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HP announced new Application Transformation solutions designed to help enterprises drive an enhanced user experience by integrating mobile-based enterprise applications into the traditional computing environment.

The growing adoption of smartphones and mobile applications is changing the way enterprises create value and drive competitive differentiation.

In fact, the economic survival of enterprises now depends on their ability to respond to customer and citizen demands, generated through enterprise applications as well as social applications such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

The expanded HP Applications Transformation solutions portfolio enables clients to design, build and manage applications that drive interaction between people and enterprises while optimizing traditional application environments to deliver an improved user experience.

“Modern enterprise applications require a different approach to design and testing than traditional applications,” said Eyad Shihabi, Managing Director, HP Middle East. “HP ensures that enterprise applications provide the highest level of quality, availability and scalability while elevating the user experience to an entirely new level.”

New software products for IT management and social collaboration

The enhanced HP Application Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) improves collaboration among delivery teams and reduces cycle times by offering real-time visibility and traceability of activities across the application life cycle.

As part of HP’s IT Performance Suite, HP and Perfecto Mobile, a provider of cloud-based testing and automation solutions, have extended HP Unified Functional Testing to offer multifunctional applications by allowing developers to emulate and test the user experience of mobile applications across devices and networks.

Additionally, new software offerings from HP complement the agile development of mobile applications and drive social collaboration:

— HP Anywhere increases productivity and facilitates faster decision making by enabling clients to manage IT on the go. New mobile-based applications perform operations such as portfolio request management, defect tracking, service health monitoring and the composition of an Executive Scorecard.

— HP Enterprise Collaboration enhances knowledge sharing and accelerates application development through a social collaboration environment that enables real-time, context-based conversations traced back to actions and work items.

New services to design, deploy and manage mobile applications

The HP Application Transformation solutions portfolio of software products is complemented by new services to meet the quality demands of enterprise applications. The HP Mobile Application Services portfolio now includes:

— HP Testing for Mobility Services accelerate time to market of mobile applications by reducing test cycles and automating testing across multiple devices with market-leading solutions from HP Software and Perfecto Mobile.

— HP Enterprise Mobility Services for SAP Applications improves employee efficiency by allowing mobile users to obtain data from mission-critical SAP applications. By extending its mobile solutions to the SAP NetWeaver technology platform and the Sybase Unwired Platform, HP now offers an end-to-end enterprise mobile solution that enables clients to access key enterprise information A fundamental component in the development of an application strategy, the HP Applications Transformation Experience workshop offers enhanced capabilities to exploit new enterprise mobile applications and cloud computing technologies.

HP’s premier client event, HP Discover, takes place June 4-7 in Las Vegas.

A Central Asian state bordering China, Kyrgyzstan became independent with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Kyrgyzstan's democratic credentials were regarded as relatively strong in the immediate post-Soviet era, but this reputation was lost when corruption and nepotism took hold during President Akayev's years in office. Parliamentary and presidential elections were flawed, opposition figures faced harassment and imprisonment, and opposition newspapers were closed.

His successor after the 2005 revolt, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, failed to restore full confidence in state institutions at home or abroad. His time in office was marred by political instability and an almost constant struggle with parliament over the constitutional balance of power.

Elections held under Mr Bakiyev were criticised as being undemocratic, and human rights groups expressed concern over the curtailing of civil liberties and attacks on the media.

Civil tensions again came to a head in April 2010, when Mr Bakiyev himself was toppled and an interim government was set up under the leadership of former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva.

The Kyrgyz make up nearly 70% of the population, with Uzbeks accounting for about 15% and concentrated in the Ferghana Valley in the south. Russians have a significant presence in the north and in the capital, Bishkek.

There is tension between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities in the south over land and housing, and relations with Uzbekistan were strained following the flight of refugees into Kyrgyzstan after clashes in the Uzbek city Andijan in 2005.

There have been several serious outbreaks of Kyrgyz-Uzbek interethnic violence in the southern city of Osh, notably in 1990 – when hundreds were killed – and again in June 2010 following the overthrow of Kurmanbek Bakiyev. Osh had been a Bakiyev stronghold.

Most of the population of Kyrgyzstan is nominally Muslim, and there has been a growing interest in Islam among those seeking a new ethnic or national identity.

The government is worried about inroads by jihadist groups like Hizb-ut Tahrir, and there have been periodic outbreaks of fighting in the south.

Kyrgyzstan also features in the US-Russian rivalry for control of Central Asia, as both powers have military air bases in the country.

The US established an air base at the Manas international airport near Bishkek in late 2001 to support military operations in Afghanistan. President Bakiyev threatened to close it in October 2008 after agreeing to a Russian loan. He reversed the decision when the US agreed to more than triple its annual rent for the base.

Weeks later Kyrgyzstan tentatively agreed to allow Russia to open a second military base on its territory, apparently expanding Moscow's military reach to balance the US presence.

Editor’s note: Benjamin Nugent is the author of “American Nerd: The Story of My People” and the forthcoming novel, “Good Kids.” He is the director of creative writing and a professor at Southern New Hampshire University.

The blogosphere’s response was swift: Business and tech commentators across the nation rushed to the billionaire’s defense, explaining that the hooded sweatshirt was a symbol of his independent-mindedness, his youth, his authenticity, his loyalty to the culture of Silicon Valley. They argued his business acumen is reflected in Facebook’s numbers, not in his fashion choices.

Now that the firestorm has cooled, it’s worth taking a moment to consider the complex significance of the hoodie for someone like Zuckerberg.

In one respect, both the anti-hoodie and pro-hoodie factions are correct. When Zuckerberg wears a hoodie at a high-profile meeting, he’s saying: I am an artist, not a salesman. Salesmen wear suits because their job is to persuade, seduce, cajole; appearance is all-important. And the salesman’s first priority is profit, which, if you’re a Facebook shareholder, is the ethos you might wish to see in the CEO of the company you’re investing in.

But Zuckerberg has said explicitly he is devoted above all to his beautiful creation: Facebook. This, presumably, is why he turned down Yahoo’s offer of $1 billion for the company back in its early years and chose to keep running the company himself. He’s first and foremost an inventor, a tinkerer in a workshop, a monk in hooded robes. Sales, the bottom line, these are not the things that define me, the hoodie says.

Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter and Facebook.com/cnnopinion

To a tech geek, indifference to dress is a badge of pride because any creative endeavor, whether it’s coding software or writing novels, goes better if you can forget about yourself entirely, forget about how you look, what you’re wearing, how people perceive you. Your must immerse yourself in your art. It must become the only thing on your mind.

The nerd’s spastic movements, childlike laugh, checked-out eyes as she codes or writes or thinks are the symptoms of a person obsessed with work, a person unconscious of herself and the impression she’s making. That’s why Bill Gates used to dress like a homeless guy, and Steve Jobs wore a black turtleneck, why Zuckerberg wears the hoodie. It’s about taking pride in being an artist.

Hoodie’s evolution from fashion mainstay to symbol of injustice

So the analyst who said the hoodie shows I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude was right in one sense, but he was wrong to suggest Zuckerberg’s hoodie was bad news for Facebook investors. Because showing the world that you’re an artist instead of a salesman can be a great sales tactic.

As a cub reporter, I had the privilege of watching Steve Jobs pitch the Pixar movie “Monsters, Inc.” to a handful of journalists in a small room. It was the best sales presentation I’ve ever seen. While it was happening, I wanted to do anything Jobs asked, because he was able to seem like he didn’t care what we thought of him. He was unshaven, wearing his cat-burglar ensemble. He never tried to kiss up to any of us, like movie people often did. There were no visual aids, no refreshments. He just fulminated about what a good movie it was, how major its advances in animation technology, almost as if we weren’t there.

Are you living without Facebook?

He was a brilliant salesman because he didn’t act much like a salesman. You believed him because he didn’t seem like he cared that much whether you believed him or not. He was a good-looking, confident person, but his conduct in many respects was that of somebody so passionate about his work that it made him just a little socially unacceptable. This guy is a nerd, you thought — the real thing, so he must know what he’s talking about.

Zuckerberg has learned much, I suspect, from Jobs. He knows the impression he makes is important, so, like Jobs, he acts like he doesn’t think it’s important. The hoodie is both who he really is — a big nerd — and a thoughtful executive’s performance of who he really is.

He isn’t being immature or youthful at all. He’s striving to earn the confidence of investors by presenting himself as a scruffy genius who doesn’t care about earning their confidence. And that’s good business.

Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion

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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Benjamin Nugent.

The consequences of Greece's inability to form a government are discussed in Tuesday's papers.

"World braces itself for Greek euro exit," says the Independent.

The Guardian says that with attempts in Athens to form a government looking increasingly doomed, European leaders are talking about the possibility that Greece might have to leave the euro.

The Daily Express says talks of a Greek departure has become acceptable in Brussels and Frankfurt.

While everyone agrees the short-term fall-out would be serious for Britain and the eurozone, some papers find grounds for optimism in the long term.

In the Daily Mail's view, loosening the euro's shackles would help democracy in Europe mean something again.

It would also let nations adopt exchange rates better suited to their needs, the paper says.

And the Independent says the growing US economy provides hope for British prospects.

The Times says tens of thousands of civil servants in central London can work from home for seven weeks during the Olympics and Paralympics.

It says the move has prompted incredulity from ministers, MPs and business leaders.

According to the Guardian, research has revealed that nine out of 10 academies are selling schoolchildren junk food.

These include crisps, chocolate and cereal bars, which are banned in maintained schools to protect health.

Virgin Atlantic's plan to allow the use of mobile phones during flights leads the Independent to warn that long-haul journeys could soon be accompanied by the irritating sound of ringtones.

The comedian, Dom Joly, writing in the Sun, says the plane was the last relaxing method of travel.

The Guardian features the latest waxwork model of the Queen at Madame Tussauds on its front page.

The Mail says the model is an astonishing likeness.

Dubai: The UAE may soon have a national list of endangered species of plants and animals, Gulf News has learnt.

Having a national list will help protect endangered species better and facilitate effective measures towards conservation at regional and local levels.

The Ministry of Environment and Water, along with municipalities and other departments in various emirates, is working towards coming up with a ‘red list’.

Presently, there is a red list of the UAE’s flora and fauna according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation. However, as these species are classified based on their global status worldwide, there is a need to develop a list at a national level.

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A poll conducted by the Associated Press and CNBC found that 46% of respondents think Facebook will fade away as new platforms come along in the future. However, about 43% believe the site will likely be successful for the long haul.

The study was conducted among 1,000 Americans ages 18 and over, with a margin of error of 3.9%.

Not on Facebook? Tell us why.

The survey comes as Facebook readies for its initial public offering later this week. The company confirmed on Tuesday that shares will be priced between $34 and $38, with the company’s valuation at more than $100 billion.

Mashable: How to explain Facebook’s IPO in 150 seconds

About 50% of respondents said they believe the expected stock market value is overvalued, while only 3% said the projection is undervalued. About 32% said that the number is valued fairly by the market. The remaining percentage either didn’t know or declined to answer.

The study also asked respondents if buying Facebook shares would be a good investment that would outperform other investments — about 51% believed it would be a good investment, while 31% disagreed.

As for whether or not people believe 28-year-old Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg can run a large publicly traded company, only 18% said they were extremely confident. About 40% said they were somewhat confident and 20% said they weren’t confident at all. Respondents cited age as helping his ability to run the company (21%) compared to hurting his ability (11%).

Do you think Facebook is just a passing fad? Let us know your opinion in the comments.

See the original article on Mashable.com

© 2011 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved.

Diversity is a key feature of South Africa, where 11 languages are recognised as official, where community leaders include rabbis and chieftains, rugby players and returned exiles, where traditional healers ply their trade around the corner from stockbrokers and where housing ranges from mud huts to palatial homes with swimming pools.

The white government which came to power in 1948 enforced a separation of races with its policy called apartheid. It dictated that black and white communities should live in separate areas, travel in different buses and stand in their own queues.

The government introduced grand social engineering schemes such as the forced resettlement of hundreds of thousands of people. It poisoned and bombed opponents and encouraged trouble in neighbouring countries.

The apartheid government eventually negotiated itself out of power, and the new leadership encouraged reconciliation. But the cost of the years of conflict will be paid for a long time yet, not least in terms of lawlessness, social disruption and lost education.

South Africa faces major problems, but having held four successful national elections as well as local polls since the end of white rule, a democratic culture appears to be taking hold, allowing people at least some say in the search for solutions.

Very much Africa's superpower, South Africa has the continent's biggest economy, though this went into recession in May 2009 following a sharp slowdown in the mining and manufacturing sectors. The construction industry, on the other hand, benefited from a huge programme of government investment ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

South Africa is, along with China, Brazil, Russia and India, a member of the BRICS club of emerging world economic powerhouses.

Many South Africans remain poor and unemployment is high – a factor blamed for a wave of violent attacks against migrant workers from other African countries in 2008 and protests by township residents over poor living conditions during the summer of 2009.

Land redistribution is an ongoing issue. Most farmland is still white-owned. Having so far acquired land on a "willing buyer, willing seller" basis, officials have signalled that large-scale expropriations are on the cards. The government aims to transfer 30% of farmland to black South Africans by 2014.

South Africa has the second-highest number of HIV/Aids patients in the world. Around one in seven of its citizens is infected with HIV. Free anti-retroviral drugs are available under a state-funded scheme.

On the black market, currency traders operating out of their homes and street-front restaurants have increased their price for US dollars by 30 percent since December. Bakeries have quadrupled the price of a piece of bread to 1 South Sudanese pound. The cost of fuel is soaring.

South Sudan’s economic crisis is looming just nine months after it became the world’s newest country when it separated from the Republic of Sudan.

It didn’t have to be this way. South Sudan was established with great potential. Three-quarters of the once-united Sudan’s oil ended up within its borders when it seceded last July, enough to pay for an ambitious development programme in a region that had long been neglected by Khartoum because of a 21-year civil war that ended in 2005. But the country now is embroiled in a deadly border conflict with Sudan over territory and oil rights.

The Sudanese Peoples’ Liberation Movement, a rebel group that became South Sudan’s dominant political party with all the top ministerial positions, shut down the oil flow in January over what South Sudan should pay to use the Sudanese pipelines and export facilities. All the oil South Sudan produces must be exported through two pipelines in Sudan.

That dispute, along with simmering animosity and disagreements over borders, led to a sporadic war between the two sides that has seen hundreds killed and thousands become refugees this year.

Whether the decision to shut down the oil flow was extreme brinkmanship or economic suicide is the question now quietly being discussed by NGO workers, representatives of the foreign governments and South Sudanese businessmen in Juba.

The government of South Sudan funded 98 percent of its budget through oil sales before the shutdown. Its cash reserves are falling fast, and South Sudan soon may not be able to pay its teachers, soldiers and government workers. One western diplomat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the country could last until September at the latest on its current holdings, according to briefings its embassy had received.

The World Bank warned on Tuesday that it was “deeply concerned” about the effect of the unresolved oil dispute on both countries. ”Given the desperate living situation being faced by people in both Sudan and South Sudan, the World Bank’s economic analysis unambiguously shows that it is in the interests of both countries to resume talks urgently,” it said in a statement. South Sudan officials say the disputes can be resolved and the country will survive.

Government spokesman Barnaba Marial Benjamin said South Sudan was prepared for economic hardship and had already introduced austerity measures to slow down the depletion of its cash reserves. He said South Sudan was in negotiations with several countries, which he would not name for reasons of national security, for “budgetary support”. It is seeking US$10 billion (Dh36bn) over three years. ”We can last two years with our current reserves and budgetary support,” he said in an interview, adding that the government was trying to fast-track agricultural development and boost tax collection. “We already have many promises of support from our friends.” The government is also planning to bulk purchase consumer goods, such as cooking oil, fuel, flour and rice to prevent inflation caused by “hoarding”, Mr Benjamin said.

The country’s plans for new roads, power stations and infrastructure will largely be paid for by an $8 billion loan from China announced last month, but none of that money will be used for the budget, he said.

Even as Sudan and South Sudan say they are following a road map laid out by the African Union to cease the border conflict and return to the negotiating table, the South Sudan government appears unwilling to reconsider shipping oil through the old pipeline.

That may exacerbate tensions even further because Sudan was planning to make up the loss of its oilfields through revenue from a transit fee. Sudan’s oil minister said on Monday that the shutdown has cost the government $2.4 billion so far.

South Sudan is, instead, forging ahead with a plan to build a new pipeline within two years through Ethiopia to Djibouti. Stephen Dhieu, the oil minister, said representatives of the three countries met last week to negotiate fees and terms for using their territories. Discussions have also begun with Chinese and Malaysian companies about construction, which Mr Dhieu said would begin in six months.

Within a year, South Sudan will also try to ship 10 to 15 percent of its oil production through lorries. But that cannot begin until new highways are finished. ”We know that to depend on Sudan is unrealistic,” he said. “When we took the decision to shut down, it was a last option. We realised it was necessary for our economic independence.”

Dubai: You won’t find their names printed in the newspaper, but they — the more than 600 distributors of Gulf News — are the ones who literally bring the news right to your doorstep.

These men, who hail from Asian countries, were recognised for their outstanding contribution to making Gulf News the most read newspaper in the UAE, at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel yesterday.

Duleep George, executive director, marketing and sales, Gulf News, lauded the men for their hard work in ensuring that the newspaper reaches its readers and for making it the most read newspaper in the UAE. "There’s no one else to thank but you," he said in a recorded message.

High achiever

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An ecstatic crowd cheered as names of the top performers were announced. Leading the pack was Rapelli Gangadhar, 48, from Hyderabad, India. Having worked as a distributor for 23 years, Gangadhar said achieving his target and more was his primary motivation.

"I wanted to come first. That’s why I worked harder to achieve the number one [spot]. I went door to door to meet every customer in my area," Gangadhar, who placed third last year in the same category, said.

Despite suffering a severe illness and going on emergency leave last year, Gangadhar still managed to make 100 new subscriptions from the National Paint area in Sharjah. He said he aims to retain the top spot in next year’s subscription campaign. He received a cash prize of Dh10,000.

Multiply Gangadhar 30 times and you will get a team of achievers who are under the management of Nipun Mamgain, this year’s top area distribution controller, which beat 16 other teams.

"The biggest achievement is not just being number one, but the fact that every distributor in my area has actually achieved 100 per cent [of their target]. We actually made a team effort to ensure that everybody worked towards achieving the target. So for me personally that is the achievement," Mamgain, who was third in the category last year, said.

Despite a lot of competition, distributors in this year’s campaign were able to nurture a solid bond between its readers and the newspaper, Susheel Bhat, this year’s top area distribution manager, said.

Hard work

"We have a solid interference in terms of field work. Like a field guy would visit [one home] at least 20 times in the span of 17 weeks. Most of the hard work is done by these people. They are the actual stars," Bhat said.

Apart from the individual, team, and area winners, the rest of the distributors who were able to achieve their targets were given a chance to win Dh3,000 each in a grand raffle.

Dh120,000 was the total of raffle prizes awarded to 40 lucky distributors.

Top ten performers

1) Rapelli Gangadhar

2) Rohit Badal

3) Mahadev Mamidala

4) Gabriel Raj

5) Vinay Kumar

6) Murugan

7) Eric John

Sathik Basha

9) Yashpal

10) Narahari Narasalah