New cardboard helmet: Lighter and Safer

An Indian-origin researcher has designed a new lighter and safer bicycle-helmet entirely made up of cardboard.

The helmet 'Kranium' has been constructed by cardboard and designed by Royal College Art Student Anirudha Surabhi, which promises to be 15 percent lighter than standard helmets, while absorbing up to three times the impact energy during the collision.

Surabhi was inspired to create the Kranium following a nasty fall from his bicycle which caused a cracked helmet and minor concussion.

The designer was also inspired by the woodpecker's ability to withstand repeated heavy impact, thanks to the bird's unique corrugated cartilage structure which separates beak from skull.

The Formula 1 team Force India is incorporating the Kranium technology in to its own helmet design, the report said. The Kranium is waterproof and boasts some green credentials, due to it being manufactured from recycled paper.

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Pakistan lifts YouTube ban

Pakistan government on Saturday lifted its 3-month ban on YouTube,  imposed to cut off access to clips from anti-Islam film, only to reinstate it within less than an hour.

The Pakistan telecommunication authority directed internet service providers and mobile phone firms to unblock YouTube on Saturday afternoon. Within an hour, however, PM Raja Pervez Ashraf reinstated the ban after a right-wing journalist from the Jang news group reported that the anti-Islam film, "Innocence Of Muslims" could still be accessed on YouTube.

Interior Minister Rehman MAlik had tweeted on Friday that Pakistani authorities would lift the ban on YouTube within 24 hours. He said that "there was a great demand to unblock YouTube from all sections of society."

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Audi to hike prices up to Rs. 3.69 lakh from Jan 2013

Audi India has announced the details of increase in prices of its model range available in India. The price increase would range between Rs. 59,000 to Rs. 3.69 lakh across the range starting from Jan 1, 2013.

"The rise in input cost,, depreciating rupees as well as continuous increase in fuel prices have made us re-evaluate our pricing strategy in India and increase the prices of our entire model range. However we are offering our customers customized and innovative finance options from Audi Finance which will make their purchase more attractive," said Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India.

Audi has already exceeded its 2012 sales target of 8,000 units and hopes to touch the revised target of 8,600 units for calendar. Its country wide dealer network now stands at 24 with the most recent one being Audi Ahmedabad.

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Airtel launches Wi-Fi hangouts for prepaid users

Bharti Airtel has launched a new Wi-Fi hotspot service, called Wi-Fi hangouts. The service is available for Airtel prepaid customers Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Banglore regions.

With the new hotspot service, Airtel subscribers can access the company's public hotspots by activating 'Airtel Wi-Fi Zone' vouchers available on the company website. "Now you can enjoy a broadband internet experience even outside your home. Whether at your favourite cafe, restaurant or local hangout. Airtel Wi-Fi guarantees a secure and reliable connectivity on your laptop or handled device," says Airtel on its website.

For 30 minutes of unlimited usage on the Wi-Fi, users will be charged for Rs. 20. For one hour or two hours of unlimited usage, users are charged Rs. 30 and Rs. 50 respectively. You can find out more information About Airtel's Wi-Fi hangout service on Airtel's website.

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Samsung sold 10 million galaxy devices in India

Korean Electronics company, Samsung said it has sold more than 10 million Galaxy devices in the Indian market since the launch of first Galaxy device, 'Galaxy S' in June 2010.

"Innovative devices like the, Samsung Galaxy S, Galaxy S II, Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Y have caught the imagination of customers and helped us democratize the smartphone experience in the Indian market," Samsung VP Asim Warsi tols PTI.

This has helped Samsung sell more than 10 million Galaxy devices in the Indian market since June 2010, when the first Galaxy device was launched, he added.

According to Cyber Media Research India Mobile Handsets Market Review, India shipments of mobile handsets was recorded at 102.43 million units during January-June 2012.

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Toshiba preparing to launch 20-MP image chip for digital cameras

Tokyo based firm Toshiba is planning to launch a 20-MP image sensor for digital cameras that it says will be the highest resolution of its kind.

According to the firm the new chips will be able to support capturing 30 frames per second at full resolution. They will also be able to shoot videos at 60 frames per second at 1080P or 100 frames at 720P.

Toshiba said it will begun shipping samples of the new CMOS chips from next month, the mass production to begin in August of 3,00,000 units per month.

The Japanese manufacturer said it has increased the amount of information pixels in the new chip can store as compared to its previous generation of CMOS, producing better overall images.

Toshiba says its goal is to achieve a 30 percent market share in CMOS sensors for digital cameras in the fiscal that ends in March 2016.

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Huawei launches Ascend Android G330 for Rs. 10,990

Initially announced at IFA this year the Ascend G330 is now available in the country with online retailing portal Snapdeal for Rs. 10,990. Though the device is also listed on Flipkart for Rs.10,999, the device is currently out of stock.

The Ascend G330 has a 4-inch IPS capacitive touch screen display and a 5 MP auto focus camera with LED flash. And the Ascend G330 comes with a 1GHz dual-core processor, Android 4.0 and a front facing camera.

The company has also partnered with other telecom operators like Spice and Airtel to launch the smartphones in the Acsend series in India. 

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Samsung India launches Galaxy Music Duos

Samsung India has officially launched the Galaxy Music Duos smartphone in the Indian market. The company had unveiled it internationally in October 2012 and begun taking pre-orders in the first week of December.

The official cost of the device in India is Rs. 9,199, thought the street price is Rs. 8,990.

The all new Galaxy Music Duos is a dual-SIM smartphone aimed at music lovers and comes with two speakers in the front, a dedicated music key and audio technologies like Music Alive and SRS. The device sports a 3-inch LCD touchscreen with 240 x 320 pixel resolution and runs on an 850 MHz processor with 512MB RAM. It has 4GB internal memory and 32GB microSD for expansion.

Powered by a 1,300 mAh battery, the device comes with a 3MP camera without flash and also misses a front-facing snapper. For connectivity Samsung Music Duos features Wi-Fi, 3G, 2G, Bluetooth 3.0 and microUSB .

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Tata Nano diesel, mini SUV and more: Expect fireworks over next 18 months

Tata Motors has announced the that the next 18 months will see a firework of outputs from them. They will be launching new cars like the Nano diesel and a compact SUV in the Indian auto industry to revive their profile in the Indian auto declining sales figures in the passenger car segment, has pushed Tata Motors to get back to the drawing board and design new cars from the scratch.

Tata's last big car launch came four years ago in the form of Nano, and their last passenger car which managed to make an impact on the industry, was the Indica which was launched 14 years back. Tata Motors have said that they will be investing $1.36 billion in the passenger vehicle segment over the next five years.

Tata Motors should have evolved naturally in the Indian auto industry, just like Mahindra and Maruti. But probably passenger car segment was not their segment. This is evident from the fact that Tata Motors previous two heads were heads of their commercial vehicle segment. But Tata is shifting their focus, or increasing their focus towards the passenger car segment.

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Videocon launches A20, A30 dual-SIM Android smartphone in India

Videocon has launched two Android smartphones in the Indian market today. Dubbed as A20 and A30, both the smartphones belong to the entry-level segment and come with dual-SIM connectivity.

According to a press release issued today, Videocon A20 and A30 are now available across the country at all major retail stores.

Videocon A20 features Android 2.3, 1 GHz Qualcomm processor, 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1,350 mAh battery, 3MP rear camera, front VGA camera, expandable memory up to 16 GB, Bluetooth, FM radio with recording and GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA connectivity.

Company has also preloaded apps like Facebook, TOI, ET, History Eraser, Gesture Search, Google applications on the Videocon A20. The smartphone has been prices at Rs. 4,999.

on the other hand, Videocon A 30 will be sold at Rs. 7,299 and comes with 1GHz dual-core qualcomm processor, Android 4.0, 4.0-inch WVGA capacity display, 1,500 mAh battery, FM radio with recording , expandable memory up to 32GB, Bluetooth, GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA capabilities along with Wi-Fi and GPS.The A30 alsp comes with pre-loaded apps.

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Too much internet use my leave kids 'Brain Dead'

A Google generation which relies on the internet for everything is in danger of becoming 'Brain Dead', a  leading UK inventor has warned.

Trevor Baylis, who invented the wind-up radio said children are loosing creativity and practical skills because they spend too much time in front of screens.

The 75-year old from Twickenham, south-west London, said he fears that the next generation of investors is being lost, with young people often unable to make anything with their hands, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

He said children could rediscover vital skills if schools use practical toys like Meccano, a model construction system.

"They should use computers as and when, but there are so many people playing with their computers nowadays that spend all their time sitting there with a stomach," he said.

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Zync launches six budget dual-SIM phones

Zync Global Private Limited has launched six new low cost dual-SIM phones namely Zync C18, Zync C21, Zync C22, Zync C24, Zync C27 and Zync C30. All the mobile phones are priced at RS. 1,399, Rs. 1,990, Rs. 1,990, Rs. 1,990, Rs. 1,990 and Rs. 2,499 respectively.

The common features of the Zync devices include 4GB memory card, USB connectivity, Bluetooth support, dual-LED torch light, 1.3 MP camera with video recording, music play and FM radio. The box contains accessories like in sales package battery, charger, user manual, headset, handset and a warranty card. All the phones can support Facebook, Yahoo, MSN etc.

"This is the first time we have entered the mobile phone category. With the mobile phone growing with leaps, we felt this was the right time to expand our horizon and enter the new territory. With the launch of these six new cell phones, we aim to bring a powerful and dependable price with great features at a very affordable price point," says Amul Mittal, Co-founder, Zync Global.

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Supersized telescope to help humans in making contact with aliens within 12 years

Whether alien life exists or not could be confirmed by 2024 with the help of a supersized 1.3 billion-pound radio telescope.

Former ministry of defence UFO project leader Nick Pope, said that the development of the square kilometer array telescope would reveal "new and exciting possibilities," the Daily Express reported.

If everything goes according to the plan the square kilometer Array will be fully operational and humans could be able to make contact with the aliens with 12 years, said Pope, who studied UFO sightings at the MoD for 21 years.

The square kilometer array to be started in 2016, is set to be the world's largest radio telescope and will answer some of the fundamental unanswered questions of our universe.

Made up of thousands of radio wave receptors covering 1,900 square miles of Earth's surface in the Australian outback, scientists have claimed it will provide alternative views of the universe that thoise seen with optical telescopes.

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Acer to launch affordable Windows and Android tablet next year

Acer may not be doing well with Android based smartphones, but the company has been a competitor in the Android based tablet market. Recent reports suggest that Acer will launch a $99 Android tablet next year.

The tablet will be much affordable than the Asus Nexus 7 and it will feature some decent hardware. The $99 Acer tablet will feature a 7-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels and it will be powered by a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz.

Further Acer is also expected to launch a low cost Windows 8 based tablet device which may not match the $99 price, but can be one of the most affordable Windows tablet in the market.

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Intex launches iBuddy Connect tablet for Rs. 7,990

Intex technologies have announced the launch of its 7-inch SIM based tablet, the Intex iBuddy Connect at a price of Rs. 7,990. The company has launched this tablet keeping the youth in mind.

The company is releasing the tablet at an affordable price of Rs. 7,990. As part of an introductory offer, Intex has also bundled it with an exclusive leather cover that  has a keyboard attached. The accessory is worth Rs. 1,500 and is given to customers for free.

The tablet has an ultra-slim design and supports 5-point touch ca[abilities. It runs on Android 4.0 IceCream Sandwich and sports 4GB internal memory that is expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. This tablet is powered by a 1 GHz processor and has 512 MB of DDR3 RAM.

This tablet comes with a dual-camera support, a 2 MP camera at the back along with a VGA camera at the front, which is capable of making video calls. To keep the device up and running it is endowed with 3,000 mAh lithium Ion battery.

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Apple may launch a fifth-generation by 2013

Apple may launch a fifth generation tablet next March, in keeping with its yearly Spring releases of previous models,a media report said.

According to an inside source of the tech blog Macotakara, the new iPad will look like iPad Mini in design and the dimensions of a slightly smaller iPad 2, the Daily Mail reported.

There are currently three models of iPad: The first iPad, the iPad 2 and the iPad Retina Display - all measuring the same.

Apple released a faster version of the iPad Retina this March and some people refer to this as the iPad 4.

The new model according to Macotakara, would feature the Retina Display with the same resolution as the third fourth generation iPads, the Mail added. 

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Airtel launches new 3G plan that can be shared between 3 devices

India's leading telecom brand has announced a new 3G plan data for the customers, which allows one to share unlimited data usage amongst two of their family members or among three of his/her own devices.

Under the Airtel's data share plan, the subscriber will have to shell out Rs. 1,000 per month and can use 3G on upto three smart devices. There is a cumulative gap of 5GB, on exhaustion of which the Airtel user can continue to use unlimited data but at the speed of 80 kb per second.

The data share plan is open to all Airtel subscribers but all the three connections should belong to the same telecom circle.

To subscribe to this plan, the subscribers can either click here or subscribe via sending an SMS.

Though on the surface, it looks Airtel is promoting the idea of sharing 3G data between family and friends but it will also be beneficial for people who have more than one connected device and are looking at having a unified data bill for all the devices. Irrespective of how the subscribers uses this plan. this is a good initiative to increase the number of 3G devices in the country and hopefully other operators will follow suit.

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Reliance offers unlimited usage of Facebook Messenger at Rs. 16 only

Reliance has launched a new plan for all prepaid users. This plan will let them make unlimited usage of the Facebook messenger app at Rs. 16 per month only.

The offer is valid for Reliance GSM subscribers across the country. The Facebook Messenger plan has a validity of 30 days from the date of recharge and the plan is auto-renewed every 30 days unless you subscribe.

The Facebook Messenger app is available for Android, Blackberry and iOS users. Recently Facebook gave Android users in India the option to download the app and log in with just their name and mobile number. Previously you needed a Facebook account to use the app.

The Facebook Messenger app is currently at number 5 in the top free Android apps.

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Renault Duster to take part at Dakar Rally

After tasting immense success in the Indian markets, feature packed Sports Utility Vehicle Renault Duster is ready to take part at next year's edition of the globally renowned-off road motor sporting Dakar Rally.

According to a report, the special version of Renault Duster's participation at Dakar Rally will entertain global audience. The french auto major, which has been instant hit with its Duster model in Indian passenger car market, enjoys the title of market leader in its segment.

The Dakar rally is one of the most famous and peculiar off-road motor sporting race in the world. It is considered as the Mecca of SUV featuring motor sports organised on the demanding deserts and arid terrains.

"The specially designed and assembled Renault Duster model for the race has been trimmed with a number of interesting notifications in its under the hood configuration, suspension system and drive train. Accordingly, the two super powerful Duster models will be powered by a 3.5 litre, V6 petrol motor, which could churn out an impressive peak power output close to 300 bhp. The drive train is going to feature an All Wheel Drive (AWD) configuration and the engine assembly is mated to a six speed sequential transmission system," the report said.

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Aakash assembled, programmed in India: Datawind

Datwind, the maker of Aakash tablet PC said assembling and programming of the low-cost tablet has been done in the country and only some parts have been sourced from China.

"For the first 10,000 units for IIT, and for expediency sake we had the motherboards and kits manufactured in our Chinese subcontractor's facilities, and then the units have been kitted in China at various manufacturers for expediency, whereas the final assembly and programming has happened in India," Datawind said in a statement.

The company said it got the approval from the government to procure components from China.

"This was well discussed as we got approval prior to shipping. The initial devices were assembled and programmed at our facilities in New Delhi and Amritsar," it said.

The first one lakh devices will be provided to students of engineering colleges and universities and subsequently these will be distributed to others.

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Mahindra Xylo marks its success with 1 million Facebook fans

After Scorpio, Xylo came out to be a huge success for Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. Xylo is pretty much liked by the consumers all round the world. This car from Mahindra is a hit on social networking giant too.

Mahindra and Mahindra was pleased to announce that the fan following for its Xylo model has crossed the 1 millionth mark. This a second overwhelming moment for Mahindra and Mahindra after its Scorpio model registered a huge fan base on the social networking giant.

Xylo is a multi-purpose vehicle and is doing well in Indian market as there are more than 1 lakh vehicles on the road till date.

With its fan following on Facebook, Mahindra and Mahindra encourages its fans to post about the vehicle so as to gather information which will benefit users all over. This type of customer/consumer interaction helps to bolster the brands philosophy of letting people have a 'Time of their Life'.

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3 simple tips to fix damage smartphone

A modern day tech-user has taken to buy handheld mobile devices like never before. For most of us carrying a smartphone or tablet is no different than carrying our wallet. But like most electronic devices   something or other can go wrong with your device.

The worst part of owing these devices come if one has to take them to service centre. Many problems are either not covered in the warranty, or a heavy bill and inconvenience awaits the user. In fact the experience of going to a service centre can be a nightmarish experience in itself with the best of brands.

But more often than not, the condition of your favourite gadget may actually not be as bad as it seems and you can fix the problem yourself by following some simple steps. Here are some tips.

Scratches on the Screen
Using your smartphone without a screen guard is not really a brave action because the scratches that will appear on your screen after sometime will really pinch you hard.

Well, toothpaste can help you fix those scratches and make your phone's screen as shiny as your teeth,Just put toothpaste on the screen and gently rub it in circular motion with a soft cloth or cotton and then wipe the whole thing with a soft and slightly damp cloth.

Phone shuts-off randomly
Another common problem that occurs with smartphones is that they randomly shut off. Well, this points towards two things: Either you have dropped your phone a good number of times or the battery is loose.

Buying a new battery can be expensive solution especially when you can solve this problem with just a tiny piece of paper. All you have to do is to take a tiny bit of paper and fold it. Then open the back cover of your phone and insert the folded bit of paper between the edge of the battery and edge of the phone, on the opposite sides where the terminals of the battery are located. This will keep the battery firmly in place and stop your phone from shutting down.

Stuck Pixels
Stuck pixels are the dead pixels that appear on the smartphone screen as a stationary black dot or a bright white or red spot. You can try removing them by gently massaging the area around the stuck pixel with a soft cloth. By this method you are allowing the pixel to reorient itself and regain color.

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AMD launches A-Series processors in India

Global computer chip maker AMD on Thursday launched its next generation of chipsets offering faster processing, better graphics and affordable performance to desktop users, especially those using gaming PCs.

The new range - A-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APU)  - is available at prices ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 8000.

"While many says PCs are dying, we believe we are at the dawn of a new era in computing. The new generation of APUs provide a combination of processing speed, multiple compute cores and discrete level graphic capabilities, making it excellent platform for Gamers and PC enthusiasts alike," AMD India Managing Director Ravi Swaminathan told reporters here.

AS per an IAMAI report, gamers constitute over 41 percent of the total active internet users in India. Some industry reports suggest the Indian gaming sector achieved revenues of Rs. 1,300 crores last year.

AMD aims to offer rich graphics/gaming experience to entry and mainstream users as well, who would otherwise not invest in a dedicated graphics processors (GPUs), he said. 

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Nokia 808 PureView now available for Rs. 25,000

Here is a good news for those who were thinking of buying Nokia 808 PureView. This phone is best known for its 41-megapixel camera and now you can buy it for Rs. 25,000 only. That's a significant price cut from its launch price of Rs. 33,899.

Aside from the camera that has won rave reviews, the Nokia 808 PureView features a 4-inch display, a 1.3 GHz single-core processor, 512 MB RAM and 16 GB of on-board memory that is expandable using a micro-SD card. Unfortunately the phone runs on the dated Nokia Belle platform. While it was difficult to recommend the Nokia 808 PureView at its earlier price, at Rs. 25,000 it is definitely worth another look specially for photography enthusiasts. 

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Aakash-2 launched with more new features

The advanced version of the low cost tablet Aakash launched by President Pranab Mukherjee at an event in New Delhi.

Coming at a price tag of Rs. 1,130 for students, the new version 'Aakash-2' will be made available to students of engineering colleges and universities to begin with, is now powered by a processor running at 1 GHz, has 512 MB RAM, a 7-inch capacitive touch-screen and battery life of three hours on Wi-Fi.

Aakash-2 runs on Android 4.0 (Ice-cream Sandwich) and has a front facing VGA camera along with Wi-Fi support. It has 4 GB (internal) flash memory, which is expandable upto 32 GB using a micro-SD card.

The first one lakh devices will be provided to the students of engineering colleges and universities and subsequently these will be distributed to others.

Over 15,000 teachers at 250 colleges have been trained on how to use the Aakash for education.It will be used for classroom teaching.

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Google launches Nexus 7 in India

'Gadget of the Year' and the highest selling tablet Google's Nexus 7 is no available in India starting at Rs. 19,900.

Asus the Taiwan based technology company responsible for manufacturing Google's Nexus 7 tablet claims the device has just hit 1 million sales a month milestone. Released in July, the Nexus 7 was Google's first tablet. Google's Nexus 7 has become the highest selling Android tablet just three minths after its launch, a media report said Monday.

Specifications of this tablet from Google include:
Operating System: Android Jelly Bean (4.1)
RAM: 1GB DDR3L
Storage: 16GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0
Camera: 1.2MP (front)
Battery: 4325mAh
Display: 7" WXGA (1280 x 800)
Sensor: G-gensor, light sensor, gyroscope, e-copmass, GPS, NFC, hall sensor
CPU: NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30L Quad-Core @ 1.3 GHz
GPU: GeForce 12-Core, 3D stereo 

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Indian-origin CEO of Datawind and MIT professor among Forbes top-15 education innovators

Indian-origin CEO of Datawind, the maker of India's low-cost tablet, Aakash, Sunit Singh Tuli ans Massachusettes Institute of Technology professor Anant Agarwal have been named by Forbes magazine among the 15 "classroom revolutionaries" who are using innovative technologies to reinvent education for students and teachers globally.

The Forbes list names 15 education innovators who are "harnessing a slew of disruptive technologies to change everything from the way we teach grade school math to how we train next generation of teachers,"

The publican said Tuli is the "mastermind" behind the world's cheapest tablet computer Aakash, " which has the potential to revolutionise educational access in the developing world".

Agarwal, 53, a professor of computer science at MIT is also the President of edX, the new combined online offerings of Harvard, MIT, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Texas.

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Tata Nano special edition launched in India

For the festive season, Tata Motors has launched a special edition of the Nano in India. The special edition LX variant now gets alloy wheels, new decals, glove boxes for both driver and passenger and a twin speaker audio system with mp3, USB and AUX-in.

Additionally Tata claims to have improved the suspension set-up, added an anti-roll bar at the front and made the car easier to steer. The LX trim has beige interiors, the CX rich black and graphite in the standard trim. All Nano variants come with a four year/60,000 km warranty, whichever is earlier.

Currently Tata is offering new accessories in the special edition for free. The Nano is also sold without this package and customers can avail of other cash benefits.

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Honda to launch its first diesel car in India

Japanese car major Honda today said it will launch its first diesel vehicle in India next fiscal and it will be an entry-level sedan, named 'Amaze' developed on the platform of its existing small car 'Brio'.

"The new entry sedan will be called the 'Amaze', and it will ne launched in Thailand and India. The details of the model will be announced later this month in Thailand and next financial year,2013-14, in India," Honda cars India said in a statement.

Asia Honda Motor Co today unveiled the name of the entry-level sedan that will be developed on the platform of Brio, it added.

Honda plans to introduce the Amaze to accommodate the diversifying needs of customers in automobile markets in Asia, where competition is intensifying, it added.

Talking about the models features, Honda said: "The car offers amazing power delivery yet with class leading fuel efficiency, while sustaining core Honda values to appeal to the growing base of middle class customers aspiring to own a Honda sedan." 

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DRDO and other key government websites hacked

Several key government websites were hacked late on Wednesday night. These included the websites of DRDO and five other government departments. A site hosted by the advisor to the Prime Minister was also hacked.

Algeria based hackers have been blamed for the hacking. The message pasted on the websites after they have been compromised read: 'SanFour 25 Algerian Hackers' minutes after the hacking.

The biggest hack was on the site of the Recruitment and Assessment Centre operated by the DRDO that deals with the Recruitment of the Scientists to the several laboratories of the DRDO. The website was down for almost 9 hours.

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Zync launches Z1000 Android tablet for Rs. 10,990

Zync has launched a new 9.7-inch tablet in India for Rs. 10,990. Known as the Zync 1000, the tablet is already available with online retailers like Snapdeal and Homeshop18.

The Zync Z1000 ships with Android 4.0 and features a 9.7-inch capacitive multi-touch IPS display with a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution. The tablet comes with two cameras on-board; a 2MP rear camera and a front VGA camera.

On the inside, the tablet is powered by a 1.5GHz single-core Cortex A8 processor with 1GB RAM. Other specs include 8GB internal storage with external expansion upto 32GB via microSD card. Ports and slots on the tablet include a mini HDMI port, two Micro-USB ports, a SIM card slot and a 3.5mm audio jack.

On the connectivity front, the device supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Bluetooth v2.0, the Z1000 comes with stereo speakers, a built-in microphone, and a 7,000mAh battery. The company is also offering one month free subscription for Bigflix.

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Windows 8 now available in India for Rs. 699 and Rs. 1,999

Microsoft on Thursday launched the much awaited version of its new operating system, Windows 8 in the national capital, about three and half hours before its launch in the United States.

The new Operating System which aims to be fast, fluid and fun is a mishmash of multitasking capabilities with a crisp and intuitive user interface and cluster of groups of applications which can be accessed simultaneously.

Old Window users who have at least Windows XP or a Windows 7 PC, can also upgrade to Windows 8. Those who bought a PC June 2 onward this year can upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8 for just Rs. 699. Others can update their Operating System via an electronic software download which will cost Rs. 1,999. The company will provide technical support for Windows 7 till January 14, 2020.

All Windows 8 devices will also come with the Windows App store which sees around 700 apps added to each day. Among the apps for the Indian users are popular apps like PVR, Dhingana, Make My Trip, Burpp and Book My Show among others.

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All new Chevrolet Spark launched for Rs. 3.26 lakhs

General Motors India on Thursday launched an all new version of its entry level small car Chevrolet Spark, starting at Rs. 3.62 lakh.

The new Spark is available in both Petrol and LPG options and is costlier by up to Rs. 10,000 from the existing comparable versions of the model, which will be discontinued, the company said.

The small car is now available between Rs. 3.26 lakh and Rs. 3.81 lakh for the petrol variant and Rs. 3.81 lakh and Rs. 4.10 lakh for the LPG option.

Apart from new design such as the twin-port grille, the new Spark is powered by a 1-litre petrol engine with new age innovations that ensure smooth, noiseless, efficient, powerful, reliable and low maintenance operation, the company said.

General motors India is offering a three-year/1,00,000 km standard warranty under the Chevrolet Promise Cost of Ownership Programme, which also provides free maintenance for three years or 45,000 km.

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Xbox games to get more expensive

Microsoft has significantly bumped up the prices of all first party Xbox 360 games in India.

Master Chief's latest adventure, Halo 4, will now set you back by a whooping Rs. 3,299 while the limited edition will be available for Rs. 4,599. The open world racer, Forza Horizon's Limited Edition will cost the same as Halo 4, but the Standard Edition will sit a bit cheaper at Rs. 2,999.

The price hike isn't just applicable to the core games; Kinect titles like Dance Central 3, Nike+ Kinect Training, Kinect Sports Ultimate and Fable; The journey will all hit the Rs. 2,999 mark.

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Samsung to launch Ultra high Definition TV by next year

Korean Electronics giant Samsung is going to introduce ultra high definition television sets in Indian market by the end of next year. Samsung has developed the technology for ultra hogh definition TV and will roll out the technology globally in 2013. The minimum resolution offered by the ultra high definition television would be 3840 x 2160 pixels or 8.3 megapixels.

"We have developed the technology and are ready with it. We are planning to introduce it globally sometime in the next year and in India the launch will happen by the end of next year," Samsung India Electronics General Manager (AV Division) Taeho Park told reporters here. The company is not launching the ultra high definition television immediately as the content is not yet available for it, he added.

He also added "Many of our competitors are also working on this technology, which uses four times more pixels than the high definition TVs. Samsung has developed it in Korea and we will sell ultra high definition television in India by importing them from Korea. he however declined to share details such as possible price range or the size of the panels.

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Store Potatoes with an Apple to save them from sprouting

In this post of tips and tricks section we are going to tell an amazing tip "how to save your potatoes from sprouting". Every one of us hate those ugly sprouts that came out of our potatoes after just a couple of weeks. 

But as we say "an Apple a day keeps the Doctor away". Just like that an Apple a day might keep those sprouts away and help the potatoes last longer. 

In an experiment it is found that the ethylene gas produced by apples prevents potatoes from sprouting. Since apples also cause other fruits to ripen too quickly, storing the apples away from them is good for your other products too. 

The apple and potato storage tip has been proven by America's Test Kitchen. In their experiment potatoes stored with apples stayed firm and sprout-free even after eight weeks, compared to the potatoes stored without an apple. 

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LG Optimus L7 gets a price cut by 20 percent in India

LG might not necessary be the most popular brand in India, but there is a good news for those who are looking for a new LG smartphone. The price of the LG Optimus L7 has dropped from Rs. 19,990 to Rs. 15,990. The Optimus L7 is one of the models from the latest range of smartphones released by LG last month known as the L series.

This device is one of the mid-ranged smartphones which come pre-installed with Android 4.0 ICS. Other features of this device include 1GHz processor alongwith 512MB of RAM and 2.7GB of internal memory. It also sports a 4.3-inch display and 5 megapixel camera with LED flash. This smartphone also boasts a 1. megapixel front-facing camera which enables you to make video calls. Connectivity features of this phone include WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G capability.

Check out the full details of this smartphone here.

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Apple introduces 80% thinner iMac

Apple on Tuesday launched the next-generation iMac. The latest offering from Apple comes in two display sizes 27-inch and 21.5-inch.

The new iMac is 80% thinner than the previous generation at 5mm. The new iMac was introduced by Apple's Senior Vice President for Marketing, Phil Schiller. It comes equipped with a FaceTime HD camera and stereo sound.

"The iMac comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse," said Schiller. The 21.5-inch version of the iMac is priced starting at $1299.

Apple also introduced a new 13-inch Macbook Pro. The computer which weights 3.5 pounds is the lightest Macbook Pro that Apple has ever made, claimed Phil Schiller.

The Macbook line-up from Apple has Macbook Air for $999, Macbook Pro for $1199 and Macbook Pro with retina display for $1699.

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Nokia to launch affordable Lumia in November

Smartphone giant Nokia today unveiled its most affordable phone in the Lumia series which will be available in the country starting first week of November.

Although the company did not divulge the exact price but said it will be priced below Rs. 11,000. "With the Nokia Lumia 510 we continue to meet our commitment to bring Windows phone to new, lower price points," Nokia India Director and Head Vipul Mehrotra said.

He said the phone is designed with Indian consumer in mind and hence the company is launching it first in India.

The phone features a four-inch display and has a 5 megapixel camera.

With this latest addition to the Lumia series, the company is looking to strengthen its position in the smartphone segment.

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CNG version of Nano to hit market in six months

Tata Motors plan to do more with the Tata Nano and is working on repositioning it to find the right kind of customer.

A new CNG version is expected to hit the market in the next six months, but the diesel version is expected to take a little more time, said Karl Slym, MD, Tata Motors..

Admitting that Nano has not met expectations, Slym said the product has seen a resurgence in the last quarter, having sold 9,000 units a month. The company would launch a next-generation version of the Nano in the next three years and would look at all kinds of options for this, he said.

"The Nano is not just a car for Tata Motors, but is a brand name for the company. The Nano is also important for India because the country gained global recognition with this car.  

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Nokia Asha 308 dual-SIM touch phone launched at Rs. 5,685

Nokia has launched the Asha 308 dual-SIM touch phone in Indian market. This phone is available from its online store at Rs. 5,685. This phone is the latest member in the Nokia's Asha Touch family of mobile devices.

Nokia Asha 308 features a 3-inch capacitive display, a 2 megapixel camera and microSD card slot. The phone runs on Nokia's S40 full-touch interface. For connectivity the phone supports Bluetooth, EDGE/GPRS.

Nokia Asha 308 comes with the free gift of 40 premium EA games and pre-loaded Facebook, Twitter and Whats-App apps. The device also features Nokia Messaging service and video streaming through the browser from sites like YouTube.  

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LG launches 5-inch phablet Optimus Vu for Rs. 34,500

LG Electronics has officially launched its phablet Optimus Vu in India. This stylish phablet is priced for Rs. 34,500. The smartphone was initially announced by LG at the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona in February 2012. And after some time it is available in Indian market.

LG has launched this product to compete with Samsung's Galaxy Note II which is priced for Rs. 39,990. LG Optimus Vu runs on Android Ice Cream Sandwich where as the Samsung Galaxy Note II on Jelly Bean.

The LG Optimus Vu is powered by a 1.5GHz quad core processor and a 1GB RAM. This smartphone boasts of a 5-inch display with a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels with IPS display. It comprises an eight  megapixel rear camera and 1.3 megapixels front camera. This phone comes with an internal storage of 32GB. 

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If Facebook won't succeeded I'd be at Microsoft

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg showed his respect for Microsoft.

Mark Zuckerberg said that if his social networking giant had not succeeded than he would have probably opted foe Microsoft.

" I probably would have taken an engineering job and always had a lot of respect for Microsoft," he told Paul Graham, a co-founder of tech venture capital fun Y Combinator during a 45-minute interview before an audience of 1,700 at Stanford's Memorial Hall.

"A lot of people from Harvard went to work there," the 28-year old added.

Even though Facebook is one of the most visited pages these days, employs nearly 4,000 people and boasts 1 million users worldwide, the founder divulged that he most likely would have made his way Seattle if his idea would have failed.

Zuckerberg provided his account of his school days and was the first to admit he wasn't the model student.

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Bharti Airtel becomes World'd 4th largest mobile operator

Bharti Airtel India's largest telecom operator has overtaken Spain's Telefonica to become the world's fourth largest operator in terms of subscribers.

According to the scoreboard report by analyst firm Wireless Intelligence, the company had oover 250 million mobile subscribers at the end of the quarter ended June 2012, representing an year on year growth of 13 percent. This was the highest subscribers growth among the top five operators globally.

"India's Bharti Airtel is the only other member of the top ten to move up the ranking, recording a 13 percent year on year growth in terms of connections.

In June 2010 Bharti Airtel became the fifth largest mobile operator in the world following its acquisition of Zain Group's mobile operations across 15 African nations.

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LinkedIn unveils new Profile design

LinkedIn on Tuesday started rolling out a revamped design for its profiles which will make it easier for users to build a professional identity. The updated LinkedIn profile is available immediately for English language users, and will be rolled out for all users over the next few months.

Addressing a media presentation at LinkedIn headquarters, the engineering team of the professional networking website said the new profiles come with several enhancements and new features. Some of the notable enhancements are in-line editing. sidebar for adding profile sections, high resolution images and drag and drop profile sections, to sort according to users preferences.

"The ability to follow thought leaders to LinkedIn allows members to engage directly in professional conversations with influences, comment directly on professionally relevant topics, and share them with their peers," LinkedIn said.

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Facebook offering Rs. 50 talktime to new signups for mobile users

Facebook India is currently running a promotion in country, under which every new sign up from social network's mobile website will get Rs. 50 talktime. The social giant is also offering the same talktime if anyone signs up via your referral.

The promotion which seem to have gone live around ten days ago, does not seem like a potent strategy and will only add to more fake profiles on the social network.

On one hand the company seems to be worried about fake profiles and has recently reported the numbers to be as high as 83 million and on the other hand, it is launching offers which are likely to bring in more fake users rather than genuine ones.

New users don't even need email address register a new account, and will only need a mobile number that is not already associated with any other Facebook account. 

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HTC launches Desire X in India at Rs. 19,799

HTC has launched its new smartphone Desire X in India at Rs. 17,799. The phone has a 4-inch super LCD display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Weighing 114 gm with battery, the phone comes armed with a 1GHz dual core processor.

The phone runs on Android 4.0 with HTC sense 4.0a, and has an internal storage of 4GB. The expansion card slot supports microSD memory card for additional storage. The phone has a 768MB RAM. The HTC Desire X sports a 5 MP camera with autofocus, LED flash. It comes packed with a 1650 mAh battery. HTC unveiled this phone at the IFA 2012 event held in August in 2012.

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HTC slashes prices of Desire V and One S

HTC has slashed prices of its two smartphones - Desire V and One S, which are now are available for Rs. 16,999 and Rs. 25,000 respectively. Online retailers such as Saholic and Flipkart are already selling the One S and Desire V at the new rates.

The HTC One S had originally launched in India with and MRP of Rs. 33,590. The One S is powered by a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor. The device runs on Android 4.03 Ice Cream Sandwich wuth sense UI and has a 16GB of RAM.

The HTC Desire V is the company's first dual-SIM smartphone. It runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Sense UI v4.0 

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