I thought it wud be easy to post from my phone...I mean from my
iPhone :)
Apparently it's not :(
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Amazing Amazon
Happy New Year! I know I know it's Feb, but I guess it's better late than never... It's been ages since my last post. Writer's block?? Nah!! I am not a writer... me a part time skribbler :)
Last few months were exciting and also filled with anxiety- was in my city for vacation, extended the stay (due to an unforeseen event), worked from there, explored the city- its new malls, multiplexes and ate biryani- the best made in the world. All the things happened (to me, to my city) in the last two months of the last year definitely warrant another post.
Anyway, couple of months before my vacation, I did something which I never did in my life (no guesses please!!)- I pre-ordered a book. Having read all the Dan Brown's previous books, I was excited to get and read his latest "The Lost Symbol" on the day of its release. After a painful wait of about a month and half (which I regretted after reading the book), finally the release/delivery date of the book arrived. I rushed home from work not to miss the package. But guess what, the wait continued. The book's arrival date got delayed by a day. For first time I pre-ordered something and it didn't arrive on time (damn you Mr. Murphy!!). I wouldn't say I was disappointed or something as delays are not uncommon to me and it is just a book. Next day I finished reading the book. There is not much to say about the book except that it is not on par with its original. Like any other sequel (book or movie), it failed to impress.
As usual life was happening a day at a time and couple of weeks later I get this email from Amazon. Apparently, as per their records, my last purchase (remember, the pre-ordered book) made with them didn't get delivered on time and so they'll refund the shipping charges. Isn't that amazing. I was surprised, impressed. In so many years of online shopping at so many sites, this never happened in my life. Most of these e-retailers not even bother to check with the customers after the transactions are complete let alone provide refunds. A simple email asking the customers if they are satisfied or if there is any feedback about their recent purchases could go a long way. Every e-retailer out there must look at the way these guys are winning customer base by doing no evil. They just won one loyal customer for life. No wonder what started as a simple site to sell books became the Wal-mart of the internet.
Last few months were exciting and also filled with anxiety- was in my city for vacation, extended the stay (due to an unforeseen event), worked from there, explored the city- its new malls, multiplexes and ate biryani- the best made in the world. All the things happened (to me, to my city) in the last two months of the last year definitely warrant another post.
Anyway, couple of months before my vacation, I did something which I never did in my life (no guesses please!!)- I pre-ordered a book. Having read all the Dan Brown's previous books, I was excited to get and read his latest "The Lost Symbol" on the day of its release. After a painful wait of about a month and half (which I regretted after reading the book), finally the release/delivery date of the book arrived. I rushed home from work not to miss the package. But guess what, the wait continued. The book's arrival date got delayed by a day. For first time I pre-ordered something and it didn't arrive on time (damn you Mr. Murphy!!). I wouldn't say I was disappointed or something as delays are not uncommon to me and it is just a book. Next day I finished reading the book. There is not much to say about the book except that it is not on par with its original. Like any other sequel (book or movie), it failed to impress.
As usual life was happening a day at a time and couple of weeks later I get this email from Amazon. Apparently, as per their records, my last purchase (remember, the pre-ordered book) made with them didn't get delivered on time and so they'll refund the shipping charges. Isn't that amazing. I was surprised, impressed. In so many years of online shopping at so many sites, this never happened in my life. Most of these e-retailers not even bother to check with the customers after the transactions are complete let alone provide refunds. A simple email asking the customers if they are satisfied or if there is any feedback about their recent purchases could go a long way. Every e-retailer out there must look at the way these guys are winning customer base by doing no evil. They just won one loyal customer for life. No wonder what started as a simple site to sell books became the Wal-mart of the internet.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Breath Taking
Friends and Love are like inhaling and exhaling...You can't live without one or the other!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
App for Anything, Anyone
Its been only a couple of years since the Apple Inc., had introduced to the world a platform to develop apps for its cool gizmo, the iphone. But the number of apps that came out ever since and the pace at which new ones are being churned/coded out, seems like the sky will no longer be the limit for the apps on iphone. Literally, there is an app for just about anything, anyone...
I started to wonder what is it that Apple has done differently for this humongous success. Firstly, I think, it defined its own set of rules though mobile phone industry is not its domain. By starting to drive, it broke the industry's norm, which has been traditionally driven by the carriers (at least here in US). Secondly, the iphone with its awesome user interface and motion sensing capabilities has opened the doors for an entirely new genre of apps, which otherwise wouldn't have been possible. Lastly, it eliminated the complex business models prevalent in the apps market, thus mobilizing the masses to publish apps for it- I believe this is the key to their success. On an iphone you either buy one or get one for free. There are no subscriptions, limited usages and all that crap...
Needless to say, Apple has begun to change the rules of the game in mobile phone industry and as of now looks like the rest has to just follow. I think it is loud and clear that if you want to win, you have to win the crowds...
oh btw, I don't own an iphone :)
I started to wonder what is it that Apple has done differently for this humongous success. Firstly, I think, it defined its own set of rules though mobile phone industry is not its domain. By starting to drive, it broke the industry's norm, which has been traditionally driven by the carriers (at least here in US). Secondly, the iphone with its awesome user interface and motion sensing capabilities has opened the doors for an entirely new genre of apps, which otherwise wouldn't have been possible. Lastly, it eliminated the complex business models prevalent in the apps market, thus mobilizing the masses to publish apps for it- I believe this is the key to their success. On an iphone you either buy one or get one for free. There are no subscriptions, limited usages and all that crap...
Needless to say, Apple has begun to change the rules of the game in mobile phone industry and as of now looks like the rest has to just follow. I think it is loud and clear that if you want to win, you have to win the crowds...
oh btw, I don't own an iphone :)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
March Madness
Nah, I am not following the NCAA...The other day when I looked at my mobile to know the time, something else caught my eye. You know what?? It is the date - I couldn't believe it is almost the end of the month...
The past few weekdays were as busy as the weekends...In between did try to catch up with whats goin on around- the economy, the job crisis, the movies and the Tata's launch of Aam Admi 's car- Jai Ho!
Oh yah, did switch off the lights for an hour for the earth day...kinda blacked out here, so more later :)
The past few weekdays were as busy as the weekends...In between did try to catch up with whats goin on around- the economy, the job crisis, the movies and the Tata's launch of Aam Admi 's car- Jai Ho!
Oh yah, did switch off the lights for an hour for the earth day...kinda blacked out here, so more later :)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Andaru Paltix Neerchinra!
The dialogue is from one of the RGV's films, which I watched many times...KSR's performance in it was outstanding...Anyway, I was thinking whats wrong if everyone learns politics or for that matter is interested in politics.
A lot of people around the globe turn a blind eye to politics or hate it. I think this is partly because of the way politics or politicians are presented in the cinema and partly because everyday a politician or two is in the news for bad reasons in one or the other corners of the world. I was thinking may be this perspective could be changed, if this art or science of governing is taught in colleges/universities like any other profession. I know few colleges teach political science but till date haven't heard of any politician who majored in it or any political science major, whose ambition is to join politics. May be a department in Univs, in which the final destination of the enrolled students is to join a political office. Just as the prospective medicos are trained by the practicing doctors, law students by the professional lawyers, the future politicians should be nurtured by the incumbent and/or ex-politicians in universities.
Back home (so far) politics is for people from political families or people with a community backup or silver or small screen stars or sports (I mean Cricket) personalities or filthy rich industrialists or local Godfathers. If not associated with these groups and happen to contest in the elections, then forget your deposit. Lately, this trend seems to be changing and there are some encouraging signs. In '99, CBN the then CM of Andhra, put an ex-commissioner in race against a veteran politician, to everyone's surprise, the former won over the latter. I am not saying that the winner of that contest is an ordinary man who made a successful entry into politics but is an educated man like you and me, is not a member of any of the groups like you and me. So there is a hope for people like you and me. For sure, even today joining a political office is not as easy as it sounds for anyone- educated, elite etc. But two to three decades from now, who knows?? There might be more openings for the educated in the political offices. I might be interested too...
A lot of people around the globe turn a blind eye to politics or hate it. I think this is partly because of the way politics or politicians are presented in the cinema and partly because everyday a politician or two is in the news for bad reasons in one or the other corners of the world. I was thinking may be this perspective could be changed, if this art or science of governing is taught in colleges/universities like any other profession. I know few colleges teach political science but till date haven't heard of any politician who majored in it or any political science major, whose ambition is to join politics. May be a department in Univs, in which the final destination of the enrolled students is to join a political office. Just as the prospective medicos are trained by the practicing doctors, law students by the professional lawyers, the future politicians should be nurtured by the incumbent and/or ex-politicians in universities.
Back home (so far) politics is for people from political families or people with a community backup or silver or small screen stars or sports (I mean Cricket) personalities or filthy rich industrialists or local Godfathers. If not associated with these groups and happen to contest in the elections, then forget your deposit. Lately, this trend seems to be changing and there are some encouraging signs. In '99, CBN the then CM of Andhra, put an ex-commissioner in race against a veteran politician, to everyone's surprise, the former won over the latter. I am not saying that the winner of that contest is an ordinary man who made a successful entry into politics but is an educated man like you and me, is not a member of any of the groups like you and me. So there is a hope for people like you and me. For sure, even today joining a political office is not as easy as it sounds for anyone- educated, elite etc. But two to three decades from now, who knows?? There might be more openings for the educated in the political offices. I might be interested too...
Sunday, January 18, 2009
On The Books
The Appeal - It ain't got no appeal!
Freakonomics - There is nothing to freak out about it. A thought-provoking correlation the author presented is the decrease in crime rate in 90's and legalization of abortion in 70's...Seems too good to be true among the other factors that influenced the crime rate fall...Also, the motivation for a real estate agent to sell your house quickly mentioned in the book is truly an eye opener! Overall worth a read...
The World is Flat - With the advent of internet in the last decade, world has certainly become flat. The book seconds that! The economical rise of BRIC countries in the recent times as a consequence of this is evident and unquestionable. Somewhere in the book, the author says, every geographical region has its own advantages and disadvantages. I think the people and their respective governments should realize that, work together, tap the available resources and make their presence felt in globalization 3.0...The Wal-mart's supply chain model, which made it the grocer super power and the evolution of UPS from a mere shipping company to providing shipping solutions are noteworthy! Good book...
Calvin and Hobbes - Of course, no comments. The best of all!!
BTW a cool site to buy books, www.betterworld.com
Freakonomics - There is nothing to freak out about it. A thought-provoking correlation the author presented is the decrease in crime rate in 90's and legalization of abortion in 70's...Seems too good to be true among the other factors that influenced the crime rate fall...Also, the motivation for a real estate agent to sell your house quickly mentioned in the book is truly an eye opener! Overall worth a read...
The World is Flat - With the advent of internet in the last decade, world has certainly become flat. The book seconds that! The economical rise of BRIC countries in the recent times as a consequence of this is evident and unquestionable. Somewhere in the book, the author says, every geographical region has its own advantages and disadvantages. I think the people and their respective governments should realize that, work together, tap the available resources and make their presence felt in globalization 3.0...The Wal-mart's supply chain model, which made it the grocer super power and the evolution of UPS from a mere shipping company to providing shipping solutions are noteworthy! Good book...
Calvin and Hobbes - Of course, no comments. The best of all!!
BTW a cool site to buy books, www.betterworld.com
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