Why I will not buy an iphone!!

So the world (or at least USA) is going ga-ga over iPhone. I had a friend's relative borrow my second hand Nokia to be used for some time because that person wants to wait and get an iPhone.
But frankly, I will detest and lay off it (unless of course my company is going to provide it and it definitely won’t. If you do not know why it won’t I will give you a reason very shortly).
Firstly at $500/$600 a pop for a 4gig and 8gig respectively it is not cheap. But a more bigger grouse is that for that money, the iPhone is not unlocked. What the hell?????? Sticking to a service plan after shelling out tons of money and sticking to a mediocre service plan for that tons of money and sticking to it for 2 years, it outrageous!! This is just a way Cingular/AT&T (frankly will they call themselves just 1 name, bloody hell keeps changing every year. Cingular becomes AT&T one year and next year AT&T is the new Cingular. Somebody drill some brains into the company heads. Ok enough of my trademark digression) can just reap benefits by millions and do this for 2 year, TWO bloody YEARS!! Very nice business strategy for them, and lots of headache for the customers. What about those who buy the iPhone and move to a different place only to discover that there is no signal whatsoever in that place. Apple did a bad call by tying up with one service provider. What happened to their available and free for all strategy (say one stuff for Mac, contradict the same for iPhone).

Secondly, so it can do a lot of on the go browsing, which is going to be ridiculously slow. Why?? In case you haven’t heard, iPhone comes with EDGE compatibility, not 3G. Any1 wants to take a guess which is the faster (or should I say the fastest) of the two. Yup you got it and no prizes (even Apple doesn’t give prizes)!! To top it EDGE on AT&T, wonderful!! You might bee waay better off asking for information by calling a friend, which might be faster, provided you get Cingular’s (oops AT&T) network first.

Thirdly, do people even think and realize how much it is going to cost in case you keep browsing on the iPhone. AT&T isn’t going to come with a specialized customized package free for all unlimited plan. Even if it does, I can seriously bet and say it will not be anything less than $100/month. Assuming it is 100/month, that’s a recurring charge of $1200/year AT THE VERY LEAST. If no such plan exist, people will just not use the internet feature and I don’t even want to go to accessing YouTube from the iPhone. If children do make use of all this features, the bill that parents will encounter will give a super strong reason to take away these phone. But why will Apple or AT&T care about this, it’s the customer (and their children’s headache) How many people with personal Treos, BlackJacks and Qs keep browsing??? iPhone will enable you to access your Yahoo and Google e-mail accounts—This on a EDGE network, that will cost you an arm and leg to access e-mails and in regions that I most likely wont get network access?? No Thanks, I will wait to get home.

Fourthly, no company will in their right sense (unless they simply mint heck a lot of money and wants to keep employees very very happy- Genentech bought and gifted all their employees a iPod nano in 2005) buy and give an iPhone to the employees. Why?? Very simple, because iPhone does not support corporate account and e-mails. If this is not available, what is the value add for the company to do such a thing. Employees may love it, but when it comes to practicality its uber-stupid. Additionally, if the company does give a iPhone on a corporate account, people will browse through the same (whenever available) like to no tomorrow. This is one of the best formula for successful filing for bankruptcy.

Lastly, any phone needs to be a phone first, the rest of bells and whistles next. iPhone largely depends on the network, and if AT&T is going to be as crappy as it is, iPhone is going to be terribly underutilized (other than listening to Mp3- but wasn’t that the reason why people bought the iPods??). If it is not going to be clear when you use to speak with, what is the point in shelling out $500+. Just think of all these factors, before rushing out to get one.

All this without even going to how good or bad the iPhone as a product is, without considering what its battery life capability is.
But all said and done, I am pretty darn sure that there is going to be a mad rush to grab the iPhone and it will sell like hot cakes. Why?? Because it is the in-thing, a coolness factor. I certainly wont, I detest and overlook high level marketing that just thinks it is the only cool thing. This is a very reason I stayed away from iPod, and this is the reason I will stay away from iPhone. That said, I have nothing against Apple, they came out with Mac, which is different from the PCs (although I do own a PC- the cost difference factor is tooo much to justify a Mac for me).
I stayed away from iPod (Creative Zen is a faar better product, with lot more features for a lot less cost) and will stay away from iPhone (my Treo does its job incredibly well thank you) and will revisit the same Thalaivar’s saying that I used some time ago.

Yen Vazhi Thanii Vazhi!!

no e-mails day!

Ya its pretty obvious isn't it?? Well on second thought maybe not!! What I just said could either be no emails at all in any of the mails, or just no e-mails at office.
Frankly now that I come to think of this.... do people just prefer the latter or do they like the former too?? It might kinda be nice to never see even 1 e-mail in any of the gazillions e-mails IDs (at this point, I am soo very confident and soo sure that each and every person who has at the very least one e-mail ID has another one)..... Sheeesh that has to be the oxymoron of the century =)) (if you Yahoo Chat you would know what that 'emoticon' stands for :D)

So keeping this short and simple, just no e-mails at work today and I ended it as I might do when it is slow, read a little, browse a ton, especially regarding camera and lenses, looking up some photographing tips, and heading Home early. Not that any1 will miss me right!!

Sigh!! Just wish we had more days such as these!!! I am sure every1 wishes the same (Workaholics, you are not considered, Be in Peace)!!

Situations for the Songs

I say the Songs because I am referring to songs from the movie Sivaji-The Boss. When its the Thaliavar's movies, evidently the songs becomes the songs. There has been a mixed reception to the songs from the movie. Some people feel Rahman has been too Rajni oriented and has not retained his flavour while others think a couple of songs are waay too radical for Thalaivar's movie.
But I feel the songs are perfect blend of Rahman and Rajni. While it gets as trademark Thalaivar in Balleilakka, it goes to something Rajni would never have done had it not been for Rahman (and maybe Director Shankar to a certain extent). Anyway I shall list them all and meanwhile try to guess as to what kind of situation it would fit into (incidentally I would certainly have to mention that I discussed this with my good friend and she kinda reflects my thoughts).

So here goes (since I am getting to the point here, I am wondering whether the above would constitute as digression enough?? or...............maybe not!!)---

Definitely the first song of the movie is going to be Balleilakka..... this is without a doubt the Thalaivar's Intro Song. It has all ingredients for the same and super S.P.B has belted out a solid fun fille number. A Rajni's song out and out and the only Trace of Rahman probably is in the start of the song where the background women chorus goes--- Suriyano Chandirano Yaarivano sat unnu sollu!!! (The start is a little similar to Veerapandi Kottaiyile from Thiruda Thiruda, I mean just the way it starts)

After this I certainly have no idea about when each of songs come in the movie, but I can certainly visualize the situations!

Next lets consider Athirade-- A fast catchy number and when I try and think about this, the only explanation it gives is the item number song that Nayanthara is supposed to be doing. Although its not a sole lady singer, so maybe some1 else too accompanying her!

Third lets have a look at the most radical Oru Koodai Sunlight!! This song is a complete antithesis of every single song Rajni has ever done. While Maya Maya from Baba might be quite Rahmanesque, that does not even come close to being radically different for Rajni. But then if people had seen some of stills where in Rajni and Shreya come in a very radical looking costumes, it perfectly fits this song. So I am pretty darn sure that this song is for that stills which were leaked.

Sahana and Vaaji Vaaji appear to be regular romantic duets, with Vaaji Vaaji being the one where in Rajni appears in some king like costumes (again observed in some stills). Sahara which is the slower version of Sahana seems to be one for a more sombre times which would surely be probably a background during a time when the hero and heroine probably have a separation due to/or misunderstanding.

This finally leaves us with The Boss....... Just doesn't make sense. Its not quite the song that is Vetri Kodi Kattu from Padaiyappa, when the Hero is on the rise. But then when looked at it from a background score for Rajni in the movie, it suddenly seems to make quite all the sense. So I am pretty much sure this is a background score for some of smashing entries in some scenes that Rajni will have. Remember Rajni being Rajni, he has multiple mind-blowing entries in lots of scenes, recall Padaiyappa??? What a re-entry that was!!!

Imagine a very stylish Rajni come in and a background score going-- Sachin adicha sixer thaan da, Sivaji adicha Puncture thaan da :D.

SO that's that, all songs given a situation in the movie. This is my guesstimate, and I am pretty sure this is close to what we can expect in the movie, that said, don't whip me if I am wrong. I am just trying to feed the Sivaji fever and pour more fuel into the fire. A little something more to look forward for the movie!!

Until then listen to the songs, enjoy and wait eagerly!!!!!!!!!

Karu Karu Vizhigalal- Pachakili muthucharam

karu karu vizhigalaal oru kan mai ennai kadathudhae
thadhumbida thadhumbida siru amudham ennai kudikkudhae
iravinil urangaiyil en thookkam ennai ezhuppudhae
ezhundhida ninaikkiyil oru minnal vandhu saaikka

nee..oru malli charamae
nee..ilai sindhum maramae
en..pudhu velli kudamae
unnai thaedum kangal

yaei..nee thanga chilaiyaa
ven..nurai pongum malaiyaa
man..madhan pinnum valaiyaa
unnai thaedum kangal

pudhu pudhu varigalaal en kavidhai thaalum niraiyudhae
kanavugal kanavugal vandhu kangal thaandi vazhiyudhae
marandhida marandhida en manamum konjam muyaludhae
marupadi marupadi un mugamae ennai soozha

thaamarai ilai neer nee dhaanaa
thani oru andril nee dhaanaa
puyal tharum thendral nee dhaanaa
pudhaiyal nee dhaanaa

nee..oru malli charamae
mannil..ilai sindhum maramae
minnum..pudhu velli kudamae
unnai thaedum kangal

yaei..nee thanga chilaiyaa
vellai..nurai pongum malaiyaa
ambaal..madhan pinnum valaiyaa
unnai thaedum kangal

oru naal oru naal endrae dhinamum poagum
maru naal varumaa endrae iravil idhayam saagum
paesum boadhae innum yaedho thaedum
kaiyin raegai poalae kallathanam oadum
neerae illa paalaaiyilae nindru peiyum mazhai mazhai
ullukkullae uchu kotti thodarnthidum pizhai pizhai

karu karu vizhigalaal oru kanmai ennai kadathudhae
thadhumbida thadhumbida siru amudham ennai kudikkudhae
iravinil urangaiyil en thookkam ennai ezhuppudhae
ezhundhida ninaikkiyil oru minnal vandhu saaikka

thaamarai ilai neer nee dhaanaa
thani oru andril nee dhaanaa
puyal tharum thendral nee dhaanaa
pudhaiyal nee dhaanaa

Its really nice to get another pure tamil one from Thamarai, Hats off…
I would like to add one more thing, in this song, you may encounter a word “andril”, which means andril bird :whether male or female, very familiar in Indian poetry, as a standard or model of constancy and inseparable love;

Rajni and double Intro!!!

Nooo noo noo, Rajni is not doing a double role in his new movie and he does not need introduction twice. I am blogging about how his intro song always has two words repeating one after other. It invariably is the very first word (or in a rare occasion the second word).

I got this in my mind when I was listening to his latest song from one of his most anticipated and awaited releases (btw which movie of Rajni isn't highly anticipated and eagerly awaited??). Probably this has to do with Rajni + Shankar (Director) + AVM Studios + A.R.Rehman (sheesh!! probably every single release of Ilaiyaraja- the Maestro, didn't get this kinda bated breath anticipation).

So anyway coming back to what I was saying (if you didn't notice that previous paragraph was completely devoted to my digression), almost all his songs have the first word repeating right behind.
Lets take a look shall we??

Going all the way back to Baasha-- naan (the relatively obscure little first word) Autokaran, Autokaran......
Then Muthu -- Oruvan Oruvan..........
Baba-- Dippu Dippu........ (Here the word Dippu repeats 4 times!!)
Chandramukhi-- Devuda Devuda.........
and now Shivaji-- Balleilakka Balleilakka............

Yes you do have a Arunachalam in between where he goes- Adaanda Idaanda (They rhyme and are very close to each other) and Padaiyappa (Yen Paeru Padaiyappa- being the only no relations to any of the words ever...), but as evidenced by and large the first word always repeats itself right behind!!

I am not here to offer you any explanation for the same. Just that the jobless mind of mine when enjoying the latest song which is quite catchy and makes you want to dance, caught up this thought and I decided to profit by it and blog the same.
Until next time keep pondering on the same and wait to watch whether the next one follows this trend too and till then dance to the tunes of Balleilakka Balleilakka.......................

The Adidas Ad

It was year 2004, easily the worst year faced till date of my life. I had been heartbroken, near depressed and after months of frustration of not finding a job in tanking economy, I was ready to give up and return back home. Then one day when I was in New York city for some particular reason (I cant remember what), I saw this huge poster near Madison Square Garden. It was a picture of Muhammad Ali in his customary pose and below that were the words that I will never forget---
"Impossible is just big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.
IMPOSSIBLE is NOTHING!"

It was a dare indeed and struggling to find a job was no longer Impossible. Because it was nothing. It renewed my optimism (I am a born optimist, but I think after 11months of struggle, any1 is capable of being frustrated), it gave me to hold on and fight for just that longer, face the storm and move on.

Yes it was temporary and ultimately nothing and here I am sitting with a job by His Grace and talking about it!!!!!

resolutions... the anti climax!!

In the last blog, I spoke about resolutions taken on New Year and how instead, I accomplished mine on the New year's day rather than taking a resolution on New Year's itself. Well to pour water on whatever any1 thought it was, by calling it a resolution, I was probably, using a misnomer. I seriously cant/shouldn't call it a resolution when all I wanted to do was to own a MP3 player and without paying for it. Yes this was it, this was the so called 'resolution' that was accomplished. So basically, I did not have any resolution at all.

I basically wanted a Mp3 player for a long time, but just that I wasn't prepared to spend money on it. So I had to wait, and wait painstaking for a long time. Not that i was in any hurry though. Just because the majority of the world was moving forward to the Mp3 player zone, I didn't have to follow the bandwagon. Also I do have to state that I am always slow and wait for a long time to catch up with a fad by which time its a fad no longer. So basically at that point my wish to own something is not to be a part of the fad but for my satisfaction. Again, I would probably go to lengths as to acquire it by least expensive means as possible. That's not a fact of me being a miser, its just that, quite a few of those things, I view as not being a necessity at all. Really its a luxury rather than a necessity and there is no reason to blow money on it right?? So if its possible that you can get one by simply waiting for much longer time and paying lesser money or no money at all why hurry??
So there is this credit card that gives me points for all the purchases, and with points I can redeem for whatever I wish for. So all I had to do was wait till I accrued enough to get an Mp3 player. Simple isn't it. And we make the points through daily regular purchases, that are necessities!!

MORAL of the Story:- Patience yields better rewards (ya like you needed some1 else to tell you this right!! I know I know, I am beating my chest and proclaiming that I am intelligent- talk about narcissism!!)

There is though a resolution within this resolution itself (sheeshh sounds like a lot of looping-like in a computer program). The resolution was, whatever the Mp3 player is its not going to be an iPod!!
So for all those who assumed when I spoke of MP3 player that its an iPod-- that's a testament to how much Apple has captured the market in that segment!! I thought of Zune, but as crappy as that player is, I dropped the idea in a hurry (no I am not going to talk about Zune's Pros n Cons- read a review for the same, and this isn't one!!). So since my wont was a larger capacity MP3 player (i certainly didn't need a nano, the larger bulkier ones are really no issue to me, again the cost of nano for lesser capacity for just the reason it being smaller makes no sense to me. I need a higher return for my dollar spent- a higher ROI if you will, and a 30gig-at least makes good sense), I hunted for alternatives and the result?????????????????

A CREATIVE ZEN VISION M 30GB!!

Yes slightly thicker than iPod, but more features, brighter more vibrant screen, and a better player (not cos I own it, cos almost all reviews say so!! and not by much, still it is at least as good as iPod if you want to be different). Just to give you a hint look at all user reviews in circuit city website for reference as a starter. Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt to get the best MP3 player of 2006 award from cnet too! So there a alternative for all those who seek to be different!!

I seek to be different, because as Thalaivar would say..............................................
"Yen Vazhi Thanee Vazhi" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK A NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!............and resolutions!

Yikess, its been more than a month since I blogged so here goes.................
What better topic than when a New Year presents itself (come to think of it, I am wondering how many blogs has been written about the same topic, but not that, that is going to stop me, will it??).. so here goes.. (did I say this before????)

So there we have, another year blown past, another year, that simply was in too much hurry to go somewhere (or catch a train)!! Well that the general consensus anyway! While for most people that is the case, I somehow beg to differ. They say (who are 'They'??) that when everything is going fine, things tends to speed up and when nothing is going right, the time just grinds to a halt! Its like the second needle never moves?? Is this even possible?? You know as well as I do its all perspective isnt it?? But that said, I do have to say I felt that the year for me moved slowly (ya ya I know after all that talk about perspective, I dont have the right to say it, but heck I am human too :P). I have had friends who atrribute this to me getting old (smug look on the face- people who said this would know). Well thats their perspective (Here now I begin my customary habit of digressing- I have used the word perspective soo much already here, that maybe I need to change title to "New Year and Perspective", but I won't). Why exactly did I feel this way?? well for one, I was waiting for the last quarter of the year to go to India and ppl who are abroad can understand how much the yearning to go to home country one always feels, dont they?? Its like the mother ship is calling us home (wondering, since our home land is often referred to as motherland, is that why the parent ship got the female gender?? Oh, well the inanimate objects and their genders).
Now why exactly did I have to wait till last quarter?? Duh!! Well for all those who know me, they know my reasons, and for all those who dont, I dont think they would be interested in my reasons, so I will leave it at that.

At this point you are probably wondering that this guy was to talk about resolutions and there is nothing about it till now (well I will get to it, also this way I can drag the blog to sizeable proportions :D-- there a long word starting with 'p' and not the word perspective... Oh Darn it!!)
So yes, coming to resolutions?? Whats with all this New Year resolutions anyway?? Who started this trend or custom or whatever you wish to call it (I certainly would like to pound that person). Why is the need to identify to do or to resolve to do something from a New year day only?? What ever happened to the sound byte of 'Right Here Right Now'?? Sant (translated-saint) Kabir famous for his Dohaes (two line verses) once said 'Kal Kare so Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ab! (Do today what you put off to do tomorrow, and do it now what you are going to do today) Simply put, the same Right Here Right now!! (Now maybe some1 who understood this Great Man's Dohaes and translated in a catchy manner for the English audience, I am pretty sure no one knows who came up with this 'right here right now' catchphrase do they??)
So why the resolution to wait for New Year anyway?? Is it like an added incentive to goof off till then?? If so are resolutions generally met when taken on New Year's?? Statistically (now dont ask me which statistics and from where) more than 70% of New Year resolution are never made good, so if at all you are going to break it, why wait?? Additionally if you are going to be successful, then why wait too??
Never really makes sense to me and I am beginning to feel that I am beating around the bush. Anyway, I did not have a New Year resolution, but did have a resolution, and it was met on New Year (now isnt that nice to have a resolution and meet it on New Year's, that way we can remember when we acheived it). It was more fun that way!! and the New Year was off to a great start and good feeling!
Signing off all smiles and grins!!