Archive for June, 2008

Billionaire Bill Gates logs off today after 33 years in day-to-day control of the world’s biggest software company — Microsoft Corp.

Mr. Gates will remain part-time chairman of the board. Gates expected to deliver a valedictory address to the software company’s 90,000 employees with his right-hand man, Microsoft’s chief executive Steve Ballmer, by his side. Staff around the world will watch via a webcast.

In 1981 the company launched MS-DOS, its first commercial software, which was licensed to IDM. It was followed four years later by Windows, which Gates allowed PC makers to pre-install on PCs, creating a ready-made market for the software.

Indian customers can now book their 3G iPhone as Vodafone and Airtel threw open online bookings for the most awaited product on Indian markets. Both companies have introduced pre-registration for the iPhone 3G on their Web sites.

The iPhone 3G was released by Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the Apple World-Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this month. The iPhone 3G is priced at $199 (8GB model) and $299 (16GB model) in US and will soon be available 22 countries from July 11, 2008 (Not India).

Some of the novel features in the new version include fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store. Users will be able to download innovative applications using the App Store, while the 3G feature allows then to download email over fast 3G cellular networks.

In an advertisement in The Times of India, Vodafone said as much, adding that some 3G features may not work in India as the iPhone is currently compatible only with 2G networks.

CRR(Cash reserve ratio) or the portion of deposits the banks have to keep with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Indian banks are required to hold a certain proportion of their deposits as cash. In reality they don’t hold these as cash with themselves, but with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which is as good as holding cash. This ratio (what part of the total deposits is to be held as cash) is stipulated by the RBI and is known as the CRR, the cash reserve ratio.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is to launch a dedicated satellite for youth next year carrying scientific instruments developed by students from Indian and foreign universities.

“The Launch of this satellite is expected sometimes next year on-board a polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) ” Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman G. Madhavan Nair said.

This project is the brain-child of A P J Abdul Kalam, who at the same event in Bangalore termed this project as an ‘youth satellite.’

The various instruments, developed by graduate and postgraduate students of universities from India, Russia and other countries, will study and share data on earth imaging, atmospheric applications, solar emission and galactic observations. Apart from the payload (auxiliary satellite), the launch vehicle will also carry a mini remote sensing satellite, according to ISRO.

“The less than 100-kg spacecraft is being built at our satellite development center in Bangalore. The dedicated youth satellite is the brain-child of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who proposed such a mission during his visit to Russia two years ago,” Nair said.