iOS

This is by far the easiest OS to get used to. iOS takes the credit for totally changing the mobile operating system scene. Its icon-driven interface and support for applications makes it the most desirable OS of them all. This OS is only found on Apple iPhone. The OS has been steady improving over the years and has added features like cut and paste, multi-tasking and lots more. What’s interesting about iOS is the largest array of apps. Which the help of apps a user can do just about anything on their device. Web browsing experience & email support is simply fantastic on this OS.
The only drawback of this OS is that it still does not support Adobe Flash and is only available on Apple iPhone.

Blackberry OS

Until few years ago BlackBerry phones where only used by businessmen. But things are changing fast for BlackBerry. The OS is rock solid in terms of security and is built for work related applications. But with the newer versions of the OS entertainment is also taken care of. There are not many apps available for Blackberry OS when compared with other mobile operating systems. And as like iOS this OS is also only available on devices manufactured by the company. Below are the version of prominent BlackBerry OS.

• OS 4: This OS is only seen on old blackberry phones and was largely driven by menus. It was very minimal in terms of usage of icons. It focused more on messaging and email.
• OS 5: This is was OS which announced that Blackberry is more then just a business phone. A shortcut panel was added on the homescreen plus icons were made smoother. The support for social networking, messaging and email was enhanced as well.
• OS 6: This is the latest version of the OS and offers better icons and a smoother interface. Multimedia is also taken care of. Notification bar is added for easy pointing of new SMS and Emails. With all these added frills Blackberry still remains strong when it comes to email communications and security.

Windows Mobile / Phone

Windows Mobile 7 is the latest offering by Microsoft and is considered by many as the new wave in mobiles OSes. Microsoft had to come up with a totally new look for the Mobile 7 after facing tough competition from Android and iOS. Windows Phone 7 comes with large brilliant icons and labels. On the phone’s Start screen, “live tiles” show users real-time content, such as social media updates and contacts. Its excellent for mail and multi-tasking. As with Blackberry, Windows Phone 7 has very few apps. Windows Phone 7 OS can only be found on high-end devices.
HTC HD7 is the latest device using Windows Phone 7.

Related posts:

1. A look at major Mobile OS
2. Epic Mobile Battle Again – Apple & Google
3. Nokia 360×640 Touch Wallpapers

Symbian

This may the OS that many of you must have used on your first phone. Not too long ago, this was the most popular mobile OS. But with the coming of all other OS today, the market share of Symbian is dropping day-by-day. Symbian is a good solid OS for someone looking for ease of use and good performance. Symbian has got reasonable amount of apps both free and paid. This OS is also known for its good support of e-mail and efficient use of Battery. This OS not only supports high end or smartphones but also low end phones, thus you will find a lot of devices running the Symbian OS at every price points. The major versions of the Symbian OS are..

• Symbian S40: Due to its low hardware requirements this version is commonly seen on budget handsets. Though, not many consider it has a smartphone OS it still has Social Networking and E-mail capability.
• Symbian S60: These version again contains 2 editions. The ’3rd edition’ is great for handling email communication and multi-tasking. Nokia E-Series devices use this version of the OS. The ’5th edition’ of the OS is meant for touch screen devices, but is still buggy at time.
• Symbian ˆ3: This is the most latest version of the OS and is great for touch screen phones. It is far better then the pervious S60 and offers features like multi-tasking, mails and a good battery life.

Devices which use Symbian OS:
Nokia E7 (Symbian ˆ3), Nokia X6 (Symbian S60 – 5th Edition) & Nokia E72 (Symbian S60 – 3rd Edition)

Android

It was launched in late 2007. Since then Android has taken the smartphones market by storm. Today, Andriod outsells Symbian. The reason for this OS being so successful is the ease of use it offers to the users. It is internet friendly and has thousands of applications. This OS is not only available for the mobile platform but also for Tablet PC. There are 3 major versions of the OS in the market, which are

• Eclair (2.0/2.1): This is considered as the first user friendly version of the OS. Android Eclair, released on October 26th 2009, introduced many new and exciting features for users and developers. It offered a great user interface with support for live wallpapers. It also supported for Exchange ActiveSync to synchronize email, contacts and calender. The browser supported double-tap zoom and HTML5.
• Froyo (2.2): The name Froyo is derived from the words Frozen Yoghurt. This version is faster then Eclair and has support for Adobe Flash.
• Gingerbread (2.3): With the introduction of this version the UI was improved a lot and was more power-efficient. It is still finding its way on to most mobile handsets. The keyboard is redesigned which helps in faster and more intuitive text input.

The only drawback with Andriod OS is that the user has to depend on the manufacturer ti get their version updated.
Devices which use Android OS:
Motorola Charm (2.1), HTC Incredible S (2.2), OliveSmart (2.3)

BadaOS

This one is from Samsung. Samsung too joined the OS wagon last year with is own operating system. This OS, much like Android, offers multi-tasking ability and is web friendly. Samsung Wave series feature this OS and are very successful. The reason Bada is not so popular is because of lack of apps. As compared to Smybian and Android, Bada lacks a good apps library. But unlike other OS Bada has an icon driven user interface which is simple and easy to use.
There are only a limited number of devices available today in the market which has this OS viz., Samsung Wave and Samsung Wave 2

In my next post we will be discussing on other mobile OS viz., iOS by Apple, Blackberry OS and Windows Phone. If you have any comments, suggestions or queries please leave a comment below.

Related posts:

1. A look at major Mobile OS – Part 2
2. Epic Mobile Battle Again – Apple & Google
3. Now, Play Angry Birds on your browser.

Below are images and descriptions of some of the art installations present in this year’s festival. Enjoy!

Save Tigers!

Aspiring Reconciliation

Aura Arts presents ”Aspiring Reconciliation” by Veguri Ravindra Babu

My present installation is about Sound which is the result of vibrations of the air, one of the five elements of nature. Sound is the energy in the air. This artwork depicts the physical energies of the environment, which is a combination of cosmic and earth energies which forms the essential energy serving as a vital force required for existence of all life forms Any imbalance in the interplay of these forces can result in chaos. An invisible equation operates between the elements outside, the elements within the individual and the living surroundings which deeply effect their mental well being…, such is the impact of sound on all living beings.

“All this talk and turmoil and noise and movement and desire is outside the veil, within the veil is silence, calm and rest” — this artwork is just antagonistic to this saying, whether inside or outside veil — the deeply seated meaning, to stay in peace/tranquil state, remains the same.

Visual Horsepower

Shreyas Nilkanth Khanvilkar

Power machines are related with a basic thumb rule called Horsepower. When we a say that the engine is 2 horse power we correlate its capacity to generate power which is equivalent to 2 horses. Bullock carts, horse carriages, power driven vehicles, generators ship engines, etc, all required a guideline to measure speed. Science termed this speed in relation with a horse which is now called as Horse Power.

The Horse is cosmetically covered by all types of vehicles which man has discovered since the evolution of the wheel. Younger generation to correlate art with science and technology to educate themselves while observing this gigantic horse and feel the anatomy by virtually touching it.

Incredible India

Sunaina Bhaila

‘India, the land of opportunity…Incredible India, The next global power… When I look at India, this is what I see!
I see dazzling beacons of commerce alongside large scale corruption, large scale modernization alongside poverty, talent in cricket and chess alongside natural calamities, the Nano’s announcement of India’s arrival on the world stage alongside scams and scandals. The story of India is complex and exhilarating. There are ups and downs and break neck roller coasters, but somehow I think we do land on our feet and reinvent ourselves each time to continue working on a better future. This work is an interactive one, let’s see what happens when one tries to rearrange India as we know her. She could change for better or worse — it’s anybody’s guess and everybody’s responsibility.

Interacting with this art work

This artwork has been created to engage the viewer. The grid has 9 squares (2 sided), one of which is empty. When arranged in the correct sequence, both sides transform to reveal a bigger picture. You may choose to leave it as an abstract work by rearranging only some of the squares or you may complete the picture on either side. Method: Remove the hook on the chain from the square and let it fall to the side. This will allow the squares to move horizontally or vertically . You may move the squares any number of times and in any direction. The end result is a complete picture on both sides. After the picture is complete please attach the chain and hook in the same position as before. This is important as otherwise the two squares above the empty one will come down automatically. Please be gentle!

Contact them at
Email : sunaina@sunainabhalla.com  Website : www.sunainabhalla.com

Save Nature Grow Treasure.

Dilip J. Vaity
In last one century due to rapid industrialization there has been significant progress throughout the world. But we have damaged the ecosystem of the earths atmosphere in 75 years to such an extent that our future generations will blame us for bringing a catastrophe beyond ones imagination. Our ecosystem balance has been compromised in the name of progress. Time will come when all the agricultural growth will be intoxicated with pesticides and harmful chemicals. Human being himself is responsible for the unforgiving act. Hence conveying a message of saving nature has become a necessity for all surviving individuals.
The sculpture shows how in future agricultural growth inside a pea shell will be have residues of metal indicating rapid industrialization (hence stainless steel ball are used) . The man is shown in a form of a worm inside the shell of a pea indicating he is a parasite himself ,showing a sign of triumph for destroying nature.

Ambey-se-darr (one of my favorite)

Mumbaism

Mumbairis a land of diversity – Art, Languages, Lifestyles, Cultures, Hpabits, Geographies and Scripts. Different yet united by an iinmisilalie.Golumon thread – Mumbaism!

Concept by

Pankaj Gharde – pankajgharde@gmail.com – 9869338624

Euro 14

Mangesh Y Rajguru

The human living -aith high temperature on Earth, having more toxic gases. greenhouse gases in the air, lack of trees, still wants to use more and more vehicles. The human will make the pollution norms more stringent and imagine it is EURO 14… the environment would be more polluted. in my EURO 14 installation I represent my imagination that the pollution from a single vehicle in EURO 14 vAll be equivalent to pollution from fourteen vehicles as on today. To protect from this intens- pollution man will need (DP/gen cylinder and a mask while riding and that will be compulsory to riders like a helmet.
It is my sincere request to restrict the use of vehicle, use bicycle for short distances, use public transportation. Plant Trees, nourish trees and Save Trees Save Earth Save our life. Save future generations… Gift the pollution free earth to your future generatitri!!!

Boot & Foot Race 2011

Priyanshu Thakur (Child Artist, 11 Years Old)

The concept of installation presented here is “Feet are Racing with Shoes”

“Clay empowers me to work with joy, where simple clay modeling becomes my world. The touch of the clay makes me active in beautiful world of new reality. It is when I am working in the studio that I am set free, here I can be anybody: man, women, child, alien, animal, king, queen, alive, dead & Shoes, Tea pot, Toys… anything. I can swim in a stream of time, fly on a magic carpet, laugh with fictitious characters.

I am 11 years old, studying in 6th std. My parents are fine Artists. By looking at their work since age of five, I am taking interest in clay sculpturing, sketching and painting on canvas. I have given demonstrations of clay sculpturing at Nehru center 2010, Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2010, Lavasa Art Festival 2010 & Press conference of Surbhi Art foundation 2011 at Juhu, Mumbai. My work has been taken by people in India & Abroad.

Stage Acts

More snaps from the event

Related posts:

1. Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2010
2. Kala Ghoda, Figuratively.
3. ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 – The Logo Story

esbe started off as a personal hobby, there were several factors that gradually fertilized it into a brand. What started off as a discussion over tea, became a passion along the way.

Carry your stuff with a difference. There is a varied range of esbe bags to compliment each look you choose. Whether its to add that bling factor to your not so happening attire or just to fill in the need of carrying your goodies. Likewise, days when we adorned those plain and undramatic converse have become memories. Its time you give your feet a cool and hip makeover. Walk with a change and let the world watch out. These esbe designs will assist you to make a statement out there or else if you have ideas regarding your own custom made shoes, we willingly accept them too. Color each day wearing a tee that spells style in an unique way. Allow your mood to help you choice amongst the range of esbe tshirts designed with the spirit of youth and fun just for you. Give your own twist to fashion that suits your style completely and own them too.

So get in touch today to give yourself a creative dose or to gift warp memories for your loved ones.

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1. Treat your website like you treat your house.
2. Lofty Bamboo – Thailand
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Below are the gifts of inspiration that I collected.

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1. Nokia 360×640 Touch Wallpapers
2. Kala Ghoda Art Festival – 2011
3. MacBook Framed!

You always want your home to have a good nameplate. This can be taken as or compared to the logo of your website or blog.

A good professional logo gives the visitors a first feel of what is inside.

Now lets move inside! Is it that when you buy a home you also buy everything you see on the shelf of the interior’s store? You may like all the painting, furniture, show pieces and all in the store, but then you don’t just buy everything and stuff it in your home. You first decide how you want your place to look like, some might even have a theme set in their mind of how the house should look like. The same goes with websites. You must not fill it will all the content you read, all the images and videos you see. Let there be some theme or some space. Give the visitor something specific to look at. Something nice.
I know you want your visitor to find everything they look for on your website and stay there for a while. But I say give only things you are best at. This way the user feels more comfortable and will return to your site, recommend it to his friends and also will signup for updates.

Lastly when your home has some thing special in it, say for example a painting or a big show piece made of glass. Do you keep it at the front of your main door. Like the visitor must forcibly notice it. No, you don’t! So why the same with websites? If you have some special thing to show to your visitors, make a place for it. Let the special thing be noticed by the visitors themselves as then they will pay more attention to it.

One more thing to add. One always keeps his home secured. Do the same with your website. Keep it protected, ask your hosting guys or some security advisor to have a review of your website and make it secure.

This is what I think and feel about making, maintaining and designing websites. Let me know your views and take on this. Some might agree and some not, but this is the fun part. Eagerly waiting for your comments.

Related posts:

1. Website Domain Names in local languages.
2. Making your website: Some Pre-made options.
3. Professional Hosting – Indian Servers

Clicked by bro, Alpesh Kandoi.

Click on the image to see the actual size

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3. Automate copy-paste job

Lets take an example. You have created an Membership Card design for a club. And you also have to get it printed. Designing the card is the easy part. The most time consuming and boring part comes when you are required to add data for 200 employees. And then get those cards file ready for print.

So, which software to be used for designing the card? I say, use any – Adobe Illustration or Adobe InDesign. The file format needed for printing would be .tiff, .pdf or maybe .eps.

Lets get started.

You can automate your work in Illustrator as well as InDesign. In Illustrator it is done using the Variables Palate, under Windows Menu. You can find more details about the same over here. Using XML in Illustrator CS3.

But personally, I find InDesign best for such kinda work. But I will leave it up to you to decide.

Here is the card design opened in Illustrator. As you see, there are data fields for Name, Place, Valid Upto and Serial Number.

and here is the excel file which I have received from the client.

Now all I need is to get the print files ready in .tiff, or .eps format

1. Save the Illustrator file in eps format and place the eps file into InDesign.
2. Save the excel file in “Tab Delimited Text (.txt)” format.
3. Set the Indesign document size same as that of the card.
4. Open: Windows > Automate > Data Merge Palate.
   
5. Select ” Select Data Source ” option from the Data Merge palate, and select the .txt file you made in step 2.
6. Now make text frames besides every data field.
   
7. Once all the four text frames are made, select the text frame for “Name” and Click on the “Name” section in the Data Merge Menu. Similarly repeat for all the remaining text field and you should have something like this.
   
8. We have linked the data from the txt file to our card design. Now, just format the text frames as per the design needs and then check on the preview button on the Data Merge Palate and you will be able to see the data.
9. Now, click on the ” Create Merged Document ” button on the Data Merge Palate (last button from right)
10. Read the options, you might find it helpful for other jobs, and then click ok.
11. What this will do is make a new document, with all the cards (20 nos.) in pages.
12. Now just export the card in the format needed.

Tips

• InDesign does not export in tiff, what you can do is, export the files as jpeg and make an action in Photoshop to make then CMYK and save as .tiff.
• This method can be used for automating many things like Visiting Cards, Certificates, Banners and even ID Cards and it also supports photo.

Well then that would be it. If you have any queries please leave a comment here and I will reply at the earliest.

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1. Reduce PSD file size without compressing
2. Kala Ghoda Art Festival 2010
3. Redeveloping a WordPress Blog.