Author: Rashik Mohsin

I am a grad student. Pursuing B.A(h) German from Amity University, Haryana. I tend to finish every work by perfection.

Content Writing As A Career

Over time content writing has evolved enormously in the market. Content writing as a career provides a tremendous opportunity. In today’s world, many big firms are hiring content writers exclusively to provide content solutions to clients. 

This brings us to the question that if content writing has such potential, What do I need to become a content writer? What are the career opportunities? Salary Expectation? Well, you will find all the answers needed in this article. 

What do you need to become a content writer?

While many of the companies prefer hiring an individual who has a degree in literature or journalism & mass communication, one with excellent writing and communication skills is also welcomed by the companies. In short, anyone with good writing and communication skills can apply for it. Also, thorough knowledge of the field you are writing about is always a plus point. 

What are the career opportunities?

Looking at the demand for content writers, it can be said that the demand will stay longer in the industry. Besides taking a job in a firm one can also become a freelance writer or a full-time blogger. Mentioned below are some of the different fields of content writing:-

I) Public Relations Writing: These days, most of the corporate hire in-house writers to write their newsletters, press releases, and bulletins.

II) Technical Writing: It mostly deals with literature like user manuals and do-it-yourself kits, etc.

III) Marketing Content: In this field, a writer should be able to attract customers through catchy headlines and slugs. As a marketing content writer, one needs to be creative to attract the attention of consumers and convince them. This type of writing includes brochures, fliers, etc.

IV) Web content: As websites need to update their content to stay fresh and relevant, they hire content writers. 

V) Others: Some of the other fields of content writing includes – health, lifestyle, financial, children’s writing, academic, copywriting, and fashion.

Salary Expectation

As an experienced freelance writer one can earn up to Rs 40-50 thousand in a month. And for the content writers working for a firm, the salary varies from company to company. The average starting salary for a content writer ranges from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month. 

If you think you are made for writing then you should give content writing a short. 

11 Reasons Why Apple Wants Companies To Choose Mac Over Windows.


 

Like Android vs IOS, Mac vs Windows is also a ‘battle’ that has been going on for decades. Also, along with the companies rivalry, we all are aware of Steve Jobs and Bill Gates’s famous rivalry. Although the rivalry between these two tech giants is settled now, there is no end to the debate over which one is better. For proving that Apple is better, Apple also has created a special site labeled 11 reasons Mac means business. By the title, it is clear that Apple is targeting organizations to choose them instead of Windows. 

So, let’s see why Apple wants companies to choose them. Mentioned below are 11 reasons according to Apple, why:-

1) The all-mighty M1 chip

Apple says that the M1 chip changes everything. The silicon-based chip, according to Apple defines custom technologies, blazing-fast speed, and incredible power efficiency. In short; a breakthrough of breakthroughs. 

2) M1: the Flash of the processors

According to Apple, the MacBook Air with an M1 processor is now about 3.5X faster than the previous generation. Apple says that with the M1 chip one can multitask across the projects, analyze the spreadsheet while having a video conference, and can crush even the performance-heavy tasks with ease.

3) Longest battery life

Apple claims that now the devices which come with the M1 chip have jaw-dropping battery life. Apple says, “ up to 18 hours of battery life — MacBook Air delivers the power to work where, how, and for as long as you want.”

4) Mac is friendly with IT

Apple says that it is a lot facilitated with zero-touch deployment to set up devices. And to manage Mac at any scale with mobile device management.

5) Mac work for companies without IT

Mac is easy to use and the setup is also very simple. The assistant helps to get Mac up and running quickly. And with reliable hardware, it won’t let you down. So, it’s perfect for companies with or without IT support. 

6) Mac costs less in the long run

According to Apple, when compared with a PC, a single Mac can save you $843 over three years. How? Because of fewer support tickets, less software needed, and higher residual value, the savings add up, claims Apple.

7) The most innovative companies run on Mac

As per Apple, 84℅ of the world’s top originators like SAP, Salesforce, and Target deploy Mac at Scale. 

8) Business apps are better on Mac

Support of Google and Microsoft Apps are seamless on Mac. And now with the new processor, popular iPhone, and iPad business apps also can run on Mac.

9) Apple’s Security game is strong

Apple mentioned, “Mac is the most secure personal computer on the planet, thanks to built-in features like hardware-verified secure boot, on-the-fly encryption, Touch ID, and Gatekeeper.”

10) Benefits of Apple’s Ecosystem

Thanks to the Apple ecosystem if employees use iPhone then the cross-device support is far better. It makes it easier to transfer files and calls can also be picked up anywhere.

11) Mac is a pleasure to work with

Apple explaining the point says, “When you give people the power to work the way they want, with the tools they love, they are inspired to do the best work of their lives. Apple makes it easy to give employees the power to choose their own devices while simplifying IT management and maintaining corporate standards.”

Whether it is Mac or Windows, in the end, it depends on what is your choice. And also there is no end to the debate over Mac vs Windows. 

Importance and Benefits of Reading Books.

Growing up we all have learned basic skills and out of all the skills, our ability to read is the most significant. Whatever you read, it ends up enlightening you. And when it comes to books, each book that you read is an opportunity to learn something new. By reading you can broaden your vocabulary, improve your writing skills, train your mind, enhance your wellness, lower stress, and most important thing you can discover something new about yourself. 

Why is reading important?

It has been said that a person who can read can educate themselves in any field of life they’d like to. In this modern era, everything is flooding with fresh information. And reading is the best way to clarify and relate to further information. 

Although you can find it easier to watch a Youtube video or listen to a podcast, reading still tastes the cake when it comes to comprehension and enhancing your education. 

What are the benefits of reading books? 

If you are a bookworm, you already know many of the benefits of reading books. And if you are not then you are reading the right article. Mentioned below are some of the benefits of reading books:-

I) Improves Concentration

Reading requires concentration, time, and patience. In simple words, reading forces you to use your brain. According to One World Literacy Foundation, “when you read, you need to reason things out that are unfamiliar to you.”

II)  Broaden Vocabulary 

If you read, you uncover new words, that allow understanding on a greater level. If you read an hour per day, you’ll end up exposing yourself to approx 4 million words in a year. Isn’t it amazing?

III) Reduces Stress

According to a study by Sussex University, reading can reduce stress by 68%. When you read you involve your mind in reading, which takes away your focus from all the worries.  

David Lewis​ (a cognitive neuropsychologist) said, “It doesn’t matter what book you read. By losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination.”

IV) Makes You A Better Communicator

When you learn new vocabulary, you become a far better communicator. With all the new vocabulary, you’ll know which word is right for which context. For example, when you feel bad, it can be anything like you are feeling hungry, you have a fever, you have a headache, etc. But if you say that I am feeling bad then you are not specifying the feelings, which results in another person not understanding what are you going through. In that case, your vocabulary can help, that you learn by reading.

V) It Helps Your Writing

With all the creativity, vocabulary, and communication skills gained from reading, imagine what you can do with your writing skills. By reading other’s work you can experience their way of explaining a feeling or certain situation. Hence, you learn how to use other writers’ experiences to improve yours.

VI) Reading Improves Empathy

Empathy is being able to put yourself in someone’s else shoes. Reading fiction or non-fiction can bring you as close as you’ll ever be in someone”s shoes. Studies have shown that readers have a better sense of empathy. 

There is a saying, “Books are man’s best friend.” I believe every one of us should follow this and start reading. 

Yoga And Some Science-supported Benefits.

We all are familiar with Yoga and many of us even practice it on a day-to-day basis. But, do we know what does the word “Yoga” means? And what benefits of Yoga are supported by science? Well, some of us may know and some of us don’t. So, let’s dive into the questions mentioned above, and let’s learn.

The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root “Yuj,” which means ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke or ‘to unite’. It assimilates mediation and poses composed to stimulate relaxation and reduce stress. In simple words, Yoga is an ancient practice that brings our body and mind together.

Practicing Yoga can provide a lot of benefits for both our mental and physical health. Although not all the benefits are supported by science. Mentioned below are some of the many benefits of Yoga that are supported by science:-

I) Improves Flexibility and Balance

In several studies, it has been found that practicing yoga can improve flexibility and balance. 

According to a study in 2017, a group of 26 male athletes who undertook Yoga for 10 weeks, had shown greater improvement in their flexibility levels compared to the control group. 

II) Could Promote Sleep Quality

Poor sleep quality can cause a lot of trouble for a person. Although it has been found in studies that yoga could improve sleep quality.

In a study, in 2005, 69 old patients were assigned to either practice Yoga, herbal preparation, or be a part of a control group. It has been found that the Yoga group fell asleep faster, slept longer, and felt more rested than the other groups. 

III) Can Decrease Stress

As mentioned in the above line Yoga is known for stimulating relaxation and stress. 

Many studies have also shown that it decreases the secretion of the primary stress hormone (cortisol). 

In an observation, 24 women labeled themselves emotionally distress, when completed a three-month yoga program, showed significantly lower levels of cortisol. They also had a lower level of stress, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. 

IV) Could Improve Heart Health

The health of your heart is a very essential component of your overall health. And studies have shown that yoga may help in improving heart health and in reducing factors leading to heart disease. 

A study has found that participants over 40 years of age who practiced yoga for five years had lower blood pressure and pulse rate than those who didn’t. 

V) Improves Life Quality

For many individuals, Yoga has now become an accompaniment to improve the quality of life. 

In a study, 135 elders were assigned to either practice Yoga for 6 months, walking, or join a control group. The Yoga group showed improved quality of life as well as mood, and fatigue, compared to other groups.

Though these were only a few benefits of Yoga that are supported by science, you can always go and google more. Science has also accepted the beneficiary of practicing Yoga, then you should too. Just by giving 1hr from your day to Yoga, you can improve both mentally and physically. In the end, it always depends on you.  

Myths and Facts about the most common mental illness: Anxiety

Remember the feeling of nervousness and fearfulness on the first day of school/when going for a job interview/when moving to another city/when giving your first speech? Well, if you do then that feeling my friend is called Anxiety. 

Anxiety is our body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or uncertainty about what’s to show up. However, if you feel anxious on a severe level and the feelings last longer than six months and are intruding with your life, you may have an anxiety disorder. 

Anxiety is the most common mental illness. Also, you have heard a lot of things about anxiety, out of them some are facts and some are myths. So, let’s have a look at some of the myths and facts about Anxiety:-

I) What are the types of Anxiety?

Myth: All anxiety is the same.

Fact: There are multiple different types of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety affects people differently. For some people, anxiety may only be experienced in certain situations, while others experience it more often. 

Common types of anxiety include:

★ General anxiety disorder

★ Panic disorder

★ Social anxiety disorder

★ Phobias

★ Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

★ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

★ Separation anxiety

II) Who suffers from Anxiety?

Myth: Only adults suffer from anxiety. 

Fact: Anxiety affects both children and adults. 

The more Anxiety is common in Adults, the same it is for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 4.4 million children aged 3-17 have been diagnosed with anxiety. 

Anxiety can affect children by causing; children behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms, similar as they can in adults. 

III) How serious is Anxiety? 

Myth: It is not a big deal. 

Fact: Anxiety can cause serious health problems. 

As mentioned above anxiety can be different for everyone. Anxiety becomes a problem when it starts intruding on your day-to-day life. 

Anxiety can cause emotional and behavioral problems like worries and fears. Also, it can cause physical problems like rapid breathing, sweating, headaches, and tense muscles. It also affects eating and sleeping patterns.

IV) Anxiety and Depression

Myth: Anxiety and depression are not related.

Fact: Many people who suffer from anxiety also undergo depression. 

It is common to have both anxiety disorder and depression at the same time. 50% of people undergoing depression are also diagnosed with anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). 

Also, according to ADAA, anxiety is linked with numerous other mental and health conditions:

★ Headaches

★ Irritable bowel syndrome

★ Chronic pain

★ Eating disorders

★ Sleep disorders

★ Substance abuse

★ Bipolar disorder

★ Attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder

★ Fibromyalgia

Anxiety is a concerning issue, stop believing in myths, check your facts. And if it has started intruding your life, consult a doctor. 

Another Key to Success : Consistency

 

We all know, what maintaining consistency can do when it comes to bringing change or achieving something. Maintaining consistency for some time in any work or process can do wonders for you. 

But, What does it mean to be consistent? 

When we say an individual is consistent, it means, that individual is clear on what he/she wants to achieve and is taking crucial steps to achieve his/her goals. The level of consistency we maintain reflects our values and standards. Being consistent means doing things that are required today to achieve a better tomorrow. Consistency is simply about doing things on repetition over a while to achieve desired results. 

Then, Why many of us fail to maintain consistency? 

Well, there are numerous reasons why many of us fail to maintain consistency. Mentioned below are some of them:-

★ Lack of patience.

★ The desire for instant gratification.

★ Lack of clarity and focus.

★ Not having supporting habits or triggers.

★ Having a “all or nothing” mindset.

Anthony Jay Robbins (an American author, coach, speaker, and philanthropist) said, “It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”

Why consistency is important? 

Knowing a few reasons will help you to give more attention to it. Mentioned below are five reasons why consistency is important:-

I) It will create accountability.

II) It will help you to stand out or be noticed. 

III) It develops discipline and self-control.

IV) It builds a higher level of trust.

V) It can help you fast-track your improvement or development in any area.

Ways to Develop Consistency

Although every individual has their their way of developing consistency. Mentioned below are some general ways to develop consistency:

I) Create a schedule or plan to stay on track.

II) Start with small steps.

III) Give yourself a break when you get off track.

IV) Start with small steps.

There are very low chances of achieving what we want without a proper strategy and consistency. In short, hard work and smart work together with consistency and the right attitude are the keys to success. 

OnePlus launched Nord 2 5G in India, details here…

 

OnePlus launched Nord 2 5G in India. It has been almost a year since the launch of the OnePlus Nord. Though OnePlus has brought major changes in the new Nord 2 5G like, it is the first OnePlus device to support MediaTek’s Dimensity Chipset rather than Qualcomm chipset. 

The device has been priced at Rs. 27,999 for the basic variant, which comes with 6GB of RAM and 128GB. Additionally, two more variants come with 8GB/12GB of ram with 128GB and 256GB storage, respectively. The device will be available in 3 colors namely; Blue Haze, Gray Sierra, and Green Woods. The Green Woods color will be available exclusively in India. 

The phone will go on sale from the 28th of July via Amazon, the OnePlus online store, and via offline stores. Also, for early access, a buyer can get the device on the 26th of July if they have membership of Red Club and Prime membership via the OnePlus online store and Amazon Prime Day sale, respectively.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes with a 6.43-inch Full HD Amoled display with 90Hz refresh rate. It comes with MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI Chipset. Also, it comes with dual 5G SIM slots. Also, OnePlus promised to give major Android updates for 2 years and security updates for 3 years. The device comes with a 4,500 mAH battery which supports 65W VOOC charging. Regarding the battery, OnePlus claims that the device will provide a backup of one day by just charging it for 15 minutes. 

Talking about the cameras, the phone comes with a triple camera setup; a 50-megapixel primary lens, an ultra-wide 8-megapixel lens, a 2-megapixel mono lens. The front-facing camera comes with a punch-hole design which houses a 32-megapixel lens.

Though OnePlus has always been a promising company, it is yet to be seen what the new Nord 2 5G can do. 

Food Pollution.

We, human beings are vulnerable to various types of pollution. And Food is one of the most significant things we need to survive in this world. So, if the food we consume becomes polluted then what are the chances for us to stay healthy? Food Pollution over time has become a topic of concern, so let’s have look at it. 

What is Food Pollution?

Food Pollution is defined as the presence of toxic chemicals (elements or compounds) or biological contaminants which are not naturally present in food or are above their natural background level (for those chemicals which are naturally found in some foods).

What are the effects of Food Pollution?

Food Pollution can affect us by causing mild to moderate to severe food illness and it can also cause various health issues like hormonal and metabolic imbalance, and even various types of cancer. Certain pesticides present in the food can also cause Nervous System problems. Further, in few cases, highly polluted food can cause immediate food poisoning or even death. Approximately, more than 70 million cases of food-borne diseases occur alone in the U.S. every year, resulting in 5,000 deaths per year. 

What are the causes of Food Pollution? 

There are several causes of Food Pollution. Practically, any pollutant has the potential to pollute food just by coming in contact with it.  And vegetables can get polluted by bacterial problems which can only be destroyed by processing the contaminated food at high temperatures. Let’s have a look at situations where toxic chemicals can get into the food:-

★ consumption of polluted water and/or food by fish or other animals;

★ food processing, packaging, and handling;

★ propagation and concentration of pollutants through the food chain;

★ growing of food (e.g. crops, fruits, vegetables) in polluted soils, solid wastes (e.g. mine tailings), or areas with polluted groundwater;

★ irrigation of grown food (e.g. vegetables, fruits, crops) with polluted water;

★ growing of food (e.g. crops, fruits, vegetables) in areas with polluted air;

★ agricultural treatments with pesticides, insecticides, and/or herbicides;

★ agricultural application of sewage sludge and/or polluted fertilizers (which contain ash from power plants). 

Safe Food Alternative

Japan has come up with an alternative for producing safe food, according to which vegetables should be grown in factories that terminate the unpredictable effect of environmental pollution, unpredictable weather, or pests. Also, the process would be all computerized that would control various factors affecting growth. This idea of a safe food alternative was given by OZU cooperation in Tokyo. Can this be the way of future agriculture? Well, this we’ll see. 

Hazards of Food Pollution are everywhere and all can be done on an individual level is; by informing ourselves and taking action. 

Amity University and CSC collaborate to provide higher education to rural students.

Being a private University, Amity has never been behind when it comes to providing quality education. Recently Amity joins hands with Common Services Centers (CSCs) to provide higher education to rural students. 

It is estimated that approx 15 lakh students in rural areas can now be able to access undergraduate and postgraduate courses with this collaboration of Amity University Online and CSC. Courses like BA, BCom, BCA, BBA, and MCA will be available for the students through over 6000 CSC Academy centers, the Education and CSR wing Of CSC.  Also, courses like BA and BCom will be made available in Hindi considering the language barrier faced by students in rural India. When students will enroll through the CSC Academy center, they will be able to join Amity’s online classes. Also, Amity is going to develop special courses for students, which will be offered through CSC Academy. Amity’s Online team will offer extensive assistance to students throughout the enrolment process. 

Ajit Chauhan (the Chairman of Amity University Online) said, “Amity University Online has always envisioned providing world-class quality education to all its learners. Our endeavor is to bring grassroots-level change and enable professionals in remote areas of India. We hope rural and remote India can benefit through this initiative.” 

MD, CSC SPV, Dr. Dinesh Tyagi, explaining the collaboration said, “We have endeavored to provide quality education to students and youth in rural areas, particularly to women who miss out on higher education due to societal inequality and patriarchy. Our association with Amity Online is a significant step in that direction and meets the Prime Minister’s vision of Digital India fulfilling the educational needs of rural India. Partnership with Amity will also help us reach out to rural youth with future skills like AI, Machine Learning, and BlockChain.” Also, the Director, Academics of Amity University Online, Dr. Priya Mary Mathew noted, “It is always heartening to see when an education provider looks beyond to create an impact on the society. We are partnering with CSC Academy and their penetration in the remotest parts of India will light up the dreams of the masses to get quality education within their reach.”

This collab will act as a boost to improve enhance rural India’s education base. Amity Online’s team will offer extensive assistance to students throughout the enrolment process.

State Governments offering internships; here are the details

 

Internships play a crucial part in students’ life. It provides students with an opportunity to apply their theoretical and practical knowledge in a real-life working environment. Not only that, but it also boosts the resume while gaining industrial experience. 

To help out students who want to be a part of the IT industry, mentioned below are some of the state government paid internships programs:-

1) Web and Application Design at Imagine, Panaji (Goa)

Students pursuing B.Tech/BE in information technology or who have completed B.Tech/BE in information technology can apply for this internship. In this internship, they will experience understanding and management of websites development. The 6 months paid internship will help students to have a corporate experience of web development.

2) Graphic Designer at Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) 

Students having a degree in Bachelor Computer Applications (BCA) or diploma in engineering, can apply for this internship. The duration of the internship is 2 months with some stipend. During the  2 months, internship students will learn about 3D graphics and animations. 

3) App Developer at Sagar (Madhya Pradesh)

Students having a background of B.E and B.Tech or having specialization in computer science can apply for this internship. It’s an IOS and Android app developing paid internship, with a duration of 4 months. 

4) IT and Computer Engineers at Jalandhar (Punjab)

Under this 6 months paid internship, interns will work as supporting engineers. It mandates to have a degree in B.E/B.Tech or a background in information technology/computer science. 

5) Statistical Analysis and Data Analysis at Jammu (J&K)

The 6 months paid internship will help students to gain experience in Data System designing, and collaborating with engineers/programs. It requires for the students to have specialization in B.Tech/B.SC/B.A or having a background in computer science or statistics or economics. 

Google and Apple employees are not happy with the decision to return to the Office.

Earlier this year in June, Apple CEO Tim Cook came up with a new hybrid working protocol that tells employees that they would be required to be present in the office thrice a week starting from September. But, it turns out that didn’t go well, as some of the employees claiming to leave the company if Apple directs their physical presence in the office. 

After the announcement was made, employees conveyed their frustration in their letter telling that it forced some of the employees to resign. Although a new report says that now Apple is denying even more appeals from the employees who are insisting to continue working from home. With around 6,000 members in a Company Sack channel, employees are pleading about leaving one of the world’s leading firms if it doesn’t change its decision. 

A report from the Verge said, “while in a company Sack channel where employees support for remote work, approximately around 10 employees said about quitting their job due to the hybrid work protocol or knew others who’d been forced to quit.”

The report also said that the tech giant has told the employees that those staff who documents their medical reports with the firm will only be getting permanent work from home, which “made some people uneasy.”

Also, according to a survey around 90℅ of the employees said that flexible working options are much important to them. Now, some of them are thinking to write a letter again to Apple while some are thinking to take the legal route. 

Even Google’s employees are not much happy about the company’s decision to bring employees back to the office. Earlier this year in May, Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced a hybrid working protocol similar to Apple’s, according to which employees would be required to be work from their offices thrice a week, which also starts from September. According to the new protocol, 20℅ of the staff would work remotely, and another 20% could work from fresh locations, but the salary would be adjusted according to the local market. 

Though Google is trying to bring employees back to the office, some employees are getting more frustrated with the anxiety over their shoulders. Employees are being tensed regarding office transfers and pay cuts. The widespread confusion and jagged enforcement of the new protocol, particularly among ground-level staff, also doesn’t help. 

Although in a recent survey Google software engineers said that they found themselves as constructive as they were before the pandemic.

Workers in many industries found it difficult to work virtually and have decided to quit their jobs. However, it is not the deal with the tech giants like Apple and Google, but it would be interesting to see when their employees shift back to the office. 

When the major IT companies of India are expecting their employees to be back in office?

As the Covid-19 graph is falling, and people have been working from Home for the past one year due to the pandemic, the IT giants of India namely; TCS, Wipro, and Infosys sooner or later this year are expecting to bring back their employees to the office. 

The Chief Human Resources Officer(Saurabh Govil) of Wipro recently said that Bengaluru-based Wipro is likely to call employees slowly back to the office from September. As vaccination is attaining stride, depending on the situation of pandemic and third wave. In a press conference, Govil mentioned, “This will vary between country by country and different stages of the pandemic. This will not be one size fits all.” The company’s Chairman, Rishad Premji said that around 55% of the employees in India are vaccinated. The company has around 2 lakhs employees.

Further, the largest software company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is also looking forward to bring its employees back to the office once they are fully vaccinated against the novel Coronavirus by September this year. Milind Lakkad (company’s Chief of Global Human Resources) stated, “…In less than two months, over half a million associates and family members and over 70 percent of our associates have been vaccinated, and we are on track to vaccinate all TCSers and families by September.” He also mentioned, “During April and May, the second wave of the pandemic has been quite demanding for the TCS Family. Our thoughts are with the families who suffered the personal loss despite our best efforts. I want to acknowledge the temperament and personality of our associates who stood by each other in these stressful times.”

Infosys’ Chief Operating Officer ( U.B Pravin Rao) also answered questions considering bringing back employees to the office, during a press conference after Quater-1 results. He said that 98% of the employees globally are working from home. “We expect 20-30% of people to start coming to work from the office, this will vary to geographies, depend on nature of projects, individual preferences,” Rao said. Rao also informed that in India around 58% of the employees are fully vaccinated and 10% of the employees are partially vaccinated, “we can increase the number of people coming to the office to work this quarter.”

Apart from this, all the three IT giants of India are expecting to hire more than 1 lakh college graduates this year. 

Why did Windows Phone fail?

We all remember the time when Nokia made a deal with Microsoft to launch the Windows OS phones. And we also know some reasons why Windows Phones failed, which include; lack of accessibility to some useful Apps, partners like Samsung not launching Windows Phone, Microsoft’s approach to licensing Windows Phone, and the company’s failure to attract developers. 

A former Nokia engineer shared some reasons behind the failure of Windows Phone on Reddit. He joined Nokia after the 2011 deal with Microsoft to put windows 7 on all its smartphones. And he also worked with the Nokia X project. 

He believes that Microsoft’s failure to launch Android was the company’s biggest regret. Also, Microsoft underestimated Google and its services like G-mail, Google Maps, etc. Which ended up in 2012 when Google stopped funding efforts to make Apps for Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. 

He wrote, “Obviously Apple was red hot and Microsoft knew that, but Google was new to the OS business and they weren’t taken seriously enough. Android was pretty rough then, but the real value was Google’s services; when Google cut Microsoft off of YouTube, Maps, Gmail, etc, it made WP look cheap.”

The second reason mentioned was with ‘botched Windows 8’ and with the disgrace over ‘Microsoft metro interface’. Metro interface worked great with Windows 7 touch screen devices but it didn’t come out that great when Microsoft put it on the desktop in Windows 8. 

The former employee wrote, “Before Windows 8, WP had a lot of people’s curiosity. After Windows 8, people associated the two together as bad products even though the teams then were pretty independent, and things done poorly on Windows 8 were not reflective of how the experience was on WP. Even with Windows 10, the stigma against Metro never recovered.”

He argues that as a leading tech company Microsoft still has a bad reputation due to its actions over the past decade. “At the time it was still horrible and it meant that the young guys who grew up hating Microsoft were making the big startups for other platforms,” the engineer said. He also said, “For all the negatives on the consumer side, coding for WP was always better than Android.”

 After the harsh failure of Windows Phone, it was not possible to get the company back with more Windows Phone. By the year 2014, Android and iOS were blooming in the market, and no matter what Microsoft did to improve their Windows Phone there was no vital reason to switch. It was then when they decided to launch a secret work project “Nokia X”, the first android phone launched by Nokia. 

Psychologist arrested by NCB for selling drug-induced brownies in South Mumbai.

On Monday, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted an ongoing drug business, which was supplying narcotic drugs-infused cakes and brownies to rev parties.

Sameer Wankhede, the zonal director of NCB, based on a tip raided a bakery-cum-residence in Mazgaon (South Mumbai) on the 12th of July ( Monday). During the raid, a person who is said to be a professional psychologist also got arrested. NCB officials while searching the place found 10 kilograms of Hash-induced brownies, packed and ready to be delivered. They also found 50 grams of Opium and cash worth 1.17 lakhs, during the search.

Sources said that the psychologist who got arrested was running the bakery-cum-drug lab and that person works with a reputed South-Mumbai-based hospital. The person is identified by the name of Rahmeen Charaniya, 25yrs old, and was in the business since his college days. After being interrogated, the accused said he got the idea from an OTT platform-based series based on drug trafficking.

Further, during interrogation, it came up that Charaniya used to make deliveries himself and used to take orders through online platforms. Charaniya also gave the name of his supplier, Ramzan Shaikh (40yrs old), who also got caught by NCB officials in the Crawford market with 50 grams of Hash.

The Zonal Director of NCB also told about different categories of drug-based cakes which were being supplied by Charaniya namely; Rainbow Cake (a mixture of Hash, Charas, and weed with dough), Hash Brownies and Pot Brownies (infused with Marijuana).

Although this is not the first operation where NCB busted a drug-based bakery module. A similar module was busted a month ago in Western Mumbai, but the seizure was 10 percent of the current seizure.

Acid Rain!

 In your school or college, we all have once come across the phrase ‘Acid Rain’. Many of us have forgotten about it and many of us do remember the topic in detail. So, in this article, I am going to put some light on the following topics:-

I) What is Acid rain?

II) How much acidic is Acid rain?

IIl) Effects of Acid rain.

V) What can be done?

What is Acid rain?

When gases like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide (produced by the burning of fuels from factories, power stations, or vehicles) react with tiny droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids. Which is the form of rain that falls from the clouds, which is why that rain is known as ‘Acid Rain’.

How much acidic is Acid Rain?

We all have learned in school about the pH scale, the scale which is used to determine acidity. This scale goes from 0 to 14, where 0 is the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline and 7 is neutral. Acid rain is very weak in terms of acidity.

Rain is always acidic because of the presence of naturally occurring oxides in the air, for unpolluted rain the pH value is between 5-6. But when the air gets more polluted with the presence of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in it, the acidity can increase to a pH value of 4. The most acidic rain recorded till now has a pH value of 2. But, even the most acidic rain ever is as acidic as lemon juice or vinegar. 

Now that we know it can’t harm us then why do we worry about it? 

What are the effects of Acid rain?

Though Acid rain can cause skin irritation to some people, there are many effects of Acid rain on the forest, aquatic animals, and water resources. 

Effects on Forest:-

I) It can dissolve and wash away the nutrients and minerals in the soil which helps the trees to grow.

II) Acid rain causes the release of harmful substances such as aluminum into the soil.

III) Acid rain wash away the waxy protective coating of leaves, damaging them and preventing them from being able to photosynthesis properly.

Effects on Buildings:-

I) Acid rain can make the erosion process of materials faster. 

II) Statues and monuments made up of limestone are worst affected by Acid rain.

Effects on Lakes and Rivers:-

I) It can be very harmful to aquatic species.

II) It can also cause toxic substances like aluminum to be released into the water from the soil, resulting in water pollution.

III) It can destroy the ecosystems of lakes and rivers.

What can be done?

Mentioned below are some ways to reduce Acid rain:-

→ By installing catalytic converters on our vehicles.

→ Sulfur can also be ‘washed’ out of smoke by spraying a mixture of water and powdered limestone into the smokestack.

→ By using renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels.

→ By conserving energy. 

→ By carpool or using public transport.