Saturday, May 2, 2020

How to customise Facebook news feed

Facebook News feed by default gives 'Top Stories'. 

If you want to prioritise friends updates on Facebook News feed.

You can set your preferences as follows:

On the left of your Facebook Home page.

Click on the three dots besides 'News feed'. 
You can set to see top stories or most recent updates. 

You can customise your news feed with 'Edit Preferences' which gives you more control.

Some Facebook users may have to switch to Facebook classic to set the feature.

On top right click on down arrow - Switch to Classic Facebook.

Easy way is to click on 'Most Recent' on left of Facebook News Feed. May have to click on 'See More' down arrow if you don't want to switch to classic Facebook.


Democracy on screen


Nowadays, movies and shows have become more metadata driven. It has replaced decision making from hands of few studio executives, agents, powerful reps, hedge fund managers and brands even independent studios which was based on genre, marketing data of what worked.

The meta data has given the studios a look into user data for emotion graph and devices to give user a better cinematic experience at home and cinema with survey forms.

A good story, always has it’s merits but audience is the decider. What's good on screen and sounds good with the moving images.

The star system is still seems to prosper. Times are slowly changing, who knows what post Covid19 will be like? Since people are now watching alternate cinema around the world. The tastes are changing. It's democracy on screen. You can watch movies in studio quality at your preferred time of day and night.

The biggest blockbusters are releasing in theaters but most of the content is being sold on streaming service. The films cans of movies, documentaries in some vault is now getting digital release.

There were only few handful streaming services but since the numbers are increasing the streaming service or Over the top, "OTT" platforms have become the new cable providers around the world with internet connectivity. 

The OTT's are now the studios, distributors and exhibitors of content. Revenue earned by subscriptions. There is also community driven models where creators are given small cut of the pie if the creators qualify for partners program criteria.

Monday, March 16, 2020

Dear landlords of India give an artist a space.

 🏡 🏢

Dear landlords of India,

This why you should give an artist a place to stay and not judge.

In times of a lock down an artist will entertain you with their talent. One time the appreciation will be enough with claps and cheer. An artist will not worry about the money for sharing joy till things get back to the new normal.


Video Courtesy - Various sources from Italy
Edited post by LADbible on Facebook - "Italians Sing From Their Balconies".

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Making Love Alarm like app for Covid 19 to maintain safe distance

Disclaimer  
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult medical professional or community health care center. The article and links posted on utsabnov.blogspot.in or .com is informational purposes only and should not be used as the basis of patient treatment.
The Covid 19 also known as Corona virus is slowly spreading from China to different parts of the world. Yes, there has been deaths but also recoveries of patients affected by the virus. Thanks to the efforts of health workers. Meanwhile as we try to understand the virus. It's spreading and it's affecting the world economy. The pharmaceutical companies and government agencies are working with WHO to treat Covid 19 and stop the spread.

People have been subject to lock down. In some cases the entire cities have been put in lock down and restrictions. There has been travel ban issued by certain countries to stop the spread of the virus.

The news on the televiosn, papers and social media has led to the demand for N95 masks and sanitizers.

There has been cruise ship with people and crew onboard. Many have pointed that having people locked in ships is more dangerous. Making healthy people infected.

You can watch interesting video by JeffHK on YouTube titled - Coronavirus: Why its Unstoppable on Ships & How We Deal With it on Our Ship. COVID-19 at Sea Vlog.

Link: https://youtu.be/C4ro4jd5RjY 

 

Making Love Alarm like app for Covid-19 to maintain safe distance.

Netflix show - Love Alarm
The story of a young girl caught between two guys and technology. This love triangle was created thanks to an app she downloaded, which lets a person know if someone loves them within a 10 meter radius. While this advanced technology certainly comes in handy for people too shy to make their feelings known, it also causes a few problems
Based on the popular webtoon Love Alarm by Kye Young Chan, the author first came up with the premise when pondering the question: “How would humans adapt to a world where romantic feelings are made visible, and how would that change the way we love? 
 
LoveAlarm Inc.
Since most of the people have a location enabled smartphone these days. Should we create an app that warns users if someone is within 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone to warn the users to maintain distance and also add exceptions for family members to decrease unnecessary notification and alerts.

Interestingly I was able to find real life app 'Love Alarm' app on Google play store based on the series.

What if? we have a similar app to stop spread of  Covid 19.

Update - We understand there could be data privacy concern. But it could be a optional 'opt in' app to to share pings anonymously.

WHO has given protective measures against the new corona virus:

 

Wash your hands frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.


You can visit WHO advice page to protect from coronavirus for detailed information.

Here is a look of interactive map from Johns Hopkins shows corona virus in real time.

Screenshot (23-02-2020)
Click on link below to view the interactive map:

[Update - 23-03-2020]

Singapore government launches new app for contact tracing to combat spread of COVID-19

















Link: https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/asia-pacific/singapore-government-launches-new-app-contact-tracing-combat-spread-covid-19

Update:


It started with Singapore government. Now Indian government also made an app. Please check your phone OS for more details.

Aarogya Setu app to fight against COVID19. 

Please download and share it using this link Android :
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nic.goi.aarogyasetu
 

iOS :
itms-apps://itunes.apple.com/app/id1505825357


Quick Video: (14/04/2020)

Update:
Apple and Google come together to make tracking app for Android and IOS.
(Source - News Media)

Reference links:
WHO - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Caught in a Love Triangle! Who Does Jojo Ultimately Choose in Netflix's 'Love Alarm'?
By Gabrielle Bernardini
https://www.distractify.com/p/who-does-jojo-end-up-with-love-alarm
 

Difference Between an Epidemic and a Pandemic 
https://www.verywellhealth.com/difference-between-epidemic-and-pandemic-2615168

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Planned obsolescence

What is Planned obsolescence ?

When companies have a strategy to kill their products over period of time so that the consumers will buy the product again.

Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence

 CASE 1:

I was unable to fix the Wifi issue of WD My Passport Wireless - 1TB even after resetting by holding wps and power button as instructed by the WD forum and phone support.

I am only able to connect through USB to my Mac/PC post update. I have already backed up my content.

This problem started after I tried to reset my password. I later on tried updating with the latest firmware from WD support page via SD card.

It's now only showing two flashing red blinking.

There has been no rough usage of hard drive. I have been using it to playback movies and music via my cloud.

Normally it should rollback.





This is the proof that the hard drive is working perfectly but WiFi can be fixed but it has been made impossible to fix via firmware through usb.




CASE 2:

My Sony Smart band SWR10 strap got torn and I was unable to secure the strap so I had to buy a FitBit.

I contacted Sony India via twitter. They said go to the nearest service center which I had already visited. Who said they don't have the parts.


 
Even mobile phone companies take up space by offering new updates to the consumers but it does make it slow as it takes up enough space to make one buy a new mobile phone or same goes with computers and printer cartridges and the drivers.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Bhaubali 2 - The conclusion


Bhaubali 2 - The conclusion : 'Mahendra Bhaubali' had to be an engineer like his dad 'Amarendra Baahubali' on inistance of Kattappa even though he enjoyed outdoor activities. After he discovered he was the King of Mahishmati. No wonder the quality of metals and cement was bad during 'Bhallala Deva' reign. Joke aside, it's visually pleasing but I think the story lost essence in the dubbed hindi version. The story is bit lagging since you have to remember a lot from Bhaubali - The beginning.

It's a Indian 'Super human' movie about good winning over evil. The extent one will go to feel the pain to get righteous justice. Well is it a worthy cliffhanger? I say yes, indeed. High budget production design and crisp editing along with ethnic soundscape unless you love being on your phone.

It's a crews hard work that has made the film come alive.  Especially to Nassar for funny character of 'Bijjala Deva' for playing funny and tricky manipulative person. Yes even Prabhas and Rana Daggubati's acting and maintaining physic is commendable. But Tamanna Bhatia could have got a larger role like the first part. Ramya Krishnan, the queen mother Sivagami and Devasena played by Anushka Shetty the tortured soul take over commanding mother figure roles that inspire and change tides of the film.

It's a family film with no smoking 🚬 but with some family violence but with rightous end. Mind blowing visual effects and story only if you have seen the first part. The writer and director does some justice for a new viewer watching it first time.

Friday, January 13, 2017

Sony Android mobile battery drain



I started using my first phone which was Nokia 6151 (3 years life) then I moved on to Samsung Monte (2 and half years life). 

When I got my first job I got myself Sony Experia E (1 year life) to use whats-app and fell in love with the camera but as it was running out of space I had to get another Sony product Sony Experia T3 (2 and half years life) but the Sony Experia XA Ultra has been the worst phone I have ever owned in terms of battery life. It dies in the standby mode and I have to use separate alarm clock as my mobile phone dies in matter of 1 hour if not charged. I normally miss calls and alarm in the morning as my phone dies.

Hilarious, right? that's what my work colleagues and friends tell me when my phone dies. Worst when traveling, the 3G/4G cell tower search drains the battery in 30 mins just like the guaranteed pizza delivery. I think it's not enough tip.

I have uninstalled unwanted apps.

I have tried testing by switching off WiFi, Mobile data and Bluetooth even if it affects my NFC enabled Sony Smart band SWR10. Hardly adds up to the phone battery life when social media apps like Facebook are running in the background.

I don't know what's wrong I am carrying my charger and Sony power bank everywhere so that I don't run out of battery.

Please fix this phone battery drain issue as soon as possible Sony but meanwhile I have taken some steps.

Update 1:
Switched to 'Battery Saving' mode for location and switched off scanning.
I have disabled Smart Cleaner as one of the Sony community member suggested.
Even clean master app is disabled. (Tried it month ago takes out annoying ads on home screen in locked screen mode.)

Update 2:
Went to settings - Wi-Fi - Pressed the three vertical dots on top right corner - settings - turn off 'Network notification' ( Notify whenever a public network is available)

Update 3:
Removed unnecessary shortcuts from the home tab.

Update 4: (Optional change)
Switched from Live wallpaper to solid wallpaper (Black)

*Update 5 (13th Jan, 2017):
Despite making the above changes I realized around 3AM to 6AM every night the phone makes some kind of systematic update which drains the battery enough to make the phone run out of battery.

I have switched off Google play store auto updates in the settings > Auto-update apps to "Do not auto-update apps". 

I also made sure App updates available notification is checked.

The battery usage meter shows Cell standby as the maximum battery consumer in use since last charged.

Mobile radio active: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=mobile+radio+active

Update 6:
Some more updates.

 I contacted the Sony India helpline.

They suggested me to reboot to safe mode and to check if the phone was still losing battery.

If so, then I was advised to reinstall the Android phone OS software via PC companion software via repair mode by following the instructions which worked with internet.

As per their justification it could be a third party application draining power or previous OS upgrade went wrong.

I backed up necessary contacts and other data.

Post installation, I noticed the Google search box in the home screen and some graphics related problem was fixed.

For added performance improvement. I have switched off location. I only use it when required. I turn it on and off in the settings.

I will update if the battery life gets sorted.

Update - 19/01/2017:

My phone battery is not draining. After doing the above steps. I have made sure to use location only when needed.

If an app requests for location like Instagram, Facebook, twitter, uber, etc.

I turn my location on and off. It is now giving battery life for 12 hours + depending on my usage.

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