Secure connection through DirectAccess in Windows 7

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems introduces a feature named DirectAccess. It allows remote users to securely access enterprise shares, Web sites, and applications without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN). DirectAccess establishes bi-directional connectivity with a user’s enterprise network every time a user’s DirectAccess-enabled portable computer connects to the Internet, even before the user logs on. Users never have to think about connecting to the enterprise network, So that IT administrators can manage remote computers outside the office, even when the computers are not connected to the VPN.

DirectAccess uses IPv6-over-IPsec to encrypt communications transmitted across the Internet. DirectAccess is designed to reduce unnecessary traffic on the corporate network by sending only traffic destined for the corporate network through the DirectAccess server (running Windows Server 2008 R2), However the administrator can choose to send all traffic through the corporate network. DirectAccess can also authenticate the user and supports multifactor authentication. Administrators can configure which intranet resources specific users can access using DirectAccess.

Four displays in a notebook??

Heard about extreme multitasking? Two displays are mounted on a notebook, like Lenovo's ThinkPad W700ds' Side Panel. Now Intel's is up with four. Its one primary LCD screen and three auxiliary OLED screens above the keyboard. The aim here is to allow the user to organize information the way he or she prefers it. Touted as the world's first multitouch, multiscreen concept solution, the prototype (code-named Tangent Bay) was unveiled at the Mobility Meetup, an Intel Insiders event for bloggers. Intel's Mobile Product Line marketing manager for Greater Americas showed some music files being dragged and dropped between the OLED panels using a finger, as well as flipped video files being moved up to the main LCD display from the auxilliary panels with ease. One could also contract, zoom, scroll, and pan content from one screen to another.

Unlimited GPRS plans from TATA DOCOMO

The packages are for its prepaid subscribers tagged as Rs 15 GPRS pack and Rs 95 GPRS pack.

TATA DOCOMO packs of Rs 15 come with 3 days validity and enables user to get unlimited access whereas Rs 95 pack come with 30 days of validity and enables user to use and access data download for 30 days. This pack can also be used on PC and laptop. While on roaming, on both the packs the user will be charged 10paisa for 10KB.
To start using internet on phone the user need to save the settings as default settings. (By default the user is purveyed for TATA DOCOMO Internet and DIVE IN at the time of purchase of the connection if the user has a GPRS compatible handset.) To get Internet settings SMS “INTERNET” to 52270 (toll free on TATA DOCOMO HOME & CHARGED Rs.3 at non DOCOMO Network) and save them as default settings. Once the user has done that, just go to the internet browser on the phone and start surfing.

The speed may be a bit slow. TATA DOCOMO assures between 28kbps to 48 kbps speed and that should be enough to do with checking emails, searching, tweeting etc.

Countdown begins for Oceansat-2 launch

The countdown for the launch of Oceansat-2 satellite that would help identify potential fishing zones and in coastal zone studies from Sriharikota.

The 970-kg satellite would be shot into space on September 23 by Indian Space Research Organisation's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) along with six European nano spacecrafts.

A set of two Rubin nano and four cubeats would also ride piggyback, accompanying Oceansat-2, on the homegrown PSLV rocket that will blast off from the Satish Dhavan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Apart from two Rubin nano satellites from Germany, the four cubesats lined up for the mission are: Beesat, built by Technical University Berlin, UWE-2 (University of Wuerzburg Germany), ITU-pSat (Istanbul Technical University Turkey) and SwissCube-1 (Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne, Switzerland).

Windows 7 to be upgraded at ‘NO-COST’

As of last Friday, individual customers who purchase Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate will be able to get a corresponding version of Windows 7 at little or no cost, according to a blog post by Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc.

But what has not been widely publicized, is that there is 25-unit limitation on upgrades for business customers.

Many feel that Microsoft should not be charging Vista customers a cent to upgrade from that troubled OS.

Silver says enterprise customers should demand an upgrade option from their hardware vendors, some of whom have the latitude to expand the 25-machine limit for their customers.

But if you're not an enterprise customer, you can "obtain rights for best value?"

TATA DOCOMO in CHENNAI

Tata steps into GSM market finally with a brand name ‘TATA DOCOMO’. DOCOMO is a worldwide operator based in japan, and is a leader in 3G technology providing location-based services.

Every one is very eager to know about TATA DOCOMO’s GSM Mobile Service tariff plan in details. To get a taste of TATA DOCOMO GSM Mobile services, a subscriber can opt to Prepaid Starter Pack. For Rs.49, The Starter pack comes with life Time Validity.The Postpaid service will be launch from 1 July 2009.

TATA DoCoMo GSM Prepaid Starter Pack Price  Rs.49
Validity- Life-time with Talk-time 25 Minutes
Voice calls- Local Call: 1 paisa per sec
Std Call- 2 paisa per sec ( STD at 1 Paisa for limited period Offer)

Text Messaging:-
Local SMS: 60 paisa per SMS (After 3 sms 750 FREE sms provided as promotional offer for limited period in TN circle).
National SMS  Rs. 1.2 per SMS
International SMS Rs.5 per SMS

These are base-line tariffs offered without any add-on subscriptions. So its Pay-for-what-you-use, per-second paradigm comes to India. “Moment of triumph for the Indian consumer” says Ratan Tata on its launch.

Bing - Can it give a bang to google?

Microsoft launched Bing about two weeks ago . The early results are impressive.

Microsoft increased its average daily penetration among U.S. searchers from 13.8 percent during May 26-30 to 15.5 percent during June 2-6, according to comScore. The research firm concluded this is an indication that the search engine is reaching more people than before. Microsoft's share of search-result pages in the U.S., a proxy for overall search intensity, increased from 9.1 percent to 11.1 percent during the same time frame.

Meanwhile, StatCounter is reporting that Bing has overtaken Yahoo to secure the number-two spot in the search market. StatCounter said Bing grabbed market share from Google. StatCounter's analysis reveals that in the U.S., Bing leapfrogged Yahoo to take second place with 16.28 percent. Yahoo had 10.22 percent. Google still dominates the U.S. search market with 71.47 percent.

Google will take a competitor like Microsoft very seriously because they have the capacity to invest millions of dollars into search.

Yahoo needs to continue developing its product and make sure it's competitive. Otherwise, Yahoo could wake up and find themselves in third place at some point in the next 12 to 18 months .