All of the below apps were available for just 5 Rs yesterday

All of these apps were available for just 5 Rs (0.1$)

Don’t miss the chance to own excellent apps for just 5 Rs. I’ve already spent just  around 75 Rs  (1.5$) and bought some great apps that costs around 1500Rs otherwise. The apps include some of the finest games and utilities.

Thanks Google for the royal celebration. Waiting for the 20 Billion downloads celebrations

By the way, have a look at the infographics.

Source: wired.com/google.com

Related posts:

1. Manufacturing cost of iPhone 3G S and the price of iPhone 3G in India
2. 20 must have free games for your high end Android smart phone

The tech world was eagerly waiting for the announcement from Apple about the new iPhone and there were a lot of rumors about the new hardware. But Apple disappointed even its fans by announcing a phone which is pretty ordinary. People were so disappointed and even the Apple shares got a 5% loss just after announcing the new iPhone 4S yesterday.

The main reasons for the disappointments are,

Where is the iPhone 5?

People were waiting for iPhone 5, but Apple announced an iPhone 4S with no physical change (jut like iPhone 3G to iPhone 3GS). It is disappointing that a company like Apple took more than 1 year (15 + months) just to upgrade some of its hardware and there is no change externally. You can’t differentiate the new iPhone from the old. Also, the 3.5″ retina display is not enough for most people’s needs and people expected a bigger screen.

The hardware is just average

The main hardware changes are only the inclusion of an 1 GHz dual core processor (the same as in the new iPad 2) and an 8MP camera instead of the current 5MP. The changes are nothing revolutionary and is just average at best. The Samsung Galaxy S2 which is released 4 months back is still more powerful (1.2 GHz dual core and 21 Mbps HSPA+ support) and there are 1.5 GHz dual core phones are announced by many companies including HTC, Samsung etc.

The Siri assistant may not be useful outside US

The only cool feature about the new iPhone 4S is the Siri assistant with natural language processing and in fact it looks very good in the demo (It seems like a far more powerful Vlingo). But how does it will work in the real world is still yet to be found (even the current Siri application available in appMarket is not hugely popular). Also, outside US it will be limited by many factors (the accent, the availability of data etc).

It is not coming worldwide

Apple still considers US and some European countries as the world. Come on Apple, there are a lot of other countries in this world. When it is going to be released in these markets?

Conclusion

The new Apple iPhone 4S is nothing extraordinary and in fact, it is not powerful enough to compete against phones that are going to be released in the next one year. If you are planning to buy a new phone and disappointed by the new iPhone 4S, just wait a little more and consider the new Samsung Galaxy S II HD which is 1.5 GHz dual core, 4.65” Super AMOLED Plus HD display (1280 X 720 px). The display alone is revolutionary and it is going to be released in the last quarter of 2011. If you can’t wait, then the HTC Sensation XE is a good choice with 1.5 GHz dual core processor and is already available in some markets.

Related posts:

1. 10 reasons for not buying an Apple iPhone 4
2. Will Microsoft Windows Phone 7 sales beat Apple iPhone’s?
3. Iphone OS 3.0 launched yesterday, Bluetooth enabled in Ipod Touch, IPhone 3GS due tomorrow

Note: The list is in arbitrary order. You may click on the title or image to install the game from the Android Market.

1. Angry birds, Angry birds Rio and Angrybirds Seasons

Use the unique powers of the Angry Birds to destroy the greedy pigs’ fortresses!
The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the greedy pigs who stole their eggs. Use the unique powers of each bird to destroy the pigs’ fortresses. Angry Birds features challenging physics-based gameplay and hours of replay value. Each of the 285 levels requires logic, skill, and force to solve.

Verdict: Being one of the most played games ever, this is a ‘must have’ game to install in your mobile. The game play is very simple and even kids won’t find it hard to play the game.

2. Fruit Ninja

Fruit Ninja is a juicy action game with squishy, splatty and satisfying fruit carnage! Become the ultimate bringer of sweet, tasty destruction with every slash.

Swipe up across the screen to deliciously slash fruit like a true ninja warrior. With three games modes in single player and worldwide leaderboards using Openfeint, the addictive gameplay will keep you coming back for even higher scores.

Verdict: Fruit Ninja is now free with ad support. Another easy to learn, hard to master game.

3. Cricket Fever 3D

Cricket T20 Fever is the most complete cricket game ever.

Experience the best cricket game in full HD 3D graphics. You can play in a variety of modes including tournaments, ODIs, T20 Matches and the exciting Powerplay style match.

Verdict: If you love the game of cricket (most Indians do), this is the best one with good 3D graphics.
Note: You might need a high end smart phone to play this.

4. Guerrilla Bob

Guerrilla Bob offers stunning visuals, cross-platform multiplayer, an arsenal of kick-ass weaponry, unique enemies, explosive ammunition and non-stop humor.

Verdict: Android port of the famous iPhone game. It offers some nice graphics.

5. Tank Hero

Battle through dangerous arenas and become the Tank Hero!

Fast paced 3D tank action on your Android phone. Take out your enemies with cannons, heat seekers, and howitzers. Battle against cunning enemies and become the Tank Hero!

Verdict: It is fun to play this game

6. Super KO Boxing 2

READY FOR AN OLD FASHIONED BEATDOWN? As the K.O. Kid, you return to the ring to face the most outrageous face-breaking opponents who’ll use sneaky tactics and dirty distractions to knock you out. To be the champ, figure out each fighter’s tells, avoid their signature moves, and when the time is right unleash a super punch to knock ‘em out!

Verdict: Good boxing game with decent graphics.

7. Sudoku Free

500 free Sudoku puzzles, top quality gameplay and classy graphics! 

Sudoku Free is an essential download for any Sudoku or brain training fan! You never need a paper puzzle again!

Verdict: Love sudoku puzzles? This is the game for you.

8. Chess Free

The timeless game of intellectual warfare. Are you a grand master in the making?

Chess Free is the best free Chess game on Android!

It is currently the highest rated free chess on Android (at time of writing), from the 30+ free chess programs listed.

Verdict: For all the people who love to play chess

9. Drag Racing

The most addictive racing game with realistic controls and 50+ cars!

The most addictive racing game with realistic controls, updated regularly with new features, adding 100k new players every day!

Verdict: Very addictive online racing game. You can purchase cars, buy upgrade kits etc as you progress.

10. Bug Village

This is BUG VILLAGE, where you build a colony of ACTIVE ANTS and BUSY BEES!

This is BUG VILLAGE, a tiny town where you build and nurture a colony of ACTIVE ANTS and BUSY BEES!

Construct homes to attract PLAYFUL BUGS and direct them to the garden, where they can gather resources to expand your village. Feed your bugs to keep them energized and healthy. Add cute decorations and flowers to make the colony BUZZ WITH EXCITEMENT!

Verdict: A FarmVille type game where you build a bug colony. Feed them, build houses for them and collect items and decorate the village.

11. Lane splitter

Weave your way through traffic at insane speeds in the smash arcade hit.

Over 4 million players on iOS and Android devices can’t be wrong! The ORIGINAL and best motorcycle survival game!

Verdict: Addictive game!

12. Cordy

Cordy is a little robot with a big job – to power up his world! Help Cordy run, jump, push, pull, lift, throw, bounce, swing, and hover in this beautiful console-quality 3D puzzle platform game. Download now, and get ready to harness the power of pure fun!

Verdict: It is a good game but you can only play 4 levels and after that you need to pay.

13. Diversion

The ultimate 3D platformer: 4 worlds, 140 levels, 300+ characters to unlock!

Diversion is the ultimate 3D platformer for Android with 4 unique worlds, 140 levels, and 300+ characters to unlock and collect!

Verdict: It is my favorite game with good graphics and excellent ‘replayability’.

14. Gun Bros

The Freakishly Rugged Advanced Genetics Galactic Enforcement Division (AKA F.R.A.G.G.E.D) specializes in the development and deployment of superhuman special agents. Headed since its formation by the brilliant soldier-turned-scientist Mother Gun, its current roster consists of only two active field operatives, code-named Percy and Francis Gun. Their lifelong mission: to protect the cosmos from the Tyrannical Oppressors of Life known as T.O.O.L.

Verdict: It is a cool game.

15. Air Attack HD

Air Attack HD – is Award Winning next-generation top down air combat shooter with stunning 3D graphics alongside great audio, effects and awesome gameplay.

Verdict: Excellent Game!

16. GT Racing: Motor Academy Free+ HD

Join the Academy! It won’t cost a thing to get started!Experience the richest racing simulation ever released on Android devices – and the best part is it won’t cost a thing to get started right now!
Download the game for FREE and take your first steps into the huge and fascinating Career mode. Pass driving tests and win races to progress as you unlock more cars and events with in-game credits and XP. Hours of racing thrills are waiting for you now!

Verdict: This game can really test your graphics capability of your phone. Enjoy if you have a dual core phone, especially the Galaxy S2.

17. aTilt 3D Labyrinth Free

A tilt-based labyrinth game featuring realistic physics, 3D graphics and more!aTilt is a labyrinth maze game with an emphasis on realistic physics, 3D graphics, and a top-notch gaming experience. Roll your way past walls, holes, and rotating pieces in order to move the ball into the goal. aTilt includes 258 levels, and you can create and share your own levels online! And with OpenFeint support for high scores and achievements, there’s always something to new to do!

Verdict: One of the best labyrinth game, that too in 3D! Full version with ad support.

18. Slice It

Fast Fun with a Geometric Flair!
“Slice It!” is all about slicing shapes into pieces that are equal in size.

Sound easy? It may start out that way, but soon you’ll be cutting shapes that will puzzle you like never before.
Brainteasing puzzles: over 200 Basic Stages and a five-star rating system so you can play until you get it right!

Verdict: A simple, yet addictive game!

19. Ninjump

In this fast paced ninja climbing game, your goal is to rise as high as you can while avoiding killer squirrels, angry birds, enemy ninjas, throwing stars and exploding bombs. With a simple tap you can jump from one wall to the other, knocking obstacles from the air as you do. Take down three enemies of the same kind to trigger mega-jump bonuses. Collect shields to plow through your opponents with. Just watch out for ledges and other ninjas because they will knock you off and send you to your doom!

Verdict: Another easy to learn hard to master game!

20. Army Sniper

Turn your android phone into a battle field and snipe all your enemies. You are an elite army sniper and an unsung hero in the war against new terrorism.Combining the fast pace of action games with the satisfaction of a precision sniper shot, Army Sniper offers exciting gameplay like never before.

Verdict: One of the best sniper games in the Android market!

If you think I’ve missed any good games, please post it in comments.

Related posts:

1. Which smart phone to buy in 2011?
2. Your best chance to own the premium Android apps at nearly zero cost!
3. Cell Phone Radiation Levels

3 million phones sold in 55 days or 1 phone in every 1.5 seconds ! That too without releasing the device in US market. No one can deny the success of Samsung Galaxy S2. When it will be released in US (several variants depending on carrier), it is going to be a big success. The article lists 10 most possible reasons for the success of Galaxy S2. In short, you can consider it as ’10 reasons for buying the Samsung Galaxy S2′.

Please read 10 reasons for not buying an Apple iPhone 4 also

1. The 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus is nothing short of amazing!

Super AMOLED Plus technology is the best available technology for mobile displays. The images are sharp, blacks are true black (no backlighting) and colors are eye popping . It can make almost anything look better on the screen. Unlike the previous generation SAMOLED screen equipped in Galaxy S, sAMOLED+ consists of conventional RGB matrix, which makes the display sharper as well – you can even read the smallest of text.

As Samsung is the only manufacturer of Super AMOLED displays, you need to make a choice. If you want to experience the best screen there is no other choice in the market (not forgetting Nokia’s Clear Black AMOLED which is also promising but the current devices with Symbian or Meego platform doesn’t have a bright future as Nokia officially embraced WP7). Also, the 15:9 aspect ratio of the device is more suitable for playing HD content than the 3:2 aspect ratio of iPhones.

2. Processing power, RAM, Storage and other bells and whistles

Galaxy S2 is equipped with Samsung’s own Exynos processor (previously know as Orion) which is a dual core processor based System on Chip (SoC) with with a clock speed of 1.2 GHz. It is backed by a Mali 400 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. This is almost equal to the processing power of a desktop machine. The result is, you can play even full HD videos smoothly. There is no other device at present which allows full HD video playback even inside Adobe Flash player.

The only device that can match the specs of Galaxy S2 at least in paper is the HTC Sensation. But in most benchmarks Galaxy S2 wins hands down (There are some devices with 1.5 GHz dual core is expected. But it won’t be released before the 4th quarter)

The phone is equipped with 16/32 GB of internal storage (though the 32 GB version is yet to be released) and comes with a micro SD slot to extend the storage up to a whopping 64 GB (32 GB + 32 GB).

In addition to a GPS receiver, proximity sensor and accelerometer it also includes a gyroscope for optimal motion tracking.

3. Excellent Connectivity

Samsung Galaxy S2 comes with amazing connectivity options. It does support 3G data speeds up to 21 Mbps (HSPA + networks), Bluetooth 3.0+HS transfer, Wifi Direct, Allshare (DLNA) and HDMI through MHL.

Unlike Apple iOS, where you can’t even transfer the pictures taken with the camera through bluetooth, there is no restriction here. You can transfer files through highspeed Bluetooh (it is the only device at present that supports true 3.0+HS standard), or Wifi Direct. Using Allshare, you will be able to stream multimedia content wirelessly to any device that supports DLNA (you can use XBMC media center software in your computer as well). Kies Air enables you to manage the phone content wirelessly without any software or driver. It also supports Usb on-the-go so that you can connect other USB storage devices directly to the phone.

4. Excellent Camera

The 8MP camera sensor can capture full HD videos (1920 x 1080px) and good quality images. It may not be the best camera (Nokia N8′s 12MP camera is still the best camera equipped in a mobile), but definitely one of the better mobile cameras. Samsung also listened to the users’ feedback and added an LED flash (at least it can be used as an emergency torch light).

5. Responsive UI

Samsung finally made the TouchWiz UI right. It was a bit buggy on the Galaxy S, but the new TouhWiz 4.0 is stable and usable. Because of the extensive processing power, the UI feels very responsive and fluid. My Galaxy S2 didn’t hang even once since I bought it (more than 1 month) while my friend’s Galaxy S is hanging frequently.

6. Form factor

You’ve to hold it to understand how thin and light is the phone. It is comfortable to hold and doesn’t create a bulge in your pocket. Also, the matte finish of the back is a welcome change. Yes, the body is plastic but it does not feel cheap and using of metal would have made the phone a lot heavier.

7. Android OS

In a recent survey conducted in US, most people voted Android as the most sought after mobile OS. The Android Marketplace is growing at a great pace and at this speed, it will catch up with Apple Appstore very soon. Also the architecture of the OS allows for maximum customization. With the next Android version (2.4 -Ice cream Sandwich), the OS will be more functional and will feature more fluid interface. Also, unlike Apples’s Appstore, the Android Market is more open to developers and there are lot of quality applications available for free.

8. Value for money pricing

Unlike Apple, Samsung produces amazing technology at affordable price. At around 29K Rs (650USD) this phone is a steal. You need to consider, the more than one year old, single core Apple iPhone 4 costs significantly more ( retails for 33 K + in India) (You might want to read my other article, 10 reasons for not buying an Apple iPhone 4)

9. Frequent firmware updates

Contrary to what people says in some forums, Samsung always provided firmware updates at regular intervals for their high end Galaxy series. Be it Galaxy S or Galaxy S2, be confident that you will get the latest Android build before most of the other manufacturers (HTC, Motorola, Sony Ericsson etc).

If you’re in US, the firmware may be delayed because of the carrier customization. In markets like India, where phones are sold unlocked by default, there is no issue and you can be confident that you will get the latest updates. There is already a leaked firmware based on the latest Android Gingerbread 2.3.4 which enables video support in Google Talk and significantly improves the battery life. It will be official soon.

10. Universal availability

Unlike iPhone (Apple released iPhone 4 in India just recently), Samsung Galaxy S2 is available in almost all countries where the phone can be sold factory unlocked.

At least in US, where the phones are locked to a carrier, just like the previous generation Galaxy S, Galaxy S2 will have several variants. So, regardless of carrier, you will be able to pick your Galaxy S2 variant. Unlike iPhone which is only available through AT & T and Verizon, you will be able to experience Galaxy S2 without changing your service provider.

If you’ve already bought the device, you can be proud that you own the most powerful mobile phone ever released and it will continue for at least 2 – 3 months that way. Apple iPhone 5 is around the corner, but don’t think it will cross the clock speed of 1 GHz (it may be the same Apple A5 SoC that is used in iPad 2). Also, there are some rumors about 1.5 GHz dual core phones from Sony Ericsson, but don’t expect them before 4^th quarter.

Related posts:

1. 10 reasons for not buying an Apple iPhone 4
2. Proud Owner of a Samsung Omnia I8910 HD
3. Why am I excited so much about the Galaxy S II?

Finally the iPhone 4 is officially available in India. It can be bought from either Aircel or Airtel at prices starting from 34K. The 16 GB version is priced at Rs 34,500 and 32 GB version is priced at Rs 40,900. So, is this the right time to buy one? In my humble opinion, it is NOT and I have 10 reasons for it. They are,

1. iPhone 4 is old

Yes, iPhone 4 is an old phone which is released in the previous year (June, 2010). It means, you’re paying a premium price for a one year old technology. A new iPhone is expected very soon (In October if not in June) and will make your device one generation older.

2. Iphone 4 is not dual core

As it is older by 1 year, it does not have dual core processors. You can buy  smart phones with dual core processors at much lower prices (For eg: LG Optimus 2x for around 26 K) and it is the standard for any new high end smart phones.

3. iPhone 4 does not have full HD video recording or playback

Unlike the newer dual core mobile phones which is capable of playing and recording full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels or 1080P) video, the iPhone 4 can just play or record 720P (1280 X 720) videos.

4. iPhone 4 GPU is not powerful enough

The iPhone 4 GPU is one year old and is not the best for future games. Most of the latest high end mobile phones feature a more powerful GPU.

5. iPhone 4 pricing is unjustifiable

The iPhone 4 is selling at an unreasonable price in India. Why should we pay a premium price for a one year old product? Simply, the pricing does not make sense when considering the device is locked to the network.

6. We should teach Apple a lesson or two

So far, Apple released their iPhones in India by almost the end of their life cycle. Most of the other manufacturers (Samsung, Nokia, HTC, LG etc) release their latest phones in India along with their global release. If Apple really thinks they can sell their old phones in India for a premium price, we should teach them a lesson or two. If they’re not releasing their products on time, we don’t need it.

7. iPhone 4 does not have a Super AMOLED Plus Display

AMOLED displays has excellent contrast and eye popping colors. Simply, it is the best display technology available for mobile phones. But, sadly, iPhone 4 does not have this Super AMOLED screen. Though the iPhone 4 has a little higher resolution (the so called retina display at 960 x 640 px), it simply can’t match the Super AMOLED Plus experience. Also, the 3.5 inch screen is not big enough by current standards.

8. iOS is not the most desirable mobile OS anymore

In a recent survey in US, people selected Android OS as the most desirable mobile operating systems. Google Android is more customizable and more open.

9. Android application store (Android Market) is growing at a higher rate than the iOS appstore.

Android market is growing at a faster rate and it is expected that by August of this year, it will surpass Apple’s Appstore in total number of available applications.

10. The most powerful smart phone ever released is available at a lesser price

Samsung’s Galaxy S2, which is the most powerful smart phone at present is released in India and will be available from June 1^st week. Iphone 4 simply fails in comparison. See the specs below.

• 1.2 GHz Dual core SoC with 1 GB RAM (iPhone 4 has only 1 GHz Single core processor and 512 MB RAM
• 4.3” Super AMOLED Plus display with scratch resistant Gorilla glass  (iPhone 4 has only 3.5” IPS LCD)
• Full HD (1080P) video recording and playback (iPhone 4 has only 720P video recording and playback)
• 8MP camera in rear and 2MP in front (iPhone 4 has only 5MP camera in rear and VGA camera in front)
• Light weight (116g) and super thin (8.5mm) (iPhone 4 is 137g and 9.3mm thin)
• It can even play 1080P videos inside Adobe Flash player (iPhone 4 does not support Adobe Flash)
• 3G data speeds upto 21 Mbps (iPhone 4 has 7.2 Mbps)

Above all, this phone has a reasonable MRP of Rs 33,600/ and should be available much cheeper from stores (expect 30 – 32 K). So, do you really want to buy an outdated, powerless phone for Rs 34,500 or the best mobile ever released for a much lesser price? Of course, the choice is yours. I’ve made mine and counting days to touch my hands on the mighty Galaxy S2.

Related posts:

1. Why is the new Apple iPhone a big disappointment?
2. Ten reasons for buying the Samsung Galaxy SII
3. Will Microsoft Windows Phone 7 sales beat Apple iPhone’s?

Please see some of the photos I’ve taken so far. This time I’ve spent some time enhancing the photos as well.

Now I am really dreaming about buying a macro lens like the Canon EF100mm f/2.8 Macro USM but the cost involved (33 K) always break the dream. Umm… might need to sacrifice something from the five tech products I would like to buy this year.

Related posts:

1. Stepping into the world of DSLR photography
2. Learning Digital Photography

Software piracy is a crime and many of us don’t realize it and use pirated software in our office and home. Whatever may be our reasons, by installing pirated software we’re committing a crime according to the law. Another issue with pirated software is security. All those crack sites and crack files may have some kind of viruses or trojans in it and you may never know whether your personal data is compromised.

Does this really mean we need to buy expensive software and make those software companies more richer with our hard earned money? Not at all. We can really do most of our work without buying any expensive software or worrying about software piracy. All you need to do is explore the web and find alternative software which are free or open source. In this article I will try to list out free or open source software for most of your needs.

The simplest solution

The most simple solution is to install a GNU Linux operating system like Ubuntu in your computer. The advantage is, you’ll get all the applications for your normal office or home usage and you’ll never need to worry about piracy. If you’re not comfortable with installing operating systems, you can ask your local hardware dealer when you buy a computer or ask your friends or relatives to install it for you.

Get the latest Ubuntu (11.04)

If you’ve already installed a GNU Linux OS, you can safely skip the rest of the article. But, if you plan to buy Microsoft Windows OS or already installed one with a valid license (if you buy a branded PC or laptop, most probably you will) please read on.

Office Applications

LibreOffice

Libre Office is an open source office suite based on OpenOffice but unlike OpenOffice, LibreOffice is purely community based. It is a very powerful alternative to Microsoft Office and is compatible with Microsoft Office file formats and can even create PDF documents without installing any additional software.

Other options: OpenOffice

Email clients

Thunderbird and Zimbra Desktop are excellent open source alternatives to Microsoft Outlook. Zimbra Collaboration Server can even power email servers of small to medium level business organizations.

Archiving / Backup

IZArc is an excellent tool which can handle almost all compression formats like zip, rar, 7zip etc. It can also password protect your archive files.

Diagram / Flowchart

Dia is an excellent application for creating most type of diagrams or flowcharts.

Blogging

If you’re into blogging, Windows Live Writer is an excellent offline blog editor which can integrate with almost all blogging platforms. You may tryout the LiveWriter tips and tricks.

Multimedia

VLC Player

VLC Player is the Swiss army knife of media files and comes with tons of features

Other options: KMPlayer, Mplayer (for excellent subtitle support)

Video editors

Windows movie maker is a good and and easy to use tool for editing your video clips.

VirtualDub is a simple video trimming and editing is tool.

Video Encoders

Handbrake is an excellent and easy to use encoder for most of your encoding needs.

Audio editors

Audacity is a more than adequate tool for audio editing and creation.

Media center

XBMC – XBox Media Center is a very powerful software which can make your PC a complete MediaCenter.

Image management

Google Picasa

Picasa is a very good image manager from Google. It features basic editing features and integrates with Picnik online editor if you want more powerful editing functionality. The face recognition and tagging feature is the best.

IrfanView

IrfanView can handle most of the image formats and even videos. Available as a small download. It can also do many powerful batch conversions.

GIMP

If you want Photoshop like editing features, GIMP is an excellent software. Though the interface is not the easiest, it is very powerful and can do most of your editing needs.

Other option: Photoscape

3D Animation

Blender – Though it is not in the same level as other professional 3D tools, it is a powerful software and there are many short 3D animation movies made with it.

You may also try Google SketchUp

Programming / IDEs

Eclipse

You can find an Eclipse plugin for almost any programming language and hence a very useful alternative to commercial software.

Netbeans

If you’re a Java developer NetBeans is the best IDE you can get.

Aptana

If you’re a web developer (HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP etc) Aptana is even better than many commercially available IDEs.

Security

Antivirus

AVG Antivirus is a very good free antivirus application. You may also consider Avast and Avira antivirus

Firewall

Comodo firewall is an advanced yet free firewall with tons of features.

Spyware detection

Spybot Search & Destroy (Spybot S & D) is a great spyware detection and prevention tool.

Encryption

Truecrypt is the best open source software to protect all your personal data from prying eyes by dynamically encrypting a complete partition, file or thumb drive.

Games

Though not excellent as commercial games, there are many free interesting games including some open source 3D games. You can also play a lot of flash based games and try many of the game demos where you can play at least a certain level.

Flash games

http://www.flash-game.net/
www.miniclip.com/
http://www.freegames4all.net/

Open source games

Torcs car racing
Tux Racer

More open source games
Other free games

How to find free applications for your needs?

Though the above list has all the applications required for a normal user, sometimes you might need to replace a specific application. In that case you may find the following sites helpful.

Alternativeto.net

In this site you can find alternatives for your application by searching the application name. It has a freeware / open source filter so that you can find free alternative software easily.

Softpedia

Try to find a free software in world’s largest database of software applications

cNet Downloads

Another excellent database of applications

Google

Try googling. Someone, somewhere might have already solved your problems. You might want to check the Google & Bing search engine tricks for searching efficiently in Google or Bing.

I hope I’ve discussed about most of the applications required for normal use. If you have any query please feel free to post in the comments section. I would be glad if I can be of any help.

Related posts:

1. Windows Live Writer – Surprisingly good!
2. Five free Mac applications for Web developers
3. Smart Computing – Desktop Searching Tools

Finally got ‘panning’ right. Thanks to my son! He was very patient and had the energy for retakes.

Hope it is not that bad.

Yeah, I could’ve cleaned it a bit but the main aim was familiarizing with the tripod.

I really liked the saturated color in this photo.


It’s a bit noisy as it was shot in ISO 3200 sensitivity.

I would have liked to get a more colorful butterfly but at least it has some interesting patterns

Learned a lot of new things and the world of digital photography is really interesting. The only problem is, it can become a very expensive hobby. Once you start experimenting with the 18-55mm kit lens you’ll soon become aware of its limitations and will want to buy more lenses. If you take photography more seriously, even an 18-270mm super zoom lens won’t make you satisfy. You’ll want to buy prime lenses (fixed focal length) or lenses with small zoom range for optimal quality.  If you want to buy a combination of macro, wide angle and telephoto lenses of good quality make sure you have a good bank balance or have multiple credit cards because it can cost you anywhere from 1 – 2 Lacks or more depending on the quality of the lens. Then you might want to buy a good carbon fiber tripod, good quality flash units, filters and the list goes on. Umm… it’s time to start saving for buying a couple of lenses or I would rather apply for a couple of credit cards

Related posts:

1. Learning DSLR photography–more photos
2. Stepping into the world of DSLR photography

This is the first item bought from the earlier shortlisted products (Five tech products I would like to buy this year). Though I was planning to buy the Galaxy S2 first, it is rumored that the device won’t be available until mid of May. I couldn’t wait anymore to touch my hands on at least one device from that list and hence made a decision to buy the Canon EOS 550 DSLR now and then wait patiently for the Galaxy S II .

Related posts:

1. Learning DSLR photography–more photos
2. Learning Digital Photography
3. Opera – Now the world’s best browser is Free!

Smart phone : Samsung Galaxy S2

As explained in previous posts, Galaxy S2 is my first priority and I am waiting for this phone. Samsung initially promised it will be available in March and now it is expected to arrive by end of May or beginning of June. The main attractions are the 4.3” Super AMOLED plus screen, Dual core processor (Samsung confirmed that some regions will be getting an nVidia Tegra 2 System on Chip instead of Samsung’s own Exynos SoC. Not sure which version will hit Indian stores), Full HD video recording and playback etc. The latest rumor is, it is going to be 1.2 GHz dual core processor instead of the earlier announced 1 GHz clock speed.

You can read more details about the phone and reasons for selecting this phone by clicking the below links.

• Why am I excited so much about the Galaxy S II?
• Which smart phone to buy in 2011?

Main specifications

• 4.27” Super AMOLED Plus display, 800 x 480 pixels, Gorilla glass protection
• 1 GHz (1.2 GHz rumored) Samsung Exynos SoC (Depending on region it can be a Dual core nVidia Tegra 2 as well)
• Dimensions – 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm (116g)
• 1 GB RAM
• 16 GB / 32 GB internal storage, micro-SD card slot (up to 32 GB)
• 8MP camera (rear), 2 MP camera (front), Full HD (1080p) video recording & playback
• 3G (up to 21 Mbps)
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot
• Bluetooth 3.0 with High speed data support
• Assisted GPS, Digital compass
• Optical trackpad
• Gyroscope sensor for optimal motion tracking
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform

Expected price – Rs. 32,000/-

DSLR Camera : Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i)

I have been planning to buy a DSLR camera for a long time but kept pushing it for other important things. Now I don’t want to push it anymore and would like to buy one soon. I shortlisted two cameras – Sony NEX5 and Canon EOS 550D (Rebel T2i in US). Sony NEX5 is a portable camera with DSLR like image quality but uses a completely different and newer technology(You may read more about mirror-less cameras in Wiki). I liked the build quality and the sleekness of the device. The image quality is also decent according to many reviews.

Canon EOS 550D is a conventional DSLR with 18MP sensor. As Canon is replacing it with the newer model EOS 600D (Rebel T3i), EOS 550D is available for a bargain price. Being a conventional DSLR, it has many lens options as well. Though I am not planning to buy any lenses soon, this will give me an option to upgrade to a better lens of my choice in future. It can also handle full HD videos effortlessly.

To decide on one, I spent quite a lot of time reading online reviews and comparisons and finally decided to go with Canon EOS 550D with the 18-55mm kit lens because of the following reasons.

• Better sensor (18MP vs 14MP)
• Better ISO range in auto mode
• Better video performance
• Availability of viewfinder
• Plenty of lenses and other accessories available

Though the prices fall in the same range because of the recent price cut by Canon, the EOS 550D is a better camera and belongs to a higher level category. Of course, Sony NEX 5 has its advantages like Sweep Panorama 3D, built in HDR function etc. But the upgrade options are a bit limited when comparing to the other camera. With Canon EOS 550D, you can always upgrade to a better lens, better flash etc. Also, as I am buying the 8MP Samsung Galaxy S2 too, it can take decent photos if I need better portability. By choosing Canon EOS 550D, I can learn photography through a conventional DSLR.

Main specifications

• 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400 (Expansion to 12800)
• Continuous shooting at 3.7fps
• Full HD movie recording with manual control and selectable frame rates
• 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots
• iFCL metering System with 63-zone Dual-layer Metering Sensor
• Quick Control screen to change shooting settings
• Exposure compensation +/-5 stops (although viewfinder scale is still +/-2 stops)
• Select maximum value for Auto ISO
• External Microphone socket
• Movie crop function
• Eye-Fi connected functions compatibility

You can read the EOS 550D review in DPReview.com or watch the video review below

Expected Price: 35,000 Rs

Tablet : Apple iPad2 or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Tablets are here to stay and the right tablet can provide a unique experience. For eg: you can carry it to your bed to read a novel or magazine, play interesting games, browse web without the limitations of mobile etc. So, I want to buy one and shortlisted Apple iPad 2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

I like iPad2 primarily because of availability of the sheer number of tablet optimized applications. Also, like other Apple products, the design is good along with good processing power – especially GPU. But the availability in India is a big issue. In ebay India, the base model with 3G is selling at prices close to 50,000 (around 1100 USD) and that is almost twice of the 629 $ official price. ’16 GB Wifi only’ models costs a little less, but Wifi only model does not support GPS and GPS is an important functionality for me. Hence I am seriously considering Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 which is expected to be released in May/June.

The Honeycomb platform has a cool and futuristic look and the integration of Google services are the best. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is the thinnest tablet till date and comes with a new display technology called PLS. Right now, Honeycomb optimized applications are limited in numbers but eventually it will be increased by end of this year.

As discussed in the earlier post (tablet buying guide), my first choice is still Apple iPad2 but if it is not available or too pricey, Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a very good buy.

Main specifications

Expected price: 35,000 Rs

HD TV : 40” Samsung Series 6 / Sony Bravia EX710

I think this is the right time to buy a full HD TV and home theater system because we have at least some HD content to enjoy. In India, most DTH operators are now providing 1080i (interlaced) HD channels. Though the channels are limited in numbers, it will be changed soon. Blu-ray Disk players are also becoming common. 3D TVs are also being hyped in the market but they are very expensive now and 3D contents are not yet available – yes, you can find some 3D blu-ray disks but those are also very expensive. So, I think, this is not the right time to buy a 3D TV. So, I decided on a LED backlighted LCD televison. LED backlit TVs provides good contrast generally and they are very thin. I considered Samsung series 6 and Sony Bravia EX710 series. Surprisingly, Samsung is more pricier than Sony! I am yet to decide on a particular model but a 40” Samsung series 6 seems good but a bit pricey. I will update you about my choice later.

I am also planning to buy a DTH with HD channels to go along with the HD TV. Dish TV India advertises 30 HD channels but most of them are up-scaled standard definition content – not true HD. For now, I think Tata Sky Plus suites me more as it also provides an HD recording functionality with 500 GB HDD (620 hours of video). It can record two channels simultaneously and can record a full series of a particular program using the electronic program guide (EPG). Also, recordings can be initiated from mobile app or internet.

Expected Price : 1 Lac

Laptop : Apple MacBook Pro 15”

My HP Pavilion laptop is more than three years old now and the battery has a charging problem – it doesn’t even last 10 minutes. It’s not worth to invest in a newer battery for a 3.5 year old laptop. So I thought of a new laptop. In my office, I am using a 13” MacBook for a long time and I like it. Though I’m not an Apple fanboy, I like the stability and the user interface in general. Another important reason is the battery life. 7 hours of battery backup is awesome for a laptop. Also, I can install GNU Linux and Microsoft Windows in it and in effect I can experiment with all the major operating systems (You might want to read Windows, Linux and Mac – A comparison). So I decided to go with a mac. Now the remaining thing was deciding on a laptop which has the best price to performance ratio. 13” MacBook pro is too small for home use and 17” is way too pricey. So I’ve decided on Apple MacBook Pro 15” and it comes in two flavors. One with 2 GHz quad core Intel core i7 and the other with 2.2 GHz core i7. The latter has also better graphics card (AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB GDDR5 vs AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256MB GDDR5) and 250 GB more HDD space (750GB vs 500GB). Rest of the configurations are same and the price difference is 400$ ($1799 vs $2199). As I am not planning to play much games, the latter model does not make much sense and I can save $400.

Once again, as with all Apple products, the pricing is extremely high in India. The 2.0 GHz model costs 1,04,900Rs (2,370 US $ instead of 1799$) and hence I won’t be buying this from India. Need to look for friends and relatives in abroad (probably Dubai). Also, I am planning to buy this by the end of this year and at that time, the new Lion OS (OS 10.7) will be out and it will be a real treat as it incorporates many gesture controlled navigation and takes many UI concepts from the iPad.

You can enjoy the OS X Lion preview below

Main specifications

• 2.0GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
• 4GB 1333MHz RAM
• 500GB HDD
• Intel HD Graphics 3000
• AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256MB GDDR5
• 7 hours battery

Expected price: 85,000 Rs

Final Thoughts

All these are going to make a big hole in my pocket and I am still going through the hardest part of it – convincing my wife. She will surely axe some products from the list but I will try hard to resist. Wish me good luck!

Related posts:

1. 10 reasons for not buying an Apple iPhone 4
2. Stepping into the world of DSLR photography
3. Why is the new Apple iPhone a big disappointment?