Google wants to kill the space bar

New Delhi: With everyday innovations aimed at reducing size of the gadgets and making them portable, our definition of the good ol' things seem to change, like the longest key on a traditional keyboard- the space bar- that Google wants to put to rest.

After Apple's aim at reducing the space between keys in its latest MacBook, Google's new patent could let the search giant get rid of the space bar altogether.




A set of sensors beneath the trackpad would determine whether you want a space bar or a mouse. A single tap while typing will insert a space while a tap using the trackpad as a mouse will result in a click.
The patent suggests that Google's idea for a virtual keyboard would be to create a smaller laptop computer that saves space. Lenovo's current laptops already have trackpads that are pushed a little closer to the keyboard.
Given the possibility that all keys could be turned into virtual keys, Google's patent is questionable. However, the search giant's representative said t hat some patents it holds turn into products and some don't and patents shouldn't be an indication of prospective products.
Interestingly, Google's space bar patent was actually rejected twice over the last four years before being approved as per the Patent Office's digital paper trail system.
Will Google bring in 'space-free' Chrome laptops? Watch this 'space' for more.

Tibet's glaciers retreat, even as protection advances

Since the 1950s, China's glaciers have retreated by about 7,600 square kilometers; around 18 percent. An average of 247 square kilometers of glacial ice has disappeared every year.
Even mountaineers on Mount Qomolangma seem surprised. "Qomolangma base camp, 5,200 meters above sea level, had been covered by thick ice, but now there is nothing but stones," Zhang Mingxing, director of Tibet's mountaineering administration center, told Xinhua.
His view was echoed by Kang Shichang of the institute of Tibetan Plateau research, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He calculates that glaciers around the mountain have shrunk by 10 percent since 1974, evidenced in the fact that a glacial lake downstream of the mountain is now 13 times bigger.
China has more than 46,000 glaciers, mainly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, about 14.5 percent of the world's total. Glaciers are not only a major reservoir of fresh water but an important part of the climate system. "They are sources of life for China's western arid regions," said Kang.
The melting glaciers will inevitably lead to ecological and environmental change. Liu Shiyin, who led a survey of China's glaciers, told Xinhua that, in the short term, retreating glaciers will release meltwater and create lakes, leading to disaster. Glacial lakes in Tibet were breached 15 times between the 1930s and 1990s, causing floods and mudslides.
Glacial melt is closely related to climate change, and the regional government of Tibet is doing all it can to cut emissions. Enterprises which invest in green energy including solar, wind and methane can enjoy tax privileges for up to eight years.
In addition to cutting emissions, Tibet has spent heavily to protect its environment.
Jiang Bai from the regional environmental protection department believes local governments are committed to ensuring clean water and blue sky in Tibet. Back in 2009, the State Council invested 15.5 billion yuan (about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars) in protecting Tibet's environment, Jiang said.
Although the money helps, it is not enough to stop glaciers from retreating, said Kang Shichang.
Kang wants more research on glaciers and climate change, and better use of the meltwater. A warning system on glacier lakes is needed to protect local people.
"If glaciers do not have ice and mountains do not have snow, what will our lives become? Humans must make every effort to protect nature and co-exist with it," said monk Ngawang Doa from a monastery on the foot of Mount Qomolangma.

Hopes of life on planet 'premature'

Hopes of finding a life-sustaining planet in a star system beloved by sci-fi buffs may be premature, experts believe.

The Tau Ceti system, popularised in many science fiction stories and featured in the TV series Star Trek, is known to host as many as five planets.
Two of them, Tau Ceti e and f, may lie in the "habitable" or "Goldilocks" orbital zone where temperatures are "just right" to permit surface liquid water and possibly life.
But a new study has poured cold water on the prospect of complex life flourishing around the star, one of the Sun's closest neighbours at a distance of just 12 light years.
Scientists used the chemical composition of Tau Ceti to model the star's evolution and calculate the location of its habitable zone.
Astrophysicist Dr Michael Pagano, from Arizona State University in the US, said: "Planet e is in the habitable zone only if we make very generous assumptions. Planet f initially looks more promising, but modelling the evolution of the star makes it seem probable that it has only moved into the habitable zone recently as Tau Ceti has gotten more luminous over the course of its life."
The findings suggest that planet f has probably existed in the star's habitable zone for less than a billion years.
Though this sounds like a long time, it took several hundred million years for life to emerge on Earth and more than three billion years for it to progress from simple single cells to multicellular organisms.
It took around two billion years for Earth's biosphere to produce potentially detectable changes in the planet's atmosphere.
Tau Ceti's unusual ratio of magnesium to silicon also meant that hot rock might flow more easily on its planets than it does on Earth, said the scientists. This could have "profound effects" on volcanism and tectonics, with significant implications for the survival chances of life.
Dr Pagano added: "Tau Ceti has been a popular destination for science fiction writers and everyone's imagination as somewhere there could possibly be life, but even though life around Tau Ceti may be unlikely, it should not be seen as a let-down, but should invigorate our minds to consider what exotic planets likely orbit the star, and the new and unusual planets that may exist in this vast universe."

Twitter upgrades 'Direct Messages' feature

Twitter has launched an update to it's Direct Messages feature that allows users to talk in private without having to follow each other.
According to the Verge, now users can reply to anyone who sends them a Direct Message, regardless of whether or not that person follows them back.
Users can also choose to receive direct messages from anyone using Twitter.
The ability to Direct Message followers can also help in taking public disputes to a more private sphere.

New lizard species – Gecko spotted; named ‘Cnemaspis adii’ after a herpetologist

 

 Researchers from the Osmania University in Hyderabad have spotted a new species Gecko, a type of lizard usually found in warm climates, at the ruins of the World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka.
The Gecko species has been named “Cnemaspis adii,” after Aditya Srinivasulu – a young herpetology researcher from Hyderabad.
The discovery was published in the current issue of Zootaxa journal by researchers Chelmala Srinivasulu, G. Chethan Kumar and Bhargavi Srinivasulu from the zoology wing of the University.
 The lizard belongs to the family of day geckos characterised by round pupils unlike regular geckos which have vertical pupils. The zoologists say Hampi and surrounding areas are potentially rich in biodiversity and not much research has been done to identify new species of smaller vertebrate and invertebrates.

“The discovery is significant because other species of day geckos have been, so far, reported only from the Western Ghats and southern Eastern Ghats in peninsular India. This is the first time that day geckos have been found in the central regions of peninsular India between Eastern and Western Ghats,” lead author Dr. Srinivasulu said.
The trio felt that presence of day geckos between Western and Eastern Ghats is interesting, indicating the need for more efforts to document the biological diversity, understanding habitat conditions, threats and diversity of local species.
The discovery and subsequent validation in Zootaxa did not happen overnight. The new day gecko species was first discovered by Dr. Bhargavi Srinivasulu in 2012 while they were doing research on bats in the Hampi complex.
 Later, the zoologists studied the photographs of live animals and researched on known species of day geckos reported from other parts of India, which ultimately confirmed that the specimens belonged to a hitherto undescribed type. They managed to collect three specimens of the lizard that formed the basis of the scientific description of the lizard.

Hyderabad's Hussain Sagar Lake gets free public Wi-Fi

In efforts to make Hyderabad the first Wi-Fi enabled city in the country, the Telangana government rolled out Wi-Fi service on trial basis around Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city

State-owned Internet service provider BSNL and Wi-Fi infrastructure provider Quadgen Wireless Solutions have collaborated to roll out the service under the Hyderabad Wi-Fi project.

Under this service, citizens around the lake will have access to Internet with a speed of 10Mbps.

The service was launched by Information Technology Minister K. Tarakarama Rao with a live video call with union IT and Telecommunications Minister Ravishankar Prasad.

Rao said that Hyderabad Wi-Fi project was exclusively situated to create the fastest Wi-Fi Hot Spot by using the readily available optic fibre cable network of around 4,000km.

Under Hyderabad Wi-Fi project, citizens can access free internet for first half an hour and then on a chargeable basis.

In the first phase of the project, the state government has planned to provide Wi-Fi services at over 2,000 locations in Hyderabad and about 50 Villages in the state.

All major district headquarters in the state will be connected with Wi- Fi.

Microsoft and Cyanogen confirm tie-up to take down Android

After rumours filling the airwaves for months, that Microsoft would either be buying or investing in Cyanogen, the companies have now confirmed that they have entered into a strategic partnership, in a joint press release on Thursday.
Cyanogen is known for one of the most popular Android-based operating systems and, later, for it's resounding critique of Google's iron-fisted rule over smaller contributing developers . Microsoft, on the other hand, has been making waves recently for attempting to capture Google's app market, by opening out its own apps to other platforms, as well as developing a Windows 10 build that can be installed on Android phones.
Under the partnership, Cyanogen OS phones will integrate and distribute Microsoft apps, including Bing, OneDrive, OneNote, Skype, Outlook and Microsoft Office. In turn, Microsoft will, as the press release states "create native integrations on Cyanogen OS, enabling a powerful new class of experiences." What exactly that could mean encompasses a wide range of possibilities.
What's most important though, is that this is an outright act of war by Microsoft and Cyanogen to take away Android from Google, something the brains behind Cyanogen have expressly said they're aiming to do. While there's no definitive timeline yet, we will likely soon see Cyanogen phones shipping with Microsoft's apps, rather than Google's. As for whether Microsoft might start adopting the Cyanogen OS, that's a bit iffy, considering the company'ss constantly expanding Windows-based Lumia series, but perhaps they will introduce a second line of smartphones soon?

Palaeolithic remains show cannibalistic habits of human ancestors

 

 Analysis of ancient cadavers recovered at a famous archaeological site confirm the existence of a sophisticated culture of butchering and carving human remains, according to a team of scientists from the Natural History Museum, University College London, and a number of Spanish universities.

Gough's Cave in Somerset was thought to have given up all its secrets when excavations ended in 1992, yet research on human bones from the site has continued in the decades since. After its discovery in the 1880s, the site was developed as a show cave and largely emptied of sediment, at times with minimal archaeological supervision. The excavations uncovered intensively-processed human bones intermingled with abundant butchered large mammal remains and a diverse range of flint, bone, antler, and ivory artefacts.
New radiocarbon techniques have revealed remains were deposited over a very short period of time, possibly during a series of seasonal occupations, about 14,700 years ago.
Dr Silvia Bello, from the Natural History Museum's Department of Earth Sciences, lead researcher of the work said, "The human remains have been the subject of several studies. In a previous analysis, we could determine that the cranial remains had been carefully modified to make skull-cups. During this research, however, we've identified a far greater degree of human modification than recorded in earlier. We've found undoubting evidence for defleshing, disarticulation, human chewing, crushing of spongy bone, and the cracking of bones to extract marrow."
The presence of human tooth marks on many of the bones provides incontrovertible evidence for cannibalism, the team found. In a wider context, the treatment of the human corpses and the manufacture and use of skull-cups at Gough's Cave has parallels with other ancient sites in central and western Europe. But the new evidence from Gough's Cave suggests that cannibalism during the 'Magdalenian period' was part of a customary mortuary practice that combined intensive processing and consumption of the bodies with the ritual use of skull-cups.
Simon Parfitt, of University College London, said, "A recurring theme of this period is the remarkable rarity of burials and how commonly we find human remains mixed with occupation waste at many sites. Further analysis along the lines used to study Gough's Cave will help to establish whether the type of ritualistic cannibalism practiced there is a regional ('Creswellian') phenomenon, or a more widespread practice found throughout the Magdalenian world."

Tips & Tricks: How you can unwire yourself and why you should start right away

We know you absolutely love your smartphone. So much so that it travels with you, sleeps with you, eats with you, attends meetings with you, and if you allow me to turn a little gross here, even makes those toilet visits with you. That is some tech love!
Even as you go about trying to reading this piece of Tips & Tricks, you either have multiple browser windows opened on your screen, or a television running somewhere around you or most definitely have those earplugs on, piercing into your brain, yet there is a chance you don't remember which song was playing exactly before the current track.
You blame the technology. You say it is important. Indispensable. Overpowering. Almost to the extent of making you apathetic towards your surroundings. When was the last time you took off those earplugs or shut off those email notifications to actually listen to what the other person is saying, with absolute attention?
 Okay, we are not here to preach you about abstaining from technology or keeping a white pigeon as a pet and messenger, because we can't practice that either. What we want to, rather attempt to achieve is a world where you aren't perpetually entangled in those wires. Wires to charge your phone's battery, wires of those earplugs, of that television, of that gaming console, of all things tech. Time to unplug.
Type in 'technology addiction' and over a lakh results will pop up in any search engine. Not scared? Okay, how about the serious health implications? Your crooked fingernails and that recent loss of clear eyesight isn't by birth, right? Numerous studies, worldwide, indicate how extensive use of gadgets not only seriously messes with your physical health but also has come to be associated with mental illnesses. Nomophobia? Heard of that? Well, google it and you'll know which level you just reached!

Yes, we know you are running out of attention span, but you must read on, it is about technology after all. How can you save yourself from becoming a slave to technology without missing on that one notification which for all unreal reasons is apparently life-threatening. How to make the best of both the virtual and real worlds without getting sucked into them. Read on:
1. Learn to prioritise: We know that your synced Outbook made a funny noise just when you had gorged on the first bite of your lunch. But, you can of course keep the phone aside and focus on your lunch for 20 minutes. I mean, c'mon, even if it is your termination letter, what would change if you don't read it in-between meals? Nothing
 

 2. Know when not to use tech: After email etiquette, time for gadget etiquette. Someone is talking to you, do not keep on those rude earplugs and instead be a sincere listener. If you have kids or have kids around you, then you must be cautious of using your gadgets. Children tend to acquire habits based on what they see around and you wouldn't want your little one to be a tech-addict at the age of five. Same goes for workplace meetings. We know you aren't taking notes when you give that excuse of sneaking inside a meeting room your 'on ringer' smartphone.



 3. Impose self-limitations: Immaterial of when you get up, the first thing you do is check your smartphone. Learn to put away the gadgets when you go to bed. It is hard to do that since our early morning WhatsApp pings and late night Facebook notifications have come to define us today. However, you can always try put your phone on silent for at least two hours before you sleep so that your brain has enough time to concentrate on relaxing and not reading the latest text. Also, sleeping with your gadgets plugged in for charging near your bed is dangerous. Chances are, a short-circuit could kill you in your sleep and you don't want to die like that. Do you?




 4. Limit social media usage: No one, seriously no one, cares to know where you checked in, or what you are feeling, or whether you can tweet a post only in hashtags, or you are having extremely expensive wine at an uptown bar. NO ONE. So limit how much and what all goes on the Web.




 5. De clutter: Remove from your vicinity excessive, unnecessary tech stuff. Do you really need a separate MP3 player when your smartphone can play enough songs to fill your days and weeks? What about those extra pair of headphones? And that old feature phone you don't want to part away with just because it was your first phone? Clean the tech mess, lest your room ends up looking like Delhi's Nehru Place.


 6. Respect 'no mobile' signs: Doctors' clinics, hospitals, museums, meditation halls, and many such places strictly ask you not to use gadgets. Yet, you keep your devices on ringer modes. Why? Leave it in the car or back home if you can, otherwise keep the buzzer off.




 Lastly, your own limits will help you define how much wired are you in an excessively virtual world where all that is you isn't 'really' you..

YouTube adds 15 new languages

YouTube is an almost unfathomably massive service, with billions of individual videos uploaded and at least 300 hours of new footage uploaded every single minute of the day!

It's an incredible resource, whether you want to watch the latest movie trailer, learn some life hacks or engage in 10 hours of funny things that cats do. And sometimes that's exactly what you need.

 More than a billion people regularly use YouTube and in addition to making lots of cool videos they also speak a lot of different languages. And now YouTube can speak back to even more of them with the addition of an extra 15 officially supported languages, bringing the total to an impressive 76. The Google-owned company say that figure covers around 95% of the internet-using population, which is pretty good going by the standards of any online service. Here are the newly added languages:
Azerbaijani - Az?rbaycan (az), Armenian - ??????? (hy) , Georgian - ??????? (ka) , Kazakh - ????? ???? (kk) , Khmer - ????? (km), Kirghiz - ???????? (ky), Lao - ??? (lo), Macedonian - ?????????? (mk), Mongolian - ?????? (mn), Myanmar (Burmese) - ??? (my), Nepali - ?????? (ne), Punjabi - ?????? (pa), Sinhala - ????? (si), Albanian - Shqip (sq), Uzbek - O?Zbekcha (uz).?

SanDisk's new device is a flash drive for the iPhone and iPad

The iXpand sync app also enables cross-platform encryption, offering users the ability to transfer and access sensitive files from the iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac computers. Using the iXpand sync app, files can be password-protected on the drive directly from an iPhone or iPad, and then easily decrypted on a Mac or PC, and vice versa. The iXpand sync app is available on the App Store for iPhone or iPad.
 
SanDisk launched iXpand in Mumbai last week, a device that acts as a flash drive and allows you to transfer photos and videos between your iPhone, iPad, PCs and Mac computers. The device automatically copies photos and videos from the camera roll to the drive when connected, and gives the user the ability to play all popular format videos and music files from the drive.
Rajesh Gupta, country manager – India & SAARC, SanDisk, said that according to International Data Corporation, nearly three-quarters of all images are nowcaptured on smart phones and tablets. "With this significant increase in mobile-generated content, consumers are looking for easy ways to manage it all. In fact, our research shows that 82% of US smart phone users find transferring photos, videos, music and other files to be very important to them," said Gupta, adding: "We created the iXpand Flash Drive to offer consumers a quick and safe way to move their favorite content between devices so it's available when and where they want it."The iXpand sync app also enables cross-platform encryption, offering users the ability to transfer and access sensitive files from the iPhone, iPad, PC and Mac computers. Using the iXpand sync app, files can be password-protected on the drive directly from an iPhone or iPad, and then easily decrypted on a Mac or PC, and vice versa. The iXpand sync app is available on the App Store for iPhone or iPad.
The iXpand Flash Drive is available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities and is compatible with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5, iPad Air 2, iPad Air, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2, iPad mini running iOS 8 or iOS 7.
The iXpand Flash Drive is now available in India on Amazon.in in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB capacities, costing Rs4,490, Rs 5,990, Rs 7,990 and Rs 11,490 respectively. Each model comes with a two-year limited warranty.

Motorola launches Moto E 4G in India on Flipkart

The smartphone is priced at Rs 7,999. 

Motorola is launching its smartphone Moto E 4G in India. According to the Techradar.com, Moto E 4G is on pre-order on Flipcart  and it is priced at Rs 7,999.
Moto E 4G has the latest 64-bit Snapdragon 410 quad-core CPU which comes with built-in 4G connectivity support. It comes with a 4.5-inch 960x540p display running on Android 5.0 Lollipop out-of-box. Customers have 8GB of internal memory storage, expandable further up to 32GB via microSD. Also, Moto E is a dual SIM smart phone. Moto E 4G's battery has been bumped up to 2390 mAh.
 The phone is expected to be shipped from next week onwards as per Flipkart listing.

Top 10 most expensive cars in the world

Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000




















The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the most powerful, most expensive, and fastest street-legal production car in the world, with a proven top speed of over 400 km/h (407 km/h or 253 mph). It reached full production in September 2005. The car is built by Volkswagen AG subsidiary Bugatti Automobiles SAS and is sold under the legendary Bugatti marque. It is named after racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1939 while racing for the original Bugatti firm. The Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders. 

 Ferrari Enzo $1,000,000
 
 The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the the Ferrari Enzo and also F60 is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds (775 kg) is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.


Pagani Zonda C12 F $741,000

 

 The Zonda C12 F debuted at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. It is the most extensive reengineering of the Pagani car yet, though it shares much with its predecessors including the 7.3 L V12. Power is increased to 602 PS (443 kW/594 hp) with a special clubsport model producing 650 PS (478 kW/641 hp). The company promises a 3.2 second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h, a top speed over 374 km/h (225 mph) and it will be the queen in braking from 300 km/h to 0 (186 mph to 0). The Zonda F clubsport has a power to weight ratio of 521 bhp/ton (384 W/kg) . Compare, for example, the Enzo Ferrari which has a power to weight ratio of 483 bhp/ton (356 W/kg).

 Koenigsegg CCX $600,910

 


The Koenigsegg CCX is the latest supercar from Koenigsegg. CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupe X. The X commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996. The CCX is intended to be more suitable for the U.S. market and thus engineered to comply with US regulations. The CCX is powered by a Koenigsegg designed and assembled, all aluminium, 4700 cm³ DOHC 32-valve V8 based on the Ford Modular engine architecture enhanced with twin Rotrex centrifugal superchargers with response system, 1.2 bar boost pressure and an 8.2:1 compression ratio. The engine produces 806 hp (601 kW) and 678 lbf.ft (920 Nm) on 91 octane (U.S. rating) gasoline, 850 hp (634 kW) on 96 octane (Euro rating) gasoline and 900 hp (671 kW) on biofuel.

 Porsche Carrera GT $484,000

 

 The Porsche Carrera GT is a supercar, manufactured by Porsche of Germany. The Carrera GT is powered by an all-new 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 SAE horsepower (450 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (206 mph), although road tests indicated that in actuality the car could accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.5 seconds and to 0-100 in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335-340km/h (209-212.5mph).

Mercedes SLR McLaren $455,500

 


The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is a sports car and supercar automobile co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Cars. It is assembled at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England. Most people presume "SLR" to stand for "Sportlich, Leicht, Rennsport" (German for "Sport; Light; Racing"). The car's base price is £300,000 or $455,500. The SLR has a supercharged 5.5 (5439cc) litre dry sumped 90 degree V8. It produces 466.8 kW at 6500rpm (626 hp) and 780 N·m (575 ft·lbf) torque at 3250 - 5000 rpm.


Maybach 62 $385,250
 
 

 The Maybach 57 and 62 were the first automobile models of the Maybach brand since the brand's revival by DaimlerChrysler. They are derived from the Mercedes-Benz Maybach concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motorshow (which was based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan). DaimlerChrysler attempted to buy the Rolls-Royce/Bentley marque when Vickers offered the company up for sale. When this attempt failed (they were outbid by BMW and Volkswagen respectively) they introduced the Maybach as a direct challenger in 2002. Both models are variants of the same ultra-luxurious automobile. The model numbers reflect the respective lengths of the automobiles in decimetres; the 57 is more likely to be owner-driven while the longer 62 is designed with a chauffeur in mind. The engine is a Mercedes-sourced 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, generating 550 hp.

Rolls-Royce Phantom $320,000




The Rolls-Royce Phantom is a luxury saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, a BMW subsidiary. It was launched in 2003 and is the first Rolls-Royce model made under the ownership of BMW. It has a 6.8 L, 48-valve, V12 engine that produces 453 hp (338 kW) and 531 ft·lbf (720 N·m) of torque. The engine is derived from BMW's existing V12 powerplant. It is 1.63 m (63 in) tall, 1.99 m (74.8 in) wide, 5.83 m (228 in) long, and weighs 2485 kg (5478 lb). The body of the car is built on an aluminium spaceframe and the Phantom can accelerate to 60 mph (100 km/h) in 5.7 s.

Lamborghini Murcielago $279,900





The Lamborghini Murciélago is a GT and supercar automobile made by Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. and designed by Luc Donckerwolke. It was introduced in 2002 as the successor to the Diablo. The body style is a two door, two seat coupé. The LP640 version was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March of 2006. It features a 6.5 L engine, now producing 640 bhp, improving performance substantially. There were also a few minor external changes, primarily to the low air intakes.

 Aston Martin Vanquish $255,000

 


The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish is a supercar manufactured by Aston Martin since 2001. It rose to fame after being featured as the official James Bond car in Die Another Day, the twentieth James Bond film. In the film, the Vanquish has the usual Bond film embellishments, including active camouflage which rendered the vehicle virtually invisible. The Vanquish is powered by a 5.9 L (5935 cc) 48-valve 60° V12 engine, which produces 343 kW (460 hp) and 542 N·m (400 ft·lbf) of torque. It is controlled by a fly-by-wire throttle and a 6 speed 'paddle shift' or semi-automatic transmission. A special V12 Vanquish S debuted at the 2004 Paris Auto Show with the power upped to 388 kW (520 hp) and 577 N·m (426 ft·lbf).

4 yoga poses for diabetes

In fact, a study published in the journal, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, last year analysed available research looking at yoga's influence on diabetes and complications of diabetes (for instance, kidney problems and high blood pressure) and found that regular yoga practise led to shortterm improvements in fasting glucose and cholesterol levels. The research, conducted by Marshall Govindan and Dr Emilia RipollBunn, also found that the direct stim ulation of the pancreas by certain postures rejuvenated its capacity to produce insulin.Yoga practitioner Sabir Shaikh adds, "A few asanas help balance the functioning of the endocrine system.It massages and tones the abdominal organs like pancreas and liver, stimulate the nervous and circulatory system which in turn helps in controlling diabetes."

Diabetologist Dr Pradeep Gadge concurs. "Besides medication", he says, "Yogic asanas help in harmonising the body, breath and mind, thereby contributing to the overall health of the individual. Asanas help in optimal secretions of the endocranial glands which helps insulin in the body to be used more effectively."

Studies have also confirmed that practising certain asanas such as Ardha Matsyendrasana (half-twist pose) combined with Dhanurasana (bow pose), Vakrasana (twisted pose), Matsyendrasana (half-spinal twist), Halasana (plough pose) squeezes and compresses the abdomen and helps stimulate the pancreatic secretions or hormonal secretions. As a result, more insulin is pushed into the system. This rejuvenates the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas of diabetics suffering from both type 1 and 2. Practising the postures in a relaxed manner, without exertion, meditation and breathing techniques help most patients control the triggers or causes of diabetes.

Asanas over high-intensity workout

A study, by S A Ramaiah in Washington, compared the effects of exercise such as walking, jogging on a treadmill, static cycling with asanas such as Upavishta Bakasana (sitting crane), Bakasana (standing crane) and Dhanurasana. It was found that these asanas were the most effective as they helped stimulate the hormonal secretion of the pancreas and rejuvenate its capacity to produce insulin. They also strengthened the back muscles which enhance toning of abdominal viscera (muscles and internal organs).The balancing in Bakasana improves interaction between the pituitary gland and pancreas.

Breath of life

Aside from asanas, breathing exercises especially anulom vilom (alternate nostril breathing) and kapalbatti (one-time inhale; exhale 30 to 50 times quickly) is extremely beneficial.Anulom vilom is found useful in diabetes as alternate nostril breathing has calming effects on the nervous system, facilitating homeostasis (internal equilibrium in the function of all the systems). This manages the stress levels, helping in diabetes treatment.

Kapalbhatti, on the other hand, stimulates the pancreas to release insulin, thus helping control diabetes. Pranayam makes the mind calm, thus balancing the interaction between the pituitary gland and the pancreas. Kapalabhati combined with Nauli Kriya (pressure manipulations and isolation of abdominal-recti muscles) help control blood sugar. These practices balance the Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR) which in turn helps stabilise sugar levels.

"Once you are through with the practice, relax in shavasana (lying flat on the ground) to cool off," advises Shaikh. "A yogic diet that is high in fibre, whole grains, legumes and vegetables complements the regimen. It is recommended to lose excess weight and stabilise blood sugar levels."

Bear in mind

Throughout the programme, monitor glucose levels under the supervision of a physician, and take appropriate medication as prescribed.

-Practise yoga in the morning and evening for 40 to 60 minutes with the recommended series of postures according to one's capacity.
-The maintenance period of postures should be increased gradually from five seconds to a minute, or even longer, depending on the posture and capacity of the person.
-Always focus on breathing during the maintenance period of the posture.

Tried and tested

When 38-year-old Manish Chaturvedi was diagnosed with case of borderline diabetes (medically termed as pre-diabetes), a condition characterised by the presence of blood glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as diabetes, he was advised by his doctor to take up yoga.

If undiagnosed or untreated, pre-diabetes can develop into type 2 diabetes. Chaturvedi, a healthcare professional was also asked to change his sedentary lifestyle. "My mother is diabetic. When she introduced yoga in her routine, it helped control her sugar levels," he says.

Chaturvedi began with yoga and pranayam Chaturvedi began with yoga and pranaya after his sugar hit a high. "I practised pranayam, which included anulom vilom, kapalbatti, mandukasan and ardha chakrasana (in pic) for 30 minutes every day."

After three months of regular practise, Chaturvedi found that his practise, Chaturvedi found that his sugar levels were returned to the normal margin.

Follow these four key yoga postures

Vrikshasana

Benefit:

Helps stimulate the hormonal secretion of the pancreas.

Method

-Stand straight and keep your feet close to each other. Your knees, legs and hand should be held straight.
-Now bring your right foot and keep it on your left thigh. Try to make a right angle. If you are unable to keep your foot on the thigh, try to keep your foot on the left leg wherever you feel comfortable and maintain balance. But remember your right toe should point down wards. Your body balance should depend on the left leg.
-Join your palms and bring them to the middle of your chest and keep the figure pointing upwards. Slowly move your hands overhead. Raise your arms over your head. Your arms should be slightly bent.
-Stand straight, look in front and try to be relaxed.
-Stay in this position for about 10 seconds. Breathe normally.
-Slowly bring your hands in the middle portion of the chest same as before, bring your right leg to the ground and come back in the starting position. -Repeat the same procedure with the other leg.
-Try to repeat the whole procedure two to three times.


Dhanurasana (Bow pose)

Benefit:

Improves the functioning of pancreas and intestines. Thus helps in controlling blood sugar levels. Organs like liver, pancreas, and enzyme producing organs will function actively by practicing this asana.

Method:

-Lie on your stomach with your feet hip width apart and your arms by the side of your body.
-Fold your knees and hold your ankles.
-Breathing in, lift your chest off the ground and pull your legs up and back.
-Look straight ahead with a smile on your face. Curve your lips to match the curve of your body.
-Keep the pose stable while paying attention to your breath. Your body is now taut as a bow.
-Continue to take long deep breaths as you relax in this pose. But don't get carried away. Do not overdo the stretch.
-After 15 -20 seconds, as you exhale, gently bring your legs and chest back to the ground.
-Release the ankles and relax.

Halasana (Plough Pose)

Benefit:

It stimulates the pancreas, spleen and activates immune system by massaging all the internal organs including pancreas. It improves kidney and liver functioning and strengthens the abdominal muscles. It also rejuvenates the mind.

Method:

-Lie on your back with your arms beside you, palms downwards.
-As you inhale, use your abdominal muscles to lift your feet off the floor, raising your legs vertically at a 90-degree angle. Continue to breathe normally and supporting your hips and back with your hands, lift them off the ground.
-Allow your legs to sweep in a 180-degree angle over your head till your toes touch the floor.
-Your back should be perpendicular to the floor. This may be difficult initially, but make an attempt for a few seconds.
-Hold this pose and let your body relax more and more with each steady breath.5 After about a minute (a few seconds for beginners) of resting in this pose, you may gently bring your legs down on exhalation. -Avoid jerking your body, while bringing the legs down.

Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Twist Pose)

Benefits:

This asana massages the kidneys, pancreas, small intestines, gall bladder and liver, helping to stimulate digestion and squeeze out toxins. Useful for diabetics, with concentration on the pancreas.Increases the elasticity of the spine, tones the spinal nerves.

Method

-Sit on the carpet, stretch the legs straight.
-Fold the right leg. Keep the right leg's heel touching the left leg's knee.
-Take the right hand to back of the waist twisting your trunk, spread palms inside and place it on the carpet.
-Bring the left hand close to right knee and hold the right leg's ankle or big toe with the left hand.
-Twist the head and shoulder to right side and look straight to the right shoulder's side (i.e back side).

Top 10 Biggest Cities In The World

Population figures vary based on the time of the census or other estimate and the area being measured. These figures are the latest figures we could find and are based on each cities broad geographic area (the ‘Greater’ city areas).
Cities with similar populations share some of the rankings. There are therefore more than 10 listings

10a. Guangzhou, China
Population: 17,827,000
Land Area: 3,173 SqKm
People/SqKm: 5,618
Guangzhou is the capital city of the southern Chinese province of Guangdong and the third largest city in China. Formerly known as Canton, it is just 120km from Hong Kong and has long been one of the most important manufacturing, trading and transportation centres in the country.
Guangzhou is historically famous for its Cantonese cuisine and features a rich and vibrant restaurant scene. Shopping and entertainment have grow




10b. Cairo, Egypt
Population: 17,816,000
Land Area: 1,658 SqKm
People/SqKm: 10,745
Cairo straddles the Nile River just before it forms a delta and floods into the Mediterranean. The capital of Egypt, Cairo is the biggest city in Africa as well as the Middle East.
It is a culturally vibrant city and is home to the world’s second oldest university, al-Azhar. It also has a strong music and movie economy. Egypt’s Government sector resides in Cairo as does much of the country’s commercial operations.
The Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx and other remnants of ancient Egypt are just outside metropolitan Cairo.

9. Beijing, China
Population: 18,311,000
Land Area: 3,497 SqKm
People/SqKm: 5,236
Over 3,000 years old, Beijing, which literally means ‘northern capital’, is the cultural, judicial, educational and political centre of China. Formerly known as Peking, the city is home to most of the country’s Government owned Enterprises.
Beijing International Airport is the second busiest airport in the world and the city is a major transport hub for the c

8. Osaka, Japan
Population: 19,011,000
Land Area: 11,170 SqKm
People/SqKm: 1,702
Osaka is located on the southern half of Japans largest island, Honshu. It was historically the main commercial centre for Japan although many corporations have more recently moved to Tokyo. It has a strong food culture and is considered to be a leading culinary destination globally.

7a. Sao Paulo, Brazil
Population: 20,186,000
Land Area: 3,173 SqKm
People/SqKm: 6,500
Sao Paulo effortlessly mixes commerce with the arts and entertainment, creating a juggernaut economy that hosts the countries Stock Exchange, the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Sao Paulo Art Biennial, Fashion Week, golf Open and the world’s largest Gay Pride parade.

7b. Mexico City, Mexico
Population: 20,463,000
Land Area: 9,560 SqKm
People/SqKm: 2,140
Mexico City has one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas and is also one of the highest capital cities at 2,250 m (7,380 ft). It is overwhelmingly the most important city in Mexico in terms of politics, finance, commerce, arts, tourism, manufacturing and entertainment and one of the most important cities in the America’s.
The Spanish destroyed the city, then known as Tenochtitlan, in the 1500’s and rebuilt it using Spanish architecture. Catholic churches were built on the ruins of Aztec temples. It’s a fascinating history and a fascinating city.



7c. New York City, USA
Population: 20,464,000
Land Area: 30,671 SqKm
People/SqKm: 667
Many people consider New York City to be the capital city of the western world and in fact it was the capital city of the USA from 1785-1790. It is one of, if not the, global centre of finance, commerce, the arts, fashion, media and international diplomacy.
Founded as a trading post in the 1600’s, the city straddles the Hudson River and the islands of Manhattan, Staten Island and Long Island. The port of New York is a natural safe harbour.
There are many iconic landmarks in and around the city including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Central Park, Broadway, Wall Street, Coney Island, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and many more.

7d. Mumbai, India
Population: 20,800,000
Land Area: 1,176 SqKm
People/SqKm: 17,687
Mumbai is the capital of the Indian State of Maharashtra and sits on the Arabian Sea on the west coast of the country. This is one of the most densely packed urban areas in the world. Not surprisingly it is a major commercial and trading centre for India, responsible for 25% of the country’s industrial production, 70% of the financial transactions and 70% of the maritime trade. The Reserve Bank, Stock Exchange and head offices of many National and International corporations reside here.
Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai is also home to the Indian film and television industry, popularly known as Bollywood (Bombay and Hollywood). The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian Premier League (IPL) are based here as well as teams in a variety of other sports. The city is also rich in literature and music culture.
Being a trading port has led to Mumbai being very multicultural and the food and entertainment options here are testament to the great diversity of humanity in this wonderful place





7e. Karachi, Pakistan
Population: 20,877,000
Land Area: 803 SqKm
People/SqKm: 26,000
Karachi is the financial, commercial and manufacturing centre of Pakistan and its main seaport. It is the largest Muslim city in the world and an important centre for education throughout the region and the Muslim world in general.



6. Manila, Philippines
Population: 21,420,000
Land Area: 4,863 SqKm
People/SqKm: 4,404
Manila is the capital city of the Philippines and, along with Quezon City (QC), that is also a part of the broader Manila Metropolitan area, its main commercial centre. It has a history that pre-dates the Roman empire and was once known as the Pearl of the Orient because of its location in the sea trade routes around south east Asia. More recently it suffered major destruction in World War II.
While it is undoubtedly a big, bustling city, there are a wide range of historically significant sites, lots of shopping, spo

5.Delhi, India
Population: 22,242,000
Land Area: 1,590 SqKm
People/SqKm: 13,989
There is really no way to describe Delhi, particularly ‘old’ Delhi, except to say that it is a very visceral experience. The mass of human life and activity is quite breathtaking. While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the city has an incredible range of things to do and see that make the effort to get around the place more than worthwhile.
As the capital city of India, Delhi has a great history. It effortlessly blends British colonialism, Islam and Hindi, and modern capitalism in a mish-mash that is pure India.





4. Shanghai, China
Population: 23,000,000
Land Area: 6,340 SqKm
People/SqKm: 3,628
Shanghai is China’s biggest city and is the hub of trade and finance for the country. Not surprisingly Shanghai has the busiest container port in the world and is home to many of China’s largest corporations. The Shanghai Stock Exchange is the third largest in the world based on turnover.
The city has more than doubled in population since 1982, largely reflecting the demographic movement of people from rural areas into the cities. This has seen an incredible amount of development which has added a modern overlay on and around the old Shanghai.
As one of the main transport hubs of China, Shanghai has a large focus on hospitality and tourism. With a rich and c



3. Seoul, South Korea
Population: 25,800,000
Land Area: 10,400 SqKm
People/SqKm: 2,480
Seoul is the largest city in South Korea and its financial, commercial and administrative capital. It is one of the largest commercial cities in the world with many of the world’s Fortune 500 companies based here.
Much of the cities growth has occurred since the Korean War in the 1950’s and like many other Asian cities there is a fascinating mix of the old and the new. The city’s rich history dates back thousands of years giving an amazing array of traditional architecture and city planning, together with modern sky




2. Jakarta, Indonesia
Population: 28,300,000
Land Area: 6,392 SqKm
People/SqKm: 4,427
Located on the north coast of the Indonesian island of Java, Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and capital of the country. It has seen enormous growth over the last decade, outstripping most other cities in the world in terms of population and economic growth.
Indonesia’s history includes a long period of colonial rule which ended during World War II. Today Jakarta and Indo




1. Tokyo, Japan
Population: 35,700,000
Land Area: 13,500 SqKm
People/SqKm: 2,644
Tokyo is the commercial capital of Japan, home to the Japanese government, the Japanese Emperor and Imperial Family. It was extensively damaged during World War II and rebuilt following the war to become on of the world’s most dynamic and exciting cities.
Today the city offers a kaleidoscope of shopping, dining and sightseeing options that show the many unique characteristics of the Japanese culture to great effect.