Microsoft Corp hopes to develop a version of a $3 Windows software suite to run on low-cost laptops that a Massachusetts foundation wants to send to the world's poorest children.

The software, designed for youngsters in developing nations, is being tested on prototypes of small green-and-white laptops developed by the One Laptop Per Child Foundation, Microsoft Corporate Vice-President Will Poole said on Friday.

The non-profit project plans to start mass production in September of the so-called "XO" machines. They were designed specifically by the foundation to run on the Linux operating system and other open-source programs.

Linux is the main rival to Microsoft's Windows operating system. If the machines run only Linux, Microsoft will lose out on an opportunity to eventually expose tens of millions of children worldwide to its Windows system.

One Laptop Per Child, founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientist Nicholas Negroponte, is selling them at $176 apiece to governments, which will then distribute them to poor children.

Some governments have urged Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, to equip those machines with Windows software instead of Linux and other programs developed by the foundation, Poole said.

"They're coming to us and saying, 'Hey. If we buy these very nice, low-cost laptops, can you give us a version of Windows and Office. Can you make that available for that nice bit of hardware'," Poole said. "Our answer is 'maybe'."

A key reason for their interest is that some teachers and school administrators already use laptops with Windows and they want to stick with familiar software, Poole said.

The XO features a string pulley to charge its battery, a keyboard that switches between languages, a digital video camera and wireless connectivity.

It requires just 2 watts of power compared to the typical laptop's 30 to 40 watts, and does away with hard drives, relying instead on flash memory and four USB ports to add memory devices. A minute of yanking on the pulley generates 10 minutes of electricity.

WAITING FOR HARDWARE SPECS

If running the XO machines on Windows were to become an option, they would be equipped with Microsoft's Student Innovation Suite - a $3 suite that the software giant's founder, Bill Gates, unveiled last month in Beijing.

It includes a stripped-down version of Windows XP known as Windows XP Starter Edition, along with a word processor, e-mail program and spreadsheet as well as educational software.

Making the XO compatible with Windows requires development of about 10 software drivers for the laptop's hardware, Poole said.

Work on a possible Windows software suite for the XO cannot be completed until the One Laptop Per Child Foundation finalizes the hardware specifications of the model that will go into production in September, he said.

"They're still updating things and changing things," he said.

Once the product's specifications are finalized, Microsoft will seek to adapt its software to run on the system, then test it out to see how it performs on the machine.

It the machine isn't robust enough to run Windows, Microsoft won't go ahead and develop its software for the XO, Poole said.

"We have to look at the end experience. If the student is going to turn on the thing and love it, then that's really what we are focused on," he said.

The XO laptop is made with components from hardware makers including Advanced Micro Devices Inc and Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

Software maker Red Hat Inc helped develop the device. Quanta Computer Inc will manufacture it.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com

The world's largest passenger aircraft A-380 touched down for the first time in India to mark the second anniversary celebrations of Kingfisher Airlines.

This fully double decor aircraft, which landed at 10.50 a.m., has a passenger capacity of 850 seats in all economy configurations but in three classes it has the capacity to carry about 550 passengers.

Kingfisher Airlines has ordered five A-380 planes which has a list price of over 300 million dollars per aircraft.

Super jumbo aircraft is powered by four Trent engine manufactured by Rolls Royce and can fly 15,000 kilometres non-stop.

During its India visit, it would be taking some VIPs on a flight of fancy over Delhi and on Tuesday it will fly off to Mumbai.

Airports Authority of India and advance teams of Airbus Industrie had been on the job in Delhi to prepare for various facilities including navigation of the super jumbo plane in the country which takes three Boeing 737 or Airbus 320 space.

This 80 feet tall aircraft will be fly flying off from Mumbai on May 9.

Courtesy : Expressindia.com

For 45-year-old tuberculosis patient Balsingbhai, coming to Ahmedabad and consulting a specialist seemed rather far-fetched, for earlier, Urban Bank Hospital in Dahod was his best option. However, with the newly opened Telemedicine (TM) centre at Jivraj Mehta Hospital, he was able to consult Dr Dantara, a TB specialist, while lying in the hospital bed, being attended by a local doctor.

Ironically, the revolutionary technology which could help save many lives is struggling to find a place in Gujarat as the State Government has not decided which technology to use for data transmission _ fibre optics or satellites. The State which is way ahead of other states in manufacturing and supplying telemedicine equipment and software, lags behind in its application.

Concern over the matter was expressed at the inauguration of the telemedicine centre at Jivraj Mehta Hospital here on Sunday where experts argued that fiber connectivity was most suitable for medical data transmission as it provided better resolution, clarity and colour, which are of vital importance in diagnosis. Also, fiber optic cables have already been laid in State and district hospitals and medical colleges have been linked to the network, they say.

“From commercial point of view, telemedicine is not growing in the State and only five centres are operational in the State so far,” said an expert seeking anonymity.

The TM centre at Jivraj Mehta Hospital works on ISDN network and has been installed by Medisoft Telemedicine Pvt Ltd which has set up 80 centres across five countries so far. Of the five centres in State, the others are in Sant Vinobha Bhave Hospital in Silvassa, IPC Heart Care in Surat, Urban Bank Hospital in Dahod and Government hospital in Diu and Daman, says its director Devendra Patel.

The centre at Jivraj Mehta Hospital has been set up by Rotary Foundation of Rotary International with help from a matching grant project between Rotary Club of Ahmedabad Metro and Rotary Club Birmingham, UK. According to Rotary Governor Nirmal Sanghvi, this is the first-of-its-kind matching grants project and a mobile TM centre is also planned in days to come. The hospital also plans to have access to national and international TM networks and thus provide world class TM consultations, said Mehta.

Courtesy : Expressinadia.com