In my final article about 2008 Gadgets this week in the Indian Express, I looked at Digital Photo Printers, GPS Navigation, HD TV's, and the Wii Fit, to read more, click here, or buy the Sunday Express across India, on Sunday December 23, 2007.
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2008, will be full of Gadget goodies, laptops are on their way out, and what is moving in is the UPMC option, most of the serious, high flying, laptop users have already started looking at these devices as alternatives, with prices falling,and more and more players coming up, this seems to be an interesting option for all who want online connectivity, but not through a phone. To read more about my take on these, click here, or buy the Indian Express, on Sunday, December 16, 2007, India Wide.
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At the end of the year, we gadget geeks seem to turn astrologers, predicting what lies ahead, and some of us look back each year, and see hey, did that really come true, or not.. I will try to avoid this pitfall this year, and just tell you about things, that really are coming your way in 2008, some may come, some not, that we will see only dec 08, but till then, read the first piece in my predictions for 2008, by clicking here or buy a copy of the Indian Express, on Sunday 9th December 07, across India.
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This year when the N95 was announced, it was one of the most expensive phones on the market (let alone the types of Vertu), but it made a lot of people sit up and say, he, a phone's a phone, and all I need it for is to make calls / maybe send an sms / on a bus / train ride, listen to the FM and that's about it. If it has a Camera, great, but if not, nothing lost.. I investigated the market, and over the last month, found a few phone models that work. In my article in Indian Express, this week, on Sunday 25th November, 2007. To read it, click here, or grab a copy of the Indian Express, across India.
GS
Back in the Y2K, when I bought my first DVD Player, it cost me a bomb, and I wanted 5.1 surround sound, and that was going to cost me another bomb, so chose to stay away. A number of visits to major showrooms, and my love for movies, had me convinced of setting up a home theater, but how much would you spend, a few years down the road, and a number of email requests from people asking for help, this week in my Indian Express, article, on Sunday, November 18, 2007, I look at how to rig up the right sound for movies at home, without spending, overboard. To read the article, pick up the print copy across India, on Sunday, or click here to read it online.
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This is a late post to a story that was printed on Sunday, 11th November 07 in the Indian Express, but I just forgot to link up this story this time around.
This week in Tech2, I looked at two options of Digital Network Players, Squeeze box now from Logitech and EVA 8000 from Netgear, this article, available here, compares both the players, and the features, head on to the Indian Express site, by clicking here, or if you can, grab a copy of the Sunday Express.
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I am what I am because I got a lot of leverage from my parents, my grand parents, to break a few things, i also got a lot of support from them in terms of buying me my first chemistry set, my first electronics kit, I remember the 555 timer drove me wild with imagination, and I built some great big projects, which you may have even seen if you were in Delhi around the later half of 1980's, these included flashing LED based hoardings to various other things. But anyway, whenever I meet someone, they ask me for advice, and one of the coolest things that everyone seems to want to know is, our child loves technology, now what.
Well this week in my Indian Express article, I look at some Tech toys in a lot of budgets. So grab a copy on Sunday, 4th November 2007 across India, or click here to read it online.
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Whenever I bump into gamers, one thing we all can't stop bragging about is how, we got our PC's to speed up more, than they could, by adding coolers, RAM, high speed disks, and Graphic Cards. Recently when Microsoft announced Vista, most of the early adopters, shared a common feeling, it was too slow. The problem was the speed of graphics, with so many things happening on your screen, you need to speed up the graphics, but an average desktop user and a graphic card do not go together, or do they. I look at this as an answer in my Indian Express article this week, in Print on 28th October 2007, India wide. You can also read the article online, by clicking here
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You have heard of a smartphone, and you have seen people use it, but you are still happy with your regular phone, that can let you do sms, shoot a video, some pictures, and you think, well this is good enough for me, but every now and then you see someone using a smartphone, a thought crosses your mind, should you.. hmmm... shouldn't you opt for one.. This month in my Outlook Business Article, Dated 5th November, I look at this only. Click the above picture to read it, or head on to the news paper stand and buy a copy.
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The Palm Centro at the first look is a very curvy, good looking, small PDA type phone, but is it worth spending the money on it, check out my review in the Indian Express, this Sunday on 21st October 2007, India wide, or click here to read it online.
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Though in an earlier post, I had written about how I want to learn everything and about Video Jug, 3 months down the road, the site has expanded (though still in Beta) and working much better.. this week in my Indian Express article, I talk about Video Jug and how it can help you. Catch my article online by clicking here, or picking up a copy of the Indian Express on Sunday, 14th October 2007, India Wide.
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My dad has been planning to buy a Full HD camcorder, and he insisted on a Tape, while the new media would want you to buy the DVD / Memory Stick (no offences to sony) or a hard disk cam corder, so I thought, well let's dig deeper, and really see what all matters. I went on an investigation trip, and this is what I found out. To read more, click here, or buy the Indian Express, this Sunday October 7, 2007, across India.
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I have been asked this question every time, I met someone who shifted from a film camera to a Digital camera, on what printer to buy so that they could print their photos at home. This week in my Indian Express article, on Sunday 30th September I look at the criterias that you should look at when evaluating the right printer to buy. You can read this article here or in Print with the Sunday Express on 30th September, India wide
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Towards the end of last week, Samsung announced the launch of it's 70" LCD Television. They had invited me down to their corporate office to have a dekko at it, what I saw was impressive, but the price tag, kept me wondering, on whether I should spend 24 Lacs to buy a TV to boost my ego, or say a house, or maybe a Mercedec C Class, I am still confused, but the TV made a lasting impression on me. It was not perfect, after all, there is always a scope for improvement, but the image, the size, the finishing, of chrome, glass, and the nice blue light, made me look at it very seriouslly, now only if they would give me one.. hmmmmmm :)
To read my take on the new TV, buy the Indian Express this Sunday, across India, or click here to read it online.
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Early last week, Steve Jobs announced 3 new iPhones, Ahem, iPods, they are glorified, geek fan following, and now in a new shiny package, check out what I have to say abou them, in the Indian Express, this Sunday 16th September 2007, Across India or click here to read my take online.
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Ever been stuck with two phones, you know the feeling that I am speaking about, with phones becoming the calling of the day, and one phone not working for you, how do you get them both to fit into one.. read my column in the Indian Express this week on Sunday, 9 September 07, across India, or click here to read it online.
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Orkut, took the social networking scene by storm, it created the same movement that Linked IN had done sometime back in the Business to Business networking industry, but what Rediff is doing is not only unclear to me, but a bit confusing. Though a DESI avtaar is needed, but then having a mix of Social and B2B in the same space, well maybe it works.. This week in My article in the Indian Express, I look at the Redidff's Avtar of the Orkut space, called Rediff Connexions.
To read more, click here, or buy the Indian Express this Sunday 2nd September 2007, India Wide in Print.
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I love star gazing, and I think most of us geeks do, but then how do you really find a star, Google just made it easy, to read my review of the New Version of Google Earth, Sky, click here, or buy the Indian Express this Sunday, 26th August 2007, India wide.
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Have you been mobile shopping lately, if you did not ask for your loved brand, you must have noticed some new brands that are in the market, the guy who is shaking it up is called Fly Mobiles, this week, I look at what all do they have to offer, and is it worth switching over, for more details, buy the Indian Express on Sunday, August 19 2007 india wide, or click here to read the online version.
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Recent Attacks through MSN Messenger and the growing vulnerability due to download of files from the Internet, makes Antivirus a must have for all Windows PC's users. This week in my article in the Sunday Express, on 12th August 2007, I look at the options of free Antivirus. Catch me in the Print across the country in the Indian Express, or click here to read my take on
1. AVG Antivirus
2. Bit Defender 8
3. Avast
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Are you worried about your safety, remember Angella Bennet from the NEt, and the stolen Identity, well how do you make sure, that you are safe, when you sell your old pc.. read my tips and safety feedback in My Indian Express article this week on Sunday 5th August, 2007 India wide, or click here to read it online.
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Moto is trying to recreate the magic of the Razr once again with the Razr2, the phone looks sharp and mean, and something I would love to lay my hands on, don't know what I am talking about, have a look at the Presentation from Moto by clicking here, or read my review of the new Razr2 in the Indian Express, this Sunday July 29, 2007 India Wide. You can also read the review online by clicking here.
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Are you getting tired of paying for software, I am I know that.. I switched to Linux, but then my business associates and friends say, i am a geek, I can learn a new system, getting people to move to open office was a big issue for me, but well we did manage it, but today with Webware options available, you don't need to move to Open Office, and or to Microsoft Office, look at the online office. This fortnight in my article in Outlook Business, dated 5th August, 2007, on Stands India wide, you can read about my otpions on the Free Software revolution called Web Ware.
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Though I am no big fan of Microsoft, or there New Vista, but since most of the users I see are battling with a few things, I thought, what better way, to share our companies knowledge base of 5 tips for Windows Vista Users, to read the tips
Browser Warning
Speeding up Vista
PC Health Reportg
Photo and Video Management
Those Cute little widgets
Read my Article in the Sunday Express on July 22,2007 across India, or click here to read it online.
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Japan is the place to be for technology innovation, sadly they speak another language that I don't understand, I tried, but I don't. Go Green seems to be on every body's mind, look at ICICI bank on how they are selling their e-statement feature, but this news on Akhiabara News, caught my eye.
The LN-LS2A1 produce 1800 lumens and can go running for upto 48 hours, in case of an earthquake (yes they have a built in sensor).
To read more, click here
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Don't get me wrong, if it was in my hands, I would have got an iPhone for myself, it's the dream geek toy, don't you think. But hey, it's a dream... and dreams rarely do come true, so what are the alternatives if you were looking for an iPhone for yourself... check out my article in the Indian Express, this Sunday on 15th July 2007, in the Print Edition across India, or click here to read it online.
BTW, there is a Table which is not online.. let me see if I can put it here later.
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From today's Times of India, DLF Cybercity will now be Wifi. Pune and Mysore, DLF will be the first township to deploy Wifi Across the settlements for it's residents and corporates. What amazes me, is that two international companies have been chosen to do this, with every second company in India, now working on WiFi deployments, this comes as a surprising news. Also, where is the frequency available, Gurgaon, is already congested in the 2.4GHz band, I don't know how DLF plans to do this, but let's look forward to it.
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From Yesterday's Times of India
Govt mulls Rs 500/year fee on every colour TV
Himanshi Dhawan | TNN
New Delhi: Television viewing could soon be a more expensive affair. The government is considering imposing a recurring annual ‘licence fee’ of Rs 500 for each colour television set, and Rs 200 for a black & white TV, owned by consumers as a bailout measure for the cash-strapped Prasar Bharati.
Sources in the information and broadcasting ministry said imposing the licence fee on consumers is among a slew of options before the government — others include making TV manufacturers and broadcasters pay up — all or some of which could be implemented. Part of the money raised will go into providing government pay scales and other benefits for the 38,000-odd Prasar Bharati employees. Sources said the licence fee plan alone could raise an estimated Rs 23,871 crore.
The government can, in fact, impose such a fee by invoking section 17 of the Prasar Bharati Act as recommended by the Sengupta Committee report. A final decision on the issue is expected to be taken at the Group of Ministers’ meeting on Wednesday.
The GoM is also likely to consider levying a 10% licence fee on television and radio manufacturers to raise an additional sum of Rs 896 crore as recommended by the Financial Restructuring Committee in 2005.
BAILOUT BITE
Annual licence fee of Rs 500 for colour TVs and Rs 200 for B&W TVs being studied Cash raised through proposed levy could be used to bail out Prasar Bharati Licence fee plan could raise about Rs 23,900 cr every year Final decision to be taken at Group of Ministers’ meeting on Wednesday ‘Service fee’ will help raise Rs 800 cr/yr
New Delhi: A Group of Ministers is considering a proposal for a ‘public broadcasting service fee’ on the lines of the telecom sector so that all players in the field are required to share the cost of making television available nationwide on a nondiscriminatory access basis. This is likely to raise another Rs 800 crore at 5% per annum from broadcasters.
The final option is payment of an annual grant by the government to the pubcaster to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore. The government has been pushed to the wall on the Prasar Bharati employees’ issue. According to a Supreme Court order, the ministry is expected to resolve service-related matters of Prasar Bharati employees by August 2.
Ensuring government pay scales, retirement and pension benefits, facilities like government accommodation and health benefits is estimated to cost the public exchequer Rs 81 crore. The report on capital and financial restructuring of Prasar Bharati pegs its outstanding liabilities to the tune of Rs 2,503 crore, as of April 2005.
India is crazy about the Bling Factor. I have seen people use, and comment, about phones as if they were status symbols and not utility factors. Choosing a phone for me has been more about what I need in terms of functionality rather than what status it would portray, but a lot of them won't agree with me.
Finally out, the Samsung 18K Gold Cell phone, should be the latest in the Bling factor in India. For Commemoration of the 2008 Olympic Games, the P318+. In terms of features it's the same as the calculator model P318, but hey, it's the Bling that Matters.
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This blurb on Reuters caught my attention, and I thought this was worth the mention.. Just some pointers
*80-megawatt farm
*640 acres / 260 hectares
*To be completed by 2011
*17 times the size of the largest U.S. solar farm
*Near Fresno, California.
Read more at Reuters
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The Apple mac's are a great powerful notebook, and I have been thinking of switching to one myself. I have been on linux for nearly 2+ years now, and haven't used a windows desktop, unless I felt necessary, so I thought, why not switch to a Mac. I tried an Apple Mac Notebook, and using Bootcamp, tried putting Windows Vista on it.. My opinion, and experience is shared in my Sunday Express (Indian Express), article today, Nationwide on 8th July 2007. Alternatively, you can read it online here.
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I was always a kid with a thousand questions, I remember my parents buying me books, that explained how things worked, to encyclopedias, but my quest for knowledge never stopped, Came along the Internet, and I started visiting How Stuff works, very regularly, then started reading the wikipedia, a few days bag, the site Video Jug, caught my attention, it has all the videos, nearly everything, explained or as they calle it Life Explained.
No Guesses for knowing that my fav show on TV is How do they do it, but head on to Video Jug, and trust me, you will have a 1000 questions answered.
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Accessories are one thing, where a lot of people don't go back to the Brand that manufactured your PC and or your Laptop, you tend to find cheaper alternatives. Now keeping in mind, that accessories are usually rebranded by companies like HP / IBM / Lenovo, and not manufactured by them, this seems to be an obvious choice.
The Current mail from HP today, makes the whole business a little interesting, the first accessory at full price (yes, 100% more than the market), and the second one only for $1 = Rs. 45, so you actually buy two accessories, for about 10% more expensive than you would from the market, and get assurance too.
The offer is only till 7/31, and includes Notebook Docking Stations, Mice, Power Adapter, Monitor Stands, Adjustable Notebook stands, Bags, Dicota Lock, Thumb Drive, Wireless Presenters, Web cameras, and yes, Wired Mice.
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Time and Along, Microsoft does come out with great things. I have till date not been able to find a more comfortable and a better keyboard than the Microsoft Original Natural Keyboard, but that is an old story anyway.
I make a lot of presentations, though I don't use PPT's and or Video Displays that often, (I try to be different), but on ocassions, I have noticed that I had to carry around a mouse for the laptop, a presentation remote, and a laser pointer, now how many things can you carry with you, well Microsoft ha an answer, all of it rolled into one, as a Bluetooth mouse.. Seems good, but can't find it in India.. (Though I may not be able to use this with my Linux laptop :( )
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Well the world's gone crazy, first with USB Thumb drives in every percievable shape possible, and then trying to fit a 256 MB / 512 MB Mp3 Player into anything that you could think of. But hey, did you get a chocolate chip cookie as an MP3 Player, what about that fav McDonald's burger turned into an MP3 Player, you think I am crazy, well check out Motz, and you can buy a kit, that they sell, which can convert anything, yes anything into an MP3 Player (Oh yes, it can connect to USB too).
Via Akihabara News
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A few months back a program on the National Geographic Channel about the Red Panda's going missing, and scientists still using radio tags to catch them, put me into thinking, on why they were stil not using Wi-Fi technology. Well, my answer was not far off, today's posting on Tree Hugger, about MIT Scientists (who else), putting solar powered wi-fi devices on the back of turtles, to track there whereabouts, and also to study the behaviour of a diminishing population, had me sit up and read.
A very interesting reading, click here, to read the full article.
GS
I never bought an iPod, I know it is not the geek thing to do, but I did not want a play around, which every one had. Now, don’t get me wrong. I have an abiding respect for Apple, its products and its CEO Steve Jobs, but not everyone wants to buy the same brand. The question is, are iPods the only definitive MP3 players or is there a world beyond them? This week, I’ll advise you on buying MP3 players that are not iPods, yet have all the features you ever wanted, perhaps more.
This week in my Tech2 Artcile on Indian Express, I look at the Alternatives to iPod, some better, some equal, but definately a worth look.
To read more, buy the Sunday Express on 1st July 2007 across India, or click here, to read it online.
GS
Have you noticed your electricity bill go up in the last few months, years. Well isn't this a global phenomena, we are using more gadgets, TV programming has increased to 24 hours across hundreds of channels from one channel beaming down 6 hours a day, so what do you do, to reduce your electricity consumption, you just can't turn off all your appliances now can you. This week in my Indian Express Article, I look at 6 Tips for you to help save some money, and cut the flab off your electricity bill.
1. Turn off that computer
2. Switch those washroom lights off
3. Infrared switches for your night lights
4. Turn off that Fan
5. Solar lights for your Garden
6. Tune your referigerator.
To read my article click here, or buy the Sunday Express on 24th June 2007, India wide.
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On 12/13 june, when the news hit that the Rocket Raja commercial has been taken off air, after the contreversy with the Indian Postal Department, after all, no one has the right to ridicule a Government service, and especially not the latest (and I believe the billionth) free email service provider.
Anyway, this news on Alootechie has hit me pretty badly, that he is coming back.. shit man, run.. the crazy guy in a rocket (trying to emulate an email postmaster) is back.. I really don't see a reason why Reliance is wasting money and time building Zapak (Which it earlier wanted to push as a Gaming server company, then a Free email provider), and now with Zapak.tv, trying to emulate Youtube.. hey guys.. if It takes 3 minutes to load a 60 second video on zapak tv while sitting in India, you have it wrong.. Wrong.. do you know ?
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Tata Indicom, is confused again yes, it believes (Click Here to see the video) that it is the first mobile provider to have launched Internet Radio on your hand helds. In this announcement by Mr. Sethi, President VAS for Tata Indicom, and more busy explaining what type of music comes from what country, they forgot that any Internet enabled, hmm.. GPRS connected phone, data connection phone could install Mundu Radio, or if you had a Series 60 Symbian phone, you could directly do this, so what is TATA busy about ?
If you are confused, this announcement was made yesterday, 19th June 2007.
Hmm...seems these guys just know how to do an event, and call it the first.
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A few days back, I was visiting an old friend, and he asked, me.. this blog of yours, how does it work, why do you blog.. should i be blogging, how do i blog.. and a whole set of 20 other questions to follow. He is a good businessman, very well versed with technology, but missing on some of the action. This prompted me to call up my Editor at Outlook, and speak with him, both of us were on track, and agreed, and this fortnight in Outlook Business, Issue Date 5th July 2007, you can read my Article, Life Technology. If you don't get Outlook Business, please click on the above image to read it.
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IDC report, published by DQ Week, the weekly news paper on all things IT from cybermedia, states that there is a PC for every person in 50 indian's, i.e a growth of 20 percent year on year, on total unit shipments. The whole news is availbale for reading, if you click on the picture above.
Good news.
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Well, no I am not self promoting my podcasts, they are great, but not as good as it gets here. Online radio has been around for quite some time, but something that had wonderful music, (music you have not heard before), and music that wont' break because you did not have Internet speed.. well it's here.. and it works.. head on to Radio Verve, and check it out.. The nice graphics on the page, the great tuner like interface, and the bio coming up on the right side of the independent bands.. man this is nice..
Right now, they have the following channels
*Rock / Easy / Metal - English Music
*Gospel Music
*Konkani
*Classical (Indian Classical)
*And a folk channel coming up..
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Solar Energy, Energy Saving have been a part and practice of my study, and some of my approach. I would love to turn around the whole house / office to run using Solar Power, but sadly the price of Solar Panels still keeps this out of my reach.
Recently, while going through the Times of India, on the 5th of June, I came across an Article about Green buildings, and it was an interesting read. Sadly the online edition does not carry pictures, but here are a few steps that you can make sure to go green.
1. Switch off all appliances not in use when leaving office at night. Yes, including the Water Cooler
2. Make sure all lights and fans are also off
3. Switch to CFL Lamps where ever possible from Incandescent Bulbs
4. Take that Adapter out, are you done charging your phone, take out that adapter.
5. Harvest Water, Re-Use rain water. Delhi is going to get a lot of rain this year, why not put buckets outside, when it rains, to give your car an After rain wash / clean.
6. Buy Proximity / Infrared switches for Verandah lights
7. Buy some solar lights for your lawn.
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Rajesh Baranwal, from aloo techie reports, a Hindustan Times story, that Bloggers will finally start making money, yes money of the real sense, not only just bucks from Google Adsense, and those stories of Amit Agarwal, leaving his full time job, to become a full time blogger, he has some ad's, but now even you can get some.. maybe me too.. to read more, click here.
GS
I visited Kashmir when I was about 10 or so, and I remember it to being a heaven on earth. Then I was told, that the Dal is dying, today's clipping from the Hindustan times, shows Dr. Marc Stollreiter with a team of 150 people, (all volunteers), cleaning the Dal Lake, all it takes is passion, and boundries mean nothing.. The shame of India, being cleaned by a foriegner.. Doc.. keep up the good work.. and Thanks humbly for helping!!
GERMAN PSYCHOLOGIST Dr Marc Stollreiter (above) led a team of 150 volunteers in fishing out 2 truckloads of plastic muck from Dal Lake on Sunday. "We mustn't leave everything to the government. People should come forward. This lake is theirs," Stollreiter said.
IMDAD SAQI of Valley Citizens' Council, who worked with Stollreiter, said: "This is a slap on our, and our government's faces. We must wake up. The Dal is dying." The lake has shrunk from its original 58 sq km to 11.05 sq km due to encroachments and dumping of waste.
This week in my article Tech 2 in Indian express, I look at hand held gaming options, from a number of players in the industry, the two major surviving players are sony with their PSP and Nintendo with their Game boy series, looking at the Indian market, what is available, what are your options, I make some conclusions. To read my article, click here, or buy the Print copy of Indian Express on Sunday, and turn to Page 9, Nationwide in India.
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I am not sure, when these awards were held, but Future Bazaar, the online venture of Big Bazaar - Future Group, claims that it has won the Award for the Best Shopping Website (Web Awards 2007) From PC World India, but on a browsing trip to the website, trying to search for some shirts for myself, I was a little confused, Shirt Sizes in India have either been S/M/L/XL/XXL or by the Shoulder Size 38/40/42/44/46, Big Bazaar, sorry, Future Bazaar, has shirt sizes, 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5, so if I wear a shirt size 44, what size do I buy here ??? HMMM BEST Shopping website..... GREAT
GS
Twelfth Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 14th May 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). This Episode we speak about the microwave oven, how to buy, what makes a difference, we also speak to a listener, who would want to cook chicken tikka in his microwave.
Eleventh Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 7th May 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). The Episode we speak about how to buy a Power Invertor, maintenance tips, and what to look for. We also have a listner query on how the battery fumes can be harmful, and what to do.
Tenth Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 30th April 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). This week we talk about Air Conditioners, whether you buy a Split AC or a Window AC, maintenance tips etc.
Ninth Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 23rd April 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). We talk about Video cameras, and how to buy them. The difference between tape based and digital recording media based. We also have a surprise visitor on the show, who calls himself John Travolta.
Seventh Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 9th April 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). This Episode we speak about spy cameras, and the problem they can bring. We also look at how to avoid getting into a trap of being filmed by a Spy Camera, a listner comment and his inputs about the same.
