Unboxing and First Look of (my) Samsung Galaxy SII

After a 4 tensed days of waiting, finally received my Samsung Galaxy S2!!!! Its a babe....

I am posting the first set of pictures of the phone here.

First, Thanks to Sulekha.com. They kept their words on the delivery.. Saturday evening to Thursday is 4.5 days (though its too much for a Bangalore to Bangalore delivery!!!)

The phone surprisingly came packed in a indiaplaza.in cover.... The overall packing was decent and acceptable, delivered promptly by First Flight couriers.

The inner packing....

It is a Oct 2011 Model - Made in China and completed in Vietnam

 The box itself is very good!!!

Thats the baby - packed neatly......

The whole set of default accesories (an my current E71 - with a upset look :-P )

It is absolutely light weighed. The back lid is extremely thin plastic material - Not sure how good it is - but it fits perfectly on the chasis and we will rarely be removing it - so no worries!!!

Thats with the back cover on - Nice finish and comfortable to hold also....

First charge!!!!  

I have not switched it on yet!!!! Thought it will be better to leave it to get charged fully.... I will most likely doing it late in the evening today.


I will separately write in details about the first feel of using the handset and a much detailed review later today!!!!


Till next time ......

Ordered My New Gadget - Samsung Galaxy S2

Samsung Galaxy S2 - It was love at first sight..... It literally swept me off my feet... I have not seen anything this beautiful recently!!! (I mean in gadgets :-P )

I have been researching on the SGS2 for quite sometime now (whenever time permitted)... I was too skeptical about investing a 30k on a phone.. but the phone itself was awesome.... so, my control was waning off day by day....

Then I came across this thread in Tech enclave blog about the cheapest offer available for SGS2 online. The offer was unbelievable and too good to be true!!!!

Samsung Galaxy S2 for an unbelievable price!!!

The price last week at sulekha was Rs. 24,999 - when the nest closest price was 28,500 in flipkart. Everyone else were selling it @ 30k and more (obviously with few useless gifts to cover up), but, none anywhere close to Sulekha.

Now, I was too confused, as I was not sure, if Sulekha was that a trust-worthy site. Even though a few fellow members of Tech enclave gave me confidence, I couldn't make up my mind. One other reason for my inhibition was because, I came to know that, the phones were 'made in china'. So, I started enquiring all my friends, relatives who has already bought a SGS2 and also visited all the mobile retail shops around my house and found that, almost 99% of them were infact made in china and the rest 1% was "made in korea and finished in china". So that clarified my doubt.

Also, in all the research I did, I couldn't see any negative feedback or review on sulekha's delivery of ordered items (though, there are umpteen not-so-good reviews on their customer service team). And suddenly, 2 days ago, sulekha hiked the price by Rs. 600 - to Rs. 25,599. Though it was still the least, reality stuck me!!!! It is very soon that, they either stop this offer or the stock is going to get over.

So, finally after too much thinking, deliberation and wait, I finally ordered the 2nd costliest gadget I have till date - a Samsung Galaxy S2 today @ 6:08 PM. My brother also booked one in sulekha from Chennai around the same time.

So, now we have our fingers crossed to receive our beauties early next week.

I earnestly hope, that we receive the same without any tension or issues.

Will keep you all posted on the updates. Once I receive it, will write a detailed blog on the opening ceremony.

Kind note to everyone: It is indeed a unbelievable deal in Sulekha. But, as it is not a small amount (atleast for me), please don't go by my decision of buying it. Trust your guts and take the consent of your family, before you order.
I shall take no responsibility, whatsoever, to the outcome of your decision.

Love you all !!!!

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TRANSFER FROM BUILDER’S NAME TO OWNER'S NAME

Note: Though the procedure is common, this specific article is for owners of Team Enigma Apartments, Vinayak Nagar, Bangalore.

Prerequisite Documents Needed:

1. Khata Certificate, Extract Copy

2. Tax Return Receipt

3. Sale Deed Copy (All pages)

4. Recent Electricity Bill (They will take a duplicate and return this)

5. Indemnity Bond*

6. Agreement*

7. Form I - can be obtained from the concerned officer, Mrs. Lalitha – This for can be downloaded from KEB Transfer Form 1

Note: Please print both the pages back to back on a single A4 paper

8. No Objection Letter signed by the builder (Form IV)
9. Transfer Fees Receipt (Explained below)

* Both Indemnity Bond, Agreement & a file can be obtained from ‘Ali Electricals’ on the small gully adjacent to Vivek Nagar EB Office. One set per metre is required. One set will cost Rs. 265 (125+135+5)

To check availability please contact, Mr. Ali, M: +91 97318 88736

NOTE: Only the list of documents listed above is required. No other document, including Encumbrance Certificate etc. is required.

Procedure:

1. Please get all the above documents ready.
2. Form I, Indemnity Bond and Agreement has to be signed by both/all the owner (if there are more than one owner).

3. Get a chit from Mrs. Lalitha, the concerned officer @ Vivek Nagar EB office for the Transfer Fees (Rs.100) and pay it in the counter in the ground floor and get the receipt.
3. Submit all documents including the above receipt to Mrs. Lalitha. Follow her instructions. She will do everything that is required for getting this done.

4. Vivek Nagar EB office is closed on second Saturdays (the next one is on Mar 19th, 2011). Their lunch time is between 1:30 PM and 3 PM everyday.

5. Contact of Mrs. Lalitha is M: +91 99864 10643.

The indicative cost is around Rs. 1300 (inclusive of 'all' charges)#

# This cost might differ for other EB office

Contest Fever 1 - Steel Series - Contest of the Decade

As indicated in my response to my dearest friend Ram, I am starting this new series, to spread my contest fever....... Hope it spreads fast :)

I shall be sharing contests, giveaways, sweepstakes, samples giveaways etc. that are primarily open for India. Please ensure you go through the terms and conditions of each contest.

I am starting with Steel Series - Contest of the Decade.

They are celebrating their 10th Year Anniversary, this month with an awesome contest called as

"Steelseries Contest of The Decade" , where you can win Super Kool Prizes Including Surface,

Gaming Mouse, Keyboards, HeadPhones, Mouse Pads and Eye Gears.

Click on the link for more details... http://steelseries.com/10?code=bVTbK7Og

My First Win on a Online Giveaway

I recently started trying another shortcut to earn online ( either as money or gadgets or softwares etc...). Though most of these are primarily for US & Canada and a few, restricted to countries like India (export policy)...., I did happen to come across a hand full of them and did spend some time on it.....

Good news is, yesterday, I got my first win on one of the giveaways..... BitDefender AntiVirus Pro 2011 worth around $ 29.95 - a one year license.... Got the same and installed it on my personal system too.... It is brilliant...

I am planning to share such giveaway links here for the benefit of all....... So keep visiting....

Apply for Ration Card in Bangalore

I recently got my ration card done in Bangalore. So thought of sharing the procedure with you all....

I am assuming that you are a couple relocated to Bangalore after marriage.

Pre-requisites:

1. First get both your name removed from any existing ration card(s). If you are from other state and the removal certificate is in the local language of that state (eg. Marati in Maharastra), please ensure that is translated by a notary to english in a legal document. If you don't have any ration card previously, get a letter stating that you don't have a ration card from the municipal office in your native place (the translation rule holds good, if this is also in your native language)

2. Find out the relevant Food & Civil Supplies office from the below list. If you are not sure, please call one of the phone numbers mentioned and check.


Karnataka Food & Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd offices:
Bangalore South:
No. 4, Opp To Rnr, 5th Mn Rd, Chamarajpet, Bangalore - 560018Phone: +91-80-26613531
Bangalore East: (for Murugeshpalya/ Vinayak Nagar)
Corporation Bldg, Nr RBANMS College, St John's Rd, Bangalore - 560042 (Near Commercial Street)Phone: +91-80-25360750


Bangalore North:
No. 3, Nr Police Station, Vyalikaval Extension, 11th C Crs, Bangalore - 560003Phone: +91-80-23445702

No.101, Bellary Rd, Ganganagar, Bangalore - 560032Phone: +91-80-23332550
Bangalore Central:
Central Range Mohan Bldg, Opp Visveswaraiah Museum, Kasturba Rd, Bangalore - 560001Phone: +91-80-22214431
Bangalore West:
No. 16/I, Vasanth Nagar, Miller Tank Bund Rd, Bangalore - 560052Phone: +91-80-22260932, 22200660, 22260752, 22353423, 22096557
Commissioner's office, Dept. of Food & Civil Supplies
No. 8, Sahakari Bldg, Nr Chandrika Hotel, Cunningham Rd, Bangalore - 560052Phone: +91-80-22262187, 22267205, 22264062Email: bngfcs@kar.nic.in 

3. Visit this office and get an application form paying Rs.10. This form will be in Kannada. Use the enclosed translated form to fill the same. It can be filled in English though. (Leave all the untraslated part blank... they are not required.)
Translated Karnataka Ration Card Application Form
Note: (You can get the blank form from ahara website also, but they will not accept it....you can probably use it for a rough copy)

4. You will need the following documents for submission
     a. Residence Proof (Copy of Sale Deed, Rental Agreement, BSNL Landline Bill, property tax receipt etc.)
     b. Identity Proof (Copy & Original of Passport, Pan Card, Driving License etc.)
     c. Surrender Certificate or Letter from municipal office.

5. The officer there might ask you for purpose, say either for identity proof or gas connection. Remember to collect the counter foil from the officer, in which she will mention a tentative date for inspection. Now wait for the inspector to visit your house for inspection. (They came to my house on a Saturday, so they are that considerate & they were very straight forward and didnot ask for any bribe)

6. The inspector give you a date before leaving to collect your ration card. Ensure that you go on that date with all the family members whose name is to be included in the card (this is compulsary).

7. On the said date, visit the F&CS office and collect your application from the officer you gave it earlier, and then proceed to the computer room. Pay the fees of Rs.45 here for the card. The operator there fills in all your details and asks you to verify it once, and then same is translated to Kannada also. Now another person takes the photo of all the family members one by one and take a thumb impression and records them in a computer.

8. Thats it. Now they print your ration card and laminate the same and give it to you.

The entire process took a little less than a month.

Mouli's Annapoorani - Thanjavur Taste in Bangalore - Restaurant Review

Good News to all foodies out there in Bangalore!!!!! Particularly veggies!!!! and more particularly for thanjavur fanatics (like us)..... we have atlast found a best place to literally fall back on.....

Annapoorani Restaurant in Cambridge Layout.... I have included a small map, to guide you to the place, at the end of the article......

A decently spacious hall, with tables spread across, very soft classical music, nice waiting space, over all very good ambience, pleasant and courteous waiters, a nice cashier mama (definitely resembling one of your maternal uncle.... :-) ) and finally a 100% authentic Thanjavur meals - as good as a Kalyana Saapadu that you can have in a Tamil Brahmin wedding.....

.... these are few words to describe Annapoorani after my first visit. I am sure you will agree to it tooo... after your visit there....

We get all kind of South Indian tiffin items here.... I presume the fabulous meals is for lunch alone...... My first visit here was last week, the day I heard about it from a friend. I met Mr. Karthik Mouli there, a pleasant gentleman, who told me a bit about the hotel. I was surprised that they are in business, in the very same place for many years now.... Karthik made a mention of a 85 years old regular celebrated his 85th birthday here recently and he still comes there at this age to eat (the point is no digestion issues even for him). He asked me to come with my family for a week end lunch... which we obliged yesterday.....

But before that, my first try there last week was ven pongal, poori and medu vadai..... Ven pongal (the best one among the pongals I had recently) was as good as the one my paati and amma made back home and was served with (believe me) vatha kozhambu ..... wow... what a combo..... the poori was with aalu curry which was again splendid..... and the vadai was crispy and yummy.....

Now, coming to yesterdays lunch..... the menu was as follows..... Carrot Payasam, Pineapple Pachidi, Yam Podi Curry, Avaraikai Kootu, Paruppu Togayal, Karuvepilai Kozhambu, Mango Rice, Simla Mirchi Bajji, Rice, Paruppu, Ghee, Alu Capsicum Sambar, Tomato Rasam, Curd, Pappad, Pickle........ Now thats as good as a best kalyana saapadu......

The best part of it is all this is unlimited (try and finish he default servings fully first and see). Now comes the ultimate part, the price for all the above is just Rs.135 - thats a very very very fair pricing for the items being served and the authentic taste they had......such good food anywhere else in Bangalore would have burnt a hole in just not your pocket.... but your skin too.....

Timings: Morning 11.30 am to 3.30 pm and Evening 7 pm to 10.30 pm. They are closed on Mondays.

They also provide takeaways, but donot deliver.

I am awaiting the soft copy of the menu card from Mr. Karthik and shall upload the same, once I receive it.

Please visit them and have a nice time..... Do come back and leave your comments here.

Click to enlarge & see the lunch menu for the weekend

अन्नदाता सुखी भाव !!!