Google+
Google+ is the latest entrant in the domain of SNS. Coming from the stables of Google which gave us Orkut, Wave and Buzz, this is the company’s struggle to regain its footings in SNS. It is main features are-
• Circles
• Hangouts
• Sparks
Circles- Google has literally taken the meaning of “circle of friends”. It is a feature to manage your contacts (“friends”). You can adjust your privacy settings for different ‘circles’. A very important feature is you don’t have to ‘friend’ someone to receive his/her updates. A feature copied from Twitter is ‘following’ and ‘followers’ which have become ‘people in your circle’ and ‘people who have added you’. (The concept of circles is not new. It can also be found on www.FreindCircles.com.)
Hangouts- This is like integrating Yahoo chat with GTalk. It has a limit of up to 10 participants. A nice thing is that you can find topic of interest for discussion rather than searching for some partner in all chat rooms.
Sparks- It has been described as a FeedBurner. I haven’t really understood what it for is.
Privacy settings are good. You can control all your Google Accounts at once using Dashboard. A funny option I found in ‘edit profile’ was “bragging rights”.
An avid Facebook user will find that ‘like’ button has been replaced by ‘+1’. Another thing is that whatever you post can be shared by others (something like retweet on Twitter). On Facebook everything except status updates can be shared. You may not find tabs like ‘Notes’, ‘Questions’, etc. For that you’ll have to use other Google products like ‘GDocs’, ‘Polls’ etc. and share their links. ‘Apps’ which make Facebook fun, is missing.
For more action keep growing your ‘circle’.
Finally, it looks like Google has made a SNS which provides an interface for all its products and at the same time makes people more dependent on its services.
July 12, 2011
June 02, 2011
Can e-books replace books?
Ever since the dawn of e-versions of books there has been this great debate on whether e-books will replace books. E-books have some advantages over traditional books. They are cheaper and are more easily available (torrent it if you can’t buy it). They don’t spoil or decay (unless they get corrupted). It is eco-friendly as we are creating a paperless society.
Even then, it is easier to read a book than an e-book, right?
• They are easier to handle. Imagine swatting a fly with your e-book reader or laptop.
• When you are in a library, you pick up any book of your interest. This broadens your knowledge. But when you are searching for an e-book you are very specific to your need. It just kills the habit of fun-reading.
• We don’t have electricity at all places to support computers and e-book readers. What will happen if there is a power outage? Will you stop reading? With books there is always the novelty of candle-light reading.
• The electronic gadgets are harmful to us. They are hard on our eyes and radiations from them are harmful to our body. Books are light on our eyes plus you can read them from any position (try yoga sitting positions while reading).
• Some books are worth a lot of money. So they can be an investment option too.
• Finally, you don’t need a computer to read a book.
We should not forget that where the online internet sources are found --- in books!
Even then, it is easier to read a book than an e-book, right?
• They are easier to handle. Imagine swatting a fly with your e-book reader or laptop.
• When you are in a library, you pick up any book of your interest. This broadens your knowledge. But when you are searching for an e-book you are very specific to your need. It just kills the habit of fun-reading.
• We don’t have electricity at all places to support computers and e-book readers. What will happen if there is a power outage? Will you stop reading? With books there is always the novelty of candle-light reading.
• The electronic gadgets are harmful to us. They are hard on our eyes and radiations from them are harmful to our body. Books are light on our eyes plus you can read them from any position (try yoga sitting positions while reading).
• Some books are worth a lot of money. So they can be an investment option too.
• Finally, you don’t need a computer to read a book.
We should not forget that where the online internet sources are found --- in books!
May 15, 2011
Is Global Warming for real?
Some people say global warming is a serious issue. Some others call it a very serious issue. But I think it to be a big hoax and I have reasons for it.
1) An environmentalist once listed me the benefits of using CFL bulbs and less power consuming LED tubes. He said that they consume less electricity so they are both economical and good for environment. I don’t know how much of electricity bill I am saving but surely Crompton Greaves has made lots of profit from the number of bulbs I’ve changed(CFL bulb- Rs.150 each and razor lights- Rs 300 each) .
2) Why is it that only Jairam Ramesh is interested in protecting the environment? Why don’t other ministries like housing and heavy industries bother about it before giving licenses? (fishy politics)
3) How can we believe scientists who are just contradicting each other? (eg. IPCC melting glacier report fiasco)
4) I am better off not worrying about climate change. What I can’t see, I don’t believe.
5) And finally God is not going to let all of us die. He has to forgive us. After all he is God.
Finally, I’d like to add “If Global Warming and Climate Change is for real, why are we still arguing on it?”
1) An environmentalist once listed me the benefits of using CFL bulbs and less power consuming LED tubes. He said that they consume less electricity so they are both economical and good for environment. I don’t know how much of electricity bill I am saving but surely Crompton Greaves has made lots of profit from the number of bulbs I’ve changed(CFL bulb- Rs.150 each and razor lights- Rs 300 each) .
2) Why is it that only Jairam Ramesh is interested in protecting the environment? Why don’t other ministries like housing and heavy industries bother about it before giving licenses? (fishy politics)
3) How can we believe scientists who are just contradicting each other? (eg. IPCC melting glacier report fiasco)
4) I am better off not worrying about climate change. What I can’t see, I don’t believe.
5) And finally God is not going to let all of us die. He has to forgive us. After all he is God.
Finally, I’d like to add “If Global Warming and Climate Change is for real, why are we still arguing on it?”
May 12, 2011
Kaala Bandar
“Hey Kaala Bandar,
Baahar hai ya andar”
(O Black Monkey, are you somewhere out there or are you inside me)
I was watching ‘Delhi-6’ and wondering what exactly is "Kaala Bandar"? It is than that I realized that believe it or not, there is a "Kaala Bandar" inside every one of us out here. Everyone knows that this “Kaala Bandar” resides inside them but they don’t want to accept it. They tolerate it instead of trying to eliminate it. May be their will power is weak or they underestimate this “Kaala Bandar”.
Talking about the "Kaala Bandar" inside me, it is practically huge. And it grows further when I treat some fellow citizen with hatred just because we are not of same religion or caste, when I commit something which I ought not to do, when I avoid any of my duties as a student, as a responsible citizen, or a son. I try not to ponder over this but sometimes it is so frustrating that I feel I am a criminal. It seems as if it is eating me up from inside. I feel as if I am hiding something under veils. I feel as if I am not true to myself. It is tough to get rid of it. In fact, it is tough for all of us to get rid of it.
The best we can do from now on in this situation is at least we can prevent its further growth. We can try not to fuel it with our deeds. We have to stay away from the seven sins- wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. In this way, the "Kaala Bandar" inside us will be dormant and ineffective. Who knows one day it might be vanquished.
Baahar hai ya andar”
(O Black Monkey, are you somewhere out there or are you inside me)
I was watching ‘Delhi-6’ and wondering what exactly is "Kaala Bandar"? It is than that I realized that believe it or not, there is a "Kaala Bandar" inside every one of us out here. Everyone knows that this “Kaala Bandar” resides inside them but they don’t want to accept it. They tolerate it instead of trying to eliminate it. May be their will power is weak or they underestimate this “Kaala Bandar”.
Talking about the "Kaala Bandar" inside me, it is practically huge. And it grows further when I treat some fellow citizen with hatred just because we are not of same religion or caste, when I commit something which I ought not to do, when I avoid any of my duties as a student, as a responsible citizen, or a son. I try not to ponder over this but sometimes it is so frustrating that I feel I am a criminal. It seems as if it is eating me up from inside. I feel as if I am hiding something under veils. I feel as if I am not true to myself. It is tough to get rid of it. In fact, it is tough for all of us to get rid of it.
The best we can do from now on in this situation is at least we can prevent its further growth. We can try not to fuel it with our deeds. We have to stay away from the seven sins- wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. In this way, the "Kaala Bandar" inside us will be dormant and ineffective. Who knows one day it might be vanquished.
March 25, 2011
The Indian retail sector revolution
Over the past decade, the Indian retail sector has proven to be the fastest growing industry. It has been characterized by being largely unorganized and highly under-exploited. However, due to the changing preferences of the urban Indian, organized retail has come into picture.
More than 90% of the retail sector consists of grocery stores, medical shops, and paan shops. They are mostly family run businesses. Despite its large presence it has not been able to cater the demands of the growing middle class. This has led to a shift towards organized sector in urban areas. Some of the key players in the organized sector are -AV Birla Group (more, Allen Solly, et al), Tata Group (Trent and Westside), Reliance (Fresh, Digitals, Trends, etc.), and Pantaloons (Big Bazaar and Central). Even then they represent only 2% of the total market.
The growth of organized sector may bring better services to the consumers. It will definitely create new employment opportunities and lead to infrastructure development. It can convert an area into a tourist destination and in turn boost the local economy.
The global economic slump had its effects on this sector too. All the big players had to slow and postpone their expansion plans. Subhiksha and Vishal Retail needed liquidity injection to bail them out of bankruptcy. As the economy started showing signs of recovery, a bit of confidence was restored.
The sector has attracted foreign players like Wal-Mart and Tesco. Taking this as an opportunity the government recently increased the FDI to 51%. But before its implementation we should perform an impact analysis on Indian SMEs. We should first give chance to Indian players to restructure themselves and then invite outsiders.
February 27, 2011
Should India move to a bi-party system from a multi-party system?
A multi party electoral system consists of different political parties competing with different ideologies. This is the system being followed in India. On the contrary, many of the developed countries follow a bi-party system where only the two largest and well-organized parties see recurring success.
A bi-party system is helpful for the state to mature. It is more predictable and hence more stable. The participants have a collective consensus for development of the state as a whole, whereas in a multi-party system, the parties are more interested in achieving their petty objectives. Even the voter is spared from the chaos from the confusing alliances of a coalition government.
We have been experiencing multiparty coalitions from the last two general elections. These governments have been unstable. Small parties with narrow ideologies force major parties to help them in exchange for their support. This is very unhealthy for an economy like India. India has been witnessing phenomenal economic and social transformation where the government has to make quick decisions. In a multi party system, arriving at a consensus and making quick decisions has become difficult.
Thus, a bi-party system is a logical development of multiparty system where both parties have broad-based support and are moderate in their approach towards sustainable development.
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A bi-party system is helpful for the state to mature. It is more predictable and hence more stable. The participants have a collective consensus for development of the state as a whole, whereas in a multi-party system, the parties are more interested in achieving their petty objectives. Even the voter is spared from the chaos from the confusing alliances of a coalition government.
We have been experiencing multiparty coalitions from the last two general elections. These governments have been unstable. Small parties with narrow ideologies force major parties to help them in exchange for their support. This is very unhealthy for an economy like India. India has been witnessing phenomenal economic and social transformation where the government has to make quick decisions. In a multi party system, arriving at a consensus and making quick decisions has become difficult.
Thus, a bi-party system is a logical development of multiparty system where both parties have broad-based support and are moderate in their approach towards sustainable development.
Q5VWE6UM9AJ8
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