WEEK 16, APRIL 17 - 23, 2013
AN AL ROYA PRESENTATION
OMAN’S FAVOURITE MAGAZINE, NOW A TABLOID
TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM
Enhanced mobility
Samsung’s convertible Smart PC
Redefining Cinema Phantom Flex, the ultimate imaging champion
All-electric masterwork
Renault Twin’Z concept
Impeccable timepiece
Parmigiani’s rare masterpiece
Issue
40
Home Screen
Bad technology The speed at which technology evolves has never been faster, but every once in a while there’s a gadget or piece of software that just never seems to get any better. It’s permanently stuck behind the curve. And what’s worse is that it never seems to go away either.
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Deenar Press and Publishing LLC PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman Tel: + 968 24696868, Fax: +968 24693569 E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com
Printed at Ruwi Modern Printers
2013 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible if factual errors in product and pricing occur. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time. The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this issue. Please check any quoted hardware specifications and pricing with your supplier before purchase.
Microsoft has improved the popular Web browser of late, but that has not helped the millions of blissfully unaware Web users from lumbering on with the earlier version. We don’t understand why many small businesses run it in full glory. The problem is, Internet Explorer six is a common target for malware purveyors and hackers. More modern browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are faster and more secure. Then you have 3D phones; its screen technology isn’t that convincing. You can create a sales demo or a presentation in 3D, but make sure you hand out some painkillers to those viewing the screen
before you start. 3D is more convincing when the movie is running at a large enough size for our brains to perceive the effect. Experts have been telling us to use trackballs for years now. They think your hand rests in a comfortable position and your wrists move less frequently. But what they don’t see is that a mouse jumps erratically. It also is less precise for clicking web links. Film and cinematography has evolved fast and it is best to credit the technology behind it. This week, we feature a highdefinition cinema camera, the Phantom Flex. Samsung shows off a brilliant ultrabook that coverts into a tablet. We add Apple products to our TECH Selection pages and recommend a handy product from Panasonic. If you love DJ consoles, you will enjoy reading our audio zone segment, which features an over-the-top, pro multi player and 4-channel DJ mixer.
order now! Get 52 issues of TECH WEEKLY delivered to your post box for just RO4 against postage and handling charges. For more information email us on tech@deenarmedia.com
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4
news WEEK 16, APRIL 17 - 23, 2013
Galaxy Note 8.0 hits US US – The week before last the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 went on sale in the U.K. Fans were glad to know the WiFi only version of Samsung’s latest tablet was made available on Thursday, April 11th at major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, TigerDirect.com and so on. The Galaxy Note 8.0 will be Samsung’s first device with their Samsung WatchON software that makes it easier to channel surf both live TV and streaming video sources. The tablet also comes with a built-in IR blaster, meaning the tablet can be used as a remote control.
Patent wars continue
On Monday, April 8 we heard rumors that Google may be looking to purchase the popular messaging app WhatsApp. According to WhatsApp’s business guy Neeraj Arora of sales, talks with Google are not being held. Arora says that they have no plans, or even discussions, at this time about Google buying WhatsApp for approximately USD1 billion. Other than denying the rumors, Arora provided no other information. This week, CEO Jan Koum of WhatsApp will speak at a conference in New York City. Hopefully the future direction and plans of the company in light of these recent rumors as well as last December’s rumored buyout by Facebook will be addressed.
Redesigned Google Play Store now available The new version of the Play Store that leaked last month is now official. Google didn’t specify the version, but the overall look is identical to its new card-based theme. Google is touting the redesign as a simple and clean interface that helps you find great entertainment quickly. We have become a visual world, and so images and icons are much bigger and purchasing is now simplified so we can enjoy those apps, magazines, or movie rentals in quick fashion.
Apple and Samsung are still going at it. On the road to innovation and market domination, Samsung has managed to infringe on a piece of an Apple patent. While they skirted the line on an infringement dealing with autodetection of microphones or other devices plugged into its handset’s microphone jacks, an International Trade Commission (ITC) judge has found Samsung guilty of crossing
the line with one of their other ‘innovations.’ The decision, issued back on March 26, was released on Thursday, April 4 and revealed that Samsung’s ‘text-select’ feature on its smartphones and tablets is in fact an infringement. Although the decision is not final, the full commission is expected to make a final decision sometime in August.
ASUS MeMo Pad released in the US If you’ve been looking for a tablet to fit into a low budget, ASUS might be a good option. The MeMo Pad, a 7-inch Jelly Bean powered tablet that is similar to the Nexus 7, was announced in January, and you can finally get your hands on one for just USD149 (RO52). It only has a 1,024x600 display and 1 GHz singlecore processor, but is cheap. It won’t beat the Nexus 7 anywhere in terms of specs, aside from the micro SD card slot, but it does beat the Nexus 7 in price. And, you can even get it in four different colors, which is a plus point for some customers.
WhatsApp says no deal with Google
The officially announced redesigned Google Play Store from earlier, and the APK is already available to download for manual updating. Well that didn’t tale long did it? All phones and tablets with Android 2.2 or higher will get the new update over-the-air, but unfortunately, it will take roughly 3 weeks to hit every device.
Street View to Time-Lapse
Hyper lapse videos are a variation of traditional time lapse filmmaking in which the camera travels while also panning, rotating and tilting. The effect can be striking or dizzying. Under normal circumstances, coordinating all that action and turning it into a film is exceedingly complex and time consuming. A Toronto design studio, Teehan & Lax, has developed an online, no-cost system that creates hyper lapse films using images from Google Street View. The software is available now as an opensource download, mainly for developers and other sophisticated users and a simplified online version that does not require any technical knowledge on the part of users was also posted recently.
POLL Which is your favourite TV? (LCD/LED/Plasma)
Seen by
5,422 people
as of 12pm, April 13 197 voters
9.64%
LG Panasonic
6.60%
Samsung
44.67%
Sony Others
Next Week’s Question
35.03% 3.55%
JVC, Philips, Sanyo, Sharp, Toshiba
Which is your favourite brand of still camera? Poll closes every Saturday 12pm of the previous week. To participate log on to facebook.com/techoman
MOBILEZONE TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM
Zuckerberg says that Home revolves around people rather than the app itself
launcher
F
acebook has finally spoken about the much-rumored phone, revealing a launcher for Android that takes Facebook integration to a whole new level, as well as a phone with the new software preloaded the HTC First.
5
“Today, we’re finally going to talk about that Facebook phone,” joked Zuckerberg as he took to the stage at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California. The application, available for download
from April 12th, is a launcher that changes the way that users interact with their Android-based phone, rather than a totally new operating system. The HTC first will launch in the US on April 12th on AT&T. Zuckerberg also confirmed that it will launch on
Orange and EE in Europe in a couple of months. Zuckerberg said that Home has been designed to fundamentally redress the way that people interact with modern computing devices. “For the past 30 years or so, computing has revolved around applications,” he said. “You would turn on your computer, open the application you need to use, and then close it when you’re finished.” “What would it feel like if our phones were designed around people rather than around applications,” he asked. According to Zuckerberg, Home has been designed from the ground up to make people the center of using mobiles. The launcher runs on top of Android and below applications, meaning that you can run all your normal Androidbased apps onto of Home. This is crucial to the approach that Facebook took according to Zuckerberg. He hinted that the company had considered a Facebook phone, stating that Facebook didn’t want to limit this experience to a small part of the market.
Apps this week 1
2
The Room
(USD2.29) Solve puzzles with a box in a dingy room where every noise has your spine tingling, while having only mysterious letters for company Platform: iOS, Android
4
We feature our favourite and most popular apps of the week 3
Magic Shutter
Urban Spoon
Craving night time shots of streaming lights in cities that are all lit up? Set up a long shutter speed in your camera now, something previously not possible Platform: iOS
Feed your location, choose the cuisine, set the budget and within seconds find dining options and reviews available Platform: Windows Phone, iOS, Android
(USD3.05)
5
(Free)
6
Foursquare
GroupShot
One Tap Hero
Check into the locations you visit to find friends near you, discover new places, and know of all the insider secrets Platform: Blackberry, Android, Windows Phone, iOS
Although the resolution is low the concept of perfecting your group shots by replacing that one blinking or yawning person produces amazing results Platform: iOS
Navigate a cute auto-runner through 100 levels of gaming and get addicted to the context dependant action, despite all the countless squishing and impaling Platform: iOS
(Free)
7
(USD1.06)
8
Pictures Lab (USD3.05)
After tweaking, the processing speed of effects is brought down to two seconds from five. face detection, steady mode and much more Platform: Windows Phone
(USD1.06)
9
The Moogies
Bastion
Nine farmyard animals and a parrot talk back to you in a babble-like language and high pitched voices to keep children entranced and the parents sane Platform: iOS
A breathtaking action-RPG that involves rebuilding a fallen wonderland by collecting crystal cores while navigating an original, dramatic plot Platform: iOS
(USD1.06)
(USD1.06)
6
COMPUTING WEEK 16, APRIL 17 - 23, 2013
Crossover
Display: 11.6-inch, 1920x1080p, capacitive, multi-touch LCD
ultrabook A convertible that has the better of two worlds, ultrabook and tablet
W
indows 8 needs touchscreen ultrabooks to shine, as it’s designed to give you the power of a PC with the convenience of a tablet. You need to be able to drag apps side by side and swipe through web pages with your finger. You also need to have a keyboard and track pad for desktop applications. Making that work needs the right hardware, but Microsoft isn’t the one to have the only credible Windows 8 tablet on the market. Samsung certainly has experience in the tablet market and not just with the Galaxy Tab 10.1. The Samsung Series 7 Slate PC was the best Windows 7 tablet available.
Built-in storage: 256GB
Processor: Intel Core i5
Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, USB 3.0, HDMI
System memory: 4096MB RAM
Dimensions: 304x189x12mm
Storage expansion: micro SD, micro SDHC
Weight: 888g
Camera: 5MP rear, 2MP front-facing
OS: Windows 8
Likability of the Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro depends on how much you want a Windows 8 tablet, how much you want an Ultrabook and how much you want something that’s a compromise between the two. The Samsung Ativ Smart PC Pro is bigger and is a far better compromise because the keyboard turns it into something much more familiar. You get a fully functional Windows 8 tablet, with pen and touch, with reasonable but not outstanding battery life. You can write on the screen or hold the screen in both hands and use the thumb keyboard, you can sit back and swipe through web pages or play games and watch videos. And when you need a notebook you can snap on the keyboard and type away as if you were doing the balancing act. Although it is slightly heavy for a laptop, as a tablet, it is great. With an excellent screen that’s powerful, well balanced in your hands and very responsive to touch.
Samsung ATIV Smart PC Pro
RO470 at SARCO
WEBZONE
Like it? Pin it L
isted by Time Magazine in the article ‘50 best websites of 2011’, Pinterest has a place for you, no matter what you’re interested in. The founder, Ben Silbermann meshed his childhood passion of collecting things with his engineering skills to produce an infinite inspiration bank. DIY and crafts, geek, humour, photography, quotes and weddings are just some of the many categories available. It begins with adding a video or an image, a pin to your board, where all the pins are organised. If you are planning a surprise birthday party, pin ideas for it on your Parties board, which can be made public or secret. There are unlimited options for exploring boards and pins of other people and if one catches your fancy, you can follow them. If you’ve found the perfect strawberry and cream crepe recipe, pin it for the weekend.
A tool for collecting and organising things you love
COVER STORY TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM
7
Phantom unveiled This incredible digital cinema camera takes staggering slow-motion footage
C
inematographers are in for a treat; this week, we feature the Phantom Flex, a state-of-the-art digital cinema camera. Based on Phantom imaging technology, the Flex camera extends the legacy of the Phantom HD, a camera that changed the world of high-speed imaging for television and motion picture production. The Phantom Flex introduces new degrees of flexibility not available on other digital cinema cameras. It goes beyond HD and supports four megapixel imaging when the ultimate inimage resolution is required. This camera lets you flex your creative muscle with a camera that can shoot from 10fps to over 10,000 frames per second (fps) depending upon shooting mode and resolution. Flexible lens options let you choose between 35mm (PL, Canon EOS, Nikon F Panavision), Super 16mm, and two or threeinch lens alternatives.
Phantom Flex Shutter speed and resolution: Up to 2,570fps at 1,920x1,080 in Standard Mode Pixel depth: 12-bit 1200 ISO HQ Mode provides ultimate in-image stability under changing shooting conditions Multi-cine capable via segmented memory Internal mechanical shutter for hands-free and remote Current Session References On-camera controls for camera modes, settings, playback, edit and save Frame synchronisation to external signal, essential for stereo 3D recording Remote port for connecting a Phantom Remote Control Unit Component video viewfinder port Ultra-quiet dual-fan cooling with low-fan mode for silent shooting 16GB and 32GB models
User selectable shooting modes allows you to adapt the camera to the shooting environment. In a standard mode, the Flex is just like any other Phantom digital high-speed camera. You may shoot at resolutions up to 2,560x1,600 pixels at anywhere from 10fps up to 1,455fps. As you reduce the resolution, the maximum speed increases, up to 2,570 fps at 1,920x1,080, 5,385fps at 1,280x720, and 10,900fps at 640x480. In the Phantom HQ mode, Vision Research’s trademarked multi-sampling image enhancement technology is employed. This results in electronic image stability, unprecedented in digital highspeed cameras. Therefore, you have, stable blacks, low noise, higher dynamic range and repeatable shots over the full range of supported resolutions, frame rates, and temperatures without a need for pre-shot black references. Maximum frame rates in HQ mode are approximately half those in standard mode. If you are using a video workflow or you want the best possible video available on set, the Phantom Flex is the perfect option. The video format available on the duallink HD-SDI ports is independent of the camera resolution. Once you set the camera resolution to 2,650x1,440 (16:9), the camera will automatically scale the oversampled image when rendering the video signal. This technique increases the dynamic range in the video signal and virtually eliminates edge artefacts sometimes seen in other Bayer pattern cameras. The greater the oversample resolution, the better the image. The camera earns its name by accommodating various format lenses. 35mm PL lens coverage is standard, while the HDx2 optical adapter, allows B4 mount lenses to be used. Vision Research is always advancing the state-of-the-art in digital high-speed imaging.
SELECTION
This section showcases our selection of electronics in the market today. Let us know if you have any favourites on tech@deenarmedia.com
Smartphones RO245
RO250
RO241
RO210
Blackberry Z10
Samsung Note II
Nokia Lumia 920
Samsung S III
Blackberry 10 OS, Dual Core 1.5GHz, 2G/3G/4G, 8MP primary and 2MP secondary camera, 16GB storage, available in black and white
Android OS v4.1, Quad Core 1.6GHz, 16GB storage, up-to 32GB, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS, 2MP camera
Microsoft OS Windows 8, Dualcore 1.5 GHz Krait, 8MP, dual LED flash, 32GB storage, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS, NFC
Android OS v4.0.4, Quad Core 1.4GHz, 8MP camera, 16GB storage, 3G, WiFi
RO156
Samsung Galaxy GRAND Android OS v4.1, Dual Core 1GHz, Dual SIM, 8MP camera, 8GB storage up-to 32GB, 1GB RAM, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS
Tablets RO100 RO285
RO250
Microsoft Windows Surface
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (N8000)
10.6-inch screen, Quad Core, 1.3GHz, 2GB RAM, 32GB HDD, Nvidia Tegra 3, WiFi, Bluetooth, 8MP camera
10.1-inch 1280x800 screen. Android 4.0.4, Samsung Exynos 4 Quad Core 1.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 5MP camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, A-GPS
N
RO200
Asus TF-101 10.1-inches 1280x800, Android honeycomb OS, Nvidia Tegra 2, Dual Core, 1GB RAM, 16GB Storage, Bluetooth, 5MP camera
RO140
N
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch display1280x800, 16GB built in memory, Wifi, Dual Speaker Dolby, 1.2Ghz Dual Core processor, HD camera
Toshiba Excite AT200 7.6-inch screen, Android, 1G (LPDDR2), 1066MHz, Nvidia Tegra T305L, WiFi, Bluetooth, 32GB. 2MP front and 5MP back camera
Computers
RO349 Toshiba LX 830-B132 23-inch HD LED screen, Intel Core i3-3110M, 2.4GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 1.3MP webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows 7 Home Basic
RO470
25
RO300
RO375
N
RO200
HP Spectre XT 13 2100
Samsung XE500T1C-A01
Dell Inspiron 5520 0378
Toshiba SAT C850-B887
13.2-inch display, Intel Core i53317U 1.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 128GB HDD, WiFi, Windows 8
11.6-inch LED HD, Intel Atom Z2760, shared graphics, 2GB RAM, 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows 8
15.6-inch HD WLED, Intel Core i73612qm 3.1GHz, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1TB HDD, 1GB VRAM, webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows 8
15.6-inch HD LED screen 1,366 x 768Â , Intel Core 13-3210M, 2.5GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows 8, 5 in 1 Multi Card Reader
Compact cameras
RO60
30
RO200
Casio JE 10
Sony Alpha NEX-F3
16.1MP, 5x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, HD movie, Make-up mode
16.1MP, 5.5FPS, 18-55mm lens, 3-inch LCD touch screen. Full HD movie
RO200
RO120
Samsung Galaxy camera GC100
Canon PowerShot SX240
16MP, 21x optical zoom, 4.8-inch LCD touch screen. Full HD movie, Android, WiFi
12.1MP, 20x optical zoom, 3-inch HD movie, Full HD movie, image stabilizer
RO170 Sony TX200 18.2MP, 5x digital zoom, 3.3-inch LCD screen, full HD movie, CMOS sensor
N New
Disclaimer: Prices quoted in this tabloid may be subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for the current costs. Lists are not in any particular order. Prices as of April 10, 2012.
Updated
Pro cameras
RO822
RO525*
RO500
RO400
RO260
Canon 7D
Fujifilm XE-1
Canon 650D
Panasonic Lumix G5
Nikon D3200
18.0 Megapixel CMOS Sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Image Processors. 19-point, all cross-type AF system equipped with dual diagonal cross-type sensors in center at f/2.8 and f/5.6 and AF area selection modes
16MP X-Trans CMOS sensor, ISO 200-6400, 2.36M dot OLED electronic viewfinder, new kit zoom: 18-55mm F2.8-4R, 2.8inch 460k-dot LCD, Built-in popup flash, full HD movie recording
18MP APS-C ‘Hybrid CMOS’ sensor, Phase detection AF, continuous autofocus, 14-bit DIGIC 5 processor, ISO 100-12800 standard, 25600 expanded, 5 fps continuous shooting, 9 point AF system, 1080p30 video
16MP, 6FPS, 3-inch LCD touch screen, 14-42 + 45-150mm lens; 1,920 x 1,080 Full HD Video Recording; ISO 160-12800; Shutter: 1/16000; Burst: SH : 20.0 frames/sec, H: 6.0 frames/ sec(with AFS)
24.2MP, 4FPS/11 AF point, 3-inch LCD screen, full HD movie, 18-33mm lens; ISO 100 to 6400; Shutter: 1/4000 to 30s; TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor; Hi-Speed USB
* Photocentre
Televisions
RO400
RO300
N
RO300
N
RO600
RO1,400
LG 42LM6690
Samsung UA40ES5600
Sony KDL40EX650
Sharp LC-60LE630
Samsung UA55ES8000
42-inch LED Plus, Smart Energy Saving Plus, built-in WiFi, USB port movie playback (DIVX HD)
40-inch full HD Smart TV, smart contain, full web browser, 3xHDMI, 2xUSB video and movie playback, 1000Hz motion flow
40-inch Edge LED TV, Motion Flow XR 100, X-reality Picture Engine, Wifi, Dolby Digital Plus, 3D combo filter
60-inch LED TV, 2MP, full HD, USB movie playback, 3 HDMI, XGEN Pannel with UC2A Technology, Low power consumption
55-inch 3D LED Smart TV, 2MP, Full HD, Smart interaction (face, voice, motion), Smart evolution and content, micro dimming ultimate, built-in camera, 800Hz, Dual Core processor
apple
Courtesy: Gadgets, Muscat Grand Mall
RO269
RO194
RO44.9
RO135
RO450
Apple TV
iPhone 5
iPad Mini WiFi+4G
iPod 5 (32GB)
MacBook Pro MD 101
Single-core A5 chip, 2 HDMI, optical audio, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, built-in IR receiver, Micro-USB, WiFi, Bluetooth
16GB, 4-inch, 1,136x640p, Retina display, 8MP iSight, 1.2MP Facetime, Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Bluetooth, WiFi
16GB, 7.9-inch LED-backlit, multi-touch with IPS technology, 1,024x768p, Dual-core A5, Bluetooth, built-in 16.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
4-inch, multi-touch IPS technology, Retina display, 1136x640-pixel resolution, 5MP iSight, Lightning connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, built-in speaker, microphone
13.3-inch, LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 2.5GHz dual-core, Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of 1600MHz DDR3 memory, 500GB storage, 720p FaceTime HD camera, WiFi, Bluetooth
TECH RECOMMENDS RO70
Panasonic QE-QL101
One of the best electric guitars for over a decade, Yamaha Pacifica guitars are well known for great tone and outstanding playability. The guitars feature comfort-contoured bodies, bolton maple wood neck designs, vintage-style vibratos, and 5-way switching of the H-S-S pickup configuration. The affordable PAC012 does not only have beautiful colour finishes, chrome hardware and quality construction but a Sonokeling fingerboard and an Agathis body with Master Volume and Tone controls.
Your phones don’t have to run out of power at inconvenient times; neither do you have to search for power outputs while travelling. We have a better, less stressful option for you. Panasonic’s new portable power supply charges your device on the go. A battery capacity of 2,700mAH and a charging time of about seven hours, gives your device one full charge cycle.
Seen at Emax, Muscat City Centre
Seen at OMASCO, Qurum
Yamaha PAC012
RO16
PHOTOGRAPHY
10
WEEK 16, APRIL 17 - 23, 2013
Luxurious
With space-age design, this camera is a rebranded Sony NEX device slipped into a new shell
snapper
T
he Hasselblad Lunar is the priciest compact system camera on the planet. It is the legendary Swedish camera brand’s first consumer camera and comes in the form of a compact system camera (CSC). Hasselblad has a strong history among professional photographers and is well known for being the brand chosen by NASA to supply the cameras for various space programmes. It is said that they were even used on the Apollo 11 mission to the moon; in fact those cameras are sitting on the lunar surface to date. First introduced at the Photokina show in 2012, the new luxury camera is based on Sony NEX-7 hardware, and uses the same E-mount lenses as Sony’s NEX range of CSCs. While the insides may be based on Sony’s technical wizardry, the price tag is more in keeping with the Hasselblad brand; the Lunar can be yours for USD6,495. Hasselblad’s CSC sports a 24.3MP APS-C format CMOS sensor and is
bundled with a standard 18-55mm zoom lens. With dimensions of 142×82×70mm, the Lunar isn’t especially compact compared to many CSCs. However, this certainly gives it more of a pro SLR-style look, like the Nikon 1 V2. The retro styling and top-tier build quality ooze quality, making this one very desirable snapper. The only element of the build that we’re not quite sold on is the pink-red jewels there are embedded into the video record button and the power switch. You will also find an electronic viewfinder on the left-hand corner. This fires up automatically, thanks to a motion sensor and is much quicker than those we’ve seen on some rivals. If you’re even considering spending such a large amount of money on a compact system camera then we doubt that value for money is high on your list.
Hasselblad Lunar
USD6,495 (RO2,500)
Type: Mirrorless interchangeable lens
Viewfinder: 3-inch LCD, optical
Resolution: 24.3MP
Image formats: JPEG, RAW
Sensor size: APS-C
ISO modes: 100-1600
special feature
National Robotics Week April 6th to 14th Robot Block Party at Stanford, displays by Silicon Valley
In celebration of National Robotics Week, Stanford University hosted its annual Robot Block Party last week, a platform for some of the best in research, industrial and homemade robotics. The festival of robots is all about making robots more accessible and giving robotics enthusiasts a look at the different ways machines can be used. More than 30 exhibitors were in attendance, representing everything from games and toys to industrial manufacturing and medical technologies, while having only cutting-edge robotics in common. Stanford’s Robot Block Party is a place to share ideas on human-robot interactions and inspire the next generation of developers.
Hack Robots, Hack the Future
What is the most efficient way for a geek to have lots of fun with other fellow geeks while making awesome robots? It is probably having participated in the Cloud Robotics Hackathon, where you got to hack for a full weekend last week, on robots in order to make them do bizarre and useful stuff using the power of cloud-computing.
Cities around the world were challenged to form teams and gather last week to hack together cloud-robotics applications. The main event was held in Montreal and a Google Hangout was used to broadcast it live.
Evil Genius Workshop, weaponising killer robots
Electronics and robotics for the young mad scientist or apprentice level evil genius were a much-awaited event. Following the success of last month’s Killer Robot 1.0 classes in LA, National Robotics Week led people to continue developing deadly bots by adding motors, sensors and pumps that will give their diabolic robotic devices the ability to squirt evil and dangerous water at annoying aliens, cats, super-heroes or little brothers.
TIMEZONE TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM
Precision timing T
he Tourbillon Abyss, the new limited-edition watch from the stable of Parmigiani Fleurier, is a stunner and looks regal in its deep azure dial. It is a new addition to its collection of Pershing timepieces, produced since 2007 in partnership with the celebrated Italian yacht manufacturer. The dial resembles the deep blue water and multiple fine layers of wave patterns in lighter shades of blue, done by an electroplating process. The blue accent is to represent the nautical influence of Pershing yachts. The case is superbly light titanium middle, with a dynamometric screw-down crown and a rose-gold, unidirectional bezel. The titanium case middle has a double-brushed satin-and-polish finish fit for precious metals with distinctive curves very similar to the shape of a yacht’s hull.
The signature feature of this watch is a tourbillon (a device that corrects timing errors in mechanical watches caused by the effects of gravity) at 6 o’clock, designed and manufactured in-house at Parmigiani’s atelier in the Swiss town of Fleurier. The power reserve is week-long and the movement, Parmigiani Caliber PF 510 is displayed on the dial by a hand-type indicator at 12 o’clock. It has 237 components and features côtes de Genève decoration. Water-resistant to 100 meters, the case has a sapphire exhibition case back, through which the movement and its finishing are displayed. The central hour and minute hands bear Parmigiani’s typical Delta shape, coated with luminous material, and the applied indices, in yellow gold, stand out against the blue dial. Another signature feature is the Hermès leather alligator strap in dark marine blue that comes as complementary to the dial, along with safety folding buckle in polished titanium.
11
The new watch from Parmigiani Fleurier, limited to 30 pieces, has a case material 60 per cent lighter than steel
Tourbillon Abyss USD225,000 (RO86,625) Case material Grade 5 titanium Case diameter 45mm Power reserve 168 hours (Seven days) Strap Hermès leather in dark marine blue
12
AUDIOZONE WEEK 16, APRIL 17 - 23, 2013
Chrome turntables A limited addition, over-the-top console that spectacles style
N
o DJ will forget the experience of performing with the new Platinum Editions of the CDJ-2000nexus CD turntable, DJM-900nexus mixer and RMX-1000 Remix Station. All three are similar to existing equipment on the inside, but with an extra-reflective chrome finish that will be noticed, if more by the DJ than the audience on the dance floor. Pioneer’s latest special edition hardware is anything to go by, it’s a love of shiny things. Announced recently, the limited-run of its flagship CDJ2000nexus, DJM-900nexus and RMX-1000 remix station DJ gear is all about the looks. The metallic finish really makes the console something to look at and we can see this being the set-up of choice for those who like to show off a little. With that in mind, you might be thinking about fingerprints getting on it? You might have to keep a lintfree cloth close at hand. If you are a Pioneer fan and have enough money to spare, you may pick this beauty up for USD8,500 (RO3,273).
USB ports: USB A port x 1, USB B port x 1 Audio output ports: Audio out (RCA) x 1, digital out (coaxial) x 1
Playable files: MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF USB storage support file systems: FAT, FAT32, HFS+ Frequency response: 4 Hz~20 kHz S/N ratio: 115dB or more
Other ports: LAN (100BaseTX) x 1, Control (3.5 mm mini plug) x 1 Audio output voltage: 2.0 Vrms Power use: 220-240 V, 50/60 Hz Electricity consumption: 37W
Moviezone
The Host A startlingly unusual love triangle, set between alien takeovers and human resistance
W
hat if everything you love was taken from you in a blink of an eye? The Host is the next epic paranormal love story from the creator of the Twilight Saga, worldwide bestselling author, Stephenie Meyer. When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over their bodies and erasing their memories, Melanie Stryder (Saoirse Ronan) will risk everything to protect the people she cares most about. Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading ‘soul’ who has been given Melanie’s body, didn’t expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. As Melanie fills Wanderer’s thoughts with visions of Jared, a Director: Andrew Niccol Genre: Sci-fi
human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she’s never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love. Hugely anticipated by the fans of the Twilight Saga, The Host does contain some similar elements, the love triangle being most obvious. But the question here remains if the movie will become just another cultural phenomenon or leave the Twilight movies behind, proving itself to be more than a superficial homage to teenage love and a decimation of some of history’s most revered paranormal creatures. Diehards of science fiction on the other hand will either completely hate it or love it, providing how well the movie pulls off the Bodysnatcher elements and how is the human aspect, something barely ever seen in a sci-fi movie is received. Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Diane Kruger, Jake Abel, William Hurt
DASHBOARD TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM
Love Child
T
win’Z is the latest concept car in the programme that sets out to illustrate Renault’s new design strategy through parallels with threshold phases of human existence. Renault invited British designer Ross Lovegrove to add some design flourishes and
effect which channels air flow and minimises turbulence to optimise Twin’Z’s aerodynamic performance. The same motif has been embossed into the rear bumper as an echo of the lighting signature.
the result is an arresting blend of technology and refinement. Lovegrove was given a free hand to imagine a cabin that is truly occupant-friendly.
Twin’Z’s front and rear doors are hinged at the front and rear respectively and open electrically. The resulting absence of a central pillar allows the entire cabin to be revealed to the eye and frees up space to facilitate ingress. The wheels and tyres have been designed as a single entity. The wheels themselves feature a glowing green finish and their design is based on intelligent growth structures inspired by nature. The solid central core splits into slender branches which strike out towards the rim. The tyres, which were developed specifically by Michelin, continue this pattern to provide a unity between the two functions. As a consequence, the wheel is perceived as a whole rather than a simple juxtaposition of distinct elements.
The grille design creates a vortex
Twin’Z’s all-LED lighting allows
13
Ross Lovegrove in close collaboration with Renault brought together two worlds of furniture and automobile
controlled light patterns to be obtained and emphasises the car’s lighting signature. The headlight assembly has been reduced to its graphic intent using the minimum of lines to communicate a positive, alert expression. LEDs extend from the grille to the rear bumper via the roof. A pattern of light originates from the Renault lozenge badge and flows towards the headlights before climbing up over the windscreen pillars, along the roofline and then down to the rear bumper. This light path creates a magical effect that appears to bring Twin’Z alive. For example, when the driver presses on the brake pedal, the burst of the brake lights climbs gradually towards the roof, for enhanced visibility and safety. The four lightweight seats have been rendered as small as possible, providing support whilst being lightweight and dematerialised. Their green frames appear to grow naturally from the floor and have been upholstered in a 3D woven, self-cushioning, lightweight blue textile which is both waterproof and flameresistant, yet which still breathes.
Length: 3,627mm Width: 1,705mm Height: 1,506mm Wheelbase: 2,495mm Weight: 980kg Top speed: 130kmph Range: 160kms Power: 68hp, synchronous electric motor Torque: 226Nm
14
GAMING WEEK 16, APRIL 17 - 23, 2013
This side story from the Gear Wars trilogy offers a new challengebased campaign structure and fresh multiplayer action; a worthwhile addition to the celebrated franchise
Publisher Microsoft Games Studios
I
n the conclusion to the trilogy, we witnessed the elimination of the locust threat and Sera’s humans beginning to rebuild their devastated world, where Marcus Fenix and his surviving Delta squad brothers had laid down their arms. A fictional world as diverse as Locust War though can still provide potential for many other stories to be told, Gears of War: Judgement being the first of them. It takes you back to the early days of the conflict, spinning the tale of a rogue squad standing trial for treason. Damon Baird returns, as the flippant lieutenant in command of Kilo Squad before he was a private in Delta Squad. A month after Emergency day, Baird is in Halvo bay, a coastal city that looks like
every other Locust-pillaged city. He is joined by two new characters, Sophia an onyx guard and Paduk, a former enemy of the COG as well as series regular, Augustus Cole. The story is told in flashbacks as the squad stands trial for treachery, with each member taking turns to narrate their version of what happened. The fragmented mission structure though, never lets the game achieve the dramatic heights of its predecessors. As a soldier testifies about the hardships that Kilo Squad faced and you experience it, the difficulty modifiers impose limitations on your time, visibility, ammunition, and weapon selection. On normal, these modifiers are a welcome challenge; on
nouvotech
Functional
harder difficulties, they make things very tough indeed. The game is inherently fun because the combat is the same brutal and weighty gunplay seen before, a signature of the series now. New weapons and enemies to overpower as well as a few streamlining tweaks are exciting to witness. You’ll still want to spend some time in multiplayer though to get your money’s worth, as the two campaigns last only seven hours. Despite still standing in the shadow of its forerunners, if you enjoy utterly destroying hulking monstrosities with one blast of the sawed-off shotgun, you’ll find a lot to like in Gears of War: Judgment.
Genre Action, Third person shooter Developer Epic Games, People can fly Platforms Xbox 360 ESRB Rating Mature
Score Plot.............................................. 8/10 Gameplay .............................. 7/10 Visuals...................................... 8/10 Overall................................................7
We feature two gadgets that keep you connected on-the-go
gadgets
Mophie Juice Pack Helium
Asus WL 330NUL USB Proclaimed as ‘the world’s smallest router’ and clocking in at roughly the size of a packet of chewing gum, this pocket rocket connects to your laptop via USB and to the web via Ethernet, and also has N Wi-Fi up to 150Mbps. Thus, ownership means you become a walking wireless access point for all laptops and portable devices in the local area. Available on ae.asus.com
You check your email, take photos, browse a website, check your email again, send a Tweet, look at Google Maps and your iPhone’s dead. This battery pack and charger for your iPhone 5 has the gift of 1500mAh power. That’s enough for six hours of talk time, 30 hours of audio, seven hours of video or net surfing via WiFi. You recharge it via USB, with an LED indicator letting you know when you need to plug in. Available on mophie.com
LISTING TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM Company
BRANDS
Showroom
15
Service Dept.
Bahwan Electronics
Asset, Carrier, Toshiba, Seiko, Casio, Titan, Sony Ericsson, Benq, Daewoo
Ruwi 24796629
24501965
Emax Electronics
Multi-brand retailer
MCC 24558062
n/a
Extra
Multi-brand retailer
24212421
n/a
Genetco
Sanyo, Hitachi, Gree, TCL, Finlux, Canon, Asus, Lenovo, RadioShack
Qurm 24568806, Al Araimi 24561948, Seeb 24422797, MCC 24558418
24503653
HiTec Centre
Boston Acoustics, Denon, Leica, Polk Audio
Azaiba 24497384
24497384
Jumbo Electronics
Sony, VAIO, Blackberry, Supra, Casio, Brother Sewing Machines, Acer, HP
MBD 24818358, Al Araimi 24565845, QCC 24470529, MCC 24558291
24814815
Moayyed Integrated Enterprises
Daewoo Electronics
24488795
24488795
Muscat Air-conditioning & Electronics
Sharp, Midea, General, Wansa, MDV
24796591, 24796202/31/40
24562943
Muscat Electronics
Daikin, Ricoh, Chigo, G-Hanz, Sony Professional Prod., Lexmark, Hitachi
Ruwi 24702982, 24780407 Sohar 26845647, Salalah 23291617
24813408/24789542
Mustafa Sultan Electronics
Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool, Universal, Westpoint
Al Khuwair 24636015
24818018
Oman International Electronics & Trd.
Bose, NEC, JVC, Nakamichi, SONOS
Qurum 24565490, Connexions 24558529
24830606
Oman Modern Electronics
Sharp, OMEC
HO 24706004, Ruwi 24832891, Sohar 26840763, Salalah 23291405
24704494
OMASCO
Panasonic, Yamaha, Stanley, Black and Decker, GE, Aftron, Raymond Weil
Qurum 24564310, Ruwi 24833630
24560232
Oman Trading Establishment
LG, Bosch, White Westing house, Pearl, Prolux
Wadi Kabir 24811572, Al Khuwair 24479448, Ruwi 24831544
24810522/80075545
Photocentre
Fujifilm, Olympus, Hasselblad, Sigma, Lowepro, EPSON, STEINER
Qurum 24565305, Al Khuwair 24479296
24571708
SARCO
Samsung, Technoflame
Ruwi 24593025
24593025
Sharaf DG
Multi-brand retailer
22009280
n/a
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Tick the correct answer and send in your entries for a chance to win
Please send us your entries by April 17
tech issue 39 quiz winner
1 Caps lock, num lock and scroll lock are collectively called…
NOTE: 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.
2 The platform KOffice was developed for…
A
Keyboard shortcuts
A
Unix
B
Special characters
B
Windows
C
Toggle keys
C
Mac OS X
3 What does a cybersquatter do?
imtiaz ali
Previous quiz answers: 1 – A, 2 – B, 3 – A, 4 – C
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EMAIL: TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM
4 Which Microsoft operating system preceded Windows Vista?
A
Sends spam emails
A
Windows 7
B
Registers a large number of domain names
B
Windows XP
C
Buys internet companies
C
Windows NT
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