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The crowning glory Terrace gardens are back!
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Pizzas to pastas Come home to Italy!
Stage IV
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Emission norms
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Mobile Mutant The X10 Xperience.
Date Night
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Mango
Monsoon
Come, relish the food of Gods! Page 8...
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ON SALE EXPRESS | MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
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French furniture brand, Gautier, has opened a showroom in Chennai in partnership with Ebony. The furniture is designed and made in France and adds a distinctive character and unmatched elegance to your interiors. Ebony Gautier, 86, J Block, 3rd Avenue, Anna Nagar East. Phone: 42615070
r varasam – a summe m Don’t Miss Na ay event that holiday feast. A 9-d f a wide variety. showcases eventso PM onwardsKamaraj May 8 – May 16 --6.30 et. MemorialHall, Teynamp 841905605. Contact:42318343,9
Thota Exhibition by Rohini still m Check Out Art of figurative works, Tharani – a display works of art. life and abstraction d, Roa Chitra, East Coast Till May 10Dakshina 24462435. Muttukadu. Contact:
@ chennai
To Do List
Now in store
Foot for your thought Now in stores Louis Philippe, the premium apparel brand, has launched their footwear collection. With over 40 designs to choose from, the formal collection is designed to serve customers’ style and comfort. The footwear is priced between Rs.2999 and Rs.4999.
Speed Dial
At all Louis Philippe showrooms
Garden Gap Go gardening to keep you cool and diverted from the heat of summer. Let the plants and flowers keep your home and you pleasant. Get professional assistance now.
Small wonders
Jeyam Landscape Consultants 2433 2372 (T. Nagar)
Now in stores The Spring-Summer collection for kids from Lilliput is sure to keep your little ones bright and cool. Priced around Rs.500, you can pick from a range of skirts, tops, trousers, jeans, classic tees and more.
M.T. Rajen’s Pooncholai Landscape Desigers 28344547 (T.Nagar)
At all Lilliput showrooms
Rose Greenery 42142587 (Nungambakkam) TSR Gardens & Aqua Mart 9884309556 (Porur) Sri Rakkammal Garden Creations 9282215388 (Chromepet)
Blue Na’vi in Blu ray Now in stores The biggest of the blockbusters, Avatar that still runs in the theatres, is out now on Blu ray discs and DVDs across all Odyssey outlets. Grab them now off the shelves or shop online for a 15% discount.
For Feedback & Suggestions, Contact us at 044-43590099 (or) Email us at in.editor@ingen.in
At all Odyssey showrooms
Now
in Town
DISCLAIMER
Mamma Mia Mahindra Retail has launched the Mom & Me store in Chennai. Mom & Me has developed private labels in order to bring products like ethnic fashion for women, infant apparel and traditional Indian toys. From maternity wear, kid fashion to health products and kid furniture, Mom & Me has got it all to make you and your baby look and feel great. Mom & Me Old No 9, New No 21, Besant Avenue Road, Adyar, Phone: 42115320.
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ON SALE EXPRESS publishes the advertisements & listings in good faith but does not hold itself responsible for the representations or claims made for the products and services in respect of which readers are advised to make their own assessment. COPYRIGHT © 2009 ON SALE EXPRESS. Reproduction of any material in whole or part prohibited.
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
Namaste, London! Now, you can get the hottest deals in one place.
T
he first thing you will notice when you cross the entry gate is the massively constructed replica of the famous London Bridge - which of course is name of this exhibition ‘London Bridge Festival’. It is a 16-day event which started on April 30 and will close on May 16. According to Mr. Raju, Admin and Logistics Manager, the event is brought to Chennai by National Consumer Fair Company which has over 25 years experience in conducting exhibitions across India. The exhibition is itself done on a massive scale at St George’s school (Opposite Pachaiyappas college, Ponnamalle High Road) covering 1 lakh sq feet with over 200 stalls. It’s definitely one good place to get the best deals in consumer electronics and interior goods. Here, we take you on a virtual tour of the festival! Carzzz The first stall you will encounter is a room filled with cars displayed by some of the automobile giants. You have Ford displaying its popular mode FIESTA, Chevy its newly introduced cute Beat, Toyota presenting its high-end Camry, TATA its executive sedan MANZA, Mahindra MUV XYLO. Fiat its small car, Punto with some attractive schemes such as Free Insurance and 2 years plus 26 months extended warranty and Rs.10, 000 cash back offer. So, go make most of this ride! Retail Haven, it is! Vasanth &Co, one of the sponsors of this event, is a household retail name in India. They have some really massive stalls with great discounts and offers for those who have plans to buy TV, Fridge and A/C. They have put on an attractive display the latest offerings from LG, SAMSUNG, Whirlpool which includes the latest LG 55 inches TV, Samsung’s 3D TV and Whirlpool fridges and washing machines. You would then meet people from Godrej with a ‘Free Panasonic Rice cooker’ offer with their A/C.
The offer comes with free installation service. Buy any Goorej product at this stall and you get Rs.3495 worth of TIMEX watches absolutely free! USHA, famous for its world class sewing machines have put up their products with special price discounts. FMCG giant TTK has put on display the Superbrand Prestige products and sale with ‘Anything for Anything’ exchange offer. Exchange any old cooker, cookware or kitchen appliances of any brand, any condition for any new Prestige product and get great discounts like 21-47% off on pressure cookers, 25-63% off on nonstick cookware, up to 13% off on induction cook-tops, up to 47% off on mixer grinders and wet grinders, up to 41% off on rice cookers, up to 40% off on kitchen hoods and hobs and more. India’s No.1 mixer grinder brand ‘Preethi Magic’ has launched its latest gadget: Chip ’n Salad Maker. This is a treat for those who love but don’t have time to make some quick salads at home. At 750 watts its powerful motor can slice, chop and grate fruits and vegetables at ease and yet consume very little power. While MRP is Rs. 5,520, you get it at Rs. 4,390. The product also comes with a two- year warranty with free service for life. The best in digital camera business – Canon have put up their stall with some awesome cameras on display and offering special prices for those willing to buy it at the stall. No more power cuts Chennai has been going through some severe power cut problems. It’s a nightmare when power gets cuts just when you are having dinner at home or worse, while watching that crucial match. Solution? Surya, brought to
Photo: Nagoor J .............................................................................................. Contact us at 044-43590099 | in.editor@ingen.in
you by Shree Associates, is out there offering you emergency lantern. It’s Lition –Ion battery run lantern comes with twoyear Warranty and lifetime maintenance free service. It is an 11 W flurosecent lamp with a covering range of 450 Sq.ft. Smart Power, Electronic Digital Power Inverter, brought to you by Global Innovative, is another panacea for frequent power failures in city. The inverter is fully automatic and requires no manual intervention. Gets switched on instantly within a second and when gets to normal position automatically when power resumes. Easy to install and zero maintenance, it’s a must-have nowadays. Affordable products are the name of the game here. Giving Smart Power a major complex and run for its money is the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company, Su-Kam. With their big stall presence, Su-Kam is stamping its authority with its state-of-the-art power back-up solutions. Home, sweet home Instyle is famous for bringing Italian designer sofas at Chinese prices. You get up to 50% off on their range at the expo. One example is a beautiful and extremly comfy sofa which you can get at Rs. 28,000 when its actual MRP is at Rs.38, 000. Check it out if you are moving into a new house or have major plans to re-jig your house/office interior. Competing for your attention in interior space is again Go-
drej with their Interior designer brand with a New 20-20 offer. You get 20% off on their designer Kitchen models. Also exchange and get Rs.20, 000 off on home furniture. Zuari furniture, part of the KK Birla Group, has also put up their stall with the furniture range collection. We just have one thing to say. Go, get spoilt with choice for your interior design plans. And more.. Solace Healthcare systems have put up their massage chair and legs massager range on display. Imported from Malaysia, these are premium products. Head up! We suggest that you get a trial massage done just to experience the sheer bliss of complete body massage for distress. At the stall, you get their products at 25% discount. We have just told you one half of the story here. You have hundreds of shops/ stalls to visit and discover. Set aside couple of hours before you venture into this exhibition, because it’s going to be a journey on its own. Who should visit? Anyone and everyone in Chennai should visit the expo. There is something for all of us here. The expo is specially a delight for wives who have plans to throw away their old kitchen goods to buy new household items. But the dudes need not fret. Options are galore at every stall. Just keep your mind and of course, the wallet open. - Sri Vikas U
Time: 2pm – 9pm Entrance fee: Rs. 45
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My Private Heaven f a s h i o n . s t y l e . i c o n
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Planning to have a garden in your terrace and create your own green corner for pleasant mornings and balmy evenings? Terrace gardens require some effort, but are well worth it. Some tips to consider before you go about setting up a terrace garden…
P
re-plan and prepare
It is better to make provision for a terrace garden even when the house is constructed in order to avoid leakages in the building. Without a proper drainage system, watering of plants on the terrace could lead to seepage problem. So, if you have the chance , then pre-plan. Otherwise, fret not! You can always protect the rooms and walls below from seepage and develop a nice garden by devising a good drainage system on the existing terrace. One way to do this is by laying bricks of about 3 or 4 inches thickness uniformly on the terrace, and laying a netlon on top of that. Alternately, corrugated sheets can be used. For bigger terrace gardens, say more than 500 sq ft, pipes to drain out water from pots/ plants upto the existing outlet points on the terrace will have to be laid. Be sure Before you decide on a terrace garden, ask yourself if you are prepared to spend time overseeing its maintenance and money . Although maintaining a terrace
garden is only a little more expensive than normal gardens and well worth the money spent , neglected gardens can turn into ruins in a couple of years. Make sure you have enough time and money to maintain a terrace garden. If you answer in the affirmative, then get started on converting the unused terrace space into a picturesque one that will be all your own. Select plants, avoid exotic flourishes Select plants for your terrace carefully: fibre-rooted plants are preferred to tap root plants, as the latter has a tendency to grow through the building. Potted plants and Bonsai make good additions ; otherwise it’s better to choose indigenous plants that are used to local climate. Be practical when it comes to choosing plants: avoid thorny bushes and bamboos if you have children around, and avoid exotic plants that require extra care – for example orchids require sprinklers. Exotic plants may be the flavour of the season, but you may consult the man at the nursery for easy- to- maintain ones.
Soil, water and sun Soil: The soil chosen for terrace gardens must not exert too much pressure on the building. Soil rite or peat moss is ideal for this purpose; but it is expensive and can be blended with river sand and manure. Water: Take care never to overwater plants. Check whether water seeps slowly out of the holes at the bottom of pots – also push a thin stick into the pot and if it comes out soaked, then it means the plant is overwatered and more sand is to be added to the pot. Make sure the water that you use for the garden is of good quality since brackish water will make the plants wither.
can even add a pond or stone figurines to make the place more stylish. A tip artificial rocks are easier to carry up to the terrace than real rocks .. Take care and consult Plants need to be pruned regularly and taken care of. It is recommended that you consult a professional landscaper before planning your garden, and hire professional gardening experts to maintain it. ; there are several agencies in the city that deal with garden maintenance. Check out our Speed dial section for landscaping suggestions. - Krithika Sukumar
Sunlight: If you have selected plants that need to be kept out of direct sunlight, construct a wooden trellis around them. Sit-out Turn your terrace garden into a stylish sitout by adding chairs and a coffee table, or a deck of wooden tiles – although they will need to be regularly oiled. You
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
Toss like the Italians C
hennai’s love and craze for pizzas and pastas is evident from the number of Italian restaurants and fast food chains spurting almost every month. But, what makes heads turn is when an Italian chef comes over and says, “this is how we make pizza in Italy!” and tosses her dough in the air, moves around and just with hand gestures presents to you a thin and smooth pizza base. Chef Oriana Tirabassi, Italian Chef of Courtyard by Marriot, has been making headlines, just with her acrobatic pizza act. In a short interview with On Sale Express she explains what authentic Italian food is. Read on.
we learn in a classroom. When you’re making pizza the more commonly known way, on a flat table, with a rolling pin, and literally punching the dough there is a lot of stress in the dough and it does not allow for maturation. Whereas, when you throw it in the air, you allow a cyclical movement and the dough will not be stressed and tight. It’s not just me, but every pizza maker in Italy does it this way. When I meet a pizza chef for the first time, I observe how he or she makes the pizza. If it’s the punching method, then I know immediately that he or she is not going to serve you authentic pizza.
So, what is with the acrobatic moves and pizza-making? This is not new, nor is it something
What’s your secret to a good pizza? First it has to be the ingredients
Chef Oriana Tirabassi,
– good water with a bit of salt content, flour,
yeast, and olive oil. The toppings can be anything you want, but the basic ingredients must be perfect. The quality of the pizza also depends on the kind of oven you use – wood, electric or gas. You need different recipes and pizza dough combinations depending on the oven you use. You have created over 400 varieties of pizzas. Which is your most popular one? Different regions have different palates. First, I try to understand what the people like and then make pizzas accordingly. But, one of the very first pizzas I do make for a new clientele is the Pizza Strudel (topped with apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and much more, I roll the pizza, bake it, cut it into small rolls, top it with whipped cream and fresh fruits) and the Pizza Chocolate (this is a tall pizza with a good amount of chocolate, hazel nuts and much more). These two are sure winners! I hear you’ve been dancing to Tamil music in the kitchen. Do you like the music? Yes! Music is an integral part of pizzamaking and more importantly a part of Italian life. Normally in Italy in one night, in a pizza shop, they make a minimum of 500 pizzas. They keep making pizzas and in the background there will be some music playing, either on their streets, restaurants or homes. Imagine, without that music if a person had to monotonously keep baking pizzas, sometime over 500 in just a night. It will tire the person. Music lightens the mood, relaxes the chef and has a soothing effect. And yes, the music they played yesterday was good! You have helped establish over 240 hotels across the globe. Now, in Chennai, what should we expect from your new menu at Rhapsody at Courtyard by Marriot? Yes, I have a completely new Italian menu for Rhapsody, but I work with Marriot on a larger scale. I am here to create the authentic Italian experience – this includes the service, presentation, menu, restaurant ambience and I
.............................................................................................. Contact us at 044-43590099 | in.editor@ingen.in
even suggest the kind of flowers they should use. I take a lot of time to speak to the guests and explain more about the Italian cuisine. Many people think it stops with pizzas and pastas, but the breads and the appetizers also play an important role. At Rhapsody, now we have 10 different pizzas, pizza desserts, Italian appetisers, breads like the biscotti, a vast vegetarian Italian fare, and most importantly ham (note: Italian style ham, will only be hand cut and not machine-made, and chefs at Rhapsody have been well trained for that!). Place an order There are so many misconceptions about Italian food – it’s heavy, it’s fattening and it’s only pastas and pizzas. So, we asked Chef Oriana to help us order a good Italian meal, without having a plate too full. Here’s what she said: - Italian food, by nature, is healthy. The toppings you add on your pizza and sauces are what give the weight. - You always start an Italian meal with bread. The breads are never too soft, but are hard and crispy. But, don’t fill yourself with a plate of bread! Have your breads with your main course and appetisers like the cold cuts and marinated fish. - Pastas are better for lunch. Also,remember the pasta is not your main course; in reality the pizza and pasta are to be consumed like appetisers in small portions, before the main course. z - The main course is usually fish or chicken – grilled salmon, lobster, chicken with sauce – and it should be served with spinach or some accompaniment. Take note that in Italian food, the salt and extra virgin olive oil are served along with the main course. Sundried tomatoes and olives are not substitutes for a healthier pizza or pasta. In fact, they have much more oil content than olive oil drizzled on your pizza. So, ask your chef and then place your order. - Jayanthi Somasundaram
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Hail the King o Nothing can stop you from loving it!
C
ome summer, we are all looking for ways and means to evade the piercing heat, with cool cucumber slices, sips from the very own nature’s drink, tender coconut, fresh juices, air conditioned rooms and what not. But what provides a mighty relief is the accompaniment of the mango season that showers its cool and refreshing presence on us. Mango juice, mango milkshake, mango cheesecake, mango mousse, mango smoothie, marmalade, call it whatever you want, when the pure essence of this most awaited summer fruit tickles your taste buds, we are transported to what we call in one word, ecstasy. With no second thoughts and quite undeniably, it is the king of all fruits. In places far and wide and through ages almost beyond time, we trace this fruit to have been the most friendly and the most versatile one. So yes, with this aamsutra, to beat the heat is no big deal. Walk in to any dessert parlour, fruit shop, supermarket, restaurant or food festival, this season you can be sure to plunge into the mango grub, sinfully. With a blend of rich flavours and tastes of this exotic fruit, you can also explore it through all its avatars this hot summer. If you are already tempted to get assaulted by this craze, then The Residency Towers, T-Nagar, is the place for you to be in. They have a whole crescendo of desserts and drinks for you to choose from that will grip you totally in this frenzy. Oh yes, do try the frugal Mocha, in Nungambakkam and also the
Have a Mango Bite! Here’s a golden recipe from Aam sutra - the delectable mango mouse Ingredients - 1/2 cup lime juice
- Stir in the sugar.
- Pinch of salt
- Dissolve the gelatin in 1/4 cup hot water, cool, and stir into the mango puree.
- 4 ripe mangoes
- Beat the egg whites with the salt.
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Whip the cream until it is stiff.
- 1 tblsp gelatin
- Fold the cream into the egg whites, then fold this mixture gently into the mango puree.
- 2 egg whites - 1/2 cup heavy cream Recipe: - Peel the mangoes, sliced the flesh off the
8
seeds, and mix puree in an electric blender with the lime juice (be careful not to over –blend).
- Pour into a big size serving dish, or into individual dishes, and chill in a freezer for 2 to 3 hours, or until set.
Baristas all over, they have limited-edition is to-die-for. If you want to taste this in nam geetha is a good one for you. With their mo and mango flavoured rice, they are in the g from a variety of mango snacks and pickle
As the city gears up for this season, it is tim mangoes at home and be innovative with t to know how to pick up the best mangoes t Needless to say, the first thing that you do that smell entices you, wait no longer, just it is firm all over. A fresh mango will give away from very soft or bruised fruit. One m to consider is its colour. A bright yellow or you want to eat them up immediately, or yo case look for a little green-ish tinge in the m goes can be stored in rice baskets or plain p soon enough for you to sink your teeth into Mango here, mango there
Are you a confused mango shopper? Do yo varieties for you choose from? So true, wit sure hard to choose what you need. Also si mango production in the whole of India; y before you pick up your mangoes. A good each variety and then decide which one is not much of an experimental shop pick up the Alphonso m said to be the most lo dia. The sweet taste reasons that make the mouth-wateri are also among th
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
of Fruits!
n adds on their menu cards that mma style, then Apoorva Sanost sought after mango rasam grove as well. You can choose es all over the city.
mangoes. You can find some of the best varieties all over Chennai, in most of these leading supermarkets and fruit markets. Of course, little road end kiosks, also have good variety and quality as well. Be prepared to spend a bit if you want one of these good mangoes; but trust me, anything for these gorgeous, lip smacking fruits.
me to have your stock of them. But hang on; you need that go in to your fruit basket. is to smell the mango. Once pick it up and touch it to see if slightly to the touch, but stay more important thing you have r orange-ish colour is ideal if ou could stock them, in which mangoes. These green-ish manpaper bags to ensure it ripens o it.
A mango a day…
ou think there are too many th about 1000 varieties, it is ince, Tamil Nadu has the largest you are sure to be a little baffled thing to do would be to try the best for you. But if you are pper, just don’t look around; mangoes right away. They are oved variety of mangoes in Ine and irresistible aroma are the e it the most incredible. Besides ing Dashehari and Banganapalli he most commonly chosen
Rightly , this fruit is a royal kind and will transport you to a world of true elation. The bright yellow fruit is sure to treat and pamper you enough, so what are you waiting for, just enjoy the delight. Remember! ‘Yellow’ is the colour of this season. - Puja Prakash
Now that you are anyways going to dive into mangoes this summer, irrespective of what it has in store for you apart from the divine taste, let me lengthen your smiles by telling you how fabulous and nutritious this fruit is. Rich in most of vitamins and minerals, mangoes are said to have components that keep you away from diseases and any stomach problem. Of course, a little higher in calories, it comes with its own package of goodness. But if you ponder about pounds, then you need to have a mango to substitute your whole meal; this way you watch your calories and also indulge thoroughly. If you are a pregnant lady, all the more reason why you need to go get it; mango is known to be of great benefit for pregnant ladies. Overloaded with iron and other essential nutrients, it assures good health not just for you, but also for that little one in you as well.
For every 100g of ripe mango flesh: Calories 62.1-63.7 Moisture 78.9-82.8 g Protein 0.36-0.40 g Fat 0.30-0.53 g Carbohydrates
Do it sweet! It is not enough that you just go pick up these from your nearby store, you have got to turn them to something irresistible. Considering almost all of Chennai has a sweet tooth, to make the best desserts is a good idea. Catch up with a few of these yummy cakes and mousses and then just try making them yourself; you can add your little sense of style into it. From the most creamy and frosty smoothies to the delectable cakes and tarts, the choice is yours; there is no compromise for a mango dessert after a wholesome, meal.
CALORIE METER
16.20-17.18 g
Calcium 6.1-12.8 mg Iron 0.20-0.63 mg Vitamin A (carotene) 0.135-1.872 mg
As I sip my frosty and delicious mango milkshake, I tell you, if you want to simply thrash the heat this summer, get drenched in the mango shower.
And here’s one more from our own city -Spicy mango pickle Ingredients
fenugreek seeds together in a big basin.
- 12 medium size raw mangoes
- Add one cup of oil and mix.
- 300 g mustard powder
- Sprinkle the mango pieces with a little oil. Take a few mango pieces at a time and mix them well with mustard, chili, salt and put them in a ceramic jar or a big plastic container
- 250 g red chili powder - 250 g salt - 50 g fenugreek seeds - 1 1/2 kg sesame seed oil Recipe - Leave the raw mangoes in water for 15 minutes and dry them with a cloth. - Cut them into pieces of 1 1/2 to 2 inches. Discard the seed and clean the cut pieces with dry cloth. - Mix the mustard powder, red chili powder, salt and
- Repeat the process till the mix and the mango pieces are over. Pour 1 inch oil above it and cover it with a lid. Tie a neat thick cloth over it and store it. - Mix it well on the third day. Taste it and if need be, salt may be added at this stage. Take some Avakaya separately and mix a handful of chickpeas in some and garlic in some. Since chickpeas and garlic consume more oil, add extra oil.
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ON SALE EXPRESS | MAY 7 - MAY 13 , 2010
Green on Wheels! This week, we have the hottest news on some ‘green on the move’ initiatives. From trains to bikes, we have got them all.
The perfect Taurian
Ford vehicles are now 85 percent recyclable by weight. In 2009, Ford saved approximately $4.5 million by using recycled materials, and diverted between 25 and 30 million pounds of plastic from landfills in North America alone.
go green
Ford is making its vehicles more eco-friendly through increased use of renewable and recyclable materials such as the soy and bio-based seat cushions and seatbacks on the 2010 Ford Taurus.
The 2010 Ford Taurus is the eleventh Ford vehicle to feature eco-friendly biobased seat cushions and seatbacks. Ford has more vehicle models with seats that use soy and other bio-based foams than any other automaker. Ford Mustang, F-150, Focus, Flex, Escape, Expedition and Econoline as well as Mercury Mariner, Lincoln MKS are part of their green gang.
On the right track
Do you know that a bio-diesel train has been launched in Bilimora city of Gujarat?
This is the first bio-diesel train in the western division of Indian Railways. It uses a blended fuel, a mix of 10% bio-diesel. The Railway has already introduced several such trains in other divisions.Officials claimed that this blended fuel would reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide by a greater extent without affecting the engine. This train covers 51kilometres between Bilimora and Baghai.Indian Railways, which has one of the largest networks of trains in the world, is also taking other measures to conserve environment. Bio-diesel is a diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources i.e. vegetable oils, which can be used in unmodified diesel-engined vehicles.
Scoot your way!
India’s largest auto maker, Mahindra plans to launch a new electric scooter during the end of current calendar year. Indians are gradually warming up to electric scooters. Mahindra 2Wheelers is setting to join current market leader Electrotherm, with this latest development. Right now, most owners have used their electric vehicles for the short distant areas or short commutes across town. The company is developing electric scooters ranging from the entry-level 250W to the full works 1KW capacities
Spark on!
General Motors (GM) will be launching the electric version of Spark by the end of 2010 with its ‘Drive to Green’ initiative. The car will be India’s first 4-door passenger electric vehicle which will be manufactured by GM in collaboration with REVA electric car company. Spark is the most successful model of GM and the company plant in Halol rolled out the 100000th model after Travea. The company has already invested 1 billion dollars in India till date. In addition, they are targeting the Asia Pacific market and are planning to sell 1, 20,000 units per annum by the next fiscal year.
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
Origins Sony Ericsson’s flagship product for the Android enthusiasts is here!
A
ndroids and smartphones - two things that are making waves on the mobile front. And when these two come together for the first time for a company, the expectations are high and there is a need for justification. So when Sony Ericsson took a bit too long to bring Xperia X10 to the shelves, they had a pretty good reason. 4” capacitive touchscreen with WVGA resolution, 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, 8MP autofocus camera are some of the biggies to feature in X10. And to get the edge off the other devices, Sony has included two unique interfaces, Timescape and Mediascape. Fresh UI with the Android OS v1.6 with absolute customisation gives the X10 the eligibility to compete with the other leaders in the smartphone segment. Will it survive the battle? Take a look around X10 is built of matt plastic that not only looks solid but also feels as good. The use of plastic in place of metal has decreased the weight of the phone noticeably, without losing out on its design. The plastic used is of superb quality and everything around the phone has been fitted to perfection without a hint of error. In the front, the earpiece sits neatly in the middle above the display, no surprises there, with a light sensor and a status LED to its left and right respectfully. Below the display, three functional keys are lined up in the order - Menu, Home and Back. On the right side of the device, you will find two small but efficient controls - the camera shutter key and the volume rocker that also double as zooming control. While the left side is bare, except for the loudspeaker slit, the top of the handset is crowded with three functionalities - 3.5mm audio jack, power key and the microUSB port. The bottom of X10 has a lanyard port. Flip the X10 and you will find the 8 megapixel camera and LED flash. There is no protection for the camera, so it’s better to be careful. Hot-swap is not possible inside the X10, as the microSD card slot
is under the battery. Screen-shot Though the 4” monster of a display has a resolution of 854 x 480 pixels, the colour support is limited to 65K. Not a thing that will put you on the back foot, for Android v2.1 upgrade, which supports 16M colours is in the pipeline. The blue UI graphics looks refreshing with great contrast but restrained brightness plays it down. Picture quality is excellent and so is the sunlight eligibility. The sunlight eligibility is actually the best in recent times in a Sony Ericsson model. Not only the looks, but the sensitivity of the screen is top notch, just as you would expect of a capacitive touchscreen. Aided by the Snapdragon processor, the touchscreen doesn’t waste a nick of a second to respond. The only drawback in this capacitive touchscreen is that it doesn’t support multi-touch gestures. Hopefully this will also be taken care of once the Android upgrade is in place. Working the X Though the Android v1.6 is so outdated, the user interface is made interesting with the inclusion of Timescape and Mediascape, the two pillars of X10. Taking full benefit of the high speed processor, the X10’s UI is dynamic and fluid. The homescreen, menus and notifications have been revamped from the regular Android setup and look completely diverse. The Timescape gives you a cumulative display of your SMS, MMS, email, call logs, Facebook, Twitter and more updates. You needn’t stop with just seeing the updates from your friends but also reply to them, share your thoughts and even call them back. The advantage of Timescape is that you can use it as an app on your main menu or you can set it as your default homescreen. The Mediascape keeps all your media content i.e. music,
video and photo and lets you share them online instantly, except for the videos. All you have to do is connect to your online accounts and get access to your photos and music files. The Mediascape can be used as a media player and for file browsing in a much simpler way, but unlike Timescape, it cannot be used as a default homescreen. The call quality and reception are flawless, but no smart dialling though. The output of loudspeaker is ok. Messaging is assisted by an onscreen full QWERTY keyboard that is large and comfortable. And in the landscape mode, the typing experience is at its best. The Quickoffice document viewer will help you in viewing all the usual documents but for editing you need to buy the app separately. Integrating with Gmail app, it is possible to attach files , but you can’t download attachments.
and file transfers through microUSB port is also included. Browsing is fast and flawless. Flash support is absent in the browser. As for the applications, Android market has got thousands of apps across all platforms. Overall, the X10 makes for a great start for Sony Ericsson in the Android line-up. With regular updates on software and some tweaks, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 is sure to become smarter and more powerful in the future.
Camera and connectivity With a maximum resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels and low noise level, X10 is capable of producing great pictures with excellent colour detailing. Four capturing modes – normal, scene recognition, smile detection and touch capture – assist you in snapping pictures in varied situations. The camera interface allows options like geotagging, image stabilisation, self-timer and more. Video recording is done at 800 x 480 pixels of WVGA resolution at 30fps. Connectivity is obtained through quad-band GSM/ GPRS/EDGE, three localized versions - each with triband 3G, 7.2Mbps HSDPA and 2Mbps HSUPA. Wi-Fi b, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP
- BalaSubramaniam N
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ON SALE EXPRESS | MAY 7 - MAY 13 , 2010
Bharat Stage IV
k n o w . s p e a k . a c t
he Automobile sector in India has been growing annually at a rate of 10-14 per cent with a 25 + per cent rise in sales every year, according to the Indian Automobile Manufacturers society (Siam). No wonder, the demand for fuel has also been growing by leaps and bounds. Scientists say that Carbon monocide and other emissions from vehicles’ exhaust systems not only pollute the air we breathe, but also prevent heat generated from different sources to go up further into atmosphere.The resultant warming affects the general weather and human health.. Sulphur in fuel contributes to the formation of particulate matter that has serious health consequences. It was reported some weeks ago in a Chennai daily that the Chennai traffic police are taking nano steps towards checking vehicular air pollution. They have stationed 16 mobile units consisting of multi-gas analysers at various points. According to Mr M Ravi ACP, Traffic, random checks done recently revealed that some 8363 vehicles (3,599 in North Chennai, 3000 in Central Chennai and 1,764 in South Chennai) were found emitting carbon monoxide more than the permissible limits. He said that trucks were contributing more towards air pollution. In force from 1991: Realising the urgent need to reduce auto emissions, the Central Government evolved the Auto Fuel Policy in 2003 and laid down the road map for phase-wise implementation of Bharat Stage-II, III and IV vehicular emission and fuel standards across the country. Actually, stage I of emission norms was introduced in 1991 but was restricted to petrol driven vehicles. Later in 1992, emission norms for diesel vehicles came into force. There was a revision of norms in April 1995. According to the revised norms, every vehicle in the four metros of Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Chennai, had to be fitted with catalytic converters. Supply of unleaded petrol was
introduced that year. Bharat Stage-II norms, equivalent to Euro-II norms, came into effect from April 1, 2005, while 13 cities, with Delhi in the lead, were upgraded to the higher Bharat Stage-III norms from the same date. (According to Bharat Stage II standards, carbon monoxide emission for cars running on petrol should not exceed 3 per cent, while for diesel cars it is 5 per cent.) The other cities were:Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Agra, Lucknow and Solapur. Now, Bharat Stage IV emissions standards implemented in 13 cities this April will cut emissions by half from new vehicles, while Bharat Stage III standards are expected to reduce emissions by about 38 per cent from Bharat Stage II levels. BS IV (Bharat Stage 4) Emission norms provide the guidelines for the permissible emission levels. The Emission norms are classified under category of vehicles i.e. commercial vehicle, passenger vehicle, light vehicle, heavy duty vehicle etc. and further classified under Diesel & Petrol (Gasoline) engine. Many emission standards focus on regulating pollutants released by automobiles and other powered vehicles, but they can also regulate emissions from industry, power plants, small equipment such as lawn mowers and diesel generators.
As part of the petroleum sector’s endeavour to provide clean and green fuels to the nation and its people, supply of transportation fuels (petrol & diesel) conforming to Bharat Stage-IV norms was formally launched in New Delhi region on March 24. In order to produce fuels compliant with Bharat Stage III and IV norms, Indian refineries have made massive investments in quality improvement projects. Most refineries have completed and commissioned the fuel upgradation projects for both petrol and diesel.
focus
T
Fuel emission norms
Do not delay, says CSE: According to a statement issued by the Centre for Science and Environment, while the oil industry is phasing in the supply of the lower grade Bharat stage III fuels, the automobile industry wants the proposed emissions standards for vehicles deferred until the final date of phase-in of cleaner fuel, which is October. “The government must make both the automobile industry and the oil companies follow the same phase-in schedule for Bharat stage III fuels. Sixteen key states, except Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand and the north-eastern states, will have Bharat Stage III fuels by June and they must not be deprived of the benefits of improved vehicle technology and fuel quality,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, head of CSE’s air pollution team. - Correspondent
The position as regards Emission norms now are: BS IV: 13 Cities; BS II: Rest of India (BS III norms will be applicable in the rest of India from October 2010.) Accordingly, availability of products of Bharat Stage-IV norms has been ensured in all the 13 cities specified in the road map. The important measure is upgradation of petrol and diesel supplied from BS-II to BS-III norms in phases from April 2010 to be completed by this October.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, has announced a voluntary recall of about five lakh pieces of Targus Universal Wall Power Adapters for Laptops manufactured in China. It said that faulty wiring can melt the plastic encasing the connector tips, posing a burn hazard to consumers. As many as 518 incidents of the connector tips heating, 53 of which resulted in the melting of the plastic casings have been reported. These items were sold at WalMart, Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, Amazon.com and other retailers nationwide from June 2009 through March 2010.
Simplicity Cribs The CPSC has decided to recall Simplicity full-size cribs with tubular metal mattress-support frames. This recall includes fixed-side and drop-side cribs. These cribs pose a risk of serious injury or death due to entrapment, strangulation, suffocation and fall hazards to infants and toddlers. The crib’s tubular metal mattress-support frame can bend or detach and cause part of the mattress to collapse, creating a space into which an infant or toddler can roll and become wedged, entrapped or fall out of the crib.
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A division bench of Justice B.D.Ahmed and Justice Veena Birbal said, “With regard to the penalties of Rs.5 million and Rs.2.5 million of the impugned order, we find that the State Commission does not have any power for making a penalty order other than the power given under Section 27 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.” The court also expunged the remarks of the commission against telecom regulator Telecom Regulation Authority of India over unsolicited commercial calls made on consumer’s phone.
The court set aside the State Commission observation that if any consumer gets pesky calls from the companies, he is liable to get a compensation of Rs.25,000 and said: “This, to our mind, also amounts to legislation, a power the State Consumer Forum does not possess. Whether it is the District Consumer Forum or the State Consumer Forum or the National Consumer Forum, they have to function within the precincts of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and they have to decide the quantum of compensation on a case to case basis. They cannot fix a minimum or maximum compensation when no such minimum or maximum is provided under the Act.” “We feel that the cellular operators must ensure this menace of unsolicited commercial communications is reduced and put an end to,” the Bench said.
product recalls
Power adapters for laptops
The Delhi High Court has pulled up the State Consumer Commission for overstepping its powers and asked it to refund the penalty of Rs.7.5 million slapped on Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank and American Express over annoying calls.
legal jottings
Consumer Panel pulled up
Speak Out! Readers are invited to share with us their grievances about products or the outcome of any complaint taken to a retailer or service provider, for publication. E-mail us at in.editor@ingen.in
ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
Tale of 2 Wheels A bike can tell more about you, but is it telling the truth?
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n the busy traffic of Chennai, riding a bike needs a special talent. To pass through the smallest gaps available and cutting between other vehicles, you should be alert and your sixth sense needs to be active. And here I am, looking at the countdown of the traffic signal, ready to race before others. That’s when I noticed a Yamaha R15 standing next to me. I always liked the bike except for the thin tyres, so it was natural for me to give a glance at the machine. When I looked at the rider my heart wailed right through my mouth. A 50-something old man was holding its handlebar, with a smirk in his face when he saw me. Still sneering, he helmed the helmet and went whizzing through the traffic leaving me at his wake. That’s when I realised something. Bikes reflect your attitude and at times can give you one. But are you riding the right attitude? Well, here’s a look at the bikes in the offering for your persona. Miles bring me smiles It is believed, rightfully, that the way the fuel prices are rising, soon they will out chase gold prices. So if you are the ones who travel a lot and want to save money on fuel, these entry level commuter bikes give you their wheels to support your deeds. The commuter segment, undoubtedly, is growing enormously and is the largest in
the two-wheeler industry. They offer the best mileage figures and are the least expensive. And you will be spoilt with the choice that they offer. Every major manufacturer has got a flagship product in this segment that will be their best selling model. Hero Honda has the ever popular Splendor Plus, Passion Plus, CD Dawn and Splendor NXG. TVS has got its reliable Star City. Bajaj has Discover, which has taken the 100cc segment by storm, and Platina, both with the company’s twin spark technology. To their credit, Yamaha Motors have Libero G5 and Crux. Supposedly, these bikes are low in their style quotient. But this has been changing in recent times, as the bikes have been getting revamped looks with attractive graphics works and design. Honda CB Twister is one such bike to offer both style and fuel economy that caters to the needs of a regular commuter. Suits best with people who are simple, travel around a lot and starters. Between the bridge For those who want a bit more power than the basic models with fuel economy getting the least hit, the 125cc – 135cc segment is well suited. The mileage is great, but not as good as 100cc-ers. Comfort and styling are given more attention with this group. Bajaj has got their XCD and the recently launched Pulsar 135. Honda has also got two entries in the form of Shine and Stunner. Hero Honda and TVS have one model each, Glamour and Flame re-
spectively. The bikes in this segment look good with college students and those who look for both style and fuel economy. For the young and vibrant After the entry level 100cc, bike companies expand their base with 150cc segment. The range of bikes available is also on the rise here. Bikes like TVS Apache, Bajaj Pulsar, Hero Honda Xtreme and Hunk, Honda Unicorn have already proven their worth. While Yamaha’s Gladiator doesn’t create that much of a fuss, their FZ series has created a revolution of sorts. A new entrant in the segment is the Suzuki GS-150R. These bikes are for showcasing your machismo side. While the fuel economy is not anything to boast about, these bikes are for the working youth of the nation. They radiate youthfulness and are full of energy. Too fast for you These are the guys, and bikes, who want to show that they are of a different league. With power in their hands, they are not susceptible to anyone. Hero Honda’s Karizma has been the first to start the trend and with the newly refurbished ZMR FI, it intends to continue. Bajaj Pulsar 200 and 220 provide the alternative option at a lesser cost. Again, Yamaha with its R15 model has brought in a new perspec-
tive for racing. And then there is the Kawasaki Ninja that beats all others both in performance and cost. The bikes and dudes of this segment make for a deadly combination and present a momentum that is unmatched by others. So, the guys who just can’t wait to race, this one is for you. Cruise Crew This segment doesn’t boast of sales as much as others but has got a separate group of followers. They have high morale (some of them think they do) and prefer to stay unique. Royal Enfield has been their steed for over many decades and why not. Bullet Electra, Machismo, Thunderbird and the latest Classic all offer ultimate driving, or cruising, experience. Gone are the days where only politicians (with white shirt, dhoti and sandals) and servicemen were riding the Bullet. With a complete change in design and approach, the bikes have taken a liking by the younger generation also. Bajaj Avenger 200 is also a good alternative for the cruisers. Whatever be the case, select your bike that matches your physical appearance and attitude. Judge by your instinct and choose your ride that matches your personality. Leave others in your wake. I still can’t stand the image of that 50-plus guy in a R15. - BalaSubramaniam N
Road Rules
Men at work You have to be careful when you see this sign. Because you don’t know who is working doing on what. They may belong to the electricity board or the water department or the telephone department. The roads will be narrowed down to a single lane and being carefully is important to avoid damage to you or your vehicle. Most of the times you wouldn’t find anyone working but hey why take the risk?
Follow Traffic Rules
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Wear your Seat Belts
Have a Safe Drive
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ON SALE EXPRESS | MAY 7 - MAY 13 , 2010
i n n o v a t e . i n t e r a c t . i n s p i r e
I love you mommy! It is mother’s day again! So, we asked some of Chennai’s lovely girls what they thought of their moms and they all seem to believe that their mom was the best! When I was a kid she was like a monster to me always after me to study or drink milk. At times, I even thought she was partial to my brother...but one night, after putting my brother to sleep she came and gently kissed me, and that was the day I felt really guilty for blaming her all those years, I realised that even if she never showed it out she always cared for me the same way she did for my brother. I love you mom for everything you have done for me. On a scale of 1 to 10, my mom’s a perfect 10! - Aashita Sawani Every day is mother’s day. She is my life’s most precious gift. She seems to be cleaning and cooking all the time. And I know, no work is harder than hers. She takes care of not only her daughter (that’s me) but also my daughter with all the love she’s been giving me till this moment. Long live all mothers and thank God for them! - Sujini Balaji She is my best friend, whenever I ask her something, I get it at once. I also love to fight with her. I do love her a lot, except for the times when she asks me to study. Happy mother’s day mommy! - Sherley Ambroise
- Sujini B ala ji
ise
ro y Amb - Sher le
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ON SALE EXPRESS |
MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
Power of Solar
Color Craze Dear Kids,
T
mad lab
his is a period where we experience sudden power cuts and Solar Plant is the device that gives you a hand in charging your gadgets. The electric plant provides alternative energy to run portable electric gadgets by transforming sunlight into electric energy through a flowerpot shaped charging photosynthesis. The cover features solar panels that generate electric energy through photosynthesis and store the energy into the battery. Connect the plant with the particular electronic gadget to recharge the battery of the same.
Little Daisy Duck is going for a walk and will be elated if you could join her.
Colour this picture and mail your artwork to in.creativity@ingen.in (or)
to the address below within the next ten days (by May 17, 2010) to win exciting prizes!
Did you know? Cows can have regional accents
What u say,
eh!?
Winner for 30th Issue: Sampath Porur.
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RNI No. : TNENG/2009/30433
ON SALE EXPRESS | MAY 7 - MAY 13, 2010
Misadventure Follows A date you’ll remember, for at least a week!
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l i g h t . c a m e r a . a c t i o n
outine life that kills romance and the worried couple making an attempt to salvage their marriage is routine enough to kill your interest. But wait, you have Tina Fey and Steve Carell in the cast. So, here’s another rom-com ride for you! Phil (Carrel) and Claire Foster (Fey) are your normal couple who wear nasal strips and mouth guards to sleep. And yes, they have a pair of kids to vaporize whatever energy is left out of their fairly boring careers. They do have their routine date nights which obviously started to fade out too. So, when close friends decide to divorce due to a similar situation, they decide to save their marriage and make an attempt to bring back the fire in their romance. What better way than to dress up nicely and go to a really nice restaurant in Manhattan.
Written: Josh Klausner Starring: Steve Carell Tina Fey James Franco Taraji P. Henson Mark Wahlberg Ray Liotta
the car sequence for one, could have been cut short. The scenes towards the end aren’t suitable for kids, well, Indian kids at least. But, this one is just a good at heart romantic comedy, so go for it and laugh out loud. You might even get an opportunity to nudge at your partner when things get too familiar. Have a nice date guys!
Music: Christophe Beck Cinematography: Dean Semler Editing: Dean Zimmerman
- Catherine Gilon
So, Mr. and Mrs. Foster end up in ‘Claw’, the niche restaurant but this time, they end up in the wrong table though. And boy, was it a big mistake? It sure was, for the Triplehorns whose reservations they stole seem to have missed it on purpose to avoid major trouble. So, the case of mistaken identity gets our lead couple into a tight spot. The Triplehorns steal a flash drive from the bad guy which now the Fosters have to find to save their day and date. Throw in crooked cops, obscene cops and some limousines, and there, you have action too. Claire suddenly decides to take help from her rather hot client who also happens to be a security agent. And voila, you have Mark Wahlberg flaunting his shirtless body much to the dismay of Phil. This sequence has one of those ‘laugh-aloud’ moments as opposed to the mildly funny grin that you wear throughout the movie. Then, of course, they meet the real Triplehorns who seem to be caught in their own romantic tangle and then you have the ultimate encounter with bad guy (surprise, Ray Liotta!). The lead couple have some really funny moves here and good dose of action as well (I really don’t want to give this one away). This film has some really funny moments but combining romance, comedy and action in a single movie is rather ambitious even for a talented director like Shawn Levy. The script kind of lags in some scenes,
POPCORN Juicy gossips heard at the interval... One guy to his girlfriend (I think) Hey, I think we should go and come back after few years. What say? A cool-looking aunty to her husband No, not kids again! Husband to his pretty wife See, that’s why I tell we need to reserve our tables before… And wife replies back, “But hey, I never know whether my husband will make it or not..”
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Directed: Shawn Levy
ter
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0 80/1
’s ovie m s ing. Thi t is r pric tor fo e c a k f ey tic h the k t ent is m wor in terta ion:
Caut
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Published and Owned by Girish Nara and published from Flat-B, Plot-3, Nahar Garden Apts, Kannappa Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai - 41. and printed by Girish Nara at Vasan Print Products Pvt. Ltd., No.72, North Phase, SIDCO Industrial Estate, Ambattur, Chennai - 98. Editor: Girish Nara