Indunil's Blog

2012-02-14T16:06:00.000-08:00

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)

Analog transmission is not particularly efficient. When the signal-to-noise ratio of an analog signal deteriorates due to attenuation, amplifying the signal also amplifies noise. Digital signals are more easily separated from noise and can be regenerated in their original state. The conversion of analogue signals to digital signals therefore eliminates the problems caused by attenuation. Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) is the simplest form of waveform coding. Waveform coding is used to encode analogue signals (for example speech) into a digital signal. The digital signal is subsequently used to reconstruct the analogue signal. The accuracy with which the analogue signal can be reproduced depends in part on the number of bits used to encode the original signal. Pulse code modulation is an extension of Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM), in which a sampled signal consists of a train of pulses where each pulse corresponds to the amplitude of the signal at the corresponding sampling time (the signal is modulated in amplitude). Each analogue sample value is quantised into a discrete value for representation as a digital code word. Pulse code modulation is the most frequently used analogue-to-digital conversion technique, and is defined in the ITU-T G.711 specification. The main parts of a conversion system are the encoder (the analogue-to-digital converter) and the decoder (the digital-to-analogue converter). The combined encoder/decoder is known as a codec. A PCM encoder performs three functions:

sampling
quantising
encoding

The human voice uses frequencies between 100Hz and 10,000Hz, but it has been found that most of the energy in speech is between 300 Hertz and 3400 Hertz - a bandwidth of approximately 3100 Hertz. Before converting the signal from analog to digital, the unwanted frequency components of the signal are filtered out. This makes the task of converting the signal to digital form much easier, and results in an acceptable quality of signal reproduction for voice communication. From an equipment point of viev, because the manufacture of very precise filters would be expensive, a bandwidth of 4000 Hertz is generally used. This bandwidth limitation also helps to reduce aliasing - aliasing happens when the number of samples is insufficient to adequately represent the analog waveform (the same effect you can see on a computer screen when diagonal and curved lines are displayed as a series of zigzag horizontal and vertical lines).

Sampling

Sampling the analogue signal

Sampling is the process of reading the values of the filtered analogue signal at discrete time intervals (i.e. at a constant sampling frequency, called the sampling frequency). A scientist called Harry Nyquist discovered that the original analogue signal could be reconstructed if enough samples were taken. He found that if the sampling frequency is at least twice the highest frequency of the input analogue signal, the signal could be reconstructed using a low-pass filter at the destination.

Quantisation

Quantisation is the process of assigning a discrete value from a range of possible values to each sample obtained. The number of possible values will depend on the number of bits used to represent each sample. Quantisation can be achieved by either rounding the signal up or down to the neares available value, or truncating the signal to the nearest value which is lower than the actual sample. The process results in a stepped waveform resembling the source signal. The difference between the sample and the value assigned to it is known as the quantisation noise (or quantisation error).

Quantisation noise can be reduced by increasing the number of quantisation intervals, because the difference between the input signal amplitude and the quantization interval decreases as the number of quantization intervals increases. This would, however, increase the PCM bandwidth. Uniform quantisation uses equal quantisation levels throughout the entire range of an input analogue signal. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), including quantisation noise, is the most important factor affecting voice quality in uniform quantisation. The signal-to-noise ratio is measured in decibels (dB). The higher the signal-to-noise ratio, the better the voice quality. Quantisation noise reduces the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal, so an increase in quantisation noise degrades the quality of a voice signal. Low signals will have a small signal-to-noise ratio and high signals will have a large signal-to-noise ratio. Because most voice signals are relatively low, having better voice quality at higher signal levels is an inefficient way of digitising voice signals. Uniform quantisation was therefore replaced by a non-uniform quantisation process called companding (see below).

Narrowband speech is typically sampled 8000 times per second, and each sample must be quantised. If linear quantisation is used, 12 bits per sample are required, giving a bit rate of 96 kbits per second. This can be reduced using non-linear quantisation, in which 8 bits per sample is sufficient to provide speech quality almost indistinguishable from the original. This results in a bit rate of 64 kbits per second. Two non-linear PCM codecs were standardised in the 1960s - µ-law (mu-law) coding was the standard developed in the United States, while A-law compression was used in Europe. These codecs are still widely used today.

Encoding

Encoding is the process of representing the sampled values as a binary number in the range 0 to n. The value of n is chosen as a power of 2, depending on the accuracy required. Increasing n reduces the step size between adjacent quantisation levels and hence reduces the quantisation noise. The down side of this is that the amount of digital data required to represent the analogue signal increases.

Stages in the analogue-to-digital conversion process

Source : - http://www.technologyuk.net

Modulation

2012-01-16T15:53:00.000-08:00

Modulation means to vary or change. In wireless we first take a signal, say a telephone conversation, and then impress it on a constant radio wave called a carrier. Once done the voice signal varies or modulates this radio wave. The two go together over the air. A voice frequency in the audible or audio range, what we can hear, thus modulates or varies a constant frequency in the radio range, which we can't hear. That's an important point. Modulation makes voice band and radio band frequencies work together. Different modulation techniques, such as A.M., F.M., P.C.M. and so on, represent different ways to shape or form electromagnetic radio waves.

There are many reasons to modulate a signal in a particular way. Amplitude modulation, like that still used by Citizens' Band radios, produces a simple, robust wave that doesn't use much spectrum or radio bandwidth. It's plagued by noise though and requires high transmitting power. Frequency modulation, such as analog cell phones use, provides better sound but it needs more bandwidth to achieve that quality and is technically more complex to produce. And then there are modulation types just for transmitting digital information. GSM and IS-136 use these schemes.

Amplitude Modulation

Amplitude modulation means a carrier wave is modulated in proportion to the strength of a signal. The carrier rises and falls instantaneously with each high and low of the conversation. Check out the diagram below. See how the voice current produces an immediate and equivalent change in the carrier.

Low frequency commercial broadcast stations in the "A.M band" use amplitude modulation. Most C.B. or citizens band radios use it too. It's a simple, robust method to form a radio wave but it suffers from static and high battery power requirements, reasons enough that few personal communications devices use it.

Frequency Modulation

Frequency modulation confuses many people but it shouldn't. FM is not limited to the FM band. It is not frequency dependent, that is, it can be used at high or low frequencies. That's because it is a modulation technique, a way to shape a radio wave, not a service by itself. The word frequency in FM relates, instead, to the rate at which this method varies a carrier wave, not to any particular radio frequency it is used on. This will become more clear as we go on.

An FM signal quality is apparent by listening to the FM band: low distortion, little static, good voice quality and immunity from electrical and atmospheric interference. It's why television audio and analog cellular use it. FM also exhibits a capture effect, whereby the receiver seizes on the strongest signal and rejects any others. That's unlike A.M, with signals fading in and out. What's more, F.M. needs far less power to transmit a signal the same distance than A.M.

See the difference in the waveform on the right in the diagram below? You don't have the modulated carrier varying in amplitude, as with A.M., but in the number of cycles or rate. Although perhaps not obvious at first, the right hand side does differ from the left hand side.

This diagram above is courtesy of Douglas-Young's brilliant article on modulation. We have an unvarying carrier wave as we do with A.M. See that? But in F.M. the carrier wave is engineered to deliver a uniform output signal. When we impress upon the carrier a audio signal, such as a 440 hertz dial tone, things begin to happen.

Frequency modulation varies the carrier at a rate of 440 cycles per second, matching the original signal. This differs dramatically from A.M., where a wildly swinging sine wave would be produced instead. In F.M. a quick change in audio frequency results in a quick rate change to the carrier. Despite this seemingly complicated operating method, F.M. circuitry after sixty years is now well established, cheap, simple to make, and easily miniaturized.

The July, 1999 Popular Electronics outlined a simple F.M. transmitter kit. It used only one transistor, eleven other parts, and took up no more than a square inch or two. F.M. is now everywhere, developed largely by one man.

Time Out for History!

On January 31, 1954 a 64 year old man wrote a letter to his wife, dressed for work, and walked out of his 13th floor apartment window, plunging to his death. Colonel Edwin Armstrong, the father of modern radio, and the creator of the first F.M. system, had committed suicide. A brilliant but sensitive man, Armstrong allowed the U.S. military to use his patents royalty-free for the duration of World War II. Before that he played a crucial role in communications during the First World War. He believed, rightly so, that F.M. was a revolutionary operating system and that it should replace A.M. equipment for broadcasting. Tired and despondent after fighting one lawsuit after another against RCA and others, his personal fortune spent on promoting and defending F.M., Armstrong finally gave up and killed himself. Every modern radio has circuits Armstrong designed. And you thought modulation was boring. . .

Frequency shift keying, an F.M. variation

Conventional cellular makes much use of frequency shift keying modulation to send signaling and control messages. It's old technology, in fact, the earliest modems were built with this technique, but FSK works well for what it does. To explain its title, FSK means sending data by slightly shifting frequencies. Simple. Keying, by the way, simply means forming or creating a signal. When you "key up" a microphone you create a signal. You turn on

Frequency shift keying uses the existing carrier wave, say, 879.990 MHz. The data rides 8kHz above and below that frequency. It's just like the earliest modems. 0s and 1s. 0s go on one frequency and 1s go on another. They alternate back and forth in rapid succession. FSK gives you only two states to send information. There's a low limit, then, how much and how quickly you can send information. There is a more efficient way.

Phase Modulation

Three ways exists to modulate a signal: by amplitude, frequency or phase. And although there are dozens of modulation techniques, under the most confusing names possible, all of them will fit into one of these categories. We've looked at amplitude modulation, which changes the carrier wave by signal strength, and frequency modulation, which converts the originating signal into cycles. Now we look at phase modulation, which changes the angle of the carrier wave. Phase modulation is strictly for digital working and is closely related to F.M. Phase in fact enjoys the same capture effect as F.M. First, a note.

A digital signal means an ongoing stream of bits, 0s and 1s, on and off pulses of electrical energy. Like those signals running around the inside your computer. Well, how do we transmit that staccato beat of electrical pulses? Very good. We put it on a carrier wave.

A not to scale diagram of a digital signal

You might think you could send digital without a carrier wave, like the earliest wireless telegraphs but your results wouldn't be good. As Dwayne Rosenburgh, N3BJM, puts it, "Transmitting pure radio frequency energy, with no carrier, is like a spark gap transmitter. Very wideband, very inefficient, and with a limited data rate capacity." Ever had an AM radio on nearby by when you switched on a light dimmer? Blast! That's sort of how an old spark gap transmitter worked. Poorly. But new technology is bringing back an old idea.

Dwayne mentions that ultra wideband technology or UWB does now what old spark transmitters couldn't: transmit without a carrier wave. "UWB transmissions can use 'direct modulation' of the rf energy and transmit pulses without carrier modulation. Think of this as a spark gap transmitter that is controlled, with very low power, and spread across about 7 GHz of rf spectrum. Modern processing technology has been able to allow this type of communication using low rf power and efficient digital signal processing algorithms. Therefore, we can reduce the noise and inefficiencies associated with a spark gap transmitter and create UWB transmitters. Dwayne continues, "This ultra wideband technology exception aside, our radio technology is built on carrier waves. No matter how we transmit RF energy, there is always some type of 'carrier' involved."

Ever hear an A.M. radio station go silent for a minute or two? If they are off the air completely you'll hear static. But if they have simply lost audio for a while you'll hear a slight hum. That's the carrier wave.

Let's get back to phase modulation. How does P.M. represent those on and offs?, those 0s and 1s? By playing with angles.

A continuous wave produced to transmit analog or digital information. The many phases or angles of a sine way give rise to different ways of sending information.

Summary

Modulation and Cellular Radio

A.M. or Amplitude Modulation Types

Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM): Used in Motorola's iDEN system. Some argue that QAM is a hybrid system, not belonging to A.M., but a cross between A.M. and phase modulation.

F.M. or Frequency Modulation Types

Normal F.M.: Used in all analog cellular radio systems, such as AMPS, TAC, ETACS, NMT 900 and so on.

Narrowband F.M: Was used in the now defunct NAMPS cellular system.

Frequency shift keying (FSK): Used in AMPS for control signaling.

Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK): Used by GSM systems.

P.M. or Phase Modulation Types

Quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK): IS-95 and the coming Universal Mobile Telephone System.

Differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK): Used by IS-54, the first North American digital cellular system. I'm not sure if it is now incorporated into IS-136.

Pi/4 differential quadrature phase shift keying: IS-136, Japanese Handy Phone and the European TETRA systems.

Extended discussion on F.M. The word frequency in an F.M. discussion confuses many people. That's because this word is used in three separate but related contexts. Here are the subjects; I describe them separately and then discuss them together after that:

1. Frequency and the original audio signal. Usually our voice, this is the message we want to put on a carrier wave. This is what varies the carrier. The audio signal varies in two ways: strength or amplitude and in frequency. Let's concentrate on the audio. Being in the voice band, an audible frequency might range from, say, 300 to 3,000Hz. I used a dial tone at 440Khz as an example before. For our discussion, let's call this signal the voice frequency.

2. Frequency and the the carrier wave. Easily understood. A radio frequency. For an example, let us use 94.5MHz, something in the F.M. band. A carrier wave stays roughly on the same frequency, give or take, no matter if it is modulated by amplitude, frequency, or phase. This is the radio frequency.

3. Frequency and Frequency Modulation. Whereby our signal is put on or merged with the carrier wave. This is the modulation technique.

Okay, let's take a slight time-out. Look again at our friendly F.M. waveform diagram below. See the channel width an F.M. signal occupies? You have a median point, say 880 Mhz, represented here by 0. With an analog FM cellular signal the radio channel is 30Khz wide. That allows 15Khz of room or deviation above and below its assigned frequency. Following this so far?

"The amplitude (volume) of the input or audio signal (Beethoven's 5th, or whatever) produces the AMOUNT of deviation. More volume, more deviation from the original carrier frequency. The FREQUENCY of the input signal is contained in the RATE of deviation. The faster the signal deviates in frequency, the faster audio is output from the FM detector. Hmm. That makes sense - faster = frequency. Amount = amplitude."

Did you get that explanation from Mark van der Hoek? We have two steps here, amount of deviation and rate of deviation. Let's first discuss amount or amplitude or strength. Whatever.

1) Amount of deviation: The diagram doesn't portray signal strength and FM very well. At first glance the output signal looks uniform. Which it is. But we know that no conversation is of uniform strength. What happens, and I know this is difficult to understand, the carrier frequency moves slightly up up or down to reflect the audio signal strength. That is, the carrier frequency itself deviates slightly from the median line or 0 when modulated. So the radio channel width and the output signal remain uniform, it's just that the carrier frequency deviates within the channel assigned it. Got it?

2) Rate of deviation. Back to simple stuff. This is as depicted above, with the carrier modulated by the audio signal at a rate in lock step to the frequency of the original signal. A higher audio frequency? A quicker rate. A lower frequency signal? A lower rate.

As Mark says in summing all this up, "With F.M. the radio frequency does change, slightly, within a window defined by the information that is pressed onto the carrier wave. Both the amount of deviation and the rate of deviation carry information. The original audio signal varies both in amplitude and in frequency. The rate of deviation in the FM signal carries the frequency info, and the amount of deviation carries the amplitude of the original audio signal." Mark van der Hoek.

source: http://www.privateline.com

Types of Information System

2012-01-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

For most businesses, there are a variety of requirements for information. Senior managers need information to help with their business planning. Middle management need more detailed information to help them monitor and control business activities. Employees with operational roles need information to help them carry out their duties.

As a result, businesses tend to have several "information systems" operating at the same time. This revision note highlights the main categories of information system and provides some examples to help you distinguish between them.

The main kinds of information systems in business are described briefly below:

Information System	Description
Executive Support Systems	An Executive Support System ("ESS") is designed to help senior management make strategic decisions. It gathers, analyses and summarises the key internal and external information used in the business. A good way to think about an ESS is to imagine the senior management team in an aircraft cockpit - with the instrument panel showing them the status of all the key business activities. ESS typically involve lots of data analysis and modelling tools such as "what-if" analysis to help strategic decision-making.
Management Information Systems	A management information system ("MIS") is mainly concerned with internal sources of information. MIS usually take data from the transaction processing systems (see below) and summarise it into a series of management reports. MIS reports tend to be used by middle management and operational supervisors.
Decision-Support Systems	Decision-support systems ("DSS") are specifically designed to help management make decisions in situations where there is uncertainty about the possible outcomes of those decisions. DSS comprise tools and techniques to help gather relevant information and analyse the options and alternatives. DSS often involves use of complex spreadsheet and databases to create "what-if" models.
Knowledge Management Systems	Knowledge Management Systems ("KMS") exist to help businesses create and share information. These are typically used in a business where employees create new knowledge and expertise - which can then be shared by other people in the organisation to create further commercial opportunities. Good examples include firms of lawyers, accountants and management consultants. KMS are built around systems which allow efficient categorisation and distribution of knowledge. For example, the knowledge itself might be contained in word processing documents, spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations. internet pages or whatever. To share the knowledge, a KMS would use group collaboration systems such as an intranet.
Transaction Processing Systems	As the name implies, Transaction Processing Systems ("TPS") are designed to process routine transactions efficiently and accurately. A business will have several (sometimes many) TPS; for example: - Billing systems to send invoices to customers - Systems to calculate the weekly and monthly payroll and tax payments - Production and purchasing systems to calculate raw material requirements - Stock control systems to process all movements into, within and out of the business
Office Automation Systems	Office Automation Systems are systems that try to improve the productivity of employees who need to process data and information. Perhaps the best example is the wide range of software systems that exist to improve the productivity of employees working in an office (e.g. Microsoft Office XP) or systems that allow employees to work from home or whilst on the move.

source: http://tutor2u.net

Methods of Data Collection

2012-01-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

Source : http://tutor2u.net

Collecting data can be a time-consuming, labour intensive process. So businesses are constantly looking for ways in which data capture and analysis can be automated. However, manual data collection is still common for many business processes. This revision note summarises the main kinds of data collection you need to be aware of.

The table below summarizes the main methods of data collection

Method	Commentary
Manual Input Methods
Keyboard	A very familiar input device. Typically used to input data into personal computer applications such as databases and spreadsheets
Touch-sensitive screens	Developed to allow computer monitors to be used as an input device. Selections are made by users touching areas of a screen. Sensors, built into the screen surround, detect what has been touched. These screens are increasingly used to help external customers input transactional data - e.g. buying transport tickets, paying for car parking or requesting information
Automated Input Methods
Magnetic ink character recognition (MICR)	MICR involves the recognition by a mchine of specially-formatted characters printed in magnetic ink. This is an expensive method to set up and use - but it is accurate and fast. A good example is the use of magnetic ink characters on the bottom of each cheque in a cheque book
Optical mark reading (OMR)	Optical Mark Reading (OMR) uses paper based forms which users simply mark (using a dash) to answer a question. OMR needs no special equipment to mark a form other than a pen/pencil. Data can be processed very quickly and with very low error rates. An OMR scanner then processes the forms directly into the required database. An example you are probably familiar with is the National Lottery entry forms, or answer sheets for those dreaded multiple choice exam papers!
Optical character recognition (OCR) and scanners	OCR is the recognition of printed or written characters by software that processes information obtained by a scanner. Each page of text is converted to a digital using a scanner and OCR is then applied to this image to produce a text file. This involves complex image processing algorithms and rarely achieves 100% accuracy so manual proof reading is recommended.
Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR)	Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) again uses paper based forms which respondees can enter handprinted text such as names, dates etc. as well as dash marks with no special equipment needed other than a pen/pencil. An ICR scanner then processes the forms, which are then verified and stored the required database.
Bar coding and EPOS	A very important kind of data collection method - in widespread use. Bar codes are made up of rectangular bars and spaces in varying widths. Read optically, these enable computer software to identify products and items automatically. Numbers or letters are represented by the width and position of each code's bars and spaces, forming a unique 'tag'. Bar codes are printed on individual labels, packaging or documents. When the coded item is handled, the bar code is scanned and the information gained is fed into a computer. Codes are also often used to track and count items. Businesses of all types and sizes use bar code systems. Best known are retailers using Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) technology, familiar in supermarkets and many retail operations. Not only saving time at checkout, EPOS cuts management costs by providing an automatic record of what is selling and stock requirements. Customers receive an accurate record of prices and items purchased. Producers use bar coding for quick and accurate stock control, linking easily to customers. Distributors use bar codes as a crucial part of handling goods. Larger businesses and those with high security requirements can use bar codes for personnel identification and access records for sensitive areas.
EFTPOS	EFTPOS stands for Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale. You will find EFTPOS terminals at the till in certain shops. An EFTPOS terminal electronically prints out details of a plastic card transaction. The computer in the terminal gets authorisation for the payment amount (to make sure it's within the credit limit) and checks the card against a list of lost and stolen cards.
Magnetic stripe cards	A card (plastic or paper) with a magnetic strip of recording material on which the magnetic tracks of an identification card are recorded. Magnetic stripe cards are in widespread use as a way of controlling access (e.g. swipe cards for doors, ticket barriers) and confirming identity (e.g. use in bank and cash cards).
Smart cards	A smart card (sometime also called a "chip card") is a plastic card with an embedded microchip. it is widely expected that smart crads will eventually replace magnetic stripe cards in many applications. The smart chip provides significantly more memory than the magnetic stripe. The chip is also capable of processing information. The added memory and processing capabilities are what enable a smart card to offer more services and increased security. Some smart cards can also run multiple applications on one card, this reducing the number of cards required by any one person. One of the key functions of the smart card is its ability to act as a stored value card, such as Mondex and Visa cash. This enables the card to be used as electronic cash. Smart cards can also allow secure information storage, making them ideal as ID cards and security keys.
Voice recognition	A data collection technology that converts speech into text or interprets it as a sequence of computer commands. Voice recognition is most common in data entry and word processing environments, and fields where a user needs to interact with a computer without using their hands.
Web Data Capture	Web data capture use electronic forms on either on an Intranet or Internet. They are becoming increasingly popular and have the advantage of being accessible by any user having access to a computer. Users complete the questions online and the returned data is then imported in electronic format to the required database.

CDMA(EDVO) vs EDGE of GSM technology

2012-01-01T15:37:00.000-08:00

One feature people are looking at more with cell phones is speed. In particular, how fast are the high speed wireless networks such as EvDO or EDGE? As cell phones become more like PDAs, people are accessing larger files such as email attachments with these devices. Others are interested in using their cell phones as modems to connect notebooks. Although the technology exists to get broadband speed on a cell phone, more than the network is involved. Just because a vendor offers high-speed cell access, doesn't mean you can use it.

In the past year, the US cell phone companies have been building out their wireless high-speed networks. The theory is these networks will keep us connected even when wireless hotspots aren't available by using your cell phone or a PC card. This is a great convenience for mobile professionals who need to access work files or the web. The carriers also have new services such as streaming videos that take advantage of the faster speeds.

These wireless broadband networks have speeds that are many times faster than typical cell phone connections, but the throughput rates can differ dramatically. One difference is the protocol your cell carrier uses. In the US, the predominant standards are CDMA and GSM. Each of these standards has their own high-speed protocol. In some regards, this is like DSL and cable access. Both offer high-speed access at different rates and each requires their own equipment.

As you may have discovered when trying to switch cell phone carriers, sometimes you need a new phone. Although your carrier may have this high-speed option, it doesn't mean it works on your current cell phone. Unlike your notebook, you can't buy hardware to add to your cell phone. Instead, you need to have a phone with the required hardware. The good news is even though the phones are more expensive, the carriers usually subsidize your purchase if you're a new customer. After all, they anticipate a nice revenue stream from data subscription plans. Sorry, but speed comes with a cost.

EVDO (CDMA)

In the CDMA world, the high-speed wireless protocol is called EvDO. Like many abbreviations, this one has two translations: Evolution Data Optimized and Evolution Data Only. The main national carriers include Verizon and Sprint although there are some regional ones.

Using our previous DSL and cable reference, you could say that EVDO is more like cable since it is the faster of the two protocols. While I've seen references that mention burst speeds up to 2Mbps, the typical download speed is often cited in the 300-700 kbps range. The upload speed, which is usually lower on most systems, is about 50-100kbps.

As with many new technologies, they don't arrive at everyone's doorstep at the same time. While Verizon and Sprint have been building their networks, EvDO coverage isn't everywhere. Typically, the carriers do a staged rollout that involves a testing and tweaking period.

One benefit to carriers bringing more consumers online is the phone manufacturers begin to offer more EvDO phones. The pickings are small, but growing. You'll also find that most carrier websites don't make it easy to find these phones. I still find it easier to search eBay for cell phones for specific features such as EvDO.

If you already have an EvDo-capable phone, you may need to do a PRL update to see the signals. If the phones don't detect EvDO, they are designed to work on the slower networks. As the carriers expand their networks, you should consider updating the PRL every couple of months to make sure you have the new cell tower locations.

Update: Feb 10,2007: Both Sprint and Verizon have been deploying EVDO Revision A or Rev A in various cities. This newer technology is roughly 5 to 6 times faster than EVDO.

EDGE (GSM)

Not to be overlooked, the GSM world has its own protocol and acronym EDGE. EDGE stands for Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution. Although it is much slower than EvDO, it does offer some advantages. EDGE coverage may be greater although it is difficult to tell from the vendor maps. The main EDGE carriers include Cingular and T-Mobile.

Another advantage is there are more EDGE compatible phones so in theory it's easier to find a phone with the features you like. As with the CDMA carriers, we had a hard time searching for phones by this feature. In some cases, the carrier's phone detail page failed to mention EDGE. Some cell phone manufacturers such as Nokia have provided their own page.

As with many network connections, it's difficult to tell if you'll get the maximum throughput of 384k for downloads. Carrier spec sheets usually cite 70-135kbps with bursts to 200kbps.

If you've been browsing web pages on a cell phone with a 14.4 data connection, you'll be pleased with either EDGE or EvDO. You'll find your download times are considerably less. You can get a useful traffic report while you're stuck in the jam

source:http://www.timeatlas.com

A treatment for cancers

2011-08-18T02:08:00.001-07:00

Click to Read

Sri Lanka raises vehicle import taxes

2011-05-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka has imposed new excise duty for all imported hybrid vehicles and petrol vehicles, Deputy Director General of Customs Ajantha Dias told Asian Tribune.

According to him, hybrid cars with engines below 1,600 cubic centimeters will see an imposition of 8 per-cent excise duties, engines above 1600 cc excise duty will be increased to 24%, hybrids between 2000 to 3000 CC excise duties will go up close to 75% and above 3,000 CC to 100%.

Meanwhile the excise duty on petrol vehicles with engines below 1,000 cubic centimeters will see an imposition of 38 per-cent excise duty and engines between 1000 to 1500 cc excise duty will be increased to 43%, he said.

According to the circular issued by the finance Ministry, used Petrol vehicles up to 02 year can be imported to the country. Earlier it was 31/2 years.

He said that there were more than 1000 hybrid electric vehicles imports during the last three Months in Sri Lanka.

Earlier the government had given the tax concessions on import of hybrid electric vehicles and only 15% tax and a 12% VAT was charged .

Hybrid electric vehicles will reduce the fuel cost and safeguard the environment.
A hybrid vehicle combines an internal combustion engine (petrol or diesel) and one or more electric motors to drive it.

Electric motors are driven by power supplied by much advance batteries which again charged by the power supplied by the internal combustion engine while the vehicle is driven by it.

As a result overall fuel consumption of the vehicle improves and runs more km with 1 l of petrol.

Source: - Asian Tribune -

Earn from the Internet

2010-11-08T00:07:00.000-08:00

There are many ways of earning through the internet.
Clicking on advertisements is a method that I tried...
Any one can try this out & be succeed...

Step 1:
Create an Alert pay account or Paypal account (But Pay pal does not send cache cheques to Sri lanka). Therefore it is recommended to create Alert pay account

Click here to Create your Alert pay account

All your earning will be added to your ALERT PAY account.
You can withdraw money from Alerpay

Step 2:
There are many web sites we can use for this purpose...But most of them do not pay (Scam sites)
These are selcted web sites which has proff of payment for me ...
Also I have already registered with these web site too....
You can register on these web sites by clicking on the links given below...

On every web site there is a link called "VIEW ADs"...
By clicking on that, you can view the advertisements
Click on them as instructed & wait for about 30 s
& earn......

Good Luck !!!!

*. NeoBux - Pay 0.001$ Per Click - Got a payment

How to protect your computer from hackers, spyware and virusesHow to protect your computer from hackers, spyware and viruses

2010-06-07T20:30:00.000-07:00

Most of the viruses on the computer were hidden in files that had been downloaded off the Internet: songs, videos, and movies. I was amazingly surprised that the computer lasted for 2 years with that many viruses! So I gave my dear cousin a serious lesson in how to protect her computer from the dangers of the Internet and I will go through them here for anyone else who might be interested!

This is by no means a comprehensive list, so if you have any suggestions, please feel free to comment and I’ll add them on!

1. Install Anti-Virus Software - This should not even have to be listed, if you don’t have anti-virus software installed, you’re asking for trouble! And if your reason for not installing anti-virus software is because it’s too expensive, then that can reason can be shot down because there are several free anti-virus programs out there that are considered better than commercial software packages. Here are two of the most popular ones:

AVG Anti-Virus – Very good and completely free.

Avast Anti-Virus – Almost on par with AVG.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus – Not free, but one of the best detection rates.

2. Update All Software - Installing an anti-virus program by itself is not enough. There are hundreds of new threats that are found daily and the anti-virus programs release updates regularly to combat the new threats. Make sure you anti-virus program is set to update automatically so that you don’t have to rely on your memory to do it. Also, this goes for all the software on your computer. The most important software to keep up to date is your Windows operating system. It is essential to have Automatic Updates turned on and set to download and install updates automatically.

3. Install only Trusted Software - If you’re not sure what a piece of software does from it’s name, then don’t install it. Also, don’t install anything you didn’t intend to install in the first place. Sometimes programs will ask you to install other programs during the install of the first application. Be careful of that because it’s usually spyware. Install software from big names sites only, such as Microsoft or Adobe.

4. Avoid P2P File Sharing Software – If used with great caution, P2P software is quite useful for movies, songs and software, but if you’re not very technically savvy, you might end up downloading a song that has a keystroke logger attached to it that will send anything you type to some other computer over the Internet. It’s almost impossible to tell that this is occurring unless your anti-virus or anti-spyware programs pick it up in their scans.

5. Delete Unknown Emails – If you receive emails from random people’s names, do not bother to open the email, just delete it. If you have any doubts after reading the name and the subject, it’s probably not someone you know. Never download or open attachments unless you are sure it’s from someone you know. Give the person a call quickly and ask them if you’re not sure. Most large companies that you create online accounts with will not send you attachments unless you specifically ask for them through their web site. Also, be wary of any emails from sites pretending to be banks, auction sites, etc asking for you to verify bank account info or address info. No bank ever does that.

6. Do not click on Ads - Avoid clicking on ads if you can. Especially those ads where something is flying around and if you shoot the duck, you win some prize! Ads have become more sophisticated in that they try to make the ad interactive so that you’ll be tempted to play it like a game.

7. Run Virus Scans Regularly – If you’re not in the mood to scan every day, at least run a scan once a week. Actually, setup a schedule for your computer in your anti-virus software to run a scan late at night or whenever you don’t use your computer and that way you won’t be bothered with a slow computer.

8. Be careful what you attach to your computer – This is a more common way to transfer viruses than you might think. Everyone now has a USB flash stick that they carry around on their key chains, ready to snap into any computer. But who knows what your viruses are on your friends computers and what accidentally got transferred to their USB stick. A lot of virus programs will auto launch right when the USB stick is put into the computer, so you don’t even have to open or download any of the files to be infected.

9. Avoid Shady Web Sites – If you need to look at porn, then make sure you do it in a virtual environment. You are DEFINITELY going to get some virus or spyware if you browse porn sites on your computer. Virtualization basically allows you to run programs like Internet Explorer in a virtual environment that does not effect your current operating system. If you want to find out more, search for “Virtual PC” or “VM Ware” in Google. Otherwise, simply avoid going to shady web sites!

10. Turn On or Install a Firewall - If you’re running Windows XP, make sure Windows Firewall is turned on. A firewall prevents hackers from gaining access to your computer by limiting the number of ports that are open to the public. Also, when buying a wireless router, make sure it has a built in firewall. Having a software and hardware firewall is better than just having one or the other.

11. Secure Your Wireless Network – Most wireless routers are set to no security when you install them. Be sure to log into the router and at least set the basic security that requires a password. There are stronger encryption options, but if you don’t understand those, then simply set a password on the router, otherwise anyone can connect to your home network and access everything.

12. Use a Complex Password for Login – This means that you should already have a password to login to your computer. Not having a password at all is not a good idea. Create a password for all user accounts and make sure it’s complex. Complex means it should have numbers, upper case characters, lower case characters, and symbols. This makes it way more difficult for a hacker to get into your computer.

Sri Lanka shares up on auto surge after tax cut

2010-06-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Sri Lankan shares gained on Tuesday as the government slashed several taxes on imports including 50 percent for motor vehicles, while the rupee closed flat as demand was offset by supply in heavy trade.

The Colombo Stock Exchange’s All-Share Price Index closed 21.64 points, or 0.51 percent, firmer at 4,258.80. It hit a record of 4,281.97 on May 21. The market is up 25.8 percent so far in 2010, making it Asia’s best performer.

Heavy retail buying has driven the bourse’s price-to-earnings ratio to 21.03, bourse data showed, compared with about 11 a year ago, when Sri Lankaended a 25-year war.

Sri Lankaon Tuesday slashed tax on imports and simplified its tax system to widen the country’s tax structure and boost revenue, which may help cut its budget deficit and continue an IMF loan.

“The tax cut boosted the market and we expect it to go further up,” an analyst, who did not want to be identified, said.

However, some analysts say the $42 billion economy’s bourse is yet to go through a major technical correction this year and retail buyers, along with state investment funds, have been pushing up prices.

Foreign investors bought a net 196.2 million rupees’ worth shares on Tuesday, data showed. They have sold a net 17.4 billion rupees ($154.6 million) worth of shares this year.

Shares in vehicle trader Diesel & Motor Engineering surged 23.6 percent to 550.75 rupees, while United Motors jumped 28.6 percent to 135.75 rupees.

The day’s turnover was 1.2 billion rupees, twice of the 2009 daily average turnover of 593.6 million rupees, but less than this year’s average of around 1.6 billion rupees. The rupee closed flat at 113.80/113.85 a dollar, as an early rise was eroded after the government’s tax reduction announcement as the market expected the rupee to fall with high demand for dollars, currency dealers said.

Bond yields were flat in sluggish trade.

“Secondary market bond yields remained unchanged,” Standard Chartered bank said in a note to investors. ($1=113.825 Sri Lanka Rupee)

FACTORS TO WATCH:

· If government revenue increases after the new cuts in tax and simplification of tax system

· Whether inflation accelerates due to demand-driven spending

· When the IMF disburses the third loan tranche, which depends on whether the 2010 budget due on June 29 has the promised fiscal reform measures

· How far retail buyers and state funds can drive up the market before a correction

· Whether the price-to-earnings ratio falls after all March quarterly earnings are released

· Whether foreign investors buy into fundamentally strong blue chips after the IMF loan disbursement

· New IPOs by the island nation’s private firms

source :http://adaderana.lk

Franchise Marketing

2009-11-16T02:23:00.000-08:00

Being part of a franchise system offers tremendous advantages such as, in most cases, instant brand recognition. But it also presents some limitations. Most, if not all, of your promotional initiatives must pass your franchisor's approval. Despite some restrictions there are plenty of opportunities

for individual franchisees to help drive business.

1. Know your customer and market. If you have already purchased your franchise then you should be confident that there is a demand for your product in your community. Successful business owners know their customers and make adjustments according to cultural factors and trend.

2. The product or service itself is an important marketing tool. In a highly competitive playing field where similar businesses are selling similar products, product naming and packaging becomes highly important.

3. Promote your products and services through advertising campaigns, public and media relations efforts, TV and radio commercials, Internet advertising and direct mail initiatives. Many franchisors will have public relations representation and provide guidance or drive campaigns at the corporate level.

4. Position yourself as an expert. Additional ways to create brand awareness include writing or contributing to articles as an expert in your field.

5. Keep past customers coming back through in-store promotions, loyalty programs, coupons and special offers and involvement in your community (sponsoring sporting or charity events, etc).

6. A Web site is without a doubt an essential tool to getting customers. Most likely your franchisor has a Web site with the option to search for locations. It may be appropriate for some franchises, however, to have their own Web site for their local market.

7. Marketing collateral provides potential customers with information about your company. These include brochures, white papers, and sales videos. Not all franchises require marketing collateral. These materials may not be relevant to a fast food franchise but may be necessary for others, especially those engaged in B2B franchises.

8. Implementing a marketing database is a great way to log your marketing progress and keep track of customers and leads.

9. Establish a referral system with complimentary business owners. Another way to get referrals is through your existing client base. Ask customers to write testimonials, act as references or offer an incentive program for them to refer your services to others.

10. Identify innovative approaches for getting more business. One mistake in running a business is remaining static — if you want to remain competitive you must find new ways for reaching your target demographic.

CCD technology in scanners

2009-06-17T21:56:00.000-07:00

scanners use the light sensitive capabilities of CCD chips to catch and convert the information contained in light into a digital file. What CCD brings to your photographic images is better picture quality, greater sensitivity, reduced image noise and better dynamic range.

What is the difference between CCD and CIS scanner technology?

The difference lies in the way light is sent, reflected, delivered and gathered by the sensor.

On a flatbed scanner using CCD technology (Charge-Coupled Device), the light source, normally a cold cathode light, is reflected by the orginal, diverted by mirrors and gathered by a lens on to the sensor. The sensor itself consists of light capturing CCD elements. In some cases the CCD elements may also have a micro-lens in front of ev ery photodiode to gather light more effectively.
With CIS (Contact Image Sensor) technology, the light from RGB (red, green, blue) LEDs is reflected by the original. Light is sent directly through an array of lenses to the image sensor which can be either CCD or CMOS.

CCD scanner technology
CIS scanner technology

There are advantages to both technologies. In general, CIS allows the construction of smaller sizes as well as lower power consumption. In comparison, CCD technology allows a higher depth of field, higher speed and signal noise ratio and better colour accuracy - basically higher quality and productivity.

CCD Scan (left) compared to CIS Scan (right) to illustrate difference in depth of field. When scanning a document or film which is not entirely flat due to age or bends in the film it can make a big difference between a sharp and a partially or totally unsharp scan.

Because of its superior image quality output, CCD technology is the standard for higher end flat bed scanners.

With the introduction of the new consumer models like the Epson Perfection V10. [link to the product] Epson has achieved the combination of high quality CCD scanning with an ultra thin design.

Why do we use a micro-lens system with the Epson Perfection scanners?

Each CCD sensor element - the photo diode - has a defined area that is sensitive to light. Ensuring that the light from the scan is directed to that sensitive spot increases the overall sensitivity of the system, thus enhancing productivity and reducing potential noise. This can be achieved by using a micro-lens system which allows gathering the light into the most sensitive part - the central portion of the photo diode.

The set up of a Colour CCD with on chip micro-lens.

CCD output can be defined as a product of light volume and sensitivity. Therefore the output of the CCD with micro-lens is greater than without micro-lens.

What is Epson Double CCD technology?

The electric sensitivity (the ability to turn light into a voltage) of each CCD element is higher at the centre than at the edges. That’s why Epson scanners use a CCD sensor that consists of two CCD rows which are slightly shifted toward each other. This way a high resolution can be achieved while improving sensitivity of the entire system.

The 2-line CCD Matrix

Why does a larger element mean higher sensitivity?

In principal this can be compared to large paving stones and small paving stones. When rain starts to fall, a larger paving stone will be hit by more rain drops, because of its larger size. In the same way a larger sensor can collect more light, hence it is more sensitive.

Higher sensitivity is a very important factor for the signal noise ratio and also results in higher scanning speed.

information source :http://www.photo.epson.it

Features and Benefits of DLP TVs

2009-06-12T00:09:00.000-07:00

The world of television has more acronyms than a military headquarters. We all know CRT and LCD, but a more recent acronym with which many TV buyers are becoming familiar is DLP. This means ‘digital light processing’, and was first developed at Texas Instruments in 1987. It was mainly used in video projectors and similar items, and Texas Instruments remains the main manufacturer of this technology.

However, many other manufacturers make DLP products under license from Texas Instruments, building their products around the TI chipset. DLP techniques are also used in a number of specialized applications such as lithography and imaging.

DLP is different from other video technology in that it utilizes a small digital micromirror device (DMD) to tilt more than 1.3 million of these mirrors. Each of these mirrors is smaller than the width of a human hair, and is moved either towards or away from the light source contained within the DLP device. This process creates the dark and light pixels which appear on the screen.

The light is then filtered through a color wheel, which rotates 120 times every second. This process can produce 1024 different shades of gray; this gradation of color really makes DLP stand out. These are achieved by use of color filters which are backlit with exactly the right intensity of pure white light.

The DLP system consists of four main components. The DMD chip, which controls the mirrors, the color wheel, the light source and the optics.

To produce the picture, the light from the lamp passes through the color wheel filter and into the DMD chip. This switches its mirrors on or off according to the color which is reflected off them.

This technology is rapidly becoming a major player in the world of the rear projection TV, and more than two million of these TVs have already been sold. Over 50 manufacturers sell at least one DLP based television, and in 2004’ had achieved a 10% share of the market.

Small standalone units, known as front projectors, have also become popular items for business presentations and for home theater.

Advantages of DLP Technology

The advantages of DLP technology include:

Smooth Images, free of jitter

Elimination of screen burn in

Good contrast

Good color depth.

DLP rear projection televisions are usually smaller, thinner and lighter than similarly sized CRT televisions. The light source is replaceable, which may provide a longer lifespan than either a traditional CRT televisions or plasma screen displays. The light source is much easier to replace than that of an LCD model; many models feature light sources that can be easily changed by the owner. The newest LED light sources on the market, introduced in April of 2006, have been shown to last 20,000 hours before replacement is necessary.

Disadvantages of DLP Technology

In some single chip DLP designs, viewers may be bothered by the so called “rainbow effect”, which affects how colors are displayed on the TV and seen by the viewer.

It’s not as thin or sleek as LCD or plasma displays, though the weight is similar.

Some models have a noisy cooling fan.

Replacement bulbs can be expensive, ranging from $200 to $500

Competing Technologies

The main competitor to DLP for rear projection television systems is the LCoS (liquid crystal on silicon) system.. This produces images by using a stationary mirror mounted on the surface of a chip, and creates the image by using a liquid crystal matrix to control how much light is reflected.

These competing standards are still under development, so it is important to shop around, and read many reviews before deciding upon a purchase.

When shopping for a DLP television, it is important to learn as much as possible about the new technology, It is equally important to shop around for the best possible price. You should to look carefully at the kind of tuner the unit uses.

Many modern television sets are multisystem devices, which means that they are capable of reading the NTSC signal used in North America and Japan, but they can also receive competing standards like PAL and SECAM. This can be an important consideration, so you should ensure that you understand these various formats and how they affect you as a viewer.

Most modern TVs are built to accept signals from cable TV and satellite TV boxes, DVD players, VCRs, and sometimes, computers. A VGA or DVI connection will allow the unit to be used as a computer monitor as well as a television, but caution should be exercised when using any kind of TV for this purpose. While plasma TVs often make excellent computer monitors, DLP and the like may not be able to provide the depth and resolution to which computer users are accustomed.

Prices of televisions in general, and DLP televisions in particular, have become more affordable in recent years. But, these TVs are still major purchases, and it’s wise to give your purchase the appropriate consideration. Shopping around carefully will help you to obtain the lowest price, and the best overall value.

Multisystem TV

2009-06-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

A multisystem TV is one capable of receiving and displaying different video systems such as PAL, SECAM and NTSC.

They will operate in 99% of the world. Their dual voltage design allows them to be plugged into either a 110 volt or a 220 volt power supply. In some cases, if the plug isn’t compatible with the power socket, an inexpensive plug-adapter will be needed. This can usually be bought at a hardware shop or an electronics store such as Radio Shack for about $1.95.

However, there are some countries within which some multi-system TVs will not work. France, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay require very special types of televisions for they use very rare video systems. France broadcasts in SECAM-L; the only television available which will receive SECAM-L is the Grundig 15". Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay broadcast in PAL-M and PAL-N; the only television available that will receive these systems is the Zenith 29".

Televisions smaller than 29" will be shipped by UPS, unless it is too heavy, in which case it may be shipped via freight even though it's less than 29". Televisions 29" or larger are always shipped by freight.

Multisystem televisions smaller than 29" are generally monophonic only. Most televisions 29" or larger have stereo sound. Please inquire before purchasing whether a television can produce stereo sound or not.

End of 30 years curse in Sri Lanka

2009-05-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa , President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces has been officially informed about the successful task accomplishment by the country's top defence officials this evening (May 18).

Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera, Army Chief, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Chief, Air Marshal Roshan Goonathilake, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickramarathne and Director General of Civil Defence Force Sarath Weerasekara officially reported to the president that the task entrusted on them to liberate the nation from clutches of terrorism has been successfully accomplished and the nation is free from terror. The reporting was made at a charm ceremony held at Temple Trees.

Information Source : http://defence.lk

Over 36,000 hostages rescued; troops enter LTTE's last hideout

2009-05-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

Sri Lankan soldiers have reached the concluding phase of their humanitarian operation in the Island's northeast as they rescued over 36,000 civilians from LTTE hold during last 24 hours.

According to the battlefield sources, Army 58, 53 and 59 Division soldiers have entered into the area where LTTE leaders have been cowering among the civilians during last couple of weeks. Soldiers are now looking for sick and disabled people that may be left in the area as almost all the others held at hostage by the terrorists have been rescued.

Meanwhile, LTTE made an abortive attempt to breach the Army defence line on the Western bank of the Nanthikadal lagoon during the wee hours today (May 17). The LTTE cadres launched a surface attack across the Nanthikadal lagoon using several boats between 1.30 AM to 3.30 AM. According to the latest information, troops have been able to crush the LTTE attack causing heavy damages to the terrorists.

Troops have so far collected over 70 bodies of LTTE cadres.

Information Sourse : http://defence.lk

What is Forex (Foreign Exchange)

2009-05-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

Foreign Exchange (FOREX) is the arena where a nation's currency is exchanged for that of another. The foreign exchange market is the largest financial market in the world, with the equivalent of over $1.9 trillion changing hands daily; more than three times the aggregate amount of the US Equity and Treasury markets combined. Unlike other financial markets, the Forex market has no physical location and no central exchange (off-exchange). It operates through a global network of banks, corporations and individuals trading one currency for another. The lack of a physical exchange enables the Forex market to operate on a 24-hour basis, spanning from one zone to another in all the major financial centers.

Traditionally, retail investors' only means of gaining access to the foreign exchange market was through banks that transacted large amounts of currencies for commercial and investment purposes. Trading volume has increased rapidly over time, especially after exchange rates were allowed to float freely in 1971. Today, importers and exporters, international portfolio managers, multinational corporations, speculators, day traders, long-term holders and hedge funds all use the FOREX market to pay for goods and services, transact in financial assets or to reduce the risk of currency movements by hedging their exposure in other markets.

MG Financial, now operating in over 100 countries, serves all manner of clients, comprising speculators and strategic traders. Whether it’s day-traders looking for short-term gains, or fund managers wanting to hedge their non-US assets, MG's DealStation™ allows them to participate in FOREX trading by providing a combination of live quotes, Real-Time charts, and news and analysis that attracts traders with an orientation towards fundamental and/or technical analysis.

how to find number of columns in a table in sql server 2000

2009-04-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

select count(*) NoOfColumns from SYSCOLUMNS
WHERE id= (Select id from SYSOBJECTS where name = 'your table name')

New Year In Sri Lanka

2009-04-22T22:15:00.000-07:00

New Year in Sri Lanka or the Sinhala New Year - Aluth Avurudhu usually falls on April 13th or 14th every year. According to Sinhalese mythology, New Year begins when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (the house of Aries) to Mesha Rashiya. It also marks the end of the harvest and spring. Rains enlivens the spirit of the nature as flowers bloom, trees get laden with fruits and bounties of farmers are full.

Sinhalese New Year Rituals

Sinhalese New Year or Aluth Avurudhu rituals begin with observance of Nonagathe. At this time, people consider it to be inauspicious to engage in any activity. They go to temples and perform religious rites to receive the blessings of the priests. Women in villages congregate to play rabana (drums) to announce the time to start performing New Year rituals.

Auspicious Bath
People begin the New Year by taking a ceremonial bath on the last day of the old year. They apply Nanu (a herbal mixture) on their head and body before bathing. This herbal is supposed to purify the body and soul.

Betel
Another custom of offering betel to the parents and elders is considered as a token of love and gratitude. Elders feel accepted and cared by their children and give them blessings in return.

New Year Cuisine
Food is the essential part of New Year festivities in Sri Lanka. Sinhalese food is very rich in nutrition. They prepare sweet meats such as mung kavum, konda kavum and unduvel. There is also an old tradition of preparing Kiri Bhaat (milk rice) with rice from new crop. It is prepared by the father or the male head of the family. All the family members sit together to enjoy the lavish feast on the New Year's day.

New Year Celebrations in Sri Lanka
Sinhalese get their houses whitewashed and thoroughly cleaned to bid farewell to the bygone and to welcome the New Year. They light and decorate the house on the New Year's day. It is considered inauspicious to decorate the house before the New Year.

The main New Year's day begin with the lighting of hearth. Then the family members wear new clothes and exchange New Year gifts with each other. For some Aluth Avurudhu is the day to venture into new business while for some it is the time to get their daughters married.

A famous game called Guddu (similar to cricket or baseball) is played with excitement by children as well as adults. Another game is also played with coconuts where you try to hit others' coconuts. Some also play cards on this festive occasion.

People of Sri Lanka love to visit their relatives and friends house to gift them sweets like kavum, kokos and other auspicious gifts. The festivities come to an end with the anointing of the oil ceremony. In this auspicious hour, an elder anoints the young with herbal oil. Sinhalese also set an auspicious time to go to work.

what is google page ranking

2009-04-03T02:34:00.000-07:00

PageRank is a link analysis algorithm used by the Google Internet search engine that assigns a numerical weighting to each element of a hyperlinked set of documents, such as the World Wide Web, with the purpose of "measuring" its relative importance within the set. The algorithm may be applied to any collection of entities with reciprocal quotations and references. The numerical weight that it assigns to any given element E is also called the PageRank of E and denoted by PR.

The name "PageRank" is a trademark of Google, and the PageRank process has been patented (U.S. Patent 6,285,999 ). However, the patent is assigned to Stanford University and not to Google. Google has exclusive license rights on the patent from Stanford University. The university received 1.8 million shares of Google in exchange for use of the patent; the shares were sold in 2005 for $336 million.

You can check you websites ranking using the link below
http://www.googlerankings.com/

Earning money on the Web

2009-04-02T20:31:00.001-07:00

Work from home, make money from your Website, join affiliate programs, summer jobs, seasonal jobs, get paid to take online surveys, get paid by reading email, get paid by surfing the Web, money making tutorials, earn revenue by placing ads on your Website, advertisement programs, get a fee to refer customers, receive commission for offering custom builds

Online shopping

2009-04-02T20:30:00.001-07:00

Online shopping is the process consumers go through to purchase products or services over the Internet. An online shop, eshop, e-store, internet shop, webshop, webstore, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping mall.

The metaphor of an online catalog is also used, by analogy with mail order catalogs. All types of stores have retail web sites, including those that do and do not also have physical storefronts and paper catalogs.

Online shopping is a type of electronic commerce used for business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions.

The term "Webshop" also refers to a place of business where web development, web hosting and other types of web related activities take place (Web refers to the World Wide Web and "shop" has a colloquial meaning used to describe the place where one's occupation is carried out).

What is World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

2009-03-30T20:15:00.000-07:00

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) is the main international standards organization for the World Wide Web (abbreviated WWW or W3). It is arranged as a consortium where member organizations maintain full-time staff for the purpose of working together in the development of standards for the World Wide Web. As of February 2008, the W3C had 434 members.

W3C also engages in education and outreach, develops software and serves as an open forum for discussion about the Web. It was founded and is headed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee

In accord with the W3C Process Document, a Recommendation progresses through five maturity levels:

1. Working Draft (WD)
2. Last Call Working Draft
3. Candidate Recommendation (CR)
4. Proposed Recommendation (PR)
5. W3C Recommendation (REC)

A Recommendation may be updated by separately published Errata until enough substantial edits accumulate, at which time a new edition of the Recommendation may be produced (e.g., XML is now in its fourth edition). W3C also publishes various kinds of informative Notes which are not intended to be treated as standards.

W3C leaves it up to manufacturers to follow the Recommendations. Many of its standards define levels of conformance, which the developers must follow if they wish to label their product W3C-compliant. Like any standards of other organizations, W3C recommendations are sometimes implemented partially. The Recommendations are under a royalty-free patent license, allowing anyone to implement them.

Unlike the ISOC and other international standards bodies, the W3C does not have a certification program. A certification program is a process which has benefits and drawbacks; the W3C has decided, for now, that it is not suitable to start such a program owing to the risk of creating more drawbacks for the community than benefits

The domain w3.org attracted at least 11 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com study.

The Consortium is governed by its membership, which in September 2008 comprised 419 organizations. The list of members is available to the public.[4] Members include only businesses, nonprofit organizations, universities, and governmental entities. There is no provision for individual membership.

Membership requirements are transparent except for one requirement. An application for membership must be reviewed and approved by W3C. Many guidelines and requirements are stated in detail, but there is no final guideline about the process or standards by which membership might be finally approved or denied.

The cost of membership is given on a sliding scale, depending on the character of the organization applying and the country in which it is located. Countries are categorized by the World Bank's most recent grouping by GNI ("Gross National Income") per capita.

Top 20 Antivirus rankings. Tested using 170,000 virus samples.

2009-03-28T01:23:00.000-07:00

1. Kaspersky version 7.0.0.43 beta - 99.23%
2. Kaspersky version 6.0.2.614 - 99.13%
3. Active Virus Shield by AOL version 6.0.0.308 - 99.13%
4. ZoneAlarm with KAV Antivirus version 7.0.337.000 - 99.13%
5. F-Secure 2007 version 7.01.128 - 98.56%
6. BitDefender Professional version 10 - 97.70%
7. BullGuard version 7.0.0.23 - 96.59%
8. Ashampoo version 1.30 - 95.80%
9. eScan version 8.0.671.1 - 94.43%
10. Nod32 version 2.70.32 - 94.00%
11. CyberScrub version 1.0 - 93.27%
12. Avast Professional version 4.7.986 - 92.82%
13. AVG Anti-Malware version 7.5.465 - 92.14%
14. F-Prot version 6.0.6.4 - 91.35%
15. McAfee Enterprise version 8.5.0i+AntiSpyware module - 90.65%
16. Panda 2007 version 2.01.00 - 90.06%
17. Norman version 5.90.37 - 88.47%
18. ArcaVir 2007 - 88.24%
19. McAfee version 11.0.213 - 86.13%
20. Norton Professional 2007 - 86.08

Difference between Internet and WWW

2009-02-04T19:50:00.001-08:00

Internet and World Wide Web are not the same things. The Internet is to the World Wide Web as Europe is to France. One is the container; the other is an item within the container. There are four major concepts behind this important distinction: Concept 1: The Big Infrastructure. The "Internet" (or "Net" for short) is a massive public broadcast medium founded in the 1960's. At first glance, the Internet is an infrastructure of millions of cables and computers. Upon deeper inspection, the Internet is really a combination of several smaller digital "subnetworks" that share those cables and computers. Concept 2: The Web is really a Subnetwork. The World Wide Web, or "Web" for short, is the single largest and most popular subnetwork on the Internet. Born in 1989, the Web is based on hypertext transfer protocol, the language which allows us to "jump" (hyperlink) to any other public web page. There are over 30 billion public web pages on the Web containing graphics, sounds, text and video and much more. Concept 3: Protocols = The Languages of Subnetworks.

What is virtual memory?

2009-02-01T21:48:00.000-08:00

If your computer lacks the random access memory (RAM) needed to run a program or operation, Windows uses virtual memory to compensate.

Virtual memory combines your computer’s RAM with temporary space on your hard disk. When RAM runs low, virtual memory moves data from RAM to a space called a paging file. Moving data to and from the paging file frees up RAM to complete its work.

The more RAM your computer has, the faster your programs will generally run. If a lack of RAM is slowing your computer, you might be tempted to increase virtual memory to compensate. However, your computer can read data from RAM much more quickly than from a hard disk, so adding RAM is a better solution.

Virtual memory and error messages

If you receive error messages that warn of low virtual memory, you need to either add more RAM or increase the size of your paging file so that you can run the programs on your computer. Windows usually manages the size automatically, but you can manually change the size of virtual memory if the default size is not enough for your needs. For more information, see Change the size of virtual memory.

Plastics recycling

2009-01-11T20:55:00.000-08:00

Uses of plastic

Packaging represents the largest single sector of plastics use in the UK. The sector accounts for 35% of UK plastics consumption and plastic is the material of choice in nearly half of all packaged goods.

Types of plastic

There are about 50 different groups of plastics, with hundreds of different varieties. All types of plastic are recyclable. To make sorting and thus recycling easier, the American Society of Plastics Industry developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic. These types and their most common uses are:

	PET	Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.
	HDPE	High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.
	PVC	Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.
	LDPE	Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.
	PP	Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.
	PS	Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.
	OTHER	Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.

Benefits of plastics

The considerable growth in plastic use is due to the beneficial properties of plastics. These include:

Extreme versatility and ability to be tailored to meet very specific technical needs.
Lighter weight than competing materials, reducing fuel consumption during transportation.
Extreme durability.
Resistance to chemicals, water and impact.
Good safety and hygiene properties for food packaging.
Excellent thermal and electrical insulation properties.
Relatively inexpensive to produce.

What is Ajax

2008-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Ajax is a way of developing Web applications that combines:

XHTML and CSS standards based presentation
Interaction with the page through the DOM
Data interchange with XML and XSLT
Asynchronous data retrieval with XMLHttpRequest
JavaScript to tie it all together

In the traditional Web application, the interaction between the customer and the server goes like this:

Customer accesses Web application
Server processes request and sends data to the browser while the customer waits
Customer clicks on a link or interacts with the application
Server processes request and sends data back to the browser while the customer waits
etc....

There is a lot of customer waiting.

Ajax Acts as an Intermediary

The Ajax engine works within the Web browser (through JavaScript and the DOM) to render the Web application and handle any requests that the customer might have of the Web server. The beauty of it is that because the Ajax engine is handling the requests, it can hold most information in the engine itself, while allowing the interaction with the application and the customer to happen asynchronously and independently of any interaction with the server.

Asynchronous

This is the key. In standard Web applications, the interaction between the customer and the server is synchronous. This means that one has to happen after the other. If a customer clicks a link, the request is sent to the server, which then sends the results back.

With Ajax, the JavaScript that is loaded when the page loads handles most of the basic tasks such as data validation and manipulation, as well as display rendering the Ajax engine handles without a trip to the server. At the same time that it is making display changes for the customer, it is sending data back and forth to the server. But the data transfer is not dependent upon actions of the customer.

Ajax is Not New Technology

Ajax is instead a new way of looking at technology that is already mature and stable. If you're designing Web applications right now, why aren't you using Ajax?

How A Motherboard Works

2008-11-23T22:48:00.000-08:00

1. What Does A Motherboard Do?

Well, the main job of a computer motherboard is to hold the CPU (Central Processing Unit) and have every other computer part connect to it. It is the 'glue' that really holds all portions of your computer together.

2. Form Factor

The form factor is nothing but the shape and layout of a motherboard. The form factor determines what kind of PC case the motherboard can fit into and what types of components it can hook up.

3. Sockets And CPUs

On the motherboard, there is a socket for the CPU. This determines what kind of CPU the motherboard can use. Commonly used sockets are:

*

Socket 478 - for older Pentium and Celeron processors
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Socket 754 - for AMD Sempron and some AMD Athlon processors
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Socket 939 - for newer and faster AMD Athlon processors
*

Socket A - for older AMD Athlon processors

If you have a particular CPU in mind, then look for a motherboard that has a socket for that CPU.

4. Chipset

The chipset is is another concept related to motherboards. It is usually made up of the the northbridge and the southbridge. These connect the processor to other parts of the computer.

What does the northbridge do? Think of the northbridge as a connecting directly to CPU via the front side bus (FSB). On the northbridge, there's a memory controller for the CPU to access, and it also connects to the AGP or PCI Express bus.

On the other hand, the southbridge has no direct connection to the CPU. Information must pass through the northbridge before reaching the southbridge. Buses that connect directly to the southbridge include the PCI bus, USB ports IDE or SATA connections.

5. The System Bus

We've been talking about buses and buses. What's that? Well, on the motherboard, a bus is a circuit that connects one part of the motherboard to another.

The more data this bus can transfer at any one time, the faster its speed. This speed is measured in MHz.

Now, when we speak of bus speed, we typically refer to the speed of the front side bus (FSB). This FSB connects the CPU to the northbridge (as we saw above). The FSB speed usually goes from 66 MHz to over 800 MHz.

6. The System Bus

Next up ... memory. Motherboards also decide how much memory a computer can hold. Most motherboards today support the latest type of memory, called dual data rate (DDR) memory. You always need to look at a motherboard's specifications properly to see what kind and how much memory is supported.

7. Slots And Ports

You should also understand the types of slots and ports found on a motherboard. These include:

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Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)- connections for video, sound and video capture cards, as well as network cards
*

Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) - a dedicated port for video cards
*

Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) - interfaces for hard drives
*

Universal Serial Bus (USB) or Firewire - external peripherals
*

Memory slots

8. Other Features

There are some new technologies which have been lately introduced into the world of motherboards:

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Redundant Array of Independent Discs (RAID) controllers on the motherboard allow the computer to run many hard drives in parallel.
*

PCI Express is the latest interface to appear on motherboards. Expect that PCI Express video cards will take over the market soon.

Conclusion

Whew! That's a lot of information about how a motherboard works. Do keep the above points in mind the next time you're trying to understand a new motherboard's specifications.

How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor

2008-11-21T03:26:00.000-08:00

Pressure Method

Turn off your computer's monitor.
Get yourself a damp washcloth, so that you don't scratch your screen.
Take a household pen, pencil, screwdriver, or some other sort of instrument with a focused, but relatively dull, point. A very good tool would be a PDA stylus.
Fold the washcloth to make sure you don't accidentally puncture it and scratch the screen.
Apply pressure through the folded washcloth with the instrument to exactly where the stuck pixel is. Try not to put pressure anywhere else, as this may make more stuck pixels.
While applying pressure, turn on your computer and screen.
Remove pressure and the stuck pixel should be gone. This works as the liquid in the liquid crystal has not spread into each little pixel. This liquid is used with the backlight on your monitor, allowing different amounts of light through, which creates the different colors.

Tapping Method

Turn on the computer and LCD screen.
Display a black image, which will show the stuck pixel very clearly against the background. (It is very important that you are showing a black image and not just a blank signal, as you need the backlighting of the LCD to be illuminating the back of the panel).
Find a pen with a rounded end. A Sharpie marker with the cap on should be fine for this.
Use the rounded end of the pen to gently tap where the stuck pixel is - not too hard to start with, just enough to see a quick white glow under the point of contact. If you didn't see a white glow, then you didn't tap hard enough, so use just slightly more pressure this time.
Start tapping gently. Increase the pressure on the taps gradually for 5-10 taps until the pixel rights itself.
Display a white image (an empty text document is good for this) to verify that you haven't accidentally caused more damage than you fixed.

Ranaviru Upahara Week declared to honor troops

2008-11-17T03:11:00.000-08:00

The Government declared a "Ranaviru Upahara week" yesterday (15) as a tribute to the valiant security forces engaged in the noble mission of liberating Pooneryn, considered a key strategic point, paving the way for opening a land route to the Jaffna Peninsula and completely negating LTTE activity on the Western Coast.

Making the announcement in Parliament Minister Maithripala Sirisena said that the Government's desire is to pay tribute to the war heroes for their courage, determination and sacrifice in the defence of the nation.

The Government has called on all Public Estabishments, Schools and private sector establishments to hoist the national flag and hold ceremonies to honour the fighting men and women of the security forces.

The Minister noted that the day is not far off when other terrorist dominated areas are liberated.

Meanwhile the capture of Pooneryn has taken the military forces one step closer to liberating Kilinochchi, said MP Vinyagamoorthi Muratlitharan, at a special press conference held in Parliament yesterday, to announce a Jayagrahee Ranaviru Upahara Sathiya (a week of tribute to victorious military personnel).

VB6 Data Types

2008-10-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

Data types are the foundation of any programming language. Data is information that will be processed by your application, and falls into three broad categories - numeric (integer or floating point numbers), string (text data), and special . A string is a series of zero or more characters that is handled as a single entity. VB supports both fixed and variable-length strings. Controls almost always supply the Variant datatype to applications (the Variant datatype allows you to store data in a variable when you do not know the specific datatype of the variable). You can convert the control's data type to a different data type, either using a conversion routine or through implicit typing (implicit typing is the process that VB performs when converting one datatype to another). The table below lists the datatypes that Visual Basic supports.

Visual Basic Data Types
Datatype	Description and range
Boolean	A datatype that can only take one of two values - True or False . True and False are reserved words in Visual Basic (they cannot be used to name user defined variables, constants or procedures).
Byte	A positive integer that can take any value from 0 to 255.
Currency	Currency data that holds a value from -£922,337,203,685,477.5808 to £922,337,203,685,477.5807. The four decimal places ensure that proper rounding can occur. VB uses the currency type specified by the International settings in force on the host computer - the currency symbol (£, $ etc.) should not be used when entering Currency values.
Date	Holds date and time values. The date can range from January 1, 100, to December 31, 9999.
Double	A floating point number that holds a value from -1.79769313486232E+308 to 1.79769313486232E+308. Sometimes known as double-precision.
Integer	A signed integer that holds a value from -32,768 to 32,767.
Long	A signed integer that holds a value from -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647. Sometimes called a long integer.
Object	A special datatype that holds and references objects such as controls and forms.
Single	A floating point number that holds a value from -3.402823E+38 to 3.402823E+38. Sometimes known as single-precision.
String	A data item that consists of between 0 and 65,400 alphanumeric characters (which can include special characters such as ^, %, and @). Strings can be fixed or variable-length.
Variant	Data of any datatype, used for control and other values for which the datatype is unknown.

The Interpreter and Compiler

2008-10-24T02:11:00.000-07:00

The first phase of preparing a program for the computer to execute is the entry of the program instructions at an appropriate language level, and this will usually be done with a text editor as already described. The language used to describe the procedure to be followed is almost always quite different from the machine language level. Thus some form of translation from one language level to a lower level is required. In the early days of electronic computers, this was done by hand assembling the machine instructions to execute each high level instruction. One of the first routine tasks to be automated was the process of such a translation, resulting in either an interpreted or a compiled execution environment for the program.

The distinction between the terms interpret and compile arises when we consider that most useful tasks in scientific computing involve highly repetitive instruction sequences, usually called loops of one form or another. For a program which involves significant looping, the process of translating from the high level language to the machine level for each iteration can consume a large fraction of the computer time, while for a program that does not have to execute many repetitive instructions, the cost of interpreting is relatively low.

When efficiency is critical, the compiled language approach is usually better, in part because of the elimination of the repeated translation task after the first cycle through a loop. A further significant improvement to be gained from the compiled approach is that the translation program, usually called the compiler, can be allowed to analyze the whole program, or at least large parts of it, to determine details of its structure which then allow optimization of the program. This usually results in significant improvement in efficiency, without the detailed intervention of the user. This feature cannot be implemented in the interpreted approach, since the interpreter cannot, by its definition, have significant information concerning the global structure of the program.

It is frequently useful to use both the interpreted and compiled approaches during program development, since the interpreted approach allows very fast incremental improvements to the program, which can then be compiled for actual production use. A prime example of such an approach is with the LISP language, where development is done in a LISP interpreted environment, and well tested modules can then be compiled by the LISP compiler and integrated back into the LISP interpreter. This hybrid approach forms the basis of many LISP applications, such as computer algebra systems, to be discussed later. While this approach can be used with languages like C and FORTRAN, there are frequently complications in the transition from interpreted to compiled programs. Of course the BASIC language was initially designed as an interpreted language, and the resulting low performance was later improved by adding the ability for the language to be compiled.

Recently developed languages that have been designed to be interpreted include JAVA, TcL/Tk, PERL, and Python, among others. Some of these languages have been designed from the outset to allow a simpler form of compiling called byte compiling. The target in this form of compiling is not a specific hardware machine, but a simple and well defined intermediate level machine which is a virtual machine. While this virtual machine is not implemented in hardware, its specification is available to software designers, leading to the development of the implementation of the virtual machine on any hardware platform and any operating system. This approach provides many advantages at the possible cost of slightly slower execution. An important influence on the design of these byte-compiled languages is the device-independence required for programs that must run properly on any machine connected to the Internet. A program written and byte-compiled in JAVA, for instance, can be run on any computer and operating system that have the byte-code interpreter specified in the JAVA design. The implementation of this interpreter is the responsibility of the local host computer. This local host can thus control access to its own resources by carefully watching the byte-codes as they arrive, and allowing execution of only those instructions that do not threaten the integrity of the local system. Good design can provide high security from outside attack by hackers, but sloppy design can lead to a computer system that is easy prey for outside hackers.

Blaise Pascal's Arithmetic Machine - 1640 AD

2008-10-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

As fate would have it, determining who invented the first mechanical calculator is somewhat problematical. Many references cite the French mathematician, physicist, and theologian, Blaise Pascal as being credited with the invention of the first operational calculating machine.

In 1640, Pascal started developing a device to help his father add sums of money. The first operating model, the Arithmetic Machine, was introduced in 1642, and Pascal created fifty more devices over the next ten years. (In 1658, Pascal created a scandal when, under the pseudonym of Amos Dettonville, he challenged other mathematicians to a contest and then awarded the prize to himself!)

However, Pascal's device could only add and subtract, while multiplication and division operations were implemented by performing a series of additions or subtractions. In fact the Arithmetic Machine could really only add, because subtractions were performed using complement techniques, in which the number to be subtracted is first converted into its complement, which is then added to the first number. Interestingly enough, modern computers employ similar complement techniques.

Spyware

2008-07-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent.

While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habit, sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, accessing websites blindly that will cause more harmful viruses, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party. Spyware can even change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and loss of Internet or other programs. In an attempt to increase the understanding of spyware, a more formal classification of its included software types is captured under the term privacy-invasive software.

In response to the emergence of spyware, a small industry has sprung up dealing in anti-spyware software. Running anti-spyware software has become a widely recognized element of computer security best practices for Microsoft Windows desktop computers. A number of jurisdictions have passed anti-spyware laws, which usually target any software that is surreptitiously installed to control a user's computer.

Managed information system

2008-06-23T22:14:00.001-07:00

he MIS is a secure web application designed for faculty and staff in the Academic Support and Student Life unit to manage information using a single database. MIS is built and managed by the KMC staff to provide timely information for rapid strategic planning and management.

The primary features of MIS include:

permissions-based data entry

strategic plans, measures, and evaluations

custom-built reports with viewing permissions

server configured to protect data privacy

The Karate Kid

2008-06-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

The Karate Kid is a 1984 John G. Avildsen film starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue. It is a martial arts movie and an "underdog" story much in the mold of a previous Avildsen success, the 1976 boxing picture Rocky. It was a great commercial success upon first release, and has retained its popular following. It also received a favorable critical attention, earning Pat Morita an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The film's tagline is: "He taught him the secret to Karate lies in the mind and heart. Not in the hands."

Update BIOS on you computer

2008-04-07T22:51:00.000-07:00

Computer will need to have its BIOS updated especially for older machines
To update your system to accept a new hardware part or to fix a bug
Before you update backup all your important data and applications and current bios
Download the BIOS upgrade file and instructions for applying it.