Wednesday 13 March 2013

Italy’s decision will affect diplomatic ties: PM


New Delhi: Taking a tough stand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday accused Italy of violating "every rule of diplomatic discourse" and asked it to send back the two marines undergoing trial for killing Indian fishermen, failing which there will be consequences on bilateral ties.

Responding to the issue raised by the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, Singh noted that the country is agitated over Italy's action which is "unacceptable" and said the government will pursue diplomatic channels to bring the two marines back.

Urging the Italian authorities to respect the undertaking given to the Supreme Court, he said they should return the two accused - Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone - to stand trial here for the incident of February last year.

"They have violated every rule of diplomatic discourse and call into question solemn commitments given by an accredited representative of a government," Singh said in the Lok Sabha which witnessed uproar during Question Hour as well as Zero Hour.

The Prime Minister, who made a similar statement in Rajya Sabha, said the government has already made it clear that this action by the Italian government is "not acceptable".

"If they do not keep their word there will be consequences for our relations with Italy," Singh said firmly, adding that bilateral relationship has to function on the basis of trust.

Assuring Parliament that the government would continue to urge Italy through diplomatic channels to send back the marines, he wanted the members to act and speak together while dealing with the matter with the seriousness that it deserves.

The Prime Minister's response came after former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) attacked the government on the issue with the BJP leader dubbing the action of the Italian government as a "very curious Italian job".

Rajya Sabha also witnessed uproar over it with demands for arrest of the Italian ambassador Daniele Mancini.

Samsung Galaxy S 4 Smartphone launch: New York


(Source : FirstPost.Com)

Success of Samsung Electronics Co’s latest Galaxy phone, ready to be launched in New York on Thursday, could hinge on a supply backup plan aimed at preventing a repeat of a costly snag for its premium smartphone last year.

Some analysts predict the new Galaxy S 4 could top 10 million unit sales in the first month after its launch, so any hiccups in the smooth delivery of core components could be disastrous. The risks are high. A simple manufacturing snafu involving unsatisfactory design of handset cases cost Samsung some 2 million units of lost sales in just a month after it launched the S 3 in May last year.
Samsung Galaxy S4
“There could be, again, a supply bottleneck due to tight supply of components… but I think any such disruption will be very brief, as Samsung is making a bigger bet on the S 4 than on its predecessor with a backup plan to avoid such disruption,” said Mr. Greg Noh, an analyst at HMC Investment and Securities.

After pre-empting its launch with a marketing blitz for the new Galaxy phone, South Korean electronics giant also risks having overhyped its new phone, analysts warn. They say consumers could be disappointed if it has only incremental improvements rather than the dazzling features they’ve come to expect.

Samsung picked the United States for the launch of its top-selling Galaxy series, hoping to regain its lead in the crucial US market. Apple Inc outsold Samsung there for the first time in the quarter ending in December, even after Samsung spent a record $400 million on phone advertisements there last year.

The stakes are especially high for Samsung, which derives the majority of its annual profits from the product, while growth rates for the global smartphone market taper off.

Mr. J.K. Shin, head of Samsung’s mobile business and a newly elected board member, will skip his first Samsung shareholders meeting on Friday in Seoul in order to attend the Galaxy launch at the Radio City Music Hall.

“It’s got to be a blockbuster phone that beats its predecessor and competitors in nearly all aspects, otherwise Samsung could follow the footsteps of others and fail to manage expectations, which get only higher,” said David Choi, an analyst at SK Securities.

Samsung executives declined to comment on steps they’ve taken to ensure supplies keep flowing, but some analysts said a disruption of any component part could potentially cascade, interrupting deliveries.

“Based on checks we had with suppliers, Samsung has already done significant work to ensure smooth supply and not to repeat what they had to deal with last time,” said Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at IBK Securities.

“For now it appears there’s no major issue at all, but obviously we have to wait and see how smoothly it goes after the launch.”

Of particular concern are eight-core processor chips and screens, or even simple handset cases.

“Handset cases again appear to be in tight supply, and Samsung may use two different processors to maximize battery efficiency through the right combination of chips for different network conditions to yield the best performance,” Noh said.

FEATURES 

The new Galaxy S4 phone is widely expected to boast crisp, full high-definition quality pictures, a slightly bigger 5-inch screen, a 13 mega-pixel rear camera, and an improved eight-core processor. which uses Google’s free Android software, may have functions that track the viewer’s eye movement, and boast an unbreakable or flexible screen.

“With so many great things speculated about the S4, it could actually disappoint in terms of wow factors,” said Choi at SK Securities. “If you see Samsung’s share price, which hasn’t moved much of late, I think you can get a more cool-headed assessment of what’s coming.”

Shares of Samsung, which has a $220 billion market value, have fallen 1 percent so far this year, while Apple shares tumbled nearly 20 percent as disappointing sales of iPhones raised fears that its dominance may be slipping.

“It’s about the buzz they can generate around the product,” said Ben Wood, an analyst at mobile consulting firm CCS Insight.

Samsung has developed a cheeky TV ad that mocks Apple customers, and dramatically ramped up spending on marketing and advertising, a cornerstone of Apple’s success.

“It’s not afraid to carpet bomb the world with marketing efforts to make sure nobody on the planet misses out on the story of the Galaxy S4,” Wood said.

SHIFTING FORTUNES

Such bravado underscores how far Samsung has come since its first Galaxy, which debuted in June 2010 in answer to the runaway success of the iPhone. That propelled Samsung to become the world’s top smartphone maker, vexing Apple which virtually created the smartphone market with its first iPhone in 2007.

The touchscreen-based look and feel of the Galaxy also prompted Apple to file global patent disputes against the South Korean firm.

In 2012, Samsung surpassed Apple as the world’s largest maker of smartphones, controlling 30 percent of the market versus Apple’s 19 percent. But in the high-end market, sales of Samsung’s Galaxy S and Note still lag far behind Apple’s iPhone, the best-selling smartphone globally.

As overall market growth slows, however, it is also becoming more competitive. Rivals such as LG Electronics Inc and Huawei Technologies have announced products with features and hardware comparable to those the upcoming Galaxy will reportedly have.

“I’m expecting them to come out with some new features they can hang their hat on,” said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis, referring to the Galaxy launch.

“As long as the Galaxy S4 doesn’t regress and as long as it’s competitive with the flagship phones from other phone manufacturers, I give it really good chances of winning consumer sales even if it isn’t different for the sake of being different.”

Wednesday 6 March 2013

MicroMax A110 Connecting Internet through USB


Yap its very simple if you r using Vista,7 or 8 no need for PC Suite...just connect it through USB, ur OS will automatically install the driver and make some change in ur MAX Mobile Settings as follows:

1. Connect your mobile to PC using the USB cable.
2. Go to Settings -> wireless & networks.
3. Select tethering and portable hotspot. Check on USB tethering(select it)
4. Then your PC will install the drivers automatically.
5. Enjoy Internet Browsing in your PC or Laptop.

You will now be able to use the data connection from the phone on your PC.

Friday 15 February 2013

Playing in India is always special: Clarke


Chennai: From the time Michael Clarke made a memorable Test debut against India at Bengaluru in 2004 with an impressive 151, the Australian has grown from strength to strength.

The stylish batsman has tormented the bowling attack whenever he was up against the Indians. When the two teams last met down under, Clarke led his side to a 4-0 whitewash with astonishing displays of batting at Sydney (careerhigh 329 not out) and at Adelaide (210).

EXCERPTS:

On coming back to the country where his Test journey began:

It's always exciting to come to India as I've always enjoyed playing here. The main reason for that is people of India love the game of cricket. It is a special place for me because I made my Test debut here and I have so many fond memories. I suppose it's more special to come back as a captain.

On his career so far: It's been up and down. I guess -some good times, when the team has had a lot of success and I have scored some runs, and some tough times, when I have been dropped from the Test team and I didn't know if I was going to get back into the team. Now the positive is that the team is playing well and I am able to captain Australia.

On conditions here: IPL has certainly changed the comfort level of the players. Players know what the conditions are like when they come to India. The IPL has also been fantastic in that it has built relationships between players all around the world.

On shielding youngsters: Being a senior player, not just the captain, it is part of your responsibility. The responsibility is on some of us who have played a lot of Tests to stand up and lead from the front, make sure the youngsters are taken along. So it's part of my job to make sure I help them and as much as anything, be there for them through the good times and the tough times.

On Gambhir’s absence: I expected him to be in the Test the Test team. He is a wonderful player and has been for India for a long time now. I think there are a few bowlers in our team who are happy he is not playing. If he scores runs, I'm sure he will get his chance with the Indian team again.

No pre-series salvos?

It's not about what you say, it's about what you do on the field. As a player, as the Australian cricket team, that's our goal. It's no good making statements and comments and not backing them up. I'd rather people say less and do more, so that's our goal. Perform well on the field, that's all we say.

Source : DC

US Warns North Korea Against Further 'Provocative' Acts


WASHINGTON: The United States Friday called on North Korea not to take any further provocative steps, as a US think tank said Pyongyang was preparing a launchpad that could pave the way to firing a long-range missile.

Asked about media reports that North Korea, also known as the DPRK, has told China it is preparing further nuclear tests, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said such moves would just "lead to more isolation."

"The United States calls on the DPRK to refrain from additional provocative actions that would violate its international obligations and run counter to its commitments," she told journalists.

UN Security Council resolutions insist North Korea should not carry out any further nuclear tests, or face further global sanctions.

There was global outrage after Pyongyang on Tuesday defiantly carried out its third nuclear test, saying it was responding to US "hostility" after the UN Security Council condemned its last missile launch two months ago.

"The DPRK is not going to achieve anything in terms of the health, wealth, safety, (or) future of its own people by these kinds of continued provocative actions," Nuland said.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest, speaking aboard Air Force One, also stressed that Pyongyang should abide by UN resolutions.

"We encourage the North Koreans to live up to their international obligations, abandon their nuclear program and work with the rest of the international community to become a responsible member of the international community," he said.

38 North, a blog of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University, said Thursday it had analyzed satellite photos that it said showed possible assistance from Iran at the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground in northeastern North Korea.

38 North said a commercial satellite photograph taken on January 5 showed "important progress" since the area was hit with typhoons last year and indicated activity that was consistent with preparations for a launch.

But the website said there was not enough evidence to support speculation that North Korea could raise the stakes by testing its KN-08, a new missile with potential intercontinental range first displayed in a parade in April.

The website said that North Korea likely was preparing to test much larger rockets by the time the site is completed in 2016.

Source : TOI