Bigg Thoughts

(VIDEO) iPhone interface complete walkthrough

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 16:33:00 +0000

"It's not like you need any clearer a picture of what to expect from the iPhone interface at this point, but we'll show you some real world use of the device in this walkthrough as we churn through just about every app and option the iPhone's got."

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Life at Google: The Microsoftie Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:50:00 +0000

The following has been making the rounds on just about every internal email list I belong to in Microsoft. Here it is to share a little insight with the rest of the world. Microsoft is an amazingly transparent company. Google is not. Any peek is a good peek.

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Apple unveils unexpected iPhone Features: Word, Excel Files Viewable + More

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:38:00 +0000

Business users have frequently cited ambiguity over iPhone’s support for Word or Excel documents as a potentially fatal omission, so their inclusion removes just one more potential barrier to the phone’s popularity. Apple claims that in “about a week,” you’ll be thumb-typing faster on iPhone than any other small keyboard

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How much does a NY cabbie make?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 23:49:00 +0000

You can’t live in New York—arguably, you can’t spend an hour in New York—and remain oblivious to the machinery of profit pumping away under every surface. This city makes money, loses money, houses money; lately, with luxe condos stacking up like casino chips along the waterfront, the city looks like money.

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Undergrads' 25 Most Wanted Employers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 May 2007 18:16:00 +0000

Organizations that do good and companies that are doing well both rank high with students, according to Universum's latest findings

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Google vs. God [picture]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 22:52:00 +0000

'Google can't satisfy every search'...

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12 secrets your car insurer won't tell you

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:49:00 +0000

Getting a good deal on auto insurance is hard enough. Keeping your premiums from rising? That can feel like playing a game where the rule maker refuses to tell you the rules.

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interview with Google CEO Eric Schmidt

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:25:00 +0000

This detailed interview between Vogelstein and Google CEO Eric Schmidt demonstrates a couple of things: 1) rarely is entrepreneurial success accidental and 2) sometimes it takes a strong editorial effort to pull out nuggets from a tech visionary that crystallizes a story in a way that had never been done before.

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How to Complain and Win at It

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:24:00 +0000

Great tips from the senior editor at the Wall Street Journal about how to complain to a company and WIN. Whatever your gripe, Bounds said, you have to make a decision to make some noise if you want things to change. She gives tips on how to win against airlines, cellphone & credit card companies.

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Car Dealerships Rip You Off With The "Four-Square," Here's How To Beat It

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 05:11:00 +0000

Former used car salesman Alan Slone grows a conscience and reveals one of the major strategies dealership use to screw you when buying a new car. At the heart of it all is the "4-square." This is supposed to help you and the dealership come to an agreement, but as you'll see, it's really more akin to three-card monte dealer's deck of cards.

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Online Savings Market Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 04:27:00 +0000

Compiled some of the decent interest rates given from institutions. If you don't get this rate from a tax deferred account like 401(k) or traditional IRA which you should with minimum 6 month CDs, you have to take into consideration the tax you pay on these interests. So the effective rate at which your money can grow completely safe and completely fluid is on an average is like 3.75% AP, which is .75% more than the hypothetical inflation rate of 3%.

Countrywide Bank offers a variable rate, from 4.00% to 5.40% APY, can link to other bank accounts. $1,000 minimum to open.
AmTrust Direct offers 5.36% APY, “no monthly service fee or minimum balance fees”, can link to other bank accounts. $1000 minimum. This is a money market account.
WT Direct offers 5.26% APY, no fees, can link to other bank accounts. No minimum to open, but your interest rate drops if you don’t have a $10,000 balance after 60 days.
E-Loan offers 5.25% APY, no fees, “industry’s strictest privacy policy”. $5,000 minimum.
Presidential Online Bank offers 5.25% APY, no fees, ATM access, web interface. $5,000 minimum to open.
Emigrant Direct offers 5.05% APY, no fees, can link to other bank accounts, web interface. No minimum.
E*Trade offers 5.05% APY, no fees, an automatic savings plan, can link to other bank accounts. $1 minimum to open.
HSBC Direct offers 5.05% APY (with a temporary 6.00% APY promotion), no fees, can link to other bank accounts, web interface, ATM card $1 minimum to open.
Till April 30 they offer 6% APY for new money.
Capitol One offers 5.00% APY, no fees, free checks and ATM card, an automatic savings plan, can link to other bank accounts. $1 minimum to open. This is a money market account.
Citibank Direct offers 4.65% APY, no fees, $25 sign-up bonus. No minimum.
ING Direct offers 4.50% APY, no fees, an automatic savings plan, web interface. No minimum.

Aruba Networks coming out with an IPO

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:07:00 +0000

Aruba Networks, a wireless LAN provider seems to be coming with an IPO in the coming week after their recent success with getting Microsoft in their client list. With more than 25,000 users on the network at any given time in 60 countries, Microsoft's WLAN is one of the world's largest. It is deployed in 277 buildings comprising more than 17 million square feet. Aruba, which was chosen after independent labs tested its equipment against better-known rivals (CISCO), will supply Microsoft with mobile controllers, software and 5,000 wireless access points. Aruba Networks Seems to be getting into the black zone with a million dollar profit in their first quarter results. They recently signed a potentially lucrative partnership with French telecom giant Alcatel, which will resell its wireless switches. That move was prompted by Cisco's $450 million purchase of Airespace.

IPO Profile
Expected Date	Week of 3/26/07
IPO File Date	12/15/06
Price Range	$8.00 - $10.00
Shares Offered	8.0 mm

Total funding raising of $84M to date (in 4 rounds)
Appointment of a new CEO, Dominic Orr
Recruiting some great candidates from across the networking industry
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares are Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers, JPMorgan and RBC Capital Markets.

Their are some mixed views about the success of this company as its competing against Cisco and Symbol technologies who are ranked higher in the WLAN domain. Lets wait and see..

5 Most Common Startup Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:15:00 +0000

Startups always make mistakes, it's part of the process. But here's a list of the 5 most common ones that you should be able to avoid.

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Good one about Microsoft!!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:37:00 +0000

CompUSA closes 128 stores - is yours on the list?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 04:56:00 +0000

CompUSA is closing 128 of their 228 stores, leaving them with just 100 open locations. Check the CompUSA Store Locator to find out if your local store is remaining open. Stores will be handed over to a liquidator starting tomorrow, so there may be deals to be had.

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SXSW Panel: How to bluff your way in Web 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 01:56:00 +0000

Andy and Jeremy ROCKED THE HOUSE. Panel discusses how to bluff your way through Web 2.0 at a party or conference. Don't be the idiot who does not know how to speak the speak even if you have no idea what it means. Also has a video about the definition of Web 2.0 and pictures of some of the best of Web 2.0 bluffing.

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Think daylight saving time saves energy? Think again. Or not.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:25:00 +0000

Spring forward, fall back. We know the drill. But does the clock-switch across America actually save energy? Not if everyone takes the extra hour of sunlight and spends it at the mall.

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Best Financial Blogs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:18:00 +0000

Ever wondered what are the top rated A-List blogs for Finance. Here is the list compiled by CNN.

1. Seeking Alpha -- This is a good place to start blogging, because it's essentially a collection of different blogs. The site provides links to everything from analysis of media and Internet stocks to investing in China. The "Sound Money Tips" link offers simple financial strategies for every day life, from buying versus leasing a car, to selling a home without a realtor.

2. The Asset Allocator! – This site's "SmorgasBoard" section provides a handful of links, each day, to articles on top business stories, and that's just the beginning. Hundreds of links are posted for various categories. They include everything from corporate blogs, top business news sites, U.S. Government office sites, and investment resources. This site is not about original content, but rather one-stop shopping for financial information.

3. CANSLIM Investing - Yes it's a long web address, but also worth bookmarking. This site contains many easy to read pieces on stock suggestions, chart analysis, and market commentary using the CANSLIM approach to investing. (The seven letters each stand for an investing criteria, for example, "L" represents choosing an industry leader over a laggard.)

4. The Kirk Report – The site is written by an individual investor, Charles E. Kirk, who promises more food for thought than blind recommendations, and delivers on that promise. Viewers can sign up for a free, weekly e-mail newsletter. And unlike many financial blogs, the site is ad free!!

5. Big Ben's Investing Blog - This site, although anonymous, is called Big Ben's Finance and Investing Blog. There's good, specific information on certain stocks here, including profit expectations and results. Other recent standout posts include advice on finding an online stock broker, and specs and photo of a new Motorola device reportedly in the works.

6. The Thinking Bull - This anonymous site offers a compilation of online financial articles. The screen is split between articles on trading and investing, and it's a useful stop for articles on various investing strategies.

7. Random Roger's Big Picture – This is a good site for investors looking for investing ideas beyond U.S. stocks. Author Roger Nusbaum is an investment advisor representative for Your Source Financial. His posts include insightful commentary on recent print articles and televised financial segments, and so give readers more than one view point on a topic. His writing style is very down to earth, it feels like you're reading personal letters from your neighbor.

8. Footnoted.org – Author Michelle Leder is a veteran financial journalist who has published a book on spotting red flags in corporate documents ("Financial Fine Print: Uncovering a Company's True Value.") The site's subject matter is in the same, investigative vein, setting the site apart from other blogs. Visitors can search for information by company name, and thus make a quick and easy stop here to find corporate dirt and other tidbits.

9. Stock and commodity trading – This anonymous site is technically oriented, covering day to day stock market activity, gold and currency markets. Interesting links like 'coin stories' (includes posts about coins during the era of Alexander the Great, a 17th century coin with a UFO like design) are fun to read.

10. Thinkblog - This is from ThinkEquity Partners, a research and investment banking company. It's of the more straight and sophisticated blogs around, with high quality commentary from CEO Michael Moe and other luminaries. There are also dozens of links to the brightest minds in business, from economist Larry Kudlow of CNBC fame, to tech writer Walter Mossberg at the Wall Street Journal.

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U.S. stocks plunge to worst 1-day drop since 2001

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:51:00 +0000

On Monday, Greenspan said told China, "It is possible we can get a recession in the latter months of 2007." Although Greenspan also went on to say that most forecasters are not making that judgment, his remark nonetheless roiled financial markets

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Yahoo Pipes: Web 2.0 stealing ideas from Unix

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 05:10:00 +0000

Yahoo pipes is a perfect example of how the Web 2.0 can be 'mashed' and (messed) up. You can get the RSS feed for a news website and analyze the contents and then search Flickr for images pertaining to the analysis. All through a GUI of flowcharts and modules just like building blocks in a lego set. Pipes and filters are the widely used concepts of Unix and Yahoo has just applied the same to Web 2.0. XML RSS feeds makes the job much simpler to look at a web site or content from a website as nothing but a stream of data and you can pipe and filter this list and display it any form you want. Then we can create a RSS of the output and integrate it with your site. So you would have the latest content from web for whatever your pipe's logic is.

They have to work around a edges a bit more, but the concept does provide a starting point for how all the age old programming concepts can be applied to Web 2.0.

As a starting point, i created a pipe for viewing all the pictures, pertaining to a city. Basically getting the Location input from the user and then passing it on to Flickr to generate images for the same. Check it out at

http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/nOr_g9nG2xG_KLEJE5PZnA/?input1=new+york&_run=1&=Run+Pipe

IRS goes after eBay, wants info on seller earnings

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 22:24:00 +0000

. In short, the US government wants to treat eBay as a "broker" who would then be required to file notices with the government about how much money its traders have made. The US proposal calls for this reporting to take place only when people sell more than several thousand dollars worth of merchandise in a year.

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Costco: The 'anti-Wal-Mart'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 18:43:00 +0000

Costco seems to be a steady competitor to the big retailing giant Wal-Mart. The interesting thing about Costco, when compared to other retailers is that they charge a fee of $50 to become a member which is very different from the industry norms, but people would not mind that, because of the savings they end up making throughout the year. Consequently, its margins are among the slimmest in retailing. The privileges also extend to employees, who are paid well and enjoy generous healthcare benefits. The unique selling proposition for this retailer is that, they provide the products in bulk and a rock bottom price with pretty decent quality unlike walmart. Their return policy is one among the best where it permits you to return ANYTHING (except computers) with or without the receipt whenever you want as long as you still have the same membership. This takes the fear out of shopping for many wary shoppers to swipe the credit card, with the feeling that they return it, if they don't like it at any point. Walmart and Target have a 3 month time limit, and most of the other retailers have a 14-day return policy.

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Joost takes on Cable TV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 02:31:00 +0000

Joost seems to be the next buzzword going around the web. The 'Venice Project' started by the developers of Kazaa and Skype are going to battle, heads on with the Cable TV. With the astounding success of Skype which just reached its 500 millionth download, Joost seems very promising to change the way the television network works. Joost [pronounced yohst] uses the java implementation of the Streaming Transformation of XML (STX) technology, which does not transform the XML documents to a tree structure as XSLT which consumes memory. This seems like a faster approach and is optimal for a resource constraint system and hence the near TV quality pictures. More resources on STX is available at stx.sourcefourge.net

There has been good reviews going around for people who had the invites and Joost seems picky about giving the invites, dunno why?. There is even a site called www.joostswap.com that helps people get invites from who have already got one and trade joost related items!!!

Check out this video on a first hand demo on what this product is like, from David Clark, the Executive Vice President of Joost

Web 2.0 is redefining you

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 01:53:00 +0000

Came across this awesome video, which talks about how Web 2.0 actually transforms the way ones thinks about the web and how it facilitates the path to expressing yourself with the least amount of effort.

HTML was all about Content and Form together, XML seperated Form from Content and Web 2.0 is taking the experience to the next level.

Check it out!!

How Good Are Zillow's Estimates?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:51:00 +0000

In the year since its launch, Zillow Inc. has made millions of Americans familiar with computer-generated estimates of home values, created a new online addiction and, become a staple of dinner-party chatter. But just how accurate is it? A Wall Street Journal analysis of 1,000 recent home sales shows some interesting results. As we saw earlier, the top down approach is a a bit skewed when it comes to home prices for all of America.

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