India's $35 Android Tablet for the Developing World....!!

Prices could drop to an absurd $10-$20 when these hit scale.

Today, India's human resource development minister, Kapil Sibal, unveiled a $35 tablet computer that will run Linux.  Although it wasn't specified, the device he displayed had thefamiliar notification icons of Android, seen to the right.  Android, is a Linux OS built for smartphones and now tablets by Google under an Open Source license.

"This is our answer to MIT's $100 computer," Sibal said.

MIT's One Laptop Per Child device ,which he is likely referring to, morphed into a $75 tablet a few months ago and is also running Google's (GOOG) Android OS.

Although a camera is not visible in the video below, according to the Telegraph the device is capable of video conferencing.  That's something that the slightly more expensive iPad from Apple (AAPL) famously won't yet do.   It has USB ports as well (Zing!).  Oh, and it does Adobe's Flash too.  Ouch!

The tablet can be used for word processing, web browsing and videoconferencing. It has a solar power option too – important for India's energy-starved hinterlands – though that add-on costs extra.

OLPC's device has a much more modern design and is also supposed to drop in cost as production ramps up.  It will be powered byMarvell's Moby platform and which is capable of doing many of the things Netbooks are only beginning to support.

Moby tablet features gigahertz-class processor speed, 1080p full-HD encode and decode, intelligent power management, power-efficient Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM/GPS connectivity, high performance 3D graphics capability and support for multiple software standards including full Adobe Flash, Android™ and Windows Mobile.  The ultra low power Moby tablet is designed for long-battery life.

Still though, India's tablet is an order of magnitude cheaper and the government also plans to subsidize some of the costs for its poorer children.

India has pulled a similar pricing miracle in Automobiles, making more of less with the $1000 Tata Mini (which eventually turned into $2500).

While the Indian tablet prototype looks a little bit rickety, I could see Marvel's device also being used in the first world for schooling and for general purposes around the home.  With the poor economy, a cheap tablet with the right mix of features to turn into a commercial success.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT

http://trak.in/tags/business/2010/08/11/35-tablet-video/

(Live discussion with HRD Minister)

Milk Drain in India - A Bizarre & Unethical Protest

    

People Draining Milk into Streets

I was truly stunned to see many Indian people

(Political activists) draining 52,000 tons of pure milk into the streets  just to raise voice against India's Malnutrition problem....

Shiv Sena activists drained out thousands of litres of milk in Maharashtra's Satara city against the state government's decision to import processed milk powder. I say what's the problem in doing so...??

If a country's domestic production isn't sufficient, is it not logical to import it from abroad?

Also....the people, raising voice against the government on the malnutrition issue, themselves drained milk inspite of knowing that milk is a very important source to tame hunger in a poor but developing India....

People must understand that with this act, they are themselves contributing to malnutrition. It's a very unethical act on the part of the people.

Even if people have to protest, it can be done in a normal and ethical way....Draining milk is totally unacceptable.... 

India Unveils Prototype for $35 Touch-Screen Computer

Mr.Kapil Sibal
Minister of Human & Resource Development
Government of India

The Indian government has unveiled the prototype of an iPad-like touch-screen laptop, with a price tag of $35 (£23), which it hopes to roll out next year.

This tablet is mainly aimed for the students. It supports web browsing, video conferencing and word processing.

It was developed by India's top Indian Institute of Technology(IIT) and Indian Institute of Science(IIS) colleges.

The device has no hard-disk, uses a memory card and works on solar energy.

The device was built by India as an answer to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's(MIT) 100$ tablet PC.

The HRD minister said,"The solutions for tomorrow will emerge from India.”

I truly believe with this statement. India has a lot of potential. It's education sector by far could be considered as a very dynamic and prosperous one. If proper steps are taken to keep the brightest minds in India, the solutions for tomorrow would probably emerge from India itself. India, with this high competency and brilliant citizens can truly reach the horizons........

India's CA Results Declared (2009-2010)

                      

My hearty congratulations to all the students who hgave succesfully passed the Chartered Accountancy Exams for the session 2009-2010.
But I really find it difficult to believe that the results for the Chartered Acountancy(CA) exams conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India(ICAI) are so poor in my opinion, most probably the reason being the  very high level of difficulty in its papers.
But just have a look at the link posted.
There are 310 ICAI centrer across India's 28 states and 7 Unin Territories. From among 1,27,643 students appearing for the CA entrance test, only 487 students end up passing the CA final exams. What the hell is going wrong with the CA results. It's becoming narrower and narrower....
In my opinion, the results are so low because passing is based on the economic play of market forces(DEMAND & SUPPLY).....As the demand for CA's in India rises, the ICAI increases the pass rate, resulting in more number of CA's...and if the demand falls, the ICAI decreases the pass rate, resulting in fewer CA's.....
So this leads to the understanding that students appearing for CA exams are purposely failed by the ICAI even if they don't deserve to have failed....
I believe that this matter must be looked over by the higher authorities.
Is such a case prevalent in the UK's ACCA or the USA's CPA? I guess not...Because there, students pass only if they deserve to have passed...which isn't the case in India.
Also, I believe that the Indian CA institute has a goal of becoming the best in the world with the best CA's....because till now, there isn't a proper college for foreign CA courses in India...this means that to keep up with the interest of the ICAI's goal, can be CA's are failed....isn't this illogical.....??
But in India, all this has a different perspective...." THE COMPETITION HAS INCREASED " among the appearing students motivating them to work harder than everyone else.....and excel in the field....so this is generating highly competent and skilled CA's in India...which is the positive side of this topic....but the negative still remains.........
What can be done?
I have no answer for that....


India has a lot of highly skilled and competent people.....!!!!
And I am proud of it...!!

India's Rupee Symbol - The Rise of a New Power.....

   

NEW DELHI: India's Rupee has joined the ranks of the Dollar, the Pound, the Euro and the Yen: It now can be designated with a symbol.

I really appreciate India's efforts to enter into the global economy and get itself recognized.
This day is not only the birth of India's Rs. symbol, it marks the rise of a strong currency in the global market.....
I am proud to be an Indian and with great pride, I say....
JAI HIND....!!