How an Android phone can change your life?

In the past few months several mobile devices have en mass taken to Google's mobile operating system and launched Android-enabled handsets. In this season of heavy activity around Android phones, comes the big announcement of the launch of version 2.0 of the operating system, also code-named Eclair.

A number of enhancements have been added to the previous version including the much talked-about multi-touch feature and sync. Here's how the Android can up your tech quotient with these new capabilities:

* Communicate instantly by tapping on the contact, and choosing from all available communication options (Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, etc)

* Availability of an accounts management API to store centrally account-credential information on the device

* Supports devices with various screen sizes and resolutions, with three different screens of each of the applications

* Multiple email account synchronization, that combines all account into a single email inbox with option of exchange support

* New virtual keyboard layout for faster and more accurate typing. The multi-touch ensures that all keys pressed during typing are not skipped.

* Bluetooth API allows the device to connect to other nearby devices. This capabilities includes the integration of features of social-interaction and P2P communication

* Improved camera controls with digital zoom, a scene mode, white balance controls, macro focus and colour effects

* Upgraded search and navigation features, with the addition of text and multimedia message search.

Now, you can get your hands on the Android 2.0 version through Verizon's Motorola Droid, which was released today and among the first phones to implement the Android 2.0 version. Alternatively you can also download the Android 2.0 software development kit and experience its features through an emulator.

SOURCE:- in.news.yahoo.com

MBA Remains Strong, Despite Economic Meltdown

The number of applications to MBA Institutes this year has risen by a staggering amount. To put it simply, the increase is as sharp as 65%.

Given the high investment of both time and money that an MBA demands, the increase counter intuitive. Among various explanations, the one which seems most feasible is that professionals are looking at MBA as an opportunity for personal and professional growth. In an era where lay offs are commonplace, a 2 year stint in a good business school does seem like a good bet to outlast the recession and to rebound with great professional growth.

Another interesting trend is the dip in the number of Indians who have applied to US Business Schools for MBA Programs. This dip is accompanied by a spike in the number of applications by Indians to Business Schools in Canada & Europe. The change in preference is explained by an uncertain VISA scenario, coupled with the lack of financial assistance in the US. This is contrasted by a more welcoming outlook that Canada and European countries have (w.r.t. VISA) and better financial aid opportunities and most importantly, more affordable fees.

Whether it’s a good idea to enroll in a 2 year MBA or not, is a question that only time can answer. However, for the moment, it does seem like a really good bet!

Source:- gmat.learnhub.com

WORLD FOREX: Euro Hits 2-Month High Vs Yen On Higher Stocks

TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- The euro rose to a more-than two-month high of Y137.83 in Asia on Friday as stronger regional share markets prompted hedge funds and other short-term players to buy the risk-sensitive unit.

If equities in Europe and the U.S. also rally later, the common currency could end the week even higher, possibly reaching a four-month high of Y139.00, dealers said.

The high-yielding, risk-sensitive Australian dollar also rose against the yen, breaking Y85.00 for the first time in more than a year. Demand grew for the resource-linked Aussie on the view that further rises in oil prices presaged more gains in the broader commodity market, dealers said. December crude futures rose 47 cents to $81.66 per barrel, nearing a one-year high at $82.00.

“The rise in commodities has encouraged many investors to seek riskier assets today, and that has lifted the euro and Australian dollar against the yen," said Shinichi Hayashi, a senior dealer at Shinkin Central Bank.

That trend could persist throughout the day if European economic data and U.S. corporate earnings later come in strong, said Minoru Shioiri, chief manager of foreign exchange trading at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities.

Encouraging data and earnings would likely buoy share prices, prompting market participants to try to push the euro up to a more-than four month high around Y139.00, Shioiri said. At 0450 GMT, the euro traded hands at Y137.66 compared with Y137.20 late Thursday in New York.

The German Ifo business sentiment index for October, due at 0800 GMT, may rise to 96.2 from 95.7 in September, according to a Dow Jones Newswires poll. Players will also be watching the 0830 GMT release of the U.K.'s July-September gross domestic product, tipped up 0.1% on quarter. That would be the first such rise since the first quarter of 2008, likely supporting share markets to the benefit of the euro as well as the British pound, dealers said.

Positive U.S. corporate earnings could have the same effect, with the spotlight on Microsoft Corp.’s release due at the start of New York trade, said Shinkin Central Bank’s Hayashi.

“U.S. earnings have been comparatively good, and if they continue to be so, higher stocks could support further euro rises against the dollar as well," Hayashi said. The common currency hit $1.5061 in the morning session, renewing a 14-month high, and could do so again by rising to $1.5100 later in the global day, he said. At 0450 GMT, the euro stood at $1.5036 compared with $1.5031 late Thursday in New York.

Elsewhere, the dollar was at Y91.57 from Y91.28, as a slight rise in long-term U.S. interest rates overnight buoyed the greenback. But heavy selling by Japanese exporters is likely to cap any further rises above Y92, said Mitsubishi UFJ Securities’ Shioiri.

The Dollar Index, a trade-weighted basket of six currencies, was at 75.07, unchanged from late Thursday in New York.

SOURCE:- www.marketwatch.com By Andrew Monahan

Delta's TOEFL® Test cd downloads

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Drastic Decrease In Number of GRE Takers in India

The global financial meltdown, coupled with racial attacks against Indian students have impacted the net number of GRE takers in India. Reports reveal that in 2008, 75,000 students appeared for the GRE, while in 2009, the number has slipped to around 55,000 only. This figure is comparable to the number of GRE takers in China. Overall, it is believed that students are worried about future prospects and therefore not very keen about studying abroad.

The student sentiment is one of apprehension, with a majority fearing that they won’t have the opportunity of settling down in the US. Students feel that it is necessary to work internationally for a few years after studying abroad, in order to recover the steep initial financial investment. Coaching institutes have felt this impact keenly, with a decline in the number of enrollments.
While redressal measures are few, it is noteworthy to mention that a number of orientation programs are on the cards, for encouraging Indian students for education in USA.

Source : - learnhub

GMAT Vs GRE: The Battle Continues

The Educational Testing Service (ETS), which administers the GRE, is taking aim at the lucrative business school market by pitching the GRE, which is used by a wider range of graduate schools, as an alternative to the GMAT. In September, ETS began placing advertisements in publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education with the message that MBA can stand for “More Business School Applicants” should B-schools choose to use the GRE.

ETS points out a handful of benefits to using the GRE: It has more test centers around the world, making the exam more accessible than the GMAT; it’s cheaper-$140 vs. the $250 GMAT fee that brought in a total of close to $80 million in revenue last year to GMAC; and its status as the general standardized test for other graduate programs could attract more of the applicants business schools are clamoring for-women, minorities, and candidates with liberal arts backgrounds.

Source : - learnhub.com

GMAT Vs GRE: GMAT Wins The Battle For B-School Admissions

Kaplan conducts an annual survey of business school admissions officers. This year’s survey of admissions officers at 260 of the nation’s top business schools as rated by U.S. News & World Report, including 17 of the nations most selective MBA programs revealed that more than two-thirds of business schools surveyed reported an increase in applications this year compared to last year and 44 percent of admissions officers listed a low GMAT score as the biggest “application killer” thus making GMAT the key for B-School admissions.
Also half of the business schools surveyed reported seeing an increase in the number of applicants who report they are currently unemployed.

Source : - gmat.learnhub.com

Can free broadband be a reality in India?

The internet has become an integral part of human life and further validation of this assertion comes from the fact that Finland has become the first country in the world to make broadband Internet access a right for every Finnish citizen.

Yes, Finland has just passed a law that makes access to broadband a legal right for its citizens. Come July 2010, every person in Finland, which has a population of around 5.3 million, will have the guaranteed right to a one-megabit broadband connection.

This law could pave the way for India to start looking at broadband connection or even basic internet connection as its citizens' legal right, just like freedom of speech and expression.

India is emerging as a hub for information technology and global companies invariably looks toward India to meet their research and development needs and software production demands. So should India go ahead and make this a legal right for its citizens?

"While the internet savvy user of India will hail this move, let's not forget that Finland's total population is 5.5 million, which is 5 per cent of ours. Our primary concern right now should not be broadband access being a legal right, but childhood (and education) being the legal right of every child in the country and tougher laws on child labour. Can we please emulate Babar Ali, the world's youngest headmaster, and ensure that children have a right to be children before they're made to be earning members of the family?" says Jayashree S, a child rights activist.

Yes, it sounds true as it would be very unfair to compare India to Finland, given the gross discrepancies.

But not all think of it in the same way. Nancy, an avid netizen, says, "Internet is a way of life in India now. It is not just the youngsters who are hooked - people from all walks of life have started using the net to their benefit and are paying high prices for the same. It would be good if the rates are lesser, and yes, if it's free in Finland, even if it's 1mbps, why not here too?"

A vast majority in India feels that making a broadband connection a legal right is too farfetched a dream. "Broadband connection should not be a legal right as we have more important issues to deal with. We are lagging in providing even the basic amenities like water or electricity, thinking of legalising broadband is still very far," says Tarun, who works with a leading media house.

It might be too early to start a debate on whether broadband internet can be a natural extension to our legal rights in India. But kudos to the Finnish government for this landmark law. Who knows, this might just be the beginning of a new fight for our rights.

Source:- in.news.yahoo.com

Forex reserves at $280.340 billion as on Oct 2

9 Oct 2009, 1928 hrs IST, REUTERS

MUMBAI: Foreign exchange reserves rose to $280.340 billion as on Oct 2, from $279.910 billion a week earlier, the Reserve Bank said in its weekly statistical supplement on Friday.

Changes in foreign currency assets, expressed in dollar terms, include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of other currencies held in its reserves such as the euro, pound sterling and yen, the Reserve Bank of India said.

Foreign exchange reserves include India's Reserve Tranche position in the International Monetary Fund, the Reserve Bank of India said.

Source :- economictimes.indiatimes.com

Forex reserves down at USD 279.91 billion

MUMBAI: India's foreign exchange reserves fell further to USD 279.91-billion for the week ended September 25 as compared to USD 280.77-billion in
the previous week.The foreign currency assets (FCA) declined to USD 263.498-billion, falling by USD 855-million, from USD 264.353-billion the week before, Reserve Bank said in its weekly report today.


Foreign currency assets expressed in US dollar include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies (such as Euro, Sterling, Yen) held in reserves, the central bank said.

During the week, the gold reserves stood unchanged at USD 9.828-billion while Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) dropped marginally to USD 5.220-billion from USD 5.224-billion the week before, RBI said.

The country's reserves position in the International Monetary Fund stood at USD 1.364-billion during the period, RBI said.


Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com