APPS - Microsoft and Nokia to invest $23.71 million in app development for Windows Phone

Microsoft and Nokia are planning to invest $23.71 million into Nokia’s AppCampus program over the next three years to catapult the apps ecosystem on the Windows Phone platform reports The Next Web.

Both the companies are calling this the  ‘mobile app accelerator program’ and the idea is to give world-class training, coaching, marketing and distribution support to app developers. This way, Microsoft and Nokia are not only giving a financial incentive to app developers, but are also ensuring that they get proper training with regards to the Metro design language, so that they can build better apps.

Developers will get anything in-between $26,000 and $92,000 depending on the complexity of the app. This is a lot of money. In comparison iOS and Android both have burgeoning app ecosystems that boast more than 700,000 apps. Windows Phone on the other hand only recently crossed the 100,000 apps mark, but the quality of apps available on the store is very questionable and a number of high profile apps like Instagram are missing.

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Posted in: APPS

GADGETS- TABLET - Acer said to be working on a $99 Android tablet and a cheap Windows 8 tablet: WSJ

When one thinks of a $99 tablet then one always thinks of Asus, because of the fact they launched the Nexus 7 with Google, which broke ground in the $199 price bracket. That said WSJ believes that Acer is planning a $99 Android tablet and is also working on a cheap Windows 8 tablet.

Only recently, some pictures popped up on a Serbian forum and WSJ has confirmed that the images are of the $99 Acer tablet. The tablet is rumored to feature a 7-inch display with a resolution 1024×600 pixels and a dual-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz.

Additionally, a couple of days ago two Asus tablets were leaked and one of them had a rumored price range of $130 and are expected to be seen at CES, so this market is definitely heating up.

Acer for its part was actually one of the first OEMs to announce a tablet based on Nvidia’s low cost Kai program, but it missed the $199 price point. This may be Acer’s second attempt at reinventing the low-cost tablet market and considering Google definitely wants to bring the points lower, as a $99 tablet could work wonders for Acer. The Nexus 7 has already done very well for Asus and a $99 tablet will further bring down the entry point to owning a tablet made by a global OEM.

On the Windows 8 front Acer believes its current offering are expensive, and a similar strategy could work even in the Windows environment.

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Posted in: GADGETS - TABLETS

GADGET - I PHONE - Amp Audyssey Music Player for iPhone will eke out every ounce of sonic goodness from your headphones

Yes, you read that right. Often I find myself in a conundrum on the iPhone because of the lackadaisical nature of the built-in music player because of the lack of equalization controls on the iPhone. Yes, you get a crippled set of EQ setting buried in the vast depths of the setting menu, but that’s about it. And if you happen use the standard Apple earphones then good luck, because the sound will not be what audiophiles expect it to be. On the other hand if you download a third-party music player that does offer you a number EQ settings, then a novice will be at a loss because you need some basic working knowledge of the app, before you even start otherwise you could end up ruining the sound. The Amp Audyssey Music Player is what you want on the iPhone as it offers the perfect balance between ease of use for fine-tuning the sound of the music and usability.

How does it do this? Instead of conjuring a confusing list of EQ settings it offers to tweak the sound on the basis of the headphone you are using. The app has a database of 200 popular headphones/earphones and chances are you will find your own product in the database.

Of course, Audyssey is a company that is well known for its audio chops that are found in record studios all around the world and also in IMAX theaters and they bring that know-how in a byte sized format in the form of this iPhone app.

This may sound similar to the Beats Audio EQ engine found in HTC smartphones, but there is a massive difference. Beats Audio only works with the headphones supplied with the device or a compliant Beats headphone, the Amp Audyssey music player supports a legion of products that cater to whims and fancies of different users with different musical tastes. Beats is decidedly geared towards bass heavy hip-hop music.

All that one has to do is plug in a headphone, choose the name of the product and flip on the headphone switch and boom you are good to go. The sound is optimized in accordance with the headphone. In the back-end, Audyssey has settings saved for particular headphones that will eek out every ounce of sonic goodness from your headphone and iPhone.

In my testing the sonic difference was wildly different. Be it the crappy old Apple earphones, the new earpods supplied with the iPhone 5 or the elegant suave Bowers and Wilkins P5 headphones.

The sound was richer and full and frequencies popped with a level of grandeur one expects of an amplified source. Mind you, the iPhone does not have a digital audio chip like the one HTC phones come equipped with, so most of this is coming from the software itself.

I, for one, have even started using it in my car set on the Bowers and Wilkins P5 setting because they are truly very balanced headphones and the setting that Audyssey has put in place even has a positive effect on my car audio system.

That said, this is still not audiophile grade sound, but nonetheless the effect is so good that it breathes new life into one’s daily aural experience. Priced at just Rs 55, it’s worth every single Rupee.

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Posted in: GADGETS - I PHONE

MOBILE - BLACK BERRY - Photo of BlackBerry 10 ‘N-series’ smartphone with QWERTY keyboard leaked

Barely days after the first photos of the BlackBerry ‘L-series’ smartphone leaked online, we have a photo of the second smartphone that RIM is planning to launch that will have a QWERTY keypad. Codenamed N-series, the phone bears an uncanny resemblance to the Bold 9900, which isn’t  a bad thing as it had one of the best physical QWERTY keypads on any smartphone.

Little is known about the phone, but earlier rumors indicated it to have a 720×720 pixel touchscreen display with a pixel density of 330ppi. We got the first glimpse of the phone when an internal RIM marketing presentation was leaked way back in September and recent leaks suggest it would be called the X10 and the L-series phone the Z10.

RIM will unveil BlackBerry 10 during its global launch event on January 3o though the company had earlier mentioned that the QWERTY keyboard equipped smartphone will be launched after the Z10.

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Posted in: MOBILE - BLACK BERRY

TECH - Facebook set to revamp its 'Timeline' feature

Washington: Social networking site Facebook may be redesigning its 'Timeline' feature, as the firm confirmed it is experimenting with new ways of laying out users' pages.  "This is a new design Facebook is testing with a small percentage of people to make navigating timeline even easier," a Facebook spokesperson told ABC News. 

Tabs are back with this new look, doing away with front-and-center thumbnails for 'friends' and 'photos,' a move that may further bury some marketing efforts for brands that rely on apps.

The result is a cleaner, bolder menu for navigation. In this design, your name is lifted into the cover photo as well.

Having text over the photo evokes Twitter's header images, implemented over the last month, which use the art space in a similar informational capacity. The text is white with a barely visible shadow behind it, the report said.

In the new design, users looking for 'about' information on a profile page will not have to click to a new page with a new address.

They can stay on the profile page they are browsing. Scroll down past the 'about' information and a 'friends' list will pop up. Keep scrolling and 'photos' become available as well.

The 'subscriber' count at the top of the profile page now shows the precise number of followers; up to now, if someone had 180,023 subscribers, it would be shortened to '180K'.

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Posted in: TECH

HEALTH - Too much `sugary and fatty` food can weaken your bones

Washington: High-fat, high-sugar foods not only cause obesity and promote heart disease, but they can also contribute to conditions like osteoporosis by weakening bones, according to researchers.

If this trend continues, this overlooked ‘silent robber’ will begin to cripple large numbers of at-risk baby boomers, said researchers at the University of Michigan and the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute.

While this high-fat, high-sugar diet trend and the subsequent risk of osteoporosis are climbing frighteningly fast, there’s hope, said Ron Zernicke, dean of U-M’s School of Kinesiology and a professor of orthopedic surgery and biomedical engineering.

The medical community and the public can reverse this trend by confronting the problem head-on and immediately, through diet, exercise and, in some cases, medication.

Today, about a quarter of America’s two-to-five-year-olds and a third of its school-age children, including adolescents, are obese or overweight.

“Boomers themselves—the oldest now 66—have reached the stage in life when they’re most susceptible to bone and joint disorders,” Zernicke said.

Consider these sobering statistics: the U.S. surgeon general forecasts that by 2020, half of Americans over 50 will develop or be at risk for osteoporosis of the hip. This is particularly bad news for women, who develop osteoporosis at two-to-three times the rate of men.

“One in three women will break a hip due to osteoporosis by age of 85, and about 20 percent will die within a year of the fracture. Right now, roughly 12 million Americans over 50 have osteoporosis,” said Cy Frank, executive director of the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute and an orthopedic surgeon practicing in Calgary.

Sugar and fat weaken the bones in two ways. First, diets high in saturated fats and sugar block calcium absorption. Instead, calcium needed for healthy bones washes through the body in our urine. Second, saturated fats tend to form insoluble ‘soaps,’ which coat the intestines and can block necessary calcium from bones. Again, calcium passes through the body unused.

The result? Excessive junk food layers fat onto a weakened skeleton that struggles to support the extra weight, Zernicke said.

Osteoporosis, the so-called ‘silent thief’ because it shows no symptoms, robs bones of tissue and leaves thousands of tiny pores in the bones. Porous bones can break with little stress. Treating osteoporosis fractures costs approximately 18 billion dollars a year—a cost experts predict will double by 2025.

Diet and exercise are primary preventions against osteoporosis, Frank said. A growing child near puberty rapidly lays down new bone. Healthy foods and physical activity optimize bone growth and accumulation, which lowers the likelihood of osteoporosis fractures later in life.

Again, healthy diet, exercise and medication to slow bone loss, if necessary, can reduce the
likelihood of osteoporosis fractures. A healthy, balanced diet includes vegetables, fruit and whole grains and limits saturated fats, salt and sugar. But prevention goes beyond diet and exercise. It’s critical to manage the environment that influences food choices. Eliminating junk food from places charged with promoting healthy lifestyles—schools, recreational centers, hospitals—would also help. 

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Posted in: HEALTH - FOOD

HEALTH - Dengue fever: Check for the symptoms

The death of legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra on October 21 left the entire country sad and grieving. At the same time it also surprised and shocked many when the cause of the veteran filmmaker’s death was revealed - dengue.

The filmmaker who rewrote romance on the celluloid had all the riches in the world –the most upscale areas to live in, to the best of food and healthcare. The how could he succumb to an illness most often referred to as the poor man`s diseases?

The diseases that had already infected over 600 people in the national capital itself for once has sent the authorities into a tizzy, with the state and the municipal bodies trying to put the blame on one another. The death of the ace filmmaker has forced the authorities into taking up concrete steps and implementing concentrated vector-control activities in various areas on a war footing.

The authorities, who suspect that the filmmaker may have been infected due to a few mosquito-breeding sites in his own studio have however, asked Lilavati hospital to provide them a copy of the death certificate to ascertain the cause of his demise.

As the state and the municipal authorities fight it out on who is more responsible for the health scare looming large in the country, here is a look at the cause, symptoms and the preventive measures to be taken to tackle the vector-borne infection.

CAUSE

Dengue, also known as break bone fever, due to the extreme pain caused in bones and muscles, is a mosquito-borne infection transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. The mosquitoes which acquire the virus from already infected humans – also known to be the primary host of the virus – are capable of transmitting the virus for the rest of their life after 4-10 days of virus incubation. These mosquitoes breed in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide.

There is no direct human to human transmission of the virus. However, dengue can be transmitted via infected blood transfusion and organ donation.

Aedes aegypti which primarily bites during the day time breeds mostly in man-made containers. They bite multiple people during each feeding period and peak biting periods are early in the morning and in the evening before dusk.

There are four serotypes of the virus that cause dengue - DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.

Having recovered from one virus strain provides lifelong immunity against that particular serotype, but cross-immunity i.e. being infected by a different serotype increases risk of developing severe dengue which can be fatal.

According to WHO, the number of dengue cases reported has increased predominantly in urban and semi-urban areas and has become a major international public health concern.

SYMPTOMS

Dengue in its initial stage is not deadly. However, ignoring symptoms or being infected again by a different serotype of virus or having another chronic disease can up complication risks and may result in dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Symptoms usually last for 2–7 days, after an incubation period of 4–10 days. The characteristic symptoms of dengue include:

i) Sudden-onset of fever (40°C/ 104°F). Fever is usually biphasic in nature, breaking and then returning for one or two days
ii) Headache, pain behind the eyes
iii) Muscle and joint pains
iv) Swollen glands or skin rash that is similar to measles
v) Nausea, vomiting


When dengue advances into the critical stage it can result in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets in case of hemorrhagic fever, or dangerously low blood pressure in case of dengue shock syndrome. The critical stage can lead to:


i) Fluid accumulation in the chest and abdominal cavity due to increased capillary permeability and leakage, which leads to depletion of fluid from the circulation and decreased blood supply to vital organs
ii) Organ dysfunction and severe bleeding, typically from the gastrointestinal tract
iii) Respiratory distress, rapid breathing, fatigue, restlessness
iv) Severe abdominal pain
v) Persistent vomiting or blood in vomit

TREATMENT 

There is no known vaccine to treat dengue; prevention is the only way to keep away from the virus. Hospitals offer only supportive care in order to maintain the body fluid levels and platelet transfusion in case it drops to extremely low. (A normal platelet count in a healthy individual is between 150,000 and 450,000 per microlitre of blood).

PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Prevention is the only way to combat the mosquito-borne disease. Prevent measures include:

i) These mosquitoes breed in accumulated water and unhygienic conditions. The best way is to eliminate all the possible breeding grounds for the mosquitoes
ii) Regular cleaning, emptying and covering of water storage containers
iii) Using mosquito repellents, nets
iv) Wear long-sleeved clothes
v) Active monitoring and surveillance of vectors

WHAT TO DO INCASE DIGANOSED WITH DENGUE

Hospitalization is not required until one is suffering from severe dengue or has preexisting health conditions. It can be well managed at home as hospitals provide only supportive care.

1. Take all preventive measure as being infected with another stereotype of dengue when already diagnosed with one can be fatal
2. Try to maintain body fluid level, with ample intake of water and oral rehydration solution in short intervals.
3. Though there is no specific diet for dengue patients it important to avoid spicy and oily food. Eat food that can be easily digested like boiled vegetables, rice gruel, porridge, soup, toast, apples, and bananas. Crushed juice of two fresh papaya leaves is a good home remedy for dengue fever. Chymopapin and papin - enzymes in the papaya leaf - help revive platelet count.
4. Paracetamol is used to bring down fever, however, painkiller like ibuprofen and aspirin should be avoided as they reduce platelet count and increase risk of bleeding.
5. Go for blood test, monitor BP regularly and follow up the condition with the doctor.

According to WHO, over 2.5 billion people – over 40% of the world`s population – are now at risk from dengue.

In Delhi, as on November 4, dengue cases in the capital rose to 1,161, with 36 people testing positive for the mosquito-borne disease, shows civic agency data. Two people have died of dengue-related complications in the national capital this year.

In 2011, a total of 829 cases were reported. This year, 1,161 cases have already been reported, and the number of those infected continues to rise, even as the temperature has begun to drop.

In 2010, a total of 5,649 dengue cases were recorded in Delhi.

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Posted in: HEALTH

COMPUTERS - BenQ launches 3D-enabled full-HD XL2420TX monitor for Rs. 31,000

BenQ has announced the launch of 24-inch 3D-enabled BenQ XL2420TX, its flagship gaming monitor targeted at professionals and gamers.The BenQ XL2420TX is capable of displaying full-HD 3D content and comes with bundled 3D glasses. The monitor is HDMI 1.4a compatible, which means it offers features like 3D, Ethernet channel, and Audio return channel over the HDMI interface. It supports refresh rates up to 120Hz.
"Gaming has always been one of the core product focus for BenQ, with the XL2420T gaming monitor launch turning into a grand success earlier this year we are now introducing its successor model XL2420TX, our BenQ R&D team have utilised their expertise in the display product field to recreate each feature and function required by gamer," said, Rajeev Singh, Country Head & General Manager, BenQ India.
BenQ claims the all-new Black eQualizer offers truer blacks for an "unprecedented level of control and visibility". Bundled with the BenQ XL2420TX is a remote control called S Switch that comes with three preset buttons so you're able to customise and save your display settings for gaming, work or entertainment purposes.
The monitor features "smart scaling" that lets users change the effective screen size from 17" (4:3), 19" (4:3), 19"W (16:10), 21.5"W (16:9), 22"W (16:10), 23W"(16:9) to 24W" (16:9), depending upon their preference.
The BenQ XL2420TX is now available for purchase at Rs. 31,000.

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Posted in: COMPUTERS

APPS - Sentinel mobile app alerts friends and family in case of danger

Kochi-based MindHelix Technosol Pvt Ltd has successfully developed and launched a smartphone application for improving the security of users, the first such application ever to be launched.The smartphone application, Sentinel, can call your friends and family in case of danger, and point them to your location. It works in multiple scenarios, and can function without being manually triggerred.
The intelligent application can send out alerts even if the attacker forcefully destroys the phone.
The application triggers an alert even if the user is not connected to the Internet by sending an SMS with location to the server.
The alerts consist of the last known location, time and direction with tracking information to see live data from the phone and pinpoint the location of the phone.
"India called and we listened. We created Sentinel for empowering the people when they felt harassed or alone in a threatening situation. Now more than ever India needs a solution for improving personal security in daily life," said Christin Emmanuel George, co-founder & CEO of MindHelix Technosol Pvt. Ltd..
The application was created with urban users in mind and it depends on the availability of continuous cellular connectivity.
"Sentinel can improve personal security, but that is just one of the features. Senior citizens can alert their doctors; parents can ensure their children's security by using the device," Christin said.
MindHelix Technosol has created the Citizen Interaction/Feedback tool for Delhi Police, the Know Your Police Station initiative.
The company is based in the Startup Village here.

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Posted in: APPS

TECH - LG announces new Google TV models set to debut at CES 2013

LG is ushering in the new year by announcing a new line of TVs that will be powered by Google TV 3.0. Expected to debut at CES 2013, LG's new models GA7900 and GA6400  will come in varying screen sizes ranging from 42-inches to 60-inches. Currently, LG offers a 47-inch and a 55-inch Google TV model. They are expected to be available in the first half of 2013 in the US.

The televisions will boast features like voice-recognition and Prime Time quick guide and also enable users to search and watch over 100,000 available movies and TV episodes simultaneously.

Furthermore, they will come integrated with OnLive cloud gaming service that does not require a separate console box (OnLive) and is likely to offer more than 300 high-end gaming titles.

Users are required to use the service with a controller that is directly connected to the TV set. A new remote control dubbed as Magic Remote Qwerty comes with a built-in microphone, gesture input controls and a QWERTY keyboard as well.

The new redesigned Smart Home interface stacks folders into varied types of "cards" for apps and other content. The new My Interest Card can even display useful information including real-time weather and customisable news.

The new units sport a sleek and modern look, courtesy the Korean manufacturer's CINEMA SCREEN design, which was until now seen only in the Cinema 3D Smart TV. As a result, the television has a minimised bezel giving the TV a streamlined appearance while creating the impression of a borderless display.

"LG is committed to providing diverse home entertainment options that offer the most satisfying user experience and the latest LG Smart TVs with Google TV do just that," said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of the LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. He further added, "They deliver a stellar user experience by merging the latest Google TV platform with LG's proven Smart TV technology. The result is a comprehensive system that is groundbreaking in its simplicity."

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Posted in: TECH

GADGETS - I PAD - Apple working on thinner, lighter 5th generation iPad

If inside sources of a Japanese blog Macotakara are to be believed, then Apple is reportedly planning to introduce the next generation iPad in the upcoming months.

The blog, which has been known for its accurate predictions in the past with Apple products, states that this version of the company's 9.7-inch tablet will be thinner and lighter drawing on elements from the recently introduced 7-inch iPad mini (Review I Pictures). The expected dimensions for the device are 4mm x 17mm x 2mm. According to the blog, the 5th generation iPad is likely scheduled for a March 2013 release.

Furthermore, the blog's sources indicate that Apple is also amidst a production trial of the 2nd generation iPad mini. The 7.9-inch tablet is expected to feature a 2048x1536 pixel Retina display translating into a 326ppi pixel density and will likely carry on board the A6X chip as seen in the fourth generation iPad.

It's evident that Apple has picked up pace on the tablet front, proof of which we first witnessed this year with the launch of the 4th generation iPad in October, a move which came just six months after launching a new model, doubling the speed of the processor.

The new fourth generation iPad features a 9.7-inch Retina display, new Apple-designed A6X chip, FaceTime HD camera and ultrafast wireless performance with same 10 hours of battery life.

Coming to the iPad mini, it was introduced at a special event in San Jose, California on October 23rd (Pictures). The iPad mini features a 7.9-inch 1024x768  display, FaceTime HD and iSight cameras, ultrafast wireless performance and 10 hours of battery life.

The company sold three million iPads in just three days since the launch of its new iPad mini and fourth generation iPad. The number is double the previous first weekend milestone of 1.5 million Wi-Fi only models sold for the third generation iPad in March. So whether or not the next generation iPad and iPad mini create a similar effect is something that we'll keep an eye for. 

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Posted in: GADGETS - I PAD

NEWS - Rs 600/month scheme: 'Mrs Dikshit. is this a joke?'

In a case of grandstanding-gone-very-wrong, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, while launching her government's flagship scheme Dilli Annashree Yojna, claimed that a family of five can fulfill all their needs with a cash subsidy of Rs 600 per month.

Dikshit's outrageous observation -- made in the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi -- has received enormous flak.

The chief minister, who her Bharatiya Janata Party opponents say is oblivious to the actual prices of rice and daal, has claimed that she was quoted out of context.

Rediff.com's Priyanka spoke to the aam aadmi in the affluent Nizamuddin East area in New Delhi, where Dikshit lives, and found reactions ranging from disbelief to disappointment at the chief minister's belief on how much money is 'enough' for their survival.

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Posted in: NEWS

BOLLYWOOD - Akshay Kumar's role in SPECIAL CHABBIS inspired by Natwarlal

All this while Akshay Kumar's upcoming film SPECIAL 26 and his look was closely guarded and kept completely under wraps so as not to let out the content. 

	view SPECIAL 26 stills

However, now, officially, SPECIAL CHABBIS is being said to be an edgy gritty heist drama. The makers are highlighting that the film is based on the real-life daring heist dated 19-Mar-1987, where an unknown man posing as CBI officer Mon Singh recruited 26 men and executed a daylight raid on the Opera House branch of a reputed jewellery shop in Mumbai, and disappeared with jewellery worth lakhs.

But now sources close to the unit reveal that Akshay Kumar's role is somewhat based on Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava, better known as Natwarlal. As the folklore goes, Natwarlal was a famous Indian con man known for repeatedly selling Taj Mahal, Red Fort along with Rashtrapati Bhavan. Until end no one was able to catch him and if caught he would escape and remained a mystery till his death.

CHECK OUT: Akshay Kumar promotes SPECIAL CHABBIS through fake CBI raid news

Not only this, the name Natwarlal was once also an inspiration for Amitabh Bachchan's film, MR NATWARLAL in 1979.

Akshay Kumar, like Natwarlal, will be seen using lot of aliases. His character is master of disguises and uses novel ideas to dupe people. He is also said to have cheated number of industrialists stealing from them huge money in cash.

Directed by Neeraj Pandey of A WEDNESDAY fame it has Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpai, Jimmy Shergill, and Anupam Kher in pivotal roles.

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Posted in: BOLLYWOOD

BOLLYWOOD - Bigg Boss 6: Urvashi, Delnaaz emerge as the strongest contestants to win the show

Bigg Boss yet again gave his own twist to the nominations procedure in the show. This time around the inmates were asked to give any three names who they think deserve to win the show. With Imam Siddiqui being the captain of the house, the other eight inmates were asked to cast their votes in the confession room.

This time around Bigg Boss also gave liberty to the inmates to recommend their own names for the most deserving contestant to win the show. While Urvashi and Delnaaz topped the list with seven votes, no votes were cast for Sapna. Most of the inmates voted for Urvashi's strong character while others admired Delnaaz's desire to win the show.

However, Bigg Boss asked all the inmates to not discuss the nominations in the house. With most of the votes cast in favour of Urvashi, Delnaaz, Rajev and Niketan, the women of the house came under the radar of nominations. Sapna, Karishma, Sana and Aashka have been nominated for next eviction.

It was not just the twist in the nominations that made the last episode exciting, Bigg Boss decided to make the Christmas week special for the inmates by sending in Salman Khan to the house. The host surprised the inmates by his sudden visit. It is for the first time in this season that Salman went inside the house to meet the inmates. The contestants were given the task of playing statue when the actor entered the house.

Initially, they couldn't interact with Salman due to their task but Sana could not control herself and went onto hug the actor. The other inmates followed her and were excited to see Salman in the house.

Sapna, who has not been too cordial with the host on the show and has often entered into an argument with him, showed Salman around the house. Though, the actor did not ignore her but he maintained his distance from her.

It was not just his visit that came as a surprise to the inmates; Salman also got messages for the inmates from their family members. While most of the inmates were happy to hear out the messages, Aashka could not recognise her mother's voice in the message and later her mother was send in the house. Later, Imam apologised to Aashka's mother for his behaviour on the show.

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Posted in: BOLLYWOOD

BOLLYWOOD - Salman scores fifth big success in a row as 'Dabangg 2' creates havoc

It is being said for long that Salman Khan is pretty much competing with himself as far as box office supremacy in Bollywood is concerned. This has been proven once again with Arbaaz Khan's 'Dabangg 2' which, despite mixed reviews from critics, has hardly been affected. The film has broken the weekend record created by 'Ek Tha Tiger' when it comes to the highest weekend collections ever. 'Ek Tha Tiger' had created a new record for first three days collections of 57 crores. Now 'Dabangg 2' has managed to rake in 65 crores. This is still in the top of the league as competition for the third and fourth best are far away.Salman has shown once again that in the current scenario, he is his own competition. What is notable is the fact that 'Ek Tha Tiger' had released on Eid and carried a major advantage. Moreover, more than half of these record collections had come on its first day itself. On the other hand 'Dabangg 2' opened at around 20 crore mark and the collections remained around the same lines on Saturday before havoc was created on Sunday. Now it has to be seen that whether 'Dabangg 2' would eventually turn out to be Salman's highest grosser. 'Ek Tha Tiger' had managed 190 crores for itself but first and foremost 'Dabangg 2' needs to cross 145 crores total of 'Dabangg', something which is quite feasible and should be possible within two weeks. Whether that would turn out to be the case and when are all speculations but one thing is for sure that Salman has yet again managed to find audience for himself and in the process, a fifth straight success in a row after 'Dabangg', 'Ready', 'Bodyguard' and 'Ek Tha Tiger', hence consolidating his position as a Number One superstar in the country. One has to credit Arbaaz Khan for delivering a successful film amidst major hype and expectations. As is the case with all major films, there are more detractors willing to pull you down and this was no different in case of Arbaaz and his film. However he stuck to his convictions and put together a film which was always going to be akin to walking a thin rope. He has made a huge kick-start as a director and it would be interesting to see how he shapes his career from this point on. As for Sonakshi Sinha, she is riding a wave and now has third 100 crore biggie in the making after 'Son of Sardaar' and 'Rowdy Rahore' this year.

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Posted in: BOLLYWOOD - Salman Khan

MOBILE - Airtel's new Data Share Plan allows 3G data sharing between 3 devices

Airtel customers can now share can share 3G data up to 5GB at Rs. 1,000 between three connections.

Bharti Airtel has announced a new data plan that allows the subscriber to share one plan with two more devices. With Airtel's Data Share Plan, a subscriber can share 3G data up to 5GB with a recharge of Rs. 1,000, which is valid for 30 days. The plan can be shared with other Airtel numbers (prepaid and postpaid) only, but they have to be in the same circle.

To use the new Airtel data share plan, subscribers can go towww.airtel.in/datashare or SMS “DATA SHARE ADD mobile number” to add phone numbers with which they want to share the data. Airtel has put up an infographic explaining how its Data Share Plan works, and you can check it out below:

Airtel's new data share plan is quite similar to Reliance's recent 'All Share Postpaid Plan'. RCom's plan, available for all GSM and CDMA postpaid customers, allowed users to share usages with three connections at a single rental of Rs. 1,497.

The All Share Postpaid Plan - only for 3 members or 3 connections - wherein the members can share 3,000 mins of local / STD voice calls, 3,000 local / national SMS along with 3GB of 3G data per month and free calling amongst the family or group members on this plan. Along with this, all the members would also get the benefit of unlimited free local calls within the group. Find out more about the RCom's plan 

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Posted in: MOBILE

GADGETS - I PAD - Rumor Tips Thinner, Lighter iPad in March

                                                       Many people will be ripping open new fourth-gen iPads or iPad minis tomorrow morning, but rumors about the next Apple tablet are already swirling.

According to Japanese blog Macotakara, as picked up by 9to5Mac, the next iPad will be unveiled in March 2013 and boast a thinner, lighter profile. That includes a 4mm reduction in height, 17mm in width, and 2mm in depth, Macotakara said.

The blog also suggested that the next-gen iPad will incorporate elements of the iPad mini - namely the black/slate or white/silver color schemes.

A March 2013 unveiling for the fifth-gen iPad would come one year after the release of the "new iPad" or iPad 3. It would follow Apple's recent release cycle of iPads in the winter and iPhones in the fall. But Apple did only just release the iPad mini - and a revamped, fourth-gen iPad - in October.

That fourth-gen iPad , however, didn't really include too many changes over its predecessor. Apple added the smaller, Lightning dock connector, and the A6 chip used in the iPhone. The updated iPad also included a FaceTime HD camera, twice the Wi-Fi performance compared to previous iPads, and support for additional LTE carriers worldwide.

The quick release of the iPad 4, just months after the iPad 3, irked some people who had purchased an iPad early in 2012. But PCMag mobile analyst Sascha Segan thought consumers should quit their whining.

For more, see PCMag's reviews of the iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad.

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Posted in: GADGETS - I PAD

MOBILE - Zync launches six dual SIM phones, price starting at Rs. 1900

Zync on Monday launched six new dual SIM phones ie. Zync C18, Zync C21, Zync C22, Zync C24, Zync C27 and Zync C30. All the mobile phones are priced at INR 1399, INR 1990, INR 1990, INR 1990, INR 1990 and INR 2499 respectively. All the phones are available in black and red colour. These powerful devices are slated to be one of the most affordable phones available in the market.  All the phones come with a Dual SIM feature that allows users to make calls and send text messages without needing several phones. The other features include loudspeaker, a 4GB microSD memory card, USB connectivity, Bluetooth support, a dual LED torch light and many others. These mobile phones also have a primary camera of 1.3 MP which supports video recording, a music player and features an FM radio, enabling the users to tune into their favorite music stations. The box contains accessories like In Sales Package Battery, Charger, User Manual, Headset, Handset and a Warranty Card. All the phones can support, Facebook, Yahoo, MSN etc. “This is the first time we have entered the mobile phone category. With the mobile segment growing by leaps and bounds and recording sales of around 200 million units in 2012, we felt this was the right time to expand our horizon and enter a new territory. At Zync, we continuously work on innovation with our product range and seek to provide the right solutions for our customers for their technological needs. With the launch of these six new cell phones, we aim to bring a powerful and dependable device with great features at a very affordable price point,” said Amul Mittal, Co-founder, Zync Global. With Zync’s wide distribution network of more than 500 dealers, the product would now be available at more than 51cities. Along with these dealers, the Zync products can also be availed at all the major e-commerce platforms like Snapdeal.com, Naaptol.com, IndiaTimes, Flipkart.com, HomeShop18, Infibeam. The company is offering a one year comprehensive warranty for the mobile along with a six months warranty on the accessories.

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Posted in: MOBILE

MOBILE - Reliance brings out Facebook Messenger Plan at Rs 16 per month this Christmas

Reliance Communications (RCOM) has introduced a pre-paid Facebook Messenger Plan for its GSM subscribers which will offer a new experience with incredible affordability to smartphone users across the country. Reportedly, the new plan will provide unlimited access of Facebook, including Messenger, at Rs 16 per month. Further, the plan will be available with a 30-day-validity from the date of recharge and is auto-renewed every 30 days unless unsubscribed. Reliance GSM subscribers can also subscribe to the ‘Facebook messenger Plan' by sending a SMS "FB" to 53739 from their mobile phones. Similar to this, the telecom company had launched its special Whats App plan as well. RCOM is India's foremost and truly integrated telecommunications service provider. The company, with a customer base of about 150 million, including over 2.5 million individual overseas retail customers, ranks among the Top 4 Telecom companies in the world by number of customers in a single country.

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Posted in: MOBILE

SPORTS - Sachin Tendulkar: Man who became God

New Delhi: It did not take much for the cricket pundits to spot a genius in Sachin Tendulkar after he made his international debut in a Test match in Karachi Nov 15, 1989. He was 16 then. More than two decades later, he has gone on to become one of the greatest batsman the world will ever see.

Twenty-three years, one month, and eight days from his debut, the five-feet-five-inch cricketing genius has called time on a glittering one-day career. With 18,426 runs from 463 matches at an average of 44.83, Tendulkar has most batting records under his belt in the 50-over format as also in Tests.

He holds the record for the maximum number of appearances and is the highest run-getter and century-maker in both versions. He has turned out in six World Cups at a stretch, playing a key role in winning the title in 2011 and finishing runners-up in 2003.The `Little Master`, as he is often called, is the only man to hit 100 centuries - 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs - and also the first man to score a double-century in the 50-over format.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for the champion batsman in his initial ODIs. It took him all of five years and 78 matches to score his maiden hundred. 

But experts never lost faith in him. Another Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar commented that once he gets his first one, there will be no stopping him. Finally the big day came Sep 9, 1994, when Tendulkar struck a blazing 110 against Australia in Colombo. 

The jinx broken, Tendulkar celebrated with two more three-figure knocks in the next two months. From then on, there was no looking back. 

The memories of Tendulkar tearing into one of the greatest spinners of all-time, Shane Warne, at Sharjah, will forever be etched in the minds of cricket fans. In that tournament, he hit two back-to-back centuries (143; 134) against Australia -- the first helped India qualify for the final based on a better Net Run Rate and the second, in the finals -- which was played on Tendulkar`s 25th birthday, helped India beat Australia to win the title.

After the tournament, Warne claimed that he had "nightmares" at the thought of bowling to Tendulkar after being dominated by him.

An abiding image of Tendulkar would be the hundred he scored in the 1999 World Cup match at Bristol. Ramesh Tendulkar, a novelist and professor, who had deeply inculcated in his son the virtues of modesty and humility, died when India were in the midst of the Cup campaign.

Tendulkar flew home to attend his father`s last rites, and returned to the tournament, beating the Kenyan bowlers to pulp scoring 140 off 101 balls, and dedicated his innings to his father. On completing the hundred, Tendulkar looked at the sky, praying for his father, and has done likewise after reaching every milestone of his glittering career since then.

With the left-handed Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar formed the greatest opening partnership in limited overs cricket, and the pair holds the world record for the most number of runs - 6609 in 136 matches that includes 21 century and 23 half-century stands. In 40 other matches, batting together but not as openers, the duo partnered another 1668 runs, taking their total aggregate partnership to 8277.

"These were the moments of my career I always cherish. My batting with Sachin in one-day internationals at the top was a huge learning experience," Ganguly once said.

But the greatest adulation for the Mumbaikar came from the legendary Don Bradman - considered the greatest batsman of all times. Sir Don once asked his wife to take a look at the Indian as he felt Tendulkar played like him. 

It was Tendulkar`s technique, compactness, and shot production that endeared him most to the Aussie, according to Roland Perry, who authored the book `Don`s Best`.

But in a revelation that even the `god of cricket` has his human frailties, it took Tendulkar 370 days to get over an agonising century-less period after the 99th international hundred he got March 12, 2011 facing South Africa in Nagpur during the World Cup. 

In recognition for the laurels he brought to the country, Tendulkar was nominated to the Rajya Sabha as an eminent personality by then president Pratibha Patil in April this year - the first sports personality to get the honour.

Mentored in his early cricketing days by his elder brother Ajit, Sachin later honed his skills under celebrated coach Ramakant Achrekar.

Tendulkar`s talent stood out since his school days, and partnered by his friend Vinod Kambli the duo made the cricketing circles sit up and take notice after an unbroken 664-run stand in a Lord Harris Shield international school game in 1988.

The rest as they say is history.

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Posted in: SPORTS - CRICKET

HEALTH -TOP 10 HEALTHY HAIR GROWTH TIPS

Some people are blessed with long flowing locks that grow effortlessly, while others need to put in more effort to promote healthy hair growth. If you below to the latter group, you can benefit from these top 10 healthy hair growth tips and suggestions.


1. Use hair tools on low heat settings – It may come as a surprise, but one of the leading causes of hair damage stems from the overuse of heat. If you can’t help but to use a blow dryer daily, try using a diffuser or a brush attachment as stress reducers on your hair.

2. Buy a filter for your shower head – Chlorine purifies water, but it can also reek havoc on your strands. This will help you to avoid washing your hair with hard water.

3. Use natural boar’s bristle brushes – Lots of styling tools such as brushes come in an array of colors, but pay particular attention to the materials used to construct them. Maintain healthy hair growth by utilizing a brush with natural boar’s bristles.

4. Taking multi-vitamins – Supplements can help to repair your organs, minimize aches and pains and maintain hair and scalp health. You can choose to specifically buy vitamins for hair growth, or look for a multi-vitamin that contains an essential blend.

5. Limit the number of hair products that you use – There are many good quality hair growth products available, but remember that too much of a good thing can actually be detrimental to your hair. L-cysteine and hair loss prevention go hand in hand, just remember to keep your routine simple.

6. Apply deep conditioners – While it is important to wash your hair and scalp on a regular basic, don’t forget that faster hair growth can be obtained by occasionally pampering your locks. Look for conditioners that are rich in protein as well as moisture in order to get the perfect blend.

7. Treat your hair with care – Whether you protect the ends of your hair by constantly keeping it styled in a bun, or like to change up your styles daily, always handle your hair carefully. You can get more healthy hair growth by doing less with your hair.

8. Get rid of split ends – Having knots and split ends trimmed from your hair will help to appear healthier, but it will also help to prevent further damage.

9. Avoid harmful hair accessories – Hair ties with metal parts, rubber bands and tools with uneven plastic edges can cut and break off your hair.

10. Don’t bleach or perm your hair – Use semi-permanent hair dyes or roller set your hair if you temporarily need to change up your look. Bleach in particular is very harsh
.

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH -NAIL FUNGUS HOME REMEDY – TEA TREE OIL, VINEGAR, PEROXIDE OR BLEACH?

Using a nail fungus home remedy is safe and will not cause liver damage, which most if not all nail fungus prescriptions do. More and more people are choosing to use more holistic practices opposed to prescribed medications when dealing with a fungal nail infection.
Start with wearing loose fitting shoes that breathe or sandals to keep the fungus at bay. If you must wear closed shoes that allow for less air to flow, wear white cotton socks and use antifungal nail polish.

There is no one nail fungus cure that works faster than the other. Using the remedy that works well for you consistently, and staying away from the environment that caused your toe fungus is the best defense. Tea tree oil, vinegar, peroxide and bleach are all regularly used as a unique nail fungus home remedy for many different intervals. However, the effectiveness of each item definitely varies.

Tea Tree Oil is light yellow to clear in color and has a fresh almost floral odor that is quite pleasing. After the infected area is cleansed, and the nail is made soft and pliable with a soak, apply a small amount of tea tree oil twice daily. After steady use, you will have visual confirmation of the fleeting fungus.

White vinegar is preferable and should be used twice a day, at least. Fungus can’t live or grow in acidic environments. Within approximately two weeks, you will notice the color or your toenails change back to normal. This is a very safe and reliable nail fungus home remedy that has an extremely high success rate.

Using a peroxide soak of no more than three percent hydrogen peroxide to water is recommended. However, it usually takes a few months before this nail fungus home remedy starts to give patients any real relief. Using too much hydrogen peroxide cause your nail to become weak, brittle and powdery, so use extreme caution.

Bleach can be used as a nail fungus home remedy, but it can also be dangerous. You will need to use a minute amount of bleach, which amounts to a little less than a teaspoon of bleach for every gallon of water. Soak your feet in the bleach and water solution for 15 minutes maximum, then rinse your feet off with regular water. It should take around 10 days to see white toenail fungus start to recede
.

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH,--5 BEST HOME REMEDIES FOR HAIR GROWTH YOU CAN TRY

There are literally dozens of home remedies for hair growth that you can test out, but nearly all users can expect varying results. Depending on the reason for your hair loss, you may end up stimulating formally dormant hair follicles,
or possibly even improve the health, thickness and strength of existing hairs. For people that have slow hair growth, home remedies such as cold water rinses and hot oil treatments seem to do the trick. Here are the five most popular ways for you to regrow your hair at home.

1. Eucalyptus oil – In addition to smelling quite good, eucalyptus oil for hair has multiple benefits that help to stimulate the scalp and add strength to existing hair strands. Remember that effective hair growth is also about retaining the hair that is already growing out of your head.

2. Increased vitamin intake – Sometimes topically based home remedies for hair growth just don’t work. When this is the case, it is best to take a closer look at your diet and supplement intake regime. Taking a multi-vitamin or a prenatal vitamin might help to put the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to more effectively regrow your hair. Most of the hair growth supplements currently being marked are simply high priced variations of multi-vitamins.

3. Saw Palmetto – This health supplement has long been revered by men and women that suffer from hair loss. Saw palmetto benefits for women include faster hair growth. The most effective home remedies for hair growth don’t need to contain a lot of fancy ingredient, just make sure that you stick to a set schedule.

4. Cayenne pepper – You can probably find a bottle of cayenne pepper in your spice cabinet, even if you are not an avid cook. Adding a little cayenne pepper to extra virgin olive oil makes a great, skin tingling, scalp stimulating massage oil that you can use as one of many home remedies for hair growth. Just be careful not to accidentally drop some in your eyes.

5. Vinegar – If your hair is not growing properly, there is the possibility that your scalp is simply too dirty. Use a solution of water and vinegar to clarify the scalp and encourage healthy hair growth. As an added bonus, you might want to utilize horsetail extract for hair growth to help give your water and vinegar solution an extra boost
.

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH, 7 BEST HOME REMEDIES FOR DRY SKIN

There are many home remedies for dry skin that are already available to you in your home. There is no way to avoid itchy dry skin, at least at some point in your life.
The oil glands can produce too little oil for many different reasons. A lot of the lotion for dry skin that is currently on the market only causes the body to overproduce natural oils, leading to clogged pores and oily faces. Use the seven following home remedies for dry skin and find instant relief.

1. Topical vitamins – Vitamins E, A and B are essential to the body, especially when treating a dry skin rash. A lack of these vitamins causes dry skin, so make sure that you take them both orally and topically.

2. Almond oil – Massaging a small amount of almond oil into the skin daily can alleviate almost all skins of rough, scaly skin.

3. Bananas – By making a simple paste from water and bananas, you can make your very own DIY dry scalp treatment. Let this mixture sit on the skin for at least 15 minutes in order to get the full effects.

4. Aloe vera gel – One of the best known remedies for dry skin include aloe vera gel. Soothing, moisturizing and cooling, aloe vera gel can also help with burns, cuts, abrasions and other irritations.

5. Grape seed oil – Although grape seed oil is a bit heavy, remember that you only need a couple of drops. Pour a little in the palm of your hand and apply it to the areas that need it the most.

6. Milk – Milk contains lactic acid, which is also a natural exfoliate. If your skin is dry because it hasn’t been exfoliated recently, milk just might do the trick. Add a little whole or powered milk to your bath water for versatile home remedies for dry skin that you can depend on.

7. Mineral water – Bathing with hard water can quickly dry out the skin and scalp. Use mineral or filtered water instead so that you skin is always baby smooth and stays well hydrated
.

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Posted in: HEALTH

HEALTH, NATURAL MOLE REMOVAL – COCONUT OIL, CASTOR OIL OR VINEGAR?

If you want to try natural mole removal for yourself, there are a few different things that you should keep in mind. First and foremost, remember that no natural
remedy is guaranteed to work for everyone. If you have a skin condition that makes you sensitive to oils or natural acids, you may experience extreme irritation or an allergic reaction. Lastly, make sure that you give the natural mole removal method that you choose ample time to work.

Vinegar, namely apple cider vinegar is extremely acidic, yet safe to use on the skin. You will not have to worry about developing a mole removal scar if you choose to use white or apple cider vinegar, but it can take up to 10 days before the mole will eventually dry up and fall off. If you completely saturate your mole in vinegar and repeat this process everyday, you will find this method to be very effective.

Castor oil is another method of natural mole removal, but it comes with slightly inconsistent results. You will need to be careful about how you apply the castor oil as it can potentially damage the normal skin surrounding your mole if you apply it too liberally. Although many people swear by the castor oil facial mole removal method, it may or may not work for you personally.

You may also choose to use coconut oil to remove oils as it is one of the most gentle natural mole removal methods. Coconut oil can also be used in place of laser birthmark removal as it can help to improve your overall skin complexion. As long as you use coconut oil consistently over the course of four to five days, you should see positive results.

If you read just about any dermatend review, you will learn that this over the counter medication contains bloodroot. Although this herb is generally hard to come by, realize that is also another natural method for mole and skin tag removal. Because vinegar, castor oil and coconut oil are relatively inexpensive and easily accessible, you may want to give them a try first before you make a bigger investment.
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Posted in: HEALTH