Monday, February 11, 2008
Mobile Guillotines
Death is the ultimate reward of human beings, something often quoted in religious texts and very often pronounced by the priests, clerics, monks, etc and this reward is awarded to a human being on the will of the supreme almighty but one look at the current chaos in the world will dispel these thoughts from one’s mind. The whole meaning and the whole phenomenon has changed, a complete makeover. The world is no longer ruled by the lord, but by the politicians and they are the one who are to decide. Consider the recent violence in Maharastra. Raj Thackrey, a self proclaimed hero of Maharastra provoked the whole of Mumbai to flames by his utterances against the North Indians, disrupting the normal life all over Maharastra. One speech by some orange supporter is enough to trigger an uninterrupted river of bloodshed and violence in the whole of Gujrat. Everytime an election is held in Bihar and Uttarpradesh , beheaded and trashed individuals do come under the purview of common sights. Aptly christened the gods of today’s world, these leaders are no different a breed from those butchers who tear apart bodies of living beings in order to fill their pockets. So it wont be injusticable to term these as mobile guillotines as both of these do the same thing and more often, humanity is at the receiving end.....Circumstances have compelled me to conclude that perhaps humanity has become slave to this insanity called “power”!!!!
A WORLD CONTRADICTING ITSELF
No one is happy in this world, yet everyone is busy celebrating the various joys the life has to offer. Everyone desires loads of booty but when it comes down to peace, all want it no matter what they have to lose to get it. The world is fascinated by the word “love” but no one has the time to spread it to humanity. Leaders make hell lot of promises and then refrain away from them once they are seated on the hot seat. There are people who run social organisations and NGOs but usually do act deaf to the cries of the several thousands of children who beg from dusk to dawn in order to survive. The world is becoming so contradictory that perhaps even the strangest of the laws of probability will fail to justify the action of insane human beings over here. Countries like the United States of America who are spearheading the industrial superpowers and continuously boast of serving the world with their green technology are among the biggest polluters of all times. Even the causes of a relationship breakup are dominated by the fact that one does contradict himself/herself in the later stages of the relationship. Even companies like Accenture who promote themselves as “Delivering Performance Always” do attenuate the progress of their employees by creating excessive competition. It seems that the word “contradiction “ is perhaps what rules the world today and will govern the activities of it till sine die. Let’s hope for the best!!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Apple I-Phone.....A Reason To Keep On Gasping>>
For several years, Apple enthusiasts have been asking each other the question, "Does it exist? Is Apple really making a cell phone?" Rumors came and went, but Apple, a company known for its secrecy about products in development, said nothing. In the last six months, those rumors began to take on a life of their own as industry analysts joined the blogosphere in predicting that Apple would produce a phone sometime in the first half of 2007. In mid-November, news broke that Apple had placed an order with Hon Hai Precision Industry, Co., a longtime Taiwanese manufacturing partner, for 12 million units of a new device believed to be the fabled "iPhone". That news sent the rumor mill into overdrive, but Apple and Steve Jobs, the company's chief executive officer, again said nothing. Analysts began issuing predictions of cost, features and when the phone would be available, with many of them claiming to have inside information. Given Apple's extraordinary track record with the iPod and its recent innovations in desktop and laptop design, expectations were very high, perhaps impossibly so.
On January 9, at Apple's annual product showcase, Macworld Expo, Jobs finally revealed the already legendary phone, and it's beyond what anyone expected. Jobs briefly tricked his audience during his Macworld Expo keynote address, announcing three new Apple products: a widescreen iPod, a cell phone and an "Internet communicator." Each announcement drew thunderous applause from the crowd, but what Jobs then revealed was that these three products were actually all part of one device -- the Apple iPhone.
Image courtesy Apple/ ©2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.Touted as a "revolutionary mobile phone," the iPhone can make calls, play music, navigate the Web, edit photos, play movies and text message, among many other capabilities. Although many of the iPhone's functions can be found in other devices, the iPhone appears to be unique in that it seamlessly blends these abilities together, while also throwing a bevy of innovations into the mix.
Jobs demonstrated many of the iPhone's features for the audience. One sequence began with a call from Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. Jobs answered the call on his iPhone, added Schiller to his address book, and when Schiller asked for a photo, Jobs emailed it to him -- all while continuing the call. Later Jobs showed off the phone's ability to integrate multiple applications by using the integrated Google maps application, which knew his location, and typing in a search for Starbucks. Every Starbucks location in San Francisco showed up on screen. Jobs chose one and in a few minutes he was on the phone with Starbucks, ordering 4,000 lattes before abruptly hanging up.
In order to seamlessly integrate Web, phone, media and messaging features, the iPhone employs remarkable, groundbreaking technology. Unlike traditional smartphones that have small, finger-cramping keyboards, the iPhone has only one button for "home." Instead, its 3.5-inch high resolution, color screen, which occupies most of the phone's face, doubles as a "multi-touch" display. The display shows different controls based on what you're doing. If you're typing a text message or e-mail, a keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen, and you can easily type a message and send it to someone from your address book. The multi-touch technology also has an auto-corrective feature that accounts for unintentional taps and corrects misspellings. For music and video, volume and playback controls appear on the screen, and so on for other applications.
The iPhone's multi-touch interface also allows the opportunity for innovative uses of the touch display. When viewing a photo or surfing the Web, simply perform a pinching motion with two fingers, and the photo or Web page zooms in. Spread two fingers apart, and the display zooms out. Scrolling in any application is done by just brushing a finger up or down on the screen.
An intriguing innovation in the phone is what Apple calls visual voicemail. No longer will you have to listen to all of your voicemails if you don't want to. Instead, they will appear in a list, much like an e-mail inbox, and you can simply point to the voicemail you want to play.
Apple has also integrated three sensors into its phone. One is an accelerometer, and it senses when you turn the phone on its side, automatically shifting the display to a landscape mode. This feature is incredibly useful for viewing panoramic pictures, videos or shuffling through your albums, which you view by their cover art. A second sensor detects ambient light and adjusts the screen's brightness accordingly in order to save power. The third sensor deactivates the screen when you bring the phone towards your face, so you won't be dialing with your cheek while talking on the device.
Like many of Apple's products, iPhone syncs easily with a Mac or PC. The phone runs a version of Apple's reliable OSX operating system, and its programs and iPod connector (located on the bottom of the phone) will be familiar to many Mac users. Use the iPod connector or a docking station to connect the phone to your computer, the iPhone will automatically sync your address book, photos, movies, music and bookmarks between the computer and the phone.
Now, all of this may sound great, but there are a few catches. First, the iPhone isn't available until June -- Apple needs to get FCC approval before the iPhone can start using a radio band. Second, Apple has an exclusive contract with Cingular through 2009, so if you want a iPhone, you'll have to be a Cingular customer. And third, it's not cheap. A 4 GB iPhone will set you back $499 with a two year service plan, while an 8 GB iPhone will cost $599 with a two year plan. Still, when compared to other high end smartphones, you're getting a lot. This is essentially a small, powerful computer in the palm of your hand, and of course it has Apple's famous sleek, stylish, minimalist design.
Here's a quick rundown of some of the iPhone's other features:
802.11 b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 wireless capabilities
Quad-band GSM and Cingular EDGE network
3.5-inch high resolution screen with 160 ppi (pixels per inch)
2.0 megapixel digital camera
Battery life: 5 hours talk/video/browsing, 16 hours audio playback
11.6 mm thin, 4.8 ounces
IMAP and POP email support, with integrated Yahoo! e-mail client
Text messages are displayed like instant message conversations, making keeping track of many messages much easier
Speaker and standard headphone jack
So will the iPhone change the cell phone industry forever? That depends on who you ask. Keep in mind that very few people have even used the iPhone. But given Jobs' impressive demonstration and Apple's recent track record -- over 100 million iPods and 3 billion songs sold -- it's difficult to doubt that this is an extraordinary and important product. Apple's stock surged 7 percent on the day of Jobs' announcement and appears headed for record prices.
In other news, Cisco has filed suit against Apple for infringing on Cisco's trademarked "iPhone" name. Apparently, Apple and Cisco were in talks to negotiate the licensing of the name "iPhone" for Apple's product, but they had not yet reached an agreement when Jobs announced the product at CES.
On January 9, at Apple's annual product showcase, Macworld Expo, Jobs finally revealed the already legendary phone, and it's beyond what anyone expected. Jobs briefly tricked his audience during his Macworld Expo keynote address, announcing three new Apple products: a widescreen iPod, a cell phone and an "Internet communicator." Each announcement drew thunderous applause from the crowd, but what Jobs then revealed was that these three products were actually all part of one device -- the Apple iPhone.
Image courtesy Apple/ ©2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.Touted as a "revolutionary mobile phone," the iPhone can make calls, play music, navigate the Web, edit photos, play movies and text message, among many other capabilities. Although many of the iPhone's functions can be found in other devices, the iPhone appears to be unique in that it seamlessly blends these abilities together, while also throwing a bevy of innovations into the mix.
Jobs demonstrated many of the iPhone's features for the audience. One sequence began with a call from Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. Jobs answered the call on his iPhone, added Schiller to his address book, and when Schiller asked for a photo, Jobs emailed it to him -- all while continuing the call. Later Jobs showed off the phone's ability to integrate multiple applications by using the integrated Google maps application, which knew his location, and typing in a search for Starbucks. Every Starbucks location in San Francisco showed up on screen. Jobs chose one and in a few minutes he was on the phone with Starbucks, ordering 4,000 lattes before abruptly hanging up.
In order to seamlessly integrate Web, phone, media and messaging features, the iPhone employs remarkable, groundbreaking technology. Unlike traditional smartphones that have small, finger-cramping keyboards, the iPhone has only one button for "home." Instead, its 3.5-inch high resolution, color screen, which occupies most of the phone's face, doubles as a "multi-touch" display. The display shows different controls based on what you're doing. If you're typing a text message or e-mail, a keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen, and you can easily type a message and send it to someone from your address book. The multi-touch technology also has an auto-corrective feature that accounts for unintentional taps and corrects misspellings. For music and video, volume and playback controls appear on the screen, and so on for other applications.
The iPhone's multi-touch interface also allows the opportunity for innovative uses of the touch display. When viewing a photo or surfing the Web, simply perform a pinching motion with two fingers, and the photo or Web page zooms in. Spread two fingers apart, and the display zooms out. Scrolling in any application is done by just brushing a finger up or down on the screen.
An intriguing innovation in the phone is what Apple calls visual voicemail. No longer will you have to listen to all of your voicemails if you don't want to. Instead, they will appear in a list, much like an e-mail inbox, and you can simply point to the voicemail you want to play.
Apple has also integrated three sensors into its phone. One is an accelerometer, and it senses when you turn the phone on its side, automatically shifting the display to a landscape mode. This feature is incredibly useful for viewing panoramic pictures, videos or shuffling through your albums, which you view by their cover art. A second sensor detects ambient light and adjusts the screen's brightness accordingly in order to save power. The third sensor deactivates the screen when you bring the phone towards your face, so you won't be dialing with your cheek while talking on the device.
Like many of Apple's products, iPhone syncs easily with a Mac or PC. The phone runs a version of Apple's reliable OSX operating system, and its programs and iPod connector (located on the bottom of the phone) will be familiar to many Mac users. Use the iPod connector or a docking station to connect the phone to your computer, the iPhone will automatically sync your address book, photos, movies, music and bookmarks between the computer and the phone.
Now, all of this may sound great, but there are a few catches. First, the iPhone isn't available until June -- Apple needs to get FCC approval before the iPhone can start using a radio band. Second, Apple has an exclusive contract with Cingular through 2009, so if you want a iPhone, you'll have to be a Cingular customer. And third, it's not cheap. A 4 GB iPhone will set you back $499 with a two year service plan, while an 8 GB iPhone will cost $599 with a two year plan. Still, when compared to other high end smartphones, you're getting a lot. This is essentially a small, powerful computer in the palm of your hand, and of course it has Apple's famous sleek, stylish, minimalist design.
Here's a quick rundown of some of the iPhone's other features:
802.11 b/g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.0 wireless capabilities
Quad-band GSM and Cingular EDGE network
3.5-inch high resolution screen with 160 ppi (pixels per inch)
2.0 megapixel digital camera
Battery life: 5 hours talk/video/browsing, 16 hours audio playback
11.6 mm thin, 4.8 ounces
IMAP and POP email support, with integrated Yahoo! e-mail client
Text messages are displayed like instant message conversations, making keeping track of many messages much easier
Speaker and standard headphone jack
So will the iPhone change the cell phone industry forever? That depends on who you ask. Keep in mind that very few people have even used the iPhone. But given Jobs' impressive demonstration and Apple's recent track record -- over 100 million iPods and 3 billion songs sold -- it's difficult to doubt that this is an extraordinary and important product. Apple's stock surged 7 percent on the day of Jobs' announcement and appears headed for record prices.
In other news, Cisco has filed suit against Apple for infringing on Cisco's trademarked "iPhone" name. Apparently, Apple and Cisco were in talks to negotiate the licensing of the name "iPhone" for Apple's product, but they had not yet reached an agreement when Jobs announced the product at CES.
Bio-Batteries to enter the domain soon!!!
Batteries are practically essential devices but present a whole host of problems. Over time they can have trouble retaining a charge. Some stop working altogether. Others overheat or leak or even explode. They're also rigid and sometimes bulky. Then how about, instead of your standard AA or lithium-ion, a flexible, incredibly thin battery that could be powered by blood or sweat? Seems like an improvement, right?
A group of scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute claims they've created just such a battery, one that uses the electrolytes naturally found in bodily fluids. The results of the research, detailed in the Aug. 13, 2007, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are generating some excitement as part of a new crop of "bio-batteries" that run off of bodily fluids or other organic compounds. (The RPI team claims that theirs could even run on tears or urine.)
The battery is not only as thin as paper; it essentially is paper. At least 90 percent of the battery is made from cellulose, which makes up traditional paper and other paper products [source: RPI]. Aligned carbon nanotubes make up the other 10 percent, give the paper its conductive abilities and also make it black. The nanotubes are imprinted in the very fabric of the paper, creating what's called a nanocomposite paper. One of the paper's authors said that the battery "looks, feels and weighs the same as paper" [source: RPI].
Using nanotechnology, the battery's small size, flexibility and replenishing electrolyte source -- that is, as long as you eat -- make it ideal for medical applications. When using the battery away from the human body, scientists soaked the paper in an ionic fluid (a salt in liquid form), which provides the electrolytes.
The battery's paper-like construction grants it significant flexibility. The RPI research team believes that the battery could, in the future, be printed in long sheets, which could then be cut into small, custom-shaped batteries. The nanocomposite paper can have holes poked in it or be cut into unusual shapes and continue to function. Several sheets could be lumped together to power medical implants, such as pacemakers, artificial hearts or advanced prosthetics. The battery would easily fit under the skin without causing any discomfort.
Because the ionic liquid used doesn't freeze or evaporate like water, the battery could be employed at a wide range of temperatures: from -100 degrees Fahrenheit up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Its temperature resistance and light weight mean that manufacturers of automobiles and airplanes -- both of which require light, durable materials -- may come calling.
The researchers behind the battery claim that their device is unique because it can act "as both a high-energy battery and a high-power supercapacitor". Supercapacitors allow for large, quick bursts of energy, potentially extending the technology's already wide range of applications.
The battery, which is considered environmentally friendly because of its lack of chemicals and high cellulose content, was announced in the summer of 2007, but it may be years before it's ready to stream off production lines in long sheets. The RPI research team says that, in the meantime, they're trying to boost the battery's efficiency and to figure out the best method for production.
A group of scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute claims they've created just such a battery, one that uses the electrolytes naturally found in bodily fluids. The results of the research, detailed in the Aug. 13, 2007, issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are generating some excitement as part of a new crop of "bio-batteries" that run off of bodily fluids or other organic compounds. (The RPI team claims that theirs could even run on tears or urine.)
The battery is not only as thin as paper; it essentially is paper. At least 90 percent of the battery is made from cellulose, which makes up traditional paper and other paper products [source: RPI]. Aligned carbon nanotubes make up the other 10 percent, give the paper its conductive abilities and also make it black. The nanotubes are imprinted in the very fabric of the paper, creating what's called a nanocomposite paper. One of the paper's authors said that the battery "looks, feels and weighs the same as paper" [source: RPI].
Using nanotechnology, the battery's small size, flexibility and replenishing electrolyte source -- that is, as long as you eat -- make it ideal for medical applications. When using the battery away from the human body, scientists soaked the paper in an ionic fluid (a salt in liquid form), which provides the electrolytes.
The battery's paper-like construction grants it significant flexibility. The RPI research team believes that the battery could, in the future, be printed in long sheets, which could then be cut into small, custom-shaped batteries. The nanocomposite paper can have holes poked in it or be cut into unusual shapes and continue to function. Several sheets could be lumped together to power medical implants, such as pacemakers, artificial hearts or advanced prosthetics. The battery would easily fit under the skin without causing any discomfort.
Because the ionic liquid used doesn't freeze or evaporate like water, the battery could be employed at a wide range of temperatures: from -100 degrees Fahrenheit up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Its temperature resistance and light weight mean that manufacturers of automobiles and airplanes -- both of which require light, durable materials -- may come calling.
The researchers behind the battery claim that their device is unique because it can act "as both a high-energy battery and a high-power supercapacitor". Supercapacitors allow for large, quick bursts of energy, potentially extending the technology's already wide range of applications.
The battery, which is considered environmentally friendly because of its lack of chemicals and high cellulose content, was announced in the summer of 2007, but it may be years before it's ready to stream off production lines in long sheets. The RPI research team says that, in the meantime, they're trying to boost the battery's efficiency and to figure out the best method for production.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Placement Buzz in The Campus......
The month of August arrives and the whole of the campus is abuzz with the biggest affair in a student's life in three years,it is the placement time when even the most coolest and patient souls are made to shiver with fear. And the story this time around is no different.But it seems the companies are really determined to shell out big bucks this time and the students are leaving no stone unturned in order to please these dieties of luck. The enthusiasm level drops as if life have have been squeezed out from the campus. This time around,many big names have cropped up in the list of possible recruiters on the campus. To name a few, Accenture,Wipro,IBM,Schulumberger and Canbaxy and others but the pay packages has really swelled up this time with the average package expected to be touching around 4 lac bucks an year and a lot more companies to be doing the rounds in the coming weeks, the campus is surely gonna get its due this time.
Best Of Luck Guys!!
Best Of Luck Guys!!
Friday, June 1, 2007
India imitating itself!!!
Big Hoardings symbolizing the unmatched progress of India in the last decade, projecting itself as a supreme power, considers itself the breeding place for unmatched quality of scientists, researchers, doctors, and what not….but if we look at the reality all these statements turn out to be beating the dust. I don’t intend to say that
Saturday, May 26, 2007
An Unforgettable Train Journey!!
Travel.......perhaps one of the few words that ushers my blood line with such enormous dose of adrenaline that it becomes difficult to conceal my excitement...the very thought of train journey adds to the delight...i always believe that life sometimes takes you through certain events or experiences that surprise you,make you rethink,adding people in your life book which you never imagined would have been there....and i am no exception to this..it was my train journey from rourkela to jasidih,my hometown's nearest railway station....although i got my ticket booked well in advance, but sometimes it doesnt help at all.....after all it is the same old pathetic indian railways moronous system...people say lalu yadav has cast some charm upon it but i do think otherwise...i was struck on w/l 1...and the tte refused to admit me in the coach...and it was important to reach home at any cost...so i just boarded the train without giving it a second thought...i was standing near the stinking toilet till the train reached tatanagar...and there i met two guys....ravi bhaiya and raj...they too were undergoing the same plight...so we decided to give our journey some typical bihar sort of touch.....as soon as the train left tatanagar...we unpacked our bags and spread out the bedsheet near the gate....we three were quiet for some twenty minutes and then ravi bhai cracked a joke...although it was a weird one but we two couldn't help to give a crack....then the real funny part began...we went on talking and talking about everything from the usual teenage sorta talks to evrything that we could....about home,about rourkela,everything and anything....and by the time train reached asansol,it appeared as if the element of formality which exists when you meet unknown people has dissolved completely....and we were friends...till that day, we didnt know each other.....from helping me with unloading my luggage to handling the buffonish tte acts (which those two were calling" mamu ", it seemed as if they have learnt some lessons from munnabhai....[:)]....anyways,believe me those seven hours that i spent with those two complete strangers were really amazing.....that is what i can say about that journey in a nutshell......Since that day, we have become good friends and we three make it a point to meet at least once in a month to celebrate our friendship....sometimes its the odd way but wateva it may be....friendship is the essence of happiness in life.....that is what i believ....
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