Thursday, October 28, 2010

Overdose of Social Networking

Lately I find myself just staring at my social networking web page, wondering what to do. Facebook or Twitter, I am just not able to know what is to be done. People have been asking me about where are my new posts, but frankly my mind is blank.
Infact, I am even tired of all new mobile phones being more inclined towards Social networking applications. Its making me sick now. There was a time, when I could not do with Facebook or Twitter, but now I dont even log on to them for hours together, without having to worry which friend is doing what. Being updated is good…but being constantly updated…………………………………
Maybe an overdose of being on the social networking sites has killed the fun, or maybe they are really losing their charm as time is going by……….
Whatever it maybe, but I have decided today to stop my mobile live updates of both Twitter and Facebook…….maybe the previous system of checking them once in a while will be worthwhile……….

Mumbai water woes

Recently I read an article in the newspaper about how a Municipal Corporater almost came to tears in the Municipal house while describing her situation with the people in her constituency, who came to her residence at odd times complaining about the erratic water supply, this inspite the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai, withdrawing its water cut. The Hydraulic Department  responsible for water supply responded back saying that if they tried rectifying the supply for one are, another area started suffering because of the way the entire network of pipeline was layed.
Frankly, I am not an expert at this, but it did made me recall a simulator game I used to play, Simcity 2000. As my city used to grow, I needed to connect more and more water pipelines, and as the web of pipelines started growing there were always areas which faced difficulties with the supply of water.
Mumbai’s growth I guess is something similar to my experience of Simcity, connections are just added and the loop of pipelines, just keep on adding to the mess. Our people in Municipal Corporation might be inexperienced like me, or are at loss at rectifying the problem, because somebody before them might have sanctioned laying of pipeline, without worrying about the future.
I dont thing this issue will ever get solved, unless the entire pipe network is re-layed……..

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Some mobile applications I cant do without

It took me more than 5 years to shift to Nokia phones, since i found them very common then, and then I have been using Nokia phones since past 8 years after my wifey gifted me one. What kept me attracted to them were the number of applications Nokia has and the ease of usage. So thought of jotting down the application which I have been using over the years…..
Nokia Sports Tracker : Very good application for recording your walks/cycling exercises. Needs GPS enabled phones. After shifting to touch screen mobile was saddened by the fact that there was no application available for it. But last year they launched the touch screen version and since then it has found a place on my cell.
Maps : Frankly I hate Nokia/Ovi Maps. They take too long to load, and most of the times are inaccurate. Been using Google Maps since past 4 years. Amazing accuracy. Though I wish it was intelligent enough to chose the shortest route possible, which many a times it fails to do.
Quickoffice : Seriously cant do without it and it needs no introduction over here.
Whatsapp : This is one messaging software which incorporates Blackberry, Android, Iphone and Symbian 60 phones. It doesnt require you to have a new messaging user id and password, just your phone number is sufficient for it. All the above phone uses just need to register their cell numbers once, and the application will go thru your contact list, find the people who are using the application and you are connected with them. The application doesnt hog the battery of your cell and is very useful.
Socially : Sadly for me, Nokia is having some issue with social networking applications for my current cell. I know they are working on it, but no results yet. So after going thru various other third party applications, I settled down with an application called Socially. It incorporates Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Linkedin. The only disadvantage with the software is that its not real time, the minimum time for auto update is 30 mins, which i feel is too much. Otherwise it has all the features one requires for social networking sites.
There are many other applications…….some I delete over the time…some I use randomly……….

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The chance to earn….

Due to urgent matters had to book airline tickets to Kolkatta. Actually were planning to go today, but were shocked to see the return fare totalling to Rs. 32000/- per person. In the end booked tickets for Monday, which is like only 3 days away, wherein we had to shell out the same amount for two people!!!!

The reason was simple….Durga Pooja and Kolkatta….the airlines have jacked up the prices seeing that its festive season. Infact while we got Mumbai-Kolkatta for reasonable price, the Kokatta Mumbai flight we thought was unreasonable. Again the reason was same…since Monday the festivities get over, there will be many people who are travelling back to Mumbai and so the prices are up.

Really made me think….these airlines always come out with catch lines like they care for the passengers…etc…etc…but when they see an opportunity to earn….they jack up the prices……….