Tag Archives: Web

How to Convert WPA Passphrase to Key for Embedded Devices

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I recently changed my home wireless router’s encryption from WEP to WPA Personal. Most of my computers and wireless-enabled devices could connect without a problem except for an old set-top media player. The player did support WPA Personal, but it just wouldn’t connect. When I looked at the router’s status, I could see the player trying to connect. However, it only connected for a few seconds before suddenly disconnecting.

After I entered the passphrase several times, I then realized the media player only took  a WPA key. There was no way to input a passphrase to the player.  Some routers do generate the key for you, but mine does not support it. I needed a way to convert the passphrase to key.

I found a web page that converts the WPA passphrase to key for you. The calculation is done using Javascript on your computer, so your WPA passphrase is not transmitted to the server after processing. If you are still worried about the potential leak of your passphrase, you can save the webpage on your computer. Disconnect your computer from the network and run the Javascript-enabled page for conversion. Here is the link.

WPA Passphrase to Key Calculation

After I entered the converted key into my media player, it connected to the wireless network and worked  right away. This is very useful if you have wireless-enabled devices that only take a WPA key but not a passphrase.

 

How to Search the Internet Using an Image

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Most people know how to type in keywords on Google.com to search the information they need. What if you only had an image file, and you wanted to find out more about the subject in the image? For instance, say someone sends you a photo of an exotic car. You find it interesting, and you want to find out more about the car. However, there is no description of it. What can you do?

A reverse image search engine was created for the purpose. The site is called http://www.tineye.com . You can upload an image to the site or use a link to an image on the web to conduct the search. Within seconds, you can find out where the image is from and how it is being used. From the links returned by the site, you can find out more about the subjects of the image. TinEye also provides plugins for FireFox and Chrome, so you can perform the search by right clicking on an image.

Here is the official video about TinEye.

Give it a try; you might find it an invaluable tool.

Can you tell me what model of the exotic car is shown above? If you use TinEye correctly, you will  know that it is a Mitsuoka Orochi.

The Definitive HTML 5 Resources List

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Recently, there has been a lot of talk about HTML5; companies like Apple say that it will soon become a standard that will replace the ever-popular Flash platform.

Six Revisions has compiled a list of resources to help you attain knowledge and information about this technology. One interesting fact that I learned from the list is that, despite Apple’s strong backing for the new standard, Safari is not the most ready browser to support it. So far, Chrome is the leader in the effort to support HTML 5. In addition, FireFox 4.0 is the only known browser that is going to support HTML5 100% in the next product iteration.

[via Six Revisions]

Free Audio Books Available Online

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On http://booksshouldbefree.com/, people can download audio books for free as an MP3 or an iTunes file. Available in over twenty languages, the collection includes works by classic writers like esteemed poet Robert Frost; author of Frankenstein, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; Edgar Rice Burroughs; Jules Verne, known for Journey to the Center of the Earth; and, from even longer ago, Niccolo Macchiavelli, author of The Prince. Genres range from adventure to philosophy, from fairy tales to sci-fi. Books as well-known as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jane Eyre, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales are featured within the queue.

If you are interested in accessing audio books online for free, this site may be the one you seek.

Google Street View Goes 3D

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On April 1, Google introduced Street View in 3D. The technology used is anaglyphic, meaning that your typical cyan/green 3D glasses can be worn for the effect when using this. Sets of glasses can be found with 3D movies, like
Coraline, and used to view the world online from a new perspective. Although the change in the picture is not particularly drastic, it does add an extra sense of depth when using Street View for travel purposes and other reasons as such.

To use it, open up Street View, select your desired location, and click on the icon in the bottom left corner. Doing so will enable you to view the scenery in the third dimension.

Street View with 3D disabled

Street View with 3D enabled

Google Maps

Paris 26 Gigapixels

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This site, a project made by Kolor and photographers Arnaud Frich and Martin Loyer, takes visitors through an interactive virtual tour of the French capital. Easily navigable, people are able to zoom in on different parts of the city, pan around the area, and click on shortcuts to popular hot spots, like the all-too-famous Eiffel Tower. What’s more, after clicking on the desired image, one can find a short synopsis of the area’s history.

The site also offers HD mode on Windows and Mac. HD View is required on Windows and Silverlight is required on Mac for HD viewing. Click on the HD icon at the top right corner to activate this mode. It allows you to view Paris in greater details.

If you happen to be interested in going to the city of Paris and want to familiarize yourself with the area beforehand, this site may be the site for you.

Paris 26 Gigapixels

Google Adds User Photos to Street View

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In Google Maps, Street View has become increasingly complex, with more features than before. It has now included an extensive collection of photos taken everywhere around the world by users, allowing you to see streets and roads in new perspectives. It also lets you navigate through an unfamiliar area with ease and enhance your understanding of the location.


While looking through these photos, there are various orbs (small silver circles) that hover around user photos. By clicking and dragging them, you can move to a new photo of a place nearby. You can use them to zoom in on a desired image or pan around the area.

If this interests you, you can refer to this video for a further explanation about how it works.

[via Google Lat Long]