Blog & Web Directory on India

Advertise SI Web Directory Home About Us Facebook Twitter

Why is Google Buying Motorola Mobility?

Android, Digital Media 6 Responses »

Aug 152011

Google’s proposed $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility throws up the big question ….

Why?

* First and foremost, buying cellphone, set-top boxes and tablet vendor Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion (a 63% premium over Friday’s closing price) is a tacit admission by Google that ultimately Apple’s closed model of controlling all aspects of the smartphone experience (hardware, software and AppStore) is superior.

All but the diehard Fandroids would acknowledge that the iPhone or iPad user experience is far superior to Android be it in the user interface, availability of apps, security or developer support for the platform. We’re on our second iPhone and first iPad (V.2) for the most part have no complaints. Reviews of Android devices have rarely approached anywhere near the gushing praise its primary rivals, the iPhone or iPad.

It’s true that Google’s Android software has made considerable inroads in the smartphone market with 150 million devices and 550,000 activations a day. But when multiple vendors are peddling Android and the widgetry is cheaper than the iPhone, then 150-million doesn’t look that earth-shattering a number as it does on first blush.

* Second, Motorola has amassed a huge cache of patents, an area that Google has found itself to be at a disadvantage vis-a-vis Apple and Microsoft. Motorola has 17,000 patents and 7,500 patent applications.

Android vendors have already seen lawsuits from Apple, Microsoft and Oracle. From Google’s perspective, the patent outlook must have seemed pretty grim. With the acquisition, Google has muscled up on patents and provide a tough challenge to any rival in the court-room. Google executives made no secret today about their intention to protect the Android ecosystem.

* Third, the problem of fragmentation of Android must have been high on the minds of Google executives. While it’s true that fragmentation never occurred with Windows despite multiple PC vendors selling it, with Android there are two layers – manufacturer and carrier – before the gadget reaches consumers’ hands adding to the complexity of rolling out features, pushing updates, security fixes and getting more software developers on board to build apps for the Android platform.

* Fourth, the deal gives Google’s mobile ad programs a big boost by providing a huge captive base of phones to play with. With so much captive real estate available, the sky is the limit for what Google can do with it. For instance, Chrome can be the default browser, and easy access buttons for Google Local Pages/Place Pages can be offered on the Motorola phones.

* Fifth, Google can now be the default search engine on hundreds of millions of phones and tablets.

* Sixth, Motorola’s set-top boxes provide an entree for Google to launch a renewed push into the TV market where its success to date has been limited.

* Just Kidding: Finally, Google wanted to make desi boy and Motorola Mobility CEO Sanjay Jha richer by $90 million (thanks to Jha’s severance agreement).

Android OEMs Screwed

If we were Android licensees HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and LG Electronics today, we’d be looking for long, sturdy ropes. Continue reading »

Incredible Shithole Celebrates 64th Independence Day

Incredible India 14 Responses »

Aug 142011

It’s already August 15 in India and the country is ‘celebrating’ its 64th Independence day.

Here’s SI’s tribute to Incredible India on this momentous occasion:

* 64 Years after Independence, nearly 650 million Indians have no toilets and are forced to bare their backsides to the world’s gaze every morning.

* 64 Years after Independence, India is one of the most corrupt countries on the planet. The country ranks 87th on Transparency International’s Corruption Index.

* 64 Years after Independence, 312 million Indians (more than the entire population of the U.S.) are illiterate.

* 64 Years after Independence, Indians continue to die of Starvation every day even as food grains rot in government granaries.

* 64 Years after Independence, homeless Indians number in the hundreds of millions

India - The Global Shithole WHO Report – Progress on sanitation and drinking-water 2010 update

* 64 Years after Independence, 800-million Indians live on less than $2 a day.

* 64 Years after Independence, Indians continue to breed like mosquitoes leading to an overpopulated hell of 1.2 billion people.

* 64 Years after Independence, Indian film actors continue to drive their SUVs over poor pavement dwellers, killing the sleeping innocent people and escape punishment.

* 64 Years after Independence, Indian film-makers/producers/actors like Kamal Hassan, Vikram, Venkat Prabhu, Murugadoss etc continue to steal with impunity.

* 64 Years after Independence, Indian police across the country continue to kill alleged criminals in fake encounters.

Mera Bharat Mahaan!

Sources:
Incredible India 44 – India Takes on the World
Corruption Perceptions Index
Indian Newspaper Reports

Yahooo! Shammi Kapoor – Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai

Bollywood, People 1 Response »

Aug 142011

The peerless Bollywood actor Shammi Kapoor, who died last night of chronic renal failure, entertained countless Indians with his inimitable actions and gestures in films like Junglee, An Evening in Paris, Kashmir Ki Kali, Prince and more.

Here’s a bunch of some great Shammi Kapoor moments:

cheap air tickets to india

America Says Fuck You to 77 Million Tamils

America, General 13 Responses »

Aug 132011

Question: How many Americans does it take to bugger 77 million Tamils?

a) 100,000 Navy Seals
b) 10 CIA Agents in Virginia operating 50 Drones
c) 1-million highly trained U.S. soldiers
d) 1 weaponless White Woman

Correct Answer: d i.e. Just one White Woman without weapons

Ouch, the backsides of 77 million Tamils must be hurting today.

Hurting real bad after an American woman diplomat strapped on a big dildo and buggered the shit out of them.

U.S. Vice Consul in the South Indian city of Chennai Maureen Chao might look like your friendly White neighbor who enjoys the Garlic Naan at the $12.99 Sunday Lunch buffet at the local Taste of India.

But make no mistake, Maureen Chao is one tough woman. Her words are hotter than Chettinad Chicken.

Here’s what the White woman told a gathering of students at the SRM University in Chennai on Friday:

I was on a 24-hour trip on a train from Delhi to Orissa. But, after 72 hours, the train still didn’t reach the destination due to some strike and, earlier, due to a rail block by some cows or camels. At the end… my skin became dirty and dark, like the Tamilians,

Yes, poor Maureen’s skin became dirty and dark like that of Tamilians.

By the way, if you’re a Tamil and if your backside is hurting Maureen Chao regrets it.

Because it was not Maureen’s intent to hurt you while she buggered you. So, move on now.

The U.S. Consulate in Chennai Vice Consul said Maureen Chao’s speech reflected ‘positive memories from her own study abroad experiences in India 23 years ago.’

Say, has Maureen Chao seen what color her President’s skin is?

Aarakshan Review – Half-Baked Look at Reservations

Bollywood, Reviews 11 Responses »

Aug 122011

Aarakshan (Reservations) turned out to be a disappointment for us.

Directed by Prakash Jha, one of India’s rare political film-makers, the much hyped movie is supposedly centered on the hot-button issue of reservations aka affirmative action that allows less qualified candidates from lower castes to get government jobs and seats in colleges via special quotas. (By the way, a corporate bootlicking American politician named Barack Obama got into Harvard University through a similar Reservation program for Blacks.)

Story Flounders

But the reservations subject occupies center-stage in Aarakshan only for the first 1 hour or so.

Then the reservation train derails and the movie is all over the place turning its gaze one moment on the commercialization of education, the next moment hinting at corruption and moments later focusing on personal enmity between two individuals.

Reservation is a vexing issue in India and there are no easy solutions on a matter that has often led to severe violence and occasional deaths, particularly in North India.

But the movie never even makes an effort to explore the topic in depth or treat the subject with the gravity it deserves.

And that’s a shame!

Since Prakash Jha and Anjum Rajabali are responsible for the screenplay, responsibility for screwing up the story must lie at their feet.