How to : Make your iPad 3G to work with other Sim cards

If you are reading this article, you must have bought an iPad recently. If you bought the 3G version, you might be wondering how to use it to connect to your country's mobile operator. This article will help you to set your iPad to work with a SIM from a GSM operator in India. Continue reading to see how...


What you need :
.3G iPad, any storage capacity
.A template of a micro SIM (also known as the 3FF SIM). If you bought your ipad from the US, it comes with an AT&T Micro Sim inside it and you can use this as a size template.

Note that the SIM that you will use to place in the iPad needs to be preactivated for Data (3g or GPRS) and you should have the APN name from your service provider. I am listing the few APN names that I know in the article. The names listed below are not hacks and will not give you free internet. Data plan has to be enabled on your SIM by your service provider. It has to be activated seperately on your SIM. If you have any updated info, please let me know and I will update the same in my article.

The link below gives a detailed video on how to cut the standard SIM to the Micro SIM size (since the micro SIM and the Standard SIM share the same electrical connectors). It's pretty detailed, so I need not waste any more time explaining it.

Cut your Sim to Micro Sim
Video Courtesy : www.engadet.com

Or you can buy a SIM cutting tool from cutmysim.com for about $30

On your iPad, goto : Settings -> Cellular Data -> APN Settings

Here, you need to enter the APN settings of your service provider.
Note : Don't place "www." before the apn names). Your best bet for the right APN name would be the customer care. I cannot test all of them myself and the APN name can vary between a prepaid and a postpaid.
#Airtel :
APN: airtelgprs.com
DNS: 202.56.240.5 & 202.56.230.5

#MTNL 3g : One of the following APN would work :
APN: pps3g, ppshsdpa, mtnl3g, mtnlhsdpa
Proxy: 172.16.31.10
username: mtnl
password: mtnl123

#Idea Cellular
APN: internet
DNS: 10.4.42.15
username: guest
password:guest

#BSNL
APN: celloneportal
DNS: 192.168.051.163
Username: guest
Password: guest

# Tmobile (USA)
APN: epc.tmobile.com

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Apple iPhone 3GS vs iPhone 4

Since my coverage of the Apple WWDC is purely technical and very descriptive, I will attempt to cover the differences between an Apple iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 in this seperate article.

. Name : iPhone 3GS vs iPhone 4
. Price : $99 for 8GB vs $199 for 16gb (on contract)

. Body : Glass Front Metal Back VS Glass on Front & Back with Steel Border (Part of Antenna) running around body
. Processor : 600MHz, Cortex-A8 vs Apple A4
. Display : 3.5-inch 480 x 320, no IPS vs 3.5-inch IPS 960 x 640

. Pri Camera : 3 megapixel AF vs 5 megapixel AF with LED flash
. Sec Camera : None vs Front facing VGA camera
. Video Rec : VGA@30fps with basic editing Vs 720p@30fps, optional $4.99 iMovie
app

. Cell Radio : Quadband GSM, triband HSPA Vs Quadband GSM, quadband HSPA
. Wifi : 802.11b/g Vs 802.11b/g/n

. Dir Sensors : Accelerometer & Compass Vs Accelerometer, Compass & 3 Axis gyroscope
. Video Call : Not supported Vs Via Front or Rear facing camera via Wifi

. Sim Type : Standard Sized Sim vs Micro Sim
. Batt Life : Upto 2 hours more talktime than on iPhone 3GS

. Weight : 135 grams Vs 137 Grams (though it's slimmer)
. Dimensions : 115.5 x 62.1 x 12.3mm Vs 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3mm

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Apple WWDC Coverage

..Apple WWDC event
. 5,200 attendees
. 57 Countries
. Sold out in 8 days

..iPad is Magical!!!
. Steve reads out one email from a user : "I was sitting in a cafe with my ipad and it got a girl interested in me. Now that's what I call a magical device"
. One iPad sold every 3 seconds
. 19 Countires by July end
. 8500 Native iPad apps + Iphone apps
. 5M ebooks downloaded in first 65 days
. Apple holds 22% share of total eBook sales

..App Store
. Two platforms supported. HTML 5 & App Store
. 225,000 apps
. 5 Billion downloads crossed
. $1 Billion paid to developers
. 15k App approval submissions a week in 30 diff languages
. 95% of all apps submitted are approved within 7 days
. Netflix App for iPhone to be out this summer (for free) and there will be seamless integration between the iPhone and iPad. You can resume on the other device where you left off from the first device). It will work on 3g and wifi and can seamlessly switch between the two without affecting video
. Farmville (cough cough) is launched today for the iPhone. It will sync with user's facebook farm profile. Farmville has over 70m active users and have raised over $2million for Haiti. Withering crops can now push notifications. It will be available end of June
. Guitar Hero has come with a revamped version for the iPhone & Ipod Touch. Interface is totally awesome. Available for $2.99


..iPhone 4
. 100 New Features
. New Design. Scratch resistant Glass on front & Back, Steel Around the sides
. 24% thinner than iPhone 3GS (officially the thinnest smartphone at 9.3mm)
. Front facing camera
. Micro Sim tray
. Backside : 5 megapixcel Camera, 5x digital zoom, tap to focus & LED flash
. Camera can record HD video (720p@ 30fps) and new iMovie app for iPhone ($4.99)
. Facetime: Video calling supported on Wifi only in 2010. From iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 without any new setup. Will support potrait and landscape modes. Works on open standards.
. Noice Cancellation Dual Mics
. The usual Quad Band HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps, WiFi n band, GPS, Compass, Accelerometer and upto 32GB of storage
. New Addition : A 3 axis Gyroscope which when integrated with the other sensors makes iPhone a six axis motion sensor
. Thin Balck Bands on the side : Part of the antenna system
. New Retina display : 326 pixcels per inch. Four times the earlier pixel density amount
. Display : 3.5inch, IPS technology, (better than OLED) 960 X 640 display with 800:1 Contrast ratio (4x better than 3GS)
. Powered by A4 chip
. Bigger battery with 7 hours of 3G talktime, 6 hours of 3G browsing, 10 hours of Wifi Browsing or Video, 40 hours of Music and 300 hours of standby
. Available in two colors : Black & White
. Pricing : $199 for 16GB & $299 for 32GB
. AT&T offer : If user's contract expiring anytime in 2010, you can upgrade to iPhone 4 upto 6 months early.
. iPhone 3GS now to be priced at $99
. Sell date : June 24th (US, France, Germany, UK, Japan). In July, 18 more countries will be added)
. Pre Orders start June 15th





.. iOS4
. Multitasking
. Folder support
. Will not support 1st Gen iPhone & 1st Gen iPod Touch
. iPhone 3G model would not support all the features of iOS4
. Current iPod Touch users wil get upgrade for free (June 21st)
. Retina DIsplay integration
. Mail : Unified Inbox & Threading
. Enhansed camera & Photo apps
. Deeper Enterprise support
. Better Data Protection
. Multiple Exchange acocunts & Support for Exchange 2010
. Wireless App Distribution
. Mobile device Management
. SSL VPN Support
. Bing Search being added
. iBooks part of iOS4
. iAd - A new way for developrs to earn revenue

..iAds
. Emotion + Interactivity
. iAds keep user in the App
. Built in iOS4
. Apple sells & hosts the ads
. Revenues -> Developers
. Some Partner brands : Nissan, Citi, Uniliver, AT&T, Chanel, GE, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Geico, Campbells, Sears, JC Penny, Target, Best Buy, Direct TV, TBS, and Disney
. Advertisers have committed to $60m for iAds
. iAd will be turned on on all iOS4 devices on July 1st

Click here for comparison of iPhone 4 with iPhone 3GS

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My Gadget List : Reviews you should look forward to

These are the gadgets I own and I would be posting my experience as soon as I can come up with them.

> Audio :
# Yamaha TSS-10 DolbyDigital/DTS 5.1 Receiver and Speaker Set
# iPod Touch 8gb
# iPod 512MB Shuffle First Generation
# iPod 2GB Shuffle Second Generation
# iPod Nano 2GB First Generation
# Harman Kardon DP 1US Drive and Play In-Vehicle Interface and Controller
# Pyramid PB448 Reno Series - 800Watt 4 Channel Car Audio Amplifier
# Soomoku Neodymium Car Speaker Set (Midrange and Tweeter)
# Soomoku 12" Subwoofer
# Coby CX-9 Mini Digital AM/FM Stereo Pocket Radio
# Philips SHN2500/37 Noise-Canceling Earbuds
# Apple Universal Dock for iPod
# Olympus VN3100 Digital Voice Recorder

> Video
# Samsung 40" HD LCD TV (LA40A550P1)
# Vizio 37" HD LCD TV (VOJ370F1A )
# Sony 26" HD Ready LCD TV (KLV26S400A)
# Samsung DVD-P475 DVD Player
# Radio Shack Wireless Video and IR Transmitter & Receiver Combo

> Gaming Machine
# Nintendo Wii
# Nintendo Wii Fit

> Picture
# Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder
# Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera
# Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
# Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor Lens
# Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash
# Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control for Nikon D40
# Coby DP-769 7-Inch Widescreen Digital Photo Frame with MP3 Player

> Computer
# LaCie 1TB D2 NAS Device
# TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G Broadband Router
# Apple Mac Mini Desktop 2007 Model
# Apple Mac Mini Desktop 2010 Model
# Asus Eee PC 2G Surf Netbook
# HP NX5000 Laptop
# HP Mini 1150NR Netbook
# Viliv X70 Handheld Tablet PC
# Dell D520 Laptop (Office)
# Lenovo Thinkpad T60 (Office)
# Apple Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard Kit
# Apple Magic Mouse (Touch Panel Version)
# Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
# Apple Airport Express Wireless Router
# D Link Gigabit Switch DGS-2205
# D Link Ethernet Router EBR-2310
# Vonage VOIP Router
# Western Digital MyBook Essential 500GB External HardDrive

> Mobile Phone
# Apple iPhone 4
# HTC Tytn II (aka HTC Tilt)
# Asus P320
# Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset

> Satellite TV / Radio
# Big TV DTH
# Airtel DTH
# Worldspace BPL

> GPS
# HP iPaq hw6590
# Garmin eTrex Legend

> Security
# Directed Electronics
# Viper 791 XV 2 way Car Alarm/Remote Start System
# Motorola TalkAbout T5320 2-Way Radio(Pair) Walkie Talkie Set

> Misc
# ScanGauge II 3-in-1 Compact OBD-II Scanner & Display
# Terk Technologies LF-IRX Leapfrog Remote Control Extender
# Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote Control
# APC Hi800SQ Home UPS

Click here to expand & read the full article!!!

ScanGauge II 3-in-1 Compact OBD-II Scanner & Display

Buy Date : May 28, 2009
Price : $160
From : Amazon.Com
Contents : DIsplay unit, OBD II Cable

For the benefit of others, I will first describe what is an OBD II device, why is it related to a car and what are the uses.

Vehicles now are not what they used to be. The electronics inside your car are now rivaling that of a full fledged computer. The on board computer monitors your fuel flow, your engine, air intake, temperature etc and all this data flows from the various sensors to the car computer. This network of info inside the car is called CAN, a Car Area Network. Obviously car manufacturers need to give an interface so that they can connect to this network to pull out vital diagnostic info. This interface is typically located under the steering column, somewhere near the knee position of the driver. If you google OBD II on Google, you can see what it looks like. Various devices can connect to this port to pull out info from your car's computer... like.. Real Time milage, Various temperatures, Oxygen sensor readings, Vehicle trouble codes etc.

The ScanGaugeII is a compact vehicle computer that connects to the diagnostic connector in seconds and gives you an extensive trip computer, real time gauges and trouble code reader. It can read fuel economy as you drive, tell you how fast your friend drove your car last night, tell you when you are going to run out of fuel and dozens of other functions. Installation takes only seconds and requires no tools. It can be moved from car to car. Works on gas, diesel, propane, and hybrid vehicles. The ScanGaugeII works on all OBDII protocols including the new CAN protocol.

The digital gauges are for fuel economy, fuel rate, digital speedometer, tachometer, manifold pressure, battery voltage, coolant temperature, intake air temperature, engine load, ignition timing, throttle position, and open/closed loop. You can display any choice of 4 of these digital gauges on the gauge screen at one time and it's easy to cycle through them. Not all vehicles will report every one of the above parameters through the OBDII interface. If the data is not available for the chosen gauge, then there will be no display.

My Review :

It did all that was described in the user manual. I liked that fact that I could change the metric system from Miles to Km, Gallon to Litre etc. The build quality was good, the cable was lengthy enough and the two input ports really help when deciding on a place to mount. Though it promises to work on all OBDII conforming cars, it did not work on 2005 Suzuki Swift. In fact it triggered an engine fault light on this cars dashboard. I had to disconnect it and wait overnight for the engine fault light to reset. It otherwise had no issues with other cars. I tested it on Dodge, Ford and Nissan models.
I wish I could connect the device to my computer and get reports and I wish it was priced cheaper. There are other brands that can be connected to a computer to generate reports for much less...
This two factors would have made me give it a 5 star. When you want to see how your engine has changed over time, you really need to see a historical chart or have something to compare it with...

# Programmable 3-in-1 Vehicle trip computer, diagnostic scan tool, and up to 37 digital gauges in one (OBD II vehicles only)

# Watch fuel consumption, cost-per-mile, coolant temperature, engine speed, horsepower, and much more in real time

# Works on all 1996 or newer OBDII cars, including gas, diesel and hybrid vehicles. Check vehicle manual or look under the steering wheel area for the OBDII port. Look where your knee would typically be while seated in drivers seat)

# Checks for Diagnostic Trouble Codes, clears the codes, and can turn off the "Check Engine" light

# No tools required for installation, small size fits nearly anywhere in the vehicle

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Apple WWDC Event

Apple WWDC Event Crux...

What new things has Apple brought in today? This is a crux of the day's event at WWDC where Apple showcased the new iPhone 3G(s), existing product enhancements and features of Snow Leopard and iPhone OS.3


Macbook Pro
> Upto 7 hours of battery life. Battery estimated to last 5 years. Lithium Polymer technology
> New SD card slot instead of the ExpressCard slot
> 15", 2.53 GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 250GB HDD, 9400M Graphics - $1699
> 13" Gets added to Macbook Pro line.
> 13", 2.26GHz, 2GB DDR3, 9400M Graphocs, 160GB HDD - $1199


MacBooks
> Upto 7 hours Battery life
> New SD card slot
> Backlit Keyboard is not standard


Macbook Air
> 1.86GHz, 2GB DDR3 Ram, 9400M Graphics, 120GB HDD now at $1499 (a whole $700 drop)


OS X - Snow Leopard
> Exchange Support to Snow Leopard. Will support Mail, Calendar and Address Book but will require Exchange 2007 server.
> Expose is now built into the Dock
> New Installs are 45% faster and half the footprint of previous version. (6GB of space freed)
> Text Selection now has AI. Right text at the right place
> Handwriting Recognition for the Track Pad
> Safari 4 released for Leopard, Tiger and Windows today. Speed tests show it's way way ahead then IE8
> New Look, interface and Http Streaming for QuickTime
> All major system apps run in 64 bit mode in Snow Leopard
> Move from Open GL to Open CL for graphics
> Pricing : $29 for upgrading from Leopard to Snow Leopard


iPhone OS3
> 50,000 Aps in Store. 1 billion app downloads in 9 months on 4,00,00,000 iPhones OS Devices
> Cut, Copy and Paste….. Finally….
> Shake to Undo, Developer APIs, Cocoa Touch support for text
> Key Apps now support Landscape mode
> MMS to be launched with 29 carriers (For India - Bharti Airtel Included)
> Rent and Purchase movies right from your phone through iTunes
> Spotlight can search through anything on your phone
> Support for iTunes U right on the phone
> Tethering available - Finally…. (Macs & PCs, USB or Bluetooth)
> Safari will support HTTP streaming Audio & Video
> Auto fill Feature - It will remember User Names and Passwords to login to websites
> HTML 5 Standard supported
> Support for 30 languages
> "Find My iPhone" feature - Great app to locate your misplaced or lost iPhone
> "Remote Wipe" command to delete all your data if necessary
> Bluetooth P2P connection supported now
> Tom Tom navigation available on iPhone this summer
> Upgrade to OS3 will be free for iPhone users, $9.95 for iPod Touch users. Available on June 17th

> iPhone 3G s - Everything seems two times faster
> Supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA
> 3 MP camera with Auto Focus, Auto White Balance, Tap on what you want to focus on
> Camera supports 10cm Macro, Better Low Light performance
> Captures Video ---- Finally!!! 30fps, with audio, auto focus, auto white balance and auto exposure
> Voice Control for iPhone available. Make calls with your voice, control iTunes, ask Artist info etc
> Built in Digital Compass
> Built in Hardware Encryption
> Improved battery life. 5 hours of 3G Talk time, 9 hours of Wifi internet
> Greener device. 23% smaller packaging
> Priced at $199 for 16GB. $299 for 32GB. Available in US from 19th June. Available in other countries by August 2009 (Includes India)
> Colors : Black and White ONLY
> Older iPhone 3G 8GB to be still available at $99

Click here to expand & read the full article!!!

Do not Buy list

I do a lot of reading on the net. Based on my reading I am going to compile a "Do Not Buy" list. Products in this list should be avoided because they would not offer a value for money, don't work as promised or if their support network is extremely poor. For each such item on my list, I will give a brief reason why it should be avoided. I would keep updating this list as and when I come across such a product.

So here goes, the first product on my list :


# 1. D-Link DSM-G600 Wireless G Network Storage Enclosure

What it promises :
Technical Details
> Attach up to two USB 2.0/1.1 drives for additional storage
> Gigabit ethernet port
> Access point functionality creates a Wireless-G network
> Conveniently share documents, files, and digital media over internal network and Internet

Reason to qualify for this list :
1.Poor Tech Support
2.Lack of quality, tested firmware and too long a delay between firmware upgrades
3.Gigabit speeds is just on spec sheep. Performs way lower than that speed (around 6MBps)
4.Hard drive doesn't spin down, so you waste energy and hard drive life
5.Very noisy, the fan is so loud you have to keep far away
6. Files larger than 2 GB are not supported
7. There are 2 versions of the hardware, rev a & rev b. Rev a has FTP functionality mission. FTP is what would allow you to access the files from the internet.

# 2. Sony RDR-GX360 1080p Tunerless DVD Recorder

What it promises:
1. Ability to record on DVD from any video source
2. Ability to play back a recorded DVD as well as a standard DVD

Where it fails:
1. Buzzing noise reported from Audio channel
2. Not comfortable playing dual layer DVD. It freezes while transitionning from one layer to another



Note : The numbering has no reflection of how bad a product is. All information is gathered from open public forums on the internet and may not be my personal observation. I am not stupid enough to buy it. That's the reason why I am reading so much on the net... right?

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A Gamer's Dilemma : PS2 or Xbox or PS3 or Wii

Stick to PS2, Box with Xbox, Flee with PS3 or Tee with Wii

The question is not which one is the best of all three, the right question, my dear, is which one is right for you. All the four have their advantages and disadvantages…but that hardly matters, since all belong to the current generation of gaming machines (except PS2). The situation is more like : “What should I wear? A Louis Vuitton trouser, Armani suit or a Van Heusen shirt”

To get the answer, the question you should ask is, “Who am I”. My article will match the gaming hardware with the choice of personality.



> Personality I :
I am in the age group 6 to 18 and need to have a strong but affordable gaming machine. There must be many titles to choose from and should be easily available. I don’t need high defination graphics but should be able to watch DVDs on it. The graphic quality and gaming experience should be more than decent.

Choice for Personality I : PS2
US Price : $150
India Price : INR 5000 (Greymarket)
India Price : INR 6000 (Retail)

Positives:
 The best value for money decent console out there
 Choice of games available
Negatives :
 A generation older to PS3
 As expected from a generation older console, the graphics is great but lower than that of an XBox


> Personality II :
I am in the age group 13 to 35 and I am an avid gamer and dream of gaming day in and day out. I play on my own or with friends I am choosy when it comes to games and like specific genre of games. I select my games carefully after lot of consideration. I go though game plots and reviews before buying games. Therefore, there should be atleast 3000+ game choice available for my gaming device. I have a high definition TV. I want much more out of my gaming box and not just games. I want my gaming hardware to be able to play DVD movies or media stored on it’s storage device, be it music, songs or movies. I plan to own multiple sets eventually for different rooms and connect them in network so that I have my own multi room media centre. I want my gaming hardware from the mother of all brands out there because I know eventually it will just kill out other brands by it’s sheer size.

Choice for Personality II : Xbox 360
US Price : $200 to $400 Depending upon model
India Price : Around INR 19000 (Greymarket) Depends on which model you buy
India Price : Around INR 25000 (Retail) Depends on which model you buy

Positives:
 Extensive choice of titles available
 The box is not just for gaming, but is also a very good media player
 MICROSOFT. You can bet that this giant will do everything to be on the top
 Halo 3 – The must have game comes in the best flavor for Xbox
Negatives :
 Prone to excessive noise from Disc Drive
 Prone to RROD – Three red lights on the Xbox 360's ring piece indicator representing "general hardware failure," nicknamed the "Red Ring of Death. Advice all to buy from genuine stores and brand new. You would need your warranty on this box
 The Indian tropical heat is definitely not good for this machine for it heats up a little. Make sure of adequate free space around the console and refrain from covering it up during game play
 Lower Hardware strength than the PS3
 Price of a XboX 360 + Price of optional HD DVD drive =~ Price of a PS3

> Personality III :
I am in the age group 13 to 35 and I have to have the latest in gaming. I need the best hardware, the most powerful graphics, the most powerful hardware. I don’t care if the number of games available are less because I can wait for good titles and believe in playing for the best possible experience. My gaming hardware should be as close an alternative to the PC as possible. I also want to use my Gaming machine as a Blu Ray player. I have a good audio system to harness the best quality audio that my machine can deliver. I use a High Definition television (LCD / Plasma) as the display screen

Choice for Personality III : PS3
US Price :
India Price : Around INR 24000 (Greymarket) depending on model
India Price : Around INR 26000 (Retail) depending on model

Positives:
 The best gaming hardware out there
 Among the least expensive Blu Ray players for the kind of options it packs
Negatives :
 Relatively lesser choice of games
 Pricey


> Personality IV :
I am in the age group 7 to 70 and want an unusual gaming device. I am not really an avid gamer but like to play simple games for fun. I want my whole family to play and have fun with it. I don’t want to sit and play but want to interact with the game. I want to physically involve myself with my games. I want my gaming machine to offer a fitness regime to me.

Choice for Personality IV : Nintendo Wii + Wii Fit (Accessory)
US Price : Wii : $250 Wii Fit: $90
India Price : (Greymarket) INR 17000 for Wii
India Price : (Retail) INR 21000 for Wii

Positives:
 The best in interactivity with the games
 Sales figure cross Xbox and PS3
 Family gaming machine
 For all ages
 Cheaper than PS3 or Xbox
Negatives :
 Doesn’t play DVDs
 You have to remember that Wii was not designed for graphic or power experience, it was designed with interactivity with the game in mind

Click here to expand & read the full article!!!

Logitech Harmony 550 Universal Remote

# Buy Date : 26th January 2008
# Used With :
> Samsung 40" Series 5 HD LCD
> Sony 26" Series V HD Ready LCD
> Samsung DVD Player P475
> Yamaha TSS10 HT system

It's been an year since I have been playing with this pretty babe in my hands and never has it disappointed me. I deeply am in love with it. It controls each and every component in my house which can understand IR signals. For the rest, the missus is enough. I am listing down the strengths and weaknesses to help you.



# Strength :

> Sleek design, Small size and Very Well Balanced. Thankfully, it is not peanut shaped like most other remotes from Harmony. It feels very nice to hold and has a distinct remote bar like feel
> Rubberized back surface which is scratch resistant
> Button placement - Takes a while to get used to it but once you do so... you don't even have to look at the remote during operation
> Built In motion sensor lights up the screen to help you locate the remote in the dark
>

# Weakness:
> Only four LCD screen buttons
> You will need an Internet connection to program it.
> For some reason, I have not been able to use it with the BIG TV STB. I have to keep a delay between pressing the buttons otherwise it the STB ignores the signal. Maybe, it's to do with the timing of the IR firing. I am working on the same

Click here to expand & read the full article!!!

Yamaha TSS-10 DolbyDigital/DTS 5.1 Receiver and Speaker Set

Buy Date: 2000
Price: Forgot
Specs :
# Output Power : 48w Total (5 speakers X 6w + 18w Subwoofer)
# Audio Processing : DTS Decoding , DD Decoding, Dolby Pro Logic II
# Connections : 2 Optical Inputs (Toslink), 1 Analog Input, 6 Speaker outs, 1 Headphone Out
# Connected to : Mac Mini & Samsung DVD-P475 DVD Player

One of my very first gadgets, my finest, passed hands and still working without a single hiccup. Need I say more about the build quality? It is definitely a starter kit, one that can be used in the bedroom, not the living room. With it's modest 6w RMS per speaker and a 18w sub woofer, this is more than enough to rock my room. I am not going into a detailed review since this model is not available any more. Just wanted to make the point that a device that lasts 9 years and still counting speaks a lot about the build quality of Yamaha (and the importance of keeping a conditioned power supply to your electronic gadgets)

Gadget On...

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Review : Asus EEE 2G Netbook

Purchase Date : June 2008
Cost: $ 300
Store : Amazon.Com
Specs : 7" Screen, 800 MHz Intel Celeron Processor, 512 MB RAM, 2 GB Hard Drive, Linux Preloaded

The small factor Laptop has been a rage ever since it was launched by Asus, known to be the pioneer in small size laptop series, now known as Netbooks. It was a revolutionary step taken by Asus which defied convention but it paid off well. It started a whole new rage of a product which few thought there would be a demand for. In a world which keeps seeing computer configuration going higher and higher (Processor power, RAM, Storage Size, Screen Size, Graphics Power), Asus brought out a laptop which boasted the smallest of everything... and it was accepted well by us, the consumers.

In the fall of 2007, Asus announced the EEE series of Netbooks, powered by Intel Celeron processors followed later by the Intel Atom series of processors. The base philosophy was simple; Easy to work, Easy to learn and Easy to play and thus the name EEE. Since then Asus has kept introducing one model after another and the world has lost track of how many models of Asus EEE actually exist in various parts of the world. India, as usual, gets ignored and gets the most boring of the Netbooks, though recent launches by Acer and HP seem to defy my statement.

I would talk only about the Asus EEE 2G model.

> Positives :
# Small size
# Linux OS means VERY fast boot time (Xandros OS installed on the Eee is based on Ubuntu 7.10 which itself it a Linux flavor)
# Good Wifi Connectivity (in terms of strength and range)
# Built in Mic
# Good build quality, plastics fit perfectly and no creaky plastic sounds

> Negatives :
# RAM is not upgradable. It is soldered to the mainboard (only on this model. The later ones have the slot)
# SSD (Solid State Disk) Harddisk is not upgradable
# Small Keyboard irritates if working for long (suggest attaching a USB keyboard if planning to work for really long)
# Small trackpad (suggest attaching a USB mouse)
# Lack of Level 2 cache on the processor (only on this model). It makes the laptop quite sluggish
# Wifi does not connect automatically after restart or resume from standby
# Low Batt. life @ 2.5 hours max. (4400 mAh )

If you are an avid windows user and are scared of venturing into the Linux regime, trust me when I say that it is not difficult. Linux CAN be extremely complicated but the graphical interfaces that have been developed have made it a very easy to use operating system with advanced functions hidden inside layers for interested users.

The included OpenOffice.Org is the closest clone to MS Office that you can get(and it's free of cost). Linux has a host of advantages, the biggest that would benefit you as a user is it's ease of usage, fast response time, low cost and security against viruses and attacks (not terrorist attacks, I am talking about Internet based attacks).

Applications, in the OS, are neatly arranged by categories - Internet, Work, Learn, Play and Settings. It cant get more easier than that.

> My Recommendations
I would not recommend buying the Asus EEE 2G at all, based on it's slow processor and lack of upgrade ability. The 4G and 8G would still be a better option. Look for Atom based Netbooks and screen sizes of atleast 9 inches. There are versions available with Windows XP preloaded, although you would have to pay for the price of the OS also then. I would still recommend going along with Linux unless you have a specific application that needs Windows OS.

> Other models that you can/should consider :(get it from the US)
# Lenovo Ideapad S10 (from $390)- Intel Atom Processor N270, 512MB Ram/ 80GB HDD / 10.2" Display/ Windows XP Home
# Toshiba Portege R100 ($400)
# Dell Inspiron Mini 9 (from $399) - Intel Atom 1.GHz/ 1GB RAM/ Windows XP Home
# HP Mini (from $350) - Intel Atom Processor / 1GB RAM / 8.9" Display
# Acer Aspire One (from $300) - 1.6GHz/ 1GB RAM/ 8GB SSD Hard Drive/ 8.9" Display/ Windows XP Home
# MSI Wind (from $380) - 1.6 GHz/ 1GB RAM/ 160 GB Hard Drive/ 10" Display/ Windows XP Home
# Asus EEE 1000HA (from $400)- 1GB RAM/ 160GB Hard Drive/ 10" Display/ Windows XP Home

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Knowledge : Speaker Systems

This article will tell you about MultiCHannel Audio both for home audio and Car Audio...

> 5.1 Audio : Commonly referred to the 6 speaker setup required in a minimal HT setup. It consists of:
# 1 Centre Speaker - Takes care of Speech and Narration. The basic fact is that the voice of the person speaking in the center of the screen should not go to any laft or right speakers, and hence,, it is at the centre, the closest to the mouth of the narrator on the screen.
# 2 Front Right & Left Speakers - As the name suggests, this is for the audio effects that should come from the front left or right side, as the scene in the movie requires
# 2 Rear Right & Left Speakers - Again, it is for the audio effects that should project from the rear speakers.
# The .1 denotes the biggest speaker of the lot, the subwoofer. It produces LFE (Low Frequency Effects). In simple terms, it's the Bass, the roar and the thundering boom, the kind which you "Feel" more than you hear.

Imagine a scene of a war, the camera pointed towards the Captain speaking to his Men. The speech should come smack from the Centre Speaker while bullets whiz by from all directions. As a plane passes overhead, the sound starts from the front speakers, lowering in volume and the rear speakers picking it up from there and an increase in the rear speakers, giving the effect of the airplane flying overhead. That, my friends, is Home Theater

This article is incomplete...Keep a watch

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Review : Mac Mini

> Buy Date : August 2007
> From : iStore, Sec 18, Noida, U.P, India
> Price : INR 35000
> Connectivity:
# Keyboard : Apple Bluetooth Keyboard

# Mouse : Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
# Display : Samsung 40" HDTV Series 5
# Wifi Network Router : Apple Airport Express
# Digital Audio : Connected to a Yamaha Receiver through Optical Cable
# External Storage : Western Digital "My Book" 500 GB

I am not sure if you have ever heard of the concept BYOKDM. Better learn it, cause that is what Apple wants you to do with the Mac Mini. Bring Your Own Keyboard, Display and Mouse. For the dough put in, you don't get anything else. Typically, I would have bought it from US, where it costs about INR 24000 for the same model, but it so happens that I am every Gadget Manufacturing company's "ideal" impulse buyer, and yes, this was an impulsive buy. I walked thrice by the iStore, trying to convince myself that I am just going inside to have a look, just look. Guys, the Mini is IRRESISTIBLE. One look and I was hers. Here is my review of my favt. gadget...

> Positives :
# Oomph Factor, Size, Looks
# MAC OS (Safe, Secure, Ease of Use). I have been using it for near to 2 years and not a single instance of Virus issues or Fatal Crashes, and the OS loadup time is always near half minute.
# No BSOD (Blue Screen of Death - The famous screen Windows OS gives when it gives up)
# Compatibility for Windows XP & Vista through Bootcamp (though I wonder why anyone would use Windows on the Mac). For test purposes, I loaded Vista with just 256MB of RAM and I was surprised to see the Mini load Visa desktop with Aero interface. I am not aware of a desktop that can do that with just integrated graphics and 256MB RAM
#A1 Quality components
# Optical Output and input (Needs an adapter)
# Excellent Upscaler for standard DVDs : If you have a Full HDTV and you have standard DVDs, the Mini's DVD player upscales the video resolution to match that to the HDTV's resolution. Read my Gadget Glossary for technical terms and their meanings

> Negatives :
# Does not support >2gb of Ram
# Can't add and PCI based Add On cards
# Graphics, though decent, are still not enough for applications that require
# Price Premium that you pay for the Brand & the Product

The reason for me buying the product in India was that I was of the opinion that the Mini, like other Desktop computers would need frequent Hardware repairs and that I would need the support of the Apple Technical Executives in India for any trouble that I face. I got my answer ten minutes after my purchase when I asked them for Optical connectivity to the Mac. They said they had never heard about any such device, though they knew from the Apple Specifications that the Mini supports Optical connections. I had to buy the cable and the adaptor from US.
Also, the store told me that I can upgrade my Mini's 256MB RAM to any limit. I bought 2 modules of 2gb each later from the US and found to my surprise that I can only upgrade to a max of 2 GB and one of my Ram modules went waste. The Mini's RAM can be upgraded by the user himself. Ping me, if you need instructions.

The Mini can easily win your hearts. If you have parents who have a phobia with Computers, the Mini IS for them. For HT enthusiasts, it can serve as an excellent Media server and with it's excellent Graphics, it is sure to raise many Sighs!!!

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Review : Nikon D40

Buy Date : March 20, 2007
Price : $550
From : Amazon.Com
Contents : Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera with Lens bundle (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens)

The entry level DSLR from Nikon has a lot of takers as well as haters. For one thing, Nikon has put the best in what is thought as the most affordable DSLR package. If you thought "Cheap and Best" was a fallacy, the D40 is all out to prove that it is definitely true. I have turned from a lover to a hater for this camera and the reasons are well justified. My entry to the world of photography started as a hobby and now I carry around my camera pretty much wherever I go (except office). But now that I am ready to move to a more professional camera set, I realize that I have spent so much money already on my kit, that I won't be able to justify the cost of my new kit. After all, I have to get other items on my wishlist too... right? I just wish that I had bought a professional kit as my first buy itself (A D90 perhaps).

I should make it clear over here that I am not a hard core photographer, I am a Hard Core Gadgeteer and thus my review is not speaking in depth about picture quality or histograms of resulting images. My focus is entirely on user experience and ease of use to a common person.

> Key features :

# Metering Type : 3D Color Matrix II
# ISO sensitivity range 200 - 1600 plus HI 1 (3200 equiv.)
# Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)
# 2.5 fps continuous shooting (as D50), unlimited in JPEG
# Standard features like Red Eye reduction, Filter effects, Trim, D Lighting
# EN-EL9 Lithium-Ion battery (7.2V, 1000 mAh)

> Positives :
#6.1 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop, the same as D50)
# One of the lightest DSLRs out there
# A Nikon Image processing engine (as D80 / D200)
# Big viewfinder view (x0.8 magnification, 95% coverage)
# Sensor : 420 pixel ( the same as in D80 / D50)
# LCD monitor based status / settings screens
# User friendly menu and interface
# Large 2.5" 230,000 pixel LCD monitor
# Improved menu user interface (as D80 / D200)
# Support for SDHC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)
# Short shutter lag and viewfinder blackout
# Excellent high ISO performance in low light
# Soft shutter sound and Extremely silent Pop up Flash
# An excellent grip. Feels like the camera is made for the hand. Can be easily held by just one hand
# Good Battery Life. Almost 500 shots from a single charge (witout flash)

> Negatives
# Auto Focus only for AF-S or AF-I series of lenses (explained below)
# No dedicated status LCD
# AF Sensor Areas : Only 3
# Lack of dedicated buttons for specific settings like White Balance, Exposure etc
# f/3.5 maximum aperture is a limitation
# No image stabilization built-in in camera body (S/W based or H/W based)

In order to save weight on the body, Nikon preferred that the body skip the motor that drives the autofocus lenses, preferring the lens body itself to have that facility. Hence, although the body accepts older Nikon lenses, it will drive the autofocus only if it is the AF-S series or the AF-I series of lenses, otherwise the lens function in Manual Focus Only mode. The D40 can still control aperture on lenses marked D and G, and it will illuminate the AF points when focus is achieved.

> Setting Recommendations
# Set the EV to at least -1/3 on bright sunny days (Exposure Step). The camera has a tendency to overexpose the highlights

My suggestion is that if you are looking for an entry level DSLR, a D40 makes perfect sense, but if you are short on cash and eventually plan to buy a full professional DSLR, it's better that you spend your moolah now itself on a Professional kit like a D90. Those who already own a bagful of Nikon lenses can also look to the D50, D70s (before they disappear), or D80. I would be posting a separate review on the two lenses that I use along with the camera. Keep a lookout.

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Knowledge : Gadget Glossary (Audio & Video)

> Most Frequently used terms in my posts and what they mean :

# HD Ready & Full HD : "HD Ready" is 1024 X 768 pixel resolution Vs Full HD's 1920 X 1080 pixels.

# Pixels are the dots that make up an image. The closer they are / tightly packed, the clearer the picture seems)
#Toslink / SPDIF: Also known as Optical Digital or Optical Coaxial. Toslink and SPDIF are ports to route digital audio content from a source (like a DVD or HD content) to an external audio receiver or processor. SPDIF (Sony Philips Digital Interface) was developed by Sony and Philips. Toslink was developed by Toshiba. A typical application is to route DD or DTS signal to your External DD or DTS decoder / processor. Two types of connectors are used, Optical and Coaxial. Both have their advantages and disadvantages

5.1 Setup : Typically, a home theater setup must have 6 speakers, five audio channels drive normal-range speakers (20 Hz – 20,000 Hz) (Center Speaker for speech, Right front & Left front for Front effects, Right rear & Left rear for rear effects) and one channel (20 Hz – 120 Hz allotted audio) for the subwoofer which brings out the Bass, the less heard but more felt audio effect.

# DD : Dolby Digital, also known as AC-3, is the digital audio format which can contain up to six discrete channels of sound. This standard is developed by Dolby Laboratories and the encoding bitrate is at a max of 640 kbit/s. Other standards are DD Pro Logic, Pro Logic II, DD EX, DD Surround EX, DD Live, DD Plus, Dolby TrueHD. Some are surround effects that use complicated algorithms to split two channel audio to multichannel audio stream. An External Audio Processor / Receiver is extremely recommended

# DTS : Digital Theater System, again an Audio encoding standard similar to DD is developed by DTS Inc and the encoding bitrate is at a max of 1536 kbit/s. This too is a multi-channel digital audio format used for both theatrical and consumer grade applications. Though DD and DTS 5.1 sound nearly the same to the human ear, DTS is generally regarded better than DD. Other standards developed by DTS Inc are DTS 70mm, DTS-ES, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio & DTS Connect. While buying, look for a receiver that can decode both DD and DTS signals at the least.

#HDMI : High Defination Multimedia Interface is a very compact and light audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data and HD content between a source and destination. Source can be a digital audio/video sources such as a DVD Player, set-top box, Blu-ray Disc players, Computers, Video game consoles and AV receivers. The destination can be an Audio receiver or a Display device like a telivision. There are other similar interfaces that perform the same task but none offer the simplicity and the portability that HDMI interface has. Alternates are RF (Radio Frequency coaxial cable, Composite video, Component Video, S-Video, DVI, VGA, SCART etc.

# Component Interface : Most easily made out by the coloured RCA jacks and ports, Component interface also offers Very High Video quality (better than S Video) but does not carry Audio data. It supports HD content at a maximum of 1080p. You can make the ports out by the colours. There are 3 ports : Y (Green Color); PB / CB (Blue Color) ; PR / CR (Red Color). Connection is simple... take any kind of RCA cable and connect the Green to Green, Red to Red and Blue to Blue between the source and the destination ports, though I would recomment using high quality RCA cables to connect for best video quality.

#S Video : Separated Video, also known incorrectly as "Super Video" is better in quality as compared to Composite video. S-Video carries standard definition video (typically at 480i or 576i resolution). There are 2 major types of S Video interface. The 4-pin connector is the most common connector types. The other connector has a 7-pin locking connector used on many professional S-VHS machines

# Composite Interface : A Yellow RCA jack offers a passable video quality, used on many devices ranging from simple survillence cameras to STBs to Video games to DVD Players. This is the interface that is often bundled with Maximum DVD players. Switch to atleast Component ASAP.

# RF : Radio Frequency, the lowest of the lot, typically identified by a Coaxial Cable that carries both audio and Video. Typical application is your local Cable operator. A strict No No to use this interface between your Video source and Display Device

# Displayport : DisplayPort is the newest of the interfaces, defining a new license-free, royalty-free, digital audio/video interconnect, intended to be used primarily AV sytems. Though HDMI has a few advantages over Displayport (support for the xvYCC color space, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio ,CE control signals and compatibility with DVI), DisplayPort has an advantage that it is currently royalty free makes it cheaper to implement. (HDMI royalty is 4 cents per device and an annual fee for high volume manufacturers.

SCART : Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs, Radio and Television Receiver Manufacturer's Association is a French-originated standard and is a VERY HIGH (possibily the highest) Video quality 21-pin connector for connecting audio-visual (AV) equipment together. It is the least commonly found connector (exception in Europe).

# VGA or D SUB Interface : The 15 pin computer display cable commonly found on standard computers, offers excellent video quality but cannot carry audio. It supports HD.

# DVI : Digital Visual Interface was developed by an industry consortium, the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG). It is designed to maximize the visual quality of digital display devices such as flat panel LCD computer displays and digital projectors. It is designed for carrying uncompressed digital video data to a display. It is partially compatible with the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) standard in digital mode (DVI-D), and VGA in analog mode (DVI-A).

#More to Come... Keep visiting...

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Knowledge : LCD vs Plasma

I am not going to step into the basic technology differences, but will just give you a buyer's perspective. This is from the data I gathered when I was in a fix, wondering if I should buy an LCD or a Plasma. I would recomment that you read the post "Knowledge : Gadget Glossary" for detailed explaination of terms used.
Plasma Vs LCD
> Longer Lamp Life for PDPs (Plasma Display Panels) 100000 hrs Vs LCDs with avg Lamp life at 60000 hrs
> PDPs are better for soft images (movies and fast moving scenes) Vs LCDs which have a much sharper image. LCDs preferred if you plan to connect your PC to the screen
> PDP TVs consume more power (average 300 watts for 42") than LCD (average 200 watts for 40"). LCDs generally consume half the power required by a PDP.
> PDPs are Heavier and Bulkier than LCD sets
> PDPs can achieve very high Contrast ratios Vs LCDs which are struggling near 3000:1 (I am talking about Native Contrast Ratio not Dynamic Contrast Ratio). LCDs have come quite close to PDPs now but they basically still struggle for producing desired black levels
> Color reproduction in Plasma easily outperforms LCDs which tend to over saturate colors during reproduction
> PDPs are good if you have a darkened room and no disturbing ambience light. LCDs can be very bright and are easily viewable even if the room is very well lit
> PDPs have the problem of Image Burning or Ghosting. This is caused by a static image. If left for too long on the screen (example News channel with a constant red ticker on the bottom or a computer desktop image), it has a tendancy to get etched on the screen. Latest PDPs have started giving an Anti burn program where the screen is washed with a white image for a long period to remove the etching. It is effective but it is a workaround, not a solution. There seems to me no solution to the problem. This is a feature of the plasma technology. LCDs have no such problem. Avoid PDPs if planning extensive connectivity to PC.
> PDPs generally have a lower resolution (Maximum models will be HD Ready). LCDs easily achieve true High Defination
> PDPs are preferred if you want a low cost big screen panel. LCDs costs reach prohibitory levels with increasing sizes.
> Plasma TV's range from 42" to 68" average. LCD TV's range from 15" to 52" average

> Prefer a Plasma TV if:
# You want really rich, warm colors and deep black levels
# You don't watch TV shows which can have static image on screen for long
# Your TV room doesn't have a lot of disturbing ambient light
# You don't plan to connect your PC for most of the times except, maybe, movie watching
# You want a really BIG screen TV and still would like to save on costs

> Prefer an LCD TV if :
# You want to be energy efficient
# You plan to use it extensively as a Computer screen also
# You have a lot of High Definition content to watch
# You want it near to sizes 15" to 46"

I personally have 2 LCD TVs. The reason for selecting LCD was that I have extensive computer usage on my LCDs, since my Mac Mini is dedicatedly connected to my LCD. Also, I watch a lot of movies and plan to move move to HD or BlueRay as soon as I can afford it. I also plan to add other gadgets which make use of high definition. LCD was my choice also because I wanted my biggest screen to be in my Bedroom which meant I was stuck between 40" and 46". Every size has a minimum viewing distance and a 12 feet viewing distance limited my screen size between 40" to 42". I hope this post helps you in your selection.

> Glossary :
# HD Ready & Full HD : "HD Ready" is 1024 X 768 pixel resolution Vs Full HD's 1920 X 1080 pixels. # Pixels are the dots that make up an image. The closer they are / tightly packed, the clearer the picture seems)

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Review : BIG-TV DTH : STB & Service

> Buy Date : August 2008
> Service : Active
> STB Model : Launch Model 1 Hyundai Electronics Make

> The Good:

# Big Size Dish Antenna (Bigger than Dish TV's or Tata Sky's)
# The LNB (Low Noise Block) on the antenna is of good quality
# Component Video Outputs along with Composite & RF
# Neat cabling with a Thick (read good quality) Coaxial cable
# Use of a dedicated Signal Strength Meter for Satellite Fixing
# The Best Dish Antenna make (read quality and finish) compared to Airtel, Tata Sky & DishTV
# Remote though Ugly is nicely balanced
# VERY good picture quality (important for 40" + LCD and Plasma TV owners)


> The Bad:
# No Toslink port (Also known as Optical Digital or Coaxial Digital). It is present in the second model STB
# USB port does nothing except maybe updating firmware if STB is bricked (read unresponsive or not updating through OTA (over the air))
# Ugly Remote
# Universal Remote (not sure about other models but at least Logitech Harmony series) does not work properly with the STB, possibily due to IR timing difference
# Slow menu (possibility due to lower H/W capability in the first model STB). At times, the menu transitions go in slow motion and it's a pain to wait for the menu to appear
# Features like "My Account" and others have not yet been made functional
# EPG (Electronic Program Guide) content sucks. It is never holding more than 2 days of info
# The current time displayed is wrong most of the times
# The "BIG TV" logo, as the name suggests, is REALLY BIG, but thankfully they keep changing positions according to channel
# The Hindi cinema channels play the same set of movies month over month

> Observations :
# I am really worried about the programming done by Reliance for the video feed. It seems that all the content is broadcast directly by reliance to the STB, even for the channels you have not subscribed. If you observe carefully, pressing the "info" button hides the "Big TV" logo. This means that the logo is not imprinted on the video feed before uplinking to the satellite. Also, if you use the Guide, you would notice that you would be able to watch channels that you have not subscribed to in the preview window along with the audio. Great to keep track of cricket score if you have not subscribed to Sports package and are depressed on not being able to keep abreast of the latest shot. I am sure that programmers would love to crack the STB.
On multiple connections, there is not much monetory saving. You would still have to pay the full amount for installation and atleast INR 150 for the channel package after the free duration ends

> The Satellite Settings (in case you tried to fiddle with the settings and lost signal)
#LNB powering - ON
# Polarisation - horizontal
# OL frequency -11700
# Base frequency - 12683
# Fec - 3/4
# Symbol rate – 27500

> Forced Software / Firmware Upgrade (In case your STB hangs up or is constantly hanging)
# STB Model 1 : When set is in Standby Mode (Red LED constantly on), Press and Hold "Up Arrow" key and "Menu" key for 2 mins. Press OK 3 or 4 times in quick succession after the two mins. The OTA update will start
# STB Model 2 : As soon as you switch on the STB, press CH+ and CH- buttons together and hold it till the Green LED glows. Your OTA update should start now

> Factory Reset (If faced with a dead set or if S/W update got stuck in the middle or a corrupt firmware)
# Press power on remote and put STB in standby mode (LED will glow constant Red)
# Press Power button on remote and keep holding (red button) until all three lights in the STB blink once. You can now leave holding the Power button on the remote. The reset should happen now.

> Last Resort : (You have to be really quick with your fingers here)
# Start ur STB and keep a watch on the LEDs and the TV screen.
# Wait till the black screen appears on the TV screen and the LED light on the STB turns green.
# Immediately after, press the following buttons in series on ur remote RED, RED, BLUE, RED, POWER. (The Red and Blue buttons are the situated together in a row along with Yellow and Green)
# This will take you to a menu. Follow the menu and begin a fresh installation.

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Review : Airtel DTH STB & Service

> Installation Date : 05th Jan, 2009
> Connected to :
# 26 Inch Sony LCD (KLV26S400A) via Composite & RF
# 40 Inch Samsung LCD (LA40A550P1). Series 5, Full HD
Since today is my first day with this gadget, I will be adding more details with time...
> Positives :

# Aesthetics : Sleek Finish with Red Glow on front beazel
# Large Dish size (Diameter)
# Toll Free Number
# Technician is very careful while drilling holes, shifting from Hammer mode to Plain drill mode to avoid damage to walls. They also use silicon sealant to cover the holes after running the cable through
# Remote provided with STB has learning feature. You can now forget to shift between two remotes for handling TV and STB
# STB has FTA receiver. Means that you should be able to watch FTA channels even after your subscription with Airtel is over. I have to check this feature, but technically, this sounds possible, provided you point to the right satellites

Negatives :
# Installation guys were late by over 2 hours inspite of appointment
# For signal strength measure, the technicians did not have a dedicated Satellite Field Strength Meter. They used a small TV conected to my STB to see signal strength
# Favorite Channel list is limited to 4 lists of 15 channels each. Cant make a profile for family of four.. just not enough :-(
# No Component Out. This means that these STBs will have to be replaced when/if Airtel starts broadcasting in HD. Note : Big TV DTH has this
# No Toslink connection (Also known as Digital Optical or Digital Coaxial). Again, can't connect to external A/V receiver for Dolby Decoding or DTS decoding or Surround processing. Note : BIG TV DTH model 2 has this.
# The power adaptor provided is flimsy and light, even though it promises 2.5A, my other 2 A adaptor is heavier than the one provided. It's Chinese made and I am expecting a low life out of this. I will be changing to a 12 v SMPS for clean power to the STB

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Review : Samsung LCD LA40A550P1 Asia Series 5

> Buy Date: 28th December 2008
> Model : LA40A550P1
> Dealer : Croma, Pacific Mall, Ghaziabad (Delhi NCR)
> Connected to :
# Mac Mini via VGA @ 1080p

# SD DVD Player via Component input @ 720p
# BIG TV DTH via Component input @ 520p
# Airtel DTH via Composite input

>Positives :
# Double Zero offer (No interest, no processing charges for 30 months). 24 interest free EMIs + 6 months downpayment. Free 5 months of Airtel DTH service bundled.
# Timer function. Possibility for 3 customized timer events
# Thick power cable
# Elegant Finish (read fingerprint catcher)
# LCD Cleaning cloth included
# Fast moving images handled easily
# 3 HDMI inputs (One on side for easy access)

>Negatives :
# The first set given to me had a broken side panel. Even though I informed Samsung within 24 hrs, they have still not replaced the set though they have promised to. They tried to repair it but could not, leaving behind some scratches on the panel
# PIP function works only with TV channels. If you have a STB for Television channels, the PIP is a waste. Even if you have a PC connected, you would not be able to watch it in PIP while on another input. It is such a waste of a feature
# Wall Mounting : Even though Samsung itself recommends 4" of gap between Wall and Set in a manual provided along with the LCD, the Samsung engineers use awall mount kit which leaves 2" of gap. Bad luck for my cables which are crushed against the wall. Also, the kit is for a 32" set, which leaves my 40" set kinda shaking against the wall. A call to Samsung about this problem did not help. They came, they saw, they shrugged, they left
# Asia series of LCD (LA), even though provided with a Wiselink USB slot cant be upgraded via USB unlike the LN series
# Wiselink only playes Audio files or Picture files. Video files are not supported which is a feature of Wiselink Pro. Wish they had bundled Wiselink pro along with the set.
# Standard accessories bundled do not include any HDMI cable or Component cables or composite cables or RF cables or VGA cables. Be ready to spend another 2K INR just for decent cables
# Only 2 Component inputs
# No TV / Monitor out
# No Toslink input / output (Also known as Digital Optical or Digital Coaxial)
# The rear input connectors are impossible to access after wallmounting. I wish they were mounted pointing downwards. Push all your connections in before wallmounting or get a partner ready for weightlifting.
# Panel Switches though kinda touch sensitive, are not backlit. It is an effort to try to use the panel switches. Don't lose the remote!!!
# Remote looks like cheap plastic, though glossy. I prefer using my Harmony Universal remote control

> Fine tune :
#The color calibration leaves a lot to be desired. Will post in a different blog about calibration if I get the time. I will include the method to get inside the service menu and make adjustments to make the screen purr like a kitten. The standard calibration would be ok for most people

>Breakup of Model Name
L - LCD
A - Asia&Africa or N - Korea, South America
40 - Diagonal size
A5 - Series of TV
50 - digits showing minor modifications in appearance
P1 - Piano Finish or B for Black

Jan 28th Update : It's been a month today and Samsung has not yet replaced my defective LCD. Speaks volumes about their service. They keep saying that the replacement is due soon. The best thing is that they never update me themselves, It's me who has to keep calling. I don't think I will ever buy a Samsung LCD again just because of this pathetic response.

Feb 18th Update : Samsung had promised to replace the set by Feb 16th but couldn't keep it's promise to replace the set so I insisted for a complete refund

Mar 9th Update : Samsung refunded my payment and took back the set

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