Using this new feature users will now be able to see where everything is located inside a building, and even switch between floors. The indoor mapping feature is not available for all locations yet and initially covers only large retailers, airports and transit stations in the U.S. and Japan.
November 30, 2011
Google Maps 6.0 - Features New Indoor Mapping In Stores, Malls, Airports And Lots Of UI Changes
Using this new feature users will now be able to see where everything is located inside a building, and even switch between floors. The indoor mapping feature is not available for all locations yet and initially covers only large retailers, airports and transit stations in the U.S. and Japan.
20 More Hawk AJTs for IAF
The proposal of Indian Air Force suggests for new Hawks sanctioned by the defence acquisitions council chaired by defence minister A. K. Antony. The new AJTs costs around Rs. 3,600 crore. This will be in addition to the 124 advanced jet trainers (AJTs) previously ordered.
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This is the first in three decades, IAF demanded for Hawk AJTs for their ‘transitional training’. Most of the new fighter pilots have to survive with the aged MiG-21 trainers which are already out of place.
Between April 2004 and March 2010, IAF had recorded a total number of 74 air crashes. And out of this 33 was due to human errors while 31 due to technical errors.
Reportedly IAF had faced troubles with its HPT-32’s engine and airframe. It had been blamed due to the lack of required AJTs, a gap has taken place in its instruction program especially when pilots uprooted from Kiran aircraft to MiG-21 supersonic fighter airliner.
Anyway, as India is becoming the largest user of Hawk AJTs today, the move of state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to get involved in the production line for the Hawk advanced jet trainers is a much appreciated progress.
Despite of importing a number of 24 Hawks AJTs from BAE Systems, the rest of the AJTs will be manufactured at HAL, Bangalore, an HAL official said. HAL is confident of its potentials to produce full-fledged AJTs in Bangalore. And it looks forward to become the production centre for Hawk advanced jet trainers by future.
This new order of 20 AJTs is to swap ageing aircraft of the Indian Air Force’s (IAFs) crack Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT). The Suryakirans are the successor of the Thunderbolts Aerobatic Team. This aerobatic team had been formed in year of 1996. Operating out of Bidar, they perform breathtaking aerobatic practices. The SKATs are known as the Ambassadors of the Indian Air Force and meant to showcase the professionalism, the caliber and the bravery of IAF.
The makeover process in SKAT will be forcefully stopping their awe-inspiring maneuvers in next two Aero India shows of 2013 and 2015. Surya Kiran is the most famed IAF aerobatic team for its Air Shows which conducted in Bangalore every two years.
This Hawk story points out governments’ lack of interest while marking the pitiable long-term scheduling, flawed agreements bonds and overdue delivery schedules. The delay is ``due to receipt of defective components, jigs and fixtures from the foreign manufacturer (BAE Systems), on which liquidated damages were levied'', Antony had previously said.
Government has accused for its delay by telling if they could order the 146 Hawks together, it would be greatly cheaper. And they would not have lost hundreds of fighters and pilots in air crash.
The overall Hawk AJT project is supposed to complete by 2016-17 in an estimated total cost of around Rs. 20,000 crore. This project included 24 AJTs direct supply from BAE Systems and 122 will be licenced manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) in India. Including the 24 AJTs manufactured by British Aerospace (BAE) Systems Ltd, about 55 Hawks have been introduced until now.
Asus Launches Super-Slim Zenbook in India
Asus has entered the super slim segment of laptop in India with the launch of its new Zenbook UX31 ultra book.
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| Asus Zenbook |
This new laptop runs on Windows 7 operating system and Asus says, it comes with a fat free body with a sleek design, similar to the popular Mac Book Air laptop from Apple.
It has a 13.3 inch display with 1600x900 pixel resolution and users have an option of choosing between Microsoft's Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium and Professional OS. Consumers can also choose between a 2nd-generation Intel Core i5 2557M and an i7 2677M 1.7GHz processor and the laptop has 4GB of RAM.
It comes with a 128 GB SSD but user can also choose for a 256 GB SSD. It also has a Bluetooth, USB 2.0 ports and USB 3.0 ports, micro HDMI port and a SD card slot. The audio in the laptop has been provided by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower SonicMaster which basically means that the sound will be awesome.
It also has a built in 0.3 MP Webcam and it provides 7 hours of battery life and 336 hours of stand-by time with a powerful 50W battery. Asus says that the laptop automatically saves open files to prevent data loss when the battery reaches below 5 percent and the company claims that the laptop can resume from sleep within just 2 seconds. The ZENBOOK UX31 Ultrabook is available in the market as of now for Rs. 89,999.
4 Best Tablet Cameras
It has become a salient feature to have a camera in any devices without which a tech product is incomplete. Though tablets are inconvenient to take still pictures in a single hand when compared to Smartphone’s, users still need it as a default feature. However, tablet cameras are more conveniently used for video chat.
Most of the times tablets are used at home for video chatting and to take videos of kids. With advanced technology companies produce tablets packed with cameras that take quality pictures and videos in providing a better user experience. Here are 4 Best Tablet Cameras for the Tablet lovers.
BlackBerry PlayBook
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| Blackberry PlayBook |
The PlayBook is only Rs.10,394 and it features a best in class 3MP front camera and 5MP rear-facing camera. The camera sensor works well with lots of light, and there is no flash so the users need it. PlayBook is a 7inch tablet so pan around is not easy enough.
These cameras is tucked under the glass and situated just above the7inch, 1,024 x 600 display that will threaten neither rods nor cones when on maximum brightness. It delivers great clarity and excellent viewing angles.
With these cameras added in the Playbook, serves as a best feature for the users to enjoy every moment of their life by taking out pictures of their choice without any compromise in the quality.
HTC Flyer
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| HTC Flyer |
The Flyer is available at the price of Rs.15,586 and is an affordable gadget. It has a decent camera and this 7inch tablet has a 5MP shooter on the rear with auto focus and a 1.3 MP camera in front. The video's produced flow well which is a best feature like other tablets in the market.
The pictures clicked through these cameras provide clear images and users will have a better experience while handling these stuffs. Taking great shots or videos with the 5MP camera and HD camcorder on the HTC Flyer is easy and reaches the target soon.
As life happens on both sides of the screen, cameras are built for capturing a user’s vision of the world in HD. The front-facing camera is for capturing the expressions in video chat.
Lenovo IdeaPad K1
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| Lenovo IdeaPad K1 |
The IdeaPad is a 10.1inch device that is stylish enough which makes any user feel taking photos with it. Its 2 MP camera in front is great for video chat and has got a 5 MP rear camera. This tablet is available at the price of Rs.15,586 and features cameras, complete with LED flash.
K1 also uses Google’s default camera app. Using this tablet for video calls also helps users to interact with others in a face to face interaction. Taking pictures or video can record at 720p with your tablet.
For sharp and clear picture, users choose the K1 tablet to enjoy the precious moments of everyday life.
Motorola Xoom
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| Motorola Xoom |
It is a10 inch device and Xoom features a 2 MP front-facing camera for video chat. It has got a 5 MP rear camera with dual LED flash and comes in a Wi-Fi or 3G mode. It is available at the price of Rs. 35,000.
Shooting in daylight gives you image quality and helps in getting clear photos. The rear camera produces good looking photos and more pleasant to use. Video covered gives a nice feel and it can shoot 720p with a display of this size. The included Movie Studio software allows a user to easily edit his creations.
Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing platform
The next version of Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing platform is so advanced that it will be able to read your lips and sense your mood. The Kinect device released for the next Xbox console will offer improved motion sensing and voice recognition, including the ability to lip read, detect emotions such as anger, and determine player direction. The price of this is Rs. 5,142.
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| MICROSOFT KINECT MOTION |
Developer source says the next Kinect can even track the pitch and volume of player voices. The new capabilities stem from a higher-resolution camera built into the new devices, as well as more onboard processing power and faster networking hardware which will take the system beyond standard USB.
The next version of Kinect will be able to read lips to interpret what a user is saying, as well as take an estimate of the mood by the volume and tone of your voice, as well as analyze his facial expressions.
Tech and Gadget Wars
Many gadgets were born and have evolved over the past few decades, while many are dead and gone away. It is a cliché that, gadgets that have created a revolution will always be remembered while the ones that did not make mark will always be forgotten. Hence it becomes a battle for all gadgets. Take the battle between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD champs from a few years ago. Most people now use Blu-Ray to watch movies and not too many people even remember HD-DVD. The most famous battle right now is the Kindle versus the Nook.
Here are the famous battles of all the time.
1. Laserdisc vs DVD
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| LASERDISC Vs DVD |
The Laserdisc format made its debut in 1978. It was the first commercially available optical disc storage medium. It actually pre-dates the DVD market by almost 18 years.
DVD has much higher picture resolution than laserdisc. It also has higher density, meaning that a regular length movie will generally fit on one disc. Compare this to Laserdisc and the hassle of flipping the disc over. A major drawback for the format, compared to even videotapes.
Laserdiscs were always more expensive to manufacture than videotapes and five times more than DVD. Laserdisc technology started to gain much more popularity with the advent of Dolby Digital sound but later DVD killed it.
2. Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD
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| BLUE RAYS Vs HD-DVD |
Sony came back with revenge in the early 2000s. The company offered up the Blu-ray disc its successor to the standard DVD. Toshiba’s offering, the HD-DVD, was cheaper, but offered less in the way of capacity. A number of high profile tech companies came out in support of their preferred format.
Blu-ray claimed Dell, HP, Panasonic, and Mitsubishi, among others. HD-DVD, meanwhile had Sanyo, Intel, Microsoft, RCA, and a few more. Sony eventually won this round.
3. Playstation 3 vs Xbox 360 vs WII
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| PLAYSTATION 3 Vs XBOX 360 Vs WII |
The console wars continue to rage on. Ever since the PlayStation 3 arrived on the market to challenge the Xbox 360 in 2006, gamers have argued about the merits of each system. Even as console-exclusive game titles have become less and less common, gamers remain convinced that their system of choice is the superior one.
Deciding between the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360 can be a difficult task. While all three systems are vastly superior to the next generation of videogame consoles, they are also far more different from each other than ever before.
4. Nook vs Kindle
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| NOOK Vs KINDLE |
The battle of e-reader rages on today. The two big fighters, Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes and Noble’s Nook are still in the battle field. But as of now the two e-readers have different fighting strategy.
The Kindle’s readability is arguably superior to the Nook, but the Nook boasts a color screen option and just unleashed its latest attack with full internet browsing capability. These two e-readers are challenging in their own way to be the best one. But the time has not yet to decide which e-reader is out on top.
5. Zune vs iPod
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| ZUNE Vs IPOD |
Microsoft rolled out Zune in 2006, making an attempt to competitive with Apple which has been producing iPod since 2001. The Apple iPod is a high-capacity MP3 player, with a rich legacy dating back to 2001. Its rival, the Microsoft Zune, stepped on the scene and was promptly cast as an ugly duckling. In its latest incarnation, the Zune, Microsoft has finally presented a worthy challenger to the iPod dynasty.
When it comes down to the best, the Zune is dominating with features that Apple simply does not seem interested in. But loaded with many features zune looses over iPod, because many users are the zune’s performance was dull both in terms of unit sales and functionality. In October 2011 Microsoft announced that it would no longer support zune and would instead focus on its smartphone. It seems to indicate that Apple is already victorious.
6. Sega Genesis vs Super Nintendo
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| SEGA GENESIS Vs SUPER NINTENDO |
When Nintendo first introduced its 8-bit home system, it took the market by storm. The term NES quickly became a household word. By 1989, over 20 million people owned a Nintendo Entertainment System. Nintendo dominated the video game industry.
Then, the era of 16-bit machines began. While the Turbografx-16 even today seems to loom in the shadows, the advent of Sonic the Hedgehog video game brought new followers by the millions to the Sega Genesis. Sega quickly became a true competitor to Super Nintendo.
Sales began to decreasing for Nintendo as people lost interest in the 8-bit gaming console. Then Nintendo after years of eager anticipation by consumers finally released its own 16-bit system, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Meanwhile, however, many had decided that they could not wait. Sega had proved themselves worthy, and sales skyrocketed in the lag time.
7. Betamax vs VHS (Video Tapes)
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| BETAMAX Vs VHS |
Sony's Betamax video standard was introduced in 1975, followed a year later by JVC's VHS. For around a decade the two standards battled for dominance, with VHS eventually emerging as the winner.
The victory was not due to any technical superiority because Betamax is arguably a better format by several factors. Exactly how and why VHS won the war has been the subject of intense debate. The commonly-held belief is that the technically superior Betamax was beaten by VHS through slick marketing.
In fact the truth is more complex and there were a number of reasons for the outcome. VHS was not only cheaper but it provided two hours of recording time on each tape, compared to Beta’s one hour of recording capacity. The huge success of VHS spelled a rapid death for Betamax by 1988 conceded and began producing VHS player.
November 29, 2011
MTS, RCom and Tata Docomo to Launch Curve 9350
Research In Motion (RIM) has joined hands with CDMA operators MTS, Tata Docomo and RCom to launch a BlackBerry 7 OS Smartphone — the Curve 9350, in India on December 1. BlackBerry 7 OS based Smartphone Curve 9350 will be available to Indian users from December 1, bundled with MTS, Tata Docomo and RCom connections.
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| Blackberry Curve 9350 |
The three operators will come out with special data plans for Curve 9350 when they launch it. Though the release date is mentioned, the price of the device is not yet revealed.
The BlackBerry Curve 9350 is the first CDMA-based BlackBerry 7 Smartphone to be launched in India. It is ergonomically designed with a comfortable and iconic keyboard for fast, accurate typing, and has an optical trackpad for easy, one-handed navigation.
On the connectivity, it has GPS and WiFi support. It also has a 5 megapixel camera with flash and video recording which can directly be shared on social networks. Curve 9350 has an internal memory of 512 MB and supports up to 32 GB memory cards for additional media storage.
BlackBerry Curve 9350 includes built-in support for Augmented Reality where users can use the Wikitude application to find nearby BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) contacts in real-time.
In the past, RCom had come out with an impressive bundled plan and even offered handsets virtually for free if subscribers agreed to use a particular tariff plan for a particular time period. We can expect the same offering been given to RCom's Curve 9350 users. MTS has confirmed the availability of Curve 9350 on its network, but has not disclosed the launch date and tariff plans for the Smartphone.
Top 5 Tablets for Students
The tablet PC can be said as an evolution. This is a PC's miniature which can be used anywhere and anytime. They have great demand among the professionals, students, travelers who liked to be connected to the people, their friends and families all the time.
The tablets are very useful for students. Whether it’s for reading text books, using specially-designed educational apps or just consuming web and social media contact, a tablet can be a valuable part of a student, while they might seem like pure entertainment devices, tablets are versatile enough to serve multiple functions.
Here are the top tablets for students.
Apple iPad 2
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| Apple IPad |
Apple iPad 2 is the most popular in tablet market with the thin and sleek design makes it an eye-catching computing device. It has a dual-core processor inside gives it enough horsepower to handle many resource-intense tasks.
This tablet is famous for its software compression and acceleration. They are of best quality when compared to any other tablet. It is easy to use. The most interesting applications are available in the iOS when compared to Android or Honeycomb.
The dual cameras of 5MP Rear and Front VGA, which allows high definition downloads and recording. The fast A5 processor is the attractive feature of this product. The hardware is not that pleasing but the best quality software used in this device places this on top in the chart. This is the thinner and lighter version of first gen iPad. The 9.7 inch LED-backlit touchscreen display and powered by Dual Core Processors makes it work faster.
Asus Eee Pad Transformer
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| Asus Eee Pad |
Asus Eee Pad Transformer is for those who love to use the portability of tablet but prefer to do their typing on a real keyboard. The Eee Pad has a 10.1 inch IPS multi-touch screen with a resolution of 1280x800. It is powered by 1GHz Dual Core Nvidia Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip processor, 1 GB of Ram and runs on Android 3.2 Honeycomb.
The optional docking keyboard features full QWERTY keys, trackpad, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI port and one SD card reader as well as an additional battery that increases overall battery life from 9.5 hours to 16 hours. It also has a 5MP rear and 1.2MP front-facing camera with HD Video recording.
Acer Iconia Tab A100
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| Acer Iconia Tab |
Acer Iconia Tab A100 has 7-inch Capacitive Touchscreen LCD Display. It runs on latest Android 3.0 Honeycomb Operating System and it is powered by 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core Processor.
It features 5 MP rear camera with auto focus LED flash and 2 MP front video calling camera, it also has social networking sites integration and Adobe Flash 10.1 Support, Bluetooth and HDMI Port. It also comes with internal 8 GB Storage, 512 MB DDR2 RAM, up to 32 GB expandable memory, Dolby mobile technology, Wi-Fi connectivity and micro USB data connectivity and standard 1530 mAh battery.
Lenovo IdeaPad K1
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| Lenovo IdeaPad |
Lenovo IdeaPad K1 looks like any other tablet from the front but unlike others it features a home button with LED displays on each side of it. The rear has a textured material loaded back panel that provides a good grip.
The IdeaPad K1 has a 10.1 inch capacitive touchscreen LCD display that supports 1280x800 pixel resolution. That means it is capable of running 720p HD video smoothly and it indeed runs it effortlessly. The touchscreen is capable of supporting multi-touch.
The dual-core 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 System-on-Chip mobile processor powers the tablet and is capable of even 1080p HD video recording. Lenovo has added a 1 GB DDR2 600 MHz RAM to support the dual-core processor in promising faster performance of the operating system.
Nook Color
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| Nook Color |
Nook Color features a 7 inch touchscreen IPS display with 1024x600 pixels of resolution, powered by 1 GHz TI OMAP4 dual core processor, 1 GB of RAM runs on Android Gingerbread OS. It also has 16 GB of internal storage capacity, external storage via MicroSD card slot and free cloud storage for books and magazines.
The tablet offers a Wi-Fi, USB and Bluetooth connectivity options. This tablet also completes the requirement of business purpose like office tools, eBook and PDF reader. The other feature includes support the adobe flash player and preloaded nook applications.
Jabra Launches Bluetooth Headset with Touch Sensors
Jabra, a GN Netcom brand, announced the launch of a Bluetooth headband HALO2. The HALO2 version features advanced Multiuse technology, enabling connection with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. It can be connected to non-Bluetooth music players as well via 3.5mm universal
audio jack cable bundled along. It is available at the price of Rs.6499.
Jabra HALO2 includes new features like AM3D Virtual Surround Sound (mimics multiple-speaker-sound that seems to come from various directions) with Power Bass, best-in-class digital signal processing (DSP) and proprietary Noise Blackout technology with dual microphones for crisp and clear music and call experience.
It has touch sensor that lets users adjust volume with the swipe of a finger besides a one-touch button to answer / end calls, skip tracks and play / pause songs. All of this can be done without touching or taking out the phone or the music player from the pocket or the bag.
The ear-pieces are cushioned with velvet and it comes in metallic colour as well for comfort. It has a discreet extension at both the ends to suit different head sizes. Its battery lasts for 8 hours and has a standby time of 13 days. It displays the battery as well as Bluetooth connectivity status clearly such that users get to know when to charge the headband or when the pairing is weak. Apple-certified version of the product is also available for iPod, iPhone and iPad users.
audio jack cable bundled along. It is available at the price of Rs.6499.
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| Jabra Bluetooth headset |
Jabra HALO2 includes new features like AM3D Virtual Surround Sound (mimics multiple-speaker-sound that seems to come from various directions) with Power Bass, best-in-class digital signal processing (DSP) and proprietary Noise Blackout technology with dual microphones for crisp and clear music and call experience.
It has touch sensor that lets users adjust volume with the swipe of a finger besides a one-touch button to answer / end calls, skip tracks and play / pause songs. All of this can be done without touching or taking out the phone or the music player from the pocket or the bag.
The ear-pieces are cushioned with velvet and it comes in metallic colour as well for comfort. It has a discreet extension at both the ends to suit different head sizes. Its battery lasts for 8 hours and has a standby time of 13 days. It displays the battery as well as Bluetooth connectivity status clearly such that users get to know when to charge the headband or when the pairing is weak. Apple-certified version of the product is also available for iPod, iPhone and iPad users.
Top 5 Wi-Fi Plus 3G Phones Under 10,000
Phones have been packed with enormous features concentrating more on the needs of end users. Now there are mobile phones featuring Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity for the lowest price in the market. Users opt more on such phones in order to download videos and many more.
Through 3G connectivity one can access fast internet to get needed information. Here are 5 phones which has both features that makes it a more adorable by the users in the trend existing.
Micromax Q80
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| MICROMAX Q80 |
The Q80 is a Smartphone, but it has a marked improvement over the Q75 and with added 3G and Wi-Fi support for almost the same price, offers really good value. The Java-based phone comes with a host of built in apps like Nimbuzz, Newshunt, Ngpay and Bloomberg.
It is available at the price of Rs.4,900. The keypad is fairly comfortable to type on and the optical trackpad is a change from the trackball used in the Q75. Overall it’s a good phone for the price with plenty of features to boot. The packed in features of the Q80 has a 2.4-inch TFT display with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution,3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi Bluetooth and USB 2.0.
It also has a 3 megapixel camera, a video capture up to 640 x 480 resolution, VGA resolution secondary camera, a 3.5mm earphone socket and an expandable memory up to 8GB.
Lava S12
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| LAVA S12 |
Lava S12 is certainly worth a phone to be chosen by the users. The phone sports a unique design and texture. Having a 600MHz processor and running a fancy 3D UI, the interface is pretty slick. Homescreens engages cool 3D transition effects that add to the visual appeal. It is available at the price of Rs.9,999.
The phone also comes pre-loaded with India specific apps like SAAVN and Times of India news app, among many others. It even has a decent camera, but lacks auto-focus. The battery life in the S12 will easily last you two days without a charge.
It features a 3.2 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a 480 x 320 pixel resolution, a 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi with hot spot creativity, GPS with A-GPS support, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and USB 2.0,
It has a 5 megapixel fixed-focus camera, video capture up to 640 x 480 resolution, 3.5mm earphone socket and an expandable memory up to 32GB.
Samsung Galaxy Fit S5670
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| SAMSUNG GALAXY FIT S5670 |
The Galaxy Fit from Samsung is another phone with a slightly larger screen and runs on Android 2.2. The bundled music player features DNSe sound enhancements along with SWYPE pre-installed. The phone also features a 5MP auto-focus camera with plenty of settings to choose from like Shot Mode, Photo Effects Smile Detection, etc.
With a price of Rs.9,100, Samsung has also provided its TouchWiz 3.0 UI, which makes the phone simpler to use with plenty of shortcuts and tweaks. Other main features of the Fit are its 3.3 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution, 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi with hot spot creativity, GPS with A-GPS support, and a Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and USB 2.0.
It is packed with a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, video capture up to 320 x 240 resolution, 3.5mm earphone socket and an expandable memory up to 32GB.
Nokia E5
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| NOKIA E5 |
The Nokia E5 is one of the best phones under 10K and fits in for user needs. With both 3G and Wi-Fi support, the Symbian v9.3 running Smartphone sports a very comfortable QWERTY keypad and a simple functional design. It is available at the price of Rs.8,700.
Some of the features include the audio quality, which is crisp and loud, a good selection of productivity apps. A very good battery life that makes most Nokia handsets a worth product. Other features includes a 2.3 inch TFT display with a 240 x 320 pixel resolution, 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS support.
It also features a Bluetooth v2 with A2DP and USB 2.0, a 5 megapixel fixed-focus camera, video capture up to 640 x 480 resolution and a 3.5mm earphone socket with an expandable memory up to 32GB.
Micromax A70
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| MICROMAX A70 |
This one is a Smartphone, and a rather good one for the users who are selective. The A70 has a 600MHz processor, and the phone is quick and fluid to use. The handset is comfortable to use and sports a decent 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a 480 x 320 pixel resolution that responds well to touch. It is available at the price of Rs.6200 .
The battery life gives much back up, and the phone runs on Froyo. It features expandable memory up to 32GB, and has a front facing camera. It comes pre loaded with a bunch of useful apps. It has 3G, EDGE/GPRS, Wi-Fi with hot spot creativity, GPS with A-GPS support, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP and USB 2.0.
It is also packed with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, video capture up to 640 x 480 resolution, VGA resolution secondary camera, and a 3.5mm earphone socket.
Fujitsu Unveils Arrows F-07D Slimmest Smartphone
Fujitsu is going to push Razr aside and take the crown of the slimmest Android Smartphone with its Arrows F-07D handset. The Fujitsu Arrows F-07D Smartphone was measured to have just 6.7mm thickness. The release date and price are not revealed yet but will be available in 2012.
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F-07D Smartphone |
Fujitsu Arrows F-07D features a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processor which is coupled with 512 MB RAM to power the Android 2.3.x Gingerbread operating system. Arrows have a 4 inch OLED display which is built using the Gorilla Glass technology and also will be splash-proof.
The screen will offer 854x480 pixel resolution and 1 GB storage for keeping your apps intact. This Smartphone has a 5 megapixel camera at the rear and for physical connectivity there will be micro HDMI along with micro USB. The Fujitsu Arrows F-07D will remain exclusive to Japan region with NTT Docomo telecom operating exclusivity.
November 28, 2011
Kanimozhi granted bail by Delhi high court in 2G case
DMK MP Kanimozhi was on Monday granted bail by the Delhi high court in the 2G case. Apart from Kanimozhi, the other accused who have been granted bail include Cineyug founder Karim Morani, Kalaignar TV's MD Sharath Kumar, Kusegaon directors Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal. However, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura was denied bail.
The apex court had earlier granted bail to five corporte honchos in the case.
On Friday, the court had adjouorned the bail hearing to Monday.
The court had sought a clarification from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the defence on Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC saying the Supreme Court judgement granting bail to five corporate executives was silent on a charge that attracts maximum punishment of life term in the case.
Justice VK Shali heard the day-long arguments on the bail applications of Kanimozhi, Kalaignar TV chief Sharad Kumar, Cineyug Films' Karim Morani, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Asif Balwa and Rajiv B Agarwal and former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura.
"The Supreme Court judgement does not mention Section 409. I am not saying that the apex court was ignorant of the fact but it is silent on the issue," said Justice Shali.
"The day the order (on bail) was passed, charges were crystallised in the trial court and it cannot be said that this fact was not known to the Hon'ble Supreme Court."
Justice Shali referred to the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case and said it talked about maximum sentence of seven years which could be awarded to accused (corporate accused) if they are convicted.
Responding to the query of the judge, senior advocate Altaf Ahmed, who appeared for Kanimozhi, said the apex court was aware of charges framed also under Section 409 of the IPC and its order is binding on all courts.
Meanwhile, the CBI did not oppose the bail pleas of Kanimozhi and four others saying they were private persons.
However, it opposed Behura's plea saying being a public servant he misused his position.
The six co-accused had moved the court on Wednesday for early hearing of their bail applications after the Supreme Court granted bail to five corporate executives co-accused in the case -- Sanjay Chandra of Unitech Wireless, Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom and Reliance Group's Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair.
Following this, the pleas of the MP and the five others which were scheduled to have been heard on Dec 1 in the Delhi high court were brought forward to Friday.
After CBI Special Court Judge O.P. Saini rejected their bail pleas on Nov 3, they moved the high court on Nov 5. The special court dismissed their bail pleas despite the investigating agency not opposing their applications.
Counsel for Kanimozhi told the high court that the special court wrongly made a distinction between women belonging to various classes of society even when the provision did not seek to do that.
"Besides, the apex court had in June granted her the liberty to apply for bail after charges were framed in the case," she said.
During the hearing, the CBI read out a portion of the Supreme Court order granting bail to five corporate executives who are co-accused in the 2G case.
Behura was arrested along with former telecom minister A. Raja Feb 2, and since then he is languishing in Tihar Jail. Asif Balwa and Agarwal are in judicial custody since March 29.
On May 20, Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar were also named as co-accused and sent to judicial custody. Ten days later Morani also joined them in jail.
The apex court had earlier granted bail to five corporte honchos in the case.
On Friday, the court had adjouorned the bail hearing to Monday.
The court had sought a clarification from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the defence on Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC saying the Supreme Court judgement granting bail to five corporate executives was silent on a charge that attracts maximum punishment of life term in the case.
Justice VK Shali heard the day-long arguments on the bail applications of Kanimozhi, Kalaignar TV chief Sharad Kumar, Cineyug Films' Karim Morani, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Asif Balwa and Rajiv B Agarwal and former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura.
"The Supreme Court judgement does not mention Section 409. I am not saying that the apex court was ignorant of the fact but it is silent on the issue," said Justice Shali.
"The day the order (on bail) was passed, charges were crystallised in the trial court and it cannot be said that this fact was not known to the Hon'ble Supreme Court."
Justice Shali referred to the judgement of the Supreme Court in the case and said it talked about maximum sentence of seven years which could be awarded to accused (corporate accused) if they are convicted.
Responding to the query of the judge, senior advocate Altaf Ahmed, who appeared for Kanimozhi, said the apex court was aware of charges framed also under Section 409 of the IPC and its order is binding on all courts.
Meanwhile, the CBI did not oppose the bail pleas of Kanimozhi and four others saying they were private persons.
However, it opposed Behura's plea saying being a public servant he misused his position.
The six co-accused had moved the court on Wednesday for early hearing of their bail applications after the Supreme Court granted bail to five corporate executives co-accused in the case -- Sanjay Chandra of Unitech Wireless, Vinod Goenka of Swan Telecom and Reliance Group's Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair.
Following this, the pleas of the MP and the five others which were scheduled to have been heard on Dec 1 in the Delhi high court were brought forward to Friday.
After CBI Special Court Judge O.P. Saini rejected their bail pleas on Nov 3, they moved the high court on Nov 5. The special court dismissed their bail pleas despite the investigating agency not opposing their applications.
Counsel for Kanimozhi told the high court that the special court wrongly made a distinction between women belonging to various classes of society even when the provision did not seek to do that.
"Besides, the apex court had in June granted her the liberty to apply for bail after charges were framed in the case," she said.
During the hearing, the CBI read out a portion of the Supreme Court order granting bail to five corporate executives who are co-accused in the 2G case.
Behura was arrested along with former telecom minister A. Raja Feb 2, and since then he is languishing in Tihar Jail. Asif Balwa and Agarwal are in judicial custody since March 29.
On May 20, Kanimozhi and Sharad Kumar were also named as co-accused and sent to judicial custody. Ten days later Morani also joined them in jail.
Nokia to Launch its First Tablet
Mobile maker Nokia has stepped into the tablet market by announcing its first windows 8 tablet to be launched in June 2012.
Paul Amsellem, head of Nokia France, said, "In June 2012 we will have a tablet running windows 8." He also mentioned updates about Nokia's plans for the Windows Phone smartphone platform as well and we can soon expect Nokia to launch powerful, smarter smartphones under the Nokia Lumia product range.
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| Nokia's First Tablet |
While, not much information about the hardware specification of the new device were revealed but the device expected to feature a new 1.4 Ghz processor with 1 GB of RAM along with the regular fanfare from Nokia.
Going by the recent trend, Indian Nokia fans can also expect the device at around the same time as the rest of the world.
Apple Chooses Sharp for New iPad 3 Screens
Apple has announced that it will not be placing orders with Samsung for the new iPad 3 touch screens. Apple has decided to go with Sharp for the new LCD screens. The relationship involves Apple investing in some of Sharp's Japanese manufacturing facilities. Specifically, Sharp's Kameyama No. 2 plant in central Japan is tipped to manufacturer LCD panels for Apple's next iPad expected in 2012.
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| Apple IPad |
LG Prada K2 Coming in 2012
LG and Italian fashion label Prada has will introduce a new smartphone, LG Prada K2 in 2012.
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LG PRADA |
The LG Prada K2 handset will have a 4.3 inch NOVA display and a dual-core processor. However, LG has not revealed actual specifications of the handset.
Both companies had worked together earlier for the first LG Prada phone that was released in 2007 to compete with the original first generation Apple iPhone. The second phone was the LG Prada II smartphone with slide out QWERTY keyboard and 3G support in the year 2008. The LG Prada II ran LG's own custom operating system instead of Windows Mobile or Android.
The LG Prada K2 handset will have company's super-bright NOVA display with maximum brightness. That will give competition to the Nokia 701 handset which is claimed to have 1000 nits brightness as well.
The LG Prada K2 will come with Android 2.3.x Gingerbread running on it and a dual-core processor. Obviously the smartphone will come with Prada styling.
So far, the company has not committed an exact date of launch or revealed anything on pricing. We just hope that this smartphone be upgradable to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich if it launches next year.
Motorola Droid 4 to Launch on December 8
Bangalore: Motorola Droid 4 named, Maserati is expected to launch on December 8 in the U.S. The handset will have 4 inch Super Amoled display and a slide-out five-row illuminating QWERTY keyboard that will make the keyboard visible even in darkness and low luminance areas.
Anna Hazare gets MCD nod for Ramlila Maidan stir
NEW DELHI: In a clear indication that Team Anna is unlikely to be satisfied by the recommendation of the parliamentary standing committee looking into the Lokpal bill and is planning to launch a fresh offensive, the activists have already sought permission from civic authorities to stage protests at Ramlila Maidan from December 27 besides holding rallies against a weak Lokpal from Monday.
Sources said Gandhian Anna Hazare has been given permission by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to protest at the Ramlila Maidan. The activists had applied to MCD two days ago for allocation of the ground, where Hazare had held a protest fast in August. Sources said permission had been sought to hold the protest from December 27 to January 5.
"We will hold the protest and it will be led by Hazare. It is not clear whether it will be a fast but there will be some form of agitation," a senior Team Anna member said.
The MCD permission is subject to a no-objection certificate from the police.
Team Anna has been adamant on the inclusion lower bureaucracy, citizens' charter and the PM within the ambit of the Lokpal. The report of the standing committee is expected by the middle of this week.
Hazare had earlier announced that he would re-launch the agitation on December 22 at the end of the winter session of Parliament if a strong Lokpal bill was not passed.
Sources said Gandhian Anna Hazare has been given permission by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to protest at the Ramlila Maidan. The activists had applied to MCD two days ago for allocation of the ground, where Hazare had held a protest fast in August. Sources said permission had been sought to hold the protest from December 27 to January 5.
"We will hold the protest and it will be led by Hazare. It is not clear whether it will be a fast but there will be some form of agitation," a senior Team Anna member said.
The MCD permission is subject to a no-objection certificate from the police.
Team Anna has been adamant on the inclusion lower bureaucracy, citizens' charter and the PM within the ambit of the Lokpal. The report of the standing committee is expected by the middle of this week.
Hazare had earlier announced that he would re-launch the agitation on December 22 at the end of the winter session of Parliament if a strong Lokpal bill was not passed.
November 26, 2011
Top 10 reasons why Darth Vader was an amazing project manager
The Sith Lord Darth Vader, of Star Wars fame, often gets a bad rap, particularly in what we all think of as his ‘dark years.’
From a certain perspective his mass murder, brutal oppression, and frequent deception to serve his own ends makes him seem like a pretty bad guy. But if you look past all that to his action, you will find a very capable and effective project manager.
In the name of finding silver linings in dark clouds, I’d like to present the top 10 reasons why Darth Vader was an amazing project manager.
Number 10: Vader prioritized brutally. Over the course of Vader’s pursuit of the Rebel Alliance, you see him set and pursue priorities according to their strategic value. When he knew the plans for the Death Star had been leaked, he focused on mitigating that risk. When Luke came on the scene, he shifted priorities to recruit him to the Dark Side! Vader paid close attention to the happenings of the galaxy, evaluated the impacts of any given issue, and went after the highest priorities…time after time. No emotional attachments, no personal agendas…just the right thing to do to preserve the Imperium, and see his project through to successful completion. In project management, if you can’t prioritize, you won’t get anything done, let alone anything done well.
Number 9: Vader made decisions based on objective data, not whims. Remember that Imperial officer who had to report to Vader that they had lost Han Solo in the asteroid field, and he choked him? That was some decisive action! Vader consistently evaluated the performance of his team, and made changes to fix problems when the team didn’t perform. Sure, there may have been some fear and terror, but put all that aside. The inclination to objectively evaluate the performance of your team and not accept substandard performance is an important one. Project teams needs to feel safe and supported, but they also need to know that the project goals need to get met, and if you aren’t delivering on your commitments, changes need to get made. Thank you, Vader, for making tough choices to accomplish your goals!
Number 8: Vader made commitments, and worked hard to keep them. If you think of the Galactic Empire as something of a SCRUM project, the Emperor would have to be playing the Product Owner role. Of course, in SCRUM/Agile, the team makes commitments to achieve predefined goals over the course of any given sprint or iteration. Darth did this with the Emperor many times, and he worked REAL hard to make sure those commitments were met. I mean, how did he manage to get that second Death Star operational so quickly anyway? Hard work, that’s how. Vader understood the importance of commitments, and more importantly, the significance of fulfilling them. Trust in teams is built on commitments.
Number 7: Vader took time to re-charge, relax, and get some perspective. Projects and the achievement of project goals can often feel like super-high stakes. Everyone on the team is motivated to solve the problem, and get to done. Conflict is inevitable in that kind of environment, and a good project manager needs to get in there and confront those issues head-on. Of course, this can be exhausting, emotionally and intellectually. Vader understood this, and was careful to take time out of his busy project schedule to relax, meditate, and give himself room to gain some perspective about what was really important. Remember that awesome rehab egg thing he had in his quarters? Good project managers care, and they need to express that care, but they also need to maintain objectivity, which means they need to give themselves the time and space to regain perspective.
Number 6: Vader managed risk and expectations…pre-emptively. Remember that time when Darth Vader went to Cloud City, bought off the management, then lured Han, Leia, and Chewbacca into a trap? Genius. The amount of planning and forethought that went in to that little exercise must have been epic. After some serious prioritizations, Vader perceived the highest risk to his Galaxy, and made a plan to mitigate the risk stat! Additionally, you saw him having conversations with team members all over the place making sure they understood clearly what his expectations were with regards to the achievement of goals. Good project managers think about their projects defensively, and act to protect them aggressively.
Number 5: Such a persuasive fellow. Of all Vader’s substantial capabilities, perhaps his most effective one was his ability to persuade people to do what he needed done. With the exception of his own kids (in his defense, have you ever tried to get your kids to do something?), he did a pretty great job of getting people to cooperate (whether through fear, obligation, or The Force!). The Imperium was so enormous, so full of complexities…it must have been a serious challenge to navigate that and convince people that his vision of the project was one that they could all get behind.
Number 4: Vader picked a methodology and stuck with it…until it didn’t work. In keeping with the commitment to objectivity in performance, Vader picked his methodology of fear, manipulation, and aggression, and stuck with it, until it was clear that the methodology was not working anymore. Everyone knows that Vader betrayed his Emperor to save Luke from certain death upon Luke’s refusal to join the team in a certain role. Vader saw that his previous methods of fear and intimidation didn’t seem to work with Luke, or any of the rebels any longer. Boom! Change of tactics to get the job done.
Number 3: No problem is too big to tackle. Sure, Vader had an enormous skepticism that served him well in managing risk. All good project managers need that ability. But good project managers also have to be optimistic enough to push through tough challenges and look for solutions, however improbable their success. The point at which the Rebels had slipped off the imperial radar screen, and holed up on Hoth…Vader was feeling pretty lost at that point, you know? Where the devil had those pesky rebels gone off to? How the bantha poodoo was Vader going to find them in the enormity of the galaxy? What is that? Send out thousands of spy droids to random planets and see what turns up? Low probability of success, but still better than zero? Done! Vader’s optimism and confidence in his team’s ability to overcome all obstacles is an excellent lesson in persistence.
Number 2: It is never too late to do the right thing. Everyone is presented with choices that have questionable moral consequences. The right thing is almost always something to be wrestled with. One of the most profound moments in Vader’s career came when he took responsibility for all the morally wrong things he did, and did the right thing. He never thought it could atone, but he did the right thing anyway. Project managers will make thousands of choices in the course of a project…some of which may be of questionable moral fiber including the omissions of details, avoided conversations, hidden pieces of data all to paint a better picture of the project. Good project managers will take the time to reflect on their choices, and re-make the choices they don’t feel good about. The right thing is crucial to trust on a team, even if the right thing is a hard thing.
Number 1: Vader was never afraid of getting his hands dirty. Every project will have boundaries drawn around the responsibilities of specific roles being played, and Vader knew his own role in the imperial project. But he never asked anyone to do anything that he wasn’t willing to do himself, and he made sure he had a clear understanding and appreciation for the hard things that his team had to execute on. This, I think, is what made Vader better than just good. No detail was overlooked. He didn’t micro-manage, necessarily. He got involved in the work of the project, and his team followed him because they knew he understood and was invested in the project’s success! Whether he was force-choking a non-performing admiral, or flying a tie-fighter, he contributed to the team’s success anyway he could.
From a certain perspective his mass murder, brutal oppression, and frequent deception to serve his own ends makes him seem like a pretty bad guy. But if you look past all that to his action, you will find a very capable and effective project manager.
In the name of finding silver linings in dark clouds, I’d like to present the top 10 reasons why Darth Vader was an amazing project manager.
Number 10: Vader prioritized brutally. Over the course of Vader’s pursuit of the Rebel Alliance, you see him set and pursue priorities according to their strategic value. When he knew the plans for the Death Star had been leaked, he focused on mitigating that risk. When Luke came on the scene, he shifted priorities to recruit him to the Dark Side! Vader paid close attention to the happenings of the galaxy, evaluated the impacts of any given issue, and went after the highest priorities…time after time. No emotional attachments, no personal agendas…just the right thing to do to preserve the Imperium, and see his project through to successful completion. In project management, if you can’t prioritize, you won’t get anything done, let alone anything done well.
Number 9: Vader made decisions based on objective data, not whims. Remember that Imperial officer who had to report to Vader that they had lost Han Solo in the asteroid field, and he choked him? That was some decisive action! Vader consistently evaluated the performance of his team, and made changes to fix problems when the team didn’t perform. Sure, there may have been some fear and terror, but put all that aside. The inclination to objectively evaluate the performance of your team and not accept substandard performance is an important one. Project teams needs to feel safe and supported, but they also need to know that the project goals need to get met, and if you aren’t delivering on your commitments, changes need to get made. Thank you, Vader, for making tough choices to accomplish your goals!
Number 8: Vader made commitments, and worked hard to keep them. If you think of the Galactic Empire as something of a SCRUM project, the Emperor would have to be playing the Product Owner role. Of course, in SCRUM/Agile, the team makes commitments to achieve predefined goals over the course of any given sprint or iteration. Darth did this with the Emperor many times, and he worked REAL hard to make sure those commitments were met. I mean, how did he manage to get that second Death Star operational so quickly anyway? Hard work, that’s how. Vader understood the importance of commitments, and more importantly, the significance of fulfilling them. Trust in teams is built on commitments.
Number 7: Vader took time to re-charge, relax, and get some perspective. Projects and the achievement of project goals can often feel like super-high stakes. Everyone on the team is motivated to solve the problem, and get to done. Conflict is inevitable in that kind of environment, and a good project manager needs to get in there and confront those issues head-on. Of course, this can be exhausting, emotionally and intellectually. Vader understood this, and was careful to take time out of his busy project schedule to relax, meditate, and give himself room to gain some perspective about what was really important. Remember that awesome rehab egg thing he had in his quarters? Good project managers care, and they need to express that care, but they also need to maintain objectivity, which means they need to give themselves the time and space to regain perspective.
Number 6: Vader managed risk and expectations…pre-emptively. Remember that time when Darth Vader went to Cloud City, bought off the management, then lured Han, Leia, and Chewbacca into a trap? Genius. The amount of planning and forethought that went in to that little exercise must have been epic. After some serious prioritizations, Vader perceived the highest risk to his Galaxy, and made a plan to mitigate the risk stat! Additionally, you saw him having conversations with team members all over the place making sure they understood clearly what his expectations were with regards to the achievement of goals. Good project managers think about their projects defensively, and act to protect them aggressively.
Number 5: Such a persuasive fellow. Of all Vader’s substantial capabilities, perhaps his most effective one was his ability to persuade people to do what he needed done. With the exception of his own kids (in his defense, have you ever tried to get your kids to do something?), he did a pretty great job of getting people to cooperate (whether through fear, obligation, or The Force!). The Imperium was so enormous, so full of complexities…it must have been a serious challenge to navigate that and convince people that his vision of the project was one that they could all get behind.
Number 4: Vader picked a methodology and stuck with it…until it didn’t work. In keeping with the commitment to objectivity in performance, Vader picked his methodology of fear, manipulation, and aggression, and stuck with it, until it was clear that the methodology was not working anymore. Everyone knows that Vader betrayed his Emperor to save Luke from certain death upon Luke’s refusal to join the team in a certain role. Vader saw that his previous methods of fear and intimidation didn’t seem to work with Luke, or any of the rebels any longer. Boom! Change of tactics to get the job done.
Number 3: No problem is too big to tackle. Sure, Vader had an enormous skepticism that served him well in managing risk. All good project managers need that ability. But good project managers also have to be optimistic enough to push through tough challenges and look for solutions, however improbable their success. The point at which the Rebels had slipped off the imperial radar screen, and holed up on Hoth…Vader was feeling pretty lost at that point, you know? Where the devil had those pesky rebels gone off to? How the bantha poodoo was Vader going to find them in the enormity of the galaxy? What is that? Send out thousands of spy droids to random planets and see what turns up? Low probability of success, but still better than zero? Done! Vader’s optimism and confidence in his team’s ability to overcome all obstacles is an excellent lesson in persistence.
Number 2: It is never too late to do the right thing. Everyone is presented with choices that have questionable moral consequences. The right thing is almost always something to be wrestled with. One of the most profound moments in Vader’s career came when he took responsibility for all the morally wrong things he did, and did the right thing. He never thought it could atone, but he did the right thing anyway. Project managers will make thousands of choices in the course of a project…some of which may be of questionable moral fiber including the omissions of details, avoided conversations, hidden pieces of data all to paint a better picture of the project. Good project managers will take the time to reflect on their choices, and re-make the choices they don’t feel good about. The right thing is crucial to trust on a team, even if the right thing is a hard thing.
Number 1: Vader was never afraid of getting his hands dirty. Every project will have boundaries drawn around the responsibilities of specific roles being played, and Vader knew his own role in the imperial project. But he never asked anyone to do anything that he wasn’t willing to do himself, and he made sure he had a clear understanding and appreciation for the hard things that his team had to execute on. This, I think, is what made Vader better than just good. No detail was overlooked. He didn’t micro-manage, necessarily. He got involved in the work of the project, and his team followed him because they knew he understood and was invested in the project’s success! Whether he was force-choking a non-performing admiral, or flying a tie-fighter, he contributed to the team’s success anyway he could.
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