Samsung Selling Laptops With Keyloggers Installed!

“

The supervisor who spoke with me was not sure how this software ended up in the new laptop thus put me on hold. He confirmed that yes, Samsung did knowingly put this software on the laptop to, as he put it, "monitor the performance of the machine and to find out how it is being used." In other words, Samsung wanted to gather usage data without obtaining consent from laptop owners.

Link

UPDATE:

Clarification issued. Turns out it was a false alarm.

http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/sec/2011/032811sec2.html

Unfortunately Named Websites

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/03/30/unfortunately-named.html

How stupid can people get!?

…

7 Khoon Maaf

Surprisingly, I did enjoy most of it. Seemed a bit dragged towards the second half, and in my opinion - Naseer sahib was wasted in the film.

Could have edited out a lot of stuff and I believe it would have been a better film. E.g. The fight sequence between Goonga (Shashi Malviya) and Major Edwin Rodriques (Neil Nitin Mukesh).

Wasiullah Khan (Irrfan Khan)	: Brilliant
Ghalib (Harish Khanna)	: Well Played
Inspector Keemat Lal (Annu Kapoor)	: Not bad
Arun / Sugar (Vivaan Shah)	: Nothing to complain about
Maggie (Usha Uthup)	: Crap

I don’t think Priyanka Chopra did too bad a job either.

Will try to get my hands on the book. Pretty sure it would make an interesting read.

De Bethune iPhone Case

De Bethune

• Full grain alligator leather (The original, unaltered hide which has had the hair removed. Shows the full grain of the animal. High quality) [Link]
• The watch has a DB 1024 movement (honestly, I have no clue what that’s supposed to mean but sounds fancy and it must be of some significance because everyone seems to be mentioning it).

Link

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err… Seriously!

I do believe I have a reasonable taste in watches (Patek Philippe – Nautilus), and I am aware of SOME terms associated with watches, but most of the jargon goes over my head.

For example – I can’t understand what’s the big deal about an ATOMIC watch getting radio signals and readjusting itself to the PRECISE EARTH TIME (*Scratching head). In some watches, I don’t understand the need or the purpose of 20 different variations of a stopwatch!

To me, it’s similar to the ‘rolling my eyes’ moment when Nokia came up with 5140i and Thermometer was listed as a feature! (Click on the link above. Scroll down to the Phone Features and see it for yourself)

Subscribe To Dish Network – Get A Free GUN!

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A RadioShack in Montana is making headlines — and doing a brisk business — by offering free guns to new Dish Network customers. "Protect yourself with Dish Network. Sign up now, get free gun," reads the sign over the door of a Hamilton, MT, RadioShack. The promo has been running since October and the store's owner says it's tripled the business in that time. It's also made the store a bit of a local landmark.

Link

Alternative tagline - An offer to kill for.

Dum Maaro Dum

As much as I like Deepika Padukone, I can not tolerate this song. The lyrics are horrendous, terrible, ridiculous, crap, nonsense, pointless, thuuuuuuuu. 

Below is the classic Dum Maaro Dum track. Now this is how it should be done:

US Intervention In Libya

Yet Another Ugly Watch From Casio

   

http://www.casio-intl.com/news/2011/bga-130_131/

Road Fixed In 6 Days - Japan

Now I am not really sure how it was done. I can’t even be sure if it was really done in the first place, but this is what was reported in the Daily Mail.

Link

Celeste – Send-Receive Files Over Bluetooth

“

Celeste brings the long-awaited missing feature to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Send and receive songs, photos, contacts, and more. Celeste works with any Bluetooth transfer-capable device, and integrates perfectly with your built-in iOS applications.

Link

Of course you will need to be running IOS 4.2 or above and the iPhone needs to be jailbroken.

Flying Socer ??

Seriously, Google MUST charge these idiots.

Twist & Brush - Concept

 

http://www.studio-kg.com/twistbrush/

Interesting concept. Fill up the tube thingy with toothpaste and screw the brush thingy back. Twist the bottom and the paste is squeezed on to the brush bristles.

Toshiba 14-inch USB Mobile LCD Monitor

• Sleek, lightweight and portable design at only 2.8 lbs
• Travel-friendly at about the size of a slim 14” laptop
• 14” LCD screen with 1366 x 768 HD Resolution
• Powered via USB for easy setup and use (optional AC adapter sold separately)
• Video through USB, no VGA/DVI/HDMI video cable required
• Energy Star 5.0 compliant and DisplayLink certified
• Hybrid carry case/stand included
• Easy adjust brightness control buttons
• Microsoft® Windows® 7, Vista®, and XP® compatible

Link

Not bad for USD 200.

Microsoft Going Crazy … AGAIN

Microsoft is now suing Barnes & Noble for patent infringement. Microsoft says in it’s press release:

“

The patents at issue cover a range of functionality embodied in Android devices that are essential to the user experience, including: natural ways of interacting with devices by tabbing through various screens to find the information they need; surfing the Web more quickly, and interacting with documents and e-books.

Horacio E. Gutierrez (Corporate Vice President) further elaborates on the issue in his blog post:

“

Give people easy ways to navigate through information provided by their device apps via a separate control window with tabs; Enable display of a webpage’s content before the background image is received, allowing users to interact with the page faster; Allow apps to superimpose download status on top of the downloading content; Permit users to easily select text in a document and adjust that selection; and Provide users the ability to annotate text without changing the underlying document.

WTF! Are you serious?! Microsoft has a problem with someone (without a license from Microsoft) offering easy navigation and ability to select & annotate text?!

I have to agree with MG Siegler from TechCrunch – “Next up, Microsoft is going to sue over the ability to type, look, and maybe even breathe. I’m sure they patented those things at some point over the past 30 years. They have something ridiculous like 20,000 patents”.

Zohal – Iran’s Flying Saucer!

Link

Link

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This is even more pathetic than Iran’s attempt of exaggerating it’s missile capabilities in 2008 by using doctored images. Now I am curious to know what this thing looks like – IF it actually exists, of course.

Follow By Email - Blogger

Image from BloggerPlugIns

 

Noticed a new gadget added to the Blogger gallery – Follow By Email.

In Case Of Nuclear Emergency

India Today Conclave.. ahem

The other day caught the promo on the tele for The Conclave.

Don’t have a video but it starts off with Sarah Palin’s pic and goes on to say – Incredible speakers, Unforgettable conversations.

Well, if Palin is going to be there, they will have to alter that to Incredibly STUPID speakers, Unforgettable and senseless conversations.

I don’t get Sarah Palin. Seriously. I mean, hasn’t the world made enough fun of her already? Why does she feel the need to give out even more material to the stand up comedians? Why can’t she just keep her mouth shut?

Catch That Cap – Bottle Opener

Link

Interesting. I would definitely like to have one of these.

Honestly though, I wasn’t aware of this issue (*eyes rolling) until I read the post. Somehow, never really seemed like a problem that needed to be addressed. Guess it’s not just advertising that makes us buy things we don’t need.

USD 200 Mobile Cancer Diagnosing Device

“

Researchers at Harvard and MIT have developed a mobile mini NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) device operated by a smart phone that can be used at a patient’s bedside to detect cancer cells in under one hour.

Link

Ok. Now will someone be kind enough to find a fucking cure !!

Do you have any idea how it feels when the doctors say they have no idea what caused the sarcoma in the first place and are even more clueless on what to do about it!

Spending time, money and efforts in figuring out that -

• Husbands' hostile and anti-social behaviour exacerbates symptoms of depression among their wives [Link]. OR
• Defence scientists planning to put one of the world's hottest chilli powders into hand grenades and use the devices to control rioters and in counter-insurgency operations [Link]. OR
• Scientists having a party and figure out that wine can supercharge over 62% of a material and turn it into a super duper conductor [Link].

How about putting in the effort and finding a cure for cancer or is that being too unreasonable? I am sure the world wouldn’t mind waiting a bit for the next thinnest cellphone or 3D tele. Definitely figuring out why men stare at tits OR how that is healthy – can wait.

+YvesBehar Phone – The Dumb Phone

Yves Behar has designed a dumb phone. Basically, the phone performs two functions – makes calls and sends text messages.

No touch-screen, no cam, no push mail, no fancy games / apps.

There might be people who would want something just like this. But, at a cost of about USD 10,000!?! There is also a ‘gold version’ for about USD 60,000.

Before I forget, the +YvesBehar does come with ringtones performed by Chris Minh Doky.

Xperia Play “The Donor”

Sony seems to have lost the plot.

Not really a fan of the Xperia and the Xperia Play isn’t a gadget I am interested in anyways, but this ad is just ridiculous.

AT&T And Verizon Offering Free Calls To Japan

“

DALLAS, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced it has implemented international calling and texting support efforts for U.S. residential wireless and wireline consumers trying to connect with loved ones in Japan, following last week's tragic earthquake and tsunami. Effective beginning last week, March 11, and continuing through March 31, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for: International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. wireless number In addition, and also effective March 11 through March 31, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dial calling to Japan: Upon receiving their wireline bill, customers may call AT&T to receive adjusted calling for up to 60 minutes. In other words, no charges for up to 60 minutes of call time from the United States to Japan between March 11 and March 31.

Link

“

NEW YORK, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To help its customers contact loved ones in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, Verizon is making calls to Japan free for most wireless and residential customers through April 10. All Verizon Wireless post-paid customers will receive free calling to Japan from March 11 through April 10.  Post-paid customers are those who receive a monthly bill from the company.  In addition, Verizon Wireless post-paid customers in the U.S. will receive free text and multimedia messaging to Japan for the same time period. Verizon Wireless has also made it easy for customers to text donations to a host of non-profit organizations responding to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.  Customers can easily make a $10 donation by simply sending a text message and may choose from 10 organizations aiding those in need in Japan. All calls made from a Verizon residential landline to Japan will be rated at $0.00 per minute, from March 11 through April 10.  Customers with Verizon World Plan (300, 500 or unlimited minutes of long-distance calling) can call Japan without using any minutes from their time-allotment blocks.

Link

Earinalm – Ear Alarm

Product Page

This headset / earphone thingy is supposed to have a built in alarm (in addition to a stopwatch and calendar) to wake you up in the morning (or whenever).

Err, doesn’t anyone else think it would be a tad bit uncomfortable trying to get sleep with the earbuds pushed in your ear?

I seriously doubt anyone will ever be able to figure out what’s really wrong with the people working at Thanko.

Dhoni Slams Batsmen For Playing To The Gallery

“

NAGPUR: An infuriated Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni blasted his batsmen for "playing to the gallery rather than for the country" after the home team slumped to a three-wicket defeat at the hands of South Africa in a thrilling World Cup Group B encounter.

Link

Not like I care. I was supporting South Africa anyways.

Just because I happen to be an Indian doesn’t mean that  I HAVE TO like/support the Indian team. For me - it takes a lot more (than having the same nationality) to like or dislike a person or a team.

@Dhoni - Put a sock in it. The guy has been yapping too much anyways. One of his earlier statements - ‘We can’t do anything about our slow fielders. They will remain slow’.

It’s not like his 12 runs and overdose of ‘playing for the country’ attitude did wonders. Ashish Nehra for the final over when South Africa need 13 runs! What the hell was he smoking?

…

Papa has some medical issues again.

Going through a crappy phase. Can’t do any thing about it and that makes it even worse.

Anyways, a big thank you to the few who actually care. Also, thank you to the few who understand that at times I need to be left alone. Last but not least – a big ‘fuck you’ to a bunch of crappy people I ended up getting acquainted with over the years because of some shit coincidence (Not sure if that that sentence makes sense but I am sure the point gets across).

Just for the record – if you keep getting diverted to the voicemail – It’s probably because I don’t want to talk to you. Haven’t you heard the voice message? I seriously doubt anyone can make it more obvious.

The Fighter

Absolutely brilliant.