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TRACING THE
SUCCESS OF
ANDROID
We take a look at what
the platform offers and
the way ahead
ANDROID
APP-INESS HOW GOOGLE CHANGED THE SMARTPHONE
Discover free and AND TABLET PC LANDSCAPE
paid apps to suit
your every need
DEVICES ON
THE HORIZON
A sneak peek at the devices
that are expected to be out soon
GEARING UP FOR
THE REVOLUTION
Explore your Android device to
understand the full potential
of the platform
KAMAKSHI S
plus@chip.in
CONTENTS
24 MAKE YOUR PHONE YOUR 42 ANDROID APP To rate a story, product review, etc look out for the story
tag at the base of each article and type:
BEST TRAVEL BUDDY DEVELOPMENT 101 ICCO <Story tag> <Rating> Example: ICCO PWS 5
From navigation to vacation planning, With the right tools and knowledge app The Story tag is mentioned at the base of every story in
the magazine and the Rating is on a scale of 1 to 5.
there's an app for every travel need. development can be quite easy.
Please keep comments to 160 characters per message!
Include your email address to help us reply.
6 GOING ANDROID
W
ith smartphones becoming the fastest
growing mobile phone segment and
tablet PC market touted to see massive
growth this year, the Android platform stands
rmly in the center of the revolution. Just as the
mobile platform space was settling into clear seg-
mentations, Android has made the industry sit
up and take note. What is it that makes Android a
stronger contender in a space which boasts of big
players like Microsofts Windows Phone 7, Apples
Sachin Pandit
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Way back in 2005, a start-up company named
Android, which was developing mobile applica-
tions, was acquired by Google. A Linux-based
mobile device OS was developed as a exible,
upgradeable system, and released as the Android
platform in 2007. The project has been backed by
the Open Handset Alliance, which features over 80
hardware, software, and telecommunications com-
panies to help make the movement interoperable
and platform-friendly.
S OF ANDROID
According to Roberta Cozza, Principal
Research Analyst at Gartner shares, Android
sales in the fourth quarter of 2010 continued
to be driven by broad availability of many
high-end products from HTC (Desire range,
Incredible and EVO), Samsung (Galaxy S) and
Motorola (Droid X, Droid 2). Symbians market
share dropped further in the fourth quarter
Roberta Cozza, Principal
of 2010 to 32.6 percent or 32.6 million units.
Research Analyst, Gartner
This allowed Android to overtake Nokias
Symbian unit sales during the fourth quarter of 2010. However, the
Symbian OS is also used by Fujitsu and Sharp as well as in legacy
products from Sony Ericsson and Samsung. This aggregated volume
kept Symbian slightly ahead of Android.
OF ANDROID
Android has made a huge impact on the smartphones space in the
global market and is currently the operating system of choice for tablets
competing with the iPad. The popularity of the Android platform arises
from its flexibility, something no other OS has managed to achieve.
BY KUSHAL MAMOOWALA
I
n late 2007, there were rumors of Google work- Android platform, with the four latest versions
ing on the GPhone, a smartphone design with being released within the span of just over a year.
their own OS, which was supposed to compete Each update differed slightly from its predecessor,
with Apples iPhone and Nokias new smartphone but the hardware requirements remained almost
series. What we got instead was the revelation of the same, giving manufacturers the ability to pro-
the Google Android operating system as an open vide OS upgrades to handsets with older versions.
source platform for developers and the Open Hand- Initially created for touchscreen smartphones,
set Alliance, which then consisted of 34 members, Google has now moved on to tablets with Android
including mobile handset makers, application 3.0 Honeycomb being their rst tablet-specic
developers, mobile carriers, and chip makers. operating system with support for high perfor-
mance hardware.
THE OPEN HANDSET ALLIANCE
The Open Handset Alliance, with Android as its OPEN SOURCE
agship software, is a business alliance that now By providing the source code of the operating sys-
consists of 80 rms that aim to pioneer Android tem to manufacturers and also designing a software
and open standards for mobile devices. What development kit (SDK) for application developers,
this means is that Android as an open source Google has sort of outsourced its tasks and still
platform could be modied and tweaked to pleased developers by giving them the freedom of
suit hardware and handsets manufactured by personalizing and customizing Android. They have
multiple mobile phone manufacturers, gone a step further by letting users root their
thereby exponentially increasing the Android device, which gives them superuser privi-
presence of Android as an operating leges like access to administrative rights, system
system in the mobile phone market. changes and running scripts that would generally
The compatibility of the Android plat- be blocked for the standard user. This allows devel-
form to run on different chipsets opers and coders to run their apps even if they
with different hardware is require elevated privileges.
the prime attributor to
its exibility. THE GOOGLE CLOUD
Along with the ability to customize almost every-
FREQUENT thing, Google has integrated its operating system
UPDATES into the Google cloud. With default apps for Gmail,
Google has set a trend Google Maps, Google Docs and other Google fea-
of frequently updating its tures, users are able to view and edit their tasks
SAFEGUARDING
SECURING YOUR ANDROID DEVICE
W
With most people living their personal SECURITY AT THE ROOT
and professional lives on their smart- The Android OS does feature solid security archi-
phones, its not just the data that has tecture at the kernel level. The kernel is pro-
been fed into these devices, but also nancial grammed to sandbox applications from each other,
transactions and communication links that can which means that if an application wants access
be violated. While Android has not seen too many to details like network access, reading or writing
security scares, the massive number of devices data, and personal contacts, each request is made
and high number of un-scanned explicitly and only on granting permission, will
apps that make their way into the they be made available.
Android Market really make you If you do grant access to a malware app, then
think about how safe your data the security mechanism is of no use, so you need
is. Here are some things that you to exercise more caution and keep a tab on what to
need to watch out for, and a list download to your phone. You should also be care-
of apps that can help you secure ful when updating an installed app because it is at
your data. times as good as installing a new app.
YOUR INTERESTS trafc option off when not in use, you can opt for
apps like WiTopia or the free Hotspot Shield and
services like Free Shield VPN (http://go.chip.in/
qnwbi) that offers increased safety for your VPN.
T he high volume
of data being
exchanged over
things. First is the enterprise or the end user
level, where the protection is in terms of ltering,
management or just good antivirus security. The
Android powered next level is to work with device manufacturers,
devices is enough like Sony Ericsson or Nokia to embed security
for mischief makers into their phones, so that security software comes
to try and siphon bundled and people dont have to worry about
off critical data buying or installing anything. The third level
and use it to their comes in the form of a partnership with telecomm
advantage. As the providers or banks. We work with them to ensure
Vinoo Thomas, Technical Product Android Market that people who subscribe to their services such
Manager, McAfee Labs
doesnt really guar- as mobile banking, have to go through certain
antee security, it is security measures to access these services.
advisable to protect to be cautious when heading
online via your mobile device. We spoke to Vinoo What kind of support do you provide
Thomas, who is the Technical Product Manager at for Android users?
the McAfee Labs, and the virus research lead with There is family protection software that you
McAfee Labs Bangalore. Here are his thoughts on can use on your Android device. If the tablet is
the security issues pertaining to the Android plat- being used by kids, parents would be able to moni-
form: tor their online activities inside and outside the
house, they could block browsing of inappropriate
What kind of security threats has the websites based on categories, and they would be
Android platform seen? How serious can able to block Internet access for particular time
these get? periods.
Last year saw a couple of notable viruses that In terms of mobile security, we have an antivi-
targeted the Android platform. There were a cou- rus optimized for mobile devices. You will be able
ple of viruses which would accept every incoming to scan attachments and applications. If some-
call without users knowledge, causing battery thing is found malicious, you can get it cleaned
drain. Then there was a virus known as the Fake or quarantined. It also offers protection against
Player Codec, which would send SMSes to a pre- phishing and offers safe mobile browsing.
mium rate number without the users knowledge,
which resulted in inated monthly bills. There Can you use any McAfee product on
have also been viruses which send a copy of them- an Android or are there specific prod-
selves to everybody on the infected users address ucts?
book via an MMS. In India, an MMS costs Rs 5, so We have a couple of MacAfee products that
if you have 100 contacts, it results in direct Rs 500 work not just on the Android, but the Symbian,
ination in your monthly bills. Apple iOS and the Windows CE platforms. Tradi-
Lately we also had a high prole Android virus tionally, MacAfee had MacAfee Mobile Security for
by the name of Geinimi, which poses as a legiti- smartphones and tablets, and then we expanded
mate app and is the rst known Android malware to MacAfee Family Protection for Mobiles, where
in the open that displays botnet capabilities. So we are not just providing security, but also allow-
once the malware is installed on a users phone, it ing parents to do URL ltering, safe search and
has the potential to allow the attacker to remotely Internet usage reporting.
control the device. The app can pull out all contact Last year, MacAfee acquired WaveSecure, which
information, read, send or delete SMSes, make a allows us to manage mobile devices better. So in
phone call, install an app, and launch browsers addition to security, you will now be able to back
up and restore data on your mobile, and you will
What is the nature of protection that be able to locate and track a lost device. You can
a user can adopt? also perform a remote lock and wipe all the data
At MacAfee, we have our target set at three in case your device is misplaced.
W
What good is an Android phone if you the App Central, which features more than 71,000
cant really surf the Internet and down- apps segregated under 25 categories, which can be
load apps of your liking? Heres a look downloaded to over 550 compatible devices.
at what the major telecomm service providers
have to help you enjoy your Android experience to AIRCEL
the fullest. If you plan to buy a Galaxy Tab, then Aircel is all
set to sell you a pretty package. For a price of Rs
VODAFONE 29,500, you get the gadget, plus a 3 GB free plan
While Vodafone has the Vodafone Live and Voda- for 3 months for prepaid users, or a 1 GB free plan
fone Mobile Connect services on offer for internet for 6 months for postpaid users. You also get a 2
sur ng, Vodafone Live will not work with your GB memory card and a leather case. However,
Android device. The Vodafone Mobile Connect their customer care is not too clear about extend-
works with a prepaid and a post paid plan. ing Internet support to other Android devices.
While it is a zero rental plan for prepaid users,
postpaid users can pick between a Rs 299 plan TATA DOCOMO
that offers 2 GB of free surng, a Rs 499 plan that While Tata Docomo has been making claims of
offers 4 GB of free surng, and a Rs 699 plan that going 3G for a long time, there is still no trace of
offers unlimited surng. the company delivering on that promise. While
Vodafone supports tethering, so you can freely you can use the Tata Photon Wi-Fi pocket router
use your Android phone as a Wi-Fi hot spot to for Internet connectivity on your Android device,
connect your laptop or PC to the Internet. The you will have to wait a little longer for any data
connection takes 4 hours to activate on a prepaid plans for your device on the go. If not, mobile
account and 24 hours on a postpaid one. number portability is always an option.
AIRTEL REDIFF NG
Airtel offers Airtel Live services for WAP and While you can congure 10 email accounts on
GPRS-enabled handsets and a mobile Internet your BlackBerry phone, Rediff NG enables you to
pack that offers up to 2 GB of free surng at rent- do the same on your Android as well. At just Rs
als of Rs 99, but the service is currently available 50 a month, you can do all that on your Symbian,
for Blackberry, Apple iPhone and Windows Mobile Java, and Android powered smartphones.
6.5 powered smartphones only. The service enables you to port data across
While their customer service is unclear about phones, so even if you do change your mobile
extending these services to Android-powered phone, your settings and emails remain intact.
devices, Airtel does have its own app store called The annual plan will cost you Rs 600.
10 1234
they want and design any hardware cannot match the
type of applications without software, it will not give you
many restrictions. the best Android experience.
ANDROID
If youre considering a switch to
an Android-powered smartphone
or tablet, here are a few tips and IT CAN TETHER
pointers on what you can expect Android has taken pairing
devices to the next level.
from your device.
Tethering your Android
BY KUSHAL MAMOOWALA device with your PC means
you can use your service
providers Internet plan
ITS GONE 3D with your computer. With 3G
Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the services hitting the market,
latest version of the OS, was tethering your mobile and
recently unveiled by Google. PC could see a great reduc-
At the ofcial launch of Hon- tion in Internet service sub-
eycomb, Google displayed its scriptions.
3D capabilities with the Google
Maps and YouTube apps, assur-
ing users that the company
has done quite a bit to ensure
3D works well on the platform.
This could usher in big changes
in the mobile phone market-
place.
5678910
APP INCOMPATIBILITIES IT CAN REMOTE WIPE
As mentioned earlier, all Google has added a remote
phones have different hard- wipe feature with Android
ware setups. A difference in 2.2 (FroYo). This remote wipe
resolution, processor speed feature enables users to
and RAM means that an app program the device to auto-
NOT ALL APPS ARE that runs perfectly ne on matically wipe its memory
VERIFIED one Android device might clean in certain conditions.
Its safe to install or buy apps not work as well on another. If your phone is lost or sto-
from the Android Market, Developers need to consider len, a simple SMS, failed
but a simple change in your modifying their apps to suit password entry or a change
phone or tablets security set- different devices. of SIM Card can trigger the
tings can let you install apps wipe. Its up to you.
from unveried sites. What
this means is that not all the
apps you use are veried by
Android and could do more
harm than good.
PRODUCT REVIEW
S
amsungs highly anticipated Galaxy Tab actu- ing if there is a 1 GHz processor running the show.
ally managed to get itself here legally before The three axis Gyro makes accelerometer-based
Apples iPad, and brought with it quite a bit of functionality from games to screen rotation quite
confusion when it comes to choice. The Dell Streak smooth, but theres just that hint of lag. The multi
didnt impress me and I had my doubts about the touch zooming is as responsive as the iPads. Sam-
Olive Pad, the only two other tablets in India to sungs also thrown in a Task Manager to kill all
make it out in an ofcial capacity. Heres my take background running apps or the specic ones you
on the whole Tabbing experience. want. Using the normal on-screen keypad was a
breeze, but Swype on a larger display, although
FORM FACTOR requiring you to stretch quite a bit to trail words, is
I believe that the 7-inch display, protected by the still a speedier way to get the job done.
hardcore Gorilla Glass pane with a 600x1024 pixel
resolution is about the right size for a tablet. It MEDIA
allows for easy handling and storage. Samsungs Aside from the 5.1 audio channel support, the Gal-
gone with a set of touch sensitive keys below the axy Tab also comes with Samsungs DNSe audio
display. At 380 grams, its a tad on the heavy side enhancement with a set of EQ presets and an
with a screen lock/power button on the same side eight-band customizable graphic EQ setting. Audio
as the volume/zoom keys, micro SD card port (1GB Effects like Bass Enhancement, Wide and Concert
on board memory with support for 32GB cards) Hall settings are also provided. The Tabs audio
and standard SIM card slot. The 3.5mm handsfree player is sure re winner. The cherry on top is of
socket is located on the top. course video codec support for AVI les (DivX and
A set of built in speakers, which seemed loud XviD), which enables you to simply drag and drop
enough for audio, but oddly low for calls, are your favorite movies on the ample storage space for
located at the bottom on either side of the propri- instant playback.
etary Samsung USB/Charger port at the bottom. The 7-inch display is great for viewing videos,
This was the rst thing I disliked about the device. however games and quite a few other apps are still
Aesthetically, I found the Tab an easy device to to be upscaled for this genre of Android devices.
work with purely from the design perspective. Unlike the iPads option to stretch games/apps to
t the screen, the Tab allows you to play or access
FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE apps in the native resolution the app as designed
Here is an indepth analysis on the features and for. This means theyll open only in the middle of
performance offered by the tablet. the screen. There are many e-readers preloaded on
the Tab. An e-book application similar to Aldikos
INTERFACE app allows you to import e-books off of your mem-
Im not a fan of Samsungs TouchWiz UI, so I swapped ory card, but I could not nd an option to download
the UI with another from the Android market. The any books from a website. The fonts and page colors
Galaxy Tab is powered by an ARM Cortex A8 1 GHz can be adjusted and the overall layout is extremely
processor with PowerVR SGX540 graphics for added conducive for easy reading. But changing pages is a
support. Its running on Android 2.2 aka Froyo out slow and laggy process, the lack of a smooth transi-
of the box. Most of the UI navigation is quite seam- tion is very evident. The Readers Hub application
less, but there are moments when youll be wonder- is also an e-book reader powered by Kobo, but one
An Android For
Android devices are available in a range of shapes, sizes and prices.
Manufacturers have developed Android smartphones and tablets to
suit every budget and serve a range of needs.
BY KUSHAL MAMOOWALA
M
anufacturers have captured every level quick browsing. With Wi-Fi, e-mail and a good cam-
of communication and computing by era, both devices will service a users basic needs.
developing Android-based smartphones
and tablets to t a wide price range. This ensures Rs 10,000 Rs 15,000
the popularity of Android amongst users with The Samsung I5801 Gal-
budgetary constraints as well as big spenders. axy 3 at Rs 13,300 is
The difference between a cheap smartphone and an entry level Android
an expensive one is primarily in the hardware, smartphone running
with the cheaper devices having a weaker proces- Android 2.1 clair. A
sor, less RAM and limited storage space. But these 3.2-inch touch screen, 3
differences are negligible when it comes to basic megapixel camera and a
usage. It is only noticeable when the devices are few unique features like
used to run multiple, memory heavy apps or apps DivX/XviD compatibility
that require high performance. Heres a look at and Kinetic scrolling give
some popular Android smartphones and tablets it an edge. The Sony Erics-
that t into different budgets. son Xperia X10 mini pro, on
the other hand, is a pocket
SMARTPHONES rocket. It runs Android 1.6
The Open Handset Alliance includes companies that Donut and supports 2.1 clair.
manufacture smartphones for With a tiny 2.55-inch screen, slide out QWERTY
a diverse group of consumers. keyboard and 600 MHz
processor, it packs quite
Rs 5,000 Rs 10,000 a punch at Rs 14,245.
For people looking to spend as Other smartphones
little as possible on a smart- that t into this cat-
phone without expecting some- egory include Acer
thing really ashy, there are beTouch E130, Vid-
the Micromax Andro A60 and eocon Zeus,HTC
the Spice MI300. Priced at Rs Wildfire and
8,599 and Rs 9,990 respectively, Sony Ericsson
both devices support Android Xperia X10
2.1 clair and are 3G ready for mini.
Rs 20,000 Rs 25,000
At Rs 23,990, the OlivePad VT100 ts snug-
gly into this price range. Running Android
Rs 25,000 Rs 30,000
At Rs 29,000, the Samsung Galaxy Tab
runs Android 2.2 on an ARM 1 GHz Cor-
tex processor with 512 MB RAM and 16
GB of internal memory. The 7-inch TFT a dual booting tablet with a choice to boot either
LCD display gives you a crisp viewing Android or Windows 7 and a quick switch between
experience, be it for reading, view- the two. The 10-inch display is the biggest a tablet
ing videos, or watching movies. Its has featured, and it even has two USB 2.0 ports, a
fast, effective at multitasking and has mini VGA port and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabil-
admirable mobile and wireless network ity. At Rs 38,000, the one feature missing is 3G
connectivity. compatibility.
Business As Usual:
Apps to Stay Connected
Here are some apps that will help you keep up with work and constantly stay
connected when youre travelling.
BY KAMAKSHI S
W
ith the android OS making its presence as Documents To Go Version 3.0, OpenOfce or
felt very strongly, smartphones have ThinkFree Online. However, if you wish to edit
today become a popular computing documents on the go, you will need a good editor.
device when on the move. When work demands While you can opt for the freely available GDocs
that you constantly stay connected, some apps can if you want your Android phone to sync with
come make life a bit easier. Here are some Android Google docs, you cannot open these les directly
apps to help you get the job done. from your inbox or SD card. Moreover, you can
only used simple Word or text les and view PDFs;
DOCUMENT SUPPORT nothing more. While GDocs is a popular app, there
You might have to check documents or spread- are several such free apps on the Android market
sheets quite frequently even on the move. If you that offer connectivity with Google Docs.
are not keen on editing on your Android device If you dont mind investing in a robust app for
and just require a viewer, then there are several your Android device, then you can pick between
free document viewers to choose from, such Quickofce Connect Mobile Suite, the OfceSuite
Pro and the Documents to Go package. These
suites are paid and allow you to create documents,
spreadsheets and presentations and view PDFs.
The most recent versions also extend support to
Ofce 2007 formats and syncing with Google Docs,
but do not cater to Open Ofce formats.
If you are looking for ZIP le support along
with inbuilt File Manager support, you can opt for
either OfceSuite Pro or the Quickofce Connect
Mobile Suite. While Quickofce Connect Mobile
Suite would cost you Rs 453, Documents to Go and
OfceSuite Pro are priced at Rs 680.
CLOUD SHARING
For those who are constantly on the move, a cloud
application to help synchronize data between
your computer, your Android device and the
Internet is essential. While most cloud apps are
free of cost up to a particular data storage limit,
what you need to consider before settling on an
app is the usage and types of les that you wish to
work with. There are several options that you can
choose from, of which Dropbox, Zumodrive and
SugarSync are the most popular.
If you are used to LogMeIn on your desktop, you Apps like WordCard Mobile not only store
data off visiting cards, but also use tools
can continue using the service with your Android
like Google Maps as locators.
device too. The LogMeIN Ignition for Android
If you are wary of rooting your phone and A rooted phone can be tethered with even
still want a decent free tethering app, more ease. Free apps like Barnacle make
EasyTether can come in handy. tethering a breeze.
W
hether youre planning a weekend
getaway or a long holiday, you would
usually pick a spot that you are yet to
explore. And if you have your Android device with
you, you can pretty much enjoy your time without
getting lost or requiring local assistance.
TRAVEL MATES
The rst thing you need is an app that can help
you plan your vacation and help you make the
required bookings. If you are
looking at taking your family
along for the trip, it is always
sensible to plan your bookings
well in advance. Two popular
travel portals, Trip Advisor
and Cleartrip, have apps for If you want to savor local cuisines, the
Android. You can book and Zomato app is a nice place to start.
cancel train/flight tickets,
make enquiries on your PNR LISTS
enquiries, and book hotels too. When you are all excited about a trip, there is a
If you are traveling to a new chance that you may skip some details or forget to
place, being able to navigate pack an essential item. There are many apps that
the area is essential. There are help you organise your trip more efciently. The
several applications that can free Packing List app comes with pre-created lists
come to your rescue. One such depending on the kind of trip youre about to take.
application is Zomato. You can If that isnt good enough, you can generate your
browse for as many as 11,000 own to add up all the things to need to carry. If you
restaurants across six cities need something more comprehensive, you can opt
in India, including Delhi-NCR, for the Vacation Planner, which is priced at Rs 45.
Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Another checklist of considerable importance,
Pune and Chennai. Addition- especially if you are taking kids or the elderly along
ally, your Android devices is a rst aid list. You can purchase the very useful
The BackTrack app records travel data come loaded with Google Maps First Aid Checklist app priced at Rs 44.97. The list
in real time when you travel. and Google Latitude for point to consists of over 140 rst aid items that you could
point navigation. need when you are traveling. You can also add and
T
here are many aspects to studying, such as does have another great feature, however, which
note-taking, studying, and exercising, and is its social media integration. With Catch, you can
they all come with specialized tool sets, share your notes with friends via Twitter or Face-
each with additional costs and practical difcul- book, something that every student would nd
ties. Most people dont realize how powerful their extremely handy when exams are looming.
smartphones really are, and how diverse the appli- Other note-taking apps include Documents to Go,
cations available for them are. Its often hard to Note Everything, and Take Note.
nd the right applications for the job, so to get you
started, here are some incredible Android applica- ACADEMIC AIDS
tions that every student should consider installing. Everyone knows how tedious it is to remember
formulae and equations. You can get Android apps
HELP WITH that do these for you to ease your mind and get
NOTES your answers faster and easier. RealCalc is a fully
There are several featured scientic calculator, which looks and
notepad-style apps out operates just like the real thing. It provides result
there, but Evernote history, unit conversions, percentages, ten memo-
takes the cake with its ries, hex/binary/octal, trig functions in degrees,
ability to sync with an radians or grads, engineering and xed-point
online account and your display modes, digit grouping, and a built-in help
desktop PC. The app module.
enables you to jot down Formulas Lite is a simple, easy-to-use app that
notes on your phone or helps you refer to collections of the most important
tablet as text, photos or formulae of maths, physics and chemistry. A simi-
even voice recordings. lar tool specic for chemistry is Perfect Chemistry
You can make different Lite. It helps you balance chemical equations and
notebooks for different gives you details about different elements, chemical
subjects and you can compounds, and much more. There is also Calculus
even add tags to each Tools that helps you with calculus and nds deriva-
note. Best of all, its com- tives, computes denite integrals, arc lengths and
pletely free and runs on plots graphs of functions. It also includes integral
Android 1.5 and above. tables and a custom keyboard.
Catch is similar to Ever-
Evernote offers a clean, simple layout to
take down and organize your notes.
note, except it lacks a READERS
desktop application. It There are plenty of Android apps that serve as
INFORMATION
WikiDroid is a Wikipedia app that allows you to
research anything you need conveniently on your
phone. You can start your research or get more
RealCalc turns your Android into a information on a topic being discussed with its
fully functional scientific calculator. easy-to-use interface and simplistic design. The
free version is ad-supported and the pro version
readers. There are a handful of apps that take read- at Rs 100 is ad-free and
ing and collecting your reading material to the enables you to view saved
next level. MultiReader is a voice reader that can articles ofine.
speak several languages, give you access to online ColorDict Universal
libraries, and run several popular le formats. Dictionary is a useful dic-
WordPlayer is a similar book reader, which lets tionary app. Its more than
you download from amongst millions of books in just a dictionary; its a
seconds, or load from your memory card. Its page thesaurus, bible dictionary
navigation, bookmarking, speech and customizable and foreign-language dic-
settings make reading a breeze. For those that like tionary all rolled into one.
to nd their material online, InstaFetch lets you You can search words and
save complete web pages to your Android device for idioms in several diction-
ofine reading. Turn your phone into a scanner to aries at once and it works
copy that library book that you cant rent out with ofine. A similar vocabu-
DroidScan. You can save les as PDFs and it even lary app is SAT Vocabulary,
corrects your alignment and contrast to give best which gives you more than
results. 4,500 words and denitions
to help prepare for SAT
ORGANIZERS exams that students aspir-
Students are often overworked with assignments, ing to study abroad must
projects, homework and getting them done before appear for. For general
the deadline can be quite difcult. Thinking Space knowledge, you can try
is a mind mapping app for Android that lets you apps like World FactBook
CourePro has custom grading schemes
create visual mind maps to organize your activi- and General Knowledge
which allow you to track your GPA.
ties and ideas. Its great for summarizing lectures, eQuizBook.
Android App-iness
When youre tired, bored or just need to kill some time, you shouldnt have to
look any further than your Android phone or tablet. Here are some great apps
that will keep you busy and entertained.
BY KUSHAL MAMOOWALA
W
hether youre an avid movie buff, a Player. It is free and offers advanced features like
music lover, or enjoy messing around subtitles, le ratings, ID3 tags and gestures. Other
with photos, you can grab plenty of fun popular media players include Act1 Video Player,
Android apps that will keep you entertained. But Pandora KMPlayer and YXFlash.
with over 30,000 apps now available in the Android
Market, nding the real gems can take a while. VIDEO STREAMING
Here are a few apps for your consideration as far as The rst site anyone would think of when it comes
entertainment is concerned, and best of all, most to video streaming is YouTube, and of course,
of them are free! theres an app for it, but if you want to stream
TV shows longer than 10 minutes, then TV Shows
MEDIA PLAYERS Stream is the app for you. The application searches
RockPlayer is the best alternative to the default over the Internet for hundreds of TV show links
Android media player. This app supports virtually that you can play directly on your device with full
all the popular video formats. The only disadvantage screen support using Megavideo and other host-
of the free lite version is that it supports advertise- ing services. The search results are shown in an
ments so if you dont want any distractions while intuitive and easy-to-use interface. The lite version
watching your favorite videos, you can buy the full comes with 12 preselected shows and the full ver-
version for Rs 500. The app comes in three versions sion at Rs 180 gives you unlimited access.
and produces best results with devices with power- Stream Media Player and Full TV episodes are
ful processors. For a media player that plays videos two other video streaming apps that are worth
and music, look no further than Meridian Media their relatively cheap price tag.
MUSIC
TuneWiki is a media player similar to RockPlayer,
but lacking the video playback function, which it
more than makes up for with its advanced music
features. It has a very nice interface, is stable, sup-
ports ID3 tags and gestures and can stream any
music from online sources (various online radio
stations, for example). It also displays the lyrics to
a song using a nice overlay.
If you prefer to listen to your music via internet
radio, you can choose from Winamps Android app,
which streams music from Last.fm, Shoutcast and
FM Radio, which provides you with a wide range of
Rock Player can play audio and video files and has features genres and channels to choose from. Also worth a
like phone status, file info display, and subtitles. mention is Shazam. If youre listening to the radio
or watching TV and you come across a song that
you really like, just let Shazam give it a hear and IMAGE EDITING
it will identify the song and give you more details, AND PHOTOGRAPHY
including lyrics. For the amateur photo edi-
tor or those that like to mess
SOCIAL NETWORKING around with photos of them-
There is a wide array of Facebook and Twitter apps selves and their friends, apps
spread across the Android market, but there are a like PhotoFunia or PicSay
few apps out there that really stand out. With the will give you endless hours
increasing number of social networking websites of entertainment. They are
hitting the netscape, it is best to have an app that packed with options to distort,
can update all your different proles with just one color-correct, add word bal-
simple push, and thats exactly what Tweetdeck loons, titles and add graphics
does for Twitter, Faceb ook, Buzz and Foursquare. to your pictures. For the pro-
Theres also HootSuite, which does the same, but fessionals, theres Photoshop
with only Twitter and Facebook. For free mobile- Express, which enables you to
to-mobile messaging and free VoIP calling, there make professional changes to
are apps like Nimbuzz and WhatsApp. The biggest your images.
advantage of apps like these is that they are com- Another popular app for
patible with other operating systems as well. avid photographers is Camera
PicPush is a unique social networking app that 360, which turns your device
allows you to automatically share your pics and into a professional camera
videos across all popular media services. It gives with an impressive set of fea- Shazam identifies unknown songs
you a convenient one-touch service for uploading tures like touch focus, zoom, for you and even gives you videos,
media to Facebook, Photobucket, SmugMug, Picassa sh eye, photo symmetry, back- lyrics and concert information.
and Twitter. ground sceneries, and more.
MISCELLANEOUS
There are thousands of other apps that you can
install on your Android device to keep yourself
busy. There are apps that can give you information
on events taking place in your city, like Gigbox,
which gives you details of upcoming music concerts
and festivals near you. Gamecenter is a very useful
app for gamers, highlighting the latest video game
news for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, etc. It is the ultimate
video game app equipped with trailers, cheats, vid-
eos and reviews. Then there are remote apps that
allow you to use your Android device as a remote
for your PC and your media player. Gmote, VLC
Remote and Remote for iTunes are just a few of the
many remote apps.
The list of apps for your entertainment is end-
less and you could spend hours browsing the
Android Market to nd apps that suit you. Many
apps have free lite versions and a full paid version,
so you can test them out before you buy them. Also
keep in mind that most apps require an Internet
TweetDeck combines your social network connection, either a data plan on your SIM card or
profiles into one page, giving you updates
a Wi- connection, so make sure you have access to
from all sites in one simple window.
the Internet to get the most out of your apps.
E
veryone has probably played a game on A simple touch-based game that features challeng-
their phones at one time or another. Mobile ing physics-based gameplay with hours of replay
phone gaming has been revolutionized value, it truly tests your patience and determina-
by the advent of multi-touch screens and high tion.
performance portable devices, making the gam- There are other games that also exploit the
ing experience far more interactive and fun. The motion sensitivity and touch interface of your
Android gaming platform gives developers an device. Abduction and Doodle Jump are two games
easy scaffolding to build their games around, so based on a simple motive of upward movement.
the online market is ooded with new games and The objective is to progress upwards on platforms
updated versions everyday. Here are some of the by tilting your device left and right to control
must-haves in different gaming genres. your character. Basketball Shot and Paper Toss
are games that require precision nger swiping to
ARCADE GAMES throw balls into a basket. These games are a sure
Angry Birds is one of the most popular games for hit with people of all ages.
touchscreen devices. Initially developed for the
iPhone, it was quickly modied to run on multiple ACTION GAMES
operating systems, including Android 1.6 and up. Tank Hero is a fairly simple game that involves
controlling a tank to obliterate the enemy. It has
an innovative virtual gamepad for navigation, a
simple tap for ring ammunition and lots of chal-
lenging levels. Compatible with Android 2.1 and
upwards, it is free and promises newer features
and levels in the future.
Crazy Snowboard is an action game that will
keep you on the edge of your seat, with intuitive
controls and tap-based tricks. It is compatible with
Android 2.0 and up and runs fairly smoothly on
most devices.
Another sports action game that is quite popular
is Reckless Racing. It has a single player campaign
as well as a multiplayer mode. The off-road racing
relies on power-sliding and opposite lock, making
every race feel like a sequel to The Fast and the
Furious.
Also check out Sniper, Lets Golf and Guns n
Slingshot your birds around the level to kill all the pigs. Who
would have thought physics could be so much fun. Glory for other great action based games.
Android Devices
On The Horizon
With more companies joining the Open
Handset Alliance and with Googles new
Android 3.0 Honeycomb release, there are
some exciting new devices that are about
to hit the market. These smartphones and
tablets are going to take the market by storm.
BY KUSHAL MAMOOWALA
G
oogle released Android 2.3 Gingerbread The screen is the same size and resolution as the
in December 2010, and 3.0 Honeycomb on Xperia X10. The QWERTY keypad on the X10 has
January 26, so manufacturers are yet to been replaced by a slide-out game controller,
release their new smartphones and tablets run- and it runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. With a
ning these operating systems. With an updated BRAVIA Engine powering the screen and a 1 GHz
user interface, support for extra large screen sizes processor, it promises a smooth and clear gaming
and improved power management, Gingerbread experience. There are already some games avail-
will give manufacturers the choice to make smart- able on demo devices and will soon be available on
phones with larger screens and better resolutions the Android Market.
and offer higher performance hardware and utili-
ties. Honeycomb, on the other hand, is optimized
for tablets with support for multi-core processors
and 3D graphics. It also offers tabbed browsing and
syncing with Google Chrome. Here are a few sup-
ported devices that will be
here soon.
SONY ERICSSON
XPERIA PLAY
With the success of the
PSP and PS3, it was only a
matter of time before Sony
made a PlayStation phone.
With the recent reveal of
the latest Xperia series
phone called Play, theyve
done just that. The phone
was launched on the Feb-
ruary 13 at the Mobile
World Congress 2011 and
is expected in India soon.
I
f you have heard enough about the Android
platform, but are wary about investing in an
Android-powered device, here is one way you
can power up your netbook or laptop with a non-
touch version of Android.
This version, the Android x86, is equivalent to
Android OS version 1.6 (there is a stable release for
version 2.1 and an unstable one for version 2.2 as
well), which was originally called patch hosting
for Android x86 support.
This project was originally created as a patch
for non-compliant systems to be a part of the The system is extremely light and boots
Android technology movement. It offers support up without any delay on an Intel Core 2
Duo-backed system.
for Intel chipsets to run the platform on devices
SURFING ON ANDROID
The Android x 86 extends support to cameras,
Wi-Fi, and more. Although it has been tested on
several platforms with positive results, it may not
work ne with every setup. For instance, we tried
using the setup with a Dell laptop. The camera and
recorder worked ne, but the Wi-Fi options did
not work. Moreover, it requires a SD card to save
data; it doesnt really save or pick up anything
from your hard-drive. Any apps you install will
be available for the current session only, and you
will not nd them on reboot. Although Android
does offer a decent surng experience, it is not
recommended that you install the OS on your The OS comes with a set of pre-existing apps and widgets. Since it
hard disk. doesn't support Wi-Fi, you might not be able to do much.
U
nlike jailbreaking, rooting is a perfectly
legal and well promoted process, which
comes with several benets. For starters
you can upgrade the rmware on your phone to
house the latest operating system. However, if you
are a new user, ashing your memory even with
adequate back up may not be such a smart thing
to do.
WHAT IS ROOTING?
In the simplest of terms, rooting means getting
superuser privileges on your Android device.
While the term rooting
is not new for Linux
users, it means gaining After collecting the required tools, prepare
right to script on the your phone for rooting by enabling the USB
kernel shell. It is similar Debugging option.
Windows administrator
rights in Windows, who you dont need, but once these apps have been
can control every run- removed, you cannot reset your phone to fac-
ning aspect that the OS tory settings for damage control. So when you do
offers. For most phones, remove an app, make sure that you know it will
this root access is not not hamper the regular working of your phone.
really encrypted so root If upgrading the OS versions gives you the jitters,
access gives you com- you can use apps that need root access to perform
plete access to every exclusive functions like tethering.
aspect of your OS.
HOW IS IT DONE?
WHY ROOT? For this demo, we would be rooting a Sony Erics-
To start rooting, you must give access to With a rooted phone, son Xperia X10 mini pro that has been upgraded
the external application. For this, keep the you can uninstall to Android 2.1 clair. The procedure to root the
Unknown sources option checked.
ROM applications that same phone for Android version 1.6 is the same.
WARMING UP
If you wish to start with a rmware upgrade on
your phone right from the vendors, visit http://
go.chip.in/siuty. Download, install and update
your phone using the upgrade offered. Next start
your phone, go to Settings | Applications. Check
on the Unknown sources option. Proceed to the
Development sub menu and turn on the USB
Debugging option.
GATHER THE TOOLS SuperOneClick v1.5.5 ideally roots Android v1.6. This phone was
Apart from the updates for your phone, you need running on v2.1, which is automatically detected by the application.
to install you phone drivers and the SuperOneClick
tool. You can get the phone drivers from the Sony
Ericsson PC component from http://go.chip.in/
relxm, and you can download the SuperOneClick
tool from http://go.chip.in/lxevg.
Install the phone drivers and plug
in your phone to your PC with the USB
cable. Unzip the contents of the ZIP file
and youre ready to start with the rooting
process.
BACKING UP DATA
Once you have rooted your device, you may want
to upgrade the rmware to the latest version of
Android. It is advisable to back up all you data on
to your SD card with a reliable tool. One such tool
is Titanium Backup Pro.
Priced at Rs 270.22, you would also need the
BusyBox app to help you back up your les. Apart
from these, youll need a tool to back up your
messages. You can use Backup to Gmail, which is
priced Rs 90.25 and can back up all your messages After rooting, the Superuser icon is made available to your phone.
and send them to your Gmail account. You might have to give the application 'su' rights to proceed.
T
ethering basically means using an Internet- It gets a little more complicated when you tether
enabled device as a modem for another with Windows XP. First, you must download a con-
device, generally a notebook or a PC. What guration le tetherxp.inf and save it on your PC.
this means is that you can ditch your broadband When you connect you device to your PC with the
service and tether your Android device with your USB cable, Windows XPs New Hardware Wizard
PC and use it a modem, sharing your mobile Inter- will open and ask to install drivers for your new
net service between your phone and your PC. device. Here, you must manually select and install
the conguration le you have downloaded, which
TETHERING WITH FROYO then congures XP to support USB tethering with
Most Android devices in the market today run on your Android device. It is also worth noting that at
Android 2.1 clair or 1.6 Donut and only recently this point, Mac does not support USB tethering.
have newer products running on 2.2 FroYo been Turning your FroYo device into a Wi-Fi hotspot
introduced. If you are using an Android FroYo is much quicker and easier. As long as your mobile
device, tethering will be pretty easy as it is a phone service has a data plan, all you have to do
built-in option in your is go into the wireless and network settings and
wireless and network congure your device to act as a Wi-Fi hotspot. You
settings. All you have to can leave it as an open access point or even assign a
do is choose from teth- WPA2 PSK password to restrict access. The advan-
ering it via USB cable or tage of portable Wi-Fi hotspot tethering is that
turning it into a Wi-Fi more than one device can use your Internet at the
hotspot. same time. It is also easier to tether for Windows
Tethering with your XP and Macintosh users and other cellular devices.
USB cable is simple if
youre running Win- TETHERING WITH CLAIR
dows 7, Windows Vista OR EARLIER
or Linux. The Android Android operating systems before FroYo did not
users guide gives you have a built in option for tethering, but that doesnt
simple, easy to follow mean you cannot do it. There are many ways in
instructions and cong- which you can still tether your device for Internet
Google has added tethering as a feature to urations to setup your access, either by using tethering apps, rooting your
Android 2.2 (FroYo). device for USB tethering. device, or using a proxy server.
M
obile app development is How much growth have
quickly turning into one you seen in the recent years
of the hottest IT sectors. in the mobile app market?
Android is currently the second Has the growth of tablets
highest selling mobile phone OS and also added to the enthusi-
gaining popularity according to a asm?
study from Gartner Inc. Gartner also There has been a signicant
claims that $15.9 billion is expected growth in the mobile industry,
in end-user spending in 2012 alone which has also had a positive impact
and mobile apps will soon drive hard- on the mobile app industry. The
Salil Bhargava, CEO and
ware sales, advertising spending and smartphone segment has seen an
spokesperson, Jump Games
technology innovations. exponential growth in the consump-
In addition, Androids open source tion of mobile apps in the past couple
code enables developers all over the world to put of years. The growth of tablets has denitely added
their programming skills to use and develop their to the enthusiasm, with companies like Apple
apps individually. Several app and game develop- and Google launching tablets that offer iOS and
ment companies have sprung up in the recent past Android apps respectively.
and developers are quickly growing in numbers in
India and all over the world. How much has the Android phenom-
Google and the Android website already pro- enon influenced this growth?
vide users with a software development kit (SDK). The Android phenomenon has had a signicant
Application programming is generally done in impact on the growth of mobile apps, with a lot of
Java and the advent and adoption of HTML5 into developers focusing on the Android platform to
Web browsers and mobile Web browsers means a leverage their product offering.
sound knowledge in HTML5 and Java is critical for
future Android app developers. How much app support do you pro-
It is vital to understand the user experience as vide to Android users?
these apps are much more user driven than tradi- We believe that it is a very key market for us
tional softwares. and so we make sure that every game we develop
We spoke with Salil Bhargava, CEO and spokes- at Jump Games is also available on the Android
person for Jump Games about the prospects of platform. Android is vital in terms of our product
mobile phone app development. strategy and roadmap going forward.
A
ndroid has become a very exciting plat- but as an app developer, the number of downloads
form for budding developers to challenge for your app can also grow wider because the
their Java skills. Although the technology technology is in its original form across devices.
is quite recent, its success has been booming to While there are things like form factor and
say the least. hardware composition to worry about, the com-
With a plethora of apps already available on patibly issues are ironed out by the Android SDK
the Android Market and users ocking to buy itself, as the relevant compatibly packages are
Android-based devices, now is the right time to made available in the source code by default.
put your Java skills to good use. Heres all you
need to know about Android: THE PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
As knowledge of modication to the source code
OPEN-SOURCE of the OS is irrelevant while you develop the apps,
Since the technology is projected as being open- you dont really need to master C.
source, you can modify the source code for any You only need to be procient in Java,
personal use without any legal violation. The because the OS features a modied Java Runtime
operating system itself is a code combination of Environment called as the Android Execution
C and Java, just like Linux, which is also coded Environment, thus making its installation and
mainly on C. upgrade process convenient.
As a developer, you can contribute not just to However, there are certain preset guidelines
app development, but also to develop add-ons and that your app needs to follow if you wish for it to
plug-ins that can help the system become a bit run on the target devices with ease.
more robust.
GARNERING THE ARMOR
THE OPEN HANDSET ALLIANCE Once you have decided to take the Android road
What makes Android a better environment for to app development, you will realize that the SDK
application development is the open handset alli- is designed to make the process as comfortable as
ance that Google has entered into with 80 tech- can be. To start off, you would need the Android
nology and mobile companies. Not only can you SDK and AVD Manager to utilize the latest tools or
switch between phone and port data with ease, platform.
PP DEVELOPMENT 101
Sachin Pandit
Begin with the standard Android SDK package. While there are many packages that you
You can install it from http://developer.android. can use from the site, the one recommend on
com/sdk/index.html depending on the OS of the the Android Developer forum consists of the
system that you need to develop your app. If you following utilities:
are confused about which Integrated Develop- Eclipse IDE for Java Developers
ment Environment (IDE) to use, you can settle for Eclipse Classic (versions 3.5.1 and higher)
Eclipse. Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers
To run the Eclipse IDE, you would need to Other IDEs that you can opt for include Apache
equip your machine with Eclipse 3.4 (Ganymede) Ant 1.8 or later, IntelliJ or Emacs. However, the
or greater and the Eclipse JDT plugin, JDK 5 or Android SDK is not compatible with Gnu Compiler
JDK 6 (just the JRE alone would not work) and for Java (gcj).
the Android Development Tools plugin. You will Once you have all the tools in place, you
nd the Eclipse tools at http://www.eclipse.org/ need to check your computers hardware
downloads/. prole before you start the coding process.
SHARING SUCCESS
If you nd it difcult to code and need some
inspiration to continue your app journey, there
are several reference libraries, video tutorials and
blog posts that can come to your rescue. These
include developer tips and talks with successful
app makers, and they will keep you updated on
new features and plug-ins that can help you code
A sample code on the Android SDK and an emulator that helps you your apps better.
see what you have coded in real time.
W
ith the meteoric rise in interest sur- 200 people, so to get at least a 50 percent increase
rounding Android technologies, it was on our forecast shows the popularity of Ubuntu in
the turn of another Linux based oper- a key country like India with its huge potential for
ating system to take the spotlight. The end of users and developers on open platforms.
The day long event saw many enthusiastic Ubuntu developers coming together. The question-answer sessions saw a healthy exchange of ideas.
M
CA, or Master of Computer Appli- the third year of MCA itself, so it actually comes
cation, is a post graduate degree to two years. You save one year and earn money
that is quite popular amongst those as well. Since youve done masters in computers,
with IT backgrounds as well as those new to you are supposed to be already groomed in terms
the eld. Its an extensive three-year mas- of technical and professional aspects. Most com-
ters program divided into six semesters that panies dont groom their MCA freshers on how to
grooms you into a full-edged IT professional. deal with the client. Its all expected from them.
The course is developed in sync with the latest He states further, Stepping into the market
trends in IT and covers areas like software devel- having a MCA degree opens many doors for you.
opment, systems management, systems develop- You can go for research work, pure development,
ment, systems engineering, application software, support and maintenance, application enhance-
management information systems (MIS), hardware ment, testing, and even teaching. In MCA, you are
technology, networking, etc. supposed to study 36 subjects in an elaborative
manner. These 36 subjects help you choose your
WHY MCA? subject for research and teaching and for develop-
After having successfully completed the MCA ment. In MCA, you need to complete two profes-
course, a student can establish a career as a Soft- sional trainings, which give you a very clear idea
ware Programmer, Software Engineer, Software about the current market trends. So having prior
Developer, Systems Analyst, Software Application knowledge in the area youll be working in helps
Architect, Software Consultant, etc. you in searching for the right job.
Thiruvengadam P, Leader, Human Capital Advi-
sory Services, Deloitte in India says there is a WHO CAN CHOOSE MCA?
healthy demand for MCAs in the industry. An Its a degree anyone can pursue regardless of their
MCA is a person who has either a skill of develop- educational background. Gaurav says, I wanted
ing a system into proper code or can be trained to do something in my career which is related
and developed in any area of IT, like testing, to the computers. I have done B.Sc. and I wanted
programming, etc. A person who has certain to do a professional course that would give me
limitations of getting into good quality engineer- good exposure to computers. As I had no IT back-
ing colleges could opt for MCA as it gives them a ground, MCA proved to be a very good platform
denite career opportunity. After three years of for me, because the rst semester gave me ample
MCA, you would denitely have a job. They can time to bridge the gap.
further do additional courses to enhance their job On the other hand, Thiruvengadam P feels that
prospects and qualications. MCA is also a great and easy option for those who
Gaurav Sharma, who completed his MCA from could not get into engineering. MCA is an easier
Uttar Pradesh Technical University in 2006 and option. Engineering has problems associated with
now works as Senior Software Engineer with SAIC it in terms of fees, the ability to get into the right
India, agrees with him, You start working in institution, and so on. The number of people who
have got the basic skills like numerical analysis entrance exams. Even though there are different
and aptitude can opt for MCA instead of engineer- entrance exams, the content is more or less the
ing, which focuses on learning a lot more than same. It tests the candidates for mathematical,
what is required for coding in the IT industry. Also, logical, analytical, basic computers and general
the private institutes that offer courses similar to knowledge.
MCA have tie-ups with companies for placement, Gaurav has a word of advice for those wanting
which is good. So before opting for an institute, to pursue an MCA degree. Work hard in the rst
you should check their records, credentials, place- and second semester, because the study method
ments, etc. and preparation mechanism for exams is very dif-
ferent in MCA. These two semesters are the foun-
GROWTH PROSPECTS dations of your degree. Students should normally
An MCA fresher starts as a programmer and start preparing for the entrance exam of MCA in
acquires additional skills as they interact with the years of graduation itself. Elite institutes offer
their teams. They would move on to becom- a very good environment to study and handsome
ing analysts, architects or senior programmers employment opportunities through campus place-
and, in the long term, even project managers. ments. If non-IT students study the basics of C, C++
However, they could hit the ceiling in terms of (or any other computer language), it will work to
growth because of their non-engineering back- their advantage, since many universities include
ground, but if they are smart enough, they can these languages in their entrance exam.
easily surpass it. It all depends on their skills,
Thiruvengadam P says.
Gaurav agrees. The very rst advantage is that SOME INSTITUTES OFFERING MCA
MCA is a masters degree that helps in building your
Delhi Institute of Advanced Studies, New
career. For instance, if you have completed B.Tech
Delhi
or BE, after a particular stage, your growth can
University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil
stagnate, so if you want to be a project manager
Nadu.
or head of a particular department, you wont be
ICFAI University, Tripura
given preference. At that stage, you would need to
Fergusson College, Pune
take admission in some distance learning course to
Annamalai University, Chitambaram,
be the eligible for that post. But with a MCA degree,
Tamil Nadu.
you have the advantage of having the required edu-
Apeejay Institute of Technology, Noida,
cational experience. So according to me, MCA is a
Uttar Pradesh.
complete package.
Bangalore Institute of Technology,
Bangalore.
QUALIFICATIONS AND ENTRANCE Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra.
EXAM SIES College of Management Studies,
There are many institutes that offer MCA courses
Nerul, Navi Mumbai
across India, and these courses are accredited
Sinhgad Institute of Management and
by the All India Council for Technical Education
computer application, Pune
(AICTE), New Delhi. Its a post graduate course and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute,
a candidate has to appear for a written entrance Mumbai
exam. Candidates have to secure 50 percent or Institute of Information Technology and
above in their Bachelors or equivalent degree. Some Management, New Delhi
universities may also require the candidate to have Nirma Institute of Technology,
studied mathematics during graduation. Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
There are two kinds of entrance exams one Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi,
is the common entrance exam like NIMCET con- Uttar Pradesh.
ducted by the NITs, while institutes like the MET Institute of Computer Science,
Symbiosis (Pune), Birla Institute of Technology Bandra, Mumbai
(Ranchi), etc. conduct their own entrance exams. Indira Gandhi National Open University
Additionally states like Madhya Pradesh, Orissa (IGNOU)
and Maharashtra also conduct their own common
INNOVATIONS
P
hysical disabilities are hard to cope with,
especially if youve been used to life with
normal motor skills. While prosthetics is
the way forward, the huge costs mean that it isnt
the most viable option. However, Nitesh Kumar
Jangir from RGPV Bhopal has designed a robotic
bionic arm with advanced sensors, which is not
only useful but also economical for people with
disabilities.
His project has been entered into various com-
petitions, including Prayas at IITB, IIT KGP and an
international conference at Nirma University. It
has also cleared round one of the Intel Embedded
Challenge.
THE IDEA
Although it is not rare to nd disabled people
with articial limbs, the numbers are still rela-
tively small because of the high price and cost of
NITESH KUMAR JANGIR maintenance. Nitesh explains, Prosthetics give
new life to a person with physical disability. If a
Nitesh hold s a B.E . i n Elec t ron ics & person loses his arm in an accident, an articial
Communication Engineering from RGPV body part is a boon to them.
University of Technology of Madhya Pradesh, He goes on to add, Development in the eld of
Bhopal. His other projects include infrared prosthetics has been going on for a long time and
music transistor, PLCC with microcontrollers, many people are using these arms, but these are
DTMF controlled UMV, automatic CCTV, and still out of the reach of many people due to their
automatic currency checker. An avid robotics high cost and unavailability of proper resources,
enthusiast, he has attended training programs so people who cant afford them remain handi-
in Texas Instruments 32-bit microcontroller capped. This led me to develop my bionic arm,
and several others as well. which is of low cost and can work like costly
prosthetics.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
The usefulness of this project is very evident, and
needs no further reiteration. However, you cannot
qualify its success unless it has been tested in real
life situations. Nitesh agrees and says, For check-
ing its practicality, I went through a long process
of testing. This involved visiting hospitals and While this is a prototype of the arm, it
testing it on real patients. My prototype uses three provides near accurate data recordings.
movements (upper, lower and hand grip) that can
work efciently with a power supply of 9 volts. For
more movements, more servo motors and switch FINANCIAL FEASIBILITY
mode power supply needs to be added. Nitesh reminds us that one of the important fac-
Each arm needed to be specically crafted for tors considered for the project is its nancial
the person it was tested on. After initial difcul- viability. The cost of this product depends upon
ties and with a little bit of practice, they found the the conguration that is required. Minimum cost
system very helpful. As per out test records, our with essential functionalities is between Rs 8,000
system scored 70 percent in handling abilities, and Rs 10,000, which is quite economical. This is
and 74 percent reliability, with a response time of because we used simple technology and cost effec-
4 milliseconds. He added. tive components.
The complex circuitry helps to generate movements and reflexes A visual interpretation of a bionic arm
that are senstive to temprature changes. attached to a severed human hand.