Profilactic Mashup - abhishekmittal

Google Reader: Hidden iPhone Firmware 2.2 Features: Google Street View, Turn Off Auto-Correction & Japanese Emoji Icons

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:19:44 GMT

The beta version of iPhone Firmware 2.2 that was seeded to developers of the iPhone developer program has revealed some minor tweaks to iPhone Safari's user interface and to the App Store application. Mac Rumors has revealed some more interesting new features that could be included in the next iPhone...

Google Reader: Fring VoIP, chat client app goes mainstream

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:15:00 GMT

The iPhone app Fring--which acts as a VoIP client for Skype and other Internet phone networks, as well as a voice and chat interface into IM networks like AIM and Yahoo--is now available for free to everyone.

Previously, it only ran on "jailbroken" iPhones, severely limiting its audience.

Fring places calls on cellular or VoIP networks.

(Credit: Fring)

On the iPhone, Fring can read both your IM and Skype buddy lists, as well as the contacts in your phone's address book. And when you select a contact, you get the option of calling him or her by SIP call, Skype, or standard cellular. VoIP calls obviously don't count against your cellular minutes, but you do need to have a Wi-Fi connection to make the calls.

The biggest challenge for Fring users is that when the app is not actively running in the foreground on your phone, it can't notify you of incoming calls or chats or indicate your presence to buddies. Apple has yet to provide background notification capability to iPhone developers, although we keep hearing it will be in an upcoming release.

Although all iPhone communication apps remain hobbled until background processing is available, Fring does appear to be the most capable voice and text chat app there is for the device, and it's well worth installing.

Fring is also available for several other mobile platforms.

Google Reader: Now, a kilometre-high tower in Dubai

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:36:27 GMT

Even as the Burj Dubai, touted to become the world’s tallest building nears completion, plans have been announced for a new kilometre-high tower in this West Asian metropolis.

Master developer Nakheel, a subsidiary of the Dubai government’s investment company Dubai Holding, unveiled its Nakheel Harbour and Tower at a launch function here late Sunday. It was attended by Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Hollywood stars Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas, local dignitaries and company officials.

The project, inspired by Islamic design and geometry, will be located at the upcoming New Dubai development area near Jebel Ali, the world’s largest manmade port south of here, the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

“There is nothing like it in Dubai,” Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairperson of Dubai World, said at the launch function.

“Nakheel Harbour and Tower is located in the heart of New Dubai, where we have focused on creating a true community, a location for living, working, relaxing and entertaining for art and culture. All of this is concentrated in one area,” he added.

To be built at a cost of 140 billion dirhams ($38.12 billion), the tower’s construction will reportedly take 10 years.

The new development will cover an area of more than 270 hectares and become home to more than 55,000 people, a workplace for 45,000 more and attract millions of visitors each year.

It will include 250,000 square metres of hotels and hospitality space, 100,000 square metres of retail space and huge expanses of green spaces including canal walks, parks and landscaping.

The super tall structure will have four individual towers within a single structure.

According to WAM, the iconic development will minimise car use and maximise train, bus and water transportation.

When completed, the tower is expected to surpass the Burj Dubai, which will be officially declared the world’s tallest building when it is inaugurated in September next year.

Though the final height of Burj Dubai has not been announced yet by its developer Emaar Properties, it is speculated that it will be around 900 metres.

The proposed Nakheel Harbour and Tower, at a kilometre high, is likely to surpass that.

However, Nakheel officials have declined to confirm that it will be the world’s tallest building when completed because of similar projects being planned across the region, including a 1.6-km tall tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

“It may be the tallest tower. You don’t have to be the tallest tower, you just have to be an iconic development,” Nakheel chief executive Chris O’Donnell was quoted as saying.

My photos: Huge bong crowd

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:05:43 GMT

Mumblr posted a photo:

Reminds me of kolkata
- Camera phone upload powered by ShoZu

My photos: Pujo@ Little India

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:47:41 GMT

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twitter: Flickr: Huge bong crowd http://tinyurl.com/4r43vk

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:28:50 GMT

mumblr: Flickr: Huge bong crowd http://tinyurl.com/4r43vk

twitter: Flickr: Pujo@ Little India http://tinyurl.com/4cw8t4

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:28:49 GMT

mumblr: Flickr: Pujo@ Little India http://tinyurl.com/4cw8t4

twitter: Flickr: Durga puja celebrations@ Farrer Park http://tinyurl.com/3qhbhf

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:28:46 GMT

mumblr: Flickr: Durga puja celebrations@ Farrer Park http://tinyurl.com/3qhbhf

My photos: Durga puja celebrations@ Farrer Park

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:11:08 GMT

Mumblr posted a photo:

- Camera phone upload powered by ShoZu

Google Reader: West Bengal rocks to fusion Puja chic

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:21:30 GMT

The sultry October afternoon does not deter the crowd in a south Kolkata market from thronging the shops that line a busy thoroughfare. It is carnival time for shoppers in this eastern megalopolis scouting for the best festival bargains.

For the Durga Puja, the biggest annual festival here, the flavour this year is fusion. It swings between the glittering chic from Gujarat and Maharashtra to eco-crafts from rural Bengal.

The shop windows in the markets and the new malls that have mushroomed all over the city are crammed with the latest designer labels - the traditional Bengali sari, dhoti and kurta having taken a backseat.

The look is a mix of mirrors, glass work, zari, zardosi, sequins, crystals, bamboo, palm fronds, shola weeds and clay puja pandals at the fashion counters.

The budgets of puja organisers are big, Rs.500,000 on an average this year. The cost is no less than Rs.100,000 even for private family pujas.

“Security is tighter than usual because of the recent terrorist violence in northern and western India. But I am sure nothing will happen in Kolkata. All the terrorists stay here in the city,” laughs Mayor Subroto Mukherjee over a cup of ‘cutting chai’ at the venue of one of the most expensive and prestigious Durga Pujas in the city, Ekdalia Park.

“It is a transit point for the Islamic terror modules sneaking in from Bangladesh, Nepal and the neighbouring states. They would not want to harm their safe transit hideout,” Mukherjee told IANS.

The residents of Ekdalia Park, who are celebrating their 65th Durga Puja, are creating a 100-foot artistic marvel in glass, mirrors and plywood painted in a dull shade of ochre with a square chandelier for a ceiling. It has a distinct Gujarati look.

Mukherjee, the president of the puja committee, holds forth: “We will not take away from the traditional core of the festivities despite the new ethnic look.”

At Park Circus, a few kilometres away, an army of artisans is building a 75-foot ethnic temple in bamboo, dry date palm fronds and hemp. The indigenous “mooli” bamboo has been sourced from Kamalgachi, 30 km from the city.

Along the eastern Metropolitan Bypass, the organisers of a community puja are recreating Bengali novelist Manik Bandopadhyay’s “Padma Nadir Majhi” (The Boatmen of River Padma) in bamboo and thatch. An artificial river will have seven country boats to round off the ambience from Bangladesh, where the novel is set.

In Behala, almost all the pujas are themed on ethnic crafts from across the country.

The central theme of glass and mirrors spills over into the markets as well. The accessories shops in the bazaars of south Kolkata, New Market and College Street in north Kolkata shone with the glitter of crystal, mirror and glass eardrops, danglers and kundan jewellery from Rajasthan.

“The designs are a bit north Indian this year, but that is what women are looking for this season. They have been inspired by Bollywood,” a shopkeeper in south Kolkata said.

The usual explosion of street-side kiosks hawking terracotta jewellery from the villages of Bengal is missing. “I could find only one shop that was selling terracotta jewellery in Gariahat,” said Rashi Bhatnagar, a tourist, who wanted to pick up clay trinkets for her family back home in Haryana.

The icons of the goddess and her four children are also moving towards Bollywood glitter in Kumartuli, a 250-year-old colony of traditional craftsmen, where most of the idols are made. Glass, mirrors and zari have replaced the traditional shola (a thin white paper-like) weed used as ornaments and finery to deck up the gods. Artisans attribute it to two reasons.

“The supply of shola weeds has dwindled because the rivers are drying up in south and north Bengal, where the weeds are cultivated in the shallow waters of the rivulets.

“Second, the community puja committees want their icons to stand out and are willing to fork out more money for idols decorated with zari and mirror chalchitra (traditional background motifs that adorn the central frame of the icons) in true tradition of Bollywood film sets.

“Tradition is being compromised,” rued master craftsman Pashupati Rudra Paul, nephew of legendary artisan Rakhal Paul of Kumartuli, in a chat with IANS.

twitter: Sundays are blissful! Location: http://gpstwit.com/bq9

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:20:40 GMT

mumblr: Sundays are blissful! Location: http://gpstwit.com/bq9

My photos: Sunset @ Phi Phi Island

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:41:35 GMT

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My photos: Welcome!

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:39:15 GMT

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My photos: IMG_1571

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:36:41 GMT

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My photos: IMG_1555

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:33:08 GMT

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twitter: Flickr: Sunset @ Phi Phi Island http://tinyurl.com/4o27c8

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:27:14 GMT

mumblr: Flickr: Sunset @ Phi Phi Island http://tinyurl.com/4o27c8

twitter: Flickr: Welcome! http://tinyurl.com/3ekm4q

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:27:12 GMT

mumblr: Flickr: Welcome! http://tinyurl.com/3ekm4q

twitter: Flickr: IMG_1571 http://tinyurl.com/53ta46

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:27:11 GMT

mumblr: Flickr: IMG_1571 http://tinyurl.com/53ta46

twitter: Flickr: IMG_1555 http://tinyurl.com/4yh5uw

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:27:09 GMT

mumblr: Flickr: IMG_1555 http://tinyurl.com/4yh5uw

Google Reader: Fring Delivers the Most Impressive VoIP and IM Client for iPhone so Far

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:03:48 GMT

If an all-in-one VoIP and IM client on your iPhone is what you’ve been yearning for since the multi-touch device first arrived on the scene, and particular since the popular App Store officially arrived, news from Fring this week is bound to please.

Yes, as of Friday, Fring has made available its first iPhone- and iPod touch-compatible application for the App Store [iTunes URL]. It joins two other consumer-focused applications, Truphone [iTunes] and PennyTel [iTunes], in the budding selection of VoIP applications, and like the others, it is free to download.

And as Fring’s alternative options have themselves proven to do, the free iPhone/iPod download gets you quite a lot in terms of choice. Far more than what its Apple-approved brethren have provided so far. It can connect you to Skype, MSN, ICQ, Google Talk, Twitter, Yahoo, and AOL’s AIM protocol, as well as conduct cellular, SIP, and Skype Out calls via Wi-Fi. (Cellular is of course only possible via an iPhone.)

So long as you don’t manage an IM or phone contact account with a service other than Fring’s or any of the abovementioned services, you’re free to explore all options. And most of them are quite good.

The interface is simple enough to figure out in a few minutes, even if you’re new to Fring itself. There is occasional lag when interacting with various parts of the design, so much so that you may have thought the application had frozen entirely. But I’ve not experienced a crash as of yet. Twiddle your thumbs for a few seconds if it’s being stubbornly insensitive. If crashing is consistent in your case, the most common remedy is a restart of the device.

What may strike some users as unnecessary or unwanted is the presence of one’s iPhone’s contact list shown within the Buddy menu. You might want it exclusively focused on Web services that you specify, and nothing else. But seeing as how you can place a call via a cellular network if need be, the option to quickly seek out a contact without having to exit the application is not such a bad thing to have. Furthermore, it’s not possible to mistakenly place a cellular call by tapping on a name within your phonebook, if that’s your worry. Doing so only brings you to a set of contact information. If you choose a stored phone number, you’re given the chance to place a SIP, Skype out, or run-of-the-mill cellular call, depending on how you configure your application settings. If you wish, you can also request to find any corresponding information within the Fring database. No matter what, the cellular option is open.

If you do in fact choose to place a cellular call, a dialer is superimposed on the screen, allowing you to confirm or cancel or alter the digits in any way. Hit “OK” and you’re taken away from Fring into the iPhone’s standard calling utility. End the call and you’re automatically drawn back into the Fring.

For a free application, Fring is certain to please many users. Lots of users. The way things like Twitter feeds are display isn’t the most elegant, I’ll admit. Plenty of other applications will do a far better job for certain tasks. But as a basic multipurpose communications utility for VoIP and IM services, it’s clearly the best one on the App Store menu today.

Fring originally debuted its iPhone application back in April to showcase what would be possible for iPhone users once the App Store arrived. And while it’s been months since the launch of the storefront, with only Truphone and PennyTel to serve users, the official Fring release is three megabytes of connectivity that I’m quite sure will prove a very popular download very soon.

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Related Articles at Mashable | All That's New on the Web:

Fring Makes Twitter Free
Fring Now Supports ICQ for Integrated Mobile Chat
fring Enriches Mobile IM Client with fringAdd-ons
fring Releases Open API to Enable New Mobile VoIP Apps [Israel Media Tour]
Jajah Enables VoIP Calls on iPhone
The Slow Move to Mobile VoIP (Poll)
iPhone Rumored For Canada On December 7th