TechTales

It is possible to make sound work on Safe Mode. Press Windows + R, type devmgmt.msc, press Enter and look for your sound device. (e.g. Reatlek High Definition Audio) Double-click it. Go to the tab 'Details' and click the drop-down list. Select 'Driver key' and copy the text from 'Value' Copy the text into a word processor (e.g. Notepad) Replace all lower-case letters with capital letters and remove the \0000. Open Registry Editor (Windows + R > regedit) and locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot\Network. Create a new key (Rightclick > New > Key) Copy the text from your word processor and paste it into the key name. Edit the '(Default)' key and type 'Sound, video and game controllers'. Create a new key called 'AudioEndpointBuilder', 'MMCSS' and 'Audiosrv' Edit all their '(Default)' keys and type 'Service'. Restart your computer Go to Services (Windows +

Facebook Inc on Friday unveiled plans for a massive new campus annex in Menlo Park to be designed by Frank Gehry, the renowned architect who has won plaudits for metal-sheathed works like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Plans for the site, which Facebook will submit to local city officials for approval on Monday, depict Gehry's vision of a single-story, hangar-like building covering 420,000 square feet, or roughly the area of eight football fields combined under one roof. The project will likely amount to a significant expense for a newly public company that's been closely scrutinised by investors since its disappointing May debut. Facebook shares have hovered at nearly half its $38 IPO price in recent weeks on concerns about whether it can sustain revenue growth. Facebook declined to reveal the development's projected cost, saying only that it would fall in line with other Silicon Valley office b

Faced with a shrinking budget, NASA will in many ways need to reinvent itself if the agency hopes to continue leading the charge in space exploration. There's perhaps no better example of that "do more with less" mantra than the PhoneSat project, the goal of which is to build the lowest-cost and easiest to assemble satellites ever placed into orbit. To create such a thing, engineers have turned to off-the-shelf consumer gadgets for parts, harnessing the internals of Google's Nexus hardware as the brains of the operation. They're starting small, however: the mission of PhoneSat 1.0 — powered by a Nexus One — is merely to stay alive for a short period of time and beam pictures of space back to ground control. All the while, the nanosatellite will be monitoring its own health and keeping NASA scientists informed of any mal-effects space has on its hardware. PhoneSat 2.0 expands on those capabilities thanks to faster hardware. A Nexus S will serve as

Microsoft Corp. unveiled the customer preview of the new Microsoft Office that features an intuitive design that works with touch, stylus, mouse or keyboard across new Windows devices, including tablets. "We are taking bold steps at Microsoft," Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft said at the press conference in San Francisco. "The new, modern Office will deliver unparalleled productivity and flexibility for both consumers and business customers. It is a cloud service and will fully light-up when paired with Windows 8." Here's our list of top 10 features that the new Office has to offer. 1) Touch everywhere - The new Office responds to touch as naturally as it does to keyboard and mouse. One can swipe their finger across the screen or pinch and zoom to read documents and presentations. 2) Inking - Use a stylus to create content, take notes and access features. Handwrite email responses and convert them automatically to text. Stylus can also be u

Defeat in a bitter patent wrangle with Apple Inc, its smartphone rival and biggest customer, will dent Samsung Electronics Co's $21 billion cash-pile, but could actually help cement its leadership in the global smartphone market. A U.S. court has ordered Samsung - which sold around 50 million phones in April-June, almost twice the number of iPhones - to pay $1.05 billion damages, after ruling that the South Korean firm infringed on some Apple patents. While the verdict was a big win for Apple, the damages are less than half the $2.5 billion compensation it sought - although that could yet be increased by the judge - and are just 1.5 percent of annual revenues from Samsung's telecoms business. That phone and tablet business is the powerhouse behind Samsung's growth, earning around 70 percent of total profit. The group had net profit of $4.5 billion in April-June. Samsung could also see its popular Galaxy smartphone banned from sale in the United States.

Just few months back Facebook was testing a new form of search ads called Sponsored Results whereby advertisers can show ads in the Facebook search typehead to users looking for a particular Page, app, or Place. Now, the social networking site is making the feature available to marketers that will let businesses divert traffic from each other, as TechCrunch reports. The latest advertising offering includes paid advertisements related to search queries at the top of results. The Sponsored Results appear like any other results in the search box present on top of each page, but with the word ''Sponsored'' written clearly. Upon clicking, users will be redirected to a company's Facebook page, a move intended to keep users within the site. The search results cannot be based on generic keywords like mobiles, cameras or games. These will have to be brand or company specific like FarmVille or Canon camera. Users have the option of dismissing the ad by cli

What's the worst insult you can throw at a fast-moving company like Facebook? Call its iPhone app slow and poky. On Thursday, Facebook Inc. addressed users who had gripes with its app for iPhones and iPads with the launch of a faster version. Rather than add a slew of new features, the company said it rebuilt the application from scratch to make it speedier and less clunky. In a recent demonstration at the company's Menlo Park, Calif., headquarters, the new iPhone app opened about twice as fast as the older version. Photos and comments also load faster. Users can now "like" comments on photos, which wasn't possible with the previous mobile app. Mick Johnson, mobile product manager at Facebook, said programmers removed some lesser-used features, such as a way to view the app horizontally, to help speed it up. The mobile arena presents Facebook with its biggest challenge and its biggest opportunity. That's where its user base is growing the

Google Fiber made a big splash upon launch, with its promise of Gigabit speeds at the cost of regular broadband. Google announced that it will be launching its fiber-based Internet service in Kansas City, USA. The service will let users download unlimited Internet data at the speed of 1000 megabits per second for $70 per month. The Internet search giant had received 3,900 registrations for Google Fiber as on Sunday, with users having another 41-days to pre-order. The installations will begin in September. Here's all you need to know about Google Fiber. 1) A free Nexus tablet Every customer who signs up for Google Fiber with TV will get a free Google Nexus tablet to use as a remote. As of now, it is not clear whether it will be the 8GB model of Nexus 7 or the 16GB one that will be provided but nevertheless it is a great deal. There is also speculation that with the subscription of Google's Internet one may be able to get a ChromeBook for a discounted price of $29

Ahmedabad:  An engineering college dropout from Kolkata was arrested in Ahmedabad today for attempting to hack the website of ICICI Bank, police said today. He intended to set up a clone server to facilitate transfer of funds from the bank and was allegedly being helped by a few IITians. "We have nabbed a youth and recovered from him certain documents of ICICI Bank as also a laptop, pen drives, disks and a communication set. The bank officials have confirmed that there was an attempt to hack their website and server," City Crime Branch Cyber Cell head K L Patel said.  The man was identified as Manish Pandey, son of a doctor from Kolkata and a fourth semester dropout of an Engineering college. Large number of documents pertaining to the bank and its accountholders were recovered from his possession, pointing to his attempt to hack the bank's website, Mr Patel said. The man had conducted a detailed 'vulnerability test' of the bank's websi

Agra:  Agra's Karan Narain, pursuing M. Tech (final year) in computer science from IIT Kanpur, has set a new record in campus placement. He has been picked up by US company Pocket Gems for an annual package of $137,000 (over R s. 73 lakh). This is the highest package offered to a Kanpur IITian and one of the highest in India so far. "Pocket Gems is into mobile application development for Android and iOS. The interviews held in Kanpur were completely technical," Narain told IANS. "I had some background in Android which could have appealed to them. It's a start-up, so has only around 100 employees. They've visited all the IITs and recruited a few students from each," he added. Narain attributed his success to his schooling in Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi and Agra. "All schools are different and gave me a new experience and changed my world view for the better," he said.

Stephen Hawking is the world's most famous living scientist and a symbol of the triumph of willpower over adversity.  Paralysis sufferers could soon learn to talk again after scientists discovered how the brain allows humans to pronounce vowels, a new study has claimed. Scientists are investigating the use of brain waves to create a new form of communication which could return the power of speech to paralysis sufferers like Physicist Stepehen hawking. Diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease at 21, Hawking, now 70, relies on a computerised device to speak. The new research could pave way for prosthetic devices in the brain returning the power of speech to those paralysed by injury or disease. Researchers followed 11 epilepsy patients who had electrodes implanted in their brains to pinpoint the origin of their seizures, with neuron activity as they uttered one of five vowels or syllables containing the vowels recorded. They found two areas, the superior temporal gyrus and

Applications reflect little change in nation’s hiring trends... WASHINGTON : Applications for U.S. jobless benefits rose slightly last week, the government reported Thursday, but the latest figures suggest little change in the nation’s underperforming labor market. Initial claims increased by 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 372,000 in the week ended Aug. 18, the Labor Department said. That’s the highest level in five weeks. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch had projected claims would rise to 369,000. The level of claims is a rough gauge of whether layoffs are rising or falling. Applications for unemployment benefits have hovered around 370,000 for the past month, a level that indicates a modest increase in hiring at best. Yet claims have shown virtually no improvement after falling to a four-year low in February, reflecting a slowdown in the U.S. economy and greater caution by business when it comes to adding staff. The persistent threat of a financial crisis in Europe and

The UK economy shrank by less than previously thought between April and June, official figures have shown. Revised data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the economy contracted by 0.5% during the quarter, less than the 0.7% it announced last month. The ONS said output in the construction sector was higher than it had previously estimated. Many economists had expected the figures to show a smaller contraction. The original estimate of a 0.7% contraction, published in July, was greeted with some scepticism by a number of experts and by some industries that claimed they had seen little sign of such a serious economic downturn. "The production sector was not quite as bad [as we thought]; similarly the construction sector," Joe Grice from the ONS told the BBC. He said each accounted for a 0.1% revision to the original 0.7% estimate. The ONS had already said that output from the construction sector fell by 3.9% between April and June compared with the pr

     Facebook workers in Menlo Park, Calif.  The social network said it had to find better ways to show ads to mobile users. MENLO PARK, Calif. - At Facebook’s headquarters here, mobile devices are everywhere. The first thing visitors do is sign in on iPads at the front desk. Employees at the campus coffee shop use iPads as cash registers. Instead of sending e-mails, Facebook employees prefer to use the company’s messaging system, which pops up new messages on both mobile devices and PCs. Cory Ondrejka, is the chief of mobile engineering for Facebook. Mobile is clearly on the company’s mind, especially now that people are spending more time using Facebook through mobile apps than on computers. And on Wall Street, investors are putting pressure on Mark Zuckerberg’s social network to master the mobile world so it can speed up growth and lift its sagging stock. But the challenge for Facebook, along with other companies like Google that got their start on the Web, is figur

After three weeks of testimony, the federal trial in San Jose pitting Apple ( AAPL ) and its iPhones and iPads against Samsung ( SSNLF ) and its Android phones and tablets has gone to the jury. It may prove to be just another battle in the endless war over mobile technology property rights, but the trial did churn out some memorable quotes. In no particular order: “Since it is too similar to Apple, make it noticeably different starting with the front side.” — Internal e-mail citing notes from Samsung’s senior designer out of a meeting with Google officials, who requested changes in Samsung’s devices. “In addition to my formal analysis, I had the experience of being confused.” —Apple witness Susan Kare, who designed the “happy Mac” icon, testifying that she confused a Samsung phone for an iPhone at a pretrial meeting. “Wouldn’t you agree that by the time the consumer turns on the phone, and goes through the steps we looked at, seeing the Samsung sign prominently for seve

WASHINGTON Figuring out the number of American residents got as easy as pi on Tuesday as the United States touched a rare mathematical and demographic milestone. The Census Bureau said that the United States reached 314,159,265 residents, or the mathematical ratio pi times 100 million, shortly after 2:29 p.m. EDT (1829 GMT). Pi, or 3.14159265, is the mathematical constant that is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. It often is approximated as 22/7. "This is a once in many generations event ... so go out and celebrate this American pi," Census Bureau Chief Demographer Howard Hogan said in a statement. The pi milestone is "very meaningful to mathematical statisticians," the statement said. As of 3:54 p.m. EDT (1954 GMT), the bureau's population clock showed a U.S. population of 314,159,667. There were 7,032,793,077 people in the world check current population Here.

5 reasons why iPhone 5 be a disappointment Looking forward to the iPhone 5? You and everyone else, it seems. Alas, here's five reasons it’s not the hero handset you’re hoping for. 1 Design looks to be largely unchanged Leaked snaps indicate that although the next iPhone is going to be taller and thinner, its look and feel will remain largely unchanged from the iPhone 4S. Which you'll not need reminding itself retained the design of the iPhone 4, a phone that’s now over two years old. That's aeons in smartphone years. In that time, Android phones have introduced whopping screens that blur the line between tablets and smartphones and have debuted innovative pebble-shaped form factors. But with those kind of sea changes abroad on phones running Google's OS, Apple's design department seems to have stood still. If the snaps we’ve seen so far tell the whole truth and there really is no tangible sense of progression from design doyen Jonathan Ive this t

Apple iPhone 5 Apple will reportedly unveil its next iPhone – the handset unofficially dubbed ‘iPhone 5’ - in late September, a source in China familiar with the iGiant's plans has revealed. Picked up on by French iFansite App4iPhone, the tipster who “specialises in the manufacture of accessories” at one of Hong Kong’s three largest factories, received specifications from Apple on the 'technical apparatus' of its next-gen kit, including a release date: September 21st. Call us sceptics, but we find it quite unlikely that Apple would willingly disclose a release date, especially one so specific, as it is probably the company's most closely guarded secret other than the phone itself. Still, common sense and a whole lot of speculation from analysts and mystics alike suggests the iPhone 5 could very well be released by the end of September. So even if September 21st is a date plucked out of thin air, we reckon it’s close enough to be a realistic ETA.

Four steps to getting that job As the latest UK unemployment figures come out, BBC News asks four experts for their tips for prospective job-hunters. They give their advice on how to approach that all-important job interview - from what you wear to how you can use body language to impress your potential future boss. How to prepare for the interview  Sue Powell: "Preparation is key when it comes to job interviews"   Sue Powell is a relationship and career coach and she says that "preparation is key" when it comes to doing well in a job interview. She tells BBC News about the kinds of things candidates can do to prepare themselves before an interview. This includes doing some research on the company you are applying to, and making sure there are no inappropriate pictures of yourself available on the internet. How to deal with interview nerves  Neil Mullarkey: "Learn, look, listen and link"   Neil Mullarkey is a comedian and improviser who advise

Samsung becomes Android leader via disputes with Apple:  Samsung Electronics Co. has upgraded its status to an Android leader from a latecomer among Android-based smartphone makers via a series of patent disputes with Apple Inc. across the globe, a JP Morgan report said Wednesday. Samsung Electronics and Apple , the world's two largest smartphone makers, have been locked in a series of legal suits, accusing each other of design and technology patent infringements on their key mobile devices, including Galaxy mobile devices, iPhones and iPads.

Microsoft Corp unveiled its first new logo in 25 years Microsoft Corp unveiled its first new logo in 25 years on Thursday as it looks to unify its branding ahead of a clutch of new product releases this year. Microsoft rolls out first new logo in 25 years. The world's largest software company is introducing a dash of color in its first logo redesign since 1987, using a new multi-colored square next to a plain rendering of its name, replacing its well-worn italic style logo. Microsoft is rolling out its new Windows 8 operating system along with new Office and phone software this autumn, and is hoping the new logo unifies customers' experience of the company, much like rival Apple Inc's distinctive logo has for its consumers. "It's been 25 years since we've updated the Microsoft logo and now is the perfect time for a change," said Jeff Hansen, general manager of Microsoft's brand strategy, in a blog on Microsoft's website. "This

Preparations for the historic 100th mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) were on with the space agency planning to launch PSLV C-21, which will carry two foreign satellites in September. “We have two capsules, a remote sensing satellite from France and a small Japanese satellite will be the co-passenger. Preparations are going on. We plan to have the launch in the second week of September,” ISRO Chairman Dr K Radhakrishnan said at the Chennai airport on Wednesday. ISRO plans to launch 720-kg SPOT-6 remote sensing satellite from France (built by ASTRIUM SAS) and a 15-kg Japanese spacecraft Protiers on board the home-grown Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C21) in September, in what is perceived as a major milestone of sorts.

S. Korea SEOUL : A South Korean court on Friday ruled Apple Inc. infringed on two of Samsung Electronics Co.'s technical patents, giving a partial victory on its home turf to the top smartphone maker embroiled in a multi-billion dollar patent war with the iPhone maker.    In a court ruling, the Seoul Central District Court ruled Apple infringed on two of Samsung's five disputed patents, including those for wireless technology, must compensate Samsung 40 million won (US$35,279) and stop selling patent-infringing products in the country.    District court judge Bae Jun-hyun ordered Apple to stop selling patent-breaching products, blocking the Cupertino, California-based firm from selling the iPhone 3S, iPhone 4, and iPad 1 and 2 in South Korea. The move does not include the latest products such as the iPhone 4S.    The court decision covers a lawsuit filed by Samsung in April 2011, which was a counterclaim against Apple's initial patent infrin