HP Connected Music: A Revolution?

Yesterday, I spent a few hours at Indiblogger's meetup in Gurgaon which was about introducing HP's Connected Music service to us bloggers. The event was held at a seemingly new Hilton property, the Hilton Garden Inn who were also excited to host their first bloggers' meet in their hotel.

One of my primary motivations for going all the way to that corner of Gurgaon was to see what the HP representatives had to say about the Connected Music service and to ask a couple of questions. Yes, as always, I had already done my research and had a few observations so I thought its time I heard their side of the story because they are launching a music service in a country where, after years of waiting, iTunes recently launched its music and movies store, that's how difficult it is to negotiate with so many record labels to bring them under one umbrella.

First Impressions

Since this was called 'Connected' Music, I was also curious about how this is different or better than the rig I currently have. As some of my friends know, I am a gadget hoarder, so I happen to own more than one mp3 player, two of them being iPods and then there is my Android phone and Android tablet. Because I am too lazy to look for a better music management software, I am still using iTunes for the job and it has over 5k songs at last count. Now what I have done is, uploaded most of these songs to the Google Music server from where the entire library can be streamed to my 'connected' Android device through the 'Play Music' app. Starting for the venue, my primary question for the HP representatives was going to be related to this. How is HP Connected Music different from this? But as it turns out, halfway through their presentation, I realised that this is very different from what I had in mind.

Windows 8 Launches: A Big Step for Microsoft

Considering the fact that 'Windows' is a platform that often draws extreme reactions from technology fanatics, I was wondering how all of us would react when I got an invitation from Kunzum Travel Cafe to attend the Delhi launch event of Microsoft's Windows 8.

Now, I don't belong to either of the factions, I don't hate Windows and I don't love it to bits either. I know it has it's flaws and sometimes I wish I could move to another platform but I know I won't, primarily because, (i) everyone around me is using it so there are no issues of incompatibility, and; (ii) all my favourite games are on Windows.

ICT4D Movement or Industry?

Indian ICT4D sector is developing but has it matured? The sector calls it the 'ICT4D Movement' which makes us all the foot soldiers of the movement. But aren't foot soldiers supposed to work together? To collaborate and take the movement forward? But what I see in India is that the foot soldiers are fighting amongst each other for a bigger share of the pie. I agree that the organisations do need to be sustainable for the obvious reasons, but what do you do when it is at the cost of the movement?

Do we think about the movement itself when we are busy with the petty rivalries among the many organisations that happen to be working on similar issues, within the same geographical area?

Oh, and then there are those who are purely in this sector for development (of their own bank balance). I know some people who think that e-Governance is a space where they can try and earn kickbacks by introducing a technology vendor to a government agency that is scouting for a company that can bring in technology in their operations and if the vendor get the deal, the organisation will get a share.

Now, I guess this is all normal and it happens everywhere and I am just over-reacting to all this but sorry, I do not accept this as the way I would want this sector to function. 

India launches energy-efficiency labelling programme for laptops

The Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) today launched an energy efficiency rating system for laptops, netbooks and printers on the lines of the existing 5-star rating system (National Energy Labelling Programme) used for home appliances in India.

The 5-star label for home appliances as seen on my refrigerator

The event was organised jointly by the BEE and the Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology (MAIT). The National Energy Labelling Programme was launched on May 18, 2006. The aim was to provide a common energy-efficiency benchmark which makes it easier for utility companies and government agencies to offer consumers incentives to buy energy-efficient products. The programme was initially launched on voluntary basis for two appliances, frost-free refrigerators and tubular fluorescent lamps. Today this labelling is mandatory for these two appliances in addition to air conditioners and distribution transformers while being voluntary for direct cooling refrigerators, industrial motors, pumpsets, ceiling fans, domestic gas stoves, storage water heaters, televisions and washing machines.

The label for IT equipment as displayed on a placard at the event

The new IT equipment labelling programme has been launched on voluntary basis for laptop and netbook manufacturers with a plan to eventually expand this programme to include other IT devices. The programme will eventually be made mandatory. A decision has been taken to not include desktop computers in the programme at the moment owing to the vast unorganised industry in the country of assembled desktops which would be very difficult to regulate. Representatives from Dell, Canon, HCL and HP have already joined hands with the BEE to start making products that adhere to this rating system, laptops and printers with the labels were also unveiled at the event.

The reason behind selecting the relatively expensive laptops for this programme is that over the past few years laptops have been selling at a higher proportion than desktops owing to the lower price points at which netbooks and laptops are available in India.

Though India is still energy deficit but the government is now rapidly electrifying all Indian villages and once that aim is achieved the nation foresees a manifold increase in the demand for electricity once all the villages are electrified across this vast nation with over 6,00,000 villages. Another reason for the surge in demand is the fact that soon, India will become the country with the highest number of young people in the world, as was said during the event, ‘Young and affluent people means an increase in the number of gadgets they own that leads to more demand for electricity’

An interesting aspect of this initiative is that all members of the IT association, MAIT, have agreed in principle to work towards making their products more eco-friendly and energy efficient and will be working towards making the consumers realise the benefits of opting for these efficient IT equipments that they will be manufacturing. Kudos to Dell, Canon, HCL and HP for taking the first steps towards a greener more efficient IT environment for the nation.

Where is my mobile broadband?

A lot has been happening in the ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development) sector around the world lately. It often takes me by surprise the leaps that some developing nations have taken in harnessing the potential of the all-powerful Internet and the ubiquitous mobile phone. Some of the most amazing and innovative ideas have come from the smaller nations of the world. Necessity really is the mother of invention (or innovation).

My job, until recently, required me to keep a close eye on what is happening in this sector around the globe. Though I am not in the same job at this point of time, I have always loved technology and the habit of keeping an eye on the ICT4D trends has now become a part of my everyday life.  I have been fortunate enough to have come into contact and learn from a lot of people who have dedicated their lives to the ICT revolution. There is a lot of excitement on the ground, and rightly so, there is a lot that we need to do.

Wordless Wednesday - I

Wordless Wednesday Home

Indian, Arranged Marriages: The e-way

Marriage is a very important institution among all traditional societies around the world and India is no different. We Indians go crazy at weddings, we splurge on every aspect of the ceremony and on everything related to it. There is a phrase that has been coined just for Indian Weddings and anyone familiar to the ceremonies will agree that, 'The Big Fat Indian Wedding' is apt for our weddings, a lot more apt as compared to, say Greek Weddings.

We love our weddings and we love them grand. But all grand things have very humble beginnings. The Indian wedding starts with, as with all marriages, the search for the suitable boy/ girl. Traditionally, that was the task of the parents, relatives, everyone and their dogs. But then why am I suddenly talking about weddings on Technosophy? I am not. I am talking about how The Big Fat Indian Wedding has also been influenced by technology, in this case, the Internet.

The Poor Man's Computer : Simputer

One of the problems with a full-fledged computer is that it is can seem very complicated and intimidating to people who aren’t used to it. Secondly, though mainstream computing devices like desktop computers and laptops are still expensive they are not rugged enough for certain environments.

The Simputer is an Open Source Hardware handheld computer which has been designed specifically for environments where mainstream computing devices cannot be deployed due to limitations that are either monetary or pertain to the lack of reliable electric supply.

The Simputer is targeted as a shared computing device for a local community of users. A village panchayat or a village school can give this device to individuals for a specific period of time and later pass it on to other community members.

Social Media in Governance: Like It or Not, It's Here

Democracy is a system of governance that, simplistically put, gives power to the people. The power to decide the way their nation is run, the way it interacts with other nations in the world, the way it governs those who make it a nation.

Social Media gives the same power to the common netizens who, for years have only been the recipients of knowledge and information online. With the increasing proliferation of Social Media over the past few years it can safely be assumed that Social Media is here to stay. Social Media cannot be wished away as it will only evolve further as it has been doing over the past few years.

What started as initiatives from members of the public, like Tom Steinberg’s fixmystreet or EveryBlock Chicago has now steadily crept into the mainstream. With the UK government stepping into the Social Media sphere with twitter and friendfeed accounts for the Parliament and 10, Downing Street, Digital Britain and their High Commissions and Consulates around the world.

This is a realization that has dawned upon quite a few Government agencies around the world, the heaviest user of Social Media in Governance is the United States of America, predictably enough, considering the way the Internet has penetrated the lives and lifestyles of its citizens.

What the Zark is Cloud Computing? And why should I care about it?

(This post tries to explain in very simple terms, what this technology is, how it works, what its benefits and drawbacks are and the challenges and issues that need to be resolved before we are able to embrace this technology in the way that many of us have embraced mobile phones.)

The ever-changing ecosystem of the Internet has thrown up a plethora of new technologies and terms many of which take the world by storm turning us common mortals into acolytes of the technology and throwing the others into a state of confusion.

Cloud Computing is one such technology that has come up with the ubiquity of the Internet in our personal and professional lives.

But there are many among us who are wondering, what the Zark is Cloud Computing?

HIV/AIDS awareness through YouTube

There is scope for using web 2.0 tools like photo sharing, video content and experiences using the Internet for creating awareness about HIV/AIDS. This post explores the initiatives on the net, especially on YouTube.

Founded in 2005, YouTube has emerged as the world's most popular online video community, allowing millions of people to watch and share original videos. YouTube allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, mobile devices, blogs, and e-mail. This is a quality that has led to the creation of numerous similar websites all emulating the same principles of Web2.0 but none have been as successful as YouTube. Today, ten hours of video is uploaded to YouTube every minute.

Introducing 'Technosophy'

Technosophy is about the idea that technology is deployed to make life easier for humans (and maybe someday for other creatures too). But does it always perform this function? Haven’t you been through those days when you bought a new gadget hoping to make your life easier but ended up pulling your hair out wondering how to get the damn thing to work. The instruction manuals are getting thicker by the day, so much so that including a ‘Quick Start Guide’ is de rigueur. Not that they really help but that is another story.

Looking at some of the instruction manuals reminds me of that scene from ‘Die Another Day’ when Q gives James the instruction manual of the new Aston Martin Vanquish (nee Vanish) and asks him to shoot through the manual, James promptly flings the book in the air letting the guided sub-machine guns to shoot through the manual. How many times have you felt like doing that?

This blog is run by a guy who is part dreamer, part idealist and completely crazy (about technology too). The blog is about his thoughts on technology and how it is changing our world and  perceptions.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts and rants. If you don’t, feel free to throw your brickbats at me; though I won't begrudge an occasional bouquet either :)