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Rather than using Google talk from your PC or your Gmail inbox

Use Google Talk gadget: http://www.google.com/talk






Benefits of using Google Talk Gadget:

- No need to stay logged into Gmail just to chat
- Group Chat Available
- No need to download any client
- Smileys available :P

Regards,
First Crush

Hi All,

These are few simple steps on how to set up labels on Gmail. I know many geeks might be aware of the same, just making all of you aware of how to use this feature to the max.

1) Open any mail from First Crush Google Group 'firstcrush@googlegroups.com'  ( Refer to attached screenshot 'Step 1' )


2) Go to More Options>> Filter messages like these ( Refer to attached screenshot 'Step 2' )

3) A default filtering criteria is automatically suggested, you can add your desired filtering criteria here ( Refer to attached screenshot 'Step 3' )

4) Click on Next Step
5) Tick on Apply the Label, then from the dropdown menu choose New label.. ( Refer to attached screenshot 'Step 4' ). You can also select several other options like forwarding to an email address etc.

6) Enter First Crush in the pop up box ( Refer to attached screenshot 'Step 5' )

7) Now Tick on Apply to conversations below
8) Now Select Create Filter Button, Voila your filter has been set up.
9) Now Select your label colour for your filter from the Label Box just below the Chatbox.( Refer to attached screenshot 'Step 6' ), I would suggest first row second colour.


Now, whenever a mail from the filteration criteria i.e the mail address firstcrush@googlegroups.com in this case arrives it will be automatically marked by label 'First Crush'. Also if you click on the label First Crush in the label window, it will display only the mails received from the group.

Regards,
First Crush

Rule #1. Write an article on "how to explode blog traffic !!!"
Rule #2. Read on

To be very frank there are quite a bit of so called tried and tested ways to increase you blog traffic, but these merely focus on increasing hits on your blog, but do not focus on the main reason why you want more traffic viz. to read what you write and keep coming back for more.

Some Sites do deliver on their hits, but sadly most of these hits stay for a maximum of 30 secs only, after which they click on the next blog to increase their traffic.
That brings us back to the topic, What can really be done? Is there a way out? How do i make myself heard above the din?

Well, here are some tips for starters.

1. Write. Write stuff. Write stuff people like to read.Most often blogs end up being abused by people who think the world is waiting to know what happens to them every second (I don't deny them this right...they have it!), however the same thing can be presented in a way that forces the reader to continue reading. Simple check! read as though you didn't write it. Funny? worth posting? go ahead post.

2. Make friends.I don't mean going around shaking hands with people and expect a sudden spurt in your traffic, instead post reciprocal links on your blog. Yes people do read others links and if you are there, people will visit your blog. Its an easy way to piggyback on some good blogs.

3. Articles!!!!Take some of your posts, tweak them a bit, add a snazzy caption and Presto! you have your own article ready. Now take that article and post it all around you (on the net please....i don't expect people to walk around with faces stuck with paper muffling away....thish is smy aaarticle!). There are quite a list of websites that do this.

4. Check your Site title and description ( I think this should have come in second in order....lets just forget the order for now)Get a cool title something that makes people go, "oooohh thats hhhhhhooooootttttttt" (if not that much atleast.......a "i think this might be interesting"). And remember to give a matching description (the funnier the better). This will also help you get better results on search engines.

5. Submit to Blog Search engines.Most people search for blogs not on the major search engines, but on blog search engines. So make sure your blog has been submitted to these engines. The more the merrier. Search on google for blog search engines and submit your blog to all of these.

6. PHOTOS ROCK!!!!Face it, most people do search blogs to see something interesting and what best but a photo to give them a 24million color view of something. Yes photos rock, and they do bring in traffic. It kinda gives a coolness to your site. Its like wearing colors while everyone else is in uniform. Most blogging providers support photoblogging, but if you need a place to host photos photobucket.com is a place as good as any.

7. Get original ! Showing others content may bring people to your site, but it would not make them stay. all they would say is . ...."another smartass trying to keep his blog updated by somebody else's work". So keep the blog original with what you would like to say.

8. Publicize!!!I am not talking about banner exchanges ( not only do give free advertising on your site, you also have to put up with ugly graphics that can be out of place on your beautiful site.) Think up creative ways. Get a bumper sticker on your car, your boss's car, your company delivery truck...the works. Another easier option, get it on your company's email signature or atleast on yours.

9. Evangelize!!! No i am not a religious nut and i'm not expecting you to be one. Write stuff that would make people go on and talk about you without you threatening them or paying them. And refer to "the blog" in common discussions, parties etc.... wherever you find people.

10. Ok so you got so far.......on more important thing.Don't expect to find any of the above on my blog, the only reason being, i don't need to explode my blog traffic !!!!

All the people out there who’ve been contemplating picking up a PlayStation 3 may be happy to know that the console (40 GB version) has now become cheaper by Rs. 2000 so it costs Rs. 22,990 as opposed to Rs. 24,990. Here’s what PlayStation India’s head honcho Atindriya Bose had to say:


 















"We are excited to bring to Indian consumer offers like these during the Christmas. This not only gives a boost to gaming in India but also makes the PlayStation 3 more affordable than ever. We recognize the need of the Indian gamers and stand committed to develop gaming as the most interactive entertainment mode."

I still don’t understand how a Rs. 2000 drop makes this console "more affordable than ever".

Looks phenomenal
The most stylish game on the block
Plays really well
Almost as charming as the Sands of Time
Too easy for it's own good
Can get monotonous
Forget all you know about the old Prince Persia. He died (figuratively speaking) with the last generation of consoles giving birth to a brand new protagonist in the bargain. This unsung hero is not really a Prince nor does he have an ounce of royal blood coursing through his veins; he's merely a vagabond searching for his donkey, Farah (heh) in the middle of a sandstorm, where he bumps into the mysterious Elika and embarks upon the adventure of a lifetime.

Like most male protagonists on the block, the new Prince thinks with his crotch instead of his brain. He gives up searching for his donkey to peruse this spunky little acrobatic girl, who just so happens to be in the middle of a world of trouble. It turns out her father - for reasons that'll be explained through the course of the game - has released an ancient evil upon the land.


This evil known only as Ahriman has been in captivity for over thousands of years so yeah, he's pretty ticked off about the whole episode. To get back at his captors, he starts corrupting the land by drowning it in a pulsating black goo of sorts that destroys everything it touches. Now it's up to the Prince and Elika to make sure Ahriman's shoved back into the same place he was holed up for thousands of years. To do so, they'll have to traverse Elika's kingdom, the City of Light cleansing off all the vile corruption that's currently engulfing it.

Unlike previous Prince of Persia games, PoP now allows you to choose your destination, granting you a bit of freedom instead of forcing you down a particular road. Liberating the land from the corruption means you'll have to travel to various areas, but the order in which you do so is entirely up to you. Once you liberate a particular patch of land you can then teleport from one fertile land to another without actually traveling all the way there. As and when you find yourself getting a bit lost, ask Elika for some help and she'll gladly point you in the right direction.


Once you platform your way to the heart of a corrupted area, you'll have to indulge in some combat against a boss or a mini boss. After slashing away at him/her for a couple of minutes, you'll be able to purge the land off all evil and corruption. From there on, you'll have to collect a certain amount of orbs that spring up all over the place enabling Elika to upgrade her powers. This is a mandatory process since those newly acquired powers are the only way you’ll be able to access certain areas that you couldn't earlier.














Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger?
There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.....



Thumb represents your Parents
Second (Index) finger represents your Siblings
Middle finger represents your-Self
Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner
& the Last (Little) finger represents your children 



Firstly, open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back
Secondly, open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb - tip to tip (As shown in the figure below):
Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)..., they will open, because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong, and have to leave you sooner or later.
Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings)... ., they will also open, because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.

Now join the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers (representing your children)... ., they will open too, because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day.

Finally, join your Little fingers, and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse). You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT....., because Husband & Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!!

Please try this out......... ....

Cop chases are still fun
Cool customization options
Ample game modes to choose from
A technical nightmare
God awful voice acting
Terrible story
The Need for Speed series has been going through a pretty rough patch in recent times. Ever since Most Wanted, EA has failed to live up to the standards set by themselves as a result of which, every Need for Speed game from then on has been utterly disappointing. Need for Speed Undercover, pegged to be a spiritual successor to Most Wanted, was to redeem this series but all it’s done is made sure you never want to play another Need for Speed game ever again. Undercover is such a terrible game you’ll either slit your wrists or sit in a corner and weep or you’ll slit your wrists while weeping in a corner wondering what EA was thinking when they wasted time, energy and money on this garbage.

 
As the name suggests Undercover has you playing an undercover agent tasked with infiltrating an illegal street racing syndicate guided by your “handler”, Maggie Q (Balls of Fury, Live Free Die Hard). Now I know Need for Speed games are well known for their cheesy acting but this one takes the cake, the bakery and the entire f****g block (where the bakery was located). In Undercover you’ll witness some of the worst acting you’ve seen in recent times across any media and not even Maggie Q’s hotness can salvage it. Each and every actor associated with this project should be lined up outside his/her house and shot so that we’re never subjected to their annoyingly painful hamming ever again.

Terrible acting aside this game is a technical nightmare and the first time you boot up the game you’ll literally be shell shocked not because it looks phenomenal but because you’ll wonder how Black Box actually managed to make a game that looks worse than Most Wanted - a three year old title. In recent times I have yet to come across such an ugly and a lifeless game that literally made me wanna tear my eyes out. Buildings are just plain blocky structures with no detail whatsoever, roads have absolutely no textures, car detail is appalling and I’ve seen better scenery in Burnout revenge – the PS2 version mind you. To blind your eyes from the terrible visuals on screen EA has conveniently bumped up the bloom to insane levels but all the bloom in the world cannot hide the fact that this game is just plain hideous.

Opera Software has released the final version of Opera Mini 4.2 for mobile phones.

This release also marks Opera Mini's official availability on the latest version of the Android mobile platform making it the first Web browser alternative on Android. A technical preview of Opera Mini was previously released for an earlier version of Android in April 2008. Users of Android-powered mobile phones, such as the T-Mobile G1, can now download a beta version of Opera Mini 4.2.



"With Opera Mini 4.2, we are showing the world that Opera never gets complacent. We will always be improving our product, adding speed, new functionality and features, and ensuring that it is accessible by all," says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera Software. "Our support of the Android platform helps fulfill our mission to be available on more platforms, for more devices and reach more users, anywhere in the world."

Opera Mini 4.2 adds more language versions - more than 90 - including the recently added Amharic, Armenian, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Kirghiz, Lingala, Marathi, Malayalam, Mongolian, Oriya, Punjabi, Pashto, Sinhala, Tajik, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Uzbek, Khmer, Kashmiri, Lao and Turkmen. It also adds new skins for personalizing the look of Opera Mini and Opera Link support for notes, allowing users to sync their notes between the PCand Opera Mini.

Download Opera Mini 4.2 here.

Below is the complete email conversation that Adelaide man David Thorne claims he had with a utility company chasing payment of an overdue bill.
From: Jane Gilles
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Our records indicate that your account is overdue by the amount of $233.95. If you have already made this payment please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.37pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,
I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $233.95 so trust that this settles the matter.
Regards, David.


From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Thankyou for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.32am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,
Can I have my drawing of a spider back then please.
Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.42am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear David,
You emailed the drawing to me. Do you want me to email it back to you?
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 11.56am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,
Yes please.
Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 12.14pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Overdue account

Attached


From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 09.22am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Whose spider is that?

Dear Jane, Are you sure this drawing of a spider is the one I sent you? This spider only has seven legs and I do not feel I would have made such an elementary mistake when I drew it.
Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.03am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, Yes it is the same drawing. I copied and pasted it from the email you sent me on the 8th. David your account is still overdue by the amount of $233.95. Please make this payment as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.05am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Automated Out of Office Response

Thankyou for contacting me. I am currently away on leave, traveling through time and will be returning last week.
Regards, David.

From: David Thorne
Date: Friday 10 Oct 2008 11.08am
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Hello, I am back and have read through your emails and accept that despite missing a leg, that drawing of a spider may indeed be the one I sent you. I realise with hindsight that it is possible you rejected the drawing of a spider due to this obvious limb ommission but did not point it out in an effort to avoid hurting my feelings. As such, I am sending you a revised drawing with the correct number of legs as full payment for any amount outstanding. I trust this will bring the matter to a conclusion.
Regards, David.


From: Jane Gilles
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 2.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Dear David, As I have stated, we do not accept drawings in lei of money for accounts outstanding. We accept cheque, bank cheque, money order or cash. Please make a payment this week to avoid incurring any additional fees.
Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 13 Oct 2008 3.17pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

I understand and will definately make a payment this week if I remember. As you have not accepted my second drawing as payment, please return the drawing to me as soon as possible. It was silly of me to assume I could provide you with something of completely no value whatsoever, waste your time and then attach such a large amount to it.
Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Tuesday 14 Oct 2008 11.18am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Whose spider is that?

Attached

Very well designed
Keeps the essence of the Touch intact
External speakers included
Volume buttons present
Fingerprint magnet
No drag-and-drop
Genius doesn't work as it should
Bad placement of external speakers
The new Touch has a lot going for itself, though there are few new features. The most prominent happens to be the new 32GB capacity, improved battery life, external speakers and external volume control keys. Some of you may not find the price acceptable, but consider the level of interactivity you can share with the multi-tap technology coverflow, accelerometer – all under one roof, as it were! Features apart, let’s see if the performance measures up...
Design
The new iPod Touch has an eye-catching design. I like the new contoured look, with a snazzy and shiny body. Yet, one look and it goes without saying that the Touch is a fingerprint magnet. A cleaning cloth has been thoughtfully provided with the product.
If you compare the dimensions straight-on, there’s really very little difference. The height and width are the same, at 110mm and 61.8mm respectively, while the depth has increased by 0.5mm to 8.5mm (to accommodate the curve at the back, no doubt). Fundamentally, the design and construction is the same for both generations of the iPod Touch. The weight has gone down by 5g, to 115g.
These dimensions make the Touch the slimmest touch-sensitive PMP available in the market. There’s no doubt you will like the looks of the player. Also, now it’s equipped with volume keys, so you don’t have to unlock the player to get to the controls. Another change is the addition of inbuilt external speakers for casual listening. Oddly, the speakers are placed within the USB slot. The 3.5-inch screen stays the same – and it has a resolution of 480 x 320, at 163 pixels per inch.

The new Web browser that Google Inc. released Tuesday is designed to expand its huge lead in the Internet search market and reduce Microsoft Corp.'s imprint on personal computers.

The free browser, called "Chrome," is being promoted as a sleeker, faster, safer and reliable alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which has been the leading vehicle for surfing the Web for the past decade. Despite recent inroads by Mozilla Foundation's Firefox, Internet Explorer is still used by roughly three-fourths of the world's Web surfers.

"What we want is a diverse and vibrant ecosystem," Google co-founder Sergey Brin told reporters Tuesday during Chrome's unveiling. "We want several browsers that are viable and substantial choices."

Among other features, Chrome's navigation bar - the space where you type an Internet address - will serve a dual purpose. Users can either enter an address into the space or a search request that will be processed through their search engine of choice.

Naturally, Google bets it will be the default search engine for the majority of Chrome users, helping to build upon its nearly 64 percent share of the worldwide search market.

"You only have 24 hours a day and we would like you to do more searches," Google's other co-founder, Larry Page, said at the unveiling. "If the browser runs well, then you will do more searches."

And more queries generate more revenue for Google, whose search engine is the hub of the Internet's largest advertising network.

Google also is counting on Chrome to become the linchpin in its effort to distribute widely used computer programs like word processing, spreadsheets and calendars through the Web browser instead of as applications installed on individual machines. If the crusade is successful, it might undercut Microsoft's profits by diminishing sales of its Office software package.

"Chrome will strengthen the Web as the biggest application platform in the world," predicted Jon von Tetzchner, chief executive of the company that makes the Opera browser, which ranks a distant fourth in the market.

Microsoft, which crushed Netscape Communications to win the last major browser war in the 1990s, played down the threat from Chrome. The Redmond, Wash.-based software maker predicted that most people will embrace its latest version, Internet Explorer 8, which it released in test status last week.

"IE8 is designed to put users in control of how and where they navigate, improve their day-to-day browsing, keep people safe from real threats ... and respect people's privacy online," Dean Hachamovitch, Internet Explorer's general manager, said in a statement Tuesday.

But Benchmark Co. analyst Brent Williams thinks Microsoft has cause for concern. In a Tuesday research note, Williams described Chrome as a "a new, potentially significant, challenge to Microsoft's Web strategy and to (Microsoft's) core product suite, and indeed to (Microsoft's) business model."

Microsoft shares fell 19 cents to $27.10 Tuesday while Google shares gained $1.96 to $465.25.

Chrome may lure even more users from Firefox, which has grabbed more than 10 percent of the browser market with the help of an advertising and search alliance with Google. The ad partnership was recently extended through 2011.

Because Chrome and Google both are built on similar "open-source" models that share computer coding with outside developers to foster innovation, the products are likely to appeal to similar subsets of Web surfers looking for alternatives to Internet Explorer.

"If there is a casualty in the browser wars, it's likely to be Mozilla's Firefox," the Info-Tech Research Group predicted Tuesday.

Google executives emphasized that they wouldn't have been able to build Chrome during the past two years without the inroads already made by Firefox, and expressed hope that the two browsers will blend the best features from both products.

"I hope big chunks of Chrome make it into the next generation of Firefox," Brin said.

In a blog posting, Mozilla CEO John Lilly said he had been expecting Google to enter the browser market for some time and predicted that Firefox would continue to hold its own.

"It should come as no real surprise that Google has done something here - their business is the Web, and they've got clear opinions on how things should be, and smart people thinking about how to make things better," Lilly wrote.

Chrome hopes to set new standards for browsers by enabling Web pages and applications to run on separate tabs that won't crash if there is a problem on another tab. The tabs also can be moved around on a page or even placed on a computer desktop.

The browser also will remember a user's favorite destinations and automatically display the nine most visited Web sites in a tab. For users who don't want someone else with access to the same computer to know where they have been, Chrome includes an "incognito" tab that conceals the Web surfing activity.

Internet Explorer has a built-in advantage over Chrome and other competing Web browsers because it's pre-installed on the hard drives of most computers running on Microsoft Windows.

Although Chrome currently must be downloaded over an Internet connection, Google plans to explore deals with PC makers to put Chrome on new computers, too. Those arrangements could drive up Google's expenses, but Brin thinks it will be worth the investment if Chrome encourages people to spend more of their lives online.

"Our business does well if there is healthy Internet usage," Brin said.

Picture this: marketing executives Arvind Vyas and Supriya Verma are on a client visit. On nearing the glass doors to the office, Arvind pushes his way through first, without taking into consideration that his female colleague is just two steps behind. He lets go of the door, which promptly closes in Supriya's face!
Understandably, Supriya is quite piqued -- Arvind clearly displays a lack of manners. It is customary for a gentleman to not only open any door for a lady, but to politely usher her through before making his own way in. In fact, whoever reaches a door first, irrespective of gender, needs to hold the door open for the person behind. It is such a simple task and yet so many of us fail to do it.
The globalisation of businesses in India has vastly improved manners at work, but there is still much to be desired. In far too many companies, basic courtesies are still overlooked. Every work place has its own complex dynamics but the basic social rules which make people comfortable with each other remain valid in every working situation. An organisation where people are treated well and treat each other well tends to be more successful than others.
Here are certain guidelines to follow in a working environment.
How to welcome newcomers

  • Newcomers should be welcomed by their seniors and colleagues.
  • They should be briefed about their jobs and company practices.
  • Staff at any level should be introduced to any newcomers they encounter.
  • Courtesies should be extended to everyone you meet, irrespective of whether it's the receptionist or the CEO.
  • Avoid asking personal questions regarding the newcomer's educational qualifications/ parentage/ marital status/ age/ income etc.
  • Our names are an important symbol of our identity. Do not mispronounce, misspell or mix-up anybody's name.'
  • Using someone's first name usually implies that you are superior to him, decidedly equal or friends. Therefore, it is best to start off formally. Use their surnames, preceded by Mr, Mrs or Ms. He/ she can then easily suggest that you use a first name.
How to show courtesy towards colleagues

  • Greet everyone you encounter cheerfully and with a smile on your way into the office. On your way out, remember to thank the receptionist / office boys etc.
  • Good bosses, employees and colleagues don't forget their manners. Remember 'please' and 'thank you'.
  • Always show your appreciation with a smile.
  • Small talk and light chitter chatter at work is essential; it expresses friendliness without demanding attention. Whether you talk about the traffic or the weather, the vital message is that you are all part of the same team.
  • Be polite to hired help like peons, drivers, delivery boys etc.
  • Do not talk loudly when you talk over the phone or to your colleagues. Talk in a soft and clear voice.
  • Take instructions with grace and give instructions gracefully.
  • On occasions like birthdays, staff members should receive a personal gift, good wishes and words of appreciation from the boss and colleagues.
  • Always be considerate. The last person to leave the office should not have to switch off all the lights, air conditioners and computers. For example, when a photocopier runs out, whoever used the last sheet of paper should refill it.
  • When you are going to get yourself a cup of tea, coffee or a cold beverage, offer to bring one for your co-workers as well.
  • How to make yourself likeable and pleasant to work with
    • Don't be a whiner who is always complaining and miserable with his/ her lot in life.
    • Never use words like 'can't' and 'won't', nor phrases like 'I'm busy' and 'that's not my job'.
    • Do not criticise anyone -- that's not your job. And if you get criticised, be professional about it. Do not take it personally.
    • Keep personal conversations down to a minimum and keep out of earshot of others.
    • It is shabby to look through people's computers, emails or letters -- and don't ever make the mistake of sneaking into people's personal property like handbags or wallets. Be responsible for your own property and valuables. If you lose your expensive items, everybody else becomes a suspect and nobody likes being one!
    • Never borrow anything from someone's desk without permission and when you do always return it in good condition.
    • Do not misuse office property. Keep your workplace orderly. Do not infringe on other people's space.
    • Be friendly with colleagues of the opposite sex but know where to draw the line. Don't get involved needlessly in any situation which could lead to embarrassment and could potentially damage not only your reputation, but that of the organisation as well.
    • Do not get indulge in office gossip or discuss delicate topics (religion, politics, money, sex etc).
    • Do not fidget or make unnecessary sounds which can be distracting to your co-workers.
    • Maintain stringent standards of personal hygiene. Do clean up after yourself when you use the restrooms so the next person using it does not have to scrunch up his/ her nose!
    • Do not convert your desktop into a place of worship. Since you might be working with people who follow different faiths, it might be better to display a vase of flowers instead.
    • Use office privileges like sick leave etc thoughtfully so that you don't burden your co-workers with extra work.
    Business meeting etiquette
    • Be punctual. If you are late, apologise briefly but sincerely and immediately give total attention to the meeting. Those who wish to leave early should ask their seniors' permission beforehand. Leave quietly, with an 'excuse me' and catch the eye of the person who is talking at that point.
    • Dress well -- it gives a good impression.
    • Always remember to switch of your mobile phone.
    • If there is an established seating pattern, accept it. If you are unsure, ask.
    • Do your homework; get all your facts and figures in order. Go prepared.
    • Acknowledge any introductions or opening remarks with a brief recognition of the chair and other participants.
    • When discussions are underway it is good business etiquette to allow more senior figures to contribute first.
    • Never interrupt anyone -- even if you disagree strongly. Note what has been said and return to it later with the chair's permission.
    • When speaking, be brief and ensure that what you say is relevant.
    • It is a serious breach of business etiquette to divulge what has been discussed at any meeting with a third party -- consider it confidential.
    • Thanking the person who organised the meeting is not only good etiquette; it is also a sign of respect.
    Keep competition within the organisation healthy
    • A team tends to behave like a human body, accepting what is part of it and rejecting any alien tissue. People are accepted if their behaviour mirrors the group norms.
    • Faults and blunders usually take place due to lack of communication. Find out the cause of the mess-up and solve the problem so that it is not repeated.
    • Curb your annoyance and control your temper.
    • Do not strive to pull a colleague down just to get the approval of the boss. This will backfire on you in the long run.
    • Back-stabbing and petty talk is not only unpleasant, it is in poor taste.
    • A secure and efficient worker never grudges another's success. Envy and jealousy among co- workers ruins the working environment for everyone. The following notice, seen on several office walls, gets the point across well:
    • 'This department requires no physical fitness programme. Everyone gets enough exercise:
    • Jumping to conclusions
    • Flying off the handle
    • Running down the boss
    • Knifing friends in the back
    • Dodging responsibility
    • Pushing their luck!'
  •  

If you’re like me, you probably use Google many times a day.  But, chances are, unless you are a technology geek, you probably still use Google in its simplest form.  If your current use of Google is limited to typing a few words in, and changing your query until you find what you’re looking for, then I’m here to tell you that there’s a better way – and it’s not hard to learn.  On the other hand, if you are a technology geek, and can use Google like the best of them already, then I suggest you bookmark this article of Google search tips.  You’ll then have the tips on hand when you are ready to pull your hair out in frustration when watching a neophyte repeatedly type in basic queries in a desperate attempt to find something.
The following Google search tips are based on my own experience and things that I actually find useful.  The list is by no means comprehensive.  But, I assure you that by learning and using the 12 tips below, you’ll rank up there with the best of the Google experts out there.  I’ve kept the descriptions of the search tips intentionally terse as you’re likely to grasp most of these simply by looking at the example from Google anyways.

12 Expert Google Search Tips

  1. Explicit Phrase:
    Lets say you are looking for content about internet marketing.  Instead of just typing internet marketing into the Google search box, you will likely be better off searching explicitly for the phrase.  To do this, simply enclose the search phrase within double quotes.

    Example: "internet marketing"
  2. Exclude Words:
    Lets say you want to search for content about internet marketing, but you want to exclude any results that contain the term advertising.  To do this, simply use the "-" sign in front of the word you want to exclude.

    Example Search: internet marketing -advertising
  3. Site Specific Search:
    Often, you want to search a specific website for content that matches a certain phrase.  Even if the site doesn’t support a built-in search feature, you can use Google to search the site for your term. Simply use the "site:somesite.com" modifier.

    Example: "internet marketing" site:www.smallbusinesshub.com
  4. Similar Words and Synonyms:
    Let’s say you are want to include a word in your search, but want to include results that contain similar words or synonyms.  To do this, use the "~" in front of the word.

    Example: "internet marketing" ~professional
  5. Specific Document Types:
    If you’re looking to find results that are of a specific type, you can use the modifier "filetype:".  For example, you might want to find only PowerPoint presentations related to internet marketing.

    Example: "internet marketing" filetype:ppt
  6. This OR That:
    By default, when you do a search, Google will include all the terms specified in the search.  If you are looking for any one of one or more terms to match, then you can use the OR operator.  (Note:  The OR has to be capitalized).

    Example: internet marketing OR advertising
  7. Phone Listing:
    Let’s say someone calls you on your mobile number and you don’t know how it is.  If all you have is a phone number, you can look it up on Google using the phonebook feature.

    Example: phonebook:617-555-1212 (note:  the provided number does not work – you’ll have to use a real number to get any results).
  8. Area Code Lookup:
    If all you need to do is to look-up the area code for a phone number, just enter the 3-digit area code and Google will tell you where it’s from.

    Example: 617
  9. Numeric Ranges:
    This is a rarely used, but highly useful tip.  Let’s say you want to find results that contain any of a range of numbers.  You can do this by using the X..Y modifier (in case this is hard to read, what’s between the X and Y are two periods.  This type of search is useful for years (as shown below), prices or anywhere where you want to provide a series of numbers.

    Example: president 1940..1950
  10. Stock (Ticker Symbol):
    Just enter a valid ticker symbol as your search term and Google will give you the current financials and a quick thumb-nail chart for the stock.

    Example: GOOG
  11. Calculator:
    The next time you need to do a quick calculation, instead of bringing up the Calculator applet, you can just type your expression in to Google.

    Example: 48512 * 1.02
  12. Word Definitions:
    If you need to quickly look up the definition of a word or phrase, simply use the "define:" command.

    Example: define:plethora
Hope this list of Google search tips proves useful in your future Google searches.  If there are any of your favorite Google expert power tips that I’ve missed, please feel free to share them in the comments.

Great looks
Good speakers
3.5mm jack
Small screen
Fastscroll navigation wheel is inaccurate
Music quality isn't great and the earphones make it sound worse
Sluggish performance
View Specifications
I've been waiting for the ROKR E8 ever since I first saw it at the Motorola Developers' Conference in Bangalore a couple of months ago, and for good reason! Clearly Motorola’s got an eye for good design, and also a strong research team in place to ensure the best quality. That said, it's time the company concentrated on better integrated services. The technology used in its phones is rather staid, for one, and the GUI further undermines the value of the product.
The E8 offers some snazzy new features, but their execution sadly leaves much to be desired. Let’s start with the form factor.

Design and Build

The build quality is, in a word, amazing. There’s the much appreciated shiny glass finish on the front, and a slip-free rubberized back. At 115 x 53 x 10.6 mm, it’s not the slimmest phone around, and the 3.5mm jack found right on top is perhaps to blame. However, the phone looks proportionate, and the 3.5mm jack allows you to connect your device to pretty much any speaker system
The phone-lock slider on the right makes a lot of sense. No more trial-and-error; just one flick and the phone is locked. The USB/charging slot is placed right above the lock slider. The volume keys are on the left, and for good measure there’s a dedicated MusicID button below.
When the screen is off, you will notice tiny dot-sized ridges all over the face of the phone. Since the face is flat, there are no visible buttons; they all light up only when in use. This is where the morphing technology comes into play – it lights up only those keys needed for a particular application. Nice!
The Fastscroll wheel is another fancy addition, along with the Modeshift four-way navigation pad. However, with such a snazzy design I wonder what sense a small two-inch screen makes. It really pulls the rug under Motorola’s feet, forcing the E8 to land flat on its face.

Experts at SophosLabs, Sophos's global network of virus, spyware and spam analysis centers, have reminded internet users to be on their guard following the discovery of a spyware Trojan horse that displays pictures of a potential Russian love match while secretly stealing information.

When first run on a user's computer, the Troj/Keylog-HD Trojan horse displays a slideshow of 3 photographs of a young woman called "Victoria Stasova". Accompanying the photographs is a love heart and an AOL email address.

However, while the pictures are being displayed, the malware steals keypresses and information from the infected user's PC which could allow hackers to plunder bank accounts and commit identity theft.

"One of the ways in which malware like this could work is that computer users could find themselves being chatted up online by someone who they believe is a potential lovematch, and then be sent the slideshow as the virtual romance blossoms. Having found new love victims may rush to run the slideshow with their head in the clouds, and not realise their finances are being consigned to the gutter", said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant for Sophos.

Although Sophos has not seen a large number of reports of the Trojan horse, it recommends that users ensure their anti-virus protection is up-to-date and they exercise caution about which programs they choose to run on their computers.
trojkeyloghdgif.gif









Dell's smallest and most environmentally friendly consumer PC, the Studio Hybrid, has been launched.


Available immediately here, the Studio Hybrid is about the size of a collegiate dictionary and depending on the location or decor, can be set up in a vertical or horizontal orientation, and be personalized with a choice of seven optional, interchangeable external finishes or color sleeves: Bamboo, Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate, and Topaz.

"The design and craftsmanship of the Studio Hybrid alone are enough to cause you to do a double take," Michael Tatelman, vice president, Dell global consumer sales and marketing. "Combine that with the performance of this little beauty and its environmentally smart DNA, and you’ve got something truly unique – something that you can make your own."

The Hybrid PC is about 80 percent smaller than the typical desktop minitower, and uses up to 70 percent less energy. It is Energy Star 4.0 compliant and the packaging was designed to be environmentally responsible with 30 percent reduced packing materials, by weight, as compared to typical tower desktops. Packing materials are 95 percent recyclable with 75 percent reduced printed documentation on average as compared to other desktops. A system recycling kit is included in the package.

With a starting price of $499, the Hybrid PC allows Wi-Fi networking, has a wireless keyboard and mouse, a Blu-ray Disc drive and TV tuner.

Dell also expanded its Inspiron family with the addition of the Inspiron 518 desktop and Inspiron 13 laptop.

The Inspiron 13 laptop is designed for students, with a starting weight of just under 5 pounds, and encased in glossy Pacific blue with black trim. Features include a 13-inch high definition display, capacitive touch media buttons, 8-in-1 media card reader and slot-load DVD drive. Optional features include built-in wireless networking, built-in webcam and Bluetooth connectivity.

A special $699 configuration of the Inspiron 13 will be available at Wal-Mart in the U.S. starting August 3. Fully configurable systems will be available on www.dell.com on a global basis later in the month.

The Inspiron 518 desktop has a gloss-black exterior with chrome accents. Features include DX10 integrated graphics for casual gaming, optional 500 GB hard drive, optional quad core processors.

The Inspiron 518 starts at $349,(monitor not included) and is available immediately on www.dell.com.

Innovative design

Feature-rich

Decent battery life

Good FM radio reception
Keypad will take getting used to

Image quality is just about okay

Audio player sound is too low


View Specifications



Sony Ericsson’s Cyber-shot range of mobile handsets come in some trendy designs. As they carry the name of Sony’s digital camera range, the expectation of similar performance is unavoidable. Then again, we have to take into account that we’re not talking about a dedicated device but a multipurpose gadget designed for various needs and requirements. We put the Cyber-shot C902 through some rigorous tests over the last ten days, and here’s our take on it.



Form Factor

The C902 is definitely a good-looking handset. It’s sleek and slim, and the lines running along its edges make it even more eye-catching. The 'hidden' camera is a unique feature. All you need to do to activate or reveal thecamera is slide up the upper portion of the handset (just above the display) and voila, out pops a 5MP camera with a flash and a sexy blue neon light. The secondary camera for video calling is located in the front and doesn’t need to be activated by sliding, it’ll work as is. That is if we ever get to use it for its primary feature. Hullo! No 3G yet!

The 2-inch display has a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and 256K colors. When the camera is activated, a set of touch-sensitive shortcuts (for camera options) appears all around the display. What I had a problem with is the keypad. Although it’s quite large, the keys are a bit hard and took some getting used to.

This 10.5mm thick handset has SE’s proprietary connector port for USB and a handsfree kit located on one side. Thankfully, like the Walkman series, the C902’s handsfree kit comes with a 3.5mm adapter. On the other side are the volume/zoom keys and the shutter release for the camera. It doesn’t have a hot swap slot for the M2 card (2GB provided) on the outside but you’ll find it under the rear panel. The rear panel is a bit tricky to open, so avoid fiddling with it unless necessary.



Features and Performance

The C902 offers all the basic applications: a Calendar, a Task option, Notes, Timer Stopwatch, Calculator and a Code Memo feature. Like all SE handsets that are 3G capable and have a secondary camera, the C902 also has a dedicated application for video calling. The menus can also be customized – from a simple grid to rotating icons and single icon views –  to make it look a bit more interactive.



Kodak today announced the latest addition to its Z-Series and M-series line of digital cameras - The Kodak Easyshare Z1015 IS and the Kodak Easyshare M1093 IS.

Easyshare Z1015


The camera offers both long-distance and wide-angle shots with the 15X SCHNEIDER- KREUZNACH VARIOGON Optical Zoom Lens (f/2.8 28mm wide-angle) with image stabilization lens.

It offers a click-to-capture speed of <0.22 sec and can manage HD pictures and videos. The Kodak Easyshare Z1015 IS Digital Camera will be available from September 2008 at US$349.95 MSRP. Easyshare M1093


An affordable camera, the M1093 is for the style conscious and includes easy features like the Smart Capture feature that identifies the scene and adjusts camera settings for any environment, automatically. Image stabilization and blur reduction technology reduces blur caused by camera shake, subject movement or fast-action situations.

The Kodak Easyshare M1093 IS Digital Camera will retail for US$199.95 MSRP from September 2008.




One more day to go before Apple opens its doors to the eager mobile users standing in queue to get their hands on the iPhone 3G. It’s been a long run for the iPhone and it’s come a long way. I still believe it has a long way to go though. Of course anyone who’s been keeping up with the facts will know that Apple has the designed the iPhone 3G to be unlocked only from an Apple or AT&T store. This unlocking procedure, according to an Apple will take about 10 – 15 minutes.

Apart from the information that US customers will need to under go a credit check by providing their Social Security numbers and or credit cards and now this, you’ll have to have an immense amount of patience especially after waiting in long lines. Good luck guys. Hope it’s worth it.

Stay Tuned.

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