ATT recently released its new data plans according to which the unlimited data plan for 30 dollars will be replaced by two plans, one that provides 200 MB for 15 dollars and the other that provides 2 GB for 25 dollars. Any overage will be charged per some unit of data, for example, 10 dollars for every extra 1 GB used. Existing unlimited plans will remain unaffected, but contrary to previous promises new 3G iPad will not come with unlimited data plan any more.
There are two sides to the decision. Some feel that this is a step backward in terms of technology. The example being given is that of the internet plans that moved from limited data plans to unlimited plans for a fixed price. The other side feels that people who use more should pay more than others. In fact a large percentage of people (including those using the iPhone) can now opt for the 15 dollar plan since the actual usage per month is in fact less that 200 MB for them. Even for heavy duty users (business users who browse internet and check mails every hour) the usage would be less that 2 GB allowing them to save 5 dollars. The people who would be impacted most are those who watch videos on their phones regularly.
In my humble opinion, even though it is imagined that our telecom/wireless industry is one of the most advanced technology sector, we have to remind ourselves that the data usage has multiplied 100 times in last 4 years and even though the telcos had a lot of spare bandwidth at their core, not only is it depleting fast, but also higher data usage is requiring installation of more towers per unit area. May be 10 years down the line, the telcos will catch up with the demand for data but unlike wired routers used for the internet, the 3G wireless technology is highly energy inefficient and I believe that it should always be charged according to usage in the same way as gas is paid for according to the distance that one travels. Otherwise this will become a major cause of pollution in years ahead both in terms of energy consumption and expensive heavy duty toxic batteries.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Monday, August 17, 2009
SRK and the US
Since SRK got held up for detailed questioning at the Newark airport, there has been a lot of reporting, blogging and discussion on it.
You hear two main opinions :
1) That detaining SRK, who is not only one of the most popular stars in the whole world but also has a very clean image, was inappropriate. That it inflicted some kind of insult on SRK, India or even the whole world.
2) That this is normal procedure and many people have to go through it. US has the right to be entire sure about who it lets in and this is why another 9/11 has not happened in 8 yrs.
These opinions are not at all mutually exclusive. Logic and emotions, both have equally important places in this world. And they need to reconciled.
The issue is as follows :
Such behavior by US brings out their inefficiency and stupidity which when not understood appears like arrogance.
The purpose of such stringent security measures is to prevent terrorists from getting into the US. But why is it necessary to assume that a person who has lived a good public life can turn terrorist any day? US should maintain a list of people who are frequent travelers and who are well known. Frisking a person and his luggage should always be done. But it should be harassment-free. Some might say that this is like differentiating between people on the basis of their success. I would say - NO. This is in turn making the system more efficient.
The anger of people on such occasion is because it appears that US is arrogant enough not to acknowledge that there are people in other countries who are relatively above suspicion. Not only because they have a clean public image, but also because everything that one could possibly gather in that 1.5 or 2 hrs of questioning can already be known if only they maintained a database of them. It's about according respect to the emotions of those who love them.
You hear two main opinions :
1) That detaining SRK, who is not only one of the most popular stars in the whole world but also has a very clean image, was inappropriate. That it inflicted some kind of insult on SRK, India or even the whole world.
2) That this is normal procedure and many people have to go through it. US has the right to be entire sure about who it lets in and this is why another 9/11 has not happened in 8 yrs.
These opinions are not at all mutually exclusive. Logic and emotions, both have equally important places in this world. And they need to reconciled.
The issue is as follows :
Such behavior by US brings out their inefficiency and stupidity which when not understood appears like arrogance.
The purpose of such stringent security measures is to prevent terrorists from getting into the US. But why is it necessary to assume that a person who has lived a good public life can turn terrorist any day? US should maintain a list of people who are frequent travelers and who are well known. Frisking a person and his luggage should always be done. But it should be harassment-free. Some might say that this is like differentiating between people on the basis of their success. I would say - NO. This is in turn making the system more efficient.
The anger of people on such occasion is because it appears that US is arrogant enough not to acknowledge that there are people in other countries who are relatively above suspicion. Not only because they have a clean public image, but also because everything that one could possibly gather in that 1.5 or 2 hrs of questioning can already be known if only they maintained a database of them. It's about according respect to the emotions of those who love them.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Harry Potter 6
Well made. Skipped some things in the book.
Good or bad, a Harry Potter movie cannot be missed by me.
Yes, it did take 40 mins to find parking and I waited in a line for 1 and half hours to get a good seat.
But with good friends along, no pain, only fun.
Good or bad, a Harry Potter movie cannot be missed by me.
Yes, it did take 40 mins to find parking and I waited in a line for 1 and half hours to get a good seat.
But with good friends along, no pain, only fun.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI)
Today was the first day of the conference. Now, I have started getting the feeling that I am an AI researcher. Until now I was always in doubt whether my work was good enough and was it really AI-ish enough. Spending a day among so many researchers (1200) from all over the world is overwhelming. The thought that people are attacking these problem daily in so many different places is surreal.
The talks were great. I have only been to one more scientific conference before, but I can tell that the works being presented here are good contributions.
But the day ended with honoring two achievers in AI, Andrew Ng and Carlos Guestrin. I have seen geniuses being depicted in movies but to see them speak in real was great. Then was the AI video contest. It was like a party.
Yes, there can be a sense of purpose in research.
The talks were great. I have only been to one more scientific conference before, but I can tell that the works being presented here are good contributions.
But the day ended with honoring two achievers in AI, Andrew Ng and Carlos Guestrin. I have seen geniuses being depicted in movies but to see them speak in real was great. Then was the AI video contest. It was like a party.
Yes, there can be a sense of purpose in research.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Awesome Operating System lecture
UC Berkeley has its Operating Systems (OS) course lectures available online freely. I found them very lucid and helpful.
Here is the link:
http://academicearth.org/courses/operating-systems-and-system-programming
NB: http://academicearth.org/ in general has really good lectures. I also saw the Psychology lectures by Paul Bloom at Yale. He is a very good animated speaker. Check it out at http://academicearth.org/courses/introduction-to-psychology
Here is the link:
http://academicearth.org/courses/operating-systems-and-system-programming
NB: http://academicearth.org/ in general has really good lectures. I also saw the Psychology lectures by Paul Bloom at Yale. He is a very good animated speaker. Check it out at http://academicearth.org/courses/introduction-to-psychology
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Rajasthan
I visited various cities of Rajasthan this winter. It was kinda cool. Palaces, forts, temples, shrines ... all some hundred years old.
Udaipur
Ajmer
Pushkar
Jodhpur
Jaipur
I went with my family. Papa, mummy and Ruchi.
Traveled by all sorts of transportation. Trains, buses, cars, autorickshaws, cycle rickshaws, boats.
Kings, their lives, their wives, their wars, their ends.
Did some shopping as well. That's the boring part. [smile]
Camel rides. Bullock cart rides. Awesome local food.
7 days.
Udaipur
Ajmer
Pushkar
Jodhpur
Jaipur
I went with my family. Papa, mummy and Ruchi.
Traveled by all sorts of transportation. Trains, buses, cars, autorickshaws, cycle rickshaws, boats.
Kings, their lives, their wives, their wars, their ends.
Did some shopping as well. That's the boring part. [smile]
Camel rides. Bullock cart rides. Awesome local food.
7 days.
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