Saturday, October 1, 2016

6 don'ts when leading big data projects -Here's what not to do during big data projects to keep risks low and success rates high.-




Image: iStock

By Mary Shacklett | September 30, 2016, 2:41 PM PST

Most organizations have a set of big data best practices they have formulated from their successful project work. An equally important list is the pitfalls that organizations should stay away from when it comes to big data and analytics. Here are six don'ts to keep in mind during your big data projects.


1: Swing for the fences

The most successful big data initiatives build a strong foundation for big data and analytics and use them. The best way to do this is by creating a constant path of new big data deliverables that incrementally and continuously improve the organization's ability to tackle strategies and

How to install Windows 10 in a VM on a Linux machine




Image: iStockphoto/Pannawat



Learn how to install Windows 10 on your Linux machine using the bundled license key on preassembled systems, and get tips on how to reduce the amount of system resources Windows uses.

By James Sanders | July 11, 2016, 6:20 AM PST


For Linux users, making a clean break from the Microsoft ecosystem is often a rather challenging task. Even in 2016, the possibility of needing Windows to perform some task still exists—perhaps as part of an employer requirement, a dependency on legacy technology such as

How to install and run Dropbox from a headless Linux server




Image: Jack Wallen

If you have a headless Linux server that needs access to files from a Dropbox account, here's what to do.

By Jack Wallen | September 30, 2016, 10:35 PM PST


There may come a time when you need to sync a Dropbox account to a Linux server running without a GUI. When that time comes, you'll be glad that it's pretty easy to do with the help of a few scripts.

I'll walk you through the process of getting Dropbox up and running on

How to completely Destroy a Hard Drive --Ten Methods--




Do you have an inaccessible or otherwise worthless hard drive filled with sensitive data? Do you want to be sure that data never sees the light of day? Once you’ve wiped your hard drive, consider one of these options to further protect your data. These methods will do a pretty good job (but mostly they will just look totally awesome).




Method1Wiping the Data and Removing the Hard Drive


1
Back up your data. It’s easy to forget about all of those MP3s you ripped in the 90s and beloved family pictures when all you can focus on is destroying the cause of your shame and avoiding federal prison. You will, however, want to make sure to back up all of your important and legal data, however, since the whole point of the resulting exercise is that those things will be... you know... gone.



2
Wipe the drive. Always wipe your hard drive before beginning destruction. While the more exciting methods of destruction will do a pretty good job of rendering data irretrievable, they can’t be 100 percent guaranteed (especially if you have reason to believe the government is willing to spend several months and millions of dollars to find your dirty, dirty secrets). Wiping your data and blowing up your drive, however? Yeah, nobody’s getting that back.
Let’s be realistic for a minute here, though: a serious wipe of your computer will probably do the trick. Only someone with very serious equipment would have any chance at recovering your data and even then, there isn’t very much evidence that it’s really possible.


3
Open the computer case. Open your computer case and find the hard disk drive. They are located in different spots in each type of case, sometimes located within a metal box. You may have to look up your particular model if you’re having trouble locating the hard disk drive.


4
Open the hard drive. Open the hard drive casing. This will largely amount to loosening a bunch of screws in different configurations depending on the make and model of your hard drive. Possibly cutting some tape. Be warned that there are often screws hidden underneath labels, so you might have to go poking around.


5
Remove the magnets. You will need to remove the arm and magnet structure in order to reach the platter underneath (your real goal). There are screws involved. It’s pretty straightforward. Remove the magnets carefully because they are seriously very strong and you can really hurt yourself with them.
Seriously, you will struggle to get them off a fridge. You can break fingers with these things. And for the love of whatever you pray to, don’t eat them and don’t let your pets eat them (pets, in this case, includes kids).




6
Remove the platter. This is the thing that looks like it would make a nice mirror. You’ll probably need to unscrew the circular piece at the center which holds in down. This is the thing that stores (the majority at least) of your data. This is the thing you need to destroy. Sometimes there is more than one platter, so pay attention to that.




Method2Hammering the Hard Drive


1
Use a hammer. The fastest, most direct method of destroying the platter is with a hammer. Put it on a surface that can take a beating and is easy to clean up, strap on some goggles and safety gloves, and take out your aggression that’s been pent up ever since George Lucas blasphemed all over what was a perfectly good franchise.
Make sure you’re the only person in the room when you do this; partially so that you don’t hurt anyone by accident with flying bits of glass and metal, and partially so that they don’t become concerned about your sanity levels and have you committed.
Some platters are made out of metal, some are made out of glass and ceramic. The latter will shatter readily. The former will certainly deform, which will make it pretty unusable, but you can also use some of the more exciting methods below if you aren’t convinced.


2
Carefully dispose of the remains. Once it’s in pieces, carefully collect them and dispose of them. The parts may be taken anywhere that recycles electronics. Check your local computer/game retailers, department stores, and thrift shops.




Method3Burning the Hard Drive


1
Hold a trial by fire. While heat alone probably won’t completely destroy data, turning your platters into liquid piles of molten goo is pretty effective. This will be particularly fun if you’re the sort of person that the local fire department knows by name. Whatever method you choose, make sure you’re doing it in an area with some pretty serious ventilation, because a melting hard drive will give off fumes that can possibly kill you.
Use a standard fire. Be it in a fireplace or hobo barrel (preferably the latter), you may be able to get a normal fire hot enough to liquify your hard drive. Toss it on and leave it because it’s probably going to take a while. Fun level: 3
Use a blow torch. Put on some protective gear, hold the platters at a distance with some kind of heat resistant tool, and watch it melt. Make sure the floor below can take a beating. Fun level: 5
Use thermite. For the more adventurous hard drive destroyer, you can seriously overkill the task by filling a large container with sand, placing the platters on the sand, and then lighting a container of thermite over the platters. This is science at it’s best and creates a chemical reaction which produces a lot of heat and a small explosion, so be really careful. Do not use this method indoors. Or near a forest. Or near small children. Or near yourself, really. Fun level: 11
Use sugar and saltpeter. Mix sugar and saltpeter in a soda can and place it over a hard disk in a bucket of sand. This is basically a small bomb, so be really, reallycareful about where you set it off and where you’re standing when it goes off. Fun level: 11




Method4Shooting the Hard Drive


1
Hold a trial by firing squad. Take your hard drive platter to a local firing range or prop it up in another safe location. Makes excellent target practice. Fun level: 7



Method5Magnetizing the Hard Drive


1
Hold a trial by giant magnet. That thing where running a magnet over a computer to erase it is basically a myth. If you want to destroy your data by magnet, you’re going to need to pull out the big guns.


2
Buy some serious, big rare earth magnets. These should work well enough to scramble any remaining data after wiping your drive. And, really, who doesn’t want to own a giant, super-powerful magnet? You will find other uses for it. Surely. Fun level (wiping the drive): 4; fun level (finding other uses for the magnets later): 9
Alternatively, take your hard drive to a local junk or scrap yard...any place you can find with one of those big magnetic cranes for lifting cars and other large scrap. Watch as your drive performs a Cirque du Soleil level of flying-through-the-air as the data is made thoroughly unrecoverable. Fun level: 5. Unreliable though, drives are well shielded against magnetic fields. Physical destruction is best.



Method6Crushing the Hard Drive

1
This one is easy - find a 5 to 10 ton press and crush the life out of the drive by squishing midway between the spindles (drive and heads). This only takes a few seconds, but the results are great.



Method7Melting the Hard Drive


1
Hold a trial by acid. Pretend you’re holding a little witch hunt for your hard drive platter as you dunk it into a container of battery acid or similarly strong acid. You should be able to watch it dissolve. Dispose of the acid in an appropriate way (dumping it in your yard is not an appropriate way, just so you know). Fun level: 6


2
Hold a trial by microwave. Microwaves in and of themselves are not strong enough to destroy data, so don’t think a one second zap will do the trick. Getting the platter hot enough to melt or shatter, however, will render your data unrecoverable.
Buy or salvage an old microwave, preferably one with a push-button method of opening the door. Hook it up outside with an extension cord and set it for 10 minutes. Get very far away (glass platters can shatter under these conditions and are very dangerous). Open the microwave from a distance, with a broom handle or pull string, and use a very long stick to shatter the disk if it didn’t melt or shatter of it’s own accord. Fun level: 6



Method8Using Hardware Tools on the Hard Drive


1
Hold a trial by sandblaster. Rent a sandblaster from your local big-box hardware store, take your platter out to your driveway, and blast away that mirror finish. This will remove the layer of material which stores the data on the platter. You get to look super cool holding that blaster, plus you can use any extra time with the sandblaster to clean more than just your old hard drive. Fun level: 5


2
Hold a trial by saw. Well, okay, don’t use a saw (it won’t work very well). Instead, use an angle cutter, which is similar but sounds less cool. These are easily rented from your local big-box hardware store. Use cheap “C” clamps to hold the platter of your hard drive down to an appropriate surface and cut it straight down the middle. Okay, realistically you’re going to cut it more than once because sparks are going to go flying everywhere and it is going to look like the 4th of July in your garage. Whatever makes you happy. Fun level: 7
Just make sure you’re doing all of your cutting safely and with proper eye gear. Look up pictures of angler cutter injuries. You’ll wish you could unsee all that.


3
Hold a trial by drill bit. This is a common utilitarian-but-no-less-amusing way to destroy your hard drive. Take a drill (you’re going to need a pretty strong bit) and put holes in the hard disk platter. You’ll want to drill several holes in a wide variety of spots in order to guarantee that the data cannot be recovered. Beyond that, have fun with it. Make art. These things do make great Christmas tree decorations. Fun level: 4



Method9Shredding the Hard Drive


1
Hold a trial by industrial shredder. Have you ever seen an industrial shredder? Look it up. Look it up right now. See? Come on. Find a nearby industrial shredder, rent some time with it, and chuck your hard drive in there. Chuck...anything in there really. Maybe not your cat. Fun level: increases exponentially with the number of things you shred.



Method10Using Electrolysis to Dissolve the Hard Drive


1
Get a plastic container big enough to immerse the hard drive in water. Add a packet of sodium bicarbonate. Do not use table salt as this will produce toxic chlorine gas!


2
Find a large pencil. Carefully shave off half the wood leaving the carbon graphite lead intact. This will become your cathode (-) electrode (the electrode must be higher up the galvanic series than aluminium). Also get two thick insulated leads of wire.


3
Get a car battery charger. Do not use a car battery as it is too powerful. Tie one wire from hard drive plater to + positive terminal (reduction electrode) and the other wire from the graphite pencil to the negative terminal (addition electrode).


4
Immerse the hard drive completely in the water. Turn the power on. You should see the water start to bubble and froth, releasing oxygen and hydrogen - it is essential to have an open window nearby!


5
After a 24 hours, your hard drive platter will have lost its shiny mirrored surface (oxidised). It will be partially dissolved into metal powder and salt water.



10 cool things you can do with a USB flash drive



By Greg Shultz | in 10 Things, August 5, 2009, 3:40 AM PST




Your USB flash drive can do a whole lot more than just move data around. Greg Shultz introduces a variety of creative ways to put that drive to good use.






Transporting your data is probably the most common use for a USB flash drive. But there's a world of other things you can do with these handy pocket-size drives. Here are 10 ways you can use that USB flash drive to do more than just move data.


Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.



1: Run portable applications


In addition to storing your data, you can run portable applications from a USB flash drive. For example, OpenOffice, which is a complete office suite that includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing package, and database, is available as a portable application. Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird are also available as portable applications. When you combine the office suite with the ability to surf the Web and check email, you'll be able to take your most vital computing applications with you wherever you go — right in your pocket.

If that's not enough, you can choose other applications to install on your USB flash drive from PortableApps.com (Figure A). You can even install an entire prepackaged suite of applications that includes such things as an audio player, games, an antivirus utility, and a handy menu system.
Figure A



The PortableApps.com suite comes with a menu system to allow you to easily access your portable applications.



2: Boot an operating system


If you want to do more than just run your own applications, you might want to consider booting an entire operating system from your USB flash drive. You can boot either Windows or Linux from a USB flash drive; however, the process is not an exact science and you may be in for a technical adventure.


Fortunately, there are some guides you can follow. To learn how to boot Windows XP from a USB flash drive, see the article Creating a bootable USB flash drive for Windows XP. To learn how to boot a version of Linux from a USB flash drive, see the article Puppy Linux teaches an old dog new tricks.


3: Connect to a wireless network


If you have a wireless network, you can use the Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP or the Windows Connect Now (WCN) feature built into Vista to save wireless network configuration information to a USB flash drive. You can then use your drive to quickly and easily connect another computer or a WCN-compatible device, such as a router or printer, to your wireless network. To learn more about using the Wireless Network Setup Wizard, see the Help And Support Center, which is accessible from Windows XP's Start menu. To learn more about using the Windows Connect Now feature, see Windows Help And Support, which is accessible from Windows Vista's Start menu.



4: Create a password reset disk

A password reset disk can really come in handy if you forget the password to your user account on a Windows system that is not a part of a domain. If you find yourself in that situation, you can use the password reset disk to reset your password and quickly get back into your user account. In Windows Vista, you can use USB flash drive rather than a floppy disk as a password reset disk (Figure B). For details on how to do so, see the article Create a Vista password reset disk using a USB flash drive.
Figure B




You can use your USB flash drive as a password reset disk.




5: Boost performance


If you're running Windows Vista, you can use a USB flash drive to speed up your system with the ReadyBoost technology. ReadyBoost can use the storage space on a USB Flash drive as an additional memory cache to aid the memory cache on your hard disk. And because flash memory is more responsive than a hard disk, with its physical moving parts, the memory cache provided by ReadyBoost can significantly improve system responsiveness.


Using ReadyBoost is easy. You just insert your USB flash drive into your Vista system and follow the onscreen prompts to configure and use ReadyBoost. If you want more details, check out the article How SuperFetch and ReadyBoost work together.




6: Manage it

If all you really want to do with your USB flash drive is transport data, and you're running Windows XP, you can do so more efficiently with the Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager (Figure C). Once you have installed this manager, you can easily copy files to and from your drive, back up and restore the entire flash drive to and from your hard disk, change the drive label, and even create an autorun.inf file to launch Drive Manager automatically when you plug in the drive. To learn more about and download the USB Flash Drive Manager visit the Microsoft TechNet Magazine site.
Figure C



The Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager provides you with a host of features, such as drive backup.



7: Use it as an MP3 player


Would you like to be listening to music when you're using a computer at the office, but you don't have an MP3 player? If so, you can use a USB flash drive as an MP3 player along with Windows Media Player and a set of headphones. Just copy your MP3 files to your USB flash drive, plug it into your computer, and direct Windows Media Player to build a library of the songs on your drive. You can use all of Windows Media Player's playback features, such as playlists and favorites, to easily customize your music listening experience. And best of all, you won't have to worry about running low on battery power.



8: Password-protect it

If you use a USB flash drive to transport sensitive data that you would prefer to protect from prying eyes, should you lose the drive, Rohos Mini Drive (Figure D) can safeguard that data. This security tool allows you to create a secret partition on the drive and then password-protect/encrypt that partition, thus protecting any documents you copy to that partition via the utility's file manager. You can download (and read a review of) Rohos Mini Drive at Download.com.
Figure D



Using Rohos Mini Drive, you can secure sensitive files on your USB flash drive.


9: Run a Web site from it


If you are a Web developer, you may be interested to know that with Server2Go, you can easily run a Web server that supports Apache, PHP, MySQL, and Perl right from a USB flash drive. You can use Server2Go right out of the box without any installation. It runs on all versions of Windows, supports most common browsers, and is completely free. To a developer, the benefits of having a portable Web server on a USB drive are numerous. For example, imagine being able to carry a live Web site demo into a sales pitch meeting. For more information about this package, visit the Server2Go site.



10: Lock your PC

Have you ever seen a movie in which a person in some secret government installation simply inserts and removes a card to log in and log out of a PC? If you thought that idea was cool, you'll definitely want to investigate Predator (Figure E). Once installed and configured, this little freeware utility will allow you to turn a USB flash drive into a key you can use to lock and unlock your computer.
Figure E



With Predator, you can use a USB flash drive as a key to lock and unlock your computer.


While the USB flash drive is connected to your computer, everything works as it normally would. Once you remove the USB flash drive, your computer is locked down — the keyboard and mouse are disabled and the screen darkens. To unlock your computer, you just plug in the USB flash drive and the computer will be unlocked and you can begin using it. To learn more about Predator, and/or to download it, visit the developer's Web site.

Nvidia could be readying GTX 1080 Ti for CES 2017 launch





By Tim Schiesser on September 30, 2016, 7:30 AM




A report from Chinese site Zol, as spotted by TechPowerUp, suggests that Nvidia could be preparing the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti for launch at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2017.

The GTX 1080 Ti would be the second graphics card to use Nvidia's Pascal GP102 silicon, which was first used in the Titan X. This new report suggests that for the GTX 1080 Ti, 26 of 30 SMs will be enabled, leaving the card with 3,328 CUDA cores and 208 TMUs. In contrast, the Titan X has 28 SMs enabled for 3,584 CUDA cores.

The GPU will reportedly come with a base clock of 1,503 MHz and a boost clock of 1,623 MHz. As for the memory interface, we're expecting to see 384-bit GDDR5X providing 480 GB/s of bandwidth, attached to 12 GB of VRAM.

With this sort of specification sheet, the GTX 1080 Ti will be an expensive graphics card, especially considering the GTX 1080 already retails for $599. There's no word on exact pricing just yet, but it could end up costing $700-800 in Nvidia's current line-up. The Titan X, which is Nvidia's most powerful graphics card, already retails for a huge $1,199.

Between now and CES 2017, Nvidia is expected to launch the GTX 1050 and, if a new report is correct, the GTX 1050 Ti. Both cards will slot beneath the $250 GTX 1060 in Nvidia's mid-range and entry-level line-up. The GTX 1050 Ti will reportedly pack 768 CUDA cores, while the GTX 1050 will use 640, down from 1280 cores in the GTX 1060.

Google delays Android Wear 2.0 until 2017





By Tim Schiesser on September 30, 2016, 9:30 AM




Google was originally expected to release the next major version of Android Wear late this year, however a recent post from the company has revealed the smartwatch operating system has been delayed until early 2017.

The Android Wear 2.0 developer preview program will continue throughout the rest of this year and in to 2017, with watches set to get the final build early next year. Google announced the availability of the third developer preview several days ago, and the company says another developer preview will be released before the update is sent to OEMs.

In the third developer preview, Google has added the Play Store to Android Wear 2.0. It may seem a little cramped, however users can now browse and install apps directly from their watch, rather than using the equivalent app on their smartwatch. Searching for apps is as easy as using voice commands, the tiny Android Wear keyboard, or handwriting.



The Play Store on Android Wear also allows you to install only the watch app, provided the app supports this feature of Android Wear 2.0. This prevents apps you only use on your watch from clogging up the app tray on your smartphone.

The choice to delay Android Wear 2.0 until next year seems to fit with the plans of major Android Wear OEMs such as LG, Motorola and Huawei, who decided to hold off releasing any new smartwatches during the fall. In early 2017 we could see a major relaunch of Android Wear complete with new devices running the updated operating system.

Pokémon Go developer Niantic faces court over players invading protected Dutch beaches





By Rob Thubron on September 30, 2016, 1:00 PM



The Pokémon Go phenomenon may have started to die down slightly in recent weeks, but swarms of players are still causing disruption across the world. The problem has got so bad in the Netherlands that local authorities are taking developer Niantic Labs to court, according to The Guardian.

Since it was released in the country back in July, thousands of players have swarmed the beaches of Kijkduin, south of the Hague, to capture the Pokémon that spawn there. The sheer number of people roaming the location is a concern for locals, who believe the gamers could be damaging the protected sand dunes in the area.

Authorities say they have been trying to contact Niantic since mid-August but the company hasn’t responded, leaving Hague officials with “no choice” but to take the case before a local court on October 11. Kijkduin officials said in a statement that they want to ban Pokémon from protected areas and in the streets from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.

"The municipality is demanding that Niantic switch off the coordinates to stop the virtual characters from appearing in the Natura 2000 nature protection areas around Kijkduin," thestatement reads. "People should no longer be tempted to walk through the protected dune areas. The municipality also wants the Pokémons to stop appearing on and around the Deltaplein between 23.00 and 7.00 hrs. so that residents can enjoy a good night's rest."

This isn’t the first time that Niantic has faced legal action over crowds of Pokémon Go players allegedly causing disruption. Last month, Michigan couple Scott Dodich and Jayme Gotts-Dodich filed a class action lawsuit against the firm. They claim that the Pokémon gym and Pokéstops placed in Wahby Park in St Clair Shores has turned their neighborhood into a “nightmare.”

It’s been used to lure victims and rob people, banned in Iran, and faces numerous complaints filed with the US Federal Trade Commission about its potential dangers, but after being downloaded over 500 million times since launch, Pokémon Go has proved a worldwide success.

Master database design with the Database Administration Super Bundle




By TechSpot Deals on September 30, 2016, 3:15 PM



Database administrators are always in hot demand and with the Database Administration Super Bundle, you can build on those skills. On sale for $59, this course collection will teach you how to use NoSQL, MongoDB, and more, to build efficient databases.

The Super Bundle contains the following nine courses:
NoSQL - MongoDB Developer
Introduction to MySQL
MongoDB - The NoSQL Database for Cloud and Desktop Computing
Informatica: A Complete Practical Guide on Informatica and DAC
Visual Analytics Using Tableau Comprehensive Course
SSIS - SQL Server Integration Services
Microsoft SQL Server - Novice to Ninja
Regression Modeling with Minitab
Minitab and Its Application to Predictive Modeling

Using tools like MySQL, you’ll discover how to build scalable databases for web, cloud, and embedded applications. Once you understand how to organize and analyze data with NoSQL, Informatica, and SSIS, you’ll learn how to communicate your findings by creating gripping, code-free visuals with Tableau.

Regardless of your experience level, the Database Administration Super Bundle has over 80 hours of training to get you from coding newbie to bona fide database pro. Normally retailing for $2,700, this colossal course collection is on sale for just $59, saving you over 90 percent off.

Open Forum: What online security measures do you use?





By Rob Thubron on September 30, 2016, 6:00 PM


Yahoo’s admission this week that a 2014 hack led to over 500 million accounts being compromised was just the latest in a long line of hacks perpetrated against companies.

LinkedIn, Dropbox, MySpace, Tumblr, VK.com, are just some of the firms that have had user data leaked online at some point. And it’s not just the number of sites being breached that is increasing, other online risks such as phishing emails, malware, ransomware, fraud, tracking, and id theft are on the rise.

Today, more people than ever before use the internet, and many aren’t tech-savvy enough to follow reasonable security practices. But even the most advanced users can slip up; Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg had his Twitter and Pinterest accounts compromised after hackers reportedly re-used his leaked LinkedIn credentials (password: dadada).

For this Weekend Open Forum we want to know what online security measures do you take? Do you pay for an antivirus program such as Norton or do you go with a free option? Do you always use virtual private networks to protect yourself? Are password managers the best way to avoid using the same login credentials on multiple sites? And, like Zuckerberg, would you go as far as sticking some tape over your webcam? Whatever methods you use, do let us know.

Microsoft focusing on cloud and newer technologies to drive digital transformation in India

#MICROSOFT

Microsoft focusing on cloud and newer technologies to drive digital transformation in India


























By 
Microsoft hosted a two-day event in Bengaluru and some of the prominent names present were Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India, Anil Bhansali, Managing Director, Microsoft India (R&D) and Sriram Rajamani, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India, among others.
After talking about its cloud adoption in India and how the company plans to go all out with emerging technologies like AI, bots and NLP, the company spoke about its mission for digital transformation in India. Microsoft is primarily known as the ‘Windows’ company, but the two-day event put forth a new face wherein the recognition goes beyond or is rather not limited to Windows.
Talking about this change, Pramanik said, “It is very evident. If you look at the personal computing strategy, it’s not just Windows, all our products like Office and Skype are available on Android and iOS. It doesn’t matter what the OS is. Secondly, we are creating bots on Skype so they will run on all platforms. Think about augmented reality, we can integrate with anything with the capability. But, Windows 10 is important. It gives the same user interface and flexibility across multiple platforms, be it IoT, XBox, Surface, tablets, and PC. While you will be able run apps and services across multiple devices, Windows gives you the unique opportunity to have the same software, apps and user interface. If I walk into my living room, my Xbox opens up, it has Cortana, Skype and Edge and whatever my phone knows about me, the device knows.”
The company is looking to create building blocks based on the current trends like the massive explosion of data, intelligence from machine learning and advanced analytics, along with the economies and agility of cloud computing to drive digital transformation in India. The focus remains on Microsoft cloud services that claim to be trying to fuel innovation by helping organisations engage with customers with a tailored experience, optimise operations through cost savings, cloud automation, IoT and operational insights, better customer relation management, analytics and also improve employee productivity via collaboration and new age ISV solutions on the cloud.
The company already has some initiatives in the education and agricultural sector in partnership with the Indian government (more on this here). For instance, The Andhra Pradesh government is using Microsoft’s Azure machine learning to predict dropouts across 10,000 schools.
To give a big boost to Digital India, PM Modi’s ambitious project, Microsoft also seemed pretty keen on enabling Aadhaar-embedded Skype. Pramanik explained how Aadhaar-embedded Skype could work, wherein it could be used to verify identity. He further spoke about working on technology that could replace ID verification using one time password to doing it using an iris scan. Though there is no current partnership to doing so, Microsoft is open to working on it.
Microsoft has also entered into a strategic relationship with PwC, which is now a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider. It will help expand the reach to organisations of all size in various sectors including Financial services, Government and public sector, manufacturing, consumer goods and so on.
Amway India also teamed up with Microsoft to conceptualise and design a digitally-enabled Experience Store in Bengaluru. The experience is a result of several new-age technologies such as Augmented Reality, Gamification, Virtual Makeover Studio, Interactive Table and Virtual Cart. Similarly, a Pune-based startup, CarIQ, is also using Microsoft cloud to enable deep analytics and scalability to process data and offer products to car owners. So, the device collects data directly from the car, uses Big Data to understand it and recommends a course of action to car owners accordingly. This data is further believed to help car insurance companies. Similarly, NIIT and Fortis Healthcare are using Microsoft cloud services. SBI Life is using a mobile-based tool (Vymo) that runs on Microsoft Azure.

Asia emerges as a hot destination for setting up data centers

#CLOUD COMPUTING

Asia emerges as a hot destination for setting up data centers
Representational image
By Muqbil Ahmar
With the proliferation of cheap smartphones and tablets and the ever-expanding reach of the Internet, Asia—particularly South-East Asia–has emerged as a hot destination for the setting up of data centers. Rise in Internet users together with good economic growth translates into greater data demand. With the tremendous expansion of the Internet and a huge potential for growth, Cloud providers place servers close to users for better services and reaction times. This leads directly to the setting up of more data centers.
The region has seen a sudden spike in the establishment of data centers. While Google set up its first data centers in Singapore and Taiwan, Amazon Web Services (AMS) built data centers in Singapore and Tokyo (Japan). According to APAC Reach, a marketing and research company assisting expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, there has been a great increase these days in European clients interested in investing in data centers in the area after the Brexit referendum in the UK. Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan’s largest telecom company, has opened its doors to about £309-million data center facility, outside capital Taipei. Similarly, Deskera, a leading Cloud software provider in South-East Asia, has announced spending S$50 million over the next three years to construct a wholly-owned Cloud data center in Singapore. The company plans to make it one of the biggest software as a service (SaaS) centers in South-East Asia.
“We are investing in this data center to offer customers fast and reliable services. It will strengthen our ecosystem and help in our plans to support business expansion across multiple industries,” said Shashank Dixit, CEO, Deskera.
Cloud shift is the reason for propagation of data centers
As software companies move from premise-based technology to Cloud-based technology, IT companies are migrating from traditional resources, such as direct server and software license purchases, to Cloud computing. Consequently, they need to set up fast-paced and resilient infrastructure. Establishing data centers is one way to achieve that goal and support the company’s plans of expansion.
“Cloud adoption is expanding at an incredible rate and consequently it is critical that there is resilient and robust infrastructure in place,” added Shashank.
Major spike predicted in IT spending
According to global research firm Gartner, the IT sector will globally spend over $1 trillion due to the Cloud shift over the next 5 years, making Cloud computing one of the most disruptive forces since the beginning of the digital age.
“Cloud-first strategies are the foundation for staying relevant in a fast-paced world,” said Ed Anderson, vice president at Gartner. “The market for Cloud services has grown to such an extent that it is now a notable percentage of total IT spending, helping to create a new generation of start-ups and ‘born in the Cloud’ providers.”Apart from Cloud replacing or complementing present IT systems, applications and services are exclusively being created to run in the Cloud.
Among other things, IT spending will be on setting up resilient infrastructure, including establishing data centers, to support expansion.
What is a data center?
A data center is a building used to house servers, storage devices, cables, and Internet connection. Besides, the center has equipment for power supply and cooling. It generally includes backup power supplies, data communication connections, environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression) and various security devices. Large data centers are industrial-scale facilities that use electricity equivalent to a small town.
At the start of the Digital Age, computers were so big that special rooms had to be created to house them. Later, despite the miniaturization in computer sizes, increase in functional scope needed them to still be housed in individual rooms. The need for data centers arose during the dot-com bubble of the early 21st century. Companies needed fast Internet connectivity and uninterrupted operations in order to deploy systems. Many built large facilities, called Internet data centers (IDCs), to provide clients with a range of solutions for systems deployment and operations.
Why the data center boom in Asia?
While Internet penetration in Southeast Asian nations like Singapore and Hong Kong may not swell further, there is huge prospect for growth in countries such as Cambodia (population of 14.8 million), Indonesia (237.5 million), and Vietnam (88.0 million). Putting together China and India (with more than a billion people each), a majority of the world’s population is yet to go online, particularly those living in Asia. With the Digital Revolution reaching far-fetched places, the demand for data infrastructure is set to increase exponentially. This is just the beginning.
With over 10 years of experience in the field of journalism, the author is a technology evangelist and avid blogger. 

Moto Z modular smartphone to launch in India on 4 October

Moto Z modular smartphone to launch in India on 4 October





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Motorola recently launched the budget friendly Moto E3 Power for Indian consumers and now it is all set to launch its flagship smartphone. The Moto Z will be officially making its way on 4 October in India as the company has sent out invites confirming the launch day.
The company’s first ever modular smartphone made its debut at the Lenovo Tech World conference in June earlier this year. The smartphone currently has three variants; the Moto Z, Moto Z Force and Moto Z Play, but there is no confirmation if Moto will launch all three of them.
The main attraction of the Moto Z lineup is the 16 magnetic connector pins at the back where one can simply snap on ‘Moto Mods’. These Moto Mods are modules which add or enhance the capability of the smartphone. Some of them include battery packs, a JBL speaker, a Pico projector and a high-end Hasselblad camera. The mods are also expected to launch with the smartphone.
As far as the smartphones are concerned, the Moto Z features a 5.5-inch QHD (2560×1440) AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB RAM, 64GB of internal memory which is further expandable via microSD card, 4G LTE connectivity, a fingerprint scanner. In the camera department you get a 13MP unit at the back with with an f/1.8 aperture, laser autofocus, OIS and dual LED flash while on the front there is 5MP camera. Running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow the battery is rated at 2,600 mAh battery. Oh, and you don’t get a 3.5mm audio jack, so audio is routed via the USB Type-C port.
The Moto Z Force is pretty much similar in looks and design, it is slightly bulky and offers the shatter-shield protection just like the Moto X Force. Other differences include a larger 3.500mAh battery and a better 23MP camera on the back.
On the other hand, the Moto Z Play is a more nimble version and features a 5.5-inch display with a full HD resolution (1920×1080 pixels), a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage, a 16MP primary camera with dual-LED flash and a 3,510mAh battery.

How To Make Your Old, Slow Computer Like-New Again (it's easier than you think!)

1 October, 2016 at 11:47 

Clever new device is saving people hundreds (even thousands) and the big computer companies aren't happy about it!

Is your computer painfully slow? Have you considered buying a new 'faster' computer but the price of even a basic one makes you cringe? Do you wish there was a cheaper, more affordable way to get a new computer? (Hint: there is – keep reading.)
It's incredibly frustrating when computers slow down or stop working for seemingly no reason at all. And even after all the diagnostics, upgrades, and money spent, the amount of time waiting for that spinning wheel or hourglass to disappear never seems to get any shorter. Your once new, lightning-fast, computer just keeps getting slower as each day passes.
Well, fortunately, there's a new device that has recently hit the market and it's literally giving old, slow computers lightning fast speed again. And to say it's extremely affordable is grossly understated!

What is It?

It's called Xtra-PC and if you have an old, slow computer, it is exactly what you've been waiting for.
Xtra-PC is a small thumb drive you simply plug into your computer's USB port and it instantly transforms your old computer to like new. It works with any computer (Mac or Windows) laptop, desktop, and netbooks made in 2004 or later.
It is hands down the fastest, easiest solution to getting yourself a new computer without spending $400, $500, $800 or more – guaranteed. No more staring at spinning wheels or hourglasses ever again!

How Does it Work?

Super easy! In fact, it's so easy that it's like snapping your fingers and watching your old computer magically turn into the new, super-fast computer you want it to be. All you have to do is...
  1. Plug it in – Simply plug Xtra-PC into a USB port while your computer is turned off.
  2. Turn Your Computer On – Select 'Boot from USB' and bingo, you're good to go.
  3. Enjoy New PC – In less than 15 minutes you'll be shocked at the difference in the performance of your computer.
You only have to setup Xtra-PC once and you can even use it on multiple computers!

Watch This Video For A Closer Look At How Xtra-PC Works!

No Hard Drive? No Problem!

Amazingly, Xtra-PC even works on computers with no hard drives. That's right! Broken, damaged, or just plain missing – Xtra-PC will have your computer running like new again even without a hard drive!

What Can I Do With My Like-New Computer?

Everything! With Xtra-PC, there's simply no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new computer – only to have it peter out on you in another year or two. It makes no sense. But getting Xtra-PC does (which is why the big computer companies are so against this incredibly powerful little device). With Xtra-PC you'll be able to do the things you normally do...
  • Surf the web
  • Share on social media
  • Write emails
  • Watch videos
  • Play games
  • Safely shop online
  • And more!
Heck, you can even add other programs to your computer if you wanted to. Want to download Skype? No problem, with Xtra-PC, you can.

How Much Is This Going To Cost Me?

This is not a joke. Xtra-PC is only $24.99! That's right – ONLY 25 bucks! And they offer a 30-Day money back guarantee. There honestly is no good reason not to try Xtra-PC.
You can get Xtra-PC direct from the company's website here. Make sure to buy it from the official site as there are many knockoffs on the market today.

Why Are Parents Loving Xtra-PC?

One of our readers, Stephanie S. from West Covina, CA, recently told us:

"My 9 year old daughter wanted to get a computer for herself. But I certainly wasn't going to spend $500 on a new computer. I had an old Toshiba computer from my college days packed away collecting dust so when I heard about Xtra-PC I decided to give it a try and WOW – AMAZING!!! My old, slow Toshiba from a decade ago is like new again. A little $25 investment saved me hundreds!"


So, Are You Sitting On A New Computer (But Just Don't Know It?)

Now that you know about Xtra-PC and what it can do for your old computer, the question isn't, “Do you have an old, slow, useless computer sitting around?” The question is, Do you have a new, blazing fast, ready-to-use-for-anything computer that you need to go find and resurrect?
Start enjoying that lightning fast computer as quickly as possible by following these steps:
  • Step 1: Simply Order Xtra-PC and get it delivered in about 1 week.
  • Step 2: Plug it in and reboot your computer.
  • Step 3: Sit back and enjoy your new fast PC.
TIP: Xtra-PC makes a great gift for anyone who has an old slow computer, but doesn't have or want to spend a ton of their hard-earned money on a new one!

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