Launch of Akruti Vistaar by

Dear Colleague,

 

We have always appreciated you as a well wisher. I wish to invite you to a special occasion at the launch of our latest version of Akruti Software called the Akruti Vistaar. The key feature is its ” Vistaara” (expanse and all encompassing nature). It incorporates all the features of the free software and other vendor software which are currently available. It includes file conversions, keyboard layouts and font compatibility across the board and is our humble attempt to address the pressing needs of the litterateurs, publishers and the printing fraternity.

 

Akruti as a brand name has always pioneered language software development. After a long period of inactivity, we promise to be at the forefront of the Kannada language software development again and you can expect more announcements in the coming months.

 

For the record, allow us to present you the first ever “Windows Vista” compatible software, being launched, even before Microsoft launches Vista in January 2007.

 

We look forward to your blessings, encouragement, guidance and criticism to propel us to greater heights and hope to see you at the launch on 15th December, 2006 at 10.00 am at Kannada Bhavana, J.C. Road in Bangalore.

 

Anand S.K.
Managing Director
Cyberscape Multimedia Ltd.
Bangalore.
Ph: +91-80-26714446
Fx: +91-80-26710925
web: www.cyberscapeindia.com

AKRUTI VISTAAR ADVANTAGES WHEN COMPARED TO ISSUES FACED BY CUSTOMERS USING FREE KANNADA SOFTWARE / OTHER VENDOR SOFTWARE

	Free software / Other Vendors	Akruti Vistaar
Customer reach	Since the fonts are available only on the net – limited access to semi-urban and rural areas	Would be able to reach to every corner on the state through dealer network, direct marketing and advertisement
R & D	In the absence of a revenue model, development of the language would be a hindrance	A certain percentage of funds on every package sold is reserved for R & D and hence can expect new up- gradations periodically
Quality	End user would not complain since the package is free and hence the quality suffers with no feedback received	When a customer pays for a package, the expectation is to get the best out till the last rupee
Support	Difficult to fall-back since responsibility ends at a single point	Assured support and customer could really depend on the hierarchy for solutions
Service	No on-field service/support possible and hence a new user could find problems in installing and also working	On-field problems would be in plenty and could be addressed since installation is carried out by the supplier
Customization	No scope	For a very small extra investment the package could be made to work in line with the customers working environment
Compatibility - 1	Is not compatible to all the versions of Windows	Compatible from Windows-98 to Windows Vista
Compatibility – 2	Compatibility with other software vendors is not possible	Can convert files both ways with almost all the available software vendors
Standards	Follows State level standards only	Follows State, National and also International standards (Unicode)
Multilingual support	Does not support the other Indian languages	Supports 10 scripts covering almost 14 Indian languages

AKRUTI VISTAAR FEATURE LIST

Utilities	Kannada	Hindi
Images fonts	13
Ganesha Fonts	5
Cliparts	3500
Regular Font	65	65
Bilingual Font	20	20
Unicode Fonts	50	10
Dynamic Font - Regular	1
Dynamic Font - Unicode	1
Akruti Smart font converter	Yes	Yes
Akruti Sorting	Yes	Yes
Dictionary – English to language And language to English	Yes	Yes
Transliteration	Yes	Yes
Number to word	Yes	Yes
Date Display	Yes	Yes
Find and Replace	Yes	Yes
Save as HTML as dynamic font	Yes	Yes
Save with embedded font	Yes	Yes
Mail merge	Yes	Yes
Book Mark	Yes	Yes
Auto text	Yes	Yes
Spell checker	Yes	Yes
Key click	Yes	Yes

* Keyboard Layouts – For Kannada

KGP, Inscript, Phonetic 86, Typewriter, Shreelipi, Winkey layout, Shabdaratna layout, Nudi Layout, Baraha Layout, Kairali Layout, Surabhi Layout, Prakashak Layout

*

Multi-vendor support in Kannada –C-Dac, Shreelipi, SRG, Nudi, Baraha, Prakashak, Anu, Surabhi, Baraha, Kairali

Janapada Jatre revives demand for folk songs-BOOM IN SALE OF CDS, CASSETTES

Janapada Jatre revives demand for folk songs

By Satish Shile DH News Service Bangalore:

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan22007/state23306200711.asp

Cassettes and compact discs of Kannada folk songs are in great demand in the last three months, thanks to Janapada Jatre, a State government initiative to promote folk art forms. According to audio recording companies, the sale of folk song cassettes has increased by almost 60 per cent in the last two months, since the Janapada Jatre was inaugurated (October 1).

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mr Velu of Lahari Recording Company said that, on the first day of Janapada Jatre in the premises of Vidhana Soudha, his company did a business of Rs 60,000 and majority of the cassettes and CDs sold were of folk songs. On the second day business was close to Rs 65,000.

He says, Janapada Jatre has succeeded in attracting larger audience towards the folk, which he termed, ‘basis of all music’. “I have seen thousands of people dancing ‘madly’ to the tunes of western music in mega shows where they get tickets for Rs 500 or more.

Though people do not understand the language, they simply dance to the tunes. But during Janapada Jatre, audience joined the artistes from wherever they were. They sung with them, danced to their tunes and enjoyed to the fullest. This huge response resulted in increase in sales of folk song cassettes and compact discs.

According to Mr Velu, his company has sold 5,000 copies of Chellidaru Malligeya (a collection of songs in praise of Male Mahadeshwara, sung by Appagere Thimmaraju and Pichchalli Srinivas) and 2,000 copies of Neera Teru (collection of folk songs sung by Pichchlli Srinivas) in the last three months alone.

Lahari Recording Company has released a set of 25 audio compact discs, which cover Kannada folk art forms (Dollu pada, Yakshagana and others) in association with Kannada and Culture Department.

Each set of 25 CDs costs Rs 1,250. Mr Velu says, since October, the company has sold over 600 sets across the State and demand is still more. “We have set a target of selling 3,000 sets by the end of Suvarna Karnataka celebrations - November 2007).”

Besides, sales of CDs and cassettes of Kannada light music (Sugama Sangeetha) has also increased since the Suvarna Karnataka celebrations began.

Mr Mohan of Anand Audio company said, his company has sold over 5,000 copies each of Bhava sangama, Mysore Mallige and Hachchu Kannadada Deepa in the last two-three months.

“During 73rd Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Shimoga we sold Kannada songs collections of worth Rs 85,000”, he added. Mr Velu stated that in Shimoga his company too did a business of Rs 90,000, which is more compared to business during previous Sammelans.

Mysore City to retain identity despite rapid urbanisation

Mysore City to retain identity despite rapid urbanisation

Mysore, UNI :

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan22007/update121740200712.asp

This royal city of South, widely sprinkled with heritage sites, has hit the fast track of urbanisation, altering the landscape that will in the coming years go beyond recognition unless steps are not in place to ensure that its rich heritage and culture is not buried.

Mysore is one among the 63 cities selected in the country by the Union Ministry of Urban Development for overall development under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renwal Mission (JNNURM).

The City of Palaces, which attract tourists from both domestic as well as abroad, covered 7,569 hectares in 1995 in terms of urbanisation, had grown by 22 per cent to encompass 9221 hectares in 2001 and the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) has projected the total area to be 15,669 hectares in another six years time.

Though the City is redefining itself with the surge of investors and large tracts of land allotted by the government to the corporate sector, especially the IT Companies, a road map has been drawn to chart its growth for the next 20 years without losing its original identity, unlike the developments that had submerged some of the prominent cities of the country. The City was expected to generate at least 40,000 new jobs during the next few years, which means its demographic profile is also set to alter, bringing in a dash of vibrancy and a touch of cosmopolitan culture, all of which were welcome sign.

Official sources said that CDP, approved by the Centre laid emphasis on principles, directions and reformation of the City, rather than specific projects that the City needs to develop.

It had been prepared after consulting citizens groups, elected representatives and government departments and agencies, the Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Ltd, (IDCK) an organisation emphanelled for the purpose of the JNNURM by the Ministry of Urban Development also providing its contribution.

The planners, while mapping the future growth of Mysore, have ensured that the City’s identity is not lost as was witnessed by the rapid urbanisation of other Cities in the country. It clearly spelt out ”what Mysore does not want to become”. It recognised the trade off between urbanisation and growth and the decline in quality of life and pointed out that too many cities have courted growth thrust on them by circumstances and have been unable to cope with the stress on infrastructure, society and culture.

The CDP, which was approved by the Centre, aimed to protect the City’s cultural identity and its heritage and drawn up a blueprint which might help retain the characteristic features of the City of Palaces. The CDP had acknowledged that’ despite the modern day approach to urban planing and civic architecture, the City continued to retain its special characteristics as a native princely City with imposing and majestic buildings like the Palace which has been built in the Indo saracenic style with traces of other architectural features from the east and the west. The conservation of Mysore’s heritage received priority under the JNNURM and many buildings reflect Indo saracenic, Hindu, Greco Roman, Gothic and the European classical styles of architecture.

The CDP aimed to take up a comprehensive plan of action to conserve the heritage property in the core area falling within two km radius of the Mysore Palace of the Wadiyars. A systematic study is being undertaken to improve the pathways, while beautification and landscaping of heritage property was also in the offing under the JNNURM, in all 44 buildings would be taken up for conservation during the period of 2007-2012.

Unplanned growth had impacted the quality of life leading to congestion in some of the Cities whose character had changed.

Flyovers or elevated roads that detract from the City’s heritage and urban sprawl resulting in unplanned industrialisation have placed great stress on the urban environment and burdened the transport system, roads water and power and Mysore clearly does not want any one of these, according to CDP.

The key elements in the CDP have been categorised under broad categories of urban space, economy, heritage, governance and includes various aspects pertaining to each one of them like clean air, noise free environment, demarcated area for pedestrians and vehicles, promotion of neighbourhood and community ownership, adequate open spaces, provision of balanced economic options, cultural vibrancy, heritage tourism, sustainable economic growth based on non polluting, hi-tech industry and services.

Adequate thrust has been given to tourism as evident in the emphasis on preservation of historical and architectural structures as cultural vibrancy is the main sources of tourist attraction to Mysore. The CDP speaks of governance through decentralisation and people’s participation in a bid to usher in efficiency, transparency and accountability, adopting e-governance or other equivalent systems for efficient and sustainable delivery of services has also been indicated.