Hiding 'Last Seen' On Whats App [Android]

Whats App, this messenger application had once brought equality in the mobile messenger market, and had provided a pedestal to Android and iPhone users to face their rival Blackberry and its famed BBM. As Whats App launched its updates, it became faster over the years, but some small annoying things remained behind.
From the first Whats App version, the one thing that has remained and annoys users the most is the capability of all your contacts to see your 'Last Seen Time'. It gives the sender the benefit of determining, whether the other person has read his/her message or not. Yea, it is helpful when you are the sender, but it becomes a pain when you are on the other end. What if there is a message that you don't wish to reply? Say you have an annoying girlfriend/boyfriend, you wouldn't want them to see if you have read the message, because then you would have to reply, or maybe you don't want them to know when you last came online on Whats App.

Being an inbuilt unchangeable feature, users usually think there is no possible solution, and are forced to show their last seen time, to the most undeserving crap of stalkers surviving in their contact lists. But don't worry there has always been, and always will be a simple work around to this. Currently there are two simple ways to 'Hide' your 'Last Seen Time' on your Android devices.

Before I begin, I would like to explain how the Whats App 'Last Seen' Time Stamp service actually works.
When you open Whats App, the application captures the time stamp and updates it on its servers, and obviously it uses your device's data connection to do so. But if the application cannot connect to its servers (when the user opens Whats App), the time stamp wont get captured. That's the trick to the whole game, prevent whats app to update the time stamp, and your 'Last Seen Time' wont be visible to anyone.

Method 1: Using the 'Not Last Seen' Application:
I think some really irritated and troubled user, who was also a developer must have made this application. He was probably so irritated by the Last Seen issue of Whats App, that he went to the extent of making another Application to disable it. Well done my man, it sure is helpful.
This Application simply disables your Data Connection when you open Whats App, and this prevents Whats App to update your last seen time on its servers. Unfortunately this useful app is not available on the Play Store, so you can download it from here. If this link doesn't work, search the app on Google, its called 'Whats App Not Last Seen' Application.

• Install the Application
• Open it and Select 'Block Last Seen'
• Open Whats App, Read/Reply your messages. (Your Data Connection goes off at this stage)
• Close Whats App
• Once you have closed Whats App, your messages will be transmitted to the respective users.
  (Your Connection is automatically switched on at this stage to send your messages)

And that's how simple it really is, Your 'Last Seen' is now hidden from your contacts.

Method 2: Disabling the Data Connection Manually:
This method is the same thing that you did above, only difference is, rather than using an Application, you do it manually. Though this method might seem like a rip off of the application, it predates the application, people have been using it ever since Whats App came to the market.

• Disable your Data Connection/Mobile Data, very simple to do in Android phones.
• Open Whats App, Read/Reply your messages
• Exit Whats App, Enable your Data Connection
• Your Messages are sent and Voila, Your 'Last Seen' will not be visible.

Your choice, Android users, use which ever method you please, iPhone users have lucked out as in their latest Whats App update, they have an option to disable 'Last Seen'. I wonder why that hasn't come for Android yet. But never mind, we have our ways out. :)

Android 4.2 Easter Eggs

Now this is something I stumbled upon by chance. I had absolutely no idea, that my very own phone has Hidden Options and Easter Eggs. I was browsing through my settings, in 'About Phone', I was hitting the 'Check Now' update button, trying to see if 4.3 is finally out for my phone. I was tired of the fact that my friends have received the 4.3 update, and I still haven't. Anyway, in a fit of rage, I hit the 'Android Version' multiple times.

I was surprised when suddenly this Fat - Red Jellybean took over my screen. As soon as I touched my screen, the silly thing gave me a smile and in white bold letters a few words appeared beneath its enormous belly 'Android 4.2.2 - Jelly Bean'. That made me furious, I was not getting
the 4.3 and this shit tells me 4.2.2 in bold. So, I pressed the damn Jellybean, and lo, another trigger, 20-30 Jelly Beans appeared out of no where and hijacked my screen. When I flicked one, it went flying off the screen, and more appeared. An infinite Jelly Bean game that just goes on, till you hit the Back/Home button.

For those who just wish to see this silly Easter Egg Game, follow the path:
Settings -> About Phone -> Tap the 'Android Version'

Now I knew that there could be more such silly shit hidden and stuffed in settings, so I tapped the hell outta all the options in 'About Phone'. As soon as I tapped 'Build Number' another mystifying option popped up. It said 'You are now 3 steps away from being a Developer'.

Next, I tapped it twice and it said, 'You are now 1 step away from being a developer'. So I tapped it once more and the pop-up said 'You are now a Developer'.



Now to most Android Users, this will probably not make sense, but me being an enthusiast, I knew exactly what had happened. I pressed back to go into settings, and saw that 'Developer Options' had been unlocked. These options help you customize the core settings of your android, and do quite a lot of other stuff. (Search on Google, I don't have time to explain). So I was able to unlock my Developer Options, by just playing around with my settings. Just one question to Google, as I am still frustrated due to the lack of the update, why in fucks name, did you disable 'Developer Options' when enabling it was so simple and silly?!! Might as well give it from the start! Easter Eggs my ass! Give me the 4.3 already!

Anyway for people who wish to unlock the Developer Options follow this path:
Settings -> About Phone -> Tap 'Build Version' multiple times till you get the Pop-ups.

I've heard that 4.1 and the others had similar Easter Eggs, well alright then Google, if you like to sell phones with hidden silliness go right ahead. Might please a school girl.

Facebook : Getting a Link for Wall Posts.

So you wish to get a link, a unique link to a post. If the link is clicked/selected, the individual is directly taken to that post, be it a wall/group/feed post. How will you do that?

No offence to Mark Zuck, and the others at the Facebook HQ, but guys please don't go about making changes to the user interface every now and then, because its the basic functionality that takes the beating when new features are added.
A basic functionality like this one. 

If you select the name of the individual who has posted the wall post, for example:

You will be directed to the page of the individual, rather than getting a link to that post:

So the other day, I sat there with my head all heated up, wondering that how on earth, am I supposed to get a link to that post. When I found the way though, I laughed my ass off. The way to get the link is so silly, that it could even put a Facebook fanboy to shame.

Simply click the 'Date/Time' mentioned below the post:

And voila, you are taken to a new tab, with a unique link to that post:

Now it is silly, isn't it ? That if you select the 'Date/Time' of the post, you will be taken to a page with the unique link? Not to mention the time you spent trying to figure this out. Not expected from a website like Facebook. But never mind, just keep your fingers crossed, cause you never know, they might change this functionality in the next couple of days.

The iPhone 5 - Has the hype finally ceased?

A few days back, Apple unveiled its latest iPhone, and people got zapped by its hardware capabilities. But what bothered me, was that it looked like an elongated iPhone 4, and was nothing 'great' in terms of its shape. Infact, I was left wondering about the unrealistic hype people created, before its launch. The iPhone 5 sure snatches a few awards from its competitors, but the new design has some serious flaws. For one, the head phone jack is now at the bottom of the iPhone. I think that is a problem, as people are used to the headphones being attached 'above' the device. Especially in the previous iPhones the 3.5mm jack was always on top of the device, providing a perfect usage point and keeping the design simple. I think the iPhone 5 will change things, and as the trends have always been, people tend to resist change. They will take time to get used to this upside down, enhancement port. Another thing which everyone knew, and I had expected too was that the iPhone 5 will be 'elongated' and not 'widened' like its android competitors. The answer was simple, I agreed to it, that the phone should fit comfortably in the users hands. But I am not talking about a Galaxy Note like width, I am simply saying that a slight widening could make it better. But nevermind, Apple thinks differently. The third point, the one that I mentioned before, was that the iPhone 4 and 5 don't look very different from each other, apart from the latter being thinner and taller. Apple: 'We now have another row of icons' Well, that's great, but what we wanted was a new phone (Not an iPhone 4 re-design). We also wanted a bigger screen for a better gaming and multimedia experience, using the full potential of the retina display. Apart from this, the hardware sure packs a punch, especially with the new A6 processor. The 5 will be successful, but it is a device that targets fanboy markets, where the Apple cult group will buy any iPhone, however it may be. For the others, I think they are satisfied with the 4S. Why upgrade, when it looks all the same?

Creating a Check-Box in MS CRM 2011

While customizing the Microsoft dynamics CRM for a firm, I came across an issue, on how should I go about making a check box on a form.

 ~The requirement was a field, with a check box.

As I went into customizations, I noticed that while creating a field, the CRM offers no such customization. While creating a new field, you have to select a 'Type', I went ahead and selected 'Two Options', 'Yes' & 'No', with 'No' being the default value. The output was, two radio buttons and not a checkbox. 

The thing I learnt at this point was that there are several options in Dynamics CRM which are available after the field has been created. 

~In short, several options get activated while editing the already created field.

This is how it's done in MS CRM 2011, for a new field:

While customizing through the 'customize tab', within the form...

1) Create a new field, select the type as 'Two Options', by default you will get the values of 'Yes and No', customize them if you want. save and close the field.

2) Drag the field to the form and place it on one of the placeholders, at your own desired location.

3) Double click on the field, and the field properties window should open.

4) In field properties go to the formatting tab.

5) There you will see a 'control formatting' drop down, (by default its value will be 'Two Radio Buttons' )

from that drop down, select the 'check box'.

6) Save and Publish, you should now have a checkbox on your form.

Dynamics CRM is full of such options, which allow seamless customization, but are placed in such a manner that it becomes difficult for a newcomer to locate them.

CRM : The Next Step

We all have seen the rising success of ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning software), especially the growth SAP. If I ask any IT student, about an ERP, the first thing that comes in his mind is 'SAP'. Why has this happened? Today, we call Xerox to a photocopy, and Fridge to a refrigerator, because these companies have established a strong ground in their primary service, no one else was able to stand beside them. SAP has gained a similar ground, but it faces stiff competition from Oracle and a few others, who win against it in other areas. Like in case of a CRM (Customer Relationship Management software), Oracle's Siebel is leading the pack (Oracle had purchased Siebel Systems in 2005). Another rising competitor is the Microsoft Dynamics CRM, which is getting popular day by day, because of its integration with Windows and MS Office. Looking at the sheer number of  Windows machines all over the world, Dynamics is sure to dominate the CRM sector soon. 
Organisations have seen, that after an ERP the next step is getting a CRM. I have been involved in a CRM implementation, and doing the total customization according to the firm's needs isn't easy. It requires training and a level of expertise in Java Scripting, SQL Queries, etc. A major open door for IT professionals, to tap into their skills, get trained and enter this line. There is bound to be growth, all major companies are looking at implementing a CRM system to keep their clients and customers happy, to track their information and transactions, and to do efficient marketing. The ERP era is slowly coming to its end, the next phase will be secondary software like CRM.

Evolution of Tablet Computers

The Altair 8800

Charles Babbage's invention of the first computer in 1822, which he called the 'Difference Engine', occupied a large room, used vacuum tubes instead of integrated circuit boards, and did very basic computing that wrist watches do today. But it started a new era, of computing devices. Later, in the year 1975 came the Altair 8800, the computer which made Bill Gates follow his Microsoft dream. The Altair looked like an a toaster, did not have a mouse or a monitor (as they weren't invented yet). It was just a rectangular box, with a circuit board. Our friend Bill, who fell in love with the Altair, wrote 'BASIC'  (Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) for the Altair. A computer language to create simple programs for the toaster, I mean computer. But inspite of its looks and its pathetic computing ability, it started a micro computer revolution.
Today, we have multiple devices doing the same tasks, but have been distinguished because of their shape, size, and usage. For example, Smart phones, Laptops and Desktops can browse the web and create documents. Then why not use the same old device, if they all do the same?
Here is where the difference comes in, you can't carry a desktop on your shoulder. You can carry a Laptop, but then again, it occupies space and has weight. But your smart phone, is light and equally good in performing the basic tasks. 'When multiple devices have the same computing ability, then the preferred device, by default is the one with the best shape, size and weight' A simple one liner that defines the whole idea behind the money these gadget companies are making today.
Another such gadget, is the 'Tablet' Computer.

Microsoft's Tablet PC

Tablet Computers are not a new invention, there were tablet computers before that came and went, failing miserably in the device market. The idea of a Tablet computer goes all the way back to 1968, when Alan Kay came up with a concept of the 'Dynabook' which looked like a Laptop-Tablet hybrid. Later in 2000, Microsoft came up with its 'Tablet PC' which was a tablet computer as big and as heavy as a laptop, it had a swivel touchscreen, could be used a Laptop and a Tablet. Finally in 2010, Apple came out with it's iPad, which was light, fast, and the first successful tablet computer. Unfortunately, Apple designs products that are sleek and smooth, but they don't communicate with other devices. The first iPad had no slots, not even a USB slot, all it did was to access the internet through WiFi and was a stand alone mini-computer. But like every time it has happened in the past, Apple's iPad started a new era, an era of Tablet computers.
This time, things were a little different though. It was not only the Apple iPad that started this tablet revolution. Somewhere else, in a computer lab, a team was designing a powerful multi-platform operating system. The operating system was named 'Android'. Google purchased Android Inc. and modified the Android OS to be simple, stable and could run on almost any device. That's where Smart phone companies got a big break through, they used the Android OS for their devices, and the outcome were powerful Smart phones. Then an Android version called the 'Honey Comb' was launched, which was specifically designed for tablet computers. That's where this revolution actually started, newer tablets were launched, which had multiple slots and would connect with other devices seamlessly. In no time, the market was saturated with these Android Tablets, launched by various hardware companies. Each with its own distinct features to stand up against its competition.
Today? We have Tablets selling in almost every device market. Though the market success of these devices has been low, eventually they will succeed. The price factor has been one of the reason for their failure, but the prices are bound to fall, as local companies manufacture cheaper Tablets, multinationals will be forced to drop their prices to face the rising competition.
It is clear, that Tablet computers are the future of computing devices, soon they will be performing all the tasks which your computer does today, and will be the primary communication devices, replacing smart phones. It all goes back to Charles Babbage, and all the other inventors that started technological revolutions bringing the technology to what it is today.