Top 13 must have Android Apps on your phone

Today Android is the most used mobile operating system in the world. It is developed by Google. Sony, Nokia, HTC, Blackberry, Motorola and many other cell phone manufactures ship cells with android.

It is a one of the major competitor to the Apple iPhone and many other cell phone manufacturing companies providing their particular mobile OS.

It is an Open Source Mobile Operating System and has more than 2,00,000 free applications. Some of the best androidapps for your phone are listed below.

1. Advanced Task Killer

Android phones are capable of running more than one application at a time. This can Slow down the phone performance, but Advanced Task Killer helps by aborting the background running process at a click.

2. Evernote

Evernote is an app which is used in both computers as well as cell phones. You can easily find and search for you notes using Evernote. Also the ones made using your desktop PC. You can Capture your Ideas, Inspirations and Experiences using Evernote for android.

3. Fring

Fring is an android app using which a user can make calls, video calls and instant messages worldwide to their family and friends. The plus point of Fring is that it can communicate with users who are not a Fring member, also it is absolutely free of cost with more than ten million users worldwide.

4. FxCamera

You don’t need a 5MP camera for better photos if you have FxCamera. This applications have many filters and supports editing of photos. It can take snaps in special effects like ToyCam, Fisheye, Polandroid, SymmetriCam, Warhol, and Normal.

5. Gmote

Gmote turns your android phone to a remote control of your PC. Download Gmote to your device and Gmote Server to your PC. Connect both of them and you are done. It supports standard features like Play, Pause, Rewind, Volume Control, etc and also has a built-in browser to help you select what to play easily sitting at a distance.

6. Google Earth

Now Google Earth is available for android. Using it you can explore the world in your plam. Its features are Exploring in 3D, Local Search, My Location, Search by voice, Multi Touch, Layers. Not all the phone running android have a Google Earth supports. Phones having android 2.1+ version of android are supported.

7. Google Goggles

It searches information of the photo or a picture provided to it. If you see any landmark or product and want information about it just use Goggles and it will give you everything. Also it can read bar code of the products and helps you find similar products.

8. Google Maps

Google Maps as everyone know about it is now available for android based phones. You can use it to route your path, find place and paths using the maps on the Google servers at any place using your phone.

9. Opera Mini

The developers of Opera Mini have now launched a final version for android phones. It can be set as a default browser and pages outside the browser can be loaded using opera min. Its compression gives smaller bill amount. It has features like Tabs, Speed-Dial Navigation, Minimise Downloads and Opera Link.

10. Palringo

Palringo is an instant messaging app. You can connect to MSN, Yahoo, Gtalk, ICQ and many others. You never miss any chat with the notifications on your phone. You can share your location plus it supports rich media communication.

11. Pandora Radio

Pandora Radio is Internet Radio app. Just type in your favourite artist, composer or band and it will create a station which plays their songs and if you are an existing user of Pandora you can use you sync stations along with many new available.

12. XnView

XnView is a multi-format graphic browser. It can view more than 400 types of graphic file types also have options like thumbnail and preview.

13. WeFi

WeFi is an app which automatically finds and cconnects to the wi-fi spot near you. It also have its own Wi-Fi network around the world to access internet from anywhere. It has an inbuilt IM for your Buddy list. If you are frustrated searching for a Wi-Fi connectivity around you try this for free Wi-Fi connectivity.

All of the above apps are absolutely free and can be easily used with your Android phone. You can click on the name of the app to get more information and to download them.

courtesy: Zubin Rathod is Author at DW

Amendment in CCS (Leave) Rules, 1972

The Central Government has amended the leave rules from time to time according to the situation in Government services. When unusual type with clarifications and doubts has been received from various Departments/Ministries by the Dopt, they consult with the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in relation to persons serving in the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, finally the amendment in CCS Rules has been approved by the President of India.

In recently, after 6th CPC more than three times amendment has made in these rules. In the middle of this year the Department of Personnel and Training issued an notification related to the above said matter, an amendment has been made in the Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972 in rule 27 in sub rule (2), for clause (b), the following clauses may be substituted, namely:-

“(b) When a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service, credit of earned leave shall be allowed at the rate of 2¹⁄₂ days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service :

(c) When a Government Servant dies while in service, credit of earned leave shall be allowed at the rate of 2¹⁄₂ days per completed month of service up to the date of death of the Government Servant.”

3. In the said rules, in rule 29, in sub-rule (2), for clause (c), the following clauses shall be substituted, namely :-

“(c) When a Government servant is removed or dismissed from service, credit of half pay leave shall be allowed at the rate of 5/3 days per completed calendar month up to the end of the calendar month preceding the calendar month in which he is removed or dismissed from service :

(ca) When a Government Servant dies while in service, credit of half pay leave shall be allowed at the rate of 5/3 days per completed month of service up to the date of death of the Government Servant.

The above subject has been published as the title of “Gazette of India – Notification” in the official website of Dopt on 12th May, 2011.

Courtesy : http://cgstaffnews.com

Book Your E-Tickets Sitting At Home

Booking of train e tickets has become very simple and convenient now. Just follow the simple steps and you are ready to travel

Booking of train e tickets has become very simple and convenient now. Just follow the simple steps and you are ready to travel

· Log on to www.irctc.co.in

· Create your user ID and password by registering in the website. (First Time Only)

· Enter travel and passenger details in simple steps.

· Pay on line. We have the widest range of payment options on any site:

· Credit Cards : - We accept Visa, Master, Amex and Diners

· Debit Cards : - (42 major cards)

· Net Banking : - (19 major banks)

· Cash Cards : - (ITZ Cash Card, Done Cash Card, I-Cash Card, Oxicash Card)

· Take a print out of your ticket or Save Paper by carrying just a screen shot of the e-ticket which you can display in your laptop, tabs or mobile phones.

· Carry your proof of identity during the journey. ((Voter Identity Card / Passport / PAN Card / Driving License / Photo ID card issued by Central / State Govt /Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized School or College for their students /Nationalised Bank Passbook with photograph /Credit Cards issued by Banks with laminated photograph

Book Your E-Tickets Through Your Agent Outlet

· IRCTC has a network of about 1,50,000 authorized agent outlets across the country for the convenience of its customers.

· Details of authorized agent outlets are available on the IRCTC website www.irctc.co.in. You can check the list of agent outlets of your area by entering your area Postal PIN Code.

· While visiting an IRCTC agent make sure that: -

· You visit a genuine IRCTC authorized agent outlet - IRCTC authorization letter should be prominently displayed.

· Demand for a requisition form to fill up the details and always ask for a receipt for all your bookings / cancellations.

· Check that the service charges levied by IRCTC are displayed. If not, you may ask for the same.

While Collecting Your E-ticket, Please Check: -

· Check whether you mobile number is printed on the e-ticket. Mobile number is mandatory for all passengers. All agents are required to enter the passengers mobile number.

· Soon after booking the e-ticket, you will receive a SMS from IRCTC on this number with details of your bookings including the fare and service charge. Cross check your e-ticket charges with the SMS received from IRCTC.

· Services Charges per e-ticket (Charges are per ticket irrespective of number of passengers on the ticket)

	IRCTC Service Charges	Agent Service Charges	Total
AC I, II and III	Rs. 20.00	Rs. 20.00	Rs. 40.00
Sleeper Class	Rs. 10.00	Rs. 10.00	Rs. 20.00

· There are no additional charges for printing of tickets or stationery charges.

· If the agent demands more than the prescribed service charge, you may lodge a complaint in the e-mail ids of agentcomplaint@irctc.co.in or care@irctc.co.in or call us at 011-39340000 / 23344787.

· All e-tickets should have the name of the agent outlet booking the ticket along with address, contact number and name of the Principal Agent.

· E-tickets can be cancelled through the same agent outlet without any additional service charges for cancellation.

Never Buy Tatkal E-tickets from Agents between 8 AM To 9 AM

· The Tatkal tickets are made available to the passengers through the IRCTC website www.irctc.co.in and the railway reservation counter on first come first serve basis.

· Between 8AM To 9AM, the website is open exclusively for individual users who wish to buy Tatkal e-tickets on line as the agents are barred from booking Tatkal tickets during that time.

· If it is found that you are traveling with Tatkal tickets booked by agents between 8AM to 9AM, your ticket is liable to be cancelled.

Never Book Tickets With Fictitious Names

If you are found travelling with tickets under fictitious names, your e-ticket is liable to be cancelled by the Railway Administration and penal action may be initiated.

Note: - IRCTC Agents are only authorized to book e-tickets (print out on plain paper). I-tickets (provided on Railway Ticket Stationery) cannot be sold by them.

Cancellation Process: -

Before Train Chart Preparation:

· E-Tickets can be cancelled on Internet till Chart preparation of the train.

· Log on to www.irctc.co.in and go to "Booked Tickets" link and select the ticket to be cancelled and can initiate the cancellation by selecting the passengers to be cancelled.

Cancellation of e-Tickets after the preparation of Reservation charts:

· After chart preparation, users have to file the online Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) and track Status of the refund case through tracking service provided by IRCTC. Refund is credited to Customers Bank account after receipt from Railways.

Refund of Wait Listed Tickets: -

The ticket in which on one PNR, all the passengers are on waitlist, PNRs are dropped from the reservation charts and money is refunded in respective bank account electronically

Courtesy: IRCTC Vigilance

Negative List updated upto 31/08/2011

Negative List updated upto 31/08/2011 is now available at PTC Mysore FTP Site

Click to : Download from PTC, Mysore

Source : http://www.tamilnadupost.nic.in/sdc/sblan.ht

CBSE to launch four New Vocational Courses

To boost vocational education and to make it more scientific and market oriented, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is going to launch four new vocational subjects from 2012. The subjects to be taught from class XI onwards are logistics management, retail management, paramedic and design and will be modular and credit based. The certificate awarded will also specify the specific skill sets the students acquire.

According to CBSE, the new courses to be offered will be based on number of hours and divided over specific modules with each module carrying specific credits. Each module will offer a specific skill set so that even if out of seven modules a student completes four, he/she will have credits for those modules and would have acquired certain skill sets.

"The idea is to make it scientific. The number of hours for the vocational courses can be credited which would help in case a student wants to shift to another course," said CBSE chairman, Vineet Joshi. "Moreover, the new courses will be based on the standards set by the National Skill Development Corporation which is now working on national occupational standards in various areas, which means it is specifying jobs and the necessary corresponding skill sets required," Joshi said.

"The credits will also help these students if they go for higher studies to institutions where credit system is accepted and equivalent credits can be measured," said Joshi.

Meanwhile, according to sources from ministry for human resource development, CBSE will also launch a vocational course in IT from class IX as a pilot project in Haryana from 2012.

Courtesy : Timesofindia dtd 03/11/2011

Meeting of the committee for looking into promotional prospects of IPOs/ASPOs constituted under the Chairpersonship of Member(P)-regarding.

As notified by the Department, I along with Sh. Dinesh Khare, President and Sh. Hari Mohan, CS, Punjab Circle Branch attended the meeting. The same was held under the chairpersonship of the Member(P).

It was apprised to us that data called from Circles on 20-10-2011 has not been received so far from Bihar, J&K, Rajasthan, UP& Uttrakhand Circles.It was disclosed by the official side that about 500 posts of ASP will be upgraded into PS Group"B" cadre and remaining posts of ASP will be amalgamated with the posts of IP in order to make it comparable with the Inspectors in CBDT/CBEC and to allow GP of Rs.4600/- for the amalgamated cadre. At present, 1765 incumbents are working in ASP Grade.

On our demand for allowing Gazetted status for the existing incumbents as on date in ASP grade, it was categorically made clear by the Chairperson that it is not possible to allow the same. However, she agreed to allow nomenclature of ASP without Gazetted Status for the present incumbents. By creation of additional posts in PS Group "B' cadre, the existing incumbents in ASP Grade will get absorbed in Group'B' cadre to the extent of 500 posts and some of them get retired over a period of time so that within a span of 4 years there will no ASP Grade in IP cadre and only feeder cadre of IP with GP of Rs.4600/- will remain for promotion to PS Group"B"/Sr. Postmaster as in case of other analogous post of CBDT/CBEC.

It was agreed that next meeting will be fixed only after the All India Conference at Bangalore during Jan 2012. In that meeting, the Association has to submit its proposal in black and white on the issue of merger of IP&ASP with Non Gazetted status in the larger interest of the IP cadre.

We are of the view that this is the right opportunity to get restructuring of the IP cadre and also to increase its promotional avenues in the larger and long run benefit to cadre in the form of MACP.

Source : http://postalinspectors.blogspot.com

Tips for an Exceptional, Superb & Powerful Life!

1.) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate antidepressant.

2.) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.

3.) Always pray and make time to exercise.

4.) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 And under the age of Six.

5.) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants And eat less foods that are manufactured in Plants.

6.) Drink green tea and
plenty of water. Eat broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

7.) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

8.) Clear your clutter from your house, car, desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

9.) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.
Instead, Invest your energy in the positive present moment.

10.) Realize that life is a school and you are here To learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class .......but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

11.) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a layman And dinner like a begger ..

12.) Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

13.) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

14.) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15.) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

16.) Make peace with
your past so it won't screw up the present.

17.) Don't compare your life to others'. You have no Idea what their journey is all about.

18.) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented Candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good China and wear fancy clothes now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Every day is special.

19.) No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

20.) Frame every so-called disaster with these Words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

21.) Forgive everyone for everything.

22.) What other people think of you is none of your Business.

23.) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time!

24.) However good or bad a situation is, it will Change.

25.) Your job won't take care of you when you are Sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them.

26.) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

27.) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all You need.
God provides, remember?!

28.) The best is yet to come.

29.) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

30.) Do the right thing!

31.) Call your family often.

32.) Each night before you go to bed complete the Following statements: 'I am thankful for __________.' Today I accomplished _________.

33.) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

34.) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast Pass. You only have one ride through life so make The most of it and enjoy the ride.

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A gift.. that's why it's called PRESENT ... UNWRAP IT! Have a Blessed day

Release of Revised MNOP Script ( dtd 01/11/2011)

It is decided to keep both POS and SpeedNet MNOP Updation Script at a single point download. This script has to be used at all the offices using POS and SpeedNet.

Based on the latest Sorting Extract / Orders received from the Directorate, the Revised MNOP Script is released and the details of the releases are as follows.

This script will contain the entire Hub Master data as per the requirement /modifications - including all the previous revisions. This document shows only the latest revisions.

Steps to Update:

· Take Full Backup of POSPCC DB

· Execute the EXL file through ScriptTool.exe.

· Login to Speednet and check View-> Hub Details option .

Note:

SpeedNet: Script is compulsorily to be updated in all offices using SpeedNet whose Pin Code is covered under Pin Range Modification or New Office addition.

At other SpeedNet offices the script may be executed so that the Hub Details option in the SpeedNet Module, will show the latest MNOP Pin Range for all hubs.

POS: All offices Booking Speed Post Articles have to update the script.

Source : ftp://ftp.ptcinfo.org/ MNOP

'Post Office on Wheels' takes the road

The Department of Posts on Tuesday introduced the 'Post Office on Wheels' project in the city, with the aim to bring the facilities offered by the India Post closer to citizens. As part of the project, a well-equipped van will run through various parts of the city on daily basis offering on-the-spot services. Pune is the first city in the state to run this project.

The van, introduced on Tuesday will cover the West region of the city. The department has plans to expand the services in remaining parts of the city with the introduction of another van in near future.

"The project will benefit senior citizens, housewives as well as the corporates who find it difficult to visit post offices during working hours. The van will now take postal services to the customers," said K C Mishra, postmaster general, Pune region, after inaugurating the project on Tuesday.

The van was flagged off at the hands of Dada J P Vaswani of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission.

Mishra said the van is authorised to handle all types of postal business, including various e-enabled services, opening of new post office saving account, issue of certificates, sale of postcards, sale of postal life insurance, sale of UTI products and all other postal services other than speed post. It is fully equipped, full-fledged computerised post office with all required software and hardware, coupled with UPS and generator backup.

The van will work between 8 am and 8 pm daily and will cover around 30 locations in a week. It will stop at each location for about two hours. A dedicated team of postal staff is deployed to handle the operations.

The van will be at Dhankawadi, Ambegaon, Dattanagar and Satara Road areas on Wednesday. On Thursday, it will be at DP Road and Aundh areas. On Friday, it will visit Baner and Balewadi areas and on Saturday, it will travel in Kothrud and Warje areas. The van will mainly cover residential areas and societies. It will travel to around 30 spots in these areas.

24-hour speed post services

Two post offices in the city - Pune railway stations and the GPO - now offer speed post services for 24 hours, K C Mishra, postmaster general, Pune region, said. Earlier, the service was available only at the Pune railway station. The services are being extended mainly for the benefit of IT professionals, students, and office goers, Mishra said.

Courtesy: TOI dtd 02/11/2011