First ever YouTube Blogger Road Show : 16th of June 2012

So, I went to this Bloggers' Road Show conducted by Google this Saturday, 16th of June 2012. Reaching there was quite a pain since, even though Google's premises in balmy B'lore is quite swanky, the same can't be said about the exact location where the premises be located :). The Bangalore Metro being slothful, slowwww, so slow!,  didn't help the cause too much either. After all the needful security checks, generation of name tag etc, I popped in the room around 20 mins into the seminar :). Apparently, didn't miss much 'cos I seemed to latch onto the conversation right away. Anyways, that was the prologue :) getting on with business now...

In the words of the presenter herself, the road show was going to be all about...

 "Want to be a YouTube star? Here's your chance to do what you love to do, become a star on YouTube, reach a global audience and even get paid!"

(Hah! many lonely vloggers would have loved to have the "P" in the last word of the sentence be replaced with "L" :P )

The following were some of the bullet points which one gained from the session:

• The Indian Demographic of the YouTube "Diaspora" view, on an average of 7-15 videos in a single viewing session.
• Most Indian users (i.e. around 60%) use YouTube for accessing Indian content. (Duh!)
• This is because the recommendation engine for youtube users has been spruced up quite a few notches in the recent past.
• The advertisement generating engine has also been improved it appears and the various types of ads coming into play for YouTube were also discussed. 
• The "3 R"s of YouTube were revealed as "Reach. Revenue. Recognition". On a "Content is King" platform like YouTube, the user gets access to these '3 R's.
• The current time limit for uploads is going to be revised pretty soon. But the scrutiny for copyrighted items remain the same.
• Apparently, being a YouTube partner is going to help monetizing on one's original content in YouTube in a better manner than the regular Adsense steam. (I do have my own apprehensions on this. BTW the money generated from being a partner is still going to be tracked and paid with Adsense UI and tools). Revenue breakup will be 55% (YouTube partner) and 45% (YouTube/Google)
• Having one's own channel is one of the important means towards this end.
• The mechanism for becoming a partner is going to come online pretty soon.
• Having original content which is engaging is very very crucial in this case. Couple of videos were shown to illustrate this. Video blogs of Gayatri Vantillu (Houswife/Recipe vlogger) and Michelle Phan (Makeup Artist/vlogger and THE highest earning youtube partner) were shown as examples of people with simple and original content who were making very good amounts of money out of youtube. While on the other hand, Dr. K Chaudhury was quoted as an example of a hugely popular YouTube star who is ineligible for the partnership since his material uses highly copyrighted items (except for the singing which is super original :P lol .. i remember hearing one of his fans saying its easier to tolerate Chinese torture than to endure a round of songs with Dr. KC! :P) . Several very popular bloggers apparently were also quoted as moving to the YouTube medium ever since partnership was announced to them. 
• So, its  like the medium has given rise to a whole new generation of stars, "The youtube stars" as they are called. 
• A thick thick skin for scathing criticism, very important :)(e.g: "I remain in fray because I look at 10 thousand people who like my performance and not at 10 million people who hate my performance. Assessing me as good or bad, you gifted me your precious time – that is what makes me feel obliged to you." ~ Dr. KC at some pointed criticisms in the comments of an American Blog)

Having heard all the above, one does feel a lot motivated and excited by the possibilities available at ones disposal with such a powerful platform like this. But, then so was the case when blogging was the hottest kid in school, and being a blogger was not going to be only about being cool but also apparently a very economically fulfilling enterprise. Hmmm, then we see all kinds of waylaid, defunct and sporadic blogs by the thousands (or millions is it? and even I may be counted among them :P ) which are neither cool nor making money nor are they even records of our times in many cases. Actually, the fact of the matter is that, no matter what kind of platforms exist and how powerful or easy to use they become, the only way one can become successful in any of these is by being very original, very creative and by overcoming one's personal inertia (toughest of all).
As I end on that very topic-disconnected and mood-swing-y note, I leave you with some pictures of the event and its presentation. 'til l8r...

Sample Code for Deep and Shallow Cloning ~ Java

Was just going over deep and shallow cloning a few days back.. thought of retaining the doodling bit of code as a memento .. its unnecessarily lengthy ... could've overriden the tostring method to reduce the length of the system.out.printlns .. but then the sample is just for my reference so dint go through the trouble ... use at ur own fancy and convenience .... anyways, the following is the code:::

public class TestCloning {
public static void main(String[] somestuff) {
System.out.println("<<---------Trying out shallow cloning------>>>");
A a = new A();
A aClone = (A) a.clone();
System.out.println("Original Object items:\n BUilder: "
+ a.getStrBuilder() + "\n BUffer: " + a.getStrBuffer()
+ "\n Printing the clone properties -->\n BUilder: "
+ aClone.getStrBuilder() + "\n BUffer: "
+ aClone.getStrBuffer());
System.out
.println("\n Modifying the builder of original object to \'GUilder\'.....\n");
a.setStrBuilder("GUilder");
System.out
.println("after modfiication Original Object items:\n BUilder: "
+ a.getStrBuilder()
+ "\n BUffer: "
+ a.getStrBuffer()
+ "\n Printing the clone properties -->\n BUilder: "
+ aClone.getStrBuilder()
+ "\n BUffer: "
+ aClone.getStrBuffer());
System.out.println("<<--------End of shallow cloning: ---->>\n");


System.out.println("\n<<-----------Trying out deep cloning------>>");
B b = new B();
B bClone = (B) b.clone();
System.out.println("Original Object items:\n BUilder: "
+ b.getStrBuilder() + "\n BUffer: " + b.getStrBuffer()
+ "\n Printing the clone properties -->\n BUilder: "
+ bClone.getStrBuilder() + "\n BUffer: "
+ bClone.getStrBuffer());
System.out
.println("\n Modifying the builder of original object to \'GUilder\'.....\n");
b.setStrBuilder("GUilder");
System.out
.println("after modfiication Original Object items:\n BUilder: "
+ b.getStrBuilder()
+ "\n BUffer: "
+ b.getStrBuffer()
+ "\n Printing the clone properties -->\n BUilder: "
+ bClone.getStrBuilder()
+ "\n BUffer: "
+ bClone.getStrBuffer());
System.out.println("<<--------------End of Deep cloning: ---->>");


}


}


class A implements Cloneable {
private StringBuilder strBuilder = null;
private StringBuffer strBuffer = null;


A() {
strBuilder = new StringBuilder("Java Builder");
strBuffer = new StringBuffer("Java Buffer");
}


@Override
public A clone() {
try {
return (A) super.clone();
} catch (CloneNotSupportedException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
return null;
}
}


public StringBuilder getStrBuilder() {
return strBuilder;
}


public void setStrBuilder(String str) {
this.strBuilder = strBuilder.replace(0, strBuilder.length(), str);
}


public StringBuffer getStrBuffer() {
return strBuffer;
}
}


class B implements Cloneable {
private StringBuilder strBuilder = new StringBuilder("Java Builder");
private StringBuffer strBuffer = new StringBuffer("Java Buffer");


private B(String a, String b) {
this.strBuilder = new StringBuilder(a);
this.strBuffer = new StringBuffer(b);
}


public B() {
// TODO Auto-generated constructor stub
}


@Override
public B clone() {
return new B("Java Builder", "Java Buffer");
}


public StringBuilder getStrBuilder() {
return strBuilder;
}


public void setStrBuilder(String str) {
this.strBuilder = strBuilder.replace(0, strBuilder.length(), str);
}


public StringBuffer getStrBuffer() {
return strBuffer;
}
}

Configure 5.1 Channel Sound on Ubuntu-Karmic Koala (for dummies like me!)

UPDATE: The following tutorial also helps set up 5.1 channel audio in Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat as well.

Intro

I recently upgraded to the new Karmic Koala after nearly a year of using Intrepid Ibex (with which I had become quite comfy and so I hadn´t upgraded to Jaunty).

A common problem with most of the earlier Ubuntu versions (previous to Karmic Koala) was the setting up of the sound systems with channels more than 2 (or 2.1 for that matter). This was easily solved by adding a couple of lines in the daemon file for pulseaudio and the alsa-base configuration file for ALSA. With the advent of Karmic Koala, this problem was to be fixed with all the sound profiles etc. which would provide an ¨easier-than-windows¨ approach to setting up your sound.

Hmmm, seems great to read, but it lasted only till I heard/read this stuff, ´cause when I setup Karmic Koala, and changed the sound profile to my setup of 5.1 channel sound, Bam!... still no sound from the rear, center and LFE speakers. So, yet again with this version too, I rolled up my sleeves and set out to...

¨Configure 5.1 Channel Speaker system on Karmic Koala¨ ......

Though the article looks long, the steps are really short cos most of the text is for explaining the steps to myself and keep me from forgetting them ;)

Setup 5.1 channel sound in 5.1 steps (a.k.a. cut to the chase, enough with the intro babble!)

1) Take a backup of the files daemon.conf and alsa-base.conf. (In case you mess something up, cos not everyoneś as smart as me.. Most are more! :P)

Daemon.conf is located in the path ¨/etc/pulse/¨

alsa-base.conf is located in ¨/etc/modprobe.d/¨

And yeah, before I move onto the next steps, make sure that you have alsamixer installed in the system

(gtk+ version was found to be more convenient, u can get it from the software center or synaptic or add/remove programs)

2) Open a terminal window and type:

sudo gedit /etc/pulse/daemon.conf

This will open the pulse audio file for editing after you provide your password

Look for the line

;default-sample-channels=2

Remove the ; (this is to uncomment the line) and put the number of speakers which you have after the equals sign and save the file.

In my case, the line looked something like this:

default-sample-channels=6

3) Find the sound card which u have. For that, in the terminal window

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#* | grep Codec

For me it gave

Codec: Realtek ALC883

4) In the terminal window, type the follwong command:

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

This will open the ALSA configuration file for editing after you provide your password.

Go to the end of the file and add the line

options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-6ch

and save the file.

The value entered after the word model is specific to the configuration which I have i.e Realtek ALC883 with 3 jack setup at the back of the cabinet. If you have a different model or configuration of jacks then you might want to look in the list given at the end of the post for whatever value suits your model.

5) Restart your computer.

5.1) After restart, if you find the sound is still not coming from all your speakers, then open the alsa mixer from under applications--> Sound & Video -->ALSA Mixer, select the 6ch in the channel mode section and make sure none of the output volume controls are muted or turned very low. Type the following command in the terminal command line:

speaker-test -Dplug:surround51 -c6 -l1 -twav

Conclusion:

Well, your 5.1 channel sound should be up and running by now. If it isn´t, then, theres some other problem with your setup and you might consider giving it a serious diagnostic check up.

As, for the Karmic Koala Ubuntu, it promises a lot of things and in most cases ..it does deliver ...but having labor like this every time I setup my system is downright irritating ..hope u folks at Canonical are listening and righting these wrongs.

I have also made a video tutorial of the steps so as to better illustrate the entire operation.

Video tutorial

List of soundcard model/settings

Soundcard

--------------

Model name Description

---------- -----------

ALC880

3stack 3-jack in back and a headphone out

3stack-digout 3-jack in back, a HP out and a SPDIF out

5stack 5-jack in back, 2-jack in front

5stack-digout 5-jack in back, 2-jack in front, a SPDIF out

6stack 6-jack in back, 2-jack in front

6stack-digout 6-jack with a SPDIF out

w810 3-jack

z71v 3-jack (HP shared SPDIF)

asus 3-jack (ASUS Mobo)

asus-w1v ASUS W1V

asus-dig ASUS with SPDIF out

asus-dig2 ASUS with SPDIF out (using GPIO2)

uniwill 3-jack

fujitsu Fujitsu Laptops (Pi1536)

F1734 2-jack

lg LG laptop (m1 express dual)

lg-lw LG LW20/LW25 laptop

tcl TCL S700

clevo Clevo laptops (m520G, m665n)

test for testing/debugging purpose, almost all controls can be

adjusted. Appearing only when compiled with

$CONFIG_SND_DEBUG=y

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC260

hp HP machines

hp-3013 HP machines (3013-variant)

fujitsu Fujitsu S7020

acer Acer TravelMate

will Will laptops (PB V7900)

replacer Replacer 672V

basic fixed pin assignment (old default model)

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC262

fujitsu Fujitsu Laptop

hp-bpc HP xw4400/6400/8400/9400 laptops

hp-bpc-d7000 HP BPC D7000

benq Benq ED8

benq-t31 Benq T31

hippo Hippo (ATI) with jack detection, Sony UX-90s

hippo_1 Hippo (Benq) with jack detection

sony-assamd Sony ASSAMD

basic fixed pin assignment w/o SPDIF

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC268

3stack 3-stack model

toshiba Toshiba A205

acer Acer laptops

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC662

3stack-dig 3-stack (2-channel) with SPDIF

3stack-6ch 3-stack (6-channel)

3stack-6ch-dig 3-stack (6-channel) with SPDIF

6stack-dig 6-stack with SPDIF

lenovo-101e Lenovo laptop

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC882/885

3stack-dig 3-jack with SPDIF I/O

6stack-dig 6-jack digital with SPDIF I/O

arima Arima W820Di1

targa Targa T8, MSI-1049 T8

asus-a7j ASUS A7J

asus-a7m ASUS A7M

macpro MacPro support

mbp3 Macbook Pro rev3

imac24 iMac 24'' with jack detection

w2jc ASUS W2JC

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC883/888

3stack-dig 3-jack with SPDIF I/O

6stack-dig 6-jack digital with SPDIF I/O

3stack-6ch 3-jack 6-channel

3stack-6ch-dig 3-jack 6-channel with SPDIF I/O

6stack-dig-demo 6-jack digital for Intel demo board

acer Acer laptops (Travelmate 3012WTMi, Aspire 5600, etc)

acer-aspire Acer Aspire 9810

medion Medion Laptops

medion-md2 Medion MD2

targa-dig Targa/MSI

targa-2ch-dig Targs/MSI with 2-channel

laptop-eapd 3-jack with SPDIF I/O and EAPD (Clevo M540JE, M550JE)

lenovo-101e Lenovo 101E

lenovo-nb0763 Lenovo NB0763

lenovo-ms7195-dig Lenovo MS7195

haier-w66 Haier W66

6stack-hp HP machines with 6stack (Nettle boards)

3stack-hp HP machines with 3stack (Lucknow, Samba boards)

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC861/660

3stack 3-jack

3stack-dig 3-jack with SPDIF I/O

6stack-dig 6-jack with SPDIF I/O

3stack-660 3-jack (for ALC660)

uniwill-m31 Uniwill M31 laptop

toshiba Toshiba laptop support

asus Asus laptop support

asus-laptop ASUS F2/F3 laptops

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

ALC861VD/660VD

3stack 3-jack

3stack-dig 3-jack with SPDIF OUT

6stack-dig 6-jack with SPDIF OUT

3stack-660 3-jack (for ALC660VD)

3stack-660-digout 3-jack with SPDIF OUT (for ALC660VD)

lenovo Lenovo 3000 C200

dallas Dallas laptops

hp HP TX1000

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

CMI9880

minimal 3-jack in back

min_fp 3-jack in back, 2-jack in front

full 6-jack in back, 2-jack in front

full_dig 6-jack in back, 2-jack in front, SPDIF I/O

allout 5-jack in back, 2-jack in front, SPDIF out

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

AD1882

3stack 3-stack mode (default)

6stack 6-stack mode

AD1884

N/A

AD1981

basic 3-jack (default)

hp HP nx6320

thinkpad Lenovo Thinkpad T60/X60/Z60

toshiba Toshiba U205

AD1983

N/A

AD1984

basic default configuration

thinkpad Lenovo Thinkpad T61/X61

AD1986A

6stack 6-jack, separate surrounds (default)

3stack 3-stack, shared surrounds

laptop 2-channel only (FSC V2060, Samsung M50)

laptop-eapd 2-channel with EAPD (Samsung R65, ASUS A6J)

laptop-automute 2-channel with EAPD and HP-automute (Lenovo N100)

ultra 2-channel with EAPD (Samsung Ultra tablet PC)

AD1988

6stack 6-jack

6stack-dig ditto with SPDIF

3stack 3-jack

3stack-dig ditto with SPDIF

laptop 3-jack with hp-jack automute

laptop-dig ditto with SPDIF

auto auto-config reading BIOS (default)

Conexant 5045

laptop Laptop config

test for testing/debugging purpose, almost all controls

can be adjusted. Appearing only when compiled with

$CONFIG_SND_DEBUG=y

Conexant 5047

laptop Basic Laptop config

laptop-hp Laptop config for some HP models (subdevice 30A5)

laptop-eapd Laptop config with EAPD support

test for testing/debugging purpose, almost all controls

can be adjusted. Appearing only when compiled with

$CONFIG_SND_DEBUG=y

STAC9200

ref Reference board

dell-d21 Dell (unknown)

dell-d22 Dell (unknown)

dell-d23 Dell (unknown)

dell-m21 Dell Inspiron 630m, Dell Inspiron 640m

dell-m22 Dell Latitude D620, Dell Latitude D820

dell-m23 Dell XPS M1710, Dell Precision M90

dell-m24 Dell Latitude 120L

dell-m25 Dell Inspiron E1505n

dell-m26 Dell Inspiron 1501

dell-m27 Dell Inspiron E1705/9400

STAC9205/9254

ref Reference board

dell-m42 Dell (unknown)

dell-m43 Dell Precision

dell-m44 Dell Inspiron

STAC9220/9221

ref Reference board

3stack D945 3stack

5stack D945 5stack + SPDIF

intel-mac-v1 Intel Mac Type 1

intel-mac-v2 Intel Mac Type 2

intel-mac-v3 Intel Mac Type 3

intel-mac-v4 Intel Mac Type 4

intel-mac-v5 Intel Mac Type 5

macmini Intel Mac Mini (equivalent with type 3)

macbook Intel Mac Book (eq. type 5)

macbook-pro-v1 Intel Mac Book Pro 1st generation (eq. type 3)

macbook-pro Intel Mac Book Pro 2nd generation (eq. type 3)

imac-intel Intel iMac (eq. type 2)

imac-intel-20 Intel iMac (newer version) (eq. type 3)

dell-d81 Dell (unknown)

dell-d82 Dell (unknown)

dell-m81 Dell (unknown)

dell-m82 Dell XPS M1210

STAC9202/9250/9251

ref Reference board, base config

m2-2 Some Gateway MX series laptops

m6 Some Gateway NX series laptops

pa6 Gateway NX860 series

STAC9227/9228/9229/927x

ref Reference board

3stack D965 3stack

5stack D965 5stack + SPDIF

dell-3stack Dell Dimension E520

STAC9872

vaio Setup for VAIO FE550G/SZ110

vaio-ar Setup for VAIO AR