of Prof. CNR Rao, Linus Pauling Research Professor at JNCASR. As a field of study nanoscience is truly interdisciplinary in nature.

The nature and structure of the course depends upon the area of specialisation that the course focuses on. Normally, the three chief divisions of nanotech are nanomaterials, nanoelectronics and nanobiotechnology. And the concentration of courses would be a function of your specialisation