Software of the Month - Festoon Unity

Jatin Nagpal

This fledgling brother of Skype - Vskype, now christened Festoon - could very well become the most popular software of the year. This nifty plug-in, supported by Skype and Google Talk, goes one step ahead of conventional messengers by enabling you to see whom you're talking to. And whats' more, you can have video conferencing with 200 persons! Audio quality is very good, and so is the video speed.

As the blurb on the site says: Whether you use Skype or Google Talk for business or to connect with family and friends, now you can show a presentation, work on a spreadsheet, share photos, or just have fun online while seeing everyone in the call! This plug-in surely isn't just confined to enabling video calls.

With support for AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger on the cards, this software is something you just can't afford to miss.

Download Festoon Unity at www.festooninc.com

System Requirements

800 MHz processor, Windows XP or 2000, Internet Explorer 5.0+, and Skype or Google Talk.

Website of the Month - HowStuffWorks.com

Jatin Nagpal

For people obsessed with understanding how everything in the universe works, there's no better way than to head to HowStuffWorks.com.

The brainchild of Marshall Brain (yeah, that's his real name), HowStuffWorks.com is an eclectic encyclopedia with an array of topics ranging from "How Black Holes Work" to "How Liposuction Works" to "How Harley Davidson Works" to even "How Déjà vu Works". Listed among the TIME's 50 Best Websites, this site uses photos, diagrams, video and animation to explain even complex terminology and mechanisms in lucid terms.

So, if you feel you need to step-up your Knowledge Quotient, you know just where to head to.

What’s wrong with AMD?

Nimish Dubey

All over the world, AMD processors are supposed to be giving Intel’s a run for their money. And the consumers are all the better for it as they are now getting more options at better prices. Computers are getting cheaper and well, Intel finally has some competition after being in a virtually monopolistic position for almost a decade.

But not in India.

For reasons best known to themselves, Indian PC and notebook salespersons seem to distrust AMD processors. I have used AMD processors myself (an AMD Athlon and an AMD 64 bit 1800+) and have been more than content with their performance. But whenever I have tried to buy an AMD-driven computer, the salesperson has inevitably piped up with “Sir, why on earth do you want an AMD machine?”. The most recent of these incidents took place when I visited an HP showroom and inquired about the NX6125 notebook , which runs on an AMD Turion processor. The salesperson tried his best to dissuade me from buying it, saying Intel machines were better. When I asked him why he thought so, he was at a loss for words. I did not know whether to be impressed with his sincerity (he was, after all, criticising his own company’s product) or to laugh at his naivete.

In fact, none of these salespersons who have criticised AMD have ever been able to provide me with a rationale for their opinions. Their adherence to Intel seems to be based on blind faith. Industry benchmarks and tests have proved that AMD processors are a match (and sometimes more than a match) for their much-hyped Intel counterparts. Indeed, most multimedia and gaming PCs are rapidly switching over to AMD – the high-profile Acer Ferrari notebook being a prime example. Why then do Indian IT salespersons distrust it?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Do you think that AMD processors are as good as Intel’s? Post your opinion or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

12" Notebooks Rock!!

Ajay Jain

If you are not into gaming or have a need to see graphical displays on a big screen, a 12" notebook rocks…all the way.

I picked up a Lenovo (formerly IBM) recently with a small screen. And has it changed my life? Sure as hell it has. Before anything else, its key benefits:

· It is so, so light and small…While travelling I can just put it into my small rucksack along with some other things like books etc.

· Battery lasts great. Except weekends, I don't even take the charger home any more…last a good over three hours. (Although I believe laptop batteries follow a law of diminishing charge over time)

· It actually makes for better reading on screen when working on office documents, emails etc.

· Feels good working on it…My 14" notebooks which I still have look so HUGE when I touch them compared to this one!!

· For those struggling to have mobile, handheld computing on the go, and have still to get that experience out of their Nokia Communicators and Palm Treos, 12" notebooks from Lenovo and Sony come the closest as they can be carried even in your file carriers. Can’t comment on other brands as I have not felt them, but anything from Dell should be a no-no. (Will share the reasons for this some other time)

The above are just some of the benefits. Of course, there is the small matter of price. In the 1990s the trend was the bigger the screen, the higher the price. It has now gone the other way round. While I could have picked up a bigger screen laptop from Lenovo with similar capabilities and more accessories like drives for under Rs. 50,000, this one was Rs. 93,000. But for my use at least, a great buy.

And I just love to carry this notebook to work on at Costa over coffee.

This article is not about the other features of the laptop. But if you want me share those experiences too, write to me at ajay@tcp.in .

The Javaman steps down

Nimish Dubey

The IT world lost one of its most colourful personalities when the CEO of Sun Microsystems, Scott McNealy decided to step down from his post. His decision will have saddened many people – not all of them Java developers.

For a long time in the nineties, McNealy was the antithesis of the likes of Bill Gates and Larry Ellison. He was one of the first people to recognise the power of network computing, famously saying “The Network is the computer”. Although his prediction that desktop computers would be ultimately replaced by “dumb terminals” connected to a server has not really materialised, few would dare bet against it even today. McNealy was also known for his championing of the Java programming language (earning him the name “Javaman”) that allowed programmers to come up with applications that could run on most computers. He was also instrumental in Sun’s foray into the server market as well as the acquisition of the StarOffice office suite, which ultimately led to the development of OpenOffice – a free alternative to Microsoft’s expensive office suite, MS Office.

However, what people are likely to miss most about McNealy is his ability to speak his mind. While most CEOs tended to couch their speeches in jargon and vague promises, McNealy was direct and more often than not, very funny. His verbal jousting with Bill Gates in the nineties helped fill many a newspaper column. And unlike many high-profile CEOs, he was very accessible. In fact, when I asked him for an e-mail interview in 2001, he consented without so much as a query and sent detailed answers to all my questions. By all accounts, he was extremely popular among his employees and had few airs about him.

Unfortunately, all that could not help from stopping Sun’s steep decline in recent years – a decline that ultimately cost him his job. It was indeed ironical that while his employees mourned his departure, the stock market responded positively to it - Sun’s shares rose when his resignation was announced.

Mind you, he is not the type to be quiet for long. The Javaman may have quit his post but is unlikely to ride quietly into the sunset.

What impact will Scott McNealy’s departure have on Sun Microsystems? Post your opinions or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

Farewell, Windows 98

Nimish Dubey

 

What do you do when you are on the verge of releasing a new product? Well, if you are Microsoft, you promptly get rid of older products, irrespective of their popularity. The big M has decided to pave the way for the launch of its next major operating system, Windows Vista, by scuppering all support for Windows 98 and Windows Me from July 11 onwards this year.

 

Microsoft's decision is a bit surprising, given the fact that both Windows 98 and Windows Me still enjoy a considerable following all over the world. They are particularly popular in India as they are cheaper, quicker and have lower system requirements than Windows XP. In fact, one still gets software designed to run on the two operating systems in India.

 

Microsoft's decision is likely to have a far-reaching impact on thousands of Indian PC users who run Windows 98 or Me. They now have to choose between going for a new operating system (either Windows 2000 or Windows XP) or sticking with an operating system that will not receive any official support from its developer. That means no patches to support new hardware drivers or to protect against attacks by new viruses and worms.

 

But changing operating systems is no easy tasks - one will not only need to invest in the operating system but also in hardware upgrades (whereas Windows 98 or Me could run quite comfortably on a PC with 64 MB RAM, you need at least twice as much RAM to run Windows XP or 2000). And the expenses do not end there - there is no guarantee that the software (office suites, graphics applications, anti-virus software, accounting packages, etc.) that ran perfectly well on Windows 98 and Me will run on the new OS.  Microsoft might say that it has given ample notice to enable users to switch to other operating systems but the fact remains that its decision is likely to hit a number of small and medium-sized enterprises hard.

 

Mind you, the decision could well backfire on Microsoft. Instead of pushing users on to new (and more expensive) operating systems, it might encourage them to migrate to the considerably cheaper Linux platform.

 

Now, that would be something.

 

Will Microsoft's decision to withdraw support for Windows 98 and Me encourage users to move to Linux? Post your opinions or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

Will Boot Camp revive the Mac in India?

By Nimish Dubey

 

Apple's decision to release Boot Camp, a software application that allows users to run Windows XP on its Mac computers, could well change the fortunes of the Mac platform in India. Although ad agencies and design outfits in the country still use Macs, most general users and corporates tend to steer clear of the computer because support and software for it is virtually non-existent in the country. A bit of a pity, really, because Macs are without doubt superior to PCs in terms of hardware quality. In fact, even the operating system that comes pre-installed on them (Mac OS) is considered to be more secure and stable than Windows.

 

However, the arrival of Boot Camp could change all that. For, with the introduction of this software, one can purchase a Mac and then run Windows on it. Macs generally come packed with their own software and getting software for Windows is relatively easier. That said, one would need to purchase a copy of Windows XP, which could set one back by anything in the region of Rs 5,000 -7,000. There also is the little matter of lack of support – Apple has categorically stated that it cannot provide support for Windows on the Mac. And it is difficult to see Microsoft agreeing to provide support either. Top this off with the fact that Boot Camp is still a beta and therefore likely to have security issues and it is unlikely that corporates will be queuing up for Macs yet.

 

However, personal users might prefer to go for the Mac for its gorgeous looks and of course, the near-cult status it enjoys in the industry. The key issue is just how well Windows is going to perform on the Mac. If it manages to perform adequately, the Mac may suddenly see a surge in its popularity in India.

 

Will Indian users be swayed by the option to run Windows on the Mac? Post your comments or send them to nimish@tcp.in

Yahoo!Mail gets a makeover

By Nimish Dubey

A few years ago, almost every one had a Yahoo!Mail ID. The service was quick, more reliable than Hotmail and featured quick-loading pages. However, it all went pear-shaped for Yahoo! when Google launched its e-mail service (Gmail), and changed the benchmarks for web-based mail. Gmail offered exponentially more storage space, a smoother interface and free SMTP and POP mail support (allowing users to download mail to their computers using e-mail clients). Yahoo! Responded by increasing its mail storage space, but it refused to tinker with its interface.

Now, it seems that Yahoo! has finally come out with a more concrete response – a new-look webmail service. Those who opt to use Yahoo!Mail beta will now get to view their email in a format similar to that of e-mail clients like Thunderbird and Outlook Express, with mail folders being displayed on one part of the screen, and the mail in the highlighted folder being displayed on the other. What’s more, one can now use the right mouse button to delete and move mail as well as compose replies. In short, it is a bit like an online e-mail client. It’s only blemish is the amount of time it takes to load – definitely not an option for dial-up users.

Of course, this version of Yahoo!Mail is a beta, just as Gmail is. The final versions might well be very different from what we see today. That said, there’s no doubt that the changes make Yahoo!Mail a lot easier to use, once one manages to get past the initial trouble of loading the page. Now, if only it would increase the storage space to 1GB!

What do YOU think of the new-look Yahoo!Mail? Post your comments or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

India’s first iTunes phone

By Nimish Dubey

Some might accuse me of writing about technology in what is essentially a blog devoted to music, but someone does need to talk about the fact that India finally has a cellphone that runs iTunes on it! For some reason, even the phone’s manufacturer (Motorola) seems loath to talk about it.

I am referring to the recently launched Moto RAZR V3i. The advertisements and reports in the Indian media talk about its improved design, the fact that it has expandable memory and, of course, about its drop-dead gorgeous looks (hey, we are talking about a RAZR here). What very few have mentioned is what the “i” in the phone’s name stands for – iTunes. This is not the first time Motorola has attempted to put iTunes on one of its phones – the company had tried to market its ROKR as the “iTunes phone” but the product came a cropper because of its appearance and poor performance. Many observers felt that Motorola would have done better to incorporate iTunes in its stylish RAZR range. Well, the company seems to have done just that.

In case you happen to live on other planet, iTunes is the software designed by Apple (yep, the fellas who make those awesome looking computers) to play and manage music on computers as well as on its famous MP3 player, the iPod. The software has been acknowledged to be amongst the best in the world, and is giving established applications like RealMusic Player, Windows Media Player and WinAmp a run for their money. The benefits of having this software on a cellphone are obvious – it is infinitely superior to any of the existing cellphone audio players and gives one far more options for managing, transferring and of course, playing music files. If implemented properly, it could make cellphones a viable alternative to MP3 players.

All of which makes Motorola’s reticence in highlighting this aspect of the phone even more inexplicable. But then, given the way Motorola shied away from announcing the release of its superb L7 phone late last year, this is hardly surprising behaviour.

What do you think of the RAZR V3i? Post your comments or send them to nimish@tcp.in

Four reasons to stop using IE

By Nimish Dubey

About a decade ago, Microsoft made browsing the Internet a much easier task by making its Internet Explorer (IE) browser available free with Windows. Of course, the company’s intentions were not altruistic – it wanted to wipe out the dominant browser, Netscape. To a large extent, it succeeded in its objective. What’s more, Internet Explorer also made browsing an easier experience as it worked much faster and had a simpler interface than the rather bulky Netscape Navigator. However, Microsoft has, for reasons best known to itself, not really worked on upgrading the browser (we have been stuck with version six for years now, even while the likes of Netscape and Opera are on version 8), leaving it vulnerable to hackers and also failing to match the features offered by other browsers. And yet, many users persist in using IE out of sheer force of habit. In case you happen to be one of them, here are four reasons why you need to change your browser:

a. It is unsafe: The Internet is not a safe place. Experienced hackers can access your computer if you are using the wrong software. And it is difficult to find a less secure browser than IE. The browser has more holes than a Swiss cheese and unless you love downloading patches from Microsoft (which come laden with their own problems), this is more than ample reason to avoid the application.

b. It is low on features: In terms of features, IE 6 is not in the same league as Firefox, Opera or even Netscape. It does not offer tabbed browsing, has no download manager and makes downloading pages on to one’s machine a right royal pain.

c. It is slow: It may launch quicker than most browsers, but in terms of browsing speed, IE is not in the same league as Opera and Firefox. If you use IE, it is a fair chance that you will end up spending more time online, simply because it takes more time to load pages!

d. It is from Microsoft: Right, this may sound VERY unfair, but there can be no denying the fact that Microsoft is hardly the most reliable name when it comes to IT products. Its flagship Windows OS is bulky and buggy, its office suite (MS Office) is overpriced and stacked with features most people never bother using, and even its latest gaming console (the Xbox 360) was beset with problems. On top of this, the company has been sued several times for unfair practices. Why on earth would you use a product made by them unless there was no alternative?

If you are not convinced by any of these reasons, download Opera (www.opera.com) or Firefox (http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/). You will discover just what you are missing by sticking to IE.

Do you think Nimish has a point? Or is he just ranting against the big M? Post your comments or mail them to nimish@tcp.in

Cell price wars: Nokia challenged!

By Nimish Dubey

The past couple of weeks have seen a slew of price cuts from two of the three major cellphone manufacturers in the country - Motorola and Sony Ericsson. Notable price slashes were those of the Moto Razr V3 whose price was reduced to Rs 9,990 and the Sony Ericsson K600i, bringing it below Rs 10,000 as well.

Nokia has so far shown no inclination to join the party. The company is currently publicising its grossly overpriced N series of phones. However, it is difficult to see it keeping aloof for long as Motorola and Sony’s price cuts are likely to hurt its dominance of the mid-segment of the Indian cellphone market. Motorola’s release of a low-priced colourphone will also dent the dominance of Nokia’s immensely successful 1100 as the Motorola phone offers a colour display for just a few rupees more. There are rumours that Sony Ericsson too is considering bringing out a sub-Rs 3,000 colour cellphone.

Add to this the fact that both Samsung and LG have released phones that offer a number of features at relatively low prices, and we could be witnessing the biggest challenge posed to Nokia’s leadership of the Indian cellphone market in recent years. The company’s response – and there’s bound to be one – is going to be interesting. Rumours abound – the 6600's price could be slashed by a third, the n-Gage could go sub-Rs.5,000...you name it.

If you are planning to buy a cellphone, hold your horses. Things are likely to get very interesting - and a lot cheaper as well - in the coming days!

Does Nokia need to reduce the price of its phones? Post your comments or drop a mail to nimish@tcp.in

Five things we would like to see in cellphones!

By Nimish Dubey

Cellphones seem to be getting more powerful every day. You can now see television channels on them, see movie clips, shoot videos, play mp3s, browse the Net and store files on them, among other things. However, in their enthusiasm to add new functionalities to phones, cellphone manufacturers seem to have forgotten to address some basic issues. Here then are five features that we would like to see in cellphones. They may not sound ground-breaking or revolutionary but they would make cellphones so much more useful:

1. Better battery life: Colour displays might look very nice but they do gobble up more battery than their monochrome counterparts. And the inclusion of every new feature further drains battery. It would be nice to have a phone that one could use without having to worry about its charge running out.
2. Daylight-proof displays: Most colour cellphone screens are almost impossible to read in the daylight. It would be a relief to not have to move into the shade every time one has to use one’s phone.
3. Better software: Unless one buys a smartphone, the software accompanying most cellphones is plain ordinary. There is nothing bearing even a remote resemblance to a word processor, WAP browsers are slow and buggy, and there’s no provision for handling complex calculations. And how about a simple “Help” button that can give one access to basic cellphone commands?
4. Improved PC synchronisation: Almost all mid-segment cellphones can be synchronised with computers. However, this synchronisation is limited to contact information and a few other files. What’s more, pairing one’s PC with one’s cell remains a messy affair with the synchronisation software often malfunctioning. It would be incredibly handy if synchronisation could be made simpler and more extensive.
5. More useful accessories: Right now, cellphone accessories seem to be limited to earphones and microphones, and the odd joystick. It would be great if one had accessories that could actually enhance a cellphone’s features. If PCs can have bluetooth dongles, why not cellphones? Or what about a clip that adds a speakerphone functionality to a cellphone? Or a panel that turns the display into a touch-screen?

What would YOU like to see in a cellphone? Post your wishlist or send it to nimish@tcp.in

Can celebs sell computers?

By Nimish Dubey

Celebrity endorsement may make the ad world go around, but when it comes to IT products, celeb appeal seems to be limited. Bipasha Basu’s endorsement of Panasonic cellphones did not make much difference to sales figures and even the sight of Amitabh Bachchan using an LG phone in Ek Ajnabee could not make a significant difference to the product’s fortunes. And when it comes to computers, celebrities seem conspicuous by their absence with most companies preferring to highlight configurations rather than star appeal.

However, that seems set to change with the announcement of ad campaigns from Lenovo and Compaq, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. It will be interesting to see if either of these efforts bears success, but one can be forgiven for feeling pessimistic. For, unlike many other consumer products, computers are not bought on impulse or in keeping with a fashion (with the notable exception of Apple’s computer range), but on the basis of serious consideration and more often than not, consultation with hardware specialists.

Rare is the person who buys a computer based purely on an advertisement. In fact, the flourishing assembled computers market indicates that advertising campaigns seldom translate into huge sales in India. The only time when branded computers do sell is when they fight on price and signing on celebrities generally indicates an increase, rather than decrease in price as endorsement fees and high profile ad campaigns do cost a pretty penny.

So, will the computer companies’ celebrity gamble pay off? I am not sure it will – not unless it is backed up by products that deliver value for money. But if such products exist, surely they don’t need celebrities to sell them? Would it not make more sense to highlight their configurations, prices and benchmark test figures?
Future events may prove me wrong, but I think Lenovo and Compaq would have been better advised to spend their money on product development.

Will Saif and Shah Rukh help sell more computers? Post your opinions or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

Searching for a branded gaming computer

By Nimish Dubey

The media keeps telling us about how computer gaming is becoming a rage in India. We keep getting figures about how many thousand gamers entered a contest in some city and of the huge cash prizes that were doled out to them. Publications are paying more attention to gaming and most music stores now have a section dedicated to computer games.
So, why on earth is it SO difficult to get a decently-priced, branded gaming computer in India?

When I say “branded”, I refer to one of the so-called top computer hardware companies – the likes of Lenovo (formerly IBM), HP (including Compaq), HCL and Dell. While all of these worthies have computers that can play computer games, not one has a machine that can be said to have been designed especially for gamers. Which is a bit silly, really, because while a good multimedia computer can be used by just about anybody for any purpose, a “professional” desktop is simply no good when it comes to gaming or other multimedia tasks. Unfortunately, most companies seem to be more than content to dole out these “professional” machines.

Even the computers marketed as “multimedia computers” have appalling hardware configurations. It takes more than Microsoft Windows Media Centre, a large monitor and a snazzy pair of speakers to make a computer truly multimedia-friendly. The biggest shortcoming in most machines is the absence of graphics cards. Most companies prefer to stick to “onboard graphics” provided by Intel to run graphics-oriented applications such as games. These are at best mediocre and are simply not in the same league as the graphics cards provided by nVidia and ATI. Even when a computer does feature a graphics card, the chances are that it will be a weak one that will barely be able to run most new games. And while most companies do offer you the option of adding a graphics card to your machine, they charge exorbitant prices for the same. Yes, you can get notebook computers with good graphics cards but remember, not only do these cost more than desktops, but they also cannot be upgraded.

To get a gaming computer in India today, one needs to be not only interested in gaming but also to be a hardware specialist. Because the only way you can get a decent machine is by either building one yourself or by adding components to an existing computer. Contrast this with the international scenario where the likes of Alienware are actually dedicated to making computers for gamers, with special covers and upgrade options.

Gaming may be growing by leaps and bounds in India, but most computer manufacturers seem to be unaware of this.

(To see some of the gaming computers on offer in the international market, try visiting www.alienware.com)

Should hardware manufacturers be paying more attention to the gaming segment of India’s computer-savvy population? Post your comments or send a mail to nimish@tcp.in

Windows Vista: An Open Letter to Microsoft

By Nimish Dubey

Dear Microsoft,

I have heard that you are going to launch a new version of Windows called Vista in the coming days. The news filled me with joy. Not because I am a staunch Windows supporter but for the benefits that it will bestow on the world.

To begin with, I am sure hardware manufacturers must be in ecstasies. Every new edition of Windows has necessitated a hardware upgrade – when I first used Windows, it was on a PC with 8MB RAM and a hard drive that was measured in Megabytes (I also had the entire MS Office suite on it, as well as Adobe Pagemaker, with space to spare). Well, thanks to your constant endeavour, we now need exponentially more storage and RAM to get the most out of Windows XP. I am sure Vista will add another proud chapter to the Windows Book of Hardware Upgrades. Rumour has it that for optimum performance, one will need a DirectX 9 supported graphics card. The popping sound that you hear is coming from the champagne being opened by the folks at ATI and nVidia. Of course, this will mean that PCs that come with Vista installed will cost a lot more. Which in turn should please the lads at the Finance Ministry – more revenue through sales tax!

Every release of Windows in recent times has also had the lawyers rubbing their hands in glee as it inevitably is followed by lots of litigation. The list of those who have sued you is impressive – the US Government, the EU, Sun Microsystems, Apple, Kodak, etc. I am sure you will have bundled something new with this version that will send someone (who knows, this time it might be the UN) scurrying to the courtrooms to seek redressal. And talking of bundling, I am sure you will be adding even more software to this version of Windows. The last few years have seen you add a browser, a firewall, CD-writing software, a media player, and God alone knows what else to the OS. I hear this time you will be chucking in some anti-virus. There is of course the little matter of most PC users already having what you are proposing to give them, but then, variety is the essence of life.

I can foresee whoops of joy from the ISPs as well. Users are definitely going to spend more time online once they start using the new Windows. How else will they able to download all those nice patches and service packs that you so thoughtfully provide to fix up all the security holes in the software (which you not-so-thoughtfully provide). Most users will also need to patch up their existing software for it to work with the new Windows (Windows does have a compatibility mode but for some reason, it seldom worketh).

And forget not the medical community, particularly the psychiatrists who will get lots of patients, thanks to the nervous breakdowns caused by Windows therapeutic error messages. And while on the subject, you will also spread joy throughout the world as our mail accounts get bombarded by daft jokes about the new OS!

Of course, none of all this really benefits the people who are going to use your software. But what does it matter as long as they do what you want them to – pay the price!

ctrl+alt+del,
Nimish Dubey

For more information on just what it will take to run Microsoft Windows Vista, try the following links:

a. Microsoft’s Windows Vista Beta 1 fact sheet. And do note that the minimum system requirements include 512 MB of RAM. That’s four times what it took to run Windows XP.
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/newsroom/winxp/VistaBeta1FS.mspx

b. eWeek’s John G. Spooner and Mary Jo Foley take a closer look at Vista’s system requirements.
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1843945,00.asp

Do you agree with the author or do you think he is being unfair to Microsoft? Post your comments or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

Amazon’s MP3 player – iPod killer?

By Nimish Dubey

Speculation is rife that e-commerce behemoth Amazon is working on launching an MP3 player that will bear its name. Although no details are available about the product itself, the news has stirred up the music industry. Many are hoping that Amazon will knock Apple off its perch as runaway market leader (courtesy the iPod). Amazon does have the resources to challenge Apple when it comes to providing music – after all, it is a huge online store with colossal music and audio resources. And if Amazon chooses to fight on price (as it generally does), it could give the folks at Cupertino something to think about.

But when it comes to hardware, Amazon has its task cut out. The iPod has moved beyond being an MP3 player and is now considered a status symbol. While the likes of Sony and iRiver have done their best to come out with alternatives to it, none has really succeeded. To beat the iPod, Amazon will need more than just a good product at a decent price – it will need a product that matches the design and looks of the iPod. If the rumour that Samsung has been given the task of manufacturing Amazon’s MP3 player is true, then it is unlikely that it will knock the iPod off the popularity charts.

It could however, provide music lovers with a cheaper alternative. And even that would be welcome. Needless to say, we will keep you informed.

For more information on the rumours about the Amazon MP3 player, you can read the following:

a. Cnet’s James Kin on the impact an Amazon MP3 player could have on the iPod: http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7-6440789.html

b. The article that started it all – the Wall Street Journal’s report that Amazon is busy developing an MP3 player: http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114005222162375368.html


Do you think the Amazon MP3 player will end the iPod’s reign in the MP3 player market? Post your comments or drop a mail to nimish@tcp.in

Windows Vista: foul play ahead?

By Nimish Dubey

Microsoft’s next operating system, Windows Vista, might be one of the most awaited software applications of the year but it seems that the company itself is not too confident of its success. How else can one explain the rumour that Microsoft is attempting to “force” users to use the new operating system by ensuring that forthcoming versions of its popular software will work only on those computers running Vista. In other words, if a consumer wants to run a new version of MS Office, he or she will be able to do so only on a computer that runs the Windows Vista operating system. The application will not run on Windows XP or any of its predecessors.

While all this is mere speculation, it would be foolish to discount it totally. For Microsoft has already announced that the PC version of its popular game Halo 2 will work only on computers running Vista. Non-gamers might not appreciate the significance of this but the fact is that Microsoft has just ensured that every one who plans to buy a copy of Halo 2 (and there are at least a few million of those) will already be planning to get a copy of the new operating system.

Of course, this is nothing new for Microsoft. The company has built a reputation for “killing” older products - there is no longer any official support available for Windows 98, even though the operating system runs on thousands of computers today. Similarly, Windows XP did not support older hardware. And now, it seems the turn of Windows XP to be shown the door.

Does Microsoft have the right to manufacture software that is compatible only with its new version of Windows? Post your thoughts or send them to nimish@tcp.in

NOKIA- kya aapne NO-KIA?

Ruchika Goyal


Most of us have been using Nokia phones for so long that it seems it they have been around a lifetime. But I think we have forgotten about the deteriorating quality, or have at least have stopped complaining because Nokia, I guess, is the best, or so we believe.

I have been using a Nokia-3350 for three and a half years now. Though the looks had deteriorated but the performance was still pretty good. I decided to change to the more happening and chic nokia-6030. But to my dismay right from the first day itself it had various problems which included that of the system going into a hang completely for minutes together and the software needing upgradation. I thought that it would be solved once I visited the Nokia customer care but it was not to be, as the problem continues till today and the handset is lying with them for over a week.

While this might be termed as a stray incidence, it really is not. A similarly harrowing incidence occurred with Miss Khushboo Goyal. She was gifted a Nokia-2300 by her brother as a rakshabandhan present but little had they realised that the phone was a bundle of trouble. They had to get the software updated within the first week itself and then after a year again after shelling out Rs. 300. Similarly Rohini Dalmia faced the same problem with the same Nokia-2300. She too had to get it upgraded.

While both Dalmia and Goyal claim that they had better experiences with their previous Nokia handsets- 3350 and 3315 respectively as they claim to have used these for over two years at end without difficulty. Others in the queue are Ashish Sachdeva and Shikha Tara; they both had harrowing experiences with the Nokia-3315. They claim that their handsets did not function with ease even for six months at a stretch.

While one may say that this seems to be a problem with the cheaper phones but then Sumit Sawhney seems to have a different story about his Nokia-6600 he bought for over eleven thousand. He complains that, “The software seems to have trouble each time I tried using it in any way and then when I finally took it to Nokia Care I was asked to deposit it with them for a fortnight. I did as told but was shocked to see the brutal manner in which they handled the handset. Not just mine, but others too. They did not even know whose phone was kept where and what was the problem and when would it be rectified.”

Similarly Neeti Grover faced the same problem the very next day after she bought the all so chic and expensive Nokia 7600!

While this seems to be one experience too many, why are we not complaining? Or is it simply Nokia’s marketing strategy that has become stronger than the quality we all seem to be missing so often?!

Why the fine print, Nokia?

Nimish Dubey

Nokia has recently been advertising its Nokia 6600 phone on television. The ad revolves around a son showing the phone to his father who remarks, “A phone is only for talking”. The son promptly proceeds to show him a video on the phone, depicting him singing a song for dad. Dad gets all sentimental and things end with the family posing for a cellphone camera snap!

But the critical portion of the advertisement is the part when the video is being played on the cellphone. A line of text (written in a size that would challenge even microscopes) appears just below the advertisement. I could not for the life of me figure out what was written so I asked one of my friends and was told that the line was a disclaimer of sorts, stating that what was being shown in the ad might not be an accurate reproduction of the product’s performance.

I dismissed this as a mere legal necessity ... until I actually witnessed a video being played on a Nokia 6600. It bore little resemblance in terms of picture quality or sound to the video that had been displayed in the ad. In what appears to have been a cold-blooded attempt to mislead consumers, Nokia had misrepresented facts about the 6600. While exaggeration is very much a part of advertising, I am not sure that this extends to making patently false claims, especially about technology-oriented products. It is one thing to show snow white garments after a wash by Rin, quite another to claim that a phone can display pictures that are as sharp as those seen on television.

However, the fact that I find most disturbing is that the company was able to get the ad cleared with a warning to consumers that was written in print that is too small to be read by a normal human being. Surely it could have been written in larger words or even displayed on the screen before the ad begins or when it ended (as is done for motorcycle and mutual fund advertisements). What is the point of warning the consumer if the warning is made in a format that is unreadable?

Do you think cellphone ads are misleading? Post your thoughts as a comment or drop a line to nimish@tcp.in

Wide-screen notebooks – what’s the fuss about?

Nimish Dubey

What is the most distinct feature of a laptop or portable computer? Well, quite obviously, that it can be carried about. That its portable. So, why on earth are computer manufacturers all over the country doing their best to ram bulky notebooks down the throats of consumers?

I am referring to the wide-screen mania that suddenly seems to have gripped computer hardware manufacturers. Until about a year ago, most notebooks came with 14.1 inch screens. And those seemed more than adequate. One would have thought that the logical way ahead lay in smaller screens that made notebooks easier to carry and consumed lesser power.

How wrong we were!

Today, the default screen size of most notebooks seems to be 15 to 15.4 inches – the so-called wide screens. The benefits of these are not obvious – sure, they are bigger but don’t they detract from a notebook’s most essential feature – its portability? Won’t they consume more battery and power? And honestly, will a screen that is an inch larger make a huge difference to the way in which one uses most software applications? It might provide a better gaming or movie experience but hey, those are not the primary functions of notebooks. Not in India, anyway, where notebooks with graphics cards are exceptions and not the rule!

It is also sickening to see a company of the stature of HP sink to misinformation in an attempt to promote wide-screen notebooks. Yes, that ad in which a part of a photograph gets blotted out because it is being viewed on a smaller screen is a load of nonsense. Most computers (heck, even most cellphones) adjust pictures to fit on their screen!

Which makes one all the more suspicious. What’s next? A 20 inch display that has to be carried separately? It would not surprise me!

Are bigger screens good for laptops? Post your opinion as comment below or drop a mail to nimish@tcp.in