Sony has released the new firmware 3.90 with Skype for Playstation Portable as stated during CES. Now you can make calls with your Skype equipped Sony PSP.

If you’ve got a Sony PSP Slim & Lite and have been waiting since CES for a system software update to make skype calls to your friends for free, now is the time to act.

You just need to download and install the 3.90 firmware upgrade. See which friend is online to talk from the contact list.

Also if you have some credit in your account, you can make calls to landlines and mobiles at cheap rates anywhere in the world.

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Yahoo has launched a public beta version of their much-anticipated OpenID Provider service which was announced earlier this month. Now users with a Yahoo! account - all 248 million of them - will be able to sign in to any website that supports OpenID 2.0, the latest version of the OpenID specification.

You can use OpenID service on the OpenID 2.0 supported sites like Plaxo, Jyte, Pibb (for more sites see the full list)

They are also working on non-US English versions of this service. Though it is already available for 17 countries, they expect to roll out even more international support in the very near future.

Related:

• Yahoo! Supports OpenID

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Do-it-yourselfer Chris Knight explains that the innards of cheap binoculars can double as a macro lens for digital SLR cameras and camcorders and can prove especially useful in situations when a macro lens is unavailable. DIY Macro Lens Made from Binoculars

DIY Macro Lens Made From Binoculars - video powered by Metacafe

[via Lifehacker]

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Iterasi is a new company which is building a web-based tool that you can use to "Notarize" and save an exact replica of any web page you're looking at, dynamic content included.

We can call it as a bookmarking tool which lets you take snapshot of a website in its native format. Iterasi is a great tool for things like saving online receipts or quickly capturing the contents of a webpage.

You can also schedule automatic capture of a page at regular intervals. This will let you track all the activities of a website, even you can create a time-lapse video using these captured screenshots. The best example of this is Time-Lapse video of Techmeme.

Iterasi will launch as a private beta within 30 days with a plug-in for IE 7 and Firefox for Windows, for Mac version it will be available later. Running in your browsers toolbar, it will suggest tags from your collection as well as page content for easy retrieval, which can be done from either the toolbar or the Iterasi site. You can share the items both inside and outside of the Iterasi system.

Go Sign Up to get early access as soon as Iterasi is available. To know more about Iterasi watch this demo video.

[via profy]

Related Posts:

• Kwout- A online screenshot tool for Blogger's!

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In which two young men discover that Google Maps tests an on-demand street view feature, but it's not yet ready for launch. A video from The Vacationeers, "a stylized comedic film group that features Todd Berger, Kevin Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller".

It is really funny, Isn't it?

[via GOS]

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While reading the blog Lifehacker.com I found a great post Top 10 Free Download Managers, so I thought to let you know about these free download managers where Lifehacker listed Top 10 free download managers that get you the files you want fast and easy.

Here I am listing the list only, you can read the description about these free Download Managers from Lifehacker.

10. UnPlug (Firefox extension)

9.   Miro (Podcatcher, BitTorrent downloader and more)

8.   Ares Tube / TubeTV (Web video to iPod downloaders and converters)

7.   Wget (Command line download manager)

6.   Filezilla (Cross-platform FTP client)

5.   InstallPad / AppSnap (Software update downloaders, Windows only)

4.   Transmission (Mac BitTorrent client)

3.   uTorrent (Windows BitTorrent client)

2.   Ted / TVShows (Television episode BitTorrent downloader)

1.    Find on Lifehacker

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Flickr is the most popular image hosting site because it hosts your images without any cost for bandwidth or storage.

Uploading photos to Flickr is easy, you can find many uploading tools, but to download photos you need to get it one by one. Flickr doesn't provide facility like Google’s Picasa Web Albums, it gives a link through which user can download whole image set or album.

FlickrDown is a small and freeware utility which let you download images from any Flickr user direct to your Computer. You can download photos by specifying Flickr a Username, email address, tag or group name and start the search. The search will reveal all thumbnails of the images that were found and you can either check the ones that you would like to download or check the search term so that all pictures are downloaded to your computer.

FlickrDown is only for Windows users and requires Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0

[via ghacks]

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A few weeks ago Gmail invited people to share their Gmail stories with the world, and they got over 1,500 of responses with emails and videos describing the Creative and Productive Ways of using Gmail.

To check out some of the email stories of people's, visit gmail.com/yourstory. And here is the collaborative video.

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Happy Birthday Orkut!

Everyone know what is Orkut and what is the importance of it in our e-life. Who doesn't know anything Orkut, please take a look here.

Orkut is an online community designed to make your social life more active and stimulating. Orkut makes it easy to find people who share your hobbies and interests, look for romantic connections or establish new business contacts.

Orkut was launched in January 2004 by Google Inc., it is one of the best services provided by Google,  Orkut named for the Google engineer who developed it, Orkut Buyukkokten. (Orkut is easier to spell and pronounce than Buyukkokten.) It was created as an independent project to help people around the world connect.

It's grown up pretty fast, with many more features, communities, friends, photos and since it first opened as an invite-only community.

Related Articles:

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Sometimes we send an important email to a friend or relative or for some business purpose, then we waste our time in thinking about, "Has he or she read my email yet?".

SpyPig is a simple email tracking system that sends you a notification email as soon as the recipient opens and reads your message.

This online tool works with almost all modern email programs: Outlook, Eudora, Yahoo Email, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL Email and many others.

How do I use it?

The system is very easy to use. In just few minutes, you'll be able to use it like a real spy! To start using SpyPig, follow the simple steps in the SpyPig Farm on the right.

• Enter your email (not recipients)
• Give the title to it ( So you can Know this is a Notification )
• pick a custom tracking image to track
• Click on the Activate Button (Generates a tracking Image for You)

SpyPig is especially useful when you respond to a classified ad such as that on Craigslist (for an employment, for example) and wonder if your email reaches its target.

How does it work?

When you generate the picture it gives a code, you have to put the code in your email (which is to be sent). After pasting the code in the email just send it along with your matter. When the recipient receive the email and opens it to read, the image loads from SpyPig server, since each image has a unique tracking ID, SpyPig sends you a message to notify you that your message has been read.

Requirements

Both you and the recipient must use an HTML-formatted email, not a plain-text or rich-text formatted email. SpyPig works by using a tracking image (SpyPig image) whose reference to its location on our server is embedded in your HTML email message. When the recipient opens your email, the tracking image will be automatically downloaded from our server, triggering the "email opened" alert on our system.

SpyPig is dedicated to all those anxious individuals out there who can't stand wondering all day and night if their important email has been read or not.

I hope this little email tracking tool will help you gain some of your sanity back.

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In this post you will learn How to Hide or Un-Hide the Recycle Bin Icon in Windows XP.  Many  people hate this icon, I don't know why, they just don't want to let it appear on their Desktop.

I am explaining two ways from which you can Hide the Recycle Bin Icon and whenever you need it, you can Un-Hide it.

1)     This is the simple way as compare to second one.

From Group Policy Editor we will Hide the Recycle Bin Icon.

• Click Start, Click Run, Type GPEDIT.MSC, Press Enter
• On the Left Column Expand Administrative Templates, click on Desktop
• On the Right Column Find Remove Recycle Bin Icon from Desktop
• Double click on it, A Property Window will Appear
• Select Enable option, Press OK.
• Refresh Desktop, Enjoy!

To Show Recycle Bin Icon on Desktop, Do same steps but instead of Enable select      Not Configured.

 

2)     This step is somewhat risky, if you done this incorrectly you may have to Reinstall
         your Operating System. This Blog's Author will not be liable if any damage occurs.
         Do it on your own risk or choose the first way.

NOTE : - Backup your Registry File before Proceeding.

Copy the following code into notepad and save it as recycle.reg.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ Advanced\Folder\RecycleBinOnDesktop] "RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\ HideDesktopIcons\\NewStartPanel" "Text"="Show Recycle-Bin Icon on the Desktop" "Type"="checkbox" "ValueName"="{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}" "CheckedValue"=dword:00000000 "UncheckedValue"=dword:00000001 "DefaultValue"=dword:00000000 "HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001

• Double click on the file, click YES, click OK.
• A new option will be added in the Folder Option.
• Goto My Computer, then Tools Menu, then Folder Option
• Select View tab, find Show Recycle-Bin Icon on the Desktop option select it.
• Press OK, Enjoy!

Related Posts:           Find more Windows XP Tricks 

• How to Disable or Enable Error Reporting in Windows XP
• How to Rename Start Button in XP

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This week, Google released an API for creating iGoogle themes, to create an iGoogle theme you should have some knowledge of webpage designing. Some people have the desire to create an personal iGoogle theme but they can't.

igThemer is a tool to automatically make iGoogle themes using the new API. This tool lets you select the color you like and images you want to put in the theme.

More additional features of this tool are in process, you will find a preview area for your theme to check how it will look alike. Use the form to configure the sample, then just hit "Create".

This igThemer not only create, but also host your theme. You can share it with with your friends or can submit it to the iGoogle Theme Directory. To preview the theme use the following URL:

http://www.google.com/ig?skin=SKIN_URL
(replace SKIN_URL with the location of your theme's XML file)

[via GOS]

Related:

• Now design your iGoogle theme yourself
• Google improved interface for iPhone users
• Gmail - Create personal mailing list through Contact Manager
• The secret of two hidden messages in Google 2008 Logo.
• High Resolution (3600x1500) Google Logo

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The video demonstrates the results of the DNS changes made on a Mac OSX system

How to Protect Yourself

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OpenID allows us to have a simplified login experience across the Internet. Many sites now supporting this service for the globalization of their users identity.

Yahoo! announced their support for the OpenID 2.0 digital identity framework for all 248 million active registered Yahoo! users worldwide. In addition to the many leading Yahoo! services users already enjoy, anyone with a Yahoo! ID will be able to use the same ID for easy access to any sites that support OpenID 2.0.

Yahoo!s OpenID service will be available in public beta on January 30. Now users will have transparent web experience by allowing them to use their custom OpenID identifier on me.yahoo.com or to simply type in "www.yahoo.com" or "www.flickr.com" on any site that supports OpenID 2.0. Alternatively, web sites that accept OpenID 2.0 will be able to add a simple "Sign-in with Your Yahoo! ID" button to their login pages that will make it even easier for their users. Yahoo! is working with several partners, including Plaxo and JanRain, to make it possible for users to access these sites with their Yahoo! ID from the first day of the public beta.

According to TechCrunch,
With this move, Yahoo! users will be able to log in to more than 9,000 OpenID compliant websites with their Yahoo IDs.

I think after this announcement of Yahoo, most web services will support OpenID as any Yahoo ID will become an OpenID which can be used to authenticate on any site that accepts OpenID's. What you think, will it boost the use of OpenID service.

Get an OpenID !

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You have seen in many movies specially in Terminator, the bionic women use bionic eyes to zoom in on far-off scenes.

Engineers at the University of Washington have for the first time used manufacturing techniques at microscopic scales to combine a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights.

The lenses were tested on rabbits for up to 20 minutes and the animals showed no adverse effects.

People may find all sorts of applications for it that we have not thought about. Our goal is to demonstrate the basic technology and make sure it works and that it's safe," said Parviz, who heads a multi-disciplinary UW group that is developing electronics for contact lenses.

Installing and removing the lenses would be as easy as your normal lenses. But you have to wait till the engineers make this bionic eye fully comfortable for human being.

[via Futurismic]

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Google recently launched the iGoogle Themes API, which allows for user-generated iGoogle Themes. Now, anyone who can design a webpage can design an iGoogle theme.

The Themes API lets you create custom designs for iGoogle. Themes are visual designs that personalize iGoogle pages for millions of users.  Themes are not just static designs--they can change throughout the day to reveal a visual storyline, message, or anything else.

iGoogle Users and Developers have been clamoring to know when they can develop themes for the iGoogle homepage, now you can design your personal iGoogle theme. You can create themes with your interest like Nature, Humor, Animals, Technology or what you like.

My favorite theme is EarthLight designed by Yves, this theme will dynamically change to match your time of day, including local sunrise and sunset times.

To inspire theme designers, Google released custom themes from innovative designers Yves Behar, Mark Frauenfelder, Troy Lee and John Maeda.

In addition to it, Google also released a Theme Directory, similar to Google Gadget Directory. If you don't want to create a iGoogle theme then you can select themes you like from this directory.

How to Create a iGoogle Theme | iGoogle Theme Directory

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Yesterday, the first day of Macworld, Google officially announced the improved interface for iPhone users. The previous version, launched just over a month ago, with Google suite of web applications including Search, Gmail, Calendar, Reader, and more -- into one easy-to-use interface.

Google is making the applications faster and improving their usability. Here is a list of the improvements announced by Google.

• Improved UI: The applications look and feel slicker, and they are easier to activate, navigate and use via a touch-screen.
• Customization of default tabs: Now Google users can have easy access to their favorite applications by customizing the applications that appear on the Google.com menu bar. Users simply choose their favorite Google applications to bring them to the front menu, ensuring that they'll be close at hand whenever they're needed. Switching between applications is effortless, as users only need to sign in once to access their Gmail, Calendar, Reader, Docs, and Picasa accounts.
• Speedier Gmail: New emails will automatically show up so there's no need to manually refresh inboxes. And the new auto-complete feature for contacts makes composing emails faster than ever.
• Speedier Calendar: With our new month view, users can glance at an entire month of appointments.
• iGoogle: Now Google users can access their iGoogle gadgets on the iPhone. Everything they've customized on their iGoogle homepage including weather, stocks, and news feeds now appear on their iPhone's. To go to iGoogle, simply click on the iGoogle link on the Home tab. You can customize your iGoogle page on your computer at www.igoogle.com.

On further Google says,

These new features provide iPhone users with a desktop-like Google web application experience in terms of ease-of-use, speed, and feature richness but optimized for the iPhone. This experience is made possible by the iPhone's general usability and the capabilities of its web browser, combined with Google's innovative mobile web applications. We plan to expand this experience to international versions of the iPhone and to other platforms that offer similar usability and browser capabilities. One of our goals is to support platforms that are fulfilling the promise of the mobile web - like the iPhone - and to ultimately deliver unique and compelling mobile experiences that improve people's daily lives.

To experience the new app's interface on your iPhone, simply visit to www.google.com on the iPhone Safari browser. To see all the Google mobile products and services, visit mobile.google.com.

Related:

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• The secret of two hidden messages in Google 2008 Logo.
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Voyage is an RSS feed reader with a difference. It's been carefully designed around the content it displays. Add RSS feeds from your favorite sites and let voyage pull all the information together for your reading pleasure.

RSS voyage is designed using FLASH to give you the experience of 3D environment. This service is provided by Andy Biggs who is a senior flash developer.

When you enter the website you will see a flash loading process, voyage by default loads a number of popular rss feeds. If you want, you can add your favorite feeds to it and can delete the default feeds.

You will see the titles are floating like in the space. If you click them, it will display the summery of that post and a link to the source. Posts are organized by date. If you want to browse the feeds simply scroll the space of feeds using your mouse wheel or you can use your keyboard arrow keys. There is a horizontal timeline to scroll posts by hours.

Enjoy your Reading, Share the experience with our readers if you want.

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Google introduced a new feature in Gmail. This Gmail feature lets you create your personal mailing list using contact groups. This feature is compatible with IE7 and Firefox 2.

This feature is very helpful for those people who email updates to their friends, relatives or employees often. In general, if we have to email to a large no. of peoples frequently then we have to remember individual names or email  addresses. Sometimes we miss one or more of them.

But now, with the help of Gmail, you can create contact groups to which you email updates often.

To create Contact Groups, do the following simple steps

1.  Login to your Gmail account

2.  Click on "Contacts" from the left-hand navigation list

3.  Then click on the group icon

After giving a name to your group, brows for contacts you want to add to it. You can find them by clicking “All Contacts” or by searching by name or email address. Once you locate the contact by click on it, then select the group from the drop down menu in the right-most pane.

Now, while composing the email, in the To: field you just enter the name of your group and click  on "Send". Your email will be sent to all your contacts of that group.

Google is providing us more convenient ways to use Gmail more efficiently.

They say,

While this feature is great for creating efficient ways to email small groups, we encourage you to use Google Groups to manage large ones.

Thanks to The Official Gmail Blog to explain all this.

Related:

• The secret of two hidden messages in Google 2008 Logo.
• A Trick to Protect Your Email Address From Spam Robots

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DecentURL is a URL redirection service which not only shortens your long and ugly URLs but also coverts it into a readable and meaningful format.

You may know many of the URL redirection services, these redirection services shorten your url and point it to the destination page. The destination page which is long and ugly looking, if it is a affiliate link then it displays your affiliate id on it.

But the problem of these URL redirection services is, they include any randomly generated combination of Numbers and Alphabets. For instance,

http://www.text-link-ads.com/?ref=45239     by shortening this URL it becomes

http://tinyurl.com/3yluyu         this is URL is shortened using tinyurl.com

Unlike these services, DecentURL allows you to type and create a meaningful URL as you like. For instance,

http://www.text-link-ads.com/?ref=45239      by shortening this URL it became

http://text-link-ads.decenturl.com/digitalpassion

It can grab a title automatically, and it always includes the domain in the resulting URL to protect you from going places you didn’t want to.

Isn't it COOL.

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The secrete messages in Google's 2008 logo revealed. Google put silently two hidden messages in its 2008 logo. Google is celebrating 25 years of TCP/IP and the New Year.

Following are the two messages, with its meaning.

1) In this message Google is showing a cable making 2008.

2) The second message shows "SYN SYN/ACK ACK" on the bottom of the logo in little colored dots (see carefully).

What is syn syn ack ack?

The syn syn ack ack is referred as a "Three Way Handshake."

To establish a connection, TCP uses a three-way handshake. Before a client attempts to connect with a server, the server must first bind to a port to open it up for connections: this is called a passive open. Once the passive open is established, a client may initiate an active open. To establish a connection, the three-way (or 3-step) handshake occurs: Wikipedia

The "SYN" flags are requests by the TCP stack at one end of a socket to synchronize themselves to the sequence numbering for this new sessions. The ACK flags acknowlege earlier packets in this session. Obviously only the initial packet has no ACK flag, since there are no previous packets to acknowlege. Only the second packet (the first response from a server to a client) has both the SYN and the ACK bits set. linuxgazette.

In the neverending journey for sockets to shake hands, there has always been the cordial behind the scenes introduction. To imagine life without SYN/ACK would be akin to imagining life without the Internet. And that's quite scary. thinkgeek.

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