Microsoft Surface

Microsoft's Surface: what it does, who it's for, and why we should lust after one


When several of us Tech Digest writers were present at Bill Gates' keynotes speech at CES in Las Vegas and saw a brief display of what we now know is Surface, which Dave announced earlier this morning, none of us realised it would be released this year.

Heck, we thought we were looking at the sort of space-age technology that comes hand-in-hand with flying cars and bite-sized pills for every meal.
Instead, Surface will be released into the wild (well, commercial wild, anyway) this Winter, where T-Mobile, Starwood Hotels, Harrah's casinos and gambling-company IGN will have first access to this exciting new way of computing.

As Dave explained earlier, Surface is a table measuring 22" high, 21" deep, and 42" wide, with an internet-connected computer containing an inexpensive Intel chip and a short-throw image projector harnessing Texas Instruments' digital-light processing technology (seen in everything from TVs to projectors to even smartphones), which shines images onto the 30" acrylic tabletop display.

Five cameras, located in the base of the table along with the aforementioned products, will help recognise objects you place on the table. Running on Windows Vista, the actual hardware was reportedly easy to assemble, but the five years it took to create Surface was apparently due to the complicated applications harnessing the power of Vista.

The several videos available on Surface's already-live website show several key features which are sure to attract attention.

A digital camera placed on the tabletop allows all images from the item to transfer, and from there more than one person can use their fingers to poke and prod the photos, sorting through them, rotating them, even zooming in and out.

Users can then choose an image, turn it into a postcard, and still using a finger, write on the back of the card, then send it via internet to a friend.

Sharing songs between Zunes will be made even easier, with songs stored on Surface being made transferable to individual Zunes when placed on the tabletop. In the video, no wires were shown, which suggests the songs will be beamed to the MP3-player via Wi-Fi.

Surface is sure to be an incentive to restaurants and bars who wish to 'do away' with manpower and harness technology to cut back on costs.

One snippet of a video shows a couple sitting in a bar, able to order their food and drinks through a menu on the tabletop, obviously being sent to a computer in the kitchen. When the time comes to pay the bill, simply placing your bankcard on the table - even several, if you want to pay per person - charges it to your account.

T-Mobile is the first retailer to snap up Microsoft's inventive new product, with many of their flagship stores due to flaunt the table as a means of flogging phones to consumers.

A mobile phone placed on the table brings up key specs, and when more than one phone is on the table, a comparison is made between the two.

Concierge desks could be made redundant, with guests at Starwood Hotels being able to check-in via Surface, or even bring up vital information about the city.

Looking for a restaurant near by, or the city zoo? Simply use the maps feature, and once your destination is selected, you can place your mobile on the display and slide the contact details over to it, adding the address to your mobile seamlessly.

As aforementioned, Surface is initially aimed at businesses in the commercial sector, but Bill Gates presented the tabletop in an entirely different light at CES in January. Then, he showed us how easy it would be to have one as your kitchen table-top, helping you with cooking.

Placing an ingredient such as eggs on the display, Surface would recognise the product and bring up a selection of suitable recipes, and even help you with measurements, possibly weighing the said ingredient. Back then, he claimed this technology would be in everyone's homes within five years, but it looks like it may well be sooner than that, with yesterday's announcement.

Obviously at a cost of between £5,000 - £10,000, Surface won't be a viable option for personal use, even for the most diehard Microsoft fanatics.

However, as with every product, the cost will lower dramatically over the years, and we may well find that this is the way forward in regards to home computing, not just for commercial use.

With everything going touch-screen now, including Apple's hyped-up iPhone which was announced at the Macworld Expo on the same day as the big 'Soft's own touchscreen product, the novelty will soon wear off tactile objects and prices will fall.

I for one am looking forward to the day when I can place my cup of tea on my Surface coffee table and then mop up the over-spill!

India - Hidden attack from all side

The recent incursions by the Chinese troops on the Indian soil had much been a epic topic for the media. In June 2009 two Chinese helicopters flew over the Indian flying zone , it was only brought to the notice of Indian Army chief after two months. The lackluster & compliant attitude of the Indian Army has been downplayed recently. However, when there are intrusions from the Pakistan side of border , India does a big hue and cry, so why not with the Chinese. The mute response by the Indian government will someday motivate China to even raise their claim over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, in last few months China has deliberately spoken about the Arunachal Pradesh being an integral part of China to the Indian diplomats.

On the other hand Pakistan considers India as a terrorist nation, apologies but their terminology of terrorism is different than the rest of the world. Pakistan doesn’t have to use Taliban, LET, JEM, ISI and other terror groups to attack India but after the Mumbai terror strikes of 26/11, Pakistan has found within India groups that will attack India like the termites attacking wood. Pakistan too has deployed its missiles to India and even publicized the same in their media to play a psychological tactics on India. There is still any response to come from the Indian government on the missile issue. Sri Lanka has also added numbers to the military power in terms of manpower and budget and we all saw what happened to the LTTE in Sri Lanka. When our smaller neighbors are preparing their nation for stronger tomorrow, then why cant India do the same or even consider to start a plan despite so many warnings coming up to life.

At the India-Bangladesh border also , some incidents of intrusions have been witnessed , mind you not by the Indian ( BSF ) Border Security Force but by the local villagers who brought such intrusions and land grab to the Media attention. Bangladeshi border guards have so far killed many BSF jawans in an unprovoked scenario’ and yet the Indian government has been mute. The coming off light the recent smuggling of fake Indian currencies into India by the Bangladeshi has also hit the news, yet the Army, CBI and the Indian government is mute.

Nepal a friendly country bordering with India and with open cross border policy with India has also been supporting & perpetuating many illegal activities in India, they have also gone to extent of sheltering many anti-India groups in Nepal. Many recent terror activities against India has also been planned from Nepal. Last week two Hindu priests were beaten up by the pro-Maoist supporters and it has also been discovered that these activists were supported by China. The former and current Prime Ministers of Nepal are hardcore communist / Maoist followers and they have both been drawing near to Beijing in order to secure their traditional ties with China.

It will be not long enough when China – Nepal will also sign a pact of open border and cross border travelling , the one similar to the India – Nepal agreement. I wonder then how difficult its going to be for the Chinese to intrude into India next time. The Chinese government has been successful in transforming Nepal from a Hindu monarchy state to a present day communist state. The influence of Beijing has been tremendous on the Nepalese government and now China has been successful in even inspiring the people of Nepal against the Indians. Apparently there are no direct threats from the Sri Lanka, Bangladesh & Nepal governments like Pakistan and China, but it will only be a time when even the other neighbors’ will become hostile against India.

Capt. S C Sharma IAF (Rtd) who currently resides in USA says that “ these Chinese incursions are the precursors of similar pattern as adopted by China years before going to war with India in 1962.These are deliberate grave provocations with definite purpose and were downplayed then and it is being done even now. India was not prepared for a war then with China and suffered a humiliating defeat besides ceding over 12,500 sq miles of its territory to China in 1962. The same story is being repeated now. India has unfortunately never learnt its lessons from history and likes to adopt least line of resistance in such situations. Its successive governments have repeatedly downplayed the Chinese despite professional military advice. Its entire defense strategy has always
been Pak centric whereas the real threat is from China, considering real geopolitical situation. In 1962, USA bailed us out against China - who will now help us out in case of another with China? Regretfully, the media also likes to play dumb in a matter as serious as the present Chinese incursions and deliberate provocations. It is a wake up call for India. Hope Indian leadership will take proper remedial action (?)besides re-orienting its entire military planning and strategy to protect the country against a grave danger to its very survival. Gp Capt SC Sharma,IAF,(retd).”

Does the government of India know what these incursions mean or they are willing to sell the country to China and the rest of the enemies? I can’t figure out how many countries in the world would be mute on such intrusions and terror activities executed by its neighbors’. The sovereignty of India is at stake. The India – Russia military cooperation pact, that Russia will protect India from any aggression and will engage against the enemy of India in an event if it has to do so. This pact will be ending in 2010 and the current Indian government has not shown any signs of renewing or creating a revised pact with Russia , so if that doesn’t happen next year then Russia will not come to military aid of India if there’s an attack on India by any other nation and with the various deployments of USA around the world there’s only chance that US will exert an international pressure on the aggressor nation. Just basking on CIA reports that India will be the next superpower by 2015 doesn’t allow Indians to have a laid back attitude and give rise to the enemies of India to become actually become stronger and powerful.

Even the smaller surrounding countries have strengthened their military & economic ties with China , so that they will stand tit for toe with India. Internally India is getting weaker with a evil administration which is making the Indian population suffer with many smaller issues of day to day life to gain electoral votes. What will be the future of the country when it is ruled by mostly the gangsters, criminals, anti-social elements and traitors?

Will India rise against China and the other terror creating countries?

படித்ததில் பிடித்தவை ::::::)

தாயின் பிரிவு!

இனி
இழப்பதற்கு
ஒன்றும் இல்லை
இந்த உலகில்!

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உங்களிடம் பேசும் வரை என் மனம் என்னிடம்
உங்களோடு பழகியபின் என் மனம் எவ்விடம்...??
தேடினேன்.... தேடினேன்... தேடினேன்
கண்டேன் அதை உங்கள் நட்பின் பூங்காவிலே!!!

உங்கள் நட்பின் ஒளியால் என்னுள்ளம் பிரகாசிக்க
என் சோகங்கள் சிதறின...!
என் கனவு கவிதையாயின...
அன்பு தோழமை நெஞ்சங்களே...!
வெண்மதியை தூது அனுப்பி ஆண்டவனுக்கு
நன்றி கூறுகிறேன் உங்களை எனக்கு தந்தமைக்கு

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A friend is someone we turn to
when our spirits need a lift.
A friend is someone we treasure
for our friendship is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives
with beauty, joy, and grace.
And makes the whole world we live in
a better and happier place

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The Great Cholas

IMPERIAL CHOLAS

Of all the kingdoms of the South in the 10th century A.D. the Imperial Cholas occupy a prominent place. Vijayalaya was the first king of the Imperial Cholas. They had their capital at Tanjore. The most powerful Chola kings were Raja Raja I and his son Rajendra I. Raja Raja ruled from A.D. 985 to A.D 1012. He had conquered the neighboring Pandya kingdoms and extended his conquest up to the Northern part of Ceylon.

The Cholas (900-1250 AD) have a number of monuments to their credit. Mention must be made of the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Tanjavur. The Cholas added many ornate mandpams or halls to temples and constructed large gopurams - towers.

Rajendra I

Rajdendra I ruled from AD. 1012 A.D. 1044. He had conquered the whole of Ceylon. Then he had sent an expedition to Eastern India. He crossed Orissa and the Godavari River. He had also crossed the Ganges and defeated Mahipala I who ruled Bengal. Therefore he was known as Gangai Konda Cholan. He is also referred to as Kadaram Kondan. It means that he invaded some of the South East Asian countries which include Sumatra and Malaya. The rise of the Pandyan imperialism in the 13th century A.D. ruined the Chola Empire.

The Chola Administration

The Chola administration served as a model for all the other kingdoms of the South. The king had a council of ministers. The kingdom was divided into a number of provinces known as mandalams, The mandalams in turn were divided into valanadu and nadus. The next administrative sub divisions were kurrams and kottams.
The special feature of the Chola administration was the Local Self Government or the autonomous administration. The villagers themselves carried out village administration. It was more or less like the modern Panchayat Raj. Each village had a village assembly known as the ur or the sabha. The members of the sabha were elected by lot, known as kudavolai system. There was a committee to look after the specified departments, such as justice, law and order, irrigation etc., which were called as variyams.

Art and Architecture

The kings as well as the rich were the patrons of art and architecture. They gave huge donations of money and land for the building and maintenance of the temples. The Chola kings built magnificent temples. Raja Raja Chola built the famous Brahadeeswara temple at Tanjore. It is also known as the big temple. This temple is built with Sikara style. It consists of 14 successive stores rising to a height of 190 feet. A massive dome consisting of a single stone block, weighing about 80 tons, crowns it. Its construction began some time about AD. 1003 and was completed in A.D 1010.
Rajendra Chola founded a new capital at Gangaikonda Cholapuram in A.D 1025. He also built a temple at this place. The bronze images of the Chola period are very famous. The Nataraja idol in the Nageswara temple at Kumbakonam is one of the largest and finest images known. The bronze image of Arthanareeswara is also another important specimen.

Paintings

The best paintings of the Chola period are found in the interior walls of the Sactum Sanctorum of the Tanjore temple.

Education and Literature

There was educational development during the Chola period. Mostly religious literature was learnt. Periyapuranam or Thiruthondapuranam of Sekkizhar belongs to this period. It is known as 12th Thirumurai. Nandi wrote Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam Seevagasindamani written by Thiruthakkadevar also belonged to the Chola period. Kambar wrote the great Kamba Ramayanam. Kalingattupparani was written by Jayangondar.
Thus the Chola period witnessed developments in local self- government, art, religion and literature.