My Amazon.in shopping | FireTV Stick 4K Max Unboxing & Overview

I went ahead & bought the Amazon FireTV stick 4K max in this season's Amazon great Indian festival sale. I have 2 televisions at home. One is the Google TV which is the latest software on a Sony 4K 

KD-55X80AJ. The other one is a 43 inches Sony 4K TV with 200 Hz refresh rate which was a great purchase that continues to serve me very well till today since 6-7 years. However, its software had gone a bit old now it being Android TV. Hence I went ahead with this purchase.

Checkout out more details about it in the video.

Here is the link to buy the FireTV 4K Max.

Happy to share my certificate of completion for API Security Architect

 Happy to share my certificate of completion for API Security Architect provided by API academy Certification program.  

Secrets of a successful presentation

1. Practice makes you perfect. If you want to improve your presentation skills, keep practicing, and do more presentations.

2. Your main objective of most presentations is to motivate the audience or convey the message/content you have created clearly. For this, you need to understand what the audience wants and deliver the content nicely to create an impression.

3. It is important to understand your audience and then deliver the content. Don’t deliver the content based on what you know, understand the audience, and prepare/tune/customize the content.

4. If you are meeting the executives, you should be ready with the elevator pitch. Every executive is different and you need to understand what they like, what they don’t like, and their priorities. Tune your content to meet the executive personality and needs.

5. When you structure the presentation, opening, messaging, and closing are the 3 phases. When you open the presentation, try and convey to the audience what is in it for them or why is this important to gather their attention. Keep the opening interesting all the time as it is important to grab the attention of the audience very early in the presentation.

6. There are different types of presentations. For all the different presentations you make, you need to have a clear agenda and a clear summary/call for action.

7. Even the greatest speakers get nervous. So, it is fine to be nervous. Channel your nervousness to prepare and just give your best. If you are honest in your presentation and have done your homework to understand the audience to prepare the content, the audience will see your honesty and appreciate your presentation. Accent, little hiccups during the presentation, minor English mistakes etc. does not matter if you are honest in your effort and give the audience what they want during your presentation.  The last sentence is important to understand considering that India is a diverse country and English is not our mother tongue.

8. Give your best and don’t worry about the rest. If you have followed all the basics before a presentation, you will never fail and will almost all the time pass with distinction. There is nothing like get 100% marks in presentation as there will always be something to improve.

9. Great presenters also create an impact by presenting with slides that look great, telling stories that resonate, showing emotions and voice modulation as required, use effectively the tools available for them to present (e.g. pointers, using whiteboards etc.), using metaphors to catch attention, eye contact, using pause, pitch and pace effectively, using the dias properly (physical presentations) are all important. But all these things make presentations better but there is no substitute for having the right content to meet the audience's needs. If you can design the presentation to meet all the audience objectives and if you can deliver it to make it interesting and exciting, you will create a lasting impression as you impact positively both the right and left brains of your audience.

• Interacting with the audience and engaging is important. Ask questions get feedback so that you can tune the presentation as you go.  

• Manage the time and handle questions/distractions effectively. Use “Let us take it offline or I will get back to you” are 2 ways of managing questions that may not be relevant to the presentation objective or that can hinder you from finishing the presentation within the allotted time.

• Set expectations on when you will take/answer questions. Listening actively and paraphrasing the question and then answering is a good technique as it can help when addressing a large audience where the question may not be heard by all. The time you are paraphrasing also gives you some time to internalize and prepare your answer for the question.

• There may/will be disruptions to presentations in the form of questions from some hecklers during your presentation. You need to know how to deal with these disruptions and not allow these distractions to affect your delivery. See the slides for more tips

• Every person is unique. Don’t fake during a presentation or copy someone’s style unless you are comfortable pulling off without losing your personality. If you like some style of a great presenter, customize it for your own style and your personality. For example, just because somebody looks good walking around the dias, don’t copy it if you are not comfortable. You can start moving around little bit or occasionally and if you don’t see it impact your personality or presentation, embrace the change.

Continue to cover the most key aspects in short catchphrases that capture the audience's imagination.

Courtesy: My sessions with senior technologists @HPE.

Difference between Authentication & Authorization

Authentification can be defined as the verification of a claim of identity by a user, a process, or a device, often as a prerequisite to granting it access to resources within a system.  This can be done once or many times during a particular session, workday or other period of activity consisting of multiple steps & tasks.

Authorization is the real-time decision that a system-issued identity claiming to have access rights to that system can be verified to be a (a) System-issued valid identity which is (b) being used or presented by the subject it has been issued to.

Simply put, authentication is the process of verifying who someone is, whereas authorization is the process of verifying what specific applications, files & data a user has access to.

courtesy: http://medium.com

Difference Between a Data Leak and a Data Breach

 A data breach is the outcome of a planned cyber attack, but a data leak is the accidental exposure of sensitive data by a business. Cybercriminals do not create data leaks, they discover them and then use them to launch data breach attacks. 

Data leaks tend to result from poor security practices. A business can also be impacted if any of its vendors have a data leak. Because these vulnerabilities occur throughout a vast attack landscape they’re difficult to detect and remediate before it’s too late. 

Without a sophisticated data protection solution, businesses will remain vulnerable to data breaches through their third-party network.

Courtesy - www.upgaurd.com 

Type or Category or Classification of Design Patterns

 Type or Category or Classification of Design Patterns

Creational				Based on the concept of creating an object.
Class
Factory Method					This makes an instance of several derived classes based on interfaced data or events.
Object
Abstract Factory					Creates an instance of several families of classes without detailing concrete classes.
Builder					Separates object construction from its representation, always creates the same type of object.
Prototype					A fully initialized instance used for copying or cloning.
Singleton					A class with only a single instance with global access points.
Structural				Based on the idea of building blocks of objects.
Class
Adapter					Match interfaces of different classes therefore classes can work together despite incompatible interfaces.
Object
Adapter					Match interfaces of different classes therefore classes can work together despite incompatible interfaces.
Bridge					Separates an object's interface from its implementation so the two can vary independently.
Composite					A structure of simple and composite objects which makes the total object more than just the sum of its parts.
Decorator					Dynamically add alternate processing to objects.
Facade					A single class that hides the complexity of an entire subsystem.
Flyweight					A fine-grained instance used for efficient sharing of information that is contained elsewhere.
Proxy					A place holder object representing the true object.
Behavioral				Based on the way objects play and work together.
Class
Interpreter					A way to include language elements in an application to match the grammar of the intended language.
Template        Method					Creates the shell of an algorithm in a method, then defer the exact steps to a subclass.
Object
Chain of       Responsibility					A way of passing a request between a chain of objects to find the object that can handle the request.
Command					Encapsulate a command request as an object to enable, logging and/or queuing of requests, and provides error-handling for unhandled requests.
Iterator					Sequentially access the elements of a collection without knowing the inner workings of the collection.
Mediator					Defines simplified communication between classes to prevent a group of classes from referring explicitly to each other.
Memento					Capture an object's internal state to be able to restore it later.
Observer					A way of notifying change to a number of classes to ensure consistency between the classes.
State					Alter an object's behavior when its state changes.
Strategy					Encapsulates an algorithm inside a class separating the selection from the implementation.
Visitor					Adds a new operation to a class without changing the class.

 

Difference between webstorage, cookie, local storage & session storage

WebStorage

The Window object implements the WindowLocalStorage and WindowSessionStorage objects which has localStorage(window.localStorage) and sessionStorage(window.sessionStorage) properties respectively. These properties create an instance of the Storage object, through which data items can be set, retrieved and removed for a specific domain and storage type (session or local). For example, you can read and write on local storage objects as below

localStorage.setItem('logo', document.getElementById('logo').value);

localStorage.getItem('logo');

What are the differences between cookie, local storage and session storage

Below are some of the differences between cookie, local storage and session storage,

Feature	Cookie	Local storage	Session storage
Accessed on client or server side	Both server-side & client-side	client-side only	client-side only
Lifetime	As configured using Expires option	until deleted	until tab is closed
SSL support	Supported	Not supported	Not supported
Maximum data size	4KB	5 MB	5MB

Cloud Computing basics

SaaS - Software as a Service

is on-demand access to ready-to-use, cloud-hosted application software.

E.g. Google Docs, Google Form, Google Spreadsheet. 

PaaS - Platform as a Service

is on-demand access to a complete, ready-to-use, cloud-hosted platform for developing, running, maintaining, and managing applications.

E.g. Amazon EC2 T2 Micro instances 1 GB memory & 1 vCPU under free tier, Microsoft Azure

IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service

The service provides all of the infrastructures to the business. It provides on-demand access to cloud-hosted physical and virtual servers, storage, and networking - the backend IT infrastructure for running applications and workloads in the cloud.

E.g. host.com that provides dedicated servers to organizations. VMware offers support for IaaS for carving out a system rack, network storage & computer into an isolated system for customers.

StaaS - Storage as a Service

E.g. Carbonite, Amazon S3

Storage as a service (STaaS) is a data storage business model where a provider rents storage resources to a customer through a subscription. STaaS saves you money through operating expenditure (OpEx) agility—you only pay for the storage you need, when you need it.

Private & Public Cloud

Amazon AWS is the poor man's public cloud due to its inexpensive pricing model & is the biggest provider.

HPE/Microsoft are mostly used by Enterprise companies as they hold their server on their enterprise public cloud data center are more responsive to their requests & allow them to perform service testing & site maintenance with escort service. 

GoDaddy - Cheaper public cloud-based hosting solutions though not as customizable as Amazon AWS. 

Critical custom data & sensitive IP, in-house information are kept in a Private cloud & the public-facing web server & catalog information is stored in the Public cloud (e.g. Akamai).

To offer more resilient services load balancing with VM on multiple cloud providers is a hot research topic.

Top Competitive exams in India for students & professionals

I have compiled this list of some of the most prominent competitive entrance examinations for the benefit of students. (Source: Wikipedia & the internet)

 1. GRE

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is a standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools in the United States and Canada and few in other countries. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS)

MBA

GRE score can be used for MBA programs in some schools.

The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a computer-adaptive standardized test in mathematics and the English language for measuring aptitude to succeed academically in graduate business studies. Business schools commonly use the test as one of many selection criteria for admission into an MBA program. Starting in 2009, many business schools began accepting the GRE in lieu of a GMAT score. Policies varied widely for several years. However, as of the 2014–2015 admissions season, most business schools accept both tests equally. Either a GMAT score or a GRE score can be submitted for an application to an MBA program. Business schools also accept either score for their other (non-MBA) Masters and Ph.D. programs.

2. GATE

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is an examination conducted in India that primarily tests the comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering and science for admission into the Masters Program and Job in Public Sector Companies. GATE is conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and seven Indian Institutes of Technologies at Roorkee, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Chennai (Madras) and Mumbai (Bombay) on behalf of the National Coordination Board – GATE, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education (MoE), Government of India.

The GATE score of a candidate reflects the relative performance level of a candidate. The score is used for admissions to various post-graduate education programs (e.g. Master of Engineering, Master of Technology, Master of Architecture, Doctor of Philosophy) in Indian higher education institutes, with financial assistance provided by MHRD and other government agencies. Recently, GATE scores are also being used by several Indian public sector undertakings for recruiting graduate engineers in entry-level positions. It is one of the most competitive examinations in India. GATE is also recognized by various institutes outside India, such as Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Eligibility

The following students are eligible to take GATE:

Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering / Technology / Architecture (3 years after 10+2/ 10+2+3(ongoing)/ 10+2+4(ongoing)/ Post-B.Sc./ Post-Diploma) and those who are in the final year of such programs ( Also prefinal year of B.tech).

Master's degree holders in any branch of Science/Mathematics/Statistics/Computer Applications or equivalent and those who are in the final year of such programs.

Candidates in the second or higher year of Four-year integrated master's degree programs (Post-B.Sc.) in Engineering / Technology.

Candidates in the fourth or higher year of Five-year integrated master's degree programs or Dual Degree programs in Engineering / Technology.

Candidates with qualifications obtained through examinations conducted by professional societies recognized by UGC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE by IE(India), AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers (India)-ICE(I), AMIETE By IETE(India)) as equivalent to B.E./B.Tech.

A candidate who is currently studying in the 3rd or higher years of any undergraduate degree program OR has already completed any government-approved degree program

3. TOEFL

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by more than 11,000 universities and other institutions in over 190 countries and territories. TOEFL is one of the two major English-language tests in the world, the other being the IELTS.

TOEFL is a trademark of the Educational Testing Service (ETS), a private non-profit organization, which designs and administers the tests. ETS issues official score reports which are sent independently to institutions and are valid for two years following the test.

4. IIT JEE

Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced (JEE-Advanced), formerly the Indian Institutes of Technology-Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE), is an academic examination held annually in India. It is organized by one of the seven "old" IITs (IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, and IIT Guwahati)[3] under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board (JAB).

In 2013, the examination initially called the IIT-JEE was renamed to JEE (Advanced), and the AIEEE was renamed JEE (Main).

The eligibility criteria for taking the JEE (Advanced) exam are as follows:

Candidates should rank among the top candidates in Paper-1 of JEE (Main), broken down per category. For example, for JEE (Advanced) 2019, the top 250,000 were eligible, but only 46.5% of those were open for all, the rest being reserved for special categories.

Candidates should be less than 25 years of age, with five-year relaxation for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.

Candidates can attempt examination at most two times in two consecutive years.

Candidates should have qualified the Class XII Board Examination (or equivalent) in the previous year.

Candidates should not have accepted admission in any of the IITs earlier.

In addition, candidates are required to either be within the category-wise top 20th percentile of successful candidates in the Class XII Board Examination or secure a 75% mark (65% for SC (scheduled castes), ST (scheduled tribes), and PwD (people with disabilities).

Coaching

Preparation for the Joint Entrance Exam begins typically two to four years before students take the test. More than 90% of students who passed this exam attended coaching institutes, which had created a ₹232.61 billion industry with annual tuition of up to ₹200,000.

These academies included mock tests multiple times a week, up to 200 students per class, and long hours. ranging from 4 to 7 hours a day, in addition to regular high school work. There were hundreds of academies across the country, and the most famous—in Kota, Rajasthan—attracted approximately 125,000 students each year. 

Coaching programs are major corporations, listed on the Indian stock market and also attracting tens of millions of rupees of investment from private equity firms. 

The high-pressure environments at these coaching institutes have been blamed for a significant number of suicides.

A web series on Youtube & Netflix called Kota Factory depicts the situation of IIT aspirants effectively.

5.  Union Public Services Commission exams (UPSC exams)

I have compiled this list from Wikipedia for the benefit of students.

Gazetted Group A and B jobs exams

Union Public Service Commission, for Gazetted Group A and B jobs

Civil Services Examination (India) (CSE)

Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)

Combined Medical Services Examination (CMSE)

Indian Police Service Limited Competitive Examination (IPS LCE)

Special Class Railway Apprentice (SCRA)

Non-Gazetted Group B, C, D jobs exams

National Recruitment Agency (NRA), for Non-Gazetted Group B, C, D jobs

Railway Recruitment Control Board (RRCB)

Staff Selection Commission (SSC)

SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination (SSC CGLE)

Central Selection Board of Constable (CSBC)

Central Civil Services (Group B) (UPSC)

Cannot call a javascript function from HTML file in codesandbox.io. ??!!!

I was a bit surprised to see that you cannot reference a javascript function using a Vanilla sandbox using codesandbox.io site. Upon googling a bit here is what I found:

 https://github.com/codesandbox/codesandbox-client/issues/1502 

Here is the working sandbox where we can call a javascript function from an HTML file.

https://codesandbox.io/s/sleepy-sunset-w0wds?file=/src/index.js

Here is the explanation provided by the codesandbox.io folks on it:

k, so the explanation is that in the vanilla template / parcel environment we're doing module bundling, handling src/index.js as a module. Because modules are evaluated in their own (private) scope, if you want to access from html something inside the module, you can put it on the browser's global scope, which is window.

Alternatively, you can use the static template / environment, where we don't do any bundling, like https://codesandbox.io/s/quirky-flower-rm20y (but then you lose the ability to require / import).