Review of Samsung Galaxy Tab S2: To buy it or not?

New Delhi :Who said that with new age, technologically advanced and bigger mobiles, tablets are a thing of past? Korean electronics giant Samsung on Sunday released its flagship 9.7” tablet — the Galaxy Tab S2 — which is thinner and lighter than its predecessor. The tablet which is priced at Rs. 42,000 is more comfortable to hold for longer durations. Korean electronics Notably, it is redesigned as an upgrade over the Galaxy Tab S 10.5. Is it better? Definitely, the device is thinner, lighter and thus resulting in a more comfortable tablet which you can hold for longer durations. Also, the superior display and less expensive price makes it stands out automatically. The company has used a technology known as active martix organic LED that helps each pixel to glow on its own thus reducing the necessity of any black light in background and enabling you to use the screens outdoors and in direct sunlight too. It has a density of 264 pixels per inch (ppi) which is much higher in comparison to iPad Air 2 and Microsoft Surface 3. Then talking about the aspect ratio it comes in 4:3 proportion and not 16:10 which means that the display is squarer. If you want to run two applications side by side then the tab makes that possible. Yes, there is one limitation that because this isn’t a standard feature of Android, only a handful apps will support the Split View. The tab’s rear camera takes decent pictures while the front camera is good for video calls or conferencing. It comes with 4G LTE-support, fingerprint sensor and good battery backup. The negative points The design is the negative point i.e. the plastic rear, metal rims and upper glass body looks old and dull. The screen size has also been reduced from 10.5” to 9.7”. Although a squarer display is a boon for productivity, watching video on the 16:10 display is better. Then there is no flash which obviously don’t do justice to pictures. Buy it or not? Prise wise it is reasonable, have a powerful display and fast processor. It can be called the best Android tablet available in the market today. Specifications Samsung Exynos 5433 octa—core 3GB RAM 9.7 inch Super AMOLED (2048 x 1536 pixels resolution, 4:3 aspect ratio) Rear 8 megapixel and 2.1 megapixel front facing camera Android 5.1.1 4G LTE WiFi, MIMO and Bluetooth 4.1 BLE NFC (near field communication) 32GB internal with microSD expansion card support 5,870 mAh battery

It's Official: Google Becomes ALPHABET

"Alphabet is about businesses prospering through strong leaders and independence. In general, our model is to have a strong CEO, who runs each business, with Sergey and me in service to them as needed." With this, founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin combined all Google products and services under one roof - ALPHABET. Revealed in their Google Investor's Blog, the newly formed Public Holding Company ALPHABET would be taking place at the closing of business on October 2, 2015. From now on Google would be the subsidiary of Alphabet and owning all of the outstanding capital stock of Google. Moreover, by implementing a holding company reorganization the "Alphabet Merger" will close today. Until now, the ticker symbol used by Google in the stock market was "GOOG" and "GOOGL" (on NASDAQ), which are kept same even after the merger. This makesGoogle Class C Capital Stock and shares of Google Class A Common Stock being traded as Alphabet Class C Capital Stock and Alphabet Class A Common Stock. The recasting ofBoard of Directorsis done in a way that would comprise: *.Larry Pageas the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) *.Sergey Brinas the President *.Eric E. Schmidtas the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors *.Sundar Pichaias the CEO of Google Further, a noticeable change seen will be, this time the company releases its Q4 financial results in January, i.e. it will report earnings for two different components of Alphabet: 1.Larry Page's Alphabet 2.Sundar Pichai's Google Alphabet includes: *.Calico(life-extension biotech research) *.Nest(smart home products) *.Fiber(high-speed Internet service) *.Ventures(early-stage investing) *.Capital(growth-stage investing) However, the stockholders of Google will not face gain or loss for the United States federal income tax purposes upon the conversion of their shares in the Alphabet Merger.

Leave Amaechi Alone Or We’ll Expose You, Rivers APC Tells PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has told the Acting National Chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to leave former Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, alone or the party would be forced to expose him. Rivers APC issued the threat in a statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt. The party was reacting to the unprovoked attack which Secondus launched on Amaechi on Wednesday while receiving the report of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led committee on how to reform and reposition the former ruling party for the 2019 general elections. Rivers APC said: “We appreciate the agony of Prince Uche Secondus, one of the key architects of PDP’s loss of power after 16 years of misrule. We also understand his frustration in his very difficult assignment of reinventing PDP, a party the death of which he and some other tin gods caused by frustrating Amaechi and other progressives who were the souls of PDP out of the party. It is a pity that PDP has yet to recover from the shock of the departure of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi from the party. Even though we do not intend to go into details of what Prince Uche Secondus and other inner caucus members did to force Amaechi out of the party, we will like to caution him to stop further disparaging of Amaechi as any further attack on Amaechi will force us to alert the world on who Prince Secondus truly is. We wish to warn him that enough is enough.” Rivers APC wondered why Secondus, rather than concentrating on the recommendations of the Ekweremadu committee and addressing the issues raised in the committee’s report on how to get back PDP on track, chose to play to the gallery by asking President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate Amaechi, who has no skeleton in his cupboard unlike him (Secondus) whose cupboard is full of skeletons. The party advised PDP to come to terms with the fact that Amaechi has left the party for good and has joined other great patriotic Nigerians in a better political party that is poised to take Nigeria out of the woods into which the 16 years of the visionless leadership of PDP has plunged the country.

Three more ex-ministers risk arrest for graft, money laundering

: Three more ex-ministers risk arrest for graft, money laundering Three more ministers of the Goodluck Jonathan era are facing possible arrest in the aftermath of Friday’s detention of ex- Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in London for alleged corruption. Although Alison-Madueke and the four other suspects arrested along with her were granted bail same day, tension has already gripped the Jonathan camp following what sources described as threat by the once powerful ex-minister to open up on certain deals which she was directed to execute. She is said to be good at keeping records, including handwritten notes. A source in one of the anti-graft agencies said last night that Mrs. Alison-Madueke is “just one of the few cases of ex-ministers under investigation.” “We have at least about three issues at hand but I will not disclose their names,” the source said, adding, “do not forget that these three cases are outside the matter of ex-Minister Stella Oduah which is stuck in court. We have made our position known on this. “The depletion of the $1billion in Sovereign Wealth Fund by about $700million is one of the priority cases with anti-graft agencies. There are also the issues of reckless granting of tax waivers to oil firms.” The ex-ministers are believed to have been implicated by Permanent Secretaries. They are likely to be quizzed in connection with alleged reckless granting of waivers, depletion of the Sovereign Wealth Fund by $700m without the knowledge of the National Economic Council, and “questionable contracts.” The camp of the former president was in disarray yesterday following the arrest of the ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, investigation showed. Sources said London was thought to be a safe haven for after leaving office in May. Apart from being a Chevening Scholar, courtesy of the British High Commission, it was learnt that security agencies in the UK did not give her any inkling as she was shuttling between Nigeria and the UK. A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Those in Jonathan’s camp felt the ex-president’s visit to President Muhammadu Buhari had created a window for mutual talks and negotiation on alleged graft findings by the new administration. “They did not know that Buhari really meant business to retrieve looted funds. “Actually, some ex-ministers, including Diezani, have already placed their counsel in Nigeria on standby in case of any invitation by anti-graft agencies. Their plan was that the matter would be settled in Nigerian court. “But the arrest of the ex-Minister in London has added a new dimension to the anti-corruption agenda of the Buhari administration. “Those in Jonathan’s camp were shocked by Diezani’s arrest. They have been desperately trying to get in touch with the ex-Minister since yesterday without success. “As at today (yesterday), they are worried that Diezani has cut off contact with everyone, creating fears that she might spill the beans. “The fear in Jonathan’s camp is that Diezani might be given the James Ibori treatment. They are suspecting that she might be tried and convicted in the UK.” A former presidential aide said: “None of us has been able to reach out to Diezani because all her lines are off. She has also not called to share her travails with anybody.” How she was nabbed It was gathered yesterday that the voluntary surrender to the National Crimes Agency (NCA) by a Nigerian oil baron laid the foundation for a comprehensive investigation, and arrest of Diezani. The said oil baron, according to sources, was allegedly fronting for the ex-Minister and may be holding some looted funds in trust for her. It was learnt that following surveillance and monitoring by security agencies, the oil baron confided in a former Head of State who encouraged him to open up to the NCA on all such slush accounts. “The oil magnate voluntarily surrendered to NCA because he knew the game was up. He was not having peace where he was staying in the UK. But the former Head of State assisted in cracking this financial crime.” Mrs. Alison-Madueke and her alleged accomplices are expected to be arraigned in a London court tomorrow. The suspects were questioned for several hours by security agents in London. This came four months after Prime Minister David Cameron pledged Britain’s support for president Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption. Hours after the ex-minister’s arrest, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sealed off her high brow Asokoro,Abuja residence for a search. Sources said the anti corruption agency had a court warrant to conduct the search.

Fayose begins construction of Ekiti Airport

Ekiti State Government yesterday began the construction of the multi-billion naira Airport, as it commenced the clearing of 4000 hectares of land for its effective take off. The Airport project which was approved by the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration in 2009, had suffered set back due to lack of political will for its implementation by previous administrations in the state. Howevert The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has described the airport project being proposed by Governor Ayo Fayose as a “wasteful venture and the most economically unviable project at this period”. The party said embarking on such a gigantic project runs contrary to the governor’s claim that the state has no money expressing fear that the N17 billion project would constitute a huge drainpipe on the state’s “weak economy”. In a statement by its spokesman, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party described the planned project as an avenue to siphon money from the treasury. The project, Olatunbosun said, was mooted by its promoter for the purpose of “characteristic flight of the state funds” as, according to him, offers little or no hope for the local economy.

The Headies 2015 Nominees List

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1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in the year under review. 1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid 2. Eyo – Asa 3. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo 4. Bez – There’s A Fire 5. Cobhams – Do the right Thing 2. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review. 1. Don Jazzy – Godwin (Korede Bello) 2. Mastakraft – Wiser (Flavour) 3. Young John – Bobo (Olamide) 4. Shizzi – Fans Mi (DavidO) 5. Legendury Beatz – Ojuelegba 6. Cobhams – There’s A Fire (Bez) 3. BEST MUSIC VIDEO A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director. 1. Jamb Question (Simi) – Mex 2. Crazy (Seyi Shay) – Meji Alabi 3. The Sound (DavidO Feat. Uhuru & Dj Buckz) – Sesan 4. Katapot (Reekado Banks) – UnLimited LA 5. Baby Jollof (Solid Star Feat. Tiwa Savage) – Clarence Peters 4. BEST R&B/POP ALBUM A category for the best R&B/Pop Album in the year under review (by single individual or group). 1. Bed of Stone – Asa 2. A.Y.O. – Wizkid 3. King of Queens – Yemi Alade 4. Rich & Famous – Praiz 5. Double Trouble – Psquare 5. BEST R&B SINGLE A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group). 1. Heartbeat – Praiz 2. Baby Daddy – Iyanya 3. Say You Love Me – Leriq ft. Wizkid 4. Do the Right Thing – Cobhams Ft. Bez 5. Wish Me Well – Timi Dakolo 6. BEST POP SINGLE A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group) 1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid 2. Collabo – P-Square Feat. Don Jazzy 3. My Woman, My Everything – Patoranking Feat. Wande Coal 4. Woju – Kiss Daniel 5. Godwin – Korede Bello 6. Bobo – Olamide 7. BEST REGGAE/DANCEHALL SINGLE A category for the best Reggae/Dancehall single in the year under review (by single individual or group). 1. German Juice – Cynthia Morgan 2. Sanko – Timaya 3. My Body – Solid Star Feat. Timaya 4. Daniella Whyne – Patoranking 5. Cheques and Balance – Burna Boy 6. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay 8. BEST RAP ALBUM A Non-Voting Category for the Best Album By A Rap Artiste Or Group In Year Under Review. 1. Baba Hafusa – Reminisce 2. Street OT – Olamide 3. Chairman – M.I. 4. Above Ground Level – Modenine 9. BEST COLLABO A voting category for the best R&B, Pop or Hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos). 1. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide & Phyno 2. Hold on – Joe El Feat. 2Face Idibia 3. Bad Girl Special (Remix) – Mr. 2Kay Feat. Cynthia Morgan & Seyi Shay 4. Shoki (Remix) – Lil’Kesh Feat. Olamide & David O 5. Do The right Thing – Cobhams ft. Bez 6. Sisi – Praiz ft. Wizkid 10. BEST RAP SINGLE A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap. 1. King Kong – Vector 2. Bad Belle – M.I 3. Bank Alert – Ill Bliss 4. Local Rapper – Reminisce Feat. Olamide, Phyno & Stomrex 5. G.O.D – T.R 11. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE) A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album. 1. Praiz – If I fall 2. Shaydee – High 3. Timi Dakolo – Wish Me Well 4. Cobhams – Do The Right Thing 5. Bez – There’s A Fire 12. BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE) A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album. 1. Waje – Coco Baby 2. Aramide – Iwo Nikan 3. Asa – Bed of Stone 4. Simi – Tiff 5. Yemi Alade – Duro Timi 13. NEXT RATED This category is a voting category for the most promising upcoming act in the year under review. 1. Reekado Banks 2. Kiss Daniel 3. Cynthia Morgan 4. Korede Bello 5. Lil’ Kesh 14. HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION A voting category for the best new artiste in the year under review. 1. Praiz – Rich n Famous 2. Yemi Alade – King of Queens 3. Skales – Man of the Year 15. LYRICIST ON THE ROLL A non-voting category for the Rap Artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album. 1. Ill Bliss – Bank Alert (remix) Feat. Ice Prince, Eva Alordiah & Phyno 2. Vector – King Kong 3. Reminisce – Baba Hafusa 4. G.O.D – T.R 16. BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should captain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street. 1. Reminisce – Skillashi 2. Olamide – Bobo 3. Small Doctor – Mosquito Killer 4. Mastakraft feat. Olamide, CDQ and David O – Indomie 5. Falz The Bad Guy Feat. Yemi Alade & Poe – Hello Bae 17. BEST ‘ALTERNATIVE’ SONG A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends. 1. Di’Ja – Awwwwww 2. Bez – There’s A Fire 3. Asa – Satan Be Gone 4. Adekunle Gold – Sade 5. Ugovinna – Rain On Me 6. Simi – Tiff 18. ALBUM OF THE YEAR A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges requirements of excellence (Songwriting, production, rendition and promotion) and acceptability (Sales and popularity). 1. Rich n Famous – Praiz 2. King of Queens – Yemi Alade 3. Street OT – Olamide 4. Chairman – M.I. 5. A.Y.O. – Wizkid 6. Double Trouble – P Square 19. ARTISTE OF THE YEAR Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste for the year under review. 1. Olamide 2. David O 3. Wizkid 4. Yemi Alade 5. P-Square 20. SONG OF THE YEAR A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review. 1. Ojuelegba – Wizkid 2. Godwin – Korede Bello 3. Kiss Daniel – Woju 4. Olamide – Bobo 21. AFRICAN ARTISTE A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review. 1. Diamond Platnumz 2. Cassper Nyovest 3. Sarkodie 4. Uhuru 5. AKA HALL OF FAME Special recognition for excellence and outstanding impact to the entertainment industry. 2Face Idibia CLICK HERE TO VOTE (2015)

Revealed: How Buhari Chose His Ministerial Nominees

President Muhammadu Buhari’s 21 would-be ministers whose names he gave the Senate on Wednesday were unaware of their nominations. The President neither met nor hinted any of the nominees of their appointments, it was learnt. After shortlisting those he needed, according to a source, Buhari directed security agencies to conduct discreet investigations into their records. Those closer to him were not exempted, the source said. The Presidency yesterday directed all the nominees to submit their curriculum vitae. In 14 states yesterday, there was anxiety because no nominees were named. Some of the states are Ondo, Kogi, Abia, Enugu and Imo. A source, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “Most of the nominees announced on Wednesday were caught unawares because Buhari never sat any of them down or told them that they would be among his ministers. “Even though some of them had been coming to the Presidential Villa, he did not confide in them. “I can tell you that the President did not give assurance to ex-Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, and Babatunde Fashola. Even as close as Lt.-Gen. Dambazzau and Sen. Hadi Sirika are to the President, they did not know that they would be in the cabinet. The President adopted suspense all through. That is his style. The source spoke of how some of the nominees nursed the ambition of being ministers but got frustrated after they could not read the President’s mind. “The President only directed security agencies to conduct discreet security checks on them for about one or two months. “The security checks were jealously guarded to prevent leakage. This was the nature of the appointment. “The President adopted intelligence approach in picking his team. A few others who were nominated by some highly-placed Nigerians, political leaders and governors could not scale through the discreet checks.” It was gathered that most of the nominees were only contacted yesterday morning to submit their curricular vitae at the Presidential Villa. Another source added: “You can see the transparency of the process adopted by the President. It was on Thursday morning that the Presidency started sending messages to most of the nominees to send their CVs. “Some of them sent their CVs through e-mail and others sent emissaries to Abuja to submit their credentials ahead of compilation for the Senate’s consideration from next week. “The President was sure of the pedigree of his cabinet members before asking them to bring their CVs.” It was gathered that a former Head of State wanted a particular candidate but his request was politely turned down by the President on account of age. Buhari asked the ex-leader to bring in a “younger person”. Five factors determined the appointment of ministers by the President. These are: strict adherence to principle of non-interference in choosing his cabinet, integrity or pedigree; selfless service; old acquaintances and less exposure to political influence. A highly-placed source in the Presidency said: “Buhari was his own man in choosing his cabinet, although he took certain factors into consideration. Those who came to advise him assisted in providing direction or guiding his mind. At a point, the APC leadership could not give exact situation of things. “He has done away with appointments based on favouritism, godafthers and egoism. “Apart from merit, Buhari gave ministerial slots to those who have the ability, those who can deliver and those he has trusted over the years, including those who worked with him in the former Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and those in the trenches with him in the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He has rewarded selflessness, perseverance and loyalty.” There was anxiety yesterday in 14 states whose ministerial nominees have not been announced. ‘’There had been enquiries from the states. Political leaders from the states are mounting pressure on top officials of the Presidency to know their stand,’’ a source said.