@ Ref : EHA/End User Self Help/Common IT Services setup

These steps are mandatory for our mail server as return receipts are interpreted as spam by our smtp server. This might be a bug in Outlook as it happens exclusively in Outlook. Not following the steps outlined below, will ensure that your outgoing email is blocked by invisible return receipts cooling their heels in the Outbox which can be a veritable nightmare. Another option is to set-up your email in Thunderbird. Continue Reading >>

 

I didn’t think I’d ever be doing a mobile phone review on simplysimple.info. However operating systems like Android and the iOS have pushed mobile phones into the computer category. For once -a computer  that never sleeps. This brings in a lot of privacy implications, and at the same time a lot of fun too… being able to Tweet, check in and check on your friends without booting up Windows or Linux and hastily shutting down when there is a power failure -not to mention the joy of having a ticking computer with you as your sidekick. This is not a full fledged review with all sorts of tests to measure CPU, battery life and Graphics performance. This is the common man’s review -his experiences and recommendations on this phone. Continue Reading >>

 

I’d been a bit down lately after purchasing the HTC Wildfire S. The purpose was not only to have 3G data access on my phone, but also to tether it via USB and use it as a modem in lieu of my Tata Photon +. This was not because of poor performance (Tata’s performance and customer support were of a very high standard, although technical support was not too good -thankfully I didn’t need much of that.) It was more because footing a total of Rs. 2000+ plus for Internet access for which a large percentage  went for office work was just not feasible. I have to admit that the Photon or Reliance do not work very well in far flung places where I occasionally visited  (and where I needed their service the most) so I switched over to MTNL and the Wildfire S. Continue Reading >>

 

This has been one of my favorite snacks. I have written it down from mum many times but have always misplaced the scrap of paper I wrote it on. From now on I can refer to this post. Poha is flattened or beaten rice. It is manufactured by rolling de-husked rice which has been parboiled. This flattened rice is then dried and called poha.  The clearance of the roller determines whether the poha is thick, medium or thin. Although this is prepared in Karnataka as well, this recipe may well have a Maharashtrian influence as we lived in Mumbai for a long time. Poha is called Avalakki in Kannada and Bajil in Tulu. In Maharashtra, there are two variants of the dish -one using potatoes and the other using onion. We have always used both of them together. Continue Reading >>

 

Back to Networking Simplified

The Network schematic showing how the parts of the network connect to each other are detailed in the next post. You might want to take a peek.  In this post, I want you to get familiar with each of the devices and the connectors you would find on them and how they can be accessed for configuration.

Keep in mind that specifications and design change constantly. In addition, I will be mentioning only those features on the device that need mentioning, there may be other features which would be beyond the scope of this post. One more fact that needs mentioning is that the web administration interface on each device is different, so it is impossible to put up screen shots and provide customized guidance for each and every model out there, so treat these series of posts as a generic guide. Continue Reading >>

 

As a kid, this was not one of my favorite dishes, but it did rank above the idli. Now I have no such reservations and I actually regret that I did not enjoy these special foods when I had a chance to do so. This was on my list of To Do’s last Christmas, actually one of over 75 different posts that I had planned to write in December during my annual leave. Unfortunately, it was barely enough for data collection. So here is how you make Pundi. Pundi sounds like and is probably derived from the Tulu word pundi which means fistful. You will soon see why   Continue Reading >>

 

Back to Networking Simplified

 You now know enough about your networking basics to start putting things together. However don’t rush into it as this post would be incomplete without the upcoming posts on wiring your network so that you can setup your wiring once and forget it for a long time to come. Then there are also power considerations to ponder upon. Networking equipment is very sensitive and your switches, routers and modems do not need too much of a spike to damage them making them die a premature death or making them unreliable due to  reduction in capacity or intermittent operation. They are also affected by RF (Radio frequency ) and other strong electromagnetic fields, so whenever you have an option of buying any of these devices in a metal enclosure instead of plastic, go for it. Continue Reading >>

 

Its been a while since I played a harmonica, around 30 years at least. I remember the black Hero harmonica that dad had. In fact most of my friends who had harmonicas had Heros. Its quality was pretty good and I was surprised to find out a few days back that it was/is made in China. I always thought the print on the cover was Japanese. Continue Reading >>