Wednesday, April 3, 2013

European data watchdogs target Google over privacy





Six European data protection agencies are contemplating legal action over Google's privacy policy.
The threat comes as a four-month deadline to change the policy expires with Google making "no change" to the policy.
Google's perceived failure to act is being looked in to by data watchdogs in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.
In a statement, Google said its privacy policy "respects European law".
'Full engagement'
In late October 2012, a European Commission working party reported that Google's privacy policy did not meet Commission standards on data protection.
The report said Google should do more to let users see what information was held about them, provide tools to manage this data and take more care to ensure it did not store too much data about users.
The investigation was kicked off by Google's decision to update its privacy policy so it had one set of guidelines for every service it ran.
Google was given four months to comply with the working party's recommendations to bring the policy into line with European law.
"After this period has expired, Google has not implemented any significant compliance measures," said French data watchdog CNIL in a statement. CNIL headed the probe into the privacy policy.
In addition, said CNIL, Google was warned about the potential for action on 19 March in a meeting with officials from six data watchdogs. "No change," was seen following this meeting, said CNIL.
As a consequence, all six data protection bodies were now opening new investigations into Google and how it handled privacy. The UK's Information Commissioner confirmed it was looking at whether the policy complied but said it could not add further comment because the investigation was ongoing.
A Google spokesman said: "Our privacy policy respects European law and allows us to create simpler, more effective services."
"We have engaged fully with the DPAs involved throughout this process, and we'll continue to do so going forward," added the spokesman.
News of the action comes as Google's privacy director, Alma Whitten, steps down from her job. Ms Whitten was appointed as the search giant's first privacy director in 2010, following a series of mistakes by Google that had led to user data being exposed.

Why China's military has turned to gaming???


China's Communist Party and its more than two-million-man army aren't supposed to like video games.

Home-video consoles, that were growing in popularity through the 1990s, were officially banned in 2000 for fear that they were corrupting Chinese youth.

It was a kind of King Canute communism -- an attempt to hold back the rising tide of capitalism and the inflow of Western cultural products.

Of course, in the end it failed and the shrill warnings about "electronic heroin" were drowned out by consumer demand.

Consoles remained available on the grey market and the gaming industry simply moved online.

Today it's an industry that's worth more than 50bn Chinese RMB ($7.9bn; �5.2bn) a year and the Communist Party and its army are now well and truly in on the act.

Since its public release a few months ago, Glorious Mission, a video game initially designed for and by the Chinese military, has been downloaded more than a million times.

It might look like just another shoot 'em up blood-fest but it is, in fact, China's latest propaganda tool.

Why China's military has turned to gaming

Related Stories

China's Communist Party and its more than two-million-man army aren't supposed to like video games.
Home-video consoles, that were growing in popularity through the 1990s, were officially banned in 2000 for fear that they were corrupting Chinese youth.
It was a kind of King Canute communism - an attempt to hold back the rising tide of capitalism and the inflow of Western cultural products.
Of course, in the end it failed and the shrill warnings about "electronic heroin" were drowned out by consumer demand.
Consoles remained available on the grey market and the gaming industry simply moved online.
Today it's an industry that's worth more than 50bn Chinese RMB ($7.9bn; £5.2bn) a year and the Communist Party and its army are now well and truly in on the act.
Since its public release a few months ago, Glorious Mission, a video game initially designed for and by the Chinese military, has been downloaded more than a million times.
It might look like just another shoot 'em up blood-fest but it is, in fact, China's latest propaganda tool.
Military dreams

Start Quote

Most young boys, from the bottom of their hearts, want to be a soldier ”
Gu KaiGiant Network Technology
It was designed as a training aid for Chinese soldiers and state-run television has show pictures of ranks of them merrily gaming away, controlling virtual People's Liberation Army troops in various battlefield scenarios.
Interestingly, the virtual enemy they're taking on appears at times to bear at least a passing resemblance to the US and its allies, raising questions about exactly what real-life scenarios they're training for.
But whatever the effect on soldiers, the decision to make the game available to the wider public was taken in order to instil patriotic values, the "core values" of the military, according to army sources.
Gu Kai, vice-president of the software developers behind the game, Giant Network Technology, says that he believes the game will help drum up new army recruits.
People at an internet cafeOnline gaming is extremely popular in China
"I would hope that somebody will play the game and fulfil their dream," he says.
"Most young boys, from the bottom of their hearts, want to be a soldier. They like to fight, they like to win, and if this video game can make that dream come true, I won't be surprised."
The propaganda appears, in places, less than subtle. One of the game's stages recreates the "fiery atmosphere of camp life", according to one news report.
War of ideas
In one Shanghai internet cafe, almost every one of the 100 or so terminals is busy with someone locked in intense online combat with a wide variety of foes; goblin, alien or human.
One young man says he spends more than 10 hours a week in here, and he agrees that online games might be a powerful tool for influencing thoughts and ideas.
"It's possible," he says. "Most of the players here are young. A military video game could make you feel familiar with and then develop an affinity for the army."
Glorious Mission, then, is a swift about-face for the Chinese military as well as a sign that China isn't just censoring the internet, banning search terms and deleting posts which it does routinely, but also now trying to harness its power.
The country already has an army of Communist Party bloggers posting comments in support of the government.
The seemingly rehabilitated gaming industry is simply the latest weapon.
Gu KaiGu Kai says that the officials he's met are no longer opposed to gaming
This year, reports on state media suggest that the authorities might be about to officially abandon their moral scruples about the gaming industry altogether, with the consoles ban apparently coming up for review.
Gu Kai from Giant Network Technology tells me that he thinks China is now well and truly over it.
"I've met some of the officials," he says. "They stopped worrying about video games years ago."
"Most of them are promoting gaming as a new, hopeful and fast growing industry. At least here in Shanghai all the officials are very open and supportive."
China isn't the first to design a video game for military training purposes - Glorious Mission bears some resemblance to a game made 10 years ago, as a tool for the US military and also as a lure for army recruitment.
But influencing the thoughts of the wider public and attempting to mould and foster nationalist sentiment and loyalty is a more ambitious fight, and in China's virtual world, it's a fight that's likely to intensify.

Monday, January 21, 2013

World’s strongest magnet is 500,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field


26 Worlds Strongest Magnet Worlds strongest magnet is 500,000 times stronger than Earths magnetic field
The world’s strongest magnet has been created and sits in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University. According to researchers, it has the potential to revolutionize scientific research. The custom built split magnet took $2.5 million to complete, and operates at 25 Tesla – which is 500,000 times stronger than our planet’s magnetic field. If are ever caught in one of these devices, let’s just say you probably won’t live to tell the tale.
The previous world’s strongest magnet was only 17.5 Tesla and was set in France in 1991. The scientists will be using the magnets to probe the unusual properties of materials under extreme conditions of heat and pressure. The strong magnetic fields should make it easier for researchers to observe atoms or molecules much more easily then if they were under less extreme conditions. I wonder what sort of breakthroughs we’ll get from this device. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

The tallest buildings in India revealed

Standing tall at 254 metres (833 ft), the 61-floored Imperial Tower (I & II) are the tallest buildings in India. The Imperial is a twin-tower residential skyscraper complex in Mumbai that were the tallest buildings in the country till June 2012 when Palais Royale topped out. The towers are located at the sea front in Tardeo, South Mumbai. Construction was completed and the towers were inaugurated in 2010. (Photo by Krupasindhu Muduli via Wikimedia Commons)

Tallest Building



Palais Royale is still under construction – it is a skyscraper located on the land previously owned by Shree Ram Mills Ltd. in Lower Parel, Mumbai. The luxury building has 100 apartments with areas of 8,700 square feet (810 m2) and 14,000 square feet. With a floor plate of 500,000 square feet, the premises will have amenities like a cinema house, spa, cricket pitch, badminton court, football pitch and three swimming pools. It has 88 lakh square feet of total residential space. [Photo by Tejas Itraj (on Panoramio) , via Wikimedia Commons]




The tallest buildings in India revealed




Lodha Bellissimo is a tower currently topped out located in Mumbai, India. With a height of 222 meters (728 ft), the expected floor count is 53 floors. The construction is expected to be completed by late 2012. (Company website)



The tallest buildings in India revealed



Vivarea (Towers 1, 2 and 3) in Mumbai stand at 200 metres (656 ft) tall and boast 45 floors.The 193m (633 ft) tall Ashok Towers D (pictured) in Mumbai has 49 floors. (Photo by Uniconnect via Wikimedia Commons)



India Tallest towers




With 40 floors and a height of 191 metres (627 ft) The Ruby in Mumbai comes in next. Orchid Woods (1, 2 and 3) share the next spot with a height of 190 metres (623 ft). The buildings have 55 floors each. Urmi Estate in Mumbai has a height of 182 metres (597 ft) and boasts 45 floors.
Pictured left: Planet Godrej is located in South Mumbai on plot of 9-acre (3.6 ha) at Mahalaxmi, Mumbai. Planet Godrej is one of the tallest towers in India. The tower is 181 m (594 ft) and 51 floors high.
(Photo: Company website)



The tallest buildings in India revealed





Three buildings share the same ranking at 15, 16 and 17. Sunshine Tower (40 floors)and Imperial Heights (1 and 2) in Mumbai share the same height of 180 metres (591 ft).
(Photo: Company website)



The tallest buildings in India revealed




At Rank 18, is perhaps the most-talked about buildings in recent times. Antilia (pictured) is the 27-floor personal home in South Mumbai belonging to businessman Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries. According to some media reports, a full-time staff of 600 maintains the residence, reportedly the most expensive home in the world. The building is named after the mythical Atlantic island of Antillia.
The Antilia building is situated on an ocean-facing 4,532 square metres (48,780 sq ft) plot at Altamount Road, Cumballa Hill, South Mumbai.
(AFP PHOTO/Indranil MUKHERJEE)


The tallest buildings in India revealed




At No 19 is 36-floored Vasant Grandeur (172 metres or 564 ft ) in Mumbai, followed by Raheja Legend (167 metres). It is followed by Springs (160 metres) and the 160-m Rustomjee Elanza (1, 2 & 3) - Pictured).
[Photo: Company website]


tallest buildings

With 40 floors and a height of 191 metres (627 ft) The Ruby in Mumbai comes in next. Orchid Woods (1, 2 and 3) share the next spot with a height of 190 metres (623 ft). The buildings have 55 floors each. Urmi Estate in Mumbai has a height of 182 metres (597 ft) and boasts 45 floors.

10 Best Flyovers in India



Transport play an important role in the development of a nation. India has a wide and heavy network of road transport which connects all the major cities. The ExpresswaysCloverleaf interchangesBridgesTunnels and Flyovers have make metros of India more sophisticated in nature. To handle the heavy traffic and for uninterrupted connectivity the beautiful flyovers are constructed in all the metro cities of India. All the flyovers have been constructed with new technologies with noise and dust barriers. Delhi and Chennai has maximum number of flyover in India and also known as “The city of flyovers”. Jaipur,Lucknow and Guwahati also has best flyovers to minimize the traffic of the city. Visit to know Newly constructed flyover of Indian cities
Thane Flyovers -Mumbai: Mumbai known as “The City Never Sleep” has 44 existing flyovers and 16 new flyovers has already been proposed to come to reduce traffic at different location of the dream city. These flyovers provide at least some relief to the Mumbaikers. One of the best flyover in Mumbai is thane flyover. Mumbai also has one of the best bridge in India that is bandra-worli sea-link.Hebbal Flyover -Bangalore: Bangalore The ‘Garden city of India‘ has some of the great flyovers. Bangalore electronic city flyover is 2nd biggest flyover in India. Hebbal Flyover is the best one and double road flyover is one of the worst flyover in India, has a signal on it, first of its kind in the world.Visweswarayya  Flyovers -Hyderabad: The twins cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad has recently registered its name in the book of records for having the longest flyover in the nation. It is 11.6 km long and India’s longest flyover and the road will be the India’s longest expressway.Varachha Flyover -Surat: Flyover in Surat have been a great success story in decongesting traffic movement. Varachha flyover was the longest flyover in India.AIIMS Flyover-Delhi: The Capital city of India, Delhi is using State-of-the-art technologies for its flyover projects to minimize construction activity at busyintersectionsCommonwealth Games traveler will remember Delhi as the green city of beautiful flyovers.AJC Bose Flyovers -Kolkata: APC Road & AJC Bose road taken together is the longest road in Kolkata. AJC Bose road flyover is 1.8 km in length and one of the most important and longest flyover in Kolkata.Lucas Flyover -Chennai: Chennai is also known as “The city of flyovers”. It has maximum number of flyovers in India, few of them are Anna Flyover, Chennai Airport Flyover and  Lucas Flyover. The famous and grand flyover “kathipara Junction” a cloverleaf shaped flyover is new face of Chennai.Memnagar Junction Flyover  -Ahmedabad: Ahmedabad is one of the beautiful city in Gujarat, it is ready to fly over those congested city roads. After Ahmadabad being developed as science city, its main focus is to improve its infrastructure.Chiriyatand  Flyovers-Patna : Flyovers in Patna are very helpful to reduce the surging traffic pressure on its boring road. Patna is one of the great city in Bihar and  one of the oldest living city in India. Mahatma Gandhi Setu on river Gange is the longest river bridge in India.University Flyovers -Pune: Pune, one of the famous city for its greenery, natural beauty, surrounded mountains and for romantic weather. Pune thegreen city has good diversions to handle the traffic and University circle flyover is the best example.University flyover is the longest and best flyover in pune.

Longest Railway Bridges in India


The Indian infrastructures of bridges are making their way to international market. India has some of the best structure of flyoversexpresswaytunnels,cloverleafs, Dams, Elevated freeway and bridges. These structures and bridges play a very important role to make world’s largest railway network. The longest rail bridge in the country at 4.62km located in the land of attraction state of Kerala known as Vembanad rail bridge. Rail-cum road bridges like Godavari bridge on Godavari river, Naranarayana bridge on Brahmaputra river and Farakka Barrage on holy Ganges river are not include in this article. India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge is under construction on the river Gange in Patna, Bihar.
Vembanad Bridge: The Vembanad Rail Bridge is located in the state of Kerala and connects Edappally and Vallarpadam in Kochi. Vembanad rail bridge is the longest rail bridge in India with the total length of 4.62 km. The railway line bridge is dedicated for only goods trains and traffic is 15 trains per day. Vembanad bridge is build over the backwaters of Vembanad lake and passes through the 3 small islands. Vembanad lake is the longest lake in India and the largest lake of Kerala,also rank in one of the largest Indian lakes, used for traditional sports  of Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race.Vembanad-Rail-BridgeUpper Son Bridge : The Upper Son bridge also known as Nehru Setu rail bridge is the second longest railway bridge in India with total length of 3.065 km. Earlier Nehru Setu was the longest railway bridge in India build across the Son River in Bihar state. Nehru Setu connects Dehri-on-Son and Son Nagar open on 27 February 1900. There is a river road bridge Jawahar Setu on National Highway 2 NH-2 running parallel to the long Nehru Setu rail bridge.Upper-Son-Rail-BridgeHavelock Bridge: The Havelock bridge or old Godavari bridge is 2.7 km long decommissioned bridge over the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh. Godavari arch bridge was built as a replacement for Havelock bridge and now the bridge is used to host civic water supply pipelines. There is another bridge in Holy Godavari river known as Kovvur-Rajahmundry bridge, Asia’s second longest road-cum-rail bridge crossing a water body. Godavari river is the second longest river in India after The Ganges,Originate in Nashik and fall into Bay of Bengal.Old-Godavari-Rail-BridgeGodavari Arch Bridge: The New Railway bridge on holy Godavari river is a Arch bridge of total length 2.7 Km at Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Godavari arch bridge is a single Railway lane bridge replaces then parallel running old Godavari bridge. The new Godavari bridge is one of the longest span prestressed concrete arch bridge in Asia. Jayakwadi dam near Paithan is one of the largest earthen dam in India build over holy river Godavari in state of Maharashtra.Godavari- Arch-BridgeMahanadi Rail Bridge: The Second Mahanadi Rail bridge is 2.100 km long railway bridge over the great Mahanadi river.Second Mahanadi railway bridge is located near Cuttack in the Indian state of Orissa, First Mahanadi bridge is locatd near Bhootmundei. The second Mahanadi rail bridge is one of the longest Indian Railways bridge and the biggest bridge in Orissa state. Crossing the huge Mahanadi bridge over the Great Mahanadi river by speedy trains must be thrill. The Great River also own one of the biggest dam in India Hirakud Dam at Sambalpur district.Mahanadi-rail-bridge-CuttackPamban Bridge: The cantilever railway bridge is the second longest sea bridge in India (after Bandra-Worli Sea Link) with a total length of nearly 2.065 km. The Pamban Bridge is India’s first sea bridge and third longest rail bridge in India, build across the Palk strait water body. The Pamban Bridge also known as Rameshwaram bridge is located in Rameshwaram, Tamilnadu and connects Rameswaram island to mainland of India. Pamban Bridge is a bascule bridge that allows ships to pass under the bridge. There is also a 2 lanes Pamban Road bridge runs parallel to the cantilever railway bridge.Pamban-Rail-BridgeSharavathi River Bridge: Sharavathi is the major river of Karnataka state,flows entirely within the state of Karnataka and joins the Arabian Sea at Honnavar of Uttara Kannada district. The 2.060 km long Sharavathi Bridge is Konkan railway longest bridge, situated near to Honnavar. Sharavathi river is originate from Linganamakki dam in the Sagara taluk and flows towards west,one of the westward flowing rivers of India. The river basin lies in the Western Ghats which is home to rare species of flora and fauna and forms the famous Jog waterfalls.Sharavathi-Rail-BridgeKonkan Railway Bridge: Zuari Bridge is build across the Zuari river in Goa state. The 1.319 km long bridge is the longest bridge of Konkan rail network, Konkan rail network is one of the most beautiful train route in India and connects Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka states. Karbude tunnel is the longest rail tunnel in India situated on Konkan Railway route near Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.Konkan-Railway-BridgeJubilee Bridge Hooghly: Jubilee Bridge is the very important rail bridge build over the river Hooghly between Naihati and Bandel at Calcutta. Its acantilever truss bridge and one of the oldest rail bridge in India. It will be replaced by a new rail bridge built adjacent to it to be named as Sampreeti bridge.Jubilee-Bridge- HooghlyBalawali Railway Bridge: The new railway bridge was built across the holy river Ganga near Balawali between the Laksar Najibabad Railway route in Uttar Pradesh. Balawali railway bridge is run parallel to Balawali road bridge. There is a longest rail-cum road bridge over the Ganga river in Patna is under construction.Balawali-Rail-BridgeChenab river railway bridge will be the tallest railway bridge in the world is under constructed by Konkan Railway. The Panvalnadi bridge on the Panval river in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra is presently the tallest bridge in India. Please share your comments and information, if i have missed any longest rail bridge in India.

Largest Cities in the World - List One Most Populous Urban Agglomerations

This is a listing of the 26 most populous cities in the world (those having a population over eight million). Data are estimates from late 2005.
All population figures for the world's largest urban areas are simply estimates. There's no way to know the exact population of such a large place. If you don't like this list, you can review Largest Cities in the World - List Two, based on different methodologies. Both lists are valid estimates.


1. Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan - 33,200,000
2. New York, United States - 17,800,000
3. Sao Paulo, Brazil - 17,700,000
4. Seoul-Incheon, South Korea - 17,500,000
5. Mexico City, Mexico - 17,400,000
6. Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto, Japan - 16,425,000
7. Manila, Philippines - 14,750,000
8. Mumbai, India (formerly Bombay) - 14,350,000
9. Jakarta, Indonesia - 14,250,000
10. Lagos, Nigeria - 13,400,000
11. Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta) - 12,700,000
12. Delhi, India - 12,300,000
13. Cairo, Egypt - 12,200,000
14. Los Angeles, United States - 11,789,000
15. Buenos Aires, Argentina - 11,200,000
16. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 10,800,000
17. Moscow, Russia - 10,500,000
18. Shanghai, China - 10,000,000
19. Karachi, Pakistan - 9,800,000
20. Paris, France - 9,645,000
21. Nagoya, Japan - 9,000,000 (tie)
21. Istanbul, Turkey - 9,000,000 (tie)
23. Beijing, China - 8,614,000
24. Chicago, United States - 8,308,000
25. London, United Kingdom - 8,278,000
26. Shenzhen, China - 8,000,000


Posibilities pf Mergers: India & Maldives

  There are a number of reasons why the Maldives might merge with India in the future. These include: Cultural and historical ties: The Mal...