Exun 2007

Exun 2007 is on 10th(sat) and 11th(sun) November.



Participants are required to come to school on 7th november and on 10 and 11.

Thank you

Modem 2007

Modem 2007 was organised by Modern School Vasant Vihar. The following students won prizes

• IInd prize in Senior Programming - Shishil Kumar & Priyanshi Agarwal
• IIIrd prize in Gaming - Romil Bhardwaj

Modem 2007

Modem 2007

Date: 30-October-2007
Time: 09:00 to 13:30 hours

1. mCode C++ Programming [2 Participants]
2. mQuiz [2 Participants ]
3. mToon Flash+Photoshop [2 Participants]
4. m3D 3DS Max 5.0 [2 Participants]
5. mPlay Gaming [1 Participant]
6. mLogo Photoshop [1 Participant]
7. mPresent Powerpoint/Flash - Topic: "Artificial Intelligence:Rise of Robots [3 Participants]
8. mTalk Group Discussion [1 Participant]
9. mPod Tractor DJ Studio 3.0 [2 Participants]

Website BG

Hey people,

The website for code is almost complete now, ijust need the pics and material to put up.

Ive made a bg for the website but it aint finished yet so i need you people to help me out by writing CODE in the above pic at the top.

Modem '07

****All CODE members who are participating in Modem '07 MUST come to school on Saturday****

CODE 2k7

omG!!!

Nowadays, most people take photographs. Remove the modern cameras and film, and many homes still contain the things needed to produce a photograph, things which the Romans could have had access to as well.

What do we need to produce photographs?

• A dark room or box
• Lots of light
• Something which is sensitive to light
• A way to focus the light
• Chemicals that will reveal and fix the image

Until the recent development of digital cameras, most photography involved the use of films coated with various light sensitive compounds of silver. The sensitivity of certain silver salts to light was known from about 1727, when Johann Heinrich Schulze published his findings in the Nuremburg Academy of Natural Philosophers. But many natural things are sensitive to light. Long ago people noticed the effect of light on green plants, or how it made coloured fabrics fade. It is the effect of light on plants that makes Roman Photography possible.

This is what you need

• One healthy geranium plant with large leaves
• A dark room or large box
• A slide projector
• A slide of a high contrast negative image
• Methylated spirits or other strong alcohol
• Tincture of Iodine from a pharmnacist
• Various pots, jars, trays and small boxes

How it all works

The chlorophyll in healthy green leaves captures light and uses its energy to join together carbon dioxide and water. The result is the organic compound we call starch. It is the basis of much of the food we eat. Starch is white, but if you drop a small amount of a solution of iodine on it, the starch turns black. So that's it really. All you have to do is get a plant to produce lots of starch in the right place, then stain the starch with iodine. Don't let a few details prevent you starting straight away.

Keep the geranium in a dark room or box for two days. During this time the plant will use up all the existing starch in the leaves. Snip off one leaf, leaving plenty of stalk attached. Fix the leaf flat against the outside wall of a small box, gently push the stalk through a hole in the box.

Arrange for the cut end of the stalk to rest in a dish of water, to keep the leaf fresh. You can use sticky tape to keep the leaf reasonably flat. In a dimly lit room project a small but very bright image onto the leaf. Leave it to expose for about four or five hours, depending on the brightness of the projected image. After the exposure you should be able to see the effect of the light on the leaf, in the form of a faint, pearly image.

Now comes the violent bit. You have to kill the leaf, for the good of your art, you understand. Drop it in boiling hot water. After a minute or two, remove the now very limp leaf and place it in the methylated spirits/strong alcohol. Keep the alcohol warm, and leave the leaf to 'simmer' for an hour or so. WARNING - keep naked flames well away from the alcohol/methylated spirit. Agitate the leaf from time to time, to make sure the alcohol penetrates all parts of the leaf.

Transfer the leaf to a bowl of warm water. Allow the leaf to fan out to a mere remnant of its former self. It should look like a fragile translucent pale brown thing, floating on the water.

Place a few drops of Tincture of Iodine on the surface of the leaf; after twenty or thirty seconds rock the bowl gently to spread the iodine. Slowly the positive image should appear, your first, and possibly last, photo on a geranium leaf. You have to keep the leaf in water, and after a few hours the image may fade, but you can restore it any time with a little more iodine.

Our portrait of a man has come out slightly dark, but hey - this is experimental science! If you know of any improvements to this method, we would be very pleased to hear about them.

Few more linkz:

http://www.wildmoodswings.co.uk/

http://browsehappy.com

CODE 2k7 - Poster

wayback machine!

hey, there's a tool on the net which takes you to the past in terms of internet websites

Old yahoo in 1996 : http://web.archive.org/web/19961017235908/http://www2.yahoo.com/

Google in 1996 : http://web.archive.org/web/19981111184551/http://google.com/ (scary, huh???)


The url is web.archive.org

new poster wat say

O2 Launches Xda Flame in India

2 has announced the launch of the Xda Flame in India. According to the company, the Xda Flame is the first PDA-phone to harness the full multimedia capabilities of a 3D graphics processor.

"It encapsulates everything O2 stands for – innovation and performance in a sleek, desirable package. It has all the qualities O2 fans have come to love about our brand and products," said Mark Billington, CEO of O2 Asia Pacific and Middle East.

"The Xda Flame is designed for mobile professionals and tech pioneers with the highest appetite for innovation, business productivity and multimedia experiences," he added. "We're delighted to be working with Nvidia to create this new class of device and demonstrate O2's commitment to growing the category space and enhancing mobile experiences for our customers."

The Nvidia GoForce 5500 graphics processing unit (GPU) accelerates multimedia tasks such as audio and video in hardware. The improved speed allows console-class 3D gaming, DVD-quality video and photo playback, and the ability to display interactive 3D charts and diagrams.

With this GPU, the Xda Flame also becomes the first PDA-phone to feature two processors, the other being an Intel CPU. This allows the workload to be split between the two, leading to overall device efficiency and a smoother enduser experience.

Business users will appreciate the device's productivity features, including Microsoft Office for Windows Mobile, Office Outlook Mobile with Direct Push Technology, Adobe Reader, and other popular O2 applications. Multiple applications will run smoothly, thanks to the 2GB ROM and 128MB RAM.

Those who need to stay connected will benefit from a range of options: wireless LAN, Bluetooth 2.0, and a micro-SD card slot. Customers can also connect USB devices via USB OTG (On-The-Go) technology and use the device as a host. An infrared remote control feature lets the Xda Flame manage appliances such as TV, video and audio players wirelessly.

The 3.6" TFT VGA LCD touch panel supports 262K colors at a resolution of 480x640. If you want a bigger screen, you can hook up the Xda Flame to a TV or computer screen via its TV-out connector. It also has a 2.0 megapixel camera. SRS WOW HD surround-sound ensures high-quality audio through the device's dual speakers.

The Xda Flame will retail this month at Rs. 39,990 (inclusive of taxes) across major cities in India. It comes with a one-year local warranty.

Microsoft Unveils Xbox360 Diwali Offers

n a bid to push Xbox 360 sales this Diwali, Microsoft are rolling out three exclusive offers to gamers all over India.

Xbox 360 offers a treat for Indian consumers with its "Super Stylish Super Saver offer" – bring home with you a Xbox 360 Core console, and two popular games - Viva Piñata & Forza Motorsport 2 with Panasonic LE7 & LX 70 32" LCD TVs. The offer is available at Ezone and Big Bazaar Stores and rolls out from 20th October 2007.

This offer will set you back by around 50,000 grand and you’ll save over Rs 24,000 on the entire deal!

Next up are your run of the mill bundles that go something like this:

Buy an Xbox 360 Core console and get 2 blockbuster games worth Rs 4,405 absolutely free [Viva Piñata & Forza Motorsport 2]

Buy an Xbox 360 Pro console and get 4 blockbuster games worth Rs 8,614 absolutely free [Viva Piñata, Forza Motorsport 2, PGR 3 & Yuvraj Singh International cricket 2007].

These two mega offers roll out on 25th October 2007.

While I appreciate the effort (especially the LCD offer), I’m sure MS could bundle some better games instead of the above mentioned ones.

Ramlila Goes Hi-tech in Chandigarh

In keeping with the times Ramlila, the popular dance-drama based on the life and times of mythological hero Lord Ram, has undergone a makeover.

A Ramlila in Sector 17 in Chandigarh, has not only gone hi-tech on the stage but also has hired a publicity firm to make it better known. The Ramlila is performed on three adjoining stages. It enables the organisers to show a scene on one stage and move to the next stage without any halt for a set change, with audiovisual modes and special effects pepping up the show.

This year, the Ramlila even had pre-recorded dialogues and songs, complete with background score and effects. The four-way sound system - with speakers costing Rs.350,000 each - enabled the audience to catch every dialogue.

"The message of Ramlila is very important and it should be experienced, especially by children. To woo the audiences, we have made some dramatic improvements through the judicious use of technology while maintaining the originality and sacredness of the epic," said Suresh Bakshi, the director.

The special efforts are showing results.

"The parking lots outside the Ramlila are packed with Mercedes, Hondas, Corollas and Optras. We have been able to achieve our goal," said Bakshi with satisfaction.

Bakshi and his actors chip in for social causes too.

The entire troupe visited a children's home, Kiran Sandhya, this week to stage some scenes for the children living there. Actors playing Ram, Lakshman, Ravana and others enthralled kids with their performance.

At a blood donation camp last week, the actors turned out in their stage clothes - sporting big moustaches, crowns and traditional weapons.

"While the Ramlila sends out a very powerful message of the triumph of good over evil, we felt it was also a good opportunity to spread other messages like voluntary blood donation. Our artistes are in any case regular blood donors," Bakshi said.

Digital Imaging

WarP 07 trophy

Vibhor with the overall runners up trophy

The Code Club in Education Times

The Code Club in the newspaper. Left to right Qazi, VIneet, Abhishek, Surojit, Romil, Aryaman, Varun, Ram, Vishesh

Google takes over Jaiku

Internet search engine giant Google made one more acquisition yesterday by adding the microblogging service Jaiku to its profile.

Jaiku is an activity stream and presence sharing service that works on the internet and via mobile phones. It allows users to send short messages about where they are and what they are doing.

Tony Hiesh, product manager of the Mountain View, California-based Google said on Google’s blog that the company believes Jaiku's technology can help them to develop new ways to use mobile devices.

"Current Jaiku users can continue to use the service normally while new users have to sign up for an invitation to the service. Google plans to use the ideas and technology behind Jaiku to make compelling and useful products,” said an official statement.

Jaiku was formed in February 2006 in Helsinki by Jyri Engeström and Petteri Koponen. The founders came up with the name Jaiku because the posts on Jaiku resemble Japanese haikus. A haiku is a short poem written about the moment that a person is living through.

Jaiku is similar to Twitter. Founded a month after Jaiku, Twitter is currently the most popular microblogging service on the web, with a customer base that includes Viacom18's MTV, who Twittered their Video Music Awards event, ZDNet, Engadget and other popular blogs and websites. Even Tech 2.0 is on Twitter!

Jaiku is compatible with Nokia S60 platform mobile devices through its Jaiku mobile client software. The software allows users to make posts on their Jaiku page. Jaiku has released its API, which allows programmers to make third-party software components.

The sum paid by Google and the terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed. The company does not have any definite plans to announce at the moment.

Early last month, Google had acquired Zingku to enter the mobile phone arena.

Orkut now accesible via facebook

Facebook is fast gaining popularity as one of the safer social networking sites and adding to that popularity is the fact that now Facebook users can access their Orkut accounts with the MyOrkut application, created by Jeetu Mirchandani, an ex-IIT Mumbai student, without leaving the site.

The social networking site also allows members to add an application through which they can access their Gmail account.

Facebook allows its users to create and develop applications and has over 5,000 applications and 39 million active members.

A Facebook user has to add The MyOrkut application to his/her profile by providing the URL of his Orkut profile id. Once added, he can access Orkut within Facebook without logging on to Orkut.

Gmail can be accessed on Facebook by using an application called Fmail that has been created by two US-based students of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Courtland Allen and Aaron Rosado. The only feature missing in this application is Google Chat.

Reliance joins with One Laptop Per Child Foundation

Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group has joined hands with One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Foundation under which Reliance Communication (Rcom) would provide Internet connectivity, network and logistics to the OLPC's India initiative.

"Every child has the right to education. Reliance Communication is going to facilitate that right. This is not a laptop but an educational program which will promote e-learning in the country," RADAG Chairman Anil Ambani's wife Tina Ambani told reporters.

She invited state governments, NGOs, corporates and media to be a party to the program, a pilot of which has already been started in a school in the tribal-dominated Khairat village, near Karjat in Maharashtra.

Under the program, every student will be given a water-proof and almost unbreakable laptop, priced at USD 188 (landed price in India at USD 220) which would reduce the burden of the school bag and promote e-learning in the country reducing the digital divide in the society.

"India's economy is growing at a rapid pace. We need to to impart quality education to children. The education system has to be more student-friendly. It has to be fun-filled for them," Ambani said.

"OLPC program would be application-oriented and not syllabus-oriented, as is the current practice," Ambani added

Candlelight Photography

Candles are a unique light source. Using candlelight to light a scene can result in breathtaking photos. Candlelight temperature is different than flash, daylight or regular bulb light. Using candlelight is hard and requires experience. This article will provide you some basic ideas to start experimenting with.

Candles can be used in a few ways: they can be a light source that lights an object in the photo but not appear in the photo themselves. They can be used as a light source and also participate as an object in the final photo or they can participate as the solo object in the photo (or in other words simply a candles photo).

Candlelight is not as strong as other light sources. It is much weaker than your digital camera’s flash. For that reason candlelight photography will almost always result in low light slow shutter speed photography. Although it is recommended that you use a setup in which you maximize the aperture width and minimize the shutter speed it is likely that you will end up having to use slow shutter speeds. There are a few things you need to consider: Camera shakings – these can be eliminated by using a tripod or by placing the camera on a stable surface and using timer photography.

Objects movements

If objects move during the period in which the shutter is open the photo will appear smudged. Make sure that the objects you are photographing do not move and that people do not blink. Another movement source is the movement of the light source itself. Candles tend to flicker – although it is hard to completely eliminate this phenomenon and some flicker is actually welcome in order to get a good candlelight effect – it is recommended that you prevent extreme flicker. This can be done for example by making sure that there is no wind blowing in the scene, that the candles are on stable surfaces and that they were lit for a while and burn consistently.

Remember to eliminate other light sources

The goal of candlelight photos is to achieve an effect that is based on the unique characteristics that candlelight provides such as its warmth. In order to maximize this effect you should make sure that there are no other light sources that contaminate the scene. A simple test for that is to blow off all the candles and make sure that the scene is completely dark. It goes without saying that you should make sure that your digital camera’s flash is set to the off position. In some cases a small amount of additional light source can be used. After experimenting and gaining experience with candlelight photography you will get a sense of when allowing some other light to penetrate the scene makes sense and in which angles and intensities.

Determining the right shutter speed is also hard. Since the candles light is bright on one and but on the other hand is concentrated in a small area and weak once farther from the candle most cameras ambient light measurements and automatic shutter speed settings will be wrong. Using the camera automatic setting is a good start. Try to take a few photos with slower and faster shutter speeds and explore the results.

The amount of light in the scene depends on the number of candles that are used. Since candles are not a strong light source you would usually need to use a few candles. Sometimes you would only like to have a small number of candles appear in the photo itself but you would still need to have more candlelight in the scene. In such cases you can use extra candles to light up the scene but keep those candles out of the composed photo. When you do that – make sure that the additional candles are placed in a way that make sense – for example – that they do not create shades that do not appear not normal in relation to the candles in the photo.

Lighting is an art

Using candlelight as a light source is an art by itself and requires experience. There are some basic rules for candle positioning. For example it is clear that the candles should be closer to the camera than the objects. Otherwise the result will be a silhouette of the objects. Different lighting angles create different shades and different effects. For example if you are photographing a person and the candles are placed in a low position relative to the person’s face – you will get a more scary effect. On the other hand – if the candles are placed at the same height as the person’s face you will get a warmer and softer effect. It is hard to provide candle positioning rules and such positioning greatly depends on the effect that you are looking for. More than one candle can be used with each at a different position to create more complicated effects and to eliminate unwanted shades. The best advice is to take many photos and experiment with different candle positions and angles.

Last but not least is white balancing.

Digital cameras can be set to compensate for the specific light source that is used. Although most cameras can automatically detect and set their white balancing offset – it is better to manually set the white balance – most cameras include a candlelight source as an white balance option. It is also worth experimenting with setting the white balance to the wrong source on purpose. Set the white balance to different temperatures to achieve different effects, more reddish photos for example.

To conclude, candlelight photography is hard – it requires a lot of experience and understanding of lighting, shutter speeds and other photography issues. On the other hand such experience pays off with breathtaking photos and effects that sometimes appear more like artist paintings than photographs.

Samsung's new muzik phones

Samsung today announced its new music phone lineup: the SGH-i450, SGH-F330 and SGH-F210.

With the launch of music-dedicated phones such as the SGH-F300, Samsung has developed an innovative Physical User Interface (PUI), a mechanism ideal for music lovers.

With an optimal PUI, Samsung offers its users the opportunity to enjoy its music player as if it were an MP3 player, even when the mobile phone is turned off.


Samsung SGH-i450
Dual Slider with Touch Wheel Music Navigation

The Samsung i450 enables users to enjoy a unique mobile experience, as the two-way slide form factor enhances the usability to control music and mobile phone functions.

When you push the slide up, the phone supports powerful smartphone features with Symbian S60 OS. Running the Symbian S60 3rd Edition operating system, the i450 provides download application and multitasking features with fast speeds through HSDPA connectivity at 3.6 Mbps.

With the slide down, the phone activates as a music player with touch-wheel navigation, which enables users to control the multimedia menus easily. Moreover, metallic speakers supporting ICEpower amplifier developed by Bang & Olufsen offer superb sound quality to music phone users.

For its advanced music features, the i450 supports a unique music UI and multi-codec music files. It also offers 35MB internal memory and microSD slot up to 4GB to store more music.

The i450 will be available in Italy from the end of October and in other European countries shortly thereafter. The price is around 360 Euro without subsidy.

Samsung SGH-F330
Ultra Slim HSDPA Music Slider

The Samsung F330, a dual face slim slider, will attract music buffs with its music-centric design. As a successor to the F300, the F330 shows Samsung’s efforts to provide more advanced music features and designs.

With its external music control keys located on the front and sides for easy and direct access to the tunes, the F330 offers enjoyable music experiences. The F330 provides enhanced multi-tasking features that enable the users to do other things with background music play.

The phone also supports multi-codec files and quick sync with Windows Media Player to maximize the extensibility for music phone users.

Supporting HSDPA connectivity at 3.6 Mbps, the F330 is rich in extra features, including a 2 megapixel camera and microSD slot for memory expansion up to 2GB in an extremely portable 13.5mm slim profile. The F330 also provides multitasking features and airplane mode for convenient use.

The F330 was launched in Germany in early October and will be available in other European countries shortly. The price is around 260 Euro without subsidy.

Samsung SGH-F210
Music Swivel Stick

Samsung’s latest swing music phone, the F210, comes with an innovative MP3 player design and necklace integrated earbuds. The unique swing-open form factor allows for a perfect combination of mobile phone and MP3 player functions.

The F210’s portability and compactness does not compromise ease of use. When closed, it creates a full MP3 player experience with a scroll wheel interface and a horizontal display of the playlist, equalizer settings and track information.

To satisfy users, the F210 also enhances a perfect compatibility with the latest Windows Media Player 10. A Music Setup Wizard lets you customize sound conditions according to your preferences. It also offers a Music Library feature that enables you to organize music into various folders.

Through the MTP, users can transfer music files to the mobile phone automatically listed in the proper folders without re-entering data.

The mobile phone supports advanced functions with the familiar 3x4 keypad, which maintains the same feel as a regular mobile phone when swiveled open. For more storage, it supports 1GB internal memory and a microSD slot for expandable memory up to 2GB.

The F210 was launched in Germany in the middle of October, and will be available in other European countries shortly. The price is around 280 Euro without subsidy.

As music dedicated devices, Samsung music phones allow users to play various types of music files including MP3, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+, WMA, WMDRM and store additional music through the external memory slot. To support various formats including WMDRM, Samsung brings seamless compatibility with files purchased from online sites.

Geesung Choi, President of Samsung Telecommunication Network Business, said: "We have tried to understand what music lovers want from their music phones. I’m very confident that Samsung’s music phone lineup is the best solution for users. With our phones, users can enjoy 100% phone and 100% music player at the same time.”

He added that Samsung will continue to provide unique music phone experiences with various products.

WarP 2007

Points Tally

1. Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj 30 + 10 + 30 +30 + 30 + 30 = [160] {Overall Winners}

2. Apeejay School, Noida 20 + 30 + 30 + 20 + 20 + 20 + 10 = [150] {Runners Up}

3. Montfort School 10 + 10 + 30 + 10 + 10 = [70]

4. Delhi Public School, Rohini 20 + 20 + 20 = [60]

5. Manav Sthali School 10 + 30 = [40]

6. Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan 30 = [30]

7. Modern School, Barakhamba Road 20 = [20]

8. Apeejay School, Sheikh Sarai 20 = [20]

9. Mt. St. Mary's School 20 = [20]

10. St. Xaviers School 10 = [10]

11. Mt. Carmel School 10 = [10]

12. Delhi Public School, Indirapuram 10 = [10]

Warp 2007

WarP 2007 was organised by DPS Mathura Road on 10th and 11th of October

• Romil Bhardwaj(IX-A) won first prize in Coliseum (Gaming).
• Shishil Kumar(XII-B) won first prize in Logic Magic(Programming).
• Vineet Negi(XI-C) and Ramanathan(XII-C) won second prize in The Next Quiz ( Senior Quiz).
• Vineet Negi(XI-C) and Aryaman Mandhana(X-A) won second prize in Pimp My Ride 2 (Digital Imaging).
• Arushi Jain (XII-A)secured the second position in Group Discussion
• Agneh (VIII-b) & Aman(VII-B) won the second Prize in Slides Toggle(powerpoint presentation)
• Vibhor Kashyap(XI-A) secured third position in War of the DJ's

OVERALL RUNNERS UP
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS

Minet 2007

Minet 2007 was organised by Mother's International School, Aurobindo Marg

• Aryaman Mandhana & R. Ramanathan won the third prize in Digital Imaging

Ordinatrix 2007

Ordinatrix 2007 was organised by Tagore International School

• Siddhant Sahni and Karanveer Sahwney won the first prize in DJ mixing
• Shobhit Singh secured the first position in gaming

OVERALL WINNERS

Devang Mehta IT Memorial 2007

Devang Mehta IT memorial was organised by Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan 10th September 2007

• Vibhor Kashyap secured first position in Surprise Event
• Vineet Negi & Vibhor Kashyap secured third position in Crossword
• Aryaman Mandhana & Ashwin Sinha secured third position in Digital Collage

OVERALL RUNNERS UP

E-panorama 2007

E-Panorama 2007 was organised by Guru Nanak School, Punjabi Bagh.

• Aryaman Mandhana (X-A) & Vineet Negi(XI-C) secured the 1st position in gital Imaging
  

• Shishil Kumar (XII-B) & Priyanshi Agarwal (XI-A) secured the 1st position in senior programming
  

Lenovo on a mission

Lenovo engineers are on a mission: To build the world's first weightless notebook.
On a spaceship, every ounce costs. That's one of the reasons the ThinkPad is the only PC currently certified by NASA. Starting at 7.2lbs, the X Series is one of the lightest, most powerful business notebook out there.
Next mission: virtually weightless notebook.