Top 5 Reasons to Learn a Foreign Language

Over the past years, English has become a global language. With some 380 million native speakers, it is currently the most widely spoken and written language in the world. However, this doesn’t mean that English is the only language that must be learnt by people who want to make their life easier, and transform it into a great experience. I say this whilst bearing in mind the statement of American President, Obama- that he is embarrassed by the fact that he doesn´t speak a foreign language. English is his native language, but in the 21st century, speaking just this language isn´t enough anymore.

So, if someone’s ever said to you that learning another language is a waste of time and it´s unrewarding, you should know that the person telling you this did to you a great disservice. You should take advantage and learn a language as long as you´re still young…Here are five reasons to convince you of the importance of foreign language learning.

1. To increase your employment potential
Knowing languages will open up employment opportunities that you wouldn´t have had otherwise. Most companies nowadays are multinational and international companies who do business abroad. Therefore, they need bilingual or even multilingual employees. In fact, all sectors demand people with foreign language skills, and having these kind of skills will certainly give you an edge over monolingual people, who are competing for the same job as you do.

2. To enhance your travel experiences
I’m not saying that it’s impossible to travel to foreign countries without speaking their native language. Just that by speaking the language spoken in the country you travel to, you can get the most out of your experience. When you know the language, you don´t feel embarrassed anymore, and are able to communicate and participate in their daily lives and to understand their cultures by surpassing the language barrier. Moreover, people are much more receptive if they see you making an effort to speak their language, and that can only turn your experience into the trip of your life. Nowadays there are many possibilities to combine traveling with learning a language. For example, there are many language schools spain that offer the possibility to learn Spanish and they organise sightseeing trips throughout the country.

3. To improve your chances of studying at a great college or University
The majority of universities believe that knowing a foreign language (and, of course, a bit about its culture) is a requirement for admission, so they ask for language diplomas or they give you exams to test your knowledge. Most educational institutions require you to have studied a foreign language for at least 2 years, as this is a part of what every educated person should know.

4. To make friends
By learning other languages you can communicate with a great number of people. Through meeting foreign students while studying abroad or through establishing a connection with a pen-pal, you connect to another world, to other traditions and cultures, and you become friends of these people, in one way or another.

5. For your personal satisfaction
Any process that requires all your effort and hard work will at the end bring you a lot of joy and a feeling of having achieved something. Learning a foreign language isn´t easy at all, you´ll have a lot of small issues and problems to tackle along the way, you´ll have to focus on spelling, grammar, reading, and so forth, but at the end, you will be pleased and proud of yourself as learning a foreign language is one of the highest intellectual goals that one could have, and you have achieved it.
Are you still thinking of learning a foreign language? What are you waiting for? Do it!

Created by

Raheesh.V.C

Visioin Kerala 2025

The 'Vision Kerala 2025, a study commissioned by the Confederation of Industries - Kerala State Council, has called for a green and sustainable development model which will ensure globally comparable living standard for the people of the state.

The Vision Kerala 2025 was released by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, at a function here.

Speaking on the occasion, he said there is need to ensure food security, homes for all and employment.

Kerala was dependent on neighboring states for rice, milk and eggs. This situation needs to change, he said.

The Vision Kerala 2025 envisages that by 2025, Kerala would be a vibrant,sustainable modern state providing its residents globally comparable quality of life and opportunities to excel in their chosen walks of life dents globally comparable quality of life and opportunities to excel in their chosen walks of life.

CII, Kerala Chairman, Umang Patodia said the vision Kerala 2025 was prepared after careful analysis of the macro economic situation in the state and after extensive discussions with nearly 200 people, including 100 students.

The study focussed on issues like economic growth, social development, analysis of performance, issues impacting specific sectors, factor advantage of the state and aspirations of the people.Extensive discussions were held with principal stakeholders in the state, including political leaderships of both ruling and opposition fronts, key government officials, industry leaders, farmers, academicians and students.

Dr B V R Mohan Reddy, Deputy chairman, CII(Southern Region) was among those who spoke.

IT professionals from Kerala forms global alliance, KITA

Around 150 Indian-American Information Technology professionals from Kerala came together in New York last November to launch the Kerala Information Technology Alliance (KITA), a platform for IT professionals of Kerala origin worldwide, to help "accelerate the growth of Kerala." Speaking to reporters here today, George Abraham, Chief Technology Officer, United Nations Pension Fund, and one of the masterminds behind the initiative said the vision of KITA was to enable Kerala to become a premier global technology hub.

"This initiative is all about bringing together IT professionals of Kerala origin in the US and leverage their knowledge and skills to help Kerala achieve growth," he said.

Even though Kerala has the highest literacy rate,the state was lagging behind other southern states in attracting IT investment and also in setting up IT infrastructure, he said.

Abraham said on January 7 a briefing session will be held at nearby Kakkanad and people from government, business, academia and the general public will be invited to attend the session, he said.

He said KITA had identified the "gaps" which prevent the state from becoming a global technology hub at a macro level and has come up with a 12-point programme to address it.

Practice Test to Evaluate Your CNA Exam Preparation

If you are looking for the best ever job opportunities then, CNA training and passing of cna certification test can avail you quickest employment. The Certification requires clearing of Federal and state specified Certified Nursing Aide Evaluation Test. Once the student pass out the Evaluation Test, he/she can find jobs in different health care centers, long term care centers, hospitals, nursing homes, adult care units etc.

It is generally found that nursing aide students tend to get nervous during CNA Competency Evaluation Test and achieve results, which are below their competency level. The reasons which lead to their actions are their poor knowledge of cna exam practice test questions and their lack of understandings about the different way, how they can prepare themselves for such tests.

A CNA student, who is keen to tender compassionate, nursing care to the sick people, must undertake Practice Test to review their readiness for the CNA exam and various types of questions usually asked during the Certification test. The Practice Test is also the way to enhance the confidence level, which is necessary for the Competency Test. A student must also know that appearing for the Practice Test also inform them about the situations they tend to face during the actual state and federal approved CNA Exam.

To sit and appear for the Practice Test, a CNA student is needed CNA training of 75 hours, which includes classroom theory learning and clinical trainings, which are duly approved by state and federal agencies. But, it is also essential to remember that, different states have their own training program duration and their completion varies from 75 hours to 15o hours, as per specific state requirements.

There are online sites, which offer Practice Test to CNA students and they are required to respond to the questions based on their CNA training programs. The Practice Test questions, which are asked are also alike to the questions given to the students during CAN Exam.

If you are also willing to evaluate your test skills by sitting for the Practice Test, you can find Test Hand Book from NNAAP website. For any additional information, you can get in touch with your State Board of Nursing and Nurse Aide Registry.

The Importance of Education

I´ve decided to write this article because I am totally amazed with the large number of people that don´t realize how important education is to our lives. While searching something on the internet, I´ve found a lot of topics on forums, started by people that were asking if education is important and if having a bachelor degree is worth the pain. Well people, you should know that the world we live in is constantly evolving and we really need a solid education upon which to base our skills and knowledge.

It´s true that in deciding to seek a graduate degree you are making a commitment of time and money, so it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. In fact it is a decision of huge importance in ones life. Earning a graduate degree will help you improve your career, as most careers nowadays require at least a Bachelor´s degree. Studies have shown that people with degrees earn more than those without. Also, have you ever noticed that the word ¨learn¨ contains the word ¨earn¨ in it? And we all know that money is one of the most important things in our life. Those with degrees are much more employable than those without them. If there was a time when companies used to employ people who had experience, nowadays employers search for people who have been highly educated. However, not all careers pay equally so you must think wisely when choosing a subject to study. However there are plenty of Universities (also abroad) that are likely to match your preferences. You could for example choose to study at one of the universities in Madrid. There are many places where you can find all the support you need and all the sources of knowledge that can help you build a career.

I strongly believe that education also brings a healthier lifestyle, as doctors recommend that people keep their brains challenged and active. It also brings confidence. At least personally, I feel that there is nothing like believing in yourself and this feeling can be achieved through only education.

By attending school, one´s able to learn from the academic and life experience of those around them, as well as knowledge passed from century to century. School also allows you to interact with other people, to refine your communication skills, and to find out more about different cultures and different places in the world. Education is the key that allows people to move up in the world, to seek better jobs, and especially to succeed in life. As education is so important, no one should be deprived of it, but, unfortunately, we have places in the world where not everyone has the opportunity to receive it.

These are only a few reasons of why education is important. I hope you´ve understood my point and that you agree with me. Good luck in your future educational endeavors!

Where to Learn Good English?

There is no doubt that if you think of where the best place to learn English is, London tops the list as the most appropriate destinations. It is obvious why. The city is the capital of Great Britain, the birthplace of the English language and the country where people speak the purest English. London is a fabulous place to visit and study in. Reasonably, thousands of people from all over the world and all ages choose to improve their proficiency with English courses in London and live and study in the thriving environment of the city. Thousands of teachers also choose London to improve their careers and gain a valuable experience by working in one of the most magnificent world capitals. It is a fact that studying and teaching in London has countless benefits. The city is home of some of the most modern schools, universities and study centers where students learn with the newest methods and programs in language education. In London everyone will find something interesting to visit or experience, which is a natural motivator for each student to interact around the city and practice their English while exploring London. The native speaking ambience is a benefit for the language courses and eases the work of the teacher. But together with the advantages of London, it also raises some challenges to teachers in the learning process. One of the difficulties for teachers is to keep the students focus on the studying. London is full of entertainment opportunities and things to do and experience, which will possibly distract students from the learning process. To avoid this side effect, make sure you include curious facts of the current reality of London and different role play games that resemble real situations in your lessons. Another motivational technique especially effective is to use interactive facilities for your lessons and make the learning visual and more understandable. Films and videos that you can discuss later will provoke students to express their opinion and share ideas in English. Make the learning process fun and enjoyable and you will outrun your expectations. Be creative and use your sense of humor, it will make the atmosphere friendlier and both yourself and the students will feel better for it. English courses in London will enrich students’ proficiency, but they will also give them a better understanding and knowledge of English traditions and London’s reality. You can capture the students not only with the English language, but with the most interesting places and highlights in the city, by holding some of the lessons outside the classroom. It will encourage them to speak English freely and will help them explore London like never before.

MBA, MBA Colleges In Noida, BBA College In Delhi NCR

Taking the step to do an MBA is indeed a big decision because it requires huge investment in terms of your time as well as money. Your career goals should be well defined and you should be able to answer the 10 brownie points question “Why an MBA?”

Hence it is imperative that you rather invest your time in doing adequate research to know all about MBA, the different types of specializations available, the B-schools that offer such programs, the fees, the rankings, the curriculum, the infrastructure, the placement offers, the teachers etc.

Let us accept the fact that getting admission into an MBA course in a good B-school is not as easy. It requires rigorous practice and grooming on your behalf. One needs to prepare for various entrance exams such the GMAT and the TOEFL. There are many students who take these exams without preparation thinking that since it is basic math and English, they will be able to crack it. However, practice and training is necessary. The more you practice, the more you will prepare yourself thoroughly for the exams.

 

Also, what is necessary is to accumulate good amount of work experience. This is a great benefit for people who want to pursue their MBAs especially in the US. Work experience adds a lot of credibility to your portfolio and since you have some amount of relevant skills required in an organization, your chances of getting through a good B-school increase to a large extent.

While considering MBA admissions, keep in mind the budget constraints that you have. Calculate the amount that you will have to pay back in case you are taking a loan. Check whether the university gives scholarship and try to apply for the same.

Once admission to an MBA institute is fixed, do not consider life to be easy. One has to work hard for several hours together and this is indeed ‘the’ course that will develop your overall personality and make you not just a good manager but a good leader.

Hierank School of Management Technology Programmes are benchmarked against best Business Schools & Institutes in the world. Master of Business Administration is a post graduate degree in business communication. Master of Business Administration (MBA), BBA is one of the most important post graduate courses in Noida India. BBA, MBA Students are young manager entering the world of business and these young minds need optimal guidance to excel in administering business successfully.

Our BBA course trains the students to adapt and excel simultaneously as well as local environment. MBA stands for Masters of Business Administration and is a very popular course for business administration students in the world.

The BBA, MBA colleges in Noida are renowned for their high quality of teaching and excellent edification environments. The Institute for International Management & Technology The fact that BBA, MBA programs enhance the basics of managerial procedures and reinforces your existing persona with some unique and fundamental traits makes them stand out from the horde of other career alternatives, accessible elsewhere. But it is highly imperative to do a back check on the educational establishment’s history.

The BBA is three year full time regular programme affiliated to CCS (Meerut) University / (A Govt. recognized UGC degree). MBA - Bachelor of Business Administration is one of the courses provided by Hierank Group of Institutes. Hierank offers approved full time and part time PGDM programmes Specialization is available in the areas of marketing, international business, banking and financial services, human resources, operation management, and information technology. 

For details:

raheesh_vkd@yahoo.com

+91 9539756179

Best Spoken English and Personality Development Training Center in chennai Anna Nagar

Basic(Basic fundamentals and Grammar)=course duration 1 month

Excel(Spoken English grammar fluency group discussion)=course duration 1 month

Skills(Personality Development and interview techniques)= course duration 1 month

Our center is one of the Best center in chennai and We are giving a quality education for all and We are having a Well Trained Faculties and we are trained more than 500 students.

Our Interview techniques and Group Discussion courses and helped many students to get a job in First Attempt itself and they are get placed in top IT and Other Companies. We are having Certificate courses for the college students who are going to finish their final year. 

Office:

Diamond Plaza No-995-P, 2nd avenue, 12th main road,
Anna Nagar chennai-600040.(opp.Hot chips) 

Contact:

raheesh_vkd@yahoo.com

+91 9539756179

Anglo - Linguistic Centre - Edappal

A CENTRE FOR PSYCHO - LINGUISTIC SKILLS

LED BY MUJEEB RAHMAN

AN INSIGHTFUL TRAINING

SATSA & EFDT

CREATING LEADERS AND SPEAKERS

The most popular spoken english & personal development institute in kerala. You can change your life with confident.  We ensure your success.  Your bright future is in your hand. Join Now

Key Features: 

* Small Batches

* Batch Timings As Per Student's Need

* Individual Attention To Every Student

* Very Nominal Fee Structure 

* Professionally Trained Staff. 

Services offered : 

* Anglo SATSA - For Personality Development

* Anglo Linguistic - For English Learning

* Anglo Cafe - For Speaking Club

* Anglo Theatre - For Beautifying Presentation

* Anglo Euphorea - For Revitelizing You

* Anglo Superkidz - For Making Your Child Unique

* Anglo Library - For Leading You to be Creative

* Anglo Accounting - For be a Smart Accountant

Come and join the world of winners with Audio - Video infrastructures.

For details:

muhsin.kakkathara@yahoo.in

muhsin.kakkathara@hotmail.com

Contact No  +91 9633366828

Role of Education in Developing Creativity Among Children

Creativity is a blessing from nature but we can develop it by careful planning through education.
This is all the more important in a democratic country like India, where we accept even the mediocres to contribute their best and create something new.
Hence, it is necessary that parents and teachers provide healthy conditions at home and the school. This would enable children to express themselves and contribute something new for the society, which may be termed as creativity.

Our suggestions

1. Freedom of Response:

Children generally respond teachers in a usual and routine manner. Parents and teachers should encourage children to respond in their own way. They may be allowed to say what they would like to say. This would lead to creativity. If there is problem in the class, let every child respond in his own way. The teacher should keep in view that every child has a contribution to make. Allow them to think in various directions and express their creativity.

2. Satisfy the ‘Ego’ of the Child:

All of us have a ‘self ego’. We want to be recognized by others. This ‘ego’ is all the more stronger during the childhood stage. We, as parents and teacher should try to provide opportunities to satisfy it.

3. Encourage Original Ideas:

If we find that a child achieved his original ideas about a particular aspect of life, we should encourage it. Constant submission to facts suppresses the opportunity of the child. It has been correctly said, ‘Uniformity is the enemy of originality’.

4. Remove Hesitation and Fear:

Children are generally kept under strict control. They fear their parents and hesitate in speaking their mind. This kills the initiative of the child. Originality is only possible when we give enough freedom and space to children to express their own views.

5. Provide Suitable Atmosphere:

The watchwords for the provision of this type of atmosphere are: Sympathy, liberty, and the proper provision of co-curricular activities in the school.

6. Development Special Habits:

Children require special habits to be creative. These habits are hard work, persistent effort, self reliance and self confidence. We should encourage children to develop these habits. We can then expect any thing that is creative from them.

7. Let the Children Meet Creativity:

Every community has centers where creativity can be seen easily. We may organize excursions to centers of art, art galleries, museums, and places of artistic excellence. Thus the children will come in contact with creativity and get an inspiration to create something new.

8. Avoid the Stumbling Block to Creativity:

Certain factors like conservative outlook, an unsympathetic attitude towards children, fixed and rigid habits of works, unnecessary anxiety, over emphasis over school works, authoritarian attitude of teacher, etc. are some of the stumbling blocks in the path of creativity. We should try to avoid these stumbling blocks as far as possible.

9. Reorganize the Curriculum:

Certain principles should be kept in view while reorganizing the curriculum. These are:
a) The Curriculum should be a child-centered
b) The Curriculum should highlighted ideal concepts then facts
c) It should highlight that children have the capacity to find out truth and discover things.
d) It should reduce the importance of annual examination.
e) It should allow the child to do something in the academic field freely without the fear of examination.

10. Reform the Evolution System:

Much has been said about the reforms in the system of evaluation. We can say that the child’s progress should be judged for what he dose during the entire year and not on the basis of his achievement in the annual examination. The day to day progress of the child should be properly assessed and entered in the cumulative card. Any other observation showing the creativity of the child should be clearly indicated in the card.

11. The use of some Special Techniques:

Mention may be made for special psychological techniques to find out the creativity of the child.
These are:

a) Brain Storming:

It implies storming the brain of the child with new ideas and nothing down the reactions and techniques of solving them as suggested by the child. This reaction takes place in the classroom where every child gets an opportunity to express his ideas. When the reactions of the entire class are noted down, a free discussion follows. Common suggestion are weaned out and these lead creativity.

b) Using of Teaching Models:

Certain teaching models suggested by psychologists are of immense value form locating the creativity of the child. Mention may be made of such two models:
i)

Bruner’s Concept Attainment Model

and
ii)

Suchman Inquiry Training Model.

c) Use of the gaming technique: Children like pay. We should like to find out their creative talent through games. We may organize games of this type in the class. Some examples of such games are
1. Name all the square things you can think of.
2. Name the new type of programs you will like to have on T.V.
3.Tell all the aspect in which a cat and a dog are alike.
4. What will do if you get oil paints and a brush, etc.
They may also be given some materials like. They may also be asked to play with wooden cubes and construct some new and novel designs. They may be asked to color a picture, etc.

12. Self Example is Better than Precept:

Parents and teacher may keep in view that if they want their children to create something new they themselves should be devoted persons and put forward an example before their children in the field of creativity.

Created by
Raheesh V.C

Toyota Prius

 

The good: Getting around 50 mpg on average, the 2010 Toyota Prius is a stellar car for fuel economy, and you can choose accelerator sensitivity. Traffic reports are integrated with the navigation system.

The bad: The Prius isn't designed for handling. There isn't full iPod or USB drive integration for the stereo. The DVD-based navigation system reacts slowly.

The bottom line: The 2010 Toyota Prius is a better car than its predecessor, although there are some areas, especially in the cabin, where we would have liked to see more improvement.
 

 

 

After the success of its predecessor, the advent of the 2010 Toyota Prius created a lot of expectations. But instead of incorporating sought-after features such as a lithium ion battery pack or plug-in capability, Toyota opted for incremental changes, tweaking the power train to get more power and better fuel economy.

On the cabin tech side, we expected big advances, as competitors have stepped up the game with such options as external data sources, which provide useful location information, and better compatibility with electronic devices. In this area, the 2010 Prius takes a few steps forward, but not as many as we hoped.

The new Prius model can be had in four trim levels, which Toyota dubs II, III, IV, and V, apparently preferring simple Roman numerals to arcane combinations of S, E, and L. Our test model was the Prius IV, which included navigation, upgraded JBL audio system, Bluetooth phone system, a back-up camera, and, most interestingly, the solar-roof option.

A horizontal crease in its rear gives the Prius a spoiler and lends a unique look to the taillights.

From the outside, the 2010 Prius shows some subtle, but smart, body changes. When spotting the new Prius in the wild, you will want to look for the notched back, a horizontal rear crease that lets the hatchback lip stretch out a little, creating a spoiler effect. Less obvious will be the roofline change, which moves the peak back a few inches for better aero efficiency and to add a little headroom for rear passengers.

Looking inside, Toyota adopted the floating console that Volvo started using a few years ago, creating an airy feeling in the cabin and a little storage space. Strangely, Toyota chose to put the Prius' seat heater controls in that open space, so you'll have to reach down in cold weather. Otherwise, the dashboard is still bare of analog gauges, retaining the monochrome digital strip just below the windshield. The steering wheel has a slightly flattened bottom, something more commonly seen on sports cars.

Hybrid driving
As with the previous version, the 2010 Prius starts out under electric power, creeping forward silently at low speeds and with light acceleration. And light acceleration is all you get with even half throttle applied--the Prius doesn't feel like it wants to move at all, which is one way to save gas. It takes almost full pressure on the accelerator to feel some pull from the front wheel drive, but that also takes the Prius out of electric drive. We found a constant tension while driving the 2010 Prius between playing the maximum mileage game and actually trying to get to a destination.

Initial acceleration may be unsatisfying, but Toyota gave Prius drivers options with the 2010 model in the form of three buttons labeled EV, Eco, and Power. While driving city streets, we tried the EV button, a program designed to maximize the use of the electric drive. The first time, a message on the car's display said our speed, 27 mph, was too high. The second time we tried it, a similar message gave the excuse that the battery was too low. We wondered if the car would cite a headache as the next excuse.

The buttons control programs that remap the accelerator, changing its sensitivity.

As we expect, Eco mode makes that slow acceleration even worse. But Power mode is tolerable. These modes are merely throttle programs, so a light touch on the accelerator when in Power mode can still produce good mileage. Although we enjoy getting the Prius moving under electric power, in the real world, we found it necessary to stab the accelerator to get moving from a stoplight, engaging both gas engine and electric motor and working toward the peak hybrid system's 134 horsepower. Once up to speed, easing back on the accelerator lets the Prius cruise at speeds of 25 to 30 mph under electric power.

Traffic conditions
Before getting on the freeway, the navigation system shows us the traffic conditions, a new feature for the 2010 Prius. But this unit is still DVD-based, and searching through the points-of-interest database to find a destination takes some lengthy pauses to retrieve information. New, nice-looking graphics indicate the different means of destination entry through the touch-screen LCD, but most of these are locked out while under way.

However, the voice command system does an excellent job of recognizing our inputs, and offers feedback on the LCD showing which commands are available at each step. With route guidance active, the navigation system shows familiar graphics mapping out upcoming turns and which lanes to be in for freeway junctions. We also discover another new feature for the Prius' navigation: it does text-to-speech, reading out the names of streets.

While driving on city streets, we noticed the new Prius still had the wobbly feeling in turns from which its predecessor suffered. On the freeway, the Prius wanders in its lane as wind buffets it around. The steering feels solid, making it easy to control, but it doesn't have that stable road feeling offered by similar midsize cars.

At freeway speeds, we fight to keep the instantaneous fuel economy gauge above 50 mpg while maintaining reasonable freeway speeds of 65 to 70 mph. Toyota has migrated its various power and fuel economy displays to the monochrome instrument screen, from their former placement on the LCD. Although not as graphically rich, it's safer. We find ourselves settling on the Eco screen, which uses a horizontal bar to show how much throttle we are applying. 

The Eco screen shows our average fuel economy, but doesn't show range to empty. We have to dig through a few other screens to find that information. You can't get average fuel economy and range to empty on the same screen--an annoyance. These screens are informative, and let you maximize mileage, but they are a far cry from the hybrid instrument display Ford uses in the Mercury Milan Hybrid.

Tech tricks
Another instrument display feature in the new Prius is a graphic that mimics the steering wheel buttons when you press them; the idea being that you don't have to look down at the wheel when you press a button, keeping your eyes closer to a front view. In concept it's pretty cool, but in practice we find it unnecessary. After a few minutes of driving, we remember the button positioning, and don't bother to look at the instrument display feedback.

These graphics activate when you touch a steering wheel button, offering visual feedback.

The freeway is a good spot to listen to the stereo characteristics. We were disappointed on getting into the 2010 Prius to find no iPod port, but Toyota built in stereo Bluetooth support for MP3 players. And, as luck would have it, the new OS for the iPhone includes stereo Bluetooth. We paired an iPhone to the car's Bluetooth phone system when we first got in, and were happy to see the car ingested the phone's contact list as well.

But using the iPhone as a music player meant we had to pair it again, this time to the stereo. You can't use the iPhone for music and phone at the same time with the 2010 Prius. We thought this lack of integration would be a real problem, but switching from Bluetooth music player to Bluetooth phone proves fairly easy, merely requiring a touch on the car's onscreen connect button. Still, if you were to get a call while using the phone as a music player, it wouldn't switch to the car's hands-free system. Also, the Bluetooth audio source screen in the car doesn't show what music is playing and offers no music browsing capability. You only get a play and a pause button. Toyota really should have put in true iPod support.

With the navigation option in our car, the disc changer goes from six slots to four, and is hidden behind the LCD. This arrangement is the same as is in the previous Prius model, and we would have expected some improvement here. That disc changer can, of course, read MP3 CDs. There is also satellite radio and a simple auxiliary input.

Our car includes the upgraded, eight-speaker JBL audio system, which sounds surprisingly good, especially considering what we are used to hearing in Toyota cars. Although lacking a subwoofer, this system puts out bass strong enough to feel, yet still retains well-modulated highs and mids. Instrument definition is good, making the different layers in a recording distinct. This is an above-average audio system.

Proceeding along our route, the navigation system pipes up, warning of slow traffic ahead. It doesn't offer a detour, but looking at the map, we see the freeway marked in yellow, indicating speeds of 20 to 40 mph. This navigation system is supposed to find a route around any red sections, which would mean traffic moving under 20 mph.

The art of braking
As in the previous model, using the brakes is an art in the 2010 Prius. Hit them too hard, and you use the actual pads and calipers. The trick is to anticipate stops and slowdowns and lightly apply the brakes well in advance, which uses the car's regenerative braking system only, thereby feeding the battery and saving wear and tear on the pads.

We employ this braking technique as we get off the freeway and approach our destination. Leaving the car in a parking lot on a hot day, we get to experience one of the more unique features of the Prius: the optional solar roof, which on our car powers a fan in the cabin, so when we get back to the car it's a little cooler than it would be otherwise. We also had a rearview camera on our car, but Toyota implemented a back-up beeping, similar to what you find on big trucks. This gets kind of annoying, although it's probably a pedestrian safety feature, as the Prius will usually be running under quiet electric power when it reverses.

This monochrome power animation shows when the engine and motor are driving the wheels.

Other tech options available at the V trim level include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and an automatic parking system. We had the opportunity to try these features in a different Prius earlier. The cruise control and lane departure work well, similar to what we've seen in much more expensive cars. The parking system is hit or miss: it does an excellent job of guiding you into well-marked parking spaces, but requires too much adjustment for others.

Driving in the city and on the freeway, we see our average fuel economy range between 48 and 52 mpg, in keeping with the EPA's rating for the 2010 Prius of 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway. Where the previous model had a 1.5-liter engine, Toyota bumped the displacement up to 1.8 in the 2010 Prius, and also made some refinements in the electric drive system. Toyota claims the larger engine actually gets better fuel economy in some circumstances than the smaller one.

In sum
We can't say that we really enjoy driving the 2010 Toyota Prius, but as an economical means of transportation, it's hard to beat. Fuel economy is its major virtue, and we give it a high performance rating for showing an average of around 50 mpg. For cabin tech, Toyota has made a few improvements, but the lack of good MP3 player support is an oversight. Live traffic reports and the JBL audio system are worthwhile improvements. It gets a high score for design, partly because of its body style, which makes it stand out in the crowd while giving it an extremely low drag coefficient. Design also benefits from the nice graphic treatment for the navigation system.

Spec box

Model	2010 Toyota Prius
Trim	IV
Power train	1.8-liter inline 4-cylinder with hybrid system
EPA fuel economy	51 mpg city/48 mpg highway
Observed fuel economy	50 mpg
Navigation	Optional DVD-based with live traffic
Bluetooth phone support	Standard
Disc player	Four-disc CD changer, MP3 CD support
MP3 player support	Bluetooth streaming, auxiliary input
Other digital audio	Satellite radio
Audio system	Standard JBL, eight speakers
Driver aids	Rearview camera
Base price	$25,800
Price as tested	$30,709

Lenovo G560 Review

Review Summary:
The Lenovo Essential G560 is a solid consumer budget notebook with a weak touchpad.

Pros

• Good build quality and keyboard
• Lots of ports
• Four hours of battery life

Cons

• Horrible touchpad
• Glossy plastic lid
• Subpar screen quality

Click here to Buy a G560 Direct from Lenovo.com

Lenovo G560 Full Review

The Essential G560 is Lenovo’s entry-level 15.6” notebook. It sports an Intel Core i3 processor, full-size keyboard with number pad, and a starting price around $600. Read our review to find out more.

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Our Lenovo Essential G560 review unit has the following specifications:

• 15.6-inch 720p (1366x768) glossy panel with LED backlighting
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel Core i3-330M dual-core processor (2.13GHz, 3MB L3 cache, 2.5GT/s QPI, 35W TDP)
• Intel HM55 chipset
• Integrated Intel HD graphics w/ shared video memory
• 4GB DDR3-1066 dual-channel RAM (2x 2GB)
• 320GB 5400RPM Western Digital hard drive (WD3200BEVT)
• Broadcom 802.11n wireless LAN card
• DVD burner (Optiarc DVD RW AD-7585H)
• 1-year limited warranty
• 6-cell Li-ion battery (11.1V, 48Wh)
• Weight: 5.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 14.8” (L) x 9.8” (D) x 0.7~1.4” (H)
• MSRP: $699

Our test unit has specifications appropriate for what it was designed for – basic use. The Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM ensure smooth multitasking. Something this machine will not be able to do is play 3D games since it has integrated graphics.
Build and Design
The G560 has a modest-looking exterior with a few high-quality touches. The palm rest area is inlaid with brushed aluminum, which feels cool to the touch. The G560 is rather thin and light given its 15.6” screen, coming in at a shade under six pounds and about 1.3” thin. Despite its all-plastic construction the G560 has a solid feel. The palm rest and areas surrounding the keyboard have good support and do not flex, even under abnormal pressure. The plastic used in the construction has satisfactory quality; it is thick enough to not feel brittle yet not something I would classify as durable.

Unlike the chassis, the lid is covered in smooth glossy plastic, which attracts dust and fingerprints. This is a con – the glossy plastic gets messy quickly unless a microfiber cloth is kept handy at all times.  The build quality of the lid itself is average and not as good as the chassis. It flexes easily when twisted by the corners and I made ripples appear on the screen when I pushed in on the back. The G560’s overall build quality is satisfactory; my only real complaint is the glossy plastic used on the lid.
Screen and Speakers
The G560 has a 15.6-inch screen with a 720p (1366x768) resolution and LED backlighting; this is the only available screen. While its glossy mirror surface helps colors stand out and improves sharpness, it also acts as a mirror, especially when there are light sources behind it. Cleaning is also difficult.
The picture quality of the display is passable at best; it has a low contrast ratio of 150:1 and lacks sharpness. Colors appear somewhat washed out. We measured brightness at 210nit at its peak, which is average for a notebook of this size. Side-to-side viewing angles are also average; colors start to shift about 40 degrees off-center. Vertical viewing angles are narrow; it is viewable about 20 degrees up or down off-center before serious color inversion.

The 1366x768 resolution is the number one problem with the display; it makes multitasking difficult and limits productivity in general. Only about one-half of a page in a Microsoft Word document is visible at a time; additionally, lots of scrolling is required in web pages since there are only 768 pixels of vertical space. Using two windows side-by-side is more or less impractical since only 1366 pixels span the horizontal.
Overall, the display is typical of a low-priced notebook; it is hard to find budget 15.6” notebooks with better. To get a better resolution than 1366x768 one needs to go with a business class notebook, and even then higher resolutions are a rarity.
The G560 has two stereo speakers above the keyboard. They actually sound respectable; tinny, yes, and without much bass however quite usable for casual listening; the sound is fuller than I expected. The touch-enabled volume buttons above the keyboard work well.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The G560 has a full-size keyboard with separate numeric keypad. The keyboard is one of the highlights of this notebook; it feels solid and is pleasing to type on. Even under significant pressure there is little flex. The keys are quite communicative thanks to the just-right travel (the distance between pressed and un-pressed positions) and moderate actuation force (the amount of pressure needed to depress a key); both of these factors help accuracy. The layout of the keyboard takes some getting used to. Lenovo was only able to fit in a number pad by squeezing the keys to half their normal size – this means a bit more precision is required to hit them.

The touchpad is the polar opposite of the notebook – that is, terrible. After reviewing several dozen notebooks, I can safely say this is the worst I have used. The positives first: the touchpad’s mildly-textured surface is a cinch to track on with moist or dry fingers. It is also appropriately-sized for a 15.6” screen. The negatives: its usability; only about half my intended clicks actually registered, which was quite frustrating. There are no dedicated touchpad buttons; this is a “clickpad”, where the entire surface can be pressed down anywhere (supposedly) to register a click. Pressing the very bottom-right simulates a right-click and everything else is left-click. I had to apply an abnormal amount of pressure to get any sorts of clicks to register, especially towards the edges and center. On top of all this, the clicks are loud.
When I use a touchpad I have one hand to click and one hand to track; this does not work with the G560’s touchpad. It gets confused when there are two fingers on it and works sporadically; I had to change the way I used a touchpad to work with the G560. All in all, the G560’s touchpad was aggravating; those planning to purchase this notebook should also invest in an external mouse.
Ports and Features
The G560 has an impressive amount of ports for a budget notebook. It includes e-SATA for fast connections to external hard drives and HDMI, which is handy for connecting to HDTVs. Also included is ExpressCard/34, which can be used for add-on cards like USB 3.0 adapters. All picture descriptions are left to right.

Front: wireless on/off switch, status lights, media card reader (MMC/MS/MS Pro/SD/xD)

Back: battery pack

Left: Kensington Lock slot, cooling exhaust vent, RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, USB 2.0, e-SATA, HDMI, ExpressCard/34

Right: microphone and headphone jacks, optical drive, USB 2.0, AC power

Dell Announces New XPS Laptops

Dell has announced the newest members of its premium XPS notebook line: the XPS 14, XPS 15, and XPS 17. Key features include Intel Core i-series processors, Nvidia graphics with Optimus technology, JBL speakers, and HD webcams.
The new XPS notebooks are the first to be Skype certified; they can stream 720p HD video. Other common features include Core i5 dual-core and Core i7 quad-core processors, Nvidia 3DTV Play software for displaying 3D content on a 3D-enabled TV, optional built-in mobile broadband, and WiMAX. The 15 and 17 offer 12-watt subwoofers.

XPS 14

The smallest member of the lineup, the XPS 14 features a 14-inch display and starts at MSRP $899.99. There are two available graphics cards -- an Nvidia GeForce GT 420M or an optional GT 425M with 2GB of dedicated memory.

Dell says the XPS 14 can get up to 5.5 hours of life with the standard six-cell battery and up to 8.5 hours with the optional nine-cell. The XPS 14 measures 13.9" (W) x 9.7" (D) x 1.2~1.4" (H) and weighs 5.35 lbs with the six-cell battery and 5.72 lbs with the nine-cell. The Dell XPS 14 is available now; estimated ship dates are from Nov 19.

XPS 14 Product Page

XPS 15


The XPS 15 features a 15.6" display and starts at $849.99. It is similar to the 14 though offers better optional graphics: a 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 435M. The XPS 15 has a starting weight of 6.14 lbs with the standard six-cell battery (up to 5.25 hours of life) and 6.51 lbs with the nine-cell (up to 9.1 hours).

The 15 is available with a base 720p screen (1366x768) or an optional upgraded 1080p (1920x1080) high-resolution display with RGB-LED backlighting. The XPS 15 is available now; estimated ship dates are from Nov. 11.

XPS 15 Product Page

XPS 17

The flagship XPS 17 notebook is the largest with a 17.3" display. Starting at $949.99, it offers more powerful graphics in the form of a GT 435M; a GT 445M is optional. It offers up to 16GB of RAM (4 slots) and two hard drives.
With the six-cell battery it weighs 7.57 lbs and gets up to 4.5 hours of life; with the nine-cell it weighs 7.94 lbs and gets up to 7.5 hours.

Additional features of the XPS 17 include an optional 1080p screen and a pair of USB 3.0 ports, which can transfer data up to 10x as fast as current-gen USB 2.0 ports. The XPS 17 is available now; estimated ship dates are from Nov. 11.

XPS 17 Product Page

Samsung Galaxy Tab

Description

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is a seven-inch Android tablet that many believe is the first with shot at denting the Apple iPad's market dominance. With Froyo and a 1 GHz processor under the hood, the Galaxy Tab resembles the Galaxy S series of smartphones.

Quick Specs

Screen Size: 7-inches
Processor: Cortex A8
Graphics: PowerVR SGX

Price Comparison

Sorry but pricing is not available on this product as it is either not released yet or is no longer available, please see below for pricing on a similar product.

 

Test Drive – Hyundai i20 CRDi Asta – Likes and Dislikes

After spending almost a week with the i20, this is how we sum up -

Things we dislike -

1. Soft suspension during city drives.
2. Music system sound quality could have been better.
3. Absence of a live fuel mileage meter.
4. Rear seats offering less thigh support.
5. Horn provided is inappropriate for India.
6. Seats could have been leather at least in the top-end variant.
7. Gear shifting could be better, the Hyundai Verna diesel has one of the best gear shift feel in the Hyundai line-up.
8. Rear headroom is less due to the swooping roofline for tall passengers.
9. Instrument cluster backlight dimming function not present.
10. Absence of the front quarter glass like the which could come in handy during turning.
11. Price. Due to the level of export content, Hyundai is unable to offer this car at a lower price. If they did, it would mean even more VFM.
12. Absence of bottle holders or map pockets on the rear door pads.
13. Absence of vanity mirror on the sun visor.
14. Seat belt height adjuster absent.

Things we like -

1. Awesome engine with up market feel and refinement.
2. Loaded with gadgets which are only found on the top end variants of the mid-size sedans.
3. Belongs to a breed of Euro 5 Star safety rating cars.
4. Meaty tires with alloys helping a big way in improving the ride quality and handling.
5. Awesome mileage figures, we managed to get a figure of 14.5 kmpl with a heavy foot and 18.5-19 kmpl (combined) with a nice relaxing drive.
6. Braking ability of this hatch, remember this has all wheel discs aided by ABS .
7. Very stylish design from outside, very trendy and a sure head turner.
8. Superb interior design, very different design element used.
9. Super comfortable driver and co driver seats, they just wrap around you.
10. Huge huge glove box, not seen on may Luxury cars too, can sallow a laptop, its also cooled.
11. The windshield washer spray literally thrusts water on the glass, the cleaning is exceptional and very different from any other car.
12. Audio controls on the steering – not many hatches have it.
13. Retractable mirrors, noteworthy here is the function even works when you have removed the keys out of the ignition slot.

Standard features that the Hyundai i20 CRDI Asta comes with -

1. CD MP3 player with steering mounted controls.
2. AUX and USB ports.
3. Climate controlled AC.
4. Power windows front and rear.
5. Power mirrors and Retractable mirrors
6. Two Airbags.
7. Seat height adjusters on driver side.
8. Steering wheel adjuster for reach and height.
9. ABS.
10. All wheel discs.
11. Rear defogger with washer.
12. Broad tires with nice alloys.
13. Remote locking.
14. Trendy key remote.

Suzuki Swift R Concept – A Swift that I’d want to buy

The Suzuki Swift has always been a boy racers car. Its fast, its cheap, handles well, easy to repair and it looks good as well.
You can see a lot of them modded on city streets. But those are all aftermarket jobs. But when the company itself rolls up its sleeves, what you get is an R Concept or simply put a really mental Swift.
The Suzuki Swift R Concept, which will debut at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show, takes its inspiration from the GSX-R bikes and is quite evident from the really aggressive body work and very fat tires that it sits on. This front wheeled drive hot hatch is expected to be powered by a 1.4L liter turbocharged petrol unit that makes a whooping 180 bhp! All this power is harnessed by a 7 speed dual-clutch transmission borrowed from VW.
All said and done, we just can’t wait for the Beijing Motor Show later this year.

Value for the thousands of files and more cost-effective mobile phone before the National Day Count

HTC Smart Is a model equipped with a Brew platform. The machine can be said that machine to its name, size measurements is only 104 × 55 × 12.8mm, while mobile phone also has a black and red colors, fashionable relatively superior. Phone is equipped with a 2.8-inch QVGA resolution (320 × 240) touch screen, display quite satisfactory. Built a 300 million pixel camera, photo effect in general.


Brew platform is a semi-open platform. The biggest advantage of the system is a high-pass unit in its system models using Qualcomm chips can be installed on the system application software, which large-scale expansion of the system has laid a good foundation. The phone looks very good shape, are used to systems such as Symbian or Andrew player, you can try to experience other systems replaced.

Nokia X2

Nokia Nokia X2 X3 basically continued the design style of the past, also has a slightly tough body lines and lightweight body, while the fuselage with a red and black and blue and white mix of design tends to younger, equipped with a 2.2-inch 240 × 320 pixel resolution display, display clear and natural. The aircraft is one of the biggest highlights of 500 million pixel built-in camera, equipped with a LED flash, camera quality sufficient to meet the needs of the user’s general photography.

Music, Nokia X2 or showed considerable strength, not only in the top of the phone design with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and outstanding performance in the music functions. Compatible with multiple format music player and FM radio support, and provides 26.8 hours of continuous music playback time and the Windows Media Player 11 + Ovi Player music synchronization, storage and transmission makes the songs more simple and faster.

As low as 1580 yuan Nokia E5 hot new machine 7 Summary

Nokia cell phone models now makes him look fuzzy, four-digit names from the initial to the N series and E series appear, to the current C / E / N / X with a single number combination, so that some of the old Nokia users find it difficult to accepted. At present the new series of models began listing all, today we come to the right seven representative summary of the model to make a purchase, you Ye Hao be aware of.



Nokia N8 3.5-inch 640 × 360 pixel AMOLED capacitive touch screen, equipped with 680MHz processor clock speed, 256MB operating memory, 12 million pixel Carl Zeiss lens Certification (Xenon flash), supports 720P HD video recording, support HDMI high-definition digital output. Systems, equipped with the new Symbian Nokia N8 3 system to support multi-touch, real-time Internet applications to support SNS, its support for Ovi navigation and more.
Nokia N8 similar to Apple’s iPhone, with one design, the entire body of material is anodized aluminum, while thin solid N8 effectively control the body weight. In addition, the Nokia N8 has a gray, silver, green, blue, orange and five-color models, user preferences according to their own space is very wide.

HD2 \ iPhone4 led by strong machine price forecast next week

How time flies so quickly went to the weekend, while the mobile phone market this week took place in a “major event”, it is the highly anticipated Microsoft officially released Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 7 also indicates that the release of smart phones market will usher in a radical change. And in Windows Phone 7 just released not long, HD2 civil informal WP7 Brush package information is also frequently heard, it is understood Standard ROM has been completed, while the T version of ROM and triple ROM (Android, WM, WP7) is being finalized. If the machine can really WP7 Brush Pack release truthfully, I believe that first class will affect the price of HD2. In addition to the Nokia N8 Hong Kong version of the debut, Sony Ericsson and HTC X10.

Source of supply re-licensed iPhone 4 32GB arrival

While the mainstream market with iPhone 4 has been for some time, but because of demand than supply, so the iPhone 4 has been in a mainstream source of tension. However, today Apple iphone 4 32GB (licensed) in the dealer, “Tianxi through licensed mobile network” at the stock sale, the price is 6650 yuan, licensed accessories complete. Although the price is not cheap, but because it is available for sale so eager for some friends, it touches a good choice.

Apple iPhone 4 in appearance has been a great change, subverting the previous rounded shape, with angular design approach, but only 9.3 mm thick body more portable, the whole atmosphere highlight the fashion technology. Fuselage material using 3.5-inch multi-touch screen IPS, the resolution has reached a staggering level of 960 × 640 pixels, display a very clear and natural. Another machine is also built to support a 500 million pixel camera with 720p HD recording, shooting laudable.

Apple iPhone 4 is used in Apple’s latest operating system iOS 4 intelligent, compared with the previous system version adds multi-tasking, folders and other users of highly anticipated features. It is worth mentioning that Apple’s iPhone 4 in the hardware configuration has also been a qualitative leap, iPhone 4 using speeds up to 1GHz processor, runs very good. Wi-Fi, GPS navigation and other features added, it is also the overall performance is very satisfactory. In addition, up to 32GB of memory but also allow users body’s storage needs to be completely satisfied.

Sony Handycam DCR-DVD101

 

The good: Mini DVDs offer convenient playback; good night-shooting quality; relatively compact.


The bad: Poor video quality; media expensive compared to MiniDV tapes; very basic feature set.


The bottom line: Unless you're so wedded to the Sony brand and the idea of DVD recording that 
you're willing to pay a premium--but not enough to jump to the DVD201--avoid this model.

Review: The Sony Handycam DCR-DVD101 is more compact and offers better low-light focusing 

than its predecessor, but this model remains an underfeatured underachiever for a camcorder in its 

price range. The biggest problem: relatively poor video quality due to the low-resolution 340,000-pixel 

CCD the camera uses for recording.With its slick black-and-metallic-blue case, the Sony Handycam 

DCR-DVD101 is as likely as the latest iPod to garner admiring looks. This model is about two-thirds 

the size of its predecessor, the DVD100, making it no larger than a typical DV camcorder

Toshiba launches 128GB flash memory chip for mobile phones

Did you have memory problem in mobile? i think we all are facing this problem because in our most of handsets have 512MB of storage memory, only few mobile like Apple iphone and few other phone like samsung have Good Memory, but now i think there is one solution from Toshiba, now Toshiba come with 128GB flash memory chip for mobile devices.
The company said that this is the only memory unit of its kind storing so much data in a unit measuring 17x22x1.4 millimeters.

At 17x22mm Toshiba’s new NAND Flash chips are slightly bigger than what you’ll find in many smartphones, but at four to eight times the memory you get in an iPhone, a couple of extra mm isn’t much to argue about, right? This is also set to be the new JEDEC size standard, so it’s not as if Toshiba is going out on a limb here. The new solution will also be available in a 64GB capacity which will start shipping in sample volumes in August, while its larger 128GB sibling will arrive a month later. Both will enter mass production sometime in Q4, so we should see devices with these hopefully sometime in 2011.
There is no announcement for price for this new Toshiba’s 128GB flash memory chip ,what you say about it? how much they have make price Tags for this new 128GB memory chip? write your price suggetions in comments.

New Bluetooth 4.0 Specification has revealed

Bluetooth is one of the many technologies that many of use couldn’t get through a day without using. It connects us to our phones, our cars, and a myriad of other devices we use for entertainment and work.

The Bluetooth SIG has announced the release of Bluetooth Core Specification 4.0 and an enhancement to the specification called Bluetooth low energy is also part of the package. Bluetooth low energy will allow a myriad of devices that were previously unable to utilize Bluetooth to take advantage of the specifications and connectivity it offers. Bluetooth low energy will be ideal for markets like healthcare, sport and fitness, security, and home entertainment. The Bluetooth SIG claims that devices using Bluetooth low energy can last for years with power from common coin-cell batteries.

Data transfers with the low power specification will be at 1Mbps with very short data packets of 8-octet minimum and 27-octet maximum. The specification uses adaptive frequency hopping common to all versions of Bluetooth and operates in the 2.4GHz ISM band. Latency for the spec is as low as 3ms allowing an authenticated session to be established and data sent in a tiny amount of time.

Bluetooth 4.0 Features

• Ultra-low peak
• Average and idle mode power consumption
• Low cost
• Multi vendor interoperability
• Ability to run for years on standard coin-cell batteries
• Enhanced range

It is expected that new Bluetooth 4.0 devices will start arriving in the 4th quarter of this year. Bluetooth SIG does mention that the new low power functions will allow for a whole range of new products to embed the service. With devices capable of lasing years we could see some unique sensors being created and many other things that people have yet to think of.