tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33276641407210726312024-02-07T04:04:54.911-05:00Reverberating ReflectionsAjayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-15999663434071248592010-07-13T19:36:00.001-05:002010-07-13T19:39:06.576-05:00The Beginning of the End for Apple?<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">The story of the iPhone, right from its inception in 2007 has been every product manufacturer’s dream story. It took the world by storm, rejuvenated the snail-paced cellphone industry (thanks to all the non-inventors out there) and touched (ahem, pun intended) the end user in every way possible.</p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">The next chapter logically is the rise of the 'iPhone 4' mammoth - one that squishes the competition and leaps ahead. But well, despite the raving initial reviews, the path to stardom is not so rosy anymore. Infact, it is getting murkier as the days roll. </p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">The 'death grip' antenna issue plaguing Apple’s new baby, the iPhone 4, is sounding the warning bells for Apple in the smartphone kingdom. Apple, touted as the undisputed leader in marketing, has so far completely botched up in handling the issue. </p><p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><br /></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><b>From the beginning</b></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">It all started with a user at MacForums posting a video of the brand new iPhone inexplicably dropping signal if held in a certain way. Soon it grew into a viral video campaign with users posting video demonstrating it all over the internet. Most highly technical analysis came to mixed conclusions. They all agreed that the signal attenuation was bigger than seen in a normal cell phone or the previous models, but failed to convincing prove that it was consistently replicable in all phones or that it was a deal-breaker. Almost a month since the release, the latest and the strongest dent comes from ConsumerReports which flipped sides from heaving praises to the devices to calling the ‘death grip’ a dealbreaker and withdrawing its recommendation to buy. </p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><b>Where Apple failed?</b></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">The last time that Apple faced such a strong backlash from its users was the huge price drop of the initial iPhone, just two months after the launch, leaving all the early adopters out in the lurch. But then came in a genius marketing move – an apology letter from Steve with a $100 itunes credit to every early adopter. No company had pulled off a move like that, ever. Overnight Apple became the consumer’s darling.</p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">This time, the response has been completely the opposite. An email from one of the fans to Steve was met with a curt ‘Just don’t hold the phone that way’ response. The sense of arrogance and dictatorship in that statement alarmed ever the most loyal followers. The resulting growing anger over the issue resulted in an unconvincing explanation under the pretext of the iPhone signal calibration. Very un-Apple-like. When ConsumerReport openly withdrew its recommendation of the iPhone 4, it instigated a bigger backlash and discussions over at the Apple board. And all that Apple did was to merely delete those discussions. The mere silence and the failure to communicate to its users is strongly denting the iPhone’s sales and along with it the company’s reputation and stock value. </p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><b>What's next</b></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">For the competitors: For the last few months, many rivals under the Google wagon have released formidable opponents to the iPhone. Still none have so far bettered it in consumer sentiments. Finally, they get to cache in on all the negative sentiments piling up against Apple. In fact, the latest marketing campaign of Droid X, titled ‘Hold the phone any way you like’ does exactly that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">For Apple: This presents a very difficult situation for the company. It need to act fast to stem the negative sentiments and stop losing the loyal followers. And it better get its marketing act together. Of course, the solution may not be simple nor will it be at a cheap price, but it needs to be done to uphold the company’s image. </p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><b>The solution</b></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">I don’t know what the right answer might be. Personally, I don’t think supplying a free bumper is a solution. It is not what I have come to expect from a company like Apple and moreover it is but a meek submission to the real underlying issue. A recall may be only apt solution. Or maybe, there’s a magic software/firmware fix which makes it all disappear. But whatever it is, time is not on Apple’s side. Apple might still sell a ton of iPhone 4s with the death grip and the records will keep tumbling. But in the process, it might lose a huge chunk of the early adopters – those who are the core of the companies success and those who word-of-mouth marketing will have a value of millions of marketing dollars. </p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; "><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNoteLevel1CxSpLast" style="text-align: justify;margin-left: 0in; text-indent: 0in; ">So, your call Apple …</p> <!--EndFragment-->Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-17872122253188190002010-04-07T20:42:00.002-05:002010-04-07T21:06:57.125-05:00iPhone 4.0: My speculation<div style="text-align: justify;">Speculations are abound for the iPhone 4.0 Software Preview session tomorrow. Every tech enthusiast is out with his/her own wishlist and speculation. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And here's mine (in the order of importance)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. MultiTasking: If I were to play poker, I am willing to go all-in on this one. My bet is that the next version of the OS will have complete/partial multi-tasking capabilities. Besides the fact that it's high time for Apple to get this sorted, here's my rationale. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">a) More than the iPhone, the iPad needs multitasking. I can't imagine having a tablet where I can't chat and read an ebook at the same time. It just spoils the experience. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">b) All along, Apple has walked away from MultiTasking on the grounds of reducing the overall performance and draining the battery life. Take a look at the iPad - the battery life is astounding. In-fact, the battery life is more than what Apple claims (10 hours). And typically Apple never underclaims. So my guess is that the iPad is designed to inherently support multitasking and the resulting battery life wouldn't be too far less than their claim.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Folders: This is basic. I need to save files (music/doc/pdf) on my device and be able to access it offline. Also finally the iPhone will now double-up as a USB device!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Integrated and Improved Mailbox: El Jobso himself replied to a fan email than an improved and integrated mailbox is coming soon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Better facebook integration</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. Tethering: Well, this was promised way back and no word yet. And hopefully, they have an on-the-go no contract tethering plan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the past, on many occasions, the announcements have fallen short of expectations. However, with Android and WM7 catching up, it's time for Apple to extend the lead again. Honestly, if you look at the wishlist, Apple could have long done them. Their gameplan is simple: once the radical innovation is ready, innovate only as far as the competition pushes you. Pretty smart, huh!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And if all goes well, we'll also see a new Advertising Platform - iAd - being released morrow. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-33703577839458321782010-04-07T19:33:00.004-05:002010-04-07T20:33:11.566-05:00The iPad: My thoughts<div style="text-align: justify;">The iPad is here... and well, it is here to stay!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After having played with the iPad for a short time (like a kid at a candy shop), I stepped out impressed. I have my own reservations, but hey, this thing rocks. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So instead of harping over the same stuff which a lot of reviews would, I wanted to stress on three unique things that struck out the most regarding the iPad</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Potentially, The Third Segmen</span><b>t</b></span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">For many year, there has been a big debate - is there a middle segment of devices, one that exist between the phone and the computer? And if so, what does that segment best do? At first, it looks like the MID (Mobile Internet Device). For the last couple of years, it seemed as if netbooks defined that segment. But well, there was always this lingering doubt - why do people buy netbooks? what does it do better than a pc? does it redefine the experience? My view is that besides the smaller form factor, the only reason why netbooks are good is the 'price point'! </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally with the Apply iPad, it looks like this void might be filled. The Apple iPad defines the middle segment as the productivity segment - things that you do often, like browsing web, listening to music, watching movies and reading books and magazines. The key here is that the iPad redefines the experience, making it more personal and more accessible. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Building the device ground-up</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">One thing that instantly astonished me is the raw speed - the device is blazingly fast. Things just happen naturally, there's no lag. What's even more surprising is the horsepower (the engine) that drives it. All it has is an underwhelming 1Ghz Apple A4 chip with a mere 256 MB ram. So what's the secret sauce - the ground up approach to building the device. Instead of just taking the existng hardware and software and slamming them together to make the iPad, Apple rethought everything. Every hardware is fine-tuned and devised as to best do the core activities on the iPad. That's amazing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">All this makes me very suspect of the new HP Slate due to be released shortly. The specs of the HP Slate are far better (1.6 GHz Atom processor and a 512MB/1GB ram). But then it has the standard netbook processor, not one fine-tuned for a tablet experience. What's more, it runs the clunky Windows 7 Home Series. Well, I can safely bet that despite the faster processor, the HP Slate will be very sluggish compared to the iPad</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;">3. The App World Ecosystem</div></span><div style="text-align: justify;">When Apple first release the iPhone, it had no third party apps. The reason was that the core functions of the device were already built in - phone, browser, ipod, photos. Everything else is secondary. But with the iPad, the core functionality is not clearly defined. In fact, that's the strength of the device. You define the core functionality. For me, the core functionality would be social networking and productivity tools (like word). For someone else, it could be reading books and watching movies. What this means is that the App World defines the core utility of the device. And Apple realized it right from the beginning. That's why, in addition to making the iPad being able to upscale and run the thousands of existing iPhone apps, Apple ensured that there's more than 3000+ iPad only apps available at launch. These apps, besides taking advantage of the iPad large display space, also illustrate how the iPad apps are so different and better than those for the iPhone. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course, the device has its own drawbacks - no camera for teleconferencing, no usb ports, no flash connection and most importantly no multitasking. Well, here's my strong bet: from the beginning, iPad has been designed to support multitasking. The only reason it has been waiting so long is for the official release of the iPhone 4 Software Platform (since both iPad and iPhone run on the same product platform). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In all, I no longer see the device as a giant iPod touch. There's more to it than what meets the eye. Well done Apple!</div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-57459729104656506542010-03-22T18:28:00.005-05:002010-03-22T18:44:35.731-05:00MBA Talk: Need an aim... a goal... Here's mine - an orange one!<div style="text-align: justify;">Often, at times, we are spurred by the weirdest of goals and dreams.<br /><br />Here's one for me.<br />Did you know T-Mobile owns a trademark for Magenta? Well, yes, the color 'magenta'. That gives them exclusive rights to use the color in their industry sector (telecommunications, digital media, phones, maybe even internet!).<br /><br />But hey, how cool is that! To own your own color. So there goes my dream - to own 'orange' or at least a specific shade of it.<br /><br />So how do I do it? Here is the gameplan.<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>Decide on a flavor of orange, say burnsque orange, misky musky orange, blah blah orange. </li><li>Start a company and build it big. I mean really really big. </li><li>Every aspect of the company should reflect the shade of orange - the walls, the computers, the products, the ink. Maybe even paint the employees orange. </li><li>Make the company and the products ubiquitous. So much that when people look at the misky musky shade of orange anywhere, anytime, they just think of one product and one company - MINE! </li><li>And then, my boy, the court would grant me ownership of 'Orange'. All Mine!</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Well, I never say it was easy. But hey, it's possible!<br />As for the rest of you out there, may hay while the sun shines. Orange shall soon be mine...<br /><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-55965280790161400522010-03-22T17:09:00.006-05:002010-04-05T23:34:22.314-05:00MBA Talk: Is it really a Bargain?<div style="text-align: justify;">"Buy 2, Get 1 Free", "Buy 2, Get 20% off" - well, all of us have see such promotions while walking through the aisle in our local retail store. Sure, they are lucrative and sound impressive. More often than not, I have fallen for them.
<br />
<br />Have you ever thought - "Why do companies discount their products so much? Aren't they making a loss or atleast cutting into their profits?". The truth behind it all is that the real discount is very minimal, if any. It just looks like a fallout bargain! It is a bigger DEAL for the company, than for you.
<br />
<br />Let's take a simple example and try to understand. A couple of weeks back, I went to Walmart to buy a <a href="http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/Kitchen-Needs/Pitcher-Replacement-Filter/ID=prod15748&navCount=1&navAction=push-product?V=G&ec=frgl_&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=sku315748">refill filter</a> for my Brita Water Pitcher.
<br />And here were my available options
<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>1 Pack: $9</li><li>3 Pack: $19</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">Well, when I walked in, I intended to buy just one. And I walked out with the 3-pack box. And why? It's an awesome deal. I get three filters for a little more than the price of two!
<br />
<br />So, let's take a look at why a company like Brita would do this. The most important concept behind this is 'Time Value of Money'. If I get $1 today, it ain't the same as me getting $1 same time next year. If I get $1 today, I can invest at a bank at 10% interest and make it $1.1 by next year. So in other words, the $1 next year is only valued at $1/1.1 = $0.909 today!
<br />
<br />Now let's do the math for the case of Brita. Let's assume that a typical Brita filter would last 1 year. Next let's assume that Joe (a customer) would buy Brita 1-Pack today and for the next 2-years. This would bring in a total revenue of 3*$9=$27 over the 2-year period.
<br />
<br />But what's the current value of the revenue for Brita. Here we go.
<br />
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border: medium none; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="width: 72.9pt; border: 1pt none; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="73"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Year<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 1.25in; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="90"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Revenue<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 2.35in; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="169"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Present Value of Revenue<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 72.9pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="73"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">0<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 1.25in; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="90"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">$9<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 2.35in; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="169"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>$9.000<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 72.9pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="73"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">1<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 1.25in; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="90"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">$9<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 2.35in; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="169"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>$9/1.1<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>=<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>$8.182<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 72.9pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="73"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">2<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 1.25in; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="90"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">$9<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="width: 2.35in; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none;color:-moz-use-text-color;" valign="top" width="169"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><span style=""> </span>$9/(1.1)<sup>2 </sup><span style=""> </span>= <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>$7.438<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> <!--EndFragment-->
<br />So the $27 that Brita would earn over the 2-year period actually amounts to only $24.62 right now (i.e. $9+$8.182+$7.438)
<br />
<br />Let's add the second twist to this equation. Let's assume that every year Brita retains only 80% of it's customer base. The rest may leave due to dissatisfaction or due to better products from competitors. This means that there's only a 80% probability that Joe will still be a Brita water filter user and will buy the replacement filter next year. Even more, there's only a 64% probability (0.8*0.8=0.64) that Joe will still be a Brita water filter user in two years and hence will buy a second replacement filter in year 2.
<br />
<br />Now let's use this additional data to calculate the expected present value of revenue for Brita from Joe over the next two years.
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border: medium none; text-align: left; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="width: 112.9pt; border: 1pt none; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="113"> <p class="MsoNormal">Year<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 117.8pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="118"> <p class="MsoNormal">Present Value of Revenue (from above)<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">Retention Probability<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">Expected Value<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 112.9pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="113"> <p class="MsoNormal">0<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 117.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="118"> <p class="MsoNormal">$9.000<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">100% (buying currently)<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">$9.000<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 112.9pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="113"> <p class="MsoNormal">1<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 117.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="118"> <p class="MsoNormal">$8.182<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">80%<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">$6.545<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="width: 112.9pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="113"> <p class="MsoNormal">2<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 117.8pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="118"> <p class="MsoNormal">$7.438<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">64%<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="width: 106.05pt; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; border-style: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; padding: 0in 5.4pt;" valign="top" width="106"> <p class="MsoNormal">$4.760<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"> <!--EndFragment-->
<br />Total Expected Present Value of Revenue from Joe = $20.305 ($9 + $6.545 + $4.760)
<br />Cost of 3-Pack Brita Replacement Filter = $19
<br />So the real discount is $1.3 (or 6.4% of revenue) for Brita!
<br />
<br />In face, I think it ain't a discount at all for Brita. Here's why?
<br />1. Think over the inventory cost of storing the future filters. The future replacements were already stored and sold along with the current replacement. So there's savings in future individual transportation and storage of the filter
<br />2. Over the 2 year span, it is probable that you may lose one of the filter. In that case, you'll buy one more anyway.
<br />3. What about technological advancements? Say, Brita came up with an advanced filter (a faucet one) in a year and you fall for it. The replacement are a waste, but Brita already made money out of it!
<br />
<br />So well, the next time you see a bargain, you just need to realize that the company selling the product is getting a bigger bargain!
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-37510628354215125352009-07-29T17:53:00.001-05:002009-08-04T00:43:20.603-05:00Will the rumored Apple tablet have the wings to fly?<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the hot and much debated topics this week has been the Apple Tablet. The number of rumors and the varied sources they come from, all but confirm the imminent launch of an Apple tablet by the beginning of next year. What is more interesting is the debate as to whether the Apple tablet will really fly.<br /><br />Some of the most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">intriguing</span> questions raised are<br />- What is the target market? Well, even worse, is there a target <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">market</span> at all?<br />- Is it a true tablet or just a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">giant</span> sized <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">iPod</span>? (Most rumors say it's just a 10" screen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">iPod</span>)<br />- What is it's value as a gaming device? Well, a big screen always helps but one that big without any key controls doesn't gel well as a gaming controller.<br />- What is it's potential as a media device? Again, the big screen helps but well, do you just lay it flat in your lap to watch a movie? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Naah</span>!<br />- What is it's potential as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ebook</span> reader? Well a lot in fact. But then, can't be the killer feature as I wouldn't shell out $500-$600 as compared to $150-$200 for a standard one.<br />- Biggest question: Is there a killer feature?<br /><br />Well, I think some of the questions above are genuinely troubling when gauging the prospects of the Apple tablet, esp the question on it's target market. Is it an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">UMPC</span> (well, the category is almost dead) or is it a gaming tool? Who will buy it? More importantly, when I own an iPhone and a Mac, what more can this tablet do and where does it fit? Well, am sure Apple have answered these questions (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">atleast</span> to themselves) before crystallizing the idea into a real product. When Apple said it was developing a phone four years back, people had their share of laughter. In fact the major phone companies took no heed till the product was officially <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">demonstrated</span>. And all it took was less than a year for Apple to beat the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">big</span> guns on their own backyard and become the leading mobile phone (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">atleast</span> temporarily) in US. All this happened because Apple saw tremendous hidden potential in the mobile market, which was dwindling and losing steam day-by day. In fact, if there's someone who can create a market from plain thin air, I would place my bets on Apple to pull it off.<br /><br />All said, I must agree that the challenges posed to the Apple tabloid are way too many and way too genuine. Throw in the fact that we are in a recession market and the odds don't look promising for a $600 device. Also to note that Apple has had it's own share of failures in it's long history. Standing examples amongst them are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Newton</span>, Lisa and Macintosh Portable. Meanwhile, Some of the products like the Apple TV haven't been runaway successes and have needed years of evolution to reach a refined stage. <br /><br />In the end, the challenges are many and the prospect aren't outright encouraging. But then, every one of Apple's products (both successes and failures) have been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">valiant</span> attempts to revolutionize it's target market and the Apple Tablet can be no different. While my perception of the Tablet's prospects is one of cautious optimism, I am more excited to see what is it that Apple really brings to the table. After all, when the world's most innovative company (arguably of course) has got something to show, you can't help but take heed to it! </div><div style="text-align: justify;" class="iblogger-footer"> <p style="font-size: 10px;">[Posted with <a href="http://illuminex.com/iBlogger/index.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">iBlogger</span></a> from my iPhone]</p><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-46600984213376125392009-03-23T08:02:00.005-05:002009-03-27T00:07:44.654-05:00The Apple iPhone 3.0 announcement: a different look<div align="justify">Last week was quite a week for the iPhone... It started with all buzz around the highly anticipated iPhone 3.0 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">announcement</span>. Every columnist, tech blogger, iPhone developer and user had his own <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wishlist</span> for iPhone OS 3.0. Then came the actual <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">announcement</span> itself. While a few were underwhelmed in not seeing their most-wanted feature being announced, the general <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">consensus</span> was that the new OS had a few surprises, a few disappointments but it was more or less on target with the user's expectations.<br /><br />When I got to sit down and reflect back on what's the most significant aspect of the iPhone 3.0 announcement, it struck me that it was neither the copy/paste nor the push notification feature that was significant. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">In fact</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">announcement</span> lays emphasis on two important aspects of the changing dynamics of the mobile/computer industry<br /></div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>The power of Software</strong></div><div align="justify">In this rapidly changing world, where mobile devices get dated so quickly, how does one cope and stay on top? For long, the hardware has been the sole distinguishing factor. The best device was the one which could boast of an array of high end hardware <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">components</span> like processing chip, camera, battery, etc. Any phone that you buy would get outdated in a matter of few months due to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">constant</span> hardware advancements. Developments in software was considered minor and there was no concept of pushing software upgrades on existing devices (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">at least</span> not for a layman). This is where Apple came in and demonstrated the power of Software on a mobile device. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The iPhone when released in fall 2007 was a revolutionary device. But what's more revolutionary is the way that Apple has managed to keep the iPhone on top through regular software updates. The power of software is that it can be refreshed continuously and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">in fact</span> remotely too. The amazing thing is that it's been two years since I got my iPhone but still it gets a new lease of life every June, with features that keep it atop with competing phones that are newly released. Every time when someone says that the iPhone lacks a specific feature or utility, all I say is 'Wait till the next release' (unless there are hardware limitations). This also goes a long way in strengthening consumer loyalty as buying a phone is like an investment for what it is now as well as what it can <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">evolve</span> into, in the future. When I look at my iPhone, I see it as 'a intelligent bot that grows smarter every June'. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><strong>The App Store</strong> </div><div align="justify">When Apple first introduced the IPhone and the device became a runaway success, it realized the importance of taking advantage of the lead. Apple had to establish differentiating factors which would set it apart from the competition. The iPhone hardware was good and the software was amazing. But how long would it take for it's competitors who had spent years and years in the mobile industry to catch up? Well, not many. Apple's arrival was just a wake-up call. It did not mean the competition would sit back and languish on it's fate. Apple had to take advantage of it's position to set up distinguishing factors - those which will keep the customers loyal and which will make the competition tough to catch up with. The answer: iPhone App Store. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">It is ironic to note that the very Apple that was stubbornly against native apps during the launch of the iPhone, not only reversed it's stance but set up an ingenious model of native 3rd party app development for both developers and consumers. For the users, it ensured a simple rating-based one-stop shop for all applications with a dead-easy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">iTunes</span> based one-click payment system. What's more, all of this is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">OTA</span> (over the air), thereby removing the dependency on computers to a great extent. As for developers, besides setting up a simple model where they don't worry about marketing and distribution, Apple also provided them with a powerful <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">SDK</span> kit for development and even went so far as to set up a 100 million dollar venture capital program to lure potential developers. The outcome was this: 25000 apps in just 9 months with a user base of 30 million. Apple had shot ahead in the blink of an eye. Now as other companies like Palm and Microsoft are developing equal or better phones and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">softwares</span>, they are stumped against the biggest hurdle - the App Store. The developer and user base that Apple has established are a mighty challenge to oppose. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The rise of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">AppStore</span> has led to another significant development - the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">emergance</span> of the iPhone as a mobile gaming platform that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">competes</span> against the likes of Sony and Nintendo. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">SDK</span> provided great interfaces for developing powerful games for the iPhone. But the real reason that iPhone has evolved into a mighty gaming platform is the easy of content delivery and the rise of network games. A Nintendo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">DS</span> or a Sony <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">PSP</span>, while being really advanced in game development and also features <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">physical</span> keys, did not have a suitable mechanism for buying games on the go. Apple revolutionized just that and now it boasts of more games than those of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">DS</span> & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">PSP</span> together. Also it has set a precursor to the future of the mobile gaming world. </div><div class="iblogger-footer" align="justify"><br clear="all"></div><p class="iblogger-footer" style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="justify">[Posted with <a href="http://illuminex.com/iBlogger/index.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">iBlogger</span></a> from my iPhone]</p><div class="iblogger-footer" align="justify"></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-21335099885153737132009-03-13T19:18:00.002-05:002009-03-26T22:21:07.825-05:00Coming this Summer: "Will the real Jesus Phone please stand up"<div align="justify">Announcing this summer's hottest release - "Will the real Jesus phone please stand up" - a combined production of Apple Studios & Palm Pictures.<br /><br />Oh yes, this is better than any movie you'd seen.<br /><br />Last year, Apple storm-ed (no pun intended) through the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">smartphone</span> market, thanks to the release of the 3G iPhone and the App Store. But just when it all seemed like Apple had obliterated the competition with a swish of it's wand arose a worthy competitor, one that was written off by many - Palm. With it's new Palm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pre</span> device, which boasts revolutionary features like seamless <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">backgrounding</span> and complete integration of the user interface, Palm is attempting one last like-a-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pheonix</span>-from-the-ashes attempt to duel the mighty Apple and reclaim it's long lost throne as the King of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Smartphones</span>. At the same time, Apple is aiming to keep it guards up and bring new magic to the iPhone to hold it's throne. This summer unveils an epic battle between two mighty giants, the outcome of which will determine who holds the throne for almost the next year or so. So here we go, an analysis on the Strengths and the Weakest link of both the giants.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Apple</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Strengths</span><br /></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">User Interface:</span> Apple is the undisputed leader in designing an intuitive user interface and the IPhone is no different. That a phone can do so well even without a real keyboard is due to the wealth of features and the always intuitive layman features which Apple brings in.</div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">App Store:</span> Easily the biggest strength for Apple over Palm. Started only a year back, the App Store has grown in enormous proportions with more than 20000 apps. Any mobile application is bound to find it's way to the Apple App Store first, due to the huge user base and high returns. With demands not subsiding and new features and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">APIs</span> being added in, the App Store is only going to draw more developers and naturally more customers to it's realm. </div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Well refined touchscreen OS:</span> Developing an intuitive touchscreen OS is a big challenge. Even Apple stumbled a lot in the beginning with issues in connectivity, performance and reception. But over the past two years, Apple has toiled hard to produce a very stable and reliable operating system. This will be a huge strength against the new-kid-on-the-block Palm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Pre</span>.<br /></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Biggest weakness</span><br />Though the IPhone has been a runaway success, it has its own share of quirks. People have long lamented the lack of very basic features (like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">MMS</span>, copy/paste,etc). The latest IPhone 3.0 is more of a catch-up game to plug some of these holes. However very many features like flash, background apps and video recording are still missing on the IPhone and to Palm's advantage, they've nailed a few of these. Whether these lacking features will really bite Apple is the question that remains to be answered.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Palm</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Strengths</span><br /></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Strong background:</span> Palm was the pioneer in introducing the concept of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">smartphones</span> and proved that cellphones are more than just a substitute for the Plain-Old-Telephone. Though it had lost ground in recent years to Blackberry and Apple and is now the underdog, it has stayed the longest and carries a wealth of experience backed by a strong developer and consumer base.</div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">User Interface Integration:</span> What makes the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Pre</span> a mighty competitor to the iPhone? The biggest lesson for Palm from the success of the iPhone is the importance of user-friendliness and intuitiveness in making the iPhone (and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">smartphone</span>) a ubiquitous device. Also from the release of Google G1, Palm learnt that it is just not enough to catch up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">wirh</span> the competition but instead bring something new to the table to make a real impression. Palm's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Pre</span> is a complete rethinking from it's past devices and has an integrated and intuitive user interface, called Synergy. Synergy tried to hide the details beneath the covers and actions happen seamlessly. For ex, it has an integrated contacts of all mail accounts, chat clients, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">facebook</span> and twitter users. The Messaging application is one which bring together all kinds of messaging (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">SMS</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">MMS</span>, all chat clients, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">facebook</span>, etc) together so that one can see all the conversation is the same panel.</div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">True <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Backgrounding</span>:</span> One critical feature which Palm touts and Apple lacks is true <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">backgrounding</span> in applications. While Apple settled for the Push Notification alternative, Palm claims to have perfected the art and has opened up to inbuilt background apps. If Palm lives up to it's claim without a significant reduction in battery life, it can entice a huge gamut of applications that can only be dreamt of on the iPhone.<br /></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Biggest Weakness </span><br />Palm's biggest weakness is that of starting from scratch and going against the well established Apple customer base. For <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">eg</span>, The new Palm App Store and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">SDK</span> will be an infant standing up against the mighty and refined Apple App store which boasts of more than 20000 apps.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">End Note: </span>Palm's reentry is promising and has got people to turn their heads. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Pre</span> is loaded with features that can make the device stand out in the limelight. Apple on the other hand, brings in a plethora of new features through the iPhone 3.0 OS. As for Palm, unlike the introduction of iPhone by Apple, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">itdoes</span> not have much time to get its OS right. It has to get it's act together fast and that too, on the very first attempt. In all, the battle of the Titans is equally matched!<br /></div><p class="iblogger-footer" style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="justify">[Posted with <a href="http://illuminex.com/iBlogger/index.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">iBlogger</span></a> from my iPhone]</p>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-16313465416763170762009-03-08T15:59:00.003-05:002009-03-08T17:08:20.906-05:00The IPhone Jailbroken AppStore: Will it fly?<div style="text-align: justify;">The IPhone has been on the news buzz consistently and well, for multiple reasons. The latest buzz is that of the introduction of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Cydia</span> App Store for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">jailbroken</span> world (the dark side).<br /><br />To me, this is a very interesting development. The biggest question which will also help us answer whether the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cydia</span> App Store will really kick off is this - Why will application developers flock the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Jailbroken</span> App Store instead of Apple's own App Store which has a higher reach? Also can the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Jailbroken</span> App Store provide something really special that motivates users to instead unlock their phones and switch over?<br /><br />The IPhone App Store has been one of the biggest hits of the previous year and has grown in leaps and bounds. But it is not without it's own quirks - thanks to Apple's restrictions (some mindless). If the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Jailbroken</span> App Store leverages Apple's restrictions and provides unique Apps which can entice users, it can not only become a big success but also sound an alarm bell (deservedly so in some cases) to Apple.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Here're</span> some Apps which can make big on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Cydia</span> App Store and tempt users to jump to the dark side<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turn-by-turn navigation:</span> It's weird that Apple neither allows developers to develop apps for turn-by-turn voice guide navigation not has it release one on it's own. People have proved in the past that the IPhone GPS is good enough to build turn-by-turn navigation apps. This will a hot category of apps in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Jailbroken</span> world</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tethering:</span> Well, using the IPhone as modem and connecting your laptop to the Internet is very enticing possibility. Besides the fact that Apple has no App to do this, it is clear (due to AT&T restrictions) that IPhone Tethering with come at a big cost (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">atleast</span> 30$/month and with a data restriction - like 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Gb</span>). The high cost and the insane restriction alone can lure people into the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">jailbroken</span> world where this is available without a penny cost.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Copy/Paste Functionality:</span> Well again, not a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">dealbreaker</span> but Apple still has no solution for implementing Copy/Paste Functionality and already <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">there're</span> apps on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Jailbroken</span> world which has some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">implementions</span> of Copy/Paste apps (may not be clean solutions but who cares!)</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video Recorder:</span> For some reason, Apple App Store has no apps which allow video recording. Neither is there a native implementation by Apple. One can find a few apps (like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Cycorder</span>) to do this in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">jailbroken</span> world.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Adult apps:</span> This category alone can rocket the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Jailbroken</span> App Store to success. No more shall I comment...<br /></li></ol>- Others: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">MMS</span> apps, podcast apps, new browsers, (maybe flash apps), the list of apps which Apple doesn't allow currently are many...<br /><br />Add to the above restrictions, the weird Approval Process by Apple. Besides being very strict on following good standard and being high quality, the Approval Process is a mystery as it has in many cases rejected apps for no logical reason. The latest is the Sirius radio app developed for the IPhone. It is a pity when people's time and money are wasted when their fully-tested apps are rejected for no obvious reason. It is but a logical fallout for these people to take their apps over to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">jailbroken</span> world.<br /><br />In my opinion, I think the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Cydia</span> App Store will have it's own niche market and in fact will spark off an increase in the number of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">jailbroken</span> phones. This will also be a rude awakening to Apple to plug some of the pitfalls in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">SDK</span> and types of apps allowed in the App Store and actually make the Application Review process more transparent.<br /><br />Will I be one of those to jump to the dark world: would love a turn-by-turn navigation app and the video recording one... But will hold off for another couple of months to give Apple another chance and to see what more the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Cydia</span> can really deliver.</div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-3376409305992440602009-02-09T18:40:00.002-05:002009-02-20T10:58:24.962-05:00An online handcrafts store to showcase Rural India<div align="justify">Since the last month or so, I've been engrossed in a few home decor ideas and mini handmade projects. Special thanks to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Niks</span> for the innovative ideas and designs :)<br /><br />While pondering over the idea of selling handmade stuff over the net, we came across <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ETSY</span> (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/">http://www.etsy.com/</a>), a site dedicated for people to sell their handmade products. I am impressed by the site and more so by the concept itself - leveraging a common man to be a seller himself. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Etsy</span> provides you all the tools and guides to set up and market your own shop, right from creating a banner for your shop to tracking analytics as to which items in your shop are the most viewed.<br /><br />All this got me thinking on setting up an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Etsy</span>-like model in India.<br /><br /><strong>The Fundamental Idea<br /></strong>Besides providing a common platform for people to buy and sell handmade items, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Etsy</span> provides a global outreach for any individual/small-business seller. The target customers are no longer just friends or the local community. Now you can showcase your products across to the whole country or maybe even to the international community of people looking for handmade items.<br />India is a country with diverse cultures and a rich arts and crafts tradition. However most of these are home-run and small scale businesses which cater to a local market only. Setting up an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Etsy</span>-like site for people to sell their handmade products will give these businesses a new perspective and widen their reach. Many of unique Indian handmade products right like silk <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sarees</span>, jewellery and clay and wood products will now get the global shine.<br /><br /><strong>Why is now the best time?<br /></strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Handcrafters</span> and artists have thrived in India for generations. They have typically relied on tapping the local market which is mainly rural in nature. However the last decade or so, they have come under extreme pressure and competition, thanks to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">globalization</span>. Retailers and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">wholesellers</span> have started making inroads into even the smallest of villages and are making their products and services available at very competitive rates. However the effects of globalization has not seen a reverse trend - that of small and local businesses reaching out to the urban and the global markets. The lack of education, technology and patronage has caused these local businesses to succumb to the industrial giants.<br />It is high time that we created an environment that helps these <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">homegrown</span> businesses before their unique arts, crafts and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">talents</span> all become history.<br /><br /><strong>An online homemade items market<br /></strong>Most of these local artists and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">crafters</span> cannot set up brick-and-mortar stores like that of big businesses to gain a bigger outreach. Their best bet would be to set up online stores which can accessed by anybody anywhere anytime. One of the effects of globalization has been the widespread growth of technology and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Internet</span>. More and more people in cities, towns and villages have access to the Internet and are resorting to using the same as an effective medium for their daily shopping. In addition, the falling rates and the ease of shipping to domestic and international destinations makes the whole world your consumer base. Hence the idea of setting up an online handcrafts site will not only boost the rural arts and crafts merchants in India by giving them a global outreach but will also help to showcase the great Indian culture and artifacts to the outside world.<br /><br /><strong>The Challenges<br /></strong>While the underlying concept of an online handcrafts store for the Indian rural market seems sounds by itself, it is important to realise that the presence of such a site alone will not be successful with the rural home-run businesses. Some of the challenges are as below<br /></div><ol><li><div align="justify"><em><strong>Technology:</strong></em> Rural India is still way behind in technological advancements in comparison to the big cities. Home based Internet access is but a luxury and not an essential in many villages. In fact, many villages and towns have only one or two Internet cafes for net access. Also to host your own store using the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">proposed</span> handcrafts <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">web store</span>, one needs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">atleast</span> to have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">webcam</span> or a camera - another factor which is rarity in small towns and villages. Hence these local merchants and traders do not have the necessary technological infrastructure to leverage the concept of setting up an online store. </div></li><li><div align="justify"><strong><em>Education:</em></strong> A wide range of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">targeted</span> home-run arts & crafts businesses include people with no or very little education background. Many would not know to read/write English and have followed their profession as a generational occupation. Also the idea of reaching global markets and advertising on the Internet will be very alien to these people who for years together have targeted the local market only. </div></li><li><div align="justify"><strong><em>Shipping methodologies:</em></strong> Besides technology, numerous other infrastructure deficiencies pose serious challenges to the viability of the plan. One of them is the shipping options and ease of shipping globally. On one hand, one must agree that great improvements have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">been observed</span> over the past decade or so in terms of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">reachability</span>, cost and time for shipping items in India. However, there's no flexibility like flat-rate envelopes and web-based shipping calculators. This could pose a challenge in terms of estimating the shipping costs to various destinations without taking the item to the local post office. </div></li><li><div align="justify"><strong><em>Payment systems:</em></strong> Payments and money transfers over the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Internet</span> is still a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">growing</span> concept in India. The lack of a standardized payment sending and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">receival</span> protocol like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Paypal</span> poses a serious challenge in terms of logistics for transfer of money to these local sellers.<br /></div></li></ol><p align="justify"><strong>Setting up an overall Infrastructure<br /></strong>The challenges pointed above clearly outline that Rural India lacks is more than just a website for these local merchants to become online sellers. It is important to invest and ensure the setup of a suitable technological and related infrastructure to take the idea to a successful implementation. </p><ol><li><div align="justify"><strong><em>Agent-based approach to reach the masses:</em></strong> To educate the rural merchants and also to facilitate a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">conducive</span> infrastructure, an agent-based approach can be used. In the system, potential villages and towns will have local agents who will educate the people on how the system works and convince people to take their businesses to a global level through the online marketplace. They will also be equipped with necessary technological infrastructure (Internet/camera) and related computer knowledge to help out potential businesses getting on board. In addition they will be able to advice on all fronts right from tips on setting up a successful store to deciding a suitable price for their products. In return, the agents will get a small cut of the profits of the items sold. While the agent-based approach helps to bridge the technological and the educational divide, home-run businesses which have the essential tools and facilities can avoid the middleman and set up store on their own. </div></li><li><div align="justify"><strong><em>Leveraging Government help to educate and reach the target <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">audience: </span></em></strong>The scheme proposed has the underlying aim of creating more jobs and uplifting rural Indian businesses. Hence the government help can be sought to help reach the masses of rural India through campaigns and support. Additionally the government can help to streamline <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">processes</span> like shipping and present them in easy-to-use methods to these businesses. </div></li><li><div align="justify"><strong><em>Social organizations and private sectors: </em></strong>This scheme presents a tremendous opportunity to tie up with social organizations working in rural areas. They can help in taking the idea to potential businesses and also facilitate in setting up agents for the businesses. Similarly one can set up links with private organizations to provide better infrastructure systems in areas like payment and shipping. </div></li></ol><p align="justify">In all, while the challenges are many, the opportunities in setting up an online website for selling handcrafts, backed by suitable infrastructure, are tremendous and will go a long way in giving India the true boost of globalization. Well, finally it is time to show the world the Real India! <br clear="all"></p><p class="iblogger-footer" style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: right" align="justify">[Posted with <a href="http://illuminex.com/iBlogger/index.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">iBlogger</span></a> from my iPhone]</p>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-36055137820475809512009-01-05T19:07:00.001-05:002009-01-09T11:13:54.472-05:00Tree House restaurant & cafe: One of a kind<div style="text-align: justify;">During my recent trip to Costa Rica, I came across this impressive place by the name of "Tree House restaurant & bar", during my stopover at Monte Verde.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvwy-18oGLHThM6OaH9QZJstHEd05sH50EtS6whA1_F05vQUVuDZjuQVhFSfsKsr6V8DU6Z0pAmx3mgtI62nLNqEuRcQiepiLTA3lFDUDEA2W-H0zW0vcS_IEKel9qpE1RpUp0PVc7hJ3/s1600-h/fotoprincipal1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvwy-18oGLHThM6OaH9QZJstHEd05sH50EtS6whA1_F05vQUVuDZjuQVhFSfsKsr6V8DU6Z0pAmx3mgtI62nLNqEuRcQiepiLTA3lFDUDEA2W-H0zW0vcS_IEKel9qpE1RpUp0PVc7hJ3/s400/fotoprincipal1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289327676633190338" border="0" /></a><br />The place struck a chord in me for two reasons. At the very first glance, it was the appearance. The place sure lived up to it's name - a restaurant built around a gigantic Higueròn tree, so placed that you certainly feel as if you're perched in the tree itself. While I enjoyed the setting and the ambiance, the real surprise came when the waiter came over to take our orders.<br />Contrary to using a conventional sketch-pad, he was punching away to glory on a tiny handheld device. Unable to resist my curiosity, I prodded him on what it was.<br /><br />Whoa.... It was just an iPod touch! Incredulous - using an ipod to take in orders! The waiter explained how the whole system worked. Every server carried an iPod touch. The restaurant has an internal wifi which hosts an applet to take in orders wirelessly. All the waiter needs to do is connect to the server wirelessly, choose the items from the online menu, and voilà - your order is through. What's more cool is this - all the drink orders automatically go to the bar terminal and the rest to the kitchen terminal. Now that's very neat!<br /><br />Why hadn't anyone thought of this idea before? The pros are many<br />- Innovative, cool ordering system that can attract more customers.<br />- In places like the Tree House which have multiple floors, it saves the waiter from making a trip all the way to the kitchen to place the orders. So in turn, lesser waiters are needed.<br />- Go green. What an environment friendly concept! No papers at all. All electronic.<br /><br />The only cons of the whole system is the initial investment setup. Well, if we factor in the savings brought about by the pros, the investment is highly justifyable and will pay for itself in a pretty short time.<br /><br />Well, at the end of the day, I had a hearty laugh over the fact that I had to go all the way to Costa Rica to see such an advanced restaurant ordering system!<br /></div><br />http://www.treehouse.cr/index.php<br /><div class="iblogger-footer"> <p style="text-align: right; font-size: 10px;">[Posted with <a href="http://illuminex.com/iBlogger/index.html">iBlogger</a> from my iPhone]</p><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-90131938037359430812008-12-30T23:54:00.000-05:002009-03-26T22:20:21.151-05:00Blog on the Go<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify">Ah, yes... Finally.. The freedom to blog - anywhere, anytime! Since the Apple AppStore opened it's doors to third party softwares and games, I've been eagerly musing over the idea of blogging on the go - right from my phone. For people like me who spend a good 3 hours on the trains everyday, this is but a luxury.<br />Since last month, I've been playing with a few blogging tools and testing them on my iphone. Many free softwares exist, some very close but none having all the right tools for blogging on the go. Some didn't support blogger/blogspot where I host my blog, some didn't have the ability to edit posts once published, some just had a horrendous user interface. Well one of them almost impressed me. I had this blog drafted and ready to publish and right then received a phone call. And alas, I lost everything - the blogging tool simply didn't have the ability to auto save drafts on incoming calls! Then I ventured into paid apps, tried a couple and finally settled for one which delivers in terms of price and functionality - iBlogger. The interface is simple, and thought it doesn't support posting pictures in blogs (atleast for now), it is quite straight forward to use and doesn't fail in ways listed above.<br />Most of all, I finally have the freedom to blog, on the go. </div><div class="iblogger-footer"><p style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: right">[Posted with <a href="http://illuminex.com/iBlogger/index.html">iBlogger</a> from my iPhone]</p></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-16294268385534003462008-08-08T00:18:00.005-05:002008-08-08T00:31:58.626-05:00IPhone 3G and the App Store<div style="text-align: justify;">So yes... I finally got my hands on the iPhone 3g. Thanks to the high demand and the incredulously ridiculous Apple iPhone activation process, it took me almost 20 days since the release to get my very own.<br /><br />So I've been using it for a week and here are my initial thoughts<br /></div><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li> Build quality is much better and sleekier than the original model. The back is plastic now, making it more glossy but also more smudgy.</li><li>3g reception and call quality is very good (despite complaints from many). Browsing is atleast 2x times faster.</li><li>Speakerphone volume has drastically improved (finally)</li><li>Flush 3.5mm headphones is nice to have. Now I can fit in some high quality earphones or headsets.</li><li>Software update 2.0 ain't so good as the previous version - hangs frequently, quite buggy and even crashes now & then. Looks like the phone needs a clean boot every couple of days to keep away the crashes.</li><li>GPS is still a big mystery. While this definitely ain't so good as the real GPS devices, it still remains to see if they can be leveraged for turn-by-turn directions. My initial tests had mixed results - indoors, no way it picks up signal and outdoors, sometimes it took too long (>1 min) and sometimes it snapped spot-on in just a few secs.<br /></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">All besides, I think the real win for Apple is the App Store. Finally I get to have my own games and utilities. And a real way to tap into the iPhone's real computing capabilities. The initial set of apps have been mind-blowing - amazing simulation and intuitiveness - with a wide variety of apps to cater to all target audience.<br /><br />So here's a list of my top 5 favs - some cater to my needs perfectly and some coz they are just too innovative.<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Texas hold'em:</span> well yeah - call me biased, towards Apple, towards poker - but this is my most favorite app so far. Very clean game-play, amazing graphics, two modes of play (landscape & portrait) and multiple poker tables make this game a real winner.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shazam:</span> this one is purely purely innovative. Takes a 10-15 sec sample of any song using the microphone and within seconds pull out the whole history of the song. What's more - one more click and you're redirected to the iTunes store. Better still - one more click and the song is already bought and downloaded on your iPhone - beat that!!</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Box office:</span> For a movie buff, this is a must-have. It takes advantage of the GPS coordinates to list theaters and movies near you, provides reviews from rottentomatoes and finally links to fandango to book your tickets.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Remote:</span> turns your phone into a remote controlling the music collection on your laptop/apple tv.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">City transit:</span> when on the move in NYC and totally lost, this one is a savior. Shows the entire subway map and also the stations closest to you. Lots of scope for improvement but for now, good enough to be a favorite.<br /></li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, the more interesting part - what apps do I see missing and I really really wanna have<br /></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Expense calculator:</span> If I ever gotto get my hands on the Apple iPhone SDK, this would be the first thing I would develop. Why? Coz this makes so much more sense on a mobile device than on a desktop/laptop - an app which can keep track of your daily expenses. Any time you spend on anything, pull your phone out and log it in. Categorize your expenses, generate monthly reports and see how they compare with previous months/years - pretty kewl.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turn-by-turn voice navigation:</span> Well, I can then lay my Garmin GPS to rest. The GPS on the iPhone is decent but there's no tool to leverage it to the best. It is known that companies like TomTom are already working on a turn-by-turn guidance software for the iPhone. So we'll see one pretty soon.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Zagat-to-go</span>: Zagat is arguably the best site for reviews and comments when exploring for nice restaurants. It has a pretty slick and intuitive iPhone mobile site, but then a zagat app would always be a nice-to-have.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Video recording:</span> The iPhone does not inherently support video recording but would love to see a third party app do that</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">An ultimate racing game:</span> F1 racing or the popular motoracer/superbikes, which take advantage of the accelerometer would be very exciting</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">RPG games:</span> my bet is that we'll see a whole lot of role playing games for iPhone in the near future. Would also make sense for the game manufacturers to come up with Lite editions, like AOE lite or Diablo lite. The lack of physical keyboard and haptics support will be the only deterrent.</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;">So exciting exciting times ahead. All I can say is - Bring it on....</div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-32615050170610970272008-06-22T12:54:00.001-05:002008-06-22T12:58:17.811-05:00IPhone out... IPhone in...<div align="justify">Here's the dilemma I had a few months back. Speculation was in the air that a new iPhone is to be released very soon. I was excited to get a new one on my hands especially if it had 3G and GPS and more. But I wasn't gonna pitch in another couple hundred bucks to lay my hands on it. Also there were a couple other phones which looked enticing. So I basically wanted an exit strategy so that I can test the waters for the next phone.</div><div align="justify">What pulled the trigger on my decision was my friends insider word that the iPhone is gonna be a 200$ cheaper but will have a more expensive data plan. So off I went and got into the act of unlocking using <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ziphone</span> unlock tool. My first attempt was pretty bad - ended up losing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Youtube</span> and Visual Voicemail. But then I reverted all my actions and started off afresh. This time, it was all success.A few days before the big announcement, I posted up the unlocked one on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ebay</span>. The 3 day posting didn't look promising till the last one hour when the price jumped from 150$ to a whopping 370$. What's more - I got to play around with the unlocked <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">iPhone</span> to get a glimpse of the kind of applications and games that can be developed on the device.</div><div align="justify">So here I am, back to square one, using a $15 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">motorola</span> phone, a device while does solely what the name stands for. But then, the next few days are dedicated to exploring the market and zeroing in onto my next device. Let's say - the wizard is on his wand hunt.</div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-19587589673571427232008-06-09T22:52:00.003-05:002008-06-22T12:47:55.054-05:00IPhone 3G is here! Finally!!!!<div align="justify">The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">iPhone</span> is itself a revolutionary product in many ways. To take it up, spruce it and notch up to the next level is an extremely difficult challenge and that's exactly what Steve Jobs accomplished in his keynote today.<br /><br />Come July and the 3G <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">iPhone</span> hits the market. Bolstered by an inbuilt GPS, enterprise support with push-email and the wide array of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">softwares</span> & games (all thanks to the IPhone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">SDK</span>), the 3G IPhone is all set to challenge RIM (Blackberry) and Palm and give them a run for the market share. The coming days will uncover an interesting battle, definitely worth watching.<br /><br />So, here's a short cover-up on what the keynote did right, how the equations changes and what the unplugged holes are.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Where Apple scored with the 3G </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">iPhone</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">?</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- 3G Support:</span> Definitely not the first phone to go 3G, but yes definitely amongst the phones which would benefit the most by 3G support. This has been a deal-breaker for many and will go a long way to attract a big market share. 3G speeds of the IPhone has been shown be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">at least</span> 2-2.4x higher than the traditional EDGE speeds.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- Enterprise Support & Push email:</span> One area where iPhone lagged was the Enterprise market. That required a minimum of Microsoft Exchange support, push email and secure communications. And that's exactly what iPhone delivers in this new Software release.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- A-GPS:</span> GPS support has become a must for the high-end phones of today's market and this can be no exception.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- Software Apps & Games:</span> With the release of Apple <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Iphone</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">SDK</span>, the development of new apps & games has skyrocketed with interest for the same surpassing that of Mobile development for windows & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">symbian</span> devices.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- 3.5 mm headphones:</span> Apple finally woke up and decided to offer 3.5 mm headphone support (in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">constrast</span> to the reduced 2.5 mm ones in the 2G <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">iPhones</span>)<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- Innovative Chat/Messaging infrastructure:</span> A modest example to show the extent Apple goes to avoid compromising on power and battery life in the face of power-hogging applications like chat & messengers<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- Price:</span> Well, how more enticing can you get than by slashing the price of the iPhone by half from $399 to $199. (Note: The price is actually up by $40 if calculated correctly ;))<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Where Apple missed the boat?</span><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- 3D Software Accelerator:</span> An addition of 3D Graphics chip would have enhanced the splendid iPhone display to new levels.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Haptics</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> support:</span> An advanced technology in touchscreen devices which gives the touch feedback feel as in case of real keys.<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- Camera:</span> The current 2MP camera is an unconvincing excuse. Recent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Nokia</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">HTC</span> devices have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">upto</span> 5MP inbuilt camera in mobile phones<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- Copy-paste functionality:</span> So basic & so missing<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">MMS</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> support:</span> Not sure why this still miss out on this one<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- No video recording/video conferencing:</span> This was one of the much expected features in the new release but the release fell short. While video conferencing was a bit too much to ask, basic video recording is an inexplicable miss<br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">- No A2DP support: </span>Cannot listen to music/video using wireless <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">bluetooth</span> headsets. Again a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">dealbreaker</span> for a selected audience.<br /><br />So here we go - the pros & cons of the new iPhone. All said and done, my take on it - the software update and the 3G <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">iPhone</span> is a big improvement despite its shortcomings. Buy, Buy, Buy!</div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-88064347909982267362008-03-30T16:23:00.002-05:002008-03-30T16:56:48.265-05:00Safari 3.1: Almost there but not yet<div style="text-align: justify;">Been a couple of weeks since Apple release its Safari 3.1 version browser for Windows. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I got a chance today to pull it up on my laptop and play around for a couple of hours. A remarkable improvement over the previous versions, Safari is finally set to compete with the real big players in the browser wars. Itz going to be long battle but - especially with IE still hogging more than 70% of the market share in the browser wars. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The Goods</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Most Web-Compliant browser ever: The biggest strength of Safari 3.1 is this. It is compliant with most of the browsing web-standards. The ACID test is known to be the authoratative standard when it comes to determining how compliant browsers are. Although no browser so far has passed the test (a score of 100/100), Safari 3.1 leads the pack with an impressive 75 followed by a distant 31 (by Firefox) and a meagre 12 (by IE). </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Memory - a no-hogger: When it comes to memory usage, Safari is very competitive with other browsers like Firefox and Opera (Of-course everyone knows IE is a big big memory hogger).</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Performance: Though the start-up might not be the fastest (well, the only thing that IE can gloat of), Safari is impressive when it comes to rendering speed and overall performance of the browser. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- The Search feature is nicey-nicey. So are the bookmarks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The Bads</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Safari does not support some core standards like ActiveX which is increasingly used in large number of websites.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Safari has its own font rendering (similar to Mac display) and this makes the websites to look very different sometimes (different on the bad side). I went to my own blog, only to realize how horrible it looked!!! It was just impossible to read my blog!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Not much support for customizations and add-ons - but only a matter of time till it arrives.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- The Title bars and Toolbars look a bit hazy and drowsy - could have been a lil brighter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">The last word</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 3.1 version is a signification move by Apple and successfully pitches Safari as the third competitor in the browser war. Safari performs great in terms of compliance, performance and memory. However a few niggles here and there, some of which could be dealbreakers, lead to the final verdict - Almost there but not yet. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-20867261700095820612008-03-23T20:41:00.003-05:002008-03-23T21:23:25.135-05:00Movie Spot: Horton hears a whoooooooooo....<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">whooooooooooo</span>.... nice...<br />Animation in movies is an art altogether. That way there are very few that really stand apart. When I see a really good animation movie which is neither Ice Age nor one from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pixar</span>, I am really compelled to blog about it.<br />So here's one - my best pick for 2008 till now - an all out winner, "Horton hears a who". Built on a really crazy storyline, this movie is very well executed and keeps the audience entertained till the very end. To add to it are the amazing vocals from Jim <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Carrey</span> & Steve <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Carell</span> and the creative <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tid</span>-bits which continued to amaze me through out the movie.<br />In a nutshell, the movie is all about the highly imaginative Horton - an elephant - who happens to hear <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">noises</span> from a tiny speck of dust floating through the air. Despite the popular belief amongst the whole community that there cannot exist a living being as tiny as dust, Horton continues his attempts to talk to the tiny speck of dust, only to realize that what exists within the speck is but a whole world by itself. What happens next is a roller-coaster ride as Horton tries not only to save the speck of dust but also to convince his whole community that a world exists within it.<br />Anything more I say is a spoiler, so I'll just stop here. For those who are ardent followers of animation as well as those who just want to catch a good movie, this one is a must watch.<br /><br />Till <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Walleeee</span> attempts to dethrone, this one remains my hot favorite animation for the year.<br /><br />PS: Also got to watch the trailers of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Walle</span> (June 2008) and for the first time, Ice Age: The dawn of the dinosaurs (July 2009).<br /><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-12469641996118194432008-02-25T23:58:00.004-05:002008-02-26T00:03:47.912-05:00Follow-Up: It is official! The war is over - Blue Team wins...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Blu</span>-ray vs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HD</span>-DVD </span>- a hard-fought war of over two years and we finally have a winner. The Blue team (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Blu</span>-ray) will be the High Definition movie format for the future.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> So what tilted the scales?</span><br /> Well, the war was on since the studio giants were split between the two sides. First Warner switched camps to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Blu</span>-Ray, closely followed by Paramount and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Dreamworks</span>. The doom was then imminent. Was only a matter of time for Toshiba, the founding father of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">HD</span> DVD, to accept<br />defeat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> So what happens to the millions of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">HD</span> DVD players in the market?</span><br /> Firstly it will take time for the umpteen <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">manufacturers</span> of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">HD</span> DVD players to absorb the loss and shelve their products. Luckily the players are now being sold as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Upscaling</span> DVD players which provide better resolution/clarity with normal DVDs. So if you've already bought one at an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">exorbitant</span> price, just bite your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">tongue</span> and use it as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">upscaling</span>/normal DVD player.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Now that the battle is over, should I just run over to the nearest <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">CircuitCity</span> store and pick up a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Blu</span>-Ray player?</span><br /> Well - no! The battle being over is far from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Blu</span>-Ray becoming an accepted industrial standard.<br />- The players are still extremely expensive (300-400$) and you can do well to wait for the price to drop.<br />- Unlike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">HD</span>-DVD, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Blu</span>-Ray standard is still evolving and far from being complete.<br />- Tons of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Blu</span>-Ray players <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">currently</span> in the market are 1.0 standard players which do not even support an upgradable feature. So what you buy now may become an obsolete device in a year!</div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-59290363316479691842008-01-13T19:40:00.000-05:002008-12-08T22:20:08.650-05:00Expense Calculator v2dot1 releasedAnnouncing the release of the new and improved Expense Calculator.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What you get?</span><br />Go out a lot? Spend time and money with friends? What about trips? Do you always have trouble calculating and setting accounts with friends? Worry no more - in comes the expense calculator.<br /><br />Just key in every expense - what is the expense? who paid for it? what category? who were involved? - and whenever you want to complete and settle the accounts, just click a button and itz all done. No more hastles - life made simpler :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How is it improved?</span><br />The all-new Accounts Calculator is highly customized to suit your needs. Start-up is now so simple - just key in the names and the various categories of accounts that you want to track. And you are set to roll.<br /><br />Categorize your accounts now - add a category to every expense. The rows are colored based on the category (Excel 2007 only). And whats more - once you settle your accounts - you get to see how much was spent for each category. Helps you to review and plan future spendings.<br /><br />The hallmark feature - Auto settling of accounts. Previous versions merely show the net up/down position of the individual people involved in the accounts. This one will now only do that but also give a list of how to settle (i.e. who pays whom) the accounts. And whats more amazing is the Shortest Settlement Algoritm (SSA - patent pending), which ensures the least number of payment transfers for settlement. Now - thats cool.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Screen Shots</span><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Ajay/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />1. Start-up screen (Setup users)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGTXGyMrqB9hMjn1haphdLjvOKbWaDpWQyBxH_7lA9K7b1Q2QVY2mHGhTM4Ia6WZHrYspyw7QWuTLvzlXqKjR6Wom6OHVF0z2Jqdxke_lccKqA-mbUokDkaS_qqLh50mp6ZVNO9rpTTch/s1600-h/ajay-expcalc1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGTXGyMrqB9hMjn1haphdLjvOKbWaDpWQyBxH_7lA9K7b1Q2QVY2mHGhTM4Ia6WZHrYspyw7QWuTLvzlXqKjR6Wom6OHVF0z2Jqdxke_lccKqA-mbUokDkaS_qqLh50mp6ZVNO9rpTTch/s400/ajay-expcalc1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155150046761296866" border="0" /></a><br />2. Accounts screen<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY2G3BisoacusuEgPW947NqmwVIp2V7Vk2GzYA3fDK4QG31PrAo6pY97NU4pVJdl3hE-amkylmU960SwB0rNgHCMbhwGKm79dc1eJuL1sLR5ZscrdASWV_XxbIKiXqEThkE7zoE9Nf_Np/s1600-h/ajay-expcalc2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigY2G3BisoacusuEgPW947NqmwVIp2V7Vk2GzYA3fDK4QG31PrAo6pY97NU4pVJdl3hE-amkylmU960SwB0rNgHCMbhwGKm79dc1eJuL1sLR5ZscrdASWV_XxbIKiXqEThkE7zoE9Nf_Np/s400/ajay-expcalc2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155149535660188626" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />3. Settlement screen (Just a click away)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5ZCqIrd3RxBZK-YJdkF99zJXyqtkeuNDy1gstVANy4VDbg5AYx_eFU8HFZxMI4CgPxhhrHQPQwlGGO34ICxKMGtOKQcrSbwFaTg1v9UY7CWUgXVtb9JsKnp6aHVsPMnf6rsihNkX6lPK/s1600-h/ajay-expcalc3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5ZCqIrd3RxBZK-YJdkF99zJXyqtkeuNDy1gstVANy4VDbg5AYx_eFU8HFZxMI4CgPxhhrHQPQwlGGO34ICxKMGtOKQcrSbwFaTg1v9UY7CWUgXVtb9JsKnp6aHVsPMnf6rsihNkX6lPK/s400/ajay-expcalc3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155150497732862962" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Download Links (Best viewed with Excel 2007)</span><br /><a href="http://upload2.net/page/download/rGaSX4h4AeUgcxP/Accounts+Calculator_+v2dot1.xls.html">Account Calculator 2.1</a><br /><a href="http://upload2.net/page/download/HfisWSV7nfg1WU0/Accounts+Calculator_+EuropeTrip.xls.html">Sample sheet</a><br /><br />Feel free to give it a go. Would very much appreciate comments and suggestions for improvement. After all, there has to be a v3.0 in due course of time.<br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-37547037752709931282008-01-10T23:30:00.000-05:002008-01-11T01:16:51.475-05:00Curious Corner: Unwarranted bloodshed - Blu Ray vs HD-DVD<div style="text-align: justify;">This is one of the biggest battles in the world of technology - Blu Ray vs HD-DVD.<br />And I decided to take a peek...<br /><br />The ironic fact - Why is there no clear winner - not because both of them are equally good - just that both are equally bad and exist just due to the big names that back them.<br /><br />So what do they offer? The next step to DVDs - a smart storage disc which can hold 25-100GB of data. Both format provide high-definition video quality (not available on DVDs) and great interactivity for movies. Blu-ray has a slight edge when it comes to disc capacity but the fact that the cost of the same is almost 50% more than that of the counterpart nullifies the advantage. With the influx of HDTVs into the consumer market, both the formats take movie watching to a new level. Though both the formats allow a good range for interactivity and menu options, neither have defined a standardized way for the same.<br /><br />Blu-ray was developed by Sony and HD DVD by Toshiba. What is astonishing is the fact that both the formats use similar encoding techniques and offer almost similar benefits. But still they are rivals and will be. An attempt to unify the two into a single standard (a year back) was a miserable failure.<br /><br />Now the question that every consumer will ask - Which one should I buy? Blu-Ray or HD-DVD Player - since both of them have their own players and are incompatible with the other. The answer is NEITHER!!! The battle has become so big that even movie studios have started taking sides and support only that format. Some movies come ONLY in Blu-Ray while other only in HD-DVD - totally absurd as far as the customer is concerned. Some manufacturers have started to make combined Blu-Ray & HD-DVD Player - but ironically the price of the device is more than two separate players put together.<br /><br />So for the near future - till a concensus is reached, it's advisable to wait. The battle has gone for long and the more it goes, the worse it is for the industry. Even now, some analysts say that if we create a unified standard and move towards the goal, it will take atleast 2 years to revert all that has been done and move forward. Or will it be a case that one side will lose?<br /><br />In the very recent days, Blu-Ray got a shot in the arm when Warner Bros moved from HD-DVD to Blu-Ray movie supportability (due to bad HD-DVD sales) but this single event will not entirely tilt the scales.<br /><br />Let's wait n watch!!!<br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-64802751505476482142008-01-09T00:38:00.001-05:002008-01-10T00:29:57.972-05:00Credit Cards: The saving angel or the devil in disguise?<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, every one of us invariably has a Credit Card. But how many of us actually stop to think whether it is a saving angel or a devil in disguise. Not many :) . The truth is - it is a double edged weapon - if you are clever and master the game, Credit Cards can be the saving grace. But on the other hand, ignorance mixed with a few goof-ups here and there can result in half your paycheck sliding stealthily into the bank's pockets.<br /><br />So the advice for the day is - Be aware and play the game sharp. I have three credit cards and one fine day realized that I was paying <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">exorbitantly</span> out of my pocket for two of the cards. Finally decided to dig deep and see how they actually work.<br /><br />Here's an interesting article I came across - it explains every thing a person should know and should keep in mind before apply for a credit card.<br /><br />http://www.federalreserve.gov/Pubs/shop/<br /><br />A few tips<br />Though I should put in my two cents on understanding credit cards. The biggest advice - PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT - in fact, the fine print ain't so difficult to comprehend. In fact, as explained in the article above, every credit card company is required to explain all the essential facts (like APR, balance transfer, cash back, basic rewards, APR calculation cycle, etc) in a standard table in the 'terms & conditions' page. So the simple rule is - Learn what they imply and read the fine print.<br /><br />Secondly don't blindly choose a credit card - play it smart. Every credit card has a lucrative offering based on the type of card. Some of the common types<br /> - Zero/low intro APR<br /> - Zero/low balance transfer<br /> - <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cashback</span> rewards on purchases<br /> - Gas cards<br /> - Airline/hotel points cards<br /><br />So play a clever game. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Eg</span>. choose a card with zero intro APR and use it extensively for 12 months and help to eliminate/minimize your interest payment. If you are paying very high interest on one of the cards, pick up a card which offers 0% balance transfer APR and pay the balance transfer amount in that period. And well, maybe have a card which maximizes rewards/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cashback</span> on purchases. For people who travel a lot by car, pick up a good gas card. For those who accumulate frequent <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">flyer</span> miles, pick an airline card which accumulates points from purchases. Maybe go to the extent as to ensure that you have product protection on atleast one of the cards (means that you can get a replacement for the product if the same is stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchase!)<br /><br />Final advice - read read read the fine print. Some examples of slippery tracks to avoid<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Don't</span> always fall for a 0% intro APR card. Check what the APR will be after the offer expires. Some cards carry ridiculously high APR once the offer period expires<br />- Verify what the grace period is for the card. Usually cards offer a grace period of 21 days after which the purchase amount will be added into interest calculation. But there are cards which specify in fine print that this is true only if there is zero balance amount from the previous month. Watch out!<br /><br />It's a cunning world out there - so be sharp and be smart...<br /><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-86765454029469939872008-01-09T00:25:00.000-05:002008-01-10T00:33:39.612-05:00Micro Ideas: Rack your brains, a flash of brilliance might just slip by<div style="text-align: justify;">A great idea is but a flash of brilliance. But often that flash of brilliance does not just occur out-of-the-blue. What it needs is excavation. Consider this - an archaeologist never knows what he's going to find - but that doesn't mean that he digs holes at random places waiting to hit upon something. Based on careful analysis and scientific research, he decides on places to dig hoping to find something.<br /><br />You cannot find an ExtraTerrestial until you search for one. So is a great idea. It's time to tune the brain to constantly be in search for this flash of brilliance. And what better way can be it than starting off this section - Micro Ideas. May it be that one of the Micro Ideas is 'The One'.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Educational Activity Kits</span><br />'The best way to learn is to experience it'. When I was a kid - what used to amaze me the most were the tiny activity kits. I used to harp upon these difficult-to-get science activity kits - they are fun. Finally I could see and experience what these boring science books mean to drive in. This is so much easier - and this is the right way to learn. How many of us have actually taken the effort to see white light split into the multple colours of vibgyor on passing through a prism? How many of us have actually tried to carry out some of the tons and tons of chemical reactions that we read in our childhood. Why do we need to merely accept things without experiencing it. This is where the Educational Activity Kits come in - as I started playing with them, not only did I find understanding the profound concepts so much simpler but I also started exploring beyond the horizons of the Kits - I went on to have a mini Chemical laboratory to run though the reactions I learn in textbooks.<br /><br />Today, all these look a distant past - but even today when I walk past through the 'toys and games' section in one of these US supermarkets/toystores, I am amazed that there still exists no commercial Education Activity Kit. The target market is quite open and the feasibility of implementation is not too bad. One can bring out an exclusive line of Education Activity Kits (a new brand like Lego). These boxed kits should contain scientific concepts and related experiments. In addition, they should contain all materials required to carry out these simple experiments. For eg: the activity kits can be organized under three categories - Physics, Chemistry & Biology. Under the Physics category will be a kit on 'Light' where concepts like diffraction, diffusion, etc can be explained. This kit will contain a Prism to explain the components of white light, a set of color filters to explain colors & filters, etc. Similarly one can have a Biology kit on observing plants and animals which will include experiments with microscopes and growing mustard plants.<br /><br />Slowly it would be possible to explore into other areas outside core science like geography, arts & crafts, etc.<br /><br />The world of EAK (Educational Activity Kits) waits, with doors wide open. <br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-61080678337115039462007-12-10T22:56:00.000-05:002008-12-08T22:20:09.308-05:00My Marathon - In Pictures<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Date: Nov 18, 2007<br />Time: 7:00 AM<br />Place: City Hall, Philadelphia<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeDmVuDBj_CEyyp8bVqy08KPp0TRnVJdpzUzTIfnorNCliHskK94dVWVTiKqV45k_hyphenhyphenKvfACDTBCRGfaJg8Hapi6dB5NUEXAVR4p9w7mPcrxqeEPn4WkudJoE2kyOYRZbKN0P-hd94ce0/s1600-h/ajay2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLeDmVuDBj_CEyyp8bVqy08KPp0TRnVJdpzUzTIfnorNCliHskK94dVWVTiKqV45k_hyphenhyphenKvfACDTBCRGfaJg8Hapi6dB5NUEXAVR4p9w7mPcrxqeEPn4WkudJoE2kyOYRZbKN0P-hd94ce0/s320/ajay2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142560387191920098" border="0" /></a>Around 18000 runners, about 500000 spectators - all at one glance - just can't get better<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvmsVjsI87UW9zI63h8YpBNO4zMhNtOpCwJwAp8dwm2zWi92SC2I5aJJPZWGS2HjV-T-x6573zr7avWXLPR1PNLkKB8t_AO5NWMNH5LXwotVIq1oY4PDWVijQxbL9RSheU_qEsjkbjQxP/s1600-h/ajay3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvmsVjsI87UW9zI63h8YpBNO4zMhNtOpCwJwAp8dwm2zWi92SC2I5aJJPZWGS2HjV-T-x6573zr7avWXLPR1PNLkKB8t_AO5NWMNH5LXwotVIq1oY4PDWVijQxbL9RSheU_qEsjkbjQxP/s320/ajay3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142561113041393138" border="0" /></a>Run Forrest Run - Running away to glory - at around the half-way mark<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmX8u9ZVZQdBZT-FQsc_jGkX_-7SbC5EqFWcHhFa7L7icbvpF03TgnK5MbKFwdpA7CyIbtM7VvvIjdVVGGBkHEYycFAzIaodcCTDtqomy6jgHenW75AdFteuD09force0I2r9MRvgJUg2/s1600-h/ajay1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmX8u9ZVZQdBZT-FQsc_jGkX_-7SbC5EqFWcHhFa7L7icbvpF03TgnK5MbKFwdpA7CyIbtM7VvvIjdVVGGBkHEYycFAzIaodcCTDtqomy6jgHenW75AdFteuD09force0I2r9MRvgJUg2/s320/ajay1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142561508178384386" border="0" /></a>The Final Step - after 2 hrs 25 mins 37 secs - etched on history's books<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsk9Ojc1jnv82LON1Cp3OB0aVDr8i8-aTvljHdI7VB5GEQreYjTrNextEAj8TdaXyCBkbzofqpQxegJnVGcTeZlQlHP44QuOXVgODkhtBOqOvKreYVXNX6rWx1ZW66M2sSu27bm_2uffQ/s1600-h/ajay4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsk9Ojc1jnv82LON1Cp3OB0aVDr8i8-aTvljHdI7VB5GEQreYjTrNextEAj8TdaXyCBkbzofqpQxegJnVGcTeZlQlHP44QuOXVgODkhtBOqOvKreYVXNX6rWx1ZW66M2sSu27bm_2uffQ/s320/ajay4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142561997804656146" border="0" /></a>Over the finish line - 13.1 miles - 21 kms - the cherishing moment!!!<br /><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-63947053940275947612007-11-19T12:39:00.000-05:002007-11-19T13:40:37.829-05:00A magical story : From the start line to the finish line<div style="text-align: justify;">In a line - I successfully completed the Philadelphia half-marathon in 2hrs 24mins 31secs. And here's as the story rolls...<br /><br />I drove to Philly the day before to attend the runners expo. I had to collect my Running Number - a sheet of paper that needs to be pinned to my tee-shirt and my Bib (not that one) - a tag used for timing the start and finish and which needs to be tied to the shoe lace. It was my first marathon and I was just surprised to see the festive atmosphere and the tons and tons of people around. Was also getting a bit nervous - I had never actually run 13.1 miles even in practice. Followed that up with a nice dinner at Penang Malaysian restaurant with Niki and her cousins and an early slip into bed.<br /><br />Then came the big day. I had to wake up at 5:30AM to freshen up and rush to the start line. The official start time was 7AM and I happened to squeeze in there about 10 minutes before the kickoff. It was an amazing feeling - the atmosphere was electrifying - more than 16000 runners - more than 500,000 people in audience - it just cannot get better. It was similar to the New Year countdown with music, frolic and the actual countdown to the marathon. The temperature was just above the freezing point and I had my gloves and sweatshirt on, to keep myself warm. It was starting to drizzle a bit before the start and we were hoping that the rain doesnt come down hard on us.<br /><br />And moments after 7:15AM came the real start. The 2007 Philadelphia Marathon was ON....<br />13.1 miles to go. There were markers and time boards at the completion of every mile. Also there were water/energy breaks at every 1-2 miles. Luckily the drizzle stopped in a couple of miles and I had to shed my gloves and sweatshirt as it was getting hot. For the first 4-5 miles, I was making a consistent timing of 10 minutes per mile. After an hour it was getting a bit tough to hold on to the speed. The most dreaded mile was the one from the 9th mile to the 10th. It was a very uphill path all the way and it came at a really bad time - I took about 15 minutes just to complete that mile. After the 10th, the rest seemed to be a pleasure. As I neared the end, the crowd was building up and people cheering everywhere. It was like a shot in the arm and all of us just started sprinting - for a second, all the 13 miles were left behind and it was the 0.1 mile to the finish line that motivated us. As I crossed the finish line, an unexplainable sense of happiness and satisfaction got over me. I have successfully completed the Philadelphia Marathon. All I could do was to turn back and look at my timing clock - it read 02:24:31 - a moment to capture forever - the magical moment!<br /><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3327664140721072631.post-73338512279422352762007-11-13T00:38:00.000-05:002007-11-13T00:54:08.856-05:00A marathon story: From the start to the start line<div style="text-align: justify;">It's been a long journey - one that's not yet reached its culmination point. I'm all set to run for the Philadelphia half-marathon this Sunday.<br />As I sat down to think about it, I realized that the only thing more arduous than reaching the finish line of the marathon was the very journey which led me to the start line. I still remember the first day - a crisp mid-June Sunday morning, the first mile - it seemed to last forever. Back then, I had never run more than a mile or two. The magic number 13.2 seemed to be a very distant target. And I had no clue what I was in for.<br />I started the whole journey motivated by two factors - first and foremost was the mere nature of the task and the fulfillment of achieving it. Next was the amazing feeling of participating in the intertwined fundraiser - an opputinity to give back to the world where it matters.<br />What goes unsaid are the long practice runs every Sunday, the short 3-4 mile runs two times a week (after the busy work day), those small things I had to give up for a short term - the Saturday late nights and the game of tennis (as it hinders with my running) to name a few. But what remains in the end is the satisfaction and the eagerness to march ahead as I approach the final frontier. I'm all set to run down my first half-marathon - hopefully the first of a long list yet to follow.<br />Will be back with the next half of the story, as soon as history is written...<br /><br /><br /></div>Ajayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05051527451943463975noreply@blogger.com0