TECHNOLOGY INSPIRATION
Technology-People-Innovation

April 2015
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April 10, 2015 ,

Andhra Pradesh is recognized for its artistic temples, rich literature, legendary dynasties and its natural beauty. Discovering nature in the state can be a series of surprises that can leave visitors yearning for more. As one travels through the state, what strikes is the diverse landscape, from the emerald green coast regions to the dry deciduous forests and the mangrove belt teeming with hidden life.

The state has the distinction of being home to the country's largest tiger reserve, the Nallamai Forest. The Godavari River, besides being a holy river for the Hindus, also is the home of saltwater crocodiles, fishing cats and many other animals. The Kolleru Bird Sanctuary with its lush vegetation is a riot of colours because of the migrating birds that come from as far as Siberia and Australia.
Andhra Pradesh is blessed with breathtaking natural beauty. Its cascading waterfalls, misty hills, verdant forests, shimmering rivers and undulating mountains can be a treat for the eyes and soul.

borra caves

Borra Caves

The hills of Ananthagiri in Araku Valley have a hidden treasure that is spectacular. The Borra Caves is home to several stalactite and stalagmite formations. Each formation has a name. Besides these formations, there also are other interesting structures, such as a temple, crystal-white calcium stones and mushroom formation. The caves are spread over an area of one square kilometres and are believed to have formed over a million years due to the underground river, the Gosthani River, that flows through the caves. While the caves are mesmerising, a trip to the caves is equally breathtaking. On the way, visitors will be able to the Ananthagiri Coffee Plantation, Padmapuram Gardens, Damuku Viewpoint and of course the beautiful Araku Valley. The area around the caves is mountainous and rich in flora and fauna.

araku valley

Araku Valley

Araku Valley is renowned for its natural beauty and biodiversity. It is about 114 kilometres from Visakhapatnam, close to the borders of Odisha. The valley is enveloped by mountains, with the Galikonda Hill rising to an elevation of 5,000 feet. The Ananthagiri and Sunkarimetta Reserve Forest are located in this valley. The Valley is home to 17 indigenous tribes that are untouched by modern civilisation. It can be a treat to see the tribal people with their vibrant and colourful attire. Their songs and dance, in particular the Dhimsa dance, can make a person's heart sing with joy. The government has opened the Tribal Museum in Araku to showcase the simple and traditional lifestyle and culture of the various tribes inhabiting the valley. The beautiful handicraft and fine art pieces are treasures that are still made by hand and natural resources.

dolphins nose

Dolphin's Nose

The city of Visakhapatnam has many attractions and one of them undoubtedly is the Dolphin's Nose. This natural rock formation gets its name from its shape. It is eye-catching and hard to miss. The rock juts out into the sea and is 174 metres tall and at an altitude of 358 metres. The rock stands as a lone sentinel at the Visakhapatnam Harbour and facilitates the entry of seawater into the harbour. This helps the incoming ships to anchor. At the summit of Dolphin's Nose is a lighthouse that guides the approaching ships in the night. The lighthouse is renowned for its powerful beam that can be seen from 65 kilometres in the sea. The light flashes every 10 seconds and has helped many ships find their way to the harbour and avoid the treacherous rocks near the Dolphin's Nose.

bhavani island

Bhavani Island

If there is a name that best describes natural beauty, it has to be Bhavani Island. This stunning gorgeous estuary island in the Krishna River stretches over an area of 133 acres and is located near the Prakasam Barrage. It is about 4 kilometres upstream from Vijayawada. The island has mangroves, woodlands, meadows, gardens and soothing water bodies. It is a popular weekend haunt for people from Vijayawada and other neighbouring towns. It is a piece of paradise on Earth with its bounty from Mother Nature. The soothing and tranquil ambience of the island can rejuvenate the body and mind. Many families visit the place to enjoy a fun-filled and relaxing picnic and/or enjoy the experience of boating in the might Krishna River. Fishing is another relaxing activity that visitors can enjoy at this picturesque island.

Dindi

Dindi

This scenic village in East Godavari District is untouched by modern development. This adds to the charm and allure of Dindi, which is about 80 kilometres from Rajahmundry and 73 odd kilometres from the city of Kakinada. The tranquility of the village and the hospitality of the locals are a welcome respite for people, who yearn to spend time in solitude amidst natural beauty. A stroll through Dindi will reveal many natural wonders - fFertile pastures where cattle graze, domesticated ducks waddling their way to water bodies, numerous waterways and canals teeming with aquatic plants and marine life, green paddy crop swaying in the gentle breeze and coconut palms dancing merrily to the tune that just they can hear. The earthy beauty of Dindi can be overwhelming for people, who are unprepared for it.

Horsley hills

Horsley Hills

Horsley Hills is the perfect refuge for sun-scorched souls. It is located at an altitude of 1,269 metres, making this scenic hamlet cool even on the hottest of days. The lush vegetation that Horsley Hills is famous for begins from the moment people start their journey to get here. The narrow, meandering roads leading to the hill station are lined with dense growth of gulmohar, eucalyptus, jacaranda and many other beautiful trees and plants. The verdure of the forests can be soothing to the eyes. These forests are inhabited by a diverse range of wildlife, including panthers, bears, sambar, jungle fowls and wild dogs. The fresh and clear air, the coffee plantations sending out a delicious aroma of freshly ground coffee pods, the Chenchu tribe with their Pungannur cows and the misty mountains offer a heavenly bliss that one cannot find in the concrete jungle.

Belum Caves

Belum Caves

Located in Belum village in Kurnool District, Belum Caves are nothing short of a wonder. Running 3.5 kilometres, these caves are the second longest in India, after the 21-kilometre long Krem Um Lawan Cave in the northeast state of Meghalaya. The caves have three entry points and just about 2 kilometres of the caves are open to public. The lighting inside the caves is excellent and offers an awe-inspiring view of the chambers. There are indications that these caves were used Buddhist and Jain monks centuries ago. The relics found in the caves are housed in the Ananthapur museum. One of the chambers is replete with stalactites and stalagmite formations and this chamber is known as Kotilingalu. There is even a musical chamber within the cave where the amazing limestone formations make give out metallic sounds. The deepest point of the cave is referred to as Pataalganga and is the location of a perennial stream.

Talakona waterfalls

Talakona Waterfalls

In eastern philosophy, water element has always been important for soothing the mind. When people venture into Sri Venkataswara Park, which is about 49 kilometres from the temple town of Tirupati, they will be able to witness one of the most amazing water elements – Talakona Waterfalls. Cascading down from a height of 272 feet, the area around the waterfalls is a haven for many plant species, some extremely rare. Locals claim that the waters of the cascade have healing properties and this attracts many people. There are scenic trekking routes that lead to the top of the hill, but it is the lush greenery and the rainbow created by the waterfalls that win over visitors. There is a temple, Siddeswara Swamy Temple, located close to the waterfalls.

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April 10, 2015 ,

Heritage Spots in Andhra Pradesh

The cultural aura of Andhra Pradesh is a wide-spreading lamp light that brightens every corner of the world, satiating the deep desire to enrich their cultural trendy life-style. Temples, historical monuments, music dance, religious practices, cuisine, art and painting etc. Display the Andhra traditions in peacock feather like style with colors of many hues, not knowing which one to choose from. Certainly, the choice will meet up to your cultural taste-buds and the overall living habits will undergo a rapid metamorphosis.
Lord Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati, the lyrical Carnatic music, the reverbations of Veena, fascinating Kuchupudi, simply elate your mood to a level of intoxication, dreamy thoughts, exhilarated spirit, fine-tuning one's musical taste just makes one want to sip in every bit of delicious Andhra rich heritage.
Andhras are fortunate to walk down the century old heritage lane.

Kurnool

Kurnool

Kurnool District gets its name from the town of Kurnool. The town was the capital of the Nizams from October 1953 to November 1956. It is believed that during the 12th century, the Odders used to transport stones on carts for building the temple in Alampur, which was across the Tungabhadra River. These Odders used to halt their carts at the site of the current town of Kurnool to grease the wheels of their carts. They referred to the place as Kandanavolu, which over the centuries transformed to Kurnool.
The district also is home to Palaeolithic rock paintings, which can be seen at Ketavaram. This historical site is about 18 kilometres from the city of Kurnool.Other areas in the district that are renowned for their rock paintings include Yaganti, Katavani Kunta and Jerrur Valley.
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Prakasham

Prakasham

Prakasham District's past goes all the way back to 250 BC when the Maurya Dynasty ruled over this region. This dynasty paved way for the Satavahanas, during whose reign Buddhism flourished in the region. The era saw many Buddhist temples and stupas being built. Thereafter, region saw the Ikshvaku and Vijayanagar kings, the Qutub Shahi dynasty and the lastly the Mughals. Each ruler left behind a unique impression on the cultural landscape of Prakasham.
The district is renowned for its black granite and the town of Chimakurthy is known to produces some of best quality granite in India. Podili is home to a ancient temple, the Nirmamahesware Swami Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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Rajahmundry

Rajahmundry

Rajahmundry is located on the banks of Godavari River and is surrounded by towering coconut trees and lush green paddy fields. It was ruled by Rajaraja Narendra, the Eastern Chalukya ruler, in 1022 AD. During this period, it was known as Raja Mahendri. Even today the remnants of the fort walls and palaces are visible.
The area is renowned for its breathtaking beauty and this is evident from the top of Papi Hills. It also is home to Kadiyam nurseries, which are spread over acres and acres of land and cultivate the most exotic and beautiful flowers. Nature lovers will revel in the beauty of Pattiseema, where Mother Nature has blessed the area with abundant greenery and natural beauty.
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Tirupati

Tirupati

Located at the southernmost corner of the Eastern Ghats, the town of Tirupati is about 525 kilometres from Hyderabad. The town is surrounded by seven scenic hills, which are home to perennial waterfalls, verdant forests and picture-postcard perfect valleys.
The temple township of Tirumala is located on top of the hills and the age-old temple dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara is based here. This temple is said to be the richest in the world, with the outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum are enveloped in a sheet of pure gold! Driving to Tirumala offers an opportunity to experience panoramic vista and fresh countryside air.
Not only is Tirupati an outstanding pilgrimage site, it also offers a unique getaway where visitors can enjoy modern amenities and enchanting natural beauty. 
About 150 kilometres from Tirupati is the pictorial hill station of Horseley Hills.
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Vijayawada

Vijayawada

Also known as Bezawada, Vijayawada is the third largest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is about 275 kilometres from Hyderabad and is a popular tourist, business and trading hub.
The name of the city translates to ‘place of victory’. It is believed that Arjuna performed penance in the surrounding Indrakiladri Hills to appease Lord Shiva, who, in turn, gifted him with Pasupathasthra, Arjuna’s prized weapon. It also is claimed that Goddess Durga rested in Vijayawada after slaying the Mahishasura, a wicked demon, after engaging him in a fierce battle. The Kanaka Durga Temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and rests on top a hill and overlooks majestically at the Krishna River.
The city also is famous for its many varieties of mangoes, which flood the local markets during summer. Located close to Vijayawada is the serene and tranquil village of Kondapalli, which is renowned for its multi-hued, lightweight Kondapalli toys and picnic spot.
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Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam started out as a small fishing village, which was named after the Hindu God Vaishaka, and became a part of the Kalinga Empire. Today, the city is an industrial hub and popular seaport that connects the mineral-rich belt of Central India to the Eastern coast. It embraces is ancient past and modern present seamlessly.
The city's rich historical and cultural heritage is absorbing and enchanting. It used to be part of the Kalinga Empire and has been ruled by the likes of Ashoka and Krishnadeva Raya. In the 18th century, Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag, used to be a Dutch colony.
A veritable paradise for nature lovers, Visakhapatnam is abound by scenic hills, golden beaches, natural valleys, ancient caves and lush green picnic spots with quiet creeks and coves.
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April 10, 2015 ,

Wild Life

If there is one state in India that is renowned for its diversity of wildlife it is Andhra Pradesh. The state is strategically located in the central region of India and is a true representative of the magnificent flora and fauna of the country. With varied topography, right from the hills of Nallamala and the Eastern Ghats to the shores of Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh supports diverse ecosystems, which, in turn, support a rich variety of wildlife.
The vegetation in the state is most dry deciduous with a blend of Pterocarpus, Teak, Anogeissus, Terminalias and Dalbergias. The Eastern Ghats are renowned for their biodiversity and one can find endemic plants and animals. Today, wildlife in Andhra Pradesh boasts of tigers, panthers, wolves, wild dogs, sloth bears, hyenas, black bucks, chinkaras, nilgais, cheetals, sambars and a wide range of birds and reptiles. The huge coastline of the state offers a nesting ground for sea turtles and the backwaters of Pulicat Lake provide feeding grounds for birds, such as grey pelicans and flamingoes. The estuaries of Godavari and Krishna rivers have mangroves, which support fishing cats and otters.
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam is located on the national highway and covers an area of 250 hectares. This is the second largest zoological park in the state, after Hyderabad Zoo. It boasts of a rich collection of flora and fauna, including some exotic species of animals from Australia. The Park has more than 400 varieties of fauna. The Park opened its doors to the public in 1972 and today offers deer safari, has five enclosures for monkeys and primates, special dens for lions and tigers, six enclosures for deer and eight specially designed enclosures for small mammals. The main attraction of Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is undoubtedly the big cats, in particular the white tiger.

Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary

Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary

Kolleru Bird Sanctuary is perhaps the best fresh water sanctuary in India. There is a host of wildlife within the sanctuary, which is located in the deltaic region between the rivers of Krishna and Godavari. The sanctuary is a haven for migratory birds, which fly all the way from Siberia, the Philippines, Australia and Egypt. During the winter season in India, these birds come to nest at the sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated about 65 kilometres from the city of Vijayawada and offers a wonderful opportunity to bird watches and nature lovers to see some really rare species of birds. Kolleru Bird Sanctuary was established in 1999 and is protected by the Wildlife Protection Act. The placid lake and the lush greenery makes it an ideal refuge for birds, such as red-chested pod chards, pintails, herons, egrets, migratory ducks, water birds, pelicans, teals, ibises and storks. It also is home to 63 species of fish, crustaceans and molluscs.

Pulicat Sanctuary

Pulicat Sanctuary

Located at the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Pulicat Sanctuary covers an area of 500 square kilometres. It is a brackish water lagoon, the second largest in India, and is situated along the coast of Bay of Bengal. The sanctuary attracts many migratory birds and also is a feeding and nesting ground for aquatic and terrestrial birds.The dry evergreen forest in the sanctuary provides the perfect environment for birds, such as flamigoes, pelicans, different varieties of storks, ibises, cormorants, egrets, ducks, pintails, terns, grey herons and sandpipers. Fish and invertebrates, such as prawn and molluscs can also be found here. Monitor lizards, cobras, Russell’s vipers and kraits are some of the reptiles that can be spotted at the Pulicat Sanctuary.

Sri Venkateswara Zoo Park

Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park

Sri Venkateshwara National Park is spread over two districts, Kadapa and Chittoor of Andhra Pradesh. It is spread over an area of 353 square kilometres and is located in Rajampet, Kadapa, Chandragiri, Ballapadu and Chittoor. Bound by the hills of Tirumala and Seshachalam, the Park is an oasis of lush green valleys, deep gorges, plateaus and steep slopes. It is home to some beautiful waterfalls too.The forest in the Park mainly is dry deciduous, but in patches, there are moist deciduous forests. With more than 1,500 flora species belonging to 176 families, the Park offers a safe haven to a number of mammals, birds and reptiles. The rare slender loris and the golden gecko can be spotted in the Park. Other animals, such s tree shrew, Indian giant squirrel, flying lizards, wild boar, nilgai, leopard, hyena, spotted deer, blackbuck, sloth bear, bison, mongoose, fox, civet, bears and sambar, also are present in the Park.
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April 10, 2015 ,

Rajahmundry

Rajahmundry has the distinction of being the cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh. It is claimed that the Telugu language originated in Rajahmundry. The poet, Nannaya, was responsible for coming up with the Telugu script, which transformed it into a language. Located west of Godavari River, Rajahmundry is about 400 kilometres from Hyderabad. The earliest rulers of the region were the Chalukyas. Rajaraja Narendra ruled over Rajahmundry in the 12th century. However, new archaeological findings suggest that the history of this region may go back even further.
Dindi

Dindi

The tranquil and panoramic village of Dindi is about 80 kilometres from Rajahmundry. This village is renowned for its virgin backwaters that ooze of charm and splendour. The serene palm-fringed canals, lakes, lagoons and rivulets offer the perfect place to enjoy a soothing houseboat cruise. The quaint villages nestled amidst coconut groves have pristine beauty that can leave one mesmerised. Dindi is the place where visitors can count the twinkling stars in the ink-blue sky at night, while the moon rays shimmer enchantingly over the surface of the water bodies. The oasis of Dindi and its unspoilt beauty can rejuvenate visitors and offer a memorable getaway from the concrete jungle of the city.
Accommodation
Coconut Country Resort, Rajahmundry
The resort has an air-conditioned restaurant, swimming pool and conference hall. It has air-conditioned suites and rooms that are exquisitely furnished and decorated. The well-landscaped gardens and the towering coconut trees are peaceful and tranquil.

ISKCON Temple

ISKCON Temple

The ISKCON Temple, also referred to as the Gowthami Ghat, is very popular with visitors to Rajahmundry. The temple lies over an area of 2 acres, making it the second largest ISKCON Temple is South India. This temple lies on the banks of Godavari River and was constructed by the ISKCON followers.Many sages and priests have performed penance and prayers at this beautifully designed temple. It houses the idols of Sri Radha Gopinath, Subhadra Devi, Sri Sri Govinda Srinivas, Sri Sri Jaganath Baladeva, Sri Sri Krishna Chaitany and Prabhu Nityananda


Markandeya Temple

Markandeya Temple

The Markandeya Temple is located in the town of Rajahmundry. Initially, it was believed that the ruins at the site of the temple were those of a mosque. However, archaeological surveys discovered that the ruins were that of a Shiva temple. So, in 1818, Gundu Sobhanadriswara Rao reconstructed the temple and it can be accessed from the Gunduvari Street, the same street where Gundu Sobhanadriswara Rao resided. According to legend, the temple is associated with Muni Mrukhanada. It is claimed that she prayed to Lord Shiva for a child. Pleased with her prayers, Lord Shiva appeared before her and asked her to choose between a child, who would survive for 11 years, and a husband. Muni Mrukhanada chose the former. She had a boy, who spent his whole like praying to Lord Shiva and even made a lingam and placed it inside the temple. When 11 years passed and the God of Death, Yamaraj came to take the boy, Lord Shiva intervened and blessed him with life.

kotilingeshwara temple

kotilingeshwara temple

The kotilingeshwara temple was built in the 10th century and is surrounded by several bathing ghats that attract devotees. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and many pilgrims throng to the temple to take a holy dip in the surrounding waters.The local legend claims that a sage named Gautama was cursed by Lord Indra and to rid himself off the curse, the sage placed a shivalingam and prayed to Lord Shiva. He anointed the lingam with waters of 10 million rivers. The same shivalingam now rests in the precinct of the temples. Kotilingeswara Temple is popular with believers of Lord Shiva and the festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated in the temple with a lot of fervour.


Godavari River

Godavari River

The Godavari River flows a distance of 1,465 kilometres, making it the second longest river in India, after the Ganges. The town of Rajahmundry is located on the banks of Godavari River and the river is the widest at this point. Its width is about 5 kilometres from Rajahmundry to the other side, where Kovvur is located. This mighty river is one of the main attractions of Rajahmundry. Three bridges span the river; and along its banks are several bathing ghats and parks. The river holds a place of importance in the lives of Hindus, who believe in bathing in it once in 12 years to wash away their sins.

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April 09, 2015

With the announcement that both the 65,000 and 20,000 H-1B visa caps for fiscal year 2016 have been reached, a top business body in the US has made a renewed call for Congress to fix the immigration system that keeps US companies from hiring the top world talent they need. 

"Congress cannot claim it's too hard to allow top world talent to contribute to America when other countries have figured out how to do it for their own economies," said Business Roundtable (BRT), an association of CEOs of leading US companies which works to promote public policy and American economy. 

"The problem is simply lack of action in Washington," said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions, and chair of the BRT Immigration Committee. 

"How many more H-1B caps do we have to reach before policymakers fix the system?" Brown said. 

The outdated H-1B visa system was one of the factors in a new BRT analysis that put the US ninth out of 10 advanced economies in terms of employment-based immigration policies, a media statement said. 

"State of Immigration: How the United States Stacks Up in the Global Talent Competition" revealed that US employment-based immigration policies are "mostly unfavourable" to economic growth, while many of its competitor nations have adopted more favourable policies across the board. 

In addition to insufficient H-1B visa numbers, the BRT report found other challenges for the US immigration system include low annual limits on employment-based green cards, high denial rates for intra-company transfers and a lack of visas for both immigrant entrepreneurs and year-round lower-skilled workers. 

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on April 1, started receiving H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2016 beginning October 1, 2015. 

It received more than the allocated quota of 65,000 H-IB visas in the first five days, and the successful applicants would be decided trough a draw of lots. 

FWD.us, comprising a diverse group of leading innovators, entrepreneurs, job creators, and business owners from the tech community, have launched a petition urging the Congress to fix broken immigration system in particular the H-1B system. 

According to a Brookings research released this week, high-skilled foreign workers are concentrated in a small number of places. 

Half of all approved H-1B petitions nationwide went to only nine metropolitan areas, and one-quarter went to just three: New York, Dallas, and San Jose--home of Silicon Valley. 

New York, with over 29,000 approvals, had by far the highest number. 

Dallas and San Jose had almost 20,000 and 16,000 approvals, respectively. 

Durham in North Carolina ranks first among metro areas for the ratio of H-1B approvals to its total employed population. 

The top 10 metro areas by this measure include large finance and technology hubs (example San Jose, Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle), along with smaller metro areas that are home to large research-intensive universities (Durham, College Station, and Ann Arbor).
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April 09, 2015
Online cab-hailing company Uber will allow passengers in the Indian capital to book autorickshaws, the cheaper three-wheeled taxis, as part of a drive to boost its presence and compete with a local rival in one of its key markets. 

Under the UberAUTO service, the company will not charge a fee for booking autorickshaws, users will be allowed to pay for the journey in cash, and the pricing will follow government fare rules, Uber said in a statement on Thursday. 

The launch of the service in New Delhi marks a shift from the company's global business model. So far, Uber's mobile application that connects riders with taxis in cities around the world has charged customers through credit cards or other electronic payment means, but not in cash. 

The launch in Uber's largest market outside the United States comes against the backdrop of stiff competition with India's biggest online cab-hailing company Ola, which already lets customers hail autorickshaws. 

"There were a lot of people who were not able to use an Uber because cash payment was not allowed," Gagan Bhatia, general manager for Uber in New Delhi, told Reuters. "There is huge potential in this segment." 

The launch comes at a time when Uber is battling regulatory uncertainty over how it will continue to operate in New Delhi. 

Uber was banned in the city following allegations of rape against one of its drivers in December, but has found support from India's transport ministry.
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April 09, 2015


Recently, WhatsApp quietly introduced a new feature that lets users know that their messages have been read, with the double grey ticks appearing in front of the messages turning blue. 

And now, just as quietly, the mobile messaging service is letting users of its Android app disable the feature with the rollout of WhatsApp version 2.11.444. This version is available for users on WhatsApp's website for now, and will eventually be rolled out to all users. 

Here's how you can disable the blue coloured read receipts' with the message timestamp on WhatsApp's Android app: 

1. Make sure that your smartphone is running on Android 2.1 or a newer version. 

2. Go to settings menu and enable 'Download from Unknown Sources' in the Security tab 

3. Go to the WhatsApp website and download the APK (application) file available under www.whatsapp.com/Android/ 

4. Once the APK file is downloaded to your device, tap the 'Install' option. 

6. Now that WhatsApp has been updated, select Settings > Account > Privacy. Under the Privacy tab, uncheck the Read Receipts option. 

This feature however doesn't apply to group messages and will let other participants know when you've read a message. Also, once you disable this feature, you won't be able to view blue double-check marks when you send a message as well. 


The feature that enabled the users to see when their messages were read didn't go down too well with the users and with this update, WhatsApp seems to be taking steps to please users who were not happy with the new feature.
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April 09, 2015 ,

I am considering an Intel i3 laptop within a budget of Rs 35,000, but I'm also curious about the new hybrid devices - tablets that come with a detachable keyboard. Could you inform me about the pros and cons of such a gadget over a plain notebook computer?

Sushant Rajput, Sanjay Prabhu, Rahul Singh, Vinith Nair

You can use hybrid machines just like a laptop, complete with its full Qwerty keyboard, but it also works well as a standalone Windows tablet. Besides, you can pack the keyboard and screen separately, making it extremely portable for travel.

Most laptops that retail for under Rs 35,000 are equipped with a 500GB hard drive. In hybrids, you get a 3264GB solid state drive. These SSDs allow for faster boot times at startup.

On the flip side, hybrid laptops run on an Intel Atom-based processor, which are not as powerful as the Intel i3 chips you find on laptops. Also, you get just 2GB RAM on hybrids, while laptops are usually packed with 4GB. That said, hybrids are more than adequately equipped to handle office productivity, basic image editing, web browsing, music playback and casual games like Plants vs Zombies.

Given that hybrids are designed for portability, they come with a smaller 10-inch display. On the positive side, these screens - unlike those of a budget laptop - are 'touch enabled' and work well with Windows 8. But their smaller size, along with mono speakers, doesn't make them the best gadget for a person who enjoys hi-def multimedia entertainment. For movies and videos, a laptop with stereo speakers and a 14 to 15-inch display would be a better choice.

Hybrids come with the Windows OS preinstalled despite being priced at under Rs 30k, while most Intel i3 laptops in and around the same budget come with just DOS or Linux.

And lastly, a hybrid is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and one full-sized USB port by way of its keyboard dock. A laptop, on the other hand, also comes with an Ethernet port for a wired network connection; a greater number of USB ports, as well as a DVD disc drive.

If storage is of great priority, you could consider the Asus Transformer Book T100 (Rs 29,900) for its keyboard dock, which houses a 500GB hard disk in addition to the 32GB in the tablet.

Alternatively, there is the Acer Aspire Switch 10 (Rs 34,500), which only includes a 64GB solid state storage in the display.

For on-the-go connectivity, opt for the iBall Slide WQ149 (Rs 21,999) that is equipped with a micro SIM slot for 3G data access. You also get 32GB onboard storage, 1TB of cloud storage, and a one-year subscription to Office 365 (Microsoft's office productivity suite).

All three hybrids are powered by a quad-core Intel Atom processor, come with 2GB RAM, a 10.1-inch HD LED touchscreen, run Windows 8.1, and include a micro or mini HDMI port for linking to a larger display.
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April 09, 2015

If you only use Gmail
Inbox by Gmail is an app that de-clutters your account by categorizing similar emails into groups such as Social, Travel, Finance, Updates, Forums and Promos. For instance, notifications from Facebook and LinkedIn are bundled into Social, while newsletters from your bank will appear within Finance. The app still lets you view all the labels you have created in Gmail and move new emails to them.

In case you want to reply to a missive or call the sender later, just swipe left to set a reminder within the app. Inbox then sounds a notification at the time specified by you, which can either be dismissed or temporarily postponed.

The app even lets you preview and swipe through attachments like images, read shipping information related to your online purchases and more, without opening the email at all.

At present, you will need to visit google.co.in inbox to request an invite before installing the app on your phone.
Android, iOS: Free

For multiple email accounts
CloudMagic lets you access Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo!, and IMAP accounts through a single app. You can personalize each account to have its own signature, colour and notification sound. The app lets you view your inboxes individually , or in a unified format.

Swipe left on an e-mail to delete, archive, or mark as read; press and hold to select multiple emails, and even add tools known as "cards" to cloud services like Google Keep, Evernote, OneNote, Pocket and Todoist.For instance, if you need to turn an email into an actionable to-do, use the To do list card, add it to your workflow in Trello, or set a reminder in Keep.

And yes, you can also password protect the app to keep your emails from prying eyes.
Android, iOS: Free

To connect with cloud storage 
If you juggle between multiple email accounts and use Dropbox or Box to store your data then try Boxer. On downloading, this app will only let you setup one email account either AOL, Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, or Yahoo! but if you send out five invites to friends in your address book, you get a free upgrade to the Pro version. Here, you will also be able to customize each account with a signature and colour. Additionally, you can create unlimited quick auto replies and a virtual inbox to view emails from select folders across accounts.

While composing a message, you can attach files saved in your Dropbox or Box account, provided the app is installed on your handset. If required, Boxer also lets you mark an email as an item to your to-do list, or save to your Evernote account.
Android, iOS, Kindle Fire: Free

For productivity 
Acompli Email & Calendar lets you access multiple functions without leaving the app.

You can access emails from multiple accounts: Outlook, Google, iCloud, Yahoo!; set appointments and schedules with the built-in calendar, and send files from your online storage accounts, like OneDrive and Dropbox, as well. The app also lists, by account, the attachments that have been emailed to you. It uses a "focused" filter to only list emails it thinks are important. Everything else be it newsletters, social network updates, bank mailers is under the "Other" filter.

Acompli lets you schedule replies with a simple swipe and view the exchanges (emails, meetings and files) you have had with contacts. Android, iOS, Kindle Fire: Free

For tablets 
Interface is optimized to work better on large-screen devices: correspondence is displayed as cards across the length of the screen. The app provides you with a quick preview of your email's contents, and you can even respond to messages from the dashboard interface itself.

Emails are categorized under labels: Personal, Social and Services. The app displays frequently emailed contacts in the form of photo icons, and you can tap any one to view all the conversations you've had.

Alternatively, tapping a sender's icon in the main list reveals quick actions like reply and archive. Molto also supports swipe gestures to change the viewing mode, or to delete mails.
Android, iOS: Free

Dodge spammers 
Have you ever regretted sharing your email address with people you barely know? And how about those online forms that need an email address and promptly sell it to spammers? With MailDrop, you can create a temporary ID for these purposes. Simply enter a username, then click "Go". You will be taken to your new inbox without a password! You can create any number of pseudo IDs; allowing you to keep separate inboxes for newsletters and websites.

MailDrop keeps it simple and strict: attachments are discarded, the inbox is cleared every 24 hours, and spam is filtered out. You can give your temporary email ID without worrying about being targeted with 'special offers' again.
http:www.maildrop.cc

Analyze your work 
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a tool called Immersion that trawls your Gmail or Yahoo! inbox `To' and `From' only to display its contents as an interactive graphic. It analyzes your inbox to depict all your contacts as `nodes' along with the connections to other contacts (people who have been CC'd in correspondence).

Larger circles mean you have received more emails from that person. Click on any node, and Immersion shows you the number of mails you have exchanged, the date of the first, as well as the last email you have received.

An overall analysis of your inbox reveals the number of emails it in cludes, and the names of your top collaborators. It will display the total number of emails sent and received from the day you signed up for the account. And you can even look at this data for the past year, month, or week.

Finally, when you're done, you can logout and delete this meta data from MIT's servers. Ah yes, don't worry , the service does not read through the contents of your emails.immersion.media.mit.edu

Manage newsletters 
Me Many of us inadvertently subscribe to email newsletters, sometimes when signing up for an online shopping account, when downloading free software, or perhaps when register ing for a new internet service. Well, Unroll Me helps you manage your email subscriptions.s Sign up with your email ID and Unroll Me scans your : inbox for newsletters. These are then displayed on a web page e along with options that let you choose if you want to unsubr scribe; leave the email untouched; or 'add to rollup'.

The service automatically unsubscribes you from all the newsletters you opted out of, while the ones you've added to e your 'Roll Up' will come to you in a daily digest at a time d specified by you simply , a neat and tidy way to take care of all your newsletters.

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