NEWS - Asteroid no more a threat for Earth in 2040: NASA

WASHINGTON, DEC 23: 

As the ‘Mayan doomsday’ predictions failed to pan out, NASA has come up with more good news — an asteroid feared to be on a collision course with the Earth no longer poses a threat to the planet.

Uncertainties about the orbit of the asteroid, known as 2011 AG5, previously allowed for a less than a 1 per cent chance it would hit the Earth in February 2040, NASA said.

Previously, scientists estimated that the risk of this 140-meter-diameter, about the length of two football fields, asteroid colliding with the Earth was as high as one in 500.

If this object were to collide with the Earth it would have released about 100 megatons of energy, several thousand times more powerful than the atomic bombs that ended World-War II. Statistically, a body of this size could impact the Earth on average every 10,000 years.

The observations, using the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, were especially challenging, said team-member Richard Wainscoat.

“These were extremely difficult observations of a very faint object. We were surprised by how easily the Gemini telescope was able to recover such a faint asteroid so low in the sky,” Wainscoat said in a Gemini statement.

The Gemini Observations were made on October 20, 21, and 27, 2012, it said.

In addition to multiple observations since the asteroid’s discovery, the team had also acquired images about two weeks earlier with the University of Hawaii 2.2-meter telescope also on Mauna Kea — however, these data were all less conclusive and required confirmation.

Gemini was able to make the follow-up observations rapidly due to the observatory’s scheduling flexibility and availability of several instruments at a moment’s notice.

Astronomers David Tholen, Richard Wainscoat, Marco Micheli, and Garrett Elliott conducted the original observations and analysis of the data.

Further analysis was performed at NASA’s Near-Earth Object Program Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

The updated trajectory of 2011 AG5, based on the Gemini data, has a factor of 60 less uncertainty than the previous observations due in part to the increase in sampling points in the asteroid’s orbit.

The original discovery was made from images obtained with the NASA-sponsored Catalina Sky Survey on Mt Lemmon in Arizona.

According to a press release issued by JPL, while this new result has reduced the interest in 2011 AG5, the experience gained by studying this object and conducting a contingency deflection analysis has demonstrated that astronomers, using NSF and NASA facilities, are well poised to detect and predict the trajectories of Earth-threatening asteroids in the future.

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Posted in: NEWS

APPS - Facebook creates private posts that disappear after being read

It is said the new facility is similar to Snapchat, an app which is popular with younger age users, and which has gained a reputation as a tool for sending risque images.

LONDON: Social networking site Facebook has launched a new app which erases pictures and messages within 10 seconds of being sent.

It is an advanced version of one of the the social networking site's original apps, the 'poke'.

The equivalent of a head nod or wink, the 'poke' in its old form is rarely used today as the site has become more advanced, the 'Daily Mail' reported.

It has now been reinvented to be called 'Facebook Poke' and allows users to send fleeting messages, pokes, photos and 10-second videos to friends.

The messages expire after a set period of time, from 1 to 10 seconds, and cannot be retrieved by either party again, making it perfect for sending salacious images without leaving a trail.

"With the Poke app, you can poke or send a message, photo, or video to Facebook friends to share what you're up to in a lightweight way," said the site in a blog post announcing the new app.

When you open the app, you can choose from a set of icons at the bottom of the screen to send a poke, type a 120-character message, open the camera to snap a picture - you cannot choose an existing photo - or shoot a 10-second video.

You then decide how long you want the recipient to see the message for.

It is said the new facility is similar to Snapchat, an app which is popular with younger age users, and which has gained a reputation as a tool for sending risque images.

Facebook is encouraging users to report inappropriate messages.

"If you ever see something you're uncomfortable with, you can click the gear menu and report it," the paper quoted the company as saying.

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Posted in: APPS

BOLLYWOOD - Heroines rule hearts and box office

Even though 100 crore-earning, hero-centric films dominated the calendar, heroines too made a mark by taking on lead roles in many interesting films.

The likes of Kareena Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee, Bipasha Basu, Vidya Balan and Sridevi chose offbeat roles to battle it out with their male counterparts at the box office.

The year began with Vidya's Kahaani. The actress, who had already delivered a success with The Dirty Picture last year, broke many stereotypes with the thriller.

The film explored themes of feminism and motherhood in a male-dominated Indian society. It had a seven-month pregnant heroine in the lead without any recognisable stars but managed to earn critical acclaim as well as audience's love.

Word-of-mouth publicity and good critical response paved the way for the film's commercial success, with a 50 day worldwide gross of Rs104 crore.

Bipasha had three releases this year. While Players and Jodi Breakers failed to make a mark, she delivered a hit with the horror flick Raaz 3 portraying a fading superstar obsessed with her career.

Even Kareena, who is largely seen playing the glam doll in hero-centric films, carried Madhur Bhandarkar's next "Heroine" on her shoulders.

Although the film garnered mixed reviews, Kareena's performance as a declining superstar was appreciated.

From doing the raunchy item song Halkat Jawaani to the scenes where she is battling depression and popping pills, Kareena made her character Mahi memorable and lovable.

Sridevi, who ruled the silver screen with films like Sadma, Chandni, Mr India andLamhe in the eighties, was back on the big screen after a gap of nearly 15 years with the sweet and simple English Vinglish.

The 49-year-old actress played the central role of a middle class Indian housewife burdened with an ungrateful family, who embarks on learning English after being mocked by her relatives.

The story evolved as she rediscovers her self-esteem by sneaking off to English lessons during a visit to New York for a family wedding.

The film was premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, where Sridevi's performance received a standing ovation. The film was declared a big hit in India and overseas. It also went on to complete a golden jubilee 50-day run at the box-office.

While Rani, who was seen playing a headstrong journalist in No One Killed Jessica last year, was back to scorch the silver screen with back-to-back films -- romantic comedy Aiyyaa and thriller Talaash opposite Aamir Khan.

Although Aiyyaa failed to create magic at the box office, Rani convincingly played the role of a devastated mother and a caring wife in Talaash.

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Posted in: BOLLYWOOD

NEWS - Delhi gang rape: Police use teargas, water cannons as protests intensify

Teargas shells were lobbed and water cannons used at protesters at India Gate agitating against the gang rape of a young girl today as they marched towards Raisina Hill, hours after police evacuated demonstrators from there and Sonia Gandhi's residence.

This was the second successive day that police resorted to lobbing teargas shells and use of waterjets besides using force to contain the protest demanding speedy justice and stringent punishment for the accused in last Sunday night's incident. Doctors said the condition of the victim continues to be critical.

A group of protesters also met Sonia and Rahul Gandhi during which the Congress top leaders assured speedy action while refusing to give a time-frame for it.

Some protesters indulged in violence as they stopped East Delhi MPSandeep Dikshit at India Gate, heckled him and damaged his car as well as a government jeep ferrying officials and clashed with the police while trying to march towards Raisina Hills, where Rashtrapati Bhavan and key government ministries are located.

Central Delhi faced huge traffic chaos due to a security clampdown on Rajpath even as protesters blocked roads near India Gate.

Teargas shells were lobbed at the agitators near India Gate at around 1pm as they tried to enter Rajpath to head towards Raisina Hills. However, later they were allowed to proceed in a bid to ease traffic on the radial road.

The protesters then tried to cross the barricades and clashed with the police who resorted to the use of water cannons at 1:15pm.

Early this morning, around 50-60 protesters, who stayed put at Raisina Hills throughout the night and some others infront of Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence, were evacuated while high drama was witnessed at India Gate when agitators resisted police attempts to detain them for defying prohibitory orders.

Students shout slogans during a protest to demand justice for the gang rape victim at India Gate in New Delhi on Saturday.

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Posted in: NEWS

TRAVEL - Flood Warnings Amid More Travel Misery

Travellers face further Christmas getaway disruption, with more than 500 flood alerts and warnings in place across the UK.

Scores of flood warnings are in place across the country after days of heavy rainfall - and more is on the way.

The Environment Agency has issued around 190 warnings, meaning flooding is expected and immediate action is required.

There are also more than 300 alerts where flooding is possible, and one severe warning remains active at Helston in Cornwall - meaning there is a danger to life.

Many residents in the South West face Christmas with floodwater in their homes, and communities across the UK are on alert.

Cornwall has been particularly badly hit. The streets of Lostwithiel are under water and residents are bracing themselves for further flooding.

They looked on helplessly overnight as flood water lapped at the sandbags protecting their homes.

For train passengers, the chances of getting home for the festive holiday could be hampered by the effects of the heavy downpours.

Those unable to travel on Saturday because of cancelled services will put further pressure on the network as they reschedule their journeys.

Dozens of routes have been affected by heavy rain, and flooding has been so bad in the South West that First Great Western is advising passengers with non-essential journeys not to travel on trains or replacement buses in the area at all, because of flooding and poor road conditions.

A woman is rescued from flood water in Umberleigh, Devon

Among the regions where there are flood warnings are the South West, Midlands and East Anglia.

There will be some heavy rain in Scotland today, while England, Wales and Ireland will have drier conditions during the day.

However, it will turn wet later, with outbreaks of rain moving into the south-west of England and then heading north.

Sky News weather presenter Nazaneen Ghaffar said: "Tonight outbreaks of rain will move into the south-west of England and then spread to all of the south, including southern Wales by midnight.

"The rain will continuing spreading further north into the rest of Wales, central England, the Midlands, the Republic of Ireland and as far north as Yorkshire and Lancashire.

"Some of the rain will be heavy, especially for south-west England and southern Wales."

In Looe, Cornwall, heavy rain caused two landslides which cut off the nearby the village of Hannafore.

In Umberleigh, Devon, a police helicopter helped in the search and rescue of a woman who had been swept away from her vehicle during flooding in the area.

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Posted in: TRAVEL

HEALTH - IQ scores not accurate marker of intelligence, study shows

Could IQ scores be a false indicator of intelligence?

Researchers have determined in the largest online study on the intelligence quotient (IQ) that results from the test may not exactly show how smart someone is.

"When we looked at the data, the bottom line is the whole concept of IQ -- or of you having a higher IQ than me -- is a myth," Dr. Adrian Owen, the study's senior investigator and the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience and Imaging at the university's Brain and Mind Institute said to the Toronto Star. "There is no such thing as a single measure of IQ or a measure of general intelligence."

More than 100,000 participants joined the study and completed 12 online cognitive tests that examined memory, reasoning, attention and planning abilities. They were also asked about their background and lifestyle.

They found that there was not one single test or component that could accurately judge how well a person could perform mental and cognitive tasks. Instead, they determined there are at least three different components that make up intelligence or a "cognitive profile": short-term memory, reasoning and a verbal component.

Scientists also scanned participants' brains with a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine and saw that different cognitive abilities were related to different circuits in the brain, suggesting that the theory that different areas of the brain control certain abilities may be true.

Researchers also discovered that training one's brain to help perform better cognitively did not help.

"People who 'brain-train' are no better at any of these three aspects of intelligence than people who don't," Owen said.

For some reason, people who played video games did better on reasoning and short-term memory portions of the test.

However, aging was associated with a decline on memory and reasoning abilities. Those who smoked did worse on short-term memory and verbal portions, while those with anxiety did badly on short-term memory test components.

"We have shown categorically that you cannot sum up the difference between people in terms of one number, and that is really what is important here," Owen told the CBC.

"Now we need to go forward and work out how we can assess the differences between people, and that will be something for future studies," he added.

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH - Revealed: How to avoid weight gain this Christmas

Holiday season can bring a diet disaster for those who are struggling with their weight, as this is the time for special family meals, party buffets and free drinks.

Navigating the holidays can be stressful, said Jeffrey Gersten, PsyD, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital.

“Close family situations, the ready availability of trigger foods, such as cookies, kugels and candies, unhappy memories of past holidays – all add stress to make keeping your waistline in check a challenge,” he stated.

Dr. Gersten counsels weight-conscious patients at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, where dozens have successfully lost, and are keeping off, as much as 100 pounds or more.

Here are Dr. Gersten’s top five tips to keep you from going overboard.

The Roadmap - You need more than just directions to the party, you need a plan for the entire occasion.

Identify your trigger foods – those that you know you will be unable to eat in a moderate portion” and avoid them completely, he said.

Provide yourself healthy options, such as bringing your own low-fat snacks to get-togethers

“Don’t starve yourself either. Your blood sugar level will drop, creating a hunger that is unstoppable, which will lead to overeating usually high-calorie foods,” Dr. Gersten said.

Stick to eating three balanced meals, he suggested.

The Telltale Crumbs – Don’t polish off the entire carton of French onion dip and the bag of chips, or gobble the plate of cookies you received as a gift.

Give Yourself a Timeout - A walk in the neighbourhood to enjoy the decorations, playing a favorite seasonal CD or even just taking a deep breath are all ways to relax and shake off stress.

Friends, Through Thick and Thin - Talk to a friend, or fellow partygoer, about your desire to eat healthy.

“You can do it; they can help,” Dr. Gersten said. Enlist their aid in not encouraging you to “just try this” or guilt you into eating “my famous cake I slaved over for days.

Maintain Utter Consciousness - Think about what you eat. Give yourself the five-minute rule. Stop eating for five minutes to see if you are really hungry or just bored, he said.

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH - 10 Tips for guaranteed weight loss

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(10 Tips for guaranteed weight…)

With fad diets and fitness routines round every corner, it is quite difficult to keep a tab on whichweight loss tips really do work and which don't. Should you join that bhangra aerobics class, adopt that no-carb diet, or eat dinner at 6pm? Never mind all that loophole-ridden weight loss jargon, step over to the healthy side. Here are 10 tips for guaranteed weight loss that will set your weight straight, and help you adopt some really healthy, weight-friendly habits for life.

Weight loss tip 1: Decide how much weight you need to lose - Most people start their weight loss journey by claiming to be xyz kilos overweight. This isn't a healthy way to project or aim for weight loss. Calculate your desired weight against your height by using reliable methods like the BMI, and set a healthy weight loss target. This is often half the battle won.

Weight loss tip 2: Time management - This is quite often overlooked. Decide which part of your day will be dedicated to exercise, when in the week you will stock up on groceries, and when you will do the cooking - all within your current work and home life routine. If you don't do this now, your days will be rushed and unplanned, and you won't be able to sustain your weight loss efforts.

Weight loss tip 3: Stock your kitchen - Keep your house well-stocked with fruits, vegetables, healthy meats, grains, cereals, spices, and flavourers. Follow our tricks to healthy cooking, cooking vegetables for the week, and low-fat cooking posts to understand how best you can stock your kitchen with healthy and delicious ingredients. All of this will go into helping the next step - cooking healthy meals at home.

Weight loss tip 4: Eat healthy homecooked meals - Whether it's you who's cooking, a family member, or house help, ensure that every one practises healthy cooking methods, and ingredients. Ask any person who's lost weight the healthy way, and you will always hear about how healthy homecooked meals were a big reason behind it. Use less oil, low salt, fresh produce, and you'll start seeing results in no time.

Weight loss tip 5 : Start a cardio + weights workout - A healthy weight loss programme is incomplete without a good exercise routine, and weight training mixed with cardio is the best way to lose weight. Of course, variations and forms exist, but any workout that stresses on muscle tone and increased heart rate will always help you lose weight and keep it off. You can either start a home workout today, or rely on gyms for fitness training.

Weight loss tip 6: Alter your snacking habits - At Health Me Up, we have several healthy snacking ideas for you. Set those French fries aside, skip that aerated drink, and ban those unhealthy deep fried samosas. Explore the healthy snack world and you will find several appetisers, party snacks, movie snacks and meal accompaniments that'll satisfy every craving of yours.

Weight loss tip 7: Have at least one active hobby - It isn't sufficient to rely on just 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Moving from bed to office chair, and back to bed, isn't a healthy way to live. Buy a motion sensor gaming console that lets you enjoy social games with friends and family, plan weekend trips, clean your house once a week, dance, play sports, the list is endless. Get out of the coffee shop and dining table rut, and you'll have fun along with the healthy weight loss.

Weight loss tip 8: Find a solution to combat stress - As we pointed out in our post about stress and weight loss, stress is always detrimental to healthy weight loss in the long run. Find ways to combat stress and you'll soon realise that your diet and exercise aren't sabotaged anymore, and that you truly do see results. Look at yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simple hobbies like reading to fight stress.

Weight loss tip 9: Drink plenty of water - You've known that your body relies heavily on water for all important bodily functions, and yet you skimp on drinking adequate quantities of water every day. Well, it's time to stop that. Check out some exciting ways to make water interesting and you'll be packing it away in no time. Do not forget to carry a water bottle to your workout, and take a few sips after every 2-3 minutes of exercise.

Weight loss tip 10: Plan healthy vacations - Why go all the way with healthy weight loss, when one tiny vacation will just come along and topple it all? Healthy vacations aren't impossible. Take a look at how you can eat smart on a holiday, and then at bodyweight workouts that you can carry with you wherever you go, to understand how to holiday right. Above all, remember that these are lifelong habits that'll help you stay fit forever and not short term weight loss quickfixes.

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH - Now reduce high BP through kidney therapy

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(Now reduce high BP through…)

A simple procedure that involves exposing the kidneys to radio waves can cure raised blood pressure, especially among hypertension patients

A study conducted in Australia has shown that a new procedure can significantly reduce raised blood pressure. This quick and relatively painless procedure sees a catheter inserted into a vein, which then uses a short burst of radio waves to deactivate nerves in the kidneys. The researchers believe that this increases blood flow to the organs, reducing activity of the hormone renin, which has a link with raised blood pressure. This procedure of exposing the kidneys to radio waves shows that it is safe and effective in lowering blood pressure after implementing the treatment for a year, and poses no threat to the functioning of the kidneys and the heart. When an individual's blood pressure is higher than 140 over 90, it is termed as hypertension, and it is a major risk factor for heart disease,stroke and kidney failure. Many drug treatments are available to bring high blood pressureunder control, but many people who undertake such medication unfortunately are still not able to get it under control.

Professor Murray Esler in Melbourne, Australia, has shown that these patients can be helped with a zap to the kidneys. "Studies will soon determine whether this procedure can cure mild hypertension, producing permanent drug-free normalisation of blood pressure," he said. The procedure, which is minimally invasive, is known as catheter-based renal denervation. It involves the use of a probe passed through the femoral artery in the groin to fire short bursts of intense radio waves at nerves around the kidneys.

The aim of this procedure is to basically destroy nerves that may be overactive in patients with hypertension. The researchers studied 82 patients with drug-resistant hypertension, who took part in the Symplicity HTN-2 trial. All the patients had blood pressure readings of 160 or higher and had taken three or more anti-hypertension drugs, while some had other conditions, including diabetes.

After treating the patients for six months with this procedure, systolic blood pressure was reduced by at least 10 millimetres of mercury in 83 per cent of one group of patients. Almost 79% of the same group was able to maintain such reductions for a year.

"Participants' kidneys were not damaged or functionally impaired. We also found no ill effects on long-term health," Professor Esler said.

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Posted in: HEALTH

SPORTS - CRICKET - Advertising rates hit through the roof for India-Pakistan series

New Delhi:  The much-anticipated limited overs cricket series between arch-rivals and India and Pakistan is likely to leave the official broadcasters ESPN STAR Sports richer by more than Rs 140 crore.

ESPN STAR Sports will see huge increase in advertising revenue on the series. According to industry sources, the spot rates for the ODIs is Rs 7-7.5 lakh while the T20 between two countries is being sold at a mind boggling Rs 9 lakh per 10 second.

The broadcaster, according to industry sources, will earn more than 140 crores of advertising revenue from this mini-series.

Giving rationale for the premium attached to the series, Sanjay Kailash, Executive Vice President, ESPN Software India Pvt Ltd, said, "We are delighted with the response from advertisers on India Pakistan series. India-Pakistan is always extremely sought after and the series therefore was sold at a premium."

Kailash refused to divulge financial details for the series.

"We have monetised India Pakistan ODIs at a rate which is double as compared to the historical industry average. Even rates for India-Pakistan T20 are double than the most sought after T20 tournament in the country."

Sports broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports has signed four Joint Presenting Sponsors including Havell's, Celikon Impex Pvt Ltd, Hero Moto Corp and Micromax LED TV. There are five Associate Sponsors as well including Coca Cola, Vodafone, Karbonn Tablets, Cadbury and Pidilite.

ESPN STAR Sports will telecast the India Pakistan series on STAR Cricket and STAR Cricket HD in English while STAR Sports will telecast the series in Hindi.

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Posted in: SPORTS - CRICKET

SPORTS - Sania Mirza to spearhead Indian challenge in Fed Cup

New Delhi:  Sania Mirza will lead the four-member Indian side in the upcoming Asia/Oceania Group I tie of the Fed Cup tennis tournament.

According to the team announced by the AITA on Friday, the other members are Kyra Shroff, Rutuja Bhosale and Rishika Sunkara.

Ankita Raina and Prerna Bhambri have named as reserve players for the women's team event.

India are back in the Group I after spending a year in Group II. India had beaten Hong Kong 2-1 in the promotional play-off in February 2012 to re-enter the Group I.

This year's ties will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan from February 6-9.

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Posted in: SPORTS - TENNIS

SPORTS - Mahesh Bhupathi-Daniel Nestor top seeded pair at Chennai Open

Chennai:  India's doubles star Mahesh Bhupathi and his new partner Daniel Nestor will be the top seeded pair at the ATP Chennai Open, starting December 31.

Bhupathi has teamed up with the Canadian world number five for the 2013 season after playing with compatriot Rohan Bopanna in the 2012 season.

Together Bhupathi and Bopanna compiled an impressive 34-22 match record and 2-3 in finals.

"Being an Indian and among the best doubles players in the world, Mahesh Bhupathi has a huge fan following in Chennai. Daniel Nestor is a top five ranked doubles player. We welcome Mahesh and Daniel to Aircel Chennai Open 2013 and look forward to seeing them play some excellent tennis in front of eager home crowds," said Karti P Chidambaram, Chairman of the Tournament Organising Committee.

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Posted in: SPORTS - TENNIS

SPORTS - CRICKET - End of an era as Sachin Tendulkar calls it a day in ODIs

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New Delhi: A prodigal talent who went on to be revered as modern cricket's greatest batsman, Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday called time on his ODI career after over two decades of phenomenal feats which are unlikely to be replicated for years to come.

A batsman who reminded the great Sir Donald Bradman of himself, Tendulkar bows out as international cricket's top run-scorer by quite a distance in ODIs. He will, however, continue to play Tests.

At the end of his ODI journey, the 39-year-old right-hander stands on a mammoth mountain of runs -- a whopping 18,426 in 463 matches at an average of 44.83.

The Mumbaikar, fondly called Little Master and Master Blaster by his legion of fans all over the world, however, went through a tormenting lean pitch during the final few months in the game.

But without an iota of doubt, Tendulkar, the only batsman to score 100 international centuries -- 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs, would be remembered as the greatest batsman to have played the game after Bradman even though his glittering career was not without its low ebbs.

He failed miserably as a captain and was bogged down by the massive responsibility of anchoring Indian batting during a time when the fall of his wicket was akin to the team folding up before the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid blossomed to take some pressure off him.

All of 16 when he made his debut against a ferocious Pakistani team that boasted of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Tendulkar gave an early display of his steely resolve when he continued to bat in a blood-soaked shirt despite being hit on his face.

That resolve came to define the little man who had the world's most feared bowlers bowing in admiration of his talent and skill. His wicket remains the most cherished for all those who managed to have it against their name.

Away from cricket this year, he accomplished another feat by becoming a Rajya Sabha member and has already showed his keenness to improve the sporting scene in India.

He was woefully out of form during India's Test and ODI whitewash at the hands of England last year and carried the weight of expectations to what turned out to be a horror tour of Australia.

With an over two decade long career, records were fairly routine for Tendulkar but for the cricketing fraternity every run he scored just added to the legend that the diminutive right-hander has become.

Much before his debut on November 15, 1989, Tendulkar's precocious talent was there to be seen when he shared an unbeaten 664-run stand with buddy Vinod Kambli in the Lord Harris Shield Inter-School Game in 1988.

His first Test century came in England in 1990 at Old Trafford and the Mumbaikar rose in stature after the 1991-92 tour of Australia, hitting sublime hundreds on a Sydney turner and a Perth minefield.

The rest is history. No existing batting record seemed safe. Other than Brian Lara's Test match highest of 400 not out and first class highest score of 501 not out, every record became Tendulkar's.

Tendulkar is also the only batsman in the world who has scored a double ton in ODIs, a feat he achieved in Gwalior against South Africa in February. This was included in Times magazine's top 10 sports moments of the year. A perfect team-man, Tendulkar limited his Twenty20 ambition to the Indian Premier League, ruling himself out of national reckoning lest it upsets the existing equilibrium of the side.

The biggest compliment to his batting came from Bradman himself in 1999 when he said that Tendulkar's style of playing resembled his style. "That touch I used to feel when I batted," he had said.

Tendulkar's colossal batting exploits have completely overshadowed his utility as a part-time bowler who revelled in breakthroughs.

He was a complete enigma with the ball, sending down military medium pace, orthodox leg-break and off-spin with the guiles that often caught batsmen off their guard.

His 154 scalps in ODIs underline the fact that Tendulkar could have also staked claim to be that elusive all-rounder that India has been desperately looking for since the legendary Kapil Dev.

But shoulder problems have not allowed him to bowl as much as he and the team would have liked.

In the field, he is among the safest pair of hands in the slip and his flat throw releasing strong arm saw him manning the deep with equal aplomb. He has taken 114 catches in Test cricket and 140 in the ODIs.

The aura only grew in strength because of his impeccable demeanour, on and off the field.

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Posted in: SPORTS

GADGETS - I PAD - Lenovo launches IdeaPad Yoga hybrids starting Rs. 61,790

Lenovo has launched the IdeaPad Yoga series of hybrid devices in India. The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga series features hybrid devices that double up as laptops as well as tablets. The two models launched are the IdeaPad Yoga 13 and IdeaPad Yoga 11.The Windows 8 running Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 features a 13.3-inch 1600x900 multi-touch display. It is powered by 3rd generation Intel Core processors alongside 4GB RAM (upgradable to 8GB) and integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000. The IdeaPad Yoga 13 sports 128GB SSD storage, webcam, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, HDMI, 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 USB 3.0 port and a 2-in-1 card reader.
Lenovo claims 8 hours of battery life on the IdeaPad Yoga 13 which is now available for Rs. 84,290.
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 is a Windows RT device that sports a 11.6-inch 1366x768 multi-touch display. It is powered by NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor alongside NVIDIA ULP GeForce and 2GB RAM. It comes with 2 USB 2.0 ports, webcam, HDMI, card-reader, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth, and 64GB SSD storage.
Lenovo says the IdeaPad Yoga 11's 4-cell battery is good enough for 13 hours of usage. The IdeaPad Yoga 11 is now available for Rs. 61,790.

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Posted in: GADGETS - I PAD

GADGETS - I PADGoogle Nexus 10 review

When I first turned on Google's new tablet computer, I immediately thought of it as a mere conduit to Google services.Besides giving you quick access to Gmail and YouTube, the Nexus 10 steers you to digital movies, books and other content available for sale through Google's online Play store.
Because of that, I wasn't thinking of the Nexus 10 as an alternative to Apple's general-purpose iPad - even with a price tag that's $100 cheaper, starting at $399. It took more thought and time with the Nexus to change that perception. After all, apps available for Android smartphones work on the tablet as well.
Still, the Nexus really shines when it comes to media - especially content bought through Google.
For the past year, Google has been trying to challenge Apple and Amazon by selling digital content.
The Play store is Google's version of iTunes for Apple devices. There, you can get a variety of apps, some free and some for a small fee. You can buy or rent movies and obtain books, magazines and music. Google isn't satisfied with building search engines and selling ads. It wants a bigger role in the digital economy.
Over the summer, Google came out with a 7-inch tablet called the Nexus 7. Just as Apple is making an iPad Mini that's about the size of the Nexus 7, Google is now selling a larger version of the Nexus, about the size of Apple's regular iPad. It starts shipping this week.
On the Nexus 10, icons at the bottom of the screen emphasize Google's media products available through Play. Click on a picture of film to watch movies, headphones to listen to music and a book to, well, read books. Another icon gets you to the Play store to obtain more content and apps.
The Nexus has a rubberized back and fits more snuggly on my lap than the metal-backed iPad. In my hands, I don't feel as if the Nexus would slip out and crash on to the hard floor, as I continually do with the iPad.
There are front-facing speakers going up and down both sides of the Nexus, compared with just one tucked in a corner on the back of an iPad. You feel more immersed watching video with sound coming right at you from the entire device. I hadn't considered that a problem on the iPad, but I began to notice it once I played video on the tablets side by side.
The screen measures 10.1 inches diagonally, which is more than the iPad's 9.7 inches. But the screen isn't any larger because while it's about an inch wider in horizontal mode, it's also about a half-inch less in height. This works well for widescreen content, which completely fills the screen. On the iPad, the latest movies and TV shows often have black bars, no matter how you hold the tablet. In some cases, you might see the sides of video cut off to fit the space, as I did watching this week's episode of "Revenge" on Hulu. Again, I hadn't considered that a problem on the iPad, until I began to notice it.
What makes the tablet's shape good for movies makes it less-than-ideal for magazines, though. There's wasted space on the top and the bottom for magazines on the Nexus. But I watch TV shows and movies online more often than I read magazines digitally, so I'll let it slide.
As for books, text on the Nexus' screen comes out sharp. News sites and apps also look nice. The Nexus has a screen resolution of 300 pixels per inches, slightly better than the 264 ppi for the latest full-size iPad (which itself is far better than the 132 ppi on the older iPad 2 model still available).
True, there are other tablets designed as media players, too. Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire and Barnes and Noble Inc.'s Nook HD come to mind, and both have larger versions out this month. But neither has the diversity of apps available for the Nexus and other full-fledge Android devices (The Kindle and the Nook run on modified versions of Android and restrict apps to what's available through their own online stores).
So what does that mean?
Apps on my Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone automatically appear on the Nexus 10 after signing in with the same Google account. I'll note that the Nexus 10 is also made by Samsung Electronics Co., even though it's branded Google.
Three of my apps, for AccuWeather, Citibank and Dunkin' Donuts, aren't compatible for unknown reasons. But those I use most often - Facebook, Instagram, Foursquare and a slew of other weather apps - all work on the Nexus. The companion app for the TV show "Dexter" also works, allowing me to play trivia games and watch video clips.
Not all apps have been specifically adapted for the tablet's larger screen, but they take advantage of the entire screen, nonetheless, thanks to the way Android lets software programmers build their apps in modules. All the content gets blown up and still looks decent.
Apple's store has a far wider selection of apps, though, including a half-dozen apps for exhibits at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. A search on Play comes up with only one.
The Nexus comes with the latest version of the Android operating system, version 4.2. It introduces a new feature for sharing tablets, the way family members can share Windows and Mac computers while keeping personalized settings. You no longer have to fight with a kid who constantly changes the volume or moves apps around. Now, just sign in as separate users.
The Nexus is a tad lighter, while the iPad promises longer battery life and has an option for cellular broadband for $130 more, plus the cost of data plans. Neither has a slot to expand memory with SD cards. Both have two cameras - 5 megapixels on the back for taking photos and video, and a lower-resolution one on the front for videoconferencing.
The iPad remains king among tablets, with its ease of use, variety of apps and dominance in the market. But challengers such as Google offer choice. The Nexus 10 is a good choice if you already have an Android phone and use a lot of Google services. That's especially true if you also watch a lot of movies and TV shows, but don't want to be limited to that.

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Posted in: GADGETS - I PAD

APPS - Weight loss? There's an app for that - and it works

Mobile devices that let people track how much they eat and exercise may help them shed weight over and above the benefits of a typical weight-loss program, according to a U.S. study.Researchers writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that overweight and obese adults lost an average of over eight pounds (3.6 kilograms) more when they had personal digital assistants (PDAs) and occasional phone coaching to help them, in addition to a group program.
There's no reason to think the same wouldn't hold true for smart phone apps that can log nutrition and activity information, and give real time feedback, they said.
"The number one mechanism through which people lost weight is self-monitoring, just watching what you eat and keeping a record of it," said Goutham Rao, who wrote a commentary published with the new study.
Rao, from the NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, noted that programs for mobile devices are easily personalized, and readily available wherever people carry their phones or PDAs.
"I'm actually very optimistic that people who are motivated, who can couple the technology with in-person counseling and management, are going to be very successful," he told Reuters Health.
The study included 69 overweight and obese people in their late 50s, on average, who were referred to a Veterans Affairs clinic for weight-loss support.
All were enrolled in 12 group sessions over six months, which focused on nutrition, exercise and behavioral changes to promote weight loss. Half of them were also given a PDA to record their food and activity throughout the day and had a coach who checked in with them by phone.
After six months in the trial, people in the PDA group had lost an average of almost 10 pounds (4.5 kg) and 41 percent of them had met the goal of losing at least five percent of their initial body weight. Those in the comparison groups had dropped just over two pounds (1 kg) each, on average, an 11 percent had achieved the weight loss goal.
At the one-year mark, six months after the mobile devices were taken away, people who'd used the PDAs had managed to keep off most of the weight they initially lost, said lead researcher Bonnie Spring, from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
The benefits of using an app on a mobile device, Rao said, are that it can be cheaper and widely available, and can help re-engage people who are having trouble, unlike an in-person program with a specific end date.
Although PDAs have mostly fallen out of fashion, the researchers said smart phones can serve the same purpose as the devices used in the study. Spring said most weight-loss apps on the market haven't been scientifically tested but may still help people lose weight.
Still, Rao warned, there's evidence that apps alone don't have much of an impact and it may be more helpful to think of the technology as an aid to help from a doctor or nutritionist.

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Posted in: APPS

APPS - Facebook goes the native route with new Android app

Facebook has moved further away from HTML5 after releasing a native version of its Android app.Facebook for Android version 2.0 has been built from scratch leveraging native Android controls, as compared to previous versions of the app which were built using HTML5.
While HTML5 offers cross-platform compatibility which means you can use the same code across various platforms like Android and iOS but its overall performance and integration cannot match that of apps using controls native to the platform.
Speed - more than anything else - is the reason Facebook switched from the old HTML5 iOS app to a new native app back in August. Now it has done the same on the Android platform. Facebook claims the new app "is twice as fast when looking at photos and opening your Timeline and noticeably quicker to launch".
There's further good news for developers. Facebook announced that Facebook SDK 3.0 for Android is out of beta. The new SDK makes it easier to build social Android apps by providing native UI controls for Facebook login, simplifying session management, and improving API support. Other native controls included in the API are Friend Picker, Places Picker and Profile Picture control. For full details of the new API visit the Android page on Facebook Developers portal.
Facebook has been talking about mobile as a key area of focus since its IPO earlier this year and native apps for the two major mobile platforms is definitely a step in the right direction.

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Posted in: APPS - FB

APPS - App aims to keep up with Santa on Christmas Eve

Children eager to track Santa Claus on his annual yuletide journey to homes across the world can download a new mobile app from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).The new app for Windows 8, called NORAD Tracks Santa, is part of a 57-year-long holiday tradition at NORAD of tracking Santa. It will allow children to keep up with him on their mobile devices and joins similar apps for iOS, Android and web apps.
"Every December 24th since 1955 we have been telling children exactly where Santa is so that children all over the world can make sure that they're in bed on time so that Santa will deliver their presents," explained Stacey Knott, a deputy chief at NORAD, U.S.-Canadian military organization based in Colorado.
In addition to tracking Santa's location on Christmas Eve, the app also shows cameos from his route across major landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China. During the countdown to the big night, children can also use the apps to play games and watch videos.
NORAD's involvement dates back to a 1955 advertisement in a local Sears, Roebuck & Co department store asking children to call Santa directly. But the phone number in the ad contained a typo.
Instead of reaching Santa's private phone, the children gained direct access to the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD's predecessor.
"Any call that came though on this line was typically the chairman, or the secretary of defense, or even the president," Knott said.
Colonel Harry Shoup was working that Christmas Eve when the first child called.
"This little tiny girl's voice said, 'Is this Santa?'" Knott explained. " looked around because he thought someone was playing a joke on him, but then he talked to the girl's mom and realized what had happened."
Shoup instructed his staff to check the radar for signs of Santa and relayed the information to the children, and the tradition was born.
In addition to the free app which is available worldwide, children can visit www.noradsanta.org, call the hotline at 1-877-HI-NORAD, or email noradtrackssanta@outlook.com on Christmas Eve to get information on Santa's location. The website is available in eight languages, including English and French.
Last year, NORAD fielded over 102,000 phone calls and 7,700 emails.
Knott said NORAD relies heavily on partners and volunteers to run the project.
"We have 1,200 volunteers who will come in and will tell people where Santa is located," she added.
So, how does Santa deliver all those gifts in one night?
"Number one, Santa flies faster than starlight," said Knott.
"But we're not completely sure how he does it. It's a little bit of magic."

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Posted in: APPS - SANTA

APPS - Google releases YouTube Capture app for iPhone

Google has released YouTube Capture app for iPhone in an attempt to plug a gaping hole in its existing YouTube app, which does not include the ability to upload videos.

Google released the YouTube app for iPhone back in September with support for discovering and watching videos, months after Apple announced its decision to drop the iOS-bundled YouTube app. Google later updated the app to add a native interface for iPad, iPhone 5 and include other features like AirPlay. Strangely, the app didn't include an option to upload videos to YouTube. This is where YouTube Capture comes in.

YouTube Capture is a pretty basic app that prompts users to sign-in upon launch. Users have the option to enable Camera Roll that allows the app to user the phone's Gallery for storing/ accessing videos, otherwise it maintains its own private library. The app lets you share videos simultaneously to YouTube, Google+, Facebook and Twitter. It comes with basic video enhancement options like colour correction and video stabilisation.

Other options in the app include Landscape lock (enabled by default), which won't let you start video recording unless you're in landscape mode and a Rotate to begin recording option (disabled by default). On the iPhone 4S, you can toggle the upload quality between 480p and 720p (HD) - this may differ from one model to the other.

Overall, it's a pretty decent offering from Google - albeit rather basic -  though as other recent iOS launches, it's not available as a native iPad app on launch day. We expect that to change soon enough.

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Posted in: APPS - Google