A computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions.
The first devices that resemble modern computers date to the mid-20th century (around 1940 - 1945), although the computer concept and various machines similar to computers existed earlier. Early electronic computers were the size of a large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers.[1] Modern computers are based on tiny integrated circuits and are millions to billions of times more capable while occupying a fraction of the space.[2] Today, simple computers may be made small enough to fit into a wristwatch and be powered from a watch battery. Personal computers, in various forms, are icons of the Information Age and are what most people think of as "a computer"; however, the most common form of computer in use today is the embedded computer. Embedded computers are small, simple devices that are used to control other devices — for example, they may be found in machines ranging from fighter aircraft to industrial robots, digital cameras, and children's toys.
The ability to store and execute lists of instructions called programs makes computers extremely versatile and distinguishes them from calculators. The Church–Turing thesis is a mathematical statement of this versatility: any computer with a certain minimum capability is, in principle, capable of performing the same tasks that any other computer can perform. Therefore, computers with capability and complexity ranging from that of a personal digital assistant to a supercomputer are all able to perform the same computational tasks given enough time and storage capacity.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Dabur gets aggressive on juices campaign; hires Lowe
New Delhi, June 29 (PTI) Homegrown FMCG major Dabur is
embarking on an aggressive campaign for its fruit juices
riding on the health plank.
The company, whose 'Real' and 'Active' juices account for
13 per cent of sales in its consumer care division, is aiming
for more and is focusing on differentiating between fruit
juice and fruit drink and highlighting health benefits.
Dabur has hired international advertising agency Lowe for
its '8 times more' campaign to promote Real juices as healthy
and nutritious fruit juice.
"Lots of players in the market are selling fruit drinks
under the garb of fruit juices. Being the leader in the
market, its our responsibility to educate the consumer about
the difference between a fruit juice and a fruit drink and
whats truly healthy for them," Dabur India General Manager -
Marketing (Foods), K K Chutani told PTI.
This campaign would focus on the Real brand and the
company could come out with a plan for their Active brand in
next 15 days, he added.
Dabur has adopted a 360 degree approach towards the
campaign, which includes print and electronic media campaigns
and also heavy outdoor activity through branding on buses,
mall activations and consumer events at modern trade outlets
across the country.
"We see a good double digit growth this fiscal, in this
segment," Chutani said.
Currently Dabur competes with fruit drinks like 'Maaza',
'Frooti', 'Minute Maid' (pulpy).
embarking on an aggressive campaign for its fruit juices
riding on the health plank.
The company, whose 'Real' and 'Active' juices account for
13 per cent of sales in its consumer care division, is aiming
for more and is focusing on differentiating between fruit
juice and fruit drink and highlighting health benefits.
Dabur has hired international advertising agency Lowe for
its '8 times more' campaign to promote Real juices as healthy
and nutritious fruit juice.
"Lots of players in the market are selling fruit drinks
under the garb of fruit juices. Being the leader in the
market, its our responsibility to educate the consumer about
the difference between a fruit juice and a fruit drink and
whats truly healthy for them," Dabur India General Manager -
Marketing (Foods), K K Chutani told PTI.
This campaign would focus on the Real brand and the
company could come out with a plan for their Active brand in
next 15 days, he added.
Dabur has adopted a 360 degree approach towards the
campaign, which includes print and electronic media campaigns
and also heavy outdoor activity through branding on buses,
mall activations and consumer events at modern trade outlets
across the country.
"We see a good double digit growth this fiscal, in this
segment," Chutani said.
Currently Dabur competes with fruit drinks like 'Maaza',
'Frooti', 'Minute Maid' (pulpy).
Omaxe to foray into Mauritius property market
New Delhi, June 29 (PTI) After foraying into Dubai, real
estate player Omaxe is all set to enter the Mauritian property
market with a plan to develop a 50-acre residential project.
The Delhi-based company has identified a project of 50
acres and planning to develop a residential township there,
sources told PTI.
The land for the township is likely to be provided by the
government and the company is expecting to receive the
ownership of the land within a week, they added.
Unlike Dubai, where the company's subsidiary would
develop the projects with local partners, Omaxe would carry
out the Mauritian project alone without any help from local
firms.
Earlier, the realty major had announced to set up a
wholly-owned subsidiary Rohtas Holdings (Gulf) which would
develop two projects worth Rs 2,850 crore in Dubai.
The company would develop a residential project worth Rs
1,350 crore through special purpose vehicle Golden Crescent
RED and General Trading Ltd. Another project worth Rs 1,500
crore would be developed through SPV Marine Sands.
Last month, Omaxe said that it would develop 10 lakh
affordable housing units with an investment of Rs 80,000 crore
in India over the next five years. For this purpose, it has
set up a new subsidiary named National Affordable Housing and
Infrastructure Ltd.
Omaxe has a land bank of about 3,600 acres with major
presence in North India. It had launched its initial public
offer last year to raise over Rs 600 crore.
estate player Omaxe is all set to enter the Mauritian property
market with a plan to develop a 50-acre residential project.
The Delhi-based company has identified a project of 50
acres and planning to develop a residential township there,
sources told PTI.
The land for the township is likely to be provided by the
government and the company is expecting to receive the
ownership of the land within a week, they added.
Unlike Dubai, where the company's subsidiary would
develop the projects with local partners, Omaxe would carry
out the Mauritian project alone without any help from local
firms.
Earlier, the realty major had announced to set up a
wholly-owned subsidiary Rohtas Holdings (Gulf) which would
develop two projects worth Rs 2,850 crore in Dubai.
The company would develop a residential project worth Rs
1,350 crore through special purpose vehicle Golden Crescent
RED and General Trading Ltd. Another project worth Rs 1,500
crore would be developed through SPV Marine Sands.
Last month, Omaxe said that it would develop 10 lakh
affordable housing units with an investment of Rs 80,000 crore
in India over the next five years. For this purpose, it has
set up a new subsidiary named National Affordable Housing and
Infrastructure Ltd.
Omaxe has a land bank of about 3,600 acres with major
presence in North India. It had launched its initial public
offer last year to raise over Rs 600 crore.
Need to give thrust to municipal bonds, says experts
Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) There is a need to give a push to
the Municipal Bonds in the country as state governments are
struggling hard to raise money to fund infrastructure projects
at the local level.
"The municipal bonds' market in the country remains
minuscule despite being around for nearly 11 years," rating
agency, CRISIL's Corporate and Infrastructure (Rating) Head,
Akash Deep Jyoti told PTI here.
Since 2001, 13 municpal bonds have been issued to the
tune of Rs 733 crore, which constitutes only 0.2 per cent of
the total bond market, he said.
"We need to enhance this market, which has the potential
to grow to the tune of an additional Rs 2,000-4,000 crore in
the next five years," Jyoti said.
This is, however, under the condition that municipal
corporations take up the infrastructure projects in a
time-bound manner under the Jawaharlal Nehru Renewable Urban
Mission (JNRUM), he said.
The government has rated 63 municipal corporations
pan-India to enable them to raise funds for JNRUM projects.
Concerted and concrete efforts are required not only
by the government and regulators, but also by issuers and
investors to utilise the optimum potential of these bonds,
Jyoti said.
In the US, the MBs market is huge and constitutes as
much as 15 per cent of the total bonds market as it is looked
upon as a sound asset class, he said.
the Municipal Bonds in the country as state governments are
struggling hard to raise money to fund infrastructure projects
at the local level.
"The municipal bonds' market in the country remains
minuscule despite being around for nearly 11 years," rating
agency, CRISIL's Corporate and Infrastructure (Rating) Head,
Akash Deep Jyoti told PTI here.
Since 2001, 13 municpal bonds have been issued to the
tune of Rs 733 crore, which constitutes only 0.2 per cent of
the total bond market, he said.
"We need to enhance this market, which has the potential
to grow to the tune of an additional Rs 2,000-4,000 crore in
the next five years," Jyoti said.
This is, however, under the condition that municipal
corporations take up the infrastructure projects in a
time-bound manner under the Jawaharlal Nehru Renewable Urban
Mission (JNRUM), he said.
The government has rated 63 municipal corporations
pan-India to enable them to raise funds for JNRUM projects.
Concerted and concrete efforts are required not only
by the government and regulators, but also by issuers and
investors to utilise the optimum potential of these bonds,
Jyoti said.
In the US, the MBs market is huge and constitutes as
much as 15 per cent of the total bonds market as it is looked
upon as a sound asset class, he said.
MCX to launch ATF future contracts to help refiners, airlines
Mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) The Multi Commodity Exchange
is all set to launch Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) futures
contracts early next month, which is expected to help refiners
and airlines facing trouble in a turbulent oil market, a top
company official said.
"We have received permission from the Forward Markets
Commission (FMC) and will firm up plans shortly to launch ATF
futures contracts. We are in touch with leading airline
companies for hedging," MCX Managing Director, Joseph Massey,
told PTI here.
Oil refining companies and airlines are presently
hedging in MCX crude oil contracts, which has a 90 per cent
co-relation with ATF futures, Massey said.
A relentless rise in global crude oil prices combined
with uncertainty surrounding its supply, has pushed
air-carriers into a tricky situation.
The Indian aviation sector, especially airlines,
suffers from a sure and steady supply of fuels. MCX has
spotted this need and decided to launch ATF futures that are
expected to benefit both oil refining companies and airlines,
company officials said.
The country is seeing a major spurt in air traffic,
both domestic and international. As a result, there has been a
steady rise in fuel demand and refiners need an assured supply
to cater to the growing demand. Airline companies are also
looking at hedging on long-term contracts with refineries.
Today, in the absence of such futures contracts,
aviation companies are forced to buy in the spot markets that
often may not turn out to be a commercial proposition.
is all set to launch Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) futures
contracts early next month, which is expected to help refiners
and airlines facing trouble in a turbulent oil market, a top
company official said.
"We have received permission from the Forward Markets
Commission (FMC) and will firm up plans shortly to launch ATF
futures contracts. We are in touch with leading airline
companies for hedging," MCX Managing Director, Joseph Massey,
told PTI here.
Oil refining companies and airlines are presently
hedging in MCX crude oil contracts, which has a 90 per cent
co-relation with ATF futures, Massey said.
A relentless rise in global crude oil prices combined
with uncertainty surrounding its supply, has pushed
air-carriers into a tricky situation.
The Indian aviation sector, especially airlines,
suffers from a sure and steady supply of fuels. MCX has
spotted this need and decided to launch ATF futures that are
expected to benefit both oil refining companies and airlines,
company officials said.
The country is seeing a major spurt in air traffic,
both domestic and international. As a result, there has been a
steady rise in fuel demand and refiners need an assured supply
to cater to the growing demand. Airline companies are also
looking at hedging on long-term contracts with refineries.
Today, in the absence of such futures contracts,
aviation companies are forced to buy in the spot markets that
often may not turn out to be a commercial proposition.
SBI plans M-Banking roll out in July; BOI, UBI likely in June
mumbai, Jun 29 (PTI) With the Reserve Bank issuing draft
guidelines for mobile banking, at least three leading public
sector banks are getting ready to roll out full-banking
services via cell phones in the coming few weeks.
Country's largest lender State Bank India said it is in
the final stages of its M-Banking roll-out and has scheduled
its launch in middle of July, while Bank of India and Union
Bank of India plan to introduce their services by June-end.
SBI, which had earlier planned the launch for June, had
to reschedule it in order to get a suitable aggregator, a
senior bank official told PTI.
"We expect to launch our services in the second-half of
July. We are on the look out for an SMS-aggregator and would
short list a player soon. This would be primarily for
SMS-based transactions," the official said.
SBI is also understood to have plans to tie up with a
number of service providers to take the service to remote
corners of the country.
SBI plans to offer end-to-end banking services such as
account-to-account money transfer, utility bill payments and
account-related queries, amongst others.
Bank of India has also finalised its M-Banking plans and
is likely to announce the launch by June-end. The bank has
tied up with local technology services provider BillDesk, an
official said
guidelines for mobile banking, at least three leading public
sector banks are getting ready to roll out full-banking
services via cell phones in the coming few weeks.
Country's largest lender State Bank India said it is in
the final stages of its M-Banking roll-out and has scheduled
its launch in middle of July, while Bank of India and Union
Bank of India plan to introduce their services by June-end.
SBI, which had earlier planned the launch for June, had
to reschedule it in order to get a suitable aggregator, a
senior bank official told PTI.
"We expect to launch our services in the second-half of
July. We are on the look out for an SMS-aggregator and would
short list a player soon. This would be primarily for
SMS-based transactions," the official said.
SBI is also understood to have plans to tie up with a
number of service providers to take the service to remote
corners of the country.
SBI plans to offer end-to-end banking services such as
account-to-account money transfer, utility bill payments and
account-related queries, amongst others.
Bank of India has also finalised its M-Banking plans and
is likely to announce the launch by June-end. The bank has
tied up with local technology services provider BillDesk, an
official said
Vishal Retail to invest Rs 700 cr for expansion
New Delhi, June 29 (PTI) Delhi-based Vishal Retail today
said it would open 70 more stores at a cost of around Rs 700
crore by the end of this year, taking the total number to 190,
while playing down the chances of high inflation dampening its
expansion plans.
"Inflation has made no impact on our growth plan. We are
going to open 70 more stores by the end of the current year
and will invest Rs 700 crore for the purpose," Vishal Retail
Chairman Ram Chandra Agarwal told reporters on the side lines
of Pure&Play Retail Summit here.
The company is also looking to raise Rs 200 crore through
a private equity investment for the expansion plans, while the
remaining fund will be arranged through debt.
"In order to fund our expansion plans we are looking at a
debt equity ration of 2:1," Agarwal said.
Currently, the company is in talks with various private
equity firms. However, Agarwal declined to divulge the names
of the PEs.
About the measures taken to counter the inflationary
pressure, he said, "We are cutting cost on manpower and
improving our efficiency by switching to larger warehouses and
cost effective supply chains."
Vishal Retail is also planning to launch loyalty cards to
attract customers, particularly females, besides introducing
new brands in women's wear category this year.
said it would open 70 more stores at a cost of around Rs 700
crore by the end of this year, taking the total number to 190,
while playing down the chances of high inflation dampening its
expansion plans.
"Inflation has made no impact on our growth plan. We are
going to open 70 more stores by the end of the current year
and will invest Rs 700 crore for the purpose," Vishal Retail
Chairman Ram Chandra Agarwal told reporters on the side lines
of Pure&Play Retail Summit here.
The company is also looking to raise Rs 200 crore through
a private equity investment for the expansion plans, while the
remaining fund will be arranged through debt.
"In order to fund our expansion plans we are looking at a
debt equity ration of 2:1," Agarwal said.
Currently, the company is in talks with various private
equity firms. However, Agarwal declined to divulge the names
of the PEs.
About the measures taken to counter the inflationary
pressure, he said, "We are cutting cost on manpower and
improving our efficiency by switching to larger warehouses and
cost effective supply chains."
Vishal Retail is also planning to launch loyalty cards to
attract customers, particularly females, besides introducing
new brands in women's wear category this year.
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