While using Linux in the past I come across its major drawback; its lack of support for automated Installers.

For professionals it might not be a major point, but for ordinary users it is major point. Average user installs more packages every day than he used to do couple of years back.

Windows has its own installation framework known as MSInstaller. This installer makes installation standardised across Windows platform. Also further installation packaging software such as InstallShield and Wise installation are available in the market. They make experience of user very easy. Complicated routines such as identifying current system OS, memory and other peripherals, disk space available, previous version of software package in the system, licensing terms etc are handled by script internally without requiring any expert knowledge during installation.

When it comes to server/client installation and multiple package installation (like installing drivers, db connections, database engines etc), it need to do more work in background and less in foreground.

Current Linux installation is very complicated. Also different distributions are required for different Linux OS and versions. While installing there is no GUI, making it more difficult. Typical user is not ready to do 5% of dirty work compare to professionals.

Software application creators should be able to create standard installation package with an ease. It should be very easy to select its compatibility with multiple Linux distributions etc and file structure for each distribution should be automatically worked out based on distribution on system.

Need of an hour is to create such installation framework which can simplify this routine. I believe this framework can be created as open source add-on and installation packaging software can be created by either open source players or commercial players.

I believe creating this framework can help making Linux as viable option for end users.

Memory Embedded Device Drivers

This concept looks into new emerging possibility of embedding device driver into hardware device itself.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide information about device drivers.
Instead it goes into advanced concept of embedding device drivers into hardware device itself.

For those who are unfamiliar with device drivers following is a simple information.
You can google for more details of device drivers.

Device driver is a software program which is meant to help operating system to communicate with piece of hardware device.
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Smart card project

Smart Card Project for Parking, fuel and other services related to one vehicle

Introduction:
This project looks into possibility of creating centralised IT system for parking places across UK. The purpose is to create unified card system by which users can pay for the parking slot they are using. Also this card expands beyond council owned parking slots. This project will enable usage of private car parks across country. This card is inspired by smart card implementations across the world. These smart cards are made up of RFID tag and can store data inside it. This card is also intended to use for multiple services related to the vehicle for example automated petrol station payment.

VAT self assessment; A new idea, A new perspective.

I come across this idea of VAT assessment based on European regulations related to VAT.
Under new EU rules if you are selling any product or service to another company based in EU and if they are VAT registered in their country, you do not charge them VAT, instead they self assess their VAT at rate of their country in their VAT return.

And then I got one brilliant idea….what if we implement same system for transactions happening in the UK, where you don’t have to charge VAT to other business (and don’t have to pay either).

Before I talk about my brilliant idea, lets understand how VAT system works?
There are many wise accountants and academics who can give tonnes of information about VAT, but I look at it this way……

Consider that you are VAT registered.
1. If you are buying any product or services and if you are charged VAT, you simply pay them and claim that VAT back from government (HMRC).
2. If you are selling any product or services, charge VAT on top of your price and pay that to HMRC.

Further…
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I started using GMAIL a long back. I was amazed not only due to its cool AJAX features but its other features such as quick search, Email tagging (you dont store emails in folders anymore).

One main feature I liked was to have synchronised with email client. Since I frequently travel or work from home, it is vital to have both synchronised all the time. Most of other providers thought to have POP3 access before , but it could only sync incoming emails, not outgoing.

Gmail offers two way synchronization. So if you are using your outlook to receive and send emails, they both can be synchronised with your gmail account. So you have two copies of emails at any given time (incoming & outgoing both).

I wanted to use this to my advantage, but I did not want to use gmail account as my corporate account. I wanted to keep my current email address vinayak@mycorporatedomain.com all the time. After going through all features of gmail, I figured out how to do it. Today I am going to explain how I did it.
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I see sign saying to switch off my mobile phone at cinema theatre, public events, social gathering, hospitals, flights, temples and many other places.

Reason for their suggestion is:
a) mobile waves can create interference to other electronic eqipments
b) distract people from their current activity.

In first case it is essential to switch off or jam signals, in second case taking mobile into silent mode is sufficient.

But even if I have intension to shift my mobile into silent mode or switch off, I tend to forget about it.

I was thinking about it a while and come up with a idea which can be used to take mobiles to silent mode or entirely switch off.
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