Reading Comics on Windows PC and Windows Mobile 6x

(This is screenshot of how a comic will look on HTC Touch Viva, you can see the use of lens as well at the bottom)

Reading comics have always been my passion. If I add "as a kid" it wont be correct, because, "once a comic reader, always a comic reader".

Comic reader for Windows PC & Laptop:



The application CDisplay stands out. Very light application and freely available. I thanks a million to the creator. This can read comics in .cbr, .cbz, rar, and zip format. It could be downloaded from the link below:

http://cdisplay.techknight.com/setup.zip

(Link is courtesy Wikipedia article on CDisplay)

Comic reader for Windows Mobile:

I use HTC Touch Viva with Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional version.

This needed few small adjustments. First it took a little time to find a free application on the net, but finally I got it from the link below:

http://forums.comicreader.mobi/showthread.php?t=134

Then I needed .net framework 3.5 on my mobile in order to run the reader, which I found on the microsoft's website:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=333325FD-AE52-4E35-B531-508D977D32A6&displaylang=en

Remember in order to install the 3.5 framework you need activesync, and run it from your PC or laptop while mobile should be connected via activesync (About how to do that correctly, please see previous posts).

Once the 3.5 .net framework is installed, you can then install the comic reader.

Well you would need comics to read on it as well right?

Try this link, you can see the comic series for Superman vs. Doomsday - Hunter Prey Part 1, 2 & 3 (in english)

http://www.4shared.com/network/search.jsp?sortType=1&sortOrder=1&sortmode=2&searchName=+%09+Superman+vs.+Doomsday+-+Hunter+Prey+Part+cbz&searchmode=2&searchName=+%09+Superman+vs.+Doomsday+-+Hunter+Prey+Part+cbz&searchDescription=&searchExtention=&sizeCriteria=atleast&sizevalue=10&start=0

Using this comic reader on mobile is not too tough, but you would need a little time and few preferential settings to get used to it. It has a lens, which appears on a single tap and goes off with a single tap. This lens is useful for reading. You can enlarge the lens if you want, by going into the "options" tab.

On the first tap over the written line, you will observe only that readable part is magnified. In case you need more area to be seen in that lens, you need to simply drag it and the lens will take the size you have defined in the "options". I prefer this size to be 200 x 150 for Width x Height.

Search the net and you can find a hell lot of comics in cbr and cbz format, especially using torrent (a 1 to 126 series of The Justice League Task Force is available in cbr and cbz format).

It really feels good to go back to the old days of reading comics :o)

My favorite Comic Character? Batman.

Twikini for Windows mobile

Finally Twikini's latest version 1.1 is out..

Too bad cause you now have to pay for it ;o)

But I tell you what, after using many other applications like cetwit and few others, I really missed Twikini... It is just wonderful. Easy to understand and very user friendly.

Did I mention that I tried other softwares (to access twitter) for 1 whole month... But after having used Twikini, it was just like drinking water instead of Jack Daniels!!!

You can download the software from the title link or copying the link below:

http://www.trinketsoftware.com/Twikini

Cheers Twikini guys, you are doing a good job. Keep it up.

My wishes!

Installing new themes on Windows mobile or HTC Touch Viva Windows Mobile 6.1

Tried so many times to Install newly acquired WM6 themes from the internet to my windows mobile. But man.... There was no clue what was happening. Since I have found the answer I would love to share it with you.

First I will tell the wrong way:
1. You save the themes somewhere in the memory card.
2. You double click on it (from the storage card location).
3. Either you are sent to "choose Themes" section or probably... whatever happens, but you are not able to see your new theme.

Right Steps and the Right way:
1. Save all the themes in a location (eg. My Pictures) in the "Mobile's Memory". Remember not in storage card.
2. Well thats all. Now go to the settings > Personal > Today. You will now be able to see all the themes and should be able to choose your favorite one.

Hope it helps.

All the best!

Troubleshooting ActiveSync problem in HTC Touch Viva

When I first bought my HTC Touch Viva, I had major difficulty in synchronizing my mobile with my computer using the Microsoft ActiveSync software. I tried many novice things to sort it out, but sadly nothing helped. Went through many forums, and even requested help by mailing to HTC guys.. absolute useless.

Well, after two days of head banging, I finally found the root cause of the problem. So, in case you too are having similar problem, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the settings.

2. From the options of Personal, System, & Connections, chose connections.

3. Tap on USB to PC icon.

4. Here lies the demon. There is a small box with lengthy explanation line (probably automatically ticked) which says "Enable faster data synchronization" you just need to uncheck it and tap on ok. Though the next line says about unchecking the box if the problem occurs, but who cares to read much while sorting out a problem.. he he

Well, thats all. Once you have unchecked the box, and selected ActiveSync, try again switching off and switching on the mobile, and then connect it to the computer. The Microsoft ActiveSync will automatically and surely recognize your device and you will be able to use it to play around with your brand new HTC mobile.

One more utility application I would like to mention about, which would help you run your mobile right from your computer, is a software called mymobiler, courtsey www.mymobiler.com

You can download it right from their website or clicking on the title link of this blog. Its a .exe file and has to be run on your computer. After that it takes care of the rest and shows your mobile right on your computer screen. Thanks a lot mymobiler gang and keep up the good work.

Together with Microsoft ActiveSync and MyMobiler, you need not disturb your resting mobile and handle it right from your computer!!! Do not believe me? Well, then try it and do comeback.. Till then Hasta luego!


Cheers!!!!

Figure it out

Picture is taken from a Coloured News Paper sheet. The ads posted on opposite side of the newspaper seems to have merged!!!!

Ccleaner for Windows Mobile HTC Touch Viva

The day I bought my windows mobile, I searched furiously for a Ccleaner version which could be used on it. I stumbled upon SK Tools. First I used the free version, available from there website.

This lite version was really cool and I felt satisfied enough. It has features like Cleaning (just like Ccleaner) and Benchmark (comparing qualities with other phones).

I wondered what there Licenced version would be like. Since I am afraid of using my cards online, I first searched the Internet, just in case there is any Licences version available free!!!.

I was damn right, it was there though not for the latest version. I got a Licenced version with serial number and installed it on my mobile.

Wonders, wonders....

The licensed version is just wonderful... It is even better than Ccleaner. Why? You judge that after I list you out the features with description:

1. Clean : Finds and deletes temporary and obsolete files, bad registry keys and more.
2. Optimize: Changes certain system settings to improve performance.
3. Tune up: Modifies system options which cannot be configured using standard PocketPC interface.
4. Installed Program: Views installed programs with size, installation date and installed files. Uninstall selected program.
5. Benchmark: Runs various tests to estimate system performance.
6. Backup: Backup or restoration of data and Managing backup files.

Hey wait, thats not all.. You get a free application to free up unused RAM on your device, to increase its responsiveness. I try it quite often and it really works. The licensed version's RAM Freer works much better than the free Lite version).

You want to get this software?

Choices in front of you are:

1. Download the free version from their website. This version gives only 6 options to apply whichever you use from the above mentioned list. The licensed version could give double of that or more.
2. Search and download a free Licensed version from rapidshare or torrent ;o) bad for the company and good for you...

You decide.. after all god has made us, to be good or bad will always be your own personal choice. Hey come on, you can be little bad.. :o)

The link below will help the little devils in green.

http://rapidlibrary.com/index.php?q=sktools+4+4+7+8

My thanks and wishes goes to SKTools cause its really one cool application.

To go to their website click on the title link, it will lead you straight to their download section.

Else, start googling for a surprise for yourself... All the best!


Have a neat and clean Windows Mobile.

Temporary Email ID to avoid Spam coming to your personal email ids

Spam spam spam.. How much do we hate it. We just enter our email id a few places, just to download a song or a software e.t.c, and lo.. within few days start receiving tons of mail.

Recently I stumbled upon this website called www.10minutemail.com. The moment you open the site, you get a brand new self destruction in 10 minutes email id. No hassles of creating password and all. The inbox is right there below the email id.

Option is there to increase the time limit by ten minutes, (before the end of first ten minutes), just in case you are expecting some verification email coming from that website. A perfect Use and Throw email id :o)

I just pray to god it would prove as a mass destruction weapon for spammers.

Just go ahead and use it the next time a website asks you for an email id!!!

Free Antivirus for Windows Mobile 6x

The only free antivirus I could find for my HTC Touch Viva handset.

It is a .cab file so installs easily on your mobile (without the need of synchronising)

Does a good job no doubt.

Activation code is AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAAA-AAAA3

And you need an internet connection on your mobile to activate it.

If clicking the headline does not not take you to the download page, go to the Kaspersky's website to find the download.

Free Mahjong game for Windows mobile 6x os and HTC Touch Viva

You can download free the Mahjong game for your windows based mobile phone from here.

http://cid-3637f4bfd10766a6.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public

Choose the CAB file version.


Works well on HTC Touch Viva T2223 with Windows Mobile 6.1 version.

Bangalore to Pondicherry - Directions, Road details, driving conditions, and video of the map

It was a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday holiday combination, which made us plan to go somewhere out of Bangalore to break the regular life routine. Scouting for places, we settled for Pondicherry.

Pondicherry is just around 300km from Bangalore, we decided to drive by car (Santro) instead of wasting around 7 hours of Thursday night in a Bus with discomfort.

It was our first time drive from Bangalore to Pondicherry, so I inquired about routes through friends, searched for maps in Google, and tried my best to get information about the road condition. Well, it was not very helpful and as the driver I was left to rely on my own experience and instincts to decide the pace of the journey.

We decided to start sharp at 5 in the morning (as our check-in time at the hotel in Pondicherry was 12), but 5 am turned out to be an IST (Indian Stretchable Time) w. We left home at 6:30 on the Friday Morning for the beginning of our weekend.

As always and as in any of our journey out of Bangalore, getting out of the Bangalore has always been the biggest pain. So to speak, this time that was not the case, but still we mistook a diversion before the Sabzi mandi in Koramangala to reach the Hosur road :o)

Once we reached the Hosur road, it was a happy sight.. Wide and good conditioned road. Few rough road diversions, but I was still happy to cruise at an average speed of 90 - 100 km/hr (which meant reaching Pondi in less than 6 hours).

We did not even realize when we crossed Hosur and reached Krishnagiri Toll Gate (NH7). I was happy to pay 30 bucks for the lovely road and thought the same conditioned road will be there till Pondicherry. I can only laugh on myself for thinking that :o)

After the toll booth, we crossed a flyover and my 6th sense told me something was wrong. One idiot truck cleaner said the road indeed goes to Pondicherry. Though he was right, but the route was longer and went through Salem (around 50+ extra kilometers).

Still I went on with my intuition (after 9 kms) and took a U-turn towards the beginning of that flyover and saw a mark of a Right turn to Chennai & Pondicherry (NH46).

Our romance with NH7 came to an end and we soon reached NH46 and then to NH66.

NH66 looked good but suddenly you would see potholes. Potholes are technical term for bad patch on roads, what I felt was that, they were massive craters caused of some meteor shower.

Guided on with NH66 written at the top of every milestone and highlighted in yellow, reached our hotel in Pondicherry by 12:45.

Noticeable Landmarks from Bangalore to Pondicherry

Reaching Krishnagiri Toll Gate is easy and after that you have to be cautious:

1. You have to take a left slip road (left of the flyover) and take a left turn, which connects to NH 46.

2. After around less than 1.5 km, you have to take a right turn to NH66. This you have to follow throughout the journey to reach Pondicherry.

3. You will come across following small towns on the way.

Uthangarai at 45km
Chengam at 74km
Kilpennathur at 1km
Gingee at 146km
Tindivanam at 172km

4. Getting out of Tindivanam is little tricky. Wading through one Vegetable Market area until you reach one roundabout cum flyover. It is one of the most confusing roundabout of the journey. The direction markers are confusing a lot, but make no mistake, you have to go straight. So, go along the left hand side of the circle and take the first left out to the NH66.

5. Back again on NH66, follow all diversion signs (as the new road is under construction) and you will reach Pondi in 45 minutes or so.

ROAD CONDITION and SUGGESTED SPEED

Getting out of Bangalore, you can test the speed of your vehicle until you reach Krishnagiri Toll gate and until you reach NH46. On the NH66, drive very cautiously. Since it was weekend, Holiday, and early morning for me, the traffic was not much.

NH66, try touching 90 to 110 whenever you can. My suggested speed would be 80 to 90 km/hr. Keeping in mind the population, condition of the road, and the traffic of weekend.

Slowdown whenever you see dark spots on the road, particularly under the shade of trees. For some reason, there are more potholes under the tree shades (probably cause of the dripping water from the trees during rains)

I missed one big pothole and had to spend Rs. 250 on mending the tyre rim, after reaching Pondicherry. So, you better be cautious and lookout for them.

State Transport Bus Drivers of Tamil Nadu were a good lot. They always gave way with proper indications. A salute to them. I wish the same for rest of India.

I was reminded of Bangalore traffic while on my way back to Bangalore, when a Tata Sumo in front of me (with Bangalore number plate) braked hard suddenly because of a pothole, since I was closing in on him, to overtake, I had to brake hard with a little screeching sound. The driver of Sumo hearing the sound, completely halted his vehicle, which made me navigate hard to avoid the corners of his vehicle. Then he gave me typical sound "Haiiiiiii". I desperately wanted to ask why the hell he stopped the goddamn vehicle of his, was he waiting for me to collide into him?

Well, I just laughed, missed Bangalore and drove on.

Time taken from Bangalore to Pondicherry

5 hours and 45 minutes.

I have given link of the video map of the Bangalore to Pondicherry route , which could be handy once downloaded and stored on your phone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyOY8lNYK5k



Since this year is full of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday combinations of holidays, I suppose this topic would be of help to you.

Wish you a happy & safe journey!

Thats what I call a Phone Booth

 

In search of the Best and the Free Antivirus of all.

After months of experimenting with downloading, installing, uninstalling, many hefty antiviruses, and not to mention many antirootkits, I have finally zeroed in on the one, which is to my satisfaction is the perfect free available antivirus and free of any adwares (No popups or toolbars).

I am mentioning a few I remember:

1. Norton - You know what, in 18 hours it could not finish scanning my meek laptop with 512 MB RAM. I tried their Beta version too, which took a big memory space, but slowed down the system while scanning.

My Verdict = The worst!

2. Spyware Doctor - Came free with google updater. It did awesome job of identifying many virusses, spywares, malwares, e.t.c but it did slow down system while running scan and not to mention took a hell lot of time completing the scan. After few updates on following days, I found the memory it occupied doubled up! (From 32 mb to a whopping 77 mb)... Thumbs down! One point I noted was that, whenever I enabled it, after disabling it, it always somehow found some virus (atleast one)...... Strange isn't it.. try it, and please do let me know if that is not the case with you.

My Verdict = Bad!

3. AVG - Looked good, with simple user interface, colorful, but somehow, it could not clean my system properly. It occupied quite a lot of memory, mind you! I saw an unknown file in my external drive (It was a bad VB script), even on select scan it could not detect it, and gave it a clean chit!!!.. (Just like the other antiviruses mentioned above). Even song.pk could not be detected by it.

My Verdict = Not Good.

4. I used Threatfire (from PC Tools stable, family of spyware doctor) I hoped it would do some good job as promised by various links on it to their website, but it came a cropper.

My Verdict = Useless.

5. Bitdefender - Used this as well. Uninstalled it the same day.. Cause of some unknown reason, though it identified the viruses, but the option to remove just did not work!!! How spooky!! and how businessminded of them... But scanning was good and fast, but whats the use, when it could not remove the trouble!

My Verdict = A big Waste.

6. Spywareterminator - I used it for a long time, but finally got annoyed after updating to their latest version.. it just kept showing block - allow screen during installation. "The remember this action" didn't work after allowing, even installation mode failed to be of any help in this scenario. With tears in my eyes, I kissed it goodbye. It, combined with clamwin free antivirus had protected my system (somewhat) for almost an year.

My Verdict = Do not use it if you do not have patience.

Finally, my savior my favorite and my antivirus hero!

7. AVAST - Downloaded free from their website (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)- It is free to use for personal use. Avast has done wonders on my system. It occupies less memory, detected all kinds of virusses, trojans, bad roots, and what not. What more, while scanning is on, my system works with normal speed (Good speed mind you!). It has an auto scan function, which starts only when the system is idle. I simple love it. I am sure you will not regret using it at all. The interface is marvelously simple and different than all others (infact, first time i opened it, I felt, I opened an audio player by mistake... he he) Note: I found it more effective on select scan.

My Verdict = The best! Close your eyes and Go for it.




P.S. I am no software expert but I am an inquisitive person, who is always in search of answers. I want value for what I do (even in downloading free antivirus!), I have written my experience honestly. My blog will do a world of good, if a layman like me starts with AVAST and saves time on wasting time on other so called free antiviruses available online.

Additional Note: If you are using Firefox browser, use this addon "Ghostery 1.3.9" you will see how google, msn, yahoo, work on providing you ads using hidden web bugs :o) It is also coming inbuilt with Internet Explorer 7. It will show you how many websites have how many webbugs and from whom all. Not bad though, but good if you know.

As I always say, "Extra knowledge never kills, its the application of that half knowledge which is dangerous" So do not use your knowledge in sensitive situation. Be a good judge.

Hope this round of enlightenment will prove good for you.


Wish you a happy and safe surfing.

Understanding Processes that run in the Task Manager of your Laptop or PC and Speeding up you system by controlling them.

Have you ever wondered about so many processes running on your computer, which you can see in the window's Task Manager. Ever felt helpless about not knowing them? Came across system hanging when opening a new program or even an explorer?

I am a non-tech person, but my curiosity to understand these processes, and belief in the urban myth that you can find any answer on the internet, gave me a lot of confidence, and to my surprise, I found a lot of answers as well. Now at least I know the good processes and bad processes running on my computer. I have successfully stopped the bad processes, and it has worked wonders in speeding up my laptop and increasing the responsiveness of any new command I give to the system (please read as faster opening of new program e.g., firefox e.t.c.)

Here are few of my findings to understand these processes better:

1. Click on run tab in the start menu and type "msconfig" (without the inverted commas of course). Click on services tab, and you can see all the processes which run automatically when you start the system (one reason why system is slow during the boot up). These processes have good processes as well, which are necessary for windows to function normally, so we can tick in the box at the bottom which says "Hide all Microsoft services". Half of the list will be gone and now you are left with the processes of the programs which you have installed and knowingly or unknowingly allowed them to start with the start of the system. You can see their name in the Manufacturer column. If you find these unnecessary, untick the box and click on apply. (eg, you can allow antivirus software's processes). Keep them to bare minimal and you will be surprised to see the speed at which your system starts in the next bootup.

2. You can download a freeware called "Free Extended task manager" from (http://www.extensoft.com/?p=free_task_manager) which is actually an extension of the window's task manager and can do a lot more than a window's task manager is capable of. For example, if a process is not shutting down even after multiple end task commands, you can see the processes which are running for that program in just a click. You can freeze these processes or end them as well and see the immediate closure. Sometimes even after closing a program, it leaves some processes running on the system, you can use it to end these processes which can slow your system down considerably.

3. A freeware called "Process Lasso" by Bitsum technology can be downloaded from their website (http://www.prolasso.com/prolasso.php). This software helps regulate the processes running in your system and maintaining the responsiveness of your windows to the maximum. It will lower the priority of processes which are not currently in use but are taking too much space, over the program which you are using at the moment. This really speeds up your system and response time quickens.

4. Last but not the least, I have installed the Spyware Terminator, a free spyware from "www.spywareterminator.com" and combined it with ClaimWin Antivirus (ClamAV) from their website (http://www.clamwin.com/), together their database is huge and can identify a long list of viruses. Why I mentioned it here is cause this spyware, does not allow any .exe file to go unnoticed and run without you permission. It could be little time consuming when you are installing a new software, but it shows its worth detecting a virus program's process which tries to run itself without your knowledge. With every pop up to allow or block a process, it also displays information about this process, eg. Manufacturer like Microsoft, adobe, and so on, so you can identify it from which software it is running from. It very well displays type of virus detected and its threat level in the pop-up. All you need to do is click on Allow or Block, and thats it, your system stays clean.

Here we are. Using these 4 steps, a layman like me, can now control the running processes in his system, and keep the system working at good speed without hanging up when opening a new program in the computer. Doing these things, I do not actually remember when my system hanged last time! Isn't it amazing?

All the best!

Battleships - Strategy Game

Test your Face Recognition capabilities

This is a test to see how well you can remember faces and when.

There are two parts A and B, and each part will have 12 photos of faces.
You only have a short time, 4 seconds, to see each face before the program
moves to the next face.

Part A will begin and when that is finished you can start Part B. When Part
B is finished, the test will begin. The test will consist of showing 48
faces and below each face you will have a choice of choosing whether you
have seen the face, either in Part A or in Part B, or whether or not you
have seen the face at all.

After you have made your selection for face number 48 your score will
appear and you will be able to see how you scored.

Good luck!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/tmt/instructions_1.shtml

Does smoking ban helps Indian Health overall? Do villages of India have Public Places or even Cigarettes to smoke?

Ban smoking and alcohol, they are killing in tens of lakhs per annum. Rid world of diseases. Destroy all the deadly microorganisms and keep only the good ones. We can even ban fatty food, they too account for lakhs of deaths per annum, as they cause various heart ailments. We can stop the flowing rivers and make our seas shallow, less people and ship will drown, no tsunamis as well. Make roads on the seabed, ensuring safe travel and avoid the risk of running into the pirates. Stem cell research can be boosted as well, replacing old and worn out human body, tissue by tissue. What a lovely place the world would be.

But what about the increased population? Where will all people live? What will they eat and what will they breathe? Maybe we can go to another planet and do an encore and keep on doing it, till we finish out the entire galaxy. What an idea sirji!

Why do our leaders have to wait for the situation to get worse and then take a step?

Of course, why would they? It is not as flashy as the ban on smoking or drinking and also the policies will not have any immediate results. Which might give no popularity points to a government which might last another 5-year or maybe less!

Population control and educations policy implementation would be like a test match cricket. Whereas people enjoy only one dayers and now even T20s, and this is exactly what is given to us by our politicians.

Any well educated person can understand this and can act when the time comes, still why nothing is happening, why the time is not coming? Where is the disconnect?

The problem here is the lack of a bridge between urban and rural India. Here I will quote the the Idea from Mr. R.K. Mishra (the winner of Lead India contest by the Times Group) which I heard on Radio Indigo FM 91.9, Bangalore. We the educated people of the society, though aware of the steps to be taken, have remained an unorganized community; and that is why the country is taken for a ride by the politicians. The strength and votes of India, lie majorly in the illiterate rural India, whom these politician can organize and make them move in the direction they want. The educated society has no communication with rural India and hence, no say as well on the country’s growth direction.

Somehow we need to bridge this gap. The educated people from urban and rural India should get together, and help move India towards a common dream. India should be a place where both Urban India and Rural India should live with an equal pride; knowing very well that they both depend on each other for the growth of country and themselves as well.