Open Technologist

MXit PC – Download EVO Instant Messenger

MXit Lifestyle have released a new instant messenger client for the PC. This is in addition to its existing plugin for Pidgin. MXit explains thats it has been specifically designed for the Windows environment making it faster and more efficient. Some of the features include: Finding contacts in a search bar Saving of chats (already a feature in Pidgin) Emoticon support Drag and drop file sharing Facebook status integration multiMX support Audible alerts MXit for PC can be...

Twitter Blocked – Access Twitter from Work or School

If twitter is blocked from your work or school, there are various ways to circumnavigate the problem. However, clever system administrators always stay ahead and try and play catchup to these workarounds. The latest method I have found makes use of iGoogle and adding a widget called TwitterGadget. It even has integration for Gmail and works perfectly.  As long as the TwitterGadget website is not blocked this method should work. If all else fails try out psiphon which is an Internet...

Download MXit for Mac and PC – Adium and Pidgin

MXit users can now make use of its services on a Mac and PC. A vast majority of its users make use of the service via mobile phones. MXit Lifestyle have released Adium and Pidgin plugins and can be downloaded. Adium and Pidgin are both multi-platform instant messenger clients. This means that you can chat using other instant messenger services while using MXit at the same time. I have been using the Adium version for the past week and am happy to say it has been working great. The Adium...

Grameen Foundation Statistics – Microfinance

On Blog Action Day I blogged about how the Grameen Foundation is using open source software to assist there needs to rid the world of poverty. I just finished Jeff Howe's book Crowdsourcing: Why the Power of the Crowd Is Driving the Future of Business and he provides further statistics about the Grameen Bank: The concept of micro-lending started 1976 with a loan of  $27 to 42 villagers The Grameen Bank was started 7 years later The Grameen Bank became self-sustainable by 1995 67% of...

Sending Yourself to Space

Most people will not be able afford to go to space but there is a company IntoSpace.org that is offering those that want to go can do so for $2. Well...not exactly! They are offering die hard space fans an opportunity to send a piece of paper (0.4×0.4 inch) which you can be anything including a photo for $2. The tentative launch date is 2010. They have not chosen the company who will be flying the papers but plan to achieve this in a 2-year time...

Google Search in 2001

Google has decided to allow users to see what it was like to use the their search engine in 2001. Using the index from 2001 just tells us how the world has changed since 2001: Youtube returned no results Facebook was still a Harvard student search engine Wikipedia was still in its it infant status and part of Nupedia iPod was not associated with an mp3...