…and the games people play!

There was an eerie silence in the room. Cruelty was written all over his face. He was on a mission to destroy the enemy. His eyes never blinked. He crossed the enemy lines unearthing landmines and the only paraphernalia he lacked was army fatigues. The joystick was precariously placed on the table and he was holding on to it like life and death. He was oblivious of my existence in the room. I tapped his shoulder but to no accord. I had to shake him up and bring him to reality.

The gross graphics on screen were disturbing. I asked him where he managed to get this sinister war game. He pointed to his flash drive plugged into the USB port. It made no sense how he could play such a heavy graphic game using his flash drive. That’s when he told me about this new portable apps software. He was excited narrating about an intelligent flash application that was revolutionizing people’s lives. Filled with glee he appeared as if he won a war with this software. I could not help but ask how a heavy game could be loaded on an USB drive. He told me “To get optimum experience an USB 2.0 with a minimum storage of 128 MB is all that is required.” I left the rest to my imagination wondering what other morbid games were stored in there.

He picked up his bag and pulled out his iPod. I was ready for my next tech assault as I geared myself for combat. Knowing his fascination for war games, I was not surprised when he told me there were more war games stored on his iPod. That’s when I realized he had built not just a cache of arms but had war games stored across various media using new portable apps software.

“Does that mean you are geared for a war game anytime?” I asked in a perplexed tone. “All I need to do is plug into any desktop or notebook computer with a USB 2.0 port and I’m all set fighting a war!” was the answer. Being a little wary of what he was saying I thought of gunning him down by talking of Operating Systems. Even before I asked, he said “…the best part of it all is the storage is totally dependant on the application and data installed.” I had to the better of him. After a pause, I smirked “So does it run on Windows 2000/ XP Home and Professional / 2000 & 2003 server?” “You bet. Any terrain will do to fight my battle” was his reply and he quipped in “it works on Window Vista too!”

But something told me he was planting landmines all over by plugging and playing these games. So with a sardonic tone, I asked “I am sure you must be leaving traces of destruction on the systems you use.” There was a little agitation in his voice as he answered “When we operate we don’t leave No traces. It’s a war out there.” So it was clear, no traces left on the host machine, nor would private information cached in the host's browser history. I thought that was cool.

I sure found a reason to search for i-flapp Apps-D. Not for war games but something that would take care of the more tame things in life.

My Life in my pocket

Though I consider myself a technophile, there are times when I feel left out. To gear myself with the latest, one of the gizmos that took my fancy was a PDA. There are so many brands in the market and a little bit of research had me even more confused. Each brand was vying for attention with their uniqueness and I had to decide what worked for me best.

There were intriguing questions that went unanswered. I had drawn myself a checklist and any brand of PDA I chose should support i-flapp Apps-D. This meant I had to choose from the fancy iPhone, O2 or a Blackberry.

In my study to buy the best PDA, I realized I am on the move and using a laptop is drudgery. I discovered that a majority of my work can be done on a PDA. So a PDA that has a sizeable amount of storage was a main criterion. One aspect I was clear about is the PDA I choose should have a minimum storage of 128 MB space for me to get the optimum Apps-D experience. Earlier I was a satisfied soul with the i-flapp Apps-D loaded on a top-tier USB external hard drive or a USB Flash drive on which I carried my work but now I was getting choosy.

Further I realized that working on the PDA while in the office would be ridiculous. I would rather have my PDA connected to any computer through a USB 2.0 port where I should be able to work. But then that was just one of my concerns. Right now what was picking my brains was with my i-flapp Apps-D loaded, would I be able to work on my PDA using the popular OS like Windows 2000/ XP Home and Professional/2000 & 2003 server Operating Systems or even Window Vista? I needed to figure this one out and on doing a little homework realized the PDA I chose will totally be dependant on the application and data installed.

Researching more, I was convinced that a PDA is the best choice as one of the compelling reasons being the PDA will be a personal instrument. All sensitive information I carry remains securely tucked in my i-flapp Apps-D on my PDA. The fascinating thing was I could carry my whole information on my PDA and this meant being in touch with business anytime, anywhere and anyplace. Even if I do plug my PDA on to any computer, there was no fear of leaving my classified information around, as it would not cache any information in the host's browser history.

So here I was convinced about buying a PDA and loading the i-flapp Apps-D. That sure would be a winning combination and I knew that meant working even harder and staying connected to the world all day. But the debate still continues. Would it be an iPhone, O2 or a Blackberry. Any suggestions?

Who stole my pie?

It was not too long ago when a friend of mine was a victim of Identity theft. Running a small print house, he also has a design studio. The software he works on is Corel and a large part of the Adobe Suite. Most his work used to be e-mailed as .pdfs and approvals came in electronically.

Once he had a problem with his internet connection. He could not send an important mail so he decided to load the work on a flash drive and mail it from the nearest internet parlor. When a similar problem arose a few days later, he was in for nasty surprise when he stepped into the parlor. The poster created for a client that was mailed out the last time from the parlor was printed and now adorned the internet parlor wall.

Tracking back to what happened, my friend was sure he cleared the files from this system on which he was working. I had to give my friend a lesson on how data can still remain on the system despite doing a clean-up and how the parlor owner got into the system memory, pulled out the artwork and misused it.

I went on to explain how he can avoid these incidents and how an intelligent flash application can resolve these issues. I also spoke to him about the benefits of carrying off the shelf Windows based applications. That meant carrying all the Adobe files. He was quite enthused when I told him it supports Windows OS 2000 and above including Vista. Surfing the net becomes a lot easier as he can carry mail clients like Lotus Notes and Microsoft Outlook along with his internet favorites.

He was in further disbelief when I told him that all this would fit into a high quality USB 2.0 pen drive so any desktop or notebook computer with a USB 2.0 port, he can plug in and use.

I managed to convince him but he was still apprehensive about security after this bad experience. I had to emphasize that there was password protection to prevent unauthorized use of application and data. I boosted his confidence and clearly spelt out the fact that work done on any other system does not remain on the host machine, nor does it cache private information in the host's browser history. Now it was time my friend chose this option to carry around his work.

The moral of the story – You can’t be sure if your data is safe when you use a flash drive, choose i-flapp Apps-D.

From Sociology to Portable Apps Software

Recently I stepped into the University to register for my Phd in Sociology. While I was around I noticed life had undergone a phenomenal change. In our times we carried books, today that seemed to have been replaced by laptops.

I tried making small conversation with a group of fellowship students. Strolling around the campus, I found a student doing Research in Sociology. I decided to sound off my direction of research. With his permission I borrowed his laptop and plugged in the App-D-enabled iPod to his USB port. This new acquaintance was quite disillusioned to see his laptop being taken over and his complete desktop change. Here I was using his system and accessing my files, IM lists browser preferences, across various types of software.

He was no more paying attention to me. He was preoccupied trying to comprehend how this whole thing was possible. By this time a few of his collegemates gathered around. It was quite evident this portable apps software had caught their interest. Being research students, they could be working from a friend’s room, a computer lab, or even a library and information collected can be in various formats. This confines them to the laptop.

Even before I realized, I was giving them a demo. I started with the storage capacity required and went on to how it can be installed into any USB storage device along with a variety of applications. I told them it can be plugged into any desktop or notebook computer with USB 2.0 port. I also had to be specific and mention that the Apps-D can run on an iPod, Video iPod, iPod Nano and iPod mini. Many of them were eager to know if they would be left behind since they do not have iPods. There was a sigh of relief when I informed them that a top-tier USB external hard drive and USB Flash drive would work. To get optimum Apps-D experience an USB 2.0 with a minimum storage of 128 MB is ideal. So it was clear that storage is totally dependant on the application and data installed. Another advantage I shared with them was Apps-D runs on Windows 2000/ XP home and Professional/2000 & 2003 server. In fact, it can work on Window Vista.

One smart Alec felt it was unsafe and assumed it would leave traces on the host computer. To prove him wrong, I closed the applications and unplugged my iPod and asked him to track my files. After a vigorous search he gave up - no trace of my work at all. Pompous as ever, I explained nothing remains on the host machine, nor does it cache private information in the host's browser history.

After exchanging a few numbers, thought that was a fairly decent amount of campaigning done for my favorite Apps-D device - i-flapp. Now I was contemplating a certain percentage from i-flapp for all the free publicity that I had created.

Honey,I shrunk the PC

Living in a fast-paced world of change, one hardly ever gets time to reminisce about the past. Thinking back at the time when a computer was the size of a swimming pool, one can’t help being amazed at how far computing has come.

The idea of personal computing in its early days was laughed at. No one believed a personal computer would ever meet acceptance. Bill Gates went on record saying that he couldn’t see why anyone would ever need more than 640 kb of memory !

In many cases, a PC today is as essential as a refrigerator, a television, a washing machine and many domestic appliances we take for granted. PC acceptance and usage keeps growing exponentially. And we are not even talking about laptops yet.

The need for mobile computing has been felt for quite some time now. Carrying the unreliable floppy discs was never going to be a sustainable solution. Compact discs made life easier, but then, you still needed a PC or a laptop.

Whether it was a business person, a student who needed to carry assignments or a professional wanting to carry files around, laptops took away the need to depend on someone else’s computer. But then, there were issues with laptops too.

Carrying a laptop around adds weight, baggage and a need for a constant vigil over the ‘handle-with-care’ equipment. Since it carries all the sensitive and valuable data, one can’t afford a crisis when it fails.

The advent of mobile computing has been the smart solution to a great extent. On the one hand, there are applications shared on servers—either free to use or pay-per use. This has made it possible to work from wherever you are—internet café, client’s office, library, etc.
On the other hand, there are flash drives of growing storage capacities. PDAs and smart phones have given a new dimension to mobile computing. Devices like i-Flapp and the i-Flapp apps-d application loaded on any external storage device, opens up interesting possibilities.

Imagine carrying your work in a flash drive, plugging it into any computer (without worrying about the required software because that too is installed on the flash drive) and making changes on the fly. No need for a laptop, no need to make a trip back and forth to your PC to make changes. Any traveling professional will see the value in this.

Imagine having access to your mail with your outlook configuration and your interface on any PC or laptop anywhere, without ever carrying your laptop around. Yes, it’s possible. What’s more, when you are done, it backs up your data on the flash drive, leaving no trace behind.

Imagine carrying your favorite games around with the ability to play on any computer anywhere. Imagine being able to carry research documents around in your pocket.
Imagine…just imagine.

This actually happened at a meeting I recently attended. It was a tense meeting to which the presenters seem to have come empty handed. When it was their turn to present, one of the guys pulled out a flash drive, plugged it into the system that was connected to the projector and they were set to roll. The guy eased the tension in the air, and managed to clinch the deal too, when someone in the room asked, “What’s that?” His reply…Honey, I shrunk the PC.

A Designer's Experience - Taking the thumbrule for granted

“Hey…so what about the artworks?”
“Naah…don’t think we need them…!”
“But…the client would not get a feel of what we are presenting buddy…let’s carry the laptop at least…!”
“Give me a break dude…carting the laptop can be quite a pain in the butt…!”

Well…Ben appeared unperturbed by everything that I said. He had a serenity about him which made him feel more than confident of making the winning move at the presentation.

However, as we walked into the intimidating conference room (soon Ben and I would be in the limelight), my hands were clammy and I could feel my throat go dry. The concepts we had created for this million-dollar client no longer seemed to inspire confidence.

The lights were switched on. And there walked in the client’s team – geared with gadgets that made us feel like ancient warriors from the Gothic era. With a flick of a button the projector was switched on, lights dimmed and a snazzy Flash presentation followed, giving us a corporate spiel that compounded my feeling of uneasiness. It all appeared gibberish thanks to my feeling of being unprepared and Ben’s supreme confidence. As the CEO trailed away into details, it reached a point where the spotlight was on us.

I stood up clumsily and walked to the front. The pregnant silence seemed to be forever. My mouth was parched and as I presented the numbers and our company profile, there already seemed to be yawns and disinterest floating in the room. This only added to the woes where the potential of winning this account slowly seemed to vanish. I passed the baton on to Ben to make his move.

With added panache, he moved up, dug his hands into his pocket and pulled out a flash drive. He plugged it into the spare laptop on the conference room table and in less than 30 seconds the room came back to life. I could see my award-winning campaign blasted on screen. The presentation was a cakewalk and the client’s face lit a 1000 watts. We clinched the deal and now we were ready to rock the nation with our campaign for our client.

On our way back, behaving coy, I had to find out what was it that Ben carried with him that helped steal the show. With the profundity of an expert, Ben told me that it was a simple portable app that can be carried around on any portable device to be used on any computer anywhere. So all you need to do is plug it in, and there is immediate access to your software and data just as you would on your own PC.

“But hang on…I thought you made the presentation on PhotoShop…don’t tell me you have Adobe PhotoShop stored on it as well…?”
A broad grin was all Ben would give by way of a reply.
“But what about the changes you were carrying out?”
“Well…I am through with them…and I am carrying them with me…!”

I was dumbfounded…and had to get back…!
“But I think you would have left traces of the campaign back on the laptop.”
With a smirk on his face, Ben replied… “When you unplug, there’s nothing left behind…!”

Turning away and feeling defeated, yet with a happiness of winning an account…I could not help but ask… “Which brand is this?”
Ben with a broad assuring smile mentioned… “There are plenty of these in the market, personally I prefer i-flapp”

The next thing I knew I had to have it on my list of gizmos. After all, I can use it for a whole lot of applications. That’s like having the world in my pocket.