The Media Guru

May 27, 2008

Orange Mauritius TV Ad
Orange Mauritius TV Ad
The ubiquitous & very popular Orange Mauritius TV ad... Here it is in its full version!

Orange Mauritius TV Ad
Orange Mauritius TV Ad
The concept is great - people from all communities gather around to spread flower petals on Le Pouce. & then the petals are blown by the wind & showered around the island.... literally meaning that Orange has come to brighten your lives - did it really?

Bedouin Soundclash
But any ad would be useless without a matching soundtrack... & for once the ad agency has surpassed itself! I bet you couldn't find a more proper track than 12:59 Lullaby by Canadian group Bedouin Soundclash. Those who watch Grey's Anatomy (a popular US show) will remember this track. Part of the song has been modified to fit in the context.

Bedouin Soundclash
& the ad was also criticised - questions were raised on why the ad was contracted to an ad agency in Réunion. I doubt it hardly matters now given the outstanding quality of the finished product.


Orange ile Maurice - corporate ad

Here's a pre-production video of the ad, found on Daily Motion. It has a different soundtrack & the part where it shows "Breaking News" on the TV has not yet been added.

The 52s version of the ad:

Uploaded by joenes1

The full 1min 30s version of the ad:


At first I thought that the soundtrack was custom-made in Mauritius, especially the guitar part reminiscent of the Triangle instrument. But it's thanks to molosomari’s comment that we were informed of the original soundtrack - 12:59 Lullaby by Bedouin Soundclash. Thanks again!


That's why the original version of the video that I uploaded to YouTube consisted of the pre-production video, but I had replaced the soundtrack with one which I recorded using my mobile phone! The sound quality was horrible - 8kbps 8kHz mono! (& btw the ad is shown on the hour-stroke on B4U Music.)

The updated version was made from the original song & I used RichFLV to modify the flv.

12:59 Lullaby - Bedouin Soundclash Music Video


12:59 Lullaby
Download 12:59 Lullaby by Bedouin Soundclash here:
128kbps - 3.4Mb
192kbps - 5.1Mb
320kbps - 8.6Mb

Enjoy that wonderful track! :)
But… You can’t judge a book by its cover.
(& that has been proved)

Yashvin has also blogged about it: Orange TV Ad - Original Soundtrack! (Thx for the linkback!)

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May 24, 2008


Yes, that's true - a fibre optic network by Emtel! Read on this article by L'Express in the Techno section - Thu 22nd May 2008:

Un Internet plus rapide et moins cher en chantier
Le pionnier de la téléphonie mobile à Maurice veut se lancer sur la toile. Pour cela, elle envisage une autonomie vers le réseau international à travers son propre câble à fibre optique.


Emtel multiplie en ce moment les projets pour vendre un Internet «plus rapide et moins cher». D’ici la fin de l’année, l’opérateur, plus connu pour ses activités de téléphonie mobile, espère attaquer le marché grand public sous sa casquette de Fournisseur d’accès Internet. «Notre objectif est de pouvoir offrir la même vitesse de bande passante et au même prix qu’à l’étranger», dit Shyam Roy, directeur général d’Emtel. Offrir une Internet haut débit de plusieurs mégabits à moins de Rs 1 000. «Ce n’est pas possible qu’un pays qui se dit être une cyber-île ne peut offrir une connexion à 8 mégabits à ses internautes», s’indigne-t-il d’ailleurs.

En ce moment, Emtel est en train d’installer un réseau de câbles sous-terrain doté d’un cœur en fibre optique à travers le pays. La première phase, reliant Curepipe, Rose-Hill, Port-Louis, le Nord, Flacq et Quatre-Bornes, devrait être prête à la fin de l’année. Trois autres phases sont prévues afin de couvrir toute l’île. Selon le calendrier établi, la direction d’Emtel espère connecter tout le pays à son réseau d’ici deux ans.

Mais, même avec ce réseau, l’opérateur reste dépendant de Mauritius Telecom (MT) pour la connexion à l’international. À travers le SAFE, câble sous-marin à fibre optique, Maurice est relié au reste du monde. Et la seule compagnie mauricienne qui vend de la capacité sur cette ligne se trouve être MT, grand concurrent d’Emtel. Et jusqu’ici, ce dernier ne peut faire autrement que de passer par MT.

Pour qu’elle puisse travailler en autonomie totale, Emtel travaille sur son propre projet de câble sous-marin à fibre optique. « Avec le SAFE, les tarifs restent exorbitants. Non seulement nous n’avons pas autant de capacité que nous le souhaiterions mais en plus, l’absence de compétition fausse le jeu», estime Shyam Roy.

En discussion avec plusieurs partenaires qui auraient exprimé un réel intérêt, la compagnie de télécommunications espère faire aboutir son projet fin 2009. Si plusieurs centaines de millions de roupies seront investis dans ces projets, c’est bien parce qu’Emtel veut marquer sa présence dans l’Internet. Elle estime qu’avec une plus grande compétition, les tarifs baisseront conséquemment alors que la qualité s’améliorera. Tout comme cela est le cas pour la téléphonie mobile où Orange et Emtel mènent une bataille impitoyable depuis des années.

Nouveaux tarifs
« Notre ambition est d’offrir les meilleurs tarifs couplés à la meilleure vitesse aux clients», dit-on chez Emtel. Et d’assurer qu’avec « nos réseaux, il y aura de fortes baisses». Emtel mise également sur la technologie Wimax, Internet à haut débit sans fil, également exploitée par le Fournisseur d’accès Internet Nomad. D’ailleurs, l’opérateur permet déjà une connexion à 2 mégas, mais l’offre n’est pas encore grand public. Pour le moment, ce sont les compagnies qui sont les cibles prioritaires.

À travers l’Emtel HSDPA/3.5G USB Modem, commercialisée depuis l’année dernière, des vitesses allant jusqu’à 1.8 Mbps peuvent être atteintes. Si les formules sont plutôt abordables, l’acquisition du modem est encore assez coûteuse. Il faut compter environ Rs 5 000 pour son achat. Plusieurs forfaits sont ensuite disponibles. La moins chère est à Rs 399, pour un volume téléchargeable limité à un Giga.

Côté téléphonie internationale, Emtel vient tout juste d’appliquer de nouveaux tarifs avec des réductions allant jusqu’à 30 %. Les tarifs du mobile devraient être à l’honneur très prochainement. Emtel, tout comme Orange d’ailleurs, est en attente de l’aval de l’Information & Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), régulateur du secteur des télécommunications, pour offrir de nouveaux prix au consommateur.
[via L’Express.com]

Emtel, our Saviour?

With evil Orange having implemented a Fair Usage Policy on our Internet connections & then applying ridiculous limits to it, the future of cyberisland cybertowerisland Mauritius was hopeless...
Until this article from l'Express revived our hopes that everything isn't lost yet, & that there's still a lone cowboy company that is hearing our pleas...


Emtel's vision is to offer affordable (less than Rs 1000) MEGABIT connections at par with Europe. & to achieve it they are currently installing fibre connecting the main regions of Mauritius - the Plaine Wilhems, Port Louis, the North & Flacq. They are only connecting the DSLAMs (i.e. the exchanges if you want), so that the final link between you & Emtel may either be WiMax or your good old telephone line! Yes, Emtel may be selling ADSL!!! ADSL2 to be more precise - max speed is 12Mbps! (MT/Orange already use ADSL2 for delivering your useless 128k)

Emtel is the nemesis of debt-ridden multinational behemoth Orange who, due to their short-sightedness, failed to notice the fact that Mauritius is running out of bandwidth & who still insist on suppressing traffic instead of tackling the problem at the roots. As Eddy correctly pointed out with their Wimax Internet Service, Emtel is a company that uses a holistic approach towards any business model. & they've correctly identified that the biggest hurdle to world class Internet is SAFE. Hence Emtel is considering laying their own submarine fibre optic cable, which should be ready by late 2009.

Why not rely on Eassy then? MT's grip on SAFE has stopped just short of destroying other ISPs. With ICTA being the propaganda arm of MT, it's highly possible that Eassy will also fall into MT's hands. So actually everyone was destined to suffer the tyranny of evil Orange. Except that Emtel decided to fight back by making a suprising move towards their own fibre link.

What will Orange do?

An Indian consultancy firm is already testing FTTH for Orange in Q.Bornes. With this move by a tiny company like Emtel, Orange have to admit that they lack the will to move forward. But will they follow suit by readying up their own fibre optic link project? & I don't think they lack funds, do they? (Can you guess who made Rs 2 Billion in profit recently? - even PC World had something to say about it...)


Nevertheless, this announcement by Emtel has revived hope in the heart of all Internet users. We can now start dreaming of 8Mbps Unlimited connections. Let's support Emtel! Down with evil Orange!
(& ya, let us not overhype it as well - remember MTML has been a fiasco.)

Today, L’Express have published this article: Connexion trop chère et trop lente
Nothing new in there, except the usual ranting about SAFE, comparison with EU & some details about Emtel launching their public offers at the end of the year.

Yet another article talking about Nomad & Emtel plans - Balancing Act Issue 399

Eddy Young has also blogged about it: Emtel goes the whole nine yards.

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Manchester United have won the Champions League! I know this post is a bit late, but that's because I had my last exam yesterday & today there was a 12h power cut!


It was a terrific match all throughout the 120 min. But the most heart-stopping moments was the dramatic penalty shoot-out... But let's start from the beginning.


Man Utd's recent form wasn't great - they drew 2 matches & then lost at Stanford Bridge. But they did manage some crucial victories over Barcelona & Wigan to secure their Premiership Title. Chelsea on the other hand were defeated in the Premier League & were looking to this final for revenge...



But Sir Alex Ferguson had other plans. The duel between Ronaldo & Ashley Cole on the right flank has always been won by the latter. So Sir Alex Ferguson decided to play Ronaldo on the left... a bet that paid off! Michael Essien was completely outwitted by Cristiano Ronaldo. & at the 26th minute the inevitable happened. Brown crossed a ball from the right & Cristiano Ronaldo jumped higher than everyone (Essien who was marking him couldn't jump as he's too short) & through a powerful header sent the Luzhniki stadium into frenzy!


United were leading 1-0 & they deserved it because they were playing the brilliant football they did a few months ago. After the goal, the match's tempo completely changed as Chelsea decided it was time to fight back.


& at the 45th minute, the ball bounced back from Vidic who was blocking a shot on goal, & Lampard wrong-footed Van Der Sar to score the equalizer. It was a lucky goal, but it justified the onslaught by Chelsea.


The second half was as lively as the first half, both teams coming close to scoring - Chelsea hitting the wood twice & Man Utd goal attempts being saved on the line… But both teams were lacking the final touch & the match was headed for extra-time.


Remember last year’s FA Cup Final when Didier Drogba scored the winning goal just before the end of extra-time? But this time Drogba didn’t score a goal… but was disgracefully sent off (for slapping Vidic) 4 min before the end of extra-time. But Man Utd couldn’t take advantage of 10-man Chelsea & the game was meant to be decided on penalties…


If the tension during the match was incredible… then it’s unbearable during the penalty shootout! (I guess penalties shouldn’t be watched by the faint-hearted). I was really very stressed - because anything could happen! Drogba being sent off hinted of luck being on Utd’s side, but with the penalty that didn’t matter anymore!


The first two sets of penalties were successfully converted… but then Ronaldo (as usual) messed up Man Utd’s 3rd penalty, which was easily saved by Petr Cech…


Man Utd were losing the match & it didn’t help that the next two penalties weren’t saved by Van der Sar. Nani scoring the 5th penalty for United meant that the issue of the match was to be decided by the last penalty, which would be taken by no other than Chelsea Captain John Terry. After saving Gigg’s effort from the line during the match, John Terry, being the ideal captain, was now poised for scoring the winning goal - & he’s one of the few people in the Chelsea to miss a penalty. I knew the tides had turned when Ronaldo failed to score - but with John Terry next, I resigned myself to acknowledge that defeat was unavoidable. Hence I chose to watch the possibly last penalty with one finger on the TV’s power button…(I couldn’t bear to watch Chelsea’s celebrations...)



The unthinkable happened! John Terry slipped at the crucial moment & kicked the ball beyond the posts!!!! MAN UTD WERE SAVED!!! My joy was unbelievable - at last luck was with us!!!


The penalty was now in sudden death - meaning that whatever team failed to score would lose the match. Anderson & Kalou scored their respective penalties & Giggs stepped up to commemorate his 759th record appearance for United with a goal.


Now everything was left in Anelka’s hands foot. I just knew that Anelka would miss definitely that penalty… French players have a knack for missing penalties (remember the 2006 World Cup Final). & Anelka’s decision to take a short stride for spot kick just confirmed by premonition… &…



SAVED!!!!
A goal saved by a man,
A giant leap for Man Utd.



Van Der Sar brilliantly saved the Anelka’s goal!!!! MAN UTD ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!!!! YAAYYY!!! WOOHOO!!!


A perfect end to a perfect season. United were crowned English Premier League & European Champions League winners! Man Utd are simply the best team in the world!!!
The 21st/22nd May 2008 will always be remembered as the day history was made… when a great leader of men slipped… & another, a veteran, had his experience paid off.


MANCHESTER UNITED ARE CHAMPIONS!

PS: I’m still rejoicing!!!! :P

Photo Credits:
BBC News
Reuters
Daily Telegraph

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May 20, 2008


Producer Andy Wilman has just blogged about the new Series 11 of Top Gear (air date still unknown)… & he released some big titbits about Series 11.
Check it out here: Top Gear New Series Exclusive
I got that news flash via the newsletter. Haven’t subscribed yet? You are not a true TG fan then!!! So what are you waiting for? Subscribe here!

Summary of what we know for Series 11:
- There will be only 6 shows! :(
- Top Gear’s going to Japan for a car v/s machine challenge (possibly the Shinkansen).
- Jeremy “The Fox” will challenge the Ledbury Hunt (accompanied by Richard “The Hounds”).
- A challenge on how to improve a cop car - the trio will be making a “copsupercar.”
- Audi RS6 v/s Skiers (huh?)
- A war-related challenge taking place in Germany with Sabine.
- Owing an Alfa challenge (old car challenge?).
- New Evo X against the Impreza, CLK Black and hopefully the Mazda Furai.

& here are some photo spoilers…





70s luxury car challenge? Is it for S11 or S12???


Nopes, that’s not a spoiler! James IS NOT THE STIG!!! :P

Top Gear in United Arab Emirates!


I know you’ve been dazzled by such a unique sight… 3 Bugatti Veyrons & what’s more one of the Bugattis is the extra-exclusive Pur Sang Edition! But before jumping to any conclusions, let me destroy your enthusiasm by pointing out that this is TOP GEAR MAGAZINE & not Top Gear the show…. :(

Report from a local newspaper:
ABU DHABI

Psst, buddy, can you spare me a sports car? Yes, evidently, three of them. This weekend Top Gear, the UK-based car magazine, which is in the country for a photo shoot, sent out an urgent request for an unusual car, the million-dollar Bugatti Veyron.

It was hoping for one. Instead, it was offered three of the vehicles, which cost more than Dh4.4 million (US$1.2m) each. “No other place in the world could we have found three Bugattis in a span of 48 hours,” said a relieved Charlie Turner, the creative director for the magazine.

The cars were tracked down by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and belong to local owners who wish to remain anonymous. Built by Volkswagen, the 1,000-horsepower vehicle can reach 407kph. One car in the shoot, a gleaming aluminium-bodied model, is one of only five in the world.

The Corniche area and Jabel Hafeet were briefly closed off for the shoot, which featured the Stig, Top Gear’s mysterious, overall-clad driver.

Top Gear, paired with a BBC television show of the same name, sells more than a million copies a month.





Keep on drooling, I won’t stop you… Ferrari 599 + 2 Bugatti Veyrons + a Pur Sang + a Koenisegg CCX. Phew! (The black BMW to the right looks like an alien next to these monsters!)



I bet that’s a fake Stig coz the real one is filming in UK for S11!


You want more spoilers? Here's the followup to this post! Top Gear Series 11 Coming Soon...

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May 19, 2008


So here we go... the highly anticipated sequel of National Treasure (review here). Ok, I know that this movie was released last year, but I watched NT only in Feb & as for the NT2, the DVD is releasing on May 20th 2008.


NT2's DVD-rip was released a few weeks ago... but I preferred to wait for an HD-rip. & I was right! Click on the above screenshot. That's a whooping widescreen resolution of 832 x 400! Bitrate is 1466kbps. & the file size? Only a mere 1.4GB! That's the magic of x264! (& great thanks to team m-HD at Warez-bb for ripping it from 720p Blu-Ray release) Enough of warez talk - let's go straight to the review of the 9th highest earning blockbuster of 2007.



Benjamin Gates's (Nicolas Cage) great-great-grandfather Thomas Gates is accused of being the mastermind of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, due to the discovery of a missing page from John Wilkes Booth's (the killer) diary.


To save his family's reputation, Ben decides to investigate the PlayFair Cipher hidden in the page. This leads him to the Statue of Liberty... which reveals the next puzzle - a treasure hunt leading to Cibola - one of the seven Golden Cities. Ben Gates is accompanied by sidekick Riley Poole (Justin Bartha) & girlfriend Abigail Chase (Diane Kruger).




National Treasure 2 is just as exciting as the original one but contains much more action scenes! There are fewer clues, but they are as intriguing as never before. Did you know that there are three Statues of Liberty in the world & that one is found in Luxembourg? I resent the fact that less time has been devoted to the clues but producers don’t allow extended versions of movies (like LOTR). The plot revolves around how the American Civil War was won by hiding the Golden City of Cibola - the El Dorado of America - from the Confederates. You wouldn’t believe where it’s hidden. :)


A sequel for National Treasure 2? Definitely… & I guess the way’s paved for one… remember Page 47 of the Book of Secrets. :P

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Treasure_2
IMDB: 6.7/10

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