Apple's iPhone 6 success proves Steve Jobs was wrong

 

Apple made a truckload of money in its last quarter. In fact, it made more than truckload of money, literally. The company earned profit of little over $18 billion on a revenue of over $74 billion. These figures are just for three months. There are big companies, very big companies, that don't make even a fraction of what Apple earned in the last three months.
The primary reason why Apple made this money are the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. These are the two devices that propelled Apple. These are also the two devices that are radically different from the earlier iPhones.
The iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus are also two devices that prove venerable Steve Jobs wrong!
In 2010 when Android phones started coming with 4.3-inch and 4.5-inch screens, steve jobs was asked about the big-screen phones. Here is what he said:
"No one is going to buy a big phone."
Jobs not only ruled out Apple making a big-screen phone but also dubbed such devices "Hummers" and said that users can't get their hands around such phones and hence they would not sell.
Five years later -- and four years after Samsung introduced Galaxy Note and created the phablet market -- Apple has clearly changed its mind. Last year, not only the company came out with the iPhone 6, a phone that has a 4.6-inch screen, but also the iPhone 6 Plus, a phone with 5.5-inch screen.
And it has reaped big rewards for this. Initially, there was some doubts about the big-screen phones. But once people discovered them they realised that the phone with a big screen allowed them to do more. Almost everything is better on a big screen. Movies look better on big screen. Browsing is easier. Reading something is easier. Playing games is more enjoyable. But until 2014, Apple continued to be in denial. By the 2014, the situation had become so drastic that even die-hard Apple fans were enviously eyeing the large-screen phablets sold in the Android world.
Finally, Apple realised that market realities were more important than the belief of Jobs. The iPhone 6 has not only nudged the old iPhone users to upgrade -- the larger screen is a real draw -- but as company CEO Tim Cook saidit  has also helped Apple gain consumers who were earlier using an Android phone.
The iPhone 6 has been a total phenomenon, largely because of its bigger screen. While the iPhone 6 Plus is not as popular, it too has sold well. In total, Apple sold 74.5 million iPhones in the last quarter.
Jobs was a great visionary. He was probably the most versatile product person the modern world has seen. He had this uncanny ability to spot what will work with consumers and what won't. He was almost prophetic in the way he identified a product that would do well. But he wasn't infallible. At least on the matter of the big-screen phones, he was wrong. The $18 billion that apple earned in the last quarter as profit is a proof of that.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/apples-iphone-6-success-proves-steve-jobs-was-wrong/1/415935.html

5 reasons why no one wants to buy an iPad.

 

Apple iPad is a wonderful gadget. When we recently reviewed the latest version -- the iPad Air 2 -- we dubbed it the best tablet you can buy. And we can assure you again that it is indeed the best tablet you can currently buy.
Yet, it seems the device is no longer hot. People are just not buying it. They are no longer crazy about the iPad. In the last four quarters, it has seen a decline. For example, in the last quarter for apple -- Q1, 2015 -- it registered a 21 per cent decline compared to the Q1, 2014.
Why is it so? It is not a bad tablet. But there are reasons why it is no longer seeing the growth in its sales numbers. Here are 5 reasons:
iOS s*cks on a big screen
iOS is a operating system that is built around simplicity, at least from the perspective of a phone user. It is an operating system built for phones. And it works pretty well on a phone. The simple interface means users don't have to struggle with gazillion features or complex settings. This makes it appealing to even not-so-tech savvy users. But at the same time, on the big screen of the iPad, the operating system feels too basic. On a phone, a user is probably not interested in editing a video file. But on an iPad, he may. Unfortunately, the video can't be done properly unless users get good file management, something that is lacking in iOS.
One app, one window is another aspect of the iOS that works well on a phone's small screen. But on a tablet, it could be better experience to allow people to see two windows at the same time. It helps in multitasking. It just makes the whole experience better. But again, on iPad the extra screen space just goes waste. With the current version of iOS on it, the iPad is more like an oversized iPhone.
Phablets, phablets, phablets
When the phones had a screen size of 4 inches, tablets made much more sense. The divide was like this: phone for communication and mobility, tablets with screen size of above 7-inch for watching movies, browsing; and laptop for work.
But then phablets were introduced and it changed the game. Phablets, with screen size of 5.5-inch became devices that only helped users communicate but also allowed them to enjoy multimedia content or web browsing while on the go. Everything was nice on the big screen and the yet phablets were small enough to be carried in a pocket.
The phablets became so popular that even Apple introduced the iPhone 6 Plus last year to cash in on the craze.
But one downside of the phablet trend has been decreasing appeal of the tablets like iPad. Everything that an iPad can do, a fable can also do. But at the same time, phablet is all-in-one device while the iPad is a specialist.
Everyone who wanted an iPad has one
As we said, an iPad is a specialist device. This means it doesn't have the appeal of a laptop or a phone. But at the same time, iPad is also a fantastic device and when it was launched it seemed almost magical. So people bought it. Now five years after its launch, almost everybody who wanted an iPad has one. The keyword here is wanted because due to its nature iPad is not a device that you strictly need. Phone is something you need. Laptop is also something you need. iPad is something that you want. So everyone in the mature markets, where people have disposable income to spend on a device that they want (and may not), everyone who wanted the iPad has already bought it. The market is saturated. In developing countries, a lot of people may want an iPad but they are probably buying a fable or laptop because that makes more sense.
It (still) can't replace a laptop
When iPad was launched, the idea was that eventually it will replace laptops. In fact, Steve Jobs said that the world has already moved into the post-PC ear and that the iPad is going to be the primary computing device for most users.
But that is not the reality. The iPad, while seemingly promising, can't do what laptops can do. Majority of computer users across the world still prefer to pick a laptop when they have to do some work. This is the reason why the Mac sales are growing even as the iPad sales are falling.
People are waiting for iPad Pro
Apple last year launched the iPad Air 2. It is sleek, slim and sexy. But it failed to prop up the iPad market. Reason? May be it is not all that different from earlier iPads, even though it is very sleek and sexy.
There could be a lot of people who want to update their iPads. But may be the iPad Air 2 is not the right device that they can get. In terms of functionality, it offers almost nothing new over the iPads released in 2013. yes, fingerprint scanner is there. But it is hardly a must-have feature.
It is possible that a lot of people who want to buy or update the iPad is waiting for the rumoured iPad Pro, which will have a bigger screen, possibly modified version of iOS so that this bigger screen can be utilised better and may come with a keypad accessory. This could be Apple's answer to Microsoft Surface and that will definitely make a lot of people sit up and take note.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/5-reasons-why-no-one-wants-to-buy-an-ipad/1/415885.html

Images of 2nd-gen Motorola Moto E leaked, launch likely in March

 

The Moto E was launched in February last year. This means now is the time for the successor. So far we haven't heard anything about the 2nd generation Moto E. But looks like as the launch date approaches -- it has to happen in the next one or two months -- some information has started trickling in.
Android Police , a website that covers Android-related news, has apparently received two images (posted above) of the Moto E. If true, it looks like the new Moto E will use a slightly tweaked design compared to the current model. The new device takes the design cues from the new Moto X. It also seems to have a ring around its camera, though it is not clear if this ring has a flash or not. From the photos, it looks like flash is missing.
On the front, the dual speakers are gone. It looks like Motorola will use mono speakers on the new version of the Moto E. However, the front camera, which the current models lacks, is there in the 2nd generation Moto E.
In a break from the recent past, Motorola is holding an event at the World Mobile Congress. It is expected that the company would announce the 2nd generation Moto E at the event.
For now, there is no word on the hardware inside the new Moto E. However, considering the low price it is likely to carry, don't expect much. At best it is likely to have the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor and 1GB RAM. But if Motorola opts for slower hardware, it won't be a surprise.
It is expected that the new Moto E will use Android Lollipop.
Unlike the last year when the Moto E was virtually unchallenged in the market in the first half of the 2014, this time the new phone will face tough competition from devices like RedMi 1S and Lenovo A6000.
Earlier today Motorola revealed that it has sold over 3 million phones in India in the last 10 months. It said that going forward it would continue to sell phones through Flipkart but will also establish some experience centres where people can try and the Moto phones.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/leaked-images-of-2nd-gen-moto-e-launch-in-march/1/415982.html

BJP's new anti-AAP newspaper ad on Friday shows a caricature of Arvind Kejriwal taking a vow on the heads of two children, as a woman with a Congress cap watches coyly. In the background is a caricature of Anna Hazare, put inside a frame and draped with a garland (as done to pay respects to the departed).
The ad comes with this scathing line (translated from Hindi): "For the sake of power, I will take a false vow of my children and day and night I will beat the drums of honesty."

 

 

The ad then goes on to explain the context based on what Kerjiwal supposedly said in 2013 and asks voters to beware of "cheats" and vote for the BJP instead.

The AAP is naturally furious at the crass ad, with Kerjiwal even saying that the BJP "has killed Anna in its ad today".
"Nathuram Godse killed Gandhiji on this day in 1948. BJP has killed Anna in its ad today. Shudn't BJP apologise? To all AAP volunteers n supporters. Evil forces will try to divert ur attention. But pl stay focussed on positive agenda for Delhi," the AAP leader and party's CM candidate said on Twitter.
"AAP is forming govt in delhi. Get ready to serve Delhi and to make it safe for women. I will always pray for well being and good health of Annaji. As we remember Gandhi ji on the day of his martyrdom, we must reaffirm our pledge to his beliefs, his idea of a diverse and harmonious India," he tweeted.
Earlier, the BJP had targeted the AAP for labeling its chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi as an "opportunist" and projecting Kejriwal as "honest" in its poll ads.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kejriwal-like-godse-killed-gandhi-bjp-killed-anna-ad/1/416089.html

Saradha scam: Trinamool leader Mukul Roy at CBI office for questioning ..

Trinamool Congress general secretary and former railway minister Mukul Roy on Friday appeared before the CBI to face interrogation in connection with the Saradha scam.
"I have been asked by the CBI to appear before it to face interrogation. Thus I came here to help in the investigation process," the senior Trinamool Congress leader said.
" I am here to cooperate with the CBI," said Roy while entering the probe agency's office at the CGO Complex here.

 

 

"As I have earlier said I did no wrong either on my behalf or the party, I am again saying the same thing today," Roy said.

The Rajya Sabha MP was first summoned by the CBI on January 12 to appear before it.
The leader, who was in New Delhi at that time, said he would meet CBI on the first occasion after returning to Kolkata.
However, after returning here on January 14, he sought 15 days extension to appear before the agency, saying he would be pre-occupied with the by-election in two seats in the state. He left for Delhi again on January 15.
Later, Roy emailed to CBI requesting it for his appearance "any time after 2 pm on January 28 or January 29 or 30" as he would be busy in various engagements in the capital.
The CBI on January 22 asked him to appear before the agency on January 28.
But Roy again sought time as the Supreme Court was supposed to hear on January 27 petitions filed by the West Bengal government and the Trinamool Congress regarding the ongoing CBI probe. However, the apex court deferred the hearing.
The special branch of the CBI on January 27 had said that Roy had given an assurance that he would appear on January 30.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/saradha-scam-trinamool-leader-mukul-roy-cbi-office-questioning/1/416075.html

SpiceJet plans to raise Rs.1,500 crore, Marans exit Board .

 

Low cost carrier SpiceJet, which is going through an ownership change, plans to raise Rs.1,500 crore by way of issuing securities and allotting non-convertible preference shares to Marans, its promoters, who will be exiting the company.
The Board of SpiceJet, in its meeting on Thursday, has approved the entire 58.46 per cent stake sale of its promoter group, Marans, to Ajay Singh.
The embattled airline, which received a lifeline from original promoter Singh earlier this month, would also issue up to 37.5 lakh non-convertible cumulative redeemable preference shares of Rs.1,000 apiece to Kalanithi Maran or Kal Airways or both on a preferential basis.

 

 

The Board has also accepted the resignations of Maran, Kavery Kalanithi and S Natrajhen with immediate effect.

In a regulatory filing today, SpiceJet said its Board of Directors have taken on record the share sale and purchase agreement between the company, Kalanithi Maran, Kal Airways and Ajay Singh.
Pursuant to the pact, Maran and Kal Airways would sell and transfer their entire shareholding aggregating to 58.46 per cent stake to Singh.
Besides, the Board has cleared a proposal to issue "equity shares/warrants and/or any instrument convertible into equity shares whether optionally or otherwise/Global Depository Receipts (GDRs)/American Depository Receipts (ADRs)/ Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs) ("Securities") for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs.15,000,000,000 or equivalent currency(ies) to any person or persons, whether or not shareholder of the company."
Post deal, the registered office of SpiceJet would be shifted from Tamil Nadu to Delhi and there would be an alteration in the articles of association of the company.
The company's authorised share capital would be increased to Rs.2,000 crore. This would be divided into 150 crore equity shares of Rs.10 each and 50 lakh non-convertible cumulative redeemable preference shares Rs.1,000 each.
SpiceJet would seek shareholders' nod through postal ballot for all these proposals which have been cleared by its Board.
Earlier this month, Singh returned to SpiceJet with a long-term plan entailing an investment of up to Rs.1,500 crore as Maran family agreed to cede control with transfer of over 53 per cent stake in the carrier.

Glass didn't turn out how we hoped: Google

 

Global search engine giant Google has had a tough fourth quarter. Google's fourth-quarter financial results have been well below analysts' predictions, and the company has in a way admitted that its failed Google Glass project shares some blame for its slumber.
Google's chief financial officer Patrick Pichette, during the company's earnings call, admitted that the Glass didn't eventually turn out to be as desired, therefore Google needed time out to rethink its strategy.
"In other cases, when teams aren't able to hit hurdles, but we think there's still a lot of promise, we might ask them to take a pause and take the time to reset their strategy, as we recently did in the case of Glass. And in those cases where a project doesn't have the impact we hoped for, we do take the tough calls. We make the decision to cancel them, and you've seen us do this time and time again," Pichette was quoted as saying.
Pichette however gave no indication that the company was totally abandoning the project, but mentioned that it was currently re-evaluating its plans with the Glass project.        
It must be noted that Google's explorer program has been cancelled and the device is no longer available for sale. The project that was born out of Google X labs has now been shifted to Nest.    

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/technology/story/glass-didnt-turn-out-what-we-hoped-for-google/1/416092.html

What Congress said about Jayanthi Natarajan's letter bomb..

Former environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan (Photo: PTI)Terming former environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan's allegations against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi of meddling in her work as baseless, party general secretary Digvijaya Singh on Friday asserted that his party had given her full support and that her "accusations were really uncalled for".
"First of all it is absolutely wrong that either Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi ever interfered with the functioning of the UPA government. The ministers were free to take decisions.
Digvijaya Singh"One thing I know that Rahul Gandhi will be the last person to interfere in the functioning of any ministry because if he wanted ever to become a PM or a minister he could have had his way," Singh told reporters.

 

 

He added that: "The allegation made by Mr. Modi is something called 'Jayanthi tax'. Now she has to reply and make it clear whether Mr. Narendra Modi's allegations were true or false."

Also read: Jayanthi letter: 17 shocking revelations about Rahul, Sonia and Congress
Asked if her allegations were true, Singh said: "I think this kind of an allegation from someone who got everything she wanted in her life till now from the Congress party...this kind of an allegation is really uncalled for."
Jayanthi Natarajan on Friday announced her decision to quit Congress after her emotional letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi became public. She maintained in her letter that the party's decision to sack her as environment minister without any wrongdoing had ruined her career and her reputation.
"These are baseless allegations. She has no facts. Why did Jayanthi Natarajan kept quiet then? Jayanthi Natarjan speaking up now clearly shows that she has been promised some kind of benefit from another party," said Congress' Shobha Oza.
Congress leader Rajeev Shukla"As long as you are a minister, holding positions, Congress is good, Sonia-ji is good, Rahul-ji is good. The moment you have been asked to resign, Congress is bad, Sonia-ji is bad, Rahul-ji is bad. What is this?" said Congress leader Rajeev Shukla.
Natarajan, a former Rajya Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu, gives a blow-by-blow account of her ouster, apparently at the orders of Rahul Gandhi, and how negative stories had been planted against her by her own party to make her a scapegoat.
Must Read: Jayanthi Natarajan quits Congress after letter bomb against Rahul
Reacting to Natarajan's allegations of Congress, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that "It has now become fully clear how the UPA government was run with a remote control. No further proof is needed.
"The party's meddling in the government, and that too not in a constitutional way, has now been confirmed," she said.
"Natarajan's allegations are very serious and therefore all the files pertaining to environmental clearances handled by her should be reviewed," Sitharaman added.
She also accused the Congress of encouraging "crony capitalism".
Terming Natarajan's charge of specific requests on green clearances as a "serious issue", Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said he would review the files where allegations of extraneous influence have been mentioned.
Also Read: UPA govt practised sadistic economics, Jaitley on Natarajan's letter
"The revelations made by Jayanthi Natarajan in her letter to Sonia Gandhi, which have become public today, are a matter of great concern and is a serious issue," he said.
Natarajan had written a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi alleging that she had received specific requests from Rahul Gandhi on environmental clearances and consequently had rejected big ticket projects.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jayanthi-natarajan-letter-bomb-what-congress-said/1/416144.html

Supreme Court backs NSA Doval's plan on black money ..

National Security Advisor Ajit DovalNational Security Advisor Ajit Doval has a prescription for getting black money back to the country and it is being taken rather seriously by the highest court of the country. Till now, nothing has worked as far as getting the 70,000 crore estimated to be stashed away in foreign tax havens back is concerned.
Taking note of Modi government's sluggish efforts to bring back black money, the Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to force the Centre's hand by asking the Special Investigation Team "to consider" registration of "omnibus" criminal cases to expedite prosecutions and permit authorities to seek help from the police in foreign countries.
Every election candidate may also be asked to file an affidavit while filing nomination that he does not hold illegal money abroad.

 

 

These were part of recommendations in an article authored in 2011 by Ajit Doval- "India's Plundered Money Abroad- Can we get it back ?" - which was submitted to the court by lawyer Ram Jethmalani, the petitioner in the public interest litigation seeking to bring back illegal money.
But in a major U-turn after repeatedly rapping the Modi government during earlier hearings for not revealing names of black money holders, a bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said it was more interested in bringing back the money and not disclosure of names.
No progress in case
Submitting the Doval article, Jethmalani's lawyer Anil Divan said, "Despite big promises by the government, nothing has moved. Not a single paise has come from abroad. There are some attachments here, a raid there, scattered prosecutions by Income Tax departments in various states which will also yield no result."
Divan also said "list of 627 submitted by the government is nothing and only a tip of the iceberg while the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists had said there were nearly 1,200 to 1,700 Indians who have stashed money abroad".
CJI Dattu then told Divan: "Do not worry. Place all recommendations before the SIT. We will request the SIT (headed by justices M B Shah and Arijit Pasayat as its Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively) to consider them in accordance with law. What we are supposed to do, we have entrusted them. They will do their job. They were judges of the Supreme Court. They know their job" Doval had recommended that government should on its own register criminal cases against the suspected unidentified persons "who have been indulging in criminal activities and unauthorisedly transferring money to tax havens abroad" on the lines of investigation in 2G and coal scam cases.
"This would empower the concerned authorities to summon people for questioning, interrogate suspected persons, seize incriminating documents, conduct raids, make arrests examine documents etc.
Further the concerned authorities would be empowered to get assistance of foreign police and investigating agencies for gathering requisite evidence and information. Most importantly, this will empower the government to approach different banks abroad as also the concerned governments, for information regarding the money trail as they pertain to criminal cases", his article said.
Doval had said every candidate should also file an affidavit before the elections that he does not hold illegal money abroad. "The same should be applied to senior appointees in the Government like RBI Governor, SEBI Chairman, CBI Director, Cabinet Secretary, IB Director, RAW Chief, CVC etc. By an act of Parliament, persons who have accumulated funds abroad should be barred from holding any public office and getting loans from bank etc as a form of punishment," he suggested.
Doval feels majority of black money accounts were held by "organised crime mafias who engage in large scale property deals, drug trafficking, gun running, human trafficking and terrorist related activities".
Soft on disclosure
When Divan and activist advocate Prashant Bhushan urged the court to direct the Centre to disclose names of 250 people who admitted to holding accounts in foreign banks but were let off after tax proceedings, Chief Justice Dattu said: "We are interested in money coming back and not on disclosure of names".
The comments are a huge relief for the Modi government as Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had told the bench earlier that disclosing names of all Indian foreign bank account holders without arriving at their alleged illegality would breach confidentiality clause in existing bilateral double taxation avoidance agreements signed by India with other countries and it would impede efforts to get further information on Indians having illegal accounts abroad.
Rohatgi had informed the court that "India is also on the threshold of entering into the automatic exchange of information agreements that will give a host of information even unasked which will help nail tax evaders".
"Automatic exchange of information involves the systematic and periodic transmission of bulk taxpayer information by the source country to the residence country concerning various categories of income," he had said. Tax experts have already said that SC directive to share the names of overseas account holders has raised worries about India's commitment to the confidentiality clause in various tax treaties and may impact remittances from the US.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/supreme-court-nsa-ajit-doval-plan-black-money/1/414410.html

Nawazuddin Siddiqui to star opposite Nicole Kidman?

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is on a roll these days! His acting skills and hard work has started paying and he has clearly made a mark for himself in Bollywood.
He is currently working with Salman Khan, Big B and many other big Bollywood names but that is not it. If all goes well, Nawazuddin may work with Hollywood star Nicole Kidman.
Collage of Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Nicole Kidman
Yes, you read it right. As per the reports, the ctor has been roped in to star opposite Nicole Kidman in a film that will be directed by Garth Davis. The movie, an adaptation of Saroo Brierley's book, A Long Way Home, will be extensively shot in India and Australia.
The actor is reportedly in talks with the makers. The film also stars Dev Patel, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Deepti Naval.
Salman Khan and Nawazuddin on the sets of Bajrangi Bhaijaan
The actor will take a final call on this international project next month once he returns from his current shoot. Currently, Nawaz is in Rajasthan shooting for Bajrangi Bhaijaan with Salman Khan.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nawazuddin-siddiqui-to-star-opposite-nicole-kidman/1/414383.html

Improve sex ratio, get Rs.1 crore reward: Union Minister Maneka Gandhi..

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday announced that any innovative district which succeeds in attaining a balanced sex ratio would get a reward of Rs.1 crore.
"The district commissioner and ambassadors of the campaign would also be suitably rewarded by the government," Gandhi said at the inaugural session of the two-day National Thematic Workshop on 'Woman and Child Development' organised by the Haryana Women and Child Development Department in Panipat.
Gandhi urged state governments, district commissioners and other functionaries to work in tandem for the success of the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' programme, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally launch from Panipat on Thursday, and report the innovative programmes and initiatives.

 

 

'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' is the fourth initiative of the NDA-led central government after the Jan Dhan Yojna (bank accounts), Swaach Bharat Abhiyan (cleanliness) and Make in India (encourage manufacturing), the minister said.
She said Modi had announced the scheme in his Independence Day speech last year and chose Haryana to kick off the campaign as it was one of the states with a declining female sex ratio.
"One hundred districts with low female sex ratio have been selected from all over the country for the campaign. It would be extensively carried out to bring about positive psychological change in the mindset of the people towards the girl child," Gandhi said.
Gandhi stressed the need for evolving innovative solutions to end violence and crime against women and end the dowry system which, she said, was the root cause of female foeticide.
"The notion of 'Paraya Dhan' must be discouraged in the society to ensure that parents do not hesitate in having a girl child. A society without women would be full of violence as women bring gentleness, love and happiness around them."
Expressing concern at nearly 46 percent children being affected by malnutrition in the country, Gandhi said out of these, about 70 percent are girls.
The campaign has been supported by the Indian Oil Corporation and NGO ActionAid India.
ActionAid India's Tanveer Kazi said: "It is encouraging to see this massive movement for gender equality and girls' empowerment taking shape across Haryana as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Abhiyan.
"The campaigners of Beti Zindabad! extend their solidarity to this effort and welcome the move to include grassroots organisations and panchayat leaders in empowering girls and women."

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sex-ration-maneka-gandhi-reward-money-1-crore-bjp/1/414430.html

Delhi election campaign LIVE updates: Kiran Bedi leads BJP roadshow to file nomination

Kiran Bedi at Krishna Nagar constituencyWednesday being the last day to file nominations for the February 7 Delhi Assembly elections, leaders from all the political parties are busy with their last-leg preparations to do the exercise.The BJP's Kiran Bedi is holding a roadshow before filing her papers from the Krishna Nagar constituency in East Delhi. Her chief ministerial rival and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will file his nomination from the New Delhi seat. His 7-km roadshow on Tuesday prevented him from reaching the District Magistrate's office on time.
Bedi on Wednesday began her roadshow from Lajpat Rai Chowk in Krishna Nagar. She plans to reach the office by noon to file her papers, well before the 3 pm deadline.Here are the live updates:
12:13 PM:  Kiran Bedi who can't debate and answer to people's question, how does she plan to give governance in Delhi?: Ajay Maken
And Kejriwalji, if Kiran Bediji can't join us for debate so what? Let's you and I have a debate: Ajay Maken, Congress
12:04 PM: Congress's Ajay Maken addressing rally at Sadar Bazar area
12:04 PM: BJP leader Jagdish mukhi reached DC office to file nomination.
11:51 AM: Arvind Kejriwal must file his nomination from Krishna Nagar today, that shall be the best
11:49 AM: Hari Nagar BJP-SAD candidate Avtar Singh, Rajori Garden BJP-SAD candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Tilak Nagar BJP Candidate Rajiv Babbar have reached DC office in Rampura to file their nominations.11:29 AM: Congress candidate from Greater Kailash Sharmishtha Mukherjee reaches Jamnagar House to file nomination.
11:27 AM: Arvind Kejriwal reaches Jamnagar House to file his nomination.
11:05 AM: Request Kiranji to spare freedom fighters & not saffronise them : Arvind Kejriwal on Bedi putting BJP scarf around Lala Lajpat Rai's statue
10:55 AM: I thank the people of Delhi for their tremendous response in our roadshow yesterday: Arvind Kejriwal
10:45 AM: Am certain that people of Delhi will vote for development, BJP win with a huge margin, will get 60 seats: Jagdish Mukhi
10:38 AM: Every wave reaches its peak & then recedes, it's the same with BJP: Sharmistha Mukherjee, Congress candidate from Greater Kailash.
10:28 AM: BJP's Kiran Bedi & Dr. Harsh Vardhan in a roadshow in Krishna Nagar constituency
10:25 AM: Dr.Harsh Vardhan in Krishna Nagar: This kind of affection from people isn't new for me, have been enjoying this over 20 years now.
10:20 AM: I will file nomination papers today but before that will hold a road show: Ajay Maken, Congress

State of the Union: Obama demands spread of wealth.

US President Barack Obama has declared an end to the financial crisis and pledged economic policies to benefit all Americans, in his annual State of the Union address to Congress.

In a speech devised to appeal to working families, Mr Obama outlined his strategy for "middle-class economics".
"It's now up to us to choose who we want to be over the next 15 years," he said.
But the plans are unlikely to make it past a Republican-controlled Congress.
In a speech which he described as more focused on values than policies, Mr Obama declared America had turned a page after the worst recession since the Depression.
The president said he planned to build on this growth by providing working families with help in the form of sick and maternity leave and affordable childcare.
"Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well? Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?"

Cuban detainee Alan Gross received a standing ovation during the speech

First Lady Michelle Obama had her moment of applause

Mr Obama's speech included plans to build a competitive economy by improving America's infrastructure and providing free access to community college.
"This plan is your chance to graduate ready for a new economy, without a load of debt," he said.
At the weekend, the White House pledged to close tax loopholes on large inheritances, raise capital gains tax on the richest earners from 23.8% to 28% and introduce new fees on US financial firms with assets about $50bn.
Some senior members of the Republican party dismissed this as "class warfare".
Other plans outlined by the president include:

• improve statutory sick leave and minimum wage
• help nine million students to pay for community college
• stronger cybersecurity and consumer protection
• continue with plans to shut the prison in Guantanamo
• equal pay for men and women

Analysis: BBC's North America editor, Jon Sopel Most of this speech must be seen as essentially aspirational, given the Republican control of both houses of Congress - and their antipathy towards the president
So if this speech stands little chance of becoming legislative reality, what was it all about?
First of all legacy. This is a president who seems to be following Winston Churchill's maxim that history is written by the winners.
A rock star sealing his legacy

On foreign policy, Mr Obama said America reserved the "right to act unilaterally" in hunting down terrorists and called on Congress to pass a resolution to authorise the use of force against Islamic State.
The president reiterated his belief that the US could negotiate an agreement to prevent Iran gaining nuclear weapons and said he would veto any new sanctions bill which threatens this.

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The BBC's Katty Kay says battle lines are clearly drawn

He said his decision to end America's long-standing policy on Cuba and try something new had the potential to "end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere".
Alan Gross, who was recently released after spending five years in a Cuban prison, was among Michelle Obama's guests for the speech.
In ending his address, Mr Obama said he was optimistic he could work with Congress, despite months of political gridlock.

Joni Ernst rehearsing before her speech

"I have no more campaigns to run. My only agenda for the next two years is the same as the one I've had since the day I swore an oath on the steps of this Capitol - to do what I believe is best for America," he said.
But consensus with the Republican party on many of the issues he outlined is unlikely.
In their official rebuttal, Republican senator and rising star, Joni Ernst, said Americans have not seen solutions from Mr Obama and criticised his health and immigration policies.
"Americans have been hurting, but when we demanded solutions, too often Washington responded with the same stale mindset that led to failed policies like Obamacare," she said
The senator called on Mr Obama to work with Republicans on issues where they might have common ground - including a trade deal and tax code reform.

Grand Theft Auto 5 review: Greatest cinematic remaster ever ..

It is never easy to create a remaster or in other words remake a game. At one end you have to persuade first-time players into believing that the new game is really awesome; it's alright if they missed the original, thankfully destiny has given them another chance in you. At the same time you have to persuade players who have already played and mastered the original into believing the game is actually worth another shot.
So, it is great to see that the Grand Theft Auto 5 gets it right on both counts.
What is it that makes Grand Theft Auto 5 remaster tick all the right boxes with aplomb? It's the title's originality and the fact that it stays true to its heart and soul that has made the franchise such a huge hit among fans and critics alike. At the same time, it manages to pack in the much-needed surprise elements for both long-term fans and newbies that save it from being boring and repetitive.
For a series that takes pride in stating, "being bad is good" there's still a lot going on in Grand Theft Auto 5 remaster to make you pick up that controller and venture out on that bad-boy annihilation spree that it is known for. Only this time round, it packs in full-HD panache and more.
No more mincing words here. Grand Theft Auto 5 remaster is indeed the greatest cinematic experience in a video game ever. As to understand why, read on...
Story and plot
Grand Theft Auto 5 remaster essentially sticks to the same old plot and story-line as that of the original.
For the uninitiated, the story revolves around three lead protagonists and how their lives interconnect as the game steadily progresses into epic mayhem, something that is a given when you're playing a game like GTA. Players can and will have to play through all the three characters in order to move ahead in the main storyline.
At one end you have the ageing former bank robber, criminal-turned-family-man,Michael De Santa. He is retired from the life of crime and living the good life with his family in Los Santos, San Andreas until one wrong move leads him back to where it all began. Then, there is the young and ambitious wannabe gangster Franklin Clinton who is looking to make a career in crime, but deep inside is still quite the good guy. And finally, there is Trevor Philips, Michael's former accomplice, who is what you call your worst nightmare.
The story, as it may appear, seems straight out of a Hollywood crime caper drenched in high adrenaline gangster cocktail. And, it doesn't disappoint from the very beginning. While some may consider one or all the three intertwined storylines in GTA 5 as Hollywood blockbuster cliches, what is remarkable is how everything adds up here to make for an epic conclusion that quite simply put only a GTA title can produce.   
So, you have the usual stack of police chases, the bank robberies, the hit and miss heists and,well of course, plenty of shootouts and explosions the series has been long known for. No other game would dare glorify a life of crime; then again none can do it as unabashedly as GTA and get away with it.
The cinematic grandeur that the series is known for only gets better in Grand Theft Auto 5 remaster, making you sit back and just watch in awe as the storyline unfolds, introducing a plethora of side characters, each having their distinct identity and motives.
Gameplay and graphics
Much of the changes you'll observe in Grand Theft Auto 5remaster seem to be cosmetic, and that's the beauty of it. The game indeed goes a long way to celebrate the graphical prowess of next-gen (or rather the current-gen) consoles, and is a significant boost when compared with the original GTA 5 for the old-gen platform.
You can't help but notice how big the city of Los Santos is, and next-gen graphics make it all the more convincing. The developers of the game surely deserve a moment of applause here, for they have really worked hard on areas such as antialiasing and tessellation, and the end result actually looks too good on 'n' number of counts. The remaster boasts of sharper and richer details (both character and environment) thanks to improved texture resolutions.
Add to it some improved particle and lighting systems along with some fantastic lens effects that seem straight out of some Hollywood blockbuster and you have perhaps one of the most original looking environments, falling only slightly short of what we have in Far Cry 4.
Moreover, the city of Los Santos looks distinctly different at different times of day or night, and boasts of a much better night/daylight cycle than the one we saw in Assassin's Creed: Unity.  
The city of Los Santos is huge, and even with that kind of size it doesn't leave any room for compromise. Whether it's the bustling city itself or the dense vegetation and wildlife in Blaine County, everything looks and feels good. And it's not just the environment; all these places are uniquely inhabited: the city with more distinct people and traffic (even cats and dogs), the wildlife with, well, wildlife.
Once you've settled down with what's on display, it's time to go on and actually play the game that essentially consists of a number of different story missions (of course there are plenty of side missions, we'll talk about them a little later though). While some of these might pertain to individual protagonists, some involve you to work in conjunction with the others.
One of the biggest surprises that Grand Theft Auto 5remaster packs in is a full-fledged first-person mode that changes everything, to say the least. We are not talking about the game per say, but what the first-person mode does is change how you play it. Playing in first-person brings you all the way closer to the action. While this may sound perfect when you're out on a trekking spree admiring the locales and everything, it could be taxing to the mind when you're out "killing" someone. On more than one instance, we were forced to reconsider why so and so killing was required on a human level, that is, especially when playing Trevor.
But that's not what GTA is all about, is it? So, the first-person mode is a rather handy one at that, especially in the event of shooting your enemies for precise kill. However, it still needs a little more refinement, especially when you're out driving and being chased by cops. The first-person mode while driving is downright impossible to play and we kept switching to third-person when being on the run.
Thankfully, the game doesn't end up forcing the first-person mode on you. You can choose to ignore it completely and play the game in third-person, or switch between either as per your liking.
Of all the missions involved, those relating to carrying out heists are the most entertaining and grueling to some extent. You plan your move, chose your accomplices, hire them, collect relevant equipment and then go about your business all in a co-ordinated fashion. The game gives you various ways to carry out your heist; you can choose a silent takedown or go in with a bang. There are times when you'll have to decide what goes where and how, and just hope and pray all goes well in the end.
Take note though, one wrong move (especially during chase and assassination missions) and you'll have to start the mission all over again which can be frustrating at times, considering that some of these missions are longer than the others. While some of the sequences inside the missions can be skipped, should you fail to complete them, the missions on the whole cannot be skipped.
Although, there are considerably lesser activities to do in GTA 5 remaster than say, San Andreas, it still has enough juice to keep you going for long depending on how you choose to play it. Besides the story missions, there are plenty of side missions you can indulge in. These include meeting strangers and freaks that ask you to tow trucks, dope sellers that lead you into alien apocalypse among others.
Then there is GTA Online. We decided to have some fun with it and it did end up quite an ok experience. Yes, the online multiplayer now supports up to 30 simultaneous players and you can build your own character from scratch, but on the downside, there is not much action going on here apart from the regular death matches and car races. You can of course play the multiplayer in first-person mode as well, but we are seriously waiting for the day when we could perform a heist in GTA Online.

Should you buy it?
Grand Theft Auto 5remaster is an experience and a live testimony to what "next-gen" can do. Where it fails to better Far Cry 4 in terms of graphical environment, it compensates by its sheer originality and larger than life characters. All these characters carefully stacked up in a larger than life city of Los Santos are simply a treat to the eyes. The addition of the first-person mode makes the whole experience better on several counts and the fear and loathing of a heist gone wrong keeps you on the edge of your seats. Grand Theft Auto 5remaster is definitely a must-play, and is definitely the greatest cinematic experience in a video game, ever. 

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