Kingfisher Airlines has to infuse more funds to stay afloat: Auditor

MUMBAI: Auditors of debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines have said that the company will have to infuse more funds if its wants to stay afloat, even as the carrier hoped that government would reduce ATF prices and taxes which will help it improve its finances.

The carrier's ability to meet its financial obligations depends on fresh infusion of funds, its auditors B K Ramadhyani & Co said.

Referring to a statement by Kingfisher that although its networth has eroded the financial results have been prepared on a "going concern basis", the auditors said, "The appropriateness of the said basis is inter alia dependent on the company's ability to infuse the requisite funds for meeting its obligations."

Kingfisher has reported a loss of Rs 468.66 crore in the quarter ended September 30, 2011, against Rs 230.81 crore in the same period last year. The company attributed the loss mainly to higher fuel prices.

The company, however, hoped that the government will reduce aviation turbine fuel prices and sales tax, which in turn would help the cash-strapped carrier improve finances.

"The reduction of prices of aviation fuel and reduction of sales tax on such fuel, which is under active consideration of the government with introduction of stringent cost reduction and control measures, will have positive impact on the working results of the company," the airline said while responding to the 'Limited Review' by its auditors.

It further said that in future, the airlines will have sufficient income to take care of deferred tax liabilities.

The airline was forced to cancel many flights because of mounting losses and has also sought help from banks to meet their short-term capital needs.

In the footnote to its financial results, Kingfisher had said that "having regard to improvement in the economic sentiment, rationalisation measures adopted by the company...the request made by the company to its bankers for further credit facilities..."

"...these interim financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the company is a going concern and that no adjustments are required to the carrying value of assets and liabilities."

Kingfisher had suffered a loss of Rs 1,027 crore in 2010-11 and is estimated to have debt of over Rs 7,000 crore.

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Wisefixer-Windows Registry Cleaner, Speed Up And Optimize Your PC

WiseFixer is a Windows registry cleaner and advanced system optimizer that is designed by Lionsea Co. to keep your system clean and to increase the performance of your computer. This program quickly identifies and repairs any errors that may be on your computer. But some people may not know how to use full function of WiseFixer and are scared of destroying computers with any improper operation. This article will teach you how to use WiseFixer step by step to secure and optimize your computer.
Step one: backup your system
No matter which registry cleaner you use, the first thing you need to do after you install the software is to backup your system. No software is 100% safe to computer system, even those released by Microsoft. But with backup function you can make sure that a restore point is available if any damage is done. A good registry cleaner will always include this function in the program. To do this, just start WiseFixer, choose system backup, and then click to backup your system.
Step two: Scan and clean errors
After creating a restore point in computer, now you can scan and clean errors in computer without worry. You can either click start button on upper tool bar on WiseFixer interface and do a quick scan to fix all errors, or click scan and clean button from left panel, and clean registry errors, evidence files and junk files one by one. I need to mention that in cleaning evidence files, the software may clean your internet explorer cookies and some saved passwords. If you don’t want this happen, remember to uncheck some options in this function.
Step three: fix special problem in computer
WiseFixer has also developed some repairing options in the program. Some errors are not caused by registry problem but some incorrect settings or program conflict. Thus, the program designer has collected some common errors and put automatic fixes in the program. Start WiseFixer, and then click system fix; choose error repair wizard or error utilities and find your situation in the list. After that, check the option and click repair button. It is so simple and you will find the software has dramatically fixed the problem.
Step four: optimize your computer
If you find your computer is getting slow, you may try the easy optimizing functions in WiseFixer. It has separated the case into several situations. Click system optimize button on left panel, you will see six buttons down in the list. Choose any part of system that you want it to run faster, and let it optimize for you. Of course, many people will not just choose one option as they all want the whole system to get as fast as possible. The advanced system optimizer can do this for you simply and quickly.
Step five: IE tools
Internet explorer is an important and frequently used program in computer, and due to this reason, it is also the one that causes most problems. WiseFixer has noticed this and created multiple tools to settle IE problems. Click IE tool on left panel, you will find BHO manager, IE restore and IE management buttons. They will help you to remove unwanted plug-ins, repair IE, change IE settings and protect your privacy and security in browsing.
Step six: technical support
No software is perfect. The company values any and every opinion from users. If you find any bug in the program or any problem that WiseFixer fails to fix for you, remember to contact the technical team at first action. They will help you to get it solved. The support email of WiseFixer is support@WiseFixer.com. Contact anytime if you have any enquiry.

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Audi R8 GT

Audi has unleashed its range-topping and highest performing R8 model yet in the form of the R8 GT coupe - a true supercar that brings a whole new level of performance to the already respected R8 lineup.
Marking the ultimate in R8 performance, the R8 GT uses Audi's 5.2-liter V10, producing 560 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. Although the R8 GT focuses on lightness, it retains Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system. The quattro system delivers power to the wheels with a 15 percent front, 85 percent rear split by default. If needed, power distribution can be swapped to provide for 30 percent in the front and 70 in the rear.
Since AWD was retained, Audi had to find non-traditional ways to drop the weight of the R8 GT to a total of just 3,362 lbs.
How Audi managed to shave over 220 pounds from the R8
To achieve the drop in weight, the German automaker first turned to the glass on the supercar. The windshield now uses thinner glass, with the bulkhead between the passenger cell and engine compartment, as well as the window in the rear hatch being replaced with lightweight polycarbonate. The changes to the glass shaved just shy of 20 lbs from the total weight. The switch to the fixed rear wing saved 2.65 lbs, the thinner sheet metal and additional body cutouts dropped 5.73 more lbs.
Audi didn’t just cut the materials out, they also swapped them out. The rear hatch, rear bumper and slideblades are now made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, saving another 30 lbs. Other various vehicle technical components, such as brakes and suspension bits, were modified for an impressive 43 lbs of savings – before turning to the interior for changes.
Inside, Audi swapped in lighter carpet and bucket seats, along with various structural changes for another 87 lbs of weight savings.
Although not involved in weight savings, the R8 GT also features white dial gauges with unique badges, along with a newly designed gear selector lever made from CFRP and aluminum. The center tunnel and the door liners sport decorative inlays in the body color, while the door sills feature trims of matte aluminum decorated with the R8 GT logo.
R8 GT gets an exclusive look
Audi says that many of the changes made to reduce the weight of the R8 GT also reduce the weight and enhance the aerodynamics. The R8 GT produces even more downforce at high speeds than the standard production model – without any increase in the Cd value (0.36) or frontal area (21.42 sq ft).
The grille is painted matte black, surrounded by a single frame which is finished in matte titanium gray – along with the struts and slats in the air intakes. The lower front splitter is double lipped and is made from carbon fiber. On either side of the front fascia you will find curved flics to help increase downforce over the front axle – which are also formed from carbon fiber.
Down each side of the R8 GT are the characteristic slingblades – finished in matte carbon fiber – the same material found in the reduced-size side mirrors.
Under the R8 GT sit 19-inch, twin five-spoke wheels with a Y design that are finished in a titanium color. the wheels are wrapped in 235/35/R19 rubber in the front with an 8.5-inch wide wheel, while the rear wheels are 11 inches wide and are covered in 295/30/R19 rubber. Audi says that upon request it can also fit 305/30R19 tires for the rear.
Being as the R8 GT is a supercar, buyers are given flexibility for other wheel designs and tires as well, including Sport Cup tires.
Hiding behind whichever wheels the buyer decides to go with are internally ventilated and drilled carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs, shedding nine lbs from the standard brakes. Rotors measure 15 inches in the front and 14 inches in the rear - the same size as some wheels on economy cars.
Behind the R8 GT – a view which will be common for standard R8 owners – there are several obvious and unique changes. The motorized rear wing has been replaced with a large, fixed wing, also finished in matte carbon fiber. The ventilation louvers found on both sides of the rear hatch and the CFRP bumper, which now integrates the larger, round tailpipes and vents for the wheel wells, have also been redesigned.
Audi made R8 GT available in Samoa Orange metallic, Suzuka Gray metallic, Ice Silver metallic and Phantom Black pearl.
Lighter AND more powerful
Rather than stopping at just shedding weight to provide for performance enhancements, Audi decided to also increase the output of its 5.2-liter V10 to 560 horsepower. Torque is up to 398 lb-ft – an increase of 7.38 over the standard R8. Audi says the changes came from changes to the vehicle’s ECU, and allow the R8 GT to “sprint from a standing start to highway speed (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds,” and on to 124 mph in just 10.8 seconds. The R8 GT tops out at 198.84 mph.
Audi says that the ESP stabilization program has also received unique tuning for the R8 GT, including a Sport mode with the push of a button. Audi says that using Sport mode will provide for “spectacular, but safe, oversteer when accelerating out of a corner.”

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Audi reveal R8 2012

Audi first unveiled the R8 -- its first ever mid-engine sports cars -- for the 2008 model year, and the model has continued largely unchanged in base trim since.
The base 4.2 R8 has a 420 horsepower high-revving V8 engine and all-wheel-drive. It uses the mid-engine Lamborghini Gallardo platform and starts at $114,200, positioning it squarely against the BMW M6, Porsche 911, and Aston Martin Vantage.
The car features a choice of LED or Xenon headlamps surrounded by LED running lights and indicators. LEDs are also used in the engine bay to make the impressive V8 visible even at night.
Both a standard manual and an automated manual transmission are offered. Claimed zero to 62 mph time is 4.6 seconds, though this number is likely conservative.
Interior
The interior has a driver-oriented cockpit architecture, integrating the driver between the dashboard and the high center console. The instrument panel above the console is angled slightly towards the driver. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is a typical feature of the sportiest Audi models, and also enables comfortable sports car entry and exit.
The sports seats are trimmed as standard in a Leather/Alcantara combination, or optionally in full leather. Alternatively, the R8 can also be fitted with bucket seats, specially developed by quattro GmbH. There is plenty of room for the two occupants, with comfort levels well beyond the norm of high-performance sports cars. There is space behind the seats to stow large bags, or even two golf bags. The luggage compartment at the front has a capacity of 100 litres.
With numerous trim variants and applications in Piano finish or Carbon sigma, there are few limits to the range of customization options for the interior.
The drivetrain
At 7,800 rpm the 4.2-liter engine delivers 309 kW (420 bhp) of power output. Peak torque is 430 Newton-meters from 4.500 to 6,000 rpm. And no less than 90 per cent of this maximum torque is maintained consistently throughout a wide engine speed range from 3,500 all the way to 7,600 rpm. As a result of these qualities, the eight-cylinder power unit provides ample thrust in most driving situation.
The engine is a high-revving unit. The maximum engine speed is 8,250 rpm. Two transmissions are available: a manual 6-speed gearbox or optionally the Audi R tronic sequential-shift gearbox, with a joystick gear-shift on the center console and, most especially, the paddles mounted on the steering wheel. 'Shift by wire' technology provides for very fast gear-shifting and an outstanding power-to-weight ratio, allied to compact gearbox dimensions. The Sport mode, with its fast shifting, guarantees the absolute maximum in terms of driving fun. An automatic mode can also be selected.
The car is fitted with permanent four-wheel drive, which distributes the power variably to the front and rear axles by way of a viscous clutch. On the Audi R8 the legendary quattro system is adapted to the axle load distribution typical of mid-engined cars.
The chassis
The chassis features forged aluminum double wishbones at the front and rear. At the front they are triangulated, while at the rear the top one is triangulated and the bottom one is a triangulated wishbone with a track rod. This provides for optimum wheel control, and is a geometry which has proved itself to be the ideal solution in delivering agility, maximum steering precision and precisely defined self-steering characteristics.
Direct, hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering provides optimum feedback to assist the driver.
The spring and damper set-up is stiff in order to deliver maximum driving dynamics, while still providing a quite astonishing level of ride comfort. This is particularly true when the 'Audi magnetic ride' adaptive damper system is chosen as an alternative to the standard gas-filled shock absorbers.
Instead of the conventional damper fluid, a magnetorheological fluid is used -- in other words, a fluid whose viscosity can be influenced by an electromagnetic field. This effect enables the damping characteristic to be influenced electronically at will and instantaneously, by applying a voltage to the electromagnets.
Audi magnetic ride uses this property to deliver the correct damping forces in every driving situation. A computer determines the prevailing driving situation in a matter of milliseconds. Drivers can choose from two driving programs depending on whether they want to drive in a highly sporty style -- with the magnetorheological fluid adjusted to a low viscosity -- or with the emphasis more on ride comfort.
The Audi R8 is fitted with 6-arm 18-inch wheels as standard, and can optionally be ordered with 19-inch wheels. The 235/40 size tires at the front and up to 285/35 at the rear provide the necessary road-holding. The mid-engined sports car's long wheelbase and extremely low center of gravity ensure that it always retains maximum stability.
Equipment and trim
Xenon plus lights, LED rear lights and daytime running lights, 18-inch aluminium wheels, an audio system with 7-inch monitor, an anti-theft alarm and Leather/Alcantara interior trim are just some of the items on the extensive list of standard features.
The range of optional extras includes a Bang & Olufsen sound system, featuring an output of 465 watts and 12 specially designed speakers. A microphone-based vehicle noise compensation system adjusts audio levels to changing road conditions and speeds.
The acoustic parking system and a rear-view camera help the driver to maneuver into even the tightest of spaces. The radio/navigation system plus, featuring a large-format color monitor and MMI keypad, combines extensive functionality with extreme user-friendliness.
A total of eight exterior colors are available, from Ibis White to Phantom Black, pearl effect.

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Windows 8 Will Be Less Bossy About Automatic Restarts

Windows 8 will change the way Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) flagship operating system will deal with updates, the company recently announced. Windows Update will consolidate all restarts released over each month to synchronize with Patch Tuesday.

This means users' PCs will only restart when security updates are installed and require a restart.
However, when a critical security update is released, Windows Update will download and install the patch and restart automatically, Microsoft said.
That consolidation will help keep the system secure in a timely manner, reduce the multiple restarts for different application patches that cause users difficulties, and make restarts more predictable, Microsoft argues.
Security experts are divided over this move.
Consolidating the reboots to once monthly gives advanced persistent threats -- the kind of continuous low-profile attacks that keep on until their target is penetrated -- more time to do their nefarious work, Stina Ehrensvard, CEO of Yubico, told TechNewsWorld.
Update consolidation "is to solve the user's desire to have one update for the entire system," stated Mike Geide, senior security expert at Zscaler ThreatLabZ.

There Can Be Only One

Windows PC owners have sometimes complained about disruptive restarts during automatic updates because those restarts could interrupt important work, Microsoft said.
Allowing computers to restart without user interaction led in several cases to loss of user data, often because these actions are set for 3 a.m. when users aren't around to save data, Redmond noted.
Microsoft designed the Windows 8 update to minimize intrusiveness to users, keep them aware of critical actions, minimize restarts and make restarts more predictable, all while continuing to keep the PC and its ecosystem up to date and secure in a timely manner.
Hence, all restarts required within the span of a month will be synchronized with Patch Tuesday.
"I'm glad someone at Microsoft is actually dealing with this problem," Andrew Brandt, director of threat research at Solera Networks, told TechNewsWorld.
"I've lost files a bunch of times when I left my computer running over the weekend and came back to find that it had rebooted," Brandt added.

The Pros and Cons of Consolidation

One concern about the new Windows 8 update process is that it might reduce the effectiveness of third-party application updates.
What would happen, for example, if a third-party software vendor such as Adobe (Nasdaq: ADBE) issued an update for its app shortly after Patch Tuesday had passed? Would the PC user suffer from having to wait until the next Patch Tuesday for the Adobe update to take effect? "Many application updates do not require an operating system restart," ThreatLabZ's Geide told TechNewsWorld. "For example, antivirus updates are often just updates to the antivirus signatures and detection algorithms."
The Windows 8 updater will "presumably provide the same level of notification to the user if a restart is required for application updates to occur," Geide opined.

Always Room for One More

Consumers with third-party antivirus apps on their Windows PCs will probably remain safe between Patch Tuesdays because "the third party AV vendors' updates should be independent of Windows updates," Nicholas Skrepetos, chief technology officer of consumer software at Support.com, told TechNewsWorld.
Further, fears that Microsoft might be pulling support for third-party vendor updates might be unfounded.
"There's a clause in the [Microsoft announcement] that makes me wonder if Microsoft is preparing for such an eventuality, that they'd have to push an update to third-party software," Solera's Brandt pointed out.

Defining Critical Updates

Microsoft did say that when a critical security update is issued at any time to fix a dire threat, Windows 8 Update would download and install the update and restart users' computers without waiting for the next Patch Tuesday.
What is a dire threat? "Microsoft has a severity rating of its updates as they relate to security," ThreatLabZ's Geide said.
Not everyone's convinced that Windows 8 Update will improve things, however.
"This is a typical 'marketing versus reality' approach to get customers to sign up for the next version [of Windows]," Phil Lieberman, president of Lieberman Software, told TechNewsWorld.


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Neutrinos Travelling Faster Than Light

The international research team that found neutrinos traveling faster than light has done it again.

It conducted another set of experiments and again found neutrinos that exceeded the speed of light.
As in the first experiment, the researchers fired high-intensity, high-energy beams of muon neutrinos from the CERN SPS accelerator in Geneva toward the LNGS underground laboratory in Gran Sasso, Italy, 454 miles (730 km) away. They then measured the speed at which the neutrinos traveled.
This time, however, they used very short beam pulses rather than long beam pulses.
While the latest experiment appears to confirm the accuracy of the timing measurement, more scrutiny and independent measurement are needed before a definitive conclusion can be reached.

Gran Sasso Redux

The experiments are being conducted by the Opera Collaboration. This time, the scientists fired off pulses 3 nanoseconds long, separated by intervals of up to 524 nanoseconds.
This let them more precisely measure the extraction times of the protons that ultimately lead to the neutrino beam.
The 524-nanosecond interval is much longer than the uncertainty in the arrival time, physicist Ethan Siegel wrote. This let observers know definitively which pulse of protons neutrinos spotted in the detector came from.
A neutrino is an electrically neutral elementary subatomic particle with a small mass that usually travels at speeds close to that of light.
About 20 clean neutrino events were measured at the Gran Sasso lab this time around, and they were precisely associated with the pulses leaving CERN. This confirms that Opera's timing measurements were accurate the first time around, the researchers stated.
CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

What the Experiment Indicates

The latest batch of experiments resolves two questions Siegel had previously raised: whether the results of the first batch could be a statistical fluke, and whether the neutrinos detected were biased in some way.
The new results narrow the possibilities down to two, Siegel told TechNewsWorld.
These are that either "neutrinos can indeed travel faster than light," or there's a "systematic bias" in the way the Opera researchers are measuring the transit time for the neutrinos, Siegel said.

No Mas!

However, this Gran Sasso experiment may have run its course, contended Michael Witherell, vice chancellor of research at the University of California, Santa Barbara's physics department.
"I think the Opera team did remove some of the concerns about the time structure of the neutrino beam that concerned scientists studying the earlier paper," Witherell told TechNewsWorld.
"I am not sure what more they can do using this experiment," Witherell added. "At this point, the only thing that will really change our understanding is to have one or more experiments agree or disagree with Opera's measurement."

Checking the Results Again

Teams working on two other experiments at Gran Sasso -- Borexino and Icarus -- will next year begin cross-checking Opera's results independently.
Borexino is an experiment focusing around solar neutrino physics being conducted by an international team of researchers. Icarus looks at the usage of liquid argon detectors to study neutrinos.
"It will be very difficult for Borexino and Icarus to conduct these tests directly" because their equipment doesn't let them conduct timing measurements accurately enough, Siegel said.

The Cold Eyes of Outsiders

Two other groups of researchers will seek to duplicate the Gran Sasso results.
They are Japan's T2K experiment and the United States' Minos experiment.
Minos "is the best candidate for this going forward" because it's claiming its measurements will be "a factor of five or so" better than what Opera's doing now, Siegel remarked.
Minos and T2K may be able to eliminate some biases that might exist in the Gran Sasso experiment.
"If there is a problem in, for example, determining the distance or time delay from CERN to the Gran Sasso Laboratory, these experiments [at Minos and T2K] should not have the same problem," UC Santa Barbara's Witherell pointed out.

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Complaint Against Samsung Galaxy Nexus

User forums are lit up with complaints about Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone, which was released in the UK late last week. It seems that the handset's volume control goes haywire when the connection shifts to a 2G band. Unfortunately, 2G is widespread in Europe.

The Galaxy Nexus is the first phone to ship with Android 4.0, also known as "Ice Cream Sandwich."
A YouTube video -- and there are plenty -- shows the volume bouncing between low and high. When it happens, the user is unable to make calls or use other functions such as playing videos or games. The phone is expected to hit Verizon's network in the United States in the next few weeks.
The British carrier O2 has reportedly alerted Samsung and Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) of the problem.
Neither Google nor Samsung responded to the E-Commerce Times' request for comments by press time.

Fix It and Fix It Fast

How quickly Samsung and Google can fix the apparent glitch will depend on what's causing the problem. At first blush, it appears to be something that may be fixable via a software update.
"There is probably a 99 percent chance that this is a software or firmware bug, so Samsung should be able to quickly fix it and send out an update," Allen Nogee, principal analyst for wireless technology at In-Stat, told LinuxInsider. "The volume level in phones today is controlled by software, so if the volume is changing for unexpected reasons, that points to something that can be fixed with an update."
If Samsung can fix the problem fast, Nogee said, it likely won't do much damage to the company's reputation.
"It seems all the handset manufacturers are experiencing these glitches now and then," he said. "The sad part of the handset business lately is that model updates are flying out the door so fast that manufacturers just don't perform all the testing that they should."
Some of the glitches happen because manufacturers know that they can fix problems remotely, he added.
"They ship out their products and fix them later," said Nogee. "It's the consumer that suffers. After the phone is purchased, you could be stuck with a device which is broken until it is fixed."
Consumers should speak up and say they aren't going to take it any longer, he opined.

A Widespread Problem

"The fact that this is not an isolated incident presents a problem for Samsung and Google," Ramon T. Llamas, senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Devices Technology, told LinuxInsider. "New software, particularly an updated OS, is not a stranger to experiencing glitches. This is a caveat for anyone who wants to be among the first to own new software on a new device."
The volume problem seriously limits the usability of the device, Llamas noted. It goes beyond making and receiving calls.
"It affects playing games, watching video and other functions," said Llamas. The longer that this goes unresolved, the more it will have ripple effects on other launches planned by Samsung, he added.
"It's my sense is that both companies are examining it and coming up with a solution," said Llamas. "As with all technology glitches, it's important to acknowledge the problem, work on the problem, then send the fix when it becomes available."

Or Maybe Not So Much?

While various user forums -- and Samsung's Facebook site -- are lit up with complaints, the volume problem may evaporate instantly once a fix is in. Should it arrive quickly, there's a good chance Google and Samsung can avoid long-term customer resentment.
"This is a minor problem for Samsung and Google at the moment," Neil Mawston, director of global wireless practice at Strategy Analytics, told LinuxInsider. "Provided Samsung and Google fix the UK glitch with a swift software update, and provided the problem is not replicated at the bigger U.S. launch next month, there should not be too much damage done."



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Survey Suggests 4 out of 5 People Want a Tablet Instead of a Laptop for the Holidays

It’s the third time PriceGrabber have surveyed for winter holiday shopping to what most of the people have on their wishlist. The results are already out, ready your pencil and eraser to correct your shopping lists accordingly.

It wasn’t a big surprise that the most popular holiday present most of the shoppers are eying for was the tablet computers but most interesting to know that the ultimate “79% of all respondents would much rather get a tablet instead of a laptop as a gift.” When the respondents were asked for the reasons why they choose the tablets instead, “85% of the people favored tablets due to their portability while 73% liked them because of their light weight.” It was also convenient and features easy to use touchscreens.

In the end it was iPad 2 leading the charts of most-wished tablet according to the survey with “83% of them preferred Apple’s slate, while the Amazon Kindle Fire and the Samsung GALAXY Tab got 5% and 4% respectively. Other tablets such as the Motorola XOOM or the BlackBerry PlayBook scored below 2%.” So basically right now, you can correct your list if you’ll be buying a tablet for your love one, the better choice could be a new iPad 2 as most of people wants them.

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Footfalls for Phone Calls

7 September 2011—As smartphones and other portable gadgets push the limits of handheld computing, their hunger for electricity has only increased—with no end in sight. A new technology aims to address this issue, not by seeking bigger and better batteries but by looking instead to the shoes on our feet.
When we walk, our bodies create up to 40 watts of mechanical power as heat when our feet strike the ground. A special electricity-generating cushion placed inside the soles of a regular pair of shoes can transform some of that footfall power into several watts of electricity. Over the course of a single day, the generated energy, which gets stored in a small battery in the sole, provides enough electricity for a pedestrian to extend her smartphone’s battery life, for a soldier to augment his portable power needs in the field, or for someone in a developing nation without an electrical grid to power a night’s worth of LED home light use.
The idea of harvesting body energy for portable electronics is certainly not new, although some of this technology is. In 1996, Thad Starner at the MIT Media Lab calculated (PDF) that piezoelectric generators—solids that generate tiny currents when stretched or stressed—could theoretically generate up to 5 W of electricity at a brisk walking pace.
Starner’s forecasts have proved optimistic. Today’s best known piezoelectric footwear—Nike+ running shoes—aren’t really harvesting energy at all. A 2007 teardown by SparkFun Electronics of a Nike+ piezoelectric pedometer, for instance, reveals that even though the pedometer’s chips consume only tens of milliwatts of power, they still run on a separate battery. The piezoelectric part of the device is used only as a sensor, not to produce power.
By contrast, says Tom Krupenkin, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, recent breakthroughs in microfluidics can fulfill or even exceed Starner’s power projections. The key involves the properties of liquid metals such as mercury and Galinstan, a gallium indium tin alloy. When set on a dielectric-coated conductive substrate with a voltage applied across it, a droplet of liquid metal deforms and spreads across the substrate. When the process is reversed, and the liquid metal in a microfluid device is moved, it induces a voltage.
In August, Krupenkin reported in Nature Communications a proof of principle for this phenomenon ("reverse electrowetting-on-dielectric" or REWOD) as a means of harvesting mechanical energy. InStep NanoPower, his start-up company in Madison, Wis., is now working to commercialize a REWOD-based technology, called the human gait energy scavenger.
According to Krupenkin, InStep is developing a shoe sole that would store the energy from each footfall in an embedded battery. InStep says it would provide up to 10 W from each foot—enough to power a mini Wi-Fi hot spot that communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth and handles the phone’s biggest battery-draining function: long-range communication with cellphone towers.
"When you analyze the cellphone power budget," Krupenkin says, "you discover that the lion’s share goes into the high-power RF signal. This is 1 to 2 W. The cellphone by itself often uses only tens of milliwatts."
Raziel Riemer, a lecturer in industrial engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in Israel, says he has run the numbers and remains skeptical that InStep’s technology could harvest anything close to 20 W of power. But, Riemer adds, "even if they don’t achieve [this]…it’s not such a big deal compared to the innovation of their new method."

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Aircraft Nano composites that Provide Early Warning System for Structural Failures

Nanotechnology is already having an impact on air travel, as evidenced by EasyJet’s testing of a nanocoating that will reduce wind drag and fuel consumption.

But if current research into new adhesives based on nanomaterials proves effective, the future of aircraft manufacturing could be altered significantly beyond just coatings and into the actual structures of the aircraft.

Researchers at the University of Toronto are looking into the use of multifunctional nanocomposites and adhesives that would be used in joining techniques for primary flight load structures and serve a double purpose of providing an early warning system for stresses on these structures and possible future failures.

This line of research builds on the already developing practice of using composites and adhesive bonding in the place of mechanical fastening or welding, such as with the new Airbus A380.

The University of Toronto researchers are working with carbon nanotubes to develop their multifunctional adhesives (smart adhesives) due to their electrical conductivity.

Earlier this year, I covered research coming out of MIT that would use carbon nanotubes in a method for detecting internal damage to composites.

In the MIT research, an electrical current would be applied to the composites that would heat up the carbon nanotubes and allow the use of thermographic camera for detecting flaws without the cumbersome need for heating the entire surface of the aircraft. 

The Canadian researchers are attempting something a bit more ambitious in that the method "employs a novel network recognition approach to determine current continuity and critical percolation level."

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iris- An Android competitor for Apple Siri

Description

iris. makes your phone talk on topics ranging from Einstein to Mozart.Yeah, Iris is siri in reverse. Inspired from the iPhone feature Siri, iris interacts with you in voice.
Gone are the days when you "Google searched" for information.
Just "ask" iris. She will talk to you on any topic. Ranging from Philosophy, Culture, History, science to general conversation.
Note: You need to have "Voice Search" and "TTS library" installed in your phone for iris. to work. Most of the phones have these pre-installed, if not please install them from Android market before you try iris.
***Voice Actions****
- Call someone
- Text someone
- Search something (on the web)
- Lookup for a contact
***Ice cream Sandwich Inspired UI*****
***New Design, new logo *****

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Sony Ericsson Launches Xperia Arc S

Entertainment at the speed of delight

Why wait to be entertained? Start the camera. Now shoot and save your best snaps super quick. The 1.4GHz turbo processor does everything at the speed of, well, delight. So download and play games, browse the web and watch videos, instead of watching them load.

Scenes that pop out of the screen. In 3D

Straddle the peaks. Dive into the depths. Make your breathtaking mountain panoramas look, well, breathtaking. Select Sony’s 3D Sweep Panorama and catch the scene. Now amaze your mates and show it on a 3D TV.

Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine

Enhanced contrast. Richer colours. Less image noise. The Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine makes the super-wide, 4.2", LED back-lit screen sharp and crisp. And through reduced light reflection, the picture stays clear when you're outdoors, too.

Designed for style icons

Let your eyes go wide. The sleek curvature of the stunningly slim - just 8.7 mm - Xperia™ arc makes for a perfect palm-fit. This slender, strong and lightweight smartphone is built to make jaws drop.

You choose - Android Market™

Going out? Finding out? Or perhaps just chilling out? Download any application you want from Android Market™ and customize your Xperia™ arc S to make it exclusively yours.

Phone content. On your TV via Wi-Fi and DLNA

Show videos, photos and complete slideshows stored on your phone on your DLNA TV. It’s now easier than ever – no cables or over-complicated setup procedures needed. Just connect your Xperia™ arc S and your TV to the same wireless network. Then start the show from your phone.

Xperia™ arc/arc S awarded European Camera Phone 2011-2012

Sony Ericsson Xperia™ arc/arc S praised by the European EISA Awards for its 4,2' multi-touch Reality Display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine.

Getting dark?

Dusk, dawn or just a crummy old light bulb? Sony's Exmor R™ for mobile CMOS sensor lets you capture high-quality, bright pictures and videos in poor light conditions.

Keep your fingers on the screen

Got a message? The Gesture input function lets you zoom back a reply by swiping the words you want. Start on the first letter of your word, then just drag your finger to the next letters without taking it off the keypad. With input speeds of up to 40 words a minute, your mates will never have to wait to find out what you’re thinking.

See it. Catch it. Send it.

Share that cool game scene. Or show off that text string. Just push the power off button then press “screen capture” and share your screen with your mates, or post it on your favourite social network site.

USB host

Turn your Xperia™ arc S phone into a PC or games machine. Pop it into LiveDock™, connect a USB keyboard, mouse or gamepad via the USB port, and work – or play away. All day.

Connect to your TV via HDMI

Connect your Xperia™ arc S to your TV and cuddle up in the sofa. The HDMI connection lets you view pictures and videos from your phone on your TV screen using your TV remote control.

Your life in brilliant HD

Clips from your summer holidays. Your little baby daughter’s first smile. Shoot it. In brilliant, sharp HD video with one touch of a button.

Find the way - aGPS

You'll never get lost again. Your phone has built-in aGPS. Location-based services help you find the way to your destination. Or add location info to your images - use the geo-tagging function.

Wi-Fi connect

Connect the quick and easy way. On the move. In cafés. At the airport. Your Xperia™ arc S has Wi-Fi support.

Timescape™ - meet your mates

Sony Ericsson Timescape™ lets all your communication with a person come together in one place. Facebook™ posts, calls, text messages - all gathered, so you don't have to open loads of different apps to see what's going on.
All about Timescape™

Use your headphones

Got a favourite pair of headphones? Connect them to your Xperia™ arc S through the 3.5 mm audio jack.

FM Radio

There's music in the air - just tune in and enjoy. Your phone has a built-in stereo FM radio.

Full Specifications

Available colours	Pure White , Gloss Black , Misty Silver , Midnight Blue , Sakura Pink	Platform	Android 2.3
Size	125.0 × 63.0 × 8.7 mm / 4.9 × 2.5 × 0.3 inches
Weight	117.0 g / 4.1 oz	Memory	Internal phone storage: 1GB (up to 320MB free) RAM: 512MB Memory card slot: microSD™, up to 32GB Actual free memory may vary due to phone pre-configuration
Screen	854x480 pixels / 4.2" 16,777,216 colour TFT

Battery performance

Battery performance may vary depending on network conditions and configuration, and phone usage.

Networks	Talk time (up to)	Standby time (up to)	Video call (up to)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900	7 hours 25 min	460 hours
UMTS/HSPA 800/850/1900/2100	7 hours 35 min	460 hours
UMTS/HSPA 900/2100	7 hours 35 min	460 hours
Music listening time: 37 hours

Camera

Aperture - f/2.4

The lower the f/value, the larger the lens opening (aperture) - which allows for more light to reach the image sensor.

Flash / light type - LED

When lighting conditions are poor, your picture can still be good.

Digital Zoom - up to 16x

Get close to your subject.

Camera - 8.1 Megapixel

Capture and share special moments.

Video stabiliser

Avoid bluriness caused by slight hand movements.

Video light

More light when shooting video.

Touch focus

Touch the screen to set the focus area.

Sony’s Exmor R™ for mobile CMOS sensor

Image sensor with enhanced imaging characteristics.

Smile detection

Let the camera automatically snap the shot when your subject flashes a smile.

Send to web

Catch moments with your camera and send straight to your personal web site or blog.

Red-eye reduction

Use it when taking people photos using flash.

Image stabiliser

Avoid blurriness caused by slight hand movements.

HD video recording (720p)

Record High Definition video with a simple touch of a button.

Geo-tagging

Have your photo tagged with information on where it was taken.

Face recognition

Your phone automatically recognises up to five faces in your picture.

Face detection

Your phone automatically sets the focus on the faces in your pictures.

Auto focus

Automatic focus for optimal clarity.

3D sweep panorama

Take your pictures with 3D Sweep Panorama. View them on a 3D TV or on the multi-angle 3D display.

Music

Music tones - MP3, AAC

Use original artist recordings as ringtones.

xLOUD™ Experience

Maximised, massive speaker sound thanks to the Sony xLOUD engine audio filter technology.

TrackID™ music recognition

Record a few seconds of a song and get track, artist and album information sent to your phone in seconds.

Sony Ericsson Music player

Enjoy your favourite music sorted by artist, album and track. Shuffle and smart playlists supported.

PlayNow™

Download music and games to your phone.

Bluetooth™ stereo (A2DP)

Music from your phone to headset over a wireless connection.

Album art

Choose music by browsing CD album art or other images

Web

Web browser - WebKit

Full Internet browser with support for standard protocols, images and video.

Pan & zoom

View web pages as you like - get a quick overview or zoom in on details.

Google Voice Search

Use your voice to search the web or to quickly launch a call to a friend.

Google™ search

Find what you’re after with the Google™ search function.

Bookmarks

Quick access to your favourite Web sites.

Android™ Market

Get apps and games - download straight to your phone.

Entertainment

Radio - FM radio with RDS

Radio entertainment round the clock.

YouTube™

View your favourite YouTube™ videos, or upload your own - access is easy via the YouTube™ application.

Video streaming

Realtime video streaming, e.g. live cam

Motion gaming

Gaming gets physical - turn, swing, move your phone to control the action.

Media Browser

Media content in one place for fast and easy access.

3D games

Enjoy quality games with full color and depth.

Connectivity

Synchronisation with computer

Keep the data in your phone in sync with your computer. Connect your phone to a computer and use synchronisation software.

USB support

PC to phone USB cable support

ANT+ technology

Connect wirelessly to a wide range of health and fitness products.

Synchronisation - Exchange ActiveSync®

Stay seamlessly synchronised with your Microsoft® Exchange email server.

Google Maps™ - with Street View

Find your way to your destination.

WiFi™

Utilise high-speed Internet at Wi-Fi™ hotspots at airports and other facilities.

USB mass storage

Connect and move items between computer and phone.

TV out

Go for a bigger screen – connect the phone to a TV, projector or other device.

Synchronisation via Google Sync

Use your Google account to synchronise the contacts in your phone.

Synchronisation via Facebook™

Match your Facebook™ friends with your phone contacts.

Synchronisation via Sony Ericsson Sync

Synchronise your phone contacts, calendar, tasks, bookmarks and notes* via the Sony Ericsson website. Sony Ericsson Sync is based on SyncML. * Synchronisation items may differ depending on the device.

Modem

GSM internet dial-up support

Micro USB support

Connect to your PC and other devices.

HDMI support

Share pictures and videos on your TV using your TV remote control.

Google Latitude™

See where your friends are - and share your own location with them.

DLNA Certified™

Connect wirelessly to other devices.

Bluetooth™ technology

Connect wirelessly to other Bluetooth™ devices.

aGPS

Use GPS-powered location-based services.

3.5 mm audio jack

Share your music via the extra jack. Use any headphones with a standard-sized 3.5 mm connector.

Messaging

SMS long (Text Messaging)

Concatenated text messaging up to 9600 characters. This feature must be enabled when sending text messages with pictures and sounds attached (EMS).

Sound recorder

A mini recording device in your phone that lets you record voice messages or other sounds

Predictive text input

Fast and easy text messaging.

Picture messaging (MMS)

Colourful multimedia messaging.

Instant messaging

Online chat. On the move.

Google Mail™

Gmail for mobile lets you send and receive e-mail wherever you are.

Email:

Built-in email client with inbox, outbox, compose, send and other functions

Conversations

Say it via chat-style text messaging.

Communication

Speaker phone

Loudspeaker suitable for using the phone as an office handsfree

Twitter™ - Timescape™ integration

Let the world know how you feel and what you think - say it with a tweet.

Vibrating Alert

The phone vibrates and you can feel when a call comes in

Sony Ericsson Timescape™

All your communication with one person in one place.

Noise shield

Filter out the sounds around and make yourself heard.

Google Talk™

Chat-style communication with friends and family.

Facebook inside Xperia™ version 2

Facebook status updates. Share and recommend the apps you like, and like the music you love, even direct from the FM radio.

Facebook™ application

Stay in touch with your friends on Facebook™ through your phone.

Design

Screen capture

Press the power off button and then 'screen capture' – and you’re ready to share your screenshot.

Keyboard - Onscreen QWERTY

Text input made easy.

Wallpaper animation

Animated wallpaper – moving background pictures. In standby, your display wallpaper has a pleasing graphic pattern with smooth movement and colour blending.

Touchscreen

Intuitive navigation – just touch the screen.

Gesture input

Swipe your finger across the on-screen QWERTY keyboard.

Reality display with Mobile BRAVIA® Engine

Crystal-clear colours and crisp images.

Picture wallpaper

Background picture on-screen when the phone is in standby mode

Auto rotate

Switch from vertical to horizontal mode by rotating the phone. Whatever you're viewing will rotate to suit.

Organiser

Phone book

The information you need to keep in touch with friends and family.

Infinite button

Just one press to all about your friends or all the artist info you need.

Google Calendar™

Create, add and edit events. Set up reminders and mobile notifications.

Flight mode

Disable the radio receivers and transmitters in your phone so you can safely use other functions.

E-manual

Save on paper usage. The printed manual is replaced with an electronic version in the phone.

Document readers

Edit documents in popular formats.

Calendar

Store appointment information and set reminders.

Calculator

Full-function calculator when you need it.

Android™ platform

Powered by Android™ for great performance. Personalise with all the apps you need from Android Market.

Alarm clock

Set your phone alarm clock to ring at the time of your choice.

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Bajaj ktm Duke 200

One of the most eagerly awaited motorcycles of 2011, the KTM 200 Duke was shown at the 2011 EICMA Motorcycle Exhibition where the Austrian bike-maker disclosed complete specifications of the 200cc machine in front of the global media. Although our mole had ridden the 200cc version before in India during the testing, it was still uncertain how much horsepower the single cylinder 4-stroke liquid-cooled engine would produce, only until now. The 200 Duke page on KTM’s official website says that the bike pumps out 25 horses and weighs just 125kg. Which means when it makes its Indian foray it will boast the best-in-class power-to-weight ratio of 200PS/tonne!

Of what little we have heard from the our sources who have ridden the KTM 200 Duke, it is one of the most fun-to-ride and potent machine that will be difficult to catch even for the Honda CBR250R in performance and if priced correctly by Bajaj Auto in India, then even in the race for sales numbers. The KTM 200 Duke is expected to hit the Indian roads by early January next year and it will be sold via Bajaj ProBiking dealerships.

There is no word on the pricing yet, but taking into consideration that the bike is locally made at Bajaj Auto’s Chakan facility near Pune, we can expect the KTM 200 Duke to be competitively priced to Honda’s CBR250R.

Once launched, the KTM 200 Duke will certainly be one of the most exciting launches of 2012 with its radical styling complimented by an equally competent short-stroke 200cc liquid-cooled fuel injected single cylinder motor that is mated to a six-speed transmission. The engine packaged inside a powder-coated steel tubular frame with WP suspensions taking charge of the damping duties on both ends. The brakes are from Brembo’s sub-brand Bybre, while the tyres are expected to be supplied by MRF. With its impressive power-to-weight ratio and India-friendly ergonomics, the KTM 200 Duke is certainly one machine that is set to give a solid push to the premium motorcycle segment in the country.

KTM 200 DUKE Specifications:

ENGINE:

Design  Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, spark-ignition engine, liquid-cooled

Displacement    200 cm³

Bore     72 mm

Stroke  49 mm

Power  25PS

Starting aid       Electric starter

Transmission     6-speed, claw shifted

Engine lubrication          Forced oil lubrication with 1 rotor pump

Primary gear ratio         22:72

Secondary gear ratio     14:43

Cooling system Liquid cooling system, continuous circulation of cooling liquid with water pump

Clutch  Clutch in oil bath / mechanically operated

Ignition system  Contactless, controlled, fully electronic ignition system with digital ignition timing adjustment

CHASSIS:

Frame  Tubular space frame made from steel tubes, powder-coated

Fork     WP Suspension 4357

Shock absorber            WP Suspension 4618 EM

Suspension travel Front 150 mm

Suspension travel Rear  150 mm

Brake system Front      Disc brake with two-pot brake caliper

Brake system Rear       Disc brake with one-pot brake caliper, floating brake discs

Brake discs - diameter front      300 mm

Brake discs - diameter rear       230 mm

Chain   5/8 x 1/4” (520) O Ring

Steering head angle       65°

Wheel base      1,361±15 mm

Ground clearance (unloaded)    170 mm

Seat height (unloaded)  810 mm

Total fuel tank capacity approx.            10.5 l

Unleaded premium fuel (95 RON)

Weight without fuel approx.      125 kg

Brake discs - diameter front: 300 mm

Brake discs - diameter rear: 230 mm

Chain: 5/8 x 1/4” (520) O Ring

Steering head angle: 65°

Wheel base: 1,361±15 mm

Ground clearance (unloaded): 170 mm

Seat height (unloaded): 810 mm

Total fuel tank capacity approx.: 10.5 l

Unleaded premium fuel: (95 RON)

Weight without fuel approx.: 125 kg

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