Will Microsoft bring in Slate-Z ?

NO .Its not announced yet. But as a MS fan,I do want a tablet which has a webcam and SD slots.

I do agree Apple’s iPad is truly an innovative product. I don't know if its going to change the publishing industry , but nevertheless it is a revolutionary device, because it will make computing so simple. Kids and oldies will find iPad a much more easier,enjoyable experience than any other Laptop /Smartphone.

Just picture this,

You are in bed along with your toddler and read him/her Winnie the pooh..only the yellow bear is animated and smiles in bright iPad screen.

The grandpa who is about to kick the bucket, can see his grandson’s latest bday pics lying on the hospital bed,just by touching icons.He might not have held a mouse in his entire life and probably never will.  

But now its  a Apple Device, that means its a luxury product which comes with a premium(and in  iPad’s case without a webcam). So obviously users like me look for a device,which offers value for money . As usual we look up to Microsoft.

IPL – Innovative Performers League

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,

One of the factors to achieve greatness , is to stand the test of time , and that’s why Shakespeare is considered the greatest playwright ever.

Even today the above mentioned quote from “As You Like It” is put to good use to generate billions of revenue , providing employment to thousands of people and most of all entertaining billions of people just using a bat & a ball.

Ruchi, asked me a few days before “what do you think of IPL?”.I had no answer then.I haven't had thought about it much .But the more I thought about it, I saw more drama than the sport itself. After watching Harsha Bhogle’s TED talk on IPL , my bro and I couldn’t decide whether he was favoring IPL or mocking it. But it did strengthened my opinion that IPL is more about business than cricket

IPL1 was good , IPL 2 was better, and I am sure IPL 3 would be even better ,not because of cricket but because of the controversies .

Speed Mail – the tech courier

I heard a voice saying “Courier” at my doorstep and I found that my brother’s bank statement had come.While I was looking at the envelope,checking the name ,I held by hand out instinctively as I usually do, to get the pen from the courier guy to sign.But he didn’t he give me the pen as this was no ordinary courier service.As I looked up  ,believe it or not I saw him entering details in a small i-mate PDA  with the stylus. 

If it was FedEx or DHL , I wouldn’t be surprised but there was no name in the envelope and by his appearance I assumed it was a normal courier service. Then he asked me to sign in the PDA itself with the stylus.(frankly i was dazed at this). When he was about to leave,i asked him which courier which he replied “Speedmail”.

The name didn’t ring a bell  ,so at once i went in and googled it. They didn’t have any website ,but were listed in the classifieds.Then i searched  for news and Voila i got it.

From Hindu : Xpress Deliveries, a leading corporate courier services company, has launched ‘Speedmail Deliveries’, its retail courier business unit

The fact that it is a new courier service and is not into retail yet(only corporate clients ) might be the reason why “Speedmail” is not popular yet .

It is interesting to know that,by using PDA’s ,around 16hours is saved every day and the personnel are handling around 700 packages per day against the average count of 300-350.

Speedmail would be starting retail services from August and I am pretty sure they will make other couriers like Professional or DTDC run for their money.Its better they gear up and embrace technology before they get wiped out by new age couriers like Speedmail.

India Innovation Initiative

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) along with CII and Agilent Technologies Inc has launched I3 –India Innovation Initiative a unique competition where one can submit their innovative ideas and if selected they would be charted into viable business models, converting the idea into an enterprise.

"The DST receives plenty of ideas to develop through its national innovation fund (NIF). A select few can be worked out and developed into commercially viable innovations that can address pertinent problems like climate change, water scarcity or other such concerns," Anuj Sinha, the head of science communication division at DST, said. (Hindu)

So if you have some innovative ideas and believe it will make a difference ,here is your chance to prove it.

May 30/09 is the last date to send in your proposals. For more details log on t0 http://www.innovationgrid.org/i3/#

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………

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

Google's Internet Bus

From LiveMint - Chennai: As part of its initiatives to spread awareness about Internet, Google India on Tuesday announced the launch of mobile internet bus to provide the experience of worldwide web to people across Tamil Nadu.

The bus project is based on four themes — information,  communication, entertainment and education, and it would have useful and informative content in English and Tamil, said Google India (Research and Development) Centre Head Prasad Ram.“We want to educate people about the benefit of Internet and this bus would make them to understand the usage of Internet in a much effective way,” he said.The bus would be covering 15 towns across the state over a period of one-and-a-half months, he said.Google India Product Manager Prem Ramaswami said this was like a pilot project for them and based on the response they get from this project, they would continue it in other states as well.

“It is like a pilot study (for us). More than 19% of Tamilians prefer Google Tamil for accessing the Internet and that is also one of the reasons to launch the bus project from Tamil Nadu,” he said.

read more here.......

Call Rates R.I.P.

As Rakesh wanted to buy a new mobile of the smartphone breed ,Dhiru and I were discussing about different mobiles and the new age mobile applications with him.Just then occurred to me that in the near future there will be no more call rates as such.

Let me explain .Almost every smartphone is equipped with 3g, Wi-Fi & other such wireless connectivity solutions. Wi Max and 3g networks have already been launched in some areas of India.Suppose I have a Smartphone ,so does my friend and we both have a WiMax connection, then I don't have to call or text through the GSM or CDMA connection but I will be using the Gtalk to IM or Skype to call.I will be charged for the data usage only which will be much lesser than call rates.

That means with Internet access everywhere, mobile users can stay connected through the internet itself and not necessarily through traditional networks like GSM .So there will be no more Mobile operators but only Internet service providers.

Yes it will be long time for the entire change but it will surely disrupt the telecom business model and entirely change the rules of the industry.This type of scenario is referred as a strategic inflection point,only the companies which will accept this and adapt future technologies will sustain in the future.

With telecom operators rolling out more networks and smartphones becoming more cheaper, its just a matter of time and it will happen...eventually .

Bushoe Buzz

What can happen by throwing a pair of shoes ?

Apart from all the reports, conversations,debates look below who quickly cashed in by the shoe episode

• 'Sock and Awe'.com , a online game site based on the incident was bought by British-based internet media company for 5,215 pounds ($7,818), through e-bay.com
• You Tube gets 8,145,000 views in two days with from different versions of the video, uploaded @ 209 videos per hour.
• Istanbul-based shoemaker Ramazan Baydan has received orders totaling 370,000 pair since Dec 14 and has employed 100 people extra to meet this demand.
• Afghan televisions has put up special "shoe" episodes in their comedy shoes.

Sell Bread When There Is Traffic Jam

I was listening to Radio Indigo today and the RJ was asking what do people (especially in cars) want when  they are stuck in traffic.Traffic in Bangalore is one of the worst ones in the country(even ex-pats agree).Many listeners were calling in and giving suggestions like pollution masks, magazines, DVD's etc.

One of the interesting suggestions was given by some girl named Ashwati.She told everyone will want to eat something during times in which they are stuck in traffic.Biscuits,chocolates or salted snacks or some munchies like that.She even mentioned even though it is obvious,nobody is doing it.

When I thought about it I found it really practical. The idea is that morning many skip breakfast, in evenings they would be tired  and would be rushing to eat something.But when they are stuck in traffic they cannot get out of their vehicles to go into some shop to buy the munchies.  

That's a great news for fast food vendors out there to add more sales.Think about it,people who have small shops on busy junctions can  have a tray lined with branded snacks which will be easily picked by consumers. The kiosk vendors like steamed corn or Frankie rolls freshly prepared stuffs neatly packed could be sold very easily.

"Every adversity is a opportunity for those with a positive attitude"