Sample Pages

Sample Pages

“Everyone is looking for their soulmate. Take our Love Test and find out :  Is She the

One?”

Oh God, these things look so stupid. I saw the quiz in a magazine. There’s a photo of a couple looking into each other’s eyes, and it’s decorated with drawings of cupids and love-hearts. I mean, please. As if you can find out  she’s ‘the One’ by answering few silly questions, Like, for example:

           

I and my girl go together like :

a) Heer and Ranjha

b) Romeo and Juliet

c) Tom and Jerry

d) None of the above

Honestly, how ridiculous! How can a pair be like Tom and Jerry? I turned a page, and found an “Ask Doctor Uncle” page with some questions from people suffering from this and that…Errrr.. I can’t read that. So, maybe that dumb quiz isn’t so bad. After all, it has got to be more fun than reading about who is ill and what kind of illness he/she is having . Eeeks whatever!

Quickly I turn back to it. OK, here we go with another MCQ. . .

Whenever you think about her, do you get butterflies?

a) Yes, always

b) Sometimes

c) Never

           

Well, I wouldn’t call them butterflies exactly. In fact, it’s been so long the butterflies have probably grown up and flown away. Now it’s more of an ache. Not like the terrible toothache, but may be like an headache. I go plump for b) Sometimes

1. How long have you liked her?

            a) Less than six months

            b) A year

            c) More than a year

My mind flicks back. We met in the winter of 2006. I was nineteen. Which makes it . . .  my mind does the calculation, OK, so it’s four years.

So what? Four years are nothing. My father has known my mom for twenty eight years. Yes, but your mom’s married to him, says a little voice inside me. Ignoring it, I quickly tick option c. Fine, next question

           

Can you see yourself getting married to this girl?

            a) 100%

            b) 50%

            c) Zero

           

Well, that one is easy. It is zero. In fact, I’d say the chances of marrying her are less than zero. But that’s FINE. I’m perfectly ok with it.

            All right, so in the past I might have thought about it. And maybe for a moment I would have imagined myself in brown Sherwani and her in a red wedding dress, with some ornaments looking like a perfect Indian Bride. Dancing our first dance under the “Its Rocking.. Its Rocking” on DJ. Leaving for our honeymoon to some hill station. . .

            Coming back, I notice I’ve been absent mindedly making a heart around a) 100%. Oh…Shit. What did I do that for? Frustrated, I grab my pen and start scribbling over it furiously. It is not as if that means anything. I suddenly realize I was pressing so hard that the page got torn.    

Do your friends think you are obsessed with this girl?

           

Hmm… come on… I think about her from time to time, but I would not say I am obsessed. Not at all. I mean, I am not disturbing her with Facebook messages Or Googling her relentlessly. OK, I confess, I Googled her thrice…. maybe five times…

            Oh, all right, so I have lost count over the four years. But so what? Who has not gone home and Googled a girl they are in love with?

Hang on!!! Did I just say the Love word?

I didn’t mean that at all! It is this silly quiz - its making me think all kinds of things…. I tick b) No.

            As the minute hand of the clock moved I continue through the questions. They helped me pass the time. Just on the last question . . .

           

Which film best describes your relationship?

            a) Titanic

            b) Romeo and Juliet

            c) Love Story

. . .when I suddenly hear the announcement - ‘The Next Station is Tronica City, Doors will open on the Left’ - and I realize I’m nearing my stop.

            Stuffing the magazine into my bag, I started to make my way through the packed crowd which had increased from Station Road, sometimes crashing into someone by mistake and saying “Sorry”. Of course, no one pays any attention. Since last few months, I have been noticing that all my ‘Sorry’ and ‘Excuse me’ fall on deaf ears.

            It’s not that Citizens here are rude. It’s just that my way of apologizing for almost everything has zero effect. They don’t understand what I am apologizing for. To be

honest, half the time I too don’t know what I am apologizing for. It is something I do like a habit. Like logging on to Facebook and checking out the inbox every five minutes.

            Exiting the station, I pause at the pedestrian crossing to study the direction of the road on the big green board, which tells me for Rockway Street I have to cross the road. Some people have sort of inbuilt GPS, a bit like pet dogs. You can drop them anywhere and they will find their way home before you do. Not me, I get lost whenever I go to any area after a gap of few months.

            I am stumped. Today, I neither had tea after work, nor I am aware of the shop here. Looking up and down the street in frustration, I give up and asked myself “Who the hell told you to come here?”

“Excuse me??”

I turned to see a fellow girl standing next to me, waiting to cross. She looked at me quizzically. Oh my God, did I just say that out loud?

            ‘Errrrr. .’ I was embarrassed. ‘Never cross a road while light is red,’ I said whatever came to my mind. She stared at me ‘Sure,’ she replied.

Feeling totally uncool, I look away and pray for the lights to change quickly. ‘Oh, look, now we can cross,’ I announce with a relief, and shooting her with an awkward smile, I crossed the road with the crowd.

            Walking past some food outlets, I glance at the couple’s cozying up together over a romantic meal. I move on quickly. Once upon a time there was a princess of mine, but we didn’t end up living happily ever after. Like I said I am fine with it. It was a long time ago. I have moved on. In fact, since then I have dated loads of different girls.

            Well, perhaps not loads, but surely few. And some of them were really nice. Like, my last girlfriend, Shreya. We met at a party and dated for a couple of months, but it was never that serious. I mean, she was good fun, and the enjoyment was not bad. It’s just……

Samsung Installs Keylogger on Its Laptops

PC maker Samsung is in the centre of a security storm after it installed keylogging software onto laptops to let it know what its punters were doing.

A network security expert Mohamed Hassan, who is the founder of NetSec Consulting was stunned to discover keylogging software on two different models of Samsung portable computers, which he purchased.

He then called Samsung to log the incident with Samsung Support Staff. Initially Samsung support staff denied that the spy software was there.

First Samsung changed its story by referring the author to claiming that "all Samsung did was to manufacture the hardware."

When Hassan, said this was unacceptable point, he was routed to some other Support personal, who confirmed that Samsung knowingly put this software on the laptop to, as he put it, "monitor the performance of the machine and to find out how it is being used."

It could cause huge problems for Samsung. Not only is spying on your customers probably illegal, but will also result in decline in its potential customers. The existence of key-loggers inside laptops

This keylogger which is found is named Starkeylogger. Many might be thinking over what a keylogger is. For the moment , keeping aside all the if an buts, what organizations and individuals with Samsung systems should back up the important data(if any) and then format the system.Theinvestif\gation has been launched by Samsung for this case.

Until it is cleared up, it is unlikely that any one will want to buy a Samsung product.

Network World confirmed the news.

Manage, Share, and Discover Books with Shelfari

I'm an avid reader. And the older I get, the harder it becomes for me to remember every book I've read. At the same time, I want to get recommendations from sources other than Amazon: friends, people who share my tastes, etc.

Shelfari is a free service that lets you build a virtual bookshelf of stuff you've read, see what your friends are reading, discover popular titles in specfic genres, and join discussion groups.

In other words, at the risk of overusing the metaphor, it's kind of like Facebook for bibliophiles.

After signing up for Shelfari, you can browse or search its library to find books to add to your virtual shelf. For any book you choose, you have the option of rating, tagging, and/or reviewing it. You can also mark it as something you've read, are reading, or are planning to read. All this requires just a few easy clicks.

Shelfari is also heavy on community features, stuff like which books got the highest ratings and most comments for the day, members who added the same books as you, and group categories ranging from Authors & Writing to World Literature & Culture.

Of course, Shelfari is by no means the only book-lovers site of its kind. Another popular destination is Goodreads, though I find that site's interface much less intuitive and attractive.

I do wish Shelfari offered some kind of integration with Facebook and/or Twitter. Even so, it's a great destination for anyone who loves books. If you want to "friend" me on the service, look for user justrick.

Syncables 360 Premium Keeps Data Synced on PCs, Macs, and Smartphones

When you have multiple computers and smartphones that you use regularly, making sure that the right file is on the right device at the right time--and in sync with all other devices--can seem to be an impossible task. Syncables 360 Premium ($50, buy-only) aims to make it a simple, automatic one, and adds some nice extras as well.

Syncables 360 Premium syncs multiple computers, but they'll need to be on the same network or use USB as a go-between; it can't synchronize over the Internet.

Syncables 360 Premium automatically synchronizes files and folders among multiple computers and devices, including PCs, Macs, Linux computers, and Blackberry and Windows Mobile smartphones. You can do it over a network or via a USB cable.

It's simple to use and set up, and it presents all of your syncing options in a pleasing, well-thought out interface. Syncables 360 Premium does more than just basic synchronization. It also migrates data between computers, previews media files, backs up files to a USB drive or external hard drive, and lets you share media on social networking sites such as Facebook and Flickr.

Syncables 360 Premium joins the throng in an increasingly crowded market niche. Notable syncing tools competitors include SugarSync and the beta of the newest version of Windows Live Sync. In one way, the free versions of both SugarSync and Windows Live Sync are superior to Syncables 360 Premium, because both of those free services don't just synchronize folders between computers--they also back up the files to 2GB of free online storage (more storage is available for a fee). So if you only want file synchronization, you'd be better off with one of those free services.

Syncables 360 Premium has one more drawback as well, and it's a major one: It won't synchronize over the Internet. You can only do it via a direct connection such as a cable, or over a home or business network.

But Syncables 360 Premium offers plenty of tools those pieces of software don't offer, such as media previewing, synchronizing contacts, data migration, and the ability to easily share photos on social networking sites including Flickr and Facebook. So if you need those features, and don't need the ability to synchronize over the Internet, Syncables 360 Premium is worth it. Otherwise, you'd be better off with a free solution.

Note that Syncables 360 Premium works with three computers. If you need to synchronize more than that, you can buy the Syncables 360 Home Network version, which can sync up to five computers, for $70.

Basic tips for a Network Admin

Today, we will focus on some tips and tricks for network administrator which will help them to keep there data secure. The administration of a computer network is a very responsible task for the network administrators. Being a network administration, you should know the basic network technologies such as TCP/IP, Ethernet, basic network hardware, software, and some basic network troubleshooting techniques.

Techniques like making your network password complex, training an assistant network administrator, keeping up-to-dated network security tools such as GFI LanGuard are some of tips for a network administrator. Beside these simple, general guidelines certain other points are important:

1. If you are preparing a new system, make sure that you are using installation CD which is the best installation source. After installing the operating system, install up-to-date antivirus program such as AVG, Norton, Quick Heal, McAfee or any other antivirus program of your choice.

2. After completing the installation process you should test the network for the speed and security performance.

3. You should also monitor the access to the Internet and block all unwanted ports which you wont be using in near future.

4. Only install the third party software applications which are essential for your server as any kind of unauthorized app can become a source of virus. If you are unsure about any source, try not to install the software.

5. Being a network admin, always keep yourself ready to test new network technologies and updated about new flaws and vulnerabilities prevailing in the Internet field.

Enough with the elitist App nonsense

Usually, my co-blogger Garett Rogers and I don’t land too far from each other in terms of our views or we cover Google from such different angles that it really doesn’t matter. However, two of his last posts have so thoroughly torqued my twister (and, I think, are indicative of a particular point of view held by a subset of programmers and users) that I had to respond. Here’s the deal, folks: Apps don’t lack value just because they’re developed by non-programmers, nor are the ubiquitous body-function Apps that are easy to find in both the Apple and Android App repositories completely without value. Here’s why:

This all began when Google opened up Android App development to non-programmers with their App Inventor tool. I hailed it as an incredible educational tool. Garett, like many others (the link, by the way is to a nicely balanced TechCrunch article that deals with both points of view) felt that it would
degrade the Android Marketplace, “making tools that encourage people to create crappy meow apps, [instead of giving] developers better tools to build great apps.”

Then, Saturday saw another pot shot at the Android Market. Garett cites Android Pit’s ranking and download data as evidence that only 6250 Apps in the Android MarketPlace are “good.” He goes on to reference App Inventor again:

That’s about 7% of apps. As we start seeing more submitted from App Inventor, it’s feasible that number will drop even lower.

Really? I suppose that might be true if one sticks with Android Pit’s data as a measure of goodness. Since Garett in particular used 50 downloads as his minimum number to create his pool of potentially good apps. Since App Inventor lets a teacher create an interactive application for his or her class, then the 28 downloads from his students would leave him out of the running. Does that mean his App isn’t good?

It lets me create an App (just as soon as Google processes my invite, hint, hint) that shows my 8 month-old daughter either pictures of our chickens or pictures of her brothers (the two things in the world that make her happy during a meltdown) with the slide of a finger, keeping the phone from turning off the screen in the midst of said meltdown. Will anyone else want to be able to show their 8 month old pictures of my chickens? Probably not, but this little App will have value to me. Would it be “good” by Garett’s reckoning? No. Nowhere close.

The strength of Android has always been its openness. Even the closed and tightly controlled Apple App Store has its share of crap applications that don’t have obvious value. And yet, they exist, people download them, and, in some cases, people buy them. This is what happens in a free market economy. As ZDNet Editor-in-Chief, Larry Dignan, put it,

However, the beauty here is that useless is in the eye of the beholder. Now I’m never going for the Wonder Bread app, but some sandwich junkie may think it’s the best thing ever. There’s something to be said for allowing anyone to create a quiz app (right). Sure, there will be clunkers, but open up mobile apps and let the marketplace demand decide.

Perhaps more importantly, App Inventor gives us the chance to make our phones do precisely what we want them to do, even without any substantial programming skill. Whether the Apps thrive in the Marketplace may often be irrelevant. Do you remember the first time you got a Word macro to create several document features automatically? Those features or that simple macro may have been worthless for everyone in the world besides you and, if you were lucky, a few grateful co-workers. But the power in the hands of non-programmers was profound.

App Inventor is a great democratizer in a world of Apps. Microsoft is getting in on it in their own way with their KittyHawk project and the entire Web 2.0 revolution made web content creation available to those without knowledge of sophisticated scripting, let alone HTML. Opening a tool to the masses and making it useful and accessible to those who can identify a need and meet it themselves without a team of programmers behind them is not a new idea. It’s simply new in the brave new world of smartphones.

I have no trouble finding countless useful and well-designed Apps in the Android Market. Just like any other Google search, you need to separate the wheat from the chaff. However, the ability to create my own Apps, whether for instructional purposes, to gain additional insight into Android, to solve a particular and specific problem just for my own designs, or to bring the next great App to Android should never be viewed as a bad thing. Don’t worry - programmers will still have plenty of work to do. But for anyone with some reasonable degree of computer savvy to be able to exploit the extraordinary power of current and future generations of mobile devices is nothing short of revolutionary.

Get Started With Paint.NET

I routinely use high-powered photo editing programs like Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Corel Paint Shop Pro. But you can get away with spending a lot less on photo editing software. You can spend nothing at all, in fact. In the past I've mentioned GIMP--a popular free, open source program. This week, I'll show you how to get started with Paint.NET as well.

Paint.NET got its start as a senior design project at Washington State University, where it was envisioned as a replacement for the Paint program in Windows. It has evolved significantly since then, though. It remains free, and today has all the basic rudiments of photo editing programs, like layers, effects, and even support for Photoshop-like plug-ins. You can download the latest version of Paint.NET from PCWorld, but you'll want to bookmark the official Paint.NET Web site as well, since there are forums, tutorials, and plug-ins available there. (You can also get to the Web site from Paint.NET's help menu.)

A Quick Tour

The interface should look pretty familiar to anyone who has used a program like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. Nothing, though, is locked in place. The standard toolbar, for example--usually located on the left side of the screen--can be moved around anywhere in the program window. In fact, if you don't maximize the Paint.NET window, you can drag toolbars and tool palettes out of the program window completely.

The toolbar has all the basics. You'll find selection tools, a magic wand, and a clone tool, for example. When you choose a tool, look at the toolbar at the top of the screen for options to customize it, such as controlling the size of the brush. But making a complex selection with Paint.NET can be tricky, since there's no "magnetic" selections--just a freehand lasso.

As you make changes to your photo, you might notice the Undo window at the top right. It tracks everything you do, so you can undo edits one at a time, or undo a slew of actions all at once--all the way back to the first thing you did to the photo, if you want to.

Working With Layers

Like any full-featured photo editor, Paint.NET gives you the ability to combine photos using layers. There isn't an "adjustment layer" tool for making edits to a photo, but you can simulate Photoshop-like adjustment layers pretty effectively. Just duplicate your photo in a new layer (choose Layers, Duplicate Layer) and then choose one of the options from the Adjustments or Effects menus. You can choose Adjustments, Curves, for example, and tweak the photo. Then, in the Layers palette at the bottom right of the screen, click Properties and use the slider to adjust the opacity of the top layer. (Note that Paint.NET uses the geeky range of 0-255 instead of 0-100, but the effect is the same.)

Play With Plug-Ins

You can use plug-ins to add a wealth of new capabilities to Paint.NET. To get to plug-ins, choose Help, Plug-ins from the menu in Paint.NET, which opens your browser to the Paint.NET Web site's plug-in page.

For example, if you shoot using your camera's RAW mode, the first plug-in you'll want to install is a RAW plug-in so you can open those images in Paint.NET. To get to that quickly, choose Plugins Index, show the Alphabetical List of Plugins Q-Z, and scroll down to the entries for RAW tools. There are a few to choose from, but I've had the best luck with RawReader. To install it, download the RawReader zip file, which contains three DLL files. Then open the program location for Paint.NET (probably c:\program files\Paint.NET) and drag those DLLs to the folder called FileTypes. Restart Paint.NET and you should be able to open most RAW files. Installing any plug-in is basically that easy--just drag the DLL to the Paint.NET folder or one of its subfolders like Effects or FileTypes.

Is there something in particular you'd like to do with Paint.NET? Send me your questions and I will answer them in a future Digital Focus.

Hot Pic of the Week

Get published, get famous! Each week, we select our favorite reader-submitted photo based on creativity, originality, and technique.

Here's how to enter: Send us your photograph in JPEG format, at a resolution no higher than 640 by 480 pixels. Entries at higher resolutions will be immediately disqualified. If necessary, use an image editing program to reduce the file size of your image before e-mailing it to us. Include the title of your photo along with a short description and how you photographed it. Don't forget to send your name, e-mail address, and postal address. Before entering, please read the full description of the contest rules and regulations.