Reduced mobile sales in 2009

Reuters has recently put out a note that sale of mobile devices would be reduced in 2009. I see it that the market would still grow, but with reduced momentum. In fact Nokia had a press release warning investors to expect reduced growth for the company. And it has nothing to do with all the job cuts, nothing whatsoever.

Motorola is one of the worst hit (for quite a while too!) and the India head honchos have already started looking for greener pastures (especially in the booming construction market :) .

The Reuters poll (yea the note from the poll) states that the customer spending is reducing. On average, the poll of 36 analysts shows global market volumes shrinking 6.6 percent next year and 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter -- traditionally the strongest period for the industry due to holiday sales. Read more about it here.

Quick update: Gartner has also said the same thing apparently. Their reasons? Stockpiling of unwanted phones, people not getting what they want! Totally agree.

When is metadata too much metadata? (aka why I left delicious)

Lazy Tuesday morning; just read a post on the Value of Social Metadata on the Oracle Social CRM blog. Interesting read, but it's made me put to paper (no jokes please) a thought... when is data enough?

Quoting Marta from the blog:

For example, I can tag a presentation that is relevant to me and choose the tags I believe best describe that presentation. The keywords I choose help organize and categorize the content in a way that’s meaningful to me.

This brings two thoughts to mind. Firstly if everybody starts deciding what is 'relevant for them' imagine how messy the world will get (not that it isn't!). Lets pick an example. How would I categorise Friends, the sitcom that is, oh wait the tv show, no no the serial, rubbish its all of this. You see where I'm going? There would be a dozen words to describe content depending on who you ask. And I'm not even going remotely how to categorise music!

Secondly, on the social front what you categorise would not be just for you - it'll be for everyone out there. So when you categorise do you think of all the possibilities? We might end up categorising the categories!

I love the concept of sharing information, but it certainly is getting overwhelming and the SEO jobs has never been so popular. Take the social bookmarking site Delicious . I gave up on the concept of me contributing quite a while back. The reason, it'll throw me 10 similar categories to post a link under, not forgetting the option tocreate my own. What happens if I've a typo? Hmm maybe someone's already bookmarked it.

With the myriad sources to source and funnel information, how do you decide what's relevant? Metadata or metacrap? The Semantic web? The more I think about it, I think not. Anyway thats for another rainy day.

Nokia goes the Linux way with Maemo - Cool specs, but another OS?!

It's now official folks - Symbian and the S60 platform are soon to be defunct. (I may be reading too much into this; but if not today, tomorrow for sure.)

Nokia has just announced the Maemo 5 SDK. Slated for the Nokia Internet Tablets the OS is 100% opensource (well so was Android till they circulated newer SDKs to the elite. Disclosed later, but that's another story) and will feature a revamped UI called 'Midas'.

Some of the new features include (although I don't quite get the data connectivity part, WiFi?):

• OMAP3 support.
• Cellular data connectivity.
• High definition camera support.
• hardware-based graphics acceleration.

Nokia warns that the release is pre-alpha (that's a new one. pre-beta = alpha? So pre-alpha = zeta :) and is not at all suitable for development. More of a heads-up fashionable entrance. Impressive specs, yes you've got our attention. I forgot the best part... it's Linux!

I was curious to find if Android had moved into Nokia territory and came across this. Check out the video of Andriod on an N810 Internet Tablet. Also came across this interesting quote by Ukko Lappalainen, Vice President of Nokia's markets units “In the longer perspective, Linux will become a serious alternative for our high-end phones,” I can't agree more, but wait “I don’t see anything in Android which would make it better than Linux maemo.” What I see here is bruised ego than anything!

Geek talk: Since Maemo 5 SDK is not backward compatible, implementation on the N810 would not have been possible anyway.

Quite certain there would be very stong drivers for Linux in the future, however I'm seeing it restricted to the consumer electronics, small devices space - where there is a lesser chance for the user to muck up. In many ways Nokia is the Microsoft and Dell duo, if they pull their weights in the Maemo direction, there would be alliances being formed.

With the Linux synergy and being 100% opensource I certainly hope the Meamo and Android application are compatible. As long my system is stable all I want is functionality and not operating systems.

We certianly are living in interesting times...

HTC Diamond Backlight Problem - Good things come in small packages (maybe 'slightly' damaged)

Just when I thought I'll gift myself the perfect phone for Christmas! Came across this write up on Gizmodo.

Apparently one of the hottest phones out there (and it has nothing to do with running WM!) seems to have a serious problem. Serious as it gets... after a few minutes of operation, the backlight becomes dim... wait for it... permanently! Before you ask, no it's not a Microsoft bug.

I am at a loss now. For quite sometime now, I've been after the elusive 'smart'phone. First it was the Touch, then the Cruise, then the Tytn II, then the Diamond. The G1 design is downright ugly and the iPhone... well lets just leave it at that. And the Storm? That's a laugh!

All I ever wanted was a decent WM phone - sleek, eyecandy, mail, games and yes make calls. Is that too much to ask? I mean with all these years of experience, somebody ought to get it right. And I thought the Diamond was the one for me (dramatic pause).

That said, I'm still on the prowl for a good deal on the Touch HD. At £500 way over my budget. Boxing day perhaps. The Max 4G is droolalicious but WiMAX is not something I'd surfing on any time soon. (And does it run on a battery or do you need to buy the generator:p ) Guess I'll wait for 2009...

All this proves: too much research will leave you heart broken, frustrated, jealous craving for the next best thing out there. And I'm talking about the phone here...

Update: As on 10:53 pm 9 Dec I'm the 'proud' owner of an XDA Ignito... impulsive buy! No comments please.

nslookup works, ping doesn't on Linux - Missing routing entry!

This one drove me nuts (for 2 hours!!) Here's my problem: I can't ping outside the LAN, but nslookup works!
Since my Linux skills are rusty enough to give anyone passing remotely close tetanus, I did what what anyone would... google. And here we go (drum roll please) with the awesome support Linux enjoys, I hit 78,200 results. To my surprise was lots of talk and no solutions. Closed that tab. Open the rusty swiss army tools

1. cat /etc/resolv.conf -> check! Silly me! How else would nslookup work? :p
2. ifconfig -> here's what i got (click to enlarge)
(Confession time: I'm working on my FSG.)
So I've eth0, eth1 and mwl0. But the last two are mapped and I'd have only eth0 and eth1

3. Next step route
(and waste 30 mins chatting, 170g Pringles, 300ml lemonade)

Finally figured there's no default routing for eth0
A quick route add default gw 192.168.1.1 eth0
192.168.1.1 is my router's IP. My gateway that is.)
And presto...
Ping!

I'm afraid this post is more from elation than providing a solution. But the troubleshooting essentially should be:

• Checking connectivity
• Checking routing

My summary and learning from this whole affair:
1. Linux may be popular, but finding a solution is a pain
2. Google and the Internet is a must must! Had I been in India, I'd certainly have trouble
3. Pringles is addictive. You cannot stop.
4. Finally an MBA will not necessarily turn your brain off and your tongue on. Go figure!

Amazon.com introduces iPhone Photo Matching App

I'm sure everyone would've had the moment 'Oh boy I got to buy me one of those' only forget it an hour later and move on. Enter Mr Bezos with the Amazon.com app for the iPhone.

Well what does it do?

1. Lets you buy stuff from your phone (how interesting!)
2. Lets you take a snap that's uploaded to your Amazon.com account (hmmm. Tell me more)
3. Lets you take a snap and searches for that item online (eh? Really?)

On anohter note I remember reading about an app that scans barcodes and does price comparisons, for Android however. Was for the Android app contest I think.

Amazon Remembers is a really cool feature, but wait its no artificial intelligence (oh absolutely. Technology has advanced, semantic web here we come!) there's a team Mechanical Turk program that does this visual comparison and matching.

My thoughts

• When is the 'matching' going to be outsourced? :)
• Can I just walk into a shop take a pic and buy it cheaper online? Dear shopkeeper, will you ban pictures (dare ?I say it iPhones!) in your shop? What the iPhone camera sucks, you say? I hear you!
• Since nothing good ever happens after 2 am (sorry too much TV shows lately), and I've got my 1-click shopping turned on, how fast can I blow my balance? Every click might turn out to be a purchase!
• Err.. if its just a picture matching, why did it take so long? We scared of Windows Mobile or Java?
• Matrimony site, can you find me a girl with similar proportions (or this one, if not spoken for)? (alright, not quite the example. I understand.)

Well good thing the iPhone's damn expensive in India, and boy is the mobile internet fast!

Mumbai Blasts - A Petition

This one came as a forward. People have always asked me why I'm always cribbing about my country. Mr Prakash Bajaj in his letter has expressed very coherently the 101 emotions I'm also going through.

Maybe I chose to turn a blind eye, maybe I'm scared, maybe I don't know what I'm feeling! What's your stand? Can we do anything?

Dear Mr. Prime minister

I am a typical mouse from Mumbai. In the local train compartment which has capacity of 100 persons, I travel with 500 more mouse. Mouse at least squeak but we don't even do that.

Today I heard your speech. In which you said 'NO BODY WOULD BE SPARED'. I would like to remind you that fourteen years has passed since serial bomb blast in Mumbai took place. Dawood was the main conspirator. Till today he is not caught. All our bolywood actors, our builders, our Gutka king meets him but your Government can not catch him. Reason is simple; all your ministers are hand in glove with him. If any attempt is made to catch him everybody will be exposed. Your statement 'NOBODY WOULD BE SPARED' is nothing but a cruel joke on this unfortunate people of

India.

Enough is enough. As such after seeing terrorist attack carried out by about a dozen young boys I realize that if same thing continues days are not away when terrorist will attack by air, destroy our nuclear reactor and there will be one more Hiroshima.

We the people are left with only one mantra. Womb to Bomb to Tomb. You promised Mumbaikar Shanghai what you have given us is Jalianwala Baug.

Today only your home minister resigned. What took you so long to kick out this joker? Only reason was that he was loyal to Gandhi family. Loyalty to Gandhi family is more important than blood of innocent people, isn't it?

I am born and bought up in Mumbai for last fifty eight years. Believe me corruption in Maharashtra is worse than that in Bihar. Look at all the politician, Sharad Pawar, Chagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, Bal Thackray, Gopinath Munde, Raj Thackray, Vilasrao Deshmukh all are rolling in money.

Vilasrao Deshmukh is one of the worst Chief minister I have seen. His only business is to increase the FSI every other day, make money and send it to Delhi so Congress can fight next election. Now the clown has found new way and will increase FSI for fisherman so they can build concrete house right on sea shore. Next time terrorist can comfortably live in those house, enjoy the beauty of sea and then attack the Mumbai at their will.

Recently I had to purchase house in Mumbai. I met about two dozen builders. Everybody wanted about 30% in black. A common person like me knows this and with all your intelligent agency & CBI you and your finance minister are not aware of it. Where all the black money goes? To the underworld isn't it? Our politicians take help of these goondas to vacate people by force. I myself was victim of it. If you have time please come to me, I will tell you everything.

If this has been land of fools, idiots then I would not have ever cared to write you this letter. Just see the tragedy, on one side we are reaching moon, people are so intelligent and on other side you politician has converted nectar into deadly poison. I am everything Hindu,

Muslim, Christian, Schedule caste, OBC, Muslim OBC, Christian Schedule caste, Creamy

Schedule caste only what I am not is INDIAN. You politician have raped every part of mother India by your policy of divide and rule.

Take example of former president Abdul Kalam. Such an intelligent person, such a fine human being. You politician didn't even spare him. Your party along with opposition joined the hands, because politician feels they are supreme and there is no place for good person.

Dear Mr Prime minister you are one of the most intelligent person, most learned person. Just wake up, be a real SARDAR. First and foremost expose all selfish politician. Ask Swiss bank to give name of all Indian account holder. Give reins of CBI to independent agency. Let them find wolf among us. There will be political upheaval but that will better than dance of death which we are witnessing every day. Just give us ambient where we can work honestly and without fear. Let there be rule of law. Everything else will be taken care of.

Choice is yours Mr. Prime Minister. Do you want to be led by one person or you want to lead the nation of 100 Crore people?

Prakash B. Bajaj

Chandralok 'A" Wing, Flat No 104
97 Nepean Sea Road
Mumbai 400 036
Phone 98210-71194

Linux on the iPhone!

Extra extra! Read all about it! Came across wonderful news on ZDNet:

Hackers (ok lets call them enthusiasts) have successfully managed to boot Linux on the iPhone.

There has always been this tussle between the Cupertino geeks and iPhone Dev Team. They make it, these guys make it better. They remake it these guys reremake it better. (I like humour. I tried. I failed. You get the idea.) Head over the the blog for the download with instructions.

Still far from complete, they basic OS runs. Kudos guys!

Drivers are to be ported, including the ones for the touchscreen. Oh yea the iPhone is completely touchscreen usage :) Check out the video posted here.

Pause for thought. What happens now?
* Android to be ported? (certainly hope so)
* Apple to relase patch? (big Yes!)
* Microsoft to lose ground? (small yes. Remember SE statement about future Xpreria having a dfifferent OS? But it aint over till Balmer comes out with a WM version complete with all the iPhone, Android bells and whisltles.)
* Blackberry: why oh why can't you move to opensource :|

I've already started making my switch to Linux. That's
1. Ubuntu
2. Moto ROKR E1 (must keep away evil thoughts about Touch HD)
3. Freecom Storage Gateway (whohooo! I luv this family member)

What do you think? Any funny ads: I'm a Windows Mobile. I'm an Android. ??