From desktop to dashboard, PCs take front seat.

Las Vegas: To the dismay of safety advocates already worried about driver distraction, automakers and high-tech companies have found a new place to put sophisticated internet-connected computers: the front seat. Technology giants like Intel and Google are turning their attention from the desktop to the dashboard, hoping to bring the power of the PC to the car. The first wave of these "infotainment systems" will hit the market this year. While built-in navigation features were once costly options, the new systems are likely to be standard equipment in a wide range of cars before long. They prevent drivers from watching video and using some functions while the car is moving, but they can still pull up content as varied as restaurant reviews and the covers of music albums with the tap of a finger. Safety advocates say the firms behind these technologies are tone-deaf to studies showing the risks of distracted driving — and to a growing debate about use of mobile devices in cars.
One system on the way this fall from Audi lets drivers pull up information as they drive. Heading to Madison Square Garden for a basketball game? Pop down the touch pad, finger-scribble the word "Knicks" and get a Wikipedia entry on the arena, photos and reviews of nearby restaurants, and animations of the ways to get there. The technology and car companies say that safety remains a priority. They note that they are working on technology like voice commands and screens that can simultaneously show a map to the driver and a movie to a front-seat passenger. 

AAJ NEWS (aaj.tv)

Solar eclipse to occur on Jan 15

Karachi : An annular (ring-like) solar eclipse will occur on January 15. This was stated by a senior official of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) here on Friday.

It was pointed out that the eclipse will be visible from the African countries of Kenya and Somalia etc, Indian Ocean, India, Sri Lanka, Bay of Bengal, Myanmar and China.

A partial solar eclipse will, however, be visible from all over Pakistan. The partial eclipse will begin at 0905 hours and end at 1508 hours.

The experts have warned against watching the sun without proper eye shielding material. 

APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2010

Google launches smartphone "Nexus One"

Mountain View: Google unveiled its new Nexus One smartphone Tuesday in a direct challenge to heavyweight Apple’s iPhone handsets. The Internet giant billed the touch-screen device, the culmination of collaboration with Taiwanese electronics titan HTC, a “superphone” that marked the next step in the evolution of its Android software.
“I think you will see it pushes the limits of what’s possible on a smart phone,” HTC chief executive Peter Chou said as the smartphone debuted at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California.
“It is very thin and feels good in your hand.”
Nexus One handsets are no thicker than pencils and no heavier than keychain Swiss Army knives, Google engineer Erick Tseng said while demonstrating one of the smartphones.
“It is a great marriage of form and function,” Tseng said.
Nexus One smartphones are built on the same Android 2.1 software that runs Droid smartphones that recently hit the market with innovations like 3D graphics, according to Tseng. The handsets feature new speech command capabilities that allow users to speak emails, text messages or Internet search queries. Nexus One devices can provide turn-by-turn spoken driving directions from a Google mapping program. Google launched its own online store at google.com/phone where the Nexus One will be sold.
“This is really a Google phone,” said Interpret analyst Michael Gartenberg.
“A lot of the Android phones that came to market are kind of lackluster. One of the ways to avoid mediocrity is to kick things up a couple of notches yourself.”
Nexus One smartphones will be sold at the Google-hosted Web store for 529 dollars “unlocked,” without ties to a telecom carrier. Nexus One handsets will be offered starting at 179 dollars if paired with T-Mobile service contracts in the United States. Google has made “strategic partnerships” with telecom firm Verizon in the United States and Vodafone in Europe. Nexus One devices linked to service from Verizon in the US and Vodafone in Europe should be available by mid-year, according to Google. Google said it will ship Nexus One devices to buyers in Singapore, Hong Kong, Britain and the United States. The smartphones are designed to work with a variety of telecom carrier networks.
“You can take out your SIM card from any provider and put it in the phone,” said Google vice president of product management Mario Queiroz.
The Internet search and advertising giant has a foothold in the market with its Android mobile operating system, featured in more than 20 phones since starting with T-Mobile’s G1 in October 2008.
“Google made it very clear that all Android devices are created equal, but some devices are created more equally than others,” Gartenberg said.
“They’ve raised the bar for their partners and they’ve tried to raise the bar for the ecosystem. They’ve clearly shown how they want to be a player.”
Analysts have expressed concern that Google’s move could irk partners backing handsets based on the Internet firm’s open-source Android software.
“I don’t see it as a threat,” said Sanjay Jha, chief of mobile devices at handset titan Motorola, which recently brought to market a Droid smartphone based on Android software.
“I think the Nexus One is a good phone. I think we will upgrade Droid to the software available on Nexus One.”
Chou and Jha said they support Google’s new phone and Web store as a “healthy” expansion of the mobile phone ecosystem.
Google executives sidestepped questions about whether the Nexus One is intended as an “iPhone killer,” but acknowledged it should prove a powerful competitor. Like iPhones, Nexus One devices feature “accelerometer” capabilities allowing images or games on handsets to be controlled with twists or turns. “The message isn’t to the iPhone specifically, it is to consumers,” said Google vice president of engineering Andy Rubin. “Choice is a good thing.” Google has an online Android Marketplace stocked with about 20,000 functional or hip applications for smartphones running the software. With a far greater stockpile of applications, Apple’s online App Store is considered among the reasons iPhones have become globally coveted devices. Apple meanwhile announced that more than three billion mini-applications for iPhone and iPod Touch devices have been downloaded from the App Store in less than 18 months. “We see no signs of the competition catching up any time soon,” Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said in a statement.
(Dawn News)

Burj Dubai Receives Opening Celebration and New Name

At the opening of the Burj Dubai, the world's tallest skyscraper, there were 10,000 fireworks, a dancing fountain, traditional Emirati dancers, skydivers and an impressive light show — but the biggest surprise of the evening came from Dubai’s ruler, Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Shortly after making his signature entrance in his white G55 Mercedes, number plate 1, Sheik Mohammed stopped to make a brief speech, saying that the tower, which has so far been known as Burj Dubai, would be renamed Burj Khalifa, after the president of the United Arab Emirates and emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan. It is perhaps the most expensive naming rights deal in history and likely a reward for Abu Dhabi’s $10 billion bailout of Dubai in December after the emirate admitted it was struggling to deal with more than $80 billion of debt.

Once the initial shock had settled, the audience was then treated to a dramatic fireworks and light show around the mammoth structure. A series of skydivers branded in the country’s national colors dropped from the sky to kick off the celebrations, followed by a video showing the construction of the tower and its exact height of 828 meters (2,716 feet), which had previously been kept under wraps.

Taiwan scientist discovers 'Strawberry' Crab

Taipei : A Taiwanese marine biologist said Tuesday he had found a new species of crab which is coloured like a polka-dotted strawberry. Professor Ho Ping-ho of National Taiwan Ocean University said he made the discovery while carrying out research on the environmental impact from a shipwreck last year on the beaches of southern Kenting National Park. "One was dead while the other was dying when they were found on a beach of Chialoshui," Ho told AFP, referring to a scenic coastal village in the national park.The two female crabs, with the bigger one measuring 2.5 centimetres (one inch) in size, have been made into specimens. "Luckily the oil leak from the shipwreck was not serious, otherwise the two crabs might have been polluted and escaped our eyes," Ho said. The professor said he was writing an essay on the new species.

 AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2010

World's Tallest Building opens today: Dubai

Dubai: Dubai is set to open the world’s tallest building amid tight security on Monday, celebrating the tower as a bold feat on the world stage despite the city-state’s shaky financial footing. The height of the Burj Dubai remained a closely guarded secret on the eve of its opening. At a reported height of 2,684 feet, it long ago vanquished its nearest rival, the Taipei 101 in Taiwan. The building boasts the most stories and highest occupied floor of any building and ranks as the world’s tallest structure, beating out a television mast in North Dakota.

“We weren’t sure how high we could go,’’ said Bill Baker, the building’s structural engineer. “It was kind of an exploration. . . . A learning experience.’’ Baker, of the Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, said early designs had the Burj edging out the previous record-holder, the Taipei 101, by about 33 feet.

The Taiwan tower rises 1,667 feet. The Burj’s developer, Emaar Properties, kept pushing the design higher even after construction began, eventually putting it about 984 feet taller than its nearest competitor, Baker said. He was keeping quiet about the exact height. Dubai’s ruler will open the tapering metal-and-glass spire with a fireworks display this evening. Newspapers quoted Major General Mohammed Eid al-Mansouri, head of the protective security and emergency unit for Dubai Police, as saying more than 1,000 security personnel will be deployed. The tower has more than 160 floors - over 50 stories more than Chicago’s Willis Tower, the tallest in the United States.

AAJ NEWS (aaj.tv)

Record snow brings travel misery to China, South Korea.

Beijing : Record snow disrupted air and road travel in northeast Asia on Monday, grounding dozens of planes in China and South Korea and forcing schools to close in Beijing, with more freezing weather on the way. One person was killed and at least two others were missing in the mountains of central Japan after snow fell across the region. The Chinese capital on Sunday received its heaviest daily snowfall in nearly six decades, the state Xinhua news agency reported. The Central Meteorological Administration reported that up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) had fallen on Beijing and Tianjin over the weekend. While skies were clear in the capital Monday, more snow was expected in northeast China. At Beijing's international airport -- where nearly 1,200 flights were cancelled or delayed on Sunday -- workers had cleared the runways and the situation was returning to normal, an airport spokesman told AFP. More than 100 flights on were nevertheless delayed and two dozen cancelled as of early Monday, the spokesman said, adding that workers needed to de-ice the snow-covered planes that were stuck at the weekend. "I don't remember ever seeing such heavy snowfall in the city," one female Beijinger surnamed Zhou told the China Daily. In the South Korean capital Seoul, around 26 centimetres (10 inches) of snow fell Monday, marking the biggest snowfall since record-keeping began in 1937, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The blanket of thick white snow forced the cancellation of dozens of domestic flights and about 40 international flights were delayed, airport officials said. On the roads, up to 30 highways in Beijing and the surrounding areas were closed or only partially open to traffic on Monday, the China News Service reported. Inner-city roads remained icy and covered with snow. More than 5,000 volunteers were deployed to keep order at crowded bus stops, Xinhua quoted Song Jianguo, head of the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, as saying. In Seoul, traffic was chaotic, forcing the late start of a cabinet meeting, with ministers stuck in the wintry mess. More snow was expected in Seoul later Monday, but clear skies were forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. More than 3,500 schools in Beijing and Tianjin were forced to shut their doors on Monday, giving more than 2.2 million students an extra day of New Year's holiday, state media reported. Temperatures in Beijing were expected to drop to minus 16 degrees Celsius (three Fahrenheit) on Monday, the coldest in the capital in decades, the China Daily reported. In northern Heilongjiang province, the mercury has already plummeted to minus 36 Celsius, the paper said. Farther east in Japan, police said they had found the body of a climber on Mount Hodaka in central Gifu prefecture. It was not immediately clear if it was the body of one of three climbers who went missing there at the weekend. Another party of seven were rescued safely after becoming stranded on Mount Terachi, also in Gifu prefecture, due to the heavy snow, he said. The South Korean weather office said snow also fell in North Korea, with at least eight centimetres reported in the western port of Haeju.

 AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2010

Punjab in grip of thick fog

Lahore : At least thirteen persons have been injured as passenger bus turned-turtle in Sahiwal due to thick fog that covered most part of Punjab early on Monday, Aaj News reported.

Thick fog has also caused closure of the Motorway at various points while several flights were also cancelled due to bad weather in various metropolises in Punjab.

The mist has covered several cities of Punjab for last few days, however the fog receding from provincial capital Lahore helping in restoration of normal traffic though the motorway has been closed at various points.

Several persons have been reported injured during last 48 hours in traffic mishaps at motorway between Lahore and Faisalabad due to zero visibility.

The fog has also disturbed the flights schedule as several flights were cancelled or diverted to other airports due to intense hazy conditions. 

AAJ NEWS (aaj.tv)

Amir Khan is God: Kareena

Mumbai : Kareena Kapoor has a lot to celebrate. Her film 3 Idiots is a runaway hit. And Kareena decided to run away to Delhi to be with her sister Karisma for New Year. Sounding more relaxed than she did recently Kareena took time off from the very special family gathering to speak. “I’ve been running around frantically promoting my film. And then I was ailing for a week. I decided I had to be well for the festive season. Christmas was a very, very special occasion for my mom and sister. But we never get to be together for the occasion. This time I was adamant. I made sure I took time off from work so all us girls could spend time together. My mom and I were here in Delhi to spend time with my sister and niece.” Laughs Kareena, “Karisma and I don’t get to spend that much time together. She has her home and husband in Delhi. My career takes me all over the place. Mom cribs we’re never together. This year-end reunion was something we had promised ourselves from long before.” In Delhi, Kareena is overwhelmed by the response to her new film. “Everywhere I go I am swamped by compliments for the role. The length of the role didn’t matter. I’m just glad to be part of a historic happening. When Raj Kumar Hirani and Aamir asked me to be part of their film I jumped at it. I knew the film would be special because of Raju and Aamir, and I was right. As far as our cinema is concerned, Aamir is God.” Reacting to the opinion that Kareena hardly has anything to do in her new film Kareena says, “Who says I’ve nothing to do? I’m very part of the main drama. Would the story move forward if you remove my character?” Kareena is specially pleased by the compliments she has received for her pairing with Aamir. “Everyone in one voice thinks we look good together. I think Aamir and I make a fantastic pair. I’d love to do another film with him immediately, this time I don’t want share him with other pivotal characters.” In fact, talks are on with two leading filmmakers including Mani Ratnam who is apparently all set to revive his Aamir-Kareena project Lajjo. A R Rahman and Gulzar have even recorded the songs. Looking back on the year, Kareena feels happy by the response to her performances in Kurbaan and 3 Idiots. “Both films are very precious to me. Kurbaan was intense, 3 Idiots was more fun. In 2010, I did films with all the Khans … Salman, Aamir, Shah Rukh (I had a song with him in Billu) and of course Saif

Amir Khan to experiment Cooking

Mumbai : Aamir Khan has two immediate plans for the future. The actor, who was in Kolkata for New Year’s Eve, is expected to go overseas for a holiday. And when he returns, he has plans to enroll for cooking classes. Says Aamir, “I’m fascinated by cooking. My mother is easily my favourite cook. She can make everything from exotic dishes to regular stuff exceptionally well. And when I feel like home food, I just drive to Pune to eat it.” To keep the biwi happy as well, he adds, “Kiran is also a fantastic cook and she loves getting into the kitchen.” The actor, who confesses that his skills are limited to boiling an egg and making a cup of tea, says he has no cooking prowess. “I volunteer to help Kiran with the dishes if she asks me,” he says. Talking about his determination to join cooking classes, he says, “I admire people who cook well. It is just one of those things that keeps going on in my head. Earlier, I didn’t bother with it because I always reasoned this is not one of the equities that I as a star am expected to bring to the table. But now I just feel I must learn to cook. I don’t know how soon I can get around to doing it though,” he says. Aamir, who is also fascinated by the thought of growing his own vegetables, has said, “I’m seriously toying with the idea of organic farming. Both Kiran and I are fascinated by farming. I think it would be really nice to be able to grow our own vegetables and feed people.”