Windows Blue gets official name: Windows 8.1

Tami Reller, the top Windows marketing and financial exec, tells a J.P. Morgan conference that Windows 8.1 will be free and available later this year.

Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of the Windows division.

The update to the struggling Windows 8 operating system, known by the code name "Blue," will be called Windows 8.1, a naming convention that Microsoft has used for its software updates for years.
Tami Reller, the chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of Microsoft's Windows division, disclosed the name during a speech at J.P. Morgan's Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference in Boston this morning.
The new software, which Microsoft also wrote about on its Windows blog, will be available for download for free for existing Windows 8 users later this year.
"It will be easy to get from the Windows start screen," Reller said at the conference in Boston. (CNET followed her speech via Webcast.)
To date, the Windows division has updated the various versions of the Windows 8 operating system 739 times, Reller said. Windows 8.1, however, will offer significantly more changes than those frequent fixes.
"This is more substantial than what we can deliver in those weekly updates," Reller said.
Reller offered few details of what would be in Windows 8.1. There was no discussion, for example, about whether the update will bring back the Start Button that Windows users have come to know over the years, only to find it missing in Windows 8. Those questions will likely be answered when the preview of Windows 8.1 arrives on June 26 in time for Build, Microsoft's developers conference, in San Francisco.

Instead of offering those details, Reller explained the Windows group's "principled but not stubborn" approach to updating the operating system.
"You need to have a vision. You need to have a point of view. And you need to consistently deliver on that," Reller said. "You're also consistently listening, learning, and becoming smarter."
As for the timing for the general release of Windows 8.1, Reller said it will arrive before the winter holidays. She said the company recognizes the importance of giving its hardware partners enough time to install the update on the devices they hope to put on store shelves in prime shopping season.
"We understand when the holidays are," Reller said.

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Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle with stylus now available online for Rs. 12,999

After making an appearance in some leaked pictures last month, the Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle smartphone is now available for purchase on ecommerce website, Snapdeal at a price of Rs. 12,999.

The Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8225Q processor and has 512MB of RAM. It has 4GB internal storage out of which 1.2GB is user-accessible. The memory can be expanded up to 32GB via microSD card.

The dual-SIM dual-GSM (2G+3G) smartphone sports a 5.3-inch capacitive touch screen with a resolution of 540x960 pixels. The company is also bundling a stylus, as apparent from the Doodle moniker, but it's not clear if it will come with special apps for jotting down notes or for doodling. However, the online listing does mention that it will come preloaded with the Evernote app. The phone runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.

The Canvas Doodle smartphone will sport an 8-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front facing camera. The camera will offer features like multi-zoom, wide screen video and night mode recording. The phone comes with a 2100mAh battery.

Just two weeks back, Micromax had announced the launch of its first 3D phone, the Micromax A115 Canvas 3D, which offers a glasses-free option to view 3D content.

A few days back it was reported that the company is also working on the Canvas HD Pro smartphone which is expected to sport a 5.5-inch full-HD display. The Canvas HD pro is rumoured to come with a Cortex A7 quad-core processor along with 2GB of RAM. It is expected to offer 8GB of internal storage expandable up to 64GB via a microSD card. It's also expected to feature a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 3.2-megapixel front-facing camera.


Mobiles launched in May 2013
Micromax A111 Canvas Doodle technical specifications

• 5.3-inch display with 540x960 pixels resolution
• 1.2GHZ Qualcomm MSM8225Q quad-core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage, 1.2GB user accessible, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD card
• 8-megapixel rear camera, VGA front camera
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G
• Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)
• 2,100mAH battery

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Today`s Quotes

“It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace.”

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Hiring can be fun

Organisations are taking up ‘fun’ hiring strategies to analyse prospective employees and attract right talent

Having the right person in the right job is the crux of business success. With today’s changing market dynamics many organisations are fashioning their hiring strategies to appeal to the young, creative and the whimsy. Heineken’s recent hiring campaign – The Candidate, received mixed reviews from the industry. Where some see this as just an attention seeking stint, others feel that such hiring strategies can be the game changers.
Putting on the creative caps 
According to Ashish Arora, Founder & MD, HR Anexi, “Making hiring fun is a great way to truly judge and analyse a prospective employee.” He stated that in traditional interviews, candidates are very likely to be someone you “expect” them to be. “Being creative is the alternative as the candidate does not have a set precedent to fall back on; as long as the creative method measures the outcomes expected from the candidate in the role offered,” he added.
With the rapidly changing organisation dynamics, recruiters often need to improvise hiring practices. Consequently, organisations are thinking out of the box to attract the best talent available. Udit Mittal, Founder & MD, Unison International agree that hiring in a fun way is a good practice, indeed, but “It takes experience, exposure and brainstorming to have creative thoughts while hiring,” he exclaimed.
The right approach
Before taking on the first step to have fun hiring strategies in place on should assess the practicalities of the recruitment environment. These include the profile and position you are hiring for and also the budgetary allocations, the desired final outcome and business implications.
Arora explains, “It is definitely practical to apply such an approach to recruiting. However this approach may not be applicable to all job profiles or companies. Every job requires a different skill set; for instance, a brand analyst, a banker and an HR manager have very different skills or traits a recruiter would look for.” He explained, “For jobs where being creative, open and vibrant are imperative, it would be ideal to make hiring extremely fun. However, for jobs that are more serious, strategic and research based, the right approach would be to have a blend between a serious and fun interview.”
All gain, no pain
A creative hiring technique, besides being novel, cost effective and an energetic way of hiring, also adds to the employer brand value. As Vinay Nijhawan, COO, PurpleLeap puts it, “Such hiring practices keep the stress out and culturally, it shows that the organisation encourages out of the box thinking and is a cool place to work for.”
For Mittal, hiring in a creative/fun way ensures an interesting recruitment process. “It brings out the inherent personality of the candidate and helps in breaking the ice.” Arora highlighted, “It provides the much needed competitive advantage. If you are just doing a traditional interview, the chances of you being played by the candidate is high where people might be seasoned to impress in a job interview. Introducing fun, creative techniques gives that one glimpse into the candidate’s true self and whether he will blend with the company culture.” 
Be warned
There are certain things that should be kept in mind while applying creative/fun hiring tactics. According to Nijhawan, “It requires very high levels of maturity on the part of the interviewer. Creative formats have to be thoroughly thought through before applying.”
Arora makes a point, “Being creative during the hiring process does not necessarily imply being ‘crazy’. Debrief the candidates post the interview session, just to let them know that it was all part of the interview process. They shouldn’t feel awkward and confused, resulting in them turning down the job before they are even hired.” He suggests vigilance on recruiter’s part, “Ensure the recruiter does lose focus amidst all the fun but carefully and thoroughly evaluates the candidate.”
Such practices only reinforce that “Work is not all drudgery. It follows a safe assumption that if you enjoy doing what you are doing, then you do it the best,” concludes Nijhawan.

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‘In order to effectively grow a business, organisations must invest in human capital’

Ravi Krishnan, CEO & Co-Founder, Stepathlon Lifestyle Pvt Ltd.

Stepathlon’s 100-days initiative towards engaging employees from various organisations in making a better lifestyle has witnessed a huge response. It allows employees to achieve 10,000 steps per day and the participants (Stepathletes) have seen a remarkable change in their overall health post event. There were over 21,000 Stepathletes comprising 4,247 teams from 143 companies across 132 Indian cities participated.
According to a Stepathlon survey, 58% participants reported improvement in their quality of sleep, 45% experienced lower levels of stress, 61% saw higher energy levels, and 60% reported greater engagement at the workplace.
Stepathlon Lifestyle Pvt Ltd CEO and Co-founder, Ravi Krishnan, shares his views on the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and its direct impact on the employee productivity.
Excerpts from the interview:
Healthy life style is often correlated with higher productivity at work. What is your take on this? How is Stepathlon improving the employees’ quality of life?
Both physical and mental health is critical to productivity and quality of life. A healthier and fitter individual is less likely to fall ill or be prone to chronic diseases and this in turn enables the companies to build a healthier workforce aiding the company’s both top line and bottom-line.
Stepathlon brings about significant positive impact on employee wellness by increasing physical activity levels. This in turn can reverse the alarming effects of increasingly sedentary lifestyles. By wearing a pedometer (a step counting device), one can measure the amount of activity he or she does and with this awareness, can embark on a journey to improved health and quality of life.
How can employees adopt healthy habits? 
Many people do not realise how little they need to do to be significantly fitter, healthier and happier. Thirty minutes of walking a day can reduce your exposure to type II diabetes, heart disease, obesity and many other chronic diseases. Through modification of behaviour and increased awareness, everyone can achieve the 10,000 steps a day mark recommended by global health authorities.
Our research indicates that it takes 66 days to create a habit. We have therefore specifically chosen 100 days for Stepathlon, which provides a chance to increase immediate wellness and also turn it into a habit or a way of life.
Are companies incorporating programmes to improve their employees’ overall health?
We realise that the leaders and custodians of business do recognise that employee welfare is critical to business. The success of Stepathlon 2012 is an indication that companies are incorporating programmes that improve the overall health and wellness of their employees’.
What is the relationship between an employee’s productivity and company’s operational cost?
The many success stories of weight loss, reduced blood pressure, stress etc. were heart-warming. It was also gratifying to hear that participating company leaders received kudos from their staff for investing in their health and well-being. Leadership is responsible for bottom lines and the way to increase those is by protecting and providing for their most important asset – Human capital.
How is Stepathlon helping employees to have a better lifestyle? What has been the response so far?
Stepathlon 2012 began with each participant filling a pre-event survey about his or her health and fitness habits prior to the start of Stepathlon. After the 100 days of Stepathlon 2012, each Stepathlete completed a post event survey and it was evident, that making and inculcating small behavioural changes leads to positive change. 71% lost weight, 46% took less sick leaves, 58% reported greater teamwork within their company, etc.
Please list the top 5 participants of Stepathlon. Have you seen any repeat in participation?
HDFC Bank Ltd was declared the ‘Most Active Company’ in the inaugural Stepathlon 2012.  HDFC Bank Ltd enrolled 1,845 employees in Stepathlon 2012, who as a company walked a total of 780,556 kilometers at a daily step average of 11,114 steps (7.11 kilometers per day) by each employee. They were followed by Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd and Titan Industries Ltd., who placed second and third overall, respectively, as the ‘Most Active Company’ participating in Stepathlon 2012.
Lesser productivity leads to higher attrition rate. Does it mean having this kind of programme will help companies retain maximum number of employees?
It certainly does. Organisations with highly effective wellness programmes report significantly lower voluntary attrition than those who do not have similar initiatives. Wellness programmes were once viewed as a great company perk, but in fact, such programmes impact health care costs, company morale, leadership and overall productivity – both quantitative and qualitative.
Indian companies increasingly recognise that poor employee retention and health impacts their bottom line. The cost to hire, train and familiarise new recruits is much more costly. Therefore, in order to effectively grow a business, organisations must invest in human capital through such programmes.

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Take photos under water with Sony Xperia ZR

Sony Xperia ZR comes with a 13MP camera that is capable of capturing photos under water.

NEW DELHI: Sony's latest smartphone comes with a 13MP camera that is capable of capturing photos under water. The all-new Xperia ZR, the newest entrant in the Japanese manufacturer's smartphone portfolio, comes with IP55 and IP58 certifications, making it waterproof (can withstand 1.5metre depth up to 30 minutes) as well as dustproof.

The new Sony XperiaZR has a 4.55-inch TFT HD Reality Display with 1280x720p resolution and 322ppi pixel density. It runs on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and packs a 1.5GHz quadcore Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with 2GB RAM under the hood. Onboard is 8GB storage, along with microSD card-based expansion up to 32GB.

On the back of the phone is a 13MP camera with LED flash, whereas a VGA front camera is in front. Connectivity options in the new phone are 2G, 3G, 4G (market specific), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0 and NFC. It is powered by a 2,300mAh battery and comes with Battery Stamina Mode to improve standby time.

XperiaZR's display features Mobile Bravia Engine 2 technology as well as OptiContrast panel. This eliminates the need of an extra touchscreen layer by integrating the touch sensors on the panel, making the phone slimmer. The screen also features a shatterproof sheet to make it resistant to breaking in case of a fall. Features for sound enhancement in the phone are 3D Surround Sound, ClearAudio+ mode and xLoud Experience.

Key specs:

Display: 4.55-inch TFT HD Reality Display with 1280x720p resolution and 322ppi pixel density;
Operating system: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean);
Processor: 1.5GHz quad-core CPU;
RAM: 2GB RAM;
Storage: 8GB internal storage, 32GBmicroSD support;
Connectivity: 2G, 3G, 4G (market specific), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0 and NFC;
Camera: 13MP rear camera with LED flash, VGA front unit; and
Battery: 2,300mAh

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India could pull out of upcoming Champions Trophy

As the controversy over Sivaramakrishnan's appointment raged on, the BCCI received support from its Asian allies Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

NEW DELHI: India could pull out of the upcoming Champions Trophy cricket tournament in England if the raging issues over L Sivaramakrishnan's appointment in the ICC's technical committee were not addressed to their satisfaction.

Although the BCCI was not willing to take such a step as of now, it did not completely rule out the possibility of a pull-out if the outcome of the International Cricket Council (ICC)'s inquiry into the matter did not go in their favour.

"Currently we have decided to participate in the Champions Trophy. But everything will depend on the outcome on the issue of Sivaramakrishnan's appointment in the ICC's Technical Committee", top BCCI official Rajeev Shukla said.

As the controversy over Sivaramakrishnan's appointment raged on, the BCCI received support from its Asian allies Sri Lanka and Pakistan who claimed allegations of the Indian Cricket Board forcing a re-vote were baseless.

The furore over the appointment seemed to have created a rift in the cricket world with the Asian countries throwing their weight behind BCCI, which is apparently unhappy with all the noises being made over the former leg-spinner's appointment to the current player's committee.

Sivaramakrishnan, who is employed by the BCCI as a commentator, replaced Tim May on the cricket committee on May 6, an appointment that attracted criticism from various quarters.

The furore over the Indian's appointment was caused following allegations that BCCI forced a re-vote to get Sivaramakrishnan on the committee after May won the initial vote 9-1.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan Crickets Boards have backed the BCCI on the issue.

"It's very unfortunate see allegations come when an Asian or an Indian player comes into play. When it comes to Laxman Sivaramakrishnan serving in the cricket committee, we look at his cricketing ability," said Sri Lanka Cricket's secretary Nishantha Ranatunga.

PCB chief Zaka Ashraf said, "Because of certain unanimous policies of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, they are opposed to such policies, why?" A miffed Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) had demanded an ICC ethics committee inquiry into the appointment, saying captains could have been forced to vote against incumbent May, which has irked the BCCI.

FICA's legal advisor Ian Smith said Boards were pressurised despite ICC warnings of not interfering in the secret ballot.

Preferring not to say it in as many words, May, a former Australian spinner and FICA boss, had last week made a veiled reference to his ouster, saying he is more interested in the apex body "policing" and maintaining its stated "governance".

"Indeed I am more focused on the ICC policing its own stated standards in terms of governance this is the real issue not whether I got voted onto this committee," May had said.

Sivaramakrishnan's appointment was preceded by the head of South African players union's recent allegation that India had pulled strings to force a re-polling.

Tony Irish, who is also in the FICA, said that an initial round of voting had chosen May, a long-term players' advocate.

Amid reports of allegations, the ICC clarified its stand on the Indian's appointment, saying a re-vote was conducted due to confusion over the first voting process.

"In January this year, because of confusion in the voting process for such representatives (for example in respect of what should happen in the case of a tied vote and, where teams had different captains for different formats of the game, which captain should be entitled to vote), the ICC Board considered the matter carefully, and following clarification of the process to be followed, decided that another vote should be taken," the ICC had said in a statement.

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Chennai Super Kings aim to boost net run rate against Delhi Daredevils

MS Dhoni's men will strive to make the most of Tuesday's outing against lowly DD before the tricky away assignment against playoffs contenders RCB on May 18. (TOI Photo)

CHENNAI: The big beast's grip on the Indian T20 league continues to be firm. Despite the two stunning away reverses at the hands of Mumbai Indians and, more recently, Rajasthan Royals, two-time champs Chennai Super Kings remain on course for a top-two finish.


With two matches remaining to complete their league engagements, fancied CSK will look to secure full points and boost their net run rate for a preferred finish in the top-two of the four playoff spots.

MS Dhoni's men will strive to make the most of Tuesday's outing against lowly Delhi Daredevils at Chepauk -- a happy hunting ground for the hosts -- before the tricky away assignment against playoffs contenders Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 18. A top-two finish allows a team a second shot at qualifying for the final.

Delhi are not in contention for a playoff spot, and are currently eighth in the nine-team heap with just three wins from 13 games.
Table-toppers for most part of the competition, CSK's seven-match winning streak was snapped when Mumbai sent them crashing to their lowest-ever total of the season. Arguably the strongest batting outfit in the competition, and certainly the most decorated, CSK regrouped quickly to dispatch Sunrisers Hyderabad and become the first team to secure 20 points in this edition, before being felled by Royals on Sunday.

The common thread in the two losses was the batting collapse and, more significantly, the rare failure of Dhoni, whose astonishing play in the end overs has been the defining aspect in a majority of CSK's victories this season. A middle-order collapse saw CSK fail to build on an 83-run opening-wicket stand against Royals as Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni fell in quick succession following opener Michael Hussey's exit.

While Ravindra Jadeja appeared tied down, CSK's innings got a lift owing to clever placements by Dwayne Bravo. Clearly, though, a powerful finish usually associated with Dhoni's presence was sorely missed. "We were not able to capitalize on the good start," Dhoni said at the post-match presentation. "In the positives, our middle and lower-middle order got a chance to bat. It was important that they get to bat ahead of the play-offs," he added.

Delhi will play to restore some pride, according to Ashish Nehra. "It has not been a good season for us, and so we will look to win the remaining three games," he said.

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Kieron Pollard guides Mumbai to top of the table

Mumbai Indians players celebrate their win with top scorer Kieron Pollard during the IPL 6 match against Sunrisers Hydrabad in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)

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MUMBAI: Kieron Pollard hit eight sixes off 27 balls, apart from two fours, and finished on an unbeaten 66 to engineer the most remarkable turnaround for Mumbai Indians on Monday night.


Chasing Hyderabad's 178, Mumbai seemed to be floundering and the Sunrisers had their noses ahead till as late as the 16th over, when Pollard turned the game around.

Off one Thisara Perera over, the 17th of the innings, Mumbai hit four sixes and one four - Rohit Sharma chipping in with a six, the rest being hammered by Pollard - and Sunrisers lost the plot.

Amit Mishra's next over yielded three sixes as Pollard's swinging blade fashioned a seven-wicket win to take Mumbai to the top of the points table and virtually qualify for the playoffs. Mumbai needed 62 runs off the last four overs but Pollard made it look easy as Mumbai finished on 184/3 with 3 balls remaining!

Skipper Rohit Sharma remained unbeaten on 20 in a partnership of 85 runs in 6.1 overs. and the win also ensured that the fortress called Wankhede remained unbreached in seven games. Sachin Tendulkar retired hurt when on 38 (31 balls, 3x4, 1x6) and Dinesh Karthik scored a breezy 30(23balls, 4x4).

Earlier, in a must-win game, the Sunrisers Hyderabad came out all guns blazing, smashing the ball with gay abandon to race to 178/3. The Sunrisers' charge was led by opener Shikhar Dhawan, whose cracking form bodes well for India going into the Champions Trophy.
The attacking left-hander stroked a sublime 41-ball 59 (6x4, 2x6) to leave the innings in pretty good shape. Dhawan's opening partner Parthiv Patel led the initial charge, making a stroke-filled 26 off just 14 balls (5x4). Parthiv, in fact, began the onslaught right away, stroking four boundaries off Mitchell Johnson as the first over cost MI 19 runs.

Parthiv's cameo was followed by a calm, composed effort from youngster Hanuma Vihari, who took 37 balls for his 41 (4x4), and a 23-ball, unbeaten 43 by skipper Cameron White.

White finished the Hyderabad innings in style by smashing the off colour Dhawal Kulkarni, brought back for this game at the expense of Abu Nechim, for a six over cover off the last ball of the innings. Recovering from a prolonged form slump, White finally came good when it mattered, smashing three fours and an equal number of sixes to provide the perfect finishing touches to the innings. But his knock didn't account for Pollard's heroics in the end.

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Samsung's 5G Data Breakthrough Allows Downloading Of Movie In One Second

Seoul:  Samsung Electronics said today it had successfully tested super-fast fifth-generation (5G) wireless technology that would eventually allow users to download an entire movie in one second. The South Korean giant said the test had witnessed data transmission of more than one gigabyte per second over a distance of two kilometres.

The new technology, which will not be ready for the commercial market before 2020 at the earliest, would offer transmitting speeds “up to several hundred times faster” than existing 4G networks, it said in a statement.
That will permit users to “transmit massive data files including high quality digital movies practically without limitation”, it said. “As a result, subscribers will be able to enjoy a wide range of services such as 3D movies and games, real-time streaming of ultra high-definition (UHD) content, and remote medical services,” it added.

Samsung said it had found a way to harness millimeter-wave bands which have proved to be a sticking point for the mobile industry to date. The test used 64 antenna elements, which the tech titan said overcame the issue of “unfavourable propagation characteristics” that have prevented data travelling across long distances using the bands.

One of the most wired countries on earth, South Korea already has around 20 million 4G users.

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Tata Communications launches solution for voice offerings

Tata Communications on Monday launched a suite of managed services that will help mobile operators to run their voice calls in a more efficient and profitable manner.Voice Business Apps, a suite of hosted tools and managed services, offer a range of services from back office functions to routing and monitoring.
"With slow growth and strong margin pressure, many voice providers are finding it harder than ever to run a profitable international voice business. Our Voice Business Apps offering can reduce operating expenses and increase efficiency," Tata Communications President (Global Voice Solutions) Michel Guyot said in a statement.
Tata Communications said voice usage volumes for mobile operators has been growing year on year with international wholesale traffic volumes set to reach 349 billion minutes in 2016.
However, in the same period net wholesale revenues for carrying international voice traffic will decline to $ 2.9 billion as a result of continued downward pressure on prices.
The company said the apps, which are available on-demand, at no capex, are built on the same capabilities which it uses to terminate over a billion minutes of traffic a week with the best possible balance of cost and quality for its customers.
"The apps suite delivers more visibility for Tata Communications' customers voice business - from traffic volumes and margins, to credit risks and potential instances of fraud. The result is better information and more control to optimise their voice business for profit," it added.
Tata Communications has 19 percent market share in international wholesale voice minutes.

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Google testing Google Shopping in India

Google has started displaying shopping results with search listings in India for select users.

What this essentially means is that when you search for a product, Google displays product listings from online retailers on the right side of the results page complete with product images, pricing and direct links under "Shop for 'Product name' on Google."

When we entered the search term 'Samsung Galaxy S4', Google displayed shopping listings from Flipkart, HomeShop18 and Yebhi. It's not just limited to mobile phones and tablets and we got shopping results for a wide range of products including apparel, LED TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, among others. Online apparel store, Myntra is another partner as we also spotted results from the site.

On clicking the information icon accompanying the listing Google elaborates the reason why it displayed these products as: "Based on your search query, we think you are trying to find a product. Clicking in this box will show you results from providers who can fulfill your request. Google may be compensated by some of these providers."

It's worth pointing out that we got the Shopping listings results when we used Google search in Safari on a Mac, while we did not get them while using another browser.

At the time of writing this post, Google offers Google Shopping in United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Italy, and Czech Republic. Perhaps Google is testing the feature with random users and would make an official announcement in the coming days.

In June 2012, Google announced that it would rename its Product Search feature for users in the US to Google Shopping. It also said that it was changing the way these search results worked.

The transition to the new model was completed in October.

Search results are now influenced by how much retailers and advertisers paid to Google under its Google Shopping program. In the past, product search results were based mainly on relevance and the program was free. Google offers an API to participating companies through which they can manage listings.

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iBall launches Andi 5L and Andi 5Li for Rs. 10,490

The Indian smartphone maker iBall has officially launched Andi 5L and Andi 5Li smartphones.iBall Andi 5L is a dual-SIM (GSM+GSM) phone that packs in a 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 480X800 pixels resolution. There is a 1GHz Cortex-A9 dual-core processor on-board along with 512MB of RAM. iBall Andi 5L runs on the dated Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich).
It comes with 4GB of internal storage, which can be expanded by up to 32GB via microSD card. For camera, there is an 8-megapixel rear camera with auto-focus and LED flash and VGA one in the front. It comes with Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, G-Sensor and 1800mAh battery.
Much like the Samsung Galaxy Note phablets, iBall Andi 5L will be offered along with a stylus. The smartphone was earlier spotted on Flipkart.com for Rs. 10,490
iBall Andi 5Li on the other hand is an advanced version of iBall Andi 5L and will run on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The other difference between iBall Andi 5L and iBall Andi 5Li is that the latter comes with a larger 2,000mAh battery. iBall Andi 5Li does not come with a stylus. The other specifications of both these smartphones are identical and they are both priced at Rs. 10,490.
Apart from these smartphone, iBall is also rumoured to be working on iBall Andi 4.5d Quadro, which will come with 1.2 GHz quad-core processor on-board.

Mobiles launched in May 2013

iBall Andi 5L key specifications

• 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 480X800 pixels
• 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD card
• 8-megapixel auto-focus rear camera with LED flash
• VGA front-facing camera
• Dual-SIM (GSM + GSM) with dual standby
• 1800 mAh battery
• Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

iBall Andi 5Li key specifications

• 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 480X800 pixels
• 1GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD card
• 8-megapixel auto-focus rear camera with LED flash
• VGA front-facing camera
• Dual-SIM (GSM + GSM) with dual standby
• 2000 mAh battery
• Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

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Skype updates for Windows Phone 8, Windows desktop

Microsoft made available for download minor updates for its Skype application for Windows Phone 8 and Windows desktop as well as its SkyDrive storage cloud service.

Skype says the update for Windows Phone 8 will improve notifications, calls to phone numbers, and more.

Microsoft's Skype unit made available for download on Monday Skype updates for Windows Phone 8 and Windows desktop.
Skype 2.6 for Windows Phone 8, which the team calls a "minor" update, is available for download from the Windows Phone Store. The 2.6 update includes improvements around the reliability of chat and call notifications, of calls to phone numbers, and resolution to "occasional missing message preview in the recent conversations list," according to the Skype site.

The Skype team also provided information about some upcoming fixes and updates for still-unresolved problems with Skype on Windows Phone 8. The team is working to fix an issue where calls keep ringing when answered on a different device or ended by the caller. The team also said it would provide in an unspecified future release the ability to sign in with a Microsoft account that isn't joined to a Skype account.
Other coming improvements for some unspecified future releases: a fix to problems some are having with video stopping when a call is in the background; marking as read on other devices a message that the user reads on Windows Phone; and a bug resulting in all calls received when the Skype app is closed appearing as audio calls.
Skype 6.3 for Windows, which works on Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, is available here. (This new version is not an update for the Skype for Windows 8 application.) There's not much information as to specific new features in 6.3, but improvements to "the quality and stability of the application" are listed on Skype's site as what's new.
In other Microsoft service updates, the SkyDrive cloud storage team also announced a few new enhancements to SkyDrive on Monday that will be rolling out over the next 48 hours. Among them:

• Ability to scroll through all photos stored on SkyDrive in one seamless timeline experience
• Faster photo upload
• Easier readability of thumbnails, as well as new thumbnails for PowerPoint and Word files

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Backup That turns your e-mail accounts into cloud storage

This intriguing, but extremely buggy, service lets you link multiple accounts for potentially unlimited storage for your files and music, all of it free of charge.

Backup That pools your e-mail accounts to give you potentially limitless cloud storage.

Savvy cloud-storage seekers know they can get 2GB free from Dropbox, 5GB from Google and SugarSync, 7GB from Microsoft, and so on.
Of course, there's no way to pool all that free storage into a single, unified cloud drive. That's precisely the idea behind Backup That, a new service that leverages the space available in your various e-mail accounts to give you potentially unlimited storage.

Choose one or more mail accounts to link to your Backup That account.

After registering for the beta, you choose one or more mail accounts to link to your Backup That account. The latter currently works with AOL, Gmail, GMX, Mobile Me, Yahoo, and other mail providers that support IMAP. (That leaves out Hotmail/Outlook, at least for now.) In theory, you can link as many accounts as you want, even going so far as to create new ones just to score more space (though Backup That won't do that for you).
From there you'll have access to Backup That's two main sections: Your Files and Your Music. The former is fairly self-explanatory: choose whatever files you want to upload to your account.
As for music, Backup That currently limits you to iTunes playlists. Choose one or more and a behind-the-scenes uploader starts copying them to your Backup That music library. (In the future, the service will add support for "MP3s outside of iTunes playlists.") From there you can stream your songs via any browser; an iPhone app is due in two to three weeks to allow on-the-go streaming.
The service is not currently optimized for use with Internet Explorer; the developers recommend using Chrome on a PC and Firefox on a Mac. In either case you'll need to install, or at least enable, Java. I tested it in Chrome, and came away impressed with the idea -- but not the execution.
That's because Backup That is extremely buggy. After linking up both AOL and Yahoo accounts, there was no indication of how much space might be available to me. The first time I attempted to upload a playlist, there was no indication that anything was happening -- other than a "songs remaining" counter that didn't seem to change. And when I refreshed the page, even that had disappeared. I tried again, then left it alone for a while. Songs did seem to upload in batches, but ultimately the upload timed out with about 43 songs remaining. When I tried one more time to upload the same playlist, it timed out after just 13 songs.
Another wrinkle is that there doesn't appear to be a way to manage or organize your songs. For example, I found no option for deleting individual songs or an entire playlist.
On the file side, it's easy enough to add individual files or folders, but I couldn't quite figure out the Sync option, which kept telling me to "select a file to download." And there's no file viewer at the moment; all you can really do is upload your files for holding and then download them again. You can right-click a file and choose "open," but that simply downloads and opens it locally (assuming the proper app is available).
Backup That has the potential to be a game-changer -- but it has a long way to go. The music component is more or less unusable as it is right now. And without some gauges indicating how much inbox space you've consumed in your account(s), there's the concern it might steal too much from your inbox and prevent you from receiving mail.
Here's hoping the service can iron out the bugs and become the cloud-storage solution we cheapskates have been waiting for.

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Google Search scratches its brain 500 million times a day

On a daily basis, 15 percent of queries submitted have never been seen before by Google's search engine.

Google Search receives 500 million never-before-seen queries per day.

Google's search engine is powerful, but not all-knowing. Every month Google processes 100 billion queries, and typically returns results with microsecond speed. However, on a fairly regular basis, Google's search engine has to think a bit harder to render a result. On a daily basis, 15 percent of queries submitted -- 500 million -- have never been seen before by Google's search engine, and that has continued for the nearly 15 years the company has existed, according to John Wiley, the lead designer for Google Search.
"We have to solve that problem," an understated Wiley said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. In the process of trying to know more and reduce the 15 percent of new, previously unread or unheard queries, Google crawls 20 billion Web sites per day in search of new data that it can turn into results.
A key part of Google's quest to reduce the percentage of unseen queries, and provide answers rather than lists of links, is the Knowledge Graph. It's a vast database that understand entities -- such as topics, people, and events -- and the connections among them, somewhat like the human brain. Knowledge Graph has more than 570 million entities and 18 billion facts about connections between them, by Google's count.


Knowledge Graph, which is an integral part of Google Search, can parse the meaning of a new query, but deliver more precise results than traditional search. If a user searches for "the best place to see the kings," for example, the Knowledge Graph knows about different kinds of kings. Based on the user's profile and other contextual information, Google Search could determine which "kings," such as the L.A. Kings hockey team, the user is asking about and be primed to answer more questions on the same topic.

This kind of query may not be new, but it's not easy to for Google Search to understand the user intent.

However, Google admits that the Knowledge Graph's actual knowledge is tiny compared with the human brain and the calculating of its estimated 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion synapses.
"Knowledge Graph has good coverage of people, places, things, and events, but there is plenty it doesn't know about. We are at 1 percent," said John Giannandrea, director of engineering for Knowledge Graph. So, between the 15 percent of unseen before queries daily and the Knowledge Graph's 1 percent solution, Google has plenty of work to do.

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Google Drive triples free storage to 15GB

Google announces just ahead of its I/O conference that free storage across Google services -- Gmail, Google+, and Drive -- is leaping from 5GB to 15GB. But why?

 

Google's capacity to store your files will jump by a factor of three, the company said Monday, rising from 5GB to 15GB shared across Google+, Drive, and Gmail.
Google made the announcement just before Google I/O developers conference begins this week. The changes will "roll out over the next couple of weeks," Google said in a blog post. The new amount of storage space will give people who use Google services the most generous storage capacity of any player in the free online-storage game. A quick look at competitors shows that Dropbox currently starts free subscribers at 2GB, Microsoft SkyDrive users get 7GB, and Apple iCloud, Amazon Cloud Storage, and SugarSync offer 5GB for free. The announcement follows a Google Drive update from last week that allows you to save files from the Web directly to Drive.

There's no doubt that the 15GB is a game-changer in the free storage market. The question is, why did Google do it?
Nevermind "do no evil," Google -- as we all know -- is in the business of making money. If Google is offering you more storage, then there is something that extra storage helps you do that will help Google make more money.
What that is, Google is not saying -- yet.
It's possible that at I/O, Google will reveal that Drive or Google+ will incorporate a more multimedia approach. Or perhaps it's simply nothing more than a shot across the bow of Dropbox: you now get 15GB because Google can give you 15GB.
Either way, it makes Gmail, Google+, and Google Drive that much more appealing to serious Google services users.

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Today`s Quotes

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

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‘There will be a lot of recruitment through online tools such has Facebook, LinkedIn’

Paran Parmeshwaram, Chairman, Sulekha.com

Which industry will be hiring the most in 2013?
a) Fresher - Retail, Banking
b) Middle Level- Manufacturing, online, mobile, construction
c) Senior Level – Online, Internet, mobile, logistics
Which will be the top in-demand professions in 2013? Why?
Technology, Mobile and Internet Sales, Retail, Logistics, Civil Construction, Rural Banking, Online anything, Training.  These are industries which benefit from change and growth expected in the near future.
What will be the strongest recruitment trend in 2013?
Recruiting through online tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Naukri and other similar connection sites.  The strength of weak links will dominate.
Which metro will offer maximum number of jobs?
Tier 2 cities taken together would rival any single metro like Mumbai.  Delhi NCR seems like  a good single metro area candidate to lead the pack. 
2013 will be the year of….
Value added services on the mobile, beyond entertainment and cricket, that is.

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Reasons for hair loss in men

Reasons for hair loss in men (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Hair loss can stress you out, male pattern baldness even more. Stress is one of the contributors of hair loss in men.

But DHT, a chemical, is also responsible for hair fall and balding in men. Our skin expert, Dr. Udhay Sidhu helps you understand how DHT is linked to hair loss in men.

"DHT is a chemical derivative of testosterone. Testosterone is converted to DHT with the help of an enzyme known as 5 alpha reductase. DHT is the main culprit of hair loss in men," explains Dr. Sidhu.

So what really happens? "Hair follicles which are genetically sensitive to DHT begin to shrink and ultimately 'miniaturisation' occurs which if continues results in hair loss," elaborates Dr. Udhay Sidhu.

Since DHT is the main cause of hair loss in men, how can you reduce DHT? Before we get the solution, you ought to know that the following advice should be taken into consideration after you consult your personal doctor. "DHT can be reduced by FDA approved Finasteride and Minoxidil. But both of them can cause considerable side effects, thus it should be started strictly and only on doctors prescription," says the dermatologist. Do not self medicate to avoid drastic side effects.

But you can also try these natural methods to prevent hair loss:

Your hair draws nutrition from food. If you favour high calorie junk food, then your hair hardly gets any nourishment and tends to break or fall. However, this doesn't mean that you need any exotic healthy ingredients.

Simply include fish and proteins that are rich in essential amino and fatty acids, opt for fresh dark green veggies, munch on nuts like almonds and walnuts, and go for whole grains in your diet. These ingredients are mostly part of an Indian kitchen, so make use of these materials to strengthen your hair.

Avoid scalding hot water baths.

Water intake is important for healthy hair.

Exercise is crucial for a healthy scalp and hair - Not only does physical exercise improve metabolism, weight control and general health, it also improves the quality and texture of your hair and skin. Apart from this, the added benefits of increased blood circulation through exercise also relieves you of stress - another cause for hair fall. Therefore, avoid stress and poor health, and you will avoid hair fall.

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Bananas for weight loss

Bananas for weight loss

Often recommended as workout snack even though they've won a poor reputation as non-diet friendly fruits, bananas are low in glycemic index, initiate fat burning, are excellent for digestion, and have large amounts of 'insoluble resistance starch'.

Eat them in your breakfast or as a pre-gym snack - bananas are a storehouse of goodness. Today we have Strength and Fitness coach - Arnav Sarkar and Reebok Master Trainer - Vinata Shetty tell us why bananas are excellent for weight loss.

Are bananas a natural weight loss food?
Arnav Sarkar: Bananas are part of a healthy diet, and should also be part of a fat loss diet, however no food by itself helps one to lose weight. To lose weight one has to create a caloric deficit i.e to burn more calories than what they consume in a day. For most cases a caloric deficit of 10-15% works best and ones that create a greater caloric deficit generally causes more muscle loss rather than fat loss.

Vinata Shetty: Banana is a nutritionally dense food rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals and energy. As with all foods, one should consume bananas within the required calorie intake. A 100 gms of banana contain about 90 calories.

What are the vital nutrients/minerals present in banana which makes it a super food?
Arnav Sarkar : For starters bananas offer healthy carbs which give energy to be more active and feel great. It is also high in the mineral potassium which helps to lower blood pressure. The fiber content of bananas helps to control hunger much better for those who are trying to lose fat. And it has also been found to help students study better thanks to its supply of the vitamin B6. Some more benefits of bananas - It has been found to help reduce depression due to its content of Tryptophan, the iron content in it helps those with anemia and it also helps to reduce constipation due to its fiber content.

Can bananas be my ideal pre-gym snack?
Arnav Sarkar: Yes. The natural sugars contained within the banana help provide a lot of energy before a workout. This is the reason why it is a huge favorite of serious athletes.

Vinata Shetty: Yes, as it packs a lot of energy. It also has adequate carbohydrates to provide the fuel required for the physical activity.

Is it okay to eat bananas for my breakfast? Which other foods should I ideally eat with bananas?
Arnav Sarkar: Breakfast is a great time to have a piece of fruit, and banana is a great option. For a good and complete breakfast pair the banana with some oats, almonds, milk and egg.

Vinata Shetty: Bananas can be had as breakfast. They can be paired with skimmed milk as in a milkshake or yoghurt.

Do you support the Morning Banana Diet?
Arnav Sarkar: When compared to a breakfast of donuts and sugary coffee, the morning banana diet is definitely a healthier option for weight loss, but surely not the best one. One does not need to restrict to only bananas, most other fruits will work well too.

Vinata Shetty: Yes, as it provides a lot of nutrients, minerals (calcium, iron, potassium. magnesium etc) and energy. So a great way to kick-start your day and keep you going.

Read more Personal Health, Diet & Fitness stories on www.healthmeup.com

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World's largest IT training centre opens in India

Koenig unveiled its training campus in Delhi, which the firm claims is the world's largest offshore IT Training facility.

NEW DELHI: Offshore IT Training firm Koenig Solutions today unveiled its training campus in Delhi, which the firm claims is the world's largest offshore IT Training facility, providing end-to-end solutions to corporates.

The campus, spread over an area of 18,000 sq ft, includes 70 classrooms and 30 testing stations and provides end-to-end solutions including accommodation, examination facilities, meals, daily transport etc, which are part of the course fee.

"We have a total of five centres in India -- Goa, Shimla, Dehradhun, Delhi and Bangalore -- as well as a training facility in Dubai. There are plans in place to expand it further in more such tourist centres," Koenig Solutions CEO and founder Rohit Aggarwal told PTI.

The company is looking at setting up training facilities in cities like Chennai and Pune in India and globally in West, South and East Africa, he added.

"IT training and certification today is a $20 billion industry worldwide and the education tourism market in India alone could become $1 billion by 2020. Koenig's education tourism business model is unique and aims to tap this growing market," Aggrawal said.

Offshore IT training is catching up among corporates, IT employees and students in countries of Europe, Africa, Middle East, South East Asia as well as in Australia and New Zealand, given the lack of cost optimised quality training resources and infrastructure, he added.

Koenig claims to have trained more than 20,000 students from over 50 countries since its inception in 1993, and has seen its trainer pool swell to 250.

The firm offers over 100 IT courses and is the authorised training partner of Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, VMware, Novell, Adobe, EMC, Citrix, Linux Professional Institute, among others.

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30 years on, Vivian Richards still doubts a decision

Whom does he rate as the greater batsman, Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara? "I never compare batsmen," Vivian Richards replied.

NEW DELHI: Another day, another time, this might have been an explosive disclosure. But even today it's quite a story. It relates to a dismissal of Sir Vivian Richards ("just call me Viv"), who was the Guest Editor for Times Sports on Thursday.

Some will still recall the famous episode in which he broke down a door after being dismissed at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla during an India-West Indies Test in 1983.

Richards recounted, "Someone called me up the night before in the hotel. It was an anonymous call. He said, 'Mr Richards? You don't know me but if I were you tomorrow I'd be careful of (the umpire). The next day, I got hit on the pads. The ball wouldn't have hit another set (of stumps). Kapil just sort of went 'aah' (gesticulating disappointment) and I was given out. I couldn't believe it when I saw the finger going up. You never heard about match-fixing and all that stuff so I don't know what was going on then."

Richards still has the trademark swagger that intimidated opponents and electrified audiences the world over. But he doesn't chew gum anymore.

He looks as broad-shouldered and athletic as in his heyday, and you half-expect him to pick up a bat and start swinging. These days, though, the original Master Blaster prefers to watch from the sidelines and dispense his considerable wisdom on the game.

Who was the hardest bowler to face? "Jeff Thompson," he replied unhesitatingly. "He was seriously fast, had this slingy action and kept the ball concealed till almost the last moment. But he was never overtly aggressive, unlike Dennis Lillee, who was in your face all the time, no matter what your score or the match situation."

Whom does he rate as the greater batsman, Sachin Tendulkar or Brian Lara? "I never compare batsmen," he replied. "But it has been a privilege to watch both of them and see what they have accomplished. And don't forget Ricky Ponting." And which does he rate as his finest innings. He looks you straight in the eye and replies, with quiet pride, "Never going to apartheid-era South Africa."

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Knight Riders beat Warriors to keep slender hopes alive

The Kolkata franchise now has 10 points from 13 games and they need to win their remaining three games and hope results from other fixtures favour them to make it to the playoffs.

PUNE: Kolkata Knight Riders hung on to their slender hopes of qualifying for the playoffs after outplaying a listless Pune Warriors by 46 runs in their T20 league match on Thursday.



The hosts' batting vulnerabilities were cruelly exposed once again as they failed to overhaul Knights' competitive total of 152 for 6, based on a composed 50 by captain Gautam Gambhir.

Robin Uthappa made an uncharacteristic 31 from 35 balls as the Warriors were bowled out for a pathetic 106 in 19.3 overs.

L Balaji claimed thee scalps while Iqbal Adbulla, Sunil Narine and Jacques Kallis took two each as Pune proved woefully unequal to the task. The defeat was Pune's eighth in a row.

The Kolkata franchise now has 10 points from 13 games and they need to win their remaining three games and hope results from other fixtures favour them to make it to the playoffs.

There was big drama when Uthappa drove Kallis back and the ball hit the stumps at the non-striker's end after 'touching' Kallis' boot.

Kallis claimed a run out as non-striker Aaron Finch was out of his crease but the appeal was negated by the third umpire, leading Kallis to get furious. It was poetic justice when soon, Kallis uprooted Finch's off-stump.

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Michael Hussey told me to bat sensibly, says Raina

Chennai Super Kings batsmen Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina (left) chat during their IPL 6 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Suresh Raina produced yet another brilliant knock to set up Chennai Super Kings' 77-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday night.



Though the southpaw missed out on a well-deserved century, his unbeaten 99 not only gave the two-time champions two points from the game but also put them back on track after the mauling they got in Mumbai. Raina spoke about the game and his form after the match. Excerpts:

What was your strategy when you went to bat?

I was thinking to play till the last ball. I wanted to go out and bat normally. (Michael) Hussey and (Murali) Vijay started off so well. They gave us a good platform from where we could launch out. When I went in, Hussey told me to play sensibly. He said there was no need to take any risks and hence I should not play any pre-meditated shots.

Are you disappointed about missing out on a century?

I am not disappointed. The most important thing was to win the game and I am happy that we did it. Getting so many runs in a winning cause is always a great feeling and it's no different today.

You have run into great form this season. What's the secret?

God has been really kind to me. We have a great franchise and a really wonderful support staff. The entire coaching staff and the others have been a great support to us. They understand the needs of each player. They have given us a platform and the freedom to play without too much pressure. With such a setting, it's no wonder that most of us have succeeded. I am grateful to the franchise for supporting us in such a big way.

What do you feel about the wicket here?

The surface in Hyderabad has always been on the slower side. Over the many years that I have played here, it has always remained the same. We knew that we always had a chance to defend if we got around 140-150 on the board. But the wicket that we played on today was a really good one for batting. The ball came on to the bat nicely.

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Apple Asks Google For Android Source Code

Bangalore: In new twist to Apple’s patent war on its arch rival Samsung, after a long lull, the Cupertino giant has asked a judge to force Google to hand over documents related to its Android operating system, reports Bloomberg.

Apple has accused Samsung over the years for lavishly infringing on its innovations and that the South Korean company has no original ideas of its own. And now, as part of its second patent-infringement lawsuit against Samsung in the same court, the iPhone maker argues that Android is used in all of Samsung’s allegedly infringing products and “provides much of the accused functionality”.  Apple told U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul S. Grewal in San Jose, that Google is improperly withholding information about the documents Apple has requested in pretrial information sharing.

Mark Lyon, a lawyer for Apple, told Grewal that it’s a question of transparency and that Apple thinks that Google is not doing full search.

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Is Microsoft Afraid To Launch Surface Tablet In India?

Bangalore: Microsoft is yet to consider India as a potential market for its Surface tablet though the country is one of the fastest-growing markets for mobile devices. Six months ago, the Redmond based company launched its first Surface tablet in all the major markets and now the second iteration of the tablet, Surface Pro, is all set to launch in 20 new markets and yet again, Microsoft excluded India in its launch list, reports Economic Times.

The world’s largest software company apparently fears stiff competition from local brands like Micromax, Korbonn, and Lava, while the South Korean company Samsung wears the crown in India tablet market. 

A Microsoft spokeswomen in an email response said that the company wanted to be “incredibly thoughtful” before it can decide on launching its tablet range in subcontinent country. "Our initial market availability enabled us to do this and now we are at a natural place where we can expand to other markets," she added, but yet missed on to comment anything about the devices launch in India.

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Nokia Asha 501 is colorful, cheap but not for the U.S. (hands-on)

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The Nokia Asha 501 is part of Nokia's budget range of phones, aimed at emerging markets like India and Latin America. It'll land in the UK in Q3 this year, with wider European availability from June. Nokia has said that it won't be shipping to North America any time soon -- if ever.
It has a low-resolution capacitive touch screen and uses only 2G data networks, but it has a fun, vibrant, plastic design and a supercheap price tag of $99.
Design
If you've spent time with any of Nokia's recent phones, the 501 will be quite familiar. It's got a one-piece, polycarbonate back that's very reminiscent of the Lumia 520. The back panel is made from one single sheet of material -- the only seam you'll find on the phone is around the edge of the screen.
That helps make it feel very solid and secure. I wasn't able to put it through CNET's usual brutal set of stress tests, but it certainly felt like it could take a knock or two. If it does start to show some wear and tear, you can always swap the back panel for a fresh one.
It's available in a rainbow of garish colours to suit your mood or, more likely, your outfit. Its back has a much more angular design than the Lumia phones, which gives it more of a toy-like appearance. It's still comfortable to hold though, as its 3-inch screen doesn't require you to stretch your palms.

The bright, bold, and cheap Nokia Asha 501 (pictures)

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The display has a 320x240-pixel resolution which, compared to the Full HD smart phones around, is pretty poor. You really can't expect that sort of quality for such a low-end price, though. Icons and larger text are all perfectly readable. It's not particularly bright, nor does it have great colors, but again, it does the job adequately for the money.
Software and features
The Asha 501 runs on Nokia's own Asha software rather than the swanky Windows Phone 8 software you'll find on the more premium Lumia line. It looks fairly simple and has a couple of neat tricks up its sleeve, but it won't appeal to those users who are accustomed to a more refined smartphone experience.
The lock screen can display notifications -- SMS messages, missed calls, and so on -- that you can either swipe away and ignore, or tap to deal with them immediately. Unlock the phone and you'll be taken to a grid of app icons, similar to what you'd expect to see in iOS. Swipe to either side of the apps and you'll see a scrolling activity log displaying recent apps, activities, and recently called contacts.
It's pretty easy to operate so the technophobes among you shouldn't be scared off , but it doesn't have the sort of slick multitasking features crucial to a top-end smartphone. It doesn't have a well-stocked app store either, although some essentials like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and Plants Vs. Zombies are available.

 

It's probably not going to be a huge issue that a lot of data-hungry apps aren't available, as the Asha 501 uses only 2G networks. You won't be able to make use of faster 3G data, and lightning-fast 4G speeds will only be a fevered dream for 501 owners. Sending a quick Tweet should be doable, but don't try and attach photos or videos unless you want to wait. Nokia explained that 2G networks are still the most commonly used in countries such as India where the 501 is aimed, so it's perhaps not as big a deal as it first seems.
Storage comes in the form of a 4GB SD card, which you can swap out for a bigger one if you like. It'll also be available in either a single- or dual-SIM version should you want to keep two SIM cards on board for easier data roaming. Nokia wouldn't say what processor is part of the package -- we know it's not going to be anything impressive -- but it seemed reasonably capable of providing smooth navigation through the OS.
Outlook
With its low-end specs, down-market price, and 2G connectivity, the Nokia Asha 501 really isn't aimed at those of you who crave the Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One. Instead, it's aimed squarely at developing markets like India and Latin America. It's cheap price and sturdy build quality might make it a reasonable option to pick up as an emergency festival phone, though.

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