Four schools in Chennai adopt Microsoft tablets

Tech giant Microsoft today said four schools in Chennai has adopted Windows hybrid tablets for classroom learning.
At an event held in Chennai today, the four schools also announced the setting up of SOLE Labs (Self Organised Learning Environment Labs), Microsoft India said in a release.
These SOLE Labs will enable students in elementary and middle classes to learn in self chosen collaborative work groups that leverage the power of these Windows devices, it added.
Microsoft has been targeting schools and higher education institutions wuth its services.
Earlier this year, the firm launched a special bundled tablets for private schools (K6-12) in partnership with Acer, MBD Group and Tata Teleservices.

For higher education, it launched a Windows 8.1 HP tablet with embedded Pearson educational content.

* * * * * *
Microsoft Ventures India announces Accelerator prog's batch * Microsoft Ventures in India today announced the fifth batch of 12 technology start-ups that will constitute the Winter (July-November 2014) batch of its Accelerator Programme.
CryptoPhoto, DabKick, Fairket, FlatPebble, NiftyWindow, Playblazer, RHLVision, AppKnox, DeltaX, ProHance, Tallenge and TruTech have been selected from the original list of over 1,300 applications received for this batch, it said in a release.
The applications were a mix of B2C and B2B companies in various technology fields, and also included few international start-ups. Three of them, namely CryptoPhoto, AppKnox and DabKick are from Australia, Singapore and the US, respectively.

Microsoft Ventures in India has graduated four batches comprising 51 start-ups since the Accelerator programme commenced in August 2012. Out of these companies, 82 per cent have been funded within a year of being in the program, and two of the graduates, Adepto and Plustxt, have been acquired.
Microsoft Ventures is a global initiative to help entrepreneurs build companies.