iChat is the fantastic app for instant messaging that comes free with every Mac. It ticks all the boxes: simple chat interface ✓ file exchange ✓ video conferencing ✓ tabbed chat ✓ multiple logins ✓ and even slideshow sharing ✓. It practically blows Windows Live Messenger on Windows out of the water.

However, it has a fundamental flaw that no update or upgrade can fix; its user base is incredibly small. The problem is no one uses AIM anymore. All my contacts use Facebook Chat, or MSN, or Yahoo. There must be a way to condense all these protocols into the simple interface of iChat right?

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Nciku, I know… I can’t pronounce it either, but don’t be put off. I found this site incredibly useful for a reference when learning mandarin chinese (汉语！). Today you’ll learn how to use Nciku to help you learn Mandarin Chinese and use your Mac to write Chinese characters.

(This lesson requires a reasonable knowledge of Chinese)

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A concept for the Lego ‘Beast’, a combination of Lego engineering techniques and solutions combined into a fully functioning RC model of a Lego engine.

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