Advancement of Computer Technology

Tags: Jokes, Funny, Humor, Cartoons, Technology, Download, Weight Loss

"Storm Worm" Virus

A new virus, called Storm Virus (a trojan horse variant) has swept through USA (2o.7% of total servers in USA) and enroaching into Europe servers (15.3%) now.

Originally propagated on the heels of a killer European storm, the worm has been seen in the wild with the following subject lines: "230 dead as storm batters Europe," "A killer at 11, he's free at 21 and...", "British Muslims Genocide," "Naked teens attack home director," and "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has kicked German Chancellor Angela Merkel".
When one of four attachments is opened -- Full Clip.exe, Full Story.exe, Read More.exe, or Video.exe -- the worm installs the "wincom32" service, and injects a payload, passing on packets to destinations encoded within the worm itself. (source: PC Magazine and Symantec)

FYI, I did receive the email entitled "U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has kicked German Chancellor Angela Merkel" yesterday night. Be careful even though the email is from your close friend. Why did I labelled this under Technology.....well, it's indeed a technology created by someone and most of the time, people do say that it's created by anti-virus software companies to generate buyers for latest software programmes to counter the new virus which the software companies have came out with a new virus 'cleanser'.
Tags: Storm Virus, Computer Virus, PC Magazine, Symantec, Anti-Virus Software

LG Prada Phone

Now LG is not to be left behind as well when it comes to a fashion couture or luxury mobile phone. Various mobile phone brands have already collaborated with various high profiled brands as highlighted in my previous blogs on 23 Aug 2006 and 20 Oct 2006 to meet the needs of the high-flying people.

LG Electronics has launched their latest LG Prada phone and will be available in the market for around 600 euros.

Tags: LG, LG Electronics, Prada, Fashion, Mobile Phone, Telecommunication

The Spaceship Company

A collaboration between Virgin Group and Scaled Composites gave course of existence to a company called The Spaceship Company. The Spaceship Company will produce a fleet of commercial sub-orbital spaceships and launch aircraft where the spaceships will be operated by a company called Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic, who is going into commercial space tourism venture, has placed orders for five new SpaceShipTwo's and two White Knight Two's.

The Spaceship Company intends to make spaceflight affordable for the masses and to demonstrate the commercial viability of manned space exploration. Test flights were conducted in 2004 at Mojave, California.

The initial tests were done with SpaceShipOne as shown below.

As of now, there are 3 companies who are in this space venture, Space Adventures Ltd, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic.

Upon return to earth after shooting beyond the earth.
Tags: Virgin Group, Scaled Composites, Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company, Space Ship Two, White Knight Two, Space, Spaceship, Travel

Blue Origin

Recently I have blogged about a company called Space Adventure Ltd that commercialised the space travel for people who can afford it and see the space at the same time. Another company is in the making as well. Known as the Blue Origin and owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, the owner of Amazon.com.

This small spacecraft built by Blue Origin was able to shoot up to a height of 90m and landed safely. The intention was to launch the Goddard, yeah they gave this name to the spacecraft, so that humans can travel to the space commercially and explore the space system at a lower cost.

The US Federal Aviation Administration was also monitoring Blue Origin's space technology and suggested that it could be possible as early as 2010. Blue Origin is now hiring experienced propulsion engineers / aerospace engineer / engineering leader. Any takers?
Tags: Space Travel, Space, Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos, Amazon, Goddard, Spacecraft, Engineering

Apple Launches iPhone

As previously blogged on 20 Nov 06 and with the on-going MacWorld Conference & Expo being held in San Francisco, Apple has announced the much speculated new mobile phone called the iPhone.

The iPhone will serve both as an iPod as well as 3G phone, somehow cramming a "3G" radio, iPod functionality, 2 megapixel digital camera and even a version of OS X into the phone-size package. No indication of its pricing yet. (Full specs)

Reading: Apple Officially Launches iPhone, Apple TV - PC Magazine
Reading: Macworld Expo: Jobs Unveils the iPhone - PC World
Tags: Apple, iPhone, MacWorld, MacWorld Conference & Expo, San Francisco, iPod, Technology, Smartphone, Launch, OS X, 3G, Wi-Fi

Space Travel

Space Adventures Ltd is the only company in the world currently operating commercial orbital spaceflight and will be the first to launch clients using a new breed of lower cost suborbital spacecraft currently under development worldwide.

Whether your desire is to conduct science experiments, achieve what few have done before or simply enjoy the feeling of weightlessness while taking in the spectacular view, Space Adventures is your opportunity to discover one of life’s greatest secrets: the wonders of space.

Keen on travelling up to the space? Well, it's opened to the public and so far, 4 customers have taken the ride.

Program highlights:-
* Space Flight Training at the legendary Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia
* Launch from the historic Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-FG launch vehicle
* Eight days in space and live aboard the International Space Station (in collaboration with Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviakosmos) and Rocket Space Corporation Energia (RSC Energia)
* Approximately 120 orbits of the Earth (over 3 million miles traveled)
* Become one of the first 500 people ever to have flown in space
* Experience the vast untamed universe beyond Earth

Prior to cruising to space, you will be trained under their Spaceflight Training (Cosmonaut Training Overview):-
* One day Mini-Medical testing in Star City
* Centrifuge (launch to orbit insertion) Simulator Training
* Space Navigation using Star City’s one-of-a kind Planetarium and Simulator
* Sokol Space Suit Training
* Soyuz spacecraft simulator training under the guidance of actual spacecraft pilot trainers
* Spacewalk mission simulation in the neutral buoyancy tank.
* Land-Survival Training
* International Space Station Simulator Training
* MiG-25 Flight to the “Edge of Space” with one of Russia’s most experienced pilots
* MiG-29 “Space Shuttle Flight Profile” with one of Russia’s most experienced pilots
* Zero Gravity Flight (Optional)
Tags: Space Adventure, Space, Spacecraft, Suborbital, International Space Station, Science, Technology, Soyuz, Russia, Rosaviakosmos, RSC Energia

NORAD Tracks Santa

A website has been launched to track down Santa's movement from North Pole to any part of the world. Strategic placements of powerful radar system and ultra hi-tech Santa cams have been properly linked to the NORAD system.

How NORAD tracks Santa? You can read it here and here. The Ironton Tribune has also written a similar article. Not only that, it seems that Santa has obtained a NGA Toy Delivery System X-100. This specialized geospatial-intelligence product was specifically formatted to let Santa create quick and easy routes around the globe using this new navigation system.

Click here to track Santa LIVE!

Tags: NORAD, Santa, North Pole, Ironton Tribune, NGA, Christmas, Technology

Innovation, Research & New Technologies

Six of Univesiti Sains Malaysia's professors did the country proud by winning in their respective categories in the recent 55th World Exhibition of Innovation, Research & New Technologies held in Brussels, Belgium from 25 to 27 Nov 2006.

Following are the winners:-
* School of Biological Sciences lecturer, Prof Darah Ibrahim, beat 350 scientists to win the Jury’s Best Award and a gold medal for her invention called Fermsostat
* Prof Rahmah Noordin (who won the World International Property Organisation Special Award and gold medal)
* Prof Chan Lai Keng (gold)
* Associate Prof R. Sureswaran (gold)
* Azlan Osman (gold)
* Dr Mohd Rizal Arshad (silver)
* Dr Kamal Zuhairi Zamli (silver)

Brussels-Eureka's public exhibition drew more than 500 participants from more than 30 countries which presented about 600 innovations.

I wonder why the Malaysian newspaper only highlighted USM's achievements but not other Malaysians who have obtained top prizes in the same Brussels Eureka. The following Malaysian participants also gained Awards for their efforts:-

* Gold medal with mention given by the Jury to Malaysia
Invention: Compressed Natural Gas Direct Injection Passenger Vehicle
Inventor: Barkawi Sahari, Fakhru'l Razi Ahmadun, Yusoff Ali, Shahrir Abdullah, Ishak Aris (all UKM), Masjuki Hj. Hassan (UM), Muhd. Adlan Abdullah (PRSS), V. Chelliah (Petronas), Mohd. Fauzy Ahmad (Proton), Norman Mariun (UPM), Chuah Teong Guan

* Price of Christian DUPONT, Belgian Minister of the Public Function and Social Integration
Invention: Low Cost Solid Propellant Rocket
Inventor: Wan Mazlina Wan Mohamed, Mohd Izmir Yamin & Mohd Nizar Zainaldin

* Prize of COMINTERN (I wonder why this word was used as this word is related to COMmunist INTERNational. Even by doin a search via Google / Webster / Wikipedia, it's all related to communism)
Invention: Non-Destructive Microwave Technique for Characterization of Transdermal Patch
Inventor: Wong Tin Wui, Mohd Nasir Tai, Nor Khaizan Anuar & Deepak K. Ghodgaonka

* Price of Polish Association of Inventors given by the Vice President Adam Rylski
Invention: Compressed Natural Gas Direct Injection Passenger Vehicle
Inventor: Barkawi Sahari, Fakhru'l Razi Ahmadun, Yusoff Ali, Shahrir Abdullah, Ishak Aris (all UKM), Masjuki Hj. Hassan (UM), Muhd. Adlan Abdullah (PRSS), V. Chelliah (Petronas), Mohd. Fauzy Ahmad (Proton), Norman Mariun (UPM), Chuah Teong Gua
Tags: Innovation, Research, New Technologies, Science, Brussels Eureka, Belgium, Exhibition, Awards, Technology

Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007

In conjunction with the release of Microsoft Office Accounting Express 2007, Microsoft has started a contest for the public to participate. If you have any ideas for a small business, please do submit it to IdeaWins. If your idea is the best, you could win yourself a free retail space located in New York City for a year and also an additional US$100,00 to kick start your idea to make it a reality.

If you have a dream business, go for it!

Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Office Accounting 2007, Accounting, Contest, Challenge, New York City, Small Business, IdeaWins

5MB Hard Disk

How much are you willing to pay for a 5MB Hard Disk now? I supposed you won't even ask for such low memory at all. You can get a 1GB pendrive (or thumbdrive) equivalent to 1000MB easily nowadays.
The picture on the left is a hard disk in year 1956. That was the Volume and Size of a 5MB memory storage. The hard disk drive (HDD) weighed over a ton and stored 5MB of data.

In September 1956, IBM launched the 305 RAMAC (pic below), the first computer with a HDD. Can you believe that? A big sized computer system with only a 5MB capacity.
Let’s appreciate our 1 GB pendrive.

Tags: Technology, Hard Disk Drive, HDD, Memory, Storage, IBM, Data, Pendrive, Thumbdrive, Megabyte

Kung Fu

Must be a kung fu nut =0)Go to this website link Extremes. Real good animative stuff here. Superbly created.
Tags: Entertainment, Animation, Kung Fu, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Flash, Movies, Technology

Intel® Core™2 Extreme quad-core

Now available in quad-core.
Experience performance second to none on highly-threaded apps² and get in the game like it was meant to be played with the Intel® Core™2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6700—the world's first quad-core desktop processor. (source: Intel)
Just when people were just buying the latest laptops which has the latest Intel Core2 Duo processor, Intel released this new chip. This new chip only has a 9 months competition advantage over their rivals.

Only 9 months??? Meaning to say AMD could produce another equivalent or better chip soon.
Tags: Intel, Intel Core2, AMD, Processor, Technology

Let The Console Wars Begin

Well, gamers who intended to get new models for their consoles will have 3 options now with Sony's Playstation 3,

Microsoft Xbox 360 and

Nintendo's Wii.

The 3 consoles are now out in the market just before the year end holiday season. We will see by mid next year which of the console will emerge as the favourite console.

As for my preference, I still prefer PC games with those strategy games basis or a first-person shooter game. Once in a while, I don't mind dabbling with my colleague's PS2 which he brought along to Sudan.

Tags: Sony, Playstation3, ps3, Microsoft, Xbox360, Nintendo, Wii, Technology, Console, Games, Entertainment

Apple iPhone out in first-half 2007?

A recent article on Chinese newspaper Commercial Times made headlines when it reported that Taiwanese contract manufacturer Hon Hai, also known as Foxconn, has received orders from Apple to produce 12 million iPhones. It said that the phones are expected to be ready for a first-half 2007 launch. While rumours (here and here) of an Apple smart phone device have been circulating on the internet for a while, this latest report has certainly prompted many fans to believe that Steve Jobs will introduce the iPhone at MacWorld in January next year. Both Apple and Hon Hai have not commented on the report. Hon Hai currently produces iPods for Apple. (source: CNET Asia)
Tags: Apple, iPod, Hon Hai, Foxconn, iPhone, MacWorld, Technology, Mobile Phone, CNET

Sony Playstation 3

Sony has released its latest games gadget called "Playstation 3" in Japan yesterday. Only 100,000 units so far and more will be produced by March 2007. Electronics stores in Japan have sold out of PlayStation 3 consoles after thousands of gamers queued for hours in the cold to buy them.

400,000 units will be available for the US launch on 17 November 2006. The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is being sold in two configurations. The more expensive version has a 60GB hard drive and wi-fi on board and costs, in Japan, 60,000 yen (£270). The cheaper version has a 20GB hard drive, lacks the wi-fi and will cost 49,980 yen (£222). European prices are expected to be higher than direct comparisons suggest.

Tags: Sony, Playstation 3, PS3, Japan

Hong Kong's Robot Staff

A robot performs as a chef prepares food at Robot Kitchen in Hong Kong. With a whir and a flash of lights, another robot whizzes to the restaurant table and takes a customer's order, while a second races to another table to deliver plates of steaming food. Robot Kitchen opened in July to cash in on the city's love affair with gadgets, claiming to be the world's first eatery staffed by machines.
Robo Waiter 1, for instance, is a crudely designed box on wheels covered in shiny paper and with an illuminated bulb to represent a head. Robo Waiter 1 is designed as a female robot, and for the purpose of delivering dishes.The computer inside can recognise voice patterns, take meal orders and send them by infrared to the cooks in the kitchen. It is steered by a video camera, which detects objects in its way and guides the robot around them. Robo Waiter 2 is much the same, but has a tray for carrying food.

Click here to see the video showing a robo waiter at work.
Tags: Hong Kong, Robot, Restaurant, Kitchen, Robot Kitchen

HondaJet

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has ventured into the aviation industry. Its HondaJet, experimental compact business jet equipped with Honda-developed HF118 jet engines, had successfully completed initial flight tests way back in 2003. Their research on compact business jets has started since 1986. HondaJet will be produced in the United States beginning in 2010 with a projected production volume of 70 jets per year with its pricing set at US$3.65 million for its standard configuration. The 7 or 8-seaters aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system.

Click here to view HondaJet's introduction movie.
Tags: Jet, Honda, Honda Motor, HondaJet, Garmin

Firefox's New Browser

Just after blogging on the release of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 on 22 Oct, Mozilla's Firefox has barged into the competition with their latest browser called Firefox 2.

You can download Firefox 2 now.
Tags: Firefox 2, Browser, Mozilla, Internet Explorer 7

Microsoft - New Internet Explorer

Microsoft Corp. is giving its Web browser software its first major upgrade in years, amid signs that Internet Explorer's market share is eroding. Microsoft has been heavily testing the new browser, releasing five beta versions over 14 months, and has periodically offered security updates for IE6, first released in 2001.

Still, a lag of more than five years between official releases has cost the company. Web analysis company WebSideStory estimates that Internet Explorer's U.S. market share is about 86 percent, while Firefox commands about 11 percent of the market and smaller offerings account for the rest. Two years ago, IE had about a 93 percent share.

Microsoft is offering IE7 as a free download now.
Tags: Microsoft Corp, Internet Explorer 7, Web Browser, WebSideStory, Firefox