PakCrunch is active again: Hello World!
Dec 21st
Let me start by apologizing to all those of you who have high expectations from me and Umair and PakCrunch. We’ve been lazy and busy. Well, more busy than lazy, with studies and other projects and also our primary blogs. While I’m enjoying some level of success as a blogger, there’s always something in me that wants to do something different for my country. Yes, I’m a patriotic as Chacha Cricket, but in my own way.
Getting back on track, we’ve decided to refocus on PakCrunch’s coverage of all things technology in Pakistan. Made a WordPress theme? Plugin? Website? Startup? Hardware? Software? Web Service? We’ll cover it all! And we’ll make sure the word goes out to a huge number of people out there. For this, we’ll need your support, encouragement, feedback and no criticism. Ok, maybe some criticism.
Non Cooperation of the Corporate World
Dec 20th
People say that the youth doesn’t take interest in the country. They are going overseas for employment and opportunities. Why? One of the reasons is that the organizations in Pakistan are very harsh and rude to the youth.
For instance many students go for their project based work to these organizations but they don’t co-operate with them in a good manner. The organizations hesitate in giving any kind of information even if the students have a permission letter from their university. Therefore, a student can’t go to the organization if he or she doesn’t have any kind of reference or link there. If a student doesn’t have any link or reference then what will that individual do? This situation will only make the individual depressed and discourage him or her further. Because of these things, the country is leading towards more and more corruption, day by day. If you will not let people do things the right way, they will definitely go the other way. And if these people are the youth and they go the wrong path, then the organizations are taking equal part to destroy the work ethics of the youth as other factors do. The so called friendly organizations are leading the youth to find other means. They discourage the students on the very first level.
The question arises: Are we going to face the same problems in the future too or is there going to be a change? Something to think about.
Dine Up with Social Media Experts
Dec 7th
CIO Pakistan is hosting the first Dine Up ever with Social Media Experts in Pakistan on the 9th of December, 2009. This is the third even by CIO Pakistan and Google for bloggers and tweeters in the country. The special thing about this event will be the appearance of Sania Saeed who will share her experiences with social media experts.
The event is exclusive and for only 40 people. If you’re in Karachi and consider yourself a social media expert, here’s the link to register. Confirmation will be done via email or phone call from the CIO secretariat. Also check out the Facebook event page for more details.
Oh, and yes, Umair Jadoon and yours truly (hosts of PakCrunch) will be present at the event too. :)
Let us know if you’ll be there!
With great power comes great responsibility, with NO power comes KESC.
Oct 17th
KESC is up to its usual self again, which shouldn’t be a surprise for any resident Pakistani amongst us. Combined with mosquitoes, KESC’s load shedding schedules make up quite a formidable force that can actually become a pain both physically and mentally. As a student and a blogger, this adds up to disaster most of the time, since I don’t have a UPS so for to supply power to my PC with two monitors, speakers and my all-in-one printer. If you’re a blogger in a similar situation as mine, you must know how it feels when the lights go out as soon as you’re about to publish that blog post. Blows your mind doesn’t it?
Yahoo wants you to reach Females and Adults
Aug 11th
Did you know Yahoo is the most visited website in Pakistan?
Did you know you could reach 1,146,963 Females from Pakistan using Yahoo?
Did you know you could reach 1,176,162 Adults from Pakistan using Yahoo?
It’s funny how Yahoo chose to make The Generation Next, Females and Adults the highlighted words. Specially, Females being at the very center of the ad.
This photo was also taken at ITCN 09 today.
PTCL’s fail advertisements at ITCN to convince people to use Smart TV
Aug 11th
I was at ITCN 2009 today with Umair Khan Jadoon in Karachi, and we couldn’t help but take pictures of these advertisements that PTCL had put around their stall. Each of them had a different ‘witty’ line ( if you may ) to convince people to use Smart TV. Now personally, having seen the demo of both a classical old movie as well as Geo transmission at the PTCL stall today, I have no reason to let go of my cable wala for Smart TV, which offered almost no improvements in quality!
Anyways, check out the great advertisements by PTCL below:
P.S. how about a caption contest on these pictures? the best one might win a freebie ;)
Why I’m not a fan of the Go Green campaign anymore
Aug 4th
If you’re from Pakistan and a Twitter user, you probably know by now of the Go Green (Facebook group here) campaign which is an initiative of Farhan Masood to show love and unity for our country. While, the idea behind the campaign is excellent, a lot of publicity is being generated on blogs and even TV, some elements are actually trying to change the outcome.
The Ultimate Linkdotnet vs. PTCL decider
Apr 28th
VS 
Make no mistakes about it. Linkdotnet and PTCL are like the giants of DSL in Pakistan. While, there are other broadband alternatives like WorldCall, Maxcom, Multinet, Wateen and many more, the focus of this poll will remain on these two.
Personally, here at PakCrunch, our experience with PTCL has been abysmal. They have the worst customer service ever, and to get an upgrade or something fixed is very difficult unless you have a relative in PTCL. The only ‘plus’ point of PTCL is that they can also deliver DSL over their fiber optic lines, which is actually a way to create their monopoly on DSL. And the fact that they provide (pirated) movies for downloads is a plus for many as well, although they have the worst sound and video quality.
Linkdotnet, on the other hand has excellent customer service if somewhat clueless about what ‘ping’ means. I’ve always had a customer service guy at my doorstep in less than 48 hours as they tell me. They do their best to diagnose the issues. Heck, I can even upgrade or downgrade my connection over the phone or get a static or dynamic IP. Try that with PTCL!
I wont go into speed details here, as everyone has a different experience for that as well as DSL speed varies over a huge amount of factors. Cast your vote to help new broadband subscribers or those who are tired of their current service! Remember to share your opinion on why you selected either to help others as well.
No-Piracy time for Pakistan
Apr 26th
Yesterday, I went to Galaxy Computers (that’s my trusted computer shopping spot) to buy USB headphones. I took my notebook with me to make sure that they work with it. While talking to the Galaxy guy, I told him I want to check those, he said “yes you can”. I pulled out my notebook out of the bag and that guy got scared! As it was a bomb or something. He lifted it up to see the Windows serial number sticker at the bottom of my notebook. As it had come with Linpus Linux, there was no such sticker. He said “Sorry Sir you cant use pirated software here! we have been warned”. He assumed that I have a pirated copy of Windows installed in my notebook as 99% of home users in Pakistan never buy genuine Windows. I can’t afford all software installed on my PCs but as I am member of Bizspark, MSDN and MSDNAA, I get licensed software from Microsoft for free. I told him that I have original and licensed software in my notebook. I turned it on and he turned it off with a scared face and said “Sir please don’t turn it on here, we don’t know if it is pirated or not, you have no sticker on your notebook” I asked “Why are you behaving like this?” he replied “Yesterday, a guy came and warned us to get rid of pirated windows installed on our systems or else we can be sentenced to jail”. I asked “Are you sure he was an official?” and he said ”Yes! I am sure, even Viper ( a computer hardware company who loaded pirated software) is screwed up”. I still tried to turn on my notebook and he said “Sir please don’t turn it on our shop, buy the headphones, if they don’t work we will replace them”.
Fishy things to know if you are a PTCL broadband customer
Apr 12th
I have been using PTCL Broadband from past 3 month, and had several strange experiences like non-transaction of paid bills, holding phone for about 56 minutes to talk to senior technical support, feeling stupid when internet isn’t working, imaginarily beating the beast who is responsible for my internet downtime and dreaming about tooth fairies when have nothing to do.
If you don’t know anyone of some authority in PTCL or Government of Pakistan or your home doesn’t reside with any of the ministers of the Government, then here are some handy tips that can save your day:
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