Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Vista data recovery tool


How can you backup damaged or corrupted personal information and official documents from crashed or undetected hard drive! Windows system files recovery software retrieves various kinds of erased or lost files formats including doc, ppt, xls, wav, tif, jpeg, jpg, html, midi, bmp, txt etc. Windows data recovery system performs restoration of deleted or missing data, files and folders due to software malfunction, human error, damaged file system, hardware failure, system crashed, power failure or virus attack etc. Windows Vista files undelete tool does not require any special technical knowledge for using the software. Windows partition backup program supports all Microsoft Windows operating system including Windows XP, Vista, NT, ME, 2003, 2000, 98 etc. Windows Vista partition uneraser tool provides interactive user friendly graphical user interface (GUI) to salvage corrupted information. Windows data recovery specialists restore data, files, folders and directory which have been deleted by using Shift + Del key. Windows Vista files repair tool supports all major brands of hard drive including Samsung, Sony, Hitachi, Seagate, Hitachi etc. Windows partition file recovery solution backup corrupted or formatted important information in just few minutes from your damaged hard drive. Windows file undeleter tool provides comprehensive solution to restore missing data from NTFS and FAT windows partition.
Features:

  • Windows partition data salvage software rescues all data, files, folders and directories erased from recycle bin.
  • Windows Vista files repair utility supports FAT12, FAT16, FAT32, NTFS and NTFS5 file system.
  • Windows data backup tool retrieves corrupted or damaged encrypted files and compressed folders.
  • Windows system data recovery application supports all higher capacity hard disks.
download

Monday, September 22, 2008

Dual boot with XP/2000/NT and install linux/windows whenever You want

This is for those people who have dumped Windows 98 and adopted Windows 2000/NT/XP as their os's and want linux to dual boot with these.

CAUTION : This how to wont work with Windows 98/95/ME . Actually i haven't used ME and so i don't know.Anyways this will only work with those Windows versions which use ntloader to boot.

There are a few pre requisites.

a) a linux boot disk/live cd
b) Use Windows 2000/NT/Xp and one of its partitions must be FAT (other than NTFS)
c) You should really know basics like partition naming in Linux and mounting.


Problem :

Installing / re installing Linux/Windows 2000/XP/NT whenever You want , without managing to mess up the MBR.


Scenario 1.

Installing Linux along with an existing windows installation .

I.Setting Up partitions

If You don't have a linux partition , make space for it , by repartitioning my disk.

Ideally You would free up a partition and divide it into two , one part for swap space , the other part for the installation.swap space partition size = 2 times that of your RAM

In the non ideal case that is , if you cant free up a whole partition you would first defragment the drive and then create two new partitions from it using PQMagic , so you don't loose data and you get two more drives. the new partition's size will be as above

II.Installing Linux

Now you can go about installing your linux system. Here the issue to be taken care of is installing the boot loader (LILO/GRUB) to the proper place

Usually the installation program will ask u were to load the boot loader. default choice would be on the MBR. Now DON'T GO FOR THIS . If u want to go my way , don't go for it. Instead , get the installer to install the boot loader onto the root partition.Also note down the root partition's name , ie) the '/dev/hda*' where * is 1,4,5 etc.
If possible create a boot disk

III. Setting up the system to boot windows too.

now when you reboot , you will go directly to the NT/XP/2000 boot menu.

Don't worry , your Linux installation is safely sitting there.

Now boot using the linux boot disk / live cd

mount the non NTFS windows partition using the following commands

mkdir /mnt/windowsdrive
mount /dev/hda* /mnt/windowsdrive

where * is 1,4,5 etc.


Now use this command to get first 512 bytes of your root partition


dd if=/dev/hdaN of=/mnt/windowsdrive/bootsect.lnx bs=512 count=1


replace /dev/hdaN with your Linux root partition name (/dev/hda something) .I had asked you to note it down , hadn't I?

now boot to windows. find out the bootsect.lnx file from which ever drive u wrote it to using the previous command.Copy it to C:\

open boot.ini and add the following line to its end

c:\bootsect.lnx="Linux"

Reboot

Now you will see "Linux" showing up in your Windows boot menu.

When u choose linux it will load the linux boot loader (LILO/Grub which ever u installed.)

You may want to remove the "Windows" choice from the linux boot loader's menu. There is no harm if u leave it there



Scenario 2.

Installing Windows NT/2000/XP along with an existing Linux installation .

1.Setup partitions.

Don't touch the linux partitions. No other precaution needed. also make the windows partition bootable.

2.Install Windows NT/2000/XP. Let it over write the MBR

3.Follow step III of Scenario 1.

Thats all

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Celebrating Software Freedom Day

hmmm... Today is our day!! yup.. Software freedom day.. So, you may wonder, why Venky is talking about the software freedom!... Coz I deserve to post atleast a paragraph since I finished my RHCE

huh.. RHCE is RedHat Certified Computer Engineer.. That was a wonder ful course where I learnt about that Tux and live with that for more than a year...

zeee, Software freedom day is celebrated to insist the freedom in software usage and not to depend on the properiatry softwares provided by Microsoft, Adobe , so and so..
For each software like this, we have an alternative in Linux.. But we replace the original with more than 3 softwares like Office can be replaced with Open Office, Neo Office, SiagOfiice, etc..
Thats where the problem lies..

When any person is given with umpteen number of options, he may struggle to choose one..
So the opensource developers should follow some standards to put the combine efforts in replacing the properitory softwares with not more than 2 softwares...

Happy Software freedom day.. :)

I love this Beetle

Volkswagen Beetle, which took the world by a storm since 1945, has sold more than 21.5 million (2.15 crore) units till 2003.

The original 'people's car,' Volkswagen's Beetle, is all set to roll out on Indian roads as the company plans to bring it to the country soon.

Commonly known as the Bug, the Beetle traces its history to 1945 and is one of the most successful models that Volkswagen has produced. Though critics had predicted a complete failure for Beetle because of its peculiar styling, underpowered motor, rough ride, and high noise levels initially compared to modern vehicles, the car went on to make history.

Wikipedia says that the Bug is also the bestselling single design car in history

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Oxford is growing after eating Pakoda

yuuup, The Indian food names are getting into the Oxford dictionary..

Pakkora ( pakkoda ) is included as

noun (in Indian cookery) a piece of vegetable or meat, coated in seasoned batter and deep-fried.
— origin from Hindi pakora, denoting a dish of vegetables in gram flour.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Hug a developer : I'm one of them





Change never changes : Transform your Windows

If you’re bored of having to look at the same kind of icons and eyecandy everytime, you can download and install these free transformation packs, and transform XP to look like any other OS.

(Note: Some of the listed transformation packs are quite extensive so please read installation guidelines carefully)

Vista Transformation Pack [Download]

vista-transformation-pack.jpg

Vista Transformation Pack does all kinds of appearance tweaks, and makes Windows XP look like Vista. From icons, transparency to new sounds, this pack does it all to make your XP look like Windows Vista.

Mac OS Transformation Pack [Download]

mac-OSX-transformation-pack [bigger image]

Transforms XP to look like Mac OS X 10.5. Some important components like Windows Explorer and other shell files are patched to mimic Mac OS X appearance. Work only with Windows XP SP2 (English version).

FlyakiteOSX [Download]

flyakite-windows-like-OSX

Again, make your windows look like Mac OS X. However, it’s much more comprehensive than the above one. This enhancement utility does everything from registry tweaks, visual styles, sounds, icons to imitate the appearance of Mac OS X. See other screenshots here. If you’re using iTunes then make sure to deselect ‘iTunes Multi-Pugin’ option (under ‘Software’) in the installation wizard.

Fedora Transformation Pack [Download]

fedoratrans.jpg

This tool is intended for making XP resemble the Fedora Linux Distro. Though the utility just packs a simple visual style, it does include icons, screensavers and wallpapers, and other Fedora-like skins for programs.

Ubuntu Transformation Pack [Download]

ubuntu-transformation-pack

This pack contains visual styles, icons and other patches that can give the brownish Ubuntu look to Windows XP. If you just can’t get Ubuntu working on your PC, but still love its looks, you can download this pack. [via]

10 Tips to keep your Tux more secure


Linux itself is secure.. but, here is the caution for keeping it more secure :)

1. Locking the screen and logging out is important
Most people forget that the Linux desktop is a multi-user environment. Because of this, you can log out of your desktop and others can log in. Not only does that mean that others could be using your desktop, it also means you can, and should, log out when you're finished working.

If you are the only user on your system, you can lock your screen instead. Locking your screen simply means that a password will be required to get back into the desktop. The difference here is that you can leave applications running and lock the desktop. When you unlock the desktop, those same programs will still be running.

2. Hiding files and folders is a quick fix
In 'Linux land', files and folders are hidden by adding a '.' before the name; so, for example, the file 'test' will appear in a file browser, whereas '.test' will not. Most people don't know that running the command 'ls-a' will show hidden files and folders.

So, if you have folders or files you don't want your co-workers to see, simply add the dot to the beginning of the file or folder name. You can do this from the command line like so: mv test .test.

3. A good password is a must
Your password on a Linux PC is your golden key. If you give that password out or if you use a weak password, your golden key could become everyone's golden key.

And if you're using a distribution like Ubuntu, that password will give users much more access than, say, Fedora. To that end, make sure your password is strong. There are many password generators you can use, such as Automated Password Generator.

4. Installing file-sharing applications is a slippery slope
I know many Linux users are prone to file-sharing. If you want to run that risk at home, that's your call. But, when at work, you not only open yourself, or your company, up to lawsuits, you open your desktop machine up to other users who might have access to sensitive data on your work PC. So, as a rule, do not install file-sharing tools.

5. Updating your machine regularly is wise
Linux isn't Windows. With Windows, you get security updates when Microsoft releases them, which could be many months away. With Linux, a security update can come minutes or hours after a security flaw is detected. With both KDE and Gnome, there are update applets for the panel. I always recommend having them up and running so you know when updates are made available. Don't put off security updates. There is a reason they come out.

6. Installing virus protection is actually useful in Linux
Believe it or not, virus protection in Linux has its place. Of course, the chances of a virus causing problems on your Linux machine are slim to none. But those emails you forward to others' Windows machines could cause problems. With a good virus-protection tool, such as ClamAV, you can ensure that email going out of your machine doesn't contain anything nasty that could come back to haunt you or your company.

7. SELinux is there for a reason
SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) was created by the US National Security Agency. It helps lock down access control to applications, and does so very well.

Certainly, SELinux can sometimes be a pain. In some cases, it might take a hit out of your system performance, or you might find some applications a struggle to install. However, the security comfort you gain by using SELinux (or AppArmor) far outweighs the negatives. During the Fedora installation, you get the chance to enable SELinux.

8. Creating /home in a separate partition is safer
The default Linux installation places your /home directory right in the root of your system. This is fine but, firstly, it is standard, so anyone gaining access to your machine knows right where your data is; and, secondly, if your machine goes down for good, your data might be gone.

To solve this problem, you can place /home on a different hard drive or partition altogether (making it a partition in and of itself). This is not a task for the weak of heart, but it is one worth undertaking if you're very concerned about your data.

9. Using a non-standard desktop is worth its weight in gold
Not only do the alternative desktops (Enlightenment, Blackbox, Fluxbox, etc) give you a whole new look and feel for your PC, they offer simple security from prying eyes you may never have considered.

I have deployed Fluxbox on kiosk machines when I wanted a machine that could do one thing: Browse the network. This can be easily achieved. Create a single mouse menu (or desktop icon) for the application you want to use. Unless the user knows how to get back to the command line (by logging out or hitting ctrl-alt-f*, where * is a desktop other than the one you are using), they will not be able to start up any application other than the one offered.

Since most users have no idea how to move around in these desktops anyway, they aren't going to have the slightest idea how to get to your files. It is simple pseudo-security.

10. Stopping services is best
This is a desktop machine. It's not a server. So why are you running services like httpd, ftpd, and sshd? You shouldn't need them and they only pose a security risk, unless you know how to lock them down. So don't run them. Check your /etc/inetd.conf file and make sure that all unnecessary services are commented out. It is a simple but effective method.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Sep 15, Great men to be remembered

I wish to talk about 2 persons today..

Mr. C N Anna Durai

A gem of politicians... He had many visions about the people and their life style.. He was very simple till his death and he was a King maker during his period.. He was the one who gave importance to education... But the Politicians came after him, used his name to grow but not justified his vision..



When he died, It was 15 million people attended his funeral, which is mentioned in Guinness Book Record.




Mr. Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya

Bharat Ratna, Visvesvarayya an engineer contributed to the Nation widely. He implemented great projects to reduce the flood in Karnataka and Hydrabad. He implimented irrigation system for Deccan area. He was Diwan of Mysore during 1908. He was one of the founder of Government Engineering college, Bangalore, One of the first engineering college in India.

We have Visvesvarayya museum in Bangalore depicts the Engineering worth. Indians celebrate Engineers Day on his B'Day..



Salute the 2 Indians and Happy Engineers Day.. :)

Monday, September 15, 2008

Uninstall Linux


Several times we face this problem... I was asked frequently by my friend Anbu about this... Lemme explain how to get rid of Linux without reinstalling windows :)

Requirements:
You need a windows 98 startup disk or windows 98 bootable floppy . [Get it]

How to do it:
1. Boot up in Windows xp.

2. Start>>control panel>>administrative tools>>computer management

3. Go to disk management under "storage"

4. Select your hard disk and then the linux partition.

5. Delete the linux partition this will delete linux and grub.

6. Now reboot your laptop with windows 98 start up disc or floppy and type the command "fixmbr" .

7. Above command will repair ur bootloader and rewrite ntldr which will replace corrupted grub.

8.thats it done now boot your laptop normally it will be booted by default in windows xp.

Tweak UAC in Vista

Quite a few users complained about the annoyance of Windows Vista’s User Access Control (UAC). Despite the increased security, it is quite a drag that with UAC switched on you have to confirm a Yes/No prompt on many operations you perform in Windows Vista. You have probably seen the Mac advertisement that specifically picked up this “feature”. If you decide that you do not need UAC it can be switched off, however, doing this manually involves a couple of steps and clicks. You will most probably prefer to use TweakUAC. It lets you quickly turn UAC (User Account Control) on or off, or make UAC operate in quiet mode.


Krishna nee beganae... : Blast in my capital :(

:( Again, a bomb sound... We love crackers which make sound and lights but terrorists want to hear sound of innocent people and blood on the streets... :(

5 Bombs blast in New Delhi killing 18 ppl and the rest are severly injured....

Indian Mujahideen, a terrorist group accepted that they did it... But they ll never tell what those innocent ppl did to them...They have targeted main places like markets... huh.. I cant imagine the pain their relations have...

Lemme pray God for peace, But if God exists...

Krishna nee begane baro
Darkness coming round
And everybody fighting with their brothers
Everybody wants control
Don't hesitate to kill one another
So come back as Jesus
Come back and save the world
That's all the future
Of every boy and girl
Come back as Rama
Forgive us for what we've done
Come back as Allah
Come back as anyone

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Windows Vista Online :) wanna try?

If you want to run Windows Vista on your computer without disturbing the existing setup, the best option for you is to download a free copy of Virtual PC and install the associated Vista virtual image*.

Now if that sounds a bit complex, here’s something more simple for you that requires no downloads or complex setup.

windows vista in browser

Called the "Windows Vista SPI Ultimate Test Drive", this product from TechNet Virtual Labs let you test Windows Vista online inside a browser without making any changes to your current work environment.

To experience it live, just go to windowsvistatestdrive.com. You get a chance to explore all features / programs included in Windows Vista (including games) and also Microsoft Office Profession 2007 as you may noticed in the screenshot.

You can explore Vista on your own, or follow along with guided exercises and videos. There’s something similar for Office 2007 if you like to try out just Microsoft Office 2007 in a browser without Vista. Thanks Matt.

*Microsoft seems to have discontinued distributing VHD images of Office Professional.

Sweet Surprise : Blogging isnt a play

yeeeeee!!!!... Today I got a great surprise.. As I'm doing usual vetti thing in my office, its a call from my friend that annoyed me.. They told me some one came inquiring about me..

I went to the next room and happened to see a guy standing there..
He told me "I read your blog and wish to see you". I was totally in shake.. Coz I never thought blogging was a serious stuff.. Then we chat for short about our selves and I invited him for lunch. But it seems he was busy today..

Lemme expect this friend ll keep in touch and thanks personally who reads my blog and bend my bow for your care.. :)

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Reclaim the Hard disk space the Easy way

How many times have you run out of space on your C: drive and wondered… where did all my free space go? If you are tech savvy you'll probably open up your CCleaner shortcut and clean out the temp files, but where has the rest gone?

The answer is a great little freeware utility called DriveSpacio that helps you find out where all that free space has gone, similar to the more well known WinDirStat utility. The benefit of using this one is that it integrates directly into the Explorer shell and has a lot more reports.

Using DriveSpacio

Once you've downloaded and opened the utility, you'll see a screen with the hard drives in your computer. For instance, if you look in my Computer dialog, you'll see 3 hard drives and some other USB drives.

22

So the Drives tab in DriveSpacio will show you a graphical view of all drives on your computer, with all sorts of great charts and graphs.

1

Different views are offered, such as pie charts or the bar graph view seen below:

bar chart view

DriveSpacio integrates into Windows Explorer so you are able to right click on a drive and analyze it. You can also launch the application and open a specific drive, or even just a specific sub-folder if you want. I find this to be helpful because I can choose to only look in my user folder.

ee 12

After scanning you really get a nice chart of the folders and files on the drive and exactly how much space they are taking up.

11

The interface has an explorer type feel and you can go through each folder and directory to get statistics, and the graph on the right-hand pane will change based on where in the tree you are.

1

You can also right-click on anything and choose to delete it right from the DriveSpacio window.

image

The Folders tab gives a great in-depth look at what folders are hogging space. You can toggle between either a bar graph or a pie chart, and choose to alternate between showing Kilobytes, Megabytes, or Gigabytes.

pie graph

Another benefit of using this application is that there's a portable version that doesn't require any installation. Very useful for adding to your portable USB flash toolkit.

Download DriveSpacio for Windows

Testing Software isnt a cake walk

Every one thinks in software industry, Software testing division is a cursed one. But I feel interesting when I happened to test a Website.
But Website testing differs from Software testing. Though I'm doing testing now, I share my experience later. Lets review on the different kind of Software testing.

  • ACCEPTANCE TESTING. Testing to verify a product meets customer specified requirements. A customer usually does this type of testing on a product that is developed externally.
  • BLACK BOX TESTING. Testing without knowledge of the internal workings of the item being tested. Tests are usually functional.
  • COMPATIBILITY TESTING. Testing to ensure compatibility of an application or Web site with different browsers, OSs, and hardware platforms. Compatibility testing can be performed manually or can be driven by an automated functional or regression test suite.
  • CONFORMANCE TESTING. Verifying implementation conformance to industry standards. Producing tests for the behavior of an implementation to be sure it provides the portability, interoperability, and/or compatibility a standard defines.
  • FUNCTIONAL TESTING. Validating an application or Web site conforms to its specifications and correctly performs all its required functions. This entails a series of tests which perform a feature by feature validation of behavior, using a wide range of normal and erroneous input data. This can involve testing of the product's user interface, APIs, database management, security, installation, networking, etcF testing can be performed on an automated or manual basis using black box or white box methodologies.
  • INTEGRATION TESTING. Testing in which modules are combined and tested as a group. Modules are typically code modules, individual applications, client and server applications on a network, etc. Integration Testing follows unit testing and precedes system testing.
  • LOAD TESTING. Load testing is a generic term covering Performance Testing and Stress Testing.
  • PERFORMANCE TESTING. Performance testing can be applied to understand your application or WWW site's scalability, or to benchmark the performance in an environment of third party products such as servers and middleware for potential purchase. This sort of testing is particularly useful to identify performance bottlenecks in high use applications. Performance testing generally involves an automated test suite as this allows easy simulation of a variety of normal, peak, and exceptional load conditions.
  • REGRESSION TESTING. Similar in scope to a functional test, a regression test allows a consistent, repeatable validation of each new release of a product or Web site. Such testing ensures reported product defects have been corrected for each new release and that no new quality problems were introduced in the maintenance process. Though regression testing can be performed manually an automated test suite is often used to reduce the time and resources needed to perform the required testing.
  • SMOKE TESTING. A quick-and-dirty test that the major functions of a piece of software work without bothering with finer details. Originated in the hardware testing practice of turning on a new piece of hardware for the first time and considering it a success if it does not catch on fire.
  • STRESS TESTING. Testing conducted to evaluate a system or component at or beyond the limits of its specified requirements to determine the load under which it fails and how. A graceful degradation under load leading to non-catastrophic failure is the desired result. Often Stress Testing is performed using the same process as Performance Testing but employing a very high level of simulated load.
  • SYSTEM TESTING. Testing conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements. System testing falls within the scope of black box testing, and as such, should require no knowledge of the inner design of the code or logic.
  • UNIT TESTING. Functional and reliability testing in an Engineering environment. Producing tests for the behavior of components of a product to ensure their correct behavior prior to system integration.
  • WHITE BOX TESTING. Testing based on an analysis of internal workings and structure of a piece of software. Includes techniques such as Branch Testing and Path Testing. Also known as Structural Testing and Glass Box Testing.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Bath like a chick

Italians always are up with modern yet comfortable furniture. This time they are out with some luxurious egg shaped metal jaded waterfall bathtub.

This prettier bathtub will be in the smooth organic form and it is available in pristine white with delicately shaded inside, in the pastel colors of spring.

You can choose your favorite color for this bathtub as it is available in various colors such as violet, light blue, gentle pink, etc.

Cascading chains fall from a runner mounted on the ceiling up above the bathtub for an optional touch of glamour.

The sparkling silver chains bring dramatic flair to the simple bathtub.

waterfall bathtub

waterfall bathtub1

Source: http://www.mastella.it/

Google, with no limits


According to the company, the GeoEye-1 satellite is the highest resolution commercial satellite orbiting the planet right now. It reached orbit yesterday, but in reality, it's notan ordinary commercial satellite: it's fully controlled by the Department of Defense's U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. And two guys named Larry and Sergei.

Part of the US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency NextView program, the SUV-sized GeoEye-1 launched yesterday in a Delta II 7326 rocket from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California—without exploding. Hours later, GeoEye's ground station in Norway confirmed that the rocket had delivered its payload right on target. The satellite was alive, fully armed and operational on its 423-mile orbit above the Earth.

Built by General Dynamics, the GeoEye-1 is equipped with a next-generation camera made by ITT. This camera can easily distinguish objects 16 inches long, with 11-bits per pixel color. In other words: this thing can see the color of your shorts. It will be up there, looking at your pants every single day, the time it takes for it to complete one orbit. And it will keep doing that for more than ten years, its expected life.

Of course, there's nothing new here until you notice the huge Google logo on the rocket, signaling the fact that Sergei and Larry own the exclusive rights to the GeoEye-1 images. Yes, no other company will be able to access this information, only Google. And they will be there, available for the public in Google Maps and Google Earth.

But don't fret, tin-foil hatters, because Google won't be able to access the highest resolution images because of US government regulations. Sure, the other guys will, but then again, their big bad satellites can see closer than this one. Still, you can rest safe that your underpants will be safe from public scrutiny. For now. Unless you do like me and keep flashing them around

Books shows your Knowledge and Shelves shows your Creativity

1. Console Book Shelf:

Reading doesn’t get more comfortable than this. Regardless of where you like to read or study, Stanislav Katz’s Console Book Shelf will keep you engrossed for hours without moving rooms for missing material.

Flanked by two fitted shelves on either side and below it, the reclining part of this unit is as aesthetically appealing as it is functional for reader and book alike.

Designer website: http://www.stanislavkatz.com/

2. Lago:

When is a bookshelf not a bookshelf? When it’s a letter of the alphabet or a floating square. In short, a Lago invention. Well-known for their fluid, unconventional thinking, Italian masters of innovative furniture design, Daniele Lago and Massimo Bonnetti, have taken their free-thinking brand of expression to new levels with their floating ‘Shelf System’ range.

Called Tangram, the shelf system beautifully combines functionality and flexibility in its mission to create interaction between storage unit and items that are being stored.

By creating the illusion of weightlessness, the designers succeed in giving books as much prominence and appeal as the bookshelves, which come in a range of funky designs and shapes.

Designer website: http://www.lago.it/

3. Bookcase Into a Bed:

A great solution for maximizing space, Karen Babel’s bookcase-cum-bed promises to expand limited home horizons.

The mattress, which is made of four interlockable pieces, forms the base, which surrounds five storage shelves when placed in an upright position on a wall-mounted frame. To form a bed, the mattress pieces are locked together – with two parts for a single, and four for a double.

Designer:Karen Babel

4. Cave Book Shelf:

Inspired by the spacelessness of modern Japanese homes, Sakura Adachi created a womb-like reading room amidst a series of clean-lined shelf systems to keep the connection between reader and book as intimate as possible. Not for giants or those who prefer a more laissez faire approach to their favorite pastime.

Designer website: http://www.sakurah.net/

5. Andreas Hegert’s Book Shelf:

A rebel with a cause, Andreas Hegert gives anarchy a functional meaning with this squiggly trio of shelves, which range from 40cm to one meter in length. If you’re one of those eclectic readers whose interests range from Tolkien to Hegel, this random collection of shelves will suit your philosophical rhythm.

Pay no attention to the linear structure of walls, floor and ceiling, but mind you don’t cover the light shades, which are made of powder-coated sheet and fitted with LEDs.

Designer website: http://www.andreashegert.se/

6. Good Morning Technology Bookshelf:

A modern take on Scandinavian Shaker simplicity, this Danish blue and white block effect uses rectangular wood and metal cubbies as both storage and structural support.

An added beauty of the chequered system lies in the fact that the height can be adjusted and books are stacked horizontally or vertically.

Designer website: http://www.gmtn.dk/

7. Bookseat shelf chair:

There’s something to be said for keeping all your books and magazines in the place that you want to read them, as this all-in-one unit shows.

Rated as one of 10 must-sees at Toronto Interior Design Show, this curvaceous plywood chair-cum-bookshelf doubles up on space and comfort. Available with a felt cushion in colors to suit your taste and environment.

Designer website: http://www.fishbol.com/

8. Books To Go:

Find you don’t always work in the same part of the house or your office is constantly changing dynamics? Rose Cobb’s wheeled unit not only ensures you can move your library with ease, but clamps your books securely on the shelf to ensure you don’t spend your life picking up after yourself. Five stars for functionality.

Designer website: http://www.designbyrose.co.uk/

9. Nar Bookcase:

Another two-dimensional couplet, this metal coffee table conceals a unique hanging book shelf beneath its solid exterior. Like ribs beneath a beautiful carcass, the metal plates on which the books are slung by the bindings also serve as bookmarks.

The clean, masculine lines of the unit make for sturdy aesthetics complemented by excellent dust protection.

Designer: u:b studio, Omer Unal

10. Bookworm Bookshelf:

Designed to twist like a centipede into whatever shape you require, the Bookworm Bookshelf is just that: a firm, flexible, functional animal which needs only books to complete it.

Using extrusion technology, Ron Arad added imagination to a durable product, topped it off with book ends, and came up with an innovative, elastic design to brighten up the most static of environments.

Designer: Ron Arad

11. Twin Bookshelf:

Representing the two sides of Istanbul, Asian and European, Zeynep Cinisli’s design bridges the gap between design and practice. Using DNA-like strands as shelves between twin cells, the symbolism is all yin and yang.

Pushed apart, the cells are display mirrors of each other; pushed together they form a nucleic whole which functions as a wall cabinet. Symbolism at its most functional.

Designer: Zeynep Cinisli

12. Never Ending Bookshelf:

Though it would seem logical to include logic in the making of a practical item like a book shelf, designer Luca Nichetto decided convention was beyond his idea of functionality.

The resultant “Neverending” spyro gyra which he created undoubtedly qualifies as a sculptural work of art, but it is not clear how it works as a carrier of hard-cover books. Vive la difference!

Designer website: http://www.lucanichetto.com/

13. Knockdown Bookcase:

A boon for those who like to do it all themselves, Sung Won Park’s flat-pack DIY unit uses no glue, screws, wrenches or even instruction manuals. Modular wood boards, which are identical in size, are slotted into grooves in a supporting wall and the rest is up to you. As easy to transport as it is to build.

Designer: Sung Won Park

14. Insert Coin Shelf System:

Vaguely reminiscent of shoe racks which use vertical rather than horizontal stacking, this shelf system uses trays, inserted randomly at different levels on a colorful base, to accommodate just about everything you want on display.

Designed by Nils Holger Moormann, Insert Coin provides potential for just about every look: from higgledy piggledy to extremely straight and narrow.

Designer: Nils Holger Moormann

15. XEL:

Believe that a tidy desk is a sure sign of a sick mind? XEL takes the concept to a new level with its aluminium and glass rendition of ordered chaos which ensures you can pack every size and type of book into one space without looking anal. Use it like jazz up a stale room or add contemporary pizzazz to a funky loft.

Designer website: http://www.lucanichetto.com/

16. Shelf Concept By Okapi Studio

A versatile solution for those who believe their performance is deeply affected by their environment; Okapi Studio’s bookshelf design ensures boredom is out of the question.

Using lightweight modules that can be customized to everyone’s need, Okapi bends rigid shelf norms just enough to challenge the status quo, but not beyond the ridiculous. After all, it makes perfect sense to mould a shelf to fit the book, doesn’t it?

Designer website: http://www.okapistudio.com/

17. File Tree:

Essentially designed as a modern filing cabinet, Laurie Beckerman’s design is just as suited to books. Fitted with solid shelves emanating like erudite rays from a double diamond shape, her genius lies in its simplicity. Minimalist, functional and aesthetically appealing, this Zen item is a sparkling gem.

Designer website: http://lauriebeckerman.com/

18. Split Shelving:

Constructed by cutting a log into four unequal sections and adding a few slats around the side, Peter Marigold’s honeycomb-like wall units provide endless possibilities for adding new honey to the book hive.

Another one is for those who are not crazy about order, but like a geometric slant to their décor. Descriptive rather than prescriptive, Marigold’s tantalizing solution is equally useful for stacking loose paper and other knick-knacks.

Designer website: http://www.petermarigold.com/

19. Flying Vee:

Like winged ducks in various states of flight, the L or V shape of this customizable design makes a versatile way of keeping your books in a row. Each sheet of bent metal provides space for one or more books to be catalogued or hung according to your personal whim. Fiction or fact? Let the shape of the book shelf dictate.

Designer website: http://www.massieoffice.com/

20. Fly Shelf:

Slick, slim and oh so Italian, this bookshelf system with integrated projection screen will ensure Fellini has as much pride of place as Dante. Keep those aging classics on the shelf and watch old original at the same time. Only those with a projector-based home theatre system need apply.

Designer website: http://www.livit.it/

21. Elastic Bookshelf:

For avid bibliophiles, there can be few things more exciting than the concept of an elasticized book shelf. Made of wide conveyor-belt like elastic bands stretched between two pegs on a wall, Arianna Vivenzio’s invention does more than stretch the imagination.

Besides your beloved books, you can squeeze just about anything into the space in the middle. From CDs to boxes of memorabilia, the possibilities are expansive and the simple design lends itself to hanging a multiple-use series without spoiling the aesthetics.

Designer website: http://www.ariannavivenzio.com/

22. Balancing Shelf:

Dubbed “Maintain the Balance of your Knowledge”, Denis Oh’s hanging shelf is sure to test your sense of equilibrium. Accommodating every swing of reading mood, the pendulum-like counter-balancers will ensure you don’t overload the heavy stuff if you want to stay on an even keel. Feel like dipping wildly? The choice is entirely yours.

Designer: Denis Oh

23. Strip Shelf:

One of the few designers who can claim to have a foot in the green tree-hugging and futuristic plastic-loving world of smart design, Casey Mack has got it sussed when it comes to catering to a global audience.

Made of 75% sawdust, and secured with movable plastic book ends, the adaptable shelf provides a practical home for every description of book, while satisfying the aesthetic tastes of Zen minimalists. “If people’s hearts can be like the trees, they will not be off the Way.”

Designer: Casey Mack

24. Pisa Book Shelf:

Operating on a similar principle to a deck chair, this tall narrow bookshelf is a sculptural piece and a functional whole. Though it creates an impression on its own, it is best accompanied by one or more copies for optimum effect. Lent a certain amount of gravity by the stark boldness of design, Matt Carr’s leaning tower is unlikely to fade into the background.

Product website: http://www.umbra.com/

25. Droopy Book Shelf:

Though it looks like a see-saw that could whip in the opposite direction at any given moment, Jill Davis’s angled shelf has enough centrifugal force to keep it from flipping.

Minimalist in the extreme, its attraction lies in its sheer simplicity and mysterious capacity to keep heavy books afloat. Not quite library material, but ideal for all those manuals and self-help courses you keep dipping into.

Designer website: http://www.jilldavisdesign.com/

26. Book & shelf:

While some shelves are purely functional, others entirely whimsical, Haba Yoshitaka’s concept takes individualist fetishism to the limit.

Customized to fit a given set of books exactly within a 36cm square, the unit is cut, assembled and glued around the owner’s personal collection which renders the entire freedom of choice. Ideal if you have a book collection on a specific subject, or want to win eternal points in the personalized gift department.

Designer website: http://www.nendo.jp/

27. Wall Wave:

Multi-functionality at its most enigmatic, Yoon-Zee Kim’s flowing piece of furniture allows its usage to be interpreted by the user. A zingy, modular shelf unit easily doubles as a fixed seat and desk space or a platform for hanging pot plants and funky photographs. Seeing is believing. Functionality is in the eye of the user.

Designer: Yoon-Zee Kim

28. Cell Shelf:

A cross between a matrix of DNA cells and a ladder in appearance, this unusual stacking device has plenty of space for holding piles of all descriptions.

The thin, vertical shaft gives its height and space-saving points. 10 out of 10 for originality and maneuverability. Aesthetics and functionality questionable. “We shape clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.” – Lao Tze

Product website: http://www.untothislast.co.uk/

29. Rolling shelf:

A zany take on floating shelves, Catherine Greene’s design uses individual pieces of wood to stabilize stretched lengths of fabric, which can be rolled up according to the owner’s requirements or taste. An interesting space for blending book collections with decorative bits.

Designer website: http://www.catgreene.com/

30. The Line King:

A grown-up take on the sketching exercise which requires you to create and complete a house without lifting your pencil, the “Line” furniture system does just the same to the interior of your home.

Using a single no-break line, designer Aykut Erol transports a work table, hanger, bookshelf, wine rack, CD rack, TV stand and lighting unit to your living space. Minimalism at its purest, the potential for storage is infinite and can be adapted to home or office. Sorted – in one fell swoop!

Designer website: http://www.aykuterol.com/

31. Fairytale Bookshelf:

A challenge to anyone who has ever thought that you can judge a book by its shelf, this whimsical winged creation gives new meaning to the concept of fairytales.

Enclosed in what looks like a horizontal clasp, one or two books metamorphosise into a giant butterfly when extracted from their pupa. Novelty value beyond 10.

Designer website: http://www.bility.is