AJAX! Hey, What's this?

Are you using GMAIL from Google? You must have been really happy about the minimal time it takes to do requested functions within your mail account, such as labeling, viewing mails & more. A new scripting technique (not technology) used in the web development environment called "AJAX" have been crucial in such an environment.

AJAX stands for "Asynchronous JavaScript and XML". The core idea behind this is to reduce the request-response time between the web browser & the client, by exchanging small amounts of data with the server, by which the re-loading of the page doesn't happen on each user request that goes back to server. This precisely increases the user interactivity, ease of use & speed.

As usual, there are pros & cons of using any technique, as there are some with AJAX also such as:

Pros:

• User interface
• Bandwidth usage
• Separation of data, format, style and functions

Cons:

• Browser integration
• Response-time concerns
• Search engine optimization
• JavaScript reliability

There are several resources available on the net for AJAX, such as:

http://ajax.asp.net/
http://www.ajaxmatters.com/

Search Google for AJAX:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=AJAX&btnG=Search

Make your iPOD life simpler!

Do you use iPOD? Must be using iTunes to transfer songs from your PC? Do not trouble yourself anymore.

Adam Pash, a senior editor for Lifehacker (www.lifehacker.com) shows you different ways to do the same task effeciently. With applications like Floola, MyPodder, Pod Player, you can do more.

Please click here to read this article if you want make your iPOD life simpler.

Refer:- Hack Attack: Add music and movies to your iPod from any computer without iTunes

New High-end Storage Discs!

Want to store 50 GB data on a single disc? Yes. Now, you can with Blue-Ray Disc. A Blu-ray Disc is a "high-density optical disc" format for storing digital media, including high-definition video.

The name "Blue Ray disc" is derived from blue-violet laser used to read and write this type of disc. It can store 25 GB of data on each layer as compared conventional 4.7 GB DVD.

A dual layer DVD of 50 GB storage capacity can store upto 9 hours of high definition video, around 23 hours of standard definition video. Just imagine! But, there are other factors also involved as you need Blue-ray DVD ROM & certain codecs as & when required depending on the media you wish to play.

You can read more at: http://www.blu-raydisc.com
To read FAQs on Blue-ray Discs, please visit: http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Section-14064/faqs/Index.html

The future of computing!

I had seen this amazing thing on www.rediff.com first. I also got a link on the net which allows you to see the video even of the same next generation technology, introduced by Jeff Han.



About Jeef Han
Jeff Han is a research scientist for NYU's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences. Here, he demonstrates—for the first time publicly—his intuitive, "interface-free," touch-driven computer screen, which can be manipulated intuitively with the fingertips, and responds to varying levels of pressure. (Recorded February 2006 in Monterey, CA. Duration: 09:32)

You can read more at Rediff:
http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/jan/31bspec.htm

ERP - An Overview

Managing enterprise resources in a planned way is a herculean task for any company that exists in the current dynamic business scenario. The core objectives of any enterprise resources management system can have different dynamics, depending on the nature of the business.

Those business dynamics gets variant when it comes to different business environments & the problems which it faces at any given point of time. For deploying a viable solution to the business dynamics over a longer period of technical & business changes, an Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) application can be very useful if implemented well.

The success of an ERP system not only depends on the technical perspectives of the application, but also on complete understanding of the nature of existing business & relevant problems, underlying in the existing business & technical architecture of the busiess.

To deliver the best solutions a company can, it first needs to go to the roots of the problems they face in the existing business scenario & technical incompetence, if any. After analyzing this, they should rope in capable people who can handle the situations effectively, from understanding those problems, making others aware of the same in a smoother, business language, hiring essential technical expertise to design, deploy & maintain an "effective" enterprise resource planning system across the business.

An ERP system may contain several software & hardware components, depending on the company requisites for which an ERP system is developed. This includes systems like Accounting, Planning & Scheduling, E-procurement, ERP modeling, Information Technology, Management information system (MIS), Supply chain management (SCM), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Material Resource Planning, Human Resource Management system (HRMS), Software Service.

There are several vendors available who offer customized ERP solutions including SAP, Baan & others.

Sony NW E505: A User's Review

I have used this Sony's flash-memory based MP3 player, Sony NW E505 for some time & I found it really amazing! SONY has various models available, with varied memory capacity & design. The one which I used is the following one:



This particular model has "Built-In 512MB Flash Memory ", which can store upto "125 songs", which is almost a playback of 50 hrs. This MP3 player has a Organic Electro-luminescence(OEL) 3 line display & has FM tuner. This device supports ATRAC3 plus and MP3 & features Digital Sound Preset & AVLS, which balances volume levels automatically. It uses "Sonic Stage 3.0 Music Management Software" to transfer songs to player, by converting them in to "ATRAC3 plus" format, which is a proprietary format by SONY which has better audio compression technology.

But, the best thing I found in this particular device is "awesome battery life" it has. Just for 3 minutes charge, it longs last for 3 hours! Isn't that really great? With a full charge cycle, it works almost for 50 hours, which is really amazing when you compare it to other market rivals like Apple iPOD which offers a battery life of around 18 hours.

There are many other models available in this segment, with different memory capacity & features at SONY India's website. You can check them at:
http://www.sonyindia.co.in/sonyindia/products/walkmanlist.jsp?categoryId=186

I found the price factor an issue when it comes to buying this great device, but if you are really crazy about music & needs it in a compact device like this, it's worth buying this MP3 player. (This one comes around IN Rs. 9490 only from Sony India!). With such an impressive battery life & audio quality, it is "worth" buying.

If you have any experience with this device, please share it with me, by posting your comments here!

Have you heard of GPRS?

Almost everybody of us has a mobile phone, most probably a GSM phone & must have heard about "GPRS", used for accessing internet services on a mobile phone capable of GPRS connectivity & also from a notebook computers.

The word "GPRS" stands for "General Packet Radio Service", a packet-based wireless communication service that promises data transfer rates ranging from 56 up to 114 Kbps and continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and computer users (dependent on the network availability). Such a higher data transfer rate allows us to use new-age services like video-conferencing & browsing websites & interactive content using equipped mobile handsets & handheld devices. GPRS works over GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) networks & also complements existing services such circuit-switched cellular phone connections and the Short Message Service (SMS).

In India, there are several telecom service operators who offer GPRS services. Below, I have listed some of the major telecom service providers who offer GPRS services in India:

Hutch - http://www.hutch.in/PlanetHutch/PlanetHutch_services.asp
BPL Mobile - http://www.bplmobile.com/mumbai/mum_vas.htm
Airtel - http://www.airtelworld.com/spservices_gprsmo.jsp
IDEA - http://www.ideacellular.com/MH_PPvas.htm#IdeaGPRS
BSNL - http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/mobile_gprswap.htm
MTNL Mumbai - http://dolphin.mumbai.mtnl.net.in/cominfo/dolphin2.html

Ride yourself on to the world of wireless internet with GPRS!