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Thursday, December 15, 2011

iPhone Programming Path Made Easy

Hey Guys! Are you interested to learn In this section we focus on important things useful in iPhone Application development. Most of the developers build views through programming. The brief approach is shared here and the detailed discussion with examples will be provided in the next Article. Programming quickly and worried about time and efforts? Here is good picture and short path to initiate iPhone development. Insight /Outlines briefly: One should know the 8 base elements before start doing iPhone programming. The eight base elements indicate the programmer about the things involved and also a big picture on efforts. However everything made easy and clear to you and help you quickly give you a thumbnail view of the big picture. 

1. Platform – Mac OS 2. Processor – 64 bit 3. Compiler – GCC 4. Application Framework – IOS SDK from Apple 5. Target Devices – iPhone, iPod and iPad 6. Language – Object C 7. GUI API – Cocoa 8. IDE – XCode GUI Anatomy briefly: Here is no confusion; the anatomy is simple layout of a native iPhone screen (view). However we see so many other layouts created by different developer groups using web (HTML5 and CSS) and native (Cocoa Touch) which are creative hybrid interfaces. See below the core native view. Learning scope briefly: Step 1: Registering as iPhone developer. Registration is simple first activity to access free resources from Apple Developer site (http://developer.apple.com/). Download IOS SDK from http://developer.apple.com/iphone/. Step 2: Installing of IOS SDK. Installation of IOS SDK is to create development environment. The development environment consists XCode IDE, iPhone development Framework and other tools. Step 3: Joining Developer Program Joining Developer Program is to get access to Apples extended developer facilities to sign and distribute applications. Step4: Building simple App Once the developer environment is ready, it is right time to test the developer environment with a sample application. Follow the below steps to run a simple application. 1. Open XCode (double click on Macintosh HD Developer  Applications  XCode). 2. Create New Project (File  New Project). Select “Application” from “iPhone OS” category and “View-based Application” for template. 3. Name the project as “Hello World”. 4. The finished Project contains folders like “Classes”, “Other Sources”, “Resources”, “Frameworks” and “Products”. Note: Don’t worry about folder names, we will discuss in the later Articles. The Project sub-folders vary from IOS SDK version and Project options. Please don’t select “Story Board” option in case if you setup latest IOS SDK 5 environment. 5. Double click to open “HelloWorldViewController.xib” from “Resources” folder of the Project. 6. It opens the View in Interface Builder where User Controls. 7. Add Label control to the View (drag a Label control to View) and add “Hello, world” to it. Now save and execute. 8. Hello World Application is ready and opened in iPhone Simulator. iPhone Programming Approach briefly: In this section we focus on important things useful in iPhone Application development. Most of the developers build views through programming. The brief approach is shared here and the detailed discussion with examples will be provided in the next Article. 
1. Tools (XCode, Interface Builder and Instruments) XCode is to manage Project and its files. Interface Builder is to design GUI/View using standard UI Controls available in Library. 
2. Language (Object C and Cocoa Touch) Programming languages are based C. Discuss more about Object Programming and Cocoa Touch library in future Articles. 
3. Design (iPhone Human Interface Guidelines) Design involves creative GUI using Cocoa Touch and Object C. Apple provided more detailed information in its best practices document “iPhone Human Interface Guidelines”. 
4. Processes (Testing, Provisioning and Distribution) 

Note: Along with the above four pillars of iPhone programming, we also discuss on the important other pieces like XCode Project Types, View Controllers, Interface Builder, Instruments, Core Data, SQLite, Core Animation, Debugging, Provisioning, Distribution, Auto Release Pools, etc. About the Author: Subramanyam Somayajulu is an Mobile team project manager of iPhone Software Development expert Etisbew Technology Group. Etisbew has an impressive track record and expertise in the latest Information Technology, Website Redesign, Custom Application Development, ColdFusion, iphone, Blackberry, Android, Dotnet, Php and Java.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Agni-IV nuclear capable missile successfully test fired

Making a quantum jump in its missile programme, India has successfully test-fired a highly advanced nuclear capable Agni-4 long range ballistic missile with a strike range of 3,000 km from an island off Odisha coast.

The missile is one of its kind of world class providing many new technologies for the first time and its range can be boosted up to 3500 km, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) spokesman Ravi Kumar Gupta said.

Agni-4 missile system has opened a new era in the class of long range missile having capability to carry strategic warheads for the forces and has provided a 'fantastic deterrence' to the country, he said.

The missile was launched from a Road Mobile System at 0900 hours on Tuesday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheelers Island, defence sources said adding it paved the way for early test launch of Agni-5.

"The trial was fully successful. All mission objectives were fully met. All the systems functioned perfectly till the end encountering the re-entry temperatures of more than 3000 degree C," Gupta said.

Agni-4 missile, hitherto known as Agni-II Prime, had a text book trajectory and reached a height of about 900 km and reached the pre-designated target in the international waters of Bay of Bengal, a DRDO scientist said.

It is lighter in weight and has two stages of solid propulsion and a payload with re-entry heat shield. The composite rocket motor was used for the first time and gave excellent performance.

It is 20 metres long with launch weight of 17 tonne. It can carry one tonne pay-load.

 "While the Agni-II missile has a strike range of 2000 km and Agni-III can hit a target at a distance of up to 3500 km, this new Agni-IV missile would bridge the gap," defence sources said.


Saturday, November 5, 2011

Govt to unveil National Telecom Policy in January, 2012

The much-awaited National Telecom Policy-2011, will be unveiled in January next year, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said on Friday.

The policy was earlier expected to be unveiled by December this year, but delays in receiving recommendations have pushed the date to next year.
"The (draft) policy I have already announced as I had committed. Industry wants some more time to respond, we will give them time. All what will happen is finalisation of the policy will happen in January instead of December," Sibal said in New Delhi at an event.
He added that Trai's recommendations on the National Telecom Policy have just come in and the Department of Telecom is looking into the same.
"The Trai recommendations have just come, we will consider them, call Telecom Commission (meet)... move to Cabinet," Sibal said.
Sibal said the media is confusing between Trai's recommendations and the Telecom Policy.
"People must understand the difference between policy and Trai's recommendation. The Trai recommendations deal with the nitty-gritty of mergers and acquisition and all the other specific issues which never go in to policy," Sibal said.
The draft of the National Telecom Policy, 2011, was announced by Sibal in early October with a major thrust on transparency, an improved investment climate and promotion of consumer interest.
Under the draft plan, the Telecom Ministry is also looking to facilitate nation-wide free roaming, frame an exit policy for operators to surrender licences, give a push to indigenous manufacturing and promote an eco-system for development of a self-dependent telecom industry. 

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Govt, RBI working to lower banking costs, expand reach: FM

Expressing concern over high costs and limited reach of banking services, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said that the government was working in collaboration with RBI to address these concerns.
"The cost of banking intermediaries in India is high and bank penetration is limited to only a few customer segments and geographies," Mukherjee said in Mumbai on Sunday.
"We are trying to address this in collaboration with the Reserve Bank of India, and with the active participation of the banking and non-banking financial entities," he added.
Mukherjee also said that there was a need to "reflect upon possible flaws in our system and address them to withstand adversities. We need to make our financial sector more competitive by enhancing efficiency and transparency."
"While greater competition is welcome, we have to guard against the competitive race to the bottom," he said, while expressing hope that this perspective would guide the growth of Indian banking system in the coming years.
Mukherjee was speaking at Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala Memorial Lecture 2011 as part of the centenary celebrations of Central Bank of India.
The PSU bank was set up by Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala.
The Finance Minister said that PSU banks were playing a very important role in India's economic growth and they constitute over 72 per cent of the banking sector assets in the country.
"While they are expected to improve their outreach and scalability for sustaining high growth of the economy, they are second to none in retail banking practices and profitability. There are, however, several concerns that need to be fully addressed," Mukherjee said, in reference to the issues like high costs and need to expand the banks' reach to more customer segments and geographies.
The minister said that most of the financial sector policies in the past few decades were aimed at accelerating the penetration of the banking and financial services.
"However, as I said, the outcomes of these efforts are yet to show the desired results. Newer perspectives and approaches towards financial inclusion are the need of the hour.”
"There is a case for the policy makers and other stake holders to re-strategize the financial policies that are meant to reach the un-reached and the unbanked sections of our country," he added.
To address the issue of capital constraints faced by the PSU banks, Mukherjee said the government had provided over Rs 20,000 crore towards recapitalization of public sector banks during 2010-11.
"An additional amount of Rs 6,000 crore is also being provided for 2011-12. This will enable the PSBs to meet the credit requirements of the growing economy," he added.

Convert tax gains into higher investments: FM to cos
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee sought higher investments from companies in return for boosting their business margins through budget proposals like sparing any hike in excise duty rates.

He also sought help from Corporate India in pushing further the government's economic growth and reforms agenda and said this support was necessary for him to meet their expectations.

"Just as I have to meet up to your expectations to get you to scale new heights of productivity and growth, you also have to meet my hopes, in the process strengthening my hands," he said in opening remarks at post-budget conference organised by industry chamber Assocham in Mumbai on Sunday.

"Reforms are not a one shot exercise; they have to be pursued continuously in keeping with the changing contexts and the growing aspirations of the people. I can do more, when I have the space to do more. You have to do your bit to create that space for me," he added.

Speaking about this year's budget proposals, Mukherjee said that he had "the option to roll back the central excise duty to levels prevailing in November 2008. I have chosen not to do so and retain the rates at 10 per cent for two reasons."

"I would like to see improved business margins translated into higher investment rates. I would also like to stay my course towards GST," he added.

Mukherjee said that he wanted to address some "topical and emerging concerns" through his budget proposals.

"It is only then that I could hope to bring a convergence in the expectations of our investors, entrepreneurs and consumers on the macroeconomic prospects of the economy, and elicit the required response from them," he said.

He listed out five principal objectives for this year's budget proposals, the first being stronger fiscal consolidation to enlarge the resource space for private enterprise.

"Secondly, improving the supply response of agriculture to the expanding domestic demand. Together with fiscal consolidation, it would help in addressing inflationary pressures in the medium term.

The third objective, he said, was to take forward the process of reforms including in the financial sector, and the fourth was a continued thrust on an inclusive development process.

Mukherjee said that the final objective was to undertake reforms for simplifying and placing the administrative procedures concerning taxation, trade and tariffs and subsidies on electronic interface, free of discretion and bureaucratic delays.

"This would also prepare the ground for the implementation of the DTC and hopefully the GST as well, from April 2012," he said.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

31 convicted, 63 acquitted in Godhra train burning case

31 people were convicted and 63 others, including the main accused Maulvi Umarji, were acquitted by a special court in Ahmedabad in the 2002 Godhra train burning incident that left 59 people dead and triggered violence in Gujarat that had claimed the lives of over 1200 people.

The sentencing would be pronounced on 25th February after arguments on the quantum of punishment by the Special Court that accepted the theory of conspiracy behind the burning of the coach of Sabarmati Express carrying kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya.

The court acquitted prime accused Maulana Umarji, Godhra Town Municipality chief Mohammad Abdul Rahim Kalota, Nannu Mian Chowdhary and Mohammad Ansari while other key accused Haji Billa and Rajjak Kurkur were convicted.

"Special Court judge P R Patel has convicted 31 accused while acquitting 63 others," Public Prosecutor J M Panchal said after the verdict inside the Sabarmati jail on Tuesday.

"On February 25, there will be a hearing on the point of sentence, and after that quantum of punishment will be pronounced," Panchal said. "The conspiracy theory has been accepted by the court," he said.

Scientific evidence, statement of witnesses, circumstantial and documentary evidence placed on record formed the basis of the judgement.

The trial conducted inside the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad began in June 2009 with the framing of charges against 94 accused in the carnage, that had triggered widespread communal riots in Gujarat.

The accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy and murder in burning of the S-6 coach of the train on 27th February 2002 near Godhra, about 125 km from Ahmedabad in which 59 people were killed.

"Petrol was brought and the train was made to stop. Electricity was then cut and there was pouring of huge quantity of petrol and thereafter it was set afire so far as S-6 coach is concerned," Panchal said replying to a query on prosecution's theory of conspiracy.

Asked whether he would demand death penalty for those convicted in the case, he said, "What will be the stand of prosecution I cannot disclose at this stage but on February 25, I will be making my humble submissions before the honourable court as discharge of my official duty."

On whether the prosecution was satisfied by the verdict, Panchal said, "There is no question of any satisfaction. One has to respect the judicial verdict. There cannot be a debate on the judicial verdict."

"Maulana (Umarje) has been acquitted because the judge found that he is not guilty. The grounds on which he has been acquitted can be said only after reading full text of the judgement," Panchal said on the release of the prime conspirator.

As many as 253 witnesses were examined during the trial and over 1,500 documentary evidences were presented before the court by the Gujarat police.

There were a total of 134 accused in the case, out of which 14 were released due to lack of evidence, five were juvenile, five died during proceedings of over nine years, 16 are absconding, and trial was conducted against 94 accused.

Of the 94, against whom the trial was conducted 80 are in jail and 14 are out on bail. Two different panels appointed to inquire into the 2002 case had given different views on the Godhra train burning incident.

The Nanavati Commission, appointed by the Gujarat government to probe the carnage, had in the first part of the report concluded that the fire in the S-6 coach was not an accident, but it was caused by throwing petrol inside it.

"The burning of the coach S-6 was a pre-planned act. In other words there was a conspiracy to burn the coach of the train coming from Ayodhya and to cause harm to the 'karsevaks' travelling in it," the report submitted to the government in September 2008 had said.

The one-man U C Banerjee Commission appointed by the Railway Ministry under Lalu Prasad Yadav had said that fire was "accidental".

Friday, January 21, 2011

Solar energy use in cell towers can reduce CO2 emission

Use of diesel generators in cellphone towers leads to a staggering five million tonnes of annual carbon emissions in India and there is a need to replace them with solar panels, says a new study.

With the number of mobile phone users in the country swelling rapidly, telecom operators are going in for more high-intensity cellphone towers for better network efficiency entailing a massive consumption of diesel -- about two billion litres every year --- for power generation to run them, said the study released by 'Future Energy' periodical published by Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA).

This is resulting in carbon emissions totalling over five million tonnes, it said.

The country at present has about 250,000 cellphone towers each of which use 3-5 kilowatts of power depending on the number of operators using them.


"Together, these towers use more than two billion litres of diesel every year for power generation. Apart from this, fuel is also spent for cooling the equipment. If all these cellphone towers use solar energy then it could save a great amount of fossil fuels as well as reduce carbon emissions," the study said.

It noted that cellphone towers are "energy-intensive" as they use power non-stop without interruption.

"Air conditioning of the equipment housed in the nearby hubs also takes up substantial amounts of energy. Thus any change in the power generation method of cellphone towers would make tremendous impact in terms of resource saving and reduction in carbon emissions. With telecom operators looking to expand operations in rural areas, even more telecom towers are set to come up," it said.
Considering the estimates predicting that India will have a billion cell phone subscribers by 2015, it is "extremely essential" that the policy mooted by the Central ministry of New and Renewable energy to energise cell phone towers using solar energy is implemented "as soon as possible" to reduce strain on the already scarce resources, the study said.

The total carbon emissions from diesel used for cellphone towers is estimated by the study at 5.3 million tonnes or 11.76 billion pounds while the cost of diesel every year at an average price is calculated at USD 1.4 billion (equivalent to Rs 6,400 crore).