Sony recently announced that the restoration of the PlayStation Network would be complete by the end of this week; however, the multinational corporation has been victimized yet again with a number of their websites including Sony Pictures, Sony Music Belgium, and Sony Music Netherlands being hacked. Hacker group Lulzsec has claimed responsibility for stealing information of around 100,000 users’ personal information that includes passwords, email addresses, home addresses, dates of birth, as well as Sony optional information that is related to their Sony accounts. Lulzsec has set sail for Sony to fail! The group has been promising attacks on Sony since a week claiming “the beginning of the end for Sony.” According to Lulzsec’s post on Pastebin, in addition to the stolen user data, the group is also in possession of admin details of Sony Pictures (including passwords) along with 75,000 'music codes' and 3.5 million 'music coupons.’ Lulzsec said that they did not have the resources to copy all the information but are posting samples to prove the information gathered is genuine. More information could have been gathered but it would take several more weeks to be acquired. The hacker group said that gaining access to the network wasn’t a difficult task and all it required was a single SQL injection. What was worse was that every bit of data they took wasn't encrypted. Sony stored over 1,000,000 passwords of its customers in plaintext, which means it's just a matter of taking it. Criticizing Sony’s security measures the hacker group said that this was disgraceful and insecure and Sony was asking for it. Lulzsec posted on their Twitter page that they would accept contributions in the form of BitCoin virtual currency that will be used to help it do more hacking. This comes as major blow to the company that has announced the restoration of its PSN services |
Bangalore: Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam hoped an Indian astronaut would walk on the Moon in 2025 and on Mars by 2035.
"I believe an Indian astronaut will walk on the Moon in 2025 and on Mars by 2035. The Indian space agency should attempt to put an Indian on Moon and Mars between 2025 and 2035," Kalam said at a function here.
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Releasing a book titled "All About Rockets", authored by advisor to the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) S.K. Das, Kalam said Indian space scientists should innovate cutting-edge technologies to reduce the cost of access to space to $2,000 per kg from the current $20,000 per kg.
"Low cost access to space is the way forward. The challenge for the Indian space scientists is to reduce the launch cost to $2,000 per kg from $20,000 per kg currently by using nanotechnology and reusable single-engine stage launches," Kalam told ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan and directors of the space agency's various space centres who were present on the occasion.
Recalling his long association with the space agency and his involvement in the failures and successful launches of the first satellite launch vehicle (SLV) and the subsequent polar satellite launch vehicles (PSLVs), Kalam said space was another destination for man's quest for renewable energy.
"One of the spin-offs I foresee from space technology is to innovate a low-cost energy solution. We are already using solar energy to power satellites to orbit around the Earth and run its various payloads (instruments). We need to innovate a solution to transfer the solar-generated energy to earth and store it in the form of power cells or batteries that can be used as renewable energy," Kalam pointed out.
Regretting that India has been a laggard in achieving breakthroughs in rocket launches, building satellites or supercomputers, Kalam said the country should overcome the status of being a "fourth or fifth nation syndrome" to becoming the first country in cracking space technology and ICT (information and communication technology) through innovation and research.
"After every successful launch of a rocket or satellite, India is ranked as the fourth or fifth nation in the world to have achieved success or breakthrough in space technology. It is time for us to overcome the fourth or fifth nation syndrome and be the first among equals if we have to become a superpower. We can do it," Kalam added.
"I believe an Indian astronaut will walk on the Moon in 2025 and on Mars by 2035. The Indian space agency should attempt to put an Indian on Moon and Mars between 2025 and 2035," Kalam said at a function here.
Releasing a book titled "All About Rockets", authored by advisor to the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) S.K. Das, Kalam said Indian space scientists should innovate cutting-edge technologies to reduce the cost of access to space to $2,000 per kg from the current $20,000 per kg.
"Low cost access to space is the way forward. The challenge for the Indian space scientists is to reduce the launch cost to $2,000 per kg from $20,000 per kg currently by using nanotechnology and reusable single-engine stage launches," Kalam told ISRO chairman K. Radhakrishnan and directors of the space agency's various space centres who were present on the occasion.
Recalling his long association with the space agency and his involvement in the failures and successful launches of the first satellite launch vehicle (SLV) and the subsequent polar satellite launch vehicles (PSLVs), Kalam said space was another destination for man's quest for renewable energy.
"One of the spin-offs I foresee from space technology is to innovate a low-cost energy solution. We are already using solar energy to power satellites to orbit around the Earth and run its various payloads (instruments). We need to innovate a solution to transfer the solar-generated energy to earth and store it in the form of power cells or batteries that can be used as renewable energy," Kalam pointed out.
Regretting that India has been a laggard in achieving breakthroughs in rocket launches, building satellites or supercomputers, Kalam said the country should overcome the status of being a "fourth or fifth nation syndrome" to becoming the first country in cracking space technology and ICT (information and communication technology) through innovation and research.
"After every successful launch of a rocket or satellite, India is ranked as the fourth or fifth nation in the world to have achieved success or breakthrough in space technology. It is time for us to overcome the fourth or fifth nation syndrome and be the first among equals if we have to become a superpower. We can do it," Kalam added.
Bangalore: Microsoft unveiled its windows 8 for tablets in D9 conference assuring the fact that they are a strong contender in the tablet market.
Microsoft displayed a demo of windows 8 through a video which showed that this next generation operating system will be a user and touch-friendly experience that will work seamlessly on tablets, desktops, and laptops. It also added that it will also respond to keyboards and mouse if they are attached.The rapidly evolving PC world has forced Microsoft to evolve new mechanism and hence Windows 8 file-sharing tools will be much to the friendlier, touch-tacular mobile interface will be more advance. One can tap locally stored and networked photos to select them in a glance and also add them to your albums. This similarly will work the same for documents, videos, and music.
One of the interesting revelation that was made by Microsoft in the event was that developers will be provided with application programming interfaces (APIs) and a software development kit (SDK) that will allow them to create Windows 8 tablet applications in HTML and/or JavaScript. Windows 8 is expected to work in the new version of Internet Explorer 10; however, it was not cleared if the Internet Explorer 10 browser will support the Silverlight plug-in.
One question that remained unclear as to who's support will Microsoft opt for - Intel x86 or ARM versions of Windows 8 PCs and tablets. However Microsoft said it has no plan to add any kind of compatibility layer to enable legacy Windows apps to run on ARM-based PCs and tablets.
CEO Steve Ballmer indicated last week that Microsoft is planning to release Windows 8 in 2012 but the event did not announce the date on which the operating system will be available in the market for consumers.
Microsoft displayed a demo of windows 8 through a video which showed that this next generation operating system will be a user and touch-friendly experience that will work seamlessly on tablets, desktops, and laptops. It also added that it will also respond to keyboards and mouse if they are attached.The rapidly evolving PC world has forced Microsoft to evolve new mechanism and hence Windows 8 file-sharing tools will be much to the friendlier, touch-tacular mobile interface will be more advance. One can tap locally stored and networked photos to select them in a glance and also add them to your albums. This similarly will work the same for documents, videos, and music.
One of the interesting revelation that was made by Microsoft in the event was that developers will be provided with application programming interfaces (APIs) and a software development kit (SDK) that will allow them to create Windows 8 tablet applications in HTML and/or JavaScript. Windows 8 is expected to work in the new version of Internet Explorer 10; however, it was not cleared if the Internet Explorer 10 browser will support the Silverlight plug-in.
One question that remained unclear as to who's support will Microsoft opt for - Intel x86 or ARM versions of Windows 8 PCs and tablets. However Microsoft said it has no plan to add any kind of compatibility layer to enable legacy Windows apps to run on ARM-based PCs and tablets.
CEO Steve Ballmer indicated last week that Microsoft is planning to release Windows 8 in 2012 but the event did not announce the date on which the operating system will be available in the market for consumers.
Cast: Salman Khan, Asin, Arya Babbar, Paresh Rawal, Puneet Issar, Mahesh Manjrekar
Directed by Anees Bazmee
Rating:*1/2
Whistle-blowers rejoice! Salman is back and this time he's ditched his belt to fiddle inside his pant pockets (read: Dhinka Chika, in case you don't have a television set at home). The thing with Salman's films is that they're in a genre of their own. A genre that cannot be graded for the story, screenplay, performances or any other metric used to evaluate other films. They can just be enjoyed or suffered, depending upon the elasticity of your tolerance. I hope you would consider this vague disclaimer before reading this review and before going to watch this monsoon musical.
But you're on this page hoping to get an idea about this film, so let's get down to business. The film is about a spoilt brat called Prem (the 14th time Salman has used this as a screen name) and his annoyingly happy family. Prem's daddy, Rajveer Kapoor (Mahesh Manjrekar) has the memory of a goldfish and he constantly portrays his disability by making vulgar physical and oral gestures to describe anything he can't re-collect. Prem also has two uncles and aunts who live together with them in their sprawling mansion spanning across Thailand, Sri Lanka and Filmcity, Goregaon. There's also a random elderly neighbour who is invariable lurking about at the Kapoor household (the only way to get into the frame?).
Anyway, the film becomes a pickled mess when a girl on the run, Sanjana (Asin) lands up at the Kapoor residence, in the guise of Prem's prospective bride. Predictably, she wins everyone's hearts with her clichéd tactics (morning bhajans, respect for elders, disrespect for Prem etc). Now, Sanjana has a dark past and even darker relations, comprising a bevy of assorted villains from the past and present who flaunt every wig in the costume box. Some of them include, Bade Mama (Sharad Saxena), Chote Mama (Akhilendra Mishra), Bade Dada (Puneet Issar) and few other non-descript Bollywood henchmen.
In Hindi films, if the good doesn't reign over evil, it can atleast trick evil into switching sides. So, the Kapoors devise the most ridiculous plan (not even worth mentioning here) to get the Chaudharys (Sanjana's uncles) to indulge in some soul cleansing, beginning with chopping off their 'chotis' (the root of all evil?).
After several songs, excessive hamming and dialogues like "Iska koi resort nahin. Isse acha hain ki aap resort book karlo" and "In that case, mere paas aaja mere suitcase", you just want to dhinka chika yourself out of the movie hall. But the movie refuses to end, as unnecessary confusions and complications pile up and you wonder if there's enough reel left to clear it all up. Luckily, your prayers are answered as this movie ends like a school play, with the dim-witted criminals realizing they've wronged and swearing to mend their ways. Sigh.
'Dhinka Chika' will surely win enough whistles and 'Character Dheela' will leave many gasping. But if you're expecting a laugh-a-thon, then you're in the wrong movie. Salman gives in his 10 percent and packages it off with 200 percent confidence and style. Asin could surely get a chance to dub for the next Chip 'n' Dale film, in case her acting career doesn't fall in place.
When you exit this film, there will be little you will take away from it, apart from Salman's pocket-fiddling and bum rubbing dance moves. But then if Anees Bazmee was interested in making meaningful cinema, he would've demonstrated the same in "No Entry", "Welcome" or "Thank You". How about, "No, Thank You" for his next multi-starrer-no-brainer?
You can reach me at guha.kunal@rocketmail.com or connect with me on Facebook
Mumbai, June 3 (IANS) To celebrate the success of the song 'Bhag DK Bose' from 'Delhi Belly', Aamir Khan, who has produced the film, has decided to organise a bash. It may set a trend becasue this is perhaps for the first time someone is throwing a song's success party in Bollywood.
Written by Amitabh Bhattacharya and composed by Ram Sampat, 'Bhaag DK Bose' got an overwhelming response from the music lovers - it captured the imagination of the youth and its bold lyrics made the song ripple through the mass faster.
'The song 'DK Bose' has caught on like anything and it's topping the chart everywhere. Aamir thought of celebrating this success by throwing a party for the cast and crew of 'Delhi Belly'. This is for the first time in Bollywood that a success party would be thrown for a single song,' a spokesperson from Aamir Khan Productions said in a statement.
Directed by Abhinay Deo, 'Delhi Belly' is a youth-centric bold film, which stars Imran Khan, Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapoor.
The stars along with the songwriter and the composer are supposed to jam live at the party
Dhobi Ghat star Monica Dogra will be seen in the next PETA advertisement. She will be seen urging people to embrace vegetarianism. With this, Monica has joined the league of sexy vegetarian celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Shahid Kapoor, Sir Paul McCartney, R. Madhavan and Anil Kumble. In her advertisement, she would be seen urging people to "try to relate to who is on your plate". The actor and singer, who went vegetarian after learning what the animals had to endure, is now encouraging everyone to switch to a healthy and humane vegetarian diet.
Dogra has been a non- vegetarian and confirms, "I was raised eating meat." "Around 12 years old, I remember reading … about factory farming and the way in which — particularly chickens at that time — animals were being treated and I remember feeling really harrowed and sad." This led Dogra to stop eating flesh, which eventually improved her health and stabilised her weight, she said. In addition to starring in Aamir Khan's Dhobi Ghat , Dogra is part of the music duo Shaa'ir + Func, which has been named among the top emerging artists and best independent artists by VH1
Katrina lookalike Zarine is going all out to turn into her clone. Their physical resemblance is unmistakable. Zarine Khan was not called 'Fatrina' for no reason at all. Even after losing 15 kilos, she still looks like she can lose ten more to look like the current Sheila version of Katrina. That agreed on, it's Zarine's fashion sense and posturing that seems to be particularly influenced by Katrina Kaif. She has done everything in her power to cash in on her physical similarity by almost modelling herself after Katrina Kaif. The coloured contact lenses, the side swept layered dark hair, the pink blush cheeks and suspiciously botoxed lips, scream of a girl who is riding the one thing going in her favour that of being a much more successful person's lookalike. When she began, it was much easier for Zarine to copy Katrina's Indian wear style. Her more than a little curvaceous frame obviously meant that's all she could attempt. So, one saw the same floor sweeping formal anarkali suits, and the similar style georgette saris on the both of them
Zarine's appearances, however, were always a few weeks after Katrina's, making it apparent who is getting "inspired" by whom. Lately, however, after having lost oodles of weight, Zarine seems confident enough to raid Kat's western/ casual wear wardrobe for ideas as well. She has already tried doing similar gowns for her red carpet appearances but that only made her look a tacky version of Kat. During the promotional run up for Ready , where she has done the first item number of her career, Zarine has particularly made it a point to fill in Katrina's shoes in Salman's crew. From turning up in Being Human t-shirts to cocktail dresses, she has tried everything to add to the glamour quotient left void by Katrina. Whether Zarine likes it or not, the only way to keep up with Kat's wardrobe is to get a Sheila body now
Farhan Akhtar is a star in his own rights. His mother Honey Irani too has seen many a high during her heyday. But with time, things seem to have faded away from people's memories. During a recent event where Farhan was to sing and enthral the crowd, the hitch for Honey came when the security at the event refused to allow entry to this long forgotten screenwriter. Security guards refused to recognise her, either as Javed Akhtar's ex- wife, or even as Farhan's mother. It was only later that they were convinced that she was Farhan's mother, and was let in.
Expressing his distaste Sonu Sood says, "The music in Bollywood is changing to a great extent and I don't think it is a good idea to present such music to youngsters. We as grown-ups can understand but youngsters are still in the process of growing up. I am not sure if it is a great sign but if you ask for my vote then I am totally against such bold music and hard lyrics." The actor presently is awaiting the release of his film with Amitabh Bachchan, 'Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap' and Sonu claims that his movie makes no use of such bold and controversial language or words..
Dharamendra, who always refrained from appearing on the small screen, will now don a judge's garb for the reality show India's Got Talent. On the other hand Sunny Deol has also been signed on by Zee TV to host the stunt- based reality show Jaanbaaz, which will have real stuntmen as participants.A source said, "Post YPD , the Deols have been flooded with not only films, but also TV offers. When Dharmendra and Sunny made an appearance one of the reality shows, they were fun to watch, an absolute delight and a refreshing change.
After the ‘Golmal’ series, director Rohit Shetty is remaking the Tamil blockbuster film ‘Singam’. The Hindi version stars Ajay Devgn in the title role of an honest cop. After his debut action film ‘Zameen’, this is Rohit's second action film.
in the film, Ajay plays a tough cop from a village on the Maharashtra-Goa border, who will be seen doing a lot of hand-to-hand combat scenes, rarely seen in action films in recent times. Director Rohit Shetty therefore did not just want Ajay to develop a six-pack which is easily achievable using steroids but build a more realistic body.
Kajal Aggarwal plays Ajay's love interest in the film. Kajal rose to prominence after her performance in 'Magadheera' (2009), which remains her biggest commercial success. Kajal made her acting debut in the 2004 Hindi film 'Kyun...! Ho Gaya Na' in which she played a minor supporting role.
While Ajay plays an honest cop in the movie, Rohit signed the three-time National Award winning actor Prakash Raj to play the baddie. Raj is ecstatic to work with Rohit and the full team as he loves their style of working. He says, “The unit of ‘Singham’ is a great bunch of talented and creative people, especially Rohit! He is a gen next director and his working technique is impressive. Not only does he shoot in a fast paced manner, but at the same time also ensures that every shot is perfect and we give our best every single time
The film is being produced by Reliance Entertainment and is slated to be released on 22nd July 2011.