How To Rename a Tag in Google Reader

I use Google Reader to read several feeds of my interest. Recently I wanted to rename a tag ( category ) but I didn't find this option any where in Google Reader. Finally I had to google for it and I found the solution of Googlified blog. Here is what Haochi Chen writes ...

Many people complained about the lack of  tag renaming feature in Google Reader. Sure, there is no direct way, but a simple get around would do the trick, and this is how you do it:

1. Go to the Settings page of Google Reader
2. Enter the tag name you want to change in the input field that labeled “Filter by name, tag, or URL” (right side of the page)
3. Click “Select: All {number} subscriptions” (left side of the page, right under the “Subscription” tab)
4. Create a new tag under one of the feeds in “Change folders” (find “New folder…”)
5. Go to “More actions…” and choose the tag you just created under “Add tag…”
6. Go to “More actions…” again and click the old tag that you don’t want, under “Remove tag…” to remove the tag.

That’s it, six steps aren’t much, you can do it under a minute.

Google Launched Chatback

From GoogleTalk blog ..

Do you have a blog, online profile, or some other personal web page? Would you like to communicate more with your visitors? Today we're launching a new Google Talk feature that lets visitors to your web site chat with you. We call it "chatback" because instead of you doing all the talking on your blog, your visitors can talk back to you. Sure, they could leave comments, but those are public and hard to use for a real conversation. With chatback, it's a real instant message session.

To use chatback, you must have a Google Talk account ... but your visitors don't have to! They don't even need to have an email address, or to have ever used instant messaging.

When they visit your site, they'll see a badge like the one on the right showing your online status (available, busy, offline) and, if you're available, they can just click and start chatting. Chatback uses the web-based Google Talk Gadget so your visitors don't need to download anything. It opens in a new window so they can keep chatting with you even if they browse to other pages.

Of course, chatback isn't just for blogs. You can use it on any web page that you can add HTML content to. To get started, visit the chatback start page. (This is also linked from the Google Talk homepage.) Then just copy the provided HTML snippet to your web site. Visitors will then see a badge on your site indicating your availability, and can click to start a chat with you. If there's a time when you don't want to be distracted, just set your online status to "busy" and visitors won't be able to chat with you until you change your status back to "available."

GEO is back on cable

After 77 days of being off air, the transmission of the Geo News - was restored Monday at 6:00 pm. All four of the network's channels were put off air hours before Marshal Law ( named emergency ) was declared in the country on November 3, 2007.
Although other channels were also closed at the same time but they allowed to go back on air soon afterwards except for channel of Geo Network and Geo Super.
The transmissions of Geo News and Geo Super back to on air today at 6:00 pm.

On January 20th, President Pervez Musharraf issued orders to immediately restore the broadcast of the news and sports channels of the network. He issued this order just a day before leaving for Europe tour.

Meanwhile channel was banned in Pakistan, Geo continued to uplink from Dubai. But, on December 16 the emirate authorities stopped the international broadcasts of the channel. During the 78-day ban the network incurred huge financial losses to the tune of Rs 150-200 crores.

The question "again" arises, Is Pervez Musharraf all and all of Pakistan? Where is PTA now? The answer of all questions is this that there is no rule of Law in Pakistan. Pakistan runs on the Law of Jungle.

Find great websites, videos, photos and more based on your interests

I’m a HUGE stumble fan. This is how StumbleUpon Team describes it. "Surf the internet with the StumbleUpon toolbar to find great websites, videos, photos and more based on your interests. StumbleUpon learns what you like and makes better recommendations. Connect with friends and share your discoveries, meet people that have similar interests, and check out what other people are discovering."

StumbleUpon is a web browser plugin that allows you to discover and rate webpages, photos, videos, and any thing on the web. These webpages are shown when you -- known as a Stumbler -- click the "Stumble!" button on the toolbar. StumbleUpon chooses which new webpage to display based on the your ratings of previous pages, ratings by your friends, and by the ratings of users with similar interests. i.e. it is a recommendation system which uses social networking principles. You can rate, or choose not to rate, any webpage with a thumbs up or thumbs down. Toolbar is available for Firefox and Internet Explorer.

You must give it a try, I am sure you will not think about un-installing it.

StumbleUpon can be used to effectively increase traffic if you only knew how to use it. Here are few useful links.

How To Convert StumbleUpon Users To Regular Visitors
How to Effectively Increase Traffic Through Stumbleupon
Stumbleupon - for Market Research???

Free SMS to any Mobile Number in Pakistan

SMS has become a popular way ( it will not be wrong if I say Most Popular way ) in Pakistan to communicate with your friends and relatives. Keeping this in view, different mobile service providers including Warid, Telenor and Ufone launched different packages for sending tons of SMS at a low price. Most Internet users, including me, used smspk.com and similar sites till recent past for Web2SMS. This is still popular but
- Warid is providing this Web2SMS service only to Warid connection holders.
- Other Mobile operators in Pakistan require a reply SMS from mobile user to initiate the Web2SMS.
- Delivery of SMS has been an issue in recent past.

Few days ago I discovered a nice web-site monis.pk for such Pakistanis who use Web2SMS. This site is based on invitations. To get an invitation, post a comment with your mobile number or enter email address.

positives

- There is no need for java support in your browser.
- The thing I liked the most is this that you can send SMS to any number of any connection in Pakistan from one page without the need of navigating to other pages.
- SMS delivery has not been a problem so far.
- Your contacts are added in your friend's list .. and you can choose their numbers easily.

negatives

- Very few SMS support. Only 4 credits are given to you on registration. And 3 more credits are given when any invitation is accepted and your contact registers. And you can send 1 SMS per credit. To overcome this, one must invite hundreds of friends and make them register.

The site is in alpha stage .. hopefully they will soon upgrade it and will give more credits to site members.

Create Email Accounts on Live .com

I was excited from day one of Live.com beta launch for creating an email account @live.com but it was not possible before. Today I came to know that Microsoft has finally allowed people to create email account on live.com few weeks ago. Visit http://get.live.com/getlive/overview to signup for your new account.

-- Jan 1, 08 update --
The above mentioned link is no more working. Use this link to create email account on live.com which is still working.

Another new features allows you link a main Windows Live account with other Hotmail/MSN/Live email accounts and use a single login to access / switch between all of your accounts. At the top of the page, next to your email address, there's an arrow that shows a list of your linked accounts when you click it.

One more desired feature is also there which allows you to forward your incoming emails to any email address of your choice. To use this, login to your Hotmail/MSN/Live.com email account and then go to options and choose "Forward mail to another e-mail account" link.

Wateen WiMAX - Unforgettable Experience

Wateen Telecom launched its WiMAX services almost 10 days ago for public and announced different packages for home and business users. I was waiting for it from a long time and was really exited when I saw its opening.

I visited their franchise on Mall Road opposite to Lahore High Court. I observed that the staff has very limited knowledge about their own services and they were asking each other for details. I was told that WiMAX service covers whole Lahore and there will not be any signals problem.

I selected a suitable plan for my home and presented my Visa debit card for payment, but I was told that "machine is not working" ( Which is still not working after 5 days, I came to know today on my second visit ). I arranged Cash and finally purchased the connection.

Now I needed username and password for my connection for which I had to call Wateen's call center several times. Average time of waiting for call to be answered by Wateen call center is almost 8 minutes. During this I came to know that the device provided with connection ( Motorola CPEi600 ) is not functioning due to signals problem in my area. I should get antena from franchise to solve the signal's issue, support staff told. Username and Password was finally received on 5th day after buying the connection. :)

Today on Monday Dec 24th, I visited the franchise again for antena and they have asked me to "wait till dec 26th .. then call us again and then we will see this matter."

Very very poor and slow support which has made my first experience with wateen unforgettable. So far I am struggling to get my connection working.

I'll keep this post updated while the matter progresses.

-- Updates December 26, 07 --

I called Mr Rauf Malik, Manager Wateen Telecom, Mall Road Lahore Franchise today as he promissed to resolve the issue today on my last visit. He has told me that "Please wait till 30th December, when Wateen is going to extend its coverage and hopefully the problem will get resolved" ... Frustration continues.

-- Updates December 31, 07 --

Late Benazir Bhutto, like many other departments of pakistan, caused delay for Wateen aswell, latest excuse from Mr. Rauf Malik ... yet another time I am promissed that technical staff will visit and install jupiter ( antena ) tomorrow ... will the sun of this "tomorrow" rise?

-- Updates January 3, 08 --

Today I was contacted by Mr. Shahid Qureshi, Head of Support Team in Lahore, in response to my email to wateen support. He has told me that my area is not covered by wateen at the moment but hopefully wateen will extend its coverage to my area in one to two months.

According to Support head, Franchises are provided Maps highlighting the areas which have the coverage. If this is correct, why did they sell me the connection? On the time of purchase, I asked the franchise staff several times about coverage in my area. Why they didn't give the correct information? These are few questions which need attention of Wateen Management.

Very disappointing. I'll return the connection tomorrow. :(