Smartbuy issue dated April 15, 2011

Smartbuy Business Line

G A D G E T S

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

A U T O |

L U X U R Y

Raising the bar?

New VW Passat tested Page 8

www.blsmartbuy.com

WHAT’S HOT this week Twice the power!

Team Smartbuy

LG Optimus 2X

Editorial Anushya Mamtora

LG Electronics slid the covers off the LG Optimus 2X, the world’s first smartphone with a dual-core processor. The Tegra 2 processor makes for faster, smoother web browsing and applications and lets users multitask with virtually no lag. The LG Optimus 2X comes with two cameras – front and rear – and offers 1080p HD video playback and recording with HDMI mirroring that expands content on external displays to full HD quality.

anushya@thehindu.co.in

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala ketaki@thehindu.co.in

Mahananda Bohidar mahananda@thehindu.co.in

S. Muralidhar muraliswami@thehindu.co.in

Design Bryan Gaughan aqua@thehindu.co.in

Balakrishnan designkbala@thehindu.co.in

Advertising Contact R. Diwakar ramdiwakar@thehindu.co.in

Web Advertising Contact N. Amarnath amarnath@thehindu.co.in

www.blsmartbuy.com

Rs 30,000

Become a fan of our Facebook page: BL Smartbuy Follow us on Twitter

Cover photo: S. Muralidhar

Multimedia magic

Asus N53Jq

With the all new Intel Core i7 inside, the Asus N53Jq features the exclusive SonicMaster technology, co-developed by Bang & Olufsen ICEpower, bringing life-like audio to the notebook. True Theater software upscales DVD-quality video to Full HD while ASUS Splendid technology optimises media files, reducing noise and improving conversion rates for sharper images with better contrast, brightness and colour saturation across all video applications.

Rs 68,999

Stylish shooting

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FX77 This 12.1-meg slim digicam is the latest in the LUMIX series. It features a 3.5-inch touch screen LCD, and is capable of full HD recording. The camera comes with an f/2.5 24mm ultra wide LEICA lens, with 5x zoom.

The camera is equipped with a variety of scene modes and comes with Face Detection and Face Recognition. It comes in a variety of colours including pink, gold, black and silver.

To be announced

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Wireless wonder

Creative ZiiO For a company known for its audio devices, its no wonder that Creative’s ZiiO tablet claims to offer the best wireless audio performance. Based on an Android 2.2 OS, the tablet is available in 7-inch (white) and 10inch (black) sizes. You can hook up Creative’s range of Bluetooth speakers and headphones, and stream highdef videos using the HDMI-out slot. Both tablets are available in 8 GB and 16 GB capacities, with storage expandable up to 32 GB.

Rs 17,999 (7-inch) Rs 21,999 (10-inch)

Get things closer

Fujifilm S3300

The new S3300 digicam from Fujifilm comes with a 26x zoom lens. The 14-meg camera has functions like Face Detection, auto red-eye removal, multi-frame playback and Photobook assist features. The new camera also boasts award-winning Fujinon optics and 24mm wide-angle lenses with bright 3-inch LCD screen to playback all your photos.

Rs 15,999

The centre of attention

Sony Vaio S Series This sleek new laptop from Sony is the ultimate mobile PC, with a screen size of 13.3-inches and weight of just 1.71 kg. Its aluminium palm-rest and magnesium body make it light weight and rugged, and backlit keyboard and multi-touch keyboard add to its functionality. The laptop is powered by Intel Core i7 processor and AMD Radeon HD 6630M GPU with 1GB VRAM. Six hours of battery life with an optional Extended Battery for up to 12 hours of juice means you can power up on the go.

Rs 56,990 onwards

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SMARTPHONE review

GAMING Gaming gets a potential boost with a three-axis gyroscope.

Games so far involve moving a oating shape by waving the phone back and forth. That could lead to some interesting conversations on public transport, if nothing else.

NFC CHIP NFC (Near Field Communication) is a way of transmitting and receiving data over short distances. Applications include travel cards and contactless payment systems. Hailed as the next big thing for quite some time now without ever actually happening.

Your next partner-in-crime?

Google Nexus S

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he Google Nexus One was a fine handset scuppered by Google’s insistence on selling it solely through its own store – cue thousands of anguished message board posts from users starved of customer support. This, the first handset with Android 2.3, is hardly a radical update, but it is at least listed on Flipkart and Infibeam, which is better than shady grey market deals.

Design The Nexus S has been built by Samsung, which knows a thing or two about hardware design, and Google’s Android 2.3 OS is better than ever, so this has plenty of promise. However, while the plastickiness has been dialled back significantly compared to the Samsung Galaxy S, it still feels less weighty and looks less handsome than the iPhone 4.

The handset is “vanilla” Android and lacks the contact and social networking integration of third-party skins such as HTC Sense, although arguably it runs a little faster as a result.

Display Generous without being oversized, the fourinch, 800x480 screen is exceptionally bright and sharp. AMOLED technology provides an excellent contrast ratio and reasonable viewing off-axis, while performance in daylight is actually better than on many LCD screens.

HD movie clips look particularly good, with impressive contrast. With a 1GHz Hummingbird processor and 512MB of RAM the Nexus S never feels sluggish. A dedicated graphics chip means no slow-down even while streaming content from YouTube. Flash videos have no issues with lag, although quality isn’t always fantastic.

The touchscreen is generally very responsive too. On picture-rich websites, pinch to zoom can be a little sluggish but this is not an issue on the majority of sites. Still images taken with the five-meg camera are good without being fantastic. The flash does a decent job of illuminating dimmer rooms but the shutter isn’t lightning quick and there’s no dedicated camera button.

The 720x480 video is less competent, being soft, blocky and generally disappointing.

Performance

GOOGLE MAPS 5.0

Wi-Fi

The Nexus S will have this navigation update, which adds 3D mapping. You’ll be able to scroll in close to a city and see key buildings in 3D, using gestures to move around. Our review sample only had Google Maps 4.7

The Nexus S can act as a virtual Wi-Fi hotspot, providing an internet connection for up to six other compatible devices, from laptops to tablets.

It’s the hub for your entire portable office

This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rights reserved

Battery life on our sample was more impressive, easily lasting into a second day of web browsing, music playback and calls. Finally, Google’s improved the virtual keyboard, with more space between the keys, more intelligent auto-correction and multi-touch support so you can quickly swap between numeric and alphanumeric keyboards.

Our verdict SIM-free, the Nexus S is cheaper than the 16GB iPhone and offers a comparable if not quite equal experience. Its only problem is that the market is now awash with high quality Android handsets, and we’re not convinced that an NFC chip and three-axis gyroscope are enough to turn heads its way. Still, as criticisms go, “Yet another excellent Android phone,” is hardly damning, is it?

Love - Very quick, excellent screen, slick interface Hate - No microSD slot, no HD video capture, disappointing build for the price, manages to be hugely competent without being especially exciting

GAME review

Go for the trigger! !!There was a time when survival horror games were content with scaring gamers.

Today, a sense of catharsis is equally important. After skulking around in the darkness for hours, wetting their pants at sudden noises, players want to inflict some serious pain on their tormentors. Dead Space 2 feeds that primal urge. It allows you to dismember, stomp and eviscerate the enemy in gruesome ways. It is one of the few games that treads the line between horror and action with such flair that it would make Clive Barker proud.

The sequel Dead Space 2 takes place nearly three years after the events of Dead Space on an enormous space station called the Sprawl.

Isaac Clarke, the protagonist from the first game, finds himself on the Sprawl, but his traumatic experience aboard the Ishimura has messed him up for good. His memory is failing him and he’s constantly haunted by images of the girlfriend he failed to save.

This overpowering guilt mixed with trauma gives way to a severe case of dementia, where Isaac has trouble differentiating fiction from reality. As if seeing random flashes of his dead girl wasn’t bad enough, another Necromorph infestation breaks out on the Sprawl, leaving Isaac to fight for survival.

Since the action has now shifted out of

the Ishimura, players are treated to tons of environmental variety that was lacking in the first game. Dead Space largely took place aboard a derelict ship, so players were subjected to a lot of metallic corridors, labs, and more corridors. Without spoiling anything for you, we can say that problem has been taken care of, as Dead Space 2 will have players exploring some truly diverse and messed up levels. Don’t let the word “explore” throw you off; you’ll still have to move from point A to B killing anything and everything that crosses your path. However, exploration is encouraged as breaking away from the pre-defined path will allow players to come across money, ammo and audio logs that provide

a certain amount of backdrop to the story.

Inside the game Gameplay in Dead Space 2 is pretty much the same as its predecessor. Played from a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, Isaac must slowly navigate dark and dimly lit areas and kill... well, everything. A lot of the game’s tense atmosphere stems from the fact that Isaac controls like a tank.

Slowing down players’ movements like this ups the dread factor significantly.

Newer gameplay mechanics, such as the ability to navigate and fight in space, have also been introduced. Isaac now lives up to his moniker of Engineer and will have to fix and hack a lot more stuff than he did in

the first game.

Thanks to this engineering background, Isaac can also use the tools of his trade like plasma cutters, line guns, etc. to inflict some serious pain. Expanding on his arsenal from the first game are a bunch of new weapons, all of which pack a mean punch.

Special mention goes out to the Javelin Gun that allows you to impale Necromorphs across walls and ceilings. Spread out across the Sprawl are upgrade stations, where players can improve several attributes of their weapons, like capacity, damage, etc. Killing enemies, stomping on crates and looking around will grant Isaac currency that he can use to pick up new weapons, health packs and better suits.

Weapons, unfortunately, can only be upgraded via power nodes that you have to find or buy.

Strategy EA’s head honcho John Riccitiello has proclaimed his love for multiplayer and keeping his wish (and their jobs) in mind, Visceral have introduced competitive play into the world of Dead Space. We would have been miffed if Visceral had compromised on the single player campaign to work on the game’s multi-player, but thankfully it isn’t so.

Multiplayer in Dead Space 2 pits humans against Necromorphs in a series of

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objective based maps. The soldiers wield a bunch of weapons from the campaign, while the Necromorphs have to be content with projectile attacks (vomiting, spitting, etc) and/or up-close-and-personal melee attacks.

It may seem relatively simple at first, but it does require a certain amount of strategy and skill to succeed, especially while playing as the aliens. Racking up kills and generally playing well will level players up, allowing them to unlock newer armour and weapons. This form of multi-player may have been done better in Left 4 Dead already and it’s certainly no Call of Duty or Battlefield, but it is entertaining nevertheless.

Graphics Visually, Dead Space 2 is stunning. It’s still a very dark game, but you can see that Visceral have upped the visuals significantly. Blood and gore are still a very integral part of this franchise and this game features more blood and guts than pretty much anything in recent times. Voice acting is actually pretty nice and Isaac has been given a lot more personality this time around. He’s no longer a mute and expresses fear, anguish and rage like a normal person would. Well, as normal as a person thrust in the midst of un-dead, reanimating aliens would.

Our verdict Dead Space 2 is not for everyone. It’s unrelenting, violent, incredibly gory and downright creepy. It does a good job of completely immersing players in its twisted world, grabbing them by the family jewels while pummeling them with non-stop thrills. And just when you think your fragile little mind can take no more, the game hands you some serious firepower and encourages you to go completely medieval on your enemies.

Besides the rather hefty 12-hour single player campaign, it also ships with an enjoyable multi-player mechanic that increases its life significantly. If competitive gaming isn’t your thing, you can always replay the campaign, with all the weapons and armor you unlocked in your first play through.

Whichever way you look at it, Dead Space 2 is a solid game that provides ample bang for your buck.

Love - Violent and satisfying gameplay, immersive, never resorts to cheap scares, multiplayer is an added bonus Hate - If you didn’t like the first game, this will not change your mind Price - Rs 999 (PC); Rs 2,499 (PS3, Xbox 360) Platform - PC, Xbox 360, PS3, iOS devices Publisher - EA Developer - Visceral Games CHIP Smartbuy

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AUTO

focus

VW Passat shines under the Goan sun

Photos: S. Muralidhar

S. Muralidhar o put it succinctly, it will always be difficult for successors of successful cars to be as successful.

Case in point – the new Volkswagen Passat.

Can it better the outgoing model? Can it beat the benchmark set by the predecessor? We drive it in Goa – the sun-and-sand capital of India – to find out.

The new Passat has been criticised by some as being too close to the predecessor inside and behind what doesn’t meet the eye. But, clearly every thing about it seems new to the onlooker. There is a lot more that is different in the new package and that which you can only feel.

This is the seventh generation Passat and it is now in India, just a few months after its global debut. To knock a few punches at that existing benchmark VW India has also launched the new Passat with a fancy set of new features and a killer price tag.

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Design

nology that you’ll see at the bottom right of the boot lid.

We’ll get to that a little later.

Inside the new Passat, the theme is dark grey or beige and there are a number of luxury trim choices. Aluminum panels, walnut-burr wood trim and a lot of VW trademark simplicity in the layout and knobs give you a sense of sitting inside a car that belongs in a segment that is just above the Passat. The seats are also plush and thickly bolstered to provide a nice comfy position. Depending on the variant you choose, there is also the option of perforated, climate-controlled leather seats.

With a large windscreen, there is a lot of glass area and so the interior of the new Passat is well-lit and in the peak of summer could also mean a lot of sun. But there are a number of features that the Passat is being offered with that will keep the interiors quite cool. There is of course the roll-up sunscreen at the rear and the sandwiched, laminated window glass should help the cabin cool down quicker. The windscreen glass also features acoustic lami-

The new Passat in its first reveal has apparently borrowed a lot from its bigger, more luxurious sibling – the Phaeton.

The bi-xenon headlamps and the tail-lamps hark back to the Phaeton’s and the new Passat’s proportions also seem to have gotten a bit more generous. The lines all around the new Passat have become sharper and more pronounced. A new LED daytime running lights strip has been integrated into the headlamps, a crisp four-slatted bonnet grille, and a large airdam with loads of chrome accents make the front of the new Passat appear plusher.

But, though the new Passat’s design enables it to merge seamlessly with the other VW family cars, there is a bit the predecessor’s uniqueness missing.

The side profile is also sharper now, with the shoulder line and lower character line now being crisper. The rear of the Passat is even more Phaeton-like. It is a simple backside with VW’s signature lines and prominent badging. There is also the new appendage BlueMotion TechSmartbuy

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nation to keep out the noise.

Volkswagen is clearly targeting the back bencher with the new Passat. Not that this is a bad marketing strategy in a market like ours, where most buyers in the segment choose to handover their expensive super luxury cars to their chauffeurs to drive. With the amount of attention that has gone into keeping out noise and vibration, and the amount of damping that the suspension has been tuned for, the new Passat should be more of a delight for the owner at the rear than it would be for the self-driving owner who is on the look out for a sporty ride.

Performance The new Passat is being offered in three trim variants – Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. We drove the Highline trim with the six-speed DSG automatic gearbox. The Trendline variant is offered with the six-speed manual gearbox. Both the gearboxes are paired with VW’s twolitre (1,968cc), four-cylinder common rail diesel engine.

This is the only engine option and, frankly, a smart choice (as yet) given the preferences of buyers in this segment.

Generating a peak output of 170PS, the engine offers a 20 per cent hike in power compared to the previous Passat. That is a considerable jump in performance despite the marginal increase in weight of the car (thanks the many new features). The engine also delivers most of the power as the engine rpm level crosses the 4,000 mark. The peak torque of 350 Nm also kicks in as the engine rpm level nears the 2,000 mark, which is all pretty good for its class of vehicle.

The DSG dual clutch gearbox is also pretty impressive with its ability to do really fast shifts. This automatic gearbox gets a dual clutch combo that enables one to be in standby even as the other is engaged. The shifts themselves are barely discernable, though there seems to be a lag in transmission of the driver inputs/ information when you stomp the throttle. The gearbox waits just a noticeable

bit as it decides the correct slot to match the driver demand.

As we drove the new Passat around Goa inside the small fishing villages, along coast stretches and the crowded market places, there is a remarkable sense of isolation and calm inside the cabin. The engine’s refinement comes through during hard acceleration and the noise from the aircon vent is more audible. The steering is well-weighted and precise, though a little more feedback would have been welcome.

Though there are a lot of features that seem to be oriented towards making the Passat more comfortable for the owner in the rear bench, that hasn’t stopped VW from loading up a few that will be better appreciated if the new Passat were to be self-driven. The fatigue detection system that warns the driver if he seems to be drowsy or distracted is one, as are the 12-way adjustable front seats with active airconditioning and the nifty new Parking Assist system with the rear camera hidden behind the circular VW badge on the boot lid. There is also the triptronic manual gear selection option using steering mounted paddles for those who like a sportier drive and then there is the auto dimming exterior mirrors.

BlueMotion Technologies The new Passat is offered with VW’s proprietary BlueMotion Technologies package for the first time. The bunch of eco-friendly systems that the package offers are meant enable a reduction is emissions and improve fuel efficiencies. Apart from the frugal engine and the DSG gearbox that together contribute to reducing the fuel consumed compared to a similar powertrain without this technogy, the most prominent of the range of refinements included is the Start/Stop system.

The Passat’s system automatically shuts off the engine when the driver brakes to a halt and then the engine comes alive again the moment the driver touches the throttle

pedal. There is also brake energy recuperation, which recaptures the energy during braking (that would otherwise be lost) and converting it to power the batteries.

While the DSG dual clutch gearbox is said to be finely tuned to optimise fuel consumption, in the manual gearbox, a gear shift indicator in the info display is meant to prompt the driver to select the most appropriate gear slot for the current driving cycle.

Despite all the good intentions, there may be a few features in the new Passat that might just be more of a novelty and/ or they might end up being impractical. The Park Assist is one of them, needing more space for it work efficiently than what you might find in the average Indian car park area. Even after a few trails, in an open parking lot, it might still be quite difficult for the average driver to let the car’s systems completely take control of the parking process. But, yes, it is quite a novelty to watch the car’s systems take over the steering process and all you need to do after choosing the right parking (parallel or perpendicular) pattern is to control the throttle and brake.

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The Start/Stop system is another that just might get a bit annoying in extremely slow-moving, stop and go traffic, though it will achieve the goal of saving some fuel for you.

Bottomline The new Passat packs in a lot more – like a electric slide sunroof, more safety features like the airbags all around, hill hold control and the usuals like ABS, EBD and TCS. There is also a rough road package to keep the occupants even more relaxed in bad terrain. Fuel efficiency numbers, the driver fatigue system and the rear ride quality could not be experienced or verified during our test drive.

Clearly, the new Passat is packed to the gills with features and will be good value for the new prices that have been announced ranging from Rs 20.8 lakh for the Trendline to Rs 25.65 lakh for the comfortline (both ex-showroom, Delhi). Remember it is a diesel and it is a Passat! For existing owners of the Passat, it can be a difficult decision to make to replace. After all, Passats don’t get tired, seem go on and on, and retain their value too.

Snapshots: Volkswagen Passat Plush interiors (Top) New design electrical door mirror (right) Daytime running LED lights (left) Tyre pressure monitor & parking assist in the Highline trim (Bottom right)

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AUTO news

Glitterati and chatterati can now buy a Maserati high performance and custom-made exclusivity in its three model lines. The Quattroporte will be the flag-ship sedan, the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible will all be made available to Indian buyers. Simone Niccolai, Managing Director of Maserati Asia Pacific says that Maserati will also bring in the global experience in service, customer interactivity and network management

Photo: S. Muralidhar

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he Italian luxury car marque – Maserati, which adopted a wait-and-watch approach for many years, has finally announced plans to enter the Indian market.

The Modena-based luxury and sports car manufacturer has tied-up with the successful Indian luxury retailer – the Shreyans Group for the foray. The brand will open its first Indian showroom in Mumbai later this year and a second dealership will be thrown open in New Delhi in the first half of 2012. Long term plans include opening outlets in seven Indian cities by 2015.

Maserati will be bringing in its uniquely Italian brand of

of Maserati professionals to the dealerships in India.

With the demand in India being strongly inclined towards chauffeur-driven saloons, Maserati is predicting that the sedan range will absorb 80 per cent of its buys in India, with the remaining 20 per cent choosing the GranTurismo coupe and the GranCabrio convertible. India will be the 63rd market for Maserati worldwide.

Maserati has had a long history and tradition of racing and a reputation for sexy, hand-built super luxury sports cars.

Its unique tradition of offering the same engines that it

Ford indulges in a new Fiesta

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ven as we wait for the new global Fiesta to roll out of Ford’s India plant, the current Fiesta sedan gets a stylish and aesthetic twist. To offer buyers a new option, Ford has launched the Fiesta Classic. This new offering gets a refreshing new Ebony and Jasper Blue coloured instrument panel, a new centre and floor console finished in Graphic Metallic, new seats with soft feel fabric and enhanced dual-tone door trims.

In addition, all the product variants will display the ‘Classic’ moniker and it will be available in a new body colour – Colorado Red. It features the same 1.6 Duratec and 1.4 Duratorq powertrain options, which promise to deliver the optimum mix of performance and frugal fuel consumption. The Fiesta Classic will be available in three variants LXI, CLXI and SXI, each offering both petrol and diesel engine options. The petrol variants are priced Rs 5,49,030 onwards (ex-showroom, Delhi) and diesel variants from Rs 6,48,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

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races, in its road-worthy cars too, has given Maserati a special position in this category.

The Quattroporte (literally means four door in Italian) is a consistent performer for Maserati worldwide and is one of the most popular in the company’s fourth largest market – China. The model has won over 56 major international design and automotive awards.

The performance flagship of the four-door range is the Quattroporte Sport GT S. With its sports exhaust system freeing up more power, the car’s 4.7-litre V8 engine boasts 440 bhp of raw power at 7,000 rpm. The Quattroporte Sport GT S retains the Quattroporte S’ 490Nm of torque, but directs its performance more aggressively.

The GransTurismo range on the other hand is claimed to be one of the most beautiful cars of its generation.

Designed by Pininfarina, the GranTurismo was one of the earliest sports cars that could carry four adults.

Available with the 4.2-litre V8 producing 405 bhp at 7,100 rpm or the 4.7-litre all-alloy V8 engine and the electro-actuated six-speed transaxle gearbox, the GranTurismo and the GranTurismo S are capable of speeds of over 280 kmph.

The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is the fastest, lightest and most powerful in the model line-up.

Inspired by the Trofeo GransTurismo MC and the racewinning GT4 motorsport programmes, this model has more power and sharp handling and is capable of a topspeed of 301 kmph.

The GranCabrio is a full four-seat convertible. It has the longest wheelbase in its segment and yet boasts classleading structural rigidity, added safety, comfort and handling ability. Want to go topless? The roof folds neatly into the rear in just 20 seconds.

Prices for the Maserati models (ex-showroom, Delhi) will range from about Rs 1.20 crore for the GranTurismo 4.2 automatic to Rs 1.43 crore for the Quattroporte Sport GTS 4.7 and the GranCabrio 4.7.

PREMIUM interiors

Gadget haven for gizmo-freak tweens

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Kids too old for toys? It can be tough to find the right bedroom décor for this age group. Throw in a TV, console, music player and some fun tech stuff and your children will be thrilled to get grounded!

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music, movies and not disturbing your peace. The light magnesium frame ensures comfort, while the wood housing gives a natural sound. The cable is 3m long with a gold-plated plug.

Rs 30,000

Creative range by MAB Festooned with black and white symbols from the world of music, this beech wood furniture has white and red fronts.

Rs 2.5 lakh (chair and mattress not included)

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Xbox 360 250GB and Fable III controller No kid’s room is complete without a console. Pair the Xbox 360 with this limited edition Fable III controller.

Xbox 360 - Rs 21,990 controller - Rs 2,500

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Denon AH-D5000

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O’Neill Moving Day rucksack for work or school. The straps are well padded and it’s machine washable.

Rs 2,500

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Retro Sweets Two kilos of sweets for the ultimate sugar rush.

Rs 2,000

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LaCie Skwarim This 60GB USB hard drive with LaCie Backup Assistant software is designed by award-winning creative Karim Rashid.

Rs 4,500

On-ear headphones for

EXTRAS

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Sony RDH-SK8iP This 75W iPod speaker dock with remote control comes with a choice of interchangeable graphic fascias. The artistic can also create their own.

Rs 11,000

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Entertainment full-on!

AVERLIFE HD STUDIO MEDIA PLAYER

To sink in HERMAN MILLER UNION JACK AERON

A reasonably-priced media player with a card reader slot, two USBs and an Ethernet port for streaming movies over the network. The kids can watch their fav flicks in full HD via HDMI and control all of this with the remote control. If only you had it so good when you were that age.

Built for the office but perfect for an older child’s den, this stunning Herman Miller chair offers the ultimate support while they do their homework. With adjustable height, tilt and armrests, it’s engineered to properly support the spine. The Pellicle weave fabric is breathable too.

Rs 73,000

RS 5,500 Smartbuy

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This material is translated or reproduced from T3 magazine and is the copyright of or licensed to Future Publishing Limited, a Future plc group company, UK 2011. Used under license. All rights reserved

Sonic slabs LOGITECH LAPTOP SPEAKER Z305

And so, to bed PURE SIESTA MI Lull your little darlings to restful sleep with this bedside radio with eight DAB and eight FM presets. A light sensor adjusts the display brightness depending on the lighting level and there’s a large Snooze button if they’re not quite ready to get up yet.

Also comes in white.

Rs 3,000

Whether they’re listening to Grooveshark, watching movies or streaming web radio, boost your child’s laptop audio with these USB -powered speakers. The slim sound bar securely clips on to most laptops/ netbooks and can be carted around in the included travel case too.

Rs 3,695

*All prices are approximate

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MELANGE luxury redefined

Premier pens Parker’s latest addition to fine writing instruments is its Premier collection of fountain, roller ball and ball point pens crafted in precious metals.

Available in five models at select stationery and lifestyle stores.

Rs 5,500 to Rs 16,500

Are you a Fan? You will be, if you set your eyes on this cheery Fan Shoulder Bag from Fendi. With golden/silver hardware, tonal topstitching and an option to choose from blue or pink lambskin, the bag is available at its boutique, Emporio Mall, New Delhi.

Rs 61,130

A sensual Ricci The pop of red in the Dancing Ribbon makes this first ‘Ricci Ricci Limited Edition’ fragrance from Nina Ricci an enchanting bottle to own. The delicious notes of raspberry, rhubarb and ginger only add to the intoxication. Available at select lifestyle stores.

Rs 3,400

Yellow fever Made from carefully picked double-layered pure leather that is durable and resilient, Timberland brings its iconic Yellow Boot waterproof shoes for the trek loving feet.

Available at its outlets.

Rs 7,950

Heritage calling Hidesign dives into its archives and churns out some retro styling, vivid colours and pretty hardware details in its Spring Summer collection of bags. Take your pick from totes, clutches, large day bags and more at its boutiques.

Rs 2,895 to Rs 5,995

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WATCH collection

Explosive, for sure

Awesome foursome Housing the famous four-barrel L.U.C 1.98 movement, Chopard’s new L.U.C Quattro boasts new hands, new curves and a classic style that pairs well with the brown hand-sewn alligator strap.

Available: The Chopard Boutique

Raw and creative, this Steampunk from Romain Jerome is a vision in its oxidised steel bezel, steel paws, dial-free face and the signature ‘X’ motif.

Available: Swiss Paradise Luxury Timepieces, Watches of Switzerland, Jot Impex

Majestic Monza Available in a limited edition of 1,911 pieces, the new Tag Heuer MONZA Automatic Chronograph (38mm) Calibre 36, celebrates the golden age of Heuer and the aesthetic codes of the 1970s.

Available: Tag Heuer boutiques

A ‘his’ for her

Slim and sexy

With a white mother-of-pearl dial, 94 brilliant cut diamonds set on the crown, ardillon buckle set with 26 diamonds and black satin strap, Dior’s La D de Dior 38mm is a classic big watch for the dainty wrist.

Available: Johnson’s Watch Co, New Delhi, Watches of Switzerland, Mumbai Rs 2.92 lakh

Slender (being Piaget’s ultra-thin model) and shimmering, thanks to all the diamonds, this Altiplano scores a perfect ten!

Available: The Piaget Boutique, Emporio Mall, New Delhi and The Oberoi, Mumbai *Price on request for all watches except Dior

Smartbuy

15

April 13, 2011

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S