The Simple Life!

Willie Smits restores a rainforest | Video on TED.com

2011-05-22T18:33:00.001-07:00

Willie Smits restores a rainforest | Video on TED.com

Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education | Video on TED.com

2011-05-22T18:33:00.000-07:00

Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education | Video on TED.com

bpython interpreter

2011-05-22T12:35:00.000-07:00

I just came across this wonderful terminal interface for python.
It is eclipse wrapped in a terminal. It intuitive and has syntax highlighting apart from other
very useful features. I am not saying you would completely do away with development using IDE but this will be very useful when you are writing simple hacks to test it out on the terminal. Works both on *Nix and OS X. So two thumbs up!

Trying it on Nattu Narwhal and loving it :)

Amazon Cloud Drive

2011-04-21T09:36:00.001-07:00

Another website added to all the corporate houses filtering rules - Amazon cloud drive :)

How to Install Pydev for Eclipse on Linux

2011-04-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

Many a times you are are faced with solving a problem and you turn to Python on a Linux box.
One of the easiest solution to developing on Python on a Linux machine is using the Eclipse IDE with the Pydev plugin.
There are many links on google which give you a step by step walk through of how to install Eclipse and Pydev.
Here is a link which explains in detail: The Easy Way

There are scnearios when you chose The Hard Way or when you can't go The Easy Way, and that is where this post is useful.

1. Manually Install Eclipse with the tar.gz file
Choose the one that is applicable to your machine

Transfer the tar.gz file to your install directory.

Untar the file with: tar xvfz

Ex: /home/user/install

2. Manually Install Pydev with zip file
Preferrably Download 1.6.5 or above

Download the zip file to the same install directory where you downloaded eclipse

Ex: /home/user/install

If you do an ls inside the install folder you should be able to see the Pydev zip file along
with folders like plugins, features, eclipse binary et al.

Now unzip the Pydev zip file and this will install files in plugins and features directory of eclipse.

3. Run Eclipse and make sure you can use Pydev features

Issue the command ./eclipse -clean from /home/user/install directory to make available Pydev features.

To ensure Pydev is correctly installed. Open eclipse, Click on Window > Open Perspective > Other . You should be able to see Pydev project, this means Pydev is correctly installed

Installing paramiko for windows

2011-03-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

How to Install paramiko for Windows?

Recently, I came across a situation where I had to do some ssh related work on Windows.
Paramiko is a great option and honestly one of the viable options, besides of course, Twisted. I still haven't waded those waters in Windows but a tutorial on that is due in some time ;)

Please keep in mind to ensure you download the relevant versions matching your python installation and Windows version (32 or 64).
This goes without saying that you will need Python to be installed. Check this link: Download Python here

1. Download paramiko for windows. You get the zip file:
Paramiko for windows

2. To build it you need the dependency package pycrypto. Again keep in mind you will need a matching version of pycrypto for your Python. This is a built version of Windows so no install is required. Check here

3. You could do an easy_install by downloading setuptools but I ran into some issues so I chose to download MinGW tool. This is again an installation and no build is required. Available here

4. Once you have pycrypto and MinGW installed on your windows machine, just browse to the folder where you extracted the paramiko module from the zip file and issue this command:
python setup.py build --compiler=mingw32 bdist_wininst
TADA! You are all set to use ssh on your windows machine with Python.

For demo scripts check out the demo folder in paramiko or for documentation here: Click here

Cloud Storage and Cold Scrimmage

2011-03-29T17:58:00.000-07:00

So Amazon draws first blood. Jeff Bezos has gone ahead and at the risk of infuriating the Music Goliaths who will be gunning for him, crying foul over the licensing issues, has launched the Cloud Drive with the Cloud Player. This indeed is really cool with 5 GB free space for everyone with an Amazon.com account and if you buy an album even worth 69 cents you will get a free 1 year upgrade to 20 GB. That indeed is cool. Speaking of which whaterver happened to Cuil, that which was supposed to give tough competition to Google.
Ok there are no parallels drawn here between Amazon and Apple but its nice to pitch giants against each other and see how it goes like India and Pakistan go head to head in semis tomorrow. But, I digress.

So, Apple have been since a really really long time pitching for cloud solution for Mobile Me users and an online streaming solution integrated into iTunes playing subscribers content. Steve Jobs with his persuasive power can indeed get the industries to change directions, in this case too maybe he will. But, with him gone on a leave looks like Apple has already lost that small edge they would have had in this scrimmage so to speak ;)

Comparing the Free options of cloud storages that we have today:
1. Windows Skydrive: It may not be that ubiquitous or feature packed but its got 25 GB, you just can't ignore such a huge number!

2. Google: Ofcourse, with its Gmail, picasa and Google docs offerings is a sizeable amount but its not at one place so you need to move from application to application which is again not that seamless

3. Amazon.com: Cloud Drive, offers 5 GB with a 69 cent upgrade to 20 GB for a year.
Just buy this after setting up your Cloud drive on Amazon for 20 GB upgrade til 2012 :)

69 cent Album to an easy upgrade :)

4. Apple: Hopefully Apple pitches in here or probably much above with more feature set with its North Carolina data center coming into action around fall this year...ofcourse, that's what the rumor is all about.

Just yesterday I was looking at this youtube video by Newegg where they reviewed the Seagate Go Flex drives with GoFlex Home and GoFlex TV options which pretty much uses your own drive hooked upto the net to be accessed on the cloud. So you are not paying anyone for space and its your own drive that is available on the net with security enable and you can pretty much not be restricted for space anymore.

Pretty cool! Huh?

Check out your options and upload away :)

Tablet Wars

2011-02-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

Looking at the number of Tablets that are offer starting from Xoom from Motorola, Flyer from HTC, Streak from Dell, HP Slate, not to forget the quite popular Samsung Galaxy Tab and the one to beat iPad from Apple. Yes, we do have the Adam from Notion Ink but who is really winning the war here?

Rightly guessed its the customer who has so many options at the swipe of a finger if I might add to choose from any of these popular tablets. However, most of the tablets that are being released much like the smartphones are android based, so is android becoming the ubiquitous PC of the PC v Mac war. Apple seems to be engaged again in this war with another Giant this time its Google and not Android - funny to note that Microsoft and Nokia who were once in their own arena considered Goliaths have now become the Davids in the smartphone market.

Keeping all this in perspective should be the smart customer of today who has choices to be spoilt, but is he informed enough of his choices and does he know what he really wants. The answer is a pretty big NO. Yes, all the tech companies file patents for all kinds of things today and call it smart technology (there are definitely some very good R&D happening) and this makes the customer wonder if he has the best technology or is there something else that is yet to come which will be much better and much cheaper. With computers and technology its always an emphatic YES. Quite recently I read an article where the author had pretty much warned all prospective Apple customers to stay away from its products right now as they were expecting a new iPad 2, newer versions of the Macbook Pro and ofcourse the very obvious iPhone 4. What does one do at this point. Save up and wait? Wait for how long?
These are questions that will never have a right answer.
So to answer for yourself always keep it simple and answer these following questions:

1. Do I really need this. Most often the answer will be a no and its just gizmo that appeals
to you aesthetically and technologically and not functionally.

2. If I like all the features and functionality, Can I really afford it?

3. If I can indeed afford it do I get the best bang for my buck?

4. What is the life of this product if I am going to spend hundreds of dollars on these.
Most technologies become obsolete in matter of months, look at things like Dell XPS 14 discontinued, Galaxy S obsolete.

If you have satisfied yourselves with the answers and still believe you need those gizmos, then definitely go buy, but be a smart buyer and make sure you get the best offer or deals on these.

Some products that have been really doing well and have sustained the tough times:

All the best with your shopping

Sony HX5V Vs Canon S90

2010-09-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

I had been mulling over it for some weeks and decided it was time to buy a really decent camera. Going for a dSLR was an option but budget and the fact that I am not just yet photographically that inclined to make full use of the myriad features available in a dSLR decided to go for a high end camera instead.

There are some really really tough decisions to make when you get into this market as the competitors are very well equipped and the price margin between them is too thin.
This entails that you go find a good website for review of these cameras or find a good trust worthy friend who will help you pick the right one for your that suits your budget.
I am not going to do any of the above two options!!!

I am just going to give you the two best prosumer cameras that i ended up researching a lot and took my time and went for the best deal after deciding which one to buy.

If you are interested in buying the Sony HX5V here is an amazing deal from Amazon.com which you can check out - Sony HX5V with 8GB accessory kit for $359.95

If you want to buy the Canon S90 - Canon S90

Well, I went for the Sony HX5V and I am loving each and every picture it has taken so far.

Have fun with your camera!

Samsung R580

2010-08-30T22:40:00.001-07:00

I was just taking a look at this laptop and it looked very impressive.
Wish it camer along with a Blu-Ray drive like its predecessor R480. I have used Macs, Toshiba, Dell and HP laptops now and its only the Macs that have impressed me till now with its form factor, utility and the battery life, although pricing is a huge downer.
If Samsung can come up with a great package with all rounded features then it might be a powerful contender in the market. Asus, Acer and Lenovo I still have not used and I plead ignorance on Gateway, and new line HP so I would love to give them a chance too

Samsung Laptop Review by Cnet

Apple Byte

2010-08-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to the Sep 1 event.

Too many rumors and too many news speculations have gotten me all excited but going by the trend we can expect most of it to be true and some!

Can't wait for the event...and I could indulge in some labor day weekend shopping too :)

Coming Soon!

How P Chidambaram scored a 'Home' run...

2010-08-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Our respected politicians once in a while (read all the time) suffer from what is quite well known as foot in the mouth disease. Not always do you see our politicians manage to upstage our bollywood artists and when they do you know its a headliner and will definitely do well on your box if not at the box office.
Consider this Priyanka Chopra Launches Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 3 or The Union home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, pointed out towards a “new phenomenon” which he called as “saffron terrorism”

Well done Home Minister P Chidambaram, that's a 'Home' Run!

It baffles to see such esteemed politicians as Kapil Sibal, P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Shashi Tharoor et al suffer from the 'FITM" disease. And not just that the statement made by Dr PC is definitely not going to help keep a large section of the people in India happy and much more, this I feel is just divisive politics just played out by an intelligent Harvard graduate.

Any human being with his head stably put on his/her shoulders can tell that terrorism does not have race, religion, culture just like a virus. Its bad and does not help build a healthy society. Making terrorism anything other than that is just trying to work your own hidden agenda - simply put poor politics.

With all this it just makes me wonder are they with such great knowledge and knowledgeable people around still the best candidates to run our country, clearly not!

... And then there are politicians who are happy that their fake profile on Facebook has a huge fan following. Just Great!

Jai Ho!

Call phones from Gmail - Official Gmail Blog

2010-08-25T13:01:00.000-07:00

Call phones from Gmail - Official Gmail Blog: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

iPad vs. Kindle vs. nook - Comparing e-Readers

2010-08-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

iPad vs. Kindle vs. nook - Comparing e-Readers: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Very good kindle books for $0.00

2010-08-06T17:47:00.001-07:00

Check out the Kindle books collections for $0.00 you get great classics for free and gets delivered wirelessly through Whispersync.
You can also download free kindle app for your mac, pc, ipad, iphone, blackberry et al

in reference to: Amazon.com: kindle app: Kindle Store (view on Google Sidewiki)

Publish your calendars online for Free

2010-06-18T15:46:00.000-07:00

If you are the kind who needs to have different calendars to keep track of each and every aspect of their life through calendars and you swear by iCal/Google Calendar then you have got to have an account with ical-mac.com if you don't already have one.

Check it out:
iCal-Mac Free iCal Hosting

No Readability link for this one :P

Ads and Ad Blockers

2010-06-12T18:50:00.000-07:00

It all began with ads on the internet to make the moolah and then came the geniuses who could block those irritating ads to add to their own moolah.
It all seems like a very simple game of cat and mouse.
You find a new area of Business on the internet and make it free to access. It gradually gains its popularity by word of mouth while you sit patiently for the Big Sharks to come and get you.
Then you either be foolish and sell it out or at this time rope in the advertisements and become a millionaire overnight. Seems too simplistic and unreal. Suit yourself!

Coming to my earlier point of Ads and Ad blockers. We have seen that on the internet. You can see on my blog as well. I will officially post the link for Readability by Arc90 on all my blogs unless i completely forget about it, but I also want the advertisers to be on my page and add color until I hone my creative side.

Which brings me to the next mode of Ads and Ad blockers. The iPhone 4.
iAds is coming and it will want to push you to the edge with ads. Then there will be this evil genius who figures it out and blocks it for you for a nominal fee. You dont mind shelling out those peanuts and it so happens that you have paid money to see the ads and paid money to get rid of the ads, while you could not have spent any money at all and still been content!

So ya, next time someone offers you a blue pill or a red pill, ask him to stuff it!

Readability

Readability

2010-06-09T02:52:00.000-07:00

Safari has taken the Readability experiment by Arc90 and included it in their new Safari 5 version and it looks quite impressive.

It also is weird because WWW was in the beginning only a very wordy place with some jazzy snappy features and images here and there. Now its a lot of clutter with difficult to parse through data.
And now we are trying to undo it. Seems like we have come a full circle after all.

Anyways, thought it will be a good idea to share it my blog readers as well.

Follow the link customize it and you will be ready to go in about 5 seconds and read articles on WWW like how it was originally meant to be read :)

Readability

World Cup Fever Is On

2010-06-09T00:25:00.000-07:00

It is going to be very interesting to see who takes home the World Cup this time.
I would love it if it were Brazil, don't we all!!!!!

My knowledge and my enthusiasm ebbs only during the football world cup season and it dies down pretty quickly as well. So clamoring up as much information at the last minute as possible to put my money on the right team. Not that I encourage such a practice but what's a game without some risks and high stakes, aye?

Going to be a great season also with the Wimbledon starting off. I would love to see a replay of Federer and Nadal battling out another five setter in the Finale!!!

Buy the HD TV with cable, stock up lots of beer and the La-Z-boy and you are all set :D

2010 FIFA World Cup

Happy and Glee

2010-06-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

I am loving the latest seasons of GLee and can't wait for the season finale. A lot of them guys would give lame reasons like oh my girlfriend forces me to watch it so I watch, well not me. I just love it and no I have not watched High school musicals any of it so I am not biased towards teenage musicals.
This definitely seems to have the story to back it and not some randome numbers fitted in between in the story.
Each episode also revolves around a Theme and they stick by it.

Whoever could deny the genius of Theatricality! and who better than Lady Gaga be the inspiration for it and ofcourse David Bowie!

Brilliant stuff!!!

Search Amazon.com for glee

Search Amazon.com for lady gaga

iPhone 4

2010-06-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

So its back! Leaner, Smarter, and of course Better. But its been three years won't you come to expect this from Apple already.

Its always a great opportunity to watch the Keynote by Steve. Its so special to see all
the Apple fanboys around waiting with bated breath to welcome another one of their "babies" into the Family. Although, a milestone this keynote, according to me was not as spectacular as the 2007 one.

The hype is already been created thanks to one really freaky event and some blogs but we have to wait and watch to see the sales of iPhone 4 :)

Search Amazon.com for smartphone unlocked

Celina Jaitley ko gussa kyon aata hai?

2009-05-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

Apparently our Dear Celina is miffed with the fast one that Gizmodo.com pulled out with modesty compromised photo of Celina.

No No we are not complaining but its Celina who is not taking it all too well. She came out with a statement saying that this is the price she had to pay for in the glamour world. My My what a sacrifice.

If not anything Ms Jaitley, all the geeks around the world have atleast taken a note of you. Your popularity can only soar from here.

Its time you get hold of an innerwear company and sign yourself a contract. You know that way that you will be looking at a fat paycheck. You could also autograph one and sent it across to yours truly :)

For the unintiated Ms Celina got irked with a post on gizmodo.com
that used her image without her consent.
She is right with the fact that her photo was used without her consent, but i think a little too much is made out of this.

Peace!

Work from Home

2009-05-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

Work from Home and Earn Daily.

Work part time. You can earn Rs.750-2000/- daily. These are genuine Internet jobs. No Investment required.

For more details visit
http://www.earnparttimejobs.com/index.php?id=1948237

Modi Vs Modi

2009-04-12T00:52:00.001-07:00

Why Lalit Modi shot himself in the foot?

They say hindsight is 20-20. It all made sense when the second season of IPL was scheduled for this summer, children have vacations, not much of the matches would be a wash out, and families could easily take time out for half days and come and watch the cricket. It was just perfect. It could have easily made more money than the first season. But, the fact that the one of the largest democracies was going into election during this time was overlooked.

To be in their favor, they would not have expected the security lapses in our country and attack on pakistan soil on Sri Lankar cricketers which scared every cricketer out of their wits and rethink their IPL stints.
It was further aggravated with the Home ministry putting their fut down and expectedly so deciding that the elections were more important than a stupid game of cricket.

Now, Mr Modi's options seemed dim of hosting a successful season of IPL 2 in India and he decided to take it overseas. This may have been an unforseen outcome, but, it does ensure that the IPL season 2 will go ahead albeit on foreign soil in South Africa.
I am still circumspect about it being successful for the fact that local teams (although it has foreign players) would attract too much of the SA crowd. Ofcourse, the Indians in SA would love to watch these matches and if it is priced at a good bargain then it might turn out to be sellouts!
I am sure that would have been the case if it were in England as the Indian population in England is the highest anywhere in the world outside of India.

With Modi trying to profit out of it and make sure the BCCI coffers are still loaded with moolah at the end of the season 2, he is leaving no rock unturned to cut down expenses and increase his profits. His negotiation skills and his management degree will come to work here.

Everything said and done, the follow up to season 1 will be a downer and it was not what Modi cohorts were expecting!

Safe No More...

2008-07-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

The incidents that rocked Bangalore on July 25 2008 shook everyone who calls Bangalore their home.
This I feel was more so because Bangalore has been a really safe place to live for many years even while it is trying to catch up with bigger cities in terms of infrastructure and cosmopolitan lifestyle. I am proud to be a Bangalorean and it pains me a lot to see this happen to my city. Of course, it is painful when it happens to anyone. Any city in India or outside has potentially become a target. No place is safe anymore. It is indeed sad how my mentality works. As long as it was not my city I felt pity for the victims but now when it is my city it is more of seething anger against the people who are causing mayhem and spreading terror.

I begin to think is there a solution at all? The greatest of minds have been working tirelessly to keep the common man safe and find ways to bring such people to justice but it just seems to me to be an impossible task, a tall order, one that might just not be achievable unless all of us have a strong resolve to make the justice system work for us.

It indeed is difficult for the intelligence to foretell who is up to what and how to avoid a disaster waiting to happen. With cities like Bangalore you are dealing with a huge number of floating population and keeping a tab becomes not only difficult but an impossible one. I guess the common man can only help by being on his guard all the time (and I mean all the time) and look our for any suspicious behavior or objects left unattended and inform the police straightaway. Its best to be safe than sorry.

The government on the other hand has to start recruiting people who are appointed and are dedicated to protect the common man in such situations. I mean not deploy police forces as they are already have their hands full with a lot of things (what with providing security to our ministers who are good for nothing).
It is time they beef up security measures at local market places, malls, Bus/Railway stations. CCTV cameras with dedicated personnel keeping a tab 24/7. If this is what it takes to reinforce faith in the system and for people to live in the city with a peace of mind then this is what needs to be done.

I know i have repeated a lot of solutions which have been put across by a lot of people before. I strongly believe the governments of the past as well as the present lack a strong resolve to face situations head-on and deal with it. They are always playing the game of pleasing all parties and all religions and all castes and what not. If you have been elected and placed in the seat of authority where your decisions matter you should be bold and strong enough to make a decision - of course, after consulting well informed minds - and stick to it. There is no point going around asking for vote of confidence everytime!!! It just shows how weak you are and that you don't believe in your own decision making skills.

Just a few hours ago, similar incidents were reported in Ahmedabad. It is indeed sad for a country which is already grappling with a lot of issues at hand the least of which seems for its own downfall the Safety and Security of its people.
A strong resolve from its people and Governments alike to fight terrorism in its roots to make sure the people of its cities go on with their life as usual is the only mantra to fight terrorism and bring such people to justice.

Peace.