Spaghetti Tech

italia.it?

2006-08-05T00:27:00.000+02:00

After more than 40 millions euro, this is what italia.it (an ambitious, multilingual portal supposed to become the institutional reference point for the tourism in Italy, which was expected to be online by March of 2006) looks like; by now, the words "the Italian Tourism Portal is Coming Soon" mean that the site will be ready by 2007, as the Vice Prime Minister recently declared.
Meanwhile, the Government launched a new online campaign, called Turistiprotagonisti, consisting of another page (the proper site will be available on August 21) meant to collect impressions, suggestions, ideas and pictures from Italian tourists, which will help improve the national tourism industry.
Should the average Italian taxpayer interpret this web-prolificacy as a positive attitude of the Government towards tourism and technology or rather as a worrying symptom of confusion? I guess we'll find out in 2007.

From Punto Informatico

Tags/Categories: Italy, web

The Skeleton Mod

2006-08-04T18:22:00.000+02:00

This gigerish pile of bones and cables isn't coming from the set of EXistenZ: it's one of the winners of the annual case mod contest promoted by ExtremeTech.

From the same contest: the TIE Fighter, RD-D2 and the 800 Mhz Teddy Bear

Link [via]

Tags/Categories: modding, hardware, diy.

Startup Review

2006-08-03T16:44:00.000+02:00

There's a new feed in my reader: Startup Review, a weblog by Nisan Gabbay, keeps track of the latest US-based Internet-startups, providing an in-depth case study per week (the Craiglist Case Study is the first available review).

From the first post, Long Introduction:

Startup Review will be a blog that profiles successful Internet start-ups in a case study format. The case studies will be fairly detailed, analyzing the key factors that made the companies successful, with an emphasis on strategy and product decisions. Each case study will also have sections discussing launch strategy, exit analysis, and links to other good analysis on the company.

[via NevilleHobson]

Tags/Categories: web, blogs, Startup+Review.

Copyscape

2006-08-02T18:06:00.000+02:00

Is someone plagiarizing the fruit of your hard work?
Now bloggers can unmask their less creative 'colleagues', thanks to Copyscape:

Copyscape is dedicated to defending your rights online, helping you fight against online plagiarism and content theft. Copyscape finds sites that have copied your content without permission, as well as those that have quoted you.

(I guess I'm going to be copyscaped for this quote...)

Copyscape is free, but the most demanding users might want to consider the Premium service, with unlimited searches and a tracking feature, and Copysentry, which scans the web on a daily basis and sends e-mail alerts.

And if you're looking for a deterrent, you can put the Plagiarism Warning Banner on your page.

Tags/Categories: web, search, Copyscape, free

My Windows-to-Linux software conversion table

2006-07-31T22:55:00.000+02:00

On my laptop I'm running only Linux (Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake), without regrets.
After a few experiences with dual-boot systems, I realized that I could kiss Windows goodbye and simply enjoy the vast choice of Linux applications available out there.

Here is my (small) Windows-to-Linux software conversion table, for a happy Linux-monogamy.
* = My choice on Windows.

Instant Messaging

Pop Win Software: MSN Messenger, AIM, Y! Messenger, Trillian, GAIM, Miranda*
My Lin Choice: GAIM (multi-platform); aMSN (an excellent MSN messenger clone, with full support of the original features)

Browser

Pop Win Software: IE, Firefox, Opera
My Lin Choice: Firefox*, Opera* (click here for a guide on how to install and configure Opera in Ubuntu)

Email client

Pop Win Software: Thunderbird, Outlook Express, Eudora, The Bat
My Lin Choice: Evolution (of course Thunderbird is available too, but I really like Evolution)

Ftp client

Pop Win Software: FileZilla*, CuteFTP
My Lin Choice: gFTP (a Linux version of FileZilla will be available in the future)

Feed reader

Pop Win Software: FeedReader*, Sage FF extension
My Lin Choice: Liferea (one of the best feed readers I've tried so far)

VoIP

Pop Win Software: Skype, X-Lite
My Lin Choice: X-Lite*, Ekiga

IRC client

Pop Win Software: mIRC, Xchat*, Chatzilla ext. for FF
My Lin Choice: Xchat, Chatzilla

Music player

Pop Win Software: Winamp, QMP, MediaMonkey*
My Lin Choice: XMMS

ID3 Tag editor

Pop Win Software: The GodFather, Mp3Tag, MediaMonkey*
My Lin Choice: Kid3

Video

Pop Win Software: VideoLAN, WMP
My Lin Choice: VideoLan*

Ripper/Encoder

Pop Win Software: EAC*, Audiograbber, Audiocatalyst, CDex, LAME*
My Lin Choice: grip (really similar to EAC, doubles as a nice player too), LAME*

Audio editor

Pop Win Software: Audacity
My Lin Choice: Audacity*

Image manipulation

Pop Win Software: Photoshop, PSP
My Lin Choice: GIMP*/ Gimpshop

Image viewer

Pop Win Software: IrfanView*, ACDSee, Picasa, FastStone, ThumbsPlus
My Lin Choice: XnView (I really like the Win version too)

Office suite

Pop Win Choice: MS Office, OpenOffice
My Lin Choice: Open Office*

Blog editor

Pop Win Software: Performancing, wBloggar, Ecto, Qumana
My Lin Choice: Performancing extension for Firefox

Password manager

Pop Win Software: AI Roboform, KeePass, PasswordSafe
My Lin Choice: KeePass*

Cryptography

Pop Win Software: PGP, TrueCrypt, GnuPG, AxCrypt
My Lin Choice: GnuPG*, TrueCrypt

Cd burning:

Pop Win Software: Nero*, Easy Cd Creator
My Lin Choice: Gnome Toaster

Be sure to check also this huge list of Linux equivalents.

Tags/Categories: Linux, Software.

Google Toolbar 4 + Custom Buttons

2006-07-29T12:14:00.000+02:00

Good news: Google Toolbar 4 (for IE) is available and out of beta.
One of the most interesting features are the Custom Buttons: to add your own button to the toolbar, just open the desired web page, right click on the search box and chose "Generate custom search".

Buttons can navigate to and search a site, display an RSS feed in a menu, and change their icon dynamically

If you're too lazy, check the official Gallery, with more than 600 buttons ready for you.

Bad news: Firefox users will have to wait.

[from]

Tags/Categories: Google, Software.

Italian ISPs Association: Proposals for the next legislature

2006-03-23T16:39:00.000+01:00

During a recent convention, Assoprovider, the Italian association of independent ISPs, introduced a list of proposals addressed to whichever coalition will win the upcoming elections:

To encourage competition and market liberalization, by splitting TelecomItalia into two companies and encouraging Infratel-like initiatives;

Creation of a cadastre of communication resources;

Use of standard wireless infrastructures and promotion of wireless broadband based on non-proprietary technologies;

Aperture of the mobile market;

Encourage the convergence of telecommunications and radio broadcasting;

Strengthening and rationalization of the Authorities involved in Internet-related matters;

Institution of an Internet parliamentary commission, aimed to safeguard the individual and fundamental freedoms;

Consip Marketplace: creation of a telecommunications division;

Support to the Venture Capital development and creation of a low-cost stock market for the sector;

Complete revision of the current e-government and ecommerce philosophy;

[via] Link

Categories: Internet, Web, law, telecommunications, Assoprovider, Italy

Zfone, encrypted VoIP from the makers of PGP

2006-03-17T15:19:00.000+01:00

Philip Zimmerman, well known amongst the security savvy users for the renowned encryption software PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), just released a public beta version (currently for Mac OS X and Linux: the XP version will be released in April) of Zfone, a VoIP software based on a new protocol called ZRTP, which has some nice cryptographic features lacking in many other approaches to VoIP encryption.ZPhone currently works as an addon to your VoIP client, adding a new layer of security to VoIP calls:

The current Zfone software runs in the Internet Protocol stack on any Windows XP, Mac OS X, or Linux PC, and intercepts and filters all the VoIP packets as they go in and out of the machine, and secures the call on the fly. You can use a variety of different software VoIP clients to make a VoIP call. The Zfone software detects when the call starts, and initiates a cryptographic key agreement between the two parties, and then proceeds to encrypt and decrypt the voice packets on the fly. It has its own little separate GUI, telling the user if the call is secure.

In the future, Zimmerman plans to integrate Zfone into a dedicated and standalone VoIP client.

Categories/Tags: software, security, privacy, VoIP, Zimmerman, Zfone

FastStone Capture

2006-03-16T15:16:00.000+01:00

A good tool for taking screenshots is one of those programs that will always be on my quick launch bar (and believe me: it's a lot better than the PrtScr key).
In my endless search for the "perfect tool", I've tested many programs out there, as you can see in my Free software list.

This time, it's FastStone Capture time: this little, light (and free for home users) application, from the authors of the well-known FS Image Viewer, is well worth a try.

Once the program is launched, a small panel will appear on top of your window: four little icons will provide quick access to the main features (note that if you don't like the panel, the same functions can be accessed through an icon on the system tray):

The first icon shows a menu of the available capture modes:

Capture Window/Object;
Capture Rectangle Region;
Capture Freehand Region;
Capture Full Screen;
Capture Foreground Window;
Capture From Webcam/Scanner;
Pick Screen Color;

From the same menu, you can chose where to send the acquired image:

To Image Viewer;
To Clipboard;
To File;

The second icon allows you to open image files from any location on your computer;

The third icon can be customized with a "Favorite Folder";

The fourth button allows to paste images from the clipboard;

The lower part of the panel is occupied by a big eye, the symbol of FastStone: in this area you can drag and drop images from windows, browsers or other programs, to be captured.

The captured images can be edited with some basic functions, such as Resizing, Flipping, Rotating, Cropping and Color Adjusting, by right-clicking on the image window or using the tool bar activated by the passage of the mouse cursor near the bottom of the window;

By pressing the T key, you'll access the "Text Board", which will allows to add some effects to the image (click on the picture below to enlarge it):

Text;
Freehand Lines;
Arrows;
Rectangles;
Ellipses;
Markers;
Watermarks;

For each element you can fully customize color, dimensions, transparency and dropshadow.

FS Screen Capture supports several image formats: JPEG, JPEG2000, GIF, BMP, PNG, PCX, TIFF, WMF, ICO, TAG, EMF, PXM, WBMP and saving to TIFF, GIF, PCX, BMP, ICO, PNG, TGA, PXM, WBMP, JPEG, JPEG2000, PS, EPS, PDF;

Some other interesting features include: magnifier, EXIF metadata support and undo/redo through the mouse wheel.

Categories/Tags: FastStone+Capture, freeware, software, graphics, utilities

Performancing Metrics

2006-03-15T22:45:00.000+01:00

Performancing just launched Performancing Metrics, a new statistics service for bloggers: all you need is to sign up for a free account, follow a simple wizard and paste the resulting HTML code into your blog template. You'll gain access to a detailed report of your statistics, ordered into three groups:

Visitors: visitors stats (with a detailed report of new visitors, 'repeat visitors', single sessions and Average visit length), geography, languages, browsers, platforms and screen resolution;
Activity: post views (with a 'top n' of your most viewed entries), comments summary (with per day and per post averages), comments by post (with a list of the most commented articles), categories;
Marketing: AdSense clicks (with ranking and avg per day), referrers, search engines, outbound links.

The overall speed (it's Web2.0, after all...) and ease of use, the clean interface, the simple graphs that illustrate the statistics and the rationally organized dashboard (which grants an easy and complete access to the features and the time span settings) make the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Categories/Tags: statistics, blogging, free, Performancing+Metrics, Web2.0

(11) Photographic DIY tutorials roundup

2006-03-14T18:40:00.000+01:00

Well, this post is basically a memo to self, but I'm sure that a few of you will find it useful.
Here are some hacks and Do-It-Yourself photography-related tutorials I've collected around the web in the last few months:

Macro flash prototype: an extendable, adjustable all-mirrored cardboard construction guiding the light from the hotshoed flash close to the target through a diffuser ;

Super simple light tent: step by step guide on how to build an inexpensive light tent with a cardboard box;

DIY LightBox: great still photos with 5 sheets of foam board;

Light Box/Light Tent: with CPVC;

Caisson Lumineux: another light tent tutorial (in French);

DIY Ring light: add some homebrew lights to your studio;

DIY Ring light 2: another homemade ring light tutorial;

Extreme Macro Photography on a budget: turn a Pringles can into an effective macro extension tube;

Build your own Ring flash: build an otherwise expensive flash for macro photography;

Making Your Own Backdrops, Bluescreens and Greenscreens: build a nice and portable backdrop frame;

LEGO accessories for photographers: cool photographic gear made out of LEGO bricks (with step-by-step instructions);

Categories/Tags: photography, hacks, DIY

Google Mars

2006-03-13T10:52:00.000+01:00

If discovering impact craters with Google Earth isn't enough for your inner scientist, maybe it's time to try Google Mars: the guys at Mountain View just launched a new tool meant to be a window on the Red Planet.

The usual markers are organized into categories: Regions, Spacecrafts (it's a dump, down there!), Stories, Mountains, Canyons, Dunes, Plains, Ridges, Craters.

The Planet can be explored in three modes: Elevation (a shaded relief map, generated with data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. This map is color-coded by altitude, so you can use the color key at the lower left to estimate elevations), Visible (a mosaic of images taken by the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. MOC is like the digital camera you have at home. Basically, this is what your eyes would see if you were in orbit around Mars) and Infrared (a mosaic of infrared images taken by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) on NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Warmer areas appear brighter, and colder areas are darker. Clouds and dust in the atmosphere are transparent in the infrared, making this the sharpest global map of Mars that's ever been made).

P.S.: currently, the Google Earth client doesn't support it.

[via]

Categories/Tags: Google, Google+Mars, space, Web2.0

Desmoblog - Ducati's Weblog

2006-03-10T23:40:00.000+01:00

It's always a good sign, when large companies experiment new ways to communicate with their customers.

Federico Minoli, President and Managing Director of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A., just started Desmoblog, a brand new weblog named after the Desmosedici, Ducati's desmodromic valve technology (and the GP racing bike).

Minoli writes:

This new space online gives me a new way to communicate with colleagues, fans and bikers about my life, my experience with Ducati, the company, the motorcycles and of course Ducati Corse.

Welcome to the blogosphere!

[Via]

Categories/Tags: Ducati, Desmoblog, blogs, blogosphere, web

del.icio.us unavailable

2006-03-10T15:13:00.000+01:00

If you're wondering what on Earth happened to my categories, here's the answer: they're (temporarily) gone... with del.icio.us.
Our beloved social bookmarking service is, in fact, currently unavailable for maintenance:

Just after midnight on Thursday, we'll be bringing down the site to roll out some database changes, which will allow us to release private saving and a few related features in the following week. The site will be down for about four hours; announcements will be made here as we go.

I'm really curious about the new features... in the meantime, check for updates at del.icio.us official blog.

Edit: no wait, they're back.

Categories/Tags: categories, del.icio.us

FeedYes

2006-03-10T11:34:00.000+01:00

Every now and then, it happens that you want to stay updated on the latest posts of a site, which - for some reason - doesn't have feeds: in this case, the solution is called FeedYes: all you have to do is type the URL of the page, and FY will create a feed for you (it can also create a feed for your own site).

In depth: what can you do with FeedYes.com?

- Generate feeds for any website or specific page
- Save those feeds, so you can read them in any rss reader. One click adding.
- Syndicate those feeds: put the headlines on your own website
- Monitor websites realtime: always know the latest news from any webpage

[Via]

Categories/Tags: feeds, feed-reader, web, free, FeedYes

Goowy

2006-03-09T15:33:00.001+01:00

Goowy is a new way to bring different activities on a single browser window, through an ajax and flash-based virtual desktop: with a free subscription, users have access to a mailbox (2 Gigabytes, without POP/IMAP/SMTP access) with a contact manager compatible with CSV files from Outlook, Outlook Express, Yahoo, Thunderbird and the vCard standard; third party addresses (Yahoo!, Gmail, Hotmail and MSN) can be as well managed via Goowy along with the new mailbox.

Amongst the upcoming features, a multi-protocol instant messenger, a virtual file storage service, personal pages and a blogging platform.
Goowy's frequently used features (such as RSS, notes, bookmarks, search, Windows) can be accessed through minis, small specialized applications similar to the popular widgets: the eye candy interface implies a price in terms of system resources, which can be saved - when using older and slower machines - by using the 'lite' client.

[via]

Categories/Tags: Goowy, Web2.0, Ajax, email, IM, free, software,

PC cooled with 8 gallons of cooking oil

2006-03-08T00:32:00.001+01:00

In Strip Out The Fans, Add 8 Gallons of Cooking Oil, Frank Völkel, from Tom's Hardware, explains - step by step - how to build a DIY oil-cooled $2000 Personal Computer.

After some failed trials with distilled water, they filled a modified plexiglas case with cooking oil (although they recommend motor oil) while performing a benchmarking test (!): the result is a perfectly working, silent and cool machine.
I'm daydreaming about a notebook version of the project, and yet watching (video) that yellow fluid slowly reaching and submerging the running components is quite creepy.

[Thanks, Marco and Giorgio]

Categories/Tags: modding, cool, hardware, hacks

AJAXPress

2006-03-07T00:38:00.000+01:00

AJAXPress is a free and open-source Web 2.0 blogging platform written in Javascript with a PHP backend; it requires a server with PHP and MySQL installed and you can import your WordPress database.

A demo version is available here : I'm not really impressed with the (quite basic, unlike the WordPress one) user interface of the admin section (see screenshot), but maybe the equation Ajax = Eye-candy is just a misunderstanding of mine.
According to the home page, in order to properly see/run AJAXPress the browser must be IE 6.0 or Firefox 1.5 (or greater): the funny thing is that I'm experiencing some issues with IE 6.0, while the platform seems to work like a charm with the unmentioned Opera (8.53).

[Via Digg]

Categories/Tags: AJAXPress, Web2.0, blogging, freeware, Open-Source,
Ajax, software

Feedwhip and FeedShow

2006-03-03T13:38:00.000+01:00

Here's a couple of new online feed-readers I discovered in the last few days:

Feedwhip keeps track of your favorite site updates, no matter if they support RSS or not: whenever new contents are published, feedwhip sends you the updates via email. The Feedwhip Me! button (a bookmarklet) makes the whole process easier, allowing to subscribe to a site with a simple click.

FeedShow is still in its beta-stage, but looks quite promising: not only - like other readers - it supports OPML (import/export of feed lists) and folder categories (à la Bloglines), but it introduces Feed-to-PDF (or other printable formats) conversion and an interesting system of revenue syndication, based on AdSense.

Update: I must admit that I'm loving FeedShow more than I thought.
After a quick registration (just a valid email address and a password) and a painless OPML import, it's a pleasure to use this little tool: it has a clean and simple interface, it's fast (really), pictures are displayed correctly (believe me, don't take it for granted) and I love the del.icio.us button at the bottom of every post.
The feed/folder management is as easy as it gets, and the optional three panels layout is a pleasure to use: LEFT: feeds list; TOP: posts list; BOTTOM: selected post content.
By now, In my FeedShow wishlist I'd put some hotkeys and a "display only the updated feeds" option.

Categories/Tags: free, web, Web2.0, feeds, Feedwhip, Feedshow

My ideal freeware-only machine

2006-03-01T14:55:00.000+01:00

I keep an updated list of my favourite free tools, with some valuable options per category.
Today, I'll share with you my (current) choices, an 'ideal fresh-install setup' for a freeware-only machine:

1. Security and privacy:

Anti virus: AntiVir Personal Edition Classic;
Anti trojan: A-squared;
Firewall: Kerio 2.1.5;
Anti spyware: Ad-Aware + Spybot S&D + Spywareblaster + Spywareguard;
HIPS: Winpatrol free;
HOSTS file: Bluetack, managed via Hoster;
Encryption: AxCrypt; TrueCrypt (if on Xp/2000);
Passwords management: KeePass;
Miscellaneous: HijackThis!;

4. Internet:

Browser: Opera + Firefox + Maxthon;
Instant Messaging: Miranda;
Ftp client: FileZilla;
VoIP software phone: X-Lite;
Download Manager: Free Download Manager;
Email: PopTray + Thunderbird;
Weather: Weather Pulse;
Misc.: NetMeter;

3. Multimedia:

Player: MediaMonkey Free;
Ripper/Encoder: EAC;
Editor: Audacity;
Misc.: Klite-Mega Codec Pack; Screamer Radio;

4. Graphics:

Photo editing: GIMP;
Viewer: IrfanView;
Screenshots: Screenshot Captor;

5. Utilities:

Cleaner: RegSeeker + Eraser + CCleaner;
Defrag: New Defrag (if on W98);
Task manager: Process Explorer;
File Manager: Free Commander 2005;
Archiver: IzArc;
Notepad Replacement: PsPad;
System information: SIW;
File recovery: Pc Inspector;
Misc.: Dll Archive; Timer; Atomic Clock Sync; Unlocker;

6. Office and productivity:

Suite: OpenOffice;
PDF reader: Foxit Reader;
PDF creator: PDF creator;
Blogging: w.Bloggar;
Notes: ATnotes;
Html Editor: NVU;
CSS Editor: TopStyle Lite;

Categories/Tags: software, freeware, Open-Souce, tips

Wikipedia on your iPod

2006-02-28T16:04:00.000+01:00

There's only an online source of information which is better than Wikipedia: a portable Wikipedia. Encyclopodia, a free, cross-platform software for Windows, Linux and Mac, brings the most famous online encyclopedia on your iPod (tested on 3rd generation iPod and iPod Mini).
More infos about the ebook format and some screenshots are available on the official project page.

[via Digg]

Categories/Tags: Wikipedia, Encyclopodia, iPod, hacks, software, free, Open-Source, gadgets, audio

M4 Project: Celeron Vs WWII Enigma

2006-02-28T02:01:00.000+01:00

The M4 Message Breaking Project is maybe the creepiest and yet fascinating distributed computing project you could devote your processor to (well, maybe after S.E.T.I.).
As you might know, during WWII Nazis used to encrypt their communications through a device called Enigma, consisting in a series of rotors activated by a keyboard.
In 1942, three encoded signals were intercepted in the North Atlantic, and their content remained unknown, until now.
The project, started on January 2006, is called M4 after the rotor which was presumably used for the encryption; the software is an open-source, cross-platform client written in Python, and the method used for the decryption is a mixture of brute force and a 'hill climbing algorithm': it has been estimated that 100 users, running the client 24/7 on Celeron 1,2 GHz processors, should cover the 'search space' in 4 days, with a successful result every 10 completed searches.
The first message has been broken last week (as the project blog reports), so if you want to take part in this geeky spy story you'd better hurry up.

[Via DIY: happy]

Categories/Tags: Enigma, M4, encryption, software, distributed+computing+project,

Cleaning my filthy keyboard

2006-02-23T13:40:00.000+01:00

Inspired by this tutorial from The Tech Zone, I finally decided to give my keyboard a well-deserved and long-waited cleaning.
The process required some extra work (more than the 45' needed to clean a regular keyboard, according to the guide) and a few adaptations, mainly due to the different structure and the tiny, fragile key retainers of my laptop, which made the removal phase slightly unnerving. But let's consider it as a sort of 'zen exercise'.
Believe me when I say that you do not want to know what I found under the keys, waiting for some creature to spring out of that indistinct mass of hair and crumbs and call me Dad.
It's amazing what you can do with a screwdriver, a vacuum-cleaner and an old toothbrush...

Disclaimer: no keyboards, nor tiny laptop-dwelling folks were injured during this project.

Categories/Tags: hardware, hacks, laptop

Web Office Suite: best of breed products

2006-02-23T13:12:00.000+01:00

Everybody loves lists, and so I do. Especially when they feature some of my favourite apps: Richard MacManus, from ZDNet's Web 2.0 Explorer, published Web Office Suite: best of breed products, a roundup of some of the most important web-based office tools.
I'm not surprised to see Google's Gmail still at the first place in the "Web email" category for the year 2006 (even if it was released in 2004), for its load of innovations and its unique - truly 'Web2.0' - approach to mail hosting.

Categories/Tags: Web2.0, list, office
software

Technorati launches Favorites

2006-02-22T10:29:00.000+01:00

Technorati added a new feature to help you not to get lost in the constantly increasing number of blogs (T. is currently tracking 28.4 million weblogs): now you can add up to 50 blogs to your Technorati Favorites, either by typing the URL in the Favorites page, clicking a star icon all over Technorati, or through a bookmarklet during your surfing. Older subscriptions from other services can be imported via the Favorites Importer.
A widget allows you to display new posts from your Favorites on your blog.

If you're curious about this new service, just click here

and add SpaghettiTech to your Favorites list!

Categories/Tags: Technorati, blogging, web, Technorati+Favorites

The most promising Web 2.0 software of 2006

2006-02-21T19:50:00.000+01:00

Dion Hinchcliffe just released an update to his Best Web 2.0 Software of 2005 roundup: lots of new Web2.0 applications are listed in The most promising Web 2.0 software of 2006.
The list includes some of the most interesting Ajax tools released or extensively overhauled since January 1st, 2006 and is organized into categories (Personal Productivity and Organization; Search; Video Storage, Sharing, and Search; Real Estate; Music; Ajax Start Pages; Other Promising Web 2.0 Software): for each category, Hinchcliffe suggests a 'best offering' - along with a brief description of the application - and a series of 'Runners-up'.

[via Downloadsquad]

Categories/Tags: Ajax, Web2.0, software

Automated book scanner

2006-02-21T14:49:00.000+01:00

In the last few days, almost every tech-related site/blog featured a post about the BookDrive, a compact, automated book scanner which can flip pages of a book automatically by simply entering the number of pages you want to scan, creating an output in different digital formats.The BookDrive is able to scan up to 500 pages per hour.

Those who cannot afford the $35k required to own this jewel, can always take the DIY way, just like the guy who built an automated book scanner made out of LEGO bricks.

[via MAKE: Blog]

Categories/Tags: tech, hardware, gadgets, hacks

Homemade portable Playstation 2

2006-02-17T00:49:00.000+01:00

Apparently, Sony's UMDs (the PSP disks) aren't selling as well as expected.
Some guy has just found his own solution to the problem: a perfectly working, portable Playstation 2 which looks like an obscure military device.

Enjoy this video of the guy playing GTA on his brand new DIY tool.

Via Make: Blog

Categories/Tags: cool, tech, games, hacks, gadgets

Monitoring employees' surfing habits is illegal

2006-02-15T03:06:00.000+01:00

With a recent sentence, the Italian Privacy Authority made clear that employers can't monitor their employees' surfing habits.
Of course, an unauthorized or improper use of the computer (detected by logging the connections, for example) can still be punished, but deeper investigations about the contents of the visited sites are against the Italian Privacy Code (since they could reveal intimate informations such as religious beliefs, political opinions and so on) and therefore illegal.
The sentence comes after an employee, fired on the basis of the cookies and the temporary files stored on his computer during the working hours, filed an appeal to the Authority.

Categories/Tags: law, privacy, Italy, internet

Sentinel 2.1 - Free integrity checker and more

2006-02-12T20:42:00.000+01:00

Sentinel 2.1 is a once shareware, now completely free tool, which scans your system folder (along with up to 20 custom directories) and performs an integrity check: whenever a file (.dll, .drv, .sys, .386, .ocx, .exe, .com, .pif or .scr) fails the test, Sentinel sends it to the AV/Anti trojan software of your choice to be examined.
A built-in registry watcher will prevent unwanted and suspicious changes in the system registry (e.g. new startup entries); the secure-shutdown feature adds an icon to the desktop, which allows to perform a scan (integrity check and registry audit) and shut down the system with a single click.
Every examined file is logged, in order to be re-scanned on demand.

The results of the first scan will serve as a reference for the following tests, so be sure to scan your system with an anti virus software before using Sentinel for the 1st time.

Categories/Tags: software, security, freeware, Sentinel

Video Bomb

2006-02-09T01:11:00.000+01:00

Pick Youtube, Clipshack, CastPost, Ourmedia, Daily Motion, Revver, Vimeo, vSocial, Google Video, [...a new one in 3... 2... 1...] , add a Digg-like voting system, tags, a clean interface and you'll obtain Video Bomb, a new community site meant to collect the best videos available online.
Like in Digg, each entry comes with a button to vote it (in this case you "bomb" the clip) and the score is displayed in a little - guess what? - bomb beside the thumbnail.
The Front Page and Most Bombed all-time feeds will help you not to miss an entry.

Categories/Tags: video, web, Web2.0, Video+Bomb

Last Italian madness: ICAP

2005-12-20T01:54:00.001+01:00

So your italian penfriend won't email back, stopped answering the phone and his messenger icon is always off ?

Then he's probably doing what everybody seems to be doing online in Italy right now: working hard to solve the next riddle from ICAP - Il Cervello A Prostituirsi (the italian for something like The Brain Is Going To Prostitute Itself), a competitive game crated by somebody known as GUP.

Basically, starting from a simple address (http://icap.altervista.org) and a sibylline hint (Google and Wikipedia are your best friends), you're required to add the proper key-word to the URL, in order to gain access to the next step and so on (the game has currently reached 'Part three', meaning tons of riddles and gigazillions of hours spent in front of a computer).
You'll hardly find an italian blog which doesn't mention the game or a Forum without an ICAP section where to try and "break the code" with other users.

... And this is why I'm going to put an end to this post. Now, ICAP.

Categories/Tags: ICAP, web, Italy, free, game, cool, online

GAIM 2.0.0 Beta 1

2005-12-18T17:15:00.000+01:00

The long-waited 2.0 version of GAIM (the cross-platform, Open-Source IM client) has finally shown itself. The first beta is available to download, looking quite promising and rich of features: take a look at the release notes and the first screenshots.

...and don't miss the disclaimer:

Again, this is a beta release and should not be used by those with a heart condition, if you are pregnant, or if you are under the age of 8. Side-effects include awesomeness, dumbfoundedness, dry mouth and lava. Consult your doctor to find out if Gaim 2.0.0beta1 is right for you.

Categories/Tags: software, freeware, open-source, GAIM, IM

Wookieepedia - The Star Wars Wikipedia

2005-12-06T23:14:00.000+01:00

This site is worth a post just because of its name (let alone the huge amount of info you'll find there), so my geek half wants you to visit the Wookieepedia, an editable Star-Wars related database, organized into Real World Categories (magazines, TV, comics, games, novels et cetera) and In-universe categories (characters, creatures, spacecraft, vehicles, droids...).
Oh, and don't forget to vote your Miss/Mister Star Wars 2005!

Most. Geek. Ever.

(via)

Related: How The Death Star Works

Categories/Tags: wiki, Star+Wars, sci-fi, web, Wookieepedia, cool

Free firewalls roundup

2005-12-05T16:20:00.000+01:00

Being a Kerio 2.1.x enthusiast, the news that Sunbelt (house of CounterSpy) is going to save my favorite personal firewall made me exult; however, the question is: will Sunbelt develop its product starting from the good-old 2.1.x or the very different [and-not-so-good-imho] 4.x?

Waiting for some more news, here's a small list of free applications you might try (unfortunately, the good Sygate has been recently discontinued by Symantec):

Kerio 2.1.5: discontinued a long time ago, but a solid community of enthusiasts at broadbandreports.com still provides support for this excellent tool; some weaknesses, but with CHX-I (packet filter) makes a great couple;

Netveda Safety.net Pro: really light on resources, provides some extra-features as parental control, privacy control, pictures ratings based content blocking and more;

Jetico Personal Firewall: light rule-based firewall;

Filseclab Personal Firewall: rule-based firewall;

Zone Alarm Free: effective, easy to use and ready to work out of the box;

Ghostwall: Win XP, XP-64, 2000, 2003 only; no application control;

CHX-I: w2k/win2003/XP, packet filter; no app control;

Outpost Free: no application control;

Useful resources:
Broadbandreports Security Forum;
Wilderssecurity;

Categories/Tags: software, freeware, firewall, security, Kerio, Netveda, Filseclab, Outpost, Zone+Alarm, CHX-I, Ghostwall, Sygate

Must See: Fighting Robots in Computer Graphics

2005-12-04T17:53:00.000+01:00

Whether you're into computer graphics or not, Cee-Gee is definitely worth a visit: born from the creativity of Marco Spitoni - an italian artist working for a game-developer company - the site is a stunning portfolio containing static 3D works, short movies and trailers of works in progress (all available in DivX format).
Sci-Fi and Star Wars fans can't miss "Join The Empire", an animated sort of Imperial propagandistic commercial, and the "Code Guardian" trailers, featuring giant robots in nazi and american liveries fighting in a WWII scenery.

Categories/Tags: tech, animation, 3d, graphics, sci-fi, art, cool

Hubble's Greatest Hits

2005-12-04T00:19:00.000+01:00

Check this selection of images from the Hubble telescope.
The wallpaper versions are amazing.

(via Digg)

Categories/Tags: science, space, photography, free, wallpapers

Gmail Virus Scanning

2005-12-02T16:25:00.000+01:00

Google just added anti-virus scanning to Gmail:

Just Launched!

Virus scanning is here!
Get an automatic check-up every time you open or send a message with an attachment. We even try our best to remove viruses so we can protect you against all the ones we find. You're on your own with the common cold (try chicken soup). Learn more
How does anti-virus scanning work?
Each time you send and receive attachments, Gmail automatically scans them for viruses.
If a virus is found in an attachment you've received, our system will attempt to remove it, or clean the file, so you can still access the information it contains. If the virus can't be removed from the file, you won't be able to download it.
If a virus is found in an attachment you're trying to send, you won't be able to send the message until you remove the attachment.

Now, let's hope it's as good as their anti-spam...

Categories/Tags: web, Gmail, security, anti-virus

Fiefox 1.5

2005-11-30T15:00:00.000+01:00

So Firefox 1.5 is finally out (and a new campaign - FirefoxFlicks - is going to be launched at spreadfirefox.com): being an old Mozilla aficionado since it was called Phoenix, Firebird etc. I must say I'm impressed by the speed and stability of this release.

Here's my current setup (waiting for some extensions to be updated for 1.5... are you reading CookieCuller and PermitCookies developers?):

- Flashgot;
- No Script; *
- AdBlock Plus; *
- AdBlock Filterset G updater; *
- Cute Menus;
- FasterFox: but really, FF1.5 would be fast even without this extension;

* They might overlap with some Proxomitron filters I'm using, but the mix of browser-independent and dedicated security/privacy options is unbeatable.

Check also these extesions recommended by Mozilla.org;

BTW: the Black Japan theme is beautiful. Get it.

Categories/Tags: software, Open-Source, freeware, Firefox, Mozilla,

Online Graffiti Generators Roundup - Get a cool template or die tryin'!

2005-11-24T23:58:00.000+01:00

Just in case your template needs that "ghetto" touch, check these graffiti creators:

GraffitiCreator: flash-based, cool interface, four styles, control over width, height, rotation, lots of effects (bubbles, waves, photographic backgrounds etc.) you can assign to each single letter.

GraffitiGen: simpler interface, less effects and control overall, but more fonts a nice feature: along with the "piece of art", GraffitiGen will generate an Html code to paste the image your website or in a forum as a signature.

P.S.: speaking of generators, Generatorblog (last-minute find) contains an insane list of tools like these.

Categories/Tags: web, cool, free, graffiti+generators, graffiti, generator

10th anniversary GIMP Splash Contest

2005-11-23T23:17:00.000+01:00

When an updated version of GIMP is released, one thing I'm curious about is how the new splash screen will look: they're always beautiful, and effectively represent the care and passion that the great community behind GIMP puts into its development.

Gimp.org just launched the 10th Anniversary GIMP Splash Contest, just in time for the upcoming 2.2.10 release: after seeing some of the current submissions, I must say I'm quite impressed.
If you want to submit your own work, hurry up: the contest will be open until Sunday the 27th of November.

Categories: software, graphics, GIMP

Technorati Mini

2005-11-22T16:15:00.000+01:00

I'm loving Technorati Mini, a small version of the popular service, which runs in a popup window and refreshes your search every 60 seconds. Never miss a post again!

Here's T.Mini's disclaimer:

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Technorati Mini may be habit-forming. Do not operate a motorized vehicle while using Technorati Mini. May cause excitement and/or nostalgia for Web 1.0. Minors should discuss using Technorati Mini with their parents. Technorati Mini may annoy popup-blockers. Do not taunt Technorati Mini.

Categories/Tags: web, Web2.0, blogging, Technorati, Technorati+Mini

Adhesive tape vs Rootkit: 1 - 0

2005-11-21T17:49:00.000+01:00

Valentina, a young reader of SpaghettiTech, wrote me a tears-soaked email, saying that her daddy forbidded her to play her favorite Ricky Martin cd, because of the Rootkit issue.

Well, Valentina: just head for your desk drawer and grab a roll of grip tape: according to this article, you can defeat the nasty DRM just applying a small piece of (opaque) tape to the outer edge of the disc, preventing the session containing the DRM from being read.
BUT: as a BBR member points out, putting tape on CDs will likely unbalance the disk, leading to possible damages to the drive.

(source: The Register via BBR Security Forum)

Categories/Tags: hacks, music, security, privacy, rootkit, DRM

Wikipedia list of OpenSource tools

2005-11-21T01:03:00.000+01:00

Next time you're looking for an application, check this awesome list of open source packages from Wikipedia.

Categories/Tags: software, Wikipedia, OpenSource, free

Negroponte's $100 laptop unveiled

2005-11-17T19:30:00.000+01:00

This 100$ laptop was announced last january by Nicholas Negroponte (from the MIT Media Lab) at the World Economic Forum.
Here (and here) are some pictures of the notebook/tabletPC which - unfortunately - won't be available for sale, but will be directly distributed to schools through large government initiatives.

Some specs:

OS: Linux;
500 MHz processor;
1 Gb memory;
Wi-Fi support;
4 USB ports;
dual mode display (full color/black and white sunlight-readable);
Power: current, battery, windup crank;

Well, I'd gladly buy one for, let's say, 300$, allowing two more PCs to be donated.

Categories/Tags: tech, hardware, 100$+laptop, Negroponte
gadgets

A.I. Web 2.0 roundup

2005-11-17T16:05:00.000+01:00

Looking for new music/movies/books ideas? Check these smart online tools:

Gnod: a self-adapting system which analyzes users-submitted data and suggests new artists and titles:

Gnod Music: Let gnod find out what music you like and what you don't like; submit three bands/musicians to Gnoosic and it'll suggest you new similar artists;
Gnod Books: Get to know new authors and find out what other people like you like to read; type the name of an author and Literature map will display an animated map of writers that you'll probably like;
Gnod Movies: Discover new movies, travel the world of film and discuss it all in the forums;

What Should I Read Next?: Enter a book you like and the site will analyse our database of real readers' favourite books (over 14,000 and growing) to suggest what you could read next;

Reader²: find new books to read in the categories of your interest;

Liveplasma: rich of features and eye-catching, Liveplasma shows beautiful animated maps of musicians, directors and movies that you might like;

Categories/Tags: web, Web2.0, A.I., music, books, movies, free, search

Download: TMR - "A smart reminder"

2005-11-16T23:08:00.000+01:00

I like small, free and useful applications. So I like TMR, a lightweight reminder released under GPL license: you can set it (through a PIM-like interface) to show messagess or perform actions such as play sounds,open files, shutdown Windows, logoff user and switch to standby mode; each action is accompanied by a nice popup window. The program is based on Windows scheduled tasks, in order to make it as light on resources as it could be.

Categories/Tags: software, GPL, OpenSource, freeware, PIM, productivity

Funny Adobe anti-piracy campaign

2005-11-15T17:38:00.000+01:00

Software houses are experimenting new strategies to fight piracy: Adobe just launched Copydetected.com, the site of a funny anti-piracy campaign based on the adventures of Ludo, a creative who doesn't dislike 'homemade' copies of Photoshop.
Well, a healthy laugh is always better than a nasty DRM ... and, Ludo: have you ever heard of GIMP ?

(via digg)

Categories/Tags: web, funny, Adobe, Photoshop, GIMP

Candidate for mayor dreams of a (free) Wi-Fized Milan

2005-11-13T22:45:00.000+01:00

According to Zeus News (Italian), Davide Corritore, a possible left-wing candidate for mayor in Milan, launched a proposal for a 'public' Wi-Fi net, in order to grant a free broadband connection to every Milanese.
Not only being a valuable service to the town, the project would lead, Corritore hopes, to a further increase in the productivity of the City and to a payoff in terms of investments.
Far from not appreciating the idea (and the opportunity to say farewell to my DSL bills), I can't help asking myself if I'd put the whole (appealing, but 'science fictionish', I'm afraid) project on top of my administrative to-do list.

Nonetheless, you greedy ISPs out there have been warned.

Categories: tech, Wi-Fi, broadband, Europe, Italy, Milan

NewsForge's Point & Click OpenOffice.org Videos

2005-11-13T12:29:00.000+01:00

After publishing an interesting comparison between three OpenSource word processors, NewsForge released a series of free OpenOffice.org training videos, to help new Win/Mac/Linux users to make practice with the Suite basic functions.

List of the Point & Click OpenOffice.org! videos:

* Installing OpenOffice.org

* Creating and formatting text documents

* Adding graphics to a text document

* Saving in various file formats

* Previewing and printing

* Making a spreadsheet

* Calculating values in a spreadsheet

* Basic drawing functions

* Manipulating images

* Make a slide presentation in a hurry

* Adding pictures to slide presentations

Categories: software, tutorial, video, OpenOffice, OpenSource, free, freeware

Kill Bill's Browser

2005-11-12T18:15:00.000+01:00

Even if you're yet a Firefox abitué, this page is worth a visit: Kill Bill's Browser is the site of a "pro-Firefox - anti IE" campaign, which lists 13 (funny) reasons to switch from IE to the popular OpenSource browser.
A special mention for the (aggressive) campaign payoffs:

- Take back the web. With a vengeance;
- Get Firefox, dump Internet explorer;

(via)
Categories/Tags: software, firefox, IE, browser, OpenSource

List of titles infected by the Rootkit

2005-11-10T16:50:00.000+01:00

EFF published a list of Sony BMG titles affected by the XCP bug.
Quite interesting: maybe it's your last chance to find Ricky Martin and Dexter Gordon in the same list.

Categories/Tags: tech, security, privacy, rootkit, Sony

Go out and play: iDoom and NES Micro

2005-11-10T13:48:00.000+01:00

iDoom (Doom running in a Linux-powered iPod Nano) is a funny hack, but seriously: my eyes used to burn after about 1h of regular Doom on a 14'' monitor; I can't figure myself playing a FP shooter on a screen far smaller than my cell phone one (and putting at risk the warranty of a beloved gadget).

For my gaming needs, I could build a NES Micro, instead: a real NES stuffed into a beautiful hand-built case a few bigger than a Game Boy Advance Micro. Oh, and it works with original NES cartridges...

(via Boing Boing)

Categories/Tags: tech, hacks, games, iDoom, NES+Micro, iPod+Nano

Free OpenSource word processors compared

2005-11-09T16:48:00.000+01:00

Are you looking for a free, (maybe OpenSource) alternative to your current word processor? (why not?).
News Forge has just published an interesting in-depth review, comparing three free OpenSource processors: OpenOffice Writer, AbiWord, and KWord.
These were the criteria used for the comparison:

* Interface
* Styles
* Templates
* Adding objects
* Bulleted and numbered lists
* Page layout, frames, and sections
* Headers and footers
* Tables
* Indexes and tables of contents
* Footnotes and endnotes
* File import and export
* Unique features

The results? Go and read the article!

(via)

Categories: software, freeware, office, OpenOffice, AbiWord, KWrite

DRM: Sony sued by ALCEI, Electronic Frontiers Italy

2005-11-08T15:46:00.000+01:00

ALCEI - Electronic Frontiers Italy (an Italian EFF) sued Sony BMG for using the popular, questionable DRM to copy-protect music CDs.

ALCEI refers to the rootkit as a 'virus', installed automatically, without the user's knowledge and consent, and able to cause damage to the system.
According to ALCEI, Sony BMG violated the article 392 of the Italian criminal code, (which refers to somebody who, in order to exercise a (claimed) right, arbitrarily tries to take justice into his hands, by altering, modifying, or canceling a whole software or a part of it, as well as preventing or hindering the functioning of an informatic/telematic system) and art. 615-quinquies (which sanctions every attempt to spread, transmit or deliver harmful programs, able to cause damages to an informatic/telematic system, or to the programs and data which it contains, or the interruption/corruption of its functioning).

Link to the text of the document sent to the Guardia di Finanza;
Link to the blog of Mark Russinovich, who discovered the rootkit;

(via Punto Informatico)

Categories: software, security, privacy, law, rootkit, Sony

Why (and how) I use a password manager - KeePass

2005-11-07T15:56:00.000+01:00

I often find myself telling my friends why they should use a password manager and how it should be set up to make it work at its best.

Why:

you shouldn't use short and simple passwords or, worse, the same password for every account: a managing utility helps you handle (and create) several true 'random' passwords and passphrases you won't need to remember; you'll only have to learn a master password in order to enter your database;

even if your passwords are strong enough (well, in this field 'enough' is a nonsense) and you have good memory, a keylogger (in an internet cafe or lurking in a friend's computer) could easily record your key strokes, stealing your login data: some password managers come with an auto form fill feature which will recognize the site you're on and perform the correct login for you. Oh, in case you're wondering, many tools are protected against clipboard-spies too.

What:

I've tried a good part of the password managers out there, and I've always went back to KeePass.
Why? (see also the feature list):

It's OpenSource: for me this is a condicio sine qua non. If I'm to entrust my personal data and keys to an application, the tool must be as transparent as it could be. I simply couldn't live with the worry of a hidden backdoor;

It's standalone: you won't need to install it on your system;

It supports the AES and Twofish algorithms; SHA-256 algorithm is used to encrypt the master password;

Passwords are protected against clipboard spies;

It supports Key Disks: KeePass generates a key-file you can put in a USB or floppy and use the drive as a real 'key'. You can even use a master password and a key disk at the same time, for maximum protection;

The auto form fill feature works like a charm and it's easy to set up;
A Pocket PC version is available too;

How:

Let's try the tool:

download KeePass and unzip the file somewhere on your system;
Set the master password: once the program is launched, go to File -> New Database: you'll be prompted for a master password: you can enter one of your choice, or click on "Generate One" to let KeePass create a password for you (see pic) (you'll still be able to chose length and set of characters); the "collect entropy" option will give extra-strength to the keyword. A quality-meter will show in real-time how strong your password is. At this stage you make KeePass generate and use the optional key-file, checking the proper box and selecting the drive where the file will be saved; (see pic)
Open the database: File -> Open Database (or Ctrl+O, or the usual yellow folder on the tool bar); select the database (in the Options panel you can set KeePass to remember the last opened database) and type the master password (if available, select the key-file drive); optionally, in the same panel, you can set an expiration date for the password;
Add entries: Edit -> Add Entry (or Ctrl + Y, or the 4th icon); select a group for the password (e.g. internet, homebanking, e-mail etc) in the dropdown menu; fill the form with title, user name, URL, password (the same procedure seen for the master password); as usual, the quality meter will be a good reference point; (see pic)
Set the Auto-Type feature: in the Notes field, type Auto-Type-Window: word* (where 'word' is the first word on the title bar of your browser, when you're on the login page of you choice: e.g. for blogger.com, the word will be Blogger*; the asterisk is used as a wildcard); you can set the auto type feature to store infinite custom fields and sequences of entries, TAB and Enter keys; for further explanations, click on 'URL' and 'Auto-Type' besides the 'Notes' field;
Click OK and the floppy icon on the toolbar (or Ctrl-s or File -> Save Database);
Now browse to the web site you want to login, place the cursor in the first field of the login form, press 'Ctrl + Alt + a' on your keyboard and KeePass will perform the auto-login with the correct pair of user ID and password for that site;

IMPORTANT: Remember that if you lose the master password, the database or the key file, your passwords will be LOST forever and you won't be able to recover them!

Categories: KeePass, software, security, privacy, tutorial, encryption

How the Death Star works

2005-11-05T16:27:00.000+01:00

If you're saving money to buy a Death Star (or - like me - resources to build one in Ogame), this article from HowStuffWorks might prove useful: an in-depth description of the popular space station from Star Wars, covering surface, inner structure, the Superlaser (uh, and - of course - instructions on how to use it), power and propulsion and "life inside the Death Star".
But be cautious with your new cute 'black ball': please read the "So What Happens if You Blow Up a Planet?" section for further information.

(via Cinematical)

Categories: tech, space, science, movies

Newsmap

2005-11-03T16:46:00.000+01:00

In my endless search for a better way to read news and stay updated, I stumbled upon Newsmap, a beautifully designed news aggregator, reporting news from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, UK and USA.
The contents, based on Google News and updated in real-time, are organized into categories (world, nation, business, technology, sports, entertainment, health) and are displayed as colored squares, whose dimensions change according to the number of related articles.

(via EmmeBi)

Categories: web, web2.0, news

Time machine: a printed Wikipedia

2005-11-02T16:09:00.000+01:00

According to Yahoo! News, a printed version of Wikipedia could be soon available for the 'developing World'. The popular encyclopedia could also be burned onto CDs and DVDs to be read offline.
Maybe next move will be a little music shop around the corner by iTunes.

Categories: web, books, Wikipedia

Socialight

2005-10-21T22:39:00.000+02:00

Socialight (beta) could be one of the more interesting products of the Web 2.0.
In the homepage the service is defined as a Location-Based Messaging system, "a mobile phone and web based platform that allows users to create and share location-based messages called StickyShadows™".
The whole idea is based on StickyShadows, virtual multimedial stickies, submitted by users via mobile phone or internet and available in defined places for specific people.

As you travel around the world, you can find StickyShadows that are tied to the places you go. The system can notify you via your mobile phone any time you step on a StickyShadow. As your phone buzzes, it will display the media, along with some information about the person who set it. From there, you can instantly respond, leave your own StickyShadow or just move on.

Categories: tech, web, web2.0, mobile

Single-molecule car

2005-10-21T03:27:00.000+02:00

A team of scientists from the Rice University developed a single-molecule car, consisting of "a chassis and axles made of well-defined organic groups with pivoting suspension and freely rotating axles. The wheels are buckyballs, spheres of pure carbon containing 60 atoms apiece. The entire car measures just 3-4 nanometers across, making it slightly wider than a strand of DNA. A human hair, by comparison, is about 80,000 nanometers in diameter". Beware buyers: to drive it you'll need its gold highway.

Now, MCC Smart drivers, who steals parkings to who?

(From Physorg, via digg)

Categories: tech, nanotechnology, cars, science

Free professional books from Apress

2005-10-20T20:15:00.000+02:00

Looking for new readings? Maybe free?
Apress is offering some ebooks you should check out:

A Programmer's Introduction to PHP 4.0;
Writing Perl Modules for CPAN;
Programming VB .NET: A Guide For Experienced
Programmers;
COM and .NET Interoperability;
Dissecting a C# Application: Inside SharpDevelop;

(via Weblog tools collection)

Categories: tech, free, books, ebooks,

RSS Power user tips

2005-10-19T16:24:00.000+02:00

Being an avid feeds user, I couldn't be more interested in this list of 10 RSS power user tips by Steve Rubel (Micro Persuasion):

1. Build feeds for your favorite writers;
2. Got a car? Subscribe to its rss feed;
3. Merge several RRS feeds into one, then stick it on your firefox bar;
4. Track audiobooks with RSS;
5. Find cool stuff with a del.icio.us Inbox feed;
6. Build a library of search feeds in a heartbeat with gada.be;
7. Track Wikipedia revisions with RSS;
8. Find new desktop wallpaper with Flickr;
9. Subscribe to RSS feeds in Gmail;
10. Take a break with RSS;

I'd add a few more:

Follow updated blog comments;
Weather forecasts via RSS: i.e. RSSWeather
Follow TV schedule updates as RSS;
Keep track of your projects/to-do lists: Remember the milk and TracksLife, for example, support feeds;
Be notified on changes in collaborative/shared documents: Writely and Writeboard can do it;

Categories: feeds, RSS, web, Web2.0, productivity

Google, come here! - Yes, mum!

2005-10-19T13:18:00.000+02:00

After a search engine, a mail service, an rss reader, satellite tools, etc... Google put his name on a child.
Don't get me wrong, there's not a beta-reproductive tool (last time I checked, at least): Walid Elias Kai, a Lebanese living in Sweden who works in the search engines field, called his son Oliver Google Kai (see the official site).
Mr. Kai (aka Google's father, according to a lebanese tradition) said:

"When we first knew that my wife Carol is pregnant, I said, 'we will name our child Google.' Everyone laughed and did not take me seriously. My brother said, 'Yeah, name the next one yahoo fuji nikon." And then, says Dr. Kai, the day came to make the baby official in the Swedish Registry. "I was with my friend Magnus Foss and my wife Carol, and I said yes, GOOGLE KAI. Carol knew how serious I am – she knows how much I adore Google services."

(via Official Google Blog)

Categories: search, Google, web

Skeptical views on Web 2.0 ?

2005-10-18T22:33:00.000+02:00

With all this raving about Web 2.0 and moving everything online, a skeptical opinion is an eye-catcher: in an article published by News Forge, Robin Miller lists three reasons why internet-based applications are a bad idea:

1. Peering agreement falls apart;
2. Cut one line, cut off DSL all over Florida;
3. Mysterious outages abund

Read the full article for a close examination of the three points (the overall concern is the [still] poor internet reliability).

But seriously, is anybody actually thinking of leaving computer-based software at once, in favour of online applications (many of which are still in beta-stage) ? In 2005?
A good mix of online/offline tools, plus a certain amount of common sense shoud be the preferable solution.

Categories: web, Web2.0, software

Never trust a printer

2005-10-18T00:29:00.000+02:00

Geek-blackmailers should better leave their modern gear and switch back to the old-fashioned technique, involving press cutting, scissors and glue.
The EEF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) discovered - and broke - a code hidden in documents by some laser printers on the market. The code, consisting in a series of microscopic yellow dots repeated in each page of the document, reveals the date/time of the print, along with the serial number of the printer itself.
Now, don't stare at those prints on your desk like a fool: in order to see the dots you'll need a blue light, a magnifier, or a microscope.
Just in case, on the EEF page there's a guide on how to see and read the dots and a program for automated decodings.

(via Boingboing)

Categories: tech, hardware, privacy, security,

Blue Marble: next generation

2005-10-17T16:06:00.000+02:00

...from the cyber-space to the 'outer' one: NASA's Earth Observatory has recently released a new series of stunning high-res (up to 12MB PNGs) pictures of the Earth, one for each month of the year 2004.
Scrolling down to the bottom of the main page you'll find a list of links to interactive viewers (YaWah is just amazing!) and animations.

Categories: tech, science, space, photography, web

Atlas of Cyberspaces

2005-10-17T14:24:00.000+02:00

Ever wondered what's between your monitor and the rest of the web?
The Atlas of Cyberspaces is a huge resource of graphical representations of the new electronic territories of the Internet, the World-Wide Web and other emerging Cyberspaces, ordered by thematic areas including Conceptual graphs, Art (the cyberspace as portrayed in literature, games and movies), amazing maps of fiber optic networks, submarine cables and satellites, maps of ISPs from all over the World and more.
Definitely worth a visit (and a bookmark).

Categories: tech, web, cyberspace, communications, maps

First :-) ever

2005-10-16T23:56:00.000+02:00

Geek-trivia: where did this :-) smiley appear for the first time?

Microsoft shows the contents of the "joke" thread on the CMU CS general bboard, where Scott Fahlman introduced the first emoticon/smiley to let people distinguish hilarious posts from the serious ones.

Here is the famous post:

19-Sep-82 11:44    Scott E  Fahlman             :-)
From: Scott E  Fahlman

I propose that the following character sequence for joke markers:

:-)

Read it sideways.  Actually, it is probably more economical to mark
things that are NOT jokes, given current trends.  For this, use

:-(

(via Digg)

Categories: web, Microsoft,

Hey, who did doodle on my Centrino?

2005-10-16T22:21:00.000+02:00

If you think that integrated circuits are just boring pieces of silicon and aluminium (well... they are, indeed, unless you have a microscope), read on: you could have a little MOMA inside your old computer. The layered structure of microchips allows designers to mark their products with a variety of colors and patterns: looking (really) close, it's not uncommon to discover pictures and writings on the surface of a chip, hidden pieces of art, microscopic Easter-eggs testifying that even an engineer's brain has a rive gauche.

Some interesting links: Chipworks (with explanation and galleries); Silicon Zoo.

Categories: tech, hardware, fun,

Homebuilt Segway Version 2

2005-10-16T14:05:00.000+02:00

Just yesterday I saw a guy riding a Segway near the Duomo in Milan: after a sudden burst of envy, I recalled an article about a homebrew balancing scooter, built using off-the-shelf parts and 500 lines of C; by chance (or maybe it's just a matter of Intelligent Design...) today I stumbled upon the Balancing Scooter Version 2, an evolution of the 2002 model:

Version 2 is faster, lighter, smoother, and has more range. It has 3 inches more ground clearance, it's an inch narrower so it fits through doorways better, and it has a much better steering system.

Oh, it's even Bluetooth-equipped, so you can drive it using a laptop:

I can now leave my scooter parked somewhere and use my laptop to have it come and get me

I definitely want one.

Categories: Tech, Hacks, Gadgets

What's up with Bloglines?

2005-10-15T22:06:00.000+02:00

Could anybody tell me what's wrong with Bloglines lately?
It's since yesterday that when I click on a feed showing (x) new items, the right panel shows the site name and nothing else, as if the site/blog wasn't updated at all. This is getting more and more frequent and annoying, and the need for a reliable alternative is becoming quite pressing.
t3h Blox0r coud be a good candidate: it has a clean GUI, folders (why most online feed readers lack this vital feature?), easy OPML import and even easier registration (just a user ID and a password). Too bad it sometimes has a few images/layout issues I can't live with...

Categories: Web, Feeds, Web2.0

Can you resist to click?

2005-10-15T18:01:00.000+02:00

Well, it's quite like having a jelly in your mouth and trying not to chew it.

In the welcome page, Dontclick.it warns you: click here for the last time before entering the project. And it's true: the entire [beautiful] interface is built in flash and allows users to explore the whole site just hovering the mouse over the contents, without a single click.
The project also proposes alternative approaches to common web elements (such as buttons activated by a left-to-right mouse gesture or a timer) and multimedial contents always under the leitmotiv: Can you resist to click? It really depends on your habits, but if the click-addiction is just too strong you can always use the Mousewrap, a funny mouse-sized cilice which will teach you not to click the hard way.

(Via Geeksquare)

Categories: Web

Traveling Magellan-style

2005-10-15T00:45:00.000+02:00

GPS users, you'd better get your old maps out of the drawer: according to Norman Bonnor, president of the Royal Institute of Navigation, one day the GPS system could stop guiding us, mainly because of its reliance on satellites, which have a limited life-span (apart from the CryoSat...); a conspicuous part (16) of the satellites currently working (28) is on duty beyond the planned service period, and 24 are needed in order to provide complete signal coverage.

(from ITWeek via Slashdot)

Categories: Tech, Science, Space

.eu domains coming soon

2005-10-14T01:12:00.000+02:00

Next December, the first .eu domains will be finally assigned: EURid (Eupropean Registry of Internet Domain Names) wlll launch the .eu in several phases: the Sunrise period will start 7 december 2005 and will be limited to owners of 'prior rights' (e.g. holders of trademarks), while the Land Rush phase - open to everyone - will start 7 april 2006.

(via downloadblog )

Categories: Web, News, Europe

Bloglines hotkeys

2005-10-14T01:02:00.000+02:00

Today I noticed that bloglines added hotkeys to navigate (not a minor news if you have hundreds of feeds...).
The shortcuts are:

j - next article k - previous article s - next sub f - next folder A - read all r - refresh left pane

Kudos to Bloglines for this improvement. Now, if only I could definitively get rid of that plumber...

Categories: Web, Web2.0, Feeds

Mobile Phones: Italy the 2nd country in the World

2005-10-13T19:36:00.000+02:00

To realize that here in Italy the mobile phone-insanity spreads faster than any possible avian flu, all you have to do is go out and look at those 8-years old boys furiously typing sms' on their UMTS phones, or check how many mobile accounts the average guy uses.
No wonder if Italy (according to an Itu survey partially anticipated here) is officially the 2nd country (the 1st in Europe) in the World, behind Hong-Kong in terms of mobile-phones concentration (109,42 phones every 100 inhabitants) and - in absolute terms - holds the 2nd (in Europe) and 7th (in the World) place among the countries with most users.
Where Italy lacks - the Itu says - is convergence, mainly because of the different policies adopted by the (four) phone companies - not too prone to cooperate - and the feeble links between private operators and institutional bodies.

(from Corriere.it)

Categories: Tech, Mobile, Italy

Happy birthday OpenOffice!

2005-10-13T17:21:00.000+02:00

Five years ago StarOffice source code was donated by Sun microsystems to the openo-source community, laying the foundations for OpenOffice, the advanced, free productivity suite we all know, now supported by a growing number of companies and a large community of independent developers.

Categories: Office, Software, Freeware, Open-Source

Remember the milk

2005-10-13T00:54:00.000+02:00

Yet another Web 2.0 application: Remember the milk is the free, online equivalent of putting yellow post-its all over your walls.
RTM allows you - through one of the cleanest GUIs I've seen lately - to create to-do lists (shareable, of course), classify and label them, set 'color coded priorities', store unlimited notes for each task. Reminders can be received via e-mail, instant messenger or sms and, for maximum usability, the service supports iCal and Atom feeds.

Categories: Web, Web2.0

MSN Messenger and Yahoo compatible?

2005-10-12T15:34:00.000+02:00

According to an article from The Wall Street Journal (subscribers only) Microsoft and Yahoo! will make their instant messaging and voice-to-voice services compatible.

(From Whatsnextblog via blogs4biz )

Categories: Software, Rumor

Little incomes for bloggers

2005-10-12T14:20:00.000+02:00

In spite of the speculative bubble everybody's talking about, the blogosphere doesn't seem a big source of ads incomes; according to this Qumana survey, "69% of bloggers earn less than 20$/month from all income sources".
Read more here.

(Qumana via The blog herald)

Categories: Web, Blogging

Garçon...a bottle of your best INK, please.

2005-10-09T01:39:00.000+02:00

If the ink required to print your last vacation reportage costed more than a brand-new printer, say thanks to Mr. Gillette and his "razor blade" business model: in the first years of the last century, the company sold razors at low prices, but made large profits selling disposable razor blades.
According to this analysis from the New York Times, printers manufacturers adopt the same strategy with inkjets and ink:

Printers return relatively low profit margins. But the ink, ounce for ounce, is four times the cost of Krug Clos du Mesnil Champagne, which sells for around $425 a bottle. Ink is about the same price as Joy perfume, considered to be one of the more pricey fragrances, at $158 for a 2.5-ounce bottle.

(from NYTimes via Manteblog)

Categories: Tech, Hardware, Photography

Seth Godin's Squidoo

2005-10-08T19:09:00.000+02:00

Seth Godin has just published another ebook (available in .pdf), entitled Everyone Is An Expert, and is launching Squidoo, a platform which allows users "to teach people about topics they care about".
From the SquidBlog:

It’s a guide (like about.com) and a reference (like wikipedia.com). It’s a place for personal expression (like typepad.com) and an open platform for real people (like del.ico.us).

Beta-testers can ask for invitations in the homepage.

Categories: Tech, Blogging, Web, Web2.0

Google Reader

2005-10-08T00:55:00.000+02:00

Google just announced an online feed reader.

(via BoingBoing)

Categories: Web, Web2.0, Feeds

A 6-legged robot will watch your guts

2005-10-07T20:56:00.000+02:00

If you're more frightened by a doctor putting a rubber tube down your throat (or worse), than a robotic bug wandering around your guts, I've good news for you.

Today, the only alternative to a traditional endoscopy is a camera capsule which, during its journey through the guts, takes and transmits images from the patient's intestine: unfortunately, the pill can't be controlled, making this instrument less efficient than the classic endoscope.

I'm proud to read that an italian lab, the CRIM (Center of Research In Microengineering), at the Sant' Anna School of Advanced Studies (Pisa), developed a small radio-controlled robot with a built-in micro camera, which crawls up and down the patient's guts, moving on his six tiny legs; when the device reaches a point of interest, the operator can fix it to the intestine walls thanks to a clamp which grabs the tissue (strong enough not to be pushed away by the muscle contractions), allowing an aimed analysis of the organ.

Read the abstract and the full article in PDF.

(ZDnet via New Scientist)

Categories: Tech, Science, Medicine

Wink - when Google and social bookmarking meet

2005-10-07T01:40:00.000+02:00

Wink is a brand-new search engine, which adds the power of Google to the responsiveness of social bookmarking services as Spurl, del.icio.us and Digg, providing - along with the results - tags and 'user-contributed' contents, as Wikipedia pages or 'Wink Wikis', a smart tool to limit the search within one of the possible meanings of a query. The results can be voted, blocked (to avoid spam) and tagged, allowing the user to build a customized search engine.

Categories: Web, Web2.0

eLerts

2005-10-07T01:20:00.000+02:00

Let's add another application to this feverish Web 2.0 buzz. I'm always looking for new ways of reading my RSS feeds: KnowHow just announced eLerts, a browser toolbar (Explorer only) which warns you with a popup every time one of your feeds is updated. When you receive an alert, you can directly read the article, mark it as a reminder, or ignore it (the message will disappear within 10 seconds). Watch the flash demo.

(via theofficeweblog)

Categories: Web, Web2.0

Litter-Robot - Stuff for geek cats

2005-10-05T17:22:00.000+02:00

At least once a day I dream of a device like this. Maybe it's not the coolest tool out there, but a gadget - first of all - should be useful: well, this is the mother of the useful things.
Litter-Robot is a self-cleaning litter box for geek cats (and owners), disguised into a space capsule: your feline-friend enters that ball and "drops the bomb"; when he leaves the box, a 7-minutes countdown starts (don't worry, if the cats re-enters the countdown is stopped) at the end of which the robot begins rotating, separating the waste from the clean litter and letting the clumps fall in a drawer.

Audrey, forget that tuna supply I pomised you, I've just found a better xmas present.

(via Engadget)

Categories: Tech, Gadgets

Trackslife

2005-10-05T02:43:00.000+02:00

Let's add one more application to our list of online tools.
If you need to keep track of your goals and activities (e.g.: keep your new blog updated...), then you might try Trackslife, an online service conceived to help you follow your marching orders.

With TracksLife you can:

Keep track of almost anything with Tracks — spreadsheets/databases that combine columns of money, numbers, words, paragraphs and yes/no’s.
If you ever forget to update — and you will — you can have the Friendly Trackslife Remindbot send a link through email or RSS politely reminding you.
And — if you want — you can share your progress with friends, family, coworkers, bloggers — whoever!

(Via Lifehacker)

Categories: Web, Web2.0

Einstein's Manuscripts online

2005-10-04T19:19:00.000+02:00

If I'm to tell you the truth, I don't fully trust some of those cheating physics teachers, so I've decided to take a look myself at Albert Einstein's handwritten manuscripts.
At Alberteinstein.info, digitalized images of The Scientist's writings have been grouped into three sections (Scientific material, Non-scientific material, Biographical material) and are available in .jpg format.

(Via Digg)

Categories: Web, Science

Free Wi-Fi in Europe

2005-10-04T01:42:00.000+02:00

Free HotSpot, a european ISP, is planning to offer free Wi-Fi access in public places all over Europe, starting from Paris and London.
On the homepage, a search engine with more than 6.000 free Hotspots around the World.

It's easy to use FREE HotSpots in public places such as cafés, restaurants, pubs, retail centres, transit centres and more. Bring your Wi-Fi enabled device (laptop, PDA, etc.) to a selected FREE HotSpot, log on and start surfing the Internet!

(Via Punto Informatico)

Categories: Tech, Wireless, Europe

A movie from the italian blogosphere

2005-10-03T18:11:00.000+02:00

Alberto Puliafito, an italian blogger, is the director of Kandinskij, a short movie born from the italian blogosphere.
On his weblog, L'Indignato, an entire category (BlogMovie Production) is the written 'making-of' of the movie.
Kandinskij is released under a Creative Commons 2.0 license, and is available for download in .mov format.

Categories: Cinema, Blogging, Italy

Writeboard - Another collaborative writing software

2005-10-03T14:42:00.000+02:00

37Signals, the authors of Backpack, released Writeboard, a free online collaborative writing software. Once a document is created, authorized users may subscribe via RSS and be notified of the changes, compare different versions of the same document, share it with colleagues. Of course, Writeboard supports Backpack integration to keep the files organized.

(via Digg)

Categories: Web, Web2.0

Do it online - list of useful online tools

2005-10-02T16:06:00.000+02:00

With the spreading of the broadband, a conspicuous part of our digital activities is migrating to the www.
eHub by Emily Chang (thanks, Cristiancontini) is a definitely huge, constantly updated list of web-based applications, services, resources and so on. A must-subscribe feed.

I'll add a few more resources:

gOffice: browser-based word processor and desktop publishing suite (free for personal use);
Goowy mail: free email application in flash;
PDF Online: online conversion from many document formats to PDF;
Notepaper Generator: create personalized (name, font, summary box, optional punch holes) notebooks;

edit: another interesting list from ZDnet suggests:

FCK Editor: web based word processor;
Web-based: spreadsheet program;
S5: standards-based slide show system;
Webnote: online tool for taking notes;
Bindows: desktop application framework;
Zimbra: collaboration suite

Suggestions are welcome.

Categories: Web, Web2.0, Software

Eventful.com - know what's happening near you

2005-10-01T22:51:00.000+02:00

So it's saturday night and you don't know what to do?
Go to eventful.com and search for your city and/or a kind of event (lecture, concert... you get the idea): now pick a happening from the list and have fun!

(via Luxist)

Categories: Web, Web2.0

Literature-map

2005-10-01T16:17:00.000+02:00

After What should I read next, Literature-map: another online tool which helps you to choose your next reading.
Starting from the name of an author submitted by the user, the site generates an animated map showing other writers: the closer the two names will be, the more likely the user will like the suggested author.

Categories: Web, Books

Free BMWs

2005-10-01T02:29:00.000+02:00

The good news are that BMW is giving away free cars and I'll finally own a gorgeous Z3 Coupé;

The bad news is that I'm not that skilled at folding origamis.

(Via Autoblog)

edit: if you don't like BMWs (really?), here you'll find tons of schemes to fold
(almost) every kind of car;

Categories: Web

GmailThis!

2005-09-30T20:56:00.000+02:00

GmailThis! is a quick way to send Gmail messages: just click a bookmarklet on your browser toolbar, and an email containing a link to the page you're visiting and the highlighted text will be ready to be sent.
For you Blogger crowd, it's quite like the "BlogThis!" feature you're familiar with.

Categories: Web, Hacks, Blogging

What should I read next?

2005-09-29T12:10:00.000+02:00

Whether you're an avid reader or you simply don't know where to begin, What should I read next? could be a helpful site: just enter a book in the proper field and click the button: you'll get a list of recommended titles, based on registered users' collections.

Example: entering “Revolutionary Road - Richard Yates” I got: The Public Burning - Robert Coover, The Postman Always Rings Twice - James M. Cain, Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr. - Ron Chernow, Goodbye to All That - Robert Graves, A Wave: Poems - John Ashbery, Burr - Gore Vidal, Galatea 2.2 - Richard Powers, Mr. Vertigo - Paul Auster […]

Categories: Web, Books

Rave post: Weather Pulse

2005-09-28T23:55:00.000+02:00

I'm not really into weather forecasting, but it doesn't hurt to know when you can [almost] safely wash your car. Even though I was quite happy with the excellent Forecastfox, I decided to give Weather Pulse a try.
I must admit that I'm quite impressed so far: the nuisance of using a standalone tool instead of a built-in browser feature is fully paid off with a vast range of bells and whistles: Radar/satellite/doppler images from all over the World (I'm watching you right now!), ultra-detailed infos about real/felt temperature, humidity, dew point, wind, UV index, visibility, pressure, sunrise/sunset time; hourly and 10 day detailed forecast, weather alerts (even via e-mail), fully customizable tray icon, weather desklet, wallpaper, skins support and more: all in an intuitive and nice GUI.
To start, just install it (really quick), when required type your location and you're done.

And, well... it's free.

P.S. Another thing I like is the attention the developer pays to customers' requests: after a user reported in the official forum an
issue of the new release with Win 98/ME, they immediately fixed the bug and released a new build (quite an uncommon
policy, considered that many companies are slowly abandoning the Win 98 crowd).

Categories: Software, Freeware