Finally, I have my digicam back. My Canon Powershot A95 that gave a whole new dimension to my creativity. Ah! yes and also an alternative pastime too.
So where did it go and why the big deal?
Well... it just got back from the second repair.
The first time... moisture some how got into the cam and just when I thought the cam was dry enough. I switched it on only to put it back to sleep... and a strange burning smell. Obviously something went kaput inside. INR 7K for that kaput thingy.
Now after a long gap. The CCD gave a problem, though the camera was functioning normally but the display was corrupted, more worse it affected the resultant picture too. Initially it would set right after a while, much like how freshly poured water settles down after a while. But the problem got bigger and pictures got worse.
This worse pics scenario costed me INR 4K to set that right.
Well all ok now but, felt like making a chronological analysis to scare people into being careful. Here we go :)
Before I start 'the end; of this post. PLEASE DO TAKE GOOD CARE of your gadgets (SERIOUSLY). Sometimes we tend to get a bit rough with them due to over use... which is ok but try to be a little more careful.
Canon Powershot A95
Purchased in 14Feb2005, NO! it wasn't a Valentine Day gift.
(2 years old now)
Phase 1 - 14 Feb 2005 - 03 Sep 2005
Approx 5000 snaps
Short Circuit due to moisture
Repair Exp - INR 7000
Phase 2 - 19 Dec 2005 - 12 Feb 2007
Approx 12000 snaps
Replaced the damaged CCD
Repair Exp - INR 4000
Phase 3 - 25 Mar 2007 - (not so soon I hope)
147 snaps so far. Actually in just a day
TOTAL: Till date approximately 17,000 snaps
Monday, March 26, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
This toddler doesn't give up!
Watch my newphew. Barely a year old, just learned to walk. He plays with the plastic chair, uses it like a wheel-barrow or a walker. He just dropped it and was not able to get it up immediately. But he ain't givin up! Fun watching him do that. Thought I should share :)
The Video
On Google Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1627498782697292756
Or on Orkut http://www.orkut.com/FavoriteVideos.aspx?uid=5411747729123791256
The Video
On Google Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1627498782697292756
Or on Orkut http://www.orkut.com/FavoriteVideos.aspx?uid=5411747729123791256
Monday, March 19, 2007
iPhone – Apple reinvents the phone
Technological revolutions are always on… there are some things which entirely change the way we have been doing things. The computer as compared to a mere calculator or a simple typewriter as compared to a top-end printer with x many other built in features. Recently came across one such device that is headed [or rather already is] in that way. Maybe most of the tech savvy among us already know.
It’s the Apple iPhone- the revolutionary phone by Apple. Happen to see the keynote by Steve jobs on the internet. Thanks to a friend who forwarded me that link and ever since I’ve been in love with the device and dream [like always] of owning one. I liked this so much that I am at risk of sounding like a Apple spokesperson :)
Here’s how Jobs introduces the device :) …excerpts from the presentation [not verbatim]. He talks of how Apple created a revolution by introducing the Macintosh in early 1984 and then the iPod in 2001 which entirely changed the way music business worked and then…
“… Today we are introducing three revolutionary products-
- Wide Screen iPod with touch controls
- Revolutionary Mobile Phone and
- Breakthrough Internet communications device.”
Blah Blah! and goes on to mention that these are not 3 separate devices... but just one…called the iPhone [audience cheers and continues] Apple has re-invented the phone… and shows a digitally morphed iPod with a analog phone dial [audience laughs :))]... and later goes on to reveal the actual iPhone :)
So let’s leave you to take a look at the actual presentation video. The link is at the end of this blog
So the top level things I noticed about the iPhone... er!! well here are couple of pictures… and then let me go ahead with my comments.
Ok, so going ahead the top level things I feel I should share are..
1) It has a revolutionary User Interface –
The controls are not physically set… permanent into the single device that you would have, it enables adding new controls/features in future just by upgrading the operating system, it’s their Desktop class application the OS X [read OS Ten] . Instead we have a giant screen… with a great pointing device. Like we had the mouse… er no… the Stylus? No just your finger, the device is intelligently configured to understand you finger pressure etc. to kind off read any unintentional touch [hmm this could be a little dicey though, hope not!]
2) More detailed integration with you computer. Has lot of inbuilt stuff, for example Google Maps is one.
3) Has BIG memory space
4) Has a inbuilt iPod [as mentioned earlier]
5) Easy email access [just stating, haven’t used it for real]
Here are the iPhone specifications:
Screen size: 3.5 inches
Screen resolution: 320 by 480 at 160 ppi
Input method: Multi-touch
Operating system: OS XStorage: 4GB or 8GB
GSM: Quad-band (MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900)
Wireless data: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
Camera: 2.0 megapixels
Battery: Up to 5 hours Talk / Video / Browsing
As promised the detailed keynote and introduction video by Steve Jobs on the Apple website. http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/j47d52oo/event/
Over here watch the iPhone Introduction (the second button)
More details on the features and their demo movies can be found on http://www.apple.com/iphone/
Hope you like it as much as I do :). Let’s see how fun this can be. I am very optimistic
PHOTOS
From the Apple website
It’s the Apple iPhone- the revolutionary phone by Apple. Happen to see the keynote by Steve jobs on the internet. Thanks to a friend who forwarded me that link and ever since I’ve been in love with the device and dream [like always] of owning one. I liked this so much that I am at risk of sounding like a Apple spokesperson :)
Here’s how Jobs introduces the device :) …excerpts from the presentation [not verbatim]. He talks of how Apple created a revolution by introducing the Macintosh in early 1984 and then the iPod in 2001 which entirely changed the way music business worked and then…
“… Today we are introducing three revolutionary products-
- Wide Screen iPod with touch controls
- Revolutionary Mobile Phone and
- Breakthrough Internet communications device.”
Blah Blah! and goes on to mention that these are not 3 separate devices... but just one…called the iPhone [audience cheers and continues] Apple has re-invented the phone… and shows a digitally morphed iPod with a analog phone dial [audience laughs :))]... and later goes on to reveal the actual iPhone :)
So let’s leave you to take a look at the actual presentation video. The link is at the end of this blog
So the top level things I noticed about the iPhone... er!! well here are couple of pictures… and then let me go ahead with my comments.
Ok, so going ahead the top level things I feel I should share are..
1) It has a revolutionary User Interface –
The controls are not physically set… permanent into the single device that you would have, it enables adding new controls/features in future just by upgrading the operating system, it’s their Desktop class application the OS X [read OS Ten] . Instead we have a giant screen… with a great pointing device. Like we had the mouse… er no… the Stylus? No just your finger, the device is intelligently configured to understand you finger pressure etc. to kind off read any unintentional touch [hmm this could be a little dicey though, hope not!]
2) More detailed integration with you computer. Has lot of inbuilt stuff, for example Google Maps is one.
3) Has BIG memory space
4) Has a inbuilt iPod [as mentioned earlier]
5) Easy email access [just stating, haven’t used it for real]
Here are the iPhone specifications:
Screen size: 3.5 inches
Screen resolution: 320 by 480 at 160 ppi
Input method: Multi-touch
Operating system: OS XStorage: 4GB or 8GB
GSM: Quad-band (MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900)
Wireless data: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) + EDGE + Bluetooth 2.0
Camera: 2.0 megapixels
Battery: Up to 5 hours Talk / Video / Browsing
As promised the detailed keynote and introduction video by Steve Jobs on the Apple website. http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/j47d52oo/event/
Over here watch the iPhone Introduction (the second button)
More details on the features and their demo movies can be found on http://www.apple.com/iphone/
Hope you like it as much as I do :). Let’s see how fun this can be. I am very optimistic
PHOTOS
From the Apple website
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Look what ORKUT does!
Orkut, the new craze for all online netizens. Yahoo is good will always be, but Orkut seems to have induced some freshness into the whole idea of communicating/synching-up/networking/ etc. Interesting...very interesting!
Today, apart from my Yahoo or MSN chat friends list. I am talking to various other folks. My 6th, 7th grade classmates from one school, my 9-10th grade folks from another, my college mates, most of my ex-work places, and almost all of my current friends. The message on top of my Orkut profile saying “You are connected to 46,915,167 people through 90 friends" is proof enough and I bet some of us have triple the figure I have.
Ok now I agree that not all talk, but then the knowledge of each-other being around sort-of gives the feeling of being in-touch. You are free to message anyone, without being worried about disturbing him/her... and same for you replying back. You have the freedom of checking them whenever and replying whenever. However, we have to be responsive enough to make this two-way communication work.
This whole concept is just so wonderful. There are communities you can join and further collaborate personally, professionally or just for fun. Fan clubs, hobbies, and topics of interest everything can be done. If you remember names of you long lost friends go search them, but warning you might make friends or find ten others with the same name :)
Then there are provisions of photo sharing ( limited), video sharing, building up a detailed profile ( which 99% of us don't complete). You can post scraps (the term used for a message on Orkut) which are public, or send individual messages or messages to an entire group/community. We can configure it to get alerts on a selected email on receiving any scrap and also on receiving individual emails. You can add friends, sort them and maybe lots more that even I haven't explored. There are profile visits listed on you home page, so that you know the last 4-5 people who visited you. That’s one way of making friends too. You could end up visiting a friend’s scrap book and getting lined on to few more friends (new or old) who would have left messages there. See didn't I tell it was interesting!
Of course, we have to follow those basic etiquettes of being online, be responsible, responsive and behave. We need to exercise caution not to promote any illegal activity or harass or get harassed. Well as long as its fun there’s no problem. Hope no one ever gets into trouble here or causes trouble, but you cannot say for sure. There is so much to make use of there in a positive sense. Why would someone want to spoil the party? Best of all its FREE ;) All you need is a email ID to link that with.
In all this baby, a personal project of a Google engineer Orkut Buyukkokten is a sure hit among us. Read more about this and him on these links. Thanks Orkut! (both the person and Google's site) for making the net some more fun.
Link - http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3302741
His personal website - http://www.stanford.edu/~orkut/
(Note: I also got to know that there might be iisues with the actual ownership... Google seems to be facing a lawsuit from another company in CA. Read...http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,64046,00.html )
Today, apart from my Yahoo or MSN chat friends list. I am talking to various other folks. My 6th, 7th grade classmates from one school, my 9-10th grade folks from another, my college mates, most of my ex-work places, and almost all of my current friends. The message on top of my Orkut profile saying “You are connected to 46,915,167 people through 90 friends" is proof enough and I bet some of us have triple the figure I have.
Ok now I agree that not all talk, but then the knowledge of each-other being around sort-of gives the feeling of being in-touch. You are free to message anyone, without being worried about disturbing him/her... and same for you replying back. You have the freedom of checking them whenever and replying whenever. However, we have to be responsive enough to make this two-way communication work.
This whole concept is just so wonderful. There are communities you can join and further collaborate personally, professionally or just for fun. Fan clubs, hobbies, and topics of interest everything can be done. If you remember names of you long lost friends go search them, but warning you might make friends or find ten others with the same name :)
Then there are provisions of photo sharing ( limited), video sharing, building up a detailed profile ( which 99% of us don't complete). You can post scraps (the term used for a message on Orkut) which are public, or send individual messages or messages to an entire group/community. We can configure it to get alerts on a selected email on receiving any scrap and also on receiving individual emails. You can add friends, sort them and maybe lots more that even I haven't explored. There are profile visits listed on you home page, so that you know the last 4-5 people who visited you. That’s one way of making friends too. You could end up visiting a friend’s scrap book and getting lined on to few more friends (new or old) who would have left messages there. See didn't I tell it was interesting!
Of course, we have to follow those basic etiquettes of being online, be responsible, responsive and behave. We need to exercise caution not to promote any illegal activity or harass or get harassed. Well as long as its fun there’s no problem. Hope no one ever gets into trouble here or causes trouble, but you cannot say for sure. There is so much to make use of there in a positive sense. Why would someone want to spoil the party? Best of all its FREE ;) All you need is a email ID to link that with.
In all this baby, a personal project of a Google engineer Orkut Buyukkokten is a sure hit among us. Read more about this and him on these links. Thanks Orkut! (both the person and Google's site) for making the net some more fun.
Link - http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=3302741
His personal website - http://www.stanford.edu/~orkut/
(Note: I also got to know that there might be iisues with the actual ownership... Google seems to be facing a lawsuit from another company in CA. Read...http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,64046,00.html )
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