Google front page celebrates Jim Henson and Muppets

Google's front page has on occasion marked a special anniversary or event by temporarily altering its logo. Today it has done so again with an animated logo to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Jim Henson's birthday. Google's logo has been replaced with six of Henson's Muppets, his famed puppet creations that have entertained people of all ages for decades. The Muppets are set for a revival later this year with a new Disney movie.

The Muppet Google logo can be manipulated by a PC's cursor. Clicking on the button below each of the Muppets activates it and moving the cursor makes the Muppet move its head around and opens its mouth. Oddly there's no sound generated by the logo although it would seem like such a feature would be put into the animations. However, there are at least a couple of Easter Egg animations that Google users can find out for themselves.

Google's blog page also celebrates Jim Henson's birthday with a post written by his son Brian Henson, who is now Chairman of the Jim Henson Company. He writes, "He loved gadgets and technology. Following his lead, The Jim Henson Company continues to develop cutting-edge technology for animatronics and digital animation, like this cool Google doodle celebrating Jim’s 75th birthday. But I think even he would have found it hilarious the way today some people feel that when they’ve got their smartphone, they no longer need their brain. Jim was clearly a great visionary. But he also wanted everyone around him fully committed creatively."

Image via Google

Link: neowin

NAO becomes open source

Aldeberan Robotics, makers of the popular humanoid robot NAO just announced during the 2011 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation that they will release what they claim as a ‘significant part’ of the software source code. The release is aimed at the research and educational community where NAO has already a substantial user base. You can read the official press release about the NAO open source software here (pdf). Aldeberan Robotics is also launching a NAO developer program for those who are interested on a more direct involvement.
RobotsPodcast recently featured Luc Degaudenzi , the Vice President in Engineering of Aldebaran and his colleague Cédric Vaudel who is the Sales Manager for North America. You can listen it here.

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European Robotics - Part 2

In the new episode of robotspodcast we continue with the second and last part of our feature special about The European Robotics Forum.
We talk to Bernd Liepert, CTO of KUKA AG, one of the world’s leading suppliers in the field of robot technology. Bernd Liepert is also the president of the European Robotics Technology Platform (EUROP) as of May 2010. EUROP is an industry-driven framework that aims at strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in robotic R&D, as well as global markets, and to improve quality of life. Our second guest is Rich Walker, the managing director of Shadow Robot, a UK based company that started from bipedal robots 20 years ago and now has one of the worlds most advanced robot hands, the Shadow Dexterous. Read on or Tune in!
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Windows.h

windows.h

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The primary C header file for accessing the Win32 API is the <windows.h> header file. To make a Win32 executable, the first step is to include this header file in your source code. The windows.h header file should be included before any other library include, even the C standard library files such as stdio.h or stdlib.h. This is because the windows.h file includes macros and other components that may modify, extend, or replace things in these libraries. This is especially true when dealing with UNICODE, because windows.h will cause all the string functions to use UNICODE instead. Also, because many of the standard C library functions are already included in the Windows kernel, many of these functions will be available to the programmer without needing to load the standard libraries. For example, the function sprintf is included in windows.h automatically.

Windows Programming

Introduction:

*****************

This book aims to be a comprehensive source for any developer who is interested in programming for the Windows platform. It starts at the lowest level, with the Win32 API (C and VB Classic) and then goes over to MFC (C++). Beyond these basic sections, it will cover COM, and the creation of ActiveX modules from a variety of languages. Next, it delves into the Windows DDK, and talk about programming device drivers for Windows platform. Finally, it moves on to the highest-level programming tasks, including shell extensions, shell scripting, and finally ASP and WSH.
Other topics that will be discussed here are: Writing screen-savers, creating HTML help modules, and compiling DLL files.
This book will focus on topics that are specific to Windows, and avoids general programming topics. For related material the reader is encouraged to look into Wikibooks other works, they will cover general programming, ASM, C, C++, Visual Basic and Visual Basic.NET and other languages and concepts in greater detail. Appropriate links to these books are provided.
The reader is assumed to have a previous knowledge of the programming languages involved. Specifically, prior knowledge in C, C++, and Visual Basic is required for certain sections of this book.

Section 1: Windows Basics

• Windows System Architecture
• User Mode vs Kernel Mode
• C and Win32 API
• <Windows.h>
• Handles and Data Types
• Unicode
• Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL)
• Programming Windows With OSS Tools
• Resource Scripts

Section 2: Win32 API and UI Controls

• Message Loop Architecture
• Interfacing (Mouse, keyboard, and timer messages)
• Window Creation
• User Interface Controls
• GDI and Drawing
• Dialog Boxes
• Input-Output
• File Management
• Memory Subsystem (heaps, virtual memory)
• Multitasking
• Interprocess Communication
• MDI Programs
• Registry API
• Security API
• Winsock

Section 3: Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC)

• Microsoft Foundation Classes (MFC)
  • Classes Hierarchy

Section 4: Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), ActiveX and COM

• Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)
• COM and ActiveX
• COM Programming
• DCOM and COM+
• Multi-language programming examples
• OLE Programming

Section 5: Device Driver Programming

• Device Driver Introduction
• The DDK
• Driver Structure
• Driver API
• Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR)
• Virtual Device Drivers (VXD)
• Windows Driver Model (WDM)
• Vista Driver Migration

Section 6: Shell Programming

• Programming Shell Extensions
• Extending IE
• Programming Screen-savers
• Programming Services
• Programming CMD aka Windows Batch Programming
  • Sample FTP script
• Control Panel Applets
• Windows Script Host
• ASP
  • JScript
  • VBScript
  • PerlScript
• Compiled HTML Help and Help API

Google Talk Guru

Google Talk Guru is a beta service from Google are provided by the Chat Service Chat in Gmail or Google Apps Gmail by adding guru@googlelabs.com mail to the list of contacts in the talks, then added a contact on behalf of the guru, you can talk with them during the conduct Calculation and knowledge of weather and currency conversion and concise definitions and other
Service does not support Arabic language

link source: google labs

Powerful tool to encrypt strings files

Encrypt4all is a powerful tool to encrypt strings files that you can encrypt your privates messages, easy to use, many ways to protect and secure your private documents, password protected your files and folders, encrypted archive cannot be open without its password (even if moved to another pc), locked folders cannot be open in other PCs or other Operating System, allows you to hide your files and folders, ability to create global protected folder in every drive that you can copy/move your private documents to it, NO ONE can open your global protected folders without master password of program,Free theme maker that you can create themes for Encrypt4all and share it with your friends, Encrypt4all works on (win9x, win2000, winxp, win2003, win vista) 32-bit and 64-bit versions of operating systems, any type of physical media may be used to store and access the data on encrypted archives, it integrates nicely with Windows Explorer.

Encrypt4all can protect your:

• Email messages
• MP3 Files
• PDF Files
• Flash Files
• Database files
• USB Flash Drive, Memory Stick, Zip Drive
• Office documents
• Family photos and videos.
• Company projects and source code.
• Financial information.
• Copyrighted material.
• Notebook computer

Retail price: $39.99
Discount : 92%
Saving : $36.99
Availability : 100 (Check remaining availability)

Buy: Encrypt4all Professional @ SoftBuy (Shareware, $3)
Download : Trial version | 1.2 MB

ZoneAlarm Free 9.2.106.000

ZoneAlarm Free Firewall blocks hackers from infiltrating your home PC by hiding your computer from unsolicited network traffic. By detecting and preventing intrusions, ZoneAlarm Free Firewall keeps your PC free from viruses that slow down performance, and spyware that steals your personal information, passwords, and financial data.

• Essential firewall protection
• Be invisible to others online
• New interface makes it even easier - smaller size keeps it light
• Systematically identifies hackers and blocks access attempts

Download: ZoneAlarm | (44 MB) Freeware
View: Home Page

Labtop Bag

Quiksilver Premium Workstation Laptop Bag

The Quiksilver Premium Workstation ($154) is a great laptop bag for anyone who wants to be able to get a somewhat decent workplace out on he roads.

Just open the bag up to access your portable workstation featuring an anti-slip laptop surface, compression molded mouse pad, external media pocket, cool down laptop pocket, and much more.

Stretches to accommodate most laptop sizes. The protective design and structure will make sure that your equipment is in safe hands.

(Via acquire)

HTC Evo 3D

Taking a page out of the Nintendo playbook, HTC is going "glasses-free" 3D with its next Evo smartphone. 3D content and features will come in the form of movie titles from Blockbuster, 3D gaming, and 3D video and photography. Other features include a front facing camera for video conferencing, Hotspot capability, and compatibility with Sprint's 4G network. Available this Summer via Sprint. Link

Optical Character Recognition

Optical Character Recognition, (OCR)

usually abbreviated to OCR, is the mechanical or electronic translation of scanned images of handwritten, typewritten or printed text into machine-encoded text. It is widely used to convert books and documents into electronic files, to computerize a record-keeping system in an office, or to publish the text on a website. OCR makes it possible to edit the text, search for a word or phrase, store it more compactly, display or print a copy free of scanning artifacts, and apply techniques such as machine translation, text-to-speech and text mining to it. OCR is a field of research in pattern recognition, artificial intelligence and computer vision.
OCR systems require calibration to read a specific font; early versions needed to be programmed with images of each character, and worked on one font at a time. "Intelligent" systems with a high degree of recognition accuracy for most fonts are now common. Some systems are capable of reproducing formatted output that closely approximates the original scanned page including images, columns and other non-textual components.

Branches of Artificial intelligence

Branches of Artificial intelligence >AI

Q. What are the branches of AI?
A. Here's a list, but some branches are surely missing, because no-one has identified them yet. Some of these may be regarded as concepts or topics rather than full branches. 

Top 10 Adsense Revenue Sharing Site

Top 10 Adsense Revenue Sharing Site

These site share their revenue to their members.Members only share their knowlege through blog,photo etc.You did not need to optimize or placement of your adsense ads.These site do these for you.

1. Knol- Knol is a site similar to Squidoo or Hubpages, but Knol is made by google. You earn 100% AdSense revenue from Knol. There´s no referral program.
2. Hubpages- One of the best sites, where you can make money writing.Hubpages has a great community, many wonderful and very talented people, who can help you out.This amazing site gives you 60% AdSense, Amazon, eBay and Kontera.Hubpages also has a referral system, you get 10%, your refer gets 60% and hubpages gets the rest.So if You are interested making money online sign up now.
3. Squidoo- Site very similar to Hubpages.You get 50% ad revenue and you can donate it away if you want.They also have a referral program, when you invite someone who makes at least 15$ at squidoo you get 5$.
4. Trendhunter- This site has more than 9 million unique page views every month, so when you get your “trend” at the first site, it can  be very profitable. They share 50% of the AdSense revenue. They have no referral program.
5. Xomba- Xomba is a site were you can write your own content and get 50% revenue. This site also has a referral program, where you get 10%, your referral gets 50% and xomba gets 40%.
6. She Told Me- Definitely one of my favorites.Shetoldme is a digg-like site, site gives you 100% AdSense revenue from ad placed near your scoop.They also have a great referral program, that pays you 100%, the ad is located at your referrals scoop, below the tag section.If you are looking for a dofollow site that pays you, this is the best i have found.
7. Flixya- You can upload videos and photos and you can keep 100% AdSense revenue with this site.
8. Triond- Similar site to Hubpages, you can write articles and earn AdSense revenue.Triond gives you 50% AdSense revenue, paying it to your paypal account every 15th of the month.Triond has no referral program.The layout of the site is amazingly comfortable and that seems to be the only reason, why Triond is growing extremely fast
9. Info Barrel- Similar to Hubpages, but you write “Barrels” not hubs.Info Barrel gives you 75% AdSense ad impressions and you can also use Chitika there and Amazon as well.They have a referral program, where you get 2% of google ad impressions.
10. Zoomley – A site similar to Snipsly , but they give you 90% of adsense impressions.Site is relatively new and is still a work in progress. They don´t have a referral program.

Computer Virus

What is a computer virus?

A computer program loaded to your computer with-out your knowledge or permission and runs against your wishes. It can replicate it self. All computer viruses are manmade. Computer viruses are every where and it is named with lots of different names which scare the computer users.