The Day the Amazon Went Stupid

I used to think the Amazon was a sensible service which was all about the customers. And then they go ahead and combine their video streaming service with their Prime membership. So when my Prime membership is renewed in a couple of months I'd be paying £30 more per year for a video streaming service that I don't need and don't want. I can cancel my Prime membership but I can't opt-out of the video streaming service. How great is that?

Well, being the vindictive person I am, I will not only cancel my Prime Membership I will start looking at other web-based shopping services for the things that I used to buy at Amazon. I am sure there would be other people who would be looking elsewhere. And while this is true that Amazon would not be crying at the loss of my business, as we all know "every little helps."

Way to the lose the trust of your loyal customers Amazon!

So, I went to my Prime Membership page and clicked "End Membership". There is an option to end it when it comes to renewal. I chose that. Mine was due in renewal in about 2 months. I could have waited until then to cancel but this way I make sure they can see this as a result of their stupid, fascist decision. If enough people thumb their noses at Amazon this way, there's a chance, albeit a very slim chance, that the Amazon management may regain their senses.

Now since I won't have the Prime benefit of free one-day delivery, I will have no special reason to buy everything from Amazon. I am pretty sure there will be a lot of other customers who will have the same kind of behaviour change following Amazon's one-sided decision to force their video streaming down their customers' throat.

And later in history books when the question is put to the students what brought about the super-successful online shopping giant Amazon.com they will be able to point to this date and this decision.

End of angry rant!

Comedy Nights with Kapil - Facebook Quiz

I created this Facebook quiz for fun, for all the people who enjoy watching Comedy Nights With Kapil. 
https://apps.facebook.com/comedyniightsquiz

Samsung Galaxy S5 - Finally Launched

Since I just spent an hour watching the Samsung Unpacked event streamed live from Barcelona, I might as well tell my readers what I learnt.

Galaxy S5 - Fingerprint scanner, 5.1" super AMOLED Full HD screen, yes, I was disappointed as I was hoping for a 2K screen, but there are some innovative improvements in display technology that will make this a unique display. The design is a bit disappointing after watching all those "concept" videos. It's a simple S4-like shape and design, with a perforated back (so I am assuming a metal body not plastic). It has a heart rate sensor.

The fingerprint scanner can be used for making paypal payments. Would be good if I didn't already hate paypal.

Although it's not waterproof it is water and dust resistant, the rating is IP67. I doubt that it would let me sing along in the shower as the Samsung VP J.D. Ayme was urging everybody to do, but at least it would be safe to take the phone out in the rain. I live in London, this is a big deal for me.

The camera is a 16 MP camera with many improvements. This one did impress me. The sensor is bigger, the autofocus is faster, there is even selective focus to emulate DSLR-like shallow DOF. It looked very good on screen. There is HDR for both stills and video. 0.3 seconds response time.

They didn't talk about the processor or RAM, that seems to be tomorrow's agenda on their event. The battery is 2800mAh, that was a big disappointment. There is a Ultra Power Saving mode that turns off everything except essential functions and even turns the screen to black and white. Samsung claims that in this mode the phone can last for 24 hours on standby on 10% battery left. Well, I would have preferred a 3200mAh battery.

The release date is April 11. 

Three great sher's from an amazing ghazal

Mere humnafas mere humnawa, mujhe dost ban ke dagaa na de, 

Main hoon dard-e-ishq se jaaN-ba-lab, mujhe zindagi ki duaa na de. 

Mujhe chhod de mere haal par, tera kya bharosa ae chaaraghar, Ye teri nawazish-e-mukhtsar mera dard aur badha na de 

Wo uthein haiN leke hum-o-subu, Arrey O 'Shakeel' kahaN hai tu, 

Tera jaam lene ko bazm mein, koi aur haath badha na de. 

Random Sher no. 121

Na kar ae baagh-baaN shikwaa guloN ki beniyaazi ka,
HaseeN jo log hote haiN zara magaroor hote haiN.
===
Hamein khabar hai mohabbat ke sab thikaano ki,
Shareek-e-jurm na hote to mukhbari karte.
==
Ye meri jaan gayi hai jo iss mohabbat meiN,
Ye tera sadqa diya hai, nazar utaari hai.
==
Ye mohabbat ki kahaani nahin marti lekin,
Log qirdaar nibhabte hue mar jaate haiN.
===
Yaqeen aata nahin to mujhko yaa maahtaab ko dekho,
Ki raat uski bhi kat jaati hai jiska ghar nahin hota.
===
Ye bhi achchha hua shaayad ki unhein paa na sake, 
Hamaara ho ke bichhadta to qayamat hoti. 
===
Ret ke zarroN se uthe, kehkashaaN tak aa gaye,
Dekh teri justjoo mein hum kahaaN tak aa gaye.
===
Yoon lag raha tha main koi sehra ka ped hoon,
Uss shaam tu agar meri haalat ko dekhtaa
==