What is Android?

 Android Software 

Android is a software stack for mobile devices that includes an operating system, middleware and key applications. The Android SDK provides the tools and APIs necessary to begin developing applications on the Android platform using the Java programming language.

Features

·         Application framework enabling reuse and replacement of components

·         Dalvik virtual machine optimized for mobile devices

·         Integrated browser based on the open source Web Kit engine

·         Optimized graphics powered by a custom 2D graphics library; 3D graphics based on the OpenGL ES 1.0 specification (hardware acceleration optional)

·         SQLite for structured data storage

·         Media support for common audio, video, and still image formats (MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG, GIF)

·         GSM Telephony (hardware dependent)

·         Bluetooth, EDGE, 3G, and WiFi (hardware dependent)

·         Camera, GPS, compass, and accelerometer (hardware dependent)

·         Rich development environment including a device emulator, tools for debugging, memory and performance profiling, and a plugin for the Eclipse IDE

IPhone

 iPhone

·         The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smart phones designed and marketed by Apple Inc. 

•      The first iPhone was introduced on January 9, 2007.  
•       On July 11, 2008, Apple released the iPhone 3G in twenty-two countries, including the original six. 
•       The iPhone 4 has two cameras for FaceTime video calling and a higher-resolution display. It was released on June 24, 2010.

IPCC

IPCC

·         It is in fact because of the need of broad and balanced information about climate change that the organization was created back in 1989. It was set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) as an effort by the United Nations to provide the governments of the world with a clear scientific view of what is happening to the world’s climate.

·         The initial task for the IPCC as outlined in the UN General Assembly Resolution 43/53 of 6 December 1988 was to prepare a comprehensive review and recommendations with respect to the state of knowledge of the science of climate change; social and economic impact of climate change, possible response strategies and elements for inclusion in a possible future international convention on climate.

·         The scientific evidence brought up by the first IPCC Assessment Report of 1990 unveiled the importance of climate change as a topic deserving a political platform among countries to tackle its consequences. It therefore played a decisive role in leading to the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the key international treaty to reduce global warming and cope with the consequences of climate change.

·         The IPCC Second Assessment Report of 1995 provided key input in the way to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

·         The Third Assessment Report came out in 2001, and the Fourth in the course of 2007.

·         Its latest major report, “Climate Change 2007”, clearly brought to the attention of the world the scientific understanding of the present changes in our climate and lead the organization to be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize at the end of that same year.

·        Presently Secretary of the IPCC is Dr Renate CHRIST.                                

DRDO

DRDO

DRDO was formed in 1958 from the amalgamation of the then already functioning Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence Science Organisation (DSO).

DRDO was then a small organisation with 10 establishments or laboratories. Over the years, it has grown multi-directionally in terms of the variety of subject disciplines, number of laboratories, achievements and stature.

Today, DRDO is a network of more than 50 laboratories which are deeply engaged in developing defence technologies covering various disciplines, like aeronautics, armaments, electronics, combat vehicles, engineering systems, instrumentation, missiles, advanced computing and simulation, special materials, naval systems, life sciences,training, information systems and agriculture. Presently, the Organisation is backed by over 5000 scientists and about 25,000 other scientific, technical and supporting personnel. Several major projects for the development of missiles, armaments, light combat aircrafts, radars, electronic warfare systems etc are on hand and significant achievements have already been made in several such technologies.

The DRDO is headed by the Scientific Advisor to the Raksha Mantri (Defence Minister) who is also the Director General Research & Development in the Ministry of Defence and the Secretary, Department of Defence Research & Development (DDR&D). At the headquarters level, he is assisted by Chief Controller (s) Research & Development (CCR&D), Technical and Corporate Directorates. Corporate Directorates cover the area/function of Personnel, Finance & Resources, Training, Civil Works & Estates, Raj Bhasha, Vigilance & O&M, etc and Technical Directorates act as an interface between the Laboratories and the Chief Controllers and the Scientific Advisor to the RM. The Addl Financial Adviser advices the organisation on the proper utilisation of the finances as per the objectives of the organisation.

Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, has been appointed Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri, DG DRDO, Secretary Defence R&D w.e.f. 1^st Sep 2009.

Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission

the Government of India has approved “Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission” (JNNSM) which aims at development and deployment of solar energy technologies in the country to achieve parity with grid power tariff by 2022.

The objective of the National Solar Mission is to establish India as a global leader in solar energy, by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion across the country as quickly as possible. The Mission will adopt a 3-phase approach, spanning the remaining period of the 11th Plan and first year of the 12th Plan (up to 2012-13) as Phase 1, the remaining 4 years of the 12th Plan (2013-17) as Phase 2 and the 13th Plan (2017-22) as Phase 3.

At the end of each plan, and mid-term during the 12th and 13th Plans, there will be an evaluation of progress, review of capacity and targets for subsequent phases, based on emerging cost and technology trends, both domestic and global. The aim would be to protect Government from subsidy exposure in case expected cost reduction does not materialize or is more rapid than expected.

To achieve this, the Mission targets are:

• To create an enabling policy framework for the deployment of 20,000 MW of solar power by 2022.
• To ramp up capacity of grid-connected solar power generation to 1000 MW within three years – by 2013; an additional 3000 MW by 2017 through the mandatory use of the renewable purchase obligation by utilities backed with a preferential tariff. This capacity can be more than doubled – reaching 10,000MW installed power by 2017 or more, based on the enhanced and enabled international finance and technology transfer. The ambitious target for 2022 of 20,000 MW or more, will be dependent on the ‘learning’ of the first two phases, which if successful, could lead to conditions of grid-competitive solar power. The transition could be appropriately up scaled, based on availability of international finance and technology. 
• To create favourable conditions for solar manufacturing capability, particularly solar thermal for indigenous production and market leadership. 
• To promote programmes for off grid applications, reaching 2000 MW by 2022 including 20 million solar lighting systems. 
• To achieve 20 million sq. solar thermal collector area by 2022.

BROADBAND POLICY 2004

BROADBAND POLICY 2004

Keeping in view the present status, Broadband connectivity is defined at present as

“An ‘always-on’ data connection that is able to support interactive services including Internet access and has the capability of the minimum download speed of 256 kilo bits per second (kbps) to an individual subscriber from the Point Of Presence (POP) of the service provider intending to provide Broadband service where multiple such individual Broadband connections are aggregated and the subscriber is able to access these interactive services including the Internet through this POP.  The interactive services will exclude any services for which a separate licence is specifically required, for example, real-time voice transmission, except to the extent that it is presently permitted under ISP licence with Internet Telephony.”

2.0   The estimated growth for Broadband and Internet subscribers in the country envisaged through various technologies is as follows:

Year Ending	Internet Subscribers	Broadband Subscribers
2005	6 million	3 million
2007	18 million	9 million
2010	40 million	20 million

3.0   Technology Options for Broadband Services

The Broadband Policy Framework visualises creation of infrastructure through various access technologies which can contribute to growth and can mutually coexist. Spread of infrastructure is a must for healthy competition and therefore it would be the endeavour of the Government that the telecommunication infrastructure growth in the country is not compromised in any manner.

3.1      Various access technologies, inter-alia, are:

(a) Optical Fibre Technologies

The fibre optics technology can provide nearly unlimited bandwidth potential and is steadily replacing copper network specially in intra-city backbone networks.  This is being deployed in commercial buildings and complexes and some metros / big cities having high-density potential broadband subscribers.  Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC), Fibre to the Curb (FTTC) and Fibre to the Home (FTTH) networks make use of fibre cabling into the last mile. The fibre based models are future proof as they are able to provide huge amounts of bandwidth in the last mile as well as provide a true IP and converged network that can deliver high quality voice, data and video.

There are more than 4.5 lakh route kms. of optical fibre laid by BSNL / MTNL and more than 1 lakh route kms laid by private operators.  The spread of the networks of private service providers have to play an important role in bringing the fibre to homes as well as the rural areas and they are expected to focus on it.

With the increase in commercial availability of fibre technologies, the cost of fibre rollout is approaching the cost of other wired networks. Spread of optical fibre networks shall be emphasised keeping in view the long-term perspective.

           

(b)       Digital Subscriber Lines(DSL) on copper loop :

DSL has proved to be an important technology for provisioning of Broadband services through the copper loop. The owners of copper loop have to be given a high priority because their role is critical as key drivers in the Broadband service market using DSL.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) as well as other access providers are expected to aggressively use their copper loop infrastructure for providing Broadband services through this technology.

Recognising that last mile copper loop is not a ‘bottleneck facility’ for broadband services, access providers shall be free to enter into mutually agreed commercial arrangements for utilization of available copper loop for expansion of broadband services.  The owner of local loop shall be free to decide the areas in which investment is to be made to upgrade the infrastructure for Broadband services.  The information regarding the areas in which Broadband services are being offered by a service provider shall be available in the public domain. 

Further, use of brand-name being treated as a part of the value shall be permitted in such commercial arrangements.

There are more than 40 million copper loops in the country available with BSNL and MTNL out of which 14 million loops are in rural areas. Copper cable network of these operators is a combination of old and new cable and  this makes provisioning of Broadband on all the available copper loop technically unfit . Therefore, around 25-30% of the remaining 26 million loops, i.e. approximately 7 million loops can be leveraged for broadband service by BSNL and MTNL taking into account the condition / life of copper cable and demand potential. 

Management of BSNL and MTNL has decided to provide 1.5 million connections by the end of 2005.  The corporate / work plan of these PSUs have been drawn up for this purpose.  Thereafter, annual plan for expansion of Broadband services by BSNL and MTNL will be determined in consultation with them. A quarterly review of their performance by the Government in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) shall be undertaken to evaluate the achievement and redefine the future roadmap, if necessary.

It is hoped that other access service providers would also provide broadband connections using their copper in a targeted manner.  A constructive review of their performance shall also be undertaken.

(c) Cable TV Network

It is noted that cable TV connection as last mile infrastructure reaches more people than even the telephone copper infrastructure and can be leveraged in providing cable operators a new business model while giving a stimulus to Broadband penetration. Therefore, Cable TV network can be used as franchisee network of the service provider for provisioning Broadband services.  However, all responsibilities for ensuring compliance of terms & conditions of the licence shall vest with the Licensee.  The terms of franchise agreement between Licensee and his franchisee shall be settled mutually by negotiation between the two parties involved.

(d) Satellite Media

Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT) and Direct-to-Home(DTH) services would be encouraged for penetration of Broadband and Internet services with the added advantage to serve remote and inaccessible areas. 

It is the intention of the Government to make available transponder capacity for VSAT services at competitive rates after taking into consideration the security requirements. Department of Space is already interacting with VSAT service providers. Department of Telecommunications, in consultation with the concerned Ministries, will soon propose measures in the direction of Open Sky Policy for VSAT operators. The role of Department of Space is critical in such an endeavour. 

VSAT service providers are permitted to transmit data upto 2Mbps instead of earlier limit of 512 kbps in a Closed User Group domestic VSAT network.  The increased data rate allows new applications like bulk data transfer for software industry, high-speed backhaul links, in-house training using audio-visual etc.   Reduction in antenna size enables easy installation, lower space occupancy, lower cost of hardware etc.  Accordingly, the antenna size has been reduced to 1.2 metres and 2.4 metres for star network and mesh network respectively in extended C-band.  In Ku-band also, 1 metre diameter antenna in star network has been permitted.  To keep pace with technological advances, this shall be periodically reviewed. 

Commercial VSAT service providers having ISP licence shall be permitted use of same hub station and remote station to provide Internet service directly to the subscribers.  Further, this remote station shall be permitted to be used as a distribution point to provide Internet services to multiple independent subscribers.  Necessary amendments in the licence  agreement shall be carried out immediately. 

DTH service providers shall be permitted to provide Receive Only Internet Service after obtaining ISP licence from Department of Telecommunications. Further, ISP licensees shall be permitted to allow customers for downloading data through DTH after obtaining necessary permission from the competent authority.  DTH Service providers will also be permitted to provide bidirectional Internet services after obtaining VSAT and ISP licence from DoT.

(e) Terrestrial Wireless

Recognising that terrestrial wireless is another upcoming technology platform for Broadband, it has been decided in principle to de-licence 2.40-2.48 GHz band for low-power outdoor use on non-protection,  non-interference and non-exclusive basis.  Necessary notification shall be issued.  Further, notification regarding delicensing 2.40-2.4835 MHz band for low power indoor  permitting use of all technologies, which inter-alia include those based on IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g  standards, has been issued.

To accelerate penetration of Broadband and Internet, the 5.15-5.35 GHz band shall be de-licensed for the indoor use of low power Wi-Fi systems.  For outdoor use, the band 5.25-5.35 GHz shall be de-licensed in consultation with DoS and delicensing in the band 5.15-5.25 GHz would be considered after the process of vacation.  Alternative spectrum bands which are not in high usage and could be deployed for Broadband services, shall also be explored and identified.

(f) Future Technologies

In the changing technology scenario, there is a possibility of new options being used for provisioning of Broadband services.  These technologies can also be utilised for provisioning of such services within the licensing framework of the service provider and the spectrum management policy of DoT.