nokia lumia

.The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Movie: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner

Direction: Bill Condon

Rating:    

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2. Roll the entire mile of the title on your tongue and you are left with a sinking feeling. Time for more wimpy vampire whining and snarling werewolves, some two-minute scares thrown into plastic mush.

The good thing is it all ends here, with the second of the two-part finale. To be fair, Breaking Dawn Part 2 is a massive improvement on all that the series has been giving you over the past four years. There is a spectacular climax that should satisfy hardcore fans and - surprise, surprise - for the first time you spot a hint of wit in the screenplay.

While the global Twilight fan club would be aware of all that has gone on in the series so far, it would be ideal to brush up on the past four films if you are a first-timer planning to catch this one. Breaking Dawn Part 2 doesn't waste time to explain its vast spread of characters or plot twists, assuming you are going in knowing what has already happened in the series.

Part 2 takes off exactly where Part 1 ended. Bella (Kristen Stewart) wakes up after giving birth to a daughter Renesmee, fathered by Edward (Robert Pattinson) the vampire. Quite predictably, Renesmee is half-human, half-vampire. Bella herself has now fully become a vampire like Edward, which makes her physically more powerful and emotionally less fragile.

Renesmee grows at an astonishing rate, and Irina - a member of the Denali coven - mistakes her as a human who could destroy her clan.

The rest of what follows is essentially a script that allows director Bill Condon to replay all the cliches that clicked for the franchise as also bring back all major characters. Stray humour creeps into the narrative that keeps the very Bollywoodish romance of Bella and Edward alive.

The film could have gone lower on dialogues, though. In a lot of scenes, the characters simply talk, talk and then talk some more. I'm guessing sworn fans of the series won't mind at all. Especially with R.Patz and K.Stew looking like a million bucks together


Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/movie-review-the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2/1/234400.html

NE NA SAM

Ninasam
Main article: Ninasam
Nilakanteshwara natya seva sangha is located in a village called Heggodu. It was established by K. V. Subbanna in 1958. Ninasam is a drama institute. The headquarters is in Heggodu. It has a library, rehearsal hall, guesthouse and theater. Shivarama Karantha rangamandira is an auditorium for Ninasam. It was opened in 1972. Ninasam started a 'Theatre-in-education' project called Shalaranga with the help from the government of India during 1991-1993. Ford foundation has volunteered in establishing a rural theatre and film culture project called Janaspandana. Ninasam conducts a summer workshop for youngsters.Ninasam chitrasamaja is an organisation to encourage film culture and to hold film festivals.

JOG FALLS

JOG EALLS

Jog Falls is created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 m (830 ft), making it the second-highest plunge waterfall in India after the Nohkalikai Falls with a height of 335 m (1100 ft)in Meghalaya. Sharavati, a river which rises at Ambutirtha, near Nonabur, in the Thirthahalli taluk and takes the north-westerly course by Fatte petta, receives the Haridravati on the right below Pattaguppe and the Yenne Hole on the left above Barangi. On arriving at the frontier it bends to the west, and precipitating itself down the Falls of Gersoppa and passing that village (properly Geru-Sappe), which is really some 29 kilometres distant, discharges into the sea at Honnavar in North Kanara. The Sharavati, flowing over a very rocky bed about 250 yards wide, here reaches a tremendous chasm, 290 m (960 ft) in depth, and the water comes down in four distinct falls. The Raja Fall pours in one unbroken column sheer to the depth of 830 ft (250 m). Halfway down it is encountered by the Roarer, another fall, which precipitates itself into a vast cup and then rushes violently downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees to meet the Raja. A third fall, the Rocket, shoots downwards in a series of jets; while the fourth, the Rani, moves quietly over the mountain side in a sheet of foam. The Tourism Department has built steps from the view point till the bottom of the hill where the waterfall can be seen at the opposite side. There are approximately 1500 steps built to reach the bottom of the hill.
Significance    Associated with the waterfall is the nearby Linganmakki Dam across river Sharavathi,.[3] The power station has been operational since 1948, and is of 120 MW capacity, one of the largest hydroelectric stations in India at that time and a small source of electric power for Karnataka now. The power station was previously named Krishna Rajendra hydro-electric project, after the King of Mysore at that time. The name was later changed to Mahatma Gandhi hydro-electric Project. It was served by Hirebhaskara dam until 1960. After 1960, due to the ideas of Sir M. Visvesvarayya, Linganmakki Dam is being used for power generation.

 Change in flow     Before the onset of monsoon season, when there is not much water in the Linganmakki dam, the Jog Falls are only a pair of thin streams of water trickling down the cliff, as the water collected in the dam is exclusively for generation of electricity; during monsoons local rain-water is the source of water to the falls.
 Transport Connectivity Nearest Railway Station (& distance to the location): Talaguppa and SAGAR(SRF) : For Sagar 30 km Nearest Bus Station: SAGAR Nearest Airport (& aerial distance to the location): Domestic Hubli Airport (HBX) : 130 km Mangalore Airport(Formerly Bajpe Airport) (IXE) : 200 km Pune Airport (PNQ) : 500 km International Bengaluru International Airport (BLR) : 340 km
t

WINDOWS 8

Windows 8 is the current release of the Windows operating system, produced byMicrosoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops,laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs. Development of Windows 8 started before the release of its predecessor in 2009. Its existence was first announced atCES 2011, and followed by the release of three pre-release versions from September 2011 to May 2012. The operating system was released to manufacturing on August 1, 2012, and was released for general availability on October 26, 2012.[3]
Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the operating system's platform, primarily focused towards improving its user experience on mobile devices such as tablets to rival other mobile operating systems (such as Android and iOS),[4]taking advantage of new or emerging technologies (such as USB 3.0, UEFIfirmware, near field communications, cloud computing and the low-power ARM architecture), new security features (such as malware filtering, built-in antivirus software, and support for secure boot, a controversial UEFI feature which requires operating systems to be digitally signed to prevent malware from infecting the boot process), along with other changes and performance improvements.
Windows 8 also introduces a new shell and user interface based on Microsoft's"Metro" design language, featuring a new Start screen with a grid of dynamically updating tiles to represent applications, a new app platform with an emphasis ontouchscreen input, the new Windows Store to obtain and purchase applications for the system, and the ability to synchronize programs and settings between multiple devices.

Development history
Windows 8 development started before Windows 7 had shipped[5] in 2009. In January 2011, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft announced that Windows 8 would be adding support for ARM microprocessors in addition to the x86 microprocessors fromIntel, AMD and VIA Technologies.[6][7] On June 1, 2011, Microsoft officially unveiled Windows 8's new user interface as well as additional features at the Taipei Computex 2011 in Taipei (Taiwan) by Mike Angiulo and at the D9 conference in California (United States) by Julie Larson-Green and Microsoft's Windows President Steven Sinofsky.[8][9] A month before the BUILD conference was held, Microsoft opened a new blog called "Building Windows 8" for users and developers on August 15, 2011.[10]

A screenshot of Windows 8 Developer Preview running on a multi-monitor system, showcasing many features
Microsoft unveiled new Windows 8 features and improvements on the first day of the BUILD conference on September 13, 2011.[11] Microsoft released Windows 8 Developer Preview (build 8102) the same day, which included SDKs and developer tools (such as Visual Studio Express and Expression Blend) for developing applications for Windows 8's new interface.[12]According to Microsoft, there were more than 500,000 downloads of the developer preview within the first 12 hours of its release.[13] Originally set to expire on March 11, 2012, in February 2012 the Developer Preview's expiry date was changed to January 15, 2013.[14]

The new File Explorer interface with "Ribbon" in Windows 8
On 29 February 2012, Microsoft released Windows 8 Consumer Preview, the beta version of Windows 8, build 8250. For the first time since Windows 95, the Start button is no longer present on the taskbar, though the Start screen is still triggered by clicking the bottom-left corner of the screen and by clicking Start on the Charm bar.[15] Windows president Steven Sinofsky said more than 100,000 changes had been made since the developer version went public.[15] The day after its release, Windows 8 Consumer Preview had been downloaded over one million times.[16] Like the Developer Preview, the Consumer Preview is set to expire on January 15, 2013.
At Japan's Developers Day conference, Steven Sinofsky announced that Windows 8 Release Preview (build 8400) would be released during the first week of June.[17] On May 28, 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview (Standard Simplified Chinese x64 edition, not China-specific version, build 8400) was leaked online on various Chinese and BitTorrent websites.[18] On May 31, 2012, Windows 8 Release Preview was released to the public by Microsoft.[19]
Major items in the Release Preview included the addition of Sports, Travel, and News apps, along with an integrated version of Flash Player in Internet Explorer.[20] Like the Developer Preview and the Consumer Preview, the release preview is set to expire on January 15, 2013.
On August 1, 2012, Windows 8 (build 9200[21]) was released to manufacturing with the build number 6.2.9200.16384 .[22] Microsoft planned to hold a launch event on October 25, 2012[23] and release Windows 8 for general availability on the next day.[24] However, only a day after its release to manufacturing, a copy of the final version of Windows 8 Enterprise N (produced for European markets) leaked to the web and several days later there were Pro and Enterprise leaks both x86 and x64.[25][26] On August 15, 2012, Windows 8 was made available to download for MSDN and TechNet subscribers.[27] Windows 8 was made available to Software Assurance customers on August 16, 2012.[28] Windows 8 was made available for student downloads (with a DreamSpark Premium subscription) on August 22, 2012, earlier than advertised.[29]
Relatively few changes were made from the Release Preview to the final version; these included updated versions of its pre-loaded apps, the renaming of Windows Explorer to File Explorer, the replacement of the Aero Glass theme from Windows Vista and 7 with a new flat and solid-colored theme, and the addition of new background options for the Start screen, lock screen, and desktop.[30] Prior its to general availability on October 26, 2012, updates were released for some of Windows 8's bundled apps, and a "General Availability Cumulative Update" (which included fixes to improve performance, compatibility, and battery life) was released on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. Microsoft indicated that due to improvements to its testing infrastructure, general improvements of this nature will be released more frequently through Windows Update instead of being relegated to OEMs and service packs only.[31][32]
Microsoft began an advertising campaign centered around Windows 8 and its Surface tablet in October 2012, starting with its firsttelevision advertisement premiering on October 14, 2012.[4] Microsoft's advertising budget for the operating system is US$1.5–1.8 billion, making Windows 8 the industry's biggest product launch in history.[33]
[edit]New and changed features
Main article: Features new to Windows 8
New features and functionality in Windows 8 include a faster startup through UEFI integration and the new "Hybrid Boot" mode (whichhibernates the Windows kernel on shutdown to speed up the subsequent boot),[34] a new lock screen with a clock and notifications,[35]and the ability for enterprise users to create live USB versions of Windows (known as Windows To Go).[36][37] Windows 8 also adds native support for USB 3.0 devices, which allow for faster data transfers and improved power management with compatible devices,[38][39]along with support for near field communication to facilitate sharing and communication between devices.[40]
Windows Explorer, which has been renamed File Explorer, now includes a ribbon in place of the command bar. File operation dialogs have been updated to provide more detailed statistics, the ability to pause file transfers, and improvements in the ability to manage conflicts when copying files.[41] A new "File History" function allows incremental revisions of files to be backed up to and restored from a secondary storage device,[42] while Storage Spaces allows users to combine different sized hard disks into virtual drives and specify mirroring, parity, or no redundancy on a folder-by-folder basis.[43]
Task Manager has also been redesigned, including a new processes tab with the option to display fewer or more details of running applications and background processes, a heat map using different colors indicating the level of resource usage, network and disk counters, grouping by process type (e.g. applications, background processes and Windows processes), friendly names for processes and a new option which allows users to search the web to find information about obscure processes.[44] Additionally, the Blue Screen of Death has been updated with a simpler and modern design with less technical information displayed.[45][46]
[edit]Safety and security
Additional security features in Windows 8 include two new authentication methods tailored towards touchscreens (PIN numbers and picture passwords),[47] the addition of antivirus capabilities to Windows Defender (bringing it in parity with Microsoft's Security Essentialssoftware)[48] SmartScreen filtering integrated into the desktop,[49] and support for the "Secure Boot" functionality on UEFI systems to protect against malware infecting the boot process.[50] Parental controls are offered through the integrated Family Safety software, which allows parents to monitor and control their children's activities on a device with activity reports and safety controls.[51][52][53] Windows 8 also provides integrated system recovery through the new "Refresh" and "Reset" functions.[54] Windows 8's first security patches would be released on 13 November 2012; it would contain three critical (most severe as per Microsoft) fixes.[55]
[edit]Online services and functionality
Windows 8 provides heavier integration with online services from Microsoft and others. A user can now log in to Windows with aMicrosoft account, formally known as a Windows Live ID, which can be used to access services and synchronize applications and settings between devices. Windows 8 also ships with a client app for Microsoft's SkyDrive cloud storage service, which also allows apps to save files directly to SkyDrive. A SkyDrive client for the desktop and File Explorer is not included in Windows 8, and must be downloaded separately.[56] Bundled multimedia apps are provided under the Xbox brand, including Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and theXbox SmartGlass companion for use with an Xbox 360 console. Games can integrate into an Xbox Live hub app, which also allows users to view their profile and gamerscore.[57] Other bundled apps provide the ability to link to services such as Flickr and Facebook.[58]
Internet Explorer 10 is included as both a desktop program and a touch-optimized app, and includes increased support for HTML5,CSS3, and hardware acceleration. The Internet Explorer app does not support plugins or ActiveX components, but includes a version ofAdobe Flash Player that is optimized for touch and low power usage, but works only on sites included on a whitelist. The desktop version does not contain these limitations.[59]
Windows 8 also incorporates improved support for mobile broadband; the operating system can now detect the insertion of a SIM cardand automatically configure connection settings (including APNs and carrier branding), track and reduce bandwidth use on metered networks. Windows 8 also adds an integrated airplane mode setting to globally disable all wireless connectivity as well. Carriers can also offer account management systems through Windows Store apps, which can be automatically installed as a part of the connection process and offer usage statistics on their respective tile.[60]
[edit]Windows Store and Apps

A music app for Windows 8, shown snapped like a sidebar to the Windows Desktop
Windows 8 introduces a new style of application, Windows Store apps; according to Microsoft developer Jensen Harris, these apps are to be optimized for touchscreenenvironments and have smaller scope in relation to desktop applications. Apps can run either in a full-screen mode, or be docked directly to the side of a screen.[61] They can provide notifications and a "live tile" on the Start screen for dynamic content. Apps can use "contracts"; a collection of hooks to provide common functionality that can integrate with other apps, such as search and sharing.[61] Apps can also provide integration with other services; for example, the People app can connect to a variety of different social networks and services (such as Facebook), while the Photos app can aggregate photos from services such as Facebook and Flickr.[58]
Windows Store apps run within a new set of APIs known as the Windows Runtime, which supports programming languages such as C, C++, VB.NET, C#, along withHTML5 and JavaScript.[61] Depending on the language used, apps written for Windows Runtime can be cross-compatible with both Intel-compatible and ARM versions of Windows.[62] To ensure stability and security, apps run within a sandboxed environment, and require permissions to access certain functionality, such as accessing the Internet or a camera.[63]
Retail versions of Windows 8 will only be able to install these apps through the Windows Store—a namesake distribution platform which offers both apps and certified desktop applications.[62][63] Only the Enterprise version will allow system administrators to deploy apps from outside the Windows Store.[63][64]
Windows Store apps were originally known as "Metro-style apps" during the development of Windows 8, referring to the Metro design language. The term was reportedly phased out in August 2012; a Microsoft spokesperson denied rumors that the change was related to a potential trademark issue, and stated that "Metro" was only a codename that would be phased out prior to Windows 8's release.[65]Following these reports, the terms "Modern UI-style apps",[66] "Windows 8-style apps"[67] and "Windows Store apps" began to be used by various Microsoft documents and material to refer to the new apps. In an interview on September 12, 2012, Soma Somasegar (vice president of Microsoft's development software division) officially confirmed that "Windows Store apps" would be the official term for the apps.[68]
[edit]Web browsers
Special exceptions are given to web browsers classified as being "New experience enabled" (formerly "Metro-style enabled"), which can provide a special version to run within the "Metro" shell. Unlike other apps, they can be coded using Win32 code instead of WinRT (allowing the reuse of code from their desktop versions), permanently run in the background, use multiple background processes, and are distributed with desktop web browsers rather than through the Windows Store. Despite these looser restrictions, they can still take advantage of features typically reserved for Windows Store apps, such as the use of contracts to link to other apps. However, only the user's default web browser can be used in this setting.
The developers of both Chrome and Firefox both committed to developing versions of their browsers to run in the app environment; while Chrome's app simply backports the existing desktop interface, Firefox's (which is currently available in development versions) uses a touch-optimized interface inspired by the mobile version of Firefox.[69][70][71][72]
[edit]Interface and desktop
Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the operating system's user interface, many of which are centered towards improving its experience on tablet computers and other touchscreen devices. The new user interface is based on Microsoft's Metro design language, and features a new tile-based Start screen similar to that of Windows Phone, which has replaced the previous Start menu entirely. The Start screen displays a customizable array of tiles linking to various apps and desktop programs, some of which can display constantly updated information and content through "live tiles".[61] As a form of multi-tasking, apps can be snapped to the side of a screen.[61]
A vertical toolbar known as the charms bar (accessed by swiping from the right edge of a touchscreen, or pointing the cursor at hotspotsin the right corners of a screen) provides access to system and app-related functions, such as search, sharing, device management, settings, and a Start button. The traditional desktop environment for running desktop applications is accessed via a tile on the new Start screen. The Start button on the taskbar has been removed in favor of the Start button on the charms bar and a hotspot in the lower-left corner of the screen.[73][74] Swiping from the left edge of a touchscreen or clicking in the top-left corner of the screen allows one to switch between apps and the Desktop. Pointing the cursor in the top-left corner of the screen and moving down reveals a thumbnail list of active apps.[74] Aside from the removal of the Start button, the desktop on Windows 8 is similar to that of Windows 7, except that theAero Glass theme has been replaced by a flatter, solid-colored design inspired by the Metro interface.[75]
[edit]Secure boot
See also: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface#Secure boot and Hardware restrictions#Windows 8
Windows 8 supports a feature of the UEFI specification known as "Secure boot", which uses a public-key infrastructure to verify the integrity of the operating system and prevent unauthorized programs such as bootkits from infecting the device.[76]
Despite the security benefits of the feature, Microsoft faced criticism (particularly from free software supporters) for mandating that devices receiving its optional certification for Windows 8 have secure boot enabled by default using a key provided by Microsoft. Concerns were raised that secure boot could prevent or hinder the use of alternate operating systems such as Linux. In response to the criticism, Microsoft developer Tony Mangefeste stated that "At the end of the day, the customer is in control of their PC. Microsoft’s philosophy is to provide customers with the best experience first, and allow them to make decisions themselves."[77][78]
Microsoft's certification requirements eventually revealed that that UEFI firmware on x86 systems must allow users to re-configure or turn off secure boot, but that this must not be possible on ARM-based systems (Windows RT). Microsoft faced further criticism for its decision to restrict Windows RT devices by using this functionality, despite it being consistent with other consumer electronics with similar protection measures.[50][79][80] No mandate is made regarding the installation of third-party certificates that would enable running alternative software.[81][82][83]
[edit]Removed features
Main article: List of features removed in Windows 8
Aside from the removal of the Start menu, several notable features have been removed in Windows 8. Support for playing DVDs has been removed from Windows Media Player due to the cost of licensing the necessary decoders (especially for devices which do not includeoptical disc drives at all) and the prevalence of streaming services such as Netflix. For the same reasons, Windows Media Center will no longer be included by default on Windows 8 as well, but the software (which also includes support for DVD playback) can be added back through the paid "Pro Pack" (for the base version of Windows 8, which also upgrades the system to Windows 8 Pro) or "Media Center Pack" (for Windows 8 Pro) add-ons. Windows 8 will still support third-party DVD playback software.[84]
File History, the new backup feature of Windows 8 described above, replaces Backup and Restore, the former backup app, and Previous Versions, a component of Windows Explorer that saves previous versions of changed files. Backup and Restore is deprecated but will continue to work on preset schedule on computers that upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8.[85]:76 Previous Versions no longer protects local files, although it is still available to access previous versions of shared files stored on a Windows Server computer.[85]:74Shadow Copy, the subsystem component based on which these worked, however, is still available for other software to use.[85]:74
[edit]Hardware requirements
[edit]PCs
Minimum hardware requirements for Windows 8
Architecture IA-32 (32-bit)
x86-64 (64-bit)
Processor
1 GHz (with PAE, NX and SSE2 support)[86]
Memory (RAM)
1 GB 2 GB
Graphics Card
DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
Storage 16 GB 20 GB
The minimum system requirements for Windows 8 are slightly higher than those of Windows 7. Notably, Windows 8 now requires that a system's CPU support certain hardware features, specifically the PAE, NX bit, and SSE2. Windows Store apps require a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher to run, while a screen resolution of 1366x768 or higher is required in order to use the snapping functionality for apps.[87]
To receive logo certification, Microsoft requires that an Intel-compatible system resume from standby in 2 seconds or less.[88]
[edit]Tablets and convertibles
Microsoft released minimum hardware requirements for new tablet and convertible devices designed for Windows 8, and defined a convertible form factor as a standalone device that combines the PC, display and rechargeable power source with a mechanically attached keyboard and pointing device in a single chassis. A convertible can be transformed into a tablet where the attached input devices are hidden or removed leaving the display as the only input mechanism.[89][90]
Hardware certification requirements for Windows tablets[91]
Graphics Card
DirectX 10 graphics device with WDDM 1.2 or higher driver
Storage
10GB free space, after the out-of-box experience completes
Standard buttons 'Power', 'Rotation lock', 'Windows Key', 'Volume-up', 'Volume-down'
Screen
Touch screen supporting a minimum of 5-point digitizers and resolution of at least 1366x768. The physical dimensions of the display panel must match the aspect ratio of the native resolution. The native resolution of the panel can be greater than 1366 (horizontally) and 768 (vertically). Minimum native color depth is 32-bits.
Camera
Minimum 720p
Ambient light sensor
1–30k lux capable with dynamic range of 5–60K
Accelerometer
3 axes with data rates at or above 50 Hz
USB 2.0
At least one controller and exposed port.
Connect Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 + LE (low energy)
Other Speaker, microphone, magnetometer and gyroscope.
If a mobile broadband device is integrated into a tablet or convertible system, then an assisted GPS radio is required. Devices supporting near field communication need to have visual marks to help users locate and use the proximity technology. The new button combination for Ctrl + Alt + Del is Windows Key + Power.
[edit]Software compatibility

BSOD in Windows 8
Windows 8 for IA-32 and x64 processors runs most software compatible with previous versions of Windows, with the same restrictions as Windows 7: 64-bit Windows 8 runs 64-bit and 32-bit software while 32-bit Windows 8 will be able to run 32-bit and 16-bit software (although some 16-bit software may require compatibility settings to be applied, or not work at all).
Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 for systems with ARM processors, only supports applications included with the system (such as a special version of Office 2013), supplied through Windows Update, or Windows Store apps, to ensure the quality of apps available on ARM. Windows RT does not support running IA-32 or x64 applications.[92] Windows Store apps can either be cross-compatible between Windows 8 and Windows RT, or compiled to support a specific architecture.[93]
[edit]Editions and pricing
Main article: Windows 8 editions
Windows 8 is available in four editions; one is simply named Windows 8 and is intended for mainstream consumers. Windows 8 Pro contains additional features aimed towards power users and professional environments.[94] Windows 8 Enterprise contains additional features aimed towards business environments, and is only available through volume licensing.[94] Windows Media Center is not included by default in any edition of Windows 8, but will still be available for purchase as an add-on for Windows 8 Pro, or as part of a "Pro Pack" upgrade for Windows 8 which also includes the Pro upgrade.[95] Windows RT will only be made available as pre-loaded software on new ARM-based devices built specifically for the OS.[94]
Users of previous versions of Windows can purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro online (using a download that can be optionally burned to a DVD), or through boxed copies at retail on DVD. Microsoft is offering these upgrades at a discounted price of $39.99 USDonline, or $69.99 at retail, from its launch until January 31, 2013.[95][96][97]
Microsoft also began to offer an upgrade program for those purchasing new PCs pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate between June 2, 2012, and January 31, 2013—in which users will be able to digitally purchase a Windows 8 Pro upgrade for $14.99 USD.[98] The Windows Media Center add-on will be offered for free through this offer.[95] Several PC manufacturers have offered rebates and refunds on Windows 8 upgrades obtained through the program on select models, such asHewlett-Packard (in the U.S. and Canada on select models), and Acer (in Europe on selected Ultrabook models).[99][100]
[edit]Logo
On February 19, 2012, Microsoft confirmed that in Windows 8 the Windows logo will be significantly updated to reflect the new Metrodesign language. The logo was designed by Pentagram partner Paula Scher. The formerly flag-shaped logo has been transformed into four window panes, perspective was added, and the entire logo will be rendered in a single solid color, which will depend on the user's personalization changes.[101]
[edit]Reception
Reviews of the various editions of Windows 8 have been mixed. The Verge felt that Windows 8's emphasis on touch computing was a significant aspect of the platform and that Windows 8 devices (especially those that combine the traits of both laptops and tablets) would "[make the] iPad feel immediately out of date" due to the capabilities of the operating system's hybrid model and increased focus on cloud services. Some of the included apps in Windows 8 were considered to be basic and lacking in certain functionality, but the Xbox apps were praised for their promotion of a multi-platform entertainment experience. Other improvements and features (such as File History, Storage Spaces, and the updated Task Manager) were also regarded as positive changes.[102] Additionally, Peter Bright of Ars Technica felt that while its user interface changes may overshadow them, Windows 8's improved performance, updated file manager, new storage functionality, expanded security features, and updated Task Manager were still notably positive improvements for the operating system. Bright also felt that Windows 8's duality towards tablets and traditional PCs was an "extremely ambitious" aspect of the platform as well, but still criticized Microsoft for emulating Apple's model of a closed distribution platform when implementing the Windows Store.[103]
The interface of Windows 8 has been the subject of mixed reaction. Peter Bright of Ars Technica felt that the "Edge UI" system of hot corners and edge swiping "wasn't very obvious" due to the lack of instructions provided by the operating system on the functions accessed through the user interface, even by the video tutorial added on the RTM release (which only instructed users to point at corners of the screen or swipe from its sides). Despite this self-described "stumbling block", Bright felt that Windows 8's interface worked well in some places, but began to feel incoherent when switching between the "Metro" and desktop environments, sometimes through inconsistent means.[103] Tom Warren of The Verge felt that the new interface was "as stunning as it is surprising", contributing to an "incredibly personal" experience once it is customized by the user. However, at the same time, Warren felt that the interface had a steep learning curve, and was awkward to use with a keyboard and mouse. However, it was noted that while forcing all users to use the new touch-oriented interface was a risky move for Microsoft as a whole, it was necessary in order to push development of apps for the Windows Store.[102]
Several notable video game developers criticized Microsoft for adopting a similar "walled garden" app distribution model to other mobile platforms with the introduction of the Windows Store—since they felt it conflicted with the traditional view of the PC as an open platform, due to the store's closed nature and certification requirements for compatibility and regulation of content. Markus "Notch" Perssonspecifically refused to accept help from a Microsoft developer to certify his popular game Minecraft for Windows 8 compatibility, replying with a request for the company to "stop trying to ruin the PC as an open platform."[104] Gabe Newell (co-founder of Valve Corporation, who developed the competing software distribution platform Steam) described Windows 8 as being a "catastrophe for everyone in the PC space" due to the closed nature of the Windows Store.[105] Rob Pardo from Activision Blizzard agreed with Gabe Newell by saying: "nice interview with Gabe Newell - "I think Windows 8 is a catastrophe for everyone in the PC space* - not awesome for Blizzard either".[106] Industry Veteran Casey Muratori had similar concerns.[107]
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes from ZDNet wrote: "The biggest problem with Windows 8 is that it wasn't born out of a need or demand. Its design failures, particularly with ‘Metro UI’ will likely be its downfall."[108]
[edit]Market performance
Microsoft says that 4 million users upgraded to Windows 8 over the weekend after its release,[109][110] which CNET says was well below Microsoft's internal projections and have been described inside the company as disappointing.[111]
Though initial sales were disappointing, there has been steady increases in demand since.[112]

IKKERI

Ikkeri (Kannada: ಇಕ್ಕೇರಿ) is situated in Sagara taluk about 6 km to the south of Sagara. The word Ikkeri in Kannada means "Two Streets". It was, from about 1560 to 1640 AD, the capital of the Keladi chiefs, afterwards removed to Bednur. Ikkeri continued, however to be the nominal capital, the Rajas were called by its name, and the coins were called Ikkeri Pagodas and Fanams, although, if fact, the mint was removed. Its walls were of great extent, forming three concentric enclosures. In the citadel was the palace, of mud and timber, adorned with carving and false gilding.The only vestige of its former greatness is the temple of Aghoreshvara a large and well proportioned stone-building. On the floor in front of the shrine are the effigies of three of the Keladi chiefs, doing obeisance, with the name inscribed above each. One of them, Huchcha (mad) Somasekhara, is represented as manacled and fettered. The distance between the central pillars was adopted as the standard measure for garden land. A rod of this length, equal to 18 feet 6 inches, was the space called daya allowed for one tree, and the shist was fixed on 1,000 such daya at various rates constructed in a mixed style with a unique conception.

The Aghoresvara temple above mentioned is a large structure, built of granite, in a uniquely mixed style that incorporates elements from Vijayanagara, the Karnata Dravida style of the Later Chalukyas and Hoysalas, as well as the architecture of the Deccan Sultanates. The temple faces north and has lofty roof and ornamental doorways on the west, north and east, the north doorway being the best with two elephants at the sides. The Garbhagriha, which is built of huge stones, contains a gigantic pedestal occupying nearly three-fourths of the whole space and sculptured all round with 32 seated female figures called shakthi peeta. In the Sukhanasi is a small translucent Nandi carved out of white spar. The temple has no navaranga doorway there are two niches, those to the right containing the figures of Ganesa and Subramanya and those to the left figures of Mahishasuramardini and Bhairava.

There are intricate carvings on the stone walls of the temple. There are carvings & sculptures such as Temple Relief (sculpture consisting of shapes carved on a surface so as to stand out from the surrounding background), Erotica, Fingurine, Old Kannada Manuscript, Sculpted Elephant etc.

At present it is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India.

Attacks

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This temple was ransacked by Tippu Sultan during an invasion on Nayakas of Ikkeri.

KUPPALLI

 Kuppalli (ಕುಪ್ಪಳ್ಳಿ), is a small village in Thirthahalli taluk of Shimoga district in the state of Karnataka inIndia. It is famous for being the birthplace and childhood home of the renowned Kannada playwright and poet Kuvempu. Indeed, this pen-nameKuvempu (Kannada: ಕುವೆಂಪು) pays homage to the author's home, created as it is from the first letters from his full name "Kuppali VenkatappaPuttappa" (Venkatappa being his father's name).^[1] Kuppali is also the birthplace of Poornachandra Tejaswi, the son of Kuvempu and a famous Kannada writer himself. It is also the place where Kuvempu and Poornachandra Tejaswi have been cremated. The childhood home of Kuvempu at Kuppali has been converted into a museum by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Pratishtana (a trust dedicated to Kuvempu). This trust has undertaken immense developmental works in Kuppali to showcase Kuvempu and his works to the external world.

Kuvempu's early life and education

Kuvempu was born in Hirekodige, Koppa taluk, of Chikmagalur district to a native Kannada family. He was brought up in Kuppali. His education started at his home by an appointed teacher from Dakshina Kannada. He joined Anglo Vernacular school in Tirthahalli to continue his middle school education. He lost his father Venkatappa Gowda when he was only 12. Kuvempu finished his lower and secondary education in Kannada and English in Tirthahalli. He moved to Mysore for further education and completed his high school from Weslian high school. He pursued his college studies in Maharaja College of Mysore, and graduated in 1929 with a major in Kannada^[2].

[edit]Kavishaila

Kavishaila is a rock monument made of megalithic rocks and dedicated to Kuvempu. It is on the top of a small hill in Kuppali. Arranged in a circular fashion, the rocks have been placed to resemble the Stonehenge in England. At the centre of this rock monument is the place where Kuvempu was laid to rest after his death and a memorial has been constructed at that location. Near this monument, is a small rock where Kuvempu used to sit and discuss about literature and other topics with his other litterateur friends. A rock containing the etched signatures of Kuvempu, B. M. Srikantaiah and T S Venkannaiah is present near the monument. [Poornachandra Tejaswi] later engraved his signature on the same rock. The scenery around this place is breathtaking. Granite slabs containing engraved poems and quotes of Kuvempu have been placed near the monument

Kavimane

Granite slab containing one of Kuvempu's famous poems near Kavishaila

Slab indicating the lifetime of Kuvempu near Kavishaila

Rock containing the engraved signatures near Kavishaila

Kuvempu's memorial in Kavishaila

Kavimane is the ancestral house of Kuvempu. Kavimane means House of the poet in the Kannada language. Nestled in the midst of green forests of Malnad, the house presents a scintillating view. It is a three-storeyed tiled house including the ground floor and is the house where Kuvempu spent most of his childhood. This house has now been renovated and converted into a museum. The architecture of the house is what is locally called as Thotti Mane, in which the house consists of a central square area resembling a Thotti (pond) that is open to sky and surrounded by a courtyard. This house is open on all days of the year from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM. There is an entry fee of 5 Rupees for adults and for children over the age of 10. Photography inside Kavimane is prohibited.

• Ground floor: As one enters the house, one can see a big hall with various articles displayed in the courtyard. Prominent among them is themantapa within which Kuvempu's marriage was solemnised. Next to the Mantapa is the laminated Lagnapatrike, the invitation card used for inviting guests to Kuvempu's marriage. Large wooden boxes used for storing rice and other grains can also be seen in the main hall. Next to the hall, is theBaananti Kone, which is a room dedicated for caretaking of mothers who have just given birth to a child. A wooden Tottilu (cradle) used for putting the baby to sleep is a rare item present there. The kitchen is a revelation in itself and consists of utensils and other articles hardly seen in kitchens today. Some of the items include a big kadigolu, a ladle like utensil used for churning curd into buttermilk, a sarigolu which is a steam pot used for making idlis and a sambar marriage which is a box containing various compartments used to hold items that make a sambar. An interesting innovation in the kitchen is that of a Hoge Atta, which is an opening in the roof used to let out smoke generated by firewood in the kitchen. TheHoge Atta is made of wood with openings to let out smoke. Since Malnad region is a high moisture area, there are good chances that perishable food items will not stay for long. These items are placed on the Hoge Atta so that the smoke can prevent moisture from destroying these items. Another room contains a lot of photographs taken of Kuvempu's childhood and also of important events in his lifetime. A small room serves a shop where one can purchase books authored by Kuvempu and cassettes and CDs based on his work. A 10% discount is provided over the actual price of the items purchased here.
• First floor: The first floor can be reached by a wooden staircase and consists of a room that contains the various articles used by Kuvempu during his lifetime like his pen, razor, comb, walking stick, umbrella etc. Various awards and citations conferred to him are also present; the prominent among which are the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the huge Karnataka Ratna awards. Some of the other articles that can be seen here are a taalapatra (writings on palm leaf) and Baluvali suttuga, which is a huge wooden stick like item given to the groom as a gift during his wedding.
• Second floor: The second floor houses the entire collection of books written by Kuvempu, including one of Sri Ramayana Darshanam, probably his most famous book, which he reverently dedicated to Shri TS Venkannaiah, his teacher, published in his own handwriting. Laminated doctorate certificates conferred by various universities to Kuvempu can also be seen here.
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Getting there

[edit]By road

Kuppali is around 18 km from the taluk headquarters, Thirthahalli and 80 km. from the district headquarters, Shimoga. From Shimoga, one has to take the National Highway NH-13 (Shimoga - Thirthahalli road) to reach Kuppali. From Bangalore, one has to take the National Highway NH-206 to reach Shimoga and then take the above mentioned route. There is an overnight bus run by KSRTC from Bangalore to Kuppali. The total distance from Bangalore to Kuppali is around 350 km. From Mangalore, one can take NH-13 to reach Kuppali. The distance from Mangalore to Kuppali is 161 km. Kuppali is around 10 km from Koppa town.

[edit]By rail

The nearest railway station is in Shimoga. Numerous trains run from Bangalore and Mysore to Shimoga.

[edit]By air

The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport.