Next on Cell Phone Feature List
Here are two cool features which might become common for cell phones, in next couple of years:Nano ProjectorMobile PrinterGet ready to roll with these smart technologies.
Another "Project Management" Tool
Here is another free and impressive application "OpenProj"; all set to make hole in to MS's revenues. The "OpenProj" appears to be a great alternative to "MS Project" and other commercially available project management software. Ready to give it a shot?...OpenProj crosses 200K downloadsNokia in Soup Again?
After suffering a big blow its image due to faulty "BL-5C Batteries", Nokia seems to have landed in another trouble. Company's decision to shutdown its manufacturing plant in Germany, has sparked strong public ire towards Nokia in the country. The strong political and government support to the Anti-Nokia movement, might mean a further Erosion of Company's Image and loss of revenue in Germany (and some other...Heading towards a More Flat World
As India (and some parts of China) continue to grow as a cost-effective destination for software development, there is some more interesting news coming from another South Asian country. Vietnam has produced its first microchip. Though it does not seem like a technological breakthrough, but the cost of this project is interesting. The project had a budget of only around $125,000. Compare it with the budget-cost of even trivial projects, in other parts of the world - and you can easily...Next time you refer to an Optical Disc
I recently came across this interesting (and lesser known) fact about Optical Discs:
The word disc, in reference to DVD or CD, should be spelled with a c, not a k. The generally accepted rule is that optical discs are spelled with a c, whereas magnetic disks are spelled with a k. For magneto-optical discs, which are a combination of both formats, the word is spelled with c because the discs are read with a laser. The New York Times, after years of head-in-the-sand usage of k for...
Wiki Search is here
Kunal reports that a Wiki Search engine is now up and running, bringing a new entrant to web search. He does not expect an immediate threat to Google, but hopes the arrival of this alternative will spur fresh search features and more choice for users. For engineers and tech watchers this signals healthy competition and potential for faster innovation in search.
Embedded Space & Software Development Practices
Kunal Singh describes how embedded development has moved from tiny assembly routines to full applications running on operating systems with threads and libraries. He warns the era of "simple" firmware is ending, and urges embedded engineers to adopt fundamentals like maintainability, reusability, testability, low coupling, and clean interfaces. He recommends Agile Software Development and Code Complete as practical starting points.
Demoing Your Software
I came across this interesting blog entry on "Product Demo". Apart from touching upon some public speaking and presentation skills, it contains facts and data which you might find plenty useful.VIGO is Cool
A simple trick makes your camera phone double as a PC webcam, Kunal Singh highlights WWIGO, a two-part app that streams camera video over Bluetooth from Nokia Series 60 phones to desktop or laptop. The phone-side app sends video, the PC-side client injects it into common meeting tools like Skype, Yahoo Messenger, and Windows Live Messenger. It’s a low-complexity, practical utility from startup Motvik.
Thumb Rules for Effective Meetings
Too many meetings waste engineers' time while too few kill communication, and Kunal Singh proposes seven practical thumb rules to fix both extremes. He outlines how to identify meeting types, publish and stick to an agenda, clarify roles, eliminate ambiguity, conclude items or mark them open, and circulate minutes. These simple practices help make meetings concise, accountable, and decision-oriented.
Next on Cell Phone Feature List
Here are two cool features which might become common for cell phones, in next couple of years:Nano ProjectorMobile PrinterGet ready to roll with these smart technologies.Nokia in Soup Again?
After suffering a big blow its image due to faulty "BL-5C Batteries", Nokia seems to have landed in another trouble. Company's decision to shutdown its manufacturing plant in Germany, has sparked strong public ire towards Nokia in the country. The strong political and government support to the Anti-Nokia movement, might mean a further Erosion of Company's Image and loss of revenue in Germany (and some other...ANSI-C to VHDL compiler
Ylichron has released an "ANSI-C to VHDL" compiler, and the company says it is the first of its kind. The brief announcement flags a potentially important vendor claim for embedded and FPGA engineers who track C-to-hardware tools. Kunal Singh reports the availability and the marketing claim, and readers should seek technical details and independent verification before drawing conclusions.
iPhone aca Linux Station
CPUs are closing the gap between desktops and handhelds, and Kunal Singh points to a likely future where phones and laptops merge. The short note highlights how laptops already ate into desktop share and raises the provocative idea that an iPhone could become a Linux workstation. It’s a quick prompt to rethink device form factors and operating system roles as mobile hardware gets more capable.
Open Source Influencers
eWeek publish this list of 15 most influential personalities in Open Source World. Really Interesting.NXP acquires Conexant STB Division
NXP paid $100 million for Conexant's set-top-box (STB) division, a quick way to bulk up its STB lineup and customer roster. The acquisition hands NXP a large installed base while relieving Conexant, which had endured financial trouble and heavy layoffs over the past year. For embedded engineers and product managers this signals consolidation in the STB semiconductor space and potential changes in supply and support.
Wiki Search is here
Kunal reports that a Wiki Search engine is now up and running, bringing a new entrant to web search. He does not expect an immediate threat to Google, but hopes the arrival of this alternative will spur fresh search features and more choice for users. For engineers and tech watchers this signals healthy competition and potential for faster innovation in search.
Heading towards a More Flat World
As India (and some parts of China) continue to grow as a cost-effective destination for software development, there is some more interesting news coming from another South Asian country. Vietnam has produced its first microchip. Though it does not seem like a technological breakthrough, but the cost of this project is interesting. The project had a budget of only around $125,000. Compare it with the budget-cost of even trivial projects, in other parts of the world - and you can easily...Demoing Your Software
I came across this interesting blog entry on "Product Demo". Apart from touching upon some public speaking and presentation skills, it contains facts and data which you might find plenty useful.NXP acquires Conexant STB Division
NXP paid $100 million for Conexant's set-top-box (STB) division, a quick way to bulk up its STB lineup and customer roster. The acquisition hands NXP a large installed base while relieving Conexant, which had endured financial trouble and heavy layoffs over the past year. For embedded engineers and product managers this signals consolidation in the STB semiconductor space and potential changes in supply and support.
Another "Project Management" Tool
Here is another free and impressive application "OpenProj"; all set to make hole in to MS's revenues. The "OpenProj" appears to be a great alternative to "MS Project" and other commercially available project management software. Ready to give it a shot?...OpenProj crosses 200K downloadsNext time you refer to an Optical Disc
I recently came across this interesting (and lesser known) fact about Optical Discs:
The word disc, in reference to DVD or CD, should be spelled with a c, not a k. The generally accepted rule is that optical discs are spelled with a c, whereas magnetic disks are spelled with a k. For magneto-optical discs, which are a combination of both formats, the word is spelled with c because the discs are read with a laser. The New York Times, after years of head-in-the-sand usage of k for...
Open Source Influencers
eWeek publish this list of 15 most influential personalities in Open Source World. Really Interesting.Nokia in Soup Again?
After suffering a big blow its image due to faulty "BL-5C Batteries", Nokia seems to have landed in another trouble. Company's decision to shutdown its manufacturing plant in Germany, has sparked strong public ire towards Nokia in the country. The strong political and government support to the Anti-Nokia movement, might mean a further Erosion of Company's Image and loss of revenue in Germany (and some other...VIGO is Cool
A simple trick makes your camera phone double as a PC webcam, Kunal Singh highlights WWIGO, a two-part app that streams camera video over Bluetooth from Nokia Series 60 phones to desktop or laptop. The phone-side app sends video, the PC-side client injects it into common meeting tools like Skype, Yahoo Messenger, and Windows Live Messenger. It’s a low-complexity, practical utility from startup Motvik.
Heading towards a More Flat World
As India (and some parts of China) continue to grow as a cost-effective destination for software development, there is some more interesting news coming from another South Asian country. Vietnam has produced its first microchip. Though it does not seem like a technological breakthrough, but the cost of this project is interesting. The project had a budget of only around $125,000. Compare it with the budget-cost of even trivial projects, in other parts of the world - and you can easily...iPhone aca Linux Station
CPUs are closing the gap between desktops and handhelds, and Kunal Singh points to a likely future where phones and laptops merge. The short note highlights how laptops already ate into desktop share and raises the provocative idea that an iPhone could become a Linux workstation. It’s a quick prompt to rethink device form factors and operating system roles as mobile hardware gets more capable.
Demoing Your Software
I came across this interesting blog entry on "Product Demo". Apart from touching upon some public speaking and presentation skills, it contains facts and data which you might find plenty useful.What a Deal ...
In today's competitive Embedded Systems world, where organizations are struggling hard to keep up their profit margins, here comes a distinct performer - SlingMedia . Immense competition, short product lives, and high development costs are making most companies sweat for each penny. In such a scenario, SlingMedia speaks of an incredible success story. The company which was founded hardly 3 years ago, has clinched an acquisition deal of USD 380...
