So our expectations were true.A new planet-spanning Web site–Google Mars (mars.google.com) – launches it on what would have been Mars astronomer Percival Lowell’s 151st birthday. At the heart of the new Web site lies a gigantic picture-puzzle image of Mars created by researchers at Arizona State University’s Mars Space Flight Facility.Provides – Regions,Mountains,Plains,Spacecraft,Canyons,Ridges,Stories,Dunes Craters.Just like the Google Moon which is web based.On 12 March(my B’day) the domain mars.google.com was found to be pointing to Google as seen through CNAME record.Within 1-2 hours of release mails started bothering me asking for the same.Then I went to the google homepage and saw the logo.Gaush ! Google Mars was out !

As pathetic as Apple is in India, it seems that even Apple is not stupid enough to not cut down costs by moving tech centres to Bangalore. Read this news excerpt from Macworld.com/News:

Apple is setting up a technical support center in Bangalore, India, according to a report Thursday in a local Indian newspaper.

Apple will hire 1,500 staff at the technical center by the end of this year, according to The Times of India newspaper. The center will have 3,000 staff at the end of next year, the report said.

Representatives from Apple’s Indian operations were not immediately available for comment.

A number of multinational technology companies, including computer maker Dell Inc. have set up technical support centers in India, to support their global operations.

Something really peculiar happened to me today. I had gone to a job interview, and as is usual, the employer asked me about some of my hobbies and how I got into computers. Please note that this employer is a research scientist at the robotics institute at Carnegie Mellon. So obviously I tell him about Exun. Here is the surprising bit, he knows what Exun is. In fact when I used his computer to go to the exunclan.com, it showed up on his history. Apparently, he and a few of his colleagues usually look up highschool tech websites for the fun of it, and he reads lnexun every so often.
I was pleasantly surprised, I mean it is something that people like him read sites started by highschoolers, and especially ours.

–Nisheeth

best of luck for the exams everyone. may we be blessed with easy papers!!
study hard.

The elusive ultra-portable device being developed by Microsoft . No not just another hand held but a cross between a treo , blackberry and an ipod . An all in one media solution . The system, as described Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, would weigh about a pound, feature a battery that could hold a charge for a full day, and integrate a camera, a phone and a music device in a single form factor.
My guess is the next gen office companion full with blutooth , wi-fi , touchscreen and internet . Hopefully this is going to be an actual product and not just a “technology” that Microsoft releases to the industry .

Microsoft has actually planned a media event to be held within hours of the apple event today( where new mac mini and an ipod hi fi was released ) .
Could Microsoft make the true ipod/blackberry killer… ?

the origami project
concept video on you tube

Also , Microsoft has announced that there will be 6 versions of vista . No need to worry all the CD’s/DVD’s will be same just a differing serial key will unlock different versions .

Vista Starter — Streamlined version meant for low-powered PCs in developing nations.

Vista Home Basic — For those content to browse the web, use email, and create and edit basic documents from their PC. Includes desktop search and security tools.

Vista Home Premium — Includes everything in Basic but also includes the Aero graphical interface, Media Center functionality, and ability to connect to Xbox 360. The version most of us will own at home.

Vista Business — The basic version for companies of all sizes with tools to help organizations manage their PCs.

Vista Enterprise — Includes everything in the basic business version with improved encryption and BitLocker system to keep data from being read on a stolen computer.

Vista Ultimate — All the features of Home and Business in one. ( the one I hope to get )

Here’s a comparison of the two, there’s quite a noticeable difference in image quality. Checkout these screenshots of the respective versions of Fellowship of the Ring, click to enlarge (obviously)

HD

DVD

one more thing time…

lol 🙂