Micromax Canvas A1, Spice Dream Uno Android One Handsets Getting 5.1 Lollipop Update

Micromax and Spice, two popular India-based smartphone makers have announced that they are rolling out Android 5.1 Lollipop OS update throughout this week to their Android One smartphones -Micromax Canvas A1 and Spice Dream Uno.

While Spice announced the news on its Facebook page stating "Your rocking weekend starts today..Spice rolls out Lollipop 5.1 update for Spice Dream Uno users. Check NOW!," Micromax has detailed the steps Canvas A1 users can follow to install Android 5.1 Lollipop on their handsets.

According to Micromax, the Canvas A1 with Android One should at least have 30 percent battery to install the OS. Users would have to connect to a Wi-Fi network, check for system updates under the handset's Settings option, and download/ install the package if available.

Both Micromax and Spice have not mentioned exactly what changes will theAndroid 5.1 Lollipop OS update will bring to the Android One smartphones. However, we know some of the features Android 5.1 Lollipop brings: easy handling of Wi-Fi toggles and Bluetooth from Quick Settings, fix for random app crashes, improved security in case the smartphone has been stolen or is lost, improved heads-up notifications that let users swipe up to collapse, better handling of system audio while playing a media file, and new 'No interruptions until next alarm' option in Priority mode.

Eco-Friendly Technology

Ecotechnology is an applied science that seeks to fulfill human needs
while causing minimal ecological disrupution, by harnessing and
manipulating natural forces to leverage their beneficial effects.
Ecotechnology integrates two fields of study: the 'ecology of
technics' and the 'technics of ecology,' requiring an understanding of
the structures and processes of ecosystems and societies. All
sustainable engineering that can reduce damage to ecosystems, adopt
ecology as a fundamental basis, and ensure conservation of
biodiversity and sustainable development may be considered as forms of
ecotechnology.

Ecotechnology emphasizes approaching a problem from a holistic point
of view. For example, remediation of rivers should not only consider
one single area. Rather, the whole catchment area, which includes the
upstream, middle stream and downstream sections, should be considered.

Construction can reduce its impact on nature by consulting experts on
the environment.

Sustainable development requires the implementation of environmentally
friendly technologies which are both efficient and adapted to local
conditions. Eco-technology allows improvement in economic performance
while minimizing harm to the environment by:

increasing the efficiency in the selection and use of materials
and energy sources,
control of impacts on ecosystems,
development and permanent improvement of cleaner processes and products,
eco-marketing,
introducing environmental management systems in the production and
services sectors, and
development of activities for increasing awareness of the need for
environmental protection and promotion of sustainable development by
the general public.

Eco-Friendly Products

Eco-friendly products are products that do not harm the environment,
whether in their production, use or disposal.

Some of these going green products when in use, help conserve energy,
minimize carbon footprint or the emission of greenhouse gases, and
does not lead to substantial toxicity or pollution to the environment.

Other green products are biodegradable, recyclable or compostable.
Hence, they do not harm the environment or upset the ecological
balance when they are disposed of.

There are also eco friendly products that are made out of recycled
materials. These recycle products help reduce the need for new raw
materials and the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators
(because waste can be diverted to making recycled products).

Comparison between Single Three Phase and Bank of Three Single Phase Transformers for Three Phase System

It is found that generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power are more economical in three phase system than single phase system. For three phase system three single phase transformers are required. Three phase transformation can be done in two ways, by using single three phase transformer or by using a bank of three single phase transformers. Both are having some advantages over other. Single 3 phase transformer costs around 15% less than bank of three single phase transformers. Again former occupies less space than later. For very big transformer, it is impossible to transport large three phase transformer to the site and it is easier to transport three single phase transformers which is erected separately to form a three phase unit. Another advantage of using bank of three single phase transformers is that, if one unit of the bank becomes out of order,then the bank can be run as open delta.

Windows 10 to Support USB OTG and Alternate Modes Over Type-C

Microsoft has revealed details about its upcoming WinHEC Hardware Conference scheduled for March 18. Going by Microsoft's agenda for the event, Windows 10 looks set to come with support for USB Dual Role and Type-C at launch, pointing to support for USB OTG for phones and tablets, as well as alternate modes of connectivity over USB Type-C.
The official WinHEC Hardware Conference page lists a session called 'Enabling New USB Connectivity Scenarios in Windows 10'.
The page reads, "Windows 10 introduces support for USB Dual Role and Type-C, which will enable new wired connectivity scenarios such a phone interacting with USB peripherals [also referring to OTG connectivity], or laptops connecting to an external display using the USB Type-C connector. This session will go into detail on how Windows supports these technologies and what you need to do to enable them."
Introduction of support for USB Type-C to Windows 10 will mean will help convince customers to move beyond the existing Type-A and Type-B connectors and ports used across millions of computers, peripherals and portable devices. Apart from supporting alternate modes, as Microsoft says, users will also benefit from the single connector type being reversible, making life easier by not having to check which way to insert a USB plug into a port. The same connector will also be used at both ends of a USB cable. In addition to supporting USB 3.1 speeds of up to 10Gbps (twice the speed of today's USB 3.0), the Type-C connector will allow for increased power delivery of up to 100W, which would be enough to charge a laptop or power an external 3.5-inch desktop hard drive as well as better resistance to electro-magnetic and radio frequency interference.
Detailing further support for alternate modes enabled by USB Type-C, the March 18 session listings topics, "Overview of the new use cases introduced with USB Dual Role and Type-C, What scenarios are and aren't supported for Dual Role devices, Using Alternate Modes (e.g. DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, or MHL) over Type-C, Support for Power Delivery, enabling devices to provide/consume up to 100W over USB, Hardware and software architecture changes for Dual Role and Type-C, and Building a Windows system with Dual Role and/or Type-C support." The Redmond giant also lists some intended audience which will include OEMs, peripheral manufacturers, and driver developers among others.

How Do Wireless Mouse Works

Wireless Mouse :

The two main types of a wireless mouse are a radio frequency, or RF, mouse and a Bluetooth radio frequency, or Bluetooth RF, mouse. Both operate in the same fashion, but Bluetooth radio frequency wireless mice choose the radio frequency on which the mouse operates automatically and boast a wider range than regular radio frequency mice. Bluetooth radio frequency mice assess radio frequencies and then choose the one with the least traffic.

Transmitter:
The actual wireless mouse unit consists of a mouse with buttons that does exactly the same things as a mouse with a cord. However, the wireless mouse unit also contains a radio frequency transmitter. This transmitter registers the actions taken by the mouse, whether that be a left-click, a right-click or mouse movements. These actions are then broadcast to the other main component of the wireless mouse, the receiver.

Receiver:
A variety of types of wireless radio frequency receivers are available. Some are built into your computer, while others connect through one of your computer's peripheral ports, such as a USB port. No matter the type of receiver, they all work in the same way. They receive the radio frequency broadcasts from the mouse on the same frequency channel, then they decode these broadcasts and communicate them to your computer. The result is that when your wireless mouse is left-clicked, the receiver picks up this command and passes it on to your computer, which registers the left-click on your screen.

Android 5.1 Lollipop Update Rollout Announced for Spice Android One Phones

The domestic handset brand however has not revealed the changelog for
the update. It notes, "The Android Lollipop 5.1 update is the latest
version of Android operating system and offers a significantly
improved smartphone experience with an enhanced visual appeal, user
interface and general improvements in system stability."

Both Spice Dream Uno and Spice Dream Uno H ran Android 4.4.4 KitKat
out-of-the-box.

So far there has been no official announcement regarding the rollout
of Android 5.1 Lollipop; though Google released Android One
smartphones in Indonesia running Android Lollipop build 5.1
out-of-the-box.

A leaked changelog for Android 5.1 tipped that the build brought
improvements corresponding to bugs that were reported since Android
5.0 Lollipop release: addition of silent mode; improvements in system
stability; improved RAM management; fixes for sudden app closures;
improved battery management; excessive consumption of network devices
when used Wi-Fi fixed; fixes for issues with wireless connections;
fixes for Ok Google function; fixes for notifications problems; some
sound problems experience by certain devices fixed, and changes in the
Material Design colour palette.

Android One phones in India started receiving Android 5.0 Lollipop
update in the last week of February. Despite Google's promise to
deliver the Android updates soon after they are released to Android
One phones; the company has disappointed consumers with months of
delay in Android 5.0 Lollipop update.

Last month, Spice Mobility launched its new Android One smartphone in
Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Commenting on the rollout of update, Prashant Bindal, CEO, Spice
Mobility Ltd said, "In line with our brand promise "Always the
latest", we are delighted to be the first player to release the
Android Lollipop 5.1 update, exclusively for our Spice Dream Uno users
in India."

India to Launch Fourth Navigation Satellite on March 9

India will move closer to its own satellite navigation system with the
launch of its fourth satellite tentatively slated for March 9, a
senior official of the Indian space agency said on Monday.

"The launch is tentatively planned for March 9 evening around 6.35pm
IST. However final green signal for the launch will be given days
ahead of the satellite launch," M.Y.S. Prasad, director, Satish Dhawan
Space Centre, part of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).

He said the satellite has been tested and mated with the rocket and
the heat shield will be closed Monday.

"Full test will be done again Tuesday and the rocket will be moved to
the second launch pad on March 4," Prasad said.

According to him, the space agency's Launch Authorisation Board (LAB)
has to give the final nod for the rocket's flight.

The LAB meeting is slated for March 6.

The 59-hour countdown is expected to begin on March 7 morning.

Weighing 1,425kgs, the fourth of the Indian Regional Navigation
Satellite System (IRNSS) satellite-IRNSS-1D would be flown into space
in an Indian rocket called Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL.

After its successful launch and commissioning IRNSS-ID is expected to
make India among select group of countries having its own satellite
navigation system.

The satellite has a life span of around 10 years.

Currently India is knocking at the door step of an exclusive space
club - navigation satellite system owing club - that has the US,
Russia, China and Japan as members.

Though the full system comprises of nine satellites - seven in orbit
and two on the ground as stand-by - the navigation services could be
made operational with four satellites, ISRO officials had said
earlier.

Each satellite costs around Rs. 150 crores and the PSLV-XL version
rocket would cost around Rs. 130 crores. The seven rockets would
involve an outlay of around Rs. 910 crores.

The entire IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is planned to be
completed by 2015.

The first satellite IRNSS-1A was launched in July 2013, the second
IRNSS-1B in April 2014 and the third one in October 16, 2014.

Once the regional navigation system is in place, India need not be
dependent on others.

The IRNSS will provide two types of services - standard positioning
service and restricted service. The former is provided to all users
and the latter is an encrypted service for authorised users.

The IRNSS system comprises of two segments - the space and the ground.
The space segment consists of seven satellites of which three will be
in geostationary orbit and four in inclined geosynchronous orbit.

The ground segment consists of infrastructure for controlling,
tracking and other facilities.

Wind Power History...

The wind is a free, clean, and inexhaustible energy source. It has served humankind well for many
centuries by propelling ships and driving wind turbines to grind grain and pump water. Denmark was
the first country to use wind for generation of electricity. The Danes were using a 23-m diameter wind
turbine in 1890 to generate electricity. By 1910, several hundred units with capacities of 5 to 25 kW were
in operation in Denmark (Johnson, 1985). By about 1925, commercial wind-electric plants using twoand
three-bladed propellers appeared on the American market. The most common brands were
Wincharger (200 to 1200 W) and Jacobs (1.5 to 3 kW). These were used on farms to charge storage
batteries which were then used to operate radios, lights, and small appliances with voltage ratings of 12,
32, or 110 volts. A good selection of 32-VDC appliances was developed by the industry to meet this
demand.
In addition to home wind-electric generation, a number of utilities around the world have built
larger wind turbines to supply power to their customers. The largest wind turbine built before the late
1970s was a 1250-kW machine built on Grandpa’s Knob, near Rutland, Vermont, in 1941. This turbine,
called the Smith-Putnam machine, had a tower that was 34 m high and a rotor 53 m in diameter. The
rotor turned an ac synchronous generator that produced 1250 kW of electrical power at wind speeds
above 13 m=s.
After World War II, we entered the era of cheap oil imported from the Middle East. Interest in wind
energy died and companies making small turbines folded. The oil embargo of 1973 served as a wakeup
call, and oil-importing nations around the world started looking at wind again. The two most important
countries in wind power development since then have been the U.S. and Denmark (Brower et al., 1993).
The U.S. immediately started to develop utility-scale turbines. It was understood that large turbines
had the potential for producing cheaper electricity than smaller turbines, so that was a reasonable
decision. The strategy of getting large turbines in place was poorly chosen, however. The Department of
Energy decided that only large aerospace companies had the manufacturing and engineering capability
to build utility-scale turbines. This meant that small companies with good ideas would not have the
revenue stream necessary for survival. The problem with the aerospace firms was that they had no desire
to manufacture utility-scale wind turbines. They gladly took the government’s money to build test
turbines, but when the money ran out, they were looking for other research projects. The government
funded a number of test turbines, from the 100 kW MOD-0 to the 2500 kW MOD-2. These ran for brief
periods of time, a few years at most. Once it was obvious that a particular design would never be cost
competitive, the turbine was quickly salvaged.
Denmark, on the other hand, established a plan whereby a landowner could buy a turbine and sell the
electricity to the local utility at a price where there was at least some hope of making money. The early turbines were larger than what a farmer would need for himself, but not what we would consider utility
scale. This provided a revenue stream for small companies. They could try new ideas and learn from
their mistakes. Many people jumped into this new market. In 1986, there were 25 wind turbine
manufacturers in Denmark. The Danish market gave them a base from which they could also sell to
other countries. It was said that Denmark led the world in exports of two products: wind turbines and
butter cookies! There has been consolidation in the Danish industry since 1986, but some of the
companies have grown large. Vestas, for example, has more installed wind turbine capacity worldwide
than any other manufacturer.
Prices have dropped substantially since 1973, as performance has improved. It is now commonplace
for wind power plants (collections of utility-scale turbines) to be able to sell electricity for under four
cents per kilowatt hour.
Total installed worldwide capacity at the start of 1999 was almost 10,000 MW, according to the trade
magazine Wind Power Monthly (1999).

Energy Storage Systems.

Energy storage technologies are of great interest to electric utilities, energy service companies,
and automobile manufacturers (for electric vehicle application). The ability to store large amounts of
energy would allow electric utilities to have greater flexibility in their operation because with this
option the supply and demand do not have to be matched instantaneously. The availability of the
proper battery at the right price will make the electric vehicle a reality, a goal that has eluded
the automotive industry thus far. Four types of storage technologies (listed below) are discussed in
this section, but most emphasis is placed on storage batteries because it is now closest to being
commercially viable. The other storage technology widely used by the electric power industry,
pumped-storage power plants, is not discussed as this has been in commercial operation for more
than 60 years in various countries around the world.
. Flywheel storage
. Compressed air energy storage
. Superconducting magnetic energy storage
. Battery storage

Ultrasonic range finder using arduino...

Ultrasonic range finder using 8051 mictrocontroller has been already published by me in this website. This time it is an ultrasonic range finder using arduino. HC-SR04 ultrasonic range finder module is used as the sensor here. The display consists of a three digit multiplexed seven segment display. This range finder can measure up to 200 cm and has an accuracy of 1cm. There is an option for displaying the distance in inch also. Typical applications of this range finder are parking sensors, obstacle warning system, level controllers, terrain monitoring devices etc.