Education - Go To UK - US Magazine, The News International

Education
Go to the UK

By Waqas Hassan Sharif

After 9/11, going to the US to obtain higher education has become quite difficult. Getting admission into the American universities is the least of the problem the aspiring students face; the real catch is obtaining the visa. The other alternative is going to the UK, as the visa is not a big problem if one's papers are in order. After all, why not go for higher studies to a place which has centuries' old tradition of excellence in education?

One important thing: don't offer fake marks sheets or certificates to obtain admission; all your documents are sent for verification to the issuing authorities! Don't get bugged, folks, since there have been cases of doctored mark sheets.

What makes the UK the most attractive place for students is not David Beckham, or the birth place of Harry Potter for that matter, but the unique features of academic quality matched with a truly international experience, going beyond traditional modes of learning.

In order to cater to the needs of the students and increasing access to world class learning opportunities in the UK, British Council Education UK team organized a national counselling week for the students in the four major cities of Pakistan.

The counselling week started from the 26th of January as the British Council Education UK team along with school and university counselors, UK alumni and country based representatives of the UK institutions started off with a seminar in Peshawar and then travelled to Islamabad, Lahore and finally to Karachi, where the last series of the event concluded in a local hotel. The British High Commission's visa team also participated in the event.

In his opening speech at Karachi, Director British Council, Sindh and Baluchistan, Syed Mashood Rizvi highlighted the growing opportunities of higher education in the UK and also provided details about the new programmes of the British council.

In this session, the new British Deputy High Commissioner, Robert W. Gibson, also gave a speech highlighting the relationship between the two countries in the field of education. He spoke about ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair's initiative which is now in its second phase and is the UK's international strategy for the promotion of student exchange programmes and building sustainable partnerships between the UK's and Pakistani educational institutions. The British Council managed to reach about 4000 students directly and gave useful guidance to students.

During the counselling week, students had the opportunity to have one to one counselling sessions on study opportunities in the UK, career choices, application procedures, scholarships, IELTS, applying for UK visa and life in the UK.

The positives that students find in going to the UK for higher education are many: shorter duration of degrees as in the UK an undergraduate degree takes three years to complete and a master's in only one year, opportunity to work after degree completion, access to world class learning along with a quality social experience, to name few of the most attractive features of education in the United Kingdom.

WiMax - Technobytes, The News International

WiMAX

Data Transfer Made Easy

Complied By Waqas Hassan Sharif

WiMAX, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point-to-point links to full mobile cellular type access. It is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard, which is also called WirelessMAN. The name WiMAX was created by the WiMAX Forum, which was formed in June 2001 to promote conformance and interoperability of the standard. The forum describes WiMAX as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL."

Many companies are closely examining WiMAX for "last mile" connectivity at high data rates. The resulting competition may bring lower pricing for both home and business customers or bring broadband access to places where it has been economically unavailable. Prior to WiMAX, many operators have been using proprietary fixed wireless technologies for broadband services.

Due to the ease and low cost with which Wi-Fi can be deployed, it is sometimes used to provide Internet access to third parties within a single room or building available to the provider, often informally, and sometimes as part of a business relationship. For example, many coffee shops, hotels, and transportation hubs contain Wi-Fi access points providing access to the Internet for customers.

WiMAX has the potential to do to broadband Internet access what cell phones have done to phone access. In the same way that many people have given up their "land lines" in favor of cell phones, WiMAX could replace cable and DSL services, providing universal Internet access just about anywhere you go. WiMAX will also be as painless as WiFi -- turning your computer on will automatically connect you to the closest available WiMAX antenna.

How does Wimax works?

WiMAX would operate similar to WiFi but at higher speeds, over greater distances and for a greater number of users. WiMAX could potentially erase the suburban and rural blackout areas that currently have no broadband Internet access because phone and cable companies have not yet run the necessary wires to those remote locations.

A WiMAX system consists of two parts:

• A WiMAX tower, similar in concept to a cell-phone tower - A single WiMAX tower can provide coverage to a very large area -- as big as 3,000 square miles (~8,000 square km).
• A WiMAX receiver - The receiver and antenna could be a small box or PCMCIA card, modem or they could be built into a laptop the way WiFi access is today.

A WiMAX tower station can connect directly to the Internet using a high-bandwidth, wired connection . It can also connect to another WiMAX tower using a line-of-sight, microwave link. This connection to a second tower (often referred to as a backhaul), along with the ability of a single tower to cover up to 3,000 square miles, is what allows WiMAX to provide coverage to remote rural areas.

What this points out is that WiMAX actually can provide two forms of wireless service:

• There is the non-line-of-sight, WiFi sort of service, where a receiving device on your computer connects to the tower. In this mode, WiMAX uses a lower frequency range -- 2 GHz to 11 GHz . Lower-wavelength transmissions are not as easily disrupted by physical obstructions -- they are better able to diffract, or bend, around obstacles.
• There is line-of-sight service, where a fixed dish antenna points straight at the WiMAX tower from a rooftop or pole. The line-of-sight connection is stronger and more stable, so it's able to send a lot of data with fewer errors. Line-of-sight transmissions use higher frequencies, with ranges reaching a possible 66 GHz. At higher frequencies, there is less interference and lots more bandwidth.

WiFi-style access will be limited to a 4-to-6 mile radius (perhaps 25 square miles or 65 square km of coverage, which is similar in range to a cell-phone zone). Through the stronger line-of-sight antennas, the WiMAX transmitting station would send data to WiMAX-enabled computers or routers set up within the transmitter's 30-mile radius (2,800 square miles or 9,300 square km of coverage). This is what allows WiMAX to achieve its maximum range.

WiMAX operates on the same general principles as WiFi -- it sends data from one computer to another via radio signals. A computer (either a desktop or a laptop) equipped with WiMAX would receive data from the WiMAX transmitting station, probably using encrypted data keys to prevent unauthorized users from stealing access.

The fastest WiFi connection can transmit up to 54 megabits per second under optimal conditions. WiMAX should be able to handle up to 70 megabits per second. Even once that 70 megabits is split up between several dozen businesses or a few hundred home users, it will provide at least the equivalent of cable-modem transfer rates to each user.

The biggest difference isn't speed; it's distance. WiMAX outdistances WiFi by miles. WiFi's range is about 100 feet (30 m). WiMAX will blanket a radius of 30 miles (50 km) with wireless access. The increased range is due to the frequencies used and the power of the transmitter. Of course, at that distance, terrain, weather and large buildings will act to reduce the maximum range in some circumstances, but the potential is there to cover huge tracts of land.

WiMAX access was used to assist with communications in Aceh, Indonesia, after the tsunami in December 2004. All communication infrastructure in the area was destroyed, making the survivors unable to communicate with people outside the disaster area and vice versa. WiMAX provided broadband access that helped regenerate communication to and from Aceh.

WiMAX was used by Intel to assist the FCC and FEMA in their communications efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

^{WiMAX in Pakistan}

According to Juniper Research, a number of Asian countries, including Pakistan, will be the driving force behind the growth of Mobile WiMax, . The Asia and Australia region is expected to capture more than 50% of the total WiMax market by 2013.

Pakistan was one of the first countries in the world to roll-out a functional WiMax service. Now, it seems to be witnessing an explosive growth in demand after Wateen Telecom’s launch of its WiMax service and roll-out plans by the likes of Mobilink.

(1) Wateen - which is using WiMAX solution from Motorola and its cable/fiber network to offer triple play of phone, TV and broadband. Trials have been extended for over a year. Most aggressive to market their bundled solutions, they have started advertising without providing pricing and availability information.
(2) Mobilink - has formed a new entity called Link Dot Net (LDN) to focus on broadband market. WiMAX infrastructure was piloted by Mobilink in 3 cities and a recently issued RFP has generated 7 proposals to cover 5 major metros, including in-building coverage for high value business areas. Malaysia’s Dancom, which conducted early trials of WiMAX in Karachi, was acquired by Mobilink’s LDN in 2007. Mobilink also bought DV Com and its licenses.
(3) Burraq Telecom - which was acquired by ACT consortium which includes Qatar Telecom and Clearwire Corporation, an American operator providing WiMAX services in 10 countries, also plans to offer WiMAX.

The pricing has not been announced by these companies yet. Business users in Pakistan desperately need reliable broadband and are the desired customers because of their high affordability levels. Consumer market is different as demand varies by demographics’ low price is the dominating success factor.

Currently the high prices of WiMAX ‘customer premises equipment’ (CPE) make it more expensive than fiber, cable or DSL. Wateen and others are counting on the trend of falling hardware prices for WiMAX. They would have to compete with the latest PTCL broadband campaign in which PTCL has dramatically reduced DSL prices at Rs 1200 per month for 256kbps speed with a 2GB limit. As a last mile solution, WiMAX may not compete on price at this time but if WiMAX is reliable, fast and operators provide better customer service then business users may pay some premium for it, say as a replacement for leased lines.

Besides political instability, the lack of stable and cost-effective communications has been a major hurdle for Pakistan in becoming a major technology player. This availability of affordable wireless alternatives may offer some hope for the large pool of talented people that can help spur the growth of this sector.

Eid Attractions! YOU Magazine, The News International

movie time
Eid Attractions!

Eid and amusement are linked closely; this time around Eid is going to be extra special since some of the biggest hits are opening simultaneously for your visual pleasure on the first day of Eid itself. So, why not have some fun and hang out with your family or friends to amuse yourself visually by checking out one of these action-packed movies. Eid Mubarak!

Compiled by
Waqas Hasan Sharif
All movies will be shown @ Cineplex
and cinemas all over Pakistan.

DATED:[30TH-SEPTEMBER-2008]

Hellboy II

The Golden Army

The Golden Army is even more entertaining than its predecessor. Writer-director Guillermo del Toro returns to Mike Mignola's comic book creation for an upgraded sequel that offers more of everything while staying largely true to the source material. The film gains big points for its dazzling visuals and for significantly ramping up the fantasy-tinged screen fighting. The climax is a battle on top of giant revolving cog-wheels, which is splendidly staged.

It's a movie filled with exotic make-up effects, lush sets and costumes and even brilliantly conceived digital puppetry, all added to an equally enjoyable story with quality action. The screenplay is entertaining, even with a couple of plot holes. Not only are the creatures amazingly conceived, but there's a lovely sense of humour to it all as Del Toro references horror movies of the past and even the work of John Landis.

HELLBOY 2 can be added to a growing list of movies partaking in what one would call a design renaissance. This is another great super-hero adventure that's bound to be a big red franchise for years to come.

Death Race

Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, the most astonishing thing about 'Death Race', a action-thriller, is the presence in its cast of Joan Allen and Jason Statham who continue their winning streak with Death Race.

The movie is notionally based on that '70s grindhouse classic, 'Death Race 2000', which starred David Carradine and the pre-"Rocky" Sylvester Stallone.

The movie is set in a hell-hole prison - it looks like a vast abandoned foundry - that houses "the worst of the worst": murderers, rapists, personal-injury lawyers. And Allen's character, Hennessey, is the warden of this place. She also presides over an event called Death Race, a sort of armored NASCAR tourney in which the fearsome autos are equipped with all manner of cannons, flamethrowers, even napalm, and driven by guys with handles like Machine Gun Joe (Tyrese Gibson, looking very 50 Cent) and the Grimm Reaper (Robert LaSardo). The prisoners competing for pardons in 'Death Race' have a huge arsenal at their disposal to use during the races. And they have little to lose.

But the real charm of the movie is its racing segments. And it is here that the film is quite simply awesome. The action is powerful and intense. It's insanely violent with decapitations, bodily explosions and practical effects of cars crashing and discharging weapons at each other. This movie is like much of Anderson's films, it offers exactly what action film fans would expect: squealing tires, blazing guns and spectacular crashes - a lot of fun to watch.

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight, director Christopher Nolan has rewritten the rules for making a big budget movie. The film is an unbelievably intense, kinetic head-rush of a movie yet, simultaneously, a two-and-a-half hour meditation on the breakdown of society, the morality of vigilantism and a multi-layered rumination on good and evil.

'The Dark Knight' consumes itself with the idea of how corrupt some are willing to become in an effort to fight corruption itself. It's that undercurrent of irony that runs through the movie, lifting it, and it emerges as one of Nolan's major themes.

The performances both in front of and behind the camera are uniformly good. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman, return in fine form; cinematographer Wally Pfester and production designer Nathan Crowley create a menacing universe of perpetual night plagued by uncertainty, at once fantastic and believable. The stunt work feels authentic and visceral, with less CG than audiences have come to expect from the genre. The rousing score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard amps up the suspense and raises the stakes, without resorting to cheap sentiment. The overhead aerial shots of Hong Kong and nighttime Gotham are thrilling as are the heart stopping aerial stunts which achieve maximum impact when seen in IMAX.

Armed with some of the outrageous action scenes - 'The Dark Knight' is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year.