Recycle !

We all produce waste, plastic waste. The world is becoming a faster paced machine, and we love junk food. Everytime we buy food, it's packed in plastic. We buy a box it has some plastic in it. When I cross Delhi to go over to Punjab or up north, I cross Delhi's dump yard, and it smells bad.. what you see is plastic.. and plastic.. things that can't be recycled, being dumped.. this is a topic I am close to, but have not talked or done much about. While reading this article, on Inhabitat, I found it interesting eough to share.

Plnatic Technologies, an Australian company has developed a fully biodegradable, corn based material that can be used as pacakaging to carry cupcakes or chocolates, so no more plastic trays in those boxes. These trays look like conventional plastic trays, till you get them wet, and then they dissolve.

Voila.. Want to read more, click on either of the links above.

And hey, recycle..

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Something for your Toddlers !!

When I was 3, I was entrusted with the care of my younger brother. With my mom doing her education, and her research at the same time, I had to take charge. I was too young to know what to do when, so my mom taught me to read the clock, the small hand at 3 meant, I had to feed my brother, the small hand at 5 meant, mom will be home anytime, those were simple days, mom and dad were out for a fixed amount of time, socializing meant, you take your kids along, baby sitters were not an in thing.

Now I look at my sister, with her two sweet little daughters, the elder one though is a brat at times, but she has to entrust her 3 year old to look after her baby sister. This device is neat, and i think you will find it of utility too. I dont know if it's going to be available here in India, but JIC...

The Buddy Bear Phone is actually a handset being aimed at kids between 3 and 10 years old, with the ability to call just four pre-programmed phone numbers or send a pre-programmed SMS (we don’t want kids making up their own SMS messages, now do we?) to four different people. To make sure parents have full control of the bear, it can be remotely controlled with a PIN number in case it’s lost or stolen and even turned into a makeshift remote baby monitor, so you can eavesdrop on your child’s conversation.

Retailing at about 130 Euros or Rs. 9000 this is an expensive, but I think a useful buy. Available both in Pink and Blue, sadly it's just a Dual band phone, but then that can work with major networks here in India.

[Available at], via [Gizmodo]

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5 Gifts a Geek Suggests this Diwali

It's that time of the year, when you get loads of presents. Sadly for me, this year, Diwali is a no no, My Grandma passed away this saturday, and my wife had lost her uncle earlier on this year at holi. Two big Indian Holiday's, two very respected and loved people lost in life. But life moves on, as the zen master Osho said, Life and Death are like breathing, you breathe in, it's Life, you breathe out, it's Death. It's a cycle, that goes on.

Diwali is celebrated with big bang, but we still give gifts, which hold nothing much to value, than the necessity of doing it. I have tried to stay away from gifting at Diwali's to friends, and family, but this year, when My Editor called me to say, let's do an article on Diwali Gifts, I thought to myself, what would be the Gifts I would love to recieve as a Geek, and then I said, well this is something I can give too.. yippeee.. and we had an article.

Enjoy life, to the fullest, you dont know when and where it will end, and hey, wish you a very Happy Diwali.

To read my article Happy Diwali, click here, or grab a copy of the Indian Express this Monday, October 31st, 2005.

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X-Ray Vision - Really True, no Lies

Kaya Optics, a company specialising in optical devices, claims to have newly developed product called the "Infrared See-Through Filter PF". The PF is a special optical device that helps to visually penetrate an object's surface in order to view whatever lies below, or what you and I would commonly call as X-Ray Vision.

The picture above is from their website taken using A mannequin dressed in a thin black dress, A sony camcorder with night vision (specific model used: TR250PK), and a PF (don't even ask me what that means). Anyway, the picture on top shows (in anticlockwise order), top left - the mannequin in black dress, Bottom left and right, a card with kaya written on it, being inserted inside the dress, and then the camera in action.

Now stop thinking that I am a perv.. it is just that these two three things happened together :)

Anyway, I know you are interested, but I can't say how true it is, or is it one of those claims doing the rounds of the Internet, but I feel it's serious, so it was worth a mention.

Checkout the details for yourself.

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The big O!

If by any chance you are a fan of Carrie Bradshaw and the soap Sex and the City, your mind would have run to a single thought, this guy is a perv.. well with a name like G-Spot for my blog and me speaking of the Big O, I dont' blame you, but look at it from the geek's world, the Big O is the Opera Software, the Norwegian company that has grown to be a big big big competitor in the Browser market (Which was largely free for sometime, and is now free again), till they recently annouced that Oprea is now Free :)

Opera's vision is to deliver the best Internet experience on any device. Opera's key business objective is to earn global leadership in the market for PC/desktops and embedded products. Opera's main business strategy is to provide a browser that operates across devices, platforms and operating systems, and can deliver a faster, more stable and flexible Internet experience than its competitors.....[from Opera's website]

On 17th October, they made a big big announement, making Opera the only browser to support Hindi & Punjabi (Currently the only browser supporting both languages). As per them nearly 700 million people speak hindi, and another 100 million punjabi.

For me, the only browser and email client I have known for a long time now is Opera. The M2, though misses out on some features, but is still one of the best email clients I have worked with.

Keep it up opera.. Great going guys..Best wishes

For all of you who want the language files, for opera, please visit http://www.opera.com/download/languagefiles/.

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World's Smallest Car !!

What is it with me and car's today ? Well nothing. Just amazed to see stuff around the internet. Anyway, from an article on Exterme Tech, this breaking news.

The researchers at Rice university have developed the nanocar. It's just 4 nm (nanometer) long, and is just a single molecule. There are 4 independent rotating axles, built-in suspension, and oversized wheels that enables it to move forward and backward.

See the image above, that is just an artistes illustration, but this is the next step to nano technology, the new buzzword with everyone. So.. u dont' want the sky car.. well how about the nano car :)

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Your Next Car / Maybe !!

You think this is a joke right. Well no, it is not.. Go check it out for yourself, a Car, actually a plane.. .hmm.. no a skycar.. that can do 350+ miles per hour, in development since the 1960s, Vertical takeoff and landing, three wheeled, folding wing design for safety and affordability to be used as an automobile, and yes Delivery NOT Included.

Price Tag: 3.5 Million US$ (no jokes)

You want one, well you need to fill out an online order form at [Neiman Marcus]

Go check it for yourself.

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The Nokia E Series

Well nokia bites the dust, with Palm and microsoft announcing a phone, and nokia still without a phone that compares to the blackberry and or the palm phones (in looks, not features), Nokia announced the E Series. Sadly I can't translate this page for you.

The ESeries is designed for the business user, with baseline features including Blackberry services, QVGA or better display, WiFi, VoIP, Bluetooth, Edge, 3G High Speed Data, and Push to Talk. Hmm...drooling already, well these are not going to be available till atleast the first quarter of 2006.

And yes, I dont know.. if Nokia still has the problem with the Symbian virus with this series or not, but they will be running on Symbian OS 9.1.

Personally speaking, I like the design of the Nokia E61, same one that is linked above, but let's wait and see.. Whether the Nokia or the Moto Q takes my attention when they are available.

For More Info [Engadget]

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The Lipstick Reinvented - Nokia

Remember the fashion accessory phones that the giant Nokia came out with (Models 7280, 7270 , 7260). Well Nokia realised before everyone else, that people are carrying multiple phones, depending on the mood and the style, and they are accessorising with phones. The latest (well still to come out sometime in the First quarter of 2006) from Nokia, the L'Amour collection, poses to be a big threat to your pocket, every woman with a fashion statement to make will want these. So if you are one of those cassanova types with a girlfriend in every city, watch out man.

The phones are simplist in features, but offer a camera with upto 2 megapixels camera (depending on model) a swivel body (only nokia 730), these are the new oomph machines.

Though one thing, the site is made beautifully, for more information goto Nokia.

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A frog styled humidifier !!

Something I found on a usual trip around the web, one humidifier that I would love to use, shows how we are obsessed with good looking things.

Froggy Style Humidifier, via Akhiabara

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Cellphone theft !!

It is on the rise, if you haven't had one stolen, you will in a few days. I have been a victim of it, but sadly due to my own mistake, I left it in the dash of my car, and gave it to a vallet to park at a wedding, obviouslly it was gone.. I still loved that phone (sad) we had to part with it, but I know of a lot of people, who have their phones stolen. Sometimes kids, sometimes young people, in the world of have's and have not's this is going to happen.

A UK based company Karrysafe makes bags and carry pouches for things that you need to be bothered about and need to secure. On their site a few days back I saw two things, that caught my attention (yes I know, what you are thinking, there was a semi nude woman, to make sure I don't loose my attention, but na.. that's not it.. )

Two innovative products from them, the body safe (for all those girlies) and the phone safe (can be used while jogging or out for a walk), though I dont' think the latter will catch on with the fashion gurus, the first one, though may still stand a chance, give you a way to store your phone, so that people can't steal it from you.. Want to check them out.. well go on

Bodysafe, & Phone safe

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Google - The Big Thing about it !!!

Why is everyone so scared of google, after all, all that they do is put things together. They did it with the best search engine, yes, I prefer it over anything else, I could swear by altavista in the early days, but the day it googled, I haven't seen the face of another engine.. .so are they scary. The recent battles between microsoft and google, and then other companies going on and on about google, is creating quite a bit of hate for them, but are they to be scared about ?

2 Days back President Kalam, made a statement about Google Earth, and everyone, on all news channels was talking about how google earth can give way to terrorists to mark targets and see our milltary bases. Well just to share my point, this information was always available, I remember about 3 years back there wa s a front page story about Indian Satellite images coming from Russian Satellites amongst others for a price, and these being available at the underground markets. I was never able to find them. Personally speaking, Google earth has helped me a lot in planning my trips, directions and at times my Wireless Installations and I think it is a good tool. How will the government go about banning it.. well I dont know.. but It sure does put you to think can it be used by evil minds.

BTW, for my friends at the science and technology department, and people who are tihnking of working ways to stop google earth, another few things to worry abouat MSN Virtual Earth and World Wind from NASA, though they dont' have much data at the moment, and are not as friendly and easy to use as Google Earth (Now that is what makes them big), they will be the cause of your worries in a few days !!!

The governments of South Korea and Thailand and lawmakers in the Netherlands have expressed similar concerns. South Korean newspapers said Google Earth provides images of the presidential Blue House and military bases in the country, which remains technically at war with communist North Korea. The North's main nuclear facility at Yongbyon is among sites in that country displayed on the service.

The Google site contains clear aerial photos of India's parliament building, the president's house and surrounding government offices in New Delhi. There are also some clear shots of Indian defense establishments.

Debbie Frost, spokewoman for Mountain View, California, Google, noted that the software uses information already available from public sources and the images displayed are about one to two years old, not shown in real time.

Another article on wired tells you how a movie director was able to do a better script on his movie, by searching google for they keywords "how to kill a person", wow.. it returns about 37,700,000 results related to my search, now should we go out and ban google ?

I dont' think so, I dont' think the internet can be policed, should be policed, if it happens, someone will come up with another network, to share information. All of us are hungry for knowledge, hungry !

A few things, that you may not know about google, but I would love to share, yes I know I keep harping about their translation capabilities, but well to know more, see http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

BTW.. did you know, tihs blog is powered by Google :)

Yipeee... Hooray to Google, we share the G

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Microwave me :)

If you are a tech, you think I am talking about Microwaves to communicate, well nah.. not this time.. am talking something that all of us want.. a microwave oven, we have one, we want the second one, we dont' have one.. we are working to get one..

So, how do you compare a microwave from well, another microwave oven.. need some advice.. logon and click here to read "The right ingredients", my column this week in Express Money, in Print Monday 24th October 2005, with the Indian Express, country wide.

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Sony and It's new Obsession - Location Free TV

Do you have a laptop ? < Obviouslly, Wireless, here.. now I am asking stupid questions. Well did you enjoy the freedom wireless was to bring to you, I difinitely did. Anyway, this is not wifi mumbo jumbo again, but something I just stumbled on at Sony Japans' Website (thanks to google translate again), anyway.. If you have had a dekko at the PSP from sony you know the display is one of the best, and the ability to play DVD movies (portable UMD's that sony's come out with), they are still not available everywhere, but then should this restrict you. Well not really

Sony plans to come out very soon (or it should be out by the time you read this), with a product called LF-PK1 That allows you to plugin your DVD player and your TV Cable into the box and stream it over wifi to either your Laptop or to PSP's running software version higher than 2.0

No prices as yet, but this is interesting, imagine, not only can you play games anywhere in the house, now you can also get your favourite movie on your Portable.. so you still dont' have wifi you said.. go go.. get one..

Sony

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The Indian E-Retail Space

When the dot com boom came along, every one in India wanted to be online. I remember our venture called Aapka Bazaar back in 1996, it was too early for it's days and it died out, logistics and payments were a problem. Over the following years a lot of companies ventured into the online teritory from selling Books, to Bindi's, Innerwear to Outerwear and what not.

The Dot com baloon busted and left a lot of companies, online and offline looking at their models again, it was the time of M&A's (Mergers' and Acquisitions) and a lot of them combined with each other.

Lately the only solid online seller / marketplace (Bazee) was picked up by ebay for a hefty amount.

But is this all an eyewash. Are the online market places offering deals. I personally when looking for things to buy abroad, or asking a relative to bring in something, would rather go through froogle and then land up buying it with my credit card.. would something like this happen in India.

Well I am not sure, I can go on and on about this topic but the market will define itself.

This week in the Indian express money, I look at deal hunting for whitegoods online (Can it happen). If you think you want to konw more, click here, to read Devil in the details, my article this week, or grab a print copy of the Indian Express on Monday October 17, 2005, Nationwide in India.

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Locks for the New Age

What do you expect.. .remote controlled pad locks (US$ 18 per piece), and the Liquor combination lock to save your spirits (really) at GB£ 15 a piece.

Two things, I dont' think a lot of people will need.. atleast not for the thing that they are meant for (to lock).

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My PC is Acting Up - Print (Indian Express)

Do you have a PC. Well i think you do, since you are here.. anyway.. do you have your set of problems, don't we all with our pcs. My take on 5 most common problems, and some solutions for them, in the Indian Express (Supplement Express Money), on 3rd October 2005, Monday (Country wide)

Online: Click Here

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Love Thy Dog !!

You love your dog, like any other crazy person on the face of this earth, obsessed with pets. Well dont' you want to have your dog go on a vaccation with you What if you were headed camping, how would your dog sleep, where.. in what.. are you thinking of the same questions.. did you see the picture above.

Firstrax, sells the first ever inflatable doghouse, that boasts of 10 times more insulation power than any available plastic doghouse.Includes Door & Insulated Foam Floor for added comfort, protection and value for your dog.

Interested, visit their website at http://www.firstrax.net/petnation/kodiak.html

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Dream Phone !!

It is very difficult for me to classify the Uniden ELBT595 as either a Desk phone or a cellphone, but I can describe it as the most flexible phone I have come across tlil now. It allows you to make and accept phone calls both on your cellular network and on your landline from a single hand set. Users looking at minimizing the clutter of electronics and phone lines on their table will be the most suitable buyers for this product. At US$ 232 for a piece (www.walmart.com), it is an expensive buy.

The ELBT595 comes with a speakerphone / answering machine base station that plugs into your standard analog phone line and a 5.8-GHz cordless flip-style handset. (You can purchase and connect as many as ten handsets to a single base station.) The handset looks like a cell phone and has many of the same features.

Both the handset and base are Bluetooth enabled; easily link to your Bluetooth enabled cell phone. It uses electronics to store the voice recording messages, and hence no hassle of tapes and them running out.

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The Megapixel War continues - Introducing the FZ30 from Panasonic

I am sorry vikas, well yes I am. He called me a few days back for a good deal on a camera and I pointed him to the FZ20, well in less than a fortnight the FZ30 is here, and it is a drool machine. I have sadly not put one to test as yet, as It just got available on the underground in India, but here are some specs for all you megapixel wannabe's.

Effective Megapixels: 8.0, 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 35mm to 420mm on a 35mm film camera), and MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) the Panasonic's much touted helper.

It has 5 Autofocus modes, and if you still think you need more, it features a ring that lets you manually adjust the focus from 0.98 feet (0.3m) to infinity.

The interesting part is the free-Angle 2.0" Diagonal High-Resolution LCD monitor that you can turn anyway you like, thus giving you a flexibility to catch a high angle shot over a crowd.

Priced about Rs. 30,000 on the Gray market.. .I think this is a great buy.

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The Right Toy for this Generation - Robosapien

I Want this.. I dont know.. if kids 3 year old want it or not.. but I want it.. :).. Perfect friend for a Lan Party !! as hasbro says...

"RoboSapien Junior knows all the right moves. He's a slick looking robot with a silly attitude--a buddy who spins, bumps off walls, and wages goofy battles with others of his kind."

Robosapien is built around the "Bump-n-Giggle" technology, that allows him (see i already have made it a person)..go ouch ouch, dance to it's own music, light up it's eyes, and delivery zanny sound effects.

Now how do i get one....

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Turn your head.. not so much !!!

At the Tokyo motorshow which opens to us morsels on the 20th of October this year, Nissan will be showcasing their concept car called the PIVO. This 3 seater electric car, is a great boon when you have to park in markets like GK in delhi, where space is on big crunch.

And yes, for all of you who have a trouble reversing the car, well no problem, the top body turns 180 degrees, to give you a front and back feel, and you are always driving forward in a way (Btw.. what do we do about bad drivers, and that road rage).. hmmm..

Well I am sure for one thing, this car is a head turner. Round and White..

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The 100$ Laptop, Yes it's True

Before you get your hopes too high, read this. It is not really something you can buy even if you wanted to !

This week most of the blog sites, that have something to do with technology are talking about the 100$ Laptop, yes it is becoming a reality. The program started by Nicholas Negroponte (The founder of MIT Media Labs), has detailed specifications for this machine.

Now your question is, how would it work in the destined countries, where there is no power, well the machine actually works with wind up power. Confused.. no problem, you remember that toy you could wind up, and it would run, well that is wind up technology, and it can be used to power devices. There have been in the past wind up radios and other devices, and this will be one of the first times that it is being used in a laptop. (Ref. In an earlier news, a Girl in an Indian village had made a washing machine, with a cycle attached to it, for wind up power)..

"Negroponte, who laid out his original proposal at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, said MIT and his nonprofit group, called One Laptop Per Child, is in discussions with five countries--Brazil, China, Thailand, Egypt and South Africa--to distribute up to 15 million test systems to children."

The proposed design of the machines calls for a 500MHz processor, 1GB of memory and an innovative dual-mode display that can be used in full-color mode, or in a black-and-white sunlight-readable mode. The display makes the laptop "both an electronic book and a laptop".

Want to read more about this, visit the website at MIT Media Labs, by clicking here.

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