Google Inc tried to partner with Facebook but was rejected, denying the search to the social network's trove of personal information, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said.
Schmidt did not specify which deal in particular he was referring but noted that Google's search could be improved with access to Facebook's data about Web surfers' friends and acquaintances.
"We tried very hard to become partner with Facebook," Schmidt said. "They were unwilling to do the deal," he added, noting that Facebook had traditionally partnered with Microsoft.
Schmidt, who was speaking at the D9 conference organized by the blog AllThingsD, also noted that Google had also recently renewed a partnership with Apple in which Google provides map technology featured in the iPhone.
A former Apple board member, Schmidt said their relationship had gotten "rough" as Google began to develop its Android smartphone operating system, although they remained good partners in certain businesses.
Schmidt, who ended his 10-year run as Google CEO in April and handed the reins to 38-year-old Google co-founder Larry Page, is among the more than a dozen tech industry executives slated to speak at the conference, taking place this week at an upscale resort in Southern California.
Among the other scheduled speakers are the chief executives of the Walt Disney Co, Hewlett-Packard, Twitter, Zynga, Groupon and Alibaba.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Clarify whether Sun TV benefited by pay-offs: BJP to Maran
Government on Tuesday faced fresh attack from the opposition on corruption when the BJP asked textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran to answer charges that his family-owned Sun TV Network was a beneficiary of pay-offs by a Malaysian company which benefited from equity sold by Aircel.
"There are new scandals in the UPA government everyday. A new scandal is on the verge of being exposed. The cupboard of corruption of the UPA is overflowing and more skeletons are dying to come out," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said reacting to a media report in this regard.
However, Congress washed its hands off the controversy surrounding Maran, the former telecom minister.
"If a question has been asked from the textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran, obviously he will be the best person to answer it," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters in reply to a volley of questions on the issue.
Incidently, Maran had a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday night after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
At the same time, Tewari indicated that irregularities, if any, during Maran's tenure could be looked into by the JPC which is looking into the 2G spectrum allocation scam. Tewari is also a member of the JPC.
Prasad alleged that during Maran's tenure as telecom minister, there were some financial anomalies which benefited companies owned by his family.
"We know Maran's family owns Sun TV network which also has direct-to-home (DTH) service. During his tenure as telecom minister, the FDI norm was changed and the telecom sector FDI norm was increased to 74 per cent. Aircel, a telecom company which only had a license for Tamil Nadu, later got license for 14 new areas," Prasad said.
Prasad maintained that instead of threatening the BJP, Maran should answer these queries with proper documentary proof.
He insisted that the consequences of the change in FDI are well-known.
"Earlier, the Prime Minister had said on October 26, 2009, that A Raja is innocent when the CBI had started the inquiry (into 2G spectrum allocation. We would request Manmohan Singh to learn from his past mistakes. Some questions are being raised. Please reply to them," Prasad said.
Prasad said if Maran had "misused his dominant position" as a minister, his actions would come under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
He wondered why routing of slush money was increasingly being done by companies owned by DMK leaders, be it Kalaignar TV (in which Kanimozhi has a 20 per cent stake) or Sun Network.
Tewari, however, evaded a direct reply when asked when A Raja resigned after similar allegations why should Maran continue saying "I have said what I have to say".
Asked about the BJP demands on the Maran issue, Tewari said that the JPC which has been formed after the winter session of Parliament was washed out over the opposition demand, was having stakeholders from all political parties.
"I don't think the agenda of the JPC should be set through a press conference" was the brief refrain of Tewari when asked whether JPC should call Maran before it.
Meanwhile, Maran slapped a legal notice on Tehelka magazine over a report in this regard
"There are new scandals in the UPA government everyday. A new scandal is on the verge of being exposed. The cupboard of corruption of the UPA is overflowing and more skeletons are dying to come out," BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said reacting to a media report in this regard.
However, Congress washed its hands off the controversy surrounding Maran, the former telecom minister.
"If a question has been asked from the textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran, obviously he will be the best person to answer it," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters in reply to a volley of questions on the issue.
Incidently, Maran had a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday night after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
At the same time, Tewari indicated that irregularities, if any, during Maran's tenure could be looked into by the JPC which is looking into the 2G spectrum allocation scam. Tewari is also a member of the JPC.
Prasad alleged that during Maran's tenure as telecom minister, there were some financial anomalies which benefited companies owned by his family.
"We know Maran's family owns Sun TV network which also has direct-to-home (DTH) service. During his tenure as telecom minister, the FDI norm was changed and the telecom sector FDI norm was increased to 74 per cent. Aircel, a telecom company which only had a license for Tamil Nadu, later got license for 14 new areas," Prasad said.
Prasad maintained that instead of threatening the BJP, Maran should answer these queries with proper documentary proof.
He insisted that the consequences of the change in FDI are well-known.
"Earlier, the Prime Minister had said on October 26, 2009, that A Raja is innocent when the CBI had started the inquiry (into 2G spectrum allocation. We would request Manmohan Singh to learn from his past mistakes. Some questions are being raised. Please reply to them," Prasad said.
Prasad said if Maran had "misused his dominant position" as a minister, his actions would come under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
He wondered why routing of slush money was increasingly being done by companies owned by DMK leaders, be it Kalaignar TV (in which Kanimozhi has a 20 per cent stake) or Sun Network.
Tewari, however, evaded a direct reply when asked when A Raja resigned after similar allegations why should Maran continue saying "I have said what I have to say".
Asked about the BJP demands on the Maran issue, Tewari said that the JPC which has been formed after the winter session of Parliament was washed out over the opposition demand, was having stakeholders from all political parties.
"I don't think the agenda of the JPC should be set through a press conference" was the brief refrain of Tewari when asked whether JPC should call Maran before it.
Meanwhile, Maran slapped a legal notice on Tehelka magazine over a report in this regard
Can Intel's Ultrabook concept succeed?
During this week's Computex trade show in Taiwan, Intel announced plans to support a new laptop category it calls the Ultrabook. These laptops will highlight thin bodies, Intel CPUs, and possibly touch screens (or other tabletlike features), and are targeted to cost less than $1,000.
On the surface, this sounds like a plan for slightly less-expensive versions of the MacBook Air or Samsung Series 9, although even slightly under $1,000 is considered a premium price for a laptop.
This is actually Intel's second stab at this market. A year ago, Intel was pushing its consumer ultralow-voltage CPUs, or CULV, in an effort to help PC makers bring thinner laptops to consumers. These systems largely died on the vine, as the low-voltage versions of Intel's Core-series CPUs had disappointing performance without really boosting battery life all that much. Intel called those systems "ultrathin" laptops, but the concept never really caught on. Acer, for example, dropped the CULV chips for full-voltage ones in its slim TimelineX series.
Though thinner, more powerful laptops are always a laudable goal, is Intel's claim that by 2012 these new Ultrabook laptops will account for 40 percent of the laptop market realistic? Considering some of the most popular laptops on CNET are already reasonably thin (but not as thin as the Ultrabook promise of 0.8 inch) and cost well under $1,000, the Ultrabook may be another case of a solution in search of a problem. Recent examples of laptops that balance size, power, and price include Dell's $999 0.97-inch XPS 15z, Toshiba's $749 1.1-inch Portege R835, and HP's 1.2-inch, AMD-powered Pavilion dm1z.
Remember that Netbooks were largely an organic phenomenon--consumer demand for these small, low-cost machines forced PC makers to embrace the previously obscure category. A top-down pronouncement on what consumers want from companies looking to sell new hardware is a much tougher sell.
Will the Ultrabook break through as a new laptop category? Let us know what you think in our poll or in the comments section below.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20067553-1/can-intels-ultrabook-concept-succeed/#ixzz1NwzG3C7k
On the surface, this sounds like a plan for slightly less-expensive versions of the MacBook Air or Samsung Series 9, although even slightly under $1,000 is considered a premium price for a laptop.
This is actually Intel's second stab at this market. A year ago, Intel was pushing its consumer ultralow-voltage CPUs, or CULV, in an effort to help PC makers bring thinner laptops to consumers. These systems largely died on the vine, as the low-voltage versions of Intel's Core-series CPUs had disappointing performance without really boosting battery life all that much. Intel called those systems "ultrathin" laptops, but the concept never really caught on. Acer, for example, dropped the CULV chips for full-voltage ones in its slim TimelineX series.
Though thinner, more powerful laptops are always a laudable goal, is Intel's claim that by 2012 these new Ultrabook laptops will account for 40 percent of the laptop market realistic? Considering some of the most popular laptops on CNET are already reasonably thin (but not as thin as the Ultrabook promise of 0.8 inch) and cost well under $1,000, the Ultrabook may be another case of a solution in search of a problem. Recent examples of laptops that balance size, power, and price include Dell's $999 0.97-inch XPS 15z, Toshiba's $749 1.1-inch Portege R835, and HP's 1.2-inch, AMD-powered Pavilion dm1z.
Remember that Netbooks were largely an organic phenomenon--consumer demand for these small, low-cost machines forced PC makers to embrace the previously obscure category. A top-down pronouncement on what consumers want from companies looking to sell new hardware is a much tougher sell.
Will the Ultrabook break through as a new laptop category? Let us know what you think in our poll or in the comments section below.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20067553-1/can-intels-ultrabook-concept-succeed/#ixzz1NwzG3C7k
HTC Desire Android 2.3 update delayed again
The HTC Desire Android 2.3 update will not meet its end of May deadline, according to 3 Mobile.
A tweet from the numerical network apologises for the ongoing delays to the Desire Gingerbread update.
It reads, "Re HTC [Desire] 2.3: V[ery] sorry to say that HTC hasn't been able to meet the late May timings that were set. We're awaiting extra info, more news soon."
Delicious gingerbread
At first Three didn't know when the update would arrive, and then it reckoned late April, then early May, then the end of May and now… well, it probably should have stuck with its first answer.
It's not clear exactly what's to blame for the prolonged delay, but Three is obviously quite keen to pass the buck on to HTC, which is yet to comment.
Unofficial accounts suggest that HTC is now working to a deadline of the end of June, at which point HTC Desire owners should hopefully be able to enjoy the improved copy and paste, WebM video playback, the redesigned Android keyboard and better battery life that Android 2.3 should bring.
Read more: Click here
A tweet from the numerical network apologises for the ongoing delays to the Desire Gingerbread update.
It reads, "Re HTC [Desire] 2.3: V[ery] sorry to say that HTC hasn't been able to meet the late May timings that were set. We're awaiting extra info, more news soon."
Delicious gingerbread
At first Three didn't know when the update would arrive, and then it reckoned late April, then early May, then the end of May and now… well, it probably should have stuck with its first answer.
It's not clear exactly what's to blame for the prolonged delay, but Three is obviously quite keen to pass the buck on to HTC, which is yet to comment.
Unofficial accounts suggest that HTC is now working to a deadline of the end of June, at which point HTC Desire owners should hopefully be able to enjoy the improved copy and paste, WebM video playback, the redesigned Android keyboard and better battery life that Android 2.3 should bring.
Read more: Click here
Renault's second coming
The company plans to provide the Indian consumer a taste of its technological expertise
A year after French auto major Renault terminated its joint venture with homegrown automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the company is back to prove its mettle in the world’s second fastest growing automobile market with its premium mid-size sedan Fluence
In its second coming – a solo foray this time – Renault has chalked out ambitious targets for itself. The company will roll out five models by the end of next year and plans to sell 100,000 units in the next three years. The feat, though not improbable, is a difficult one.
US-based automobile manufacturer General Motors, which recently toppled Toyota to become the largest selling car company globally, could achieve the numbers after 16 years.
The Logan, which Renault sold along with M&M for over five years, sold around 46,000 units. The fact that the car was preferred by cab operators in large numbers did not quite help the company’s cause in building a brand perception in India.
Marc Nassif, managing director of Renault India, recalls the Logan experience as a thing of the past. “We believe it is a fresh start for us and courtesy Logan, we are fully prepared and know this market a lot better. Logan did not deliver in terms of sales figures and profitability and that is obvious, but the learning curve has been steep and the results of it would be visible in Fluence and all our future products.”
The Fluence will be followed by premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) Koleos, a hatchback and two other cars Renault has planned to launch in India by end 2012. This time, the approach is simple – Renault will adopt a top-down strategy in launching products, provide the “Indian consumer a taste of its technological expertise”, and pay detailed attention to the overall ownership experience of the consumer.
Nassif elaborates: “There are two things which are requisite for success, the right product. And, we believe we have it. Secondly, we want to enhance the overall ownership experience of Renault cars – right from the moment we sell the cars, to hassle-free maintainence services and easy availability of spares. Each Renault dealership we set up will have one expert technician who has been trained for 43 days in France to help cater to customer needs better. Our performance will help us build brand awareness.”
Renault has 14 existing sales outlets and the company plans to reach out through 100 dealerships by end 2012. Sudhir Rao, deputy managing director, Renault India says: “This year we are not pushing volumes. We will lay foundations for the brand. By the end of next year when we have five cars on the road, segment-wise we would cover half of the market and geographically 90 per cent of the country.” The sales target for 2013 has been set at 100,000 units. By 2014 Renault is eyeing five per cent share in the Indian automobile industry.
Interestingly, Renault, which introduced the Fluence both in petrol and diesel fuel options last week (May 23), has priced the products such that the diesel variant is the entry-level car for the company. While Fluence (diesel) is priced at Rs 12.99 lakh, the petrol version is dearer at Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The petrol version has added features. Nearly 70 per cent of sales in the premium mid-size sedan segment come from diesel variants. At such aggressive pricing points, Renault is hopeful it would be able to bring in the numbers.
“We want to showcase our technology with the petrol model,” says Len Curran, vice-president (sales and marketing), Renault India. “Petrol is our flagship model but diesel is more value-oriented and will drive volumes for us.”
Nassif says: “India is one of the three key strategic markets for Renault’s international operations, besides Brazil and Russia. I see India climbing 20 spots to become the 11th largest country in sales contribution for Renault by 2016.”
Renault, along with its global alliance Nissan, will invest Rs 4,500 crore by 2015 at the Chennai facility. The unit will have a production capacity of 400,000 units per annum by mid next year. The French company is additionally considering setting up an engine plant at the facility.
A year after French auto major Renault terminated its joint venture with homegrown automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the company is back to prove its mettle in the world’s second fastest growing automobile market with its premium mid-size sedan Fluence
In its second coming – a solo foray this time – Renault has chalked out ambitious targets for itself. The company will roll out five models by the end of next year and plans to sell 100,000 units in the next three years. The feat, though not improbable, is a difficult one.
US-based automobile manufacturer General Motors, which recently toppled Toyota to become the largest selling car company globally, could achieve the numbers after 16 years.
The Logan, which Renault sold along with M&M for over five years, sold around 46,000 units. The fact that the car was preferred by cab operators in large numbers did not quite help the company’s cause in building a brand perception in India.
Marc Nassif, managing director of Renault India, recalls the Logan experience as a thing of the past. “We believe it is a fresh start for us and courtesy Logan, we are fully prepared and know this market a lot better. Logan did not deliver in terms of sales figures and profitability and that is obvious, but the learning curve has been steep and the results of it would be visible in Fluence and all our future products.”
The Fluence will be followed by premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) Koleos, a hatchback and two other cars Renault has planned to launch in India by end 2012. This time, the approach is simple – Renault will adopt a top-down strategy in launching products, provide the “Indian consumer a taste of its technological expertise”, and pay detailed attention to the overall ownership experience of the consumer.
Nassif elaborates: “There are two things which are requisite for success, the right product. And, we believe we have it. Secondly, we want to enhance the overall ownership experience of Renault cars – right from the moment we sell the cars, to hassle-free maintainence services and easy availability of spares. Each Renault dealership we set up will have one expert technician who has been trained for 43 days in France to help cater to customer needs better. Our performance will help us build brand awareness.”
Renault has 14 existing sales outlets and the company plans to reach out through 100 dealerships by end 2012. Sudhir Rao, deputy managing director, Renault India says: “This year we are not pushing volumes. We will lay foundations for the brand. By the end of next year when we have five cars on the road, segment-wise we would cover half of the market and geographically 90 per cent of the country.” The sales target for 2013 has been set at 100,000 units. By 2014 Renault is eyeing five per cent share in the Indian automobile industry.
Interestingly, Renault, which introduced the Fluence both in petrol and diesel fuel options last week (May 23), has priced the products such that the diesel variant is the entry-level car for the company. While Fluence (diesel) is priced at Rs 12.99 lakh, the petrol version is dearer at Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The petrol version has added features. Nearly 70 per cent of sales in the premium mid-size sedan segment come from diesel variants. At such aggressive pricing points, Renault is hopeful it would be able to bring in the numbers.
“We want to showcase our technology with the petrol model,” says Len Curran, vice-president (sales and marketing), Renault India. “Petrol is our flagship model but diesel is more value-oriented and will drive volumes for us.”
Nassif says: “India is one of the three key strategic markets for Renault’s international operations, besides Brazil and Russia. I see India climbing 20 spots to become the 11th largest country in sales contribution for Renault by 2016.”
Renault, along with its global alliance Nissan, will invest Rs 4,500 crore by 2015 at the Chennai facility. The unit will have a production capacity of 400,000 units per annum by mid next year. The French company is additionally considering setting up an engine plant at the facility.
Renault's second coming
The company plans to provide the Indian consumer a taste of its technological expertise
A year after French auto major Renault terminated its joint venture with homegrown automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the company is back to prove its mettle in the world’s second fastest growing automobile market with its premium mid-size sedan Fluence
In its second coming – a solo foray this time – Renault has chalked out ambitious targets for itself. The company will roll out five models by the end of next year and plans to sell 100,000 units in the next three years. The feat, though not improbable, is a difficult one.
US-based automobile manufacturer General Motors, which recently toppled Toyota to become the largest selling car company globally, could achieve the numbers after 16 years.
The Logan, which Renault sold along with M&M for over five years, sold around 46,000 units. The fact that the car was preferred by cab operators in large numbers did not quite help the company’s cause in building a brand perception in India.
Marc Nassif, managing director of Renault India, recalls the Logan experience as a thing of the past. “We believe it is a fresh start for us and courtesy Logan, we are fully prepared and know this market a lot better. Logan did not deliver in terms of sales figures and profitability and that is obvious, but the learning curve has been steep and the results of it would be visible in Fluence and all our future products.”
The Fluence will be followed by premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) Koleos, a hatchback and two other cars Renault has planned to launch in India by end 2012. This time, the approach is simple – Renault will adopt a top-down strategy in launching products, provide the “Indian consumer a taste of its technological expertise”, and pay detailed attention to the overall ownership experience of the consumer.
Nassif elaborates: “There are two things which are requisite for success, the right product. And, we believe we have it. Secondly, we want to enhance the overall ownership experience of Renault cars – right from the moment we sell the cars, to hassle-free maintainence services and easy availability of spares. Each Renault dealership we set up will have one expert technician who has been trained for 43 days in France to help cater to customer needs better. Our performance will help us build brand awareness.”
Renault has 14 existing sales outlets and the company plans to reach out through 100 dealerships by end 2012. Sudhir Rao, deputy managing director, Renault India says: “This year we are not pushing volumes. We will lay foundations for the brand. By the end of next year when we have five cars on the road, segment-wise we would cover half of the market and geographically 90 per cent of the country.” The sales target for 2013 has been set at 100,000 units. By 2014 Renault is eyeing five per cent share in the Indian automobile industry.
Interestingly, Renault, which introduced the Fluence both in petrol and diesel fuel options last week (May 23), has priced the products such that the diesel variant is the entry-level car for the company. While Fluence (diesel) is priced at Rs 12.99 lakh, the petrol version is dearer at Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The petrol version has added features. Nearly 70 per cent of sales in the premium mid-size sedan segment come from diesel variants. At such aggressive pricing points, Renault is hopeful it would be able to bring in the numbers.
“We want to showcase our technology with the petrol model,” says Len Curran, vice-president (sales and marketing), Renault India. “Petrol is our flagship model but diesel is more value-oriented and will drive volumes for us.”
Nassif says: “India is one of the three key strategic markets for Renault’s international operations, besides Brazil and Russia. I see India climbing 20 spots to become the 11th largest country in sales contribution for Renault by 2016.”
Renault, along with its global alliance Nissan, will invest Rs 4,500 crore by 2015 at the Chennai facility. The unit will have a production capacity of 400,000 units per annum by mid next year. The French company is additionally considering setting up an engine plant at the facility.
A year after French auto major Renault terminated its joint venture with homegrown automobile manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), the company is back to prove its mettle in the world’s second fastest growing automobile market with its premium mid-size sedan Fluence
In its second coming – a solo foray this time – Renault has chalked out ambitious targets for itself. The company will roll out five models by the end of next year and plans to sell 100,000 units in the next three years. The feat, though not improbable, is a difficult one.
US-based automobile manufacturer General Motors, which recently toppled Toyota to become the largest selling car company globally, could achieve the numbers after 16 years.
The Logan, which Renault sold along with M&M for over five years, sold around 46,000 units. The fact that the car was preferred by cab operators in large numbers did not quite help the company’s cause in building a brand perception in India.
Marc Nassif, managing director of Renault India, recalls the Logan experience as a thing of the past. “We believe it is a fresh start for us and courtesy Logan, we are fully prepared and know this market a lot better. Logan did not deliver in terms of sales figures and profitability and that is obvious, but the learning curve has been steep and the results of it would be visible in Fluence and all our future products.”
The Fluence will be followed by premium sports utility vehicle (SUV) Koleos, a hatchback and two other cars Renault has planned to launch in India by end 2012. This time, the approach is simple – Renault will adopt a top-down strategy in launching products, provide the “Indian consumer a taste of its technological expertise”, and pay detailed attention to the overall ownership experience of the consumer.
Nassif elaborates: “There are two things which are requisite for success, the right product. And, we believe we have it. Secondly, we want to enhance the overall ownership experience of Renault cars – right from the moment we sell the cars, to hassle-free maintainence services and easy availability of spares. Each Renault dealership we set up will have one expert technician who has been trained for 43 days in France to help cater to customer needs better. Our performance will help us build brand awareness.”
Renault has 14 existing sales outlets and the company plans to reach out through 100 dealerships by end 2012. Sudhir Rao, deputy managing director, Renault India says: “This year we are not pushing volumes. We will lay foundations for the brand. By the end of next year when we have five cars on the road, segment-wise we would cover half of the market and geographically 90 per cent of the country.” The sales target for 2013 has been set at 100,000 units. By 2014 Renault is eyeing five per cent share in the Indian automobile industry.
Interestingly, Renault, which introduced the Fluence both in petrol and diesel fuel options last week (May 23), has priced the products such that the diesel variant is the entry-level car for the company. While Fluence (diesel) is priced at Rs 12.99 lakh, the petrol version is dearer at Rs 14.40 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The petrol version has added features. Nearly 70 per cent of sales in the premium mid-size sedan segment come from diesel variants. At such aggressive pricing points, Renault is hopeful it would be able to bring in the numbers.
“We want to showcase our technology with the petrol model,” says Len Curran, vice-president (sales and marketing), Renault India. “Petrol is our flagship model but diesel is more value-oriented and will drive volumes for us.”
Nassif says: “India is one of the three key strategic markets for Renault’s international operations, besides Brazil and Russia. I see India climbing 20 spots to become the 11th largest country in sales contribution for Renault by 2016.”
Renault, along with its global alliance Nissan, will invest Rs 4,500 crore by 2015 at the Chennai facility. The unit will have a production capacity of 400,000 units per annum by mid next year. The French company is additionally considering setting up an engine plant at the facility.
India to miss partial solar eclipse
Sky gazers in India will miss the year’s second partial solar eclipse Wednesday as it will not be visible in the country.
The partial solar eclipse begins Wednesday at sunrise in Siberia and northern China where the shadow first touches earth at 10.55 p.m. (Indian time).
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially obscures the Sun as viewed from an Earth location.
‘This eclipse will not be visible in India as it is happening late night for us,’ said a statement issued by the Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE).
SPACE is a scientific organisation working to spread space education.
People in eastern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina will witness it in totality, it said.
2011 has bought six opportunities to witness eclipses (four solar and two lunar eclipses).
The partial solar eclipse begins Wednesday at sunrise in Siberia and northern China where the shadow first touches earth at 10.55 p.m. (Indian time).
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially obscures the Sun as viewed from an Earth location.
‘This eclipse will not be visible in India as it is happening late night for us,’ said a statement issued by the Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE).
SPACE is a scientific organisation working to spread space education.
People in eastern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina will witness it in totality, it said.
2011 has bought six opportunities to witness eclipses (four solar and two lunar eclipses).
LulzSec hacked PBS; is Sony next?
A group known as LulzSec, or The Lulz Boat, is taking credit for hacking into the PBS “News Hour” Web site and posting an article claiming that rappers Tupac and Biggie Smalls are alive. (They are not.)
According to the group’s very active Twitter, the hack was retribution for the “Wikisecrets” episode of Frontline. The group tweeted @WikiLeaks, “We hope our hacking gave Bradley Manning a smile. That man deserves something nice,” referring to the U.S. soldier who allegedly leaked restricted materials to the organization.
Whirlpool, a member of LulzSec, confirmed the hack’s motive to Forbes Tuesday over Instant Message chat, saying that the documentary “painted a negative picture on WikiLeaks.” The hacker said he originally planned to “write about Obama choking to death on a marshmallow, but ... figured Tupac would be funnier.”
Now, the group seems to have moved on to hacking Sony Web sites — again.
LulzSec said on Twitter they are currently rolling out the next phase of “Sownage” — that’s Sony plus the word ownage — taunting the company with tweets including, “Hey @Sony, you know we're making off with a bunch of your internal stuff right now and you haven't even noticed? Slow and steady, guys.” They already claimed responsibility for an earlier hack on Sony Music Japan.
The group is apparently not responsible for the massive breach on Sony.com and the PlayStation Network, which possibly left about 70 million users’ credit card information vulnerable. But it did take credit for leaking the e-mail usernames and passwords of Fox Broadcasting employees and the names, e-mails and phone numbers of contestants from the upcoming American version of “The X Factor.”
As blogger Zennie62 pointed out, it appears that AT&T may be the group’s next target. This prediction comes courtesy of a May 17 tweet: “AT&T aren’t going to enjoy what The Lulz Boat is cooking.” But it doesn’t seem the group will stop there: “We’re hard at work. Multiple targets, vast lulz possibilities.”
This year alone, several high profile companies have been hacked. When Wikileaks’s founder Julian Assange was arrested in December, Anonymous hacked the Web sites of MasterCard, Visa and Paypal. The group leaked e-mails from a Bank of America employee in March.
So are all the LulzSec’s hacks done for a specific purpose, like the one on PBS? It doesn’t seem so.Whirlpool told Forbes the group’s “main goal is to spread entertainment,” with the PBS hack done partly for “lulz.” On question-and-answer Web site, Formspring, the group said their “goal is to spread fun, fun, fun!"
According to the group’s very active Twitter, the hack was retribution for the “Wikisecrets” episode of Frontline. The group tweeted @WikiLeaks, “We hope our hacking gave Bradley Manning a smile. That man deserves something nice,” referring to the U.S. soldier who allegedly leaked restricted materials to the organization.
Whirlpool, a member of LulzSec, confirmed the hack’s motive to Forbes Tuesday over Instant Message chat, saying that the documentary “painted a negative picture on WikiLeaks.” The hacker said he originally planned to “write about Obama choking to death on a marshmallow, but ... figured Tupac would be funnier.”
Now, the group seems to have moved on to hacking Sony Web sites — again.
LulzSec said on Twitter they are currently rolling out the next phase of “Sownage” — that’s Sony plus the word ownage — taunting the company with tweets including, “Hey @Sony, you know we're making off with a bunch of your internal stuff right now and you haven't even noticed? Slow and steady, guys.” They already claimed responsibility for an earlier hack on Sony Music Japan.
The group is apparently not responsible for the massive breach on Sony.com and the PlayStation Network, which possibly left about 70 million users’ credit card information vulnerable. But it did take credit for leaking the e-mail usernames and passwords of Fox Broadcasting employees and the names, e-mails and phone numbers of contestants from the upcoming American version of “The X Factor.”
As blogger Zennie62 pointed out, it appears that AT&T may be the group’s next target. This prediction comes courtesy of a May 17 tweet: “AT&T aren’t going to enjoy what The Lulz Boat is cooking.” But it doesn’t seem the group will stop there: “We’re hard at work. Multiple targets, vast lulz possibilities.”
This year alone, several high profile companies have been hacked. When Wikileaks’s founder Julian Assange was arrested in December, Anonymous hacked the Web sites of MasterCard, Visa and Paypal. The group leaked e-mails from a Bank of America employee in March.
So are all the LulzSec’s hacks done for a specific purpose, like the one on PBS? It doesn’t seem so.Whirlpool told Forbes the group’s “main goal is to spread entertainment,” with the PBS hack done partly for “lulz.” On question-and-answer Web site, Formspring, the group said their “goal is to spread fun, fun, fun!"
Sony: PlayStation Store back this week
By the end of the week, Sony says it will flip the switch to bring the rest of its PlayStation Network services, including the PlayStation Store, back online.
The company posted a blog on PlayStation.com late Monday saying that all PSN functionality will return to customers in the Americas, Europe, and some Asian countries, with the exception of Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Music Unlimited by Qriocity will also be back online later this week. Details about service restoration in those countries was not immediately available.
Some services, including the ability to watch previously downloaded movies and play online, were brought back two weeks ago after being offline since April 20. Sony was forced to completely shut down its gaming and entertainment network after a massive security breach saw more than 100 million customers' personal data exposed.
"We have been conducting additional testing and further security verification of our commerce functions in order to bring the PlayStation Network completely back online so that our fans can again enjoy the first class entertainment experience they have come to love," said Sony Executive Deputy Vice President Kazuo Hirai, in a statement. "We appreciate the patience and support shown during this time."
Sony turning PlayStation Store functionality back on also means customers are closer to being able to finally take advantage of promises made to them weeks ago. As a way of apologizing for the security breach, Sony has offered free content to PSN users, but without a PlayStation Store, there is no way to get that content. This means that soon PlayStation 3 owners can choose from among five video games and pick two to download for free and PlayStation Portable owners can choose two free games from among four. And at a time Sony chooses, PSN users will get one weekend of "select" free movie rentals.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20067531-260.html#ixzz1NwxNatTb
The company posted a blog on PlayStation.com late Monday saying that all PSN functionality will return to customers in the Americas, Europe, and some Asian countries, with the exception of Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Music Unlimited by Qriocity will also be back online later this week. Details about service restoration in those countries was not immediately available.
Some services, including the ability to watch previously downloaded movies and play online, were brought back two weeks ago after being offline since April 20. Sony was forced to completely shut down its gaming and entertainment network after a massive security breach saw more than 100 million customers' personal data exposed.
"We have been conducting additional testing and further security verification of our commerce functions in order to bring the PlayStation Network completely back online so that our fans can again enjoy the first class entertainment experience they have come to love," said Sony Executive Deputy Vice President Kazuo Hirai, in a statement. "We appreciate the patience and support shown during this time."
Sony turning PlayStation Store functionality back on also means customers are closer to being able to finally take advantage of promises made to them weeks ago. As a way of apologizing for the security breach, Sony has offered free content to PSN users, but without a PlayStation Store, there is no way to get that content. This means that soon PlayStation 3 owners can choose from among five video games and pick two to download for free and PlayStation Portable owners can choose two free games from among four. And at a time Sony chooses, PSN users will get one weekend of "select" free movie rentals.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20067531-260.html#ixzz1NwxNatTb
SBI Bank PO Recruitment May 2011– Know How
Know-How on State Bank of India – SBI Bank PO recruitment for 1000 posts PO among upcoming bank PO jobs, here are the answers for some of your questions asked frequently and doubts regarding SBI PO jobs.
Who can apply for this SBI PO recruitment
Those within 21 to 30 years of age and have completed graduation / degree in any streem, as on 01.05.2011 are eligible to apply.
I have scored 50% in degree. Is it possible for me to apply
A pass in degree is enough and no specific percentage has been mentioned by the bank. So if you have cleared graduation you are eligible to apply.
Can final years / waiting for results can apply for these PO jobs
The educational qualification should be as on 1.05.2011.Hence it is necessary for candidates to have a degree at the time of applying and the final year students or those who are waiting for results are not eligible.
I have appeared for SBI exams previously. Am I eligible for this PO recruitment
State Bank of India has limited the number of chances for a candidate to apply for its recruitment. While General & OBC have 4 and 7 chances, there is no such restriction for SC/ST. For example, if a person (general) has appeared for previous held PO recruitments in SBI (from 18.04.2010) then he / she is not eligible to apply now.
What are the items to be attached with the online application
As per new guidelines, your recent passport photo & signature must be scanned and sent along with the online application. Instructions on scanning and uploading them in detail are given in the SBI Bank PO recruitment notice.
I have applied and now when will i receive the call letter
According to SBI`s notice, call letters would be sent to eligible candidates by the month of July 18, 2011 & those who do not receive them, must contact the exam centre along with proof of payment and application printout.
Who can apply for this SBI PO recruitment
Those within 21 to 30 years of age and have completed graduation / degree in any streem, as on 01.05.2011 are eligible to apply.
I have scored 50% in degree. Is it possible for me to apply
A pass in degree is enough and no specific percentage has been mentioned by the bank. So if you have cleared graduation you are eligible to apply.
Can final years / waiting for results can apply for these PO jobs
The educational qualification should be as on 1.05.2011.Hence it is necessary for candidates to have a degree at the time of applying and the final year students or those who are waiting for results are not eligible.
I have appeared for SBI exams previously. Am I eligible for this PO recruitment
State Bank of India has limited the number of chances for a candidate to apply for its recruitment. While General & OBC have 4 and 7 chances, there is no such restriction for SC/ST. For example, if a person (general) has appeared for previous held PO recruitments in SBI (from 18.04.2010) then he / she is not eligible to apply now.
What are the items to be attached with the online application
As per new guidelines, your recent passport photo & signature must be scanned and sent along with the online application. Instructions on scanning and uploading them in detail are given in the SBI Bank PO recruitment notice.
I have applied and now when will i receive the call letter
According to SBI`s notice, call letters would be sent to eligible candidates by the month of July 18, 2011 & those who do not receive them, must contact the exam centre along with proof of payment and application printout.
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