Ruby on Rail and Heroku

How cool is Heroku !


Recently I was playing around with Ruby on Rails and learned about various hosting platforms which can be used to deploy an ROR application. After looking at a few out there, they were just consuming too much time in setting up public keys, copying the configurations, or managing other aspects like Capistrano etc. But when I signed up for heroku the deployment was as simple as “git push heroku master” and I was done.

Heroku is be an example of how the services should work seamlessly without having to worry about the network and cloud. That provides a clear benefit in using a hosting platform as supposed to hosting it yourself.

Nissan Leaf and battery life

A recent review I read while researching for Nissan Leaf and how often would I need to replace the batteries. Its a totally new concept for the mass production and as the sample size is much bigger now there's a chance of more things going wrong.

 All in all, I would expect the Leaf to have comparable, if not lower, total cost of ownership when you factor all these lifetime costs in. You'll be buying a new battery when most folks will be buying a new car (and maybe some seat covers). Of course, since batteries are getting twice as good every five years for the last two decades, you may replace the battery with a cheaper one for the same range or get more range for the same price. There is a good chance that we may trade in batteries sooner if a secondary market for old batteries for UPS or power shifting develops.

From Old.Nabble.Com

love at first sight with HTC HD2

I've long been waiting for this phone. I looked at everything in the market and the main reason to wait for this was the snapdragon processor (1 GHz) combined with the amazing capacitive screen touch screen, resolution (480x800) and the operating system and the everything else.

I'm a longtime user of smart phones and you can say that I'm a heavy user. I typically have multiple email accounts, use GPS for occasional driving or just for walking tours during travel, WiFi regularly during international roaming and Skype on 3G/Wifi for calls. Plus watching some videos, listening to live internet radios and pod-casts as well as use it as a media player.

All the websites provide the specs, so I'll get into the plusses and minuses of the phone and my experience with them.

Plusses:
+ great capacitive touch screen. Very responsive. 480x800 resolution for crystal clear colors and videos
+ Included Transformer movies (1&2) do a great job showing off the screen and the processor power. It's just HD video without any lags or hazy-ness. Very impressive
+ comes with 16GB with only movies on it so you have ample of room for other media.
+ plays live audio and video flawlessly over 3G
+ HTC Sense is amazing and does a great job of hiding those Microsoft screens which you rarely get to. All the apps like email, messaging etc look much better with Sense.
+ Comes with a great animated weather screen
+ very slim though a little on the heavy side
+ 5.0mp Camera comes with flash which is good for close up photos.
+ charges thru PC USP port as well and has an option to be connected as a hard-drive, which is much better and faster compared to the Media Sync feature
+ good battery life, lasts up a day and a half with regular 3g usage and video watching
+ can be used as a WiFi Router/Access Point.
+ comes with FM when you plus the head set as an antenna
+ Swype app (included) as a replacement for keyboard rocks.. much faster to type with that.

Minuses:
- Huge screen is a plus but then you can't keep it in your Jeans pocket as it might put strain on the screen or device
- even though camera is a 5.0 MP, some pictures do tend to be grainy due to low light
- Skype hs removed its support for WinMo 6.5 but the older version of apps can be found on the internet
- Doesn't come with the "Wifi Router" app which basically turns your phone into a Wifi Access Point.. So you can have many people connect to your phone thru wifi and the phone provides the internet thru 3G.
- Microsoft says that it won't provide Windows Mobile 7 on this device which could be a bummer since you might see new Windows Mobile 7 devices in next few months. I'm sure you can go to XDA developer website and get yourself a WM7 rom.

Other Notes:
o This phone will only get 3G on the TMobile and you won't be use it with AT&T or any other network, for that matter, in Europe as TMO uses 1700 as one of the band which is not used any where else. Although the Aussie version of this phone will work on AT&T
o The above is true only for 3G while GPRS and EDGE are quad band which will work everywhere in the world.

I've been using this for few days now and am very impressed with it. Haven't found any deal breaker issue so far, but will keep you guys updated.

*** After few weeks, the love affair has sort of died down when the realities kicked in ..

- Lot of issues with getting flash player to work seemlessly with the browsers. I ended up installing flash player, plash player 10, flash lite 3.1, windows .NET compact framework to make it work and then installed the latest Opera browse, opera mini browser, Skyfire browser only to find that Flash now works in Skyfire.

- Many people have stopped supporting windows 6.5 and are prepping for Windows Mobile 7 so difficult to get it working on this device. (e.g. Adobe flash player and Skype)

- Different browser have different zoom in / zoom out settings which is frustrating.
-- The Opera browser which comes installed has the pinch in and pinch out (expand) to zoom in /out.
-- Opera 10 (new download) has click zoom in and out.
-- Skyfire has its own icon where you can click on + and -
-- IE also has click (tap the screen) and then a slider on the right side to zoo in and out.
I'd like all the browsers to support pinch in and out or atleast a common method.

- Very less applications on 6.5 marketplace, for example kids learning apps are not available easily (at all?). This is due to lack of marketplace when this launched to they are scattered everywhere. The problem might be addressed with the launch of Windows Mobile 7 marketplace.

Perpetual debate about the tax entities (Sole Proprietorship, LLC, C Corp, S Corp)

Even though there’s so much information out there (blogs, articles, books, references, discussion forums) to help people choose from different legal entities, it’s a difficult decision and it ultimately comes down to their personal situation and preferences.

 

I’ll simplify the different options and their impact:

 

• Sole Proprietorship : Simplest and Easiest. No forms needed except any filings with your state government like WA State needs you to acquire a Master Business License from the Business and Occupation (B&O) department. There’s no other paper work needed and no other administrative requirements except some accounting and reporting requirements from the tax filing perspective. You have all the control over how it functions, but the liability is all personal and similarly the taxes also flow to you and the individual needs to file a Schedule C for the sole prop taxes. You are also required to pay the self employment taxes which is a bummer.
• LLC : Little bit more complicated and time-consuming as it has more filing requirements. Similar to Sole Prop, the income is passed to the members of the LLC but the liability is not with the members, and hence the name Limited Liability Company. Participating members can choose the management aspects and the member salary is subject to self employment taxes. For partnerships LLCs, you’d need to file 1065 and K-1 forms.
• C Corp : More paperwork for filing and needs election of BoD (board of directors), and officers of the company. Also requires share distribution, annual meetings with MoMs (minutes of the meetings registered), stock holder meetings and annual report filings. Since the corporation is taxed at corp rate and the dividends are taxable for individuals, there is a possibility of double taxation. No corporation self employment tax but the salaries are subjected to self employment tax.
• S Corp :  Similar to C Corp, except that the income is passed directly to individuals involved. The income can be split as salary and distribution and the salary is subject to self employment taxes. S corp eliminates double taxation

Few notes about LLC:

• 1 member LLC can also be a Disregarded Entity
• Multi member LLC cannot be a Disregarded Entity and pays taxes as a partnership. The partnership files 1065 which generates a K-1 for each member. The K-1 is filed with individuals's 1040. In this case LLC acts as a pass-thru.
• When LLC needs to taxed as a corporation, they would file 8832 for Entity Classification Election
• LLC as a corporation : help on Pub 542 / 587

quick Python tutorial.

This is a good start for anyone getting their hands dirty on python

[source]

Phones, Operators and Frequency bands

When you are traveling internationally and trying to use the same phone everywhere (whether with the local sim or thru the roaming), it becomes difficult to keep track of what frequencies are used by what operators in which region of the country. Now with 3G (UMTS), the matrix is even more convoluted.

I’m listing the details before for my own convenience, but if you need additional information let me know.

GSM/GPRS/EDGE Bands (2G)

There are four different frequency bands which are used by the phone operators:

• 850 MHz 
• 900 MHz 
• 1800 MHz 
• 1900 MHz

US generally operates on 1900 MHz but AT&T still uses 850 MHz for some areas. T-Mobile uses only 1900 MHz but in some cases it provides roaming with AT&T using 850 MHz band. While internationally, you would need 900 MHz and 1800 MHz for GSM/GPRS.

 ATT GSM in US: 850 MHz and 1900 MHz (850 mainly for rural coverage)

 ATT 3G in US: 850/1900 MHz

 T-Mobile GSM in US: 1900 MHz
 T-Mobile 3G (UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+) in US: AWS 1700(uplink)/2100(downlink) MHz

 Roger Canada UMTS: 850 MHz
 Wind Mobile Canada: UMTS 1700

 Europe: O2/Vodafone/Orange : 2100 UMTS

Devices:

• iPhone : quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900). And HSDPA/UMTS : 850/1900/2100 
• TMobile US Nexus One: Quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE. UMTS: 1900/1700/2100 
• TMobile US HTC HD2 : Quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE. UMTS: 1900/1700/2100
• TMobile AT&T Nexus One: Quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE. UMTS: 850/1900/2100

So, you cannot get an iPhone working on TMobile 3G and you cannot get a TMobile US Nexus One working on ATT 3G since its missing the 850 block. But there is an ATT friendly Nexus One too.
The 2100 UMTS is there to be friendly with Europe which operates on 1900/2100

India:
Hutch Delhi : 900/1800
Idea Delhi: 1800
Bharti Airtel Delhi: 900
MTNL Delhi: 900
Vodafone Delhi: 900/1800

Idea Haryana: 900
Hutch Haryana: 900

Hutch UP East/West: 900
Idea UP West: 900

Clean Energy 2010 Trending Up

China is churning out the low cost infrastrucutre for Wind and Solar which in part is fueling the greater adoption of clean energy. Although people are sckeptical is China can continue that given their attitude and difficult framework for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.

The global trend for investing in Renewables is looking good and some VC's will continue to make money while other's gamble on less 'cleaner' initiatives like ethanol.
[Source]

U.S. Venture and Global Clean-Energy Investments:

In 2009, U.S.-based venture capital investments in energy technologies declined from $3.2 billion in 2008 to $2.2 billion in 2009, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. However, as a percent of total VC investments, energy tech grew from 11.4 percent in 2008 to 12.5 percent in 2009. This represented the largest share in the history of the clean-energy asset class.

The report can be downloaded from  http://www.cleanedge.com/reports/reports-trends2010.php

Digital Earth launched their website on Search4Oil

Finally Digital Earth Inc. is out of their beta and launched the website as Search4Oil portal at http://www.search4oil.com/

Tradable RECs Come to California

According to the law firm Stoel Rives, "Under the CPUC's decision, the utility can simply purchase the TRECs from the renewable generator, without having to purchase the associated power. The delivery requirement still remains, however. The RECs must be associated with the delivery of some power to California in order to be counted toward a utility's RPS requirement."

Its a good start but as you can see that its only circumventing the problem and not really solving anything. As another blogger pointed out that it'll just enable Colorado sell their RECs to them since they bought too much too soon.

Would be nicer too see this extend to individual trading instead of paying the utiliites companies to buying in on consumer's behalf.

Cheat sheet on Plantronics Voyager (510)

I started this off as writing about the vairous light combinations, but then ended up writing the whole thing for my reference...

So, the section below covers all the lights I've come across specifically on Voyager 510:

1. Constant Red : When the Voyager is plugged in and is being charged.
2. Constant Blue: When the Voyager is plugged in and is finished charging.
3. Red Blue blinnking/flashing: Voyager is ready for pairing. This happens when you keep the + VOL and CALL button on the boom pressed.
4. Blue blinking/flashing: Voyager is working, paired and online
5. Red blinking/flashing: Battery low

Other things which you can do with the headset are:

1. Turn on: keep the black power button pressed for three seconds. Blinks blue once and that is the indication that its turned on.
2. Turn off: keep the black power button pressed for three seconds. Blinks red once and that is the indication that its turned off.
3. Disable blue blinking when paired/online: Turn off and then turn on by keeping the +VOL and black POWER button pressed for three seconds. (apparently this doesn't work in my case, so I might be returning it)
4. Enable blue blinking then paired/online: Repeat the above process (#3)
5. Reset the headphone if keys stop responding: Press  - VOL and POWER button together for three seconds.
6. Redial last number: quick double click on the CALL button
7. Accept the call: when the headset is ringing, press the CALL button to accept it
8. Pass the call to the phone from the headset: Long press on the call button until you hear two beeps
9. Take back the call from the phone to the headset: Press the CALL button
10. Cancel/End the call: Press on the CALL button
11. Reject the call: When the headset is ringing because of an incoming call, long press the CALL button to reject the call.

Getting Plantronics Voyager 510 to work with Windows 7

This applies to many other bluetooth headsets out there who have trouble working with  Vista or Windows 7.

One of the main problem that show up is that the pairing is successful (with Bluetooth Perepheral Device), but it doesn't find any drivers. Here's a snippet from the windows support website to get this working.

Due to the fact that Windows Vista doesn’t support Bluetooth headset profile, if you want to use a Bluetooth headset with your adapter, you’ll need a little creative workaround to add the headset profile to the default Microsoft stack. Download either of the x86 or x64 compilations of the CSR Bluetooth driver and extract its contents to a folder. When you try to pair your headset to your computer, Windows will ask for drivers for the headset since it doesn’t find the appropriate headset profile. Point Windows to the folder where you have extracted the CSR drivers to make it work. Make sure you go into the device in the Bluetooth Devices panel and check off the boxes for headset, etc. [Source]

There are many people suggesting various approaches which haven't worked for me or for many others.

The CSR drivers are mentioned on the above referenced website or can be downloaded from
•Download CSR Bluetooth Driver v1.0.0.376 for Windows Vista / Windows Server 2008 x86 (32-bit) as a 216 kB (221,687 bytes) CAB file which should extract to 674 kB (691,122 bytes)


•Download CSR Bluetooth Driver v1.0.0.376 for Windows Vista / Windows Server 2008 x64 (64-bit) as a 232 kB (237,897 bytes) CAB file which should extract to 773 kB (792,118 bytes)
 
To get Skype working with the headset, you need to make sure that you are able to select "Bluetooth Hand-free Audio" as a Playback Device when you right click on the "volume" icon in the lower right corner of the screen.
 

You will also need to change the Audio  Settings in Skype so it uses Bluetooth device for both recording and playback.
 

 
Hope this works for everyone having such issues.

Understanding startup-VC deals

A good blog I came across to understand the economics of a startup funding.

This relationship between option pool size and price isn’t always understood by entrepreneurs, but is well-understood by VCs. I learned it the hard way in the first term sheet that I put forward to an entrepreneur. I was competing with another firm. We put forward a “6 on 7” deal with a 20% option pool. In other words, we would invest (alongside another VC) $6 million at a $7 million pre-money valuation to own 46% of the company. The founders would own 34% and we would set aside a stock option pool of 20% for future hires. One of my competitors put forward a “6 on 9” deal, in other words $6 million invested at a $9 million pre-money valuation to own 40% of the company. But my competitor inserted a larger option pool than I did – 30% – so the founders would only receive 30% of the company as compared to my deal that gave them 34%. The entrepreneur chose the competing deal. When I asked why he looked me in the eye and said, “Jeff – their price was better. My company is worth more than $7 million”.

http://bostonvcblog.typepad.com/vc/2009/07/in-vc-deals-price-doesnt-matter-but-the-promote-does.html

Security codes for phones

These are the default passwords or security codes for the phones I've been involved with.

Nokia 7210 - default password "12345" (e.g. when trying to delete all phonebook entries)

Song A768 (Chinese) - default password "1122" (e.g. when trying to delete all phonebook entries)

Samsung SGH D807 - "00000000" (This needs a PIN2 code when trying to delete both SIM and Phone address books. But if you try to delete the phone and SIM address books individually, you can use the above password)
The PIN2 code is provided by the SIM card so you may want to check with the provider.

GSM Coverage map

Here's the reference for world frequencies for GSM operators.

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_in.shtml

The link is for India, but you can also see coverage for other countries.

Unlocking Samsung E105

credit to cellphoneforums.net

you would need the new network provider's SIM to unlock.

1. Change your phone's password back to 00000000 (8 number zero)
2. Power off your phone.
3. Take battery out --> take your T-Mobile SIM card out of the phone
4. Put ATT card in side the phone --> put battery back --> power phone on.
5. WRONG CARD message would appear on screen (in some case if the phone ask SIM unlock code , just put any number and it will show that message)
6. Enter *#9998*3323# and you see option exit ---> press right softkey to use function EXIT
7. After that one menu will show up, use arrow key go to number 6(or 7) Malloc Fail and use right softkey to choose this one.
8. Your phone will auto restart and now ATT network show on screen
* Until now your phone temporary unlocked ATT SIM CARD, to unlock your phone forever, please continue:
9. On screen, press *0141# and hit call button then screen appear "Persernalized"
10. Turn off phone --> take ATT SIM out --> put T-Mobile SIM in --> Power on
11. Screen ask " SIM unlock code"
12. Please enter 8 number zero : 00000000 ---> OK

Dell Issues: The AC power adapter type cannot be determined.

The AC power adapter type cannot be determined. Your system will operate slower and the battery will not charge. Please connect a Dell 65W AC adapter or higher for best system operation.

Few weeks ago I started seeing this warning intermittantly when I connect the power adapter to my Dell XPS M1330. But for last few days it was very regular and I barely could charge the battery.

I called up Dell on Tuesday morning and since the laptop was on extended warranty (I need it with my kind of travel and usage), the scheduled a next day service. The guy showed up next day before 10am with a motherboard and a power supply. It turned out that Dell sent him a correct power cord (3-pin) for the adapter but wrong adapter (2-pin). So the technician was not able to test the adapter and had to change the mother board.

He was done in less than 30 minutes and when we put the power in, voila.. it was charging. But before he left, I tried twisting and rotating the power supplu few time and there was this warning again.

So I called him from the car and he called to FedEx me a new adapter next day. So I'm waiting for my new adapter which is supposed to come by 3pm today.

The technician said that there's a chip inside the adapter and in the laptop and generally he sees the problem with the motherboard if they are using a 3pin supply. An specially with m1330 as well.

So, in less than 2 years, this is the second mother board change and I'm off to my third motherboard already. First one was due to their famous GPU (display issue) problem.
Who know what'll happen in another 2 years.

Digital Earth launched in beta website.

Digital Earth Inc just launched it beta website.

The functionality looks cool.

Detail at http://blog.pepperlab.com

Digital Earth product demo - part II

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZo3mYdeoQ

Digital Earth product demo - part I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn2CpzyvuB4

deleting documents from Nutch Index

Here's what you can use to delete documents from the nutch index.

bin/nutch org.apache.nutch.tools.PruneIndexTool crawl/indexes/part-00000 -queries qu.txt -output ou.txt

where
- crawl/indexes/part-00000 contains the indexes

- qu.txt is the file with a list of queries in it. one example being
"site:abc.xxx.com"

- ou.txt is the output of the document urls which (are) will be deleted

If you just want to see which documets will be effected without actually deleting them then use the -dryrun flag also.

bin/nutch org.apache.nutch.tools.PruneIndexTool crawl/indexes/part-00000 -dryrun -queries qu.txt -output ou.txt