Gmail in Kannada Now!

I was just reading my friends blog, Guess what google has added a new feature in gmail to send emails in many Indian languages!!!!

Go to the settings page to enable this feature, once enabled you will see a “ಅ” or “अ” icon( based on which language you have chosen in the settings page) on the compose mail. Select that and just start typing phonetically! and gmail automatically translates it to your chosen language!!!

                 

Say if I type Raghavendra it converts to “ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರ”!! There is also a correction option to fine tune the translation!

Google just keeps impressing me, Go Google Go!

New Firmware 20.0.0.12 for Nokia 5800!

I updated my phone today with the latest firmware. Following were the noticeable changes

a) Performance is much better now, especially the touch response and gallery.

b) Geotagging is finally there on the camera!

c) New Dictionary app added with support to multiple languages.

d) camera feels a lot better.

e) New App.Update app added, which is used to update individual nokia applications outside of firmware updates!!!.. It had been first added in N85 and N79 finally made it to 5800 as well.

and lot more tiny little bug fixes. But I have noticed few issues one mainly in update is if there is a sim lock code then the phone does not switch on after the update!!!

One more issue is after this update, I could not install any app, even apps from nokia site get certificate expired error. Well got to figure that out.

Microsoft Arc Mouse!

                           

It has been around for almost a year now. Always wanted to get one of this because of its portability, very handy when travelling.

Finally got my hands on one :) at a mall in Luxembourg!

It is really great and simple. Performance is just fine, but most important it is comfy :)

Controversy a day before 2009 F1 season starts!

Controversy over the height of the diffuser of Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams cars!!!

Stewards of the Australian race have thrown out the protest, but now the decision will be made after the race by FIA’s court of appeal. hmmm. I thought there will not penalty on drivers or constructors after the race is over, well there we go.. what a great start for the season.

Well that's what makes F1 exciting isn't it?

Read the following link for more info

Formula1 official site!

Internet Explorer 8

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 is finally out! Well it was out from long time but as a beta, but now the beta is gone ;)

I am using the new explorer 8 from 2 days, seems to be quite stable and for the first time it is not as hungry for memory as explorer has been for years. Which is good. I did compare the memory usage for Google chrome, Firefox and the new explorer 8.. guess what explorer 8 was the least in memory usage so far!!!

Overall the experience has been excellent. I do suggest this but as everyone know security will be an issue since it has already been hacked! So in the browser war so far chrome is the only one not yet hacked!!!!!

‘Most Wins’ System Scrapped.. yupeeee!

After a long discussion between FIA and FOTA, the recently announced most wins points system is scrapped for the good the F1!.

I welcome the decision, this will keep the excitement on till the last race :).

Just a week to go for the first race of 2009!! cant wait for it….

Changed my Job!!

I have a joined Fernbach Software S.A in London, United Kingdom!

Check out the link for further information on the company!

Windows Live Writer!

I am writing this blog using Windows Live Writer. After a long time I have seen something nice as this from Microsoft! It is really nice and amazing way to blog!

Windows live writer is a blogging tool, which supports a whole range of blogging stuff from blogger.com to wordpress!

It supports sharing photos from Live photos and flicker! and it has pluggin’s to generate tiny url and post it on twitter as well!!!!

I really like this tool. Will be using it from now on!

iPhone's new OS 3.0!

Well it took Apple almost 2 years to put copy paste feature in iPhone!!!! That is not impressive at all...
Most of the stuff newly added were a basic features in many other phones in the market... A2DP, MMS etc...
But still there is something about Apple that brings people talking about it.
Well they finally have unlocked the bluetooth chip in iPod touch with 3.0! Apple has almost convinced me to change my iPod with that.. anyways it is getting better every time.
Also I liked the new API's and access level to developers into iPhone's hardware and resources.

Birthday Calender from Orkut to Google Calender!

I just noticed this link on my orkut homepage!, just click on the link and walla u have your friends b'days imported to your google calender!!!
Google is just awesome!

my new Nokia 5800 expressmusic!!

After using HTC P3300 for almost a year I had switched back to symbian device Nokia N95 8gb as published earlier!!!

But honestly I was totally unhappy about N95! except its camera. Over all the device was very slow and used to crash a lot. And having used a touch screen I was really uncomfortable using a non-touch screen phone!

So as soon as 5800 was out on streets in India, I grabbed one!!! I have been using this for a month now. Honestly I am pretty happy with the new version of the OS and the device. Package is really great! for less than 20k ( approx 500 USD ) you get the device + 8gb memory card with lots of goodies :)

Will post about the device and apps very soon!

Bespin a cloud code editor!!

Introducing Bespin from Dion Almaer on Vimeo.

Bespin is a Mozilla Labs experiment that proposes an open, extensible web-based framework for code editing that aims to increase developer productivity, enable compelling user experiences, and promote the use of open standards.

I just used it to code a small function in java script and it is awesome!!! still being a alpha this runs pretty smooth.

Read more about it at http://labs.mozilla.com/projects/bespin/

2D Bar Code Reader

Even though this application from Nokia is been around from long time, had never tried it. I recently came across Mobile Barcoder extension for FireFox!! It is really great.

Nokia 2D bar code reader uses the built in camera to scan and interpret the barcodes. I was wondering what it would be useful for. Nokia has a barcode generation site which lets you encode URL, text or business card information and generate a barcode. One can use the site to generate barcodes and display on the site.


There aren't much sites that support this, but with the help of the barcoder extension, it is very easy to use :)

Main use of this is transferring URL's to mobile phone without much hazels. Say I am downloading a theme for the mobile, I just have to browse on the PC; and transfer the url to the mobile and then download directly on the phone!!!

The above image was created using Nokia's bar coder for my blog :)

Web OS!!!

There has been lot of hype on the WEB OS's recently, I did find out the free ones already out in the market and listed them :)

Following are the different free WEB OS's available:
a) G.ho.st
b) Desktop Two
c) eyeOS

Each one of the above has its own pros and cons. But I like the way this guys have implemented. I will review each of the above and come up with my observations shortly :)

Till then happy logging on to web systems :)

Google!!!

Google just keeps on improving there search!! go google go!!
Just type in the flight number u have the information on its departure and arrival!!!
Google is just great.

2008 Season round up!!!

Just a simple small blog is not sufficient to cover 2008 season...it is one of the best seasons in the formula 1 history. The championship was down to the last corner of the last race of the season!!!! It just can't get better than this. I am actually short of words to describe or talk about this season.

Brazilian GP was really exciting, rain started to pour down heavily 10 mins before the start of the race. Race control delayed the race for 10 mins, for teams to change to wet weather tires. Massa had a great start, but after first few corners there were collisions; which made the safety car come out :(
David's last race ended in a crash, sad way to end a pretty long career. With Safety car around, only driver to make use of this was Alonso. Then Lewis managed to get to fifth place; a safe place for the championship.

After that the race was pretty boring with Massa set to win the race. But rain gods wanted to add some fun to the race :) it started to rain again on 63rd lap. Almost everybody did a pit stop to change to wet weather tires, with Massa pitting last. It worked well for Ferrari. With all the pit stop drama Vettel was behind Lewis and did manage to overtake him with just one lap to go!! Now Lewis was on 6th place which will put him equal to Massa on championship points. Toyoto's Glock was on sleek tires; as the rain picked up.. he could not maintain the pace. Finally on the last corner, he took a long turn which gave lewis some space to overtake. He did finish 5th which got him 1 point lead over Massa. There we have the new Champion for 2008 season Lewis Hamilton.

But I am expecting the next season to be even more thrilling with 6 drivers really competing for the top place ( Kimi, Massa, Lewis, Alonso, Kubica, Vettel). It should be great fun :)

Slick Messenger app

Slick is a messenger app very similar to Fring app, I liked slick more than fring because it is lot more stable and works well on my Nokia N95. It supports ICQ, Yahoo, MSN, Gtalk and Jabber protocols!!.. supports emotions(smilies) as well :) Most of all chat history is saved!
But since this is a testing version, it is free..but soon LonelycatGames will charge for this :(

This is a really nice app, must have app if you have a Symbian phone.

Fring app for phones!!!

Few days back I came across this wonderful application for my Nokia N95, which is all in one multi chat app. One can chat, talk and share multimedia stuff on your phone!!!
As usual after using this for few days following are the pros and cons:
Pros:
a) Supports Gtalk, Skype, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM, twitter chat protocols..Also orkut!!!
b) One can make voice calls over the above mentioned chat's but Yahoo & AIM are not supported for Voice as of now.
c) I have used this in quite remote places; where there is no EDGE network support as well!!! but it performed quite well, I could make voice chats as well.
d) The best part is one can log into all different chats at one time.

Cons:
a) Keeps crashing a lot!!
b) I am not a fan of the interface, but it serves the propose.
c) chat histories are not saved, so once u close the chat window with one user and again try to continue with the conversation..old conversation which one had closed cannot be viewed!!which is quite annoying

Over all it is quite a good app and more over it is free as of now..so no complaints.

My new N95 8GB!

I had to change my phone from HTC P3300...since it broke :( I had lot of options to choose from... I almost went for HTC touch Diamond. The only reason I did not buy HTC again is; I am not happy with there built quality and re-sale value in India. But if Sony ericsson's X1 was out..i would have got that. Anyways I got N95 8GB; reasons to choose them are:
a) 5 Mpix camera.
b) 8 GB drive :)
c) My budget
d) I have used symbian phones before, and it really has got a lot of 3rd party app's to choose from.

After using N95 from almost a month, following are the pro's and cons I could think off:
Pros:
a) Awesome built quality
b) Pretty good software bundle. I liked the Nokia multimedia converter..which converts most of the available video formats and stores on ur phone!!
c) Camera is quite good, I m not impressed with the Flash... but it is fine for a phone
d) Battery life is good.
e) Syncing the outlook calender/Contacts has been modified by Nokia, and I am quite impressed by it.
f) I found lot of useful apps..and themes as well


Cons:
a) I feel the device is quite slow.. defiantly needs more ram and a better processor.
b) Music playback on A2DP is pretty bad!! I really hate this part.
c) I have seen this device crash many times when using blue tooth modem :(
d) Does not charge on USB. I am not sure why Nokia is not getting this on there phones.
e) retail package does not include any games.
f) GPS is not so great.

My PSP on firmware 5.0!!!

I updated the PSP firmware from 3.20 to 5.00 and man I did see the difference in performance.... Cool theme... and lot of cool features added.
I really liked the feed reader, internet radio, flash support and most of all sleep timer in Music player :)
Also cool one is connectivity to PS3 and a PC.. now one can browse files in PS3 and a PC via PS3 using PSP... now Sony is really convinced me to buy a PS3!!!

Happy gaming!!!!