Computer Industry News: 12/06/09

ACER AND INTEL LAUNCH TIMELINE SERIES OF NOTEBOOK MODELS
Bangalore

  Financial Chronicle  

Leading notebook player Acer and leading chip manufacturer, Intel, today announced the launch of the `Aspire Timeline Series' (ATS) of featherweight notebook models in India.

The notebook models have over eight hours of battery life and is based on Intel's Ultra-low Voltage (ULV) platform.

The ATS series, which aims at striking an equilibrium between computer lightness and battery life "is an ultra thin, ultra light notebook series with promise of all-day computing" W S Mukund, Managing Director, Acer India, told media.

The series using the power smart adapter saves 1,752 watt per year. The power smart adapter enters the adaptive charging mode automatically when the battery is fully charged and stops consuming energy, reducing tear and wear on battery.

The notebook at a pricing in the mainstream space enables eight-hours of non-stop computing, is five degree celsius cooler on the user-skin, incorproates the laminate wall jet technology that uses aerodynamic design for a laptop to ensure cooling, said S Rajendran, Chief Marketing Officer, Acer India

It is a "disruptive" model that leverages Intel's ULV platform, has LED backlit display with 16.9 aspect ratio, 1366 X768 HD resolution, which has been engineered to ensure 40 percent measurable benefits to the customers, he said.

The series is available in three form factors--13.3 inches, 14 inches and 15.6 inches. The Aspire 3810 T is priced at Rs 39,999, Aspire 4810 T at Rs 42,999 and Aspire 5810 T at Rs 44,999 (all exclusive of taxes).

THIN CLIENT, FAT BUSINESS
Ravi Teja Sharma
The Economic Times 

The fact that computer penetration in India continues to be very low—under 5%—might come across as yet another disappointing statistic for most. But four entrepreneurs saw this as a huge opportunity to make computing simple and affordable for the masses, around the same time five years ago.

Novatium Solutions, the company started by Rajesh Jain of Netcore Solutions, Ray Stata of Analog Devices, Prof Ashok Jhunjhunwala of IIT-Madras and Alok Singh, former CEO of Cummins Auto Services, took a year to develop its first product called the Nova NetPC version 1. The NetPC is a thin client computer. This means that the system retains most of the functionalities of a desktop PC but moves the complexities of software and hardware maintenance and upgrade as well as data security to a central server elsewhere.

So what a user owns is a NetPC box with a monitor, keyboard and mouse and runs with a broadband connection. “We felt there was a need for a cheaper, faster way to enable computing. Internet and computing is the key to prosperity for many households in the country,” says Alok Singh, CEO, Novatium Solutions.

The goal was to develop a Rs 5,000 computer, which they eventually did. “We were not very clear about how to do it but we decided to learn along the way,” he says. In 2005, Rajesh Jain and Ray Stata decided to be the angel investors for the venture and put in $2 million.

“We realised that building a concept through research is different from building the actual product. You have to adjust a lot of the technologies to suit the reality,” says Singh. And to see if their product really met the test of consumers in the market, they did a pilot run in Chennai’s KK Nagar area where they 500 units of the NetPC were deployed for a year. “This helped us identify certain shortcomings, which would be critical when deploying on a large scale.” The company has since done two more pilots, one with Mauritius Telecom and the other in New Delhi with MTNL.

Novatium did not give out its NetPCs for free to users during the pilot run. “We wanted customers to pay for it so they could give their unbiased judgment and we could improve,” says Singh. With feedback from these initial users, Novatium understood some of the new requirements of customers and improved the product to bring out its second and updated version of the product. So while the first batch required high Internet bandwidth, the newer ones can run even on very low bandwidth lines.

What the company is offering today is the more advanced Nova Navigator bundled with a broadband connection option from BSNL, MTNL or TTSL. The device retails for Rs 3,999 and runs on a subscription model that starts from Rs 100 and goes up depending on the functionalities that are added. The user also has the option of using multiple operating systems such as MS Windows, Mac OS and Linux, simultaneously. The device can also be used as a surveillance camera when the user is not home, and can be remotely viewed from an outside PC. The user gets 50 GB storage space, which can be upgraded. “This box never gets outdated as Novatium will keep upgrading the technology at the back end.”

MACBOOK PRO RANGE UPDATED
Chennai
The Hindu Business Line

Apple has updated the MacBook Pro range with new models and high-power batteries. The 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models have a built-in battery that Apple claims lasts up to 40 percent longer than normal batteries. In India, the price of the MacBook Pro range starts from Rs 74,000.

Each MacBook Pro includes an LED-backlit display, glass Multi-Touch trackpad, an illuminated keyboard, an SD card or ExpressCard slot, a FireWire 800 port and NVIDIA graphics. “Across the line, all of our new MacBook Pro models now include Apple’s innovative built-in battery for up to seven hours of battery life, while staying just as thin and light as before,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice-President of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Apple has also updated MacBook Air. Measuring 0.16-0.76-inches thin and weighing three pounds, the MacBook Air is available in two models. The 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 120GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics costs Rs. 93,300, and a 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 128GB solid state drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics is priced at Rs. 1,12,200. The new MacBook Pro and MacBook Airranges will be available in four weeks through Apple Authorised Resellers.

STATE YET TO BEGIN WORK ON E-WASTE
Hyderabad
Deccan Chronicle

The e-Salvage project to dispose of 200 tons of electronic waste generated every month in the city is yet to see the light of day.

It was the AP Technology Services which proposed the project for the effective disposal of e-waste and it was approved by the AP Pollution Control Board.

Initially, the APPCB had approved two companies, GJ Multiclave and Ramky, for the environmentally safe disposal of the 6,000 kg of e-waste produced in the city alone.

Following reports on how thousands of tonnes of e-waste was being dumped in landfills or burnt creating health hazards, the APPCB also approved by the E-Salvage project.

As per the proposal, the disposal of the e-waste had to be outsourced to private parties through tenders.

“Three firms have expressed interest to take up the project which includes Ramky in Hyderabad, E-Peripheral in Bengaluru and Erico in Mumbai,” said the APTS managing director, K. Praveen Kumar. “These firms have their own facility for the safe disposal of e-waste but they should get the approval of the APPCB.”

Praveen Kumar said these firms will have to set up the facility to dispose e-waste in the city outskirts.

Licensed refurbishing agents can come forward to recover the precious metals or parts from electronic waste for reuse, but they too need clearance from the Central Pollution Control Board, he said.

 

Computer Industry Update: 10/06/09

 

INTEL INSIDE INTELLIGENCE TOO
P P Thimmaya
The Economic Times (Bangalore edition)

Intel Technology India Pvt Ltd
Information Technology

2541
Employees

Bangalore
HQ Location

1:3.65
Gender Ratio (F/M)

10 %
Employee Turnover

If somebody walks into Intel India and looks for the enclosed chambers of top management, he would be sorely disappointed. Just like any other cubicle for employees, even the head of the organisation is seated in one. The sense of egalitarianism runs very strongly here giving flexibility and freedom to its employees to do what they choose, though the expectation is always to perform beyond the designated role.

R Ravichandran, sales director-South Asia, Intel says, “It is not what we make, but what we make possible.” This is facilitated by giving a great degree of flexibility to employees in doing what they are best at —be it growing a new business line, product category or even a promotion-driven activity.

Intel very clearly believes that none of its employees actually leave their personality at home and come to work. Hence, efforts are constantly driven towards assimilating the culture of Intel along with different kinds of personalities in the organisation.

Anish R , HR Director, South Asia, Intel, says that managing the ‘life requirements’ of employees is a big driving factor for them and all their activities are guided around this philosophy. Further, there is a strong emphasis on learning and growing within Intel. Intel’s belief is that 70% of the learning gets done on the job, 20% through networking and the remaining at the classroom. So there are many employees within Intel who are sent to various academic programmes on behalf of the company.

The culture at Intel has always been open with communication becoming very integral to the whole organisation. There are regular business update meetings every quarter, along with dissemination of corporate information worldwide giving enough clarity to the employees.

The company also has a strong emphasis on family, extra-curricular activities and volunteerism. For example, Intel recently held its ‘Rural Olympics’, which typically consisted of games that are played in India.

Anish says that the company even has a ‘Fresh Vegetables Buying Day’ at the campus. These extra activities are actually designed and chosen by the employees. Besides, it would not be unusual to see yellow large boxes being fixed at certain places in the Intel India campus. These are oxygen boxes, which may be used in case any employee has breathing problems.

But behind all this is the thoroughness on the part of Intel in selecting its employees. They very strongly look at the attributes of prospective employees, especially on how they would integrate within the company.

Ravichandran says that at every group in Intel, there are broad guidelines or deliverables set but the culture is always steeped in how they could make things bigger and better. The chipmaker also believes in fully equipping with various tools for its employees. For example, it provided laptops to all its employees much before they came into vogue.

At Intel, mobility is also a given and as Ravichandran says, there is a great degree of horizontal skill development which happens at Intel and the organisation actually encourages people to move across roles.

FUJITSU TO EXPAND PRODUCT PORTFOLIO IN INDIA
New Delhi
Business Standard  The Economic Times  The Hindu  

IT and communication solutions provider Fujitsu India today said it would introduce notebooks and desktops in the next 4-6 weeks as it looks to strengthen its presence in the Indian market.

"We would introduce a range of products in the next 4-6 weeks, including notebooks for the consumer segment. Though the initial focus would remain on the enterprise segment, we would also look at the consumer segment," Fujitsu India Chief Executive Officer Pallab Talukdar told reporters here.

The company, which is a part of Germany-based Fujitsu Technology Solutions, currently offers notebooks under the 'Lifebook' series for the corporate and 'Amilo' and 'Esprimo' for the consumer and enterprise users globally.

Fujitsu would also look at building its team in India. "We currently have about 60 people as a part of the India team and would definitely look at increasing that," Talukdar said declining to give specific numbers.

Talking about the Indian market, Talukdar said, "We have been here for 2-3 years and feel that this is the time to grow. The economic recession is a minor blip and figures by IDC and Gartner show that despite muted growth for IT products globally, the Indian market is projected to double itself in the coming years."

The Indian entity would also leverage services from Fujitsu Consulting, which is the company's service delivery arm servicing customers in the North American and European markets.

The company is aiming to increase its volume and enterprise solutions business by expanding its portfolio of servers, storage, desktops, notebook, workstations and peripherals in the Indian market.

"The focus would be on introducing products as well as offering services," he said.

Fujitsu Group has a presence in over 70 countries, including the US, Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

CYPRESS LAUNCHES 2 PSOC
The Financial Express

US-based Cypress semiconductor corp having operations in Chennai introduced two new PSoC (Programmable System on Chips).

The new chips target a broad range of application including white goods, communications, industrial, automotive, electronics and other markets.

HANDS ON
Ashish Bhatia
Mint

An Apple of a buy
The all-in-one, 24-inch iMac is top of the line, for geeks and gawkers alike. Its refurbished graphics prowess makes it even more desirable.

The pros
This 11.5kg aluminium-bodied compact is spirited and sleek. The large (1,920x1,200) screen is great for viewing images and video from all angles. The 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor iMac, running Mac OS X 10.5.7, offers awesome display and blazing speed. Be it graphics-intensive Photoshop, video editing, aperture-style photo library management or gaming, the lean machine’s 512MB Nvidia GeForce GT 130 graphics card, 1TB 7200-rpm hard disk and 4GB of RAM make it a nippy performer. Lower configurations—2.66 GHz and 2.93 GHz Core 2 Duo CPUs—are also available. The RAM can go up to 8GB. Other graphics card options include Nvidia GeForce 9400M, GeForce GT 120, or ATI Radeon HD4850. The iMac comes with a slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD/CD writer/reader), Wi-Fi (802,11a/b/g), Bluetooth, 10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet, and 6 USB ports. There’s also a Mini DisplayPort video output, FireWire 800 port, internal 24-watt digital amplifier, built-in stereo speakers, camera, mic and headphone jack. The iLife ’09 software bundle contains iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, and GarageBand.

The cons
The puny (wired) entry-level keyboard, with numeric pad and Home-End/PgUp sections lopped off and super-squeezed direction keys, seems an awful, too-minimal mismatch. DIY hacks looking to augment the system later may be disappointed: They can only upgrade memory. The display is in a glossy, hence reflective, finish.

The verdict
An out and out high-quality product and impressive performer. Have moolah, must buy. Rating: 4.5/5

 

Computer Industry News: 09/06/09

 

MUNICIPAL COUNCILLORS NOW WANT HI-TECH PRINTERS
Durgesh Nandan Jha, New Delhi
The Pioneer

They may be struggling to issue a command on the laptop but the municipal councillors want hi-tech printers to be given them by the civic body.

According to sources, the legislative wing of the MCD has written a letter to the executive wing demanding that printers should be provided to all councillors. It would cost about Rs one crore to buy printers for all 272 councillors.

Nonetheless, most of the councillors are yet to be familiar with the basic functioning of the laptop, for which the MCD spent Rs 1.25 crore approximately. Still, none of the councillors carry the laptop and even the officers have tenaciously refused to use them for official works. The MCD turned to manual tendering recently due to this.

"Yes, a letter was forwarded to us for buying printers. There was also a demand to give an operator each to the councilors. Both matters are under consideration," KS Mehra, MCD Commissioner, said. Sources said that the plan was sent to the Commissioner stating that the councillors faced problems in getting printouts.

"The councilors stated that they found it difficult to get print outs of official letters written by them on the laptop. According to them, the provision of laptop was incomplete without availing other related gadgets," said the source.

As for the requirement of operator, councillors had demanded that they should be given Rs 5,000 extra every month so that they can hire a man to operate the computer under e-governance programme. The MCD had lately announced to upload minutes of all Standing Committee meetings on the Net and made it compulsory for the councilors to come with their laptops in the meeting.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that no councillor carries a laptop and few councillors are comfortable working on the machine. In most cases, either these are being used by family members or are stacked on the shelf. Not more than 50 percent of the elected representatives are graduates.

 

Computer Industry News: 08/06/09

 

CATRIDGE WORLD GAINS AMID CORPORATE COST CUTTING
Sohini Das, Kolkata, June 08, 2009
Business Standard

As corporates gear up to pare costs, some companies stand to benefit. Cartridge World, the world's largest retailer of printer cartridge refilling service, has seen the share of corporate clients in its net business double to nearly 40-50 percent from 20 percent around nine months back. "Cost conscious corporates that are looking at bringing down overheads are now switching to re-filled printer and toner cartridges that offer a 40-70 percent cost saving," said Neveen Rakhecha, chief operating officer(South Asia), Cartridge World.

The company now has 60 stores in 27 cities in the country and plans to take the number up to 100 by December this year. It has signed up with 81 franchises already. The company runs over 1,700 stores globally across 51 countries. US, one of its mature markets, with around 600 stores has also shown a year-on-year growth of 15 percent last fiscal banking on the same phenomenon.

"The recession has actually been good for us. It made larger corporates ready to try our product", Rakhecha said adding that India is one of the fastest growing markets for Cartridge World. It, however, currently contributes a mere 4-5 percent of the global turnover of the company that is pegged at around $450 million.

Rakehcha informed that the company was all set to get into agreements with hypermarkets, electronic superstores and other leading retail outlets to have shop-in-shop formats. "We are very close to inking a deal and will announce the first tie-up within a month, and a couple of others will follow", he added. It will also increase the existing product line that its stores offer to include allied products like stamps, office supplies besides printer repair services.

The printer cartridge industry in India is estimated around Rs 3,000 crore which is largely dominated by original equipment manufacturers. Around 20 percent lies with the re-filling industry and of that a large section again belongs to the unorganised sector players. Organised re-filling is still quite nascent in India. Cartridge World currently enjoys a more than 50 percent market share in the space.

DIGITAL PUBLISHING TOOL
Hyderabad, June 8, 2009
The Hindu Business Line

Digital printing solutions provider, Presssmart, has rolled out eMag 3.0, an advanced digital publishing and delivery solution. The new version would provide "faster rendering engine and new interface making Pressmart a powerful-hosted print-to-online publishing service,'' the Hyderabad-based company said in a release. The customers could also launch new media platform more efficiently and cost-effectively, it added.