'Windows 8 to launch in 2012'

NEW DELHI: Microsoft's next operating system launch seems to be set for the year 2012. In a blogpost on its Dutch Web, Microsoft said that the next version of Windows should hit the shleves in about two years.

"Furthermore, Microsoft is on course for the next version of Windows. But it will take about two years," read the blog posting celebrating the first birthday of Windows 7.

However, Microsoft has declined to comment or elaborate on the blog.

According to reports, a presentation leaked in June showed Windows 7 successor to include an app store similar to Apple's and that of other mobile device makers.

The presentation, according to CNET, also suggested that Microsoft is keen to improve startup times and the time it takes to resume from sleep, improve power efficiency, as well as work more closely with computer makers to better differentiate their respective computers.


Read more: 'Windows 8 to launch in 2012' - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Tech-News-Software-Services/Windows-8-to-launch-in-2012/articleshow/6809871.cms#ixzz13R8M5psa

US non-committal on permanent UNSC seat for India

NEW DELHI: Just ahead of the Obama visit, the US continues to sound non-committal about support to India for a permanent seat at the UNSC. While welcoming India's election as a non-permanent member on Monday, US officials were guarded in their reaction saying that UNSC reforms were a complicated matter and that Washington looked forward to working together with India over the issue.

India has been hoping that President Obama will endorse India's candidature for permanent membership during his visit. "We welcome India's election as a non-permanent member and look forward to working with it on the issue of UNSC reforms. However, UNSC reforms is a complicated issue. The US focus is on improving the efficacy of the Council,'' said an official.

On India's decision to sign the CSC ahead of Obama's visit, US officials said that this was a positive step and expressed the hope that it will allow companies to launch commercial negotiations. "We are hopeful that the outcome is consistent with international norms so that they can lead to nuclear transactions between the two countries," said officials.

They added that the two sides are trying to "resolve differences" over issues relating to the civil liability legislation so that US companies can begin nuclear business with India.

Senior officials also admitted that India's participation in the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has been "under discussions", but added that New Delhi's membership in the nuclear cartel will have to be agreed to by all NSG members by consensus. "NSG is a voluntary organisation and works only on the basis of consensus," said an official.

While talking about the various bilateral issues to figure during Obama's three-day visit, the officials said they expect to hear about the impact of changes in US policy of H1B visa, outsourcing regulations and market access but downplayed the "frictions" on these issues. They said it would not be proper to describe it as protectionism. "We will find ways to take care of some of these issues," they said.

The officials made it clear that US policy on Kashmir has been very clear for many years and that it was an issue which was part of the discussions between India and Pakistan and not an issue for the US or any other country to play a role in.

Read more: US non-committal on permanent UNSC seat for India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/US-non-committal-on-permanent-UNSC-seat-for-India/articleshow/6810806.cms#ixzz13R7ZIrOk

2nd password for online shopping must: RBI

CHENNAI: Shopping online through foreign websites can come a cropper with the Reserve Bank insisting on an additional password for all kinds of online transactions.

The requisition of an additional authentication hampers online shopping when Indian credit/debit cards are used on foreign websites and also when foreign cards are used on Indian sites.

In a notification to the banks on Monday, RBI made it clear that it's not going to compromise on the security of online transactions. It had on August 1, 2009, made a second factor or an additional authentication mandatory for online transaction using credit and debit cards. Before that, users required only the 16-digit card number and the CVV number for online shopping.

According to an official of a public sector bank, some banks continued to provide the facility of online transaction on foreign portal without the second factor authentication. In this regard, the Reserve Bank issued a clarification that the additional validation is compulsory for "all transactions using cards issued in India, for payments on merchant site where no outflow of foreign exchange is contemplated".


Read more: 2nd password for online shopping must: RBI - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/2nd-password-for-online-shopping-must-RBI-/articleshow/6812548.cms#ixzz13R7AFyl3

Exports jump 23% in Sept, fastest in 2 yrs

NEW DELHI: India's merchandise shipments in September rose at its fastest pace in two years, clocking a rise of 23%, or some $18 billion, but the rate of increase in imports outpaced this growth to stir concerns over a widening trade gap.

Exports aggregated $103.3 billion in the April-September period, marking a 27.6% increase from the year-ago period. No wonder, commerce minister Anand Sharma on Monday said the country is on track to surpass the export target of $200 billion for the current fiscal. "In the first six months of this year, we have done well. We are very much on track...to cross $200 billion," Sharma said.

Releasing the figures, commerce secretary Rahul Khullar said the growth could be partly attributed to the low base in the previous year and increasing prices. He said September was the "first month in which exports were higher than (for a particular month) 2008-09".

Exports had recorded a 22.5% growth in August at $16.64 billion. Imports too jumped by a higher rate of 32.2% to $29.7 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $13.06 billion.

Exporters, meanwhile, are hopeful of topping the target but say rupee volatility and high cost of credit are matters of concern. On Monday, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) president A Sakthivel suggested the RBI place restriction on the minimum period of investment by FII of at least 12 months as a measure to check volatility.

At a monetary policy meeting with RBI governor in Mumbai, Sakthivel said FIIs should be allowed repatriation only after investment remains in India for 365 days or more. Highlighting constant decline in export credit as a percentage of net bank credit, which fell to as low as 4.1% as on January 15, he requested that 50% of the total export credit should be earmarked to MSME sectors so as to ensure regular and seamless flow of credit to the export sector.

The issue of non-availability of dollar-denominated credit for exports was also flagged by FIEO as exporters are of the view that banks normally prefer to provide credit to corporates over exporters. Sakthivel sought a clear RBI directive to banks on this.

Referring to increase in export credit rate under the base rate regime, Sakthivel said in the PLR regime, exporters were getting pre- and post-shipment credit at least 2.5% below PLR, if not at lower rate. But in the base rate regime banks are charging export credit 150 to 200 basis points above the base rate which make the export credit rate under the base rate regime costlier.


Read more: Exports jump 23% in Sept, fastest in 2 yrs - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Exports-jump-23-in-Sept-fastest-in-2-yrs-/articleshow/6810386.cms#ixzz13R6zLffw