Going on a Hiatus!

Sad but true!!! I won't be able to contribute much to this blog till October as i am tied up with few things...:(

To keep you interested i am listing down some of the topics that i intend to cover once i am back ::

A) The hype about iPhone.
B) The books that i plan to buy and read in my holidays.
C) Waterfall vs Agile Process Modelling.
D) Our friend Leggy!

Stay tuned and see you all after the break ...:)

Goa - Paradise on Earth!

Why am i writing about Goa?Hmm....let me think....maybe i am expecting the Goa tourism department to reward me with a free trip to Goa for advertizing their heaven......;).To be frank, i was mesmerised and intrigued by its beauty and serenity and wanted everyone in the blogging world to experience it!

It's a perfect holiday destination for those who are looking for fun as well as those who want a calm and tranquil time-off. It just depends on the time of your visit.Most of the tourists prefer the Xmas and new year season for Goa(thats what we did last year too) when it's bustling with activity.....lots of singing , dancing, cruise parties, shopping, feni and Goan food.
Rest of the year, it's calmer and duller and thats when we love it. Our 2nd visit was in August i.e last month...(ya, that makes it the 2nd one in 7 months...cant help it!!). Both of us being peace-loving creatures, we enjoyed a lot more this time.....;). The lonely sandy beaches, cloudy weather with light drizzles, empty lanes, bike rides along the sea and port wine with fried fish just made it perfect!!!

How to go there? Where to stay? Any cheap hotels? What are the tourist attractions? Don't worry, the internet is filled up with all the needed details. Another option would be to go with Makemytrip or Yatra.....they will take care of everything!
So, those of you who have not visited this wonderland till now......just pack your bags and "GO"!!!

है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है !

Awesome poem by Harivansh Rai Bachchan....every line carries a beautiful and "difficult to extract" meaning....reminds me of those tough Hindi classes in school where missing such a class was directly proportional to less marks.....:)

So, here goes another of my favourites -

कल्पना के हाथ से कमनीय जो मंदिर बना था
भावना के हाथ ने जिसमें वितानों को तना था
स्वप्न ने अपने करों से था जिसे रुचि से सँवारा
स्वर्ग के दुष्प्राप्य रंगों से, रसों से जो सना था
ढह गया वह तो जुटाकर ईंट, पत्थर, कंकड़ों को
एक अपनी शांति की कुटिया बनाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

बादलों के अश्रु से धोया गया नभ-नील नीलम
का बनाया था गया मधुपात्र मनमोहक, मनोरम
प्रथम ऊषा की किरण की लालिमा-सी लाल मदिरा
थी उसी में चमचमाती नव घनों में चंचला सम
वह अगर टूटा मिलाकर हाथ की दोनों हथेली
एक निर्मल स्रोत से तृष्णा बुझाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

क्या घड़ी थी, एक भी चिंता नहीं थी पास आई
कालिमा तो दूर, छाया भी पलक पर थी न छाई
आँख से मस्ती झपकती, बात से मस्ती टपकती
थी हँसी ऐसी जिसे सुन बादलों ने शर्म खाई
वह गई तो ले गई उल्लास के आधार, माना
पर अथिरता पर समय की मुसकराना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

हाय, वे उन्माद के झोंके कि जिनमें राग जागा
वैभवों से फेर आँखें गान का वरदान माँगा
एक अंतर से ध्वनित हों दूसरे में जो निरंतर
भर दिया अंबर-अवनि को मत्तता के गीत गा-गा
अंत उनका हो गया तो मन बहलने के लिए ही
ले अधूरी पंक्ति कोई गुनगुनाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

हाय, वे साथी कि चुंबक लौह-से जो पास आए
पास क्या आए, हृदय के बीच ही गोया समाए
दिन कटे ऐसे कि कोई तार वीणा के मिलाकर
एक मीठा और प्यारा ज़िन्दगी का गीत गाए
वे गए तो सोचकर यह लौटने वाले नहीं वे
खोज मन का मीत कोई लौ लगाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

क्या हवाएँ थीं कि उजड़ा प्यार का वह आशियाना
कुछ न आया काम तेरा शोर करना, गुल मचाना
नाश की उन शक्तियों के साथ चलता ज़ोर किसका
किंतु ऐ निर्माण के प्रतिनिधि, तुझे होगा बताना
जो बसे हैं वे उजड़ते हैं प्रकृति के जड़ नियम से
पर किसी उजड़े हुए को फिर बसाना कब मना है
है अँधेरी रात पर दीवा जलाना कब मना है

The Making Of RAZR !

Couple of years back, a friend of mine (AB) forwarded this article to me that talks about the creation of RAZR. It covers almost everything; the conception of the idea from Jellicoe's sketches in a Libertyville pub, the formation of the RAZR team, the time constraints, focus on the "style factor", the daily status meetings that always got extended, the secrecy, the brainstorming sessions on the antenna and battery positioning, rule breaking and not to forget, Geoffrey Frost's marketing stunts!

My favourite part in the article is the end portion that says -

Last July several key players from the RAZR development team were asked to appear at a meeting of top executives at company headquarters. They weren't told why.
"Even when we were sitting in the room waiting to be called in, nobody was really quite sure what was going to happen," says Tadd Scarpelli, the young engineer who designed the RAZR's antenna.
Then, as the team members filed in, the executives awaiting them rose in applause, delivering a standing ovation - followed by news that the team members would also be rewarded with a boatload of stock options.
"It was surreal," says Scarpelli, who to this day approaches strangers in airports and asks them if they like "his" phone. Successful rule breakers, after all, have certain privileges.

The RAZR certainly has the 'wow' factor, but the way it was created is surprisingly simple, few innovative new components and space management by simple rearrangement of components.

I have lost count of the number of times i have read this story, but whenever i do, this inspiring tale gives me goose pimples...:)

Leisure!

This poem is one of my childhood favourites. I think i was in the 3rd or 4th standard when i first read it....brings back a lot of good memories of my school days....!
I am dedicating this lovely poem to my busy husband who has no time to stand and stare at me...-:):)
(PS- i know that was a bad one...;)..)

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Nokia's Strategy in India

Finland based Nokia commands a 70% market share for mobile phones in India.How did Nokia take the lead?What were the other mobile giants doing?What was Nokia's strategy to win the Indian market?

Well, here are some of the answers ->

a) The company was completely focused on two core businesses - mobile phones and telecommunications networks.It exited from all it's other business domains. This gave it an edge over others who had consumer electronics, home appliances etc to take care of!

b) It made an early investment in the brand, people, infrastructure, manufacturing, distribution, design and R&D of the handset domain. Nokia entered the Indian market in 1994. The first ever GSM call in India was made on a Nokia 2110 mobile phone on its own network in 1995.

c) It was successful in utilizing the fundamental consumer differences between India and other countries.In other words it started thinking locally.Some of the examples::
1) It came up with tunes like Sare jahan se achcha in its 5110 model in 1998.
2) In 2000, its first Hindi user interface in the 3210 model gave it the confidence to target its product development efforts at the Hindi-speaking population.
3) It introduced the Hindi text messsaging facility in the 3610 in the year 2001.
4) The Nokia 1100, the first made-for-india phone was a huge success.It incorporated a flashlight, a sheath-covered keypad for dust protection and a slip-free grip.

d) It established several R&D centres, labs and manufacturing facilities in India before it's competitors. The $150 million handset manufacturing facility established by Nokia in Chennai in the year 2005 has a total production of over 25 million handsets!!!

e) It took care of building it's brand in India.With great marketing skills and promoting each platform(like the E and N series) rather than each product, there was no looking back!

Well,that summarizes Nokia's strategy for success in India.I might have missed out some stuff so do let me know in case anyone has a point to be added to this list!

For those who know me well, do not worry, i am still a hard core Motorola fan :)
As someone has rightly said -
“You have to like math. You need to learn it and be able to apply it to the problem in front of you, and some of it is just learning from other competitions.”

Law of Unintended Consequences

I am sure every software engineer must have browsed through Pressman's software engineering bible at least once.I know it is too detailed and can get boring at times but it's worth a read for all the inspiring software engineers/managers.
Pressman starts the book(the 6th edition) by mentioning the "Law of Unintended Consequences". This law as it relates to software(it is applicable to economics and politics too) is the phenomenon where the invention of one technology can have profound and unexpected effects on other seemingly unrelated technologies, people or even cultures.

Today computer software is the single most important technology in the world. One cannot imagine a life without it.The development of software has made life easier and comfortable for the average individual.It is an essential ingredient of all of his day to day activities.
Starting from mainframes to embedded devices, software is found everywhere but it has hampered some other industries unknowingly.


I will take an example of the cell/mobile phone here.Cellular phones have taken the landline's position.The concept of being "Connected everywhere" or "Seamless Mobility" has made cell phones very popular.Besides this, a modern cell phone incorporates a calculator, watch, calendar, alarm, mp3 player, games etc. One would obviously prefer a cell phone to spending money on the individual items. As the Nokia N95 ad goes ..."There is a thing in my pocket, but it is not one thing, its many..."
The software industry is filled with many such examples like online newspapers, faster emails, chat sessions with data sharing, free mp3 and video downloads.......the list goes on....each affecting a traditional industry in some way...


It's strange and thought provoking how an innocent innovation can have such an unpredictable impact on the unrelated fields.I am sure we will soon have a technology that will make the software look useless and futile!!!

Rescue Animals!!!

Click on this link to fund food for needy animals - http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces;jsessionid=06A24666328894A1F054D151E1D6CE63.ctgProd03

Every click provides the value of .6 bowls of food and care to a rescued animal in a shelter or sanctuary. You could also send e-cards or buy products from their pet store.

So, click now...it's FREE!!!

Rising rupee - Good or Bad?

Came across an interesting article today that talks about the rising Indian Rupee.Once traded at 47 or 48, the rupee now hovers at 40 to the dollar. Is the rising rupee good or bad for India? While this increase creates problems for some companies that earn most of their revenues in dollars such as Wipro, Infosys and TCS -- it also creates opportunities for Indian firms by making it less expensive for them to acquire overseas assets.

Well, a strong rupee is good for the Indian consumer and as far as i am concerned, it's good news...:)

For more details check out - http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4212