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Pocket ARM-Based Computers, A Revolution

UK based Raspberry Pi Foundation have developed Credit Card sized arm-based computer. Being so small in size which is perfectly made to fit inside pockets is aimed for teaching computers at schools for children.

PRODUCT FEATURE :
The initial product would work on 700 MHz frequency (can be overclocked to 1 GHz ) with 256 MB of RAM. The second variant would have double size RAM, an additional USB Port & a LAN Port.
In both the variants there would be no hard drive, both of them will use SD Cards for Storage.

PRICE: 
The main USP of these CPU are that they are available at very cheap cost. 25$ for the first variant & an additional 10$ for the second.

OPERATING SYSTEM :
It uses Linux-based Kernel for its operating system. RASPBIAN is the operating system which is developed to be fully compatible with the Raspberry Pi hardware.
Raspberry Pi is the first ARM-based multimedia SoC with fully Functional, vendor provided fully open source drivers. This means everyone can develop application as well as can modify the OS.

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE :
The underlying architecture is the same as of the ARM's with an additional Broadcom's Videocore IV GPU that would be loaded at the boot time as a form of image from the SD card. The System would be integrated on a single board and it will use Broadcom BCM2835 Chip.

POWER RATING :
The primary variant will work on 2.5 W Rating & the second variant (model B) will work on 3.5 W Rating.

COMPETITION :
Being the one of its own device, it would be compared with the cheapest competitor in the market, i.e. Akash Tablets.

AVAILABILITY : 
However the device has been released by February, 2012 for the primary variant, the dates are not disclosed for the availability of the higher model (Model B).

Do give views for the awsm invention, suggestions or any tweeks !!

Will Nokia completely die out in 2013 ?

Present Situation : 

Nokia has recently recorded its 6th consecutive loss in quarterly statements. Its seems like nokia has receding its power from the international market. Nokia which was the popular brand years ago for the mobile technology has gradually receded by not keeping up to the pace with the market strategies.
Nokia the famous finnish company for mobile phones has been producing units from 1984, the primary being the 5 KG talk phones which were mountable.

Nokia's only Profitable Product :

Technically the only products that keeping nokia alive in the market are Nokia Asha series cellphones which sells in great proportion to the developing countries like India, Pakistan, Afghanistan & other south -east Asian Countries where the demand of these cellphone are still in good ratios. With cheap touch screen, dual-sim support, integration of social media apps popularly like Facebook and twitter , nokia has maintained a decent podium for itself.

Lumia Phones :

Nokia's new investment by making lumia phones with windows platform has supported back nokia uphold in the market. Nokia has some serious plans with the new lumia series smartphones. These phones are equipped with the latest technology like wireless charging have impressed the critics too. The company has big plans for 2013 with lumia - window based smartphones but in 2012 the existing phones did not made any noticeable mark in the market yet. Also with the complete change of the linux kernel existing phones would not be upgradable to the latest windows OS which itself backfires nokia's trust from the market.

Pricing Factor :

By far nokia has produced phones for all level of pricing and has been the leader in feature phones criteria but still prices for high level phones of lumia series needs a revision check.
The Finnish Company joint venture with windows platform have supported nokia a little bit though but still there is unclear scenario as there are much better competitors in the market. With Android getting better and better with the every release and iOS being the king of all, nokia phones may saw some struggle.

However nokia propriety OS SYMBIAN, seems to have completely lost to the latest set of technology.

Global Trend for Nokia Keyword : A falling Scenario

Speculations are being made that nokia will completely vanish out from the market till 2015. Windows may have supported nokia but it wont let it stand by itself with windows OS also ported to various manufacturers like Samsung, Asus, HTC.

Nokia has to do something HATKE to be back into the race ??
How many of you think nokia should use android ? Comment your thoughts below.

See the Video Parody for the falling Nokia :

Reminder Integration with Gmail & Any.Do App.

Lately I have discovered a new integration of a chrome application from chrome store. 


       Any.Do is a smart reminder making application which integrates with your G-mail inbox and help you managing your tasks.

Just download the app. from crome store by visiting this link from Chrome : https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/anydo/kdadialhpiikehpdeejjeiikopddkjem?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon and registering it with google or facebook to get started.

Any.Do efficiently manages all your reminder in minimal style. The app. is simple, clear & much light-weight in size.

In the above pic, the tab highlighted in black boundary is the new addition to the your Gmail Inbox. The extension senses the gmail website which has been opened and seamlessly integrates to provide enhanced facility for the users to add any reminder. 

User can click on that tab to set the reminder on that day, week , or any other custom day. Also the name can be changed along with the priorities according to the reminder. Features such as alarm is also present within the extension. 

This integration has by reduced my schedule overheads and I can now simply add any reminder from my Google mail inbox directly.

Also added to the feature, this application syncs with my Android & iOS devices and I can also access them wireless. 

This application can be downloaded from google play store for android & app. store for iOS devices.

If anybody has any questions or reviews/suggestions, Comment below !

DLNA - Stream Media Across Devices

What is DLNA stands for ?
DLNA stands for Digital Living Network Alliance.

What is DLNA ?
It is an organization which establishes Standards just like NFC or Bluetooth for enabling devices for streaming media.

Who established/started DLNA ?
Sony Corporation established DLNA in 2003 as Digital Home Working Group.

What does DLNA does ?
DLNA lays down guidelines for enabling digital media such as songs,videos, documents to be accessed wireless across various DLNA enabled Media Devices such as Laptops, TVs, Printers etc.

List of DLNA Gadget enabled ?
Only companies that are member of the organization have the right to use this feature in their products. If your product's manufacturer is a member that it must support DLNA :

• HP
• Ericsson 
• LG
• Microsoft
• Motorola 
• Nokia 
• Panasonic
• Samsung
• Sharp
• Sony
• Cisco
• Broadcom

Apple is not the member as it uses its own protocol in iPhones, iPads & Mac systems.

How can I come to know that my device is compatible ?

Search the logo on your Product's Box.

What is the practical Usage of the technology ?

DLNA feature basically focuses on Entertainment Industry. One can Access or Control any programme on their Televisions with their hand-held devices. 

DLNA protocol provides the freedom by which network access could be set-up in couples of clicks or taps without intervening in the programming aspects of the technology.

What are the pre-requirements for enjoying this technology ?

You would require a Wi-Fi Router device for all other devices to be connected together whole on a single network. I would suggest to use a Single-Band Wi-Fi Router of Frequency 2.5 GHz if you are low on budget, else use Double-Band 5 GHz routers for best performance. 

Show me an Example ?

Lets Start out with the Simplest of the example. I would demonstrate the procedure on Windows 7 based Laptop in which my Music Home System is attached.

We would use :

1. Window Media Player 12 (Bundled with Windows 7) as it a certified DLNA product,

2. A smartphone which is fully DLNA compatible. I am using Sony Xperia U.

Step 1 : Connect your Laptop & Smartphone to a same Network(Router).

Step 2 : Open WM Player on Laptop, Click on Stream & tick select both the option as I have selected in the picture below.

Step 3 : Now open the media player on your smartphone to play that media, immediately you will see an option for ------- in options, Click that.

Step 4 : Scan your Network to find connected TVs, Music Systems or Laptops.

Step 5 : Select the Device of which you want to play the song.

The song would be played on your WM Player and Sound on your phone would stop playing.

Important - 

1. Dont Put your Laptop on Sleep Mode as it the procedure wont work then,

2. Do open WM Player in a separate window in Laptop before performing the procedure.

More Options ?

DLNA certificates have been obtained by almost 9,000 devices up till now. The consumers now gets a wide variety of options such as Wi-Fi - DLNA enabled Speaker Systems, DLNA enabled TVs that users can buy and simultaneously set them on a single network for having seamless control on all Devices though a single Mobile Phone.

Need more Detailed information about Communities & Possibilities ?

Open : http://www.dlna.org/

Here are some YouTube Videos Clearing the Concept !

Engineering to Entrepreneurship in INDIA

Google's Push to Happiness

Hello people !
I posted this article to ask, that how many of you knows that Google had started Entrepreneurship programmes for easing entrepreneurs by helping start their own business for more than 30 countries in the world ?

                  I would like to share some awesome news for all my friends and followers who have the dream to building their own start up which somewhere requires the help of internet to flourish and get noticed in order to increase your follow base. I have been following these programmes closely and finally decided to write it down for you.

I would keep close to the benefits/advantages which could be extracted from such programmer for students/home-makers/businessman !

Lets us have some Questions answered in order to get a clear view of the topic:

Q-1. Why Google came up with this idea ? What are the brief Goals ?
Ans. 
1. Partnerships with organizations that have both a global and local footprint to help them scale and help them engage with Google.
2. Google-led programs, such as our Women Entrepreneurs on the Web effort, to help female entrepreneurs connect online and offline at monthly meetups. Example organizations like Women 2.0
3. Helping connect startups with Google products that are relevant to their stage of growth.

Q-2. What is in the store for Indian Consumer's and the one who going for a start-ups ?
Ans.
In India, Google has seen a rising trend for technologies in past couple of years. With the increased interaction with the Google's Products like Blogger, YouTube, Ad-word  it can be clearly sited out that India is seen as a rising market for the next generation entrepreneurs. 
    
Google in already engaged in India to a large extend for example :

A). Jagriti Yatra
Its a biggest programme from Google in which nearly 400 volunteers and mentors explain the possibilities and  advantages on working with the web for extended benefits.

B). Women Entrepreneur on Web 
Its also another very successful programme in India, where Google hold seminars for women who have the potentials and just need little help, which Google provides them though their products.

Q-3. How can I have the benefits from the programme ?
Ans.
Google provided free services and a long list of products which can help your Start-up to reach million of people though internet. Some of these products include :

• Blogger
• YouTube
• Adword
• Adsense

People can use YouTube for uploading tutorials, use Blogger for posting stuff in which they are good in for their communities, Ad-word for their business marketing & promotions & similarly Adsense for earning money though posts. 

Example :
Cooking Tutorials blogs and videos by  Nagalakshmi & Archana Doshi.
Internet Tips & Gadgets Reviews like : Amit Agarwal & Ranjit

Happenings around the world and in INDIA

Google has announced an Entrepreneurs week which would but help around the world for September 23-29, 2012. Google has its own teams in 28 cities across 13 countries which will host events for entrepreneurs in their local communities in a global week of support and service.

India : GURGAON, Google's Office
The Google Gurgaon office will host an afternoon of leading entrepreneurs in a panel discussion promoting web entrepreneurship in India on 28th September 2012.




Mary Grove is the Head of Google Entrepreneurs, who worked for Google for more than 6 years for Google business programmes across various continents.

Conclusion :

1. Google is helping start-up for many next generation entrepreneurs by providing them free resources and the help that they need.
2.Various efforts have been made in particularly in India to educate women the use of technology and also how they can utilize it for earning money as well as followers.
3. Google aims at creating user generated content & a framework where people can interact, exchange ideas, make reviews through softwares and features like Google Plus hangout which strengthen the interactions among users.

My Views :
I started using Blogger from an year, and started this Blog four months back. Till now it have been proven as good investment to me as it not only provided me with monetary benefits but also has increased my awareness on the latest technology and also improved my vocabulary.

Future of NFC Technology in India

NFC or the Near Field Communication technology is the new hot topic for discussion & its application has already started to amuse everybody with its distinct features. For sure NFC has undergone tremendous development around the world but in India, still NFC is not a much discussed topic among everyone.

What is NFC ?
NFC is a radio based communication standards that works much like Bluetooth with very fast set-up time and transfer of data is made by touching those devices with each other.

Primary Use for NFC devices : Shopping !

NFC chips are designed to be used for :

1. Contact less Payments.
2. Storing loyalty & membership cards points in one place.


NFC has lot of oppurtunites in India in shopping sector, With a quarter of million people in India have started using smartphones, it would not be unfair to say that in early 2013 NFC would pick up fast pace in the mobile market and its feature would also increase with the passage of time.

With lots of device coming up with improved NFC standards, many popular Franchises like McDonald's, Pizza Hut could start adopting this technology which would not only reduce their overheads also but also popularize the technology as well.
Many Coffee Cafe are already providing free Wi-Fi services, but they also have started the use of NFC Tags, which are the hardware devices which reads and Communicates with the NFC chips mobile which just a TAP.

1. In this way user would get to know the Menu, special discounts and offers at that instant.

2. Hence we could evaluate that it would definitely reduce manpower overhead and confusion level and would also save us from waiting in long Que.

With the coming of Walmart (Retail Store) announced this September in India, NFC could come in limelight. There could be a possibility that many Desi Retail stores like Big Bazaar, More, D-mart, would use the same technology for their consumer for getting ahead in the competition.

Advanced NFC chips would be more secured for transactions and would be connected with many social applications like foursquare, Twitter & Facebook for instant Check-ins, and also it would create a new level of possibilities for the consumers.

Implementations : 

1. Google Wallet : A new concept tested and implemented by Google, in which they demonstrates how NEXUS devices from Google, which use android operating system capable of making contact less payments for transactions and clubbing of all loyalty and membership cards at one place. 

2. Transit Ticketing : Used for Transit Ticketing in Austria 


SUMMING UP :

What would be the direct profits from the technology ?

1. No waiting in Long Que
2. No carrying of Wallet
3. All Memberships cards at one place
4. Reduced Workforce & improved functionality in quality of work.

Videos : 

1. Google Wallet Concept




2. Google Wallet in Action

Only thing to look before buying a digital cam

Digital Camera is not an ordinary device, it is a gadget for capturing memories and those moments that would be bring back those cherished days by simply glancing them after a long time.

Some of the Factors to keep in mind for amateur as well as for a professional photographers are :

Camera Sensors :

The primary and the foremost thing to keep in mind before heading toward the idea of buying a camera is the Camera's Image Sensors. 

It is the heart & brain of the camera, without it the word, Camera becomes meaningless. Sensor basically senses the light the falls on it. It was a concept that was introduced in digital cameras after the film camera became old.

Mega-pixel is a Meaningless Factor :

By far we have came across advertisements in various newspaper, magazines, televisions that promote users to compare cameras on the factor of the mega-pixel abilities & the size of the display screen but guys believe me , they are not the only thing to look for in a camera. 

Remember "Mega-pixel is not everything."

This can be explained as, my Canon EOS 20D camera which is mere 8 mega-pixel produces more vivid quality pictures as compared to taken by my other Canon 12 mega-pixel IXUS camera, which is generally full of noise under low light environments. 

Mega Pixel is just used for the printing purposes, thats tell the image size in pixels.

Go for higher Optical Zoom than for Digital Zoom

The last small factor is based on zoom. Always choose a camera with high optical zoom if you wish for landscape photography. While digital zoom, fills up the noises in the photograph & provides a low rendered image, optical zoom let you to travel to the point of zoom virtually by the adjust of the lens in it.

The motor that pops the lenses in and out while focussing the subject adjust the lens for getting crisp images. Carl Zeiss lens, the largest lens maker provide their lens to be used by major digital cameras & by some mobile phones.

Detailed Factors for Professional Photography :

The main 3 factors that influence every photograph taken by any camera are : 

• Shutter Speed - Controls duration of exposure
• ISO                - Controls sensitivity of camera to light
• Aperture         - Controls area over which light enters into camera

One can click a picture with the different combinations of the above three factors and yes, Sky is the limit. 

Wrapping Up the Article

Remember you can always change/replace Batteries, Accessories, Cards but you can never replace sensors. So buy the product with an open mind. Always go for a camera which has large image sensors which would render high quality picture with low level of noise.

Courtesy : Flikr, Wikipedia, Engadget, Cambridge in Colour