Install Windows 7 from a USB drive the very easy way

The fastest way to install windows 7 is from a bootable usb drive. You can cut the install time down to around 15 minutes compared with 30-40 via DVD if you use a fast drive. With this BootableUSB guide all you need to ensure is that your motherboard supports USB booting, and this is a common feature now for most of the computers.

We will now see how to do this the easy and fastest way.

You need to get hold of a fast USB 2.0 flash drive. It doesn’t need to be 32GB or bigger,however, all you need is a 4GB unit. The faster it is, the better.

What you need:

• Windows 7 DVD install disc or ISO image
• USB Drive (4GB+ and as fast as you can get)
• Running Windows Operating system

Plug in your USB drive in the USB port:



Before going any further, make sure you have removed any important files on your drive to a safe location, what we are about to do next is to erase the entire contents of the drive.
Insert your DVD of Windows 7 into the computer, but don’t start the normal install process.
Open your ‘My Computer’ and make a note of the drive numbers of both the USB drive and the DVD drive with Windows 7 files on it.




As you can see from the image above, the DVD drive is drive has letter D assigned and the USB drive is E.
Open the command prompt with admin rights. Type cmd in Start menu search box and hit Shift+Ctrl+Enter.
To keep things really easy, if you see text in upper case, it means this is what you type into the command prompt (you don’t need to type in upper case).




Next type

DISKPART

this loads the diskpart application we need to proceed

Then type

LIST DISK

the image above shows our 32 GB USB drive is listed as DISK 2 so you have to type

SELECT DISK 2 (your USB Drive may have a different number, don’t follow exactly this text it depends on your usb drive)

You will get a successful response “Disk 2 is now the selected disk”



Next we want to clean the USB drive

Type:

CLEAN

you will get a successful response ‘DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk”.



After the drive is cleaned follow the list in the image above (detailed below in list order) – you can also note the successful text responses from the OS as you enter each command.

SELECT DISK 2 (or what number your USB drive has)

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS

Formatting can take a little time depending on the size of the drive, our 32GB unit took about 10 minutes to format - you will see a percentage readout until it is finished.



Next type:

ASSIGN

EXIT (DISK PART will exit)


Type D: CD BOOT (substitute the “D” if necessary with the letter of your Windows 7 DVD drive)

then key

CD BOOT

then

BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 E: (substitute the “E” if necessary with the letter of your now ready USB drive) – we are telling the system to create a boot sector file on the USB drive.

Now you can exit the command prompt and copy all the files on the Windows 7 DVD to the USB drive.

Once this step is finished you’ll be ready to boot from this drive, all you need to do is configure your motherboard bios setup to boot first from USB rather than hard drive or optical drive. If you don’t know how to do this, refer to your specific motherboard manual or search the internet.

Now, Windows 7 installation should take between 40% and 60% of the time it does from the DVD disc.

Last step: Drink a cup of tea, from now on you can do this again and again

Install Windows 7 from a USB drive the very easy way

The fastest way to install windows 7 is from a bootable usb drive. You can cut the install time down to around 15 minutes compared with 30-40 via DVD if you use a fast drive. With this BootableUSB guide all you need to ensure is that your motherboard supports USB booting, and this is a common feature now for most of the computers.

We will now see how to do this the easy and fastest way.

You need to get hold of a fast USB 2.0 flash drive. It doesn’t need to be 32GB or bigger,however, all you need is a 4GB unit. The faster it is, the better.

What you need:

• Windows 7 DVD install disc or ISO image
• USB Drive (4GB+ and as fast as you can get)
• Running Windows Operating system

Plug in your USB drive in the USB port:



Before going any further, make sure you have removed any important files on your drive to a safe location, what we are about to do next is to erase the entire contents of the drive.
Insert your DVD of Windows 7 into the computer, but don’t start the normal install process.
Open your ‘My Computer’ and make a note of the drive numbers of both the USB drive and the DVD drive with Windows 7 files on it.




As you can see from the image above, the DVD drive is drive has letter D assigned and the USB drive is E.
Open the command prompt with admin rights. Type cmd in Start menu search box and hit Shift+Ctrl+Enter.
To keep things really easy, if you see text in upper case, it means this is what you type into the command prompt (you don’t need to type in upper case).




Next type

DISKPART

this loads the diskpart application we need to proceed

Then type

LIST DISK

the image above shows our 32 GB USB drive is listed as DISK 2 so you have to type

SELECT DISK 2 (your USB Drive may have a different number, don’t follow exactly this text it depends on your usb drive)

You will get a successful response “Disk 2 is now the selected disk”



Next we want to clean the USB drive

Type:

CLEAN

you will get a successful response ‘DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk”.



After the drive is cleaned follow the list in the image above (detailed below in list order) – you can also note the successful text responses from the OS as you enter each command.

SELECT DISK 2 (or what number your USB drive has)

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

SELECT PARTITION 1

ACTIVE

FORMAT FS=NTFS

Formatting can take a little time depending on the size of the drive, our 32GB unit took about 10 minutes to format - you will see a percentage readout until it is finished.



Next type:

ASSIGN

EXIT (DISK PART will exit)


Type D: CD BOOT (substitute the “D” if necessary with the letter of your Windows 7 DVD drive)

then key

CD BOOT

then

BOOTSECT.EXE /NT60 E: (substitute the “E” if necessary with the letter of your now ready USB drive) – we are telling the system to create a boot sector file on the USB drive.

Now you can exit the command prompt and copy all the files on the Windows 7 DVD to the USB drive.

Once this step is finished you’ll be ready to boot from this drive, all you need to do is configure your motherboard bios setup to boot first from USB rather than hard drive or optical drive. If you don’t know how to do this, refer to your specific motherboard manual or search the internet.

Now, Windows 7 installation should take between 40% and 60% of the time it does from the DVD disc.

Last step: Drink a cup of tea, from now on you can do this again and again

Use Your Android Phone’s Camera as a Webcam for Your PC

They used to say “a picture is worth a thousand words”, but a video? We may say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a video it’s worth more than a million. Honestly speaking, there is a huge difference between a simple call and a video call. A smile, or even a raised eyebrow in a certain context, can change the whole tone and the direction of a discussion, each gesture elucidating the “real” message. No wonder, because our communication is a non-verbal one in the proportion of 93%, and only 7% of it is represented just by words.
Sometimes it happens that we urgently need a webcam. Even if the old webcam is broken, even if we’re far from our home and we really need to video-communicate with someone , we need obviously an webcam. What should we do now? The fastest and safest solution is more obvious than we think and it’s called: the mobile phone. Yeah, you heard it well! Why should we pay a new webcam when we can use our own phone? Due to the fact that the newest mobile phones have the camera with a lot of megapixels, it’s exactly what we need. So, in the next, I will present my new step-by-step tutorial, made it in a very simple way.

What we need:

• Android mobile phone
• USB data cable
• A computer with internet connection
• Some softwares (two for the PC and one for the mobile phone)

The operating principle of this process is based on a video stream, conducted by our phone. The stream is sent to a port (4747 port) of the PC and, using a software installed in our PC, the videos are taken and forwarded to chat applications (i.e. Skype, Yahoo Messenger, MSN etc.).

The steps are very simple and if you follow exactly, in less than 5 minutes you will enjoy time using your new personal webcam. So, let’s start!

To use the phone as a webcam, we need an application called ADB. So, first download this app. It’s free and it can be found on a simple search on google, but about this application and its configuration we will talk in the following. The other PC application it’s called Dev47Apps. The last application, the one for your mobile phone, it’s called DroidCam (you may download it from Play Store).

Here is the step-by-step tutorial that will help you to use your phone as webcam:

Step1: Install the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on your PC.

Step2: Set your phone in debugging mode

(this could be possible by opening the next: Settings >> Development >> USB Debugging OR in other cases Settings >> Advanced Settings >> USB Debugging).

Step3: Turn on your phone. Make sure that you have connected the USB cable to the both mobile phone and PC.*
*(!Pay attention to the following: when you connect the cable to the PC, if the phone will ask, do not connect it in Storage mode.)

Step4: Download the Application DroidCam (Wireless Webcam) from Play Store (Android Market). Install it on the mobile phone and then start the application. After you start it, you can see a window and the next message “Starting server” on the mobile screen, as you can see on the picture below.




Step5: Download the application Dev47Apps (you may Google it, it’s a free application) and then install it on your own PC.

Step6: Open the Dev42Apps (after you install it you will discover that it has the same name – DroidCam – as the app downloaded from Play Store for your mobile phone) Client Application on your PC and then choose “Connect to Phone(USB)” option. In the field of Device IP (or Phone IP), enter the ip of your phone.



In this moment you can say that your phone works properly like a webcam for any chat application and, even more, you may use it as a security camera for your own safety if you want. In the same application, you can also configure your webcam from the Settings button. Enjoy your new personal webcam!

Don’t be a simply and regular buyer. Every time use your imagination in everything you do and try to turn the impossible into possible.

Use Your Android Phone’s Camera as a Webcam for Your PC

They used to say “a picture is worth a thousand words”, but a video? We may say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but a video it’s worth more than a million. Honestly speaking, there is a huge difference between a simple call and a video call. A smile, or even a raised eyebrow in a certain context, can change the whole tone and the direction of a discussion, each gesture elucidating the “real” message. No wonder, because our communication is a non-verbal one in the proportion of 93%, and only 7% of it is represented just by words.
Sometimes it happens that we urgently need a webcam. Even if the old webcam is broken, even if we’re far from our home and we really need to video-communicate with someone , we need obviously an webcam. What should we do now? The fastest and safest solution is more obvious than we think and it’s called: the mobile phone. Yeah, you heard it well! Why should we pay a new webcam when we can use our own phone? Due to the fact that the newest mobile phones have the camera with a lot of megapixels, it’s exactly what we need. So, in the next, I will present my new step-by-step tutorial, made it in a very simple way.

What we need:

• Android mobile phone
• USB data cable
• A computer with internet connection
• Some softwares (two for the PC and one for the mobile phone)

The operating principle of this process is based on a video stream, conducted by our phone. The stream is sent to a port (4747 port) of the PC and, using a software installed in our PC, the videos are taken and forwarded to chat applications (i.e. Skype, Yahoo Messenger, MSN etc.).

The steps are very simple and if you follow exactly, in less than 5 minutes you will enjoy time using your new personal webcam. So, let’s start!

To use the phone as a webcam, we need an application called ADB. So, first download this app. It’s free and it can be found on a simple search on google, but about this application and its configuration we will talk in the following. The other PC application it’s called Dev47Apps. The last application, the one for your mobile phone, it’s called DroidCam (you may download it from Play Store).

Here is the step-by-step tutorial that will help you to use your phone as webcam:

Step1: Install the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) on your PC.

Step2: Set your phone in debugging mode

(this could be possible by opening the next: Settings >> Development >> USB Debugging OR in other cases Settings >> Advanced Settings >> USB Debugging).

Step3: Turn on your phone. Make sure that you have connected the USB cable to the both mobile phone and PC.*
*(!Pay attention to the following: when you connect the cable to the PC, if the phone will ask, do not connect it in Storage mode.)

Step4: Download the Application DroidCam (Wireless Webcam) from Play Store (Android Market). Install it on the mobile phone and then start the application. After you start it, you can see a window and the next message “Starting server” on the mobile screen, as you can see on the picture below.




Step5: Download the application Dev47Apps (you may Google it, it’s a free application) and then install it on your own PC.

Step6: Open the Dev42Apps (after you install it you will discover that it has the same name – DroidCam – as the app downloaded from Play Store for your mobile phone) Client Application on your PC and then choose “Connect to Phone(USB)” option. In the field of Device IP (or Phone IP), enter the ip of your phone.



In this moment you can say that your phone works properly like a webcam for any chat application and, even more, you may use it as a security camera for your own safety if you want. In the same application, you can also configure your webcam from the Settings button. Enjoy your new personal webcam!

Don’t be a simply and regular buyer. Every time use your imagination in everything you do and try to turn the impossible into possible.

How to Make a Bootable USB Disk for Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP

Creating a usb pendrive using command prompt is not hard, it is one of the most common ways to create a bootable usb.

This method does not work if your operating sistem is windows xp or windows 8 , you cannot select the primary partition in comand prompt.

You just need to follow these simple steps:

First step is to obtain the windows files from somewhere and save them to a folder in your pc. You can rip a windows dvd , or if you have the iso image file you can open it with magic disc or daemon tools or even winrar , and you need to copy the whole content to a folder anywhere in your pc , you just need to make sure you know where it is located.

Make sure your usb stick is inserted, go to start search cmd , right click the file and select run as administrator. The command prompt will appear, now you need to write the following comands:
diskpart→list disk→select disk 1(chose the usb device, you will recognize it by its size)→clean(this will erase the usb)→create partition primary→select partition 1→active→format fs=ntfs(this will format the usb drive and will take 10-15 minutes)→



After the format is done you have to continue writting in command promt : →assign(now you will notice that the USB drive changed its letter to (H): or (G))→exit(this command will exit the disk part function)
Now you have to write the path to the executable file in your windows saved folder , make sure that in your windows folder you have the boot folder with the bootsect executable file.



In my case the command goes like this: E:→cd win 7 sp1→

→cd boot→bootsect.exe/nt60 h:(h is the letter of the USB drive ,this command will update the boot core)→exit (this will exit command prompt).




Now you have to copy all the files in the windows folder to your usb drive.

 
ALL DONE. You can now restart your PC and boot from the USB hard drive.

How to Make a Bootable USB Disk for Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows XP

Creating a usb pendrive using command prompt is not hard, it is one of the most common ways to create a bootable usb.

This method does not work if your operating sistem is windows xp or windows 8 , you cannot select the primary partition in comand prompt.

You just need to follow these simple steps:

First step is to obtain the windows files from somewhere and save them to a folder in your pc. You can rip a windows dvd , or if you have the iso image file you can open it with magic disc or daemon tools or even winrar , and you need to copy the whole content to a folder anywhere in your pc , you just need to make sure you know where it is located.

Make sure your usb stick is inserted, go to start search cmd , right click the file and select run as administrator. The command prompt will appear, now you need to write the following comands:
diskpart→list disk→select disk 1(chose the usb device, you will recognize it by its size)→clean(this will erase the usb)→create partition primary→select partition 1→active→format fs=ntfs(this will format the usb drive and will take 10-15 minutes)→



After the format is done you have to continue writting in command promt : →assign(now you will notice that the USB drive changed its letter to (H): or (G))→exit(this command will exit the disk part function)
Now you have to write the path to the executable file in your windows saved folder , make sure that in your windows folder you have the boot folder with the bootsect executable file.



In my case the command goes like this: E:→cd win 7 sp1→

→cd boot→bootsect.exe/nt60 h:(h is the letter of the USB drive ,this command will update the boot core)→exit (this will exit command prompt).




Now you have to copy all the files in the windows folder to your usb drive.

 
ALL DONE. You can now restart your PC and boot from the USB hard drive.

TCS Announces 100% Bonus for Employees, Says No Truth in Layoffs

TCS chief N. Chandrasekaran on Thursday put the record straight about layoff rumours. TCS is in high growth mode and hired significantly, said Mr Chandrasekaran, adding that there is no truth to rumours about layoffs.

He also announced 100 per cent variable allowance payout for employees. Its rival Infosys had earlier also announced 100 per cent variable bonus payout for its employees. Another IT outsourcer HCL Tech recently decided to reward 130 top performing employees with Mercedes cars or all-expenses-paid foreign holidays, a top official of the company told NDTV.

At the third-quarter earnings press conference, Mr Chandrasekaran said that TCS saw gross employee addition of 16,561 in Q3, taking its total headcount to 3,18,625.

"Based on our progress this quarter, we are well on our way to post industry-leading growth for FY15," Mr Chandrasekaran said.

TCS global HR head Ajoy Mukherjee said the IT company expects to exceed this fiscal year's hiring target. Though he did not disclose the new hiring target, he said that TCS so far in 2014-15 has hired over 52,000 personnel.

TCS earlier this week clarified said it has "not initiated, and is not planning to initiate, any large scale exits of any section of its staff in any part of the organisation".

India's biggest outsourcer had been in the news earlier for allegedly laying off a large number of employees. TCS maintained that only "non-performers" have been asked to leave and the lay-offs at TCS are no more in number than in the last few years.

India's biggest IT outsourcer TCS reported 1.6 per cent sequential growth in its net profit to Rs 5,328 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, according to Indian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (IGAAP) standards. This was in line with the Street estimates. TCS revenue in the quarter came in at Rs 24,501 crore, up 2.87 per cent sequentially.

TCS Announces 100% Bonus for Employees, Says No Truth in Layoffs

TCS chief N. Chandrasekaran on Thursday put the record straight about layoff rumours. TCS is in high growth mode and hired significantly, said Mr Chandrasekaran, adding that there is no truth to rumours about layoffs.

He also announced 100 per cent variable allowance payout for employees. Its rival Infosys had earlier also announced 100 per cent variable bonus payout for its employees. Another IT outsourcer HCL Tech recently decided to reward 130 top performing employees with Mercedes cars or all-expenses-paid foreign holidays, a top official of the company told NDTV.

At the third-quarter earnings press conference, Mr Chandrasekaran said that TCS saw gross employee addition of 16,561 in Q3, taking its total headcount to 3,18,625.

"Based on our progress this quarter, we are well on our way to post industry-leading growth for FY15," Mr Chandrasekaran said.

TCS global HR head Ajoy Mukherjee said the IT company expects to exceed this fiscal year's hiring target. Though he did not disclose the new hiring target, he said that TCS so far in 2014-15 has hired over 52,000 personnel.

TCS earlier this week clarified said it has "not initiated, and is not planning to initiate, any large scale exits of any section of its staff in any part of the organisation".

India's biggest outsourcer had been in the news earlier for allegedly laying off a large number of employees. TCS maintained that only "non-performers" have been asked to leave and the lay-offs at TCS are no more in number than in the last few years.

India's biggest IT outsourcer TCS reported 1.6 per cent sequential growth in its net profit to Rs 5,328 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, according to Indian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (IGAAP) standards. This was in line with the Street estimates. TCS revenue in the quarter came in at Rs 24,501 crore, up 2.87 per cent sequentially.

Komban - First Look Trailer | Karthi, Lakshmi Menon

Komban - First Look Trailer | Karthi, Lakshmi Menon

Abhishek buys Rs 41 crore flat, joins stars’ rush for prime real estate

Real estate has always been the preferred choice for Bollywood biggies to invest their big bucks in. In a recent high-value transaction, actor Abhishek Bachchan booked a luxury apartment in an upcoming Worli project for Rs 41.14 crore.

The rate works out to Rs 1.06 lakh a sq ft for the 3,875 sq ft flat. The apartment is on the 37th floor of Skylark Towers in the prime Annie Besant Road area of Worli. The five-bedroom house includes a family room, dining and living rooms, wet and dry kitchens and 20 feet terraces on all sides. This is one of the few projects in the city where authorities have sanctioned such unusually large terraces.

Skylark comprises two wings, each 67 floors high. They are built by Oasis Realty, a joint venture between developer Vikas Oberoi and dance bar owner-turned-realtor Sudhakar Shetty. Documents made available to this newspaper show that the stamp duty amount for Abhishek's apartment itself works out to Rs 2.05 crore. A separate club house membership fee of Rs 25 lakh and development charges of Rs 35 lakh are also part of the sale agreement.

Many others in the film industry, like actor Hrithik Roshan and his father Rakesh, are also big investors in property. Last year, they pumped in Rs 70 crore to develop a plot off Andheri Link Road. The 3,000 sq m plot near Infiniti mall will be used to build a 26-storey high-end residential tower in a joint venture with a local developer.

About a year ago, Hrithik moved into a 3,600 sq ft apartment in Prime Beach building near the Hare Krishna temple at Juhu. He has taken the flat on leave and licence and is paying a monthly rent of Rs 6.5 lakh. Akshay Kumar also has a flat in Prime Beach.

In July last, actor Shahid Kapoor paid Rs 30 crore for a sprawling apartment with a garden in Pranita building on Juhu Tara Road. Actor Vidya Balan too has a flat in this building, reportedly purchased for a similar amount.

Actor Emran Hashmi is believed to have shelled out Rs 15 crore for an apartment on Pali Hill a year ago. Saif Ali Khan and wife Kareena bought a penthouse for Rs 23.50 crore in Satguru Sharan building in Khar (West) two years ago.



Last year, actor Aamir Khan was embroiled in a controversy with some members of a Pali Hill housing society. He had offered to redevelop the society and use part of the property to build his bungalow. However, a mother-daughter duo opposed the plan and the actor then withdrew the offer.

Some stars are also believed to have pumped money into slum rehabilitation projects in the western suburbs.

A building industry source said film personalities prefer to pay by cheque. "There is no cash component at all, unlike the earlier days," he said.

Property market and film industry sources said film celebrities invest in residential and commercial projects or buy sprawling penthouses, row houses and bungalows for personal use. The preferred locations are in the suburbs between Bandra and Andheri.

In an interview to this newspaper in 2011, actor John Abraham had said, "I am very passionate about land. It is better than investing in the stock market. Even if there is a correction in land prices, the maximum it goes down is by about 20-30%."

John owns two buildings in Bandra and Khar. He bought a plot opposite Petit Girls High School at Union Park for Rs 22 crore in mid-2009.

Abhishek buys Rs 41 crore flat, joins stars’ rush for prime real estate

Real estate has always been the preferred choice for Bollywood biggies to invest their big bucks in. In a recent high-value transaction, actor Abhishek Bachchan booked a luxury apartment in an upcoming Worli project for Rs 41.14 crore.

The rate works out to Rs 1.06 lakh a sq ft for the 3,875 sq ft flat. The apartment is on the 37th floor of Skylark Towers in the prime Annie Besant Road area of Worli. The five-bedroom house includes a family room, dining and living rooms, wet and dry kitchens and 20 feet terraces on all sides. This is one of the few projects in the city where authorities have sanctioned such unusually large terraces.

Skylark comprises two wings, each 67 floors high. They are built by Oasis Realty, a joint venture between developer Vikas Oberoi and dance bar owner-turned-realtor Sudhakar Shetty. Documents made available to this newspaper show that the stamp duty amount for Abhishek's apartment itself works out to Rs 2.05 crore. A separate club house membership fee of Rs 25 lakh and development charges of Rs 35 lakh are also part of the sale agreement.

Many others in the film industry, like actor Hrithik Roshan and his father Rakesh, are also big investors in property. Last year, they pumped in Rs 70 crore to develop a plot off Andheri Link Road. The 3,000 sq m plot near Infiniti mall will be used to build a 26-storey high-end residential tower in a joint venture with a local developer.

About a year ago, Hrithik moved into a 3,600 sq ft apartment in Prime Beach building near the Hare Krishna temple at Juhu. He has taken the flat on leave and licence and is paying a monthly rent of Rs 6.5 lakh. Akshay Kumar also has a flat in Prime Beach.

In July last, actor Shahid Kapoor paid Rs 30 crore for a sprawling apartment with a garden in Pranita building on Juhu Tara Road. Actor Vidya Balan too has a flat in this building, reportedly purchased for a similar amount.

Actor Emran Hashmi is believed to have shelled out Rs 15 crore for an apartment on Pali Hill a year ago. Saif Ali Khan and wife Kareena bought a penthouse for Rs 23.50 crore in Satguru Sharan building in Khar (West) two years ago.



Last year, actor Aamir Khan was embroiled in a controversy with some members of a Pali Hill housing society. He had offered to redevelop the society and use part of the property to build his bungalow. However, a mother-daughter duo opposed the plan and the actor then withdrew the offer.

Some stars are also believed to have pumped money into slum rehabilitation projects in the western suburbs.

A building industry source said film personalities prefer to pay by cheque. "There is no cash component at all, unlike the earlier days," he said.

Property market and film industry sources said film celebrities invest in residential and commercial projects or buy sprawling penthouses, row houses and bungalows for personal use. The preferred locations are in the suburbs between Bandra and Andheri.

In an interview to this newspaper in 2011, actor John Abraham had said, "I am very passionate about land. It is better than investing in the stock market. Even if there is a correction in land prices, the maximum it goes down is by about 20-30%."

John owns two buildings in Bandra and Khar. He bought a plot opposite Petit Girls High School at Union Park for Rs 22 crore in mid-2009.

Home, consumer loans to cost less as RBI cuts rates after 2 years

In a festival gift to borrowers, Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan cut key interest rates — for the first time in almost two years — by 25 basis points about a fortnight ahead of the monetary policy review on February 3. Home and consumer loan rates are set to fall, as is the cost of capital for doing business.

The RBI had been under growing pressure from industry and reportedly the government to lower rates in the hope that it would stimulate growth. There had been speculation in the media that the finance ministry was unhappy with Rajan for being too focused on keeping inflation in check, and ignoring the need to get the economy back on track.

Banks have responded to the mid-term move by bringing down lending and deposit rates and are forecasting more rate cuts in coming months.

Government-owned United Bank of India and Union Bank of India were the first off the block, nipping the base rate by 25 basis points to 10%. The base rate is the benchmark rate set by every bank to which the pricing of all its floating rate loans is linked.

Other large lenders are expected to follow suit. State Bank of India chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said that a cut in rates was on the bank's horizon and there was some preparedness to do so but the timing would be decided by the asset-liability committee. HDFC vice chairman and CEO Keki Mistry said lenders were expected to pass on benefits of lower interest rates to customers by February.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who had been making a case for lower interest rates, said the move would provide a fillip to the economy directly by increasing the private sector's ability and willingness to spend. "It should also help indirectly by improving the balance sheet of the corporate sector and banks, facilitating an increase in the demand and supply of credit," said a statement from the FM. While the lower inflation numbers and drop in international crude prices have worked in favour of a rate cut, what appears to have emboldened RBI to go in for a mid-term move is the sharp fall in inflation expectation in RBI's household survey.

The RBI decision came as a surprise although Rajan had indicated in the last policy review in December that he would be open to reducing rates early-2015 even "outside the policy review cycle if the current inflation momentum and changes in inflation expectations continued". Extending his wishes to the people on Thursday on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Uttarayana, Rajan said, "Inflation outcomes have fallen significantly below the 8% targeted by January 2015. On current policy settings, inflation is likely to be below 6% by January 2016. These developments have provided headroom for a shift in the monetary policy stance". According to data released by the government, retail price increase as measured by the consumer price index was 5.2% in December -- much below RBI's best case scenario as forecast in its monetary policy.

Market dealers said another trigger for the RBI decision might have been the release of the US Fed's 'Beige Book' Wednesday night showing some slowdown in growth in oil-producing areas in the country, an effect of the recent crash in crude oil prices. It also revealed little pressure on wages or prices to rise. All these indicated that rates in the US may not rise as quickly as expected now.

Following Thursday's move the repo rate - the rate at which RBI provides overnight funds to banks — stands reduced to 7.75% from 8% earlier. The reverse repo rate (the rate at which it borrows funds from banks) is down to 6.75%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate (an emergency funding window) and the Bank Rate are revised to 8.75% with immediate effect. "Today's repo rate cut gives an indication of downward bias towards rates. The banks have already started reducing rates of interest on deposits, which will eventually bring down the cost of funds, prompting banks to cut lending rates," said TM Bhasin, chairman, Indian Bank and chief of the Indian Banks Association.

The immediate direct impact of the rate cut on corporate and bank balance sheets would be limited. But the indirect benefits are substantial. The improved market sentiments, which led to a 728 point gain in the BSE Sensex, should improve prospects for capital raising by corporates and also bolster the government's disinvestment plans. The rate cut pushed the benchmark 10-year bond yield to 7.65% - its lowest level since July 15. A drop in yields results in a rise in bond prices and the write-back of depreciation will help banks improve their capital position.

Home, consumer loans to cost less as RBI cuts rates after 2 years

In a festival gift to borrowers, Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan cut key interest rates — for the first time in almost two years — by 25 basis points about a fortnight ahead of the monetary policy review on February 3. Home and consumer loan rates are set to fall, as is the cost of capital for doing business.

The RBI had been under growing pressure from industry and reportedly the government to lower rates in the hope that it would stimulate growth. There had been speculation in the media that the finance ministry was unhappy with Rajan for being too focused on keeping inflation in check, and ignoring the need to get the economy back on track.

Banks have responded to the mid-term move by bringing down lending and deposit rates and are forecasting more rate cuts in coming months.

Government-owned United Bank of India and Union Bank of India were the first off the block, nipping the base rate by 25 basis points to 10%. The base rate is the benchmark rate set by every bank to which the pricing of all its floating rate loans is linked.

Other large lenders are expected to follow suit. State Bank of India chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said that a cut in rates was on the bank's horizon and there was some preparedness to do so but the timing would be decided by the asset-liability committee. HDFC vice chairman and CEO Keki Mistry said lenders were expected to pass on benefits of lower interest rates to customers by February.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who had been making a case for lower interest rates, said the move would provide a fillip to the economy directly by increasing the private sector's ability and willingness to spend. "It should also help indirectly by improving the balance sheet of the corporate sector and banks, facilitating an increase in the demand and supply of credit," said a statement from the FM. While the lower inflation numbers and drop in international crude prices have worked in favour of a rate cut, what appears to have emboldened RBI to go in for a mid-term move is the sharp fall in inflation expectation in RBI's household survey.

The RBI decision came as a surprise although Rajan had indicated in the last policy review in December that he would be open to reducing rates early-2015 even "outside the policy review cycle if the current inflation momentum and changes in inflation expectations continued". Extending his wishes to the people on Thursday on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Pongal and Uttarayana, Rajan said, "Inflation outcomes have fallen significantly below the 8% targeted by January 2015. On current policy settings, inflation is likely to be below 6% by January 2016. These developments have provided headroom for a shift in the monetary policy stance". According to data released by the government, retail price increase as measured by the consumer price index was 5.2% in December -- much below RBI's best case scenario as forecast in its monetary policy.

Market dealers said another trigger for the RBI decision might have been the release of the US Fed's 'Beige Book' Wednesday night showing some slowdown in growth in oil-producing areas in the country, an effect of the recent crash in crude oil prices. It also revealed little pressure on wages or prices to rise. All these indicated that rates in the US may not rise as quickly as expected now.

Following Thursday's move the repo rate - the rate at which RBI provides overnight funds to banks — stands reduced to 7.75% from 8% earlier. The reverse repo rate (the rate at which it borrows funds from banks) is down to 6.75%, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate (an emergency funding window) and the Bank Rate are revised to 8.75% with immediate effect. "Today's repo rate cut gives an indication of downward bias towards rates. The banks have already started reducing rates of interest on deposits, which will eventually bring down the cost of funds, prompting banks to cut lending rates," said TM Bhasin, chairman, Indian Bank and chief of the Indian Banks Association.

The immediate direct impact of the rate cut on corporate and bank balance sheets would be limited. But the indirect benefits are substantial. The improved market sentiments, which led to a 728 point gain in the BSE Sensex, should improve prospects for capital raising by corporates and also bolster the government's disinvestment plans. The rate cut pushed the benchmark 10-year bond yield to 7.65% - its lowest level since July 15. A drop in yields results in a rise in bond prices and the write-back of depreciation will help banks improve their capital position.

Xiaomi announces its new flagship smartphone, the Mi Note

The company’s latest dual-SIM 4G device is encased in curved Gorilla Glass 3 at the front and rear with a metal frame, and sports a 5.7-inch 1080p display with a 4-megapixel front camera in the front. On the back is a Sony 13-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera with optical image stabilization.

The Mi Note is powered by a Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz quad-core processor along with an Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB RAM. It also allows for high definition 24-bit/192KHz loss less audio playback, and supports APE, FLAC, DSD and WAV loss less formats.

The device features a 3,000mAh Quick Charge 2.0 capable battery, weighs in at 161g and costs about $370 (2,299 Yuan) for the 16GB version, and about $450 (2,799 Yuan) for the 64GB version.



The Mi Note will be available in Q2.

A more powerful version, dubbed the Mi Note Pro, is also coming soon. Its Snapdragon 810 64 bit 8-core processor and Adreno 430 GPU make for snappier performance and better graphics capabilities than the original. The Mi Note Pro also has more internal storage and support for the fastest CAT 9 LTE download speeds, up to 450Mbps.

This device also has a 5.7-inch screen, but has a sharper 2K display (2560 x 1440 pixels at 515 PPI).

The Mi Note Pro is priced at about $530 (3,299 Yuan), but availability has not been announced yet.



And finally, there’s the Mi Box Mini, a small TV set-top box that’s about the size of a power adapter. It runs on Android to stream content and packs a Cortex-A7 quad-core 1.3GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB Flash memory and dual-band Wi-Fi, and outputs a 1080p signal along with support for Dolby DTS audio via HDMI.



The Mi Box Mini comes with a Bluetooth remote and will be available at roughly $30 (199 Yuan).

Xiaomi announces its new flagship smartphone, the Mi Note

The company’s latest dual-SIM 4G device is encased in curved Gorilla Glass 3 at the front and rear with a metal frame, and sports a 5.7-inch 1080p display with a 4-megapixel front camera in the front. On the back is a Sony 13-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera with optical image stabilization.

The Mi Note is powered by a Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz quad-core processor along with an Adreno 330 GPU and 3GB RAM. It also allows for high definition 24-bit/192KHz loss less audio playback, and supports APE, FLAC, DSD and WAV loss less formats.

The device features a 3,000mAh Quick Charge 2.0 capable battery, weighs in at 161g and costs about $370 (2,299 Yuan) for the 16GB version, and about $450 (2,799 Yuan) for the 64GB version.



The Mi Note will be available in Q2.

A more powerful version, dubbed the Mi Note Pro, is also coming soon. Its Snapdragon 810 64 bit 8-core processor and Adreno 430 GPU make for snappier performance and better graphics capabilities than the original. The Mi Note Pro also has more internal storage and support for the fastest CAT 9 LTE download speeds, up to 450Mbps.

This device also has a 5.7-inch screen, but has a sharper 2K display (2560 x 1440 pixels at 515 PPI).

The Mi Note Pro is priced at about $530 (3,299 Yuan), but availability has not been announced yet.



And finally, there’s the Mi Box Mini, a small TV set-top box that’s about the size of a power adapter. It runs on Android to stream content and packs a Cortex-A7 quad-core 1.3GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 4GB Flash memory and dual-band Wi-Fi, and outputs a 1080p signal along with support for Dolby DTS audio via HDMI.



The Mi Box Mini comes with a Bluetooth remote and will be available at roughly $30 (199 Yuan).

102 bodies found floating in Ganges River in India Jan 2015

Authorities were investigating Wednesday how more than 100 bodies, many of them children, ended up floating in an offshoot of the Ganges River in northern India.

Officials do not suspect a crime, and instead believe the dead were given water burials. It is Indian custom not to cremate unwed girls, and many poor people cannot afford cremation.

The 102 bodies found floating near the village of Pariyar in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh were too badly decomposed for autopsies or identification, District Magistrate Saumya Agarwal said. DNA testing is being done to determine where the bodies might have come from.

"Once we will complete all the legal formalities, these bodies will be buried to avoid spread of diseases," Sub-Divisional Magistrate Saryua Shukla said.

Officials were questioning how so many bodies could be discovered at the same time. While it is illegal to dispose of the dead in rivers, some practicing Hindus believe that giving an unwed girl a water burial will ensure she is born again into the family. Poverty also drives people to conduct water burials to avoid the cost of cremation, which at a minimum of about $40 is far above a poor person's monthly wage.

Villagers first noticed the bodies on Tuesday, when many had become stuck on a river bank with dogs and vultures circling the area. The narrow river breaks off from the Ganges just before passing Pariyar, about 17 miles from the state capital of Lucknow.

"It seems these were in water for very long," police officer Ram Chander Sahu said.

102 bodies found floating in Ganges River in India Jan 2015

Authorities were investigating Wednesday how more than 100 bodies, many of them children, ended up floating in an offshoot of the Ganges River in northern India.

Officials do not suspect a crime, and instead believe the dead were given water burials. It is Indian custom not to cremate unwed girls, and many poor people cannot afford cremation.

The 102 bodies found floating near the village of Pariyar in the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh were too badly decomposed for autopsies or identification, District Magistrate Saumya Agarwal said. DNA testing is being done to determine where the bodies might have come from.

"Once we will complete all the legal formalities, these bodies will be buried to avoid spread of diseases," Sub-Divisional Magistrate Saryua Shukla said.

Officials were questioning how so many bodies could be discovered at the same time. While it is illegal to dispose of the dead in rivers, some practicing Hindus believe that giving an unwed girl a water burial will ensure she is born again into the family. Poverty also drives people to conduct water burials to avoid the cost of cremation, which at a minimum of about $40 is far above a poor person's monthly wage.

Villagers first noticed the bodies on Tuesday, when many had become stuck on a river bank with dogs and vultures circling the area. The narrow river breaks off from the Ganges just before passing Pariyar, about 17 miles from the state capital of Lucknow.

"It seems these were in water for very long," police officer Ram Chander Sahu said.

High Court restrains TCS from retrenching its analyst

The Madras High Court today restrained software major TCS from retrenching its analyst who has been issued termination order by the company.

Amid reports that TCS planned to retrench 25,000 engineers, Rekha was issued termination orders on December 22, last year. She was informed that she would be relieved from duty on January 21, 2015.

She moved the High Court contending that the retrenchment move was illegal and in gross violation of Industrial Disputes Act-1947.

Admitting her petition, Justice M Duraiswamy granted interim injunction restraining the company from retrenching her.

In her petition, Rekha said she joined TCS in Chennai in March 2011 as IT analyst. She is a ‘workman’ within the meaning of Section 2(s) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, as her main duties and responsibilities are technical and clerical in nature.

Her job involves receiving and collating information about software/application to be developed, analysing requirements and designing and developing appropriate software or application based on client company’s needs.

Noting that she was honest, sincere and a dedicated worker and that her performance had always been very good, she said she had been given the rating ‘C’ thrice during her service in TCS.

She submitted that the company had taken an “unfair decision” to terminate the services of 25,000 workers holding designation of Assistant Consultant and above and to recruit 55,000 persons, predominately freshers on the basis of campus interviews and other less experienced persons with a view to cutting costs.

As per Section 25 of the Industrial Disputes Act, the principle is “last come first go”. TCS has not published any seniority list as required under the Rules framed under the Act.

TCS does not propose to pay 15 days of wages for every completed year of service as compensation which too is mandatory under the Act, she submitted.

High Court restrains TCS from retrenching its analyst

The Madras High Court today restrained software major TCS from retrenching its analyst who has been issued termination order by the company.

Amid reports that TCS planned to retrench 25,000 engineers, Rekha was issued termination orders on December 22, last year. She was informed that she would be relieved from duty on January 21, 2015.

She moved the High Court contending that the retrenchment move was illegal and in gross violation of Industrial Disputes Act-1947.

Admitting her petition, Justice M Duraiswamy granted interim injunction restraining the company from retrenching her.

In her petition, Rekha said she joined TCS in Chennai in March 2011 as IT analyst. She is a ‘workman’ within the meaning of Section 2(s) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, as her main duties and responsibilities are technical and clerical in nature.

Her job involves receiving and collating information about software/application to be developed, analysing requirements and designing and developing appropriate software or application based on client company’s needs.

Noting that she was honest, sincere and a dedicated worker and that her performance had always been very good, she said she had been given the rating ‘C’ thrice during her service in TCS.

She submitted that the company had taken an “unfair decision” to terminate the services of 25,000 workers holding designation of Assistant Consultant and above and to recruit 55,000 persons, predominately freshers on the basis of campus interviews and other less experienced persons with a view to cutting costs.

As per Section 25 of the Industrial Disputes Act, the principle is “last come first go”. TCS has not published any seniority list as required under the Rules framed under the Act.

TCS does not propose to pay 15 days of wages for every completed year of service as compensation which too is mandatory under the Act, she submitted.

The Most Effective Natural Remedy for a Runny Nose

A runny nose is not a painful ordeal, but it is certainly annoying. Especially if it lasts for several days. The end result – a red scabby embarrassing looking nose that might keep you inside for a while. To avoid the discomfort and embarrassment, here is a natural and effective remedy for a runny nose. It is so effective that it is almost miraculous. The best part – there are no side effects.

The Most Effective Remedy for a Runny Nose

1 tsp raw organic honey (here)

1/2 tsp crushed garlic

1/2 tsp crushed ginger

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

chamomile tea (here)

Directions

Prepare a cup of camomile tea and add all the above ingredients. Chamomile has the ability to strengthen the immune system due to its antibacterial properties. Ginger increases blood circulation by warming up the body and thus, clearing up mucus. Garlic has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. Inhaling the vapors of garlic can clean your lungs and bronchi. Garlic also acts as an expectorant, which helps move mucus and makes coughs more productive. Finally, cinnamon possesses properties that can help treat cold symptoms such as nasal congestion and inflamed tissues.

This tea mixture works for me every time I take it. Your runny nose should go away the next day.

The Most Effective Natural Remedy for a Runny Nose

A runny nose is not a painful ordeal, but it is certainly annoying. Especially if it lasts for several days. The end result – a red scabby embarrassing looking nose that might keep you inside for a while. To avoid the discomfort and embarrassment, here is a natural and effective remedy for a runny nose. It is so effective that it is almost miraculous. The best part – there are no side effects.

The Most Effective Remedy for a Runny Nose

1 tsp raw organic honey (here)

1/2 tsp crushed garlic

1/2 tsp crushed ginger

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

chamomile tea (here)

Directions

Prepare a cup of camomile tea and add all the above ingredients. Chamomile has the ability to strengthen the immune system due to its antibacterial properties. Ginger increases blood circulation by warming up the body and thus, clearing up mucus. Garlic has a beneficial effect on the respiratory system. Inhaling the vapors of garlic can clean your lungs and bronchi. Garlic also acts as an expectorant, which helps move mucus and makes coughs more productive. Finally, cinnamon possesses properties that can help treat cold symptoms such as nasal congestion and inflamed tissues.

This tea mixture works for me every time I take it. Your runny nose should go away the next day.

Scientists Discover why Honey is the Best Natural Antibiotic

Honey has been used for centuries for its antibiotic properties. Science finally confirmed the anti-bacterial abilities of honey. Antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties of honey alone make it more powerful than conventional antibiotics. Honey contains a protein made by the bees called defensin-1. It is the active germ-killing ingredient in honey.

Applied topically. honey can kill a wide range of pathogens such as MRSA and flesh eating bacteria. It was also found that the treated bacteria did not build up any resistance like conventional antibiotics. The effectiveness of honey lies in its ability to fight infection on multiple levels, making it hard for bacteria to develop resistance. According to Susan M. Meschwitz, Ph.D., honey utilizes a combination of fighting methods such as an osmotic effect. This effect originates from honey’s high sugar concentration. In this process, water is drawn from the bacteria cells, leaving the pathogens no choice but to dehydrate and die off.
According to biochemist Peter Molan, who studied extensively natural antibiotics such as honey for 25 years, manuka honey is effective at killing even the most antibiotic resistant bacteria even when it has been diluted to a tenth of its original concentration. He states,

“There’s more evidence, clinical evidence, by far for honey in wound treatment than for any of the pharmaceutical products. ”

Manuka Health MGO 250+ Manuka Honey (15+) 250gm

Honey is packed with probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B2 or riboflavin B3 or nicotinic acid, B5 called pantothenic acid, vitamin C, biotin and rutine. Honey also contains many minerals: including calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, iodine, and zinc.

Honey is so powerful and effective at destroying bacteria that it should be the first choice of treatment when treating a bacterial illness.

But make sure to buy raw honey, organic because the heating during manufacturing destroys nutrients and enzymes. Additionally, locally grown raw honey from the area you live is more beneficial as it possesses the immune stimulating properties needed for your body to adapt to its environment.


Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com

Scientists Discover why Honey is the Best Natural Antibiotic

Honey has been used for centuries for its antibiotic properties. Science finally confirmed the anti-bacterial abilities of honey. Antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties of honey alone make it more powerful than conventional antibiotics. Honey contains a protein made by the bees called defensin-1. It is the active germ-killing ingredient in honey.

Applied topically. honey can kill a wide range of pathogens such as MRSA and flesh eating bacteria. It was also found that the treated bacteria did not build up any resistance like conventional antibiotics. The effectiveness of honey lies in its ability to fight infection on multiple levels, making it hard for bacteria to develop resistance. According to Susan M. Meschwitz, Ph.D., honey utilizes a combination of fighting methods such as an osmotic effect. This effect originates from honey’s high sugar concentration. In this process, water is drawn from the bacteria cells, leaving the pathogens no choice but to dehydrate and die off.
According to biochemist Peter Molan, who studied extensively natural antibiotics such as honey for 25 years, manuka honey is effective at killing even the most antibiotic resistant bacteria even when it has been diluted to a tenth of its original concentration. He states,

“There’s more evidence, clinical evidence, by far for honey in wound treatment than for any of the pharmaceutical products. ”

Manuka Health MGO 250+ Manuka Honey (15+) 250gm

Honey is packed with probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B2 or riboflavin B3 or nicotinic acid, B5 called pantothenic acid, vitamin C, biotin and rutine. Honey also contains many minerals: including calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, iodine, and zinc.

Honey is so powerful and effective at destroying bacteria that it should be the first choice of treatment when treating a bacterial illness.

But make sure to buy raw honey, organic because the heating during manufacturing destroys nutrients and enzymes. Additionally, locally grown raw honey from the area you live is more beneficial as it possesses the immune stimulating properties needed for your body to adapt to its environment.


Reference:
http://www.sciencedaily.com