Pakzilla

I found a very fantastic internet browser plugin which gives interactive full screen slideshow of online images. Cooliris has  re-innovated the entire experience of browsing through the web in a very media-interactive way. The browser plugin will let you surf through 3D wall of images and videos found on the page.

The plugin doesn’t work on all web sites yet, but most of big names are already on board to support it  like Flickr, YouTube, Kodack, Amazon, Photobucket, Picasa, DeviantArt, Smugmug, MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, Hi5, Friendster, Google Images, and more. Well you can also make you website Cooliris-enabled by adding small piece of code.

Download Cooliris here.

News are there about the launch of new operating system by Microsoft. Which is named on the version of MS on going Windows operating system. Its Windows 7, which is expected to release in early 2009. But before talking about more about Windows 7 I want to take attention of you people about what the current conditions of Windows Vista in the market.

Microsoft caused Vista to commit suicide because they left fearing from Linux. They claim that they build the system very secure and artistically managed to be compromised. They developed Vista to be overly secure and *very* difficult to crack and that artificially welded the price firmly to the product. If you wanted Vista you had to pay for it. Sure there were cracks but they were complicated and often beyond “average” users. Microsoft was in illusion about this formula: XP user base * Vista price = Huge profit. But people want to use MS operating system but in a pirated format, rather they pay $ to MS.

I can think that Windows XP is the widely cracked software available on the planet. It is very easy for any normal user to have pirated software to be download from Internet or buy from some underground software shop. It is also very easy for any user to remove Windows Genine Advantage nag in tray. So by all this MS pockets didnt get any buck. So they make ready Vista with a lot of marketting campaigns talks on confrences, but whats the result of all this is they need to consider new brand name for their product. I dont know how much they are expecting from Windows 7. But I think it is very hard for Microsoft to put XP user base into its control again.

The unfamousness of Vista put notebook companies to think to ship Windows XP again in their notebooks. Lenovo is also providing downgrading from Vista to Xp. And also I found Dell has the similar deal about providing XP in their notebooks.

Well people are not moving to Linux desktop OS yet, they sure will not move to Vista either. So can Mirosoft consider that “Lol! Vista was a joke. Here is our new OS which we were developing in real”? And they were developing Windows 7 for its desktop user base, which is currently relying on Windows XP.

And On FOSS fronts they have come up with BadVista campaign.

Now its your choice to evaluate. Feel free to comment.

After getting my laptop I search for some brand wallpapers of Lenovo. I got some very well designed wallpapers. It is for you, if you have Lenovo machine and you want to decorate your desktop with it.

Here is the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31176090@N04/

I come up with a news today that PTCL is now offering free Dial-up Internet service to all its land-line subscribers. Previously PTCL was charging PKR 6/min for it. I will update this post with more details on it.

With the advent of tight competition of mobile companies in Pakistan, PTCL is facing tough market consequences. After its re branding which happened after the partnership of Etisalat, they are continuously offering services to make them alive again like they were. I have noticed many people have left using PTCL in their homes and shifting to mobile phones. So retaining these people PTCL is making new offers.

See detail here.

Today I watched an ad on TV about the launch of first Pakistan’s prepaid debit card by UBL. It hit my fancy and I go to the website of UBL to see what they are offering. This news excites me for several reasons. First of all it can start the trend of using prepaid money in Pakistan. And second I am engineer in a company who’s business is to develop and manage a prepaid card solution. So being the part of this business I know the trends of this industry and know what cardholders expects from their issuer.

It will encourage other banks too to have such kind of products and do a competition with UBL and give people better alternates. After seeing the image, I am missing one thing is cardholder name on the card. No personalization. So it means you give money to the bank and they will immediately issue you the card of your choice. Hmm. They are saving the time to get issued the card with name which can take a week. But people will be more happy to see their names on card.

And let me mention an other hing that the central bank of Pakistan has reported the increase of debit card user over credit card. Its good that people are getting habitual of using their own money, rather blindly consuming credit card and put their selves in problem when paying it later.

I also prefer to use my VISA debit card (also from UBL) whenever it required to pay. Because it provides safety for not carrying cash aways. But I have one big reservation on using these debit cards on POS machines. If anyone steal your card, before you block you card he or she can easily make transactions. It should require any authentication (PIN based like it required at ATM) on even POS too. I will always feel this limitation on using plastic money.