Dislike Adobe subscriptions? Xara updates its design suite

Xara Designer Pro X9, which bundles the company's tools for image editing, illustration, Web design, and layout, now is available, and customers don't need a subscription.

Xara Design Pro X9's illustration tools can be used to create complicated vector art.

(Credit: Xara)

Creative types alienated by Adobe Systems' Creative Cloud subscription program have a new alternative for some of their work: new image-editing, illustration, and layout software from Xara.
Last week, the U.K. company released the new version 9 of Xara Page & Layout Designer, and this week, it released the ninth version of its flagship product, Xara Designer Pro X9. The former is geared for page design tasks for which people might use Adobe InDesign, and the latter bundles that layout tool with the company's other newer version 9 products, Xara Photo & Graphic Designer X9 for illustration and photo editing and Xara Web Designer 9 for Web site design.

Xara Design Pro X9's photo-editing tools now include a healing brush to clear up blemishes.

(Credit: Xara)

The software, though available for Windows only, can be bought through a perpetual license. Xara Designer Pro X9 costs $299 or $99 for an upgrade. Xara also offers a $100 discount to attract Adobe customers. Xara Page & Layout Designer 9 costs $90, though there's a promotional price of $70 for an introductory period.
Adobe's shift to subscription-only sales for its new Creative Cloud products has angered some customers, though the Creative Cloud subscriptions are growing and Adobe said it won't backtrack. Adobe's move has spurred competitors into new efforts to woo disgruntled Adobe customers.
Xara Designers doesn't match the product breadth or market penetration of Adobe's older Creative Suite line or its new Creative Cloud products, which cost $50 per month to use and includes software such as After Effects and Premiere Pro for video editing. But Xara's tools do handle some of what Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and DreamWeaver can do.
New in Xara Designer Pro v9 are a number of features, including the following:

Xara Design Pro X9's Web design tool comes with a variety of pre-made Web site templates.

(Credit: Xara)

• A photo healing brush to remove blemishes and scratches, and a "magic erase" tool lets people wipe out even large features in photos;
• A background erase tool designed to make it easier to select foreground subjects;
• Eleven new photo filters with effects such as pencil-sketch and sepia tone;
• Multicolumn text layouts and page-flow support so overflow text can automatically fill new text boxes on new pages;
• The ability to export layouts as formatted Web pages.
• Beta support for importing files stored in Microsoft Word's .docx format;
• Support for newer HTML and CSS standards for Web page creation, including photo slideshow effects using JavaScript and CSS animations;
• Support for Google's free Web fonts in Web page publication;
• The ability to create Web pages that automatically display in high-resolution versions for Apple Retina display products;
• New Web page themes, page layout templates, and logo designs;
• And 64-bit Windows support for projects that require more memory. The 32-bit version still is available, but it's limited to 2GB to 3GB of memory.

Text can be set to flow from one text box to another with Xara Design Pro X9's updated layout tools.

(Credit: Xara)

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Microsoft details hardware requirements for Windows 8 devices

New Bluetooth, audio, and TPM requirements, some of which take effect in 2014 and 2015, are coming for Windows 8.1 (and beyond) devices.

Microsoft and Intel executives detailed some of the new hardware requirements for Windows 8 clients that will be introduced in 2014 and 2015 during a session at this week's Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.

During a session for Microsoft reseller partners titled "How to talk to customers about Windows devices," Microsoft executives talked about some of the new hardware features that Windows 8.1 and subsequent releases will support.
As we've been hearing at various Microsoft conferences over the past couple months, Microsoft is working closely with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) on making sure new touch-enabled, lighter, thinner, faster devices with longer battery life, support for "modern" security, connectivity, and new sensors will be coming to market. Starting later this year, these machines will make use of the new features Microsoft is building into Windows 8.1, including support for NFC and biometric authentication; new portrait-mode enhancements; and InstantGo (the renamed and updated Connected Standby capability) to allow devices to turn on instantly and keep apps up to date.
(A related aside: "Precision Touchpads" also are now available for Windows 8.1 Certification. Precisions Touchpads are required on all ARM-based systems and are optional for x86/x64, according to Microsoft documentation.)
There will be new, additional requirements for Windows devices seeking Microsoft certification coming in the next couple of years, group manager Lee Sabow told session attendees.
In January 2014, certified Windows systems will be required to support Bluetooth on all devices with Wi-Fi. Front-facing 720p Webcams will be required for systems with integrated displays (tablets, notebooks, and all-in-ones). And higher-fidelity audio requirements for speakers and microphones will be on the list, too, Sabow said, to help partners who want to "upsell" Lync, Microsoft's unified communications technology.
In January 2015, TPM 2.0 will be required on all certified Windows devices, Sabow said. TPM, or Trusted Platform Module, is a spec and implementation for a cryptoprocessor.
Microsoft updated its Windows 8 certification documentation in late June to reflect these additional Windows 8.1, 2014 and 2015 requirements.
During the WPC session on Windows devices, Microsoft executives reiterated the company's goal of Windows 8.1 becoming the No. 1 tablet in the business/enterprise space. From the context of the remarks, it sounded as though Microsoft meant all Windows 8.1 tablets combined -- not just its own Surfaces -- would figure in here.
Microsoft has its work cut out for it with improving OEM traction around Windows 8. As Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner admitted during his keynote speech at WPC, the partner ecosystem was about 18 to 24 months behind Microsoft with Windows 8, resulting in a lack of devices ready to take advantage of touch and some of the other new features in the operating system at the time it was launched in October 2012.
As far as the rest of the "How to talk to customers session," there wasn't a whole lot else that was new. The speakers acknowledged that while some current and potential customers are no longer confused by the differences between Core-based, Atom-based, and ARM-based Windows 8/Windows RT devices, many still don't know the differences.
Executives suggested that partners ask "three hard questions" when trying to help users figure out which PCs and devices to buy: 1) What the business needs; 2) What IT requires; and 3) What do users want. Partners should try to help customers define what they need from a "commercial device," potentially defining them along the "primary PC," "companion PC," "executive PC," and "specialized PC" lines, the speakers said.

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BSNL announces roaming plans with free incoming calls

Following rivals, state-run BSNL Wednesday said it has launched special plans offering customers free incoming calls and cheaper rates for outgoing calls and SMS while roaming in the country.Other mobile operators have announced such schemes in order to comply with directions by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India last month to give consumers the option of discounted roaming plans.
BSNL is offering two special tariff vouchers for roaming wherein customers will get unlimited free incoming calls for Rs. 5 a day and Rs. 69 for 30 days. Outgoing local and national calls will be charged at 1.5 paise per second.
In addition, BSNL has launched two Roaming Tariff Plans (RTP) for post-paid customers for Rs. 145 and Rs. 625 which come with services such as free calls and SMS.
It has also launched RTPs for Rs. 149 and Rs. 825, which include free unlimited incoming calls for a month.
For pre-paid customers, BSNL has announced an RTP for Rs. 405 and free roaming RTP for Rs. 705.

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Micromax Canvas 4 is bearing the brunt of heightened expectations

Micromax has come a long way already in its relatively short, yet incredibly successful journey. The company first came to the limelight selling dual-SIM feature phones, sensing a gap in the market that was ruled at the time by single-SIM offerings from Nokia. Micromax was perhaps the first company to realise India's thirst for dual-SIM phones, and positioned itself to service this demand at prices that undercut established players by a substantial margin.
By the time Nokia began to fight back with dual-SIM feature phones of its own, Micromax was the dominant player in the segment, and already eyeing its next move. The rise of Android and an entire ecosystem of manufacturers that was getting setup in China around Google's operating system, gave the company the ideal platform to chase its next big opportunity - budget smartphones that ran Android.
Months after Nokia made its move into the dual-SIM feature phone segment, Micromax launched its first Android-based smartphone, the Micromax A60. Even as the company launched various other Android smartphones, it struggled to shed the tag of 'cheap Chinese imports' tag for a very long time. This made the company realise that if it wanted to take on the big boys of the smartphone world, marketing was as important as the products themselves. Enter the Canvas series.
With the launch of its Canvas series, Micromax tried to position itself as an 'aspirational' brand with European models and foreign locales driving home the point that it was 'cool' to have a Micromax phone. Of course, the company stepped up its game on the product side as well, first, with the Canvas 2, and then, the phone that signalled to everyone that Micromax had well and truly arrived, the Canvas HD.
Micromax Canvas HD received universally positive reviews from the press as well as end users for being a great value-for-money offering, undercutting the sales of Samsung's big bet for the mid-range segment, the Galaxy Grand. With reports of the Canvas HD being sold at a 'premium' across the country, helped no doubt by the limited quantities that were imported, Micromax seemed to have achieved its objective of becoming an aspirational brand, at least for those on a budget.
Riding high on the success of Canvas HD, Micromax started promoting of its new flagship, the Canvas 4. The first promo aired during the high profile India vs. Pakistan clash in the ICC Champions Trophy, indicating how seriously the company now took marketing, and, indeed, how far the company had come from its initial days. The relentless promos, on TV as well as online, only heightened interest, and indeed, expectations, from the Canvas 4.
Micromax Canvas 4, while a decent phone on paper, has definitely failed to live up to people's expectations fuelled largely by Micromax's own marketing efforts. If Micromax had quietly released the Canvas 4, it would've probably been seen as exactly what it is - an incremental upgrade to the Canvas HD. However, after all the pre-launch hype, there was no way the phone could've been received rationally, or delivered everything that people wanted, from a full-HD display to a built-in microwave (okay, one of them is made up).
From someone that could come in from the left field and surprise the big boys, Micromax has become a company whose every move will now be watched and dissected (at least within India, if not elsewhere) similar to what the likes of Samsung and Apple go through on a daily basis. Micromax's next big challenge lies in how it reacts to these heightened expectations.

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Nokia Lumia 1020 with 41-megapixel camera, Windows Phone 8 officially unveiled

Finland's Nokia unveiled its latest smartphone Thursday with a powerful 41-megapixel camera touted as offering "more detail than the eye can see."
In unveiling the new device in New York, Nokia said its Lumia 1020 smartphone "is able to produce some of the sharpest images possible by any digital camera."
The Windows-powered phone has six physical lenses and optical image stabilization, and can handle sound pressure levels six times louder than conventional smartphone microphones, the company said.
"We want to take people on a journey from capturing pictures to recording and sharing their lives," said Stephen Elop, president and chief executive.
"The Nokia Lumia 1020 will bring new meaning to pictures and continues to strengthen Nokia's leadership in imaging."
The phone, which will be sold in the US market this month and in Europe and China in the coming weeks, features a new photo application designed for professional quality images.
Using a feature called dual capture, the phone 1020 simultaneously takes a high resolution 38 megapixel image for editing opportunities, and a five-megapixel picture that is easy to share on social networks, Nokia said.
Nokia has seen its past glory fade under pressure of competition from Apple and Asian mobile phone makers.
Microsoft and Nokia joined forces about two years ago in an alliance aimed at making inroads with handsets powered by Windows Phone software.
Windows, boosted by the Windows Phone 8 introduced last year, boosted its US market share to 5.6 percent from 3.8 percent, according to a recent Kantar Worldpanel ComTech survey.

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Bharti Airtel approaches Telecom Ministry to discuss roaming penalty issue

Bharti Airtel has approached the Telecom Ministry to discuss the issue of Rs. 650 crore penalty which the Department of Telecom is likely to impose on the company for allegedly violating roaming norms, sources said.

The company in a letter to Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal has sought a meeting to present its case, sources added.

"We understand from the media reports that the DoT may impose an aggregate penalty of Rs. 650 crore on our company for offering service namely Subscriber Local Dialing in 13 service areas," the company said in the letter.

"There has been no violation and that we are in full compliance of the licence terms an early opportunity of personal hearing is given to us to represent our case before any final decision is taken by DoT on this issue," Airtel's Joint Managing Director and CEO, Gopal Vittal said in the letter.

The company did not immediately respond to a query seeking comments on the matter.

Sibal is learnt to have approved levying of Rs. 650 crore penalty on Bharti Airtel for violating roaming norms in 13 service areas between 2003 and 2005.

The company claimed that DoT has made made no effective communication in this regard with it since 2005.

"As a result of delay we are likely to be seriously affected in our ability to produce or lead evidence which may also be no longer in existence to establish our case," the letter said.

An internal committee of Department of Telecom had found Bharti Airtel routing national and international calls as local calls (SLD) under a scheme till 2005 despite being told to stop it in 2003, causing loss to the government exchequer and state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), sources said.

The operator had not stopped the service at least up to June 2005 even after specific directions from the DoT was issued on June 20, 2003, they added.

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Google may implement Internet-beaming balloons in India

Internet search giant Google may implement its prestigious 'Project Loon', which is a balloon-mounted Internet access service, in various countries including India.

"We are doing a pilot project in New Zealand and going to see how it works. Once we get satisfactory results, we will be in a position to implement it in other countries as well," Google's Managing Director, Global Channel Sales, Todd Towe told reporters.

"Interestingly, while we are still in the pilot phase, we have been getting multiple queries from different countries including India, which are interested in implementing the project," Towe said.

However, he said, there is no time-frame to launch the project in India.

'Project Loon' balloons, which carry Internet signal antennas float in the stratosphere, at a height twice as high as air planes.

They are carried around the earth by winds and can be steered by rising or lowering them to a particular altitude, with winds moving in the desired direction.

Customers may connect to Google's balloon network using a special Internet antenna attached to their building. The signal bounces from balloon to balloon, onto the Internet and back to the earth.

A 'Project Loon' pilot project began on June 15 at the 40th parallel South, which is a circle of latitude, that is 40 degrees south of the earth's equatorial plane, when 30 balloons launched from New Zealand's South Island beamed Internet signals to a small group of pilot testers.

The experience of these pilot testers will be used to refine the technology and shape the next phase of 'Project Loon', Google had said earlier.

Speaking about the company's Premier Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Partner Programme, Rowe said within 10 months of its launch, the model has gained significant momentum in India.

"We have partnered with 16 medium sized companies, with over 3,000 sales people who have been trained to help SMEs gain from digital advertising. In the next one year, we are looking to significantly increase our presence in South India by doubling our partners and add another 3,000 sales force though these partners," Rowe said.

Jaspreet Bindra, CEO, Getit Infomedia, one of the largest Premier SME Partners of Google India said that it had entered into a strategic alliance with Google India, though its SME programme to increase Getit's presence in the country.

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Airtel ties up with Google to offer free search, Google+ and Gmail services

Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said it has partnered with Google to launch a service 'Free Zone', wherein subscribers will be able to access Google services such as Gmail, Google+ and Google search on their mobile phones without any data cost.

The users, however, have to pay for advanced services such as attachment downloads, the company said in a statement.

"Free Zone powered by Google, will give Airtel mobile customers access to mobile web search and feature phone friendly versions of Gmail and Google+ in India. The first page of a website linked from search results is provided at no data cost," Airtel said.

The company added when users leave the Free Zone to navigate deeper into a website or download an attachment they are informed about the data charges and given the option to purchase an appropriate data package.

"In this market, where feature phones predominate, our association with Google to bring Free Zone to India will encourage millions of users to discover the power of mobile Internet for the very first time and leverage the amazing world of information search, email and social collaboration at no incremental cost," Bharti Airtel Chief Marketing Officer (Consumer Business) N Rajaram said.

Users can have unlimited access to Gmail from their mobile browser but if they click on a link or attachment within the email they are directed to a page where they can purchase a data package.

In the same way, subscribers can search Internet and access the first page of websites from the results for free.

If they click further into a website after that, they are directed to a page where they can purchase a data package, it added.

"The mobile Internet user base is growing really fast in India. We hope this initiative will encourage more Indians to experience the value of the Internet and gain from it," Google India VP and Managing Director Rajan Anandan said.

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Videocon A55HD with 5-inch display, Android 4.2 launched for Rs. 13,499

Videocon Mobiles has launched A55HD smartphone in the Indian market for Rs. 13,499. Videocon A55HD packs in 1.2GHz quad-core processor along with 1GB of RAM.

The latest flagship smartphone from Videocon deploys a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 720X1280 pixels. It has a pixel density of 295ppi. Videocon has adopted one-glass solution (OGS) technology for the display of this smartphone. Internally. the smartphone Videocon A55HD comes with 4GB internal storage, which can be expanded by up to 32GB with microSD card.

For camera, there is an 8-megapixel rear camera with auto focus and 3.2-megapixel front shooter. The rear camera of the smartphone is also capable of shooting up to 40 continuous shots in the burst mode.

Videocon A55HD is a dual-SIM smartphone with dual standby. It runs on Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean) and comes loaded with a 2,000mAh battery. Connectivity options on the smartphone include 3G, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and GPS/A-GPS. Videocon A55HD also comes with 'Flip To Silent' and 'Face Detection' feature.

To entice the consumers, the company is offering free protective pouch along with this smartphone.

Commenting on the launch, Khalid Zamir, Head Product Planning and Development, Videocon Mobile Phones Division, said, "The launch of Videocon A55HD heralds a new milestone, as with this device we bring to our customers best-in-class technological innovations that we are offering at a compelling price. The A55HD brings the best of 'high definition' technology, processing speed, camera quality and many more features relevant to the upwardly mobile, technology savvy and brand-conscious user."

Videocon A55HD key specifications

• 5-inch display with 720X1280pixels and OGS technology
• 1.2GHz quad-core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 4GB of Internal storage, expandable by up to 32GB
• 8-megapixel rear camera with LED Flash
• 3.2-megapixel front-facing camera
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/aGPS
• 2,000mAh battery
• Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean)

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Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Preview released

Along with the Windows 8.1 Preview, Microsoft has also introduced Internet Explorer 11 (IE 11) Preview that, according to Microsoft, offers better touch performance, faster page load times and a continuous browsing experience across users' Windows devices.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 Preview is part of the Windows 8.1 Preview release and is optimised for touch-screen devices as it uses the graphics processor of the device to process gestures such as panning, zooming, and swiping. It decodes images through the graphics processor while the CPU is used for processing dynamic page content of a webpage. The browser supports swipe gestures for going forward and back, complete with page prediction and pre-rendering for better visual feedback.

The browser now allows users to open up to 100 tabs at a given time. Microsoft says that it's using a technology to allow independent tab suspension for efficient use of memory and battery, and faster switching. It will manage content within tabs depending on the usage to achieve this. The browser supports Windows 8.1's side by side mode allowing users to browse two websites on different instances of the browser on one screen. One can also now run non-legacy Modern apps side by side in snap mode with IE 11.

With Internet Explorer 11, users can also opt to always see tabs and address bar. These UI elements were hidden in the previous version till the user right-clicked or pull down a menu using gestures.
 
One of the major features of the new browser is support for syncing tabs or windows across multiple devices. Users can sign-in with their SkyDrive user credentials on one device, and resume browsing on another. This feature is already offered by Apple's Safari browser via iCloud and Google's Chrome browser through Google account sync.

The browser also allows users to put their Favourites in different folders with custom tile pictures. Live site tiles can also be build, so users can pin a website as a tile on their Start screen that can dynamically pull data and offer updated content.

The update also brings some under the hood changes including support for hardware accelerated 3D web graphics with support for WebGL. It also supports plug-in free HTML5 video and the latest standards for closed captioning, adaptive streaming, wherein the quality of the video is adjusted depending on the available bandwidth, and rights management.

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Sony Xperia Z Ultra smartphone with 6.4-inch screen announced

After numerous leaks and rumours, Sony has officially announced the Xperia Z Ultra, a smartphone/ phablet that features a 6.4-inch display. 

The phone's design is based on Sony's OmniBalance philosophy in line with the design of the Xperia Z and Xperia Tablet Z. The phone sports a slim profile with a thickness of 6.5mm and weighs 212 grams. Sony says that the width of the phone is comparable to that of a Passport. It comes in Black, White and Purple colours. 

The Xperia Z Ultra is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and has 2GB of RAM. It offers 16GB of internal storage expandable up to 64GB via microSD card. 

The Xperia Z Ultra's screen has a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels and is the first smartphone display that integrates Sony's Triluminos technology, which the company introduced at CES with its Bravia televisions. Sony claims that through the technology the display reproduces a greater range of rich, natural colours to deliver true, natural shades. The technology also includes X-Reality for mobile, Sony's intelligent super resolution display technology which as per the company, analyses each image and reproduces lacking pixels to optimise quality for the sharpest videos.  

The phone sports an 8-megapixel Exmor RS rear camera and a 2-megapixel front facing camera. It has a 3000 mAh battery. The phone includes 4G LTE, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity options.

Just like the Xperia Z, the Xperia Z ultra is also dust and water proof and comes with IP55 and IP58 certification. It even allows users to take photos underwater. 

Another interesting feature of the Xperia Z Ultra is its handwriting recognition functionality. The phone's screen is compatible with any pencil and selected stylus or pen with tip diameter over 1mm. 

The Xperia Z Ultra comes with new and updated Sony Media Applications including new apps for Walkman, Movies and Album. 

The phone will launch globally from Q3 2013, but the exact timing of availability will vary depending on the market. Pricing has not been disclosed, yet.

 

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Microsoft Windows 8.1 Preview now available for download

At its Build developers conference, Microsoft announced that it has made the preview version of Windows 8.1, the update to its Windows 8 desktop operating system, available to the public for download.

As the word 'preview' suggests, this build is sort of a final beta and might contain some bugs so Microsoft recommends that you should only install it if you're comfortable with troubleshooting your PC. The company also warns that you might lose some functionality or encounter errors as the software is still in development stage. Also, the final version of Windows 8.1 could feature more changes.

To download the new OS, you need to visit the Windows 8.1 Preview page and download a small program. It's worth pointing out you will not be able to 'uninstall' Windows 8.1 Preview and will need to perform a fresh install if you wish to go back to Windows 8.

After executing the downloaded program, the PC will prompt you to restart and will give you an option to download the Windows 8.1 update from the Windows Store. You'll just need to follow the instructions to download and install the update.

Microsoft also lists some devices that are not compatible with the Preview, yet.

It says, "Some tablets and PCs running newer 32-bit Atom processors require updates to their graphics drivers before they can run the Windows 8.1 Preview. Those tablets and PCs include the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2, ASUS VivoTab TF810C, HP Envy X2, HP ElitePad 900, Samsung ATIV Smart PC, and Fujitsu ARROWS Tab. We are working closely with Intel and OEM partners to deliver updated drivers that will allow you to install the Windows 8.1 Preview as soon as possible."

The Windows 8.1 update features a couple of new improvements including a new Start tip that offers Start menu like functionality, desktop wallpapers for Start screen, updated search, automatic app updates, new multitasking experience, a revamped Store, better PC settings and a new version of Internet Explorer, among other changes.

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How to boost your career by upgrading skills

Sometimes, when you reach the highest position for your skill set in a particular job, you could find yourself stagnating in the firm or industry.

You may not want to switch industries because starting afresh or taking a pay cut wouldn’t be palatable. The best option in such a situation is to acquire additional educational qualification or skill set, which can boost your career.

Here’s how to determine the course of action that would be right for you.

Graduate

If you are not a graduate, and don’t have any other degree, you’re already at a disadvantage in the job market. You might be a brilliant territory sales manager for an auto firm, having risen up the ranks through hard work and perseverance, but you may not make it to a regional manager.

More often than not, a clause in the company’s HR policy will state that the qualifications required for a particular post include a graduate degree.

Even if your present employer is not short-sighted, your next one may be. Whether you are 20 years old or 40, it is worth investing in a part-time or full-time graduate degree. This will make a difference in your pay band or grade, sooner or later.

The professionals who should consider this option include those in the travel and hospitality industries, plant workers holding engineering diplomas, sales personnel and BPO employees. Remember to check with your HR team if the firm is willing to sponsor your efforts.

Generalise

If you are stagnating in your current post, try to have a more inclusive work profile. To do so, you will need to have a more generalised set of skills. Picking up a general qualification is useful when you want to switch industries, grow beyond your specialised vertical, or become the head of your department.

The most obvious option is a management qualification, which makes you more employable and improves career options. For young techies in big software companies, a full-time, 2-year MBA programme is the popular choice, while it’s the one-year, full-time executive programme for professionals in their mid-30s.

If you can’t afford to take a long break from work or need the income, go for shorter management development programmes or part-time/distance learning. There is something available in every field. If you are a doctor, a course in hospital administration will qualify you for registrar and business roles; a military officer’s chances at top leadership improve with the Staff College qualification.

Apart from managerial lear ning, consider investing in oft-ignored soft skills and communication training programmes. The impact of such courses on your personality and career far outweigh the minuscule value of the certificate.

Specialise

Do you love your professional skills but dislike managerial or leadership roles? You can jumpstart a low-voltage career by specialising further. However, choose wisely as specialisation should involve the principle of scarcity; there should be a critical demand, but low supply, of specialists in the industry.

If you are in health care, consider training in paediatric specialities, given India’s baby boom. As a pilot, you could go for a conversion course to the latest aircraft being purchased by the airline industry, where there is a shortage of qualified pilots.

A consultant or lawyer can specialise in a sector over a period of time before being selected as a partner. Even where direct benefits are not apparent, specialisation can open up new vistas.

Upgrade

Are you a skilled professional working for an old and large firm, or the government? Look no further than your organisation’s policies, where you will find detailed requirements and career progression options for each position.

If you have reached a plateau in your current role, there will be different courses and exams that will qualify you for a vertical or lateral movement. If you are in a government organisation, you will need to go through mandatory promotion courses and exams before you get your next pay grade. Even in other industries, upgrading your skills can earn a higher income.

As a commercial diver, upgrading for Hazmat (hazardous material) will qualify you for more lucrative dives. As a language worker, you can upgrade your linguistic skills to qualify as an interpreter/translator.

Cross-train

If you don’t want to generalise or specialise, pick a course that excites you. Explore ways to complement your skill sets to make you more employable. As a print journalist, who finds graphics fascinating, you can opt for a Web designing course and move to both creation and delivery of online content.

A software engineer with a fascination for accounts could enrol for a part-time course infinance and accounts, and support the sales team with its pricing and accounting. Most professionals can get a PMP (project management professional) certification. Even if you do not get an opportunity to lead a new project, it can help you rework your existing job profile and improve your output and compensation.

To ensure that the benefits are realistic, speak to people who have pursued the course.

- See more at: http://content.timesjobs.com/?p=7084&fromsite=toi&utm_source=toi&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toi-tj-whitelabel#sthash.t4EBTQnK.dpuf

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Why is EQ as important as IQ?

Studies show that a high or low EQ affects a person’s abilities to perform under pressure, resolve conflict, and cope with challenges

Ishita Royal

Emotional Quotient is a person’s proficiency to control his/her emotions and manage them best according to the situation. It is  often confused with Intelligence Quotient (IQ). The difference between EQ and IQ  is understanding emotion and understanding information. Ashima Kaul, a professor at Delhi University explains, “Your IQ can get you through college but your EQ will get you through life.”

Why is it important?

A recent poll conducted by TimesJobs.com reported the following  viewpoints regarding the importance of emotional quotient at workplace.

• 39% of the respondents says it helps build workplace relationships

Being overly emotional at work can be treacherous. It adds negativity to one’s career and is often considered unprofessional. “A high emotional quotient however, empowers the employee to feel and enjoy his/her work with passion,” stated Nakul Mehra – CEO, Vizz Media, Delhi.

• 27% says it is essential for team bonding

Everyone in the workplace has to make some decision or the other. If a team is emotionally strong they tend to work in a productive manner. A balanced emotional quotient helps in building an optimistic work relationship. “An empathetic colleague with a good emotional quotient allows for the creation of a stable work environment, crisper thought process and communication between colleagues. As human- bonding is inevitable in the workplace, a good EQ always plays a vital role in keeping the team intact,” adds Sonal Kapoor, CEO, Protsahan India Foundation.

• 18% says it helps handle stress

Regardless of how convenient one’s job is, he/she cannot escape stress at one point or the other. “A professional team high on EQ, will always have higher productivity, and will stay together even under stress, crazy deadlines or during times of crisis,” says Kapoor.

Sandeep Chaudhary, Judicial Magistrate, Kanpur explains, “In my profession, it is important to make decisions that are neutral and fair. Whether the decisions are big or small, they have a direct impact on a number of people, hence it is very important for me to balance my emotions, stay calm and resolve conflicts effectively making EQ as important as IQ. ”

In general, people often become defensive while facing criticism but by being emotionally strong one can convert criticism into constructive feedback. According to Mehra, “Our social media team is a good example of an emotionally strong team and gets positively involved with the responses they get from their clients.”  A high emotional quotient can make the difference between a professional who enjoys his/her work and is good at it, and one who considers their job a burden and can’t wait to get through the day.

- See more at: http://content.timesjobs.com/?p=7067&fromsite=toi&utm_source=toi&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toi-tj-whitelabel#sthash.XtCGj7Pv.dpuf

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Lessons from My First Job: Abhishek Joshi, Zenga Media

Abhishek Joshi, CEO, Zenga Media, shares his first job experience with TimesJobs.com

My First Job was: Ananda Bazaar Patrika Group of Publications

My experience: It was a unique experience being the first corporate exposure for a young kid out of the MBA School, it was a fantastic journey wherein I was exposed to the different functions – circulation sales, ad-sales, brand and events and that too in different locations across the country. It gave me a head-start to have a firsthand experience across the corporate structure for my future journey to head a business.

Things I learnt: People are the most important cogs in the wheel in any organization and it’s imperative to be a people manager and take them along to achieve the common objective.

Skills I Acquired: Interpersonal, analytical, negotiation, networking and strategic skills.

My Manager’s Teaching: To be intuitive and be well aware of the happenings around the space and be a quick decision maker to change course if need arises.

My Journey So Far: From an enthusiastic student of marketing to a well-grounded manager of people, resources and processes have been a fruitful and an exciting journey!

Turning Point in my Career: The last 12 years has seen many turning points in my career with every job change and every step in a different industry, role or function has been important and exciting but the most important turning point has been when I came on board of ZengaTV wherein I have a chance to govern how the business in this sunrise industry is or will be managed in the future.

My most crucial step: The most important and crucial assignment till date is with Zenga wherein I am responsible for the 2 most important constituents in the business – Viewer and the Advertiser, it’s my constant endeavor to keep the viewer engaged, entertained and sustained with the content offerings whereas on the other hand the advertiser also gets the maximum returns with every Ad-dollar spent on this platform. The 2 most important cogs in the wheel is my core responsibility and if they are well taken care of then the business will see an exponential growth in no time.

My Advice: My advice would be to never lose focus on the core objective and put all the processes in place to achieve that common goal.

Where I see myself 5 years from here: Where I will be in the next 5 years completely depends on what I do and achieve in the next couple of years, ideally would like to see myself on a beach in the Caribbean’s playing beach cricket in 5 years time!

- See more at: http://content.timesjobs.com/?p=7062&fromsite=toi&utm_source=toi&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toi-tj-whitelabel#sthash.JqndJucS.dpuf

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5 Eat right ways to a slim you

5 Eat right ways to a slim you (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

Shedding the kilos involves developing a healthy eating regime. Here are tips on getting that right...

Don't miss meals
Have at least three meals or then four smaller ones at a certain time everyday. These should contain enough cereal, protein and vegetable and fruit. If you skip a meal not only do you lower the body's metabolic rate but also tend over eat in the next one, which is harmful, state dietexperts.

Go for balance
It's wise to choose a combination of vegetables, protein, grains, minerals, fruit as well as fish, which is high in omega 3 fats that help prevent heart disease. High fibre foods like beans and whole grains are filling and low in calories. It's also recommended to have enough Vitamin C in the form of oranges or a lemon, everyday.

Don't overload...
It's said 'we eat with our eyes' therefore don't pile food onto the plate. Experts stress that an easy start to eating right is to practice portion control. Using a smaller dinner plate is smart and won't make you feel guilty. Just don't overload it, though.

Have more whole grains
Doing away with refined grains is most important when it comes to eating right and slimming down. The best sources of this are oatmeal, whole-wheat flour, bulgur (cracked wheat) and brown rice. Whole grains are said to have lower calories and they enhance one's fiber intake, which can in turn reduce blood cholesterol levels, lower your risk of cardiovascular diseases and chances of developing obesity.

Snack smarter
The next time you're pondering over what to have from a vending machine, do the right thing: walk away. Research points that snacking on chips or chocolates can hinder a diet like no other. Nutritionists advise having a healthy bite like a carrot stick or some dry fruit when you feel the munchies. A fruit is also a good option. 

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HP working on smartphone with 'differentiated experience'

HP is looking at re-entering the smartphone race and is working on launching a new device

BEIJING: Technology giant HP is looking at re-entering the smartphone race and is working on launching a new device, which will offer a "differentiated experience" to consumers.

Without giving a timeline, HP senior director, consumer PC and media tablets, Asia Pacific Yam Su Yin told that the company is focusing on all segments including tablet PCs, notebook PCs as well as all-in-ones (AIOs).

When asked if a smartphone is in the offing, she said: "The answer is yes but I cannot give a timetable. It would be silly if we say no. HP has to be in the game."

The company had bet big on the smartphone ecosystem when it purchased Palm for $1.2 billion in April 2010 but the webOS-based devices failed to take off.

With the likes of Apple and Samsung seeing a strong spurt in sales pushed by smartphones, HP also seems to be seen cashing in on the opportunity.

According to IDC, smartphone shipments are expected to grow 32.7% year-on-year reaching 958.8 million units in 2013, up from 722.5 million units shipped last year.

It also expects 2013 to mark the first year when smartphone shipments would surpass those of feature phones, accounting for 52.2% of total mobile phone shipments worldwide.

Emerging markets are forecast to account for 64.8% of all smartphones shipped during 2013, up from 43.1% in 2010.

Once it re-enters the smartphone segment, HP will have to compete with category leaders like Apple and Samsung, which together have more than 50% share of the global smartphone market.

Asked if it will be able to make up for the lost time, she said, "Being late you have to create a different set of proposition. There are still things that can be done. Its not late. When HP has a smartphone, it will give a differentiated experience."

HP is not alone in placing big bets on smartphones. Over the last few quarters, other computer makers like Lenovo and Dell have also launched smartphones to grab a share of the pie.

According to reports, after the failure of the webOS, HP is expected to turn to Android operating system, which has seen huge adoption from end users and availability of devices at multiple price points have also added to the popularity of the Google-promoted platform.

Besides, HP also plans to launch over 20 products by September across various categories like notebook PCs, AIOs, printers as well as services for enterprise users.

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Lenovo K900 review: Slim and fast phablet

Lenovo K900 smartphone

Most people know Lenovo as the company that makes laptops and desktops. It is not a firm that we think of when we start looking for our next smartphone. Lenovo's goal this year is to change this. It wants to be known as a company that doesn't only sell laptops but also the one that makes great computing devices, whether they are traditional computers or smartphones. 
In China, Lenovo has already become one of the top smartphone sellers. India, which has a similar high-volume and value-driven smartphone market, looks like a good market for the company. This is the reason why in the last month Lenovo launched six smartphones priced between Rs 32,999 and Rs 8,689. 

Of these devices, one particularly stands out. In India, Lenovo K900 is the first and only phone powered by Intel's dual-core (four-thread with hyperthread technology) Atom processor. It is also one of the slimmest smartphones in the world with a uniform thickness of 6.9mm. Finally, it is the cheapest smartphone in India to have a FullHD screen, though we hear that Micromax Canvas 4, supposed to launch on July 8, may take away this crown in the coming days. 

Of course, specifications alone don't sell the phone. Can K900 take on the other phablets like Galaxy Note II? Can Lenovo match the software and polished interface that Samsung and HTC offer in their phones? We test it out... 

Made from steel
We have seen phones with plastic shell and we have seen phones with aluminum bodies. But K900 is different. It is a phone that uses a unibody shell made of steel alloy and polycarbonate (tough plastic). The phone has an industrial design with clean rectangular shape. The back of the phone has two hues. The top and bottom part of the phone's body, made of polycarbonate (very tough plastic), are grey. The middle part is shiny steel. 

We like the materials Lenovo has used to build K900. In comparison, smartphones made of plastic feel downright cheap. Even phones that use aluminum alloy, a softer metal, seem less durable and more scratch prone. With the front of the device covered with tough Gorilla glass, K900 has a solid feel. The steel on the back inspires confidence that the device can survive coins in keys in pockets without getting scratches. 

K900 does suffer from one design issue - size. With a 5.5-inch screen and 162 gram weight, it is a big phone. That makes it using with single hand almost impossible. In fact, the height of the device means you will it difficult to reach the power button, which is the top of right side if you are using it with one hand. The slim design helps a bit but overall we find Galaxy Note II, which has a screen with similar size, much easier to hold. Reason? The boxy design of K900 gives it somewhat poorer ergonomics. Bigger devices with curvier designs and rounded edges feel better in hands. 

Fast but with tacky UI
Our experience with K900 was very good. In terms of hardware, it ticks all the right boxes. The phones feels fast and handles everyday workload very well. For example, multitasking is lag-free and switching between apps happen effortlessly. Even demanding games like Rayman Jungle Run can be played without any issues. Web browsing with multiple tabs is fast and pinch-to-zoom is smooth. GPS works well, call quality, though not exceptional in the league of Galaxy S4 or Nexus 4, is clear and network connection is maintained well. 

The highlights of K900 are its screen and camera. The 1080P screen is sharp and can show very good colours. The outdoor visibility is not as good as what offered by screens on more expensive phones like HTC One, but working on the device in sunlight doesn't feel tedious. 

The 13-MP rear camera clicks excellent images. In terms of image quality, the camera in K900 easily matches what offered by sharp-shooters like iPhone 5 and Galaxy S4. The pictures snapped with it are full of fine details, have vibrant colours and shows subjects in sharp focus. Even in low light, the K900 camera captures lot of detail, even as it tries to keep the level of noise (grain) low. 

Our only issue with K900 is the user interface (UI) used in it. K900 is powered by Android Jelly Bean. But Lenovo has stripped out the default options and loaded its customized UI on the phone. While it doesn't seem to affect the performance of the phone, Lenovo's UI neither looks great nor feels intuitive. Though, to be fair to Lenovo, the UI choices and tastes are often subjective. There are some people who love stock user interface in Android while some hate it. 

Instead of using the default icons and skins, Lenovo uses round and big icons in K900. It also uses a different default font. We feel this UI look bloated, cartoonish, and a bit unfamiliar. It also uses different kind of animations - for example the app drawer uses a flashy animation circular animation when you swipe through the list of installed apps. Similarly, the settings panel, the notification panel and quick settings, and way apps are managed on home screen have been completely changed. If you had used an Android device earlier you may take a while to get used to the interface on K900. 

While functionally, UI changes don't affect K900, we will suggest you check it out in a store before buying it. 

Battery life of the device is average. It lasts around 11 to 12 hours when used with custom settings in the battery saver app, which always runs in the background whether you require it or not. By default this battery saver app switches off the data connection and controls the brightness too aggressively when the battery gets low. To avoid that you will have to set your own battery settings. Also, we found that web browsing for some reason takes a heavy toll on K900 battery life compared to other Android devices. If you don't browse too much, you will get better battery life from the device compared to what we got on an average day. 

Should you buy it
If you don't mind the size, Lenovo K900 is a good value for money with an MRP of Rs 32,990. Other than the size and a bloated looking UI, K900 is a solid device. It is slim, has a fantasticbuild quality, a good screen and one of the best cameras ever put in a smartphone. 

At the moment, K900 has one natural competitor - Galaxy Note II. Both are big devices with large 5.5-inch screen. And while Note II debuted in the market at a much higher price, now it is selling for around Rs 35,000, which makes it a K900 competitor. Note II has more polished software features and user interface compared to K900. But it has slightly inferior camera and a 720P screen compared to a much-sharper 1080P screen on K900. The Lenovo device also has a more attractive design, though Note II feels better in hand. Note II has a significantly better battery life and comes with a useful stylus. 

Both are fine devices and you won't go wrong with either of them. But at the current prices, Lenovo K900 is slightly better value for money. 

Specs *5.5-inch capacitive touchscreen (1080 x 1920 pixels resolution)
*2GHz Intel Atom Z 2580 dual-core processor
*PowerVR SGX544MP2 graphics chip
*2GB RAM
*16GB internal storage
*13-megapixel camera, 1080P video recording
*2MP front-facing camera
*3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS
*2500 mAh battery
*Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
*Price: Rs 32,990
 

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