Xolo Play Tab 7.0

Xolo Play Tab 7.0  



Mixing business with pleasure is going to be quite easy with the Xolo Play Tab 7.0. You can hold video chats with family, friends and colleagues, courtesy its 7-inch high resolution screen and 2MP front camera. It supports popular digital formats like MP3, AAC and DivX – and can even handle Full HD movies. Additionally, the 12-core Nvidia ULP GeForce GPU purring under its hood ensures that the Play Tab is more than equipped to handle all your gaming needs.  

Specs: 7-inch, IPS (1280x800px) touchscreen | 1.2GHz quad-core processor | 1GB RAM | 8GB (internal), microSD up to 32GB | 2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS | 4000mAh battery | Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)  

Website: www.xolo.in 

Price: 12,999

Logitech Z600 speakers

Logitech Z600 speakers



  The Logitech Z600 boasts an elegant design—with a touch sensitive volume control dial atop one of the speakers—and Bluetooth capability that lets you pair up to three devices, whether smartphones, computers or tablets. In case your device does not support Bluetooth, you can also use a wired connection via its 3.5mm line-in, or use its USB wireless transceiver. As far as output is concerned, three drivers inside each speaker promise you room filling sound.  

Specs: 2-channel audio, 3 drivers per speaker | Bluetooth v2.0, USB transceiver, range of up to 10m | A2DP profile support | 3.5mm line-in  

Website: www.logitech.com/en-in 

Price: 12,995

AOC 23-inch 3D LED Razor TV

AOC 23-inch 3D LED Razor TV 

 

    Watching Full HD movies does not have to be an expensive affair. The AOC 23-inch LED TV (LE23A6730/61 3D) lets you enjoy native 3D content as well as convert 2D video to 3D with
    the press of a     button. The set     comes with four 3D     glasses so you can     enjoy movies with
    family and friends.     And with two HDMI     ports, you also get     the flexibility to     switch between     multiple sources     like a Blu-ray player or game console and your HD cable connection.  

Specs: 23-inches, Full HD, LED | 3D support, (4x)3D glasses | (2x)5W speakers | 3.5mm audio-out, (2x)HDMI, (1x)USB, video component inputs, AV-input, TV RF input  

Website: www.aocindia.com  

Price: 19,990

Kobo Arc

Kobo Arc 


 

    The Kobo Arc e-reader gives you access to an e-bookstore with nearly four million titles across 68 languages. Its e-reader app lets you choose between three font styles and 15 sizes. You also get built-in software to organize your tomes, a web browser to surf the web on Wi-Fi, and support for popular image (JPG, GIF, PNG…), audio (MP3, AAC, OGG, FLAC…) and video (3GP, MP4, H.264…) formats. You can use the Arc to watch Full HD movies and even video chat with your Skype buddies.  

Specs: 7-inches, IPS (1280x800px) touchscreen | 1.5GHz dualcore processor | 1GB RAM | 16GB storage | Wi-Fi, micro USB | HD front cam | Stereo speakers, 3.5mm headphone-out, SRS TruMedia sound | Battery life: 10 hours, 2 weeks (on standby) | 364g | Android 4.0  

Website: www.kobo.com  

Price: 11,999 ( 9,999 till November 3)

I am looking for a keyboard that can be used to play PC games.

I am looking for a keyboard that can be used to play PC games. Kindly suggest options under 3,000.
 
    Since you intend to use your keyboard for gaming, you will require something that supports anti-ghosting technology. Simply put, ghosting is when some key strokes do not get recognized when several of them are struck simultaneously. Keyboards without this tech might affect gameplay where you might need to press several keys at once to complete a certain task in the game. Now given this specialized need of yours, we would recommend…  

KEYBOARD FOR AROUND 1,500: The TVS Gold may not come with any gaming-specific extras, but it is a mechanical keyboard. Such keyboards are more precise and accurate, compared to the regular ones that use a membrane layer. Although the TVS Gold lacks anti-ghosting, it will offer better performance during gaming. You can pick up the USB version of this keyboard for around 1,800.  

KEYBOARD FOR AROUND 3,000: The Logitech G105 is a gaming keyboard with six extra buttons that can be programmed for single-click actions, and claims anti-ghosting technology on the WASD and arrow keys. Additionally, the G105’s keys are backlit, allowing you to use it even in low light. You can also consider the Razer Arctosa, which offers anti-ghosting and programmable keys, but does not have backlit keys.
    Note: Look for the     Microsoft SideWinder X4.
    It is difficult to find in the     market but if you can get     it for around 3,000, it is a     superb buy.

I’m looking for a digital camera within a budget of 10,000.

I’m looking for a digital camera within a budget of 10,000. It should be easy to operate for a novice photographer, have bestin-class optical zoom, and be capable of shooting Full HD videos with stereo sound.

    Your budget of 10k is sufficient to get you a good pointand-shoot camera that will promise you years of party, festival and holiday photographs. All these snappers come with myriad pre-set photo modes that make it extremely easy to shoot great pictures in all types of lighting and settings. The cameras shortlisted below are all capable of Full HD videos with stereo sound. Besides, all these models feature an HDMI port so you can connect to compatible TV sets to watch your videos. 

 
    Canon IXUS 510 HS ( 8,000*): 10MP, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor | 12x optical zoom | Lens stabilization | ISO up to 3200 | 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD panel | Full HD video with stereo sound | Hi-speed USB 2.0, HDMI, Wi-Fi | Li-ion battery 

    Nikon Coolpix S6300 ( 9,000): 16MP, 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor | 10x optical zoom | Lens stabilization | ISO up to 3200 | 2.7-inch TFT LCD | Full HD video with stereo sound | Hi-speed USB 2.0, HDMI | Li-ion battery 

    Olympus Stylus VH-520 ( 10,000): 14MP, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor | 10x optical zoom | Lens stabilization | ISO up to 3200 | 3-inch TFT LCD | Full HD video with stereo sound | Hi-speed USB 2.0, HDMI | Li-ion battery * All prices in approximation

Asus VivoPC VM40B a new Windows 8 PC

Asus VivoPC VM40B  

 

If you are on the lookout for a new Windows 8 PC, then the Asus VivoPC VM40B might be the one for you. Its refined metallic finish and space-saving form factor are its main draw: Standing just 5.6cm tall, the VivoPC’s footprint is smaller than an A4-sized sheet of paper. Yet, despite its size, it is more than capable of handling your communication, web surfing, and productivity needs. Team it with a TV via its HDMI interface and you will able to enjoy high quality movies too. 

 

Specs: Intel (3rd Gen) Celeron 1007U | 2GB RAM | 500GB hard drive | Intel HD 4000 graphics | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | HDMI, VGA, (2x)USB 3.0 | Windows 8 | 3-years warranty  

 

Website: www.asus.com/in  

 

Price: 27,000 (wireless metal keyboard and Vivo Mouse are sold separately, 4,100)

BlackBerry Z30

BlackBerry Z30  

 

The BlackBerry Z30 boasts an aluminium body and glass-weave pattern on its back panel, giving it a premium look. Its classy appearance is ably complemented by its HD touchscreen, a virtual keyboard that learns your typing style to improve text prediction, face-to-face video chat, as well as multiple mics for crystal-clear voice calls. Using the pre-loaded Documents to Go app, you will be able to edit documents while on the move. Your breaks from work will also be that much more enjoyable because of the Z30’s wide support for popular video formats such as MKV, MP4, AVI and more. And you also get a smart camera with Time Shift that lets you create perfect group snapshots every time.  

 

Specs: 5-inch, Super AMOLED touchscreen (1280x720px) | 1.7GHz dual-core processor | 2GB RAM | 16GB (internal), microSD card slot | 8MP rear cam, 2MP front cam | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS, NFC, micro HDMI | BlackBerry 10 OS | 2880mAh battery  

 

Website: in.blackberry.com 

 

Price: 39,990

HMDX Jam Party

HMDX Jam Party 

 

 This festive season, if you’re looking to take the revelry with you wherever you go, you might want to take a dekko at the Jam Party. This speaker can connect wirelessly to Bluetooth enabled devices and is also equipped with a line-in port so you can play your music from your MP3 players, smartphones, tablets and even laptops. The Jam Party gives you around 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, and it can even be powered by an electric power outlet via its AC adaptor. Adding to its portability, this speaker set – available in grey, blue, yellow and pink – comes with a retractable flip-out handle for easy travel.  

 

Specs: (2x)2-inch ferrite driver | 6W power-in | Bluetooth, line-in port | 12-hour battery (lithium-ion), AC power adaptor | 7.5x2.6x2.5 inches  

 

Website: www.hmdxaudio.com  

 

Price: 7,990

I would like to pursue a career in photography. Kindly suggest a DSLR camera.

I would like to pursue a career in photography. Kindly suggest a DSLR camera, within a budget of 30,000, that will help me hone my skills. 

 When buying a DSLR, pick up a good camera body from a brand that boasts a good range of accessories, as well as a good network of service centres. Later, as your proficiency in photography increases, you can pick up additional lenses that meet your purpose.
    For a camera that will help you learn the basics, consider the Nikon D3200 ( 30,650). This 24MP shooter is equipped with a Guide mode that helps first-time users click good pictures just by following the steps displayed on the screen. This camera is capable of Full HD videos and comes with the standard 18-55mm lens.
    The 16MP Nikon D5100 ( 28,500) is a generation older than the D3200. And while it does not have a Guide mode, you get a snapper that promises better low-light performance, more manual controls, a flip-out display, and at a lesser cost.
    At around the same price, you can also pick up the Canon EOS 1100D ( 28,600). This 12MP camera is capable of just 720p videos, but you get two lenses in the box: a basic 18-55mm lens, as well as the telephoto 55-250mm zoom lens. The 1100D is also available with just the 18-55mm lens for 23,500.
    It should be noted that megapixels are not all that important when choosing a DSLR, and any camera with 10MP and above is more than capable of shooting great pictures.

I want to buy an e-reader. Could you suggest a few options?

I want to buy an e-reader. Could you suggest a few options?

 E-readers use e-ink display technology that makes their screen extremely easy on the eye, allowing you to read over longer periods of time. And while there are quite a few brands available internationally, in India, you can expect to pick up the current crop of devices from Kindle and Kobo.
    A basic model of the Kindle can be bought for 5,999 ( 4,999 during festival season); while you can buy the Kobo Touch for 7,999 ( 6,999 on sale). While the Kindle uses physical buttons for navigation, the Kobo Touch is equipped with a touchscreen.
    It should be noted that e-ink displays are not self illuminating. This means, you will not be able to read its screen in the dark. But if you are nocturnal in your reading habits, you might want to consider the Kindle Paperwhite ( 10,999, Wi-Fi only; 13,999, Wi-Fi + 3G) or the Kobo Glo ( 10,999, Wi-Fi only). These e-readers employ an illumination technology that casts light on the text and not at your eyes, making them wonderful devices if you’re the sort that reads at nighttime.
    All these devices sport a 6-inch screen; come with 1GB (approx) of storage space that’s enough for more than 1,000 e-books; are equipped with Wi-Fi for book downloads. Both brands of e-readers are supported by their respective online stores: Amazon for Kindle and the KoboBooks for Kobo. The 3G version of the Kindle Paperwhite lets you download books on the go, wherever the Vodafone network is available in India; and this service is free for the lifetime of the device. The Kobo e-readers, on the other hand, include a microSD slot for additional storage.

NOTE-TAKING APPLICATIONS

Evernote is by far the leader in note-taking. That is not to say that there is no other player. Microsoft One Note, for instance, comes bundled with Microsoft Office. Evernote is free by default, unless you need more features. This application lets you type in notes, and has a voice recorder function so you can also record a talk while writing notes. It can also sync with the camera of your smart device to take pictures of the speaker or the notes or any other documents. You can attach PDF files, Word files, and images, and you can annotate them as well. Once you are done with a note, you can share it, stack it into a collection and tag it with smart tags. Evernote also runs OCR on images that contain text, which gets converted into searchable text.
 

Voice recorders are passe when you have a cellphone. But there is more to voice notes than just recording

In this digital day and age, are you still taking pen and paper notes? And are you racking your brain about some bit of
DIGITAL PENS
Pen and stationery maker Staedtler has a digital pen priced at 11,500. It clips a receiver to the top of your note pad, and records whatever you write. You can later connect the receiver to your computer via USB, and download the notes in digital format. It saves about 100 pages of A4 text. The downside is that you have to physically take notes. You miss something, and it stays missed. It works on normal paper, but only with a Windows PC.
An alternative is the Live Scribe Sky WiFi Smart Pen (starting at $169.95 or about 10,500). It has built-in WiFi, so you can synchronise notes to your smartphone anywhere. You can a lecture that you missed noting down. Why don’t you look at some options outside the tradition of notes and dictaphones, which really do what needs to be done, and maybe find the perfect way of note taking. record with the built-built in micromicro phonephone as well, to create a voice backup.
Listen to the notes via an in-built speaker or plug in your headphones. The 2GB variant can hold 200 hours of recording,. The downside is that the pen needs to be charged, and works only with a s pecial paper, which makes it expensive. On the other hand, you don’t miss a word. All you write is recorded, and it works with several apps.

YOUR SMARTPHONE

Make sure your phone has enough battery, turn on the voice recorder, there you are. You can write physical notes simultaneously, and at the end of the lecture, you can take photos of the notes. Voila! You have a slideshow, with audio! The lecture/ talk/interview needs to be audible enough,
though.
If you have a Google account, you can shoot the pictures with the Google Drive application, which uses your camera as a scanner and create PDFs of the notes. There are other apps that does this as well.

STYLUSES
Options include Wacom Creative (`6,475), which is great for drawing though maybe not for writing, and Jot Script from Adonit ($74.99) which claims a finer 1.9 mm tip compared to the 6 mm on standard styluses. But it is not available in India.
Speaking from experience, it is much fasterfa to type on a tablet and then the annotate using fingers or a stylus.sty Writing with a stylus is stillsti a cumbersome affair.

A PERFECT SOLUTION?

1. Snap pictures with your smartphone camera, rather than cutting out articles from magazines etc. Upload these to Evernote.
2. Use a digital pen such as the Live Scribe WiFi Sky to draw on paper or take notes that can be digitised later.
3. Use a stylus to draw on screen and to annotate notes.
4. If it is vital, you can get the voice-notes transcribed using a dedicated online service. It is an expensive proposition, though.

Gold climbs to near 5-week high on Fed stimulus hopes

Gold gained for a fourth session on Tuesday, edging closer to a five-week high, as weak US economic data boosted views the Federal Reserve would maintain its stimulus measures, burnishing the metal's appeal as an inflation-hedge.

The Fed begins a two-day policy meeting on Tuesday in which it is widely expected to confirm it will continue buying bonds at an USD 85 billion monthly pace. Gold prices have fallen nearly 20 percent this year on fears the Fed could begin tapering its stimulus programme, but a budget battle in Washington and a string of weak economic data have raised questions over whether the bank would scale back, giving bullion a boost.

 "In line with market expectations, we think the Fed will continue with quantitative easing," said Songwut Apirakkhit, managing director of Globlex Holding Management in Bangkok. "However, we think the expectations have already been priced in and gold is due for a correction," he said. He still expects gold to end the year around the current levels.

Spot gold had edged up 0.3 percent to USD 1,355.51 an ounce by 0441 GMT. It has gained about 8 percent since marking a three-month low on October 15. The metal earlier hit a session high of USD 1,360.06, not far from its five-week peak of USD 1,361.60 touched on Monday. US manufacturing output barely rose in September and contracts to buy previously owned homes recorded their largest drop in nearly 3-1/2 years, the latest signs the economy's momentum ebbed as the third quarter ended.

Many economists believe the Fed could push tapering to early next year. Though a prolonged period of easy money could support gold, physical demand could take a hit due to the higher prices. Demand in Asia has remained subdued for a while. "We continue to view gold as precariously placed while physical demand for the metal remains soft," ANZ analysts said in a note. "We viewed the metal as overbought above USD 1,340 on the back of weak demand from China and continued ETF selling." Outflows from gold-backed exchange traded funds have continued, weighing on investor sentiment.

Gold gained for a fourth session on Tuesday, edging closer to a five-week high, as weak US economic data boosted views the Federal Reserve would maintain its stimulus measures.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/commodities/gold-climbs-to-near-5-week-highfed-stimulus-hopes_978621.html?topnews=1&utm_source=ref_article

Lenovo P780

Never-Ending Anar - Lenovo P780
The only non-flagship on this list and it's here for only one reason: battery life! The biggest frustration for every user AFTER they've bought a brand new phone. Till now the solution was to buy a phone with a big battery and accept that you were going to have to live with a clunky,  thick and very ugly phone. No more. The P780 has great looks, a 5-inch 1280x720p display and a 294ppi, a faux brushed-metal casing, a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and a 8MP camera - all powered by a 4000 mAh battery which should last 2-3 days. Add to that another killer feature: you can charge almost any other phone straight from this phone. All this goodness comes in at about Rs.16,500.

Made for: If you're fidgety at 4pm every day as you know your phone is about to die, if you constantly switch off 3G on your phone to save some battery life, if you want to be known as PowerMan among your friends as you're always there to charge their  phones with your portable generator - this phone's for you. If three days of battery life seems like a gimmick, maybe this isn't for you.

Gionee E6

Dragon Rocket - Gionee E6
This one is a shocker. It's a flagship phone from a company that till today hasn't had the guts to release any expensive phones. Yet the E6 makes it to the list purely on design and specs. This phone's good looks can even take on the Sony Xperia Z1. A unibody seamless design, One Glass Solution display, super thin at 6.18mm, a 5-inch full HD 1080P screen with 441 pixels per inch (ppi), a 1.5 GHz quad core processor, a 13 MP camera and 2GB of RAM. This phone packs it all in - and is priced at about `20,000.

Made for: If you believe that Chinese phones are crap, if you're conscious of the brand of your phone, if you'd rather wait to see if a new player offers service and support, and if you believe that only price can equal quality and don't believe that a 20K phone can be equal or better than a 40K phone - the E6 is not your cup of tea. But if good looks, serious value for money and the sense that these are the companies that actually make phones for almost all brands is already part of your thinking - this phone should be part of your life.

Apple Brand - iPhone 5C and 5S

Apple Brand - iPhone 5C
It's the colourful, vibrant younger sibling to the 5S and its specs bear an uncanny resemblance to its outgoing big brother, the iPhone 5. It has a single-piece polycarbonate body with a reinforced steel frame, is slightly thicker, uses the same A6 processor, has the same 1GB of RAM, the same 4" retina display and comes with the all-new iOS7 as its main calling card. It should arrive on Indian shores on November 1 at a price of about `38,500 to `42,000.
Made for: If you love brightly-coloured things, if you are in college and have made your first million, if you are a serious Apple groupie but are secretly jaded with old-school 'elegance', if you loved the Lumia series but couldn't wrap your head around Windows on a phone - then this is heaven sent for you. Anybody else and especially those 'not in love' with a Fisher-Price-toy-like look and feel inside and outside your phone - this is not your future phone!


Apple Brand -  iPhone 5SThe phone has sold millions already. It's the next-generation Apple smartphone and while it may look like an iPhone from two years ago - there are huge improvements. The unibody aluminium construction with glass accents still looks good and is now adorned with a paint job. The internals feature a new A7 SOC with 1GB of RAM, the first ever 64-bit architecture inside a phone and even a new M7 chip that can track all your movements without waking up the other processor. The camera gets an upgrade despite being labelled as an 8 megapixel as the sensor and pixels are larger. The big feature though, is the fingerprint scanner underneath the home button. Should come into India at a price of about `49,000.
Made for: If you're an Apple fan and have upgraded every time a new iPhone comes out - why are you even reading this? If you want a fingerprint scanner that unlocks your phone in the coolest way possible, if you want a screaming fast phone, a camera that does its job even in low light, if you want to shoot videos in super 'slo-mo' and if you've been on the Apple bandwagon but haven't upgraded for two generations - this is a no brainer. But if you think that 4-inch phones are seriously outdated, if you live and die by the term Phablet, if iOS7 has left you cold and if you think 50K is too much to spend to carry on the Apple legacy - wait for the iP6.

I watch classic Rajinikanth films Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand on movies, family and his game

I watch classic Rajinikanth films

Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand on movies, family and his game

    The next few weeks are testing times for chess wizard Viswanathan Anand. For, he is busy getting himself ready — both mentally and physically — for his World Championship match against World No 1 Magnus Carlsen next month. In between all hype on the match, Vishy, as he is called, made it a point to spend time with his family for Navratri, a festival he loves. He gets talking on his upcoming match, inspirations and more. 

How are you preparing yourself for the big clash against Carlsen? It’s been months of preparation — both in terms of chess, and physical work. Now, it’s the last mile. So, I’m just taking it easy and getting ready for the match. 

You must miss Aruna and Akhil a lot when you’re away touring. How does Akhil react when you talk to him over the phone and when you’re back home, how do you bond with him? We like playing together; there are lots pillow fights at home! He has this book, Happy Hippo Angry Duck, that we love reading together. The trick is to pretend that we are reading it for the first time every time. His favourite pastime now is counting; so, we count anything these days. And, of course, there’s Tom And Jerry; while he cheers for Jerry, I support Tom. I love it when he wakes me up in the morning with my brush and says, “Brush teeth.” 

The fact that the match against Carlsen is happening in Chennai — is it an advantage or disadvantage? I have had very pleasant memories of playing in Chennai. I will treat this like any other match and that means just put the chess and training foremost. 

In your career, how have you handled pressure, during and before a match? What are some things you do to ensure that it doesn’t get to you? It’s very difficult to keep a checklist because always, the one thing you don’t want to think about will pop right into the head. I try to keep a cool face and for the rest, just rely on my game. 

How friendly are you with Carlsen? We are cordial to each other. 

In a previous interview, you mentioned that you rarely get time to watch movies, and that you last watched Rajinikanth’s Sivaji… 

Well, I watched Kahaani and liked it a lot. I hope to watch The Lunchbox soon. But I have been watching classic Rajini films like Billa, etc… 

Finally, would you consider this as the most important match of your career, and why? Each match I play is the most important one yet.

Viswanathan Anand

Diwali Gift choices for your loved ones

GIZMO GIFTS Tired of the same old sweets-in-a-box presents? Here are some nifty tech ideas that are bound to stand out

This is the season of festivals. Shopping, gifting, gorging and celebrating — it is all in the air. If you are scratching your head over gift choices for your loved ones, we have here a few choices that may be up your street.



LIVING COLORS GEN 2 FLORAL  Rs.11,999



The Living Colors Gen2 Light has a transparent plastic body with a floral print, and a 15-watt colour changing power LED at the heart. It comes with a remote control that lets you set the colour, or set it on changing colours so that it will light up the room in a different shade. The remote uses radio frequency, so you don’t need to be in the same room to change the settings. The downside is that it is not waterproof, so don’t use outdoors.

iPHONE 5S[likely at about Rs. 53,500] 

It may have sold out across the world, but a little birdie ie tells us that Apple is set to make the iPhone 5S available in India just before Diwali. So o get your funds in place, and prepare are to upgrade. To bee on the safe side, keepp a bit of extra cash,, as Apple has not officially ally revealed pricrici ng. The iPhone 5S has fingerprint technology for security, and a benchmark-setting camera with a new sapphire lens that gives an aperture of f/2.0 — meaning better pictures in low light.

BOSE QC20I NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES Rs.22,388

 What is a festival if you don’t burst a few crackers? But if you prefer to cuddle up with a good book and nice music, the Bose QC20i is for you. It is the first in-ear headset that sports Bose’s famous noise cancellation, which is so effective that if you just put it on with no music playing, the eerie silence gets to you. Remember: if you forget to charge the headset, the noise cancellation will not work. One charge lasts roughly a full day, and you can use it to answer calls too.

There are two models – one for Android phones and the other for the iPhone. And if your spouse snores, well, what better than to ask him or her to gift it to you this Diwali!

FITBIT FORCE [$129.95; about Rs. 8,060]

To get this one, you would need someone to be traveling out from the US. But with all the sweets you will gorge on in the coming weeks, it may be worth it. The Force, which releases later this month, is a wearable device that helps you measure activity: steps walked, stairs climbed, calories burnt... It has a noiseless alarm that can wake you up without disturbing t he entire household; it can monitor your sleep and even tells the time. Force can run 10 days without recharge.

SONY QX 100 Rs. 24,990

Cellphone cammeras have come e a long way, but there is still only so much h that they can n do. Welcome to the QX100, whichich is a standalone camera that pairs up with your Android or iOS phone. It clips on to most screens under 5”, and can also be separately mounted on a tripod. The QX100 does not have a screen, but uses a 1”, 20.2 megapixel sensor — the same as Sony’s celebrated RX100II cameras. The Carl Zeiss lens comes with a fast f/1.8 aperture, among the best in the business.

 

  You can store the images on the QX100 itself using a microSD card, or wirelessly transfer them to your phone. Your phone screen works as the screen of the camera: you can touch any area to focus, zoom and do other stuff. The lens has a 3.6X zoom, and the battery lasts for 200-odd shots. If you find it expensive, there is a cheaper varianant called QX10, which has a 10x zoom, but nnot the Carl ZZeiss optics.

KINDLE FIRE Rs.11,999

If you have been looking for a tablet device on a tight budget, you will find the Kindle Fire 7” attractive. The device runs on the Android OS customised for Amazon, and it is good for everything — surfing, reading books, playing video and music (with Dolby stereo speakers) and a battery that lasts all day. You can even hook it to the TV via HDMI. The downside is that it is wiwi-fi only, and needs a device to connect to the Net.

Super-cool USB gizmos

Super-cool USB gizmos

There is no computer port more versatile than the USB. You can use it to connect external storage, a DVD drive, mouse and printer, but did you know that you could also use this amazing piece of technology to keep your coffee warm and launch surface-to-air missiles?

ZOOMING IN… Do ants have black eyes, or brown? What is nail gunk made of? Is that really fungus on my motichur laddoo? It’s true: you’ll never know when you’ll need a USB microscope. Like professional magnifiers, these nifty gizmos are equipped with a focus ring; come with white LEDs to ensure the images are clear and bright, and you also get software that lets you capture videos at 30fps – and still images at 640x480px resolutions. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, you can pick these thingamajigs that promise you magnifications of up to 800x. Connect one to your laptop, and you’re promised hours and hours of insect watching (if you can get them to pose under the lights, that is).  

Where: www.ebay.in  

Price: 2,700 to 4,700

KEEPING IT TOP SECRET Those fun memos shared between office cronies had best be kept a secret. We wouldn’t want the office snitch to get his grubby paws on those. Well, he can’t and he won’t. Not if you have one of these nifty paper shredders. Feed all incriminating documents into this gobbler. Then, distribute the shreds between four to five wastepaper baskets. Hah!  

Where: www.hitplay.in  

Price: 1,399 (wastebaskets not included)

NICE AND BRIGHT Now you never have to type in the dark. Simply switch to USB-powered lamps once the lights are out. From boring night lamps that illuminate your keyboard, to hipster lava lamps and geeky plasma balls that endorse your avant-garde lifestyle, you’ll find all of these – starting at a few hundred rupees – on the interweb. The world started with a ‘Let there be Light’. ‘Amen,’ we say. 

Where: www.junglee.com, shopping.indiatimes.com, www.flipkart.com, www.pchub.com 

Price: 200 onwards

PROTECT YOUR AIRSPACE Offices are dangerous places, and who knows what the bloke in the cubicle next to yours is plotting. It therefore makes perfect sense to invest in a USB Missile Launcher. Install the software that comes with this SAM launcher, and you can control your strikes from the control panel that appears on your laptop screen. A launching sound gives your target fair warning of an imminent strike, but not enough time to dodge what’s coming his way. With one of these by your laptop, everyone will know who’s boss. Yeah, we meant you. Where: www.naaptol.com  

Price: 2,700

FAN, BOY Let them say what they want, but sitting at your desk all day – whether you’re sweating it out over Facebook, or keeping abreast of the latest videos on YouTube – can be a lot of hard work. And what’s the use of slogging at your keyboard if you can’t treat yourself to some creature comforts? The AC might be ON at full blast, but having your own personal fan in the office is cooler still. Depending on your tastes, you can pick from a range of designs that fit in with your sensibilities and budgets.  

Where: www.buysku.com, www.snapdeal.com, www.junglee.com  

Price: Between 200 and 3,000

SOME LIKE IT HOT... Time flies when you’re vegetating at your computer, and it’s only when you put that coffee cup to your lips you realize it’s been a while since you had settled down with it. Instead of heading to a microwave oven, go online and buy yourself a USB Cup Warmer. It does not require batteries and includes an ON/OFF switch. It will perform the simple job of preventing hot beverages from losing their warmth and you from losing your cool.  

Where: shopping.rediff.com  

Price: 499

… AND SOME LIKE IT COLD If you like your lager chilled, then you must get the USB Mini Fridge. Besides, it lets you keep your beer right where you want it: Within reach. Just like the cup warmer, it does not require any driver installation. Plug it in and let it chill. And since it can accommodate just one can at a time, it will also keep your consumption within limits... probably.  

Where: www.hitplay.in  

Price: 1,999

The Innovative Sparkler – Nokia Lumia 1020

The Innovative Sparkler – Nokia Lumia 1020 

 

The phone that shocked the world with a 41-megapixel camera reinvents the zoom as well as photography, truly stunning images and some great tricks within the camera app, great design and beautiful colours, comes with an add-on accessory that converts it into a real camera body, butter-smooth Windows OS performance, and did I mention that the 41- megapixel camera is really an outstanding piece of optical engineering that gives you photographs and videos that were in the realm of dreams just two years ago? It’s priced at `47,000.

Made for: Everyone who now uses their phone as their only camera, all of you who are serious about creative photography without wanting to wade through the drudgery of learning DSLR methodology, all those who think Windows on a phone is easily the most overlooked OS and all those who love Nokia for what it stands for, can apply here. But if you hardly ever use your phone for more than a random ‘birthday cake being cut’ shots, if you’re still a Windows hater and crib about ‘no apps’ on the OS, if you feel Microsoft played a dirty game with Nokia, then you should cleanly walk away. That’s half the roster on the festival shopping guide covered. The next four in my Diwali basket will have some Apple phuljaris, two shockingly great Chinese anaars and maybe even one more surprise pataka. Get ready for some serious tech celebrations this Diwali.

The New Age Rocket – LG G2

 

The New Age Rocket – LG G2 

This is LG getting its groove back and making sure that it’s taken as a serious contender after a debacle in the smartphone market. The G2 sheds its sub-branding in the Optimus range (a strange decision), has a 5.2-inch fullHD display, an innovative ‘back of the phone’ power and control button layout, thus leading to an almost non-existent bezel and clean sides. It also has a fantastic camera with optical stabilisation that is rock solid, a quadcore processor that flies and the 16GB version comes for about `40,000.

Made for: If you like your phone to do a lot more than have a ‘Plain Jane’ Android build, if you like a phone with clean sides and no buttons sticking out, if you shoot pictures that are usually fuzzy because of your hand shaking, if you like a phone with a truckload of new features not offered by others – the G2 is for you. If you are averse to learning a new way to control your phone, if you want your phone to have a striking design and hate plasticky looks, if you hate it when companies add on an overblown Android skin and many new features that seem gimmicky – then the G2 is not for you.

The Big Bomb – Samsung Note 3

The Big Bomb – Samsung Note 3 

A massive 5.7-inch super AMOLED 1080p display yet doesn’t feel big, powered by a Snapdragon 800 SoC, a 13megapixel camera capable of recording video in 4K, less plasticky looking as it’s covered with finely stitched leather, the S Pen gets more intelligent as Air Command becomes truly usable, the multi-windows feature for opening different apps is now customisable. It comes for about `45,000 at street level.

Made for: Great for business users, excellent for power users, fantastic if you need high-quality video and the payoff is awesome if you can spend time learning the capabilities of the S Pen and Air Command. Not for you if you make fun of people sticking big phones to their ear, not at all if your jeans are the painted-on-super-tight kind, not for you if you have small hands (it doesn’t matter if you are male or female, if you have dainty little hands, scratch this off your list), not for you if you don’t enjoy learning new features, which have a bit of learning curve on your phone.

Diamond fetches £19 million at Sotheby’s

Diamond fetches £19 million at Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s Hong Kong set a new world record for the sale of a white diamond last night as the largest diamond ever to appear at auction sold for £19 million (Rs18,61,007,100).
Discovered in southern Africa in 2011 — a staggering 299 carats in the rough — the flawless type IIa stone became subject to a battle between two telephone bidders at the Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite sale.
The twice-yearly ritual in the southern Chinese city draws wealthy collectors from mainland China and other Asian countries and has made the city one of the world’s busiest auction hubs.
The diamond was ‘hammered down’ after six minutes for $27.3 million (Rs16,82,226,000), just under the low end of the $28m to $35m estimate range set by Sotheby’s. The total price — including commission — came to $30.6m, beating the previous record of $26.7m for a white diamond set in May at Christie’s in Geneva.
Type IIa diamonds are made with pure carbon without any trace of nitrogen, and only make up 2 per cent of the world’s diamond production. Diamond cutters had to lose around 60 per cent of the stone’s weight to achieve a perfect finish.

Wankhede to host Sachin’s 200th

Wankhede to host Sachin’s 200th

MCA prez Ravi Savant says landmark Test will be held on maestro’s home turf

Sydney: The Australia media has said that none of the contemporaries of Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar has commanded his god-like status, which coincided with India’s rise as a cricket superpower. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Tendulkar combined brilliance with incredible longevity and outlasted fellow greats such as Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid. The report further said that Tendulkar had inspired a new generation of players who wanted to be like him, adding that his record of 3630 runs at 55 against Australia is testament to his god-like status. Although Tendulkar’s super-stardom did not dull his run-making as he churned out phenomenal 51 Test centuries and was a master at countering spin. —Agencies MCA prez Ravi Savant says landmark Test will be held on maestro’s home turf Mumbai: It’s official: Sachin Tendulkar will play his 200th and final Test in his backyard — the Wankhede Stadium. On Friday, BCCI vice-president (West Zone) and Mumbai Cricket Association president Ravi Savant put an end on speculation by conveying the news to reporters. “Yesterday (Thursday), Tendulkar had expressed his desire to play his 200th match on home soil and the BCCI has acceded to his request and decided to hold the Test at the Wankhede Stadium from November 14 to 18,” Savant said. It may be recalled that the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) was also in the race to host the landmark fixture. Savant refused to go into the details of how the MCA had its way. “I don’t want to go into the details. Suffice it to say that the match would be held at the Wankhede Stadium,” he added. Savant also refused to reveal the MCA’s plans for Tendulkar’s grand farewell. “We have enough time to prepare for the farewell game. We will definitely do it in a grand way, but it will also be planned after the elections,” he added. Savant was referring to the MCA polls to be held on October 18. It is learnt that the BCCI is also planning to give Tendulkar a grand send-off. The first Test (venue not announced yet) will be played from November 6 to 10. In addition to the two Tests, the West Indians will also play three ODIs (November 21, 24 and 27). The BCCI’s tours and fixtures committee, headed by Rajiv Shukla, will meet on Tuesday to finalise the venues.

From Packaged Groceries To Impulse Buys, Small Town Spends Grow In Double Digits

Convenience beats slowdown blues

From Packaged Groceries To Impulse Buys, Small Town Spends Grow In Double Digits

Mumbai: Call them a few bright sparks in India’s consumption story, if you will. Consumers may be choosing to restrict spends on fuel, electricity, new clothes, telephone expenses and out-ofhome entertainment, but they aren’t tightening their purse strings when it comes to packaged foods and grocery. In short, anything that scores high on the convenience index.
    And this is one part of the consumption story that remains intact despite the general growth slowdown. According to insights and information collated by Nielsen India, aspirations — especially for middle India consumers (in small towns between urban and rural) — have remained unchanged despite the tough times. Convenience continues to drive growths for packaged grocery, household cleaning, fabric care and impulse-driven items which have grown in strong double digits.
    The country’s GDP growth has come down from 9.3% in the fiscal year 2010-11 to 5% in 2012-13, directly impacting sectors like auto and financial services. However, the impulse basket is still growing at a healthy 20% (year-to-date May 2013) as against 22% a year ago, while packaged grocery is growing at 24% as compared to 30% a year ago.
    The growth levels may have come down but companies aren’t complaining. “We agree that the slowdown has had lesser impact on the food category, especially in the categories that we operate in. Our own internal growth has been at a healthy double-digit. We also continue to monitor macroeconomic conditions for any future challenges and possible solutions,” said Varun Berry, VP & COO, Britannia Industries.
    The consumer has not stopped shopping for innovatively packaged food products in particular. “Consumers are being more selective. Savings remain number one priority, so she has to make choices. Sometimes this is around basket items, sometimes around frequency, sometimes around lower priced/more heavily promoted brands,” said Justin Sargent, MD (consumer), Nielsen India region.
    In FMCG, the slowdown in non-food — at Rs 1,01,366 crore growing at June MAT (moving average total) 13% in fiscal year 2013 as against 18% in the previous fiscal — is more pronounced than the slowdown in food (Rs 1,09,026 crore growing at June MAT 17% versus 18%). “When times are good, you tend to find consumers expanding their basket beyond essential food items. But when times get a little tougher, some of those more discretionary items can take a hit,” said Sargent. That poses a challenge for packaged food companies to dish out new innovations and keep consumers from restricting spends.
    Berry likes to describe
categories that Britannia operates in — whether biscuits, cake, rusk, bread or dairy — as among everyday “low expense delight providers and satiators”. “We can justifiably say that the demand for so designed categories will continue to be robust even in the event of a slowdown. Besides, we have redesigned our offers to take advantage of the trends of migration to the middle and convenience seeking. For example, price correction of the Good Day low unit pack in some markets and increased sales focus in others has yielded rich dividends for a brand that is in the upper third of the price ladder,” said Berry.
    Another reason why impulse-driven items are still growing at high double digits is because marketers haven’t stopped activation initiatives at points of sale. “The onus of driving the impulse category growth is on the marketer. Activation at the point of buying is a significant driver of growth. The category is such that it remains insulated from external pressures as long as marketers are doing the right thing,” said Sunil Taldar, director (sales & international business), Cadbury India.
    A large part of consumption expenditure is also coming from middle India, which is fuelling the overall growth. Berry of Britannia said middle India has helped grow its brands like Marie, 50-50, Good Day and Milk Bikis.
    An ITC spokesperson said, “The growth of middle India and their aspirations drive the demand for branded packaged foods. This segment of consumers is moving from unbranded to branded product offerings, from unpackaged to packaged products and is also choosing products that are healthy, tasty and hygienic. Hence, the growth of middle India augurs very well for ITC as they contribute significantly to the consumption of modern branded packaged foods.”
    ITC, which has also launched several premium products including Delishus cookies, is encouraged by the growth achieved in the instant noodles segment with brand ‘Yippee’, highlighting the importance of differentiation and convenience even during a downturn. As for the long-term outlook, ITC appears positive.
GCPL buys 30% of B:blunt salon co Mumbai:Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) has entered into an agreement to acquire a 30% stake in Bhabani Blunt Hair Dressing, known for its B:blunt premier hair salon. B:blunt has 17 outlets and four academies across India. The consideration paid for acquiring the stake was not disclosed. TNN MAKING SELECT PURCHASES
    The slowdown has forced consumers to cut down on fuel, electricity, clothes, phone usage, entertainment
    But packaged groceries are still clocking 24% growth compared to 30% a year ago
    Household cleaning and fabric care products have also grown in double digits
    The impulse basket is also registering 20% expansion as against 22% a year ago on continuing sales promotions

RBI eases liquidity as rupee gains

RBI eases liquidity as rupee gains

Cuts Rate At Which It Provides Overnight Funds, Opens New Lending Window

Mumbai: Banks will see a sharp drop in the cost of short-term funds with the Reserve Bank of India cutting the rate at which it provides emergency overnight funds, coupled with a new 7-day and 14-day lending facility for banks. The improved liquidity position of banks will help keep in check interest rates, which were facing upward pressure after RBI hiked key policy rates on September 20.
    Emboldened by a steady rupee, RBI on Monday reversed some of the measures aimed at tightening liquidity as part of its defence measures against rupee volatility. The central bank reduced its marginal standing facility (MSF) rate by 50 basis points from 9.5% to 9.0% with immediate effect. The MSF is an emergency funding facility for banks to meet shortfall in their overnight cash requirement. With RBI placing restrictions on how much banks can borrow under the repo window – the conventional facility for overnight lending to banks – the MSF rate has become the floor rate in money markets. RBI had hiked the MSF rate by 200 bps in mid-July to drain out liquidity and make it difficult for speculators to go long on the dollar.
    Besides reducing the MSF rate, RBI said that it would provide banks additional liquidity through term repos of 7-day and 14-day tenor for up to a fourth of the banking system deposits through auctions every Friday. Given that bank deposits amount to Rs 68.70 lakh crore, the amount of liquidity released because of RBI’s measures would be over Rs 17,000 crore.
    According to Keki Mistry, vice-chairman and CEO, HDFC, any institution that is relying on short-term borrowing will see a 50 basis points reduction in rates. But bankers say that it is too early to forecast a change in the direction of home loan rates as these are largely decided by the repo rate. Even as bond dealers expect RBI to reverse its liquidity tightening measures, there is fear that the repo rate may be hiked by RBI in its end-October policy to keep inflation in check.
    Earlier in the day, before RBI’s announcement, Nomura research forecast that 10-year bond yields would drop to 8.20% within two to three months, which is a meaningful 40-45 basis points lower than the current levels. “We also believe the cut in MSF rate will outweigh the repo rate hikes and provide the necessary bullish impulse to India rates,” the report said. Now, with RBI having cut rates some bankers are forecasting that bond yields will drop immediately.
    Bankers said that RBI’s move was prompted by confidence in the rupee being in the current range. After hitting a record low of 68.85 against the dollar on August 28, the rupee has gained 11.4% to close at 61.79 per dollar on Monday. 

 
HOW IT WILL IMPACT YOU 

• Interest rates may not go up; rate-sensitive stocks likely to rise on Tuesday 
• In the September policy review, Rajan had cut overnight rates but raised repo rate. Monday’s double-edged move will reduce rates and easing liquidity will bring down cost of short-term funds Additional liquidity through 7- and 14-day repos will benefit fit banks banks dependant on money markets for funding Immediate beneficiaries will be businesses that depend on bond market for funds 
• Future rates will depe nd on the rupee, which will be impacted by the US shutdown

New Launch - Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E431

Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E431 
 
    If you are looking for a no-frills, but functional laptop, you might want to consider the Edge E431. It flaunts signature ThinkPad trappings, including the TrackPoint pointing device and a spill-resistant keyboard. Powered by Intel’s third-gen chip, this notebook comes with a fingerprint scanner for secure access, a 720p wide-angle webcam for video calls, Dolby Advanced Audio v2 sound enhancement, and dual noise-cancelling microphones. The E431 also sports the proprietary OneLink port that hooks up to a dock that charges, as well as adds to the USB and HDMI port count.  




Specs: 14-inch LED anti-glare (1366x768px) | Intel Core i3-3110M, 2.4GHz processor | 2GB DDR3 | 500GB hard drive | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | 720p web cam | DVD-RW | 4-in-1 card reader | HDMI, VGA, 1xUSB 2.0, 2xUSB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) | Dolby Enhanced Audio v2 | 6-cell battery | 2.15kg approx | carry bag 

Website: www.lenovo.com  

Price: 36,000 (plus taxes)

New Launch - Nikon Coolpix S6600

Nikon Coolpix S6600 
 
    The S6600 is an ideal shooter to carry along on a holiday. Its 2.7-inch display is not fixed, which means it can be opened out and twisted so you can be part of your photos. The compact camera even recognizes your hand movements, allowing you to operate the shutter and zoom from a distance. Besides, it even promises improved low-light photography, thanks to its backside illuminated sensor – all of this, aided by 18 scene modes and 30 effects to toy with. Once you are satisfied with your snapshots, use the built-in Wi-Fi to beam your priceless captures to devices nearby, or post them on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Google+.  
 
Specs: 16MP, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor | 12x optical zoom, f/3.3-6.3 | 2.7-inch, 460k dots, vari-angle TFT LCD display | ISO 125-1600 | 700mAh Li-ion battery, 150 shots | SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card support | 96.9x57.1x27.2mm, 165g  

Website: www.nikon.co.in  

Price: 14,450

New Launch - BlackBerry 9720

BlackBerry 9720 
 
    If you’re looking for a phone with a physical QWERTY keyboard, then the BlackBerry 9720 should make you smile. It includes the best of both worlds – a 35-key, backlit keyboard, as well as a touchscreen. The 9720 also includes the new BlackBerry Messenger with voice chat support and a dedicated BBM button. You can take blur-free pictures with its image-stabilized 5MP rear camera and quickly share them on social networks. As always, this BB handset promises secure and dependable services, including the new Balance technology that separates personal content from critical work data.  

Specs: 2.8-inch touchscreen (480x360px) | 806MHz processor | 512MB RAM | 512MB (internal), microSD up to 32GB | 5MP rear camera | QWERTY keypad | 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v2.1, A-GPS | 1450mAh battery | 66.33x114x12.07mm, 120g | BlackBerry OS 7.1  

Website: in.blackberry.com  

Price: Rs.15,990

looking for a printer/scanner/copier for home use within a budget of 15,000

I am looking for a printer/scanner/copier for home use within a budget of 15,000. Kindly let me know of the options available.

    For under 15,000, you can expect to pick up a very good colour inkjet printer, or a monochrome laser unit. Go in for the former if you want colour prints for school and college projects, presentations, holiday photographs, etc. On the other hand, a laser printer makes better economic sense if you’re primarily going to print b/w documents. 

MONOCHROME LASER PRINTER The Canon imageCLASS MF3010 ( 11,000) or the HP LaserJet Pro M1136 ( 9,900): These monochrome laser printers are capable of churning out 18-19 photocopies or prints per minute. The Canon machine can scan pictures at 600 dots per inch (which is double the dpi used professionally in the print industry), while the M1136 is capable of 1200dpi. A single cartridge for both these printers would cost around 4,000, and would give you an output of around 1,500 A4-, letter-sized pages.
    These devices work best if you’re going to be printing between 250 to 2,000 pages per month. 

COLOUR INK-JET The Canon PIXMA MG5470 ( 13,100) or the HP Deskjet Ink Advantage 6525 ( 12,500): These multi-function devices are capable of printing up to 12-15 pages of b/w, 8-10 colour prints, and anything between 15-18 photocopies per minute. The Canon scans at 2400dpi, while the HP Deskjet is capable of 1200dpi. The good part about these printers is that they support Wi-Fi, and also come with a card reader. Additionally, with HP 6525, you get a 3.5-inch colour touchscreen for ease of operation. It should be noted that ink-jet printers require two cartridges – one for black, and the other for colour – and the number of prints per cartridge would depend on individual usage. Also, the recommended monthly print usage for this category is between 150 to 400 pages. 

    (Here, if you’re looking for cheaper models, you might want to consider the Canon PIXMA MG4270 at 8,800 or the HP Deskjet 5525 at 8,500)

Looking to buy a gaming laptop within a budget of Rs.50,000

I’m looking to buy a gaming laptop within a budget of 50,000. It should have a 1GB graphics card (at least), and it will be a bonus if it is lightweight, and with a screen not bigger than 14 inches. Kindly suggest a few models. 

 
    You could consider... The Lenovo Z500 ( 50,000 approx) comes with an Intel Core i3 3230M processor, 6GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, a 15.6-inch screen and Windows 8. To handle gaming, this machine is equipped with a 2GB Nvidia GT 740M graphics processor. On the downside, it weighs a heavy 2.9kg – and it does not have an Ethernet port, so you will have to use it with Wi-Fi. 

    Then there’s the Asus K55VM-SX086D ( 48,000 approx) that is equipped with an Intel Core i7 3610QM chip, 8GB RAM, 1TB hard drive, 15.6-inch screen and a 2GB Nvidia GT 630 graphics processor. This machine weighs 2.6kg, and it comes with DOS (you will have to pay extra for Windows). 

    For a lightweight system, consider the Samsung NP530U4C ( 52,000). Weighing in at 1.8kg, this ultrabook with a 14-inch screen, is equipped with an Intel Core i5 3317U processor, 6GB RAM, 1TB hard disk (with SSD caching), a 1GB Nvidia GT 620 graphics card and Windows Home Premium. 

In a first, Indian-origin girl is crowned Miss America

In a first, Indian-origin girl is crowned Miss America

Washington: The tiara had barely been placed on her head and the customary tears of joy had just emerged when racist taunts erupted on social media, marring the moment of triumph for Nina Davuluri, the first-ever Miss America of Indian origin.
    “And the Arab wins Miss America. Classic,” tweeted @Granvil_Colt minutes after the usual final flourish ended in the crowning of the Indian-American, who is the current Miss New York. “Ummm wtf? Have we forgotten 9/11?” said @anthonytkr, associating Nina with the terrorist attack on the US. Some called her Miss al Qaida and others dubbed her Miss Terrorist. “How the f*** does a foreigner win miss America? She is a Arab!” followed up @jakeamick5.
    Nina, 24, for the record, is very much American but of Indian origin, just as sundry racist tweeple are of European and Caucasian extract. Daughter of immigrants from Vijayawada in AP, she was born in Syracuse, New York, and grew up in Oklahoma and Michigan.
    But in a flaming demonstration that an egalitarian, non-discriminatory US, like with India, is a work in progress, bigotry and bias kept popping up on social media for hours after the event.
    “Miss America? You mean Miss 7-11,” sneered another racist, referring to the widespread ownership and management of convenience stores by people of Indian-origin. “Miss America is brought by their sponsors PF Changs and 7-11,” jeered another.
    It’s another matter that the Davuluris fit the Indian-American profile of what the US Census says is the academically most-accomplished and highest-earning ethnic group, “native” white Americans included. Nina’s father Davuluri Koteshwara Choudhary, who migrated to the US in 1981, is a gynaecologist; Nina, whose mother is also a doctor, has a degree in Brain Behaviour and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan and aspires to be a cardiologist, a goal for which she pledged the $50,000 prize money she won with her crown.

Specifications of iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

Sneak peek into Apple’s new slices

On September 10, the tech world was glued into the Web, waiting with baited breath for arguablyargu its biggest event of the year: the launlaunch of the iPhone 5S and its supposedly cheap che new second cousin, iPhone 5C. his writer, who was in San Francisco at the time, failed to get into the hall where journalists and bloggers witnessed the launch. But he did manage to get a sneak peek of the new iPhones, and here is what it looks like.

Let us get some things aside first. The rurumour of a ‘cheap’ phone was just that – a rumour. Apple had never corroborated analanalyst predictions that an inexpensive model wouwould help the company break into markets such as India in a big way. Sometimes technolonology can’t be made cheap beyond a point withouwithout compromising on what it can do, So, there was no sub-R20,000 iPhone as such as thought -- though chcheaper budgets are possible with telecom service concontracts. Now, the pphones themselves (the prices are for the ones that are “unlocked” -- without any strings attached to data services)

iPhone 5S

$649/R41,500 (16GB), $749/R47,900 (32GB), $849/R54,300 (64GB)

Talking points: New colours, sensitive camera, fingerprin sensor, new OS

Apple popularised the glass-metal combination inn its phones, and it has stuck to the formula with the 5S. For variety, there are three new colours --- space grey, silver and gold. The phone starts at the same price point as the iPhone5, which stands discontinued.

Specs: 4” retina screen; rear 8 MP camera (with f2.2 aperture); front 1.2 MP camera with HD video recording; 4.87” X 2.31” X 0.30”; weight: 112 grams; A7 chip (twice as fast as A6); M7 cochip (motion sensor); nano-SIM

Features: Fingerprint sensor; tru-tone flash, burst mode, slowmotion video; independent motion sensor processor

The fingerprint sensor in the home button is the talking point of this phone. The fingerprint serves as your unlock passcode, and also as your entry into the iTunes store. It makes the phone more secure, and no one can shop on the store (even by accident) using your phone, even if it is unlocked. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities. The home button is encircled with a metal ring that detects when you move your finger to the phone to wake up the sensor.

The A7 processor is visibly faster, especially while using apps such as video and audio editing and presentations. The new co-processor M7 is designed specifically to measure motion data from the accelerometer, so the phone can differentiate between walking and running and driving, and the map mode can automatically change from driving mode to step-by-step mode. Moreover, it will not prompt you to join every unknown w-fi network you pass. If your phone has not moved for sometime, it goes into the idle mode, saving battery life. Get ready for a host of new fitness apps!
The camera is more powerful and sensitive, and the lowlight performance is excellent thanks to the tru-tone flash that adjusts in a range of 1,000 shades according to the colour of the subject/ambient colours. With the burst mode, it shoots as long as your finger is on the trigger, at 10 frames per second. Overall, the phone may not appear much ahead of the current iPhone, but the new processors and the operating system will openup a whole new world. Incidentally, your fingerprint data is stored locally on the phone ALONE. It is not stored on the cloud (Internet storage).

iPhone 5C

$549/R35,000 (16GB) $649/R41,500 (32GB)

Talking point: Plastic body, colour options

This is Apple’s first look at a plastic body that companies such as Nokia and HTC have popularised. The iPhone 5C comes in five gorgeous colours — blue, green, pink, yellow and white — and is a full $100 cheaper than the comparable 5S.

Specs: 4 inch retina screen, A6 processor, larger body (4.9”X2.33”X0.35”) than the iPhone5, 132 grams, rear 8 megapixel camera ( with an f / 2.4 aperture), front 1.2 megapixel camera camera.

Features: iOS7 pre-reinstalled, iWork app, and a battery that promises 10 ours of talk time on 3G.
Handling: The phone feels very comfortable on the hand, and can be further personalised with accessory covers. Plastic is not equal to fragile: there is a steel casing under the plastic.ic.
The buttons are all colourmatched to the body, even the screen lock. One did wish that they had colour -coded the earbuds as well, rather than issue standard white ones.