AlphinBlog

My Inaugral Neptune House Address.

2011-10-14T12:03:00.001+04:00

I gave this address months ago when i began as the Vice Captain of
Neptune House, during the house assembly. Thought i should post it on
my blog.

Good Morning!
It stand here today humbled by the task before us, honoured by the trust u've given me, and mindful of the great heritage of this great house.

It's been a long journey, from that first grader, who got excited when he realised that he was going to wear green and he was a part of Neptune House, to this stage i'm standing today as u'r Vice Captain. And i thank God almighty and each and everyone of u that has made this possible.

I also like to thank, our former captain Mark Stanley, and vice captains Richin Kabra and Sunaal Philip for the support they've given us.

But let me make this clear, Neptune house isn't about me, Neptune House isn't about Jason, It is not only even about our wonderful and ever sincere House Master Mr. Dilip Kumar, or great House Mistress Mrs
Francis. It's about each and every single one of us. Because Neptune house isn't today because of what it's leaders in high office did, but because of what each and every single one of u did in ur own way.

With the new House point system, we need to take that further. Because now your house is like u'r family. Every single action u do will reflect on your family, your house. The challenges that lay before us are numerous.... But guess what we will not give up! We will not be like the our friends in other houses, who don't give a damn. Why, u may ask... Because we're from Neptune House, we wear green, and we're awesome!

My dream for the future of Online Social Networking.

2011-09-21T23:30:00.001+04:00

Facebook within the past few days has made many fundamental changes to
their homescreen, and well as to the whole experience. From the whole
new concept of subscribing to people, (which i don't find any
difference, to 'like'ing), to the new ticker that shows u live what
u'r friends (and awkwardly family) have been upto.

All these changes tell me one thing, Facebook knows that, Twitter is
it's biggest competitor and not Google+. Both the ticker and
sibscriptions remind u of twitter. But the thing that keeps Twitter,
well twitter is that the core of Twitter remains the same 140
characters, follows, mentions, retweets and DMs.

But i'm not here to talk about whether twitter, facebook or G+ are
doing the best job, but how i dream of the social networking
experience of tomorrow. It's not a prediction i'm making, like i've
done before, but somewhat a vision, or even a dream, which may never
end up happening.

So this is how i see it. Social networks will have to evolve beyond
their own brand. Something like being to follow people on Twitter as
well as friend people on facebook. Something well beyond that too.

Just like our telephone and mail, our social networks need to
communicate to each other. That's how i dream.

I dream of a future where there is an open internet where anyone can
create profiles using numerous tools and navigate among profile using
a social browser (not read rockmelt, but something like a glorified
tweetdeck), something of an evolved browser, but for following
profiles.

Profiles are like e-mail addresses and can communicate to each other
openly whether their hosted by company A or B.

This system will firther evolve into telecommunication, video calling etc.

It's just a flash of an idea i just had. Looking forward to what u Think.

End of a Connection. Part 2. Heralding the Advent of Fiction.

2011-09-09T00:06:00.001+04:00

From the positive responses i recieved from my first 'End of the
Connection', to be frank, i was overjoyed, but
deep within me, i realised to get teenagers interested a clichéd
storyline with suspense was only required.
I was sure i would write my sequel to that very soon, but something changed.
Although that connection was supposed to end completely that July 4th,
it didn't. That moment of breaking up that connection was a spiritual
experience, but i'd be giving away the surprise if i were to say more
about it already.
I also decided to write this sequel, to get the truth out, because
i've brought in fictional elements to this real life connection, and
my subject had a hard time wrestiling fiction and reality and lost
trust in me. I'm writing this, the truth, and truth alone will triuph.
So where did i stop last time? Yes that magical feeling of discovering
the subject on a certain blue coloured social network, which even has
a movie about it's founding. Let me tell this again, i was happy,
overjoyed, excited, and even anxious.
I sent a request to make an acquantaince as it is usually done on that
network, but i didn't get a response.
Now this was a January 9th of 2010, i was 15, and in my mid-teens,
hormones were acting, my pre-rehearsal examinations were over, and i
was preparing for my rehearsal examinations. Yeah i study in a funny
curriculum, we actually rehearse for exams, it's a very big deal, as a
matter of fact we even rehearse for our rehearsals. Sad. :/
So it was then that i had made that social media discovery of my
subject and made a request.
Since i was going through a, phase in teenage, called something
sounding similar to a brush. I was adamant to make the connection. The
conncection that was to change my life.
To be continued?... *wicked laugh*
Nah.... I'm not so cruel
So u might be wondering how i had get these dates to accurately. Well
on each of those moments i made an entry into my phone calendar
mentioning my subject as AVL. For example the day i had seen the
subject, i have an entry saying 'Nj AVL KND' what this code means?
Well it's coded phonetically similar to words from a language derived
from Sanskrit (or Samskritam as i love to call it), a language spoken
extensively across ancient India, into the Latin alphabet.
So since my request to make an acquantaince had no response, my
hormone charged teenager protagonist - me, had an idea.
An idea i considered a genious back then. I still consider the idea
trully ingenious and very successful. But it was the begining of a few
lies, that changed everything.
To be continued.

Wanting to make that change.

2011-09-07T23:30:00.001+04:00

For a while now, i know, i wanna make that change. That leap of not
faith, but something different, because i know, when i make that leap,
i'm not at risk of failing in life as society sees it, not am i in
risk of death.

But making that change, i'm afraid i might lose, my conception of who
i am. Because, i think i'm different, i'm not one of those teenagers
out there who wanna get out of high school, get that pass certificate,
go to college, get another pass certificate, take all these pass
certificates to impress someone, get a fat paycheck, marry a similar
fat paycheck and live their lives. Sorry i'm not that person, or i
don't consider myself to be one.

Because i believe i study, to learn, not to get that pass certificate,
not impress anyone else with my marks, and to get on somewhere on that
leaderboard of toppers. Sorry, i don't. I've been there before, i've
been among the leaderboard many a time in my school life. But i've
changed.

I wanna study to learn something new, i wanna use all what i learn to
someday do good. That's all i wanna do with my life, just do good.

Do good for the world, the universe, the country, the city, the room,
the family anything... I just wanna do good.

But now i need to make that change, society is forcing me, family is
forcing me, to be focussed on my 'one single duty' they say, TO STUDY!

Now how's that my duty? Well being a firm believer, my faith tells me
to obey my father and mother. And they want me to study. So yeah it
is.

I need to keep my head off the so many "unneccessary distractions",
like my passionate following of current affairs, to know what happens
in the business world, follow my passions of technology, design,
football, marketing and all that, and just focus. Leave aside all
relationships, passions, dreams and just focus for the next few
months.

Because these months are important for me to get a pass certificate
from a board no one respects, telling that i've successfully followed
what they've told me to do. I've learn a hell lot, and i haven't made
anything of my own, i just haven't had the opportunity to use it, to
solve a problem, to create something, to do good with it. But yeah...
Without all that and good memory, i can get through many subjects.

I need to get away from distractions, stop listening to ideas, stop
dreaming and focus, because i need to pass.

Because i need to prove them all wrong, that even if i've failed till
the last moment, i can turn this all around.

For whom? To show what? To prove what?

For myself to prove, to show, to reveal, how incredible i am.

I need to win this, turn it all around and have a Bollywood/Hollywood
walk of glory before the credits start rolling for high school.

Pray for me. :)
Love u all
GBY (God Bless You, yeah this 'GBY' is especially for u)

മലയാളത്തില്‍ വെറുതെ ഒരു ബ്ലോഗ്പോസ്റ്റ്‌.

2011-08-12T11:20:00.000+04:00

ഗൂഗ്ലിണ്ടേ മലയാളം ട്രന്‍സ്ളിറെരടോര്‍ ഞാന്‍ വിണ്ടോവ്സില്‍ ഇന്‍സ്റ്റോള്‍ ജെയ്തു. അപ്പോള്‍ എനിക്കൊരു മോഹം വന്നു, മലയാളത്തില്‍ഒന്ന് ബ്ലോഗ്‌ ചെയ്താല്‍ എന്താ?

അങ്ങനെയൊരു ജിന്തയില്‍നിന്നും പിരവികൊണ്ടാതാണ് ഈ ബ്ലോഗ്പോസ്റ്റ്‌.

അതിപ്പോ ഞാന്‍ പറഞ്ഞു തരണ്ട തന്നെ ആവശ്യണ്ട?

മലയാളം എഴുത്ത് ഭാഷയോട് എനിക്ക് കാലങ്ങലയ്ട്ടൊരു വൈമുക്യംമുണ്ട്. ഞാന്‍ തൃശ്ശൂര്‍ കരനയതിനാല്‍ എഴുത്ത് ഭാഷയും സംസാര ഭാഷയും തമില്‍, വലിയൊരു വിബ്ബിനത കാണാനുണ്ട്.

ജനിച്ചതും വളര്‍നതും വിദേശത്തായതിനാല്‍ (ദുബായില്‍) ഞാന്‍ ഇതിനോട് പ്രതികരിക്കേണ്ടത് ശരിയല്ല എന്ന് പലപ്പോഴും എനിക്ക് തോന്നാറുണ്ട്.

ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഈ ബ്ലോഗ്പോസ്ടിലേക്ക് തിരിഞ്ഞു നോക്കുമ്പോള്‍, അനവതിയായ അക്ഷരതെറ്റുകള്‍ കന്നുമ്പോള്‍, വേണ്ടായിരുന്നു എന്ന് ചെറുതായിട്ട് തോനുണ്ട്.

എങ്ങിനെയന്നറിയില്ല ഈ മലയാളം മര്യതയ്ക്ക്‌ ടൈപ്പ് ചെയ്യുന്നത്

Message to the people of my Motherland and Fatherland.

2011-08-10T11:01:00.000+04:00

We don't have movies, nor have i read any novel featuring one of us. But we are a sizeable number. 4000 of us in my school, a country with around 20-30 similar schools with similar demographics, we make a population loosely at around 100k.

We are the off-springs of the numerous expatriates from the Indian subcontinent that makes up the majority of the Population in the Emirates.

And we do have our culture. It's not u'rs it's our's. Just because, it isn't u'rs, u have no right to criticise, or force u'r cultures on to us.

We understand the sentiments of our parents and their families back home, when we go there to pay them a visit. Of course they want their kin to be of the same culture. But what can we do?

Our homes aren't places where we go for a month or a two every other year, but the place where we go to school, go to play, hang out in malls, go for movies, and of course, go for tuitions.

And don't treat us like we're rebelling, although we seem like we do, we're just following what our culture is, and u want us to rebel against that.

Every single teenager, as a matter of fact, every single human being wants to be a part of something bigger than his own, someplace where he's loved and valued.

And that place is where he lives, for us the Emirates. We want to be accepted, we want to be included, and we're sorry, we can't end up being outcasts everywhere.

Because however hard we try, we still end up being the awkward kid, from abroad, when we come back 'home' for our holidays.

Who even goes back home for holidays? It's the other way round, we leave home for holidays..

So i'm asking u this, take a while to understand us, we have our identities, there's no point forcing u'rs into ours. If u look deep inside, u'll see it's the same blood, the same characteristics of the family. Respect us and we'll respect u, love us and we'll love u.

What these exams taught me. The fight is on!

2011-06-30T00:15:00.000+04:00

I've never felt this way before, not anytime i remember. For the first time in my life, i was tensed and excited about the exams. Never before did i give much of a damn. But becuse this time, i made an effort to seriously study. And i've realised that once u start studying u really start giving a damn about exams, and the results.

This time none of my exams went well, except English. But i will not give up, this has given me the inner will to achieve. The fight is on! And i will not give up!

This feeling is great, like a fighter getting ready for a fight, like a player getting ready for his game, like a king getting ready for his conquests, i am in this fight. And i am in it to win!

This is the fighting spirit, and the thirst to succeed and guess what none of u, people can stop me. Try breaking my will, try breaking my heart, try breaking my soul. But sorry i can't give up.

Over the past year or so, i've become very nonchalant, very laid back. Maybe it's because of this reason, like a quote in a movie goes, "If u have someone to share sorrows to, you lose your urge to live"

I've got the someone and it feels good. But then, maybe that's because i've lost my winning spirit.empathy isn't something fit for a champion. And i'm losing that too. What i've considered my greatest gift. I wanna win!

I will fight, i will win!

Bring it on!

End of a Connection.

2011-06-11T13:00:00.000+04:00

Well i've come to this point many times before, right before the breaking point, or sometimes even a bit after the breaking point. But things turned around, and the breaks were filled and things were back to normal again. (Aaaah! Good old days, how great those moments felt.)

But this time it feels different, it feels as though this is a proper end. Maybe not even a proper end, but things are going to be different after this.

Well, what's different from the last times, when this connection was broken? Why do i think this is going to be a certain end?

I'm a changed man now... Maybe?

This connection was formed on a certain January 21st 2010, a connection which was first formed with a totally different motive, but changed into a different form of connection. A life changing one.

Ok... Let me tell u the complete story.

On a nice chilly afternoon of December 21 2007, i saw something, something, one of the most attractive things i've ever seen in my life. It was beautiful, adorable, amazing... words fail me, when i try to define that sight, that experience.

Well, this certain something, or well someone... (Oh! I gave it away! Darn!) where was i? Yeah, after that, i was in the lookout for this certain someone, for quite sometime. But years passed, (well not sooo many years a year and a half maybe?) i'd seen the someone regularly, momentarily at a religious institution i frequent (among the world's largest). But was never able to make an aquaintance.

It was on a later date at this place that i discovered her name. (Her???!!!) Sorry, that someone's name... Or to be more exact, the later part of it, like let's say for example, for joseph, seph; for treesa, reesa; for siddhart, hart, for john... Forget it, something like that.

So a search on a popular social network of those days (Hint: it's logo is blue coloured and it founder has extremely pink lips| those days? well even today, nowadays it helps pursue revolutions, for a change.) didn't go anywhere.

But another thing i discovered that day was, among the things we shared in common, which i was later to discover (Did we? Do we?), i discovered one of the most important things in getting to someone - mutual friends. (well atleast in the pink lipped social networking entrepreneur's world)
So scouring along a mutual friend's, friend list i see the two wonderful eyes staring at me, with a smile. That moment too was magical.

I mean quite sometime had passed since i had seen this certain someone... I'd even forgotten how the subject looked, but this moment, was magical.

Click here for part 2

So what happened till today.

2011-04-24T09:38:00.001+04:00

Happy Easter to everyone. Death has failed.

First of all let me start with the apology ritual, the last few days were action packed and overwhelming that I didn’t get time to update my blog. Sorry.

Where do I begin?… When things were all gloomy, the most surprising thing happened, I was selected as the Vice Captain for my house. Now, Vice Captain, is somewhere I’ve always wanted to be, ever since my first term in office as a prefect.

But I never expected, after getting that retest in math, I’d be contenting for that position. Which leaves me thinking, if it were not for the retest in math, where would I be now.

Good times come all at one go. I got my payments for INSIGNIA by Alphin, I had made 70 Dhs. That was working only for a few days, before I could work any longer, because I had to prepare for the retest.

70 Dhs is more than many of my classmates has made participating in the Young Entrepreneur Competition, which I wanted to participate in, but parents were skeptical about and let me to. Thus which turned into a blessing in disguise and I was able to concentrate on my retest.

My Westar stopped working, it was a watch I had inherited from my dad when my Blade had stopped. So even after trying to repair, my old Casio, Blade and Westar, all were in vain.

So since I have a bit of cash now, I’m considering buying a new watch. But my whole outlook of watches has changed, I’m not looking at Rolexes, Tissots and all those showy watches.

Going through a huge psychological shift, planning to buy simple watches like Swatch, or Alessi.

Here are few of the watches I have my eyes on.

Swatch New Gent Turquoise Rebel. Of which stock hasn’t arrived in Dubai yet, dunno how it’ll look in real life, but like the pictures the internet’s showing me. 250Dhs

Few Alessi’s have caought my eye, especially ones by Karim Rashid

They start at around 280 Dhs. available at ICONIC at Deira City Centre

Then I have these NOOKA, which I’m considering. They start at around 350+ at ICONIC

But the watch I really want, is the Braun.

or an iPod Nano watch

Both of which are perfectly out of my reach, the Ipod Nano in terms of price, and the Braun in terms of price and availability.

So Easter greetings once again, hope to get some cash from dad.

And BTW… I also got to use the Motorola XOOM at Axiom at Deira City Centre yeterday. It was amazing, I kinda liked it more than the iPad, it’s heavy and has an affinity for fingerprints, but yet it’s awesome. I still havent used the Ipad 2 yet. Love the smart cover though.

AlphinBlog on the Motorolla XOOM

And yeah I went there to buy headphones actually, so after popping into Virgin Megastore, drooling at all the Beats, Skull Candys, Senheissers and others… I settled for a Memorex from Sharaf DG.

Senheisser actually has a neat pair of headphones for 29 Dhs. but I needed in ear ones.

The Memorex ones were the cheapest In-Ear headphones I had ever seen in quite a while. Memorex was by Imation, a brand that I have immense respect for. (My dad’s business sells Imation)

They’re called Memorex In-Ear buds.

The packaging is very intricate, and tight, took me quite a while to open them.

Thing is made of cheap quality material, but it does the job, cancels fairly nice amounts of noise, that I can listen to music and podcasts on the metro and the roads and other noisy places.

But it lacks one thing I need the most, left and right demarcations, on the body, which can be felt. Something like a bulge for left or something, I don’t like the idea of shining my flashlight to know if it’s left or right.

But yeah 29 Dhs. Adjust.

Have lot of plans for my house, thinking of bringing a new element of loyality for the house and creating a brand out of it. Want to run the house like a business or rather a non-profit. Inshallah.

Cheers!

At the memorial fountain.

2011-04-13T23:45:00.000+04:00

I'm sitting here at this memorial place. A remarkable place indeed. I mean, none of the thousands of people who walk past it, take photographs of it, sit the numerous benches around it have no idea what it for. Not the kids who come to ride their bicycles, under the watchful eyes of their parents or nannies, nor the teeneagers who come there to practice stunts on their roller blades and skateboards.

Well most of them don't even know it's called memorial place, or memorial fountain.

Today i too decided to be a part of this community. One among the hordes of people sitting around the memorial fountain, looking at their phone screens or enjoying the fountain lost in thought.

I bought popcorn for 1 Dirham from the neighbourhood cafeteria which called itself 'Red Burger'. The reminded me of the election that were taking place in my homestate of Kerala, and that strain of thought led me to the elections that we had today in school. Which was well not democratic, and was particularly useless, except for the PR of the school.

This place is an important part of Dubai. Behind me i have the Union Metro Station, to my right i have the Union Bus Terminus, where people are standing in huge ques waiting for buses to other emirates like Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, RAK... To my left i have the Dubai Municipality Headquarters, the Radisson BLU hotel which until recently was called Radisson SAS, then i have the Twin Towers, the Etisalat Tower, Al Ghurair Centre all around me.

Well i wanted to write a philosophical piece strewn with symbolism and life, but feeling too light hearted for all that.

Good Night
Take Care
God Bless You. :)

Thy will be done.

2011-03-25T22:08:00.000+04:00

May your will be done... That's the message i recieved from todays mass. After flunking in math and going through a reformation period. I knew God was only my refuge.

Through flunking in math i realised that, God wanted me to teach me many things... Initially i had understood that he wanted to rip me of my self-obsession and make me more dependend on him. The obsession with 'Alphin' was what he wanted to stop. To bring in a reality check and make me understand my priorities and stuff.

But then, gradually i began drifting back to self-obsession. Forcing myself to get a 100 in the retest. It was to motivate myself, remnisencing how it would feel like to walk into class getting a 100 in the retests. But then that was wrong. I was asking God help to fuel my self obsession yet again.

Moreover i faced troubles in my studying, when i started studying lesson by lesson, enjoying the process. I was forced to study the first term portions together. This was a major blow to my schedule. And i was blaming it and feeling very angry.

That's when i went to church and heard the priest's sermon. It was the day, of rememberance of the Mary's great news. When Mary was told by angel Gabriel, that she was gonna have a child out if wedlock, by God, his son Jesus.

And she said, yes.

I too had to say yes to what all God had given me. I was challenging God before, and asking him why he had given me all this suffering.

Who was i to ask God all this? i was just a minor creation and he was the person who created this whole universe. Did i think that i could challenge God or question his ways? Could my tiny puny brain comprehend what in the world was going on in God's?

All i can do is humbly ask for God's assistance, and still pray for his will to be done. For God is loving and merciful. And very forgiving. I place my trust in you Lord.

Let thy will not mine be done.

A Parable

2011-03-22T22:04:00.000+04:00

Once upon a time there used to be an old man stuck in a dark room. He had been there for so long that he had forgotten about the wonders of sight.

One day after many years someone came and lit a candle in that room.

The old man was introduced to the joys of sight, and to his greatest joy he discovered he was in an long lost art gallery. With his newfound sight, he began admiring the beautiful paintings, sculptures and other art instalments around him.

This went on for so many days, he was so obsessed with his new appreciation of art, that he took the candle light for granted. Soon the candle burned out, returning him back into darkness, even more sadder than before, realising what he was missing in the darkness.

Which way do I go?

2011-03-14T10:46:00.001+04:00

The final examinations in 11th have come to an end, and I’m faced with a new dimension to an ever existing dilemma, to find a ‘direction’ for my life, or to be more specific, my career.

The only decision I’ve made in that direction till date is choosing the commerce stream in 11th. Well why did I do that? I didn’t like science generally. Not that I don’t appreciate understanding the dynamics of the physical properties of the world out there, but somehow I didn’t find it, my cup of tea.

So I took commerce. But then why commerce? Why not Arts or something different? Well a simple answer to that question may be that, the school which I study n has only two choices, between commerce and science. But then if I wanted it badly I would have gone to a school which had an Arts stream, so I didn’t like to pursue that too.

So I took commerce, I have a very strong liking to business and especially, entrepreneurship, as many of you my readers might be already knowing. Therefore commerce seemed a natural and the right direction to head. I thought I might take a Bachelors degree in Business administration and then top it up with a Masters in Business Administration.

But then as I went through 11th, I slowly started changing a bit, I no more wanted to enter the cutthroat business industry, or boardroom politics. I resurrected my interest in writing. I wanted to do good. I got a heart.

I still love the concept of entrepreneurship, and I believe in innovation changing the world. I’ve come across a great concept called social entrepreneurship, which has got me excited and I believe that is the way I'd like to take my life and career.

I love marketing and design, I frequent sites like Fast Co. Design, Design Taxi etc. almost on a daily basis. I’ve always been creating brands and logos all throughout my life. Recently, I was the marketing head for the school farewell event, for which I designed logos, adverts, made a marketing strategy, involving social media.

My other passion I technology. I love technology, I love to predict, where technology will go next, think of making applications for present technology. It gives me immense joy when I see technology doing work and solving problems. I simply love application of technology, dreaming up things making technology work out, love an interconnected society, love the cloud…

Then I love cars, I love football. I love writing, reading, speaking, debating, brainstorming… TED talks are my favourite pastime. I love dreaming up ideas, business plans, fiction… Love religion, politics, philosophy…

To sum it up, I like making the world a better place for all of us to live in, by creating new things, or improvising on already existing things. I do not believe social service is a sustainable option, rather solutions with business models, therefore self sustainability can only survive.

But now how do I translate all of this into a career? And how do I plan to take my education forward in this direction? I’ve been thinking about this for so long and I don’t have a solution. Moreover my parents won’t let me go abroad (beyond the UAE, or South India) for my education, and have quite a restrictive budget. What do I do?

Moreover I have a dilemma, I’m facing at the moment. I took mathematics as an optional subject in my stream and I’m struggling with it. Inside me I have the belief that if I work hard I can master it. But that means compromising on a lot more. Mom’s telling me to leave math, and take entrepreneurship. I don’t want to leave the class I’m used to and have a lot of friends in, to another class. Moreover entrepreneurship is the stream with the lowest academic requirement. So, the students in entrepreneurship aren’t there because of their passion for the subject, but because of easiness to get in, and pass through. And they say it is the same in the case of BBA (Bachelors of Business Administration) courses.

Alright… this is not how I planned this blog post to turn out. I thought I could sift through myself and find somewhat a solution. But I’m back where I began.

My phone… A chest of emotions.

2011-03-10T22:21:00.001+04:00

Today a friend of mine remarked to me that my blog, lived up to it’s reputation and was like a larger version of my phone.

My phone…? Well yeah my phone was a place where my brainstorming sessions take place, even when I had the a Nokia 6300 with the the numerical keypad, which now seems so difficult to type on, I used to write down ideas, talk to myself, think up stories and so on… Well now I have a Qwerty keyboard, on my phone, and it’s a business phone so I can have as many documents and notes as I want… and yeah it’s becoming a bit overwhelming I have around 20-30 unfinished stories, a plot of a mega novel universe, hell lot of business ideas and what not?

Ok… now how did I let him read my phone, well actually I didn’t let him read my phone, it’s like he’s a very close friend of mine and when we work on projects together, he used to take my phone and start reading it without my knowledge. getting it off him was very hard, physical to be precise.

I love my phone, although it’s from the last generation, it has a qwerty keyboard and a WiFi connection. Gets me to my facebook, twitter and AlphinBlog. Well I wouldn’t mind getting an Android, actually I’d love it. But for now I’m satisfied with my E63, serves me faithfully.

But yeah I’ve got my eyes on an HTC ChaCha too. It has a fine balance between my two likes a physical keyboard and an Android OS. Hope it becomes affordable soon.

Study Leave Dilemmas

2011-03-02T12:34:00.000+04:00

First of all let me apologize for neglecting this blog out here for so long. A new year has arrived, Christmas came, i went for a wonderful holiday, so many things happened. Yet i didn't write about any of my my not so very rare streams of thought that came up during that period.

Why?... Well i don't have an answer... Got caught up in life's not so important duties, obligations, pleasures and leisure.

Now i'm back to writing my blog, on a very auspicious day, one day before my accountancy exam. And... yeah... As u just thought i should be studying.

These study leaves were so... i'd have to say challenging, for a lack of a better word. Pressure was high, i had a math exam which i have to pass miserably, and lots of exams which i have to get through. But yet most of the time i didn't find myself studying.

The usual distraction of Facebook, a newfound addiction to Twitter, it's actually amusing what all new obsessions and likings you come up with during the study leaves. Watched so many movies, made pizza with arabic bread(kubz) and sliced cheese, at a hell lot of falafel, Cheetos Flaming Chilli, cans of Soft Drinks from lesser known drink makers like Linda and Fizzy Wizz, for saving 50 fils, and showing my support to the SME sector, even started watching cricket.

It's World Cup time... so yeah... But cricket is a game i hate and i never watch, i even thought for a while that Virat Kohli was Abhay Deol when he came in ads. That simply shows my ignorance for cricket and bollywood. Well not actually started watching a whole game, but i realised i was enjoying the last minutes of games, the Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka match, and the awesome India vs. England match which was a tight draw till the last bowl. Never thought i'd end up watching cricket.

But it was not the walks in the gullies of Deira, or eating Falafel from Al Forat and the other simple joys that these study leaves will be remembered by, but by a lesson i learnt in human relationships.

About the risks of giving love to someone and holding a person right in your heart. Because one day that person is going to break it, and the closer you that person is, the bigger the break.

However mature, emotionally controlled and settled you think your mind may be, realising that you are a teenager and you have your emotional outburst.

Thinking about the repercussions decisions your heart makes will have from your culture, traditions, church, society, community...

Realising what social pressures have affected teenagers, and then realising, i am a teenager and i have to go through all these emotions. And there's nothing new, innovative, enterprising and 'out of the box' stuff you can do about human relationships and you have to suffer heartbreak like any other teenager in any day and age.

What a study leave, you've taught me life yet again, what began in the study leaves last year before my boards seemed to come to an end in theses study leaves. But then yeah they haven't completely died.

Another thing that happened is i found God, i mean although it's embarrassing, shameless and lame to go to God on the final days before the exam, i did exactly that, believing in the power of his forgiveness and love. He created me after all.

Now i have to get back to studying accountancy, prove my critics wrong by achieving stuff, that was never expected of me, or rather was always expected of me.

Ever since i was born on this earth people have had high expectations from me, i've lived up to some and am living through some, well yeah i'm partially responsible for creating the Alphin brand, but yeah, i wanna live up to it.

So i may have just less than half a day left and drowsy eyes, but i with the power of my God, who can do wonders like creating myself am setting out to rock these exams.

All the best to me!

Pray for me brothers and sisters.

National Day Blog of an Expatriate Teenager.

2010-12-02T12:59:00.000+04:00

Another national day has arrived. Bringing to mind a whole mixture of emotions. Obviously i feel proud, the country i've been living in the past 16+ years, my whole life, is celebrating it's national day. What a magical feeling. The story of how a few desert states, joined together to form the United Arab Emirates. How a collection of a few hamlets united and grew into this great country is indeed a spectacular story.  This country has acheived so much in this very short period, 39 years is absolutely nothing, compared to other countries. But within this short span of time a desert was converted into a nation. A truly inspiring story.  But then i think again, i have fallen in love with this place, it's way of life, the malls, the roads, the metro, the skyline... I'd seen all this grow. And somehow feel somehow possesive about them. But then a reality hit me recently, i had know it before, but it had never struck me, this country which i love and have lived all throughout my life wont let me stay after i'm 18. I was born here, I was brought up here, i've even represented it international events, yet when i turn 18 my visa expires and i have to leave.  Should i not have grown this close? Should i not have loved while lived in this country, because it wasn't my own? But isn't that too much to ask of an infant, a child or even a teenager? To not love his hometown because, your hometown is somewhere u go every year for a month or two on holiday, and where u live is not you hometown. Most of us live here own rent, when we return one day, we can't come back to cherished memories, to our old rooms because it's someone elses room, someone else who my then leave giving it to someone else. Lives living...  I dunno what to write, emotions are filling my mind and i'm confused.   Happy National Day. I <3 u UAE. :)

Expatriation: Son of Thomas Chacko

2010-10-30T11:20:00.000+04:00

Note: Expatriation, is a new series of short stories i plan to write revolving around the lives of expatriates in the Emirates. This is a work, revolving aroung the thoughts of an expatriate student in a school bus.

Son of Thomas Chacko

He sat in the school bus that was pushing its way through the unending line of people trying to get to work on time and other school buses. The school bus was filled with students from different regions of India and Pakistan. He didnt try to decipher what a group of north Indians and a pair of Pakistanis were talking. Neither did he to listen to the his dear Malayalam being spoken in the Thiruvananthapuram accent by the conductor to the driver who replied in the Thrissur accent. He wasn't involved in any of the activities that took place in the bus which a new outsider might term-utter chaos.

He was in a posture which is easy to picturise for any school bus user in the Emirates. He had his head seperated from the rest of the bus with the curtain and the outside world with the glass on which he rested his head. He was pondering upon a subject which had struck him recently. Who was he? Well he was the son of Thomas Chako. Well was that all? He was someone who wanted to change the world... Or was he? He closes his eyes... Let the dudes around him think he's going to sleep. Then suddenly he opens his eyes his eyes fall on an advertisement on the new shiny AC bus stop- 'Anything is possible, an opportunity is all it takes' and along with it there is a picture of a boy in a superman costume sitting in a wheelchair. He looks at the boy in his eyes - 'what do you mean?'

The bus passes along he sees tall skyscrapers - he remembered the sense of pride he feels when he sees these buildings... 'Why? Why do i have to be proud for something i didnt do anything for?' He things about his dreams of being a great businessman - having a multinational empire - was that materialistic? Or is that thought something Dubai has put into him - as he remembered one of his teachers say - 'its because of the Dubai attitude that you people always think about making money - everything around you people is just money, money and money'.

Yeah, she's got a point he thinks why else would anyone come to Dubai, for money and enjoyment. Well that is the sole aim of the huge expat population in Dubai - to make money. But what about the dudes that get stuck in. The guys who are born &/or brought up in the eternal pursuit of wealth. They just hear these things - the school fees is increasing, the rent increasing, the rising cost of living and so on. Now with the global financial crisis its jobs - many of the dudes know that the jobs of parents are not that secure, businesses are making less profit.

On the contrary he thought - We still hang around with dudes in malls. We go for movies... We talk about the latest gadgets the newest world record in Dubai or the newest mall with some new attraction be it an aquarium or a ski slope or we think about the luxuries that we see - the 7 star hotel or the Bentleys we see on a daily basis.

A Ferrari speeds by making just a few of the dudes in the bus excited. Gone were those days in which a even a 100k Porsche used to bring the whole of the bus onto one side.

Dubai gave you many things yet, when Dubai went under, why did everyone around you start blaming Dubai. How can people be so insensitive and unsentimental? You lived of this nation, this city revelling in the euphoria. You made loads and loads of money, each of you in his small or big way. Then all of a sudden, when the money stops rolling, because of some stupid people somewhere, you start dissing Dubai? How can you so insensitively talk about constructions being held, people leaving cars in airport parking lots and fleeing taking huge loans. And all those who're doing it, how could you guys?

But then what's wrong in thinking that way? It's just the truth isn't it? Rumours won't just come out of thin air, the local media reports parts of it. But why? but how? How can you be so selfish, behaving as though you saw this coming? You didn't, you didn't see it at all. Then why blame Dubai?

Suddenly a two 8th graders start fighting, he is woken up from his reverie and has to intervene in the fight, the conductor of the bus tells him "Headmaster ki paas lekke jao"(take them to the headmaster), he doesn't reply anything, he has heard this phrase being repeated to him ever since he had worn that badge, never had the conductor shown the same insistence the later.

After the fight had been settled he returns to his seat and sits, not remembering anything about the battle that had been raging in his mind.

Life moves on, for the son of Thomas Chacko whose first name we don't know.

Social Activism on Facebook: Does that viral status really help?

2010-10-24T16:49:00.000+04:00

Social Activism has been prevailant in the Facebook world, almost since it's inception. As in every social media, social activism came naturally to it. You see groups, events and usually viral status updates. The usual 'put this as your status to remember them, or publicise this cause and so on.'

But does that actually help? On facebook it's extremely easy to put up a status and be satisfied that we have done our bit. It gives a relief to our conscience, that we aren't being selfish and are doing our little.

But this poses a huge risk. Social activists and workers are divided into two, those who do it because their concerned and want to help out and those who are guilty for having excess while someone out there doesn't have the basics. A large majority belong to the latter.

If a status, a wall post, joining a group or an event, is going to put to rest that guilt, then we're going to see a huge reduction in the resources we'll be able to offer those in need, and that problem is one that needs to be looked into with serious concern.

Another risk is that, these viral status updates and groups may be made by potentially those who want to see their message go viral, rather than to actually publicise the cause. This is another major problem society needs to look into.

But i believe this is only a passing fad, people will sooner or later realise that social activism of this level will not actually help anyone anywhere. I wish that this will happen sooner rather than later.

Facebook and other social media hold immense potential to capitalise the want to do good in mankind. If honed properly, we can make a huge leap in that journey to Utopia.

AlphinTech: The Smartphone Battle Analysis & Predictions.

2010-09-03T12:10:00.000+04:00

This is my first AlphinTech post. With AlphinTech i plan to write postswith my views on what's happening in the technology landscape. I'm very excited about it, look forward to your support and feedback.

The smartphone OS battle was brewing up for the past years, and now we see ourselves exactly at the position to see a the first complete battle. I say 'first complete battle' because, all what we saw until now were just teasers and trailers.

The Present Market Share

This is where the phone OS landscape is now. Google's Android was beginning a stomping takeover of a large proportion of the market share, with the introduction of 2.1 and the acceptance of Android by major players like Samsung, LG, Sony Ericsson, Motorola among others. Now Motorola returned to be a major player after accepting Android with it's Droid X, which has had rave reviews.

So things were going on well in the Android family, where they went on increasing their market share even beyond the formidable iPhones. Apple as we know, wouldn't let this party go on endlessly, and it released it's iPhone 4. Now, although the iPhone 4 wasn't a 4G phone, as many had predicted, the iPhone 4 was the most amazing iPhone since the initial iPhone. The Retina-Display was simply breathtaking with the such a high pixel density, then it added many of the mediocre, usual phone features, like LED flash, HD Video, front facing camera for Video Calling etc. But it's simply amazing, the power Apple has to bring many features other phone-makers have, to the mainstream. Like for example video call feature is prevailant in almost all phones, but usage was quite low. But now with the new 'Face-Time' branding and Apple aura filled marketing, video calls are sure to be mainstream. The new iPod Touch also has Face-Time which will be interesting to watch out for.

Thus, the new iPhone put slight brakes on the android takeover of the smartphone world. But then Apple was plagued with the signal reception issue from which Apple had to bear the brunts.

The next new thing to hit the market is the Windows Phone 7. Microsoft is a brand which has done many things right and a few things wrong. But somehow Microsoft doesn't seem to be liked bit many. The new Windows PC OS the Windows 7 was simply the best OS I've ever used, if it can bring this magic to the phone, then we can expect a formidable player. Although the pre-release wasn't reviews weren't that great, Microsoft may have done it right this time.

Then there's Blackberry. Blackberry's new OS adds emphasis to touch and the new Torch seems interesting. But Torch wasn't the phone that'll blow you over, it was a mediocre phone which didn't have anything exceptional to offer other than well, it's a Blackberry. RIM holds a large share of the smartphone pie today and they have done it not by bringing out phones that blow you over in looks and features, but by phones that actually do their job well. And the the Blackberry Service adds to it.

Now this is how the landscape looks presently. Now i've been watching this industry for quite some time now. So i decided that i'm going to make predictions somewhere credible like here on blog.

Android will continue to go on taking over the smartphone pie primarily because of it's pricing, you can get unlocked Android's at a very low cost compared to the others. The Android application world is open and anyone can build apps on it. Google's new AppInventor also adds to it. Android is becoming a mainstream OS system beyond smartphones. Tablets like Samsung's Galaxy Tab, India's ultra cheap tablet among many others run Android, thus opening up avenues for more and more applications. Android will turn out to be the the Windows of this era. It would be also interesting to watch if Android will make a foray into the non-smartphone market, for the developing economies. Rest of the market will be catering to niches. Business and other hard-core Blackberry users would prefer to stay with their Blackberrys, iPhone would cater to a niche market, who want good looking, powerful phones and moreover want to be seen holding one. Somewhat like the minority Mac users in a crowded PC market, but the iPhones as sure to have a larger market share than the Macs, because they are phones and you get seen with your phones more than your laptops or desktops at home. Then there's Windows Phone 7, if it's done well and signs deals well, then it'll be vying with Android for the majority stake in the pie, or else it'll by like many of Microsoft's other experiments (Read: Zune, Kin)

Reform

2010-08-08T21:20:00.001+04:00

Every single system, institution, organisation; has a potential for reform. Human endeavour, for eternal progress, is the reason why we are bombarded with call of reform, from one direction; and another resilient opposition, which stands for resistance to reform, and therefore conservatism.

Well then, if things are so obvious and black and white like this, can we be laid back in solace with the belief that change and resistance to change is inevitable and we can do nothing about it? Well the answer to that is quite complicated. Why do we as a race generally show a tendency to track progress or lack of progress, which to is in some terms progress itself? From following second to second Twitter and Facebook updates, to gathering regularly in community or tribal get togethers, human race for almost the most of its history has shown a natural tendency to keep track of things around us. Why?

The answer to that question will lead us to the answer that solves many of the mysteries of the human race and life itself. When we look at things from a very zoomed-out perspective, a very holistic viewpoint, we see that the only species on earth, which has progressed in quite a visible way, is the human race. Other animal's like... for example elephants or so, have been living in the same way almost since time immemorial. And, the only progress that might have happened to them is mostly due the direct or indirect human intervention.

So, human races constant progress can be attributed to its appetite for reform, as well as its resistance to it.

Hard work = Success - Not Always.

2010-03-17T15:35:00.000+04:00

During my early teens David Beckham used to be the person i hated the most in the world. I say 'used to' because my feelings have changed now. I don't know accurately why i used to hate him- I was a football fan ever since i was born (almost). Whenever i used to watch football (that's long before i can remember), i remember seeing Beckham missing penalties and free-kicks. For the world around me he was the greatest player but for me, i naturally started hating him.

But when i came heard about his present state, for the first time i pitied him. He was working so very hard to get a place in Capello's star studded squad. Shuttling between LA and Milan for the past many years, David never actually had any break from football. He was focussed on getting a place in the the World Cup to be the first England player to play in four World Cup's (98, 02,06,10). But that was not what life had in store for him.

Beckham's present state reminded me of an incident in my life which taught me -'Hard work doesn't always lead to success'. I 2008 we were working for the 3rd National Robot Olympiad. It was my first year in Robotics and never after or before that have i worked so hard. We had only one month and we were going on and working like headless robots. In the end when the competition came we didn't win anything. But the next year when we planned and spread out our work all through the year, we won. But for us, we atleast had a next year, while Beckham doesn't.(Capello's offer to let Beckham play in the Euro qualifiers is not even close to compensation.)

The road to success filled with many downs and few ups?

2010-03-15T04:09:00.000+04:00

Recently i had a chance to listen to a BBC interview with Twitter founder Evan Williams. I also had a chance to read and listen to various entrepreneurial stuff.

What i saw common to all Entrepreneurs is that all the these guys have tasted more failures than they have tasted success. This fact was kind of pleasing because i have all these people to look upon to if anyone of my enterprises fail. But talking about the greatness of failure on a full stomach is totally different from talking about failure in an empty stomach. Because an empty stomach is what most entrepreneurial failures lead to. Its the people who have the perseverance to solder on who succeed.

In the case of Evan Williams, he had founded around 5 to 6 companies and of this only two- Blogger and Twitter have succeeded. It's those who do the hard work and persevere with what they have got even when the whole of society seems to be against them who become successful Entrepreneurs. This spirit of innovation is prevalent in Silicon Valley and needs to be developed at anyplace that seeks innovation. As innovation is what always drives society and the economy forward.

But there lies another question- If failure is so prevalent in Entrepreneurial activity should so much money (VC) be wasted as more than 50% of entrepreneurs fail? Should so much money be spent, or rather wasted on innovation, when, it could be used for other Social Welfare activities like poverty alleviation and education?

Taking 'Anything worth interest' to the next level.

2010-03-10T14:12:00.000+04:00

I'm planning to do a total overhaul to AlphinBlog. Instead of just reporting on the latest games, gadgets and technology. I plan to be a somewhat columnist kind of guy. I plan to express my views about the various things that happen around me. I'll give my take on thing i've done, things i find funny, things i'm sceptical about and so on.

So actually it's kind of going to be like 'Anything worth interest' for me.

Looking forward to your comments and feedback.

AlphinBlog is now linked to @royalphin on twitter.

2010-03-06T13:37:00.001+04:00

You can get updates from my blog if you follow me on twitter.

Bad Company 2 TV ad

2010-02-28T14:07:00.000+04:00

YouTube Keyboard

2010-01-09T14:53:00.000+04:00

Hey guys,
I just came about this while browsing. let the thing load first. Good idea

Office 2010

2009-12-28T14:05:00.000+04:00

Recently i got hold of a beta for Microsoft Office 2010. Nothing has changed much in the first look, except a few visual tweaks. But when we go deeper we see Microsoft's plans are to make its near monopoly continue. The transitions are cool in the case of Powerpoint with stuff like iMovie. Find out more in my coming posts

The new slim PS3

2009-08-23T08:17:00.000+04:00

DescriptionSony Computer Entertainment on tuesday unveiled the new PlayStation 3 (CECH-2000A), featuring an extremely streamlined form factor with a 120GB Hard Disk Drive. The new PlayStation 3 system will become available in stores from September 1, 2009, in North America, Europe/ PAL territories and Asian countries and regions at a very attractive recommended retail price (RRP) of US$299 and €299, respectively.The system will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 29,980 yen (including tax). With the introduction of the new PS3 system, SCE will also reduce the price of the current PS3 with 80GB HDD to a RRP of US$299 from August 18 and €299 from August 19. Also in North America, the price of PS3 with 160GB HDD will be reduced to a RRP of US$399 from August 18. The internal design architecture of the new PS3 system, from the main semiconductors and power supply unit to the cooling mechanism, has been completely redesigned, achieving a much slimmer and lighter body. Compared to the very first PS3 model with 60GB HDD, the internal volume as well as its thickness and weight are trimmed down to approximately two-thirds. Furthermore, power consumption is also cut to two-thirds, helping to reduce fan noise. While inheriting the sleek curved body design of the original model, the form factor of the new PS3 system features a new meticulous design with textured surface finish, giving an all new impression and a casual look. Other features of the new PS3 include: PS3 system software update version 3.00 Concurrently with the release of new PS3, system software will be upgraded to version 3.00 on September 1. The update adds various user-friendly features such as the "What’s New" screen, where users can quickly browse the new items available in PlayStation Store as well as their recently played games directly on the XMB (XrossMediaBar), with short cuts to each piece of content. PS3 will evolve continuously with the system software updates, further improving the operability and enhancing the user experience available through the network. PS3 owners will be able to enjoy new features by simply updating the PS3 system software to version 3.00 via the "System Update" function on the XMB. BRAVIA Sync Feature The new PS3 system is also equipped with the BRAVIA Sync feature. By connecting the new PS3 system and a BRAVIA TV with the HDMI cable, users are able to directly operate the XMB on PS3 using the TV remote control. Other functions include "System Standby" that will automatically turn off the PS3 system when the BRAVIA TV is turned off. "Vertical Stand" for new PS3 (CECH-2000 series) By utilizing the separately sold "Vertical Stand", users will be able to set the new PS3 in vertical position, making it easier to place the PS3 system anywhere at home. The vertical stand will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 2,000 yen (including tax) and in North America at US$24. Removal of "Install Other OS" feature The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system.

NFS Shift

2009-03-06T15:36:00.000+04:00

NFS Shift is the name for the next NFS to hit the stores.

Gamespot:After a long stint as an arcade racer, Need for Speed is heading into simulation territory with Need for Speed: Shift. Announced in January as part of a three-game announcement that includes Need for Speed: Nitro and Need for Speed World Online, Shift takes a new, more realistic approach to racing and will be going head-to-head against seasoned pros Gran Turismo and Forza for the attention of serious racing fans.

Thankfully it looks like the franchise is in good hands, with London-based Slightly Mad Studios (formerly Blimey Games) heading up development duties. According to Shift's producer, Suzy Wallace, Slightly Mad is SimBin--the team behind the high-scoring GTR FIA Racing, GTR 2, and GT Legends games--in everything but name after most of the original team left to form their new studio, and the team is working closely with EA Black Box executive producer Michael Mann and EA Games Europe senior vice president Patrick Soderlund (cofounder of DICE) to ensure that Shift, currently in a pre-alpha build, meets the franchise's standards. One of the immediately obvious innovations in Shift is the way it tries to simulate crashes; the development team is trying to re-create the jarring, often fear-filled experience. In addition to motion blur, you'll experience some violent camera shake--not too dissimilar to an onboard camera during crash replays--and you'll also experience temporary vision blur after crashes. This is accompanied by the typical audio effects involved in a high-speed collision, but also additional sound effects from your driver, such as a stress-induced spike in heart rate and even a sharp gasp of breath before impact. Lots of other small effects have gone into making Shift feel as realistic as possible, including tunnel vision at high speeds, subtle reflections coming off the windshield, and heat haze emitted from engines.

Shift is all about your experience as a race driver. The action will take place on existing, licensed racetracks, on new racetracks created for Shift, and on street circuits. There is no open-road racing this time around, and we were promised you won't be pursued by the police or have to take part in old-fashioned street races. Instead, Shift will feature 15 real-world locations in addition to fictitious tracks. We got a chance to see the Brands Hatch Race Circuit in Kent and a new London street circuit. The Brands Hatch course looks to be a faithful re-creation of the ex-Formula One racetrack, with a mix of long straights, sweeping curves, sharp corners, and hairpin turns offering variety throughout. Zipping around it with an Audi RS4 was a great introduction.

The London circuit is even more formidable than the purpose-built track, with the streets throwing in some particularly tight turns, all re-created in impressive detail. The location is instantly recognisable for anyone who has visited London. The circuit runs through the Thames' South Bank and the Victoria Embankment to the north, with dozens of famous landmarks flying past you, including the London Eye, County Hall, Houses of Parliament, and the Blackfriars and Westminster bridges. Shift has a dynamic weather condition, and this course looked brilliant at sunset. However, there's no word on whether you will be able to change the time of day manually or if there will be night races.

Unlike in some simulation racers, in Shift the focus is more on the driving experience than on amassing a sizable car collection, although it's unconfirmed if all of the vehicles in the game will be unlocked from the beginning. What is certain is that Shift will offer some exotic and highly tuned models, including the Porsche 997 GT 2, the Audi RS4, the Lotus Elise 111R, the Shelby Terlingua (a highly modified Ford Mustang made specifically for the Need for Speed series), the Chevrolet Corvette Z06, and the Pagani Zonda F. The game will feature more than 70 different cars in total, including hatches, classics, and exotic imports, and while we didn't get to see all of these, we did manage to get behind the wheel of the RS4 and the Terlingua and found them to look, sound, and feel incredibly authentic and true to life, complete with full race-day liveries. In fact, the car models looked so good that we almost found ourselves wanting to look more at the cars than at the road in front of us. In addition to creating realistic visuals, Slightly Mad is going for realistically performing cars, forgoing the rubber-band catch-up of arcade racers for damage modelling, with penalties to your car's physics, performance, and appearance should you hit too many obstacles in your way. The environments are also promised to be realistic, with animated crowds, race marshals, and LCD screens helping to re-create the race-day atmosphere.

f you fancy an in-cockpit, first-person view, you'll be pleased to know that the insides of the cars look as meticulous as the outsides, with highly detailed dashboards, driver animations, and even full working instruments. In fact, you can get rid of the heads-up display entirely and rely solely on the car's gauges if you so desire, and you can peer around the cockpit or even out of the window. The team has also tried to make you feel like you're connected with the car in external camera views by having the camera jerk back when you accelerate and shunt forward when you're braking. Additionally, the HUD shakes when in bumper view to give you a feeling of speed and vibration.

Shift's AI drivers will range from aggressive hotheads to cool, calm, and collected drivers, and the game's grudge system will ensure that aggravated drivers with a personal vendetta will seek out their revenge. Despite this, you won't have to worry about the marshals getting in the way with drive-through penalties or yellow flags. You'll also be able to compete against other humans. Though we didn't get to experience Shift's multiplayer, the game will support 16 players in online races. Need for Speed: Shift combines impressive real-world locations and cars, solid simulation gameplay, and some interesting additions to help immerse you in the racing experience. It's currently set for an autumn 2009 release on the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PSP. In the meantime, stay tuned to GameSpot for more on Shift as it approaches.

NFS Undercover Hands On

2008-12-06T13:28:00.000+04:00

Yes I got a copy of NFS undercover, the new Entry to the franchise.

Well, the driving of the game is like the one they had on in Prostreet, but the city and the cop chases are more like Most Wanted as it is illegal day racing.

The story is that you are an undercover cop, under the command of Linh. The story has many film like sequences with real people acting like in Carbon & Most Wanted.

But there is no clear path, like in Most Wanted there was the Black List, Owning territories in carbon & becoming the King in Prostreet. Here you go on playing races and the story proceeds.

2008-10-24T12:05:00.000+04:00

Far Cry 2 released on 21 October, it was one of the most hyped games of 2008.

Wikipedia Describes the game:Far Cry 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It was released on October 21, 2008 in North America^[3] and on October 24, 2008 in Europe^[3] and Australia.^[5] Although featuring new characters and storylines, Ubisoft has marketed Far Cry 2 as the true sequel to Far Cry.Crytek, developers of the original game, were not involved in the development of Far Cry 2. It was announced on January 3, 2008, that in addition to Microsoft Windows, Far Cry 2 will also be available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.^[6].

Wikipedia Says one of the primary features as:The player's actions may also have a lasting effect on the environment: for example, one of the missions shown by the developers had the player sabotage a pipeline owned by one of the factions that is pumping fresh water from a lake to a neighboring country, exchanging it for arms and munition. After the player destroys it, part of the surrounding area becomes flooded, including a mine where another mission may take place

Trailer

Screenshots

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Trailer

2008-10-02T14:12:00.001+04:00

The game released in PC on September 18

Battlefield Heroes

2008-10-02T13:55:00.001+04:00

Battlefield Heroes is a new game coming under EA's new Free to Play umbrella.

Gears of war new screenshots

2008-10-02T13:33:00.000+04:00

The sequel to one of XBox's most popular games is set to be in stores on November 7 2008. Several new sreenshots have come out.

more screenshots

Little Big Planet

2008-09-30T11:35:00.000+04:00

There is a new game coming up in PS3s around the world called Little Big Planet. It is a totally different game and can even be called the youtube of gaming. According to the official site. The hero of the game is Sackboy/girl . It is an innovative game where users can create their own levels or play other peoples or even levels from other major game creators. You can personalize your own space with stuff called stickers. The game is to be released in October. It is said to be a turning point in gaming history.
The CREATE Trailer

Gameplay Trailer

Trailers from Official site.
Download HD Trailer1 here
Download HD Trailer2 here
Download HD Trailer3 here

PES 2009 UEFA Champions League release dates

2008-09-29T14:10:00.000+04:00

The release date for PES 2009 UEFA Champions League has been declared in the EU October 17, 2008 & NA November 12, 2008

NFS Undercover new police chase trailer

2008-09-29T13:28:00.000+04:00

Download this video in HD here
(720p 26.5MB)

NFS Undercover more pics

2008-09-28T13:39:00.000+04:00

More shots

Prince Of Persia Movie

2008-09-27T22:18:00.000+04:00

There is a prince of persia movie coming up soon i.e. 2010. It has no relation with Ubisoft but Disney, the makers have tied up with the maker to create the movie The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed the actors to play the two main roles in the Prince of Persia Movie. Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko) has been officially cast as Dastan, the young prince - a choice I fear many fans will not be happy about. Whilst Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) has been cast as the princess Tamina

An unofficial but good site to know more

Prince of Persia dates announced

2008-09-27T21:39:00.000+04:00

The next in the Prince of Persia franchise comes the game 'Prince of Persia". It is not related to the Sands of Time trilogy i.e., Sands of Time, Warrior Within & Two Thrones.

The release date has been declared as December 2 2008.

More info on Wikipedia

Google's Android

2008-09-27T21:35:00.000+04:00

Google has come up with the official video of the first android powered phone, the T-mobile G1.

Spore Rocks!

2008-09-20T14:06:00.000+04:00

As I promised you, i'm here with the spore review.

Spore almost lived up to the hype it created. It is a very enjoyable game and a very new idea. It is babyish and is not at all hardcore.

My own videos of the game next week!

Trailers

2008-09-13T14:09:00.000+04:00

I'm gonna post the trailers soon. To watch the trailers before that pop into youtube

Spore Review

2008-09-13T14:08:00.001+04:00

I am goona get spore next week so remember check back next saturday for my personal review on the hyped Spore

EA's new releases

2008-09-12T14:29:00.000+04:00

Need For Speed : Undercover

Need For Speed : Undercover the twelfth installment to EA's Racing series is set to hit the stores on 18 November

Screenshots

Link

Official Trailer soon

Spore

The much hyped Spore has already hit our stores in the PC version and we have to wait for Other version which promise to be here soon. This game is set to revolutionize the gaming industry and the best game of the year.

Screenshots

Fifa 09

Fifa 09 the latest to the EA's Fifa Franchise is to hit the stores on 26 September 2008 for Europe and 14 October 2008 for North America and 2 October 2008 for Australia.

It has many features including us, the user selecting the player celebrations

Screenshots

Google Chrome

2008-09-05T14:38:00.000+04:00

Google released its new web browser on Tuesday. I downloaded it on Wednesday. To be frank it is the best browser i have used all throughout my life. It is still in the beta version so there are many bugs in it. The bugs are made up for by the incredible speed of browsing. It has now earned the status as my official web browser.

It outpaces Opera & Safari in speed and IE7 & 8 Beta in looks.

You can download it from here

The official Google Video

Welcome

2008-08-15T14:51:00.000+04:00

Hi guyz. this is Alphin here with his new blog find everything worth interest here soon