iPhone MMS is now live

It is here, finally. As of today, Sept. 25th, 2009, iPhone users can now send a MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) messages. What does this mean in lay man terms? You can now share, pictures, videos, audio files as part of your TXT (SMS) messages.

How to go about it?

1) Download the "Carrier Update" via iTunes.
2) Sync your iPhone.
3) Reboot. Remember to do this or you won't see the small "camera" icon when writing that text message.
4) Enjoy !!!

Dribbling the Microsoft World - Windows XP SP3

I have never been a big fan of Microsoft's gazillion updates and Service Packs and more updates in the name of security. My personal experience has shown that crappy stuff gets out and then MS goes after trying to fix it. Keeping up with the tradition, as part of SP3, someone at MS with low caffeine level (read no attention to detail), screwed up yet again.

If you have just recently installed SP3 on XP, if and when you try to update your "Windows Components" you will run into an issue of "Setup library msgrocm.dll could not be loaded, or function OcEntry could not be found." While you may be able to locate the file on your harddrive by doing a search, it does not really solve the problem. Here's what you need to do:

1. Locate the msgrocm.dll file on your drive in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386
2. Copy the file to C:\WINDOWS\System32\Setup

Try running the Install Windows components again... and you may run into two more missing files. Repeat the above mentionedsteps for

• ocmsn.dll
• msnmsn.inf

At this point, you should be go. This issue may go away eventually when the next "patch/security update/service pack" is released. (Or so are the hopes).

Good Luck with Whinedoze....

[Indian Music] Rabbi Shergill's Bulla Ki Jaana...

During our last visit to Texas, we met with my best friend from undergrad, Chandan and his girlfriend, Estella. While I shall write about our wonderful trip and visit to Dallas and San Antonio some other time, this entry is related to a wonderful song that I listened to and have been wanting to own the CD of for the last 4 months. En route to San Antonio,Bulleh Shah (1680-1757) Chandan played a CD with one of the most beautiful songs/verse that I have heard in a long time in his car. Rabbi Shergill, someone I had not been exposed to before, with his really soothing voice sung this beautifully written verse by Bulleh Shah (18th century Punjabi Sufi poet and humanist) in an amazing composition with all the modern instruments. An awesome song! So good that I turned down the offer to take the mp3. Instead, I wanted pay and buy a CD so that the singer (and everyone associated with the song/album) gets his due.

Unfortunately, despite looking frantically at all places in the bay-area for over 4 months, I am yet to find a place that actually carries one. My only alternative (and no, it's not available via amazon either), wait 'til a friend/family member travels to this side of the world and would be willing to bring one....
For those who are intrigued, here's the written version and one of it's translations (I am not sure if it is the most correct one). You have to listen to really understand...

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Bulleh! to me, I am not known Not a believer inside the mosque, am I

Na maen momin vich maseet aan Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan Na maen moosa na pharaun. Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun Na maen andar ved kitaab aan, Na vich bhangaan na sharaab aan Na vich rindaan masat kharaab aan Na vich jaagan na vich saun. Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun. Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki Na maen vich paleeti paaki Na maen aabi na maen khaki Na maen aatish na maen paun Bulleh!, ki jaana maen kaun Na maen arabi na lahori Na maen hindi shehar nagauri Na hindu na turak peshawri Na maen rehnda vich nadaun Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya Ne maen aadam havva jaaya Na maen apna naam dharaaya Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun Bulleh , ki jaana maen kaun Avval aakhir aap nu jaana Na koi dooja hor pehchaana Maethon hor na koi siyaana Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun

Nor a pagan disciple of false rites Not the pure amongst the impure Neither Moses, nor the Pharoh Bulleh! to me, I am not known Not in the holy Vedas, am I Nor in opium, neither in wine Not in the drunkard`s intoxicated craze Niether awake, nor in a sleeping daze Bulleh! to me, I am not known In happiness nor in sorrow, am I Neither clean, nor a filthy mire Not from water, nor from earth Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth Bulleh! to me, I am not known Not an Arab, nor Lahori Neither Hindi, nor Nagauri Hindu, Turk (Muslim), nor Peshawari Nor do I live in Nadaun Bulleh! to me, I am not known Secrets of religion, I have not known From Adam and Eve, I am not born I am not the name I assume Not in stillness, nor on the move Bulleh! to me, I am not known I am the first, I am the last None other, have I ever known I am the wisest of them all Bulleh! do I stand alone? Bulleh! to me, I am not known

Translation Courtesy: Chowk.Com

Note: If someone knows of a store where I can buy this in the bay-area, please do drop me a comment with the name of the place and address.

iPhone, iExpectations, iHumor

I found this really funny. I just wish somehow this had a plug for Hillary, Obama and Gore as well. Enjoy!

Like it? While laughing enjoy another one here.
Courtesy: Danny Holland!

Networks versus Groups ...

With the growing number of people participating in the world of Web 2.0, the definition of communities, networks, groups etc. are seeming to blur. To my mind and I am sure many of you would agree, each has it's clearly defined purpose and use. It is becoming increasingly important to understand the subtle differences between each one of these.

Stephen Downes, I believe nails it perfectly in his video, the differences between Networks and Groups.

• "...
• Groups require unity, whereas networks require diversity
  
• Groups require privacy/boundaries, networks require openness
• Groups require adherence/coordination, networks require autonomy
• Groups require focus, networks require interaction
  
• Groups require specified goals, networks require shared vision
• Groups require centralized source of information, networks enable connective information flow between members
• Groups are (sort of ) one to many, networks by definition are many to many
• ..."
  

While a group may be subject to group-think, networks usually allow an individual to not lose his identity or freedom. Individuals like myself, are very keen on collaborating, sharing without wanting to lose their identity, voice in the process. Networks provide an amazing ability to scale that is not offered by groups. As Stephen says, "Online learning is via networks and not via groups..."

Check out Stephen's video here.

Shattered Dreams! Broken Promises! Kan(not) Do it Attitude!

When the San Jose Sharks lost the second round series of NHL Playoffs last year to Edmonton (4-2) after leading 2-0, we consoled ourselves. Edmonton Oilers took some cheap shots, played dirty and our Lady Byng award nominee Patrick Marleau and his crew were a little too small, a little immature and not ready for big time yet.

We waited for Doug Wilson to show his can do attitude punctuated by a really sharp and effective coach in Ron Wilson. While Ron was tightening the loose strings, Doug provided the likes of Mike Grier (a great penalty killer and an effective short-handed goal scorer) during the summer. Season started and Sharks seemed to be doing reasonably well and hopes were rising high. After all, this was the youngest, fastest and biggest team in the NHL. With a prolific goal-scorer (Jonathan Cheechoo) and a great play-maker (Joe Thornton) playing on a team that could proudly roll 4-lines back to back having superb goal-tending who was there to stop Sharks from going all the way. To strengthen the defense Doug brought Craig Rivet, and as the final piece of the puzzle came the center Bill Guerin just before the trade-deadline expired. Awesome! I kept recording the matches and as much as my wife would hate it watched the games late at night while still trying to finish off the homework and reading. I kept saying to myself, "We are going to have a party in the downtown and I will finally, after almost a decade of following like crazy, be able to say SJ Sharks has won a Stanley Cup."

Sharks did not enter the playoffs with the bang that I had hoped for, yet it was a reasonable 5th spot (in a total of 8) in the Western Conference. Darn! We meet those (Nashville) Predators (4th seed) again. But hey, we had whipped them last year and it should not be that difficult this time around either. Although Preds did get Foresberg, Sharks almost steam rolled them. The Shrek look-alike coach of Nashville should gracefully quit and go somewhere else (hint: Ogres live in a swamp!).

Unfortunately for the Sharks fans, the history was to repeat itself. The good win and momentum built over Preds series was squandered away in no time. A good start by winning against Detroit Red Wings (a formidable opponent) in their building allowed Sharks to get a head-start. Yet, Sharks' inability to close out during critical moments, lack of concentration, lack of stepping up to the plate allowed Detroit Red Wings to take the critical 4th game in San Jose and get leveled (2-2) in a series that had no place for lapses. [Whoever threw that dead shark on the ice that night, you should find the nearest and deepest spot somewhere in the Pacific Ocean and jump into the cold water!]

There wasn't a whole lot after that 4th game - either in the Sharks' legs, spirits, or in the series. Sharks went on to lose 4-2 in San Jose within days of that 4th game and called it a year that could have been...

When the year started, we had great hopes, lots of dreams. Alas! All of it turned out to be more of a hype than real guts! Sharks have a long way to go, the question is what would it need to turn the Kan(not) do mentality around?

I believe the answer is simple - "hunger for touching/holding the Lord Stanley's Cup!"

Will it be 2008? Let's at least hope for that...

PS: Good Luck to Ottawa! I hope they can bring the glory back to the town that started this all and in the meantime - have roasted Ducks for lunch!

(All images are copyrights of their respective owners!)

What am I going to do about the SCU Career Management Center?

SCU's Career Management Center issue has come up time and again on the public yahoogroups. It is apparent that we need to resolve this issue ASAP. Before I enlist a few initiatives I will undertake to improve Career Management Center services if elected, allow me to emphasize that there is a distinction between career management and job placement.

Currently, GBP focuses on offering Career Management and not necessarily job-placement. Given the part-time nature of the programs and with most of the student population gainfully employed, GBP has chosen and tailored its offering to provide career management. Having said that, I understand that Career Fairs have not been as effective as students would like for them to be and I promise to work towards improving them and making them more relevant by getting more Bay Area employers. I would work with GBP to look at ways of doing effective marketing to the employers. And I would also like to invite active participation from the student community.

Some of the other initiatives I would like to undertake as the INC Chairperson on this issue:

1) Align Career Management Center and Student objectives and expectations

2) Work with Career Management Center to change the types of events that get hosted. Have more of consultants and/or speaking engagements to address topics related to managing careers, stress management, and panel events on careers in venture capital, consulting, etc.

3) Improve Career Management Center outreach to various employers and add sectors like biotechnology/pharmaceuticals, banking, consulting, venture capital, and private equity

4) Improve the communication between students and Career Management Center for constant feedback

5) Streamline existing job notifications which are sent mostly via emails

While we can do all of this to enhance the Career Management Center offerings, it is important for folks to make use of what is being offered. Make use of Career Management Center, take career management counseling and please don't just go once, go as many times as you need to ensure you are getting what you need. If you are not satisfied, let someone know. If you are not comfortable talking directly to the administration, find the INC President (don't forget to vote for me), or a Network President, or a GSAC representative and get it to their attention. It will create the necessary feedback loop to further improve and enhance.

Should you have further questions or comments, please feel free to email.

-Neeraj (Candidate for INC Chairperson)

PS: Voting starts next week, please take out a few minutes and vote.