Author: TYH

Saw this article “25 Microchips That Shook the World” by Brian R. Santo hosted on IEEE spectrum. how many of these chips affected your life? my list contains only:
1. Texas Instruments TMC0281 Speech Synthesizer (1978) – used in the featured “Speak and Read” machine. ours was the YELLOW version though.
2. Kodak KAF-1300 Image Sensor (1986) – this is the ‘great great …. grandfather/mother’ of all future CCD cameras?
3. Intel 8088 Microprocessor (1979) – if you ever used a PC (cf Mac or Apple, but the latest Macs are based on Intel processors anyway), this has to be in your list (:
4. Micronas Semiconductor MAS3507 MP3 Decoder (1997) – i dun own an iPod, but guess any portable mp3 player will require some derivation of this chip?
5. Amati Communications Overture ADSL Chip Set (1994) – if u used Singnet’s broadband, u’re on ADSL. Singnet lost me as their customer after they chose to force me to take up 24mths contract upon renewal when I can only utilise less than half of it as we’re leaving for shanghai.
6. Chips & Technologies AT Chip Set (1985) – our very first computer@home in 1991 is a 80286 and it runs on this C&T AT chipset i recall seeing when i opened up the cpu. fond memory always of that computer.
7. Toshiba NAND Flash Memory (1989) – thumbdrive, usb drive, watever u called it, it’s quite impossible this piece of technology is not part of your life today, especially if u’re reading this post 😛
so my count’s only SEVEN, wat’s yours? (:

If you need a FREE screen capture software, you’ll love FastStone Capture after trying it out. Version 5.3 is able to:

• Capture Active window
• Capture a/an window/object
• Capture a freehand region
• Capture a scrolling window (this is what I find MOST useful)

and save it to six difference destinations. And in the “Options”, you can specify the dot-pitch of the screen capture, the destination folder, auto-startup with windows etc.
Since the software license agreement does not disallow redistribution (see below), you may want to download a copy of it for your personal use from the local mirror. If you require some latest features, be sure to check out the latest version at FastStone.org for just an afforable sum.
If you need more info (e.g. how to unpack and use), you can visit The Portable Freeware dot com.

Please read the following terms and conditions carefully before using this software. Use of this software indicates you accept the terms of this license agreement and warranty.
1. Disclaimer of Warranty
FastStone Capture (this software) is provided “as-is” and without warranty of any kind, express, implied or otherwise, including without limitation, any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
In no event shall the author of this software be held liable for data loss, damages, loss of profits or any other kind of loss while using or misusing this software.
2. License
FastStone Capture is provided as FREEWARE for private (non-commercial) or educational (including non-profit organization) use. In these cases, you are granted the right to use and to make an unlimited number of copies of this software.
For commercial use, it is required to register this software. Registering is an important source of support in the development of future versions.
3. Restrictions on Use
This software must not be decompiled, disassembled, reverse engineered or otherwise modified.
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