Nokia axes 300 people, transfers 820 jobs to HCL and TCS :
Nokia said on Thursday it will cut up to 300 jobs in a restructuring of its global IT organisation."As part of the planned changes, Nokia plans to transfer certain activities and up to 820 employees to HCL Technologies and TATA Consultancy Services," the company said in a statement.
The Espoo-based company said the majority of those affected by the changes were based in Finland. The plan would increase efficiency, reduce costs and create an IT organisation "appropriate for Nokia's current size and scope," it added. "These are the last anticipated reductions as part of Nokia's focused strategy announcement of June 2012," the company said. In June last year, the company said it planned 10,000 job cuts by the end of 2013 amid massive cost-saving measures. Once the leader in mobile phones, Nokia has been losing market share as consumers move to smartphones powered by Apple's iOS or Google's Android operating system. The company was the world's number one mobile phone maker for more than a decade but lost that title to Samsung in 2011 and has registered six straight quarterly losses. Credit rating agencies have downgraded the beleaguered Finnish phone giant amid worries over its future profitability and its cash position. However, shares in the company soared last week after it published partial fourth quarter earnings that were better than expected. It is scheduled to present its full fourth quarter and full-year 2012 earnings report on January 24. |
Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 specs leak online :
There seem to plenty of leaks around the devices that we might see at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2013. The latest to join the league is Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0.
According to SamMobile, this new tablet will sport 8.0-inch 1280X800 TFT (Super Clear LCD) display. It is expected to come in two versions - Samsung GT-N5100, which will be a 3G+Wi-Fi version and the GT-N5110, which will be a Wi-Fi only version. The website also claims the dimensions of the tablet will be 211.3X136.3X7.95 mm and it will weigh around 330g. Other rumoured specs for Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 include 4600mAh battery, 2GB of RAM, option of 16 or 32GB as internal storage, 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera. Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is likely to run on Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean). Other connectivity options may include Bluetooth version 4.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n and A-GPS. Just like the other members of the Note series, Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 too will support S-Pen. There is no word in regards to the processor that will be powering this tablet. However, slashgear.comis speculating that it could either be a quad-core Exynos 4 processor or Samsung's newly launched Exynos 5 Octa processors that are being tipped to feature on Samsung Galaxy S IV and Samsung Galaxy Note III. Though there is no information available in regards to what this tablet may cost but gizmag.com feels that given tablet's mid-range components it may be priced as much as iPad mini or even lesser. The base model of iPad mini is available for $329. In the month of December there were rumours regarding 7-inch Galaxy Note device being in the works. A model by the name GT-N5100 had surfaced in NenaMark2 and GLBenchmark. At this stage it is not clear that if Samsung plans to launch only one of these Note devices in the market or both. Though having Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 may offer a greater choice to the consumer but will it make business case is something that Samsung will have to see. |
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No Indian University in Times Higher Education’s world’s top 200:
In the the latest edition of The Times Higher Education, world reputation ranking report, none of the Indian institutes of higher education figure in the world top 200. Harvard University is ranked as the top university in the world for the sixth consecutive year with the US universities dominating the list.
China too has performed quite well with six of its universities figuring in the list of 200. The world rankings are based on the global survey where more than 13,000 experienced academics from 131 countries had given their opinions on the universities.
Premier Indian institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University have figured in the global list of 200 institutes earlier but have slipped out in the new scoring system.
However, the Indian Institutes of Technology Roorkee, Kharagpur, Delhi, Kanpur and Bombay; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Science, University of Delhi and Anna University do figure in the top 100 Asian Universities.
Cambridge has been named as the most highly regarded universities in the world, while Oxford came third in a table that ranked universities exclusively on the basis of “academics” worldwide.
Seven of the United States universities figured in the top 10, followed by the United Kingdom making Japan the only country whose university found a place in the rankings as Tokyo University was placed eighth. The 2010- 2011 edition of the ranking is seventh in the row and this time the rankings are done on the points scored for teaching, research, citation, innovation and international mix of students and teachers. The new methodology of ranking has been adopted to avoid allegations of perception based ranking
China too has performed quite well with six of its universities figuring in the list of 200. The world rankings are based on the global survey where more than 13,000 experienced academics from 131 countries had given their opinions on the universities.
Premier Indian institutes like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and the Jawaharlal Nehru University have figured in the global list of 200 institutes earlier but have slipped out in the new scoring system.
However, the Indian Institutes of Technology Roorkee, Kharagpur, Delhi, Kanpur and Bombay; Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of Science, University of Delhi and Anna University do figure in the top 100 Asian Universities.
Cambridge has been named as the most highly regarded universities in the world, while Oxford came third in a table that ranked universities exclusively on the basis of “academics” worldwide.
Seven of the United States universities figured in the top 10, followed by the United Kingdom making Japan the only country whose university found a place in the rankings as Tokyo University was placed eighth. The 2010- 2011 edition of the ranking is seventh in the row and this time the rankings are done on the points scored for teaching, research, citation, innovation and international mix of students and teachers. The new methodology of ranking has been adopted to avoid allegations of perception based ranking
Cisco's 2012 Connected World Technology Report reveals the Internet habits of Gen Y and how the need to stay connected drives every facet of their lives.
The first chapter in the 2012 Cisco Connected World Technology Report builds on last year's report by examining how Gen Y creates increasing loads of data while impacting everything from online shopping to mobile devices to corporate culture and workforce expectations.
At the heart of this year's study is the smartphone and the constant connectivity it provides to work, entertainment, shopping, and friends. There are 206 bones in the human body, and the smartphone should be considered the 207th bone for Generation Y. They view smartphones as an appendage to their beings — an indispensible part of their lives, and yet they are concerned about data management and Internet security.
Mobile devices like smartphones are contributing heavily to the world's data, along with sensors, monitors, video cameras, and other IP-connected devices. Over time, more and more people, devices and things will be connected to the Internet, creating the "Internet of Everything." The Gen Y workforce will be very much at home in that future world.
Based on a survey conducted by InsightExpress of 1,800 college students and young professionals aged 18 to 30 across 18 countries, the report examines how Generation Y uses the Internet and mobile devices to connect with the world around them. The report reveals their behavior and attitudes about the creation, access and privacy of the enormous amounts of data being generated daily by smartphones, sensors, video cameras, monitors and other connected devices.
Mobile devices are just the beginning. As more and more people, processes, data and things join and interact on the “Internet of Everything,” the volume and potential value of all the data generated by those connections grow exponentially.
Connected or addicted?
At the heart of this year's study is the smartphone and the constant connectivity it provides to work, entertainment, shopping, and friends. There are 206 bones in the human body, and the smartphone should be considered the 207th bone for Generation Y. They view smartphones as an appendage to their beings — an indispensible part of their lives, and yet they are concerned about data management and Internet security.
Mobile devices like smartphones are contributing heavily to the world's data, along with sensors, monitors, video cameras, and other IP-connected devices. Over time, more and more people, devices and things will be connected to the Internet, creating the "Internet of Everything." The Gen Y workforce will be very much at home in that future world.
Based on a survey conducted by InsightExpress of 1,800 college students and young professionals aged 18 to 30 across 18 countries, the report examines how Generation Y uses the Internet and mobile devices to connect with the world around them. The report reveals their behavior and attitudes about the creation, access and privacy of the enormous amounts of data being generated daily by smartphones, sensors, video cameras, monitors and other connected devices.
Mobile devices are just the beginning. As more and more people, processes, data and things join and interact on the “Internet of Everything,” the volume and potential value of all the data generated by those connections grow exponentially.
Connected or addicted?
- Sixty percent of Gen Yers subconsciously or compulsively check their smartphones for emails, texts or social media updates.
- Of those, women are more driven to connect: 85 percent of women versus 63 percent of men find themselves often compulsively checking their smartphone for text, emails or social media updates.
- Over 40 percent of respondents would go through a “withdrawal” effect and “would feel anxious, like part of me was missing,” if they couldn’t check their smartphones constantly.
- Of those compulsive smart phone users, 60 percent wish they didn’t feel so compelled.
Fueling the world’s data
- Almost 90 percent upload photos to share or store on Internet sites.
- 62 percent upload videos to share or store on Internet sites.
- Facing the world: 87 percent have a Facebook account, and one in 10 have Facebook always up.
- 41 percent update Facebook at least once a day, and over one in five update Facebook several times a day.
- 56 percent of respondents have a Twitter account, and 21 percent tweet at least once a day.
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Aakash tablet goes on sale for Rs 2500 :
Anyone can book the student version of Aakash tablet whether they are students or not.
DataWind, the Canadian company that is manufacturing Aakash, has started the online booking and pre booking of the much anticipated low cost Android tablet. Online booking is for students' version of the tablet and pre booking is for UbiSlate 7, the upgraded version of Aakash.
Students' version of Aakash will be available for Rs 2,500 and will be delivered in seven days. The commercial version, UbiSlate 7 is priced at Rs 2,999. The payment mode for both the tablets is cash on delivery.
The commercial version of Aakash tablet will be powered by Android 2.3 and will have a resistive touchscreen, Cortex A8-700 MHz processor and graphics accelerator HD video processor, 256 MB of RAM and 2 GB of internal memory.
Other specifications are a one standard USB port, 3.5 mm audio jack, a 7 inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, resistive touchscreen, GPRS and WiFi support.
"The improved version of Aakash tablet will be available in retail outlets by January end," a spokesperson of DataWind told The Mobile Indian.
The tablet was to be made available in retail stores by the end of November. "The delay in the availability of the tablet has been due to upgradation in the tablet and some unforeseen delay in manufacturing," the spokesperson said.
To book and prebook student and commercial versions respectively of Aakash tablet, users have to visit DataWind's website and fill up the required form. In case of booking they will get a booking ID and a message which will state, "You will shortly receive an email confirmation from our support team with further details."
In case of pre booking users will get a confirmation message which will state, "The commercial version of the Akash UbiSlate 7 would be launched in early weeks of December. After the commercial launch we would get in touch with you to deliver your device as soon possible."
DataWind, the Canadian company that is manufacturing Aakash, has started the online booking and pre booking of the much anticipated low cost Android tablet. Online booking is for students' version of the tablet and pre booking is for UbiSlate 7, the upgraded version of Aakash.
Students' version of Aakash will be available for Rs 2,500 and will be delivered in seven days. The commercial version, UbiSlate 7 is priced at Rs 2,999. The payment mode for both the tablets is cash on delivery.
The commercial version of Aakash tablet will be powered by Android 2.3 and will have a resistive touchscreen, Cortex A8-700 MHz processor and graphics accelerator HD video processor, 256 MB of RAM and 2 GB of internal memory.
Other specifications are a one standard USB port, 3.5 mm audio jack, a 7 inch display with 800 x 480 pixel resolution, resistive touchscreen, GPRS and WiFi support.
"The improved version of Aakash tablet will be available in retail outlets by January end," a spokesperson of DataWind told The Mobile Indian.
The tablet was to be made available in retail stores by the end of November. "The delay in the availability of the tablet has been due to upgradation in the tablet and some unforeseen delay in manufacturing," the spokesperson said.
To book and prebook student and commercial versions respectively of Aakash tablet, users have to visit DataWind's website and fill up the required form. In case of booking they will get a booking ID and a message which will state, "You will shortly receive an email confirmation from our support team with further details."
In case of pre booking users will get a confirmation message which will state, "The commercial version of the Akash UbiSlate 7 would be launched in early weeks of December. After the commercial launch we would get in touch with you to deliver your device as soon possible."
Book your Akash tablets at http://www.aakashtablet.com/
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NASA releases map of India on Diwali night
NASA, the national space agency of the U.S., on Thursday released a black and white satellite imagery of India Diwali night 2012, cautioning people against the fake image in circulation on the social media.
“On November 12, 2012, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured this night-time view of southern Asia,” NASA said releasing a picture of India on this Diwali night.
“The image is based on data collected by the VIIRS ‘day- night band’, which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared. The image has been brightened to make the city lights easier to distinguish,” it said.
NASA said most of the bright areas in the imagery released by it are cities and towns in India. “India is home to more than 1.2 billion people and has 30 cities with populations over 1 million,” it said.
Cities in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan are also visible near the edges of the image.
“An image that claims to show the region lit for Diwali has been circulating on social media websites and the Internet in recent years. In fact, it does not show what it claims.
That image, based on data from the Operational Linescan System flown on US Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, is a colour—composite created in 2003 by NOAA scientist Chris Elvidge to highlight population growth over time,” NASA said.
“In that image, white areas show city lights that were visible prior to 1992, while blue, green, and red shades indicate city lights that became visible in 1992, 1998, and 2003 respectively,” it said.
“In reality, any extra light produced during Diwali is so subtle that it is likely imperceptible when observed from space,” NASA said.
“On November 12, 2012, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured this night-time view of southern Asia,” NASA said releasing a picture of India on this Diwali night.
“The image is based on data collected by the VIIRS ‘day- night band’, which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared. The image has been brightened to make the city lights easier to distinguish,” it said.
NASA said most of the bright areas in the imagery released by it are cities and towns in India. “India is home to more than 1.2 billion people and has 30 cities with populations over 1 million,” it said.
Cities in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan are also visible near the edges of the image.
“An image that claims to show the region lit for Diwali has been circulating on social media websites and the Internet in recent years. In fact, it does not show what it claims.
That image, based on data from the Operational Linescan System flown on US Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, is a colour—composite created in 2003 by NOAA scientist Chris Elvidge to highlight population growth over time,” NASA said.
“In that image, white areas show city lights that were visible prior to 1992, while blue, green, and red shades indicate city lights that became visible in 1992, 1998, and 2003 respectively,” it said.
“In reality, any extra light produced during Diwali is so subtle that it is likely imperceptible when observed from space,” NASA said.