The rise of the App store

This will sound odd, and might date me the way radiocarbon dates old trees. The first mobile phone I bought was just to make phone calls. At Rs 16 a minute, to boot. Oh well, this was 1996, a different era. Hey, it was an earlier century, in the last millennium.

This – now this is the iPhone age. That thing in your pocket, it ain’t a phone. It’s the Communicator from Star Trek. It’s a universal infotainment terminal. It does stuff we couldn’t have dreamt of in the nineties, from letting you read books and watch movies on it, to storing (and editing) all your life’s documents, telling you your exact location on the planet and tomorrow’s weather… Read on» » » »

Good value social networking - Micromax ezpad Q5

It’s quite a relief to see a QWERTY handset that seems to have its own ‘personality’ and doesn’t look like a BlackBerry. This Q5 or ‘ezpad’ as it’s been dubbed, was apparently designed to be real bliss for the avid social networker and here’s how it fared.

Form
The handset’s prime focus is the keypad and not the screen, so there’s that slightly awkward Micromax LCD panel. Although the Q5 is less skewed than its predecessor, the Q3, it’s still the handset’s biggest drawback.

Thankfully, the large QWERTY keypad is fantastic. The buttons are easy to use and well-spaced and take a couple of attempts to get used to. Navigation is a breeze thanks to the track ball. Read on» » » »

Travel | New York diary

There is something about the energy of New York that hits you like a lightning bolt when you walk the streets, one reason why it is one of my favourite foreign cities.

Day One
On the Air India non-stop to New York. I took the flight from Bombay nearly three years ago when it first started but have never tried the Delhi version. In fact, it is the perfect way to get to NY.

We board at 12.30 am. I have a snack, read for a couple of hours and then go to bed. Our route takes us near the North Pole and then down to North America over Canada till we land at JFK. It is much shorter than I remember and by the time I have woken up and had a cup of coffee and a muffin, we are in New York. Read on» » » »

The buzz around Buzz

Of course I’m going to talk about what everyone else is talking about Google Buzz. What’s the big deal? Is it worth it? And do how you go about getting the best from it?

I’m not sure that I have all the definitive answers to these questions. But it is quite fun to speculate. So, without further adieu, let us segue into my user’s experience of Google Buzz.

Day One
Twitter and Facebook is full of references to this Hot! New! Thing! called Google Buzz. I don’t know what it is, but I know I must have it. Everyone else seems to be having the same reaction. Rumours on the block is that it will finish off Facebook and Twitter completely, obliterating them from our memory. Read on» » » »

In the dock, again

An iPod dock needs to look good and offer non edgy sound. The Philips SBD7000 is a cute-looking Docking station that works with iPods and also other personal media players. Read on» » » »

Credit Card Protection

Money turned plastic years ago in form of credit cards and these cards became the financial life line of travelers, buyers and all those in need of instant money. Life starts with one credit card and as offers galore from banks and life progresses multiple credit cards make our wallets fatter. Read on» » » »

Power Denims

If Obama can wear them, so can you. Jeans are now acceptable everywhere: from the boardroom to the nightclub. Here’s how to charge up your denims.

Work & Business
Jeans are the new formal trousers: Wear your denims to work – but choose a plain, solid coloured pair that looks as good as new whenever you wear it. Refrain from choosing pale or light colours for the office or styles that use attention-seeking buttons instead of rivets, embroidery, prominent branding or any other colour – whether in the form of thread or fabric patches.

Match your jeans with a crisp business shirt, contrasting coloured plain or printed tie and a short length, but sharp stand-alone jacket (one that does not look as if it’s missing trousers with it). Accessorise with a simple leather belt, well-maintained laced shoes and a smart carry bag. Read on» » » »

Ever read these News?

Over a million hungry people from all over India will go on a hunger strike of indefinite length demanding regular food to eat. ‘We have been going hungry for free for several decades, never demanding anything in return from the government. It is time we make good use of our hunger,’ said Mr Bhooknath Khare, chairman of the newly-formed group, We Want Food.
— onionuttapam.com Read on» » » »

Planning a vacation? Here’s help

Various international surveys list Udaipur as the top destination in India. But it’s a city most Indians haven’t been to. Isn’t it time we discovered the great hotels and destinations that our own country has to offer?

What would you regard as India’s greatest destination? Ladakh for its lonely beauty? The backwaters of Kerala? The beaches of Goa? The desert sands of Jaisalmer? The mountains of Kashmir?

I suspect that Indians may have a slightly different perspective on holiday destinations from foreigners. According to various international surveys, the top destination in India is Udaipur. According to Travel & Leisure magazine, Udaipur is actually the top city in the world for vacations. (Bangkok was second, I think - though perhaps I’m just thinking of an Asian list and not a global one.) Read on» » » »

Nine bits of tech to remember 2009

This has been one gadget-packed year: a zillion phones (and 500 million mobile users in India), the rise of the netbook, 3G data cards, power-packed cameras with incredible resolutions and HD video…

So if you’re planning on some Christmas shopping, here’s my selection of nine candidates: bits of tech from among the many that 2009 had, that will serve you well into 2010 and beyond. Read on» » » »