Worth the Wait

Most anticipated tech products for 2013

Right now you are probably pretty happy with the available gadgets on the market. Phones can be almost anything, cars nearly drive themselves and video games have never looked more fantastic. How much better can it get?

Well, that it is a matter of opinion. However, if you are reading this article, chances are you want to know what cool things you might be playing with next year. Many of these are based purely on speculation, but that is part of the fun.

Xbox 720: The latest tech reports on Microsoft’s next console — tentatively named the Xbox 720 or Xbox Loop — state the chipset has already been in production. Rumours that the new Xbox is an update to the existing 360 are bunk. You can bet that the new console will be smaller than its predecessor.

BlackBerry 10: Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of the BlackBerry smartphones, plans to unveil the new BlackBerry 10 operating system in January. The new browser is allegedly faster than anything on the market and a QWERTY keyboard version is said to be available soon after the touchscreen version is launched.

Microsoft Surface Pro: The Surface Pro will have a full version of Windows 8 and will support any Windows 7 apps, expect to roll out in January. It will be packed with an Intel Core i5 processor, a display that supports 10-point multi-touch and stylus input. The result could be a terrific laptop and tablet all in one package.

iPad 5: The iPad 5 will likely be ready for Christmas, 2013 at the latest. Expect it to share some touchscreen technology from the iPad Mini to make it lighter and slimmer.

Amazon Phone: Amazon is now looking to the smartphone world. It will likely be heavy on software integration and light on bleeding edge hardware. Amazon will leverage its octopus-like reach into every area of entertainment to make this phone a logical choice for people caught in their tentacles. Expect it to roll out by summer, 2013.

Augmented reality glasses: Google and Vuzix are working on models that are similar to headsets, projecting an image in front of the wearer’s eye. Not surprisingly, the unit will connect to your phone via Bluetooth, displaying e-mail, texts, directions, stock quotes or anything else you cannot seem to live without for 10 seconds.

PlayStation 4: Sony is not saying much about the next console, but speculation is understandably rampant. Industry Analyst, Michael Pachter said he doubts Sony wants to launch behind Microsoft again, which supports the theory of a 2013 launch for Sony’s next console.

Fujitsu Lifebook 2013: The Fujitsu Lifebook 2013 is a concept device designed by Prashant Chandra. The Transformer of tech gadgets, it features a digital camera, smartphone and a tablet — all of which can be detached and used individually. Each component has its own CPU and could run on the same operating system.

Smartphones that bend: When fashion and technology meet, good things can happen. Samsung has already shown its OLED display technology, which means this tech could be in our hands or wrapped around our wrists in 2013. It is likely to be called the Galaxy Skin and feature everything you expect in a smartphone — camera, high-resolution screen and a decent processor. — Agencies

Silence: The way to communicate

Silence is the bridge of communication between the Divine and the divine in us. Silence is where one finds what is most precious. Spiritual silence is the positioning of the heart and mind in readiness for communication with the One. It gives one an energy, pure and selfless, from the Creative Source, to burst out of the cocoon of dust and routine, opening up unlimited horizons of new vision.

Silence brings our mental and emotional energy’ to a point of concentration, where we can be still.

Without this inner stillness, we become like a puppet by the many different strings of external influences. This inner point of stillness is the seed of autonomy, which cuts the strings, and then the loss of energy eases.

Silence heals. It is clear like a mirror. The mirror does not blame or criticise but helps us to see things as they are, providing a diagnosis to release us from all types of wrong thinking.

How does silence do this? Silence revives the original peace of the self; that is innate, divine and, when invoked, flows through one’s being, harmonising and healing every imbalance. To create silence, we have to step within, connect with our eternal self — the soul. In this introspective space we reflect. We recollect what has been forgotten for a long time. We concentrate slowly and gently and as we do so, those original spiritual blueprints of love, truth and peace emerge and are experienced as personal and eternal realities.

The art of listening from within guides us into the right position, opening the channel of receptivity. For receptivity we must clear ourselves of ‘Me-attitude’. We must stand clean, bare, simple, stripped of artificiality, only then the genuine communication with the divine begins.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Getting smart about smartphones

A look at the best smartphones of 2012

A recent survey commissioned by Google found 80 per cent of smartphone owners will not leave home without it. Given the important of these pocket-sized computers in our lives, how do we decide which one to get? The following is a look at some of the best smartphones of 2012.

iPhone 5

Called ‘Gadget of the Year’ by Time Magazine, Apple’s iPhone 5 is a serious piece of hardware. Along with its powerful new A6 chip, iPhone 5 works on 4G/Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks. At just 7.8 millimeters thick, it is also the thinnest smartphone in the world, says Apple. The back now sports aluminum making it lightweight and less prone to damage. It is equipped with hundreds of features, easy navigation, smooth synchronisation with iTunes and iCloud, access to the App Store and more than 700,000 downloadable apps.

Samsung Galaxy S III

The Samsung Galaxy S III is a true smartphone with stunning 4.8-inch display, fast LTE speeds or versatile Android operating system. It has advanced wireless features including S Beam, which lets you place two compatible devices back-to-back to wirelessly share photos, music, videos, and more. The AllShare Cast beams your photos, videos and games to a compatible big-screen television. Finally, Samsung’s Pop-up play feature lets you do two things at once — such as watch an HD video and e-mail or text at the same time.

Nokia Lumia 920

It has a colourful Start screen with ‘live tiles’, familiar Microsoft apps like Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote; and a People hub that aggregates all your contacts into one page per person. This phone sports an eight-megapixel rear-facing Pure-View camera. Under the hood, it has a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, high-speed 4G/LTE connectivity, near field communications technology for mobile payments and wireless charging placed on a compatible battery dock.

HTC Droid DNA

Protected by Corning’s uberdurable Gorilla Glass 2 technology, the Droid DNA’s five-inch 1080p HD screen was built for video, games, e-books and web browsing. Other specifications include eight megapixel rear-facing camera and two megapixel front-facing cam. It has quad-core processor, 4G/LTE connectivity, great camera and the latest flavor of Google’s Android platform—plus a tonne of internal memory, at 64 gigabytes, and is expandable via microSD cards.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD delivers up to 32 hours of performance between charges. It can handle up to 13 hours of straight video playback, eight hours of web surfing or 21.5 hours of continuous talk time. The 4.7 inch Android phone is built with premium composite materials, while its slender 9.33mm frame is thinner than most other 4G/LTE smartphones. The free SmartActions app intelligently automates your everyday tasks and suggests ways to personalise your phone and make life easier. Other specs include a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 32GB of internal memory and more.

Samsung Galaxy Note II

Its largest screen is ideal for reading e-books and digital magazines, watching video, playing games and web surfing. As with its best-selling predecessor, Galaxy Note II also ships with the S Pen. Powered by the latest Android 4.1 platform, Samsung’s Galaxy Note II gives a number of familiar Google apps and one tap access to Google Play to download more than 700,000 apps. Under the hood is a hefty 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 4G LTE connectivity and dual HD cameras. It gives you there options when it comes to internal storage capacity — 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB model. — Agencies

Code of conduct for humanity

These days people feel they don’t have enough time. This causes a lot of stress and unease. ‘Multitasking’ often leads to reduced concentration and mistakes, which then takes up more time. Some people get so dispirited by their ‘to-do’ list that they put things off, hoping that it will be easier another day — and so their list gets longer, creating a situation where everything seems like an effort.

On the other hand, there are people who do a lot but do not appear to be busy; they are carefree. How do they manage that?

The secret lies in how much we understand and value ourselves and time. This enables us to focus on what is important. As human beings we constantly experience change — from being a child, to a young person, to an adult, then an older person. Yet, I, the one who experiences the world and expenses myself through this ever-changing body, remains the same.

The key is to be in the present and be aware of myself as a spiritual being, temporarily inhabiting the body I use, observing and taking part in the great drama of life. With this practice I can play my physical role with responsibility, but at the same time I can also step back mentally from that role and observe myself. By doing so my role then becomes more beautiful, precise and accurate, because, I can understand better how to pay it objectively. This practice we can all experience and develop through silence and meditation. Peace and Love are a code of conduct for humanity; they are our natural state of being. So no matter maintain these codes of conduct consistently within us. Everybody can experience both peace and love as a power that we can generate and use, to help us bring the changes we want to see in ourselves and others. Experiencing love as power for the self can heal the past and present wounds that we carry with us.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Sincerity for real change

For physically weak people, Vitamins are of high values as they remove deficiencies and provide them essential nutritive components. But the mere talk of Vitamins, without taking the required one in our physical system, would not help us. The same also may be said of Values.

People talk about Values for two reasons. One of these is that it has become fashionable to talk about them. Secondly, we use different masks in order to get acceptance, commendation and praise. However, this mask does not represent our real self.

So, even though a person talks of Values, he may, in reality, be the very opposite of it. In his personal life, he might not be practicing it. In that case, it would be mere hypocrisy and it will do dis-service to the society where he exists.

Hence, when people discover that men in power and high positions merely talk of Values but do not practice them, they then become disillusioned. They lose hope and feel frustrated. Under such a situation, hypocrisy becomes the worst enemy and sincerity turns out to be the real friend and real promoter of values.

Sincerity prepares our mind to imbibe other Values too. It wins the hearts of others and enables a person to be nearer to the Supreme Being. This virtue is a fast friend of Honesty, Integrity, Truthfulness, Simplicity and Clean-heartedness.

As it comes — Crookedness, Deceit, Hypocrisy, the habit to Hide and Seek, Dishonesty, et cetera leave their nest and run away from a person’s mind. It gives a great relief, a unique experience of lightness and peace and is the fore-runner of complete purity. So, let sincerity in our mind be cultivated earnestly and enthusiastically to bring about the ‘Real Change’ in society.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

A creed to live by

Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others,
It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important,
Only you know what is best for you.

Don’t take for granted the things closed to your heart,
Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don’t give up when you still have something to give,
Nothing is really over … until the moment you stop trying.

Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect,
It is the fragile thread that blinds us each other.

Don’t be afraid to encounter risks,
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.

The fastest way to lose love is to hold on too tightly,
And the best way to keep love is to give it to give it wings.

Don’t dismiss your Dreams. To be without dreams is to be without hope.
To be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don’t run through life so fast that you forget where you’ve been,
But also know where you’re going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savoured every step of the way.

Personal productivity

10 best apps and tools to do more, faster

Five-time entrepreneur Frank Addante lists the digital gems that helps organise and save time:

Sanebox:

It uses algorithms to organise your e-mail on priority basis. You will be hooked.

Tips: Trust it. Check @SaneLater, @SaneBilk, @SaneBlackHole.

Evernote:

Store your notes in the cloud — allowing access — from any computer or mobile device.

Tips: Scan or fax documents to Evernote. Keep copies of all critical identification in a notebook called Wallet.

Dropbox:

Securely file away your digital documents in the cloud, and work on them from any computer or mobile device.

Tips: Create folders and put them on your PC or smartphone. Use working Draft like a desktop and never actually store anything on computer desktop, then drag it to To File.

Action Method:

An online app that helps you organise to-do lists, track and delegate tasks.

Tips: Use Action Method’s three colour codes to set your priorities. Download the desktop, iPad, and mobile apps and set to open at login.

TripIt:

Files all your itineraries in one place. You can even automatically send itineraries to your always-worried mom. The Pro version alerts flight delays and gate changes.

Tips: Download the mobile app and put it on your home screen. Create a contact for plans@tripit.com and forward all itineraries to that contact.

YouMail:

This voice-mail service transcribes your voicemail messages and sends them by e-mail or text, or both. The mobile app makes it easy to view, listen, read, and forward your voice mails.

HootSuite:

This website allows you to use Twitter, FB, LinkedIn, Yammer, and others all from one place.

Tips: Stay connected, read and post on social media. Try HootSuite’s new ‘auto schedule’ feature, so you can spread out your posts and do not flood your networks with many in a row.

Yammer:

It is like a private Twitter stream just for your company.

Tips: Get everyone in your company to sign up. Use it as your main means of communicating information. This way, everyone will adapt to Yammer, because no one wants to miss out. Allow employees to post ‘business’ and ‘fun’ material. The fun material makes it more entertaining, and, in turn, the business material is more likely to be read.

miCoach:

Exercise keeps your mind sharp. The miCoach iPhone app acts like your personal trainer.

Tips: Set your workouts in advance. Buy the heart-rate monitor and stride sensor; it is worth it. What gets measured gets done.

iSleep:

It is important to get a good night’s rest. Your mind is constantly racing, and the day’s work never ends. The iSleep meditation app helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. It is particularly helpful when you have jet lag or cannot fall asleep. — Agencies

Think outside the shoe

Born in 1983 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. Born without arms and all doctors did not know why. There were many questions at the time about whether Jessica would be able to live a ‘normal’ life. However, Jessica’s father has said he never shed a tear about her birth condition. He had full confidence in her potential.

With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet. As a child, Jessica studied dance in her home town. When the first performance arrived, she asked to be put in the back row. Her dance teacher told her there was no back row. Tentatively she took the stage with the other students and performed her routine. When she finished, the applause from the audience gave her encouragement and the confidence to continue dancing for 14 years.

Jessica’s parents eventually met a Taekwondo instructor named Jim Cunningham. His response when told of her birth condition was that she would be more than physically able and that only her attitude could hold her back. At the age of 14, Jessica earned her first Black Belt in the International Taekwondo Federation.

After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. When talking about her degree, she frequently explains that psychology credits the way people think has a greater impact on their lives than a physical limitation.

Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, two flight instructors and a discouraging year to find the right aircraft: a 1946 415C Ercoupe Airplane. She received the Guinness World Record for being the first person certified to fly an airplane with only their feet.

Jessica now works as motivational speaker. She travels the world sharing her story and encouraging people to be creative and innovative with the mantra “Think outside the shoe.”

Jessica Cox, born in 1983 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet

Think before you talk

To ‘talk’ is an essential factor for human beings to lead a life of fulfillment. ‘Talking’ is the easiest and strongest way of communication, which ties one with others. But sometimes this same act of talking creates a lot of troubles in our lives.

The story of Mahabharata is the best example to realise to what extent a slip of tongue can create crisis. A heart-breaking word that escaped the tongue of a lady, sparked the destruction of the whole dynasty. These words had sown a seed of hatred and revenge in the mind of Duryodhana and the fire of revenge not only claimed the whole dynasty of Kauravas, but Draupadi herself lost her father, brother and all her children. Such was the terrible outcome of just a slip of the tongue.

The Almighty Authority, Supreme Godfather has always said, “Sweet children, flowers jewels of knowledge should always come out from your mouth and not stones and thorns that will give others sorrow.” Hence our way of talking should always be the one that gives others bliss and makes them feel blessed and elevated. A person, who thinks and then speaks, would always be considered a ‘Sensible Person’. There are many people in this world who have soured their relations with almost everyone only because of a silly ‘slip of tongue’.

Hence, we must always remember that talking with the use of proper words at a proper time the use of proper words at a proper time and in a proper place would make our ‘talk’ valuable and successful. But this is possible only when we are going to talk. So, always ‘think before you talk’ and save yourself from miseries.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Perfect, the way we are

We have all heard that no two snowflakes are alike. Each snowflake takes the perfect form for the maximum efficiency and effectiveness for its journey. And while the universal force of gravity gives them a shared destination, the expansive space in the air gives each snowflake the opportunity to take their own path. They are on the same journey, but each takes a different path.

Along this gravity-driven journey, some snowflakes collide and damage each other, some collide and join together, some are influenced by wind… there are so many transitions and changes that take place along the journey of the snowflake. But, no matter what the transition, the snowflake always finds itself perfectly shaped for its journey.

I find parallels in nature to be a beautiful reflection of grand orchestration. One of these parallels is of snowflakes and us. We, too, are all headed in the same direction. We are being driven by a universal force to the same destination. We are all individuals taking different journeys and along our journey, we sometimes bump into each other, we cross paths, we become altered … we take different physical forms. But at all times we too are 100 per cent perfectly imperfect.

At every given moment we are absolutely perfect for our journey. I’m not perfect for your journey and you’re not perfect for my journey, but I’m perfect for my journey and you’re perfect for your journey. We’re heading to the same place, we’re taking different routes, but we’re both exactly perfect the way we are.

Think of what understanding this great orchestration could mean for relationships. Imagine interacting with others knowing that they too each share this parallel with the snowflake. Like you, they are headed to the same place and no matter what they may appear like to you, they have taken the perfect form for their journey. How strong our relationships would be if we could see and respect that we all perfectly imperfect for our journey.

Abstract from the book: Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Emotional stability

We never know what is around the corner or what the next step in our life is going to be. So our priority must be our own inner stability and our relationship with Supreme. If these are strong and firm, we would be able to deal with the circumstances and situations life brings up time and again.

Spiritual knowledge helps us understand ourselves and keep our emotions are feelings positive and powerful and that brings us closer to Supreme. The daily practice of understanding and reflecting on these truths will enable us to use whatever situation comes to serve others and more forward in a way that’s helpful and meaningful for everyone in general.

Many people have recognised how a situation of loss has been an opportunity to renew the self. Illness, for example, can be an opportunity to have silence and solitude that isn’t possible in the busy lives most lead today. Losing a role or responsibility in life can free oneself to reconsider ones values and priorities and perhaps take on a new and different one.

Bereavement is more difficult to deal with. Yet, even then, we can maintain our stability, when we understand that our vibrations reach those we love and that, by staying peaceful, we will bring help and strength to the souls that have gone. If we come into upheaval, that upheaval reaches them too and hampers them on their journey forward. We haven’t suffered the loss alone — others around us also feel the loss keenly and our distress would add to theirs. Hence, our stability will help them cope with their loss. So by helping others we too will find strength.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

Balancing act

I wish you bright mornings and warm, sunny days,
Soft shade to cool you from sweltering rays,
Raindrops, a few, from some cloud floating by,
Rainbows thereafter to colour your sky.

Rambling rivers and great shining seas,
Mountains and forests with towering trees,
Hillsides and valleys, all flower-festooned,
Nature that nurtures whomever’s attuned.

A faithful companion who’ll stay by your side,
Children to care for, to love and to guide,
Enough work to do with enough time for play
Then restful sleep at the close of the day.

Friends when you need them and when they need you,
Something to spend, just as much as will do
A heart full of laugher; perhaps a few tears,
A faith you can follow through all of your years.

Then, fearlessly facing your last setting sun,
As you contemplate all the deeds you have done,
Recalling a life that’s been more than worthwhile,
Perhaps you will pause and give thanks with a smile.

All for yourself

Start for yourself
Face your greatest fears
And take the new step of faith
Because only who can see the invisible
Can do the impossible.

God opens a door before your eyes
It’s up to you to find out
Help yourself and explore the things outside.

If only you could see the genuine smile
Through the eyes of an innocent child
That gives you different insight
Sometimes it’s better to be like a child
They take the challenge of life
No matter what comes out
You will see them playing around.

If you want to cope-up with your grief,
You must help and start for yourself
Minimise your self-centeredness,
Maximise your faith and strength for living
Because, God, you are still alive!
There are more things to explore outside.

Even the air you breathed, the voice you’ve heard
The things you’ve seen,
Are enough to analyse,
You are still fortunate to be alive!
You are blessed to take another day
To feel the sun’s ray
Hey, didn’t you know that you are nature’s greatest miracle?

10 steps to a happier you

Author of The Human Being of the Future Daniele Boido believes that purging negative emotions and improving relationships could helps us create a better and happier life

LONDON: A spiritual teacher has suggested 10 simple steps that could lead you to a happier lifestyle.

Daniele Boido, author of The Human Being Of The Future, said purging negative emotions and improving relationships could helps us create a better and happier life, the Daily Express reported.

Here are his top tips on how to feel upbeat and fulfilled, as revealed by the Daily Express —

1. Understand spirituality

To enhance your spirituality, make sure that whenever you come across someone with less understanding and awareness of particular situations you do everything in your power to help them.

“Show compassion, patience and unconditional love. Don’t judge and instead share your knowledge and insights to try to support and encourage them to follow their own path,” advises Boido.

“Work on becoming more aware and in tune with your thoughts and actions. This could be through meditation, exercise or a healthy lifestyle as these will help you to achieve inner strength and a connection to others,” he adds.

2. Learn to forgive

He says holding on to past hurts only leads to a destructive state of mind.

“If someone has hurt you then you need to let go of your bitterness and resentment in order to move on,” says Boido.

“For a few moments repeat in your mind or out loud, ‘I truly and freely forgive and let go of any negative event and person from my past and anyone who needs to forgive me now does,” he said.

3. Take care of your body

Boido recommends eating plenty of fresh foods including fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, pulses and wholegrains, suggesting “these will nourish your body with vibrant, healthy energy”.

He also advocates taking up a mind and body exercise such as yoga, Pilates or tai chi.

4. Release negative emotions

To let go of negative emotions Boido suggests a simple exercise.

“Sitting comfortably, begin to inhale and exhale taking long, slow, deep breaths.

“As you exhale imagine releasing all negative emotions such as anger, revenge or jealousy. As you inhale imagine breathing in the positive qualities you need in your life such as calmness, courage and will power.

“Continue this for a few minutes. With practice you will find it easier to let go of negative feelings.”

5. Share unconditional love

Boido says feeling unconditional love towards yourself and others creates harmony.

“The more you can open yourself up to this feeling, the more peaceful and tranquil you will feel,” he states.

6. Find your inner boss

If one moment you feel calm and in control, yet the next stressed out and compelled to binge on chocolate, you might need to summon your inner boss.

“If you want to feel more in control, a simple tactic is to imagine that you have an inner chairman,” says Boido.

7. Learn from others

Boido says we can learn a lot from people we fall in love with.

8. Quiet time

When you’re caught up with work, looking after family or just trying to get through the day it’s easy to slip into an automatic, zombie-like state. To come out of this Boido says, “Find a quiet place. Relax and starting with your right thumb mentally isolate and focus on every single body part. “Notice how they feel and work on being aware of how you are mentally and physically,” he suggests.

9. Create positive vibes

“You must develop the ability to focus,” says Boido.

He suggests practicing this exercise: “Draw a large circle. Fill it with black pen. Place it at eye level, breathing slowly and deeply. Focus on it for three minutes. Use these focusing skills when summoning positive thoughts.”

10. Try to connect with nature

“In the morning spend two to three minutes focusing on things such as water (rain), trees, flowers, grass or fruits. In the evening focus on inner qualities including love, peace, kindness and harmony. This will help you to create a stronger connection to these natural qualities and feel more in tune with nature,” Boido says.

Top 11 Android apps worth downloading

1. Google Drive update (Free):

This app is worth downloading, and has the capability of editing. It made an improvements to Google Drive documents, better clipboard support and cutting and paste capabilities.

2. Adblock Plus (Free):

The app will block ads, browser windows, and even in videos, and doesn’t require Android device to be rooted. It works across multiple applications.

3. Little Pet Shop (Free):

Little Pet Shop offers virtual pet care opportunities to players. Mostly the game is about collecting, and to unlock new stuff to work with pets.

4. Rdio beta update (Free):

It is an update to the beta version of Internet radio app Rdio. The app allows to build playlists, and also collaborate with friends to create joint playlists.

5. PostalPix (Free):

PostalPix is an app that order prints of the photos with your Android device, and share with your Android device, and shred waves and around buoys in Sailboat Championship, a boat-racing game with great graphics.

6. Skype update (Free):

Skype received an update that makes it better for tablet users. The updated Skype revamped its interface specially designed to make it easier to use on tablets. It received a number of improvements to increase audio quality, allow the merging of Microsoft and Skype accounts, and clean up various bugs. It allows users to make calls both domestically and internationally.

7. GTA Radio update (Free):

GTA Radio added content from the beloved Grand Theft Auto video game series to bring you-some hilarious radio shows and great music.

8. Hyperwave (Free):

Arcade shooter Hyperwave puts players up against waves of alien invaders, with tons of enemies to dodge and destroy. Hyperwave uses a 2.5-D viewpoint, and effectively keeps players in the action all the time forcing them to dodge incoming economies.

9. Amazon Mobile (Tablet) (Free):

Amazon’s mobile app in a tablet version, which makes shopping the massive online retailer a lot easier. Amazon’s app access the retailer’s entire catalog, and includes features like the one-click option for simplified purchasing.

10. Utter! Voice Comman Beta (Free):

It is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, allowing to control your entire device with voice commands. Utter! differentiates itself from other voice command apps by using very few resources and running in the background on your device. It’s worth nothing that utter! is a beta release, which means it’s likely to have bugs and that the developers are looking for feedback as they test it before its official release.

11. Speaktoiy Assistant update (Free):

It can launch apps, surf and answer questions, all with commands spoken in natural language. It has undergone a huge overhaul, bringing a big redesign to the user interface and improvements to the app. It also improvements to the app. It also now features social connectivity that share Assistant’s answers to questions with your friends. At its core, the app remains all about finding information, and mirrors similar technology like Apple’s Siri. The Speaktoit Assistant is still a beta release and is undergoing further improvements.

Spreading light of enlightenment

Diwali is the memorial of world transformation. It is a festival of lights, the oldest and most joyous among all the festivals that is celebrated all over the world. It creates a unique feeling of thrill and delight in every one’s mind — be it ‘rich’ or ‘poor’, each one makes his/her own plans to celebrate the same with zeal and enthusiasm. For young and old alike, Diwali brings good tidings and fortune for which people clean up their homes and minds alike, Diwali brings good tidings and fortune for which people clean up their believe the goddess of wealth would visit and shower all boons on those whose premises are clean and decorated, and duly illuminated with oil lamps or candles.

However, while cleaning our house, we should also remember to clean-up our minds. Through self-introspection we should try to locate and remove once for all the filth that has gathered within us and which we are unable to get rid of even through repeated efforts. This can be easily achieved by using the treasure of knowledge, virtues and experience given to us by the Supreme Almighty.

Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil, of virtue over vice, of enlightenment over ignorance. As Diwali falls on the day of ‘Amavasva’, which is symbolized by darkness, there is a competition among each house hold to light the maximum number of attractive lamps inside and outside the house that signifies the enlightenment that comes during the darkest period of ignorance.

This Diwali let us all realise the value and beauty of our own spiritual self and our eternal relationship with the Supreme Being, and rekindle our inner light to spread the light of love, peace and harmony among all human beings! By doing so, we can celebrate the ‘true Diwali’ and shower the globe with the Almighty’s rays of enlightenment.

I trust that all the readers and their families will celebrate Diwali from the heart and may you all rejoice and fly high with Supreme, who is the king of lights, and continue to spread rays of colourful lights of love, peace, benevolence, and happiness!

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.

9 most ridiculous tech lawsuits

Funny and strange instances of justice

Lawsuits generally project a scene of justice, anxiety, sobriety, and intense drama. But if the lawsuit is absurd and fought with the intensity of serious ones, it filled with fun and ridicule. Here are 9 most bizarre lawsuits:

1. MAFIA WARS: Cheryl Gary fell head over heels for Wylie Iwan, from Kennewick while hooked on to Mafia Wars game on Facebook. The online courtship resulted in her sending gifts to the man until she decided to meet him. Cheryl’s trip to Kennewick resulted in discovery of other women. Gary sued Facebook for USD 8,000, the expense which included her spending time and gift on Wylie and the trip she took.

2. INTEL: A Dutch lady sued the chip making company for getting her skin rashes. She blamed it on Intel Pentium processor for giving off radiation.

3. TWITTER: Amalda Bonnen tweeted about how tough it is to sleep in mouldy home, and included the landlord’s name in her tweet caught on with worldwide tweeters, she got 17 followers, and her landlord followed her with USD 50,000 lawsuit for destroying the company’s reputation.

4. BATMAN: Huseyin Kalkan, the mayor of a small Turkish town, Batman, filed lawsuit against Director Christopher Nolan for not getting permission from him to title the movie as Batman.

5. GOOGLE: Lauren Rosenberg sued Google for its Maps for giving her directions that resulted in an accident. Lauren said the app gave her directions to walk down the Deer Valley Dr in Park City. The place did not have sidewalks, so she got hit by car and sustained injuries. She sued both Google and Patrick Harwood, the person behind the wheels, for USD 100,000.

6. AUTO COMPLETE SUGGESTION: A search for ‘Bettina Wulff’ in Google auto completes it with ‘escort’ and ‘prostitute’. This was a big annoyance for the former first lady of Germany, wife of Christian Wulff, and he sued Google for defamation. Google also got sued by Lyonnaise de Garantie Bank for auto completing its name with terms like ‘con man’ and ‘crook’. The bank won USD 65,000 in the lawsuit.

7. ETRADE: When Etrade is an ad used the phrase ‘that milkahilic Lindsay’, the Hollywood actress got miffed and filed a USD 100 million lawsuit. Both parties reached on to an agreement that got Lindsay an undisclosed amount.

8. LIMEWIRE: LimeWire, a free peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) client programme landed in a soup over the songs downloaded using it. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) slapped Limewire with a USD 150,000 lawsuit claiming they should be paid each time the song was downloaded.

9. WI-FI: The Wi-Fi technology in schools was adopted in Chicago way back in 1995. Though it was a pretty technological advance in education system, the parents of students thought that Wi-Fi would cause radiation problems. Parents filed lawsuits to stop the use of this wireless technology.

God’s preparation

A girl called Sola, a primary five pupil, was much hated by her class teacher — Mrs Ayen. She did everything within her power to disfavour Sola whenever opportunity presented itself.

One day, foreign missionaries visited the school with lots of educational materials with lots of educational materials. With the need to share foreign textbooks to the pupils, the head teacher asked every class teacher asked every class teacher to organise their pupils in a single line.

Mrs Ayen ensured she made Sola stand as the last person in her class as she said to herself, “Who knows if the gifts might not be enough, so it won’t get to her turn.”

When Miss Jacob, the missionary, entered the class, she moved to the front but found out the pupils were too close to the blackboard. In order not to stain herself, she sought for a space to stand and discovered there were more space for her to stand at the back. After arranging materials to be shared she said, “Class, about turn.” At this point Sola automatically became the first pupil in the line and the first pupil in the line and the first to receive from that class.

Moral lesson: No man will frustrate you from what God prepares for you. Any plans of the enemies to deny your blessing will never stand.

8 Biggest Tech Myths

Using logic to overcome rooted beliefs

The tech world has certain myths and tales that have passed down for generations. It is time that some of them were deconstructed:

1. More megapixels means better camera

A higher megapixels count is important if users plan on blowing up a photo to a large size and do not want to lose quality. But for normal viewing, megapixels are not as important as having a quality camera lens and light sensor.

2. A magnet can erase your hard drive

A common magnet is capable of erasing the contents of a floppy disk, but USB storage and SD cards have nothing magnetic, so a magnet will not harm them. Laptop and desktop hard drives are also safe from magnets. An incredibly strong, industrial-strength magnet pointed in just the right direction is required to wipe a hard drive’s contents.

3. Facebook will start charging for service

A section from the FB Help Centre entitled ‘Facebook Myths’ has a question: “Will Facebook ever charge for service?” The answer given is, “No. We will always keep Facebook a free service for everyone.

4. Leaving the laptop plugged in will kill the battery

The truth is, laptop is ruined by keeping it on charge, unless the laptop is very, very old. This myth may have been true of nickel-based laptop batteries, which laptops do not use anymore. Most laptops use lithium-based batteries not vulnerable to ‘losing charge’ even if kept them plugged in.

5. Cookies track everything users do on the internet

When cookies first appeared, there were some web users who got angry because they thought cookies would track their every move online. Wrong. Cookies can only perform limited tracking when the users are browsing web pages. And some constant coolies can trace your movements from site to site.

6. Closing out apps on iPhone extends battery life

It was believed that in order to save battery on the iPhone, users could double-tap the home button and close out all apps on the bottom tray not being used. In fact, the iOS multitasking bar does not contain ‘a list of all running apps’, but ‘a list of recently used apps’. The user never has to manage background tasks on iOS. Except some special cases, the app is not eating up battery life.

7. Macs do not get viruses

Apple claimed on its website that Macs were better than Windows machines since they were not vulnerable to viruses like PCs. But time changed and Apple updated its website removing the claim of malware immunity due to an ongoing wave of viruses attacking the Mac OS. Security experts lately found that 2.6 per cent of Macs that had downloaded a virus-checker were infected with malware.

8. Using a cell phone on a plane interferes with the navigation

There has never been a navigational problem that could be traced to a cell phone. Flight attendants make users put off phones before takeoffs and landing to make sure they have people’s attention and for individual safety.

Thinking of a second job?

Low wages, pay freezes, and the threat of layoffs mean that for many employees a second job is a necessity. But does your employer agree?

While a side job can mean the difference between “making it” and financial ruin, companies have become more stringent in regulating what their employees do outside of work. Some organisations prohibit side jobs altogether, while others enforce disciplinary action ranging from immediate dismissal, to a written reprimand, to a demotion.

From a company’s perspective, it’s for good reason. But don’t allow your employer’s polices and red tape to scare you away from creating financial padding and learning new skills. Whether you take on additional work as a freelancer, consultant, floor salesperson, or start selling your handcrafted goods, moonlighting can be your path toward building a better future.

If you decide to set up shop outside your current workplace, set up a meeting with your boss first. You need to request approval even if there are no explicit policies regarding side jobs in the employee handbook. (Hint: And if a second job is clearly prohibited, you can still ask.) Don’t risk getting fired or losing extra income over a simple five-minute conversation. Here’s how:

Know why your company is worried

Employers typically don’t see any advantages to their employees working side jobs, but it can be beneficial for both employer and employee, stimulating creativity, motivation, and new ideas. The key is to keep the focus on your current position.

Put the company first

Most employers want to hear that you’ll continue to put your job at their company first. Assuage your manager’s concerns by letting her know you won’t work at your second job during office hours and that you’ll still be able to work overtime during periods of heavy work. Show your commitment to your current position as a priority.

Lay out how you’ll remain effective

Your boss doesn’t want you to be overwhelmed and fatigued just because you’re working multiple jobs, so lay out the strategies that will allow you to remain just as effective as you are now. Don’t talk about the new job; discuss how you’ll continue to rock your current one.

Keep quiet about confidential information

A small number of companies will be concerned that you’ll leak confidential, in-house information, particularly if your side job is utilising the same skills that your existing job does. If you can’t get permission to work in the same vertical, try a side job in a different arena all together.

Act as a good representative.

What you do off-hours can seem like none of your employer’s business, but it is, especially if what you’re doing could be deemed offensive to your employer’s customers. Make sure that whatever side job you choose won’t put you in an awkward position with any of your company’s client, partners, or customers.

These tips should get you quick approval to take on the side job you’ve been dreaming about. If you can’t get approval however, consider volunteering or taking a career development class. While many employers won’t support you getting paid to expand your skill set, they will endorse broadening your horizons in general.

Silence is golden

We have heard the word “Silence Please” since our childhood, at schools, at meetings, in courtrooms et cetera.

One wonders what’s the real mystery behind this word SLIENCE.

From a spiritual perspective, silence can be defined as the bridge of communication between the Divine and the divine in the human. Silence is where one finds what is most precious. Spiritual silence gives one an energy, pure and selfless, from the creative source, to burst out of the cocoon of dust and routine, opening up unlimited horizons of new vision.

The act of silence is as necessary for living as breathing is for physical life. Silence brings our mental and emotional energy to a point of concentration, where we can be still. Without this inner stillness, the different strings of external influences like a puppet pull us.

Silence is like a mirror. The mirror does not blame or criticize but helps us to see things as they are, providing a diagnosis to release us from all types of wrong thinking. To create silence, we have to step within, connect with our eternal self — the soul.

By doing so, we reflect and recollect what has been forgotten for a longtime. We concentration slowly and gently and as we do so, those original spiritual blueprints of love, truth and peace emerge and are experienced as personal and eternal realities.

Through these virtues, quality begins to enter our life. This is exactly the reasons why wise people say ‘Silence Is Golden’.

Editor’s note: Rajyogi Brahmakumar Nikunj ji is a writer at www.brahmakumaris.com and can be reached at nikunjji@brahmakumaris.in.