Apple TV, Smart TV

It was a great big shift was us in 2011.

1. We moved into our new premises in Gurgaon
2. Dhriti started day care
3. I bought a Samsung Series 8 TV (The TV had a number of applications)
4. I bought Apple V, ( First Apple device)
5. I bought the first HDMI Cable (and loving it)

I was quite excited to buy the TV, as all this while I had a small LG 21 inch TV, which wasn't bad. What impressed me was that with the Samsung TV, the applications that came in-built (at least at the showroom it did). Internet@TV had YouTube, Picassa, Facebook, among other application. The Samsung app world is small as of now, but the company is building it's base. However, the demonstration at the time of installation was a complete let down. Typing the password through remote was very crappy. In addition I had to buy a dongle to enable wifi in the TV. I decided not to do so. We were ok watching TV. Till sometime.


All this while, including October, my Apple TV that I had bought from the Australia trip for $125 was kept packed in my media console. People would ask question and I would give them half baked answers. Finally, on Diwali, I got it out and plugged it to TV with the HDMI cable. I was fed up of showing Youtube videos to Dhriti on iPhone. Apple TV is not bad at all, We watch Youtube videos, for a considerable time on Apple TV. Not just that, the other day during a get together, I streamed music from one of the internet radio channels and was amazed with the quality and library of music.




I'm not putting the pictures for the Movies section, as we can't access movies yet from the section (Apple doesn't have the movie distribution rights in India). It has a large library of HD movies ( I was amazed to see all Stanley Kubrick collection and latest TV series). I can access the previews and they are excellent. Additionally, with the new iOS5 you can stream your pictures, iTune Videos and Movies through Apple TV.

These maybe just small snippets of the innovations that is happening at this point in time and of the future . Did hear the news that the next big thing that apple is working on is a television device ? I'm already waiting for it.

Cheers
Dushyant

Communication Workshop 26-27th October 2010

This was the most interesting communication sessions that I had attended.

- No handouts
- No theory
- No powerpoint
- No movie clips
- Only discussion and interactive sessions

I didn't come out of the workshop "Empowered" with a new theory but with self-realisation of my potential strengths.

In the age of digital technology and flashy powerpoints, this was a new discovery...

- 93% of the communication is personality driven. People make decisions (within first 30 secs) about you

- 7% is the content, which needs to be meaningful. The listener shouldn't decide whether he/she wants to listen to you or no. The communication should be compelling enough.

- Silence has immense power. Helps to elicit response and exercise control over delivery. The use of effective silence was another great discovery.

- Use of notes, though maybe old fashioned, but is always recommended. It is a great way to gather content and self confidence.

I didn't know it was all that easy! All you have to do is not to use powerpoint as the communication medium :)

To my dear Petroleum Minister- Ideas on How to Book LPG Cylinders Online!

Dear Petroleum Minister,

I hope you are doing well.

I realized yesterday that the LPG cylinder booking in Delhi is automated and can be done only through IVRS or through an SMS. Let me first thank you on the initiative as I found the system to be very novel and convenient. The process requires one to register the phone number (the one that you will be making the calls from) and input a bunch of other information such as ones distributor's phone number and customer id.

The very next day I had a cylinder delivered to my home. No more of following up with the gas distributor.

Phone may work well with the masses and I have no doubts about that. I have a request to this system online. Internet has many advantages and will help you win few more accolades...

1. email based registration: Phone numbers may change, however, the email id does change that much. Other information can be also be stored on the server such as customer id, dealer etc.

2. usage summary: The interface can also have how many times have you ordered the refill. You will know intuitively where all can you optimise.

3. request a refill: fill in the required fields such as your dealer id and your customer id to order a refill. Advanced systems can show whether the dealers have sufficient stock. If now, when is the dealer likely to get the stocks.

4. register complaints and satisfaction ratings: the channel can become an interface with customers, which you don't have now. You will also get ideas how to better the service.

5. changes dealer: if not satisfied with the current vendor one can look for a better one with better customer rating.

6. order refills online: enable payment through a debit card/credit card.

7. gprs based phone application (some day soon): so that you need not always sit in front of a machine to order the refill.

I hope you find this idea engaging and thank you for listening. Will look forward to hear from you soon!

Yours Sincerely
Dushyant

CommonWealth Games 2010, Book Your Tickets Online Now!

It is good to see governments belief in utilising Internet for distribution of Commonwealth Games tickets (expects to sell 17 Lakh tickets with 60-70 crores). IRCTC, India's largest e-commerce site is the official channel for distribution.

The tickets will also be available on phone (1800 2001294) and retail outlets. Hence ensuring that the fulfillment is multimodal and therefore a wider reach.

It remains to be seen what the activity does to India Internet Space in general.

Be careful while searching, as the space is full of domain sqatters & clones on Google.

• www.cwgindia.org/tickets-for-commonwealth-games-2010/
• www.2010cwg.com/2010-commonwealth-games-tickets.html
• 2010commonwealthgamesindia.blogspot.com/
• www.thecgf.com/

The search on Bing is much better, which has wikipedia page as the second link.

Cheers!