Windows 8 & Nokia

I had to make the difficult decision of choosing a phone last month. I knew one thing - I did not want an iPhone. This left me with myriad number of choices in the Android world and the Nokia Lumia 900.

I like practical things and designs that increase practicality move to the top of my list. As such, I was a big fan of the Zune HD.  The Nokia 900 was a logical extension of the Zune and I was thrilled that it was available. By enthusiasm was tempered because I could not find some of the apps that I regularly used but disregarded the limited app availability as its just a matter of time before devs started producing for the Win world. However, the biggest concern was that Windows 8 might not be compatible with Lumia 900's hardware.

This came as a shock to me and was the biggest factor that stopped me from purchasing it in spite of the great price point. This is an example of a still-born product. What were Microsoft and Nokia thinking? Apparently they were thinking of Windows 7.8 which is somewhere between Windows 7.5 (Mango) and the new Windows 8.

Since I am in a case-prep mode these days, I wanted to break down this decision which sounds like a compromise so as to not alienate the existing customer base and maintain a modicum of interest in Nokia Lumia 900 till the launch of Windows 8 so that sales do not plummet. Nokia Lumia 900 stands out in the world of short product life cycles as a product with even shorter life.


What could have caused this? I hypothesize that Microsoft is deliberately raising the stakes by introducing a release yearly cycle that will introduce more than incremental changes. By doing this Microsoft would match the rapid release cycle of Andriod, yet maintain some of control to prevent fragmenting. This is a risky strategy no doubt primarily because the OEMs must be able to sync with this cycle. This requires great deal of operational expertise. Apple has shown that it can do this but even Apple does not have a yearly cycle (most of its yearly updates are incremental) that will match with Microsoft. Microsoft has the resources and know-how to gain credibility with corporate users and developers, but can it persuade and get all OEMs to match up? Essentially, does Microsoft have a Tim Cook equivalent?

The Genius of Siri

Siri is pure genius.

No I am not another Apple fan boy. In fact, I never owned an Iphone and don't plan to own one either. I am a Comp Sci grad though, but I am not an a AI evangelist wowed by the commercialization of Siri.

Yet Siri is genius. Siri is the first step in making Google irrelevant in the long term. Siri will be the de facto interface for Apple devices. It will use whatever search provider that Apple chooses. It will interact with apps to provide spoken answers. In cases where visual answers are displayed, Apple can prefer Google Ads free sites and content. And yeah, it will collect so much data about the user that it will put Google to shame. Siri will eventually reduce Google to a niche and Siri will replace Google as the new search verb. Isn't that genius?

I am big fan of Google because it has been the most impactful innovation in my life. But Google has to get its act together to sustain its impressive growth. Google has had no new revenue generators in some time - Microsoft makes more money off of Android, Amazon is creating its own Android marketplace and Facebook is gathering user data which is lot more valuable than web content that Google indexes. And just at the moment that Google is down, Siri steps in right in to make search provider-agnostic and that's the genius of Siri.

Starring Rahman, Raja, Shripi & Dappan koothu @ Lollapalooza

Lolla never ever ceases to surprise.

I happened to make my now ritualistic pilgrimage to what was once the hot bed of alternate rock/inde rock. Lollapalooza has a come a long way.

Today, I did listen to LCD Sound-system which the closeest to a rock band/music. The best part of the day was M.I.A aka Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam beats. Wikipedia says

"Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam (born on July 17, 1977 in Hounslow, London, England)[1] is a rapper, singer and visual artist of Sri Lankan Tamil origin. She is best known by her stage name, M.I.A.. Her style contains elements of grime, hip-hop, ragga, dancehall, electro, and baile funk."

I beg to differ. What I heard today were beats lifted out of Tamil songs including two 10 minute pieces of dappan kootha (the second one being the slow jam version). It was exhilarating as well as hilarious to hear. The Caucasians had no clue how to adapt to the cycle of ever-changing beats. My roomie was in his elements though. His version of contemporary Tamil free style dancing did raise a lot of eyebrows .

As as aside, Dappan koothu is a very simple art form, designed with drunken people in mind. It consists of violent pelvic thrusts, contorted facial expression including the "folded" tongue and hand gestures to amplify the pelvic thrusts. My roomie did all this and more, and soon the crowd had cleared around us.

M.I.A's performance is probably one of the worst I had seen at the Lolla. But the surprise factor made up for tacky antics. The DJ was the saving grace and he could probably make an apprentice in one of Chicago's house clubs if he tried a lil harder.

The other standout performance was Daft Punk. The lakefront might not have seen such an audio-visual treat ever. This French duo brought house to the house capital of the world and left with their reputation enhanced. Hats off to them.

One last note. Water wasn't as expensive as last year(it retailed at a palatable $2 a bottle). Food was ridiculously expensive. I paid $4 for a slice of pizza that was smaller than a Domino's slice. The crowd this year was much younger and there were much less hippies (probably due to a dearth of rock bands), and by extension, much less pot smoking. The weather was very hot today. Its supposed to be hotter over the weekend. The only saving grace is that the hotter it gets, the more bikini tops and micro-minis on display.

And you got to visit this....http://www.miauk.com/ and http://youtube.com/watch?v=W9a1hGwWRP8

Prez Campaign 08

I have been following the presidential campaign with avid interest. My main sources of information are the Daily Show(a sad testament to American media incapable of delivering concise national news...I am sick of hearing kitties stranded in trees in the local news) and NPR news on my drives to workplace.

This is a campaign in which all the candidates want to:-

* End the war

* Eliminate budget deficit

* Usher in green initiatives

* Make the foreign policy relevant again (not that it aint relevant now!)

* Reform health care

* Tackle immigration

This is campaign devoid of ideologies. A campaign of conservative democrats against "progressive" republicans. Hell, who could imagine Rudy G is leading the Republican primaries in SC (Rudy is pro-abortion, pro-gay rights and SC is super conservative "Bible" belt state).

This campaign is all about personality, charisma and attention to details. There is no visionary and there is no mission statement.

The GOP is running out of steam. Mitt Ramney is already irrelevant in the south. John McCain has run for office so many times that people dont take him seriouly no more. And Rudy G is all being "America's mayor". Mr Rudy, a friendly reminder that the country aint a city (or is he just another New Yorker who thinks NYC is America and America is NYC?).

The other side of the coin is the polarising figure of Hillary Clinton. The green horn called Barack Obama. At this point, the only candidate making sense is John Edwards (if you disregard the $400 haircut). But can a democrat from the south do a Clinton again?

As details and policy statements slowly emerge (Obama was out with his foreign policy today), the mythical devil will emerge from the details. But frankly, its going to pretty tough to distinguish between these devils as most will look, feel and smell the same.

A-Gone

Whats up with Bush these days? I am and will continue to be his greatest supporter. But, at times, blind faith is,well blind.

I happened to listen to excerpts of Alberto Gonzales's testimonial. If I term it as lousy, I being very generous. The AG should have done better. And Mr.President applauding him drives me nuts.

The other is the case of Wolfwotiz. Here is a man, who denied African governments world bank loans because they were corrupt. Ironically, he sees fit to give his "female companion" a rise. Is this not corruption? What has the President to say about this? To paraphrase him, he has full confidence in Wolfwotiz.

In his lame duck years, if Bush wants to leave behind a glorious legacy (that he richly deserves), its time to make changes.

Elephants in Manhattan!!!

What do you expect in Manhattan? Not elephants.

Here is a brilliant story about elephants(yes, the real animals) in NYC.

The picture of the parade was found on flickr (courtesy Wallyg' photostream)


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9190015

You got to listen to this!

Ponnu-pakarathu and other kissu-kissupu

It would usually go like this (rather, my last meeting went like this):-

My parents and me would be "invited" to go to the prespective's bride's house. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I will be thoroughly checked out. Its very weird being stared/ogled at by mamis, paatis, neighbors, and neighbor's maid. Man, I sure felt sexually harassed.

Then, we take a seat. And the usual conversation begins.

Peris 1: What do you do in America?

Me: Huh, a little bit of work ...

Peris 2: What kind of work?

Me: Software dev in fin. firm.

Peris 1: Do you like it there?

This is one of the std Qs. So answer should be as ambigous as possible

Me: Nothing compares to home!

Peris 1: Hahaha...the astrologer says you will come back when you are 29 or 38.

Me: (feigning interest)...what else did he say?

Peris 1: That you will have two daughters and will be very sucessful.

I am agasht...the old man has gone too far...this is the time to divert focus. My pop, steps in and they talk about business.

This goes on for a few mins and then the bride is introduced. There is no coffee tray in hand, nor a coy demanor nor kollams with feet. A simple smile and hi and sits right across me. I liked the confidence.

Peris 1: ...this house was constructed in 98...let me give you a tour....

We all follow like a sheep after a sheperd...as it should happen, one of the room has a couple of chairs and a coffee-table set in the right way...the peris comes to this room...there's nod to his daughter...the trap is set...and we both sit in the room

Me : This is a little awkward...so, "hi"

Gal : (giggles)...hi

Me : When were you informed of this meeting?

Gal : Last night!

Me : (This is the first Q i ask)...you ready for marriage?

Gal : I dont know

This is the point I would usually get up and leave the room. But, patience, i learned, is more than a virtue.

But then I labor on. Talk about life, school, college, hobbies, passion, living in the US, cousins, friends, sports???

At the back of my head, a clock starts ticking as soon as I enter the "meeting" room. After 40 mins, I can't take it no longer. The other person might be interesting. It doesn't matter. In the meantime, I would have eaten a few biscuits, hopefully kaju-katli and a juice. At the 41st minute, I envitably stop. The timing is an empathetic view of my parent's problems as well. They simply cannot keep socialising forever. Last time around, my mom had to socialise with the gal's mom who knew only kannada. My mom knew none. They talked for an hour in broken hindi with probably 5% of the content getting across.

Me: I know all I need to know. You are a very insteresting person...we should probably talk/chat more and get to know more

Gal: Sounds good! I can't decide either...here's my mail id

We make our way to the living room. On the way back, she shows me her painting. I am impressed but I comment that the shade of blue used could have been lighter (am I becoming gay or ready for family-life?)

Peris 1: Looks like you gelled (With a smile on his face....he quickly turns to my father)...you know, if you want to do something before your leaves, we are ready to do it...we can even come to Mumbai...got some folks there

Whoa! Whoa! Hold it! What are you smoking peris? The gal has the same look of exasperation.

Eventually, it doesn't work out. But, thats the routine folks for all you uniniated beings!

Guess whos back?

IT had been a weird, depressing, albeit interesting six months. After all this I have come out more mature, stronger, and lot a fatter!

The significant events in last six months were (in no particular order):

* Parents visited me in Chicago for the first time. It was a two-week trip and we did a lot of Patel-style things. My mom refused to talk to me when I drove and kept constantly praying whenever I drove! But that didnt stop her from making me drive to a jewellery store in south-western suburbs just after a snow-storm dumped a foot of snow.

* I had been chatting with potential brides. And I got to meet a couple of them in my trip home in Jan. The direct side-effect is my empathy with the "ponnu-pakara" scenes of movies and a lot of heart-burn.

* I had a great time attending the wedding of Kartik & W (one of the highpoints in my India trip). Here's a post describing the same.

* I tried socialising with the bai in Marathi...she started shooting me "looks" ever since

* Came back to see the beloved Bears getting butt-whopped. Officially, I slipped into a depression.

* Two weeks after super-bowl, I decided not to take the offer to move to Amsterdam. The pay offered was so ridiculous that I figured that I will live like a homeless person under one of the umpteen bridges in Amsterdam. I walked out attended around 20 interviews in less than a week including trips to NY and Seattle. In the trip to NY, I fainted while waiting for an interview; hit my head on marble; had a deep laceration and five stitches. Also chipped two teeth. The company nurse when attending to me had a "dont die on me bitch" look and I spent the rest of the day in Jersey City ER. I came back and accepted an offer in good old Chicago.

So long, folks!

On The Shores of North Atlantic...

Here is a fictional piece in which I try to transcend space-time and reality-fanatasy. Have fun!
------------------------------------------------------------------------


Somewhere on the shores of North Atlantic, nestled by palms, soothed by a balmy salt-laden wind, I sat staring into the ocean. It was the middle of the night. Eerie silence punctuated by waves were my company and cannabis was slaughtering my tiring senses and brain. I took another hit.

The grass tasted like the ocean – pure, unadulterated and salty. I felt the sweat on my brow, took a whiff of air, closed my eyes and held my breath; thats when I began hallucinating......

I heard a young boy hawking chick peas in the distance. The voice approached.

“Anna anna, sundal venuma?”

I looked up to him. He wore a patched shirt and red shorts – obviously pass me downs. His hair was combed and a streak of neatly applied ash lit his forehead.

I took another hit.

I turned to my side.

“Do you want sundal?” I enquired caringly. She smiled her effervescent smile and that took to me another place and time altogether.

June of 1994. I was a late admit into SBOA.I was all of fourteen then - cat whiskers were just sprouting, oozing pimples bursting, with a voice of a toad-prince. I was assigned X standard ‘A’ section. I entered the class, beaming in my new uniform and made my way to the only available seat at the very back of the class. I put my bag down and looked up. There she was, flashing her smile. I was in love.

“No” she said.

“Venda thambi”

With a look of disappointment, he walked away to the next couple – a young girl with bright red half-saree and his lover, a well built fisherman in his early twenties. I wondered why I was so captivated by red?

My colleague, shocked by the sudden outburst in alien tongue, tapped me on the shoulder and asked - “You doing alrite there G-man?”

I nodded and smiled. Took another hit. Turned around and saw her gazing softly into my eyes. The same look she had when I first summoned the guts to talk to her. It was just another balmy Madras afternoon. I had just gotten back after a chat with my class teacher. On my way out, the teacher had asked me to send JD in.

Thrilled and excited I ran into the class. She was there surrounded by her group of friends (who had to be ugly, and their ugliness, in turn made JD look even more angelic). I counted 1-2 and slowed my pace down. I went to her spot, cleared my throat.

“Ahem”.

She looked up calmly. Her friend wasn’t too pleased.

“The class teacher wants to see you” I blurted.

The admonishment in her friends eye was evident. It said “Get away from her, you hormone sweating bastard”. I ignored it.

She nodded, smiled and got up. I made my way back to my seat in the back bench trying desparetly to control my heart(it beat so fast, that I thought it would race out of my body)!

I took another hit. Smelled the air again, and was transformed back to the shores of Marina. The scent of millaga bajji was wafting gently in the air. The dull scraping of steel spoons brushing against steel, roasting hapless peanuts in the process, added to the music of the waves.

Her palm was in my palm. When did I first touch her? I asked her the same.

“Don’t you remember? It was after we won the quiz tournament. You answered the tie-breaker and we won. I was over-joyed and had turned to congrajulate you. You just wouldn’t let go of my hands” she teased.

Oh yes. It was coming back to me. I remembered the first touch when the time had stopped. I blushed.

She noticed it. But being, such a nice girl she was, she pooh-poohed it with a serene look.

I took another hit.

I turned to look at her eyes. Such serenity, such calm, such purity. My mind raced back in time again.

It was just before December holidays. The girls had apparently decided to have a “Bra day”. What bad timing! It was just before the exams. The bra-enhanced exam anxiety showed. They were fidgety. Some stole quick glances before adjusting their cones (no Victoria’ Secrets then), and some wheren’t that discreet. But JD sat there calmly, like Buddha, with the same serene look. I fell in love again, albeit with the same person.

I took another hit.

I closed my eyes and lay back, acutely aware of her eyes watching me. I should have fallen asleep under the star-ladden Puerto Rican skies.

A little later, a tap on the shoulder woke me. I realized where I was and also realized that my brain had won over cannabis. I detested my brain whole-heartedly( the supreme irony of brain hating brain!)

“Its time to go back, G-man” said my colleague. And off we went, as united as a bunch of pot-heads could be, to our rooms to a beautiful dreamless sleep.

When Chennai and East of Indus-West Of India/Gujju/Hindi/Baroda Decided to say "I do"

Its a pretty convoluted title - a direct rip off of the super popular "When India and Vietnam said I do".

Here, I present the story of two of my very good friends who decided to get married. Its a bit weird to see two people who you think are in a strictly platonic relationship to suddenly plunge into matrimony. But the platonic part was the result of a "Dont ask Dont tell",aka US troops homosexuality policy,strictly followed by me and others. It wouldn't be a surprise to the closest of their friends for the signs were all over. Oh! for the power of hindsight. At the end of the day, one realises that this was indeed destined.

Back to the story. The guy is a Tamil Iyer (a claim strongly disputed by a now retired traffic constable from Mylapore,Chennai who swears on his integrity(gulp!) that the guy is not an Iyer). Hes a somewhat typical Mylaporean. Definitely a typical BITS-ian. Knows his shit, and gets shit done.When a Iyer boy sucessfully thwarts parental pressure for marriage so long, there is something amiss. It made sense last night.

The gal is mystery atleast to me. She, like the boy, has claims about her ethinicity. The whole world thinks she is Gujju,but she begs to differ. She is from East of Indus-West Of India/Gujju/Hindi/Baroda, also known as the Sindhi land. She is beautiful,extremely helpful and knows her shit.

After years of struggle, they made it at last. All romaticist rejoice. Nerds, geeks and wanna-bes, do whatever you do on a Friday night ;)

So, what to expect from the marriage? Chennai might become a little more hipper, and Baroda a little more saner. Chennai gets a dash of Guuju-Sindhi culture that will make Madisaru mamis dance and Baroda will be forced to stop partying and start introspecting (and also be forced to read The Hindu)! Its also ok to expect a progeny of super-smart ,super-hip, super-good-looking youngsters who are neither Tamil nor Gujju-Sindhi but who will thrive comfortably cloaked in the veneer of American cosmopolitism. And yeah, of course, family cherry pickings during spring!

What does the present hold? A promise of a life-long relationship built on years of trust, friendship and mutual-well being(I should have just said love here, duh!). Of all the couples I know, they might be the closest to ideal - they complement and supplement each other. The immediate world around them will not change, but it sure has made a lot of people real happy.

I raise my glass to toast them. Cheers.