The metallic Sabbath

By Abhisek

Black Sabbath is a name that requires no formal introduction. The band had a vision of a darker, heavier and gothic rock n' roll. The psychedelic era was fading away when they emerged as four youths from Birmingham who were disillusioned by the flower power. By 1970, their "Paranoid" was making circles in the radio airplay, and Black Sabbath was declared as the harkers of a new period of Rock music.

It seems rather a coincidence that the heavier distortions of the band was due to the guitarist Tony Iommi's missing fingers, who down-turned his guitar due to ease of playing. Although initially panned by critics as unoriginal and amateur, the band was the first true original Heavy Metal band.

They had always been overshadowed by their most notable rival and the "biggest band of the 1970s" - Led Zeppelin. While Black Sabbath could never outsale or outperform them, they must never be seen in the same light as countless Zeppelin imitators. Both were larger-than-life bands in their own rights.

Black Sabbath's influence crossed over heavy metal and influenced the likes of Soundgarden and G'N'R. Numerous popular culture reference only epitomize their lasting influence.

The departure of Ozzy Osbourne in 1979 was the virtual death of the soul of Black Sabbath. Several line-up changes never catapulted the band to their original stature. However, the reunion and touring of the original founding fathers of Heavy Metal music in recent times seems to have captured the imagination of old-school fans and made Black Sabbath what it originally was- the blackest, scariest and heaviest prophets of Rock music

The Voyage of the "VOYAGERS"

Voyager goes interstellar

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept: Science and Technology

Voyager 1 is a 722-kilogram (1,590 lb) space probe launched by NASA on September 5, 1977 to study the outer Solar System. Operating for 36 years and 11 days as of 16 September 2013, the spacecraft communicates with the Deep Space Network to receive routine commands and return data. At a distance of about 125 AU from the Sun as of August 2013, it is the farthest manmade object from Earth. The primary mission ended on November 20, 1980, after encounters with the Jovian system in 1979 and the Saturnian system in 1980. It was the first probe to provide detailed images of the two planets and their moons. As part of the Voyager program, like its sister craft Voyager 2, the spacecraft is in an extended mission to locate and study the regions and boundaries of the outer heliosphere, and finally to begin exploring the interstellar medium. On September 12, 2013, NASA announced that Voyager 1 had crossed the heliopause and entered interstellar space on August 25, 2012, making it the first manmade object to do so. As of 2013, the probe was moving with a relative velocity to the Sun of 17.037 km/s (38,110 mph; 61,330 km/h). The amount of power available to the probe is decreasing over time; by 2025, it will no longer be able to power any single instrument

"We made it! We are in interstellar space," said Voyager scientist Ed Stone of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, speaking at the briefing.  Solar storm aftershocks at the edge of the solar system provide confirmation that the Voyager 1 spacecraft made the passage on August 25, 2012, space agency scientists said Thursday.  On that date, Voyager 1 passed beyond the fringes of the sun's outward-flowing solar wind and into the interstellar space between the stars.  "It is an incredible event, to send the first human object into interstellar space," says study lead author Donald Gurnett of the University of Iowa in Iowa City. "It’s not quite the moon landing, but we are where the solar wind ends."

Finding the Solar System’s Edge

The solar wind flows outward from the sun traveling at one million miles (1.6 million kilometers) an hour, a bath of energetic particles that's blasted off the solar surface and into space, where it surrounds our star like a bubble.   At its edges, the solar wind piles up into the "interstellar wind," a cloud of cooler charged particles that suffuse the thin vacuum of space between stars. Since 2004, Voyager 1 had been traveling within the boundary region between the solar wind and the interstellar wind, which is the cooked-off debris of thousands of exploded stars in our Milky Way galaxy.   Knowing exactly where the solar wind ends and where interstellar space begins has been an open question among space scientists for more than four decades, says Stone.   Since an instrument for directly detecting that transition died in 1980, the researchers have had to rely on indirect measures of magnetic and electrical activity from other instruments aboard Voyager 1 to find an answer.   One key to identifying this boundary is the difference in the density of charged particles between the solar wind and interstellar space, as it is about 50 times greater in the latter region.  Looking at a pair of solar storms that caught up to the spacecraft last October and then again last April, Gurnett’s team reported that measured changes in electrical activity around Voyager correspond to interstellar space.   As the storms passed the spacecraft, they triggered spikes in electrical and radio waves that uniquely corresponded in frequency to the spacecraft having entered the more densely charged interstellar space.  Based on that increase, the team extrapolated the entry date for Voyager 1 into interstellar space as August 25, 2012.   "The spacecraft doesn't feel anything traveling into interstellar space. We can only detect the transition because of its instruments," says Stone, who was not on the study team.  The new report confirms an analysis made last year that found that Voyager had entered interstellar space, based on indirect measurements.  Stone finds the new report convincing: "Nature has finally given us a nice set of solar storms which show us that Voyager is now out in interstellar space."    Surprise! Galaxy, Sun's Magnetic Fields Aligned  Scientists were surprised by NASA's finding that the galaxy's magnetic field is apparently aligned in the same direction as the sun's, forming a "magnetic highway." Space scientists had generally assumed that the galaxy's magnetic field would have some other direction.   The alignment had stymied attempts to use magnetic measurements to determine a starting line for interstellar space.   "We have a lot to learn still, I think, is what it means," says Voyager scientist Stamatios Krimigis of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, who reported the magnetic highway results last year.   Along with Voyager 1's measurement of increased galactic cosmic rays (the solar wind serves to partly shield the solar system from these high-powered rays), the new results have Krimigis "absolutely convinced."  "In the same way that Sputnik carried us out of the Earth's atmosphere in 1957, Voyager has now carried us outside the sun's atmosphere," Krimigis says. "It is quite an achievement in the short time that we have had spaceflight."   Given the estimated lifetime of the plutonium battery aboard Voyager 1, its last signals should be heard on Earth around 2025, Stone says. The spacecraft will eventually pass within 1.7 light years (about 16.1 trillion kilometers) of another star in 40,000 years, according to Voyager project manager Suzanne Dodd of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.  The spacecraft's twin, Voyager 2, which explored Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, is also still kicking, now some 9.55 billion miles (15.36 billion kilometers) from the sun on its own journey.  "It has really been an exciting 40 years for the mission, and the next 10 years should be exciting ones as well," Stone says. "We are still exploring places we have never been."

Source: National Geography

Graphene could make the internet a hundred times faster

Graphene could make the internet a hundred times faster

Posted by: Avirup Basu

dept: Technology

The use of graphene in telecommunications could dramatically accelerate internet speeds by up to a hundred times, according to new research by scientists in the University of Bath's Department of Physics.  In a paper published in Physical Review Letters, researchers from the Centre for Graphene Science at the Universities of Bath and Exeter have demonstrated for the first time incredibly short optical response rates using graphene, which could pave the way for a revolution in telecommunications. 

 Every day large amounts of information is transmitted and processed through optoelectronic devices such as optical fibres, photodetectors and lasers. Signals are sent by photons at infrared wavelengths and processed using optical switches, which convert signals into a series of light pulses.  Ordinarily optical switches respond at rate of a few picoseconds – around a trillionth of a second. Through this study physicists have observed the response rate of an optical switch using ‘few layer graphene’ to be around one hundred femtoseconds – nearly a hundred times quicker than current materials.  Graphene is just one atom thick, but remarkably strong. Scientists have suggested that it would take an elephant, balanced on a pencil to break through a single sheet. Already dubbed a miracle material due to its strength, lightness, flexibility, conductivity and low cost, it could now enter the market to dramatically improve telecommunications.  Commenting on the report’s main findings, lead researcher Dr Enrico Da Como said: “We’ve seen an ultrafast optical response rate, using ‘few-layer graphene’, which has exciting applications for the development of high speed optoelectronic components based on graphene. This fast response is in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, where many applications in telecommunications, security and also medicine are currently developing and affecting our society.”  Co-Director of the Centre for Graphene Science at Bath, Professor Simon Bending added: “The more we find out about graphene the more remarkable its properties seem to be. This research shows that it also has unique optical properties which could find important new applications.”  In the long term this research could also lead to the development of quantum cascade lasers based on graphene. Quantum cascade lasers are semiconductor lasers used in pollution monitoring, security and spectroscopy. Few-layer graphene could emerge as a unique platform for this interesting application.

Source: www.bath.ac.uk

The Cream of Rock 'n' Roll

Eric Clapton is and will be remembered as a Rock God. This great man has written classics like
'Layla' and 'Tears in Heaven'. But his 'Sunshine of your love' towers over it all. This song proclaimed the beginning of more robust sound.....a hark to the new era of Hard Rock.
Cream began as a blues band in the erstwhile mid-1960s London Blues Scene. As the Summer of Love of 1967 set in, Cream went on in flying colours. The lyrics became more ambitious, the sound more stiffer. Soon however, the band broke up in 1968.
Cream popularised Acid Rock and  set the blueprint for Hard Rock bands. Their approach to the guitar made a whole bunch guitarists to take the riffs hard to harder. Cream set new standards for Rock 'n' Roll. They were our there for 3 years, but left more impact than many 30 year old bands can.

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

Posted by: Deep Paul

Dept: Fitness

You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life. 

 

 

 

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.

No. 1: Exercise controls weight

Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

 

No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

 

No. 3: Exercise improves mood

Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

 

No. 4: Exercise boosts energy

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores. 

 

No. 5: Exercise promotes better sleep

Struggling to fall asleep? Or to stay asleep? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.

 

No. 6: Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life

Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.

 

No. 7: Exercise can be fun

Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. So, take a dance class, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it. If you get bored, try something new. 

 

The bottom line on exercise

Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have any health concerns.




Source: Google.

Poster's comment: Live healthy. Stay fit. All the best...... :)

Parallel Universe.

<<<Parallel Universe>>> Infinite

WARNING!!!! Highly Recommended.... Please keep a glass of water or emergency medicine in case you faint while reading it. The article is completely non-fictious. It’s a fact.

          The universe we live in isn’t singular. That is the universe isn’t “uni”. It’s “Multi”... Multiverse. For many years scientist have been coming up with more and more theories about how the universe works. None of them were able to satisfy all the physical laws until the M theory was born. The most revolutationary theory in the History of physics. The idea seems to be quite bizarre cause it predicts the presence of parallel universes. This doesn’t means that Albert Einstein is still alive or may be it is.....!! Don’t panic. Parallel universes exist infact the number of universes isn’t finite but infinite. There are infinite number of parallel universes separated by a very small distance apart. The distance is so small that it can’t be measured. The question comes why we can’t feel them or even feel their existence. To explain this let me introduce to you with the String Theory. It states that everything in this universe is made up of tiny strings. These strings vibrate with there own frequencies. Bizzare!! Isn’t it? Well the fact is that we can’t experience the existence of parallel universe is due to the reason that the vibration doesn’t match.

What are there in those universes that are parallel to each other?

n The Universes may consist of you, me, or any other human being. May be they consists of spirits, May be some diff forms of substance. Whatever it is we don’t know.

Is there any connection between those universes with our one?

n May be yes. May be no. We don’t know. Let’s take an example. You go to a brand new place. You explore it. While exploring, you feel that you have came here before. But it’s evidient that you haven’t. Now why does it occur? May be there is a connection between the worlds. May be we have visited the other world virtually in dreams. The connection between the worlds is such that we don’t know but we are aware that there must be a connection that makes us feel that we have visited. The phenomenon is known as déjà-vu. But the explanation is different by scientists. But no correct explanation is present. Any idea why? The string theory may be an answer. May be in dreams we can produce vibration or may be we don’t  But why such a thing occur?   

The string theory predicts the existence of multiple parallel universes but it fails to explain the birth of ours “THE BIG BANG THEORY”. The M theory comes to the rescue. It’s an advanced version of the string theory or let’s say a higher theory. The major part is that it says our universe are membrane. Similarly other universes are also membranes. When two of them collide, BIG BANG-------!!! Though the theory is not yet proved, but research is going on.

          Now friends, we are not alone. We are infinite. May be you are infinite. May be I am infinite. May be BNS is infinite all separated by a tiny gap.

----Avirup Basu......infinite!!!! 

If you like this article, don't forget to share it. 

The band who got no 'Satisfaction'

The Rolling Stones, "The greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world" did everything a band could possibly do. They topped Singles and Albums chart a lot of times, set attendance record at concerts, went in and out of jail, got drug busted, went high and dropped low.....
But they did one thing most bands can't do. They went on. The Stones rolled on. Despite all that they had to go through, despite failed marriages and the burden of old bones and stiffer competition at every generation, they did it.
Today the reputation of the band has not diminished. It is still the best band ever to many. This is not any other band. They are the blueprint, the example, the definite band.

Kurt Cobain's 'Unplugged' nirvana

A rash, disoriented rocker, a raw energy that surges past his body to materialise into the soul of his fans, a man known to be loud: this are the few qualities of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.
Kurt Cobain was meant to be wild. Cobain was meant to hurl himself towards drum-sets. Cobain was not meant to play an acoustic guitar in a stripped-down set in a Dylan-esque mood on November 18, 1993.
Yet he did it. And that too in a masterful manner. Nirvana's set was perhaps the most memorable of the 'MTV Unplugged' series.
Nirvana proved their versatility with the performance. The stalwart Grunge-rockers played David Bowie and Lead Belly with equal ease.
Infact, the unknown David Bowie song "The Man Who Sold The World" became famous with this performance.
Perhaps this show meant something to Cobain. Perhaps he felt he had a point to prove, to himself or to others. Perhaps he wanted to calm down after years of debauchery. Perhaps he felt the need to reinvent. Perhaps he was looking for answers, which he most probably didn't find and died untimely few months later........

Quantum Computing

Quantum Computing....... Beyond Conventional Computing.

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept: Technology

We know there is a limit of everything. But is there a limit to computing? Well the answer is currently not known to us. In this article, I will be discussing about “BEYOND CONVENTIONAL COMPUTING”.

          Think about the early computers. They had been to large for us to handle. Eg: ENIAC. But the birth of silicon technology or rather the birth of Integrated circuits has made those super large computers reduce to the size of some centimetres. Modern PCs, desktops, tablets have a lot more computing power than the previous ones. Let’s say they have lacs of times more computing power. But the question is “Is it enough”? Well the stastics don’t say so. We need more and more and perhaps another major leap is required in modern computing. Companies, manufacturers, developers have all stuck there mind in semiconductor technology. They are going on developing the “OLD FASHIONED” Semiconductor Technology. The Size of the microchips are getting smaller and smaller.

          There are some limits in the Semiconductor Technology.

          1: When size is being reduced, the heating effect is considerably increased. As heating increases, the device tends to get damaged more and more.

          2: Semiconductor are not available to us forever. They are not renewable resources.

          3: Digital circuits using semiconductors have only 2 modes of operation. 0 and 1 that is on or off. They don’t have any further state.

          4: As size is getting reduced, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle comes into effect.

It’s not possible for a semiconductor technology to remove these drawbacks So here comes the concept of “QUANTAM COMPUTERS”.

          Quantum computers unlike digital computers don’t use the concept of transistors. They use the properties of quantum theories like superposition, entanglement to operate on data.  In conventional computing we use bits. In quantum computing we use qbits or quantum bits.  These computers will have a lot more computing power than the conventional computers. Since a subatomic particle have many energy states, Therefore this property can be used to compute multiple tasks at a particular time which will be again a lot more than conventional ones.

          A subatomic particle can have any quantam number. If we can use that property of quantam number to store values and process data, we will be able to get a super processor with a very high processing speed. Thus for tasks which require high processing power such as in complex algorithms, space programs, defence and other areas quantam computers will definitely serve our purpose.

Quantam computer technology is still at it’s infancy but a company in Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada announced the first commercial quantum annealer on the market by the name D-Wave One. The company claims this system uses a 128 qubit processor chipset. We hope that in future we would shift to quantam computers and break the “LIMITS OF CONVENTIONAL COMPUTING”.

Source: My Brain

Poster's comment: There is a limit to everything and that goes with SILICON as well.

Neil Young: The forgotten messiah

By: Abhisek Roy
Dept. Music

Few people of this generation have time to remember Neil Young. Indeed, people who idolize Nirvana or swear by the name of Pearl Jam must spend a few moments of their life listening to 'Cortez the killer', or 'Rockin' in a free world' or 'Down by the river'.
Neil Young was a man who rebeled the notions like most of his contemporaries. What made him stand out from the rest was his shabby appearence, unkempt hair and minimal devotion to looks. He was the man who spoke out loud, whether it irked his fans from Alabama (for 'Southern Man') or Spain (for 'Cortez the killer') was never his concern.
In ways more than one, he was the first Grunge rocker. Pearl Jam idolizing with him, or Nirvana's Kurt Cobain quoting him in his suicide note, testifies to that.
Neil Young's lyrics shadowed over his guitar skills. The Alt Rock breakthrough in the early 1990s shadowed over the entire man. For some reason, this Canadian immigrant to America never got his dues. Whatever it may be, friends, lend him your ears for once. You won't be disappointed.

India launches navigation satellite

India launches 1st navigation satellite

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept: Technology

India launches the first of it's 7 navigation satellites aimed at setting up a navigation system which will be beneficial for aircrafts, ships, hikers as well as civilians. It is aimed in providing more accurate information about our precise location. It is the first step towards India's own GPS.

The IRNSS-1, is under complete control of the Indian government, and launched using the polar satellite launch vehicle, PSLV-C22, from the Sriharkota, Andhra Pradesh launch pad.

It would provide two major services, with the Standard Positioning Service open for civilian use and the Restricted Service, encrypted one, for authorized users (military).

The IRNSS system mainly consists of three components, namely, Space Segment (Constellation of Satellites & Signal-In-Space), Ground Segment and User Segment. It will have two types of signals in L5 and S-band centre frequency, with the L band centre frequency

Satellite based augmentation system will also open the door for socio economic benefits for developing countries to pursue sustainable growth. Satellite navigational positioning data will be used in spheres of mapping, surveying, monitoring, precision agriculture, disaster warning, aviation, maritime, transportation and research areas. Our study shows that we will be able to save five percent in fuel, because we will be using optimal routes for transportation courtesy data from the Satellite based augmentation system," Agrawal added.

Source: The times of India
Poster's comment: GPS by India. A major step indeed.

Be Physically Fit like Batman :)

Posted by: Deep Paul

Dept: Fitness

Batman is a comic-hero who lives in Gotham City and who protects the city from any threats. His real name is 'Bruce Wayne'. He has been known to fight the Joker or Bane who are notorious for been criminals.

This article may inspire you to get your ass moving to fitness...

Steps:

Be flexible. In all of the 'Batman' Series of films, you can see that he is very flexible. He jumps a lot and does cart wheels in one of the films. He is also very good at running and dodging movements such as punches. To improve this you may:

1. Practice your gymnastics or any other skill which would make you more 'flexible' or 'bendable'.
2. You might try jumping, squatting or running which would also improve on your flexibility.


Try to be fit. You can try to be fit by doing:
1. Running, jogging, skipping, or any kind of physical activity.
2. You also might need to eat a lot of vegetables and/or eat less food and drink more water (remember that protein is necessary in gaining muscles so eat some meat as well).
3. A reminder that Batman is muscular and hence, you have to train or go to the gym a lot and lift up weights and/or do sit-ups really depending on your determination of being Batman.

Make your back straight. In the film, you never see Batman's back not straight and he doesn't have a hump back. You can:
Practice making your back straight everyday. Tell your family, relatives or friends that you have to walk in front of them so they can see whether your back is straight or not. Tell them to adjust it. Also making your back straight is very good for you so though this maybe hard, it has its own benefits.


In the end I'd like to quote a line: "Energy and persistence conquer all things."

Source: Google.

Poster's comment: Live healthy. Stay fit. All the best...... :)

 

Hendrix and Hippie community

Posted by - Abhisek Roy

Dept.- Music

                                     The man who revolutionized the guitar (and fashion sense) during the 1960s had a huge role to play to play in the communion of the Hippies. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am talking about the very-talented Jimi Hendrix, the man who is worshipped like a god by his followers 4 decades after his death. 

                                    

                                     Jimi Hendrix, in more than one ways, was the most exemplar of all the Acid-stoned Hippies. He dressed unconventionally, behaved unconventionally and yes, played his weapon of choice (the white Fender Stratocaster) very unconventionally. He, as I believe, really conglomerated all that was part of the Summer of Love phenomenon. This is why among all of his co-performers, his performance is the most iconic one in the Woodstock Festival of 1969, a haloed gathering among the Hippie community.

                                      Even artists like Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Jim Morrison and even, Bob Dylan have pledged their admiration for this man. Jimi Hendrix stands as the most towering figure of the Psychedelic area, and will continue to do so for generations to come.

New fibre optic technology can boost Internet bandwidth

Posted by: Avirup Basu

dept: Technology

In a breakthrough, scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have devised a new fibre optic technology that promises to increase bandwidth dramatically, easing Internet congestion and video streaming.  The technology centers on donut-shaped laser light beams called optical vortices, in which the light twists like a tornado as it moves along the beam path, rather than in a straight line.

Widely studied in molecular biology, atomic physics and quantum optics, optical vortices (also known as orbital angular momentum, or OAM, beams) were thought to be unstable in fibre, until Boston University Engineering Professor Siddharth Ramachandran recently designed an optical fibre that can propagate them.  In the paper in journal Science, he and Alan Willner of University of Southern California, demonstrated the stability of the beams in optical fibre and also their potential to boost Internet bandwidth.  "For several decades since optical fibres were deployed, the conventional assumption has been that OAM-carrying beams are inherently unstable in fibres," said Ramachandran.  "Our discovery, of design classes in which they are stable, has profound implications for a variety of scientific and technological fields that have exploited the unique  properties of OAM-carrying light, including the use of such beams for enhancing data capacity in fibres," he said.  Ramachandran and Willner collaborated with OFS-Fitel, a fibre optics company in Denmark, and Tel Aviv University.  Traditionally, bandwidth has been enhanced by increasing the number of colours, or wavelengths of data-carrying laser signals - essentially streams of 1s and 0s - sent down an optical fibre, where the signals are processed according to colour.  An emerging strategy to boost bandwidth is to send the light through a fibre along distinctive paths, or modes, each carrying a cache of data from one end of the fibre to the other.  Unlike the colours, however, data streams of 1s and 0s from different modes mix together; determining which data stream came from which source requires computationally intensive and energy-hungry digital signal processing algorithms.

Source: The Indian Express

Poster's comment: No comments

87% increase in phishing attacks in the last 12 months.

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept: Technology

PUNE: According to the results of Kaspersky Lab's 'The evolution of phishing attacks 2011-2013' survey, the number of internet users who faced phishing attacks over the last 12 months has grown from 19.9 million to 37.3 million, an increase of 87 %. Facebook, Yahoo, Google and Amazon are among main targets of cybercriminals. The study, which was carried out in June 2013 based on data from the Kaspersky Security Network cloud service, shows that what was once a subset of spam has evolved into a rapidly growing cyberthreat in its own right.  A press release by the lab said that phishing is a form of internet fraud in which criminals create a fake copy of a popular site (an email service, an internet banking website, a social networking site, etc.) and try to lure the users to these rogue web pages.

"The unsuspecting user enters their login information and passwords into these carefully forged websites as they normally would, but these access credentials are instead sent to the cyberiminals. The scammers can then use this stolen personal information, bank credentials, or passwords to steal the users' money, to distribute spam and malware via the compromised email or social networking accounts, or they can simply sell their databases of stolen passwords to other criminals," it said.  It added that for a long time, phishing was regarded as a variation of typical spam emails.  "However, the data from this survey confirms that the scale of phishing attacks has reached such a significant level that they should be regarded as a dangerous threat category of their own, not merely an off-shoot of general spam. In fact, email is no longer the most common delivery mechanism for phishing emails. For example, only 12 % of all registered phishing attacks were launched via spam mailings. The other 88% of cases came from links to phishing pages which people followed while using a web browser, a messaging system or otherwise interacting with the computer," the press release added.

Source: The times of India

Poster's comment: I am not sure what will be the statistics in the coming years.

 

We might be living in a "multiverse"

Posted by: Avirup Basu

dept: Science

WASHINGTON: A groundbreaking theory proposed 15 years ago by physicists that suggests the presence of a 'multiverse' or multiple universes may be correct, according to some US scientists.  If the theory proposed in 1997 by three University of Delaware physicists is true, then it could debunk some of the discoveries scientists were hoping to make at the Large Hadron Collider, the multi-billion-dollar particle accelerator in Geneva, Switzerland, where the famous " Higgs boson" was discovered, researchers said.  It would also suggest that we might be living in a "multiverse" - a universe that is much bigger than was once thought and in which the laws of physics take different forms in different places, according to an article in Scientific American. The article examines the "principle of naturalness", which has been thought to govern the size of the numbers in the laws of physics.

Source: Times of India

Welcome to the first official app of BLACKTRON NEWS SERVICE(BNS).

BNS through it's initial posts has been successful. We have decided to launch an app specially for Nokia Asha. We will show here how to use this app.

  

Download this app once it is published in the nokia store. This post is to introduce with the features of it.

Name: BNS
Type: Productive, utilities.
Developed by: Avirup Basu (avirup171)
Platform: Nokia asha s40.

This app will consist of all the posts and regularly updated as it is linked with this blog. You don't need to visit the page again and again just download the app and enjoy innovative-non conventional news. Soon this app will be available for WP as well.

Apple's future iphone may cost less than $99

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept:         Technology

Apple has plans to release a lower cost iPhone that will sell for 99 dollars.  The next version of the software for the iPhone will be incredibly different than past versions.

 Apple is reportedly looking at iPhones with bigger screens and will be releasing the low cost phone 

 in a range of colors as soon as this year, the ABC News reports. 

According to the report, Apple declined to comment on the rumors, but CEO Tim Cook addressed the question of larger screens last month at the All Things D conference.  Cook also said the iPhone doesn't have a larger screen right now for a few reasons.  He said that a large screen today comes with a lot of tradeoffs, adding that people do look at the size, but they also look at things like if the photos show the proper color, the white balance, reflectivity, battery life, brightness, the longevity of the display.  The phone is made of a plastic casing and will come in five or six different colors.  Besides releasing a cheaper model of the phone, Apple will release the iPhone 5S later this year.  It will be an update with some small additions and tweaks. Apple released the iPhone 5 in September.

Source: Hindusthan times

Poster's comment: Lets just wait and watch

GOOGLE DETECTS IRAN PHISHING ATTACKS AHEAD OF ELECTION. 

Google says it has detected and stopped thousands of phishing attacks targeting email accounts of Iranian users ahead of the 14 June presidential election

In an online statement, the firm said it had noticed a "significant jump" in the region's overall volume of phishing activity in the last three weeks.  

The timing and targets suggested the attacks were "politically motivated".  Friday's poll is the first since 2009 when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won a controv\ersial second term.  

The election had triggered angry protests, with voters accusing Mr Ahmadinejad's camp of rigging the results in his favour.

Fake sign-in page

Google's vice-president of security engineering, Eric Grosse, said the phishing attacks originated from within Iran.  Phishing attempts to obtain passwords and other private computing information by directing users to fake websites.  "For almost three weeks, we have detected and disrupted multiple email-based phishing campaigns aimed at compromising the accounts owned by tens of thousands of Iranian users," he said.

"The timing and targeting of the campaigns suggest that the attacks are politically motivated in connection with the Iranian presidential election on Friday."  Mr Grosse said victims targeted in the attacks had received an email containing a link to a web page purporting to perform account maintenance.  If they clicked the link, they were taken to a fake Google sign-in page, which would steal their username and password.  The threat was detected by a phishing detection feature added to the firm's Chrome web browser in 2012.  Mr Grosse warned Iranian users to take extra measures to protect their accounts from "state-sponsored attacks".  In the latest case, users received a message which appeared to come from Google itself using the official-looking address: email.settings@gmail.com.  It suggested they assign an extra email address to their existing Google account to make password recovery easier.  The bogus link they were asked to click also contained the search firm's name adding to the appearance of authenticity, Google says.  However, the attempt was spotted by a Safe Browsing feature added to Google's Chrome browser last year.  Most of the six candidates in Friday's election are conservatives close to Ayatollah Khamenei.  The opposition says more than 80 of its supporters were killed in a crackdown over a period of six months after the 2009 election - a figure the government disputes. Several have been sentenced to death, and dozens jailed.  The two reformist candidates from 2009 - Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi - remain under house arrest.

for more information click here

Source: BBC News 

Poster's comment: I would suggest a more secured web-hosting service. That may reduce the number of attacks to a certain extent.

Global warming may up flood risks in India.

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept::        Science/Technology

TOKYO: Unchecked global warming may increase the risk of flooding at the end of this century in 42 per cent of the Earth's land surface, including parts of India, Southeast Asia and Africa, a new study has warned.  According to a research team led by Yukiko Hirabayashi at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Engineering Innovation, the number of people exposed to the risk of flooding would increase from the current estimate of 5.6 million to 80 million by 2100 if temperatures rise by 3.5 C degrees during the period.

Source: The Times of India

Poster's comment: Wake up!!! If we don't start now, there won't be anything to start with!!

Why Exercise Is So Important for Your Mind, Mood, and Body?

Posted by : Deep Paul

E-mail :       pauldeep662@gmail.com

Dept :         Fitness

 

 Most of us know by now that we should be exercising on a regular basis. But do you really know why exercise is so important? Not only does working out help you shed a few pounds, but there are also many other compelling reasons to include some regular activity in your routine. Read on to get motivated for exercise.

Exercise has many benefits. It reduces depression and instantly lifts mood due to the production of endorphins, the feel-good hormones. No matter how down you are feeling before you exercise, you will definitely feel a lot more upbeat by the end of your session.

Exercise also helps you sleep better. The actual physical activity will ensure that your body and mind are ready for a great night’s sleep.

Another benefit is decreasing stress levels. Worries tend to diminish in size while you are concentrating on working out. Combined with the production of endorphins, stress and anxiety will decrease.

Exercise improves focus and mental clarity. Research has shown that those who participate in regular exercise have less chance of suffering from Alzheimer’s and senility.

It promotes better energy levels. It may sound unlikely, but the more you exercise, the more energy you will have. Feeling lethargic? Go for a brisk walk.

Improved strength and stamina are common with regular exercise. Those bothersome chores will feel much easier, and you will be able to do more for longer.

Exercise increases muscle tone, leaving you looking more defined. The extra muscle mass will also help to increase your resting metabolism.

It can improve self-esteem and self-confidence. Once you start toning up, you will look better and feel better. The extra energy, stamina, and endorphins will spill over into other areas of your life. You will feel more in control of yourself and your life.

Exercise can improve balance and coordination, as well as cardiovascular fitness, helping reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Aerobic activity will improve both the health and efficiency of your heart and lungs. The improved circulation results in a glowing complexion and improved transportation of oxygen around the body.

With regular exercise, there is a decreased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Exercise increases bone strength, helping to alleviate the painful condition known as osteoporosis (loss of calcium in bones).

Regular exercise also promotes a healthy immune system.

Getting Started 

Thirty minutes every day is ideal. If 30 minutes is too big a call, try to break it up into smaller intervals. Go for a walk at lunchtime, or use the stairs at the office instead of the elevator. Use your car less and make an effort to ride a bike or walk. It all adds up.

Types of beneficial exercise include brisk walking, jogging, running, swimming and aqua-aerobics, tennis, skating and rollerblading, skiing, yard work, walking the dog, dancing, resistance work, fitness classes, sports, cycling, skipping rope, and just running around and playing with the kids. Try to find activities that you are good at and enjoy. If you have fun while you are working out, you will want to keep going, and your sense of well-being will be heightened. If you don’t enjoy your workout, swap to something else.

Once you have incorporated a regular workout into you daily routine, you will quickly notice the difference when you skip a session. Having less energy and feeling more stressed and anxious are some of the most obvious symptoms that quickly return.

Once you have started exercising regularly, you will wonder how you ever managed without it. Your body and health will reward you as well.

 

Source: Fitnesstips

Posters comment: Get yourself moving(GYM)!!

Internet Companies wants permission to reveal details of NSA spy program.

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept:         Technology/World

Three big Internet companies want the Obama administration to let them reveal details of federal court orders to turn over information about their users to U.S. spy agencies.  Google, Facebook and Microsoft say they want everything transparent and out in the open. Google's chief legal official said Tuesday his company has "nothing to hide."  Google says media reports that it gives the spy agencies unlimited access to information about its customers are not true. It says government orders to keep the details secret just add to rumors and speculation.  The National Security Agency has acknowledged leaked newspaper reports that its program called PRISM collects emails and other data from Internet companies.

    A former NSA contractor, Edward Snowden, leaked the story about PRISM and NSA monitoring of telephone calls to The Guardian and Washington Post.  He said it is important to reveal what he says is the government's massive surveillance program on private citizens.  The U.S. says information gathered by the NSA has foiled terrorist plots. The Justice Department is investigating possible criminal charges against Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong last month but whose exact whereabouts are not known.  The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging whether the NSA spy program is constitutional. The ACLU argues that the spying violates the rights to free speech and privacy. An ACLU attorney says the constitution does not let the government carry out unsuspicious surveillance of every person in the country.

Source: Voice of America news.

FAST, HEALTHY CONVENIENCE STORE SNACKS

Posted by: Deep Paul

E-mail:       pauldeep662@gmail.com

Dept:         Fitness

1. Pistachios 

This green little nut has been deemed “the skinny nut” by nutrition experts because of its low calorie count -- 32 pistachios (in-shell) are about 100 calories. Considered to be one of the healthiest of all the tree nuts, pistachios are an excellent source of fiber, potassium and nutrients. And if the words “low-calorie” and “nutrient-rich” don’t spark your interest, consider this: recent studies suggest that eating small amounts of pistachios daily may lower cholesterol levels and lower the risk of heart disease. One serving of pistachios has as much fiber as two plums!

2. Mozzarella Sticks (A.K.A. String Cheese) 

Available in most convenience stores, mozzarella sticks are a great protein-rich snack that is usually under 100 calories. These yummy sticks have approximately between 7 to 9 grams of protein and are a good source of Vitamin A and calcium. They are also a great snack for people on low carb diets. There might not be more than one brand available at your local convenience store, but if there is, double check the nutrition facts and the ingredients to ensure that you choose the healthiest option.

3. Whole Grain Cereal Cups

Cereal cups are almost always available at your local convenience store. Just as you would at the supermarket, be sure to read the nutrition facts to choose the one made with whole grain cereals, rich in dietary fiber, and low in added sugar and sodium. Whole grains contain the germ, bran and endosperm components of the grain kernel -- natural sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Add some milk and/or a banana – both of which you can also find at a convenience store -- for a filling breakfast. Or snack on the dry cereal to satisfy your craving for something crunchy. It will be a far better choice than potato chips. 

4. Plain Roasted Peanuts 

Peanuts are not actually “nuts” at all – they are a species in the legume or "bean" family. Peanuts provide a great source of beneficial vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin E, foliate, zinc and manganese. They’ll keep your immune system healthy, acting as antioxidants and helping to prevent chronic disease. And if that weren’t enough, they are completely cholesterol free! A small bag of peanuts is usually cheap and easy to eat on the go. Eat a small handful of roasted peanuts to keep you feeling full until your next meal. If you are not particularly good with portion control, buy peanuts in the shell. The extra effort that you’ll put into shelling them will have you eating slower and quite possibly less. 

5. Yogurt 

Yogurt is a protein and calcium-rich snack loaded with probiotics. It’s perfect for health conscious people looking for a snack on the go. According to the National Yogurt Association, yogurt's many health benefits include boosting immunity, promoting strong bone mass, and reducing the risk of colorectal cancer. Try to grab the real thing and opt for products that contain minimal added sugar. Even better, choose a low fat version. If they have Greek yogurt, consider that as well.

Source:  LiveStrong

Posters comment: Get yourself moving(GYM)!!

Gesture recognition technology developed using wi-fi signals

Posted by: Avirup Basu

Dept:         Technology

This technology, which they call 'WiSee', is to appear at The 19th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking.

A team, led by a Indian researcher, has developed a system which uses radio waves from Wi-Fi to sense human body movements and detect command gestures from anywhere within a home or office.  University of Washington computer scientists have shown it’s possible to leverage Wi-Fi signals around us to detect specific movements without needing sensors on the human body or cameras.  By using an adapted Wi-Fi router and a few wireless devices in the living room, users could control their electronics and household appliances from any room in the home with a simple gesture.  “This is repurposing wireless signals that already exist in new ways,” lead researcher Shyam Gollakota, a UW assistant professor of computer science and engineering, said.  “You can actually use wireless for gesture recognition without needing to deploy more sensors,” he said.  This technology, which they call “WiSee,” is to appear at The 19th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking.  The concept is similar to Xbox Kinect – a commercial product that uses cameras to recognize gestures – but the UW technology is simpler, cheaper and doesn’t require users to be in the same room as the device they want to control.  That’s because Wi-Fi signals can travel through walls and aren’t bound by line-of-sight or sound restrictions.  The UW researchers built a “smart” receiver device that essentially listens to all of the wireless transmissions coming from devices throughout a home, including smartphones, laptops and tablets.  A standard Wi-Fi router could be adapted to function as a receiver.  When a person moves, there is a slight change in the frequency of the wireless signal.  Moving a hand or foot causes the receiver to detect a pattern of changes known as the Doppler frequency shift.  These frequency changes are very small – only several hertz – when compared with Wi-Fi signals that have a 20 megahertz bandwidth and operate at 5 gigahertz.  Researchers developed an algorithm to detect these slight shifts. The technology also accounts for gaps in wireless signals when devices aren’t transmitting.  The technology can identify nine different whole-body gestures, ranging from pushing, pulling and punching to full-body bowling.  The researchers tested these gestures with five users in a two-bedroom apartment and an office environment.  Out of the 900 gestures performed, WiSee accurately classified 94 percent of them.

Source: dnaindia

Posters Comment: Amazing technology!! 

Apple shows off the new OS for there devices IOS7

Posted by: Avirup Basu

dept:          Technology

As per expectation, Apple showed off the new operating system for the mobile devices – the iPhone, the iPads and the iPod Touch. Named iOS 7, the new OS brings in a completely different user interface. Tim Cook described this as the biggest iOS update since the launch of the iPhone. Out go the skeumorphic layout, and in comes the cleaner layout with a completely new and crisper font. The focus is on the “depth” perception at most parts of the interface, and even overlays, like the Control Centre, tend to take influence from the part of the UI that is currently on the screen.  “There is a profound and enduring beauty in simplicity, in clarity, in efficiency. True simplicity is derived from so much more than just the absence of clutter and ornamentation—it’s about bringing order to complexity,” said Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Design. “iOS 7 is a clear representation of these goals. It has a whole new structure that is coherent and applied across the entire system.”  The new OS will bring in a lot of new features, as well as tweak some existing ones to make them better.  iOS 7 will introduce the Control Centre. This is essentially a bunch of settings that you can quickly access anywhere in the UI by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Quick settings like Airplane Mode, Brightness levels, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, music playback etc. will be available.  The Notifications have been given an overhaul as well, and the new Today feature gives you an at-a-glance view of your day with a summary of the important details such as weather, traffic, meetings and events. Notification Center is now available from the Lock screen as well.  Multi-tasking has now been extended to all apps that you may have on the device, and the visual layout of how you manage switching between apps has also been given a complete overhaul. The method of double tapping the home key to get to the option remains the same.

Apple has added the AirDrop feature to iOS 7, making sharing files between Apple devices a lot easier. It works exactly as it does between two Macs. Apple did take a dig at the NFC technology, by joking about the fact that AirDrop negates the need to go around tapping phones with each other! iOS 7 gets a new Camera app, with new features like filters, allowing you to add real-time photo effects. The Camera app also gets the square camera option, and you can quickly and easily switch between your four cameras—video, photo, square and panorama—with just a swipe within the app. Carrying on with the theme of photography, iOS 7 will feature a completely redesigned Photos app. The biggest new feature is called Moments, which automatically organises your photos and videos based on time and location they were shot. You can also see these Moments sorted by location, month and even by year. The updated iCloud Photo Sharing allows your family and friends to add photos to your shared photo streams, and the new Activity view displays updates from your shared streams all in one place. Now, iCloud Photo Stream also allows sharing videos. Safari has been given a complete makeover as well. The redesigned interface focuses on bringing more content on the screen. Safari now gets the full-screen browsing mode as well. Smart Search field now looks through your bookmarks and online search results simultaneously. If you have multiple tabs open on the browser, the way they are stacked has been completely redone as well. Safari will also benefit from the iCloud Keychain, which can now store your passwords and credit card information and make them available across all devices. The idea is to ensure that you have any login or transaction details available on any device at any time. Enhanced Parental Controls will allow specific websites to be blocked. SIRI has been given some love as well. The female voice has been changed, and a male voice has also been added. There is now the language option as well, with German and French being two examples. SIRI now has Twitter integration, and will pull search results to show what people are saying. For the web based searches, Bing continues to be the engine.

The Music app on iOS 7 has been given a complete overhaul. The most important change is the addition of the new iTunes Radio, a free Internet radio service featuring over 200 stations and music from the iTunes Store. Apple says, “When you tune into iTunes Radio on any device running iTunes, you’ll have access to stations inspired by the music you already listen to, Featured Stations curated by Apple and genre-focused stations that are personalised just for you. iTunes Radio evolves based on the music you play and download. The more you use iTunes Radio and iTunes, the more it knows what you like to listen to and the more personalised your experience becomes.” iTunes Radio also gives you access to exclusive “first listen” premieres from top selling artists, Siri integration plus the ability to buy anything you hear with just one tap.

That’s not all! iOS 7’s feature list has not ended yet! The new Find My iPhone Activation Lock feature that requires your Apple ID and password before you can turn off Find My iPhone, erase data or re-activate a device after it’s been remotely erased. This is to make the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch less enticing to steal! FaceTime gets the audio calls feature, allowing users to make voice only calls over the service, on Wi-Fi or a mobile service provider’s data connection. The new Notification Centre comes with Notification Sync, which will sync your interaction with every notification across all devices. You don’t need to repeat the same action across all devices now. Phone, FaceTime and Messages blocking to prevent specific people from being able to contact you. Apple did not release many details regarding this feature, but we sure believe this is very interesting. The iOS 7 beta software and SDK are available immediately for iOS Developer Program members. For the consumers, the new OS will be available “this fall”. At the moment, Apple says the update will be available for the iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, iPad mini and iPod touch (fifth generation).


Source: Think Digit.

Posters comment: I just can't wait to lay my hands on it.

Humans of the future to look like Pokemon characters

Posted by: Avirup Basu

E-mail:       ami.avirup17@gmail.com

Dept:         Science

Humans of the future might look more like Pokemon characters with bigger heads, bigger eyes and improved night vision, two researchers have suggested.   Computational geneticist Alan Kwan and artist Nickolay Lamm d said that in 100,000 years, people might have larger heads, Google Glasstype contact lenses and sideways-blinking oversized Disney eyes that glow green with cat-like night vision.   They envision a future where zygotic genome engineering technology develops to the point where humans will be able to control their own evolution. This ability could result in more facial features that humans find attractive : strong lines, straight noses and perfect symmetry. But other changes may be driven by function, they said.   Kwan said heads might also expand to accommodate larger brains as our knowledge increases, and space colonization could produce larger eyes to account for dimmer environments. 

   

Posters comment--- I only hope that BNS stays active for atleast 100,000 years. 

Microsoft's X-Box one to cost $449 will be out in November

Posted by: Avirup Basu

E-mail;      ami.avirup17@gmail.com

dept:         Technology

 Microsoft has its head in the cloud with Xbox One.  The company focused on how cloud computing will make games for its next-generation Xbox One console more immersive during its Monday presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming industry’s annual trade show. Microsoft announced last week that the successor to the Xbox 360 must be connected to the Internet every 24 hours to operate, and the system would ideally always be online.  “The platform features and capabilities exclusive to Xbox One allow developers to push the boundaries of creativity and take gaming in completely new directions,” Microsoft Vice President Phil Harrison told the crowd.  The upcoming console’s cloud computing capabilities were demonstrated by fleshing out dense environments in third-person open-world games like the zombie-fighting sequel “Dead Rising 3″ and cartoony shooter “Sunset Overdrive.” The racing simulator “Forza MotorSport 5″ introduced a feature called “drivatar,” which mimics players’ driving styles and allows their “drivatars” to play for them offline.  “It’s about delivering real human behaviour,” said “Forza MotorSport” creative director Dan Greenawalt.  Microsoft revealed the console, which it has billed as an “all-in-one” entertainment solution for living rooms, will be released in November and cost $499. The company debuted the console earlier this year at its headquarters in Redmond, Wash. The initial reactions to the device have been mixed.  Other games coming to Xbox One include the historical third-person game “Ryse: Son of Rome,” hard-knuckled brawler “Killer Instinct,” a bigger edition of “Minecraft,” terra-forming simulator “Project Spark” and a new installment of the sci-fi shooter series “Halo.”  Monday’s flashy event concluded with the debut of the mech-heavy multiplayer shooter “Titanfall,” the first game from Respawn Entertainment, which was founded by “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” creators Vince Zampella and Jason West.  The company said it was doing away with its Microsoft points system for online purchases with its Xbox Live online service, opting instead for local currency.  Microsoft didn’t address concerns over connectivity, used games and privacy issues with the Xbox One, which will feature a new version of its camera-based Kinect sensor. In a blog post on Microsoft’s site last Thursday ahead of E3, the company outlined more details about the console, including that there would be restrictions on how previously played or used games could be shared.  “For people who are in a completely disconnected state, I think (Xbox) 360 is definitely a great content base for them and a great console, and we’ll continue to invest in that,” said Phil Spencer, Microsoft Studios’ vice president, after the event.  Microsoft Corp. kicked off Monday’s presentation by revealing the Xbox 360 is getting a makeover with a design inspired by the Xbox One.  Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s vice president of marketing and strategy, said the updated Xbox 360 is “smaller, sleeker and as quiet as ever.” He added it would be available beginning Monday.  The company boasted that hundreds of new games are still coming to Xbox 360, which was originally released eight years ago as the high-definition successor to the Xbox. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has outsold rivals like the Wii and PlayStation 3 from Nintendo and Sony for the past two years. It’s sold more than 76 million Xbox 360 units.