DDB : Digital Direct Broadcast

DDB : Digital Direct Broadcast Faq's

DDB TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM for Televisions

Q.1 : What is  DDB Foundation ?

The DDB Foundation, is a union of seven technology giants.The foundation has come up with its most prestigious innovation Digital Direct Broadcast (DDB) technology platform. The DDB technology platform is an advanced TV operating system, which allows the DDB enabled televisions to perform multiple functions never experienced before on one single platform.

This revolutionary technology is pioneered by STMicroelectronics - World’s leading semiconductor company, Irdeto – World’s leading innovative software and application maker, Nivio – World’s leading cloud computing brand, Faroudja – Emmy award winning audio-video technology, Strata – World’s leading sound technology and is presented by Videocon d2h - India’s most advanced DTH service provider and Phillips – World’s leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle brand.

Q.2 : What is DDB ?

DDB - Digital Direct Broadcast platform is an advanced TV operating system, which allows the DDB enabled televisions to perform multiple functions never experienced before on one single platform. This new technological wave rides high on features such as- receiving, processing and display capability of real Full HD 1080p digital signals without the help of any set-top box, giving you an audio-visual experience never seen or heard before, dual core processor – 450 Mhz, 14-bit video processor; Motion Enhancement and Motion Correction (MEMC), which interpolates and constructs the “in between” frames to eliminate issues related to both motion judder and motion blur, giving you an outstanding viewing experience, 3D Technology, Faroudja Video and Audio Optimized that eliminates any distortion caused by noise signal and gives you a vivid and clear image for your viewing; Strata Certified Audio and 10-band Graphic Equalizer. Its cloud computing abilities help you access your files remotely which are saved on it.And last but not the least is full fledged internet experience alongwith net buttons like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Picassa, eWeather, Internet Radio, mail and chat client and various applications viz UPnP and File Sharing.

Q.3: Is it a Television  or  a Service ?

DDB is a TV Operating system.

Q.4 : How DDB is going to change the traditional way of watching television?

DDB is a TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM for Televisions that will fuel future innovations in the category -TV+ D2H convergence, True Smart capabilities, Cloud Convergence, best in class audio & Video output.

This new technology helps receive digital signals without the help of any set-top box, giving you an audio-visual experience never seen or heard before. Its cloud computing abilities help you work and save your files on it too, while giving you a superior browsing experience of your favourite websites, It also has the ability to convert 2D channels into life-like 3D quality, making this digital technology platform nothing short of being magical.

Q.5 : How is it different to DTH service?

DTH services just helps in receiving signals. Where as, DDB as a platform recieves direct digital signals from satellite without any transmission loss, and thats too without help of any seperate set top box. Not only this, it gives yout an audio-visual experience never seen or heard before. Its cloud computing abilities help you access your files remotely which are saved on it.It allows you to experience flicker free 3D viewing. It also has the ability to convert 2D channels into life-like 3D quality, making this digital technology platform nothing short of being magical.It has full fledged internet access alongwith net buttons like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Picassa, eWeather, Internet Radio, mail and chat client and various applications viz UPnP and File Sharing.

Q.6 : Can this technology be used in my existing devices or I need to purchase a new device?

A new DDB enabled device is required to enjoy the benefits of this technology.

Q.7 : What are the basic technical requirements to have a DDB connection?

DDB enabled Television, LAN/Wi-fi/ datacard connection, D2H connection are some of the few basic requirements to experience DDB.

Q.8 : Can this be plugged and played like DTH?

Yes

Q.9 : Where can I purchase DDB?

Many top technology brands are approaching DDB for the tie up. The DDB enabled TVs will soon be available in the markets near you.

Q.10 : What is the Price?

The Price of DDB enabled TVs will be decided by the respective TV manufacturing companies offering DDB TVs.

Q.11 : Is there some running periodic cost?

No, one just needs to pay for the services like DTH, cloud computing, Internet surfing etc.

Q.12 : Is there any business partnership scope for me?

Yes, by owning a retail outlet for DDB enabled TVs.

Powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia

Indonesian quake: Kenya, Tanzania issue tsunami warnings

Kenya and Tanzania issued tsunami warnings along their eastern Indian Ocean coastlines after a powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia on Wednesday.

Some 164 people were killed and more than 2,300 were displaced in Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, Seychelles, and Somalia after the disastrous 2004 Asian tsunami.

The waves are expected to hit the Kenyan coast, a popular tourist destination, at about 1700 GMT, officials said. One person in Kenya was killed in the 2004 tsunami.

"The government of Kenya has consequently issued a tsunami warning for the people living along the Kenyan coastline," Esther Murugi, the minister of state for special programmes said in a statement.

"The water levels are expected to rise up to 2 to 3 metres in areas of Malindi, Lamu, up to Kiunga while in Kilifi, Mombasa up to Shimoni, the levels are expected to rise up to 2 metres," she said. Senior Assistant Director at Kenya's Met office, Ali Mafimbo, said an alert had been issued to keep people on the lookout and to stay out of the sea once they saw water levels receding.

Tanzania said it expected waves of up to 1.5 metres to hit the coastline between 1600 GMT and 1800 GMT. "There will likely be huge waves in the Indian Ocean all fishermen and other vessels should keep off the sea," Tanzania's Meteorological Agency director, Agness Kijazi, told Reuters.

"People should evacuate coastlines, especially in northern parts of the country." Madagascar's National Office for Disaster and Risk Management said they did not expect the tsunami to cause damage on the Indian Ocean island.

"We don't expect the wave to have a big impact on Madagascar. We are not planning to move anybody. We urge people not to panic," Louis de Gonzague Rakotonirainy said, before the latest wave of aftershocks.

"In the event the situation develops, the inhabitants of the east coast will be advised to move to higher ground. A meeting is taking place right now to evaluate the situation."

Nokia Codes Tips and Tricks

To check the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) Type-
*#06#
Information you get from the IMEI-
XXXXXX XX XXXXXX X
TAC FAC SNR SP
TAC = Type approval code
FAC = Final assembly code
SNR = Serial number
SP = Spare
To check the phones Software revision type-
*#0000#
Information you get from the Software revision-
V 05.31
18-02-99
NSE-3
1ST Line = Software revision
2ND Line = The date of the software release
3RD Line = Phone type
To enter the service menu type-
*#92702689# (*#WAR0ANTY#)
Serial number (IMEI)
Production date (MM/YY)
Purchase date (MM/YY) You can only enter the date once.
Date of last repair (0000=No repair)
Transfer user data to another Nokia phone via Infra-Red
Clock Stopping

To check weather your SIM Card supports clock stopping type-
*#746025625# (*#SIM0CLOCK#)
Revealing the Headphone and Car-Kit menus
Please note that if you do these next tricks, the new menus can’t be erased without retoring the factory default settings. To do these tricks you need to short-circuit the pins on the bottom of the phone next to where you plug in you charger.
1. To activate the “Headset” menu, you need to short-circuit pins “3″ and “4″. After a short time the word “Headset” will be shown in the display. Menu 3-6 is now enabled.
2. To activate the “Car” menu, you need to short-circuit pins “4″ and “5″. After a short time the word “Car” will be shown in the display. Menu 3-7 is now enabled.

THE REBOOT TRICK
This should work on all software versions of the 6110.
1. Go to the Calendar (Menu-8)
2. Make a note or reminder.
3. Enter some text into the edit box.
4. Hold “Clear” until the whole text is cleared, then press “Back”.
5. Press “0″. The main screen will now be showing but a space appears on the screen. (you can’t see it)
6. Enter 4 digits (e.g. 1234).
7. Use the down arrow to move the cursor to the left side of the numbers and the space (Down arrow twice).
8. Now enter 6 digits and press the call button.
Wait for a few seconds, the screen should start to flash and reboots. It should alsowork on other menus like the “Profiles” menu.


EFR CALL QUALITY
To activate EFR (Enhanced Full Rate) Enter the code-
*3370#
This improves call quality but decreases batterylife by about 5%
To deactivate it, Enter the code-
#3370#


THE JAMES BOND TRICK
If you short-circuit theleft middle and right pins on the bottom of the phone with all connections touching each other, the Nokia software hangs! The profile “Headset” will be activated. Before you do this just activate the “Automatic Answer” in the headset profile and set the ringing volume to “Mute”. Now you can use your phone for checking out what people are talking about in a room. Just place it under a table in a room and call it. The phone receives the call without ringing and you can listen to what people are saying.


NETWORK MONITOR
There is a hidden menu inside your Nokia phone. If you want to activate it, you’ll have to re-program some chips inside of your phone.
Check your software version. You can only continue if you have v4.33, v4.73 or v5.24.
Take apart the phone.
De-solder the EEPROM (ATMEL AT 24C64).
Read out the data with an EEPROM programmer and save it to a file (Backup).
If you have v.33 or v4.73, change the address “03B8″ from “00″ to “FF”.
If you have v5.24 then change the address “0378″ from “00″ to “FF”.
Write the new data to the EEPROM and solder it back to the phone,
Power on your phone and you should have “Netmonitor” enabled.
The Network Monitor gives you the following information.


Carrier number
MS RX Level in DBM
Received signal quality
MS TX power level
C1 (Path loss criterion, used for cell selection and reselection). The range is -99 to 99.
RTL (Radio link timeout).
Timeslot
Indication of the transmitter status
Information on the Network parameters.
TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity).
Cell identification (Cell ID, Number of cells being used).
MCC (Mobile country code)
MCN (Mobile network code)
LAC (Location area code)
Ciphering (On/Off)
Hopping (On/Off)
DTX (On/Off)
Discard cell barred information


CHECK SIM-LOCK
Note – If you bought your Nokia on UK Vodafone or UK Cellnet you do not need to check this because they both transmit on GSM900, and they don’t lock the phones. However if you bought your phone on UK Orange or UK One2one your phone may be blocked. The reason is that they both transmitt on GSM1800. To make a call on GSM1800 you need what is known as a “Dual band” phone. A dual band phone is able to transmit on both GSM900 and GSM1800, so they lock the phones so you can’t use it with any other network simcard. If you find that your phone is locked you can try different software to unlock it. (we havn’t found one that works yet), or you can ask your service provider who will gladly exchange the 10 digit code for about £35.
This is how to check the status of the 4 different locks. Aslo don’t try entering the wrong number, because after 3 times it will block the phone for good.
There are 4 different locks on your Nokia phone.
COUNTRY-LOCK
NETWORK-LOCK
PROVIDER-LOCK
SIMCARD-LOCK
The code to read out the sim-lock status of your phone is
#PW+(MASTERCODE)+(Y)#
# = DOUBLE-CROSS
W = PRESS “*” THREE TIMES
P = PRESS “*” FOUR TIMES
+ = PRESS “*” TWO TIMES
MASTERCODE = 1234567890
Y = NUMBER 1 TO 4
The master code is a secret code. The code has 10 digits, To read out the sim-lock status you can enter every combination you want!
“Y” Shows the status of the network-lock. Here you can enter a number from “1″ to “4″. The “4″ is for the sim-card lock.


SIM-LOCK CHECKS
#PW+1234567890+1# = GIVES PROVIDER-LOCK STATUS
#PW+1234567890+2# = GIVES NETWORK-LOCK STATUS
#PW+1234567890+3# = GIVES COUNTRY-LOCK STATUS
#PW+1234567890+4# = GIVES SIM-CARD-LOCK STATUS.

Get Peyton Manning ?

Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American professional football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL) for fourteen seasons from 1998 to 2011. He is the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and the elder brother of current New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.

Manning played college football at the University of Tennessee, leading the Volunteers to the 1997 SEC Championship in his senior season. He was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. From 1998 to 2010, he led the Colts to seven AFC South division championships, two AFC championships, and to a Super Bowl championship (Super Bowl XLI). He has won a record four league most valuable player awards,[1] was the most valuable player of Super Bowl XLI, has been named to eleven Pro Bowls, has eleven 4,000-yard passing seasons (including a record six straight), and is the Indianapolis Colts' all-time leader in passing yards (54,828) and touchdown passes (399). In 2009, he was named the best player in the NFL and Fox Sports along with Sports Illustrated named him the NFL player of the decade of the 2000s.

In July 2011, Manning signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension with the Colts. In May 2011, he underwent neck surgery to alleviate neck pain and arm weakness he dealt with during the previous few seasons. Manning had hoped to play in the 2011 season, but in September 2011, he underwent a much more serious second surgery: a level one cervical fusion procedure. Manning had never missed an NFL game in his career, but was forced to miss the entire 2011 season. He was released by the Colts on March 7, 2012.

ESPN.com first reported Titans coach Mike Munchak will meet with Manning after a session with Miami coach Joe Philbin.

The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday about Manning's meeting with the Titans on the condition of anonymity because the location and time of that meeting remains confidential.

Titans owner Bud Adams made it known Sunday he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning to get back to the playoffs and win his team's first Super Bowl. Adams told The Tennessean he had talked to Manning's agent, Tom Condon, asking for a visit with the quarterback.

Manning has plenty of connections to Tennessee.

He starred at the University of Tennessee, leading to his first name becoming a popular choice for newborns in this state. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans' facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.

Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian -- son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian -- as his assistant.

But the biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. A meeting with Manning could come in Houston where Adams still lives after relocating his Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.

"I want Manning," Adams told The Tennessean. "I'd love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. ... I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he'd be the guy to get us into the playoffs."

In a story in the Daily News this morning, the anonymous quotes are flying thick and fast. The headline says it all: "NY Jets players bash Mark Sanchez, say they want Peyton Manning and GM Mike Tannenbaum should trade young quarterback away."

All of this talk, as you probably know, is the fallout from Peyton Manning's missing the season, Indianapolis collapsing into the worst team in the league, and the likelihood that the Colts will now draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with their number one draft pick. Would the Jets then make a deal for Manning -- perhaps one that involves letting Sanchez go?

Joseph Kony Elusive

Joseph Kony born: 18-Sep, 1964 Atyak/Odek, Uganda, he's an Internet star now.

Joseph Kony considers himself quite a good Christian, and he wants Uganda to be a Christian nation. So in 1987 he formed a resistance group called the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), and the LRA has been at civil war against the Ugandan government ever since. If the LRA wins, Kony has promised that Uganda will become a theocracy, with laws based on the Biblical Ten Commandments.

Kony's LRA has kidnapped an estimated 20,000 children for use as fighters or sex slaves. As part of their initiation, these children are often required to kill their own parents, so they'll have no homes to return to. (It's not clear which of the Ten Commandments Kony's strategy is based on.) Once kidnapped, children are used as pack mules, carrying LRA supplies until they are too weak to walk, at which time they're killed or simply left to die. Kidnapped boys also serve as targets and decoys, sent to the front lines -- unarmed -- whenever the Ugandan Army engages the LRA. Kidnapped girls that Kony or his senior commanders find attractive become their "wives" (Kony is reputed to have 60). Troublesome captives have their noses, lips, and/or ears cut off, and are then made to eat their own flesh.

A video about the atrocities carried out by Kony's Lord's Resistance Army has gone viral, racking up millions more views seemingly by the hour.

The marketing campaign is an effort by the advocacy group Invisible Children to vastly increase awareness about a jungle militia leader who is wanted for atrocities by the International Criminal Court and is being hunted by 100 U.S. Special Forces advisers and local troops in four Central African countries.

The group's 30-minute video, which was released Monday, had more than 32 million views on YouTube by Thursday. The movie is part of an effort called KONY 2012 that targets Kony and the LRA.

"Kony is a monster. He deserves to be prosecuted and hanged," said Col. Felix Kulayigye, the spokesman for Uganda's military.

But Kulayigye said that Kony's forces -- once thousands strong -- have been so degraded that he no longer considers Kony a threat to the region. Because of the intensified hunt for Kony, his forces split into smaller groups that can travel the jungle more easily.

Experts estimate that the LRA now has only about 250 fighters. Still, the militia abducts children, forcing them to serve as soldiers or sex slaves, and even to kill their parents or each other to survive. The LRA now operates in Congo, the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

Uganda, Invisible Children and #stopkony were among the top 10 trending terms on Twitter among both the worldwide and U.S. audience on Wednesday night, ranking higher than New iPad or Peyton Manning. Twitter's top trends more commonly include celebrities than fugitive militants.

Jolly Okot was abducted in 1986 by the militia group that later became the LRA. The then-18-year-old could speak English so was valuable to the militants. She was also forced to have sex.  Kony's Ugandan rebel group is blamed for tens of thousands of mutilations and killings over the last 26 years.

"Kony gives you the impression that he is harmless, that he cannot catch a fly," Rugunda said, recalling his conversations with Kony, who was an altar boy before he became an elusive rebel leader. Rugunda last saw Kony in a forested camp in eastern Congo before the rebel leader and his men fled to the Central African Republic, where they have retained the capacity to harass villagers for food.

Adolf Hitler had a son

The late Jean-Marie Loret, a French railway worker, claimed for many years to be the son of Adolf Hitler and while some believed him, more didn’t.

Adolf Hitler had a son with a French teenager while serving as a soldier during the First World War, according to new evidence.

Jean-Marie Loret, who died in 1985 aged 67, never met his father, but went on to fight Nazi forces during the Second World War.

His extraordinary story has now been backed up by a range of compelling evidence, both in France and in Germany, which is published in the latest edition of Paris's Le Point magazine.

Hitler is said to have had an affair with Mr Loret's mother, Charlotte Lobjoie, 16, as he took a break from the trenches in June 1917.

Although he was fighting the French near Seboncourt, in the northern Picardy region, Hitler made his way to Fournes-in-Weppe, a small town west of Lille, for regular leave.
There he met Miss Lobjoie, who later told their son: "One day I was cutting hay with other women, when we saw a German soldier on the other side of the street.

Carnival Celebrations at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Decked up in colorful enticing samba costumes, millions jammed up the streets of Brazil on the first night of extravagant Rio de Janeiro's Carnival parade Sunday.

Amid the majestic set-up, frenetic samba music, thumping of drum beats and magnificent fireworks, the annual carnival parade kicked-off in Rio's Sambadrome, the "Temple of Samba."

Around thirteen best samba schools of the city participated in the parade. The two-day event also saw Hollywood celebrities like Madonna, J.Lo, Beyonce, Jude Law, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson and Kevin Spacey, Associated Press reported.

Tens of thousands of fans packed Rio's iconic Sambadrome for a second night of dazzling Carnival parades featuring lavishly costumed performers, elaborate floats and thumping music. 

The night parades in the Sambadrome are the high point of the pre-Lent Carnival festival, which has brought this racially diverse country of 191 million people to a near-standstill.

Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez was one of several foreign celebrities to lend their star power to the event, appearing late Sunday in skinny red jeans and a sequined top.

With a deafening burst of fireworks, Sao Clemente was the first of six elite samba schools to take center stage Monday, taking inspiration from a selection of popular Broadway musicals such as "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Cabaret".

Uniao da Ilha do Gobernador was to follow with a presentation illustrating the connection between London and Rio, which will host the next two Summer Olympics in 2012 and 2016.

The schools are vying for the title of Carnival champion. A total of 13 schools are competing for the honor, to be bestowed on Wednesday. Seven schools held their parades late Sunday.

Several have chosen to celebrate the culture of Brazil's northeast, particularly the rich Africa heritage of Bahia state.

Salgueiro, which won the title in 2009, will present a tribute to so-called Cord literature, a genre of folk novels and poems which is very popular in northeastern Brazil.

Mangueira, viewed as the country's most popular samba school, will offer a homage to a popular Rio Carnival band, Cacique de Ramos, which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The school has many national and foreign star followers, including Argentine football great Diego Maradona.

Unidos da Tijuca, which finished 2nd last year, and Grande Rio, one of the newest schools, will round out the proceedings.

Preparation for the Carnival parades starts months in advance, as each samba school mobilizes thousands of supporters who must create the various parts of the school's display.

Favela residents are often members of a local samba school and are deeply involved with the performance and preparation of costumes.

The Carnival turns the spotlight on the artistic talent, creative genius and zest for life found in those predominantly black shantytowns which often lack running water, electricity and sewage systems.

The Sambadrome, which recently reopened after a nine-month makeover, now has a boosted capacity, elevators, and access ramps for the handicapped.

Seats cost between $50 and several thousand dollars, depending on whether one sits on packed benches in the open or in air-conditioned VIP boxes stocked with champagne. Big-name companies invite luminaries like Lopez to their skyboxes to promote their brands.

The Rio Carnival, billed as "the greatest show on Earth," generates 250,000 jobs and revenues of $640 million for hotels, bars and restaurants, according to state estimates.

Carnival is celebrated with equal gusto in other cities and towns, including Sao Paulo, Brazil's economic capital and Latin America's most populous city, and Salvador, the heart of the rich Afro-Brazilian culture.

Sony Xperia S vs Samsung Galaxy S2

Sony Xperia S vs Samsung Galaxy S2

We compare Samsung's Galaxy S2 to the latest Sony Xperia S smartphone

Form

Samsung Galaxy S2 - 125.3x66.1x8.5mm, 116g

Sony Xperia S - 128x64x10.6mm, 144g

The Samsung Galaxy S2 launched this time last year but it's still up there as one of the more attractive looking handsets on the market with its imposing proportions and more angular styling.

Overall the design is minimalist, which makes everything look clean and modern, though it does have a textured back panel to spice things up a little.

The Sony Xperia S is a much striking device with next to no curvature or softening on the corners. In contrast to this the backpanel is completely smooth, which does provide some interesting contrast.

The other significant visual tweak is that the screen takes precedence over the bodywork, leading to a very thin bezel and a more ‘premium' look and feel.

We think Sony's device looks much smarter.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

DisplaySamsung is traditionally pretty consistent at producing some top quality displays for its devices, so much so that other manufacturers, such as Nokia, even buy them for their own handsets too.

The Galaxy S2 uses Samsung's Super AMOLED Plus technology, which offers excellent picture quality, brightness, colour depth and is a bit more battery friendly than your avergae LCD panel.

The 4.3-inch multi-touch capacitive display is also reinforced with Corning's impressively resilient Gorilla Glass and boasts an 800x480 pixel WVGA resolution, giving a pixel density of 217 pixels-per-inch (ppi).

However Sony seems keen to take the South Korean manufacturer down a peg or two.

The Xperia S's display measures the same 4.3-inches as its Samsung rival and while its not Super AMOLED Plus, it still uses a fancy LED backlit LCD screen resulting in some sharp imagery.

As might be expected it's multi-touch capable, but what you might not expect is support for all 10 of your digits.

We can't quite fathom what kind of app we might need all 10 for but we suppose it's always nice to have the option and its certainly not something we're going to hold against the Xperia S.

It's also scratch-resistant and boasts a very impressive resolution of 1280x720 pixels, which is not something you see very often on a smartphone.

The pixel density comes at an astounding 342ppi, which is higher than even the Apple iPhone's acclaimed, and significantly smaller, Retina display.

We have to commend Sony here for producing a brilliantly high-spec display.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

StorageSamsung's Galaxy S2 has two storage options. You've got a choice of either 16GB or 32GB and either one you choose comes with 1GB of RAM and a microSD slot for up to an additional 32GB of card storage.

Sony's new handset only has the one option but it's an ample 32GB and 1GB of RAM. Unfortunately, Sony has decided to forego the usual card slot on this particular model, which is a bit of a shame.

Samsung is holding the trump card for this round with its microSD capability.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy S2

ProcessorInside the Galaxy S2 is a 1.2GHz dual core ARM Cortex-A9 processor running on Samsung's brilliant Exynos chipset alongside a Mali-400MP graphics processing unit (GPU).

It might not have the fastest clock speed on the market but thanks to the chipset and GPU combo this setup is still one of the better performing hardware configurations currently available.

The Xperia S is also a dual core device loaded with a 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor on the MSM8260 Snapdragon chipset and features Qualcomm's new Adreno 220 GPU, which should pack quite a punch. 

We think this qualifies as a draw as both phones are capable of high-end performance.

Winner - Draw

Operating SystemBoth handsets are currently running Android 2.3 Gingerbread but are due to be updated to Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 at some point this year, which should offer a performance boost and a much quicker and more intuitive user interface.

These devices are on an equal footing in this context as well.

Winner - Draw

CameraThe Samsung Galaxy S2 may not have the absolute best 8-megapixel camera out there but it's certainly one of the better ones available, showing the majority of contemporary handsets how it's done.

The resolution clocks in at 3264x2448 pixels and camera features include 1080p video capture, an LED flash, geo-tagging, autofocus, touch focus, image stabilisation and face and smile detection. There's also a reasonably good 2-megapixel secondary camera on the front.

Sony has come straight out of left field with the Xperia S, taking no prisoners with a 12-megapixel beast of a primary camera sporting a 4000x3000 pixel resolution and an Exmor R CMOS sensor.

Features wise it has the same setup as the Galaxy S2 for still images, plus the addition of 3D ‘sweep' panoramic capture.

Again, we were impressed with the quality of its predecessor, the Xperia Arc S, in this category and with that pedigree it should deliver some pretty snazzy pictures.

For video it can capture in 1080p on the primary camera and features continuous autofocus, a video light and video stabilisation. The 1.3-megapixel secondary camera can also capture video in 720p.

Sony is offering one of the most competitive camera set-ups we've seen for some time on the Xperia S so we've no qualms about voting it the winner in this round.

Winner - Sony Xperia S

Final Thoughts
Sony has come close to toppling Samsung's Galaxy S2 from its perch. It doesn't quite achieve this and we'd mainly pin that on the lack of a microSD card so instead it ends up sitting awkwardly on the same branch in this weird phones-as-birds metaphor we've created.

Regardless, It's on an equal footing in terms of the operating system and processing power but has sharper looks, a far superior camera and a much better display.

All in all we have to say that if we were pushed we'd likely go with the Xperia S over the Galaxy S2.

Manchester United vs Liverpool RIVALRY

Manchester United vs Liverpool RIVALRY

Liverpool FC have always held the title as the most successful club in England because of their record breaking 18 First Division Premier League Titles. But recently Manchester United was able to tie with Liverpool’s record during the 2008-2009 seasons. Both clubs are located in the North West of England and the rivalry between the fans of the two clubs has become a part of their culture. Manchester United was the first club to lift the European Cup in 1968 under the leadership of the Scottish manager Sir Matt Busby while Liverpool did not win the European Cup until the 1970s. However Liverpool won that trophy five times while Manchester United only has three European Cups.

Liverpool became very successful in the 1970s and the 1980s while Manchester United became successful in the 1990s and 2000s. Liverpool has not won the League Title in England for the past 19 years. Even if Liverpool won a double over Manchester United during the 2008-2009 Premier League seasons Manchester United was still able to win the League by four points. Matches between these two rivals are often called North West derby. Both teams have won a total of 117 titles. Manchester United has 59 Titles while Liverpool has 58. Games for these rivals are usually played during the midday because of TV interests and to discourage fans from drinking before the games. Games and matches between these two teams are very popular that’s why tickets are very hard to get hold of due to high demand.
The team rivalry is also present among the clubs players. Wayne Rooney is a famous Manchester Striker that grew up in Liverpool but hated his local club while Steven Gerrard plays for Liverpool hates Manchester United. Another player from Manchester United – Gary Neville has been very open and vocal of his hatred for Liverpool. Both clubs currently claim the title of the Greatest English football clubs because they are nearly equal in terms of achievements. Liverpool and Manchester United are considered as the two most successful English clubs in the European competition.

Liverpool used to lead the League but Manchester United was able to get ahead of them during the 2010-2011 Premier League seasons with a record of 19 Premier League Titles. Current records for Cup Titles for both teams are very competitive. Liverpool has won a total of 7 FA Cups and 7 League Cups while Manchester United has 10 FA Cups and 1 League Cup.  Both teams are very strong and well accomplished and have a very strong fan base that supports their respective teams.

The fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of the most significant sporting rivalries in football, sometimes referred to as the North West derby. Both clubs hail from the North West of England. With both cities of Liverpool and Manchester historically being part of the county of Lancashire, this fixture has been known as a Lancashire derby.

The clubs are also the two most successful teams in England; between them they have won 118 honours: 60 for Manchester United and 58 for Liverpool. The fixture is usually played at midday due to media interest and to discourage fans from drinking before the game.[citation needed]

Long-serving Manchester United player Ryan Giggs claimed that Liverpool against Manchester United is "probably the most famous fixture in English football". This rivalry is one of the most high-profile derbies in the country.

Inter-city rivalry

The rivalry can be considered as a manifestation of one which already had existed between the two cities since industrial times. During this time both were competing with each other for supremacy of the north-west, with Manchester famous for its manufacturing prowess while Liverpool was famous for the importance of its port.

Once the Manchester Ship Canal was built, ships could bypass Liverpool and transport goods directly into Manchester. The Ship Canal was an audacious project and upon completion in 1894 it was the longest man-made ship canal in the world. The Ship Canal meant less dues for Liverpool merchants which consequently resulted in job losses at the Port and resentment from the local people of Liverpool. Historians generally regard this as the key incident as to why such inter-city rivalry exists. Furthermore, the crest of Manchester United includes a ship representing the Manchester Ship Canal and reflects Manchester's trade roots. Furthermore this ship is also included on many other Mancunian institutions such as Manchester City Council and rivals Manchester City F.C..

During the late 1970s and 1980s, the two cities had been in decline due to the downturn of industries. However, both cities have again grown and found success, with Manchester now being recognised as a world-class city. Recently, Manchester hosted the 2002 Commonwealth Games, while Liverpool was awarded the title of 2008 European Capital of Culture.

Football rivalry

Both clubs claim the title of 'the Greatest English Football Club', having won over 50 major trophies each. Liverpool dominated English football during the 1970s and 1980s, claiming the league title eleven times and the European Cup on four occasions during that period, including winning a treble of the League, the League Cup and the European Cup in 1984. Manchester United, however, have dominated the 1990s and 2000s, winning the league title a record twelve times, a European Continental Treble (European Cup, the Premier League and the FA Cup) in 1999, two domestic Doubles and The European Double of the Premier League and European Cup in 2008. Both clubs are also the two most successful English sides in European competition, with Liverpool having been European champions 5 times, and Manchester United 3 times. With Manchester United's victory in the Premier League season 2010–11, they moved ahead of Liverpool with a record 19 league titles. Despite Liverpool's success in England, they have never won the Premier League since its founding in 1992. Winning the League Cup in 2010, Manchester United then set a new English record of 33 domestic honours - moving one clear of the Merseysiders for the first time. Manchester United currently have 34 domestic honours after their victory in the 2010–11 Premier League season.

As well as competing on the football pitch, both teams are also two of the biggest-earning, and widely-supported, football clubs in the world.

The rivalry has extended to the players as well: United striker Wayne Rooney, a product of Liverpool's city rivals Everton described how, although he is from Liverpool, he grew up hating the Reds,[6] while Liverpool's Steven Gerrard took a film crew on tour of his home where he showed off a collection of football shirts he had swapped with opposing players as part of the after match routine; he pointed out that there were no Manchester United shirts in there and that he would never have one of them in his house. Manchester United's Gary Neville has been publicly vocal in the past with regards to his dislike of Liverpool; following a fixture in which John O'Shea scored a stoppage-time winner in front of the Kop in 2007, Neville described O'Shea's achievement as "a lifelong dream" for himself. Neville was berated by Liverpool fans for his role in celebrating in front of them in 2006, kissing the crest on his jersey and appearing to shout angrily towards the fans.

Player transfers

 The rivalry between the two clubs has become so intense that since the 1964 transfer of Phil Chisnall from United to Liverpool, no player has been transferred directly between the two clubs.[8] Some players, however, have played for both clubs, but having played elsewhere between each tenure, such as Paul Ince (playing for Internazionale in between) and Peter Beardsley (Vancouver Whitecaps and Newcastle United) and more recently Michael Owen (Real Madrid and Newcastle United).

In 2007, there was a bid from Liverpool to sign Gabriel Heinze from United, but United refused to allow him to join their biggest rivals due to the ongoing feud. United claimed that it was agreed Heinze would only join a foreign club if he chose to leave. Heinze went public with his request to join Liverpool which was seen as the ultimate betrayal by the Manchester United fans. The Manchester United fans who once chanted "Argentina" in honour of the player now turned their backs on him. Heinze was eventually sold to Real Madrid instead.

Hooliganism

 With the rise of football hooliganism across English football during the 1970s and 1980s, matches between the two clubs brought some minor and major incidents of hooliganism.[citation needed] Since then, the modern game has seen a decrease in violence between the rival supporters and incidents are fairly uncommon. This is more likely due to an increase in Police presence and CCTV with huge steps taken to keep the fans separated. To this day, both sets of fans still hold a resentment toward each other. As well as physical violence, sections of the clubs' fan bases often taunt each other with unsavoury chants about the Munich air disaster and the Hillsborough disaster respectively.

At the 1996 FA Cup Final, an unidentified Liverpool fan spat at Eric Cantona and threw a punch at Alex Ferguson as a victorious Manchester United team walked up the steps at Wembley Stadium to collect the trophy from the Royal Box.

After an FA Cup match in 2006 between the clubs, an ambulance carrying Alan Smith, who had broken his leg during the match, was attacked on its way to the hospital by Liverpool fans.  The same match featured foreign objects thrown at Man Utd fans by Liverpool supporters, including human excrement.  A Liverpool FA Cup Semifinal game against Chelsea later that year also resulted in damage to Old Trafford, including graffitti about serial killer Harold Shipman. 

At Anfield, fans are banned from going near the away team entrance on matchdays following an incident in the late 1990s where a Liverpool fan threw an egg at Alex Ferguson.[citation needed]

In March 2011, the Daily Mail reported that an FA Youth Cup game between the two clubs was marred because of "sick chants" about Hillsborough and Heysel coming from the Manchester United fans present at Anfield. The article also claims that six Manchester United fans were ejected from the stadium due to bad behaviour.  Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge was at the game and told the Liverpool Echo that "the level of abuse was absolutely sickening." 

In January 2011, the Manchester Evening News reported clashes between the M.I.B (Manchester United Firm) and the Urchins (Liverpool Firm) in Deansgate after Manchester United's FA Cup 3rd Round win over Liverpool at Old Trafford. Several Liverpool fans were injured and around 20 to 30 people were arrested.

Significant games

 In 1977, the two clubs met in a cup final for the first time, when they reached the final of the FA Cup. The two clubs took to the field at Wembley on 21 May, with Liverpool having just won the league title, knowing that winning this game would put them on course for a unique treble as they had the European Cup final to look forward to four days later. However, United ended Liverpool's treble dreams with a 2-1 win, with goals from Stuart Pearson and Jimmy Greenhoff, five minutes apart with a Jimmy Case consolation goal in between.

Six years later, on 26 March 1983, the two sides met for the Football League Cup final. Goals from Alan Kennedy and Ronnie Whelan won the game 2-1 for Liverpool, who collected the trophy for the third year in succession. Norman Whiteside scored United's consolation goal. It was the last of Liverpool manager Bob Paisley's nine seasons in charge (during which Liverpool had dominated the English and European scene) before his retirement, and his players allowed him to climb the 39 steps to collect the trophy from the Royal Box.

On 4 April 1988, Liverpool were 11 points ahead at the top of the league and almost certain of winning the First Division title with barely a month of the league season remaining. United, in their first full season under the management of Alex Ferguson, were their nearest rivals. The two sides took to the field for a league encounter at Anfield and with the second half just minutes old the home side had a 3-1 lead with goals from Peter Beardsley, Gary Gillespie and Steve McMahon, with United's only goal coming from Bryan Robson. Robson then pulled a goal back for United, and with 12 minutes remaining fellow midfielder Gordon Strachan equalised to force a 3-3 draw.

Nearly six years after this clash, Anfield was the scene of another 3-3 draw in the league between the two sides, only this time it was the home side who climbed back from the jaws of defeat. On 4 January 1994, in the second season of the new FA Premier League, United took a 3-0 lead at Anfield in the opening 25 minutes with goals from Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin. Liverpool managed to claw back to draw 3-3 with two goals from Nigel Clough and another from Neil Ruddock. It was one of the last games in charge of Liverpool for manager Graeme Souness, who had resigned by the end of the month.

On 1 October 1995, United's Eric Cantona made his comeback to the side after serving an eight-month suspension for attacking a spectator in a game against Crystal Palace. His comeback game was against Liverpool in the Premier League at Old Trafford. United took an early lead through Nicky Butt, only for Liverpool's Robbie Fowler to score twice and give the visitors a 2-1 lead. However, United were awarded a penalty in the 71st minute and Cantona converted it successfuly, forcing a 2-2 draw.[28]At the end of the season, the two sides met again at Wembley for the FA Cup Final. The game stayed goalless until the 85th minute, when Liverpool condeded a corner, which David Beckham swung into the box to be cleared by David James, only for Eric Cantona to fire home United's winner.

On 14 March 2009, the two sides met at Old Trafford in the Premier League. United were ahead at the top of the league and Liverpool were looking to make a late run to the title which had eluded them since 1990. United went ahead in the 23rd minute with a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty, but Fernando Torres equalised five minutes later for Liverpool, and a Steven Gerrard penalty just before half time put Liverpool in the lead. United had Nemanja Vidić sent off in the 76th minute, and their misery was swiftly confounded by late goals from Fabio Aurelio and finally Andrea Dossena, condemning them to a 4-1 defeat - their heaviest at Old Trafford in any competition for 17 years.[30]However, United managed to finish the season as league champions for the third season in succession,with Liverpool finishing second.

Google privacy policy updates

Google announced a new privacy policy and terms of service on Jan. 24. Here’s a look at some of the Google products that will be affected by the policy change.

Google will soon know far more about who you are and what you do on the Web.

The Web giant announced Tuesday that it plans to follow the activities of users across nearly all of its ubiquitous sites, including YouTube, Gmail and its leading search engine. Google has already been collecting some of this information. But for the first time, it is combining data across its Web sites.

Consumers won’t be able to opt out of the changes, which take effect March 1. And experts say the policy shift will invite greater scrutiny from federal regulators of the company’s privacy and competitive practices.

Consumers could also benefit, the company said. When someone is searching for the word “jaguar,” Google would have a better idea of whether the person was interested in the animal or the car.

Google can collect information about users when they activate an Android mobile phone, sign into their accounts online or enter search terms. It can also store cookies on people’s computers to see which Web sites they visit or use its popular maps program to estimate their location. However, users who have not logged on to Google or one of its other sites, such as YouTube, are not affected by the new policy.

The change to its privacy policies come as Google is facing stiff competition for the fickle attention of Web surfers. It recently disappointed investors for the first time in several quarters, failing last week to meet earnings predictions.

In the most glaring example that indicated the company didn’t have a good grasp on what its workers were doing, Google acknowledged in May that one of its engineers had created a program that vacuumed up potentially sensitive personal information, including e-mails and passwords, from unsecured wireless networks while Google cars cruised neighborhoods around the world. The vehicles were dispatched primarily to take photos for Google’s online mapping service, but they also carried equipment to log the location of Wi-Fi networks.

The incident, which some critics have derisively labeled as “Wi-Spy,” was caused by “an engineer’s careless error as well as a lack of controls to ensure that necessary procedures to protect privacy were followed,” Canada Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart concluded in a report this week.

Several other countries have skewered Google for scooping up 600 gigabytes of data — equivalent to about six floors of an academic library — from Wi-Fi systems for more than two years before detecting a problem five months ago in response from to an inquiry from regulators in Germany.

Google initially said it had only captured fragments of people’s online activities, but Canada’s investigation determined that entire e-mails, passwords and website addresses had been obtained and stored. In confirming Canada’s findings Friday, Google said it wants to delete all the Wi-Fi data remaining on its computers as quickly as possible, but must hold on to most of the information while authorities in different countries conduct their own investigations.

So far, Google has purged the Wi-Fi data it got in Ireland, Austria, Denmark and Hong Kong after gaining clearance from regulators in those countries. It still has the data from more than 20 other countries, including the United States, where a coalition of state attorneys generals has been looking into the breach.

While some countries have asserted Google’s Wi-Fi snooping was illegal, the company has maintained it didn’t break any laws even as management apologized for its bad behavior.

Megaupload shutdown

Megaupload, one of the internet's largest file-sharing sites, has been shut down by officials in the US.

The site's founders have been charged with violating piracy laws.

Federal prosecutors have accused it of costing copyright holders more than $500m (£320m) in lost revenue. The firm says it was diligent in responding to complaints about pirated material.

Police seized millions of pounds, a vast collection of luxury cars and sawn-off shotguns yesterday when they raided the mansion of a man accused of being one of the world’s biggest internet pirates.

Swooping on convicted fraudster Kim Dotcom’s £16million home outside Auckland by helicopter, officers had to cut their way in to arrest him after the founder of the MegaUpload website retreated into a fortified safe room.

Dotcom, 37 – nicknamed Dr Evil – has Finnish and German citizenship. He and six of his employees face charges by U.S. prosecutors in what they say is one of the biggest criminal copyright theft cases ever brought.

Filesonic.com stopped allowing people to download files that they had not uploaded themselves, while Uploaded.to blocked access from Internet locations in the United States.

However, just 3 percent of U.S. Internet users relied on digital lockers like Megaupload in the third quarter, according to NPD market research, compared with 9 percent who used peer-to-peer networks, which allow sharing of files among consumers' computers with little or no central organization.

Peer-to-peer systems, including BitTorrent and PirateBay, might gain more activity after the Megaupload charges, analysts said, while users may be afraid to upload content to lockers for fear they will lose access in a similar shutdown.

What Are Magnet Links, How To Use Them to Download Torrents?

Torrent Magnet Links

Soon, popular torrent site The Pirate Bay will no longer host torrent files. Instead, it will only offer magnet links. Magnet what now?You may have seen the term "magnet link" before, but if you haven't used one, here's the lowdown on what this change means for you as a BitTorrent user.

How Magnet Links Are Different From .Torrent Files

When you download a .torrent file, you're essentially downloading a small file that contains information on the larger files you want to download. The torrent file tells your torrent client the names of the files being shared, a URL for the tracker, and more. Your torrent client then calculates a hash code, which is a unique code that only that torrent has—kind of like an ISBN or catalog number. From there, it can use that code to find others uploading those files, so you can download from them.

A magnet link does away with the middleman. A magnet link is essentially a hyperlink containing the hash code for that torrent, which your torrent client can immediately use to start finding people sharing those files. Magnet links don't require a tracker (since it uses DHT), nor does it require you to download a separate file before starting the download, which is convenient.

How to Use Magnet Links

Magnet links are dead simple to use. If you head to the Pirate Bay now, you'll notice that magnet links are now the default, with the "Get Torrent File" link in parentheses next to it (a link which will disappear in a month or so). Just click on the magnet link, and your browser should automatically open up your default BitTorrent client and start downloading. It's that easy.

What This Ultimately Means for You

The short answer is nothing. In fact, it could mean that downloading torrents takes one or two fewer clicks, since all you have to do is click on the link to start the download. When magnet links first came out, not all torrent clients supported them, but now you can use magnet links with just about any semi-popular torrent client out there—including our favorites uTorrent, Transmission, and Deluge, among others, so you shouldn't notice a problem with that.

The main reason torrent sites are moving toward magnet links—apart from convenience to the user—is that these links (probably) free torrent sites like The Pirate Bay from legal trouble. Since The Pirate Bay won't be hosting files that link to copyrighted content—that is, the torrent files—it's more difficult to claim the site is directly enabling the downloading of copyrighted material. Whether this semantic leap actually protects torrent sites remains to be seen, but for now, you can sleep soundly knowing that the sites will stick around for awhile longer and that your torrents will take one less click to get started. Of course, if you're using a public site like The Pirate Bay, we highly recommend you set up a proxy and encryption service like BTGuard to protect your downloading from prying eyes. If you want to read more about magnet links, check out the Wikipedia page on the subject.