A friend of mine happened to recommend the ASUS O!Play Air media player to me and since the cost factor was tempting, I decided to buy it for myself. The need was to have the player play my media files over the wireless connection from an attached 2TB western digital hard drive and occassionally stream content from the internet – either videos or internet radio channels to be precise.

So did the Asus O!Play satisfy me? Read on! I ll make this review easier to comprehend by dividing it into crisp sections so you can read what interests you more about it.

Package & Cost

The O!Play Air is the third in the series of players Asus has released recently. The package itself is a compact one with the player, a HDMI cable, installation CDs for PC utilities and a rather chunky remote control. The power adaptor also had different country pin compatilibity. A manual accompanied the box and that’s pretty much it. One has to also at this point note that Asus is primariliy a hardware oriented company from Taiwan which has since spread its reach to other geographies. My expectation hence out of the software for this player was not great. The cost of the package was Malaysian ringgit 400, which works out to Rs.6000 INR. Not bad at all for what it provides. Competing media players which provide wireless capabilities are priced 1.5 times more than this box which makes this one an attractive proposition.

Setting up the box & connections

Setting up the box was rather straightforward, with just connecting up the inputs (RCA cable in my case), installing batteries for remote (which it came with by the way) and powering it on. Under system settings one can set the box to either work over LAN, wireless or even PPPoE. LAN was simple to configure to use DHCP IP addressing and the box could acquire an IP dynamically in a pretty straightforward manner. Wireless configuration was not exactly pleasant to set up though one only had to choose the access points nearby and hook onto one of them either on open system or a shared WEP key basis. If this were to have been done manually one has to use the rather uneasy remote to click on an alphabetic keyboard just with arrow and OK keys which made configuration cumbersome.

User interface and Navigation

I already mentioned that ASUS is primarily a hardware oriented company. Its no surprise then that one can expect only a sparse user interface on their products unless they are high end ones. In this context the primary menu is just a circular carousel menu cycling between online media, music, photos, files, and setup. Go into any of these and you are greeted with a simple list based navigation menu. Navigation itself is fast enough, but the remote control plays spoilsport in giving you the best experience. The IR receiver is not exactly accurate to handle remote control inputs.

Quality of audio/video

This is where the Asus is strong. It does what it states on the box. Plays all formats without a fuss. By default the thumbnail option is set to playing video even while control is on the list. This can be disabled however. Asus has been stupid enough to have this option as it keeps playing the same video endlessly with full volume even within the PIP window. Asus also handles media which is on USB stick, or via an eSATA connection. It also sports SD/CF and MMC slots. At the rear it has an ethernet port, HDMI output for digital TVs, RCA outputs for analog TVs and a power adaptor socket. Simple in design and very functional is the way one can put the characteristics of this box.

 

Internet content

This is an area which is oft disregarded by small time players, or implemented very badly with respect to funtionality. Asus has not skimped on this and provides a lot of internet TV and radio channels, besides flickr and other internet portal support. Youtube however is not supported which is a shame. You can add your favorite channels any time you want from this list for easy accessbility and a good internet connection will mean you can access your likes fast enough.

Software updates and support

Asus releases software updates which can conveniently be copied to a USB key, and loaded onto the box with minimal fuss. The online forums are not exactly exciting so expect delays in implementing your suggestions. Support forums are also minimalistic but they do have useful suggestions to get you out of problems you face with the box.

Remote control and other quirks

These are better bulleted as under

• Remote control sucks big time as the IR sensitivity is too low
• There is no alphabetic keypad when compared to boxes like Boxee Box, which makes entering alphabetic information an irritating affair
• Box does not remember wireless network credentials if switched off, which is pretty shameful for a product like this making users enter this information again and again. This happens if one of either the box or the router is switched off.
• Logging onto network hard disks is cumbersome as it asks for network login credentials each time which sucks.
• Though box does not hang, some menu items appear disabled without rhyme or reason and Asus has not bothered to spend time on fixing these issues.
• The carousel menu isn’t the most exciting on this product. Asus could have outsourced UI to a different company if they did not have the skills.
• The user interface assets or artifacts like screens, fonts could have been designed in a much better way consider the TVs they show up on
• When a user presses a key to go to a different menu, Asus does not give preference to that key press, instead it keeps doing what it was already doing. This is a delay for the user who will not appreciate this much

Verdict

So long as Asus provides some quality fixes for the user interface behaviour, this box is good. If not its best to stay away from buying this box, considering the quirks mentioned above, even if it comes cheap!

 

Tags: bangalore, bengaluru, karnataka, hsr layout, asus, media, player, oplay, o!play, hdr3, compact flash, slot, sd card, CF, esata, hard drive, memory card, user interface, remote, infrared, ethernet, wireless, photos, music, movies, internet, radio, content, channels, tv, rca, hdmi, interface, malaysia, asus, alphabetic, keypad, sesitivity, output, flash, dvd, cd, mkv, mp4, swf, flv, wma, mp3, avi, divx, xvid, codec, support, forum, online, asia

Today’s TOI carried a big notification from TRAI about the impending MNP (mobile number portability) launch tomorrow (20th jan, 2011). The terms of the offer are really attractive considering that a consumer spends only not more than Rs.19/- for the porting and about 2 hours disruption in service only during night time during porting.

 

Vodafone, Uninor and Idea are only offering MNP and downplaying the need for 3G services. They are saying that 2G network is good enough for now and the likes of such statements. This clearly shows that they have lost the edge over Aircel and Docomo who are raring to go in this field along with Airtel. However it is important to understand that if a consumer switches solely for the sake of 3G to another network and later realizes that the signal is not strong enough as his old network then he is likely to port back again.

So the game at stake is a combination of 3G, good voice network and mainly strong signal everywhere. Whatever it maybe, its celebration time for consumers as this is the point at which they can show their current host network how much they dislike their policies. And for mobile operators, TRAI has surely set a benchmark to perform properly and launch services on time. So from tomorrow you are officially free.

Tags: 3g, airtel, android, announcements, bandwidth, bangalore, bengaluru, blog, card, cellular, change, connectivity, data, features, gprs, gsm, HD gaming, karnataka, launch, migration, mnp, mobile, number, offerings, portability, products, provider, real time, services, sim, streaming, telco, video, video calling, voice, wifi

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you must by now know that I’m an avid gadget freak. I have reviewed many gadgets so far on this blog whenever I either had a chance to own them or use them. Here I am again this time with the review of a little beautiful gadget called the Olive Compacta – a single SIM GSM phone from Olive Telecom.

These are the days of complexity with too many smartphones in the market and the more features they provide, it also leads to poor battery life and an increased addiction to the apps provided on the platform. During times like these there is sometimes a craving to own something which has limited function and form, mainly the latter. You know the basic device that helps you do the basic thing – talking on the phone. Here is where the Olive Compacta steps in.

The last time I owned anything like this was the Panasonic A100 a compact little phone with soothing blue display. It was so small and easy to carry that people used to buy it for the form rather than for the function. The only grouse with that phone was poor voice transfer to the mic from the user and a rather unusable keypad. So much so you had to hurt your finger nails trying to use the piece. So without much ado, lets go to see what the Olive Compacta has to offer and whether its worth it.

For a full list of features this phone supports click here.

The VG1100 Olive compacta is sold as an affordable phone that is stylish, supports Hindi with alarm and polyphonic ringtones. Period. So how does this all stack up? Lets see.

The form factor is one of the most interesting aspects of this phone. Its absolutely cuddly, its real slim by any normal phone standards and even the circuitry inside is hardly visible. This makes the phone a very clean creation. The icing on the cake is the large buttons which is a very thoughtful addition. This in my opinion is a league ahead of the earlier panasonic A100 that I have used where this was the only sore point. While I used to hurt my finger nails with the Panasonic piece the Olive Compacta is very comforting in this aspect due to its large keys.

The side sports just one USB charging port, the backside has a nice matte finish which gives the necessary grip for users. The inside of the battery compartment and the phone in general is kept extremely clean with just the battery holder area and the sim holder area. Absolutely stunning design in its minimalism.

If you are expecting this phone to have many other features read the previous paragraphs again. This phone is affordable at Rs.879/- including taxes and other levies. It is no doubt stunningly stylish due to its slim nature. It has a hindi menu support which will cover most of north india assuming english is enough for the rest of the population. The polyphonic tones which are inbuilt are from popular movies but sound amazingly clear when the phone rings and at the same time are not obtrusive and do not disturb users. At the time of this writing I have not tested the alarm which is the only other promised functionality.

There are some other mentionable aspects while buying this phone. Particularly the customer service. As a long term online shopper since 1995 for almost 15 years, online shopping for what I need has almost become a 100% need for me in most cases. Unless otherwise I can just go to a nearby shop and get what I need. Call it geekiness or laziness, whichever way, I strongly believe internet is a medium where a product can be promoted in a much better way today as it reaches a lot of audience than what it used to few years ago. In tune with this need, Olive telecom allows online purchase of all their phone models directly on their website. By aligning with First Flight couriers who do a good job as well, Olive have established yet another set of weaponry of online deliveries stacking up against their nearest competitors like Micromaxx or Karbonn. This shows their attitude to keep up with the needs and expectations of the youth of the country and so also of the business minded individuals who literally live off what the internet has to offer them, me included. The phone also carries a one year warranty and the package contains an A3 sheet with full details of Olive’s service and sales centers in all major cities of India. The network of sales centers is really exhaustive and huge. Full marks to Olive on their delivery models and prompt service.

I will shortly update this post with battery life details and call quality aspects of the Olive Compacta. Till then, I am in love with my Compacta for now. Well done Olive. Keep them coming.

Tags: 2g, 3g, airtel, backlight, backlit, bangalore, battery, bengaluru, black, blog, BlogDesk, buy, charges, charging, compacta, courier, decrease, discounts, display, docomo, factor, first, flight, form, gprs, headphones, increase, karnataka, keypad, keys, large, live, mobile, mobile office, olive, online, port, purchase, rates, small, tata, telephony, usb, wap

Close on the heels of the impending 3G launch, Airtel has reduced the Mobile Office rates which were skyrocketing earlier to something much more lower now. Earlier MO was 30p per 20kB, and now its 30p per 50kB which essentially means about half as less as previously.

Additionally, the Airtel Live WAP portal which was free so long is now 30p per 20kB. Though we feel not many people use this portal, we are wrong. The youth is the target segment of this portal and there are groups of users who primarily download wallpapers, games, and music off this portal. Airtel just decided to tap revenue from this set of people and hence the paid mode. Of course it will also discourage non serious users to stop visiting this portal or alternatively make serious users go for 3G which is coming shortly.

Users already into some plan will not be changed to this mode until next six months. Take a look at the announcement to know more.

 

Tags: bengaluru, blog, bangalore, karnataka, airtel, 3g, 2g, gprs, wap, live, mobile office, rates, increase, decrease, discounts, charges, mobile, telephony

Auctions have always been BDA’s golden egg netting them more than the revenues normal site allotments can actually get them. Today BDA has announced e-auctions for sites in Uttarahalli and BSK 5th stage, which adds the much needed dimension for auctions, the electronic medium.

While many people do not have time to be at the auction venues each time, some depute other people on behalf of them. However, with e-auction comes not only some bit of transparency but also participating in an auction sitting on your desk!

check out the advt in TOI below:

What is interesting is that the initial bid per square meter is 39,000 rupees. Which means if we use conversions:

1 (square meter) = 10.7639104 square feet

This makes it Rs.3,635 per square feet, a whopping amount to pay up even for a 30×40 site (which works out to ~ 44 lakhs)

This shows BDA is clearly pushing brand bangalore and its corner site philosophy what with the FAR (floor area ratio) increased, as well as with some commercial possibilities in the offing. This then surely becomes a golden egg for both the BDA and the investors. Of course then this is only the starting price if one takes note of it and it can go anywhere between 4000 and 6000 per square feet making BDA a killing for its offering.

As the south western parts of Bengaluru improve in terms of connectivity to places like Whitefield and Electronics city, the areas have started commanding more and more money for the residential nature they offer. What then remains to be seen is how BDA goes forward into the next decade in terms of some serious thinking about long pending irritating issues like water supply, rain water harvesting, electricity supply, garbage disposal and transport facilities.

Tags: bangalore, bengaluru, bsk, 5th, bsk6, uttarahalli, happy valley layout, sites, e-auction, eauction, allotments, plots, land, real estate, south, west, kanakapura road, garbage, transport, water, khb, keb, bwssb, bbmp, bda, blog

 

Slow but steady, Airtel is finally catching on the heels of Tata Docomo to launch their 3g services in Bangalore next week coinciding with the festive season. This blog already had a post on the tariff structure for Docomo post paid 3G services. Compared to those costs, expect Airtel to be a tad bit higher with their offering.

Ushering in both MNP and 3G at the same time, Airtel is bound to attract a lot of new customers even though their customer service quality has deteriorated over the past few months to a year. This is primarily in the backdrop of the 2G scam and the telcos that are now on the firing line by the government. Though many telcos more than rival the features offered by Airtel, the scam will deal a severe blow to these people if they are found to be involved.

MNP itself will be an interesting trend which will redefine and pick out the cream out of the telcos by the next quarter. This will be the only differentiating factor as compared to services, which will define who truly is capable of being a respected telco for time to come.

 

Airtel has already listed the steps to enable other subscribers to move to Airtel on their website. Airtel promises real time HD gaming, live video streaming (which might in due course involve live TV), real time video calls, among other offerings. No doubts this will come at a cost, but India deserves atleast 3G in 2011 and 4G in 2012.TRAI surely is working hard to bring more and more streamlined operations in the telco space. With the introduction of 3G the possibilities suddenly seem endless, and the next boom of rural and urban reach would be defined by data usage rather than just voice calls. After having met and spoken to many people who have witnessed the demos at Airtel outlet as well as Airtel insiders who have used the service, their claim is that its blazingly fast, and steady and exciting to use.

So this festive season, look forward to Airtel 3G! Spread the cheer.

 

Tags: 3g, airtel, bandwidth, bangalore, bengaluru, cellular, change, data, features, gprs, gsm, HD gaming, karnataka, migration, mnp, mobile, number, offerings, portability, products, provider, real time, services, sim, streaming, telco, video, video calling, voice

Its about time since the last KHB announcement regarding allotments of sites and houses under the KHB Suryanagar scheme. Chowchowbath is pleased to power discussions on this subject further but on a special web portal specific to this venture from KHB.

You are welcome to sign up for discussions on KHB Suryanagar on this portal and air your views and suggestions and discuss in a more organized fashion on the developments. This is the soft launch of KHB Suryanagar.

Click here to sign up and start discussing. All the relevant information from this blog will be ported to the new portal in due course of time.

I hope you enjoyed participating on Chowchowbath, and would continue to be part of a more bigger, specific community which is dedicated to the cause of KHB Suryanagar. See you there!

 

Tags: allotment, anekal, announcements, bengaluru, blog, chandapura, chowchowbath, discussion, electronics city, flats, HIG, karnataka, khb, layout, LIG, lottery, MIG, papers, plot, sites, suryanagar

 

 

Today we celebrated the Karthigai festival. Its a festival of warmth, lamps, and light. Its a time to meet the family, spread the cheer, and generally be happy. To mark this occasion the following extract from Tamil Nadu tourism website is replicated here for people to understand the significance.

From tamil nadu tourism:

There is an interesting story explaining the link between Karthigai and lamps. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma began to quarrel as to who was the more powerful of the two. While they were fighting, Lord Shiva appeared before them in the form of a huge pillar of fire. Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma gave up quarrelling and decided to find the top and the bottom of the pillar.

Accordingly, Brahma assumed the form of a swan and moved upwards. Vishnu transformed himself into a boar and started digging deep into the earth. But even after searching for several years, neither of the two was able to find the ends the pillar. Finally, they realised that the pillar was none other than Lord Shiva.
Soon afterwards, Lord Shiva appeared as a hill (Arunachala Hill) at Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. Indeed, the very names `Tiruvannamalai’ and `Arunachala’ translate as `holy fire hill.’ The Shivalinga in the temple here is the agni linga. The tiny lamps lit during the Karthigai festival (Karthigai Deepam) are believed to be the miniature replicas of the fire linga. Every year thousands of devotees from Chennai and elsewhere flock to Tiruvannamalai to see the spectacular Karthigai Deepam there.