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.

Digitization : The Future.

I mentioned in my previous post, that DTH as a technology is outdated and slow. The idea behind the DTH Technology was to provide T.V. entertainment to people staying in remote locations, using a geocentric satellite. But look at it today, a full fledged business for so many companies who claim DTH to be better than cable. Well, it used to be better, when cable T.V. used copper cables to transmit the data. The clarity was pathetic, and it made perfect sense for a better technology to take over. But today, most of the countries already have, or are replacing the old copper connections to fiber optics. The transmission speed gets a boost, and the clarity delivered ranges all the way from normal to full HD (1080p), depending upon the customers requirement. This technology of using high speed cables, is called Digitization of cable. It enables two way communication for fully interactive services, like games in which one will compete with his friend next door. Education programmes for children to learn the basics of various subjects. True VOD, with a choice of hundreds of videos. I know it seems impossible, but the 1st world countries have already implemented it, and it delivers what it promises. Specialized foreign channels like a golf or a gardening channel will be available to the local viewers. Currently the cost of launching such a channel through DTH is extremely high as the channel will have specific viewers and the satellite transmission costs are very high. This barrier will not be faced in the digitized cable technology because foreign media companies will have an option to launch the channel in a specific zone first, secondly they will not incur satellite transmission costs.
The points I have mentioned above prove Digitization to be the future of old cable tech and DTH. Looking forward to a fast, HD, interactive future with the dawn of Digitization.

DTH and its Myths

While researching for one of the reports I met quite a few people from the media sector, who exposed the technology behind DTH systems. DTH, or Direct To Home, is the Satellite T.V. technology. In this technology, satellite transmissions are received directly by each consumer/subscriber using a small dish antenna. You must have seen those grey or black dish antenna typically ranging in size from 18 inches to 24 inches in diameter. They are either fitted close to the customers window, or on the terrace, depending upon the signal strength. The dish is connected to a Set Op Box which in turn is connected to the television. Transmission from the satellite to the home dish takes place in the Ku band frequency, which offers moderate speed data transmission.
(Geeks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_band)
Now comes the interesting part, if the transmission only takes place from the Satellite to the Dish, and not backwards then how are we able to use 'Video-On-Demand' (VOD) services through DTH?
VOD is a service which is supposed to offer videos on your demand, your selected movie, on your selected day, at your selected time, in 'real' time. That means there has to be some way of backward communication between the customer and the satellite. That can't be done in a DTH, the puny 18 inch dish does not have the capacity to transmit data backwards. Infact VOD via DTH is not a real VOD service.
Surprised? Let me explain.

In a DTH system, within the Set Op Box lies an encrypted storage disk. The set of movies which the DTH company is currently providing will be displayed on the selection screen along with its date and timings, which the customer can choose. Here is the catch, long before the customer even got the option to watch those movies, the Satellite had already begun transmitting the data to all the dishes in that zone, and all those movies got downloaded to the hidden storage within the Set Op Box. As transmission from the satellite is extremely expensive, and the storage within the box is limited, DTH providers only provide a set of movies for a specific time period. When the customer gets the option to watch the movie, and selects the date and timing, the movie plays from within the Set Op Box, and not directly from the satellite. The storage within the Set Op Box already contains the other movies, as the whole set got downloaded. If the customer wants, he can select another movie and once again, the movie will play on the selected date and timing, but from within the Set Op Box itself. 

You may want to call this technology a lie VOD, fake VOD, etc. But that's what they provide, labeling it as 'almost VOD'. Today with the upcoming technologies, DTH providers have found a way to provide real VOD, but the customer requires an extra internet connection for that, which gets attached to the Set Op Box. This enables backward communication through the internet line, and the video data is sent via the internet, highly increasing the transmission speed and enabling real time VOD services.

For all those who still believe that satellite TV is the future, you are wrong. Digitization of Cable is the future, which provides fully interactive services and real VOD facilities.

Techpecker: An Intro.

You are staring at the header of the website and wondering, why has this nut named it as an initiative? You think about it, but still the words that linger in your mind are, 'I don't know'. The three words commonly used by millions of people everyday when their computing machines or devices go haywire. They jump onto the google seat, spend hours searching for an answer, when the solution to that problem is just a click away. The other set of people, who exist in the 'I know everything' environment, then provide their ultimate advice that the CD tray is not a coffee cup holder, and the monitor is not a TV.

But there is one category of people in the middle of these two jokers, who know a little bit of something. I exist in that category and I am sure most of you do. They have no shame and feel absolutely nothing when they give good advice and the others don't buy it. At the end of the day, they sit on their comfy couch and laugh looking at the fool and the wizard. This website is the compilation of the all the technical research, articles, etc. that I have read or written. It summarizes the technical know-how that I have gathered over a period of time. If anyone finds it helpful or informative, wonderful. If not, wonderful, you have other things to do.
This site is not meant for techies, computer engineers, loud mouths, trolls, and other bacteria that inhabit the web environment.
(Computer engineers will read the above statement and say "This is a blog, not a site." Well you can go to hell.)