Mudassar Ijaz’s Blog

Recently I came across this Google Labs Indic Transliteration where I found that Urdu editor. Which is really cool, if you are a texting addict and used to text in Roman Urdu (Urdu words spelled in English letter according to there sounds) you will be thrilled by this editor. It picks up roman Urdu words to almost perfection. Here is how it works:You need to type in your roman Urdu like ‘App ka kia haal hai?’ and as soon as you press the space button after each word it will be converted to an Urdu word possibly to the word you are trying to say like this ( آپ کا کیا حال ہے ؟ ). And whenever the Urdu word in not what you were trying to write you can get suggestions from Google editor by typing a backspace immediately in which you may find your desired word. If both above fails to get you the desired word you can use single Urdu alphabets to complete your words. Another interesting thing about it is that you can then copy those urdu words to paste it any where on the web in text fields and text areas. I tried it on several websites and got succeded 100%.This could ultimatly lead to a big opportunity for the Urdu web to take one step furthure and I hope Google will provide this translator as an open source javascript widget to be included in any page on the web. I can only imagine Urdu blogging and complete Urdu business management software/scripts.  Amazing stuff Google, Way to GO!! 

Patrick Awuah is talking about educating leaders and his mission and ambitions in Ghana. A very nobal cause. But the important thing is, this is also very true for all developing countires and societies.So this is also very true for Pakistan , we always have lack of leadership or lack of ethics in leadership and we also need to transform our education system to educate leaders and as he said “Learning by rote, very little emphasis on ethics, development of a sense of entitlement instead of a sense of responsibility.” and he goes on saying “We must believe that these kids are smart, we must believe that if we engage them and give them the tools and skills they need to create change, then magic will happen.”A must watch and listen presentation. 

Gmail is one of my favorite and most used Internet Application. It stays with me as long as I stay online and that is about 12 - 16 hours a day. So naturally any little change to it is noted quite unintentioaly and I like Gmail team they come with those small little changes quite often.Today first thing I noticed on Gmail even before my emails were some glassy grey small little buttons at top bar above emails. First I thought those old ‘Archive’, ‘Delete’ and ‘Report Spam’ buttons got new look. But inspecting closley I found out that there is some thing new too.That is about ‘Move To’ and ‘Labels’ buttons, they are now drop downs with quick search options. So You can search Your labels by typing in and also can select Move to destination quickly. Very handy if you have lot of Labels and Folders to manage tons of emails. More information here at Gmail official Whats New.Thats was a perfect start of the day! Thumbs up Google and Gmail team.

Oh that doesn’t mean I am super hero type programmer. I am like a lot of other computer programmers around us, a unique breed of humankind. Actually I got inspired from the article by Shoaib Muneer at here. After reading that I think about I and I find my self in same positions and also many around me. Let me hit you by some of my thoughts and personal experience.

After 3 hard working years in Website Development and after working on many projects in 2 companies, when sometime I try to update my CV I wonder what I have done? I don’t have live links or if I have then I can’t include them in my CV or they don’t have any hint that I have worked on them. Its like I have worked in Stealth mode and I have no identity and end users or reviewers can’t track back to me.

Like my recent project I did for a company in Pakistan which has a US company as a client which is also a website development and designing company. So at end the site I made has links back to that US company and they proudly write it at the end of ever page “Website Development by: XYZ Inc. ” etc without mentioning or even giving a hint that it was ever developed outside USA or there office. Somehow they are right in doing this because they have that contract/agreement with my company called NDA (non-disclosure-agreement).

My Pakistani company doesn’t mind that as they have an active sale and marketing team in US and other countries which get clients for them but what about the programmers, they don’t have any proof that they have developed that site. No link back to the company they worked for, they can’t show or keep/use code as it is owned by client, moreover they don’t get the fair amount for there work as the big part of the budget of the project is kept by intermediate parties e.g. programmer’s company, sales team and also clients. That can be a trouble for programmers in getting jobs, building portfolios and improving there careers as this is there basic right. This is serious because it’s not only about me. I can mention and name hundreds of programmers who are working “Stealth” buried in layers of outsourced chain and agreements.

This may not be illegal as there are these legal contracts and agreements but this an issue of ethics and personal rights or more precisely programmers right. There should be voices raised to protect these rights.

Shoaib muneer has added some thoughts in one of his comments on his own post here :

“1. You’ve got to pay them close to if not equal to what they earn from oDesk
2. You’ve got to really give them a “professional” environment in which they would KNOW that they are LEARNING and their talent is NOT going to waste. This is because the conditions in most of our software houses is pathetic! - only a few good apples out there.
3. We need to build a sense of “Sports” in which these best of the best can take part in. Try the analogy of “gaming” teams here, all those teams having a stand-off in Quake. This will really help a lot as gaming competitions have produced even more excellent players.”

I want to add some of my thoughts and would also like to see you thoughts and comments on this post of Shoaib’s post. For quick relief I think as :

· Programmers name should be stated in project development team with a link back to programmer’s home page or public profile. This should be added in those agreements and contracts.

· Programmer must get fair amount for his work and the original budget should be transparent to programmer and a percentage part of each party involved must be defined.

· Programmer must be involved in all legal documentation and agreement process so that he must feel comfortable and secure about his efforts and its fruit.

· Programmers also need to maintain there standards and must take care of themselves and there rights. Don’t go for quick or hassle free money, justify with your skills and work. This is the era you have to protect your rights hard.

On the long go:

• Developer’s community need to educate developers about there legal and ethical rights and must provide platforms to protect them. An All Programmer Association kind of things can be helpful.
• There should be platforms and venture process available so that skilled programmers can easily market there products instead of providing raw services to clients at limited capabilities.
• The software development should be converted to a proper industry with some or more Government support. Like in Pakistan this can generate lot of revenues I believe.
• Media (either public or mass media or both) should highlight different efforts and distinguished work done by those bright minds.
• Recognition awards and benefits should not only be awarded on company basses but on overall industry basses.

This list can go on and on but I guess the main point is delivered and I feel it the time for us to go out and take some serious steps. People like me who can’t do anything instead of development need this a lot. We have a good reputation around the world that can go more on top once we are recognized properly, so there is a capacity of the huge industry here we just need some driving forces and people who can take it forward.

Thanks

Mudassar Ijaz

Software Engineer.

Postpaid users often don’t enjoy a lot of packages and call rate options all the price competition is happening in prepaid category but Warid has just introduced a new calling package for its postpaid users.  

According to this package Warid Postpaid ( Zahi ) customers can now enjoy unlimited call to there friend and family numbers at a fix amount of Rs 500/- per month. Nice interesting.

Package detail confirmed from Warid CSR is as:

• Unlimited calls to Friend and Family numbers for a whole month at Rs 500/- + tax
• This offer is only for postpaid Zahi customers.
• Rs 500/- should also be deposited as security at the time of activation.
• Packages charges of Rs 500/- + tax will be added to monthly bill.
• 5 FnF numbers can only be Warid numbers no PTCL number is allowed.

For more information call 321 and contact Warid CSR.

So did You Zahi subscribers feel a little considered?

Zong has Introduced lowest call rates for off-net calls on only one selected number, according to Zong’s official website:

“Now make calls to any other mobile network for 8 aanay i.e. 50 paisas per call and you can change that number any time you want. You will have to pay 40 paisas extra for the first minute only.”

It also added:

“To avail this offer please dial 907 from your ZONG number. This offer is available on 12 Aanay package only.

Addition/modification charges of Rs. 15 + tax apply.”

Please note that this is 50 paisa/30 sec charges  to mobile number of any network plus 40 paisa set-up charges on each call. All government taxes apply.

Interesting but not that attractive package. For one special number people mostly use the same network rather then opting for cross network. Yes it can be a good choice for your secondry most dialed number that is not on Zong’s network.

So what you people think ?

Dell has decided to release the Vostro A860 in the United States for $379 upwards, depending on the specs. This 15.6-inch laptop comes jam packed with Intel’s Celeron or Pentium Dual Core processor, GM965 chipset with GMA X3100+ integrated graphics, 1GB or 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 120GB or 160GB hard drive, and a Combo optical drive or DVD burner. Its display screen also features anti-glare and has a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. Other features include 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN, and a 56k modem, two USB ports, a PC Card slot, 3-in-1 media card reader, Firewire and a 4-cell battery. Weighing at 5.4 pounds, the laptop runs on Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic or Vista Business. [Dell via Laptop Notebook News]

T-Mobile has renamed its 8MP Samsung Pixon camera phone as the T929 Leica. As a reminder, the handset is also known as the M8800. It is touted as “the world’s slimmest full-touch 8.0-megapixel camera phone”. Measuring only at 13.8-mm thin, the phone offers a 3.2-inch touchscreen (240 x 400) WQVGA TFT LCD, 8MP camera with 16x digital zoom, auto-focus, face detection and geo-tagging, and supports a dedicated photo browser. Its camera can capture video footage at 30fps (720 x 480 resolution) or 120fps (QVGA), and in slow-motion. [intomobile via Upcoming Cell Phones]

I think overclockers will love the MSI Wind because the company has released a BIOS update that enables users to overclock the Wind netbook. The official v1.09 BIOS update for the MSI Wind is available for download at the MSI site. This update enables simple overclocking by mashing Fn+F10, providing users the ability to push the performance by 8%, 15% or 24% above the normal limits. [MSI via Laptop Notebook News]