Techies Corner

Microsoft's Cortana is now available on Android in public Beta!

>> With the app, you can manage by setting and getting reminders, searching the web on-the-go, tracking important information such as flight details as well as starting and completing tasks across all of your devices.

>> Limitations: This Android app can't use Cortana to adjust your phone's settings, launch other apps or use the "Hey Cortana" command to initiate a query.
But can replace the Google Now shortcut with Cortana when you long press on the home key.



The Android version of Cortana is still in beta, so there are likely a few bugs and other issues that should be fixed by stable release.

Cortana on Android is currently available in the U.S. only for now, but Microsoft plans to make it available in more countries in the future.
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Google's Project Sunroof, the online tool enables you to type in your address and find out how much space you have for solar panels on your roof, how many hours of rooftop sunlight you’ll get a year, and how much money you’d save.



>> When you plug an address into the search page, you'll see a map of the roof areas with the most shade or sun exposure. You also get a listing of how much usable sunlight per year the roof could provide, as well as the available square footage available on that roof for solar panels.

>> A Google Earth image of your home and the surrounding neighborhood appears, with the roofs appearing in colors ranging from purple to yellow to indicate how much sunlight is striking the surface.

Note: The photos, however, appear in some cases to be at least one or two years old.

>> Project Sunroof looks up your home in Google Maps and combines that information with other databases to create your personalized roof analysis

>> Project Sunroof will also recommend the size of solar system that you should install based on your average electricity bill. And it calculates how much you’ll save depending on whether you opt to finance the solar array with a loan, by leasing, or by purchase. Then it presents the option to request a consultation with Google’s solar provider partners



But it is still a pilot and so far only available for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, and Fresno, California and Google plans to extend it soon...!
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Simple Tips

How to easily launch/open new or running apps from its task bar icons using keyboard shortcut?

To do it...

>> Press the Windows key, plus the number of the app you want to open.

For example, in the image at left, pressing Win + 3 launches the Internet Explorer and Win + 1 opens Windows Explorer.
Note: 10th taskbar shortcut, gets number "0."

Google recently announced its new operating structure about its new parent company called Alphabet!

Alphabet will be run by its two founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

Alphabet will replace Google Inc.

Larry Page says: What is Alphabet?
Alphabet is mostly a collection of companies. The largest of which, of course, is Google. This newer Google is a bit slimmed down, with the companies that are pretty far afield of our main internet products contained in Alphabet instead. What do we mean by far afield? Good examples are our health efforts: Life Sciences (that works on the glucose-sensing contact lens), and Calico (focused on longevity). Fundamentally, we believe this allows us more management scale, as we can run things independently that aren’t very related.

Alphabet's Homepage: www.abc.xyz

                                                                                        15 October 1931 - 27 July 2015

Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. Dr. Kalam made significant contribution as Project Director to develop India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) which successfully injected the Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit in July 1980 and made India an exclusive member of Space Club. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO's launch vehicle programme, particularly the PSLV configuration. After working for two decades in ISRO and mastering launch vehicle technologies, Dr. Kalam took up the responsibility of developing Indigenous Guided Missiles at Defence Research and Development Organisation as the Chief Executive of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). He was responsible for the development and operationalisation of AGNI and PRITHVI Missiles and for building indigenous capability in critical technologies through networking of multiple institutions. He was the Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister and Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development from July 1992 to December 1999. During this period he led to the weaponisation of strategic missile systems and the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in collaboration with Department of Atomic Energy, which made India a nuclear weapon State. He also gave thrust to self-reliance in defence systems by progressing multiple development tasks and mission projects such as Light Combat Aircraft.

As Chairman of Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) and as an eminent scientist, he led the country with the help of 500 experts to arrive at Technology Vision 2020 giving a road map for transforming India from the present developing status to a developed nation. Dr. Kalam has served as the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, in the rank of Cabinet Minister, from November 1999 to November 2001 and was responsible for evolving policies, strategies and missions for many development applications. Dr. Kalam was also the Chairman, Ex-officio, of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet (SAC-C) and piloted India Millennium Mission 2020.

Dr. Kalam took up academic pursuit as Professor, Technology & Societal Transformation at Anna University, Chennai from November 2001 and was involved in teaching and research tasks. Above all he took up a mission to ignite the young minds for national development by meeting high school students across the country.

In his literary pursuit four of Dr. Kalam's books - "Wings of Fire", "India 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium", "My journey" and "Ignited Minds - Unleashing the power within India" have become household names in India and among the Indian nationals abroad. These books have been translated in many Indian languages.

Dr. Kalam was one of the most distinguished scientists of India with the unique honour of receiving honorary doctorates from 30 universities and institutions. He has been awarded the coveted civilian awards - Padma Bhushan (1981) and Padma Vibhushan (1990) and the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna (1997). He was a recipient of several other awards and Fellow of many professional institutions.

Dr. Kalam became the 11th President of India on 25th July 2002. His focus is on transforming India into a developed nation by 2020.
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On 27 July 2015, Dr. Kalam (aged 83) travelled to Shillong to deliver a lecture on "Creating a Livable Planet Earth" at the Indian Institute of Management Shillong. Only five minutes into his lecture, he collapsed. He was rushed to the nearby Bethany Hospital in a critical condition; upon arrival, he lacked a pulse or any other signs of life. Despite being placed in the intensive care unit, Kalam was confirmed dead of a sudden cardiac arrest at 7:45 p.m IST.

Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam, (People's President) was laid to rest in his hometown of Rameswaram on July 30, 2015.


>> Books
       
Wings of Fire
An Autobiography: APJ Abdul Kalam With Arun Tiwari
Published By: [2002] Universities Press(India) Private Limited
 
2020- A Vision for the New Millennium
APJ Abdul Kalam With YS Rajan
Published By: [1998] Penguin Books India(Private) Limited
 
Envisioning an Empowered Nation
Technology for Societal Transformation: APJ Abdul Kalam With A Sivathanu Pillai
Published By: Tata McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Limited
       
Ignited Minds
Unleashing The Power Within India: APJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2002] Penguin Books India(Private) Limited
       
My Journey
APJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2013] V Suryanarayana Murthy
       
Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology
R Narasimha & APJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [1998] Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore.
       
The Luminous Sparks
A biography in verse and colours: APJ Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2004] Punya Publishing Private Limited
       
The Life Tree
Poems : A.P.J.Abdul Kalam
Painting illustrations by Manav Gupt
Published By: Penguin Books India (Private) Limited
       
Mission India
A Vision for Indian Youth:A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with Y.S. Rajan
Published By: [2005] Penguin Books India (Private) Limited
       
Children Ask Kalam
Children and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Published By: Pearson Education
       
Guiding Souls
Dialogues on the Purpose of life : A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with Arun K Tiwari
Published By: Ocean Books Pvt. Ltd.
       
Indomitable Spirit
Published By: Rajpal & Sons
       
Inspiring Thoughts
by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Published By: [2007] Rajpal & Sons

You Are Born To Blossom: Take My Journey Beyond
A P J Abdul Kalam and Arun Tiwari
Published by:  [2011] Ocean Books Pvt. Ltd.

Turning Points: A journey through challenges
A P J Abdul Kalam;
Published by: [2012] Harper Collins

Target 3 Billion
A P J Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh
Published by: [2011] Penguin Books

A Manifesto for Change: A Sequel to India 2020
A P J Abdul Kalam and V Ponraj
Published by: [2014] Harper Collins

Forge your Future: Candid, Forthright, Inspiring
A P J Abdul Kalam
Published by: [2014] Rajpal and Sons

Reignited: Scientific Pathways to a Brighter Future
A P J Abdul Kalam and Srijan Pal Singh
Published by: [2015] Penguin India

Transcendence: My Spiritual Experiences with Pramukh Swamiji
A P J Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari
Published by: [2015] HarperCollins
 
Source:
www.abdulkalam.nic.in | Wikipedia | www.abdulkalam.com