APPS - Revamped Facebook app for iOS: Review

Slow and steady wins the race is history. The need for speed is the need of the hour not just for techies, but users everywhere. Facebook has finally realised this fact and updated its iOS client to version 5, which has bid adieu to HTML 5 and says hello to Objective-C.The social networking app is now twice as fast with Photos, News Feed and the app itself launching quicker than ever. With this update, iPad users can now access the Timeline profile view.
The app has been built from scratch over the past nine months to bring a major performance improvement. We take a detailed look at what's new under the hood.
Now when you launch the app, it opens in the blink of an eye as opposed to earlier when you would continue to stare at the logo for a couple of seconds at least. It directly opens into the News Feed, which is more responsive and speedier than before. The navigation bar now slides out with a punch.
All the options in the sidebar like Messages, Events, Groups, App Center and others now load smoother and faster. Coming to News Feed, you can now scroll through stories in a breeze. The refresh rate is faster too. If you're in the midst of reading stories, new updates published by friends will appear in a banner on top of the screen as "New Stories". A "New Comments" bar will also show up immediately when you're browsing though individual posts.
Photos is another area where the app truly delivers. Apart from the fact that Photos now load faster, elements from Facebook's standalone Camera app are clearly visible when it comes to both form and function. The base shows options to like, comment and tag photos. For single-handed use, you can now simply swipe down to return to the previous screen.
Messages got a whole new look and its safe to say that it now functions just like Facebook Messenger. The interface and other features are a ditto version of the Messenger app including the ability to share photos and your location.
There's no doubt that the speedier app will be highly appreciated by millions of Facebook users. In case you've been neglecting the app for its painfully slow load times and crippled speed, we suggest you befriend Facebook in its all new faster native iOS avatar.

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Posted in: APPS

GADGETS - TABLET - HTC reportedly working on Windows RT tablets to compete with Apple’s iPad

It appears that Microsoft is going all out in its competition with Apple as the tech giant plans to manufacture Windows RT tablets with HTC in a bid to push the sales of its latest operating system.

According to a report by Bloomberg, sources familiar with the matter claim that HTC is working on a 12-inch tablet as well as a 7-inch model with the ability to make phone calls. Both these tablets will run on the Windows operating system. 

HTC is believed to debut these products in 2013 after being excluded from the first batch of Windows 8 devices. These HTC tablets will be based on Microsoft’s Windows RT OS, designed for machines with chips using technology from Arm. The report goes on to state that delays in those machines, as well as another version that is powered using Intel chips, mean Microsoft has few devices that can compete with Apple’s iPad.

HTC to make Windows RT tablets

If HTC does introduce a 7-inch model, it will be the first Windows RT tablet with a smaller form factor that can compete with the smaller tablets such as the Apple iPad mini, the Amazon Kindle Fire and Google Nexus tablet. 

These tablets from HTC are tentatively scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2013, however, production details and exact schedules have not been finalised yet.

The report states, “HTC was turned down for participation in the initial round of Windows RT devices, a process Microsoft controlled tightly, people familiar with the matter said in June. As it turned out, most of the devices greenlighted through that program weren’t ready for sale when Windows RT was released in October.”

When the light of this news reached HTC, it had issued a statement in June denying allegations that it is out of the league for developing Windows RT tablets. According to a statement issued by HTC, the brand stated that it will continue working with software giant Microsoft in developing new products. It went on to state, “HTC has sold more than 40 million Windows Phones over the last ten years," the company said in a statement. "We are committed to future versions of Microsoft's Windows Phone platform more than ever.”

These comments had come in shortly after a report by Bloomberg, which stated that Microsoft’s decision will keep HTC, makers of the first Google Inc. branded smartphone, from participating in the electronics industry’s latest attempt to erode Apple’s lead in the tablet market. The Taiwanese company, whose stock has dropped 68 percent in the past year, was also facing shortages from chipmaker Qualcomm, highlighting the challenge of competing with Apple and Samsung, two companies whose dominance in manufacturing and software are increasingly marginalising smaller rivals like HTC.

The earlier report by Bloomberg, which was published in June, also went on to add that with Apple and Samsung dominating the smartphone shipments, HTC’s percent has dropped 23 percent in the first quarter of this year, while that of Samsung has more than tripled and Apple's has increased to 89 percent. However, as HTC will not be manufacturing Windows RT devices during the first wave, it is expected to be participating in the second round of Windows 8 devices that will be launched next year.

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Posted in: GADGETS

NEWS - How Modi’s victory changes the political pitch for 2014

If you’re frothing at the mouth and are going apoplectic, it’s a sure sign that you have nothing coherent to say and have allowed emotion to interfere with lucidity of thought. In that sense, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam’s vulgar abuse directed at Smriti Irani of the BJP, in a television talk show late on Thursday (watch the clip here), is symptomatic of the Congress’ colossal failure to get its head around the political significance ofNarendra Modi‘s win in Gujarat.

Appearing on ABP’s post-election analysis, Nirupam resorted to the usual Congress strategy of launching ad hominem attacks on Modi based on wilful misrepresentation of facts about his record of governance in office, which was far and away the one election issue on which Modi returned to power for a third time. Challenged by Smriti Irani, Nirupam launched into personal abuse of Irani. “Aap to paise ke liye thumke lagati thi… Patha hai tumhara charitra (You used to dance for money, I know your character),” he sputtered, his hands flailing in extreme agitation.

Nirupam is, of course, a crass politician, from whom no one expects any better. But his outpourings are indicative of a larger failing within the Congress to challenge the very real political threat that Modi’s ascent, on the strength of a new idiom of developmental politics,  poses to the Congress in 2014. (At another level, Nirupam’s manifest misogyny, unmindful of the fact that he was on prime-time television, provides a cultural backdrop to regressive attitudes towards women that create the enabling conditions for brutal assaults on women – of the sorts we saw in Delhi last Sunday with the gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman.)

Narendra Modi has demonstrated the India’s politics is aspirational. AFP.

Quite simply, the Congress  in Gujarat was looking to do a repeat of the 2004 general election. That year, the BJP-led NDA was campaigning on the ‘India Shining’ platform, showcasing the entrepreneurial and economic resurgence it had laid the foundation for with a slew of economic reforms under Prime Minister AB Vajpayee. But the Congress under Sonia Gandhi launched only what can be called a ‘drains inspector’ campaign: of pointing to pockets of poverty (of which you can find plenty to this day) and running down the merits of economic growth on the specious ground that the poor and the dispossessed had not benefited from them.

The Congress’ success in that election – whatever the reason that underlay it – gave it reason to go on a populist binge and indulge in the cynical politics that placed a premium on welfare entitlements over aspirations. The effect of eight years of  such “breast-beating economics” is manifest today: the economy is growing at its slowest pace in nearly a decade, and the country is perilously close to seeing its sovereign rating downgraded to junk status.

Yet, campaigning for this Assembly election in Gujarat, the Congress resorted to the same strategy of running down Modi’s claims to having fostered development.  It was replicate the same cynical politics of the downward spiral that had proved successful in 2004 aat the pan-Indian level. Except that it didn’t work.

The success of Modi’s campaign pitch of reaching out to the aspirational sections of society, eschewing the politics of religious or caste identity, holds enormous significance for the economic and political discourse as it will likely be framed for the 2014 elections, but the Congress doesn’t appear to have got the memo. It is still stuck in the backward-looking politics of entitlements and populism and caste and religious identity, whereas Modi has demonstrated that India’s politics is aspirational, and that unlike in 2004, when the Congress succeeded in  ambushing the India Shining campaign, ‘development’ and ‘economic reforms’ aren’t dirty words anymore.

Particularly in a context where the 2014 election is being framed as one that will see a head-to-head contest between Modi and Rahul Gandhi, the contrast in the tones between them couldn’t be more stark.

As Pratap Bhanu Mehta points out in the Indian Express (here), Rahul Gandhi‘s vision of India is as ”permanently dependent upon and confined to welfare. He does not display a trace of self-belief in India’s possibilities.” Modi, on the other hand, speaks to the future, even if he occasionally appears presumptuous in overemphasising the developmental theme.

Mehta sees this as a larger failing among Modi’s critics, and in particular the Congress, to set their own house in order before they target him. Virtually every criticism made of Modi is true of  his critics as well. You say Modi fosters a personality cult? What of other parties – where the leader is bigger than the party? You say Modi is a propagandist? What do you say about the fact that the Gandhi dynasty has abused state power for decades and imprinted its name on virtually every scheme? You say Gujarat’s developmental record isn’t as immaculate as Modi claims it to be? What about the Congresss’ record over the 60-plus years since independence?  As Mehta points out, if the Central government had been subject to the kind of scrutiny Gujarat has been subject to, our economic history would have been entirely different. The list is endless…

The real significance of Modi’s third consecutive victory in Gujarat, on the campaign theme of development, is that it has the capacity to dramatically alter the political discourse in the lead up to the 2014 election. Those who argue that the rest of India doesn’t abide by a Gujarati template of developmental discourse tend to miss out on the genuine yearning among aspirational sections of the neo middle class for just the rudiments of good governance.

Of course, Modi doesn’t measure up to the highest standards of liberal politics, but the same can be said of many other leaders as well. In that sense, Nirupam’s mindset is more prevalent among the ‘liberal’ political class than is readily acknowledged.

In such a political backdrop, Modi has already imprinted his stamp on the 2014 election theme. From its initial responses to Modi’s win in Gujarat, the Congress appears not to have got the message. The longer it persists in bad-mouthing political opponents as a substitute for offering governance, the more certain it is to lose the narrative. 2012 isn’t 2002, and 2014 won’t be 2004 either.

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Posted in: NEWS

TIPS - Free and Useful Android Apps

Filling your phone with great applications is the best way to ensure you're getting the most out of your smartphone. That said, trawling the app market for quality apps can be a laborious task (there's an awful lot of junk in there). The Tom's Guide team has put together a list of the best free and useful apps. Be sure to check out '40 Free and Useful Android Apps' for some of the best the Google Play Store has to offer.

The majority of apps available through Google Play, the online software catalog for Google's smartphone and tablet platform, are free. The true challenge is sorting the gold from the dross. Here's a list of 40 apps we've tried and loved. Hopefully you will too, especially since they'll cost you absolutely nothing to acquire.

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Posted in: TIPS

MOBILES - Top 6 Tech Trends of 2012

2012 has been a busy year in the tech world. Samsung got slapped with a mind-bending $1.05 billion patent infringement payout, Microsoft took a shot at the hardware business with its Surface tablets, paired with their new touch-centric OS, Windows 8, Apple finally released an iPad mini, Nokia took another stab at regaining its lost momentum in the smartphone world, and Google got more involved in the hardware scene with its revamped Nexus line.

Without a doubt, it's been a busy year. So, based on what was popular this year, what will the big buzz be in 2013? Let's take a look at the top Google searches in tech for 2012:

1. iPad 3

Apple's iPad lineup got a little fuzzy early on, with the iPad 3 being launched as "the New iPad" instead of just "iPad 3."

The new iPad launched with a faster processor, and was thinner, but it wasn't a revolutionary change from the iPad 2. It did support the new AirPlay standard for wireless video streaming with the AppleTV, but overall it was just a generic spec-bump, for the most part.

2. Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung's latest smartphone, based on Google's Android platform, is definitely a good-looking phone. With a much larger screen than the iPhone 5, it provides a good choice for those consumers who aren't tied into Apple's ecosystem and who are seeking more real estate. The 4.8" Super AMOLED screen with Gorilla Glass (like Apple's mobile devices) provides a super-sharp view with high durability. 

3. iPad Mini

Apple's long-awaited iPad mini finally arrived, sporting a screen resolution identical to its bigger siblings, and introducing Apple's new 16-pin connector standard, called "Lightning." Capable of running all the existing iPad apps, the iPad mini was a popular choice of tablet leading into the 2012 holiday season.

4. Nexus 7

Google partnered with ASUS to produce the Nexus 7, a 7" Android tablet that started at just $199. Pursuing a loss-leader strategy, seeking to sell content more than just hardware, Google priced the Nexus 7 to sell. It was followed up later with a 10" version, called (you guessed it) Nexus 10 from Samsung, and the 7 launched simultaneously with the Nexus 4, from LG.

5. Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The South Korean tech giant produced an interesting "phablet" (yes, that word sucks and should be summarily executed) that blurred the line between a phone and a tablet. Some complained that it was too large for most pockets, but an almost 6" screen on the Note II is a welcome option for a lot of people, considering that it sold very well. 

6. Play Station

Sony's venerable PlayStation line has grown a bit long in the tooth, so it's no surprise that people are looking for information on the rumored PS4. However, since the next iteration of the line hasn't been announced yet, and it could be a year or two before it's released, you can expect the BlueRay-packing game console to still do well this holiday season.

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Posted in: MOBILE

COMPUTER - Police use computer software program to catch criminals

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - A forensic artist has created the sketch of a man Myrtle Beach Police believe sexually assaulted a woman in a parking lot.

That crime was allegedly committed on December 16 in the parking lot behind a home on Somerset Drive. The victim says she saw the man walking past her house several times before the assault.

The suspect is a white male standing 5'09' tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds. He has short "scruffy" blond hair.

Thom Berry with the State Law Enforcement Division says the forensic artists they employ have substantial training and qualifications, asking lots of questions of the victim or witness to create an accurate sketch.

This case is the first since 2011 where Myrtle Beach Police called on SLED's forensic artists to help in their investigation.

MBPD say it typically uses its computer software program called, "Identikit" to process sketches of alleged suspects. It has a collection of facial features, and based on the witness and/or victim's description of the suspect, it puts together a drawing.

Myrtle Beach Police Detective Michael Quinn said it's most useful when a victim and/or witness remembers the facial features of the alleged suspect.

"We would ask them do you think you'd recognize them again if you saw them? And if they say yes, would you be able to do  a composite with us? And if they say yes, we keep it on a laptop so we're mobile, we can go to them or we just go to them down here so if there's any chance that we can do it in a situation we need one, we will," Detective Quinn said.

Detective Quinn said the software is an inexpensive solution to catching criminals when there isn't other evidence available.

"For example, say there was a purse snatching where there was no video in the area that it occurred, the suspect is unknown to our victim but they could recognize the face if they saw them again, we would sit down with them and go through that and try to develop a picture," Detective Quinn said.

Quinn said the department has been using the software for less than a year, and it has already helped solve a case.

"We've solved a case with it already. We've had one case where an attempted criminal sexual conduct had occurred, the picture was done and developed some suspects from there and then a positive ID was made from there and then an arrest," Detective Quinn said.

If you can identify this man or see someone matching this description, please contact Myrtle Beach Police.

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Posted in: COMPUTERS

GADGETS - i PHONE - iPhone 5 Review: Critics vs. Consumers - Who Should You Listen to Before Making Your Holiday Shopping Decisions?

Looking to buy an iPhone 5 for the holidays? Reviews from critics and actual users don't always agree. Who should you trust?

In general, critics gushed over the iPhone 5. CNET editors gave it a 4 out of 5.

PC Magazine thought it was a little better, giving the iPhone 5 a 4.5 out of 5.

MacWorld agreed, bestowing 4.5 mice.

But one of the drawbacks to professional reviews is the short amount of time reviewers usually have with a piece of tech. It's fine with a movie that everyone will see once, but living with a phone or a computer every day for years is a very different experience than simply taking it for a spin.

So user reviews can offer more insight into the pros and cons of a particular phone. Of course, since regular users aren't trained professionals, they don't always know exactly what to look for, and users tend to leave very subjective feedback. Features that aren't useful to a particular customer may be essential to another, and that tends to color amateur feedback.

CNET users give the iPhone 5 only 3.5 stars, compared to the 4 stars from the editors. With over 120 reviews spanning the last few months, it's likely that rating will cover the experience for most people thinking about picking up an iPhone 5.

At Amazon, user ratings are comparable to other sites. The iPhone 5 hovers just around 4 stars when all the ratings for the different colors and models are averaged together, higher than CNET and about on par with most of the critics' reviews.

One thing to consider with user reviews of Apple products is that Apple is sometimes a victim of its own success. Their products have cachet, and sometimes people feel like they don't live up to the hype, even if the product itself is perfectly serviceable, even quite good.

So try to actually read user reviews. That makes it easier to discount posts left in anger or mischief.

A few critics have also attempted to revisit or extend their initial reviews. Both CNN Money and BGR reviewed the iPhone 5 after an entire month of using it, and they reported a smartphone that was just as enjoyable to use on day 31 as it was on day one.

Read more at http://www.latinospost.com/articles/8512/20121221/iphone-5-review-critics-vs-consumers-who.htm#KZmAzjT4XpkcGkZz.99 

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Posted in: GADGETS

TIPS - Google Nexus 4 tips, tricks and cool features

If you’re fortunate enough to have received your Nexus 4 from Google then no doubt you’ve set about finding out just what it’s capable of. If you’d like to learn something about your new phone, take a look at some of the useful features and tips we’ve found so far.

Put your face to your name

Android 4.2 includes a neat two-way notification bar, which includes a tile for your user profile. Usually this is just a blank section, but you can put your face there to make it look pretty cool and stamp your ownership on your Nexus.

Swipe the notification bar down from the top of the screen, touch the grid in the top right corner and then tap the square with your name underneath it in the top left. Touch the contact icon to the right of your name, tap the three dots in the top right and select ‘edit’. Now you can press on the blank face on the right and choose to take a picture of yourself or add one that’s already on the phone. Once done you’ll have something like this:

Take a screenshot

The method for taking a screenshot on the Nexus 4 isn’t overly obvious, but it’s definitely possible without the need of downloading any third party apps.
Simply press and hold the power button and the volume down buttons together for a second and wait for the screenshot to appear in the centre. Once captured, you can drag the notification bar down from the top of the screen to view your screenshot and share it to Facebook, Email, Twitter and many more apps via the share icon.

Add apps to the lockscreen

With Android 4.2 you have the option of adding multiple screens to the lockscreen, just like the home pages on any Android device. Rather than unlocking your phone you can swipe right or left to view apps such as the camera, your calendar or your email. We’ve found this to be a useful way of instantly taking a picture or checking your schedule without having to fiddle with entering a password.
To add stuff to the lock screen, swipe towards the middle of the screen from the right or left edge of the display. Tap the plus icon in the centre and then choose an app to add. You can access these options by again swiping right or left in the lockscreen.

Unlock with your face

Face unlock is a pretty cool feature to show off with, although it can be a little annoying when you want to unlock your phone in a hurry, so be warned. To set it up, follow the steps below: Settings > Security > Screen Lock > Face Unlock > Set it up > Continue Be sure to keep your facial expression pretty normal and be in a well lit room and follow the prompts to set your face as the security for your phone. Not recommended for identical twins.

Quick Googling

Google Now is built into the lock screen, allowing for super speedy web searches as and when you need. Hold your finger on the glowing white orb at the bottom of the screen and drag it straight up to the Google logo that pops up. You’ll be taken straight into Google Now, where you can type or speak your search query. With a little practice you’ll be able to bring up search results within 5 seconds of pressing the power button, we promise.

Make a Photo Sphere

One of the most touted features of Android 4.2 is Photo Spheres. Most of you will have seen a panoramic photo taken on a phone, but this stuff is next level. The camera app allows you to take multiple pictures all around you and stitch them together into a 360-degree photo. You can then explore it in full on your phone, Google Street View styley, or upload it to Google + where others can do the same thing.
To do it, open the camera app and press the camera in the bottom left corner. Choose the top option (looks a bit like a globe) then follow the prompts to create your Sphere. Tip: carefully line up the blue dot as close to the centre of the circle as possible for each photo, and try to keep the phone as upright as possible at all times. Here’s one we made earlier.

Your turn

What’s your favourite feature, tip or trick on the Nexus 4? Share it with us and we’ll be happy to add it to our guide!

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Posted in: TIPS

TRAVEL - Christmas travel exodus: latest road, train and flight advice and information

There has been a disastrous start to the great festive getaway, after a fire caused disruption to London's Paddington station, the main gateway to the west and Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Express services were cancelled, putting more pressure on the Tube network, and making booked-out flights difficult to reach in time.

Heathrow Airport said it was expecting 123,000 passengers to depart today and 104,000 to arrive.

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Posted in: TRAVEL

SPORTS - Selectors meet on Sunday to pick squad for Pakistan series

               National selectors will meet here on Sunday to pick the Indian squad for the limited-overs series against Pakistan amid speculation that struggling senior batsman Sachin Tendulkar has made himself available for ODI selection. The panel, headed by Sandeep Patil, will be meeting for the first time after the humiliating Test debacle against England. The T20 matches against Pakistan are scheduled on December 25 and 28 in Bangalore and Ahmedabad respectively and the squad is unlikely to see many changes from the one playing against England in the same format that concludes here on Saturday.

             It is the ODI squad that would draw more attention as there are unconfirmed reports that veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar has made himself available for the three-match against Pakistan starting in Chennai on December 30. The senior cricketer had been part of the last ODI squad during the failed campaign in Bangladesh in the Asia Cup where he completed his unprecedented feat of 100 international hundreds.

Tendulkar, whose retirement has been speculated endlessly in the media by former cricketers, has been in and out of ODIs in the last few years by choice, but with his form dipping in Tests, the 39-year-old could be eager to rediscover his successful run through the 50-over game for the upcoming four-match Test series at home against Australia.

The second and third one-day games against Pakistan are to be held in Kolkata on January 3 followed by the last game on January 6 in Delhi. The other focus in the selection meeting would be captaincy and as per current indications, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is expected to keep his job though his success record in the ODI format too, like the one in Tests, has taken a steep dip after he piloted the country to the World Cup title last year.

India have had mixed results since that heady April 2, 2011 day in Mumbai with the reversals coming in England, Australia and in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Zaheer Khan is another senior cricketer who is battling fitness concerns and dipping form in international cricket. He is playing for Mumbai in the Ranji game against Madhya Pradesh at Indore from Saturday and it remains to be seen whether the selectors will pick him for the ODIs against Pakistan and later England.

The other point of interest would be Virender Sehwag, who opted out of the Twenty20 series against England. It is not known whether he has declared himself available to play in the T20 format against Pakistan that follows in three days' time.

A number of T20 squad members are likely to gain selection for the 50-over series against Pakistan too.

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Posted in: SPORTS

BOLLYWOOD - 'Dabangg 2' up for worst film at Golden Kela Awards

Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh and Salman Khan's much hyped films 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' and 'Dabangg 2' are competing for the worst film trophy at the 2012 annual Golden Kela awards, which recognises the best of the worst in Hindi cinema.

The other films in the worst film category include 'Housefull 2', 'Son Of Sardar', 'Khiladi 786' and 'Joker'.

This year's Golden Kela Awards, the Indian version of Razzies- “Golden Raspberry Awards”, have come up with surprising names in different categories. The winners are decided by audience vote.

In the worst actor (male) category, Akshay Kumar comes on top with his four releases-- 'Housefull 2', 'Rowdy Rathore', 'Joker' and 'Khiladi 786', Ajay Devgn is part of the list for his two films 'Son Of Sardar' and 'Bol Bachchan', Imran Khan for 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu', Sanjay Dutt for his villainous turn in 'Agneepath' and Siddharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan for their debut 'Student Of The Year'.

The heroines of Bollywood have not done so bad. Anushka Sharma (JTHJ), Sonakshi Sinha (for everything she did) and Deepika Padukone (Cocktail) are competing for worst actor (female) Golden Kela Award 2012. They have some tough competition from newcomers like Farah Khan (Shirin Farhad Ki Nikal Padi), Alia Bhatt (Student Of The Year), and Diana Penty (Cocktail).

In the worst director category Shirish Kunder has been nominated for his superflop 'Joker', Arbaaz Khan for his debut direction in 'Dabangg 2', Karan Johar for 'Student of the Year', Kabir Khan for 'Ek Tha Tiger' and Sajid Khan for 'Housefull 2', a film that also features in almost every other 'worst' category.

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Posted in: BOLLYWOOD

HEALTH - Intestinal transplant: How it can save the Delhi rape victim’s life

Recently the news has been flooded with how the Delhi rape victim has been offered an intestinal transplant by Sir Gangaram Hospital. The offer was communicated by D.S. Rana, the Chairman of Sir Gangaram Hospital who said that the private hospital has performed India’s first and only living donor intestinal transplant which has been reported in peer reviewed journal this year. 

So what is an intestinal transplant? Why does she need it? Will it work? Here are some things you need about intestinal transplants.

Intestinal transplantation has evolved in the past decade from being considered an ‘experimental’ procedure to what is considered as a last-resort treatment option for patients with intestinal failure who develop life-threatening complications from total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Long-term TPN can result in complications including bone disorders, catheter-related infections and liver failure. Over an extended period of time, TPN also can damage veins used to administer the nutrition via the catheter. The procedure has shown a advancement in number of surgeries performed without complications due to the advancement of techniques relating to organ preservation, surgical technique, immunosuppression, and postoperative management.

 Why is it needed?

Transplantation is the only treatment available for patients diagnosed with irreversible intestinal failure in the short gut syndrome (a mal-absorption disorder, in which removal of the small intestine is necessary),defective intestinal motility ( when the intestines are not able to move food through the gastrointestinal tract) or in cases where the intestines need to be removed in part or totally due to cancer or trauma.

Without a transplant, patients with intestinal and liver failure have an expected median survival of 6 – 12 months while continued on TPN. 

Procedure:

An Intestinal transplant is a complex surgery, which requires a highly skilled multidisciplinary transplant team. A transplant surgery usually takes about 3-4 hours, where as if the patient requires multi organ transplant the procedure might take upto 12 hours. Either the small bowel or intestine is transplanted in isolation, or can be  transplanted with the liver and/or other gastrointestinal organs.

Intestinal Transplant Procedure

In this procedure the intestine and other diseased organs are replaced with healthy donor organs. The blood vessels of the patient and donor are connected to establish blood supply to the transplanted intestine. The donor organs are then connected to the patient’s intestine.

Usually an ileostomy is then performed. It is a surgically created opening through which the ileum (a section of the patient’s small intestine), is brought up through the abdominal wall. This opening allows the waste from the body to directly pass out of the body. This procedure is important for transplant patients because it allows doctors to keep a close eye on the patient’s progress. In time, the ileostomy is closed. A feeding tube is also placed into the stomach to help the patient transition to an oral diet.

Post Transplant Complications:

The commonest complications from a transplant are infections due to the high doses of immunosuppressive medication, rejection of the transplant and/or intestinal ischemia and leaks from the anastomoses due to surgical technical difficulty in reconnection of the intestine and the vessels.

Recovery:

Care after an intestinal transplant differs slightly for each patient, depending on their medical history, type of transplant and medical condition at the time of their transplant. The length of stay in the hospital varies for each patient, but can last for several weeks or as long as several months.

Immediately after a transplant the patient is shifted to the ICU and is closely monitored. After he/she has stabilised and shifted out, close monitoring is required to prevent bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Some patients also may require blood pressure, diabetes or anti-ulcer medications. It is important to remember that an intestinal transplant is not a surgical cure, but rather a last-resort therapy that requires meticulous administration of medication and close monitoring to be successful. We hope this helps our Delhi rape victim to lead a healthy life..!!

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Posted in: HEALTH

TECH - Facebook now lets you untag yourself from unwanted photos at once

After rolling out some new privacy tools to help users manage who can see what they share on Facebook, the social networking giant has now announced a new tool - a Request and Removal tool - that lets users untag multiple photos at once. Users can see this tool in the updated Activity Log.

Here is how you can take actions on multiple photos you are tagged in - Go to your Timeline > click the Activity Log button on your timeline, under your cover photo > Click on photos link on the left > and select multiple photos you want to take actions on. Users can either ask friends to take down the shots they don't like - they can even include a message about why this is important to you, or they can use the tool to untag multiple photos at once, keeping in mind that while untagged photos don't appear on your timeline, they can still appear in other places on Facebook, such as search, news feed, or your friends' timelines.

Besides the Request and Removal tool, the updates include Privacy Shortcuts and an easier-to-use Activity Log. "We're also adding new in-product education that makes key concepts around controlling your sharing clearer, such as in-context reminders about how stuff you hide from timeline may still appear in news feed, search, and other places," said Facebook in a blog post.

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Facebook has now announced a new tool - a Request and Removal tool - that lets users untag multiple photos at once.

Up until now, to change privacy and timeline controls on Facebook, users would need navigate through a separate set of pages. But Facebook has now announced new shortcuts users can easily get to. For key settings, users can simply go to the toolbar on the top bar of the Facebook page to help manage "Who can see my stuff?" "Who can contact me?" and "How do I stop someone from bothering me?"

The updated Activity Log has new navigation, so users can easily review their own activity on Facebook, such as your likes and comments, their photos, and posts they have been tagged in. It also has new ways to sort information. Facebook introduced Activity Log last year.

Facebook has started rolling out these new updates.

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Posted in: COMPUTERS

TECH - Google to launch Motorola X-phone, tablet: Report

Google is working with recently acquiredMotorola on a handset codenamed " X-phone", aimed at grabbing market share from Apple andSamsung Electronics, the Wall Street Journalsaid, citing people familiar with the matter.

Google acquired Motorola in May for $12.5 billion to bolster its patent portfolio as itsAndroid mobile operating system competes with rivals such as Apple and Samsung.
The Journal quoted the people saying that Motorola is working on two fronts: devices that will be sold by carrier partner Verizon Wireless, and on the X phone.

Motorola plans to enhance the X Phone with its recent acquisition of Viewdle, an imaging and gesture-recognition software developer. The new handset is due out sometime next year, the business daily said, citing a person familiar with the plans.

Motorola is also expected to work on an "X" tablet after the phone. Google chief executive Larry Page is said to have promised a significant marketing budget for the unit, the newspaper said quoting the persons.

Google was not immediately reachable for comments outside regular US business hours.

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Posted in: TECH