Home Screen JUNE 2011
The clock’s ticking
OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief
Hatim al Taie Content Head
Sujata Sengupta Dy. Content Head
Poornima Ramani Senior Designer
Shyniben Koyakkil Designer
With the memories of our anniversary celebration still fresh in our minds, it was quite an effort getting down to this issue. The fact of the matter is, we had managed to achieve a certain international standard with our anniversary (May) issue. To sustain that standard of work was quite a challenge, and we hope well worth the effort. Let us know what you think when you are done flipping through the pages. We have included interesting reads with our ‘How Stuff Works’ and the photography tips sections. What we have attempted to do in this first issue after our anniversary one was to bring to readers not just the latest in technology but also snippets on how to use them. As part of our special theme we have given you an insight into the world of televisions, bringing to you some of the latest models and brands available in Oman. With the summer now in full swing it seems to be a good option to sit in front of the television with a cool drink than taking a walk in the beach in the sweltering heat.
Muneeb Khan
CORPORATE Managing Director
Abdullah al Taie General Manager
Rathish Ramachandran Asst. General Manager
Terry Mathukutty Sales
Mary Gonzales Sami Dalwai Sneha Solanki
We were also able to lay our hands on the widely anticipated iPad 2 for our cover feature. So check out the review to see if your wait was worth it. With a lot of exciting new products to look out for, this summer seems to be for techno enthusiasts. Oh, as a reminder to readers out there, the clock’s ticking. You have only 30 more days before we announce the winner of the 32-inch Samsung LCD. So, if you have not yet joined our personal mailing list, hurry up. - Ed
Produced by
Talk to us!
For queries: tech@deenarmedia.com Deenar Press and Publishing LLC PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman Tel: + 968 24 696868, Fax: +968 24 693569 E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com
JUNE 20112 VOL 2 ISSUE
WEARS NER GL ASSE DESIG NG'S 3D TOWN SAMSU
W
NOW
IN A S A M S
IN
WITH
20 THE TZ
G UN TV SPECIAL ISSUE
JOIN
2011 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible if factual errors in product and pricing occur. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time. The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this issue. Please check any quoted hardware specifications and pricing with your supplier before purchase.
Printed at Oman Printers & Stationers, Sultanate of Oman
US ON
LING
SLIMMER SIB THE
IP A D GEN NEXT
AR IS S M
T
0 copies run: 7,00 11 print June 20
L CD!
$
ED
REVIEW
ersby ssica Batt Model Je eel al Balushi ak phy Sh hadija Photogra Làafou K
ED IN TE RV IEW
Make-up
34 / TECH
Our first prototype cover
VOL 2
ISSUE 2
JUNE 2011
CONTENTS Features
Page
Photography 16 - Panasonic TZ20 is pocket-sized - Check out the new Olympus models in town - Canon IXUS 310 HS has performance and looks - Tips to understanding camera lenses
Audio Zone
24
How Stuff Works
26
TECH Art
27
FullSound technology enriches music experience
Be proactive and save your life’s work
25
Convert black and white memories into colourful ones
Video Zone
28
- The future of digital home entertainment - Televisions are not an ‘idiot box’ anymore
Interview
36
Ambuj Khare gives a peek into the world of trading
Computing
38
49
- Can iPad 2 strike gold twice for Apple? - ICONIA W500 is user-friendly - New arrivals in the months to come
Op-Ed
44
Are social networking sites useful professionally?
Personal Transport
46
- Makita’s BBY180 is a lightweight folding bicycle - Voltitude has the best of e-bikes and scooters
Dashboard
50
50
A-Class concept ushers in new era for Mercedes
Regulars Tech News NouvoTech Quiz Tech Favourites 54 Tech Directory
10 14 55 56 63
Letters to the Editor If you have any queries, mail us on tech@deenarmedia.com, and we will try to answer them in our next issue Hi TECH team, First of all I would like to congratulate your team on the amazing anniversary issue. My question is: I use Windows 7 and have activated McAfee antivirus license version. So, should I install Microsoft Security essentials also? And once my McAfee license period expires, how do I reactivate it? Farhan Ahmed Dear Farhan, Thank you. Now regarding your query – it is better to have only one ‘real time’ protection active on a PC. Most McAfee Antivirus programs packaged with PCs are just that – antivirus software and not the entire suite. Security Essentials will provide you with additional security including antivirus, and so would be a better option, especially when you consider that it is free. Alternatively, you could opt for McAfee’s entire suite but that would cost you more. To reactivate the license you will need to either renew it online or purchase a new one when the existing period ends. - Ed Hi, My dad wants to buy me a laptop, but I prefer a netbook. Which do you think is a better buy? Please help. Rosie Jacob Dear Rosie, Aside from portability and price, there is little else to justify the purchase of a netbook over a laptop. Their primary purpose is Web browsing, minor document manipulation and watching movies on the go. With the recent boom in the tablet PC market and with dualcore processors in mobile phones today, there is little reason to purchase one. A proper laptop is, therefore, a better buy. - Ed Dear TECH, What is the best way to send videos online? I want to send some videos to my friends back home. So which application can I depend on? Vineetha Dear Vineetha, One of the best ways to do so is to use one of the many file sharing websites available that give members free online space for uploading data. All you have to do is upload a file and then send the link to your friends. Just make sure the files are not searchable so that they are not accidently found by someone else. If privacy is truly important, you can even try encrypting the file using programs such as WinRAR before uploading them. This will allow you to not only compress the file for easy uploading but will also make it nearly impossible to open without the password, which can be sent privately by SMS or email. - Ed
Dear editor, I want to buy a laptop. I will be using it for some audio editing works. Which is the laptop that will cater to playing videos, music and also allow minor video and audio editing? What are the specifications I need to look for? Fatma Dear Fatma, Almost any mainstream media laptop will suffice for your needs. Keep away from netbooks and basic laptops as they will not be able to cope with your requirements. For best results look for an Intel Core i5 processor coupled with at least 4GB RAM (3GB will suffice but 4GB will work better in the long run with Windows 7) and a 1GB dedicated GPU. - Ed
Hi TECH team, Which software should I use to convert .flv files to .mpeg or any other format? Aryan Khan Dear Aryan, We highly recommend you use ‘iWisoft Free Video Converter’. As the name implies it is free but is also quite powerful. Best of all it is simple to use. It has a clean interface, is consistently updated and has support for most devices on the market today. - Ed
TECH NEWS
New Satellites to be launched Toshiba Computer Systems, a division of Toshiba Europe GmbH, recently announced a refresh of its Satellite L series laptop range in Dubai. The portfolio features models with three different screen sizes and a broad selection of central processing units from AMD and Intel. The Satellite L series will be available during the second quarter of 2011 in Europe, Middle East and Africa. The Satellite L735 and the Satellite L755 will be available in four colour variations: dark silver, Modena red, maroon brown and luxe white.
Micromax in Oman
Charity extended Apple customers with Macs, displays, and iOS devices that were directly damaged in the Japan earthquake and tsunami may be eligible for free repairs. The offer, posted on the company’s Japanese website, excludes iPod classic, nano and shuffle, and only applies to customers living in areas covered by the Ministry of Health’s Disaster Relief Act. Originally posted in March, Apple’s announcement joins Softbank’s offer to replace lost iPhones registered to its network, and free calls to Japan from US carriers, among others. Considering water and other accidental damage typically voids a device’s warranty, you’ll want to give AppleCare a call soon – the acceptance period only runs through June 30.
Molecules recently opened an exclusive brand store for Micromax mobile in the Sultanate of Oman. This is the first brand store for Micromax in the Middle East. Molecules also participated at Comex 2011 Shoppers. It partnered with Friendi Mobile and Foneswap to provide exciting offers throughout the five days of Comex 2011. Molecules is a group company based in Oman with diversified business under its corporate portfolio and has been chosen as the exclusive distributor of Micromax mobiles, India’s biggest handset manufacturer. Tariq al Balushi, managing director of Molecules, said, “We did a survey in the sultanate and felt that there was great potential for Micromax in Oman in all segments, from lower-end to higher-end models. We are fortunate to get the distribution of Micromax mobiles and are confident about meeting the needs of the local market.” Micromax will offer a wide variety of phones that range from gamespecific to social networking mobiles.
Like a daughter You know just how crazy the world can get? Well, a pair of Israeli parents who are absolutely in love with Facebook have decided to name their daughter after Facebook’s iconic ‘Like’ button simply because both Lior and Vardit Adler think that she is as cute as a button, and intend to mark the happy occasion with such a move. No idea on what kind of psychological repercussions the little girl will have to go through when she is growing up in pre-school, followed by school and college after that. At least her siblings have it better, with the eldest child being named Dvash (‘honey’) while the second kid is known as Pie, but the digital revolution has finally caught up with Like.
12 / TECH
Bonds of friendship
Super vision
Artemide Group, Italy, a world leader in the high-end residential and professional lighting sector, plans to develop Oman’s high-end
NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, and Sharp Corporation, Abeno Ward, Osaka, have jointly developed an 85-inch LCD compatible with Super Hi-Vision, a next-generation television broadcast format. This is a world first for a direct-view display. NHK began R&D into Super Hi-Vision, which has dramatically higher resolution than current HDTV, in 1995. It aims to begin trial broadcasts in 2020. With approximately 33MP (7,680 [H] x4,320 [V] pixels), or 16 times the resolution of HDTV, Super Hi-Vision will offer powerful, life-like image reproduction. Under the joint development, Sharp’s UV2A*2 LCD technology was used to create for the first time in the world a direct-view LCD compatible with the unprecedentedly high display performance of Super Hi-Vision. The combination of the Sharp technology and NHK’s expertise and know-how in Super Hi-Vision will make possible ultra-detailed, super-high-quality images. The incredibly detailed images on the giant screen will immerse the viewer in a virtual-reality-like experience.
market with its award-winning products portfolio of iconic product design and reliable quality. This was announced by Artemide officials during a product launch event organised alongside its newly appointed Omanbased partner, Al Hassan Electricals Co. (AHE), at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Muscat, on May 16. The programme started with the signing of the partnership agreement by Maqbool Ali Salman, MD, Al Hassan Group and Ernesto Gismondi, president and CEO, Artemide Italy, in the presence of HE Paolo Dionisi, Italian Ambassador to the sultanate.
Changing times in Oman
‘La Monégasque’, the unique collection created by Swiss luxury watch maker Roger Dubuis, is now available to watch connoisseurs in the Sultanate of Oman. Roger Dubuis’ signature watch line is available at Mistal, renowned distributor of luxury watches in Muscat, thanks to the watchmaker’s partnership with the Ajit Khimji Group. The new collection incorporates exceptional mechanical movements designed, developed and produced by Roger Dubuis. Produced as a limited edition of just 88, this Chronograph La Monégasque Big Number stands apart for its dial in the classic casino colours of black, red and green. The dial, which contrasts a satin sunburst centre with a circular satin exterior, incorporates a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and small seconds at 9 o’clock, giving it the elegance and appeal of the traditional chronograph. To top it off, the Chronograph La Monégasque Big Number is presented on a handstitched black alligator strap with a rose gold pin buckle.
JUNE 2011 / 13
Keeping desktops alive
Think light Lenovo refers to their ThinkPad X1 as a crossover computer. Made for the business set, it has an Intel Core i7 processor packed into its 0.67-inch body. The X1 still looks very much like part of the Lenovo ThinkPad family,
HP recently unveiled the Pavilion p7, Slimline s5, and the Pavilion HPE h8 – all festooned with black finishes, rounded edges, sliding port covers, and metallic panels designed to blend in with the electronics already populating your living room. Of the three, the p7 is the most mainstream, with a nonthreatening chassis that’s about the size you’d expect a tower to be. The Slimline s5 has a similar look, but is about half the size, making it look more like a media hub. Lastly, there’s the HPE h8, whose red accents and beastlier shape mark it as the power tower it is. For the money, you’ll get discrete graphics, optional Beats Audio, and support for dual displays. The p7 and h8 went on sale on May 18, starting at USD299 (approximately RO115) and USD599 (approximately RO230), respectively. For the petite s5, you’ll have to step up to a USD329 (approximately RO126) starting price. Look for it on June 15.
Home lighting has certainly come a long way since the days of Thomas Alva Edison, and Philips will be part of a watershed moment as they prepare to unveil the world’s first LED replacement for the 75W incandescent light bulb at the LIGHTFAIR International trade show. Known as the Philips EnduraLED A21 17W light bulb, this will be the maiden LED equivalent to 75W incandescent bulbs, and it is touted to be 80 per cent more energy efficient compared to its outdated predecessor. The new bulbs are also marathon runners in their own right, capable of lasting up to 25 times longer compared to standard incandescent bulbs, adding another feather in the cap of LED technology where everyday LED residential use is concerned. Philips can be said to be an old hat in this arena since they are the first company to develop a LED to replace the 60W incandescent bulb.
14 / TECH
which is to say functional, but hardly beautiful. At 1.7kg it’s not the slimmest or lightest ultraportable out there, but it is the thinnest core i7 laptop money can buy. And it has a battery that can charge to 80 per cent in 30 minutes. Along with the 13-inch Gorilla Glass screen and keyboard the X1 comes with Dolby Home Theatre sound and maintains that recognisable red nub and above-trackpad mouse buttons so you can navigate without taking your hands off the keyboard. It will start selling at USD1,400 (approximately RO540).
Age of LED
Chrome race Xi3 Corporation recently announced its ChromiumPC modular computer, the world’s first desktop computer designed to run Google’s Chrome operating system. First disclosed by Xi3 Corp. in 2009, the ChromiumPC is a version of the company’s Xi3 Modular Computer which was formally unveiled in 2010 and named by the Consumer Electronics Association as an Innovations Award Winner in the Computer Hardware category for the 2011 International CES trade show. Each Xi3 Modular Computer, including the ChromiumPC, is housed in an aluminium chassis that holds three small but interconnected boards (or modules). The ChromiumPC will be available in multiple colours and the pricing will be announced later this year. General availability is expected in the second half of 2011.
Not safe anymore
Honouring time Spring promises to be a highly-glamorous season with the new Opéra watch from Saint Honore, the renowned French-Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches available in all the outlets in the Middle East. Sophisticated or lightweight depending on the time of day or night, Opéra personifies seduction through its blend of watchmaking know-how, play of materials, sizes and colours and the magic of diamonds. The round case underlines the exclusivity of this model with its two different versions – 33mm and 37mm. The new Opéra is available in more sedate versions.
The recent hacks that attacked Sony nearly a month back, taking down the PlayStation Network (PSN) and Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) for a good three weeks or so raised the ire of many users who were used to seeing their home console work without any problems beforehand. Never mind that an olive branch was extended – the hurts are still there, and wounds take time to heal, not to mention, leave scars. Just when we thought the scab was about to fall off, F-Secure, a security firm, has reported that a Web server which hosts Sony’s Thai site has been compromised, where it is now being used to host a phishing site that targets customers of an Italian credit card company. Sony really ought to give their security measures a thorough combing through.
Smart steal
It seems that folks living in Aotearoa, better known as New Zealand, will have to wait a little bit longer if they have been holding out for a Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. This is because a shipment of that smartphone had been stolen no thanks to a major security breach, and the authorities are hard at work trying to track down the latest Sony Ericsson gaming smartphone. Vodafone New Zealand, the mobile operator carrying the handset, has tried to keep things under wraps, notifying only its customers via its official Facebook page.
JUNE 2011 / 15
Get rugged
Shining light Here are some interesting lights from the house of Artemide in Italy. The Cosmic Leaf modern ceiling lamp was designed by Ross Lovegrove for Artemide. This is a ceiling-mounted luminaire for diffused halogen lighting. The lamp diffuser is in textured transparent methacrylate and the structure in chromed steel, with a ceiling canopy in light grey brushed aluminium. This mounts on to a standard electrical junction box. The Cadmo is another modern floor lamp which was designed by Karim Rashid. The body is made of steel with the exterior in black lacquer or white powder-coated finish and the interior in white powder-coated finish. There is an on/off and dimmer control (for the light on the top only) on the cord for independent operation of each of the two light sources.
Sounds from a bowl The Clingo dock not only boosts the sound levels of the iPhone or iPod Touch’s built-in speakers, but it also serves as a sort of lens hood, shielding the display from ambient light. This parabolic sound sphere is a design that is simple and eye-catching. Priced at USD34.99 (approximately RO13), it is available directly from Clingo.
16 / TECH
Samsung’s latest HD Pocket Cam, the W200, is the ideal companion for those dream-beach excursions. The little red and black device packs in an extra-sensitive 5MP sensor for snaps as well as 30fps 1,980x1,020p video which, coupled with the bright f2.2 lens results in clear, sharp, distortion- and blur-free images. Throw in shock and dust resistance, waterproofing to a depth of 3m and an Aqua Mode setting, and there’s no excuse for bad shots anymore.
Eye these speakers
SW Speaker’s Figaro speakers look like your eyes were ripped out and put onto skewers. While the price hasn’t been revealed just yet, they’re said to be made from carbon fibre and mahogany wood stands, with Seas coaxial drivers lurking around inside. If they’re not nearly enough for your liking, SW Speakers will also decorate them in gold, silver and even diamonds.
Time blows With the Eole watch concept, designer Julien Moise envisioned a device that’s powered by blown air, displaying the time only when you want to see it. Of course, blowing on your watch in a meeting is less discreet than sneaking a peek under the table, but you’ll still have your BlackBerry around for when you need to count down the minutes until total freedom. The watch also has a weather indicator and alarm function, so there’s definitely a battery in there that’s doing more than keeping time – an alarm that only sounds when you blow wouldn’t work too well if you’re asleep.
Blood power Swiss scientists have now designed a small blood-powered turbine that would fit in arteries and power internal electronics like a pacemaker. Each turbine can produce 800mW of energy which is far greater than the 10mW used by a pacemaker. The implantable device would function like a mini hydroelectric generator that uses your blood instead of water. As long as your heart is beating, the turbine will generate an endless supply of power. Eventually, this technology could replace battery-powered pacemakers which have a limited life span. Though promising, the miniturbines have one major drawback — life-threatening blood clots. The team is looking at ways to cut the risk of blood clots, but it would still be one heck of a side effect to have to list on the product information sheet.
Wake up to toast You would be quite the nutcase if you were to slip your super slim iPhone into one of the two slots on a toaster, thinking that it were an iPhone dock instead. Of course, such a crazy move might just be used as a catalyst for those who want something different in the world – hence the toaster-inspired Day Maker device. Designer Michael Kritzer intends this alarm clock to pop out of your handset so that you can rise and shine, just like how a toaster ejects bread once they’re well done. If you are a huge fan of snoozing, all you need to do is push your handset back into the slot and you’re good to go.
Light a fire Instead of turning a crank or awkwardly shaking it to squeeze a few minutes of illumination out of it, the Lightstarter flashlight makes you rub it between your hands as if you were starting a fire with a stick. And like other dynamo powered flashlights the Lightstarter will run longer the more effort you put into it. Three seconds of rubbing gives you about thirty seconds of illumination, while a full minute rewards you with up to ten minutes of light. Unfortunately at the moment the Lightstarter is just a concept waiting for partnership or purchase, so you’ll probably be better off actually finding a pair of sticks and starting a fire yourself than waiting for this to go into production. But it’s interesting enough to make it to these pages.
JUNE 2011 / 17
photography
travel
compan on The new TZ20 from Panasonic has an advanced image processing technology
The Panasonic DMC-TZ20 (available at OMASCO) is a slim, compact, pocket-sized camera that is suitable for both everyday shots and travelling. It features a powerful 16x optical zoom lens that can also be used for shooting movies and is designed to suppress noise while zooming. The new 14.1-megapixel MOS sensor integrated in the TZ20 boasts high-speed signal output and high sensitivity image recording for making many advanced features possible. It enables the camera to record full HD 60i (NTSC) or 50i (PAL) smooth movie. For effective concentration of light, the newly developed sensor adopts microfabrication technology to achieve even higher sensitivity. With an advanced micro light tube structure, both colour mixture and signal loss are prevented. The newly added 3D Photo Mode produces a 3D image in the camera. The imageprocessing method used by LUMIX records
beautiful images with less distortion or visible image links. Take 20 panning shots and the camera automatically selects the two most suitable images – one for the right eye and one for the left eye – to
Intelligent Shooting Intelligent Resolution Technology The advanced image processing technology ‘Intelligent Resolution’ is incorporated in the Venus Engine FHD for the DMC-TZ20. With this technology, three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation areas – are automatically detected and optimum signal processes are performed to each area. Thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology, the Intelligent Zoom is also available with the DMC-TZ20. This extends the zoom ratio by approximately 1.3x, maintaining the picture quality. Furthermore, the Extra Optical Zoom function extends zoom power to 33.8x by using the centre part of the large MOS sensor to bring subjects even closer. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, this innovative technology precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way. As a result, images are clear and crisp in both photo and movie recording. 18 / TECH
synthesise 3D composite. The 3D image format is compatible with MPO, so it can be played back on other MPO-compatible equipment such as TVs and digital photo frames, or printed.
Intelligent Scene Selector When the camera’s in the iA Mode, the Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the Scene Mode to either Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Sunset or Intelligent Handheld Nightshot.
Other Intelligent functions Intelligent ISO Control Intelligent Exposure Intelligent Burst Shooting
For amazing sport shoots, the DMC-TZ20 features speedier focusing, thanks to the Sonic Speed AF system that includes numerous re-engineering enhancements, including a higher-speed actuator, optimised algorithms and parallel software processing
With the GPS function, the TZ20 can automatically display the names of famous tourist sites and objects onto the LCD
The new high-quality LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens system is versatile with 24mm ultra wide-angle to powerful 16x optical zoom; the lens system is also compatible with high shutter speed of minimum 1/4,000 seconds
The TZ20 gives you smooth, free, touch-control shooting – your subjects are instantly brought into auto focus by simply touching the image on the LCD; a newly designed GUI also enables more comfortable operation – by simply touching the easy-to-understand icons you can quickly and easily switch shooting modes and select functions
Features The DMC-TZ20 features Face Recognition that prioritises focus and exposure right on the face of your special person; Face Detection features the Digital Red-eye Correction (Red-eye Removal)
14.1 megapixels 24mm Wide Angle LEICA DC Lens MOS Sensor Venus Engine FHD 21x Intelligent Zoom Full HD Movie Recording in AVCHD with Dolby Digital Stereo Creator Built-in GPS Three-inch smart touchscreen LCD
JUNE 2011 / 19
Iconic styles The latest cameras and camcorders from the house of Olympus take photography to another level Every innovation in camera technology brings us a step closer to capturing magical moments for posterity. Apart from groundbreaking technology, people look for a camera that, simply put, looks
good. Design is an integral part of any new launches and Olympus’ recent launch of a whole range of cameras will have an appeal in terms of design and technology. The launches include new cameras from
the TOUGH series, the VG and the VR series and also the game-changing, pocket-sized flagship, the XZ-1. Also launched was the groundbreaking ‘Super Zoom’ SZ series. Here are some of our favourites.
E-PL2 The latest addition to Olympus’ Micro Four Thirds family is packed with simple, intuitive settings. The E-PL2 lets users get creative with one of six Art Filters, even in HD Movie Mode. The new Dramatic Tone Art Filter is an addition that enhances contrast, letting you create movies and stills with a powerful, otherworldly look. The Live Guide feature teaches beginners how to capture great shots step-by-step. The new Live Wheel on the back makes it easier to navigate menus and pick out the right feature or mode, while the larger three-inch LCD with 460,000-dot resolution is ideal for framing and reviewing shots.
VR-310 The VR-310 is a combination of new technology, compact design and easy handling. It has a resolution of 14MP and a movie recording capability of 720p HD. Thanks to a powerful 10x super wide optical zoom you can capture close-ups and group shots with ease. Similar to the VG-110, the seven Magic Filter options let you create unique-looking shots without the hassle of retouching on a computer. Dual Image Stabilisation counteracts camera shake to virtually eliminate blur, while AF Tracking and the three-inch colour LCD make it simple to frame and capture good shots. Other features include i-Auto, various Scene Modes and Shadow Adjustment Technology.
20 / TECH
Image Sensor
E-PL2 4/3 Hi-Speed Live MOS Sensor
VR-310 1/2.3 CCD Sensor
VG-110 1/2.3 CCD Sensor
XZ-1 1/1.63 CCD Sensor
Effective Pixels
12.3MP
14MP
12MP
10MP
Monitor
Three-inch HyperCrystal LCD
Three-inch TFT
2.7-inch TFT
Three-inch OLED
Dimensions (WxHxD)
115.4x72.7x42mm
100.6x58.2x28.5mm
92x54.2x19.8mm
110.6x64.8x42.3mm
Weight
317g
158g
105g
275g
VG-110 Olympus’ new VG series lets you shoot brilliant images with automatic aids like AF tracking, Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto), Shadow Adjustment Technology and Advanced Face Detection. With Digital Image Stabilisation, up to 4x wide optical zoom and up to 12MP, the new compact VG series cameras offer high-end optics. Fun features like the seven Magic Filters, including Pop Art, Soft Focus and the new Sparkle filter, encourage creativity. A big and bright 2.7-inch colour LCD and super-slender design make it a pleasure to share shots on the spot with family and friends. It also comes with an in-camera help guide for easy operation.
XZ-1 The XZ-1 combines the image quality and adjustability of system cameras and the portability of digital compact cameras. For amateurs and professionals alike, the XZ-1 offers superior image quality. With the light-grabbing, digital iZUIKO lens, shooting in low-light situations is a breeze. The manual lens ring allows for quick adjustment of key camera settings while you shoot, and a sliding depth-of-field adjuster makes it easy to create beautiful effects. All of this in a sleek and stylish package that’s as rugged as it is mobile.
NEW OLYMPUS MODELS IN TOWN VR-320
SZ-10
TG-810
VG-130
SP-610UZ
JUNE 2011 / 21
style incarnate Canon IXUS 310 HS combines performance and looks
Canon Middle East recently unveiled the new IXUS 310 HS – the latest touchscreen IXUS that combines superior low-light capabilities, full HD movie capture and manual photographic controls in a stunning stainless steel body. Designed for users who want superior performance and styling, the IXUS 310 HS provides excellent image quality and a host of advanced features, making it easy to capture crisp stills and stunning 1080p video.
Performance The high-sensitivity 12.1MP CMOS sensor with Canon’s DIGIC 4 image processor form the HS System and realise the highest possible quality, capturing images with significantly less noise in all conditions. Dynamic range is improved and users are able to capture sharp, blur-free shots of scenes in low light that would usually demand flash support.
Speed The inclusion of a CMOS sensor enables a number of high-speed shooting functions which offer more creative flexibility. The IXUS 310 HS can shoot full resolution stills at up to 3.4 shots per second and 8.2 shots per second at a reduced, 3MP resolution in high-speed ‘Burst’ mode.
Intuitive A large, 3.2-inch 460K dot-resolution PureColor II Touch LCD offers amazing contrast and colour rendition. Canon’s customisable touchscreen interface allows the icons for various camera settings to be arranged according to the user’s preference. Touch Actions and Tap Control offer an easy and intuitive way to operate the camera with simple pre-set gestures used for various functions such as flicking through the image library, or changing settings on-screen. 22 / TECH
Key features 12.1MP CMOS Sensor 4.4x zoom, optical image stabiliser 3.2-inch PureColor II Touch LCD Full HD with optical zoom, Dynamic IS High-speed Burst and Super Slow Motion Movie
The right choice Understanding camera lenses is the key to exploring the capabilities of digital cameras Photography has been going through an exciting transition period with many film photographers drifting towards digital cameras. The most important step, however,
in exploring the full potential of digital cameras is in understanding the lenses. This level of understanding gives you more creative control. Choosing the right lens for
any particular task is really important – as important as knowing about the focal length of the lens and aperture. So here are some quick thoughts on the two elements.
Focal length The focal length of a lens determines its angle of view, and thus how much the subject will be magnified – wide angle lenses have short focal lengths, while telephoto lenses have longer corresponding focal lengths.
Aperture The aperture range refers to the amount that the lens can open up or close down to let in more or less light. Lenses with larger maximum apertures provide significantly brighter viewfinder images, critical for night photography Large Aperture
f/2
Medium Aperture
f/8
Small Aperture
f/22
Lenses with a greater range of aperture settings provide artistic flexibility in terms of exposure options and depth of field
Make memories
Five tips to capture beautiful moments with friends and family
Take candid pictures to Have fun and try shooting in your subject’s favourite place
Get close and fill your camera’s viewfinder or LCD display with the subject, emphasising what’s important and excluding the rest 24 / TECH
show your friends working, playing, chatting or just relaxing; don’t force them to pose, staring at the camera
Use natural light – cloudy days
provide good lighting for pictures of people; the bright sun makes them squint, throwing harsh shadows on their faces
Avoid harsh facial shadows by using the soft lighting of a cloudy day or a shady area – if your camera has several flash modes, select ‘Fill-Flash’ on a sunny day as this ‘fills’ the shadows on nearby subjects, creating flattering portraits in direct sunlight
audio zone
Gear up FullSound enriches your music experience The latest MP3 players from the house of Philips, the SA3MXX02K and the SA3RGA02K/SA3RGA04R, are founded on Philips’ innovative FullSound technology that restores sonic details to compressed MP3 music. This enriches your music experience, reducing distortion. FullSound results in a fuller bass with more depth and impact, boosted voice and instrument clarity, and rich detail.
Philips SA3MXX02K The compact Philips GoGear Mix MP3 player makes file transfer a breeze with its direct USB. The player lets you enjoy intuitive navigation on the full colour display and up to 13 hours of playback with its embedded battery. It also features voice recording.
Philips SA3RGA02K/ SA3RGA04R These players sport a sleek design with a modern finish. The GoGear Raga MP3 players also have the Philips Songbird that lets you discover and play all your media, and sync it seamlessly with your GoGear. Another feature is the LikeMusic that lets you experience music that you like most with just a click.
Philips SA3MXX02K
Display Type
LCD
Display Resolution
128x64
LCD
Philips SA3RGA02K/ SA3RGA04R
128x64
Connectivity
USB 2.0
USB 2.0
Dimensions (WxDxH)
28.7x10.5x82mm
49.9x43.4x12.9mm
Weight
22g
24g
Available at
Mustafa Sultan Electronics, 24636015
26 / TECH
mobile zone
Sensationally entertaining
With an immersive HTC Sense experience, the Sensation feels great
The HTC Sensation is a multimedia superphone. With a stunning qHD display on-demand movies look great. The Sensation includes an immersive HTC Sense experience making this phone easy to use and an entertainer. And with the design that includes contoured glass edging the phone feels great in your hand.
With multi-window browsing, a quick lookup tool for jumping to popular websites like Wikipedia or YouTube and the latest Flash support for smooth video playback, you can now surf the Web in style
HTC Sensation Processor
1.2GHz dual core
Display
4.3-inch touchscreen
Camera
8MP
Dimensions
126.1x65.4x11.3mm
Weight
148g
The HTC Sensation features an instant capture camera – the moment you press the button the photo is captured
Cool apps Trimensional
With the world’s first 3D scanner for iPhone, you can now capture 3D models of yourself, friends and family, and share the results with the world. Trimensional uses both the screen and the front-facing camera on the iOS device, detecting patterns of light reflected off your face to build a true 3D model.
MY Automower
The lockscreen is now a window to the good stuff on your phone – your portfolio, your friend’s status, and more
Husqvarna, the creators of the Automower robotic lawnmower, have made it easier now to mow your lawn. You can control their robotic lawnmower through the use of an iOS app. It is called My Automower and works with all Husqvarna Automower robotic lawnmowers equipped with a GPS communication unit. Through the app, users can start, stop and track their robotic lawnmowers from halfway across the world.
JUNE 2011 / 27
HOW STUFF WORKS
Back up your life Be proactive and save your life’s work Computers have become as important to us as, let’s say, automobiles. You might even say ‘your life is stored on your computer’. You wouldn’t want to lose your ‘life’ now, would you? Be proactive about your data storage. If your hard drive crashes, chances are that you will lose some data. But taking a practical stance by backing up your hard drive will limit the damage. It’s better to lose a few files than a whole life’s worth of work and information. Check out some of these simple ways on how to back up your data.
These applications also allow you to back up data regularly by sending you email alerts when performing backups if the system experiences a malfunction
Set up a backup profile Most PCs with Microsoft Windows XP have a program called Windows XP Back Up installed; open the application and follow the instructions from the backup wizard
Macintosh computers with Mac OS 10.5 or later have a similar application called Time Machine that allows you to back up data; it lets you set up a profile that will allow you to save it on the machine or export it to an external hard drive
Other back-up solutions The use of external hard drives is perhaps the best solution for backing up your data. They are readily available and most of them connect to your desktop or laptop through the USB port. Another popular option is cloud storage – backing data up online to a virtual location. There are lots of cloud storage sites on the Web and many offer a few gigabytes of storage for free but require you to pay for more space. Some examples of cloud storage websites include Microsoft Live Mesh, Box. Net and DropBox.
28 / TECH
TECH ART
COLOURFUL MEMORIES
Learn how to add colour to your black and white photographs with noticeably better results than using a single raster layer
1
2
3
Open a black and white photo in Photoshop. We’ll use a Solid Color adjustment layer instead of creating a new layer. This will allow you to tweak the colours once you’ve done with the painting and it’s important as you don’t usually get the colour right the first time. To add a Solid Color adjustment layer, click on the ‘New Adjustment Layer’ button in the Layers pallet. This should open a menu where you can select Solid Color.
Once you click ‘Solid Color’, you’ll see a ‘Pick a solid color’ window where you can select the colour. First, we’ll select the colour of the skin. It doesn’t matter what colour you pick as long as the hue is correct. For example, for this skin tone we pick orange. It doesn’t matter if it’s the light or dark shade as you can edit it later when you have all the colours in place. Start off with the skin tone and pick the same colour we did.
Now you should notice a solid orange colour in your image. Change the Blend Mode to Color in the Layers pallet. This will make the Solid adjustment layer affect the colour of the layer below. Your photo should now have an orange tint. Now click on the layer mask in the Layers pallet, select the eraser tool and erase all the areas that orange isn’t a part of. In case of an error, simply select the brush tool and paint back the area that you accidentally erased. (Brush hardness: 50)
4
5
6
Now repeat the above steps for the rest of the image except for the background. As you can see in the image above (yellow:hair, red:lips, purple:dress, very light pink:eyes, blue:eye colour, light blue:background). The colours may look too vibrant right now, but don’t worry because we can fix that by modifying the adjustment layer colour.
Look at the image now. See what a big difference colour makes? We clicked on each layer (the colour thumbnail) and adjusted the colour. We didn’t change the hue, instead we only picked the same colour and dragged it from light to dark until we got the most realistic shade of the same colour.
Well the hard part is over, now you can simply zoom into the areas where the colours are overlapping and adjust and refine your layers using the eraser tool. For merging to colour you can set the opacity of the eraser to 50 per cent for a more refined merge. Adjust the brightness and contrast to get a natural look and you are done.
JUNE 2011 / 29
video zone
Smart future Samsung recently showcased the future of digital home entertainment
The recently held launch of the 2011 Smart TV lineup by Samsung Gulf Electronics and Al Seeb Technical Establishment (SARCO) is all set to redefine the home entertainment experience. The Smart TV line-up combines elegant design with a wide range of smart features that offer viewers the most out of their entertainment experience. With smart content the TVs offer an immersive viewing experience with its minimal aesthetics and 3D impact. With a new world of Web-connected TV entertainment it also allows users to easily search for movies, TV shows, browse the Web, explore Samsung Apps, chat with friends and much more.
The new series has the features of Samsung’s Social Hub that allow users to access online content from one location
The Smart TV line-up (available at SARCO) includes a range of LED, LCD and PDP TVs with the PDP TV range offering Samsung’s breakthrough Plasma+1 design that features a new narrow bezel that adds one inch of viewable screen size without increasing the outside dimensions of the set
30 / TECH
The D8000 Series LED Smart TV with 3D capabilities uses an improved Quad Stand to ensure ultimate harmony between the TV and its environment; it has a 5mm brushed metal bezel, a fine line that slightly frames the rich content on the screen and enhances the TV’s light form factor
Totally 3D Samsung also launched the Total 3D Solution that takes consumers deeper into the immersive 3D experience. It includes ground-breaking 3D audio technology that simulates the height and depth of the audio track by distinguishing between foreground and background sounds. Complementing the interior decor of any home, Total 3D includes the slim 3D BluRay player – the BD-D7500. Total 3D Solution also brings the company’s silhouette-designed 3D active glasses that are extremely light at 28g. Thanks to the new placement of printed circuits and batteries behind each ear, they also offer greater comfort. The Total 3D Solution is further complemented by a stylish new wireless charger that charges up to four pairs of active 3D glasses through an elegant, glossy black cylinder. The new 3D glasses use Bluetooth instead of infrared signals to sync with the 3D TV. And so, the glasses need not necessarily be in the line of sight of the TV.
AllShare offers a wireless network that is convenient and easy to use, allowing users to share HD quality content among all Samsung and other DLNA compatible digital devices
Smart Hub Samsung’s ‘Smart Hub’ is the interface to all its Smart features, offering a simple menu system that is easy to connect, discover and enjoy. The features that constitute the Smart Hub include Samsung Apps – the world’s first HDTV-based application store offering hundreds of apps globally that help people connect to their various passions. Currently, Samsung Apps boasts around 400 applications for Smart TV globally, of which approximately 300 are free, and is looking to increasing that number to 1,000 by the end of 2011.
Search All
makes it easy to access and search for the desired content on the Web and other DLNA connected devices
Social TV
makes it easy to chat with friends and family in realtime while watching the same TV content
Web Browser
offers full flash video support, allowing you to surf the net right from your TV
Second TV allows users to stream visual content between devices where viewers will be able to push Blu-Ray, DVD and live TV from their screen to other Samsung devices such as tablets and Galaxy smartphones JUNE 2011 / 31
Beyond the CRT Televisions have come a long way from being known as the ‘idiot box’ It is just May and with the temperatures rising every day people choose to stay indoors. Watching their favourite movies on TV with a cool drink in hand is how they picture their evening activity. Well, gone are the days when parents tell their kids not to spend time in front of the ‘idiot box’. This is
not because children are getting smarter, but rather televisions are. With the advent of Internet TV and interactive apps, kids get a lot out of the TV than just audio and video. Beyond the specifications, though, is the visual appeal. Companies try to bring in
something innovative in the audio-video technology as often as possible. With TVs getting thinner and wider, it is fun to go shopping for one and to really experience how good they look and feel. Well, we have tried to give a brief on some of the latest displays available in Oman.
LG 72LZ9700 LG’s 72-inch LZ9700 is a full LED 3D TV. It gives viewers life-sized action with a beautifully crisp picture in both 2D and 3D. Fitted with LG’s innovative full LED technology, the LZ9700 is illuminated by a full panel of LEDs directly behind the screen, producing pictures as colourful as paintings in an art gallery. The spacious full LED screen size also makes the picture more expansive, enabling viewers to experience superb picture quality with detailed images. The LZ9700 TV comes in LG’s famous INFINIA design making for an ultra-slim depth and narrow bezel
SmartShare technology integrates DLNA compatibility, USB port and media Link connectivity, making it an all-in-one entertainment device
The Micro Pixel Control or local dimming improves the picture quality
3D Comfort
State-of-the-art
Further enhancing the experience, the LZ9700 offers comfortable 3D viewing. With the large full LED screen, the 3D takes on added depth, giving viewers an immersive viewing experience. And with TruMotion 400Hz delivering super-fast processing rates you can enjoy smooth 3D images.
This state-of-the-art TV is fitted with LG’s Smart TV functions. Via a simple Home Dashboard, the TV delivers premium content from global and local providers. It also gives viewers access to LG’s growing range of TV apps that offer everything from language classes to games. Thanks to LG’s intuitive and easy-to-use Magic Motion Remote Control, the LZ9700’s numerous functions are extremely simple to operate.
32 / TECH
Panasonic TH-P42X30M Panasonic uses its own unique image-analysis technology that converts the motion in each scene into data, and each frame is virtually displayed in a shorter length of time than in previous 600Hz systems, to create crisp images. And with the wide colour viewing angle, no matter where you sit in the room, you see breathtaking images with spectacular colours. VIERA models with x.v.Colour compatibility reproduce the vibrant colour in images recorded by wide x.v.Colour gamut compatible camcorders.
With VIERA’s Wi-Fi capability you have more layout flexibility
Equipped with an SD card slot, VIERA makes it easy to view full-HD photos and motion images that you shot yourself
VIERA Link interlinks the operation of a variety of AV devices and you can operate them all using only the VIERA remote control
Friendly interface The VIERA Tools user interface makes it easy to access and understand key functions. With the press of a function button an explanation appears on the screen. You can activate the function by pressing the button for a few seconds. You can also press the VIERA Tools button on the remote control to directly access entertaining Internet services.
Eco care All VIERA plasma display panels are free of both lead and mercury, thus reducing the impact on the environment years down the road. The TVs also offer Eco navigation features such as standby power save and intelligent auto standby modes.
What to look for before you buy a TV Size: Choose where you want the TV before you purchase. Type: You need to choose between an LCD and Plasma. This depends to an extent on the size. For smaller units go for the LCD and choose the latter for larger sets. Formats: For maximum experience go for the 1080p and not the 720p. Contrast Ratio: This is the ratio of the brightest to the darkest colour that the set is capable of producing. Higher the contrast ratio, richer is the picture. JUNE 2011 / 33
Philips 32PFL5606H The Philips 5000 Series LED TV is powered by Pixel Plus HD engine for vivid full HD pictures. Pixel Plus HD offers a combination of vivid colours and smooth natural motion on all qualities of HD, standard TV signals and multimedia content. Artefacts and noise in all sources from multimedia to standard TV and also in highly compressed HD are detected and reduced ensuring sharp pictures. With the step by step assistant it is a breeze setting this TV up.
The USB connector allows access to jpeg photos, mp3 music and video files of most USB-sticks; simply plug the USB into the slot at the side of the TV and access the multimedia content using the easy on-screen content browser
Together with three HDMI inputs with Philips Easylink, you need only one remote control to perform most operations on your TV, DVD, Blu-Ray or home theatre system
Power of Sound
‘Green’ choice
Clear Sound, an innovative audio technology, significantly increases the intelligibility of vocalisations. The powerful 20W RMS (2x10W RMS) amplifiers create a lifelike soundstage, with the Incredible Surround allowing you to experience total surround with greater depth and width of sound.
The LED lighting technology in this TV combines an attractive minimalistic design with stunning image quality. But the most important aspect is the low power consumption. Another environmental benefit is that LED lighting technology does not contain hazardous materials.
34 / TECH
Samsung UA55D8000 The Samsung LED Series 8000 Smart TV is an immersive experience delivered with style and intelligence. The integrated and innovative Smart Hub, which allows you to interact with your TV, ensures that everything from surfing the Internet on your TV to flicking through pictures and home movies is effortless and loads more fun. With a sophisticated design to match and supreme connectivity for seamless streaming you have a stylish and intelligent TV to enjoy.
Samsung’s Active glasses are lightweight and ergonomically designed, with flexible temple hinges and adjustable nose pads; so now you can immerse yourself in the action for hours with no discomfort
The Micro Dimming technology delivers outstanding contrast ratios, with purer whites and deeper blacks; with no halo effect, you’ll enjoy the tiniest picture details that are normally never seen
Smart Hub lets you harness the full potential of the Internet through your TV, with new features such as Search All and Web Browser
Entertainingly simple AllShare lets you connect your TV wirelessly to all your compatible digital devices, unlocking the music, movies and photos stored there. High Definition Multimedia Interface inputs allow you to directly connect up to four devices, providing you with much more to watch and share.
A new dimension With its ‘One Design’ that enriches your TV experience, the LED 8000 elegantly combines the screen with an ultra-slim bezel, reducing clutter and delivering a truly immersive experience. The TV is framed with a super-narrow silver metal outline.
And with its light-weight design, it is easily hung on the wall, perfect for modern living. With the total 3D TV experience that synchronises the advanced 3D picture with latest in 3D sound through Samsung’s
3D Sound Effect, the LED 8000 pulls us to a whole new dimension. Driving this performance is Samsung’s innovative 3D HyperReal Engine, enhancing images and optimising performance for the most vibrant and crystal-clear full HD images.
LCD VS PLASMA VS LED LCD
PLASMA
LED
Highs: Flat and much lighter, have a higher resolution, wider viewing angle and lower power consumption
Highs: Ability to generate true black picture quality, higher lifespan than LCD, viewing distance and angles are wider
Highs: Best colour levels and contrast ratio, power consumption is low, is shock resistant, longer lasting
Lows: Low contrast ratio, inability to achieve true black picture quality
Lows: Brightness is greatly diminished in poor lighting conditions, has lower resolution, an irreparable back light
Lows: More expensive than LCD and Plasma TV
JUNE 2011 / 35
Sony 46EX720 The EX720 Series provides full HD 1080p picture quality. It owes its slim design to the Edge LED backlight. The TV delivers good contrast, stunning images and rich colour detail. Sony’s Motionflow XR 240 technology reduces blur caused by quick camera movements, enhancing image sharpness and creating a clearer picture. So, fast action scenes will now look smooth. Sony’s X-Reality engine brings out the best by analysing each scene, thus creating amazing contrast detail, letting you enjoy vibrant pictures.
An easy-to-use menu lets you navigate additional content or adjust the picture settings while watching your favourite programme
With the HDTV’s USB input you can now simply connect your digital camera, USB-enabled MP3 player, or USB storage device
With the Media Remote app that you can download for free you can use your iPhone or Android phone as a versatile remote control with full QWERTY keyboard
Connectivity
Intelligent saving
With Sony’s Internet TV you can get instant access to must-have entertainment, including thousands of hit movies, TV shows, music choices, online videos and games. Going wireless is also simple with the UWA-BR100 Wi-Fi adapter. You can also access and share photos, videos and music on your TV by streaming them from compatible DLNA devices like your PC or PlayStation3 system.
With the television’s built-in motion sensor you can save energy when you’re not around. The sensor has the ability to scan the room and detect movement. If it does not detect any movement it turns off the picture leaving only sound. When more time passes with still no movement, the TV turns itself off, minimising any unnecessary power draw. With the built-in light sensor the TV automatically adjusts the picture brightness based on the amount of light in the room.
36 / TECH
Toshiba AV700 The AV700 series features the Power Metabrain engine that lets you experience the natural beauty of full HD 1080p resolution. It delivers full HD by using 10bit processing technology. The AV700 series supports AutoView which is Toshiba’s most advanced solution for achieving the best possible picture quality. It monitors the brightness of the room and adjusts the backlight and other picture parameters accordingly. Toshiba’s built-in Auto Signal Booster improves the sensitivity to weak radio frequency (RF) signal and so, the image becomes clearer when the RF signal is strengthened during weak signal reception.
The advanced 3D Colour Management technology allows you to adjust the hue, saturation and colour brightness for each of the six basic colours separately
Intelligent viewing The AV700 series supports Intelligent Backlight Control. Precise adjustment of the backlight is important to obtain optimum picture quality. The Intelligent Backlight Control does this automatically. Deeper blacks in dark scenes are reproduced by reducing the intensity of the backlight, resulting in greatly improved contrast.
Eco Style Toshiba LCD TVs have lower power consumption. AutoView helps reduce the impact on the environment with its power saving capability. Toshiba has also put in an effort to achieve efficient usage of materials. Toshiba REGZA LCD TV also practices the green procurement with all models, complying with the RoHS standard that prohibits the usage of six harmful materials.
The REGZA model supports Picture-in-Picture – you can watch a TV channel and a movie from another source such as a Blu-Ray or DVD player
Toshiba’s full HD panel is also capable of displaying high-definition images with 1,920x1,080 resolution and 16:9 format
3D WITHOUT GLASSES Everyone recognises that the need to wear 3D glasses is one of the major barriers to the mass acceptance of 3D TV as an entertainment medium – the glasses are expensive, uncomfortable, and you’ll need multiple pairs if watching with friends or family. Lenticular lens technology is a breakthrough – now we can enjoy 3D without the cumbersome glasses. Developments in
head tracking 3D technology also gives us a solution, where a built-in webcam locks on to a viewer’s eyes and displays the split in images required for that viewer to ‘see’ in 3D, adjusting the images emitted from the display as the viewer moves. The Hungarian technology firm iPont 3D are working on development of the 3D TV Box, a device that promises a potentially superior method of delivering ‘no glasses’ 3D TV in
a unique way. So far none of the methods of delivering ‘no glasses’ 3D TV have been perfected, but all is not lost. Manufacturers continue on research and development and it’s pretty much guaranteed that the major manufacturers will find a way to give us ‘no glasses’ 3D TV within the next few years at a price that’s affordable and a quality that makes it all worthwhile. JUNE 2011 / 37
interview
Through the lens Ambuj Khare gives us a peek into the world of trading and technology
H
aving known the affable Ambuj Khare, senior general manager of Genetco, as an aficionado of books and movies, it was interesting to listen to his conversation with our photographer on his Canon 60D. Seems Ambuj is a photography buff as well. Of course he would rather be behind the lens than face it any day. 38 / TECH
Very camera-shy, he exudes enthusiasm for what he does, but this zeal doesn’t stop with just his hobbies. Although he has been with Genetco for over one and a half years, his passion for the consumer electronics industry has continued for 22 years now, spilling onto a doctorate in strategies on 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) retail and trading in consumer electronics from the
Birla Institute of Technology. Before his stint with the present company, Ambuj had been heading Indian multinationals like Videocon Middle East and Onida MEA and Europe as vice president. His shift to the Gulf took place only in 2002. But with his experience in the ME markets, he is proud of the Omani consumer and admits, “This is a very aggressive market in terms
of awareness. The Omani consumer is very knowledgeable. They want to see new products in the market all the time and the youth are more demanding here than elsewhere in the Middle East.” Not a man to shy away from a challenge, Ambuj explains, “Working with Genetco has helped me understand the other side of the trade as we deal with multiple brands. It is all about recreating brands in the market. Oman is a vibrant market and the country has got a good mix of society. Also, Oman is probably the only country in the Middle East where the ratio of expatriates to the nationals is low. So it is challenging to experiment in this kind of market.” As a 40-year-old organisation Genetco has been a pioneer in consumer electronics. Starting with Sanyo, the company has continued to add brands such as Canon, Asus and Gree to its portfolio. One of the major achievements that Ambuj is happy about is that the company has grown by over 25 per cent last year in total turnover. And they have re-launched a few new brands, Finlux being the latest brand from Europe, manufactured in Turkey. “Finlux is the most admired brand now, with the latest in technology available at affordable prices. We keep in mind the kind of society and clientage we have when working on the pricing and product quality of any new brands we plan on launching,” he adds. The growth of Sanyo has been very good, he adds, as has the growth of another of the company’s flagship brands, Hitachi, which was merged with Genetco last year. “We have shown a growth of 12 per cent [in Hitachi]. Oman is a price-driven market and so we are dedicated towards launching new products and new technology at economical prices.”
“We keep in mind the kind of society and clientage we have when working on the pricing and product quality of any new brands we plan on launching” commitment to reach the end user we have developed an international standard of spare parts management. Besides 16 mobile teams to cover the various regions we have over 80 technicians working in service departments for the EHA sector. We have a separate team and service centre for cameras and other IT products. We also have our own call centre and an exclusive installation team for all our products.” Having something new to provide loyal customers is what Genetco believes in. As Ambuj explains, every year the company comes out with a unique scheme for consumers. He adds, “Last year we had a gala summer scheme that we termed ‘World Cup to World Cup’. We gave our customers a four-year warranty on all products purchased from us, lasting from
one World Cup to the next. This year we are planning a unique promotion for our customers, which will be launched in the first week of June. We wish to give the consumers the freedom to feel and use every product and the promotion will be based on the same theory. The focus will be to create a festivity all around by providing new products and the strength of Genetco after-sales service. This is the first of its kind in Oman. With this our motive remains the same – best penetration into the market, giving consumers the best product for their budgets and giving value for money.” Ambuj’s eyes light up with excitement when he talks about the achievements of the company. “We are one of the largest sellers of air-conditioners and home appliances in Oman. This year we are also very aggressive with our LED and LCD sales. We have done very well so far, adding on brands. With Canon as one of our flagship brands, we are far ahead of any of our nearest competitors in the digital segments and SLRs. With Sanyo having more than 40 years of penetration in the EHA sector and Hitachi being the fastest growing brand in Oman, we are working towards satisfying the consumer requirements.” Ambuj concludes that Genetco’s belief in consumer satisfaction is the reason for its current position in the market.
Retail forms a major part of the organisation’s portfolio, with Radioshack as one of its mainz brands. “We have a very strong management team out here. Dr Muthanna who is now our CEO was formerly heading Radioshack Middle East. We also have a very strong product team that was developed last year. With our JUNE 2011 / 39
computing
iEvolution
With slimmer design, more powerful hardware and slightly improved screen, will the iPad 2 strike gold twice for Apple? Malcolm X. Crasta explores
I
t’s been just over a year since the iPad revitalised the tablet market. Now, even while the sales of the original iPad remain unbeaten, Apple has released the second generation model. The iPad 2 is more an evolution, addressing a few of the problems of the original with some extra, though unnecessary, features added in. Being an Apple product there are a few restrictions – iTunes is mandatory for uploading content; the Web browser has no
40 / TECH
Power/screen-lock Screen rotation lock
Volume rocker 0.7MP camera lens
Front-facing VGA camera
Proprietary Apple connector Loudspeaker flash support; the battery is not replaceable; and there is no standard USB port or expandable memory, so you are stuck with the HDD size you purchase. Lastly, if you purchase the 3G model you will require a micro-SIM, just like with the iPhone 4. Now for the good stuff: Apple has retained the unibody construction of the older model but with curved edges more in common with the older generation iPhone and iPod Touch. The slim 8.8mm profile (slimmer even than the iPhone 4) more than compensates for this. Even better, and unlike the iPhone 4, the iPad 2 enters the market with a choice of both white and black colours. The iPad 2 is significantly lighter and more comfortable to hold. In typical Apple fashion there isn’t much in the way of buttons surrounding the device. The front has a standard Home button below the screen and a front-facing VGA camera above it. On the top are the power/ screen-lock button, the 3.5mm audio jack and a microphone. The volume rocker and rotation lock button above it are on the right. The bottom houses the proprietary Apple connector and a single loudspeaker. The back sports the Apple logo and tiny 0.7MP camera lens. The camera is quite bad with still photographs whose resolution, at 960x720 pixels, is lower than that of the screen itself. Ironically, this same camera is more than capable of recording impressive 720p videos at 30fps.
The device uses the same LED-backlit IPS-TFT display as before but this time the colours are warmer and the viewing angles have been improved. The device is like a big iPod Touch and runs a lightly modified version of the iOS (iOS v4.3 in this case). On the face of it and when task switching or browsing the menu you won’t see the strength of the new underlying hardware – a 900MHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU. In almost everything else however, you will most definitely notice it. Apps load much faster and run smoother. Web browsing is now smooth (albeit without flash). Games benefit the most from the hardware bump, with better frame rates and in some cases better graphics. Some developers are already making games
specific for the iPad 2 to capitalise on the increased power. The device also plays 720p video right out of the box. It is an excellent music player and picture viewer. Overall, the iPad 2 is a decent upgrade with a welcome power increase that is sure to pull in a vast number of new users. If you are not bothered by its restrictions, then it is hard not to recommend the device. But if you already own the original iPad, the choice is more a question of how you plan to use the device. If all you use it for is organisation, basic apps utilisation, Web browsing and audio then it is not really worth the upgrade. But if HD videos and gaming is your thing then look into the iPad 2 and consider going for the higher capacity models as 16GB just won’t cut it for archiving videos and games.
JUNE 2011 / 41
The ICONIA TAB W500 brings user-friendly applications at your fingertips The Acer ICONIA TAB W500 is the most enjoyable choice for mobile entertainment. With an additional docking keyboard complete with Ethernet port for fast Internet connections, a USB port for external devices and the integrated Acer FineTrack pointing device with two buttons for effortless navigation, this Windows 7-powered tablet creates a seamless bridge between portability and productivity.
Launch the Acer Ring by grabbing the screen of the ICONIA TAB W500. This will bring a selection of user-friendly touch applications and utilities at your fingertips. Scroll through the applications and tap to open the one you want.
It is powered by an AMD C-50 processor and 2GB of DDR3 RAM; the two 1.3MP webcams add to the fun
It supports Adobe Flash 10.1 to give you a rich Web browsing experience
The ICONIA TAB W500 comes with clear. fi built-in, for easy media sharing
ACER ICONIA TAB W500 Processor
Dual-core AMD Processor
Display
10.1-inch WXGA
Weight
1kg
Dimension
210x280mm
MSRP
USD549.99 (~RO212)
Top 5 tablets of the year BlackBerry PlayBook
Dell Inspiron Duo
HTC FlyeR
Motorola Xoom
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9
Weighing 400g and 10mm thick, and with a seven-inch LCD display, the PlayBook will be an incredible gaming platform.
The tablet has a vertically rotating screen. The keyboard and touchpad are its main attractions. It comes with interesting apps.
It has a multi-use new stylus. The Time Mark software is highly useful. It also comes with new 3D widgets.
The Xoom is clearly meant to be used in landscape mode more than portrait. The tablet is fast and sleek.
Claimed to be the thinnest tablet in the world, it comes with Android 3.0 Honeycomb OS and 1GHz dual-core processor.
42 / TECH
YES, I WANT
WIN A SAM
NG LCD! SU
Join our personal mailing list in the next 24 days for a chance to
Gift courtesy : SARCO
WIN
a Samsung LCD
Full Name PO Box
Age Group
PC
City
Below 18
19-24
25-30
31-40
Above 41
Designation Tick as applicable
Company Mobile
Omani
Single
Own LED TV
Online at least once daily
Email Contact
Signature
12 Issues RO6
tech@deenarmedia.com OR fax 24693569
Deenar Press and Publishing PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman
Terms and Conditions: Deenar Press and Publishing is not responsible or liable for any late, lost or misdirected orders. Once processed, the fee is non refundable. New subscribers will receive their ďŹ rst magazine commencing with the next issue published after the date that application and payment is received. Deadline June 24, 2011.
Great expectations Check out some of the new arrivals in the computer zone for the year ahead
When it comes to computers, you can always look forward to something new every year. Well, the year ahead seems to start off with some really cool netbooks and laptops, including the ultimate gaming laptop – Alienware M18x. So, here is a choice few.
LG P430 and P530 Toshiba NB520 What makes Toshiba’s latest netbook, the NB520, stand out from the rest of the crowd? Well, soon to arrive in Europe, you can expect built-in Harman/Kardon speakers, for one thing. But they seem to be located on a rather strange location – the palm rest. Slated to deliver up to ten hours of run time, the other hardware specifications include an Intel 1.5GHz Atom N550 processor, 1GB RAM, a 250GB hard drive, a ten-inch display and Windows 7 Starter Edition as the operating system of choice.
LG’s latest notebooks in the Blade series are super slim. The P430 and P530 will come with 14- and 15.6-inch LED LCD displays. With respective depths of 4.5 and 4.7mm, the P430 and P530 displays are slimmer and lightweight, with the former tipping the scales at 1.94kg and the latter weighing 2.2kg. The notebooks look stylish with a brushed aluminium finish and diamond cutting – technology that relies on real diamonds to cut the edge of the case. The P430 and P530 will come in misty blue and titan black shades.
Dell Alienware M18x Dell’s monstrous M18x Alienware laptop is now officially on sale in the US. Touted as the ‘most powerful 18-inch gaming laptop in the universe’ it will be an amazing desktop replacement to play all your favourite games on. It comes with an 18.4inch FHD WLED 1,080p display for the best visuals possible. It sports powerful dual GPU options with the fastest graphics memory (GDDR5) in both AMD and NVIDIA graphics options, in Crossfire X and SLI, respectively. Do not overlook the new Intel ‘Huron River’ Architecture with Intel Core i7 Extreme Quad Core processor. The Alienware M18x is on sale now with prices starting from USD1,999 (approximately RO770).
44 / TECH
op-ed
Linking the world We try to find if social networking sites are useful in the professional domain
I
t was the year 1997 when life on planet earth took a turn for the better… or it might have been for the worse. Meeting friends and family at social gatherings slowly started becoming extinct. Professional interactions were at an all-time low. Does all this sound melodramatic? Well, this is what has happened to human beings since the advent of social networking through websites. Yes, you’ve guessed it. This is our topic of discussion this month, an idea we got from our own venture into the Facebook and Twitter market since our Anniversary (May) issue. We did a bit of research and found that the first recognisable social network site was launched in 1997. Known as SixDegrees. com it allowed users to create profiles and list their friends. So, social networking is just about 15 years old, and yet its popularity surpasses anything imaginable. The digital culture is the main reason behind the increase in the popularity of these social networking portals.
46 / TECH
So it should come as no surprise that several social networking sites are in a race to become the number one in the Internet world, surpassing the dominance of search engines like Google and Yahoo. In fact, Facebook, the world’s most popular social networking site, has incorporated search engines within its portal so that one can get any kind of search without leaving the website. This is probably one of the million advantages that these sites offer – a sheer variety of topics that people can chat about, from gardening, finding employment, business-tobusiness marketing to something as out-of-the-universe as the end of the Mayan calendar and the Great Shift to arrive on 21 December 2012. But beyond the personal, networking sites are now being used for exactly that – ‘networking’. We are talking about business
Parasuram Iyer
business marketing, zthe popularity of the networking sites seem to be restricted to the personal domain at present. As Rajiv Ahuja, head of corporate communications, says, “Though at Khimji Ramdas we have a Facebook page to connect photography enthusiasts under the Nikon-Muscat banner, both Facebook and Twitter are very popular in the personal domain at present. I believe it would need some concerted intent to make it more relevant in the professional domain.”
Rajiv Ahuja
marketing with corporates finding social networking sites a very useful medium to advertise in. In spite of this popularity there are still some who are nervous about using these sites, considering the dangers associated with them, such as data theft and viruses. Most importantly, people are apprehensive about becoming friends with individuals who claim to be someone they probably are not. Another major issue afflicting networking sites is the lack of anonymity. Information that you may not want to let others know is now online. But when it comes to corporates, if the benefits tip the scales over dangers, social networking sites turn out to be a useful tool. However, even with talks about
Of course, it’s cheaper to use online social networking for both personal and business use as most of it is usually free. So, while personal use is rather simple for anyone, the business functions are underestimated by many. You can scout out potential customers and target markets with just a few clicks and keystrokes, adding a boost to your usual advertisements and promotional strategies. Parasuram Iyer, deputy general manager of Bahwan Electronics, explains, “I use LinkedIn and Facebook. Social networking sites are a great medium for information sharing. Generally used for getting and keeping in touch with old friends, it offers a tremendous amount of scope to learn through the groups. I have personally experienced this. There is a lot of information sharing in these groups and it helps to get the fundamentals clear. A lot of such groups are moderated by subject experts and we can draw on their knowledge and experience too. And the best part is this can be done at one’s own convenience and time.” When it comes to business marketing,
Parasuram believes that these sites are very effective. He adds, “It [social networking sites] can be used as an effective marketing tool too, especially if the target audience is well defined. As we have seen in the recent past, it is an effective medium to mobilise opinion or support for different causes.” G V Rao, who is an active user of Facebook and LinkedIn feels that social networking sites help people keep upto-date with the latest developments in all fields, including technology. He adds, “Through these social networking sites, we could become members of various professional associations. These associations share knowledge among all members. We can seek clarifications on various technologies, new developments and trends from other members. Similarly, we can share our expertise with others. Social networking sites are backbones of these associations.” Rao is the senior sales and marketing manager of the electronics and home appliances division at OTE Group of Companies. To explore the full potential of these networking sites for business purposes, people need to be more aware of their cyber surroundings, making these sites an effective marketing tool.
G V Rao
JUNE 2011 / 47
personal transport
The BBY180 is a lightweight folding bicycle from Makita The Makita motor-assisted bicycle can be fitted with two 18V BL1830 Lithium-ion batteries connected in parallel. This gives over 20km of assisted pedalling, depending on the terrain conditions. Continue to pedal
in your travels. And when you need motor assistance, simply switch on the motor. The torque delivery is substantial and delivered smoothly through the rear hub motor. With proper 16-inch tyres, front and rear brakes,
and useful pannier carrier, the BBY180 has three power modes changed by a handlebar mounted controller.
The bicycle also has four adjustable speed levels, an efficient brush less motor, and a front disc and rear drum brake
Working with two BL1830 Makita 18V batteries, the motor-assisted bicycle supports over 20km of assisted pedalling
The BBY180 comes with a practical folding function and it is lightweight, making it easy for carriage and storage
The aluminium folding frame gives a running weight of just 20kg making it light to carry and convenient to store as it folds down to just 85cm long.
Makita BBY180
Output Power
100W
Tyre Size
16 inches
Dimensions (LxW)
1,450x570mm
Seat Height
670-910mm
Weight
20.8kg
Price
RO200
Available at
Gulf Services & Industrial Supplies, 24811238
48 / TECH
The Swiss-made Voltitude brings the best of e-bikes and scooters in one extremely compact package Owing to the current global financial and energy crisis, eco-friendly means of personal transport has seen a dramatic boom in development and sales over the past year. The new Voltitude is the latest to join the fray and it brings with it, what is quite possibly, the ‘Swiss army knife’ of electric bikes. It has the best of what e-bikes offer, including electric pedal assistance (pedelec), zero emission drive, silence and unbeatable energy cost per km. And there is no need for a license or registration. Currently Voltitude sales are restricted to Switzerland and limited in number but the company claims that it will soon be sold online with free international shipping and is accepting preorders
For improved visibility the Voltitude utilises a ten-LED power front and five-LED rear lighting system
Further adding to safety, the bike uses hydraulic disc brakes
The Voltitude can be folded into a very small space such as a locker, cupboard or car boot
Voltitude
Frame
For comfort and safety the bike uses wide scooter-type wheels adapted to urban hazards 50 / TECH
Despite its compact dimensions, when unfolded, its overall frame size and wheelbase is comparable to a normal bicycle and it has a low centre of gravity, making it easy to ride
Laser and waterjet-cut recyclable aluminium
Transmission
Sequential gearbox (5-, 7- or 8-speed)
Motor
250W, integrated
Battery
Lithium-Polymer, 9.5Ah, 36V
Recharge Time
Four-hour full recharge
Range
20 to 40km depending on pedal input and terrain
Speed
Assistance up to 25km/h
Weight
Between 18.5kg and 22.0kg (excl. Battery pack)
Full Dimensions
1,400x1,000x500mm
Folded Dimensions
600x850x250mm
For Purchasing Details
http://www.voltitude.com/preorder-ch/
time zone
Ceramic power Hublot’s King Power is a pyromaniac’s dream timepiece
After the phenomenal success of the F1 King Power (in Zirconium and King Gold versions) and the F1 King Power Tourbillon (also in Zirconium and King Gold versions), Hublot has unveiled the third member of this prestigious series, the F1 King Power Ceramic. A wonderful material, ceramic – it is 100 per cent anti-allergenic, 100 per cent unalterable, 100 per cent rust-proof. In a limited edition of 500 numbered pieces, the F1 King Power Ceramic is a chronograph with two push-buttons (Start and Reset), a 12hour counter at 6 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock and a small seconds at 9 o’clock. Its case, 48mm in diameter, is made from microblasted black ceramic. The dial bears the official Formula 1 logo and the special carbon fibre bezel is adorned with a signature drilled ceramic ring inspired by high performance brake discs. Finally, its strap comprises two layers stitched together with red thread: the inner made from natural black rubber and the outer made from Nomex, a synthetic fibre.
Age gracefully Movado presents special edition Concerto with coloured diamonds for 2011 Introduced last year, the Movado Concerto is a contemporary women’s watch graced by subtle contours. For 2011, Movado presents a very special edition Concerto alight with coloured diamonds. Fashioned of 18K rose gold-plated stainless steel, this timepiece features a bezel glittering with 36 brown diamonds, a rose gold-plated brushed sunray dial detailed by a concave rose gold-toned Museum dot and 11 sparkling brown diamond markers. A second special edition Concerto set with precious jewels has also been created. Crafted in stainless steel, this dramatic dress watch has a dark bronze PVD finish and a bezel bright with 36 yellow sapphires. On its matching bronze PVD-finished brushed sunray dial, a signature dot and 11 gleaming yellow sapphires mark the hour. Both of these special edition Concerto timepieces have fine Swiss quartz movements and are water resistant to 3ATM. The Movado range is available in Oman at Mistal – Darsait and Sabco Commercial Center.
JUNE 2011 / 51
dashboard
Of stars and skies Malcolm X. Crasta believes that the A-Class concept ushers in a new era for the compact Mercedes
In 1993, Mercedes-Benz ventured into a new vehicle class with the revolutionary concept of the Vision A 93. Now the brand is once again presenting a car that revitalises the A-Class. A long bonnet, low silhouette and slim window areas force you to see the model in a new light. The radiator grille has numerous metallic silver ‘dots’ on black stems. This ‘starry sky’ theme is reflected in the design of the wheels and the headlights. The front lighting system utilises full-LED headlamps while the daytime running lamps consist of 90 optical fibres with aluminium sleeves. 52 / TECH
But the car is not just visually stunning, but technologically as well. This front-wheel drive model is powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine from the new M270 series. It was designed for transverse installation, and thanks to direct injection and turbo charging it offers a high performance potential together with minimal emissions and fuel consumption. Furthermore, the safety pioneers at Mercedes are showcasing another milestone in automotive safety technology. The concept car is equipped with a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive Brake
Assist – a world first in the compact class. This system gives a visual and acoustic warning to a possibly inattentive driver and prepares Brake Assist for an absolutely precise braking response which is initiated as soon as the driver emphatically operates the brake pedal. The new Brake Assist Collision Prevention Assist is an innovative solution that aims to provide protection against typical rear-end collisions. Mercedes-Benz expects the new safety system to have a significant, positive effect on accident statistics.
Equipped with the 2L variant of the new M270 series engine, developing 155kW (210hp), this BlueEFFICIENCY unit is combined with the new Mercedes-Benz dual clutch transmission. As a three-shaft transmission, this has seven forward gears which are shifted automatically with no interruption in power. The new transmission is therefore economical, sporty and comfortable.
The side view is structured by three prominent lines: the front structural edge forms a dropping line towards the rear, while the pronounced shoulder muscle over the rear axle emphasises the car’s coupé-like character. A further line extends upwards in front of the rear wheel arch in a sweeping curve. These lines lend more depth and dynamism to the side profile. Even the handles are recessed into the doors to give the car a clean look. Another prominent feature is the open side skirt that creates an unusual light-and-shadow effect. Perfectly complementing the profile are large 20-inch wheels reminiscent of a turbine rotor.
The air vents in the dashboard are likewise inspired by the engines of a jet aircraft. The translucent, backlit vents change colour depending on the temperature the occupants have selected for the climate control system: blue if cool and red if the airflow is heated. The displays in the instrument cluster, which were inspired by the afterburner of a jet engine, are red. Completing the aero theme is the central control unit, designed as a high-tech flight panel with a shift lever in the shape of a ‘thrust control’.
The interior is futuristic and stylish with many features inspired by aircraft engineering. The dashboard takes the form of an aircraft wing with a translucent, stretchable textile lining. Thanks to the lack of a conventional support structure, the dashboard appears to free-float.
A smartphone is fully integrated into the operating system of the Concept. When the phone is inserted into the recess provided in the centre console, it is automatically synchronised with the COMAND multimedia system. All the functions of the smartphone are then shown as applications on the 17.8cm display and can be operated via the rotary control unit.
The visually wide rear is dominated by the tail light clusters that continue the lines of the muscular shoulders towards the rear. About 120 optical fibre lighting points form each C-shaped tail light cluster to create a unique visual effect with their subtle glow. When braking, the continuous light band between the two tail light clusters lights up to make the Concept A-Class appear even wider. Finally, the aerodynamic spoiler lip improves efficiency, while the diffuser creates downforce to aid road-holding. JUNE 2011 / 53
gamer’s delight
With a stunning concept and an ambitious design, has Brink got what it takes to match the best in the business? Malcolm X. Crasta joins the fight to find out
S
tepping away from its open world designs, Bethesda has taken a whole new approach with Brink. The game is a class- and objective-based, teamfocused first-person shooter with its parkourbased movement taking centrestage. Think Team Fortress with a side of Mirrors Edge and a dash of Borderlands. It is a very intriguing concept with great potential but this time the ambition got the better of the developers. The game takes place on the Arc, an ocean bourn refuge for the last surviving humans of
a devastated world. With shortages in space and dwindling resources, restlessness grows until a war breaks out between a faction of Rebels and the Arc’s security forces. While the underlying theme is interesting it isn’t really much of a story to follow and surmounts to little more than an excuse to choose a side. Regardless of what side you choose, the gameplay effect is only relegated to your character’s appearance. Weapons and all other aspects are shared between both. The core gameplay revolves around the game’s class-dependent objectives that shift
on the fly and held in closed arenas with teams working together to complete them. Success depends on how the teams work together and balance the strengths of the four classes – Soldiers, Medics, Engineers and Operatives – within them. Soldiers excel at leading the charge and keeping the team’s ammo woes at bay. Medics keep the team healthy with health buffs and can revive fallen team mates. Engineers are good at holding ground by deploying turrets and buffing your team’s damage. Operatives excel at deception, disguising themselves to get behind enemy lines. Once there, they can hack turrets and even nab a kill or two. You can switch between any of the classes on the fly when needed. Even better, the game puts an emphasis on fighting for the greater good of the team rather than just plain kills, rewarding such players with experience after the battle. Customisation also takes centrestage with numerous options available to customise your character. These are faction specific and extremely well done with the Arc’s forces following the appropriate security forces theme while the rebels follow a more unorthodox and rough look. While the clothing options are only visual, the unlockable abilities and weapon customisations aren’t.
54 / TECH
JUNE 2011
Red Faction: Armageddon Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: Splash Damage Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, PC Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Teen PEGI Rating: R/P
SCORE
6.7
june 03
Alice: Madness Returns Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
The Good Smart concept, good production values, has the potential to be great The Bad
Inconsistent AI, limited to only eight maps, inaccurate parkour interface
The game offers a number of attachments which, like the clothing, are unlocked with the experience you earn after a match. Furthermore, you can also choose between three body types – light, medium and heavy. These affect how nimble your character is, how much health they have and what weapons they can use.
Unfortunately, for every amazing or interesting aspect of the game, there is a flaw that crushes it. Imprecise object interaction drastically affects the player movement, unpredictable AI makes offline or bot matches unsatisfying, online lag issues sometimes cripple the game, and the 8v8 team limits and a scant eight maps don’t help either.
Nimbleness is particularly important as it affects the parkour element of the game. Lighter characters can move faster. They can hop, skip and jump over railings and low lying objects. They can scale walls and gaps that heavier characters cannot. With these and the ability to slide tackle an opponent, movement plays a big part in the game.
While Brink has unmatched potential and great production values, it is a hard game to recommend. We would suggest holding on to your cash till the first couple of patches come through and a few more maps are added.
june 17
Dungeon Siege III
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
june 17
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
june 17 JUNE 2011 / 55
movie zone
Thor
Genre: Action | Adventure | Drama Director: Kenneth Branagh Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: THOR. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe, from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. The Mighty Thor is the protagonist, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite
an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Kenneth Branagh directs this fantasy
epic which stars Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as the ancient Norse god, Tom Hiddleston as his evil brother Loki, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, a young woman who befriends Thor on Earth, and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor’s father and king of Asgard.
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Genre: Action | Adventure | Fantasy Director: Rob Marshall Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and he’s not sure if it’s love – or if she’s a ruthless con artist who’s
using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard
(McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn’t know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.
DVD Releases JUNE 3 June
Season of the Witch Action | Adventure | Fantasy
56 / TECH
6 June
Gnomeo and Juliet
Animation | Adventure | Comedy
13 June
Abandoned
Drama | Mystery | Thriller
20 June
Brighton Rock
Crime | Drama | Thriller
Fax to 24693569 Choose the correct answer and send in your entries for a chance to win 1. Which is the odd term out?
2. Which of the following commands is given to reboot the computer?
(a) Internet (b) Windows (c) Linux (d) Unix
(a) Ctrl + Alt + Tab (b) Ctrl + Shift + Tab (c) Ctrl + Alt + Del (d) Ctrl + Shift + Del
3. What does modem stand for?
4. What does ISP stand for?
(a) Monetary Devaluation Exchange Mechanism (b) Memory Demagnetisation (c) Monetary Demarcation (d) Modulator Demodulator
(a) Internet Survey Period (b) Internet Service Provider (c) Integrated Service Provider (d) Internet Security Protocol
Please send us your entries by 22nd of June for a chance to win a Sony DVD player. Gift courtesy of EMax
Previous quiz answers: 1 – (d) 2 – (a) 3 – (c) 4 – (b)
Name ___________________________________ Age ______ Mobile ________________________
Last month’s winner:
SUGANDHA VASU
Email ____________________________________ Occupation _______________________________ Company _________________________________
Employees and family members of Deenar Press and Publishing and Emax cannot participate in the quiz. Judge’s decision is final. Please email the answers to tech@deenarmedia.com or fax this page to 24693569 by the deadline. Correspondence after the deadline will not be entertained. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY. Incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified. Winner must provide valid ID to claim the prize. Allow up to two weeks to process.
Welcome to our ‘TECH Favourites’ section. With these lists we aim to keep you updated with our favourite products in a concise format. Please give us your feedback on the basis of which we can further improve it.
Flat-Panel Displays Philips 40PFL5605 RO369.900
This is a 2MP, full-HD TV with three HDMI inputs, USB port and P.I.P. It features 40W 2.1 Virtual Surround Sound and Pixel Plus HD.
LG 42LE5300 RO479.900
This is a 42-inch, full HD, 2MP, LED TV with 100Hz motion flow. It sports four HDMI/PC input, and has an AV and energy-saving mode.
LG 60PK550 RO899.900
This is a 60-inch Plasma television with 2MP screen. It has a contrast ratio of 3,000,000: 1 and a 600Hz sub-field. It also sports two HDMI/ PC input and a USB port.
Sony KLV32CX320 RO179.900
This is a 32-inch TV with BRAVIA Sync function. It sports a USB 2.0 port and Bass Booster. It comes with BRAVIA Engine 3.
Sony KLV40EX710 RO329.900
This is a 40-inch, full HD, 2MP, edge-lit LED display with 100Hz motion flow. It sports four HDMI inputs, a USB port, P.I.P and Internet TV.
Sharp LC46LE820M RO799.000
This is a full-HD 1080p 46-inch TV with 2MP RGB LED screen. It has four HDMI/PC inputs and supports USB DIVX HD.
Panasonic THP-46U20M RO299.900
This is a 2MP, full HD 46-inch TV with a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 and 600Hz sub-field drive. It has three HDMI inputs and an SD card slot.
Samsung UA55C6900 RO1349.000
This is a 55-inch LED TV with an ultra slim design. It sports four HDMI/PC input, AllShare and PIP System. With 100Hz motion flow and two megapixels, this LED TV also supports Internet TV.
SEVEN DAYS EXERCISE T U O H T I W EAK W E N SO MAKE
3D TVs LG 72LZ9700 RO3499.000
3D LED 72-inch screen, 400Hz motion flow, four HDMI/PC input, two USB port, two megapixels
Sony KDL55EX720 RO899.900
3D LED 55-inch screen, full HD, four HDMI/ PC input, Internet Video, Wireless LAN Ready, 200Hz motion flow
Panasonic TH-P50VT20M RO799.900
3D Plasma 50-inch screen, four HDMI/PC input, THX surround sound, 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio
Samsung UA65C8000 RO2699.000
3D 65-inch screen, four HDMI/PC input, USB port, Internet TV, 200Hz motion plus
Players Sony DAV-DZ910 RO194.900
DVD, VCD, DIVX playback, USB play and record, Wireless rear speakers, HDMI up-scaling
LG HB994PK RO999.900
1,00W RMS, full HD 1080p, Wireless Rear Speaker, iPod dock, Blu-Ray playback, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DIVX, iPod dock
Philips HTS7140 RO309.900
Surround sound, full HD 1080p, Dolby Tru-HD, Blu-Ray playback, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3, DIVX Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.
Excellent range of fitness equipment at fantastic prices!
57 Laptops Acer Aspire 5820TG-484G50 RO315.900
Intel Core i5 480M processor, 15.6-inch HD LED screen, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera, card reader
HP ENVY 14-1111ee RO690.000
Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz, 6GB RAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 500GB HDD, 14.5-inch HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera
Asus G51J RO759.900
Intel Core i7 720QM, 1.6GHz Turbo Boost, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD Glare LED, DVD multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera
Alienware M15-ALNW-0181 RO1049.900
Intel Core i7 740QM processor, 1.73GHz CPU speed, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi drive, 1.5GB dedicated graphics, Wireless, Bluetooth, card reader, 1.3MP web camera
HP Pavilion dV6-6050 RO334.900
Intel Core i5 2,410M second generation processor, 2.3GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 500GB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD LED, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, fingerprint reader, HD web camera
Toshiba Satellite L755-16C RO329.000
Intel Core i5 2410M processor, 2.53GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 1GB VRAM, 500GB SATA HDD, 15.6-inch TruBrite HD LED screen, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera
Packard Bell TM86-JO-103AC RO314.900
Intel Core i5 430M processor, 2.26GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED LCD, DVD super multi DL drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 card reader, 1.3MP web camera
Sony Vaio VPCEB46FA/B RO369.900
Intel Core i5 480M processor, 2.66GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 15.5-inch LED, DVD super multi drive, ATI RADEON HD 5650 Graphics (1GB), Wireless, Bluetooth
Lenovo Y560A-3 RO424.600
Intel Core i7 740QM processor, 1.7GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED screen, DVD super multi drive, 1GB VRAM, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 card reader
Netbooks & Ultra Portables Dell 1090-INS-0179 RO245.000
Intel Atom Dual Core N550, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 10.1-inch HD WLED touchscreen, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera
HP Invent TM2-2199 RO469.900
Intel Core i3 330UM, 1.33GHz CPU speed, 3GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320GB HDD, 512MB VRAM, 12.1-inch LED HD widescreen, Wireless, Bluetooth
Apple iPad 2 RO409.900
32GB, 9.7-inch LED backlit screen, 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor, Wi-Fi and 3G, two cameras
BlackBerry PlayBook RO309.900
1GHz dual-core processor, seven-inch capacitive display, 1GB RAM, dual cameras – 5MP rear and 3MP front
ViewSonic ViewPad 7 RO199.900
Qualcomm MSM7227 600MHz ARM 11 processor, 3.5G Android 2.2 OS, 512MB internal memory, seven-inch capacitive multi-touch LCD screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Computer Accessories Microsoft Arc Keyboard RO27.500
2.4GHz wireless keyboard, stowable nano transceiver, battery life indicator, lightweight and compact
Seagate GoFlex 1.5TB RO71.900
Features USB 3.0 plug-and-play connectivity, illuminated capacity gauge, 1.5TB portable drive
WD TV Live Hub RO90.000
With 1TB capacity, users can centralise video, music and photos, and play full-HD 1080p video on HD TVs throughout their home
SteelSeries Siberia v2 RO62.200 Lenovo Z560A-3 RO324.600
Intel Core i5 460M, 2.5GHz Turbo Boost, 4GB RAM, 750GB HDD, 1GB NVIDIA, 15.6-inch HD LED, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth
Full-size headset with retractable microphone, a 50mm driver unit with clear sound, integrated volume control on the cord, earcups feature noise reducing foam
58 Cameras Canon A3300is RO71.400
This is a 16.0-megapixel camera with a 28mm wide-angle lens and 5x optical zoom. It offers the flexibility of a high-resolution image sensor. Canon’s latest DIGIC 4 image processing provides excellent quality shots.
Sony DSC-H70 RO109.900
The H70 sports a 10x optical zoom lens and a 16.1-megapixel sensor. It supports Sweep Panorama mode and HD movie capture capability. It comes with a three-inch LCD and optical image stabilisation.
Sony DSC-T110 RO95.900
This is a 16.1-megapixel camera with a three-inch touch LCD screen. It comes with 4x optical zoom and HD movie capture capability. It also has Sweep Panorama Mode.
Canon IXUS 310 HS RO143.200
This is a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor digital camera with a 3.2-inch touch LCD screen. It also has 4.4x optical zoom, an optical image stabiliser and supports full HD with optical zoom.
Olympus TG-810 RO189.000
The TOUGH TG810 from Olympus features a 14-megapixel sensor with 5x optical zoom. It sports a 2.7-inch LCD screen.
Panasonic TZ20 RO169.900
This is a 14.1-megapixel camera with a 2.7-inch LCD screen. It comes with 16x optical zoom and full HD capability. It also has an advanced GPS system.
Samsung ST600 RO139.500
This is a 14.2-megapixel camera equipped with a 1/2.3-inch high-resolution CCD sensor. It has a Dual Display feature that lets you see the shot on the 3.5-inch WVGA touch LCD and the 1.8-inch front LCD.
Samsung ST80 RO99.500
The ST80 is equipped with a 7.83mm high-resolution CCD sensor, in addition to an all-new image processor. It delivers 720p HD quality video at 30fps. It is a 14.2MP camera with a three-inch WQVGA TFT LCD display.
Camcorders Sony DCR-SX45 RO139.900
Three-inch touchscreen LCD, 60x optical zoom, Intelligent Auto mode, Steadyshot image stabilisation
Panasonic HDC-SD40 RO164.900
16.8x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD screen, Intelligent Auto with Face Recognition, Power O.I.S
Sony HDR-CX560 RO459.900
12.3 megapixel resolution, 10x optical zoom, three-inch Xtra Fine LCD, BIONZ image processor
Canon LEGRIA HFM36 RO339.000
8GB dual flash memory, relay recording, easy HD shooting, 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD, Dynamic OIS and Powered IS
Sanyo XACTI-CG10 RO64.900
10MP resolution, 5x optical zoom, digital image stabiliser, 720p HD videos, three-inch LCD screen
DSLRS & Micro Four-Thirds Sony α NEX-5 RO279.900
14.2-megapixel, 4x optical zoom camera, threeinch tilt LCD screen, 16mm wide-angle lens, AVCHD movie recording capability.
Nikon D5100 RO389.900
16.2 megapixel, 11-point auto focus, threeinch LCD screen, HD movie, 4fps
Canon EOS 1D Mark 4 RO2329.900
16.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10fps shooting, three-inch Clear View LCD, HD video recording
Sony SLT α 55 RO399.900
Fuji Real 3D W3 RO209.900
16.7 megapixel, three-inch LCD screen, full HD movie, 10fps, 3D Sweep Panorama mode
Sony W580 RO89.900
Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.
This is a ten-megapixel, 3.5-inch LCD 3D camera with 3x optical zoom. It lets you shoot high resolution 3D photos and movies.
This is a 16.1-megapixel, 5x optical zoom camera. It comes with a three-inch LCD screen and a 25mm wide-angle lens. It supports Sweep Panorama Mode for the perfect landscape images.
59 Phones Motorola Backflip RO119.900
This phone sports a 5MP camera and a 3.1-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 320x480 pixels. In addition, it has Wi-Fi, A-GPS and Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP.
HTC Desire RO219.000
This phone sports a 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen and a 5MP camera. It comes with internal memory of 576MB RAM and 512MB ROM. It also supports Bluetooth, WLAN, A-GPS and Geotagging.
Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 RO134.900
The Samsung Galaxy Ace has an 800MHz ARM 11 processor powering it. Operating on Froyo 2.2, it features a 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen.
Samsung I9003 Galaxy S RO199.900
Samsung’s Galaxy S smartphone is Android-powered and boasts a super clear capacitive touchscreen. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus, HSDPA Internet connectivity, and 4GB storage. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and A-GPS support.
Apple iPhone 4 RO325.000
The iPhone 4 sports a 3.5-inch LED-backlit TFT capacitive touchscreen. With an internal memory of 16GB and a 512MB RAM, the iPhone 4 supports Wi-Fi, A-GPS, Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP. It has a 1GHz Apple A4 processor.
Motorola Milestone XT720 RO219.900
This smartphone is Android powered with an 8MP camera and Xenon flash. It features a TFT capacitive touchscreen, Gorilla Glass display with touchsensitive navigation controls.
Nokia NK E7 RO226.900
The Nokia E7 comes with AMOLED capacitive touchscreen. Its features include an 8MP camera, 680MHz ARM 11 processor, A-GPS support and Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP.
iPod Docks Altec Lansing M602 RO84.900
Dock and Play, recharge for iPod, video output for iPod video, wall-mountable
Bose Sound Dock-10 RO279.000
iPod and iPhone dock, recharge and play, remote control, audio input
Logic3 iStation Studio RO49.900
iPod dock, 40W RMS, Line-in connection, AM/FM radio, clock display
Logitech S715i RO57.900
Plays and charges iPhone and iPod, eighthour rechargeable battery, two three-inch lasertuned neodymium drivers
SonicGear 1000i RO94.200
iPod dock and recharge, FM radio, 30W RMS
MP3 Players Creative Zen Mozaic EZ300 RO32.900
4GB, 1.8-inch video screen, built-in FM radio, voice recorder, picture viewer, built-in speaker
Apple iPod Nano 6G RO86.500
16GB, VoiceOver gesture-based screen reader, 1.54-inch (diagonal) colour TFT display, Live Pause feature
Apple iPod Touch 4G RO104.900
Samsung S8530 Wave II RO169.900
It sports a 3.7-inch super clear capacitive touchscreen, 5MP camera, ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor and Bluetooth v3.0 with A2DP.
8GB, 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen, multi-touch display, 720p HD video capture, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Creative Zen MX RO49.900 BlackBerry Torch 9800 RO245.900
This smartphone sports a 5MP camera and a 3.2-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 360x480 pixels. In addition, it has Wi-Fi, A-GPS and Bluetooth v2.1 with A2DP.
Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro (U201) RO123.900
This smartphone sports a 5MP camera with auto focus, QWERTY keypad, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This phone runs on Android OS 1.6 and has a 600MHz processor.
8GB, 2.5-inch 320x240 resolution display, integrated SDHC port
Sony Zappin NWZ-W252 RO36.900
2GB, high speed connectivity, built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, water-resistant
60 Air Conditioners Samsung AS18UU OMR185.500
Samsung’s 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner is best known for its antivirus plasma filter and silver nano health system.
General ASG18-HTR RO253.900
Refrigerators LG GRP277ZGG RO639.900
721L capacity, automatic ice maker, adjustable tempered glass shelves, deodoriser
This 1.5-ton split air conditioner comes with a Blue Fin coated condenser, silver nano health system, hyper tropical compressor, deo air filter and a plasma pure filter.
Toshiba GRRG-70UT RO239.900
Samsung AWT18WHBM RO118.500
Samsung RL-52VEBTB RO219.500
Samsung’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner with a rotary compressor has a digital temperature control, anti-corrosion body, fuzzy logic feature and a silver nano health system.
350L capacity, LCD touchscreen, bottommounted freezer, blue LED display, silver plus anti-bacterial coating
Panasonic CS-C18MKF RO199.000
Hitachi RW-660FUK RO364.900
The CS-C18MKF incorporates the ECONAVI technology. Advance+ Plus e-ion is designed to monitor changes in the degree of air cleanliness. AUTOCOMFORT is another important feature.
700L capacity, frost free, glassy finish, twist ice tray, temperature control, insulated wired shelves
660L capacity, ice maker with water dispenser, nano titanium cooling system, four-door top mounted no-frost freezer
Sharp SJF80P RO579.000
Hitachi RAN-209CP RO132.900
724L capacity, bottom freezer, deodoriser, Plasmacluster, tempered glass shelves, LED display, hybrid cooling
Hitachi RAS-18CPX RO189.900
Washing Machines
This 1.5-ton window air conditioner has a high energy-efficient compressor with a super quite air flow. There is a symmetric twin flow air discharge, washable filters and a rotary compressor.
This split-type air conditioner has a Green Fin condenser that is durable, thanks to the green rust-resistant coating. It also employs Nano Titanium technology in its stainless steel filters.
Toshiba RAS-18G RO135.900
With a compact design and precise operation, this 1.5-ton window air conditioner has an eight-in-one air filter system. It is a flat type window air conditioner.
Toshiba RAS-18SKP RO204.900
This is a 1.5-ton capacity split-type wall-mounted air conditioner. It has a seven-layer air filter and a self-cleaning function that eliminates mould. It also has a new compact chassis.
Sanyo SA186M5 RO116.900
Sanyo’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner is a low noise design with a rotary compressor and comes with an anti-bacteria filter. It is easy to clean and allows smooth air flow.
LG T186RC RO303.900
This is a 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner with virus and allergy safe filter. It has a four-way swing and jet cool feature. It also employs a multi-stage tropical compressor.
Offers
Service
Ariston AQ7F091 OMR179.900
7kg capacity, 16 programmes/1,000rpm, extra rinse, Woolmark Platinum Care certified
Toshiba AW8570SB OMR89.900
7kg capacity, six wash programmes, digital display, water level selection, top load washer
Panasonic NA-F70B2 RO99.000
7kg capacity, five programmes, foam wash, shower rinse, fuzzy logic, digital display, Aqua Beat technology
Samsung WD-7704 RO249.500
8kg washer and 3.5kg dryer, 1,400rpm, silver wash, delay end, 14 wash programmes, air wash, diamond drum, silver nano, child lock
Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.
Emax
61 Microwaves & Ovens Samsung CQV513S OMR169.500
A 36L oven with 800W microwave output power and 1,540W grill power, Samsung’s family-size combi steam oven has six power levels for cooking. It also has auto steam cook and auto power defrost.
Sanyo EM-C7586V RO54.000
This is a 32L convection microwave with grill function. With an output power of 1,000W, this oven has an electronic timer. It includes auto defrost and auto delay start feature. It has five power levels and ten auto menus.
Sharp EO18LW RO15.500
This is an 18L electric oven with knobs for adjusting the temperature. It has a 60-minute timer with chime and automatic off feature. Selector knobs for lower, upper and both heaters is a part of the appliance.
Samsung GE107Y RO49.500
This is a 28L microwave with grill function. It has six power levels and four auto cook menus. It has a microwave output power of 900W and a grill power of 1,300W. It features the Triple Distribution System and Steam Clean function.
Samsung GE109MST RO69.500
This is a 28L grill microwave oven. Designed for performance, it has a wide tempered glass door. This microwave features the Triple Distribution System and Steam Clean function.
Samsung GE-614ST RO54.500
This is a 40L grill combi oven with six power levels. It has auto cook menus and auto defrost function. It has a microwave output power of 900W. It features ceramic enamel interior movable heater.
GE GMOH30UCPSS RO56.900
A 30L convection microwave/grill with electronic touch control, GE’s latest in this series has time and weight defrost feature and express cook. It has a 1,000W grill power and 900W microwave power.
LG MC-8088FRR RO89.900
This is a 30L convection microwave with grill function. It includes quick defrost and auto defrost functions. Additional features include the speed cook and sweet menu buttons.
Sharp R-200T RO24.500
This is a 20L microwave oven with Instant Action Cooking feature. It also comes with easy and express defrost functions.
Black & Decker TRO2000 RO26.700
This is a 1,380W toaster oven that features a 19L capacity. It comes with an adjustable timer, a wire rack and a food tray handle. It also has a removable crumb tray for easy crumb disposal.
Vacuum Cleaners Philips FC-8146 RO48.900
1,800W power, bagless, HEPA filter, special parquet nozzle with soft brush hairs, 300W suction power
Rowenta RWRO442711 RO74.900 2,100W vacuum cleaner, anti-bacteria HEPA filtration, Delta Silence Force technology
Karcher VC 5200 RO77.000
Dry vacuum cleaner, 3.3L dust bag capacity, 1,800W input power, indicator for full bag, HEPA 12 filter
Samsung VCC8780 RO59.500
HEPA H13 filter, 1,800W power, Infrared Remote handle, Multi Chamber Plus + for longlasting suction power
Domestic Appliances Philips Airfryer HD9220 RO99.900
2.2L capacity, oil-free frying using Rapid Air technology, food separators, integrated timer, 1,425W power
Philips Blender HR2021 RO12.500
400W power, 1.75L capacity, two speeds and pulse, dishwasher safe, plus ‘1’ mill
Braun Food Processor K-600 RO50.100
600W power, 2L bowl capacity, 14 levels with turbo boost, safety lock, useful for chopping, slicing, grating and shredding
Samsung SA-600CBXSG RO59.500
Virus Doctor, neutralises harmful active oxygen radical, bacteria eradication, eliminates airborne viruses
Tefal Actifry TFFZ 700070 RO87.900
1,400W power, easy basket handling, digital display, one spoon of oil for 1kg of crispy chips
Krups XP5200 RO70.000
Espresso machine, optimum tamping system to extract flavours and aromas, Thermoblock system, clean ejection system
62 Gaming Consoles & Accessories PSP 3000+2 Games RO75.500
This current version of the PlayStation Portable has a built-in microphone and a better screen that is able to resist glare and so works better outdoors.
PS3 320GB + Move Bundle RO160.000
The Move is broken into three parts: the ‘Motion Controller’, the ‘Navigation Controller’ and the ‘PlayStation Eye Camera’. The Motion Controller contains built-in motion sensors.
Nintendo 3DS RO144.000
A built-in 3D Depth Slider allows you to adjust the intensity of the 3D settings on the new Nintendo 3DS system. Other features include the built-in motion and gyro sensor.
Logitech G13 RO42.800
The GamePanel LCD in this gaming keyboard keeps you informed of the game stats and other vital information to help you claim victory. It includes programmable G-keys that let you create macros on the fly.
Logitech G27 RO160.000
Logitech racing wheels and flight controllers simulate remarkable realism. Force feedback lets you feel every slip of the tyre, every shudder of the wing and the controls feel like the real thing.
XBOX 360 Kinect 250GB RO177.200
With a stylish design, the integrated internal memory of 250GB allows you to save games and content. It has built-in Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) and 5.1 channel surround sound.
World of Warcraft MMO Gaming Mouse RO53.600
It allows incredible customisation with 15 programmable buttons with more than 130 preset game commands. It also lets you create your own custom macros or use the in-game macro scripting language.
SteelSeries Spectrum 5XB RO53.600
This is a premium quality, wired headset designed for Xbox 360. With the custom-built soundscape via 40mm SunDancer (SCS) units, you can pinpoint the direction of noises and movement throughout the game.
Thrustmaster T500RS RO241.000
The T500RS employs new H.E.A.R.T (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) on the wheel’s steering and so offers precision, force feedback and a realistic angle of rotation. The controls feel like the real thing.
Our Current Top 5 Recommended Games Bulletstorm RO28.900
Publisher: EA Developer: People Can Fly Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Mature
Crysis 2 RO28.900
Publisher: EA Developer: Crytek Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC Genre: Action ESRB Rating: R/P
Dragon Age 2 RO28.900
Publisher: EA Developer: Bioware Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC Genre: RPG ESRB Rating: R/P
Killzone 3 RO28.900
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Developer: Guerrilla Games Platform(s): PS3 Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Mature
Marvel vs. Capcom: Fate of Two Worlds RO28.900
Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3 Genre: Action ESRB Rating: R/P
Nintendo Wii Sports Resort Pack RO107.000
This is Super Mario Bro.’s 25th Anniversary Edition and comes with two games. The Wii now sells its Wii Sports Resort and Wii MotionPlus accessory bundled into a console package.
Disclaimer: Prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.
Abu Hani
La Germania, Starway, Westar, Starline, Tatung
24495141
24491327
Al Khalili Technology
Fijitsu, Siemon, Coral Telecom, Honeywell, Epson, Camtron, Pyronix, SD3, Tripp-lite, Cummins, Schnider Electric, Sanyo, Sakar, Sterline, Sonicwall
24616900
24816303
Bahwan Electornics
Asset, Carrier, Ignis, Napro, Toshiba, Seiko, Casio, Titan, Sony Ericsson, Tempstar, Cooline, Corning, Print electronics, Dolphin, Benq, Ausonia, Daewoo, VIP, Dometic, Corby
Ruwi 24796629/32
24501965 / 66
24798222
Belltel
Nokia
Ruwi 24798222
Emax
Multibrand
MCC 24558062, Fax 24558063
Genetco
Sanyo, Videocon, Fujitsu, Thomson, York, Yamaha, Canon, HAAS, AEG, Sure, Caravell, Gulf Star, Safari, Admiral, Francia, Mitsubishi, Marc Climatic, Vortice, Guntner, Zanussi , Ziegra Imesa, Bitzer , Manitowoc, Bremer, Dito- Electrolux, Metro, Taylor, Costan
Al Qurum 24568806 Al Qurum 24561948 Muttrah 24713138 Ruwi 24830919 Seeb 24422797 Shatti al Qurum 24693292
24503653
HiTec Centre
Boston Accoustics, Denon, Leica, Polk Audio
Azaiba 24497384
24497384
Jashanmal
Mytag, Hoover
24702312
Jawahir Oman
Bang & Olufsen
Qurm 24563213
24563213
Jumbo Electronics
Sony, VAIO, Sony professional Products, Blackberry, Supra, Midea Air-conditioners, Casio, Brother Sewing Machines, Acer, HP, Dyson, Gorenje
MBD 24818358, Al Araimi 24565845 QCC 24470529, Salalah 23291984
Wadi Kabir 24814815, 24814751, Fax 24815267
Khimji Luxury
Krups, Moulinex
Ruwi 24796161
99881627
K R Household
O General, Siemens
Wadi Kabir 24813333
24814793
Loay International
Macintosh, Benq, Epson, Sokkia, Acer
24708795
24708845
MHD
Fagor, Pioneer
Ruwi 24732440
24732440
Meta Galaxy
Hitachi
Ruwi 24503653
24503653
Moayyed Integrated Ente
Daewoo Electronics
24488795
24488795
Muscat Electronics
Daikin, Wansa, Ricoh, Chigo, Media, G-Hanz, Sony Professional products
Ruwi 24702985, 24799246 Sohar:26845647, Salalah:23291617
24813408,24560874
Mustafa Sultan Electronics (MSE)
Samsung, Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool
Al Khuwair 24636015
Wadi Kabir 24818018
Oman Intl. Electronics & Trading Co.
Bose, Nec, JVC
Qurm 24565490
24830606
Oman Modern Electronics Co.
Sharp, JBL, Mastergas, Harman/Kardon, Onida, Nikai
24702555
24702555
OMASCO
Raymond Weil, Kolber, Westar, Alba, Maxima, HMT, Panasonic, Xper, Aftron, Black&Decker, GE
Qurm, 24564310 Ruwi 24833630
24560232
OMASCO - System Solutions
Panasonic
24565696
24565696
Oman Trading Est.
Bosch, LG, Palson, TCL, Prolux, Promate, Pearl, Souq Technia, GHanz, White Westinghouse, Hostess, Kenstar,
Ruwi 24834162 Al Araimi 2456148, 24810522
24810522, 24810156, 80075545
P&G
Brawn, Oral-B
24815474
Photocentre
Amano, Archivtechnik Kunze, Unomat Intl., Broncolor, Delkin Devices, Fuji Film, Epson, Green Clean, Hama, Hasselbald, Marumi, Mitsubishu Electric, Peli, Sigma, Sinar
Qurm 24565305 Al Khuwair 24479296
Sarco
Samsung, Technoflame
Ruwi
Ghala 24593025
Sayed Bin Nasser Al Hashar
Ariston, Rinnai, Voltas, JBL, Kirloskar, Kardex, Lexmark
Ruwi 24700571 Ruwi 24706004, 24796007 Ruwi High Street 24834460 Salalah 23291405, Sohar 26840763 Sur 25544613
24704494
Salman Store
Seb, Janome, Coolex
24799332
Shah Nagardas Manji Co.
Kodak, Olympus, Yashica, Cokin, Case Logic, Lexar, Noritsu, Durst, Bushnell, Eiki, Iriver, Steiner, Tasco, White Westinghouse, Igloo, Venus, Russel Hobbs, Addis, Noritake, Ocean, Wenger
Ruwi , Qurm 24562656 Lulu Baushe 24593806, Nizwa 25410184
Technical Trading Co
Westinghouse
Ruwi 24703515, Fax 24700010
If you would like to be listed, e-mail: tech@deenarmedia.com
24700883
JUNE 2011 / 65