Raspberry Pi Kits to Be Provided to Every School: Kerala Chief Minister

 

Looking to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools, the state government today said that all schools in Kerala, both government and aided, will soon be equipped with electronics and Raspberry Pi kits.
Speaking at the inauguration of an ‘Electronics@School’ project, initiated by the state IT Department, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that 6,000 government schools would be given electronics kits to support and nurture a “maker- culture” among their students.
“Besides providing Raspberry Pi kits to 10,000 students selected on merit basis, steps will be taken to provide every government and aided school with a Raspberry Pi kit for common coding practice,” Chandy said.
He also launched the distribution of electronic kits under the Electronics@School project and gave away prizes to winners of a coding competition held as part of the first phase of the ‘Learn to Code’ project.
These projects are being implemented jointly by the Kerala Start-Up Mission and IT@School. Minister for IT and Industries, PK Kunhalikutty, launched the second phase of ‘Learn to Code’ project and flagged off the distribution of Raspberry Pi kits to 7,500 schoolchildren.
The minister suggested it would be appropriate for the Department of General Education to take up these projects for their better implementation.
“The projects aim to skill Kerala’s schoolchildren to cope with the future revolution in technology and entrepreneurship,” Kunhalikutty said.
Education Minister PK Abdu Rabb said both the ‘Learn to Code’ and ‘Electronics@School’ projects would be made part of the curriculum.
“The electronics kit, which is aligned with the Physics syllabus of classes 9 and 10, has been reviewed and approved by the curriculum committee,” he said.
“The project’s aim is to add 40,000 talented youngsters from schools to the vibrant maker community being developed through community participation programmes initiated by the Kerala Startup Mission,” said PH Kurien, Principal Secretary, Department of IT and Industries.
Prizes for district-level winners were, meanwhile, handed out at Saturday’s function.
IT@School Wayanad District Coordinator VJ Thomas was acknowledged for facilitating and guiding the maximum number of projects.
In the pilot phase, which was launched by Chandy in February, 2,500 selected students of class eight across all district centres were given Raspberry Pi kits and trained in programming by IT experts.
The Raspberry Pi is a computer developed by an UK-based firm for aiding the teaching of basic computer science in schools.

 

Best handheld Wi-Fi test tools

Best handheld Wi-Fi Test Tools

 

Many Wi-Fi test tools are software-based, such as Wi-Fi stumblers and analyzer programs that use a laptop’s internal Wi-Fi or maybe a USB wireless adapter. Here, we review four hardware-based products that you can throw in a laptop bag and carry around with you.
The four products are

1.AirCheck Wi-Fi Tester,

2.Yellowjacket-BANG Wi-Fi Analyzer

3. Wi-Spy DBx 

4. WiFi Pineapple Mark V.

Intel Compute Stick review: An entry level PC in your pocket, but comes with its quirks

Intel Compute Stick review: An entry level PC in your pocket, but comes with its quirks

Small form factor PCs have been around for a while now. We have seen companies such as Asus and ZOTAC releasing small form factor PCs for years now and more recently Intel had released its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) as a compact form factor PC with an Atom processor. While the category is old, there hasn’t been much adoption on the consumer front in terms of sales. For most people a computer still means a desktop or a laptop at least.

Intel announced the Compute Stick earlier this year at Computex, which is basically an entry level computer on an HDMI stick. This is quite a unique form factor for a small form factor PC. At first glance it resembles any other media-player on an HDMI stick such as the Chromecast, but offers much more in terms of usability. Let us have a look at how the Compute Stick fares.

You have to hand it to Intel for making a complete working PC inside such a small form factor. We are so used to seeing PCs in a box form factor, with just the dimensions getting smaller, that the Compute Stick design is refreshing. Of course, it is reminiscent of other product categories no doubt – but to get a PC inside this compact form factor is commendable.

The Intel Compute Stick measures 147 x 85 x 72 mm and weighs just 340 gram. That makes it easily portable and you can carry it in your back pocket. It is made of hard plastic with a glossy top finish and matte finish on other sides. There are openings on the top and sides to let the heat dissipate. Intel has also bundled in an HDMI extender, in case the HDMI port on your TV or monitor is difficult to directly attach the Compute Stick to.

Intel’s Compute Stick comprises the Intel Atom Z3735F processor which is clocked at 1.33GHz with the burst frequency going to 1.8GHz. It is a quad-core non-hyperthreaded processor. It comes with Intel HD graphics. The processor is paired with 2GB of DDR3 RAM and also has 32GB of onboard eMMC storage. The Compute Stick comes in a 32-bit Windows 8.1 OS with Bing variant as well as in a Linux variant. On the connectivity front, you get Wi-fi 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0. If you get the Windows 8.1 OS variant of the Compute Stick, then you naturally get the option to upgrade it to Windows 10 OS as well.


We got the Windows 8 version for review. When it comes to connectors and ports, on the right hand side you have a microSD card slot whereas on the left hand side there is the single USB port, a microUSB port for power and further down there is the power button. The Compute Stick will require USB power for it to turn on. You can either use the spare USB port on your TV or in case your monitor has a USB Hub. Else Intel bundles a external power adapter for the USB cable.

Performance

Considering the Intel Compute Stick is targeted more as a secondary or tertiary computing device, the raw performance numbers aren’t that great. For instance, Cinebench R11.5 gave a score of 0.8. The data transfer speed on the 32GB flash storage maxes out at 147 MB/s for sequential read and 45 MB/s for sequential write. In short, it is at par with Intel Atom Z3735 processor sporting devices such as the Micromax Canvas Laptab. But we are talking two completely different product categories.

However having said that, the Windows 8.1 OS runs smooth on the Compute Stick. We did not notice any laggy experience while using the OS. Simple tasks such as surfing the web, working on word and excel documents, watching full HD videos on streaming sites works fine with the Compute Stick. You can even load HD movies onto your microSD card and play them off the Compute Stick without issue. For streaming the CPU usage hovered around 25-30%, but for HD playback it was around 10%. Gaming is best avoided. Apart from using it to do basic tasks, you can use the Compute stick to convert your regular TV into a smart TV.

Bluetooth connectivity is a bit of an issue as we faced many instances where we just lost connectivity. Plus if you are going to use your TV as a monitor, the Compute Stick is attached behind the TV and it can be tricky if you do not have a spare USB port. If you are using your spare desktop monitor to connect the Compute Stick, one USB port on the Compute Stick may feel limiting unless you do not have a USB hub on you. It is annoying to make a decision of either using keyboard or mouse to make the initial setting – if you want to setup bluetooth. An additional USB port would certainly help.

Verdict and Price in India

So who should go for the Intel Compute Stick. Well, that is a tricky one to answer as this is an entirely new product category in a way. The advantage it offers over the incumbents in the small form factor PC space is its sheer size. At Rs 9,999 price point, you are getting an entry level PC if you already have the supporting peripherals such as the keyboard, mouse and monitor. As compared to streaming devices such as a Chromecast or Teewee2, you can do much more on the Compute Stick such as office related work, surfing on a popular browsers in addition to consuming media. The challenges lie in limited connectivity ports and non-reliable bluetooth connectivity.

SanDisk announces Connect Wireless Stick at Rs 2,790 for 16GB variant

SanDisk announces Connect Wireless Stick at Rs 2,790 for 16GB variant

SanDisk has introduced a brand new wir

eless pen drive called the Connect Wireless Stick to enable easy sharing, transferring and accessing of photos and videos between mobile devices and computers. This drive will be compatible with iOS, Android, Windows as well as Mac OS.
SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick will come in four storage variants: 16GB priced at Rs 2,790; 32GB priced at Rs 3,790; 64GB priced at Rs 5,490 and finally 128GB priced at Rs 9,490. The drives will initially sell only on Flipkart and will be seen selling via other channels in a phased manner from December.

SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick works with smartphones, tablets as well as computers via the relevant SanDisk Connect app for the platform. Users can access the media even when the wireless stick is in your pockets or bags, so long as it is connect to a wireless network.
On a single charge, supporting a single stream of data, the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick works for 4.5 hours.
Speaking at the launch of the Stick, SanDisk India country manager Rajesh Gupta said, “The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is designed to give people a simple, intuitive way to save and access all of the great content they create and consume across multiple devices, without breaking the bank.”

Facebook tests temporary profile pictures for supporting causes

Facebook is currently testing a new feature which will allow users to temporarily set a new profile picture, which will then go away after a fixed period of time.
According to TechCrunch, the new Temporary Profile Picture feature, that’s slated for a broader roll-out, will allow users to change their picture and revert to the old one after a set number of hours, days or weeks.

In conversation with TechCrunch, Facebook stated, “We often see people use their profile pictures to support a cause, root for a team, and commemorate milestones like birthdays and anniversaries. Today, we’re testing a new feature that allows you to set a temporary profile picture for a specified period of time.”

The company also pointed out that, “Temporary profile pictures make it easier to to express who you are and how you’re feeling at a given moment, without having to worry about changing your profile picture back later.”

Those who receive the feature will be able to see an option to set an expiration date when they select a new profile picture. As soon as one reaches the expiration date, the profile picture reverts back to the old one without publishing a News Feed story announcing the change

Microsoft is auto-downloading Windows 10 on PCs without user permission

Microsoft is automatically downloading between 3.5GB to 6GB of Windows 10 installation files onto PCs even without users opting for the upgrade.
According to a report by The Inquirer, one of its readers complained about a large folder labeled ‘$Windows.~BT’ taking up space on his PC. He also added that the update shows up to install Windows 10 every time he starts his PC.
According to the report, Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 10 is being downloaded to computers whether or not users have opted for it. However, the files being downloaded does not imply that Windows 10 is automatically installed. But once they are present, Microsoft will prompt users to install the software every time a computer is rebooted.
The company stated, “For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade.” Microsoft added, “When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device.”
This move by Microsoft can create a problem for users who may not have the space to download a large update or for those, who are not ready to upgrade yet.
Microsoft had earlier released the third cumulative patch for Window 10, and also announced that its latest operating system is now installed on 50 million devices. It has now hit a new milestone with 75 million devices as it edges towards its target of 1 billion installations of Windows 10.

Verizon to offer new Cisco Software-Defined Networking technology

 Verizon to offer new Cisco Software-Defined Networking technology 

 

Verizon has unveiled its new software-defined WAN service using Cisco’s Intelligent WAN (IWAN) technology that harnesses the power of the Internet with the performance and reliability of a private IP network, to help enterprises keep up with the continued growth of network traffic.

Verizon and Cisco will both market and sell the managed solution to their respective enterprise customer bases in the U.S. beginning in September. The companies plan to roll out the solution in EMEA by the end of the year. The new solution will be supported by Verizon’s IT consulting group which help enterprises manage their transition to SD-based networking.

“With Verizon’s new service, we are taking our IWAN solution to the next level,” said Jeff Reed, vice president of the Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Group. “Cisco IWAN’s open architecture enables Verizon to offer a flexible, highly secure and reliable service to its enterprise customers. With IWAN as the foundation and Verizon’s expertise in network management, the solution will enable enterprises to improve the application experience for their employees and customers,” he added.

Through Cisco’s software-defined WAN solution, Verizon is enabling integrated application optimization for improved and faster application performance; certified routing platforms (ISRs and ASRs); intelligent Path Control to fully utilize both MPLS and the Internet; and provision new sites and services faster with a hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives

“Verizon and Cisco have joined forces to enable a whole new generation of networking solutions that help companies operate more efficiently and with greater agility,” said Shawn Hakl, vice president of enterprise networking and innovation, Verizon.
- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/verizon-to-offer-new-cisco-software-defined-networking-technology/13582/#sthash.DRQxwXlb.dpuf

 

Verizon has unveiled its new software-defined WAN service using Cisco’s Intelligent WAN (IWAN) technology that harnesses the power of the Internet with the performance and reliability of a private IP network, to help enterprises keep up with the continued growth of network traffic.

Verizon and Cisco will both market and sell the managed solution to their respective enterprise customer bases in the U.S. beginning in September. The companies plan to roll out the solution in EMEA by the end of the year. The new solution will be supported by Verizon’s IT consulting group which help enterprises manage their transition to SD-based networking.

“With Verizon’s new service, we are taking our IWAN solution to the next level,” said Jeff Reed, vice president of the Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Group. “Cisco IWAN’s open architecture enables Verizon to offer a flexible, highly secure and reliable service to its enterprise customers. With IWAN as the foundation and Verizon’s expertise in network management, the solution will enable enterprises to improve the application experience for their employees and customers,” he added.

Through Cisco’s software-defined WAN solution, Verizon is enabling integrated application optimization for improved and faster application performance; certified routing platforms (ISRs and ASRs); intelligent Path Control to fully utilize both MPLS and the Internet; and provision new sites and services faster with a hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives

“Verizon and Cisco have joined forces to enable a whole new generation of networking solutions that help companies operate more efficiently and with greater agility,” said Shawn Hakl, vice president of enterprise networking and innovation, Verizon.
- See more at: http://computer.financialexpress.com/news/verizon-to-offer-new-cisco-software-defined-networking-technology/13582/#sthash.DRQxwXlb.dpuf

Verizon has unveiled its new software-defined WAN service using Cisco’s Intelligent WAN (IWAN) technology that harnesses the power of the Internet with the performance and reliability of a private IP network, to help enterprises keep up with the continued growth of network traffic.

Verizon and Cisco will both market and sell the managed solution to their respective enterprise customer bases in the U.S. beginning in September. The companies plan to roll out the solution in EMEA by the end of the year. The new solution will be supported by Verizon’s IT consulting group which help enterprises manage their transition to SD-based networking.

“With Verizon’s new service, we are taking our IWAN solution to the next level,” said Jeff Reed, vice president of the Cisco Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions Group. “Cisco IWAN’s open architecture enables Verizon to offer a flexible, highly secure and reliable service to its enterprise customers. With IWAN as the foundation and Verizon’s expertise in network management, the solution will enable enterprises to improve the application experience for their employees and customers,” he added.

Through Cisco’s software-defined WAN solution, Verizon is enabling integrated application optimization for improved and faster application performance; certified routing platforms (ISRs and ASRs); intelligent Path Control to fully utilize both MPLS and the Internet; and provision new sites and services faster with a hybrid WAN to support key business initiatives

“Verizon and Cisco have joined forces to enable a whole new generation of networking solutions that help companies operate more efficiently and with greater agility,” said Shawn Hakl, vice president of enterprise networking and innovation, Verizon.