So you don't want to gift your kids the expensive iPad because you feel they are too young to handle it! Fret not, if you look around you may find some far cheaper options, of course with limited scope and functionalities (though we won't dub them as an alternative by any yardstick).
Wednesday 22 September 2010
Thursday 29 July 2010
7 Highest-paid tech CEOs of decade
Ever wondered who are top-earning CEOs of the decade? CEOs who over the years have been a constant in the highest paid corporate honchos listings. CEOs who in a decade marred by corporate bankruptcies, accounting scandals, dotcom bust and a severe recession, continued to command high salaries due to the value they bring to their organisations. This despite the severe investors scrutiny faced by these public companies.A recent Wall Street Journal report lists 25 highest-paid executives of the past decade. The list, little surprisingly, comprises several CEOs from the IT industry. Here's looking into the highest-paid technology CEOs of the decade.
Note: The listing is based on salaries, bonus, perks and realised gains on both restricted stock and stock options earned by these CEOs. The list, however, excludes new grants of restricted stock and stock options.
Lawrence J Ellison, Oracle
Total realised compensation: $1,835.70 millionSalary: $6.70 million
Bonus: $41.60 million
Restricted stock: $0.00
Gains on options: $1,778.30 million
Other compensation: $9.10 million
Return on $100 investment in company stock: $316.64 million
Steve Jobs, Apple
Total realised compensation: $748.80 million
Salary: $0.00
Bonus: $45.80 million
Restricted stock: $646.60 million
Gains on options: $14.60 million
Other compensation: $41.80 million
Return on $100 investment in company stock: $1,171.00 million
Terry S Semel, Yahoo
Total realised compensation: $489.60 million
Salary: $2.80 million
Bonus: $0.90 million
Restricted stock: $0.00
Gains on options: $485.80 million
Other compensation: $0.10 million
Return on $100 investment in company stock: $278.69 million
Michael S Dell, Dell
Total realised compensation: $453.80 million
Salary: $9.70 million
Bonus: $9.00 million
Restricted stock: $0.00
Gains on options: $429.20 million
Other compensation: $5.90 million
Return on $100 investment in company stock: $33.56 million
George David, United Technologies
Realised compensation: $447.80 millionSalary: $13.60 million
Bonus: $42.10 million
Restricted stock: $11.70 million
Gains on options: $357.10 million
Other compensation: $23.40 million
Return on $100 investment in company stock: $253.36 million
Irwin Mark Jacobs, Qualcomm
Salary: $7.10 million
Bonus: $6.00 million
Restricted stock: $0.00
Gains on options: $419.50 million
Other compensation: $4.20 million
Return on $100 investment in company stock: $191.90 million
John T Chambers, Cisco Systems
Total realised compensation: $393.20 millionSalary: $2.40 million
Bonus: $14.00 million
Restricted stock: $0.50 million
Gains on options: $376.20 million
Other compensation: $0.00
Return on $100 investment in company stock: $70.86 million
Sunday 27 June 2010
Super 6 ways to get more out of Google
Google's main page may look simple, but don't be fooled. Behind that solitary search box lies power that most of us never tap -- not because we don't want to, but because we don't know how.
But with the right commands and shortcuts, you can start using Google in ways you never imagined: as a calculator, a weather forecaster, a travel agent, movie locator, and much more.
One powerful way to refine your searches is by using search prefixes: words that you follow with a colon and then the search term itself.
For instance, use the prefix 'site' to specify that you'd like to restrict your search to a particular site. The search phrase
'site:microsoft.com windows xp downloads,'
for example, tells Google that you'd like it to retrieve links to downloads applicable to Windows XP from Microsoft's web pages.
**You can use the 'filetype' prefix to search for specific types of documents or files. This is very useful if you're searching for, say, Excel files - or for PDFs that you can download and print out in an attractive format. Let's say, for example, that you'd like to search for a PDF of Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises. The proper search phrase would be
'sun also rises filetype:pdf.'
Other handy prefixes include 'define,' for searching for definitions, and 'related,' to search for sites that are similar to ones you like. The 'define' prefix is especially nice for students, young and old, who can instantly retrieve definitions of a word from a wide variety of sources.
**You can also perform targeted searches by using what Google calls 'trigger words' -- or words that tell the search engine to return specific types of information, such as the local weather or local showtimes for currently running movies. Like search prefixes, some of these trigger words work best when they are followed by a colon and then by the relevant search phrase.
There are a couple dozen trigger words. Some of the more useful include 'weather,' 'movies,' and 'tracking.' For instance, a search for 'weather:Berlin' will quickly return the five-day weather forecast for Berlin, Germany, as well as dozens of related links to weather in that city.
Use the trigger word
'movie:*** brwill
ask you for your location if you haven't registered it already with the search engine. Once you provide that information, Google will instantly return a listing of movie theatres where the film is playing, along with showtimes. The triggers 'film' and 'showtimes' work identically, by the way.
The Google search field is a veritable math genius as well. In fact, if you simply type a math equation in the search box, you'll get nothing but the (correct) answer in return. Try it with a simple math problem first.
Type 5 * 7, click Search, and Google shows you the result: 5 * 7 = 35.
Math lovers can take the Google search field to the next level, too, with complex problems such as 5*9+(sqrt 10)^3. The answer, 76.6227766, is returned in the blink of an eye.
Simpler conversions -- such as for currency and temperature -- are a cinch for Google, too. Need to find out how many dollars you can get for a certain number of euros? Easy. Just type, for instance,
'400 euros in dollars,'
and you'll have the answer even before you can finish typing 'dollars,' thanks to Google's Auto Suggestion feature.
Similarly, if you want to get a quick conversion from Fahrenheit to Centigrade, just type, for instance, '98 f to c.' Again, you'll get the answer before you can finish typing.
For a full guide to the signs and symbols that you can use with Google to perform mathematical calculations, see the Google Guide (http://www.googleguide.com/calculator.html).
**You can add certain words to the end of search phrases in Google to unleash additional features. If you need a quick map, for instance,
just type the word 'map' after the name of any country, city, or town.
Google will display a thumbnail map, which you can click to explore in a larger, scrollable format using Google Maps.
Similarly, to find an image of a search phrase, just add the word 'image' at the end of the phrase. For example, typing 'Jefferson image' brings up images of Thomas Jefferson. And adding 'time' to the end of the name of a city or country will result in Google's telling you what time it is in that place.
But with the right commands and shortcuts, you can start using Google in ways you never imagined: as a calculator, a weather forecaster, a travel agent, movie locator, and much more.
One powerful way to refine your searches is by using search prefixes: words that you follow with a colon and then the search term itself.
For instance, use the prefix 'site' to specify that you'd like to restrict your search to a particular site. The search phrase
'site:microsoft.com windows xp downloads,'
for example, tells Google that you'd like it to retrieve links to downloads applicable to Windows XP from Microsoft's web pages.
**You can use the 'filetype' prefix to search for specific types of documents or files. This is very useful if you're searching for, say, Excel files - or for PDFs that you can download and print out in an attractive format. Let's say, for example, that you'd like to search for a PDF of Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises. The proper search phrase would be
'sun also rises filetype:pdf.'
Other handy prefixes include 'define,' for searching for definitions, and 'related,' to search for sites that are similar to ones you like. The 'define' prefix is especially nice for students, young and old, who can instantly retrieve definitions of a word from a wide variety of sources.
**You can also perform targeted searches by using what Google calls 'trigger words' -- or words that tell the search engine to return specific types of information, such as the local weather or local showtimes for currently running movies. Like search prefixes, some of these trigger words work best when they are followed by a colon and then by the relevant search phrase.
There are a couple dozen trigger words. Some of the more useful include 'weather,' 'movies,' and 'tracking.' For instance, a search for 'weather:Berlin' will quickly return the five-day weather forecast for Berlin, Germany, as well as dozens of related links to weather in that city.
Use the trigger word
'movie:*** brwill
ask you for your location if you haven't registered it already with the search engine. Once you provide that information, Google will instantly return a listing of movie theatres where the film is playing, along with showtimes. The triggers 'film' and 'showtimes' work identically, by the way.
The Google search field is a veritable math genius as well. In fact, if you simply type a math equation in the search box, you'll get nothing but the (correct) answer in return. Try it with a simple math problem first.
Type 5 * 7, click Search, and Google shows you the result: 5 * 7 = 35.
Math lovers can take the Google search field to the next level, too, with complex problems such as 5*9+(sqrt 10)^3. The answer, 76.6227766, is returned in the blink of an eye.
Simpler conversions -- such as for currency and temperature -- are a cinch for Google, too. Need to find out how many dollars you can get for a certain number of euros? Easy. Just type, for instance,
'400 euros in dollars,'
and you'll have the answer even before you can finish typing 'dollars,' thanks to Google's Auto Suggestion feature.
Similarly, if you want to get a quick conversion from Fahrenheit to Centigrade, just type, for instance, '98 f to c.' Again, you'll get the answer before you can finish typing.
For a full guide to the signs and symbols that you can use with Google to perform mathematical calculations, see the Google Guide (http://www.googleguide.com/calculator.html).
**You can add certain words to the end of search phrases in Google to unleash additional features. If you need a quick map, for instance,
just type the word 'map' after the name of any country, city, or town.
Google will display a thumbnail map, which you can click to explore in a larger, scrollable format using Google Maps.
Similarly, to find an image of a search phrase, just add the word 'image' at the end of the phrase. For example, typing 'Jefferson image' brings up images of Thomas Jefferson. And adding 'time' to the end of the name of a city or country will result in Google's telling you what time it is in that place.
Friday 18 June 2010
Samsung's 7 new smartphones
The just-concluded CommunicAsia 2010 show at Singapore saw a slew of mobile phone launches from Samsung.
The Korean giant expanded its smartphone portfolio by adding to its Galaxy, Omnia and Wave lineups.
The company also lauched phones based on its Linux-based OS Bada.
Here's looking into Samsung's new mobile phone launches.
Samsung Galaxy 3
High on social networking features, Samsung's i5800 Galaxy 3 is aimed at the younger lot.
Similar to Samsung Corby handset, Samsung Galaxy 3 has a 3.2-inch (240x400-pixel resolution) WQVGA TFT touch screen.
There's 3 megapixel camera with autofocus. The phone has 170MB of onboard storage in
addition to a 1GB microSD card.
Connectivity options include 3G (HSDPA).
The phone runs on Android 2.1. Galaxy 3 has a 1,500mAh power source.
Samsung Galax y 5 has a 2.8-inch QVGA TFT touch screen.
Galaxy 5 reportedly supports up to 16GB while the Galaxy 3 handles up to 32GB cards.
The phone has 1,200mAh battery and a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus.
Samsung also showcased Galaxy Beam.
Galaxy Beam is claimed to be the first Android smartphone to include a pico projector.
Beam can reportedly project movies or images at a resolution of 640 x 480, runs on Android 2.1, and boasts a 3.7-inch super-AMOLED display and an 8 megapixel camera.
With a VGA front camera, the phone can record and playback HD videos.
Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.1 and 802.11b/g/n support for Wi-Fi.
It features a 3.5-mm headphone jack and 16GB of internal storage.
The phone is expected to go on sale soon.
Samsung also refreshed its BlackBerry lookalike Omnia portfolio.
The company added Omnia Pro 4 and Omnia Pro 5.
Both phones run on Windows Mobile 6.5.
Connectivity options include Quad-band GSM/HSDPA/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/A-GPS.
The phone has 320 x 320-pixel display and a 3.2-megapixel camera.
Omnia Pro 4 is expected to hit the market in July.
Another Blackberry lookalike, Omnia Pro 5 too runs on Windows 6.5.
It sports a landscape-oriented QVGA display instead of the square version found in Pro 4.
The phone's connectivity options include Quad-band GSM/HSDPA/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/A-GPS.
There's a 320 x 240-pixel display and a 2 megapixel camera.
The phone is expected to hit the market in August.
Samsung Wave 2 is based on the company's proprietary Linux-based OS, Bada.
Similar to Samsung Wave, the new additions to the series also have 3.2 inch display.
Also known as Samsung S5250, the phone is high on social networking features.
Including Samsung Social Hub, the phone has preinstalled Facebook and Twitter apps.
Wave 2 also offers wi-fi support with Google Latitude and geotagging features.
The Phone has a 3 megapixel camera.
With Wave 2 Pr o, Samsung extends its Bada platform to mid-range phones.
Bada is Samsung's Linux-based OS.
Samsung Wave 2 features a TouchWiz 3.0 interface with 240 x 400 pixel display and a 3 megapixel camera.
Wave 2 Pro also features a fullslide-out QWERTY keyboard.
The phone's connectivity options include Quad-band GSM/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
Samsung Wave 2 Pro is expected to hit retail stores in August.
The Korean giant expanded its smartphone portfolio by adding to its Galaxy, Omnia and Wave lineups.
The company also lauched phones based on its Linux-based OS Bada.
Here's looking into Samsung's new mobile phone launches.
Samsung Galaxy 3
High on social networking features, Samsung's i5800 Galaxy 3 is aimed at the younger lot.
Similar to Samsung Corby handset, Samsung Galaxy 3 has a 3.2-inch (240x400-pixel resolution) WQVGA TFT touch screen.
There's 3 megapixel camera with autofocus. The phone has 170MB of onboard storage in
addition to a 1GB microSD card.
Connectivity options include 3G (HSDPA).
The phone runs on Android 2.1. Galaxy 3 has a 1,500mAh power source.
Samsung Galaxy 5
Based on Android 2.1 platform, Samsung i5500 Gal axy 5 offers instant access to social networks.
Samsung Galax y 5 has a 2.8-inch QVGA TFT touch screen.
Galaxy 5 reportedly supports up to 16GB while the Galaxy 3 handles up to 32GB cards.
The phone has 1,200mAh battery and a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus.
Samsung Galaxy Beam
Galaxy Beam is claimed to be the first Android smartphone to include a pico projector.
Beam can reportedly project movies or images at a resolution of 640 x 480, runs on Android 2.1, and boasts a 3.7-inch super-AMOLED display and an 8 megapixel camera.
With a VGA front camera, the phone can record and playback HD videos.
Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.1 and 802.11b/g/n support for Wi-Fi.
It features a 3.5-mm headphone jack and 16GB of internal storage.
The phone is expected to go on sale soon.
Omnia Pro 4
The company added Omnia Pro 4 and Omnia Pro 5.
Both phones run on Windows Mobile 6.5.
Connectivity options include Quad-band GSM/HSDPA/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/A-GPS.
The phone has 320 x 320-pixel display and a 3.2-megapixel camera.
Omnia Pro 4 is expected to hit the market in July.
Omnia Pro 5
Another Blackberry lookalike, Omnia Pro 5 too runs on Windows 6.5.
It sports a landscape-oriented QVGA display instead of the square version found in Pro 4.
The phone's connectivity options include Quad-band GSM/HSDPA/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/A-GPS.
There's a 320 x 240-pixel display and a 2 megapixel camera.
The phone is expected to hit the market in August.
Samsung Wave 2
Similar to Samsung Wave, the new additions to the series also have 3.2 inch display.
Also known as Samsung S5250, the phone is high on social networking features.
Including Samsung Social Hub, the phone has preinstalled Facebook and Twitter apps.
Wave 2 also offers wi-fi support with Google Latitude and geotagging features.
The Phone has a 3 megapixel camera.
Samsung Wave 2 Pro
Bada is Samsung's Linux-based OS.
Samsung Wave 2 features a TouchWiz 3.0 interface with 240 x 400 pixel display and a 3 megapixel camera.
Wave 2 Pro also features a fullslide-out QWERTY keyboard.
The phone's connectivity options include Quad-band GSM/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
Samsung Wave 2 Pro is expected to hit retail stores in August.
Thursday 17 June 2010
Apple, AT&T record sale of 600,000 iPhones
NEW YORK: Apple Inc said that it and its phone company partners took orders for more than 600,000 iPhone 4s in one day, the highest number it's ever seen. The companies stopped taking orders for shipment by the June 24 launch day in the US.
The crush of orders sets the scene for long lines and potential chaos at stores when the next version of the iPhone is released. Judging by previous years, shortages could last through the summer.
AT&T Inc, the exclusive carrier in the US, had stopped taking orders, saying it had to focus on fulfilling orders already received.
Apple was accepting orders only for black models, and would only guarantee shipment by July 2. The white model was unavailable for order.
Dallas-based AT&T said it received 10 times as many pre-launch orders on the first day for the new iPhone model as it did for the previous model last year.
AT&T also said it logged more than 13 million visits to a Web page where current customers can check if they're eligible for a subsidized upgrade to the new phone. That number was three times higher than the previous record for upgrade checks.
The price of the phone starts at $199. Customers who aren't eligible for upgrades will pay $200 more.
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