From here the story has 2 parts:

Part 1: Although Google’s Phone was a big pull, but still being android based was a bigger reason for me to persuade him. And the hunt began. Contact lists were scanned for any NRI friends! Relatives in US were pinged. And finally anyhow my friend got the phone (US-China-India). And I was obliged to accompany him to receive ’The Nexus One’ from the Airport! And when it started,   I was mesmerized by the Shining Screen. The google Id was entered and it took all the contacts from there, with images and profiles etc. .  it was magical.  And then we met very rarely. (he was busy with nexus one and I was busy with some work and jealousy!)

Part 2: One lazy after noon in office,  my other friend shouts my name ‘SUD!!!’ and shows me an invitation to Samsung’s Blogger meet to launch their new android based phone - Galaxy S and Wave with Samsung’s Bada OS. We eagerly went to the Blogger meet (Taj lands End), we were late by 45 minutes (as usual!). and then they started the show!!

First they (Product manager, Developer, Social media Agency etc.) explained about BADA OS - seemed great. Got to try both the phones- Wave and Galaxy S. Galaxy S’ 4 Inch Super Amoled Screen (first time in the world, I guess) was jaw dropping. The super responsive screen is an extreme delight to work with. and some cool features like, Social Hub, Swype (new method to enter text by just swiping your finger), 1 Ghz processor, Android OS all contribute to the best android phone ever!

Recently Google announced that Nexus one is the first and last from them. Well rightely said, Their main aim was to promote android with nexus one and they had accomplised that. Now the legacy has to be taken forward by the Mobile giants. And the latest entrant bring Samsung Galaxy S.

Now coming to the comparison, I got enough time to use both the phones.  Some of the features 4″ Super AMOLED screen, Superb bright and resolution screen, what I liked about the Samasung Galaxy S is the Social Hub, Which ?seamlessly integrates the SNS, IM, Contacts etc. One common minus point in both the phones is to call a contact, you need to do too many touch and takes some good 10-15 seconds! Some more points to note are:

• Both the phones boast of 1Ghz Processor (Galaxy S – Hummingbird and Nexus – Snapdragon)
• Galaxy S is much thinner and broader than Nexus One, which is problem to hold
• Galaxy S has got a flash, Nexus One hasnt got any.
• Samsung Support ‘Swype‘ – sliding text input method – 15% faster than Nexus One
• Galaxy S got a front camera (which also can record HD video), while Nexus One doesn’t have
• And last but Definitely not the least – the price difference is just 4-5 k, and Hold your breath, Nexus One is still not available in India.

And besides all these points, if you still are a Google Fanatic (HTC also!), go ahead for the following comparisons ( I am sure you will change your mind):

Comparison between Galaxy S & Nexus One

Besides these Motorola is coming up with their Driod Series, Which is certainly a threat to Samsung!

Do you have some more points? Do share.

Few days ago I was invited for the Whats on india Team to discuss about their new Initiative “My Child’s TeeVee”. I was first wondering whats is this Whats On India, now wondering about My Child’s TeeVee.

A small google search search led me to ” What’s-On-India is India’s first and only Television Guidance Channel”. Impressive.

Well I was (along with some more bloggers) introduced to Mr. Atul Phadnis, who made us understand the concept and showed the way it works.

What’s On India is a free to air channel which is like a Index to the Channel, more of a channel guide. It looks somewhat like this:

The bottom half of the screen on this free-to-air satellite channel is an electronic programming guide (EPG), the top right partof the channel alternates between genre-wise suggestions and what’s scheduled in the next few minutes across channels. On days when channels replace regular programming with special shows, the channel will be a one-stop guide to the various shows.

‘My Child’s TeeVee’ , India’s first show on Parental TV Guidance - Talking about the What’s on India Initiative My Child’s TeeVee, Mr. Atul Phadnis told us giving the examples, how the children are addicted to TV. A suprising fact, which Atul shared was that around 70% children watch “Pavitra Rishta” regularly, which is a soap based on good and bad relations.

My Child’s TeeVee is a 7 minutes’ show. It is an step to create awareness amongst the young parents about the adverse effects of excessive television viewing on their kids. The show will be having eminent child specialists talking about the same.

These doctors will discuss and give insights on the adverse effects of excessive television on child’s psychology and the emerging need for parental guidance in television. The show will also highlight some must watch shows for kids, and provide expert ideas on how to handle kids of various age groups.

This seems to be an innovative and concerned step towards children.

]]> http://blog.umennet.com/i-like-it/Sud/2010/07/my-childs-teevee-a-whats-on-india-initiative/feed 0 http://blog.umennet.com/blog/Sud/2010/02/tag-in-a-new-way-with-microsoft http://blog.umennet.com/blog/Sud/2010/02/tag-in-a-new-way-with-microsoft#comments Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:14:48 +0000 Sud http://blog.umennet.com/?p=1043 What is a Tag?

Possible answers are: Unique identifier, Keyword assigned to a Information. Some even refer it to Tag Heuer!!!

Flickr defines Tag as Tags are like keywords or labels that you add to a photo to make it easier to find later. Youtube defines tag as Tags are keywords that describe videos.

But here we are talking a different type of tag. We are talking about Microsoft Tag. Microsoft has come up with a Mobile Tagging.

Microsoft Tag is a breakthrough technology that transforms everyday things in the real world into live links to online information and entertainment.

What is Microsoft Tag?

Microsoft Tag is a square Image (Just like Bar code, but in graphic mode) which contains information about the product. And to read the information, all you need is a mobile phone! Simply snap or scan a Tag image anywhere you see it – in editorials, advertisements, product packaging, signs and storefronts – and gain instant access to Websites, videos, reviews, schedules, contact information, social networks, discounts, promotions and more!

Live Example of Tag:

• You need to have a camera phone & GPRS/WIFI
• Download a tag reader Software (FREE!!) from http://gettag.mobi
• Install the software, open it and point your Mobile camera to this image

• The software will automatically snap it, and open the website (here, blog) on your mobile Phone Browser!!
• The tag can be used not only to share your website but it has other uses too!!

Some other uses of Microsoft Tags are:

Business Cards:

• Mix it up! Use one Tag for business colleagues and another version for social networking.
• Your Tag can link people to mobile sites, profiles, videos, podcasts, products, or other little pieces of content like ringtones and wallpapers.
• Never lose a number; contact data can be automatically added to your mobile address book.

Movie Trailers:

• Movie-goers spread the word—and build demand—by sharing the Tag with friends.
• The same Tag can appear on Web sites, in print, and in online ads, to drive people to the video trailer that loads and plays on their phone.

There are many other uses, which can be found on Microsoft.com/tag.

So What makes Microsoft tag special???

• It makes static Images more interactive, without any external device
• It is from the SW Giant Microsoft
• Ease of use
• It can be used for many purposes – Websites, Images, Videos, Social Networking (Pointing to the twitter, FB page directly)
• You can create your own tags for whatever you want! (http://tag.microsoft.com)
• Best of all, it is free!

I used it with my E71, and using it was easy and quick! Just pointing to the tag from any angle works fine!!

And if you want to add me to your phonebook, download Microsoft Tag (http://gettag.mobi) and point your phone to this:

Now that the post is finished, I am thinking of some ‘tags’ for my post!!

Can you suggest some more uses of Microsoft Tags?

Inputs from Microsoft tag Website

1. Select your carrier (Yes!! Any Airline!!)
2. Departure date
3. Flight Number
4. Departure, arrival time and date

Just login with your Twitter details and it will automatically update your status.  The status updates looks like this:

Seems an engaging activity, interesting and very good use of social media.

Any more ideas/comments on the same??

With this Function now it has become easy to label all your email. It gives you 2 options:

1. Drag Drop your email to the labels
2. Drag Drop your labels to the emails

However when I tried to drag drop the email to the label, my mail was automatically moved to Archive.

But this drag drop functionality surely makes the labelling work an ease!!

For many, this is a debatable statement…..some agree to it n some simply disagree..however the PEN always remains victorious.

The cave man’s first inventions were the hunting club and the handy sharpened-stone, the all-purpose skinning and killing tool. The latter was adapted into the first writing instrument. Early historical records also convey that, at the dawn of civilization man’s earliest writing may have been by using his finger as a pen with the ‘ink’ being plant juices or even blood. The first stage of progress in writing was around 4,000 BC when man scratched the surface of moist clay tablets with a bronze or bone tool. The Romans then developed this form of writing to scribble into thin sheets of wax, which could be melted and re-used. Who says recycling is a modern concept?

The pioneers 

The earliest means of writing that approached pen and paper, as we know them today was developed by the Greeks. They employed a writing stylus, made of metal, bone or ivory, to place marks upon wax-coated tablets. The tablets made in hinged pairs, closed to protect the scribe’s notes.

The feather touch

The hollow quill held the ink and the split end was the nib, writing pressure giving thick and thin strokes. Introduced in 700 A. D, the quill pen dominated as a writing instrument for the longest period in history. Goose feathers were most common,  swan feathers were of a premium grade being scarcer and more expensive and crow feathers scored for making fine lines.

Eventually with the further progress of civilization, there were better inks and paper, and man’s inventive nature drove him to improving the writing instrument, leading to the development of the modern fountain pen.

And now It can even be used as a personailty checklist. . .

Images courtesy: Pic 1- cartoonstock, Pic 2 - blame it on the voices

But an Advertisng agency, BooneOakley, has adopted a unique way. They have created a Video and uplaoded on Youtube. You would probably thing, how do they link to portfolio, contacts etc? Thay have made them clickable within the video. By using the Youtube annotations they have created Links to other videos describing them.  Have a look:

Pretty cool Eh??  In first thought it looks cool idea to have such a website. After around 2 days of uploading It has already got 68,000+ visits & around 89 comments, All Thumbs Up!!!

It features a crap video but whats really good about the site (or Video) is that, its open to sharing, embedding, and commenting. It can be seen on all the platforms which support youtube videos. It certainly has a viral effect. A great website for an agency!!!

Brand DNA says: If I was a client I’d definitely be interested in talking to them. …

You can view BooneOakley video here

It Surely seems a success. But it can Kick Back too. If you remember, earlier such kind of activity was carried out by Skittles too. Thay had Made the twitter page as their homepage.

Once called as a great Social media practice by some Social Media Gurus, was a Social Media Failure.

ZDNet describes Skittles Social media Failure:

When the campaign first launched, the Skittles campaign was one of the hottest trending topics on Twitter.  . . .  All they did was turn their home page into a constantly revolving loop of people saying “OMG SKITTLES LOVES TWITTER.” It almost seemed to be an ad campaign for Twitter versus one to enhance the Skittles brand.  . .  Skittles broke one of the first cardinal rules of social media — it led with a tool and didn’t reach into its community. . . . .Fail, Skittles. Absolute fail.

Posting a image from wordcamp San Franciso. Somehow I find it Suitable!!!

It surely has created a buzz. But does it also have some negative impacts to BooneOakley? Share your thoughts.

Searching ones own name is termed as Ego Surfing. Searching about self is called Vanity Search. This practice of self googling can be a reason for rise in Narcissism [the trait of excessive self-love, based on self-image or ego] in people but also a strong reason to identify their online presence/ Brand Presence.

“The reason people search for themselves is that they’re curious about what other people see when they search for their name,” 

“One problem is they don’t have any control over the search results. Either they don’t like the search results, or what happens most of the time is, they’re not listed on the first page. If your name is Brian Jones and you’re not the deceased Rolling Stones guitarist, you don’t exist.“

Joe Kraus, Google’s director of product management.

So, What can be done to be on the top in the search results of your name. Some of the basic steps would be:

Get a social life: By this I mean have a presence in Social networks. Social Networks play an important role in getting your profile in top search results. With Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter etc. now having your name in the title of their pages, make you searchable. 

For eg: Earlier my Facebook profile url was: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=626836269

But now it has been changed to: www.facebook.com/people/Sudhindra-Rao/626836269

Same is the case with titles too: Facebook title has been changed to
Facebook | Sudhindra Rao

Same is the case with Twitter too. Twittler title of your home page shows something like: 

Google Profile: Seems now, Google is also taking Vanity search Seriously. Last week they launched Google Profiles. Google profile is like an online sheet of all your personal infromation, your pic, your online presence, your address, companies you worked for, your bio, and even your nickname!!!

The Google profile pages, appears in a box on the first page of the search results for their name (presently in US, Strangly mine appears!!)

For eg:  Click here to see My Profile.

You can also have your own profile. Just choose your name to be appeared, carefully. Choose a name which you think people would search you by. And to have your own click here.

The more detailed your profile, the higher your page is likely to be ranked on a Google search for your name and associated keywords. 

Happy Ego Searching!!!