Apple Mac operating system update: 6 noteworthy features

The name of Apple's new Mac operating system 'El Capitan' says a lot about what to expect.

The name of Apple’s new Mac operating system says a lot about what to expect. ”El Capitan” won’t offer dramatic changes, but rather refinements and enhancements to the current Mac system, called Yosemite.

In real life, El Capitan is a rock formation in Yosemite National Park. It’s as though the new Mac system isn’t big enough to leave Yosemite.

Nonetheless, it’s an upgrade worth having after it’s out Wednesday, especially as it’s free. Though you’re not getting a lot of new functionality, El Capitan is packed with goodies that will shave off seconds here and there. Those seconds will add up.

Just back up your system before upgrading, and make sure any apps you use frequently will work with the new system. Sometimes, it takes app makers weeks or months to catch up, especially for non-Apple apps. Once you get El Capitan, here are six features worth checking out:

PINNING WEBSITES

A pin is like a bookmark on Apple’s Safari browser, except the website you’re pinning is always open and refreshing in the background. If you visit another website and come back, pins remember where you left off – as long as you don’t close the browser.

You might say this sounds like browser tabs. A key difference is when you click on an external link and leave a pinned site, the browser opens a new tab, so you don’t lose your place on the pinned site. With tabs, the new site sometimes replaces the site you were on.

MUTING AUDIO

As websites get aggressive at delivering video ads and content, audio might play automatically. This gets annoying if you’re watching video in another window. Safari now has a speaker icon to instantly mute all audio playing in the browser, without affecting audio elsewhere. With the computer’s mute button, it’s all or nothing.

If the video you’re watching is playing in the same browser, the audio for that will mute, too. It works better when playing video in a stand-alone app, such as iTunes. Or you can install a separate browser, such as Google’s Chrome, and play your Netflix or Hulu video there.

SCREENS AND SPACES

The Mac has long let you run multiple apps in separate windows, but you’ve been limited to one app when it’s in full-screen mode. This changes with El Capitan’s Split View, a feature Microsoft has had since Window 8’s release in 2012. Although you can come close to split screens by resizing two windows and placing them side by side, you now just need to press and hold the green button on the top left of an app’s window.

The introduction of split screens also uncovers a little-known feature called Spaces. If your desktop feels cluttered, you can spread your apps out in groups, or Spaces. One Space might be for your productivity apps, such as spreadsheets. Another might be for goofing off. If you’re on a laptop, it’s easy to switch by swiping three fingers on the touchpad left or right. That’s perfect for when your boss suddenly walks by.

BETTER NOTES
The Notes app has traditionally been little more than a word-processing app. Now, it’s possible to drag in photos, add map locations and create checklists. It’s also easier to sift through Web links and attachments you’ve added. The Notes app on iPhones and iPads got a comparable update, and your notes sync across Apple devices. You can also access them on Windows computers through icloud.com. Android users are out of luck.

SMARTER SEARCH

You can search for old documents using natural language, such as ”find me spreadsheets from March 2013.” The search tool also retrieves more types of information, including weather and stock quotes.

SHAKY CURSOR

No doubt you’ve had times you’ve needed to select text or move a window, but you have no idea where the cursor went. Now, just move the mouse back and forth rapidly, or swipe your finger back and forth on the touchpad if it’s a laptop. The cursor turns into a giant arrow for better visibility.

It might remind you of those giant foam fingers at parades and sports arenas. Freaky, but useful.

10 Things You Can Do To Keep Your Laptop Healthy..

A laptop is a beautiful piece of gadget. Compact, elegant and efficient, it packs the power of a big-guy-desktop in a small frame. Yes, a laptop is the Tyrion Lannister of the computing world, and it has to have a long life!

It is also a significant piece of investment, because, unlike desktops, spare parts are not easily replaceable, because they are so compactly set in the laptop chassis. This makes your laptop even more valuable.

Here are some tips to prolong Tyrion Lannister’s (AKA your laptop) life.

1. Don’t overcharge your battery

Image source

Technically, overcharging a battery is not exactly possible with the new models that uselithium ion batteries. But, the circuit that protects the battery from overcharging may malfunction, which may lead to the battery heating up and subsequently, damaging it.

Lithium batteries perform the longest when they are 50 – 80% charged.

2. Clean your exhaust vents

Image source

I know your seller advised you not to open your laptop, but you are not exactly doing anything other that cleaning the vents. Over time, a lot of dust is accumulated, which hampers the cooling of your processors. This, in turn, degrades them.

Learn to clean the cooling vents, and clear them from time to time.

3. Do not use a laptop charger that is not made by the original manufacturers

Image source

A laptop battery charger made by the original manufacturers have to pass through strict quality checks to ensure that the electricity supplied does not harm your laptop in any way. The chargers that are not manufactured by the original manufacturers might not have undergone these checks, and could supply voltage that may harm your laptop.

4. Do not eat and drink near a laptop

Image source

I know it’s awesome to eat snacks and watch a movie on your laptop or drink Red Bull when you are gaming, but what you are doing is incredibly risky. Assuming you do not own a laptop that is spill-proof, that Red Bull will definitely fry your computer to oblivion.

Even if it is spill-proof, there’s a good chance that the liquid made its way inside. Remember, it is spill-proof, not water-proof.

Keep food and drinks away from your laptop.

5. Keep it away from pets, and ants, and cockroaches

Image source

Cockroaches eat anything. Literally anything. If they do not find conventional food to eat, they might just eat the insides of your laptop. Also, ants have been known to destroy electronics, chewing through the wires and causing shorts in the internal circuits.

-Another reason to start cleaning the inside of your laptop and not drop any food on it.

6. When adjusting the screen angle, do so by holding the middle of the screen edge

Image source

Laptop screens are delicate. They are thin and light, and not that strong. And because the laptop has to be light too, its exterior is made from composite polymer, and not metal. Which means, the laptop screen is not made of something really strong either.

Most of the people I have encountered adjust screen angles by holding one of the top corners.

This is a wrong practice, because the opposite corner is not being pulled upon, so basically you are just bending your screen, which may damage it over time.

Hold the screen in the middle when adjusting the viewing angle.

7. Do not keep heavy objects on it

Image source

Again, a laptop is a functioning piece of delicate machinery. It is not a book, on which you can keep many other books.

A heavy load on the wrong part may just damage it.

8. Use a cooling pad

Image source

Unless you live in a place with sub-zero temperatures, the cooler your laptop is, the better. And if you live in India, or if you have an AMD processor, you are basically fucked in the summers.

Heat is bad for your laptop in the sense that it degrades the chips over time. The computer will not function at its optimum. Buy a cooling pad, and a good one at that. It transfers the heat efficiently away from the laptop’s surface, keeping it cooler.

9. When using it, do not accidentally cover the vent

Image source

Due to the portability of the laptops today, many of us carry our laptops to our beds and watch a movie, or work on something snuggly. What we do not notice is that our blanket may be obstructing the exhaust vents.

Exhaust vents are what keep your laptop’s processor cool. It throws out the heat emanating from the processor. If you block this, your processor might overheat and your laptop may just turn off abruptly.

10. Keep the laptop in a place with good ambient temperature

Image source

Again, heat is bad for your laptop. Cool is good. Keep your laptop in a cool place, away from direct sunlight.

Take care of your laptop. Like with everything in our lives, please do not take it for granted. Because like with everything in our lives, we will be sad only after we have lost it.

India climbs 16 places in WEF’s Global Competitiveness Index

In a rather dramatic turnaround, India has climbed a spectacular 16 places to the 55th position among 140 economies in this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index...

In a rather dramatic turnaround, India has climbed a spectacular 16 places to the 55th position among 140 economies in this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index, ending five years of decline.

The list was topped by Switzerland, followed by Singapore, the US, Germany and the Netherlands. Among the larger emerging markets, South Africa progressed seven places to 49th place, while China held steady at 28, Indonesia was 37th (down three) and Brazil was 75th, the WEF said.

India’s dramatic reversal is largely attributable to the momentum initiated by the election of Narendra Modi, whose pro-business, pro-growth and anti-corruption stance has improved the business community’s sentiment toward the government. The quality of India’s institutions is judged more favourably (60th, up 10), although business leaders still consider corruption to be the biggest obstacle to doing business in the country.

In a bid to help India leapfrog into the top 50 in the World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings by 2017 from the low 142nd (out of 189 countries), the Modi government, with the help of the bank, has carried out a state-wise assessment of implementation of business reforms. The sub-national exercise was also aimed at improving the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism to, in turn, push up India’s ranking.

According to the WEF, India’s performance in the macroeconomic stability pillar has improved, although the situation remains worrisome (91st, up 10). Thanks to lower commodity prices, inflation eased to 6% in 2014, down from near double-digit levels the previous year. The government’s budget deficit has gradually dropped since its 2008 peak, though it still amounted to 7% of GDP in 2014, one of the world’s highest (131st). Infrastructure has improved (81st, up six) but remains a major growth bottleneck — electricity supply in particular (91st).

The fact that the most notable improvements are in the basic drivers of competitiveness bodes well for the future, especially the development of the manufacturing sector. But other areas also deserve attention, including technological readiness. India remains one of the least digitally connected countries in the world (120th, up one), surprisingly for a country which is reckoned internationally as an IT powerhouse. Fewer than one in five Indians access the internet on a regular basis, and fewer than two in five are estimated to own even a basic cell phone.

Elsewhere in the world, the WEF report found worrying signs that a “new normal” of suppressed economic and productivity growth and persistently high unemployment is damaging resilience and leaving the world vulnerable to another protracted slump.

At a time when the government is pushing the ‘Skill India’ initiative on mission mode to help the country take advantage of the demographic dividend, the report has showed that India was ranked a poor 90th in higher education and training. In labour market efficiency, too, India is at a lowly 103rd, indicating the need for further labour reforms. Restrictive labour regulations, poor work ethics in labour force, inadequately educated workforce, insufficient capacity to innovate, complexity of tax regulations, inefficient bureaucracy, high tax rates, foreign currency regulations and difficulties in access to financing were also highlighted by the report as the most problematic factors for doing business in India.

10 Things You Can Do To Keep Your Laptop Healthy.!!!!!

A laptop is a beautiful piece of gadget. Compact, elegant and efficient, it packs the power of a big-guy-desktop in a small frame. Yes, a laptop is the Tyrion Lannister of the computing world, and it has to have a long life!

It is also a significant piece of investment, because, unlike desktops, spare parts are not easily replaceable, because they are so compactly set in the laptop chassis. This makes your laptop even more valuable.Here are some tips to prolong Tyrion Lannister’s (AKA your laptop) life.

1. Don’t overcharge your battery

Technically, overcharging a battery is not exactly possible with the new models that use lithium ion batteries. But, the circuit that protects the battery from overcharging may malfunction, which may lead to the battery heating up and subsequently, damaging it.

Lithium batteries perform the longest when they are 50 – 80% charged.

2. Clean your exhaust vents

I know your seller advised you not to open your laptop, but you are not exactly doing anything other that cleaning the vents. Over time, a lot of dust is accumulated, which hampers the cooling of your processors. This, in turn, degrades them.Learn to clean the cooling vents, and clear them from time to time. 

3. Do not use a laptop charger that is not made by the original manufacturers

A laptop battery charger made by the original manufacturers have to pass through strict quality checks to ensure that the electricity supplied does not harm your laptop in any way. The chargers that are not manufactured by the original manufacturers might not have undergone these checks, and could supply voltage that may harm your laptop.

 4. Do not eat and drink near a laptop

I know it’s awesome to eat snacks and watch a movie on your laptop or drink Red Bull when you are gaming, but what you are doing is incredibly risky. Assuming you do not own a laptop that is spill-proof, that Red Bull will definitely fry your computer to oblivion.

Even if it is spill-proof, there’s a good chance that the liquid made its way inside. Remember, it is spill-proof, not water-proof.

Keep food and drinks away from your laptop. 

5. Keep it away from pets, and ants, and cockroaches

Cockroaches eat anything. Literally anything. If they do not find conventional food to eat, they might just eat the insides of your laptop. Also, ants have been known to destroy electronics, chewing through the wires and causing shorts in the internal circuits.Another reason to start cleaning the inside of your laptop and not drop any food on it.

 6. When adjusting the screen angle, do so by holding the middle of the screen edge

Laptop screens are delicate. They are thin and light, and not that strong. And because the laptop has to be light too, its exterior is made from composite polymer, and not metal. Which means, the laptop screen is not made of something really strong either.

Most of the people I have encountered adjust screen angles by holding one of the top corners.This is a wrong practice, because the opposite corner is not being pulled upon, so basically you are just bending your screen, which may damage it over time.Hold the screen in the middle when adjusting the viewing angle.

 7. Do not keep heavy objects on it

Again, a laptop is a functioning piece of delicate machinery. It is not a book, on which you can keep many other books.A heavy load on the wrong part may just damage it.

 8. Use a cooling pad

Unless you live in a place with sub-zero temperatures, the cooler your laptop is, the better. And if you live in India, or if you have an AMD processor, you are basically fucked in the summers.

Heat is bad for your laptop in the sense that it degrades the chips over time. The computer will not function at its optimum. Buy a cooling pad, and a good one at that. It transfers the heat efficiently away from the laptop’s surface, keeping it cooler.

 9. When using it, do not accidentally cover the vent

Due to the portability of the laptops today, many of us carry our laptops to our beds and watch a movie, or work on something snuggly. What we do not notice is that our blanket may be obstructing the exhaust vents.

Exhaust vents are what keep your laptop’s processor cool. It throws out the heat emanating from the processor. If you block this, your processor might overheat and your laptop may just turn off abruptly.

 10. Keep the laptop in a place with good ambient temperature

Again, heat is bad for your laptop. Cool is good. Keep your laptop in a cool place, away from direct sunlight.

Take care of your laptop. Like with everything in our lives, please do not take it for granted. Because like with everything in our lives, we will be sad only after we have lost it.

Mark Zuckerberg changes Facebook profile image in support of Digital India; Narendra Modi follows suit..

Ahead of the town hall with PM Narendra Modi at the Facebook headquarters, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has changed his profile picture in support of Modi's Digital India initiative. The new profile picture put up by Zuckerberg features his own display picture in the background with a pattern having colours of the Indian flag overlaying it.

"I changed my profile picture to support Digital India, the Indian government's effort to connect rural communities to the internet and give people access to more services online. Looking forward to discussing this with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Facebook today," says Zuckerberg in a Facebook post.

The new profile picture put up by Zuckerberg features his own display picture in the background with a pattern having colours of the Indian flag overlaying it.

Facebook also gives other users a chance to show their support for Digital India. Users can visitfb.com/supportdigitalindia to have their own version of the profile picture in support of Digital India. Once created and put up, the image, by default, will remain as the profile picture till October 31. Users can, however, choose to keep it as the display image after October 31.

Narendra Modi has responded to Zuckerberg's gesture by putting up a similar picture on his Facebook page. "Thanks Mark Zuckerberg for the support. I changed my DP in support of the efforts towards a Digital India. Your too can change your DP at fb.com/supportdigitalindia," says a post on the Narendra Modi Facebook page.

The Indian premier continues his Silicon Valley tour on Sunday with visits to Facebook and Google headquarters before an event at the San Jose Convention Center that 18,000 people are expected to attend.

Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg announced Modi's visit on his Facebook page earlier this month and invited users to post questions.

More than 37,000 comments were made in reply, with questions ranging from those about Internet expansion in India, unemployment rates and calls for Modi to address his human rights record.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10102393263811931&set=a.743613136151.2308566.4&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/narendramodi/photos/a.10150258751225165.541101.177526890164/10156199046270165/?type=3

'Ahimsa is the greatest Dharma': PM Modi writes on Facebook's real wall......

Silicon Valley: Ahimsa is the greatest Dharma, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on the Facebook's Real Wall at its headquarters here when he visited for a townhall question and answer session.

"Ahimsa is the greatest Dharma. Satyameva Jayate," Modi wrote in green colour on the wall, which Vikas Swarup, spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry, said would be preserved by the IT giant.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was standing along when Modi was writing on the wall.

Modi spent more than 100 minutes at the Facebook campus here during which he held discussions with Zuckerberg on global issues, had a tour of its wall, and a questions and answers session at the townhall.

Google's free WiFi services at railway stations to begin with Mumbai Central....

• San Jose: Google will collaborate with Indian Railways to provide free WiFi services at 500 stations by next year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced as he visited the headquarters of the search engine giant here.
• Google's WiFi project with Indian Railway will begin with Mumbai Central. This will be Google's biggest WiFi project.

Modi, who took a tour of the Google campus seeing the latest products and forward-looking researches, was given a presentation of Google Earth in which the ghats of his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi were shown.
He appreciated and encouraged Google to develop Apps which could benefit the common man as he participated in Hackathon under which its employees sat for 15 hours straight to devise such Apps for use in India.
Making brief remarks to the Google employees, most of whom are Indians, Modi announced that "Indian Railways and Google will collaborate to provide wi-fi at 500 railway stations in India."
Earlier, India-born Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the seach engine giant will provide high speed internet services at 100 railway stations in India initially and then expand it by 400 more by next year.
Recalling his young days when he used to travel by train from Chennai to Kharagpur, Pichai noted that 25 million people daily ride the Indian Railways which has 7500 stations. He also pointed out that the lenght of Indian Railways is twice the distance between Earth and Moon.
Modi pointed out that the network of Indian Railways is equivalent to a country in Europe.
43-year-old alumunus of IIT-Kharagpur, Pichai said the WiFi services will be provided to support Modi's 'Digital India' campaign.
He also announced that Google will launch an Android next month enabling users to type in 11 Indian languages, including Modi's mother tongue Gujarati.
Appreciating Google employees for Hackathon, Modi hoped that such a culture develops in India also.
Noting that technology has given new power to democracy, he urged Google employees to look for solutions to problems like poverty.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that technology will bring qualitative change in life with time and through its proper utilisation.
In a lighter vein, he said technology was born to save time but what happened was just the opposite.
"Today, everybody spends maximum time on the internet... Even when a child asks him mother to give milk, she says 'wait, first let me forward this WhatsApp'," Modi said, evoking laughter all around.
Pichai said that there was immense "hunger" for technology in India which was reflected when Google launched Chrome browser some time back and India was the first country to adopt it in major way.
During his tour of Google campus, Modi asked that Khagaul in Bihar to be shown on Google Earth when he was given a glimpse of the unique tool. Khagaul near Patna is where the great ancient astronomer Aryabhatta had an observatory. Pichai explained navigational, safety and other uses of Street View and Google Earth to Modi.
Another project that was shown to Modi was Project Iris, smart lens that measure glucose levels.
Before leaving Google, Modi had a group photo with its top officials...