The two gadgets that will compel you to purchase them. Now Samsung Galaxy Note is up in the market to beat Apple iPhone 4S
Source: gsmarena.com
Source: gsmarena.com
Dec 18, 2011
Honda Brio : A deeper look
Honda's latest
attempt at making a small car for India seems to be even more
"enthusiastic" compared to its last 'jazzy' entry. We get behind the
wheel of this spirited little hatchback to find out whether the Brio
hits the right spot
Let’s get one thing out of the way – Honda makes great cars. There’s absolutely no doubt about that. But of course, it’s not so difficult to make good cars, even great ones, which start at double-digit lakh prices. Bring that figure down to half that, and you’ll see that it’s not such an easy task. Not that auto makers in India fail at this task, but just that the competition this down the order is far more cut throat and to stand out against the established competition is a fairly monumental task. Honda managed to burn, or let’s say slightly singe its fingers with the Jazz – a car which proved that you can have one of the best products in this hotly contested segment, and yet fail to make waves if the pricing is not right.
Honda did correct this factor eventually, with a significantly revised pricing for this wonderfully equipped and rather generously sized hatch, and boy did that do wonders for its sales. So with that lesson firmly in mind, Honda wasn’t about to put out a repeat performance when coming up with an entry level hatchback which would go head to head against established hot sellers such as the Hyundai i10 and the lot. Now Honda does have a lot riding on this little car, given the fact that the entry and mid-order hatchback segments account for most to the top selling cars in India. Also given the fact that Honda has a fairly small product portfolio in India, it becomes even more critical to get each car right. But as we’ve said before, Honda never gets its products wrong, and this fact couldn’t be better iterated after you take a look at the new Brio.
The outside story
The Brio certainly is a looker. In this segment where classical designs are more appreciated than anything radical, the Brio has everything working in its favour. While it doesn’t have the sharp, funky lines of its rival, the Chevrolet Beat, or the radical futuristic styling of its elder sibling, the Jazz, it still manages to stand out in a crowd quite easily. The well proportioned stance with short overhangs is something that really gives the car a dynamic look. While Honda’s designers might want to describe the styling as 'double triangle' or the like in the language only automobile designers can speak and very few apart from their ilk can understand, what is clear to understand is that the Brio does look like it’s moving forward at a good clip even when its standing still, especially when viewed bang-on from the side.
This is accentuated by the slashed crease just below the shoulder line and a parallel crease near the bottom of the car. Then there is there is a wide stance with its flared wheel arches, reminiscent of more sporty cars which really improves the appeal by leaps and bounds. This wider track combined with the car's relatively short wheelbase of 2,345mm as well as the lack of overhangs at either end, and the Brio comes across as a little rally car that would be more at home spewing dust on special stages rather than pootling about town. The front of the car bears the typical Honda traits that we’ve come to accept now, such as the large ‘H’ badge on the grille.
Then there is the rear of the car. Now most people, especially after looking at the pictures, might say that the all-glass tailgate with the small, sharp clear glass taillights, looks strange. One might even be forgiven for thinking this, as pictures really don’t do it justice. But one look at that rump in the flesh is enough to convince you of how wrong you were. The thick black accents on the glass tail-gate combined with the round lights inside the clear-glass taillight cluster give it the look of a cartoon character from traditional Japanese anime. It makes the car look especially cute and endearing when looked at from the rear angle, and it is probably the most instantly recognisable backside on any Indian hatchback at the moment.
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Cars of 2012 : Special Coverage
While some pundits might be harking on
about the end of the world in the year to come, the year 2012 does hold
many goodies of the four-wheeled kind for Indian automobile consumers
and connoisseurs alike. This year itself has already seen some rather
critical launches from many of the established players in the Indian
market, but come 2012, it seems the ante is going to be upped much
further. Not only are the companies which have a strong footing in India
planning to release some much needed updates and fresh launches, 2012
will also see some brand new companies make their foray into the Indian
automobile space. One thing is for sure, 2012 is definitely going to be
an exciting year with regards to automobiles. Here's a list of cars we
believe will be launched next year
More on Cars of 2012
The most popular segment in the nation
promises to be an exciting one in 2012 as some of the most famous
manufacturers prepare to unleash some seriously good cars. Fiat, Ford,
GM and the others have...
This is a segment that is spreading
like wildfire. Sub 4-metre length without having to compromise on space
and a decent sized boot along with excise benefits getting passed onto
the customer means...
Sedans have always enjoyed premium
status here in India no matter what segment. and its not without a
reason. A lot of metal for your money, and space to boot sedans make for
a very practical choice....
Big, brawny and loaded with presence,
SUV's have always been a hit here and our SUV obsessed nation has a
whole barrage of SUV's headed its way. This is arguably going to be
"the"...
Another extremely popular segement but
with very few contenders in it is the MPV or Multi purpose vehicle
category. The segment for long has been dominated by one Japanese
manufacturer. But more...
The most desirable segment of the lot.
Exotic, sizzling hot and fast enough to get you into trouble, sportscars
will always make us go weak in the knees. Expect some high speed action
in this segment...
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Bikes of 2012 : Special Coverage
Come 2012 and the two-wheeler space in the country will reach the brim before exploding with activity that shall last for a long time. With international players eager to get a piece of the second largest two-wheeler market in the world, the market is surely set for exciting new launches in 2012 featuring everything between the volume segment and the import category of motorcycles. The 250cc and the 600cc segments will play a key role with major of the world's motorcycle companies entering these two classes with a host of products including some localized options as well as imports. All in all, the bikers in India have a reason to smile in 2012 and be prepared to part with their cash for there are going to be plenty of interesting options to choose from. Happy vroom year ahead!
Superbikes of 2012 (1,000cc and above)
The big mommas of the motorcycle world have
been around for sometime now and this segment needs to stir up big
time. 2012 promises to be just that with Kawasaki bringing in its 1,000c
plus monster to India as well as some other exciting launches in the
luxury cruiser segment to battle with the might of the Harley-Davidsons!
More on Superbikes of 2012 (1,000cc and above)
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New Honda City Launched
Starting at a
price tag of Rs. 6.99 Lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi, this is a facelift on
the third generation of Honda's mid-sizer for India
Honda Siel Cars India has launched a facelift of its popular mid-size
sedan, the City. Apart from the refreshed looks and the addition of
features like a sunroof on the option variant, another big move is the
slashing of prices on this new version of the car.
With refreshed interiors and exteriors, the Honda City's new version
will be available at a base price of Rs.6.99 Lakhs, ex-showrrom Delhi
and will be available in four trim versions namely, Corporate, E, S, V.
The V trim version will be available in automatic transmission as well,
along with an option for a sunroof.
Saki Inaba, Director Marketing, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. said at
the launch, "Honda City is one of the most successful car brands in the
country and certainly the most desirable sedan in its category. Honda
City has achieved the No.1 rank in JD Power for the 11th time."
The City is powered by a 1.5-litre iVTEC engine, which churns out
118PS of power, and is known for its refinement. Safety features on the
car include ABS with Brake Assist, Dual SRS Airbags, and G-CON. The new
Honda City now also have Cruise Control for select models.
The Honda City will be available in six colors namely Carnelian Red
Pearl, Sparkling Brown Metallic, Urban Titanium Metallic, Bold Beige
Metallic, Alabaster Silver Metallic, Taffeta White. The prices of the
New Honda City variant-wise, ex-showroom Delhi are:
Corporate- 6.99 lakhs
E- 7.70 lakhs
S- 8.20 lakhs
V manual transmission- 8.70 lakhs
V automatic transmission- 9.42 lakhs
V(sunroof) manual transmission- 9.50 lakhs
V(sunroof) automatic transmission- 10.22 lakhs
Source: zigwheels
Dec 13, 2011
Nissan Sunny Diesel Launched
Nissan Motor India Private Ltd. today opened the booking for the
diesel variant of its mid-sized sedan, the Nissan Sunny in a diesel
option with a starting price of Rs. 7.98 lakhs, ex-showroom Delhi
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Sharing the same ‘V’ platform and the 1.5 litre engine, both from the
Micra, Nissan Motor India has announced the prices of the Sunny in its
diesel avatar namely the XL variant at Rs. 7.98 lakhs and the XV variant
at Rs. 8.78 lakhs. Bookings for the car have been started.
The 1.5 litre, K9K engine, taken from the Renault
– Nissan Alliance has an ARAI claimed fuel efficiency of 21.64 kilometers to a litre with the power figure of 86 PS @ 3750 rpm and
torque of 200 Nm @ 2000 rpm. The four cylinder engine is mated to a five
speed manual transmission in both trim versions.
Mr. Kiminobu Tokuyama, Managing Director & CEO, Nissan Motor
India, said, “We are delighted to introduce the diesel variant of Sunny
for the Indian market. At a time when Indian market is witnessing an
increase in demand for diesel cars, Sunny Diesel with Nissan technology
of high performance and fuel economy will be the right choice for our
valued customers in their search for the most suitable sedan.”
In terms of safety, the Sunny diesel comes equipped with Anti-Lock
Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake
Assist (BA),Engine Immobilizer and Airbags with its focus on young
professional with a lot of kilometers to travel on a daily basis. Mr. G M
Singh, Vice Chairman & MD, Hover Automotive India, Nissan’s
Marketing & Sales partner said, “Introduction of Sunny is another
major milestone in Nissan’s efforts to grow fast in the Indian market
which is growing at much faster pace compared to many other parts of the
world now. The fact that we are able to clock over 3000 sales for the
Petrol Sunny so far reinforces our belief that Indian customers prefer
Nissan’s products which are filled with innovation and excitement.”
The Nissan Sunny Diesel will be available in six colors namely Bronze
Grey, Blade Silver, Storm White, Sapphire Blue, Onyx Black and Brick
Red.
Source: zigwheels
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Oct 26, 2011
Oct 23, 2011
Need for Speed The Run Minimum PC Requirements
Need For Speed | The Run -
Over the past week we've had lots of people asking us what the minimum PC requirements are for NFS The Run. The minimum requirements are as follows:
MINIMUM PC REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows Vista SP2 32-bit
DirectX: DirectX 10
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Equivalent
Memory: 3 GB
Hard Drive: 18 GB
Graphics card (AMD): 512 MB RAM ATI Radeon 4870 or higher performance
Graphics card (NVIDIA): 512 MB RAM NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT or higher performance
Sound card: DirectX Compatible
Keyboard or Gamepad or Steering Wheel
DVD Rom Drive
Online: 512 KBPS or faster Internet connection
RECOMMENDED
OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
DirectX: DirectX 11
Processor: 3.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Quad or AMD Equivalent
Memory: 4 GB
Hard Drive: 18 GB
Graphics card (AMD): 1024 MB RAM ATI Radeon 6950
Graphics card (NVIDIA): 1024 MB RAM NVIDIA GeForce GTX560
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Keyboard or Gamepad or Steering Wheel
DVD Rom Drive
Online: 512 KBPS or faster Internet connection
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Over the past week we've had lots of people asking us what the minimum PC requirements are for NFS The Run. The minimum requirements are as follows:
MINIMUM PC REQUIREMENTS
OS: Windows Vista SP2 32-bit
DirectX: DirectX 10
Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Equivalent
Memory: 3 GB
Hard Drive: 18 GB
Graphics card (AMD): 512 MB RAM ATI Radeon 4870 or higher performance
Graphics card (NVIDIA): 512 MB RAM NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT or higher performance
Sound card: DirectX Compatible
Keyboard or Gamepad or Steering Wheel
DVD Rom Drive
Online: 512 KBPS or faster Internet connection
RECOMMENDED
OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
DirectX: DirectX 11
Processor: 3.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Quad or AMD Equivalent
Memory: 4 GB
Hard Drive: 18 GB
Graphics card (AMD): 1024 MB RAM ATI Radeon 6950
Graphics card (NVIDIA): 1024 MB RAM NVIDIA GeForce GTX560
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
Keyboard or Gamepad or Steering Wheel
DVD Rom Drive
Online: 512 KBPS or faster Internet connection
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Oct 6, 2011
Steve Jobs, Apple founder, now no more.. :(
Steve Jobs, the visionary in the black turtleneck who co-founded Apple in a Silicon Valley garage, built it into the world's leading tech company and led a mobile-computing revolution with wildly popular devices such as the iPhone, died Wednesday. He was 56.
The hard-driving executive pioneered the concept of the personal computer and of navigating them by clicking onscreen images with a mouse. In more recent years, he introduced the iPod portable music player, the iPhone and the iPad tablet -- all of which changed how we consume content in the digital age.
His friends and Apple fans on Wednesday night mourned the passing of a tech titan.
"Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives," Apple said in a statement. "The world is immeasurably better because of Steve."
More than one pundit, praising Jobs' ability to transform entire industries with his inventions, called him a modern-day Leonardo Da Vinci.
"Steve Jobs is one of the great innovators in the history of modern capitalism," New York Times columnist Joe Nocera said in August. "His intuition has been phenomenal over the years."
Jobs' death, while dreaded by Apple's legions of fans, was not unexpected. He had battled cancer for years, took a medical leave from Apple in January and stepped down as chief executive in August because he could "no longer meet (his) duties and expectations."
Born February 24, 1955, and then adopted, Jobs grew up in Cupertino, California -- which would become home to Apple's headquarters -- and showed an early interest in electronics. As a teenager, he phoned William Hewlett, president of Hewlett-Packard, to request parts for a school project. He got them, along with an offer of a summer job at HP.
How Steve Jobs grew up 
Jobs 'set the agenda' for tech industry
Jobs dropped out of Oregon's Reed College after one semester, although he returned to audit a class in calligraphy, which he says influenced Apple's graceful, minimalist aesthetic. He quit one of his first jobs, designing video games for Atari, to backpack across India and take psychedelic drugs. Those experiences, Jobs said later, shaped his creative vision.
"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future," he told Stanford University graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. "You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
While at HP, Jobs befriended Steve Wozniak, who impressed him with his skill at assembling electronic components. The two later joined a Silicon Valley computer hobbyists club, and when he was 21, Jobs teamed with Wozniak and two other men to launch Apple Computer Inc.
It's long been Silicon Valley legend: Jobs and Wozniak built their first commercial product, the Apple 1, in Jobs' parents' garage in 1976. Jobs sold his Volkswagen van to help finance the venture. The primitive computer, priced at $666.66, had no keyboard or display, and customers had to assemble it themselves.
The following year, Apple unveiled the Apple II computer at the inaugural West Coast Computer Faire. The machine was a hit, and the personal computing revolution was under way.
Jobs was among the first computer engineers to recognize the appeal of the mouse and the graphical interface, which let users operate computers by clicking on images instead of writing text.
Timeline: Steve Jobs' career
Apple's pioneering Macintosh computer launched in early 1984 with a now-iconic, Orwellian-themed Super Bowl ad. The boxy beige Macintosh sold well, but the demanding Jobs clashed frequently with colleagues, and in 1986, he was ousted from Apple after a power struggle.
Then came a 10-year hiatus during which he founded NeXT Computer, whose pricey, cube-shaped computer workstations never caught on with consumers.
Jobs had more success when he bought Pixar Animation Studios from George Lucas before the company made it big with "Toy Story." Jobs brought the same marketing skill to Pixar that he became known for at Apple. His brief but emotional pitch for "Finding Nemo," for example, was a masterful bit of succinct storytelling.
In 1996, Apple bought NeXT, returning Jobs to the then-struggling company he had co-founded. Within a year, he was running Apple again -- older and perhaps wiser but no less of a perfectionist. And in 2001, he took the stage to introduce the original iPod, the little white device that transformed portable music and kick-started Apple's furious comeback.
Thus began one of the most remarkable second acts in the history of business. Over the next decade, Jobs wowed launch-event audiences, and consumers, with one game-changing hit after another: iTunes (2003), the iPhone (2007), the App Store (2008), and the iPad (2010).
Observers marveled at Jobs' skills as a pitchman, his ability to inspire godlike devotion among Apple "fanboys" (and scorn from PC fans) and his "one more thing" surprise announcements. Time after time, he sold people on a product they didn't know they needed until he invented it. And all this on an official annual salary of $1.
He also built a reputation as a hard-driving, mercurial and sometimes difficult boss who oversaw almost every detail of Apple's products and rejected prototypes that didn't meet his exacting standards.
By the late 2000s, his once-renegade tech company, the David to Microsoft's Goliath, was entrenched at the uppermost tier of American business. Apple now operates more than 300 retail stores in 11 countries. The company has sold more than 275 million iPods, 100 million iPhones and 25 million iPads worldwide.
Jobs' climb to the top was complete in summer 2011, when Apple listed more cash reserves than the U.S. Treasury and even briefly surpassed Exxon Mobil as the world's most valuable company.
But Jobs' health problems sometimes cast a shadow over his company's success. In 2004, he announced to his employees that he was being treated for pancreatic cancer. He lost weight and appeared unusually gaunt at keynote speeches to Apple developers, spurring concerns about his health and fluctuations in the company's stock price. One wire service accidentally published Jobs' obituary.
Jobs had a secret liver transplant in 2009 in Tennessee during a six-month medical leave of absence from Apple. He took another medical leave in January this year. Perhaps mindful of his legacy, he cooperated on his first authorized biography, scheduled to be published by Simon & Schuster in November.
Jobs is survived by his wife of 20 years, Laurene, and four children, including one from a prior relationship.
He always spoke with immense pride about what he and his engineers accomplished at Apple.
"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do," he told the Stanford grads in 2005.
"If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on."
Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/
Oct 5, 2011
Nike TomTom GPS Sportwatch
The Nike + Sportwatch created in collaboration with the TomTom GPS is finally available for purchase in Italy. We have spoken in recent months smartwatch of Nike, a watch equipped with GPS receiver that allows you to record times, speeds and routes taken during training and competitions (all data capturing position during the race), able to measure the pace, heart rate and calories burned.
The recorded data with Nike + can be downloaded to a computer through the USB connector on the end of the strap, while inside the watch can be kept up to 50 races with personal bests. The display features can be customized according to user needs. The Nike + GPS Sportwatch costs € 199 and is available on TomTom's site, on the Italian site of Nike and Nike Store throughout Italy
The recorded data with Nike + can be downloaded to a computer through the USB connector on the end of the strap, while inside the watch can be kept up to 50 races with personal bests. The display features can be customized according to user needs. The Nike + GPS Sportwatch costs € 199 and is available on TomTom's site, on the Italian site of Nike and Nike Store throughout Italy
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Philips Diamond Clean USB Toothbrush
In recent years there has been a boom in electric toothbrushes with rotating head. These models are powered by AA batteries, often disposable. The model DiamondClean Philips, however, uses a USB port to provide a power source standards when traveling.
Equipped with a travel case and a dock in the shape of glass for the bathroom, the Philips DiamondClean has two types of heads that rotate at 31,000 rpm to eliminate 100% of the plate in about 2 minutes. A full battery charge provides autonomy for 3 weeks.
The device also provides 5 modes of vibration to help whiten teeth, the sensitivity of the gums or easy cleaning. In Great Britain is on sale for £ 250, about 286 €
Equipped with a travel case and a dock in the shape of glass for the bathroom, the Philips DiamondClean has two types of heads that rotate at 31,000 rpm to eliminate 100% of the plate in about 2 minutes. A full battery charge provides autonomy for 3 weeks.
The device also provides 5 modes of vibration to help whiten teeth, the sensitivity of the gums or easy cleaning. In Great Britain is on sale for £ 250, about 286 €
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