New Smartphone Experience

       I recently bought Asus Zenphone as a birthday gift to my dad. He has used so many smartphones till date but this one thrilled him a lot. He is so in love with it that he rarely goes back to using his old phones. Seeing him happy, I am so proud that I made the right choice of gift. Now that I have seen how good the ZenFone is, I can't wait for the release of the new ZenFone 2. Here is why I am so excited about it:

1. It has 4 GB RAM!!! Yes, the best phone I have used till date had 2 GB RAM and I was marveling at the speed of it. Imagine 4 GB RAM! It would take the experience of using smart phones to a whole new level. I am a game addict. I can play games in this without the phone hanging often and I am sure it is going to be an awesome experience.

2. Super Fast Charging: The device has ASUS-exclusive Technology which helps in charging the phone super fast. In today's busy world, no one has the time to wait for anything. It will only be right if our phone supports us in this matter too. Most of the time is wasted charging the phone, which takes hours together. But with ASUS ZenFone 2, you can charge 60% of the battery in just 39 minutes! Yes! Talk about speed.

3. The Super awesome Camera: I love the camera of ZenFone. The quality of images is awesome. And with the new ZenFone 2, they are claiming that it is going to get better. Yes! It has a 13 MP primary camera which can capture stunning pictures. Also, you can capture up to 400% brighter photos at night without the need of flash. The features are just getting better and better. With 5 MP secondary camera with equally stunning picture quality, this one is going to be a treat for the selfie addicts like me.

4. Processor: This phone has a 64 - bit Super Quad Core Intel Atom Processor. I can only imagine how awesome the performance will be. 

5. Dual Sim, Dual Active: I have a dual sim mobile. But it doesn't support switching between calls. When I am answering the call on one sim, the other one is as also engaged. But with the new ZenFone 2, this isn't a problem anymore. Even when you are having the conversation on one sim, you can answer a call on the other. And you can also switch between the calls effortlessly. Brilliant, isn't it?

After seeing all these awesome features, I have no doubt left in my mind as to which will be my next phone. No prizes for guess the right answer because it definitely can't be anything other than this superb phone Asus ZenPhone 2. 

PS: This post is written for ASUS ZenFone 2.

Until the next post,
Keep Smiling :)

Love,
Swathi :)

For the Love of Gadgets!

       Finally here I am, in the final semester of engineering life! I can't believe it's been three and a half year already since I joined engineering! While I am excited about completing my degree, I also know that this semester is important, with project playing a key role. It also means I have to carry laptop almost every day to college. Whenever I think of this, a sigh escapes my mouth before I can stop it. Though it is not a big deal, I don't fancy carrying 3.5 kg laptop with me everyday. I was trying not to dwell too much on this fact but when I saw my friend's ASUS EeeBook X205TA, all my resolve crumpled. Let me tell you why.

       First of all, it's so light. It just weighs 1 kg! Can you believe it? 1 kg? It has a sleek and compact design. I could feel myself drooling over it. It's not just the looks though. It indeed has a good configuration. 12 hours battery life which will be really helpful when I have a full day, 500 GB free web storage for 2 years, highly sensitive touch pad with accuracy as good as smartphone, 2 GB RAM, Windows 8.1 OS, all that and many more. And the best part is, it just costs Rs. 14,999. I was totally blown away. It was love at first sight. How good it would have been if I too had an ASUS EeeBook X205TA! My life would be so much easier and I wouldn't have to complain about carrying my laptop to college every day. It's a win - win situation!

Image Source

       As if on cue, my friend took me to the hall to show off her desktop. Either my face displayed my longing or my friend was a very good reader. She was clearly enjoying all this. She proudly pointed at the ASUS All In One PC ET2040 that was perched on the table in the corner. "If you think the EeeBook is amazing, wait till you see this" she said as the desktop sprung in to life. I was already impressed with the looks of it but when I saw the features, you can say I was clean bowled! 

Image Source

       I had always seen ads about gesture control devices but had never seen one in real. I was like a kid with shiny new toy. The gesture controls were fun, like holding up forefinger to indicate mute, thumb, like the FB like symbol, to indicate play, and few more. Once I was done playing around, my friend showed me other features. It had a built-in 1-hr UPS that prevents data loss. I grudgingly thought about my own desktop, whose UPS has stopped working long ago. It was incredibly fast and responsive too. Again, the picture of my desktop flashed before my eyes, mocking me! My friend was still talking, but I wasn't listening anymore.

      I was resolved. I had to get these gadgets. Probably the ASUS EeeBook X205TA first as that is what I need most at the time and it is really affordable. And after a few months, the  ASUS All In One PC ET2040 too. It would be fun to say goodbye to my old Grandpa computer after all! Once the decision was made, I felt quite happy. Maybe some wonderful shopping is just around the corner.

PS: This post is written for IndiBlogger in association with ASUS.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

A Magical Reality!

       She sat in the corner, cursing her son. All she wanted was him to spend time with her. But he was busy typing away something fervently on that 'thing' he loved. She never really understood what the big deal was about it. Everyone these days were becoming its devotee. Even her grandson, who was five, loved playing with it. She sighed remembering her good old days where playing meant going out and mingling with friends. "It feels like a different life time altogether" she thought. Whatever it was, she would never go near that, what was it, ah 'laptop' she said suddenly remembering the name of that 'thing'!

       "Ma, Spoorthi says it is a baby girl" she hears her son Aditya calling out and her anger melts away instantly at the mention of the good news. She had been waiting for this day ever since her daughter had informed her that she was expecting. She had been restless that whole day as she still hadn't heard from Spoorthi and had been to talk with Aditya about the same. When she had found him busy, her temper had flared. But now, the sweet news of a granddaughter had made her forget everything. Her face broke into a toothless smile. "Shall I start packing? I so want to see her" she said, already getting up and rushing towards her room, as fast as old age allowed her. There was no reply. She turned to see Aditya standing in the hallway with his head hanging. It was a look she recognized well. She knew from experience what he would say next and without missing a beat he said "Sorry ma. I have an important meeting tomorrow. We can't go for another two days" Her face fell. The smile adorning her face slowly vanished and she left without a word.

       That night she sat alone, wishing that she could go see her daughter and her little one. But without Aditya, she couldn't make the journey alone. Her health was uncertain and the doctor had forbidden her to travel alone. She knew Aditya was busy but still her heart refused to come in terms with that. "Ma?" Aditya came and sat near her holding his laptop. "Take that away from me. That is what keeps you busy all the time" she said, pain evident in her voice. "I will Ma. Before that, look at this just once" he said and placed the laptop in front of her. She was about to scold him when the most beautiful sight caught her eyes.

       There on the screen, she saw Spoorthi holding her little one, who was fast asleep. Her tiny fingers were closed tightly in a tiny fist and her face was angelic. The child’s little frame moved steadily with each breath it took. She didn't understand how it was that she was seeing all this but she cherished it. Her eyes welled up with tears of joy. "Bless you my child" she said extending her hand, which were slightly trembling, as if to touch the child and saw her daughter smile in response. And as for Aditya, he knew he would be forgiven. He said a silent thanks to Skype for making it possible!

PS: I had written this story as a part of my internship where I had to write a story based on the positive impact of technology. 

Linking this post to the Ultimate Blog Challenge July 2014 and NaBloPoMo.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Techno Tribute!

Sitting at my desk,

I try to write my graduation speech.

Who should all I thank?

What in my life did they teach?

I would love to thank Google,

Who answered all my questions patiently!

Without whose help and guidance

I could never have passed definitely!

I would thank dear Wikipedia,

For sharing all those information!

Little changes were all I had to make,

And my assignments were near perfection!

Whats app, Facebook and Camera,

They helped us share homework!

Oh how can I forget the Xerox machine?

It helped to reduce the pile of work!

Online notes, PDFs and class groups,

They were all I needed!

Without which I don’t think

I could have ever succeeded!

I would like to offer my hearty thanks

To this wonderful technology!

I would never have graduated,

If not for its abundant help and generosity!

PS: Linking this post to the Ultimate Blog Challenge July 2014 and NaBloPoMo.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)

Phubbing!

       I was at my friend's home and we were having a chat over snacks. Shortly her mom joined us and we started talking about how college life is. We were thoroughly enjoying the conversation. Suddenly my friend received a text on her cell phone and after that it was like only me and her mom talking. She had completely dropped out of the conversation, just inserting some hmmms and ohs in the middle, without even paying attention to what we were talking! At some point, I got irritated and asked her "Who is it that you can’t wait to chat with till later? Is it your boyfriend?" And to my surprise she said hmmm. There was sudden silence in the room, I was looking at her mom, who was looking at my friend, and my friend was happily busy texting with a goofy smile on her face, totally clueless to the change in her surroundings. After sometime, she did lift her head and seeing our faces, she asked "What?" without realizing what she had said minutes ago. Of course it was a LOL moment for us; though it took weeks before her mom stopped suspecting her and watching her over like a hawk. This is an incident that depicts Phubbing.

       Online dictionary defines Phubbing as an act of snubbing people in a social setting by looking at your phone instead of paying attention. This act has become very common these days, what with everyone becoming the devotees of their cell phone. It is not just about texting; it can be anything like playing games (candy crush is in vogue of lately), checking mails, watching videos or just surfing the web. Most of the time, this Phubbing act can get very annoying!

       It's not that I don't indulge in this! I do. I am a normal human being after all! But with me, it’s not texting. I hate texting. Yes, you read it right. I am the kind of person who will call up someone if I have anything to ask rather than wasting hour’s texting. I hate texting, point straight! But it is blogging that I use my cell for. I keep reading and commenting on blogs when I have free time. It annoys whoever is with me as they think I am ignoring them! And let me tell you, I have been chastised for this act a lot by my mom and friends.

       This is what happens usually in Phubbing. Though we can't give up our cell phones totally, we can try and pay attention when someone is trying to strike a conversation instead of snubbing them off by looking at cell. It will help maintain relationships. Else while we keep trying to make friendship with people on the virtual world, the real ones will keep on weakening! So here are some little tips that we all can use 

• There is a life outside your cellphone! Learn to appreciate it!
• Chatting with friends on Facebook and Whats app is of course exciting; it lets you keep updated as to what is happening in their life. But paying attention to what is going on right beside you will help you keep you updated about your own life as well!
• Games are fun! How can I deny that? But have fun with friends while they are with you. Cell phone will be with you all the time to play games when you are alone and bored.
• Don't jump like a hungry wolf when you receive a text/mail notification on your phone. It will be there until you check it.  If it is very important, make sure you excuse yourself from the person you are talking with before you get busy with your phone.
• Music is everyone's favorite. But don't force your choice on others by playing loud music in public places! There is something called earphones; use it.
• And most important, if you are with your friends or family, people who matter, then avoid using cell phones all the time. Don't make them feel neglected!

       The list of do's and dont's can go on! But let me stop here. Do you have anything to add? Or perhaps an incident to share?

PS: Linking this post to the Ultimate Blog Challenge July 2014 and NaBloPoMo.

Until the next post,

Keep Smiling :)

Love,

Swathi :)