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  • The Latest Dish

    - by Oracle Staff
    Black Eyed Peas to Headline at Appreciation Event If you're coming to OpenWorld to fill up on the latest in IT solutions, be sure to save room for dessert. At the Oracle OpenWorld Appreciation Event, you'll be savoring the music of the world's hottest funk pop band, Black Eyed Peas, plus superstar rock legends Don Henley, of the Eagles, and Steve Miller. Save the date now: When: Wednesday, September 22, 8 p.m-12 a.m. Where: Treasure Island, San Francisco OpenWorld's annual thank-you event will be our most spectacular yet. Treasure Island, in the center of scenic San Francisco Bay, will once again serve as a rockin' oasis for Oracle customers and partners as they groove to the beat and enjoy delicious food, drinks, and festivities. Get all the details here.

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  • Chess as a team building exercise for software developers

    - by maple_shaft
    The last place I worked wasn't a particularly great place and there were more than a few nights where we were working late into the evening trying to meet our sprints. The team while stressed out got pretty close and people started bringing in little mind teasers and puzzles, just something we would all play around with and try to solve while a build/deploy was running for the test environment, or while we were waiting for the integration test run to finish. Eventually it turned into people bringing chess boards in and setting them at their desks. We would play by email sending each other moves in chess notation, but at a very casual pace, with games lasting sometimes two or three days. Management tolerated this when we were putting in overtime, but as things were being managed better and people weren't working much more than 40/wk, they started cracking down on this and told us that we weren't allowed to have chess boards at our desks, although they were okay with the puzzle games. What are the pros and cons in your opinion of allowing chess during software development lull time?

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  • The Inebriator: A DIY Arduino-powered Cocktail Machine [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    We’ve seen our fair share of geeky alcohol-related projects over the years but this, this, is something to see. The Inebriator is the slickest automated drink machine we’ve laid eyes on. Before we even start talking specs, check out the video above–don’t forget to first assure your liver that you don’t actually have access to such a magnificent device and it can remain calm. As dazzled as we were? The whole thing is powered by an Arduino Mega 2560, sports a cooler with nitrogen pressurization of drink mix bottles, and relies on a rather ingenious and elegantly simple 12v valve system. It even has an RFID security system to prevent party goers with a few drinks in them from messing up the custom drink menu. Hit up the link below for more information, including photos of the guts and technical specs. The Inebriator [via Hack A Day] Java is Insecure and Awful, It’s Time to Disable It, and Here’s How What Are the Windows A: and B: Drives Used For? HTG Explains: What is DNS?

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  • Sudoku Solver

    - by merrillaldrich
    Today I am putting up something silly, just for fun. I set myself the task a while back to write a Sudoku solver in T-SQL, but with two dumb constraints that I would never follow given a real problem: I didn’t look at any documented techniques for solving Sudoku, and I specifically avoided T-SQL solutions, even though this has been done already many times. (The first thing I do with a real problem is to see who solved it already, and how, since most things have been done already. Not checking is...(read more)

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  • Browse Through Radio Shack’s 1983 Computer Catalog [Scanned Image Set]

    - by Asian Angel
    Are you ready for a blast from the past? Then indulge in a bit of retro fun with this scanned image collection of Radio Shack’s 1983 computer catalog. Anyone up for a shiny ‘new’ TRS-80 computer for Christmas? Radio Shack Catalog RSC-09 Computer Catalog [via BoingBoing] Secure Yourself by Using Two-Step Verification on These 16 Web Services How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor How to Factory Reset Your Android Phone or Tablet When It Won’t Boot

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  • How to Watch NCAA March Madness Online

    - by DigitalGeekery
    You’ve filled out your brackets and now you are ready for one of America’s most popular sporting events. But what if you are you stuck at work or away from your TV?  Or your local affiliate is showing a different game? Today we show how to catch all the March Madness online. March Madness on Demand You’ll need a broadband connection, 512 MB RAM or higher, with cookies and Javascript enabled in your browser. March Madness on Demand offers two viewing options, a Standard Player and a High Quality player. The High Quality player is not, unfortunately, high definition. Standard Player Requirements Windows XP/Vista/7 or Mac OS X IE 6+ (We also successfully tested it in Firefox, Chrome, & Opera) Adobe Flash Player 9 or higher High Quality Player Requirements 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 or Intel-based Macintosh Mac OS 10.4.8+ (Intel-based) Windows: XP SP2, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008, Windows 7 Firefox 1.5+ or IE 6/7/8 Silverlight 3 browser plug-in Watching March Madness on Demand Go to the March Madness on Demand website. (Link below) Check the “Watch in High Quality” section to see if your browser is ready and compatible for the High Quality viewer. If not, you’ll see a message indicating either your browser and system are incompatible… Or that you need to install Silverlight. To install Silverlight, click on the “Get HQ” button and follow the prompts to download and install Silverlight. To launch the player, click the large red “Launch Player” button. At the top of the screen, you’ll see the current and upcoming games. Click on “Watch Now” below to begin watching. At the bottom left, is where you click to watch with the High Quality player. If to many people are watching the High Quality player, you’ll see the following message and have to go back to the Standard Player. At the lower right are volume controls, a “Full Screen” button, and a “Share” button which allows you to share the game you are watching on various social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Perhaps most importantly for those who want to steal a bit of viewing time while at work is the “Boss Button” at the top right. Clicking on the “Boss Button” will open a fake Office document so it may appear at first glance like you’re actually doing legitimate work. To return to the game, click anywhere on the screen with your mouse. You’ll be able to catch every single game of the tournament from the first round all the way through the championship with March Madness on Demand. If your computer and Internet connection can handle it, you can even watch multiple games at the same time by opening March Madness on Demand in multiple browser windows. Watch March Madness online Similar Articles Productive Geek Tips Weekend Fun: Watch Television on Your PC with AnyTVWatch NFL Sunday Night Football On Your PCWatch TV On Your PC with FreeZ Online TVGeek Fun: Download Favorite NBC Programs for FreeDitch the RealPlayer Bloat with Real Alternative TouchFreeze Alternative in AutoHotkey The Icy Undertow Desktop Windows Home Server – Backup to LAN The Clear & Clean Desktop Use This Bookmarklet to Easily Get Albums Use AutoHotkey to Assign a Hotkey to a Specific Window Latest Software Reviews Tinyhacker Random Tips Revo Uninstaller Pro Registry Mechanic 9 for Windows PC Tools Internet Security Suite 2010 PCmover Professional How to Browse Privately in Firefox Kill Processes Quickly with Process Assassin Need to Come Up with a Good Name? Try Wordoid StockFox puts a Lightweight Stock Ticker in your Statusbar Explore Google Public Data Visually The Ultimate Excel Cheatsheet

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  • Play ‘Dune II – The Building of a Dynasty’ Online for Free [Classic Game]

    - by Asian Angel
    Are you a fan of retro sci-fi classic Dune and old-school gaming? Then get the best of both in one package with this free online version of ‘Dune II – The Building of a Dynasty’! When you arrive at the site you will need to choose your house. Once you have made your selection the next part of the game will take a moment or two to load up. From there you will see a short introduction to your chosen house (screenshot above)… Once you have gotten through the introduction to your house, then you can move on to some awesome retro gaming fun! Our Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 is Now Available Everywhere How To Boot Your Android Phone or Tablet Into Safe Mode HTG Explains: Does Your Android Phone Need an Antivirus?

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  • Create Your Own Geeky LED Holiday Lights with Old Bottles

    - by YatriTrivedi
    Who needs to go buy store-bought lights? Here’s a great geek project for the holidays that’s fairly easy to put together with things most geeks already have. My friend, Chris “Groff” Groff, had the great idea to work up some holiday lights using stuff he had lying around, and a few hours later things turned out quite geeky indeed. Materials Latest Features How-To Geek ETC The How-To Geek Holiday Gift Guide (Geeky Stuff We Like) LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide to HDTV Technology The How-To Geek Guide to Learning Photoshop, Part 8: Filters Improve Digital Photography by Calibrating Your Monitor Our Favorite Tech: What We’re Thankful For at How-To Geek The How-To Geek Guide to Learning Photoshop, Part 7: Design and Typography Fun and Colorful Firefox Theme for Windows 7 Happy Snow Bears Theme for Chrome and Iron [Holiday] Download Full Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun Game for Free Scorched Cometary Planet Wallpaper Quick Fix: Add the RSS Button Back to the Firefox Awesome Bar Dropbox Desktop Client 1.0.0 RC for Windows, Linux, and Mac Released

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  • The Complete Window Cameo Collection from the Original Batman Series [Video]

    - by Asian Angel
    Are you a fan of the classic Batman T.V. series? Think you know who all the guest stars were that did window cameos in the series? Then put your knowledge to the test with this fun compilation video by YouTube user loomyaire. You can check your answers (or find out the names of the ones you may have missed) at the links below! The Complete 14 Batman Window Cameos [via BoingBoing] What’s the Difference Between Sleep and Hibernate in Windows? Screenshot Tour: XBMC 11 Eden Rocks Improved iOS Support, AirPlay, and Even a Custom XBMC OS How To Be Your Own Personal Clone Army (With a Little Photoshop)

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  • Electrified Light Saber Helps You Slay Bugs Like a Jedi [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    This fun little DIY project combines a toy light saber with the guts of an electrified fly-swatter to yield a bug slaying sword perfect for your epic battles against the Empire’s tiniest soldiers. Courtesy of Caleb over at Hack A Day, the build is surprisingly simple and quick to put together (if you’re handy with a screw driver and soldering iron). Check out the video above to see the build and the results or hit up the link below to read more about it. Building a Bug Zapping Light Saber [Hack A Day] How to Make Your Laptop Choose a Wired Connection Instead of Wireless HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It? HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me?

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  • OT: March Mdness 2011

    - by RickHeiges
    This past fall, I decided to take a break from Fantasy Football. Did I miss it? Yes to some extent. Fantasy Football can really eat up a lot of time. But - I still love March Madness (NCAA Men's Basketball Tourney). It doesn't take much time to pick out teams. Since you can't make any changes after the deadline and the computer keeps track of scoring/scenarios/etc, it is a fun thing that really takes a little time and can help you enjoy the games a bit more. Let's see how good you are at picking...(read more)

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  • Make Your Own Paper-Craft Enigma Machine [DIY Project]

    - by Asian Angel
    If you love tinkering around with ciphers and want a fun DIY project for the upcoming weekend, then we have just the thing for you. Using common household items you can construct your own personal Enigma machine that will be completely compatible with all the settings of a real Enigma machine (models I, M1, M2 and M3). Visit the second link below for the step-by-step instructions and enjoy putting together this awesome DIY project! PDF Templates for the Enigma Machine Note: This is a direct link for the PDF file itself and the templates are sized for printing on 2 A4 sheets of paper. Enigma/Paper Enigma Instruction Homepage [via BoingBoing] HTG Explains: What Is RSS and How Can I Benefit From Using It? HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It HTG Explains: Learn How Websites Are Tracking You Online

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  • Kinect office demo ideas

    - by Tedd Hansen
    I'm thinking of placing a Kinect (connected to a PC) in the office and have something fun on it. Just a small thing people can interact with. Basically I get a depthmap (image) and a color image from the Kinect which I can analyze and do stuff with. My limited imagination came up with: Count people passing by. Measure average width of people passing by. Some ball with physics people can play with. Audible alert when someone is walking too fast. Anyone have any good ideas? :)

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  • Running Windows 98 in 2013 with Modern Apps and Web

    - by Akemi Iwaya
    Do you ever have those moments when curiosity for the sake of fun gets a hold on you? Perhaps that curiosity gets focused on computer-related “what ifs” such as how well would a very old operating system handle being used with today’s modern apps and web? Nazmus Shakib Khandaker decided to find out how well Windows 98 could and would do in 2013. Have you tried something similar to this? Do you know of any individuals who are holding on to an older operating system no matter what? Share your experiences in the comments! Running Windows 98 in 2013 with Modern Web and Apps [YouTube]     

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  • Graphic demonstrating emphasis of front end in web apps

    - by sohail
    I remember stumbling across an amusing graphic a year or so ago which demonstrated the tiers of web development. The back-end was shown as a tiny box, but the front end was shown as a huge box crammed with lots of front-end technologies like AJAX, DHTML. This is all a vague recollection. Does anyone know where on the Intraweb this graphic might be? It was probably on a programming cartoon site, but I only view XKCD on a regular basis, and I couldn't find it on there. Although tagged as fun, my request does have a productive edge to it - it would be quite useful in driving home to my colleagues how UI top-heavy web application development has become.

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  • How to Turn a Match into a Miniature Rocket [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    If you’re looking for a novel little stunt to impress your friends this Fourth of July, these tiny matchstick rockets are a cheap and easy trick to pull out of your sleeve. Courtesy of Grathio Labs, all you’ll need is a book of matches, a pin, a paper clip, and some aluminum foil. Watch the video to see how it all comes together: As always, play safely with the fun-but-potentially-dangerous projects we share. [via Make] How to Use an Xbox 360 Controller On Your Windows PC Download the Official How-To Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 How to Banish Duplicate Photos with VisiPic

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  • Desktop Customization: Sci-Fi Icon Packs

    - by Asian Angel
    Are you a sci-fi fan who has been looking for some great custom icons for your desktop or favorite app launcher? Then you will want to have a look through our sci-fi icon packs collection. Over the past few months we’ve been showing you collections of cool desktop wallpapers you can use to liven up your computer. Today we extend the customization collections with a series of cool icon packs for you to use for folders and shortcut icons. Star Wars 1.0 Download Star Wars the Icons Download Star Wars Vehicles Download Star Wars Icons Download Star Trek Download Trek Tech Note: Contains “.png files” for use in Linux. Download Refresh Trek Download Star Trek Folders Download Battlestar Galactica Vol. 1 Download Battlestar Galactica Vol. 2 Download Battlestar Galactica Vol. 3 Download Battlestar Galactica Vol. 4 Download Baby Spaceships Download Space: 1999 Download War of the Worlds   Download Conclusion Now that you have some of these cool icons downloaded, be sure to check out our tutorial on how to customize your icons in Vista and Windows 7. If you’re still using XP check out our article on customizing icons in Windows XP. Also, be you might want to visit our new Desktop Fun section for more customization goodness! Similar Articles Productive Geek Tips Restore Missing Desktop Icons in Windows 7 or VistaWindows 7 Welcome Screen Taking Forever? Here’s the Fix (Maybe)Add Home Directory Icon to the Desktop in Windows 7 or VistaQuick Help: Downloadable Show Desktop Icon for XPDisplay My Computer Icon on the Desktop in Windows 7 or Vista TouchFreeze Alternative in AutoHotkey The Icy Undertow Desktop Windows Home Server – Backup to LAN The Clear & Clean Desktop Use This Bookmarklet to Easily Get Albums Use AutoHotkey to Assign a Hotkey to a Specific Window Latest Software Reviews Tinyhacker Random Tips Revo Uninstaller Pro Registry Mechanic 9 for Windows PC Tools Internet Security Suite 2010 PCmover Professional Windows 7 Easter Theme YoWindoW, a real time weather screensaver Optimize your computer the Microsoft way Stormpulse provides slick, real time weather data Geek Parents – Did you try Parental Controls in Windows 7? Change DNS servers on the fly with DNS Jumper

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  • Minty Bug: Build an FM Bug Inside a Mint Container

    - by ETC
    Electronics projects that have real world (and showing off to your friends) potential are the most fun; today we take a look at a clever FM bug design hidden in a mint container. At PyroElectro Projects they wanted to try something new with the whole electronics-in-mint-container genre. They opted to turn a container of Ice Breakers Frost mints (the Ice Breakers response to Altoid Mints, presumably) into a small FM bug. The most clever part of the design is that the container still holds mints. Aside from a small black dot on the back of the case you’d have little reason to believe it was anything buy a box of mints. Check out the video below to see the mint container unpacked and the hidden electronics payload revealed: If you’re interested in the project hit up the link below for additional information. FM Bug Transmitter Mint Box [Pyro Electro Projects via Hack A Day] Latest Features How-To Geek ETC How to Get Amazing Color from Photos in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Learn To Adjust Contrast Like a Pro in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Have You Ever Wondered How Your Operating System Got Its Name? Should You Delete Windows 7 Service Pack Backup Files to Save Space? What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology? Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is Released: But Should You Install It? Get the MakeUseOf eBook Guide to Hacker Proofing Your PC Sync Your Windows Computer with Your Ubuntu One Account [Desktop Client] Awesome 10 Meter Curved Touchscreen at the University of Groningen [Video] TV Antenna Helper Makes HDTV Antenna Calibration a Snap Turn a Green Laser into a Microscope Projector [Science] The Open Road Awaits [Wallpaper]

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  • The Legend of Zelda – 1980s High School Style [Video]

    - by Asian Angel
    What happens when you mix the Legend of Zelda with the 80s high school scene? Something fun and cheesy that makes you wish there really was a movie based on this! From YouTube: In this charming critically-acclaimed tale of first love, Link, an eternal optimist and adventurer, seeks to capture the heart of Zelda, an unattainable high school beauty and straight-A student. He surprises just about everyone-including himself-when she returns the sentiment. But the high school’s over-possessive, megalomaniacal Principal Ganondorf doesn’t approve and it’s going to take more than just the power of love to conquer all. The Legend of Zelda (1987) Trailer [via Geeks are Sexy] Latest Features How-To Geek ETC How To Remove People and Objects From Photographs In Photoshop Ask How-To Geek: How Can I Monitor My Bandwidth Usage? Internet Explorer 9 RC Now Available: Here’s the Most Interesting New Stuff Here’s a Super Simple Trick to Defeating Fake Anti-Virus Malware How to Change the Default Application for Android Tasks Stop Believing TV’s Lies: The Real Truth About "Enhancing" Images The Legend of Zelda – 1980s High School Style [Video] Suspended Sentence is a Free Cross-Platform Point and Click Game Build a Batman-Style Hidden Bust Switch Make Your Clock Creates a Custom Clock for your Android Homescreen Download the Anime Angels Theme for Windows 7 CyanogenMod Updates; Rolls out Android 2.3 to the Less Fortunate

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  • Hack Apart a Highlighter to Create UV-Reactive Flowers [Science]

    - by ETC
    College students have long been hacking apart highlighters to create glowing bottles of booze to line their dorm room walls. Far more interesting, however, is the application of the hack to flowers. Many of you may remember a science class experiment from years gone by where in you put food coloring in a beaker and then some freshly cut white flowers; returning to the experiment a day later yielded flowers colored to match the dye you added. This little experiment relies on the same technique, only instead of blue food coloring the flowers suck up UV-reactive highlighter dye. Check out the video below to see the experiment in action: Have a fun science experiment to share? Let’s hear about it in the comments. Make Flowers Glow in the Dark (with Highlighter Fluid and UV Light) [YouTube via Make] Latest Features How-To Geek ETC Learn To Adjust Contrast Like a Pro in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Have You Ever Wondered How Your Operating System Got Its Name? Should You Delete Windows 7 Service Pack Backup Files to Save Space? What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology? Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is Released: But Should You Install It? How To Make Hundreds of Complex Photo Edits in Seconds With Photoshop Actions Hack Apart a Highlighter to Create UV-Reactive Flowers [Science] Add a “Textmate Style” Lightweight Text Editor with Dropbox Syncing to Chrome and Iron Is the Forcefield Really On or Not? [Star Wars Parody Video] Google Updates Picasa Web Albums; Emphasis on Sharing and Showcasing Uwall.tv Turns YouTube into a Video Jukebox Early Morning Sunrise at the Beach Wallpaper

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  • Suspended Sentence is a Free Cross-Platform Point and Click Game

    - by Asian Angel
    Do you want a fun point and click game to play on your favorite operating system? Then get ready to play Suspended Sentence! In the game you are woken from cryogenic sleep to assist in repairing the ship you are traveling on. Can you successfully complete the repairs and get your prison sentence suspended in return? Note: Suspended Sentence is available for Linux, Windows, and Mac. Suspended Sentence Homepage [via OMG! Ubuntu!] Access the Walkthrough for Suspended Sentence Latest Features How-To Geek ETC How To Remove People and Objects From Photographs In Photoshop Ask How-To Geek: How Can I Monitor My Bandwidth Usage? Internet Explorer 9 RC Now Available: Here’s the Most Interesting New Stuff Here’s a Super Simple Trick to Defeating Fake Anti-Virus Malware How to Change the Default Application for Android Tasks Stop Believing TV’s Lies: The Real Truth About "Enhancing" Images The Legend of Zelda – 1980s High School Style [Video] Suspended Sentence is a Free Cross-Platform Point and Click Game Build a Batman-Style Hidden Bust Switch Make Your Clock Creates a Custom Clock for your Android Homescreen Download the Anime Angels Theme for Windows 7 CyanogenMod Updates; Rolls out Android 2.3 to the Less Fortunate

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  • A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune) [Super Retro Classic Sci-Fi Video]

    - by Asian Angel
    If you are into retro sci-fi movies, then you will definitely want to have a look at this French classic from 1902. This silent movie is only 10.5 minutes long, but is well worth watching and makes for a fun romp through the early days of sci-fi. From YouTube: A Trip to the Moon (French: Le Voyage dans la lune) is a 1902 French black and white silent science fiction film. It is loosely based on two popular novels of the time: From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne and The First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells. The film was written and directed by Georges Melies, assisted by his brother Gaston. The film runs 14 minutes if projected at 16 frames per second, which was the standard frame rate at the time the film was produced. It was extremely popular at the time of its release and is the best-known of the hundreds of fantasy films made by Melies. A Trip to the Moon is the first science fiction film, and utilizes innovative animation and special effects, including the iconic shot of the rocketship landing in the Moon’s eye. A Trip to the Moon / Le Voyage dans la lune – 1902 [via 20 best designs in sci-fi movies - Page 3 (Creative Bloq)] How to Use an Xbox 360 Controller On Your Windows PC Download the Official How-To Geek Trivia App for Windows 8 How to Banish Duplicate Photos with VisiPic

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  • The Twelve Days of Geekmas

    - by YatriTrivedi
    Looking for some last minute shopping for your favorite geek? We put a few holiday shopping items into the form of a song to show off just how geeky your Christmas can be. Make sure that you read through the list to the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Yes, we’re really being silly today. Have fun! Image by dawolf On the twelfth day of Geekmas, a dear friend gave to me… Latest Features How-To Geek ETC The Complete List of iPad Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials The 50 Best Registry Hacks that Make Windows Better The How-To Geek Holiday Gift Guide (Geeky Stuff We Like) LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide to HDTV Technology The How-To Geek Guide to Learning Photoshop, Part 8: Filters Improve Digital Photography by Calibrating Your Monitor The Brothers Mario – Epic Gangland Style Mario Brothers Movie Trailer [Video] Score Awesome Games on the Cheap with the Humble Indie Bundle Add a Colorful Christmas Theme to Your Windows 7 Desktop This Windows Hack Changes the Blue Screen of Death to Red Edit Images Quickly in Firefox with Pixlr Grabber Zoho Writer, Sheet, and Show Now Available in Chrome Web Store

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  • Ten Classic Electronic Toys and Their Modern Equivalents

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    Whether you’re looking to relive the toy exploits of your youth or pass your love of tinkering and electronics onto the younger generation, this list highlights ten great electronic toys of yesteryear and their modern equivalents. Courtesy of Wired’s Geek Dad, the description for the all-in-one electronics kit seen here: What is was: Arthur C. Clarke has said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. As a kid in the midst of an increasing technological revolution, electronics were at the heart of that. Learning electronics was made easy through the Science Fair Electronic Project Kits found at Radioshack. Through the project guides, kids could construct various ‘experiments’ by attaching wires to terminal springs that make circuits. The terminal springs would wire in components such as LED segment lights, photo sensors, resistors, diodes, etc. While it was fun getting the projects to work, the manuals lacked in depth explanation as to what was happening in the circuit to produce the project’s result. Why it was awesome: First, it was a simple buy for parents. Everything you needed to get your child interested in electronics was right in the kit. You didn’t need to breadboard or solder. I remember a distinct feeling of accomplishment making a high-water alarm or a light-sensor game with the realization that the bundles of wires springing up from the kit were actually doing something! Modern equivalent: You can still pick up variations of the 100-in-1 kits, but their popular replacement seem to be Snap Circuits by Elenco. All of the components are mounted on a plastic base with a contact on either end which interconnect with each other and the plastic base that projects can be mounted to. Each component also has the electrical diagram symbol for that component drawn on it so it can help you read schematics. For that reason alone, I like these better. HTG Explains: Why You Only Have to Wipe a Disk Once to Erase It HTG Explains: Learn How Websites Are Tracking You Online Here’s How to Download Windows 8 Release Preview Right Now

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  • Weekend Project: Build a Fireball Launcher

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    What’s more fun than playing with fire? Shooting it from your hands. Put on your robe and wizard hat, make a stop at the hardware store, and spend the weekend trying to convince your friends you’ve acquired supernatural powers. Over at MAKE Magazine, Joel Johnson explains the impetus for his project: A stalwart of close-quarter magicians for years, the electronic flash gun is a simple device: a battery-powered, hand-held ignitor that uses a “glo-plug” to light a bit of flash paper and cotton, shooting a fireball a few feet into the air. You can buy one from most magic shops for around $50, but if you build one on your own, you’ll not only save a few bucks, you’ll also learn how easy it is to add fire effects to almost any electronics project. (And what gadget couldn’t stand a little more spurting flame?) The parts list is minimal but the end effect is pretty fantastic. Hit up the link below for the full build guide, plenty of warnings, and a weekend project that’s sure to impress. How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 3 How to Sync Your Media Across Your Entire House with XBMC How to Own Your Own Website (Even If You Can’t Build One) Pt 2

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