4 / TECH

OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE JANUARY 2011

Home ScreenWelcoming the new yearFirst matter of business – on behalf of the team of TECH, we at Deenar would like to wish you all a very happy and exciting new year.

Whew, what a month. As we worked on this fabulous New Year issue, things went, for the most part, quite smoothly. But what we hadn’t planned for were the holidays. While we were busy designing, and writing for TECH, Oman was busy celebrating. We had the amazing nine-day wonder of Oman World Fireworks Championship. We had fun brainstorming ideas for TECH watching the sparklers and listening to the amazing music they were set to. And then there was the exciting Asian Beach Games.

Moving on to this issue, over the past few years we have heard enough and more about the 3D revolution. There’s no shortage of 3D TVs and even 3D cameras and camcorders from well-known companies. This is the subject of our cover story – an in-depth review of a 3D camcorder from Panasonic.

Now that all the celebrations are over, we are giving you something to keep you occupied this month. This issue has a lot of unique gadgets and gizmos. Products that you will be forgiven for lusting after – jazzy and unique time pieces from TokyoFlash, which can be shipped to Oman, four top-range smartphones, Bang & Olufsen’s latest in audio technology, to name a few. You can flip through these pages and you will find a shopping list to satisfy the most gadget-addicted person in the world – with everything from mobiles, cameras and camcorders, audio systems, laptops and time pieces. So enjoy and wishing you all a very happy, ‘TECH’y 2011.

- Ed

Talk to us! If you have any queries, contact us at tech@deenarmedia.com

Printed at Oman Printers & Stationers, Sultanate of OmanModel: Leah Albahri

Photography: Shakeel al Balushi

Produced by

Deenar Press and Publishing LLCPO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman

Tel: + 968 24 696868, Fax: +968 24 693569E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com

EDITORIAL Editor-in-chief Hatim al Taie

Content Head Malcolm X Crasta

Content Manager Sujata Sengupta

Asst. Content Manager Poornima Ramani

Senior Designer Shyniben Koyakkil

Designer Muneeb Khan

CORPORATEManaging Director Abdullah al Taie

General Manager Rathish Ramachandran

Asst. General Manager Terry Mathukutty

Sales Sami Dalwai

Emily Matthews

Mehri Vantanparast

2010 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible if factual errors in product and pricing occur. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time. The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this issue. Please check any quoted hardware specifications and pricing with your supplier before purchase.

Nov ‘10 / 9

Q&A

Tech News

Nouvo Tech

Photography

Consumer Tech

Video Zone

Mobile Zone

Audio Zone

Computing

Time Zone

Dashboard

Gamer’s Delight

DVD Review

Business Tech

Quiz

Tech Favourites

Tech Directory

08

30

14

40

54

10

34

22

44

55

12

36

53

27

48

56

63

CONTENTS

ISSUE 9 - JAN 2011OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

If you have any queries, mail us on tech@deenarmedia.com, and we will try to answer them in our next issue.

Dear TECH team,

Last month’s edition was excellent - Keep up your wonderful work. A round of applause to all the team members.

What is the problem with the BlackBerry Service and why are some countries banning or going to ban the service?

Thanks,Kumar

Hi Kumar,

The problem with BlackBerry is that they use a very strong form of data encryption and almost all data from the BlackBerry service is routed through Research In Motion’s own servers (RIM is the manufacturer of BlackBerry). This has become a matter of concern for a number of countries because not only is the data almost impossible to access but is also outside the legal jurisdictions of those countries. This is why the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain were reported to consider the BlackBerry as a “security threat”. Other countries threatening to ban the use of the BlackBerry Messenger include Algeria, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Indian authorities have asked RIM to provide them some means to access the encrypted data for calls to, from or within India, following concerns that it could be used by terrorist and rebel groups to carry out proxy war attacks on India. BlackBerry has indicated willingness to set up a server in India and giving the country limited access to its highly effective encryption technology. Saudi Arabia has also threatened to ban the service, but it was reported close to reaching an agreement with RIM to set up a server for the service inside the Kingdom.

-Ed

Dear Editor,

I am an amateur when it comes to computers and my dad is planning to buy me one. I have been reading TECH for the past two months now and I see that you feature some interesting laptops, but there are no desktops. So should I get a laptop or a desktop. Apart from being able to carry laptops around, in what way is it superior to desktops and if I get a desktop will they become outdated soon? I basically want to use it for programming languages like C++, and Java, as part of my school curriculum. So which would you suggest?

Thanks in advance,Vidhya

Hi

Actually it is quite the opposite; in terms of being outdated and performance desktops are far superior, especially if price

is taken into consideration. Desktops are also easier to upgrade

making them more future-proof too. So, given a choice it would be

more cost effective to go for a desktop. Laptops have one major advantage – its

portability. So, considering that all the jobs you mentioned will work on most entry level

laptops and if portability is important then even a basic laptop will

suffice as a cost effective option.

-Ed

Lettersto the Editor

The Automotive Division of Mohsin Haider Darwish recently launched the all-new Volvo S60, with the event presided over by Tomas Ernberg, regional MD, Volvo Cars Middle East, and David Aziz, director Automotive, MHD.

It has been launched across the GCC with an online campaign on major websites including Yahoo, Facebook, MSN Messenger, Hotmail, Maktoob (Arabic version of Yahoo), etc. The objective was to build awareness around the Volvo S60 and drive users to the microsite – www.letsplay60.com – to play the tailor-made game and book test drives.

The top three scorers in each country won exciting prizes. Prizes in Oman included a two night stay for a couple at the Al Husn hotel in

a Deluxe Sea View room, an Apple iPad, and a Flower bath followed by Aroma Vitality and Body Scrub for two at Chi, the Spa. The prizes were given away to the winners during the launch event.

The new S60 is a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants. It comes with Advanced Stability and Corner Traction Control. It also includes improved steering, stiffer springs and bushes, as well as more damping than in any previous Volvo. The software in the AWD (All Wheel Drive) system has been modified to allow the four-wheel drive variants to exploit the sporty new chassis. During its first year of production, the Volvo S60 will be available with a variety of petrol engines.

In line with its strategy to harness national talent, Oman Air has announced its renewed commitment to support Oman’s international motor racing sensation, Ahmad al Harthy, for the 2011 season. One of the very few racing drivers of international standing to emerge from Oman and the Gulf region, Al Harthy has recently ranked fourth with five podium finishes in the United Kingdom’s pinnacle motor racing event, the Porsche Carerra Cup GB Championship in the Pro-AM 1 Class, and participated in the iconic Le Mans racing circuit in France.

“Ahmad al Harthy represents the next generation of Omani sporting champions and we at Oman Air remain steadfast in identifying and providing essential support to talented individuals who can place the

nation in the international arena,” Philippe Georgiou, Chief Officer Corporate Affairs and Official Spokesperson for Oman Air, said.

Expressing his profound appreciation, Al Harthy said, “Oman Air’s unwavering endorsement is a testament to the airline’s fundamental belief that the nation’s most valuable assets are its people as living and breathing examples of what the nation has to offer the world. I am both humbled and grateful for their sponsorship and look forward to achieving greater success, wearing the brand with honour and integrity.”Anticipated to be one of the most exciting racing seasons, Al Harthy’s 2011 schedule includes a line-up of challenging and physically enduring races.

Just three months ago, Wattayah Motors launched the new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg, the first complete redesign since its inception in 2002. The new model is longer, lighter, sleeker, safer and roomier than its predecessor and sports a number of new features including bi-xenon headlights with Dynamic Light Assist and a standard eight-speed automatic. It also includes a pushbutton parking brake, automatic start-stop engine shut-off system, electronic oil level display and the largest ever panoramic sunroof used in an SUV.

To showcase this new model, Wattayah Motors recently organised a drive to Jebel Akhdar for members of the media so that we could experience the vehicle first hand. Suffice to say the vehicle didn’t disappoint us in the least, proving itself more than capable of handling both on-road and off-road duties with ease. Comfort, space and safety were among the best we have seen in similarly sized SUVs. And despite all the performance on hand, and the comfort the vehicle offered, it also proved to be extremely fuel efficient.

Volvo S60 launches in Oman

Drive to remember

Harnessing national talent

12 / TECH

The unstoppable Toyota Hilux is already renowned for its capacity to overcome extreme challenge, from driving to the North Pole to conquering the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull. Now, the Hilux has successfully completed yet another extraordinary journey, travelling across the coldest, most hostile environment in the world, Antarctica, to reach the South Pole. Between November 10 and December 5, 2010, four Hilux transported expedition members of the Indian National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) – studying snow chemistry, the glacial landscapes and the bedrock hidden beneath the ice – on a 4,600km round trip from Novo Air Base, to the South Pole, and safely back.

The four Hilux vehicles were produced at Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM), the main volume supply base for the European market, and were adapted by Icelandic Toyota 4x4 conversion specialists, Arctic Trucks, for the month-long expedition. But the 3.0-litre D-4D diesel engines were unchanged for the expedition, demonstrating its quality, durability and reliability.

EMC Corporation (NYSE:EMC), the world leader in information infrastructure solutions, recently announced that EMC Documentum is one of the first enterprise content management platforms to achieve VMware Ready status. This designation indicates that Documentum has passed a detailed evaluation and testing process managed by VMware and is now listed on the VMware Partner Product Catalogue.

Passing the extensive VMware-specified testing helps ensure that Documentum makes best use of VMware technology and is ready for deployment in customer

environments. This helps enterprises simplify their Documentum deployments and reduce the total cost of ownership.

“EMC is proud to be one of the first vendors to offer enterprise content management solutions optimised for VMware vSphere,” said Jeetu Patel, Chief Technology Officer of Information Intelligence Group, a division of EMC.

“Achieving VMware Ready status is an important step in delivering on our product strategy for the cloud. Organisations can have confidence in deploying Documentum-based applications in virtual environments

to minimise costs as well as enhance high availability and scaleability.”

The Documentum platform provides essential capabilities for managing enterprise content and is the foundation for EMC’s enterprise content management and intelligent case management offerings. Service-oriented and based on industry standards, Documentum adheres to Content Management Interoperability Services (CMIS) and supports a broad range of operating systems, databases, application servers and enterprise applications.

Kaspersky Lab, a leading developer of secure content management solutions, is the UAE consumers’ most popular anti malware brand dominating the country’s retail sales with an overall market share of 37 per cent by value and 38 per cent by volume according to the latest IDC report about AMS retail channel in UAE, KSA, Egypt and Pakistan.

According to the same report, a total of 900,000 anti-virus products with an estimated value of USD6mn were sold across UAE retail stores in 2009. To make a comparison, Saudi Arabia’s AMS retail channel market during the same period was worth USD4mn on a 600,000 unit volume.

In Egypt, the most populous market in the Middle East, the total value of the market is estimated at USD1.5.

The aim of the study was to do an in-depth research of the retail channel for the Anti-Malware Solutions (AMS) landscape and determine its overall structure, channel size by volume, value and segment type, key retailers share, product pricing and market shares of key vendors by value and volume.

Kaspersky Lab comfortably topped both market share categories by a margin of 11 per cent and six per cent from the second most popular vendor respectively.

The majority of AMS retail sales in the UAE are driven by customers buying solutions for their personal use. However, nearly 30 per cent of the sales are focused on business/company users.

The study was done in two parts. The first phase was conducted through a series of interviews with leading vendors and their distributors. The second was an end-user study conducted across the three countries covering the three major retail segments, Hypermarkets, Electronic Stores and IT Specialty Stores.

Against all odds

EMC Documentum is now ready

Kaspersky dominates

Nov ‘10 / 13

Swedish headphone manufacturer Jays has reinforced its new range of a-JAYS headphones with a-JAYS Four iPhone. This custom headset has been designed specifically for the iPhone 4. It comes equipped with a simple control with three buttons and a secure grip on one of the headphone cords. The buttons control answer and termination of calls, volume, music and video playback, and recording of voice memos with compatible devices.

The a-JAYS Four iPhone headset is also compatible with 3G iPhone. It has the superior sound of the a-JAYS Three, with a refined midrange for optimum voice transmission and is supplemented by a new, custom-built, silicon microphone. The headset features secure grip buttons and a newly developed, angled 3.5mm plug. It also has a flat, tangle-free cord, and will be available in black.

The Tab is all you need

a-JAYS for iPhone 4

Samsung Electronics introduced the newly launched Samsung Galaxy Tab (Model: GT-P1000) to the market, this November. The Tab was showcased and offered at GITEX 2010 that took place from 17-21 October, 2010.

Powered by Android Operating System 2.2, the Samsung Galaxy Tab is the first of the company’s tablet devices, representing a new category of mobile products from Samsung. It brings together all of Samsung’s leading innovations to provide users with more capabilities while on the move. Consumers are able to experience PC-like web browsing and enjoy all forms of multimedia content on the perfectly sized seven-inch display, wherever they go. Moreover, users can continuously communicate via email, voice and video call, SMS/MMS or social network with the optimised user interface.

The Galaxy Tab makes use of a striking seven-inch TFT-LCD display that, combined with a 1GHz application processor, delivers exciting mobile experience for watching HD films in a variety of formats, viewing pictures, e-reading or sharing documents. It’s light and provides perfect portability, making it a truly mobile multi-purpose communications device. With standard support for the latest Adobe Flash Player 10.1, the Galaxy Tab fully supports swift, seamless viewing of every single page of the web, while native Arabic language support means the Galaxy Tab was built with the Middle East region in mind – no more illegible characters when checking your Arabic content.

Designed with complete mobile technology convergence in mind, the Galaxy Tab makes use of ‘Hubs’ to provide access to

any and all content easily and quickly. The ‘Readers Hub,’ Samsung’s unique e-reading application, provides easy access to a vast digital library – from classical literature to the latest bestsellers and reference materials. Other newly introduced ‘Hubs’ include the ‘Media Hub,’ a gateway to a world of films and videos, and ‘Music Hub,’ an application giving access to a wide range of music tunes.

As with other Android-powered devices from Samsung, the Galaxy Tab makes use of the ‘Social Hub’, providing always-on social network connectivity, allowing users to enjoy communications with their friends, colleagues, and families whenever they want, wherever they are.

With 3G HSUPA connectivity, 802.11n Wi-Fi,

and Bluetooth 3.0, the Samsung Galaxy Tab enhances users’ mobile communication on a whole new level. Using the Tab’s 1.3MP front camera, users can engage in Video conferencing over 3G. Typing on the large seven-inch display with SWYPE texting makes email communication smoother and more efficient, while the Samsung Galaxy Tab can act as the perfect speakerphone on the desk when used for voice telephony, or a mobile phone on the move via Bluetooth headset.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab is the best portable solution for every lifestyle that needs a constant connection, giving users the power to consume, create and communicate from wherever they are. For a more detailed look at the Tab you can refer to the October 2010 issue of TECH (Issue 6, Pg. 28).

14 / TECH

Fast and tiny

The TRON T1 headphones are a harmony of TRON’s iconic design and Monster’s audio technology. Delivering top-notch sound quality and balanced sound, the extra-large, over-ear drivers provide deep bass and thunderous low-end effects. Whether it’s gaming, music or movies, you’ll enjoy hours of hearing every detail and every note.

Monster had to create new technology to get the design right without sacrificing audio. Energy-efficient LED lights detail your ear cups and provide that iconic TRON look. The first ever LED light drive system was created specifically for the TRON T1s and was inspired by the look and feel of the movie.

The latest design in passive noise isolation features comfortable, plush ear cups that breathe, so you can stay submerged in the reality of your choice for countless hours of enjoyment. You can also control your playback or mobile phone from your cord.

The first and the fastestLaCie has unveiled the smallest SSD USB 3.0 drive, delivering speeds up to 260Mbps – the LaCie FastKey. Small enough to hide in the palm of your hand, LaCie’s FastKey can transfer 1,000 mp3 or five DIVX files in less than 60 seconds.

While the FastKey can perform up to ten times faster than USB 2.0, its peak performance goes far beyond that. Combining the performance of SSD, USB 3.0 and DRAM cache technology, the FastKey can write small files up to 100 times faster than your average USB 2.0 hard drive.

Combining the highly robust solid-state flash technology, with sturdy aluminium casing, the FastKey ensures your data is as safe as it is mobile. But don’t mistake its high capacity for a 2.5-inch mobile SSD. The LaCie FastKey packs 120GB into a sleek flash drive (measuring just 26cm3) with no wasted space. And with the included strap, users can secure the FastKey to a keychain or bag for additional on-the-go convenience.

It not only protects data from the outside, it includes software AES 256-bit encryption – so your data is secure no matter how it’s used. Simply choose the amount of capacity you want to encrypt, and access it with a custom password. Now you can pass the FastKey to colleagues and friends and know your personal files are secure. If privacy is a priority, you can encrypt the full capacity.

The LaCie FastKey is available in 30GB, 60GB and 120GB capacities at a starting MSRP of USD149.99 (~OMR57.000).

LG Electronics has unveiled the LG Optimus 2X, the world’s first smartphone with a dual-core processor. Along with more powerful multimedia features, the LG Optimus 2X’s high-performance Tegra 2 processor makes for faster, smoother web browsing and applications and lets users multitask with virtually no screen lag.

Powered by a dual-core Tegra 2 system-on-a-chip running at 1GHz, the LG Optimus 2X offers 1080p HD video playback and recording with HDMI mirroring that expands content on external displays to full HD quality. It can connect wirelessly to any DLNA

(Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible digital device and includes a four-inch WVGA screen, an eight-megapixel rear camera and 1.3MP front camera, microSD memory expandability, micro-USB port and a hefty 1500mAh battery.

The LG Optimus 2X will be available in Korea next month with countries in Europe and Asia to follow. The phone will initially be released with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and will be upgradeable to Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). You can look forward to a more detailed look at the Optimus 2X in the following issues of TECH.

Nov ‘10 / 15

With 3DV5’s dual 5MP fixed focus cameras you can capture 3D still images and 3D 720p HD video

With ArcSoft software Wizard, 3D playback on a PC or TV can be enjoyed with the red/cyan glasses included with the 3DV5

The device displays 3D photos and videos without the need for glasses and automatically converts standard 2D photos and videos to 3D

It offers the functionality of a compact digital display, including calendar, clock and alarm features

It allows you to customise 3D slideshows with music backgrounds

It has a 2.4-inch LCD panel on which you can view live 3D content without special 3D glasses

NVIDIA’s 3D Vision Kit helps consumers enjoy 3D content on NVIDIA 3D monitors

ViewSonic’s new 3D HD Camcorder 3DV5 is all set to provide exciting entertainment in the third dimension. Not only can this nifty device shoot videos in 3D but can, with one click, upload and share them on YouTube 3D with the built-in software. Playback in 3D is possible without the need for special glasses. The camcorder also comes with a USB rechargeable Li-ion battery.

To perfectly complement the 3DV5, ViewSonic’s 3DPF8 allows you to enjoy the world of 3D and entertain your friends with videos and multimedia slide shows without the need for 3D glasses. It also makes 2D images come to life by converting them in real time to 3D. It has an intuitive user interface and hidden touch panel controls.

You can now create and view your own content with the complete new suite of media devices from ViewSonic

3DV5 Pocket 3D HD Camcorder

3DPF8 3D Multimedia Digital Photo Frame

PHOTOGRAPHY

16 / TECH

The DVP5 pocket camcorder projector lets you project content up to 65 inches

The DPF8-CAM is basically an eight-inch copier that easily converts analogue print photos to digital format

It has a high-resolution 800x600 LED backlit screen and a 5MP built-in camera

The 128MB of internal memory with the support of SD, MMC, MS Pro for up to 32GB external memory gives you more than enough storage space to save copies directly on the device

You can use the DVP5 to project content from external devices such as an iPod, DVD player or game console using an AV jack

LED backlight lamp technology ensures high contrast ratio and true colour

The rechargeable built-in battery offers up to two hours of recording on a single charge

Combining a camcorder with a pico projector, the DVP5 shoots and projects photos and HD videos instantly on any surface. Playback of videos on your TV is made easier with Mini HDMI. Thanks to the use of LED backlight the projector has a lifetime of more than 20,000 hours. It is a perfect on-the-go device. It also supports additional micro SD cards for additional storage.

DVP5 PocketCamcorder Projector

DPF8-CAM Digital Photo Copier

Camera

Resolution

Memory

Display

Price

TeCh Specs 3DV5Camera – 5MP

Camcorder – 720p HD

Internal – 10MB; SD/SDHC,

MMC compatible

2.4-inch 3D LCD

USD179.99 (~OMR69.300)

3DPF8n/a

Internal – 128MB

8-inch 3D LCD

USD179.99 (~OMR69.300)

DVP55MP

Internal -- 32MB,

Micro SD compatible

2.4-inch LCD

USD329.99 (~OMR127.100)

DPF8-CAM5MP

Internal -- 128MB; SD,

MMC, MS Pro compatible

8-inch TFT LCD

USD149.99 (~OMR57.800)

The DPF8-CAM is a smart device that uses a very simple method to transform your print photos into

a digital format in one easy step – with the built-in 5MP camera and a

perfectly placed picture stand. Intuitive commands help adjust or crop the image

and customise the photo slideshow. A USB port and additional memory slot allows you to easily upload more digital content if needed. It even has a 4:3 aspect ratio to minimise image distortion.

Nov ‘10 / 17

Thanks to Panasonic’s HDC-SDT750 you can now capture your next family holiday in 3D

3D LCD and plasma panels have been out for quite a while now but aside from watching those 3D Blu-Ray movies your choice of 3D content is extremely limited. But now, thanks to Panasonic’s new 3D camcorder, 3D video recording has finally reached the consumer market. So now you have another reason to justify that OMR1000+ you just spent on your 3D panel.

18 / TECH

Product Overview

Recording Compression

Design and Comfort

Panasonic has covered all bases with the content included in the box. You get all necessary cables, software CD, user manual, rechargeable battery, the recharger, a slide-in shoe adapter, the camcorder and the 3D conversion lens. Obviously the star of the show here is the 3D conversion lens which, when attached to the camcorder, allows you to take 3D videos.

Using an attachment, rather than making the camcorder a complete 3D camcorder, was a brilliant move by Panasonic as it gives an otherwise limited product vastly improved versatility. The base camcorder, the HDC-SDT750, is identical to Panasonic’s top of the line HDS-TM700, aside from a few minor differences. These include the absence of any internal memory, an updated OIS and improved noise reduction in the SDT750.

Despite the similarities, the 3D conversion lens is not compatible with any of the other camcorders. This is primarily because of software issues and the fact that the lens will simply not fit them.

The SDT750 uses AVCHD compression as well as an original MPEG-4 format for recordings of up to 1080/60p quality videos. The highest resolution is not available with 3D recording; however they can still be recorded in 1080/60p quality so it is not really a big loss. There is also no internal memory of any sort but the camcorder is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards and as such these will be your primary and only mode of video storage on the camcorder. The SDT750 ships with a new version of HD Writer AE software that now includes 3D movie editing capability and allows you to burn 3D videos onto Blu-Ray discs or even convert them to 2D for online sharing.

As with Panasonic’s entire high-end camcorder line-up, the SDT750 is very light, small and comfortable to handle. Even the strap is strong and well padded. The few buttons on the camcorder are well placed and the viewfinder is telescopic so in case you fit a bigger battery, which is easily done thanks to the use of an external battery pack, using the viewfinder is not a hassle. But not everything is perfect; the battery for instance has the release switch placed inside the LCD cavity and the DC input for the camcorder is under the battery and will force you to skip a few seconds of recording should your battery run out of juice and have to connect an external power supply. Also, the LCD is slightly on the smaller size, utilising a three-inch touchscreen, but is of very high quality and is very responsive. The 3D conversion lens increases the length and weight of the camcorder by a sizeable amount but by no means is it uncomfortable. It even manages to retain its balance with the additional weight in the front.

Controls and UseAs we mentioned before, the SDT750 is almost identical to the TH700 and as such offers all of the high-end recording features that are offered by the latter. The camcorder’s auto mode is primarily dominated by Panasonic’s Intelligent Auto (iA) system. It includes an AF/AE tracking system that allows the camcorder to ‘lock on’ to a subject while focusing and exposing them properly as they move about the frame and sometimes even when they move out of it (as long as they come back in a few seconds). It also features a mode called Intelligent Scene Selection which enables the

camcorder to automatically select a scene mode depending on the lighting conditions. All worked like a charm with only the white balance taking some time to work in mixed lighting conditions but once it did even the colour reproduction was very accurate.

For those that like to take matters into their own hands and setup everything manually, the camcorder offers that too and throws in the lens ring for good measure. The latter is a real boon to those who are used to DSLRs and professional camcorders and is even helpful for amateurs to get easily acquainted with manual controls.

The camcorder offers three zoom modes. The first is the regular 12x optical zoom. This is followed by an18x intelligent zoom option that, although not optical, doesn’t result in image degradation like when using digital zoom. The last is the actual digital zoom which can go up to 700x, but do so

only if you don’t really care about image quality. The zoom itself can be controlled via three methods – the toggle on the top of the camcorder, the lens ring (as long as it is not assigned to another function) or the LCD panel. The methods offer variable adjustment as opposed to the constant adjustment of the LCD controls. As such we advise sticking to the former two methods for best results and more flexibility.

The SDT750 has also taken image stabilisation to a new level thanks to the new image stabilisation feature called Hybrid OIS. This new system uses both optical and electronic stabilisation modes in order to reduce the shakiness of video while recording. When engaged, the Hybrid OIS will automatically zoom in a bit because the system is designed to utilise the unused portions of the sensor to assist with stabilisation. Unlike complete electronic systems, this won’t result in loss of image quality. But if you are so inclined you are free to switch it off at any time.

The controls on the LCD panel primarily use icons which can be intimidating to beginners but are very well sorted and detailed instructions are provided in the user’s manual. It is only a matter of time before you get used to them and once you do, you

realise that the learning curve is well worth the ease of navigating the menu and the various functions of the device.

The SDT750 is definitely one of the best consumer camcorders on the market when it comes to audio features. For starters, it is equipped with a top-mounted, 5.1-channel Dolby Digital microphone which can be easily switched to 2-channel recording should you so choose. The camcorder also allows complete manual audio level adjustment. In addition, the camcorder has a zoom mike function that boosts the audio levels for whatever the lens is zoomed into. Furthermore, the built-in mike also has a new Wind Noise Canceller feature, which uses noise cancelling technology similar to what you’d find on noise cancelling headphones, thus maintaining natural sounds when shooting outdoors.

20 / TECH

hD Video Format

Image Stabilisation

LCD

Zoom

Connectivity

Price

Available at

AVCHD (and MPEG-4 for 1080/60p mode)

OIS with Hybrid OIS option

3” Touchscreen, 230x400 pixels

12x optical, 18x Intelligent, 700x Digital

USB, Component, HDMI, 3.5mm Audio Input,

Headphones, Accessory Shoe, SD/SDHC/SDXC, DC Power

OMR599.900

OMASCO, 24564310

TeCh Specs hDC-SDT750

3D Recording and Features Connectivity

Conclusion

The 3D conversion lens attaches to the camcorder by the use of two notches and the 46mm filter threads. Doing so initialises the camcorder’s 3D recording mode and starts with the calibration screen.

This slightly complicated process is well instructed but at the same time will take some getting used to. This being the first ever system to be made commercially available, it was by no means an easy feat and for that alone Panasonic deserves some credit. But the technology is still in its infancy and as such some concessions had to be made. For starters almost all manual control has been taken out of your hands and is now automated and zoom function is disabled.

The ideal focal range for capturing 3D footage is 1.2m - 4m, but there is no hard and fast rule that you have to stick by it. The camcorder can record anything from 1.2m to infinity but things beyond 4m may not be recorded in 3D. Also it is important to record in bright light for best results; this is because the conversion lens limits the amount of light reaching the sensor. That said, the results, once recorded in optimal conditions, is absolutely stunning and is definitely worth the concessions you have to make. Our only real complaints are that the LCD doesn’t display 3D images (which means you will have to connect it to your 3D television to see the fruits of

your labour) and you cannot take 3D stills but we are sure these

will come in future models.

Panasonic has included all the necessary connectivity options that you would really need. Inside the LCD cavity you can find the HDMI, USB, and Multi-AV outputs, as well as the memory card slot that works with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards. For 3D videos watched directly from the camcorder on a TV, you can easily switch between 3D and 2D playback depending on your TV.

On the right side of the camcorder are the mike jack, headphone port, and the accessory shoe attachment slider. The shoe attachment is well designed and places all attachments next to the lens out of the way of the controls. It is however a cold connection which means it will not power any of your attachments. Also, be careful of not losing your adapter as the port cannot be used without it. And as we mentioned before, the DC-input is located inside the battery compartment.

All things considered, the SDT750 is a top-notch camcorder on its own and the 3D Conversion lens just makes for an excellent perk. As long as you are not thrown away by the limited user control of the 3D recording you will definitely be impressed by the excellent results. The camcorder is definitely worth the investment should you already possess a 3D television.

Nov ‘10 / 21

Digital cameras have come a long way in the last decade. Canon’s stylish IXUS range is now ten years old. The cameras have become slim, stylish and colourful. The IXUS melds style perfectly with substance. Here is a quick timeline to give you an idea of how the brand has evolved over the years.

Style icon

The IXUS 1000 was launched which features the remarkable HS system, and it is the world’s slimmest 10x zoom camera.

Key milestone was the inclusion of a 4x optical zoom in the IXUS 800, and the introduction of IXUS 65, Canon’s first digital camera to feature a high resolution three-inch LCD monitor.

Canon introduced intelligent orientation sensor to its IXUS range.

A colourful year in which IXUS 200 was launched, the first IXUS model with a touchscreen.

Canon launched its first Wi-Fi certified digital camera that was able to transmit a 5MP image in just six seconds.

IXUS launched its second ultra-compact digital camera, the IXUS V, a model that was able to record video at 20fps.

Canon announced the shipment of its 100 millionth digital compact camera and to commemorate the milestone, a limited edition red IXUS 980 was launched.

Canon launched the Digital IXUS 500, the very first camera in the IXUS range to feature a 5MP image sensor.

The first Canon Digital IXUS featuring an extremely compact body, cutting-edge style, and innovative photographic technology, was launched.

The model of the year was IXUS 80 which was available in four colours – silver, caramel, chocolate, and candy pink.

Targeted at fashion-savvy consumers, the ‘IXUS i’ came in platinum silver, piano black, pearl white and classic bronze.

Canon IXUS range marks a decade of design with the IXUS 1000HS

2010

2006

2002

2009

2005

2001

2008

2004

2000

2007

2003

22 / TECH

The EX-S200 uses EXILIM Engine 5.0 and super resolution technology to take photos, while the Single Frame SR Zoom maintains image quality through 1.5 times the range of the optical zoom

The EX-S200 uses a flat lens barrel and lens ring to achieve a thin, stylish body that is 17.8mm thick and measures 14.9mm at its thinnest part

The camera has a Premium Auto function that automatically produces photos with a press of the shutter button

With a 4x optical zoom lens that has an effective resolution of 14.1 megapixels, the camera has Casio’s CCD-shift image stabilisation mechanism

It is available in five different colours: silver, orange, blue, black and pink

The Quick Mode function powers on the camera with a press of the shutter button, previews a photo after shooting, and automatically powers down

StylishQuality

The latest addition to Casio’s EXILIM Card range, the EX-S200 sports advanced features in a slim, compact and stylish body, including a Single Frame SR Zoom that helps extend the zoom range.

Casio’s EXILIM EX-S200 has advanced features in a compact body

Sensor

LCD

Zoom

Video Recording

Available at

14.1 megapixels

2.7-inch Super Clear LCD

4x Optical Zoom, 6x Single SR Zoom

720p HD Video

Shah Nagardas Manji, 24703803

TeCh Specs eX-S200

Nov ‘10 / 23

Beam Distance

Brightness

Average Battery Life

Size – headlamp

Size – Lantern with

headlamp Installed

Weight

Price

23m

5lm – Min; 20lm – Low; 80lm – High; 130lm - Max

72 hours

Lamp Housing: 65x32x21mm

Battery Housing: 77x46x28mm

Closed: 115x85x54mm

Open: 166x85x54mm

250g

USD59.95 (~ OMR23.000)

TeCh Specs Gorillatorch Switchback

Gorillatorch Switchback is a combination lantern-headlamp and its introduction to the market has outdoor enthusiasts excited. It uses a single light engine to transform from a lantern into a headlamp. The Switchback combines exceptional light quality with an innovative design that uses the same LED light array in a single form factor to avoid the need to carry two separate lights. With five powerful LEDs, including a 130-lumen CREE XLamp XP-G LED spotlight, this product is a brimming cauldron of beautiful light.

Joby’s Gorillatorch Switchback is the perfect companion for the outdoors

It can easily hook to the inside of a tent, sit on a table or attach to a branch using the included flexible lantern stand (which is what the company is most famous for) and in the lantern mode, it has enough power to illuminate an eight-person tent

As a major part of your camping gear, the five-LED array includes a 130-lumen spotlight, two white floodlights and two red LEDs to help keep your night vision intact

CONsuMeR TeCH

24 / TECH

The Gorillatorch Switchback uses one LED light array as both an LED lantern and a headlamp, and the lamp stand doubles as a camera tripod

Its 92 per cent ultra-efficient holographic lens produces brilliant and even light that is easy on the eyes even when viewed directly

The integrated design of the Switchback allows for a quick transition to headlamp mode and it comes with a woven headband that can be comfortably worn for hours

With six brightness settings, it has an adjustable dimmer switch, a beam distance of 60 feet and a battery life of up to 72 hours on just two AA batteries

Nov ‘10 / 25

The concept of the M55 bike is based on the hybrid drive theory. Not to be confused with an electric motorcycle, where you turn the throttle to bring the vehicle into motion, the electric-powered assistance of the M55 is only offered during active pedalling. The M55 bike has to be pedalled – the power of the rider is augmented by the assistance of the electric motor. This in turn provides more power than what is offered by the usual kits and also offers a much greater range. When running in its ‘ECO drive mode’, the M55 rider can reach 100-120km with one charge. Furthermore, due to the hybrid drive concept,

when the battery cell is completely depleted, the bike can still be used as a regular bicycle, since it is designed to be pedalled from A to B, just like in the case of a conventional bicycle. And to make the bike even more irresistible, the technology employed in the M55 bikes is virtually maintenance free, and is designed for extremely long life cycle. For example, the battery cell will only lose ten per cent capacity after 70,000km and a properly maintained Rohloff internal gear hub can last for more than 12 years. This is one bike that will serve its rider for a long time with maximal efficiency and minimal maintenance.

The frame is a custom, self-supporting cast structure, which houses the complete battery pack and the power assist drive system and is completely water resistant, serviceable and virtually maintenance-free.

Rated at 1,3kW with a peak speed of 2,400rpm, the motor was designed using FEM software to create a light motor with the best possible performance. Thanks to the technology, the efficiency of the bike, depending on operating mode, is over 90 per cent. In addition to the efficiency the motor has an excellent dynamic range. The rated torque of the motor is 5.6Nm which is available at any speed but thanks to the motor torque multiplication of the 1:20 reducing gear ratio the motor can deliver upto 112Nm to the Rolhoff speedhub, and this is not including the torque produced by the rider. As with regular bicycles, the drive system is safe, the rider drives the main shaft through a free-wheel clutch so that the motor cannot drive the pedals.

Since the electric motor is one of the heaviest units of the bike, it was placed at a low centre of gravity position within the frame. This arrangement also has the advantage of hiding the unit, and improving the aesthetics of the bike’s design. It even features a separate removeable cover for all its serviceable components.

If you are in the mood for an all-green personal transport system check out the new M55 Beast

26 / TECH

The energy to the motor is provided by 22 specially placed Tenergy battery cells which occupy a greater part of the self-supporting frame’s internal volume. The capacity and performance of these special cells is much higher than anything available in presently produced e-bikes. There is a price for this greater capacity – each cell weighs 70g. Nevertheless, the weight penalty is by far compensated by the greater range and the incredible acceleration of this specially designed battery pack. This special type of battery cell is predominantly used only in the hybrid drive car industry in the most powerful electric drive sports car, the most successful hybrid drive models and in 11 electric drive concept cars. The performance of these cells is simply astonishing: at their peak power they can provide up to 120Ah. The electric motor of the M55 bike only uses 50Ah at maximum, so the expected life cycle of these cells will be very long. The manufacturer guarantees 1,000 charge and discharge cycles with no more than nine per cent loss in performance. Another great advantage of this battery cell is that it can be charged to 80 per cent of its capacity in just 15 minutes.

The integrated light system will be directed where the handlebar is oriented, which is very practical in tight turns, like on off-road forest tracks. The light itself features low energy consumption LEDs, powered from the battery cells placed in the frame. All the wiring is also hidden inside the frame, so the light system does not distract from the bike’s natural lines. Thanks to the great battery capacity and the low power requirement of the four LEDs, the light system can be run for any length of time without the fear of draining the cells.

The soul of the electronic system is the sensor monitoring the drive system. This permits matching the power input of the rider and motor, finding the optimal balance between the pedal cadence and the motor’s momentum.

Nov ‘10 / 27

Frame Material

Battery Cells

Motor

Colour Option

Maximum Speed

Frame Size

Weight

7075 Aluminium

22 pcs Tenergy Polimer Li-Ion cells (20AH, capacity: 44V)

EB-PC electronic motor unit, approx. 90% efficiency

Custom design and colour scheme for the batch of every 55 pieces

77km/h at 120 pedal cadence

19”

33kg

TeCh Specs M55 Beast

The custom handlebar system integrates the bike computer, the control buttons and display unit. It houses the gear change mechanism. The integrated buttons control the light system and the computer’s functions. The easy to read display provides a night mode as well. All the buttons feature green LEDs for ease of operation even in dark conditions. Also, like the frame, all the controls and the display are water resistant.

The monobody cast aluminium rear suspension structure can easily withstand the momentum produced by the rider, the electric motor and the extreme capacity battery pack even when riding over off-terrain obstacles at a fast pace.

The design has no separate control unit. A special disc is installed on the axle connecting the two crank arms, passes in front of the optical gate which calculates the pedal cadence and determines the ideal motor assist value. This is the soul of the hybrid drive system. The design also contains a freewheel mechanism to protect the rider from the motor’s overdrive, and the system monitors whether the rider is turning the crank arms forward or back. There is a separate optical gate for this function, and the drive assist will be stopped if the rider is not pedalling forward.

28 / TECH

The Philips 5000 series LCD TV is a full HD TV with Pixel Plus HD which offers a combination of excellent sharpness, details, colours and smooth natural motion

It has a Virtual 2.1 speaker system that manages power intelligently to deliver 40W surround sound that produces an excellent bass

With Philips Easylink you will need only one remote control to perform most operations on your TV, DVD, Blu Ray or home theatre system

The tower design of the Philips Docking Entertainment System DCM580 supports iPhones/iPods, CDs and USB devices, and the LivingSound technology distributes sound evenly throughout the room

It has a 4.1 speaker system with a built-in subwoofer with 140W RMS total output power

The DCM580 has a patented rotating dock for easy navigation with the album art and with an ambient backlight behind the docked device

Redefining home cinema

One of the latest LED backlit panels to come from Philips, the 46-inch 46PFL5605 LCD TV features some of very best technology that the company has on offer including ‘pixel plus HD’. Thanks to the company’s HD Natural Motion technology the juddering effects that are visible with movie-based picture content are minimised and the result is smooth motion reproduction and excellent sharpness. An environmental benefit of the 5000 series is that the LED lighting technology does not contain any hazardous materials. You can enjoy low power consumption with incredible contrast and vibrant colours.

The DCM580 is a stunning iPhones/iPods dock that uses advanced PureDigital sound processing technology to offer superior sound performance. It has FM digital tuning with presets and MP3 Link for portable music playback. It will perfectly complement your 5000 series TV either in your living room or by your bedside.

Be captivated by a truly refined performance of sound and pictures with Philips ’LCD TV and docking system

Philips 46PFL5605 HD TV

Philips Docking Entertainment System DCM580

Screen

Panel Resolution

Set Dimensions (WxhxD)

Connectivity

Available at

46 inches, LED backlit, 100Hz

1920x1080p

1122x685x87mm

HDMIx3, USB, PC Input

MSE Showrooms, 24636015

TeCh Specs 46PFL5605Built-in Speakers

Compatible With

Output Power (RMS)

Available at

5

iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS

Total 140W RMS

MSE Showrooms, 24636015

TeCh Specs DCM580

VIDeO ZONe

Nov ‘10 / 29

The integrated, compact and quiet 1TB hard drive enables users to centralise their digital media from multiple sources

It also provides viewing of YouTube for user-generated videos and Flickr for photo sharing

Standard wired or wireless USB keyboards can be used for simpler text input

Users can stream content from their WD TV Live Hub Media Center to iPads, iPhones or Android smartphones using third-party applicationsThe WD TV Live Hub offers

Facebook integration, allowing users to upload photos and videos, share their status, view their wall and get the latest newsfeed from their network of friends

Content Central

With the freedom to play almost all your personal media on any screen in the home, the WD TV Live Hub is one of the most feature-rich media centres we have seen to date. The full-HD 1080p media player with a 1TB built-in network hard drive brings new experiences to the WD TV family. It has a compact design that easily fits into almost any entertainment centre. It can automatically sync with the shared digital media folders from PCs and Macs on the network with the internal hard drive to provide easy playback, and is WiFi ready (an adapter is needed). It also gives you the freedom to interact with personal Facebook communities.

Users can now centralise video, music and photos, and play full-HD 1080p video on HD TVs throughout their home thanks to WD’s new TV Live Hub Media Center

30 / TECH

Digital media can be easily transferred to the internal drive from shared folders on PCs and Macs on the network or directly from external hard drives, thumb drives, camcorders or cameras connected via one of the two USB ports

The customisable WD TV Live Hub’s user interface enables personalisation of screen backgrounds and user interface themes, as well as setting of favourites and content ratings; it features a programmeable remote

Additional content includes local and international weather forecasts from AccuWeather.com as well as MediaFly daily video podcasts from CNN, NBC, MTV and ESPN

The WD TV Live Hub Media Center is also a media server: HD video, music and photos can be streamed from the onboard hard drive to any DLNA/UPnP-compatible TV or multimedia device, anywhere in the connected home, including the connected TVs, Blu-Ray Disc players, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game consoles

Compatibility with virtually all modern TV sets is guaranteed thanks to an HDMI 1.4, composite video and component video output

The WD TV Live Hub plays a wide variety of media file types, including popular full-HD 1080p video formats such as .mkv, .mp4 and .mov, and is also compatible with Windows 7, including the Windows 7 Play To feature

Capacity

Interface

WxhxD (mm)

Weight (kg)

Operating System

1TB

Gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, HDMI,

Composite A/V, Component video,

Optical audio

154.00x31.75x198

0.55

Windows/Mac

TeCh Specs WD TV Live hub

Nov ‘10 / 31

Nexus S is designed with Samsung’s brilliant and performance-proven Super AMOLED touchscreen technology pretty much guaranteeing a premium viewing experience

In a bid to offer a more ergonomic style and feel when held to the user’s face, the Nexus S uses a four-inch Contour Display which features a nice curved design

Although not used often in this part of the world, the Nexus S also features Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which allows you to read information off everyday objects like stickers and posters that are embedded with NFC chips

of Perfection

Google’s Android platform is one of the fastest growing mobile phone operating systems in the world with close to 300,000 android-powered devices being activated daily. The original Nexus One was one of the best android phones on the market and was developed by HTC. The new Nexus, named the Nexus S, is built by Samsung and is the first phone on the market to feature Android 2.3. Samsung and Google have packed Nexus S with powerful technology and the latest in hardware features, guaranteeing its place amongst the highest echelon of smart phones in terms of technology and performance.

The last Nexus was a stellar success and now Google has showcased its latest iteration

MOBIle ZONe

32 / TECH

Unlike its close cousin the Samsung Galaxy S, the Nexus S includes an LED flash

Nexus S features a gyroscope sensor to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user is tilting the device up or down and panning the phone to the left or right

Nexus S comes with 16GB of internal memory, partitioned as 1GB internal storage and 15GB ‘USB storage’

Nexus S is equipped with a 5MP rear facing camera and camcorder, as well as a VGA front facing camera

Powered by a 1GHz Samsung ‘Hummingbird’ processor (ARM Cortex A8), the Nexus S produces rich 3D graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD multimedia content

OS

Display

Camera

Video

Audio

Connectivity

Memory

Size

Android 2.3 / Gingerbread

4.0” WVGA Super AMOLED (800x480)

5MP rear camera + VGA front camera; LED Flash

HD 720p@30fps video playing; Video recording

720x480@30fps; mpeg4, H.264, H.263

MP3, AAC, AAC+, eAAC+, AMR, AMR-NB

Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR; USB v2.0; Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

16GB iNAND

63x123.9x10.9mm

TeCh Specs Google Nexus S

Android 2.3, also known as Gingerbread, is the fastest version of Android yet. It features support for Near Field Communication (NFC), a new and improved keyboard with multi-touch support, Internet calling (VoIP/SIP support), and a clean new user interface. Nexus S also includes popular Android features such as portable Wi-Fi hotspot, true multitasking, access to Google mobile services such as Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps with Navigation, Voice Actions, Google Voice and YouTube, and access to over 100,000 apps and widgets on Android Market.

What’s new with Gingerbread

Nov ‘10 / 33

Bold 9700 is a compact and powerful handset made worthy with the BlackBerry service plan. And if you need the level of security of the BlackBerry servers, the Bold 9700 is the way to go.

Not many phones can rival the Android-powered Milestone for its hardware functionality, user-friendliness or third party software availability. So if you are looking for a good Android phone costing under OMR200, this is one of the best you can find.

The BlackBerry Bold 9700 has a 2.44-inch TFT display with a full QWERTY keyboard and touch-sensitive optical trackpad

The Milestone has a 3.7-inch TFT capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480x854 pixels

It features Android OS v2.1 (Eclair), upgradeable to v2.2 and ARM Cortex A8 600MHz processor with PowerVR SGX530 graphics processor

It also sports a full QWERTY keyboard with five-way navigation key

It supports 10.2Mbps HSDPA 3G, 5.76Mbps HSUPA, v2.1 with A2DP Bluetooth and microUSB v2.0 It has an internal

storage of 133MB and 256MB RAM

Additional features include Geo-tagging, a 5MP camera, autofocus and dual-LED flash, A-GPS support and Motonav Software

Additional features include image stabilisation with 3.15MP camera, autofocus and LED flash, A-GPS support and MIDP 2.0

It makes use of BlackBerry OS 5.0 and a 624MHz processor

It supports 3.6Mbps HSDPA 3G, v2.1 with A2DP Bluetooth and microUSB v2.0

With smartphones flooding the market, choosing the right one can be a difficult task. So, to make things easier for you, we have listed four of our favourite smartphones outside of the iPhone, which is a no-brainer for apple lovers, which are available on the market today.

Choosing the right smartphone for the right purpose is a tough decision

BlackBerry Bold 9700

Motorola Milestone

Be sMartchoose smart

34 / TECH

The HTC Desire comes with the company’s ingenious proprietary Sense UI on top of the Android OS (Eclair) and Flash support in the web browser.

A remarkable feature-rich handset, Android OS and HD video recording will definitely pull buyers to Samsung I9000 Galaxy S. And if that doesn’t work, the stunning high-resolution super AMOLED HD screen definitely will.

HTC Desire has a 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with multi-touch input, an accelerometer sensor, and an optical trackpad

Samsung Galaxy S has a four-inch super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with a Gorilla Glass display, multi-touch input method feature, an accelerometer sensor, and touch-sensitive controls

It supports 7.2Mbps HSDPA 3G, 2Mbps HSUPA, v2.1 with A2DP Bluetooth and microUSB v2.0

It supports 7.2Mbps HSDPA 3G, 5.76Mbps HSUPA, v3.0 with A2DP Bluetooth and microUSB v2.0

It has internal storage of 576MB RAM and 512MB ROM

It has an internal storage of 8GB/16GB, a 512MB RAM and 2GB ROM

Additional features include Geo-tagging, a 5MP camera, autofocus and LED flash, and A-GPS support

Additional features include Geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, a 5MP camera and autofocus, and A-GPS support

Although it features Android OS v2.1 (Eclair) as standard, it is upgradeable to v2.2 (Froyo), and sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon QSD8250 1GHz processor

It features Android OS v2.1 (Eclair), upgradeable to v2.2, similar to Motorola Milestone, and ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor

Htc desire

saMsung galaxy s

TeCh Specs BlackBerry Bold 9700 Motorola Milestone

3.7” 480x854 pixels, TFT

Capacitive Touchscreen

133MB Storage, 256MB

RAM, microSD Support

ARM Cortex A8 600MHz

115.8x60x13.7

165

199.000

Samsung Galaxy S

4.0” 480x800 pixels, Super

AMOLED Touchscreen

8GB Storage, 512MB RAM,

2GB ROM, microSD Support

ARM Cortex A8 1GHz

122.4X64.2X9.9

119

247.900

HTC Desire

3.7” 480x800 pixels,

AMOLED Touchscreen

576MB RAM, 512MB

ROM, microSD Support

Qualcomm Snapdragon

QSD8250 1GHz

119x60x11.9

135

222.900

Display

Memory

Processor

Dimensions (mm)

Weight (g)

Price in OMR

Available at

2.44” 480x360 pixels,

TFT Screen

256MB Storage, 256MB

RAM, microSD Support

624MHz

109x60x14

122

229.900

Emax, 24558062

Nov ‘10 / 35

With breathtaking sound performance, elegant design and a simple user interface, the Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 is a fantastic solution for enjoying digital music from your iPad, iPhone and iPod. One of its most unique features is the manual room adaptation switch with three positions that allows it to be placed anywhere – either on a wall bracket or on any flat surface, without compromising sound performance. All you need now is a power outlet, and a desire for real sound quality. The sound levels can be adjusted conveniently on the dock itself. And for controlling music on a docked or USB linked device there is the dedicated round remote control.

The conical speaker backs set BeoSound 8 apart, and is an advantage if you want to place the speakers in a corner. But the performance of a loudspeaker is influenced by its position in the room and placing it in a corner tends to muddle the bass levels. Bang & Olufsen’s manual position switch helps adjust the speaker’s performance. The three switch positions change the equalisation of the bass channel and this unique feature ensures accurate sound reproduction with complete freedom of placement.

ABL is a Bang & Olufsen solution to get more bass in small spaces. However, this solution entails a risk. The driver unit might not be able to handle the extra boosts at higher volume levels. To solve this, an electric circuit to monitor the sound level has been introduced. When the music peaks in the lower frequency areas and comes close to distorting the sound quality or damaging the driver unit, the bass signal is reduced accordingly. So the ABL ensures authoritative sound from relatively small speaker cabinets.

With the BeoSound 8, Bang & Olufsen takes digital music experience to a new level

Room Adaptation Switch

Adaptive Bass Linearisation (ABL)

Splash of colourAuDIO ZONe

When docked in BeoSound 8, the free BeoPlayer application, available via iTunes, adds Internet radio and the elegant BeoCom 5 clock design to your device. This allows you to wake up to Bang & Olufsen’s unique chime or to the sound of music. A sleep timer is also included for extra convenience and freedom.

The conical shape of the speakers has two functions – the shapes ‘disappear’ to create an unobtrusive impression from most viewing angles and makes placement easier; in terms of audio quality, they eliminate standing waves by avoiding parallel surfaces

BeoSound 8 can be networked using the Apple Airport Express which helps stream your music collection from your PC or Mac

The speakers are easy to use – just plug in and connect the device by docking or connect using the Auxilliary line-in/USB ports

Controlling the BeoSound 8 is easy with the dedicated round remote that comes with the product, or one of Bang & Olufsen’s intelligent remotes

BeoPlayer App

Material

WxhxD (cm)

Weight (kg)

Power Consumption

effective Frequency Range

Connections

Painted plastic, Aluminium and Fabric

66.1x23.9x16.4

4.25

Typical: 10W; Standby: 0.4W

38.3 - 24,000Hz

iPod connector, mini-USB, Line-in via Phono

TeCh Specs BeoSound 8

Nov ‘10 / 37

With an exciting and innovative end-user experience and powered by the Intel Core i5 processor, the ICONIA provides new and immersive ways to seamlessly view and interact with your favourite videos, photos, websites and movies. Multimedia, entertainment, communication, web browsing and office productivity seamlessly flow across the dual screen, allowing users to set the best scenario for what they are doing. To improve readability of websites or documents, the

window can be spread across both screens. But the dual screen also means you can do one thing in one screen and something else entirely on the other: you can browse a website on the top screen and view the contents of your favourite folder on the bottom one or you can watch a video on the top screen and check out your multimedia library in the other. If you are looking for a different and innovative approach to personal computing, look no further.

Both 14-inch displays have HD 1366x768 resolution, high-brightness Acer CineCrystal LED-backlit TFT LCDs and take advantage of cutting-edge technologies supporting all-point multi-touch for precise on-screen input

The starting point to launch ICONIA’s touch features, controls and applications, is the Acer Ring which appears simply by placing five fingers on the screen and making a grab gesture

The Virtual Keyboard can be launched from the Acer Ring or by placing both palms on the bottom display

In addition to all this multi-touch wizardry, the ICONIA can also be equipped with 3G connectivity, an HDMI port and the Dolby Home Theatre v3

The Acer Ring allows you to start touch applications by scrolling through the App cards and tapping on the one you choose; the Ring also provides fast access to Virtual Keyboard, Gesture Editor, Window Manager, and Device Control Console

With the Gesture Editor you can set customised gestures to launch specific applications, open websites, view your desktop or lock your computer, thus offering you a simple and intuitive way to personalise ICONIA to best suit your needs

Intel, in collaboration with Acer, has helped to deliver the world’s first ten-finger multi-touch dual-screen notebook – the ICONIA Touchbook

Iconic InnovationCOMPuTING

38 / TECH

The Virtual Keyboard includes a touchpad and a numeric keypad and can be easily switched to handwriting mode

Window Manager allows users to organise the various application windows on the double touch screens and browse through a list of running application, and resize, dock or close windows

Besides the wealth of built-in touch applications already implemented on Acer’s touch devices, such as TouchBrowser, TouchPhoto, TouchMusic and TouchVideo, the ICONIA includes three new ones: SocialJogger, My Journal and Scrapbook

You can use MyJournal to collect web clippings, which are dynamically updated, on your preferred topics; you can simply tap on a collected Web Clip to display the full webpage on the top screen for complete access

SocialJogger lets you gather and check updates from Facebook, YouTube and Flickr all in the same place, taking advantage of the dual screens to check posts and updates on the bottom display and use the second display for exploring and viewing more content

Scrapbook lets you easily store clippings, posts and just about anything else from different sources in the same place and allows you to edit them and add notes, helping you keep track of anything you find interesting, funny or valuable and share it

Protected by the ultra-thin yet durable Gorilla Glass, the displays are scratch and fingerprint resistant, easier to clean and offer the same touch functionality

It comes with a full-size QWERTY layout with international language support to give users the same experience of a traditional physical keyboard and features predictive text input for natural-speed typing while avoiding mistakes

Processor

GPU

Display

RAM

hDD

OS

Weight

Intel Core i5-480M/560M/580M

Intel HD integrated graphics

2x14-inch 10 finger multi-touch displays, 1366×768

4GB of DDR3

320GB (up to 750GB)

Windows/Mac

6.18lbs

TeCh Specs ICONIA Touchbook

Nov ‘10 / 39

This latest Colour Laser printer from Samsung has a fast print speed, and in Ready Mode, the printer features a First Page Output Time (FPOT) of only 14 seconds for black and 26 seconds for colour

With Samsung’s AnyWeb Print software you can utilise the CLP-325W to select, drag and drop content from different web pages onto a printable scrapboard in your browser window

With the easy-to-reach power button you can switch to an energy-saving standby mode at the push of a button

Simply select the WPS (WiFi Protected Set-up) button on the router, press the WPS button on the printer and you’re done – the convenient One Touch Wi-Fi Setting on the CLP-325W makes connecting to your Wi-Fi a breeze and it automatically configures and protects the wireless network for you

The printer is engineered to be whisper quiet, generating a noise level of 45dBA (Colour) and 47dBA (Mono) while printing

Measuring an ultra compact 388x313x243mm it easily fits any desktop, and with the one touch print-screen button and power switch located on the front panel, it allows for fast, easy access

The One Touch convenience is matched by impressive, high quality colour printing with up to 2,400x600dpi

Samsung’s latest colour laser printers have the One Touch convenience that is matched by impressive, high quality colour printing. And with the Wi-Fi Setting it makes connecting to your Wi-Fi a breeze. It automatically configures and protects the wireless network for you. The printers are also engineered to be whisper quiet.

The latest printers from Samsung are efficient and eco-friendly

CLP-325W

Quality that impresses

40 / TECH

The ultra-versatile fast-printing CLX-3185FW is designed to deliver productivity and so you can print, scan and copy with ease, with this versatile 3-in-1 laser multifunction printer

The CLX-3185FW is engineered to be whisper quiet and is only marginally louder than its smaller sibling, generating a noise level of 46dBA and 48dBA for colour and mono printing, respectively

Just like the CLP-325W, it also features the WPS button for a convenient and safe One Touch Wi-Fi connection

Measuring in at a compact 416x378x344.2mm, it can easily be stored alongside your desktop and, like the CLP-325W, it has its one touch print-screen button and power switch located on the front panel

It features a set of navigation feedback LEDs which keeps you clued in with its 11 different job status indicators, including errors and warnings

Matching the CLP-325W, this multifunction printer has a fast print speed, featuring a FPOT of 14 seconds for black and 26 seconds for colour

CLX-3185FW

Type

Speed B/W (A4)

Speed Colour (A4)

Memory

Print Resolution

Paper Input

Interface

Available at

TeCh Specs CLP-325W CLX-3185FWColour Laser Printer

16ppm

4ppm

256MB

2,400x600dpi

130 sheets

USB 2.0 Wireless

SARCO, 24593025

Colour Laser Multifunction Printer

16ppm

4ppm

256MB

1,200x600dpi

130 sheets

USB 2.0 Wireless

Nov ‘10 / 41

The Satellite’s most attractive feature is its wrist band – with high walls towering above the display, descending to grooves, the watch has a mechanical appearance

RPM has the appearance of a turntable with a brushed stainless steel disc in the centre and a ring of digital tube LEDs to display the time

It is ideal for night time as lights showing the current time flashes for several seconds to direct you

Just before you touch the button to illuminate the LEDs, the smoked mineral crystal that runs around the edge of the disc creates a subtle reflection

The RPM has light-up animation feature, and when activated, the minute lights spin around the display once every 15 minutes

Hours are shown on the inner ring, five minute intervals are shown on the outer ring and four single minutes are positioned at the top of the display alongside the AM/PM indicator

Similar to the Satellite this design has a replaceable battery that is USB rechargeable via your computer

At the touch of a button, lights showing the current time flashes for a short period of time

The lens is brightly reflective and the display separates the hours, minutes and seconds into distinct zones

The USB rechargeable battery ensures that the Kisai Satellite always stays bright

The Satellite is also known for its zero-gravity animation, which when activated, will make the minute lights rotate slowly once every 15 minutes between 18.00 and 24.00

It is available in white with blue or green LEDs featuring a smoked black acrylic lens and matte white strap

Hours are displayed in the upper zone, groups of five minutes are displayed in the lower left and four single minutes are shown in the lower right zone

There are 300 charges in one battery, each charge lasting a month, at the end of which the battery can be replaced; a full charge takes 3.5 hours

Most watches can be used for various purposes but their primary objective is to tell the time. In almost all cases this is a matter of reading the position of two hands

or reading a digital dial. TokyoFlash watches on the other hand have turned such a simple concept into an art form, consistently bringing out new design concepts and even

more innovative methods of telling the time using an array or LEDs. Here are three of our favourite models that are sure to leave you spellbound.

TokyoFlash Watches tell time in an unusually attractive way

Kisai Satellite

Kisai RPM

Flashes of timeTIMe ZONe

42 / TECH

The S-Mode series is a stunning wrist wear design

The outer ring of LEDs indicate the hour, the second ring indicates single minutes one to nine, and the inner ring indicates groups of ten minutes

It features a sleek full-face black mineral crystal lens, with LEDs beneath

With a single touch of the upper button, the time is presented and with a second touch, the date

Housed in a streamlined black IP coated solid stainless steel case, the Oberon S-Mode is complemented with a custom designed linked strap and bright white LED display

Above all, Escape C is a versatile time piece with smoked black lenses, blue sub-surface LEDs and easy-access controls

You can also pair it to your MP3 player to listen to your favourite tunes

The bright blue LEDs display a time reading, after a short pulsating animation, when you touch the time display key

It is also ideal for use with VoIP applications such as Skype and Windows Live Messenger

Kisai Escape C

S-Mode Oberon

TeCh Specs Kisai SatelliteStainless Steel

belt style buckle

LIR2032 Rechargeable

and Replaceable

100mm

200mm

30x50x11.5

46gms

USD93.79 (OMR36.000)

Kisai RPMSimple fold-over clasp

with push button

LIR2032 Rechargeable

and Replaceable

100mm

210mm

41x48x12

120gms

USD200.64 (OMR77.000)

Kisai escape Cn/a

Li-Polymer

n/a

n/a

40x40x10

15gms

USD76.58 (OMR29.500)

S-Mode OberonStainless Steel

n/a

n/a

210mm

38x38x11

150gms

USD188.77 (OMR73.000)

Clasp

Battery

Minimum Wrist Size

Maximum Wrist Size

Case Dimensions (in mm)

Weight

Price

Hours are in the centre ring, groups of five minutes in the outer and single minutes one to four in the inner-most ring

Escape C is a new Bluetooth fashion accessory that can be paired with your cell phone to make and receive calls hands-free at the touch of a button

Nov ‘10 / 43

The case is made of lightweight titanium and is coated with gunmetal grey DLC which makes the case non-reflecting

The metal case of the watch acts like a cage and prevents the movement from being affected by electromagnetic fields

The luminous inlay of the hands and indices make the Oris Col Moschin highly visible, even underwater

Based on the innovative Oris ProDiver, the Oris Col Moschin Limited Edition has accompanied the Col Moschin Italian Special Forces on 9,000m parachute jumps and sea dives in depths of more than 40m. It has also been tested on draining hikes and missions through inhospitable terrain. In every situation it proved equal to the challenge. Anti-magnetic properties ensure

it remains accurate during flights, 1,000m water resistance makes it unbeatable in the water, and the sturdy titanium case with its tungsten top ring and crown protection system make it an awesome force on land. With its camouflage gunmetal colours it won’t blow your cover, but the red, white and green power reserve will make sure you stand out from the crowd.

An all-element watch for a man on a mission

Built for a Challenge

The solid construction, the screwed case back as well as the screw down crown are the key elements that give the Oris Col Moschin Limited Edition its extreme water resistance of 100 bar/1,000m

The power reserve indicator in red, white and green is a tribute to the Italian Special Forces

44 / TECH

The case back carries the official logo of the Col Moschin regiment – the Roman sword symbolises readiness, precision and focus on achieving the objective of a mission – whatever it takes

Limited to 2,000 individually numbered pieces, the watch is presented in a heavy duty waterproof case with a replica Col Moschin badge and limited edition certificate

The rubber strap offers comfort and is easily adjustable to fit over gloves or a wetsuit and is anti-reflective

The adjustable safety clasp allows the strap to be extended or shortened rapidly without having to remove the watch from the wrist

The watch is fitted with a durable tungsten top ring which has the ability to withstand extreme temperatures and also has a non-reflecting matte finish

The Rotation Safety System (RSS) developed and patented by Oris, first seen in 2009 on the Oris ProDiver Chronograph, makes this one of the safest divers’ watches there is – only when the top ring is lifted can the dive timer be set and after setting it can be relocked to the case to prevent accidental adjustment

Nov ‘10 / 45

The Mission R will hit the track in early 2011 and will compete in the TTXGP racing series along with other races, events, and demonstrations

Thanks to the Mission R, MotoGP is going to get a little greener

On a Mission

DAsHBOARD

46 / TECH

Unless you are a real die-hard motorcycle or MotoGP enthusiast, chances are you haven’t heard of a company called Mission Motors. This small company builds the world’s fastest electric motorcycles, or for that matter, some of the world’s fastest electric vehicles, period. This is their latest creation – the Mission R, the motorcycle that will lead the company’s upcoming 2011 racing programme and the first vehicle to feature components from MissionEVT, the company’s newly setup high-performance EV Powertrain Division. Launched at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show held on December 17, the Mission R features the company’s latest powertrain technology and an entirely new race-ready design.

The Mission R packs 14.4kWh and 141hp in a package smaller than a modern 600cc sportbike

The Mission R chassis, designed by James Parker, features an entirely new design for integrating and balancing the weight and volume of a large EV battery pack into a motorcycle chassis

All vehicle and ride data is accessible via WiFi or 3G connections

MotoGP-spec components from Öhlins, Brembo, and Marchesini round out this built-for-racing package

The liquid-cooled three-phase AC Induction motor creates 115ft-lbs of torque at the crank from 0 to 6,400rpm, propelling the Mission R to a top speed of over 160mph in a single gear

The chassis is wrapped in a new and aerodynamic industrial design by Tim Prentice of Motonium, with a small frontal-area and aggressive ergonomics

The MissionEVT 100kW motor controller, with customisable regenerative braking maps and throttle maps, allows the rider to tune the bike to his or her preferences

Nov ‘10 / 47

Fun Fact: On September 1, 2009, the Mission One claimed the national AMA top speed record for an electric motorcycle, with an unprecedented 150.059mph two-pass average run sustained for one mile at the Bonneville Speedway; lead up runs saw one-way speeds across the mile stretch at 161mph

The company was first setup in 2007 by Forrest North, Edward West, and Mason Cabot. They opened shop in Mason’s garage, blocks from San Francisco’s famous Mission Street. Their first prototype, a converted Ducati 900ss, proved the team’s claims that electric motorcycles were both viable and exciting and eventually evolved into the company’s first true original bike – the Mission One Premier Limited Edition. At the time it was one of the highest performing electric vehicles in the world, with a record-setting top speed of 150mph and a range of 150 miles on a single charge.

In the strife for perfection and the lack of worthy off-the-shelf components, Mission’s engineers were tasked to reduce weight, increase power, and increase energy density by engineering key powertrain components in-house. With these advancements in hand, the company began creating electric powertrain systems and components for OEM application. Following this, in November 2010, Mission Motors launched the Mission Electric Performance Technology (MissionEVT), a division of the company dedicated to creating software, components, and integrated electric drive systems for OEM application.

Mission Motors was born with the singular vision to create the world’s highest performance electric motorcycles. Not only is the company well on its way to achieveing this goal but has since grown into a leading innovator of electric drive systems.

Company witha mission

48 / TECH

Fun Fact: On June 12, 2009, Mission Motors competed in the TTXGP, the world’s first zero emissions, clean emissions grand prix held during the Isle of Man TT, and finished in fourth place in the PRO class, with an average speed of 74.091mph

At the 2010 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association Show (SEMA), Mission Motors unveiled Mission Electric Vehicle Technology (MissionEVT), the company’s high-performance EV Powertrain Division. The division will design and supply high performance EV powertrains, including energy storage systems, drive systems and software intelligence, to the OEM market and will also offer engineering and integration services.

Modularity is key to the MissionEVT solution and provides the flexibility required to improve the performance of a wide range of vehicle applications. MissionEVT can configure powertrain technology to work for applications ranging from powersports to automotive, and from battery electric to gasoline hybrid.

Built on Mission’s deep expertise in lithium-ion batteries, MissionEVT’s energy storage system brings together a range of component technologies including: Battery Modules, Battery Management Systems, Onboard Charge Systems, and Low-Voltage Vehicle Power, which can work as separate systems, or as a seamless whole. The unique battery module design packages more power and energy into a smaller volume. The system’s modular architecture allows for multiple series/parallel configurations and simplifies integration into the vehicle chassis. From a single module in a light-duty application, to a large pack built of two-dozen modules, MissionEVT’s battery packs can be sized and configured to precisely meet the performance goals of a wide variety of vehicle platforms.

At power ranges between 10 and 150kW, MissionEVT’s electric drive system offers the best power-to-weight ratio available. By utilising an advanced system for liquid-cooling motors and motor controllers, MissionEVT’s drive system technology reduces the weight and volume of key components. The company’s proprietary control software uses software algorithms to optimise the efficiency of EV and Hybrid drive systems. These hardware and software technologies work as an integrated solution for a vehicle platform, or as individual pieces working with client technology.

Software Intelligence enables MissionEVT’s electric powertrain system to function as a seamless integrated system. It enables manufacturers and end-users to have digital control over all aspects of vehicle performance, reliability, and safety. From overarching vehicle management to the unique Cell-to-Server data communications platform (Cell-To-Server data-acquisition system captures real-time battery and vehicle data and transmits it to a central server via cellular networks, which can then be used to refine battery and vehicle design, reduce total cost of ownership, and enable smarter vehicle use by the driver), MissionEVT’s flexible software platform establishes a new standard for safety, ease of use, and flexible hardware integration.

MissionEVT

Energy Storage

Drive Systems

Software Management

Nov ‘10 / 49

Forza Motorsports has long stolen the racing sims crown from the GT series, but does the fifth instalment have what it takes to get its title back or will it continue to play second fiddle to the Xbox racing giant

GAMeR’s DelIGHT

50 / TECH

Following delay after delay and years of anticipation, Gran Turismo 5 is finally here. It’s a massive game that now features two entirely different career

modes, arcade races, online races, a number of new features, a staggering 1,000 cars and over 20 tracks. Suffice to say, it is a huge game but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will mesh well together even if a name like polyphony digital is behind it.

Your primary method of progression through the game will be the career, which is divided

into two parts: the A-Spec and B-Spec races. The former will be where most gamers will be spending a majority of their time. It is a career spanning 45 events, each following a certain theme or car restriction and with multiple races. As with most other games in the genre, you will start with lower-end cars and work your way up to rare exotics and ultimately professional race cars. Completing each race nets you cash and experience and getting a gold trophy in an event even earns you cars.

Licences also make their return in GT5. The various licence tests will teach you a vast array of driving techniques through a series of challenges that are easy enough to pass but will take extreme precision and practice to master. The good thing is these licences are no longer necessary for game progression and are primarily there to teach you the intricacies of driving and to give perfectionists another area to master. Progression is determined by your driver level which increases as you earn experience. As your driver level increases you are given access to faster, more powerful cars

as well as new events and even some special events. These special events include go kart races, learning Nascar fundamentals from Jeff Gordon, racing VW buses around the top gear test track and a lot more.

The B-spec follows the same structure as the A-spec races but instead of racing the cars yourself, you hire AI drivers to compete in events using cars from your garage. You monitor the race by watching your AI driver

race and call in suggestions for him to follow. It is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea and only a handful of players will appreciate it beyond a means to earn additional cars and cash.

GT5 had a jaw-dropping 1,000 cars to choose from but to include such a vast number of cars concessions had to be made. The car list is divided into 200 premium models and 800 standard models. While there is no real difference in their performance, the premium models feature vastly superior car models, have fully detailed cockpit views and

can be customised to a much higher degree than the regular models. This wouldn’t be as bad as it sounds had the premium car selection made sense but when you see a car like the Daihatsu Copen receive the premium treatment while a highly desirable exotic, such as the Bugatti Veyron, is left with a regular model you will be left completely baffled. Another questionable decision is the used shop, which features only 30 standard models at a time as opposed to the premium

models which can be purchased at any time. With restrictions determining the cars that can enter a race you can’t use just one car to compete in all racers forcing you to mix and match and in turn making you get used to the many different vehicles in the game. But this also means that you will see yourself returning to the used car shop over and over between races to find a suitable vehicle for a specific race due to the fixed race requirements. Also some races have very broad requirements

allowing you to take insanely powerful cars against budget hatchbacks with absolutely no penalty.

Upgrading cars hasn’t progressed much since the past games. You can still make all the basic and advanced generic mechanical

upgrades to cars but visual customisation is limited to rims, basic body kits and paint. So don’t expect the visual customisability and intricate paintjobs that are possible in games like Forza.

Although 20 tracks doesn’t sound like much, these are split into 70 different variations which cover all the regular tracks you expect in racing sims and furthermore includes some nice city tracks and rally trails. There

is even a course maker which is a nice touch. This feature allows you to make your own customisable tracks and share them online, but the options are limited and follow certain ground rules so don’t expect to create whatever shaped tracks you want.

Online navigation is quite basic. You basically look for player lobbies to join or create your own and that’s basically it. Also online racing is limited to standard races but these are very customisable so this isn’t really an issue. On top of all these there is the arcade mode for testing out recommended cars, head tracking made possible by the Playstation Eye, time trials, drift trials, picturesque location to take photographs of your cars in, two-player split screen (which doesn’t include cockpit views or

AI drivers) and finally GT TV for all you car nuts to watch streaming automobile related videos.

We all know the actual reason we play GT5 is because of the incredibly deep driving mechanics. As such it is nice to note that polyphony hasn’t altered on the

52 / TECH

Publisher: SonyDeveloper: Polyphony DigitalPlatform(s): PS3Genre: DrivingeSRB Rating: R/P

SCORe

8.6Premium car models are stunning, core game mechanics are unchanged and still amazing

Inconsitent visuals, standard car models are sub par, very basic damage modelling

The Good

The Bad

core gameplay. The controls feel natural and authentic to each car, taking the car’s drivetrain, weight distribution, terrain, weight and more into account. Even the smallest alteration, such as changing an air filter or servicing a high mileage car is enough to give you the edge in a race.

The track mechanics are just as meticulously detailed as the cars taking into account the slightest imperfections of the tarmac and when racing off-road the terrain has to be taken into careful consideration when entering a corner or cresting a hill if you want to avoid losing control. While these off-road sections are not as well crafted as what you might find in dedicated rally sims like Dirt 2, they are enough to put up a sturdy challenge.

Also for the first time in series history, collision damage has been implemented into the game but never really affects a car’s mechanics. This allows you to easily bump yourself around a tricky corner. The AI drivers don’t fare much better; they are quite basic and show no personality or aggression and almost never lose control or attempt to overtake one another. At times they are even completely oblivious to your existence and will happily bump into you, interfering with their racing line during an overtaking manoeuvre. These

flaws are quite minor though and will not really affect your experience with the game.

The most disappointing aspect of the game is definitely its inconsistent visuals. The premium modes are simply astounding in their detail and will leave you spellbound with the realistic lighting effects and amazing reflections, all running at a breathtaking 60fps in 1080p. But from there onwards everything just heads downhill. The standard car models are fine during a race but if you

look at them up close and in more detail they look like something that would be more at home on a PS2 or the original Xbox, this poor level of detail is simply inexcusable in this day and age, especially from a game like GT5. Furthermore, the poorly blended dust trails and jagged shadows stick out like a sore thumb on the highly detailed premium models and don’t help the vastly inferior looks of the standard car models. Crowds and trees that litter the sidelines of the various tracks are also poorly implemented and are almost

completely in 2D, and then there is pop-in during rally races. Simply put, aside from the premium car models almost every other visual aspect of the game has already been surpassed by existing games and most cases by a rather vast margin.

The audio presentation claws back some points for the series. Despite the car collisions sounding extremely muffled the game has believable engine and ambient noise and an interesting soundtrack to make up for its

visual shortcomings. There is even the option of custom soundtracks with the music saved on your PS3, which is a nice touch.

To summarise, the game certainly doesn’t live up to all our expectations, but thankfully the most important aspects of the game are nearly flawless. The sheer scope of the game and the impeccable core driving mechanics definitely make up for its shortcomings and as long as you are a motorhead there is little reason to not get this game.

Nov ‘10 / 53

54 / TECH

Game Release CalendarJanuary 2011

January 21 January 14

MASS eFFeCT 2GhOST TRICK: PhANTOM DeTeCTIVe

Publisher: eA GamesDeveloper: BiowarePlatform(s): PS3Genre: RPGeSRB Rating: Mature

Publisher: CapcomDeveloper: CapcomPlatform(s): DSGenre: AdventureeSRB Rating: Teen

MINDJACKKINGDOM heARTS Re:CODeD

DC UNIVeRSe ONLINe

Publisher: Square enixDeveloper: FeelPlusPlatform(s): Xbox 360 PS3Genre: ActioneSRB Rating: Mature

Publisher: Square enixDeveloper: Square enixPlatform(s): DSGenre: ActioneSRB Rating: everyone - 10

Publisher: SOeDeveloper: Warner Bros. Interactive entertainmentPlatform(s): PS3, PCGenre: RPGeSRB Rating: Teen

January 19

January 25

LITTLe BIG PLANeT 2

TWO WORLDS II

Publisher: SCeADeveloper: Media MoleculePlatform(s): PS3Genre: ActioneSRB Rating: R/P

Publisher: SouthPeak InteractiveDeveloper: Reality PumpPlatform(s): PS3 Xbox 360 PCGenre: RPGeSRB Rating: Mature

Christopher Nolan strikes again. With his usual way of mixing elements from different genres he has created a 150-minute sci-fi flick. Following in the wake of Nolan’s The Prestige, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, Inception for the most part lived up to expectations. The movie had it all – a handsome lead actor (Leonardo DiCaprio); female power (Marion Cottilard and Ellen Page); breathtaking visuals; chases and fights that defy the laws of gravity; and an amazing script.

Leonardo DiCaprio is Dom Cobb, a professional thief – one who steals information from the subconscious of people while he or she is sleeping, and when they share a dream. Inception’s waking life/dreaming life story plot is quite a complicated one. But to make it all work Nolan devotes the vast majority of the film’s dialogue to laying out the various rules of entering the dream life, which can get quite repetitive at times.

And the avalanche of information in this movie is rather intense. It is difficult to distinguish between events occurring in the past or present, between characters real and imagined, between heroes and villains. But in spite of the confusion that exists initially, this movie is nothing like Matrix where you might need to watch it more than once, or

watch the off-shoot productions to truly understand the plot. The story that drives Inception is clear half way through and there are no real surprises or twists in the end.

The movie is all about an assignment that Cobb takes up from an energy mogul named Saito (Ken Watanabe). The danger of the new job is that instead of extracting information as Cobb usually does, he needs to plant an idea in the brain of Robert Fischer Jr (Cillian Murphy).

To pull this job off, Cobb and his right-hand man, Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), assemble a crew consisting of the best and brightest in the shared dreaming field. The crew includes Ellen Page, who plays the role of architect Ariadne. Then there is Tom Hardy (Eames), a forger. They were quite comfortable with the script and went beyond one-liners.

The blistering climax, with explosions, gun battles and zero-gravity fights are amazing. Despite the lack of a twist at the end, all the other elements come together to make Inception one of those DVDs that you would definitely want in your collection.

Inception, though entrancing, can get a bit repetitive DVD

RELEASES

JANUARY

The Last Exorcism

4 Januaryhorror | Thriller

Piranha 3D

11 Januaryhorror | Thriller

Secretariat

25 JanuaryDrama | Family | history

Resident Evil: Afterlife

10 JanuaryAction | Adventure | horror

Buried

18 JanuaryDrama | Mystery | Thriller

DVD ReVIew

Nov ‘10 / 55

Makita’s petrol blower BHX2500 is a quick-start easy maintenance tool that uses a 24.5cc, 0.98HP, Makita four-stroke engine

It has a sliding plug cover which allows easy access to the spark plug, but to protect against loss it is designed not to be removed from its position

The fuel tank of the blower is ergonomically contoured for use as an auxiliary handle in vacuum operation

The BHX2500 is known for its low fuel consumption and

clean exhaust emissions

It has a large opening port for easy oil changeand inspection

Light and compactMakita’s BHX2500 four-stroke petrol engine-powered blower is an innovative product equipped with a number of useful features to provide ease of use wherever possible. For starters, it has a cruise control lever for constant air volume in continuous

operation. The ergonomically designed handle has a thumb rest for more comfort and less hand fatigue, especially in the case of long continuous operation. The rubberised handle provides more control and less operator fatigue.

The BHX2500 is a quick-start, easy-to-use blower

Power

Displacement

Weight

Dust Bag Capacity

Max. Air Speed

Max. Air Volume

Fuel tank capacity

Available at

0.73kw/0.98HP

24.5cc

4.4kg

35l

264kph

10.1m3/min

0.52l

Gulf Services & Industrial Supplies,24811238

TeCh Specs BhX2500

BusINess TeCH

56 / TECH

Choose the correct answer and send in your entries for a chance to win

Fax to24693569

1. Which of the following is not a part of the Internet?

3. The Internet was developed in the...

2. Which was the first mobile phone manufacturer to introduce colour displays?

4. The speed of your net access is defined in terms of...

a) RAM b) Email c) World Wide Web d) HTTP

a) Early 1990s b) Late 1980s c) Late 1960sd) Early 1970s

(a) Samsung (b) Siemens(c) Nokia (d) Sony Ericsson

a) RAM b) MHz c) Megabytes d) Kbps

Name ___________________________________

Age ______ Mobile ________________________

Email ____________________________________

Occupation _______________________________

Company _________________________________

Previous quiz answers:1 – (a) 2 – (b) 3 – (c) 4 – (b)

Please send us your entries by 24th of January for a chance to win a SAMSUNG DVD-C360.

Employees and family members of Deenar Press and Publishing and Emax cannot participate in the quiz. Judge’s decision is final. Please email the answers to tech@deenarmedia.com or fax this page to 24693569 by the deadline. Correspondence after the deadline will not be entertained. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY. Incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified. Winner must provide valid ID to claim the prize. Allow up to two weeks to process.

Last month’s winner:

Rani Gopakumarwins her Samsung DVD-C360

Gift courtesy of eMax

SEVEN DAYS

MAKES ONE WEAK

Eecellent range of fitness

equipment at fantastic prices!WITHOUT EXERCISE

Welcome to our ‘TECH Favourites’ section. With these lists we aim to keep you updated with our favourite products in a concise format. Please give us your feedback on the basis of which we can further improve it.

3D TVs

Players

LG 42Le5500 OMR680.000 This is a 42-inch, full HD, 2MP, LED TV with wireless AV link. It sports four HDMI inputs, Bluetooth and Net Cast.

LG 47LX9500 OMR1299.900 3D LED 47-inch screen, THX certified display, Wireless HD streaming, Magic Wand remote control, Internet enabled

Panasonic Th-P50VT20M OMR1499.0003D Plasma 50-inch screen, full HD, four HDMI/PC input, THX surround sound, 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio

Samsung UA40C7000WR OMR899.000 3D full HD 40-inch display, two megapixels, Hyper Real Engine, Eco Sensor, four HDMI/PC inputs

Samsung UA65C8000 OMR2699.000 3D LED 65-inch screen, full HD, four HDMI/PC input, USB port, Internet TV, 100Hz motion flow

LG BD560 OMR64.900 Full HD 1080p, Blu-Ray disc playback, 3D Graphical User Interface, USB 2.0 Media Plus

Sony DAV-DZ910 OMR194.900 HDMI Up-Scaling, Wireless Rear speaker, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DIVX

Panasonic DMP-BD45 OMR74.900Blu-Ray, DVD, CD player, full HD, SD Card Reader, Dolby Digital, Optical Output

Samsung 3D hT-C5550W OMR280.000 Full HD 1080p, Blu-Ray playback, supports DVD, VCD, CD and MP3, Wireless Rear Speaker

Sharp LC52Le820M OMR1399.000This is a 2MP RGB LED screen with full HD 1080p 52-inch LED TV. It has four HDMI/PC inputs and supports USB DIVX HD.

Samsung UA32C5000 OMR299.000 This is a 32-inch LED TV with a stunning picture quality and a 1080p display. It has two Dolby Digital and DTS decoders for a lush soundscape and includes four HDMI inputs.

Sharp LC60A77M OMR1359.000This 60-inch LCD television has a full-HD panel and a pure black filter that reproduces deeper black. It also has STS TruSurround, bass enhancer and RGB backlight system.

Philips 46PFL9704 OMR1205.000Besides the excellent design, this 46-inch LED TV is known for its ‘Ambilight’ technology. It supports various types of multimedia playback and has a three-way hybrid tuner that supports CI+ encryption.

Sony KLV40eX710 OMR499.900 This is a 40-inch, full HD, 2MP, edge-lit LED display with 100Hz motion flow. It sports four HDMI inputs, a USB port, P.I.P and Internet TV.

Panasonic ThP-50U20M OMR535.000 This is a 2MP, full hD 50-inch TV with a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 and 600Hz sub-field drive. It has three HDMI inputs and an SD card slot.

Sony KLV40NX700 OMR549.900 This is a 2MP, full HD 40-inch edge-lit LED TV with 120Hz motion flow. It has four HDMI inputs, Internet TV, Wi-Fi, USB port and P.I.P.

Flat-Panel Displays

pdaTed

NB: Due to the ever changing world of technology, prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change on a weekly basis. Please check with your local dealer for updated costs of your favourite gadgets.

SEVEN DAYS

MAKES ONE WEAK

Eecellent range of fitness

equipment at fantastic prices!WITHOUT EXERCISE

Netbooks & Ultra Portables

Acer Aspire 5742G-5464G64 OMR289.900 Intel Core i4 460M processor, 2.53GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch LCD, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera, NVIDIA GEFORCE GT 420M

Asus 1201N OMR199.900Intel Atom processor, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 250GB HDD, 12.1-inch LED display, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Dell Alienware M11-ALNW-0124 OMR577.900 Intel Atom i3 330 UM processor, 1.2GHz CPU speed, 8GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 11.6-inch wide HD, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Sony Vaio VPCW219 OMR247.900 Intel Atom processor N470, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 10.1-inch WXGA LCD, 3-in-1 card reader, built-in 3G modem

LG X140L-AGP9e1 OMR179.900 Intel Atom processor N450, 1.83GHz CPU speed 2GB DDR2 RAM, 320GB SATA HDD, 10.1-inch HD LCD

LG X300L-ARAGe1 OMR364.900 Intel Atom Z550 processor, 2GHz CPU speed, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 64GB SSD, 11.6-inch HD screen, Bluetooth Dell Alienware M17-ALNW-0068 OMR1217.900

Intel Core i7 820QM processor, 1.73GHz CPU speed, 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 17-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi drive, 1GB dedicated graphics, Wireless, Bluetooth, card reader, 1.3MP web camera

hP eNVY 14-1111ee OMR690.000 Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz, 6GB RAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 500GB HDD, 1,024MB VRAM, 14.5-inch HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Sony Vaio VPCeA36FA OMR399.900 Intel Core i5 560M processor, 2.66GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 14-inch screen, DVD super multi drive, ATI RADEON HD 5650 Graphics (1GB), Wireless, Bluetooth

Apple MacBook Air OMR814.900 Intel Core 2 Duo, 1.86GHz CPU speed, 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, 256MB VRAM, 256GB HDD, 13.3-inch WXGA TrueBrite LED, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, built-in insight video camera

hP Pavilion dV6-3171Se OMR414.900 Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR3 SDRAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 500GB HDD, 15.6-inch full-HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Samsung NP-R590-JS02Ae OMR499.000 Intel Core i7 620M, 2.66GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi drive, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1GB VRAM, 1.3MP web camera

Dell Inspiron 15R-150 OMR419.900 Intel Core i7 740QM, 1.73GHz CPU Speed, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD WLED, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Toshiba QOSMIO X500-14h OMR955.000 Intel Core i7 7,400QM Processor, 1.73GHz CPU speed, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1.5GB VRAM, 1,500GB HDD, 18.4-inch full HD screen, Blu-Ray disc rewriteable, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Packard Bell TM86-JO-103AC OMR314.900 Intel Core i5 430M processor, 2.26GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED LCD, DVD super multi DL drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 card reader, 1.3MP web camera

Laptops

Computer AccessoriesWD My Book essential external hD OMR67.9002TB, customisable e-label, automatic, visual backup, password protection, high-performance FireWire 800 interface

Life Cam hD6000 OMR26.900 720p HD-quality video at 30fps, auto focus, TrueColour Technology, Notebook design with 360 degree lens rotation

Creative hS-1200 Wireless headset OMR49.900 Virtual surround headset, response range of 20Hz to 20kHz, USB rechargeable battery

Linksys Router WRT610N OMR75.900 Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router, WEP, WPA and WP2 security features, three internal antennas for each 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio band

GoFlex Desk 3TB OMR86.000Features USB 2.0 plug-and-play connectivity, illuminated capacity gauge, 3TB portable drive, automatic continuous backup

Casio eX-Z550 OMR79.500 The EX-Z550 offers a longer 4x ultra-wide zoom with intelligent modes. It can record HD movies in 720p detail. It has a 14.1-megapixel sensor and a 2.7-inch TFT colour LCD.

Panasonic FT2 OMR170.000 The FT2 is waterproof (up to 10m), dustproof, freezeproof (up to -10 degrees Celsius) and shockproof (up to 2m). It has a 28mm wide-angle lens with a 4.6x optical zoom.

Leica DLUX-4 Special edition OMR360.000 The D-Lux 4 is a premium compact digital camera featuring a new ten-megapixel sensor with more light-sensitive area on each pixel, a 24-60mm wide-angle optical zoom lens, and RAW shooting capability.

Sony TX5 OMR154.900 This is a 10.2-megapixel, three-inch wide touch-screen with 4x optical zoom. It comes with iSweep Panorama Mode and has ‘Exmor R’ sensor. Its airtight construction is waterproof up to 10ft.

Samsung ST1000 OMR119.900 This has built-in GPS, GEO Tagging technology, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The camera has a recycling bin, preventing the accidental deletion of photos. It has a 5x optical zoom lens with a resolution of 12 megapixels.

Canon IXUS-130 OMR74.900 This is a 14.1-megapixel, 4x optical zoom camera. It comes with a 2.7-inch LCD screen. It has a 28mm wide angle HD movie capture capability.

Olympus mju9000 OMR99.900 The MJU9000 features a 12-megapixel sensor, a 10x zoom lens equivalent to 28-280mm, and a 2.7-inch wide-view monitor. It also has a robust yet compact body.

Sony DSC-W390 OMR107.900 This is a 14-megapixel, three-inch LCD camera with 5x optical zoom. It comes with a BIONZ processor and the Sweep Panorama and self-portrait feature. It captures HD video at 30fps and has an Intelligent Auto mode.

Fuji Real 3D W3 OMR249.900 This is a 10-megapixel, 3.5-inch LCD 3D camera with 3.0x optical zoom. It lets you shoot high resolution 3D photos and movies.

Samsung ST550 OMR99.900 The ST550 has an LCD screen on the front and the back. There is a face recognition feature that can recognise up to 20 faces and a touch and tilt mechanism for rotating a picture.

CamerasCamcorders Panasonic hDC-SDT750 OMR599.000Full HD 1080/60p progressive movie recording, advanced 3MOS System, Intelligent Auto function, Hybrid OIS

Sony hDR-XR550 OMR509.90012 megapixel resolution, 10x optical zoom, Exmor R CMOS sensor, 240GB HDD, Image Stabiliser, 3.2-inch LCD screen

Canon LeGRIA hFM36 OMR339.0008GB dual flash memory, relay recording, easy HD shooting, 2.7-inch touch-screen LCD, Dynamic OIS and Powered IS

Sony Bloggie MhS-PM5K OMR89.9005MP resolution, CMOS sensor, three-inch LCD screen, HD Video 1920x1080, built-in USB, 270 degree swivel lens

Sanyo VPC-CG10 OMR64.900 10.66 megapixel resolution, optical zoom, auto focus, built-in flash, CMOS sensor, three-inch LCD screen

Nikon D300S OMR639.90012.3 megapixel, CMOS image sensor, 51-point auto focus, three-inch super-density VGA LCD monitor

Olympus e620 OMR339.000 12.3 megapixel, AF Live View, 2.7-inch LCD screen, Art Filter, plus 14-42mm and 40-150mm lens

Canon eOS 1D Mark 4 OMR2329.90016.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10fps shooting, three-inch Clear View LCD, HD video recording

Canon eOS 50D OMR529.90015.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, three-inch Clear View VGA LCD, HDMI connection

Olympus ePL1 OMR330.000 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, computerised focal-plane shutter, interchangeable lens system

DSLRS & Micro Four-Thirds

iPod Docks

Samsung I9000 Galaxy S OMR247.900 Samsung’s latest smartphone is Android-powered and boasts of an AMOLED touch-screen. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus, HSDPA Internet connectivity, and 8GB storage. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

Altec Lansing M602 OMR84.900 Dock and Play, recharge for iPod, video output for iPod Video, wall-mountable

Yamaha MCR040 OMR95.000 iPod dock, USB play, FM Radio, CD, MP3, WMA Playback

Logic3 iStation Studio OMR49.900iPod dock, 40W RMS, Line-in connection, AM/FM radio, clock display

Bose Sound Dock-10 OMR249.900iPod and iPhone dock, recharge and play, remote control, audio input

ihome Studio Series OMR83.900 Speakerphone stereo system for iPhone/iPod, features Bongiovi Acoustics Digital Power Station, Class-D amplifier technology

Nokia N900 OMR157.900 With a touch-screen and full QWERTY keypad, this mobile sports a 5MP camera, a dual LED flash, 32GB storage, 256MB RAM and a 600MHz processor. It also supports Wi-Fi and 3G.

Sony ericsson X10 Mini Pro (U201) OMR128.900 This smartphone sports a 5MP camera with auto focus, QWERTY keypad, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This phone runs on Android OS 1.6 and has a 600MHz processor.

Samsung SGh S5620 OMR72.900 With A-GPS support, the handset is filled with additional features like the one-finger zoom, accelerometer sensor, image editor, a 3.2MP camera, geo-tagging and smile detection. Video recording is also possible.

Nokia NK C6 OMR109.000 The Nokia C6 comes with 3.2-inch AMOLED ClearBlack capacitive touch-screen, runs Symbian 3.0 OS. It sports an 8MP full focus camera and supports Bluetooth 3.0.

Samsung S8500 Wave OMR167.900 The Wave is the first mobile handset to be released on the Samsung’s new, open mobile platform, Samsung Bada. It offers super AMOLED display, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 1GB storage and a 5MP camera.

Acer NeoTouch S200 OMR239.900 With a 3.8-inch TFT resistive touch-screen, the mobile comes with internal memory of 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash. It supports Bluetooth, v2.1 with A2DP.

Motorola Milestone OMR199.000 Milestone has a full QWERTY keyboard with five-way navigation keys, multi-touch, high resolution screen. It is a smartphone that is Android-powered, with a 5MP camera with dual flash.

Sony ericsson U10i Classic OMR113.900 This smartphone sports an 8MP camera, three-inch touch-screen with a resolution of 240x432 pixels. In addition, it has Wi-Fi, A-GPS, 3G support and stereo Bluetooth.

MP3 Players

Creative Zen Mozaic eZ300OMR32.9004GB, 1.8-inch video screen, built-in FM radio, voice recorder, picture viewer, built-in speaker

Apple iPod Nano 5G OMR86.500 16GB, VoiceOver gesture-based screen reader, 1.54-inch (diagonal) colour TFT display, Live Pause feature

Sony Zappin NWZ-W252 OMR36.9002GB, high speed connectivity, built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, water-resistant

Apple iPod Touch OMR109.900 8GB, 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen, multi-touch display, 720p HD video capture, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

Creative Zen X-Fi2 OMR69.90016GB, flash memory, audio enhancements, expandable memory, touch-screen user input mode, charges via USB port

Phones

Sony ericsson Vivaz Pro U8 OMR148.900 This phone sports a 3.2-inch touch-screen. It sports a 5MP camera and comes with internal memory of 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM. It also supports Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS, A-GPS and Geotagging.

Service EmaxOffers

Refrigerators

General ASG18-hTR OMR253.900 This 1.5-ton split air conditioner comes with a Blue Fin coated condenser, silver nano health system, hyper tropical compressor, deo air filter and a plasma pure filter.

LG GR-762-DePF OMR288.900 760l capacity, double doors, frost free, tempered glass shelves, multi air flow

Toshiba GRY-70TS OMR229.900 680l capacity, double door, frost free, hybrid plasma technology, twist ice tray, insulated wired shelves

Samsung RR82We+RZ80ee OMR589.500620l capacity, digital display and control, child lock, double doors, BRITA filtered water dispenser

Samsung RS-20CRhS OMR299.500 560l capacity, multi air flow system, nano silver anti bacteria deodoriser, temperature sensor technology

Sharp SJF80P OMR579.000 724l capacity, bottom freezer/deodoriser, tempered glass shelves, express ice making, door alarm, LED display

Panasonic CS/CUC18KKF OMR197.900With power cooling at 55 degree Celsius, this 1.5-ton capacity air conditioner has a Blue Fin coated condenser and an Eco sensor/plasma filter.

Whirlpool AMD-333 OMR139.900This 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner is a super tropical model that can withstand temperature up to 52 degree Celsius. It comes with a LED on the front panel.

Toshiba RAS-18SKP OMR198.900With a compact design and precise operation, Toshiba’s SKP series has a seven-layer air filter that cleans pollutants from the air. It operates at an extremely low 20 decibels in quiet mode.

electrolux eSSD-18 OMR127.900This 1.5-ton window air conditioner has a reciprocating compressor with a digital temperature control and smooth air flow. It also has washable filters.

Samsung AWT18WhBM OMR118.500Samsung’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner with a rotary compressor has a digital temperature control, anti-corrosion body, fuzzy logic feature and a silver nano health system.

LG e2463PP OMR381.000 This is a two-ton capacity Art Cool air conditioner with a three-way air flow system. It comes with a slim design and a picture panel frame.

Samsung AS18UU OMR185.500Samsung’s latest 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner is best known for its antivirus plasma filter and silver nano health system.

Sanyo SA186M5 OMR116.900Sanyo’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner is a low noise design with a rotary compressor and comes with an anti-bacteria filter. It is easy to clean and allows smooth air flow.

hitachi RAN-209CP OMR132.900This 1.5-ton window air conditioner has a high energy-efficient compressor with a super quite air flow. There is a symmetric twin flow air discharge, washable filters and a rotary compressor.

Washing MachinesToshiba AW-SD150SB OMR185.90013kg capacity, six wash programmes, memory option, digital display, water level selection, hydro twin power

Ariston eXT-1400eX OMR369.000 11.5kg capacity, 13 programmes/1,400rpm, easy iron, mini load, child lock, temperature control

Panasonic NAF-11TY OMR166.400 11kg capacity top load washer, eight programmes, foam wash, fuzzy logic, Aqua Beat technology

Samsung WA12V9 OMR155.500 10kg capacity, eight programmes, child lock, memory option, air turbo, water level selection

LG WD-12396TDK OMR147.9007kg capacity, 13 programmes, 1,200rpm, direct drive motor, child lock, no spin option

Air Conditioners

Vacuum Cleaners

elekta eBRO-444hP OMR28.900This is a 43l capacity electric oven with five stages of heating selector. It comes with two hot plates, with 500 and 800W power, respectively. It has a temperature selector between zero and 250 degrees Celsius.

Sharp eC-CW1000 OMR32.900 Wet and dry vacuum, 1,000W power, washable filters, 15l capacity, convenient wheel

Panasonic MC-761020 OMR62.2006.2l dust bag capacity, Anti bacteria filter, three-speed control, 1,600W power

Samsung SD9420 OMR69.500Aquatic canister vacuum cleaner, 2l dust capacity, HEPA 12 filter, two-step brush, steel telescopic pipe, bagless

Karcher SV1802 OMR230.000Steam vacuum cleaner, four suction settings, five steam-flow settings, coarse dirt filter, foam filter, HEPA filter

hoover V091PB OMR73.4002,400W vacuum cleaner, variable power control, washable central HEPA exhaust filter, 3.25l dust capacity

LG MC8289BRC OMR79.900 This is a 32l microwave oven/grill/convection from LG. It has a

900W output power. It has five power levels and includes auto defrost and auto weight cook functions.

Samsung Ce137N OMR95.500 This is a 37l microwave/grill/steam oven with a maximum wattage of

900. It employs the Triple Distribution System (TDS) technology and has an electronic time control..

Panasonic NN-CD997S OMR149.900With a 42l oven capacity, three stage memory, delay start, two level shelf cooking, Panasonic’s exclusive Inverter technology is the only microwave technology that offers real power level control.

Ge GMOh30UCPSS OMR56.900A 30l convection microwave/grill with electronic touch control, GE’s latest in this series has time and weight defrost feature and express cook. It has a 1,000W grill power and 900W microwave power.

Black & Decker TRO60PB OMR40.400 This 42l electric oven has 1,800W input power. The oven comes with tem-perature control and a timer. It also has a function selector and a power indicator lamp, along with shelf supports.

Panasonic NNS235 OMR33.000With a 22l oven capacity and 800W power, this microwave oven

comes with a one-touch menu. It also has child safety lock, turbo defrost and auto-reheat options.

Sharp R-898SLMA OMR72.000This 26l convection microwave/grill has a 900W power. With Express Cook and Defrost features, the oven comes with six preset menus and five variable cooking power levels.

Samsung CQV513S OMR184.500A 36l oven with 800W microwave output power and 1,540W grill power, Samsung’s latest family-size combi steam oven has six power levels for cooking. It also has auto steam cook and auto power defrost.

Sharp R-241R (W) OMR30.900 This is a 22l microwave oven with 800W power output. It has

four auto cook and two reheat menus. It includes express defrost and slow cook function.

Domestic Appliances

Tefal Actifry OMR87.9001,400W power, digital display, only one spoon of oil for 1kg of crispy chips, easy basket handling

Black & Decker FX800 OMR30.900800W power food processor, 2.3l processing bowl, 1.7l blender, five speeds plus pulse

Philips Steam Iron GC4491 OMR32.900

2,400W output power for 40g steam, 350ml water tank capacity, scratch-proof, durable Anodilium soleplate

Philips hR2094 OMR35.500750W power, 2l with serrated blades for superior blending and crushing, smoothie making, illuminated switch

Westinghouse Set WKCPNe03 OMR18.900

1.25l coffee maker with non-drip valve, two-slice toaster with 32mm wide mouth slot, 1.7l cordless water kettle

Microwaves & Ovens

For a copy of TECH on your desk, call 95413571

XBOX 360 250GB OMR129.900With a stylish design, the internal 250GB hard drive allows you to save games and content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. It has built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and 5.1 surround sound.

Our Current Top 5Recommended Games

Call of Duty: Black OpsOMR28.900 Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: TreyarchPlatform(s): PS3, Xbox 360, PC, DS, WiiGenre: ActionESRB Rating: R/P

Gran Turismo 5OMR26.900

Publisher: SonyDeveloper: Polyphony DigitalPlatform(s): PS3Genre: DrivingESRB Rating: R/P

Need for Speed: hot Pursuit

OMR28.900 Publisher: EADeveloper: Criterion GamesPlatform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PCGenre: DrivingESRB Rating: Everyone ten and older

StarCraft 2 – Wings of Liberty OMR25.700 Publisher: BlizzardDeveloper: BlizzardPlatform(s): PCGenre: StrategyESRB Rating: Teen

World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

OMR18.900 Publisher: BlizzardDeveloper: BlizzardPlatform(s): PCGenre: RPGESRB Rating: R/P

*All lists are in no particular order and prices are subject to change at the retailer’s discretion

Logitech G19 OMR85.800 With a colour GamePanel LCD and 12 programmable G-keys, this gaming keyboard supports multi-key input and has two high-speed USB 2.0 ports.

PSP 3000 + 2 Games OMR75.500This current version of the PlayStation Portable has a built-in microphone and a better screen that is even able to resist glare and so works better outdoors.

PlayStation Move Starter Pack OMR28.500 The Move is broken into three parts: the ‘Motion Controller’, the ‘Navigation Controller’ and the ‘PlayStation Eye Camera’. The Motion Controller contains built-in motion sensors.

Logitech G9X OMR48.200The G9X Laser mouse ramps up to 5,000dpi and boasts a customisable grip and weighting system. It also has customisable LED lighting and uses Teflon feet to ensure smooth gliding over difficult or dusty surfaces.

Logitech G13 OMR42.800The GamePanel LCD in this gaming keyboard keeps you informed of the game stats and other vital information to help you claim victory. It includes programmable G-keys that let you create macros on the fly.

Logitech G27 OMR160.000 Logitech racing wheels and flight controllers simulate remarkable

realism. Force feedback lets you feel every slip of the tyre, every shudder of the wing and the controls feel like the real thing.

Nintendo DSi XL OMR107.300This is Super Mario Bro.’s 25th Anniversary Edition. The DSi XL

is the longest, widest and heaviest of the DS models and features two 4.2-inch screens.

Nintendo Wii Sports Resort Pack OMR94.400The fastest selling console in history just got better. The Wii now sells its Wii Sports Resort and Wii MotionPlus accessory bundled into the console package at an extremely competitive price.

PS3 Slim 320GB+2 Joysticks OMR 185.900 The PlayStation 3 returns with more capacity than ever (320GB), and has lower power consumption. It supports media streaming and its drive allows you to play Blu-Ray movies as well.

Gaming Consoles

Company Product Showroom Service Dept.Al Khalili Group Acer Wadi Kabir 24816303 24816303

Bahwan Electornics Asset, Carrier, Ignis, Napro, Toshiba, Seiko, Casio, Titan, Sony Ericsson, Tempstar, Cooline, Corning, Print electronics, Dolphin, Benq, Ausonia, Daewoo, VIP, Dometic, Corby

Ruwi 24796629/32 24501965 / 66

Jawahir Oman Bang & Olufsen Qurm 24563213 24563213

Belltel Nokia Ruwi 24798222 24798222

Genetco Sanyo, Videocon , Fujitsu, Thomson, York, Yamaha, Canon , HAAS, AEG, Sure, Caravell, Gulf Star, Safari, Admiral, Francia, Mitsubishi, Marc Climatic, Vortice, Guntner, Zanussi , Ziegra Imesa, Bitzer , Manitowoc, Bremer, Dito- Electrolux, Metro , Taylor, Costan

Al Qurum 24568806 Al Qurum 24561948 Muttrah 24713138 Ruwi 24830919 Seeb 24422797 Shatti al Qurum 24693292

24503653

HiTec Centre Boston Accoustics, Denon, Leica, Polk Audio Azaiba 24497384 24497384

Jumbo Electronics Sony, VAIO, Sony professional Products, Blackberry, Supra, Midea Air-conditioners, Casio, Brother Sewing Machines, Acer, HP, Dyson, Gorenje

MBD 24818358, Al Araimi 24565845 QCC 24470529, Salalah 23291984

Wadi Kabir 24814815, 24814751, Fax 24815267

Khimji Luxury Krups, Moulinex Ruwi 24796161 99881627

K R Household O General, Siemens Wadi Kabir 24813333 24814793

MHD Fagor, Pioneer Ruwi 24732440 24732440

Meta Galaxy Hitachi Ruwi 24503653 24503653

Muscat Electronics Daikin, Ricoh, Sony Professional products, Chigo, Sansui, JBL

Ruwi 24702982 24813408

Mustafa Sultan Electronics (MSE) Samsung, Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool Al Khuwair 24636015 Wadi Kabir 24818018

Oman International Electronics & Trading Co.

Bose, Nec, JVC Qurm 24565490 24830606

Oman Trading Est. Bosch, LG, Palson, TCL, Prolux, Promate, Pearl, Souq Technia, GHanz, White Westinghouse, Hostess, Kenstar,

Ruwi 24834162 Al Araimi 2456148, 24810522

24810522, 24810156, 80075545

OMASCO Raymond Weil, Kolber, Westar, Alba, Maxima, HMT, Panasonic, Xper, Aftron, Black&Decker, GE

Qurm, 24564310 Ruwi 24833630

24560232

OMASCO - System Solutions Panasonic 24565696 24565696

SARCO Samsung, Frigidaire, Technoflame Ruwi Ghala 24593025

Sayed Bin Nasser Al Hashar Ariston, Rinnai, Voltas, JBL, Kirloskar, Kardex, Lexmark

Ruwi 24700571 Ruwi 24706004, 24796007 Ruwi High Street 24834460 Salalah 23291405, Sohar 26840763 Sur 25544613

24704494

24700883

Oman Modern Electronics Co. Sharp, JBL, Mastergas, Harman/Kardon, Onida, Nikai,

24702555 24702555

Shah Nagardas Manji Co. Kodak, Olympus, Yashica, Cokin, Case Logic, Lexar, Noritsu, Durst, Bushnell, Eiki, Iriver, Steiner, Tasco, White Westinghouse, Igloo, Venus, Russel Hobbs, Addis, Noritake, Ocean, Wenger,

Ruwi , Qurm 24562656 Lulu Baushe 24593806, Nizwa 25410184

Emax Multibrand MCC 24558062, Fax 24558063

Technical Trading Co. Westinghouse Ruwi 24703515, Fax 24700010

Photocentre Amano, Archivtechnik Kunze, Unomat Intl., Broncolor, Delkin Devices, Fuji Film, Epson, Green Clean, Hama, Hasselbald, Marumi, Mitsubishu Electric, Peli, Sigma, Sinar

Qurm 24565305 Al Khuwair 24479296

P&G Brawn, Oral-B 24815474

Salman Store Seb, Janome, Coolex 24799332

Abu Hani La Germania, Starway, Westar, Starline, Tatung

24495141 24491327

Jashanmal Mytag, Hoover 24702312

Loay Macintosh, Benq, Epson, Sokkia, Acer 24708795 24708845

If you would like to be listed, e-mail: tech@deenarmedia.com

Al Moayyed Integrated Enterprise Daewoo Electronics 24488795 24488795