One OS that changed USO (Universal Systems of Operation)!!

If Rip Van Winkle is to awake in 2011, he would be completely flabbergasted to see technological advances the world has made. 

Year 2011, I believe, well and truly belonged to the technology. It wouldn’t be grossly wrong if I say that within technology front the year belonged to an OS (Operating System) which changed USO (Universal Systems of Operation) and is also rapidly moving in a direction to become the UOS (Universal Operating System).

Yes folks, there are no prizes for guessing, it indeed is Android. Not only the exotic and finger licking names viz. Gingerbread, Honeycomb and most recent Ice Cream Sandwich, that caught  the imagination of users, but also the zippier, faster and superior applications and further scalability of the OS kept users hooked.

The speed with Android has brought its newer OS in market is jaw dropping. Figure this:

February 2011	:	The first device featuring 3.0 Honeycomb (tablet oriented OS), the Motorola Xoom tablet, went on sale
May 2011	:	3.1 Honeycomb, which added support for extra input devices, USB host mode for transferring information directly from cameras and other devices, and the Google Movies and Books apps, was released
July 2011	:	3.2 Honeycomb released. This added optimization for a broader range of screen sizes, new "zoom-to-fill" screen compatibility mode, loading media files directly from SD card, and an extended screen support API
October 2011	:	Android announced 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and Samsung Galaxy Nexus launched recently is the first smart phone to run on this OS. Would this be the watershed moment for Google, in smartphone history, we will have to wait a little

Android robot is cantering and this blitzkrieg is eating away the other OS faster than the voracious virus. 

With launch of every Android OS, the technology envelope was pushed farther and the applicability to users was enriched, so much so that the predominant player in smart phone market ‘Research In Motion (RIM)’ has been advised by analysts to get rid of Blackberry (is it RIP for Blackberry??), their biggest brand that catapulted them to global market. The very factor that pushed Android to these dizzy heights knocked off Blackberry from the pedestal- the fast, flexible, adaptable Operating System.

According to Gartner’s Q3 global sales figures for smartphones, Android topped out with 50 % market share, double of what it stood a year back.  As of October 2011 there were more than 300,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications downloaded from the Android Market as of December 2011 exceeded 10 billion. Those are some astounding figures.

Mouth watering names (1.5 Cupcake, 1.6 Donut, 2.1 Eclair, 2.2 Froyo followed by Gingerbread, Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich); fantabulous features & specifications; zillions of applications that have wider reach, applicability and user friendly approach has remained a hallmark of these platforms. 

With just 9 letters ‘licked’ out of possible 26, (As remarked by Randall Sarafa, a Google spokesman, "The obvious thing is that, yeah, the Android platform releases, they go by dessert names and by alphabetical order for the most part.") and with techno-envelope being pushed beyond the thinkable realms already, we are hungry to the extent of being called ravenous and waiting for the newer OS to hit the market.

Bring them on Google; for we are not just ready to gulp them but are also looking to blend with them!!!

A Tale of Two Sisters..

There I was hanging out in coffee bar listening to some good music and sipping hot coffee on Sunday afternoon. Through the glass door my roving eyes were searching for PYTs, but none were in sight. “How sad” I said to myself.

Old habits die hard..I was gazing through the glass pane again and my attention was drawn towards an old lady; probably in her early 60s and seemingly from well to do family, having an animated discussion with auto and taxi drivers. Looked like she was almost pleading to them to take her to desired destination. But auto/taxi drivers being what they are did not pay much heed to her.   

Somehow I was drawn towards this. In a flash; I gulped down coffee, tendered the bill and moved out of the coffee bar. Just to gauge the situation, I parked myself close to the scene of action and I realized that the old lady wanted to reach out to the far end of city and our friends in uniform were not much interested to go that far. Surprising I thought, generally these guys refuse to ply the shorter distance and today they were refusing the higher tariff!! ‘Human acts never fail to surprise you, isn’t it?’ 

For reasons quite unknown to me, I decided to help the old lady. “I can drop her to her destination and can also meet Rajesh, whom I haven’t met for a long time”. 

With this dual purpose in my mind I asked old lady “Can I drop you to your sister’s place ma’am”. 

“Are you sure, you can drop me there?” My emphatic affirmation brought a wry smile on her face. “OK, then let’s go”.

“Since I was going to friend’s place, who stays nearer to your sister’s place, I thought I can drop you on the way.” “Thank you, so nice of you my boy”. The compassion in her voice sounded very genuine. 

The old lady started off immediately “We have no blood relation but Kalpita, is just like my sister, we are very similar in nature. She stays so far that I have not visited her yet or have spoken to her; somehow I have not been able to reach her. I recently saw some of her photographs and I was amazed by the beauty of place where she stays.” 

I could not understand and believe that her sister was not contactable or reachable. Old lady was moving full speed but so was my car.

Not the one to stop or pay any attention to my reactions, the old lady continued in the same vein. “This was also very nice place some time back; not only were the people nice to each other but this place was also very beautiful. But look at it now. People are becoming more insular and this place is becoming filthier day by day. I had seen much better place and can just say ‘How green was my valley’. 

The old lady had practically given up hope and all my efforts to soothe her feelings were futile. So I chose the best possible option: to keep mum and thrust my foot on the accelerator. 

“Here we are! Now you can meet your sister”

“Thanks my son, I hope I can meet my sister” said old lady and vanished in the crowd in speed belying her age. 

Though surprised and amused by this event, I continued to drive in direction of my friend’s place. I was still thinking about the old lady and the turn of events. “I am Vasundhara, can you drop me to my sister’s place” the familiar sound of old lady crashed my thought process…and my sleep….

“What! The lady was asking for a lift once again, she did not reach her sister’s place and how come she did not recognize me?” as I asked flurry of questions to myself, I realized that I was on my couch and was staring at my reflection in the mirror. Soon I realized that it indeed was my dream and not a reality!!! 

This dream lingered in my mind for long time; even errands could not put off my mind wavering towards this dream. 

On one innocuous day, I was browsing through the net and stumbled upon the news- Super Earth discovered/ Twin sister of earth discovered etc. I read avidly and realized that Kepler-22b, which is around 600 light years away, could be the best hope yet for future human habitation, it could have continents, oceans and creatures. The article also said that Kepler- 22b, contains the right atmosphere to potentially support life. Kepler 22b is the first so-called "super-Earth" known to lie within the "habitable" zone- of a star similar to our Sun. This habitable zone, dubbed as the ‘Goldilocks Zone’ is the band where temperatures are just right to allow the existence of surface liquid water throughout its orbit.

 

Somehow, I could see the parallel in the information about Kepler- 22b and events that unfolded in my dream and as I started to dovetail my dream and information on Kepler-22b, I was struck by thunderbolt!!!!

“Gee, Did I meet mother Earth? Was that old lady the personification of mother Earth?”

Analyzing further I realized that the hints were aplenty, only I couldn’t pick them up. For starters, her sister was staying far away and as the old lady said, she somehow could not speak to her sister, Kalpita.”

“Well the names of two sisters should also have rung the bell. Old lady was Vasundhara, which means ‘The Earth’ and her distant sister’s name was Kalpita, which means ‘imaginary’”. I could not help but to conclude that I met The Earth in my dream.

“Wow! That makes me the first person to have seen and talked to Earth” As I started to revisit my discussions with the mother Earth, I realized that she was very unhappy about the surroundings and how bad the current conditions are. Her plight saddened me. “Promise yourself, that you would do everything in your capacity to make this a better place once again” I said to myself.  

Artist's impression of Kepler-22b (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler-22b)

We celebrate World Environment Day but it’s still a Day, what we do throughout the year would decide how long we could ‘celebrate’ such days. I was reminded of famous lines from Robert Frost poem, 

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
and miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep

Hey folks, can we take a vow to make our mother Earth, one of the most unique places in this entire universe, really unique, beautiful and a better place. The onus, my friends, is well and truly on us. 

“If there are no free lunches…Opt for dinner”!!!!

After a long, tiring working day and driving through the chaotic traffic, I was headed for the much desired shower. I was stopped in my tracks by a buzzing phone. “These Techno-tyrants intrude the privacy at every step” I thought to myself. 

“Have you reached home dude?” It was my friend. 

“Yes, tell me, what’s the matter”. 

“I seek your expertise and want you to help, one of my friends in financial planning. If you are at your place, we will be there in 20 minutes”.

The door bell buzzed and I opened the door. My friend was accompanied by a young couple. I welcomed them. 

My friend introduced newly married couple as Mayank and Saachi. “They wanted me to help them in financial matters” my friend was laying the foundation brick by brick. “So we seek help of your esteem self”. 

Not allowing my friend’s sycophancy affect me, with a precision of skilled surgeon I began. “Mayank on a piece of paper write down your monthly income, monthly expenses, liabilities, assets, your investment so far, your goals and time frame to achieve those goals”.

While Mayank and Saachi were busy jotting down the details, I arranged for the dinner.     

As I read through, the information, I could categorize this young couple as ‘Moderate Earners but comparatively High Spenders’. My friend was quick to spot the dissatisfaction on my face and said “that is why I need you to help them”.

“I can categorize you as ‘Moderate Earners but comparatively High Spenders’, I began. But all is not lost, since you have come here, you seem to be serious in financial planning. What you need is more disciplined approach in saving and you would be right on your track to prosperity. I will base my plan on Expense Sheet & Budgeting, Contingency, Insurance, Equity- Debt Allocation and finally Retirement Planning”.   

“First things first, you need to cut down on some of the excess expenses. Best way to figure out those additional expenses, is to maintain monthly expense sheet and analyze the monthly expense sheets and then cut down the unwarranted expenses. Maintaining daily expense sheet and budgeting is one of the best tools of financial planning.”

“The next step is to build Contingency Fund. What provisions can you make to build this Contingency Fund?” The young couple looked perplexed. 

“What is this Contingency Fund?” 

“Well, you have to cover yourself for all the unexpected events, thus build a corpus sufficient enough to take care of around 6 months expenses, including liabilities, and this corpus will act as Contingency Fund”. 

“We do not have a special provision for building this corpus, but we can use the money that we received during our marriage to build Contingency Fund. Mayank and Saachi were in unison. 

“Attaboy. This couple seems determined to tread disciplined financial management path and that impressed me. “No free lunches boy, you need to work for them. I am impressed with this decision. Now park this corpus as a very short term FD in bank and do not utilize this money, happen whatever may”  

“Very well then, now that you have covered yourself for contingencies, cover your ass”. Buy life insurance for both of you. Since Mayank you are the bread winner, your life insurance cover should be 10-12 times your annual expenses.”

“Ok, one of my friends is insurance agent and I will buy endowment or money back policy”. 

Another one bites the dust, I thought. “Endowment policy earns more for the insurance agent than it earns for you”. The look on the couple’s face reiterated what I always believed truth is almost always scandalous. 

“Do not mix insurance and investment. Insurance should be treated as insurance, so my advice is buy pure term policy for yourself and Saachi for longest possible term.” 

By this time our intestines were bursting, so we decided to satiate our hunger. It was already too late and after sumptuous dinner, we instantly agreed that discussion on humdrum topic of Financial Planning was not a good idea and we decided to recommence our session after days. 

Mayak then dutifully summarized the key take-home messages and actions for him. 

“Sir, May I say something” 

“Go on Mayank, no need for the permission”

“I wish to tweak that clichéd saying a little. If there are no free lunches, then opt for dinner, just like we did today?” 

We all had a good laugh on this witty comment and while the team was disembarking, we decided to have another session on financial planning in near future.

(Disclaimer: I am not certified financial planner. I learnt through own mistakes, experiences of my friends and lots and lots of reading.)

One ‘Occupy’ movement that never shook the world!!

A somewhat balmy Saturday afternoon in September, I was about to doze off and my phone beeped. The reflex action outpaced my unwillingness and I picked up the phone. It was my friend. “Hey whatz up dude?”, before I could answer anything, he continued “I would be at your place in 7 minutes, there is an emergency and would need your support” and hung up. 

Not giving me any time for the clean-up of my drawing room, my friend rushed at my place in less than 7 minutes!!! I was completely taken aback by the uncharacteristic enthusiasm he showed that day. I realized there has to be something really urgent. “Are you 1% or 99 % ?”. Not bothering to wait for my answer, he said, “Many people are occupying Wall Street and are gathering in Zuccotti Park”. 

Information was travelling faster than the fastest neutrino and I was completely bamboozled with the speed. Just to change the pace, I asked “what you would prefer water or something cold”…“I want you to come with me and join Rambo (one of our mutual friends) and others”…Oh hell, all my efforts seemed to fail, everybody has a bad day I consoled myself. “What has hit Rambo? And what is happening on this Sunday, what do you want from me, where do I come” I fired my first salvo!! I was just returning the favor I thought.

“Rambo and bunch of guys have decided that ‘we’ll go to the mattresses’ and would occupy our neighboring park in support of ‘Occupy Wall Street Movement” my friend replied. Not letting the clichéd phrase from ‘The Godfather’ amuse me, I asked, “What the hell is this movement?” where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise I thought. Since Rambo was always associated with pecuniary matters, there was nothing surprising in this call. 

My question achieved what I wanted. It slowed down the pace of events and allowed me to get some breather. For the next 2 hours I was listening to the exhaustive information on ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement and how there is a growing difference in wealth in the U.S. between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population, what we are 99% means etc..

“So my friend, Rambo will address us tomorrow evening about the further plan. We are gathering at the neighboring park, I need you there to show our support to this movement”. I was completely mesmerized with the very idea of the movement and was ready to have my share in creating history.

Late Sunday afternoon, I jogged to the neighboring park and found few blokes of the Rambo gang loitering around, I joined the bandwagon. Soon my friend joined and the air filled with excitement. We were on our way to create history. However the main piece of this entire jig-saw puzzle, ‘Rambo’ was still missing! We all were waiting with baited breath for his arrival. The incessant calls to Rambo yielded very little and we decided to help ourselves with cup of tea and sandwiches.  

While sipping the piping hot tea and gorging on the freshly prepared, made to order sandwiches, we were having animated discussions about our planned movement and the torch bearer of the movement- Rambo. Then came the breaking news “Rambo was spotted in nearby mall with wife in tow”!!! That left everybody steaming..how could he do it? Abusing Rambo to no end, with another helping of ginger tea, we dragged ourselves home. 

For next few days I kept waiting for my friend to return. Neither did he return to my place nor did I remember to call him.

These memories of missed opportunity to create history came calling in, when I read the news hitting the headlines about ‘Occupy Dalal Street’ movement. The credit to asphyxiate this historical movement in our neighboring park goes to Rambo’s wife I sighed. What no government could achieve, Rambo’s wife achieved in jiffy!! For she not only killed our movement but also extinguished all the chances of our neighboring park sharing the same space alongside Zuccotti Park in the aisles of history. The list of ‘Global Occupy Protest Locations’ lost one of the most historic entries ever.

But Pappu can’t FLY saala……

One of the largest beer brands in India…

The world's third largest liquor company….

One of the most envied/sought after calendars in India….

One of the most respected IPL teams….

Scottish whisky company….

312-foot yacht, the Indian Empress costing almost $89 million….

A luxurious villa in Goa….

Collection of dozens of vintage cars….

Only F 1 team based out of India….

Private Jet….

Chh..Chh..Chh…but…..Pappu can’t FLY Saala…..

First thought that crossed my mind when I heard the news of Kingfisher, facing a possible financial collapse. I really could not fathom how a professionally managed company which is part of a hugely successful UB group could stoop to such a level?

Since affluence and UB Group (or Vijay Mallya for all practical purposes) are often associated, there are many who are linking, and rightly so, the current state of financial crisis to the flamboyant nature of Vijay Mallya. It’s the dangerous concoction of flamboyance, reckless management, rising fuel costs and a fierce price war that popped Kingfisher from its nest.

Kingfisher Airlines is associated with many firsts as far as domestic air travel experience is concerned. It was Kingfisher and Vijay Mallya who altogether brought hitherto unseen “Airline Service” into the domestic skies and pampered the air travellers with customer centric and personalized service to create that ultimate air travel experience. Be it personalized message asking the crew “to treat you in the same way as if you were a guest in my own home” or be it the personalized screens or good food; the airline clearly travelled different trajectory than all the other domestic airlines.

A dash of austerity in these difficult financial times would have definitely reined the mounting debt burden and would have helped it to stay afloat. High flying Pegasus (obvious reference to the UB Group logo) must carry tiny Kingfisher on its shoulder so that it (Kingfisher) keeps on fluttering.

The unabashed abundance has led the “King of good times” to “Broke at bad times”, the success of man lies in being the “King at all times” and that is the chasm the fluttering Kingfisher must cross otherwise the epitaph “But Pappu can’t FLY saala” could well and truly perch atop Kingfisher and ‘FLY Kingfisher’ could well become the greatest oxymoron of Indian aviation industry.

(Disclaimer: Pappu is just a metaphor and does not refer to any person in particular)

Atlas, Greece and the Earth

Other day I was watching the movie Troy and was reminded of the strength, unity of the once great Greeks. Soon after the movie was over, the habitual channel surfer that I have become, I was surfing through the news channel. Lo and behold…all the news channels were shouting on top of their voices about the financial catastrophe called Greece!!!! I did not know what to believe….the just concluded picturization of known history or the present!!!! Not understanding what to do, what to listen, I decided to resign to the body clock and sleep.

There I was on my couch and suddenly I dreamt that I am an almighty Zeus condemning Atlas to stand at the western edge of Gaia (the Earth) and hold up Uranus (the Sky) on his shoulders, to prevent the two from cuddling each other!!!! With just one command I had Atlas Telamon, "enduring Atlas," at my feet..albeit in my dreams!!!

Beeeeppppppp…..The dream sequence was shattered by the sudden sound….to hell with you, I shouted. Soon I realized that the sound was a blend of door bell and alarm in my BB. Unwillingly I reached out to the door and picked up the newspaper lying near the door. The newspaper headline again screamed about Greece going bust, the financial crisis the world is going to endure in next few days (years???) to come. I read the entire newspaper avidly and realized that it is not just the Greece but its really the PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) that is really troubling the Euro zone and the Earth!!  

In the span of less than 24 hours I realized the 180 degrees role reversal that I had to undergo. In my great dreams, I was an almighty Zeus summoning Atlas to carry Uranus and while I was reading newspaper I found that it’s indeed me who has to carry not just Greece (or PIGS for that matter) but the entire earth!!! Wow that is life, I sighed.

Oblivious though, I remembered the poem that I read long ago.

“I slept and dreamt that life was beauty,

I awoke and found that the life was duty,

Was my dream then a shadowy lie

Toil on sad heart courageously,

And thou shall find thy dream shall be,

A noonday light and truth to thee”

Realizing that carrying Greece/Earth on our shoulder is not only Herculean but also ‘Merkelian’ task.....I resumed my daily routine and drove to office once again to be new age Atlas carrying Greece (PIGS) and other faltering economies on shoulder.……

India's increasing clout in Motor Sports

My hope turns into reality!!!!

Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) decided to move FIA award ceremony for the year 2011, to India from the traditional venue in Monaco, where only the top three F1 drivers in a season are invited for the extravaganza.

The national capital will also host World Champions of other FIA backed events such as the World Rally Championship, World Karting, Asia Pacific Rally, Formula Two and many more in the function schedule to take place at the Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon.

India's clout in motor sports is on ascent!! Congrats and all the best. 

Cheers!