Budget expectations from industry

 http://theahmedabadbuzz.com/post-pandemic-budget-expectations-from-small-mediumBudget expectations for 2021-enterprise-businesses/

Budget 2021

http://theahmedabadbuzz.com/budget-2021-verbatim-budget-transcript-of-finance-minister-speech-at-parliament/ 

#FlipTrends: How the Digital Indian shopped in 2015

Ahmedabadis secure third position for online shopping.

Mobiles & Electronic accessories dominate the online shopping wave and Delhi NCR emerges as the most online shopping savvy city in India

Bengaluru, 16^th December 2015: Flipkart, India’s largest online marketplace, officially introduces #FlipTrends2015, a comprehensive and in-depth view into howIndia shops online. This one-of-a-kind study across 50 million Indian shoppersanalyses consumer buying preferences between January 1^st and December 14^th2015 and offers a detailed analysis into what trends dominate the online retail space today.

Rising mobile internet penetration and availability of a wide variety of brands and products at affordable prices across the country at the touch of a mobile screen have truly made 2015 the year of e-commerce in India. According to #FlipTrends2015, electronics and mobiles have emerged as the top performing categories. Delhi NCR tops the chart as the most online shopping savvy city in India, closely followed by Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Commenting on this, Ankit Nagori, Chief Business Officer of Flipkart said, “2015 is truly the year of the digital Indian consumer. The data taken from FlipTrends, an analysis of over 50 million registered Flipkart shoppers in 2015, shows that Indians are taking to shopping online at a very fast clip. What is particularly gratifying to note is that Flipkart is taking the lead in introducing the ease and convenience of online shopping to millions of Indians in Tier-2, Tier-3 towns, and in rural areas. We continue to stay committed to fulfilling our goal of transforming commerce through technology in the coming years.”

Some key takeaways of the survey:

·        Electronic accessories, mobile, lifestyle accessories & women apparel are consistently the top performing categories across all regions.

·         The study shows that 69% of the online shoppers are male, this gender clearly dominates the online retail space

·         While Delhi NCR emerges as the most e-commerce savvy metro, Southern Indiahas a significant presence with Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai featuring among the top 5 cities that shop the most online along with Delhi NCR and Mumbai

·         Among the Tier-1 cities, Pune is the leader followed by Coimbatore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. Bhubaneshwar is the only city from East India to feature in this list.

·         Mangalore has emerged as the top Tier-2 city of digital Indian shoppers followed by Mysore. The hill town of Dehradun is third in the list followed by Salem in Tamil Nadu and Guntur in Andhra Pradesh.

·         The e-retail space is largely dominated by consumers falling between the 25-34 years age group. More than half of the consumers shopping online are office goersclosely followed by home orders

Genius introduces its latest range of Bluetooth headsets

The HS-940BT and HS – 930BT

~sleek design, superior sound quality with bass and powerful battery ~

Genius, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of computer peripherals and smart phone accessories, has announced the launch of its new range of Bluetooth 4.0 headsets: the HS-940 BTand HS- 930 BT.

HS-940 BT: This sleek headset with swivel earcup easily and quickly pairs with any Bluetooth device. When it comes to audio quality, the headset delivers crisp sound with signature bass performance. A 30 metre wireless working distance, allows one to move around and enjoy their favorite tunes, while the ambient noise isolation adds to the experience. Just pure music! The forte of the HS-940BT Bluetooth headset is its ultra powerful battery which lets you play music non-stop for upto 20 hours. Isn’t that awesome!.  This stunning iron grey colored headset is priced at MRP 3,250

HS -930 BT: This stylish looking headset  easily pairs with any Bluetooth device and delivers an impressive sound quality and base effect with a 40 mm Neodinium drivers. It features a built in microphone and a single button to answer incoming calls. The plush extra soft leather earcups provide unmatched comfort, while the foldable headband and carry pouch make carrying and storage convenient. The HS-930 BT comes with a powerful battery which delivers a solid 15 hours music playing time. Available in 3 vibrant colors options – Black, White and Red, the headset is priced at MRP. 2,925

 

The HS -940 BT and HS-930 BT headsets are available at over 10,000 plus retail outlets of all formats and all leading e-tailing sites including Flipkart, Snapdeal, Amazon and E-bay among others.Commenting on the launch, Mr Kumaravel Viswanathan, Regional Manager, Genius India,said, “At Genius, we constantly strive to transform and better the lives of our customers globally, through cutting edge R&D which is evident in the 1300+ patents we hold. Keeping in line with this ethos, we have introduced our new range of Bluetooth 4.0 headsets HS-930BT and HS-940BT which feature great sound quality with bass, sleek design and powerful battery that lets you listen to music non-stop for hours. We are confident that it will certainly appeal to all music lover.“

Nokia 1100 with lollipop 5.0 soon!

The grandfather of all phones, Nokia 1100 is back in the news after a long time. A Geekbench result reveals a device named Nokia 1100. The benchmark listed a Quadcore chipset with Android Lollipop 5.0 as the operating system under the test results.

The prospect of Nokia producing an Android phone with the legendary name Nokia 1100 is quite low but if at all the rumours materialise, it will excite a lot of Nokia fanboys who miss the legendary handset.

The spec-sheet of the leaked benchmark test report shows a multi-core score of 664 and a single-core score of 347. It is allegedly powered by a quad-core MT6582 clocked at 1.3GHz. The screen size has not been mentioned but it carries a resolution of 720x1280.

The Nokia handset was wildly popular due to its sturdiness, it has been used as a benchmark of strength. A lot of YouTubers have demonstrated the strength of the handset while comparing it to current generation devices. If Nokia plans to re-enter the smartphone market, there is no better way than using the name 'Nokia 1100' to ensure a flashy come-back.

This can be a hoax as there have been reports of model numbers being deliberately changed. The astounding success of Nokia N1 tablet has definitely paved way for the company's come-back and with a brand name so strong even a mid-tier phone by Nokia can create ripples in the smartphone industry

MTS India slashes mobile Internet dongle price by 35 percent

Telecom service provider MTS India on Monday slashed the price of mobile data dongles by 35 percent at a time when Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, etc. have increased mobile Internet tariffs.

The company has reduced the price of MBlaze Ultra Wi-Fi dongle to Rs 999 from Rs 1,499 for new postpaid customers. Its rivals are offering this package at almost double the price.

MTS India (Sistema Shyam TeleServices) has decreased the price of MBlaze Ultra Wi-Fi for the new prepaid customers to Rs 1,749 from Rs 2,299 along with 10 GB data.

MTS postpaid customers can opt for 40 GB data pack for Rs 999, 14 GB for Rs 700 and 10GB for Rs 550.

MTS prepaid data plans include 3GB for Rs 399, 5 GB for Rs 499, 7GB for Rs 699 and 20GB for Rs 999, with 30 day validity.

However, MTS India data service is present in only 9 circles: Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Kolkata, West Bengal and UP West.

You need to remember that MTS data service is not promising seamless data connection in all its telecom circles. The telecom operator says it offers 9.8 Mbps on its 3GPlus telecom network. This is the maximum speed it offers. You will experience significantly lower speed as well. This will depend on number of users on the network during a particular time frame.

Leonid Musatov, chief marketing & brand officer, MTS India, said: “We lowered the price barrier for first time data customers with as much as 33 percent reduction in dongle prices. We have also rolled out a range of monthly data plans to suit the needs of customers across categories.”

On Sunday, PTI reported that telecom operators have raised mobile Internet rates up to 100 percent in June-September period.Bharti Airtel increased mobile Internet rates by up to 33 percent while Vodafone and Idea Cellular have started gradually implementing the increased mobile internet rates from June.

The three companies jointly hold around 57 per cent mobile services market share.

Vodafone India changed the base tariff of 2G for 1GB pack from Rs 155 to Rs 175.

Airtel and Idea Cellular increased the rate of 1GB 2G mobile Internet pack to around Rs 175 from about Rs 155 GB.

Vodafone and Idea Cellular increased rack rate, charged without any offer or scheme, by up to 100 per cent from 2 paise per 10 kb of data usage to 4 paise per 10 kb.

This means on Vodafone and Idea network 1 GB of 2G or 3G mobile internet will cost over Rs 4,000 (from Rs 2,000) which these companies under scheme are selling for around Rs 175.

Airtel started increasing mobile internet rates around first week of September. The company is now at par with Vodafone and Idea in terms of rack rate which is 4 paise per 10 kb. However, the increase is only of 33 per cent because the company was already charging 3 paise per 10 kb earlier.

The 2G data pack rate of Airtel is highest among the three at 10 paise per 10 kb which means cost of 1GB mobile internet usage without any scheme or offer for a subscriber is over Rs 10,000 which company is now selling for Rs 176

From Windows 1 to Windows 10: 29 years of MS Windows journey

Microsoft Windows has seen nine major versions since its first release in 1985. Over 29 years later, Windows looks very different but somehow familiar with elements that have survived the test of time, increases in computing power and – most recently – a shift from the keyboard and mouse to the touchscreen.

Here’s a brief look at the history of Windows, from its birth at the hands of Bill Gates with Windows 1 to the latest arrival under new Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella.

Windows 1

The first version of Windows. Photograph: Wikipedia

This is where it all started for Windows. The original Windows 1 was released in November 1985 and was Microsoft’s first true attempt at a graphical user interface in 16-bit.

Development was spearheaded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and ran on top of MS-DOS, which relied on command-line input.

It was notable because it relied heavily on use of a mouse before the mouse was a common computer input device. To help users become familiar with this odd input system, Microsoft included a game, Reversi (visible in the screenshot) that relied on mouse control, not the keyboard, to get people used to moving the mouse around and clicking onscreen elements.

Windows 2

Windows 2 with overlapping windows. Photograph: Wikipedia

Two years after the release of Windows 1, Microsoft’s Windows 2 replaced it in December 1987. The big innovation for Windows 2 was that windows could overlap each other, and it also introduced the ability to minimise or maximise windows instead of “iconising” or “zooming”.

The control panel, where various system settings and configuration options were collected together in one place, was introduced in Windows 2 and survives to this day.

Microsoft Word and Excel also made their first appearances running on Windows 2.

Windows 3

Windows 3.0 got colourful.

The first Windows that required a hard drive launched in 1990. Windows 3 was the first version to see more widespread success and be considered a challenger to Apple’s Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga graphical user interfaces, coming pre-installed on computers from PC-compatible manufacturers including Zenith Data Systems.

Windows 3 introduced the ability to run MS-DOS programmes in windows, which brought multitasking to legacy programmes, and supported 256 colours bringing a more modern, colourful look to the interface.

More important - at least to the sum total of human time wasted - it introduced the card-moving timesink (and mouse use trainer) Solitaire.

Windows 3.1

Windows 3.1 with Minesweeper. Photograph: Wikipedia

Windows 1 and 2 both had point release updates, but Windows 3.1 released in 1992 is notable because it introduced TrueType fonts making Windows a viable publishing platform for the first time.

Minesweeper also made its first appearance. Windows 3.1 required 1MB of RAM to run and allowed supported MS-DOS programs to be controlled with a mouse for the first time. Windows 3.1 was also the first Windows to be distributed on a CD-ROM, although once installed on a hard drive it only took up 10 to 15MB (a CD can typically store up to 700MB).

Windows 95

Windows 95: oh hello Start menu.

As the name implies, Windows 95 arrived in August 1995 and with it brought the first ever Start button and Start menu (launched with a gigantic advertising campaign that used the Rolling Stones’ Start Me Up, and a couple of months later Friends stars Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry. Could it be any more up-to-date?)

It also introduced the concept of “plug and play” – connect a peripheral and the operating system finds the appropriate drivers for it and makes it work. That was the idea; it didn’t always work in practice.

Windows 95 also introduced a 32-bit environment, the task bar and focused on multitasking. MS-DOS still played an important role for Windows 95, which required it to run some programmes and elements.

Internet Explorer also made its debut on Windows 95, but was not installed by default requiring the Windows 95 Plus! pack. Later revisions of Windows 95 included IE by default, as Netscape Navigator and NCSA Mosaic were popular at the time.

Windows 98

Windows 98, the last great DOS-based Windows. Photograph: Wikipedia

Released in June 1998, Windows 98 built on Windows 95 and brought with it IE 4, Outlook Express, Windows Address Book, Microsoft Chat and NetShow Player, which was replaced by Windows Media Player 6.2 in Windows 98 Second Edition in 1999.

Windows 98 introduced the back and forward navigation buttons and the address bar in Windows Explorer, among other things. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of the Windows Driver Model for computer components and accessories – one driver to support all future versions of Windows.

USB support was much improved in Windows 98 and led to its widespread adoption, including USB hubs and USB mice.

Windows ME

Windows ME was one to skip. Photograph: Wikipedia

Considered a low point in the Windows series by many – at least, until they saw Windows Vista – Windows Millennium Edition was the last Windows to be based on MS-DOS, and the last in the Windows 9x line.

Released in September 2000, it was the consumer-aimed operating system twined with Windows 2000 aimed at the enterprise market. It introduced some important concepts to consumers, including more automated system recovery tools.

IE 5.5, Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker all made their appearance for the first time. Autocomplete also appeared in Windows Explorer, but the operating system was notorious for being buggy, failing to install properly and being generally poor.

Windows 2000

Windows 2000 was ME’s enterprise twin. Photograph: Wikipedia

The enterprise twin of ME, Windows 2000 was released in February 2000 and was based on Microsoft’s business-orientated system Windows NT and later became the basis for Windows XP.

Microsoft’s automatic updating played an important role in Windows 2000 and became the first Windows to support hibernation.

Windows XP

Windows XP still survives to this day. Photograph: Schrift-Architekt/flickr

Arguably one of the best Windows versions, Windows XP was released in October 2001 and brought Microsoft’s enterprise line and consumer line of operating systems under one roof.

It was based on Windows NT like Windows 2000, but brought the consumer-friendly elements from Windows ME. The Start menu and task bar got a visual overhaul, bringing the familiar green Start button, blue task bar and vista wallpaper, along with various shadow and other visual effects.

ClearType, which was designed to make text easier to read on LCD screens, was introduced, as were built-in CD burning, autoplay from CDs and other media, plus various automated update and recovery tools, that unlike Windows ME actually worked.

Windows XP was the longest running Microsoft operating system, seeing three major updates and support up until April 2014 – 13 years from its original release date. Windows XP was still used on an estimated 430m PCs when it was discontinued.

Its biggest problem was security: though it had a firewall built in, it was turned off by default. Windows XP’s huge popularity turned out to be a boon for hackers and criminals, who exploited its flaws, especially in Internet Explorer, mercilessly - leading Bill Gates to initiate a“Trustworthy Computing” initiative and the subsequent issuance of to Service Pack updates that hardened XP against attack substantially.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista, arguably worse than Windows ME. Photograph: Microsoft

Windows XP stayed the course for close to six years before being replaced by Windows Vista in January 2007. Vista updated the look and feel of Windows with more focus on transparent elements, search and security. Its development, under the codename “Longhorn”, was troubled, with ambitious elements abandoned in order to get it into production.

It was buggy, burdened the user with hundreds of requests for app permissions under “User Account Control” - the outcome of the Trustworthy Computing initiative which now meant that users had to approve or disapprove attempts by programs to make various changes. The problem with UAC was that it led to complacency, with people clicking “yes” to almost anything - taking security back to the pre-UAC state. It also ran slowly on older computers despite them being deemed as “Vista Ready” - a labelling that saw it sued because not all versions of Vista could run on PCs with that label.

PC gamers saw a boost from Vista’s inclusion of Microsoft’s DirectX 10 technology.

Windows Media Player 11 and IE 7 debuted, along with Windows Defender an anti-spyware programme. Vista also included speech recognition, Windows DVD Maker and Photo Gallery, as well as being the first Windows to be distributed on DVD. Later a version of Windows Vista without Windows Media Player was created in response to anti-trust investigations.

Windows 7

Windows 7 was everything Windows Vista should have been. Photograph: Wikipedia

Considered by many as what Windows Vista should have been, Windows 7 was first released in October 2009. It was intended to fix all the problems and criticism faced by Vista, with slight tweaks to its appearance and a concentration on user-friendly features and less “dialogue box overload”.

It was faster, more stable and easier to use, becoming the operating system most users and business would upgrade to from Windows XP, forgoing Vista entirely.

Handwriting recognition debuted in 7, as did the ability to “snap” windows to the tops or sides of the screen, allowing faster more automatic window resizing.

Windows 7 saw Microsoft hit in Europe with antitrust investigations over the pre-installing of IE, which led to a browser ballot screen being shown to new users allowing them to choose, which browser to install on first boot.

Windows 8

Windows 8 focused more on touch than a keyboard and mouse.

Released in October 2012, Windows 8 was Microsoft’s most radical overhaul of the Windows interface, ditching the Start button and Start menu in favour of a more touch-friendly Start screen.

The new tiled interface saw programme icons and live tiles, which displayed at-a-glance information normally associated with “widgets”, replace the lists of programmes and icons. A desktop was still included, which resembled Windows 7.

Windows 8 was faster than previous versions of Windows and included support for the new, much faster USB 3.0 devices. The Windows Store, which offers universal Windows apps that run in a full-screen mode only, was introduced. Programs could still be installed from third-parties like other iterations of Windows, but they could only access the traditional desktop interface of Windows.

The radical overhaul was not welcomed by many. Microsoft attempted to tread a fine line between touchscreen support and desktop users, but ultimately desktop users wanting to control Windows with a traditional mouse and keyboard and not a touchscreen felt Windows 8 was a step back. There were also too few touchscreens in use, or on offer, to make its touch-oriented interface useful or even necessary - despite the parallel rise of tablets such as the iPad, and smartphones, which had begun outselling PCs by the end of 2010.

Windows RT, which runs on ARM-based processors traditionally found in smartphones and non-PC tablets, was introduced at the same time as Windows 8 with the Microsoft Surface tablet. It looked and felt like Windows 8, but could not run traditional Windows applications, instead solely relying on the Windows Store for third-party apps.

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 and the great reappearance of the Start button.

A free point release to Windows 8 introduced in October 2013, Windows 8.1 marked a shift towards yearly software updates from Microsoft and included the first step in Microsoft’s U-turn around its new visual interface.

Windows 8.1 re-introduced the Start button, which brought up the Start screen from the desktop view of Windows 8.1. Users could also choose to boot directly into the desktop of Windows 8.1, which was more suitable for those using a desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard than the touch-focused Start screen.

Windows 10

Windows 10 brings back the Start menu

Announced on 30 September 2014, Windows 10 has only been released as a test version for keen users to try. The “technical preview” is very much still a work in progress.

Windows 10 represents another step in Microsoft’s U-turn, bringing back the Start menu and more balance to traditional desktop computer users.

Some interesting features include the ability to switch between a keyboard and mouse mode and a tablet mode, for those computers like the Surface Pro 3 with a detachable keyboard.

Windows 10 – despite being the ninth version of Windows – is designed to unify all Windows platforms across multiple devices, including Windows Phone and tablets, with universal apps that can be downloaded from the Windows Store and run on all Windows devices.

It won’t be available until 2015, likely after Microsoft’s Build developer conference in April, so for now Windows 8.1 is the latest version of Windows.

(Inspired from The Guardian)