Airplay is cool, leaves old AppleTVs behind

My iPad has just been updated to the latest iOS, so I've been playing with AirPlay for audio. In short - love it! It's not quite Sonos, but it ain't too bad for what you're paying. Pretty much any audio playback can be streamed to AirPlay receivers. I'm listening to holiday music from KOIT as I type, with the ooTunes app on my iPad streaming in the background to my Airport Express. Apparently, this works for the Rhapsody app too, I intend to upgrade my account so I can experience it soon!

My old AppleTV won't show up in the Airplay device list on the iPad though. Here's why this drives me nuts. Both the AppleTV and the Airport Express haven't had any firmware updates in a while. On the Mac, both the AppleTV and Airport Express show up in the Airplay device list on iTunes. Its clear that the audio portion of Airplay is nothing but AirTunes. It's also clear that Apple deliberately excluded the old AppleTV from supporting AirPlay audio on iOS devices but included this functionality on the Mac's iTunes. They didn't cut existing functionality but they made sure no new functionality was available for the old hardware that was sold as recently as 4 months ago. Way to go Apple, you took extra effort to screw the most loyal of your customers. Oh well, serves us right for having invested in the first version of your hobby device.

Quick takes from Apple event

iPod Nano is a gamble for sure, did they take away video?
iPad software update pushed out to November - why oh why?!
Does iPod touch have everything from iPhone 4 but the phone now? If it has GPS, I'm replacing my phone with an iPod Touch and a cheapo phone.
Ping - uh oh, Boxee.. they're in your territory! Couldn't they just integrate with existing social networks?
New AppleTV is niiice! $99 makes it a slam dunk. AirPlay looks cool. What about software update for older AppleTVs? Don't let us out in the cold, Steve!
Chris Martin is always great in my book, good stuff!

Update: No GPS in iPod Touch. Dang it, Apple! It could've been the perfect Cycle computer and you had to leave GPS out! Ah well, next year..

GMail is smart

Duh! Thanks for the nice alert, Google. I wonder what else you're looking for in my email messages...

Another day, another cool iPad App

Every day, another app comes by that tempts one to buy the iPad. Today, that app is Flipboard.

Flipboard for iPad on the iTunes App Store

The last mango

Being here has rekindled the joy of mango season. We just had the last mango of the season and it was big, juicy Banganapalli. It was the best mango season in recent memory for us. Among our favourites were - Mallika, Rajapalayam Sapattai, Alphonso, Kesar, Imam Pasand. We also had Kalapadu, Sindura and Neelam.

Siddharth has become the biggest mango lover at home. Only a big satisfied burrp can make him stop. Overall, all of us had our share. Lots of mangoes were bought and consumed. My parents also shipped us a few boxes of mangoes from Courtallam. I've saved some for the off season by making fruit strips using our dehydrator. Of course, Siddharth loves those too :) 

Lumenhaus - I want one, now!

Thanks to Inhabitat, I've been able to follow the Solar Decathlon Europe with interest. The winner was announced last night and it was the Lumenhaus from Virginia Tech. Inhabitat's feature is here.

The Lumenhaus is undeniably greener than your average home, what with graywater pools, solar panels and just being smaller. What I dig the most though, is the smart aspect of this home. The insulation can come on when needed, natural light and heat is used when available, the furniture serves many purposes. The kicker is definitely the ability to control your appliances and lighting from your iPhone. All of the technology shown is here now, and I can't wait to be able to go on a website and order a prefab home like this soon!



Check out the kitchen, some very innovative elements here.



Another video taken at last year's Solar Decathlon that shows you around the interiors.

And we're baaacckk!

It's been a bit of a challenging time in Bangalore thus far but now we seem to be coastin', and I hope to be back blogging. For starters, I picked a new Blogger theme, you like? Will customize the template a bit more when I get the time.

So what has the last 4 months been like? Hmm.. kids getting sick, Siddharth's mottai, visit with architect to Kutrallam, more of kids getting sick, starting cycling, you get the picture!

I'm finally back to reading my RSS and starting to look for jobs. Vive le blog!

A Bloom Box in every home?

A number of alternate fuel technologies have been in the news in recent years, none have really taken off in the way expected. Will the Bloom Box take off? In this case, maybe only the price will tell..


Watch CBS News Videos Online

Google Voice

I've been a user of Google Voice since before it was acquired by Google. Needless to say, I love the service. Unbelievably, it's free!

Here is nice video about Google Voice -

Meet "Windows Phone 7 Series"!

Something that doesn't happen often - me posting about a Microsoft product*. Or should I say, Microsoft making a product* worth posting about? ;)

* XBox 360 excepted, of course!

Are you buzzin' yet?

Google Buzz looks interesting (impressive too) but I don't think it will take off unless everyone is on Buzz. You know what I mean? Everyone is on Facebook these days, will Buzz command that kind of regular use? Only time will tell!

Siddharth walks!

No videos yet, sorry. My video camera is still packed from the move. However, I did want to note that today was the day that Siddharth walked on his own :)

Almost exactly around the same age as Anjali when she walked first. Although I dare say that Siddharth seems to be taking firmer steps. Here we go again..

Fireworks in Dubai!

Check out this awesome fireworks display from the recent opening of the world's tallest building (for now).