Digital Indian Gov: Donate

Showing posts with label Donate. Show all posts

Limited edition Maserati arrives

When Pininfarina’s Jason Castriota designed the gorgeous Maserati Gran Turismo it represented a return to form for the Modenese carmaker and put Maserati firmly back on the radars of exotic car buyers, with a Ferrari engine under the bonnet and better quality construction than ever before in the company’s century-long history.

Unfortunately Castriota (who is also known for the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and the Rolls-Royce Hyperion) designed the Maserati way back in the mid-2000’s for the model’s launch in 2007 where the Gran Turismo was first shown off at the Geneva motor show. Ten years later the car’s still doing duty on Maserati showroom floors the world over and refuses to give in – for example during the entire first quarter of this year the brand sold 54 Gran Turismos in the US. Not 54 thousand, obviously, not even 54 hundred. Just 54.

Over the entire decade-log run so far though, the company has actually managed to sell some 37,000 examples of the Gran Turismo models (if we include its drop-top sibling, the Gran Cabrio), and Maserati is persevering with the nameplate having just unveiled a slightly updated 2018 model, so it’s not over yet. At least not until the planned Maserati Alfieri, first seen at the 2014 Geneva motor show, comes along to replace it.

Before any of that however, before even the 2018 Gran Turismo reaches Middle Eastern shores, the Italian brand’s official UAE importer, Al Tayer Motors, has livened up the Maserati corner of the showroom in Dubai with the addition of the just-released ‘Special Edition’ model which is limited to 400 examples worldwide in Gran Turismo and Gran Cabrio form.

“The UAE is one of the few Middle East markets able to present a small number of units of this limited edition Gran Turismo to our Maserati aficionados,” said Hossam Hosni, Vice President of Maserati at Al Tayer Motors. “It is a rare opportunity to own a car with a classic design and now in a distinctive colour.”

Speaking about the car’s main feature, Hosni points out the special Rosso Italiano three-layer paint for the exterior, a colour commemorating the blood-red Maserati 250F that raced in the Formula 1 championship during the 1950s with the ‘Maestro’ Juan-Manual Fangio behind the wheel.

Inside the car, the special edition model gets Poltrona Frau leather and plenty of personalisation options such as contrasting stitching. Naturally carbon fibre abounds in the cockpit too, and a metal, numbered plaque on the centre tunnel declares the car’s limited status.

This rare Gran Turismo, as well as the upcoming, updated 2018 model, suggest that Modena’s other famous carmaker still feels there’s plenty of legs left in the old girl.

BMW announces X5 and X6 M Black Fire Editions

SoAs.in June 30, 2017 Business , buy , Car , Donate , Sell

BMW has revealed a mean looking, black themed version of its seriously quick X5 and X6 M SUVs.

Dubbed the Black Fire Edition, the pair will be available overseas from August. BMW Australia says the duo aren’t confirmed for local release but the local arm is keen for their arrival.

A spokesman said it was currently working on where they would fit in the local line-up and would confirm availability soon.

With both having the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 found in the normal X5 and X6 M, the cars aren’t mechanically different.

However, BMW says the Black Fire Edition “visualises all the strengths of the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M.”

On the outside, this means Black Sapphire paint, black M kidney grille with black bars, black 21-inch wheels and carbon wing mirror caps.

The interior also gets the treatment, with black and red Merino leather, Black Fire logo and an M Performance Alcantara steering wheel with a leather motorsport accent in... light blue.

DUCATI THIVEVAL REVEALED

SoAs.in June 30, 2017 Business , buy , Credit , Donate , Motorcycles , Sell

A DUCATI XDiavel is already a head-turning bike but put one into the hands of Belgian customizer Fred Krugger and the result is guaranteed to be interesting.

That’s just what Ducati has done, and the finished bike – named Thiveral after a race track near Paris – is being unveiled this weekend at the Bikers’ Classic at Spa-Francorchamps.

Krugger, who’s won the AMD Custom Bike Building World Championship twice, has created a completely new look but managed it without actually changing too many of the bike’s parts.

He’s clearly binned the original, curvaceous seat and tank. In their place come custom-made units that look like they might have been inspired by a toaster. Straight lines and boxy shapes are very much the theme here, along with a black-and-brushed-aluminium colour palette.

The original headlight is kept, and blends in surprisingly well with the new look. At the back there’s a new, inset tail light that neatly matches the twin exhaust exits of the bike’s custom-made, under-seat pipe.

It’s clear that while the bike retains the stock suspension components, they have been lowered by several inches. It doesn’t look like there’s much travel left in those forks. But then again, practicality isn’t really the intention here.

Of course there are no current plans to make more of these – it’s just a one-off to show what the possibilities are. But it’s an interesting move away from the traditional custom bike style.

What do you reckon? Is this a bold new look that Ducati should be considering for future models?

Holden tests next-gen V6 supercar engine

SoAs.in June 30, 2017 Business , buy , Car , Credit , Donate , Sell

Red Bull Racing confirms successful first outing for future racing powerplant.

Holden has taken its first step into the future of Supercar racing.

The Red Bull Holden Racing Team has confirmed it successfully tested the next-generation twin-turbo V6 powerplant in a private shakedown test at Queensland's Norwell Motorplex this week.

Supercar stars, Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Steven Richards, drove the team's promotional Sandman supercar fitted with the first twin-turbo V6 engine this week, with the team reporting it exceeded initial expectations.

"We are very happy with the initial running, GM Racing has given us a great base to work from," Red Bull Racing boss Roland Dane said in a statement.

"The test has been about getting kilometres on the engine and understanding what it needs at this point to prepare it for racing in Supercars."

The team intends to introduce the Gen2 engine with a staggered program next year, with the three main drivers - Lowndes, Whincup and Shane Van Gisbergen - continuing to use today's 5.0-litre V8 engines in their new-generation Commodore racers while a fourth car with a yet-to-be-announced driver will debut the V6 in a series of wild card entries to assess and develop its potential in the racing arena before a full-scale introduction in 2018.

The V6 engine will be unique to Holden in Supercars, and the first time a turbo charged engine has been used in top-level Australian touring car racing since the technology was outlawed in 1993 when the series reverted to a Ford versus Holden competition.

It will also be exclusive to the racing environment, as the next-generation road-going Commodore that is set to arrive in local showrooms early next year will be offered with a naturally-aspirated V6 in top-spec variants and a four-cylinder turbo in lower-grade models. The race cars will also retain a rear-wheel drive configuration whereas the road cars will have either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive transmissions.

Jaguar set to come out with SUV

SoAs.in June 30, 2017 Business , buy , Car , Credit , Donate , Sell

JOHANNESBURG – It was but less than a decade ago when Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design, said he could not imagine himself designing an SUV. Now here we are, at the cusp of a second Jaguar SUV.

The new E-PACE will be unveiled to the public for the first time on the 13th of July. It will be joined in 2018 by the i-PACE, an all-electric crossover that goes on sale in 2018.

“The combination of sports car looks with Jaguar performance will ensure that the E-PACE stands out,” said Callum. “Every Jaguar is designed to excite the senses, and we think E-PACE will do just that, albeit with its own individual character.” In terms of size, the E-PACE is smaller than the F-PACE, meaning it’s about the same size as cousin Range Rover Evoque.

As such, it will sport several common engines, including the new Ingenium motors, petrol and diesel, producing anything between 140kW and 220kW.

2018 Range Rover Velar gets 300-hp 2.0L turbo

SoAs.in June 30, 2017 Business , buy , Car , Credit , Donate , Sell

Land Rover has yet to release the 2018 Range Rover Velar, but Land Rover has announced that it is the latest model in the Jaguar Land Rover family to get the new turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder.

The 2.0L four-cylinder is from the Ingenium family and is also available in the Jaguar XE, XF and F-Pace models. The 2.0L engine features a twin scroll turbo with ceramic ball bearings to reduce friction and a high flow compressor wheel. It generates 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque, which gives the Velar a 0-60 mph time of 5.7

If you missed all the news earlier this year, the Range Rover Velar will slot in the Range Rover lineup between the Evoque and Range Rover Sport. It shares its platform with the Jaguar F-Pace and will rival other luxury crossovers, like the Porsche Macan.

The 2018 Range Rover Velar is expected to arrive this summer and pricing starts at $50,895.

Okja: A genetic super pig and the environment

SoAs.in June 28, 2017 Donate , Hollywood , Movie , Video , Wallpaper

Cautionary tales are not new to Bong Joon-ho's audiences, who are familiar with his style of weaving hidden messages into the cinematic narrative.

The famed South Korean filmmaker is celebrated for combining action and horror genres with dark bite.

His 2014 post-apocalyptic thriller Snowpiercer inferred much political meaning, displaying the worst of society's imbalances on a high-speed dystopian train.

And there was an environmental message to his 2006 breakout hit The Host, which told the story of a mutated fishy creature that wreaked havoc in the streets of Seoul. The monster was created after radioactive waste was dumped on a US military base.

His latest vision Okja continues that green parable. A bittersweet story about animals and humans, it centres around a lovable super-pig that's touted as an organic, ecologically-sound "revolution in the livestock industry".

"All my films have different stories, some share common themes. But as a storyteller, I want to explore new worlds," Bong said.

With Welsh journalist and screenwriter Jon Ronson (himself a vegetarian), they raise the uncomfortable question: where does one's meat come from?

*Warning: Spoilers below*

The story unfolds with young Mija, a farm girl played by actress An Seo-huyn who lives in the lush mountains of South Korea with her grandfather and their beloved genetically-engineered pig, Okja (an old-fashioned South Korean name without a specific meaning).

The bond between girl and beast is sweet and strong but their peaceful life together sadly doesn't last long.

With the arrival of washed-up celebrity zoologist Dr Johnny Wilcox (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his team, Okja is taken away from her family and thrust back into the hands of her creators, the Mirando meat corporation led by Orwellian nightmare CEO Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton) where her unfortunate fate is sealed.

This is no Disney fairytale and the story shifts to Manhattan ("the heart of capitalism," according to Bong) where it takes a darker turn, foraying into the hellish realities of animal laboratories and factory meat farms.

"We create psychological border-lines to avoid discomforts, so we separate our views of animals," Bong said.

"Those we perceive as pets and the ones we place in our shopping carts are the same animals but we choose to separate them."

But to enjoy the meat, you have to ignore the slaughter. Inspiration for his film's graphic scenes came from a personal visit he made to a commercial slaughterhouse. Depicting this was "absolutely necessary".

"I wanted to crumble these borders and make the audience feel uncomfortable. It is witnessing your family being dragged into a slaughterhouse," he said.

"Compared to my experience of visiting a real-life slaughterhouse, the film scenes were much milder and were expressed in a toned-down manner."

A genetically-modified best friend

Okja's physical appearance gives a nod to the controversial genetically modified foods (GMO) debate. She is special: a one-nipple, hippo-pig hybrid with some manatee resemblance (since they look "incredibly innocent and kind-hearted", Bong says).

"I wanted Okja to be cute. Big yet lovely, shy and introverted. But she is a genetically modified organism and this debate is not restricted to Korea, it is prevalent all over the world," Bong said.

The environment may have been a running theme but sinister notions of capitalism, greed and the global economy also played a role.

"They'll eat it if it's cheap," snaps CEO Lucy Mirando in a telling scene after she's confronted with hesitations about public discomfort surrounding her organisation's meat products.

"It is reasonable to fear the potential disasters and dangers that genetically-modified foods may bring," Bong said.

"There are people who say the danger of GM foods is being overly exaggerated but nobody is able to prove their safety either."

But Bong insists Okja isn't intended to be a fiery screen statement against eating animals.

"In my movie, Mija's favorite food is chicken stew. I didn't make this film to oppose meat. Whether one is vegan or not is a matter of individual choice," Bong explained, adding that he wanted audiences to "witness and understand" how meat was being mass produced.

"We coexist with animals and we should take time to consider their perspective. How we treat them today is a very recent phenomenon and came to be only after we included them in mass production," he said.

"This is the state of capitalism today and this is what I wanted to convey."

Okja is available on Netflix from 28 June and is on limited cinema release.

Judy Malinowski: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

SoAs.in June 28, 2017 Donate , News

Judy Malinowski, a 33-year-old Ohio mother of two burned by her ex-boyfriend two years ago, has died, her family said. Malinowski’s tragic story has inspired Ohio legislators to propose a bill that would make punishments for intentional disfigurement even tougher. Meanwhile, prosecutors are considering charging the ex-boyfriend, Michael Slager, for aggravated murder.

Malinowksi was burned by Slager in August 2015, outside of a Gahanna, Ohio gas station after the two got into a fight. Since then, she has been hospitalized and underwent 59 surgeries. Slager agreed to plead guilty to charges and is serving an 11-year sentence.

She had two daughters, including 13-year-old Kaylyn Malinowski. Just last week, she testified before a State Senate committee to support “Judy’s Law.”

“While he got 11 years, my mom, my sister and I all got a life sentence,” Kaylyn said, reports NBC4i. “While we stand here today, my mom lays in a hospital bed where she has been for 689 days.”

Here’s what you need to know about Malinowski’s story.

1. Michael Slager Was Only Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Burning Malinowski

Malinowski was burned in August 2015 after an argument with the 42-year-old Slager, a witness told authorities. The Associated Press reports that the witness called 911 and saw Malinowksi being set on fire. The witness said the suspect used a fire extinguisher to stop the flames. Police said Slager himself suffered minor burns.

Slager’s attorney initially called the incident a “horrible accident,” the AP reports. He was charged with felonious assault and aggravated arson.

In December 2016, Slager pleaded no contest and received a max sentence, People Magazine reported at the time. The maximum sentence for his crimes was 11 years.

In the case had gone to trial, Malinowksi was determined to testify against Slager. In December 2016, her mother, Bonnie Bowes, told the Columbus Dispatch that she thought her daughter was “holding on” just so she could make it to the trial. Prosecutors even expected Malinowksi to testify via Skype since she was too weak to leave the hospital.

2. Prosecutors Are Now Considering Pressing Murder Charges Against Slager

Before Malinowski’s death, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said he would consider pressing aggravated murder charges against Slager. NBC4i reports that his office has now put that in motion.

Back in January, ABC6 reported that a judge ruled that Malinowksi could testify against Slager in a murder trial.

Doctors said it was likely that Malinowksi would die because of her injuries, as she had burns on 90 percent of her body. A judge said prosecutors could record testimony from Malinowski’s bedside. Slager could have been there to ask questions himself, but her doctors said that was a bad idea because it could cause stress.

As the Columbus Dispatch notes, Slager and his attorney have continued to claim it was an accident. “Clearly if this was intentional I would never have tried to put the flames out and suffered the burns I did,” Slager wrote to the Dispatch from jail.

3. A GoFundMe Account Has Raised Over $35,000 for Malinowski

A GoFundMe account created in December 2016 has raised over $35,000 to help Malinowski’s family. Since her death, the number of donations has only continued to climb.

NBC4i viewers also raised $3,000 for her family. They will use the money for funeral expenses and plan to have the funeral open to the public.

A Judy Malinowski Fund has also been set up and donations can be made at any Huntington Bank branch in Ohio. You can also send cards to this address:

4. Malinowski’s Case Has Inspired Legislation for Tougher Punishments for Disfigurement

Malinowksi’s story has garnered so much attention inside Ohio and across the country that lawmakers in the state decided they needed to do something.

Rep. Jim Hughes, a Republican from Upper Arlington, told The Columbus Dispatch that her story shows that there needs to be more severe punishments for criminals who disfigure or disable their victims. Judge Julie Lynch, who gave Slager his 11-year sentence, also said she was frustrated that she was limited by law.

In May, the bill unanimously passed in the Ohio House. The law will add six years to a prison sentence if the victim is disfigured or if an accelerant was used in the attack.

The Ohio Senate is expected to vote on the bill this week.

5. Malinowksi Had 2 Daughters, Aged 10 & 13

Malinowksi is survived by two daughters, aged 10 and 13. Her oldest daughter, Kaylyn Malinowski, showed incredible strength just last week when she testified before a State Senate committee to support passage of Judy’s Law.

As ABC6 notes, Kaylyn said she was speaking for her mother, noting that Malinowski won’t be there for many of the important moments in her life.

“She won’t be there to do my hair or spot me on my tumble. She won’t see me graduate or see me get married,” Kaylyn told the state senators.

“While we stand here today, my mom lives in a hospital bed where she has been for 689 days. She has been in a lot of pain, and everyday is another fight to stay alive,” Kaylyn said on June 20. “Please pass my mom’s law because together we can prevent these types of situations. We can prevent this from happening to other families.”

A video of Malinowski was also played during the committee hearing.

“It destroyed my life, my family’s life, my kid’s life, everyone around us’ life and the laws of justice are just not fair,” Malinowksi said.

Linked your Aadhaar with PAN, here are five steps to do it

SoAs.in June 28, 2017 Aadhaar , Business , buy , Donate , PAN , Sell

There are only two more days left to link your Aadhaar number to your PAN card. If you don't do it before 30 June, in case you do not have Aadhaar and you do not wish to obtain Aadhaar for the time being, then your PAN will not be cancelled so that your consequences under the Income Tax Act for failing to quote PAN may not arise.

Amending income tax rules and notifying the same, the government has made quoting of the 12-digit biometric Aadhaar or the enrolment ID a must at the time of application of permanent account number (PAN).

Finance minister Arun Jaitley through an amendment to tax proposals in the Finance Bill for 2017-18 had made Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns and provided for linking of PAN with Aadhaar to check tax evasion through use of multiple PAN cards.

The revenue department said "every person who has been allotted PAN as on July 1, 2017, and who in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (2) of section 139AA is required to intimate his Aadhaar number, shall intimate his Aadhaar number to the principal director general of income tax (systems) or DGIT (systems)".

Here are five steps you can do it.

Step 1: Keep Aadhaar and PAN numbers handy.

Step 2 : Register on the Income tax e-Filing portal if you already haven’t yet. If you are already registered at the income tax department’s e-Filing portal, log in using your ID, password and date of birth.

Step 3: A pop up window will appear, prompting you to link your PAN card with Aadhaar card. If you have a pop up blocker active, you will have to go on the “Profile Setting” on the dashboard’s menu bar to click on “Link Aadhar” option.

Step 4: You will have to add the necessary details like name your Date of Birth as per the PAN details as well as your gender. If you data is different that what’s mentioned on your PAN, the Aadhaar will not be linked to your PAN. Next thing to do is, to enter your 12 digit Aadhaar card number, then verify captcha and then click on “Link Aadhaar” button. Once your validation is successful, your Aadhaar will be successfully linked to your PAN.

Step 5: The last step is when a popup message is displayed stating that your Aadhaar card has been successfully linked to your PAN card.

Keep in mind, that once the Aadhaar-PAN linking is done, you can e-Verify your IT returns using Aadhaar. That’s when your mobile is registered with Aadhaar. By linking the two cards you will no longer have to submit your Income Tax acknowledgement to the IT department.

Bajaj Pulsar NS160 To Be Launched

SoAs.in June 28, 2017 Bajaj , Business , buy , Donate , Motorcycles , Sell

It's been an eventful year till now for Bajaj Auto with the launch of the new Dominar, followed by the 2017 edition of its Pulsar range. The Indian two wheeler maker is now gearing up to introduce a much talked about offering - Pulsar NS160 - and was caught testing across the country recently. Sources close to Bajaj have told Carandbike that the Pulsar NS160 launch is scheduled to take place towards the end of July this year and will be the seventh Pulsar to go on sale from the company.

The newest Bajaj Pulsar NS160 (Naked Sport) has been on sale in a host of markets for a while now including Nepal and Turkey. The bike maker aims to position the 160 NS as a premium offering to compete against the Suzuki Gixxer, Honda CB Hornet 160R and TVS Apache RTR 160 in the segment. Do note that the Pulsar NS160 will not be a replacement to the aging Pulsar 150 in the company's line-up. The model is Bajaj's bestselling motorcycle from the Pulsar range, registering over an average of 30,000 units every month, and the demand won't be going down just yet.

In essence the Bajaj Pulsar NS160 is made to look like a smaller version of the Pulsar NS200 that was relaunched earlier this year. The 160 NS also uses a perimeter frame, while the engine is an all-new 160.3 cc oil-cooled unit. In the international markets, the motor is tuned for 15.2 bhp and 14.6 Nm of peak torque, paired to a 5-speed gearbox. Expect to see similar power figures on the Indian model as well.

In comparison, the Bajaj Pulsar 150 makes 13.8 bhp and 13.4 Nm of torque whereas the Pulsar 180 makes 17 bhp and 14.2 Nm of torque. While the new Pulsar 160 NS sits right in the middle of the older Pulsars, expect to the model to be lighter and therefore slightly more responsive. Needless to say, the motor will be BS-IV compliant while also come equipped with auto headlamp on (AHO) function. The instrument console is also derived from the NS200.

The Pulsar NS160 is a replacement to the AS150 of sorts and is expected to be priced at a slight premium over the Pulsar 150 and 180. Dealerships suggest that the NS160 will be priced around ₹ 85,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi). Expect more details on the Pulsar NS160 to unfold in the following weeks leading up to the launch. Make sure to keep watching this space for all the updates.

7th Pay Commission allowances LIVE updates: Will Cabinet agree to revise rates?

SoAs.in June 28, 2017 Business , buy , Credit , Donate , News , Sell , Tax

The Union Cabinet is likely to today decide on revising the allowance structure payable to central government employees under the 7th Pay Commission, when it meets this evening. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is believed to have discussed the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a decision is likely today. The revised allowances will benefit at least 47 lakh employees. The item has been listed for before the cabinet for discussion but it is yet to be confirmed if it will be taken up.

The government had last year accepted the recommendation of Justice AK Mathur-headed Seventh Pay Commission in respect of the hike in basic pay and pension. For allowances, the government had constituted a committee under Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa to review the recommendations. This, following protests by government employees that the pay revision was not adequate. The panel submitted its report to the Department of Expenditure, which conducted the first round of review, following which it was presented before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries. The Committee then forwarded the report to the Cabinet. If the Cabinet does indeed take a decision today, government employees will see their July salary increase.

Key among the demands made by central government employees is a revision in the House Rent Allowance or HRA. As of now, the existing rates of HRA for Class X, Y and Z cities and towns are 30 per cent, 20 per cent and 10 per cent of an employee’s basic pay.

Indian diaspora can now apply for OCI card till 31 December

SoAs.in June 27, 2017 Business , buy , Credit , Donate , News , Sell , Tax

New Delhi: The government has extended for six months the last date for applying for conversion of Person of Indian Origin (PIO) cards to Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards to 31 December this year. Earlier, the facility was available till 30 June 2017.

“The Home Ministry has decided to extend the date for submission of the application for registration as OCI card holder by the erstwhile PIO cardholders till December 31, 2017,” an official said.

This was for the fourth time the date for conversion of PIO cards to OCI cards has been extended since 31 March 2016. The PIO card was first implemented in 2002 as a benefit to foreign nationals who could establish at least a third generation tie to Indian origin.

The PIO card was valid for travel, work, and residence in India for a period of 15 years. The OCI card was implemented in 2005, carried more expansive benefits than the PIO card, and was valid for the holder’s lifetime.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in 2014 that the PIO and OCI cards would be merged and the Indian diaspora would be given maximum possible benefits. Simultaneous existence of PIO and OCI cards led to confusion among People of Indian Origin residing abroad, officials said.

Nintendo's Star Fox 2 announcement surprised everyone - even its creators

SoAs.in June 27, 2017 Business , buy , Credit , Donate , Game , Sell

Yesterday, Nintendo surprised fans with the SNES Classic, a mini console that bundles together 21 of the best classic games from the company’s 16-bit console in one tiny package. But perhaps no one was more surprised than veteran game creator Dylan Cuthbert, who learned the gadget would include one additional surprise: his long-canceled game, Star Fox 2. Yesterday evening, Cuthbert and several members of the original Star Fox 2 team went out to have a much-belated launch party for a game they’d made two decades earlier.

Star Fox 2 was a sequel the 1993 original, which saw Nintendo branch out in a new direction with a sci-fi-themed rail shooter on the SNES. In the game, Fox McCloud and a team of anthropomorphic animals / pilots defend their home planet from powerful alien invaders. The game let players pilot an angular craft called the Arwing, as they battled robots, alien creatures, and spaceships through expansive levels.

Star Fox was also one of the most technically impressive SNES games. By utilizing a new graphics processor called the Super FX, the team behind the original Star Fox were able to squeeze 3D graphics onto a console built for 2D games. Star Fox was the first Nintendo game to use polygonal graphics, setting in motion the company’s trend from 2D to 3D gaming. A big reason for that accomplishment was the technical wizardry of Cuthbert and his team at British developer Argonaut Software, who worked with Nintendo on the game.

When it came time to create a sequel, the team similarly wanted to make something that would wow players on a technical level. They set to work on not only designing a new game, but also developing a new version of the Super FX chip that would offer twice the memory and significantly faster processing. They experimented with all kinds of ideas, including the ability to pilot your ship using a full 360-degree range of motion. Cuthbert says that he rebuilt the original Star Fox engine “considerably” to fit all of these new ideas and gameplay features.

The game wasn’t merely a prototype; it was completed. The press was even shown demos at CES in 1995. But Star Fox 2 took a long time to develop — so long that the final product showed its age as new, more powerful platforms like the original Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn were released.

“The release [of Star Fox 2] got set back about a year or so, and half a year later, the Nintendo 64 system was due to come out, so we thought, ‘Is it too late to ask people to shell out for this?’” Nintendo design luminary Shigeru Miyamoto explained in an interview with the late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. “And other companies’ game consoles were using polygons all over the place, so we didn’t think we could catch up even if we stuck this expensive chip in the cartridge, so we rethought it.”

The decision was made to cancel Star Fox 2, though many of its ideas — like 360-degree flying and the introduction of a tank vehicle — made their way into Star Fox 64, which was released in 1997. “We wanted to use that structure from Star Fox 2 to make scenes with a stronger sci-fi bent, and we wanted to make the Arwing feel more comfortable to fly,” Miyamoto explained. When former Nintendo programmer Kazuaki Morita started experimenting with the N64, Miyamoto realized it was the right platform for these ideas. “When I saw those, I thought, ‘Ah, now we can make it like a science fiction film!’” he explained.

Indian Angel Network expands to Israel

SoAs.in June 27, 2017 Business , Credit , Donate , News , Tax

Indian Angel Network has expanded its operations to Israel and will invest in areas like healthcare, agritech, cybersecurity and cleantech.

Indian Angel Network has expanded its operations to Israel and will invest in areas like healthcare, agritech, cybersecurity and cleantech. IAN, which claims to be the world’s largest angel investor group with over 450 institutional and individual members, has presence in the US, the UK, Canada, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Hong Kong, apart from India. “We now have operations in 3 of the 4 top startup hubs in the world. Israel is also a leader in terms of patents being filed. We are keen on working with some very interesting companies in Israel,” IAN co-founder and President Padmaja Ruparel told PTI.

She added that some areas of interest include healthcare and related devices, agri-tech, cybersecurity and clean-tech. “We will work with investors from India and Israel. The idea is to connect the most innovative companies in the world to the largest and fastest growing markets and the most savvy investors globally,” Ruparel said. IAN has also partnered with entrepreneur Anat Bernstein- Reich, who is also the Chairperson of Israel-India Chamber of Commerce and President of the Israel-India Friendship Association (IIFA).

“I have long believed that bringing together the entrepreneurial ecosystems of Israel and India would be of great benefit to both countries and indeed to the world…I am delighted to partner IAN in Israel,” Bernstein-Reich, Managing Director of A&G Partners, said.

Nokia 6 Finally Coming to the U.S. in Early July – Price Tag to Be Slightly Above $200

SoAs.in June 27, 2017 Business , buy , Credit , Donate , Mobile , Nokia , Sell , Tech

After a substantially long wait, the Nokia 6 is finally coming to the U.S. next month, offering users a compelling Android smartphone purchase while keeping the price tag fairly low. Enthusiasts will argue that the Snapdragon 430 powering the device will be a letdown, but there are other extremely strong points that will eventually make the phone a worthy purchase so let us check out those pointers.

Nokia 6 Expected to Sell via Amazon – Price Tag Will Most Likely Be $229

Featuring a full metal jacket protecting the innards, the Snapdragon 430 will definitely be an overlooked specification on the Nokia 6 when you look at the quality of materials used in manufacturing the handset.

“Combining superior craftsmanship and distinctive design with an immersive audio experience and a 5.5″ full HD screen, the new Nokia 6 delivers a truly premium smartphone experience. The unibody of the Nokia 6 is crafted from a single block of 6000-series aluminium and is perfect for those who want a robust phone with outstanding entertainment credentials. The smart audio amplifier with dual speakers offers a deeper bass and outstanding clarity, while Dolby Atmos® sound delivers a powerful moving entertainment experience.”

Even Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer from HMD Global claims that the Nokia 6 raises the bar for affordable mobile devices:

“Phones have become an extension of ourselves and are integral to so many aspects of our lives. From capturing memories and keeping us entertained, to keeping in touch and remembering important dates and anniversaries, our smartphones are often at the heart of everything we do. The new Nokia 6 sets a high bar for quality and we’ve taken no shortcuts to ensure the Nokia 6 rewards you with a premium experience for everyday use. From its bespoke design through to the quality entertainment features, we’ve designed the Nokia 6 to give you more.”

Not long ago, a popular YouTuber performed a bend test on the Nokia 6 and very surprisingly, the smartphone would hardly flex. During a later teardown video, it was revealed that the manufacturer had incorporated several screws to hold the device together and to give it a massive durability score boost. For $229, this definitely looks to be a decent purchase for you guys.

Do you agree? Let us know down in the comments.

Star Fox 2 on Super NES Classic is an Amazing Surprise, But is it Complete?

SoAs.in June 26, 2017 Business , buy , Credit , Donate , Game , Insurance , Sell , Tax

When Eurogamer leaked the Super NES Classic Edition and everyone started making their lists, no one included Star Fox 2. Hell, we made two lists and even we didn't mention it. The reason? It was never actually released, and there was no reason to suppose that it would ever escape the murky realm of emulation.

Star Fox 2 on Super NES Classic is an Amazing Surprise, But is it Complete?

That makes it easily the biggest and best surprise from today's SNES Classic Edition announcement. At last, Star Fox fans will get to play the sequel that has to this point been lost to history. Whether or not it's actually good, it's a great moment for the fans.

The only question is whether it's actually complete.

Unfinished prototypes have been floating around the Internet for years, which fans have used to patched together into ROMS. There is a semi-complete version with a fan translation, but it's still buggy, and it lacks some key gameplay features and encounters. Dylan Cuthbert, who programmed both the original and the sequel, claims that a finished version does exist, and that he played it while working on Star Fox Command, but this version has yet to see the light of day.

If it is just a prototype, then it will at least be a cool chance for mainstream fans to see the game that almost happened. But if it is the complete version, then that's huge for fans and historians alike.

Star Fox 2 History Before the SNES Classic

Star Fox 2's story is of course well-known among retro fans and gaming historians. Originally developed in the wake of Star Fox's breakout success on the Super Nintendo, Star Fox 2 was to have been released in 1995—roughly a year before the launch of the Nintendo 64. It would have dramatically expanded on the original game with two new characters, new vehicles, all-range mode, and most importantly, multiplayer.

As originally conceived, it would have been very different from the first Star Fox. The sequel would have eschewed the level-by-level shoot 'em up gameplay of the original in favor of a more tactical experience. It was to have featured a map screen in which players would have piloted their Arwing around the Lylat System and engaged enemy forces as they made contact. The goal would have been to protect Lylat from interplanetary missiles while taking on various bosses, including Star Wolf.

With the Super Nintendo still going strong thanks to Chrono Trigger and Donkey Kong Country, there was plenty of room for a Star Fox sequel, but the advent of the 32-bit generation changed Nintendo's calculus.

"It was the summer of 1995 and the PlayStation and Saturn were suddenly doing very well in Japan," Star Fox programmer Dylan Cuthbert told Nintendo Life back in May 2015. "I think that caught Nintendo off-guard. The decision was made because they didn't want the old-gen 3D going up against the much better 3D of the next generation, side-by-side. The rivalry between Sony and Nintendo was very fresh and strong back then because of the whole SNES CD-ROM affair."

Star Fox 2 was subsequently shelved despite being functionally complete, relegating it to the status of historical curiosity.

Since then, many of Star Fox 2's most innovative features have filtered into other games. All-range mode, multiplayer, and the villainous Star Wolf were all introduced in Star Fox 64. The more tactical gameplay became a fixture of Star Fox Command on the DS. The transformable walker made its debut in Star Fox Zero.

Indeed, Star Fox as a whole has been largely missing in action on Virtual Console. Star Fox 64 was released on the Wii and the Wii U, but the original remains conspiciously unavailable. There is some confusion as to why this is the case, with speculation ranging from the built-in SFX chip being difficult to emulate to Argonaut demanding licensing fees. That it's included in the SNES Classic alongside its lost sequel makes this release all the more momentous.

Prominent gaming historian Frank Cifaldi, who recently founded the Video Game History Foundation, praised Nintendo's decision to dig into their catalog of unreleased games, and added that he hoped it would indeed be a feature complete version with an English language script. "As archivists, there's only so much we can do to help preserve history like this on our own. There is no way that a final version of [Star Fox 2] (assuming that's what this is) could have been seen by anyone without Nintendo finding a way to sell it, so this is good news for everybody. I don't honestly know how much unreleased material still exists over there, but hopefully the positive buzz this is getting will inspire others to dig through their vaults too."

Hopefully Nintendo does indeed seize the moment and release a master version of Star Fox 2, assuming it still exists. Regardless, it's great to see them use the SNES Classic as more than an opportunity to cash in on the same games we've seen time and again.

Digital Indian Gov

Labels

Layout

Post Style

Technology

Breaking News

Articles by "Donate"

Limited edition Maserati arrives

BMW announces X5 and X6 M Black Fire Editions

DUCATI THIVEVAL REVEALED

Holden tests next-gen V6 supercar engine

Red Bull Racing confirms successful first outing for future racing powerplant.

Jaguar set to come out with SUV

2018 Range Rover Velar gets 300-hp 2.0L turbo

Okja: A genetic super pig and the environment

A genetically-modified best friend

Judy Malinowski: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Linked your Aadhaar with PAN, here are five steps to do it

Bajaj Pulsar NS160 To Be Launched

7th Pay Commission allowances LIVE updates: Will Cabinet agree to revise rates?

Indian diaspora can now apply for OCI card till 31 December

Nintendo's Star Fox 2 announcement surprised everyone - even its creators

Indian Angel Network expands to Israel

Indian Angel Network has expanded its operations to Israel and will invest in areas like healthcare, agritech, cybersecurity and cleantech.

Nokia 6 Finally Coming to the U.S. in Early July – Price Tag to Be Slightly Above $200

Nokia 6 Expected to Sell via Amazon – Price Tag Will Most Likely Be $229

Star Fox 2 on Super NES Classic is an Amazing Surprise, But is it Complete?

Star Fox 2 History Before the SNES Classic

Digitalindiagov.com

Contact Form