VishTecho

IBM is promoting a contest for students of mainframes in Brazil. Basically they have to sign up and perform certain tasks, some simple other complex that can take from weeks to months. The prizes ranging from T-shirts, PSPs and laptops to even working at IBM! 

Registration begins for students on August 27 and ends on 05 September 2008, or until all vacancies are filled. The competition, with access to the mainframe,will happen from September 08 until November 28, 2008. It is a good opportunity for students and teachers to know more than the mainframe environment as well as compete for prizes.

Is Aaron Sorkin getting his geek on?

The famous technophobe and Hollywood scribe is trading the “West Wing” and “Studio 60″ corridors for the graffiti-scrawled, software-developer-mobbed corridors of social networking upstart Facebook Inc.

The Palo Alto company says it has not signed on to a Sorkin film about its inception, but Sorkin has started a Facebook group (well, he says, his assistant did that) to gather color for a Facebook film he is writing for Sony and producer Scott Rudin.

A Sony Pictures spokesman confirmed the project but wouldn’t discuss details. Through a publicist, Sorkin declined to comment. 

Facebook spokeswoman Brandee Barker said: “We are routinely approached by writers and filmmakers interested in telling the Facebook story or the stories of the more than 100 million people who use Facebook to share and make the world more open and connected. At this point, we have not agreed to cooperate with any film project, but we are flattered by the interest.”

The Facebook group (where Sorkin groupies have already congregated to write on Sorkin’s wall) was first unearthed by the Defamer blog.

Sorkin’s Facebook group page reads:

“Welcome. I’m Aaron Sorkin. I understand there are a few other people using Facebook pages under my name — which I find more flattering than creepy — but this is me. I don’t know how I can prove that but feel free to test me.

“I’ve just agreed to write a movie for Sony and producer Scott Rudin about how Facebook was invented. I figured a good first step in my preparation would be finding out what Facebook is, so I’ve started this page. (Actually it was started by my researcher, Ian Reichbach, because my grandmother has more Internet savvy than I do and she’s been dead for 33 years.)”

So what will a movie about the messy beginnings of Facebook be called? “A Few Good Founders”? Or “Face Off,” complete with tense courtroom scenes from the legal battle over the company’s creation?

(Note to Sorkin: Aaron Greenspan — who attended Harvard with the founders, claims he came up with the idea for Facebook and recently penned a book on the subject — would like to share his two cents).

And just who will they find to play Mark Zuckerberg, the official Facebook founder and chief executive?

Source: LA Times

Windows Vista’s Disk Management tool can be quite deceiving. It allows you to work with partitions at ease in a presentable GUI format - but with problems. There have been a lot of complaints and confusion as to why Windows Vista grays out the extend volume and shrink volume properties. In response to this, I have found an alternative way to work with partitions, allowing you to easily resize, delete, and create partitions.
Diskpart.exe does a very good job at working with partitions. Unlike Disk Management, Diskpart actually works!

Before continuing, make sure that you:

• Backed up all important files

• Do not run diskpart.exe with Dynamic Disks

So here it goes….

1) First, you’ll want to pull out your Start Menu and type diskpart.exe
This will open a command-prompt like window. At this window, type list disk. This will list all your available hard disks.

2) Proceed by typing select disk < disk number > to select the disk you want to work with.

Creating a Partition or Volume:

At this point in time, you can create a partition. Type create and a set of new options will be presented to you. To proceed, just type create < new option>. (e.g. create volume)

What kind of partition should I create?
Primary: Primary partitions are limited to four per hard disk. If you are planning to install an operating system into a partition, you’ll want to choose primary since it is the only one that can be made bootable.

Extended: If you are planning to have more than four partitions, you’ll want to work with extended. An extended partition counts towards the limit of four, but you are then allowed to create logical volumes within these extended partitions. You’ll want to use extended partitions for backup or storage purposes only since they are not bootable.

3) Now we want to see which number is associated with the volume we want to work with. To obtain this list, type list volume

4) Select the desired volume by typing: select volume < number> or select partition < number>

You then have a list of options to choose from. Below is a list of commands you can type in depending on what you want to do with your selected volume. If you don’t input a number for size, the program will automatically use all the space available for your operation. For the purpose of this tutorial, I have decided to work with 10GB. (1000MB = 1GB)

• Shrink desired=10000 minimum=2000 (Shrinks the volume by 10GB. If that’s not possible, this command makes sure that you at least shrink the volume by 2GB.)
• Extend size=10000
• Delete Partition
• Format

Disk Management can be quite a nuisance since it decides to gray out certain properties on any given day. Please spread the word about diskpart.exe if you know someone who has had trouble working with partitions; as I am sure there are lots who are having similar problems.

The SysInternals department of Microsoft have today launched a new program “DESKTOPS” which help a user using many applications simultaneously.Desktops allows you to organize your applications on up to four virtual desktops.

Multitasking re-defined

Read email on one, browse the web on the second, and do work in your productivity software on the third, without the clutter of the windows you’re not using. After you configure hotkeys for switching desktops, you can create and switch desktops either by clicking on the tray icon to open a desktop preview and switching window, or by using the hotkeys.

The program is just 62kb in size and can be downloaded (or run as you wish) for free from the Microsoft website HERE.(It runs on even Vista!)

Canon’s China website has published specifications for the 50D in its public webspace. Although the info is not on the front page of the site yet, it is accessible to anyone. Here is the link.
I’ve set forth the relevant translated specs and info below. Please note that the original specs listed here listed in-body IS as a feature. The translation was wrong and the feature has been removed from the spec list below. The specs referenced the advantages and compatibility with lens-based IS instead.

Here are the prominent features;

15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor
DIGIC 4
1.6x crop
Dust Reduction
Auto Brightness Processing
95% viewfinder .97 magnification
9 point af (All Cross Type)
35 meter area equipped with high-precision sensors
AF Fine Tuning
ISO 100-12800
6.3 fps (high speed) 3fps (low speed)
Buffer: 16 RAW - 60 JPG - 10 RAW+JPG
920,000 points VGA 3.0-inch LCD monitor
100,000 cycle shutter
Rugged magnesium alloy bodyFull Specifications

Canon 50D Full Specifications

General

Camera Type: Has a built-in flash AF / automatic exposure single-lens reflex digital cameras
Media Type: I or Type II CF card, UDMA compatible
Image Sensor Size: 22.3×14.9 mm
Compatible Lenses: Canon EF-series (including EF-S series lenses) (35 mm converted the focal length of the lens focal length is about 1.6 times)
Lens mount: Canon EF mount
Image Sensor

Type: CMOS Image Sensor
Effective Pixels: Approx.15.1 million pixels
Aspect ratio: 3:2
Dust removal function: Auto, Manual, add the dust data
Recording System

Recording format: Camera File System Design Rule 2.0
（Design rule for Camera File System 2.0） (Design rule for Camera File System 2.0)
Image types: JPEG, RAW (14 place Canon original); RAW + JPEG
Records of pixels: (4752 x 3168） Large: about 15.1 million pixels (4752 x 3168)
Medium: about 8 million pixels (3456 x 2304)
Small: about 3.7 million pixels (2352 x 1568)
RAW: about 15.1 million pixels (4752 x 3168)
sRAW1: about 7.1 million pixels (3267 x 2178)
sRAW2: about 3.8 million pixels (2376 x 1584)
Create / select: Folder Yes
Image Processing

Photo style: Standard, portrait, landscape, neutral, reliable setup, monochrome, User-defined 1-3
White Balance: Auto, the default (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Lamp, White fluorescent light, flash), user-defined, Color temperature settings (2500-10000 K)
Noise Reduction: Can be applied to long time exposure and high ISO sensitivity shooting
Automatic image brightness correction: Automatic brightness optimization
High-priority tone: Yes
The amount of light surrounding the lens correction: Yes
Viewfinder

Type: Eye-level pentaprism
Rate outlook: Vertical / horizontal direction about 95 percent
Magnification: About 0.95 times (-1 m-1, using 50 mm lens on the infinite distance AF)
Focus: About 22 mm (eyepiece lens from the central -1 m-1)
Built-in diopter adjustment: -3.0 - +1.0 M-1 (dpt)
Focusing Screen: Ef-A equipped with the standard screen, and can replace the screen (2 sold separately)
Mirrors: Express back -
Depth of Field Preview: Yes
AF

Type: TTL auxiliary video coincidence, the phase detection
Automatic focus points: 9 (all cross-)
Metering range: EV -0.5 - 18 (23 ° C/73 ° F, ISO 100)
Focus modes: Single AF, AI Servo AF, Artificial Intelligence AF, manual focus (MF)
AF-assist light: By the built-in flash for a short flash
AF fine-tuning: AF can be fine-tuning
Exposure Control

Metering Mode: 35 Zone TTL full-aperture metering
Evaluation meter (with the focus of any automatic linkage)
Partial metering (the viewfinder about 9 percent of the area)
Spot (viewfinder central area of about 3.8%)
Central focus of the average metering
Metering range: EV 1-20 (23 ° C/73 ° F, the use of EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)
Exposure Control: Programmed auto exposure (automatic, portrait, landscape, Macro, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash off, creativity automatic, procedures), shutter priority automatic exposure, aperture priority auto exposure, depth of field priority auto exposure, manual exposure
ISO Sensitivity: (Recommended exposure index)
Basic shooting zone mode: automatically set between ISO 100-1600
District creative shooting modes: ISO 100 - 3200 (in 1 / 3 increments), Auto, ISO sensitivity can be extended up to ISO 6400 or ISO 12800
Exposure compensation: Manual and automatic exposure bracketing (with manual exposure compensation can be used in combination) - Can be set numerical: ± 2 Stage 1 / 3 or 1 / 2 units to adjust
Auto exposure lock Auto: evaluation of the use of metering single AF mode - Manual: auto exposure lock button
Shutter

Type: Electronically controlled focal plane shutter
Shutter speed: 1 / 8000 second to 1 / 60 seconds (automatic mode), flash synchronization speed of 1 / 250 second 1 / 8000 to 30 seconds, B Mun (the shutter speed range. With the availability of various shooting modes. )
Flash

Built-in flash: Recoverable, auto-flash
Flash: 13/43 (ISO 100, to m / ft unit) flash coverage: 17 mm camera angle. Recycle time of about three seconds
External flash: X series of flash (camera can set up some flash function)
Flash Metering: E-TTL II automatic flash
Flash Exposure Compensation: ± 2 Stage 1 / 3 or 1 / 2 units to adjust
Flash Exposure lock: Yes
PC terminal: Yes
Driving System

Types: Single-shoot, high-speed shot, low shot funny (10 seconds or two seconds delay)
Continuous speed High-speed: Approx. 6.3 / sec. max
Low: the most about 3 / sec.
Continuous maximum number of (High-Speed Continuous):
JPEG large / distinctions: about 60 (90)
RAW: about 16 (16)
RAW + JPEG large / distinctions: about 10 (10)
* Based on these values to use 2 GB of memory cards, Canon testing standards (ISO 100 photos and standard style).
*Value in brackets apply to the testing standards based on Canon’s Ultra DMA (UDMA) 2GB memory card.
Live View Shooting

Focus: Fast mode (testing phase)
Real-time mode, real-time facial priority mode (contrast detection)
Manual focus (can be enlarged five times / 10 times)
Metering Mode: The use of image sensors to evaluate Spot
Metering range: EV 0 - 20 (23 ° C/73 ° F, the use of EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)
Mute shooting: Yes
LCD Monitor

Type: TFT color liquid crystal display (there are seven brightness adjustment)
Monitor size and resolution: 3 inches, about 920,000 points (VGA)
Coverage: About 100%
Language: Interface 25 (with English)
Image playback

Image display format: Leaflets, pamphlets + information (image quality records, the shooting information, the histogram), four images index, nine image index, rotating images
Zoom: About 1.5 times - 10 times
View images method: Leaflets images, 10 or 100 images, screen, the date, Folder as a unit Jump
High-warning: Excessive exposure of the regional high-flicker
Direct Print

Compatible printer: PictBridge-compatible printers
Print Image: JPEG and RAW image
Print command: DPOF1.1 compatible version
Custom

25 Custom Functions
Camera user settings In the mode dial position of the C1 and C2 registered
Registration menu: Yes
Interface

Digital Video: For computer communications and direct printing (Hi-Speed USB)
Video output terminal: 3.5 mm mini-jack (optional NTSC / PAL)
HDMI mini OUT: terminal C -
Remote Terminal: And N3-compatible line of the shutter
Docking Systems terminal: WFT-E3 Used to connect wireless file transfer for WFT-E3
Power

Battery: Battery BP-511A (1)
* AC adapter can be packaged using the AC ACK-E2
* Installation of the battery box and handle BG-E2N or BG-E2, you can use on the 5th (AA/LR6) battery
Battery capacity shooting (Based on CIPA testing standards): 50 percent of the normal use of flash photography: 23 ° C/73 ° F at about 640. 0 ° C/32 ° F at about 540. 50% of the use of flash photography of real-time display: 23 ° C/73 ° F at about 170. 0 ° C/32 ° F at about 130.
Size and weight

Size (Width x x high-thick): 145.5×107.8×73.5 mm / 5.7 x4.2×2.9 inches
Weight: About 730 grams / 25.7 ounces (body only)
Operating Environment

Temperature range: 0 ° C-40 ° C/32 ° F-104 ° F
Working humidity range: 85 percent or less
Battery BP-511A

Type: Rechargeable lithium batteries
Rated voltage: 7.4 V DC
Battery capacity: 1390 mA
Size (Width x x high-thick): 38×21×55 mm / 1.5 x0.8×2.2 inches
Weight: About 82 grams / 2.9 ounces
Battery Charger: CB-5L
With battery BP-511A, BP-514, BP-511 or BP-512
The length of the power cord: About 1.8 m / 5.9 ft.
Charging time: About 100 minutes
Input Voltage: 100-240 V AC
Output voltage: 8.4 V DC
Temperature range: 0 ° C-40 ° C/32 ° F-104 ° F
Working humidity range: 85 percent or less
Size (Width x x high-thick): 91×67×32.3 mm / 3.6 x2.6×1.3 inches
Weight About 105 grams / 3.7 ounces (not including the power cord)

This information was translated from Chinese.So inadverent errors might have crept in.Sorry for the errors, if any.

SOURCE: PHOTOGRAPHYBAY

Apple Mac users have been frequently offered applications at special price.Here too you have a chance to buy Mac Bundle Box comprising 15 applications at $346.69  $49.95 only.
The available applications are;

1)Headline - a reader of feeds with minimal extreme aspect.

2)Mac Pilot 3 - system optimizer

3)iConquer - a strategy game.

4)Mahjong Forests - a Chinese traditional game.

5)Shoebox Express - an organiser of photograph according to subjects.

6)Caboodle - Lean, clean, snippet machine to store information on your Mac

7)Narrator - reader of text in multiple voices.

8)WriteRoom - a text publisher that promises concentration only in the text.

9)Scribbles - a simple tool of drawing.

10)Money - Form to organise the domestic finances.

11)Operation - Publisher of projects.

12)Dawn - a alarm-clock that itself co-ordinates with iTunes.

13)Composer - an image publisher.

14)Sofa Control - to control many applications through apple remote.

So, we have been tracking the iPhone features for quite some time now.We also reported how Mr.Steve Jobs acknowledged the apps crash on the iPhone.Let’s now focus our attention to some extra gadgets which can be used on the iPhone.

Have your ever wondered if you could use your multi-utility iPhone even as a telescope?If not, then we’ll tell you - “YOU CAN”.

• Change the cellphone back shell first enclosed with the telescope.
• Adjust the clear foucs with the naked eye.
• It can take a picture while fixing the telescope on back shell. (If the screen of your cellphone is analyzed degree enough, you can adjust the focus with the screen of the cellphone).

The Apple iPhone Mobile Phone Telescope ($19) is available from Brando.