The Youth Diaries

Nokia Lumia Windows Phone App Starters

2012-05-19T11:38:00.001-07:00

It's been 3 months since I have been using the Nokia Lumia 800, and all I can say is that it's a pleasure using the phone. The interface is just different and amazing, its interactive and lively, and it actually helps me live my everyday life. For those who are looking to transition to a smart phone, and are looking for a great different experience, the Lumia is phone. But the best is yet to come.

One of the biggest phone launches in the US has been that of the Nokia Lumia 900. Bigger in screen size, and with a front camera, the Lumia 900 is an upgraded version of the Lumia 800 and is expected to launch in India in May end- early June. Those looking to purchase a smartphone should wait and consider the 900.

With a very different and flowing interface, the app experience on the Lumia is very different compared to the Android and iOS. Some apps are beautifully made and extremely easy to use. All you need to do is swipe left or swipe right, and you will get full access to app features and sections. When you get a Lumia, what are the apps that you MUST have? Here is a list of my must apps for the Lumia:

1. Contact Transfer: This is the most important app when you are just setting up you phone. While this app comes inbuilt, you can also download it from the Windows Marketplace. You can transfer your address book from your old phone to the Lumia in seconds without any trouble whatsoever. This is just the beginning of how easy everything else on the phone is, to figure out and use.

2. AAWP: All About Windows Phone is an app that allows you to keep track of what is happening in the Windows World of Mobile Phones. With access to articles, webcasts, and reviews, you can be up to date all the time.

3. Burglar Alarm: This app can serve two purposes - one is entertainment and two is actual utility. On opening up the app, you can set a timer and place your phone anywhere. After the timer counts down, if anybody touches or removes the phone from its original position, a loud burglar alarm goes off. While some may be actually stung by it, it is also good to play a prank on someone.

4. CNN: Made by Nokia specially for the Lumia, the CNN app will keep you up-to-date with what is happening in the world. By swiping, you can get access to the latest news, news sections, videos and you can even file an iReport. You can pin this app to your start screen. The tile is self updating and you can get a good glance of the latest news without opening the app.

5. Creative Studio (by Nokia): It would be unfair to call this the Instagram of Windows Phone, but this app allows you to add effects to your photos. You can either take a new photo with effects or take a photo from your albums and edit it with great effects. From face warps to live style, you can do them all. Sharing them can be done from the Photos tab.

5. XE Currency: For those who like to keep track of currency exchange rates, then this app is by far the best to do exactly just that.

6. Delhi Metro: If you stay in Delhi or visiting, then this is a must have.From a great introduction, you can access station lists, tokens and smart cards info, fare calculations, metro museum info, metro lines info, tourist maps and places. Its an app of great utility.

7.Dictionary.com: Have you ever come across a situation where you are reading something and suddenly come across a word, the meaning of which you don't know? The dictionary app is there to solve that problem. Just type in the word, and you will get the meaning along with its usage.

8. Economic Times: Keep ahead of the market with the ET app. With a fantastic interface, the app makes financial and business information lively, colorful and interesting. The app has truly adopted the tile interface, making it look like it is just the perfect app that was made for the Windows Phone.

9.Engadget: If you're a gadget and technology freak, get this app to be updated about all the developments in the digital world.

10. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn: While these apps are available individually, you can configure these accounts while setting up your phone. They can then be accessed through the People Hub in a very unified and comprehensive manner. The People Hub actually aggregates social information from all networks and merges them to provide a database of information of all your friends, contacts and acquaintances. An offshoot of the People Hub is Me, which shows you your activities on different social networks as well as on your phone.

11. Flashlight: Use you phone flash as a torch with this app.

12. Google: While Bing is the default search engine on the phone, you can also get the Google app as an alternate search engine.

13. IBNLive: Stay up-to-date with whats happening in India with the IBNLive app. You can also watch CNN IBN Live through the app. Pin it to the start screen, and the tile updates itself to the latest news.

14. Lumia Highlights: Get tips, tricks, highlights, app recommendations and and accessories for the Lumia

15. NDTV: Another news app to get you the latest from India.

16. Nokia Drive: Downloads maps of the region you belong too, and never get lost again. This free voice turn-by-turn navigation is a great plus point that iOS and Android lack.

17. Nokia Maps: Use maps to find places close by, your current position as well as a host of other things. This app supplements the Local Scout feature on your phone.

18. SkyDrive: SkyDrive is the cloud offering from Microsoft. You get 7GB of free space (as an old user, I still get 25GB). You can save all your documents, pictures, PDFs and other files from your computer on SkyDrive and access it on your phone. The Office app on the phone supplements the SkyDrive app.

19. Skype: The Skype interface is amazing, but the Lumia 900 will make it better as there is a front facing camera as well. With that you dont have to hold the phone the opposite way not being able to see the person your having a video call with, just so that the other person can see you.

20. True Caller: True Caller helps you track mobile numbers. All you have to do is type in a number, and it will tell you who the number belongs to. This app however uploads your address book to their database when you agree to their terms and conditions and use this app.

21. TuneIn Radio: While there is inbuilt radio on the Lumia, TunIn is made by Nokia for Windows and allows you to listen to your favorite music with just a few clicks.

22. Viber: Being incredibly successful on iOS and Android, Viber has now come to the Windows Phone. Call any other Viber user through VoIP and talk endlessly at no calling cost, though data charges may apply.

23. Weather: From the Weather Channel, get the latest weather outside. Pin it to your start screen and get live weather info always.

24. Whats App: No phone is complete without Whats App. Chat with people using different phones using whats app. This app needs no further description as most people know what it is.

25. Games: Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Plants vs Zombies, Doodle Jump, Uno, Monopoly, Tetris

26. Adobe Reader: Use Adobe Reader to read all your PDF Documents.

27.YouTube: Get the YouTube app to surf videos on the net from your phone. The app, however, takes you to the browser to view the video.

28. Shazam: Heard a song which you like but dont know the name? Use Shazam to find out which song that is. Pin it to the start screen, and recognize songs with just a tap on the tile.

29. Book My Show: Use BMS to see the latest movies in the theaters, timings as well as book your tickets then and there.

These apps should make your Lumia good to go. The Windows Phone often comes under criticism for the number of apps available. I however think that is the utility of the app that makes more of a difference than the number. The Windows Marketplace has all the apps you would possibly need. If an app is not there, then you can be rest assured that the app will come to the platform sooner or later. One disappointment is that the XBOX Companion app is not available in India. The app helps you use your phone as a controller for your XBOX.

Book Review: Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain

2012-04-03T08:33:00.002-07:00

He had a bad childhood, a criminal record being a kid, was involved in gang fights, emotionally scarred, and yet with the right attitude, mentors, values and beliefs, he is one of the most successful entrepreneurs our time. This is not a Bollywood film but the story of multi-millionaire Ryan Blair - founder of ViSalus - an MLM health products company in the USA.

‘Nothing To Lose, Everything to Gain’ is an autobiography of how Ryan went from being a gang member to entrepreneur, his values, beliefs, lessons and learnings. Candidly written, the book not only goes into Ryan’s life, but also tips and learnings that are extremely valuable for anybody who wants to achieve success in entrepreneurial ventures. He goes into details that are very easy to overlook, and draws attention to those matters which need serious understanding and thought.

Without beating around the bush and getting increasingly philosophical, Blair gives readers 10 steps to becomes successful - Work Hard. Never give up. When faced with defeat, rise to your feet. Keep angling till you find your angle, then tune it. Sacrifice. No matter how bad it is, you will survive. Accept your mistakes but don’t make them again. Always be grateful. Your are not safe, don’t sit there and get run over. Finally, go big and have fun.

The tone of the book is set by establishing certain Golden Rules:

Communication and Management - While you work in a team, its not just the team lead who is important, but all team members. Ask a question, only if you have answer to it. When you don’t know the answer to a question, make sure you get back with it. Get things started to get ahead, see why you fail if you do, take action when needed, use different modes of communication differently and effectively, know when and where to praise and reprimand. Business models - be a company driven by a model, create a retention based sales model, know your customer and be close to him/her, cherry-pick your markets. Recognize the relationship between sales and marketing - marketing exists to create sales and most brand building activities ultimately aim at increase in sales, identify how compensation drives behavior.
Customers - use customer service as a differentiator, become people oriented, worry about your customer, not competition.
Strategies - have extreme focus, patience, recognize and reward talent, go out and grab attention.
Personal Rules - know who are the right people to embrace, the finish line never exists so keep working, don’t buy stocks make them, don’t focus on efforts look at the result, don’t let money control you, figure out which ideas are worth going after, be a pro and keep learning.

Ryan has shown great honesty by sharing not only successes but also failures and mistakes. He highlights the importance of mentorship, something we assume for granted, and how we should utilize our mentor(s).

The book is written in a manner which goes into the finer details of being and becoming an entrepreneur - the mental make-up that one needs to have while considering entrepreneurship as an option,the identification of strengths, weaknesses and assets, recognizing what are the drivers and motivations for hard work, what it takes to become one, what sort of an entrepreneur one should, what are the hardships and sacrifices involved on the personal, professional and financial front, where and how to start and end.

Blair delves into intricate details of starting a business and what one must consider. From how your business plan should be, to what name you should choose for your business and how, the business strategy to follow, the pros and cons of home businesses, raising the required finances (the do’s and the don’ts), launching your company how to staff your company and finally how to exit, Blair has shared it all.

Being the founder of SkyPipeline to Visalus, and now an investor in many other companies, Blair knows it all and has shared it in his book. Thus, there is no doubt as to why this book is a bestseller. Once you pick it up, it is hard to let go until you finish. It not only helps people become better entrepreneurs but also serves as checklist - personally and professionally. Anybody aspiring to be their own boss, and even those who work for their boss must read this book if they want to become better at what they do.

Why Nokia is Microsoft's best bet

2012-03-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

BACKGROUND
This year is truly going to be the battle of the OSes - Windows, OS X and iOS, and Android. Moreover, it's going to be a battle of ecosystems between two traditional rivals - Microsoft and Apple. With Apple launching Mountain Lion this summer and Windows 8 expected to come out in September-October this year, the race only gets more exciting. Windows 8 is also going to come in the tablet version and is said to be the real competitor to the iPad. The Lumia 900 is launching in the US on 8th April, and is expected to be a blockbuster launch.

I call it the war of ecosystems because the devices these companies make and the software they offer are so integrated into one another, that not having even of them would be like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. From mainstream computer devices, tablets and phones, they are also competing in the space of cloud computing and entertainment devices. The integration offers a great unified user experience and it may essentially boil down to just this.

Taking about the Apple ecosystem, it recently announced its latest Desktop and Laptop OS 10.8 Mountain Lion, dropping the name it was synonymous with - the Mac. This indicating that there is now greater integration between iOS and OS X. With ML, Notification Centre, iMessage, Game Centre, Twitter Integration, Reminders and Notes - all iOS apps have now come to the OS 10.8. At the same time iWork and iLife was ported into iOS. Apple offers the iPad as its tablet offering and iPhone as its mobile device. iTunes is the one stop hub for all media - songs, movies, TV shows, audio books, tones, books and mobile apps. Apple TV is Apple's entertainment device that allows you access iTunes content on a TV set. Not only that, with Airplay you can use it as a wireless projector for you Mac, iPad and iPhone. Binding it all is iCloud which keeps all content synced and up-to-date on all devices including iTunes purchased media. Apple also has Game Centre for those who love gaming on iOS. Many games are now on the Mac OS as well, making it a complete ecosystem.

Windows too has a great ecosystem offering as well. By adopting the Metro Tile interface across all devices, it has brought it uniformity. The new Windows 8 offers drastic UI changes for earlier versions of Windows. It is great to look and simple to use. Self updating tiles make your screen come to life. The Messages app now merges your MSN and Facebook contacts into one, and you can chat without even logging on into Facebook. Nokia Lumia is the perfect device to use the Windows 7.5 OS Mango. With great hardware and software, Nokia completes Windows on the phone and I will explain this later. Windows 8 has also specifically been designed keeping in mind the tablet market. Windows 8 will be great on a tablet device, and we just have to wait and watch for that. With the success of the XBOX, Microsoft had a perfect gaming device and with Zune, they are trying to get more media content on board to make XBOX not just about gaming but also entertainment. XBOX is now integrated into the 7.5 OS Mango and Windows 8. To top that, there is Skydrive which is the cloud offering of Microsoft and available on all devices. Skydrive is now built into Windows 8 and merges with Office. This again completes the Microsoft Windows ecosystem.

WHY IS NOKIA THE BEST BET FOR WINDOWS THEN?

The new OS 7.5 Mango is on phones manufactures by Nokia, HTC and Samsung. Samsung has been concentrating its core on using Android on its devices and giving it the push to take on Apple. They have not provided such a push for the Windows based phones, which seems like they already think Mango is inferior to Android. Moreover they are developing their own OS Bada. So in priority, they will push Windows last. As far as HTC is concerned, they too are now focussing on Android heavily. Not much push is given to the Mango OS. This means that lesser attention will be paid to these devices and if you buy them you may be stuck due to lack of services and native apps by these manufacturers (although HTC had HTC Sense).Nokia on the other hand, is empowering its devices with Windows OS and is thus able to put all its effort and resources behind it. They are not dealing with any other OS except Symbian but it is now clear that the Lumia range of phones is going to be its flagship for a long time to come.

With the Lumia 900 launching on 8th April in the US, massive preparations are underway by AT&T and Nokia. Infact the Head of Device at AT&TJeff Bradley has commented, "Before you walk into the store, you know this is our hero phone...At all levels, this is a notch above anything we’ve ever done." This means that AT&T is putting a lot into this, even more than it's best selling iPhone. They have never done or said such a thing for any Android device or even a Windows device made by HTC or Samsung. So I guess it's not so much about Windows as it is about Windows 7.5 on a Nokia Lumia. This is another reason why Windows can bet big on Nokia.

One of the reasons iOS is criticized is because of the lack of a native mapping and GPS device. Even the Windows OS doesn't have GPS, it has Maps. But Nokia completes it with Nokia Drive and Nokia Maps which is far better and extremely convenient to use. Its not only these but other apps as well made by Nokia that add to the Windows OS like Contacts Transfer, Network Setup, TuneIn Radio, CNN and TuneIn Radio.

There was a time when your dealer would recommend a Nokia phone for you. Overtime that has changed and now the same dealer will tell you to go for Samsung. I realized that it is because the margins and commissions on those phones are more. But, if you're someone who is looking for Windows it should be the Lumia. If you're someone who is looking for an ecosystem and an integrative experience and you're a Windows person, then Lumia is the perfect phone for you. It will not disappoint. The takeaway in all this is that now it's Microsoft's turn to talk about their products, their ecosystem and not leave it on Nokia alone to promote and market the Lumia Windows phone. When they want to promote their mobile devices, they should show Lumia as the frontrunner and also show how it fits into the entire ecosystem.

iCloud v/s SkyDrive

2012-03-11T01:57:00.001-08:00

One of the emerging technologies today is cloud computing. Earlier available to only big corporations, cloud computing is now available even to consumers for their files and docs. One of the early players was DropBox (which still stands out among the existing players), Apple's iCloud bought to the forefront cloud computing and how it can lead to perfect synchronization between devices. Launched last year, every individual who doesn't own an iPhone or iPad knows about iCloud, but little is known about a service called SkyDrive.

SkyDrive is Microsoft's cloud service for its users. Launched in 2007 as Windows Live Folders and available to a few testers, the service was then made available in 62 countries in 2008 and was renamed as Skydrive, with an initial 5GB of space. Every user now has a limit of 25GB. I only came to know of the service two weeks back when I first started using the Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone. I was searching to see if there was a cloud service that the Windows phone had when I stumbled upon SkyDrive. And I must say, I am very impressed by this offering. Just disappointed that I din't know of it earlier and it has never been a talking point that Microsoft has used or what Nokia can use. In this post, I am going to compare and contrast what i think is going to be a big battle: the battle between Microsoft and Apple for their respectives Phone OS, and their cloud service iCloud v/s SkyDrive.

SPACE
iCloud offers all users a minimum 5GB of space. It allows you to purchase additional space on the cloud. An additional 20GB comes for $40/year, while additional 50GB comes for $100/year. If you have multiple Apple devices and keep a backup of each of them on iCloud, then 5GB maybe less and you will have to purchase additional space. SkyDrive offers every user 25GB. As of now its not expandable but it will be an option soon where Microsoft is believed to give unlimited space for documents and photos, and 25GB for everything else. You can't keep a backup of your Windows Phone on SkyDrive. This is a feature that SkyDrive should get.

ACCESSIBILITY
iCloud is now an integral part of iOS 5 and the new OS X Mountain Lion. Inbuilt into iOS 5, a user is expected to provide login details at the setup stage of the device or is free to create an account. It then syncs seamlessly with apps that support iCloud. With the new Mac OS, you can now browse files on the cloud on your MacBook Pro/Air or iMac without logging into iCloud.com . There is no facility as of now to drag and drop files like DropBox. You have to upload/download files through iCloud.com on a browser. iCloud is available on all Apple Devices, and through iCloud.com for those using a PC. SkyDrive on the other hand is available to all users who have a Windows Live ID. Not only can it be installed on a Windows Phone, but also on an Android and iPhone, making it available on all major phone platforms. You can access it anywhere by signing into you Live ID. While there was no support on Windows 7, hopefully Windows 8 will see some inbuilt SkyDrive features which can be a definite plus point for SkyDrive.

CONTACTS AND CALENDARS
iCloud offers seamless integration for your contacts and calendars. Updated on one device, contacts and calendar entries will be available on all devices - iPhone, iPad and Mac. Contacts and Calendars on your Windows Phone syncs will Hotmail. It will not readily show in Microsoft Outlook (not for me atleast). It would be a great plus point fot Microsoft to merge this with Microsoft Outlook and Address Book on Windows. One thing that happens on Windows Live is that your contacts also show your Facebook Friends and LinkedIn connections.

DOCS
On iCloud, you can upload Powerpoint and Keynote Presentations, Word and Pages docs, Numbers and Excel Sheets. These can be edited through the Pages, Keynote and Numbers apps (purchased apps) on the iPhone and iPad. Other than these, no other file formats are allowed. PDFs can be opened on iBooks but cannot be arranged into folders. Docs automatically show in these apps. SkyDrive is extremely flexible. You can create folders and upload files to them directly. Even PDFs can be uploaded and viewed. With Microsoft Office now inbuilt in Windows Phone OS 7.5, docs on SkyDrive can be viewed and edited on your phone. You can replicate your exact file and folder structure of your PC on SkyDrive and carry you docs with you right in your pocket with your Nokia Lumia Windows Phone. This is a great feature and I'm wondering why Microsoft hasn't publicized this yet. It's time Microsoft decided to take on better marketing and support its partners, especially Nokia which can make do with a great feature like this.

PHOTOS
On SkyDrive, you can upload your photo library and arrange them as per your preferences. This gives users the flexibility of keeping large albums online and accessing it anywhere. Photos clicked on your Windows Phone is not automatically added. This is where iCloud scores a brownie point. With Photo Stream, photos clicked on one device can be seen on all other devices. Earlier, you could not upload photos from your library onto the cloud. After launching the iPhoto app, you can create journals out of your photos and put them on iCloud. You can't directly upload them from your computer to iCloud. In that sense SkyDrive is better as it offers more flexibility.

MUSIC AND APPS
I'm afraid theres no comparison here. iTunes is the one stop shop for purchasing music, movies, TV shows and mobile apps. With iTunes Match, you can store all your purchases on the cloud and access it on all other Apple devices. The experience is just magical. Apple has merged iTunes and iCloud extremely well. The service though, comes at a small fee of $25/year. There is Zune Pass, which gives you access to all music for a fee. This is an area of development for Microsoft. With the XBOX which is now a entertainment device and not just for gaming, the Windows Phone and soon to come Windows tablet and Windows 8, there is a need to create an ecosystem something like what Apple has created with iTunes.

SHARING
The photo journals you now make on the iPhoto app and uploaded on iCloud can be shared with people of your choice. Documents on iCloud, however, is only visible to you and cannot be shared with anyone to view or edit. You can either mail a copy of your document or upload Keynote, Pages and Numbers docs to iwork.com to share with others on a view-only basis. Viewers can add notes or download the doc. On the other hand, docs on SkyDrive can be shared with anyone on a view-only or view and edit basis, making collaboration easier. You can also share photo albums with others. Sharing is easier on SkyDrive than iCloud.

Both iCloud and SkyDrive have different features that make it stand out. SkyDrive offers more flexibility but Apple's ability to simplify cloud and integrate it into the very backbone of the Apple ecosystem makes it easier to use and more accepted. Apple has used its prowess in marketing to make more people aware of iCloud and how its used with Apple devices. Having said that, Microsoft too has a good service, they need to focus on making it more known and acceptable to the public. There is a need to simplify the UI, and greater integration into the Windows Phone and Windows ecosystem. SkyDrive provides a great rallying point for Nokia to promote its Lumia range of phones, because SkyDrive actually has the ability of transforming the smart phone to a PC in your pocket or what Windows phones were called earlier - 'Pocket PC'. Microsoft should recognize this and support its partners better to achieve seamless integration.

Hands on with the Nokia Lumia 800

2012-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

The first smartphone I had ever used 6 years back was a windows. In those days, the only touch screen phones around were the Windows phones. Manufactured by HTC, iMate, O2 and a few other companies, these phones were huge and needed a stylus to operate. It was almost similar to the PC, where you tapped on the Start button and the menu dropped down. There was a Control Panel, Windows Media Player, a very dysfunctional Word, and a few more programs (there were no 'apps' then). Setting up an email account was hard and even web browsing was limited (Blackberry ruled that market. I never considered BB to be a smartphone, I think it's an email phone and that's it). There were plenty of buttons on the phone, and many ports for different devices. You needed an external SD card of not more than 512MB max which had to be loaded with data before you could insert it back into the phone. There was no PC sync software (or there was but the PC never recognized the phone). The only competitor was Palm, but they never came to India. I used the Windows phone for 3 years, and by then 2007 had arrived.

2007 redefined the smartphone with the entry of two new players in the market: Google with Android and Apple with iOS (was not called iOS then). These phones not only transformed the smartphone industry, but the entire mobile phone industry. Touch phones now responded to your finger, there was no need for a stylus. Screen sizes became bigger, cameras became more clearer, phones had inbuilt memory and there was no need for memory cards. It also introduced us to the world of 'Apps' or applications which can do a variety of functions and operations which was never thought possible.

As Apple and Android were gaining ground, there were two companies that were on a downward slide. The flaws of the Windows phone were exposed with the advent of other platforms, and its share in the market was falling. At the same time, Nokia saw a sharp decline in phone sales, and less people were accepting the Symbian platform. Analysts and tech enthusiasts were writing off Windows as a phone OS and Nokia as a manufacturer.Even I thought so, till I saw the Nokia Lumia 800.

The Nokia Lumia 800 is Nokia's first phone to run on the Windows 7.5 Mango OS. I first saw the phone at the priority store in a local mall, and it immediately caught my fancy. I browsed through it, kept it back and went on. But as days passed, my urge to use the phone starting increasing. I finally decided to use one, and I am glad that I did. Similar looking to the Nokia N8, the phone is sleek and chic. The glossy touchscreen is slightly convex giving a bubble like feel to the phone. The phone looks like its made out of a single piece of poly carbonate, with small openings for the necessary plugs. Unlike earlier phones, the battery is inbuilt and the phone comes with a memory of 16GB. The good part about the material is that even if it gets scratched, it won't expose a glaring silver color but the same color of your phone (Black, Blue or Pink). The screen is made of Gorilla glass and gets no scratches; the OLED screen is extremely clear and makes high def pictures look stunning. Even with sunlight, images are as clear as ever. The touch is extremely responsive and effortless. The response is fast and that leads to swift usage.There is no front camera (will be there in the Lumia 900) but there is a rear 8MP camera, which is attached with a small still slip with the Nokia logo embossed. There are 4 buttons on the side - volume, on/off and camera. The Start button, Bing Search and Back are capacitative touch buttons. Overall, the form factor is great, good to look, great to hold and comfortable to use.

As I switched on my phone, I was asked to enter my Windows Live ID. Luckily I had one and I did. It then went to initial setup, and I was easily able to transfer my contacts through the 'Contact Transfer' app. In less than a minute I was done and good to use the phone like any other. The interface is a welcome change from other Mobiles OS. It's based on the Metro tile interface, that is now seen on the XBox and Windows 8. Unlike most smartphones, where the icons are on the screen and you can add widgets, the Lumia and most Windows phones work on live self-updating tiles. You can add an app as a tile on the Start screen. The app (not all, but few) keep updating depending on the availability of new content and information. News apps show the headlines, Weather apps show the latest climate based on location etc. There is the main start screen with all the tiles, and by swiping left, you can see all the apps. Unlike all smartphones which populate the screen with apps as icons, the Lumia lists them alphabetically and you have to keep scrolling down for more so there are no multiple screens.

While there are stand alone Facebook and Twitter apps, you can also configure your Facebook and Twitter profile inbuilt . By doing so you not only add to the People app, but also the Me app. The People appbshows you all your contacts, by swiping you can see the latest Facebook and Twitter feeds, swipe again and you can see who are the people you have been engaging with recently. The UI and experience is amazing. All Social feeds are at one place. When you choose a contact, you can see the person's number, latest Facebook and Twitter Activity, history of SMS Text and calls. The Me app is all about you. It's about what your are doing in the Social space. You can update FB and Twitter directly from there. It also delivers Social notifications. While Sony has tried to integrate Social with People scape, the Lumia experience stands out.

The Lumia is power packed when it comes to inbuilt apps. Office 365 is already loaded and needs to additional purchase. You can now edit your Word docs, Powerpoint presentations, Excel worksheets on your phone. Save and upload to cloud is another feature. When it comes to GPS and Maps, Nokia is by far the undisputed leader in India. While there is Google Maps, navigation is not available in India. Most GPS apps for iOS and Android need to be purchased additionally. That's not the case with Nokia. The Lumia comes with Nokia Drive, the turn-by-turn GPS navigation app, and it works fantastic even in India. Perfectly accurate and precise, Nokia Drive will ensure you're never lost. While configuring it, you have to download maps for India. Finding known places is easy, but exact addresses is hard to find. You can view the maps in 2D and 3D. Unlike most GPS apps, Nokia Drive and Maps is simple and easy and needs no special understanding. There is a Local Scout app, which based on your location tells you the closest restaurants, hotels, malls, cinemas and other relevant information. And its just there, always.

Nokia is also known for its phone cameras. The Lumia 800 comes with a 8MP Carl Zeiss Tessar Camera. Compared to the iPhone 4 and many Androids, its the best. The picture is clear, and even in the night pictures come without the white patch. The camera is comparable to point and shoot cameras, and you can also adjust the Scenes, white balance, exposure, ISO, Metering Mode, Effects, Contrast, Saturation, Focus and Resolution. The camera is easily accessible by the lower button on the right side. I am not the best at photography, but I like the Lumia camera the best.

The default email account is Windows Live/MSN/Hotmail, but you can add Outlook, Yahoo, Google, POP and IMAP accounts. Among Social, you can add FB, Twitter and LinkedIn. The messages interface is also great and is now a thread interface between you and whoever you are messaging. The bubbles stand out against the black background and that gives a great effect that makes your conversations come alive.

Windows has incorporated Zune into the OS and has made it the defauly player for music and video. By tapping on the tile, you can choose between music, videos, podcasts and radio (most smartphones don't come with inbuilt radio, so this is definitely a plus). By choosing music, you can then swipe between songs, artists, albums etc. Same goes for videos and podcasts. You can also view your history and the apps which have audio and video content within the Zune app. The speakers of the phone are good and loud, and you can hear music and sound even from a distance. Music can be transferred through the Zune Desktop software for Windows and Windows Phone connector for Mac.

For apps, there is the Windows Marketplace. You can use your Live ID to make purchases. While the number of apps is less compared to iOS and Android, all the important apps are available so there is so particular utility or function you will miss as such. There maybe lesser games but its only a matter of time before it catches up. Skydrive is a must-have app and is Window's offering of cloud services. With an initial 25GB limit, you can upload almost anything from your computer and access it on your phone thus transforming your mobile phone into you portable PC right in your pocket (more on Skydrive in my upcoming post). With inbuilt Office, your productivity on the Lumia can be at its best.

If there is one complaint I have with the Lumia, it's the battery. The battery is inbuilt so I can't change or put an external battery of higher charge. It doesn't last more than a day, and I at least expect a day and a half to two. I hope something is being done to improve them. Lot of work needs to be done on voice commands, though dictation for speech to text is good, but needs a slight accent. I also think there is a better way for multi tasking, right now a long press on the back button shows all open windows. You can't close them directly but you have to choose the app and keep pressing back.

Many believed Microsoft, when it came to mobiles is a sinking ship and Nokia had made a wrong choice by going with the Windows OS and not Android. I beg to differ, I think its great that such software it combined with superior hardware to make the experience complete and fulfilling. I've used the phone for only a week and a half, and there's lots more to learn and discover. Do let me know what you think, and remember its not just Apple and Android, its also Nokia and Windows. If you're buying a new phone, its worthwhile to consider the Lumia 800 ( Lumia 600 is also available, costs lesser).

PHONE SPECIFICATIONS (Source: gsmarena.com)

GENERAL	2G Network	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
	3G Network	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-819 HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 - For Canada
		HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 - RM-801 CV
	Announced	2011, October
	Status	Available. Released 2011, November

BODY	Dimensions	116.5 x 61.2 x 12.1 mm, 76.1 cc
	Weight	142 g
		- Touch-sensitive controls

DISPLAY	Type	AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	480 x 800 pixels, 3.7 inches (~252 ppi pixel density)
	Multitouch	Yes
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass
		- Nokia ClearBlack display

SOUND	Alert types	Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones
	Loudspeaker	Yes
	3.5mm jack	Yes

MEMORY	Card slot	No
MEMORY	Internal	16 GB storage, 512 MB RAM

DATA	GPRS	Class 33
	EDGE	Class 33
	Speed	HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
	Bluetooth	Yes, v2.1 with A2DP, EDR
	USB	Yes, microUSB v2.0

CAMERA	Primary	8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, Carl Zeiss optics, autofocus, dual-LED flash, check quality
	Features	Geo-tagging
	Video	Yes, 720p@30fps, check quality
	Secondary	No

FEATURES	OS	Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 Mango
	Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon
	CPU	1.4 GHz Scorpion
	GPU	Adreno 205
	Sensors	Accelerometer, proximity, compass
	Messaging	SMS (threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Email, IM
	Browser	WAP 2.0/xHTML, HTML5, RSS feeds
	Radio	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS support
	Java	No
	Colors	Black, Cyan, Magenta, White
		- MicroSIM card support only - SNS integration - Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic - MP3/WAV/eAAC+/WMA player - MP4/H.264/H.263/WMV player - Document viewer/editor - Video/photo editor - Voice memo/command/dial - Predictive text input

BATTERY		Standard battery, Li-Ion 1450 mAh (BV-5JW)
	Stand-by	Up to 265 h (2G) / Up to 335 h (3G)
	Talk time	Up to 13 h (2G) / Up to 9 h 30 min (3G)
	Music play	Up to 55 h

The Lumia 800 costs about Rs.30,000 while the Nokia Lumia 600 costs Rs.18,000.

Book Review: The Dragonfly Effect

2012-02-26T08:56:00.004-08:00

Social media is not a fad, its a revolution. It’s revolutionizing the rules of game and is redefining the way we communicate and share. If Facebook was a country, it would be the most populated after China and India. With so many people on social media, how do you design campaigns and carry out activities that become viral with netizens? Stanford University Professor Jennifer Aaker and Andy Smith of Vonavona ventures explain how Social Technology can be used to drive social change through their new book ‘The Dragonfly Effect’.

The Dragonfly Effect is based on the premise that small actions can lead to a large changes and help achieve the desired results. The book also delves into the human psychology and explains how social technologies can be harnessed by understanding the psyche of the human mind and appeal to those senses that make people behave in the way required.

Aaker and Smith put down a model which explains how we must design our social media efforts to achieve the desired results: Focus + GET or social media is a function of Focus, Grab Attention, Engage and Take Action.

FOCUS

It is very important to identify concrete and measurable goals. This can be achieved through the design principles of HATCH. The first principle is to be Humanistic - to understand your audience, rather than making assumptions about them. The second is Actionable - the goals need to be broken down into long-term macro goals and short term micro-goals so that there is proper direction of thought and efforts. The third is Testable - while designing a campaign it is necessary to identify core metrics that can test the effectiveness of the campaign. The fourth is Clarity - the goal must be very clear so achieving success is more possible and the last is Happiness - your goals and efforts have to meaningful and important to you and your audience.

GRAB ATTENTION

There is a lot of friff-fraff out there. How can you capture the attention and imagination of your audience in all of this? The Dragonfly Effect explains how through the design principles of PUVV. The first principle is Personal - it is important to make you campaign very personal and make it important to your audience. It must appeal to each member of your audience and there must be a personal connect. The second principle is Unexpected - the campaign must have an offering that catches your audience off guard, but is able to catch their fancy. The third principle is Visual - visuals must be used to communicate your message. The last principle is Visceral - campaigns must be designed to evoke all the senses of your audiences and appeal to deep underlying emotions.

ENGAGE

Just grabbing attention of your audience alone is not enough, you have to keep them engaged. This can be done through the design principles of TEAM. Tell Stories - Stories move us, make us feel alive and inspire us. They must be compelling and convey critical information. Empathize - Let your audience engage with you. See what is important for them and how that fits your campaign. Be Authentic - It will be easier to connect with your audience if your campaign is authentic; it will facilitate a greater connect with you and your audience. Match the media - Align communication and context. Its just not about how and where we say it, but also what we say.

TAKE ACTION

Your campaign must be designed in a way take empowers your audience to take the desired course of action. The action is what you want your audience to do or consume after they have received and engaged with your message. There are four design principle that enable others to take action: EFTO. Easy - make it simple for others to act. Chose the right call to action and ensure people understand what is needed so that they can take action immediately. Fun - make taking action fun and playful. Use humor, competitions, rewards and game play. Tailored - Make people feel they are advantaged to have a huge impact. Open - Empower others to take action, no one should have to take permission to act.

These principles are explained in the book with interesting and succinct examples which give deep insights and understanding of how these principles work in the real world. Prominent examples are the Obama Presidential campaign of 2008, Kiva, Team Sameer and Team Vinay.

The book provides a clear roadmap on how Social campaigns must be undertaken and gives models and flowcharts that helps marketers answer questions about their campaigns that expose a gap (if any). This book is a must read for anyone who wants to use Social Media, but doesn’t know how to.

On my iPad...

2011-11-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

There was a time when people used to ask you, "What's on your iPod?". Today that question has slighlty changed. Its now, "What's on your iPad?". Its now about the apps on your iPad and not the songs on your iPod. Also your iPad can also have songs and movies, so that's a given. Ever since I got my hands on iPad (and iPhone), I spend a good half hour everyday going through the app store, seeing what are the new apps, which are the apps worth having, which ones are free and which ones are paid etc. After about 6 months, I have finally reached the stage of sufficiency where I have all the apps I possibly need doing a whole new range of things. I now only go through new apps to see if there is anything worthwhile (mostly games) nowadays. Many have often asked me what are the good apps that one must have and what I suggest. So I thought I should pen down what I have and how I categorize them.

APPLE PRE-BUILT APPS

Messages (iMessage Basically)
Calendar
Notes
Reminders
Maps
YouTube
Videos
Contacts
Game Center
iTunes (Only for Podcasts and iTunes U, otherwise doesn't work in India)
App Store
Newsstand (for all my Magazine Subscriptions)
- iCreate
- Wired
- GQ
- The Daily
- Bloomberg Businessweek
- National Geographic
- Esquire
- The New York Times
Camera
FaceTime
Photobooth
Settings
Safari
Mail
Photos
Music
Calculator HD (Same interface as the iPhone Calculator, third party paid app)
Clock (third party paid app)
iBooks (also reads and stores PDF Files)

FIND

Find My iPhone (useful to track your Mac, iPad and iPhone on GPS. Also enable remote locking, remote wipe and beep. iCloud account needed. It's a must for any iPhone/iPad user)
Find my Friends (GPS tracking for friends. You can also block your location)

iWORKS

Numbers
Pages
Keynote

Used with iCloud. It can seamlessly sync all your files. Keynote is for presentations, Pages are for documents and Numbers is for spreadsheets. They open Microsoft Office Documents and are made my Apple.

iLIFE

iMovie (for editing and making movies)
Garageband (for making your music. You can also play your instruments virtually on the iPad)
Remote (Control your Apple TV or iTunes on your Mac with your iPad/iPhone)

These apps are made by Apple and are very good for creative people and just to fool around.

NEWS

NDTV
IBNLive
TOI
HT
FirstPost
BBC News
CNN
Pulse (configurable to what you want to read)
ABC News (Great Interface)
Mashable (if you want be update with what's happening in the digital world, then this is the app)
Zite (only choose news topics you are interested in)

FINANCE

Bloomberg (Great to keep track of your portfolio)
Bloomberg TV+ (Watch Bloomberg Live on Your iPad)
XE Currency (Currency Converter)
powerone FE (Financial Calculator)
CNBC RT
FinConcepts (Financial Education App)
Reuters MarketBoard
WSJ Live

MAGAZINES (NOT ON NEWSSTAND)

Economist
HBR
Foreign Policy
Financial Planning
Zinio (a parallel Newsstand with more magazines onboard)
Engadget
Archie
Fortune
Time
Forbes Lists

PRODUCTIVITY

DropBox (Good alternative to iCloud)
PrintCentral Pro (Used it for Printing, now use an AirPrint Printer)
DocsToGo (alternative to iWorks, iCloud makes this less convenient)
Roambi
Evernote
Evernote Peak
iMindMapMobile HD
Conference (Display a presentation from your iPad to other iOS devices over WiFi)
SpeakIt (Converts text to voice)
OmniGS
Analytics HD (Configure Google Analytics Dashboard on this app)
Fuze Meeting (Have a video conference along with presentations)

SOCIAL

Facebook
Twitter
FlipBoard (One of the best apps. Configure your social networks and use it like a book. Many magazines can also be configured)
Spout (Shows Facebook and Twitter feeds in an innovative way)
StumbleUpon

Skype
Fring (Have 4 way video chat)

EDUCATION

TED
Official GMAT
GMAT Reasoning
iHomeWork
Architizer
GMAT Club
7 Billion (by National Geographic)

INTERNET

Google
Downloader (used for downloading songs and videos directly on your iPad)
Wikibot
SpeedTest (test the speed of your internet connection)
iSwifter (an internet browser which runs Flash)
Wolfram Alpha (the brain behind Siri & a great search engine)

TRAVEL

Flightboard (tells you flight timings Airport Wise)
FlightTrack (Tracks flight realtime on GPS)
Country Call (International STD Codes)
Sygic (Turn-by-turn voice navigation and GPS for India)
AllSubway HD (Subway Maps for cities around the world)

GAMES

Infinity Blade
Fruit Ninja HD
FlightControl HD
Sonic Racing
Angry Birds
Real Racing 2 HD
Trade Nations
X-Plane
Bubble Ball
Contract Killer
Cut the Rope
Scrabble
Boggle
Monopoly
RoadTrip

UTILITIES

AirPort Utility
Dictionary
PenUltimate
BatteryMagic (an iPhone App)
EZ Cam (use your iPhone camera wirelessly for the iPad)
iNoteBook
Weather

BOOKS

Our Choice ( by Al Gore, a book in form of an app)
Kindle
TradePub (get free books from this app which will open on iBooks)

CARS

Mercedes Quartets
Mercedes Magazine
Ferrari HD (a book on the history of Ferrari in HD)
Porsche Pad Cinema (all Porsche Videos)
Rolls Royce Phantom (an interactive app where you can customize your own virtual Phantom)

ENTERTAINMENT

IMDb
VLC (to play videos in other formats)
Brushes (use your fingers to paint)
djay
Star Walk
Epicurious (for cooking)
Groove Bug (for Music)
Phoster (design your own poster)
TuneIn Radio
Jango Radio

This is how all the apps are categorized on my iPad. I am using iOS 5 so Notification Center is a boon. iCloud integrates my documents, contacts, calendars, app data and photos seamlessly. These are the apps I think are sufficient to make your iPad good for anything. Do let me know if you have more to add to this.

Steve Jobs, Apple and India

2011-10-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

The much awaited Biography of Steve Jobs was finally released almost two and a half weeks after he passed. Written by Walter Isaacson, the biography goes into Steve Job's life and times. The book gives us great insight into the life of one of the best inventors, who was otherwise a very secretive and private person. One of the major influences in Steve Job's life has been India, religion and mysticism.

Steve Jobs came to India in 1974 and stayed here for 7 months in search of enlightenment. He landed in Delhi, and was put up in a hotel where his taxi driver got a commission for taking guests there. He was also welcomed with dysentry, thanks to the rather clean water that the hotel gave him. It took him a long time to recover and he went to Haridwar for the Kumbh. He participated in the Kumbh and went to Nainital to meet Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj Ji). By the time Steve had reached Nainital, Maharaji ji has passed, or rather reincarnated. A local family hosted Steve and helped him recuperate. During his stay, he repeatedly read the 'Autobiography of a Yogi' by Paramhansa Yogananda (It is believed that this is the only book he has downloaded on his iPad 2) and visited many villages. He also went to meet a Guru who shaved his head to save his health.

It is not known whether Steve returned enlightened or disillusioned. Isaacson's book says he returned more clear and learnt that not only are Indians rational but also intuitive. It was this trait - intuitiveness - that Steve tried to incorporate in all his products, making them the best in the world. Another view is that he went back to the States and said there was no enlightenment when more than half the country was so poor and miserable.

Either ways, the perception he had is not uncommon. Most of the West thinks of India as a country full of mysticism and spiritual gurus who can make all problems vanish. They think people in India still travel on Elephants and snakes happily roam the streets. They think all the people are poor and can hardly afford clothes hence they dress up like Gandhi (thats what someone in UK told me, and I was surprised at his ignorance and arrogance) Many are shocked to see the level of English that we speak, perhaps even better than their's. Those who know of India only know the Taj Mahal or Goa. While this perception is changing rapidly, it is still the majority view in the West.

Steve went back and opened what would be one of the most valuable companies in the world. He launched game changing products, that changed the world each time around. He never returned to India, and perhaps never thought too highly of India as a market. It seems like the image of poverty still lingered and he thought Indians could not afford to buy an Apple product.

Apple has never treated India as an upcoming market. It launched the iPad and iPhone 4 a year after it released. It has often treated India as a dumping ground for older products when they were launching upgraded versions of the same. To add to that, Apple has officially sold roughly 21,000 iPads and iPhone 4 s respectively. This is hardly anything compared to the sales they make the world over. This is perhaps why Apple doesn't treat India as an upcoming market. There is no Apple Store in India, only resellers. But here's the flip side - the number of these devices being used is almost 5 times the number Apple has officially sold, thanks to the Grey Market. These products are available in India so late that those who want them buy them from elsewhere, and pay prices that are unimaginable. I know someone who paid 82,000 for a 64GB iPhone 4S.

There's no doubt that Indians can afford Apple Products. There are 33 million people in India who can afford to buy an Apple iPhone, iPad or MacBook. However the number of Apple Products in the market is very insignificant. The reason is that the choice is a lot and competitors like Samsung and Nokia and more visible and do more promotional efforts. Apple Products are more aspirational in nature, which everyone wants to own (and they may own one, one day). There are more than 800 million mobile subscribers in India. We're growing at a rate that will surpass China. We are as much a market as China is. More and more people are switching to smart phones. Apple can capture the market and gain significant market share. A good market share in India will only add to the iOS and Mac OS X ecosystem the world over, making it more prominent and dominant.

If Steve Jobs had to come to India today, he would be amazed to see the blend of spirituality, economy and technological development that makes this nation magical (and I mean it when I say magical - somehow things just happen like magic). We're an upcoming economy and our negatives now will turn out to be our positives in a decade or two (population). We are Apple's market, we are a defining part of Apple's future. We are an upcoming superpower, and a super company should take an upcoming superpower seriously.

Top 7 iPhone 4/4S Cases

2011-10-22T00:53:00.000-07:00

The innumerous leaks of iPhone 5 cases led the whole world to believe that Apple would release the iPhone 5 earlier this month. As tech enthusiasts eagerly followed the Apple Event on 4th October, the excitement soon turned into disappointment with the launch of the iPhone 4S. To look at it, it was only logical that Apple would launch 4S given 3G and 3GS. While externally it may look the same, the interiors are completely different, and its features along with iCloud, iOS 5 and Siri make it the best phone in the market for a long time till competitors try and match up to a magical device - the iPhone 4S.

Most cases that fit the iPhone 4 will also fit the 4S. Here is a list of what I think are the 8 best cases which offer either looks or protection, or both of them.

1. CLEAVE ALUMINIUM BUMPER CASE

Made of Aluminum and available in different colors (black, grey, silver, purple, pink), The Cleave Bumper is by far the coolest I have seen. It gives a metallic touch to your phone and offers complete protection to the metallic strip on the iPhone. It is intricately designed and has special metallic buttons for the On/Off, Volume Control and the Vibrate button. It is a little difficult to put on as it has two screws and by putting the case you will not be able to use your phone on the docks and music systems which require iPhone docking. This case will also burn a deep hole in your pocket costing close to $150.

2. CAPDASE SMART POCKET CASE

For those who want the use the iPhone the way it is without bumpers and cases, but prefer to have some protection when not using it, this is the perfect case. Made of leather and available in Black, Chocolate Brown, White and Red, this case adds class to an already classy phone. There is a small open slot between the metallic clip which lets you see who's calling. It also has a small flap at the back which you can pull for the phone to pop out.This case is relatively not too heavy on your pocket and is available for Rs.799

3. THE iPHONE BUMPERS

The Antennagate issue brought the Bumpers to the forefront as a method of reducing signal drops. Apple distributed these bumpers free of cost for the first few months when the iPhone 4 went on sale. They are now available for $30 and are nothing more than an accessory to decorate your phone. With six colors, you can change the bumper to suite your mood.

4. INCIPIO FEATHER CASE

Incipio makes some the best cases for Apple Devices including the iPad, iPhone and the MacBook range of laptops. The Incipio Feather case shell is incredibly thin and lite. It adds no weight or bulk to your phone maintaining a sleek and classy look while providing the right amount of protectio. The feather case comes in a host of colors. Two of these come in a set for $39.99.

5. INCIPIO EDGE PRO

Coming in a range of colors that is bound to grab eyeballs, the Edge Pro Cases by Incipio offer the looks and the protection for your phone while giving access to all buttons and ports. It has two pieces, and lower piece easily slides away making it easy to use the iPhone on docking systems.

6. OTTERBOX DEFENDER SERIES

The Otterbox Defender Case is the ultimate when it comes to providing full blown protection to your iPhone. There is a hard solid casing that covers the entire phone leaving only the screen open for the user. You can drop you Phone and be rest assured that nothing will happen to your phone. Ideally nothing should happen. The case adds bulk to your phone and in the pocket and spoils the look of the iPhone .

7. SCOSCHE KICKBACK HYBRID CASE

The polycarbonate and rubber hybrid case provide complete protection for the iPhone froms accidental drops and scratches that may occur during general usage. The Case also has an inbuilt stand that can be used while watching videos or during a FaceTime Call. The case comes in two colors - white and black.

These are some of the best cases I have come across. if you seen anymore, please do let me know so I can check it out.

How to file an RTI Petition

2011-10-09T04:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why the road in front of your house is always flooded during the rains, even though there is supposed to be a proper drain? Have you ever wondered where the money we pay as taxes goes into? Do you know where our local Member of Parliament spends the 2 crores he gets for out constituency? Do you know? Do you even want to know? Do you want answers to your questions regarding public institutions? If you do, then here’s a way to get them.

After years of lobbying, the Government in 2005 finally passed the Right To Information act, which enables the public to demand information from the government on public authorities (except off course classified defense and intelligence information) and get the same within 30 days (or 35 depending on the circumstances). This ensures that we are able to get proper accountability and also reduces instances of the burgeoning corruption.

So here’s how one goes about filing an RTI Petition:

STEP 1: Identify the Public Authority that holds the required information.

You first need to find the authority, which has the required information. If you are not sure, make a list of authorities that may have the information and then finalize on the authority. In any case, even if you submit it to the wrong authority, it will be forwarded to the right one, after intimating you and you will get the information within 30 days from the original date of submission on the act.

STEP 2: Identify who to submit your application to within the public authority.

After boiling down on the concerned authority, it is necessary to make a list and submit the form to the correct Public Information Officer (PIO) or the Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO). Every department has a PIO and APIO. If the form is submitted to the APIO, he forwards it to PIO, and the information will be given in 35 days.

STEP 3: Draft a clearly focused application.

You can draft your form in writing or electronic form in English, Hindi or the official regional language. Make sure it is drafted properly with all the required particulars, and make sure the information you ask is specific so that it is easier to get the information you actually want rather than pages of information you don’t need. Make sure it is drafted properly so that so that the PIO or APIO can’t reject your application on the basis of it being too vague.

STEP 4: Submit the application.

The application can be submitted to the PIO or APIO in the concerned authority, which has the information you need. You can submit it personally, or by post, fax or email. Make sure you always get your receipt for the application submitted. You will also have to pay a fee of Rs.10. Make sure to collect the receipt for that as well.

STEP 5: Wait for a decision.

Once the form is submitted, it is processed to make sure that the information is given within 30 days unless submitted to the APIO, which takes 35 days. If the information is such that is vital to the life and liberty of the person, the information must be given within 48 hours.

Now that you know how to file an RTI Petition, go out, wonder, ponder, think, question, demand and get your answer.

For your benefit, I have put a mock format of an application below. This is not a compulsory or absolute format. Its just one of the many.

From

( Your Name)

(Your Address)

(Date)

To,

(PIO)

(Address of Public Authority)

Subject: RTI Application regarding (Area of information needed)

Dear Sir/Ma’am,

Under the purview of the RTI Act, I seek the following information:

(Your Questions)

I would like the following information in electronic form- (Can be CD, Photocopies, Inspection)

Warm Regards,

(Your Name)

Details of Fee payment: Receipt number _________.

Steve Jobs will Live On

2011-10-06T00:16:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to the sad news of the demise of the Apple Founder, Visionary, Icon, Inventor, Entrepreneur, Genius and as some say the Newton of Apple Steve Jobs. I am truly saddened by the loss and know that the void and vacuum left by Jobs can never be filled in this world.

As a child, I had always heard about Apple. At that age, I was a little too young to distinguish between apple the fruit and Apple the Company. My first exposure to Apple Inc. came in late 1998 when my father's friend bought a turquoise green Macintosh. While these computers looked stunning, we all laughed at him because at that time Windows was so prominent in India, that using any other OS was just plain stupidity. More over, these Macs were so expensive and so incompactible that only a mad person would buy it. Little did I know that in exactly 10 years, I would be laughing at those who din't use a Mac or an Apple product, and though not an Apple Employee, convince people around me to buy one.

The first Apple Store in India opened in the Forum Mall, Bangalore. At that time, it seemed like a shop displaying pieces of art. We would all go, use their product demos, and come and say, "Wow, amazing but not what we need." My friend had bought the white iMac. When we visited his house we would all want to use his computer cause it was so uncommon. I never knew how to operate one, but the Photobooth Application greatly amazed me.

I got the iPod very late. While most of my friends had already had one, I managed to get the Black iPod Video as a gift for getting good grades in my 10th standard board exams in April 2006. This marked a new era in my life and my increasing admiration for a man called Steve Jobs. While purchasing the iPod, I happened to explore the Mac, and I fell in love with instantly. I kept asking my father to buy me one, but it was expensive.

As I started using the iPod, I started getting drawn to Apple. I started reading up more about them, I read a lot about Steve Jobs, downloaded Apple Podcasts, and at that time the D5 conference with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, a rage then as two competitors were on stage face to face. After watching that video, Steve Jobs had won my confidence. He dethroned Ratan Tata as my inspiration and icon. His vision, creativity, presentation skill, thought process, his foresightedness- he knew that users are not quite sure of what they want, so he created devices with features that made people want them made him by inspiration and motivation. I started reading more on his management skill, his marketing skill and more I read, the more I learnt and the more I admired.

In 2008, I finally got what I wanted for so long - a Mac. It changed my life. I became more interested in technology, I became more productive and my academics improved. It was the Mac. In 2007, the iPhone was launched. It was the object of desire, but not available in India. As they say 'Good things are worth waiting for', I waited and finally got the iPhone 4. As much as I wanted the devices, I also waited for the keynote just to hear and see Jobs. I used to download them and watch them again and again. I have never met Steve Jobs, but inside me it was like I knew him. It was like he was listening to what I wanted because his products were so intuitive that it had things you wanted as well things you never thought of but made your life so much simpler.

Today, I am the proud owner of a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPad 2, iPhone 4, Apple TV 1 & 2, AirPort Extreme, Two iPods. I am more confident, more productive, more creative, more focused, more capable (I say this in a very non-pompous way). And its all because of Steve Jobs, his vision and passion that led him to make such game changing products that the more I used it, the more capable I became. To a large extent, my identity is defined by Apple and Jobs. My friends know me as the Apple Guy. I help people with all their Apple Products queries as well convincing them to buy on. Infact, many times I have helped people in the Apple Reseller Stores much better than the employees there. And I feel proud when I do so. People call me a nerd. I am an Apple Nerd, not Nerd. And its a Mac, not a laptop or desktop, its an iPhone and not just a cell phone.

Steve Jobs is no more with us today, but he will continue to live on forever. He will be in the hearts of all those people who's lives he touched with his products, he will be in every Apple product we use, every touch on every iPad, iPhone and iTouch, every key on the MacBooks and iMacs, because if not for him, all this would not be there, and the world would be very different.

Condom 101

2011-10-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

C…Co…Con…Cond….Condo….Condom!! Yes, for most of us, this is how long it takes to say this one simple word. For one, saying it is almost sacrilege, and two, going to a chemist and asking for one gets you the suspicious stares of all those present there including the chemist who has a dirty “I know what you’re going to do” smirk on his face when he hands you the condom , that you’d prefer not to use one at all. But common; be a man, go there and ask for one without hesitation, be proud of what you’re doing, don’t let stares make you feel embarrassed and ruin the moment before pleasure. But before you do that, here’s some Condom Trivia.

What is a Condom?
A condom is a device that is worn during sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy and the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) like HIV Aids, syphilis and gonorrhea. They are usually made of latex, and are rubber like. They are waterproof, elastic and durable, and also have many used besides the sexual one. They are available in types, flavors and sizes.

Is it available only for men?
While condoms are traditionally available only for men, female condoms are also available and is called diaphragm. They are less popular though.

How did the Condom come about?

Condoms have been around for a very long time. Like humans, the condom or the “condon” has also evolved. Ancient texts indicate the use of glans condoms which were worn only on the tips the penis. During the Renaissance, condoms were beginning to be made from Linen and the intestines and livers of sheep. Many religious groups protested its use as they considered it an obstruction to the natural process of pregnancy and birth. It was only in 1855 that the first rubber condom was made, after Charles Goodyear mastered the rubber vulcanization process in 1844. While the history of the Condom is not known or documented in India, statistics show that it is relatively a new concept, as in olden days, people had so many children that it is evident of the non-usage of the condom. Even now, not many are aware of the condom, its uses and availability.

Is the condom 100% safe?
No, the condom assures a success rate of only 98%. This means that there is a 2% chance of pregnancy or transmission of STDs. If you remember the TV sitcom FRIENDS, then you will remember that even though Ross used a condom with Rachel, she till became pregnant with Emma. So condoms don’t assure 100% guarantee.

What are the different types of Condoms? (Source: typesofcondoms.com)
Material – Latex, Polyurethane and Lambskin
Size- Snug, Regular and Extra large
Thickness – Thin, regular and extra-strength
Lubrication – Non-lubricated, regular lube, and extra lube
Texture – Rubbed, spiral , dots (the dotted condom defies the very logic of the condom, you might as well not use one) and designer condoms. Durex has now made a Jeans textured Condom, called Love in Jeans.
Colour- Green, orange, red, yellow, rainbow
Flavours – Mint, Chocolate, Strawberry, Coffee, Orange, Banana,
Shape – Rounded or nipple-ended
Spermicide - with or without

How should the condom be disposed?
Never flush down a condom after its use, it will just clog your drain. Wrap it in the cover it came with or in toilet paper and put it in the bin. A condom cannot be reused and don’t even try. In Mumbai, I once saw a condom put for drying along with clothes. Never ever do that. A condom is not re-usable.

What are the uses of the Condom?
Besides the traditional use of the condom, it can also be used for the following purposes:
1. You can blow it up and use it as balloons.
2. You can plug a hole in your bucket by inserting the condom. Considering it is stretchable, it can carry some water in it too, adding to the capacity of your bucket.
3. You can tie your hair with it.
4. You can stretch it and use it like a shower cap.
5. You can stuff it with stones and use it like a weapon in case of an emergency.
6. Finger puppets
7. You can put it on a mike and record sounds underwater.
8. You can also store Water or any other samples in it.

What is the most innovative condom?
Many companies have come with innovative ideas of packaging the condom. There is one condom which had a vibrating ring for increased pleasure. There is another condom pack which has a male and female condom. The male condom cools down while the female condom heats up, giving ultimate pleasure to the partners. There is one condom which has the dolphin head printed on the tip. You can also get condoms with anybody’s face printed on the tip. Now days, a lot of designers are also making condoms more fashionable with innovative designs. You also get condoms that glow, so in case there are frequents power cuts at the place of action; you should use this so that it’s easy to locate your partner.

Are there any jokes on the condom?
1) Two old ladies were outside their nursing home, having a smoke when it started to rain. One of the ladies pulled
    out a condom, cut off the end, put it over her cigarette and continued smoking.

    Lady 1: "What's that?"

    Lady 2: "A condom. This way my cigarette doesn't get wet."

    Lady 1: "Where did you get it?"

    Lady 2: "You can get them at any drugstore."

    The next day ... Lady 1 hobbles herself into the local drugstore and announces to the pharmacist that she wants a
    box of condoms. The guy looks at her kind of strangely (she is, after all, over 80 years of age), but politely asks
    what brand she prefers.

    Lady 1: "It doesn't matter as long as it fits a Camel."

2) Q: When should you wear condoms?
A: At every conceivable occasion

3) Q: Why can’t pencils have babies?
A: Because they have rubbers on their end

So now that you know everything about the condom, remember to keep one in with you. You never know when you’ll need it and where. But it’s always better to be prepared. Do keep in your valet in the same place where you keep your emergency money. Remember its better to be safe than sorry. Do share your thoughts with us on this.