Oil Falls 2 $ as Iraq Restores Flow

Oil fell $2 on Friday after Iraq swiftly restarted a crude pipeline system that had been hit by a bomb attack the day before.

U.S. crude settled down $1.96 at $105.62 a barrel, erasing gains made Thursday after the attack on the pipeline feeding the Basra export terminal interrupted flows from southern Iraq for the first time since 2004. London Brent crude settled down $1.23 at $103.77 a barrel.

A four-day-old Iraqi army crackdown on Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army in Basra, Iraq's gateway to the Gulf, has ignited clashes across the south and has kept the oil industry on edge.

Flows through the southern pipeline system, which normally pumps 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude to the Basra port, were restored after saboteurs bombed part of the system on Thursday. Officials said the two main pipelines that make up the system were not damaged.

Oil's losses Friday ended three straight sessions of gains and came alongside profit-taking in other commodities markets ahead of the end of the quarter next week.

"There is also profit-taking after three days of substantial gains on crude ... At the same time, oil is moving down with gold, which has fallen over $20, and other base metals are lower as well."

The weak U.S. dollar and rising cash flows from hedge funds helped send crude oil prices to a record high of $111.80 a barrel in mid-March.

While concerns about the economic health of top oil consumer the United States linger, analysts said Iraqi pipeline bombing could stir worries about the stability of supplies from the OPEC nation.

"It's not the loss of oil that drove prices higher, it's the return of instability to the region that concerns traders," said Robert Laughlin at MF Global.

In addition, some analysts are forecasting tight fundamentals despite the global economic problems.

Oil recovers, price rises by $ 3

Oil surged $3.36 to $104.58 Wednesday morning after the U.S. Energy Information Administration announced that weekly crude oil inventories remained unchanged and gasoline supplies declined.

Crude oil inventories were unchanged in the latest week, at 311.8 million, the EIA said. Gasoline inventories declined 3.3 million barrels. Distillate stocks fell 2.2 million barrels.

Historically, oil inventories increase as the spring quarter approaches; spring is the lowest oil use quarter in the United States.

Heating oil surged about eight cents to $3.01 per gallon, unleaded gasoline added three cents to $2.719 per gallon, and natural gas rose about 10 cents to $9.52 per million BTUs.

Also, refineries operated at 82.2% of their operable capacity last week, down from 83.8% a week earlier. Historically, refinery capacity declines in the initial spring weeks, as refiners perform maintenance and convert systems to gasoline production from heating oil production.

Crude Oil Trades Below $ 100

Crude oil fell for a fourth day in New York on concern the slowing U.S. economy will curb demand in the world's largest energy user and boost stockpiles.

Investors are also selling oil as the dollar gained, reducing commodities' appeal as a hedge against inflation. U.S. crude-oil supplies probably gained last week as imports rebounded and refiners performed seasonal maintenance, according to a survey.

Crude oil for May delivery fell as much as $1.20, or 1.2 percent, to $99.66 a barrel in after-hours trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It traded at $99.93 a barrel at 9:29 a.m. Singapore time. Oil is up 59 percent from a year ago.

Yesterday, Nymex crude futures dropped 98 cents, or 1 percent, to settle at $100.86 a barrel, the lowest close for a front-month contract since March 4. Prices have fallen 11 percent from a record $111.80 a barrel reached on March 17.

Oil refiners schedule repairs and upgrades this time of the year as heating-fuel use slows and before warmer weather spurs an increase in gasoline use.

Crude futures have fallen 8.7 percent in the past four days, the biggest decline in more than three months.

Crude oil Declines

Crude oil fell for a third day in New York on concern an economic slowdown in the U.S. will reduce demand and as the dollar rose, prompting investors to sell the commodity.

The dollar's first weekly gain against the euro in a month last week triggered an exodus from commodities after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates. U.S. consumer spending slowed in February and home sales continued to drop, economists said before reports this week.

``Investors are re-allocating assets and taking profit from commodities to offset earlier losses from equities,'' said Tetsu Emori, a fund manager at Astmax Co. in Tokyo. ``On the fundamentals side, things are gloomy with demand to drop.''

Crude oil for May delivery declined as much as $1.64, or 1.6 percent, to $100.20 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It traded at $100.53 a barrel at 9:56 a.m. Singapore time. While New York crude oil fell 7.6 percent last week, it's still up 60 percent from a year ago.

The dollar rose to $1.5405 against the euro at 8:49 a.m. Singapore time from $1.5433 on March 21.

The threat of recession and a credit freeze caused the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut its main lending rate by three-quarters of a percentage point on March 18.

Total U.S. implied fuel demand for the four weeks ended March 14 dropped 3.2 percent from a year earlier, the Energy Department said on March 19.

Crude Oil Prices Retrat From All Time Highs

New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, plummeted $US4.22 to $US105.20 per barrel. The contract, which had hit a record peak of $US111.80 on Tuesday, expires at the close.

Brent North Sea crude for May sank $US4.27 to $US101.29. It struck an all-time peak of $US107.97 on Tuesday.

And on the London Bullion Market, the price of gold tumbled as low as $US941.48 per ounce. The precious metal had forged an historic pinnacle of $US10037.70 on Tuesday.

Earlier this week, commodity prices jumped to record heights as they were energised by the weak dollar and as investors sought safe refuge for their cash from volatile world stock markets.

At the same time, however, traders are very worried that the global credit squeeze, which erupted last August and has yet to run its course, could have a considerable negative impact on commodity demand going forward.

"We have this constant struggle between people wanting to buy oil as perceived safe haven, and weak stock markets which mean lower demand for oil going forward," said Bache Financial trader Christopher Bellew.

"Personally I think we (are) more likely to see prices fall, but it's all very volatile, so who knows."

Meanwhile, the US Energy Information Administration said overnight that American crude stockpiles rose by just 200,000 barrels last week. That was far less than market expectations for a gain of 2.3 million barrels.

"The data was a tad bullish... but I wouldn't say it's earth-shattering again, because sentiment has changed," said MF Global analyst Mike Fitzpatrick.

"Previously the market was willing to discount negative news (with higher oil prices) ... now sentiment has gone the other way."

So far this week, the oil market has faced a roller coaster ride.

OIl report

The oil market report as on Tuesday is ....

A brighter start across European stock markets Tuesday also soothed some of the market fears that had contributed to Monday's sharp sell-off in crude futures, but the focus remained largely trained on the plight of the dollar ahead of the Fed's 1815 GMT rate decision.

"I still think that, despite the volatility yesterday, the money coming in on the back of hedging against the dollar and inflation is going to continue for a while," said Mike Wittner, head of global oil market research at Societe Generale in London. "I think it's too soon to say 'this is it.'"

At 1221 GMT, the front-month May Brent contract on London's ICE futures exchange was up $2.15 at $103.90 a barrel.

The front-month April light, sweet, crude contract on the New York Mercantile Exchange was trading $2.14 higher at $107.82 a barrel.

The ICE's gasoil contract for April delivery was up $18 at $975.50 a metric ton, while Nymex gasoline for April delivery was up 563 points at 256.05 cents a gallon.

The Federal Reserve is expected to trim its benchmark interest rate by as much as 100 basis points Tuesday, analysts said.

"Odds are high that we will get a one percent cut in rates. This should further stabilize the equity markets and help return the commodity markets to a firmer footing," said Edward Meir, analyst at MF Global in New York.

While unlikely, a Fed decision that doesn't meet with market expectations would trigger a steep reduction in crude and commodity prices, some said, given apparent signals that the relationship between a weaker dollar a higher commodity prices remains intact.

"On any 'bullish dollar' surprise from the Fed, the commodity exodus will lack any historical comparison," said Olivier Jakob of Petromatrix in Switzerland.

Analysts suggested that while the crude market appeared to retain its focus on the dollar, after the steep falls at the start of the week a return of market attention to near-term fundamentals couldn't be ruled out, given a gloomy economic outlook for the U.S. and perhaps elsewhere.

"It may be too premature to call last night's sell-off a much needed correction to overheated prices, because it was dictated by risk aversion and the broader market developments," said Andrey Kyruchenkov of Sucden Research in London.

"However, eventually such an erratic sell-off may certainly turn investor attention back to fundamentals and question whether robust energy demand from large emerging markets could substitute for a potentially lower demand in the U.S. and other developed economies in the Northern Hemisphere."

Wednesday's U.S. Department of Energy inventory data is likely to provide a test of how much attention the crude market is paying to near-term oil market fundamentals.

Last week's 6.2 million barrel increase in U.S. crude stockpiles failed to dampen the stimulus of a weakening dollar, and prices hit fresh highs after the inventory data's publication.

"In the last couple of weeks the market has ignored inventory data," said Andy Sommer, analyst at HSH Nordbank in Hamburg. "There has been short-term reaction and then (the crude price) has come back up - I wouldn't say I'd expect the market to change this time because there are too few signs to say the market is really coming back to fundamentals."

According to the average of a Dow Jones Newswires survey of analysts' forecasts, U.S. crude oil stocks rose by 2 million barrels in the week ended March 14. Gasoline inventories grew by 100,000 barrels, according to the survey, while distillate stocks fell 1.4 million barrels. Refinery use is seen to have increased by 0.2 percentage point to 85.2% of capacity.

Oil Rates Lower A Bit

Oil Rate Report As on Monday :

Oil prices plunged Monday, pulling back at least temporarily from record levels as investors feared that the financial crisis that forced the sale of Bear Stearns Cos. is a sign of deep economic trouble.

Crude's plunge came even as diesel prices rose to a new record above $4 a gallon, and gas prices remained high. Diesel, used to transport the vast majority of the nation's goods, rose 1.3 cents to a national average of $4.002 a gallon Monday, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. The national average price of a gallon of gas, meanwhile, dipped slightly to $3.283 a gallon, but remains 73 cents higher than a year ago.

Oil's steep decline — falling $4.53 to settle at $105.68 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange — came hours after futures reached a new trading high of $111.80 on the Federal Reserve's move Sunday to lower a key interest rate by a quarter point.

In the past several months, Fed rate cuts have fed rallies in oil prices. Crude futures offer a hedge against a falling dollar, and oil futures bought and sold in dollars are more attractive to foreign investors when the dollar is down. Interest rate cuts, and even the prospect of future cuts, tend to weaken the dollar further.

But the mass selling Monday — despite the Fed's Sunday rate cut, the prospect of another cut at the Fed's regular Tuesday meeting, and the fact that the dollar dropped to new lows against the euro on Monday — could be a sign that the oil market's momentum has turned negative, analysts say.

"People are saying, well, things are a lot worse than we thought," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago.

The Bear Stearns sale contributed to that fear. JPMorgan on Sunday agreed to bail out Bear Stearns by buying the investment bank in a Fed-backed deal worth $236.2 million. While Bear Stearns shares closed at $30 a share on Friday, JP Morgan will pay only $2 per share. The deal, while averting a bankruptcy filing for Bear Stearns, showed the severity of the fallout from the country's credit problems.

During much of oil's recent rally, the market shrugged off signs of economic weakness as investors bet that the Fed's rate cuts would continue, further weakening the dollar and drawing fresh investing into oil futures. On Monday, that changed.

"Seemingly, recession fears overrode the effect of the slumping dollar," said Eric Wittenauer, an analyst at A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc., in a research note.

Investors received more bad economic news when the Fed released data Monday that showed the nation's industrial output dropped by 0.5 percent in February. Analysts had expected an increase of 0.1 percent.

Since oil moved above $100 a barrel last month, a growing number of analysts have argued that oil prices are in a bubble. Several forecasters have lowered demand growth predictions for this year, while supplies have grown.

Gold and oil prices reach historic heights

Gold prices topped $1,000 for the first time and oil futures rocketed to a record high $111 this week as the dollar plunged to all-time lows against the euro.

Investors dived into commodities as they sought a haven amid fears of a US recession and global economic slowdown. Investment in gold and oil is also seen as a hedge against future rises in inflation. Since the commodities are priced in dollars, a tumbling greenback makes gold and oil cheaper for buyers using stronger currencies, encouraging demand. The euro struck a record-high $1.5688 Friday after US investment giant Bear Stearns announced it was being baled out because of liquidity problems and following weak US consumer confidence data, traders said.

Oil: Oil prices enjoyed another record-breaking run this week as traders sought refuge from turbulent stock markets and the dollar’s downwards plunge. New York’s light sweet crude jumped to a record high 111 dollars per barrel on Thursday. London’s Brent oil hit an historic $108.02 Friday.

Oil has rocketed 90 percent over the past year as the market is driven by tight supplies, geopolitical concerns in key producer nations and strong demand from China and India. Prices have gained about nine percent in value since the start of 2008, accelerating after the OPEC crude exporters’ cartel held output at current levels last week. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries also on Friday left unchanged its estimate for growth in world oil demand this year. OPEC said while high prices and mild winter weather would brake demand in major industrialized countries, the market for crude would be strong elsewhere. By Friday, New York’s main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, was at $109.30, up from $105.42 a week earlier. Brent North Sea crude for April jumped to $106.59 from $105.42.

Gold: Gold prices soared to a record high $1,007.40 per ounce on Friday as the dollar slumped to record lows versus the euro. Gold has risen by about 17 percent so far this year, underscored also by supply problems in South Africa, the world’s largest producer. Gold has been on an upward trend since the start of January when the yellow metal jumped above $850 per ounce, smashing a 28-year-old record. Global demand for gold is also surging owing to increased jewelery purchases in China and India On the London Bullion Market, gold stood at $1,003.50 per ounce at Friday’s late fixing, up from $972.50 a week earlier. Silver jumped to $21.07 per ounce from $20.22.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The five Founding Members were later joined by nine other Members: Qatar (1961); Indonesia (1962); Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (1962); United Arab Emirates (1967); Algeria (1969); Nigeria (1971); Ecuador (1973) – suspended its membership from December 1992-October 2007; Angola (2007) and Gabon (1975–1994). OPEC had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first five years of its existence. This was moved to Vienna, Austria, on September 1, 1965.

OPEC's objective is to co-ordinate and unify petroleum policies among Member Countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.

How Oil Is Found !!

The task of finding oil is assigned to geologists, whether employed directly by an oil company or under contract from a private firm. Their task is to find the right conditions for an oil trap -- the right source rock, reservoir rock and entrapment. Many years ago, geologists interpreted surface features, surface rock and soil types, and perhaps some small core samples obtained by shallow drilling. Modern oil geologists also examine surface rocks and terrain, with the additional help of satellite images. However, they also use a variety of other methods to find oil. They can use sensitive gravity meters to measure tiny changes in the Earth's gravitational field that could indicate flowing oil, as well as sensitive magnetometers to measure tiny changes in the Earth's magnetic field caused by flowing oil. They can detect the smell of hydrocarbons using sensitive electronic noses called sniffers. Finally, and most commonly, they use seismology, creating shock waves that pass through hidden rock layers and interpreting the waves that are reflected back to the surface.

In seismic surveys, a shock wave is created by the following:

* Compressed-air gun - shoots pulses of air into the water (for exploration over water)
* Thumper truck - slams heavy plates into the ground (for exploration over land)
* Explosives - drilled into the ground (for exploration over land) or thrown overboard (for exploration over water), and detonated

The shock waves travel beneath the surface of the Earth and are reflected back by the various rock layers. The reflections travel at different speeds depending upon the type or density of rock layers through which they must pass. The reflections of the shock waves are detected by sensitive microphones or vibration detectors -- hydrophones over water, seismometers over land. The readings are interpreted by seismologists for signs of oil and gas traps.

Although modern oil-exploration methods are better than previous ones, they still may have only a 10-percent success rate for finding new oil fields. Once a prospective oil strike is found, the location is marked by GPS coordinates on land or by marker buoys on water.

Oil Market Reprot

Crude oil prices are little changed from mid-January at just over $90/bbl. Weaker projections for global economic growth are offset by low stocks, forecast cold weather in the US and parts of Asia, supply disruptions (Nigeria/North Sea) and concern about Venezuelan supplies. Products have underperformed crude, leading to weak refining margins.

Global oil product demand has been revised down by roughly 200 kb/d to 87.6 mb/d in 2008, following weaker GDP growth figures in an interim report by the IMF. Weaker OECD growth, however, stands against still-robust projections for GDP growth in China and the Middle East, the key oil demand growth centres.

January world oil supply rose 745 kb/d to 87.2 mb/d on new output from Brazil, and recovering non-OPEC output elsewhere. However, a reassessment of 2008 prospects lowers OPEC gas liquids growth by 250 kb/d to 365 kb/d. Rising FSU, Asia-Pacific, Brazil and biofuels supplies generate 2008 non-OPEC growth of 0.97 mb/d.

January OPEC crude supply remained close to 32.0 mb/d, on higher output from Angola, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, offset by lower Iraq, Nigeria and Qatar volumes. Effective spare capacity increased to 2.4 mb/d in January but revisions to both supply and demand lift the 2008 call on OPEC crude and stock change by 0.1 mb/d.

Economic refinery run cuts in January and February were the most extensive for five years. Coupled with seasonal maintenance, February global refinery crude throughput should average 74.0 mb/d, down by 0.6 mb/d from January. However, higher runs in China, Other Asia and Russia underpin year-on-year throughput growth of 0.9 mb/d in 1Q08.

OECD industry stocks fell by 39.5 mb in December, driven by constrained crude supplies and peak seasonal refinery runs. The 4Q07 stock draw of 1.15 mb/d was substantially higher than the 750 kb/d 10 year average and reduces OECD industry stock forward cover to 50.7 days its lowest since December 2004. Preliminary data for the US, Japan, the EU-15 and Norway indicate a 22.1 mb stock build in January.

Iran opens first oil products bourse

Iran, OPEC's number two crude oil producer, on Sunday inaugurated its first bourse for oil products and petrochemicals, in a bid to become a major player in the global downstream industry. Iran hopes that its oil goods bourse can lead the way for a domestic downstream industry to match its upstream crude oil production, the country's main foreign currency revenue winner. "We have been a good seller (of crude oil) and now we have a higher objective to have a share in the oil trade," Oil Minister Gholam Hossein Nozari told reporters. Iran claims to rank second in the region after Saudi Arabia in terms of production of petrochemicals at 22 million tons a year. But it has failed to gain a significant share in the world export market because of state control of its petrochemical industry and state subsidies. "The objective is to make transactions (of oil products) transparent, create competition and motives for investment," the oil minister added. "And so that we can reach out to international markets as a big oil producer as well as an oil trader," he added. Iran plans to open a market for trading crude oil as part of the second phase of the nascent bourse at an unspecified future date. "The first phase should operate for a while and we should find out its strong and weak points in order to open the second phase. Because the second phase is more complicated," Nozari said. The idea of establishing a market for oil and its by-products was first mooted a decade ago, and practical steps to prepare its creation were first taken in 2001. But its opening has lagged over administrative procedures and long-delayed moves to liberalise the price of petrochemicals which have been under the government's control. The opening ceremony was held in Tehran via a video conference to the southern island of Kish where the new bourse is based.

The 100 $ Laptop

Its the computing counterpart of the Nano, just like the Nana stands to be the cheapest car at 2500$ the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Foundation's XO laptop is a 100$ Laptop. the worlds cheapest one !! The OLPC Foundation aims to provide these laptops to millions of children throughout the developing world in order to improve their education and their quality of life.


The XO laptop was designed to be lightweight, cheap and adaptable to the conditions of the developing world. While a $100 laptop is the goal, as of September 2007, the laptop costs about $188. Originally the OLPC Foundation said that governments must buy the laptop in batches of 25,000 to distribute to their citizens, but a new program will soon allow private citizens to purchase an XO.

As of Nov. 12, 2007, the Give 1 Get 1 (G1G1) program allowed U.S. residents to pay $399 to buy two XO laptops -- one for the purchaser and one for a child in need in a foreign country. The program's initial run lasted two weeks. To start, laptops purchased through this program were given to children in Afghanistan, Haiti, Rwanda and Cambodia. More laptops should be available for sale in the future, and more developing nations will be able to apply to join the G1G1 plan.

As of September 2007, about 7,000 laptops were being tested by children around the world. Many governments have expressed interest in the laptop or verbally committed to buying it, but some haven't followed through on their promises. Still, enough computers were ordered -- observers estimated more than three million -- that full-scale production began in July 2007.

The Technology !

The XO laptop's design emphasizes cheap, durable construction that can survive a variety of climates and the rigors of the developing world. The machine can withstand dirt, scratches, impact and water while also providing long battery life. Every feature is carefully engineered to conform to these standards and to minimize the need for maintenance. To that end, the XO laptop has no moving parts -- no hard drive with spinning platters, no cooling fans, no optical drive.



Unlike most commercially available laptops, the XO's display is readable in full sunlight. Users can switch between color and black-and-white viewing modes to save energy. The screen "swivels" around, making the computer into a tablet or e-book.

The 433 Mhz AMD processor and 256 megabytes of SDRAM are unimpressive by today's standards, but the XO has ample speed to run its lightweight, no-frills software. The XO's processor is designed to be energy efficient, and several devices are available to recharge the battery, including an electrical adapter, hand crank, foot-pedal and solar-powered charger.

Rather than a traditional hard drive, the XO has a 1 gigabyte flash drive, similar to what's used in USB thumb drives, the iPod nano and digital camera memory. Google will provide online storage services, and some communities or schools will have servers with large amounts of hard drive space. The computer also has an SD memory slot to add more storage.

Like most new computers, the XO has an integrated WiFi card. But it does have something most computers don't have. The XO's green "rabbit ear" antennae boost the wireless card's range up to 1.2 miles [source: BBC News]. The computer isn't dependent on a router being nearby either. Instead, XO laptops can form a mesh network; any computers within WiFi range can connect to one another and share Internet access through a computer that's within range of a wireless connection. Think of it like a line of people, with each person touching the shoulder in front of him. The person in front may be the only one closest enough to a router to access the Internet, but that Internet access can filter throughout the mesh network.

The XO's durable, waterproof plastic shell has an integrated video camera, microphone, three USB ports and speakers. Its keyboard can be adapted for different countries and alphabets.

The Red Hat software company supplies a version of the popular open-source Linux operating system. Other software includes a Web browser (Mozilla Firefox), a word processor compatible with Microsoft Word, a PDF reader, a music program, games and a drawing program.

Whether the XO laptop changes education and community life in developing countries remains to be seen. World leaders such as Kofi Annan have praised the device. The XO has the potential to be an incredibly useful and empowering educational tool, changing how children and communities learn, interact and relate to one another. But it will take years to gauge the project's success. If nothing else, elements of the XO's award-winning design will surely find their way into commercial laptops.

How the iPhone Works

In January 2007, Steve Jobs introduced the Apple iPhone during his keynote address at the Macworld Conference and Expo. In its first appearance onscreen and in Jobs's hand, the phone looked like a sleek but inanimate black rectangle.

Then, Jobs touched the screen. Suddenly, the featureless rectangle became an interactive surface. Jobs placed a fingertip on an on-screen arrow and slid it from left to right. When his finger moved, the arrow moved with it, unlocking the phone. To some people, this interaction between a human finger and an on-screen image -- and its effect on the iPhone's behavior -- was more amazing than all of its other features combined.

And those features are plentiful. In some ways, the iPhone is more like a palmtop computer than a cellular phone. As with many smartphones, you can use it to make and receive calls, watch movies, listen to music, browse the Web, and send and receive e-mail and text messages. You can also take pictures with a built-in camera, import photos from your computer and organize them all using the iPhone's software. Although it's not a turn-by-turn GPS receiver, the iPhone also lets you view map and satellite data from Google Maps, including overlays of nearby businesses.­

A modifie­d version of the Macintosh OS X operating system, also used on Apple desktop and laptop computers, lets you interact with all of these applications. It displays icons for each application on the iPhone's screen. It also manages battery power and system security. The operating system synchs the phone with your computer, a process that requires a dock much like the one used to synch an iPod. It also lets you multitask and move through multiple open applications, just like you can on a laptop or desktop computer.

But instead of using a mouse or a physical keyboard, the iPhone uses virtual buttons and controls that appear on its screen. This isn't really a new phenomenon -- touch screens have been part of everything from self-checkout kiosks to smartphones for years. But the iPhone's touch-screen is a little different from many of the others currently on the market. When you touch the screen on a PDA or a Nintendo DS, you typically use a slender, pointed stylus. The iPhone, on the other hand, requires you to use your fingers. It can also detect multiple touch points simultaneously, which many existing touch-screens cannot do.


If you're interested in high-tech devices like the iPhone, then click here to learn how PDAs work.

Nano Technology

The venerable showman P.T. Barnum once said, "Without promotion something terrible happens...Nothing!" Hype is part of the sell, and new technologies often ride the hype wave to attract both investors and customers. Nanotechnology is no exception. Over the past few years, there has been a lot of discussion about the possible risks associated with nanotechnology, but nobody seems to be doing a reality check on the claims companies are making about nanotechnology's benefits. Companies should be able to document benefits, provide verification of claims, and communicate product information in a way that the average consumer can understand. None of this is happening.

With close to 600 manufacturer-identified, nano-enabled products on the market, the average consumer has to deal with a growing "Tower of Nano Babel." Here are just a few examples from our consumer products inventory (1). Let's start with a nano-engineered fabric that can make pants "…abrasion, wrinkle, and stain resistant, so you can spill your latte, endure a 14-hour flight, scramble through Greek ruins, and head to dinner without changing." Then there is an automotive windshield treatment that is "powered by advanced nanotechnology…performs better and longer - up to 1 full year. While other coatings last only 1-6 months, [and] stands up better to sunlight, salt, moisture and cleaning."

But when it comes to benefits, the prize goes to the dietary supplement and cosmetics companies that have reached stratospheric highs when touting nano's vast curative powers. Here is one example -- a nano silver colloid that does just about everything: "Can be sprayed in the mouth, to ease the symptoms of a sore throat. Can also be sprayed onto skin, to aid the healing of cuts, scratches or acne. Can be used on broken skin." But that's nothing compared to this nano cure-all: "Promotes increased mental focus and concentration. Promotes enhanced mental acuity. Supports healthy tissue regeneration of the heart tissue, thymus and the entire endocrine system. Promotes increased creativity. Promotes very vivid dreams. Promotes improved memory. Supports DNA repair. Promotes increased libido in both males and females."

How about a cosmetic mask where "nano-silver acts as a catalyst by overpowering the digestive enzymes." Not sure how that works. Here is a nano-based cream with a clearer explanation: "Due to their specific composition, nanoparticles have a very high affinity to the horny layer of the skin and are used as transport systems which help the different active agents to penetrate the skin more readily." Huh?

This is not just an issue of hyperbolic semantics. The type of claim made about a product often defines its level of regulation. As soon as companies start making health claims, for instance, their products should receive an extra dose of scrutiny from the FDA. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn't have the time, resources, or legislative authority to do much of any oversight on dietary supplements or cosmetics (2). That leaves consumers in the dark and at the mercy of industry.

At this point in time, there is no labeling guidance for nano products in the United States - no nano equivalent of the "organic" label tied to a certification process with minimal standards. Most manufacturers fail to provide customers with even the most basic information about nanotechnology or how it's used in their products. Confronted with this new technology in products, consumers need clear answers to three basic questions:

- Does the product use or contain nanotechnology?
- What does the nano do (increase strength, bioavailability, etc.)?
- What evidence exists to back these claims?

As nano rolls into the marketplace, consumers (and businesses) need some safeguards against false claims. In 2006, when over a hundred people in Germany were made ill by a bathroom tile cleaner called Magic Nano, it took months for federal oversight bodies to determine that there was nothing "nano" in the product. The recent failure of the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission to remove a similar product, called Stand ‘n Seal, from the market after its use resulted in hundreds of serious lung injuries seems to suggest that it would be entirely possible for serious backlash against nano to occur here if some nano product (real or not) is linked to injury to consumers (3).

Ultimately, what is at stake is consumer trust and, for a growing number of businesses, brand equity. Focus groups and surveys that our Project has conducted constantly indicate that public confidence in nanotechnology would be aided by third-party testing of nanotechnology products. In July 2007, Consumer Reports ran a significant article on nanotechnology and tested a number of nano-based sunscreens (4). This is a good start, but much more work needs to be done.

High-tech hucksterism can hurt nanotechnology, and industry needs to ensure that nano-based products live up to their claims. If industry cannot do this, it is time for third-party laboratories and governments to step in and make sure that they do. The physicist Richard Feynman once observed that, "For a technology to succeed, reality must take precedence over public relations, because nature cannot be fooled." We desperately need a reality check on these hundreds of nanotech products flooding the global marketplace to ensure that the next generation of nanotechnology applications builds on a solid foundation of consumer confidence.

Nice Stuff To Read !

Santa singh tells his girlfriend, "come home tomorrow, no one will b at home". When she goes the next day to his home....... There was NO ONE at home.
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Johny Walker : Mere pass bangla hai, gadi hai, bank, loker hai, Kya hai tumhare pass ? Johny Leaver : Mere pass in sabki chabi hai !
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Suraj Hua Madham , chand bhi chalne laga, mein thehra raha, zamin chalne lagi, sajna kya yehi pyaar hai ?? Nalayak, yeh pyar nahi EARTHQUAKE hai ! BHAAG !

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Many years ago when I was 23, I got married to a widow.
This widow had a grown up daughter.
My father fell in love with her, and soon they got married.
This made my Dad my son-in-law and changed my whole life.
See below how:
My daughter was my mother, too because she was my father's wife!
After a few years I became father of a baby boy complicating the matter further. My son became the brother-in-law of my father!


A man will pay $2.00 for a $1.00 item he wants. A woman will pay $1.00 for a $2.00 item she does not want!


When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.


In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.


man said his credit card was stolen but he decided not to report it because the thief was spending less than his wife did.
Husband: Honey, why are you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger? Wife: Because I married the wrong man!

Khuda Kare Haseenoo Ke Baap Mar Jaaye isiliye Maut Ka Bahane Hum UnKe Ghar Jaa sake. Abey Kambakath Aisa Soochna Bhi Paap Hoga kyunki Kissi Roz Tu Bhi Kissi Haseena Ka Baap Hoga???

Ladki: Chandni chand se hoti hai, sitaron se nahi
Mohabaat ek se hoti hai, hazaron se nahi
Ladka: Chandni chand se hogi to sitaron ka kya hoga

Read it to Enjoy

Friends are like underwear...
Some loose & some tight
& some fit just right.
They help you as you walk through life...
Thanks for being my size!


U r ACCENT of my life, ALTO of my dreams, IKON of my eyes,
ZEN of my thoughts, INDICA of my joy, LANCER of my heart..
Can anyone please clear this TRAFFIC jam???


1960’s Girl: Pehla pehla pyar hai, chhai bahar hae, aja more sajna tera intezaar hy.
2005’s Girl: dusra teesra pyar hai. dil bekrar hai, aja more sajna varna chautha taiyyar hai.


D se Dosti,
D se Dushmani,
D se Dil,
D se Dard,
D se Diwangi,
par D se itne bhi Dur na ho jana ki D se Dekh bhi na sake, SAMJHE D se DEAR???


Chaand ko tod dungi, Suraj ko Fod dungi, TU ek BaaR haa kardE bas...
PEHLE WALE KO CHOD DUNGI...!!


Actually
seriuously
practically
really
typically
sincerely
jokingly
essentially
interestingly
obviously
i want to disturb u !!!


My eyes miss u
MY Feel's Love u
My Hand need u
My mind Call u
MY Heart just 4u
MY Life is u
I'll die without u……………… aisa ladke kehte hain mujhe!


Kiss is a key 2 love, love is a lock of marriage, marriage is a box of children,
children is the problem of INDIA, see how much problem KISS can create.


EYES : To look at you
HAND : To pray for you
MIND : To remember you
HEART : To like you
And
And
And
AND
LEGS : To kick U if U forget me...


Jab jab hamhe pyaas lagti hai, unke aane ki aas lagti hai.
Unki DEEWANGI main is kadar hum ho gaye DEEWANE,
ki har LADKE ki MAA apni SAAS lagti hai.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z , oopz I missed ‘u'

Ek research se pata chala hai chimpanzi bhi SMS padh sakte hain, Ye SMS apko final testing ke liye bheja ja raha hai.. Apna certificate zoo se collect kare!

Lok Sabha Budget

A populist Budget, bold, but could have been bolder, disappointing, exceeded expectations, positive and growth oriented, a mixed bag – India Inc’s reactions to the Union Budget 2008-09, which was presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha on February 29. exchange4media takes a short walk down corporate corridors to hear who is saying what about the Budget.

FICCI President Rajeev Chandershekhar said that the Finance Minister had used a formula to find a balance between the growth rate and political reality. Reacting to the Budget, industry experts at FICCI said that the Budget was bold, but could have been bolder. They felt that corporate taxes could have been reduced.

The automobile sector was happy with the Budget recommendations. Duty on two-wheelers has been reduced from 16 per cent to 12 per cent, while excise duty for small cars has been cut from 16 per cent to 12 per cent.

Ashok Jha, President, Hyundai Motors India Ltd, said, “We feel that the Union Budget 2008-09 is positive and growth-oriented, and would click the growth momentum. The reduction in the excise duty would boost import of cars. Reduction of duty for hybrid vehicles from 24 per cent to 14 per cent is a welcome decision.”

Hyundai has slashed prices of its small cars from Rs 8,730 for a no-frills Santro to Rs 19,419 for Getz Prime. For i10 the price reduction ranges from Rs 11,047 to Rs 16,324.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, too, has effected price cuts for its small cars – from Rs 6,500 for an entry-level Maruti 800 to Rs 18,030 for Swift diesel. S Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, said, “In the short term, the reduction in excise duty will make small cars more attractive for customers and offset the negative impact of higher interest rates. This is an encouragement for companies like us, which are making major investments in capacity, research and exports. Overall, the Budget has some benefits for all sections of people while keeping the Government’s finances healthy.”

Karl Slym, President and Managing Director, General Motors India, felt, “As far as the automotive industry is concerned, the Budget did not fully meet our expectations. The industry expected a reduction in excise duties for all cars, which has not happened. The automotive industry is one of the growth drivers of the economy. As such, reduction of excise duty for all cars would have generated increased sales, thereby contributing to the exchequer. On the other hand, reductions in excise duty of small cars from 16 per cent to 12 per cent and for hybrid vehicles from 24 per cent to 14 per cent are welcome decisions.”

According to Arvind Mathew, President & Managing Director, Ford India, the Budget was a mixed bag for the automobile industry. He said, “Despite long requesting for rationalisation of the excise duties on the various segments, it was disappointing to see that our request on uniform excise tax has been neglected for yet another year. Reducing the excise duty on the small cars alone has actually widened the gap between small and other car segments. The excise duty on the mid-size car now stands at 24 per cent, double that of a small car, which is disappointing for the customers of mid-size and larger cars.”

He further said, “This budget primarily focuses on social sectors, health and education. On an overall positive side, the Budget offers significant income tax exemptions to the salaried, which will help put more disposable income in the hands of consumers. This will result in the growth of consumer spending, and may benefit the auto sector. To compete with the global economies, India needs a lot attention towards infrastructure.”

“The emphasis on building India into a Knowledge Society through a series of proposals – setting up three new IITs, scholarships for innovation, R&D and a National Knowledge Network to connect universities – is very welcome,” said Pradeep Gupta, Chairman of CyberMedia, a specialty publishing house, and Past Chairman of Pan-IIT Alumni India.

“The Budget has exceeded expectations in terms of rural development, education and agriculture. It is commendable that the economy has seen a growth rate of over 8.8 per cent. This budget will provide an impetus to inflation control. Specific to LG India, there will not be any major changes in terms of product pricing as there has been no major relief in duties,” said Moon B Shin, Managing Director, LG Electronics India.

”However, being a manufacturer, we are exposed to open competition with the various ASEAN countries, some relief on raw materials and intermediate goods would have made our industry competitive globally,” he added.

Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, Raymond Ltd, said, “The Union Budget 2008-09 is a stimulus package towards social, health, employment, agriculture, education and other sectors. The measures to build social infrastructure in education and health sectors are welcome. However, the increased expenditure and the pay commission recommendations have prevented the Finance Minister from rationalising the corporate tax structures.”