Kill Bill - Let me help you cut some flab from your electricity bill

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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Shit He is coming Back - Rocket Raja

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 Announces (what it believes as the First), Internet Radio on your Cellphone

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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Has the Blogger Bug Bitten You ?

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, One out of Every 50 Indian owns a PC

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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Want Something Great to Listen to !!!

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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India Going Green

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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Advertisers, Realise the Value of Blogs

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.

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What does it take to clean the Dal Lake ?

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.

Courtsey: Hindustan Times, 18th June 2007 (Delhi Edition)

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Tech2: Are you Game

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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India's Best Shopping Website - DOES NOT KNOW WHAT ARE SHIRT SIZES IN INDIA

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

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Episode #12 - 14th May 2007, Gadget Guru

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.

Episode #11 - 7th May 2007, Gadget Guru

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.

Episode #10 - 30th April 2007, Gadget Guru

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.

Episode #9 - 23rd April 2007, Gadget Guru

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.

Episode #7 - 9th April 2007, Gadget Guru

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.

Episode #6 - 2nd April 2007, Gadget Guru

Sixth Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 2nd April 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). The Episode we speak about buying a Desktop, if you can't afford a laptop or if your need is only a computer, how would you solve this issue. Also a listener query about at home warranty, and clarification on how to buy a Desktop.

Episode #5 - 26th March 2007, Gadget Guru

Fifth Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 26th March 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). We talk about Laptops, how to choose which one to buy, we also answer a listner query on the brand to choose, look at what the processor is, RAM is etc.

Episode #4 - 19th March 2007, Gadget Guru

Fourth Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 19th March 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). This Episode we speak about the solution to DTH or CAS, and how to choose what you should buy, we also compare Tata sky and Dish TV systems.

Episode #3 - 12th March 2007, Gadget Guru

Third Episode of Gadget Guru aired on Monday, 12th March 2007, on Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM (Delhi). This Episode we speak about phone repairs, phone problems, pirated software on phones, and why smart phones bug us so much.

Internet Advertising Starts Attracting Indian Small Businesses

JJMehta.com a portal that has been selling parallel import cameras, lenses, and mp3 players, has been one of the leaders in the online space in India. Though his site is nothing what you would expect it to be, but I think they make sizeable sales online. Every serious photographer has heard of them, and if you wanted a DSLR or a Lens, chances are you must have spoken to them. Cafe Gadgets, the portal from Esys, I wrote about it a few days back has also been picking up steam. Though there are no serious figures available, I tried to get in touch with their PR Team, but nothing happened. Both JJMehta.com and CafeGadgets have started advertising with Google Adwords very seriouslly. I think it is about time, India caught on in the Structured / Non Structured and a Brick & Mortar Business doing online Selling.

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Maybe some more trouble for Google - Assam militants use Orkut to attract sympathisers for their cause

Google has shared a love hate relationship with the Government in India, especially with Google Earth. The Government wants the image quality of sensitive sites reduced in Google Earth, and the debate of Government censoring information has been on the forefront anytime this news came about. On my meanders across the Internet, I came across this interesting article on Aloo Techie, about Assamese Millitants using Orkut, to have people sympathise with their cause. What next, the world's Terorists on Linked IN ?

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Episode #2 - 5th March 2007, Gadget Guru

Episode 2, of Gadget Guru show hosted between 5 to 9 on Mondays, on Radio Mirch 98.3 FM (Delhi). This show speaks generaly about the uniqueness of IMEI number, to common issues faced by people with their cellphones, black berry and other email phones, to watching TV over the Internet using either Sling box, or Hawa, and then a listener query about harmful radiation from the phones.

Episode #1 - 26th February 2007, Gadget Guru

Episode 1, of Gadget Guru show hosted between 5 to 9 on Mondays, on Radio Mirch 98.3 FM (Delhi). This show speaks generaly about common misunderstandings or mistakes that people would make when using a cell phone, also some querries from our listeners.

The Gadget Guru Promo Mp3

Gadget Guru, My tech show on Radio Mirchi has been online since the 26th of February 2007, but till date I have not recieved permission to link up the podcasts for the show from the radio station. Though it escapes me why it is taking long, but keeping in mind a running relationship, I do not want to get into a fight about it. In the meanwhile, here I include the Gadget Guru Promo for those of you, who have not heard it on the radio.

Tech2: Blackberry Alternatives

At a price range of 25000 to 40,000 rupees for Blackberry handsets, and with the fine line between push and pull email disappearing, there are some great new smart phones out in the market in India, to make your choice for an email phone. This week in my weekly Article, Tech2, now shifted from Monday Express Money, to Sunday Express, I explore 4 such options. Sadly, the Print copy had a small mistake in the table, see if you can find it.. .

To read more, click here.

Sadly, I could not find the online link to this article on Indian Express site, waiting for a feedback from them.

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Screen Less MP3 Players - Time for Shuffle to Move Over

Whenever you thought of an MP3 Player in the early days, the thought of a scrolling window telling you what song was playing, and a few buttons to pull out more info were what would come to mind. Apple changed it, with the iPod shuffle, making the first screenless player to hit mainstream, not that others may not have tried it, but then, apple is known to be innovative. The other day, visiting the Music world at Ansal Plaza had me pause at a display window, where I saw a pendent like MP3 Player, against without display, at about 6000 bucks for a 512 MB version, it would make a perfect gift for your valentine, but then, every one now needs an MP3 Player, so iRiver, now fills in the gap with it's disney character based screenless mp3 player.. . wow.. where are we headed, next up, an mp3 player built into your shorts.. hmmmm interesting.. what would it sing, I am stinky, I am stinky..

The player itself seems like nothing but three spheres glued together. Each ear has its own function - the left one for changing volume and the right one for advancing tracks. The 3.5mm headphone jack is on top of Mickey's head and the mini USB port is at the bottom. Available in 5 different colors (black, silver, white, blue & pink), the Mplayer is slated to ship this month throughout S. Korea.

Via: Everything USB

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3 Weeks to iPhone Sale

The iphone can be the most hyped gadget launch in the industry for a very long time, or maybe it is really going to create history, I know that I want it, and am waiting paitiently for it to come out, I know all my geek friends want it, well the price when it does come out will decide all this, but in the meanwhile, Steve Jobs as the Messiah, and his followers with Ipod's / Imacs / Ibooks in the above picture can make you laugh, and the video is worth a watch, at Tech Crunch

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Accessories for Digital Nomads - Outlook Business

My First article in Outlook Business, talks about the Great Accessories, in terms of applications and websites that you need to be a Digital Nomad.

1. Logmein
2. BeinSync
3. Hamachi

To download my article, click here

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Good Bye Express Money & Some News

If most of you who read my articles in the Express money have been wondering where I am and what is up with my Articles, also no updates on my blog, well, Express Money will not be carrying Tech2. The Marketing team at Indian Express was not very gung ho about the Tech2 column, and now I am being shifted to the Sunday Express, hopefully the first article comes out this week on the 10th of June, so let's look forward to that. Thanks to every one who has been a well wisher and an avid fan reading all my articles, as someone said

I think there is lot lot to learn from you everytime i read your article or your mail i really feel very inspired

Well I will be back soon, in the meanwhile I have been tied down badly at the work front, with one of the major Internet providers in the country playing dirty games with my company, and hence have not been able to blog for quite some time.

On 1st June of this year, I launched my Angel Investment company called "Fat Guy Ventures", I have already invested in a brilliant new project, and will keep you updated on it through the blog.

Also, I have now started writing for Outlook Business Magazine, and one of my articles is already out, will have it linked here in a day or so in PDF Format, as Outlook Business still does not have a website.

Some good offers have come my way from other leading national dailies, and the Radio show has been going well, but it's time to get back to blogging.

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