TECH Issue 04

Page 1

Feb ‘10 / 1





AUGUST 2010

OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

Home Screen Four steps ahead Blu-rays are now more widely available and with the recent price-drop for players, a lot of people are already contemplating a shift, if they haven’t already. With this in mind, our very first group test will pit five of the most commonly available players against each other. And, if you are looking for something more along the lines of a media centre, we have also featured two of the latest models from Vidabox, which have come in on a very special introductory offer. In the ‘Computing’ section we have two very unique machines for you to admire – the limited edition libretto W100 from Toshiba and the latest and smallest Mac mini. If you are a lover of art we have the gorgeous 458 Italia and the Horological Machine No.4 Thunderbolt, which is practically a work of art you wear on your wrist. We have also carried out an exciting review of the Civic Type R in the ‘Dashboard’ section. Also inside are previews of the latest HTC Wildfire and Canon IXUS. There is also a company profile of Logic 3, a group feature on four impressive air conditioners and two smart business solutions for our corporate readers. Finally, for our gamer friends we have carried an in-depth review of the latest game from Raven Software, Singularity.

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-chief

Hatim al Taie

Tech Consultant

Malcolm X Crasta

Content Manager Senior Designer

Designer

Sujata Sengupta Shyniben Koyakkil Muneeb Khan

CORPORATE Managing Director

Abdullah al Taie

General Manager

Rathish Ramachandran

Asst. General Manager Sales Manager

-Ed

Terry Mathukutty Mehri Vantanparast

Asst. Sales Manager

Sami Dalwai

Produced by

Deenar Press and Publishing LLC PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman Tel: + 968 24 696868, Fax: +968 24 693569 E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com

Published by

Al Roya Press and Publishing LLC 2010 © All rights reserved this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permision of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information here in, or any consequences arising from it.

Model: Maria Watson Photography: Shakeel al Balushi

Printed at Al Anan Printing Press LLC, Sultanate of Oman

Talk to us!

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

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ISSUE 4 - AUG 2010

OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

CONTEN TS Q&A

08

Tech News

10

Nuovo Tech

12

Mobile Zone

14

Photography

16

Video Zone

18

Computing

26

Brand Profile

30

Time Zone

32

Business Tech

34

Dashboard

40

Gamers’ Delight

48

Home Zone

50

Quiz

55

Tech Favourites

56

Tech Classifieds

62

Tech Directory

63

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If you have any queries, mail us on tech@deenarmedia.com, and we will try to answer them in our next issue. You may even be the lucky winner of a HP wireless optical mouse!

This Months Winner:

Rohan Bhatty Dear TECH, I was planning on picking up a decent gaming PC and wanted to know what would be a better option from a performance and price standpoint – pick up a branded PC; get one assembled; or stick with gaming consoles? Khalid al Muharzy Dear Khalid, Many people believe that PC gaming is on the path to extinction and, with consoles becoming as powerful as they are, their beliefs are justified. But no matter what, a proper gaming PC will always offer the latest and best in graphics performance and be home to a few stunning exclusives that cannot be experienced elsewhere – World of Warcraft and League of Legends anyone?. Unfortunately, buying a gaming PC will not exactly be cheap. On average a decent rig would easily cost you in excess of OMR400 and even then you will barely get into the mid-range performance category; proper highperformance machines will cost well in excess of OMR1000. On the other hand, gaming consoles, on average, would cost you around OMR200, no matter what you choose. These are more cost and space efficient too. And, no matter which you choose, its game library will most certainly be significantly larger than what a PC can offer. They are not without their drawbacks though. Firstly, they will never be able to match a good gaming rig in terms of graphics performance and, although you can browse the internet on some of them, they will never be able to replace the multitasking capabilities of a PC. So, if price is no option and you want to enjoy PC exclusives, go for the rig. And if you do, get it assembled since you will have the flexibility to tune it to your liking. Or, if you have deeper pockets, try to get a hold of an Alienware ALX, they are simply the best gaming PC’s out there. -Ed

Dear Editor, My Laptop was giving me some major problems lately. It randomly gets hot and then shuts down and cannot be restarted successfully for at least 20 minutes thereafter. What could be the problem and how do I get it fixed? Regards, Rohan Bhatty Dear Rohan The problem with your PC is obviously overheating. This is also the reason why your PC does not properly restart for about 20 minutes, which is how long the components need to cool. The reason for this problem could be either a faulty component, the heat sink may have become detached from one of the key parts or it could be as simple as not enough ventilation. Firstly, never use your laptop on your bed or other soft surfaces as the top of the surface can mould around the laptop and block key ventilation points. Always use it on flat, well ventilated surfaces. If this is not the problem than it most definitely is an interior component of the laptop and you should avoid using it as much as possible till it is inspected, to avoid further damage. If you have a faulty component, it will have to be replaced and if a heat sink has become detached, it will have to be refitted with thermal paste. Do this and your overheating problems should be over. -Ed

If you have any queries mail us on tech@deenarmedia.com


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tech NEWS

Dhofar Automotive launches in Oman An exciting new era for world beating American car brands is now under way in Oman with the launch of Dhofar Automotive – an innovative new joint venture from the Zubair and Shanfari companies. Before the joint venture both Zubair Automotive Group and Shanfari Automotive distributed and sold Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge throughout the Sultanate but now customers will have a far simpler interaction through one Dhofar

Automotive outlet in Oman’s main population centres. The newly formed automotive powerhouse is creating a single company for the sale and distribution of the popular Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge (CJD) brands of cars and SUVs from showrooms across the Sultanate. Customer service and satisfaction is at the very heart of the new company with management committed to ensuring

trouble free motoring combined with a low cost of ownership for new and existing Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles that has seen record breaking sales in the Sultanate in the last three years. The new company will have a dedicated, experienced and highly professional team working for it at its different showrooms across the Sultanate all committed to delivering the highest levels of customer service from the sale of the car or SUV through to quality after sales care and excellent servicing.

HDBaseT technology finalised HDBaseT Alliance, the cross-industry alliance formed to promote and standardise the HDBaseT technology for whole-home distribution of uncompressed high definition (HD) multimedia content, announced its formal incorporation. The Alliance is founded by LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Valens Semiconductor, all of which comprise the HDBaseT Alliance’s Board of Directors. The Alliance also announced the finalisation of the HDBaseT 1.0 base specification. The development of this cohesive specification is set to transform the digital media ecosystem, allowing consumers to enjoy premium content 10 / TECH

through unparalleled, uninterrupted HD distribution without the tangle of cables currently required. The cornerstone of HDBaseT technology is 5Play, an unrivaled feature-set that converges full uncompressed HD video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, high power over cable and various control signals through a single 100m/328ft CAT5e/6 LAN cable. HDBaseT has the bandwidth to support the highest video resolutions such as full HD 1080p as well as 3D and 2Kx4K formats. HDBaseT is the first to provide all-in-one connectivity, making it possible for a single-connector TV to receive power, video/audio, Internet and control signals from the same cable.

Development and preparation for an HDBaseT Alliance Compliance Program is currently underway. The Alliance plans to formulate a logo usage and licensing program to ensure consistency and consumers’ ability to recognise interoperable HDBaseT devices in the market.


A whole new Blu-ray format Sharp, a member of the Blu-ray Association, announced that it’s going to be the first optical disc maker to launch a new Blu-ray format that offers 100GB of storage space. The existing dual-layer Blu-ray format offers a cap of 50GB per disc. The new format, called VR-100BR1, will use a new triple-layer standard that enables even more data to be squeezed onto the same amount of physical space. According to Sharp, the VR-100BR1 disc is made based on the new BDXL format specification introduced by the Blu-ray

Disc Association in April. This new format allows for a ceiling capacity up to 128GB for Blu-ray write-once discs and 100GB for the rewriteable format. The higher amount of storage space is archived by increasing the allowed layers on a disc to four, up from two layers of existing Blu-ray discs.

The company says the multilayer Blu-ray discs will be available in Japan soon and is expected to cost around USD 60 apiece. Together with the new disc, Sharp will also releasing two players that can handle the new format--the Aquos BD-HDW700 and BD-HDW70.

Sharp’s new VR-100BR1 Blu-ray disc will first be available in the write-once format and is capable of holding about 12 hours of terrestrial digital TV broadcasts or 8.6 hours of satellite digital broadcasts.

Microsoft earns record revenue Microsoft Corp announced a record fourthquarter revenue of USD16.04bn for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, a 22 per cent increase from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were USD5.93bn, USD4.52bn and USD0.51 per share, which represented increases of 49 per cent, 48 per cent and 50 per cent, respectively, when compared with the prior year period. Product momentum continued during the quarter with the successful launch of Office 2010 and strong performance from existing products including Windows 7,

which has sold more than 175 mn licenses to date, Windows Server, Xbox, and Bing, which achieved its 13th consecutive month of share gain. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010, Microsoft reported record revenue of USD62.48 bn, a 7 per cent increase from the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the year were USD24.10bn, USD18.76bn and USD2.10, which represented increases of 18 per cent, 29 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, when compared with the prior year.

Stylish Fluence Arrives In Oman Renault has a tradition built over 100 years of motoring passion. As Europe’s largest-selling brand, Renault has also earned a formidable reputation for leadership in safety – with as many as 11 models having the highest 5-star Euro NCAP rating for safety performance. The brand also offers the optimum blend of performance that is refined on the most competitive racing circuits, cutting-edge European design, as well as class-leading cabin space and value for money. Moreover, Renault models destined for the roads in the Middle East are specifically tested for consistent high performance in the region’s conditions. As a result, like their discerning European counterparts, Oman’s motorists too have shown an increasing preference for the brand – especially best-sellers like Logan, Safrane and Koleos.

The Fluence, with its enhanced overall length and wheelbase, truly stands out as ‘a big car in its class’. It is designed with the aim of standing out as the most attractive car in its class and has several features that will set it apart from rivals: beneath its strong, sporting exterior, Fluence features a comfortable cabin and a wealth of useful technological aids, and targets customers looking for a statusenhancing saloon. Additionally, the “Get more with Renault” philosophy promises exceptional value for money, space, and features. So while the customer pays less, they get a lot more. Little wonder, sales figures for Renault vehicles in Oman leapt 200% in 2009 over 2008, and an astounding 225% between the first-halves of 2009 and 2010.

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nOUVO tech

Hard Drive Evolved During the last decade, external hard drives have offered little beyond design changes and simple storage and backup. With the new LifeStudio family from Hitachi, the company is breaking through the long-established confines of the category and delivering an external drive that combines highly reliable storage and new levels of data protection with content organisation, management, socialisation and navigation for both local and online content. The LifeStudio, offered in both portable and desktop models, seamlessly pulls in, organises and protects your priceless

stored digital content – photos, videos, music and documents – and unifies them with online digital content from social networks such as Facebook and photo sites such as Flickr and Picasa Web Albums. These important digital memories are laid out on a stunning 3D visual wall, instead of in random and hard-to-find files and folders, creating a comprehensive and organised catalog of the user’s digital life. Redefining backup, you receive the benefits of both local and cloud backup within one single application, making it easy to view, download, and share protected cloud content from any web browser, anywhere.

Ever wanted to play your game consoles or watch a Blu-ray from your player on your pristine Apple iMac screen? Belkin now has a nifty solution for you – the AV360 Mini DisplayPort Converter. This little device does one simple job – it takes in full 1080p signals

via an HDMI port and provides a 720p output to an iMac and even delivers stereo audio, should you need it. It is even designed to complement the Apple products it is going to be used with.

Smart Solution

The Element Case duo The iPhone 4 hasn’t exactly had the smoothest launch, with all its glass shattering and reception issues. But one company that goes by the name of Element Case has released a bumper case that definitely looks like it is up to the task of sorting these issues out. For one, the company claims that the case solves the


Thundering into view While we normally stick with consumer products this time we decided to make an exception, simply because this plane was just too awesome to ignore. Named after the Celtic god of thunder and developed by BAE systems, the Taranis Combat Aircraft has been three and a half years in the making and is the product of more than a million man-hours. It is the first

ever autonomous stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that would ultimately be capable of precisely striking targets at long range, even in another continent. Should such systems enter into service, they will at all times be under the control of highly trained military crews on the ground.

Big picture, small package Joining the α family, the NEX-5 and NEX-3 team DSLR-quality imaging with the convenience of interchangeable lenses in a sleek new design. In contrast with conventional DSLR models, the ‘mirrorless’ construction shrinks the thickness of both cameras to just 24.2mm in the NEX-5 and 25.4mm in the NEX-3 at their slimmest point. As a luxurious extra refinement, the NEX-5 features a tough light-weight magnesium body, making it the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera. At the heart of both cameras is a newly-developed Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor with a resolution of 14.2 effective megapixels. Still and video image quality is further refined by the powerful BIONZ processor that ensures speedy DSLR-style shooting reflexes with quick, precise autofocus and minimal shutter lag. Both cameras can also capture fast-moving action with a high-speed burst of fullresolution images at up to 7fps.

Next-Gen Keyboard For those who remember it, Art Lebedev’s Optimus Maximus keyboard redefined what we thought of computer keyboards by adding individual screens on every key. Unfortunately it didn’t quite make it big because of its extremely high price. To solve this issue the company has now revealed their latest creation – the Optimus Popularis which will, like its predecessor, have screens on every key. But this time the screens will be larger

and there will also be a big, wide widget screen between the function keys and the number keys. The keyboard is expected to be on sale by the end of the year or beginning of next for “less than USD1000”.

reception problem. And second, they are made of aluminium and have a interior liner. Together this should solve the glass shattering problems. But if you don’t fancy taking chances you should opt for the carbon fibre back plate, while it may not be full-proof it will definitely further protect the iPhone 4’s fragile glass back.

beautiful stands we have ever seen for the tablet, called the Joule. The stand consists of a heavyweight, machined solid aluminium base and a magnetically attached, adjustable angle tilt foot. The Joule is available in a brilliant polished finish or anodized black and custom laser engraving with your name, favorite image or company logo is also available.

For all you iPad lovers the very same company also makes one of the most

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MOBILE ZONE

Budget Performance If you feel that the new HTC Desire seems a bit too pricey but you still want to experience the combined strength of Google Android and HTC’s stunning Sense UI, then the HTC Wildfire is definitely the phone for you

HTC’s Friend Stream application seamlessly gathers and displays content from social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr into one organised stream of updates

One of only two concessions, to reduce the price that we noticed was the lower resolution screen – a 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen with a resolution of 240 x 320

Each contact viewed in the Wildfire’s address book includes a thread of recent communications with that person, including when you last spoke, recent text messages and emails, and social network updates

When your friend calls, HTC Caller ID displays their Facebook profile photo and latest social network update, as well as a reminder if their birthday is fast approaching

A new app sharing widget enables you to recommend an application by email, text message or over social networks; your friends will then receive a link allowing them to find the application on the Android Market with a single click and download it to their phone 14 / TECH


As mentioned earlier, the phone uses the excellent HTC Sense UI which brilliantly masks the Android 2.1 (Éclair) platform that the phone is based on

The second concession was the hardware performance, which now features a 528 MHz CPU and 384 MB of RAM; lower than the Desire but plenty enough to give you a smooth and satisfying experience

The Wildfire sports a 5 megapixel snapper with a LED flash

As with most HTC’s it comes with built-in Microsoft Exchange support, making it easy to synchronize your email and calendar; you can also look up the contact info for anyone in your company directory — even if they’re not stored on your phone

The phone has support for microSD cards to satisfy your space requirements

The new HTC Wildfire will be available in three colours – Phantom Black, Flamenco Red and Pure White; at an estimated price of USD498+ (OMR192+)

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Style Shot Designed to deliver performance in style, the IXUS 300 is crafted to reflect the sculpted curves of a supercar and is finished in blasted steel silver, matt black, glossy white or high gloss red. Underneath the premium design, it also offers a great combination of highperformance features that let you take great shots, wherever you are

A 3.0� PureColor II G LCD screen incorporates a strong tempered glass outer layer, providing high contrast and wide-angle viewing that makes it ideal for shooting large groups or subjects from awkward angles

A Super Slow Motion Movie mode is also supported; capturing movies at 240 frames per second (fps) and playing images back at 30fps for a spectacular slow motion effect

The IXUS 300 HS is able to continuously shoot up to 3.7 shots per second at full 10.0MP resolution, or up to 8.4 shots per second in High Speed Burst mode at 2.5MP resolution Using the Low Light mode, the camera can achieve an extended maximum speed of ISO 6400, capturing images at 2.5MP resolution and providing the ideal tools for shooting at evening events and on nights out For users who want to transfer content wirelessly, the IXUS 300 HS includes Eye-Fi connected functions and even features a dedicated Eye-Fi section in the User Interface, on-screen icons, and will disable the automatic power-down function when the Eye-Fi card transmits data 16 / TECH

The IXUS 300 HS is the first model to feature Canon’s new HS System, combining a high-sensitivity 10.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor with fast DIGIC 4 processing for enhanced low light performance and high-speed shooting

The Smart Flash Exposure feature intelligently controls the power and usage of the onboard flash to ensure natural results in a variety of conditions

The IXUS 300 HS offers 720p high This lens features a wide f/2.0 definition movie recording with high quality maximum aperture, allowing twice as stereo sound much light on to the sensor as a regular f/2.8 lens, making it possible to avoid blurred images in darker conditions by using shutter speeds that are faster to those achieved by most other cameras



VIDEO ZONE

Battle for the Blu-ray crown With Blu-Ray discs becoming more widespread their players have also become more affordable. Furthermore, with the advent of 3D technology it looks like they have quite a bright future ahead of them. Over the next few pages we will pit five Blu-ray players against each other. When buying a Blu-ray player there are three primary factors that you should look at: performance, looks and features. To benchmark the five we used the most common and widely used player on the market – the Play Station 3.

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The Benchmark Sony PS3 Disk loading time: 0:55.02 OMR164.900

Design

Because it is primarily a game console, the PS3 looks significantly different from the other players in the test. It obviously has no face buttons or display and is controlled by the PS3’s game controller, unless you decide to purchase a Bluetooth remote controller for the system of course. It can even be placed either vertically or horizontally. On a slight downside, because of its curved surface you cannot stack anything on top of it.

keyboard and mouse are plugged in. This is because, aside from its limited flash support, can basically browse the Internet just like you would on any computer. It can even act as a media hub streaming content from computers, DLNA-compatible devices or hard drives with network capability and even supports nearly all MPEG and h.264 formats and also MP3, ATRAC, WAV, and AAC to suit your audio requirements. As well as the popular image formats of all kinds.

PS3 a pricier option, its performance, features and the fact that it doubles as an extremely powerful gaming console makes it an enticing offer. In short, if you already own one you have no need to pick out another stand alone device, instead invest in a Bluetooth remote.

Performance

Features

Because of its gaming intentions and regular firmware updates from Sony, the PS3 is also a features powerhouse. Aside from the expected support for both old and new Blu-Rays, the system also supports those with BD-Live content. It can even do so without the need for an Ethernet cable or a USB flash drive to save content, thanks to the built-in WiFi support and 250GB hard drive (120GB on the lower-end model). It even has an edge on other players when it comes to internet browsing, especially if a USB

Because the system makes full use of its hardware when playing Blu-rays the system outclasses most players on the market in terms of loading times and upscaling DVD titles to 1080p. Even its video and audio performance is on par, if not better, than most standalone Blu-ray players. Furthermore, it also has an easyto-use interface and its XrossMediaBar makes selecting your preferences completely effortless.

Overview

Aside from being nosier than other players, the PS3 is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to playing Blu-ray movies. Its strong feature set and constant firmware updates even make it future-proof. While the recent drop in prices for stand-alone players make the

Test Procedure All items was tested in controlled environment and on same equipment. ‘Loading Time’ in TECH is defined as the time taken for the movie to start from the moment the play button is pressed, after the Blu-ray is placed on a open disc-tray. This test is not an international standard, and results are not to be compared to any other values except our own. While we use the best methods to maintain accuracy and results, TECH or its parent company cannot be held responsible for brand-specific superiority or even readers’ own choice. For further details of this test on non-competitive basis please send requests to tech@deenarmedia.com TECH / 19


The Players JVC XV-BP1 Disk loading time: 0:58.36 OMR129.900

Design

Simplicity is the name of the game with the XV-BP1, and JVC has done a pretty good job with the design of the player. Its front panel is divided into two with one side finished in a nice glossy black layer, containing the drive and display, while the other has a simple layout of buttons surrounded by a brushed metal finish. These buttons have a blue glow around them when the system is switched on, which is a nice design aesthetic. This player proves that sometimes the simplest designs are more than enough for it to be pleasing to the eye.

Features

In keeping with its simplistic theme, the XV-BP1 isn’t very feature heavy but covers all the necessary bases. To start with, it features BD Profile 2.0 support which means that it can play any of the Blu-ray discs that are BD Liveready so long as you are connected to the internet via an Ethernet cable. While it may not support other online features, firmware updates can still be downloaded to the player. It even supports most codecs including

Dolby Digital True HD and DTS-HD Decoding. The player also supports many other formats including BD/DVD Hybrid formats, Audio CDs and almost all optical discs. It even supports a wide range of video and audio formats, even HD H.264 files in MKV containers, and can access them right from the USB port. And as an added benefit to those people that own the JVC HD Everio, it can be connected to the digital camcorder directly for playback.

Performance

contrast quality. It also has some zooming options to make DVD titles, that are not enhanced for 16:9 ratio, better fit on the screen. Finally, the menus and controls are responsive and easy to use making it a fairly good all-rounder.

Overview

While it may not have a lot of online features, it does provide you with good playback quality with Blu-rays and even does a fine job with DVD’s and, like the Sony, the JVC has just enough features to provide you with a decent viewing experience.

When it comes to Blu-rays there is’nt anything that particularly stands out in terms of video and audio quality. The player does a good job with both and is on par in most respects with most of the players in this test. It even has fairly good loading times when loading movies. When dealing with DVD’s though, the player is easily one of the best especially in this group. All DVD movies can be upscaled nicely to 1080p and it even manages to improve on the colour and

Philips BDP3000 Disk loading time: 0:53.29 OMR89.500

Design

While the BDP3000 is the cheapest model in Philips’ latest line-up of Blu-ray players, there is no sign of this from its styling. The Philips is a fine looking player with a clean gloss-black front, rounded corners and sturdy build quality to match.

Features

considering that it is the cheapest model in the Philips line-up we expected the model to not have a very rich feature set. As with the JVC and the Sony, the Philips also supports BD Profile 2.0 and like them, it too requires that you plug 20 / TECH

in an Ethernet cable to access the extra BD Live content. It also lacks any onboard storage, so, you have to connect a memory stick of at least 1GB in size if you want to use this facility. And while it does have support for DivX, JPEG or MP3 files, they need to be burned to CD or DVD to be used with the system. Also, it was the only system that was missing an optical output so keep that in mind if you decide on purchasing one.

Performance

When it comes to Blu-rays there inst Thankfully, the Philips lived up to our

expectation when it came to Blu-ray video playback with video quality on par with every player in this group. It provided strong detailing; rich colours and good contrast performance and it even had relatively quick loading times.

Overview

While it lacks some of the features of the other players in its class, its great video playback and fast loading times make it worth considering, especially when you take its price into account.


LG BD570 Disk loading time: 1:08.36 OMR119.900

Design

The BD570 is definitely an attractive looking player, with its glossy front panel and relatively small footprint and at just 1.7 inches tall it will be an easy fit for your cabinet. In keeping with its clean looks the player has no face buttons on the outside, aside from the power and eject button on the top. These are smartly hidden underneath the front panel that automatically flips down when the disc tray is ejected. Also accompanying the playback buttons under the front panel is a USB port.

Features

In addition to its online features, it also includes DLNA functionality.

Performance

The new GUI from LG features a new icon-based approach and is a significant improvement over the older models and makes negotiating through the menus a breeze. As we mentioned before the LG’s main strength is in its internet and

It seems that LG’s main focus has been to provide a strong online feature set with

the BD570. With its own NetCast Entertainment Access you get instant streaming from YouTube in addition to services such as Picasa and weather forecasts from AccuWeather and even provide access to BD Live. The player even sports the Gracenote’s MusicID-Stream, which allows you to hear a song playing in a movie or TV show by simply pressing a button on their remote control. Gracenote then returns rich information on the song, such as artist and genre, along with album cover art. All of this is possible through its built-in high speed Wi-Fi connectivity.

networking features and it is good to know that the player doesn’t disappoint on this front either. Picture quality for Blu-ray movies was excellent with good colour saturation and jaw-dropping detail.It even had equally impressive audio performance. While the player did take longer to load than the other models the time taken was perfectly acceptable. The only downside to the BD570’s video performance is its DVD playback. Images on DVD are warm with a slight reddish hue and overall colour lacks vibrancy.

Overview

With its strong online feature set the LG makes for an enticing and attractive offer. It even sports stunning video playback quality and is very user friendly. If only its DVD playback was up to the mark, it would have easily been one of the best standalone players out there. That said, if DVD’s aren’t your thing then you can’t go wrong with the LG, especially at this price. TECH / 21


Samsung BD-C6900 Disk loading time: 0:56:14 OMR159.000

Design

Easily the best looking player of this bunch, the BD-C6900 sports some very innovative styling. It has a glossy transparent top through which you can see the disk spinning on one side and a set of touch sensitive controls on the other. The stylish and glossy front panel is devoid of any controls and aside from the Samsung logo and central display, has only a single USB socket that mildly disturbs its polished look. The design is also extremely slim at just 1.6″ tall.

cool. While it may be the most expensive stand-alone player of the bunch, it is also the only one that is 3D capable right out of the box. You can also play media files from memory sticks and portable hard drives and the C6900 can handle most types of video formats – even HD H.264 files in MKV containers

Performance

The Samsung is an absolute powerhouse sporting fast load times in the test and picture quality on par with the best, be it DVD’s or Blu-rays. It even spots a new GUI which is very easy to navigate through. Combined with the fact that it is 3D capable, it makes for a very compelling buy.

Overview

Even without its 3D capability, the Samsung has the performance, looks and feature set to justify its price. But if you are one of the lucky few who owns a 3D TV, this player is a no-brainer.

Features

The BD-C6900 comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and Samsung’s latest incarnation of Internet@TV, Samsungs proprietary internet media portal. While this feature still hasn’t reached its full working potential, its concept is quite

Sony BDP-S360 Disk loading time: 1:15:09 OMR109.000

Design

The Sony BDP-S360, like most of the other players on this test, features a very sleek and slim design. IT also features a similar front panel to the LG where the entire glass-like front panel flips 22 / TECH

open when the tray opens. There aren’t many controls on the system itself which means; most of the controlling will have to be done by the remote. This isn’t too bad considering the fact that the remote is well designed and easy to use.

Features

The BDP-S360 has the Profile 2.0 compliance allowing it BD live content but in order for this feature to function, an Ethernet cable must be plugged in as there is no Wi-Fi support and furthermore


a USB drive needs to be plugged in to serve as the primary storage of the content. While it is lacking a bit in the

features department it makes up for it with its budget price tag and the inclusion of full internal decoding for all advanced audio codecs, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Performance

Sony has pushed the price/performance benchmark with the BDP-S360’s video processing. It performed exceptionally well when playing blu-rays and even did a great job when it came to upscaling standard DVD’s. It also features a XrossMediaBar similar to the one found on the PS3 and thus shares the same intuitive controls. However it doesn’t

share the same load and response times so be prepared to wait a little while longer. It does have a Quick Start mode that turns the player on a bit faster than normal. It doesn’t cut down on load times, but it gets you up and going quicker.

Overview

The BDP-S360 is clearly for people who don’t care too much about fancy features and Internet streaming but want uncompromised video and audio quality when watching movies. It definitely is a very good blu-ray player that offers video quality on par with the best in the market at a fraction of the cost.

The Bottom Line With all the players in this test offering great blu-ray playback it was down to the features and its pricing to decide a winner. For starters, if you already own a PS3 or are planning on picking up one soon then you need not look for a stand-alone player since the PS3 is more than capable. On the other hand if you do need one, then you first need to decide if you are planning to jump on the 3D bandwagon and want the best possible audio and video quality. If so then your choices are limited and in the case of this test the Samsung is your only choice. But as far as regular players go, the LG offers a great feature set and blu-ray

playback quality at a respectable price point making it the best all-round choice of the bunch but you have to keep in mind that its DVD playback leaves a lot to be desired. On the same note if DVD’s are your thing and you need good USB sourced multimedia playback then the JVC makes a good case for itself by offering the great performance in both albeit at a slightly higher price and no internet streaming.

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VIDEO ZONE

Slim n Touch

Media centres always make for good alternatives to stand-alone players. Here are two of the latest from VidaBox – the SLIMv3 and TouchClient20. The award winning company provides easy to use multimedia servers which can deliver high definition content throughout the home

SLIMv3

OMR1200.000 (price valid until October 1, 2010)

over Ethernet. Their media centres also allow you to rip DVDs, audio CDs and import your pictures into a single unit that subsequently allows media extenders to access all this information over your home’s local area network. In addition to HD content (including Blu-rays), you

have added data security through RAID5 and VidaSafe technologies. And finally, to provide an easy-to-use interface, they run on Windows Vista and Windows 7 platforms and are integrated with Windows Media Centre.

The SLIMv3’s brushed anodized faceplate and chrome-style feet allows it to match your decor, and seamlessly blend into any home entertainment setup or environment In addition to the massive hard drive space, the system is also equipped with an AMD Dual Core 2.7GHz, or better, 2GB DDR2-800MHz RAM and features a myriad of connectivity options to suit nearly any setup you may have

The v3 has a full-fledged card reader and dual USB ports behind a flip-down front panel for connecting digital cameras, iPods and other devices

The device allows you to burn photos, recorded TV shows, music or video clips onto a blank DVD or CD disc

SLIMv3 comes as standard with 1TB of space but is designed to handle up to 6TB internally

Every VidaBox provides full 1080p upscaling, and with the HDMI1.3 upgrade, you can enjoy Dolby TrueHD, DTS-MA and DTS-HD surround sound as well Want to enjoy your content in another room? Just add another v3 or a VidaBox extender and enjoy completely individual content, regardless of what is playing on the primary system 24 / TECH


TouchClient20

OMR1200.000 (price valid until October 1, 2010)

The TouchCLient20 provides full HD playback with its built-in 20� TV, and with its optical SPDIF output, you enjoy Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound

The system is powered by an Intel Dual Core 2.1GHz, or better, and 2GB DDR2800MHz RAM and comes with 80GB of storage which is upgradable to 2.0TB should you need it

The TouchClient20 is natively compatible with VidaBox servers (such as the v3) for streaming movies, pictures, music, TV and other multimedia content

Users can walk up to the TV and control the Media Center interface directly via its touch screen

Its compact form factor and long feature list makes it ideal for bedrooms, kitchens, dorms, and guestrooms

The entire system runs on less than 100W of energy nominal, making it very green to operate

With each VidaBox system, you can choose from a variety of control applications including (besides IR remotes) vAutomation (provided by vidabox), AMX, Crestron or even use the iPAD A variety of online services for IPTV and Internet radio are also supported by VidaBox players

All products available at HiTec Centre, 24497384 TECH / 25


computing

Next-Gen Computing This year, Toshiba is celebrating its 25th Anniversary of Laptop Innovation Milestone and to commemorate this feat, they have launched a limited-edition 25th Anniversary device that goes beyond slates and netbooks to deliver something more: a full Windows 7 experience that can be enjoyed across two multi-touch touch screens

Designed for portability, the libretto W100 weighs just 1.8 pounds and measures a mere 4.84 inches by 7.95 inches when closed, small enough to easily fit into almost any bag or jacket pocket and features a clamshell design with a brushed metallic finish

features tto W100 re b li e h modes, T l keyboard , six vir tua ll simple, fu plit including ds 0-key an 1 s, numeric ard style o b y e k e d o m thumb hpad tual touc plus a vir

The multitouch touc h screens c an work independe ntly or tog ether, giving use rs the flexi bility to decide how they w an use them – as an exa t to mple you can su rf the Web on one scree n while ch ecking e-mail on the other, view two documents simultane ou or even vie w a webpa sly ge across bo th screens

26 / TECH

It is powered by Windows 7 Home Premium and comes equipped with an Intel Pentium U5400 processor, 2GB of DDR3 memory and a 62GB solid state drive — more than enough horsepower for enjoying rich Internet and multimedia content

Considering that the system is a limited edition and we have no confirmation yet of it being sold in the Middle East, the chances of getting your hand on one are quite slim but you can consider this to be a small vision of the future of mobile computing

The keybo ards featu re haptic technolog y, providin g sensory feedback whe are selecte n the keys d

100 kes the W tbook What ma ne e from th standout rtable crowd are po and ultra n-inch diagonal ve e s o tw its displays lti-touch u m h c u to

A built-in 3D accele allows th rometer e libretto to rotate into port rait or la ndscape modes


00 includes

tto W1 ssible, the libre po as sy ea as tion To make naviga cluding: Toshiba apps in m iu em pr l ra ve se

File B ro to acc wser makes ess file it easie applic ations folders and r .

ers helps us eelTime R a ib h n s o To sed d files ba ith easily fin pened w o re e w y e th it ry. W h when ual histo is v le p im as r, quickly of a finge atically the flick m ugh auto scroll thro reviews of p d generate s, videos ts, photo documen lter by file type or , fi and more lndar to go back e a c e th e us onths m r weeks o

ives oard g lletin B nalisation u B a Toshib ater perso t gre ith fas user s tops w ies, k s e d of their daily activit s to lu access d projects, p n d a n s task rag a ity to d eos, links, il b a e th vid cation hotos, drop p ts and appli e c en docum s into one pla t u c t r o sh

Features available on the Toshiba libretto W100 •Dual 7.0-inch diagonal multi-touch displays (1024 x 600) •6-mode virtual keyboard with haptic response •Windows 7 Home Premium operating system •Intel Pentium U5400 processor (1.2GHz) •2GB DDR3 memory •62GB Solid State Drive •1.0 megapixel HD Webcam with Toshiba Face Recognition •802.11 b/g/n wireless •Bluetooth 2.1+EDR •MicroSD card slot •One USB 2.0 port •TOSHIBA Bulletin Board, ReelTime and PC Health Monitor software •8-cell battery •7.95” (W) x 4.84”(D) x 1.2”(H) •1.8 lbs

TECH / 27


computing

The Small Package The smallest Mac just got a whole lot smaller. Apple’s newly redesigned Mac mini now features up to twice the graphics performance of the previous model and packs great features, versatility and value into an elegant, amazingly compact design

Created with the unibody construction process pioneered by Apple, the new mini features a compact aluminium enclosure just 7.7 inches long on each side and 1.4 inches thin

A removable panel underneath provides quick access for memory expansion

28 / TECH

A new integrated power supply eliminates the need for an external power adapter, reducing overall system volume by 20 per cent and keeping cable clutter to a minimum

The new aluminium enclosure is highly recyclable and Mac mini uses PVC-free components and cables, contains no brominated flame retardants and features material-efficient system and packaging designs

The new HDMI output connects Mac mini to an HDTV and the new SD card slot enables easy transfer of photos and videos from a digital camera


With 48 processing cores, the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor delivers up to twice the graphics performance of its predecessor, making the mini ideal for graphics intensive applications Mac mini comes standard with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB hard and 2GB of RAM Despite having twice the graphics performance of the previous model, the new mini is still the world’s most energy efficient desktop – it reduces power consumption by an incredible 25 per cent to less than 10W at idle Mac mini comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music Even the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server equipped Mac mini is faster than before with a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, two 500GB hard drives now running at 7200 rpm, 4GB of RAM and now supports unlimited clients

The Mac mini

2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB of shared L2 cache 2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable up to 8GB A slot-load 8X SuperDrive® (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR Gigabit Ethernet Four USB 2.0 ports SD card slot; One FireWire 800 port One HDMI port and one Mini DisplayPort HDMI to DVI video adapter Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack); and combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack) Optional: up to 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 500GB hard drive running at 5400 rpm

The Mac mini with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server

2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB of shared L2 cache 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable up to 8GB Two 500GB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR Gigabit Ethernet Four USB 2.0 ports SD card slot One FireWire 800 port One HDMI port and one Mini DisplayPort HDMI to DVI video adapter Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in (minijack); and combined optical digital audio output/headphone out (minijack) Optional: up to 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM, External SuperDrive

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brand profile

Smart F

3

ounded in 1977, Logic3 Plc began with the wholesale of photographic accessories and then in 1983 expanded into the distribution of Video Game peripherals. In 1998 the company was incorporated as SpectraVideo plc. and changed its name to Logic3 Plc in October 2006. Logic3’s year on year growth, culminating in a record breaking year in 2005 was the result of an aggressive growth strategy started some 5 years previous. Today the same vstrategy is in place, ensuring that Logic3 plc will keep its place as one of the world’s most successful Portable Audio and Video Game distribution companies, ever.

personal ambition in his or her chosen market. Entrants also needed a robust business plan for expansion and to show that the company was thriving because of the management’s entrepreneurial spirit. A specialist team within the Bank of Scotland’s corporate

specialised expertise in, engineering, electronics, plastics and product assembly. Although the essence of the electronic entertainment industry is by necessity fast moving and often volatile, much

In 2007, Logic3 was selected to be entered into the Bank of Scotland’s Corporate Entrepreneur Challenge. This competition was open to anybody running a UK business, wholly or partly privately owned, operating in the UK or global market with a turnover of at least GBP2mn.

sector compiled a list of contenders for each region, from which it had to pick five of the best entries to go through as finalists. As a result, Logic3 was named as a london regional finalists within the competition.

of Logic3 success has been its ability to monitor, anticipate and react quickly to changing patterns in consumer demand and product development. By utilising its sales teams as “listening partners”, Logic3 can often be ahead of the rest of the market with innovative sharp end product development. Its strong design team is tasked to develop radically new product that appeals to the largest audience of gamers, and at a price that will reflect the ability of the market to pay. The high

To make it onto the London short list the judges had to be convinced a company’s performance matched the entrepreneur’s

30 / TECH

Today, Logic3 has in-depth experience in the design, development, manufacturing and supply of portable audio, console and PC gaming accessories. In addition to its distribution skills, it has also developed


reputation of a Logic3 product is reinforced by international quality control standards that are monitored and applied throughout the production process. Logic3 continues to pursue a professional and aggressive marketing strategy, with particular emphasis on packaging, POS, advertising and press. The strength of the brand name is testimony to the success

of this world wide activity, ultimately resulting in the consumer buying their products with confidence. In always applying a professional approach to its marketingz activities, the company is able to capitalise on the increasing need

for product sophistication and reliability. Its concept to market cycle is one of the shortest in the industry and, with the support of high profile marketing campaigns, new and innovative product can be in front of consumers in the minimum amount of time.

cross promotional opportunities, MDF co-ops, slotting fees, and net to zero schemes. A comprehensive level of dealer marketing support that ensures all of Logic3 products gain maximum exposure, at all times.

Logic3 marketing strategy also encompasses a level of dealer support

that is the envy of all their competitors. In addition to the generous amount of POS, and consumer advertising support, the company also offers a full marketing consideration to its dealers, including

Today, Logic3 is firmly established as one of the world’s largest Portable Audio and Video Game Accessory companies, with sales of exclusive brands including i-Station, Screen Beat and Top Drive, in over 30 countries, including Europe, USA, Australia, Middle East and the Far East.

Logic3 products available at Shah Nagardas Manji, 24703803

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time ZONE

A traditional wristwatch has a relatively straightforward role: to tell the time. All that is needed is a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and perhaps a power reserve indicator to keep track of running time. Horological Machine No4 Thunderbolt has a hand for the hours, another for the minutes and a power reserve indicator. But for a timepiece not developed specifically to tell the time, HM4 performs that role superbly. In fact, with its highly legible dials perpendicular to the wearer’s wrist, the Horological Machine No4 might be described as the perfect pilot’s or driver’s watch

HM4’s engine was entirely designed and developed by MB&F over three years of intensive work with Laurent Besse and Beranger Reynard of Les Artisans Horlogers

Two mainspring barrels connected in parallel provide 72 hours of energy, and they transfer their power to the dual jet-turbine-like indication pods (one displaying the hours and minutes, the other the power reserve) via vertical gear trains

32 / TECH

Each of the 311 components were developed specifically for the Thunderbolt, no off-the-shelf mechanisms or parts were used at all due to the extreme nature of its architecture


Visually, the case is composed of three parts: two streamlined jet-turbine-styled pods supported by a horizontal section housing the engine. On the left pod, the amount of fuel in the tanks - or power reserve - is clearly indicated by a skeletonised hand echoing MB&F’s battle-axe motif. On the right, hours and minutes are displayed by bold, arrow-tipped Super-LumiNova filled hands. Each of the two aviation instrument-styled dials is directly controlled by its own crown, one to wind and re-fuel the tanks, the other to set the time

Beginning with a solid piece of sapphire, more than 100 hours of intricate machining and meticulous polishing are required to turn an opaque block of crystal into the clear, light-filled atrium of the central case section, which reveals part of the Thunderbolt’s engine and engineering details

Visible through a shaped sapphire display panel on the top of the case, a distinctive streamlined cock supports the balance, its centre cut away to reveal as much of the oscillating wheel as possible

Turning the machine over reveals a veritable panorama of meticulously finished micro-engineering through the sapphire sections – in a playful trompe d’oeil, what at first glance appears to be a micro-rotor in the form of MB&F’s iconic battle-axe is actually a bridge

The metal case sections are milled from solid blocks of high-tech Grade 5 titanium, which undergoes hundreds of hours of machining before polishing, masking and finally satin-finishing of the surfaces – the results speak for themselves


business tech

Corporate impact To capture the attention and imagination of an audience, any corporation must dramatically enhance their overall corporate presentations through audio visual installations. With the right combination of products and technology it will be guaranteed that your multimedia presentations are delivered with optimal impact. Display devices are one of the key components of any audio visual system

and are among the most prominent and noticeable. There are many popular types of displays that are commonly found in today’s meeting rooms and conference spaces. These include, but are not limited to: Video Monitors, Front or Rear Projection Systems, Large Flat Panel Plasma, LCD or LED Displays and Video Cubes or Walls. Each type of display has its own particular benefit, and when selecting one, multiple types of devices should be compared to find the product

that achieves your communication goals and works best with your environment. There are a few companies that offer package solutions to simplify the process and Panasonic is one such company. Their plasma display and projector technology is some of the best you will find on the market and it is one company that knows how to create an audio visual system that works.

Professional Plasma Displays NeoPDP technology, which we developed by integrating years of accumulated plasma technologies, has doubled the luminous efficiency of Panasonic displays. Display panels featuring this new technology offer remarkably improved brightness, 40,000:1 contrast, and enhanced motion image performance. Hard glass protects the front surface of the displays, in the case of an external impact, to help prevent cracking and other damage

The panels portray a wide palette of colours with rich gradation and even the tiniest details in fast-action images are reproduced with crisp clarity thanks to 1,080 lines of moving picture resolution

Hospitality Displays Panasonic’s original New Real Black Creation technology helps achieve high contrast of 30,000:1 in dark image areas to reproduce exceptionally deep, rich blacks

As with the Professional Displays, hard glass protects the front surface of these displays as well and they also have a long life of 100,000 hours

Panasonic plasmas offer 5,120 steps of gradation to render images with natural colors and in great detail

Panasonic also offers LCD displays for the Hospitality market

34 / TECH

The display panels offer a long life of approximately 100,000 hours, regardless of whether they’re used vertically or horizontally, and require only minimum maintenance


Home Cinema Displays

The display features an Internal Scaler Bypass Function which lets you convert images with your existing scaler instead of using the display’s built-in scaler Single-cable connection to other AV devices, PCs, game machines and other equipment is fast and easy thanks to four HDMI terminals, a PC-in terminal, an RS232C terminal, and more

Projectors

The 1080p Premiere Plasma panel features an expanded color range that covers 120% of the HDTV color standard, and a rated 60,000:1 contrast ratio with an industry-leading gradation level of 7,160 steps

You can create, name, and store 16 different combinations of user adjustments from the menu allowing you to then easily switch to the preferred setting for viewing movies, sports or playing video games

Panasonic projectors are created with easy operation in mind, and designed throughout with user-friendly features

Panasonic’s reliability comes from the technical know-how of over 30 years of projector engineering and manufacturing

A pioneer in the projector industry, Panasonic has led the industry by developing and manufacturing projectors distinguished by innovative ideas since 1975; even today everything, from lamp production to final product assembly, is done in-house in Kadoma, located in the northeast part of Osaka A wide-ranging lineup and flexible features ensure that Panasonic projectors satisfy a host of installation and operation needs All products available at OMASCO, 24564310

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business tech

Smart cooling Air conditioning systems that use new refrigerant and save energy are the norm. However, Daikin has gone a few steps further with their latest model – the VRV III. By maximising their technology they have managed to provide not only top level air conditioning performance, but also minimal space utilisation, efficient building management and a multitude of other value added features

•Piping length has also been drastically extended! The long piping length provides more design flexibility, which can match even large-sized buildings

•The outdoor units are selectable from two types of combinations, normal type (space saving type) or High-COP type (Energy saving type) depending your needs

36 / TECH

•Exceeding the previous 58.8 Pa (6 mm H2O) level, Daikin now offers 78.4 Pa (8 mm H2O) external static pressure by field setting to meet the requirements for installation on each floor, often requested for large-sized buildings, this has been achieved because of the fan grilles and the dual DC fans that reduce internal pressure loss

•In comparison to its predecessor, the VRV II, the number of connectable indoor units has been drastically increased from 40 to 64 and you will definitely be spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting your interior units because Daikin’s range of indoor units include15 types and 73 models!


•If one of the multiple compressors in a single outdoor unit system malfunctions, the other compressors take over emergency operation; similarly, if one of the units in a multiple outdoor system malfunctions, the other outdoor units provide emergency operation until repairs can be made

•The range of operating ambient temperatures has been widened, enabling system operation at ambient temperatures from -5°C to 50°C for cooling only operation and from -20°C to 16°C for heat pump operation •Outdoor units created with cutting-edge technologies provide quiet operation to increase users’ comfort; furthermore, operation sound level is selectable in three steps for the night mode

•The system has a top output of 54hp, meeting the needs of large-sized buildings. Daikin has also introduced a single 18hp model that may serve as the main unit in combination solutions and by providing a range of horse power levels in 2hp increments, Daikin responds flexibly to customer needs

TECH / 37


Irresistible offers 3D Gaming Perfection Powered by the latest Intel Core i7 processor, a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M graphics card and NVIDIA’s PhysX Technology, the ASUS G51J 3D is capable of a staggering 3DMark06 score of 10242 and offers users a more realistic and dynamic gaming experience. Furthermore, a pair of Nvidia 3D Vision active-shutter glasses coupled with a wide-range infra-red emitter delivers stereoscopic images with clarity, brightness and depth-of-field at full resolution without viewing angle restrictions. The GPU driver and a 120Hz 3D panel renders each scene twice, delivering up to 60 images evenly to each eye, amounting to a total of up to 120 images. Gamers can experience total immersion into their games from what were previously flat 2D worlds, to true-to-life 3D.

OMR849.900

SAMSUNG S7070

3-inch touch Screen, 3.15Mp camera, GPRS, microSD, MP3, Stereo FM radio Plus DKNY wrist watch

ACER DX900

touch screen,Dual SIM, Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, 128 MB RAM, 256 MB ROM, microSD, 3.15Mp camera

OMR89.500

OMR139.900

NOKIA N97 LG 47 LX9500

47” Premium Full LED 3D TV, Borderless design, 400Hz, 10million: contrast, Netcast, Wi-Fi, Wireless AV Link, DLNA, USB DiVx, Plus Bluray 3D Player & 2 glasses

OMR1299.900

3.5 inches Touch Screen,128 MB RAM, 32gb, 5Mega, QWERTY Key pad, A-GPS , GPRS, microSD, Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF), Plus nokia blue tooth

OMR143.900


Full Name PO Box Postal Code Profession and designation Tel (M) E-mail Omani Non-Omani Signature

City

Scan your filled form and mail it to tech@deenarmedia.com or fax it to +968 24 696868 For further details about payment or any inquiries call +968 97753931


DAShboard

eturn of an

I con

The Type R logo has always been a symbol of performance and speed for Honda vehicles since 1992. Now Honda has finally brought the icon to Oman in the form of the new Civic Type R Photography: Shakeel al Balushi


Exterior The latest Civic Type R, unlike the Japanese version, features a very unique angular design. Everything from the headlights and front grill right down to the triangular tail pipes of the car has a geometric and futuristic look to it giving it a distinct identity. There are some really

neat touches all over the car such as the matt-silver fuel-filler cap, sleek door handles, triangular fog lights and more. On the whole the Type R is a stunning sight on the road but will only attract a very specific demographic of people – namely the younger kind.


Equipment Considering its sporting intensions, the Type R is considerably well equipped. You get cloth and alcantara sport seats, dual-zone air conditioning, CD/MP3 player, auto headlamps, rear parking sensors and more as standard. Also standard are a number of safety features such as Air bags all-round the car, stability and traction control, ABS and EBD. One thing you have to take into account is that the vehicle is only available with manual transmission, which is actually a good thing in our books.

Refinement You don’t buy a hardcore performance hatch and expect it to be quiet and the Type R is no exception. The engine is loud and only gets louder the higher you rev it. But if you are even thinking about this car then you are most probably ready for it. Aside from the engine, there is only a little bit of expected road noise from the low-profile tyres that intrudes into the cabin. It is nothing that will hamper your experience, especially if you are the sort of a person who enjoys the sound of a highrevving VTEC.

Inside the cabin The space-age theme of the exterior is just as pronounced in the interior. The dash itself is split into three displays, one displaying the tachometer, LCD display, fuel gauge and temperature gauge while the second sports a digital speedometer and a shift indicator while the third displays climate control and audio information. Just as with the exterior, the interior also sports some neat touches such as the semi-transparent red starter button and hazard light button, red contrast stitching on the upholstery, 42 / TECH

stitched Type R logos on the seats and even a small plaque in front of the gear leaver that has an identity number unique to each car. Even though the cabin features some hard plastics, the materials used are well finished and has a good quality feel to them. The Type R is also fitted with stunning racing seats that are extremely comfortable and easy to adjust. They even offer a great driving position, perfect for a quick blast through the mountains.

Despite being a two-door hot hatch, there is ample room in the back to seat even the tallest of adults comfortably. We only had two complaints about the interior – firstly, if you move the seat forward to get someone seated at the back or vice versa, the seat never returns to its original position and has to be setup again which can get on your nerves. The second problem was the rear visibility, which is completely hampered by the spoiler that goes right across the rear windscreen.


Ride and handling

Performance

The Civic Type R has always been put forward as an extremely sport-tuned hot hatch and as such it features really hard suspensions. While it does aid in cornering it can be quite hard for day-to-day use. But when you take it to the right roads the Civic can be extremely fun, it’s steering is sharp and responsive and the grip through corners is also quite good. It does suffer from a bit of understeer and mid-corner bumps can slightly unsettle the balance (primarily due to the use of a torsion beam at the rear instead of independent suspensions). But on a whole, the Civic Type R on the right road and on smooth tarmac can be an absolute joy to drive.

The Type R is equipped with 2.0 litre i-VTEC engine that produces 198 hp and revs to a staggering 8,000rpm. Its torque figure stands at 193 Nm and it hits this figure at 5,600 rpm. In standard VTEC tradition the engine needs to be revved hard to truly reach its full potential. When it does, you will see 100kmph in just 6.6 seconds and if you push it all the way you can hit a top speed of 235kmph where permitted. But, to Honda’s credit, it has to be said that the torque distribution has been improved from past models making it easier to trot around town.

Verdict While the Type R looks great, is very spacious and well equipped, Honda has taken a significantly more hardcore approach with its latest hot hatch in terms of ride and handling. As such it can be a

bit uncomfortable for city driving and on bumpy roads. But give it the right ones and the car will shine through. The clutch is soft, the gear shifts are smooth and the engine loves to rev and boy does it sound

good when it does. If you truly love hot hatches than the Type R is one you would not want to overlook.

TECH / 43


dashboard

Dream on...

44 / TECH


There is a very fine line between driver involvement and electronic interference in supercars. Too much of the former and the car can get increasingly difficult to drive and too much of the latter tends to sacrifice enjoyment. Very few manufacturers manage to crack the

balance just right. But there is one that not only managed to crack this with every successive model but has pushed the boundaries of how much technological wizardry can be fitted to a vehicle without sacrificing the fun or the involvement of the vehicle – this manufacturer is Ferrari.

Now they have done it again with the 458 Italia, fitting it with technology that most of us would never even think of and delivering one of the fastest ever V8 berlinettas to ever come out of the Ferrari stables.

All steering-column mounted stalks have been eliminated, with the indicators, full beam, flash and windscreen wiper functions now being activated by buttons on the steering wheel boss. The button to select the shock absorber setting is now positioned next to the ‘Engine start’ button where it falls readily to hand. Behind the wheel are a number

of secondary functions, such as the stereo, while the gearbox paddles are now longer making shifts even easier from any steering angle. The right-hand satellite pod on the dash incorporates controls for the infotainment, the Bluetooth connection, sat-nav, digital speedo and rear parking camera. Clustered on the left-hand satellite pod

are the optional cruise control, buttons for choosing the video setting of the lefthand dash TFT screen and the on-board computer interface. The latter controls the trip computer, the Vehicle Dynamic Assistance and the display of the car’s set-up.

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The novel triple exhaust tail pipes are a styling cue that recalls the legendary F40 Engineers focused their efforts on achieving maximum efficiency right across the board with this car. The result is that the Ferrari 458 Italia produces only 307 g/km of CO2 and has a fuel consumption of just 13.3 l/100km (combined cycle), a benchmark for the entire segment.

The integration of the E-Diff and F1-Trac (now controlled by the same ECU) and their respective mappings is even greater, resulting in a 32 per cent increase in longitudinal acceleration out of corners compared to previous models. The same ECU also governs the high-performance ABS, providing even more precise control over the logic threshold and greater efficiency The oil radiators for the F1 gearbox and the dual-clutch are situated in the tail and air is fed from two intakes on the top of the rear wings

The engine, in mid-rear V8 Ferrari tradition, is visible below the engine cover 4,499 cc engine of the 458 Italia produces 570hp at 9,000 Rpm and torque of 540Nm at 6,000 Rpm, 80 per cent of which is available at just 3,250 Rpm. The 458 accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 3.4 seconds, 0-200 kmph in 10.4 seconds and has a top speed close to 325 kmph.

The nose features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator intake and cut drag 46 / TECH


the Ferrari 458 Italia has a dry weight of 1,380 kg with a power-to-weight ratio of 2.42 kg/hp. Weight distribution is also optimal with 58 per cent over the rear axle

One of the important novelties on the 458 Italia is the introduction of the 7-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox which guarantees faster yet smoother changes

Technical specifications Dimensions l x b x h (mm) - 4,527 x 1,937 x 1,213 Dry weight - 1,380kg Engine Type - 4,499cc V8 Maximum power - 570hp @ 9,000 rpm Maximum torque - 540Nm @ 6,000 rpm Maximum speed - >325 kmph (>202 mph) 0-100 kmph - <3.4s Gearbox - Dual-clutch, 7-speed F1

The 458 Italia’s suspension features twin wishbones at the front and a multi-link set-up at the rear tuned for maximum roadholding and superlative handling

For the new chassis, once more in aluminium, Maranello’s engineers incorporated various types of advanced alloys along with aerospace industryderived manufacturing and bonding techniques

The brakes, Brembo carbon-ceramic with 6-pot aluminium callipers and 398 x 223 x 36mm discs at the front, and 4-pot aluminium callipers with 360 x 233 x 32mm discs at the rear also feature a prefill function whereby the pistons in the callipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS has cut the 100-0 kmph braking distance to a mere 32.5 metres TECH / 47


gamer’s delight

When it comes to today’s console games, time manipulation is nothing unique. For a game based entirely on this mechanic, Singularity really needed to pull all the stops and deliver a truly unique experience. Unfortunately, were it not for some shady visuals and some inconsistencies, it would have easily ranked among the better FPSs this year

T

he story takes place on Katorga-12, a fictitious Russian island that was home to a mysterious Russian base. As it turns out the Russians were experimenting on an element known as E99, a rare substance with mysterious capabilities. As is expected the

journal entries that you need to collect to fully understand the story. On the same note you also occasionally come across spectral apparitions and scribbling on the wall that either delve deeper into the plot or warn of impending doom. Thankfully though, despite the game’s heavy reliance on the system, its story never gets too convoluted. And furthermore if you do take a liking to the story, it is advised that you take the time to see everything possible in the first play through. This is because the game has no form of chapter 48 / TECH

experiments didn’t exactly go as planned and an explosion has left the island in a state of temporal flux. You, as Nate Renko, are sent to investigate the island and the mysterious radiation that emanates from it. As you may have already guessed, the story isn’t very original and neither are a number of the game mechanics. The first of these being the audio data logs and

select and if you want to see a missed secret, you will have to play through the entire game again. You start your rather linear trek through the game with your regular arsenal of guns such as the pistol, assault rifle and shotgun, all of which can be swapped and upgraded at weapons lockers (you can only carry two at a time). Your artillery soon expands to include a number of interesting experimental E99 based weapons, some of which, like the Seeker,


Publisher: Activision Developer: Raven Software Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Mature

can be incredibly fun. Also, a few hours into the game you get access to the TMD, Time Manipulation Device, and that is when the game truly shines. This aptly named device’s primary function is to control the flow of time allowing you to either age or renew various objects in the game, primarily to solve puzzles. Because of this the actual time manipulation mechanic and its restorative abilities are slightly limited but it is the secondary functions and abilities of the TMD that truly make the game fun. With it, you can age a creature to dust, slow down time in a select area or even turn a human into one of the creatures in the game and turn him on his teammates.

Alongside your upgradeable TMD and guns, you also come across the occasional augmenter station which boosts your own abilities. Combine these and you can easily become a near unstoppable force by the end of the game. This fact is further emphasized by the AI in the game. The beasts we can understand but when human enemies display the survival instincts of a five year old you know something is wrong. Don’t be surprised if you find an enemy just standing in the open like a piñata waiting to be smashed or if he does take cover, he does so on the wrong side. At least the game offers up a good variety of enemies and a constant stream of new weapons and attacks that keep it from feeling stale and repetitive. The online multiplayer mechanic feels a little tacked on and suffers from some connection issues but once it does work it can be quite fun and even offers a great variety, in terms of gameplay not modes, to keep you busy for hours on end. Aside from these there are a few instances where the game does suffer from a few game-stopping glitches, forcing you to reload the last save, but we are sure that a future update can fix these issues.

SCORE

6.8

The Good Decent and well paced story; Fun weaponry and game mechanics; Online games can be fun when they work; Good enemy variety; decent soundtrack and voice acting The Bad

Dated visuals; No chapter select at the end of the game; dim-witted AI; Multiplayer suffers from connection issues; numerous glitches

For a game that’s been so long in development, the graphics sure are a letdown. Aside from a few decent character models most of the game suffers from poor texturing and inferior lighting making it look dated. There is even a lack of attention to detail which, in some cases, is inexcusable; such as when you walk in front of a projector without dropping a shadow on the screen. The voice acting, sound effects and music are decent but not enough to completely redeem the game’s lacklustre visuals. On a whole, Singularity offers some good variety and some truly fun action but is bogged down by a smattering of glitches and poor visuals. Despite this, the game is still worth at least a single play though and the online mode is great for killing time. TECH / 49


home zone

Chill Scene

Choosing the right AC for your home can be a daunting task. To make it a bit easier, here are four 1.5ton split AC’s you should definitely consider along with some of their key features

The fins of the evaporator are triple coated to ensure efficient removal of condensation

Samsung AS18UW OMR209.000

The air conditioner is equipped with the UTR Plus option which features incredible power that can quickly cool the air even in severely hot climates

It also sports a mode called ‘Good Sleep II’ which automatically adjusts temperature and moisture to guarantee a good night’s sleep

In the Jet cool mode, strong, cool air is blown at high speed for 30 minutes, until the room temperature reaches 18°C

LG D186VP OMR239.000

The LG unit now automatically distributes the air in four different directions, effectively eliminating hot and cold patches and maintaining a uniform room temperature

50 / TECH

The Samsung is fitted with an ion coated anti-virus filter enhanced to be 1.6 times stronger than general pre-filters for more enhanced dust removal

LG’s Outdoor Heat Exchanger is coated with a gold-colored anti-corrosion epoxy treatment on the alluminium coil to prevent corrosion, maintaining the excellent heat transfer properties of the coil for an extended time period

LG’s CHAOS technology produces a more natural air flow by adjusting the angle and speed of the cane movement and, in the process, minimises temperature differences within the room and creates a more comfortable and cooler environment


Panasonic air conditioners also offer the function of an air purifier. You can enjoy both cool air with air conditioning and clean air with air purification from a single unit

To ensure minimum consumption, the new Eco patrol system together with the Inverter+ system, provides up to 71 per cent energy savings on heat pump, and up to 60 per cent energy savings on cooling only

When in ‘Turbo Cool’ mode, the air conditioner fan works at “Extra-high” fan speed with a setting temperature of 15ºC to rapidly cool the room

The unit also comes equipped with an ‘Auto Restart’ function for when a power failure occurs. After power recovery, the unit will automatically restart in the same setting which was active before the failure

Panasonic CSCUC18KKF OMR197.900

The Eco patrol sensor optimises operation as conditions change by sensing people’s movements using infrared rays and has a wide field of view, sensing up to seven metres away with high precision

Sharp AH-AP18HME OMR195.000

Like many other products in Sharp’s portfolio, the Air Conditioner uses the company’s proprietary Plasmacluster Ions technology which has been proven to be remarkably effective against harmful airborne mold spores, allergens (mite, pollen), and viruses

TECH / 51


home zone

Close shave We look at two of the latest lawn mowers from Makita

The PLM4611 OMR 180.000

The Makita PLM4611 is full of features making grass cutting a more pleasurable experience, with the added bonus of being comfortably self propelled. The PLM4611 is ideally suited to both home users and semi-professionals. This model has a larger 46cm rotary cut, height adjustment from 20 to 75mm

in 5 set positions, and a pressed steel deck, self propelled action and bearing mounted wheels, making it a very robust machine. It has a fully adjustable and foldable handle and is also equipped with the safety cut off bar which allows for greater safety when disposing of collected grass and when the mower is left unattended.

The PLM4611 is powered by a 4-Stroke 190cc petrol engine complete with 60l collection box

The PLM4611 is recommended for lawns of up to 1,400sq.m

The PLM4110 is recommended for lawns of up to 1,000sq.m

The PLM4110 is powered by a 4-Stroke 158cc petrol engine and has a 50l collection box

The PLM4110 OMR 130.000

The PLM4110 is packed with features to make this the perfect lawn mower for garden owners who want a powerful petrol grass mower at an affordable price. The PLM4110 is a highly economical lawnmower, quiet and powerful, with a 41cm rotary action cut and height adjustment from 20 to 75mm. Fully adjustable and foldable handle for greater user comfort, easy pull-cord starting and pressed steel deck, combined with the safety cut out handle, it makes this mower, one of the best home user mowers available for the price. Available at Gulf Services & Industrial Supplies, 24811238

52 / TECH


Keepin it cool Combining the latest in food preservation, unique Japanese engineering and a luxurious finish the Sharp SJ-F80PS-SL will fit perfectly into your kitchen and lifestyle

The refrigerator, priced at just under OMR580, includes a stylish metallic ‘finger mark-free’ finish, easy clean interior, generous storage capacity, express ice-making and impressive A rank energy rating

that the unique styling of the interior without a center partition, provides the refrigerator with more room, which has a net capacity of 394l

Sharp’s use of unique Plasmacluster technology inside its fridge freezer range actually attacks contaminants to help reduce and even prevent odour build-up

An integral ion generator separates water molecules drawn in from the surrounding air to create both positive hydrogen and negative oxygen ions. These colliding ions are released into the fridge freezer atmosphere and become stable by clinging onto the odour-causing molecules in the air, forming clusters. The positive and negative ion clusters are transformed into Hydroxyl (OH) groups, which deactivate and deodorise airborne particles – a revolutionary antibacterial solution in food storage. Available at Oman Modern Electronics, 24702555

The adjustable, tempered glass shelves are easy to clean and designed for ultimate durability and versatility

The frost-free hybrid cooling system combines the benefits of direct cooling with true fan cooling, chilling fresh produce quickly and preserving the nutrients therefore reducing the damage to foodstuffs that is easily caused by the drying effects of direct cooling systems in conventional fridges

An easy-to-use external LCD panel clearly displays the temperature and allows adjustments at the touch of a button – while internal sensors monitor and control the hybrid cooling system temperature precisely

The freezer section, placed at the bottom for convenience, has a net capacity of 211l

TECH / 53


home zone

TidyBot Gone are the days of dreading the housework after a long day at the office or rushing home to vacuum before a dinner party. With Samsung’s innovative new cleaning device – the NaviBot - you will have your own personal housekeeper at hand

The little bot will have no problem traversing uneven floors or cords lying on the ground equipped with strong wheels, it can overcome obstacles of up to 1.5cm high Less than 40cm in diameter and 10cm high, the NaviBot can manoeuvre low, hard to reach areas Compact, sleek and agile, the little and can be easily packed away Samsung’s stylish form offers a leaving your home clutter free and contemporary look that will fit in spotless. seamlessly with any home’s décor

Power and rotating side brushes pick up pet hairs, while preventing them from wrapping and getting tangled around the brushes thus helping to alleviate triggers for allergies and asthma

54 / TECH

A soft and wide rubber guard protects furniture from bumps and scratches

The NaviBot also traps and holds up to 0.6L of dust, filtering the finer particles through a washable filter

An easy to use remote control makes programming the cleaning bot simple, so you can tailor the robot to suit your individual needs

How it works The clever cleaner is fitted with a camera that operated at 30 frames per second to help it identify the areas it needs to cover. Capable of cleaning up to 100m.sq of floor in just 40 minutes, it’s 38 in-built sensors allow it to negotiate obstacles, such as table legs and sofas and prevent it from tumbling down stairs. Set the timer to suit your individual needs so the NaviBot can truly become part of the family, welcoming you home to sparkling clean floors. Featuring a unique Visionary Mapping System, the device is a vacuum cleaner that packs an incredible level of sophisticated robotic intelligence. Its Virtual Fence mode allows you to screen off areas of the home that you don’t want cleaned, like an open fire, children’s play area or wet floor. The vacuum’s Virtual Guard mode allows you to direct the Samsung NaviBot from room to room according to your preferred order. Brushes on either side of the robot are designed to clean right to the edges of a room and roll over surfaces such as thick rugs and carpets. The nifty robot also comes equipped with three anti-tangle sensors that automatically unwind any cords and carpet tassels it encounters, and if it is picked up, or in the unlikely event it topples over, its Auto-Stop function immediately shuts it down for your safety. And finally, the Bot even makes its way back to its docking station to recharge when it runs low on power. Once it’s recuperated, the vacuum cleaner’s sophisticated memory will retrace its steps and continue cleaning where it left off.


Quiz

Fill in the make or model of the six products in each of their respective boxes. Hint: Each of these products are featured in this issue.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Please send us your entries by 24th of August for a chance to win a SONIC GEAR SPECTRA 300

Name __________________________ Email ___________________________ Mobile __________________________ 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 24696868 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. Gift courtesy of E-Max

Last months winner:

Sayeeda Aisha wins her Spectra 300


GRUNDIG GBH-9041 OMR 699.900

2 Megapixel, full hdsound, 1.000,000: 1 Contrast, USB recording, 100 HZ motion, dynamic contrast plus

PANASONIC TH-P42 C10M OMR 215.000

1 Megapixel, hd ready, 2,000,000: 1 contrast, SD card slot, 100-600 HZ, 3HDMI input

PHILIPS 46” LED 46PFL9704 OMR 1205.000

2 Megapixel, full HD, net TV, 5.000,000: 1 contrast, WIFIfunction, 200 HZ motion, AMBI-light function, 5 HDMI input

LG 47” LED 42SL90QR OMR 999.900

2 Megapixel, full HD, 3,000,000: 1 contrast, Bluetooth, 100 HZ motion, USB port, dual XD engine

SAMSUNG 46” 3D LED UA46C7000 OMR 1099.000 2 Megapixel, full HD 3D TV, Internet TV, 4 HDMI input, USB port

PANASONIC 32” LCD TH32C10M OMR 149.000

1 Megapixel, HD ready, 30,000: 1 contrast, SD card slot, 3 HDMI input

LG 32” LCD 32LH70 OMR 240.900

2 Megapixel, full HD, 1,00,000: 1 contrast, USB port - DIVX playback, 100 HZ motion flow, Bluetooth, 3 HDMI input

SONY 40” LCD KLV40BX400 OMR 299.000

2 Megapixel, full HD, 70,000: 1 contrast, FM radio, 2 HDMI input, USB port

SAMSUNG 55” LED UA55B8000 OMR 1599.9 SHARP 40” LED 40LE700M OMR 499.900

2 Megapixel, full HD, 3,000,000: 1 contrast, Motion Drive 100-120 HZ, 4 HDMI input

2 Megapixel, full HD 5,000,000: 1 contrast, 200 HZ motion flow finger slim model, DLNA wireless 4 HDMI input


SAMSUNG HT-Z425 OMR 155.900

PHILIPS FED-197 OMR 61.700

Audio cassette deck, 1800 W PMPO, USB video Play, FM radio

1000 Watts, HDMI 1080P up scaling, bluetooth function, USB play & record, wireless rear speakers, USB port

1000 Watts, HDMI 1080P up scaling, USB play & record, wireless rear speakers, USB port

LG HT934WA OMR 189.900

1000 Watts, HDMI 1080P up scaling, ipod dock, USB play & record, wireless rear speakers, USB port

PHILIPS HTS3578W/98 OMR 165.900

PANASONIC SC-VK880 OMR 144.500

1100 Watts, HDMI 1080P up scaling, wireless rear speakers, USB port

Karaoke function, 11000 w PMPO, USB record & play, 5 disc changer, FM radio, Dolby digital

SONY MHC-GZR99D OMR 157.900

7� LCD screen, USB video play, 7700 W PMPO, 3 disc changer, FM radio, Dolby digital

PANASONIC SC-PT875 OMR 166.900

1250 Watts, HDMI 1080P up scaling, wireless rear speakers, Zipod dock, USB port

JVC NX-D7 OMR 169.900

Karaoke / FM radio, 5000 W PMPO, USB record & play, HDMI out, JPEG / DIVX

SAMSUNG HT-Z425 OMR 155.900

1000 Watts, USB play & record, HDMI 1080P up scaling, bluetooth function, wireless rear speakers, USB port

SONY DAVF-Z900 OMR 214.900


SAMSUNG GT-S5620 OMR 91.000

BLACKBERRY 9700 BOLD OMR 249.900

Also called the Samsung Monte, it boasts a host of multimedia features and a sleek design

The 9700 it’s loaded with built-in features and applications to help make your life easier

Nokia N97 mini OMR 167.900

Sony Ericsson SATIO OMR 209.900

A touch screen phone with a high resolution camera, and a powerful processor packed in. Resulting in quality media and seamless performance.

NOKIA N900 OMR 219.900

With Handwriting Recognition The Nokia N900 broadens the and Nokia Maps powered with choice for technology enthusiasts its Built-in GPS system, this who appreciate the ability to is mobile phone you multitask and browse the don’t want to leave Sony ericsson internet like they would home without. Xperia x10 on their desktop computer OMR 269.900 The X10 introduces a new UX platform which operates on top of the open OS and when combined with its media capabilities it creates a truly unique user experience

Griffin Evolve OMR 166.000

Now here’s something interesting! Set up the dock and then remove the speakers and place them anywhere in the room.

Samsung Media Player YP-P3CB OMR 62.900 (8GB)

JVC XS-SR3 OMR 49.900

Supporting iPods as well as portable game consoles, this JVC packs great sound performance. Plus you can rotate your iPod whilst docked!

The ability to upscale your compressed songs and a customisable widget desk. The P3 is a fresh new Altec Lansing take in a crowded T612 world of portable OMR 88.900 media player. With powerful deep bass, full audio spectrum and a smart music pause for incoming calls. This handy sound dock keeps the songs kicking from your iPhone and gives you quiet time for calls!


PANASONIC ZR1 OMR 136.800

12.1 Megapixel, 8x optical zoom, HD movie, 25mm wide angle, power OIS, plus 2GB card

CANON IXUS 210 OMR 164.900

CASIO EX-Z400 OMR 109.900

12.1 Megapixel, 4x optical zoom, 3.0”LCD screen, face detection, 28mm wide angle, plus 2GB card & camera case

14.1 Megapixel, 3.0”LCD touch screen, 5x optical zoom, HD movie, 25mm wide angle, plus camera case & 2GB card

OLYMPUS MJU 9010 OMR 149.900

14.1 Megapixel, 10x optical zoom, 2.7” LCD screen, 28mm wide angle, HD movie, plus camera pouch & 2GB card

CANON EOS 50D OMR 799.900

CANON HF200 OMR 379.900

15.1 Megapixel, live view mode, 3.0” LCD screen, 6.3 Fps + 2GB SD card, 18-200 mm lens

SONY HDR-XR550 OMR 509.900

3.1 Mega pixel, 15x optical zoom, 2.7”LCD screen, HD video lens, CMOS sensor, 32GB built in, optical image stabilizer.

10x optical zoom, 3.2”Lcd screen, exmore R CMOS, 12.0 Megapixel, 240 GB hdd, plus camera case & 2GB card

SONY A330 OMR 319.900

10.2 Megapixel, 2.7” LCD screen, 9 point af, quick af live view, 18-55 + 55-200 lens kit, plus 2GB card & camera case

SONY TX7 OMR 184.900

10.2 Megapixel, 3.0”LCDscreen, 4x optical zoom, full HD movie, 25mm wide angle, plus camera case & 2GB card 10x optical zoom, AF 2.7” LCD screen, full HD video, 1080 50p, x.V color/1920x1080, 9.1 Megapixel, plus 2GB card & camera case

JVC GZ-HM400 OMR 32.900


Sharp AH-AP18HME OMR 195.000

1.5 Ton capacity , auto swing turbo cool, auto restart

LG D186VP OMR 239.000

Samsung AS18UW OMR 209.000

1.5 Ton capacity, 4 way cooling system, mirror finish

1.5 Ton capacity, anti-virus plasma filter, silver nano health system,

Panasonic CSCUC18KKF OMR 197.900

1.5 Ton capacity, Eco Patrol sensor, blue fin coated condenser, power cooling

TOSHIBA GRY70TS OMR 229.900

SHARP SJKC53RSL OMR 165.000

680 Ltrs capacity, hybrid plasma technology, insulated wired shelves, deodorizer, double twist ice tray

492 Ltrs capacity, miulti air flow cooling system, tempered glass shelves

PANASONIC NRB651 OMR 256.900 521 Ltrs capacity, bottom freezer, insulated wired shelves, twist ice tray

TOSHIBA GRRMG46UT OMR 175.900

460 Ltrs capacity, platinum deodorizing, insulated wired shelves, double twist ice tray, black glass finish

SHARP SJ-F80PS-SL OMR 579.000

SAMSUNG RT 30 OMR 110.500

300 Ltrs capacity , Three dimensional cooling system, insulated wired shelves

724 Ltrs capacity, 4 door / bottom freezer, hybrid cooling system, digital temperature control


TOSHIBA Qosmio X500-11G OMR 880.000

Samsung N510-JA01A OMR 206.800

This monster of a laptop packs the same raw power, but with an additional Blu-Ray Writer. Entertainment just got wilder.

This netbook is quite a tough one, with an nVIDIA ION graphic card and LED display. Perfect portable with outstanding features!

HP PAVILION DV6-2170ee OMR 549.900

If you’re looking for something just a little lower, this is it. The hard disk and RAM are quite big for a netbook, great price tag as well.

The PC that does everything, all done by touching the screen! Widescreen display and touch gestures, allows for exploring media with greater control.

Exotic style meets portable technology, the Acer Ferrari is a signature ultra portable notebook for fans of the Italian beauty. Elegant design and sleek edges are the key points here.

HP Pavilion DV8-1090ev OMR 838.900

This mid-range laptop is perfect The beast of laptops, which is for a balance between literally a walking desktop. business and pleasure, SONY VAIO Large amount of memory, with its high definition VGN-FW55MF/B video memory and hard LED screen for OMR 599.000 disk. With a Full HD picture perfect Bringing the quality of Sony to LCD screen. quality. portable computers, the Sony VAIO is the one to choose should you not need as much power.

HP MINI 2101013ee OMR 196.800

HP Touchsmart IQ300 OMR 459.900

ACER Ferrari FO200-313G32n OMR 299.800

ACER Aspire 1810TZ-413G OMR 259.600

Aspire series in the netbook family, the performance in this one is wondrous. 64BIT processor at this size is just pure power in a pocket!

SONY VAIO VPCW-216AA/W OMR 219.900

Sony VAIO in the form of a netbook, also features high quality hardware that fits perfectly for frequent travellers.

TiPS: What to look for in Laptops Analyse what you will be using the laptop for very carefully and choose the most appropriate combination of CPU speed, RAM, HD space and video card. Don’t buy the smallest laptop possible just because it looks cooler. Choose the right form factor to suit your use and lifestyle. You can never go wrong with more connectivity options, always choose the laptop that offers better connectivity and more ports, especially so if you travel a lot.


Makita Power Tools manufactures the best in class engineered industrial power tools for the professional user with leading performance, precision and durability. Products include Cordless Tools, Drills & Fastening, Impact Drilling Demolition, Cutting Metal, Grinding & Sanding, Sawing, Planning, Routing, Pneumatic & Accessories .

Tel : + 968 24811238 Fax : + 968 24816146 website : www.arabigsis.com email : gsiscom@omantel.net.om

Advertise here for as low as RO50

contact 97302747


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, Blackberry, Supra

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, Chigo,

Ruwi 24702982

24813408

Sansui, JBL Mustafa Sultan

Samsung, Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool

Al Khuwair 24636015

Wadi Kabir 24799450

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 24795503

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

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 24703803, 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

Jashanmal

Mytag, Hoover

24702312

Loay

Macintosh, Benq, Epson, Sokkia, Acer

24708795

24700883

24491327

24708845

If you would like to be listed or make corrections, e-mail: tech@deenarmedia.com TECH / 63



Feb ‘10 / 1


2 / TECH


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