Oracle vs Google : Lawsuit of the decade !

Oracle is suing Google over Google using the Java framework in Android without license.

This presentation released by Oracle gives a clear picture of what it is suing Google for. It definitely presents the picture from Oracle’s part, and on first look paints a very dark picture about Google’s use of android. Oracle claims that the Android framework is copied from Java, without paying the due credit, and of harming the bigger java community. Some example (of code) do suggest that Android is based on Java, a lot of it is just taken verbatim.

This part of the presentation clarifies what is going on :

Do you need a license if you are building an application using Java : No. However, if you are extending Java, and providing an API specification or application framework of your own, you do need one, especially for commercial purposes. Android clearly (until court decides otherwise), in my holy opinion, falls under that category.

Here is what the presentation says about ‘When is a Java License necessary’ :

• You are writing an application (say a web-application) in Java programming language : NO
• You are providing class libraries on Java API Designs : YES
• Downloading java software components: YES

Most of the developers of java fall under the first category, but some companies do need to use Java for the rest two and they thus purchase License from Oracle (formerly from Sun) and some also contribute to Java community. Several exampls quoted in the presentation.

I think Oracle has a good case, however the Google side of the story is interesting as well, as it claims that Java programming language, or any language for that matter is not copyrightable. Partly true, and remains to be seen how it is presented in court. Meanwhile, the hearing started in San Francisco yesterday (17th April) and the next 8 weeks are going to be really interesting.

And then remains the lawsuit about the patent/copyright infringements which will be heard soon after. More on that later.

References:

Oracle presentation (91 pages, takes a while to open) : http://www.oracle.com/us/corporate/features/opening-slides-1592541.pdf

Bloomberg news coverage : http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-17/ellison-testifies-oracle-explored-dropped-making-java-phone-1-.html

BBC news : http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17705873

Some more GMAT tips

Recently an acquaintance, one of my brothers buddies, emailed me asking about some GMAT tips. I noticed that I have not written anything on that topic so here it is. I will try to answer the basic questions people have when they think about taking the test (or when they think about taking the MBA plunge). Will write the same things that I replied to this guy.

1. How much time needed for preps ?

‘That depends ! ‘ on individual. Why not take a test now without preparation and see how you score. You will know exactly how much preparation you need (I know you are mature enough). You will find a lot of online tests for free  – try mba.com first.

2. Which books to refer ?

I referred to a limited set of materials as I had limited time. Depending on how much time you have you can refer to more. however, doing the official guide thoroughly is a must.

3. When should I take the GMAT ?

Check the university websites you want to apply to and note down the application deadlines etc. All of them have several rounds of applications (mostly starting from July/Aug) and its better to apply in Round 1. They sometimes also mention the time during which you should have taken the gmat (not too long back, and not very recent – like a month as well !, so check this first).
In general, for applying to schools which start their session in Aug/Sept 2013 (for example) applications will start July/Aug 2012 and for that ideally you should take the test before end of May (or stretched to June).  For Indian b-schools, deadlines tend to be later, so you can adjust accordingly, so check school websites individually.

4. Prep guidelines ? Mug Vocab, regular practice or what ?

Vocab is not so critical for GMAT as it is for GRE, so no need to mug. I believe for most of us Indians, Quants (QA) is also not an issue. Verbal is something which needs practice and tuning. So start early on that, and do that as often as possible. For grammar basics, buy a Wren&Martin English grammar book early on and go through it once.

5. What score is good enough ?

    Score is something which puzzles everyone. Remember that GMAT is only a necessary condition for entry and not sufficient. I would say its only 10% sufficient. This means that a good score would only mean you have fulfilled only 10% of criteria for admission. However, a poor score (less than 650 perhaps) would not take you anywhere unless you have an excellent academic record throughout + excellent career progression + extra curriculars.
For US b-schools, at least for the top 15, as an average Indian with engineering background, you must have at least 720-730. Check www.pagalguy.com, they have discussion threads on various schools and profile/GMAT scores of people who were admitted in prior years. I know people who have made it to good top 20 schools in the US with 680-720 as well, but they had excellent application/essays, recommendations, top-notch work experience and very good extra curricular to back it up. Also it makes a good case for scholarships if the score is good.
Also be aware of the average/minimum gmat score required for admission reported on school websites. You must add 20 to that score as they all put Indian applicants into a different pool where the competition tend to be (naturally !) intense. So the average GMAT score of Indians who get through is 20 more than overall class average.

Feel free to post any questions on this thread.

Here is my GMAT experience post – http://followingmydream.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/my-gmat-story/
Also there is a post about mba abroad in general – http://followingmydream.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/thinking-of-doing-an-mba-abroad/

Like almost every other thing in the world, read these with a pinch of salt !

Love the Sky Sports Cricket broadcast

After having watched cricket back home on television for so long, I had noticed how much was I missing when its telecast without any advertisements. It cant get better than watching it live on sky sports. Well there are commercial breaks in between, but occasionally (say once after 10 overs) , and not so frequent as we have in India. And they do not eat up the first and last balls of the crucial overs.

How else could I have noticed the mannerisms of VVS during the recent tour to Australia. The way he strokes the crease number of times after the over is complete before going to talk to the batsman on the other end, can only be seen when you are watching the sport completely without any interruption especially between overs.

I noticed another such mannerism in Morne Morkel during their recent series. While starting his run-up Morne would first walk towards the straight boundary a few steps before starting to turn around and run for his runup. Quite peculiar and easy to miss.

I might have seen them while viewing them on ESPN/Neo in India as well, but that is not the point. The joy of watching a sports to me is to follow it completely between and after overs. I love it when the camera keeps following a batsman or a bowler covering his every move during that between-over break. Its part of the game, and I think its a shame we have to put advertisements during that period. Not that we have not got enough of them all across the screen during an over.

When the Cheapest is not the best-selling

I have a theory on consumer behavior and product pricing. It is basically that the second cheapest item in the market will sell the most. Well, I have  not done comprehensive research on the topic but I think its generally true.

It comes from my own behavior when it comes to buying any item, be it something of daily use or a one off purchase. I look at the cheapest option first, for obvious reasons, and then somehow settle down on the next best in terms of price. Reasoning being that the cheapest item would definitely be prone to defects, and also because no good item of some considerable value can be priced so low, so the item must be dodgy. Of course, discounting the cases where its a regular purchase, and I know the product well.

Consider the Tata Nano. Do read the story – http://www.technologyreview.com/business/39215/?mod=related – suggesting that its not selling as a hot cake Ratan Tata hoped it would (70000 units a year against 250000 odd projected), atleast not yet.

Apart from the various reasons suggested for the for the failure (or limited success !) of the Nano, I would say it did not sell because of the fact that it was the cheapest. And if I know the psyche of the Indian consumer (atleast of them who can spend INR 100000 on a car), I know that one would think twenty times before buying a ‘cheap’ item from the market, especially when its not ‘imported’ and looks like an autorickshaw (tuk-tuk).

The Alto, best selling small car by Maruti Suzuki, which comes in a 800 cc, outsells the erstwhile Maruti Suzuki 800 and now the Nano, precisely because of the same reason. Although, the Alto is a far better car, and apart from being economical, is very agile and smart-looking for a small city car. However, it sells well not only because its cheap, but because its costlier than the earlier Maruti 800.

For many Indian families, a car purchase is a moment of pride for a family, especially when it is something which your neighbors can not match. Purchasing the cheapest Nano wont give you that satisfaction, but buying the next costlier item in the list (without disturbing your budget) might.

 

 

Finally India Wins a Series – after a long time

It seems a long time since I have seen the Indian team win. The last time I went to witness the games, when Indian toured England in the Summer earlier this year, we lost. And boy, we lost comprehensively. The ODI tournament was a bit of a fightback, after a complete 4-0 whitewash of test series. The fact that we just lost 3-0 in 5 ODI games, proves that we played better in the ODIs – one game was drawn, and another washed away by rain.

However, coming back to the ongoing series in India, we have won 3 out of 5 and have got – what cricket reporters love to say – unassailable lead of 3-0. Feels good !

What feels more good is to see the news coverage on print and other media. Just love it. Love the way English team is being hammered and the Indian team being glorified. However, fact being nothing much has changed between the last series in England, apart from the conditions. While, we can definitely win abroad, and the last series was lost because of injuries (and bad luck !), the English can not win in foreign conditions, especially in India.

A few news pieces which I loved , especially on the English wicketkeeper who I think jumps around more often than needed.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india-v-england-2011/content/story/537235.html

Cricinfo : “… The most culpable man was the wicketkeeper, Craig Kieswetter, who missed an early chance to remove Gambhir on 17, before dropping Virat Kohli off a Jade Dernbach bouncer at a crucial juncture. “

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/oct/20/england-india-one-day

Guardian Reports – “The experiment with Kieswetter is not working and there is no real reason to continue with it now, given his keeping in this match. Both Gambhir and Kohli were dropped and there may have been a stumping chance as well.”

The Independent : “India sealed victory with four balls left when Dhoni imperiously smote the first and second balls of the final over for four. He has now scored 250 runs in his last four innings against England without being dismissed – 78no, 50no, 87no and last night 35no. The world supply of asterisks may be under threat. “ – http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/dhoni-wraps-up-series-then-sticks-knife-into-england-2373567.html

BBC : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/15384514.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/15396104.stm

Cricketnext.in : http://cricketnext.in.com/news/india-win-revenge-series-against-england/60957-13.html

Transition post MBA

MBA is officially over, and I am now out of the student-mba-nothingtodo zone. Now I will have to think about the real stuff, jobs !

Well, before that I will have the find out what has changed in me in the last one year. Am I the same individual that I was before the MBA, or have I really changed ? If so, what ?

Is it really important ? Yes, to find out what my potentials are and what can I offer to my potential employer. What value add I can bring and what can I really provide as a differentiating factor.

Talking to an alumni forced me to go this way and I was forced to introspect. I do have gained some soft skills and some leadership and management skills. What are they, and how can I use them in my next job.

Looks like a lot to think and introspect!

Post MBA, Partying, and Job Search …

Now that the MBA is officially over and I have settled down, its time to look back, and also to look forward.

First week of post MBA was amazing. After a lot of shifting and stuff, I tried to settle down.

Also it was time to say goodbye to dear friend Subhash who was returning back to India and we ended up partying the whole week, meeting someone or the other in Central London and returning back late night every day.

And then came the time to write resumes, rewrite them, numerous times, and trying to get hold of recruiters. And, before I could realise it was already October ! Swoosh…

Time has flown, really fast. Especially the last 8 weeks or so. Job hunting has been tough, and it is going to be even difficult, it seems so.

Regatta

The last weekend of July was dedicated to Regatta. This time it was the 20th edition of Cranfield Regatta, with schools like LBS, Insead, Manchester participating. Insead was the winner this time, and Cranfield came second.

Ours was one of the 20+ boats that Cranfield had and we fared very badly, perhaps ranked 30 out of the total 37.

But it was pure fun, and a lot of work.

 

Sailing is fun !

Worlds biggest companies

Here is a list of worlds biggest companies in terms of revenues.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_by_revenue

Walmart leads the chart with more than 400 billion in revenues. Quite astonishing. Some more personal observations and trite remarks:

1. None of them have yet reached 1 trillion USD. Why not a single of them, is it too huge ? Considering that GDP of India is 1.5 trillion (USD), it looks a big number, isn’t it.

2. Largest Indian company, IOCL is 139th in the list with 54 billion, and then Reliance at 180. Quite a lot of catching up to do for Indian companies to be somewhere in top 10. China is already there – with 2 companies in top 10.

3. How is Walmart at the top ? How can a retail company generate more revenues than oil and gas ? Difficult to imagine. But then the scale and geographies in which Walmart operates is bigger than any other company. Also it proves how much the Americans consume !

 

I am back…

After a long long break , I am back to my blog. It has been a busy period. A lot has happened in between. And among all the distractions, the MBA goes on.

And yes, an amazing last term awaits. Here are a few things that are going to happen.

1. IBE – As part of the mandatory International Business Experience, am going to Mexico with 3 other people. Will be a fun filled week ahead.

2. Wimbledon (probably) – After I spent 3 hours seeing Federer lose in French Open (and I lost a lot of pounds on my beer at the social), I am so looking forward to the Wimbledon where I can possible watch him win the title. (At least get in and watch on the big screen, thats the plan)

3. Regatta – Cranfield Annual Regatta is during the last week of July, and we are sailing ! Has to be fun.

4. Lords – India VS Eng – 1st test – last week of July, must watch game. Tickets booked and we are definitely going.

This is just a list of planned things, and a lot of unplanned things will come up for sure.

During the last 2 months or so, I have been busy as well. Here is a list.

1. Visited Wales – 3 day trip to south Wales, Cardiff etc.

2. Visited Lake District – lovely place and a lot of good drives. Amazing.

And also visited a lot of places in London, like touring the Big Ben, London Eye, Greenwich et al.

Also went to a visit to the London Metal Exchange to see live trading. Awesome.