Rahul Always

The latest edition of Right Choice magazine has a basic comparison of all major DTH operators so members can also refer to my post made earlier regarding access to Right Choice online to decide. http://whichrightchoice.com/a-big-hit/ Regards Rahul

Unfortunately, whatever is stated above is true, at least 85% of it. The Chinese have penetrated the world wide network is ways unimaginable and have made their stealthy presence felt (or rather not felt) through out the world. Most of the pen drives that we all buy are supposed to contain trojans that cannot be detected by any AV software. It is supposed to sit resident till the time a user plugs it into his laptop or PC and then hunts for sensitive data which could contain specific terms like "defence", "secret", "official", "weapon" etc. These pen drives store these data and later on transmit them online to the Chinese hacker whenever plugged into a device connected to the internet. So for those users who believe in using pen drives and other data devices on their secure networks, they better beware of the harm in doing so. Even complete formatting or cleaning of these drives will not remove the malware is what has been stated. It is high time we woke up to this menace and make sure that we do not use pen drives / other storage devices while accessing / operating sensitive data. Regards Rahul

^^^ Has $89.95 as international shipping working out to close to 31K as cost.

@ Sadanand, considering you are in Thane, you may be considered to be "outside" Mumbai limits and therefore the compulsory rule set top boxes may not apply for you. This may be the reason why your cable operator has not approached you yet. However, I would still suggest speaking to your cable operator and confirming the same. @Mickeyforu, it would better to go for a DTH operator who is able to meet your requirements rather than basing your decision on strictly the costs. Most of the operators have similar priced base packs but the costs vary depending on the package that you finally opt for. I suggest comparing the various plans offered vis-a-vis the channels offered before jumping on to the bandwagon! Operators also offer channels as ala-carte so if you want a "particular" channel, that can always be opted for. Sun DTH is cheap but suffers from quality. Reliance Big TV, Airtel and Videocon are reasonably priced with similar quality. I think Dish TV too is reasonable in their costs. The costliest (as I have observed) is Tata Sky but their customer service is very reliable. With HD channels being offered these days, people with HD or HD ready TVs can look at opting for HD set top boxes rather than opting for SD boxes. One more option available is set top boxes with recording facility which again, most operators are offering. Finally, compare and take the plunge! It is worth it!

I am on Videocon D2H so the question of digital set top box does not arise for me !

^^^ I too was on the same 199 plan. Just now requested for shift to Rs 94 plan. I suggest you shift too! Definitely worth it! Half the cost and double the data!

I too just now called up CC to activate the plan. Luckily, it was available in the website so she took the request immediately. I was told it would be active from my next billing cycle (18 Oct) onwards so waiting. Thanks a lot to all who keep track of plans here! And glad to be a member of this wonderful forum. Regards Rahul PS: I was planning to switch over to pre-paid just to get the benefits of data plan 94. Now that is placed on hold!

Google launches free SMS service on Gmail in India Google has extended its free SMS chat service to Indian users. The Gmail SMS feature is now accessible to Indian users along with 51 other countries Asia, Africa and North America. Google had made this feature available to its users some African countries in 2011. Using the free Gmail SMS service users can send text messages to mobile phones using Gmail Chat. Responses to the SMSs will appear as replies in Gmail Chat and conversations will be stored in users' Chat history, like regular chats. This feature was activated for Indian users on October 10 and is available for regular Gmail users as well as those on Google Apps. In India the free Gmail SMS service is available on eight major mobile service operators: Aircel, Idea, Loop Mobile, MTS, Reliance, Tata DoCoMo, Tata indicom and Vodafone (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal & Andaman and Nicobar, Assam, North East). This feature is not yet available on the Google Talk app, also referred to as GTalk, installed on computers. Users are initially given a credit of fifty messages and for every message sent the credit decreases by one and for each message received in response to a text message sent via Gmail Chat, the user's credit increases by five, up to a maximum of 50. When the SMS credit goes down to zero, one credit is added after 24 hours. Google has built in the credit limit to prevent misuse of its free SMS service for marketing/spamming. Users can also 'buy' SMS credit, when they've run out of them, by sending a text message to their own phone and then by replying to that message. People who do not wish to receive SMSs sent from Gmail Chat can block future messages from the sender by replying to the message with the word 'BLOCK' and later if they wish to continue receiving messages they can reply to the message with 'UNBLOCK'. If Gmail Chat SMS recipients in India do not wish to receive any messages on SMS from any Gmail user, they can stop the service from sending them messages by texting 'STOP' to +918082801060. To reactivate the service they can SMS 'START' to the same number. To send an SMS from Gmail, on the Gmail Chat interface type the phone number you want to send an SMS to and click Send SMS and then add the recipient's name and country, then click Save. Then write in the message in the chat window and press Enter. While sending SMS from Gmail Chat to phones is free, responding to Gmail SMSs from the phone may incur standard SMS charges. Sources: IBN Live Economic Times Live Mint

^^^ Rajan bhai, net/net works for EVDO also since I have tried the same for my Reliance Netconnect+ USB Modem and am getting EVDO speeds even using that, in addition to MDN/MDN.

Should you buy the iPhone 4/4S now? Or even go for the iPhone 5? A very balanced view about the iPhone 5 - something which I liked Seriously, if we were in your place, we’d be buying the iPhone 4 / 4S now instead of reading this post. The good news is that Apple is launching iPhone 5 in India and as expected, the prices of iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S have been slashed. The bad news is the Apple phones are still out of reach for most of us. The new price of iPhone 4S is now Rs. 41,500 (down by Rs. 3000 from earlier Rs. 44,500) and the price of iPhone 4 (8GB) version has been slashed to Rs. 28,500 from earlier 37,900 – whopping difference of Rs. 9400. That said, we’re still looking for official price of iPhone 5 in India and we estimate it to cost just about half a lakh rupees. Apple die-hard fanboys – be ready to please your credit cards. Now, those numbers are still on the higher side for most of the smartphones available in India. Samsung’s recently launched pricy gadget, the Galaxy Note II is available for Rs. 40,000. If iPhone 5 retails for about Rs. 50k in India, it’d be the most costly phone available in Indian markets. Should you buy iPhone 5? Our honest answer is ‘no’. Actually, it’s not much of a decision if you’ve been following Apple iPhone 5 news. There are several ‘USP’ features that just won’t work in India and that includes the natural voice powered assistant ‘Siri’ and the Maps. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook’s already said ‘Sorry’ to the users for the big iOS Maps mess. We strongly believe that if you *must* buy an iPhone, you should go with the iPhone 4S or even better then iPhone 4. You now have a decent hardware and a good operating system at an affordable price and you won’t lose ‘much’ from iPhone 5. iPhone 3GS has been discontinued already. We’re still looking for the iPhone 5 launch date in India – and it’s estimated that the phone will come around the Diwali season – the time of the year when Indians open their wallets. That’d be a perfect timing for the iPhone 5 to arrive in India, but the estimated price makes us bit uncomfortable. We’ll of course keep you updated with news and our advices. So stay tuned for more. Source

Many thanks, +1, is there a way to download the archives for offline reading? Well I am not sure if there is a way because frankly I have not read much of the archives. Someone out here who has actually tried could answer to the query. Anyway, I have access so why not everyone!

I had already posted this in another post in the same forum but then think it should ideally be here so re-posting it for the benefit of all. For those interested.... here is the user id and password for Rightchoice magazine archives. You may all browse to heart's content Username: RCHOICE1622767 Password: 2VNByg!g7FPp http://whichrightcho...om/wp-login.php Sorry for the awkward password. It is generated by the site and I have no way to change it!

Hong Kong tycoon Cecil Chao offers $65M to wed lesbian daughter A Hong Kong billionaire has offered a "marriage bounty" of $65 million for a man to marry his daughter. Property developer and shipping magnate Cecil Chao Sze-tsung made the offer after his daughter Gigi Chao reportedly wed her lesbian partner. The South China Morning Post reports that Cecil Chao, who has never married himself, launched the campaign to find a husband for his 33-year-old Hong Kong socialite daughter Gigi Chao, after she reportedly shocked him with the news that she had completed a civil partnership marriage with her lesbian partner of seven years, Sean Eav, in Paris, France. According to News.com, Gigi announced her marriage to Sean Eav at an event in Beijing, China. Gigi Chao runs a modelling, public relations and marketing company Haut Monde Talent. CNBC reports that Gigi is also an executive director of Cheuk Nang Holdings, a development company run by her father. She said her father, Cecil Chao, "loves her very much," and had informed her of the offer before the Chinese media reported it. According to CNN, after the media carried the report that she had married her lesbian partner, Gigi declined to confirm it, saying she was "not in a position to verify that." Cecil Chao, however, told CNN that reports that his daughter married a lesbian partner are not true. He said: "It's a rumor." However, he confirmed his offer of $65 million for any man who would woo his daughter and marry her. According to Cecil, the suitor could be of any nationality provided he "loves my daughter, and she loves him." BBC reports he said, "It is an inducement to attract someone who has the talent but not the capital to start his own business. I don't mind whether he is rich or poor. The important thing is that he is generous and kind-hearted. Gigi is a very good woman with both talents and looks. She is devoted to her parents, is generous and does volunteer work." Reacting to the news of her father's "marriage bounty" on her, Gigi said she found her father's proposal "quite entertaining." BBC reports she said she would not worry about her father's offer until a suitor has actually been found. Gigi's response to the question whether she would consider a suitor her father offers was a cryptically non-committal "we will see." New.com, however, reports Gigi said her father has "an interesting interpretation of me. Sometimes people just refuse to accept what they are told. Let time be the witness." Cecil Chao is evidently in denial about his daughter's lesbian orientation. The Christian Post reports that same-sex marriage is not legally recognized in Hong Kong and France allows civil partnerships but not gay marriage Cecil Chao, however, said he would not force his daughter to marry against her will. CNBC reports that a reader commenting in The South China Morning Post, said: "How humiliating for this poor girl... Mr. Chao needs to come out of denial and just be happy that he has such a beautiful daughter who appears to have found happiness with a partner whom she loves. Congratulations." Gigi Chao, who has an architecture degree from the University of Manchester in the UK, posted on her Facebook page: "I would like to announce that i suddenly received a whole bunch of followers on my twitter account which i never use." Another post said: "it's also quite scary that my friend requests number keeps jumping up every few seconds." She eventually posted: "No longer accepting facebook friend requests... sorry." The 76-year-old tycoon has never been married, CNN reports. According to the South China Morning Post, he has the reputation of a "playboy tycoon" and once boasted that he has slept with 10,000 women. According to NBC News, Gigi is the first of three children that Chao had with different women. Source Any takers from the RIMWEB family?? Lots at stake here!

I have purchased Granny Smith (strictly based on the recommendations above), Office Pro and Angry Birds Space. Will download them later using wifi rather than waste my EVDO data!

I have a small doubt here. Even though when I go to Google Play, it shows the price as Rs. 13.35, when I initiate purchase, it indicates as $ 0.25 and am finally charged 13.93 per transaction. Can someone help me out where I can pay directly in Rupees and not be charged instead as exchange rate of dollars? I am using Google play from my laptop and NOT from my mobile. I also tried using my Indian Spice Android phone as the destination and still am being charged in dollars. Strange and not sure what I should do. Regards Rahul PS: Even though the difference here is not much, in other transactions, there would definitely be much more of a change and so interested in getting to the root (!) of the issue. And even as I paid for it, I got a call from my card company asking whether I am the one actually initiating purchases in Dollars on Google! Proactive indeed!

Looks like Parin bhai is making a killing pandering to the iSheep! Well congratulations Parin!

One more issue added to the bandwagon... from a totally unexpected place I must admit Apple launched the latest version of iOS this week, including an iPad alarm clock application featuring analogue faces. Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, the federal train operator in Switzerland, claims that these clock faces infringe a copyright design created for the organisation in 1955 by Hans Hilfiker. The minimal design has become a national icon and is now licensed by Mondaine as a wrist watch. SBB spokesman Christian Ginsig told Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeigerthat the alleged use of the clock proved that it was a "true designer piece" and that the discovery had been a "joy". However, he also said that it was unauthorised and that SBB would be talking to Apple. An SBB spokesman said: "We are in contact with Apple to seek together an agreement about the rights." Apple was not available for comment at the time of writing. Apple accused of copying Swiss clock design in iOS6

It would be sad indeed if Apple, in its hurry to push across the iPhone 5, actually sold a half baked product. Initially, the absolutely bad mapping software was what was being discussed worldwide. People gloated over Apple tripping over its own feet as it attempted to run even before it could walk. In spite of all that, the die hard Apple fan still accepted the flaws as "natural" considering that Apple had just ventured into the big bad world, all alone, after having held onto the little finger of Google for so long. However, with defects being observed on the casing, leakage of light, antenna issues etc, the hardware does not seem as lucrative any more. Would people switch to other brands and would Apple take a beating? Much as I despise Apple for its closed door approach, I still respected the company for the quality that was evident. I am forced to no longer share that view if what has been projected here is true. Apple better pull up its own socks and concentrate more on their own product quality rather than on law suits to sell phones. Or else, they would have to win all the cases that they file against rivals, so that no one else can compete with them anymore! Only time would tell.

The Green robot has 'grown' from a cute cupcake to a jelly bean! Great going indeed! Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

Barfi Amazing movie. Loved every minute of it. Ranbir is truly wonderful as was Priyanka Chopra. The second heroine, new comer looks good too. 4 1/2 * from my side. Watched it at Big Cinema in Mumbai. Loved the national anthem Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

Well first of all, the post was not aimed at hurting anyone. What I meant (and said too) was that people would express opinions and opposite views should be accepted. I said there is nothing to get defensive or hurt about others' opinions since we all are users and not the inventor of the phone. Having said that, if my words hurt, it was unintentional and sincere apologies.

Ha ha discussion means talking about all the "good" points only! No comparisons, no talking about the bad points, no criticisms (how can you?? ) ! Right? Well any discussion about iOs and Apple is bound to have its share of brickbats and bouquets. One needs to accept the plus and minuses as part of any OS or any phone! Nothing to get super sensitive or defensive about. I am sure YOU didn't invent the iPhone!

I too have purchased. Thanks

It will cost 2-3% of the quoted price, if you just travel to but from any part of the world. Well looks like ebay encourages false bidding. I cant imagine anyone bidding 50 Lakhs for a phone worth not more than 60K! Wonder who the winner is going to be!

For those interested.... here is the user id and password for the magazine archives. You may all browse to heart's content Username: RCHOICE1622767 Password: 2VNByg!g7FPp http://whichrightcho...om/wp-login.php Sorry for the awkward password. It is generated by the site and I have no way to change it!