The weekend has been pretty interesting. I saw rebounds regarding Google and its shenanigans all across social networks and the Internet in general, and then woke up this morning to read more in print. Led to some light thinking on the matter, and I tried breaking these thoughts into three distinct and debatable trends that I have noticed about the BigO.

One champion for your business

On Saturday, Steve Rubel interviewed Jeff Jarvis’ about his new book, What Would Google Do? In the book, Jarvis breaks down Google’s practices into 12 distinct rules and then applies them to aging industries like media and advertising. Denuo/Publicis’s Rishad Tobaccowala points out how Google served an entirely new population of advertisers who didn’t have agencies and that enabled it to set new rules. Google sells performance instead of scarcity (a lesson the rest of media must learn in this post-scarcity economy). Because it rewards relevance, it encourages better, more effective advertising.

One number in your life

I picked up today’s newspaper and there’s Google again with its mega plans to unify the masses. Launched on March 5th, Google Voice is all set to revolutionize telephones.It unifies your phone numbers, transcribes your voice mail, blocks telemarketers and elevates text messages to first-class communication citizens. And that’s just the warm-up. Google Voice began life in 2005 as something called GrandCentral. It was, in its own way, revolutionary. More on it here.

One fellow to help you out on the web

If search wiki wasn’t enough, Google now has made available the “preferred site” option to all its users. The service allows users to overweight certain web sites in the search engine result pages. Once you sign up, Google recommends pages from your history that you tend to visit when searching. You have the option to make these sites (or any other) a preferred destination.

Without even getting into the whole business/ SEO/ SEM discussion, I can only hope that you can turn it off – Half the fun about search is the fact that you can find the “unexpected” and stuff you haven’t seen before. I mean what is “search”, if you know what you’re gonna get?

One person who knows you better than you yourself!

So you worried just about how your search data was painting a DNA of who you are? Google  released 11 software applications for mobile phones that spell a fundamental change in our lives. Among the applications were functions such as text messaging, web browsing, a diary, Orkut - the company’s social networking offering – and Latitude, a GPS-based service that tracks you wherever you go. Innocent enough, perhaps. But combined they would allow Google to know what you are doing all of the time. A truly Orwellian development that has been described by privacy campaigners as “a catastrophic corruption of consent”.

Far-fetched? Not at all. The mobile phone industry has for years seen the potential for a rich market to develop in location-based services if only it could get its customers to agree. Google, on the other hand, has decided to take advantage of that market and it has sought to do so by appearing to be helpful. The rationale is simple – offer a service for free and the customer will not notice that they have given a company the right to know where they are at any time.

So now – considering the above, what do you think?

1. Google is well on its way to create the “Empire“
2. Google is doing what all enterprises should do – consistently better their offering
3. Google is retrograding the whole “Internet” story it fed on by killing basics like “free spirit”, “openness”, “surprises”, “sense of wonder” et al

Mumbai suffered one of its worst terror nightmares these last 3 days when armed terrorists took over strategic spots in Mumbai, leading to a bloodshed yet unparalleled in its gruesomeness.

While the terror attacks received worldwide media coverage, it was no less covered extensively by citizen journalists and common people who used a host of digital mediums to add to the story. Internet, and new media tools, came on the forefront as reliable tools to track the terror drama.

A wikipedia page was constantly updated by vigilant users, providing a single point of reference.

Many twitter feeds contributed to real-time reporting & status update, which were utilzed heavily by the administration, media as well as citizens to get regular updates as well as channelize real-time help.

Twitter feed for Mumbai

Twitter-fed list of useful local numbers

Post the attacks, these feeds have become the buzz-ground for discussions, opinions and to plan next steps to solve the problem at its roots.

A google maps page also became a ready reference guide, especially for people outside India to get a real-life perspective of where and how things were happening.

Vinu’s photostream was picked up by Fox News & CNN as well as multiple channels to provide real-time updates on all that was happening.

Over 2000 videos have flooded youtube post the attacks.

The MumbaiHelp blog has updated lists of all relevant helpline numbers as well.

Just a thought – if India keeps waiting for 3G…next auction date for spectrums is in Jan sometime it seems…will VoIP take over video calls, the prize 3G candidate for business?

Telcos have long looked at video calls as the prime motivator for expensive 3G subscriptions, and handset manufacturers have kept pace with ensuring availability of video-call enabled handsets.

So probably they wont pull out, but does it make sense for telcos to pay such huge spectrum fees when available 2.5G/EDGE Internet is good enough for video & voice VoIP?

What iam going to share with you is very common but ignored, a service which can save us all a lot of money.

Sounds intresting!!

How many times we must have used services like skype,Gizmos to make international calls via computer..ever given it thought the same services can be used with your mobile phone?

No !  try on any Wi-fi enabled network its very simple

1.Download any VoIP application on your  phone.

2. Log on to a good Broadband network and start making calls.

*Please dont compare VoIP call quality with normal Gsm quality  ** Works best with Series-60 phones,check your phone manual.

But who cares when we saving money..a lot of money..

Try and let me know.

Thought finding places are difficult..check this out.

http://www.nokianavigation.co.in/

Maemo is a computer architecture platform built on desktop open source components. It is aimed at enabling applications and innovative technology for mobile handheld devices.

The platform is based on the GNU/Linux operating system and the GNOME desktop. Maemo brings developers an easy to use development environment. Its new, optimized, and evolving Hildon UI is customized for the screen size and usage typical for a touch screen enabled handheld device. The development platform is targeted at innovative developers and innovation houses developing applications and new technologies for the mobile space. Utilizing the maemo platform it is easy to mobilize existing desktop solutions. Maemo enables various business models on the top of the platform, including proprietary application distribution.

Maemo, first introduced in 2005, is one of the core platforms for Nokia’s high-end products. Today maemo is the basis of the OS used in a range of Wi-Fi enabled Internet Tablets. These miniature computer handsets are targeted at a high-tech, Internet savvy audience, including small business verticals. The Internet Tablet models on market are the Nokia N800 and the new Nokia N810. Maemo has reached a level of functionality to provide a full internet experience in pocket sized device – with an intuitive UI.

Nokia hosts the active open source maemo community (maemo.org) that exists around the platform, and is an active contributor in various projects. Here you can find a detailed description of the maemo platform architecture and the latest maemo 4.0 release, called Chinook.

OR go to the link to check out…nokia forum. also get a chance to win a free n-95

http://india.forum.nokia.com/

The world will never be the same. There was a time when television was called an “idiot box” because who thought sitting in front of 15 inch screen can be fun, now…

Phones were just another need.

How many times we forget to carry our lunch boxes but never our cell phones..

However, the new word in entertainment is mobile entertainment.

DVB-H technology that enables watching TV on your mobile phone, is available in India. Currently available only on few Nokia models, it is not very well known & also has not been properly advertised lacking licences and services. DVB-H services are only available in Delhi NCR with telecast license from doordarshan,but not too far off are days when other major broadcasters will put there heart in it… I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Why should i miss my favorite game..Online jukebox will be a reality soon in India as nokia gets in final talks with operators on revenue. Also, Nokia plans to bring Nokia online music store to india hopefully by this year end..currently The New big thing in Mobile entertainment is Nokia’s new gaming platform called Engage (revamped completely) – a gaming platform which will change the face of mobile gaming forever. Superb graphics, amazing game line ups with names like EA sports,multi player online gaming options..its gonna rock…so gamers watch out for your favorite games! The service is available currently on only a few nokia devices(N-81,N-82, N95 8gb)

Music- ah i love music but iam confused. My choice of music varies from rock to trance…from underground to pop, ghazals to sufi..that’s why i wanted to buy an iPod so that i can store all my collections..but i dont want to carry one more additional device with me! How many things should i carry..Hmm let me guess my phone?

With breakthrough in nano technology its all possible.

Memory mobile phones have reached 16 gb with apple i phone and NOkia N-96 will be launched soonwith a memory of 16 gb (extendable).

The Mobile: Its not one thing…its many.

I sip my coffee sitting with my friends in a cafe… nobody knows cause with the easy push-email on my phone i can take care of my work without entering my office!

i am always available to all my clients – no matter where i am. Being connected to my official mail sever with my phone gives me the confidence that work won’t suffer even if iam on vacation.

MY stereo may not work while I listen to digital quality music on my phone. I want to watch a movie while i travel…easy stuff on my phone! With high memory,high resolution screen and bose speakers pre-installed, multimedia is a dream come true on my mobile!

I can sit in my office, and yet cheer my favorite football team winning a match that I watch on my phone with DVB-H and video streaming. I go to an unknown place where i don’t know the language, but my phone shows me the way with Voice guided navigation. I know where to party even if i am a stranger in town..with maps and point of interest pre-loaded on my phone.

i see some thing i wish to store for posterity – I click a picture with my 10mpx camera phone

i see a weeding gown and want to show it to my girl, i click, i share my joys with girlfriend thanks to my phone! All this in real time, thanks to video conferencing on my phone.

i discovered this exotic lake want my friends to come visit me here i geotagged it on my phone with geo tagging and mapping.

its all i need, but there is more that i want….

to be contd..

Jason Hiner, Executive Editor, Tech Republic, shares this interesting insight on Twitter – something you heard a lot about at the Digitas Bootcamp:

For those who have never used Twitter, my biggest challenge here might be giving you a concise definition. Here are some of the common ones that you’ll hear:

• It’s micro-blogging
• It’s a 140-character note about what you’re doing
• It’s an up-to-the-minute status update for all your friends
• It’s a great way to keep up with what your colleagues are working on
• It’s a very timely source for news and links
• It’s like being part of the Borg but you choose your own Collective

Here’s how I explained Twitter to my mom a couple weeks ago:

“It’s like a text message or an instant message —
limited to 140 characters — that you send to everyone on your buddy
list. You use it when you’re doing something interesting, you have some
news to share, or you have a Web link that you want to bring to
people’s attention.”

If you don’t think that sounds very exciting or useful, you’re not
alone. A lot of the most active Twitterers I know didn’t take to it
right away. There’s
an interesting phenomenon with Twitter where a user gives it a first
try and then sort of abandons it, while still occasionly checking on
the messages posted by the people on their contact list. Then, the user
eventually starts doing and seeing stuff and thinking, “I should post
that Twitter.” Pretty soon they actually start remembering to post that
stuff, either from a Web browser or a cell phone, and before long they
are hooked.

Five reasons why Twitter matters

1. Twitter provides a method for tapping into the brainwaves of people whose thoughts and opinions are valuable to you.
2. It can help you catch breaking news very quickly. It’s the digital equivalent of word-of-mouth.
3. It can allow you to communicate and network with people that you’ve wanted to meet.
4. Twitter lets you keep track of colleagues, see what they’re working on, and better understand what they do.
5. It can serve as a messaging tool to quickly communicate with multiple contacts.

Twitter for IT

I primarily use Twitter for three things:

1. Posting a lot of the stuff that doesn’t make it into my blog. That
   includes links, breaking news, thoughts on current events in the tech
   world, and occasionally a few off-topic notes about digital living and
   civilization as we know it.
2. Keeping up with current and former co-workers and other friends and
   colleagues — mostly people in the IT industry or the media business.
   I’ve learned more about some of my co-workers from Twitter than I did
   by working with them in the same office for years.
3. Responding to thoughts and notes from my network of contacts and get to know some of my contacts better in the process.

You can find me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jasonhiner.

Because so many of the early adopters of Twitter are techies, it can
be a valuable tool for IT leaders, who can not only follow pundits like
me but can also follow like-minded IT experts. In this way, they can
build their own custom community of people of interest for IT. That’s
the greatest strength of Twitter, and that’s why it will end up being
the most important development on the Web in 2008 — the year it really
started to gain critical mass.

There’s another reason why IT pros may be interested in Twitter, and
it has nothing to do with its use for communication. As an online
application built on RubyOnRails,
Twitter has run into scaling problems that have recently led to several
outages of the service and repeatedly dogged the IT department. In
fact, the outages have become so common that they are — dangerously —
becoming one of the distinguishing characteristics of Twitter. Check
out the TechCrunch article Twitter At Scale: Will It Work? and this blog post form the Twitter staff to get up to speed on the issues involved.