iPad 2 rivals may go bust: Analyst

iPad's launch last year set in a tablet frenzy among computing majors. Today, there's no PC or smartphone maker which has not launched or planned a tablet. However, is the market as rosy for rival tablets as it is for Apple devices?

According to Mark Moskowitz, an analyst with JP Morgan Research, investors and suppliers who have a stake in building iPad rival products may be exposing themselves to high risk.

In fact, he sees an "increasing risk of a bubble burst" in the tablet space in second half of 2011 itself.

According to a report in Apple Insider, Moskowitz has written the technical and form factor improvements of the iPad 2 are likely to make it tougher for the first generation of competitive offerings to play catch-up, thereby meaning that actual shipments could fall well short of plans.

Moskowitz also sees a risk for component suppliers in this. According to him, component suppliers stand to lose the most from a bubble burst.

"Based on our research inputs, tablet makers eager to emulate Apple's meteoric start are trying to secure components with inflated build plans," Moskowitz noted in the article. "Of note, glass displays, processors, and, to a lesser extent, NAND Flash are the components that could be most at risk."

Commenting on the upcoming rival tablets, Moskowitz said that aside from Motorola's Xoom and HP's TouchPad, the competitive offerings appear to be light on attractions.

Using discounted manufacturing plan estimates to project tablet shipments for the year, the analyst reportedly claimed that tablet makers will build approximately 65.1 million tablets in 2011. When compared against JP Morgan's estimates of 47.9 million tablets to be sold this year, these companies could find themselves with as much as 51 percent oversupply in a worst case scenario.

Presenting a rosy scenario for Apple, the JP Morgan analyst estimates that Apple could see as much as 100 percent sales growth year over year, resulting in more than 29 million iPads sold worldwide in 2011. He, however, has not elaborated on the reason behind such optimism.

Second British royal wedding set for July 30

Queen Elizabeth II's eldest grand-daughter and champion show jumper Zara Phillips is to wed Mike Tindall, the England rugby union captain, in Edinburgh on July 30, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday.

"Miss Zara Phillips and Mr Mike Tindall will be married at the Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, on Saturday, 30th July," the brief statement said.

"The couple will hold a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse following the ceremony."

Holyroodhouse is the sovereign's official residence in Scotland.

The second British royal wedding this year will come almost exactly three months after Phillips's cousin Prince William, the second in line to the throne, marries his university sweetheart Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29.

Harry Potter postage stamps

Harry Potter' stars Ralph Fiennes and Michael Gambon have been immortalised on a commemorative postage stamp in their native Britain.

Fans of the wizard franchise can purchase stamps featuring Gambon as his on screen persona of Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of the imaginary magic school Hogwarts, and Fiennes as Potter's arch-enemy Lord Voldemort, reported Contactmusic.

The limited edition Magical Realms collection also includes Tilda Swinton in costume as the White Witch from CS Lewis' 'The Chronicles of Narnia'.

Two more pilots land in trouble for fake licences

Fasten your seat belts, the captain of your plane may have fudged his papers to get a flying licence. Investigations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), initiated after a woman pilot was found repeatedly landing wrongly on the nosewheel of the plane, have thrown up two more pilots who forged their qualifying papers. Fake captains are fast emerging as the biggest threat to safe flying in India.

The duo was commandeering aircraft after allegedly forging papers that showed they had cleared the tests to graduate from co-pilot to the captain's seat. One of the allegedly fake commanders, Meenakshi Sehgal, was flying with IndiGo, which has since grounded her. The other, Swaran Singh Talwar, was a commander with MDLR, an airline that has not been operational for months now.

What's worrying the aviation industry is that the new cases have tumbled out within a week of DGCA chief Bharat Bhushan ordering an unprecedented drive to verify pilot licences.

The action was sparked by suspicions about a woman commander of IndiGo who often landed the aircraft with the nosewheels touching down before the belly tyres.

The pilot, Parminder Kaur, was grounded for refresher training as per rules, but alongside a regulatory probe of her papers revealed that she had allegedly become a commander by giving fake marksheets of the airline transport pilot licence (ATPL) exam, which is mandatory for co-pilots to clear to become commanders. The DGCA issues this licence only after co-pilots complete 1,500 hours of flying, irrespective of when they clear it. And airlines consider even those who clear ATPL for command only after they fly for 2,000-3,000 hours as co-pilots.

The discovery of fake ATPL commanders has left the aviation ministry deeply worried due to its immense safety implications. "We are examining pilot licences and have found two more cases (of fake ATPL papers). While the licences have been revoked, these cases have also been referred to the police for further action," Bharat Bhushan said, adding that there would be no compromise on safety. Airlines share this concern as they rely only on DGCA papers to employ co-pilots and commanders.

"We have off-rostered her (Sehgal) since Sunday. We are very happy that the DGCA is investigating all its past licences. There should be a thorough check of all licences given by the DGCA, irrespective of which airline someone is working with. There can be no compromise on safety. Unfortunately, airlines can only rely on the authenticity of DGCA documents," IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh said.

Industry sources say such fudging of DGCA marksheets is unlikely to happen without insider help. It is learnt that some sections within the DGCA wanted only the fake licences to be cancelled and were opposing the move to refer the matter to police. The reason: a police probe might lead right up to them. But with no-nonsense bosses such as aviation secretary Nasim Zaidi and Bharat Bhushan, this request fell on deaf ears.

"Having a fake commander in a flight is like having a quack heading the team of doctors performing an operation," said a senior commander. What will such a person's knowledge or experience be? God save such flyers. This is as big a safety issue as can be."

Quake jolts Japan; tsunami alert issued

TOKYO: A 7.2-magnitude earthquake jolted northeastern Japan on Wednesday, the Meteorological Agency said.

The agency issued a tsunami alert on the coasts of the northeastern part of the country.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property after the quake hit at 11.45 a.m

India to see 12.9 percent salary hike in 2011

Employees in India are expected to see a salary hike of 12.9 per cent this year, among the highest in the world, as industries are benefiting from the country's robust economic growth, according to Aon Hewitt.

Led by engineering services sector, the projected jump of 12.9 per cent in salaries for this year is higher than the actual increase of 11.7 per cent seen in 2010
Global HR consultancy group Aon Hewitt today said India is likely to see the highest pay hike in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by China (9 per cent) and Philippines (7 per cent).

"India's salary rise would also be among the highest in the world... companies are growing fast and demand is rising due to good economic growth," Aon Hewitt's India Practice Leader 

Yeh Faasley movie review

Story: Arunima (Tena Desai) loves dad (Anupam Kher) who, she believes, loved her mom too. But her love is put to test when she begins to suspect her dad and holds him responsible for her mother's death. Will the daughter avenge her mother's death even if it means standing up against her father? 

Movie Review: If there's anything that holds the film together, it is the performances. If Anupam Kher renders a serious and substantial act as a father who may or may not be guilty, then newcomer Tena Desai is suitably restrained as the troubled daughter, torn between love and truth. Then, there is also Pawan Malhotra to watch out for as the mysterious third angle in this whodunit. All okay, on the acting front at least.

But when it comes to the plot, the pulp begins to flow....The film takes so long to build up to a not-so-predictable climax, it almost enervates you with its sluggishness. The repeated flashbacks with a not-so-happening actor-duo playing out a young Anupam Kher and his wife are meandering and meaningless, as are the daughter's rants about good daddy-bad daddy.

The film does show flashes of substance and form, but there's a whole lot of flab that renders it formless.

IBM CEO gets 30% pay hike

International Business Machines Corp (IBM) Chief Executive Officer Sam Palmisano's compensation increased 30 per cent last year as the company exceeded its four- year earnings target.

Palmisano, 59, received $31.7 million in total compensation, including salary, stock awards and incentives, compared with $24.3 million a year earlier, the Armonk, New York-based company said in a regulatory filing.

The CEO's non-stock incentive compensation almost doubled to $9 million as IBM increased its full-year profit to $11.52 a share, besting its goal of at least $10 set four years ago. Palmisano set another long-term target for the company last year, saying that operating earnings will almost double to $20 a share in 2015.

IBM, the world's biggest computer-services provider, The shares have climbed 9 per cent this year.b Palmisano, who has led the company since March 2002, received $4.75 million in non-stock incentive pay in 2009.

New Zealand thrash Pakistan by 110 runs

Ross Taylor celebrated his 27th birthday with a career-best unbeaten 131 to help New Zealand beat Pakistan by an emphatic 110-run margin at Pallekele stadium on Tuesday.
Taylor benefitted from two let-offs by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal to guide New Zealand to an imposing 302-7 before Tim Southee (3-25) restricted Pakistan to 192 in the World Cup Group A match at the newly-built stadium.

Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and suffered their second biggest World Cup defeat, leaving a packed 30,000 crowd disappointed.

Scott Styris (2-17), Nathan McCullum (2-28) andKyle Mills (2-43) also chipped in with useful bowling to halt Pakistan's unbeaten progress in the tournament.

The win gave New Zealand -- six points from four matches -- top position in Group A on a better run-rate.

Pakistan also have six points from four matches, followed by Sri Lanka (five from four) and Australia (five from three).

Abdul Razzaq (62), Umar Akmal (38) and Umar Gul (34 not out) put up some resistance.

But it was never threatening for New Zealand who didn't miss skipper Daniel Vettori, who was forced to leave the field after injuring his knee.

Pakistan's worst World Cup defeat was by 112 runs, against England at Cape Town in 2003.

Razzaq, when he reached 22, became the fourth player behind Sanath Jayasuriya, Shahid Afridiand Jacques Kallis to score 5000 runs and take 250 wickets in ODIs.

But it was Taylor's day as he hit eight boundaries and seven sixes during his 124-ball knock, peaking in the final 10 overs in which New Zealand collected 139 runs -- 100 in last five.

Taylor could have been out for nought, had Akmal not missed a regulation edge in paceman Shoaib Akhtar's second spell.

He also dropped Taylor in the same Akhtar over when he had made just eight.

Taylor made the most of his good fortune and ran riot in the 47th over of the innings, hitting Akhtar for two boundaries and three sixes -- 28 runs in all -- to reach his first World Cup hundred off 117 deliveries.

He then hit two boundaries and three sixes to take 30 off Abdul Razzaq's 49th over.

Taylor added a blistering 85 for the seventh wicket with Jacob Oram (25 off just nine balls, with three sixes and a boundary) off just 22 balls to punish a hapless Pakistan bowling attack.

Taylor's previous best of 128 not out came against Sri Lanka at Napier in 2006.

This was his first ODI hundred since his three-figure knock in Bangladesh in October 2008.

Taylor added 57 for the third wicket with Martin Guptill (57) and 62 for the fifth wicket with Scott Styris (28).

Pakistan, who opened the bowling with left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman -- the first time they opened with a spinner since April 1998 -- got dangerous Brendon McCullum in the first over, bowled by Akhtar for six.

Gul, the pick of Pakistan bowlers with 3-32, dismissed Jamie How (four) to make it 55-2, leaving the repair work to Taylor and Guptill.

Akhtar conceded 70 in his nine overs, while Razzaq was clobbered for 49 in four.

Pakistan next face Zimbabwe here on Monday, while New Zealand travel to Mumbai to faceCanada (March 13) and Sri Lanka (March 18) in their last two matches.

Pakistan wrap-up their group matches against defending champions Australia in Colombo on March 19

Teams: 

Congress, DMK seal deal on seat-sharing in Tamil Nadu

The DMK today blinked in the battle of attrition and conceded 63 seats for Congress under a seat-sharing deal between the two parties for the coming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, ending three days of political drama.

The leaderships of DMK and Congress have finally decided on the number of seats and Congress will contest from 63 seats, announced Ghulam Nabi Azad to reporters outside the residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi

The demand of 63 seats by Congress marks an increase of 15 seats over the number it got in the 2006 assembly elections and a number that was frowned upon by DMK M Karunanidhi when he announced pull out of the party from the UPA government on Saturday.

The deal was announced after DMK Minister Dayanidhi Maran held two rounds talks with senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament House during which Azad and Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel were also present.

From the meeting a beaming Maran, accompanied by another Union Minister M K Alagiri, and Congress leaders drove to Gandhi's residence to thank her for the deal on behalf of DMK's leadership.

In an act of brinkmanship, DMK announced the pull out of its six ministers from the Union Council of Ministers and offered issued-based support accusing Congress of making attempts to push it out of the coalition.

On Friday night, Karunanidhi had accused the Congress of being unreasonable by escalating the demand for seats from 50 to 53 to 57 and then to 60. And after agreeing to settle for 60, the party later raised the demand to 63, he had complained.

But it was not not clear whether there has been any agreement between the two parties on conceding to Congress demand for its choice of constituencies and power sharing after the elections..