3g USB modems

The 3g data usage price has been on the decline and now it has reached a level where it is comparable to normal broadband rates. So if you are a frequent traveler it is advisable to buy a 3g usb modem rather than a fixed line broadband. All the mobile network companies are providing their branded 3g usb dongles. Most of them provide the dongles produced by huawei under their brand. It is generally locked dongles i.e. they will work in their network only. You can flash them using software available online but warranty may become void and other issues may arise. So it is better to have a general usb modem which can be used in any sim especially if you travel a lot between different states. There are companies like huawei, micromax etc providing 3g modems in India. You can use any sim according to your convenience and when travel between states you can change the sim. This may be needed because no service provider has got pan India 3g spectrum. So when you travel between states you may have to change the sim.

Pros of having an unbranded (not branded to any specific service provider) 3g usb modem :-

Ø  Convenience of changing the service provider depending on quality of service

Ø   No warranty issues

Ø  Wide variety of products

Ø  Recharging option (many fixed line providers plans are based on monthly post paid charges)

Ø  Have got micro SD slots. So it can serve the purpose of pen drive also simultaneously.

Cons

Ø  If you are using branded modems in some circles and some of the service provider may give you better recharging options(especially first recharge)

Ø  Price might be slightly high for some of the models than comparable branded modems

Ø  Generally 3g modems (branded or unbranded) has a problem of getting heated up while working in the 3g network.

Ø  Indoor 3g reception might be poor due to the low power transmission in 3g

So if you have made up your mind to go for the 3g usb modem following details on models might help you:-

                

Company	Model	Approx.Price* (in Rs)	Download speed upto(Mbps)	Upload speed upto(Mbps)	Other special Specifications
Huawei	E560	4799	7.2	5.76	* Supports internet sharing through Wifi upto 5 devices
Huawei	E355	3150	21.6	5.76	* Supports internet sharing through Wifi upto 5 devices
Huawei	E303C	2299	7.2	5.76	* Expandale memory 32 GB
Huawei	E303 Hi-link	1800	7.2	5.76	* Expandable memeory 32 GB
Micromax	MMX353G	1627	7.2	5.76	* expandable memory 16 GB
Micromax	MMX355G	1535	7.2	5.76
Micromax	MMX352G	1560	7.2	5.76	*expandable memory 16 GB
D-link	DWM-156	1800	7.2	5.76	*Supports 3.75G protocol
I ball	3.5G connect	1530	7.2	5.76	*400 days warranty
Digisol	DG-BA3370	1729	7.2	5.76	*expandable memory 32 GB
Beetel	MF 190	1995	7.2	5.76

*Prices are based on online shopping sites as on 25^th jan 2013. it may vary

A tribute to dark knight trilogy

The dark knight trilogy by Christopher Nolan is considered to be one of the best movie series ever made. It changed the way super human movies are made. Instead of concentrating on the power of the super heroes the movies started focusing more on their vulnerabilities, which gave a totally new dimension to these genres of movies. Sam Mendes director of  the latest edition of James Bond movie Skyfall talked about the influence of dark knight series in his movie. Though a failure still it shows the effect Nolan movie had on other directors. Failure in the sense that Sky fall was more of mimicry of dark knight rather than an inspired art work. Remember the villain who plans and gets himself captured and hero’s emotional attachment to characters surrounding him. I seriously could not understand why Roger Ebert gave 4 rating to this mockery stuff while giving only 3 to The dark knight rises, which I felt was a completely original work.

            Now coming back to our topic of Nolan’s dark knight series, I would like share some of the interesting things which come to my mind when I remember those movies.

Fear

            Most common element in all the three movies is the treatment of fear. The first movie almost entirely revolves around fear- Bruce Wayne’s fight to overcome fear, villain scarecrow with fear as the weapon and so on. When we reach the last movie it all reverses now Wayne has to find his fear back to help him to find a way out of deep well. Like the blind prisoner in the movie says “How can you move faster than possible, fight longer than possible without the most powerful impulse of the spirit: the fear of death.” In the second movie there is no direct reference to fear as such. But the villain Joker always plays with the fear of people throughout the movie to execute his plans.

Games theory

            The dark knight uses the concepts of games theory throughout joker’s plan of action. Game theory is basically a mathematical tool designed to help in strategic decision making. Usually in situations involving complex decision making where outcome depends on the actions of all participants you can make use of this tool to help you. The classical example would involve two prisoners interrogated separately. They have two option either to confess or not. Accordingly four output is possible if both of them does not confess they will be set free. If either one of them confess other one will get 5 years in prison and  other one will be set free. But if both of them confess then both will get 2 years in prison. Above situation can be shown in the 2x2 matrix below:-

If both does not confess both will be set free	If Prisoner 1 confess then prisoner 2 does not confess then prisoner 1 becomes free and prisoner 2 gets 10 years
If Prisoner 2 confess then prisoner 1 does not confess then prisoner 2 becomes free and prisoner 1 gets 10 years	If both  confess the both will get 2 years each

The best solution for them will be to do not confess and then both will be set free. But since there is a fear of confession of other, both will confess and arrive at a suboptimal solution of two years.

            In the movie Joker’s all moves be it the climax when he gives detonators to explode each other’s boat to people in the other boat or any other we can see that he is playing games with others forcing them to take decisions he wants. I believe that Nolan brothers derived the idea from this economic concept and used it in the movie.

The climax:- The way villains are removed from the movies

            In all the three movies villains are suddenly removed from the movie. Scarecrow, joker and Bane three super villains disappear from the movie suddenly after a scene and no information thereafter. May be to show that with comic book villains there is always a chance of come back.

Nolan’s improvement in shooting fight sequence

            Over the movies we can see a great improvement in Nolan’s directorial skills. In batman begins the fight sequence involving the bat-mobile jumping of the roofs and all were not that great. After the bat mobile lifts from one place it suddenly cuts off to the other scene of landing. It was more like using the editing techniques as a cover up. But in latter movies you can see Nolan showing a great improvement in the way he handled complicated fight sequences.

Reference to populist movement in The dark knight rises

            The recession and the many events following it have resulted in a widespread criticism of corporate world and their mishandling of economy. There is a general feeling that 1% of people control the majority wealth of the world leaving little to others. This issue is the central theme of the 3^rd installment of Nolan’s trilogy. The most interesting part is that Nolan has done this without taking sides, because he criticizes Bruce Wayne and other wealthy people for not being handling their wealth in a proper way. At the same time he is not supporting the violent and outlaw methods of Bane and his group.

            Overall the series has been a great watch with memorable characters and quotes. Like I said before Nolan’s ability to adapt the real world to a fantasy level has played a major part in the success of the series. But now everyone is trying to imitate Nolan, which I feel is not great news as a viewer. I would like to taste different styles rather than same mode of storytelling.                                                                     

                       

London Olympics and Keynesian economics

The UK economy, which was in a longest double-dip recession after Second World War, has shown clear signs of recovery in this quarter riding on the success of London Olympics. The economy which witnessed a contraction of 0.4% in the previous quarter showed a growth rate of 1%  in the current quarter.

The ticket sales of the London Olympics, which contributed to 0.2%  of economic growth, helped UK to recover from the depression. ONS(office of national statistics, UK) also pointed out that the London Olympics had boosted creative arts and entertainment, food and drink business and transport industry.Along with Olympics effect, the bounce back effect and the extended holidays that came from 60^th anniversary of the Queen succession to throne also contributed to the GDP growth.

The Keynesian economic principles says that in short run if you want to bring an economy out of recession, you have to to shift the Aggregate Demand(AD) curve of (Labour-receipts curve) upwards because Aggregate supply(AS) curve is difficult change in the the short run. AD curve is more related with psychology of entrepreneurs participating in the economic activity.The AS curve which is more related to the technology, cannot be shifted in short run.

So coming to our context, the increased spending due to public holidays by individuals and Government due to Olympics and extended holidays have helped UK entrepreneurs regain their confidence and helped in healing wounded economy. 

Morale of the story:-

 In the time of difficulty everyone tends to become a bit conservative and reduce their spending. It is applicable to both Governments and individuals. In recession struck Europe this debate is going on how to bring out economy from recession. The control in spending may not be sufficient enough measure. You need more practical methods to instil confidence in entrepreneurs to get required push for the economy.