TECH FREAK

Before you order a braodband connection (ADSL) through the standard phone line, pay very close attention to the Internet connection speed numbers that are promised by the service provider.

The Internet connection speed is measured in Megabits (Mb) or Kilobits (Kb) which is not the same as Megabytes (MB) or Kilobytes (KB) that are typically used to measure file sizes on a hard disk.

1 Mbps connection = 1,000 Kbps ~= 125 KBps [1 Byte = 8 Bits]

Therefore if you ask for a 1Mbps broadband connection, it will take minimum 8 seconds to download a 1 MB file from the internet.

» We say that "minimum 8 seconds" because it's very unlikely that you'll ever receive the full download speed promised by the broadband company [unless it's late in the night when the entire city is sleeping and you are the only person who's connected to the internet]

» Most broadband companies define 1K as 1,000 and not as 1,024 which is the standard in computing. So 1KB is 1,024 Bytes but in broadband jargon, 1Kb is equivalent to 1,000 bits and not 1,024 bits as you would expect.

» Broadband connections are generally asymmetric meaning the download and upload speed will be different [generally the upload speeds are lower than the average download speed]

» The download speed can also vary depending on the quality of your telephone line wiring.

» Finally, if you use the internet even for a few hours daily, try to opt for a plan that has no "download limits" (or unlimited bandwidth) - that helps you browse and download music, videos and other large files with complete peace of mind.

Else those rising bandwidth meter graphs will spoil your browsing mood especially when you are about to exhaust your monthly quota.

Want to help your Wordpress.com friendly blogger upgrade his blog with some paid features. Wordpress.com lets you buy Wordpress Credits to fund blog upgrades like custom CSS, and more recently storage upgrades.

Now you can gift WordPress Credits and help your friends get paid upgrades for free (no minimum limit on the number of credits to gift). You can send credits to existing users of Wordpress.com or to those without an account. Enter their username or email address and the credits will be sent.

Send your favorite blogger a few credits and thank him for helping you.

As people celebrate the holiday season, travel to popular tourist destinations across the world and your website traffic dips; celebrate the winter season with some snow fall on your blog.

Thilak is greeting his visitors with some snowing on your blog effect by this javascript. There is even a wordpress plugin to make it happen.

This snow effect was created originally by Sasa Skevin using the JavaScript called JSnow using which you can drop leaves also (instructions). How are you greeting your visitors this Christmas?

On a related note, you might enjoy overlaying animated effects on any website.

It seems that everyone in this country has the desire to be unique. Whether it's their clothing style, hair style, or electronic accessories, no one wants to be just like someone else. If you're one of those people looking for something unique, you might want to try the miFlower for your iPod.

Spice up any room with this colorful flower that will never need to be watered and won't just sit in the corner unnoticed. The miFlower is a fun device that will play back music when connected to an iPod or other music player. Not only does it play music, but provides you with a colorful display and entertainment as well.

The miFlower will play your favorite tunes through its built in speaker while simultaneously waving its two leaves and six petals with colorful flashing LED lights. It also features an LCD face with several happy expressions. Something else that makes it unique – the miFlower is motion sensitive. If it stops playing just give it a wave and it will return new sounds and colors.

You'll have an electronic device different from all your friends when you have the miFlower. This fun gadget runs on 4 AAA batteries and 3 AG13 1.5V button cell batteries.

Stowaway Boomtube H201 Portable Speakers

Boom Boom shake the room this New Year with the Stowaway Boomtube H201 Portable Speakers.
The Boomtube (also known as the Stowaway Boomtube H201 portable speaker system) is an ingenius speaker design produced by Think Outside. I like the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power it since buying normal cells are so troublesome.

When stored, it is shaped like an aluminum tube. Each end twists-off, and turns into portable speakers. It is designed to operate with many portable music sources, including personal MP3 players like iPods, Cellular MP3 phones, or even laptop computers.
Specific features include:
*Two-inch aluminum speakers for great sound and a subwoofer-like bass tube*40 watts of total system power.*Anodized aluminum housing resists stains and scratches.*Features rechargable Lithion-Ion batteries for up to 5 hours extended play.*Cellular MP3 Player phone ready; includes a 3.5mm to 2.5mm adapter*Combines four 2-inch drivers with dual neodymium magnets and MaxxBass technology.

Examine your shoe, pen or remote with this microscope. Plug it into your computer with USB and see the world from a closer look. You can examine just about anything with this equipment. Magnify objects over 200 times their normal size.

This microscope is bound to give you many hours of fun and education.

* Take snapshots, video, and time-lapse movies
* 3 magnification levels - 10X, 60X, and 200X
* Super-brite LED lighting for bright top and bottom illumination
* Video playback at 15 frames/sec
* Resolution of 640x480
* Software works with Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP
* Handheld mode allows for expanded viewing possibilities
* Comes with: Microscope, USB cable, Stand, Specimen Jars, Sample Slide, Tweezers, Eye Dropper, Slide Clip, and Software CD-ROM

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch your favorite sitcom or sports team on a huge television? Have you ever wanted to just lounge outside while doing just that? Well, now you can with the 8-Foot Inflatable Home Theater! This huge gadget is a favorite with those who want to continue having fun in the pool on a hot, summer day, but don’t want to miss the big game scheduled in the afternoon hours.

The 8-Foot Inflatable Home Theater works great in your pool or on the yard. You can watch movies, television, sporting events and even keep tabs on the home shopping networks. Think what a hit it would make at your next kids' party, too!

Mounted on a durable PVC frame with a sturdy screen, this weather-resistant gadget as a whole can be set up in just minutes. It comes with 100-watt speakers, which are safe for use in the outdoors and its own air pump.

For even more viewing area, look for the 12-Foot Inflatable Home Theater!

Remember you need to have your own projector for this home theater to be a useable item. You can add additional speakers to the system, as well, if you want to have something like "surround sound".

Some additional stats for this item are:

# Measures 108"X96"X60" when inflated
# Weighs 19.8 pounds
# 100 Watts
# 55Hz to 18kHz
# Microphone and stereo inputs


The included items are:

# The inflatable screen
# Two 8" speakers, both 80 watts
# Four 6" ground stakes
# A screen repair kit
# Four 20' stabilization rope tie-downs
# Plastic ground sheet
# UL-listed air inflator/deflator, including hose
# Storage duffel for screen and frame
# Volume control box
# 30' L-R RCA audio cables
# Screen straps, adjustable


It is not just a television! This home theater is an adventure waiting to happen. With everything you need (except the projector) to get started, you can be enjoying outdoor entertainment as soon as the package arrives!

Get your very own right here...

We’ve all heard the line, "I know what you’re doing, I have eyes in the back of my head." Now you really can have eyes in the back of your head with the Streetwise Spy Sunglasses. Never worry about being followed or wonder what is going on behind you, the Spy Sunglasses allow you to see everything without turning around. Simply slip on your glasses that come in stylish black, silver, or plastic frames and unnoticeably spy on the world behind you while looking straight ahead.

"James Bond , be careful from now coz ur not the only spy"

The Lego Mindstorms NXT Programmable Robot

Kids and adults alike have always been fascinated with building things. As a kid my brother had tons of Legos and we would spend hours trying to out-do each other's creations. Now you can out-do anyone's Lego creation with the Lego Mindstorms NXT building kit.

The Lego Mindstorms NXT building kit is the newest and most advanced kit that allows you to build and bring to life a humanoid, vehicle, or animal robot. Using over 519 interchangeable Lego blocks and an icon-based drag-and-drop software program, the Lego Mindstorm NXT will obey your every command. Using Bluetooth technology, once you have your robot built and programmed, you'll be able to command it from your computer, cell phone, or PDA.

This amazing gadget can hardly be considered a toy, but will bring endless amounts of enjoyment to almost any kid or kid at heart. The Mindstorm NXT features improved light sensors that can detect different colors and intensities. It also has a sound sensor that will allow you to make your robot respond to sound commands, patterns, and tones. Its improved touch feature senses and reacts to touch and release, and its ultrasonic eyes measure distance and respond to movement.

You will be amazed at how life-like and obedient your Mindstorm NXT robot can be. The program to command your robot is PC and MAC supported. It requires Win XP Pro or Home Edition with Service Pack 2 or higher, MacOS X v. 10.3.9 or 10.4. The only other thing you need is 6AA batteries and you'll be able to build the ultimate Lego creation.

Get programming and building today with the Lego Mindstorms NXT Programmable Robot.