Using Gmail to back up files with ease

I have used various ways to backup data, including emailing files to myself, burning the files on a CD, making multiple copies on network computers etc. Doing each of these things is a bit time consuming and bit buggy.

Gmail Drive Shell extension is basically a Shell Namespace extension that creates a virtual drive that will point to your Gmail account, allowing you to use your Gmail account as a backup device.

Screen shot of gmail drive

Some of the features I like are that it is just like your regular explorer drive and you can use similar function's like cut, copy, paste in this extension.

What happens to the files you copy to this new drive?

The files that you copy over get emailed to your Gmail account with a prefix containing the words GMAILFS using which you can create filters to label mails to any folders you want.

With the amount of space Gmail provides a whopping 2.8 GB and the number of accounts you can sign up with I safely can get my data backed up with ease and have it kept safe too. Well this is not only the most cheapest way of having your backups done but also one of the safest and hassle free method.

Though still there are some limitations such as the file name or folder name cannot exceed to be more than 65 characters. But I don't thingk this is a major concern right now.

Needless to say that to use the Gmail Drive you will need to have a active internet connection and a Gmail account for starters.

You can download this useful extension from Google Drive Shell Extension's site.

The Smiley Turns 25 :-)

Twenty-five years ago today, at 11:44 a.m., Carnegie Mellon University Professor Scott E. Fahlman sat down at his computer and added his input to a joke thread on an online bulletin board.

I propose the following character sequence for joke markers:
:-)
Read it sideways.

Thus, the smiley was born.

"[The] convention caught on quickly around Carnegie Mellon, and soon spread to other universities and research labs via the primitive computer networks of the day," Fahlman says on his page of Smiley Lore :-). Within weeks, dozens of smiley variations and other emoticons were born, leading up to the nearly exhaustive list of popular emotional icons in use today.

"It has been fascinating to watch this phenomenon grow from a little message I tossed off in ten minutes to something that has spread all around the world," said the unassuming Falhman about Smiley's 25th birthday. "I sometimes wonder how many millions of people have typed these characters, and how many have turned their heads to one side to view a smiley, in the 25 years since this all started."

For those who are truly interested in the history, you can read the entire "joke" conversation thread from the CMU CS general bb board that led to Scott Fahlman's invention of the smiley. Hard to believe it's been 25 years!

To honor the occasion, Falhman and his colleagues have starting an annual student contest for innovation in online communication. The Smiley Award, sponsored by Yahoo, carries a $500 cash prize.

Technology vs Teenagers

Mosquito device sends out a high pitched irritating noise that can only be heard by young men as most people over 25 do not hear sound at this frequency range. The purpose of Mosquito is to prevent unwanted gatherings of youths and teenagers in shopping malls and around shops or chase them away.

Not only shopkeepers, Railway companies have placed the device to discourage youths from spraying graffiti on trains and the walls of railway stations.

When Compound Security System developed Mosquito, they would never have imagined that the device would actually help kids and teenagers in their classrooms.

The sound emitted by the Mosquito Teens Repellant is now converted into a Cellphone Ringtone. Since adult teachers cannot hear the sound because it's too high-pitched, school children can receive text message alerts and incoming calls on their cell phones without the teacher knowing.

Download Mosquito Ringtone

Bluetooth Laser Virtual Keyboard

The future is here. Yes you read the heading correctly, you can carry a keyboard right there in your pocket.



The pictured device shows how it is possible to reflect on any flat surface a keyboard and connect that keyboard via bluetooth to a smart phone, PDA, or other device such as a laptop. When you place your fingers and press a key you hear a definite click for each key pressed.

Product Features

• Virtual Keyboard connects to PDAs Smartphones and Computers using Bluetooth
• Projects a full size keyboard onto any flat surface
• Allows the convenience of regular keyboard typing in a tiny form factor
• Rechargeable battery lasts for 120 minutes of continuous typing
• Tiny size only 3.5 inches high
• Compatible with PalmOS 5, PocketPC 2003, Windows Smartphone, Symbian OS, and Windows 2000/XP. Limited Mac OSX Support.

There, you see, at barely larger than a matchbox, this device allows you to carry a keyboard in your pocket. For more information go to ThinkGeek "Bluetooth Laser Keyboard".

Restore a Discolored Photo

How To Restore a Discolored Photo with Photoshop Elements
From Robert Redwood

If you've got old photographs in your family album that have faded, you may wish to scan them in and then repair them using Photoshop Elements. It couldn't be simpler to restore a discolored photo.

Here's How:

1. First open up the scanned image in the Photoshop Elements editor. Then switch into 'Quick Fix' mode by pressing the Quick Fix button.
2. In Quick Fix mode we can get a 'Before and After' view of our image. Using the drop down box labeled 'View', select either 'Before and After (Portrait)' or 'Before and After (Landscape)' depending on which fits your image best.
3. Now, to recolor the image, we use the 'Smart Fix' slider in the 'General Fixes' tab.
4. Drag the slider along to the middle, and the photo should return to a much more normal color. It's worth fine-tuning a little at this stage. Dragging the slider slightly to the right will emphasize the blues and greens in the image. Moving it to the left will increase the reds and yellows.
5. Once your image is the right color, click the tick icon at the top of the tab to accept the changes.
6. If your image is still too dark or light, the sliders in the 'Lighting' tab can be used to bring out the detail a bit more. Many photos won't need this extra step though.
7. If necessary, use the 'Lighten Shadows' and 'Darken Highlights' sliders to adjust the brightness of the image. Then alter the 'Midtone Contrast' slider to increase the contrast slightly, if the image has faded in this way. You'll need to hit the tick icon again to confirm the changes.

Tips:

1. Once your photograph is repaired, you can re-print it and stick it next to the original in the album!
2. If your photograph is torn, or has marks or blemishes on it, take a look at this article on Repairing Torn Photos.

Google - Tricks, Tips, and Shortcuts

Here are some not so familiar google search tricks and tips that are very useful.

NOT MORE THAN 32 WORDS - Google will indicate in a message below the query box at the top of the page if your query exceeds the 32-word limit, so keep your search phrases as short as possible.

ORDER IS IMPORTANT - Google searches the words in the order they appear. So TRAVEL WORLD will get you results which are different from WORLD TRAVEL.

INTITLE - Search only the Webpage Titles. Example: intitle:funny pictures

SPECIFY FILETYPES - There are a number of file types searched by Google in addition to standard HTML-formatted pages. Example: Typing filetype:swf ninja games brings back only flash movies on the subject of ninja games. Check out more examples below.

- Adobe Acrobat - pdf
- Microsoft Excel - xls
- Powerpoint - ppt
- Rich Text Format - rtf
- Text files - txt

INTEXT only, NO URL or link - Google searches only in the body text of Web pages-not in links, URLs, or titles. Example: intext:best game

SEARCH WITHIN A SPECIFIC SITE - Use this when you want Google's to search in particular site alone. Example: site:gamerevolution.com arcade games would return results about arcade games from gamerevolution site alone.

ASK GOOGLE TO DEFINE A WORD - Example define: secret

GOOGLE AS CALCULATOR or CURRENCY EXCHANGE CALCULATOR - its as simple as entering 4+4 or any other complex equation. In Currency conversion just put a '?' for the unknown term. Example - 34 INR = ? USD.

Battle at Kruger (United We Rise - Divided We Fall)

I was upset at first as I did not want to watch that calf be torn in half by tigers and aligators, but I kept watching with one eye.... and he got away!

Better than a movie

Image Resizing

This is great technology, and it is now even more difficult to believe what you see, considering how actual people/objects can just be erased naturally from pictures!

But definitely looking forward to this technology.

Read it Backwards

This exercise will help build your mental endurance and concentration. Each line contains a common phrase that has been printed backwards. See how long it takes you identify and read the phrase correctly.

1. nietsniE treblA- .wen gnihtyna deirt reven ekatsim a edam reven ohw nosrep A
2. nosidE .A samohT- .noitaripsrep tnec rep enin-ytenin dna noitaripsni tnec rep eno si suineG
3. eraepsekahS mailliW- .loof a eb ot flesmih swonk nam esiw a tub ,esiw eb ot flesmih skniht loof A
4. setracseD eneR- .llew ti esu ot si gniht niam eht ;dnim doog a evah ot hguone ton si tI
5. ybsoC lliB- .ecivda eht deen taht seno diputs eht s’ti - yrassecen t’nia esiw eht ot drow A

BIOS Error messages and beep codes

Speaker Beep Codes (AMI)

1	Refresh Failure	The memory refresh circuitry on the baseboard is fault.
2	Parity Error	Parity error in the first 64KB of memory.
3	Base 64KB Memory Failure	Memory failure in the first 64KB of memory.
4	Timer Not Operational	Memory failure in the first 64KB of memory, or Timer 1 on the baseboard is not functioning.
5	Processor Error	The CPU on the baseboard generated an error.
6	8042 - Gate A20 Failure	The Keyboard controller (8042) may be bad. The BIOS cannot switch to protected mode.
7	Processor Exception Interrupt Error	The CPU generaed an exception interrupt.
8	Display Memory Read/Write Error	The system video adapter is either missing or its memory is faulty. This is not a fatal error.
9	ROM Checksum Error	ROM checksum value does not match the value encoded in BIOS.
10	CMOS Shutdown Register Read/Write Error	The shutdown register for CMOS RAM failed.
11	Cache Error / External Cache Bad	The external cache is faulty.

Speaker Beep Codes (Award)

1 long, 2 short	Video adapter error	Either video adapter is bad or is not seated properly.
1 long, 3 short	No video card or bad video RAM	Either video adapter or video RAM is bad or not seated properly.
Repeating	Memory error	Main memory is bad or not seated properly.
Repeating High/Low	CPU error	Either the CPU is not seated properly or damaged.

Note: High frequency beeps while running means the CPU is overheating.

Error Messages (AMI)

8042 Gate - A20 Error	Gate A20 on the keyboard controller (8042) is not working. Replace the 8042.
Address Line Short!	Error in the address decoding circuitry on the baseboard.
Cache Memory Bad, Do Not Enable Cache!	Cache memory is defective. Relace it.
CH-2 Timer Error	Most AT systems include two timers. There is an error in timer 2.
CMOS Battery State Low	CMOS RAM is powered by a battery. The battery power is low. Replace the battery.
CMOS Checksum Failure	After CMOS RAM values are saved, a checksum value is generated for error checking. The previous value is different from the current value. Run the BIOS Setup.
CMOS System Option Not Set	The values stored in CMOS RAM are either corrupt or nonexistent. Run BIOS Setup.
CMOS Display Type Mismatch	The video type in CMOS does not match the type detected by the BIOS. Run BIOS Setup.
CMOS Memory Size Mismatch	The amount of memory on the baseboard is different than the amount in CMOS RAM. Run BIOS Setup.
CMOS Time and Date Not Set	Run Standard CMOS Setup to set the date and time in CMOS RAM.
Diskette Boot Failure	The boot disk in floppy drive A: is corrupt, it cannot be used to boot the system. Use another boot disk and follow the screen instructions.
Display Switch Not Proper	Some systems require a video switch on the baseboard be set to either color or monochrome. Turn the system off, set the switch, then power on.
DMA Error	Error in the DMA controller.
DMA #1 Error	Error in the first DMA channel.
DMA #2 Error	Error in the second DMA channel.
FDD Controller Failure	The BIOS cannot communicate with the floppy disk drive controller. Check all appropriate connections after the system is powered down.
HDD Controller Failure	The BIOS cannot communicate with the hard disk drive controller. Check all appropriate connections after the system is powered down.
INTR #1 Error	Interrupt channel 1 failed POST.
INTR #2 Error	Interrupt channel 2 failed POST.
Invalid Boot Diskette	The BIOS can read the disk in floppy A:, but cannot boot the system. Use another boot disk.
Keyboard Is Locked… Unlock It	The keyboard lock on the system is engaged. The system must be unlocked to continue.
Keyboard Error	There is a timing problem with the keyboard. Set the Keyboard option in Standard CMOS Setup to Not Installed to skip the keyboard POST routines.
KB/Interface Error	There is an error in the keyboard connector.
Off Board Parity Error	Parity error in memory installed in an expansion slot.
On Board Parity Error	Parity error in baseboard memory.
Parity Error ????	Parity error in system memory at an unknown address.

Andy Mckee - Guitar - Drifting

Awesome!

10 Interesting Things You Can Do with YouTube or Google Videos

Unless you are staying in an underground cave for more than a year without an internet connection, there's a healthy chance that you have atleast watched, if not downloaded, an online video on Youtube or Google Videos.

The online video sharing space has exploded in the recent months with the entry of new players like Metacafe, Blip.tv, Revver, Yahoo Videos and so on. Millions of video clips, technology shows, music albums, movie trailers are available on these video sites for online viewing or they can also be downloaded to your hard drive for offline viewing.

The downloaded video files are generally in FLV format (Flash Video) which is an Adobe standard for video compression. It has fast becoming the web standard for delivering online video (replacing Apple QuickTime, AVI, Windows Media and Real rm formats) because Flash Video can be viewed inside Macromedia Flash Players which is shipped by default with most web browsers. [Flash Video Learning Guide]

A lot of us know how to download Google Videos or Youtube videos from the internet but what do we do next ? Can we make the FLV video files searchable ? How do you edit FLV files ? All your questions and concerns are answered here:

How do I download videos from Youtube or Google Videos or Metacafe ?

It's strange that none of the video sharing sites provide a simple one-click button to download videos. So we will have to take the help of easy workarounds to download the videos. Here are three different ways to download any video from the internet though internally, they employ the same hack (Right-click -> "Save Target As" OR copy the link into your download manager. but change the file extension to .flv)

Approach 1: The easiest way is to copy your video URL and paste it on KeepVid Lite. When you click submit, you will be provided with a link to save the video as an FLV file.

Approach 2: Bookmark this Link or drag it your browser links toolbar. When you want to download a certain video, open the link in your browser and click the KeepVid button.

Approach 3: For Firefox Users - Install the VideoDownloader Extension from Mozilla Addons website - It downloads all embedded objects on a webpage including the video clips.

What naming convention do I adopt for saving video files on my hard disk ?

With time, as the collection of FLV files on your computer grows in size, it may get impossible to keep a track of the video files. The drawback of flv files is that they are neither searchable nor indexed by media gallery software like Picasa or Apple iTunes. Hence, an intelligent approach would be save the files in such a manner that it becomes obvious even for a layman to understand what the video is all about.

Try to include a short context and duration of the video in the name. For instance, the Google Factory Tour video is 5hours, 39minutes and 41seconds long. You can save it as Google_Factory_Tour_053941.flv or GoogleFactoryTour_053941.flv.

Such files are easy to find later using desktop search programs. Alternatively, if you have the time and energy, the FLV Meta Data Injector can insert additional meta data into FLV files. It's a free command line utility. [Watch Video Tutorial]

How can I play FLV files on my computer - They don't open with Windows Media Player or Winamp or iTunes ?

You can download free FLV players to watch FLV files locally. My favorite FLV player has a simple and easy-to-remember name - FLV Player. Another nice alternative is the Riva FLV player.

I download a large 30 minute video from Youtube but I am only interested in the last 10 minutes of the clip. How do I split a large FLV file into smaller playable video clips?

This is the most common question among video enthusiasts - they want to split a large FLV video file into smaller chunks for editing or resharing only the interesting tidbits on the internet. To break an FLV file, get the free FLV Parser - a tiny command-line tool to split FLVs into pieces. Its intended use is to convert a large FLV into a series of shorter FLVs based on a series of millisecond-based timecodes. Using the -s switch will split the audio and video of the outputted files; the audio track will be extracted as a series of MP3 files, and the short FLVs produced will have no audio track at all.

How do I convert FLV videos to Flash SWF or Windows AVI or Apple Quicktime mov formats ?

The free Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer software from Super can convert FLV files to practically any other video format including MP4, MOV H.264, AVI, ASF or Flash SWF animations. Download here.

How do I convert my AVI MPEG MOV 3GP movie clips back to FLV format ?

Say you complete editing your movie in Windows Movie Maker or Avid and now left with an MOV file that you want to convert to FLV. Just get the free Riva FLV encoder and relax. The Riva encoder even lets you select parts of the video that you want to convert to FLV and crop the rest.

I have three small video clips that I download from Google Videos and now want to join them into one single video - How do I merge FLV files ?

I am not aware of any free software that let you join FLV files other than the expensive Macromedia Flash Professional. However, here's a simple workaround to join several flv video file - convert individual flv files to avi using Super [as mentioned above], then join the multiple Avi files into a single avi file using free VirtualDub and finally convert this avi back to FLV using Riya FLV encoder.

How do I watch Youtube Video on my iPod, PSP or Television ?

Again we'll make use of the Super Video Encoder mentioned above. Just convert the FLV file into a corresponding format (like Apple iPod or Sony PSP or MPG) and transfer it to your gadget.

I want to add my own music and photos to a Youtube video clip but don't have the budget to buy Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro or Macromedia Flash. Can I still create my custom video for free ?

Chances are that your computer already has a full fledged video editing application installed by default - it's called Windows Movie Maker and should satisfy the needs of most hobbyist film makers. You can add titles, transitions and even certain video effects.

Here's how to edit a Youtube video inside WIndows Movie Maker - First convert the FLV to AVI format using Super Encoding software, then add your own pictures, music or video clips and finally export the completed file into any video format of your choice. It's that simple.

I don't like the FLV Video Player provided by Google Video. Can I create my custom skin for embedding the video clip ?

The problem with official video players, like the ones provided by YouTube or Metacafe, is that they cannot be customized and the embedded video content is completely contolled by the video hosting site. You cannot personalize the layout of the FLV players like the color settings, logos, etc.

Hence the best solution is to get your creative juices flowing and design the skin of the FLV player yourself. Instructions are available at Adobe Website. You may have to have to download trial version of Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash Professional software for this trick to work.

Google Videos are not available in my country yet - Can I set download them or view them online ?

Absolutely, you can still watch and download Google Video - read workaround.

USB-Powered Disk Shredder

This device certainly looks benign. However, stick your disk on this little bad boy, push the red button, and in five seconds, the disk is toast.

The USB-powered CD Destroyer places deep, damaging circular scratches on the media. It will certainly keep the dumpster divers from finding any data you might not want to fall into the wrong hands.

Comes with a carrying case in case you need to destroy CDs on the go.

Host your own website from any PC

Purplenova

Purplenova is a "must-have" Internet product that allows you to host files, websites and Web-Services directly from your PC, running MS Windows Win2000, Win2003, Win XP, etc. You do not need any other software except your Windows operating System to be installed on your PC and an Internet connection for installing and using Purplenova.

Purplenova can be used to host all types of files including Word documents, Powerpoints, Spreadsheets, music play-lists, Photo Albums, Webpages, and even Web-Services directly from your PC. People who you choose to provide access to these files can access them through normal Internet Browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc. without any plug-ins or additional software.

You are in full control of the hosting, and only the files you explicitly select for hosting are accessible. People DO NOT get access to your PC, nor can they write to or modify your files in any way. The content is served in a SECURE way.

Each hosted file gets a Unique Resource Locator (URL). When the reader enters the URL to access the files, the file-content is accessed from your PC and delivered to the reader"s browser. You can choose to make such transmissions SECURE, in which case the file contents are transmitted encrypted end-to-end, leveraging the SSL protocol. Unless you have explicitly cached your files, your computer needs to be ON when the content is accessed by the reader.

In short, Purplenova is a cool way to SECURELY deliver content end-to-end without any risk to your computer!

You can begin to use Purplenova by following these 5 simple steps..

Step 1: Download Purplenova installable from the link on the home page.

Step 2: Once the file is installed double click on it. The Installation takes you through 3-4 standard screens. Keep the default options in case of doubt.

Step 3: Run the software by clicking on the icon on the desktop or through your "Start" menu. When you run the software for the first time, it will ask you to select a username and password. No personal information, or credit card information is required other than your email address.

Step 4: To host (share) a file, simply drag and drop it from Windows Explorer into the Purplenova Window (screen shot below).

Step 5: Right click on the shared file, and from the menu, select "Copy URL". Send the URL to the intended recipients via email, Internet Messenger or any other means. All they have to do is enter the URL into a browser to access your file. Please see the screen shot below

http://www.purplenova.com/download.html

Mount ISO files as a Virtual CD / DVD drive

Many a times when you download software you will get it as a ISO or a CD image file formats which are just a image of the actual CD drive. An ISO file needs to be burned on a CD or DVD so that you can use or install the software.

For those who do not have a CD / DVD burner this may cause a lot of problems as those files will be rendered as useless.

If you are one of those who do not have a CD / DVD burner or do not want to burn the image on a CD / DVD but still want to make those use the files inside the image you can do that with the help of MagicDisc.

MagicDisc Virual CD/DVD-ROM is a freeware that allows you to mount ISO files as a virtual CD or DVD drive.

You can mount up to 15 virtual CD / DVD drives using MagicDisc. In addition to this you can also create a image file (ISO) from a existing CD or DVD. Usage is pretty simple. Once you have installed the software. It will show up as a tray icon like shown below.

Right clicking on the icon will load a new menu using which you can mount or unmount and image files as a virtual CD / DVD drive. Selecting the virtual drive will show you options to mount or unmount the drive.

Clicking on mount will open a file dialog from where you can choose the image file and mount it as a virtual drive and will appear in your Windows Explorer. You can then install the software or copy the files using the mounted drive. Once you have finished use of the mounted drive you can simply click on the Unmount option to unmount the drive.

This is a very useful software as it supports many different types of image files along with supporting the default ISO files

• BIN (CDRWin)
• IMA/IMG (Generic disk images)
• CIF (Easy CD Creator)
• NRG (Nero - Burning ROM)
• IMG/CCD (CloneCD)
• MDF/MDS (Fantom CD)
• VCD (Farstone Virtual Drive)
• VaporCD (Noum Vapor CDROM)
• P01/MD1/XA (Gear)
• VC4/000 (Virtual CD)
• VDI (Virtuo CD Manager)
• C2D (WinOnCD)
• BWI/BWT (BlinkWrite)
• CDI (DiscJuggler)
• TAO/DAO (Duplicator)
• PDI (Instant Copy)

MagicDisc will work on Windows 9x / Me / 2000 / XP / 2003 and Vista based PC for 32 bit version and Windows XP / 2003 and Vista 64 bit editions.

Let me know if you found this software useful. Your comments are always welcome.

Download MagicDisc Virtual CD/DVD-ROM.

2008 Hybrid Vehicles

There are some exciting new choices in hybrids for the 2008 model year. General Motors' two-mode hybrid system will debut in several vehicles, with the GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado, Cadillac Escalade Hybrid pictures yet-to-come. Honda is offering a 4-cylinder full hybrid system in the Fit for 2008, utilizing technology from the discontinued Insight. Not only is the hybrid price war on--with some of the below models offered at less than 2007 prices--there will be more hybrid models coming throughout 2008, from the Ford Fusion Hybrid to the Mercury Milan Hybrid. Looking ahead to 2009 and 2010, hybrids on the horizon include the Ford Edge Hybrid, Lincoln MKX Hybrid and Porsche Cayenne Hybrid in the SUV class, with the Ford Five Hundred Hybrid and Mercury Montego Hybrid filling out the large car offerings.

Enjoy these 2008 photos, and we'll update new releases as they continue to be announced.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

Chevrolet's economical Malibu family sedan got a facelift for 2008--and for the first time, a hybrid drivetrain. With a MSRP of $22,790, the 2.4L Ecotec Malibu hybrid goes on sale in November and is rated at 32 mpg highway/24 city.

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2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

The much bally-hooed two-mode hybrid system developed in a GM, Chrysler, BMW partnership debuts in the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid. GM states the 5.3-liter (327 cu in) OHV V-8, 300hp Tahoe Hybrid will tally up 25 percent better fuel economy than the non-hybrid Tahoe (that clocks in at 20 mpg on the highway).

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2008 Dodge Durango Hybrid

Chrysler has placed its flavor of the two-mode hybrid drivetrain in the 2008 Dodge Durango. With a starting MSRP of $26,455, the Durango Hybrid will offer a 5.7-liter HEMI with Multiple Displacement System (MDS), and is anticipated to offer a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, and according to Dodge, up to a 40 percent boost in the city.

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2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

Since the Escape first debuted in 2001 and the Escape Hybrid came online in 2004, it's been a popular SUV choice. The 2008 Escape has received a redesign that includes hybrid system upgrades. Equipped with a 133-hp, 2.3-liter engine, with EPA fuel economy estimates at 34 mpg city/30 highway, the base front-wheel drive model rings in at $25,740. The Escape is available in both FWD and 4WD.

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2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid

The GMC Yukon's hybrid package is a twin to the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid, and they're both expected to deliver a 25 percent improvement in overall gas mileage over conventional models (which get up to 22 mpg on the highway). The Yukon's V-8 engine is mated to two electric motors inside the transmission, one of which powers the Yukon Hybrid for city driving; the other kicks in for highway cruising.

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2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

Honda's popular 1.3L, 4-cylinder Civic Hybrid midsize sedan will continue to offer its hybrid version in 2008, with the new EPA ratings coming in at 40 mpg city/45 highway.

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2008 Honda Fit

For 2008, the Honda Fit inherits the hybrid package that formed the underpinnings of the Insight, the first hybrid sold in America and loved for its 60-mpg estimated fuel mileage--but not its two-seater status. The Fit Hybrid is expected to make a splash in the hybrid market since it's expected to sell for around $16,500, making it the most affordable hybrid on the market.

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2008 Lexus RX 400h

Lexus knows they've got a good thing goin'. The 2008 RX 400h returns with its reliable hybrid hardware in a luxury package. With a 3.3-liter V-6 gasoline engine mated to an electric drive motor, the RX 400h is known for performance plus better fuel efficiency. Available in all-wheel-drive and front-wheel drive, the EPA ratings come in at 26/24 mpg and 27/24 mpg respectively, and is a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle).

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2008 Lexus GS 450h

A name synonymous with comfort, convenience and now hybrid-ness, the 2008 GS 450h retains its hold in a market for upscale auto buyers going green. The rear-wheel-drive 2008 GS 450h offers the Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain that combines a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with an electric motor for 340 horsepower with zero-to-60 in 5.2 seconds. The GS 450h is certified as a Super-Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) with EPA fuel economy tacking in at 22 mpg city/25 highway.

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2008 Lexus LS 600h L

Considered a muscle hybrid, the 389 hp V-8 engine and two motor hybrid package in this 2008 LS 600h L is all about performance. It's the only car in the ultra-luxury class that is SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) qualified, with fuel economy estimated to be in the 20 mpg city range. And luxury? Of course, it's a Lexus. With an MSRP of $104,715 there will only be 2,000 built and sold in the United States this year.

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2008 Mazda Tribute HEV

With a controlling financial interest in Mazda, Ford shares its Escape Hybrid technology with Mazda in the 2008 Tribute HEV (hybrid electric vehicle). The Tribute HEV has an estimated fuel economy of 33 mpg city/ 29 highway and a 2.3 liter, 4-cylinder, 133-hp engine. It will be available only in California.

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2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

As the Ford Escape's cousin, the hybrid underpinnings of the Mercury Mariner are identical, but it's a step up in cushiness and style. With a MSRP of $25,955 - $27,705 and available in 2WD and 4WD, the Mariner Hybrid is equipped with a 2.3-liter, 133-horsepower hybrid engine that heralds 34 city/30 highway. The 4WD fuel economy range is 29 mpg city/27 highway.

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2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid

Nissan has licensed Toyota's Synergy Drive hybrid system and put it to excellent use in the sporty 2008 Altima Hybrid, with mileage ratings of 35 mpg city/33 highway. With an MSRP of $25,070, the Altima Hybrid is available in the eight states that have adopted California emissions regulations - California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont - and qualifies for a tax credit of $2,350.

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2008 Saturn Aura Green Line Hybrid

Saturn hit the hybrid market in 2007 by touting the lowest-price midsize hybrid sedan on the market--and the Aura continues into 2008. With EPA-estimated fuel economy at 24 mpg city/32 highway, the 2.4L Ecotec Saturn Aura Hybrid has an MSRP of $22,790.

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2008 Saturn Vue Green Line

The 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line takes everything folks love about Saturn and its SUV and steps up the fuel economy with the BAS (Belt Alternator Starter) hybrid components, the same used in the Saturn's hybrid sedan, the Aura Green Line.

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2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota's Synergy Hybrid Drive bolted into the 2008 Camry makes for a very efficient hybrid version of this popular family car. Better yet, the Camry Hybrid's price has been slashed to make this hybrid even more affordable for more people. Camry Hybrid base MSRP prices begin at $25,200--and that' $1,000 less than the 2007 model.

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2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Synergy Drive comes to life again in Toyota's popular SUV, the 2008 Highlander. The hybrid has seen a number of improvements, including ECON and EV modes to help extend that fuel economy. Available in a base and Limited model, the base model's 4WD-i price has dropped $190 to $33,700. Go for the Limited 4WD-i model and see a sticker price of $39,950.

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2008 Toyota Prius Touring Edition

Of course, the Prius hardly needs an introduction. The 2008 version is yet another incarnation of this popular and best-selling hybrid. Even better, the standard model has a MSRP of $1,225 less than the 2007 model. 2008 Prius models are set to sell for $20,950 (the standard model) to $23,220 for the Touring model.

Smoking is Injurious to Health

What a better way to explain this small and critical warning for your health. Having such ad placement at the back of any Bus will certainly reach to 1000s of people in short period of time.

And imagine the positive impact of the extra polluted buses in your country ;). More smoke, more impact of this commercial.

Fring Now Auto-Roams Between WiFi and 3G

Fring is one of the more interesting mobile VoIP applications I've seen. It manages to use the regular IM capabilities of a number of IM networks-including Skype. It also uses their voice capabilities-yes, even Skype. And-get this-it's all data, i.e. even the VoIP leg doesn't travel over the PSTN network to your phone.

Several months ago, I did a couple of test calls with my Nokia E70 using AT&T's EDGE network-way before they upgraded the speed on it-and it actually worked okay for Skype calls. However, you had to have a pretty good EDGE connection, else it wouldn't work. Of course it worked okay over WiFi.

The folks at Fring have improved their client on the Nokia devices to support seamless roaming between WiFi and your cellular network. If while running Fring, you happen to come across a WiFi network you've seen before (and are configured to use), Fring will automatically switch to it. When you move away from the WiFi, Fring will switch back to your cellular network.

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Andy Mckee - Into the Ocean