Information Directory

Google Voice for iPhone

2010-11-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year we launched a Google Voice HTML5 web app for iPhone users. Today we’re taking the Google Voice experience on the iPhone to a whole new level with the launch of the official Google Voice for iPhone app.

With this native app, you’ll continue to have access to all the major Google Voice features on your iPhone, like:

Cheap rates for international calls
Free text messaging to U.S. numbers
Voicemail transcription
Display your Google Voice number as caller ID when making calls

In addition to these benefits, the app provides some features that make using Google Voice on your iPhone a much better experience:

With push notifications, the app will alert you instantly when you receive a new voicemail or text message
Most of your calls will be placed via Direct Access Numbers, making them connect just as quickly as regular phone calls

Google Voice for iPhone is available to download from the Apple App Store today. You’ll need an iPhone with iOS 3.1 or later and a valid Google Voice account to use the app. At this time, Google Voice is available in the U.S. only.

Posted by Christian Brunschen, Software Engineer

ISRO’s Bhuvan vs Google Earth

2009-08-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

The India Space Research Organisation has done a lot for the advancements of Space Research & Administration in India. ISRO created history by the launch of Chandrayaan. And it has established two main Space Systems: INSAT & IRS & has developed two satellite launch vehicles PSLV & GSLV to place INSAT and the IRS satellites in the required orbits.

Now, ISRO is up with Bhuvan to compete with Google Earth. “Bhuvan” is a sanskrit word meaning “Earth”. Bhuvan will provide services similiar to Google Earth & Wikimapia, but it will be confined only within India.

Bhuvan has some special features which sets it aside from Google Earth & Wikimapia. It will have a better zooming efficiency, multilayer viewing technology, and it will update its data yearly unlike Google Earth & Wikimapia which update their data in 4 years. Using the multilayer technology, we can see data from the past dates also!

According to a article at TOI:

Bhuvan allows you to zoom far closer than the aerial view from a chopper. If Google Earth shows details upto 200 meters distance and Wikimapia upto 50 meters, Bhuvan will show images upto 10 meters, which means you can easily see details upto a three floor high building and also add information.

And the last fact, ISRO’s Bhuvan will be using indian satellites.

Here’s a table of comparison of Google Earth & Bhuvan from Wikipedia:

Feature	Google Earth	Bhuvan
Max Zoom	200m	10m
Layer	Single	Multi
Update Frequency	4 yrs	1 yr
View	Viewing from only one date.	Options for viewing from different dates.
Source (Satellite)	Commercial/International	Indian
Imagery	World	World

I hope to see this ISRO’s new innovation go live soon.

ISRO Bhuvan: To be Google Earth’s competitor

2009-08-12T00:03:00.000-07:00

Recently, news paper articles were flooded with the term "ISRO Bhuvan" and it was quite annoying for me to see the same term everywhere in my feed reader as well. Finally I too wanted to know, what exactly ISRO’s Bhuvan is? The answer to this question was quite interesting.. I came to know that Bhuvan is a competitor for Google Earth and would provide services similar to Google Earth and Wikimapia but it will be confined only within India.

But there is something special in Bhuvan that keeps Google Earth and Wikimapia aside. Bhuvan will have a greater zooming efficiency that will help you recognize details upto a 3 storey building and all its data will be updated every year, unlike Google and Wikimapia which updates in every 4 years.

As per an article in TOI:

Bhuvan allows you to zoom far closer than the aerial view from a chopper. If Google Earth shows details upto 200 meters distance and Wikimapia upto 50 meters, Bhuvan will show images upto 10 meters, which means you can easily see details upto a three floor high building and also add information.

It has also came to light that, unlike others, Bhuvan will support multi layer viewing with a option to view on past dates. Finally I would feel proud to say that Bhuvan is going to use Indian satellites.

Also, at the Indian National Cartographic Association (INCA) International Congress it was said that:

The prototype of Bhuvan will be ready by the end of November and ISRO is hoping to officially launch the service by March next.

So, we will have to wait for another couple of months to see it live.

China orders Google to block websites

2009-06-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

THE Chinese government will force the world's biggest technology company Google to block a raft of overseas sites on its search engine.

This is China's third major internet censorship move in a month amid growing internet activism in the country and in the shadow of a strong online element in the disputed election in Iran.

The attack on Google was issued under a "pornography" crackdown and comes only two weeks after the government surprised its media and technology sector by introducing the "Green Dam Youth Escort" filtering software onto every new computer sold after July 1.

It also came only a month after a range of international sites, including Microsoft Hotmail and micro-blogging site Twitter, were blocked ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

"Google China has not conducted the oversight required according to China's laws and regulations, and a large volume of foreign internet pornographic information has entered our borders through this website," said Internet Illegal Information Reporting Centre, the government-run online watchdog, last week.

The following day it forced the company to disable the drop down menu, which helps guess search topics, and promised it would make the group block access to myriad sites.

"The internet is the only media where people can express themselves, given all other forms of media under control of all levels of governments," Hu Xingdou, Professor at Beijing Institute of Technology told Media.

"Restrictions on the internet is a setback in history, people's freedom of expression shouldn't be suppressed in the name of erasing pornography and violence online," he said.

Google, China's second most popular search engine after local outfit Baidu, has had an increasingly uneasy alliance with the government since it agreed to some censorship in return for unfettered market access.

This move was widely criticised by human rights activists as putting commercial interests ahead of ethical concerns. Google famously has as an informal company motto: "Don't be evil."

After mulling what to do about the Chinese market, Google decided that it would enter the market in early 2006.

"We concluded that although we weren't wild about the restrictions, it was even worse to not try to serve those users at all," Google chief executive Eric Schmidt said at the World Economic Forum in Davos in February 2006.

"We actually did an evil scale and decided not to serve at all was worse evil," he said, referring to the motto.

Last week, the Chinese government also issued guidelines to the country's media about how the unrest in Tehran should be covered following the disputed strong electron win of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The government underscored its sensitivity to the use of the internet for dissent when it blocked a raft of sites ahead of the Tiananmen anniversary. It also regularly shut downs blogs and chat rooms that it deems to be unsuitable; thousands of sites are reported to have been shut down already this year.

China's "netizens" use blogs and chat rooms to organise on an issue-by-issue basis. And nearly 600 million Chinese use mobile phones, many with internet access.

People power on the internet is playing a growing role in China where the corruption of local officials has emerged as the major political issue.

The internet played a big role in freeing a 21-year-old Chinese waitress last week who stabbed to death a local official who tried to rape her. She was effectively handed a suspended sentence after a public outcry that saw 23,000 chat rooms across the internet dedicated to her case.

"There's an invisible hand trying to castrate the internet; maybe it's the last tactic they can apply if they can't cut off the internet or abolish the Constitution," activist Beijing lawyer Lan Zhixue said. "But it's like drinking poison to quench your thirst. The flow of history won't go backwards, or move according to their will."

Tips to bring more trafficvisitors to blogs and sites

2009-06-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

Everyone today wants to make their blogs visible to most of the people who are using internet and make some dollars. There are some of the best and the easiest ways which can bring traffic to your sites you can use this tips to bring traffic to your blogs

There are some tips and tricks which can really be used to bring more traffic to your blogs

1. CONTENT: There is no doubt that content is the king but you must always keep in mind that whatever content you write see that people are really intrested in and will be really helpful for your visitors. The content should be never copied from other sources as this really hurts blog impression. The content should be qualityncontent and should not be of very few lines.

2. WRITING ARTICLES: Another good way to bring traffic is to write articles in the good article directories and ezine sites this will really be helpful for bringing unique visitors to your blog. Also keep in mind that before writing article you must ensure that articles are related to the blog subject as this will bring only the related traffic to your blog and this will be helpful for making more money from affiliate advertisement.

3. BOOKMARKING SITES: Bookmarking sites like digg and all can be very efficient to bring flood of traffic to your blog as this is the best way to share about your blog with most of the news readers and technical persons. If you have good amount of friends in this bookmarking sites then they will be the main source of your traffic to your blog. since they are knowing you they may also share the links with their friends .But see that your webserver has good monthly bandwidth as there are some cases of digg effects where this site has sent lots of traffic in single day which caused eating up all the bandwidth within single hour or a day.

4: TRAFFIC EXCHANGE SITES : Traffic exchange sites can also be used to bring traffic to your sites. But since all are using this sites for bringing traffic to their own blogs i dont think you will be able to get much permenant kind of traffic they will just provide an impression thats all no much business through this sites so better you try this sites if only you want some traffic to your blogs and not the customers. The best thing you can do with this sites is if you have any product which explains on bringing traffic to sites then you can always put that ads in traffic exchange sites that are related o increasing traffics as people are coming here for traffics and you know very well hat they are really intrested in traffic products.

5. SOCIAL NETWORKING AND TWITTER : One more kind of sites can be the social networking like facebook and myspace can be used to bring more visitors and ongoing simple but yet powerful twitter can also be used to bring more traffic if you have lots of followers then this is really great idea. Thing if you have more than 5000 followers in twitter and around 2000 friends in social networking sites then if you will post your links in this site you are sure of getting more than 2000 unique visitors a day great.

If you have blog and running up advertises on them then please follow my simple tips thats very few only 5 tips and see te results after 2 months you will get permenent flow of traffic to your blogs .

Swine Flu Fear Shows Its Face on Amazon's Bestsellers List

2009-05-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alert level for swine flu not once, but twice. As alert levels have risen, so has fear. One need only look at Amazon.com.

For example, the top three items in Amazon.com's Health & Personal Care department right now are all respirators / face masks.

It's apparent these items have risen to the top three only recently. For example, the 3M - N95 Respirator/Flu Mask, 20 Pack entered the top 100 only 8 days ago.

The other two, the Disposable EARLOOP Face MASK, Filters Bacteria 3 Ply - (Box of 50) and the N95 KIMBERLY CLARK Brand Particulate Respirators Surgical, SWINE FLU & Dust Mask, 10/ pack, both entered the top 100 7 days ago.

It's clear many are afraid. With a 5-month-old baby, so am I, not for myself, but for her.

Want to track the swine flu? Google Maps user Niman, whose profile says simply "Biomedical Research, Pittsburgh, PA, USA", has created this Google My Map of the current Swine Flu outbreak (below).

Set Max Live. IPL Live Streaming 2009 Indian Premier League.

2009-04-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

Set Max Live. IPL Live Streaming 2009 Indian Premier League.

Watch live streaming of IPL 2009 matches online that started in South Africa already. The matches are being broadcasted on Set Max in India. If you could not get hold of TV channel due to any reasons, watch the set max live streaming here for IPL 2009 matches.

Watch online Set MAX -IPL 2009

Schedule: Indian Premier League 2009

2009-04-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

Date	Teams	Venue	Time (IST)
Saturday, Apr 18	Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings	Cape Town	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Apr 18	Rajasthan Royals vs Bangalore Royal Challengers	Cape Town	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, Apr 19	Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab	Cape Town	4 p.m. to 7p.m.
Sunday, Apr 19	Deccan Chargers vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Cape Town	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, Apr 20	Chennai Super Kings vs Bangalore Royal Challengers	Port Elizabeth	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr 21	Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Durban	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr 21	Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians	Durban	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday, Apr 22	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Deccan Chargers	Cape Town	8 p.m. to 11p.m.
Thursday, Apr 23	Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils	Durban	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Apr 23	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals	Cape Town	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, Apr 24	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Kings XI Punjab	Durban	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, Apr 25	Mumbai Indians vs Deccan Chargers	Durban	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Apr 25	Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Cape Town	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, Apr 26	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Delhi Daredevils	Port Elizabeth	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, Apr 26	Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals	Cape Town	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, Apr 27	Deccan Chargers vs Chennai Super Kings	Durban	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday, Apr 27	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians	Port Elizabeth	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday, Apr 28	Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals	Pretoria	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday, Apr 29	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Bangalore Royal Challengers	Durban	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Apr 29	Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians	Durban	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, Apr 30	Deccan Chargers vs Delhi Daredevils	Pretoria	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, Apr 30	Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings	Pretoria	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, May 1	Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders	East London	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, May 1	Kings XI Punjab vs Bangalore Royal Challengers	Durban	8 p.m.to 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 2	Deccan Chargers vs Rajasthan Royals	Port Elizabeth	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 2	Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings	Johannesburg	8 p.m. to 11p.m.
Sunday, May 3	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab	Port Elizabeth	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 3	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Mumbai Indians	Johannesburg	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, May 4	Chennai Super Kings vs Deccan Chargers	East London	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5	Rajasthan Royals vs Kings XI Punjab	Durban	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5	Delhi Daredevils vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Durban	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6	Deccan Chargers vs Mumbai Indians	Pretoria	8 p.m.to 11 p.m.
Thursday, May 7	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Rajasthan Royals	Pretoria	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 7	Kings XI Punjab vs Chennai Super Kings	Pretoria	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, May 8	Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians	East London	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 9	Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab	Kimberley	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 9	Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals	Kimberley	8 p.m. to 11p.m.
Sunday, May 10	Mumbai Indians vs Bangalore Royal Challengers	Port Elizabeth	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 10	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Daredevils	Johannesburg	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, May 11	Rajasthan Royals vs Deccan Chargers	Kimberley	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Pretoria	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12	Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab	Pretoria	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13	Delhi Daredevils vs Deccan Chargers	Durban	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, May 14	Bangalore Royal Challengers vs Chennai Super Kings	Durban	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 14	Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals	Durban	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, May 15	Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils	Bloemfontein	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 16	Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians	Port Elizabeth	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 16	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Deccan Chargers	Johannesburg	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 17	Kings XI Punjab vs Deccan Chargers	Johannesburg	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 17	Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Daredevils	Bloemfontein	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Monday, May 18	Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings	Pretoria	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19	Delhi Daredevils vs Bangalore Royal Challengers	Johannesburg	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20	Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders	Durban	4 p.m.to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20	Chennai Super Kings vs Kings XI Punjab	Durban	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday, May 21	Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Daredevils	Pretoria	4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 21	Deccan Chargers vs Bangalore Royal Challengers	Pretoria	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday, May 22	Semi Final 1	Pretoria	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 23	Semi Final 2	Johannesburg	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 24	FINAL	Johannesburg	8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

How to Save Money

2009-04-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

66 Ways to Save Money
For most kinds of purchases, you can get valuable advice and comparisons on the Internet. Ask a librarian or friends which Internet sites they think are helpful, or you can use a search engine like Google or Yahoo. Be aware that information you find is often biased. At many websites, the only products or sellers listed are ones that pay to advertise. Before buying anything on the Internet, check several websites and make sure you deal with reputable dealers.

Transportation

Airline Fares

1. Compare low-cost carriers with major carriers that fly to your destination. Remember, the best fares may not be out of the airport closest to you.
2. You may save by including a Saturday evening stay-over or by purchasing the ticket at least 14days in advance. Ask which days of the weekend times of the day have the lowest fare.
3. Even if you are using a travel agent, check airline and Internet travel sites, and look for special deals. If you call, always ask for the lowest fare to your destination.

Car Rental

4. Since car rental rates can vary greatly, compare total price (including taxes and surcharge) and take advantage of any special offers and member-ship discounts.
5. Rental car companies offer various insurance and waiver options. Check with your automobile insurance agent and credit card Company in advance to avoid duplicating any coverage you may already have.

New Cars

6. You can save thousands of dollars over the life-time of a car by selecting a model that combines a low purchase price with low depreciation, financing, insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and repair costs. Ask your local librarian for new car guides that contain this information.
7. Having selected a model and options you are interested in, you can save hundreds of dollars by comparison shopping. Get price quotes from several dealers (over the phone or Internet) and let each know you are contacting the others.
8. Remember there is no “cooling off” period on new car sales. Once you have signed a contract, you are obligated to buy the car.

Used Cars

9.Before buying any used car:• Compare the seller’s asking price with the average retail price in a “bluebook” or other guide to car prices which can be found atman libraries, banks, and credit unions.• Have a mechanic you trust check the car, especially if the car is sold “as is.”
10. Consider purchasing a used car from an individual you know and trust. They are more likely than other sellers to charge a lower price and point out any problems with the car.

Auto Leasing

11. Don’t decide to lease a car just because the payments are lower than on a traditional auto loan. The leasing payments are lower because you don’t actually own the car.
12. Leasing a car is very complicated. When shop-ping, consider the price of the car (known as the capitalized cost), your trade-in allowance, any down payment, monthly payments, various fees(excess mileage, excess “wear and tear,” end-of-lease), and the cost of buying the car at the end of the lease. A valuable source of information about auto leasing can be found in Keys to Vehicle Leasing: A Consumer Guide, which is published by the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Trade Commission.

Gasoline

13. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing prices at different stations, pumping gas yourself, and using the lowest-octane called for in your owner’s manual.
14. You can save up to $100 a year on gas by keeping your engine tuned and your tires inflated toothier proper pressure.

Car Repairs

15. Consumers lose billions of dollars each year on unneeded or poorly done car repairs. The most important step that you can take to save money on these repairs is to find a skilled, honest mechanic. Before you need repairs, look for a mechanic who: • is certified and well established; • has done good work for someone you know; and• communicates well about repair options and costs.

Insurance

Auto Insurance

16. You can save several hundred dollars a year by purchasing auto insurance from a licensed, low-price insurer. Call your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different companies. Then call at least four of the lowest-priced, licensed insurers to learn what they would charge you for the same coverage.
17. Talk to your agent or insurer about raising your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage to at least $500 or, if you have an old car, dropping this coverage altogether. This can save you hundreds of dollars on insurance premiums.
18. Make certain that your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Homeowner/Renter Insurance

19. You can save several hundred dollars a year on homeowner insurance and up to $50 a year on renter insurance by purchasing insurance from allow-price, licensed insurer. Ask your state insurance department for a publication showing typical prices charged by different licensed companies. Then call at least four of the lowest priced insurers to learn what they would charge you. If such a publication is not available, it is even more important to call at least four insurers for price quotes.
20. Make certain you purchase enough coverage to replace the house and its contents. “Replacement” on the house means rebuilding to its current condition.
21. Make certain your new policy is in effect before dropping your old one.

Life Insurance

22. If you want insurance protection only, and not savings and investment product, buy a term life insurance policy.
23. If you want to buy a whole life, universal life, or other cash value policy, plan to hold it for at least 15 years. Canceling these policies after only a few years can more than double your life insurance costs.
24. Check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners website (www.naic.org/cis) or your local library for information on the financial soundness of insurance companies.

Banking/Credit

Checking Accounts and Debit Cards

25. You can save more than $100 a year in fees by selecting a free checking account or one with no minimum balance requirement. Request a complete list of fees that are charged on these accounts, including ATM and debit card fees.
26.See if you can get free or lower cost checking through direct deposit or agreeing to ATM only use. Be aware of charges for using an ATM not associated with your financial institution.

Savings Products

27. Before opening a savings account, find out whether the account is insured by the federal government (FDIC for banks or NCUA for credit unions). Financial institutions offer a number of products, such as mutual funds and annuities, which are not insured.
28. Once you select a type of savings account, use the telephone, newspaper, and Internet to com-pare rates and fees offered by different financial institutions, including those outside your city. These rates can vary a lot and, over time, can significantly affect interest earnings.
29. To earn the highest return on savings (annual percentage yield) with little or no risk, consider certificates of deposit (CDs) or U.S. Savings Bonds (Series I or EE).

Credit Cards

30.To avoid late payment fees and possible interest rate increases on your credit cards, make sure you send in your payment a week to ten days before the statement due date. Late payments on one card can increase fees and interest rates another cards.
31. You can avoid interest charges, which may be considerable, by paying off your entire bill each month. If you are unable to pay off a large balance, pay as much as you can. Try to shift the remaining balance to a credit card with a lower annual percentage rate (APR). You can find listings of credit card plans, rates, and terms on the Internet, in personal finance magazines, and in newspapers.
32. be aware that credit cards with rebates, cash back, travel awards, or other perks may carry higher rates or fees.

Auto Loans

33. To save as much as several thousand dollars in finance charges, pay for the car in cash or make large down payment. Always get the shortest term loan possible as this will lower your interest rate.
34. Make certain to get a rate quote (or pre-approved loan) from your bank or credit union before seeking dealer financing. You can save as much as $1000 in finance charges by shop-ping for the cheapest loan.
35. Make certain to consider the dollar difference between low-rate financing and a lower sale price. Remember that getting zero or low-rate financing from a dealer may prevent you from getting the rebate.

First Mortgage Loans

36. Although your monthly payment may be higher, you can save tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges by shopping for the shortest-term mortgage you can afford. For each$100,000 you borrow at a 7% annual percentage rate (APR), for example, you will pay over$75,000 less in interest on a 15-year fixed rate mortgage than you would on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.
37. You can save thousands of dollars in interest charges by shopping for the lowest-rate mort-gage with the fewest points. On a 15-year$100,000 fixed-rate mortgage, just lowering the APR from 7% to 6.5% can save you more than$5,000 in interest charges over the life of the loan, and paying two points instead of three would save you an additional $1,000.38.Check the Internet or your local newspaper for mortgage rate surveys, then call several lenders for information about their rates (APRs), points, and fees. If you choose a mortgage broker, make certain to compare their offers with those of direct lenders.
39. be aware that the interest rate on most adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) can vary a great deal over the lifetime of the loan. An increase of several percentage points might raise payments by hundreds of dollars a month, so ask the lender what the highest possible monthly payment might be.

Mortgage Refinancing

40. Consider refinancing your mortgage if you can get a rate that is lower than your existing mortgage rate and plan to keep the new mortgage for at least several years. Calculate precisely how much your new mortgage (including points, fees and closing costs) will cost and whether, in the long run, it will cost less than your current mortgage.

Home Equity Loans

41. be cautious in taking out home equity loans. The loans reduce or may even eliminate the equity that you have built up in your home. (Equity is the cash you would have if you sold your house and paid off your mortgage loans.)If you are unable to make payments on home equity loans, you could lose your home.
42. Compare home equity loans offered by at least four reputable lending institutions. Consider the interest rate on the loan and the annual percent-age rate (APR), which includes other costs, such as origination fees, discount points, mortgage insurance, and other fees. Ask if the rate changes, and if so, how it is calculated and how frequently, as this will affect the amount of your monthly payments.

Housing

Home Purchase

43. You can often negotiate a lower sale price by employing a buyer broker who works for you, not the seller. If the buyer broker or the broker’s firm also lists properties, there may be a conflict of interest, so ask them to tell you if they are showing you a property that they have listed.
44. Do not purchase any house until it has been examined by a home inspector that you selected.

Renting a Place to Live

45. Do not limit your rental housing search to classified ads or referrals from friends and acquaintances. Select buildings where you would like to live and contact their building manager or owner to see if anything is available.
46. Remember that signing a lease probably obligates you to make all monthly payments for the term of the agreement.

Home Improvement

47. Home repairs often cost thousands of dollars and are the subject of frequent complaints. Select from among several well established, licensed contractors who have submitted writ-ten, fixed-price bids for the work.
48. Do not sign any contract that requires full payment before satisfactory completion of the work.

Major Appliances

49. Consult Consumer Reports, available in most public libraries, for information about specific appliance brands and models and how to evaluate them, including energy use. There are often great price and quality differences. Look for the yellow Energy Guide label on products, and especially for products that have earned the government’s ENERGYSTAR, which can save up to 50% in energy use.
50. Once you’ve selected a specific brand and model, check the Internet or yellow pages to learn what stores carry the brand. Call at least four of these stores to compare prices and ask if that’s the lowest price they can offer you. This comparison shopping can save you as much as$100 or more.

Utilities

Heating and Cooling

51. A home energy audit can identify ways to save up to hundreds of dollars a year on home heating (and air conditioning). Ask your electric org as utility if they audit homes for free or for a reasonable charge. If they do not, ask them to refer you to a qualified professional.
52. Enrolling in load management programs and off-hour rate programs offered by your electric utility may save you up to $100 a year in electricity costs. Call your electric utility for information about these cost-saving programs.

Telephone Service

53. Once a year, review your phone bills for the previous three months to see what local, local toll, long distance, and international calls you normally make. Call several phone companies which provide service in your area (including wireless and cable), to find the cheapest calling plan that meets your needs. Consider a bundled package that offers local, local toll and long distance, and possibly other services, if you heavily use all the services in the bundle.
54. Check your phone bill to see if you have option-al calling features or additional services, such as inside wire maintenance, that you don’t need. Each option you drop could save you $40 or more each year.
55. If you make very few toll or long distance calls, avoid calling plans with monthly fees or mini-mums. Or consider disconnecting the service altogether and use dial around services such as 10-10numbers or prepaid phone cards for your calls. When shopping for dial around service, look for fees, call minimum, and per minute rates. Treat prepaid cards as cash and find out if there is an expiration date.
56. If you use a cell phone, make sure your calling plan matches the pattern of calls you typically make. Understand peak calling periods, area coverage, roaming, and termination charges. Contracts offered by most carriers will provide you with a trial period of 14 days or more. Use that time to make sure the service provides coverage in all the places you will be using the phone (home, worked.). Prepaid wireless plans tend to have higher per minute rates and fees but may be a better option if you use the phone only occasionally.
57. Before making calls when away from home, compare per minute rates and surcharges for cell phones, prepaid phone cards, and calling card plans to find how to save the most money.
58. Dial your long distance calls directly. Using an operator to place the call can cost you up to $10extra. To save money on information calls, look the number up on the Internet, or in the directory.

Other

Food Purchased at Markets

59. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by shopping at lower-priced food stores. Convenience stores often charge the highest price.
60. You will spend less on food if you shop with a list, take advantage of sales, and purchase basic ingredients, rather than pre-packaged components or ready-made items.
61. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing price-per-ounce or other unit price son shelf labels. Stock up on those items with low per-unit costs.

Prescription Drugs

62. Since brand name drugs are usually much more expensive than their generic equivalents, ask your physician and pharmacist if a less expensive generic or an over the counter alternative is available.
63. Since pharmacies may charge widely different prices for the same medicine, call several. When taking a drug for a long time, also consider calling mail-order pharmacies, which often charge lower prices.

Funeral Arrangements

64. Plan ahead, making your wishes known about your funeral, memorial, or burial arrangements in writing to save your family or estate unnecessary expense.65.For information about the least costly options, which may save you several thousand dollars, contact a local Funeral Consumer Alliance or memorial society, which are usually listed in the Yellow Pages under funeral services.
66. Before selecting a funeral home, call several and ask for prices of specific goods and services, or visit them to obtain an itemized price list. You are entitled to this information by law.
66 Ways to Save Money was developed by a working group of representatives from government agencies, consumer groups, business organizations, and educational institutions that sought to develop and publicize money-saving tips.

The initiative was managed by the non-profit Consumer Federation of America (CFA).
66 Ways to Save Money is now being distributed in English and Spanish by CFA and the FCIC.

BSNL 3G services launched

2009-03-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

The country’s second largest telecom operator by combined subscriber base, BSNL, on Friday launched 3G mobile services on a commercial basis in 11 cities across the country. With this, BSNL became the country’s second operator after MTNL to commercially launch the services. Earlier this month, MTNL launched its 3G services commercially in the Delhi circle.

The move gives the two state-run telecom companies a headstart over rivals, as the 3G auction has now been deferred until the group of ministers take a call on the nitty-gritties of the auction process.

Even once details of the 3G auction are cleared, it would take at least six to eight months for the private telecom operators to roll out 3G services, clearly giving the state-run companies a year before their competitors enter the market. BSNL has invested Rs 2,700 crore to roll out 3G services. The services essentially provide for faster download of data, Internet downloads and high speed gaming.

The two telecom companies were allotted 3G spectrum ahead of the auction as the government exempted them from participating in auctions and making them only to pay the highest bid amount later to tide over the procedural delays PSU firms are subject to.

BSNL launched the services in Agra, Ambala,Jalandhar, Jaipur, Dehra Dun, Ranchi, Shimla, Lucknow, Durgapur, Haldia, Patna and made a soft launch in Jammu.

The company also announced its tariff plans. In a Rs 2,500 plan, a rate of Re 1 per minute for video call has been fixed. The voice call would be available for 10 paise per minute under monthly rental plan of Rs 1,000.

Tata Nano to hit roads in July

2009-03-29T02:57:00.000-07:00

MUMBAI (Reuters) - The Nano, the world's cheapest car, will hit Indian roads in July, four months after its formal launch on Monday, and demand is expected to far outstrip supply as the price tag of around $2,000 draws legions of new buyers.

Hundreds of thousands are expected to put their name down for Tata Motors' Nano, including many previously limited to motorbikes or public transport.

Launching six months behind schedule in a subdued market, with production in the first year severely constrained and the threat of further ratings downgrades hanging over the company, it will take over a year to deliver the first 100,000 cars.

"We are at the gates offering a new form of transportation to the people of India, and later I hope other markets as well," Chairman Ratan Tata told a news conference.

"From the drawing board to its commercial launch, the car has overcome several challenges. I hope it will provide safe, affordable four-wheel transportation to families who till now have not been able to own a car," he said.

Since the Nano was first shown, the main production plant had to be moved following land protests, the company has posted its first loss in seven years, its shares have dropped 70 percent and its credit rating been downgraded.

The first 100,000 Nano owners will be randomly picked from bookings made from April 9and 25, and their prices will be protected, said Tata, who more than a year ago promised a 100,000 rupee ($1,980) dealer price at a glitzy unveiling.

A European variant will be launched by 2011, and the company is also looking at the U.S., as the current economic situation has made low-cost cars even more attractive, Tata said.

"This was never conceived as the cheapest car, but as providing transport to those people who never owned a car."

"Driven mainly by the change in demand that we see elsewhere in the world, we suddenly felt we had a product that could be of considerable interest as a low-cost product in western Europe, eastern Europe, the UK and even the U.S.," Tata said.

STUPENDOUS RESPONSE

The Nano can be booked at more than 30,000 locations in 1,000 cities across India, including Tata-owned department and electronics stores, with booking forms costing 300 rupees each. It can also be booked online (www.tatanano.com).

Dealers expect bookings will need a downpayment that Managing Director Ravi Kant said would be very close to the full price.

"We have had a stupendous response so far, breaking all class and other barriers," Kant said.

Heavy bookings could help the firm battle falling sales of commercial vehicles, its mainstay, and help repay $2 billion of bridge loans due in June. The bridge loan was taken for the acquisition of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands last year.

While the cost of raw materials such as steel has changed a lot since the Nano was first proposed, and even since its unveiling, the company decided to hold the price for the first 100,000 cars and expects it to be profitable, Tata said.

"It's often asked whether this project is going to be an act of philanthropy, which I assure you it will not," Tata said.

Analysts say Tata will most likely raise prices soon, but the slim margins, initial capacity constraints and depressed market sentiment mean that breakeven on the project will take five to six years.

"Scaling-up challenges are expected to be humungous," CRISIL Research said in a note, adding volumes of 200,000-500,000 units were needed in the medium-term for the project to be viable.

Tata can currently produce about 60,000 Nanos a year until a 250,000-unit plant in Gujarat state comes onstream by year-end.

PRICE CORRECTION

Competition is not far off: Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda and Fiat are eyeing the segment, and the venture of Renault /Nissan Motor with Bajaj is on track to launch their $2,500 car in 2011.

Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor, the No. 1 and No. 2 carmakers in India, are unlikely to cede ground to the Nano without a fight.

"I would imagine there'd be some reaction from the market. I expect price correction from small car makers," Tata said.

The Nano is also keeping environmentalists awake, with worries about the impact on India's already polluted cities and congested streets. Tata has said the Nano is less polluting than the millions of motorbikes on the road.

Sikkim Manipal University DE Results of Jan 09 Exam

2009-03-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Sikkim Manipal University SMU DDE Results http://www.smude.edu.in

Sikkim Manipal University DE Results of Jan 09 Exam. sikkim manipal university SMU Results: SMU distance education smude.

sikkim manipal university result, sikkim manipal university results, sikkim manipal, smu, smu results Sikkim Manipal University Results for SMUDE 2009January 2009 Examination Results will be announced on 24-March-2009.