Whether on Orchard Road, at the Singapore Zoo or Jurong Bird Park - look left, look right and chances are you willl bump into an Indian tourist. It's kind of strange and ironic then, to see a taxi painted with signage of 'Incredible India' zoom past.
Almost as if to tell us hey, whatcha doin' here?
Trouble is, it's cheaper and easier to fly out of India on a holiday than within the country. Take Kerala - hotels are astronomically priced. Or the North east - costs the same or even more than travelling to south east Asia. And figuring out the logistics is far tougher.
Of course, the "Incredible India" taxi is not aimed at us, but at Singaporeans and other visiting foreigners. "Discover Hong Kong" and "Visit Malaysia" have also taken over taxis, so chalo hum logon ne bhi aath das paint karwa li. Good to see our Tourist Promotion Board making some efforts.
Now if only we could learn a thing or two from all these countries on how to improve the actual India experience. The proof of the pudding for the tourist is in the taxi he hails in India - not the one painted like a peacock in Singapore.
Will there be a day when a first time visitor can expect to land at Mumbai airport and hail a clean, air conditioned cab which does not charge three times the actual fare?
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
Happy Diwali and...
you may not hear from me for a while. Am in Singapore - on vacation - for the next 2 weeks. May/ may not blog. Definitely will not answer email :) Hoping to de-addict myself from the digital world.
Have a safe and happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year!
Have a safe and happy Diwali and a prosperous New Year!
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Kentucky Fried disowns the chicken.
Economic Times reports:
Burdened with a name and an international legacy that's enough to drive away a third of Indian consumers who happen to be vegetarian, KFC is desperately repositioning itself as any other fast food chain serving "irresistibly tasty food" and not just chicken. Its research showed that nearly 97% of urban Indians eat out in groups of three or more, and at least one of them a vegetarian, would mind going to a place that specialised in non-vegetarian food.
I'm sorry, this makes no sense to me.
McDonald's stands for burgers and fries. Subway for sandwiches and Pizza Hut for pizza. These places can attract vegetarians by having separate cooking/ assembly areas. But KFC stands for chicken. You can shorten your name to KFC but the C still stands for chicken.
This is the very reason it's had to much success, in countries like China. A country where KFC is opening 250 outlets every year! As Time magazine notes:
KFC outlets outnumber Golden Arches by more than 3 to 2 in the mainland... Part of KFC's triumph can be attributed to its first-mover advantage. At the same time, KFC had something other than the novelty factor going for it—the main item on the menu was familiar to Chinese. "You don't have to be a genius to sell chicken in China," says Jim Bryant, who brought Subway sandwich shops to China.
Getting back to India. Yes, we have a lot of vegetarians. A recent CNN IBN-Hindu poll placed the 'veg' population at 31%. Another 9% will eat only egg from the non-veg list.
That leaves 60% of the population which eats non-veg. And chicken is a universal favourite.
I hear what the research is saying. But the idea of ordering veg pulav at a Kentucky Fried Chicken, according to a young colleague, is like asking a Demonic Resurrection fan about Ravi Shankar's cassette!
What's more, this guy has been a loyal KFC customer in the Gulf (he still salivates over their all-you-can-eat-for-20dhs offer). But he's none too happy with his Indian KFC experience.
"When you bite into the chicken leg you would expect a certain amount of meat to be seen, the white fleshy part but no, instead you hit the bone. THERE IS NO FLESH ON THIS ONE..."
There could be a pricing issue as well. 4 pieces of chicken, coleslaw and two cold drinks cost 275 bucks.
If I were KFC I would concentrate on this core audience. Nahin to woh murga bhi haath se nikal jayega...!
Because vegetarians like me are unlikely to walk in there and order that veg pulao. The big problem I have - which I am sure turns on chicken lovers - is the smell. So much fried chicken under one roof, with people going crunch-crunch-crunch does nothing for my appetite. Especially when there are so many other options!
Burdened with a name and an international legacy that's enough to drive away a third of Indian consumers who happen to be vegetarian, KFC is desperately repositioning itself as any other fast food chain serving "irresistibly tasty food" and not just chicken. Its research showed that nearly 97% of urban Indians eat out in groups of three or more, and at least one of them a vegetarian, would mind going to a place that specialised in non-vegetarian food.
I'm sorry, this makes no sense to me.
McDonald's stands for burgers and fries. Subway for sandwiches and Pizza Hut for pizza. These places can attract vegetarians by having separate cooking/ assembly areas. But KFC stands for chicken. You can shorten your name to KFC but the C still stands for chicken.
This is the very reason it's had to much success, in countries like China. A country where KFC is opening 250 outlets every year! As Time magazine notes:
KFC outlets outnumber Golden Arches by more than 3 to 2 in the mainland... Part of KFC's triumph can be attributed to its first-mover advantage. At the same time, KFC had something other than the novelty factor going for it—the main item on the menu was familiar to Chinese. "You don't have to be a genius to sell chicken in China," says Jim Bryant, who brought Subway sandwich shops to China.
Getting back to India. Yes, we have a lot of vegetarians. A recent CNN IBN-Hindu poll placed the 'veg' population at 31%. Another 9% will eat only egg from the non-veg list.
That leaves 60% of the population which eats non-veg. And chicken is a universal favourite.
I hear what the research is saying. But the idea of ordering veg pulav at a Kentucky Fried Chicken, according to a young colleague, is like asking a Demonic Resurrection fan about Ravi Shankar's cassette!
What's more, this guy has been a loyal KFC customer in the Gulf (he still salivates over their all-you-can-eat-for-20dhs offer). But he's none too happy with his Indian KFC experience.
"When you bite into the chicken leg you would expect a certain amount of meat to be seen, the white fleshy part but no, instead you hit the bone. THERE IS NO FLESH ON THIS ONE..."
There could be a pricing issue as well. 4 pieces of chicken, coleslaw and two cold drinks cost 275 bucks.
If I were KFC I would concentrate on this core audience. Nahin to woh murga bhi haath se nikal jayega...!
Because vegetarians like me are unlikely to walk in there and order that veg pulao. The big problem I have - which I am sure turns on chicken lovers - is the smell. So much fried chicken under one roof, with people going crunch-crunch-crunch does nothing for my appetite. Especially when there are so many other options!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Yabba 'dabba' do
Much has been written about Mumbai's dabbawalas. They've been the subject of documentaries, got invited to Prince Charles and Camilla's wedding and lecture students at bschools.
Now those humble but iconic aluminium dabbas are part of a sculpture! Yup, that's a picture of an installation at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Mumbai. Pretty cool, I thought.
On the other hand, I'm not sure about the long term prospects of dabbawalas. Yes, as the BBC notes, every morning 65-year-old Dhondu Chaudhary picks up a lunchbox from Arpana Rao's home in the suburbs of Mumbai.
Mrs Rao relies on Mr Chaudhary to get her husband's daily lunch delivered to Mumbai's financial district where he works. That is about an hour away from her home - and looking after her new baby means she barely has time for herself, let alone find the time to deliver a tiffin, or lunchbox, to her husband's office.
But, er, for how long? This model where ladies lovingly cook lunches for their toiling husbands will eventually die out, I think. But that won't be the end of 'home cooked tiffins'. Housewives and small businesses operating on a commercial basis will grow in number and use the dabba distribution method.
Meeanwhile, the dabbawalas realise they must do something to 'change with the times'. So they have launched a website - mydabbawala.com, making it easier for prospective customers to contact them. Not a very well designed - or functional - site but a small step forward.
You can 'apply dabba online' - which currently means you can email them your interest in their services. But why not go a step further and have a listing of those from whom you can actually order a lunch. Assuming you are a young bachelor, have a wife who can't/ won't cook for you or happen to be a wife in need of a dabba at office?
That would increase 'dabba traffic' much faster. The listing could be on the basis of kind of food served - veg/ non veg, Punjabi, Gujarati, Goan etc. Day-wise menus and prices could be given as well. In fact, in the longer run, the dabbawalas could install a payment gateway and charge a small fee for every monthly order processed through their site.
Lastly, I have no idea why they are selling a mug with a butterfly design on their website. Given all the amazing publicity they've got - wouldn't it make sense to sell dabbas as tourist souvenirs? Not just on the website but on Colaba Causeway.
I'm sure it'd get listed by Lonely Planet and those crazy foreigners will find some novel use for 'em. Just like the imaginative mind which conjured that sculpture!
Now those humble but iconic aluminium dabbas are part of a sculpture! Yup, that's a picture of an installation at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Mumbai. Pretty cool, I thought.
On the other hand, I'm not sure about the long term prospects of dabbawalas. Yes, as the BBC notes, every morning 65-year-old Dhondu Chaudhary picks up a lunchbox from Arpana Rao's home in the suburbs of Mumbai.
Mrs Rao relies on Mr Chaudhary to get her husband's daily lunch delivered to Mumbai's financial district where he works. That is about an hour away from her home - and looking after her new baby means she barely has time for herself, let alone find the time to deliver a tiffin, or lunchbox, to her husband's office.
But, er, for how long? This model where ladies lovingly cook lunches for their toiling husbands will eventually die out, I think. But that won't be the end of 'home cooked tiffins'. Housewives and small businesses operating on a commercial basis will grow in number and use the dabba distribution method.
Meeanwhile, the dabbawalas realise they must do something to 'change with the times'. So they have launched a website - mydabbawala.com, making it easier for prospective customers to contact them. Not a very well designed - or functional - site but a small step forward.
You can 'apply dabba online' - which currently means you can email them your interest in their services. But why not go a step further and have a listing of those from whom you can actually order a lunch. Assuming you are a young bachelor, have a wife who can't/ won't cook for you or happen to be a wife in need of a dabba at office?
That would increase 'dabba traffic' much faster. The listing could be on the basis of kind of food served - veg/ non veg, Punjabi, Gujarati, Goan etc. Day-wise menus and prices could be given as well. In fact, in the longer run, the dabbawalas could install a payment gateway and charge a small fee for every monthly order processed through their site.
Lastly, I have no idea why they are selling a mug with a butterfly design on their website. Given all the amazing publicity they've got - wouldn't it make sense to sell dabbas as tourist souvenirs? Not just on the website but on Colaba Causeway.
I'm sure it'd get listed by Lonely Planet and those crazy foreigners will find some novel use for 'em. Just like the imaginative mind which conjured that sculpture!
Shiro pic
On second thought, this one pic from my digicam was not sooo bad. So putting it up for those who'd like some idea of what it's like inside Shiro!
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Get blown away at Shiro: Mumbai's trendy new nightspot
I don't go gaga over nightspots too often. That's because I rarely visit them.
Well, cosmic forces combined to take me to a place so amazing I feel compelled to write about it. Coz there are clubs and there are lounges and there is Shiro. The moment you enter, your jaw will drop and you'll say "Wow!"
Never heard of it? Well, neither had I. Which is why I first took a peek into the Hard Rock Cafe located in the same mill compound. Verdict: yummy. But having been to a couple of Hard Rocks in other parts of the world, we thought let's give this Shiro place a chance.
And what do you know. Inside a plain, unmarked wooden door lies a world in itself.
The very first thing that hits you is a 50 foot high stone sculpture - whoa! Coupled with the soothing sound of water, dim lighting and oodles and oodles of space. So much space that you suddenly feel "this can't be Bombay.. it just can't".
We were led upstairs (yes, there are two levels) where the two of us chose a luxurious sofa to loll on. Right opposite, on the wall, was a fantastic wall sculpture - the kind you might see in Khajuraho - except these weren't kinky and the faces are all south East Asian.
In a corner there's bamboo shoots gently swaying, look above and there's a 100 ft high ceiling. Giant red lamps dangle from the ceiling - more for decor than lighting. The seating area to the side of us resembles a 4 poster bed with gauzy, golden curtains. The 'table' in front of me is a low wooden chest.
Close your eyes and gurgling water and soothing music give you a sensory massage. In 10 minutes you are completely relaxed. Ah, now for the menu.
There's a wide and interesting range of drinks, although gven the lighting, it takes effort to squint at the menu. Cocktails with names like Balinese beach and Shanghai sunset. Margaritas nicknamed 'irresistible concubines'. And something called shochutinis (martinis made with Japanese rice wine). Prices range between Rs 250-475.
I tried out the wine cocktail 'fortified with vodka' in cranberry-black currant flavour (Rs 325). Very nice.
There is a wide range of eats of the Japanese-Korean variety. The menu includes stuff like Norwegian salmon (5 pieces for Rs 500), sashimi platters (Rs 700 to Rs 1850, depending on number of pieces). There were many items on the menu mentioned as "bulgogi in bao" ie chicken bulgogi in bao, beef bulgogi in bao. Pata nahin kya hai but sounded intriguing!
There are a decent number of vegetarian options but only if you like tofu/ shitake mushrooms (which are an ingredient in almost everything here).
My friend tried chi-chow dumplings (which are like chicken momos, Rs 250) while I, the ghaas-phoos lover went for mixed veg dumplings with glass noodles (Rs 175). When it came, I could hardly tell what I was eating (did I mention the lighting is dim!). Whatever it was - accha tha. Service was cool but then, being a weeknight there wasn't much crowd.
The bottomline however is, food and drink is incidental to the experience. It's the ambience which is mindblowing.
Is it a replica of the famous Buddha Bar in Paris? Well, from the pics of Buddha Bar I checked out on the net it does not seem like an exact copy. There are no Buddhas per se, at Shiro, just a predominantly Far Eastern theme with an emphasis on the Japanese.
The idea and the overall atmosphere may well match - but who cares?
Although it's a really really romantic place, Shiro is essentially designed for large groups. The best seating in the house is what I call the 'boudoirs' - the area which resembles a canopy bed although with low L shaped sofas.
Yes, it is expensive (factor in VAT and service tax also!) but completely worth it. This is the place to see/ be seen at for some time to come. If you're going on a weekend better make a booking!
Sorry, I have no pictures to put up yet. I did take some with my camera phone but those do no justice to the place. We did in fact seek permission for JAM magazine to shoot some pictures... but they are yet to grant the same.
We're told there is a PR agency which is very selective about who gets to review the place. Aha. But what about people like me... We didn't need a freebie invitation. We came, enjoyed the experience and want to write about it.
Yes, I understand they want to slowly build up this place. Keep it mysterious and exclusive for a while. That way everyone wants to come here. And you don't depend on minor celebrities to endorse you to be seen as 'happening'. In short, no hangers-on who don't pay because they grace your club with their presence!
All I would say is, a write up in Bombay Times is not necessarily the best thing for a really cool place today. Yeah, they did feature Shiro yesterday, on some obscure page (bet you didn't notice it!). With a picture which looked like it was shot by an amateur (if you put on the flash, how can you capture the atmosphere!).
Aap hamein gale lagayein ya nahin, hum to aapke chahne wale ho haye. So, no hard feelings. The pics will happen. Watch this space!
Shiro, Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai. tel : 022-24383008
Well, cosmic forces combined to take me to a place so amazing I feel compelled to write about it. Coz there are clubs and there are lounges and there is Shiro. The moment you enter, your jaw will drop and you'll say "Wow!"
Never heard of it? Well, neither had I. Which is why I first took a peek into the Hard Rock Cafe located in the same mill compound. Verdict: yummy. But having been to a couple of Hard Rocks in other parts of the world, we thought let's give this Shiro place a chance.
And what do you know. Inside a plain, unmarked wooden door lies a world in itself.
The very first thing that hits you is a 50 foot high stone sculpture - whoa! Coupled with the soothing sound of water, dim lighting and oodles and oodles of space. So much space that you suddenly feel "this can't be Bombay.. it just can't".
We were led upstairs (yes, there are two levels) where the two of us chose a luxurious sofa to loll on. Right opposite, on the wall, was a fantastic wall sculpture - the kind you might see in Khajuraho - except these weren't kinky and the faces are all south East Asian.
In a corner there's bamboo shoots gently swaying, look above and there's a 100 ft high ceiling. Giant red lamps dangle from the ceiling - more for decor than lighting. The seating area to the side of us resembles a 4 poster bed with gauzy, golden curtains. The 'table' in front of me is a low wooden chest.
Close your eyes and gurgling water and soothing music give you a sensory massage. In 10 minutes you are completely relaxed. Ah, now for the menu.
There's a wide and interesting range of drinks, although gven the lighting, it takes effort to squint at the menu. Cocktails with names like Balinese beach and Shanghai sunset. Margaritas nicknamed 'irresistible concubines'. And something called shochutinis (martinis made with Japanese rice wine). Prices range between Rs 250-475.
I tried out the wine cocktail 'fortified with vodka' in cranberry-black currant flavour (Rs 325). Very nice.
There is a wide range of eats of the Japanese-Korean variety. The menu includes stuff like Norwegian salmon (5 pieces for Rs 500), sashimi platters (Rs 700 to Rs 1850, depending on number of pieces). There were many items on the menu mentioned as "bulgogi in bao" ie chicken bulgogi in bao, beef bulgogi in bao. Pata nahin kya hai but sounded intriguing!
There are a decent number of vegetarian options but only if you like tofu/ shitake mushrooms (which are an ingredient in almost everything here).
My friend tried chi-chow dumplings (which are like chicken momos, Rs 250) while I, the ghaas-phoos lover went for mixed veg dumplings with glass noodles (Rs 175). When it came, I could hardly tell what I was eating (did I mention the lighting is dim!). Whatever it was - accha tha. Service was cool but then, being a weeknight there wasn't much crowd.
The bottomline however is, food and drink is incidental to the experience. It's the ambience which is mindblowing.
Is it a replica of the famous Buddha Bar in Paris? Well, from the pics of Buddha Bar I checked out on the net it does not seem like an exact copy. There are no Buddhas per se, at Shiro, just a predominantly Far Eastern theme with an emphasis on the Japanese.
The idea and the overall atmosphere may well match - but who cares?
Although it's a really really romantic place, Shiro is essentially designed for large groups. The best seating in the house is what I call the 'boudoirs' - the area which resembles a canopy bed although with low L shaped sofas.
Yes, it is expensive (factor in VAT and service tax also!) but completely worth it. This is the place to see/ be seen at for some time to come. If you're going on a weekend better make a booking!
Sorry, I have no pictures to put up yet. I did take some with my camera phone but those do no justice to the place. We did in fact seek permission for JAM magazine to shoot some pictures... but they are yet to grant the same.
We're told there is a PR agency which is very selective about who gets to review the place. Aha. But what about people like me... We didn't need a freebie invitation. We came, enjoyed the experience and want to write about it.
Yes, I understand they want to slowly build up this place. Keep it mysterious and exclusive for a while. That way everyone wants to come here. And you don't depend on minor celebrities to endorse you to be seen as 'happening'. In short, no hangers-on who don't pay because they grace your club with their presence!
All I would say is, a write up in Bombay Times is not necessarily the best thing for a really cool place today. Yeah, they did feature Shiro yesterday, on some obscure page (bet you didn't notice it!). With a picture which looked like it was shot by an amateur (if you put on the flash, how can you capture the atmosphere!).
Aap hamein gale lagayein ya nahin, hum to aapke chahne wale ho haye. So, no hard feelings. The pics will happen. Watch this space!
Shiro, Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli, Mumbai. tel : 022-24383008
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Faltugiri
I don't know about Gandhigiri, but faltugiri must surely be our national pastime.
Why else would someone spend time and energy trying to take Google to court for an 'I hate India' community on orkut with 100 odd members? What's more something like this makes front page news in all national dailies?? Hindustan Times reports:
The Bombay Hight Court's Aurangabad bench has served a notice to Google for allowing a hate campaign against India on its social networking site www.orkut.com. The order was issued on Monday by justices A P Deshpande and R M Borde in response to a public interest suit filed by a junior advocate in Aurangabad, Yugant Marlapalle. His petition said that a community called 'We hate India", which has anti-India propaganda and a picture of the Indian flag being burnt, has been created on orkut.
Um, 103 odd members is hardly a 'hate campaign'. It's a whisper in a room with no people!
Type the word 'hate' in the Orkut communities 'search' box and this is the top 5:
# 1 I hate to wake up early 82,269 members
Community for those who can't stand waking up early in the morning!
# 2 I hate ekta kapoor 32,552 members
isnt there anything left in life of women apart from plotting against each other & sleeping around with there husband's friends????? may god help me out!!!!!!! --
# 3 I Hate Himesh Reshammiya 23,133 members
Save the humanity, Please don't sing
# 4 I HATE EXAMS! 15,014 members
Y do we have to take EXAMS ..they really suks sometimes..
i don't care if u don't agree with me..this community showup the feelings about taking freakin exams ..if some one doesn't like it i must say "WHO INVITED U"
# 5 Himesh Reshamiya Hate Club 11,034 members
Are you fed up with all those noisy,crappy songs of Himesh Reshamiya.Do you feel like taking off the cap from his head(he wears it to hide stolen music cds from Pakistan and smuggle them to India)and show the whole world that he is only bald and nothing else...blah blah blah...then please join this community..
If there's anyone who should be suing it's Himeshbhai. But even he is smart enough to know... these are just kids with frustrations in life - or just plain keeda.
Actually most of the "i hate" this that or the other sites seem to have been created/ populated by Indians. I mean sue, American teens are more into myspace but there are a lot of Brazilians on orkut as well.
I tried typing in the word 'odio' (hate in Portuguse) and could not find 20,000 members in an "I hate Ronaldinho for not winning the world cup" community... I could be wrong but I think Brazilians are more laid back and happier online citizens.
Meanwhile we Indians are venting at:
- I Hate Discussion After Exams 10,198 members
this is the community of the students who are really embarresed of discussions about Question paper that some people do after each damn exams....
- I hate Kareena Kapoor 8,374 members
Why do you hate Kareena Kapoor? I hate her for her arrogance and lack of abilities. As if you need more reasons!!
- I hate Shahrukh Khan 5,384 members
there maybe be plenty of fans of SRK (shahrukh khan) but this community is for his haters.
- I hate to study 4,780 members
I know, even you hate to study!! what say? Join in..!
- I hate Arjun Singh 3,594 members
You get the picture.
So why bother if one LiTtL3 DeViL in Karachi, Pakistan has started an 'I hate India' community? This is the last message posted there:
Yaar it's boring community
This is the way to hate someone?
Lagta hay salay Galian nikal nikal kar thuk chukay hain.
Ha jeee---What is the end result???
Aur kya bhai. Flag it for google and forget about it. Please, don't go around creating 'I hate Pakistan' communities (there are already 10 such lame efforts, no need to add to the idiocy!)
There is enough hate in the real world, to keep us busy for a long time. And enough far more important cases in our court we need to attend to.
However, frivolous as it may seem to me, perhaps Google will have to respond. The Washington Post recently reported
Google Inc., which refused in the past year to hand over user search data to U.S. authorities fighting children's access to pornography, said yesterday that it was complying with a Brazilian court's orders to turn over data that could help identify users accused of taking part in online communities that encourage racism, pedophilia and homophobia.
There are some legitimate concerns, and google will have to address them. But a couple of hundred looneys here and there should not be one of them.
Why else would someone spend time and energy trying to take Google to court for an 'I hate India' community on orkut with 100 odd members? What's more something like this makes front page news in all national dailies?? Hindustan Times reports:
The Bombay Hight Court's Aurangabad bench has served a notice to Google for allowing a hate campaign against India on its social networking site www.orkut.com. The order was issued on Monday by justices A P Deshpande and R M Borde in response to a public interest suit filed by a junior advocate in Aurangabad, Yugant Marlapalle. His petition said that a community called 'We hate India", which has anti-India propaganda and a picture of the Indian flag being burnt, has been created on orkut.
Um, 103 odd members is hardly a 'hate campaign'. It's a whisper in a room with no people!
Type the word 'hate' in the Orkut communities 'search' box and this is the top 5:
# 1 I hate to wake up early 82,269 members
Community for those who can't stand waking up early in the morning!
# 2 I hate ekta kapoor 32,552 members
isnt there anything left in life of women apart from plotting against each other & sleeping around with there husband's friends????? may god help me out!!!!!!! --
# 3 I Hate Himesh Reshammiya 23,133 members
Save the humanity, Please don't sing
# 4 I HATE EXAMS! 15,014 members
Y do we have to take EXAMS ..they really suks sometimes..
i don't care if u don't agree with me..this community showup the feelings about taking freakin exams ..if some one doesn't like it i must say "WHO INVITED U"
# 5 Himesh Reshamiya Hate Club 11,034 members
Are you fed up with all those noisy,crappy songs of Himesh Reshamiya.Do you feel like taking off the cap from his head(he wears it to hide stolen music cds from Pakistan and smuggle them to India)and show the whole world that he is only bald and nothing else...blah blah blah...then please join this community..
If there's anyone who should be suing it's Himeshbhai. But even he is smart enough to know... these are just kids with frustrations in life - or just plain keeda.
Actually most of the "i hate" this that or the other sites seem to have been created/ populated by Indians. I mean sue, American teens are more into myspace but there are a lot of Brazilians on orkut as well.
I tried typing in the word 'odio' (hate in Portuguse) and could not find 20,000 members in an "I hate Ronaldinho for not winning the world cup" community... I could be wrong but I think Brazilians are more laid back and happier online citizens.
Meanwhile we Indians are venting at:
- I Hate Discussion After Exams 10,198 members
this is the community of the students who are really embarresed of discussions about Question paper that some people do after each damn exams....
- I hate Kareena Kapoor 8,374 members
Why do you hate Kareena Kapoor? I hate her for her arrogance and lack of abilities. As if you need more reasons!!
- I hate Shahrukh Khan 5,384 members
there maybe be plenty of fans of SRK (shahrukh khan) but this community is for his haters.
- I hate to study 4,780 members
I know, even you hate to study!! what say? Join in..!
- I hate Arjun Singh 3,594 members
You get the picture.
So why bother if one LiTtL3 DeViL in Karachi, Pakistan has started an 'I hate India' community? This is the last message posted there:
Yaar it's boring community
This is the way to hate someone?
Lagta hay salay Galian nikal nikal kar thuk chukay hain.
Ha jeee---What is the end result???
Aur kya bhai. Flag it for google and forget about it. Please, don't go around creating 'I hate Pakistan' communities (there are already 10 such lame efforts, no need to add to the idiocy!)
There is enough hate in the real world, to keep us busy for a long time. And enough far more important cases in our court we need to attend to.
However, frivolous as it may seem to me, perhaps Google will have to respond. The Washington Post recently reported
Google Inc., which refused in the past year to hand over user search data to U.S. authorities fighting children's access to pornography, said yesterday that it was complying with a Brazilian court's orders to turn over data that could help identify users accused of taking part in online communities that encourage racism, pedophilia and homophobia.
There are some legitimate concerns, and google will have to address them. But a couple of hundred looneys here and there should not be one of them.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Mobile Gaming II
My affair with mobile gaming ended when I broke up with 'Snake' while shifting handsets. Truth be told, Snake broke up with me coz it wasn't preloaded on my Nokia 6670.
But after receiving N number of 'service messages' from Hutch exhorting me to download this that or the other wallpaper, ringtone or game, I finally succumbed.
I downloaded the 'Don' game, as per instructions. And guess what? Two files did appear on my phone. Don.jar and Don.jad. But the game refused to install.
So I asked the tech savvy dude and dudette in my office to try and make it happen. After all 20 bucks had been added to my bill... And we were to review the game before the film released, for JAM magazine. No luck.
I don't know if my experience was a common one. Or not. Certainly I have no energy to chase up the 20 lost rupees. For a game I suspect may not be all that hot anyways...
Next-generation mobile gaming
A young lady who owns the amazing Nokia N70 recently gave me a crash course in mobile gaming.
"See, this is an Indian game" and she turned up her nose. " Really sad..." The game was "Rei's love adventure" by Mauj. Here's how the intro of the game goes : (reproduced exactly)
"Rei the lovely flower girl want this year Valentine Days to be special. She want to give something special as Valentine gift to her boyfriend. She heard there are a lot of special item hidden in the maze garden but people said you cannot stay too long in the garden or you will get lost foreverin there. Please help Rei find all the items in the maze garden so her Valentine's Day will be the most special day she ever had."
As if that were not lame enough the game itself is a snake adaptation where a Hello-Kitty kind of girl-character goes around collecting hearts. And there is no challenge in terms of higher levels, speed, or difficulty either.
I can see even my 7 year old daughter getting bored of this in a jiffy.
"Now here are the really cool games..." and on screen appeared 'Da Vinci Code'. This game follows the plot and characters of the movie - you have to unlock the secrets hidden in the game. But there are some which are not in the book/ film so there is an element of surprise.
The game is mainly strategy/ role play but in level 2 there is a chase so that's where the action part is also brought in. Graphics are decent - in fact the game feels closer to a PC game. At least the kind of PC games you had not too long ago!
Other games recommended to me:
Pirates of the Carribean (it's not based on the movie plot though). And of course the PC classics adapted for the mobile such as Need for Speed, Carmageddon ( it has a multiplayer option via bluetooth), Doom, and Prince of Persia.
And oh, an additional tip. Playing games on phones with joystick controls is hard unless you have long nails. "In the N series, the power button is very close to the joustick. If you press it accidentally, power gaya, game gaya... You have start all over again."
So where do you get these games? You have to know the right people and join a closed user group or 'forum' dedicated to swapping and sharing. I'm sure there are sites on the net from where you can download them as well.
"These games are not officially available in India " says the N70 girl. "So I guess it's OK to get them this way. " It's a moot point whether folks would pay if it were officially available.
The 'potential'
All I know is, mobile gaming may be 'set to explode' in India according to industry analysts. I've written about the figures being thrown about in a previous post.
Given the number of mobile handsets and demand for entertainment/ timepass, there is a lot of potential. But I don't see the potential being achieved unless Indian companies:
a) Produce compelling international quality content. With the Bollywood footprint spreading across the world, I see no reason why a game based on a desi movie should not rival Da Vinci code in terms of graphics and challenge.
Quick and dirty won't work as more and more people upgrade to better quality phones in the next 2-3 years. Pirated versions of foreign games will trickle down from the cool and the 'know where to get it' types, to almost everyone.
b) The other model could be to sell basic, but very cheap and disposable content (games for 2 bucks each - you can play them just a couple of times and feel paisa vasool ho gaya).
Even here it's not just price but the fact that downloading, installing and playing consumes time and energy. I don't want 'faltu' stuff. Right now most developers are talking about the number of games they have made...Not that they actually sell any one in large quantities!
Most games get a mere 7-10,000 downloads in India. I know they also earn small amounts by licensing in to a large number of non-Indian operators and thus it works as a business.
The single largest selling title that I am aware of (excluding free R world downloads) is Sholay. It had 150,000 downloads by March 2006, according to a report published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
To my mind, it would be wiser to have fewer game titles but better quality. Perhaps I am mistaken and 'quality' does exist - but frankly, I as the end user simply do not have the information about it.
The gaming companies can themselves identify and promote select titles which have wide appeal. Additionally, they should send out mobile games to be previewed and/ or reviewed by the media - the way audio companies send CDs or movie companies invite journalists to press shows. Given that youth is the target audience, even bloggers could be enlisted.
The point being if the game is good, the ensuing positive recommendations will drive downloads. And if it's bad, well, those are the games which could be sold cheaply. And feedback would be valuable when developing games in the future.
And now, over to their websites...
Certainly, both developers and operators could provide a lot more on their websites. If you don't showcase your wares attractively how do you expect people to buy them?
The Hutch site is really bland - no indication of what the graphics might look like. Just a single screenshot and text description.
The Mauj site is a little better, but not enough. Take this game I randomly picked, based on KANK . There is no mention of how much it might cost me - Rs 20, 50, or 99? And would it really hurt if you let me see a simulation of the gameplay online, so I can decide if I like it enough to pay??
As for this site - it has not been updated in a while. Main hoon na wallpapers are a little out of demand right now. Also, you can't download anything ... Or did I miss something ?
Similarly, Mobile2win showcases
250 + games but it's not clear how I can download them. As the R world logo is prominently displayed, perhaps they supply content in India exclusively to Reliance and use the site to display their wares to operators abroad who may wish to license it for other countries.
But all is not lost. Indiagames is a site with a difference. It's well designed, with prices clearly listed. Some attempt is made to showcase gameplay - check the Krrish game under 'Bollywood'. Not sure if people would pay 99 bucks if jumping up and down is all there is to it.. but letting us see what the action looks like is a huge step forward!
Another great feature with Indiagames is that when you register, you are eligible to download 5 free games. And no, they don't appear to be duds.There's Championship Cricket, F Speed Forge (a racing game) and character based games like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Phantom.
What's more, instead of me having to send an sms to a short code number, the moment I click on download, Indiagames sends me an sms with a link to download the free game of my choice vis gprs.
I think Indiagames approach is the right one - this will help develop the market and build a longer term relationship with the consumer. This is how you reach out to more people, give them a taste of a new kind of thumb candy. When enough people like what they've tasted, they'll pay for more and there you have a 'gaming culture'.
One additional feature Indiagames should add is forums or allow Amazon-style user comments. I think that would add a lot of value. Ideally, we should have an independent and dedicated mobile gaming website like this one.
As I write this, I haven't actually been able to download my free Indiagames game because the 'web server is busy'. But hey, I shall keep trying :)
As for Don... if any one of you has managed to download that one, let me know if I missed anything! And yeah, anyone who'd like to review mobile games for JAM on a regular basis - do get in touch.
But after receiving N number of 'service messages' from Hutch exhorting me to download this that or the other wallpaper, ringtone or game, I finally succumbed.
I downloaded the 'Don' game, as per instructions. And guess what? Two files did appear on my phone. Don.jar and Don.jad. But the game refused to install.
So I asked the tech savvy dude and dudette in my office to try and make it happen. After all 20 bucks had been added to my bill... And we were to review the game before the film released, for JAM magazine. No luck.
I don't know if my experience was a common one. Or not. Certainly I have no energy to chase up the 20 lost rupees. For a game I suspect may not be all that hot anyways...
Next-generation mobile gaming
A young lady who owns the amazing Nokia N70 recently gave me a crash course in mobile gaming.
"See, this is an Indian game" and she turned up her nose. " Really sad..." The game was "Rei's love adventure" by Mauj. Here's how the intro of the game goes : (reproduced exactly)
"Rei the lovely flower girl want this year Valentine Days to be special. She want to give something special as Valentine gift to her boyfriend. She heard there are a lot of special item hidden in the maze garden but people said you cannot stay too long in the garden or you will get lost foreverin there. Please help Rei find all the items in the maze garden so her Valentine's Day will be the most special day she ever had."
As if that were not lame enough the game itself is a snake adaptation where a Hello-Kitty kind of girl-character goes around collecting hearts. And there is no challenge in terms of higher levels, speed, or difficulty either.
I can see even my 7 year old daughter getting bored of this in a jiffy.
"Now here are the really cool games..." and on screen appeared 'Da Vinci Code'. This game follows the plot and characters of the movie - you have to unlock the secrets hidden in the game. But there are some which are not in the book/ film so there is an element of surprise.
The game is mainly strategy/ role play but in level 2 there is a chase so that's where the action part is also brought in. Graphics are decent - in fact the game feels closer to a PC game. At least the kind of PC games you had not too long ago!
Other games recommended to me:
Pirates of the Carribean (it's not based on the movie plot though). And of course the PC classics adapted for the mobile such as Need for Speed, Carmageddon ( it has a multiplayer option via bluetooth), Doom, and Prince of Persia.
And oh, an additional tip. Playing games on phones with joystick controls is hard unless you have long nails. "In the N series, the power button is very close to the joustick. If you press it accidentally, power gaya, game gaya... You have start all over again."
So where do you get these games? You have to know the right people and join a closed user group or 'forum' dedicated to swapping and sharing. I'm sure there are sites on the net from where you can download them as well.
"These games are not officially available in India " says the N70 girl. "So I guess it's OK to get them this way. " It's a moot point whether folks would pay if it were officially available.
The 'potential'
All I know is, mobile gaming may be 'set to explode' in India according to industry analysts. I've written about the figures being thrown about in a previous post.
Given the number of mobile handsets and demand for entertainment/ timepass, there is a lot of potential. But I don't see the potential being achieved unless Indian companies:
a) Produce compelling international quality content. With the Bollywood footprint spreading across the world, I see no reason why a game based on a desi movie should not rival Da Vinci code in terms of graphics and challenge.
Quick and dirty won't work as more and more people upgrade to better quality phones in the next 2-3 years. Pirated versions of foreign games will trickle down from the cool and the 'know where to get it' types, to almost everyone.
b) The other model could be to sell basic, but very cheap and disposable content (games for 2 bucks each - you can play them just a couple of times and feel paisa vasool ho gaya).
Even here it's not just price but the fact that downloading, installing and playing consumes time and energy. I don't want 'faltu' stuff. Right now most developers are talking about the number of games they have made...Not that they actually sell any one in large quantities!
Most games get a mere 7-10,000 downloads in India. I know they also earn small amounts by licensing in to a large number of non-Indian operators and thus it works as a business.
The single largest selling title that I am aware of (excluding free R world downloads) is Sholay. It had 150,000 downloads by March 2006, according to a report published by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
To my mind, it would be wiser to have fewer game titles but better quality. Perhaps I am mistaken and 'quality' does exist - but frankly, I as the end user simply do not have the information about it.
The gaming companies can themselves identify and promote select titles which have wide appeal. Additionally, they should send out mobile games to be previewed and/ or reviewed by the media - the way audio companies send CDs or movie companies invite journalists to press shows. Given that youth is the target audience, even bloggers could be enlisted.
The point being if the game is good, the ensuing positive recommendations will drive downloads. And if it's bad, well, those are the games which could be sold cheaply. And feedback would be valuable when developing games in the future.
And now, over to their websites...
Certainly, both developers and operators could provide a lot more on their websites. If you don't showcase your wares attractively how do you expect people to buy them?
The Hutch site is really bland - no indication of what the graphics might look like. Just a single screenshot and text description.
The Mauj site is a little better, but not enough. Take this game I randomly picked, based on KANK . There is no mention of how much it might cost me - Rs 20, 50, or 99? And would it really hurt if you let me see a simulation of the gameplay online, so I can decide if I like it enough to pay??
As for this site - it has not been updated in a while. Main hoon na wallpapers are a little out of demand right now. Also, you can't download anything ... Or did I miss something ?
Similarly, Mobile2win showcases
250 + games but it's not clear how I can download them. As the R world logo is prominently displayed, perhaps they supply content in India exclusively to Reliance and use the site to display their wares to operators abroad who may wish to license it for other countries.
But all is not lost. Indiagames is a site with a difference. It's well designed, with prices clearly listed. Some attempt is made to showcase gameplay - check the Krrish game under 'Bollywood'. Not sure if people would pay 99 bucks if jumping up and down is all there is to it.. but letting us see what the action looks like is a huge step forward!
Another great feature with Indiagames is that when you register, you are eligible to download 5 free games. And no, they don't appear to be duds.There's Championship Cricket, F Speed Forge (a racing game) and character based games like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Phantom.
What's more, instead of me having to send an sms to a short code number, the moment I click on download, Indiagames sends me an sms with a link to download the free game of my choice vis gprs.
I think Indiagames approach is the right one - this will help develop the market and build a longer term relationship with the consumer. This is how you reach out to more people, give them a taste of a new kind of thumb candy. When enough people like what they've tasted, they'll pay for more and there you have a 'gaming culture'.
One additional feature Indiagames should add is forums or allow Amazon-style user comments. I think that would add a lot of value. Ideally, we should have an independent and dedicated mobile gaming website like this one.
As I write this, I haven't actually been able to download my free Indiagames game because the 'web server is busy'. But hey, I shall keep trying :)
As for Don... if any one of you has managed to download that one, let me know if I missed anything! And yeah, anyone who'd like to review mobile games for JAM on a regular basis - do get in touch.
Friday, October 06, 2006
JAM Engineering College Rating Survey 2007
Here's an update on this inititaive, which I wrote about earlier.
Well, the project is well underway. In fact, readers of this blog were the ones were the bakras who took the pilot survey. Based on your feedback, we then formulated a second, more comprehensive survey which is now being circulated within the engineering college community. The survey can be accessed here and is open to current students as well as those who have graduated in the year 2003 or after.
As I had mentioned the JAM survey aims to cover 250-300 colleges across India. In fact, I think that number will go up to 350.
66% of the survey is based on 'peer group ratings'. The remaining on feedback from the college management and Department of Technical Education. The survey is extremely transparent - no complicated formulas or calculations. Points are awarded for specific factors being present or absent and every college rated on a 100 point scale.
However, rather than a bland collection of statistics we will aim to provide some qualitative inputs. As well as some non-serious ones which capture the flavour of life in various colleges.
How you can help
This is an open source project. It can only be completed with your co operation and collaboration.
Firstly, we require a minimum of 30 responses from each college to arrive at a rating. I therefore request each of you who is eligible to fill the questionnaire to circulate it among batchmates, your egroup or orkut community to reach that number. The link is here.
By 30, I mean 30 seriously filled up questionnaires. We are inspecting what comes in and chucking out invalid/ fudged/ extreme responses. Yes, it would take about 15 minutes to fill the survey but anything less detailed would not be fair and would affect the credibility of the exercise!
Secondly, while no important institution will be left out, we are concentrating on 6 states with the maximum number of engineering colleges:
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
- Andhra Pradesh
- Delhi NCR
- Uttar Pradesh
We need 3-5 volunteers per state who can help with propogating the survey among the engineering college communities.
You should be:
- a well networked person with friends and contacts in many colleges
- someone who can beg, bully and cajole people into getting what you say done!
What you will have to do:
- Just spend a little of your time, from home, online in doing this work.
What you will get:
Right now - nothing in terms of money. This project is a labour of love. It's a project JAM is doing to help and guide students. A huge and formidable task which we have embarked on because someone has to do it.
And while we may not have vast material resources to back us up, we have the passion and commitment to the end user which no one else does.
Yes, the objective is to eventually make some money doing so (capitalism zindabad!). But that's a few months away and until then I can only offer you more of an intellectual kick. A feeling of having done something towards the greater common good.
JAM t shirts / other such goodies will be sent out of course. But I am sure that you won't volunteer only for that! That's just a survey ka side-effect :)
If you would like to get involved as a Survey Evangelist, email me at rashmi_b@yahoo.com.
Thank you for your support so far. For more updates, watch this space!
Well, the project is well underway. In fact, readers of this blog were the ones were the bakras who took the pilot survey. Based on your feedback, we then formulated a second, more comprehensive survey which is now being circulated within the engineering college community. The survey can be accessed here and is open to current students as well as those who have graduated in the year 2003 or after.
As I had mentioned the JAM survey aims to cover 250-300 colleges across India. In fact, I think that number will go up to 350.
66% of the survey is based on 'peer group ratings'. The remaining on feedback from the college management and Department of Technical Education. The survey is extremely transparent - no complicated formulas or calculations. Points are awarded for specific factors being present or absent and every college rated on a 100 point scale.
However, rather than a bland collection of statistics we will aim to provide some qualitative inputs. As well as some non-serious ones which capture the flavour of life in various colleges.
How you can help
This is an open source project. It can only be completed with your co operation and collaboration.
Firstly, we require a minimum of 30 responses from each college to arrive at a rating. I therefore request each of you who is eligible to fill the questionnaire to circulate it among batchmates, your egroup or orkut community to reach that number. The link is here.
By 30, I mean 30 seriously filled up questionnaires. We are inspecting what comes in and chucking out invalid/ fudged/ extreme responses. Yes, it would take about 15 minutes to fill the survey but anything less detailed would not be fair and would affect the credibility of the exercise!
Secondly, while no important institution will be left out, we are concentrating on 6 states with the maximum number of engineering colleges:
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
- Tamil Nadu
- Andhra Pradesh
- Delhi NCR
- Uttar Pradesh
We need 3-5 volunteers per state who can help with propogating the survey among the engineering college communities.
You should be:
- a well networked person with friends and contacts in many colleges
- someone who can beg, bully and cajole people into getting what you say done!
What you will have to do:
- Just spend a little of your time, from home, online in doing this work.
What you will get:
Right now - nothing in terms of money. This project is a labour of love. It's a project JAM is doing to help and guide students. A huge and formidable task which we have embarked on because someone has to do it.
And while we may not have vast material resources to back us up, we have the passion and commitment to the end user which no one else does.
Yes, the objective is to eventually make some money doing so (capitalism zindabad!). But that's a few months away and until then I can only offer you more of an intellectual kick. A feeling of having done something towards the greater common good.
JAM t shirts / other such goodies will be sent out of course. But I am sure that you won't volunteer only for that! That's just a survey ka side-effect :)
If you would like to get involved as a Survey Evangelist, email me at rashmi_b@yahoo.com.
Thank you for your support so far. For more updates, watch this space!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Gandhigiri ka locha
Bole to, kal tera picture dekha Hirani bhai. Ekdum mast picture banayerela hai.
Aur aajkal yeh TV channel aur newspaper log sab Gandhigiri par solid discuss maar rela hai. Aisa lagrela hai sab koi yeh picture dekh kar kuch badal rela hai... Sach bolne ka aur stranger log ko accha smile dene ka practice kar rela hai.
Magar dekh na. Kal, Gandhi Jayanti ke din jab apun picture dekhne ko nikla to apun ka kya experience hua.
Pehli baat to yeh. Gorment ne entertainment tax maaf karela hai magar theatre waale? Un log ne rate wahich ka wahich rakha hai. Bole to.. yeh to cheating hua na bhai?
Upar se 'house full' ka board lagrela hai. Magar tension nahi lene ka.. black mein ticket aaraam se mil rela hai.
Lekin phir kya hua na aaj New Bombay ka koi VIP ministerlog dopahar ka show dekhne ko gaya. Bole toh hall ka exit waise to pichu ka taraf rakhela hai.Magar Ganesh Naik saab ko kya hai na, aage ka darwaza se nikalne ko mangta hai. To khaali peeli public ko aadha ghanta udhar latka ke rakh diya...
Ab tum hi bolo Bhai, kis kis to phool bhijwane ka? Aur kis kis ke ghar ke aagey satyagraha karne ka? Kaise Gandhigiri ka theory ko practical mein badalne ka... Itne bade country ka itna saara locha kaise saltaane ka?
Waise picture ekdum mast banayereli hai... mast banayereli hai.
Aur aajkal yeh TV channel aur newspaper log sab Gandhigiri par solid discuss maar rela hai. Aisa lagrela hai sab koi yeh picture dekh kar kuch badal rela hai... Sach bolne ka aur stranger log ko accha smile dene ka practice kar rela hai.
Magar dekh na. Kal, Gandhi Jayanti ke din jab apun picture dekhne ko nikla to apun ka kya experience hua.
Pehli baat to yeh. Gorment ne entertainment tax maaf karela hai magar theatre waale? Un log ne rate wahich ka wahich rakha hai. Bole to.. yeh to cheating hua na bhai?
Upar se 'house full' ka board lagrela hai. Magar tension nahi lene ka.. black mein ticket aaraam se mil rela hai.
Lekin phir kya hua na aaj New Bombay ka koi VIP ministerlog dopahar ka show dekhne ko gaya. Bole toh hall ka exit waise to pichu ka taraf rakhela hai.Magar Ganesh Naik saab ko kya hai na, aage ka darwaza se nikalne ko mangta hai. To khaali peeli public ko aadha ghanta udhar latka ke rakh diya...
Ab tum hi bolo Bhai, kis kis to phool bhijwane ka? Aur kis kis ke ghar ke aagey satyagraha karne ka? Kaise Gandhigiri ka theory ko practical mein badalne ka... Itne bade country ka itna saara locha kaise saltaane ka?
Waise picture ekdum mast banayereli hai... mast banayereli hai.
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