Google's social networking platform, GooglePlus, has announced a new feature that allows users to get SMS notifications. This feature enables them to share updates using their mobile phones even when they are offline, a recent post on Google blogs stated. The announcement stated that the feature is a result of work by “a team of motivated engineers in India, who realised the importance of “connecting you with the right people on GooglePlus, regardless of where you are or what kind of device you're on”.
International ‘code-athon' in Bangalore
April 22 will be the second day of an international code-athon being held simultaneously in cities across the world. In Bangalore, this International Space Apps challenge is being held at the Centre for Internet and Society in Domlur. This event, coordinated by the U.S. space agency NASA, is part of the U.S.'s programme to promote Open Government Partnership.
The challenge is grouped into four categories: Software Development, Open Hardware, Citizen Science Platforms and Data Visualisation. The contest aims at addressing strategic space exploration needs, a press release from CIS stated.
Now, a cricketing app for Windows phone
Yahoo India announced the launch of its full-fledged cricket app for Windows phone users in India. The app, available for free on the Windows Marketplace offers a slew of features and user-friendly interaction for the user to follow live matches, and also keep a tab on the recent and upcoming ones, a release from Yahoo stated.
Previous releases were for iPhone and Android users (the recent Android app has seen 11,000 downloads within 10 days of launch). The app offers live scores, detailed ball-by-ball commentary, an interactive score card that allows the user to browse through the batting line-up, fall of wickets and a complete chronology of how a match progressed.
New tab for the education sector
Indian technology firm HCL Infosystems released its tablet PC targeted at the education segment. HCL's MyEduTab caters to schools as well as higher education institutions, the company announced. It also unveiled U1, a trendier and more stylish device that runs on the Android operating system (Ice-Cream Sandwich), on the same day.
According to a press release from the firm, the tablet offers a topic revision application (that helps students revise what they have studied) and a self-assessment engine on MyEduTab to help them self-evaluate their skills and knowledge.
The tab comes preloaded with educational applications and NCERT books. Anand Ekambaram, senior vice-president, HCL Infosystems, called it “an innovative device for the 21st century learner”.
Simplifying work on the cloud
Technology major Hewlett-Packard announced the launch of Virtual Application Networks, a new cloud functionality that speeds application deployment, simplifies management and ensures network service level agreements in cloud and other dynamic computing models across the HP FlexNetwork architecture.
According to a release from the firm, this would enable IT staff to deploy new cloud applications to users much faster.
