This week in my Open Magazine article
* the HTC Legend
* Senheiser HD201 Headphones
* Rovio Wi-Fi Cam
* and the Microsoft Arc Keyboard
To view my article click here for the PDF or visit The Open Magazine website for a High Resolution copy
--
The Above Article Appeared in Open Magazine, Volume 02, Issue 05, Dated 7th May 2010
A great browser, fantastic ebook reader and video playback. What else do you need?
Light, beautiful and super fast… yes, the iPad has everything to grab your attention. But then you hear comments like, “it is too early to say if it will really work”, “it is nothing but a glorified iPod”, “I think I will wait for the next generation”, that leave you confused whether to buy one or not. Here are my thoughts on why and who should really look at grabbing an iPad.
So, what’s it got? A great web browser with zooming and email, fantastic video playback, Google Maps complete with Streetview, calendar, notes, YouTube and the standard iPod features.
The LED backlit LCD is sharp and has vivid colours, which makes watching videos an amazing experience. Plus, the images and movies can be viewed from any angle. Like the iPod or the iPhone, the screen is very responsive and supports multi-touch. A display resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels means that you will see the Web the way it was meant to; remember most netbooks stick to awkward resolutions and some sites don’t appear normal.
The iPad weighs about 700 gram, which makes it one of the lightest computer devices that you can carry around. At about 1.27 cm thick, it looks more or less like an A4 pad. However, take good care of the screen while carrying it around.
The battery is real good and lasts about 10 hours. This means you can charge it through the day and use it to check your email, update your social networking sites, look at a few videos and hear music when you return from office. After all this it will still have juice for you to catch up on the news at the breakfast table in the morning before it goes back to the charge dock.
A question commonly asked is will the iBook app on the iPad kill the Kindle? Well, there are two issues here. Not every book is available on iBook and most of the books are cheaper on Amazon. And since iPad has a reflective colour screen, long length reading can actually get heavy on the eyes. The same screen also makes the pages colour and the animation much better than the e-ink readers. The Apple app also makes readers feel like they are flipping through the pages of an actual book. Then, a double tap on a word lets you look up the dictionary for the meaning of the word. You can bookmark the word on that specific line and page, or search for it across the book.
What I hated about the iPod Touch was the feature I loved the most, the Accelerometer. I loved that by turning it sideways I could go from portrait to landscape mode. But at times this feature was annoying, especially when you are lying down and trying to use the device. The iPad, however, comes with a rotation lock that lets you turn off the Accelerometer when you want.
The onscreen keyboard is pretty large, but the missing numbers on the top row can cause some confusion. You will, however, get used to it with some practice. For me, the iPad keyboard dock accessory is a better option if you intend to type a bit on the iPad.
The missing Flash plug-in on the browser can be irritating since most websites use Flash these days. On the iPad, the Flash content appears as empty boxes for now. At the same time, YouTube videos work perfectly as it uses a different method to stream videos. Companies are already adopting content for the iPad, after all, within the first week of its launch, five per cent of web traffic emanated from it.
I like what I can do with the iPad — it works as a brilliant tool in a conference room for taking notes, updating a spreadsheet or making a presentation. Using applications such as Sales Force, Roambi and Evernote make me stay on top of my work, while Tweet Deck, FaceBook and YouTube keep me occupied.
Many other tablets are on the anvil, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. But, if you ask me, if iPad can’t multi-task, it means it will not crash easily and will perform better. Then the iPad comes from Apple and it a very attractive device despite the small annoyances like the missing front camera and Apple’s insistence on deciding who will put software on its devices.
If you feel it is too early for you to buy one, or that the price is not right — the iPad will carry an import duty of about Rs 9,000 in India — wait for the market to heat up with the new Android-based tablets. But if you want to own a shiny new thing that makes you happy and does what you really want, got buy an iPad.
--
The above article was printed in the Indian Express on Sunday, 25th April 2010
Both Nook and Kindle have 2GB built-in memories, but in the former you can plug in an SD Card with ebooks in it
Kindle changed the way the world looks at books some years back. Since the launch of its international edition earlier this year, I have noticed a lot of Kindle in India, especially at our airports. Though the Sony Reader and iLiad have been around longer, getting ebooks that work on them have been a bit of a pain. Amazon answered the problem by integrating Kindle with their Whispernet network, which is now available in India. But since the charges are yet unclear and 3G still looks like a distant dream, the Barnes & Nobles Nook makes more sense for us.
So, what sets it apart from the Kindle?
Personally, I love anything with a QWERTY keyboard, so the first downer on the Nook was the absence of one. But that was till I looked closely and saw that the Nook actually has two LCDs — a touch sensitive colour LCD at the bottom and a monochrome e-ink display on top. The e-ink makes it easier to read the ebook and reduces strain on the eyes, while the 3.5” touchscreen display at the bottom adds some serious style. You can flip through the book covers in colour and go to the keyboard mode to search for a book or text.
But the second LCD also adds weight to the Nook, making it about 28 gm heavier, at 317 gm, than the same-sized Kindle. It is also a bit thicker due to the SD Card and built-in wireless adapter. Though the Kindle has a 9.7” variant for the American market, the Nook is available only with the 6” display. The built-in Wi-Fi makes it easier for you to download books on the Nook and this makes more sense till we get 3G in India.
Nook has some other unique features. It has Android as its Operating System, which means users will be able to add more applications down the road. Both Nook and Kindle have 2GB built-in memories, but in the former you can plug in an SD Card with ebooks in it.
The Nook is available in four replaceable back colours, unlike the all-white Kindle. My personal experience with white coloured gadgets is that they get dirty very fast, especially in India with our oily hands, the dust and grime. The replaceable covers let you add an identity of your own to the Nook. It also comes with a free software for your iPhone, Blackberry, PC and the Mac OS, thus letting you read the same book from the same page you left it at on any of these devices.
The problem with ebook readers was that you could buy books but could not lend them to a friend. The Nook lets you e-lend the book to a friend who can read it on any device.
Kindle supports Word documents, though not many people used it due to the costs involved, but it is surprising that even with the SD Card Nook has disabled this function. The lack of a text-to-speech (TTS) engine is also surprising, after all, the Android adds great processing capabilities and the TTS would taken the Nook to a larger audience. The company claims the Nook has about 10 days of battery time on it, but that will have to be verified.
The Nook ships with a number of accessories, including a reading light, covers that help you personalise your Nook, a travel adapter kit, device backs and protective frames and a matt film for the screen.
So, if you like reading, it’s time you went and checked out an ebook reader, and trust me it will change the way you looked at books. The Nook costs $299.
--
The above article appeared in the Indian Express, on Sunday 6th December 2009
The Wait finally seems to be over, with a Press Release, Airtel is Bringing the First Android Phone in India.
The HTC Magic, also known as the T-Mobile myTouch will be available across Stores in India, in the first week of July.
Though HTC has signed up with Airtel to launch the Handset, it should soon be available across every network.
I am expecting a Test Unit from Rediffusion DYR, their PR Agency in India, and will run a full review on it, so look out for it.
Just a Brief Look at the features
3G / 3.2" HVGA screen / 3.2 mega pixels Camera / Airtel customers get free 100 mb data download per month / Rs. 29,990 for the Handset
G
Well rumour mill or not, the iPhone 3G[s] is finally here, it is faster, more powerful and starts at US$ 99. A Wall Street Journal report, mentions that apple has lowered the price so as to increase sales.
Though now the iPhone 3G (which was earlier available as 16 and 32 GB) is 8GB to start off at US$ 99, the iPhone 3G[s] starts at US$ 199. Details of India Launch, and India Pricing is still not available with me, but I will be in touch with Apple India to get you more Juicy details.
Just a few features, that were supposedly Rumors, which are now incorporated in the new iPhone 3G[s]:
*2x Improved Performance
*Built in Video Camera with Editing
*Compass
*Voice Control
What is interesting is that the Voice Control not only let's you make / answer phone calls, but also let's you play music. The Voice control works in several languages, click here for details, though I would have loved, if I could make a Calendar Entry using Voice, then I would really have a handsfree driving experience.
I think this version will finally make iPhone my chosen Gadget, can't wait to get one from Apple to test... Anyone at Apple reading this :)
To see the Trailers of Ad's from Apple iPhone 3G[s] release click here.
G
Unbelieveable, I am more of a Linux + Mac User, and I have done 2 Postings related to MS launches in one day.. Anyway going forward, just in time when we all managed to setup Exchange 2007, and get our teams ready to support it, Microsoft just announced the launch of MS Exchange 2010. Though still in Beta, this will be available by the year end.
Is Exchange 2010, all Fluff and UI. I think Fluff and UI is productive, and makes end user productive, it actually is a good thing - Rajesh Jha
It's the worlds first talking MP3 Player
Just got a press release from Apple about the release of the new iPod Shuffle. Though I am yet to get a confirmation if this is available in India immediately or not, but will fill you up on that soon.
The iPod Shuffle was something that I always liked for it's simplicity, but the missing screen was hmmm a bit of a downer for me, I was not sure how I would find the right music, how I would manage a play list, I was just not sure. Then the iPod Shuffle got copied, people across China started making copies of it, and it hit a low price of Rs. 450 (No Memory) + 2 GB Memory Card (Rs. 600) ~ Rs. 1050 in the market. The sound Quality on the copies was bad, now Apple's upped the Ante
To know more about the Apple Shuffle iPod, newly released, check out Apple's Website
--
Pricing & Availability
The third generation 4GB iPod shuffle will be available within 4 weeks and comes in silver or black for a maximum retail price of Rs. 4,900 through Apple Authorised Resellers. iPod shuffle comes with the Apple Earphones with Remote and the iPod shuffle USB cable. iPod shuffle requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later and iTunes 8.1 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista, Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 3) or later and iTunes 8.1.
--
G
Robotic toys are not made of flesh but bring a warmth all their own
They are clumsy, speak without feeling and do things mechanically. But robots have a way of endearing themselves to us. Whether it is a stupid robotic toy that makes some sounds or a sophisticated device that pretends it is out to kill the whole human race, they all end up amazing us. While we all yearn to have our own R2D2s, or Weebos (Flubber), we all know that this is still a little far off. What is fascinating is the thought that robots might one day serve us—or rule over us.
In a fast-paced world with little time to spend at home, robots are becoming both companions and toys for adults. Sony took a lead in 1999 by developing AIBO (Artificial Intelligence Robot). People like dogs, even robot dogs, and it was a runaway success. Sony stopped its production in March 2006. So what do you do now if you, like Robin Williams, need your own Weebo or a pet robot that will greet you, play with you, make faces at you, and best, leave you in peace when you switch it off.
A few months ago I went to a toy shop to see the latest in gizmos for kids. There I came across the WowWee robotic reptile. Begging and pleading with my wife for a new toy was useless. Though the little creature appealed to both of us, we did not want a dinasour walking around in the house, not with a two-year-old nephew around who might just get scared.
There wasn’t much I could do then. But on a trip this week, I found copies and lookalikes of the WowWee robot series, and some of the toy shops also had the original ones, now available for a price range between Rs 2,000 and Rs 5,000.
The great models that looked interesting and could become companions—no, I am not generalising this, but then more and more of us are indeed living alone now—are the Robo Sapien, the Robo Panda and the Robo Pet. Though there is a funny series called Chatter Bot also, but this was not on the shop shelves. The interesting features of the Robo Sapien are its life-mimicking movements—dancing the twist, walking, running, even saying “Oops!”. And, of course, its mood swings. Ah, now you have to get used to a machine doing this to you. For Rs 3,000, that is the max you can get out of the 67 possible functions it has. So it won’t fix you a drink or help you clean up the mess in your room.
The Robo Panda, as they call it, a talkative creature. With his “ahem”, engaging personality and bright animated eyes, you are sure to fall in love with the mechanical bear. You know it can tell you a story and sing a song with you. So the manifestation of the inner child in you, or the son you never had, is what Robo Panda can be.
The third and my favourite among them all is Robo Pet, which is similar to Sony’s AIBO. This cute little fusion of technology and personality is a dog that is extremely lovable. It is nowhere like everybody’s favourite pug on TV, but hey, you can’t get everything in life. Like a real dog, Robo Pet perform tricks for you on command: bark, whimper, growl, pant. It barks when it hears a movement, and is equipped with infrared vision that helps it to detect obstacles and avoid bumping into something.
So for about Rs 3,000 bucks, you can actually make your childhood dream of having your own R2D2 or Weebo as a pet. And they come with their plus points—they need no cleaning up, nor do they continue to annoy you when you aren’t in a playful mood. To know more, visit www.wowwee.com, or an upmarket toy store near you.
--
The Above Story, was printed in The Indian Express, on Sunday, May 18, 2008
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 :( )
GS
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
G
The Song Jago Re Jago re from Lagaan has always been my way of waking up, what better than to tell you to Wake up. The only way I could do this till now was to load the Mp3 into my phone, and use the phone alarm clock, which by no means matches a real alarm clock. With my fondness of Retro Hardware, the Clock above, seems to be on my wishlist now, don't know how I will lay my hands on this.
Via: Engadget
GS
Satellite Internet makes a lot of sense, though India is wiring up, and Broadband is becoming a reality for most of us across the Country, but still there are areas where broadband connectivity is not possible, the only alternative has been Satellite based Internet. Indian Players have included Bharti, Hughes, Shyam and an International Player based out of Singapore called Speedcast has wrapped up and ran off, the problem is, that all these links need an uplink from a regular ISDN / static IP line for the link to work, now if you had ISDN, why would you want to setup a Satellite link.
A great feasibility is to use your DTH Reciever coupled with a GSM Modem for the uplink to do an Internet Downlink, but I think the day before DD / Tata or Zee offer this is long away.
This news inHT Mint Live, brings a hope of relief for all those living in far of places and looking at hooking onto the Internet on high speed.
GS
Back in January 2007, I had an article on 7 Gadgets for 2007, and spoke about the Info SD Card, a lot of people told me that this was Crap and never going to work, the reason I thought it was going to work was because to check how much capacity you have free in a Thumbdrive / Memory card, you actually need to plug it into the device, well Lexar, finally announced a Thumbdrive with a Capacity Meter.
GS
Via Engadget
I am no big fan of the Pearl or the 8800 but all I can say after looking at the Curve is WOW. Yes, It's brilliant, RIM, finally adds the features we all wanted
1. The Phone can now work as a Modem, so no need for an additional Data Card
2. Expandable Memory
3. 2.0 MP Camera with Flash
4. Media Player
5. Blackberry Maps
WOW
Price: Unknown
Availability in India: Not Yet
Wishlist: Yes (7290, it's time for you to go)
Well, no jokes, a few of my friends have been after my life to help them hack a Tivo and get it into India, to work in India to record programs. Digital Video recorder market in India is still starting up and the only solutions available right now (other than PC based DVR's) is the LG's Time Machine which includes a Hard Disk based recorder built inside a TV, though this will not be able to tune your DTH reciever, or the Dish TV DVR, which though will work with the Zee Dish TV, but sadly I have not been able to buy one, after repeated calls, and requests to Zee Group. Anyway, a few days back, while browsing through the immense world of technology sites, I came across an Interesting Indian company called Keen Pvt. Ltd, and is building a DVR called Wizo. Though it is not commercially fully launched as yet, this basically means, you can't go into a store and buy it right now, but look out for it, Anil Gupte, the guy who runs Keen is working hard to bring this to market.
Should I put this into Wishlist, why not, Anil Said, that he would love to have me as a customer when he does the full commercial launch, here is Cheers to a brilliant Indian company, an Indian working hard to bring out the next Generation DVR, tuned for you in India.
GS
I have been a big fan of the Netgear SC101, and have been selling it at my company like crazy, I think we must have sold over a 100 Units in the last year, and also promiting the Use of this Device. Sadly, we could never buy one for our office, or my home use, as we have a Linux + Windows Mixed Network, and SC 101 supported only Windows PC's.
The Latest news from Netgear, that they have acquired Infrant, made me sit up and read it carefully, not only does Infrant have a good Home Solution but also a great solution on the Workgroup front, waiting for the device to land in my hands. If you think you need Scalable Storage for your network, call System3, and we will come and give you a solution that works for you. Alternatively if you are looking for some free advice, well Send me a mail
GS
Earlier on about Last year or so back when I saw the iMac, it immediately grabbed my attention and I seriously started looking at thinking on buying one for my bedroom, but then did I really need a Mac... I was unsure.. I have been gradually moving my whole organisation to Linux and have been an early adopter of Linux for my Desktop / Laptop for quite some time, playing with different distros. Anyway, a post on the Internet somewhere brought me to a gadget / a pc I had not seen, this is not the first try of a similar platform, but what HP has done is amazing.
What I Like, "Sleek, stylish, space saving, clutter free—the HP TouchSmart IQ770 PC will help you organize your life and shine as the centerpiece of your digital lifestyle."
Go Check it out. Sadly not availbale in India as yet, but My Next Drool Machine, but sadly, I will need M$ on it :(
G
