Monday, November 16, 2015

Are we right in condemning Facebook for not offering the Lebanon flag after Beirut bombings?

Was the world even aware of the Beirut bombings?

I would first point fingers at the media. Many of us from the internet generation are passive beasts. We get fed information - and so much of it, that we rarely seek news proactively. The Lebanese crisis did not feature as prominently on the news wires. Then there is the second point with regards to exposure. I personally have more french friends, as compared to Lebanese friends. I am more worried about the crisis in Paris because i have more friends and family there than i can count on my fingers while i do not know anyone in Beirut. Does that mean i don't condemn the attacks in Beruit? Ofcourse i do! I still do care about terrorism anywhere/everywhere in the world, but i naturally would be more concerned when it happens someplace i have a personal connection with. And then - Why stop at Beirut? Where was the outcry when 147 people were killed in Kenya? Maybe the right attitude is - Dear Facebook - good job on supporting France. Can we do something similar for other such atrocities? and not - Facebook - how dare you care only for France?

Monday, November 09, 2015

Finn's identity in Star Wars The Force Awakens

Holy Force!

JJ is not sharing the full names of the lead characters from The Force Awakens for good reason. Due to a goof up by Amazon - it has been let slip that Finn might be Lando Calrissian's son!!!!

What do you think?




Tuesday, November 03, 2015

The discrete state of streaming media

The  content for TV and online streaming services is at its epitome - right from quality of production to the writing, acting and scale. Streaming was supposed to be the answer to a customer's dilemma of traversing the confusing world of cable and satellite television. Watch any content on demand! Netflix and Chill!

However - here is what i need to do to get my fix of tv:

Use netflix for House of Cards, Amazon Prime for Man in the High Castle,  Sky for Game of Thrones and FreeView for Big Bang Theory. A new Star Trek series is launching and its going to be exclusive to the new "CBS All Access" streaming service. To make things even more complicated, when I travel, my services cannot guarantee access to my programs, since their licensing terms are geo specific.

Essentially, each streaming service is becoming a channel for me to get my dose of television, I will need to buy access to all these channels. How is this any different from where we were in the beginning?

How many streaming services will i need to subscribe to?


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Launching YaNoIt!

I have always enjoyed building projects ever since I learnt how to code. When in school, we built an ASCII Graphics Editor, we built a event driven shell for DOS using OOPS in Turbo Pascal. We even built a cute little client for yahoo messenger on Linux.  Coming to think of it - I loved building stuff even with Lego! I had mixed and matched various Technic sets to build monstrosities that even the Lego hadn't thought of in their manuals.

Fast forward 15 years, I have lost touch with coding. I am now a sales guy for a mid size tech company and while I love my job, I really miss that excitement of building new things. I am surrounding my friends who are motivated and gifted - dedicated to building new ideas. Many have quit their day jobs to pursue this passion for making and building, full-time. I am not ready to do that yet. I think I am yet to accomplish my full potential in my current role. 

That does mean, however, that I cannot take time out and focus on a project on the side. Especially when I have talented and gifted partners in crime. So - Jimme, Sharad and I have gotten together to create http://www.yanoit.com 

We loved the idea because it was so simple. We love the concept because it is so easy to use - and almost anybody with pretty much any device that has a web browser, can run this web-app. The app allows anyone to ask a question - and anyone can answer the question. The catch is - one can only answer in Ya or No. Hence the name of the app. Give it go below!




Now where can I get one of those Lego Mindstorms. 

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

The future of user interfaces!

This is it!
I am not proposing a debate - its not open to discussion. I am making a statement. Call it a prophecy, if you will.

http://ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=j_han&flashEnabled=1

Ironically, its the porn industry that has always been an early adopter of technology. I will NOT be surpised if they enhance this tech for their industry first. I SHUDDER to think of the possibilities.

Move over Minority Report - the real deal is here.

Friday, October 06, 2006

300: Poetry in motion


Frank Miller's Sin City made quite an impact on the pulp fiction scene. The graphic novel has always had a cult following - the movie ensured mainstream spotlight.

Now, Frank Miller's 300 - yet another graphic novel based on the Spartans is being developed as a film. The trailer has blown me away - the impact being much harder than what the Matrix had hit me with.

Watch it to believe it.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/300/

I can not wait for this release. I am a bit worried about the Indian release though - I would not want them to chop too many scenes of graphic violence - the movie just would not be the same. Did I mention the fact that its going to be rated R?