Exchange rate slabs updated

Exchange rate slabs (like 50 - 2999 etc.) for some bank sites changed recently. I have checked the latest and updated the USD to INR and GBP to INR sites accordingly. You will now see the latest slabs and their corresponding rates.

It's time to switch to Google Chrome

When Google released Chrome, I wrote a little post on what is missing and why I couldn't use it as my default browser. Google Chrome got updated to version 4 few days ago and with it came what I was waiting for all these days ... Extensions and Bookmark Sync.

Google Chrome now has bookmark synchronization built-in (no need to install any third-party extension). You can use your existing Google account to sync your bookmarks from one computer to the other. And you always have your bookmarks available in your Google Docs account online. So, even if you are on your friend's computer, you can access your bookmarks without syncing.

If you are one of those people who worry about using Google account to sync your bookmarks, you can use the free Xmarks extension. If you use Xmarks, you can even sync between Firefox, Chrome, IE and Safari as they have extensions available for all those browsers (Google's bookmark sync is limited currently to Chrome browser only).

Chrome now supports extensions and there are hundreds of them available already. You can find all your favorite Firefox extensions in Chrome's extensions gallery or you can at least find a decent alternative. One of the major advantages of Chrome extensions over Firefox is that you can install and uninstall them without the need for a restart of the browser.

With these new features, Chrome won me over and I have switched from Firefox to Chrome. Chrome is my new default web browser. If you haven't already, it is time to try Google Chrome.

How to watch IPL Twenty20 matches live on YouTube in USA

Last week I have posted that YouTube is live streaming the IPL Twenty20 matches for free. But, as pointed out in the comments of that post, there are some caveats. YouTube live stream is apparently not "live" as there is a 5 minutes delay. And, it is not available in United States. So, if you can live with the 5 minutes delay, below is how you can access it inside the US.

Many websites that are US-only (like Hulu) are accessed by users from outside the US using tools that disguise/hide your IP address. You can use the same technique to access the live IPL stream on YouTube even though you live in US. Use Hotspot Shield, IP Hider or IP Disguise to disguise your IP. IP Hider lets you select a proxy. So, you can use it to select a proxy that is not in US and watch the IPL matches live.

Hope this helps those who are inside the US and want to watch IPL 3.

Watch all IPL Twenty20 matches live on YouTube

There is a good news for all the cricket fans out there. YouTube has signed a deal with Indian Premier League (IPL) to live stream all the 60 matches of the coming IPL season for free. You no longer have to search and find that ever-changing live streaming link only for it to stop working in the middle of the match due to overload. You will be able to watch the full matches live for free on YouTube.

As a bonus, you will be able to freeze, change angles and do some other cool stuff with the live cricket feed. Can't wait for the action to start.

Trillian iPhone app fails to connect to Jabber

I like Trillian Astra. The desktop client is very nice and feature-rich. It is everything a multi-protocol IM client should be. But their iPhone app doesn't quite live up to the name.

My office IM network is based on Jabber and I have used iPhone app IM+ Lite to login to it and be available on IM during non-business hours. As a free version, IM+ Lite adds promotional messages to chats and hence I have decided to purchase a full version of iPhone IM client. As a very satisfied user of the Trillian Astra desktop client, I purchased their iPhone app for $4.99. As there is no free/trial version available to try out, I had to get the full version directly. But as I realized later, it was a bad decision.

Though Trillian Astra's desktop client and iPhone IM apps like IM+ Lite can connect to Jabber networks properly, Trillian's iPhone app fails to connect to my office network. I have noticed few complaints about this on the forums on their website but so far there is no fix. They have updated their desktop client many times but continue to neglect the iPhone version and failed to update it months after the initial release.

Update : Minutes after posting this, I have received a tweet from @trillainastra stating that a beta version is in the works that could fix this. Great news !!! Thanks.

Use Adobe Reader and Flash alternatives for security

Last weekend I was shocked to know that Adobe Reader and Flash will soon overtake Microsoft's Office and Internet Explorer as the most vulnerable software for PCs. For years Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer were the most targeted by malware / virus creators due to weak security and unresolved bugs. But now security firms are reporting that the number of attacks targeted towards the issues in Adobe Reader and Flash are on the rise and will soon surpass the current leader Office.

What is the best way to be prepared against the virus attacks from vulnerable software ? Don't use that software if you can. If it is a must to use that software, use an alternative or always try to keep the software up-to-date. So, after reading the above news, I gave a serious thought whether I needed the Adobe Reader and Flash and also whether there are any free, open-source alternatives that are more secure.

Adobe Reader has solid alternatives like Sumatra PDF and Foxit Reader. You can uninstall Adobe Reader and use one of these software without any issue. There are some alternatives to Flash (like Gnash). But their browser support (to play YouTube videos etc.) is not that great. So, uninstall Adobe Reader and use one of the above alternatives and keep the Flash for now (but keep it updated always).

India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Tri Series Live Streaming

ESPN is broadcasting the India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Tri Series 2010 live on the web at their ESPN360.com site. You can watch all upcoming matches live on the web for free at their site and you can even see replay of the matches once they are over.

This live streaming is restricted to only users of certain ISPs. It will automatically detect your internet provider (using your IP address) and gives you the access if your internet provider is in the list of ESPN affiliates. If the detection fails, you can login using your ISP email address to get the access. Most major internet providers like AT&T, Comcast, Cox are included. So, majority of US users should be able to access the stream for free.

If you have an affiliate internet provider at home but are at a different place now, you can get access to the stream using the remote access feature. Check the FAQs on the site for more information on this.