Beware of the SanDisk Micro cruzer with U3 technologies

SanDisk flash drive is a good flash drive

However the U3 technology could give a variety of problems

1. Sometimes the u3 launchpad can get corrupted

In that case you can't operate the flash drive. You have re-install the
launch pad. During that process you may or may not be able to backup the
data.

2. If you enable the security with the use of password, you won't be able to
install it . you can't even format it. The flash drive may become useless
unless you uninstall the u3 and format it

3. The best thing is to get rid of the u3 launch pad

4. Sometimes it may not load up in some computers

So my suggestion based on my experience is not to mess with u3 technology at all

However, I do like SanDisk minus U3 technology

Indy Ram

Do you want to write in Unicode Tamil in computer in Webmail and Weblog?

I assume you have windows XP

If you have a computer with an earlier OS you might want to switch to XP

Here are the things you have to do

1. Enable your computer to use Unicode

How

How to Enable Tamil in Windows XP?

If you are having Windows XP OS and are having problem viewing the Tamil fonts in ThamiZha,
then you have to enable Indic support. Doing so is quite simple, actually.
Just follow the simple steps mentioned below.

1) keep your XP installation CD at hand. (If you have misplaced yours, or if you have lost it,
please get one from your friend, or relative, or someone you know.)

2) Click Start > Control Panel.

3) Click Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options.

4) Now, click Regional and language Options.

5) In the Supplemental Language support, Check the "Install files for Complex Script
and right to left languages (including Thai) ", and then click Apply.

6) If you hadn't yet inserted the Win XP installation CD into your CD-ROM drive,
An alert will appear to ask you to insert the installation CD. Insert the CD and then click OK.
After the installation, your system will restart for proper operation

7) That's all... now your computer is enabled for Tamil Unicode.


Now downlaod NHM writer from this site

http://software.nhm.in/Products/NHMWriter/tabid/55/Default.aspx

This writer allows you to enter Tamil in 4 different keyboard styles

I prefer the phonetic ( Alt+2)

Open Word and select Latha font

Type away in Tamil

Subscribe to Google account (free)

Open the text box and simply type

Same thing with blogger website

That is all to it

It is that simple

If you need help go to the following sites

http://www.ezilnila.com/uni_kadduraikal.htm


Indy Ram

Gmail's voice and video chat

Here is my early experience of v&v for Gmail

Google announced the inclusion of voice and video chat for Gmail on Nov 11.

To make it work , first you need to have a gmail account

a good webcam ( I like Logitech's Quickcam pro 9000) with a built-in mike and an external speaker

or anyone of the headsets ( since it is video I don't like something hanging over my head)

Then download the v&v plug-in from this site

http://mail.google.com/videochat

After you install it, it will force close your browser and restart it

Now get back to Gmail

You need to make some changes

Click on the settings link near the top

and then click on chat link



Then set your settings for webcam, mike and speaker

If everything is set right and if you click on verify settings you should see your own video


Under contacts

Open the chat list

Find the person you want to have v&v chat

Click on the name

Click on chat

It will open text chat

Click on the diagonal arrow (pop out)

Then click on video and more

If the receiver had video and voice chat plugin

You will see the options for it

Enjoy

Please note:

If only one party has the webcam then the receiving party has to initiate the

video request

Indy Ram

My first impression

It is nice and clear

It apparently uses flash video

the video transmission is of high speed ( Maybe 25 fps)

This is the only service that allows two computers that are connected via

the router at home can operate v&v chat

I have to figure out how to record the video for later viewing

Indy Ram

DVD for wide screen TV

I assume you know how to make a 720*480 DVD with aspect ratio
of 4:3. However if you watch such a movie in a large screen TV
it will look out of proportion

So the best way to do is to get a movie or slide show cropped into 1.77 aspect ratio
(16:9) and burn it .

Most of the still pictures you take with digital cameras have 4:3 aspect ratio
Most of the movies you take are also in 4:3 ration

you need to crop them first and then make a movie with 16:9 ( 720*480)
aspect ratio

Good luck