Saturday, June 19, 2010

Control Pretty Much Any Electrical Device With Your Computer

Over at DIY web site Instructables, user indestructable thoroughly describes the process of connecting an electrical device to your computer and controlling it with some simple programming. The set-up relies on a USB relay device such as USBmicro's U451, and you'll need some wire, wire cutters, crimpers, and nuts to hook it all up.
Control Pretty Much Any Electrical Device With Your Computer

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2009

From the ABS, this publication presents national crime statistics relating to victims of a selected range of personal and household offences that have been recorded by police. These statistics provide indicators of the level and nature of recorded crime victimisation in Australia and a basis for measuring change over time.
Recorded Crime - Victims, Australia, 2009

Monitor your Hard Drive’s Health with Acronis Drive Monitor

Are you worried that your computer’s hard drive could die without any warning? Here’s how you can keep tabs on it and get the first warning signs of potential problems before you actually lose your critical data.
Monitor your Hard Drive’s Health with Acronis Drive Monitor

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Lifehacker’s Complete Office 2010 Guide

We first heard about Office 2010 back in April 2009, but that journey ends today with the retail version finally going on sale in Australia (and a few free copies being handed out in Sydney). Microsoft has long dominated the desktop software market with Office, but is a $209 product still relevant in an era where Google Docs and Microsoft’s own Office Web Apps appear to offer the same features for free?
Lifehacker’s Complete Office 2010 Guide

Monday, June 14, 2010

5 Great Sites for Exploring Cities Around the Globe

When Google launched its panoramic photomapping service back in 2007, it was the first time many netizens had the chance to explore a swathe of detailed street-level photos from their armchairs.
5 Great Sites for Exploring Cities Around the Globe

100 Years Of Propaganda: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Propaganda is most well known in the form of war posters. But at its core, it is a mode of communication aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position, and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.
100 Years Of Propaganda: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

How to Juggle Three Balls

An ancient performance art, juggling dates back four thousand years, with the first recorded evidence of juggling depicted by Egyptian tomb hieroglyphics. Always a pleasure to watch, juggling often appears so easy. Yet, as a beginner, it's all falling balls and less juggling. Nevertheless, with a little direction, and a lot of practice, you could be a great three ball juggler - just follow the steps outlined here to get started in the cascade method.
How to Juggle Three Balls

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Skobbler Brings Free Turn-by-Turn Navigation to Your iPhone

If you've been stricken with Android-envy thanks to Google's fantastic and free turn-by-turn Maps Navigation—well, Skobbler isn't the cure. But it is a decent free option for directionally-challenged iPhone users.
Skobbler Brings Free Turn-by-Turn Navigation to Your iPhone

Top 10 Strategies for Surviving Airports and Airplanes

You've packed your things and made it to the airport—now the real fun begins. Want a better way of protecting your stuff, getting online, and cutting through red tape? Try these 10 tips for a better air travel experience.
Top 10 Strategies for Surviving Airports and Airplanes

How quickly can your password be cracked?

As more and more of us live more of our lives online with banking, shopping, photo galleries and social networking etc. a part of our daily lives, it becomes more and more important to have secure passwords. But there are problems in remembering complex passwords when there are so many websites you have accounts with.
How quickly can your password be cracked?

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Lost in Translation

Going abroad is delightful, but culture clashes and language snafus can leave travelers shaking their heads. Have a laugh as we explore poorly translated signs, unusual bathroom plumbing, creative transportation options and particularly bizarre food.
Lost in Translation

How To Permanently Delete Your Account on Popular Websites

We all have an increasing number of sites and online services we’re members of, and sometimes it all gets a little overwhelming. At times, we just need to delete our memberships to some sites, either in an effort to simplify our lives or just because we’ve grown tired of a particular site or service.
How To Permanently Delete Your Account on Popular Websites

Toilet Fail - FAIL Blog

Yecchh!
Toilet Fail - FAIL Blog

Friday, June 11, 2010

Australian Government Considers Logging All Web Activity

As if proposed mandatory censorship laws weren’t bad enough and unpopular enough, now the Federal Government is considering a proposal to require all ISPs to keep a detailed log of every site their customers visit. Yes, that’s every bit as unpleasant as it sounds.
Australian Government Considers Logging All Web Activity

Thursday, June 10, 2010

10 Tips for Living a Better Life, One Day at a Time--from Pope John XXIII

Pope John XXIII was pope from 1958-1963 and was known as “The Good Pope.” One aspect of the list that's worth noting is the emphasis on taking each day as it comes.
10 Tips for Living a Better Life, One Day at a Time--from Pope John XXIII

Microsoft Security Essentials Finds New Malware But Avoids False Positives, Still the Best Free Option

Microsoft's free Security Essentials package rates well at removing malware and running light, but what about dealing with brand-new, unidentified bad stuff? Turns out Security Essentials is still the best at figuring out what's bad—while also avoiding annoying false positives.
Microsoft Security Essentials Finds New Malware But Avoids False Positives, Still the Best Free Option

Autoruns For Windows 10 Released

Autoruns is the program to analyze the Windows startup. It is the most complete offering a huge feature set (which can be at times intimidating).
Autoruns For Windows 10 Released

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Eat Breakfast First Thing in the Morning for Better Sleep

It's long-standing wisdom that you shouldn't eat too close to bed time, or eat the right kinds of foods. One sleep specialist suggests it's really about how and when you eat breakfast that matters most to your sleep cycle.
Eat Breakfast First Thing in the Morning for Better Sleep

Update Microsoft Security Essentials On Computers Without Internet

Microsoft Security Essentials is a security software for Windows operating systems
that is offered as a free download by Microsoft. The program provides additional protection against all sorts of malware from viruses over trojans to keyloggers and computer worms
.
Update Microsoft Security Essentials On Computers Without Internet

The Step-by-Step Guide to Digitizing Your Life

Your increasingly digital lifestyle has left your analog media collecting dust. Save it from obsolescence and digitize your life.
The Step-by-Step Guide to Digitizing Your Life