iPhone 7 to ditch 3.5mm jack; Apple to release wireless headphones

EFT Report, Mumbai: If rumors are to be believed, Apple may ditch 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7. According to an allegedly "confirmed" information from iPhone supply chain, Apple will release wireless earphones alongside.

Citing people in the iPhone supply chain, Andrews Forum reports that the iPhone 7 will not have a 3.5mm jack. This, however, doesn't mean that your existing EarPods won't be compatible with the iPhone 7. The report adds that Apple will make available a Lightning "convert up" to allow headphones with a 3.5mm outlet to be used with the Lightning connector.

Last year, a report claimed that Apple was planning to ditch the 3.5mm headphone jack in an attempt to make the iPhone thinner by 1mm. The new report has corroborated he reasoning, adding that Apple also plans to promote its wireless headset. The previous report also claimed that the Lightning connector will retain the same size, and will also come with a digital-to-analogue converter for backwards compatibility with wired headphones.

The removal of headphone jack might not sit well with users. Almost every smartphone, tablet, desktop, laptop currently ships with this audio port. But considering Apple's past record, removal of the 3.5mm port doesn't seem unlikely. The company ditched the compact disk drive from its computer lineup with the MacBook Air, and soon many rival manufacturers were doing the same. Last year, the company launched the MacBook which has just one USB Type-C port for data transfer and power input.

Besides, the Cupertino-based company has been hinting at its dislike towards the 3.5mm jack for a while now. In 2014, the company introduced the MFi (Made for iPhone) program specifications to allow third-party manufacturers to make earphones that could be connected to the iPhone or iPad via a Lightning cable. Philips Fidelio NC1L, which features battery-free active noise cancelling technology, connects to an iPhone via a Lightning cable.

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PwC to develop hi-tech traffic system in Uttar Pradesh

EFT Report, Agra: The Agra traffic police department is in the process of setting up a modern control room (MCR) to roll out the proposed integrated traffic management system (ITMS) and smart city surveillance system (SCSS) for monitoring traffic better and catch offenders of traffic rules. The systems will have 20 smart sensors-enabled traffic signals and high resolution CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras to enable surveillance of 75 critical public places and make vehicular movement safe for commuters.
 
Talking about the automatic traffic light system, Abhishek Singh, superintendent of police (traffic), said, "These traffic lights will have sensors that can estimate the number of vehicles waiting at the signal and automatically calculate the time (in seconds) for which the light should be green to allow all these vehicles pass. A modern control room to operate this system and to keep round-the-clock watch on traffic across the city is currently in the process of being designed."

According to Singh, the ITMS will provide an integrated platform to centralize management of all traffic systems such as traffic signal control and traffic monitoring. It will also provide real time traffic information to motorists through electronic message signs that will enable incident management, tunnel and highway monitoring, he added.

"To design and implement the project, the state government had floated a tender and hired a consultant firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). The entire project will cost an estimated Rs 200-250 crore and would be functional around July 2016," the SP said.

According to another senior police official, "In the next few months, we are going to have a high-tech MCR in Agra, which will monitor traffic round the clock and respond to any traffic flow crisis through a dedicated response team. Agra is among the most visited tourist destinations in the world, and our aim is to make roads free of congestion."

In some developed countries, smart road projects involve measures to control, monitor and ensure smooth traffic flow. In the US and Canada, sensors have been installed on roads every few hundred metres to track traffic flow. An electronic monitor then sets the most suitable speed limit and adjusts the signage to inform motorists. In some other places, to reduce congestions, ramp metering devices stop traffic on slip roads and release the vehicles one at a time to the main road. 

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Kerala-based firm launches eToilet mobile app

EFT Report, Thiruvananthapuram: Eram Scientific Solutions, the only manufacturer of electronic toilets in the country, on Wednesday unveiled a new eToilet mobile app for such toilets a day before the World Toilet Day on November 19.

The app can be downloaded for free by android users from Google Play Store by typing keyword 'etoilets'.

Its unique features include locating the nearest eToilets, besides understanding mode of operation and access, information on facilities such as napkin vending machine, incinerator and sharing feedback on user experience of eToilet. 

Through the app public can also suggest new places for setting up eToilets.

K. Anwar Sadat, CEO of the Thiruvananthapuram-based company, said it has set up over 1,300 eToilets across 18 states in India, and won numerous national and international awards.

The Chennai Municipal Corporation has the most - 150-plus - eToilets in the country.

The company has sought feedback from users and administrators to better the app and plans to bring out the final version on January 1, 2016. 

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Micromax launches first 4G smartphone 'CanvasXpress4G'

EFT Report, New Delhi: Amidst reports of partnering with Reliance Jio for VoLTE devices, domestic handset manufacturer Micromax on Wednesday launched its first 4G smartphone "CanvasXpress4G" at Rs.6,599.

The world's tenth largest smartphone vendor also announced its long-term 4G devices strategy.

The announcement comes after rivals Samsung and Lenovo featured in market research reports as the top players to sell multiple 4G devices.

"As the market has shifted to 4G, Micromax is also shifting its strategy to bring in more 4G devices. Almost 40 percent of smartphone sold online is 4G. 

"Almost three out of four phones that Flipkart, who is also our exclusive online partner, sold was 4G," said Vineet Taneja, chief executive officer of Micromax.

"We currently have 13 4G devices in our portfolio and most of them are in mid-range segment. Micromax's strategy revolves around combining 4G, power of online sales channel and value for money proposition," Taneja explained.

He said an average life cycle of its smartphone across sub-brands like Fire, Nitro, Canvas and Bolt was six to nine months.

Although the company will phase out exclusive 2G models, it will continue to sell feature phones which accounts for 50 percent of the company's sales volume, he said.

The company also said that the XpressCanvas4G will be available only via domestic e-commerce player Flipkart via open sales starting Wednesday.

The new device will be powered by a 1GHz MediaTek MT 6735 processor and a 2GB DDR3 RAM. 

It will come with a five-inch HD display, eight-megapixel rear and two-megapixel front camera and an internal storage of 16 GB.

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Epica launches glass free 3D TV, tab, mobiles

EFT Report, Kochi: Sharjah headquartered Epica, the animation, VFX and 3D division of the Aries Group, has launched glass-free 3D products - Epica 3D TV, Epica 3D Tab and Epica 3D Mobile Phones - in Kerala.

The USP of these products is not just the 3D visual experience but also the 3D immersed sound system, developed in partnership with Belgium-based Auro Technologies.

The products have been developed jointly by Epica and Dimenco, with the IP of Philips.

"Epica 3D TV is currently aimed as a professional B2B 3D monitor, which can be used for commercials, out-of-home advertisements, training, medical and engineering educational content display. We hope to redefine the advertising scenario with our LED 3D display and replace 2D displays across the world and facilitate the ultimate glasses free 3D viewing experience," said Sohan Roy, chief executive officer of Aries Epica.

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Boeing, Tata announce aerospace JV in India

EFT Report, Dubai: Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems on Monday announced a joint venture that will manufacture aerostructures for aircraft and collaborate on integrated systems development opportunities in India.

The JV will initially create a manufacturing center of excellence to produce aerostructures for the AH-64 Apache helicopter and to compete for additional manufacturing work packages across Boeing platforms, both commercial and defense.

Boeing and Tata Advanced Systems intend to grow the JV partnership in the future, with a focus on opportunities to collaborate on development and selling of integrated systems.

“This partnership will capitalize on India’s industrial capability, innovation and talent to contribute to Boeing’s long-term competitiveness and position us for future growth in the global marketplace,” said Chris Chadwick, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “It is a demonstration of our commitment to further accelerate our partnership with one of the world’s fastest growing economies.”

“This agreement to establish a JV will propel the growth of the Indian aerospace sector by leveraging the world-class competencies of TASL and its supplier eco-system, as well as provide access to India’s world-class manufacturing capability, skilled talent and competitive cost structures,” said S. Ramadorai, chairman, Tata Advanced Systems.

“Over the last 12 months, we have doubled our sourcing from India and are committed to continue that journey,” said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India. “Our commitment was demonstrated by Boeing Chairman Jim McNerney’s presence at the recently concluded aerospace Innovation Summit in New Delhi and this JV is a clear example of Boeing’s long-term commitment to Make in India.”

“TASL is one of the select few in the private sector in India undertaking manufacturing and assembly of both aircraft and helicopters. The resulting scale and expertise at which the company now operates makes it well-positioned for large-scale systems integration work in India’s aerospace and defense sector,” said Sukaran Singh, MD & CEO, Tata Advanced Systems.

Boeing and Tata group companies have established partnerships in India to manufacture aerostructures for Boeing’s commercial and military aircraft. Tata Advanced Materials has delivered composite panels for the power and mission equipment cabinets and auxiliary power unit door fairings for the P-8I long-range maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft. TAL Manufacturing Solutions is manufacturing complex floor beams out of composite materials for the Boeing 787-9, the most modern aircraft with exceptional environmental and fuel-efficient capabilities. TAL Manufacturing Solutions has provided ground support equipment for the C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifter.

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Hyundai to roll out self-driven car in December

EFT Report, Seoul: South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. is set to unveil its first self-driven vehicle in December, a media report said on Monday.

Hyundai plans to roll out the latest version of its "Genesis" luxury sedan equipped with the so-called highway driving assist (HDA) system.

The HDA system is designed to keep a car within the lane, maintain a safe distance from the car ahead and provide a navigation-connected system that gives warnings of maximum and minimum speeds on highway sections, Yonhap News Agency reported.

It is designed to enhance the driver's ability to cope with diverse situations that could happen on highways.

A Hyundai official said the company's launch of the model will usher in the era of autonomous driving in South Korea.

According to the official, Hyundai plans to apply the autonomous driving function to its other vehicles from 2020, which will "maximize" the safety for drivers in numerous road conditions.

The planned launch is part of Hyundai Motor's efforts to develop next-generation smart cars that combine automated driving with high-tech features. 

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Virtusa to buy Polaris' 53% stake for Rs 1,173 crore

EFT Report, Chennai: US-based Virtusa Corporation has decided to buy around 53 percent of shares of city based software services company Polaris Consulting and Services Ltd for Rs.1,173 crore, the Indian company said.

Virtusa will make an unconditional mandatory offer to the public shareholders of Polaris to purchase up to an additional 26 percent of its outstanding shares.

In a statement issued here, Polaris Consulting said it has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement (SPA) with Virtusa Corporation whereby a subsidiary of Virtusa will acquire approximately 53 percent of the paid up share capital of Polaris.

The American company will buy the shares from certain promoter entities led by Polaris chairman Arun Jain and certain other shareholders, including OrbiTech Private Ltd (formerly known as Orbitech Ltd).

As per the agreement, Virtusa will purchase the shares at a price of around Rs.220.73 per share.

"I wish all Polaris associates who contributed to building Polaris into a world class company in the BFSI (banking, financial services and insurance) space, continued success in their journey under the larger canvas of Virtusa and Polaris. 

"This will also enable me to establish and pursue innovative models for social impact using Design Thinking in the areas of health and education, in addition to my focus on steering Intellect Design Arena Limited into a global digital products powerhouse," Jain was quoted as saying in the statement.

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Tech startup 'YourDOST' raises US$400,000 for expansion

EFT Report, Hyderabad: YourDOST, a technology start-up aiming to establish a unique platform for mental well being and emotional support, has raised $400,000 in the first round of Angel funding for marketing and expansion.

The venture, through the web portal, offers complete support to people looking to discuss any kind of emotional issues by providing them instant online access to experts along with anonymity.

YourDOST is also available to people on mobile now with the launch of its mobile app on android platform and available for free download from Android play store, a company statement said.

Owing to the uniqueness of the idea, the start-up has been able to attract established entrepreneurs and professionals like Phanindra Sama (Redbus founder), Aprameya Radhakrishna (TaxiForSure founder), Aneesh Reddy (Capillary founder), Nagesh Grandhi (Hyderabad Angels)Aand other investors.

"With YourDOST we aim to create awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental wellness in our society," said Richa Singh, co-founder and CEO, YourDOST.com.

Started by Richa Singh, an IIT-Guhawati alumunus in partnership with Puneet Manuja, IIM-B alumunus and Prakhar Verma, a computer science graduate from BMSCE, Bangalore, in last 10 months of its operations, YourDOST has received tremendous response from the market with close to 70,000 users so far and the number growing at about 40 percent month on month.

With 10,000 registered users currently, a team of over 75 experts service around 300 one-to-one interactions on a daily basis.

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Microsoft partners with Justdial, Paytm, Snapdeal; launches cloud initiative for start-ups

EFT Report, Mumbai: US-based technology major Microsoft on Thursday announced a string of partnerships, programmes and products claimed to help Indian organisations and governments to explore unchartered business areas and enrich customer and citizen experiences.

The newly launched local Microsoft Cloud and new devices will also catalyse digital transformation, the company said.

The tech giant, based in Redmond, California, announced partnerships with three e-commerce players - Justdial, Paytm and Snapdeal - and launched a special cloud initiative for start-ups aligned to smart cities at its first of its kind technology conference being held here.

"At Microsoft, we strive to empower every Indian citizen and every business and government organization to achieve more," Satya Nadella, the Indian-born chief exevutive of Microsoft, said at the conference.

"With the newly launched Microsoft Cloud and with Surface Pro 4, our customers here in India have the digital technology they need to seize incredible new growth and opportunity on a global scale," he added.

According to the company, Justdial and Microsoft will explore the use of Bing and cloud-based analytics to provide and enhance customer experience.

"Paytm and Microsoft are working on three core areas of partnership. The companies will integrate the Paytm app and Paytm Wallet into Cortana to enable consumers to pay for their utility bills and carry out mobile transactions easily. Paytm will use Office 365 for their merchants' inventory and account management," it said in a statement.

"Lastly, Paytm will facilitate and support Microsoft service sales via their merchant network," it added.

Justifying the partnerships, Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman, Microsoft India, said: "Cloud and mobile technologies are already galvanising Indian industry. We will demonstrate that technology in the hands of brilliant people can create magic."

Snapdeal will work with Microsoft Cloud platforms to create a digital automotive dealership that is expected to change the way customers make automotive buying decisions.

In addition, Microsoft also said that start-ups can now apply for individual access up to $120,000 (Rs.80 lakh) worth of Azure computing to help India's smart cities explore solutions and run smart city digital pilots.

"Cities can also apply for access to these services and solutions on Azure through a new portal which connects start-ups with cities and their needs. This initiative is anticipated to impact over 50 smart cities in the next year through a catalogue of over 50 start-ups and ISV solutions," the company added.

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Linkedin Placements launched for Indian students

EFT Report, Bengaluru: The world's largest professional network, Linkedin, launched Linkedin Placements on Wednesday, aimed at making graduating students across India easily find their first job.

"Our conversations with students, placement officers and recruiters involved in campus recruitment point to an unmet need for efficiency and effectiveness," said Ganesan Venakatasubramanian, head, engineering, Linkedin India in a statement on launching the solution.

Developed locally by more than 40 Linkedin employees, Linkedin Placements enables students to apply for jobs from anywhere and anytime and stay informed.

The professional network is piloting Linkedin Placements first in India.

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ICICI Bank to grow mobile banking transactions to Rs 80,000-crore

Mumbai, Nov 3 (IANS) ICICI Bank on Tuesday said it is planning to grow its mobile banking transactions to Rs.80,000 crore by the end of the current fiscal.

In a statement, the bank said it has already completed transactions worth Rs.16,000 crore in the first quarter of the current fiscal. The same amount featured as the entire transaction volume during the last fiscal.

"The unique payment gateway has allowed the bank to customise the app based on transactional needs. Clearly, the technological investment in upgrading the app has paid off as shopping and merchandise has recorded 700 percent growth in the first quarter alone, when compared against last year," Rajiv Sabharwal, the bank's executive director, said.

It has registered the maximum number of transactions worth over Rs.6,800 crore in July this year. In terms of volume, the bank recorded 53.2 lakh transactions in the same month.

As per the bank, its internet and mobile-based transactions comprise 60 percent of the total transactions.

"Further, over 50 percent of our transactions on mobile are happening beyond the top 20 cities," he added.

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Casio launches core models of lamp-free projector

EFT Report, Tokyo: Casio is set to expand its lineup of core models that support the next generation lamp free projectors with the release of XJ-V2 that can be availed at affordable prices with projectors that delivers 3000 lumens of brightness.

Priced less than USD 700, the lamp- free projectors are equipped with SSI*2 light sources and LED that have only been available in the high end of the projector market due to their advanced technology.

However, Casio has been developing a lineup of new reasonably priced projectors named "Core models," under the slogan of "Time to Go Lamp-Free for Everyone." The first core model, XJ-V1 with 2700 lumen brightness has gained an excellent reputation since it was released in the spring of 2015. It is now used in a wide range of settings spanning from education to business.

For the new XJ-V2 model, Casio worked to achieve an attractive base price and reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO), while increasing brightness to 3000 lumens. This level of brightness enables images to be clearly projected in bright places, such as a classroom with sunlight shining through its windows.

Casio developed a lamp-free projector as a pioneer in the industry in 2010, and has since gained an 87.4% share of the world market for hybrid light source projectors.

Casio developed the XJ-V2 by building on this strong track record as a leading provider of hybrid light source projectors.

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Senco Gold launches online jewellery portfolio with Amazon

EFT Report, Kolkata: Kolkata-based Senco Gold and Diamonds (SGD) on Thursday said that it has launched an exclusive jewellery portfolio available with e-tailer Amazon.in.

The partnership gives the city-based jeweller access to the pan-India market.

"The range of products which is available exclusively online is priced between Rs.7,000 to Rs.150,000," Suvankar Sen, executive director of SGD, told mediapersons here.

The online shopping portal is sharing user behavioural and analytical data reflecting the customer's or surfer's tastes and preferences with the jeweller, based on which the ornament designs are rolled out.

Until now, 460 products of SGD are listed on the portal.

The jeweller is expecting the majority of sales to happen in the Rs.7,000-Rs.40,000 price band in the coming months.

Sen said that apart from 22 carat gold coins, neckpieces like mangalsutra (black beads with gold worn by married women in India) and American diamond studded jewellery is expected to drive demand in online sales.

"Since the launch of precious jewellery in December last year on the portal, we have seen a growth of 300 percent. Sales in this segment increased by 5-6 times in the festive season as compared to the normal time", category leader at Amazon Fashion India, Mayank Shivam said.

The segment growth in the coming 2-3 years is expected to remain strong at 200-300 percent.

The online jewellery market -- presently accounting for less than 0.1 percent of the $55 billion industry size, is expected to reach around $2.5 billion in the next 5-10 years.

Besides the focus on its exclusive online portfolio, the jeweller is planning to step up its production from the present six lakh pieces a year to 10 lakh pieces in a two-year time frame.

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Twitter 'Brand Hub' launched to help advertisers

EFT Report, New Delhi: Micro-blogging site Twitter on Wednesday launched its Brand Hub feature that will help advertisers understand more about their brands.

"Today Twitter is excited to announce Brand Hub, the newest addition to our suite of analytics tools. It helps advertisers quickly understand their brand's share of conversation, key audiences, and trends about their brand's conversation," the company said in a release.

"This 360-degree, real-time view gives the brand the opportunity to learn, take action and see the impact of their initiatives on Twitter. With Brand Hub, users will see insights about your brand in a number of areas," it added.

Under the new analytics tool, the company has introduced TrueVoice -- a new metric available within Brand Hub to help advertisers track their share of conversation in real time.

"Share of conversation empowers marketers to learn more about the conversation happening about their brand on Twitter -- in fact, a research has shown that Tweets that mention brands have been linked to a direct increase in sales," Twitter said.

The company determines any brand's TrueVoice by first analysing Tweets about the subscriber's brand and those of its competitors. It then identifies what percentage of impressions the subscriber's brand owns.

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Wipro wins five-year IT contract from Norwegian retailer

EFT Report, Bengaluru: Software major Wipro on Wednesday announced winning a five-year IT contract from leading Norwegian retailer Coop Norge Handel AS.

"The strategic deal envisages transforming the retailer's enterprise software landscape and upgrading its data centre infrastructure for superior performance," the IT bellwether said in a statement here.

The Oslo-based century old cooperative firm claims to have 33 percent market share, with 1,500 stores and 1.3-million members across the Nordic country.

"Our engagement will benefit Coop's supply chain and distribution operations and strengthen its move towards an efficient operating model with greater reach and availability," Wipro chief executive for retail Srini Pallia said on the occasion.

The outsourcing major will deploy its new age technologies, frameworks and IP (intellectual property) for the transformative service.

"As a strategic partner, Wipro is a good cultural fit and brings value proposition for us. Its support to our SAP enterprise network and data centre infrastructure will enable us to serve customers better," Coop chief information officer Magne Solberg said.

Wipro's retail business unit has domain IT expertise in segments like food and fresh retailing, general merchandise, fashion and luxury and convenience stores.

"The partnership with Coop reiterates our focus and investments in the Nordic region. We will leverage our technology expertise and capabilities in SAP software to drive value for Coop," Wipro chief executive for Continental Europe Ulrich Meister added.

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Twitter launches polling feature

EFT Report, New Delhi: Social microblogging website Twitter on Friday launched a new feature called Polls, which will allow its users to take opinions of other users on the platform on any topic.

"Now it's possible for everyone to create polls on Twitter. Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) created his first poll on Friday," Twitter said in a release.

Previously, Twitter offered a few ways to participate in polls including tweeting questions, tracking replies, tallying favourites, retweets and hashtag votes.

"Now, with just a couple of taps, people can weigh in on all the topics they care about. You can now create a quick two-choice poll right from the Compose Box and it will remain live for 24 hours. You can vote on any poll, and how you voted is not shared publicly," it said.

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Facebook launches 'Instant Articles' to iPhone users

EFT Report, New York: If you use Facebook on iPhone, you can now read thousands of Instant Articles every day in your News Feed, the company announced.

Instant Articles are simply articles already in your Facebook News Feed, made faster and richer.

Users will see a lightning bolt on the top right corner of some stories shared in News Feed. The lightning bolt indicates it is an Instant Article. When you tap the story, it will load 10 times faster than a standard mobile web article, the company said in a statement.

"Instant Articles not only connect readers to stories faster; they also provide a richer reading experience than standard mobile web articles, with dynamic features that make the content more fluid, interactive and immersive," Facebook product manager Michael Reckhow said.

Users will be able to see Instant Articles from NBC News, The Atlantic, BuzzFeed, The New York Times and National Geographic among others.

If you happen to be Android user, you will have to wait a bit to get Instant Articles. The feature for Android will be launched later this year, with a public beta available this week itself, according to the company.

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Panasonic launches 20-inch tablet PC

EFT Report, Hyderabad: Panasonic India on Monday launched 20-inch tablet PC with 4K resolution display.

Priced at Rs.2.4 lakh, the Toughpad FZ-Y1 is equipped with 5th generation Intel Core Pro processor, 8 GB RAM, and multiple input ports.

Targeted at niche segments such as healthcare and film industry, it is built to transform the efficiency and productivity across a range of business verticals.

The tablet runs on Windows 8.1 Pro OS 20-inch monitor featuring 230 pixel-per-inch IPS alpha LCD touchscreen with a 15:10 aspect ratio and wide viewing angles.

Packaged in a 12.5 mm slim and 2.41 kg light body, the stylish, lightweight glass fiber chassis can be easily converted into desktop mode with the cradle accessory.

"Panasonic offers complete customization of its rugged IT devices, which are enterprise-focused and designed to cater to a range of business verticals. We have designed this model in response to customer input, offering an unprecedented monitor capability for professionals who desire technological innovation in a one-stop tablet PC," said Panasonic India national business head, Toughbook, Gunjan Sachdev. 

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Ratan Tata to inaugurate T-Hub on Nov. 5

Hyderabad, Oct 17 (IANS) T-Hub, the country's biggest start-up incubator, will be inaugurated by Tata Sons chairman emiritus Ratan Tata on November 5.

Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will also attend the event.

The inauguration was originally scheduled on September 7 but had to be postponed due to non-availability of Tata.

The first phase has come up at the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT).

The facility is being set up in collaboration with IIIT Hyderabad, the Indian School of Business (ISB) and the NALSAR University of Law.

While NALSAR would help in intellectual property and related areas, ISB and IIIT would provide business mentoring and technology mentoring respectively.

Phase I coming up at IIIT at a cost of Rs.35 crore will be spread over 60,000 square feet and can accommodate 400 start-ups by 2017.

The second phase will come up on three acres of land in Raidurgam near Hitec City, the IT hub.

The government promises that it will be an incubator of incubators, offering startup environment available in the west.

The facility will also have venture capitalists and angel investors.

The government is also planning a venture capital fund. Officials said they were in discussion with various venture fund groups.

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