Your Mobile phone will replace your cash and credit cards!! [NFC 101]

This is what you will be able to do with your mobile phone by 2013-2014:

• Very soon, rather than swiping your credit card, just wave your phone at a payment terminal when you shop.
• Use your mobile for paying your train / bus pass, while shopping or any place where you use your credit and debit card.
• Your mobile phone would act as credit or debit card, a subway pass and perhaps, even a movie ticket.
• Business owners can use this Near Field Communication technology (called as NFC) for reading tags for inventory management.
• When you meet your friend and want some information from his phone simply activate NFC feature and transfer loads of information in matter of minutes.
• NFC lets mobile device owners wave a phone over a short-range wireless receiver or tap the device to make a purchase.

NFC: A Primer

NFC is a newer wireless mobile technology that allows devices to communicate with each other over short distances.  These devices can be 2 mobile phones, a mobile phone and payment terminal or rather they can be any two devices where NFC chip is installed. Data transfer between the devices occurs through one of two means: either a short wave or, as is more common, a touch or tap.

NFC : Use Cases

Near frequency communication is used in three modes, each mode has different use cases
1. Card emulation: the NFC device behaves like an existing contactless card
Example use case: Mobile ticketing: Mobile Phone Boarding Pass.
2. Reader mode: the NFC device is active and reads a passive RFID tag, for example for interactive advertising.
Example use case: Debit/credit payment card. Smart poster: the device used to read RFID tags on outdoor billboards.
3. P2P mode: two NFC devices communicating together and exchanging information.
Example use case: Alternative to Bluetooth pairing, just bring 2 mobile near to each other.

NFC: When is it coming?

• The practice is widespread in Japan and has gained momentum in Europe, but adoption in the U.S. has been slow moving but steadily catching pace.
• MasterCard’s PayPass already uses NFC and any cell phone that has NFC can use MasterCard PayPass.

Current Status of NFC Implementation

- Samsung S5230 NFC,
- Google Nexus
- Nokia C7-00
-  Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM, confirmed the company’s plans to include NFC in its devices at the Mobile World Congress in February 2011.
- 2012 Olympics in London will be the first major event where mobile payment systems using NFC will be used for ticketing purposes.
- 53% of smartphones by 2015 would be NFC enabled and this technology would be more secure than physical debit/credit cards.

Mobile technology is going to get more exciting!

· Your mobile phone is going to a get more valuable because it would be used as alternative to cash and any type of cards along with chatting and SMSing your friends.
· The power of mobile computing is going to re-define the way we do things today and improve them superbly.
Get ready to be a part of this rapid transformation by mobile technology in our routine business eco-system!

Dummies guide to opening blocked sites [tested at NIT Agartala]

First how to open TOR website, if its blocked..

now installing tor

Microsoft tag reader for smartphones

I was reading the India Today dated 25 May and found found something cool. They were offering free photos from the movie dum maaro dum. But then urls can we used by anyone. So the used a "tag". To use it we had to download a tag reader from www.gettag.mobi
On opening it redirected me to the android market to app Microsoft tag reader. It was surprisingly fast in reading Code (tag). On my lower end Samsung galaxy pop i have not been able to use barcode readers to read barcodes or qr codes. But this app was cool. The app asked me if i wanted to complete action using default stock browser or opera mini. On opera mini it redirected me to a Microsoft site then to a India Today url..
But if someone shares link on fb or twitter ??? ;-) :-P lol

ANDROID MOBILES FOR LESS THAN 10K

Fly Mobile To Launch Four Android Phones in India
First it was Micromax and now it is Fly. It seems phone manufacturers are warming up to the idea of android phone priced below 15k Rupees..They may have taken some inspiration from Samsung, LG, HTC and Acer, all of who have launched android based smartphones in the same segment .Huawei too launched an android based low cost model, called the Ideos, in February earlier this year.
The segment of phone which is below 10K Rupees is particularly interesting as it has around 80% of all phones available in India. And as phone manufacturers clearly see India as a volumes market, this is where phone manufacturers can make a real impact on their growth.

UK based company Fly, has announced its plans to foray into the Indian android phone market with 4 new phones slated for release. The phones will be priced between 7k and 10k Rupees. What is interesting here is that Fly promises to put emphasis on the video and media capabilities of the phone (all of these phones will have 5 MP camera and will run on Android 2.2).

Considering that 3G services are currently being rolled out in the country and will be complete nearing the end of the year, this strategy of releasing these phones in the third quarter of the year will definitely prove advantageous. Fly is also looking at launching its India centric app store that it plans to roll out later this year.

Looking at the gusto with which phone manufacturers are looking at low cost android phones, it wouldn’t be surprising if you see more phone makers enter into the most lucrative mobile sector in the world. Android has created a stir in high end smartphone market and there’s no reason why it can’t do the same in the low end sector.

EMERGENCY SMS WITH AUTOMATIC MAP AND DETAILS

SMS is considered to be an out of date tool by many, but one cannot ignore the obvious benefits that it brings…its a simple communication tool that when rightly used can even save lives!!!
One Touch SOS harnesses the complete power of sms combined with location services to send pre-configured alerts that contain a message and location to your buddies or family at the click of a single button.
The app is amazingly simple to use and offers a quick setup of all details , a message that is to be sent, and phone numbers of your friends and family( 3 contacts can be selected).

The app will also automatically detect your location and include it in the sms to be sent along with a time stamp.
Another feature that ( is not included but ) can be added by the developer, is that the GPS should get activated automatically to give an even more accurate location reading. This app is highly recommended for senior citizens and users with serious ailments, it will definitely save you some valuable seconds in case of an emergency.
The application can be downloaded here ont touch sos
Do give the app a spin and share your comments

ZAMZAR.COM

We usually see a lot of videos on youtube and other sites but downloading it becomes a problem...and if downloaded also their format doesnt match your phone or ipod k formats and u get into a messy situation
To avoid this there is a online software which u dont need to install but just use directly online zamzar
This not only allows you to get your videos into your mail but also in your preffered format!!Its dumdaar!!!
Another problem is limited range of email memory...Mostly it gives 2.5 or 3mb and in some rare cases 10 mb...but using an application filepegion we can send upto 100mb at a time without any security issues...trusted site..

this was one of the coolest sites i came across and i rate it a 4/5
Oh yeah i completely forgot somethin....video to audio convertor..
You watch a video song on youtube,you love it and u want only the audio part..
Go to vidtomp3 NOTE its exclusively for youtube..
now enjoy folks ;)

Easiest way to open blocked sites

Most people might have observed opening blocked sites to be a bit of hassle, especially sites like youtube, metacafe, etc if they are blocked..

An easy way is to use TOR

If you are unable to open the site TOR, try opening by this small hack

Then, for Windows users, download tor browser bundle.run the .exe file. a folder is extracted. run tor from inside it.. it'll take a long time,upto 5 minutes, on first run. but using this u can't open flash content.. to open flash content u have to install plugin to the tor mozilla alpha version, which it won't allow.. so u have to copy paste the folder from another mozilla folder to tor's plugins folder

Similar is process for linux users..

TOR is not for using just blocked sites, it also hides your ip, so your identity is somewhat protected. If used in combination with a MAC(hardware address) spoofer, it can work wonders!

One word of caution though, if you've less than 20KBps downlink don't use tor as then speed would be too slow. Then even proxy sites will be slow. experience says tor is faster than proxy sites..

If you want to use facebook from behind a proxy or gateway, it will ask you to confirm your identity by identifying friends' pics.if they have random pics tagged you won't be able to identify them easily and may not be able to access facebook (:

Enjoy!!

GOOGLE WITH GESTURE COMMANDS

Google is known to innovate at a rate faster than the rate of child-birth in India. The company which wears the crown of launching services like Google Goggles and Google Translate is now launching a new service called Gmail Motion.

According to Google blog, "Gmail Motion uses your computer's built-in webcam and Google's patented spatial tracking technology to detect your movements and translate them into meaningful characters and commands. Movements are designed to be simple and intuitive for people of all skill levels."

However Google warns that there can be some risks involved, "Using Gmail Motion is not only safe but also healthy and fun. As with any physical activity, certain precautions are recommended. First, make sure to clear the area around you. Second, try to take short breaks every 30-40 minutes, just as you would if you were typing. And finally, take time to stretch after each session to give the muscles you'll be using some relief."

FUTURISTIC:Battery-less mobile phones!!!!

A research team from Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, has discovered a method of using common body movements to generate power for LCD displays, radio signal transmissions and diodes.
The ultimate goal of the research is to find a method to use body movements to power medical devices that would reside within the body.
The technique could also be used to charge portable electronics such as iPods and cell phones.

"This development represents a milestone toward producing portable electronics that can be powered by body movements without the use of batteries or electrical outlets," said Zhong Lin Wang, the lead scientist of the project.
"Our nanogenerators are poised to change lives in the future. Their potential is only limited by one’s imagination," Zhong added.

The research is still in the early stages, but once it’s fully developed, it may be used in personal electronics items which would not require any batteries at all. This will help companies to make even smaller iPods and cell phones.

The technology uses zinc oxide nanowires to generate power from usual body movements. Even heart beats can generate power. In order to generate current, millions of nanowires are used in a nanogenerator. These are so small that 500 of them could fit in one human hair.
The voltage created by five nanogenerators matches that of two AA batteries. The nanowires could even be used in clothing in future to create current from body movements. In future, a person may decide to charge his phone by climbing stairs.

Magic GOOGLE phone number

You are in a new city or a new location in your own city where you
Are lost
Are searching for a mall/pizza joint or any other landmark
The place is new and you dont wanna ask someone and look lost to them.
What have you got? THE MAGIC IS IN YOUR HANDS RE...THE MOBILE PHONE!!
Its the ultimate helper in every case..just a message feature workin in your mobile makes you the king/queen of the world!!

GOOGLE has introduced a phone number that you can send sms to and you will get the instant search results.
The magic number is "9773300000"
You send a message like "define computer" then ot gives you 2 or 3 meanings as reply message.
Message costs will be same as your normal mesag costs and if u have a messgae pack then the message will go from it only not your main balance!
Works 24 hours and is very efficient.
But forget not few keywords
1."Define" for any meanings or definations
2."Time place" for any place k timings
3."Jokes" for jokes
4."Location landmark" for finding a landmarked address
Knowing usage of basic terms always serves a higher purpose..
Remember to store the magic number into your contacts...will come handy anytime...
even for cabs in deserrted areas!!!!

Accessing files of a password loccked computer

You want to copy some files from a friend/fiend's computer...but the computer is password protected...you donno the password...i know the solution!!!
There's a simple but thoda sa work involved process..
This process is called USB HACKING in many places...so lets continue the legacy:
Open your computer which you can access and install UBUNTU( may br 9.0 or any other version) into your pendrive.
Restart the locked computer and directly go ti BIOS options while the pendrive is plugged in.
There enable boot sequence from USB.
Once the installation is done the hard disk data is all yours!!!!

can try for fun but not for somethin thats not permitted!!!!
enjoy the day folks;)

brain-computer interface

A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) provides a new communication channel between the human brain and the computer.The 100 billion neurons communicate via minute electrochemical impulses, shifting patterns sparking like fireflies on a summer evening, that produce movement, expression, words. Mental activity leads to changes of electrophysiological signals. The BCI system detects such changes and transforms it into a control signal . In the case of cursor control, for example, the signal is transmitted directly from the brain to the mechanism directing the cursor, rather than taking the normal route through the body's neuromuscular system from the brain to the finger on a mouse. By reading signals from an array of neurons and using computer chips and programs to translate the signals into action, BCI can enable a person suffering from paralysis to write a book or control a motorized wheelchair or prosthetic limb through thought alone Many physiological disorders such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or injuries such as high-level spinal cord injury can disrupt the communication path between the brain and the body. This is where brain computer interface comes into play contributing for beneficial real time services and applications .

What is Brain Computer Interface

The Wonder Machine – Human Brain

The reason a BCI works at all is because of the way our brains function. Our brains are filled with neurons, individual nerve cells connected to one another by dendrites and axons. Every time we think, move, feel or remember something, our neurons are at work. That work is carried out by small electric signals that zip from neuron to neuron as fast as 250 mph. The signals are generated by differences in electric potential carried by ions on the membrane of each neuron. Although the paths the signals take are insulated by something called myelin, some of the electric signal escapes. Scientists can detect those signals, interpret what they mean and use them to direct a device of some kind. It can also work the other way around. For example, researchers could figure out what signals are sent to the brain by the optic nerve when someone sees the color red. They could rig a camera that would send those exact signals into someone's brain whenever the camera saw red, allowing a blind person to "see" without eyes.