The Lovers of Valdaro...... Real Life Romeo & Juliet

The Lovers of Valdaro.......
This burial of a young man and woman, lying face to face, with their arms and legs entwined in an apparent eternal embrace was discovered by archaeologists near Mantua in Italy. The burial, which dates from the Neolithic period, was excavated as a single block so the two ‘lovers’ would not have to be separated.
 

Dell Leaves Microsoft as the Only Company to Offer Windows RT Tabs

Dell has become another Microsoft OEM to drop the Windows RT platform as it pulls its XPS 10 tablet from the shelves.

This leaves Microsoft as the only company which is still making tablets running on Windows RT now.

Dell’s official website now lists XPS 10 Tablet, which is a 10 inch tablet running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon S4 processor, as “unavailable”. It instead recommends users to buy the Latitude 10, another 10-inch tablet but running on Windows 8, thanks to an Intel Atom processor.

The news comes merely days after Microsoft announced the second-generation Surface tablets running on Windows RT and 8.

Still, while another Windows RT tablet is not off the cards completely, hardly anyone is expecting a product running on a failed operating system from a company which has seen a rebirth recently.

Until now, companies like Samsung, ASUS and Lenovo have already said no to the Windows RT long ago and one can’t expect a tablet from them either, probably they’ll return if the Surface 2 becomes an unexpected success.

IT Companies to Represent Pakistan at GITEX 2013

14 IT companies are planning to participate at Middle East Africa and South Asia’s (MEASA) top ICT event GITEX Technology Week 2013, which is taking place from October 20-24, 2013 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Pakistan’s premier conference production company Terrabiz is the Country Sales Agent for GITEX 2013.

Pakistani companies participating this year include: A2Z Creatorz; AGCN Pakistan; Central Depository Company; Dockland Technologies Pakistan; EfroTech Services; Generix Solutions; InfoTech.; Intelligenes; ITMinds; Royal Cyber Inc.; Softech Microsystems,121 Viral, Systems Limited and Beaconimpex.

Launched in 1981, GITEX is the ICT business gateway to the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia Region. Focused on providing exhibitors with high ROI through direct business opportunities with decision makers, GITEX has maintained its position as the industry’s trend setting authority.

This year’s event is poised to become the most comprehensive edition yet in the event’s history.

The latest forecast by Gartner suggests that IT spend in the Middle East will hit $192.9bn in 2013, up 5.5% from last year.

The event attracted 139,000 ICT professionals from 144 countries last year while over 350 companies from 54 countries had participated as exhibitors.

Pakistan’s local Information Technology industry has an estimated size of USD 2 billion per annum and is witnessing robust growth.

On this occasion, Hamza Wasi Hashmi – CEO, Terrabiz said “GITEX 2013 provides an excellent platform to Pakistani companies showcase their full potential, offer services to customers from around the world, meet leading global technology companies, build relationships, develop network and subsequently win more business. GITEX 2013 Duabi will help increase the chunk of local market in the global IT industry.

Ufone Launches Industry’s First Website Builder

While staying abreast with the market needs, Ufone has now initiated a website generating amenity called the Ufone Business Website service.

With this – one of its kind service from a telco — individual as well as small and medium businesses will be able to launch their own professional websites by following just 4 easy steps.

With the introduction of this service, the customers will no longer be required to pay hefty fees to create a website and further pay excessive charges for maintaining it.

Mr. Akbar Khan, Chief Marketing Officer stated, “Ufone always aims at catering to the needs of their customers and facilitate them in the best way possible. We understand that it is often quite discouraging for individuals and small businesses to pay fortunes for website creation and maintenance. Keeping this in view, we have now introduced Ufone Business Website service so that our customers can afford to have an online presence.”

Ufone offers a unique website builder platform on which the users have the flexibility to select their own website design from more than 400 templates. Customers will also have the option to change this design at anytime they wish. And these changes can be made without any additional charges.

Ufone is also offering Domain name registration for your websites for just Rs. 800 per year.

To avail the service customers can simply send an SMS to 5533, after which they will be prompted to create a login with their mobile number and password. The customer can then enter the business details and then click on the launch website button.

For further details, procedures and pricing click this link:http://www.ufone.com/mobpro_BusinessWebsite.aspx

Pakistan, Among Top 5 NSA Targets, Takes Steps to Secure its Cyber Space

NSA’s color-coded global heat maps, — a pictographic portrayal of the extent of its surveillance around the world, ranging from green, depicting the least amount of monitoring, to red, indicating the highest level of surveillance — showed Pakistan (as only contry other than Iran) in shades of red, indicating heighest level of surveillance.

Pakistan, among the top 5 targets of US National Security Agency, has taken steps to secure its cyber front, said a recently published report by “The News”.

Considering the revelations made by Edward Snowden, it was established that NSA may penetrate into Pakistani cyber space again to steal sensitive data relating to Pakistan, its domestic politics, strategic and economic interests and its nuclear programs, by tapping into computer networks of Internet service providers such as email, video-sharing, voice-over-IPs, chats and social networking websites.

National Telecom & Information Technology Security Board (NTISB) has resultantly framed guidelines/techniques for protecting government business from possible hacking attempts from domestic and foreign threats.

On recommendation of NTISB, Cabinet Division has communicated the guidelines to all ministries, government divisions and departments.

“Recent wave of stealing the sensitive official data by US NSA has raised serious concerns warranting the implementation of all policies and guidelines in true letter and spirit,” the Cabinet Division noted in a letter to all ministries, departments and divisions.

“USA being the leading country in the field of communication and IT is using multiple tools mainly through electronic surveillance, ground and air intelligence platforms like satellites, recording telephonic calls, gathering public pulse through e-mails filtering, radio monitoring, communication leaks, vulnerabilities in IT based networks carrying sensitive data and other sophisticated means, covertly or overtly,” the Cabinet Division noted.

It merits mentioning here that in one of the maps revealed by Edward Snowden, based on the amount of telephone and email communication data collected by NSA, Iran was shown as the primary target, warranting 14 billion reports, followed by Pakistan (13.5 billion), Jordan (12.7 billion), Egypt (7.6 billion) and India (6.3 billion).

Keeping in view the intents of NSA, NTISB framed following guidelines:

• All government officials and officers must not use private emails (such as Gmail) for exchange of official correspondence
• Official data should not be stored/ copied on personal computers and laptops and personal USB at any cost
• Official data should not be stored/ copied on computers with internet connection
• No official/ classified information should be placed on internet by any means
• Uploading of sensitive information on social media should be avoided
• Uploading of videos and photos of official meetings should be avoided
• Downloading of software from internet should be avoided
• All government offices are supposed to get internet connections from National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) as per policy
• Official personal computers (PCs) having sensitive data must not be provided with internet connection
• Contents placed on official websites must be properly scrutinised and approved for uploading
• Internet usage in government departments be regulated and access be provided with limited user privileges
• Internet computers be isolated and the network security must be ensured and internet provision be controlled by the highest administrative authority in the ministry, division or department.

The Security Board noted that presence of sensitive/ official data on the web had made the government official entities hostage and vulnerable to hostile ingress and sudden access by unknown intelligent IT mafias, suspected hackers as well as individual secret agents.

Misuse of this information fairly acquired from such an advanced information resource through multiple hacking techniques may invariably cause serious threats to national security.

Keeping in view the NSA’s level of deep penetration into computer and communication networks, it is assumed that above mentioned guidelines aren’t enough to safeguard our national interests.

Further hardening of our ISPs, cellular networks, telecom companies and other liaison channels is needed to cent percent protect our national secrets.

Not to mention, Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and devices of various other makes and kinds are all under NSA’s control that can communicate user data to agency’s control room without any hassle.

Definitely, there is a lot more required than just these guidelines

Mobilink Foundation Support the Residents of Dar-ul-Sukun

Mobilink Foundation Torchbearers (employee volunteers) extended their support to residents of Dar-ul-Sukun, Karachi as a means of assisting communities with special needs.

Torchbearers engaged in various interactive activities including painting competitions, games and distribution of goodie bags. The initiative reached out to over 230 disabled and socially displaced adults and children.

Omar Manzur, Head of Corporate Communications, Mobilink, emphazised, ‘’Mobilink Foundation Torchbearers are focused on making a positive difference for the communities we operate in. Our support to Dar ul Sukun aims at highlighting the needs of individuals with disabilities and the positive impact that can be made with a little effort.’’

Dar-ul-Sukun was established in 1969 as a home for children and adults that are neglected by society and their families because of various disabilities and disorders. It currently has operations in Karachi, Lahore and Quetta providing shelter to over 400 individuals.

Warid Introduces Back to Fun offer

Glow by Warid is offering its subscribers 10,000 free minutes, SMS, and MBs mobile internet.

Those Glow customers who have not used their SIM for at least 30 days can avail the benefits of this offer by reactivating their SIMs.

This offer will allow Glow Subscribers to not only meet their needs and help them reconnect with friends, but to still have enough in their wallets to grab a treat or two.

Mechanics:

• Upfront Benefits:
  • 1000 free On-net Minutes
  • 1000 free SMS Across All Networks
  • 1000 MBs Free Mobile Internet
• Daily Benefits 
  • (Upon usage of Rs. 9.99 per day):
  • 100 free On-net minutes
  • 1000 free SMS Across All Networks
  • 1000 MBs Free Mobile Internet
• How to activate:
  • To activate, SMS “Y” to 3733 or call 3733

Terms & Conditions

• This offer is for all Glow and Warid Prepaid customers
• This offer is available for customers who have not used their SIMs since 15th August, 2013
• Upfront benefits are valid for 3 days
• Daily benefits expire at midnight of the same day
• Standard rates will apply as per Glow 2.0 tariff after exhaustion of free minutes, SMS and mobile internet
• Usage of Rs. 9.99 per day does not include balance transfer and rentals for different packages
• Limited time offer
• Terms and conditions apply
• Using a SIM which is not in your name or allowing others to use your SIM is a crime – PTA

Zong Wins Fastest Growing Network Award

Mr. Fan Yunjun, CEO, Zong, accepting ‘Fastest Growing Cellular Network Award’ from Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, President of Pakistan, at RCCI 26th Annual Awards

China Mobile Pakistan, popularly known as Zong, has been honoured with the ‘Fastest Growing Cellular Network’ Award for the year 2013 by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at the prestigious 26th Achievement Awards Ceremony held recently.

The chief guest on the occasion was the honorable President of Pakistan, Mr. Mamnoon Hussain.

Zong, part of the China Mobile – largest Telecom operator in the world, started its operations only a few years back in 2008, has taken a giant leap in the competitive market of telecom services by introducing customer centric services for different segments of mobile phone users.

Having earned the image of #1 in customer services, Zong continues to expand its network at exponential rate and is now offering the 2^nd widest coverage in the country. The ‘Fastest Growing Cellular Network’ Award is yet another milestone for Zong in addition to the ‘Most Progressive Telecom Company’ Award that it received last year by RCCI.

Annual Achievement Awards Ceremony is a yearly feature of RCCI, designed to acknowledge the performance and achievements of members of the business community. The selection of Zong yet again is solely based on its exemplary business performance in the field of telecom.

Expressing his delight on the occasion, Mr. Fan Yun Jun, CEO of ZONG said,

“It is a great honor for Zong Pakistan to receive another impressive award for the 2^nd time in a row from a credible business body such as RCCI. It seems only yesterday when Zong first started its operations in Pakistan.

Through the sheer dedication of the Zong team and our focus on our core values has led us to achieve monumental successes in a short period of time.

At Zong, we believe in continuous progress and innovation, we are continuously pursuing business excellence and this award is a reason for us to be even more committed to taking the telecom services in Pakistan to the next level.”

With the preference of 53% customers in 2012 in the entire industry, Zong remains the telecom operator of choice in Pakistan. With the passage of time, Zonghas not only managed to attract a fair share of the market but has also invested billions of dollars in Pakistan.

By growing its operations, CMPak is also creating employment opportunities for the talented people of Pakistan. The company has generated more than 3000 direct and over 40,000 indirect jobs in the country.

Meet XGear, a First of its Kind Car-Human Communication Link, Developed by Pakistanis

The way we interact with technology has changed drastically over the last few years. Just think of it, what were our perceptions of phones and other gadgets just 10 years ago and what are they now? No doubt that our devices are getting more and more integrated into our lives, and becoming a part of it.

Yet, one tech item which we interact with (daily) remains an outsider.  That is our car.

It is agreeable that nowadays you can monitor the position of your car from anywhere through a GPS – through tracker companies or by deploying your own GPS device into the car — but that’s pretty much about it.

You never know what’s going on the inside, how does your car ‘feel’ or how is it performing.

XGear, the brainchild of a startup called One Step Solutions, is pretty much hoping to solve your the problem.

The product is made all-more interesting by the fact that it’s made by some Pakistani guys and is largely developed in Pakistan too. I had the chance to sit with Mr. Ahmed Khalid, the co-founder and CEO of the company, recently who was kind enough to grant me an email interview.

The company

Until now, chances are that you’ve never heard of One Step Solutions in your life so far.

What is it all about? According to Ahmed, he and his team have tasked themselves with the goal of blending technology seamlessly into your life.

“One Step Solutions has a clear vision of using technology to make lives simpler,” he says. “Our innovative culture enables us to think out of the box to develop remarkable products to make a dent in the universe. Over the past years we have developed some of very innovative products to make a massive impact on people using them in various industries such as an affordable HRM solution which is completely integrated with SAP and SAGE, a specialized document scanning and storage solution, SMS based authentication of FMCG products, and completely revamping the OMR based testing solution to enable people to use ink pens, ball points and even markers of any colour to fill in the tests.”

The XGear

But the main focus here is on cars. And on XGear.

XGear is the company’s solution to bringing this spectacularly useful component of your life, called a car. closer to you. It consists mainly of a hardware dongle which connects to your car’s OBD port (located under the dashboard normally).

After docking the device there, the data from your car is sent regularly to your phone or PC via the XGear application which will be available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone on mobile, and on Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 for PC.

“The application will let you view your car usage and trip logs over time. Feedback on your driving style will help you optimize the fuel consumption,” He tells me.

Not only this, but the application will also monitor your speed data, the car condition for you to make use of before service, inform you of your pre-planned events by sending notifications and work towards making your ride eco-friendlier. There will even be a drivers’ social network where you can earn achievements and badges based on your driving. This all data will get stored on the cloud.

But what if you’ve got an aging car? No worries, as most cars come with the OBD port, XGear should work with them. Still for confirmation, the company has already tested the device on vehicles by Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, KIA and Hyundai.

“XGear should work with pretty much every car manufactured after 1996.”

Mr. Ahmed Khalid was also kind enough to give us an exclusive sneak peek into the product:

Note: This unit here is a prototype. The final unit will be 1/4^th the size of this particular one and should be able to fit perfectly in just about every car.

But when all is said and covered, the thing which matters most in the end is pricing. We know some great products like the Segway, which failed only because of high pricing. What about the XGear?

“The price point of the XGear would be around PKR 20,000 including the hardware dongle and the software,” Mr. Ahmed said. Mind you, that what you’re getting for that price is the entire package which should last almost as much as the car itself, according to him.

As for the availability, One Step Solutions wants to release their product internationally. The device will hit the markets as soon as the end of this year. Negotiations and dealings with many more partners are currently being made to popularize the XGear further.

And the future? “My hopes with the XGear are high,” said Ahmed.

“In 5 years I see this running in every car. I have done a very optimistic financial modelling, and see Xgear becoming the next big thing.”

Calling it the next big thing right now might seem fairly flattering (even though they’ve won the Green and Sustainable IT award at the P@SHA ICT Awards 2013 and cleared the Startup Pirates program) but then again, everything big starts small. This is the primary rule of business and nature, which we hope will apply here too.

Mobilink Reaches Out to Earthquake Hit Areas with Relief Efforts

Mobilink Foundation has initiated relief operations in Baluchistan as a means of alleviating the distress of those affected by the recent earthquake. A severe shortage of food has resulted in starvation in the worse affected areas.

As part of its initial effort, Mobilink Foundation will be collaborating with the Government of Baluchistan to distribute food assistance to over 7,000 victims in various relief camps in the vicinity of Awaraan and surrounding areas.

As part of the collaboration, the Government of Baluchistan will ensure safe passage for Mobilink Foundation’s relief caravans en route to relief camps in Awaraan.

The Sindh Police and Rangers will be engaged to provide security from Karachi to Lasbela, following which the Pakistan Army will provide escort up to the designated relief distribution points.

Nokia Lumia 625 Launched in Pakistan

Nokia has announced the availability of relatively affordable the Nokia Lumia 625.

Nokia has said that Telenor customers can avail the exclusive djuice offer of 2 months free internet by purchasing Nokia Lumia 625 from anywhere in Pakistan. The Nokia Lumia 625 delivers high-speed entertainment to a wide audience through a large 4.7-inch super-sensitive LCD screen which adds to the entertainment experience.

The Nokia Lumia 625 sports the the typical Nokia Lumia design and comes with the option of five coloured changeable shells, which adds vibrancy to the Live Tile personalization brought by Windows Phone 8.

Nowadays, many mobile users choose to view videos online. The new video content apps on Nokia Lumia 625 add a contemporary appeal to online video viewing. It also has Internet Explorer 10 which makes it ideal for viewing videos and playing games.

The Nokia Lumia 625 also provides many innovations found in the recently announced flagship Nokia Lumia 1020. These include a range of integrated camera applications like Nokia Smart Camera, offering handy features like removing unwanted objects from pictures, and Nokia Cinema graph, which turns photos into living memories with added movement.

“With our largest smartphone screen to date, the Nokia Lumia 625 is a perfect example of how Nokia is delivering leading smartphone innovation and experiences at every price point,” said Arif Shafique, country general manager of Nokia Pakistan & Afghanistan.

Powered by the latest version of Windows Phone 8 and including the Nokia Lumia Amber update, the Nokia Lumia 625 delivers a richer and easier to use smartphone experience at a competitive price. Live Tiles update direct to the home screen, and People Hub makes it easy to stay connected with friends and family. Windows Phone 8 also includes Xbox Live, Microsoft Office, and 7GB of online SkyDrive storage to simply make life easier.

With access to more than 165,000 apps including Vimeo, Temple Run and WhatsApp, Nokia Lumia 625 offers an incredible social experience along with SD memory card support which allows up to 64GB of additional content storage.

Nokia has also teamed with Coloud^TM Headphones to create The Boom^TM headphones that combine audio prowess with excellent value, and integrated microphone and buttons for voice calls and music control.

Here are the full specs of the phone:

• Microsoft Windows Phone 8
• 4.7 inch IPS LCD display with WVGA resolution (201ppi)
• Super-sensitive multi-touch touchscreen
• Weight: 159g
• 9.2mm thick
• 1.2Ghz dual-core SnapDragon processor
• Adreno 305 GPU
• 512 MB RAM with 8 GB expandable storage
• 5 megapixel camera with LED Flash and 1080p Full HD video
• 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, microUSB 2.0, Wi-Fi-Hotspot, GPS
• Available in yellow, green, white, orange and black
• 2000 mAh battery
• Price: Rs. 29,950

The Nokia Lumia 625 will be available in a range of colours including orange, yellow, bright green, white and black with an array of changeable shells enabling easy personalization.

With an estimated retail price of PKR 29,950, the latest member of the Nokia Lumia family equipped with a big screen with premium entertainment content is now available with all authorized Nokia dealers across Pakistan.