Microsoft Tag Reader for Android

What is Microsoft Tag? In simple words, Microsoft Tag allows you to store information in images (Tags). More on Microsoft Tag can be found here. My excitement about Microsoft Tag is, the Tag Reader app is now available for Android phones.  

I own an Android Dev Phone 1 (a.k.a. ADP1). It was just today that Microsoft Tag Reader app for Android was announced. The Tag Reader app allows to scan, extract and store information in Microsoft Tags using the phone’s camera. Read the rest of this entry »

Kindle to India: Frequently Asked Questions

I ordered an Amazon Kindle for a friend of mine.  Before ordering the Kindle, there were various doubts and apprehensions about it’s functionality, cost and shipping to India. It took me numerous Google searches to conclude that Kindle is a safe and good buy for someone in India.

Kindle (Global Wireless) Image source: Wikipedia.org

Subsequently, I placed an order on behalf of my friend and the Kindle was shipped to New Delhi, India to my residence in about 2 days. I got to setup, configure and play with this nifty device, before I could hand it over to my friend. Read the rest of this entry »

My list of must-have Android apps

Ever since I ordered and got my Android Dev Phone 1 (a.k.a. ADP1), I have been taking it through various updates. The phone shipped with Android version 1.0 and upgraded to version 1.6. After 1.6, I opted to go for ROMs from CynaogenMod.

Each time, I upgrade my phone, I wipe off its data. This is because I took the upgrades as an opportunity to wipe off applications which I install, but do not use or use occasionally. But, following is the list of Android applications which I crave to install after each wipe off. These applications are my must-haves on my Android phone. Read the rest of this entry »

Twitter Updates for 2009-06-30

• Single universal #phone #chargers by 2010. http://tinyurl.com/kutzyk Hope it hits for real #
• @pankaj_shukla sending DM to non followers http://tinyurl.com/4olkyb does not work. See update 2. I also tried it with no success. in reply to pankaj_shukla #
• #Drupal "Unable to create scaled Thumbnail image" with Image module http://tinyurl.com/yvs32r ? Install #PHP #GD library. yum install php-gd #
• workout status: Day 2: 20 dumbbel concentration curls – 3 sets each arm (for biceps and triceps). No pushups #
• RT @bineshkutty RT @daretostartup: Did you know in 2007 the metal value of a coin was more than the face value of that coin? http://bit. … #
• RT @daretostartup: Did you know in 2007 the metal value of a coin was more than the face value of that coin? http://bit.ly/aqEkn #
• @vineetbhatnagar oh yes #YouTube videos run smooth on my 512 kbps #airtel #broadband connection @ home #
• @vineetbhatnagar even on 256, open #youtube video, let the jerky video play to its full length, while u do something else. Then watch it #
• @bineshkutty @vineetbhatnagar does Reliance have a 512kbps option? I guess its 300 and 600 something. in reply to vineetbhatnagar #
• @vineetbhatnagar @bineshkutty oh yes, 512 just for YouTube is not justified. leech and seed in reply to vineetbhatnagar #
• @bineshkutty yet another chance to sue reliance ? in reply to bineshkutty #
• @hoshieg #IndiaTV serves well as an entertainment channel. Due to a bug in #Tatasky set top box it is placed under #news channels in reply to hoshieg #
• RT: @pankaj_shukla: what a pleasant #weather in New Delhi, it's sigh of relief …… #
• @aseemsood #Palm #Pre sales beating expectation http://www.crn.com/mobile/218101971 Happy ? #

Twitter Updates for 2009-06-08

• @sharat_j cool photo dude in reply to sharat_j #
• RT @androinica 5 Palm Pre Lessons for Android: The smartphone wars encourage comparisons. Mobile companies constantly try to on.. http:/ … #
• At a friend’s marriage. In fact a lil far from the venue. Getting his car decorated with flowers at Kalkaji, New Delhi #
• Driving back a flower decorated “just married” car #
• @globalservices Microsoft threatens to offshore #
• Just came back home from the friend’s marriage. Have about 4 hrs to catch up with sleep coz have a 1130 hrs meeting at Gurgaon #
• Up and running. The zombie driving for the meeting #
• @sharat_j nopes. U r undergoing “time dilation” @pankaj_shukla in reply to sharat_j #
• Meeting done. House inspection progress checked (basically no progress), reminded the builder bout d-line. Now at Nirulas with @vinodunny #
• @bineshkutty #Terminator 4 Salvation ringtone http://bit.ly/escCK #
• @vinodunny the terminator ringtone is. did not check others in reply to vinodunny #
• @pankaj_shukla For checkbox array in PHP: use <input type=”checkbox” name=”chk[]” value=”1″> To retrieve: $_POST["chk"][0],$_POST["chk"][1] #
• @vinodunny it seems @bineshkutty will reply after office hours. I wonder why ? in reply to vinodunny #
• @vinodunny “Big Brother”? As far as I know @bineshkutty ‘s elder brother is not into technology. Whom r u talking about? I’m so confused in reply to vinodunny #
• @vinodunny Sanjay Majumdar can be anything but “Big” in reply to vinodunny #
• Search Engine flood #Bing,#Wolfram, #Yebol, #Wowd, #Cuil and … ? #
• Search Engine Fud #Bing #
• @aseemsood get me this http://bit.ly/b3eU1
  from Germany in reply to aseemsood #
• @aseemsood I can but I will not in reply to aseemsood #
• @achitnis that was quick. if not from @aseemsood Will ask him to get something else now in reply to achitnis #
• #Bing free (you still pay for the bandwidth) search API http://www.bing.com/developers #
• The #Bing API version is 2.0 – a straight jump ? What, where, how, when was 1.0 ? #
• #Bing Search API “Unlimited use for customer-facing sites and applications” as taken from http://www.bing.com/developers #
• @aseemsood if and when you buy #Palm #Pre and want to transfer data from ur #Treo to #Pre http://bit.ly/AcT8Z #
• @catomaior hmm I thought so but still wanted to confirm. thanks! in reply to catomaior #
• very interesting concept! RT @ecackett: Which search engine do you like best? Try this blind-search: http://blindsearch.fejus.com/ #
• @achitnis #palmpre you hold a Palm Pre ? As of now ? In your own hands ? @aseemsood in reply to achitnis #
• @vinodunny hey try the blind search engine that I tweeted about. I ended up voting for not #bing not #google but #yahoo for my first search in reply to vinodunny #
• @achitnis u have a #pre with u or looking for someone who has one? in reply to achitnis #
• @vinodunny @achitnis hey now u r covering it up Don’t make me angry. U wouldn’t like me when I’m angry in reply to vinodunny #
• @achitnis vinod himself. Its him who is waking up the hulk in me yeeaahhh ggrrrrrrr in reply to achitnis #
• @aseemsood hell is right here Raina in reply to aseemsood #
• @juhib because “T” for Tosh and hence “T” for Twitter in reply to juhib #
• @juhib gnite Miley in reply to juhib #
• @kkumarkg re sanjay. @vinodunny took his name because he is afraid of his XBox (rhyme it ) in reply to kkumarkg #

Twitter Updates for 2009-06-01

• Had healthy debate with @vinodunny on #Micosoft and (not vs. ) #opensource. Thinking of writing a collaborative blog, to move forward #
• When tring to open http://tinyurl.com/nal2az video about Google Wave in ADP1 (Android Phone), it gives “Sorry, this video is not available” #
• @achitnis since I cud not open it in my Android phone, I didnt see it. Watching it now on my desktop. thanks #
• When trying to open http://tinyurl.com/nal2az video about Google Wave in ADP1 (#Android Phone), it shows Sorry, this video is not available #
• @achitnis lol. add to it, after, driving back from gurgaon to delhi in reply to achitnis #
• @aseemsood how come we both have almost an equal no. of followers at most points in time I monitored it, u analyse it #
• @bineshkutty man if my dad finds this tweet when he Googles for “shekhar drinks”,I will drink ur blood for the rest of my life. blood group? in reply to bineshkutty #
• @achitnis the single malt overshadowed the conversation (thanks $#%^&% @bineshkutty now its in open) in reply to achitnis #
• its raining heavily in delhi, atleast in west delhi, yahoo #
• @shekharg its raining heavily in delhi, atleast in west delhi, google in reply to shekharg #
• 99.999% uptime = 5 mins and 15 secs downtime in a year #
• Going to watch Angels and Demons, 1915hrs at Glitz Cinema, New Friends colony, New Delhi. Seats: 3rd row from the front With @bineshkutty #
• @vinodunny you seem to have a hangover from last night’s drinking, judging by your spellings :p in reply to vinodunny #
• @bineshkutty @vinodunny Angels and Evangelists in reply to bineshkutty #
• Interval .. liking the movie Angels and Demons so far. Upto this point, the movie is worth a one time watch, alteast #

Android to India: A Shipping FAQ

Writing this post with an Android Dev Phone 1 (ADP1) lying besides me. Refer to my earlier post for more on ADP1. I bought it through Android Market and it was shipped to New Delhi, India to my residence in about 3 days. While ordering the phone I had doubts and apprehensions, about its cost and shipping to India, which are now quenched – after all I have a working and ringing phone in my hand

I thought it would be a good idea to share the ordering and shipping experience with others – especially those who are wanting to get hold of an ADP1 in India. Instead of writing the entire experience chronologically, I thought I would  jot it as a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Following were a few questions that bothered me while ordering the phone, while the phone was being shipped and when I got to unbox it: Read the rest of this entry »

Was about to buy an Android

I was thrilled to spot the news about unlocked developer version of Google’s Android based phone.The news revealed a network unlocked phone called “Android Dev Phone 1″. So far, the only Android based phone which has been available is T-Mobile’s G1 – which is a network locked phone and will not work in India (where I live).

Photo of Android Dev Phone 1 from Android Market

Note that the Dev Phone is meant for developers which just means there will be no support by any company (which includes Google, T-Mobile or HTC). Still it costs as much as a consumer phone (as mentioned later). Read the rest of this entry »