Entries from February 2007 ↓

Read on Bob Cringely about what he thinks Apple’s plans may be with Apple TV - given the stackable designs of Apple TV, MacMini and the new Airport Extreme. He says:

Here is what I think is happening with the Apple TV hard drive. I think sometime this summer Apple will ship a firmware upgrade for the Apple TV and it will suddenly gain an important new capability. That’s when the Apple TV becomes a node on the iTunes peer-to-peer video network.

What does that mean?

If you are wondering what Apple might accomplish with such a peer-to-peer distribution system, it would be nothing less than the undermining of TV. First Apple would eliminate its current dependence on Akamai, reducing its network costs for iTunes by about 100X, making the network costs effectively free. Hello HDTV!

Second, Apple would have one or many content channels roughly equivalent to an HBO, Showtime, or perhaps Discovery. Yes, I think Apple will do direct content deals, buying programming that it will then either distribute to subscribers or support with Google ads, thanks to Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s position on the Apple board. Apple’s network will give you the same content with or without ads, delivered from the same servers, one of which may be underneath your TV.

If Apple is planning what Bob thinks, we will see a lot of apple’s around us I think. We will have more of them in our homes and streets than we will have in the super market! I just love the way this company thinks

Just read on BusinessWeek about a new government policy on taking design as a national priority. The policy acknowledges the need to develop design skills in India, is planning to set up more National Institute of Designs. This whole thing is still at the policy level, but it’s a good step forward. Good design skills are really scarce in India. With Indian companies now catering global markets, it’s critical that we train ourselves into designing our products in a manner that’s delightful to all our customers.

Albert’s Design Master Class we had in Magnet a week ago was a superb training for design in software projects - he actually even discussed design in everyday life. That was one reason why the training was so interesting. I think we should train our knowledge workers about design, at the same time setting up institutes for more formal design education.

Two friends who come in mind when I think of great designers, are Pranav and Kaushal. I think we should get together and do something!

Braingle is a fabulous place to look for puzzles, brain teasers and trivia. There are also a lot of techniques on creativity, that I used when I did the creativity workshop in Magnet. It’s worth adding to your regular reading list - well they even have RSS feeds.

Albert Harum-Alvarez (of SmallCompany, one of our partners) conducted a Design Master Class in Mumbai today. It was fabulous! Albert is a user interaction design expert and his teaching style is amazing. Someone said he “slaps you gently” and I could experience that throughout the day! We learned about design, good design, different layout styles, design principles, meanings and design, and a whole lot of things. Reviewing work of the participants and coming up with solutions in areas where we were stuck was a rewarding experience.

I think we will not think the same way, when we are working on our next programming aspect. We are going to turn to user model from machine model!

Thanks Albert for the wonderful class! We look forward to more classes in India!

A few photos up here!

We had a Saturday full of fun in 2005. And then it was time to have another one. Saturday Blast 2006 - 30 December 2006 - was a synonym for frolic, craziness and full dhamaal! I am posting this very late, so excuse me on that.

By 9.30 in the morning, everyone was being stamped! Whoever came in, had to pass the registration desk. I got a nametag with my Hawaiian name (Niwala) and the team I was in (Daffodil). Being the official photographer for the event, I started clicking around. Everyone was excited - stamps on the face, funny costumes, running commentary on people who entered, and unabashed expression of enthusiasm.

The office was soon packed with people in colorful cloths and colorful moods. We started with prayers. Actually, KG poems! Humpty Dumpty et al. Then the “lemon & spoon” game and “blow the paper”! It was too funny watching people blowing a crushed paper ball to take it to the other side.

The “Tol Mol Ke Bol” turned out to be a game where people just crowded around and kept shouting prices of the items shown! It was more enjoyable to see the people, then the items and their prices!

We then watched a movie, and enacted scenes from it in a funny way. Imagine The Great Indian Laughter Challenge dialogs being delivered over a muted horror movie. That’s how it was! By this time, we were hungry, so hogged onto the Pav Bhaji and Gulab Jamun.

Got lazy after the movie, but the scene changed quickly as we got into the Ad Mad World! This was one of the best parts of the day. Amazing level of energy and creativity in the Magneteers. The Rajdhaani Anti Loose Motion tablet ad was one of the best, and we will never forget it! (We actually took a lot of videos, and have a Saturday Blast 2006 movie also made! The movie is superb, and a great comedy show!)

Next show was Tom & Jerry! Over chips and samosas, this was a good timepass that got us ready for Nach Baliye! This dance competition turned out to be a major hit, semi final and final rounds getting hotter. The performances were very good - even people who said they do not know dancing, were dancing. Audience had a great time, I must say!

Everyone was in the mood to rock the floor now, and that’s what followed! Like the Mumbai Suburban Trains, if you even stood still, you would be dancing. There were some star performers and some who provided humor. But the enthusiasm was contagious.

What followed was the prize distribution, lot of group photographs, sharing the chocolates won in the prize and elated Magneteers wishing a very happy new year to each other in advance.

Another memorable Saturday Blast on Magnet’s timeline, and a golden day for the Magneteers!

Selected pictures in the gallery!