PREFACE

Everyday innumerable technologies are invented and developed all over the world in many fields. Added to this, many technologies have resulted in failure also. One, who is born, has to die one day. During this short span of life, the thrust for new technologies and developments have not quenched yet. As a result of this, many latest technologies were introduced.

This magazine “ INFOLINE ” was aimed to provide basic necessary information about the latest technologies developed and it also creates awareness to the one who is reading this. Your comments and valuable suggestions for the improvement from the students, teachers and friends are warmly welcomed and will be gratefully acknowledged.

Infoline Team

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Acknowledgement

We wish to thank Thiru A.Venkatachalam B.Sc., Correspondent, Kongu Arts And Science College, Erode and our Management for the support to publish the magazine Dr.N.Raman M.B.A., M.Com., M.Phil., B.Ed., PGDCA.,Ph.D., Principal, Kongu Arts And Science College, Erode has provided considerable support to us during this effort. We proudly thank our Chief Editor, Staff Advisor, Staff Members and the students of Department of Computer Technology and Information Technology for their guidance and suggestions to complete this magazine.

Infoline Team

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INFOLINE TECHNOLOGY NAVIGATOR Executive Committee

Chief Patron : Thiru A.Venkatachalam B.Sc.,

Patron : Dr. N.Raman M.B.A., M.Com., M.Phil., B.Ed., PGDCA.,Ph.D.,

Editor in Chief : S.Muruganantham M.Sc., M.Phil.,

Staff Advisor:

M.G.Annapoorani M.Sc.,

Assistant Professor, Department of CT & IT.

Staff Editor:

V.Dharani M.C.A.,

Assistant Professor, Department of CT & IT.

Student Editors:

Meganath.R III-B.Sc(CT)

Dharani.P III-B.Sc(CT)

Indira Suthar.T III-B.Sc(IT)

Kiruthika.T III-B.Sc(IT)

Kanimozhi.S III-B.Sc(IT)

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Organizing Members:

Aarthi .P II-B.Sc(IT)

Abilash.S II-B.Sc(IT)

Basavanand.P II-B.Sc(IT)

Arun Prakash. V II-B.Sc(IT)

Alaudeen basha .T II-B.Sc(CT)

Ananthi .E II-B.Sc(CT)

Archana devi .P II-B.Sc(CT)

Arun .A II-B.Sc(CT)

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CONTENTS

Preface i

Acknowledgment ii

Executive Committee iii

TABLET COMPUTER 1

APPLE’S I-PAD 8

TOUCHSCREEN HARDWARE 10

EVOLUTION OF THE MOBILE TECHNOLOGY 11

USB FLASH DRIVE 12

NETWOKINGS 14

VIRUTALITY 15

GOOGLE PLATFORM 19

WINDOWS 8 20

APPLE IPHONE - 5 22

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ARTICLES

INFOLINE

Tablet Computer Traditional Tablets based on IBM-PC architecture A tablet computer , or simply tablet , is a complete mobile computer, larger than a A tablet personal computer (tablet PC) or personal digital assistant, is a portable personal computer equipped with integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily a touch screen as a primary input device, and operated by touching the screen. It often uses running a (modified) classic desktop OS. an onscreen virtual keyboard or a digital pen designed to be operated and owned by an rather than a physical keyboard. individual. The term was made popular as a concept presented by Microsoft in 2000 and Electrical devices with data input and 2001but tablet PCs now refer to any tablet- output on a flat information display have sized personal computer regardless of the existed as early as 1888. Throughout the 20th (desktop) century many devices with these characteristics have been ideated and created whether as Tablet personal computers are mainly blueprints, prototypes or commercial products, based and are fully functional personal with the Dynabook concept in 1968 being an computers employing a slightly modified spiritual precursor of tablets and laptops. personal computer OS (such as Windows or During the 2000s Microsoft attempted to Ubuntu ) supporting their touch-screen, define the tablet personal computer (tablet PC) instead of a traditional display, mouse and product concept as a mobile computer for field keyboard. A typical tablet personal computer work in business, though their devices failed to needs to be stylus driven, because operating achieve widespread usage due mainly to price the typical desktop based OS requires a high and usability problems that made them precision to select GUI widgets, such as a the unsuitable outside of their limited intended close window button. purpose. In April 2010 Apple Inc. released the iPad, a tablet computer with an emphasis on Post-PC Tablets not based on the traditional media consumption. The shift in purpose, PC architecture together with increased usability, battery life, simplicity, lower weight and cost, and overall Since mid-2010, new tablet computers quality with respect to previous tablets, was with mobile operating systems forgo the perceived as defining a new class of consumer Wintel paradigm, have a different interface device and shaped the commercial market for instead of the traditional desktop OS and have tablets in the following year. created a new type of computing device. These post-PC mobile OS tablet computer devices are The term may also apply to a variety normally finger driven and use multi-touch, of form factors that differ in position of the capacitive touch screens instead of the simple screen with respect to a keyboard. The resistive of typical stylus driven standard form is called slate, which does not systems. have an integrated keyboard but may be connected to one with a wireless link or a USB First of these was the iPad with the port. Convertible notebook computers have an iOS operating system. Samsung Galaxy Tab integrated keyboard that can be hidden by a and others continue the common trend towards swivel joint or slide joint, exposing only the multi-touch and other natural screen for touch operation. Hybrids have a features, as well as solid-state detachable keyboard so that the touch screen storage drives, and 2-second warm-boot times; can be used as a stand-alone tablet. Booklets also a standard external USB keyboard can be include two touch screens, and can be used as a used. Most often their OS is a Unix-like OS, notebook by displaying a virtual keyboard in such as Darwin, Linux or QNX. Some have 3G one of them. mobile telephony capabilities.

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In forgoing the x86 precondition (a brought out the PenPoint OS operating system requisite of Windows compatibility), some for a tablet product: o ne of the patents from tablets use a version of an ARM architecture GO corporation was the subject of recent processor for longer battery life versus battery infringement lawsuit concerning the Tablet PC weight, heretofore used in portable equipment operating system. In 1987 Apple Computer (e.g., MP3 players and cell phones). Especially started its tablet project, which c onsidered with the introduction of the ARM Cortex release of devices of three sizes, with the one family , this architecture is now powerful eventually released in 1993, Apple Newton , enough for tasks such as internet browsing , being the smallest (yet it was quite substantial light production work and gaming. device with 6" screen and 800 grams of weight) One early implementation of a Linux A significant trait of tablet computers tablet was the ProGear by FrontPath. The not based on the traditional PC architecture is ProGear used a Transmeta chip and a resistive that the main source of 3rd party software for digitizer. The ProGear initially came with a the se devices tends to be through online version of Slackware Linux , but could later be distribution , rather than more traditional bought with Windows 98. methods of boxed software or direct sales from software vendors. These sources, known as Microsoft Tablet PC "app stores," provid e centralized catalogues of software from both 1st and 3rd parties and In 1999, Microsoft attempted to re -institute the allow simple "one click" on-device software by-then decades-old tablet concept by purchasing, installation, and updates. assigning two well-known experts in the field, from Xerox Palo Alto Research Center , to the History project.

Early tablets In 2000 Microsoft coined the term "Microsoft Tablet PC " for tablet PCs built to The tablet computer and the associated Microsoft's specification, and running a special operating software is an example of pen licensed specific tablet enhanced version of its computing technology, and thus the Microsoft Windows OS. Microsoft Tablet PCs development of tablets has deep historical were targeted to address business need s mainly roots. The dept h of these roots can be quite as note-taking devices, and as rugged devices surprising to people who are only familiar with for field work. In the health care sector, tablet current commercial products. For example, the computers were intended for data capture – first patent for an electronic tablet used for such as registering feedback on the patient handwriting was granted in 1888. The first experience at the bedside.Tablet PCs failed to patent for a system that recognized handwr itten gain popularity in the consumer space because characters by analyzing the handwriting of unresolved problems. motion was granted in 1915. The first publicly - demonstrated system using a tablet and handwriting text recognition instead of a keyboard for working with a modern digital computer dates to 1956. Alan Kay attempted to formulate his Dynabook concept as a tablet as early as 1968; to this day, his concept has not yet been fully realized.

In addition to many academic and research systems, there were several companies with commercial products in the 1980s Pencept , communications Intelligence Corporation, and Linus were among t he best known of a crowded field. Later, GO Corp.

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communicating with local devices in place of a Chinese characters like this one meaning wired USB connection. "person" can be written by handwriting • 3D : Following mobile phone, there are recognition ( , Mandarin: rén, Korean: in, also 3D slate tablet with dual lens at the back Japanese: jin, nin; hito, Cantonese : jan4). The of the tablet and also provided with blue -red character has two strokes, the first shown here glasses. in dark, and the second in red. The black area represents the starting position of the writing Form factor instrument. Because tablet personal computers normally use a s tylus, they quite often Tablet computers come in a range of implement handwriting recognition , while sizes, currently ranging from tablet PCs to other tablet computers with finger driven PDAs. Tablet personal computers tend to be as screens do not. Finger driven screens however large as laptops and often are the largest usable are pot entially better suited for inputting size for mobile tablet computing while the new "variable width stroke based" characters, like generation of tablet computers can be (much) Chinese/Japanese/Korean writing, due to their smaller and use a RISC (ARM or MIPS) CPU, built in capability of "pressure sensing". and in size can border on PDAs. However at the moment not much of this potential is already used, and as a result e ven Booklet on tablet computers Chinese users often use a (virtual) keyboard for input. Booklet computers are dual- tablet computers that fold like a Other features book. Typical booklet computers are equipped with multi-touch screens and pen writing • Accelerometer : An accelerometer is a unit recognition capabilities. that detects the physical movements of the tablet. This allows greater flexibility of use They are designed to be used as digi tal since tablets do not necessarily have a fixed day planners , Internet surfing devices, project direction of use. The accelerometer can also planners, music players, and displays for be used to detect the orientation of the tablet video, live TV, and e-reading. relative to the center of the earth, but can also detect movement of the tablet, both of which Slate can be used as an alternative control interface for a tablet's software. Slate computers, which resemble • Ambient light and proximity sensors are writing slates , are tablet computers without a additional "senses ", that can provide dedicated keyboard. For text input, users rely controlling input for the tablet. on handwriting recognition via an active • Storage drive : Large tablets use storage digitizer, touching an on-screen keyboard drives similar to laptops, while smaller ones using fingertips or a stylus , or using an tend to use drives similar to MP3 Players or external keyboard that can usually be attached have on-board flash memory. They also often via a wireless or USB connection . have ports for removable storage such as Secure Digital cards. Due to the nature of the Slate computers typically incorporate use of tablets, solid-state memory is often small (8.4–14.1 inches/21–36 centimetres) preferable due to its better resistance to LCD screens and have been popular in vertical damage during movement. markets such as health care, education, • Wireless : Because tablets by design are hospitality and field work. mobile computers, wireless connections are less restrictive to motion than wired Applications for field work often connections. Wi-Fi connectivity has become require a tablet computer that has rugged ubiquitous among tablets. is specif ications that ensure long life by resisting commonly used for connecting peripheralsand heat, humidity, and drop/vibration damage.

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This added focus on mobility and/or opened. Convertibles like that with hardware ruggedness often leads to elimination of specs of a netbook are called netvertibles. moving parts that could hinder these qualities. Hybrid

Hybrids, a term coined by users of the Convertible HP/Compaq TC1000 and TC1100 series, share the features of the slate and convertible by using a detachable keyboard that operates in a similar fashion to a convertible when attached. Hybrids are not to be confused with slate models with detachable keyboards; detachable keyboards for pure slate models do not rotate to allow the tablet to rest on it like a convertible.

System architecture

A Lenovo X61 in slate mode Comparison of tablet PCs and Comparison of ARM tablets Two major Convertible notebooks have a base body with computer architectures compete in the tablet an attached keyboard. They more closely market, x86 and ARM architecture. x86, resemble modern laptops, and are usually including x86-64, is popular on tablet PCs due heavier and larger than slates. to its use on laptops which can share common software and hardware and which can run a Typically, the base of a convertible attaches to version of Windows. There are also non-PC the display at a single joint called a swivel based x86 tablets like the JooJoo. hinge or rotating hinge. The joint allows the ARM gained popularity following the screen to rotate through 180° and fold down on success of the iPad. ARM is more power and top of the keyboard to provide a flat writing cost efficient for mobile computing and is surface. This design, although the most gaining popularity for smaller tablets from common, creates a physical point of weakness other manufacturers such as Samsung with the on the notebook. Some manufacturers have Galaxy Tab which runs on Android. attempted to overcome these weak points. The Panasonic Toughbook 19, for example, is Operating systems and vendors advertised as a more durable convertible notebook. One model by Acer (the TravelMate Tablets, like regular computers, can C210) has a sliding design in which the screen run a number of operating systems. These slides up from the slate-like position and locks come in two classes, namely traditional into place to provide the laptop mode. desktop-based operating systems and post-PC Sliding screens were presented at CES 2011. mobile-based ("phone-like") operating The first product to use it is the Samsung systems. For the former class popular OS's are Sliding PC7 Series, a tablet with Intel Atom Microsoft Windows, and a range of Linux hardware and a unique sliding screen that distributions. allows the product to be used as a laptop or slate tablet when the screen is locked in place HP is developing enterprise-level covering the whole keyboard. tablets under Windows and consumer-oriented tablets under webOS. In the latter class the The concept still has to prove its reliability, popular variants include Apple iOS, and but is intended to combine the virtues of tablet Google Android. Manufacturers are also PCs with those of notebooks. Also presented testing the market for products with Windows was the upcoming Inspiron Duo from Dell, CE, Chrome OS, and so forth.Boot times for which rotates the screen horizontally when are one-half the boot times for current

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Windows 7 netbooks, which can take over 50 Windows CE-based tablets running a custom seconds to display the login prompt. . To date, the full Windows 7 does not yet support ARM architecture. The BIOS initialization for a PC, which has remained unchanged since the Linux invention of the PC, can still take 25 seconds. One early implementation of a Linux tablet was the ProGear by FrontPath. The ProGear used a Transmeta chip and a resistive Traditional Tablet PC operating systems digitizer. The ProGear initially came with a version of Slackware Linux, but could later be Microsoft Tablet PC bought with Windows 98. Because these computers are general purpose IBM PC Following Windows for , compatible machines, they can run many Microsoft has been developing support for different operating systems. However, the tablets runnings Windows under the Microsoft device is no longer for sale and FrontPath has Tablet PC name. According to a 2001 ceased operations. It is important to note that Microsoft definition of the term, "Microsoft many touch screen sub-notebook computers Tablet PCs" are pen-based, fully functional can run any of several Linux distributions with x86 PCs with handwriting and voice little customization. recognition functionality. Tablet PCs use the same hardware as normal laptops but add X.org now supports screen rotation and support for pen input. For specialized support tablet input through Wacom drivers, and for pen input, Microsoft released Windows XP handwriting recognition software from both Tablet PC Edition. Today there is no tablet the Qt-based Qtopia and GTK+-based Internet specific version of Windows but instead Tablet OS provide promising free and open support is built in to both Home and Business source systems for future development. versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Tablets running Windows get the added Open source note taking software in functionality of using the touchscreen for Linux includes applications such as Xournal mouse input, hand writing recognition, and (which supports PDF file annotation), Gournal gesture support. Following Tablet PC, (a Gnome based note taking application), and Microsoft announced the UMPC initiative in the Java-based Jarnal (which supports 2006 which brought Windows tablets to a handwriting recognition as a built-in function). smaller, touch-centric form factor. This was Before the advent of the aforementioned relaunched in 2010 as Slate PC, to promote software, many users had to rely on on-screen tablets running Windows 7, ahead of Apple's keyboards and alternative text input methods iPad launch. Slate PCs are expected to benefit like Dasher. There is a standalone handwriting from mobile hardware advances derived from recognition program available, Cell Writer, the success of the netbooks. Microsoft has which requires users to write letters separately since announced Windows 8 which will have in a grid. features designed for touch input, while running on both PCs and ARM architecture. A number of Linux based OS projects are dedicated to tablet PCs. Since all these are While many tablet manufacturers are open source, they are freely available and can moving to the ARM architecture with lighter be run or ported to devices that conform to the operating systems, Microsoft has stood firm to tablet PC design. (rebranded MeeGo in Windows. Though Microsoft has Windows CE 2010), a Linux based graphical user for ARM support it has kept its target market environment, was developed for the for the industry with Windows Internet Tablet devices (770, N800, N810 & Mobile and the new Windows CE 6 based N900). It is currently in generation 5, and has a Windows Phone 7. Some manufacturers, vast array of applications available in both however, still have shown prototypes of official and user supported repositories.

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The Ubuntu Netbook Remix edition, as and provides a proprietary user interface well as the Intel sponsored Moblin project, optimized for the WeTab device. both have touchscreen support integrated into their user interfaces. Canonical has hinted at Post-PC operating systems better supporting tablets with the Unity UI for Ubuntu 10.10. TabletKiosk currently offers a Tablets not following the personal hybrid digitizer / touch device running computer (PC) tradition use operating systems openSUSE Linux. It is the first device with this in the style of those developed for PDAs and feature to support Linux. .

Intel and Nokia Blackberry

The BlackBerry PlayBook is a tablet computer announced in September 2010 which runs the BlackBerry Tablet OS. The OS is based on the QNX system that Research in Motion acquired in early 2010. Delivery to developers and enterprise customers is expected in October 2010. The BlackBerry PlayBook was officially released to US and Canadian consumers on April 19, 2011.

The Android

Nokia entered the tablet space with the Nokia Android (operating system) and 770 running Maemo, a Debian-based Linux Google Chrome OS distribution custom-made for their Internet Tablet line. The product line continued with Google's linux-based Android operating the N900 which is the first to add phone system has been targeted by manufacturers for capabilities.Intel, following the launch of the the tablet space following its success on UMPC, started the Mobile Internet Device smartphones due to its open nature and support initiative, which took the same hardware and for low-cost ARM systems much like Apple's combined it with a Linux operating system iOS. In 2010, there have been numerous custom-built for portable tablets. Intel co- announcements of such tablets. However, developed the lightweight Moblin operating much of Android's tablet initiative comes from system following the successful launch of the manufacturers as Google primarily focuses its Atom CPU series on netbooks. Intel is also development on smartphones and restricts the setting tablet goals for Atom, going forward App Market from non-phone devices. There is, from 2010. moreover, talk of tablet support from Google coming to its web-centric Chrome OS. Some

Maemo and MeeGo vendors such as Motorola and Lenovo are delaying deployment of their tablet computers MeeGo is a new Linux-based operating system until 2011, after Android is reworked to developed by Intel and Nokia that supports include more tablet features. Netbooks, Smartphones and Tablet PCs. In 2010, Nokia and Intel combined the Maemo HP and Moblin projects to form MeeGo. The first tablet using MeeGo is the Neofonie WeTab HP's webOS : Hewlett Packard has announced launched September 2010 in Germany. The the TouchPad running webOS 3.0 on a 1.2Ghz WeTab uses an extended version of the MeeGo Snapdragon CPU will be released in June operating system called WeTab OS. WeTab 2011. On Thursday August 18, 2011, HP OS adds runtimes for Android and Adobe AIR announced the discontinuation of the Touchpad, due to sluggish sales.The fate of

6 INFOLINE any webOS-based software remains open, as commonly cited opinions of tablet computers HP casts about for some possible resolution. versus laptops:

One Laptop per Child organization Advantages

The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) • Usage in environments not conducive to a organization is developing a new version of the keyboard and mouse such as lying in bed, OLPC, strongly resembling a tablet computer, standing, or handling with a single hand. called the OLPC XO-3, running its "Sugar" operating system, based on Linux. The new • Lighter weight, lower power models can XO-3 will be based on ARM technology from function similarly to dedicated reading devices Marvell. like the . • Touch environment makes navigation easier Developing software for tablet computers than conventional use of keyboard and mouse or touch pad in certain contexts such as image Mobile development manipulation, musical, or mouse oriented games. Digital painting and image editing are The new class of devices heralded by the iPad more precise and intuitive than painting or has spurred the tendency of a walled garden sketching with a mouse. approach where the vendor reserves rights as to • The ability for easier or faster entry of what can be installed. The software diagrams, mathematical notations, and development kits for these platforms are symbols. restricted and the vendor must approve the • Allows, with the proper software, universal final application for distribution to users. input, independent from different keyboard These restrictions allow the hardware vendor localizations. to control the kind of software that can be used • Some users find it more direct and pleasant and the content that can be seen in the devices; to use a stylus, pen or finger to point and tap this can be used to reduce the impact of on objects, rather than use a mouse or malware on the platform and to provide touchpad, which are not directly connected to material of approved content rating, and also to the pointer on screen. exclude software and content from competing vendors. The walled garden approach to Disadvantages application development has proven to be a competitive advantage for the iPad over HP's • Higher price – convertible tablet computers Touchpad, triggering HP's withdrawal from the can cost significantly more than non-tablet industry, due in large part to sluggish portable PCs although this premium has been Touchpad sales, after only 49 days on the predicted to fall. market. Proponents of open source software • Input speed – handwriting or typing on a deem that these restrictions on software virtual keyboard can be significantly slower installation and lack of administrator rights than typing speed on a conventional keyboard, make this category one that, in their view, the latter of which can be as high as 50–150 cannot be properly named personal computers. WPM; however, Slideit, Swype and other But there are newer technologies are offered in an effort to narrow based tablet computers that don't use the the gap. walled garden concept, and are like personal • Ergonomics – a tablet computer, or a folded computers in this regard. slate PC, does not provide room for a wrist rest. In addition, the user will need to move Comparison with laptop computers his or her arm constantly while writing. • Weaker video capabilities – Most tablet The advantages and disadvantages of tablet computers are equipped with embedded computers are highly subjective measures. graphics processors instead of discrete graphics What appeals to one user may be exactly what cards. In July 2010, the only tablet PC with a disappoints another. The following are discrete graphics card was the HP TouchSmart

7 INFOLINE tm2t, which has the ATI Mobility Radeon HD5450 as an optional extra. Apple's Ipad • Business-oriented tablet personal computers have been slow sellers from 2001 to date. The tablet computer market was • Screen risk – Tablet computers are handled reinvigorated by Apple through the more than conventional laptops, yet many are introduction of the iPad device in 2010. While built on similar frames; in addition, since their the iPad places restrictions on the owner to screens also serve as input devices, they run a install softwarethus deviating it from the PC higher risk of screen damage from impacts and tradition, its attention to detail for the touch misuse. interface is considered a milestone in the • Hinge risk – A convertible tablet computer's history of the development of the tablet screen hinge is often required to rotate around computer that defined the tablet computer as a two axes, unlike a normal laptop screen, new class of portable device, different from a subsequently increasing the number of possible laptop PC or netbook.On May 20, 2010, IDC mechanical and electrical (digitizer and published a press release defining the term videocables, embedded WiFi antennas, etc.) media tablet as personal devices with screens failure points. from 7 to 12 inches, lightweight operating • Smaller display and lack of keyboard. systems "currently based on ARM processors" which "provide a broad range of applications and connectivity, differentiating them from primarily single-function devices such as. Tablets in developing countries

OLPC XO-3, a tablet computer concept

ThSakshat have been projected to cost

$35, according to researchers in India which shall be soon available for the masses as the cheapest tablet working on Android with full APPLE IPAD functionality; however the bill of materials currently comes to $47.One laptop per child (OLPC) plans to introduce a tablet computer IDC also predicted a market growth for tablets for $100. Nicholas Negroponte, Chairman of from 7.6 million units in 2010 to more than 46 OLPC, has invited the Indian researchers to million units in 2014. More recent reports MIT to begin sharing the OLPC design show predictions from various analysts in the resources for their tablet computers.OLPC has range from 26 to 64 million units in 2013. On been awarded a grant for an interim step to March 2, 2011 Apple announced that 15 their next generation tablet, OLPC XO-3. million iPads had been sold in three fiscal quarters of 2010. By Reactions to the iPad ARTHI LAKSHMI.N At Consumer Electronics Show 2011, III-B.Sc (IT) over 80 new tablets were announced to

8 INFOLINE compete with the iPad. Companies who ModBook announced tablets included: Motorola which released its Xoom tablet (Android 3.0) , Samsung came up with its new Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android 2.2), Research in Motion demonstrated their BlackBerry Playbook, Vizio with the Via Tablet, Toshiba with the Android 3.0 – run Toshiba Thrive, and others include Asus, and the startup company Notion Ink. Many of these tablets are set to be running Android 3.0 Honeycomb (except some which are also featuring Android 2.3 or above), Google's mobile operating system for tablets. The iPad in its case Apple's tablet product is Hewlett-Packard released its TouchPad based the iPad, a tablet computer that mainly focuses on the WebOS system, only to discontinue it on media consumption such as web browsing, after under 49 days of sales. email, photos, videos, and e-reading. A WiFi- only model of the tablet was released in April As of August 2011, the iPad and iPad 2 have 2010, and a WiFi+3G model was introduced dominated sales, outselling Android and other about a month later, using a no-contract data rival OS tablets by a ratio of eight to one. plan from AT&T. Since then, the iPad 2 has Apple's iPad held 66 percent of the global launched, bringing 3G support from both tablet market in Q1 of 2011but the share is AT&T and Verizon Wireless.The iPad runs a predicted to drop to 58 percent by the end of version of iOS which was first created for the the yeardue to the influx of new products, iPhone and iPod Touch. mostly Android tablets. Technology experts suggest that Apple is getting court injunctions Although built on the same underlying to stop the slide, although these injunctions are Unix implementation as MacOS, the operating only preliminary measures as Apple has to system differs radically at the graphical user provide more substantial evidence in interface level. iOS is designed for finger subsequent court proceedings that the design of based use and has none of the tiny features competing products infringed its patents or which required a stylus on earlier tablets. copied their designs in order to make any bans Apple introduced responsive multi touch permanent. These cases take months or even gestures, like moving two fingers apart to years to come to court, unless there is no zoom in. iOS is built for the ARM architecture settlement, and if Apple loses it will be liable which uses less power, and so gives better for the business lost by a competitor due to the battery life, than Intel devices required by injunction. Although risky, experts say that this Windows tablets. Previous to the iPad's launch, kind of strategy gives time for Apple to hold there were long standing rumors of an Apple off rivals and grab even greater market share tablet, though they were often about a product with their iPad, since it is a market that is running Mac OS X and being in line with developing fast where Apple leads, regardless Apple's computers. This became of the damages that they have to pay if they partially true when a 3rd party offered lose the case. Google's David Drummond customized Macbooks with pen input, known complained "They (Apple) want to make it as the Modbook. Previous to Apple's harder for manufacturers to sell Android commercialization of the iPad, Axiotron devices. Instead of competing by building new introduced at Macworld in 2007 an features or devices, they are fighting through aftermarket, heavily modified Apple MacBook litigation." iPad iOS (Apple), iPad, and called Modbook, a Mac OS X-based tablet personal computer.

The Modbook uses Apple's Inkwell for handwriting and gesture recognition, and use digitization hardware from Wacom. To get

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Mac OS X to talk to the digitizer on the Other touch technology used in tablets integrated tablet, the Modbook is supplied with include: a third-party driver called TabletMagic; Wacom does not provide driver support for• recognition. It prevents inadvertent this device. palms or other contacts from disrupting the pen's input. Multi-touch capabilities, which can By recognize multiple simultaneous finger touches, allowing for enhanced manipulation PERIYASAMY.M of on-screen objects.

III-B.Sc (IT) Some professional-grade Tablet PCs use pressure sensitive films that additionally allows pressure sensitivity such as those on graphics tablets.Concurrently capacitive touch-screens, which use finger tip Touch Screen detection can often detect the size of the touched area, and can make some conclusions Hardware to the pressure force used, for a similar result.

Touchscreens are usually one of two forms; Touch user interface

• Resistive : Resistive touchscreens are passive and can respond to any kind of pressure on the screen. They allow a high level of precision (which may be needed, when the touch screen tries to emulate a mouse for precision pointing, which in Tablet personal computers is common) but may require calibration to be accurate. Because of the high resolution of detection, a stylus or fingernail is often used for resistive screens. Although some possibility exist for implementing multi-touch on a resistive touch-screen, the possibilities are quite limited. As modern tablet computers tend Samsung Galaxy Tab to heavily lean on the use of multi-touch, this technology has faded out on high-end devices A key and common component among where it has been replaced by capacitive tablet computers is touch input. This allows the touchscreens. user to navigate easily and intuitively and type with a virtual keyboard on the screen. • Capacitive : Capacitive touchscreens tend to be less accurate, but more responsive than A tablet presents a more natural user resistive screens. Because they require a interface to the user than a command line conductive material, such as a finger tip, for interface or the traditional mouse driven input, they are not common among (stylus WIMP interface. The event processing of the using) Tablet PCs but are more prominent on operating system must respond to touches the smaller scale "tablet computer" devices for rather than clicks of a keyboard or mouse, ease of use, which generally do not use a which allows integrated hand-eye operation, a stylus, and need multi-touch capabilities. natural part of the somatosensory system. Although the device implementation differs from more traditional PCs or laptops, tablets are disrupting the current vendor sales by weakening traditional laptop PC sales in favor of the current tablet computers. This is even

10 INFOLINE more true of the "finger driven multi-touch" use such as teleconferencing, Internet access, interface of the more recent tablet computers, and other services. The problem with 3G which often emulate the way actual objects wireless systems is bandwidth—these systems behave. provide only WAN coverage ranging from 144 kbps (for vehicle mobility applications) to 2 By Mbps (for indoor static applications).

KARTHIK.T FOURTH GENERATION:- Segue to 4G, the "next dimension" of wireless III–B.Sc (IT) communication. The 4g wirelesses use Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Ultra Wide Radio Band (UWB), and Millimeter wireless and smart antenna. Data rate of 20mbps is employed. Mobile speed will Evolution Of The be up to 200km/hr. Frequency band is 2-8 GHz. it gives the ability for worldwide Mobile Technology roaming to access cell anywhere.

"If you can dream it, you can do it", FEATURES OF 4G: according to this we can leap 3G to 4G along its features and future trends in mobile • Support for interactive multimedia, voice, technology. In wireless communication, streaming video, Internet, and other broadband mobile technology is advanced and in this services. system 4G is the latest at present. • IP based mobile system FIRST GENERATION:- • High speed, high capacity, and low cost-per- The began with the designs in the bit 1970s that have become known as 1G. The • Global access, service portability, and earliest systems were implemented based on scalable mobile services analog technology and the basic cellular structure of mobile communication. 1G is used • Seamless switching and a variety of Quality primarily for voice communications. of Service-driven services

SECOND GENERATION:- • Better scheduling and call-admission-control techniques Second - generation (2G) wireless- communications systems, which made their • Ad-hoc and multi-hop networks (the strict appearance in the late 1980s, were also used delay requirements of voice make multi-hop mainly for voice transmission and reception. network service a difficult problem) The wireless system in widespread use today goes by the name of 2.5G—an "in-between" • Better spectral efficiency. service that serves as a stepping stone to 3G. Whereby 2G communications is generally • Seamless network of multiple protocols and associated with Global System for Mobile air interfaces (since 4G will be all-IP, look for (GSM) service, 2.5G is usually identified as 4G systems to be compatible with all common being "fueled" by General Packet Radio network technologies, including 802.11, Services (GPRS) along with GSM. WCDMA, Blue tooth, and Hyper LAN).

THIRD GENERATION:- By

In 3G systems, making their appearance in late MAHALAKSHMI.M 2002 and in 2003, are designed for voice and paging services, as well as interactive-media III-B.Sc (CT)

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USB Flash Drive History Complex high-voltage drive circuitry, Creator controversy there are Flash memory combines a number of older currently four entities who lay claim to technologies, with lower cost, lower power inventing the USB flash drive: Dov Moran consumption and small size made possible by of M-Systems, Pua Khein Seng advances in microprocessor technology. The of Phison Electronics, Trek Technology, memory storage was based on and Netac Technology.[5] Both Trek earlier EPROM and EEPROM technologies. Technology and Netac Technology have tried These had very limited capacity, were very to protect their patent claims. Trek won a slow for both reading and writing, required and Singaporean suit, [6] but a court in the United could only be re-written after erasing the entire Kingdom revoked one of Trek's UK contents of the chip. patents. While Netac Technology has brought lawsuits against PNY Hardware designers later developed ] EEPROMs with the erasure region broken up Technologies, Lenovo, aigo, Sony, and Taiwan's Acer and Tai Guen Enterprise into smaller "fields" that could be erased [13] individually without affecting the others. Co, most companies that manufacture USB Altering the contents of a particular memory flash drives do so without regard for Trek and location involved copying the entire field into Netac's patents. Pua Khein-Seng from an off-chip buffer memory, erasing the field, Malaysia claims to have incorporated the modifying the data as required in the buffer, world's first single chip USB flash controller. and re-writing it into the same field. This He is currently the CEO of Phison Electronics required considerable computer support, and Corp based in Taiwan. PC-based EEPROM flash memory systems First commercial product often carried their own dedicated Trek Technology and IBM began microprocessor system. Flash drives are more selling the first USB flash drives commercially or less a miniaturized version of this. in 2000. The Singaporean Trek The development of high-speed Technology sold a model under the brand serial data interfaces such as USB made name "ThumbDrive", and IBM marketed the semiconductor memory systems with serially first such drives in North America with its accessed storage viable, and the simultaneous product named the "DiskOnKey" which was development of small, high-speed, low-power developed and manufactured by the microprocessor systems allowed this to be Israeli company M-Systems. IBM's USB flash incorporated into extremely compact systems. drive became available on December 15, Serial access requires far fewer 2000, and had a storage capacity of 8 MB, electrical connections for the memory chips more than five times the capacity of the then- than does parallel access, which has simplified common floppy disks. In the manufacture of multi-gigabyte drives. 2000 Lexar introduced a Compact Flash (CF) Computers access modern flash memory card with a USB connection, and a companion systems very much like hard disk drives, where card read/writer and USB cable that eliminated the controller system has full control over the need for a USB hub. where information is actually stored. The Second generation actual EEPROM writing and erasure processes Modern flash drives have USB are, however, still very similar to the earlier 2.0 connectivity. However, they do not systems described above. Many low-cost MP3 currently use the full 480 Mbit/s (60MB/s) players simply add extra software and a battery which the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed specification to a standard flash memory control supports because of technical limitations microprocessor so it can also serve as a music inherent in NAND flash. The fastest drives playback decoder. Most of these players can currently available use a dual channel also be used as a conventional flash drive, for controller, although they still fall considerably storing files of any type. short of the transfer rate possible from a current generation hard disk, or the maximum

12 INFOLINE high speed USB throughput. File transfer present a simple block-structured logical unit speeds vary considerably and should be to the host operating system, hiding the checked before purchase. Speeds may be given individual complex implementation details of in Mbyte per second, Mbit per second or the various underlying flash memory devices. optical drive multipliers such as "180X" (180 The operating system can use any file times 150 KiB per second). Typical fast drives system or block addressing scheme. Some claim to read at up to 30 megabytes/s (MB/s) computers can boot upfrom flash drives. and write at about half that speed. This is about Specially manufactured flash drives are 20 times faster than USB 1.1 "full speed" available that have a tough rubber or metal devices which are limited to a maximum speed casing designed to be waterproof and virtually of 12 Mbit/s (1.5 MB/s). "unbreakable". These flash drives retain their memory after being submerged in water, and Third generation even through a machine wash. Leaving such a Like USB 2.0 before it, USB 3.0 offers flash drive out to dry completely before dramatically improved data transfer rates allowing current to run through it has been compared to its predecessor. Even though it known to result in a working drive with no was announced in late 2008, consumer devices future problems. Channel Five's Gadget didn’t start ‘hitting the street’ until the Show cooked one of these flash drives with beginning of 2010. USB 3.0 interface specifies propane, froze it with dry ice, submerged it in transfer rates up to 5Gbit/s, compared to USB various acidic liquids, ran over it with a jeep 2.0’s 480Mbits/s. All USB 3.0 devices are and fired it against a wall with a mortar. A downward compatible with USB 2.0 ports. company specializing in recovering lost data Computers with USB 3.0 ports are becoming from computer drives managed to recover all very popular and common. Many newer the data on the drive. All data on the other laptops and Desktops have at least one such removable storage devices tested, using optical port. USB 3.0 port expansion cards are or magnetic technologies, were destroyed. available to upgrade older systems, and many newer motherboards feature two or more USB Disadvantages 3.0 jacks. Even though the USB 3.0 interface Like all flash memory devices, flash allows extremely high data transfer speeds, drives can sustain only a limited number of most of currently available USB 3.0 Flash write and erase cycles before the drive fails. Drives do not utilize the full power of USB 3.0 This should be a consideration when using a interface due to limitations of their memory flash drive to run application software or an controllers. operating system. Advantages To address this, as well as space Data stored on flash drives is limitations, some developers have produced impervious to scratches and dust, and flash special versions of operating systems (such drives are mechanically very robust making as Linux in Live USB) or commonplace them suitable for transporting data from place applications (such as Mozilla Firefox) to place and keeping it readily at hand. Most designed to run from flash drives. These are personal computers support USB as of typically optimized for size and configured to 2010.Flash drives also store data densely place temporary or intermediate files in the compared to many removable media. In mid- computer's main RAM rather than store them 2009, 256 GB drives became available, with temporarily on the flash drive. Most USB flash the ability to hold many times more data than drives do not include a write-protect a DVD or even a Blu-ray disc. mechanism, although some have a switch on the housing of the drive itself to keep the host Compared to hard drives, flash drives computer from writing or modifying data on use little power, have no fragile moving parts, the drive. and for most capacities are small and light. Flash drives implement the USB mass storage Write-protection makes a device suitable device class so that most modern operating for repairing virus-contaminated host systems can read and write to them without computers without risk of infecting the USB installing device drivers. The flash drives flash drive itself. A drawback to the small size

13 INFOLINE is that they are easily misplaced, left behind, or whereas wide area networks (WANs), reach otherwise lost. This is a particular problem if across cities, states, or even across the world. the data they contain are sensitive (see data The Internet is the world's largest public WAN. security). Network Design As a consequence, some manufacturers have added encryption hardware to their Computer networks also differ in their drives—although software encryption design. The two types of high-level network systems which can be used in conjunction with design are calledclient-server and peer-to-peer. any mass storage medium achieve the same Client-server networks feature centralized thing. Most drives can be attached to server computers that store email, Web pages, keychains, necklaces and lanyards. The USB files and or applications. On a peer-to-peer plug is usually fitted with a removable and network, conversely, all computers tend to easily lost protective cap, or is retractable. support the same functions. USB flash drives are more expensive per unit Client-server networks are much more of storage than large hard drives, but are less common in business and peer-to-peer networks expensive in capacities of a few tens of much more common in homes. A network gigabytes as of 2011. Maximum available topology represents its layout or structure from capacity is increasing with time, but is less the point of view of data flow. In so- than larger hard drives. This balance is called bus networks, for example, all of the changing, but the rate of change is slowing. computers share and communicate across one common conduit, whereas in a star network, all By data flows through one centralized device. Common types of network topologies include GOKULRAJU.R bus, star, ring and mesh.

II–B.Sc (CT) Network Protocols

In networking, the communication language used by computer devices is called theprotocol. Yet another way to classify computer networks is by the set of protocols Networkings they support. Networks often implement multiple Cisco Networking Classes Get Cisco protocols to support specific applications. Certified Internetwork Expert Certification Popular protocols include TCP/IP, the most FromACIT.ccie-bootcamps.com networking common protocol found on the Internet and in cable LS Korea Make, In Stock Now! Call home networks. Network Security Jobs Top Paying IT Security Jobs High Tech Recruiting Firmdwasearchinternational.com. In the world Wired vs Wireless Networking of computers, networking is the practice of linking two or more computing devices Many of the same network protocols, together for the purpose of sharing data. like TCP/IP,work in Networks are built with a mix of computer both wired and wireless networks. Networks hardware and computer software. with Ethernet cables predominated in businesses, schools, and homes for several Area Networks decades. Recently, however, wireless networking alternatives have emerged as the Networks can be categorized in several premier technology for building new computer different ways. One approach defines the type networks. of network according to the geographic area it Wireless networks utilize radio waves spans. Local area networks (LANs), for and/or microwaves to maintain communication example, typically reach across a single home, channels between computers. Wireless

14 INFOLINE networking is a more modern alternative to • The simulation of a real environment for wired networking that relies on copper and/or training and education. fiber optic cabling between network devices.A • The development of an imagined wireless network offers advantages and environment for a game or interactive disadvantages compared to a wired network. story. Advantages of wireless include mobility and Popular products for creating virtual reality elimination of unsightly cables. effects on personal computers include Bryce, Disadvantages of wireless include the Extreme 3D, Ray Dream Studio, trueSpace, 3D potential for radio interference due to weather, Studio MAX, and Visual Reality. The Virtual other wireless devices, or obstructions like Reality Modelling Language (VRML) allows walls.Wireless is rapidly gaining in popularity the creator to specify images and the rules for for both home and business networking. their display and interaction using textual Wireless technology continues to improve, and language statements. the cost of wireless products continues to decrease. History Popular wireless local area networking (WLAN) products conform to the 802.11 "Wi- The thought of virtual realityt has been Fi" standards. The gear a person needs to build around since 1965, when Ivan Sutherland wireless networks includes network adapters expressed his ideas ofcreating virtual or (NICs), access points (APs), and routers. imaginary worlds. At MIT, he conducted experiments with three dimensionaldisplays. In 1969, he developed the first system to surround By people in three dimensional displays ofinformation. Between the '70's and late '80's, VIGNESH.M the concept of virtual reality was mainly used by theUnited States. The military used it as III-B.Sc (IT) flight simulators to train pilots. The other countries in the worlddid not show any interest in this technology until the late 1980's. Since then, virtual reality hasdeveloped in many Virtual Reality ways to become an emerging technology of our time. Virtual reality is an artificial environment that is created with software and Virtual Reality Technologies That Actually presented to the user in such a way that the Work user suspends belief and accepts it as a real Anxiety Therapy environment. On a computer, virtual reality is primarily experienced through two of the five For years now, virtual environments senses: sight and sound. The simplest form of have been used to treat anxiety problems with virtual reality is a 3-D image that can be exposure therapy. Psychologists treat phobias explored interactively at a personal computer, and post traumatic stress disorder by exposing usually by manipulating keys or the mouse so the patient to the thing that causes them that the content of the image moves in some anxiety and letting the anxiety dissipate on its direction or zooms in or out. More own. But this proves difficult if your stressor is sophisticated efforts involve such approaches a battlefield in Iraq.Enter virtual reality. as wrap-around display screens, actual rooms Military psychologists use simulated Iraq war augmented with wearable computers, situations to treat soldiers. Other therapeutic and haptics devices that let you feel the display VR uses include treating a fear of flying, fear images. of elevators, and even a "virtual nicotine craving" simulator for smoking addiction. Virtual reality can be divided into:

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referred to as massively multiplayer online games, and the World of Warcraft is the largest virtual gaming world in use now, with 11.5 million subscribers.Another example is Second Life. The world ofSecond Life can't really be classified as a game, since the goal seems really just to be to wander around and interact with people, much like the real world. There is even a Second Life Shakespeare Company that performs Shakespeare's works within Second Life.

The Nintendo Wii

Probably the most successful cousin of virtual reality on the market today is theNintento Wii. The Wii owes its motion capture and intuitive interaction concepts to the virtual reality technologies of the past. The VR Training Programs controller is basically a simplified version of the "virtual reality glove." Both the Wiimote and the Wii Fit offer users another way of Virtual reality environments have also interacting with their virtual environment been used for training simulators. The earliest without having to wear any bulky equipment. examples were flight simulators (most of us probably remember "Microsoft Flight Medical Procedures Simulator"), but VR training has expanded beyond just that. There are many modern Modern medicine has also found many military examples, including Iraqi cultural uses for virtual reality. Doctors can interact situations and battlefield simulators for with virtual systems to practice procedures or soldiers. Other examples include counter- to do tiny surgical procedures on a larger scale. terrorism, paratrooping, welding, and mining Surgeons have also started using virtual training sims. "twins" of their patients, to practice for surgery before doing the actual procedure.

Multiplayer Online Gaming Project Natal

One result of virtual-reality research is The latest entry in the virtual reality the existence of entirely separate virtual inspired gaming world is Project Natal, a new worlds, inhabited entirely by the avatars of real piece of technology under development now world users. These worlds are sometimes for the Xbox. Project Natal proposes a new way of interacting with games, and indeed with

16 INFOLINE computer systems in general. In their demo video, they propose a system that requires no keyboard and no controller, where a user's voice and motions serve as their method for interacting with the system.The demo video is impressive, but the technology has not been completed and released yet. When it does get released, however, virtual reality will take another giant step towards total immersion and common home usage.

Uses of Virtual Reality

The Cave

The term "CAVE" refers to any virtual reality he uses of virtual reality are immense. The system that uses multiple walls with multiple technology can be utilized to allow many different occupations and sciences to teach projectors to immerse users in a virtual world. The first CAVE was built in 1992 as a method processes and perform better quality research of showing of scientific visualizations. Now, using digital imaging. Virtual reality can be many universities have their own CAVE implemented in nearly any form, using systems. The CAVE is used for visualizing computerized data, charting and modeling to build or predict certain outcomes. data, for demonstrating 3D environments, and for virtually testing component parts of newly Architecture developed engineering projects. For many years, virtual reality has been used to establish models of architectural projects and buildings before construction begins. It can also be used to reconstruct buildings or objects that have collapsed or otherwise been damaged to determine how it happened and the steps needed to prevent the situation in the future.

The first virtual reality headset that can stimulate all five senses will be unveiled at a major science event in London on March 4th.

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Meteorology a head-mounted display that provides a wider field of view for the wearer. Sensics's latest Forecasters can utilize various virtual product, XSight, uses six displays to show a reality programs to process information large, compound image to each eye. Larry collected from satellites and radar dishes, and Brown, president and founder of the company, create models that simulate the predicted says XSight, which costs $45,000 to $50,000, effects of weather. This technology can also is mainly used by academics and engineers, analyze previous weather patterns with similar and in military training. conditions to better determine the future Motion Analysis showed off its motion- outcomes of atmospheric events. tracking technology, used to help develop the Military motion-tracking technology behind the 3-D movie Avatar. The suit is covered with markers The U.S. military has implemented that emit light to special near-infrared cameras virtual reality programs as part of its training arranged around the wearer. The cameras create process. As part of advanced exercises as well a computerized skeletal model that the system as a way to help soldiers recover from can then map to the virtual avatar. The user can traumatic experiences, whole rooms that also wear a 3-D head-mounted display to see feature simulations of real situations aid in her own virtual hands move in real-time in front teaching soldiers about the environment in of her in the virtual world, to an accuracy of which they will be or have been deployed. around a millimeter. Medical John Francis, VP of industrial and military sales at Motion Analysis, says the system lets an The medical field uses virtual reality in engineer explore a virtual model of an aircraft many ways. The most common fighter. He adds that the technology is used in a implementation of the technology is to number of military projects, as well as in combine images provided by other scans and medical, industrial, and animation settings. Last merge them to present the details, using month, the company introduced a version of the medical imaging technology. This helps technology for outdoor use.Another doctors diagnose problems without company, CyberGlove, demoed a glove that performing surgery. captures and translates a user's finger movements with high precision. Users can Molecular Studies interact with virtual objects in real-time in a In order to study molecular and natural way, says Nemer Velasquez, director of cellular structure in a more efficient and sales and marketing for the company. productive manner, virtual reality uses a The glove is currently being used for method of computerized modeling. Scientists training, defense, and engineering. Virtual can access small sections of a given molecule reality as of recent, while still extremely new, and study specifics related to it. has become the topic of many opposing viewpoints. It has caught the eye of the general Real-World Virtual Reality public for several reasons. Perhaps, this is mainly because of all the possibilities which virtual reality creates. Note that the Virtual reality (VR) products are now possibilities are not pre-determined as commonly used by many car and aeronautics either good or bad, mainly because there are companies, often to test product designs and many different opinions to the future of this simulate user interaction. VR head-mounted developing technology. However, despite the displays--from inside a user sees a 3-D controversy this new technology has aroused, environment--are also used in flight simulators. society should not remain skeptical. And custom-made VR devices are used Virtual reality has the potential, if used for medical training and to help with patient correctly, to become a great recovery. The latest VR products were on technological advancement that will aid society display this week's at the IEEE's Virtual in many ways. Reality 2010 conference in Waltham, MA. In the past, virtual reality has been nothing Sensics, based in Columbia, MD, demonstrated

18 INFOLINE more than a small step beyond video games. However, it is now apparent that this technology can be used for more practical purposes. These purposes include national defense, surgical procedures and various other applications. Society has notfully acknowledged the benefits of virtual reality as of yet because it is still under development. The reason for virtual reality remaining in its development for so long is mainly due to its complexity. The hardware that has developed so far is unableto make the large calculations required by a virtual reality based machine.However, as apparent in recent years, technology is advancing at an extreme rate. Racks are custom-made and contain 40 BY to 80 servers (20 to 40 1U servers on either side), while new servers are 2U Rackmount DIVEYA.D systems. Each rack has a switch. Servers are connected via a 100 Mbit/s III-B.Sc (IT) Ethernet link to the local switch. Switches are connected to core gigabit switch using one or two gigabit uplinks.

Google Platform Server Types

Google requires large computational Google's server infrastructure is resources in order to provide their services. divided in several types, each assigned to a This article describes the technological different purpose:

infrastructure behind Google's websites, as * Google load balancers take the client presented in the company's public request and forward it to one of the Google announcements. Web Servers via Squid proxy servers.

* Squid proxy servers take the client request from the load balancers and return the Network Topology result, if present in local cache; otherwise, they When a client computer attempts to forward the request to a Google Web Server. connect to Google, several DNS servers * Google web servers coordinate the resolve www.google.com into multiple IP execution of queries sent by users, then format addresses via Round Robin policy. the result into an HTML page. The execution Furthermore, this acts as the first level of load consists of sending queries to index servers, balancing and directs the client to different merging the results, computing their rank, Google clusters. A Google cluster has retrieving a summary for each hit (using the thousands of servers and once the client has document server), asking for suggestions from connected to the server additional load the spelling servers, and finally getting a list of balancing is done to send the queries to the advertisements from the ad server.Then it least loaded web server. This makes Google sends to clients one of the largest and most complex content * Ad servers manage delivery networks. advertisements offered by services like Ad Words and Ad Sense. * Spelling servers make suggestions about the spelling of queries.

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Server Hardware Softwares The original hardware (circa 1998) that was used by Google when it was located at Most of the software stack that Google Stanford University included: uses on their servers was developed in-house. * Sun Ultra II with dual 200 MHz It is believed that C++, Java, and Python are processors, and 256 MB of RAM. This was the favored over other programming languages. main machine for the original Backrub system. Google has acknowledged that Python * 2 × 300 MHz Dual Pentium II has played an important role from the Servers donated by Intel, they included 512 beginning, and that it continues to do so as the MB of RAM and 9 × 9 GB hard drives system grows and evolves. The software that between the two. It was on these that the main runs the Google infrastructure includes: search ran. * Google Web ServerGoogle File * F50 IBM RS/6000 donated by IBM, System included 4 processors, 512 MB of memory and * Big Table 8 × 9 GB hard drives. * Chubby lock service * Two additional boxes included 3 × 9 * Map Reduceand Sawzall programming GB hard drives and 6 x 4 GB hard drives language respectively (the original storage for Backrub). * Protocol buffers These were attached to the Sun Ultra II. * IBM disk expansion box with Server Operation another 8 × 9 GB hard drives donated by IBM. * Homemade disk box which Most operations are read-only. When contained 10 × 9 GB SCSI hard drives. an update is required, queries are redirected to other servers, so as to simplify consistency Current Hardware issues. Queries are divided into sub-queries, where those sub- queries may be sent to Servers are commodity-class x86 PCs different ducts in parallel, thus reducing the running customized versions of Linux. The latency time. To lessen the effects of goal is to purchase CPU generations that offer unavoidable hardware failure, software is the best performance per dollar, not absolute designed to be fault tolerant. Thus, when a performance. Estimates of the power required system goes down, data is still available on for over 450,000 servers range upwards of 20 other servers, which increases reliability. megawatts, which cost on the order of US$2 million per month in electricity charges. The By combined processing power of these servers might reach from 20 to 100 petaflops. The servers run custom server software called GIRINARAYANAN.R Google Web Server. III-B.Sc (CT) Data Centers

Google has numerous data centers scattered around the world. At least 12 significant Google data center installations are Windows 8 located in the United States. The largest known centers are located in The Dalles, Oregon; History and development Atlanta, Georgia, Reston, Virginia; Lenoir, North Carolina; and Goose Creek, South In June 2011 at the Consumer Carolina. In Europe, the largest known centers Electronics Show Microsoft announced that it are in Eemshaven and Groningen in the would be including support for system-on-a- Netherlands and Mons, Belgium. Google's chip (SoC) and mobile ARM processors in Oceania Data Center is claimed to be located Windows 8. A 32-bit Milestone 1 build, build in Sydney, Australia. 7850, with a build date of September 22, 2010,

20 INFOLINE was leaked to Beta Archive, an online beta Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo on May community, which was soon leaked to 23, 2011, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer P2P/torrent sharing networks on April 12, announced that the next version of Windows 2011 Milestone 1 includes a ribbon interface will be released the following year (in 2012). for Windows Explorer, a PDF reader called "And yet, as we look forward to the next Modern Reader, an updated task manager generation of Windows systems, which will called Modern Task Manager, and native ISO come out next year, there's a whole lot more image mounting. A 32-bit Milestone 2 build, coming. As we progress through the year, you build 7927, was leaked to The Pirate Bay on ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. August 29, 2011 right after many pictures Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of leaked on BetaArchive the day before. Features different form factors." However, the company of this build are mostly the same as build 7955. quickly corrected Ballmer's words in a A 32-bit Milestone 2 build, build 7955, was company statement issued that afternoon. "It leaked to BetaArchive on April 25, 2011. appears there was a misstatement. We are Features of this build were a new pattern login eagerly awaiting the next generation of and more. A 64-bit Milestone 3 build, build Windows 7 hardware that will be available in 7959, was leaked to BetaArchive on May 1, the coming fiscal year. To date, we have yet to 2011. This build is notable for being the first formally announce any timing or naming for publicly leaked Windows Server 8 build, as the next version of Windows." On June 1, well as the first leaked 64-bit build. A 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8 Milestone 3 build, build 7971, was released to and some of its new features at the Taipei close partners of Microsoft on March 29, 2011 Computex 2011 in Taipei (Taiwan) and at the but was kept under heavy security. However, a D9 conference in California (United States). few screenshots were leaked. The "Windows 7 Basic" theme now uses similar metrics to the The main feature that was shown was Aero style, but maintains its non-hardware the new user interface.On August 15, 2011, accelerated design, and also supports taskbar Microsoft opened a new blog called 'Building thumbnails. The boxes that encase the "close, Windows 8' for users and developers. maximize, and minimize" buttons have been Microsoft will cover more of the new features removed, leaving just the signs. A 64-bit and improvements in Windows 8 at the Milestone 3 build, build 7989, leaked to BUILD developer conference, scheduled for BetaArchive on June 18, 2011 after September 13-16, 2011. screenshots were revealed the previous day. An SMS feature, a new virtual keyboard, a new Features bootscreen, transparency in the basic theme, geo-location services, Hyper-V 3.0, and The main feature that was shown is the Powershell 3.0 were revealed in this build. extensively redesigned user interface, Other new features found in leaked builds optimized for touch as well as use with mice include a new Welcome screen, a new and keyboards. A new "Start screen", similar to packaged application model called AppX that the one in Windows Phone 7, includes live is based on Silverlight, and a setting to application tiles. It replaces the Start menu, automatically adjust window color to fit the being triggered by the Start button or Windows wallpaper. key, and is also the first screen shown on startup. The user can go to the regular desktop There is also a stripped down by choosing the "Desktop" tile or a traditional "Immersive" version of Internet Explorer, desktop-based application. similar to the mobile version of Internet Explorer, but using the desktop Trident Windows 8 has a new developer rendering engine and a new "Hybrid Boot" platform according to Microsoft Vice President option that uses "advanced hibernation Julie Larson-Green, who called it "our new functionality" on shutdown to allow faster developer platform, which is...based on startup times. Another is the ability to create a HTML5 and JavaScript." The new applications Portable Workspace: an installation of Windows 8 on a USB storage device. At the

21 INFOLINE run in full-screen, but two of them can be September 30, with a target launch date of displayed side-by-side using "Snap". October 7. This agrees with another report from TiPB a few days ago, and falls in line Examples of new applications that with those who believe that Apple will be were demoed include a Twitter client, a launching in late September to finish off the weather application, a stock-tracking third quarter strongly. 9to5Mac suggests that application, an RSS news feeder, and a virtual Apple has been trying to decide between a piano. The new interface is primarily designed launch on October 7 th or October 14 th , but as for 16:9 screen resolutions, with 1366×768 and things are going well for Apple in regards to larger screens able to display two Windows 8 production, the launch is currently set for the applications. 1024×768 screens can display 7th . Now, since this is unofficial and just a one Windows 8 application in full-screen, and rumor, this date could be the right one, could 1024×600 screens can only use the traditional be pushed back, or could be entirely false. Windows desktop. Mike Angiulo confirmed at But for now, it looks like Apple plans to Computex 2011 that Windows 8 will use OEM launch the next iPhone handset on this date. Activation 3.0 instead of Windows 7 OEM If the pre-order date is accurate and Apple Activation 2.1, which supposedly makes it less does intend to start allowing pre-orders on prone to cracks. Friday, September 30 th then it’s almost a certainty that they will hold some form of By preview event in early September. Apple has traditionally held an event in September, but SASIKUMAR.S the focus of this event was generally around II _B.Sc (CT) the iPod, iTunes and music in general. With music-only devices starting to become less important to Apple, it’s certainly possible that Apple will use their September event to focus on the new iPhone. Apple has also Apple Iphone-5 pointed to a September release for the new version of its iOS mobile operating system, dubbed iOS 5, and with the updated iOS now in its fifth beta it’s likely to be released alongside the next iPhone. The jury is still out as to what new devices we’ll see out of Apple this fall, with some analysts and media calling for a single new blockbuster handset and others suggesting Apple will release two new iPhones. The 9to5Mac report is in the latter camp, offering that Apple may release a new, more powerful handset than the current iPhone 4 and another less expensive handset that may be destined for prepaid markets. The updated Can you tell that we’re getting iPhone will most likely gain the newer A5 VERY close to the launch of Apple’s next- dual-core processor (currently powering the generation iPhone? Regardless of which iPad 2), an upgraded rear camera (likely 8 rumors you believe, there’s likely just a few megapixel), and possibly a larger 4.0” short weeks until Cupertino takes the wraps display. If Apple does release a less- off of the iPhone 5 (or iPhone 4S, or… expensive prepaid handset, it will almost iPhone ?) and ‘new’ reports surrounding the certainly be an underpowered iPhone 4 with launch of the device are coming in almost some of the bells and whistles taken out.As daily. Today, 9to5Mac posted that their per the usual, there is no word out of Apple sources are indicating that Apple is planning to confirm or deny today’s report, or to to start taking pre-orders for the next- suggest what’s going on with the next generation iPhone handset starting on iPhone. If you’re desperately waiting for the

22 INFOLINE iPhone 5, stay tuned as it appears that we’re just a couple of weeks away from hearing a firm date for Apple’s September event, where all will be revealed.

By

ARCHANA.P

III-B.Sc (IT)

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