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17 Jan 2013
Google to Add Free Wi-Fi to New York City
Google recently announced that it would be providing free Wi-Fi service
to a neighborhood in New York City, Chelsea, where Google headquarters
are located. It would feature outdoor service for all of the tourists
and residents and indoor coverage for public housing units.True High Speed
Google Wi-Fi provides about 5 to 10 Megabits per second, which translates into the speed of an average home internet connection. The fiber optic high speed coverage that is expanding to areas can download at speeds of up to 1 Gigabit per second. That is 200 times faster than a typical home internet connection.
Low Cost
While Google said it has no further plans other than to contribute to the area where it is headquartered, the mayor Michael Bloomberg and NY Senator Charles Shumer were intrigued by the low cost and said they would like all of New York to have free Wi-Fi. They said it was just a fraction of what Sandy cost the state and they would like to provide free internet service to everyone in the state.
It only cost $115,000 to get the technology installed for the Chelsea Wi-Fi and it carries a $45,000 annual maintenance cost. Google covered two-thirds of the cost and a local public advocacy group, Chelsea Improvement Company, covered the rest.
While New York had Wi-Fi in 20 parks, this was the first widespread public Wi-Fi to be attempted. The challenges of providing internet service in a densely populated area were complicated by the tall buildings and providing clear signals.
Google has also been providing Wi-Fi in Mountain View, where its main headquarters are located. It has also temporarily provided internet service in New York subway stations, airports, and other locations. Google is able and motivated to tackle the problems that come with building infrastructure because it makes money when people are connected to the internet.
18 Dec 2012
Mobile Tower Banned in India
No more business, no more radiation or no more earthing guys! Well,
several telecom firms are planning to restrain from setting up cell
phone towers on building tops!Concerned over the health hazards caused by cell phone towers, the National Green Tribunal has controlled several telecom firms from setting up towers over roof tops of all buildings. If so they are willing to set it up then they should follow some provisions of law and should seek permission from a competent and regulatory authority.
Considering gravity of assertions leveled and health hazard likely to be caused due to the tower, the admin department has blocked the construction of cell phone communication towers upon buildings. Still, mobile communication is for people isn’t it? Towers should be there in places where people work, travel and live. In fact, as the number of service providers and the type of services increase, the cumulative radiation increases. Also, as the tower location moves away from the population, the transmitted power will have to be increased for retaining the same coverage and the signal coverage inside buildings will also suffer. Importantly, such issues are because our cities and townships are not planned. Building codes either doesn’t exist or are not followed.
Issuing notice to the Ministry of Communications and IT, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Health, Securities and Exchange Board of India and telecom firms Bharti Infratel Ltd, Airtel, Idea, Vodaphone, Tata, Reliance and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, the NGT has sought their response by the next date of hearing on December 20th. It was just an additional income for many residential guys in many metropolitan cities as the tower came with huge income. But, they forgot the hazardous part of it which forced the tribunal to take such steps. I support them!
Well, the tribunal’s order came on the plea of Delhi resident Arvind Gupta, who has sought directions to the Centre and the telecom firms for implementing guidelines and regulations issued by MoEF regarding installation of cell phone towers nationwide. In his application, he alleged that MoEF guidelines have not been followed and implemented by the Department of Telecommunications while allowing installation of towers throughout the country. He has alleged that radiation emitted by towers not only adversely affect flora and fauna, but can also cause cancer in human beings.
What he alleged is right. The tower does produce radiation which is risky … if so, you guys are ready to take the risk? Then go head fulfill the formalities and get a tower on your rooftop!
12 Dec 2012
Will Dec 2012 last month of World
It's already the beginning of December and some say,
the Mayan calendar has predicted the end of the world on Dec 21, 2012.
My favourite question to my friends these days is what is the one thing
they would want to do if they knew for certain that the world would end
in the next few days? The answers I have got range from a trip to Machu
Pichu with their soul mate to a sky-diving expedition in Spain to an
affair with an ex-lover.
I wondered then, why is it easier for us to spell out our inner-most almost impossible desires only when we knew that time is running out. Why don't we make the best of every day even when there's no mythical doomsday looming large?
For most of us life simply seems to be passing us by through a routine of mundane affairs. There always seems to be enough time to mend a broken relationship, to show people you care, to make friendships count, to overcome grief, to forgive, to let go…till you realize there is not. Even the Buddha had said, "The trouble is, you think you have time."
Think about it, what is the one thing you must do, why are you holding on, and what are you waiting for? There is no right time and things will never be perfect. Too much time is spent hoping that life will create opportunities for us, that one fine day we will wake up to find that there are numerous options to fulfill an impossible dream. We compromise on our happiness every day and hope that someday it will all fall into place.
There might not be any truth in the Mayans prediction but if there's something you must do, I suggest you go ahead and do it anyway. Chances are you will not regret it, like they say, in life we usually regret the things that we haven't done more than the things we have. Life is too short, even if the world doesn't end, this is another year gone by. Let it not be a year where you have a list of things that you haven't done, instead let it be one in which you have given your best to the things that matter, a year where you have tried to be the happiest you can be. It's your life, make it count!
23 Nov 2012
Alien Found : Latest Report
How would you feel when a group of aliens chuck you out of your house
overnight? Feels so animated, isn’t it? But the day is not so far away
when our habitat on our planet can expect an examination mission from
our neighbours.Surprised? Well, astronomers have discovered an alien planet in the backyard of our solar system. The newfound planet is far away for inquiries from our reach using current technologies but the incredibly hot alien planet, Alpha Centauri Bb, is predicted to be six times the sizes of earth and resides in the three-star Alpha Centauri system. It is seemingly a rocky ball similar like our own earth but it is not habitable. It circles Alpha Centauri B, a reddish orb which is about half as luminous as the Sun.
Astronomers guess
the possibility of habitable Earthlike planets right next door and that
methods and instruments were now precise enough to detect them.
Although astronomers were thrilled by the news of the new planet,
they notified that the discovery needs some confirmation by other
astronomers too, which is not an easy task.Let the astronomers discover whatever they want to but existence of planet out there is confirmed. Do you want to know more about the planet? Well, a group of two astronomers from the site called planethunters.com discovered this massive bright planet very close to our earth. The planet is estimated to be a bit larger than Neptune and like Neptune, it is believed to be a gas giant. Beyond the planet’s orbit, it is placed more than 700 times the distance between the Sun and the Earth, a second pair of stars orbits in the planetary system. Its orbits are covered with one pair of stars and are in turn circled by a second pair. As a result, four stars light up its skies. It is said that, this is the first planet that looks similar to Earth rounded with star like the Sun although there are no records of moon being found. Since its orbit is very close to sun, the atmosphere is predicted to be much hot for life to survive.
Now, I am wondering if there is a planet similar to earth out there, then there should be a strong possibility of existence of life there too. It’s just that the living beings on such planets must have gotten used to the temperature and living conditions present there. Well, it’s just my theory but one cannot deny the fact that the recent discovery is a major step towards the detection of twin Earth in the neighborhood of our Sun. Well, we have to agree that we live in exciting times!!
I wonder why it took so much time to find this planet which is right next door? Astronomers should have their eyes checked regularly……..LOL!!!!! Well, I can’t wait to see a planet being discovered in my lifetime with humans/aliens/humanoids. It will also be interesting to find out who created the creatures there and whether they have something called ‘religion’ there or not. Also, if they also believe in God, then did God decide to visit the planet as an incarnation of Himself or did He send prophets to bring ‘enlightenment’ there? Such a discovery will surely put our faith/ perspectives/ practices into question and can be a big slap to all those who wage wars and spread hatred in the name of religion.
Whatever it is, it’s a good discovery and a new ray of hope to meet some new people from our neighborhood.
Taj Mahal in Dubai
One of the richest cities in the world, Dubai, announced plans to
erect a replica of one of the best wonders in the world, our Agra’s Taj
Mahal. The project, yet to start, is estimated to cost a billion dollars
that will make this great emirate a bigger tourist spot.The project is predicted to see completion in the year 2014. “Taj Mahal is the greatest monument of love”, said a Dubai-based developer. According to him, the emirate homeland being one of the topmost wedding destinations, replicating the Taj Mahal will make it as a favoured venue for biggies’ weddings, along with being another major tourist attraction. To be named as “The Taj Arabia”, it will be constructed in a sprawling 107 sq. mile land in Dubai. The developers aim at converting this mere land into one of the wondrous, greatest and attractive theme parks in the world that can draw in billions of tourists each year.
However, even if the replica is going to be a significant part of the
world’s wonders here, the theme park will also have many other
extravagant bonanzas that are aimed at being divided into six theme
worlds, which is estimated to be two times bigger than the combined area
of Disney World as well as Disneyland! Where the Taj resides will be
called as the Falcon City, wherein a falcon will be seen as spreading is
vast wings. Not only will it be operated as a 5-star hotel, but also
house several apartment blocks and 300 rooms on the adjacent side.
There have been positive as well
as negative views on this project, especially on the web. Many consider
it as a disrespectful act and lack of ingenuity. While the Taj Mahal in
Agra is respected by all as it is a dreamlike wonder as to how Emperor Shah Jahan
from the Moghul rule took a time period of 22 years to complete it, the
replica in the Gulf seems to insult the sentiment of true love by
making it a part of its new construction project targeted at
entertainment alone. And, two years, according to several people is too
short a time to copy the 360-year old marble monument standing tall in
our country.Apart from the Taj Mahal, the land will also feature other wonders of the world, which are historic icons representing the greatest architecture. Well, the city picked up on its richness quite a large percentage through construction. And, parts of this were the Burj Al Arab, Palm Islands and the Burj Khalifa, which gained the status of being the tallest building in the world. Now, do we have to wait for this land to boast of our Taj Mahal? I wonder why it cannot be real enough for people to witness creativity, novelty and resourceful inventive imagination, however prodigal it may be?
Natural disasters and their impact on the economy
Due to rising population, climate change, and dreadful environmental conditions, natural disasters are increasing in number. They are deadlier and cause insurers all over the world billions of dollars due to damage.
According to the World Bank,
there are several factors that affect a country’s exposure to natural
disasters, such as geographic size, the type of disaster, the strength
and structure of its economy and established socioeconomic conditions.
In a globalized economy, all these factors as well as other aspects
impact on how the world’s finances will be affected.
For
example, recently, hurricane Sandy’s economic toll is poised to exceed
$20 billion after the biggest Atlantic storm slammed into the Eastern
U.S., damaging homes and offices and flooding subways in America’s most
populated city. Another example would be the recent earthquake in Japan
where news agencies, economists and common people have all been
pondering about of natural disasters and its effect on economy.
It’s
still too early to completely comprehend the impact on Japan in March
2011 due to earthquake and tsunami that have affected its national
economy, and how that, in turn, will affect the global economy. The land
area is at risk with seismic activity. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck
off the coast of Honshu on April 7, rattling residents and relief
workers. Also, the world is still waiting to see how the crisis at the
Fukushima nuclear power plant will progress. Containing the radioactive
material to same as before could take months. Traces of radiation have
been found in a variety of agricultural products, including dairy
products and spinach as well as in tap water in Tokyo. With several
other nuclear reactors offline as a result of the quake and tsunami, the
Tokyo Electric Power Co. has only been able to provide about 75% of
their normal kilowatts, resulting in ongoing rolling blackouts in nine
of Japan’s prefectures. Japan’s economy is largely export-based, but
since the earthquake, manufacturing plants have been forced to shut
down. Asian stocks took a dive, with the Nikkei index dropping 6% in a
matter of days, though it has climbed steadily during the three weeks
since the quake.
Some economists have been optimistic, pointing at Japan’s quick recovery from the 1995 Kobe earthquake
as a model. The earthquake killed over 5,000 people and caused an
estimated $100 billion worth damages or roughly 2.5% of Japan’s GDP.
Within a year, however, Japan’s economy had more or less recovered,
though the Asian stock market took a little longer to rally. Political
and financial institutions have taken action to avert a financial
meltdown. In the days after the quake, the Bank of Japan announced that it would be pumping billions of Yen into the economy and provide loans to financial institutions at low interest rates.
When
businesses get destructed, the goods and services they provide just end
overnight. Depending on the size of each business and the number of
businesses destroyed, the nation can be in a huge economic crisis. After
a severe natural disaster, many businesses will not rebuild at all as
the cost is prohibitive or out of concern and anticipation of a future
hurricane, tsunami or other earthquakes etc.
Every
year, hurricanes destroy homes and property. It is common for one
hurricane to cause millions of dollars worth of damage to residential
and other buildings. Many of the structures in midst of a powerful
hurricane get completely demolished and the debris has to be unsoiled,
the buildings rebuilt, which is an extremely costly process.
Especially,
after a destructive hurricane, many people lose their homes and are
forced to move to other places as may not be able to build back their
homes or start over in the same area. When large numbers of people leave
the same region at the same time, it will seriously affect the economy
of that local community.Modern Politics Difference
History shows how new forces are emerging out of thin air. So, it’s
no surprise that the emergence of countries like China, India and Brazil
raises questions about the future regarding the domination on the
world, which the United States, Great Britain and other allied countries
achieved and helped our country build as well. Could the U.S and China
give a new answer to the question as to what happens when you meet an
established world power rise?Are there questions about America’s future as a world leader? In previous years, there were t,wo costly wars, an economy in free fall, worn alliances and an international system that seemed to bend under the weight of new threats.
During Obama’s first term governance, the U.S terminated the war in Iraq and began changing in Afghanistan, revived American diplomacy, reinforced alliances and re-commitment of multilateral organizations took place. And, while the economic recovery is not as strong as everybody would like, the American citizens feel that they are moving in the right direction.
New powers on the world stage are playing a greater role. Again, looking back at history of 1912 when the neglected Britain, emerging Germany formed the background of a global conflict. Now in 2012, a strong America is working with the new forces and with its partners in order to upgrade an international system designed to prevent global conflicts and to promote global prosperity.
Today, the major powers coexist harmoniously in a way that no “empire” is threatening the world as it became evident from the Second World War. There are however different challenges from the economic crisis and the growing income inequality as climate change, creation of nuclear weapons and international terrorism transcend borders and rejects unilateral solutions. In the meantime, political and technological changes allow vast numbers of people around the world to influence situations than ever before. Furthermore, new players from emerging economic powers such as enterprises and cartels are reshaping the international environment.
Thus, the network of global power is shared and at the same time the challenges are faced is becoming more complex. This means that to build coalitions for a common action is more complex but, also more important. The fixed parameters are two: First, a fair and open world order that will promote peace and prosperity in the world. Secondly, this class depends on American economic, military and diplomatic leadership which has safeguarded world peace and prosperity for decades.
For the U.S, historical alliances in Europe and East Asia remain the foundation of global hegemony. Britain and other allied forces are the first partners who escaped but the U.S work side by side to prevent Iran acquire nuclear weapons to protect civilians in Libya and to fight AIDS. At the same time, rapidly emerging new regional and global centers of influence are established, like India and China and also countries such as Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa as well as Russia. Some of these countries are democracies; others have different political systems. The alignment of interests is not always easy. For instance, we see how difficult things are in Syria.
In the past three years, the Obama administration made it a priority to cooperate with regional institutions such as the East Asian Summit, the Arab League and the African Union. Some of those bodies until a few years ago lacked reliability and capacity, but it is now changing.
The ongoing difficulties in the Euro zone are a reminder that effective management and integration is no simple challenge. However, Europe’s experience shows the benefits that may have such an approach. A continent which has been divided by centuries of conflict and divisions managed to maintain unprecedented peace and prosperity by opening up its borders, unifying the economies and coordinating its policies. It was all well integrated in Europe with responsible moves and it is important to continue with the aim to see the continent as completely democratic and peaceful.
17 Nov 2012
Bal Thackeray's final journey Pictures
Bal Thackeray's final journey from his Bandra home, 'Matoshree', to Shivaji Park has begun.
Bal Thackeray's son and political heir Uddhav accompanies his father's body.
Bal Thackeray's nephew Raj with the funeral procession. Raj Thackeray broke away from the Shiv Sena to form his own party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, in 2006, leaving the Thackeray family deeply divided.
Bal Thackeray's body will be placed at the Meena Tai statue in Shivaji Park till this evening for people to pay last respects.
Bal Thackeray's final journey
Mumbai: Bal Thackeray will be cremated today at Shivaji Park,
where he launched the Shiv Sena 46 years ago at a massive rally on
Dussehra. The police expect a crowd of three to four lakh at the ground.
The Shiv Sena chief died on Saturday afternoon, after a prolonged illness at the age of 86. (Read more) A funeral procession has left his Bandra home 'Matoshree' with Mr Thackeray's body being carried in a hearse on a flower bedecked truck. There is a three-tier security around it - the Mumbai Police make up the first layer, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) is the second tier and Shiv Sena volunteers make up the third. Over one lakh grieving Shiv Sena workers are walking along making it slow progress. They have poured into Mumbai from all over Maharashtra since yesterday.
The Shiv Sena's executive president and Bal Thackeray's son and successor Uddhav, his wife Rashmi and son Aditya are on truck that is carrying Mr Thackeray. So are Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief and Bal Thackeray's nephew Raj, his wife Sharmila and their children.
The Shiv Sena has obtained permission to perform his last rites at the park at 6 pm; he will also be given full state honours. This is the first funeral to be held at Shivaji Park; the ground had special significance for Bal Thackeray, who launched his political party here in 1966. It was the venue for many of his rallies over the years, including his last public address on Dussehra this year, when he spoke to the crowd through a recorded video message.
Security is tight, with all of Mumbai's 48,000 policemen deployed today; Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh has cancelled his daughter's wedding reception tonight as he shall be busy with security detailing. At every 100 metres along the route of the funeral procession, 25 policemen have been deployed. The police has issued a traffic advisory and suggested that people stay home, unless absolutely necessary. "I appeal to people to remain calm and maintain law and order," the Mumbai Police Commissioner said.
Many Bollywood stars, important politicians and industrialists are expected to travel across the city today to pay their respects; they visited Mr Thackeray in great numbers over Wednesday and Thursday this week signalling that despite his divisive politics, Mr Thackeray commanded the attention of virtually every camp in the city. (Read: The legacy of Bal Thackeray on google)
No autorickshaws or taxis are plying in Mumbai today; the BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) has arranged for extra buses.
The
funeral procession was scheduled to leave Matoshree at 7 am today, but
was delayed as roads around the Thackeray residence were filled with
thousands of supporters. Bal Thackeray's body was finally brought out of
his house a little after 9 am in a hearse adorned with flowers. Uddhav
Thackeray broke down as his father's body was being put on to the truck.At Matoshree security has been very tight. As news of Bal Thackeray's death spread on Saturday afternoon, thousands of Shiv Sena workers gathered within minutes outside the Thackeray home. Till late in the night, there was a crowd of about 6,000 people there. About 2,000 cops have been posted there.
Bal Thackeray dieD at 3:33pm : MUMBAI
Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray died in Mumbai at 3:33pm today. He was 86. (Bal Thackeray: Life in pics)
His immediate family including son and successor Uddhav, nephew Raj Thackeray and the top leadership of the Shiv Sena were with him at his Bandra residence, Matoshree, in his last moments. (Foreign media on Bal Thackeray) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up Uddhav Thackeray to express his condolences and has urged people to maintain calm and sobriety. (Read: PM condoles Thackeray's death) | (Bal Thackeray dies: Who said what)
Massive crowds of Shiv Sena supporters gathered outside Thackeray residence within minutes of the announcement, prompting calls of calm and maintaining peace from several Sena leaders. A large contingent of policemen has been deployed to keep the crowds under control.
Thousands of personnel from the Mumbai Police have also been deployed across the city, since there is apprehension of some violence. Sena leader Rahul Narvekar has appealed for calm to all party supporters. Earlier too, Uddhav Thackeray had told Shiv Sainiks that "no damage should come to the name of Matoshree".
The death was announced at about 4:30 pm in a brief statement by doctors from Lilavati Hospital who had been treating him. "He had suffered a cardiac arrest. We could not revive him despite our best efforts. He breathed his last at around 3:30 PM," Dr Jalil Parkar, who treated the Sena chief, told reporters after emerging from the Thackeray residence.
Mr Thackeray's body will be taken in a procession at 7 am to Shiv Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters situated at Shivaji Park, where it will be kept in state for public viewing from 10 am to 6 pm tomorrow. (Read) The Sena supremo used to address massive rallies at Shivaji Park every year. Top BJP leaders including LK Advani and Narendra Modi will be in Mumbai tomorrow to pay last respects. The Sena chief is expected to be cremated at Shivaji Park tomorrow. Around 20,000 cops will be deployed for his funeral.
Mr Thackeray is survived by sons Jaidev and Uddhav, who is the executive president of the Shiv Sena, which Mr Thackeray founded in 1966.
Hundreds of Shiv Sena supporters who had gathered outside Mr Thackeray's home broke down and tried to console each other. Thousands more are expected to reach Matoshree to express their grief. Security, already present in the area around Matoshree as well as Shiv Sena Bhavan, has been stepped up again.
Mr Thackeray had been unwell since July this year when he was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital for breathlessness and constipation. He was released after a week in hospital, and was being nursed at his Bandra residence, Matoshree. The Sena chief was under constant medical supervision, with a team of doctors stationed at his home.
Mr Thackeray's health had dipped to very critical on Monday, but he made a recovery of sorts. Thousands of Shiv Sainiks had gathered outside Matoshree along with media crews. On Wednesday night at 2 am, Mr Thackeray's son Uddhav and grandson Aditya told party workers, "All efforts are on. Please pray."
Hundreds of policemen and paramilitary Rapid Action Force personnel had been called in on Wednesday night, with barricades to restrict movement around the area. Party workers began gathering at the Thackeray residence as news spread that the Shiv Sena chief's condition had deteriorated. Sources said top police officials of the city had been informed of Mr Thackeray's death in advance to give them time to make adequate security arrangements before a public announcement was made.
Many VIPs are expected to visit the Thackeray home to pay their respects. Actors Amitabh Bachchan, along with son Abhishek, and Sanjay Dutt had paid a visit to Matoshree late on Wednesday night.
13 Nov 2012
Diwali lights up India
New Delhi: Earthen 'diyas' dotted houses and fireworks
illuminated the evening sky as people celebrated Diwali by decorating
their homes with colourful rangolis and twinkling electric bulbs, and by
exchanging sweets.As excitement gripped the country, tragedy struck a family in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya district when six of its members and two others died in an explosion in a house where fire crackers were manufactured illegally.
Indian and Pakistani guards at border posts exchanged sweets and gifts in the morning.
According to Hindu belief, Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya from his exile after vanquishing the demon-king Ravana.
In the national capital, people decorated their homes and shops with colourful 'rangolis', flowers and lightings and lit 'diyas' or earthen lamps.
In nearby Amritsar, thousands of people paid obeisance in the Golden Temple, which was illuminated by fancy lights.
People also celebrated Diwali in other parts of the country with traditional fervour and gaiety. The devout thronged temples and offered prayers.
In Tamil Nadu, newlyweds were seen enjoying the moments with their friends and relatives wishing them 'Thalai Deepavali' (the first Diwali with their spouses). Cinema halls in Chennai too were filled with two notable Kollywood films being released - "Thuppakki" and "Poda Podi".
Bollywood turned to Twitter to greet the people and also to ask fans to go slow on sweets and and crackers. For movie buffs, there were new releases like Shah Rukh Khan's "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" and Ajay Devgn's "Son of Sardar".
President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh greeted the people on the occasion of Diwali saying the festival of lights strengthens the country's resolve to follow true ethical values.
Julie Larson-Green -: New head of Windows
Jay Greene reported, Microsoft is saying Sinofsky's departure was mutually agreed upon. Sinofsky is leaving to pursue other unspecified interests.
In the shakeup, announced this evening, Microsoft said Larson-Green will be promoted to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering. Tami Reller will continue on as chief financial officer and chief marketing officer and will assume responsibility for the business of Windows. Both executives will report directly to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, according to Microsoft's press release.
Julie Larson-Green has been corporate vice president, Program Management, Windows Client. Larson-Green is no stranger to Windows: She has had between 1,200 and 1,400 program managers, researchers, content managers and other members of the Windows team reporting to her.
Mike Angiulo, corporate vice president of
Windows Hardware and PC Ecosystem, and Julie Larson-Green, now head of
management for Windows
(Credit:
Microsoft)
Larson-Green applied to Microsoft right after she got her business management degree from Western Washington University, only to be told no. But she did land a job at desktop-publishing-software maker Aldus working on the product support call lines.
Microsoft "discovered" Larson-Green after a few Softies attended a talk she gave comparing Microsoft compilers to Borland compilers and asked her to run a Visual C++ focus group for the company. In 1993, she ended up landing a job on the Visual C++ team, where focused on the integrated development environment. She moved to the Internet Explorer team (where she worked on the user experience for IE 3.0 and 4.0) and then, in 1997, to the Office team to work on FrontPage, where she got her first group program manager job. She also did a stint on the SharePoint Team Services team, back when SharePoint was known as "Office.Net."
Larson-Green subsequently led user interface design for Office XP, Office 2003 and Office 2007.
I cannot pretend I am sad about the passing of the torch. I have been persona non grata with the Windows division for the entire time that Sinofsky ran it. Many long-time Microsoft employees, managers and testers have expressed similar sentiments, mostly in private. Here's hoping to better days, in terms of how the Windows client team interacts with all of its constituents: Its customers, partners, and us Microsoft watchers.
This article originally appeared on ZDNet.
Windows boss leaves Microsoft - Steven Sinofsky
Steven Sinofsky, the Microsoft executive who turned its Windows franchise around and just led the effort to release Windows 8, is leaving the company, effective immediately.
Sinofsky, a controversial figure at the company, was the subject of a recent CNET profile that explored his polarizing ways. Insiders said he was warring with Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer.
The company said the decision behind Sinofsky's departure was mutual, thought the abruptness of the announcement might suggest otherwise.
"I am grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company," Ballmer said.
Steven Sinofsky talks up Microsoft's Surface tablet at the company's unveiling event in New York.
(Credit:
Seth Rosenblatt/CNET)
Microsoft promoted Sinofsky's longtime lieutenant, Julie Larson-Green, to lead all Windows software and hardware engineering. Tami Reller, the chief financial officer and chief marketing officer in the Windows group, will take over responsibility for the business of Windows. Both executives will report directly to Ballmer.
Some Microsoft watchers had pegged Sinofsky as a CEO-in-waiting, but he developed a reputation for being divisive and not working well with executives in other divisions.
"Steven is a rare talent," a Microsoft executive told CNET in last month's profile of him. But "as you think about future leadership, collaboration will be critical in a way it has never has before."
Sinofsky joined Microsoft in July 1989 as a software design engineer, fresh from earning a master's degree in computer science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Within three years, he was elevated to technical assistant for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, a top job for an aspiring young Microsoftie.
In 1999, he became senior vice president of Office, responsible for leading the effort to release productivity software suite. His success with shipping a quality version of Office regularly and on time, led Microsoft's brass to tap him to run the Windows division. In 2006, Sinofsky became senior vice president of the Windows and Windows Live group. Three years later, Sinofsky was promoted to president of the Windows division.
He helped restore Windows from the debacle that was Windows Vista, a widely panned and dramatically late version of the company's flagship product. Windows 7 was his first effort, a solid product that cleaned up much of the mess that Vista left behind. Windows 8 debuted last month. While it's too early to tell how well it's doing, the product has won kudos and raised some concern for its bold user interface design, a striking departure from previous versions.
With Sinofsky out the door, the list of possible successors to Ballmer shrinks by one. Internally, some have speculated that Kevin Turner, the voluble chief operating officer, might be next in line. But Turner, who joined Microsoft from Wal-Mart Stores, doesn't have the technical chops that might be a requirement for the post.
Potential outside candidates could include Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings, who said last month that he wouldn't stand for re-election to Microsoft's board in order to focus on Netflix. But some have speculated that Microsoft might be interested in buying the video service, which could put him in position to succeed
Ballmer.
SOURCE - 2
Windows President Steven Sinofsky earlier this year.
(Credit:
CNET)
A number of folks on Twitter and e-mail opined that they believed supposed poor early sales of Windows 8 and/or the Surface RT were to blame. I'm betting many Microsoft watchers on Wall Street will react similarly. Windows 8 launched commercially just about three weeks ago; it's too soon to judge if the latest Windows release and the Microsoft Surface tablet will be deemed successes or failures. And still months before anyone will be sacrificed if internal projections are unmet.
I give more credence to the politics theory. My CNET colleague Jay Greene wrote a profile of Sinofsky recently, in which he noted the Windows chief had sparred with a number of senior Microsoft managers, and even CEO Steve Ballmer.
I don't see Monday's news as signifying any kind of change in short-term Windows product strategy. I'm not anticipating a return of the Start Button or a return of Silverlight. I'll be surprised if the new Windows regime, currently headed by engineering chief Julie Larson-Green and CFO/CMO Tammi Reller doesn't continue to follow the current preset course, with "Blue," the first Windows 8 successor, hitting by mid-2013, followed by Windows 9 by 2014 or so. (There likely will be cross-divisional strategy changes coming in the not-so-distant future, but more on that in a bit.)
It's also worth noting that the timing of the Sinofsky departure announcement isn't as unusual or alarming as some are claiming. Windows 8 engineering is finished; the product is now in the hands of the marketers, deployers and licensors.
Once products ship and new planning/development cycles begin at Microsoft, management changes often happen. Plus, at the end of each calendar year (and also many times at the mid-year point), Microsoft often instigates reorgs, sometimes within single business units, and other times across business units.
There was a clue in Microsoft's most recent proxy statement of a possible coming reorg. Read this excerpt from my write-up:
Next year, Microsoft plans to measure things a bit differently, with less of an emphasis on the performance of Microsoft's five individualized business groups, the Proxy notes. "For 2013, the focus of awards under the Plan will shift from performance ofseparate business groups to a combination of business group and company-wide performance. This shift aligns with our overall business strategy to provide integrated product and service offerings, and this requires deeper cross-organization collaboration."Remember that word: collaboration. It can mean anything from being willing to use other teams' code, to not standing in the way when another division launches its product on a competitive platform.
Sinofsky is known inside and outside the company as a guy who got things done and done his way. Rumors regularly reappeared about Sinofsky angling to take over more business units. And until recently, it seemed like Microsoft's own senior leadership team, as well as Ballmer himself, had capitulated, allowing Sinofsky to make whatever management decisions he deemed fit. Those who disagreed left or were shown the door (and probably won't be back, though never say never).
But more recently, something seemingly changed, including the rhetoric. Ballmer's note to the troops about Sinofsky's departure emphasized the ability of his successor Larson-Green's "proven ability to effectively collaborate and drive a cross company agenda." I smell a reorg....
If the "doesn't play well with others" reason really is a big reason for Sinofsky's departure, who are the "others" who pushed back? Here are the remaining heads of Microsoft's biggest teams:
- Server and Tools: Satya Nadella
- Online Services: Qi Lu
- Business Division: Kurt DelBene
- Entertainment & Devices: Don Mattrick
- Windows Phone: Terry Myerson
- Skype: Tony Bates
- Chief Operating Officer: Kevin Turner
- Research and Strategy: Craig Mundie
In hindsight, some recent puzzling events now make more sense. Why was Sinofsky sitting in the audience prior to the start of the first keynote at Microsoft's late October Build 2012 conference -- just before Ballmer surprisingly took to the stage to demo Windows 8. (Not something Ballmer typically had done, but he did it quite well.) Why was Sinofsky's performance at the October 26 Windows 8 launch so atypically rote and lackluster? Why were Sinofsky's scheduled press interviews just before the Windows 8 launch cancelled on very short notice? (I wasn't on the short -- or the long -- list to get one, but I heard from others this was the case.)
Microsoft has a CEO who, for better or for worse, depending on your perspective, isn't going anywhere for a while, unless the board says so, of course. Ballmer told the Wall Street Journal recently that he's planning to stay on as long as he's "adding value and/or until somebody better should come in and take over." After today, there's one less potential in-house candidate for that takeover.
This article originally appeared on ZDNet.
11 Nov 2012
World's Fastest Networks - U.S. city
The Salt Palace hosts one of the world's most powerful networks starting today.
(Credit:
Dana Sohm/Visit Salt Lake)
This weekend and next week in Salt Lake City's Salt Palace Convention
Center, there are likely to be more gigabits flying around, and at a
faster amount per second, than just about anywhere else on the
continent.That's where a cadre of volunteers from top universities, government labs, and industry have put together a sort of dream network for this year's SC2012 Super Computing conference, beginning today in Utah. Using multiple 10 gigabit per second (Gbps) and 100Gbps circuits, SCinet links the convention center to other powerful networks around the world, including the Department of Energy's ESnet, Internet2, and National LambdaRail.
To set up the super network, SCinet teamed with the Utah Education Network and the University of Utah to acquire access to miles of fiber optic cable in the Salt Lake metro area and into the Salt Palace.
While a wireless network for the conference will be one of SCinet's uses, part of that massive pipe will also be set aside for the SCinet Research Sandbox (SRS), which "provides a unique opportunity for researchers to showcase disruptive network research using emerging technologies like 100Gbps circuits as well as OpenFlow technology," according to a release from the conference.
Altogether, SCinet will deliver nearly 800Gbps in total capacity for the duration of the week-long conference. Then it will be deconstructed, leaving attendees in a state of major bandwidth withdrawal. Sorry Salt Lake, but you should probably disconnect and get outside anyway -- ski season is right around the corner.
Source-:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57548031-1/u.s-city-gets-one-of-the-worlds-fastest-networks..-for-a-week/
Access Restored: Google China
Google, Gmail, and other Google services seem to be accessible again
in China this morning, according to a report, after an outage that
coincided with the start of the once-a-decade meeting to appoint a new
Communist government.Access to the services returned after 6 a.m. local time, after an approximately 12-hour outage, according to IDC News Service, which cited Google's Transparency Report, along with confirmation from GreatFire.org, a group that monitors Internet censorship in China.
Early yesterday, California time, data provided by Google's Transparency Report showed a sharp drop off in traffic to Google's Web sites -- to roughly half the normal amount. Google sent CNET a statement in the late morning saying, "We've checked and there's nothing wrong on our end."
The day before, on Thursday, the 18th Communist Party Congress began in Beijing at the Great Hall of the People near Tiananmen Square. And as The New York Times noted in its item on the Google outage, the Communist government has been known to impose, in the days leading up to the congress, clampdowns "ranging from replacing books in bookstores to banning balloons because they could carry messages of protest."
The International Business Times reported this morning that China has heightened security to "wartime levels" because of the party congress and noted that several Tibetans had set themselves on fire in recent days to protest the Chinese regime. Chinese officials threatened harsh sentencing to anyone distributing imagery of those self-immolations, the IBT reported.
Google itself has been wrestling with censorship in China for more than half a decade. In April, Google Drive was blocked. Even after Google switched to a Hong Kong domain in 2010, sensitive topics remained off-limits.
That history is in keeping with other efforts by Chinese authorities to control the online realm. Last December, Beijing's city government announced rules requiring users of local Twitter-like sites to register their real names for verification by government authorities--a move apparently meant to quash anonymous posts critical of China's leaders and rob dissidents of a tool for organizing protests.
10 Nov 2012
Multiple services blocked in China: GOOGLE
(Reuters) - Google Inc (GOOG.O) said several of its online services have been blocked in China.
Traffic to Google's services in China dropped sharply beginning Friday evening there, according to an online "Transparency Report" website operated by Google, which provides updates about access to its services in different parts of the world.
Among the sites affected were Google's search engine and its Gmail web email product.
The disruptions come as China's once-in-a-decade meeting to appoint new leadership gets underway.
A Google spokeswoman said the company did not know why the disruption was happening. Google said in a statement that it had "checked and there's nothing wrong on our end."
Google's YouTube video service has been inaccessible in China since 2009, while access to other services in China are blocked sporadically.
In 2010 Google relocated its Chinese search engine to Hong Kong after a spat with authorities over censorship and cyber-attacks that Google said originated in China.
(Reporting By Alexei Oreskovic; editing by John Wallace)
Google Faced droped traffic from China
Google has experienced a precipitous drop in traffic from China, which a Web-monitoring group attributed to the search engine being "blocked" by the government.
Data provided by Google's Transparency Report shows a sharp drop off in traffic -- to roughly half the normal amount -- to Google's Web sites as of early this morning California time.
GreatFire.org, which performs real-time monitoring, suggested that the drop meant the Chinese government is "one step closer to fully separating the Chinanet from the Internet."
It wasn't immediately clear whether the block was intended to be long-lasting, or whether it's been lifted and Chinese Internet users will be able to connect to Google when they wake up. It's 3:50 a.m. in Beijing right now.
Google has been wrestling with censorship in China for more than half a decade. In April, Google Drive was blocked. Even after switching to a Hong Kong domain in 2010, sensitive topics remained off-limits.
Google sent CNET a statement today saying: "We've checked and there's nothing wrong on our end."
9 Nov 2012
November 10 as 'Malala Day'
United Nations: With the world commemorating November 10 as
'Malala Day' in honour of Pakistani child activist Malala Yousafzai, UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon extended his support to the young girl and
her fight for education, describing her as the "global symbol" of every
girl's right to an education.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy for Global Education, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said November 10, a month after Yousafzai was shot at by the Taliban for campaigning for girls' education in Pakistan, has been declared Malala Day.
The day would be commemorated in support of the 14 year old and the 32 million girls like her around the globe who are denied their right to school, Mr Brown said.
In his message of support for Yousafzai and girls' education, Ban said, "Malala Yousafzai is a global symbol of every girl's right to an education".
The UN chief said citizens from across the globe are speaking out for Yousafzai and on behalf of the 61 million children who do not go to school.
"I am adding my voice to the messages from over one million people across the globe. Education is a fundamental human right. It is a pathway to development, tolerance and global citizenship," Ban said in a brief video message posted on the UN website.
He called the international community to join the UN campaign to put education first "for Malala and girls and boys throughout the world".
Mr Brown would also deliver a petition in support of the girl and the universal right to education to Pakistan government.
Thousands of people from across the world have signed a global petition calling for her to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is recovering in a British hospital from gun shot wounds and has received messages of support for her cause from global leaders, including US President Barack Obama.
8 Nov 2012
Navjyot Singh Sidhu out of Bigg Boss : BJP
Navjyot Singh Sidhu's wife said that he was expecting that nobody will tolerate him for long
Cricketer-turned-politician Navjyot Singh Sidhu is set to quit Bigg Boss after a month long stay on the reality show as BJP wants him to campaign in Gujarat,
his wife said today."Till yesterday I had no doubts about him (Sidhu) staying on the show, but I received a call from BJP Chief Nitin Gadkari asking me that he is needed by the party for poll campaigning in Gujarat," Sidhu's wife Navjyot Kaur said here in a press conference.
"After I received a call from Gadkari yesterday, I spoke to the channel people. They told me that they will talk to Sidhu and seek his version first. However, I am sure if I asked him something he will do it... he will campaign in Gujarat," she said.
When contacted, TV channel Colors' spokesperson confirmed that they had received a request from Sidhu's wife.
"We have received a request from Navjyot Kaur to relieve her husband from Bigg Boss house urgently to resume his party work with BJP. We are deliberating on this request," a spokesperson told PTI.
Kaur denied that Sidhu, who had become a "fatherly figure" on the show, joined Bigg Boss on his own.
"He went into the reality show after taking permission from the BJP high command. Sidhu's political ambition is above personal equations. It's an order from the party," said Kaur, adding that Sidhu, who is the BJP MP from Amritsar, will come out tomorrow as it is a "political compulsion".
When asked why Sidhu opted to participate in the show when he knew Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections were due, his wife said, "He never thought that he would stay in the Bigg Boss house for such a long period of time. Sidhu was expecting that nobody will tolerate him for long.
----> NDTV NEWS
7 Nov 2012
Hindu-American elected to US Congress (2012)
Washington: Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday created history by
becoming the first Hindu-American to have entered the US House of
Representatives, winning her Hawaii seat by trouncing her Republican
rival in a one-sided contest.
An Iraq war veteran, 31-year-old Gabbard defeated K Crowley of the Republican Party with a handsome margin. Her victory has been cheered by the Hindu-American community across the country.
Though just 50 per cent of the votes had been counted when reports came in, Gabbard had taken a massive unassailable lead of 120,000 votes over her Republican rival in her bid to represent Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District in the US House.
An Iraq war veteran, 31-year-old Gabbard defeated K Crowley of the Republican Party with a handsome margin. Her victory has been cheered by the Hindu-American community across the country.
Though just 50 per cent of the votes had been counted when reports came in, Gabbard had taken a massive unassailable lead of 120,000 votes over her Republican rival in her bid to represent Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District in the US House.
"Although there are not very many Hindus in Hawaii, I never felt discriminated against. I never really gave it a second thought growing up that any other reality existed, or that it was not the same everywhere," Tulsi said in a statement, soon after she took an inaccessible lead over her Republican challenger.
"On my last trip to the mainland I met a man who told me that his teenage daughter felt embarrassed about her faith, but after meeting me, she's no longer feeling that way. He was so happy that my being elected to Congress would give hope to hundreds and thousands of young Hindus in America, that they can be open about their faith, and even run for office, without fear of being discriminated against or attacked because of their religion," Gabbard said.
She was endorsed by US President Barack Obama, during the election campaign.
Proud of her Hindu religion, she is not Indian or of Indian heritage. Her father Mike Gabbard, is currently Hawaii State Senator and mother Carol Porter Gabbard is an educator and business owner.
At 21, she became the youngest person elected to the Hawaii Legislature. At 23, she was the state's first elected official to voluntarily resign to go to war. At 28, she was the first woman to be presented with an award by the Kuwait Army National Guard.
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