Mayur's Posterous http://agentm.posterous.com Most recent posts at Mayur's Posterous posterous.com Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:05:00 -0800 Unboxing the Galaxy Nexus http://agentm.posterous.com/unboxing-the-galaxy-nexus http://agentm.posterous.com/unboxing-the-galaxy-nexus
To get a better/bigger view, click on the first picture and navigate left or right using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

I won't be doing a full review of this phone because I don't have the time and instead of doing a half-a$$ed writeup, just google "Galaxy Nexus review" and you should get about 167 million hits.

A few notable reviews:

AnandTech - Review for the nerds (added 19 Jan 2012)

The Verge. (Or you could skip the text and just watch the excellent video review here)

Engadget

Slashgear

CNET.co.uk

Google's latest and greatest is here and it comes pre-loaded with Android 4.0 a.k.a. Ice Cream Sandwich. The first few words that came to my mind after I started using the phone were "Holy Mother of God that is fast". Android's latest UI has been overhauled to make it extremely user friendly (or n00b friendly, if you must) and it's blazing fast. I love the sexy, subtle, snappy animations that respond everytime I touch that beautiful 720p screen. I can't possibly list all the awesome new features that are available on this phone ... Roboto font, face unlock, barometer, head tracking, 3rd party controller setup ... the reviews cover everything in detail. Engadget calls it the best Android phone and "possibly even the best phone available today, period". 

I also received this welcome message from Team Android after I activated my device :) 

 

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To be honest, I don't really need a new phone. My current phone is a Nexus One that's rooted and running CyanogenMod 7.1 with a kernel that was cherry picked to work best for my day-to-day needs. I've been using Android since Eclair (2.1) came out and ICS is a big jump for all of us who currently use Gingerbread. My Nexus One has aged gracefully and can still give any current generation iPhone/Blackberry/Windows phone a run for their money but the hardware is the only thing that's holding it back. I still don't know how I feel about not having a micro-sd card on the Galaxy Nexus, time will tell. I feel sorry for my friends in the States, they're going through hell not knowing the actual release date for this phone. Hang in there guys, even Hitler is pissed!

I've also put up a few comparison pictures at the end of the image gallery. You'll see the Galaxy Nexus, Samsung Galaxy S II, iPhone 4 and my Nexus One in that particular order. 

If anyone's got a question or wants a feature comparison, feel free to drop me a question via email, Facebook or Google+. You can also leave a comment below :)

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:45:56 -0800 Aww, I <3 you too! http://agentm.posterous.com/aww-i-3-you-too http://agentm.posterous.com/aww-i-3-you-too
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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:40:39 -0800 Uncharted 3 soundtrack http://agentm.posterous.com/uncharted-3-soundtrack http://agentm.posterous.com/uncharted-3-soundtrack
I can't think of any other game that has made me stop mid game to listen to the music.

This is when Drake is moving through Yemen.

This is when Drake goes to Syria.

Why is this game so awesome?

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:55:00 -0800 I got to listen to Pushto music and you didn't. http://agentm.posterous.com/i-got-to-listen-to-pushto-music-and-you-didnt http://agentm.posterous.com/i-got-to-listen-to-pushto-music-and-you-didnt Yesterday, I had the privilege of listening to a Pushto song (with a dash of auto-tune) while waiting at a traffic light.

We have about ... six FM stations that cater to the hindi-speaking crowd in UAE and this gentleman used his FM transmitter to broadcast his music on one of the most popular frequencies - 89.1 (Radio 4).

Here is a video:

In the above video I start off with 105.4 (Radio Spice), switch back to 89.1 for the Pushto loving goodness and then cycle through the rest of the stations. I then do a quick scan of the cars around me and the taxi driver to the right is the best suspect.

Unlike Dubai, Abu Dhabi does not get a very clear signal for some of the stations. Winter is coming and almost all frequencies will be unreadable.

Possible theories:

1. International Pathan day that Radio 4 is celebrating.
2. Perpetrator does not know the magic behind FM transmitters. Just jam your USB stick in and voila. 
3. He knows exactly how it works and is doing it on purpose for some good, old fashioned trolling. In that case, well done you magnificent bastard, well done.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:19:00 -0800 Uncharted 3 : Special Edition http://agentm.posterous.com/uncharted-3-special-edition http://agentm.posterous.com/uncharted-3-special-edition
It took a while but my Uncharted 3 Special Edition disk is here! I've just started playing this game and it is glorious. The level of detail in this game is spectacular.

I never want this series to end.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:10:56 -0800 These pencils are the worst. http://agentm.posterous.com/these-pencils-are-the-worst http://agentm.posterous.com/these-pencils-are-the-worst
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I used to call them 'bullet pencils'.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:21:00 -0800 Twilight, taken during my morning run. http://agentm.posterous.com/twilight-taken-after-my-morning-run http://agentm.posterous.com/twilight-taken-after-my-morning-run

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No, not the movie. There is a specific name that photographers use for the purple sky that happens just before sunrise. I have to look it up

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:33:58 -0700 I hope my future wife is someone who does not like drowning her face in make up. http://agentm.posterous.com/i-hope-my-future-wife-is-someone-who-does-not http://agentm.posterous.com/i-hope-my-future-wife-is-someone-who-does-not

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:39:37 -0700 Famous Five http://agentm.posterous.com/famous-five http://agentm.posterous.com/famous-five

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This, the Secret Seven and the Hardy Boys. I've read them all :)

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:05:00 -0700 This guy loves F.C. Barcelona http://agentm.posterous.com/this-guy-loves-fc-barcelona http://agentm.posterous.com/this-guy-loves-fc-barcelona

Seen outside Le Meridien. Note that the big logo on the hood has a UAE flag.

That's no ordinary Ferrari, that's a GT spec 458 Italia. A brand new one would cost you about a million Dhs.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Sun, 21 Aug 2011 13:11:00 -0700 This is probably the most fanboy-ish thing I've ever done. http://agentm.posterous.com/this-is-probably-the-most-fanboy-ish-thing-iv http://agentm.posterous.com/this-is-probably-the-most-fanboy-ish-thing-iv

I love tech and I obsess over every gadget based on its merit but I never get into the whole fanboy craziness.

Q. So why did I put Android wallpapers on the iPads at my friendly neighbourhood electronics store?

A. Because I can.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Sun, 21 Aug 2011 12:30:00 -0700 HP Touchpad at Sharaf DG http://agentm.posterous.com/hp-touchpad http://agentm.posterous.com/hp-touchpad

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So everyone knows by now that HP has pulled the plug on their Touchpad tablets only a month after its release. A 16GB Wi-Fi version used to retail for $400 but the same model is now being sold for $99.

Given this crazy sale price, everyone wants one now (as expected). It's impossible to get one in the States or UK (I didn't even know they sold these in the UAE). I took this picture at Sharaf DG and those guys have NO idea about the price cut. I feel sorry for the sales guy who spent about 5 minutes explaining the OS on the device (WebOS) and how this will be a strong competitor for the iPad. He thought I was joking when I told him that HP is discontinuing the device, even the manager confirmed that he had no idea about the price drop.

$99 roughly converts to AED 365 and would be an AMAZING price for a home tablet given the specs (scroll down and select "TECH SPECS"). Also, I'm pretty sure that a lot of people are working on Honeycomb to be ported to the device.

Now I gotta call them up every single day and hope for a price drop soon.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:38:00 -0700 Calvin and Hobbes - The Complete Collection http://agentm.posterous.com/calvin-and-hobbes-the-complete-collection http://agentm.posterous.com/calvin-and-hobbes-the-complete-collection
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 This was one of those surprises that left me speechless. I haven't taken a picture of the birthday note because of its NSFW nature(!).

Ipsa and Oneris have upped their birthday-surprise-gift-giving-jaw-dropping bar and I sure as hell will respond in kind :)

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:11:36 -0700 I like driving at 3am http://agentm.posterous.com/i-like-driving-at-3am http://agentm.posterous.com/i-like-driving-at-3am

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:04:09 -0700 Untitled http://agentm.posterous.com/64955614 http://agentm.posterous.com/64955614
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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Sun, 26 Jun 2011 09:58:00 -0700 Some awesome people who share the same birthday: http://agentm.posterous.com/some-awesome-people-who-share-the-same-birthd http://agentm.posterous.com/some-awesome-people-who-share-the-same-birthd

1. Mindy Kaling

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2. Minka Kelly

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3. Agent M

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4. This guy (Messi)

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:56:00 -0700 AWWWW YEAH TOMORROW'S MAH BIRTHDAY!!! :D http://agentm.posterous.com/first http://agentm.posterous.com/first

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Thanks Vince! This is a big injection of happy in my day :)

"Wonders of the Universe" is an excellent book, it has an overall rating of 4.75 out of 5 on Goodreads. You guys must watch the BBC series first.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:15:00 -0700 Yuri Gagarin: first human in space. http://agentm.posterous.com/yuri-gagarin-first-human-in-space http://agentm.posterous.com/yuri-gagarin-first-human-in-space

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He was the first human to go to space aboard the Vostok 1 this day, 50 years ago (April 12, 1961). A film crew has taken the original audio recordings of that flight and teamed up with the ISS to recreate a film of this historic day which is free to watch on YouTube (website http://www.firstorbit.org).

The above video will also be shown at huge worldwide parties all around the globe organised by the website Yuri's Night (http://yurisnight.net). There's one in Dubai tonight and I have been trying for a week to get some time off but unfortunately I can't make it :( There are live streaming events happening all around the globe, the live Posterous page here, live YouTube page (with special message from crew aboard the ISS) here, a live Facebook page here and a live Twitter page here.

There might not be a huge party down here in Abu Dhabi, but I'll have a drink in his honour. To Yuri, Russia's humanity's favourite Cosmonaut :)

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Mon, 11 Apr 2011 04:10:07 -0700 Facebook "like" feature on Posterous http://agentm.posterous.com/facebook-like-feature-on-posterous http://agentm.posterous.com/facebook-like-feature-on-posterous

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I use Google Chrome as my default browser. I like browsers that are built for power users like me and Chrome is fantastic - it's light, fast and I really like the sync features (syncing all your booksmarks, extensions across your home/work browser for example) among other things. I have the Facebook Disconnect extension installed which blocks Facebook from tracking your browsing habits and removes all those annoying "Tell your Facebook friends that you like/love/want to make babies with this webpage/song/news story" popups. With this extension installed, I was blissfully unaware of the Facebook "Like" button on my Posterous. I just installed Firefox 4 (because competition is good) and it has been my browser du jour when I see the "Like" button below every single one of my posts, right next to the Tweet button. Some of my posts have even been "liked" by a few Facebook users (check screenshot).

I have no idea how to reach these people.

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia
Sat, 09 Apr 2011 03:48:00 -0700 A lady driver rear ended me today [with pictures] http://agentm.posterous.com/a-lady-driver-rear-ended-me-today-with-pictur http://agentm.posterous.com/a-lady-driver-rear-ended-me-today-with-pictur
So I was chillin in the last lane driving in moderate traffic (with my mom in the passenger seat) and I'm slowing down after the traffic light turns red when I hear (and feel) a huge BANG from behind. Our seat belts lock into place and things like coins, my cellphone and the vegetables in the back seat are flung forward. I take a quick glance into my room mirror and I see a Camry behind me that is about 10 feet away but I can't see the driver's face. I check with my mum if she's okay and step outside and I see that it is a lady driver - her eyes were something like O_O and she was staring straight ahead. She looks at me, slowly steps out of her vehicle and I ask her if she was wearing a seatbelt or needs an ambulance. She whispers that she's fine and looks like she's about to faint. My mum gets out, holds her and the poor thing was sobbing really loudly on mum's shoulders.

Awkward.

She was totally freaking out and couldn't handle it. I kept asking mum if we should call an ambulance and mum asked her and the lady (her name was Hala) said no. My mum then took her back to our car, asked her to lie down on the back seat and cranked up the air conditioning while I was shooing away all the people that usually surround any accident. We called Saeed (traffic accident division AUH) after they inspected the area, they asked us to move to the nearest bus stop.

This was her car after she tail ended me (click on picture to view larger):

*EDIT: removed the number plate :)
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And this was my baby:

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Except for the obvious scratches/dents and clipping the silencer, we were lucky we didn't end up with any major damage. Here in the above picture you can see my mum in the front passenger seat talking to Miss Hala who is now sitting up in the back seat and enjoying a cold bottle of water that my mom instructed me to get. If you look close enough, you can see the Toyota logo stamped on my bumper, lol. Hala admitted that she was looking at her cellphone and did not brake at all when she smashed into my car from behind. I'm just happy that she was wearing her seatbelt and that her brains weren't all over her windscreen (her car didn't deploy any airbags, maybe she doesn't have them).

After the Saeed dude printed us our respective chits, he left and we waited even more till Hala's friend showed up. We then said our goodbyes and she apologized and hugged my mom.

So there you have it, humanity won today and also, WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS!!

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1383466/spaceinvader_-_zoom.jpg http://posterous.com/users/5AfDSub3Dnfb Mayur Bhatia AgentM Mayur Bhatia