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ISSUE 31
NOVEMBER 2012
Editor-in-chief
Hatim al Taie Managing Director
Abdullah al Taie General Manager
Rathish Ramachandran Asst. General Manager
Terry Mathukutty
Today, technology has become a way of life; it is our backbone and without it we are almost paralysed. Let’s take books for instance. According to a recent survey, one out of every five e-book readers use a Kindle Fire and just as many people use iPads. With the range of tablets we have covered this month, the readers’ momentum towards reading e-books will only accelerate. A middle school in New Jersey, USA has discarded books in favour of tablets for hundreds of students. Eighth-graders who were issued Samsung Galaxy tablets said that they found it easier to do their homework and the faculty claimed that third-grade students improved their reading ability drastically. Irrespective of how nostalgic we get about holding a book in our hands and turning those crisp pages, the internet and our reliance on hardware is a reality of the modern world. It is important that we acknowledge and embrace this change rather than seizing it. In this issue, we take you through the best tablets of 2012 that will make it easier for you to choose the one that suits your needs. We take you through Extreme Networks’ Roland Richter who tells us the importance of Ethernet switches and we give you a sneak peak of RIM’s new Blackberry 10 operating system. The TECH Awards 2012 nominations and rules are announced and we hope to recognise and honour the best in the electronics distribution and retail. And last but not the least, we take you through the much anticipated Bond movie Skyfall.
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Deepali Kumar Content
Snigdha Ralli Julina Selwin Head - Design
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NOVEMBER 2012 ISSUE 31
18 INTERVIEW Roland Richter, Vice President, Extreme Networks
20 OP-ED Apple plays patent police
21 SOFTWARE Get a sneak peek of BlackBerry 10
34 TECH AWARDS Rules and nominations for TECH Awards 2012
38 MOBILE ZONE
22 TABLETS A journey through the world of Tablets
Nokia’s new Lumia phones compete in a spec-off Find out the most reasonable phones that you can buy
42 VIDEO ZONE 50 TECH ART
Learn how to brighten your car lights
52 APPS
Music apps for your Blackberry, Android and iPhone
54 MOVIE ZONE Let the Skyfall in this 23rd Bond movie
48 GAMING It’s time for good vs. evil with Resident Evil
Next issue TEST FOR THE BEST The best products of
2012
News 12 NouvoTech 16 Quiz 55 Tech Favourites 56 Tech Directory 63
REGULARS
Features
Feel the difference with Philips new range of TVs
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, I have recently been getting a ‘print overrun error’ pop up when I hit print. Could you please tell me why this happens and how to solve this issue? Praveen Dear Praveen, This occurs when the document being printed requires more memory than the printer has installed or when the data sent to the printer was too complex. A printer cannot print a document until it has received full page information to print. If this occurs, you can change some of the properties of the printer. Go to Printer settings and under the graphics section, change the graphics mode to ‘Use raster graphics’. In raster mode, images are interpreted as bitmaps, so that the printer memory does not become overloaded. You can also try to print one or two pages at a time, rather than the whole document. If the error reappears, you may need to upgrade the memory in your printer. -Ed
Dear editor, I want to buy a 3D TV but would like to know the difference between active and passive 3D TVs? Irshad Dear Irshad, Active 3D TVs require viewers to wear battery-powered active shutter glasses to see the 3D effects. However, the glasses are expensive and usually bulkier than passive glasses. For passive 3D TVs, the screen does almost all of the work. There’s also a special screen coating that polarizes the passive glasses to create the 3D effect. Passive 3D glasses are lightweight, inexpensive, require no batteries and they’re virtually identical to the 3D glasses handed out in movie theaters. Passive 3D provides a picture that’s crisp, bright and free of flicker. The technology is less sensitive to a viewer’s viewing angle or head movement, which makes it easier for several people to enjoy convincing 3D effects. -Ed
10 / TECH
Hi TECH, I have been trying different antivirus software over many years, but I am still uncertain which the best one is. Could you please tell me how to choose a good antivirus software? Rizwan Dear Rizwan, There are many good antivirus software. Choosing the right one depends on various factors like compatibility with your platform, whether or not you want to pay for it or if you want to highlight some specific features or the full protection. It is also important to have enough memory as these can take up a lot of space. Check the program’s ranking with PCWorld. If it is in the top 10, then It is a good programme. -Ed
Dear TECH team, What are mirrorless cameras and how are they different form the normal point-andshoot cameras? Clarissa Dear Clarissa, Mirorrless (also known as mirorrless interchangeable lenses) cameras have a small and thin body with a medium size point-and-shoot body. They have sensors bigger than any pointand-shoot and have lot more advanced options. They’re only marginally bigger and more complicated to use than pointand-shoots. Mirrorless cameras are for those photographers who are tired of the slow response of the traditional compact or point-and-shoot cameras and seek improved picture quality but don’t want the weight and bulk. -Ed Hi TECH, What is an AF-assist lamp and why do I want one? Nitya Dear Nitya, Digital cameras use something called contrast detection when they focus on a subject. When light levels are low, the camera may not be able to decide on a focus distance. Some cameras won’t take a picture, while others default to some preset focus distance (usually infinity). This might be a problem. That’s where AF illuminators (also called AF assist lamps) come into play. They cast a bright, focused beam of light (white or orange) onto the subject. Other cameras use infrared or laser-based focusing, but it’s the same result in the end .Cameras with an AF illuminator do a much better job in these situations when the light is dim. If you do lots of outdoor or studio photography it’s not a big deal, but for indoor shots, it’s a good idea. -Ed
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NEWS
Gitex unveils New ICT products Some of Taiwan’s top ICT (Information and Communications Technology) manufacturers unveiled innovative new products at GiTEX 2012, Dubai under the theme of ‘Excellent Products, Excellent Life.’ GiTEX is one of the largest and most important ICT events around the globe. Avision, a leading supplier in the scanner industry, featured its MiWand 2 PRO, the world’s first mobile bookedge scanner with auto feeder dock that allows users to scan without a computer or software. Gigabyte, a global leading brand in the IT industry, showcased its Gigabyte 11.6-inch convertible tablet notebook T2142, which comes with Windows 8. With a convertible multi-touch screen, the 2-in-1 notebook T2142 easily transforms itself to a slim tablet.
Bringing innovative solutions 1080p smartphones introduced After HTC announced the beautiful J Butterfly in Japan, Samsung and LG have taken it upon themselves to introduce the new range of high-end smartphones with 1080p displays. These full HD smartphones are expected to arrive by the second half of next year, with Samsung sticking to their faithful AMOLED tech and LG going with their IPS LCD. The two Korean companies will release devices with resolution topping 400ppi. Samsung and LG might also be outpaced by Sony and its C650X Odin, a smartphone that is allegedly coming in December with a highresolution 5-inch display. In addition to this Pantech, another Korean based smartphone vendor is believed to be working on 1080p smartphones of its own for an early 2013 release.
12 / TECH
Salam Media Cast (SMC) has become a value added reseller and solutions partner of HoloVis International Ltd, a high value technology solutions company providing transformational sensory experiences in a diverse range of markets including corporate, oil & gas, research, automotive, military, entertainment and theme parks. As a strategic partner of HoloVis, SMC will promote and deliver innovative uses of the turn-key systems and solutions to their clients and key markets within the territory,
HoloVis 3D Dome
demonstrating the shared belief between the organisations. The new immersive technologies will offer something unique and transformational to Middle East clients across a wide range of market sectors. SMC has a long standing proven track record of providing their client’s solutions in the broadcast, TV and corporate sectors. Through their partnership with HoloVis, SMC will diversify their capability and will draw on their extensive experience and client base to offer completely new value-added solutions and services.
iPAD Mini revealed
Samsung S3 Mini release date announced Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing holds up the ipad mini After many months of speculation, finally on Tuesday, 23 October, Apple unveiled its iPad Mini which is a miniature version of the iPad tablet. Apple’s newly launched gadget iPad Mini is still more expensive than its other competitors in the market. The features of iPad Mini are highly competitive with
the other tablets Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon’s kindle Fire. iPad Mini has 7.9inch display with 1024x768 pi resolution, faster Wi-Fi and back up of 10 hours battery life. iPad Mini runs on the Dual core A5 processor and is fully equipped with 1.2 MP dual camera for FaceTime. Apple has also made the announcement for the iPad fourth generation.
The release date of the Samsung S3 has been confirmed as 8 November but this is just for the 8GB white version. Though the mini doest quite meet the standards of the bigger brother, the handset offers a 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM and 5MP rear camera. The blue is reported to be coming out on 26 November. The specs show that it is a mid-range smartphone, far weaker than the S3. But unlike the S3, the mini will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box.
New Nexus products unveiled Hurricane Sandy wiped out Google’s NYC press release plans, against all odds, they unveiled the Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 10 tablet. Nexus 4 sports a 4.7-inch true HD IPS plus display, 8MP camera, 2GB RAM and android 4.2. The phone costing RO115(USD299) will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. The Nexus 10 tablet specs include a 2GB RAM, 5MP camera, dual core 1.7GHz Samsung Exynos chipset will cost RO154 (USD399) for 16Gb storage and RO192 (USD499) for the 32GB model. Both the tablets along with the Nexus 4 will be launched in the United States on 3 November.
Emax Eid offers continue The electronics retail giant announced their new festive deals this Eid. While shopping from 23 October to 22 November at Emax, you could win 100 gifts from LG by filling up raffle coupons on every RO25 purchase each week. They even have exclusive offers that will complement your laptops, mobiles or domestic appliances. They have financing options available from Taageer Finance Company, Al Omaniya Financial Services and BankMuscat credit cards as well.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 13
HasselblAd launches the Lunar At the recently held Photokina 2012 Exhibition in Germany, where Photocentre represented Oman, Hasselblad announced a revolutionary plan to market a state-of-theart, Italian-designed ‘ultimate luxury’ mirror less, interchangeable lens camera – The Lunar. The camera is set to be launched in the first half of 2013. Hasselblad developed this model in the traditional way, using handmade wooden prototypes to ensure
superior ergonomics and functionality. This camera is for both serious photographers and enthusiasts. It provides accurate composition for both still and video in any light conditions thanks to the ultra-bright 3-inches high definition display and revolutionary OLED viewfinder that guarantees superior contrast and ultrafast response.
Aston Martin unveils Vanquish
Asus announces new PCs
Asus has announced a range of six new windows 8 PCs. The Asus Zenbook is an updated version of Asus’s previous flagship laptop. It comes with some impressive specs including a default solid-state storage, NVIDIA graphics and Intel Ivy Bridge processors. There are four different screen sizes starting from 11-inches to 15.6-inch model that features a 1080p screen. But the real winner is the U500VZ model which comes with a full touchscreen. The official announcement of the daring double screened laptop, the Taichi, has also been made. The main feature is a dualdisplay design. Both the screens can be used simultaneously and independently and the computers only come with SSD storage.
14 / TECH
Aston Martin recently revealed their latest luxury sports car, Vanquish, at their showroom in Muscat on 16th October. Powered by a significantly revised naturally aspirated 6.0 litre 6000cc V12 petrol engine, the new car offers improved features. It gives 565hp and better power as far as the engine is concerned. The car comes as a 2+2 seater or a 2 seater and is available on order.
The Floral kiss Fujitsu has developed a personal computer just for women. The new Floral Kiss notebook has stylish features designed specially for females. The notebook that was engineered by a special team of female engineers that aim at bringing elegance to PCs. There is also a mode designed in collaboration with the jewellery brand ‘Agetae’. Some of the female-specific features include a power button adorned with a pearl like accent and caps lock key
is decorated with diamond cut stone for a sophisticated look. The computer also comes standard with a number of helpful software programmes including scrapbook and diary.
TECH RADAR Get a scoop on the latest gadgets that our radar has spotted this month OLED delayed For those who were eager to buy the shiny new OLED TV would be seriously disappointed as Samsung and LG have scrapped out the plans to mass produce the 55-inch TVs this year. Measuring only 4mm thick, the most awaited TV is now said to come out sometime by mid 2013.
HP’s brainchild HP’s upcoming ElitePad 900 is a powerful Windows 8 tablet aimed at enterprise users that is likely to appeal to consumers as well. The device will feature a large 10.1-inch high definition display and weighs only 700 grams, thanks to a thin aluminum case and lightweight corning gorilla glass covering the screen. The slate also sports the latest Intel processor, an 8MP rear camera and an optional integrated 4G hotspot support. It can handle finger, stylus and voice inputs making it easier for the users. The tablet should be out sometime in early 2013.
S4 surprise Despite the fact that Samsung is already the king of the Android world and Galaxy S3 continues to perform well, rumour has it that the South Korean giant is already putting plans in place for the
Samsung Galaxy S4 release date. According to the industry sources, the all new Samsung phone will arrive in the first quarter of 2013 with an all new 13MP camera and a 5-inch screen.
Xbox 720 reinvented HTC DLX makes a mark This Android powered 5-inch monster with a fantastic screen and great performances will be delivered with 4.1 Jelly Bean. The term DLX has been floating around for weeks even though there is no exact release date of this 1.5 GHz S4 pro quad-core processor phone. The reports say that the phone is similar to HTC J butterfly.
According to the leaked Microsoft document, the Xbox 720 will be out by the end of 2013. There are also rumours that state that this new gadget would be called Xbox infinity. The leaked document also indicates that it will have 1080p 3D support, Blu-ray player and DVR functionality. It is also speculated that the new gaming
console will be far smaller, cheaper and kinect-focussed. There have been rumours circulating that the new Xbox console will feature a system aimed at preventing owners playing used games. That would mean no trading-in of old titles in order to fund the purchase of new ones.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 15
NOUVOTECH
ECCENTRIC ESSENTIALS Here are some interesting gadgets that can come quite handy
Memoto camera The Memoto camera runs as long as you have it on. It constantly takes pictures. It takes two geotagged photos a minute with recorded orientation so that the app shows upright pictures, no matter how you wear the camera. Memoto is also weather protected so there is no worry about rough weather. The camera and app work together to capture every single moment of your life. You can revisit any moment of your past, whenever you feel nostalgic.
Stylish cooler There are huge numbers of notebook coolers in the market today. These little trays are typically powered by USB ports on your computer that have fans to help keep the temperature of your laptop down. Most of them aren’t too attractive, however, Deepcool has unveiled a notebook cooler that actually looks very interesting. It has an ‘X’ shaped design with four fans that operate at 1300RPM it should be able to significantly tool your notebook. The cooler also tilts the back of the notebook by about eight degrees for more comfortable viewing went on a flat surface.
Service spotter The new Spot Connect turns your smart phone into a satellite communicator. So whilst you explore of the great outdoors, you can pair your smart phone with the waterproof SPOT and gain an instant satellite connection. If you have a critical emergency and need to request assistance or have an SOS sent on your behalf, you can send it out with Spot connect too. It has several great features such as, SOS, help, tracking, check-ins and preset messaging that sends GPS locations to your selected recipients as well.
16 / TECH
Lens trio iZZi Gadgets, the maker of The Orbit offers a trio of interchangeable lenses – fisheye, wide-angle and telephoto mounted on a case. Changing lenses is as easy as twisting the iDial. The case is made with ‘duraluminum’, a dual layer protection offering ample cushion for the inevitable shocks. iZZi’s Sure Hand Stabilizing Grip gives it a true camera feel, making it easier to hold on to. The videographer the Orbit comes equipped with three tripod mounts to meet your need.
The Popinator You can now stop relying on your mortal hands to catapult popcorn into your mouth during a snack time or interesting movie, The Popinator does it for you. All you have to do is say ‘pop’ and this fully automated, voice activated gadget will shoot popcorn into your mouth. It will not only shoot you a piece of popcorn, but also move on the source of the sound for pinpoint accuracy, up to 15 feet away.
GoPro 3 If you are an extreme athlete, a thrill seeker and love to capture all the action while at it, you are going to be quite intrigued by this little device. It is much smaller than its predecessor, stores up to 64GB worth of data and captures twice as many frames per second. It is also waterproof up to 190 feet.
Dancing Shimi Shimi is an audio dock that nods its head and taps its little robot foot to the beat. It has five well placed motors, and dances to the beat of any song using a wide variety of dance moves that fit the song and genre. This device is sure to be quite an entertainer and have everyone groove to its moves.
Cookoo watch This ingenious watch cleverly helps you manage your phone, so you don’t have to keep checking your phone for updates. The Cookoo notifies you of any phone updates. It can be connected to any android or Bluetooth ready iOS such as your iPhone 4S, iPad, etc.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 17
INTERVIEW
STRONGEST LINK Roland Richter, VP, Extreme Networks discusses the importance of Ethernet switches 18 / TECH
E
xtreme Networks, Inc. has come to be known as a technology pioneer in high-performance Ethernet switching for cloud, data center and mobile networks. Based in Santa Clara, CA, Extreme Networks has more than 6,000 customers in more than 50 countries. Roland Richter explains that Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks (LAN) and has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies. Ethernet switches pass all traffic between segments and after the switches learn the addresses associated with each port, it forwards network traffic only to the necessary segments, improving overall performance. Broadcast traffic is still forwarded to all network segments. Switches also overcome the limits on total segments between two hosts and allow the mixing of speeds, both of which are critical to deployment of fast Ethernet. Extreme Networks has played a major role in next generation Ethernet networks and sees itself as a leader in this field. They are currently on the forefront of moving into 40GbE and 100GbE networks. For 40GbE, they are already leading by delivering solutions to the market. They also started employing products from March this year. The present solution set they have is concentrated on data center and into internet exchanges. There are of course many challenges faced as far connectivity is concerned. Sporting events are becoming a destination for fans and media, yet they pose connectivity challenges as well. In particular, the surge in demand for greater speed, wider and faster wireless access and integrated security, helps enable the experience to be delivered flawlessly. Roland says, “The first best test we did was during the London Olympics for the London internet exchange where we actually deployed about five systems just before the Olympics. We tested these during the Olympics and Paralympics. We discovered that the systems are stable and the network was better and had 99.5 per cent availability. It was according to the information we had based on the screens that there was not only one event showing but in parallel all the events were accessible around the world by the different TV stations and that all went over those switches. It was a high performance test and we passed it with flying colours.” This success has given them a significant share in the growing international sporting market and its complex and specific networking requirements. The next thing to look at the trends that are seen in the market at the moment is that Extreme Networks is moving from
one GbE to 10 GbE and they outgrow the market in terms of performance and have actually grown 133 per cent and 50 per cent in terms of revenue over the last year in the 10GbE shipment. This increase for high performance 10 GbE ports addresses Data Center and cloud network. So how has this increased the demand for cloud and data center networking? The trend being seen in data center networking is a much specialised technology and the movement being seen in the industry is towards Ethernet because it makes it way easier to manage. The demand for cloud and data center networking is on the rise. According to the Ethernet Switch Five-Year Forecast, revenue from 10GbE switch sales will be the most impactful part of the overall Ethernet switch revenue by 2015. The momentum with 10GbE switch revenue for customers building virtualised data centers, Internet Exchanges and High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure positions Extreme Networks well to accelerate their share in key markets. These results demonstrate that customers are taking notice of their best-in-class products. Extreme Networks has more than 6,000 customers worldwide, including 19 of the top 20 mobile operators through their mobility partners. Extreme Networks also has more than 700 data center customers globally, including Abbot, Johns Hopkins University, Korea Telecom, Microsoft, Samsung, SingTel, and VMware.
The first best test we did was during the London Olympics and Paralympics where we actually deployed about five systems and discovered that the systems are stable and the network was better and had 99.5 per cent availability
Indeed, they have grown as a company but there is still the concern over how they plan to increase requirements for 100 per cent data availability. Richter feels that there is no guarantee over this as something can always go wrong; there are always unforeseen events such as earthquakes which can cause disruption to data availability as they are unpredicted. Nevertheless, they strive to achieve 100 per cent data availability and meet all data requirements in the future.
ABOUT ROLAND RICHTER Roland Richter is the Vice President of EMEA at Extreme Networks, Inc. and has taken this corporate giant to being a high performance leader in Ethernet switching for cloud, data center and mobile networks. In this role, Mr. Richter is responsible for business leadership and driving sales across Europe, the Middle-East, and Africa. Richter’s primary focus is to accelerate growth by demonstrating to customers, partners and prospects the advantages of moving to Extreme Networks next-generation Ethernet
networks. With over 30 years of expertise in the IT industry, Mr. Richter brings a great deal of international expertise in sales, marketing and operations to Extreme Networks. Prior to joining Extreme Networks, Mr. Richter held senior leadership positions at Avaya, Ezenia, Dragon Systems and Novell. Mr. Richter’s graduated from Technical University in Hannover with a Master’s Degree in engineering. He has lived in the UK, the USA, Belgium and Germany.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 19
OP-ED
BATTLE OF THE
PATENTS
Apple has surpassed the laws of travesty in their trial against Samsung
I
t is well known that the Wright brothers invented the first airplane. However, what is less known is that the patent for their invention submitted in 1903 was only approved three years later. The problem was that the patent was so vast that it was nearly impossible to build any kind of aircraft without infringing it. That’s how the airplane patent war began. The Wrights sued Glenn Curtiss (founder of the U.S aircraft industry) among many others for infringing on their patent with their company’s designs. History has of course come to repeat itself with the Apple vs. Samsung lawsuit. Even though the details are clearly very different, the soundtrack of both the cases has started to sound uncannily similar. In Apple’s lawsuit against Samsung, they pointed out that it took them four years to design the iPhone whereas Samsung needed just three months to produce devices whose overall look and icon design was, in Apple’s view, “substantially the same.” Samsung
20 / TECH
counterclaimed saying “form follows function,” and as technology advanced, their designs simply kept pace and from that perspective, Apple was attempting to “stifle legitimate competition and limit consumer choice to maintain its historically exorbitant profits.” Blame games went on and will go on but eventually it all comes down to a basic question: Talking about patents, how much copying is a lot? Firstly, copying is inevitable in any industry that isn’t a monopoly. Today, all planes are based on the Wright brothers’ vision of controlled flight. While current patent law tries to deal with expansive technologies, some of the non-standard claims made in Apple-Samsung trial are rather broad. For instance, Apple claimed Samsung’s products imitate the look and feel of Apple products. While that may be true, it’s an absurd allegation. A Lexus arguably replicates the look and feel of a Mercedes but that can’t possibly be considered an
infringement. The point is you can’t exactly make a tablet without creating a rectangular device with rounded corners, which an Apple patent ludicrously lays claim on. Smartphone goliaths won’t stop making tablets, though the lines separating what can be duplicated and what can’t, may become clear. For one, if rectangles are out of bounds, things could get ugly. Quite literally. Even the Wrights seemed to eventually acknowledge that it would make sense if more people built airplanes and eased up on other patent litigation even as his case against Glenn Curtiss dragged on. An airplane monopoly wasn’t in the world’s best interests. Neither is a smartphone monopoly. Apple vs. Samsung has another direct similarity with the Wright brothers’ case from all those years ago: Whatever the jury decides, the case will continue for a long time with appeals and further litigation. This is in no way the end.
SOFTWARE
GO WITH THE FLOW Here’s a preview of what to expect from Blackberry 10
B
lackBerry’s much anticipated operating system, BB 10 witnesses the application of a completely new user interface. Instead of RIM doing away with the standard BlackBerry system we’re all accustomed to, they have chosen something which is reminiscent of Android and iOS, although with its own exclusive features. BlackBerry 10 has gone with merging homescreens, widgets, app lists and a cohesive inbox into one smooth interface, offering up an easy-to-navigate user experience. The first big feature, labelled BlackBerry Flow, provides a series of minimised windows on the screen that show you the apps you’re running, allowing you to easily flip through them without having to return to a central home screen and clicking on separate icons. BlackBerry Hub, on the other hand, is a one-stop message center that lets users handle messages from multiple email accounts, BlackBerry Messenger, social networking sites and text messages all in one location. It also serves as an event notification center that lets you know when you have an appointment or a meeting coming up and also gives you a list of any of your contacts slated to attend. The Hub
is the dominant focus of the operating system. Within this, a swipe to the right reveals the individual inboxes you have, whether work email or personal or more social services such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Pulling down from the top, it lets you glance into the future, revealing your next couple of calendar appointments. BlackBerry’s newest operating system makes it easy to find information without having to constantly bounce back to the home screen. With more business workers looking to bring their personal devices into the office, RIM has chosen to outfit their latest OS with two built-in profiles, Work and Personal. To bring up the profile menu, you can swipe down from the top of the screen and choose the profile you want to use. RIM seems to have done a notable job of modernising its interface by making the smartphone work for you instead of the reverse. The Blackberry 10 is far easier to use and we like how convenient it is to check messages and switch applications. It has been a long wait looking forward to the release of this OS but for now, we are only wondering how substantial the app selection for this OS will be.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 21
COVERSTORY
TOUCH OF EXUBERANCE Have an encounter with the best tablets of 2012 in the palm of your hands
22 / TECH
Tablets have taken the computing world by storm. They are an integral part of the latest trend that provide us with internet capabilities, access to email and video chat, simultaneously allowing us to capture images and videos while on the go. With small dimensions and a lightweight design these multimedia devices are designed to be portable. They also give us control by navigating around the device using the touchscreen display or stylus pen. Whether you are a student, business professional or just love technology, tablets have something for everyone. Here we take you on a “Phablet� journey and present to you the best tablets of 2012.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 23
DISCOVERING CLARITY
I
f and when you put on your first pair of glasses, you experience a sense of renewed vision. Things suddenly look clearer, you can spot intricate details and colours are more vivid. In a nutshell, there’s just more that you can see. With the iPad 3, it’s almost the same story and what’s even better is that you can even get a physical feel of this intense experience.
Apple envisions and delivers perfection with the iPad3
Aesthetics
It might sound overstated but with the latest iPad, Apple has packed four times as many pixels into the same space and it’s just one of those things you have to see to believe. The display is surprisingly sharp so the text and photos look more vivid. We loved the iPad2 but when you put it next to the iPad 3, you can see the bluriness.
Pros
The vivid retina display takes the cake. With a faster processor and of course a variety of apps available at the iStore, the iPad 3 is one of the best tablets money can buy.
Cons
The third generation is not too different from the iPad 2 although, it is bulkier than the iPad 2 and doesn’t have expandable storage.
9.4 mm
241.2 mm
185.7 mm
Performance
Verdict
Performance-wise, Apple has left no stone unturned. The upgrade is evident with the graphics capabilities of the new A5X processor. The performance jump is not as notable as the leap between the original iPad and the iPad 2 however, Apple’s newest tablet comes across as rather responsive. Previously, Apple introduced cameras to the tablet for video chat but with iPad 3, the rear camera has been upgraded to 5MP with lens technology taken from the iPhone 4S.
In reality though, this iPad is all about the screen. The graphics compliment the clarity that this tablet has to offer. It is slightly heavier and thicker but that can be overlooked as there are many more improved features that steal the spotlight. In spite of the addition of these new features, Apple doesn’t tire it out; the battery life remains a vigorous 10 hours.
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SPECIFICATION Weight 662g Storage 16GB, 32GB, 64GB Screen 9.6-inch Retina display, 2048x1536, 264ppi Processor Dual core Apple A5X Operating System iOS 5.1 Camera 5MP
GALACTIC NOTE
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he Samsung Galaxy series have been giving all Samsung fans a run for their money. The idea is to provide its users an overall better tablet experience, whether it is at leisure or work. With superior web browsing, HD quality screen and incredible multitasking, the Note 10.1 gives you the experience you expect. The Galaxy range is the best in its class and Samsung, being so ambitious, well, went on to making it even better.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is one of the best android tablets Aesthetics
Samsung is sticking to a durable design with its signature plastic casing. It follows a more rectangular look has a brushed aluminum back. Although the dimensions have expanded, the feel is light and manageable. Weighing 600 grams it is comfortable to hold in one hand while you control the S pen in the other hand. The 10.1-inch, 1280x800 screen replicates colours decently.
Pros
The 10.1 gives you a fine tuned experience with the S pen it has smooth performance and allows true simultaneous multitasking. It is a user-friendly device.
Cons
The body isn’t as sturdy compared to the other tablets we have covered. There is a lack of design fare and its screen resolution is a little unimpressive.
179.8mm
8.8mm 261.8mm
Performance
The Note 10.1’s performance is at its lowest when the multiscreen option is opened, in spite of its fast 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos processor and 2GB of RAM. Flipping between the home screen and apps can result in a little lag here and there. The upgrade to Android 4.1 makes the device more responsive and fluid. The Note 10.1 continues to deliver consistently as long as it isn’t burdened with unrealistic workload. The tablet is snappy, and does not have jarring transitions.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is one of the best big-screen Android tablets. Its 600g weight makes the device easy to handle. The S Pen makes the overall experience even better. There is no getting away from the fact that the Note 10.1 is a niche device, but it works with class and grace. A host of other tablets offer sharper displays and much better performance. We think Samsung should balance out its specs a little.
SPECIFICATION Weight 600g Storage 16GB Screen 10.1inches, 1280x800pixels Processor Quad-core, Exynos 41.4GHz Operating system Android 4.0 Camera 5MP Available at SARCO, 24593025
NOVEMBER 2012 / 25
BEYOND BASICS
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here’s a certain charm attached to the rebel type and Sony’s Tablet S is one such device that defies the standard design and features of the usual tablets. It is a class apart because of its distinctiveness. All of Sony’s expertise has been packed in this tablet to fit perfectly into your hand.
Sony keeps up to their reputation for originality and innovation with the Tablet S Aesthetics The display on the Sony Tablet S reproduces colour, video and photos nicely, but even at the highest level of brightness, it appears just a little bit dimmer compared to similar tablets. The display is 9.4-inches tall, which is only marginally smaller than the unit’s height, so you don’t feel like you’re losing any space and can make the most of it. The touch-screen response is fluid and the tablet follows a unique asymmetric design.
Pros
It is an exceptionally well-built tablet with all the expected features plus Sony PlayStation certification. The industrial design is smart and the software refinements are both practical and restrained.
Cons
The internet is available via Wi-Fi but not mobile broadband and the battery life is relatively low. The screen brightness takes a hit and is disappointing.
174.3mm
241.2mm
Performance
The Tablet S is a sturdy, well-built and lightweight unit, powered by the dual-core, 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. It’s a fast tablet and there are no lagging issues where it feels that the software is trying to keep up with what you’re doing. If you have a slow internet connection, you may see some issues there, but overall, it’s a very responsive device. This tablet uses Sony’s TruBlack technology in the display, giving the Tablet S an extra edge in image quality.
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Verdict
Packed with interesting and practical features, the Sony Tablet S is a finely made device that is very responsive and ready for show time right out of the box with its Android 3.1 operating system and included apps. If you have no access to Wi-Fi, there isn’t a built-in option to access a mobile network, which will leave you high and dry if you need a constant connection.
SPECIFICATION Weight 598g Storage SD, up to 32GB Screen 9.4-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen, 1280x800 pixels Processor Dual-core 1 GHz Cortex-A9 Operating system Android 3.1 Camera 5MP
GAME CHANGER
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mazon’s transformation from a modest multinational that retails every product ever made in the world, to that of a consumer electronics powerhouse that wants to get in the competition extremely deep is reflected with their Kindle Fire HD. This tablet is affordable, portable and gives you access to music, video and literary content that Amazon owns. It’s rather classy and a good buy as long as you can live with the highly simplified, Amazon-focussed interface.
Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD rekindles the competition for tablets Aesthetics
Pros
The Fire HD isn’t something that you’d notice in a lineup of tablets but it’s not really art or science deciding how tablets look but more of desire for familiarity. In this regard, the Fire serves its purpose. The device is much more than a matte black rectangle with the requisite rounded corners. The 7-inch, 1280 x 800 display on the Fire HD is fantastic. It is thinner, lighter, faster and certainly better looking as compared to the original Fire.
Thanks to the front-facing HD camera and the mic, you can now Skype with the Kindle Fire and it happens to be the world’s first tablet with dual-band.
Cons
The Kindle Fire HD comes without a slot for a SD card and it lacks a rear camera. The absence of GPS is also a big disappointment.
10.3mm
10.3mm
137mm
193mm
Performance
The Kindle Fire HD may only get a 200MHz boost in performance over the previous Kindle Fire but it feels considerably quicker than that. The media-focused UI customisation that the previous tablet couldn’t really handle is far more responsive now. That main carousel of content, apps and websites that is the trademark of the Fire series no longer has fits neither does it stop and stutter but there are still some sluggish moments.
Verdict
The minute you turn on your Kindle Fire HD you will have instant access to the vast variety of apps, games, songs, books and magazines, plus thousands of fantastic movies and TV. It has indeed gained a lot of momentum recently and this lightweight tablet is designed to impress. When combined with the unmatched crossplatform interoperability and standardsetting customer service, Kindle Fire HD is a winner.
SPECIFICATION Weight 395g Storage 16/32 GB storage, No SD card slot Screen 7-inch IPS TFT capacitive touchscreen, 800x1280 pixels, 216 ppi Processor Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 Operating System Android 4.0 Camera 1.3 MP
NOVEMBER 2012 / 27
NEXT BIG THING
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he black bezel display seems to be the standard for Android tablets these days, but with the Nexus 7, its surroundings have been given a more aesthetically pleasing feel particularly the textured dimple-like back that sits snug in two hands making the Google Nexus 7 ideal for prolonged use. It may not be as striking as a third-generation Retina Display iPad at 264ppi but apart from that there is little to complain about.
The Google Nexus 7 offers the complete Android experience Aesthetics
The 7-inch 1200 x 800 HD backlit IPS display packs a respectable 216 pixels per inch onto the screen and is bright and vivid in colour. The front of the Google Nexus 7 is devoid of hardware-based buttons but a 1.2MP front-facing camera rests at the top of the tablet front which is covered entirely by Corning glass.
120mm
Pros
This tablet is promoted as an entertainment device with integration with Google Play, serving as a platform for multimedia consumption. It supports near field communication and comes with built-in Wi-Fi.
Cons
A very big drawback of this tablet is that the options for storage are limited; there’s no microSD slot here and it has a weak IPS display contrast.
198.5mm
10.5mm
Performance
Verdict
Powered by a quad-core Tegra 3 processor with 1GB RAM and either 8GB of onboard storage, this tablet runs circles around other rivals competing Android tablets. The main star of the Jelly Bean show is Google Now, a card-based information service that uses GPS in an effort to become one step ahead of the user. As you would expect from a Google tablet, the browsing experience is largely impressive, with the 7-inch screen feeling adequate for most sites.
We’ve studied a fair share of tablets and the Google Nexus 7 stack ups well for a tablet of its price. It is most certainly the best tablet for the budget-conscious. Having the option of the Nexus 7 when out and about is a major boon. The Nexus 7 brings not only impressive specs but also the knowledge that it is replaceable, making it a device you can throw in your bag without any major worries (it is scratch-free).
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SPECIFICATION Weight 340g Storage 8/16 GB Screen 7-inch, LED-backlit IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 800x1280 pixels Processor Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A9 Operating Sytem Android 4.1 Camera 1.2MP
SURFACING GENIUS
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t’s thin, it’s light, it’s comfortable to hold and it makes you want to touch it but it’s also designed so you can snap the magnetically attached cover into place. This is in no way similar to any competitor idea. However, apps support is dreary and the traditional Windows interface lingers on, feeling embarrassingly out of place. Yet it takes a legitimate swing at replacing your computer.
Microsoft’s Surface tablet steals the spotlight with striking design credentials
Aesthetics
The Surface excels thanks to its thoughtful design, sensible implementation of its keyboard accessory, and the innovations brought about by the interface. The design of the Surface for Windows RT is modest; the front has a sleek black glass, precision bonded to the magnesium alloy chassis with only a Windows logo visible, the word Microsoft doesn’t show up on the case anywhere.
Pros
The Surface has a sleek design and comes with a great array of ports as well as an innovative and versatile Metro interface. Its keyboard cover accessories are incredible.
Cons
The tablet has no retina display and there is a distinct lack of apps. The performance comes across as sluggish and the desktop interface feels clunky and impractical.
274.2mm
172.2mm 9.4mm
Performance
Verdict
If you’re familiar with Windows 8 at all, Surface RT feels like a nice tablet with an ARM processor which is slow in performance. But the Surface’s pair of combination keyboard-covers are amazing; the Touch Cover is the ultra-thin touch portable keyboard. It seems almost trivial to make a kickstand the unique selling point of a device but you can put the Surface on a table, without having to prop it up or having to use a separate stand and that is sensible.
To our astonishment Microsoft has created its own tablet and they have done a good job at that. It’s far more creative and polished than many Android tablets plus it’s a well-designed Windows tablet crammed with clever touches. If you’re an early adopter willing to forget everything you know about navigating a computer, the Surface tablet could replace your laptop. Others could wait for more apps.
SPECIFICATION Weight 675g Storage 32GB, 64GB Screen 10.6 inches, 1366x768 pixels Processor Nvidia Tegra 3 Quad core ARM processor Operating System Windows 8 Camera 720p front-facing, 1080p rear-facing
NOVEMBER 2012 / 29
SLEEK SILHOUETTE
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he sleeker the tablet, the better it is. Toshiba has gone with exactly this notion and put its earlier Thrives to shame. The Excite 10 LE, a premium product, is extremely slim and has a very appealing silhouette. Although, the Excite 10 sports a slender design, it has powerful specs like a quad core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor making it a strong contender among other tablets.
The Toshiba Excite 10 has looks that match its performance
Aesthetics
Pros
The first thing you notice about the Excite 10 is its slimmer body; it is compressed down to a 8.89mm. Toshiba has also reduced the weight of the tablet to 598g. The thin and light body makes it comfortable to hold for a long period of time. They have used premium materials and discarded the Thrives’ rubberised cover, giving it a classy aluminium backing.
The Excite 10 sports a lightweight, chic and sleek design. It has high performance with the quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor.
Cons
Its drawbacks include backlight bleeding and occasional performance glitches.
9mm
198.5mm 178mm
262mm
Performance
With a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and 1GB of RAM, the Excite 10 provides great performance. Browsing through web pages is a fluid experience although there is a slight glide. When the camera is in use the device gets a little warmer. This tablet has its ports placed very well. The left side has the headphone jack, a micro-HDMI connection, micro-USB 2.0 and a full-size SD card slot that lets you push up your external storage to 128GB.
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Verdict
The Excite come in three storage options, which is in the same price range as the 32GB Acer Iconia tablet and is a little costlier than the Asus Transformer pad. Overall, it sports a sound design and performance to match it. Toshiba hasn’t positioned the Excite 10 as a high-end tablet and compared to the earlier Thrive tablets, it has an amazing design.
SPECIFICATION Weight 599g Storage 64GB Screen 10.1inches, 1280x800 pixels Processor Quad core, NVIDIA Tegra 3 Operating system Android 4.1 Camera 5MP
ICONIC DISPLAY
T
he Iconia is all about the screen. The NVIDIA- powered tablet has a supercharged screen with 1920x1200pixels on a 10.1-inch panel. Its quad-core Tegra 3 processor makes the tablet a good performer and not just a good-looking tablet. With the A700, Acer has essentially taken the A510, its predecessor and packed it with a higher resolution screen. Acer made a good decision to go with a highresolution display as the screen is sharp and well implemented.
The Acer A700 may have an amazing display but we take a look at its limitations Aesthetics The left and right edges are lined with silver plating; the backside has an easy-to-grip surface and the corners are well rounded. It is one of the most comfortable tablets to hold. With a leathery back, available in both silver and black, it reduces the likelihood of the tablet accidentally slipping from your hands. However, as compared to other tablets, the Iconia is slightly boxy especially next to the Nexus 7.
Pros
The A700’s high-resolution screen sharpens text and graphics to neariPad Retina levels. It is comfortable to hold and includes both Micro-HDMI and micro SD ports.
Cons
The Tegra 3 finds it difficult to keep up with the high-resolution display, resulting in frequent hangs and stuttering while navigating.
175mm
11mm 259mm
Performance
The Iconia A700 is the first Android tablet to sport a 1920x1200 resolution screen. The Iconia’s screen has higher brightness in addition to more accurate and vivid colours. The quad-core 1.3GHz Tegra 3 processor found in the A700 has a highspeed performance. However, demanding apps take longer time to load. The Iconia Tab A700 uses the same 9800mAh battery as the A510, which has a battery life of about 9 hours.
Verdict The Acer A700 tries to overachieve with its high-resolution screen and insufficient bandwidth. There are much better tablets in the market that will be worth the expense. Nevertheless, the Acer Iconia is a good midrange 10-inch Android tablet with an above-average screen, that falls behind the other high-resolution-display tablets.
SPECIFICATION Weight 665g Storage Up to 64GB, Built in 32GB Screen 10.1inches, 1920x1200pixels Processor Quad core, 1300MHz Operating system Android 4.1 Camera 5MP
NOVEMBER 2012 / 31
INFINITELY IMPRESSIVE
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sus is quite proud of its Transformer range of androids in fact they claim that it is the best alternative to Apple’s new iPad. Along with the Asus Transformer Prime and the Asus Transformer Pad 300, the most recent tablet, the Asus Transformer Pad Infinity possesses an excellent keyboard docking station and not to forget its full HD resolution has made this range of Android tablets very popular.
The Infinity sure makes an excellent tablet, although it is priced like an ultrabook
Aesthetics
Pros
On the outside, the Infinity is much like its predecessor the Asus Prime, but there are subtle differences like being 0.2mm thicker. At 635g, the Infinity is lighter than the iPad 3. The body is crafted from aluminum and has a 10.1-inch Gorilla Glass display. The resolution of the screen is the main attraction of this tablet.
The full HD resolution screen backed with an excellent battery life makes the Infinity a good buy. Also a great advantage is its keyboard dock, making it extremely efficient.
Cons
The body of the tablet does not stay cool for too long and the camera options could have been much better. The tablet is relatively overpriced.
180.8mm
198.5mm
8.5mm
263mm
Performance
With regard to the speakers, there is a slight bit of distortion when you turn the volume up. There is no problem with the power of the tablet, thanks to the fast NVIDIA Tegra quad-core processor, running at 1.6GHz. It is great for playing games with minor frame rate issues. With an 8-megapixel, auto focus, LED flash and the F 2.2 aperture, the extra amount of light allowed through the lens means clearer photographs.
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Verdict
Most of the Infinity’s specs are identical to the Prime, including the keyboard dock, processing power and storage options, although the previous came with a lower battery life. The Infinity is almost pushed into the ultra book pricing realm because of its full HD screen resolution. The speaker performance is a letdown as it would do a great deal to the entertainment aspect.
SPECIFICATION Weight 598g Storage 32GB, 64GB Screen 10.1-inch display 1920x1200pixels Processor NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad core, 1.6GHz Operating system Android 4.0 Camera 8MP
THINK RELIABLE
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ntel and Microsoft have collaborated to build a tablet and this tablet has been created with the intention of being productive, mobile and reliable. It provides enterprise level services and various customisation options. With a steep price the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 might be as expensive as a high end ultra book but it is known to be one of the more solidly built Windows 8 tablets.
The Thinkpad 2 is one of the best Windows 8 tablets around Aesthetics
It has a keyboard included and a brightred pointing stick. The tablet is can be sold without the keyboard as well. It sports a 10.1-inch, display with a full resolution of 1366x768pixels. The ThinkPad Tablet 2 is 9.8mm thick, weighs 1.3 pounds and feels about the same in terms of weight as a thirdgeneration iPad. We feel that it look is a little boxy, but has a clear design as seen in the Microsoft Surface.
Pros
The Lenovo Thinkpad is solidly built; it has an optional precise stylus and comes with a keyboard. It has a good Intel Atom Clover Trail processor.
Cons
The Thinkpad 2 has a bulky body. There is slight stuttering while multitasking and switching between applications.
165.1mm
10mm 261.6mm
Performance
The tablet is powered by an Intel Clover Trail atom processor. It operates at 1.8GHz and has the ability to easily run several programs simultaneously. The Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 also benefits from the optional dock that sports an Ethernet port, three USB ports and an HDMI out. The tablet has a smooth responsiveness and is far better than the Windows 7 tablet experience. The multi-touch gestures are very receptive as well.
Verdict
We think that the device is easy to hold and the Windows 8 operating system is way above average. However, whilst playing full HD videos and switching between applications there is slight stuttering. With an optional keyboard available, the Thinkpad 2 can be used as a laptop as well. The dock features three USB ports and an Ethernet jack which can be a great advantage as well.
SPECIFICATION Weight 600g Storage Up to 64GB Screen 10.1inches, multitouch HD display Processor Intel clover trail atom Operating system Windows 8 Pro Camera Front facing 2MP, rear 8MP
NOVEMBER 2012 / 33
AWARDS 2012 TECH Awards recognises and honours the best products in technology and the brands distributing these products across Oman. TECH Awards began in 2011 with a purpose of venturing into the world of retail outlets. This year, TECH Awards is back again and this time it is bigger and better. For 2012, our categories for TECH Awards are:
N o m i n a t i o n ca t e g o r i e s
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For showroom
For product
Best showroom display Best product portfolio Best customer service
Best Best Best Best Best
Camera LED Televisions Smartphones Home theatre systems Tablets
BEST PORTFOLIO: EMAX
BEST SERVICE: BOSE
BEST DISPLAY: MUSTAFA SULTAN ELECTRONICS
RULES & REGULATION 1. W inner for Best showroom display will be selected based on parameters such as ambience, arrangement, organisation of brands and their respective products, creativity of display and similar aesthetics. 2. Winner for Best product portfolio will be selected based on variety of products, quality of products and availability of stock. 3. Winner for Best customer service will be selected based on the interaction with customers, information of product and staff enthusiasm.
4. W inner for Best product in the respective categories will be based on the originality of the innovation, user friendliness, unique features and value for money. 5. Candidates for the various categories under showroom will be informed a week in advance regarding the visit from our judges. Anonymous judges will pay a surprise visit to the showroom, anytime in the subsequent week. 6. J udges’ decision is final and is solely dependent on the aforementioned parameters.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 35
TIMEZONE
SYMBIOTIC BOND A timepiece that develops a responsive connection with its owner
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he Urwerk UB 210 Maltese Falcon is one of the only timepieces that display attachment and feedback to its owner. Although the watch possesses a rather unusual display, the owner is bound to have a personalised communication with it. It has a very precise way of counting hours and goes with the pulse of your life. The makers believe that it can be defined as a quasibiological machine that has the ability to reveal more about yourself as compared to the other objects you own. At one o’clock it features a traditional power reserve indication. While you comfortably sit at a coffee house with your friends, the indicator tends towards the red zone indicating that your watch is running on stored energy and when you are energetic the indicator points towards the green zone, a sign that you are replenishing your watch with more energy. The watch more or less
calculates the difference between the energy consumed and generated. It has winding efficiency and power reserve available and indicates the wearer if there is an insufficient supply of energy. The rotor converts the slightest movement into stored energy. A turbine connected to the rotor provides even and unhindered power. But if you are more active and provide more power than required, you would position the winding efficiency to ‘reduced’ to engage the rotor damping system. An air turbine compressor mounted on the ruby bearing spins and creates internal resistance- enough friction to slow down or dampen the automatic winding rotor. When you put the watch on stop mode, the winding system is completely disabled and the 210 runs off power reserve. We are sure that this time piece has an almost magnetic attraction.
Dimensions: 43.8x53.6x17.8mm Glass: Sapphire crystal Water resistance: 30 metres
Frequency: 28,800v/h, 4Hz Winding system: Self-winding coupled to turbines
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MOBILEZONE
SIBLING RIVALRY Operating System Windows Phone 8
Display
The 920 has a 4.5-inch display with a 1,280x768 pixel resolution (WXGA. Whereas, the 820 has a slightly smaller 4.3-inch display with a disappointing 800x480 pixel resolution at 217 PPI. The screen on the 820 is an OLED model, while the one featured on the 920 is PureMotion HD+ IPS, complete with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass. Both handsets benefit from ClearBlack technology, which allows for improved readability in direct sunlight.
Battery 2000mAh
Network 4G LTE Screen size 4.5inches
Resolution 3264x2448 pixels Internal storage 32GB microSD No
Storage & memory
The Lumia 920 and the Lumia 820 both come with a 1GB RAM. The former has 32GB on-board storage, while the latter has only 8GB but does come with a microSD card slot capable of expanding capacity up to 32GB.
Processor
0
Both phones use the same chipset, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC, the MSM8960, which is etched using a 28nm manufacturing process for lower power consumption. It’s clocked at 1.5GHz, is based on the newgen Krait architecture and uses an Adreno 225 GPU. Additionally, both devices offer LTE capabilities.
ia
a
ki
No
m Lu
Software
Both the phones run on Windows Phone 8 and will offer 7GB of complimentary online cloud storage to new users. These Lumia phones offer a number of exclusive applications, like Nokia’s comprehensive Maps suite as well as the Nokia Music Store. Overall, Windows Phone 8 should be as fast on the Lumia 820 as on the pricier Lumia 920.
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Camera 8.7MP Front-facing camera 1.3MP
Size 130.3x70.8x10.7mm
Weight 185g
92
Nokia Lumia 820 and 920 go neck to neck in a specification comparison
Operating System Windows Phone 8
Battery
Battery 1,650mAh Resolution 800x480 pixels
Network 4G LTE Screen size 4.3inches
Internal storage 8GB microSD Yes
The 820 comes with a 1,650 mAh battery whereas the 920 has a 2,000mAh engine. The 21 per cent extra capacity means the 920 claims a talk time of 10 hours versus 8 hours on the 820, standby of 400 hours versus 330 hours respectively, better music playback duration of 67 hours versus 55 hours and superior video playback time of 5 hours versus 6 hours. Both boast the ability to charge wirelessly, utilising Qi technology.
Camera
Nokia Lu
mia 820
The optical sensor on the 920 gives an impressive 8.7-megapixel resolution. It features an innovative optical image stabilization technology, a BSI sensor, a superfast f/2.0 aperture, and a dual LED flash. As for the Lumia 820, it hits 8 megapixels, has a f/2.2 aperture speed, but lacks the BSI sensor of its bigger brother. Both come with Carl Zeiss optics, full HD video recording capabilities and camera resolution of 3,264x2,448 pixels. There’s also an HD ready front facing camera on the 920, however 820 has to make do with a secondary VGA snapper.
Connectivity
The connectivity for both the devices is exactly the same. Both have NFC capabilities, Bluetooth 3.1, Wi-Fi, a microUSB port and are compatible with 4G LTE networks. The 820 and 920 come prepared for the best and most modern wireless technologies.
Camera 8MP Size 123.8x68.5x9.9mm
Front-facing camera VGA
Weight 160g
NOVEMBER 2012 / 39
Pocket Savers
Cheapest phones you can buy
With the advent in technology, phones have now evolved to become smartphones with unbelievable features that outsmart humans altogether. For this reason, it is reassuring to know that there are old-school phones with minimal features and pocket-friendly prices that still exist. While top-of-the-line cell phones with extravagant features attract a lot of media attention, you can find a reliable cell phone fit within a reasonable price range. Here we bring to you six of the cheapest phones available
SAMSUNG E1205 ALCATEL 213 RO6.900 Carrefour The Alcatel 213 is a basic phone device which is an economically sound mobile. It is available in three colours and makes a mark among other phones of this category.
• CSTN 65K colour display
RO7.900 Emax
SAMSUNG E1080
The Samsung E1205 is a bar phone that is reliable and user-friendly. Its durability along with reasonable price makes it a strong contender among other phones of this category.
RO6.900 Emax
• Dual band • Torch light • FM Radio
The Samsung E1080 is a humble candybar phone with a relatively petite built but a rugged casing. It offers impressive battery stamina apart from core functionality.
• 200 entries including caller groups
• FM Radio
• Music ringtones (MP3) and Polyphonic ringtones (40 voices)
• Upto 5 hours talk time
• Speakerphone
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NOKIA 100
NOKIA 1280
RO8.900 Emax
RO7.800 Emax
The Nokia 100 packs many features for a mobile of its price. This overachiever delivers a classic Nokia feel and is a lightweight phone with soft, easy-to-use buttons.
• TFT display, 65k colours • Polyphonic ringtones • Loudspeaker
SAMSUNG E1200 RO6.900 Emax The Samsung E1200 provides a simple and uncluttered mobile phone experience. This compact phone is easy to use and of course the 5-way navigation key is a responsive feature.
The Nokia 1280 can be considered the stud of the most reasonable mobile phone category. It has a charming appeal to it and offers some decent features for its price.
• Monochrome graphic • Flashlight • Speakerphone
• 1.52-inch TFT LCD screen • 800mAh Battery Capacity • Flight mode
NOVEMBER 2012 / 41
VIDEOZONE
DISPLAY OF
EXCELLENCE ViewSonic’s new multi-touch monitor
V
iewSonic has unveiled a new monitor and what makes this 22inch full HD LED backlit monitor so special is that it is equipped with a twopoint optical touchscreen. The touchscreen display is protected by some serious glass; it has a hardened 8H level scratch-resistant screen and a dust-proof surface. You can zoom and pan on the screen using two fingers just like on an iPad. Apart from the dual-point touchscreen high definition experience, the new TD2220 has gone with an ARM 11 processor, together with a USB HID Touch driver which comes equipped with 2x USB ports, enabling you to connect your keyboard and mouse if you
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SPECIFICATION want. With this latest monitor, ViewSonic has also integrated a two-watt speaker and a screen that swivels. The TD2220 also comes in a few different screen sizes and is designed to serve commercial needs such as kiosk and information desks where touch functionality is required, as well as for consumers who want a touch-enabled display. The 27-inch, for instance, is in an entirely unique category. If you opt for this size, you will receive a standard 1920x1080 resolution in addition to a 3D touch screen display to deliver an accurate touch experience. In order to enhance the 3D experience, this monitor comes with a pair of NVIDIA glasses.
Display Area 48cms horizontal x27cms vertical Resolution 1920x1080 Pixels Contrast Ratio 1000:1 (typ.) Brightness 200 cd/m2 (typ.) Panel Surface Anti-glare, hardcoating (8H) Dynamic Contrast Ratio 20,000,000:1 Response Time 5 milliseconds (typ.) Additional Feature 27-inch, 3D touch screen display
TUNING IN Introducing new additions to the Philips 4000 and 3000 series
With Philips new 42PFL4007 Full HD LED TV, you can now enjoy Smart TV wirelessly supported by the Philips Wi-Fi USB Adapter. Powered by Pixel Plus HD, it delivers the exclusive combination of natural detail, vivid colours and smooth natural motion. Artifacts and noise in any sources are detected and reduced, ensuring that the picture is razor-sharp. It also offers three USB slots with access to jpeg photos, mp3 music and video files of most USB-sticks. The 200Hz Perfect Motion Rate (PMR) offers extreme motion sharpness for clear images in fast action movies. The new Philips PMR standard shows the combined visible effect of the fastest panel refresh rate, HD Natural Motion and unique processing formula for unparalleled motion sharpness and overall picture quality.
KEY FEATURES Easy wireless connection with optional wireless USB adaptor Control the TV with your smart phone, tablet or keyboard Full HD TV with Pixel Plus HD for better details and clarity Philip’s new 32PFL3007 HD Ready LCD TV digitally adjusts picture quality to optimal contrast, colour and sharpness levels assisted by Digital Crystal Clear. With 100Hz Perfect Motion Rate, the refresh rate of the panel and unique image processing is combined. Philips advanced video processing synergised with unique extreme dimming and backlight boosting technology provides exceptional picture quality. Dynamic Contrast gives a lifelike picture with high contrast and exciting colours. The powerful 20W RMS amplifiers create a realistic sound stage with greater depth and width of sound enriched by Clear Sound audio technology that significantly increases the comprehensibility of audio. The TV also offers two USB slots to access jpeg photos, mp3 music and video files of most USB-sticks. With Philips Easylink, you need only one remote control to perform most operations on your TV, DVD, BluRay, set top box or home theatre system.
KEY FEATURES 100Hz Perfect Motion Rate (PMR) for superb motion sharpness 69 billion colours processing for the most vivid colours
Available at Mustafa Sultan Electronics, 24636015
NOVEMBER 2012 / 43
DASHBOARD
ROAD RAMPAGE The BMW i8 is an icon of progress that offers energising performance and benchmark efficiency
B
MW i8 happens to be one of the most eagerly awaited sports cars of 2013. It has been introduced as the next step in the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics Concept. The i8 is envisioned as a part of the range of hybrid vehicles that display BMW’s commitment to future efficiency and low fuel consumption. This four-seater sports car is not only efficient and luxurious but also a great performer that takes on a lot of the paramount features of the BMW M type to a hybrid plug in model.
Performance The i8 primarily emphasises on power and efficiency, driven in part by the three-cylinder, 1.5l turbo diesel engine mounted at the rear. The electric motor, which can independently generate 129hp, sits on the front of the vehicle with the two power sources either being used separately or alternated for efficiency. In combination, they can generate 328hp, as well as do 0-100kmph in a respectable five seconds and has a top speed of 250kmph. The electric motor uses a
44 / TECH
lithium polymer battery that can be charged using a domestic power socket.
Exteriors The BMW i8’s combines aluminum and reinforced carbon plastic to get a light weighted yet durable car that weighs a mere 1,480kgs. This means that the i8 is more aerodynamic with additional space for excess storage and bench seats. The front mounted electric motor and rear engine also carry an equal weight distribution for the car’s overall suspension.
Interiors The focus of the interiors has been on keeping it simple and minimalistic with special attention towards drivability rather than overloading. The 2+2-seater interior is designed around a layering approach that includes black, white and mocha brown with a gearshift lever in addition to a start and stop button for the motor. A free standing display unit is built-in for instrumentation as well as 3D readouts.
Engine 1.5-liter turbocharged I-3 Power 349hp 0-100 kmph 5 seconds Top Speed 250kms Weight 1480kgs Length 4630mm
The possibility of enjoying a sports car experience while benefitting from the low mileage, energy efficient electric motor and its subsequent savings in terms of road tax, make the BMW i8 a strong contender in the arena of hybrid car
NOVEMBER 2012 / 45
WEARABLETECH
GAME ON Transcend your game with Adidas’ apparel
Techfit provides a tightfit and compression design to improve joint alignment, muscle balance and posture while linking key muscle groups together to maximise power generation. Techfit is good for supporting explosive, high-impact movements where speed and power are key.
Climacool is a combination of performance fabrics, open mesh and ventilation channels designed to keep cool air flowing in and heat and sweat flowing out.
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If you believe your game is all about form and posture, the Techfit PowerWeb apparel by Adidas is the perfect solution for you. Designed to actively support your muscles, boost your power output and support energy efficiency, this technology helps you comfortably take your training to the next level.
Threedimensional Formotion engineering follows the natural movement of the sport and the curves of the athlete’s body for a better fit and greater comfort in motion.
PowerWeb training apparel is designed to improve body stability and posture, while reducing muscle vibration through high compression. In addition, strategically placed Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) Powerbands work with the body to store energy throughout the movement and return it to amplify explosive movements.
Get Direct Access to Oman’s Vibrant Housing Market The Premier Home Building & Interiors Exhibition
After its highly successful inaugural edition in 2011, The Home Show 2012 is getting bigger and better, with the expected participation of a much greater number of exhibitors and with an even wider range of products on display.
Exhibition Profile: Bedroom and Bathroom Fit-outs | Doors and Windows | Furniture and Furnishings | Garden and Landscaping Home Appliances and Electronics | Home Building Materials | Home Loans | Interior Design Products and Services Kitchen Equipments and Modules | Lighting Fixtures and Accessories | Residential Properties Smart Home Solutions | Wall and Floor Coverings
Meet your target audience: Architects | Building Contracts | Decision Makers | Homebuilders | Homeowners Interior Decorators | Industry Professionals | Property Investors Be sure to get your prominent location in The Home Show 2012 before it is sold out. Reserve your stand today! For stand bookings, sponsorship opportunities or for more information, contact Clemento Fernandes on +968 95250277 or e-mail clemento@globalexhibitionsoman.com.
Supporting Organisations
Gold Sponsors
Official International Magazine
Organiser:
Platinum Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Media Partners
Floor Plan Sponsor
GAMING
This might be the biggest Resident evil game but it lacks direction
R
esident Evil 6 is set in 2013, ten years after the original Raccoon City episode. The world is in havoc as the C-virus has reached epidemic magnitude and threatens to consume the world in a ghastly apocalyptic state. In this sequel, Resident Evil has undergone an identity crisis by its overambitious endeavour to combine four game experiences into one. Every now and then, it embraces its traditional gameplay, pitting its heroes against horrific creatures in the darkest, filthiest possible locations. The tension is tangible, kudos to production values that reach new heights for the game. However, lengthy firefights, driving sequences and other ill-conceived ideas bring the game’s incredible instants to a halt. The result is erratic, delivering brilliance one moment and chaos in another. At the core of Resident Evil 6 are the game’s four campaigns and seven lead protagonists. Rather than interlacing these characters and stories along a singular crusade, Capcom has dispersed them across four individual paths, each with its own beginning and end. This choice defines everything about this game, stressing both its greatest accomplishments and evident flaws. Yet the layered narrative sometimes works against the gameplay. As the campaigns cross paths, the game forces players to replay sequences including some lengthy encounters that really ought to be played only once. A game that flourishes on the stacked benefit of multiple perspectives, manages to forget how that negatively impacts the actual experience of playing through encounters repeatedly. That
Power Rangers Samurai
Halo 4
Xbox 360
Xbox 360
NOVEMBER 06
NOVEMBER 12
notion of repetition shines light on the most basic element of Resident Evil 6’s biggest shortcoming; it’s actually too big. With its previous versions, Resident Evil has created fear through one central tenant - you have guns and possibly allies, but the creatures you face are so powerful that none of these matter. Suddenly you’re engaging in firefights with soldiers that have machine guns, sniper rifles and rocket launchers plus helicopters and tanks. This isn’t the first time we have seen these in a Resident Evil game but it’s never been so widespread. The implementation of a cover system and move-and-shoot controls add to this overall shift for the franchise, making it less about its core principles and more about trying to be something it’s not. Resident Evil 6 has no shortage of great set pieces, ranging from cities under siege to dark, vast catacombs to cramped and cluttered high-rises. A powerful environment, full of detail and depth, pulls you in, creating a sense of history and life while amplifying the emotional reaction. These aesthetics mostly succeed thanks to an emphasis on strong lighting effects. This sequel often opts for much darker scenery, pushing the overall visual reliability through an increased prominence on shadows and moody illumination. What we get is an experience that has an immediate impact on the player. However, the increased lighting does have some unfortunate consequences, sometimes to the point of distraction. Overall, Resident Evil has hardly ever felt so alive. Evolution and ambition are only natural for a game as old as Resident Evil, as is the need to respect a long-lasting legacy and the fans that have come to appreciate it. While attempting to be an all-rounder, Resident Evil 6 loses focus and fails to accurately assess which of its elements are truly worthy of being included. When this game is at its height, it sets new standards. Unfortunately, there’s no dearth of lows either, taking what could have been an excellent experience and making it something considerably lesser.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360 Genre: RPG ESRB Rating: Mature
SCORE Gameplay Graphics Story Replayability OVERALL
7 8 6 7 7
Grand Theft Auto 5
Hitman: Absolution
Xbox 360
PC
PC, PS3, Xbox 360
NOVEMBER 13
NOVEMBER 15
NOVEMBER 20
TECHART
Learn how to make your headlights intense STEP 1 We will learn how to add speeding flash lights to our vehicles. Here we have used an image of a Ferrari. To add the speed lights choose an image that looks like it is in motion.
An image like this cannot be used
STEP 2 Using the pen tool, cut out the car and copy it to a new layer. You can name the layer as ‘Car cut out’. To show pace, erase the back portion of the car.
Pen tool to be used similarly
STEP 3 Add a black layer below the ‘Car cut out’ layer. Then name it ‘Black Background’. We have used a bigger eraser for deleting a portion of the car. As shown in the image below.
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STEP 4 Above the car layer, insert an image of flames (as shown in the image). Name this image as ‘Light Rays’. Change the layer mode to ‘Screen’.
STEP 5 Select ‘Light Rays’ layer and go to Filter>Blur>Motion Blur. Alter the angle to the the perspective of the car. Change the distance to anything above 750 pixels.
STEP 6 Duplicate the ‘Light Rays’ layer and change the layer style to ‘Linear Dodge’. It will give you more refined and strong light rays. Erase the ‘Light Rays’ as per your need to achieve similar results Just above the ‘Car cut out’ layer, add a new black filled layer. Change the layer style to ‘Screen’, this will help you see the layer beneath. Then add the lense flare to the headlights by Filter>Render>Lens. Duplicate it to the other headlight too.
FINAL IMAGE Adjust colour tint to a higher contrast. You can use the ‘Hue saturation’ effect to achieve different tints of various shades. You can see the difference in the alloy wheels and the glass. It will turn to tint as per your adjustments. Experiment further to achieve better results.
NOVEMBER 2012 / 51
APPS
APPSOLUTELY
MUSICAL
Enjoy the sound of music with the melodious apps
Apps for iPhone MY MIXTAPEZ
(Free) Pocket your favourite music and take it with you wherever you go. Stream, search, rate and download music at your convenience
SLACKER RADIO
(Free) Listen to free personalised radio on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Slacker Radio features more personalised content than any other radio service, with music, ESPN Radio and much more
DJAY
(USD0.99) Djay transforms your iPhone into a fully fledged portable DJ system and seamlessly integrates with your music library, giving direct access to your favourite tracks
KARAOKE ANYWHERE
(Free) Karaoke Anywhere is the world’s first and only fully featured karaoke application with a streaming library of over 14000 songs
APPS FOR ANDROID SOUNDHOUND
SPOTIFY
ULTIMATE GUITAR TABS
PANDORA
AUTORAP
BBM MUSIC
(Free) Identifies tunes playing from a speaker in as little as four seconds. Viable for singing and humming recognition
(USD2.99) An easy and convenient application for viewing guitar tabs by just entering artists or song names
(Free) AutoRap turns speech to rap and also corrects bad rapping
SONGIFY
(Free) By just speaking into your phone, this app turns speech into music automatically
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Apps for Blackberry (Free) Spotify is a clever little app that gives you instant access to millions and millions of songs on your BlackBerry phone (Free) Pandora is a radio that is personalised just for you. Simply enter one of your favorite songs or artists and Pandora creates a radio station that explores just that kind of music (Free) BBM Music makes your music collection social. With BBM Music, you can create a music profile of your favourite songs that all your BBM Music friends can listen to
SHAZAM
(Free) With Shazam you can identify what song is playing and you can purchase the track
55 years of Manufacturing Excellence
This new Tokina lens is the first in a new generation of full frame (FX) lenses designed for professional digital SLR cameras like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Nikon D700 and D3x. The 16-28 zoom range gives the professional photographer a super-wide angle of view to get close to subject for dramatic effect or to take in entire scenes
www.tokinalens.com
MOVIEZONE
N
o amount of James Bond movies will ever be enough and so director Sam Mendes of American Beauty fame stepped up and created Skyfall. For those of you who don’t already know, Skyfall is the 23rd official James Bond movie. In this James Bond journey, Bond’s loyalty to his boss, M, is put to test. After an operation in Istanbul ends in disaster, agent 007 is presumed dead and goes into hiding following which the identities of every active undercover MI6 agent are leaked on the internet. Consequently, questions are raised over M’s ability to run the Secret Service and she becomes the subject of a government evaluation over
her response to the situation. When MI6 comes under attack, Bond’s unexpected return gives M the ploy she needs to seek out Raoul Silva, a dangerous villain claiming a personal connection to both of them. As her past comes back to haunt her, Bond must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost. As expected, standard Bond escapades follow. Daniel Craig undoubtedly makes an impressive Bond as he has proven in his last two 007 appearances (Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace). The cast of Skyfall calls for more excitement than any Bond film ever and promises to deliver an action-packed adventure.
Director: Sam Mendes Genre: Action, Thriller Cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris
DVD Releases 6 November
6 November
9 November
27 November
Fire with Fire
Trishna
The Amazing Spiderman
Step Up Revolution
Suspense, Action
Drama
Adventure, Action, Drama
Teen Drama
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Tick the correct answer and send in your entries for a chance to win
FAX TO 24693569
1 This application that allows people to share music via internet was acquired by Roxio
A
B
C
3 Which of these cars have the motto ‘A new standard of the world’?
A
B
C
Please send us your entries by November 25 for a chance to win a Panasonic DVD player Previous quiz answers: 1 – (a) 2 – (b) 3 – (c) 4 – (c)
Last month’s winner:
Themiz M A
Step into our world
2 Which of the following is a web browser?
A
B
C
4 The video game console manufactured by Microsoft is
A
B
C
Name ______________________________________ Age ______ Mobile ___________________________ Email _______________________________________ Occupation __________________________________ Company ____________________________________
Employees and family members of Deenar Press and Publishing 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.
FAVOURITES
N New
LG 60PA6500 This is a 60-inch,2Megapixels,full HD,USB port movie play(DIVX HD),600Hz subfield,razor frame,3 HDMI AND PC input PenTouch Plasma HD Ready TV with 600Hz Tru Motion flow
RO600
U Updated
3d TVs
Sony KLV46BX450 46-inch 2MP, full-HD 52-inch TV with 2 HDMI inputs, 1 USB port and PIP. Eco sensor and FM radio, bravia engine 3
LG 72LM9500 3D LED 72-inch Smart TV, full HD, four HDMI/ PC input, USB port, energy saving mode, Ethernet, magic remote, smart share
RO4,199
N
Sony KDL46HX750
RO550 Sony KDL65HX920 65-inch full LED 3D TV, 2 MP, full HD, 800Hz motion flow, 2 USB port, 4HDMI
RO2,500
1MP, HD Ready, 32-inch LCD TV with 3 HDMI/PC inputs. It features Surround Sound and an OPC sensor. It sports a USB port
RO100
Samsung UA46ES8000 3D LED smart TV 46-inch screen, full HD, 2 MP, 400Hz, 2 USB port, Internet TV, 3 HDMI
N
Sharp LC-46LE830M
3D LED smart TV 40-inch screen, full HD, 2MP, 400Hz, 2 USB port, Internet TV, 3 HDMI
3D Plasma 32-inch screen, 400Hz, 2MP, 3 HDMI system, 3 USB port, web browser
RO410
46-inch LED, full HD TV. 2 HDMI inputs, Eco mode, 200Hz, USB port play movie
RO339 Panasonic TH-L32E3R 32-inch 3D Plasma, full HD, 2MP, SD card slot, 3 HDMI INPUT and 600Hz sub-field drive, pc input
RO649 Samsung UA32ES6200
Samsung UA46EH5000R
RO950
3D LED 46-inch screen, full HD, 2MP, 2D to 3D Converter, Wi-Fi, 4 HDMI/ PC inputs, 3 USB ports
Samsung UA40ES6200
RO300
Sharp LC32M400M
46-inch 3D dynamic LED tv, 2MP, full HD, 2 USB port, 2D-3D Converter, 4HDMI
N
Flat-Panel Displays
RO160
Samsung UA55ES8000 55-inch 3D LED TV, 2MP full HD 3D, smart interaction, dual core processor, built in camera
RO250
Samsung PS51E450A1R 51-inch, 1MP, HD ready, It sports two HDMI/PC input, and USB port, clear image panel, real black, 600Hz motion
RO1,400
RO280 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
Players Sony DVD-E290
LG DM-5620
Samsung HT-E6750K
LG HB966TRN
Blu-ray 3D home theatre, DVD, VCD, MP3, 100 Watts, USB input
4200W PMPO/DVD,CD,MP3 PLAYBACK,usb play playback,cassete play back, FM radio.
3D Blu-ray home theatre system,7.1 channel,2D-3D CONVERTER, 1339W RMS, All share play, built-in wireless, Blu-ray, DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and CD-R, USB port play movie
1000 w RMS, DVD, VCD, CD, MP3, USB play
N
RO132
56 / TECH
RO90
U
RO400
N
RO400
Netbooks, Portables
laptops HP Pavilion G6-2080
Amazon Fire
Intel Core i5 2450M processor, 2.5GHz, 6GB RAM, 1GB VRAM, 750GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED
Seven-inch multi-touch display with In-Plane Switching (IPS); 8GB internal memory; free cloud storage; Wi-Fi; 7.5 hours of battery life
RO320
N
RO100
Toshiba Portégé Z830-A167
Acer Aspire S5 Intel Core i5-3317U,4GB DDR3,128 GB SSD,Intel HD Graphics4000,wireless bluetooth
RO525
Samsung GT- N8000
Intel ULV Core i5 2467M processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, 13.3-inch HD screen, 1.3MP web camera
Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core processor, Google Android 4.0, 16GB memory upto 32 GB, 1GHz processor with 3G, 10.1-inch WXGA touchscreen, Wi-Fi, 5MP camera
RO260
RO459
Asus UX31E
Apple iPad 3
Intel Core i5 ,630QM processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, 15.6-inch LED HD screen
32GB, 9.7-inch LED backlit screen, 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor, Wi-Fi and 3G, 2 cameras
RO600
U
HP DM4-3098 Intel Core i5-3317U, 1.7GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB SSD, 14-inch HD screen, wireless, bluetooth N
RO525
Samsung 550P5CS02
Apple iPad 3 Wi-Fi + 4G
Intel Core i7-3610QM, 2.3GHz CPU speed, 8GB RAM,1TB HDD, 2GB NVIDIA GT650M VRAM
32GB, 9.7-inch LED backlit multi-touch display with IPS technology, dual-core Apple A5X processor, Wi-Fi and 4G, 5MP iSight camera
RO470
Lenovo Z570
U
Intel Core i3 2,630M processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 750GB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 15.6-inch LED HD screen
Sony SEV15115B
Intel Core i7 3317U processor, 1.9 GHz CPU speed, 8GBDDR3 RAM, 500GB HDD, 14-inch HD WLED screen
Intel core 13-23750M, 2.40GHz CPU speed,4GB DDR3 RAM,500 GB HDD,INTEL HD Graphics 3000(1GB), 3 in 1 card reader
RO425
BlackBerry PlayBook
RO100
Samsung XE700T1A
Asus Transformer TF101G
Intel Core i5 2467M processor, 1.6GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 64GB SSD, Intel HD graphics
RO280
1GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 3G, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 16GB internal memory, 10.1inch LCD screen, 5MP front camera, 1.2MP rear camera
RO300
RO525
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.
computer accessories HP TopShot
Linksys X2000
Philips SHM1900
Laser Jet printer, Print, scan and copy features, resolution of 2,400, 17ppm (pages per minute) black, 4ppm colour, air print, Wireless network
Directly connects to the Internet, provides wireless coverage without the need for a separate DSL modem
Stereo PC headset with in-line volume control, adjustable microphone, lightweight, great acoustics
RO165
RO340
64GB, 1GHz dual-core processor, seveninch LCD screen, 1GB RAM, dual cameras – 5MP rear and 3MP front
RO260 Dell S423INS-0347
RO280
RO37
RO9
WD My Book Essential 1TB, USB 3.0 and 2.0 compatible interface, WD SmartWare visual backup software, automatic, continuous backup
RO42
NOVEMBER 2012 / 57
camcorders
digital still cameras Panasonic DMC-TZ30
Sony HDR-CX760E
35mm ultra wide-angle 20x optical zoom ,LEICA DC lens,full HD movie,3D, three-inch LCD,stabilizer
RO174 Sony TX200V
8.9MP CMOS sensor, 30x optical zoom, three-inch wide touchscreen, built-in GPS, optical graphic stabilisation
Samsung WB850F 16.2MP; 21x optical zoom;23mm wide angle, three-inch LCD screen, GPS
18.2MP, 10x optical zoom camera, 2.7-inch LCD, HD video recording, CMOS sensor, Optical SteadyShot
RO530 Sony HDR-XR260 8.9MP, Pixel Super Resolution technology, three-inch Clear Photo LCD, BIONZ processor, Optical SteadyShot stabilisation
RO150
RO215
RO265
Olympus E-PMI Three-inch LCD screen, 12MP, 36x optical zoom, 25 AF point, full HD movie, 12-50mm lens
RO370 Canon IXUS 500
JVC Camera GZ-EX255 SD/SDHC/SDXC Card Slot/Built-in Memory 16GB/1920 x 1080/50P Output/ Wi-Fi Wireless Functions Built-in LED
Fujifilm HS30 16MP, 30x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, CMOS sensor, panoramic view N
10.1MP CMOS and DIGIC 5, 12x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, Intelligent IS, High-speed shooting
RO170
RO215
Samsung HMX-Q20 20x optical zoom, 5.3Megapixel, 3-inch LCD screen, HD movie,2hours 30minutes Battery ,smart auto
RO140
RO100
Canon SX 260
Samsung WB150F
12 Megapixels,20x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, smart auto,full HD movies, 25mm wide angle
Panasonic SDR-HC-V10
24mm ultra-wide lens, 18x optical zoom, 14.2MP, 720p HD video, 3-inch LCD
70x enhanced optical zoom, , 2.7-inch LCD screen, Hdmovie,31.6mm wide lens,smart auto
RO150
RO100
RO127 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.
dsLRs Canon EOS-600D
Olympus E-PM1
18MP sensor, 3.7fps shooting, 3-inch LCD, nine Auto-Focus points, full HD movie, Live View feature
12MP sensor, 5fps, 35-point autofocus, three-inch LCD screen, Full HD movie, 3D mode
RO475
58 / TECH
RO370
Sony Mirrorless cam NEX-7 24.3MP/FPS,3-inch lcd screen,steady shoot,full HD movie,exmor sensor,18-55 lens
RO550
Nikon D3200 24.2MP,4fps,3-inch LCD screen,11 AF point ,Full HD Movie,Live View,18-55mm Lens
RO380
ipod docks
PHONES BlackBerry Curve 9360
Samsung Galaxy Note2
2.44-inch TFT screen, 5MP camera with LED flash, BlackBerry OS v7.0
android os4, 16GB storage upto 64GB, 8MP camera, auto focus, 3G, GPS, 1.9MP
U
RO105
N
4.3-inch super AMOLED Plus display, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), 8MP camera with LED flash
AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 8MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, 16GB storage
RO200
Apple iPhone 5
Motorola ATRIX-2
Ios 6, dual core, 8MP camera, 1.2MP secondary camera, nano sim card, 16GB storage
4.3-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 8MP camera; Android OS (Gingerbread)
RO419
RO170
LG Optimus L7 P705
Sony Ericsson Xperia S
4.3-inch LCD touchscreen, 5MP camera, 4GB Storage upto 32GB, 1GHz processor
Android Gingerbread smartphone; 12MP camera, 4.3-inch HD screen, 32GB memory
RO135
8GB, dual camera, video, photo view, MP3 music, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, clock, calendar, YouTube, newsstand, mail
RO85
RO35 Bose Sound Dock-10 iPod and iPhone dock, recharge and play, remote control, audio input
RO279 Bose SoundLink Works wirelessly with iPhone, Android, Blackberry, tablet or laptop, 30-foot wireless range
RO155 Panasonic SC HC35 iPod/ iPhone dock station, USB, AUX in
RO50
RO230
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.
mp3 players Apple iPod Touch 5G
RO50 Handy speakerphone with built-in mic; backlit, touch panel controls; specially designed acoustic chamber
Nokia N9
N
Bluetooth, FM radio, AUX in, 20w RMS
Logitech Mini Boombox
Samsung Galaxy SIII
RO240
U
RO270
Philips Android Version
Sony NWZ-W262
Philips S44BE16KF
iPOD Nano touch
2GB, 8 hours of battery life, water resistant, 3 minutes charge for 60 minutes playback, light weight and comfortable
8GB MP4 player, supports MP3, WAV, and WMA playback, FM radio and FM recording, five hours battery support
8GB memory, Voice recording, MP3 and WMA playback, FM radio, touch screen, light weight
RO37
RO40
RO63
GETS YOU A SPOT HERE NOVEMBER 2012 / 59
REFRIGERATORS
air conditioners & air purifiers Panasonic CSK-18NKF
LG T186RC
Panasonic NRB3455
Two-tonne unit; incorporates ECONAVI technology, Advance+ e-ion monitors changes in the degree of air cleanliness; features autocomfort
1.5-tonne split air-conditioner with virus and allergy-safe filter; four-way swing and jet cool feature; employs multistage tropical compressor
300L capacity, double ledoor, glass shelves
N
RO200
LG RB7122YVS
RO225 Sharp FU-P60S
U
710L capacity, frost-free, double-door refrigerator, tempered glass shelves, digital display, deodoriser, water dispenser
RO285
RO309
Samsung AS18ES
Air purifier, washable HEPA filter, activated carbon filter, Plasmacluster technology that creates environment very close to that found in nature
RO90
Window AC 1.5 Ton capacity, slim design, powerful output
Air purifier that works within 20sqm; sports a modern, elegant design; comes with washable carbon filter, easy filterchange system; touch control panel
RO220
N
Hitachi RAS-18CPX
RO275
Sharp SJSC-53VSL3 492L capacity, frost-free, double-door refrigerator, adjustable wired shelves, Plasmacluster Ion
RO193
RO263
Toshiba RAS-18
Whirlpool WTM720S
1.5-tonne split-type wall-mounted air conditioner, Self cleaning function, automatic 3mins safety control
RO179
720L capacity, frost-free, multi air flow, tempered glass shelves
RO265
RO222
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.
WASHING MACHINES
9kg capacity, 1,400rpm, air bubble wash, child lock, delay start, direct drive motor
600L capacity, deodorizer, LED lighting, adjustable glass shelves, full refrigerator option, freezer off, frost free
Split air-conditioner with Green Fin condenser, durable thanks to green rustresistant coating, employs Nano Titanium technology in its stainless steel filters
LG PS- N55 OWPS
Daewoo DWC - 141KC
Samsung RT-60
Hoover DYN10144DP
LG WD1443KDS
Samsung WF0804
10kg capacity, 1,400rpm, ten wash programmes, child lock, super-silent, direct drive motor, energy savings, wash time control
11kg capacity, 15 wash programmes, 1,400rpm, steam wash, quick wash, language selection, six motion washer, allergy care
8kg capacity, 1,400rpm, 14 wash programmes, delay end, Eco Bubble wash function, quick wash, child lock, diamond drum, time delay, durable ceramic heater
RO210
RO320
RO400
RO215
MASTERPIECE
GREAT PRICE
MAX ELECTRONICS LLC - OMAN SEEB - MUSCAT CITY CENTRE (LEVEL 1) TEL: +968 24558062 FAX: +968 24558063 EMAIL: mem.cs@cplmg.com SOHAR - CENTREPOINT MALL TEL: +968 97666631 FAX: +968 26844610 SALALAH - CENTREPOINT MALL TEL: +968 94122251, FAX: +968 23289261 BAHRAIN OMAN SAUDI ARABIA QATAR UAE
60 / TECH
VACUUM CLEANERS
microwaves & ovens
Philips FC-8146
Daewoo KOC-9N8T
Samsung CE-107V 28L multi-function microwave oven with interiors finished with Ceramic Inside coating, easy to clean, Triple Distribution System heats food deeply and equally
RO65
29L microwave oven with stainless-steel housing, 900W output power, convection/grill function, delivers 850W grill power, ten power levels, five auto cook menus
RO63
1800W vacuum cleaner, bagless, HEPA washable filter, 300W suction power, dust container-full indicator
RO49
Panasonic NN-C784MF
Panasonic MC-CG713
28L oven capacity, microwave with oven and grill, feather touch control, auto defrosts by weight, recipe store
2000W standard vacuum cleaner, 6L dust bag capacity, HEPA and anti-bacteria filter, metal wand, slide power control, 5m cable
RO46
Midea EM820LMP 20L capacity, 800W microwave oven with 11 power levels, child safety lock, with defrost settings, six auto menus, sports a fashionable design
Samsung SC56B0
RO105
2000W vacuum cleaner, 3.5L dust capacity, Foam pre-motor filter, micro exhaust filter, silver nano system, power slider on handle
RO23
RO24 LG MC8088FRR 30L convection microwave oven, features over 100 Auto Cook menus, sports a motorised rotisserie, comes with Steam Clean and Defrost functions
RO90
Karcher VC 5200 Dry vacuum cleaner, 3.3L dust bag capacity, 1800W input power, indicator for full bag, HEPA 12 filter
Sharp AX1100SLM
Sharp R200 22L microwave oven with 800W microwave power, five one-touch instant action menus, three easy defrost menus, four-digit LCD, five power levels
27L microwave oven with stainless-steel housing, 900W output power, steam oven with microwave and grill, 26 automatic programmes, LCD display
RO29
RO77 LG VCA241HT 1400W bagless vacuum cleaner, 0.8L dust capacity, washable HEPA filter, innovative Cyclone System technology
RO160
RO33 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.
DOMESTIC APPLIANCES Krups EA8255K1
Philips HD9220
Kenwood KM400
Tefal TFAH9000
Espresso, Cappuccino and Coffee maker, compact Thermoblock system, metal drip tray, steam function, automatic cleaning
2.2L capacity, oil-free frying using Rapid Air technology, food separators, integrated timer, 1425W power
750W power kitchen machine, 4.6L bowl capacity, three coated bowl tools – a beater, whisk and dough hook, six speeds
1400W power, ceramic coating, digital display, one spoon of oil for 1kg of crispy chips
RO285
RO100
RO171
RO105
Think TABLETS Think EMAX MAX ELECTRONICS LLC - OMAN SEEB - MUSCAT CITY CENTRE (LEVEL 1) TEL: +968 24558062 FAX: +968 24558063 EMAIL: mem.cs@cplmg.com SOHAR - CENTREPOINT MALL TEL: +968 97666631 FAX: +968 26844610 SALALAH - CENTREPOINT MALL TEL: +968 94122251, FAX: +968 23289261 BAHRAIN OMAN SAUDI ARABIA QATAR UAE
NOVEMBER 2012 / 61
top 5 games
gaming consoles & accessories PS VITA
Jagged Alliance
Has front and rear camera, cross control play, motion sensor
PUBLISHER: SIR-TECH SOFTWARE INC. DEVELOPER: MADLAB SOFTWARE PLATFORM (S): PC GENRE: TACTILE ROLE-PLAYING GAME ESRB RATING: TEEN
U
RO131
Nintendo 3DS Built-in 3D Depth Slider to adjust intensity of 3D, built-in motion and gyro sensor
RO94
Logitech Z506 Delivers 500W of pure power to recreate perfect theatre-quality audio experience
RO38
Logitech G13 GamePanel LCD keeps you informed of game stats, programmable G-keys
Racing wheels and flight controllers simulate realism, Force feedback feature
RO140 Xbox 360 Kinect 250GB
inFamous PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT DEVELOPER: SUCKER PUNCH PRODUCTIONS PLATFORM (S): PS3 GENRE: ACTION-ADVENTURE ESRB RATING: TEEN
RO9
MOTOR STORM
RO37 Logitech G27
RO19
Turtle Beach Gaming headset, Inline amplifier, separate connecter for mic and pc lines
RO22
Integrated internal memory of 250GB, built-in WiFi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n), 5.1 channel surround sound
PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT DEVELOPER: EVOLUTION STUDIOS PLATFORM (S): PS3 GENRE: SINGLE-PLAYER ESRB RATING: TEEN
RO9
MAG PUBLISHER: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT DEVELOPER: ZIPPER INTERACTIVE PLATFORM (S): PS3 GENRE: FIRST PERSON SHOOTER ESRB RATING: TEEN
RO9
RO190 Dark souls PS3 320GB + Move Bundle
Nintendo Wii Sports Pack
Broken into three parts: the ‘Motion Controller’, the ‘Navigation Controller’ and the ‘PlayStation Eye Camera’
Fun activities with more than 18 sports to try, ranging from water sports like canoeing to ball games like basketball
U
RO140
U
RO76
Logitech Steering Wheel Playstation 3 and PC compatibility
RO70
PUBLISHER: NAMCO BANDAI GAMES DEVELOPER: FROM SOFTWARE PLATFORM(S): PS3 GENRE: ACTION ROLE-PLAYING, OPEN WORLD ESRB RATING: MATURE
RO18
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.
TECH DIRECTORY Company
BRANDS
Showroom
Service Dept.
Bahwan Electronics
Asset, Carrier, Ignis, Napro, Toshiba, Seiko, Casio, Titan, Sony Ericsson, Tempstar, Cooline, Corning, Print electronics, Dolphin, Benq, Ausonia, Daewoo, VIP, Dometic, Corby
Ruwi 24796629
Emax
Multibrand
MCC 24558062
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, DitoElectrolux, Metro, Taylor, Costan
Qurum 24568806, Muttrah 24713138, Ruwi 24830919, Seeb 24422797, Shatti al Qurum 24693292
24503653
Al Gurg Home Appliances - Better Life
Terim, Fisher & Paykel, SMEG, Vestfrost, Wolf Power, Grundig
24811608
24810404
HiTec Centre
Boston Acoustics, Denon, Leica, Polk Audio
Azaiba 24497384
24497384
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
24814815
Al Khalili Technology
Fujitsu, Siemen, Coral Telecom, Honeywell, Epson, Camtron, Pyronix, SD3, Tripp-lite, Cummins, Schneider Electric, Sanyo, Sakar, Sterline, Sonicwall
24616900
24816303
Moayyed Integrated Enterprises
Daewoo Electronics
24488795
24488795
Muscat Electronics
Daikin, Wansa, Ricoh, Chigo, Media, G-Hanz, Sony Professional Products
Ruwi 24702985, Sohar 26845647, Salalah 23291617
24813408
Mustafa Sultan Electronics (MSE)
Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool, Haas, Universal, Westpoint, Urania, ROYXON
Al Khuwair 24636015
24818018
Oman International Electronics & Trading
Bose, NEC, JVC, Nakamichi, SONOS
Qurum 24565490 Connexions 24558529
24830606
Oman Modern Electronics
Sharp, OMEC
HO 24706004, Ruwi 24832891, Sohar 26840763, Sur 25544613, Salalah 23291405
24704494
OMASCO
Panasonic, Yamaha, Stanley, Black and Decker, GE, Aftron, Xper, Raymond Weil, Kolber, Westend, Westar, Alba, Maxima, HMT
Qurum 24564310, Ruwi 24833630
24560232
OMASCO - System Solutions
Panasonic
24565696
24565696
Oman Trading Establishment
LG, Bosch, White Westinghouse
Wadi Kabir 24811572, Al Khuwair 24479448, Ruwi 24831544, Ruwi MBC 24834162, Al Araimi 24561480, Seeb 24420570, Nizwa 25412216, Sur 25545107, Bani Bu Ali 25553387, Salalah 23295237, Sohar 26842397
24810522 / 24810156, 80075545
Photocentre
Fujifilm, Olympus, Hasselblad, Sigma, Manfrotto, Qurum 24565305, Al Lowepro, EPSON, Mitsubishi Electric, STEINER, Khuwair 24479296 Broncolor, Hama, Amano
24571708
SARCO
Samsung, Technoflame
Ruwi 24593025
24593025
Shah Nagardas Manji
Kodak, Yashica, Cokin, Case Logic, Lexar, Noritsu, Durst, Bushnell, Eiki, Iriver, Steiner, Tasco, White Westinghouse, Igloo, Venus, Russel Hobbs, Addis, Noritake, Ocean, Wenger
Ruwi 24562656, Lulu Bausher 24593806, Nizwa 25410184
Technical Trading
Westinghouse
Ruwi 24703515, Fax 24700010
If you would like to be listed, email: tech@deenarmedia.com
24501965