Karthick Raghavan » Gadget

Guide to configure NetGear ADSL router with BSNL broadband internet connection

Karthick — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:40:23 +0000

Here is a little guide to configure NetGear ADSL DG834G router with BSNL broadband internet connection. I have done it and also setup a Wireless AP at home to hook my new HP Pavilion Laptop.

Originally duplicate

Karthick — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 06:15:58 +0000

Recently, I bought a new Nokia 6030 and gave my old Nokia 2300 to appa. I gave the headset which came along with the N6030 to Appa and retained the old headset with me. The old headset had been my buddy for the past one and half years and I have used him to the max. I used to shuffle among the FM channels with the cute remote in the headset. On Friday, he disappointed me and stopped working. I tried all my level best to repair him but found that he is gone and cannot be used anymore.

I decided to buy a new Nokia Dual Headset HS -7 and here is my experience on the search for the headset. Balaji used to say that buy at the local shops to encourage the local entrepreneurs and don’t go for big shops in TNagar or elsewhere. He bought his new mobile at one of the local vendors. I followed suit and went to the same shop and asked for a original Nokia Dual Headset HS -7 and the boy at the shop told me that it will cost Rs.350 for an original one. He brought a small piece of pouch which had a headset with the name Nokia but it had faded letters and I immediately found that it was a counterfeit one. Here is the conversation.

Me : It does not look like a original Nokia headset.

Boy at the shop : Are you looking for that original Nokia Headset? If so, It will cost you Rs.450 and you need to check out in showrooms.

Me : !@#$$% (asking myself) What is the difference between original Nokia headset and that original Nokia headset?

I tried in a Nokia priority dealer and they did not have a stock of the one I was looking for. Finally I tried to enquire a shop at Tambaram. The guy at the shop told me that he can get me the headset but it will cost me Rs.650. When I asked him to show me the headset, he told me that I need to give him Rs.650 and he will tear open a new Nokia 6030 box in front of me and give me the headset alone. I was shocked to see his response and left the shop immediately. There was another shop keeper who asked me to go to the Nokia Factory to find the headset I am looking for. I have a few questions in mind after the search.

1. What will the guy, who promised me to tear open the box, do to a new customer who buys that phone?

2. Why does not Nokia beat these counterfeit products by selling the original ones at nominal rates?

Till my search for the original headset ends, I am left handicapped without my headset and with un answered questions.

My experience with the Video iPod

Karthick — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 18:33:17 +0000

I got a new iPod video yesterday and I am really amazed at the sound and picture quality. This is a gift to me from my sister and brother-in-law. Thanks guys! I owe you a lot.
I have a few video song DVDs and I wished that I could load them up in my iPod easily. A search on the internet found me Videora iPod converter. I would say that it is the best video converter software I have ever used. It is so simple to use and it simply works the way I want it to be. IPod plays only a few file formats and Videora easily converts .vob files to .mp4 files in minutes. After converting the files to mp4 format, I fired up iTunes and loaded all the videos into my iPod. The clarity and sound synchronisation was amazing. I am really hooked up with the videos videora churns out.
I would not prefer to use ITunes for mp3 songs as it locks up the songs once they are into the iPod. A quick search on the internet fetched me yamipod. The only freeware for songs management in iPod using a PC. Spent a few minutes with yamipod and got myself familiar into creating playlists and loading up all my mp3 collection. No more worries about music getting locked in iPod. Yamipod has both the option to copy music into and from iPod without locking up the music. And moreover, it simply works in z PC. All my praise goes to Tomas , the guy who coded this small application. Kudos Tomas!

As I wanted to do more with my iPod than music and video , I worked a bit to integrate my google calendar and tada! did it . Downloaded all my calendars from google into the calendars folder in iPod. Now I have the FIFA Worldcup 2006 schedule , ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Schedule , my office shift schedule etc;
A few more hours on the internet taught me to use the notes feature in iPod. I stumbled upon a site which hosts free iPod eBooks. A few clicks got the ebooks like How to Speak and Write Correctly by Joseph Devlin , The World War and What was Behind It by Louis P. Benezet (86) into my iPod. The one feature I have yet to dig is the photos. I hope to work on it by tomorrow morning.

Overall, I will say that iPod video is really a awesome product with extra feture other than music and video. Only thing is that, people should know how to and where to find hacks and resources for it.

Eye-Fi – Digital camera with wifi,Flash memory

Karthick — Tue, 02 May 2006 19:40:32 +0000

Do you own a digital camera?
Do you fell bored hooking up your cam with PC for transferring photos everytime?
Are you a WiFi junkie?

If you answer affirmatively to any of the above questions, continue reading. Last week, I came to know about a company which is working on a SD card that is WiFi enabled and that can fit into digital cameras. The company is none other than Eye-Fi.

Eye-Fi is� building wifi directly into the flash storage. Their first product will be a 1GB SD card with built in Wifi. For about the same price as a 1 GB flash card sells for today – $100. You�ll be able to upload photos, or whatever, directly from your device to a computer using the built in storage wifi capabilities.

It is still in the pipeline and let us see how far it becomes a hit.

I have enrolled myself to�Eye-Fi’s mailing list. Enroll, if you are excited.

USB Travel Plug

Karthick — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 07:16:14 +0000

One more essential gear for travellers got my attention when I was surfing in the morning. It is the USB Travel Plug. A flash demo on their site gives a crisp description of what this gadget can do.

USB Travel Plug – One adaptor with four options that means power in over 150 countries worldwide.

Not only is it a handy worldwide travel adaptor, but it is unique as it has an additional USB converter – allowing you to recharge or operate your device directly from the main power supply, where ever you are! Simply remove the usual cap, replace with the USB cap and enjoy!

Suitable for all devices without ground pin (2-pin connections; 2.5A; 110V – max.275W; 220V – max.550W).
When USB module is connected, voltage is reduced to 5 volts as per a standard USB outlet socket.
Includes essential USB charging unit – charge your iPod, travel speakers, PDA, MP3 player and mobile phone via USB CABLE. USB cable needs to be� bought separately� though.� But� on the� whole, this is a� good� gadget� for people who travel with� gadgets which can be charged� only� through USB cable. This little gadget costs $20.

Gadgets I would like to own

Karthick — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 15:30:44 +0000

This is a list of gadgets I would like to own myself oneday.

1. A Poratble Audio and Video Player – like the ipod video 30 GB model.

2. A sleek 5 or 7.2 Mega Pixels point and shoot Sony Digital Camera – like the Sony DSC-T30.

3. A smart phone which has wifi,gprs connectivity – like the Treo 650 Smart phone.

4. A good Laptop that helps doing my work and connecting the gadgets I like to own.

I know the list is too expensive but I am pretty sure that I will own these one day.