Qualcomm Toq smartwatch to hit stores on December 2

NEW YORK: Mobile chipmaker Qualcomm's Toq smartwatch, which was unveiled in September this year, will hit retail shelves on December 2. 

Qualcomm's wholly-owned subsidiary,Qualcomm Connected Experiences, will make available the Android Jelly Bean-powered Toq to consumers on Cyber Monday, December 2, 2013,Qualcomm said in a statement. 

Cyber Monday is a term popularized by marketing firms in markets like the US, Canada, the UK etc encouraging people to shop online following the festival rush of Thanksgiving and Black Friday. 

Toq will be priced starting $349.99 and will be available through toq.qualcomm.com. 

Featuring Qualcomm's Mirasol display technology, the smartwatch will have multiple days of battery life and visibility even in bright sunlight. 

It will also have features like AllJoyn interactions and WiPower LE wireless charging. 

"Like a traditional watch, Toq displays information at a glance with no on/off switch. And paired with a smartphone to receive notifications and content, it allows the watch to seamlessly merge our physical and digital lives," Qualcomm chairman and CEO Paul E Jacobs said. 

Leveraging these and other industry-leading technologies, Qualcomm and its partners will enable new product opportunities and consumer experiences, he added. 

Using the Bluetooth wireless technology on the smartwatch, consumers will be to accept/reject calls, view text messages and meeting alerts, and selectively receive notifications from their smartphone.

The only three things you need to know about Leadership....!!!!

When I was 23, I attended a 5 day course on Leadership and Management. Being fairly new to the world, I lapped the information up, taking notes fervently and hanging off every word the demi-God-like facilitators shared, usually accompanied by surprisingly neat flipchart writing. And I’m glad I did, because over the past few years I read numerous books, blogs, and articles on leadership; watched countless videos by great speakers given their views on the issue; and been on a few more training courses that promise to provide ‘new tools for your kit bag’. Every single one points back to the three main lessons I learnt during that glorious summer week in 20xx… 

Rule 1 – Know your people, Know your People, Know your People

The difference between managers and leaders is that Managers understand staff, and leaders understand people. For managers, process is king, being functional and efficient and knowing who your staff are, where they should be, and what they should be doing. Leaders understand their people: Why do they come to work? What motivates them? Are they a morning, afternoon, or evening person? What’s important to them in their life outside of work? Where are they heading in life? What do they want and need from you? If they won the lottery, what would they do? Where would they go?

Great leaders act with their team in mind. You may have had a busy weekend working and come 9am Monday morning are ready of offload all of your thoughts and plans, but everyone else may still be waking up, and not appreciate a full-on diatribe the second they walk into the office. They also understand how their team will react in different situations. A regular example is when a boss is heading off on a well-deserved holiday and proudly proclaims: ‘I’m away, but you know what I’m like, I’ll still be checking my BlackBerry!’ Do their employees think:

a) What a great boss! So dedicated to her job, there if we need her, and has really impressive time management skills to be able to do that and still relax with the family.

b) Doesn’t she trust me? Does she think that I can’t cope? That the world will stop if she’s away for a week? That makes me feel worthless.

Understanding your people as people, not staff, allows you to make more informed decisions which are tailored to the person, to frame your questions and requests in an effective way, and to ultimately get the best out of your team.

Rule 2 – Situational Leadership

So you’ve spent time getting to know your people, know your people, know your people… Now what? Ken Blanchard’s brilliant ‘Situational Leadership’ model has the answer.

A mistake a lot of would-be leaders make is to think their style works with everyone. Sometimes they get lucky and a large section of their team responds positively, being a perfect match for their way of working, However more often than not the team will have vast fluctuations in performance, with flashes of success and the odd outstanding performer, but in a largely dis-engaged and ineffective group.

Therefore, great leaders, having got to know their people, are able to adapt their style depending on the situation and person. When people approach a new task, they may be highly knowledgable, relatively confident, or doing it for the first time – and therefore respond to different leadership accordingly. Crucially, the same person may be highly competent in one task, but not at all in another, meaning that great leaders need to use different styles for the same people. The ability to seamlessly switch between these leadership styles is the difference between good managers and great leaders.

The below Ken Blanchard diagram explains this far better than I ever could:

Rule 3 – Team, Task, Individual

John Adair developed his Action Centred Leadership model while lecturing at Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and as assistant director and head of leadership department at The Industrial Society. Put simply, Adair demonstrates that great leaders spend their time evenly in three areas – focussing on achieving the Task in hand, the management of the Team, and the development of Individuals.
Most managers tend to focus wholly on the task because it’s more tangible, working through the correct process to achieve whatever needs to be achieved by the set deadline. However, often this is at the detriment to team morale and individual engagement, leading people to ‘work to rule’ and suppressing creativity.

By taking a ‘helicopter view’ and committing the time to develop a strong team spirit and understanding, it becomes far more likely that the task (and future tasks) will be achieved successfully – potentially even going beyond what was originally expected. And by getting to ‘know your people’, a good leader can make sure that the right people are focussing on the areas in which they’ll be most effective – whilst keeping them engaged and motivated, encouraging them to think more broadly, and driving themselves to achieve further success.

It’s a simple, but brilliant approach – and one that can turn an average collection of people into a great team, and an average manager into a great leader.

Top Android Apps For NFL Fans

NFL is one of the most popular league sports not only in the United States but in the world as well. Enjoyed by millions and played by thousands, it is the highest level of professional football worldwide. Though there are many ways to keep up with the latest happenings in the NFL world, many people don't have enough time to follow their favorite sport. That's where the following Android apps will come in handy:

NFL Mobile

This is the official NFL app. Once installed, you'll have at your fingertips all the latest happenings in the NFL world. Be it breaking news, videos, highlights, and even live game scores, this app has it all. One of the main features of the app is scoring. The app shows up-to-date scores of the latest happenings in the NFL world. Also, you can set up the app so that you'll get alerts when your team plays a match or even if it enters the red zone.

Other features in this application include video highlights, fantasy football, and NFL.com webcasts. There is also an option to buy a premium subscription. This basically allows you to access more features like live streaming of NFL games, live game audio, live webcasts and more.

DOWNLOAD HERE

NFL by StatSheet

If you are always on the move but don't have time to catch the last game's highlights, this app is perfect for you. NFL by Statsheet brings previews, recaps, live scores, and even game analysis right on your Android smartphone. The app boasts of a database of over two billion statistics that are used to bring the latest of NFL to your device. Despite being free, the app has almost all the features you'd need from a complete NFL application. It has live play-by-play scores, which are dynamically updated, every team's full schedule, regularly updated standings and so much more. Definitely worth installing if you want to stay abreast with the latest in the NFL world. 

DOWNLOAD HERE

NFL Pro 2013

Though we all love to keep up with the latest news, sometimes, we just want to take some time off and enjoy ourselves. That's where mobile games come in handy. We have already covered a lot of Android-based games on our site before; however, for die-hard NFL fanboys and fangirls, those titles aren't enough to whet their appetites. NFL Pro 2013 is a game developed by Gameloft that puts you right on the field anywhere anytime. Officially licensed by NFL, this game has realistic graphics, solid gameplay, and a superb management system that makes you feel as if you are on the field.

DOWNLOAD HERE

NFL Trash Talk

This application is strictly for hardcore NFL fans only. If you are a complete NFL addict who loves bashing on other teams, this app is something you might have been looking for for years. The way NFL Trash Talk works is simple. Once a game starts, you get to chat with supporters of your rival team. Either you can engage in a very nice friendly banter (which you won't), or you can choose to trash talk them till they give up and stop talking. This is a very fun app to try especially if you are completely married to the game.

DOWNLOAD HERE

NFL Kicker 13

Featuring all 32 licensed NFL teams, NFL Kicker 13 is an app that challenges you to accurately kick the ball like a pro NFL player. With nicely designed graphics and officially licensed equipment, this game doesn't have a steep learning curve. Once installed, you'll be addicted to the game in no time. Having said that, NFL Kicker is a title that is not that easy to master. As the game progresses, the difficulty level starts going up and up making the game both fun and challenging at the same time. It is definitely worth a try whether you are a NFL junkie or not.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Top Monster Games for Android.....!!!!!

When people think of monsters, everything from Frankenstein to Adams' Family comes to mind. But for gamers, monsters have a special significance. Monsters represent, in gaming culture, a mighty opponent to the hero/heroine in his quest towards success. If you've played games like Final Fantasy, monsters are everywhere. In fact, in Final Fantasy XIII-2, you can even collect different monsters like you do in Pokemon. However, in this era of smartphones and tablets, monsters have started getting some special attention from game developers, especially on the Android platform.

These days, many new games have come up that allow you to tame monsters, battle with them, and play as a monster yourself. So, if you're looking for some good monster games for Android, here's a list of the best ones:


Paper Monsters

Paper Monsters is a 2D side scrolling game with gorgeous 3D backdrops. The game is set in Paperland with an adorable main character. In fact, the main character's quirkiness is what makes the game even more interesting. Once you start playing, you'll be going through a lot of different environments that are meticulously designed and manage to provide a great sense of novelty with every level. The side scrolling motion adds to the fun by making the 3D backdrops even more engaging. Though not free, Paper Monsters is definitely worth your hard-earned cash. Don't blame us if you get hooked to it for hours.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Monster Blade

If playing with cute monsters isn't your cup of tea then Monster Blade is a game that might interest you more. In this game, you get to slay powerful dragons and monsters in a complete 3D environment. This online arcade and action game is fast-paced along with a captivating storyline. You, of course, get to play the hero of the tale by saving the Elemental Plains from the rising power of the evil Godbeasts. Monster Blade, apart from being a captivating 3D game also lets you extend the adventure by playing with your friends. 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Monster Story

Another game that almost has an overload of monster cuteness is Monster Story. This casual fun game lets you collect various kinds of adorable monsters and then watch them grow. Monster Story has a magical evolution totem wherein you evolve your creatures pretty much like you did with your Pokemons. The game is online and finds itself pretty much in the genre of games like Farmville wherein you've to invest a certain amount of time before starting to enjoy the actual game.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Cut the Rope

With over 300 million downloads to boast of Cut the Rope is a game that deserves a worthy mention in this list. Little monster Om Nom is hungry and your job is to feed him candy. In doing that, you encounter various types of engaging physics-based puzzles that keep you hooked for hours. And, that's not all. Along the way, you get to collect gold stars, discover hidden puzzles, and unlock new levels thus making the game completely worth your time as well as money. It’s definitely the best game on this list. 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Monster Galaxy

A unique monster game on the list is Monster Galaxy. This arcade-style role-playing game derives heavily from Pokemon by allowing you to capture monsters and battle them. Monster Galaxy is set in Zodiac islands wherein the monsters have suddenly gone wild. It is up to you to capture them and make sure that they battle each other out. The game has as many as 125 interesting and cute monsters you can capture along with 14 zodiac-themed islands. There are also levels wherein you get to fight with interesting bosses and defeat the final boss as well. Monster Galaxy is free to play and can also be played on Facebook. Overall, it is a great game if you miss Pokemon a lot.

Best Linux Applications for 2013 (so far)..............!!!!!!!!!!

2013 has been the year of Android. With the Google-based operating system stealing the show with amazing devices, it's hard to believe that an open-source project has reached such heights. With stellar competitors like Microsoft and Apple, Android has once again proved that in the tech industry, anything is possible. That said, its freedom-loving brother Linux is still struggling to gain a foothold in the desktop market. As the demand for the desktop itself has started waning, the dominance of Microsoft that once bothered Linuxians, now seems like a thing of the past. However, that's not to say that Linux isn't growing. In fact, it has seen many new developments recently that have pushed it even further into the mainstream market.

One of the key aspects that will help Linux ensure a sustainable growth in the market is the number of software applications available. These days, the number of quality apps that an OS has, somehow signifies its popularity. In that case, here too Linux has seen surprising growth. This year, a lot of new applications were released for Linux. And yes, more are there to come with the Ubuntu App Showdown underway. However, not all apps that have come up on Linux have been that good in terms of quality. Some of them, well, they've raised the standards of the platform itself. In this article, we'll mention the best applications that the are available for Linux so far this year:

Lightworks

Though Lightworks was announced way earlier in 2012, Linuxians were impatiently waiting to get their hands on the professional tool. Used in many Hollywood movies, Lightworks is a professional-grade video editor from EditShare. The editor is free to try and use; however, if you want more, you can upgrade to the PRO version by paying. The application, though in beta, can be downloaded on your Ubuntu or Mint desktop right now.

Brackets

Out here in the Linux world, we aren't really big fans of Adobe especially after they stopped supporting Flash on this platform. However, this time, they've pleasantly surprised not only many FOSS supporters but also developers as well. In 2013, Adobe released Brackets, an open-source code editor for the web. Yep, open-source and Adobe sounds strange to hear in a single phrase, but that's the truth. Built with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, the lightweight code-editor can serve as a worthwhile upgrade from gedit or Kate.Brackets is really worth a try even if you are not a fan of Adobe. 

BitTorrent Sync

In the age of NSA spying and all sorts of privacy concerns, an application like BitTorrent Sync comes as a breath of fresh air. The free, cross-platform application lets you sync and share your files across multiple devices, safely and securely. All file transfers are encrypted, thus making the application NSA proof. And yes, BT sync handles large files exceptionally well thus making it a good alternative to Dropbox.


Viber

Viber is a Skype rival that lets you make HD-quality video calls to your friends and family. What makes Viber so special is that it is tied to your phone number. This means that unlike Skype, you won't have to remember any User ids. All you have to do is add the contacts that are there on your phone and let Viber sync them across all platforms. So, whether you are using Blackberry, Mac, Windows, Android, or even iOS, Viber works almost everywhere. And now, it's on Linux too. This is definitely good news for those who use Viber regularly. You can download Viber HERE. 

Steam

Well, this year was a big one for Linux all because of the release of Steam on Linux. While Windows gamers are silently mocking penguinians for their childlike enthusiasm about this announcement, only true FOSS supporters will understand how big a step it is towards the progress of Linux as a platform, both in terms of general usage and gaming as well. Steam, though it doesn't boast of many games as of now, is still a treat for gamers on the Linux platform. Let's hope the efforts of the gaming community continue this way to make Linux a true gaming platform of the future.

BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for Android: Too Little Too Late?

Remember the days when having a BBM pin was sort of a status symbol? People merrily flaunted their BBM Pins across their social circles as if it was their phone number. In retrospect, for many, it was more than just a phone number. BlackBerry Messenger, also known as BBM, was one of the most popular modes of communication. Not only did it allow you to send messages to your buddies and coworkers, it also let you share images, videos, and songs. And remember those funky status messages your buddies used to put up? 

Well, those days are gone. 

But here is the weird part. No one is sad about it. No one is missing BBM. Nor do people miss owning a BlackBerry device (unless of course, they belong to the select minority who prefer to own a smartphone with a physical keyboard). BlackBerry's glory days, in short, are over. First came the iPhone, then Android stepping up the smartphone game to such a degree that it made Research in Motion difficult to keep up with the changing trends. It reiterated their design, lowered the prices, and tried pretty much everything. But the level of innovation that Android and iPhone had put on display made BlackBerry sink deeper into the quicksand of failures. 

Shares tumbled. Deals were broken. Customers were lost. Efforts were made, but in vain. As the sales of the devices fell sharply, many speculated that BlackBerry might pull out their trump card by making BBM a cross-platform application. As customers were running away, it had only one hope of salvation: bringing BBM to the iPhone and Android and generate a whole new customer base. 

However, BlackBerry didn't heed the warning call and tumbled down the hill. It was after the fact that most BlackBerry users had already joined either the Apple or the Google faction, that RIM decided to bring BBM to other platforms. The question is that, is it too late? Can Droid or Apple save the dying hero? 

The answer is no. Neither Android nor Apple will be able to save BlackBerry. Bringing BBM to the masses who are already hooked on WhatsApp is a big challenge as it is. Those who have never used BBM, for example, will be reluctant to adopt to this new app. Old-time BBM users, on the other hand, might give it a try. But Android users have way too many choices these days to fall back on BBM. 

If, at the moment, BlackBerry is relying solely on BBM's expansion to bring back the company from the dead, they are headed for disaster. 

What does this mean to Android? 

BBM for Android only makes the Google-made mobile operating system stronger. Though it has nothing to brag about, especially to its biggest rival Apple, the messenger is a welcome addition to Android and can provide massive value to the system. Let's take the biggest chat client, which is WhatsApp. The free-yet-proprietary chat client is available for Android, BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, iOS, Series 40, Symbian (S60), and Windows Phone. That's a lot of platforms. However, BlackBerry if it sticks to the top two platforms, that is Android and iOS, it can help some of the BlackBerry users switch to Android itself. Imagine a user frustrated and stuck with his old BlackBerry device but unable to upgrade due to the unavailability of BBM on Android. This change will finally help users make the move to Android without ditching BlackBerry entirely. In a sense, it is a win-win scenario for both Android and BlackBerry, that is, if BlackBerry manages to leverage it properly.

What can save BlackBerry then? 

A complete rethinking. BlackBerry has to stop relying on old ways of getting into the market now. There's no more room at the top if it wants to keep selling smartphones. One strategy would be to rely more upon BBM and develop it to such a point that it gets more users than WhatsApp. Also, it could try to come up with new apps centered around the BBM brand and branch out in the software world. The road to BlackBerry's success is a very steep climb. Only time can tell whether it will manage to reclaim some of its past glory.

9 GREAT Ideas for Android applications...

Hi,

after thinking a little about android and new handsets, I came up with the following ideas for applications. If you are a developer and like an idea, go for it!

1) Handset Theft Monitoring

- This application sends the GPS-position of the device up to an internet portal. The last 2/4/6/24 hours are recorded. In case of a theft of the device, you can view where it was stolen and where the device is/was.


2) Emergency Call (inkl. Video & Audio)

- This is an application that you activate before you might get into an emergency situation (i.e. before walking alone through a tunnel). Then you have to press a button (or a finger on the screen...) and as soon as you lift the finger from that button/screen, the device will send an emergency call to a friend/the police and send the current position, sound and video to another device or to an internet portal.

3) Geo Profile (similar to Locale by Clare Bayley, Carter Jernigan, Christina Wright, Jasper
Lin)
-Call Filter

White list/ Black list certain contacts from contacting you via (phone / VoIP / IM / SMS) depending on your current location.

-Ring tone

Set the ring tone depending on your current location and the person calling.

-Individual message for answering machine

Set an individual message for different locations.

-Messaging status

Set the messaging status automatically, depending on your current location.


4) Display Location when calling


- This application would be started everytime there is an incoming call. If another android user is calling, then the other phone could transfer the current position (or situation, like "at work" or "at home",...) to the phone being called. That way, the incoming call could be announced as "Girlfriend calling from work".


5) Tool to announce arrival

- This application would be activated by a calendar entry, showing that the phone user has an appointment somewhere (i.e. meeting friends in a town 2 hours away). The application would track the phones position and register that the user is on his way to the appointment (by checking if the user is following the route of google maps to the destination). The phone would keep a status of whether the phone owner will arrive on time or be late. As soon as the user is on his way, the people being visited can check anytime if their friend will arrive on time (communication between the devices via a webpage or IM).

6) 24h tracking

- This application would track your positions constantly and save them on a well secured webpage. That way you can later go back to a specific day and find out where you were or view the pictures you took that day and follow the street where you took them. You could add text to certain time stamps or locations and keep a "log" of your life.

7) Product Wiki (similar to AndroidScan by Jeffrey Sharkey)
This application would require as input a unique identifyer of a product, i.e. an EAN Number/barcode. This would be used to lookup information about the product/the producing company on a publicly available "product wiki".
The application would then run the items information through your personal filter and return relevant information to the user,i.e.
- the item is produced using child labour
- the item is produced 100% in your home country
- the item contains gene food
- the item contains nuts (which you might be allergic against)
-...

8) Delivery announcement / authorize strangers to localize you

- This application would need to be closely linked to a web service. You would register with your postal address and link it to your account with that service. After that everyone can request, only by providing your postal address, other contact details of you (i.e. Phone number, IM user,...) or send you a message or request.
This could be used to keep your contact's contact details up to date or would be very helpfull for deliverys to your home. The logistics company (i.e. DHL) could ask via your address, if someone will be at home between 11am and 1 pm. This way the routes could be optimized, you would get your shipment quicker and the logistics company saves cost.


9) Swich connection dynamically

If two users try to contact each other, the phones could check in the background (via am IM connection for example) the preferred contact channel. So when you try to call a friend, the phones could automatically switch to a SIP/VoIP Connection, if both are in reach of a WiFi network, or the IM client could pop up, because the called person is in a meeting, not able to take the phone.

Basic concepts of OPERATING SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION

          An operating system is a program that is an intermediary between a user and the computer hardware. Different levels in a computer system are shown below.

   An operating system provides an environment in which a user can execute programs. The purpose of an operating system is two fold:

·         To make the computer system convenient to use.

·         To use the computer hardware in an efficient manner.

OPERATING SYSTEM AS A RESOURCE MANAGER

   A computer system consists of hardware, the operating system, application programs and users .

          Hardware includes the central processing unit (CPU), memory and input / output (I/O) devices. These provide the basic computing resources. Application programs like compilers, database management systems, editors and many more allow users to use the hardware to solve their problems. The operating system controls and co-ordinates the use of the hardware among the various application programs of the various users. It provides an environment where software and data make use of the hardware in the computer system.

The operating system is a resource allocator. Many hardware and software resources are needed to solve a problem. These include CPU time, memory space, file storage, I/O devices and so on. The operating system as a manager of these resources, allocates resources to programs of users as required by the tasks. Since there is always a possibility of conflicts for resources because of more than one user requesting for resources, the operating system resolves the conflicts for efficient operation of the computer system.

The operating system as a control program controls the execution of user programs to avoid errors and improve use of the computer system.

A computer system has been developed to execute user programs there by making work easier for the user. But the bare hardware alone is not easy to use. Hence application programs are developed. These require certain common operations such as I/O device handling. The common functions of controlling and allocating resources are present in one piece of software – the operating system.

The primary goal of an operating system, that is convenience for the user is seen in small computers where as the secondary goal of efficient operation is important in large shared multi-user systems.

STORAGE STRUCTURE

Programs to be executed need to reside in the main memory. This is the memory that the CPU directly accesses. The main memory can be visualized as an array of bytes / words, each having its own address. Load / Store instructions allow movement of a word from the main memory to a CPU register and vice versa.

The Von-Neumann architecture brought in the concept of a stored program. The following is the sequence of steps in one instruction execute cycle:

 Instruction execute cycle

Program and data are to be in the main memory for execution. Ideally they should reside there permanently, which is not possible because main memory

·         is not all that big to hold all needed programs and data permanently.

·         is volatile (contents are lost when power is turned off).

·         cost is very high.

Secondary storage is an answer to the above listed problems. The main characteristics of secondary storage include

·         large storage space

·         Non-volatile or permanent storage

·         Low cost

Thus program and data need to be loaded from secondary storage to main memory during execution. Common secondary storage devices include disks and tapes.

STORAGE HIERARCHY

The various storage devices differ in speed, cost, size and volatility (permanence of storage). They can be organized in a hierarchy. Shown below are some different levels of hierarchy .

As one moves up the hierarchy, the devices are expensive but fast and as we move down the hierarchy, the cost per bit of storage decreases but access times increases (devices are slow). There usually exists a tradeoff in the amount of storage required at each level in the hierarchy. Of the various storage devices in the hierarchy, those above the disks are volatile and the rest are non-volatile.

          Thus the design of a computer system balances or makes a tradeoff of all the above factors namely speed, cost and volatility. It provides as much expensive volatile memory as necessary and as much inexpensive non-volatile memory as possible.