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Independence Day (India)

The Independence Day of India, celebrated on 15 August, is a holiday commemorating India's independence from the British ruleand its birth as a sovereign nation on 15 August 1947. India achieved independence following the Indian independence movement noted for largely peaceful nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience led by the Indian National Congress. The independence coincided with the partition of India wherein the British Indian Empire was divided along religious lines into two new states—Dominion of India (later Republic of India) and Dominion of Pakistan (later Islamic Republic of Pakistan); the partition was stricken with violent communal riots.

The Independence Day is a national holiday in India. The flagship event takes place in Delhi where the Prime Minister hoists thenational flag at the Red Fort, followed by a nationally broadcast speech from its ramparts. The day is observed all over India with flag-hoisting ceremonies, parades and cultural events. Citizens rejoice the day by displaying the national flag on their attire, household accessories, vehicles; varied activities such as kite flying, bonding with family and friends, and enjoying patriotic songs and films are seen.

Security concerns over militant attacks and sporadic calls for boycotting the celebration by separatist outfits occasionally limit the celebration in some places. Some organisations have carried out terrorist attacks on and around 15 August, and others have declared bandh and used black flags to boycott the celebration. Several books and films feature the independence and partition as pivotal events in their narrative.

The Tata AirPod: India's tiny air-powered prototype car

Indian car maker Tata hopes to bring a car powered by compressed air — an idea that's been contemplated for years but has proved difficult to build commercially — to market. Built on technology licensed from Luxembourg's MDI, the AirPod is a light, apparently one-seated car that's supposed to be able to run at between 45 and 70 kilometers an hour (28 to 43 miles per hour). Instead of running on gas or electricity, however, the engine is powered by a tank of compressed air, which can either be pumped in through a charging station or taken in while driving with the help of an electric engine. The car can also recapture some energy during braking, similar to current hybrid vehicles. The concept still seems a bit shaky, but it could offer cheaper and more environmentally friendly recharging without waiting for something like IBM's lithium-air battery.

While MDI has been working on the technology for years, it signed a licensing agreement with Tata in early 2007, and a concept car was unveiled in late 2011. In May, the engine concept was successfully tested in two Tata cars, allowing Tata and MDI to proceed to the next phase: figuring out how to actually create a product that could go to market. We've heard nothing more so far, but it's meant to be developed "over the coming years."

Android Reigns as iPhone Sales Stall Ahead of New Model

By Avi Aggarwal, PCWorld    Aug 14, 2012 7:01 AM

People holding off on buying iPhones in anticipation of a new model in September have led to a dent in Apple’s sales, research from Gartnerindicates. Samsung, however, has seen continued growth, increasing its Android market share to one-and-a-half times that of Apple.

There is a 2.3 percent drop in worldwide smartphone sales compared to the same period last year, according to Anshul Gupta, a principal research analyst at Gartner. Gupta blamed the decline on users postponing upgrades ahead of high-profile device launches expected in the coming months.

Apple’s sales fell 12.6 percent from the first quarter of the year -- although they grew 47 percent year-on-year. The outlook is not bleak, though: "High-profile smartphone launches from key manufacturers such as the anticipated Apple iPhone 5, along with Chinese manufacturers pushing 3G and preparing for major device launches in the second half of 2012, will drive the smartphone market upward,” Gupta added.

Gartner data indicates Apple sold almost half the amount of smartphones Samsung did.The research firm believes Apple might experience another weaker-than-usual quarter in the third quarter of 2012, depending on the exact launch date of the new iPhone. Apple is widely expected to introduce a new iPhone on Sept. 12, and to start shipping it a week later. In anticipation of the new model, big retailers are already discounting the iPhone by $50, and Apple is matching the offer at its stores.

Gartner believes Apple will see strong holiday sales. The firm’s analysts said the next-generation iPhone should prove to be a big push for iPhone 4 users to upgrade because of its expected new design with a larger screen and likely other stylistic changes to the form factor.

Samsung Keeps the Crown

The Samsung Galaxy S III sold reportedly 10 million units.Samsung remained the undisputed king of phone sales in Gartner’s books with 64.1 percent of the market share. It had a 25 percent increase in sales from the second quarter of 2011. Smartphones account for more than 50 percent of Samsung’s mobile sales (45 million units), and the growth was attributed to record sales of Galaxy Android smartphones, in particular the Galaxy S III, which reportedly sold 10 million units.

Nokia is in the second spot head of Apple, but its sales also declined by almost 15 percent the past quarter. Gartner found sales of Nokia’s Lumia smartphones are struggling, as the company is facing reduced profitability because of continuous declining sales of premium smartphones.

Gartner’s smartphone OS market share figures for the second quarter put Android in the lead with 64.1 percent share, followed by iOS at 18.8 percent. Symbian and BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion each have over 5 percent, while Microsoft’s Windows Mobile is on par with Samsung’s Bada OS at 2.7 percent each.

ICE AGE 4: CONTINENTAL DRIFT: Movie Review

Rating:  

Review: It’s been a decade… 10 years… three friends, extended families and different villains… all back, packed with loads of entertainment, for the fourth time! Like always, this part too presents various relationships co-existing in one space before the supercontinent Pangaea breaks apart (a historical phenomenon better known as the Continental Drift). The characters do what they are best at – make one adore them! Manny, Diego and Sid are helped by many more friends as well as additions to their respective families. The story starts around 13-15 years after the last one ended. The best part about the Ice Age series is that all stories are in perfect sync with one another. Seldom does one feel a disconnect while watching either of the films.

As the name suggests, the film set in the Ice Age (a palaeontological era) shows the life-threatening perils that most of today’s extinct animals must have faced then. I’m going to refrain from speaking about each part in the minutest detail because it’s best to watch it all together in the film. Just like how you wouldn’t know why the Bhagavad Gita comprises of those pearls of wisdom shared by Lord Krishna if you don’t know what transpires between Him and the Pandava prince Arjuna during the epic battle at Kurukshetra which became The Mahabharata.

The latest offering created by Blue Sky Studios and distributed by 20th Century Fox, Ice Age 4 Continental Drift begins with Scrat (Chris Wedge) – the saber-toothed squirrel and his eternal love – the acorn. He has now climbed up his career graph with this installment of the series with a meatier role as opposed to the other parts where in he (Scrat) was only brought in for a prologue to kickstart a new story and a new turn of events. Manny (Ray Romano) plays the overprotective father of a teenage daughter, Peaches (Keke Palmer), who in turn only rebels against what her father says. Rebellion is a coming of age phenomenon experienced by everyone in their teens and tweens*. Peaches shares a rather great rapport with her mother, Ellie (Queen Latifah). Another new development is Sid’s (John Leguizamo) family, who abandon him in the first part then reunite with him only to abandon him again along with his cantankerous grandmother (who eventually becomes an important part of this plot in the sequences that follow). And of course, there’s Diego (Denis Leary), the maverick of the pack of saber-toothed tigers who chose to protect and befriend Manny and Sid.

This installment seems to be only riding high on the great animation effects as it is the second Ice Age film to be shot in Digital 3D and the first in the 2.39:1 ratio. Although the original characters were all in place, the new additions were too many which seemed a little too cramped in the given space. The film has been directed by Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier, the first one not directed by the director of the first three parts – Carlos Saldanha. The story seemed rather weak because a true fan looks for both a story as well as the effects especially when the film in question is an animated one, more so, since you’ve seen some of the best works before. Hence, that department left me rather disappointed.

What was good was the portrayal of some relationships and also a tweaked version of Charles Darwin’s theory on Survival of the Fittest (that is well-implied through and through, albeit with more happily ever-afters). My favourite character still remains Manny. He is emotional, protective, caring and a complete family man who believes in building relationships. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable watch but could have garnered a tad-bit more support (from me) had the story been less weaker. Kids will enjoy the film thoroughly however, like every animated film, it’s not your regular cartoon, these films are meant for kids and adults alike. Go watch your sub-zero heroes at the earliest. 

Verdict: Fun, inspiring and engaging. Makes for a suitable watch for the whole family this weekend. 

*Tweens: A term coined to describe a person who refuses to leave behind their teenage antics but is well in his/her 20s. Courtesy: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.   

Saumya Sharma 

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Movie Details:

Director: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier

Voice-Overs: Ray Romano, Queen Latifah, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Chris Wedge, Josh Peck, Jennifer Lopez, Seann William Scott

Writer: Michael Berg, Jason Fuchs

Length:1 hr 28 mins