Google Invades Microsoft Territory, Integrates Google Docs With Office Products

 

 

Sent to you by Sugandh via Google Reader:

 

 

Google Invades Microsoft Territory, Integrates Google Docs With Office Products

via Fast Company by Austin Carr on 2/24/11

Although Google has pushed hard to make Google Docs a worthy competitor to Microsoft Office, there's always been a sense that Docs just couldn't stack up. As a web-based program, Google Docs lacked the features, ease-of-use, and stability of Office--it's an online convenience, certainly, but no where close to a replacement for Microsoft's suite of products.

But today, Google took steps to grow its role beyond just an online supplement to Office--and, in doing so, is going right into Microsoft's backyard.

On Thursday, the search giant unveiled a new tool to sync Microsoft Office with Google Docs, creating a seamless transition from one program to the next. Called Cloud Connect, the plugin installs to the toolbar of any Office application, whether Word, Excel or PowerPoint, and enables users to "share and simultaneously edit" documents. Using the Google plugin, all files and revisions are synced to the cloud and continuously backed up through Google.

[youtube H12teRzulW0]

Rather than try to reinvent the wheel, it appears Google is trying to better integrate itself with market leader Microsoft by doing what it does best: cloud computing and real-time collaboration. As an ad for the new plugin says, "You gain all the benefits of the cloud without learning anything new or updating existing software."

Similar plugins already exist, but none that pose as much a threat to Microsoft as Google. If the product were to ever to become popular, it'd be a huge branding coup for Google: a Google toolbar incorporated prominently into one of Microsoft's most ubiquitous programs.

And we've seen this strategy before from Google. Remember when it first added the Google search toolbar to Internet Explorer? Or when it added Google Desktop on Windows?

Unless Microsoft is careful, Office might be next--regardless of whether ol' Clippy has been able to fend off competitors in the past.  

 

 

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Thousands of Screws Make a 3D Portrait (15 pics)

 

 

Sent to you by Sugandh via Google Reader:

 

 

Thousands of Screws Make a 3D Portrait (15 pics)

via Featured Blog Posts - My Modern Metropolis by alice on 2/24/11

Meet Andrew Myers, one of the most patient modern-day sculptors around. This Laguna Beach, California-based artist goes through a multi-step process to create incredible works of art you almost have to see (or touch) to believe. He starts with a base, plywood panel, and then places pages of a phone book on top. (Cool fact: He'll use pages from his subjects' local area.) He then draws out a face and pre-drills 8,000 to 10,000 holes, by hand. As he drills in the screws, Myers doesn't rely on any computer software to guide him, he figures it out as he goes along. "For me, I consider this a traditional sculpture and all my screws are at different depths," he says.

One of the most challenging parts is getting rid of the flat drawing underneath because he then has to paint over each of the screw heads, individually, so that in the end, the sculpture looks like an actual portrait.

Look through these photos and you'll notice that the real magic happens when you see these pieces from an angle.















Andrew Myers, the Artist

Andrew Myers' website
via [AOL]

 

 

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Office Relocation - Dilbert's Humour

Cricket fever

Cricket fever…

Extremely important recommendations for wives, girlfriends, fiancées

– from all husbands, boyfriends & fiancés :

 

1.    From 19^th Feb to 2^nd April, the television is mine, at all times, without any exceptions.  The remote control will be fingerprinted each night, any sign of your fingerprints and all shopping trips will be cancelled for a month.

2.    If you have to pass by in front of the TV during a match, for an important reason such as preparing snacks or getting in the beers, I don't mind, as long as you crawl along the floor.

3.    During the cricket season, read the sports section of the newspaper so that you get the flavor of the cricket season.

4.    During the matches I will be blinkered to match.  You cannot expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the telephone, it won’t happen.

5.    It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come over to watch the matches. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV between 12am and 6am, unless they replay a good match that I missed during the day.

6.    Please, please, please!! if you see me upset because one of my teams is losing, DO NOT say ' get over it, it’s only a match', or 'don't worry, they'll win next time'. If you say these things, you will only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never ever know more about cricket than me and your so called 'words of encouragement' will only lead to a break up or divorce.

7.    The replays of the matches are very important. I don't care if I have seen them or I haven't seen them, I want to see them again. Many times.

8.    Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance because I will not go, I will not go, and I will not go. However, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a match, we will be there in a flash.

9.    You are welcome to sit with me to watch one match and you can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on, and only if the score is pleasing me. The daily cricket season highlights show on TV every night is just as important as the matches themselves. Do not even say 'but you have already seen this...why don't you change the channel to something we can all watch?

10. And finally, please save your expressions such as: 'Thank God the cricket world cup is only every 4 years'.  I am immune to these words, because after this comes the Premier League.

 

******************************************************************************

Experiment Shows Not Washing Jeans for 15 Months is Disgusting But Safe - Slashdot

Experiment Shows Not Washing Jeans for 15 Months is Disgusting But Safe - Slashdot: "'Young people who argue with their parents over wearing the same pair of smelly jeans can now cite the work of a 20-year old University of Alberta student who wore the same jeans for 15 months straight. From the article: 'Josh Le wore the same pair of jeans to break in the raw denim, so it would wrap the contours of his body, leaving distinct wear lines. He had his textile professor test the jeans for bacteria before washing them for the first time. The results showed high counts of five different kinds of bacteria, but nothing in the range of being considered a health hazard.'"

NEVER LIE TO A WOMAN!

NEVER LIE TO A WOMAN!

A man called home to his wife and said, "Honey I have been asked to go fishing up in Canada with my boss & several of his Friends.
We'll be gone for a week. This is a good opportunity for me to get that Promotion I've been wanting, so could you please pack enough Clothes for a week and set out my rod and fishing box, we're leaving from the office & I will swing by the house to pick my things up. Oh! Please pack my new blue silk pajamas. "
The wife thinks this sounds a bit fishy but being the good wife she is, did exactly what her husband asked.
The following Weekend he came home a little tired but otherwise looking good.
The wife welcomed him home and asked if he caught many fish?
He said, "Yes! Lots of Salmon, some Bluegill, and a few Swordfish. But why didn't you pack my new blue silk pajamas like I asked you to Do?
You'll love the answer...
The wife replied, "I did. They're in your fishing box ....."

THE SILENT TREATMENT

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other "the silent treatment" by not talking to each other. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, "Please wake me at 5:00 AM." He left it where he knew she would find it. The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight. Furious, he has about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, "It is 5:00 AM. Wake up."

Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests.

Sahib Sindh Sultan - Cunning business trick - Felt cheated

Sahib Sindh Sultan – Cunning business trick on V-day (14-FEB-2011) – Felt cheated

 

On this Valentine’s Day I took my wife out for dinner to a restaurant called Sahib Sindh Sultan. It is located inside Forum Mall, Koramangla, Bangalore. I had a nice feeling when I entered it – felt romantic and was looking forward to having a nice quiet candle-lit dinner to celebrate the day with my beloved. I had anticipated the rush and a long waiting queue at the restaurant – so I had made advance reservation online, through HungryZone.com. But while coming out, I had mixed feelings – one of which was of being cheated and bullied into paying exorbitantly high price for a dinner. Other feelings were, less extreme. Food was good (7/10); ambience was superb – colonial railway station and ultra-luxury train theme with stewards dressed as ticket checkers (8/10); service was cordial and prompt (7/10).

 

I knew before-hand that this one was a bit on the pricey side. I had been there once before a couple of years back. Quick check on reviews and past experience gave me a rough estimate of 1000 bucks for a dinner for two (without any drinks). But I think these guys went a bit overboard in an attempt to cash-in on the V-day rush. They had removed the main course menu card altogether and replaced it with V-day special package with the price tag of 899 + tax, which came out to be 2245 finally for one couple. Now what pissed me off the most was there refusal to serve à la carte. This package was not an option – I was told very politely that today, they shall be serving this package only.

 

Clearly it was a cunning business trick which they played on unsuspecting love-struck diners. When you are in there for a dinner on V-day you are not likely to spoil your evening by getting up and leaving the place, in search of another restaurant. Besides, you may not get seat in any good restaurant at that time of the evening. So, very cleverly, the restaurant has played upon this by not announcing table d'hôte evening either at the like of booking confirmation or at the entrance.

 

Summary – please do a check on the approximate cost for a dinner at such pricey restaurants, to avoid last minute shockers like the one I had. About the restaurant – Not good value for money.

 

 

 

FoxNews.com - Mystery Surrounds Cyber Missile That Crippled Iran's Nuclear Weapons Ambitions

FoxNews.com - Mystery Surrounds Cyber Missile That Crippled Iran's Nuclear Weapons Ambitions: "Simply put, Stuxnet is an incredibly advanced, undetectable computer worm that took years to construct and was designed to jump from computer to computer until it found the specific, protected control system that it aimed to destroy: Iran’s nuclear enrichment program."

FW: 14 Feb 2011: Do not buy Petrol

-------------
Dear Friends!
Petrol in Pakistan Rs17 per litr
Malaysia Rs 18 per litr
In India it's Rs.65per litr
Why is there a difference within India itself? World Market CRUDE Oil is not

the reason for this. It's all Gain for private owners? As we are the
general public, or Common Man as R.K.Laxman wud hv said, we have to
raise our voice, let's raise thru Emails.

Forward this to all Indians who care.

IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF
PETROL FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD
CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES.

AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS
OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL
COMPANIES.
THEREFORE "
Feb.14 th" HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED

"STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND " DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD
NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF PETROL THAT DAY.

THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS
MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD
OUT. WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS
NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL
IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO?

REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF PETROL GOING UP BUT
AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES,
TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH AFFECTS
PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING,
BUILDING SUPPLIES MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE
DO!

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE
DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE
WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR
CALENDARS AND MAKE* *
*Feb.* 14 th

A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS SAY
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"

We forward so many junk email to many of our friends, now let us do
it for some useful cause to cut down the price of the petrol .. ....

REMEMBER : *Feb * 14 th

QR Codes 101: Make Links to Your Website from Anywhere: Online Collaboration �

QR Codes 101: Make Links to Your Website from Anywhere: Online Collaboration �: "QR codes are an increasingly-popular way of converting data like website addresses into a form that can be easily scanned. Thus, it’s possible to publish a website address in print, and readers can go to that address without having to type in the address."

In the Future, Robots Will Surf Their Own Internet | Fast Company

In the Future, Robots Will Surf Their Own Internet | Fast Company: "If robots are to become our overlords, they will need their own Internet to communicate with each other. RoboEarth, a just-launched robot information sharing network, gets them that much closer to world domination.

The EU-funded RoboEarth project is bringing together European scientists to build a network and database repository for robots to share information about the world. They will, if all goes as planned, use the network to store and retrieve information about objects, locations (including maps), and instructions about completing activities. Robots will be both the contributors and the editors of the repository."

YouTube - Sphero On the Move - The Robotic Ball

YouTube - Sphero On the Move - The Robotic Ball

Geeta Saaransh - Must read

Product Development Life Cycle

 

Bangalore - LPG related Document submission - Herculean Task completed

A herculean task finally completed.

As you may be aware already, Karnataka government had asked all LPG (Indane, HP and Bharat only) subscribers in the state to submit certain documents as part of an attempt to weed-out illegal subscribers. It was told that failure to do so may result in suspension of gas services. The documents required are:

1. Copy of latest Electricity Bill of the house in which the subscriber is staying currently,

2. Copy of Ration card (if available)

3. Copy of latest gas receipt.

 

Looks good so far. But the real trouble starts when you try to use any of the four modes of submission outlined in the government notification.

Here are the modes of submission

1. Personally submit the documents at the gas agency office
2. Send it by post or courier to the office of the concerned officer.
3. Fax -  to the same office as above
4. Upload scanned copies on the web-site of the department.

 

Standing in the serpentine queue at the Gas Agency office was not an option for me. Sending by Fax does not assure receipt by the correct person. Sending by Post / courier also has the same risk. That leaves Web-upload as the only option.

 

The Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Government of Karnataka web-site is a classic example of how poorly designed government web-sites are. A link at the home-page of the web-site will take you to the page for uploading the documents. There are ridiculous restrictions imposed on the upload – the file size can not be more than 150KB. File format has to be JPEG or GIF only. After filling in the Gas Consumer No, Electricity Bill details and Ration card details, when you start uploading the files, you will see stars in the day. The web-site simply refuses to accept the document throwing up arcane confusing unintuitive errors. After attempting to upload repeatedly for couple of hours, I gave up and called the help-line mentioned. After half-a-dozen attempts my call was answered – and I was told that the server is "down". I gave up and decided to use the other method – post. I had to do something about it since the last day was 9-FEB-2011.  So I took copies of the documents and sent it by courier to the address mentioned.

 

Next day I came to know from a colleague that the web-site is working and he has used it to upload his documents successfully.. The web-site was expected to generate an acknowledgement receipt after successful upload. Its always good to get some reference number, so I decided to give it another try.

 

But as we all know, government web-sites will forever continue to top the list of poorly designed web-sites. After filling in all the relevant details I tried to upload the scan copies of documents which I had prepared beforehand. It gave some error "Insertion failed – check data JPEG/GIF only". I spent the next couple of hours trying to figure out whats wrong. I tried various versions of files with different file sizes – all below 150KB. But none would go through. Then finally I discussed with my colleague and we tried to do the same from his machine with few variations. Still we got the same error. Fortunately my colleague pointed out that the error could be because of long file name. We reduced the file name to 8-10 chars and bingo ! the files sailed through. If only the stupid web-site had flashed a suitable error saying "file name too long" or something, I would have so much time!!

 

Finally I let out a sigh of relief when I got an acknowledgement from the web-site.

 

An utterly chaotic governance with equally chaotic processes and systems….

 

If You Cheat in Engineering Exams… [Pic]

If You Cheat in… [Pic]

via Geeks are Sexy Technology News by Geeks are Sexy on 2/6/11

[Via]

FW: गब्बर सिंह का चरित्र चित्रण

गब्बर सिंह का चरित्र चित्रण

1. सादा जीवन, उच्च विचार: उसके जीने का ढंग बड़ा सरल था. पुराने और मैले कपड़े, बढ़ी हुई दाढ़ी, महीनों से जंग खाते दांत और पहाड़ों पर खानाबदोश जीवन. जैसे मध्यकालीन भारत का फकीर हो. जीवन में अपने लक्ष्य की ओर इतना समर्पित कि ऐशो-आराम और विलासिता के लिए एक पल की भी फुर्सत नहीं. और विचारों में उत्कृष्टता के क्या कहने! 'जो डर गया, सो मर गया' जैसे संवादों से उसने जीवन की क्षणभंगुरता पर प्रकाश डाला था.

२. दयालु प्रवृत्ति: ठाकुर ने उसे अपने हाथों से पकड़ा था. इसलिए उसने ठाकुर के सिर्फ हाथों को सज़ा दी. अगर वो चाहता तो गर्दन भी काट सकता था. पर उसके ममतापूर्ण और करुणामय ह्रदय ने उसे ऐसा करने से रोक दिया.


3. नृत्य-संगीत का शौकीन: 'महबूबा ओये महबूबा' गीत के समय उसके कलाकार ह्रदय का परिचय मिलता है. अन्य डाकुओं की तरह उसका ह्रदय शुष्क नहीं था. वह जीवन में नृत्य-संगीत एवंकला के महत्त्व को समझता था. बसन्ती को पकड़ने के बाद उसके मन का नृत्यप्रेमी फिर से जाग उठा था. उसने बसन्ती के अन्दर छुपी नर्तकी को एक पल में पहचान लिया था. गौरतलब यह कि कला के प्रति अपने प्रेम को अभिव्यक्त करने का वह कोई अवसर नहीं छोड़ता था.


4. अनुशासनप्रिय नायक: जब कालिया और उसके दोस्त अपने प्रोजेक्ट से नाकाम होकर लौटे तो उसने कतई ढीलाई नहीं बरती. अनुशासन के प्रति अपने अगाध समर्पण को दर्शाते हुए उसने उन्हें तुरंत सज़ा दी.

5. हास्य-रस का प्रेमी: उसमें गज़ब का सेन्स ऑफ ह्यूमर था. कालिया और उसके दो दोस्तों को मारने से पहले उसने उन तीनों को खूब हंसाया था. ताकि वो हंसते-हंसते दुनिया को अलविदा कह सकें. वह आधुनिक यु का 'लाफिंग बुद्धा' था.


6. नारी के प्रति सम्मान: बसन्ती जैसी सुन्दर नारी का अपहरण करने के बाद उसने उससे एक नृत्य का निवेदन किया. आज-कल का खलनायक होता तो शायद कुछ और करता.


7. भिक्षुक जीवन: उसने हिन्दू धर्म और महात्मा बुद्ध द्वारा दिखाए गए भिक्षुक जीवन के रास्ते को अपनाया था. रामपुर और अन्य गाँवों से उसे जो भी सूखा-कच्चा अनाज मिलता था, वो उसी से अपनी गुजर-बसर करता था. सोना, चांदी, बिरयानी या चिकन मलाई टिक्का की उसने कभी इच्छा ज़ाहिर नहीं की.


8. सामाजिक कार्य: डकैती के पेशे के अलावा वो छोटे बच्चों को सुलाने का भी काम करता था. सैकड़ों माताएं उसका नाम लेती थीं ताकि बच्चे बिना कलह किए सो जाएं. सरकार ने उसपर 50,000 रुपयों का इनाम घोषित कर रखा था. उस युग में 'कौन बनेगा करोड़पति' ना होने के बावजूद लोगों को रातों-रात अमीर बनाने का गब्बर का यह सच्चा प्रयास था.


9. महानायकों का निर्माता: अगर गब्बर नहीं होता तो जय और व??रू जैसे लुच्चे-लफंगे छोटी-मोटी चोरियां करते हुए स्वर्ग सिधार जाते. पर यह गब्बर के व्यक्तित्व का प्रताप था कि उन लफंगों में भी महानायक बनने की क्षमता जागी.

Mora Piya

Mora Piya

Food coupon/ meal voucher valuation / Taxability under Income Tax Act | SIMPLE TAX INDIA-TDS RATE INCOME TAX RATE

Food coupon/ meal voucher valuation / Taxability under Income Tax Act | SIMPLE TAX INDIA-TDS RATE INCOME TAX RATE: "The above rule (Rule 3(7)(iii)) states that value of free food and non-alcoholic beverages or meal vouchers provided by the employer is exempt from income tax to the extent of Rs. 50 per meal."

What is BlogThis! ? - Blogger Help

What is BlogThis! ? - Blogger Help: "BlogThis! is an easy way to make a blog post without visiting blogger.com. Once you add the BlogThis! link to your browser's toolbar, blogging will be a snap. Or rather, a click. Clicking BlogThis! creates a mini-interface to Blogger prepopulated with a link to the web page you are visiting, as well as any text you have highlighted on that page. Add additional text if you wish and then publish or post from within BlogThis!

There are two ways to use BlogThis!: if you use Windows and Internet Explorer, you can use BlogThis! from the SendTo feature of the Google Toolbar. If you're on another browser, just drag the link below to your browser's Link bar. Then, whenever the mood strikes, click BlogThis! to post to your blog:"

buddha sky, a photo from Hong Kong, South | TrekEarth

buddha sky, a photo from Hong Kong, South | TrekEarth: "The Tian Tan Buddha is a large bronze statue of the Buddha located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island in Hong Kong. Also known as the Big Buddha, as it is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.

The statue is named Tian Tan Buddha because its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. The Buddha statue sits peacefully on a lotus throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by eight smaller bronze statues representing gods or immortals."

R-Day Parade: India displays its military might, heritage - Hindustan Times

R-Day Parade: India displays its military might, heritage - Hindustan Times: "Colourful tableaux depicting the myriad hues of country's diversity, a vibrant performance by students and armed forces in full battle regalia -- the Republic Day parade on Wednesday had 'mini-India' in itself."