$125 MIPS-based Smart Tab 1 brings Jelly Bean on a budget to India

A MIPS-based tablet was the first slate to officially run Android Ice Cream Sandwich, and the processor technology will also beat the crowds to running the new Jelly Bean OS. It might be second to the Nexus 7, but Karbonn Mobiles' new Smart Tab 1, available to the Indian market only, runs Google's latest software -- and its MIPS-based JZ4770 SoC, clocked at 1.2GHz, allows for the low price of $125. The 7-inch Smart Tab 1 itself isn't new -- it debuted with ICS in July -- but current owners will receive an update, and new units will ship with Jelly Bean. Other specs include a 2-megapixel front shooter, HDMI support, 3G support through a USB dongle and up to 32GB of expandable storage via the microSD card slot. Head to the press release past the break for more info.

Continue reading $125 MIPS-based Smart Tab 1 brings Jelly Bean on a budget to India

Filed under: Tablet PCs

$125 MIPS-based Smart Tab 1 brings Jelly Bean on a budget to India originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Karbonn Mobiles  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/31/125-mips-based-smart-tab-1-jelly-bean/

SYKES ENTERPRISES INORATED SYBASE

GeekDad Community Discussion: Is Algebra Necessary?

Discuss this post:

Is Algebra Necessary? [Recent NY Times Article]

Illustration by Adam Hayes for the New York Times

The New York Times recently ran an opinion piece entitled Is Algebra Necessary?

It questions whether schools focus too much on trying to teach a subject that causes many students to drop out of school entirely, with some schools seeing as many as 45% failing to finish high school.

Please have a read of the full article and let us know your thoughts on this important subject.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/is-algebra-necessary.html?_r=2&smid=tw-share

Recent comments:
• Krist S

  I have a very biased opinion (I work in software, clearly math/science/tech heavy). But algebra doesn't seem all that advanced to me.  How do you use trig without algebra? How does a business person decide how much to charge for a product and still make a profit without algebra? How do you set a family budget or manage retirement plans without algebra? Even fairly manual labor including jobs in construction or foodservice would vastly benefit from knowing how to solve at least basic algebra (e.g. resource planning). Probably, those people already do algebra but they don't think of it in terms of X and Y.

  Yeah, I can see how some of the more advanced parts of algebra are not that applicable to every day life, but I can't see how the basics can possibly be considered completely unnecessary for even very non-mathematical jobs.

  
  I would fully support having our schools provide other ways to accelerate learning or exploring of topics. It is typically up to us parents to provide the advanced atheletics or music or writing (or whatever other gifts our kids have) by searching out extra curricular activities for them, though any individual school has limited resources and it isn't usually feasible to offer a subject that very few kids would be interested in taking. It would be nice of schools and communities could pool their resources more for those so-called "extras" to make them available to the kids who don't have parents with money and time to spare to go hunt it down themselves.

  Reply
• Dave Hale

  This is kind of a tricky topic that causes a split of opinion even in my own mind. On one hand, I feel algebra is necessary as a stepping stone into higher math (like trig and calc). But on the other hand, I have heard that in some foreign countries, they have two separate sets of schools, one set focuses on "liberal arts" like history, language, writing, etc. and the other focuses on STEM-like subjects and kids have to decide what they are going to be when they grow up and go to the appropriate school.

  On the one hand, it seems like that would be beneficial because they can focus only on the subjects that they are really interested in and will benefit their future career.

  But on the other hand, pre-college education, when most kids are still trying to figure out what they want to be, should provide a wide range of "general education" to a)provide the basics of knowledge about subjects that really do affect everyday life and b)allow students to experience a wide range of subjects that might pique their interest that they never would have previously considered.

  For example, when I was in High School, one of our electives we had to choose between Anthropology or Psychology. up until high school I had wanted to be either a paleontologist or archaeologist, so Anthropology would have been the safer choice, but at that time, I began to feel that being away on digs for months at a time would make it difficult to raise a family so I realized I needed to figure something else out. My brother and best friend each took the psych class and loved it so I decided to give it a try. I loved it so much I earned my bachelor's in it and, after I finish pharmacy school, hope to specialize in psychiatric pharmacy. None of that would have happened if I didn't have a school that offered it.

  Reply
• Brian Cheetham

  Well OK, except for the fact that math isn't failing! I know it's a common theme: "the US is something_other_than_first_in_the_world in science and math scores." When someone tells you that, you should ask them to show their work. Where is the Global Math Test that was administered to all students or adults world wide to draw such a dire conclusion.

  I'm a math guy. I get math. I actually fell in love with it because of algebra. But any honest dialog about this must admit that not everyone gets math the same way you and I do. You say it's about functional relationships, but to some, it's alphabet soup. Not because they are dumb, or not smart enough, but because they are gifted in other areas. And what I'm saying is that there is no parallel track for those students!

  Can everyone/almost everyone "pass" algebra? No doubt. Will some struggle mightily to do so? No doubt. I argue that for those, their time might be better spent at doing something they'll love instead of something they hate and will not pursue post graduation.

  Reply
• Ryan Norman

  In many ways this is completely missing the mark - if literacy was falling we definitely would not be talking about decreasing reading classes.  Algebra is important.  Plain and simple.  Why?  Algebra is all about functional relationships.  We are surrounded by functional relationships (for instance a very simple function maps my keyboard keys to a specific alphabet).  In addition, education is not about getting a job.  It never has been.  It is about creating a society in which the members have a solid grasp of the world that surrounds them so that they can make informed decisions concerning their lives and future.

  
  A different question is whether we are teaching algebra in a useful way to all students?  I think increasing the flexibility of teaching algebra to students is a more worthy topic - but obviously one which would not garner all this attention for the author...

  Reply
• Brian Cheetham

  The article's title is a little misleading. The author isn't arguing that Algebra isn't necessary, but that it's not necessary for everyone.

  I have three kids: one who graduated high school last year, two who are in middle school now. Our oldest took Algebra in 8th grade, the earliest that you could when he was in middle school, unless you were off-the-charts genius. One of my middle schoolers took Algebra in 7th grade, same thing, the earliest you can take it unless... When I was in school, pretty much everyone took Algebra in 9th grade or later.

  While I have no problem with pushing higher math down to younger students who can handle it, the question arises: what about other subjects? Why do we only push/reward students with mathematic aptitude? The path for the science and English curricula are basically the same as when I was in high school, 25 years ago. Ditto for art, music, athletics, history, etc.

  The point the author makes is that by making Algebra so important, we overlook other gifts and aptitudes. Kids who are gifted at writing may benefit more from higher-level reading or writing classes. Instead, we force square pegs into round holes with the idea that everyone can/should do this.

  Reply
• Les Murphy

  I think it's important to expose children to as many school subjects as possible.  That way they can decide what they like and move in that direction.  I have used algebra in my personal and professional life.  It might have only been solve for x, and not double replacement.  I didn't need a graph, but I did need that exposure so I could solve real life problems.  Considering that and the fact that the US is being left behind when it comes to math and sciences we need to show students what's out there.  Should we set them up to fail by making them take four years of a subject they have no aptitude for?  No. However we shouldn't just not give them the chance to succeed either.

  Reply
• Nathan Barry

  Personally, I can't think of a single time I've used algebra in the 20 years since I left school - apart from trying to work out some of the GeekDad weekly puzzles (which I'm not even allowed to enter!), so I can see why this might make sense. I use trigonometry regularly when building stuff around the house, but algebra and calculus always seemed pretty pointless to me - and I studied Maths up to A-Level here in the UK.

  The author makes a valid point about how "Making mathematics mandatory prevents us from discovering and developing young talent" - as the mathematical and artistic/creative sides of the brain often develop and work differently, but in my own case, my mathematical mind has informed my creative career. I'm a web designer with a very geometric illustration style. I like to create, neat clean code, with pixel-perfect layouts and admire minimal design, symmetry and simplicity - and I believe this all stems from learning maths at school.

  Reply

Reply to this Discussion

Source: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/07/is-algebra-necessary/

SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY SCIENTIFIC GAMES

Download the Insider Threat Deep Dive Report

Insiders are responsible for as much as 80 percent of malicious attacks. Because insiders are trusted by nature, detecting their illicit activities requires an array of monitoring, scanning, and other techniques. Roger Grimes, an InfoWorld contributing editor -- and a working security professional who tracks down unscrupulous insiders -- explains how to plan and execute a complete insider threat strategy.

In this Deep Dive special report, InfoWorld takes you through the three stages of dealing with insider threats:

Source: http://podcasts.infoworld.com/t/insider-threats/download-the-insider-threat-deep-dive-report-193502?source=rss_infoworld_top_stories_

INTERSECTIONS INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER

Faulty vest valve blamed for F-22 pilots' hypoxia symptoms

Valve on pressure vests worn at high altitude caused pilots of the jet fighter to experience dizziness, disorientation, and even blackouts for years.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57479311-76/faulty-vest-valve-blamed-for-f-22-pilots-hypoxia-symptoms/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

NVIDIA NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS

For Wil Wheaton’s 40th Birthday, We Declare it “Non Esse A Verpum!” Day

Illustration by Chuck Gamble

Every year we wish awesome geek actor/writer/gamer Wil Wheaton a happy birthday. Today is his 40th birthday, which many people consider some kind of milestone (personally, I enjoyed turning 42 myself). We always wish we could get just the right gift for him, but what do you get for the geek who has everything?

Well, he answered this on Twitter just yesterday. To paraphrase, he asked everyone to just celebrate his birthday in the spirit of his personal catchphrase (his fans will understand).

Considering we are a family blog, we can’t quite bring ourselves to use the exact phraseology. However, being something of a Latin geek (4 years in junior high and high school), I figured translating it into a classical language would make it all better.

As such, we at GeekDad would like to formally declare, henceforth from today, that every July 29th shall be celebrated as “Non Esse A Verpum!” Day. Happy birthday, Wil!

 

Source: http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2012/07/happy-40th-birthday-wil-wheaton/

NANYA TECHNOLOGY NII HOLDINGS

Engadget's first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones!

You asked, you pined and here it is -- welcome to our first (but certainly not last) UK competition. To kick off proceedings, we have three of Sony's latest flagship, the Xperia S, to offer up to our readers on the eastern side of the Atlantic. As it's our first competition for Britons, we advise that you read up on the rules after the break, then just leave a comment below to enter.

Unfortunately, the adorable robot isn't up for grabs in our giveaway (we asked), but if you manage to track down a similar automaton around the UK, Sony's running a separate contest where you can net a free Xperia U in exchange -- visit the more coverage links for hints. Good luck!

Continue reading Engadget's first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones!

Filed under: Announcements

Engadget's first UK Giveaway: win one of three Sony Xperia S phones! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/30/engadget-uk-giveaway-xperia-s/

FIRST SOLAR FINISAR

Actiance Links Social Compliance With Salesforce CRM

Socialite tool helps salespeople get credit for social media interaction in Salesforce.com, even as it ensures corporate control.

Source: http://feeds.informationweek.com/click.phdo?i=7de78b09bd188cec78da1630dfd77d15

HEWLETT PACKARD CO HEARTLAND PAYMENT SYSTEMS

A Few Good Rounds: Trends In Venture Capital Over The Last 12 Years

A

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/uGE0oKSOa2Y/

ACER ADOBE SYSTEMS

How 6 Tech Execs Set Social Example

For better or worse, execs prove the power of social leadership. From Benioff to Ballmer, how do tech's bigwigs stack up?

Source: http://feeds.informationweek.com/click.phdo?i=00f19222262cd8f0fa8bfe2c04aa5d15

SHAW COMMUNICATIONS MCAFEE

ZTE Grand X reaches UK shops a tad early through Phones4U

Virgin Mobile had originally promised the UK version of the ZTE Grand X for early August. The carrier just can't contain its enthusiasm: it's letting retail partner Phones4U sell the budget smartphone as of today. While you're busy skipping the start of the Olympics, the store will give you a Grand X for free if you're willing to spend at least £20.50 ($32) per month on a tariff instead of opting for the £190 ($299) pay-as-you-go hardware price. As we saw in China, the appeal of the Grand X is in those numbers -- it's more the temptation of stock Android 4.0 in a low-priced (if capable) suit than the hardware. Phones4U does hope to sweeten the pot through a contest. We hope you like the musical styles of Professor Green, as the British retailer is giving early Grand X adopters a chance to win both a custom Professor Green case as well as tickets to a private concert.

Filed under: Cellphones

ZTE Grand X reaches UK shops a tad early through Phones4U originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Phones4U  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/27/zte-grand-x-reaches-uk-shops-a-tad-early-through-phones4u/

SYNOPSYS SYNNEX

Pimp Your Copier to Send Searchable PDFs to Your PC

Nuance strikes deal with Ricoh, other network multifunction printer (MFP) makers to create paper-to-PDF solution for non-programmers....

Source: http://feeds.ziffdavisenterprise.com/~r/RSS/publishgraphics/~3/TqV8rLlcV2s/

SI INTERNATIONAL SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY

Pimp Your Copier to Send Searchable PDFs to Your PC

Nuance strikes deal with Ricoh, other network multifunction printer (MFP) makers to create paper-to-PDF solution for non-programmers....

Source: http://feeds.ziffdavisenterprise.com/~r/RSS/publishgraphics/~3/TqV8rLlcV2s/

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MOTOROLA

Pantech Star Q for Verizon surfaces, offers QWERTY, LTE and Snapdragon S4

This one still isn't completely official just yet, but Android and Me has managed to obtain some pictures and fairly complete details for the Pantech Star Q headed for Verizon -- a device that was first spotted in FCC filings back in April. As you can see, it's a QWERTY slider, and it's said to pack Android 4.0.4, a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, front and rear-facing cameras (just 3-megapixels 'round back, though), LTE connectivity, and a 4-inch WVGA display. About the only key details missing are a price and release date, but Android and Me surmises it'll run $99 on-contract with a launch any time now -- both of which seem like safe guesses.

Filed under: Cellphones

Pantech Star Q for Verizon surfaces, offers QWERTY, LTE and Snapdragon S4 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Android and Me  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/27/pantech-star-q-for-verizon-surfaces-offers-qwerty-lte-and-snap/

SYKES ENTERPRISES INORATED SYBASE

AT&T's Garnet Red Galaxy S III for vampires: we go hands-on

While AT&T's been flaunting a rather patriotic red, white and blue Galaxy S III lineup since launch, the carrier's exclusive Garnet Red handset's been rather elusive so far, with pre-orders starting July 15 and deliveries expected July 29. If you've been eying Samsung's blood red $199 flagship, you'll be happy to know that we received our review unit yesterday and snapped a bunch of pictures, including comparison shots with the white and blue models. The phone is identical to its siblings other than the burgundy screen bezel and back cover, and the gunmetal rim running along its edge. It's a pretty gorgeous color scheme that's sure to attract vampires everywhere. Still unsure? Peek at our hands-on gallery below, then sound off in the comments.

Gallery: AT&T Galaxy S III Garnet Red hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T's Garnet Red Galaxy S III for vampires: we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/28/atandts-garnet-red-galaxy-s-iii-for-vampires-we-go-hands-on/

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL FAIR ISAAC

'Texts from Hillary' calls it quits

The hit Tumblr got Hillary Clinton to make a submission. But now the site has become too much, and its creators said today that they're pulling the plug on the project.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-57412692-52/texts-from-hillary-calls-it-quits/?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=GeekGestalt

ALLTEL AMAZONCOM

Recosoft Ships PDF2Office 4

Vista-compliant conversion utility opens PDFs in Office, SharePoint Designer, and FrontPage....

Source: http://feeds.ziffdavisenterprise.com/~r/RSS/pdfutils/~3/v6YZoHlyhW8/

ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS ELECTRONIC ARTS

iGoogle Refugees Flood Netvibes

Personal webpages and advertising just don't mix.

Source: http://feeds.informationweek.com/click.phdo?i=26ce6b4fb616525e9d4e35cba5e2a1f8

ACCENTURE ACER

Microsoft Investigates Azure Outage In Europe

Azure compute service disappears for 2.5 hours in West Europe region; cloud experts downplay possible Olympics connection.

Source: http://feeds.informationweek.com/click.phdo?i=6fb024391a72c33bdf241e8f545fb222

SYKES ENTERPRISES INORATED SYBASE