split

Split and join

Chop is a fast, lightweight tool for splitting up large files and rejoining them. Its interface is a bit sparse on instruction, but anyone that's not an absolute beginner should be able to start using the application effectively within a few minutes.

The default Chop window lets you split files by target medium or by number of files. You can specify the destination as well, or let Chop create a folder automatically. A wizard option simplifies this process and provides context for some of the fields. If you have additional questions, a clear Help file is a button click … Read more

One USB drive that's actually two

I've seen a lot of designs for USB drives: the nerdy one, the credit card one, the key one, the prosthetic finger one, and the San Francisco cable car one. You've probably seen even more.

Now there's another one to add to the repertoire: a double-sided USB drive that's called the Split Stick.

Announced Thursday by Quirky, the Split Stick does just want its name states: it splits its storage into two. This is essentially two storage drives put into one housing. You can use one side for personal files and the other for work-related files. … Read more

Amazon.com has the Oakley Split Thump 1GB Sunglasses with MP3 Player for $269.10, after $29.90 savings.

Save $29.90 on the Oakley Split Thump 1GB Sunglasses with MP3 Player from Amazon.com >> Regular price is $299 >> Sale price is $269.10 >> Savings $29.90 (10%) >> Click here for deal

Amazon.com has the Oakley Split Thump 2GB Sunglasses with MP3 Player for $359.10, after $39.90 savings.

Save $39.90 on the Oakley Split Thump 2GB Sunglasses with MP3 Player from Amazon.com >> Regular price is $399 >> Sale price is $359.10 >> Savings $39.90 (10%) >> Click here for deal

Handy PDF utility

Adolix Split and Merge PDF is a handy utility for anyone who needs to manipulate PDF files but does not have access to the full Adobe Acrobat software.

As its name states, the application provides only two functions: splitting and merging. For splitting, Adolix offers pattern-based choices as well as the ability to identify specific pages akin to the Print function in Microsoft Word. When merging files, you can adjust the order in which the files will be appended to one another. The application also lets you enter passwords for encrypted PDFs, choose the target directory, and set a naming … Read more

New efficient engine prototype revealed

Hybrid engines aren't the only way to improve fuel efficiency. Scuderi Group unveiled a cutaway of its Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine prototype at the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2009 World Congress in Detroit. The new design is the first major change in engine dynamics since its creation 130 years ago, says Bill Wren, representative for the family-run start-up.

Most conventional internal combustion engines operate using the Otto Cycle. The Otto Cycle uses four strokes of a piston--intake, compression, power, and exhaust--that fire in quick succession using two revolutions of the crank shaft to complete the cycle. This process is only 30 percent efficient, which means you get only 30 percent the energy contained in a gallon of gasoline.

In the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine, the four strokes are divided over two paired cylinders--one intake/compression cylinder and one power/exhaust cylinder. On a conventional engine, the combustion occurs as the piston is going up. But in the Split-Cycle engine, the piston pair fires after top-dead center, and combustion occurs as the pistons comes down, producing more efficient, cleaner combustion with one cylinder pair and compressed air in the other. … Read more

How to split audio tracks

Like to listen to audio books on your MP3 player, but your player lacks a bookmark function? If you have long audio files that haven't already been split into chapters, it can be a pain to fast-forward to the desired point in the track. This tutorial can help you split audio books into shorter tracks on your own. It can also be used with music, although track length and nomenclature will be different than what is described here. (A tip: if you are splitting an audio file with several songs in it, use points of silence as a guide rather than the counter.)

Cost: Free

Time commitment: Varies

System requirements: Mac or Windows

Download and install Audacity For either Windows or Mac. Download and install the latest LAME MP3 encoder Extract the LAME file From the LAME.zip file, extract only the file lame_enc.dll. Save it someplace that's easy to find on your hard drive, such as the desktop. (When you export your files as MP3, Audacity will ask you to locate it.) Open Audacity Go to File > Open, then select the audio file you wish to split from wherever it is stored on your hard drive. In the upper-right corner of the window, ensure that the selection tool (it looks like an uppercase "I") button is highlighted. Highlight selection Starting at the very beginning of the audio file, click and drag the selector so that it highlights a selection of the file. (You can use the keyboard arrows to zero in on "0" if necessary.)… Read more

For IAC, a fresh start in a tough climate

InterActiveCorp, the sprawling conglomerate of brands helmed by media titan Barry Diller, is formally splitting into five separate companies Thursday. And it hopes to do so quietly.

The story is familiar by now: Diller, determined to solidify himself as capable of mastering both old and new media, has long insisted that a lack of confidence on Wall Street has suppressed IAC's stock price. So last November, Diller made the big announcement that IAC would be slimming down to a core of ad- and subscription-supported Internet media brands such as Ask.com, Match.com, Bloglines, Citysearch, Vimeo, and Evite.

The … Read more

Oakley tips hat, and MP3 shades, to Jamiroquai

After Oakley came out with its "Medusa Hat" last month, we were beginning to wonder what was going on over there. But now that we see it's releasing a new pair of MP3 sunglasses dedicated to Jamiroquai, perhaps it's becoming clearer where they get their inspiration for headgear designs.

The latest version of Oakley's "Split Thump" line of shades is a 1GB Jamiroquai special edition, according to Engadget. With a purple and white camo pattern, it's sure to bring you right back to your disco-rave days--or something. We just appreciate that, thanks … Read more