aneesh anand :: Solving the Puzzles

Photography course for Beginners

2011-07-07T11:47:00.000+05:30

Hi all

Started a new course on Udemy on Digital PHotography for Beginners.
Any one can join there, I will periodically update the contents and upload references.
Link : http://www.udemy.com/digital-photography-for-beginners/

Amalabharatam by Amrita students - India learn from youths...

2010-11-24T12:31:00.000+05:30

Great move by Amma's children...

Let us make India Beautiful from amritapuri.org on Vimeo.

10 Inspiring talks from TED

2010-10-27T13:56:00.001+05:30

I saw this thread in readwriteweb, and thought it will be useful for my readers also.
Here we go.

1. Inspire Others to Action with Leadership

2. Embrace the Irrational and the Childish

3. Rethink Copyright

4. Question Motivations

5. Look for Simple Answers

6. Be Bizarre, Not Boring

7. Give Your Customers a Choice

8. Pay Attention to Innovative Usage

9. Collaborate

10. Do What Makes You Happy

Microsoft and Adobe CEOs meet, purportedly plan world domination

2010-10-08T13:41:00.000+05:30

Like any two technology behemoths, Adobe and Microsoft have certainly had their ups and downs. But now that Google and Apple are looming over them in a number of ways, it seems as if the two may be courting one another in order to help re-level the playing field. According to a New York Times report -- which was crafted after collecting reports from "employees and consultants to the companies who were involved in the discussions that took place" -- Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen recently met at the latter's headquarters for a closed-door meeting. Purportedly, the meeting went on for over an hour and covered a variety of topics, with one of 'em being Apple and its newfound dominance in the mobile market. Shockingly enough, a "possible acquisition of Adobe by Microsoft were among the options" of stopping the skyrocketing growth. The report accurately notes that such a deal makes entirely more sense now that Redmond isn't exactly the 800 pound gorilla that it was before Android and iOS hit the mainstream, though details beyond these assumptions were few and far betwixt. Whatever happens, no one can blame Steve Jobs for not giving Adobe every possible reason to hit Apple with everything it's got -- even if that involves buddying up with Ballmer and co.

The New York Times

UFO Over China

2010-10-07T14:50:00.000+05:30

UFO Over China: Is This a UFO Sighting Over Chinese Airport? – Some of us believe that we, as human beings, are not alone in this world. We have companies living outside of our planet Earth. These are familiar to us as Extra Terrestial beings as portrayed in Steven Spileberg’s ET. Accordingly, they sometimes visit us riding spaceship. Since we don’t really know about it, we call it as UFO or Unidentified Flying Object.

Up until now, UFOs as spaceship of aliens, still remain as a puzzle to many of us. Do they really exists? This is the most pressing question that we have. While one of the most famous controversies surrounding the existence of UFOs are the wonderful crop circles, the most recent UFO sighting is claimed to have happened in China last July 2010 particularly over their Xiaoshan Chinese Airport.

According to reports of some Chinese airport officials, the UFO was picked by their radar on July 7, 2010 in China at about 9 p.m. in the evening. Since they couldn’t exactly identify what they had seen, they grounded flights in and out of the Chineseairport for about an hour causing passengers to be left stranded.

Below is the video showing the alleged UFO sighting seen over China particularly in their Xiaoshan Chinese Airport. What do you think about it? Is this really a UFO?

My Dream Job !!! - Malaysian astrophysicist appointed as United Nations 'Alien Ambassador'

2010-10-01T14:15:00.000+05:30

Malaysia’s first astrophysicist will soon become Earth’s first official point-of-contact with aliens if they come a-calling. Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman, who heads the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (Unoosa), would be the nearest thing that we have to a “take me to your leader” person when she takes on the new role. Allegedly the United Nations made the appointment over the weekend.

Dr Mazlan was reported to have told fellow scientists recently of an increased likelihood in the meeting with extraterrestrial life after a discovery of hundreds of planets around other stars. The portal quoted the 59-year-old former director-general of the Space Science Studies Division in the Science, Technology and Environ ment Ministry as suggesting that the United Nations “must be ready to co-ordinate humanity’s response to any first contact”.

“The continued search for extraterrestrial communication, by several entities, sustains the hope that some day humankind will receive signals from extraterrestrials. When we do, we should have in place a co-ordinated response that takes into account all the sensitivities related to the subject. The UN is a ready-made mechanism for such co-ordination,” she was quoted as saying.

Dr Mazlan is set to talk about her new role at a scientific conference at the Kavli Royal Society International Centre in Buckinghamshire next week. Unoosa, based in Vienna, is charged with implementing the United Nation’s outer space-related policies. The office implements a programme on space applications and maintains a register of objects launched into outer space. It also provides support to developing nations in using space technology for economic development.

Your Car is Hacked !!

2010-09-24T10:37:00.000+05:30

In the near future, Cars may be the favorite food for Hackers..

Often the innovations are designed to improve the safety of the cars. For instance, after a recall of Firestone tires that were failing in Fords in 2000, Congress passed the TREAD (Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation) Act that required that tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) be installed in new cars to alert drivers if a tire is under-inflated.

Read the full article on CNET

Your Time is Waiting !!!

2010-09-23T16:51:00.000+05:30

The new Ad Video for Kerala Tourism .
Directed By : Prakash Varma (Vodafone zoo zoo adv fame)
Produced By: Stark Communications
Shot in 11 days at thekkady, munnar, thalassery and kannur
Previewed at Saatchi Gallery, London

barcamp kerala 2010

2010-09-08T18:38:00.000+05:30

This time, BarCamp will be held on Amrita Campus - at our own Amritapuri. :)
How can I miss the opportunity ! Registered today.
Need to find a topic first, so that I too can talk :)

Back after the Adobe Summit

2010-09-08T14:36:00.000+05:30

It was really a good experience !!! Having so many geeks around and just puzzled, whom to meet first !
Sessions that explained what can be done on adobe technology - by now and in the future.
It was wonderful !!.

The key note was from Ben Forta, he took it into an interesting platform-sharing experience. :)

One of the sessions stuck to my brain was - Brain Power by Alvin Zhang. When he demonstrated BCI with flash using a slideshow which can change images with his eye blink (!!!), the claps went on like rain.

Also liked the sessions by Harish, Arul, Deepa Subramaniam, Ramesh etc.
Made some good connections with Adobe people, some User group members, evangelists etc, and hopefully we can host an Adobe event at our campus soon.

Got some goodies like Adobe API chart, some badges ...

Cann't forget the accommodation, food and travel help arranged by our friend, Harsha. Thanks a lot to Harsha and his family, for the stay n food. :)

All the presentations are shared on the website : http://www.developermarch.com/adobesummit/presentations.html
Some snaps from the event: http://www.developermarch.com/adobesummit/gallery.html
Some Links to Follow:
http://www.neurosky.com/
http://company.neurosky.com/products/mattel-mindflex/

iPhone for Doctors - iStethescope

2010-09-02T13:09:00.002+05:30

A clever chap by the name of Peter Bentley has come up with an iOS app that monitors people's heartbeat through sensors in the phone.

An average of 500 downloads of iStethoscope are being recorded everyday after a free version was introduced last week.

There's also now a Pro version (for 59p) that strips out the ads, adds email features and includes a hints and tips section.

"Everybody is very excited about the potential of the adoption of mobile phone technology into the medical workplace, and rightly so", said Bentley.

"Smartphones are incredibly powerful devices packed full of sensors, cameras, high-quality microphones with amazing displays", he said.

According to the official blurb for the app in the App Store, iStethoscope "turns your iPhone into a stethoscope, allowing you to listen to your heartbeat and see your heart waveform, or listen to other quiet sounds around you".

The description also states that the app is "used by cardiologists for research on heart disease as described in the Journal of Medical Devices".

If you fancy yourself as a bit of an amateur cardiologist (and who doesn't?) then get iStethoscopefrom the App Store now.

Also check out similar products for heart beat recognition on your iPhone here

BMW M5 ::Fastest saloon on Earth

2010-08-20T18:25:00.000+05:30

Oh My GOD!!!!

It crosses the 300 km/hr mark in less than 26 seconds !!! 4.35 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h !!!

I LOVE YOU !!! BE MINE :)

A BMW M5-based G-Power Hurricane RR has just set the world speed record for the fastest saloon car, at 232.5mph (372.1km/h). Built by German tuning specialist G-Power, the Hurricane RR is powered by a twin supercharged V10 engine which produces 800bhp.

G-Power has been associated with the BMW brand for close to 25 years, and is probably the eldest tuner of BMW cars all over the world. From humble beginnings as an Esso-filling station near Frankfurt back in the late seventies, the G-Power label took formation in the early 1980's. Since then the car tuning company has worked with some of the best and fastest BMW cars the world has seen.

Having worked on a performance kit for the M5 in 2006 and the Hurricane Prototype in 2007, the fine tuner has now managed to churn out a BMW M5-based G-Power Hurricane RR that has just set the world speed record for the fastest saloon car, at 232.5mph (372.1km/h).

The German tuning specialist's Hurricane RR is powered by a twin supercharged V10 engine, which produces 800bhp and was fitted with 19 inch Pilot Sports for the record-breaking run, in place of the standard 20 inch fitments.

A weight of two tonnes and a top speed of 232.5mph naturally places extreme demands on the tyres and as a technology partner to G-Power, Michelin provided high-performance Pilot Sport tyres in the dimensions: 255/35 ZR 19 at the front axle and 305/30 ZR 19 at the rear axle for this reason. For everyday use the G-Power Hurricane RR runs on 20-inch rims with 245/35 ZR 20 and 285/30 ZR 20 Michelins front and rear.

The G-Power Hurricane RR not only set new records for top speed, but has also broken barriers in overall automobile performance standards, with an acceleration of just 4.35 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, 9.5 seconds up to 200 km/h and 25.8 seconds up to 300 km/h.

Independence Day - Not just another Holiday

2010-08-18T09:25:00.002+05:30

[This is the words from another blogger I found random on net, and the same I intend to write.. ]

Today is the celebration ceremony of 62nd Independence Day of India. Many of us are extremely happy that this year the Independence Day ‘Aug 15′ falls on a Friday which becomes an extended weekend. I get some usual reactions from my friends – It’s just another holiday. I am a proud Indian; I love my country and the freedom fighters who gave their lives. But Independence Day doesn’t mean too much to me.

It’s true that we don’t have to do something special to show the patriotism. In fact, being independent means, we do what we desire for. But I doubt that we are falling short to identify the true meaning of celebrating this holiday. On a festival like Diwali we see people lighting the lamps and firing crackers all around India, the spirit never goes down to celebrate the day. But on ‘Aug 15′ how many of us like to devote even 1 minute to sing the national anthem, not many.

Long time back there was a television program on Doordarshan channel. The host asked a man ‘what independence means to him’. The man said that ‘My India is great and I am proud of it’, and he started singing ‘Jaha daal-daal par sone ki chiriya karti ho basera, woh bharat desh hai mera…

I remember the days when there wasn’t enough choice of entertainment and not many easily available resources for people in India. On this day most people preferably use to sit back at home and watch the Independence celebration program on national channel. At this time it looks like it was just a matter of choice as not many of us still wish to watch it.

This seems to be a small thing but imagine the big picture when the result wouldn’t be good. We are just the second generation after freedom; surely these are not the good signs for our third generation. Freedom is not free, so knowing what it costs to be an independent is always more valuable before we enjoy the freedom. Also while being aware of true meaning of freedom, one might also think about his own growth in country’s perspective, not just individually. Fighting for things like religion, casts, reservation has always put India backwards in front of the whole world. In the end it results nothing more than lowering our own strength and unity. Coming together in the name of nation to celebrate a day like today includes more unity in India.

Vande Mataram :)

Camera Lens Mug - focus on your coffee :)

2010-08-12T10:12:00.001+05:30

A cup of joe that’ll keep you sharp, in-focus, and happy all day long…and those side effects aren’t from the caffeine.

Introducing: the Camera Lens Mug, a mug rendered to resemble a remarkably realistic 24-105mm Canon lens!

Complete with lens-cap lid and rubber-grip zoom and focus rings, this marvelous mug also features an autofocus switch that actually switches between AF and MF.

We know the warning signs too well. You’ll begin with a cup of Earl Grey, then move onto a banana yogurt smoothie, next, an ice cream fudge sundae, and pretty soon, you’ll be so hooked on your new mug, you’ll be eating dinner out it, too!
for details check out : photojojo store

p.s. Check out its opposite: a lens made from a mug!

Take.fm - Extremely Polished Movie Torrent Indexer

2010-08-12T09:58:00.000+05:30

All you movie leeches, here is a good news for you.
While most popular torrent sites are trackers with a more minimalistic search engine, newcomer Take.fm takes a different approach, focusing on the searching, browsing, and community aspect of BitTorrent.

Take.fm doesn't host their own tracker; they merely provide an index for users to download and share high quality movie torrents. Everything is verified by the site's members, so instead of wading through a bunch of low-quality torrents on an ugly, overloaded search engine, you get the best experience possible.

You can browse movies by genre, latest uploaded, and what's popular, and you get a ton of information on the torrent you're downloading, which is helpful. On top of that, you get a ton of information on the movie—like plot summaries, casts, reviews, and similar movies. It's not so much the features that separate it form other indexes—most of them have similar browsing capabilities—it's more the clean, polished look of the site (apart from the sometimes annoying ads).

Check it out. take.fm

Attending the Adobe Developer Summit - for First Time

2010-08-11T15:19:00.001+05:30

I will be attending the 2010 Adobe Developer Summit @ Bangalore on 25th and 26th.
Was running behind the registration, travel arrangement and accommodation plans. Jamie Otelsberg from our Ashram Multimedia team will accompany me. Hope this will be a wonderful event and planning for the seminars to attend on these two to-be-busy days.

Also announced my visit to bangalore to my friends @ GearHeads, and they are arranging a dinner meet on 25th 7:30 pm. There I can meet all those auto freaks!! Koowl...

The most versatile word in English Language (according to OSHO)

2010-08-06T17:05:00.001+05:30

This is a really cool explanation of the 4 letter word of common American English...

These Guys Rock !!!

2010-08-05T18:24:00.001+05:30

W3C India Office - Domain names in Regional Languages will be true !!

2010-08-05T14:37:00.000+05:30

W3C, industry body responsible for web standards has opened up an office in India (Delhi), in collaboration with DIT (Department of Information Technology).

“We want to see the Web for All and Web on everything and help to lead the web to its full potential," Ms. Swaran Lata Director & Head, Human Centered Computing Division and Manager of the new W3C India Office. "We look forward to promoting W3C standards all over India in all twenty-two constitutionally recognized Indian languages, and welcome this opportunity to bring together people in India who are interested in participating in the development of the future Web. Increased participation from India will strengthen W3C’s international community" – source

By May 2010 itself, Indian government’s Department of Information Technology (DIT) submitted the proposal to have Indian domain names in 7 languages – Hindi, Bangla, Punjabi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Gujarati.

Few Reasons/Barriers for local language adoption

The PC literate population is only 62 Mn which is 26% of the entire urban population.
Penetration > Top 4 metros – 21%, Next 4 metros – 21%, Non Metros – 23%, 5-10L population – 16%, <5L population towns – 4%
The discomfort cycle, i.e. non-familiarity with English distances individuals from learning to operate computers.
Extent of localisation – China, Japan and Korea are the most matured markets in terms of localisation. These countries have been very active in their efforts towards standardized localisation. The result of this is that most of the software is already localized in these languages and now these countries are moving towards localizing cutting edge technology applications such as OCR and Text to Speech.
Low awareness level for availability of content in local language As per I-Cube 2007 data, almost 35% of the Internet users are not aware of the availability of content in the Indian languages online. This number increases to 53% for Internet users in Non-Metros [From: Rural Internet Users/State of Vernacular Content in India]

Google begins rolling out multiple account sign-in

2010-08-04T16:54:00.001+05:30

For ages, Google power users have been lusting after a multiple account sign-in option. Many of us have at least two accounts with Big G, after all, and while it's easy enough to fudge your way through logging in to them all (say, via your browser's normal and private browsing mode side-by-side), it would be oh so nice if you didn't have to.

If you've been waiting for a simpler, official method you're in lucky. Google has begun rolling out multiple sign-in support, and you should be able to activate it soon on your account settings page.

Once the feature is enabled, your email address in the Google header toolbar will change from static, bold text to a clickable drop-down menu. To switch to a different account, simply select it from the list (take the jump for a screenshot).

As noted in the list of caveats above, multi-account support comes with a few limitations. Not all Google services are supported, and Offline Gmail and Calendar will be disabled. While it's nothing I'd notice (I don't use offline mode and I only use my second account for email), I can certainly see the latter being a dealbreaker for at least a few hard-core Googlers.

Like many other Google feature additions, multiple sign-in is being rolled out slowly. If you don't see the option on your settings page yet, try again later -- it's coming!

Nokia India Celebrating 15 years in India...

2010-08-04T16:24:00.000+05:30

Nokia india is celebrating their 15 years of success in INDIA.

This video presents their success and nationwide influence.

I'm a Nokia user :)

PAN Card and Income Tax

2010-07-29T18:48:00.000+05:30

Struggling with issues on PAN card and Income tax Returns.
Years Ago (how many?) I applied for PAN card, and received the PAN number with acknowledgement.
Was happy to wait for the card which never turned up. Somewhere in the dispatch links of the postal department, it is LOST ('am innocent).

Hope I can get a duplicate of it soon. Amrita Finance dept. is helping me on this (trying to help).
Otherwise, I have to file half my monthly salary as this year's IT.

Investments... are they good?

In the Beginning...

2010-07-20T18:39:00.000+05:30

Hello World!

I am trying to learn "How to write a blog?" through this simple attempt.

Hope you will never mind my mistakes :)