Microsoft Announced Windows Azure IAAS

Microsoft this week announced general availability of Windows Azure Infrastructure Services. The Infrastructure as a Service offering previously had been in limited release.The cloud service lets users deploy full virtual machines created from a gallery of pre-populated templates built into its management portal. Users also have the option of uploading and running their own custom images.The built-in image gallery of VM templates includes Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server, BizTalk Server and SharePoint Server. However, it includes Linux images as well -- Ubuntu, CentOS and SUSE Linux distributions.

Microsoft sent a direct shot across Amazon's bow by offering to match its prices for commodity compute, storage and bandwidth services. What this means in practical terms is that Microsoft will start reducing its general availability prices on virtual machines and cloud services by 21-33 percent.
This is telling, not only because it illustrates Microsoft is ready to take on Amazon Web Services, but also because it amounts to an acknowledgment that the desktop era is on its way out, and cloud services are in.  

Windows 8.1

           

Microsoft’s next Windows update, which we’re told is not to be called a Service Pack, it was only a matter of time before Microsoft officially labeled it. Instead of sticking with Microsoft Blue is going with Windows 8.1.

If you take a look at how Microsoft has handled updates in the past, there’s a lot to assume about the leaks we have seen in Windows Blue. There’s a dozen small UI changes in Blue that will make it easier overall for users, but just about all of the functionality remains intact. Microsoft says they aren't doing Service Pack style releases anymore, so what do we call this new bit of software? It looks like Windows is opting for more traditional fare and sticking with a point based update system, making this Windows 8.1. Apparently, if you’re going to the Microsoft BUILD conference, you’ll be taking a look at 8.1 on stage.

Windows 8.1 demonstrates exactly what we were promised with Windows 8, which is a dedication to rapid software releases. Instead of waiting years for UI and usability updates in the next version of Windows, Microsoft is going to be pushing yearly updates to their operating systems. This is a pretty good deal for everyone, as it puts Microsoft in line with their mobile strategy. After the dismal failure that was Windows Phone 7 got quickly stuffed in the trash for Windows Phone 8, there’s no telling exactly how these rapid updates will affect users. Yearly software updates are almost a requirement now, as the consumer market shifts to allow for tablet computers as the default on shelves of electronics stores.

                                              

Facebook Application, Free Access Without Internet Connection

                                                      

Gemalto,a digital security company from the Netherlands, recently announced a product Facebook Application UP for SIM. This software company managed to shrink the Facebook application to be loaded into the regular SIM card. The development team of Gemalto said that Facebook applications are compatible with all GSM phones can be used on a prepaid sim card.

Facebook application for the SIM does not require an internet connection. This application only uses the SMS service on mobile phones to connect users with the application. Users can sign up or log into Facebook,  check out Friend Requests, status updates, wall posts and messages in the inbox via a Facebook application in the SIM card.Gemalto has not announced a release date up for SIM. It seems this company will offer it with a limited trial period after which users must pay to subscribe. I subscribe to and the costs were not mentioned.

The question for me is a big difference in how the use and costs for Facebook for regular driver’s license with a facebook application that uses the Internet connection. Even so, Facebook for SIM will greatly help those who want to stay connected in an area that does not have an internet connection.

LG Introduced Pocket Printer

 

 LG PD233 Pocket Photo, the pocket-sized mobile printer from LG, will be launched in India by the month of June.  The printer was displayed in India at  LG Tech Show 2013 held in New Delhi.  The printer can be used with android and iOS smartphones or tablets via bluetooth, NFC.  The price in India will be 14,999 and it can produce prints in 5.1 x 7.6 (2 x 3 inch).

Samsung Galaxy S4 Arrives in India

The most awaited smartphone of the year is out. And as we gear up for its launch in India on Saturday, 27^th April. Here’s a sneak-peak into what you can expect of the Samsung Galaxy S4.
Screen
With a full HD 1,920 X 1,080 resolution, Super AMOLED display, 441 ppi high pixel density, everything looks sharp and more pleasing to the eyes. The screen can be operated by moving the finger even lightly on the surface. The S4 allows a user to operate some functions on the phone without even touching it. Gorilla Glass 3 is used to make the screen glass.
Design
This device is roughly as wide as S3 having dimensions at 136.6X69.8X7.9mm which makes it 5 mm longer and 1 mm thinner than its predecessor. The thin screen bezel imparts a wonderful look to the phone. It feels like the screen is pouring off the edge. With a thin air gap between the screen and the tough digitizer, the user feels that they are actually touching the screen instead of the glass on the top.
Performance
The phone is powered by an Exynos octo-core processor. With this processor, everything works extremely fast, opening and closing down of apps, browsing web pages, and games work in the blink of an eye. The battery is bigger than most smartphones available today as it has 2,600 mAh. It is efficient to provide power which suffices for all day long.
The 13 megapixel camera works well in low light with Backside Illumination (BSI) sensor along with a flash. The front 2 megapixel camera helps one to do video calling easily and S4 also provides the feature where the images from the front and rear camera can be superimposed.

Global Windows Azure Bootcamp at Kochi by K-MUG

Event was inaugurated by chief guests Mr. Anil Raghavan (Chief Delivery Officer, Marlabs) and Mr. Nagaraj Iyer (Delivery Head, Orion India Systems) followed by their inspiring felicitation talks on Cloud computing.

The event was held at Infopark Kochi and, it was organized, volunteered and sponsored together by K-MUG, Orion India Systems and Marlabs with the help of their employees and members. Microsoft Evangelist Harish Ranganathan kick started the event by explaining what is cloud and features of Windows Azure, which is a Microsoft cloud solution, as key session of the event followed by hands on demonstration. In addition to this key hour, six other senior techies from different parts of Kerala delivered excellent sessions on different features of cloud such as cloud storage, websites, services, big data, media services and virtual machines. To make the event lively, volunteers arranged few technology fun activities in between the sessions followed by prizes. Attendees will get free licenses for few software and online services as well. The event was witnessed by a mixed crowd consist developers, architects, system administrators, trainers and college students..

Klout.com

For centuries, influence had been in the hands of a few. Social media has allowed anyone to drive action to those around them, democratizing influence. Klout measures this influence across several social networks and shows users how they impact the people connected to them.

Go to klout.com and rate your social networking score by connecting Facebook , Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Blogger, Wordpress and many more.

The Klout Score, a number between one and 100, is a representation of your overall social media influence. The science behind the Score examines more than 400 variables on multiple social networks beyond your number of followers and friends. It looks at who is engaging with your content and who they are sharing it with. You can view your Klout Score, the number in the orange box.

  Keeping up with the newest technologies can be a challenge for even the most tech-savvy business owners and entrepreneurs. However, that challenge got a bit easier, thanks to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Technology Review, which today (April 23) released the 10 technologies they expect to change the world this year. 

For the list, MIT focuses on groundbreaking advancements that give people a new way to use technology.

"Every year we pick the 10 technologies we think most likely to change the world," said Jason Pontin, publisher and editor in chief of the MIT Technology Review, which published the list. "We are interested in how technologies can solve really hard problems, whose solution will expand human possibilities. These technologies are an expression of our preferences and emphases, and they grow out of our reporting over the previous year. This is the stuff we like."

Some of the technologies that have the biggest implications for businesses include the following. The full list can be found at the MIT Technology Review website.

Temporary social media

While social media has changed the way people interact in a big way, many social sites such as Facebook and Twitter have also presented problems with privacy and the availability of information.  Enter temporary social media platforms like Snapchat, which allows users to send pictures that will automatically destruct after a given period of time. These new platforms are allowing users to interact socially while not broadcasting those interactions to the world. Other companies in this space include Gryphn, Wickr and Burn Note, MIT says.

Ultra-efficient solar power

The search for practical alternative forms of energy has been going on for decades. However, the rise of ultra-efficient solar power is coming closer to making the reality of alternate energy forms come true. These breakthroughs are allowing solar power, in particular, to compete with fossil fuels.

Smart watches

Growing popularity of smartphones has changed the way and ease with which people get their information. Smart watches are taking that one step further by gathering information from smartphones and displaying them on an interactive watch.  Some key manufacturers include Pebble, Son, Motorola and MetaWatch.

Robotic advancements

Advancements in robotic technology have the potential to dramatically impact the workplace as well. One new technology that is driving innovation in the workplace is Baxter, a new creation by Rethink Robotics'. The new technology is helping robots and workers work side-by-side more safely by empoloying safer technology and facial recognition software. 

Additive manufacturing

One of the most popular trends of the past year has been the development and popularization of 3-D printers. Companies are now starting to take advantage of printers that build up several layers of materials to form a fully functioning product or part. Recently General Electric has begun to take steps to  print fuel nozzles for new aircrafts through 3-D printing, MIT says. 

 

    Bangalore:  A dark secret that run undercurrent through tech world has been revealed, and it is all about age. If you are middle-aged, do coding to make a living, and get a six-figure salary, then you’re headed for the unemployment route. Your market value declines as you age and it becomes harder and harder to get a job, says Vivek Wadhwa, Fellow, Arthur & Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University and a Columnist at The Washington Post.

The harsh reality may provoke anger, outrage, and denial, but this is the way tech industry runs and it is similar to the military, which is an “up or out” profession. And it’s as competitive as professional sports. Engineers need to be prepared.
The employers do not discuss the fact openly, for they may be accused of age discrimination. Nevertheless, the research lead by University of California, Berkeley, professors Clair Brown and Greg Linden shows that even those with masters degrees and Ph.Ds have reason to worry. The research on Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census data for the semiconductor industry revealed that although salaries increased dramatically for engineers in their 30s, these increases slowed after the age of 40. After 50, the mean salary fell by 17 percent for those with bachelors degrees and by 14 percent for those with masters degrees and Ph.Ds. And salary increases for holders of postgraduate degrees were always lower than for those with bachelor’s degrees, indicating there’s no long term job security for the higher degree holders.