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Billionaire; one of Indias richest men; tech entrepreneur; self-made man; Padma Shri awardee perhaps you have heard of Sridhar Vembu (54) by one of the above descriptions. Though, when you speak to him, you are struck by his genuine nature.

Despite being clearly unwell Sridhar didnt reschedule our call and spoke with courtesy and patience, simply because he had made a commitment.

He has set up Zoho offices in two rural centers in Indiaone in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, and the other in Renigunta in Andhra Pradeshwith 7000 of its employees working out of these offices.

Zoho Corp is a web-based online office suite containing word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, databases, note-taking, wikis, web conferencing, customer relationship management, project management, invoicing and other applications. In addition it also has schools and vocational centres as a part of its conglomerate. His long-term plan is to have many more of its 8,800 India-based employees working out of non-urban India.

While much has been written about his story, some aspects of the way he thinks about business, economy, and development is quite differentiated. Excerpts from the interview.

Q Was your decision to move business to the hinterland spurred by business or emotional reasons, especially since connectivity, a decade ago, was not like what it is today?

A Its been a mix of both. I have always felt that in the long term, urban areas are increasingly unviable from a quality of life and cost of living perspective. That for me was a push factor out of urban areas. One of the things that tends to happen is that people fail to look for solutions, but seem eager to complain. Overcrowded cities, pollution issues, and yet people seem to throng to the cities.

You come to the rural areas and you immediately get drawn to the space and pollution free atmosphere it provides. So, theres a push and pull factor push to move away from cities and pull towards hinterland. I set up operations in Tenkasi almost a decade ago, which was a very carefully studied decision. By 2019 I decided to massively expand this set-up and was also considering freezing the headcount in Chennai and moving to other smaller offices. The COVID-19 pandemic in a way only accelerated this thought process.

Q While you revolutionised employment, given that you had the opportunity to study abroad, what in your opinion can be done about the current education system in India?

A In our entire system, we look down upon manufacturing and that is something that needs to change. Because of this disdain, even something as small as a nail cutter is something that we do not have the know-how to make. At the school level and even business level we need to lay a lot of emphasis on learning these basics. Practical, implementable things are what we are looking to teach at our schools at Zoho. Most kids will tell you that they do not enjoy the current system that they are forced to be in, and thats all the more reason why this needs to be changed.

While parents acknowledge this flaw, no one is willing to break out of that mould either. So, its a catch-22 situation. Change, I believe, will not come from the middle class but from those in Indias hinterland. A rural school start-up that will provide free education and food, and one that does not believe in marks, degrees or any certificates is what I am seeking to create.

Q What can be done to ensure self-sufficiency in villages such that people refrain from migrating to urban areas?

A There will always be some amount of migration and the question we need to ask is how can we curb mass migration? There is enough infrastructure in rural India to support the quality of life that one might seek. There is also enough population within a 20km radius to have all the top-class infrastructure and services that are available in urban centres. The problem is the lack of vision. With disposable income will come the establishment of all the services that one can get in the cities. In the kind of economic development scenario, I envision, the reasons why people tend to migrate tend to go away over a period of time.

Q Could you speak about some of the challenges and opportunities that one is likely to face when starting a business?

A Honestly, there wasnt such a big challenge in starting the business or the school. The bigger challenge is to have the boldness to pursue the path you set out on. What Im trying to do now is take a model of education that has worked elsewhere and fine-tune it to suit the needs of India. The idea is to work towards self-reliance. Take a very small part of a large machine as an example. We should be able to produce it ourselves without giving any excuses. Figure out everything that is needed to make that part and stick to it for a few years to be able to do it very well.

Be consistent and stay the course. As entrepreneurs, we need to start thinking like makers and not just vendors. We need to get down and be able to do the work ourselves.

(Edited by Yoshita Rao)

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A Billionaire Who Left the US to Help Indian Villages Make Software for the World - The Better India

A new image claims to offer our first real world look at Apple's next-generation AirPods. The image, shared by 52audio, showcases both AirPods and the charging case for what the site claims to be the third iteration of the wireless earbuds.

52audio has in the past shared images claiming to showcase different parts of the third-generation AirPods. Most notably, the site in November shared an x-ray image claiming to be the new AirPods, however, it was later proven to be faked and simply a compressed x-ray image of the current-generation AirPods Pro.

The image shared today, however, is in line with what we know so far about the third-gen AirPods. Bloomberg has reported that the new AirPods will take design cues from the AirPods Pro by having a smaller stem and silicone eartips, but they will reportedly lack high-end features such as Active Noise Cancelation.

According to 52audio and a provided caption of the leaked image, the new AirPods will feature a pressure-relieving system, the same technology featured in the AirPods Pro. The system is meant to equalize pressure within your ear to remove any discomfort from using the AirPods for a prolonged period of time. Based on the image, the charging case will be less rectangular than the case that comes with the AirPods Pro, and more in keeping with the original AirPods case, but with the addition of an LED charging indicator on the front.

The third-generation AirPods may also be borrowing touch controls from the AirPods Pro. According to accompanying 3D renders from 52audio, each new earbud will feature touch control surfaces, instead of the single and double-tap controls on the current AirPods (first and second generation).

The new AirPods are expected to offer the same five hours of continuous audio playback as the second-generation AirPods, according to the latest report. This differs from details provided earlier by Bloomberg, however, which claims that Apple is looking to improve battery life on the new model beyond the current five hours of audio playback. Additionally, the new report claims that Spatial Audio support, a feature currently exclusive to the AirPods Pro, is "highly" probable for the new AirPods.

Apple analysts Ming-Chi Kuo said in November that mass production for the new AirPods will take place in the first half of the year. According to 52audio, the new AirPods are set to debut at the beginning of March. This week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman poured cold water on speculation that Apple will hold an event on March 16. He did however leave the door open for an event on another date in March.

Leaker Jon Prosser, who has a mixed-track record when it comes to reporting on Apple's plans, recently reported that an event on March 16 (now unlikely) will headline AirTags and new iPads. Apple released the AirPods Pro via a press release in 2019, so it remains to be seen how and when Apple will release the next-generation AirPods.

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Alleged Leaked Image Claims to Show Third-Generation AirPods and Case - MacRumors

FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java. The recent development has hopefully turned it into high productivity tool. We are proud that the operation and navigation of FreeMind is faster than that of MindManager because of one-click "fold / unfold" and "follow link" operations.

So you want to write a completely new metaphysics? Why don't you use FreeMind? You have a tool at hand that remarkably resembles the tray slips of Robert Pirsig, described in his sequel to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance called Lila. Do you want to refactor your essays in a similar way you would refactor software? Or do you want to keep personal knowledge base, which is easy to manage? Why don't you try FreeMind? Do you want to prioritize, know where you are, where you've been and where you are heading,as Stephen Covey would advise you? Have you tried FreeMind to keep track of all the things that are needed for that?

Did FreeMind make you angry? Write a complaint.

See Download.

Get yourself what more than 4 000 users download each day. stats

New beta FreeMind 1.1.0-Beta2. For the overview of new features, see here: FreeMind 1.1.0: The New Features. See also: Open-Discussion Page with download link (Mac users see below!) (7 Feb 2016).

New beta FreeMind 1.1.0-Beta1. For the overview of new features, see here: FreeMind 1.1.0: The New Features. See also: Open-Discussion Page with download link (Mac Mountain Lion users see below!) (22 Jun 2015).

New release FreeMind 1.0.1 available for download. It is a bug fix release for 1.0.0. For details see the Open-Discussion Page ('Mac Mountain Lion users see below!) (12 Apr 2014).'http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&action=protect

New Release FreeMind 1.0.0 available (19 OCt 2013). The release has a lot of new functions (in comparison with the 0.9.0 release two years ago). Especially clones, collaboration and geographical maps are the major new functions. The most important usability addition is the spell checker (thanks to Eike). For an overview over new features, see FreeMind 1.0.0: The New Features.

Information for Mac Maverick (10.9) and Mountain Lion (10.8) Users (20 Aug 2012). After the download, the operating system reports that the application has not been signed and reminds you that the default security preferences prevent you from running such applications. There is an easy workaround, namely control-clicking on the icon and selecting Open.

FreeMind has made it as the finalist for the 2009 Community Choice Award in the category "Most likely to change the way you do everything"!! Thanks for your trust in our project.

To run FreeMind, do one of the following.

You can view mind maps created with FreeMind now in your web browser, if you have Java 1.4 installed.

Current users of FreeMind use it for the following purposes:

Apart from other things, this release of FreeMind features:

Weak spots include:

FreeMind is free software and open source software, licensed under GNU GPL V2+ (GNU General Public License), where "V2+" means "version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version". Basically, that means that you are free to use FreeMind to whatever purpose you want without paying for that, and that any code derived from current FreeMind's code must also be licensed under GPL V2+. See also Licensing.

Ask a question on FreeMind's Help forum. Also, consider looking at the collection of asked questions, using the search function of your browser. If you're unlike most of computer users, you may also consider reading the documentation, accessible from the menu Help > Documentation; press Ctrl + F to search through the documentation. For Linux users, FreeMind on Linux page may be helpful.

Documentation available includes the following.

To achieve that which FreeMind offers, you can use variety of tools.

Several people have substantially contributed to the development of FreeMind, including the following.

Many other people have contributed.

FreeMind team uses:

Drop us a line saying that you like FreeMind. You can do it on our Thank you for the music forum - just start a new thread and click "Post commment"; it's really easy. We are always glad to read that someone finds FreeMind useful. This definitely increases our motivation. Also, we appreciate to read what attracts you on FreeMind, and what is your most important case of use of FreeMind.

Please, address any questions with problems to the Help forum.

What users say about FreeMind includes the following.

Krishna Teja, 24.3.2011:For about 6 years I have only been [i]dreaming[/i] of organizing my life insome manner. There are far too many variables and unknowns, and I never knew[b]how or where to begin organizing[/b]. After 6 years of procrastination anda catastrophic crash in life, I hit mind maps and FreeMind. It looks like thesearch is over, I can now organize my thoughts in one place and get a clearpicture of my own life. The flexibility of the software is only limited by one'simagination. [b]Hats off to the team[/b] for contributing this gem to the opensource world. After only days of using this software I can say its the bestthing since sliced bread. My joy is boundless. I hope to stick to FreeMind throughoutmy life to organize stuff.

Krishna Teja,Hyderabad INDIA

Petr: 31 Jan 2009:

Subject: my second brain

did not know i have second one... until i've found freemind. no more feelinglike an idiot on morning company meeting after a big hangover - just ten minuteslong look on mindmap and you're back in saddle, ready to go champion! not evenmentioning other pluses it has in ordinary work situations, of course:) whati want is to say big THANK YOU

Andrea, 25.7.2008: I rediscovered Freemind last week while my proposal for a multi million USDcontract was being reviewed in a tender in a ministry.The reviewer was keeping all details under perfect control at lightspeed, givinghard times to us proposers noticing every single missing or glitch in ourdocuments.

How could he be doing this?

I just asked: mind mapping software was the response. He made a big mind mapof the whole proposal and checked all the nodes one by one. As easy as this.

Well, I was fascinated, after passing the tender review (YESSSSSSS!!!) I justbrowsed my PC where freemind was sitting quiet since a couple of years. I justlaunched it and applied it to my current project: a BIG software system deliveryto an important bank.

Guys, in 3 days I made a perfect job in tracking activities, preparing projectstatus meeting, todo lists, reports, software test result diagrams... I'm justamazed.

>From now on I'll use it for everything.

Thanks for this precious piece of software.

Rich, 14.4.2004: First off, congratulations on a truly awesome application with a fantastically intuitive interface... I thought I'd spend 10 minutes evaluating it but I had so much fun I ended up playing for hours - I even missed lunch!

Daniel, 1.2.2003: How do I know that FreeMind is a high productivity tool? The answer is I don't. I am using FreeMind on daily basis and am very satisfied with the benefits it brings me. What I really consider important is that when I use FreeMind, most of the time I don't have toask myself "how do I do this thing in FreeMind", but I rather just do what I need without thinking about it. FreeMind makes my task of collecting, organizing and analyzing information on a given topic much easier.

James, 14.10.2002: Now, having tried out the new release, I can tell you: It's brilliant! Well done!

Henning, 21.11.2002: I recently started using FreeMind and I'm rather delightet. After getting to known it, it immediately became one of my every-day-use-tools.

Joe, 20.1.2003: I downloaded Freemind several months ago and it has become a vital part of my daily activites. I am enormously grateful for the program.

Paul, 9.2.2003: What a splendid piece of work!

Tom, 13.2.2003: I appreciate version 6.1 very much. Having the DnD capability into and out of my emails has now made Freemind the source document for my management work. 6.1 is stable, simple and elegant in text, lines, and manipulation. I prefer such elegance to commercial versionsbecause I have work to do, not time to make things look better. This is a superb complexity organizer.

I also use it at home to capture my martial arts learning as I head towards ablack belt. I put in the basic movements and the katas or arranged groups ofmovements. I use that when I practice at home.

Perry, 10.4.2003: I have been using FreeMind for two or three months now, and find it totally indispensable! I simply can't say enough good things about how it has helped me get on top of an overwhelming workload. I've tried task managers and project managers ad-nauseam, and they areeither too simplistic or too cumbersome.

See more of positive reactions on Thank you for the music forum.

So you want to know what electronic press has to say about FreeMind? FreeMind has been reviewed in the following articles and blogs.

See more at marketing page.

This website also features the following pages.

Forums ~Requests for enhancements ~Import and export ~Flash browser ~FreeMindPDA ~Freemind Win Collab ~Sandbox ~ Documentation efforts ~Plugins ~Short patches ~Tutorial effort ~User.properties

Read the rest here:
Main Page - FreeMind

17-02-2021 | Pervasive Displays | Subs & Systems

Pervasive Displays has launched the EXT3 extension kit and evaluation board, with support for its complete range of iTC ultra-low-power e-paper displays for commercial, industrial and retail applications, together with extensive software libraries to assist in reducing its customers engineering effort.

Many manufacturers are contemplating moving away from TN/STN displays to an ultra-low power e-paper alternative, where the image on the screen may be maintained without using any power. The kit assists engineering teams in evaluating e-paper technology before making system-level decisions. This incorporates determining which host microcontroller to employ, what screen size and colour to select, and the amount or type of memory required to achieve an optimal user experience.

The kit offers a simple way to accomplish these design objectives. It gives a convenient way to interface a host microcontroller and optional touch-sensitive panel to any of the company's E-Ink displays that utilise its internal timing controller technology. This covers its black/white and the black/white/red displays offered in multiple screen sizes and dimensions, from the 1.54" Aurora to the 12.2" Spectra.

The new EXT3 board provides a simpler way of evaluating the many features and benefits of EPD technology, including fast and partial update, said Charming Su, senior VP at Pervasive Displays. Engineers can use the extension board to connect their preferred MCU to any of our iTC-based displays with hardly any additional engineering effort. This makes evaluation and development easier and reduces the customers time to market.

Read more:
New extension board supports all EPDs and an extensive free software library - Electropages

This year, BSUs campus is closed to the public, and only a handful of those Tax I and II students are actually in Bemidji, so this vital assistance will be provided virtually -- and it is vital -- as 2020 has brought to light some unique tax situations.

Generally, the VITA program is only geared toward individuals making less than $57,000 per year, the elderly, persons with disabilities and those who speak limited English. However, during the pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service has launched a new program -- FSA (facilitated self-assistance) -- of which BSU is a facilitator, and its open to anyone, regardless of income status.

This program, BSU adjunct faculty of accountancy Sandra Kranz explained, allows Americans of any level of income to download and use the software Tax Slayer to file their taxes for free.

They are opening it up to anybody, any income level. Essentially what they are doing is offering the ability to use that software for free and e-file for free, both federal and state, Kranz said. Its like other software preparation that you can pay for, that lets you just answer questions and it prepares your return for you. This is the same kind of thing, and its free.

It is being launched in our tax district -- which is Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, I believe -- and were the only (district) in the United States thats offering it right now.

She explained the program is in its first year, and if it works well, the IRS is hoping they can roll it out to the whole country next year.

Providing tax help through the VITA program is beneficial for not only community members, but also the accounting students.

Every year when (the students) first have to do this VITA and help people, they are always scared to death, Kranz explained with a laugh. Theyre always like, Oh my word, oh my word, what if I do something wrong?

Kranz said she loves the program because of how rewarding it is to see the students start to use what they have been learning and be able to apply it to real life situations.

Usually, within a week or two they are comfortable with it, she said. Most of them enjoy it because you really feel like youre helping people out.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, students will answer community members questions via email as they file their own taxes through the free FSA program. Only four of the Tax II students are even currently in Bemidji, Kranz said, the rest are all in their home communities due to classes being online. Kranz said volunteers will reply with an answer to each question within 24 to 48 hours.

Our students in Tax I and Tax II have to pass certification exams that the IRS puts out, and they will be available to people to ask questions as they are filing their taxes themselves, Kranz explained. Our students will answer those questions that are within the typical scope of VITA. If you are making a million dollars and using that software, we might not be able to answer your questions.

Students wont be hung out to dry if they are unsure. Kranz and assistant professor of business administration Jeffrey Everhart will be standing by to help.

Jeff and I, well be back-up to them if they have questions about the questions, Kranz said.

For some, taxes may be a tad more complicated this year. From stimulus checks to student loan forbearance to PPP loans and unemployment, there are a number of things to consider that may come into play when filing tax returns.

Kranz said one of the more important things for people to know is that people will have the opportunity to indicate whether or not they received economic stimulus payments.

There is a spot to indicate whether or not you got a stimulus payment and how much you got. You dont have to pay it back, you dont have to pay tax on it or anything, but if you put it in there, then they will calculate how much you should have gotten, and if you didnt get that much, they will add it to your refund, Kranz said. If for some reason you got overpaid, they will not take it back, so you dont have to be afraid.

The unemployment is taxable, Im sorry to say, Kranz added. If you received unemployment, you will get a statement from the state that tells you how much you got in unemployment, and you do have to include that in your taxable income. Its sad but its true.

Those interested in either the FSA Tax Slayer software, the VITA tax help, or both, can visit the BSU website for more information. To access the software download link and connect with assistance, send an email to VITAFreeTaxInfo@bemidjistate.edu. The address will send an automated email response with more information.

The email will include what information you will need -- W2s, past tax returns, etc. -- to begin filing your taxes, as well as information regarding the software.

The IRS began accepting and processing tax returns on Feb. 12, and students will be available Monday through Thursday from now until April 15 to offer support via email to anyone with tax questions within the scope of VITA.

If returns are outside of this scope, taxpayers will need to identify other opportunities for support, such as contacting the IRS directly, working with a professional tax preparation service, or using a commercial self-guided tax preparation service such as TurboTax, according to BSUs website, however, anyone can request to use the free software from BSU, Kranz said.

Student assistants will never require or ask for a social security number, home address, other identification, nor solicit a payment.

To connect with assistance and for hours of service, visit bemidjistate.edu and search for VITA.

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Bemidji State University students at the ready to help with tax prep - Bemidji Pioneer