The Gmail team came up with an idea to stitch together a bunch of video clips that all share one element: someone hands the Gmail M-velope in from the left of the screen, and hands it off to the right. All these videos had to include the Gmail's M-velope logo. Put them all together, and they form one long chain of hand-offs. The number of responses was impressive - more than 1,000 videos. Watch all of them here. Google selected some of the best videos, edited them and created a final video that showcases some of the most important values behind Gmail: creativity, collaboration and fun. Check the video here.
Check out this nice symmetrical flash animation. Roll your mouse over the jockeys to trip them! And let the horse reform from nowhere, just like T-1000 in Terminator2: Judgement Day.
Part of the Zurich based Kuoni Travel Group, VFS Global was established in 2001, in Mumbai (India), as a specialist partner for diplomatic missions worldwide. VFS Global serves diplomatic missions by managing all the administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to visa application, enabling diplomatic missions to focus entirely on the key tasks of assessment and interview.
Today, VFS Global serves 16 diplomatic missions in 31 countries worldwide, handling over four million applications (contracted) every year. In early 2006 VFS Global was awarded a 200 million contract (spread over 5 years) with UK Visas to provide visa outsourcing services in 7 geographical regions, covering close to about 70% of UKvisas visa applications globally. 
In addition VFS is also the first Indian company to be awarded contracts for visa outsource services by the Government of India. As on date, VFS Global has been awarded contracts to provide outsource service to the Embassy's of India at Beijing, Bangkok & France.
As a reliable partner, VFS Global has always relied on Trust, Technique and Technology to maximise convenience and efficiency for both diplomatic missions as well as the visa applicants.
The survival of VFS Global's business depends entirely on the trust diplomatic missions place in them. As a rule, all our business dealings are conducted strictly as per the code of ethics laid down by the client governments.
VFS's authority extends only to the documentation and selection process. The issuing of visas is solely at the discretion of the concerned high commission. To ensure that there are no unethical practices whatsoever, a vigilance and security team closely monitors all interactions with applicants. A clear directive from top management also ensures that no employee attempts to influence any application or seek any favours from diplomats.
TECHNIQUE
VFS Global is committed to provide individually customized solutions to each client government. For every new assignment, a Project Management Team studies the processes of the new client government in micro-detail and proposes customised solutions accordingly. VFS's prior experience with other governments, always serves as a library of best practices for our reference.
TECHNOLOGY
VFS Global has made major investments in software development in order to handle large volumes of applications. They have developed proprietary software systems for passport tracking, database creation and data upload. Their technology support also extends to website maintenance and online appointment scheduling facilities.
They have entered into technical and support agreements with leading IT hardware and software giants to ensure compliance to security policies and also adhere to meeting the stringent norms of diplomatic missions on IT Security and Data Protection. They have contracted with one of the Top 5 global Audit firms to conduct health checks and internal reviews on their systems and procedures so as to ensure robustness and continuous monitoring of the commitment to agreed customer service levels.
As described by wiki, "Infomania is the debilitating state of information overload, caused by the combination of a backlog of information to process (usually in email), and continuous interruptions from technologies like phones, instant messaging, and email. It is also understood as distraction caused by the urge to check email, text messaging and other sources of information, which causes the person to show symptoms to neglect other, often more important things - duties, family, etc. (For instance, a typical symptom of infomania is that of checking email frequently during vacation.)"
The term "infomania" has been used since the 1980's, but has only recently been used as a term for a psychological debility. The term was coined by Elizabeth M. Ferrarini, the author of 'Confessions of an Infomaniac' and 'Infomania-The Guide to Essential Electronic Services'. Ferrarini's 1984 Infomaniac book is the first book about life online. The very first installation of the book appeared in Cosmopolitan magazine in 1982.
Many workers are always on standby to react to incoming messages. Workers distracted by email and phone calls suffer a fall in IQ more than twice that found in marijuana smokers, new research has claimed.
The study for computing firm Hewlett Packard warned of a rise in "infomania", with people becoming addicted to email and text messages. Researchers found 62% of people checked work messages at home or on holiday. The firm said new technology can help productivity, but users must learn to switch computers and phones off.
Losing sleep
The study, carried out at the Institute of Psychiatry, found excessive use of technology reduced workers' intelligence. Those distracted by incoming email and phone calls saw a 10-point fall in their IQ - more than twice that found in studies of the impact of smoking marijuana, said researchers. More than half of the 1,100 respondents said they always responded to an email "immediately" or as soon as possible, with 21% admitting they would interrupt a meeting to do so.
The University of London psychologist who carried out the study, Dr Glenn Wilson, told the Daily Mail that unchecked infomania could reduce workers' mental sharpness.
Those who are constantly breaking away from tasks to react to email or text messages suffer similar effects on the mind as losing a night's sleep, he said.
View more on Infomania:
Infomania
Infomania world
Time to fight back Infomania
source:bbc news
Miro Player plays almost any type of video content available on internet via standard protocols available. This player is 100% Free, Opensource software licensed under GPL. View screenshots of Miro player. A neat demo of the player is also provided to taste it before you can proceed with the download.
Play Anything:
Play virtually any video - Quicktime, WMV, MPEG, AVI, XVID, and more. Browse your collection, make playlists, stay organized. One player for all your videos.
Internet TV Shows:
Subscribe to any video RSS feed, podcast, or video blog. Explore hundreds of free channels with the built-in Channel Guide.
Subscribe & Download to/from Channels:
Miro has a built-in Channel Guide. Lists more than 1,000 free channels. Subscribe to channels with a single click.
Search:
Search YouTube, Yahoo videos, and Google videos and play what you want.
Torrent Client:
Easily download any BitTorrent file and watch it in the same application.
Check this neat instructional video from iphoneunlocking that shows you how to unlock your iPhone. Though the video is a bit blurred (shot on N95), the process of doing so is clear.
Pay close attention and spot what's wrong in this image.
iPhone...iPhone...iPhone everywhere. Are you nuts? This has been the buzz word going around in circles since it is out for a grab (or even before its release). I got bugged up with it.
Just in time to help me come out of the iPhone mania, I came across iPoor. A strong and potential competitor to the much hyped iPhone. Say Hello to iPoor.
iPoor is a parody of the iPhone created by Steve Nojobs and designed by Jim Whimpey. Take a look at the amazing features of iPoor.
It's Beautiful
The iPoor is the most gorgeous and simple phone ever created. Its beautiful, colourful outer casing is bound to turn heads. The huge pink antenna is not only attractive but functional, providing an astonishing 25 foot range.
Multi-Touch Technology
Move over, Jeff Han. The iPoor features the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. With over 5 colorful buttons you can touch, or even press multiple buttons at the same time for true, patented multi-touch technology.
Stellar Battery Life
Life just got simpler. No other phone offers the reliability and simplicity of the iPoor. In the package are real maps you can use to easily locate the nearest available iBooths TM in your area. iBooths are now available at malls, restaurants, and other public places near you.
Mind Blowing Phonebook Simplicity
iPoor provides calling simplicity like no other cell phone can. Options range from a green bunny to a dark green bunny to a bear. There are 4 calling options, all of them colorful animals!
With iPoor on the scene, buying an iPhone is almost a humanitarian crime against yourself. Do you really want the iPhone's sexy, metallic body when you can have colorful plastic? Do you still want reasons?
It's Cheaper
Using amazing manufacturing techniques, all of the iPoor's amazing features are available at an AMAZING price!
Improves your dating life
iPoor features the Am I Hot Widget (tm), a mirror located in front of the phone.
Increases your IQ by 17%
iPoor goes back to the basics, allowing you to memorize phone numbers and thus increasing your IQ.
Do you need more reasons?
iPoor has already caught the attention of some biggies and heres what they have to say about it:
Steve Jobs, Apple CEO: "Incredibly pathetic attempt."
Michael Arringtones, Techcrutch: "I guess it has a better battery life..."
Steve's mother: "Get a real job."
The Wallet Street Journal: "iPoor is the real iPhone Killer."
