Google Code Jam - Qualification Round 2010

Google Codejam 2010 is here! As usual, there are three problems with 33 points each (10 points for the small dataset and 23 points for the big dataset). Here's my overview so far of the tournament.

Problem A : Snapper Chain
So far the problem has 84% correct ratio, so it'd indicate it's an easy problem and it is. The problem statement might seem a bit confusing but break it down to essentials, understand the atomic problem and you'll have your solution in no time. But beware, if you don't use appropriate techniques, you might be in trouble for the bigger dataset, so try out some long inputs on your own before you run it for the actual dataset.

Problem C : Theme Park
94% percent correct ratio! Wow, that's saying something. Looks like most of the people got it right. I think I did too and I hope it stays the same for the big testset too. It's quite a straight-forward problem to give any hint. Just manage your data structures well and you should be able to solve it in no time.

Problem B : Fair Warning
As always is the case with Google Code Jam, there will always be one problem where only your coding skills will not save you. You can't just crunch your numbers with a really huge data-type and get away with it. No sir! And Problem B falls straight into that category. As the problem clearly states, "64 bits will not save you. You have been warned." One of the inputs could be as high as 10⁵⁰ And that's where I am stuck. Hopefully I can solve it out.

I'll post the solutions and tricks here once the contest is over. Till then, happy coding and stay tuned!

GMail down -- creates havoc!!

Around 1600 hours today, GMail has gone down. Not for me only, the whole world, it seems! And the effect...

#GMail is already trending topic on Twitter. My whole timeline is abuzz with "#FAIL" quotes. People are running around to find some Oxygen. If this isn't up within 15 minutes, it will start flooding with "Is world coming to an end" quotes and you may be able to see people on the street shouting slogans.

Goes on to show, how much we are dependent on GMail! Difficult to survive without GMail it seems. What would creatures like me do, if not for twitter?

Internet Radio on your Google Talk

I just love when different technologies come across to make a gadget that makes you say.... WOW!!! Although less popular than its peers Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger, I love Google Talk primarily because it's built upon open protocol jabber. Using this gtalk2voip has made an internet radio application. Just follow following steps and do let me know your feedback :

1. Add service@gtalk2voip.com to your GTalk friends list.
   
2. Add 110@radio.gtalk2voip.com
   
3. Make a call to 110@radio.gtalk2voip.com, you will be directly connected to teen taal FM radio station.
   

How was that?? Just make sure to use MUTE on your side to ensure privacy, just in case :)

Leave your feedback in comments section.

Bloglines out, Google Reader in

I have been ardent Google fan ever since it launched and using it since wayback in 1999. I have always preferred Google products over competitors as long as Google offers it. Google Search,GMail,Google Earth,Google Notebook, Google Talk to name a few... I rank Google for coolness of its products. Google offered 1 GB with GMail when other competitors were offering atmost 10 MB and shocked the Mail world.

I was disappointed when Google launched Google Reader, it didn't offer lots of features my then feeds reader Bloglines offered. It didn't offer reading feeds neither individually nor tags/folders wise and bloglines remained the only non-Google product that I used over Google, but I was more than thrilled to read latest post on Official Google Blog. Google Reader seems to have taken lesson from popularity of Bloglines and back in the webworld with its usual uber coolness. I admit, although as good as bloglines but not better, just for sake of my emotional attachment to Google, I am officially shifting to Google Reader.

Image Courtesy : Official Google Blog

Experimenting Google AdSense

Google AdSense is good way to make money, if your site/blog is getting good visit, unlike mine. I have managed to earn $ 0.81 through my blog. YEAH!!!! Anyway...

Multiple sources tell me that some keywords are getting very high "per click price". Here I am putting some, so by chance you're visiting this article and see Google ad on top, please click it. I'll share my revenue with you, if you can get past me $1. (Although Google won't pay me till I manage $100 :( ). Let's see how much money can I make out. Here are the keywords with per click price. Happy Clicking!!!!! Click with all your might and all your time. :-)

$78.30 chicago personal injury lawyer
$73.01 chicago personal injury attorney
$69.17 lasik new york city
$66.69 chicago personal injury attorneys
$64.27 new york personal injury lawyer
$64.17 new jersey car insurance
$63.10 new york personal injury attorney
$61.64 chicago personal injury lawyers
$60.74 atlanta personal injury lawyer
$60.29 new york personal injury lawyers
$59.00 lasik dallas
$58.68 new york personal injury lawyers
$58.38 miami personal injury attorney
$58.08 best equity loan
$57.95 lasik new york
$56.88 whole life insurance quote
$56.75 new york car insurance
$56.55 the lasik vision institute
$54.81 new york personal injury attorney
$54.33 mesothelioma lawyers
$53.74 lasik nyc
$53.46 whole life insurance quotes
$53.42 car insurance in new jersey
$53.12 las vegas personal injury lawyer
$53.12 term life insurance quotes
$52.54 mesothelioma treatments
$52.41 equity loan rate
$51.78 equity loan
$51.50 new york personal injury lawyer
$51.29 equity loan rates
$51.15 fixed rate equity loan
$49.88 manhattan lasik
$49.38 whole life insurance quotes
$49.12 miami personal injury lawyer
$48.79 auto insurance in new jersey
$48.64 lasik nj
$48.52 beverly hills plastic surgery
$48.52 new jersey auto insurance
$48.39 apply for mortgage
$47.79 what is mesothelioma
$47.72 peritoneal mesothelioma

Update 1:- List has been updated with highest keyword worth $78.30. If you're still reading this, which is quite unlikely, keep clicking...

Update 2:- This is more interesting. I actually earned 3.80$ in two flat days, more than I have earned till date. Wow!! This actually works.

Do you love/hate Google??

I have been told that these days my blog looks like more of sports/IT blog :-) Might be true, but then again it used to be movie blog few months back. So stay here and you might get something of your choice in future :-) This time around it's again some techie stuff, but I assure you'd enjoy this if you are using Google (which I bet most of us are).

Danny Sullivan has two nice articles at SearchEngineWatch blog. 25 Things I Hate About Google and 25 Things I Love About Google.

Powered by Google

Recently came across a nice strip. Can't resist to post it here.

Google Talk

Big G has struck again and this time it's Instant Messenger Service. After rounds of rumours and denials, it's finally there and it's called, Google Talk. Agent Kujan was right. "Rumour is not a rumour that doesn't die" :-)

As Google's trademark, it's just beta as of now. Official google client is available only for windows, but as it supports jabber protocol you can use iChat for MAC and Gaim for linux. As of now, it doesn't have many features. Only basic text chatting and voice chatting, not even emoticons and no audibles, nicknames... NOTHING. Owing to which client is very light and easy to use. It has raised lots of criticism for Google, because when Google launches something, people expect it to be out-of-the-box thing. Take for example, Gmail, which forced email market leaders like Yahoo! and hotmail to increase the mailbox size. Similarly, Google Earth. Where in the case of GTalk, there is nothing new, infact much less than state-of-the-art IM services.

BUT, look at it from this point of view. Google is just trying to add a dimension to its Google Universe. It's a universe. A universe where user can avail all the facilities and don't have to switch between providers. (Much more coming up, rumours say that Google is also coming up with Paypal like system) Everything in just one login and one account, so this is just another dimension, which doesn't deny the scope of lots of development before official release. Imagine the future (I bet it won't be too far) where in all you need to do is just say few words and Google will do rest of the job for you. One point I noticed especially is the voice chat GTalk provides. Quality of voice is really good and is almost real time. First day feedback has been satisfactory as per my survey goes (Launched before less than 24 hours could be the reason, which results in lesser initial traffic as compared to Y! or MSN, but just wait-and-watch). The buzz is also that Google may extend voice chat to phone lines. Yes, you would be actually able to make a call to landline phones through GTalk. BTW, it's official announcement has not been done yet on Google Blog, which may solve lots of puzzles and may reveal some of the Google's plan for improvement in GTalk. Hold your breaths till then...

Quote of the day :- A year spent in artificial intelligence is enough to make one believe in God.

Link of the day :- So who cares about pennies huh?