Sunday, July 27, 2008
Moved..!
I have a new Home for my Blog..! It took me just about 4 years to make a commitment to blog regularly :)
Check it out: http://www.shashivelur.com/blog
Check it out: http://www.shashivelur.com/blog
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Finally, a mobile phone with a 1.5GB hard-disk..!
Samsung does it first - Finally, a mobile phone with a 1.5GB hard disk...!
We all knew this had to happen some day. I had posted a blog about my wait for a phone with a microdrive on Sep 1st. Just a few days later, on Sep 6th , Samsung announced SPH-V5400 - a clamshell phone with a 0.8 inch 1.5 GB hard drive. It also features the following:
- FM Radio
- 64-voice polyphonic ringtone support
- Dual screens (128x128 OLED screen on the outside and the 320x240 pixel LCD on the inside)
- TV output
- Mega-pixel camera with integrated flash and camcorder function
- MP3 player
- Electronic book
- Korean-English/English-Korean dictionaries
- Dual speakers that provide a 3D sound effect
Now, I just cannot wait to get the specs for this phone. I think this phone's file upload mechanisms (USB?) & speeds, battery life and ruggedness would be the key factors for it's success. Okay, asking for USB may be a bit too much..
If Samsung gets it right, why would we carry those cute iPods now?
I hope Nokia and Sony-Ericsson are listening :)
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
All new BMW 3-series and Audi A4
The new BMW 3-series & the next generation Audi A4 spy photos are already floating out in the net.
The newer BMW 3-series skin looks a little more tighter and the rear looks a bit ugly. It also features a toned-down version of the controversial i-Drive. Somehow, I liked the looks of the previous generation BMW 3-series a little better. For example, the 40-year old Porsche 911 ages so well. So, I wonder what was wrong with the existing model..!
The next generation A4 does not surprise me much. The front grille & the smooth lines look very familiar. The rear looks a bit like the new and a bit more like the graceful A8 rear-end.
The newer BMW 3-series skin looks a little more tighter and the rear looks a bit ugly. It also features a toned-down version of the controversial i-Drive. Somehow, I liked the looks of the previous generation BMW 3-series a little better. For example, the 40-year old Porsche 911 ages so well. So, I wonder what was wrong with the existing model..!
The next generation A4 does not surprise me much. The front grille & the smooth lines look very familiar. The rear looks a bit like the new and a bit more like the graceful A8 rear-end.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Sophisticated Diesel engines to US customers
Sweet timing..!
VW of America is bringing some more really sophisticated turbodiesel engines to customers in USA, when the gasoline prices never seem to stop rising. When I test drove the Touareg gasoline V8 a couple of months ago, I liked it a lot but was not impressed by it's weight. It came loaded with the Brembo brakes, but still it felt a bit too heavy during the stops at every traffic light. But, imagine the Touareg with a 5L V10 TDI engine with 310 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque..! To put that into perspective, the Hummer 6L gasoline V-8 delivers 325 hp and just 365 lb-ft of torque. But, again, the Touareg TDI weighs about 5,825 lbs. This VW engine is considered as one of the most sophisticated light-vehicle diesel engine on the planet.
On the other end (and my favorite) is the new Passat TDI with a 2L 4-cylinder turbodiesel produces 134 hp and whopping 247 lb-ft of torque. I own a 2000 Passat 4-cylinder 1.8T and love that small engine, especially while driving in mountains in Colorado. Now, imagine 247 lb-ft of torque with 27 to 38 mpg for a car costing less than $24K...!
So, for all of you living in those states that accept compliance with federal Tier 1 emissions standards, you can get a chance to drive these automobiles with these great engines.
IMHO, this is definitely a great move by VW of America.
VW of America is bringing some more really sophisticated turbodiesel engines to customers in USA, when the gasoline prices never seem to stop rising. When I test drove the Touareg gasoline V8 a couple of months ago, I liked it a lot but was not impressed by it's weight. It came loaded with the Brembo brakes, but still it felt a bit too heavy during the stops at every traffic light. But, imagine the Touareg with a 5L V10 TDI engine with 310 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque..! To put that into perspective, the Hummer 6L gasoline V-8 delivers 325 hp and just 365 lb-ft of torque. But, again, the Touareg TDI weighs about 5,825 lbs. This VW engine is considered as one of the most sophisticated light-vehicle diesel engine on the planet.
On the other end (and my favorite) is the new Passat TDI with a 2L 4-cylinder turbodiesel produces 134 hp and whopping 247 lb-ft of torque. I own a 2000 Passat 4-cylinder 1.8T and love that small engine, especially while driving in mountains in Colorado. Now, imagine 247 lb-ft of torque with 27 to 38 mpg for a car costing less than $24K...!
So, for all of you living in those states that accept compliance with federal Tier 1 emissions standards, you can get a chance to drive these automobiles with these great engines.
IMHO, this is definitely a great move by VW of America.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
1 to 5 GB Microdrives for Phones?..
I was reading Russell Beattie's blog about his new 512MB RS-MMC and realized that I have been longing for a phone that would support the 1-inch Microdrives. How I wish I had a smart phone that would give me the flexibility of 1 to 5 GB of data..! Yes, Seagate announced a 5 GB Compact Flash Hard drive and might cost less than USD 150..!
When I bought my Canon Powershot G2 about 2.5 years ago, I was tempted to buy the IBM 1 GB Microdrive, but then I backed off and bought a 256MB CF card. This was because I learnt that these drives would drain the battery and also wanted to wait for the prices to come down.
This is a pretty good comparison of the various digital media. It is interesting to note that the 1 GB IBM Microdrive gives more bang for the buck than most of the other digital media.
Oh well, I am still waiting for Nokia/Sony Ericsson to support these Microdrives in their phones, so that I can buy a replacement for my aging 3650 :)
When I bought my Canon Powershot G2 about 2.5 years ago, I was tempted to buy the IBM 1 GB Microdrive, but then I backed off and bought a 256MB CF card. This was because I learnt that these drives would drain the battery and also wanted to wait for the prices to come down.
This is a pretty good comparison of the various digital media. It is interesting to note that the 1 GB IBM Microdrive gives more bang for the buck than most of the other digital media.
Oh well, I am still waiting for Nokia/Sony Ericsson to support these Microdrives in their phones, so that I can buy a replacement for my aging 3650 :)
Monday, August 30, 2004
some interesting Cruise Control info.
This is a very cool way to automate the monitoring of the Cruise Control builds.
I found it amazing that they have actually implemented it..!
This is a neat comparison of Anthill and CruiseControl
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?AntHillvsCruiseControl
Anthill seems to be more popular than CruiseControl, as per this website (although the number of opinions posted there are too few to represent a good survey):
http://www.manageability.org/polls/what-is-your-favorite-java-build-tool
I found it amazing that they have actually implemented it..!
This is a neat comparison of Anthill and CruiseControl
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?AntHillvsCruiseControl
Anthill seems to be more popular than CruiseControl, as per this website (although the number of opinions posted there are too few to represent a good survey):
http://www.manageability.org/polls/what-is-your-favorite-java-build-tool
Friday, August 27, 2004
start Blogging..!
I have been reading so many Blogs and finally made up my mind to start a Blog of my own.
At this point, I am just thinking of sharing my knowledge and have others give me feedback on the information that I post, so that I can utlimately find some direction for my Blogs...!
My interests are J2ME, J2EE & Automobiles. I have been doing some experiments with J2ME, so shall try to share some of those here.
At this point, I am just thinking of sharing my knowledge and have others give me feedback on the information that I post, so that I can utlimately find some direction for my Blogs...!
My interests are J2ME, J2EE & Automobiles. I have been doing some experiments with J2ME, so shall try to share some of those here.
