Honda Exits F1 due to Financial Crisis

Honda Motor has withdrawn from Formula One racing, as a part of its cost cutting activities  after the Japanese carmaker slashed its earnings forecast, fired assembly workers and reduced production.This move will help Honda in cutting at least $ 216 million in costs .The racing Team is up for sale and also it  would  no longer supply engines to other teams.

Honda Chief Executive Takeo Fukui told a news conference a return to the sport could take time, and that there were no plans to continue as an engine supplier. "This difficult decision was taken recently and was made in light of the quickly deteriorating operating environment facing the global auto industry," Fukui told reporters."Honda must protect its core business activities and secure the long term as widespread uncertainties in the economics around the globe continue to mount."

Almost all leading Auto Cos are facing trouble with the US Big 3 facing bankruptcy.Read full story here

Slumdog Millionaire In OSCAR Buzz

Danny Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire"  based on the book Q and A by Vikas Swarup, was seen as just another 'rags to riches story'' even by Warner Bros who were the producers.But its not atleast that's what the critics say.The film whose release was in doubt has heated the Oscar buzz,thanks to Fox Searchlight Pictures which released the movie after buying it from Warner Bros which was planning to release to straight to DVD .

So what's the story? The film opens with a question in KBC style"Jamal Malik is one question away from winning 20 million rupees," it reads. "How did he do it? A) He cheated. B) He's lucky. C) He's a genius. D) It is written."Its about  the journey of a poor Indian 18 year tea supplier(Dev Patel) in the slums of Mumbai, who ends up winning one crore rupees in game show "Kaun Banega Karorpati" and gets under suspicion of the police(Irfan Khan).Throughout the film Malik narrates many incidents in his life which helped him answer all the questions of the game show.

Although it seems a normal movie story,it is Boyle's dynamic script which has made it to Oscar material.The movie handles multiple story lines which pushes audience to keep pace with the film.Boyle has also succeeded in throwing light on some major issues like poverty,the crime underworld of Bombay,effects of rapid modernization of India....And the best part is ,it has all the Bollywood elements presented in Hollywood style.

TRAILER OF SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

N97 ,The Real Iphone Killer

After the several attempts to kill the Iphone by major rivals,Iphone still topped the lists as the most favoured smartphone. But when everyone thought the dust has settled,here comes the new N97 

Samsung Omnia,HTC Diamond,Sony Xperia..etc , although they were considered good,they weren't good enough. Nokia N96 and Google G1 emerged as promising threats to the Iphone (In India,it was almost suicide.see why) .They were iphone replicas or equivalents in terms of features and designs,but there was not much of a radical difference..except the G1's  Android.

But the N97 is packed with new features  taking mobile computing to the next level leveraging the web applications.One of the most unique features of N97 is Social Location.

  Sensing your 'So-Lo' -The Nokia N97 introduces the concept of 'social location'. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the Nokia N97 mobile computer intuitively understands where it is. The Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social networks automatically with real-time information, giving approved friends the ability to update their 'status' and share their 'social location' as well as related pictures or videos.

In a press release ,Jonas Geust, Vice President, heading Nokia Nseries,said "From the desktop to the laptop and now to your pocket, the Nokia N97 is the most powerful, multi-sensory mobile computer in existence.Together with the Ovi services announced today, the Nokia N97 mobile computer adjusts to the world around us, helping stay connected to the people and things that matter most. With the Nokia N97, Nseries leads the charge in helping to transform the Internet into your Internet"

N97-DEMO

Sad news is,not all markets will see the N97 now.Initially it will be launched only in European markets,  it will be a long time before US consumers get their hands on this new mobile computer. In India? ..It will come ...well eventually.

BMW-AS YOU LIKE IT

BMW lovers will soon have their chance to customize their own cars. The German Car maker known for its innovation is bringing in a new feature called the  "Product Navigator"  based on Microsoft Surface.

Users can place samples of accessories  and colour choices using their own hands. They can instantly can see their dream car in action through simulated video clippings and multidimensional pictures.

BMW's" Product Navigator" using MS Surface

This is another example how technology can transform the way businesses operate. This is what Microsoft stands apart from companies like Apple.MS technologies help companies to improve their performance and unleash their full potential.MS works with companies across industries in order to develop new technologies that will help businesses ..remember Ford SYNC?

WORLD AIDS DAY

To celebrate the 2007 and 2008 World AIDS Day theme of leadership, the World AIDS Campaign launched the Stop AIDS Leadership Pledge in November 2007. In collaboration with national, regional, global and constituent partners, this initiative asks people from all over the world to pledge their leadership to help stop AIDS. These pledges collected online, by mail and at events, will be used to create exhibitions, banners and other visibility actions during major events in 2008 and 2009. With a goal of at least 100,000 signees, these pledges serve as a persuasive tool for leveraging greater political leadership on universal access to AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support and act as a visual example for key national and international decision-makers to follow.

Take the Lead. People from all over the world have signed on

their leadership to stop AIDS.

To Make a pledge click this button

 

Indian Retail yet to Arrive

Black Friday has officially kick started the holiday shopping season in the U.S.

ShopperTrak RCT, a retail industry research firm, said total Black Friday sales rose 3% this year, to about $10.6 billion nationwide,the smallest gain for a “Black Friday” in three years. But retailers say it could have been worse and they hope the positive trend will continue through the season. ShopperTrak has estimated that 9.9 percent fewer shoppers will descend on stores this holiday season, producing a sales gain of 0.1 percent

Compare this with Indian retail scenario

When a single Black Friday sales account for more than $450 billion ,Industry experts believe modern retail could be worth as much as $100 billion out of a total $600 billion Indian consumer market only by 2011.Kishore Biyani told CNN.com."Our sales during Diwali (the festival of lights in October) were quite good, up 18 percent year on year." 

But the 18% will be still very less when looked in actual sales figures. So when will India have its Black Friday?Big Bazaar CEO Rajan Malhotra told CNN.com, "I think it is up to modern retail to create occasions of consumption in a market like ours," noting that the chain's "Once in a Lifetime" promotion last month took sales to record levels.

Retail expert Ireena Vittal of consultancy McKinsey says 180 million of India's 205 million households are still intimidated by modern retail, ensuring that traditional retail formats will continue to grow.

I think Indian retail has still a long way to go before we have "Great Indian shopping Day" comparable to the US Black Friday.

Everyday Heroes

After 51 hours ,the battle still continues...As for now 148 are dead including 16 police personnel.Reports say that they are three more terrorists holed up in TAJ.Totally 10 places had been attacked during the ordeal.

Meanwhile rescued guests at TAJ have lauded the efforts of the hotel staff for their bravery and courage and their commitment towards their guests.The staff at TAJ have emerged as heroes as they shielded, hid or evacuated their wealthy guests from militants at the Taj without considering their own safety.

Mangeshikar, a 52-year-old gynaecologist, told Reuters. "The man in front of my wife shielded us. He was a maintenance section staff. He took the bullets."

Hotel workers in one case ushered guests into a conference room and then locked the doors to protect them from the militants. The guests were later rescued by the fire brigade.

Kanda Noriyaki, a chef at the hotel's Japanese restaurant, led guests trembling and screaming with fear to safety."Just imagine, they even served us food the first few hours," said a hotel guest, who did not wish to be named. "Only when the kitchens became out of bounds did they express regret for not being able to serve us food."

One person recounted how Taj staff stopped panicky guests from rushing into the lobby where militants could have shot them."They were brilliant," Bhisham Mansukhani told the Mail Today. "If they hadn't kept their cool, many more lives would have been lost."

Many evacuees from the hotel hailed the bravery of the staff."The hotel staff has been very, very brave," Mangeshikar said. "Hats off to them."

At  this time we cannot forget that many chief officers of ATS,NSG Commandos and encounter specialists have shed their lives during this battle. Hats off to their Courage & Bravery.