Saturday, December 17, 2011
Bloomberg is a great organization which really takes care of its employees. The purpose of this post is to highlight few things which remain under cover and do not make in talking terms. Bloomberg offers real career with immense training ranging on its product to commucations to environment. You can argue that every company gives training, I will not challenge that. Lets concentrate on following then:
- Annual Party in Dubai (for Middle East and Southeast Asia including India). I know companies which have similar program but partly paid. Bloomberg bears all costs including flights, 5 star stay and meals.
- Shifting to other departments. Believe me, no company can give such flexibility in terms of long term career within organization.
- Medical policy. Essentially it covers all medical expenses including normal doctor visit.
- Pantry. You can find soft drinks, chocolates, waffers, fruits and juices free of cost for employees and visitors. I personally love it!
- Truely multi national culture
- Only meritocracy
If you are inspired to apply to Bloomberg, you can give my reference (only for benefits of my readers).
Reference: Saumya Aggarwal
Saturday, December 17, 2011 2
Sunday, November 27, 2011
In the past several years, businesses large and small have come to realize the positive impact of engaging their brand-loyal public and — more importantly — potential customers, via Facebook Pages. While fan pages are typically seen as a destination for users to remain privy to brand news, a recent comScore report shows that a Page is really just the place where content resides, as fans are 40 to 150 times more likely to consume branded material in their news feeds than on the actual fan page itself. This discovery led to Facebook’s expansion of “Page Insights,” including new metrics and analytics designed to constantly remind business owners of what truly matters: engaging content.
Facebook utilizes an algorithm that ensures the most relevant content for each user finds its way onto that particular user’s news feed. The relevancy of this content is determined by a number of factors, including how many times it is liked, shared, commented on, etc. When fans of a company interact with branded content, it can then be passed on to their friends and their friends’ friends. With fan acquisition as the main motive behind the Facebook strategy of most businesses, it is helpful to learn that friends of fans are more likely to visit a brand’s store, website and even purchase a product than the average, uninfluenced consumer. In addition, the average friends-of-fans group for the top 100 brand pages on Facebook is 34 times larger than the fan group. This means that a business can often have greater influence amongst its second degree connections, and the virality of a page’s content can be directly related to the success of a business. So, ultimately there’s a need for better insights into Facebook content consumption.
Facebook’s Advertising Communications Manager Elisabeth Diana states that the “real purpose behind Facebook Page Insights is to provide all page admins with ways to understand how to reach and acquire new customers.” New metrics have been created in order to provide businesses with not only information about how people are interacting with a brand Page, but also a glimpse into how people are connecting with the Page’s content in other parts of Facebook.
One of the metrics added to Facebook’s Page Insights is “People are talking about this.” This set of data counts stories that are eligible to appear in a user’s Newsfeed, such as any likes, wall posts, comments, shares, questions answered, RSVPs to events, Page mentions, photo tagging and location checkins. The metric allows the page administrator to know what posts have proven the most compelling and interactive.
Another metric added to the equation is the metric of virality, which allows for insight into how viral a particular post is. Virality is determined by dividing the number of “people talking about this” by the reach (the number of people who actually saw the content). Diana notes that because virality is a percentage, whether a business is large or small, the metric “can be used to compare across all Page posts.” The virality metric allows page admins to analyze the success of individual posts and will hopefully lead to an improved page strategy through a better understanding of the audience.
Along with these new metrics comes aesthetic changes as well. “Whether you want to get into the deep end or wade in slowly,” Diana says, Facebook wants to make their Page Insights “digestible for everyone, easy to sort and actionable.” She says most of the heavy numbers have been removed from Page Insights, but “for those needing something a little more hardcore, there is always the option to export to a spreadsheet.” Either way, Diana says, “this is just the first step in enhancing Page Insights for small businesses and brands; there is more to come” — so, look out for the Facebook Insight API. In the meantime, however, Facebook will continue to help business owners figure out how to provide their audiences with the most engaging content possible to guarantee the greater reach and increased sales.
Sunday, November 27, 2011 0
Heads up, corporateers. Just like the company previously hinted, Microsoft Lync will soon make its smartphone debut. Currently, the enterprise instant messaging client (formerly known as Microsoft Office Communicator) has only been available to Mac and PC users, but all that is set to change next month when the software becomes available for Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Windows Phone. Curiously, Microsoft's New Zealand outfit had formerly stated that Symbian would be among the mix, although its mention is entirely absent from this announcement. Granted, the news seems rather informal at this point, and there's only so much you can cram into 140 characters.
Source
I - iPhone 4S pricing
iPhone 4S pricing, the 16GB variant, comes for Rs. 44,500, while the 32GB is available for Rs. 50,900. It was quite surprising to see Apple and the telecom operators Airtel and Aircel agreeing such steep pricing. India is certainly one of the biggest smartphone markets in the world. But expecting the Indian consumers, already grappling with the price rise, to shell out Rs. 45k for a smartphone is not practical enough. Moreover, the telecom operators Airtel and Aircel are not subsidising cost of the phone, unlike their western peers. However, the iPhone 4S may find buyers among affluent professionals in India who like possessing iconic brands and luxury items.
II - Known battery life issues
Apple had to release an updated iOS 5.0.1 version after several iPhone 4S users complained about its battery life. Apple says the iOS 5.0.1 update brings various other changes to the platform including bug fixes for FreeType and iCloud documents. However, many users are reportedly still grappling with the problem and report that the update does not actually fix the battery life issue.
III - It's just a minor upgrade
The new iPhone 4S does feature a faster ARM Cortex A9 dual-core 1GHz processor, an 8MP camera and 1080p HD video support. It also features the voice recognition-based personal assistant, Siri. Apart from these, rest of the specs including the design are quite similar to the iPhone 4. Moreover, the iPhone 4S comes with the same 1,420 mAh battery, carried forward from the iPhone 4. Also, Siri is limited outside the U.S and is likely to get full-functionality by only sometime in 2012.
Alternative top end devices
So, what alternatives do you have right now? Well, the iPhone 4 is not still a bad deal. Or, you can wait for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which is the first device to sport the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The device is speculated to arrive in India by earlier next year. Another option is the Samsung Galaxy S II, which comes with all the top-end smartphone features and is priced a good Rs. 15,000 less than the iPhone 4S. A number of Android smartphones, like the LG Optimus 2X, and the new super-slim Motorola Razr are also available at a relatively cheap price. Of course, these are just the top-end devices, if we decide to look for top-notch performance at affordable prices, the options open up even further - with devices like the Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini and Xperia Arc, the Motorola Defy+, the LG Optimus Black, Samsung Omnia W and Galaxy SL all delivering the goods without breaking the bank.
If you are still adamant on buying the latest iPhone 4S, we suggest you get the unlocked version from abroad at a relatively lower price.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
"Yaar kya baat karein", "tum sunao", "aur batao"
Do you hear these phrases a lot in your relationship? Chances are pretty high that you do. Talking and communicating in a relationship is a tough task. No doubt about that. Initially its all hunky dory, you cannot wait to talk to your beloved, in fact there are millions of things you end up talking about. And not trivial daily things, real actual interesting conversations about each other, your likes, dislikes and much more..and after sometime, zip...you feel you have run out of topics.
We often hear the advice that Communication is the key to relationship. It certainly is, to an extent. In our current lifestyle, the pace of life has multiplied to a level where keeping up regular communication is quite a task combining time management with content generation. Naturally, we somehow begin to feel pressurized that we have to talk somehow. It begins to feel as if alarms are going off, that its soon going to be a very risky situation regarding the communication gap in the relationship and hence you frantically dial your beloved's number or maybe ping them on fb or skype and after initial greeting comes the dreaded question "aur batao"..and that's where you hit the wall. The obvious answer "nothing much". Which is quite true. There is nothing interesting enough to talk about. And your daily life is not exactly very happy unless you are either ShahRukh Khan's personal assistant or SRK himself. (if you are, hi!! :D)
So then what to do?? Not talk?? Well simply put, Talk when you really want to talk and you actually have something to talk. Otherwise, learn to realize that not everyday is going to be a chatty date over internet or phone. A few simple questions. Not to intruding and especially ones that don't make you sit and ponder for minutes as to what would be the right answer. Keep it simple, plain and short. Make it sort of a tradition. ask how they are, if possible, (especially in long distance relationship) discuss your dates and the ones you are planning to have. The main task here is to feel connected in a short time without forcing either of you into a panic attack to actually talk. Let it be. If you do not have something to talk, don't. Just send a text about how you love him/her. Try not to use the sentence "I miss our conversations". For you, it might be a personal confession, but for them, it may make them feel guilty about not talking enough. This will only result either in them forcing themselves to talk without any particular topic (hence boring you) or by withdrawing further.
Relationships initially are filled with conversations because we are eager to share ourselves with this wonderful person we have met. Its beautiful. Its natural. You get millions of topics in your head to tell them about because you want to know them better through their opinions, ideas, dreams, ambitions. The lull that comes after it has its own reasons. You know each other better now. He knows what she likes to talk about. She knows what he likes to talk about. Its a comfort level that is established between both through constant sharing. But the lull aches them to talk further. Its okay. Truth is, there is nothing bad about this. Learn to enjoy these shorter conversations. You can do these twice a day if you wish. Call or text in morning wishing them a good day. Talk in the night, ask casually if he or she would like to talk about his day, if he does, listen intently. Do not butt in with your own day description in the middle of what he/she is saying. Allow him/her to tell you completely and then you can do your own talking. Listening to them will make them understand that it is now their turn to be patient and be interested in your day too. Its a mutual gesture of respect.
Lastly, conversations die out routinely. We all have our highs and lows. There will be days when you will spontaneously find yourself having a great conversation after a long time. Cherish it. But don't let it become a moment that you constantly pine for. It is only gonna put your beloved under the spotlight to be at par with this moment everytime you talk, and that is only going to cause stress. Learn to enjoy the silences. You are free to fill these lulls with fantasies about you two together. So that the next time you talk, you can make him/her laugh with your silly fantasies about how you two enjoyed the cotton candy at the marine drive. ;)
Tuesday, October 18, 2011 0
eBay India has announced the eBay India Battle of Gadgets 2011, which ranks India’s most popular electronic gadget purchases online over a 12 month period based on an analysis of all eBay transactions. The research report showcases interesting trends of India’s Top Gadget Cities, Models; Brands across 7 popular gadget categories - Laptops, Cameras, Mobile Phones, Televisions, Gaming Consoles, Pen Drives and MP3 Players.
Mr. B. Muralikrishnan, Country Manager, eBay India, says,
“Gadgets have always been very popular on eBay India with as much as 50% of all transactions coming from the electronics category. We see a great demand for gadgets from consumers across both metros;tier II and tier III cities. We believe that the rankings of popular gadgets from eBay Battle of the Gadgets 2011 will be a useful guide to gadget shoppers across the country.”
eBay Battle of the Gadgets 2011 reveals:
Delhi is India’s Top Gadget Hub with the most Gadget purchases in the country
Delhi has topped the list of India’s top 10 gadget cities followed by IT city Bengaluru. Mumbai takes up the third position before Hyderabad and Chennai. The other cities include Pune, Kolkata, Kanchipuram, Ahmedabad and Kochi.
Sony is India’s Most Popular Gadget Brand
Sony’s multibrand portfolio; Nokia’s mobile phone dominance puts them in first; second place with Samsung, Apple, Seagate making up the Top 5 Gadget Brands. Micromax, LG, Canon, Dell & Lenovo also feature in the Top 10 list.
Top Mobile Brands
Nokia has emerged as the most popular brand in mobile phones category while Micromax and HTC take the second and third position respectively. The fourth and fifth position is ruled by Sony Ericsson and Blackberry.
Top Mobile Models
Sony Ericcson Xperia X10 is the most popular mobile model in India followed by Micromax Q1, HTC Wildfire, Blackberry Curve 8250 & Nokia E7.
Top Camera Brands
Demand from photography enthusiasts has allowed Nikon to capture the first position followed by Sony and Canon. Olympus and Fuji rank fourth and fifth, respectively.
Top Camera Models
The Nikon L22 is the most popular camera model in the country followed by Nikon S3000, Canon A495, Nikon P100 & Nikon L110.
Top Laptop Brands
Dell is the most popular brand for laptops amongst gadget lovers. Other laptop brands preferred by consumers are Acer, Sony Vaio, Lenovo and HP.
Top Laptop Models
The Dell Inspiron 15 is the country’s most popular laptop model followed by MacBook Air, Samsung N148, Samsung N150; Acer 5742.
Top Gaming Consoles
The Microsoft Xbox is the most popular console amongst gaming enthusiasts. The Sony Playstation Portable ranks second followed by the Sony Playstation 3, SonyPlaystation 2 and the Nintendo Wii.
Top TV Brands
While Sony has leaped to the top among TV brands, Samsung and Toshiba enjoy the second and the third position, respectively. LG and VU rank fourth and fifth in the category.
Top TV Models
Sony KLV-32BX300 is India’s most popular TV Model followed by Sony KLV-40BX400, Sony KDL-32CX520, Sony KLV-32BX320 & LG 22LE530.
Top Memory Device Brands
When it comes to storing data, Sandisk is the most reliable brand followed by Transcend and Seagate. Other brands in the top 5 category are Western Digital and HP.
Top MP3 Brands
Transcend keeps India hooked to portable music & has topped the list of favorite MP3 players. Apple and Sony rank second and third followed by Sandisk and Phillips in this product category.
Top MP3 Player Models
The iPod Touch is India’s most popular MP3 Player Model, followed by the iPod Nano, IPod Shuffle, Transcend MP860 & Transcend MP330.
eBay Battle of the Gadgets Methodology: eBay Battle of the Gadgets 2011 research findings were based on an analysis of all online gadget purchases by Indians on eBay between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.
eBay India also revealed some other interesting stats about itself: "On an average day on eBay India, A portable storage device or pen drive sells every 4 minutes, A mobile handset sells every 5 minutes, A laptop sells every 27 minutes, A MP3 player sells every 28 minutes, A digital camera sells every 39 minutes; A video game console sells every 39 minutes."
Posts
