iPhone - 3G - worth it?

I recently pampered myself and bought the iPhone-3G. Prior to this, I owned a basic Nokia cell phone; so needless to say this was a big bump in features.

I love the iPhone for following reasons

1. The user interface is very friendly, intuitive and easy to use.
   
2. Key applications organized at the touch of a finger make it easy to get what you need rather than several key strokes searching for it
3. The 3G keeps you always online and always connected. I recently ventured on a 4 hour road-trip and far away from home, it's a luxury to remain in touch
4. Maps with integrated GPS provides you driving directions - so throw that paper and pencil and that printer. While it may not be as good as the navigation devices (no point-to-point directions, voice activated, automatic re-route), it is pretty useful none-the-less
5. iPOD comes integrated, so your favorite music library comes with you at no extra device
6. Locating your favorite POIs (points of interest) especially when you travel - e.g. finding the closest gas station or Starbucks coffee or Roundtable Pizza
   
7. And lots more

Issues with the iPhone

1. The 3G connection is not reliable and very slow once you leave certain hotspots. Caltrain does not have good connection. Apple provided a patch to fix this problem but for me, the problem still persists
   
2. Sometimes the phone is slow to touch and response especially when it cannot connect to internet
3. Don't know whose grand idea it is (Apple or AT&T) but international text messaging is not included in the iPhone 200 package which is a pain since I text family in India a lot
4. The battery depletes very fast when you use the iPOD or when you browse the internet - this is a pain when you are on the road. Ah! but that means one needs the car charger
5. Not compatible with Bluetooth v1.1 and below. Sadly I had purchased a Bluetooth headset just 6 months ago, so more wasted investment
   

Overall - a good phone but still for early adopters.

Gujarat Govt allows open book exam for Classes 8-10

Read here about a recent decision by Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) to implement open book exam for Classes 8-10 starting 2009.

The goal is to reduce student stress in exams emphasizing that exams should test for knowledge and not your memory power. A lot of toppers are fretting and might feel they have lost some competitive advantage with this move.

However, I am in the camp of open book policy - not necessarily because I think this favors some over others. I argue that open book policy in exams tend to make exams tougher than easier since examiners don't only test you on things that require a smart book index. Instead, most examiners test for ability to apply learnings to new problem spaces, so while open book helps alleviate pain around remembering formulas, theorems, history dates - it will still require students to come prepared to exams knowing how to apply their knowledge instead of memorizing and do it faster than everyone else.

So for toppers in Gujarat - don't fret, take this in your stride and look forward to a newer challenges in exams. Also, in the US, most MBA schools are open book, so no harm in starting early and getting used to this. As always, easier preached than done!!!