Microsoft launches Xbox Music on Web for free
zMicrosoft is making its Xbox Music streaming service available for free on the Web even to those who don’t use Windows 8.
The expansion beyond Windows 8 devices and Xbox game consoles starting on Monday is intended to bring new customers into the software giant’s ecosystem of devices and services and could help it compete with other digital music offerings like Pandora, Spotify and iTunes. It’s also an acknowledgement that the music service hasn’t done much to drive sales of the Windows 8 operating system.
The move represents another step toward Microsoft’s goal of becoming a company that sells devices and services, rather than primarily software, said Michael Turits, an analyst with financial advisory firm Raymond James. It comes on the heels of Microsoft announcing it would buy the mobile phone handset manufacturing business of Nokia Corp. for $7.2 billion and that CEO Steve Ballmer would step down within 12 months.
“They’ve said they’re going to be a devices and services company. We know they want to be a device company since they’re buying the Nokia phone division,” he said. “This kind of thing gives more credibility to the idea they’ll be more of a services company as well.”
Most buyers of the new Windows 8 operating system discovered Xbox Music because it’s the default player for music files that people have imported from elsewhere, according to Xbox Music general manager Jerry Johnson. Opening it up to the broader public would give more people a chance to see the benefits of having multiple devices linked to Microsoft’s platform. Its music service, for example, will save favorites and playlists across PCs, Windows Phones and Xbox game consoles.
“To actually build that ecosystem, we need to bring people into it,” Johnson said.
Xbox Music allows people to choose from 30 million tracks and stream them for free with ads. The service sells downloadable tracks that have been kept off streaming services by artists or labels. A radio service on Xbox Music also generates song playlists automatically along genres or similar artists.
The thinking is if new consumers enjoy the free experience online, some might upgrade to pay $10 a month for the Xbox Music Pass, which allows playback on mobile phones and Microsoft’s game console, Xbox 360, and its upcoming version, Xbox One. Microsoft is also launching apps for iPhones and Android devices that will allow paying subscribers to access Xbox Music. Previously, you had to have a device running the Windows Phone 8 operating system to access the plan on the go.
The decision to allow Xbox Music to run on competitors’ phone platforms is in line with Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft Corp.’s move in June to release app versions of its Office software on Apple’s iPhone.
Microsoft is also updating its Xbox Music interface by reducing the size of cover art but adding tabs to make it easier to create and manage playlists.
Starting with its release on Nov. 22, Xbox One users will also, for the first time, be able to play games while listening to Xbox Music simultaneously, a feature that isn’t offered on the Xbox 360.
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CDBurnerXP: Free CD, DVD, ISO, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray burning software for Windows
zCDBurnerXP is a freeware to burn CDs and DVDs. It comes packed with great features that are easy to operate and. In addition to data discs, CDBurnerXP also lets you burn audio and video CDs. Using this freeware you can burn data to CD-R/CD-RW/DVD+R/DVD-R/DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM/BD/HD-DVD, including double layer mediums. It supports almost every kind of disc media!
It even supports data burning on permanent backup disks which can preserve your data for up to 1000 years. With this software you can even create bootable disks that run from the boot menu of your software. CDBurnerXP also comes with another great feature, called Data Spanning, this feature lets you spread large amount of data across different disks.
CDBurnerXP can also import previous (ISO 9660) sessions and edit existing file structure on CD/DVD. You can even erase re-writable CDs using this software. While creating Audio and Video CDs you can see several features like the audio player that continuously plays the audio that you are adding to your disk. While creating Video CDs you need to supply the VIDEO_TS folder and the software can automatically modify the IFO or BUP files necessarily.
Managing ISO files is a breeze using this software. You can create ISO files from a CD/DVD else you can burn ISO files using this software. You can even convert BIN images to NRG images using the in-built image converter in the software.
CDBurnerXP also lets you create simple covers for your Data and Audio CDs. You can create simple covers or you can print according to DVD cases or Mini CD Cases. This feature is very interesting and useful. Now you don’t need to switch to some other application for creating CD/DVD Covers.
CDBurnerXP supports LightScribe integration so that you can print images directly on CD/DVDs. LightScribe is basically a technology developed by HP. For all those geeks out there, this software also comes in Command Line version and it supports most USB, Firewire, IDE and SSCI drives.
CDBurnerXP has been recently updated. The new version of this freeware can now save the original non-cached path for data compilations when caching files is enabled, while also fixing a bug that blocks the ISO burning process from showing any progress. In addition, errors occurring during ISO burning or copying are now displayed, while the app also asks for erasing the disc if an empty one is required.
CDBurnerXP free download
Click here to download CDBurnerXP. This free software runs on Windows 8 too.
Courtesy : http://bnjho.blogspot.in/
Free ebook: Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2
zDownload the PDF version of this title here (108 pages, 5 MB).
Courtesy : Microsoft
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Admit Cards for IPO & LGO Exam 2013 being held on Sept 14-15, 2013
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Admit Cards for IPO & LGO Exam 2013 being held on Sept 14-15, 2013
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Identification of Pensioners Associations under the Pensioners' Portal
zF.No.55/12/2013·P&PW(C)
Government of India
Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi
************
Identification of Pensioners Associations under the Pensioners' Portal - A Mission Mode Project under NeGP.
Under the above project this Department has already identified 30 Pensioners Associations on the basis of the following criteria. These Associations are given one time hardware/software and Grant-in-Aid up to Rs.75,000/- per annum to participate in the implementation of the scheme to defray expenses on certain approved components such as telephone/internet connection, stationary etc.
This Department now intends to identify about 20 more Pensioners Associations in a phased manner i.e. 10 Pensioners Associations during 2013-14 and further 10 Pensioners Associations during 2014-15 from various States. Preference will however be given to Central Government Pensioners Associations from the unrepresented States, which are Himachal Pradesh, Goa, North Eastern State (except Assam) and Union Territories, looking after the welfare of Civil/Railways/Defence pensioners. The Central Government Pensioners Associations desirous of getting identified under the Pensioners Portal may send their details as indicated below along with copies of relevant documents with reference to above criteria along with a write up on their vision/ plan to work towards welfare of Central Government Pensioners to Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare at the address given above within 30 days from date of publication of advertisement in newspapers. Super scribing - "Identification under Pensioners Portal"
(a) Name of Pensioners' Association with Address etc.
(b) Date of Registration/ incorporation
(c) MOA& rules, if any
(d) Objectives of the Association
(e) Sources of funding
(f) Total membership of the Association
(g) Audited Accounts for last 3 years
(h) Annual Activities Report for last 3 years
(i) Publication/journal details
(j) Composition of General Body
(k) No of General Body Meetings held
(1) Premises (whether hired or owned) by the Association
(m) Infra-structural details
(n) With whom the Association interact frequently
(c) MOA& rules, if any
(d) Objectives of the Association
(e) Sources of funding
(f) Total membership of the Association
(g) Audited Accounts for last 3 years
(h) Annual Activities Report for last 3 years
(i) Publication/journal details
(j) Composition of General Body
(k) No of General Body Meetings held
(1) Premises (whether hired or owned) by the Association
(m) Infra-structural details
(n) With whom the Association interact frequently
(Tripti P. Ghosh)
Director (PP)
Source: http://pensionersportal.gov.in
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/PA_090913.pdf]
[http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/PA_090913.pdf]
Via : http://karnmk.blogspot.in/
Central Administrative Tribunal relief on Pension for 16 Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research Employees
zChennai: The Madras bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal has directed the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, to provide GPF and other benefits under Central civil service (pension) rules 1972 to 16 employees absorbed as temporary workers in 1999.
In a petition, K. Punniyakoti of Kalpakkam and 15 others prayed for a direction to the Central government and IGCAR to extend to them the benefit of pension under the old government pension scheme.
The petitioners contended that they were granted temporary status in 1999. On September 9, 2008, they were appointed as casual labourers in the grade of ‘helper A’.
As per the order, 50 per cent of the service rendered under temporary status would be counted for retirement benefits.
After rendering three years of continuous service after conferment of temporary status, the casual labourers would be treated on a par with group D employees for the purpose of contribution to general provident fund.
They were appointed in temporary category and subsequently regularised between May 2005 and November 2005.
Meanwhile, the government introduced the new pension scheme in April 2004 and the employees who joined service after January 1, 2004 were to be be covered under the new scheme.
In its reply, IGCAR argued that the employees who joined service after January 1, 2004 would be governed by the new pension scheme.
Employees who joined service prior to January 1, 2004 were governed by the general provident fund/contributory provident fund as per the Central civil service (pension) rules 1972.
The judicial member of the bench, B. Venkateswara Rao directed IGCAR to apply provisions of the Central civil service (pension) rules 1972 in respect of the employees and extend benefit under GPF rules. The bench also directed IGCAR to deduct monthly subscription regularly without interruption. The order is to be complied with within two months.
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Minutes of the meeting taken by Member (P) regarding restructuring of Inspector Posts cadre
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