Prevents Extra Charges For Overweight And Oversize Luggage

For air traveler, being stuck unexpectedly with chargers for overweight baggage on check-in can only add to the surly feelings.This Balanzza Digital Luggage Scale is a perfect option for avoiding overage costs when flying. Weighing in at less than a pound itself, Balanzza's compact digital luggage scale is small enough to weigh up to 100 pounds of suitcase, so you can reallocate the contents before going to the airport. To use it, loop the scale's strap around the suitcase handle and lift the scale and bag off the ground for a few seconds. Once the scale beeps, set the bag down and read the large digital display showing the total weight. Repack as needed to get the weight down.


Source : Balanzza

Invisible Carpet - The Power of Nanotechnology

Scientists from Imperial College of London have announced that they are close to developing an invisible carpet. This invisible carpet are using materials like silicon and silica and it could hide anything under it from visible light. Using metamaterials, which channel light in a way that is less than the wavelength of light that creates a mirage of invisibility using nanotechnology. The concept is still in the theory stage and putting it into practice is a lot more difficult. I wonder what will happen if this technology are fully developed. Huhu.

Source : Discovery

Mobile GMaps - View Maps On Your Mobile Phone And Never Get Lost Again

If you are afraid of getting lost while on the go, perhaps Mobile GMaps is the program that you need to install in your mobile device.This freeware supports all Jave J2ME enabled mobile phones as well as PDAs. It has the ability to display maps from various sources, including Google, Yahoo!, MSN Virtual Earth and Ask.com. The application also allows users to download and store the map on the phone's memory card in case they need to use it while without connecting to the Internet. Mobile GMaps works with the device built in GPS feature to automatically display the map for your current position.

BMW ZX-6 Concept Car

This car is a BMW concept car designed by students at Turin-based Instituto Europeo di Design in collaboration with BMW. The BMW ZX-6 Concept interprets the needs and desires of adult drivers in the year 2015. The students claim they drew inspiration from elements, music, and arts.

Source : CarBodyDesign

Samsung INNOV8 - Photographers Dream Phone

The Samsung INNOV8 is a photographer’s dream phone; featuring a massive 8-megapixel autofocus camera that offers image stabilization and blink, for the best possible photos. The INNOV8 is based on Symbian OS v9.3 with S60 3rd edition Feature Pack 2, which is the latest version of this system. The phone will be powered by a quad-band GSM with dual-band 3G UMTS/HSDPA at 900/2100 MHz for use in Europe. It features integrated W-LAN and A-GPS for tracking and navigation as well. Internet browsing is also claimed to be a great experience with the 4-way D-pad and the optical mouse and 2.8 inch display. The INNOV8 is also capable of recording QVGA video at up to 120 frames per second and VGA-resolution video at up to 30 frames per second, with a full suite video editing tools right on the INNOV8. The Samsung INNOV8 is going to be launched in Europe in August and expand to other yet to be determined markets during September.



Source : InformationWeek

Integrated Nokia Kiosk

What happens to your old mobile phone after you upgrade to a new model? Ever wondered what to do with your old mobile phone? Recycle It! Nokia has launched an Integrated Nokia Kiosk (INK), its first automated recycling and care kiosk in Malaysia in an effort to promote environmental initiatives in the mobile industry. The kiosks will be rolled out in four locations – Nokia Concept Store at The Gardens, Nokia Store at The Curve, Nokia Store at Suria KLCC and Giant Hypermarket at Bandar Puchong Kinrara. The Kiosk are easy to use. You just need to follow the instructions on the touchscreen. It accepts any brand of mobile phones, batteries, phone covers, travel chargers and accessories. For every phone recycled, the company will donate a tree dedicated to the person who recycled the phone. After dropping off your old phones for recycling, customers will be contacted with instructions on how to view the tree via Google Earth.



Source : NST

How To Clear The ARP Cache In Windows 2000/XP And Vista

The Address Resolution Protocol is designed to ease communication in TCP/IP networks through accelerated methods of finding host hardware addresses when the network layer is known. When a network layer has been resolved to a data link layer address, the link between the two is put in a table called an ARP cache where matched sets of Hardware and Internet Protocol are kept.

The ARP Cache therefore hastens what could otherwise be a time-wasteful process. The ARP cache may however, encounter some problems. The cache table must be maintained in an orderly manner.

There is also the possibility that the cache entries might become stale with time, and more cache entries might be added without the expired ones being removed from the cache. The initial signs that the cache needs to be cleared is when the pages just won't load and also when you might be unable to ping certain IP addresses. It is suggested that before doing anything, you might try and first check whether the routing and remote services have been disabled (no need to do that if you are using Windows XP Home Edition).

To clear the ARP cache in Windows 2000/XP and Vista, take the following steps:

- Proceed to the "Start" button, click on "Run" button.
- Type the following command in the "Run" textbox. "netsh interface ip delete arpcache".
- Click on "Ok".


Clearing the dynamic ARP cache entries takes between 2 and 20 minutes, depending on the system. But there are alternative ways of clearing the cache if the initial method did not work: Go to the "Start" button, and then go to the "Control Panel".

- Jump to "Performance and Maintenance", although this step is not necessary if you are in the Classic View.
- Now go to "Administrative tools" and then go to "Computer Management" and click the "Services and Applications" button on your right-hand column.
- Scroll down the window that opens up to the point until you find "Routing and Remote Services". Click on that tab. A window will then open. Now go to the drop-down menu and select "Disabled".
- From there, click "Ok" to the necessary dialogue and save the settings.


Still having problems with the cache? There are still other methods you could use, like the following that is designed to clear the cache every five minutes for those using Windows XP Home edition. If you are on Windows XP Pro and you still want to use this method, change the "C:WINNTsystem32" part of the command to reflect "C:windowssystem32".

- Install the Window on the default drive(C), and if it's not, you will need to replace the letter "C" with the letter representing the drive in which the Windows has been installed.
- Go to "Start" button and then click on the "Run" buttons. Type "cmd" in the textbox and then click "Ok". After that, copy and paste this link on the blinking cursor after (>) sign; "SCHTASKS /CREATE /SC MINUTE /MO 5 /TN ARPFLUSH /TR C:WINNTsystem32netshinterfaceipdeletearpcache"
- Type "enter", and then you will be required to type in your username and password, and then press "enter" once more. That should do the trick.

Mobile Phone Virus

A mobile phone virus is a computer virus specifically adapted for the cellular environment and designed to spread from one vulnerable phone to another.The following tips can help prevent problems with viruses on your phone.

1. Switch to Bluetooth hidden mode
If your phone has Bluetooth capability, ensure that the Bluetooth capability is switched to hidden or invisible mode unless you specifically need it to be visible. This will help prevent other Bluetooth-enabled devices from finding your phone (unless you grant them the necessary permission) and will therefore help protect your phone from worms that spread using the Bluetooth wireless technology.

2. Exercise caution before opening attachments
When accepting applications sent via Bluetooth, or opening MMS attachments, exercise caution, just as you would when opening an email attachment on your PC, because they may include harmful software. Ensure the application or attachment comes from a known source, and is wary of opening files that have unfamiliar text attached to them, even if they come from someone you know.

3. Only download content from a trusted source
Trusted sources may include operator portals and other well-known brands that offer adequate protection against viruses and other harmful software. Be aware though that, as with emails, malicious or fraudulent users may be able to fake the appearance of a trusted source.

4. Consider anti-virus software
Some software is available to prevent phone viruses. You may wish to consider downloading this software.

5. Contact your phone manufacturer if concerned
If you think you have a virus, call the phone manufacturer’s care line. They can assist you confirm if it is a virus, and help fix the problem.

X-Men Cyclops Visor

This Cyclops visor is an exact replica that James Marsden wore in the X-Men movies. It functions just like a pair of regular sunglasses but will not shield your friends from danger if you have the ability to generate destructive optic blasts from your eyeballs. This Cyclops Visor Replica retails for US$74.99 at ThinkGeek.

- Reproduced from an actual screen worn visor
- Red iridium polarized sunglass lens
- Awesome all-metal display box included
- Comes with a certificate of authenticity and visor blueprints


Source : ThinkGeek :: Stuff for Smart Masses

INFINXX AP23 - The Smallest iPhone/iPod Bluetooth A2DP Stereo Audio Transmitter

This is the smallest iPhone/iPod Bluetooth A2DP stereo audio transmitter called the INFINXX AP23. This wireless device allows users to enjoy high quality stereo music of their favorite tunes from the iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPod wirelessly. A LED on the unit indicates when it’s connected to your wireless cans, and it also allows you to take calls wirelessly. The INFINXX AP23 is currently available and retailing for $62


Source : Brando

TransferJet - Wireless Transfer Technology

TransferJet is a Sony-developed wireless system that can send data at speeds of up to 375M bps (bits per second) over distances of around 3 centimeters. It's designed to replace the cables that are typically needed to connect gadgets and its speed rivals that of USB2.0 and Firewire, the two dominant cable-based systems in use today. It's a system that allows you to transfer files from your digital camera or MP3 player directly to your PC simply by putting the two in close proximity -- no cables are necessary. Using this technology, data can be sent at speeds of 560Mbps.


Source : Sony

Windows Registry

The need to fix a corrupt registry is something which any personal computer owner may face at any time. Perhaps in order to address whether it is important to fix a corrupt registry or not, let us first define the Windows registry. The Windows registry is a database of information about the configuration of a computer, including software, hardware as well as files and other preferences that you have set on your computer. When faced with a corrupt Windows Registry, many people wonder what causes this problem. Installing and un-installing software on your personal computer can sometimes leave unnecessary files on your computer, and this leads to reduced computer performance. As you use your PC on a day to day basis, the Windows registry size keeps growing, and this can also cause a corrupt Windows registry.

Many computer users do not know when it is time to do a registry cleanup. So, what are the symptoms of a corrupt registry, and how do you know that it is time to fix your registry? The main symptoms of registry problems are frequent system crashes, Windows errors, slow performance, hardware malfunctioning and system crashes. In most cases, running your spyware tools do not help to improve the performance of the computer. Difficulties to log into your computer and when opening your software, files and games is also another sign that it is time to fix corrupt registry. Is it safe to ignore a corrupt registry problem and what are the risks of not fixing a corrupt registry? Given the fact that the Windows registry is the central part of your computer, it is not a good idea to ignore any signs that your registry is corrupt. This problem will not go way on its own, and a corrupt registry will only get worse if not repaired.

There is also a risk that the Windows registry will be damaged up a point where it is impossible to repair it, which will mean having to buy a new computer. The crashes and freezes of your computer will occur more frequently as the condition of your windows registry deteriorates, and this will get to a point where your PC simply stops working. This means that you will probably lose your files, data, games and any other stuff that you have stored on your PC. Perhaps another important question which computer owners have is whether it is possible for them to manually fix registry problems.

The fact is that a Windows registry is large and complex. It is also a rather delicate part of a computer such that if any damage is done to it, your PC may stop working completely. It also requires a very high level of computer expertise to understand how the Windows Registry works, let alone how to repair it. Trying to repair the windows registry manually on your own is therefore a very time-consuming, daunting and risky exercise for most computer users. When your computer has developed registry problems, it does not necessarily mean that you should buy a new computer. There are several reputable Windows registry repair utility programs on the internet that any computer user can use to fix a corrupt registry. For the average computer users, it is good to know that reputable registry cleaners are easy to run and use.

Cisco CBAC?

The Cisco IOS Firewall Feature Set is a module that can be added to the existing IOS to provide firewall functionality without the need for hardware upgrades. There are two components to the Cisco IOS Firewall Feature Set in Intrusion Detection (which is an optional bolt-on) and Context-Based Access Control (CBAC). CBAC maintains a state table for all of the outbound connections on a Cisco router by inspecting tcp and udp connections at layer seven of the OSI model and populating the table accordingly. When return traffic is received on the external interface it is compared against the state table to see if the connection was originally established from within the internal network, and then either permitted or denied. Although basic this is a very effective mechanism to prevent unauthorized access to the internal network from external sources such as the internet.

CBAC Application-specific support

Cisco have also built in some additional functionality into CBAC in terms of application-specific inspection that enables the router to recognize and identify application specific data flows such as HTTP, SMTP, TFTP, and FTP. Understanding these applications and their data flows empowers the router to identify malformed packets or suspect application data flows and permit or deny accordingly. CBAC also provides the flexibility of downloading Java code from trusted sites, but it denying untrusted sites.

CBAC and Denial of Service (DOS) Attacks

Denial-Of-Service (DOS) attack protection is also in-built with real-time logging of alerts as well as pro-active responses to mitigate the threat. To do this CBAC can be configured to manage half-open TCP connections which are used in TCP SYN flood attacks to overload a targets resources resulting in a denial of service to legitimate users. To do this CBAC uses timeouts and thresholds, which are configurable, to determine how long state information for each connection should be kept for sessions and when to drop them. Note that UDP and ICMP require that an idle-timer limit is used to determine when a connection should be terminated. A very useful command to identify a DOS attack is ‘ip inspect audit-trail’ which logs all DOS connections including source and destination IP address and TCP or UDP ports allowing you to pin-point the exact source and destination of the attack.

Configuring CBAC

There are five steps to configuring CBAC on a Cisco router in order for it to function correctly. These are as follows:

1. Choose an interface to which inspection will be applied. This can be an internal or external interface as CBAC is only concerned with the direction of the first packet initiating the connection which is identified when applying CBAC to an interface.

2. Configure an IP access list in the correct direction on the selected interface to allow traffic through for CBAC to inspect.

3. Configure global timeouts and thresholds for established connections or sessions.

4. Define an inspection rule specifying exactly which protocols will be inspected by CBAC.

5. Apply the inspection rule to the interface in the correct direction.

Take Incredible Pictures Everyone Wants To Be In.

The Sony Ericsson C902 is one of the best Cyber-shot camera phones from the lineage of Sony Ericsson. Every feature of the C902 is worthwhile when compared with lot of phones these days. Its slim, simple and stylish profile attracts the prospective users, quite frequently. The slide-out camera is a stroke of genius. With this model, it can be said that the Sony Ericsson is refining the technology with the latest advancements.

On hold, the C902 looks like a premium quality handset. It comprises of glossy plastic parts mixed with steel trimmings. The curvaceous edges of the handset are adorned with classy-looking silver and black lines. The pleasing looks give the C902 an overall impression of being very handsome handset.

Therefore, it can be said that the Sony Ericsson loves to experiment on the designing patterns. The C902 is a proof of this, however, it is still experimental in design. The candy bar shaped handset comes with well proportioned number pad, dedicated keys and screen, which are well spaced and easy to use.

The 5-megapixel camera on the C902 comes loaded with high quality camera features. It allows the users to to capture a precise and clear picture on every click. The camera is a Cyber-Shot digital camera complete with highly used features such as autofocus, image stabliser, flash, digital zoom, photo light and red eye reduction. With the PictBridge feature, the users can print their picture on a compatible printer directly from their handset. The advanced image settings can be adjusted using a selection of touch-sensitive icons which are located around the screen.

This 3G enabled phone would not be complete without video and music capabilities, it has all in it. The advanced camera feature allows the users to record video footage. An integrated video recorder comes with a video stabiliser, which avoids unwanted small hand movements at the time o f recording. Moreover, built in video light can be used to light up darker surroundings, while recording. Adding more to your pocket, an integrated media player comes with useful music features such as a MegaBass, a TrackID music recognition and supports PlayNow feature to download music. A built in FM radio comes with RDS keeps the updated on songs, news, weather and recent happenings. The RDS enables radio allow users to view screen text information.

In context to connectivity options, the Sony Ericsson C902 comes with an Access NetFront Web browser complete with a Web feeds. It allows the users to get direct live feeds from Web sites pertaining information and latest news. Just like other Sony Ericsson handset, the C902 comes with a rechargeable battery which provides up to 400 hours of standby battery time or up to 9 hours of GSM talk time on a single full charge.



Source : SonyEricsson

Backpack Bicycle

With the raise of oil price public transportation will be the "escape plan" and bicycles will be an alternative for a short distance. The use and development of bicycles have affected mankind in a bigger way than it seems. It has affected history in both industrial and cultural realms. However, to carry a bicycle in a public transportation is always a problem. Designer Chang Ting Jen has come up with an interesting foldable bicycle concept. "Backpack Bicycle" is a normal enough bike, but as soon as user is done biking, it can be folded up into a backpack measuring just 60cm in length. It is just 5.5kg and would minimize weight using plastics in the main frame instead of metals. So now, you don’t really need a vehicle to transport your bicycle because the shape of Backpack Bicycle is easy to carry. The Backpack Bicycle could easily be taken with you on a subway or bus, and would be worth mass-producing for. Thumbs up for designer.

Source : GreenDaily

Kodak Zi6 Pocket Video Camera

This Kodak’s newest innovative products the Zi6 is a pocketable corder capable of capturing widescreen video at 720p HD quality and 60 frames per second, far beyond the capabilities of rivals such as the Flip and Creative Vado. It can switch down to standard video quality too, and can also take still snaps. In addition, it isn’t limited to the amount of internal flash memory thanks to the use of an SDHC memory card slot which theoretically is able to store up to 32GB of footage. The Kodak Zi6 will be available from late September 2008, retailing for US$180 in black and pink colors.


Source : Kodak News Release

ASUS P320 GPS PDA Phone

ASUS has released th P320 GPS PDA Phone, a feature-packed device targetted at the style conscious. The phone which is powered by Microsoft Window Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system, also has an enhanced user interface called Asus Today that has customised icons to display the time, calender, incoming message, weather and media player. The P320 hac plenty of features such as WiFi, Bluetooth and built in GPS that uses SiRFStar III intergrated chipset that is supposed to quickly and accurately pinpoint a users location. It’s among the first low end smartphones to come with built-in GPS sensor. Also, the P320 has a 2-megapixel camera with autofocus and a microSD card slot. The new P320 is now available in pink, black and white colors with a price of around US$390.

Source : ASUS

Free Software

Are you searching for the best free software on the Internet? Do you know where can you find it? There are only a few sites that have taken the trouble to cull the best free software from the rest. Completely Free Software is one of them. This website features only Windows/DOS software which is truly free for non-commercial use. Not just non-nagged shareware, but completely free and legal software: each program is tested, reviewed and rated. Its freeware heaven!

11 Tips for Computer Security

Below is 11 tips for you.

1. Update/patch ALL your software every now and then!

2. Check/adjust ALL your settings so they are safe, since they AREN'T by default!

3. Use firewall, like ZoneAlarm to control what goes in and out from your computer!

4. Use good passwords: at least 13marks long, containing both letters and numbers. Remember to change your password every few months at least and don't ever use the same password in two places!

5. Get a good antivirus program: NOD32, F-Secure, AVG or Norton Antivirus and keep it updated!

6. Don't open or execute files that you are not 100% sure are absolutely safe nomatter where or how you get them.

7. Wipe your history files (like cookies, internet history and temporary files, etc.), logs and personal files, with specific wiping program (like Eraser) instead of just deleting them.

8. Use encryption to enhance your privacy! Use encrypted email (like Hushmail or Ziplip), www-surfing and encrypt sensitive files on your computer (PGP).

9. When you are finished using some internet-based service like email, sign out of it rather than just closing your browser! Also, when you leave your computer, make sure that none of such programs or connections are left open that someone could abuse. In WindowsNT/2k/XP, press Windowskey+L to lock the workstation.

10. Don't use public computers for anything you need to type in your logins, they usually have Trojan horses that capture your passwords.

11. Make backups and store them in safe place! Easiest way to do a total-backup is to make an "Image" of your hard drive or partition and store it on safe location, but floppies will usually be just fine for storing documents, etc.

What Is Computer Security?

Computer Security is a branch of technology known as information security as applied to computers. Information security means protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. The objective of computer security varies and can include protection of information from theft or corruption, or the preservation of availability, as defined in the security policy.

Technological and managerial procedures applied to computer systems to ensure the availability, integrity and confidentiality of information managed by the computer system. Computer security imposes requirements on computers that are different from most system requirements because they often take the form of constraints on what computers are not supposed to do.

Typical approaches to improving computer security can include the following:
-Physically limit access to computers to only those who will not compromise security.
- Hardware mechanisms that impose rules on computer programs, thus avoiding depending on computer programs for computer security.
- Operating system mechanisms that impose rules on programs to avoid trusting computer programs.
- Programming strategies to make computer programs dependable and resist subversion.

Computer Security has three Layers:

1- Hacking:
Unauthorized use or attempts to circumvent or bypass the security mechanisms of an information system or network.
Computer hacking always involves some degree of infringement on the privacy of others or damage to computer-based property such as files, web pages or software. The impact of computer hacking varies from simply being simply invasive and annoying to illegal.

2- Cracking:
The act of breaking into a computer system.
Software Cracking is the modification of software to remove protection methods: copy prevention, trial/demo version, serial number, hardware key, CD check or software annoyances like nag screens and adware. The most common software crack is the modification of an application's binary to cause or prevent a specific key branch in the program's execution.

3- Phreaking:
The art and science of cracking the phone network.

APC Universal Notebook Battery - More Power For You!

It always happens when the notebook runs out of battery there is usually no power outlet to be found. Now you don't have to worry about this matter anymore because APC has unveiled its Universal Notebook Battery-UPB70.

The UPB70 is a portable battery that can be used to charge your notebook battery. With only 0.75kg weight, the UPB70 has a selectable output voltages and comes with a variety of jacks that should fit most of notebook. Just charge the battery pack, bring along the right jack and you are ready to go. It can recharge a notebook battery for about three hours. This gadget give the mobile professional maximum availability to power no matter where you go. The UPB70 retails for $150.



Source : APC

Calmee Xena - External Hard Disk From Fujitsu

For those who like to store lots of data, music and other informations this mega storage 2.5" external hard disk called "Calmee Xena" from Fujitsu are very useful for you. It comes with four different capacities ranging from 160GB to 320GB. The 200GB Calmee Xena available for $110 in Korea market.



Source : Aving

Concept Washing Machine

This concept is designed by Harsha Vardhan from New Delhi, India. It is a portable compact washing machine that you can also sit on it. It has two modes, active and passive, though both will allow you to sit atop the unit. Clothes are loaded into a mesh and the cleaning process is through a stream of ionized air passing through internal chambers. The process thus saves up on water and detergent.Nice idea.

Source : DVICE

LG Secret KF750

The LG Secret KF750 is a highly amazing 3G phone with attractive looks. The mesmerizing looks can definitely turn heads of the prospective users, wherever it is. This beautiful 3G phone is empowered with high quality features as well as fast technology. Therefore, it won't be wrong to say that the overall looks of the handset have gained a “wow “ factor in the crowd. This phone is designed to suit the "fashion conscious" users who are looking out for high quality multimedia, entertainment and connectivity options, even on the go. The mid-sized casing of the phone is available in a color choice of silver and black. The spacious coloured touch screen dominates the front panel of phone. All the high-end features and functions are contrived to fit in ultra slim dimension of 11.8 mm in thickness, 50.8 mm in width and 102.8 mm in height. This 3G phone is well suited to the users pocket or bag easily, without even feeling heavy to carry, as it weighs only 116 grams. This fashionable handset is a member of the LG Black Series.

The LG Secret KF750 comes with accelerometer sensor for auto rotate and touch-sensitive navigation panel haptics. It supports 100MB user memory and also has microSD card that can increase the memory up to 4 GB. Now the users can save lots of their documents in the handset. It also saves your 40 dialed, 40 received and 40 missed calls. In the matter of the connectivity, the LG secret kf750 mobile phone comes with GPRS, EDGE, 3G, Bluetooth and USB. The Bluetooth feature helps the users to connect the phone with any compatible device including PC, laptops, printer and many more. The very stunning and major feature in the kit of the LG secret KF750 is its 5 megapixel camera that comes with auto focus and face detection. The camera is also capable of recording the video clips with the high pace of 30 frame per second. It also allows the users to make the video calls, as it supports a secondary videocall camera.


Source : LG

A Rugged Ultra Mobile PC For FIELD WORKERS IN EXTREME Environments

This is the first ultra mobile PC (UMPC) to integrate the new low power Intel Atom processor in a rugged handheld computer. The ToughBook CF-U1, as it is to be known, is a handheld unit with a 5.6-inch, 1,024x600-pixel touchscreen. The features of the Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1 include LED backlight, 16GB SSD, 1GB RAM, MIL-STD-810F and IP54 compliant, 4 foot drop approved, Wifi draft-n, and Bluetooth. It runs Vista from a removable 16GB or 32GB SSD, weighs 2.3 lbs. with two batteries and runs for 9 hours. Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1 UMPC will start shipping in August with a price tag of $2,499.



Source : Panasonic | Pressroom

Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks?

With the cost of hard disk falling, it is not uncommon for home desktop PCs to have RAID. In fact, most PC motherboards have a built-in RAID controller, even if it is not in use. RAID is short for "redundant array of inexpensive disks" and was developed to use smaller disks in an array for better performance, scalability, and data reliability and recovery.

RAID achieves all these aims via several configurations. The most common nowadays are RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1/ RAID 10 and RAID 5. Each of these RAID types has their own method of redundancy.

RAID 0 is simply striping the data across multiple disks. It's like dividing the data into smaller pieces of fixed size, called the "stripe width," and writing the stripes across the disks. If the file to be written was 5KB in size, with a stripe width of 1KB and there are 4 disks to a RAID set, the first stripe would be written on the first disk, the second on the second disk, and so on up the fourth stripe, the fifth stripe is written to the first disk. This is a fast way of writing large files but if one disk fails, the whole set fails.

RAID 1 is also called mirroring. That's because the same data is written on two disks at the same time. In other words, one disk being the mirror of another. The reads are done on both drives as well. If one disk fails, there is still another disk which keeps the data safe and read-write operations continue. This is an effective solution at the cost of having two disks doing the job of one.

RAID 0 + 1, is a combination of RAID 0 and RAID 1. The data is striped across disks first, and then mirrored across the same number of disks. If you have four disks, the data is striped across the first two, and then the pair is mirrored across the remaining two disks. This is a robust solution but very expensive.

RAID 5 is like RAID 0, but with a parity write. A parity is an error correction which is a combination of the data on the other stripes. Additionally, the parity is written on different disks, and not on any single disk. Because of this overhead, RAID 5 is slower than RAID 1 or RAID 0 + 1.

In case of a disk failure, the data can be recovered by calculating the parity contents of the failed disk from the contents of the other disks. In hot swap installations, the failed disk is taken out and replaced, and the data is rebuilt on the fly. There would be noticeable performance degradation while the data is being recovered automatically.

RAID was designed to be both scalable and robust. But with each additional hard disk the chances for a hard disk failure increases. RAID was also designed to continue running even in the event of a single disk failure. And depending on the RAID 0 + 1 configuration, even if more disks failed data would still be written and read correctly up to a certain point but with noticeable performance degradation.

However, in most instances, it would still be necessary to do a RAID recovery at some point of multiple disk failure. RAID recovery of important data is specialized for different types of disks and RAID implementation strategy. RAID data recovery in some instances need a laboratory clean room to study the disk failure before recovering the data.

Most data centers resort to further redundancy of data storage and recover the data after the RAID set has been repaired. In other instances, the data is recovered from tape backup after repairing the RAID set. In a worst case, for very important data, RAID data recovery is done by companies that specialize in dealing with RAID setups everyday.

The AirPiano

Piano is the king of musical instrument. It plays an important role almost in all kinds of music. Have you ever thought of playing piano without touching anything? The AirPiano allows you to do so. The AirPiano is designed by Omer Yosha. It is an innovative musical interface which allows playing and controlling software instruments simply by moving hands in the air. It is a virtual matrix of keys and faders, each assigned with MIDI messages and ready to be triggered. The AirPiano is not only fun to play, it also invites to experiment, to explore endless arrangements and develop new playing techniques. It might be useful for DJ performance, as a music therapy instrument or as a toy. Check out video below for demo. Pretty cool stuff!





Source : AirPiano | CreateDigitalMusic