Home computing made simple - by MTNL & Novatium

The fans of my blog can easily relate this to a post in September this year titled "MTNL gearing up for a revolution.." (read here)

Well, the good news is that, this news is now a reality. Although, currently its in initial phase and slowly rolling out to various areas in Delhi and Chennai (Mumbai has to wait), the concept itself is creating waves all around.

Here's a sneak peek into what people are saying about this technology:

“I was concerned about the complexity of owning a PC. But after seeing the Nova netPC demo, I decided to go for it. It is very simple to use. In fact, I browsed through matrimonial sites with my Nova netPC and selected a bride for my son.” R. Kalyana Raman, Retired, Enfield Employee.

-

"I used to worry every time my daughter went out to Internet cafes for browsing. Now, with a netPC at home I can guide her better." Selvi's Mother

-

"The earlier thin terminals we used required licensing software, and the support required for upgrades was an issue. This fits very nicely on both accounts” Citibank

To find out how this technology can help you, visit Novatium.com

Withdraw cash without ATM cards!

An interactive technology has been developed for cash withdrawals without an ATM card. In this facility, one can use a system generated Personal Identification Number (PIN) to withdraw money from his account in an automated teller machine (ATM).


If you fell out of budget during a shopping spree, you can call up your friend for his PIN and use it to withdraw money from his account. However, the system generated PIN can be used only once. Banks are willing to spend on this technology. So, we could see some developments soon :)

PIN transaction through a mobile phone is secure as it uses encrypted messages. Shopping and stock trading are also possible through interactive ATMs as banks have access to customers' PAN, address and account balance.

Stock trading and mobile money transfer through ATMs are widely in use in Singapore, the U.S. and Europe. The mobile subscriber base in India has touched 250 million now and is growing at a scorching pace.

At present, nearly 23 percent of banking transactions are through ATMs and banks are attempting to ramp up these kinds of transaction. Globally too, the trend is towards self-service in banks and retail stores.

"SaleRaja" - Your Shopping Advisor :)

Sale! Sale! Sale! Where is the Sale?
If this is what runs in your mind before you plan to go shopping then here is what will bring double smile on your face!
SaleRaja is an online database of SALES and DISCOUNTS going on in your neighbourhood. In simple words, it is “Your Friendly Neighbourhood Sale Advisor“. So the next time you want to go shopping for cheap goods, you don’t need to scramble for last Sunday’s newspapers or ask your non-willing friends. Just visit SaleRaja, it will guide you so that you get the best deal in the least bucks…

Ummm.. That's it?
There's more to it guys. If you know about any sale in your area, be the first one to tell it to SaleRaja and earn good money :)

Who is behind it?
SaleRaja is an initiative of sukip which is India’s largest opinion sharing platform working towards making online experience better every day, and SaleRaja is an effort in that direction.

So what are you waiting for? Start browsing SaleRaja… Wish you a great shopping season ahead.... Happy Diwali and a wonderful New Year!

Hmm.. from now on.. it will always be shopping time.. hehe!
To Join Click Here > www.SaleRaja.com

Inspiring furniture for your home..

Inspiring Saddal is a realization of a dream. It is a commitment to provide state of the art and affordable home furniture for all choices and varied moods.



Have a look into the range:
*Beds
*Center-Tables
*Carving-Chairs
*Couchs
*Designer-Pieces
*Office-Tables
*Sofas..

That's not the end of the list. There's more..
It's the one stop shop for religious masterpieces of the best quality.

Contact:
Inspiring Saddal (Click to see collection)
B-59, WHS Timber Block,
Kirti Nagar,
New Delhi- 110015, INDIA.
(+91-9811000868)

Wireless Charger for Mobile Phones..!

Now WildCharge is offering a wireless charging system for Motorola RAZR phones with an adapter for iPod Nano just around the corner. The idea of wireless charging is an attractive one - do away with messy cords and chargers in favor of a wire free charging pad that does the job for multiple devices by simply placing it on the pad's surface.

Instead of fiddling around with plug in chargers and mobile cradles, the WildCharger allows you to charge and power a mobile device by simply placing it on a table. The pad can cope with multiple devices with varying power at any orientation and charge them all effectively at the same time.

Because devices aren’t currently enabled to power themselves using the charging pad, they either need to be manufactured to be compatible or they need an adapter. The adapters for Motorola RAZR phones replace the phone’s battery-cover with one that already has the WildCharge technology built in - raised contact points on the back of the phone then facilitate charging once it comes in contact with the thin conductive surface of the pad.

The pad itself is 8 x 6 inches in size and is designed to simultaneously charge as many as five small devices.

WildCharge products are available through the company’s website. The charge pad costs US$59.99 and US$34.99 for each adapter (you need one to enable each different device) or you can buy a combo package of the pad and an adapter for US$89.99. The company is aiming to expand the range to make as many leading mobile devices compatible with the WildCharger system.

If you don't happen to own a Motorola RAZR there are some other clever, albeit low-tech, solutions on the market that can assist in freeing your office or kitchen counter from cords such as the Quadcharge.

Incidentally, the concept of wireless power has potential way beyond eliminating clutter associated with mobile devices. MIT recently demonstrated they were able to light a 60W light bulb from a power source seven feet (more than two meters) away; there was no physical connection between the source and the appliance. The MIT team refers to its concept as "WiTricity" (as in wireless electricity). More applications of this technology are inevitable and Gizmag will keep you informed of new developments.

Mozilla's Mobile Browser..!

Mozilla has indicated that it is working on a version of Firefox that will be designed for mobile phones and will make its maiden appearance very soon.

The new mobile browser will operate much like the desktop version and will include support for XUL and extensions. Mozilla is also looking into making the browser portable i.e. where a user could easily port preferences, bookmarks, and so forth between the mobile and the desktop.

Apart from the browser, Mozilla also offers Joey, a project in development that lets users clip and save text, photos, videos and other content while using a PC and then access that content through a browser on a cell phone.

Mozilla is also involved in developing an open-source Linux-based platform for devices that are bigger than a cell phone but smaller than a laptop. Mozilla is developing a browser for the platform and has already built one for a similar device, the N800, from Nokia.

So, let's cross our fingers to see how this "Fox " will "fire-up" the mobile phones.. ;)

MTNL gearing up for a revolution: PC for Rs. 4,500

If you happen to be a Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) customer in Mumbai or Delhi, you will soon be able to get a PC for as low as Rs. 4,500. This PC, is being offered by MTNL in partnership with Chennai-based Novatium and comes with an internet connection for a small monthly fee.

This computer, called netPC by Novatium, is a no frills device, this means, most of the common hardware that you find on any normal PC is absent here. But wait, don't underestimate it. Read on..

The terminals will be connected to a centralized server in the locality by MTNL and provide it with the internet service. The PC which looks and functions like any other desktop does not have a regular CPU or any storage devices. All applications, including the storage of data of all customers are done by the centralized server in the locality.

With regard to browsing the internet, common problems like the viruses, installation of different security software does not occur since connectivity to the World Wide Web is remotely managed by Novatium. And instead of just the internet broadband to your home, one can ask for a complete desktop with inbuilt internet access, educational packages, online games, chat, webcam, productivity suites and much more only served on the Nova netPC.

The netPC's advantage is that its customers do not have to face the challenges associated with a regular PC. The unique selling proposition for this model is the low cost of ownership, low maintenance and only server end system upgrades.

Customers have the choice of using either Windows or Linux operating systems. Since the entire concept is routed through a centralized server, customers are saved the hassles of hardware and software costs as well as upgrades as these tasks are carried out centrally.

High cost of owning a full fledged PC is one of the biggest bottlenecks for the uptake of broadband services in the country. The MTNL-Novatium partnership is expected to bring down the upfront investment for the consumer taking a broadband connection considerably.

So, let's wait and watch..!

GupShup: Its time for SMS Blogging....!

Well.. u can imagine how awesome this thing is that it deserves a second post on my blog..
(for earlier post, search: "SMS Redefined" on taran's den!)

Why another post?
Those who already read my earlier post, here is why i'm writing about it again. Well guys, this website has really evolved since then. There is no one else on the Internet who provides what this site does. Here are some new features..

• Now u can send messages from website also coz its absolutely FREE
• Create an SMS blog and share it across with your users
• Invite friends, Share groups through the website
• Follow stocks, sports, parties in ur town, campus buzz, jokes, theaters and movie events, and more.. the list is endless.. u think abt it and u wil find it here..
  

For those who are new..
What's GupShup?
It is the height of innovation. Believe me, I'm not exaggerating. But wait, who told you to take my word. There no bigger proof than trying it for yourself.. :P

Caution: Its really addictive coz there's no easier way on this earth to connect with ur frnds as faster and as cheaper than this.

So, all those who are game... read on..!

GupShup is a free group sms service to connect with your friends and follow your passions over SMS. It enables you to:
* Send messages to a group of friends or share your thoughts with the world
* Receive messages from friends or groups that interest you

What's good about it?
o Send and receive messages on the go
o Send one SMS for Rs. 3, & broadcast it to ur entire group 4 free (aur kya bachhe ki jaan loge)
o Create an online account and and send messages for absolutely NO COST (i kno this is wat u were lukin for.. hehe)

What's more?
Subscribe to your favorite groups on GupShup and get messages on your mobile phone.

Umm... Still not pepped up..? Dude shut this window and go to sleep, thats d best thing u can do..

Else.. Start your GupShup group, Sign Up now and shake yer mobiles with d buzz of the time..!
www.smsgupshup.com

Compress any file to ZERO bytes..!

The BARF* compressor will compress any nonempty file by at least one byte. Thus, by compressing already compressed files over and over again, it is possible to eventually reduce any file to ZERO bytes.

You must be thinking that can also be done with Winrar or Winzip by compressing files over and over again. Is it? Wait, read the first line again, "The BARF compressor will compress any nonempty file by at least one byte." Winrar or Winzip can't do this!

BARF has been tested on the Calgary corpus, a well known benchmark. In just one pass, it achieves the best known result of any compressor, compressing all 14 files to 1 byte each. Run time is under 1 second on a 750 MHz PC. Of course these files can be compressed again down to 0 bytes each, just like any other file. (Yes, they can be decompressed correctly).
BARF is free, open source software, released under the GNU GPL.

Download BARF! (Windows executable, about 1 MB).
Source code:barf.cpp (includes compilation insructions)mkstring.cpp

Read more about BARF @ http://cs.fit.edu/~mmahoney/compression/barf.html

*Better Archiver with Recursive Functionality (BARF)

Google kisses the sky...

Many people like to just sit outside at night and gaze up into the heavens. Picking out the constellations or just wondering about what else is out there, it's something that most of us have done. Well now, thanks to an update to Google Earth, you don't even have to leave your room to check out the sky.

"Today, I'm excited to announce we are launching Sky in Google Earth," said Google Earth Product Manager, Lior Ron. "You can now explore the universe from the comfort of your chair. Zoom in to distant galaxies hundreds of millions of light years away, explore the constellations, see the planets in motion, witness a supernova explosion; it's like having a giant, virtual telescope at your command -- your own personal planetarium!"

A Sky button on the toolbar will enable you to switch from Earth to Sky mode where you can view 100 million stars and 200 million galaxies. If you begin your Google Earth session with the your current coordinates, you'll be able to see the sky just as it is right above you.

If you'd like to get a good idea of just what kinds of cool things you can find, there are plenty of of examples over at the Google Earth Gallery.

iShare is here..!

Rediff.com, one of India's leading online portals, recently launched iShare a.k.a. Desi YouTube, which enables a user to share music, videos or exchange profiles along with other features.

With broadband becoming affordable and social networking taking off in India, iShare will provide users a context to connect and enjoy a more comprehensive multimedia entertainment experience on the Internet.

Rediff.com has also tied-up with Zee TV with a view to reach out to the TV audience and launched an initiative to enable the aspiring singers to showcase their talent and be a part of Zee's 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa' contest by uploading their videos and audio files on iShare.

The best thing is that this new platform comes with a utility tool, which can be installed on the PCs and upload multiple files from various sources like mobile phones, digicam, camcorders and mp3 players, ipods etc..

I tried my hands on it. Although looks cud be more appealing but its really fast and user friendly. What r u waiting for..? Here it goes..

Cut the cables: Wireless USB is in....!

Forget cables; the way you'll connect devices to your PC will be wireless. That's according to new research from In-Stat which predicts that Wireless USB will become the way to connect kit to your PC by 2008.

The wireless variant works in exactly the same way as cabled USB, but uses a short wave radio technology. And it's about to explode.

Some devices already exist, but hubs and other connection kit will be available commercially later in the year. In-Stat reckons there's plenty of potential in the market. Over two billion wired USB devices shipped last year, and it expects Wireless USB to grow by over 10 per cent annually.

Wireless USB is based on the ultrawideband (UWB) technology which supports the same 480 Mbps data rate over a distance of two meters (about 6.6 feet). If the speed is lowered to 110 Mbps, UWB will go a longer distance (up to 10 meters or about 30 feet). UWB started in 1960 as military application capable of transferring data up to 480 Mbps over a distance of 20 meters. For home or office environments, this technology would be very practical.

Monster launches video resume...

Monster India, has introduced feature that allows job seekers to upload their video resumes in the same way as text resumes. This feature hopes to allow job seekers to personally market themselves by presenting a resume and a video that speaks directly to employers.

"The new feature allows job seekers to speak directly to potential employers," said Vikas Agarwal, VP- Product and Technology, Monster.com India, "and increase their chances of finding their dream job."

Seeing the candidate's presentation skills online, will help speed up the recruitment process and reduce the costs on preliminary rounds of interviewing. The Video Resumes will allow recruiters to do a preliminary screening of the candidates without getting involved in the onerous processes of interviews and practically evaluate how they present their experience and skills.

Recruiters will be able to search for video resumes in the same way as text resumes and also receive the video resumes as job applications.

So are you ready with your Video Resume..?

Convergence arriving soon: Two-in-one mobile phones!

Bharti Airtel will introduce Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) service by the end of the year.

The launch will lower phone bills and enable customers to use a single phone with a common number for mobile and fixed-line calls.

A customer needs a dual-mode phone,worth Rs 10,000, that is compatible with GSM networks and also Wi-Fi enabled plus broadband connectivity through a fixed line at the office or home.

When the user is on the move, the phone connects through the GSM network. Once at home or at the office, the phone works through the fixed-line backbone.

This translates into significant savings since fixed-line local call rates are half the cost of a mobile call. Also, industry experts say that nearly 40 per cent of the calls made on a mobile phone are undertaken within the office.

Seems interesting... so lets wait n watch wen we wil b holding it in our hands... :)

Processing becomes more affordable. This July!

For all peeps who were waiting for Intel to do something like this, this news comes as a breather.. and for all those who are planning to upgrade, here's a suggestion.. halt & wait.

Intel plans to slash the price of Core 2 Quad chips by 50% on July 22 and Core 2 Duo chips by 24 % - 32 % on Sept. 2

"Intel plans to slash the prices of its Core 2 Quad processor by 50 percent on July 22, according to an Intel document given to clients. The chips, introduced in November to run servers and the most expensive personal computers, sell for $530 each, according to Santa Clara, California-based Intel's Web site.

The move puts pressure on Advanced Micro to follow suit as the company prepares to introduce its own quad-core processors, called Barcelona and Phenom, in the second half. Last year, a price war led to a 42 percent decline in annual profit at Intel and a $166 million loss at Advanced Micro."

well.. July might not be the destination for many because even after 50% fall, the Quad still mite not b quite affordable; for them, September will bring the real treat!

Come soon.. m waiting..

Least Effort Online Earning System

How wud u feel wen u r being paid for reading your own mails, like you do everyday; surfing websites of your own interest, just like you have been doing; in a nutshell u dont need to do anything new while being online... just install the Viewbar Software from Agloco, Install it & you are ready to own the internet, as they say!

Sign up, use the web as usual and earn cash and shares - it really is that simple. Once you install the Viewbar™ software by Agloco it automatically records the time you're actively online, and they pay you for it. But the first step is to sign up and become a member. It's fast and it's free.

UPDATE: Viewbar, which was under development is now ready to be downloaded, ppl hv started earning.. wat r u waiting for..? JOIN NOW!

Youtube Player: yes this news is 'Real' ;)

RealPlayer used to be cool, until iTunes and Windows Media Player made it obsolete. But the new RealPlayer is set to turn the tables: It can rip net videos, even those on YouTube and from video streams, with a single click.

So many sites use Flash players as their sole download deterrent, or video streams that can't be saved as more than a bookmark otherwise. The UI on the player pops up over a Flash or movie stream window, allowing you to click to download. What's cool is that it preserves meta-data, like name, rating, description, and where you got it from. Sharing videos with friends at that point sends the source URL instead of the actual video file. Right now, it can't transcode, but it will burn DVDs if you pay for the registered version. Thankfully, the freeware still rips.

A beta of the new RealPlayer is available for you all peeps via a free download from www.realplayer.com.. njoy ripping ;)

(and keep writing ur valuable comments)

160 by 2 : Send SMS for FREE all over INDIA

well, another post dedicated to "short message service".. rather "shorter message service".. strictly speakin as i call it "half message service".. ;)

160by2 is the 'Next Step' in mobile marketing wherein the users themselves opt-in to carry advertisements in their personal SMS. Out of the 160 characters available for SMS, users can send Free SMS of upto 80 characters and advertisers can append a contextual ad in the remaining 80 characters.

nothing new? listen buddy..there r a hell lot of ad-supported SMS services.. but wat i like abt this one is... this is a NO-NONSENSE service... simplest to join!

im using it from past 2 weeks... & i luv it... its grt esp 4 ppl who r online most of time.. and want to save time (coz typing with keyboard is easier than typyin on phone's keypad) and of course it saves ur balance..

so wenever u r online u can reply to a frnd (who just dropped a message on ur phone) frm ur desktop.. thats wat i do...

there's a limitation.. no phonebuk. but once u use it.. u wil fall in love with this service... like me.. coz its really fast n simple.. so chek out.. http://www.160by2.com/requestinvite.aspx


p.s. i must clear it is not a referral program.. so its not dat u r doing me a favor by joining it... rather i'm doing u a favor by tellin this to u.. hihi.. so u can thank me by writin a comment..



UPDATE: The CEO of this service visited my blog and saw my suggestion about the phone book.. He was glad to know that i'm a frequent user of this service and considered the suggestion. (read the comment by satya) In a week, the phone book feature was implemented. i wud like to thank the CEO of smscountry, Satya Kalyan for considering the feedback and acting upon it so proactively!

S.M.S. redefined...!

Wat can be a better start for my blog. I dedicate the first technology post to my Sikh community... This great service started by GupShup SMS allows to send bulk sms to as many ppl as u like in the cost of a single message...

its like makin a CUG: Closed User Group.. the one who starts the group can send sms to all members (who can join and leave at their will anytime).. moreover the numbers are confidential... so no fear of spamming... and anytime any member of the group can contact the group admin (d group starter) by replying to the message...

So, to start with i made this group for my dear frnds.. the name of Group is Sikhi [http://sms.webaroo.com/channels/Sikhi]

Now anybody in India can get Hukamnama from Sri Darbar Sahib Amritsar with short meaning on their cell phone and lots more like Gurbani Quotes, latest updates etc... its very simple.. just go to above link...add ur number... below the "Join Group"..type the security code.... n u r done..!

this is wat i call SMS redefined...
yeah enjoy this..
wil get back soon with more stuff...

p.s. dont dare to close this window without writing comments.... :)

The Kickoff..

Well.. my first post in mah first blog... of course excited abt it.. but lyk always m so busy in things.. so gonna k.i.s.s. ( i mean keep it short n simple..)...

This blog is going 2 b a showcase of the things i think abt.. i feel abt... n wanna share.. it mite b a late entry in the world of bloggerism* but i assure it wont take me much time to shake shoulders with the big-wigs.. (yeah.. sounds gud na.. i wil show it..)

ne ways... as m always in a hurry... so i wrap the intro here...

c ya in next post..


* i dunno this term has been coined already or not.. if not then u can post comments to compliment me... lolz