Windows Phone Challenge from Microsoft, dare you phone against Windows Phone and win Rs.1000.00

Microsoft it so sure that its Windows Phone can beat your current smart phone pants down, it has started a challenge in India to endorse the fact.

Microsoft challenges you to see for your self whether your smart phone has what it takes to beat Windows Phone.  You will have to perform simple tasks with your phone and Window Phone and if your smart phone wins, Microsoft will hand over Rs.1000.00 to you.  Sweet! Like the Samsung did with stare for 60 minutes campaign in Europe for Samsung Galaxy SIV, Microsoft has invited you to for the challenge here in India.  The challenge kicked off  yesterday from the silicon city, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai.  

Don't fret if you have missed the June 1 appointment, the challenge will continue till 30th of June 2013.  It will be held in six cities of India viz. Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. 

All you have to do is visit the Microsoft's Windows Phone Challenge website, check out for the dates available for your city and visit the Mall listed there in.  If you are not winning the 1K with your smart phone, don't be dismayed, Microsoft is offering goodie bags for all those participate in the challenge.  

It is offering other gifts as well with the purchase of Windows Phone at the places listed in the website.  Windows is also promoting the challenge on Twitter using the hashtag #MyNextPhone. 

You can also follow the challenge on the respective Facebook page for the city you live in.  Visit the challenge website here and my  wishes to you.   Happy hunting and best of luck.

Vijay Prabhu

One free Galaxy S4 takeaway contest you could never win; Stare for 60 minutes, not possible says Samsung!

Walking away with a brand new Samsung Galaxy S IV doing nothing but staring at the screen for 60 minutes!  Sounds easy, doesn't it.  Well, it is not!  Apparently nobody could win the free SIV, Samsung was giving away, as a part of promotional campaign at Zurich Main Station last week.  

Samsung is running a campaign across Europe to promote its new flagship launch Galaxy S IV and by the look of it the contest doesn't sound too hard.  But wait a minute,  Samsung set up a Galaxy S4 "stare down" station in the middle of the main station, where users had to stand for 60 minutes to get their very own Galaxy S4. Oh boy, is that hard?

Actually Samsung was showing off the S4's eye-tracking technology, which it calls “smart pause”. The challenge was to stare at the Galaxy S4 for 60 minutes straight, without looking away.   The catch, "smart pause"  developed by Samsung is so powerful, even if you move your eyes for a nanosec, it catches you and you lose.  

And imagine doing this in middle of a Station.  Next to impossible, with the rush, the crowds, Samsung's barking dogs and your own heart beats pumping rather erratically.   Watch the video below to get an idea of what I mean :

Samsung is planning to hold the takeaway in two more locations , tomorrow at Berne (Waisenhausplatz) and at Lausanne (Place de I’Europe) on May 30. 

While Samsung says its near about impossible to win the contest, I say bring it on into India!  With its never say die spirit and 'Jugaad' attitude, Samsung may have to ship many free SIVs to India.

Please write in what you think about this superb and imaginative concept of promotion by Samsung and whether you feel Indians could beat the "smart pause"

Vijay Prabhu