How to use hidden Skype icons?
When you use Skype messenger for text chat, you have the option of using an emoticons from a predefined list. These icons can be used to express various feelings/or actions. The default list of icons itself is a comprehensive list as can be seen from the diagram on the right side.
However Skype offers more! There are hidden icons in Skype, which you can use by explicitly typing the message code in the chat window. All these icons are animated and some of these are could be slightly offending to others!
All Skype codes are written inside brackets. For example, to show the middle finger, use the code (finger). The full set of hidden emoticons in Skype are given below,
| Icon | Animation | Code | Meaning |
 |
 |
(mooning) | Mooning |
 |
 |
(finger) | Finger |
 |
 |
(poolparty) | Pool party |
 |
 |
(swear) | Swearing |
 |
 |
(tmi) | TMI |
 |
 |
(smoking) (smoke) (ci) | Smoking |
 |
 |
(heidy) | Heidy |
 |
 |
(ninja) | Ninja |
 |
 |
(toivo) | Toivo |
 |
 |
(rock) | Rock |
 |
 |
(u) (U) | Broken heart |
 |
 |
(bandit) | Bandit |
 |
 |
(bug) | Bug |
 |
 |
(drunk) | Drunk |
 |
 |
(headbang) (banghead) | Headbang |
 |
 |
(malthe) | Malthe |
 |
 |
(priidu) | Priidu |
 |
 |
(MySpace) | MySpace |
 |
 |
(tauri) | Tauri |
Also note that new Skype releases sometimes come with additional emoticons. You can also use various country flags by using the code of the following form,
(flag:countrycode)
For example, for american flag use – (flag:us) and for French flag use – (flag:fr).
March 9, 2012 Leave a comment
Who is Axxo?
Axxo is the “Internet name” of a person who frequently releases torrent files of digital movies in torrent sites. Usually these movie files fit in a single CD and is of good quality. Very few people know who axxo really is and ant-piracy groups are trying to find him. Since 2010, Axxo hasn’t been active in the piracy scene.
In United States, Axxo’s activities are considered illegal since encoding and releasing digital copies of movies is a violation of the copyright act. If caught and convicted, axxo can expect a long jail term in United States.
The reason why axxo is so popular is the high quality of his movie releases. These movies are compressed as DivX videos and the audio is typically AC3 encoded. Since the entire movie size is around 700MB, people prefer to download axxo torrents. The quality of the movie also ensured that the axxo torrent had a large number of seeders active at any time.
The popularity of axxo torrents have also resulted in the release of a large number of bogus torrent files also. It has also been rumoured that anti-piracy groups are using the name “axxo” to release fake torrents and to trap people downloading illegal movie torrents.
Axxo’s torrents can be found on a number of torrent sites including the famous Pirate Bay. There are a number of sites dedicated to Axxo torrents, but most of the recent ones are released by others. Other uploaders called klaxxon and FXG started to upload torrents which has good quality similar to that of axxo.
It is interesting to note that axxo has a page on Wikipedia.
March 9, 2012 Leave a comment
Vattiyoorkavu
Vattiyoorkavu is a small town located on the north east side of Trivandrum city in Kerala, India. Killiyar (tributary of Karamana river) flows through Vattiyoorkavu. Vattiyoorkavu is a part of Trivandrum corporation since 2010.
Vattiyoorkavu has a number of educational institutions including Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, ARR public school, Govt. high school and Saraswathi Vidyalaya. Other major institutions include the Central polytechnic, ISRO office and Kerala state reprographic and visual media centre. Vattiyoorkavu had a number of cinema theatres, but all have been converted for other purposes.
Some of the nearby areas are, Kulasekaram, Nettayam, Valiyavila, Thirumala and Peroorkada. Vattiyoorkavu Pincode is 695013 and is located around 8 Kilometres from the Trivandrum city centre.
March 9, 2012 Leave a comment
What is the meaning of EP, CP, MAP in hotel bookings?
If you have searched for tourist resorts or tourist hotels in Internet, you would have come across terms such as CP, MAP and EP in the tariff structure. Ever wondered what those mean?
These are terms used to define add-on services provided as part of hotel accommodation. Each of these indicates a specific accommodation plan under which food cost may be included. Here is brief summary of each of these terms.
EP – This is called the European Plan. Under this plan, only room rent is included and any food cost will be additional. Obviously this plan offers the lowest tariff. However you should take this only if you are sure that there are alternate places nearby from where you can have food. Usually most hotels/resorts charge heavily for extra food orders. However this would be excellent option, if the hotel provides multiple restaurants.
CP – This is called the Continental Plan. Under this tariff plan, room rent and complimentary free breakfast is included. Usually hotels have buffet breakfast. For dinner and lunch you will have to pay extra. If you plan to visit other places during day time, this is the best plan to opt.
MAP – This stands for Modified American Plan. Under this tariff plan, room rent is included with free breakfast and free lunch OR free dinner. Again, very useful if you plan your time away from the resort during lunch time or dinner. In Europe, this is known as Half Pension or Half Board plan.
AP – This stands for American Plan and this tariff includes room rent plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. Booking a room under this plan means that you won’t have to pay extra for food. This is the best option if you plan to stay in the resort all the time or is in a remote location. In European hotels, American plan is also known as Full Pension or Full Board plan.
MAPI or API – This is an extended version of MAP or AP under which free evening tea/snacks are provided.
Please note that the above are only general guidelines. The actual schemes/tariff structure can vary from hotel to hotel and you need to verify it in advance.
Following is a sample resort package indicating the above terms.
We have the following packages for an AC double room during off peak season at our resort,
3 days / 4 nights (EP basis) – $100
3 days/ 4 nights (CP basis) – $120
3 days/ 4 nights (AP basis) – $160
March 9, 2012 Leave a comment
What is a Memristor?
Resistor, capacitor and inductor are the three basic building blocks in electronic circuits. Memristor is the fourth fundamental electronic circuit element developed in 2008 by Stanley Williams’ HP Labs team. Even though existence of this fourth element (Memristor) was predicted as early as 1971 (by Professor Leon Chua), it was only in 2008 that scientists from HP Labs was able to create one. The reason why it took scientists so long to figure it out is that it operates in nano scale (billionth of a meter!).
Memristor is called a memory resistor since the resistance of the device is dependent on the voltage applied and also on the time for which it is applied. The time element is what makes the circuit element unique. Memristance is defined as the ratio of magnetic flux between the device terminals and the electric charge passed through the terminals. If alternating voltage is applied to the device so that net charge transfer is zero, Memristance value becomes constant and can be used as a storage device.
Memristor is considered as a fourth fundamental element since unlike the other fundamentals electronic elements, it has a memory of its past. When the voltage to the Memristor is switched off, it still remembers the voltage applied and the duration of the voltage. This effect cannot be created by the combination of resistors, inductors and capacitors. This is what makes Memristors unique. However not everyone agrees that Memristor is the fourth fundamental building block in electronics.
There are two major categories of Memristors, namely Molecular and Ionic Thin Film Memristors and Spin Based and Magnetic Memristors. The first category includes the original HP labs material (Titanium dioxide), Polymeric (ionic) Memristors, Manganite and Resonant-tunnelling diode Memristors. The second category includes Spintronic Memristors and Spin Torque Transfer MRAM Memristors.
The HP implementation promises giant leaps in memory implementation and memory density for future computing devices. It means more memory storage with less components and less energy. But as of today high speed operation is not yet possible on Memristors. Theoretically Memristor can be used to pack 100 gigabits in a square centimetre!
Memristor devices may eventually replace current non volatile memory technologies such as flash memory. Memristors require less energy, and has much higher data storage capacity and can withstand interface from radiation.
Since 2008, considerable research has been done on Memristors. HP has begun work on high density memory modules and by 2013, we may see Memristor based memory devices available commercially. In the future we may see Memristors used in computer memory, signal processing and neural networks. With the need for cloud computing and the rapid growth of data centres, adoption of Memristors can be bring substantial savings in space and power.
March 9, 2012 Leave a comment