The Worlds Cheapest Tablet Computer - AAKASH 2

More than a year and a half ago, admist much hype and anticipation, the The Worlds Cheapest Tablet computer, ÀAKASH was launched by the Government of India. It was priced at around 20 - 25 dollars and was seen as a major break through in the field of tablet computing which would totally revolutionise the use of Tablets around the world.

I still remember the amount of buzz it generated among the youth of the country. Everybody wanted to get their hands on one. When the Pre-booking was launched on Datawind's website, it received an unimaginable response and within 3 days bookings were closed for the first 3 months. It had generated such a hype that inspite of the bookings being closed for the first 3 months, they kept on getting upto 100k bookings, everyday!

But difference in opinion and infighting among the Tablet manufacturers Datawind Technologies and the Indian Government and the blatant inability of Datawind to meet the scheduled deadlines meant that the project was shelved. Only a few thousand tablets were distributed to students. Being named the cheapest tablet had its flaws too. 256Mb RAM, 366 Ghz processor, a resistive touch screen, Android version 2.2 and a flimsy built meant that it was definately not a show stealer.

But now, the GOI and Datawind have brought out the next generation model of the earlier tablet - AAKASH 2. On the ocassion of National Education day, the tablet was launched in New delhi by the honourable President Mr. Pranab Mukherji. It still holds on to the tag of being the cheapest tablet in the world. At a subsidiced price of just Rs.1130 (approx 21 dollars) it boasts of much better specifications than its predecesor. Under the hood it is being powered by a 1Ghz processor with 512 Mb RAM. The tablet has an internal storage capacity of upto 4GB and can be expanded using the MICRO SD slot. It comes with the latest Android 4.0 version and has a Capacitative touch screen. It also boasts of an USB port. Much improved when compared to its predecesor. A successor to the AAKASH 2 with a dual core A8 processor is rumoured to hit the stands soon.
AAKASH 2 is expected to reach the hands of more than 22 crore students, all over India in the next 4-6 years.
In a country where 95% of the population does not have access to any sort of computing device, the Worlds Cheapest Tablet will definately become a major major revolution.

O-B-A-M-A

50 years after Martin Luther King led a Two Hundred and fifty thousand strong rally in Washington to fight for the equal rights of the black people, America elected her first black President, Barack Hussien Obama in the year 2008. It was seen as a historic moment and some even considered Obama's victory as a fluke and was seen as a victory riding the wave of human sentiments and also the need for a change, a new begining from the war ravaged past decade.

4 years on and America faced yet another election. Promises were kept and some were not. America hadn't yet fully recovered. The economy was still in the process of recovering. The deficit was still high. Unemployment too.
But America was definately in a better shape than she was 4 years ago. The free fall in job cuts had been arrested and slowly but surely new jobs were being created. The American Health care system had been revamped. So too the education system. Much had been done but still much had to be done.
Come elections there was every possibiliy that the President would fall. The Republicans believed they could topple the president. A lot was said, blows traded, opinions voiced an awful lot of money spent and finally the day came when America had to vote for her President.

The votes were polled and when the results came, it was to be OBAMA.

America has spoken, 50 years on from the march in Washington, after the first black president was elected into office and 4 years later, he has been RE-ELECTED and his doubters proved WRONG.

OBAMA clearly knows that his second term would be much harder. He has a lot to do in the next four years. A lot of his plans and policies have to see light. Here's hoping that he is able to achieve what he set out on doing!
Im a big admirer of OBAMA. He inspires a lot of people around the world.

Good luck OBAMA, that's all what I can say.

WED 2012

For more info Click Here

Using Candles During Earth Hour? Think Again!

 The Earth Hour 2012 is here. Time to switch off your power and spend an hour in the dark! An hour, can't be that bad can it? Still there are a lot of people out in the world who don't believe or want to or
maybe are just too lazy to do it! Aah, leave it.

 
Earth Hour is usually characterised by a lot of public get-together's and rallies / demonstrations with thousands of people who believe in the notion of lighting candles. What most people fail to realise is that candles are not the ideal substitutes to light bulbs. Although, candles are very nice, provide a nice romantic feel and ambience and stuff, they too pollute the environment when they are burned and produce an assortment of chemical compounds and heat. Its not to say that i'm a Candle hater! No, never. I like candles too.

Although burning 2 or 3 candels won't do as much damage as cars or a nuclear power plant or burning fossil fuels like petrol etc, while in the case of rallies, it is worth noting the fact.
 
Most candels are made from Paraffin which is also a petroleum product making it non renewable. I went through the packaging of one of the locally made candles and guess what i found - Paraffin! Paraffin wax candles produce soot – that black stuff caused from the flickering flame. “When soot is airborne, it is subject to inhalation. The particles can potentially penetrate the deepest areas of the lungs, the lower respiratory tract and alveoli". Not only are people with asthma more susceptible to the effects of burning paraffin wax candles, but also the elderly and children. Science has proven that a child’s tiny body is negatively affected by chronic low-level lead exposure. Burning paraffin wax candles that contain lead wicks is definitely in the category of low-level lead exposure.

The container of a local brand of candles - clearly mentions that it's made of Paraffin Wax

There is also the issue of packaging the same into plastic covers! Burning a few candles may not make for much on the global scale. But switching to environment friendly items such as Beeswax can help us to further the reach and importance of the Earth Hour. Even the WWF official site in its FAQ's section (Question 8) advices Earth Hour enthusiasts to use natural candles!

Beeswax Candles

I hope you don't take my criticism of candles in the wrong sense! 
As the saying goes - Tiny drops of water make a mighty ocean, lets all do our bit, however insignificant or small it might be, to assist in the betterment of our mother earth!

Want to read more about the ill effects of burning candles / studies - go to the following links - they're very helpful!

1. http://www.theredheadriter.com/2012/03/the-truth-about-paraffin-wax-candles-are-they-toxic/
2. http://enochthered.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/earth-hour-candles-and-carbon/
3. http://www.stubbornmule.net/2009/03/burning-candles/
4. http://www.natural-environment.com/blog/2008/03/26/environmental-impact-of-candles-during-earth-hour/
5. http://www.alive.com/articles/view/23434/go_beyond_earth_hour
6. http://www.ecogeek.org/efficiency/2642

Earth Hour 2012

Earth Hour 2012 is less than 24 hours away. This Global event launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature a couple of years ago in Australia is all set to be the biggest and most widespread Earth Hour yet,
covering more than 135 countries and over 2 billion people. The Earth Hour 2012 campaign, 'I WILL IF YOU WILL', intends to engage the growing global community to go beyond the hour! 

So friends, lets all be a part of this global event. Where ever in the world you might be, make sure to switch off all the lights in your homes for 1 hour between 8.30 - 9.30pm today. Spread the word, its never too late.

Elloo...

Hello blogosphere!
Sorry for being in exile for the past 6 months.
Been a very testing 6 months in my life. Life's not been exactly moving in the direction that i've wanted. Been tough and challenging, mostly on my spirit. But then again, whats life without any challenges!

Just about a month to go till i face my next hurdle. The next 30 days are very very vital for me. Make or Break!

Hopefully at the end of this storm there'll be a golden sky awaiting me! :)