Monthly Archives: June 2018

Chennai developer reimagines the calculator, wins Apple design award

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinion

WWDC 2018: Calzy, an elegantly designed calculator app, by Chennai-based developer Raja Vijayaram won the Apple Design Award.

Apple WWDC 2018: Chennai-based developer Raja Vijayaram won the Apple Design Award for his app
Apple WWDC 2018: Chennai-based developer Raja Vijayaram won the Apple Design Award for his app

It was a surprise Raja Vijayaram will never forget. When he packed his bags for Apple WWDC from Chennai, Raja has no idea he would be on stage receiving an Apple Design Award on Day 1 of the developer conference. His app Calzy, an elegantly designed calculator app, had been picked up by Apple for the awards and Raja had been flown in to San Jose without being told that he was a winner. So there Raja was on stage in his Rajnikanth T-shirt with the world watching his reimagining of the calculator.

“I had no idea. I thought I would be meeting people at WWDC,” says the unassuming man from Chennai. In fact, Raja’s story is a fascinating one. A mechanical engineer from Theni, he switched over to VFX a few years on and moved to Chennai where he worked on a few movies, even some starring Rajinikanth  himself. “That’s when I bought my first iPhone and used apps. I taught myself about apps and even learnt to code,” says Raja, who is not sure if his time as a graphics artist is helping with his design thinking.

Either way, it is the out-of-the-box design concept behind Calzy that is blowing everyone away. In fact, Raja’s calculator is as simple as a calculator can be and there is nothing there that does not need to be there. So he removed the memory functions and created his own flow for the same with drag and drop. He’s also added an expression view, where you can see all the steps you are following. There is a scientific calculator too, but hidden away behind settings which is pulled up using 3D touch.
The Calzy 3 app is priced Rs 159 and is available only on iOS, but across works across all Apple devices from the Mac to Apple Watch. In fact, the app from Raja’s WapleStuff works as a Today Widget and even an iMessage extension.

Another interesting feature is the bookmark option for earlier calculations you might have done, along with the ability to put those behind a password. Also, everything about the app is customisable and you can even set a button to calculate a specific tax on the amount.

Raja’s Calzy app was launched in 2014.
Raja’s Calzy app was launched in 2014.

Raja is a one-an army and does everything himself. Calzy was first launched in 2014 and the latest version is a full revamp of the earlier one. Though flooded by requests for more features, Raja is certain he wants to keep it as simple as possible. This calculation is clearly working for Calzy.

Disclaimer: The writer is in San Jose attending WWDC 2018 at the invite of Apple India

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Technology> Social / by Nandagopal Rajan / June 06th, 2018

Award for Collector, SP

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All
Cleaning of Kasturiba Colony at Kandal in Udhagamandalam began on Tuesday.
Cleaning of Kasturiba Colony at Kandal in Udhagamandalam began on Tuesday.

The director of the Nilgiri Documentation Center presented the Nilgiri Conservation Award to the District Collector, Innocent Divya and to the former superintendent of police, Murali Rambha, on the occasion of World Environment Day here on Tuesday.

They were selected for the award for their teamwork to successfully organise the Summer Festival 2018, coinciding with the bicentenary of modern Nilgiris, in an innovative , participative and orderly manner, said Mr. Venugopal Dharmalingam, the director of the NDC.

As Mr. Rambha was unable to be present for the function, Ms. Divya accepted the award from Mr. Venugopal.

The award was instituted to recognise individuals and institutions who significantly contributed to the protection and preservation of the Nilgiris.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Staff Reporter / Udhagamandalam – June 05th, 2018

Coimbatore youth gets National Gopal Ratna award

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All
A. Dhiraj Ram Krishna (second right) receiving the National Gopal Ratna award from Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Radha Mohan Singh (second left) in New Delhi on Sunday in the presence of Minister of State Krishna Raj (left). | Photo Credit: HANDOUT_E_MAIL
A. Dhiraj Ram Krishna (second right) receiving the National Gopal Ratna award from Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh (second left) in New Delhi on Sunday in the presence of Minister of State Krishna Raj (left). | Photo Credit: HANDOUT_E_MAIL

The engineering graduate received the award for upkeep of best dairy animals of indigenous breeds

A young engineer from Coimbatore has won an award from the Central Government on June 2 for cattle rearing and dairying.

A. Dhiraj Ram Krishna received the ‘National Gopal Ratna’ award from Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh in New Delhi for ‘upkeep of the best dairy animals of indigenous breeds’.

The 24-year-old award winner, who holds a B.E. in Production Engineering, ventured full time into dairy business soon after he completed his studies in 2017. “When I wanted to do business, I set sight on dairy. It was a natural choice as cattle has been at home since birth.”

He had stepped into dairy business even when he was pursuing his second year of engineering. It was in a small way, selling milk.

The Periyanaickenpalayam resident says he started with 10 cattle and now has 50, including 10 Gir cows and bulls and 40 cross-bred varieties. The cows give around 250 litres milk a day and he buys another 200 litres to sell to residents in and around the area.

When he started, there was not much opposition from parents, says Mr. Krishna. “Parents only asked me to think twice before venturing into the business. And, when I told them that I’ve made up my mind, they were very supportive.”

He says he did not undergo a course or workshop but learnt dairying on the job. “When it is driven by passion, you tend to learn it and that is how it has been for me.”

He has set up a processing plant to process milk and engages 15 to 20 people on part and full-time basis.

Under the ‘Ganga Milk’ brand, Mr. Krishna also sells curd, ghee and paneer, which he says are distributed throughout Coimbatore.

He has set up a few collection centres in and around Periyanaickenpalayam for farmers to sell their milk and plans to set up a few more in the neighbourhood as he aims to sell at least 1,000 litres milk a day by the December 2018.

The ‘National Gopal Ratna’ award has encouraged him to achieve the target and given ₹ 5 lakh, which he plans to invest for expanding the business.

His father P.R.G. Arunkumar is the Member of Legislative Assembly from Coimbatore North and an AIADMK district secretary as well.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Coimbatore / by Karthik Madhavan / Coimbatore – June 04th, 2018

Cobbler’s on call

Business & Economy

Cobbler01CF03jun2018

Flying Cobbler picks up worn-out leather footwear from your doorstep, and drops it back refurbished

For the past few months, student entrepreneur Pranavnath G has been working round the clock with his college-going younger brother, Kishen G. Together, they launched Flying Cobbler which makes cobbler services possible at the customer’s doorstep.

“Of late we see very few cobblers mending old footwear by the roadside. Most of us who possess branded, quality leather shoes are left with no service when it comes to refurbishing or repair. If repair services are offered, they cost almost as much as buying a new pair would,” says Pranavnath, who is pursuing his final year MBA at VIT B-School.

Pranavnath first began working on this project — particularly the business model — for the international youth festival, conducted by the Urban Development Ministry at his college campus in 2017.

Cobbler02CF03jun2018

“I bagged the second prize and received the award from Kiran Bedi. This motivated me to further study the market and analyse the prospects, and finally launch Flying Cobbler two months ago,” he says.

He began by distributing flyers door-to-door in some parts of ECR. “Customers started giving us gunny bags full of footwear of the entire family to be repaired,” he recounts, and that was all his business needed to really take off.

Cobbler03CF03jun2018

“We specialise in branded leather shoes and ladies sandals. As a value addition, we also take up repair of artificial leather, anti-fungal treatment and polishing,” says Pranavnath. Dealing with leather is nothing new to this young entrepreneur, whose dad Guha Shankar B is a finished leather goods exporter.

Cobbler04CF03jun2018

 

Cobbler05CF03jun2018

Flying Cobbler has set up its unit in Alandur, where the collection boys bring in the footwear detailed notes for each pair. “The notes is handed over to the senior supervisor, Venkatesh, who is also the expert shoemaker/cobbler, and based on that he will work. I have also roped in a few cobblers who were working on the roadside to join the team, and they now get paid a monthly salary. They undergo training under Venkatesh,” he says.

Flying Cobbler works on all days of the week. To schedule your pick up, call 9500145832.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> by Chitra Deepa Anantharaman / June 02nd, 2018

At 90, Lifco keeps the press busy

Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
A welcome address being read out in Sanskrit when Kanchi Acharya visited Lifco on March 30, 1958.
A welcome address being read out in Sanskrit when Kanchi Acharya visited Lifco on March 30, 1958.

Pre-Independent publishing firm continues to roll off useful, affordable books

In the 1920s when literacy levels were not high, a man hailing from a conservative family in Cuddalore with encouragement from his school principal printed books and supplied them widely. Thus was born The Little Flower Company or Lifco, which is 90 now and still publishing books that delight readers.

“My grandfather V. Krishnaswamy Sarma would print books in presses that were under British control at night and take out slim volumes on learning English on his bicycle. The books were priced very low and if people could not afford them, he would give them for free. His lone aim was to educate people and not make money out of it. When he was in Secunderabad in government service and fell ill, he and my grandmother decided they have to do something for the public,” explained T.N.C.Vijayasarathy, Chairman of Lifco.

“After Independence, he started his own printing press and in 1950 he decided to bring out the English-English-Tamil and released it. It was just ₹2 then. Subsequently, he brought out dictionaries in other regional languages. We keep the price of publications as low as possible. The basic dictionary today is just ₹60,” he added. After the dictionary, there was a spate of books, including their still popular Great Little Books (pocket-sized publications on grammar, speaking and communication) that used to cost 1 anna each and are now priced only ₹10 each. There were books on how to repair and maintenance your bicycle, your homes, the typewriter and even one on how to bring up a child! He brought out easy reference guides for school and college students.

After publishing 728 titles, including 10 varieties of dictionaries, and despite increasing paper cost, Lifco wants to continue serving readers.

“We are heading towards digitisation. We plan to open stores where people can walk in, read a book and if they want buy one. My grandfather always wanted his customers to read books. We are working on a grand dictionary, two volumes of it,” Mr. Vijayasarathy said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Deepa H. Ramakrishnan / Chennai – June 02nd, 2018

German major Freudenberg invests IRs. 210 crore in Chennai unit

Business & Economy, World Opinion
Georg Graf (right), Freudenberg Regional Representative India, and Sanjib Das, CEO and Director, SIGMA Freudenberg NOK Board, at a press conference in Chennai.- BIJOY GHOSH
Georg Graf (right), Freudenberg Regional Representative India, and Sanjib Das, CEO and Director, SIGMA Freudenberg NOK Board, at a press conference in Chennai.- BIJOY GHOSH

Chennai :

Germany-based global technology group Freudenberg is investing ₹210 crore in greenfield production unit near Chennai to manufacture sealing products for automotive and other sectors.

The new facility is part of the group’s long term growth strategy in the Indian market and also its plans to tap the emerging opportunities in the automotive sector.

The unit, which is being built on a 13-acre site at Vallam Vadagal near Chennai, is expected to be ready by the first quarter of 2019.

“We have secured all the necessary support from the State government agencies. This project will supply sealing solutions to all major auto units in this region,” George Graf, Regional Representative India, Freudenberg, said here.

For the €9.3-billion Freudenberg Group, automotive is a major business segment in the country which accounts for over 60 per cent of its total revenue in the country. In 2017, Freudenberg India’s revenue grew by 25 per cent at ₹2,768 crore. It has been growing at 20 per cent over the past five years and expects to record higher growth rate in the next few years, supported by strong growth outlook in its existing businesses and also by entering into new business segments. Graf said the Group was aiming to balance its portfolio further towards generating one-third of sales each in Asia, North America and Europe. The Indian market is expected to play a significant role in terms of sales and strategic growth in the region.

The Group has 14 production sites and six R&D centres in India with staff strength of about 2,700.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> News / Chennai – May 31st, 2018