It's new year's eve and party time again. Party and Goa has become almost synonymous for last few decades. So it is hardly any surprise that Goa attracts biggest footfall in December-January. People who love Goa also know that it is not only the beaches alone, Goan cuisine is indispensable part of Goan holiday culture. And here is one problem people mostly stumble. Which restaurants are to go if you are looking for authentic Goan cuisine? This post is particularly for those who faced this problem earlier.
For the starter, Goa is not a single place. People know that south Goa offers very different lifestyle compared to North Goa. If North Goa is busy, crowded, noisy and more lively, south Goa provides more laid-back, slow and calm holiday options. However, Goan cuisine is fabulous and equally delectable both in south and North Goa. If you are travelling from outside, it is always advisable that you hire a car and drive yourself. It also turns out to be less expensive option if you are staying for 2-3 days.
Now come the restaurants.
1. Top of the chart of course is held by Martin's Corner, Betalbatim, south Goa. You simply cannot find any better place to match the taste and authenticity of Goan cuisine. By far this is the most popular spot for all the connoisseurs of Goan food. If you heard of Xacuti, Vindalho, sorpotel, Pomfret Recheado but have never tried before, this is the place you got to come. And most likely you will never forget the taste, not to mention the place! Typically they always are booked, so it is a good idea to book before you visit to avoid long waiting. Here is their number: +91 832 2880413 and their site
2. Ritz Classic near Miramar Beach
It is said that if you enjoy Goan seafood cuisine, you cannot miss Ritz Classic's crab curry! People often cover great distance to have meal in this place. whenever you go, you may have to wait for half-an-hour at least to get a table. Check Google+ profile for more details or call them at +91 832 242 6417
3. Kentuckee Seafood restaurant on Colva Beach.
If you love Goan Steak preparation, you must not miss this place. Beside standard Goan platter, you can try lobster masala fry, or sizzlers. In fact their sizzlers are very popular. Plenty of space still you may have to wait for 30 minutes if you land up there during peak hours. Call +91 96375 98121 for booking.
If you are first timer in Goa, you most likely are staying close to Calangute beach or near Baga beach. If you cannot venture out and want some options nearby here you have couple of restaurants to try:
4. Souza Lobo on Calangute beach. You can see the big white building from the beach itself. Their sea food menu people enjoy the most. Number to book table: 0832-2281234. If you like to browse online, here is their site.
There are of course many joints on Calangute-Baga road that offer sumptuous Goan cuisine.
You also can look for Britto's on Baga beach. Of late they got some rave reviews on their seafood menu.
5. Let me end this post with the Verandah Restaurant in Panjim Inn. They insist that they provide the old Goan ambiance with authentic Goan taste. so if you are stuck in North Goa, try them. Their number 0832-2226523/2435628
IDC released 2014Q3 report on smartphone OS market. It shows Microsoft Windows firmly in the 3rd place in 2014.
People may have forgotten how and from where it rose to this position,
but future business historians will remember this as another successful
strategy maneuver from Microsoft.
Techcrunch in a recent article observed that Microsoft went public in March, 1986, barely 5 months after it released Windows OS [Nov, 1985].
In the S-1, Mircosoft's IPO document, Microsoft's future valuation of Windows software is fascinating!
"In November 1985, Microsoft began shipping Microsoft Windows, a
graphical operating environment which runs on the Microsoft MS-DOS
operating system. As an extension of MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows manages
such hardware as the keyboard, screen, and printer. This product allows
new applications programs to present themselves in a standard and
graphical manner that is independent of video or other output devices.
Microsoft is encouraging independent software developers to
create applications programs which will take advantage of Microsoft
Windows graphical user interface features. Lotus Development recently
announced its intent to pursue the development of applications products
that will run on Windows. Microsoft’s own new applications software will
be based on Microsoft Windows. It is too early in the life of Microsoft
Windows to determine what level of acceptance it will attain in
the marketplace."
Well one hardly needs anything to be said further to that statement today. Windows not only redefined PC market, Microsoft ensured that Windows' success is leveraged across all emerging computing platform markets, Server, Gaming Console and so on. Before Apple's second wave of growth, people never saw any serious threat to Windows for any foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, Windows never was a serious choice in embedded OS market. Microsoft also appeared to be hesitant, if not reluctant, player in smaller platform segment. Partly to that, all ventures [windows CE for example] from Microsoft in mobile segment were seen as weak, if not tentative. Mobile Phone market was largely proprietary and with Nokia leading the pack, no one saw any incentive to break the status quo. That hesitation turned into a strategy blind-spot soon when Apple turned the table with iPhone. Microsoft needed something very badly to cover the lost space. For quite some time, beside Apple, there was no serious dominating player in the smartphone market.
Then Google brought Android and Samsung brought Android-based Galaxy series of phones. Android started changing the smartphone market in the same way Linux did to the PC market earlier. Microsoft did not appear to have any play. Some people even started writing eulogy for Microsoft.
Obvious reasons were
Linux is eating into Microsoft's PC OS market share.
VMware started almost monopolizing the server virtualization market
Cloud was fast becoming credible alternative to private data centre for the enterprises.
iPhone and iPad redefined smartphone and tablet market and Microsoft's mobile OS had no play at all.
With slow PC/Laptop growth and exponential smartphone growth, Microsoft needed a serious game changer in the smartphone segment. When no one thought of any future for Microsoft, Microsoft almost created coup-d'etat with Nokia. Fast devaluation of Nokia's valuation and Elop's crucial decision of adopting windows for Nokia phone gave Windows the life-saving chance that it needed so badly.
IDC's recent report seem to indicate that the strategy maneuver has worked for Microsoft. Gartner's press release also indicate the same trend. Microsoft is back to OS game. Below charts from Gartner speak for themselves:
Table1 Worldwide Device Shipments by Operating System in Mature Markets (Thousands of Units)
Operating System
2013
2014
2015
Android
266,701
313,529
337,791
IOS/Mac OS
157,273
167,787
182,564
Windows
138,312
141,977
149,128
Others
100,633
48,130
29,352
Total
662,920
671,424
698,835
Shipments include mobile phones, ultramobiles (including tablets) and PCs
Source: Gartner (October 2014)
Table 2 Worldwide Device Shipments by Operating System in Emerging Markets (Thousands of Units)
Operating System
2013
2014
2015
Android
632,517
928,135
1,117,860
Windows
187,474
194,091
221,804
IOS/Mac OS
78,928
95,304
112,647
Others
772,562
520,605
383,914
Total
1,671,480
1,738,135
1,836,225
Shipments include mobile phones, ultramobiles (including tablets) and PCs
Source: Gartner (October 2014)
Cost for the gamble
Leaving the development cost of windows 8, let's just look at the cost Microsoft incurred in acquiring Nokia phones:
Microsoft posted an operating loss of $692 million this July. It claims to stop losses by June, 2016.
How do the Microsoft shareholders look at this? This Business Today report says, Microsoft shares hit new 14-year highs just after quarterly result announcement, and were up by 1.1 per cent at $45.33.
Microsoft is charting new territory
Microsoft recently launched Lumia 535. They dropped Nokia logo in the new phone. Not sure how many are observant that Microsoft is charting a new path here. More than 91% of Windows mobile phone sales bring revenue directly to Microsoft. In a recent report, IDC projects that Windows Phone will account for $7.8 billion
(about 2%) of the $382.9 billion in revenue expected to be
generated by the smartphone market in 2014. Although windows share in smartphone market is not high, the fact that almost all windows phone sales happen from Microsoft now, this gamble has already created success for Microsoft. Here Microsoft is charting Apple path [hardware + software] unlike what they did in 1985. Although Microsoft has treaded complete hardware and software path before with Xbox, smartphone market is likely to pose a lot harder challenge since there are too many dominant players and market is too nuanced already. But if there is anything to cheer about, it is that Windows has moved from PC-only market to PC plus Tablet plus smartphone market.
