After 5 years of non-stop, round-the-clock construction, the massive and awesome Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace was inaugurated today. The Akshardham Temple in New Delhi , India , constructed by the BAPS foundation -- the builders of the various Swaminaryan Temples across the world, is truely a modern day Wonder of the World.
It is one of the biggest and most intricate religious places of worship ever constructed. Combining several completely different and contrasting architectural styles of Hindu temple architecture of northern India -- Rajasthani, Orrisan, Gujarati, Mughal and Jain -- the Akshardham Monument is entirely constructed of marble and the red-sandstone that Delhi is famous for, and that so many of her monuments are constructed of. It was completed in only 5 years a world record of sorts
So after years of waiting, the Temple was yesterday opened to the public -- and to photographers. Below is the New Delhi Akshardham Complex as seen through the eyes of a BAPS photographer. The pictures are a great many and will take a long time to load, but totally, totally worth the wait!
At its inaguration, it is widely being heralded as one of the greatest monuments India has ever produced. I hope you enjoy viewing this architectual marvel as much as I enjoyed having the honor presenting it.
Monument of Akshardham
The Akshardham monument, built without steel, is entirely composed of sandstone and marble. It consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 murtis and statues of India 's great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine personalities.
The monument is a fusion of several architectural styles of pink stone and pure white marble. Pink stone symbolizes bhakti (devotion) in eternal bloom and white marble of absolute purity and eternal peace. The monument was built after over 300 million man hours of services rendered by 11,000 volunteers, sadhus and artisans.
It is the one of the wonders of the modern world, and the wonders of modern India .
How did we miss this in the Delhi tour ? ? ?
World's Costliest Advertisement ! A must see
This Advertisement for the new Honda Accord was shot in real time with no CGI involved in the sequence. It required 606 takes and cost $6 million to shoot and took 3 months to complete.
Click here to view the ADVERTISEMENT
The equipment was so precisely set up that the crew literally had to tip toe around the set for fear of disturbing things, which led to some unexpected problems. "As the day went on, the studio would get hotter," says Steiner. "It meant that the wood would expand and the cog or exhaust that spins around would move slightly faster." These tiny changes made big differences to the precision set-up of the equipment......
.....The sequence where the tires roll up a slope looks particularly impressive but is very simple. Steiner says that there is a weight in each tire and when the tire is knocked, the weight is displaced and in an attempt to rebalance itself, the tire rolls up the slope
Indian IT company rankings
The Economic Times
Nasscom’s annual ranking of exports of Indian software companies holds no great surprises this fiscal. Like the previous year, Tata Consultancy Services emerged the country’s No. 1 software exporter in 2001-02 too with an export earning of Rs 3,882 crore.
According to Nasscom list of top 20 Indian software export companies, Infosys occupied the second position with Rs 2,553 crore while Wipro was the third-largest software exporter with export revenue of Rs 2,298 crore.
Satyam Computer came fourth with Rs 1,703 crore export earnings, followed by HCL Technologies with Rs 1,320 crore. Next in the rankings came Patni Computer System at No. 6, followed by Silverline, Mahindra British Telecom, Pentasoft and HCL Perot Systems.
Among the top 10 MNC software exporters were IBM, Cognizant, Oracle, Hughes Software, Hewlett-Packard, Digital Globalsoft, Syntel, Covansys, PwC and Orbitech Solutions. This is the first time that Nasscom has decided to publish separate lists of top MNC and domestic software exporters. Orbitech Solutions has recently been merged with Polaris Software, but this is not reflected in this survey.
Nasscom survey also listed top third-party IT-enabled services (ITES) companies in the call centre and BPO space. Exl service is the largest of call centres, followed by Spectramind and GTL.
On the macro front, the country’s software and services industry registered a growth of 22% during 2001-02 at $10.1 billion, with software exports segment clocking a growth of 23% at $7.68 billion, according to Nasscom’s annual industry survey. Nasscom has estimated that the software services industry would clock revenues of Rs 60,700 crore ($12.3 billion) during the current financial year.
In 2001-02, revenue from domestic market stood at Rs 11,500 crore, with growth rate sliding to 16% during the year, from 30% in the previous year. In the financial year ending March 31, 2003, IT services exports are expected to grow 22% to Rs 35,800 crore and ITES exports to grow 65% to Rs 11,700 crore.
Replying to a query on whether travel advisories or border tensions could impact export growth of the country, Karnik said although growth targets worked out earlier did not have such built-in factors, events in the past few months were not likely to have a substantial impact on projections for the fiscal.
Business Standard
Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) emerged as India’s number one software exporter in 2001-02 with an export earning of Rs 3,882 crore.
Bangalore majors Infosys Technologies and Wipro were the number two and three, respectively, in the list of top 20 software firms compiled by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom).
The top 20 list also have few surprises with companies like DSQ Software, Tata Infotech, Pentamedia Graphics and Cognizant Technologies, who were in the list last year, being replaced.
The new entrants in the list include Mastek Systems, BirlaSoft, Polaris Software, L&T Information Technologies and Hexaware Technologies.
According to a Nasscom’s list of top 20 Indian software export companies, Infosys occupied the second position with Rs 2,553 crore, while Wipro was the third largest software exporter with export revenue of Rs 2,298 crore.
Satyam Computer came fourth with Rs 1,703 crore export earnings, followed by HCL Technologies with Rs 1,320 crore.
Next in the rankings came Patni Computer System at number six followed by Silverline, Mahindra British Telecom, Pentasoft and HCL Perot Systems.
Mascot system occupied the 11th slot ahead of NIIT which ranked 12th with Rs 400 crore export earnings followed by i-flex, Mphasis BFL and Mascon Global.
NIIT was ranked number eight in the Nasscom top 20 list in 2000-01. Others in the top 20 list included Mastek, Birlasoft, Polaris, L&T Information and Hexaware.
Among the top 10 multinational companies in terms of number of employees were IBM Global Systems, Cognizant Technology, Oracle, Hughes Software, Hewlett-Packard, Digital Globalsoft, Syntel, Covansys, PWC and Orbitech Solutions.
IBM Global Services is largest MNC software employer in the country with 3, 100 employees, with Cognizant and Oracle in number two and three positions employing 2,712 and 2000 people, respectively.
Nasscom survey also listed top third party IT enabled services (ITES) companies and put ‘EXL Service’ in the top slot which was followed by Spectramind, GTL, and Daksh in terms of revenues.
The industry association also ranks the mid-sized companies (revenues between Rs. 50 - Rs 100 crore).
SSI Technologies tops the list, with Visualsoft and Ramco Sytems at number two and three slots.
The top five product companies in terms of revenues include, I Flex, Infosys, TCS, Polaris and Nucleus Software.
Leading Indian R&D services companies are Wipro, HCL Technologies, Sasken Technologies, Satyam and TCS.
Controversy on the road to 1,000th Goal ! !
Romario, Brazil's legendary striker, is two goals short of reaching a milestone: his 1,000th goal.
At the age of 41, he is the main striker of his team, Vasco da Gama, one of Brazil's leading squads. 
This year alone, he has scored three hat-tricks.
If he does not score his 1,000th on Wednesday, his fans will look forward to Sunday, when Vasco confronts its most bitter rival, Flamengo, at Brazil's holy football ground, the Maracana Stadium.
So far, Romario has been outscored in world football only by Pele.
The legendary player hit the net 1,282 times - the only one to have scored more than 1,000 times.
And now the player known by his many fans as Shorty is likely to follow suit.
But is he really?
Own goal count
The goal count was done mainly by Romario himself and in order to speed up the process, he recently took part in a series of friendly matches and played short seasons for squads in the US and in Australia that would make Accrington Stanley look like Manchester United.
In Brazil, the local press acknowledges that Romario is nearly there, but says that the numbers are somewhat debatable.
Placar, one of Brazil's leading football magazines, claims Romario's personal stats credit him with 100 goals more than he has really scored. 
"Currently, there are several parallel counts going on in Brazil," says Joao Carlos Assumpção of SportTV, a Brazilian sports channel.
"Some say Romario has seven goals fewer than he claims and others think he should not include the ones he scored during his youth league days, before becoming a professional.
"Critics say that the perfect day for goal 1,000 would be on April Fools Day," he says.
But many of Brazil's football pundits and fans have chosen not to dig deep in the controversy, for they believe Romario has more than earned the goals he claims.
Among them is Tostao, currently one of Brazil's leading football writers and a former legend of the 1970 Brazilian squad. 
Romario is absurdly gifted 
Tostao claims that whether he is about to reach 1,000 or a bit less is irrelevant.
"Some goals are being disputed because they were not scored in official games.
"But it's Romario's figures and he should be respected. Whether he scored 900, 950 or 1000, that does not diminish the genius of Romario, one of the greatest players of all time."
According to Tostao, "he is not only a fabulous striker, but a player who foresees the moves of his opponents in a few seconds. It's a knowledge that goes beyond logic. Romario is absurdly gifted".
Jose Geraldo Couto, who is also a leading film critic, says that the controversy surrounding Romario's 1000 goals is a bit like the famous quote from the western The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
"A great deal of football history is based on myth and cannot rely solemnly on facts and figures," the critic says.
"The exact number is less relevant than the fact that Romario always dreamed of scoring 1,000 goals".
Ipod Models Amazing ! ! !
Identifying iPod models
This post will help you determine the model of iPod you have as well as the latest version of iPod software available for your model.
- If it has a scroll wheel, a touch wheel, or a Click Wheel.
- The capacity of its hard drive.
- If it has a color or monochrome screen.
- The dock connector.
| Icon | Model | Year-Month introduced | Scrolling device | Capacity | Current iPod Software Version |
 | iPod shuffle (Second Generation) (1 GB) | 2006-09 | n/a | 1 GB | 1.0.3 |
 | Fifth Generation iPod (Late 2006) (30 GB or 80 GB) | 2006-09 | Click Wheel | 30 GB or 80 GB | 1.2.1 |
 | iPod nano (Second Generation) (2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB) | 2006-09 | Click Wheel | 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB | 1.1.3 |
 | iPod nano (1 GB) | 2006-02 | Click Wheel | 1 GB | 1.3.1 |
| Fifth Generation iPod (also known as iPod with video) (60 GB) | 2005-10 | Click Wheel | 60 GB | 1.2.1 |
| Fifth Generation iPod (also known as iPod with video) (30 GB) | 2005-10 | Click Wheel | 30 GB | 1.2.1 |
| iPod nano (4 GB) | 2005-09 | Click Wheel | 4 GB | 1.3.1 |
| iPod nano (2 GB) | 2005-09 | Click Wheel | 2 GB | 1.3.1 |
 | iPod with color display (60 GB) | 2005-06 | Click Wheel | 60 GB | 1.2.1 |
| iPod with color display (20 GB) | 2005-06 | Click Wheel | 20 GB | 1.2.1 |
| iPod photo (30 GB) (also known as iPod with color display) | 2005-02 | Click Wheel | 30 GB | 1.2.1 |
 | iPod mini (4 GB Second Generation) | 2005-02 | Click Wheel | 4 GB | 1.4.1 |
| iPod mini (6 GB Second Generation) | 2005-02 | Click Wheel | 6 GB | 1.4.1 |
 | iPod shuffle (512 MB) | 2005-01 | n/a | 512 MB | 1.1.5 |
| iPod shuffle (1 GB) | 2005-01 | n/a | 1 GB | 1.1.5 |
| iPod photo (40 GB) (also known as iPod with color display) | 2004-10 | Click Wheel | 40 GB | 1.2.1 |
| iPod photo (60 GB) (also known as iPod with color display) | 2004-10 | Click Wheel | 60 GB | 1.2.1 |
 | iPod (20 GB Click Wheel) | 2004-07 | Click Wheel | 20 GB | 3.1.1 |
| iPod (40 GB Click Wheel) | 2004-07 | Click Wheel | 40 GB | 3.1.1 |
| iPod mini | 2004-01 | Click Wheel | 4 GB | 1.4.1 |
 | iPod (20 GB dock connector) | 2003-09 | touch wheel | 20 GB | 2.3 |
| iPod (40 GB dock connector) | 2003-09 | touch wheel | 40 GB | 2.3 |
| iPod (10 GB dock connector) | 2003-04 | touch wheel | 10 GB | 2.3 |
| iPod (15 GB dock connector) | 2003-04 | touch wheel | 15 GB | 2.3 |
| iPod (30 GB dock connector) | 2003-04 | touch wheel | 30 GB | 2.3 |
 | iPod (10 GB touch wheel) | 2002-07 | touch wheel | 10 GB | 1.5 |
| iPod (20 GB touch wheel) | 2002-07 | touch wheel | 20 GB | 1.5 |
| iPod (10 GB scroll wheel) | 2002-03 | scroll wheel | 10 GB | 1.5 |
| iPod (5 GB scroll wheel) | 2001-10 | scroll wheel | 5 GB | 1.5 |
How to tell iPod's hard drive size
To determine your iPod's hard drive size:
- Select Main Menu > Settings > About.
- On some models, the hard drive size is engraved on the metal case near the bottom.
How to tell which model you have
Several external features can help you identify your iPod.Fifth Generation iPod (Late 2006) (also known as iPod with video)
You can distinguish the Fifth Generation iPod (Late 2006) from the original Fifth Generation iPod by the last three digits of the serial number. The Fifth Generation iPod (Late 2006) serial number's last three digits will be one of the following: V9K, V9P, V9M, V9R, V9L, V9N, V9Q, V9S, WU9, WUA, WUB, WUC, and X3N. The Fifth Generation U2 Special Edition iPod (30 GB Late 2006) serial number's last three digits are W9G.
Fifth Generation iPod (also known as iPod with video)
The Fifth Generation iPod is a a hard drive-based iPod featuring a large, widescreen color display, a Click Wheel, and the capability of displaying photos and videos. Like iPod nano, it uses USB for syncing and comes in white and black.
iPod nano (Second Generation) is distinguished from other models by:
- Its smaller size.
- Its colors.
- The dock connector and headphones port are both located on the bottom of the unit.
The iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition is an iPod nano (Second Generation) available in red and with a 4 GB or 8 GB drive capacity. With each iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED purchased, $10 from the sale goes directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.
iPod nano is smaller than iPod mini and has a color screen and a Click Wheel but has flash memory instead of a hard drive. Song and photo syncing only occurs over USB 2 (not FireWire). iPod nano comes in white and black. The capacity of the iPod nano is engraved on the back of the case (1 GB, 2 GB, or 4 GB).
The dock connector (1) and headphone jack (2) are both on the bottom of the iPod nano.
iPod shuffle (Second Generation)
iPod shuffle (Second Generation) is smaller than the original iPod shuffle and has no USB connector.
iPod shuffle
iPod shuffle is smaller than iPod mini and has no display. There are LED lights on the front and back. The capacity of the drive is engraved on the front USB connector.
iPod mini is distinguished from other models by:
- Its smaller size.
- Its colors.
- The Hold switch, which is on the top-left side.
- The Click Wheel's button labels, which are on the wheel itself.
The iPod mini (Second Generation) models are distinguished from the original iPod mini models by:
- Hard drive size engraved on back of unit.
- Click Wheel text color matches iPod mini (Second Generation) color
- Click here for more differences.
iPod with color display
iPod and iPod photo are now one and the same, with every white iPod boasting a full-color display. They continue to have the same controls as iPod (Click Wheel) but now all models have a color display like iPod photo - ideal for viewing album artwork and playing slideshows. These are considered fourth generation models along with iPod (Click Wheel).
iPod (Click Wheel)
iPod (Click Wheel) models have a Click Wheel like the iPod mini, but are larger and the hold switch is on the top-right side. iPod (Click Wheel) models have a monochrome display. iPod (Click Wheel) is referred to as the fourth generation iPod.
iPod Special Edition U2
The iPod Special Edition U2 is a standard iPod model with certain external differences including: Black plastic exterior, red Click Wheel, signatures of the U2 band members engraved on the back, and "iPod Special Edition U2" engraved on the back. The first model was based an iPod (Click Wheel) with a 20 GB hard drive. In June 2005 a new version of the iPod Special Edition U2 was introduced that was based on an iPod with color display Generation iPod . These are both also considered fourth generation iPod models. In June 2006, a new version of the iPod Special Edition U2 was introduced that is based on a Fifth Generation iPod (also known as iPod with video) with a 30 GB hard drive. In Sept 2006 a model based on the Fifth Generation iPod (30 GB Late 2006) was introduced. You can distinguish Fifth Generation U2 Special Edition iPod (Late 2006) from the Fifth Generation U2 Special Edition iPod by the last three digits of the serial number. The Fifth Generation U2 Special Edition iPod (30 GB Late 2006) serial number's last three digits are W9G.
iPod Special Edition Harry Potter
The iPod Special Edition Harry Potter is a standard iPod model with the Hogwarts Crest engraved on the back:
The first model was based an iPod with color display with a 20 GB hard drive. In October 2005 a new version of the iPod Special Edition Harry Potter was introduced that was based on an Fifth Generation iPod with a 30 GB hard drive.
iPod photo (also known as iPod with color display)
iPod photo models are functionally and visually identical to the iPod with color display (see above photo).
iPod (dock connector) models have a dock connector as illustrated here.
Newer iPod models like iPod (Click Wheel) and iPod mini also have a dock connector, but the iPod (dock connector) has a touch wheel instead of a Click Wheel and the four control buttons are above the touch wheel. iPod (dock connector models are referred to as third generation iPod models.
All iPod (touch wheel) models have a FireWire port cover. Scroll wheel models don't, and dock connector models don't have a FireWire port. The iPod (touch wheel) model controls look similar to the iPod (scroll wheel) but the touch wheel itself does not turn. iPod (touch wheel) models are considered second generation iPod models. The top of an iPod (touch wheel) model is shown here:
2. FireWire port
3. Headphones port
4. Hold switch
iPod (scroll wheel)
iPod (scroll wheel) models have a scroll wheel that physically turns. The controls (Play, Menu, Next, Previous) appear in a circle around the wheel. iPod (scroll wheel) models are referred to as first generation iPod models.
Courtesy : www.apple.info
Earn to blog !
