MAC OS-X: The Greatest Operating System Ever?

I dont know...whether it is the superb interface, or the next-gen technology behind it; The constant innovation, or the rapid imitation of its features among other competitors, the user experience, or the very discovery of what defines user experience...

Here another justification to just that..enjoy.

A recent paper on "Secretly Monopolizing the CPU Without Superuser Privileges." demonstrated how normal non-administrative programs could steal more clock cycles from the CPU than the scheduler normally allocates.

The researchers presented a proof-of-concept program that allows a specified task to "cheat" and consume more CPU cycles than the operating system would normally permit. The program was designed for Unix-based systems, though it could theoretically be altered to affect any multitasking operating system(Probably also includes our old buggar M$ Windoze). The program in the paper, called "cheat," can run as a regular non-administrative user.

How is it done? Simple. A task could hide itself by arranging for its process to run immediately after the CPU interrupt "tick," and stop running right before the next tick.
By avoiding the ticks, the standard operating system would never notice the task is running. Without any modification to an operating system, all methods of monitoring tasks would not display the cheating task.

Seven different Operating Systems were tested and guess what? only Mac OS X was immune to the cheat attack!

The explanation was that it uses a slightly different scheduling algorithm for its timers. Isnt it analogous to saying that it uses a superior scheduling algorithms? (Atleast in respect of this particular anomaly under consideration :)).

The researchers say they doubt cheat-like attacks will become common because while they could be used to avoid detection, using most of a computers CPU would noticeably slow the computer and raise suspicion. However, programs could be written to cheat a little bit, and would be extremely difficult to detect and remove. The researchers say it is possible to protect the operating system against cheat attacks, but performance suffers as a result.

So say it. Mac rules. End of story.

Apple iPhone Nano: Hoax or Reality?

Theres a lot of storm brewing over whether Apple is bringing out a 'Nano' version of the iPhone.


The thought obviously has followed Apple's trend with the iPod.
In this post I will analyse the fact sheet as stated by several sources.

News reports began appearing yesterday(09/Jul/07) that Apple may be planning to build a cheaper and smaller version of the iPhone, following the slim and sleek modeling design of the iPod nano. According to reports, Apple is silent on the subject.

About two weeks ago (the night before the iPhone was available in stores) David Letterman did a skit on his CBS program which featured an iPhone sneak peek. According to Dave, the nano version would not be cheaper. On his broadcast he stated the nano version would be $1100. You can watch a clip of Letterman's skit on youtube.

Lets build a background about what we are talking about first:

The EETimes Online News Reports:

LONDON — Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.) is working on a second iPhone, based on the form-factor of the iPod Nano music player, according to online reports that reference a note to clients written by J.P. Morgan analyst Kevin Chang.

The iPhone Nano would be much lower cost than the iPhone and come to market in the fourth quarter of 2007, the reports said.

"We believe it's a strong sign that Apple could potentially convert every iPod Nano into a Nano phone," Market Watch quoted Chang as saying. (He obviously meant the market share of iPod Nano, not to really 'convert' every iPod Nano into Nano phone! ;-) )

Chang expects the iPhone Nano to have a scroll wheel interface, limited functionality and be priced at about $300. Chang concluded that Apple could potentially ship 30 million to 40 million units of the iPhone Nano in the 2008 financial year, the report said.

Alright, if there's a fire, there has got to be a spark behind it. This might be it: Apple submitted a patent today that could be direct evidence that a downscaled Nano-like iPhone is in the works. Here is the patent application for you to see.

This patent clearly depicts a rotary-styled keypad that works in conjunction with the already existent scroll wheel in iPods. Not only that, it displays a direct correlation between the numbers being selected and the classic 3 letter to a number layout (i.e abc, def, ghi, etc.)

Here is the reaction it got from online news agencies:

An Apple patent application dated Thursday has sparked speculation among bloggers that the computer maker may be planning an iPhone light that would focus only on voice communications and music.
"The invention pertains to a user interface for controlling an electronic device, particularly a multifunctional device that is capable of operating in multiple modes as for example a phone mode for communications and a media player mode for playing audio files, video files and the like"

My personal Opinion:

I dont really know whether the iPhone Nano is in the works or not, but id definitely say that if it is, this patent application is not the clue to it.
After Having revolutionized the gadget industry with its touch interface, I wouldnt think that the rotary interface would be such a big indication towards iPhone Nano.
Chances are Apple is simply patenting all embodiments of iPhone knockoffs so a few hacks in Japan and China don’t get silly with themselves.

Anyways, If it does come out with an iPhone Nano, these possible models may be just what I expect, given Apple's innovative edge to creating cool gadgets:

Lets wait and see if, when and how Apple chooses to surprise us!

Slideshow on KDesktop Background (KUbuntu)

This is for the Linux users out there. (Im on KUbuntu now..so thats the reference Ill use)

If you want a little variety in your desktop background without continually having to change it yourself, use a slide show for your KDesktop Background.
You can set the time interval that you want the background to change, the order and the images that the slide show will use.

• - Right-click the desktop and select Configure Desktop.
• - Select Background from the left pane.
• - On the right, in the Background section, select the Slide Show radio button.
• - Click the Setup button.
• - Select the time interval (in minutes) that you want the desktop background to change.
• - To show the images in random order, check the Show pictures in random order checkbox. Leave this unchecked if you want to determine the order that the images will be displayed.
• - Click the Add button.
• - Browse to the directory containing the desired images.
• - Select the images. You can select multiple images by holding down the ctrl key while selecting.
• - Click OK.
• - You will then see the images that you selected in the list for the slide show. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to place the images in the order that they are to be displayed.
• - Click OK to close the Setup Slide Show window.
• - Click OK to close the Configure KDesktop window.

How to bypass Rapidshare download limits and time limits

For those ignorant amongst you, rapidshare.com is a file sharing website which allows you to upload and share large files with anyone over the internet for free.


Rapidshare is frequently used to transfer large video files. Programs, music, videos, and other such files are frequently available from download this way.

Rapidshare traces the users IP address to limit each user to a certain amount of downloading per day. To get around this, you need to show the rapidshare server a different IP address.

Here are some methods for doing this:

1. Short-Out the JavaScript:
Note: This method is to get around the 1 minute delay before your download starts. I hate it when rapidshare tells me to wait 45 seconds before my download begins. (Or else, get a premium paid account ;))

1. Goto the page you want to download
2. Click on the Free button to initiate the download when prompted to choose
either Premium or Free.
3. In the address bar put the following:
javascript:alert(c=0); or this:
javascript:var c=0;
4. Click OK
5. Click OK to the pop-up box
6. Enter the captcha
7. Download Your File

Note: You can right click on the above link and click on Add to Favorites (IE) or Bookmark this Link (Firefox) to add the hack as bookmarklet.

2. Crack & Disable Download limit: Request a new IP address from your ISP server.
Here's how to do it in windows: (For Linux users, is a detailed version)

1. Click Start
2. Click run
3. In the run box type cmd.exe and click OK
4. When the command prompt opens type the following. ENTER after each new line.
• ipconfig /flushdns
• ipconfig /release
  
• ipconfig /renew
  
• exit
5. Erase your cookies in whatever browser you are using.
   
6. Try the rapidshare download again.

Frequently you will be assigned a new IP address when this happens. Sometime you will, sometimes you will not. If you are on a fixed IP address, this method will not work.

3. Use an anonymous service:

Running your system through the tor network should in theory work; however, it is difficult to use and setup. Plus, you allow others to run their evil deeds through your system as well by using this system.

JAP is another free anonymous proxy service that you can use. (search for it on google).

Anonymizer 2005 is inexpensive, easy to use, but not free. Other pay services would likely work as well.

You could various proxies that come as addons for firefox as well

There is another method that uses a MAC cloning software to change your MAC address so that your ISP provides you a different IP Address next time you connect. You can avoid the 1 hour gap bw downloads using this method.

I know these methods are not the greatest, but I have not found anything else that works as painless as these.

Larry Page(Google Owner) with his Gf?!...Hawaii?!?!?!

(Update: the pictures of larry page that i put here, was banned by google and they removed it from blogger's image directly without permission - I should have used flickr or something else - but anyways I do not intend to infringe stupid copyright issues and so the post remains as it is -though i have the images on my comp :P )

Alright, after the Ballmer craze I posted earlier, here is another shocker I found while random surfing over that huge web we call the internet.

Im not sure whether they are genuine or staged or even downright fake...but it sure as hell looks real to me.

Check them out yourself:

Ok..when u see stuff like this you cant stay ignorant.
So I searched over the web (guess what..I used Google!). Seems like the name of the girl is

Lucy Southworth on a trip to Hawaii in Sep 2005

If that seems unheard of, check THIS OUT!:



hmmm....Strange, but I don't think the news got the kind of publicity it demands.

And no, Larry didnt tweak Google to censor the news...I searched all over yahoo as well :)


Heres an anonymous comment on pics ;)

"He is about to do move 110 from the googlesutra. Step one: embrace your partner. Step two: lace her drink with a ruffi. Step three: smell her bottom lip when she falls asleep".

And mine? Well, lets keep it simple:

"LOL :-D"

Lemme know anything else you might find...

Website and other Templates

Some free website template download sites...Im trying to build a list for future reference and this is the starting point. Ill add on to it as time progresses...

http://www.freshtemplates.com/
http://www.zerodollartemplates.com/
http://www.effex-media.com/
http://www.templatesbox.com/
http://www.mastertemplates.com/free-templates.htm
http://www.templateyes.com/
http://www.templateworkz.com/
http://www.4layouts.com/
http://www.templatehunter.com/topsite/in.php?id=4layout
http://www.freetemplates.ca/templates/
http://www.freephotoshoptemplates.com/index.html
http://www.freewebtemplatesnow.com/
http://www.zymic.com/
http://www.adesdesign.net/
http://www.notemplates.com/
http://www.freepsd.com/
http://www.zeroweb.org/

Add on any other sites you might know of as comments...

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s Office

I dont know how true this is...just couldnt resist myself from writing this down! See it yourself:

hmm...so is that really Steve Ballmer?

Alright...first thoughts...Dont you think the CEO of Microsoft deserves a more lavish and magnificent place to dwell? Or is it that Ballmer has done enough to deserve this (:D).

If this is true, then it does show one thing, these guys don’t care about money or fame, all they want is to kill off their enemies, and I quote Genghis Khan, the mongolian king that ruled the world’s biggest empire ever -

“It is not enought that I win, all others must lose!”

Ofcourse, The Mongol empire was superceded and defeated and It is where it is today because of that ;) (pun intended!)

Make Ubuntu look like Vista

Get the best of both!

Whats so good about Vista besides the **grafix**? Arguably, not much.
And we all know whats so Good about Linux, dont we? Everything.
Get the best of both - The Vista Grafix on you Linux Distro! Since ive been using Ubuntu as my lean, mean and reliable OS, here are some steps for getting the 'Aero' glass effect on Ubuntu:

1.Get Ubuntu

If you are not already using it,
download Ubuntu from ubuntu.com.

2.Get the Vista fonts

You need the microsoft segoe UI font.
Look at the second post in this Forum

Unzip the downloaded archive and place the two .ttf files in your .fonts directory.
You can find it in your user folder ./home/$USERNAME/.fonts/
For example: /home/kimmik/.fonts

If the directory .fonts does not exist, create it.

3.The Aero Clone Theme

Download the Aero-clone theme from Gnome-look.org

Go to the download site >>

Install the Beryl and GTK theme as usual

4.Icons

Download the nuoveXT-aero iconset

Go to the download site >>

Install the nuoveXT-aero iconset

5.Panel

Change the gnome-panel size to 32px height

6.Vista Start Button Screenlet

Download and install "Desktop Screenlets"

Go to the download site >>

Install the "orb" screenlet (The orb screenlet is included in the .tar.gz from gnome-look.org).

Place the orb screenlet above the main-menu button and lock the position.

7.Wallpapers

If you want to make the experience complete download some Vista wallpapers for your desktop.
I found very good wallpapers on this forum:

WinMatrix-Forum: Overview of Vista Wallpapers >>

WinMatrix-Forum: Official Vista Wallpapers >>

WinMatrix-Forum: Vista Wallpapers which aren't included in Vista per default >>

As for me, Im content with my enlightenment e17 on my Ubuntu. Will try out the vista effect later. Tell me about it if u tried...or if I missed out some further customizations.

How To Prevent Windows XP Users From Writing To USB Drives

USB drives are extremely handy tools, but in some instances it might not be a good idea to allow users to write onto these devices from their PCs.

This is especially true when working with highly confidential data or intellectual property at work.

Users of Windows XP with service pack 2 installed can disable writing to USB devices.

To do this:

Open the Registry Editor click on the Start button on your taskbar, then click on Run and type "regedit" and click on OK to start the regedit utility.

Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control.

From there right click and create a new key and name it "StorageDevicePolicies".

In the window on the right then create a new DWORD value and label it WriteProtect, give it a value of "1" and users can no longer write to USB drives.

To re-enable this option change the value to 0 and users are again allowed to write.

The modifications you made will be in effect after you reboot your PC.

Have Fun!

PS: Ofcourse, If someone has played this trick on you, you know how to get around now, dont you? ;)

iPhone-Dismantled! : The 'Inside' story

This time round, Apple's iPhone lives to tell a different kind of story...

According to reports, just as there were enthusiasts waiting to get their hands on the iPhone, there were these tech freaks who made a mad dash to dismantle the device...

iPhone has not only been dismantled- it has been dissected part by part-by anand tech including peeling off of every layer of the display screen also.

They all but ended up revealing the innards of the iPhone -- something that Apple had tried hard to conceal...

• Going by the revelations made by these tech revellers, pride-of-place indeed goes to Samsung Electronics, identified as the supplier of the iPhone's main microprocessor as also of NAND flash memory.
  
  
• Intel turns out the supplier of NOR flash memory, while Broadcom is the maker of the controller chip for the iPhone.
  
  
• Texas Instruments is identified as the supplier of a power management chip, whereas Infineon Technologies turns out the maker of parts that handle cellular communications.
  
  
• The power amplifier is from Skyworks Solutions, while the battery charger chip is from Linear Technology.
  
  
• Meanwhile, Cambridge Silicon Radio is the maker of the chips that allow Bluetooth wireless connectivity;
  
  
• Marvell Technology Group - the provider of the chips that allow the iPhone to connect over WiFi networks;
  
  
• National Semiconductor Corp - the maker of the iPhone's display chip.

Reportedly, stocks of all but a few component makers soared post the discovery. (LOL)

Chances are: if the iPhone lives up to all the hype, part/component/chip makers too will partake of the Apple-induced gravy train...

Ubuntu stays defiant of Microsoft Threat

There will be no deal concerning possible patent infringements with Microsoft, according to Ubuntu founder and Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth. His announcement follows agreements three open source vendors have signed with Microsoft in exchange for the software giant's promise not to pursue litigation against those firms.

Ubuntu will not be joining the list of open source OS and productivity suits recently linked to MS through interoperability deals.

"We have declined to discuss any agreement with Microsoft under the threat of unspecified patent infringements," says Ubuntu founder & CEO, Mark Shuttleworth.

A Little background in the story so far:

Agreements Linspire, Novell and Xandros signed with Microsoft included the software giant's assurance that it would not pursue patent infringement litigation against those firms.

In all three deals, the companies agreed to work together to make their software packages more compatible. However, Microsoft recently asserted that open source operating system Linux infringes on patents held by Microsoft and that open source companies should make agreements with Microsoft to continue to use it.

...And some closing words from Ubuntu:

"In the Ubuntu community, we believe that the freedom in free software is what's powerful, not the openness of the code," Shuttleworth stated. Still, he says of the agreements recently inked, "All the deals announced so far strike me as 'trinkets in exchange for air kisses.' Mua mua. No thanks."

Read more >>

Face search over the Internet!

Polarrose is a small Swedish startup which promises to allow the user to identify a face from all the photographs distributed over the internet.

This means that you would have to just give the photograph of the person you want to find and polarrose will give you all the photographs of the person, distributed all over the internet.

Imagine what would happen when you give the photograph of your girlfriend and find her making out with your old class mate :D.

This has already stirred a huge privacy debate when the The Harvard Law Review, a journal for legal scholarship, recently published a short piece on the privacy implications of such online photo-tagging.
See the slashdot thread for more.

Finally GPL v3 is released

Finally I have more value attached to June 29th than just the iPhone ;)

After an unprecedented development process that brought four drafts in eighteen months, the Free Software Foundation Latest News about Free Software Foundation (FSF) has released the third version of the GNU General Public License (GNU GPL), the world's most popular free software license.

"Since we founded the free software movement over 23 years ago, the free software community has developed thousands of useful programs that respect the user's freedom," explained Richard Stallman, founder and president of the FSF. "

The programs are in the GNU/Linux operating system, as well as personal computers, telephones, Internet servers and more. Most of these programs use the GNU GPL Latest News about GPL to guarantee every user the freedom to run, study, adapt, improve and redistribute the program."

Tweak as You Please: Version 3 of the GNU GPL strengthens this guarantee, the FSF says, by ensuring that users can modify the free software on their personal and household devices, and by granting patent licenses to every user. It also extends compatibility with other free software licenses and increases international uniformity.

Because the GPL license is used by so many open source projects -- about 75 percent -- it's also the most influential.

The FSF says that more than 15 GNU programs will be released under the new license today, with the entire GNU Project to follow suit in the coming months. Plus, the FSF will also encourage adoption of the license through education and outreach programs.

"A lot of time and effort went into this license. Now free programs must adopt it so as to offer their users its stronger protection for their freedom," Stallman said.

Read more here>>

A small tip for Webmasters: Search Engine Optimization

Something New that I noticed recently is that many websites which rank highly in search engine rankings have a:

<link rel="archive" href="archive pages">

in their head.

Anything in the link is not displayed by the browser but is seen by the search bots.

In a way these links are helpful in allowing search bots index the pages in the links although the links are not displayed to the user.

You can use this feature to make search bots index the pages which are not linked through your main page. This makes your website more cohesive and easily searchable by the search bots.

Great way to include standalone pages not referenced anywhere else!

However, Google does provide other ways of doing this, one of them being the creation of a separate index page with all links.
Check up Google Webmasters Central for more information on how you can make your site better indexed by Google.

A small note: Probably in the latest web 2.0 standards, this method has become defunct. Im not sure of it, correct me if im wrong. However, backward compatibility does remain for a long time.