Google Web Security

Internet search titan Google will shut down as many as 10 products, including Aardvark and Fast Flip, as it streamlines operations and focuses on the ones that have "higher impact". In a google blogpost, Google Senior Vice President MR.AlanEustace said, "Over the next few months we will be shutting down a number of products and merging others into existing products as features." "This will make things much simpler for our users, improving the overall Google experience. It will also mean we can devote more resources to high impact products the ones that improve the lives of billions of people." Products that the search engine company plans to close include a social network powered question and answer search tool Aardvark, news content browsing and reading for the web and mobile devices Fast Flip and a note-taking and URL clipping service Notebook. It would also close Desktop, which allowed customers to access their documents and data from local sources. The company plans to shift people over to using cloud-based storage and Google Maps API for Flash, which gave ActionScript developers a way to integrate Google Maps into their applications. Google also plans to eliminate its Google Pack programme, which allows users to download a variety of softwares. Among other services that would be discontinued are-- Image Labeler, Google Web Security, Subscribed Links and Sidewiki. "We'll continue to take risks on interesting new technologies with a lot of potential. But by targeting our resources more effectively, we can focus on building world-changing products with a truly beautiful user experience," Eustace added.

Duplex wireless technology

Rice University researchers Group has come across another breakthrough that could double the capacity of wireless signals. The "full duplex wireless technology" allows a wireless device, such as a phone or tablet, to upload and download data on a single frequency as opposed the two required today. The idea is that if a device could simultaneously receive and send data on the same frequency, it would free up more wireless bands without ever needing to build more antennas. However, if a device tried to "talk" and "listen" on the same frequency on a network today, the transmissions would cancel each other out in the same way that shouting over someone on speakerphone would. The team of Rice researchers Group achieved a dual-signal band by employing multiple-input multiple-output antenna technology. The receiving antenna is able to catch multiple signals in a way that do cancel each other out, but the node can pick up a clear signal in a single frequency. The researchers Group claim that the resulting signal quality is at least 10 times better than before thanks to multiple antennas improving the performance. Wireless companies are already looking into the technology because it can be easily retrofitted onto their multi-antenna cell towers. Meanwhile, the researchers Group say that this duplex technology could be easily rolled into networks as they upgrade to 4.5G or 5G. The Rice team also plans to release full-duplex as part of its WARP wireless open-access research platform). WARP is an open source software and hardware platform that allows other scientists to examine full-duplex wireless technology and to make their own innovations.

ID Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra

Identification : The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has generated over 3.11 crore 'Aadhaar' numbers till the beginning of this month, with Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra having garnered the maximum numbers so far, the government said today. "A total of 3,11,84,630 Aadhar numbers (Identification) have been generated as on September 1, 2011," Minister of State for Planning Ashwani Kumar said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Over 1.06 crore Aadhaar numbers (Identification) have been generated in Andhra Pradesh, followed by almost 72 lakh in Maharashtra and 33 lakh in Karnataka, he added. The UIDAI plans to cover 60 crore citizens under the Aadhaar (Identification) project by March 2014. Kumar said that the total expenditure for the Aadhaar programme stood at Rs 57.09 crore during the April-July period of the current fiscal. The expenditure had stood at Rs 26.21 crore in 2009-10 and Rs 268.41 crore in 2010-11. "The total approved estimated cost of Phase I and II of the project spread over five years from 2009-10 to 2013-14 is Rs 3,170.32 crore," the minister said.

"Aadhar aims to provide soft identity infrastructure which can be used to re-engineer public services so that these lead to equitable, efficient and better delivery of services," Kumar said. The minister said that current enrolment under the scheme is voluntary. "Enrolment of residents for Aadhaar number (Identification) is voluntary. As and when the implementing ministries, departments and agencies consider the application of Aadhaar number(Identification) in their programmes, schemes or services, they may also decide whether it is required to be mandatory for their purpose," he said. UIDAI has been mandated by the government to issue a unique identification number -- 'Aadhar'(Identification). It can be verified and authenticated online in a cost effective manner and will eliminate duplicate and fake identity proofs. The programme was initially conceived by the Planning Commission in 2006 as an initiative to provide identification proof for each Indian resident and would be primarily used as the basis of efficient delivery of welfare services. It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various programmes and schemes of the Government.

University of Manchester

Try this exercise when you have a few minutes to spare. Type the term 'wonder material' on Google and see what you get. 5 or 6 years back you would have ended up with an assorted list, not at all wondrous and some of them even fancies of marginal scientists and inventors. Now you will have to go way down in the list of search results to spot anything other than one substance, graphene. Microsoft Office would still tell you that you are spelling the word wrong, as the program confuses it with the word 'grapheme' used in linguistics, but material graphene has set the world's laboratories on fire. It will soon start restructuring major industries worth several hundred billion dollars. Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms networked in a honeycomb structure. It is super strong and super thin, and shows extraordinary electric and optical properties.

Discovered only in 2004, graphene has been used already in labs to make transistors, memory devices, transparent and flexible displays, high capacity batteries, solar cells, energy storage devices and several other things. These devices show remarkable properties when compared to what we use now, but graphene manufacturing technology has to develop over the next few years before they make it to the commercial world. "I am surprised at the pace of development of graphene-based devices," says Konstantin Novoselov, professor of physics at the University of Manchester, and a co-discoverer. "It is because quite a few scientists are now working on the material."

Novoselov and his former professor Andre Geim, also of Manchester University, had won the Physics Nobel Prize last year for their discovery. The duo now continues to be a rich source of new grapheme science and technology. Last week they published the results of research that showed ways of using graphene to convert light into electric pulses at high speeds, a development that could result in better solar cells and 10-100 times faster Internet. Their paper was among the many in recent times that described exciting developments in the world of graphene, as scientists and engineers started moving basic research into lab-scale development. "Over 200 patents have been granted on graphene since its discovery," says Ajay Sood, professor of physics at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. "This shows the extent of commercial interest in the material." Sood himself has made transistors and memory devices using graphene. Although graphene is unlikely to replace silicon in transistors in the near future, graphene-based transistors are lightning fast when compared to the silicon-based ones that computers use now. Two months ago, in an important step towards developing commercial grapheme devices, IBM demonstrated a graphene-based integrated circuit (IC) that worked at frequencies of 10 gigahertz. Graphene could give us chips that work at terahertz (1000 gigahertz) frequencies, and is a replacement for silicon. IBM had made an isolated graphene transistor last year working at 100 gigahertz, but this time it had shown how to connect it with other materials in a broadband mixer, a basic component of radios. Novoselov and Geim first made graphene by peeling off thin layers of carbon from graphite using scotch tape, after others failed to do so using advanced equipment and large sums of money.

Developing Solutions IT services - developing solutions

International Business Machines Corporation, the world's largest tech services company, has renegotiated its outsourcing contract with Vodafone Essar and signed an extended deal estimated at around $1 billion to manage IT systems for the country's third-biggest phone firm till 2017. In 2007, Vodafone had signed an over $400-million, 5-year outsourcing contract with International Business Machines Corporation. The contract was to expire next year. According to at least three people, one of whom was part of the negotiations, both the companies agreed to restructure the contract last month estimated at $800 million-1 billion. When contacted by ET, a Vodafone Essar spokesman confirmed that the contract with International Business Machines Corporation had been renewed but declined to share the exact value of the deal. "The deal could have come up for renewal late this year if this agreement was not reached - it completely ruled out any opportunity for rival bidders," said one of the executives familiar with the contract. He requested anonymity. According to research firm Gartner, India's IT services market will reach $9.5 billion this year, an 18% rise over 2010 revenues of $7.6 billion. The country's domestic IT services Industry ranks third in Asia Pacific and is forecast to grow to $15 billion by the end of 2014. Over the past 19 years, IBM has been slowly and quietly moving to control India's lucrative domestic IT business in the backyard of the country's top technology companies, which started by writing software codes for helping overseas customers manage the millennium bug during the '90s.

The challenge for International Business Machines Corporation, however, is to increase profitability of these engagements, especially the ones signed with phone companies, which are squeezing costs to cope with falling per-user revenues. Big Blue, a nickname International Business Machines Corporation acquired from its blue-painted mainframe computers of the '60s, now controls over half of the outsourcing business with revenues of around $1.5 billion, in a market that is home to the world's fastest-growing tech firms. Most of this business is from India's domestic market, where International Business Machines Corporation takes over computer hardware, software and IT services functions of customers such as Bharti Airtel. Some of International Business Machines Corporation India revenues also come from developing solutions for government customers such as Indian Railways, which sought the company's help to develop a crew management system last year. With 120,000 employees, which is around one-fourth of its global workforce, International Business Machines Corporation is now one of the top five technology companies in the country in terms of overall revenues, behind TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant and HCL. However, none of the rivals derives more than 15% of its business from Indian customers.

Develop applications for mobile phones

Philips mobile phone After bidding adieu to the Indian mobile phone market five years ago, Philips has stepped back with the launch of its Xenium Philips phones in the lower and mid segments. The Dutch company's brand will be distributed in the Indian market through China's Shenzhen Sang Fei Consumer Communication Co, which had bought Philips' mobile phone business long ago and continues to own the rights to its branding in several markets including India. The Chinese firm manufactures cell phones at its Shenzhen plant, which has a capacity of 15 million phones. "We are extremely optimistic about th e Indian market and are confident to reaching one million sales by March next year. Philips is a trusted brand here and that should help us push the brand," said Tan Jok Tin, CEO and managing director of Shenzhen Sang Fei Consumer Communication Co Ltd. He said the company would bring in its 3G and Philips smart phones by next year and would eventually look at backward integration by entering into services segment to develop applications for mobile phones. "There is a huge talent pool in India, which we will use that to create a complete eco-system for our business," said Tin. Of late, there has been a trend of consumer electronics companies tapping mobile phone market after the success of companies Nokia, Samsung electronic, Ericsson and others. Korean electronics major LG also recently forayed into phone market, which is currently dominated by the Nokia Mobile today. Shenzhen Sang Fei Consumer Communication said it would set up a manufacturing facility in the country once it reached a critical mass of five million sales.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Trai warns telcos on call rates, may intervene : In a stern warning to telecom operators, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) chairman Mr. JS.Sarma on Wednesday said mobile operators could not increase rates at will and the regulator would have to “intervene” to protect the interest of consumers. “We will not allow operators to increase their tariffs at will. We are investigating the matter and if necessary will intervene on the issue,” Mr. JS.Sarma told Business Standard. This means the regulator can bring rates under regulation once again. Currently, the rates are determined by market forces. Mr. JS.Sarma warning came a day after Mr.Sunil Mittal, chairman of the country’s largest telecom company, BhartiAirtel, said a further increase in rates was inevitable as costs were rising. “The pressure on the industry will be acute, as operators will have to serve rural markets, as well as low-end customers, who use only voice calls and SMSes.” Mr.Sunil Mittal had said in an industry conference in Delhi. The correction in rates was required to compensate the company’s rural operations, as the cost of operations had gone up exponentially, Mr.Sunil Mittal had said. Bharti Airtel has raised rates by over 20 per cent since July across most key circles. Other telecom operators like Tata Teleservices, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Reliance Communications have followed suit.Telecom Regulatory Authority of Indiahas asked operators to give details justifying the increase in rates. Currently, operators have to notifyTelecom Regulatory Authority of Indiafor any change in the rate plan, introduction of new plans and changes in prices within 30 days. This is not the first time that the regulator is closely scrutinising rates. It had sought details from operators in August 2010, when rates hit a rock bottom low to 1 paise per second, amid allegations that new telecom operators were resorting to predatory rates.

Fastest data transfer system

Renesas Electronics Corp. introduces fastest data transfer system the µPD720230, a Universal Serial Bus (USB 3.0) SATA3 bridge system-on-chip (SoC) that enables fast data transfer between a USB3.0 host system and a Serial ATA (SATA) device in external Universal Serial Bus storage equipment. The SoC is said to be the world's first USB 3.0 bridge SoC that supports the UASP (Universal Serial Bus Attached SCSI Protocol) protocol to significantly speed up data throughput for large volumes of data USB storage equipment. In addition to the BOT standard for mass storage devices using USB 2.0, the µPD720230 SoC also supports the UASP protocol standardised in Universal Serial Bus 3.0 for improving the performance limits of the BOT standard. When connected to an SSD that supports 6Gbps SATA3, the µPD720230 device achieves data transfer performance in excess of 370MB/s in UASP mode as verified by the ATTO Disc Benchmark, version 2.46. The µPD720230 USB 3.0 SATA3 SoC is provided in a 48-pin QFN package, incorporates a voltage regulator, and also supports bus power modes, which contribute to miniaturisation of the end products.

Although only two states, the U0 normal state and the U3 suspend state were stipulated in the Universal Serial Bus 2.0 standard, the Universal Serial Bus 3.0 standard also stipulates the U1 and U2 power states to provide even finer-grained suppression of power consumption. The USB 3.0 SATA3 SoC reduces overall power consumption by approximately 40 per cent (when the system is in the idle state) via the new Universal Serial Bus 3.0 U1 and U2 power states, as compared to when stipulating only the U0 and U3 power states. USB 3.0 is capable of supporting data transfer rates of up to 5Gbps, which is 10x faster than the previous version of the standard, Universal Serial Bus 2.0 (currently the mainstream data transfer technology) and therefore easily supports the growing need for increased data-recording media capacities. Therefore, the USB 3.0 can reduce the data transferring time to 10 per cent from that of the USB 2.0 and automatically extends the idle time. As a result, by stipulating the U1 and U2 power states, the new SoC realises even more power conservation effect. Samples of Renesas Electronics' µPD720230 device are available now, priced at Rs.156.95 ($3.5) per unit. Mass production is scheduled to begin in October 2011 with a combined production volume of 5,00,000 units per month expected. (Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.)