Smartbuy issue dated October 20, 2010

Smartbuy Business Line

G A D G E T S

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

A U T O |

L U X U R Y

www.blsmartbuy.com

Making a splash!

Tata Aria on a test run Page 7

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Long-term reviews: Samsung Galaxy S Apple Magic Trackpad Plantronics Discovery 975

WHAT’S HOT this week

Team Smartbuy Editorial Anushya Mamtora 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

Circulation Contact R. Mohanram mohanram@thehindu.co.in

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Ain’t she sweet! Nokia N8

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Cover Photo: S. Muralidhar

The first smartphone to run on the brand new Symbianˆ3 platform is the Nokia N8. The monobar-style handset features a 3.5 inch AMOLED screen with capacitive touch, that also supports multi-touch gestures. It comes with the usual Carl Zeiss optics with a 12-meg camera at the rear of the unit. The handset is also equipped to deliver a ‘home theater’ experience with HD quality videos and Dolby Digital Plus surround sound when you connect the device to your home theatre system with an HDMI cable. You can also access Web TV services from channels like CNN, National Geographic, Headlines Today and the like.

Rs 26,259

Data centre Buffalo DriveStation

True to life

This new range of USB 2.0 external hard drives from Buffalo is designed to be placed either horizontally or vertically, making it flexible for desktop use. The hard drives function on a plugand-play basis and do not require any pre-installed software. The drives are compatible with both Mac and PCs, making them suitable for any computing need. In addition, the drives ship with Buffalo tools, which enhance PC performance by up to 180 per cent using Turbo PC and enable you to back up all your data. The fanless design results in a quiet operation, and the Eco manager regulates power usage.

1TB: Rs 5,000; 1.5TB: Rs 7,000; 2TB: Rs 9,000

Microsoft LifeCam Microsoft has launched two webcams that come with TrueColour technology, which adjusts colour and brightness even in low-light conditions.

The webcams feature 720p HD sensors and Auto Focus technology. The HD-5000 features a flexible base which enables easy attachment to most laptops and monitor screens. The HD-6000 can be rotated 360 degrees so that you get a full view when you’re Skyping.

HD-5000: Rs 2,205 HD-6000: Rs 2,375

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Blazing through BlackBerry Torch 9800 This latest phone from BlackBerry features the new and improved BlackBerry 6 OS, and combines a full touch screen with a BlackBerry keyboard. The Torch is 3G enabled, and features Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS, for increased connectivity.

The camera is a 5-megger which supports video recording. The phone ships with 8GB of memory and includes storage via microSD, expandable up to 36GB. The Torch integrates a WebKit-based browser that features tabs and pinch to zoom options.

Rs 35,000

Point ‘n’ Draw BenQ MP780 ST The MP780 ST is BenQ’s latest short-throw WXGA DLP projector. The projector features a unique PointDraw system that lets you sync your notebooks or PC to point and draw on any plain surface without a whiteboard or a screen. The MP780 ST and PointDraw system are compatible with any OS that supports a standard USB mouse. The projector lets you doodle even when you are 8 metres away from the projected surface.

Rs 1.1 lakh

Graphic computing Toshiba A660 The new 3D laptop from Toshiba comes with NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, making your photos and videos come to life. Toshiba is also aiming to release new software to download in the next two weeks, which will enable users to convert their 2D DVDs to 3D, as well as view content on 3D HDTVs. The laptop is equipped with 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB hard drive and features a 15.6inch widescreen LCD display. It comes with built-in Harman Kardon speakers, which are further enhanced by Dolby Advanced Audio. You can opt for an LED backlit keyboard for low light conditions, and the touchpad provides multi-touch control to make it easy to navigate.

Rs 80,837

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SMARTPHONE review

Rising star in smartphone universe Mahananda Bohidar he Apple iPhone has managed to stay at the top of the heap in the smartphones market, despite many contenders snapping at its heels. Unmatched touch-sensitivity of its screen, intuitiveness of its interface and of course, the spectacular success of the app-store have all contributed to the iPhone’s popularity.

The Samsung Galaxy S, which was selected as the ‘European Smartphone of the Year’, was launched in the country a couple of months ago. Has the iPhone finally met its match in this handset from Samsung?

Here’s how the Galaxy S fared in our long-term review.

T Design

The handset is barely 9.9 mm thick, thanks to the Super AMOLED display. This technology allows for the touch sensitivity panel in the body to be integrated into the AMOLED panel resulting in a slimmer handset.

The 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, an improved variant of the same display tech’s ‘Plain Jane’ version, enables the screen to be 20 per cent brighter and reduces reflections by almost 80 per cent compared to other displays in the market.

The Galaxy S could pass off as an iPhone from a distance, but it has a couple of hardware buttons that would distinguish it from the former.It has two touch buttons on the fascia and one at the middle to access the Main Menu.

A power button on the right bezel, volume controls on the left and a 3.5mm headphone jack and microUSB slot beyond the chrome rim at the top are the only other hardware interfaces in the body.

The screen is made of Gorilla Glass, a scratch- and dust-resistant surface that’s catching on with a lot of OEMs like Motorola (with the DEFY) and Nokia (with the N8). The rest of the body, however, doesn’t look like it can keep off a crack if you accidentally drop it.

User interface The smartphone runs on the Samsung TouchWiz 3.0 user interface, which is a delight to work on.

The interface gives you no less than seven home screens to customise. The home screens look big and bright and have four default icons lined up at the bottom: Phone, Contacts, Messaging and Applications.

Keeping a finger pressed to the home screen gives you options to customise it.You can add Samsung as well as Android widgets to a certain page apart from other shortcuts. The user interface also lets you create folders and swap wallpapers.

In the contacts section, you have the alphabets displayed to the right of the contacts listed so you can jump to a certain name in your list. It integrates contacts from various accounts that you have and displays it in one view.

Apart from mug shots that you click and add to your

contacts’ profiles, the ones on your email or chat clients are automatically detected and displayed in the contacts list.Tap on a mug shot and four icons pop up for you to be able to make a voice call, make a video call, edit the profile or take you to the threaded messages from the contact.

The capacitive touch on the handset is amazingly responsive. While browsing the internet on the Android browser or choosing options displayed as tiny icons on the screen, the touch response is surprisingly accurate most of the time.

SWYPE in style The Galaxy S smartphone is one of the very first Android-

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based handhelds to feature the super-efficient SWYPE technology. And if more phones were to integrate this, typing as we know it would soon become a thing of the past.

SWYPE lets you type on your handset without you having to even lift a finger, quite literally. Run through the tutorial if you don’t want to try it head-on, and you’re good to go.

To write a certain word, just trace the letters with your finger and SWYPE predicts the word for you. You can then just continue with the next word as SWYPE detects and inserts a space without you having to do it yourself.

Amazingly intuitive and with an easy learning curve, ‘SWYPE’ing really gets addictive after a few trials, even for those who do not take to typing too easily. In fact, SWYPE

Love: Brilliant display, smooth UI Hate: No flash in camera, browser doesn’t support Flash Ratings Aesthetics – 5/5 User Interface – 4/5 Features – 4/5 Value For Money – 4/5

Photos: S.S. Kumar

will possibly help edge out SMS shorthand, now that complete words are so much easier to type.

follow.

Productivity tools include ThinkFree, which lets you sync your .doc and PDF files among others, and work on them on your handheld.

Last but not the least, the Galaxy S includes an AR (Augmented Reality) app, which sadly still isn’t supported at many locations around the world. This app allows you to browse locations for real-time local information and lets you share it with your friends.

Shoot mode We played around with a couple of options that come with the 5-megger in the Galaxy S and found the camera to be pretty good. Panorama, Vintage (where the edges of the image are blurred), Add Me (Split screen), Action shot (to capture movement) and Cartoon are some of the options included.

The picture quality was quite good, though noise levels did become a bit annoying in low light conditions. But, with close to 15 options for different lighting conditions, you won’t have a tough time capturing the perfect moment to your satisfaction.

Apps Bundled apps in the Samsung Galaxy S are quite an interesting bunch. You have the Aldiko eBook app to read your favourite books on the handset and it gets displayed on a virtual wooden bookshelf. You can pinch-and-zoom to adjust the font size and swipe to get to the next page on the app.

For jetsetters, the handset gives you the Daily Briefing app, which keeps you updated on news from around the world (AP Mobile). It also keeps you updated on figures from the stock market (Yahoo! Finance), and offers a schedule planner along with a Weather forecast app.

The Maps on the Galaxy S, once activated, locates your position quite effortlessly. Thanks to Google Maps, the experience was as smooth as it would be on the desktop. It predicts what destination you might want to go to in a drop-down list as you start entering letters for a destination. Even the directions are laid out well and are simple to

Processor The Samsung Galaxy S runs on the 1GHz Hummingbird processor, the first Samsung phone to do so and according to the company, the fastest one from Samsung’s stable.

The efficient CPU lets you run multiple apps without ever letting you feel as if the handset is slowing down, although there were times when there was a barely detectable lag in opening a certain function or activating some option.The handset comes with a 1,500mAh battery and after one full charge gives you just a little more than a working day with the GPRS on. With neither the GPRS nor the WiFi connected and moderate usage for voice calls, the battery lasted for over an impressive two days.

Our verdict One of the most appealing and efficient smartphones launched this year, the Galaxy S does not disappoint. With an impressive display and intuitive interface it sure is a good option for those who are looking to invest in a high-end smartphone.

Rs 31,500

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Specifications Network HSUPA 900/1900/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/ 900/1800/1900 Dimensions 64.2 X 122.4 X 9.9 mm (119g) Display 4.0” WVGA(480x800) 16M SUPER AMOLED mDNIe(Mobile Digital Natural Image engine) OS Samsung Android 2.1 (Eclair) Social Hub Integrates SNS, email, and calendar accounts Processor 1GHz CPU Speed Battery (Standard) Li-pol, 1,500mAh Talk time : 2G/ 769 minutes, 3G/ 391 minutes Standby : 2G/ 750 hours, 3G/ 625 hours Camera 5.0 Megapixel AF camera Self Shot, Action Shot, Add me, Cartoon Shot, Smile Shot Video HD Video Player & Recorder (1280 x 720) @ 30fps codec: DivX, XviD, MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, VC-1 format: 3gp(mp4), AVI(divx), MKV, FLV, H.263Sorenson Music Music Player with SoundAlive 3.5mm Ear Jack MP3/AAC/AAC+/eAAC+/OGG/WMA/ AMR-NB/ AMR-WB/WAV/ MID/AC3/IMY/FLAC/XMF Memory 16GB/8GB+ MicroSD(Up to 32GB) Android Browser Flash Lite3.1, RSS reader Multi-touch zoom Light sensor Accelerometer sensor, Proximity Sensor, Digital Compass Additional Features Layar Reality Browser powered

by Tele Atlas Swype, Write & Go ThinkFree Aldiko e-book

GADGET reviews

Discover connectivity Ketaki Bhojnagarwala lantronics recently launched the Discovery 975, a stylish Bluetooth headset. We spent a few weeks with it to see if it lives up to the likes of the accolade-winning Voyager Pro from the same company.

P

The headset also provides voice prompts, useful when you go out of range or the battery runs too low.

The volume button lets you switch between three volume levels – mute, medium and high. However, we felt the button was too tiny and would have preferred a volume rocker switch instead.

Looks

Call quality

The top of the headset is square shaped, with a faux leather finish. The boom mic is a long protruding pin, the top of which also functions as a Call Control Button. There is a white strip on the button which is an indicator light, and glows red or white to indicate different functions.

There is a tiny volume button on one side and a mini-USB port on the other.

The headset comes with patented gel ear tips which have a tiny protrusion that’s meant to fit inside the ear canal. It takes a while to get used to wearing them, and we could only use the smallest size. They are also not the most comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

The headset comes with a charging case, which has an LCD that displays battery and earpiece levels. It also provides two full charges to the headset before battery in the case requires charging. To get to a full charge, the Plantronics 975 takes about 1.5 hours. The case also comes with a case strap in case you want to attach it to your bag.

Call quality on the Plantronics 975 was excellent. People we called said our voices sounded crisp and clear when we spoke to them indoors. We tried the headset in a variety of environments, including a moving train and in traffic. On the train we had complaints about the quality, but that could also possibly be due to bad reception.

The headset is meant to offer three layers of WindSmart protection, but in a moving vehicle, callers on the other end said that they could hear wind disturbance and traffic noise. However, they did mention that our voices were clearly audible despite the disturbance.

On our side, we felt that the headset could do with a louder volume, and in noisy areas we found ourselves having to press the headset closer to the ear in order to hear clearly.

Functions The Call Control Button functions as an answer/end/ reject control, power on/off switch and pairing button.

In order to connect the Bluetooth headset, you need to long press the Call Control button until it begins flashing

red and white, at which point you can pair it with your phone.

To power on, you have to press the button for two seconds until the indicator flashes white, and to power off, you have to press for four seconds until it turns red.

If you press the button for two seconds while it is turned on, the voice command option pops up. This function worked really well, and the headset was able to display the right contact when we gave a voice command.

Our verdict With up to five hours of talktime and a week of standby, along with the handy charging case, the Plantronics 975 is perfect for on the go use. We would recommend it for corporate use.

Love: Stylish design, good call quality Hate: Eartips a tad uncomfortable, pricey Rs 5,499

Smooth scrolling area, which made using its multi-touch features a delight.

The trackpad is very sensitive, which takes a while to get used to. To use multi-touch, you have to use a very light gesture, otherwise you end up clicking the track pad.

It supports features like pinch to zoom, drag and drop and double tap (for right click). What we were really impressed with, however, was the trackpads’ ability to recognise the difference between two, three and four finger swiping. Using two fingers, you can scroll in any direction – horizontally, vertically or diagonally. A three finger swipe takes you forward and backward between pages or photos. Four fingers brings up a dock of applications that you can switch between, or brings up the desktop, depending on which way you swipe.

Ketaki Bhojnagarwala ost MacBook Pro users will tell you that one of the features they love the most about their laptops is the responsive touchpad. iMac and Mac mini users however, missed this feature and had to make do with what the Magic Mouse offered them. In an attempt to bring the touchpad to desktops, Apple launched the Magic Trackpad, with nearly 80 per cent more area than a regular Mac touchpad.

M Looks

The Magic Trackpad works through Bluetooth, so you don’t have to worry about adding another cable to your desktop clutter. It is large enough for anyone to use, and is made of the same aluminium and glass combination that you see in Apple’s touchpads. It comes in a square design, but is placed angularly, because the top has a cylindrical slot for the batteries. One edge of the cylinder on top is the battery cover, and the other end is a button which activates the trackpad.

While the trackpad looks like a deceptively uniform surface, you can press down on it anywhere to click. You need to place the trackpad on a smooth, steady surface in order to use the click feature though.

Usage To connect your trackpad, you need a Mac OS X Snow

Photos: S.S. Kumar

Leopard v10.6.4 or later. Once you pair the device with your Mac, you need to download the latest software update for the trackpad, which pops up automatically. Without the update, you can only use the trackpad to do single finger scrolling and use the click buttons.

You can customise the trackpad to recognise a tap as a click, if you find the click feature too difficult to use; enable ‘Tap to Click’ in System Preferences, and tap or double tap the surface instead.

What we liked most about the trackpad was its surface

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Our verdict The trackpad replicates all features of a MacBook touchpad, with the addition of a larger surface area. There was plenty of room for us to use the multi-touch features, and it was responsive as well. It is useful especially for someone who likes to organise photos, however the features are still quite basic. If you’re used to a mouse, getting used to the trackpad might take a while, but if you love using a touchpad, we’d recommend this as a good buy.

Love: Large surface area Hate::Multi-touch takes a while to get used to Rs 4,000

AUTO focus

Can the Aria be a game changer for Tata?

S. Muralidhar ata Motors’ global game-changer last year was the Nano – the lowest priced and most affordable car in the world. This year, the game-changer for Tata Motors is quite the opposite. It comes in the form of the Aria, a passenger vehicle that is positioned in the opposite end of the spectrum, at least for Tata Motors.

Making in-roads deep into the Rs 10 lakh-plus segment, this is the most expensive, most luxurious Tata vehicle to hit the roads in India and abroad. For Tata, the Aria will be a game-changer too. And just like the Nano put the company in the spotlight for its manufacturing prowess, the Aria also has the potential to be under the arc-lights for the same basic reason, though in a very different way.

T

Carving a luxe space The Aria is a luxury crossover style seven-seater. Originally called the Indicruz, this luxury crossover’s platform is built on the X2 platform as it is referred to by Tata engineers. The final go-ahead for the Aria is said to have been given by Ratan Tata after the design was frozen with inputs from IDEA of Italy.

Carrying forward the cab-forward design that is common amongst other Tata cars, the Aria features a body-onframe construction, instead of a monocoque chassis, because of the flexibility that the former offers in developing other models on the same platform and because Tata engineers felt that monocoque construction may not be suitable for vehicles in this class in India. The same platform is capable of being used for utility vehicles and SUVs in the future.

The Aria’s primary objectives seem to be two-fold. One

is to fill a need gap – there are currently almost no options for buyers looking for a premium MPV or SUV in the Rs 12 lakh to Rs 16 lakh category. There are vehicles that are people movers below the Rs 10 lakh segment or there are sports utility vehicles in the Rs 18 lakh plus segment. So, there is ample opportunity for the Aria to try and tap.

The second objective or statement which the Aria seems to make is frankly just a reflection of its market positioning. The Aria is targeted at individual buyers looking for a luxury crossover. Institutional buyers are nowhere in its radar. Simultaneously, the Aria will also venture out to make a technological statement.

Crossover looks Get up close to the Aria and these statements get defined better. In terms of overall design, the Aria is decidedly MPV or family van, but the cab-forward design, the raised shoulder line, and the neat, sedan-like swooping arch of the roofline that culminates at the rear by cutting into the rear glass (very CR-V-like), contribute to giving it a cross-

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over’s looks.

From the front, the Aria looks squat and even more sedan-like. Large double-barrelled, wraparound headlamps, the trademark Tata chrome grille and the oversized airdam stand out and abet its sedan looks. The heavy bonnet lid is equipped with hydraulic balancers which automatically lift the lid once the lock is released. The bonnet lid was also the only panel in the Aria which seemed to have a mild relaxation in the tightness of the shut lines. All around the Aria, the other panels’ shut lines were really tight and on a par with other luxury vehicles in that price segment.

The new Aria’s stalked door mirrors with integrated LED turn-indicators are electrically adjustable and foldable. From the side the amount of glass area is striking and is also the reason for the airy, well-lit interiors of the Aria.

Muscular wheel arches and 17-inch alloy wheels also contribute to its strong side profile. At the rear, the Aria features the trademark vertical tail-lamp design that Tata vehicles are known for and a large hatch door. Twin chrome exhausts peak out from beneath the rear bumper alluding to the Aria’s exclusivity and power.

The Aria has the longest wheelbase compared to the vehicles in the class such as the Chevrolet Captiva and the Toyota Fortuner. Only the Ford Endeavour is a tad bit more. In terms of overall width too, the Tata Aria beats the others. All of this translates into considerable space inside the cabin.

Luxury cabin The cabin itself is pleasing and opulent overall. Simple straight lines, similar to the exterior design, lend sophisti-

Photo: S. Muralidhar

Smartbuy

cation to the interior design of the Aria. The vertical elements, rectangular aircon vents and two-tone dashboard finish might have been the reasons for some rumours if Land Rover engineers were involved in the design. But the fact is that the Aria’s interior design was frozen even before the JLR acquisition.

For boosting the luxury quotient in the Aria’s interiors, there is soft leather upholstery wrapped around all the seven seats, there are pillar mounted aircon vents for the rear passengers, there is height adjustable seats for the driver and armrests all around.

Auto headlamps, auto rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate control, reverse parking guide, cruise control and other steering mounted controls, a music system and an in-dash navigation system and flexible seating configuration for the three rows are all also part of standard equipment. There are more features in the cabin, but I’ll let you discover it.

Engine In my view the bigger discoveries to be made are all under the body of the Aria. Tata engineers have chosen to offer the Aria with all-wheel drive as standard. The all-wheel system developed with Borg Warner is a torque on demand transfer case technology unit.

This is an automatic intervention system that detects slippage based on inputs from sensors that monitor front speed, rear speed, throttle position, ABS signals and the drive mode switch.

Tata engineers have named the system 4X4 Adapterra.

Though the possibility exists, Tata officials have ruled out the possibility of a 4X2 only variant of the Aria for now.

To compliment and supplement the all-wheel drive prowess, the Aria also gets an electronic stability programme, traction control, ABS with EBD and all four disc brakes.

The Aria’s engine is almost entirely new, though it is based on the same basic configuration of the 2.2-litre Dicor found in the Safari. The 2,179cc engine has seen a number of improvements that have made it more robust, refined and fuel-efficient. Power and torque characteristics too get a boost. Peak power is now at 140PS at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque is 320 Nm starting from as low as 1,700 rpm.

The engine gets a self-adjusting timing drive mechanism, a cast aluminium ladder frame and oil sump, both of which improve rigidity and efficiency.

A turbo-charger and a compact Nocolock brazed intercooler enhance the performance. To reduce the engine

vibration and improve refinement levels, the Dicor unit also gets a dual mass flywheel, which isolates torsional vibrations at the source itself, helping eliminating body boom at low engine rpms and also driveline rattles.

The Aria’s engine is like the typical Dicor diesel engine during the initial idling cycle, fairly audible and clearly diesel when you listen to it outside the vehicle.

The typical diesel clatter and noise levels taper-off during cruising. But, step inside the Aria and the noise levels in the passenger cabin have been contained remarkably well.

The NVH packaging really does its job. Considerable effort has also gone into vibration isolation and it shows even at the steering wheel.

Paired with this engine is a new Mark II gearbox that features steel synchrocones with carbon lining to enhance shift feel and quality and reduce effort.

With a slightly over-sized gear knob, but short-throw shift stick, moving up the gears in the Aria is clearly a big improvement over the previous Tata cars that I have driven. The shift quality is still a bit notchy, though there is nothing else to complain about.

With 140 horses on tap there is considerable power available under all driving conditions. The Aria easily drives past the 150 kmph mark with still some juice left in the engine.

During the test drive, I took the Aria off-road and tested it on a few ‘kutcha’ roads too and the ESP kicked in at a couple of loose gravel spots on the track. Tata engineers have also tested the Aria extensively in countries like Germany and UK.

Our take The Aria’s fit and finish quality is by far the best that a Tata production vehicle has ever had. Quality of materials used also feels good.

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But there are a few minor niggling finish quality issues that caught my eye. It is possible that these will get addressed and rectified in the final model that will be available at Tata dealerships. The ones that I found in the pre-production vehicle that I drove were: - The visible wiring sticking out of the housing for the sensors that activate the rain-sensing wipers. The small black housing is located just above the dashboard and at the bottom of the windscreen.

- The compact steering wheel design feels good to hold and is adequate to keep the large vehicle that the Aria is in complete control. But the steering mounted controls were set too close to the wheel and also the convex shape of the panel next to the controls meant that the 9-3 hold position of the steering was a bit compromised. Unintentional activation of music system controls while making quick turns were another side-effect of the steering wheel design.

In my view there has also been overkill with the roofmounted storage slots. As many as six slots for sunglassses, CDs and cassettes line the entire length of the Aria’s roof.

Quality of plastic used here could have been a bit better too. Also for a vehicle in this price range, a sunroof option would have been a good addition.

The biggest improvement in the Aria compared to the previous Tata cars is in the ride and handling quality department.

The rear 5-links with coil springs suspension has been tuned for typical Indian road conditions and focuses more on offering the Aria user a pliant, comfortable ride more than being sporty and rigid. The suspension really soaks up bad patches on the road and managed to keep the occupants pretty comfortable. There were no jarring notes even when the Aria was taken off-road.

There is a bit of body roll, but it is only barely discernable during really tight turns. Overall, though the suspension is very plaint, the Aria doesn’t seem to wallow.

The Aria is being offered with three variants – the top-end has six airbags and the two lower-end variants will have two-airbags. The ARAI rated emission and performance figures - 190 gms of CO2 and 13.5 kmpl of mileage are also very encouraging.

Priced in the Rs 13 lakh to Rs 15.5 lakh range, the Aria will be taking on the biggies in the luxury car business. It has a lot going for it, and surely will also help boost the image for other Tata vehicles. If you are in one of the 25 cities where it will initially be available in, go and check it out at the showroom. It will open your eyes to new possibilities, just like the Nano did.

MELANGE luxury redefined

A Rose for you Floral takes over L’Occitane’s nasal senses and our hearts this month with the launch of their Rose range of perfumes, body lotions, soaps, shower gels and candles.

Head to its stores in New Delhi for an ideal ‘woo’ gift!

Rs 1,295 to Rs 2,795

Bag’em!

Stylish leather handbags, business and portfolio bags, wallets, card holders, belts…Adamis latest range has something in store for everybody.

Available at select boutiques.

Rs 1,690 onwards (bags)

Metallic scents

Somebody call 501…

51.3N is the latest fragrance for men from Dunhill to get the women tingling. Top notes oozing steely freshness, pink and black pepper heart notes and sandalwood and vanilla base notes, makes this one a must spray. Available at select lifestyle stores.

… for super style! Levi’s iconic 501 limited edition jeans are padded with denim patches with frayed edges and sports irregular stitches, folds, fades and wrinkles. Denim fans who love the ‘live in’ look can head to Levi’s stores for more.

Rs 3,750 (100ml)

Rs 9,501

Mane mania The Body Shop’s new eco Rainforest hair range is a treat for the tresses what with special shampoos, conditioners, hair butter and a neat range of hair brushes.

Head to its outlets for your own hair kit.

Rs 295 to Rs 1,095

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PREMIUM interiors

Eternal motifs, trendy designs

Peacock bench: Note

The charming paisley, divine lotus and gorgeous peacock are perhaps the most common yet the most alluring motifs of all times. Whether as an intricate carving on wood, a woven pattern on fabric or an interesting painting, these motifs have won hearts in their traditional avatar as well as their modern interpretations.

Here are some striking pieces to give your home a motley motif look ‘hatke’ touch, Viya Homes’ brass washbasin.

Pretty with paisleys Called ‘aam’, ‘maanga’ or simply the mango, the paisley is a motif that has international appeal. It’s easy to spot this motif in many interior products especially upholstery. But there is nothing like a paisley work tastefully done. If you are looking for the motif on fabrics then you can look at linen cushions from Bunglow 8, or Atmosphere’s Kalka work silk upholstery fabric or colourful organza cushions from Mulberry and going the whole hog, La Sorogeeka’s blingy velvet upholstered sofa full of paisleys. The best thing about paisley is its ability to transform between moods, from sober to bright, just with its size and colours.

So if kitschy is the theme of your children’s room, then Apartment 9 has a brightly-hued paisley quilt and sham in silk and cotton voile. One can also opt for bed spreads with the charming motif, either printed or in aesthetic zardosi work. The dining table too gets a paisley touch this season with Bianca coming out with table runners and Bunglow 8 with porcelain jugs. When it comes to carving, the paisley is a simple motif to emulate. Check out Note’s ‘Ambi’ lamp crafted out of resin with a teak frame-work and for a Wall panel: Viya Homes

Floral queen The national flower of India truly lives up to its status as it seamlessly blends into traditional Indian art and craft as well as modern pieces of decor. If one wants to take the ‘desi’ route, there are many designers and boutiques who experiment with the conventional motif with a twang of their own. Some interesting pieces are Fluke’s brass pattra-work in hand-painted wooden box with a cheery pink lotus in a fresh lime background and The Great Eastern Home’s reproduction of Burmese-styled ceiling, where the lotus is clad in gold leaf and carved out of solid teak.

For a contemporary take on the motif, one can look at the subtle inclusion of the motif in everyday objects. For example, a handcarved lotus gives a wooden tray from AA Living an elegant look, Pallate’s brass dinner side plates, etched with the motif is a classic set to own and Tattva.Utsav’s lotus curtain finial adds a wonderful touch to the flowy drapes. Upholstery options are aplenty too.

It’s all Maya!

Maya Romanoff, that is. House of Raro has brought in the latest range of surfacing materials from the advanced wall coverings and interior furnishings brand. From raw silk hand-painted vinyl to mother-of-pearl chevron architectural installation, the collection oozes luxury and festivity. Available at House of Raro boutiques, New Delhi and Mumbai.

Rs 400 to Rs 4,000 per sq ft

Mayuresh Ganesha: Episode

Wooden tray: AA Living

Crystal illumination Crystal major Swarovski and high-end chandelier brand Schonbek joins hands to ‘light up the world of interiors and architecture’ in India. The range of precious sparkle now includes chandeliers, luminaries, wall mounts and other lighting forms to transform your homes.

Price on request

Ambi lamp: Note

In full pride Whether as the whole, bright bird, or just its beautiful long blue-green neck with its crest or simply a delicate feather, the peacock is the most popular bird in the world of design.

Apart from fabrics with motifs, one can adorn homes with cushions embellished with colourful beads in a traditional peacock pattern. But what really takes the cake is the latest range of furniture pieces inspired by the royal bird. Note’s

peacock bench sports individual plumes of the peacock using the resin-on-resin technique, Viya Home has a large peacock feather in mother-of-pearl inlay that embellishes an unpolished Kadappa marble tabletop and Bruzae has crafted a peacock chair made of solid teak with high-gloss ebony finish. One can also look at unique pieces like Fluke’s book shelf which uses the bird as a stand.

Better Interiors and Team Smartbuy

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Going Retro It’s time to flash all those super bright colours and loud prints for an almost kitschy look. Maspar’s new range dabbles in truffle, red, gold, taupe and green colours to churn out bed covers and sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases, cushion covers and curtains. Available at Maspar stores and other select furnishing outlets.

Rs 195 to Rs 4,995

TASTER’S choice

It’s classic reds from Napa’s veterans

Photo: Bloomberg

John Mariani he reputation and glamour of Napa Valley is too often about razzle-dazzle rather than good wine, with well-financed estates producing fleshy, high-alcohol fruit bombs to win medals. Yet there are still wineries quietly making austere, traditional wines that deserve wider recognition.

Two cases in point are veterans in the valley, Concannon and Clos du Val, which turn out some of the most impressive, well-balanced red wines in California. Their quality is based on long knowledge of the soil and terroir and sense enough to know that fads in wine come and go, while hard work and experience endure.

Concannon is one of California’s oldest, planted by Irish immigrant James Concannon in Livermore Valley in 1883.

In 1961, third-generation Jim Concannon made the state’s first ‘varietally’ labelled Petite Sirah (released in 1964).

The family also developed some of the most widely adopted Cabernet Sauvignon clones, numbers 7, 8 and 9, now standard in many of Napa’s finest ‘cabs’.

Fourth-generation vintner John Concannon, whose birth in 1961 was commemorated with the planting of that first Petite Sirah, now runs the company after 22 years as a sales manager for medical-device manufacturers. I recently had lunch with him at Capri, an Italian restaurant in McLean, Virginia, where he poured some of his Conservancy line of wines. The name comes from the conservancy of California winegrowers who placed their land in a legal trust to protect against development forever.

T

Brawny red I thoroughly enjoyed his 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, a brawny but balanced big red that, at just 13.5 per cent alcohol, had hints of oak and plenty of dark fruit without the cloying sweetness and blast of more potent examples.

At $15 a bottle, it’s a stellar buy.

Concannon’s 2007 Petite Sirah ($15) and Captain Joe’s Petite Sirah ($30) reminded me of the creamy richness this varietal delivers when made with care. The former is silky, with a good range of plum and cherry flavours within a light oaky framework; it was delicious with gnocchi pasta with tomato and mozzarella.

The latter, named after second-generation Joe, who served in the First Cavalry, is culled from Concannon’s best lots, then given a small amount of Syrah (a different grape from Petite Sirah) for structure. At 14.5 per cent alcohol, it’s a muscular wine that went well with our entree of veal scaloppine with a brandy cream sauce, and would be ideal for Thanksgiving dinner.

Memory lane Clos du Val, founded in 1972 by John Goelet and Bordeaux winemaker Bernard Portet (now retired), was the first Napa vineyard I ever visited, back in 1977. I recall Portet’s passionate prediction that there was great potential in the valley’s vineyards.

A year before, Clos du Val was one of the Cabernets selected for the now legendary 1976 blind tasting in Paris against First Growth Bordeaux. It came eighth out of 10

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wines. In a rematch 10 years later, Clos du Val took first place.

Portet and successive Clos du Val winemakers (Kristy Melton, formerly of Saintsbury winery, took over in August) have always hewed to a classic Bordeaux style, determined primarily by the terroir and not by the winery.

I’ve always found Clos du Val’s wines among the most elegantly structured in the valley, never oaky, never hot, never sweet, never cloying, with sensible alcohol levels.

Back when many Napa vintners scoffed at adding Merlot to their cabs, Portet knew from the start how it softened the tannins, a traditional tactic in Bordeaux.

Stags Leap I opened a bottle of the new release of the flagship wine, Stags Leap District 2005, the other night with a sirloin steak and was reminded all over again what a glorious match great American beef and fine Cabernet Sauvignon is.

Rounded out with 14 per cent Merlot, velvety, restrained at first, then blossoming slowly with the fat of the beef on the palate, the wine is a paragon of how French tradition and California terroir can so honourably merge.

The function of all good wine is to please the drinker. In the case of Concannon and Clos du Val, they make me very happy.

(The author writes on wine for Muse, the arts and leisure section of Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

BEVERAGE launch

Pop the champagne One more to uncork this season is Korbel California Champagne that is made with organically grown grapes in the traditional ‘methode champenoise’ technique. The Chardonnay champagne captures the apple and pear fruit qualities of the grapes and has hints of butter and light oak characters of partial barrel fermentation. One can pick from Korbel Natural or Korbel Brut at Rs 5,000 and Rs 3,000 respectively.

Tuborg gets stronger The Carlsberg Group has come out with a treat to beer drinkers – a stronger version of its Tuborg beer, the Tuborg Strong.

The Strong is a premium quality beer prepared using the best quality malt, adjuncts and hops and comes with a unique pull off cap feature. Available in packaging sizes of 330ml, 500ml and 650ml.

Beaming this season Red o’white It’s a white and red assortment of French Luca Vins Exotiques for wine lovers this week from Nirvana Biosys. The dry medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a distinctive aroma of berries and oak and wellintegrated tannins. It can be paired with spicy Indian food, lamb, red meats, barbeques and cheese. The dry light-bodied white wine, Sauvignon Blanc, is an aromatic light yellow colour balanced wine with refreshing acidity and goes well with white meat, seafood and lightlyspicy Asian dishes.

Available at Rs 500 each.

Heading for a ‘taash’ party? Maybe you can grab one of these to up the festive spirits. Beam Global Spirits & Wine has launched Jim Beam limited edition festive pack for those who like to nurse a peg of bourbon whiskey. While the aromas and notes are delectable, the smart new packaging makes it an ideal gift.

Available from November at Rs 2,875 for Jim Beam Black (8 year old) and Rs 1,310 for Jim Beam White (4 year old) in New Delhi.

New additions to Teacher’s A range of convenience packs is Teacher’s latest way to let you indulge in the festive celebrations.

The Teacher’s Highland Cream and the 12 year old Teacher’s 50, now gets some small pack additions. Pick up the new festive packs at Rs 415 (Teacher’s 50 – Nip), Rs 790 (Teacher’s 50 – Pint), Highland Cream – Rs 260 (Nip) and Rs 505 (Pint).