Myntra’s Meet Brings Together 200 Marquee Brands

To discuss the future growth prospects in the online fashion and lifestyle segment, Myntra.com, a leading e-commerce platform for fashion and lifestyle products, has recently organised the second edition of its Annual Brand Meet 2013 in Bangalore. The event saw participation from over 200 brands from the fashion and lifestyle industry, with CEO/MD's of over 60 leading brands.

The second edition of the Annual Brand Meet paved the way for the future of the fashion and lifestyle e-commerce industry, by bringing together partner brands for a day long networking event. The event served as an effective platform to empower participants with intellectually stimulating insights on the potential of this space.

Myntra.com is pegged on the path of constant growth with over 500 partner brands and access to 32,000 unique products, making it the largest fashion destination online for Indian youth.

The event kick-started with an insightful keynote address by Nitin Bawankule, Industry Director - Ecommerce, Google India. In addition, two panel discussions were organised comprising of senior industry leaders, and delved on issues affecting the Indian ecommerce space and explore opportunities of future growth. The event was hosted by the gorgeous TV anchor and Bollywood actress, Mandira Bedi.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukesh Bansal, Co-Founder and CEO, Myntra.com said, “Myntra’s Annual Brand Meet is a one-of-its-kind industry networking initiative that brings together various brand partners under one roof to discuss future growth opportunities in the fashion and lifestyle segment. We are honoured with the presence of senior leaders from over 200 marquee brands and the support we continue to receive from them.”

He further added, “Being the first to enter the current season, full catalogue model, I’m confident that we will continue to scale and further extend our leadership position in the fashion & lifestyle category.”

During the keynote address, Nitin Bawankule, Industry Director, E-commerce, Google India said that the rate at which the e-commerce industry is scaling is significantly huge. He revealed that online transaction of apparel and accessories are likely to overtake consumer electronics this year and more women are expected to shop online. He also highlighted the huge potential of m-commerce, with 30 per cent of online shopping queries coming from mobile and tablet devices today. This trend is expected to grow to 50 per cent by the end of the year.

The first panel discussion focused on the importance of tier 2 and tier 3 cities and their future potential for the online shopping space. The panel included Sandeep Mukhim, CEO, Proline India Pvt. Ltd.; Sanjay Mehra, MD, TATA International, Wolverine Brand Ltd., Mukesh Bansal, CEO& Co-Founder, Myntra and E S Sudarshan, CEO, India on Time. The session was moderated by Kedar Gavane, Senior Director, comScore. As the discussion gained momentum, topics such as consistent demand and customer engagement from these cities were discussed. The panelists resonated the need for players in the Indian e-commerce sector to focus on the emerging markets (Tier 2 & 3) with a sustainable engagement model.

The second panel discussion focussed on the best retail practices to engage and encourage women to shop online. This panel included Asif Merchant, Managing Director, Catwalk Worldwide; Sanjeev Aggrawal, Managing Director, Skechers; Anupama Bijur, Resident Editor, Bangalore, Magna Publishing Co Ltd., and Kanika Vohra, Business Head, ELLE. This discussion focused on bringing to fore solutions to bridge the gap between online and offline shopping for women shoppers and was moderated by Siddharth Puri, CEO, Tyroo Media Pvt Ltd.

Following the panel discussions, Myntra announced the winners of the Myntra Brand Awards for FY ’12-13. The awards were presented to the leading brands in light of their immense contribution to the fashion space through unique and innovate designs.

The event also featured an exclusive Fashion Show - ‘Ramp Up 2013’, displaying the new season collections available on Myntra.com. The fashion show set the momentum for the remainder of the event as it concluded in high spirits.

Does Technology Make Classrooms Smarter?

The 2000s saw the introduction of computers and projectors in the classroom. A decade later iPads and LCDs took over. The most recent trend, however, shows that the modern classroom has fascination with gadgets and is now focussing on using techonology to make the classroom smarter. Gadgets are increasingly being used only as a means to improve learning processes, engage students in classroom discussions and enhance learning environment.

The noveau age educational institutes have been adopting a comprehensive strategy at making education digital. These technologically sound classrooms offer high-tech tools like touch panel device to control the whole system that include computers, data projector, audio system, and interactive whiteboards.

“Using visuals during classroom presentations not only help students to understand the subject clearly but also offer a way to keep the class engaged while covering required curriculum material,” says Punit Rastogi, Managing director Solutions India Systems Pvt. Ltd. (SISPL) which has deployed AV Solutions for Dhirubhai Ambani International Schools. The company has also created high-tech smart classes with over 800 projectors at NIIT recently, besides developing state of the art technology for Amity University, Jetking, and Frankfinn among others.

He further adds, “Referring to the benefits of smart classes, Government of India has also taken a step for the implementation of innovative teaching methodology. Some schools are promoting the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) concept to make learning more effective and speedy.”

 “For instance, if a professor is explaining the geography of a place, in a smart class room it will show the exact location of the point on a map, the continent it belongs to, the adjacent ocean, the mountain range that surrounds it, the cities, states and national borders. In fact it will throw up any detail. During the session if a student raises a question related to partition of the country or formation of states, the professor is in a position to quickly pull another presentation or content or access available material on the web and address the inquiry immediately. These solutions also have internal libraries which are mapped according to the curriculum of various boards and packed with fine details for better understanding. Once the class ends, professor can post the presentation with added inputs on website with a private access or email it to the students. This also encourages students to concentrate in the class instead of focusing on their notes,” adds Rastogi.

In addition to this, moving data, compiling images, referring to altogether different files, incorporating images or data is easily possible through this technology.

“We have also improved upon technologies that break geographical barriers in education and give distance education a whole new meaning. The technology has been flawlessly implemented at corporate training centres. But going forward, we see this impacting education institutes in a big way. Theoretically, this means that when Stephen Hawking delivers an address at, let us say, University of Houston, students in India tied up with the university can not only listen live to him, but can interact as much as his American counterpart who is physically present there. The future of education is exciting,” concludes Rastogi.

Samsung New Smart & LED Tv Models Now In India

Samsung India, further expanding its Smart TV and LED TV portfolios, has launched 20 new TV models in the market. And also it unveiled an 85 inch Ultra HD (High-Definition) Television namely 8569 and Joy Range of TVs that would be available later this year; according to Samsung these TVS are made especially for India. 

The Joy Range of TVs are currently being developed and designed at development centres of Samsung at Noida and Bangalore. The TVs that come under Smart series are priced between between Rs.37900 to Rs.3.68 Lakhs, while the prices of the Plasma range TVs vary in between Rs.35,500 and Rs.2.09 Lakhs.

However, the newly launched models that come under the Smart and Plasma TV series comprise interactive features letting users to browse through the internet. Samsung has also unveiled a new ‘Evolution Kit’ that is being sold separately facilitates upgrading the features of software & hardware of selected models of Samsung. It is priced at Rs.17,000.

According to S.K. Kim, Senior Vice President (Consumer Electronics), Samsung India, “With the launch of our 2013 Smart TV range, we are looking to consolidate our leadership in the Panel TV market in India. We expect LED TVs to drive our Panel TV growth, with Smart TVs contributing at least 20 per cent of our Panel TV volumes this year.”

Among the newly launched models under the Smart TV range, there is F8000 model, the same model that was unveiled at CES 2013, which is said to be the first Smart LED TV of the world that comes with a quad core processor. This one also comes equipped with S-Recommendation & intelligent viewing features. However, the S-Recommendation feature allows users to ask for the recommendations using their own voice. 

The S-Recommendation feature is a part of Smart Hub Suite that lets users to access apps and social networks. This feature also comes with another quad-core powered model named F7500, which comes with a 46 inch monitor. Both these F8000 and F7500 models are designed to deliver ultimate lean back experience to its customers being powered by quad-core processors.

Kim also said that as of now more or less 1000 has been developed that run on Linux platform. These TVs not only facilitates social media but also lets users transfer contents from other gadgets like smartphone & tablets to the TVs.

To know more about these new launches, refer to the official website of the Korean manufacturer. And stay tuned for further such updates.

Civil Aviation Foray For Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has set its eyes on the civil aviation sector.

Addressing reporters at the Aero India 2013, HAL Chairman R. K. Tyagi said, “After catering to defence sector needs all these years, now we are exploring civilian sector through civil aviation.”

“The company through its vision 2020, as recommended by Dr Kelkar, is taking the lead to peruse it with private participation,” he added.

HAL is looking at civil aviation’s engine construction, design and development business in addition to MRO opportunities.

With an investment of Rs 7,500 crore and through the active participation of the private sector, HAL is planning to take the lead to be the lead project management group or consortium leader, said Tyagi.

“Immediate priority for us is to build a 90-seater regional aircraft with private participation under a joint venture model,” he added.

HAL is planning to exploit the experience of designing, developing and manufacturing Dornier aircrafts for the civil aviation programme.

The company plans an investment of Rs 500 crore to spearhead its UAV business initiatives, he said. “We have created a special UAV business group“.

The company is now strategising to make an investment of Rs 19,000 crore by 2020 to create infrastructure and facilities for undertaking various programmes, Tyagi said.

HAL has achieved a sales turnover of Rs 14,204 crore in FY 2011-12, registering a growth of 8 per cent over previous year.

Bangalore’s HAL airport located in Indiranagar-Domlur area is suitable for short-haul flights like Bangalore-Chennai, Bangalore-Hyderabad and Bangalore-Kochi, said Tyagi.

“The airport should supplement the current BIAL airport located at Devanahalli. We have submitted a proposal to the civil aviation ministry few months ago to reopen the airport,” he added.

HAL Airport was closed in 2008 to give adequate capacity and volume to BIAL airport. “But due to rapid growth of BIAL airport, the current capacity is 12 million passengers per annum and is expected to touch 17 million passengers per annum when expansion is complete,” he explained.

“By the next round of Aero India, some useful solution will be found for the second airport in Bangalore,” he added.

Source: Businessline

India's net software exports down to 10-year low

The higher risk aversion by the Western outsourcing clients has impacted India's software receipts in the 12 months to June 2012. According to the latest trade data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), net software exports grew at the slowest rate of 4% in the last 10 years.

Net software exports, calculated as the difference between software receipts and payments, were $61.5 billion (approximately Rs 3.1 lakh crore) in the 12 months to June 2012 compared with $58.9 billion (approximately 2.7 lakh crore) in the prior 12-month period.

The growth in the latest 12 months period to June 2012 lags behind the growth seen during the subprime period four years ago.

The last time net exports growth fell to single digits was in the four quarters to June 2009, which encompassed the financial crisis in the West. Net exports had risen by 6.4% on year-on-year basis during the period as large financial institutions, which are major consumers of Indian IT services, were forced to cut technology budgets to curtail the impact of subprime debt default.

Source: Agencies

58 new space missions for ISRO

ISRO plans to launch 58 space missions, including sending spacecraft to moon and Mars, an exclusive satellite to keep a round-the-clock watch on the country and deploy 500 transponders in the next five years. 

The space agency also aims to deploy its own version of the Global Positioning System by putting into orbit a constellation of seven satellites which would form the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS). 

According to the 12th Five Year Plan, approved by the Cabinet last week, the Indian Space Research Organisation plans to add 400 transponders to the existing 187 to meet the growing demand from DTH operators, satellite mobile communications and new generation broadband VSAT systems. 

An indicative plan outlay of Rs 39,750 crore for the 12th Plan has been made for the Department of Space. 

"Overall, 58 missions are planned for realisation during 12th Plan period which includes 33 satellite missions and 25 launch vehicle missions," the 12th Plan document says. 

The space agency is also designing a special 'eye-in-the- sky' -- Geo-Imaging Satellite or GISAT --- to be stationed 36,000 km above to maintain round-the-clock vigil and assist state authorities to tackle natural disasters, floods and forest fires and keep a watch over the country's sensitive borders. 

Missions initiated in the 11th Plan like Chandrayaan-II, Astrosat-1 and Aditya-1 are also expected to set forth on their respective destinations into space over the next five years. 

As part of Chandrayaan-II, ISRO plans to land a rover on the lunar surface and put a satellite in an orbit around the moon. The mission is expected to be launched in 2014.

Source: Agencies

TPL: Contest For The Tech Prowess IT Heads

Hey,
Are you a IT head eager to demonstrate your prowess in technology. Then here is a contest just for you...
The Technology Premier League 2012 is a Inter-corporate Team challenge jointly developed by ITNEXT and The CTO Forum.
The contest will involve 20 corporate IT teams in each city -- Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Each 4-member corporate team will be supported by the CIO (or IT head of the organization), The CIO will play the role of a coach & captain, and will guide and advise the 4-member team during the contest.

The contest will be held over two days in an off-site location in these three cities. Each team will be given a complex business problem—and will need to create a comprehensive IT solution.

Here is what you can win:* 1st Prize - Trip to Las Vegas (air fare + hotel) for the entire team
* 2nd Prize - Local weekend getaway (hotel stay) for entire team
* 3rd prize: Corporate Utility Gift for entire team
* Team 4 & 5: Gift vouchers for entire team

The event is scheduled to be held at:Delhi - 26th & 27th May'12
Mumbai -2nd & 3rd June'12
Bangalore - 16th & 17th June'12

All you need to do is to register in the link below:

http://tpl2012.com/register/