Ability to add a comment is present in almost all blogging platforms. Making a reader to add comment is not an easy thing, you would agree with me on that.

Most often readers like story, but do not have that minute to add a comment. Spotback allows quicker way to gauge feedback of reader on a story.

It invloves 2 clicks and adding a randomly generating number and you can rate story on scale 1 to 5. It is very easy to use and seamlessly integrate into your blog.

Using SpotBack you can rate Blog posts, videos, photos, people, products and more. Service still seem to be in beta phase.

Besides showing rating bar at the bottom of each story you can also show a tower showing top rated stories and recommended stories. Perfect way to fill that sidebar space effectively… what say?Here is the link for this handy service: SpotBack Website

Here are some shortcut commands to access usual programs and utilites in Windows XP. Click on start button, then click on run, type the following command and then click on ok button on the run window.

- Add Hardware Wizard: hdwwiz.cpl
- Add/Remove Programs: appwiz.cpl
- Administrative Tools: control admintools
- Automatic Updates: wuaucpl.cpl

- Bluetooth Transfer Wizard: fsquirt
- Calculator: calc
- Certificate Manager: certmgr.msc
- Character Map: charmap
- Check Disk Utility: chkdsk
- Clipboard Viewer: clipbrd
- Command Prompt: cmd
- Computer Management: compmgmt.msc- Date and Time Properties: timedate.cpl
- Device Manager: devmgmt.msc
- Direct X Control Panel: directx.cpl
- Direct X Troubleshooter: dxdiag

- Disk Cleanup Utility: cleanmgr
- Disk Defragment: dfrg.msc
- Disk Management: diskmgmt.msc
- Disk Partition Manager: diskpart

- Display Properties: desk.cpl
- Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility: drwtsn32
- Driver Verifier Utility: verifier
- Event Viewer: eventvwr.msc

- Findfast: findfast.cpl
- Free Cell Card Game: freecell
- Hearts Card Game: mshearts
- Iexpress Wizard: iexpress

- Internet Properties: inetcpl.cpl
- IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration): ipconfig /all
- IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents): ipconfig /displaydns
- IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents): ipconfig /flushdns

- IP Configuration (Release All Connections): ipconfig /release
- IP Configuration (Renew All Connections): ipconfig /renew
- IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS): ipconfig /registerdns
- IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID): ipconfig /showclassid

- Java Control Panel (If Installed) : javaws
- Local Security Settings: secpol.msc
- Local Users and Groups: lusrmgr.msc
- Logs You Out Of Windows: logoff

- Minesweeper Game: winmine
- Mouse Properties: main.cpl
- Network Connections: ncpa.cpl
- Network Setup Wizard: netsetup.cpl

- Notepad: notepad
- ODBC Data Source Administrator: odbccp32.cpl
- On Screen Keyboard: osk
- Password Properties: password.cpl

- Performance Monitor: perfmon.msc
- Power Configuration: powercfg.cpl
- Quicktime (If Installed): QuickTime.cpl
- Registry Editor: regedit

- Registry Editor: regedit32
- Remote Desktop: mstsc
- Removable Storage: ntmsmgr.msc
- Scanners and Cameras: sticpl.cpl

- Services: services.msc
- Shared Folders: fsmgmt.msc
- Shuts Down Windows: shutdown
- Sounds and Audio: mmsys.cpl

- Spider Solitare Card Game: spider
- System Configuration Editor: sysedit
- System Configuration Utility: msconfig
- System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately): sfc /scannow

- System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot): sfc /scanonce
- System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot): sfc /scanboot
- System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting): sfc /revert
- System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache): sfc /purgecache

- System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x): sfc /cachesize=x
- System Properties: sysdm.cpl
- Task Manager: taskmgr
- Telnet Client: telnet

- User Account Management: nusrmgr.cpl
- Utility Manager: utilman
- Windows Firewall: firewall.cpl
- Windows Magnifier: magnify

- Windows Management Infrastructure: wmimgmt.msc
- Windows System Security Tool: syskey
- Windows Update Launches: wupdmgr
- Windows XP Tour Wizard: tourstart

Hope you find above commands handy. I am sure I have missed few of them. If you know of some, let me know (mail or add comment)

Every now and then system will break down and you are at the mercy of Technical Support Department (Atleast most of us!) If you have bought computer from any big brands like Apple, Dell, Gateway & Hp then surely you will be calling their respective Technical Support.

Vocal Laboratories, a company that uses surveys to help improve customer service functions, has come up with a project to improve and evaluate Technical support provided at Apple, Dell, Gateway & Hp.

How can you be part of it? It is very easy, instead of calling usual Tech Support numbers, you need to call following special Toll Free numbers for the respective companies.Apple Technical Support 800-894-3218 - instead of 800-275-2273
Dell Technical Support 800-894-3639 - instead of 800-624-9896
Gateway Technical Support 800-894-3552 - instead of 800-846-2301
HP Technical Support 800-871-4439 -instead of 800-474-6836

When you call on above special numbers, your call will be routed to specific Technical support of that company. After the tech support session on phone you will be called (at random) for a 2 minutes quick survey in an attempt to evaluate your experience in dealing with Technical Support.

As per Vocal Laboratories, above is the Current Consumer Ratings with Apple at the top, followed by Dell, Gateway and Hp.

Are you using systems of any of the above manufacturer? If yes, use this service to give your feedback or you can add a quick comment in here!

via Vocal Labs

For starters who do not know digg, its a user submitted link website. Users submit stories, vote for them and comment on them. Stories that get maximum hits or diggs get pushed to front page… simple!

But this simple concept was so popular that digg.com is one the most traffic website - see this. Cashing on this concept and in an effort to provide content specific to India many new Indian version have cropped up, Obviously these are not run by original owners of digg, just in case you were thinking.

Here goes my list…

1. Indianpad - I think this is best digg-ing site specific to India. I myself is an active user of this site. Very clean interface and best part no intrusive ads. Whats more, a user can also earn by showing ads on the stories submitted by him/her.

For your information, Indianpad has been growing really fast, though it is heard that Google AdSense programs has taken off their ads from it, after some copyright stuff (mp3s my guess) was posted by some users.

2. GyanIn - Another brother of digg, looks very similar in design. Site still looks at initial stages. But it is worth to check out. Site loads fast and clean interface may tempt you to digg here. I did find some interesting stories there, you may also find some. Happy digg-ing.

3. Rambhai - Don’t fret, I have not put any mythological site in here. Its a strange name for a digg brother. Owner of the site could have named it diggBhai, but chose Ram as you would know the importance of word Ram in India. Nevertheless, coming to site. It has usual categories and glossy interface. Stories put up in a really nice manner with the facility to vote them.

4. Putvote - Here goes another one, nice name and nice effort put in there. One thing to mention is the use of mis-spelt names which is certainly attractive - like use Lastesht instead of Latest, Blaags instead of Blogs. Munna bhai inspiration I guess! I think site can improve on a design, its way too simple, just like mine HAHAHA. Can certainly put in some glossy banners and heading for attraction.5. NewsCola - Just another clone user submitted content site, nothing exciting. One part that caught my attention is - it is promoted by IBIBO, remember them? These are they same guys who have launched www.ibibo.com and want to give you crores of rupees if you blog there, strange concept Blogger does not give me anything but I still love it!

6. IndiaBytes - Here is the last one, really by this time I am feeling as if… all of them are using same script just changing color of their sites and making fool of people trying to access them, that includes me also!

To wrap up, just another clone of big brother digg… NOTE - no Shilpa Shetty involved here and none of above comments are racist.

Above were few websites I found, hope you like it. If I missed any or you have something interesting to share: Add a comment or mail me!

Many of use Blogger to publish our views and thoughts. Leaving Wordpress, Blogger is the most used blogging platform in the world. Besides it being free, it is really easy to use and work with.

Just like thoughts in every blog differs, everyone wants a unique look to his/her blog. But with limited Blogger Templates this gets complicated. In new blogger (formerly Blogger Beta) with same template you can make number different looking templates by changing color and font.

Here is the list of sites from where you can Download Blogger Templates:

1. Geckoandfly - First on my list is Gecko and fly, because my site also uses template made by them. They offer really professional templates. Geckoandfly has both Classic Blogger Templates and New Blogger Templates.

2. Blogger-templates at blogspot - This blog offer you fancy, flowery templates. Really good for niche topic blogs. Besides templates it also has useful posts for how to in blogging, like adding Google talk box to your blog. (more…)

Windows Vista is here with host of new features, but there are some features of its predecessor Windows XP, that are put to an end. So, here is the list of features that you will not find in Windows Vista, but might have used in Windows XP. Here goes…

1. User interface for advanced file type functionality (such as defining custom secondary actions or showing extensions only for specific file types) has been removed. Vista-compatible applications are expected to use new Default Programs API.

2.Windows Messenger is being removed entirely; no replacement for it is expected to be included, in favor of a link to Windows Live Messenger on the Welcome Center .

3. NetMeeting is also being removed entirely, in favor of Windows Meeting Space.4. Internet Explorer is no longer integrated with Windows Explorer. This can also be seen in Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP and Windows Server 20035. Windows XP’s well-known Luna theme has been removed.

6. Links to the Backgammon, Hearts, Reversi, Spades and Checkers games on MSN Gaming Zone have been removed. Pinball has also been removed.

7. Startup Hardware Profiles have been removed.

8. Due to unpopularity, IP over 1394 (FireWire) support has been removed.

9. Unlike Outlook Express, Windows Mail has no support for HTTP mail via the WebDAV protocol (used by older Hotmail accounts and Yahoo! Mail); the addition of Windows Live Mail Desktop is likely to be required for similar functionality and there is a link to this from the Welcome Center

10. Windows Explorer’s Web Publishing Wizard has been removed.

11. HyperTerminal has been removed. No replacement will be included with Vista .

12. Support for enabling a folder for web sharing with Internet Information Services via the Windows Explorer interface has been removed.

13. Motherboard support for ACPI is required for Windows Vista; as a result, older motherboards supporting only Advanced Power Management will no longer work. Other “legacy” hardware technologies no longer supported include: EISA buses, game ports, MPU-401, AMD K6/2+ Mobile Processors, Mobile Pentium II, and Mobile Pentium III SpeedStep; ISAPnP is disabled by default.

Besides these, there will be lot more. Surely I will update as and when I find them. In the meantime you can also add in comment, if I have missed something important… thanks in advance.