Lose and Regain

Kamal Haasan says in one of his movies (Virumaandi) “you don't realize the happiness you have until you lose it”. Its not just happiness, but we don't realize the value of many things we have until we lose them .

I was in Chennai for the weekend and i was not online for the entire weekend. Which made me realize, how much i am hooked onto the net,but that is obvious :p isn't it? But i was quite comfortable(except it was very hot and so boring) and didn't have any withdrawal symptoms ;)

But the strangest thing happened when I entered Bangalore on my way back. I felt i was back home which is weird because I always consider Madurai as my home and Bangalore was always like staying in a guests place.Looks like I have to admit “Namma Bengalooru” has become like a home away from home for me.I realized I missed Bangalore more than the virtual world :p

So if you do something daily out of your own desire (like having tea in your favorite shop,etc etc),just try not to do it for a couple of days (unless its a essential task). Then after the couple of days if you do that again, you will feel it to be more fulfilling than before. It is also good to test how much you like a person- don’t talk to them for a couple of days,you will realize how much you actually like to be with the person. Whatever it is, just make sure the feelings are mutual.

BTW, I am conducting a online survey about web 2.0 advertising as part of my post graduation. so plzzzz do participate and give your valuable feedback. Please find the questionnaire here.It will take just 5 mins to fill it up and it will be immensely helpful for my study.

Keep Smiling :) Cheers !!!

Sixth Sense-the Future of Mobile Technology

Just when I thought touch devices like iphones,Tablet pc's etc are going to rule the near future, comes a far more cutting edge technology which looks like as if pulled out from a Sci-Fi movie. Pattie Mae , founder of Fluid Interfaces Group recently unveiled Sixth Sense, a wearable device comprising a projector which projects the virtual world onto any surface an can be accessed with hand gestures…something like in the movie Minority Report.Watch the video to get a peek into the future.

SIXTH SENSE DEMO

Pranav Mistry, a PhD student in the Fluid Interfaces Group at MIT's Media Lab is the wizard behind this project, which aims to blend in the virtual world with physical world by making data accessible, anywhere, anytime.

If this becomes viable ad practical, we will be “wearing” our mobile devices either as cap, sunglasses or as “bling bling” chains.Hope the day come sooner………

Windows 7 is the Good Side of Vista

One of the good things to have techies in the family, is that you get cool techstuff much before others ,atleast I get it before most of my friends:) [when it comes to software even my engg friends ask for tips!!!].

So it is not much of surprise, when some of my friends are getting convinced to move to Vista I have 'moved on' to windows 7 [build 7.000-new version coming in sometime but I couldn't wait :)]. And before anything else , I would say this if you are using XP hold it, don't move to Vista. wait for some more time because Win7 will be releasing soon commercially!!.(latest by 4th quarter 2009).

Well I am not going to review Win7 for you ,there are others who are better qualified than me for that.But as a normal user and a non tech guy I would say these.... its faster than XP (believe it or not :p), has all the good stuff of vista aero theme,safety etc etc,a uncluttered Taskbar which shows mainly the icons of application,revamped start menu,free to move gadgets,improved preview,libraries through which you can access similar files from single location (for example, in the photos library all photos in the system can be accessed despite of their original location).Click here for detailed preview

Now ...Tiger,who had installed WIN 7 before me had some issues so uninstalled it.Well the requirements are similar to Vista,minimum is 1 gb ram and atleast 2ogb hard drive space..If vista works fine in your system then Win7 should work splendidly.There was a critical update after its initial release, so guys who had used without the update may not have enjoyed it.I had uninstalled Vista then loaded Win7 so its working like a charm.

Bottom line: Win 7 is Vista reloaded but this time MS has got it right :)

Two Sides of the New Ipod Shuffle

If you are a regular to my blog you would have realised it by now.Nevertheless I will say it up front,"I am Microsoft Biased"

However, I wont argue over the fact that Apple is the Greatest when it comes to product design and one of the most innovative companies in this planet. Apple's new Ipod Shuffle sure stole my eyes. For starters, its half the size , 4 times the memory(4Gb). At $79 its not too pricey either, considering other Ipods.Apart from the new multiple playlist support, the coolest feature is that this player talks!!

The VoiceOver feature announces the name of song or playlist, notifies about the battery life in 14 languages!!.

Surely Apple knows how to be Invincible.I felt "Wow" really belongs to Apple and not to MS... remember Vista wow :(

But again my Microsoft biased mind was desperate to find something wrong about Apple. I was having thoughts that Why Apple does not always give out their best at first?? May be Apple had this design before itself, but planned to release only when the sales slowed down.May be it wants to skim the market as much possible, before release a better version(like the case of Iphone 3g). But then came my saviour.....

Dan Leahul points out in Brand republic's Digital Blogger

"...the volume and tracking controls have been moved to the iPod earphones.The earphones, proprietary earphones... why Apple, why?

Seems like a kick in the shins to devoted iPod users, just what happens if (when) you (eventually) lose the earphones, besides obviously shelling out £40 for another set?

An explanation? Are we granted an apology? A hand written letter from Steve Jobs with a dab of his Apple musk sealed in the envelope?

Since when is the World's Nicest Company^TM so mean? "

Aha ...looks like Apple is not so innocent after all and Microsoft is not just the one which is blamed all the time.

I am Microsoft biased and I can sleep peacefully tonight....

Build Your World- As You Like It

Remember the "Construct " in The Matrix? where Morpheus says "It our 'loading program' We can load anything from clothing to equipment, weapons, training simulation, anything we need".

Imagine what if there is actually a program in which you can load anything, build whatever you want.It will be a place where only your mind is the limit.

The video below is a short film which shows a virtual program called World builder similar to the Construct. Please watch this "TechnoRomantic" brilliant piece of creativity.

World Builder - Sci-Fi Romance

If U Had A Bad Day.....this one is for you......

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on
You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on
Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Well you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on
You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
(Oh.. Holiday..)

You had a bad day

Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong
So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day
Had a bad day

Happy Holi Everyone

To know more about Holi visit Rajiv's blog

EARTH HOUR 2009

WWF is organizing the "Earth Hour" on march 28 2009, where it requests everyone to turn off their lights for one hour.It believes this will show the world leaders the commitment of people around the world towards saving Earth from global warming.

"75 countries including India have committed to participate in WWF’s Earth Hour in 2009. The campaign, which hopes to reach out to more than one billion people in 1000 cities around the world, encourage individuals, businesses and governments to switch off lights for just one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm to convey their support for action on climate change. 538 cities already committed, and double the number of countries that participated in 2008.Cities already committed to Earth Hour include Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Rome, Manila, Oslo, Cape Town, Warsaw, Lisbon, Singapore, Istanbul, Mexico City, Toronto, Dubai and Copenhagen.
2009 is a critical year in terms of the political decisions that will be made at global climate negotiations in December 2009. Earth Hour, aims to highlight the voice of the people of the world and represent a visual mandate for meaningful policy on climate change."

VOTE FOR EARTH ON EARTH HOUR -MARCH 28 2009

In India, Mumbai and Delhi will participate in the earthhour The campaign was launched in Mumbai during the Chemical Engineering festival of IIT-Bombay - ‘Azeotropy 09. Although WWF has garnered support from the government and corporates it also encourages people to take self initiatives to form groups and participate in Earthhour in their neighborhoods. I hope people will join the campaign for Aamir khan if not for Mother Earth.

Microsoft's vision for 2019

I completely agree when Tiger says "Microsoft is trying to revive its image of a visionary company"  After all it was their vision to put a PC in every home in every desk.

Stephen Elop of  Microsoft Labs recently unveiled MS' vision for the next decade at the Wharton Business Technology Conference.

2019 - montage

This is just a preview of the vision.Please do have a look at the full video here.

I firmly believe this trait to have a vision, to think beyond,to imagine the endless possibilities of what technology can achieve is what makes Microsoft stand out in the crowd.Sure Apple makes great products and Microsoft copies it. Sure Google , Yahoo etc makes access to information more simpler. But do they have a vision as to how will they play their parts in shaping the future? May be they do, May be they don't. 

Unlike many other companies who  just have  long term business strategies with just  a financial perspective, Microsoft surely does have a vision and exactly knows what part it will play in shaping our future lives.

Indiblogger 2009 (Update)

First answer this - Do all bloggers have a financial motive for blogging?  If not should they have one? and why?

Hi everyone, sorry I wasn't keeping well and so couldn't blog.I promised to write more about the meet but since time has slipped away please see Tiger's post on this .He received some interesting comments also ;)  regarding the question mentioned above.please do  put in your thoughts about it. Overall it was a very good meeting and I am really looking for more meets like this.  Btw Indian Blog & New Media Society is organising a blogger meet in Namma Bengaluru ( New Delhi also).

Hope I can meet some more blogger buddies there......

Indiblogger Meet 2009

Hi everyone.. guess what? My Blogging just got serious. Seriously when I started blogging never did I know it will become such a important activity in my life.

Anwin through Indiblogger organised the Bangalore Blogger Meet 2009.More than 100 bloggers attended the meeting. We had a awesome time,pitching our blogs,munching pizzas,gawking at windows 7. Click for full report & Pics.More about the meeting in the next post.

!!!WE BLOG THEREFORE WE ARE!!!

BTW.... Happy March Everyone !!! (u know its March 1 that too in a sunday, which certainly qualifies a De Novo)