DVD of 500 GB ready to be rolled out

General Electric Global Research says it has figured out a way to put up to 500GB of data on a regular-sized DVD disc under laboratory conditions. GE says its breakthrough was achieved by writing 3-dimensional patterns that represent data onto a disc made of highly reflective material.

The disc then acts as a mirror for making a laser to pick up the entire piece of data. GE's process doesn't just put information onto the surface of the disc -- as DVDs and CDs do -- but etches the micro-holographic patterns below the surface of the disc as well.

Holographic disc-based storage is a long ways off from consumers, but its potential has many in the storage community excited. Experts see micro-holographic players and discs over time have the potential of becoming a low-cost storage alternative to DVDs and Blu-ray discs. By comparison, the highest capacity Blu-ray discs can store up to 50GB of data, while the most common type of DVD holds less than 9GB of information. GE's eventual goal is to store up to 1 TB of data on the new disc format. GE says its micro-holographic technology is backward compatible -- able to read CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.

GE says it is eager to take its micro-holographic technology out of the lab and put it on store shelves. GE says its first step in that direction is to target data-intensive business customers like movie studios and medical researchers, but the eventual goal is to put micro-holographic players in the home.

Windows 7 to have XPmode?

Microsoft on Friday night released a user guide entitled "Windows 7 Product Update: Key Changes Included in the Release Candidate." Among the new features outlined in the guide was Windows XP mode, which lets users with Windows 7 run apps in a Window XP environment. The feature will be made available as a free download for Windows 7 users.

The feature was noted as part of the Windows 7 Product Update user guide:

"The Release Candidate provides you the flexibility to run many older Windows XP applications in a virtual Windows XP environment on a Windows 7-based PC," Microsoft says. "Called Windows XP Mode, this new feature requires an additional download."

A similar feature will be offered for enterprises. The Release Candidate extends virtualization technologies to end users, as well as small and medium businesses through a new feature called Windows XP Mode. "Windows XP Mode, together with virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC, provides a virtual Windows XP environment in which you can run many existing Windows XP applications on a Windows 7-based PC," Microsoft said. "Windows XP Mode is included in Windows 7 and is available either through pre-installation by your PC manufacturer or via a no cost download."

GPS enabled asthma inhalers

We'll soon be able to track (and hopefully eliminate) recurring asthma attack outbreaks. Van Sickle, a scholar in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is working with students in the biomedical engineering program to create an asthma inhaler with a built-in GPS receiver.

The project is still in its early stages, but David's goal is to eventually map out danger zones that could be life-threatening to those stricken with the lung disease. He already has it all mapped out: "rescue inhalers" will pinpoint the location of each asthmatic attack and cross-reference it with other devices, attempting to detect new locations and trends that previously flew under the radar undetected by asthma researchers. Van Sickle envisions a time when his technology can help researchers discover exactly why people suffer from asthma.

"It will allow us to better target public-health interventions to the places and times when people are really suffering," Van Sickle said.

Asthmatics interested in participating in the trials should be at least 18 years old, and can call 608-261-1036 or e-mail asthmap@mailplus.wisc.edu for more information.

Sachin not to play in international T20s

"I would have loved to be there but I feel it could disturb the combination and that's the only reason I have stayed out of the (Twenty20) team," says the master sachin tendulkar.

"And they won the World Cup, nothing can be better than that," he added.

Recalling his 2007 decision to make himself unavailable for the Indian squad for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup, Tendulkar said he initially pulled out due to fitness issues and once the team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the title, he decided not to intrude into the side.

"I remember we were in England and immediately after that the team was to go to South Africa for Twenty20 World Cup. I said my body was not fully fit. And I was not in a position to give my best, my 100 per cent for India. I thought If I'm like that, I should not be part of the team and instead allow somebody else to go who can give 100 per cent.

"It's a team sport so, even if there is one weak link, it affects the whole team. I didn't want it to happen. The team went to South Africa and did well. They settled quite nicely. I don't want to disturb the combination now when they are going terrific, " he added.

He is a part of mumbai indians team in IPL and made it clear that he wont be a part of any international T20's.

Proteas regain the top spot

South africa maintains the top spot in ODI ratings with the sries victory over the aussies. It was the penultimate match against Australia and the proteas made a 61-run win in Port Elizabeth. The victory helped them maintain their supremacy as the No. 1 one-day side, but Smith was more excited about the prospects and talent that came through in the four matches.

"I think there are some really exciting players coming through," he said. "Everyone's contributing with bat and ball - there's a really good energy in the squad. We just need to keep our feet on the ground and take one step at a time."

He singled out the batsmen for special praise, in particular Herschelle Gibbs, who scored a match-winning 110 and AB de Villiers (84). "Obviously we wanted to play well and win the series here," he said. "I think the batters did a superb job.

Smith admitted that he was surprised with Australia's decision to field first in the crucial match. "It is a bit unusual for Australia to bowl first in big games," said Smith. "But once we posted 317, we were always confident.

South Africa posted 317 for 6, which was followed by a spirited Australian chase before Dale Steyn derailed them with 4 for 44. "At 129 for nought, we were a little bit nervous, but the boys did really well and showed a lot of character. It was another very good day for us," said Smith.

The win allowed South Africa to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series but Smith indicated that there would be no letting off in the final match at Johannesburg. "We'll look to finish the series on a high note at the Wanderers and if we do make it 4-1, then it will really make a top-standard series for us."

Kamal's next, "Unnai Pol Oruvan"

Kamal Hassan one of the finest of Indian film actors is all set to remake the bollywood movie, ‘A WEDNESDAY’. The remake is said to be made in both tamil and telugu. The tamil version of the movie is titled to be ‘Unnai pol oruvan’. Both versions of the remake are produced by UTV motion pictures. The movie also stars mohan lal in a lead role.

A WEDNESDAY is Indian thriller drama film written and directed by Neeraj Pandey. It stars Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah in the lead roles and marked the return of the duo on screen after 12 years. The film depicted an about-to-retire Police Commissioner narrating a sequence of events that unfolded on a particular Wednesday and which do not exist in any written record, but only in his mind and in those of several individuals who were involved in it, both willingly and unwillingly, and how those events affected the lives of all the concerned people.

Airtel Launches 16 Mbps Broadband

Bharti Airtel has launched 16 Mbps broadband in the country.

This service, powered by Airtel's Carrier Ethernet Network, will be initially available in Delhi NCR, Chennai and Bangalore with phased roll-out in Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata.

K Srinivas, Joint President, Telemedia Services, Bharti Airtel said, "Airtel has constantly strived to innovate and deliver high quality products to its broadband customers. We are the leading private broadband service provider in the country and pioneered 8 Mbps broadband. It gives us great pleasure now to be able to introduce the fastest, wired broadband service on DSL. We will be able to offer 16 Mbps broadband to 70% of the households in the 3 cities of Delhi NCR, Chennai and Bangalore."

Airtel delivers its broadband service to customers through a fibre backbone of Carrier Ethernet Network with last mile delivery on copper using ADSL2+ technology. This technology enables ultra high-speed broadband which is scalable and affordable.

Customers have 2 tariff plans to choose from -

- Speed Combo 2999 - receive 16 Mbps broadband speed with monthly data transfer limit of 20 GB along with a fixed line connection at Rs. 2999 per month.

- Speed Combo 4999 - receive 16 Mbps broadband speed with monthly data transfer limit of 50 GB along with a fixed line connection at Rs. 4999 per month.

Dravid 'finest of indian fielders'

Today Rahul Dravidbecame the world record holder of most catches in Tests, surpassing Australian Mark Waugh, when he caught New Zealand opener Tim McIntosh at third slip for his 182nd catch on the fourth day of the third and last cricket Test here.

He dived to his left to take a low catch of Tim McIntosh off Zaheer Khan for his record.

Dravid's record came in his 134th Test. Waugh's tally of 181 catches came from 128 Tests in a career spanning 11 years (1991-2002). Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming is the third on the list with 171 catches in 111 matches.

V.V.S Laxman is the second Indian in all-time catching list at 18th place with 111 catches in 105 matches. Sunil Gavaskar has 108 catches in 125 matches while one of India's best slip fielders Mohammed Azharuddin held on to 105 catches in 99 matches.

Dravid added another to his tally as he removed Jesse Ryder and took his average to .74 catches per innings compared to Waugh's .73.

Dravid, who caught up with Waugh when he snapped up Martin in the New Zealand first innings of the first Test at Hamilton, had opportunities to break the record but dropped a couple of difficult catches in the subsequent innings.

The 36-year-old has shown good anticipation and quick reflexes over the years to etch his name among the best close-in fielders of the world.

"Dravid is good but he's got a funny style. He's not a natural catcher but he's got great concentration and he's in the right place at the right time," Waugh said.

Dravid will keep the record for some years as his nearest competitors Ricky Ponting (148 catches in 131 Tests), Jacques Kallis (147 in 131) and Mahela Jayawerdene (142 in 102) are still at some distance to catch up with him.