The Android Developer Challenge

Prior to the official release of Android, Google held the Android developers challenge, a contest for developing cool apps that surprise and delight mobile users. Prize money - $10 mil.
There is gonna be another one when the first handsets built on the platform become available.
Anyways the first one is over and with excellent results (the apps). The 50 teams that qualified for the second and final round of the ADC each received a $25,000 award. The second round had ten $275,000 prizes ten $100,000 prizes. The applications of the winners have set me drooling for the first handset with the platform (HTC Dream) which will be released tomorrow i.e 23 September.

Android Market

The place where the user will download the apps made by people with the
Android SDK will be called the Android Market. Talk about competition!
Only time will tell how it fares up against Apple's App Store. Google chose to call it a "market" instead of store was because they want to make available a free environment like a marketplace without any obstructions unlike Apple where the developer has to go through a gauntlet of restrictions while pertaining to its terms of agreement. No doubt this will end up in a lot of trash at the market but as long as they aren't forcing you to install anything, there isn't a problem eh? Infact some of the apps created by beta developers for the Android Developers Challenge are uber-cool!
Also according to Google, uploading an app for distribution will be extremely simple, like a YouTube upload, you register and upload and publish your content.

Google Android

Google Android..... is not a scary AI freak coming straight out of DBZ or Terminator.
sorry..
So, Google Android is a software platform and operating system for mobile phones based mostly on the Linux OS. Yes, it is the same thing as Mac OS for the iPhone, Windows Mobile and Symbian. Only its more open source, more flexible to developers who can create apps using java. According to Google it will be 100% open source, "Android does not differentiate between the phone's basic and third-party applications - even the dialer or home screen can be replaced." - GOOGLE
Unlike Apple, though Google won't be launching its phone alongwith its own handset, we won't have a gPhone around. The first mobile carrier to launch it will be T-Mobile and the first handset is HTC Dream. It will be priced at around $200 with contract and $4oo at retail. This price band is contagious!! Android is set to give the iPhone some competition. While the Android would have been a real knockout if it had come before the iPhone, the glory will now be somewhat dimmed as many of the apps will have similar counterparts in the mac os.
Google unveild Android on 5th November 2007 along with Open Handset Allinace, a business alliance of Google, HTC, Intel, Motorola, Qualcomm, Samsung, LG, T-Mobile, Nvidia and Wind River Systems to develop open standards of mobile devices.

I hope we have another kinda dev team to unlock the phone so that it can work with other carriers as well.

Some more iPhone apps

I figured the earlier iPhone post was too old and had very few apps. Here are some new ones which I use. I am only listing those available in the 1.1.4 firmware. I haven't upgraded to 2.0 as I feel there aren't that many apps out there as yet.

Fring : Fring is one of my favorite applications. Its the only way(as far as i know) you can use Skype on the iPhone. Plus it has a great user interface, a separate dialer for Skype and SIP. Besides skype you have MSN Messenger, ICQ, SIP,Google Talk, Twitter(chat only), Yahoo(chat only) and AIM(chat only). I use msn, yahoo and skype and trust me its way better than other apps that give you messengers. I prefer it over Apollo. You can use other apps while using fring, it will not close if you go back to the home page and best of all it still gives you notifications if you're doing something else and someone starts a chat or sends a message or calls you via skype. It starts showing that red notification bubble that you get with a new mail, sms or missed call. Great app and a must have for those who talk over the wi-fi or use im. Fring was founded by Avi Shechter VP of AOL and its there on the iPhone courtesy iSpazio.

MxTube: The first native YouTube video downloader remains the best You-Tube video downloader. Downloading videos is now easier done than said. It features YouTube style search (without the description and related videos though) and you can also select the quality i.e. high or low according to your connectivity thru wi-fi or edge. The best update MxTube has had is that downloads continue when suspended otherwise tapping the screeen now and again just to keep the app on was such a pain in the ass. Future updates include Video Descriptions, "Play in YouTube" button and iPod app + iTunes sync. I am not too sure about the last one (neither is the creator). It has been created by MxWeas. His site MxWeas.com.
Splendid app if you want to see youtube videos on the go without having to wait each time for it to finish buffering.

iWOL: Too lazy to wake up from the bed to switch on your pc? Nah... that isn't how you quite define the practicality of this really cool app but basically that is what it'll enable you to do. You can wake up your computer from hibernation, sleep, shut-down (not zero power though). Wake On Lan sends the comupter you want to switch on, a magic packet (read the wikipedia article for what a magic packet is). To get it working you'll need to add the computer in the iwol app. Details on that can be found here - http://www.sk4.co.uk/. You'll also have to change a minor setting in the pc concerned. Follow the steps - Right Click on My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager > Network Adapters > Intel(R) PRO/**** PL Network Connection(the adapter you use) > Power Management > check "Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby"
The one on the iphone is by iSpazio.

weDict: It is quite convenient to have a dictionary around when stuck on a word, more so when you don't have to carry that big fat mass of one portable dictionaries are handy and isn't it a BOON to have it on your phone?? No not on the internet, a local dictionary available for you right there, OFFLINE!! I know weDict has been there for quite some time now but I thought it deserved a mention nevertheless. For people who want a simple basic lexicon, the Oxford Advanced Learner pack is ideal. Yeah even I was surprised how they could've cramped up about 1500 pages into 4.1 mb but its there alright. I didn't need to download any other pack. Though you also have other packs available like oxford collocations, britannica, cia world factbook, translators, etc.., OALD sufficed for me. The app is provided by Ste Packaging.

Make it Mine: This ones a cool tweak to show off to your friends! Its already there in some phones and now Ste Packaging brings it to the iPhone. Make it Mine allows you to change your carrier name to whatever you want. There is a problem if the name you set is too long coz it will get obstructed by the wi-fi symbol. 7 letters is fine.
Its not AT&T, baby!!

Dystonia

I was going through socialspark.com trying to find a sponsorship opportunity where i could start earning some quick bucks. I realized my blog had not been qualified for the roll so I had no option but get frustrated at the time it was taking and look up in the sparks that are free of cost. There I came across "Help Tyler Find a Cure". Well out of all the sponsorships waiting in those sites, this is the one that is an "opportunity" in the true sense of the word.
Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The cause is not fully known or understood but it is generally concerned with the central nervous system and it forces the body into abnormal, sometimes painful, movements or postures.
Tyler is one such boy affected by Dystonia and "Tyler's Hope" is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization committed to funding pediatric neurology research to prevent and cure DYT1 Dystonia; while creating awareness of this disorder. I request everyone reading this post to take out some moments and visit the foundation's site at http://www.tylershope.org/ and contribute in any way you can be it by spreading awareness or donating to find a cure.

Links: Dystonia (wikipedia)
Facebook
"Tyler's Hope"

Success!!

They fired it amidst protests and prophecies and ta dah!!! It worked. They successfully circulated the beams through the 27 km long tunnel. And we're all still alive aren't we? I still don't know what became of the Stephen Hawking bet but what i do know is that the Higgs Boson, the primary reason for the experiment will take another year to be discovered. Now they also say that this was just a minor experiment compared to the high energy collisions that will take place on 21 October, 2008 when the LHC will be officially unveiled.
Maybe there will be another(and possibly bigger) threat to mankind then. *yawn* Till then, whats on the other channel.

Here Goes!!

The LHC is about to be switched on at 3:30 am Eastern Time. It will answer questions that have eluded scientists so far including the discovery of the Higgs Boson (no idea what'll happen if they don't find it!), dark matter, properties of mass, how energy is converted into mass and also many other questions involving dimensions, time, anti-matter, and so on and so forth.
Basically the scientists will try to create a condition inside the particle accelerator which resembles the condition of the universe one billionth of a second after the Big Bang.
All we can do is keep our fingers crossed and wait for it to happen.
Damn it I don't wanna die.... not now, I'm still... I'm still............. an undergraduate!!! :p

More Pics

I was browsing the internet for the LHC and came across a few pics of the scientific wonder that may or may not bring upon us doom!
Enjoy...

The End Cometh!!!!

Come September and I realised it was high time I revived my blog from dormancy. And what better time than now when humanity supposedly stands on the brink of oblivion or on the brink of the most important discovery in the history of mankind. Numerous debates on this one. Yes I speak of the LHC, the Large Hadron Collider made over 10 years and €6.4 billion. It is scheduled to activate tomorrow and IF everything goes right it will produce the elusive Higgs Boson, the "God Particle", the only particle unobserved in the Standard Model of particle physics. Along with the discovery of the Higgs Boson, it will also shed light on many other phenomenon unknown to science today like dark energy, some new dimension, etc..... Whatever the case the thing looks cool eh?

Now there has been quite a ruckus on the possibility of micro black holes and strangelets being formed which can obviously destroy earth. The scientists ar CERN argue that they do not pose a danger as they will cancel out as soon as they are formed.

Danger or No Danger I am excited!!! Also check out the lhc rap at youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50ZssEojtM

Family Guy

Move over Simpsons, Southpark, Family Guy is back on Fox with its 8th season. Oh boy I can't wait for the new episodes!!

Meanwhile this category is for Family Guy fans like me. Come, share, discuss, have fun!!

iPhone

Here are some really cool 3rd party applications for the iPhone!! Don't worry, they are all tried and tested by me and work perfectly well. Some of them sure had their share of problems but I sorted them out and I'd love to solve any of yours. Just leave a comment.

Wallpaper - One of the coolest things that has ever happened to the phone. It enable you to share your wallpaper with others and save everyone else's who has this app. The source is AppTapp Official btw.

No Problems with this one as yet.

Parking Lot - Really cool game and the best you can have to kill time while waiting on a bus stop or just have fun. You have to move the yellow Beetel out of the parking lot. This app is by Big Boss's Applications and Things. Contact HuangzICT.

aMaze - This is one application I think which makes the best use of the accelerometer in the iPhone. The game has a classic wooden balance Labyrinth where players guide a steel through a maze to finish. The source is Ste Packaging. The site - blog.psmxy.org/

Lights Off - A fun and addictive game where you kinda play with lights. The objective is to switch off all the lights. I haven't been able to get past the 6th level. If anyone has pls help!!:p This one's also by Ste Packaging.

There are more to come!

Movies

So begins the Movies section. I am sorry for the delay.

Well here goes!!

Ironman

Rarely does a superhero movie receive critical acclaim as well as box office success. The movie simply put is SUPERB with a big S. Robert Downer Jr. delivers a splendid performance as the rich boy, the playboy, the genius boy, lover boy and ultimately our Hot Rod tinker boy!! He plays out his character easily and flawlessly. Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark heads the Stark Industries, the company that makes weapons for the U.S. Army ooohhh!!! He gets kidnapped by terrorists and is forced to make a big cool missile. Instead our hero creates a war machine IN A CAVE WITH NOTHING BUT SCRAP!!! He returns to America and resolves to kill those terrorists by creating Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow as Virginia Pepper.. Potts.. Scotts... whatever is beautiful and plays the goody goody secretary. Obadiah Stane is the baldy villain and Jim Rhodes (Terence Howard) is Tony's MIT pal (psst, he's the future war machine).

Overall, the movie is the biggest scorer hollywood has come up with in 2008 with a solid script. Ahh it gives me hope that Superhero movies can have a decent storyline too. I eagerly await the movie's sequel now. Great job Mr. Jon Favreau. Did I mention, the CGI are excellent.

P.S. Don't leave as soon as the credits start rolling.

The Blog!!

As is evident from the obscurity of the blog's URL and title, I take an immense liking to the Lord of the Rings trilogy (the book essentially). The magnum opus never ceases to amaze me!
Much of that later.
The important question is what is in this blog for you? One is moved to think, 'ahh... its another of those fan sites with loads of stuff on a book I haven't read.'
Well no, I mean of course it will also feature an exclusive section of my favorite book, it will also contain other things.
In it's nascent stages i.e. for now the blog will feature content like movies, music, some games, etc. As it evolves, we will feature some really great stuff!