Google’s Android vs. Apple’s iPhone

Looks like Android has become a hot favorite for most smartphone lovers. Though both the smartphones have their own set of pros and cons, the latest study shows that Android provides some tough competition for iPhone.

Let’s take a closer look at the two smart phones.

A recent study in a survey shows the growing increase of purchase of Androids over iPhones in the first quarter of 2010 which is making the Android a major contender in the mobile world. In a short span, it has overrun the Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile and Palm in terms of buyer preference.

The OS in Google’s Android and Apple’s iPhone have a lot of features in common. However, they are some distinct differences which make them totally different mobile platforms. The iPhone’s OS is closed and is developed by Apple where as Android is open and is primarily developed by Google with the help of other companies like HTC, Motorola and Samsung.

The biggest advantage that the Android enjoys is the completeness and simplicity of cloud integration. For instance, the Google’s Android is a ‘one click’ experience. Find the app and add it to the phone. Unlike the iPhone there is no separate synching required. There are more apps on the Android than the iPhone.

Android supports multitasking and gives you the feel of a real computer. Features like maps and turn by turn navigation are extremely impressive.

Androids and iPhones are designed to support internet browsing. However, a recent survey says that Androids provides better internet functionality. Ninety-two percent of Android users say they utilize their phone's Web connection, compared to 88 percent of iPhone owners. On the social activity sphere, iPhone is an edge better as it supports advanced social activity like photo sharing and social networking sites and blogs better. However, in video specific activity Android is a better. Significantly, there are higher percentages of Android users who capture videos and share it on the net.

Given a choice what would you opt for? I, being a loyal Google user will opt for the Android. I think it is simply superb! :)

You can't always get what you want!

I have a very close friend who is going through hard times on the personal front. This post is dedicated to that special friend. I know it is easy to say and hard to do but we need to move on in life. It is really tough to forget that one person who you always dreamt to be with lifelong. But what if God has better things in store? Take a second out to think about this: in your life you search and search for the right person for you. If you break up with someone you get one step closer to that perfect person made just for you. You should look at moving on as getting closer to meeting the right one. I read this quote somewhere - 'If someone you love hurts you cry a river, build a bridge, and get over it'. This makes so much of sense.

Recently, I also heard a story of a girl who ended her life as she didn’t get what she wanted. I was not able to sleep all night. This is so unfortunate that so many youngsters give up their lives because of heartbreaks. My only question- Is it really worthwhile to give up your life? I think we should be fighters and not cowards. Try and distract yourself from grief. Keep yourself as busy as you can. Streamline your potentials in things which interest you. Trust me you will overcome this phase. Like they say - 'Every exit is an entry somewhere'. Graduation is a small but significant attitude we should develop. It symbolizes the journey of life and represents the thought of moving on. You should love yourself the most. Your life is precious and you should value every bit of it. There’s no need to miss someone from your past. There’s a reason they didn’t make it to your future.

In life, we should learn how to let go many things. We should learn to let go of situations, things, memories and people. It is difficult but not impossible. Letting go does not mean quitting, it means accepting the fact that there are things that cannot be.

From Map Making to Tech Writing!

Like any other desperate job seeker I was eagerly waiting for the right opportunity to act as a catalyst to my career. Attended many interviews, my first interview was with Nipuna BPO and I got through. I received my first offer letter. I didn't take up the offer as it was a night job. In July’07, my best friend referred me at Google. I had to go through three rounds of interview. The first round was the written test. I cleared it and was called for the next one. I was waiting at the reception, I see a person coming and greeting me and then escorting me to a room for the next round of interview. He was extremely friendly and it didn’t seem like a formal interview. He was my mentor, guide and well wisher all through my career at Google. I was lucky to have got a chance to work with him. I was pushed to the next round. I cleared the next round too. I was informed that I was a Googler. :)
For the first few months, I was very casual about the job and was not serious-minded. As I was just out of college, I didn’t take work seriously. My day at office begun with chatting with every Tom,Dick and Harry who came online. I always thought that this was not the right job for me. Initially I was a digitizer i.e. to create map content on the product Map Maker. Then I realized that everyone around me has gone much ahead in the rat race and I was lagging behind. This self realization made me feel guilty and I began working really hard or rather over working. My hard work was appreciated and I was promoted to the next level - 'Moderator'.
Generally, I get bored of things very fast. I live by the saying ‘Variety is the spice of life’. After few months, I really needed a change and an exciting project the Google Earth Bug Scraping project came my way. This project was a revolutionary project for me. This project gave me recognition and exposed many of my leadership qualities which I wasn't aware myself. I excelled proved to be a humdinger in the team and I was then made the Team Lead. I burnt the candle at both ends. I kept trying to prove my mettle but in vain. Ironically, every other person in charge appreciated my work but I failed in winning my boss's confidence. I realized I was going nowhere and it was high time I start looking out for other options.
One night I sat and thought what are the options available for me. I analyzed all night and realized my biggest asset I have is good communication skills. Why don't I utilize that as coding or development or for that matter testing was not my cup of tea? I decided to go ahead and undergo the Technical writing course as I was always interested in documentation. I ensured that I grabbed every opportunity at work which was related to documentation. Then met a friend after around five long years and asked him if he could help me as this was related to his field. He was an angel in disguise. He then referred me at Cognizant and I was selected for the job.
Currently, I am a full time Technical Writer. :)

Why are relationships so complicated ?

Have you ever got an answer to this question- ' Why are relationships so complicated?'. Many couples struggle to keep their relationship intact. Like they say Men are from Mars and Women from Venus, then who is from Earth? Animals? Men don't understand women and vice versa they are poles apart. In most cases, relationships takes extra effort and compromise to stay afloat. Expectations are the key factor for the downfall of a relation. You begin to start expecting from the person you love to behave in the best way which is not always possible. I know it is tough but how about not expecting anything and if you get anything you consider it as bonus! Men are naturally made with this phobia Commitment phobia. They take a lot of time to accept the relation and until then they will feel caged. Do women cage you? Why are men so afraid of marriage?

I don't deny the fact that women(esp. Indian women) are equally complicated. They have loads of restrictions and rules to be followed as they come from orthodox families. They are confused souls without clarity as they are pulled between their family and that one person who means the world to them.

However, the complication in a relation brings the fun factor and makes the journey justifiable
I wish I get an answer to this question :)

Love Marriages - Jeopardy or Blessing !

A typical marriage can be defined as the sacred bond between two souls for a life time. There are lot of compromises and adjustments one has to make after tying the knot. It is not only unification of two human beings but also of two families.India has always had an age old tradition of arranged marriages where the family will find the right match for the girl or boy. Love marriages are very uncommon and are treated as a taboo in the Indian society. There are quite a few families even today who do not accept the fact that their children have chosen their life partners on their own. The main reason behind this act is parents are protective and want their children to be a part of good families. There are lot of advantages in an arranged marriage. As marriage is a gamble, you never know what is in store for you. It provides security and support from the family if for some reason the marriage does not work which is not the case in a love marriage. In a love marriage, if things don't sail smoothly you would be held responsible for the wrack up. You will have to fight your own battle as you will have no backing. However, the biggest advantage of a love marriage is they get to explore each other's nature and get adapted to the likes and dislikes of the partner much before the wedding. This develops the compatibility and helps them to survive the rough patches of life. In an arranged marriage, the person is a complete stranger and discovers everything about their partner after the wedding. If the wavelengths don't match and compatibility is nil it will end in a bad marriage. A love marriage gives you a chance in every phase to analyze the relationship and makes the bond stronger when it passes each test. Convincing parents, standing by your partner when the whole world is against the both of you are the main challenges that a couple has to face in a love marriage which helps them to make their marriage successful. The key factor for a prosperous marriage is Adjustment. In love marriages, the expectation level is too high which leads to low adjustment levels. In the courting phase, the couples see the best side of each other and the worst phase is yet to come and when it comes it leads to a disaster. Also, as they are so used to each other they begin to take each other for granted. So, high expectations are the main reason for an unsuccessful marriage. In an arranged marriage as the two of them are strangers the two pillars - Adjustment and Compromise work wonders in making the marriage fruitful. The married couples come with a mindset of adjusting and do not have any expectations from each other. Hence, the divorce rates in love marriages are very high in comparison with arranged.In a love marriage, the families may not accept you whole heartedly you will have to prove yourself at every stage. This is not the case in an arranged marriage.However, what counts in making a happy marriage is not how compatible you are but how you deal with incompatibility. Love, respect, adjustment, compromise, loyalty, trust and patience are the key factors for any marriage to work. If a marriage has all these features it is bound to be an everlasting one. :)Thus, I would like to end with the famous quote - 'Love does not make the world go round, it makes the ride worthwhile'.