TW, Issue 47, Week 23, June

WEEK 23, JUNE 6 - 12, 2013

AN AL ROYA PRESENTATION

OMAN’S FAVOURITE MAGAZINE, NOW A TABLOID

TECH@DEEN ARMEDIA .COM

Apps of the week, Tech Selection, Tech Radar and more...

Star Icon Acer Iconia B1: Perfect for newbies

Compact punch Panasonic GF5: Good stuff, small package

Titan force

Motion Art McLaren’s private build, the X-1

Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 sets new records with it’s fastest graphics card yet

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Exhaust systems

Drop-in Supercharger Kits

Full Body Kits Cold Air Induction Rear Bed Covers Tuned headers We will import anything that you have ever wanted but were not able to find or had pay a fortune on shipping. Simply tell us what you are looking for, and we will obtain it for you. And it won’t cost you an arm or a leg

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Issue

47

Home Screen

Windows 8.1 update Microsoft has detailed a huge chunk of enhancements that will be coming in the new free Windows 8.1 update, the first major update to the Windows 8 OS. Formerly known as Windows Blue, we’ve been hearing an awful lot about Windows 8.1 over the last couple of days, with huge fuss over whether it will introduce a Start button to Windows 8 or not.

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Deenar Press and Publishing LLC PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman Tel: + 968 24696868, Fax: +968 24693569 E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com

Printed at Ruwi Modern Printers 2013 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible if factual errors in product and pricing occur. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time. The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this issue. Please check any quoted hardware specifications and pricing with your supplier before purchase.

The ‘first look’ blog post by Microsoft’s Antoine Leblond doesn’t talk about a Start button. It does, however, say that the Start ‘tip’ will change to ‘be the familiar Windows logo.’ That’s pretty much the same as before so unfortunately you won’t be getting a proper Start menu. “The new tip appears anytime you move the mouse to the bottom left corner of the screen, and is always visible on the taskbar when on the desktop,” says Leblond.

We’ve also learned that a public Windows 8.1 preview will be available

to download from June 26 during the Microsoft Build developer conference.

Leblond, the Head of Windows Program Management references the marked change of tune that was detected earlier. “Not only will Windows 8.1 respond to customer feedback, but it will add new features and functionality that advance the touch experience and mobile computing’s potential.” The feedback he’s talking about is surely the improving of the Start screen dream and the reintroduction of a Start button in some way.

Microsoft says it will be releasing more Windows 8.1 details “in the coming weeks. As you’ve heard us talk about before, Windows 8.1 will be available later this year as a free update.”

Windows 8 has been successful so far, we can’t wait to see what else it has to offer.

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4

NEWS WEEK 23, june 6 - 12, 2013

Nawras launches third 3G+ for faster broadband Nawras is announcing the activation of its third 3G+ data carrier in the turbocharged areas from Al Bustan to Barka. This latest development on the 900 MHz frequency band gives customers greater indoor coverage for faster broadband data download speeds, smoother internet browsing and an altogether better online experience when at home, in an office building, shopping mall or university campus.

Ross Cormack, CEO Nawras said, “This is another big step forward in our on-going Network Turbocharging programme which is already giving

customers a vastly improved broadband internet service. The new data carrier will now enable our signals to reach further inside buildings from Al Bustan to Barka. This provides a noticeable difference for all customers using 3G+ broadband services in this turbocharged area. We are extremely grateful to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority for making this development possible.”

Facebook bows to campaign groups over ‘hate speech’

Customers can start to enjoy this great mobile internet experience for as little as 500 Baisa per week with a WhatsApp plan which is featuring 50 MB of data and 50 free SMS.

Samsung lights a match for new innovation trail

t

Chrome Games: To play, you must persevere Chrome Experiments launched two very innovative games last week, suggesting that Google might be in play to break into the casual game market, even taking on the likes of Nintendo and other portable game developers. At first glance that might be a valid assumption, but the shortcomings of these offerings suggest Google might have something different in mind.

The two new games, which are based on the WebSockets platform, are built on titles Google introduced earlier this year. These are perhaps more proof of concept than fun to play. If Google’s intention is to test the waters as a game developer, it won’t sail smooth.

Somehow Samsung has managed to pull the rug out from under Apple. It may not have produced an iPhone or an iPad killer, but it has killed the impression that the quality of Apple’s products could never be surpassed. Samsung’s success may simply be a function of its speed. “What helped Samsung is that its competitors, including Apple, have not innovated as quickly,” noted an analyst at Tech News, Roger Entner.

Samsung piqued media interest this week with an invitation to a June 20 event in London, where it is expected

to unveil its latest Galaxy smartphones and tablets, along with new entrants in its ATIV line-up of Windows devices.

It appears that Samsung is hedging its bets and covering the bases with both Android and Windows-based devices.

What exactly the line-up will entail and what other devices might be unveiled is speculation at this point. However, among the most likely possibilities for a London unveiling is a Galaxy S4 Mini smartphone, a convertible laptop, the Galaxy S4 Zoom camera - or something completely different.

Chinese hackers strike US Military Chinese hackers were accused of stealing the designs for more than two dozen U.S. military weapons systems in a report appearing Monday, May 27th in The Washington Post. The system designs pinched by the hackers were for systems critical to the country’s missile defences and its combat aircraft and war ships.

The revelations were based on confidential sections of a report prepared by the Defence Science Board, a Pentagon advisory group for military brass and Defence Department higher-ups. China was not linked to the design thefts by the

TW47 WEEK 23.indb 4

of the breaches as confirming that a majority of the break-ins were part of a widening Chinese campaign of spying on U.S. defence contractors and government agencies.

authors of the board’s report, the Post acknowledged, but it cited senior military and industry officials with knowledge

“It’s unlikely that the deepest, darkest secrets of these weapons systems were compromised in the way these initial stories are suggesting,” Ken Silva, senior vice president of cyberstrategy at ManTech International said. “It’s wise to take a cautious approach before pinning blame for the attacks on China,” he advised.

Facebook has said it will review how it deals with ‘controversial, harmful and hateful’ content after admitting current measures are not effective.

The admission follows sustained pressure from campaign groups, advertisers and the media. An open letter from several feminist groups urged Facebook to ban pages that they said promoted violence. In a blog post, the social network said, “We need to do better - and we will.”

The company said it would begin rolling out changes immediately after it became “clear that our systems to identify and remove hate speech have failed to work as effectively as we would like”. Marne Levine, Facebook’s vice president of Global Public Policy, added, “In some cases, content is not being removed as quickly as we want. In other cases, content that should be removed has not been or has been evaluated using out-dated criteria. We have been working over the past several months to improve our systems to respond to reports of violations, but the guidelines used by these systems have failed to capture all the content that violates our standards.”

Haswell battery life claims energise hopes for PC industry A processor that enables 50 per cent more battery life in laptops sounds like a business traveller’s dream and that’s what Intel says its new Haswell processors - launching in early June will make a reality. The company also says its new chips could inspire thinner designs for tablets and laptops, but questions remain about whether all that will be enough to jumpstart a struggling PC industry.

Despite improvements in processing power in recent years, battery life remains an issue with the growth of mobile devices. Intel has looked to address this with a new family of Core processors code-named Haswell, which the company said on Thursday, May 30th, will offer up to 50 per cent more battery life for laptops than its previous Ivy Bridge chips provided, all without impairing performance.

6/1/13 6:43 PM

nuovotech TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

ECH

5

Shocking Pen

For those who like their gadgets to stand out The Remote-Controlled Tarantula You will need a couple of AA batteries to get the prank done right: 2 batteries for the remote control, and another 2 for the tarantula.

This remote-control tarantula scurries across flat surfaces like an actual arachnid, moving forwards, backwards and rotates 360. The spider’s eight legs move independently and the eyes light up, allowing you to frighten unsuspecting arachnophobes day or night. To make it similar to a real spider, it is even a bit hairy.

With this Shocking Pen, you can definitely get a few laughs in, as you see curious people pick up a pen that doesn’t belong to them only to receive a shock of their life! The victim will pick up the pen and their thumb will immediately migrate to depress the top of the pen in hopes of discovering a fine new writing instrument. Instead, as they depress, they will complete a circuit that creates a small magnetic field, which then simulates an alternating current and provides relatively high voltage to the depression point on the thumb.

Price: USD6 (RO3+S&H) Available on thinkgeek.com

Ant Farm Projection Light

Price: USD25 (RO13+S&H) Available on hammacher.com

Musical Keyboard Tie The name of this particular techie piece of accessory says it all – and it would make the perfect gadget for the musically inclined. This unique necktie features touch sensitive keys that are capable of playing 8 different notes. It fastens around your neck with a rather comfortable cord to boot and just in case you do not want to set off a cacophony of notes by accident, there is always the On/Off switch that you can manipulate.

Price: USD14 (RO7+S&H) Available on thingsyouneverknew.com

tech radar

The Laser Image Chase Toy This device automatically projects a laser dot that darts across a floor in unpredictable patterns, inciting pets to engage in a perpetual game of chase. The device has four speed settings and can be set to tempt pets.

Price: USD30 (RO15+S&H) Available on hammacher.com

A whole new way to look at ants! Ant habitat is pre-filled with tunnelling gel for the ants to sculpt into a 360-degree work of art. Flip on the projection light and giant shadows of the ants ‘crawl’ around on your ceiling! A mail-in coupon for a tube of live ants delivered from the manufacturer is included.

Price: USD37 (RO19+S&H) Available on thingsyouneverknew.com

To order, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

Save the dates for these beauties on your calendar

Samsung Galaxy Tab III This concept tablet is a device with 10.1 inch display bringing 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution and a complete new panel which has been rumoured since long. The hardware part holds the most efficient Cortex A15 Exynos 5 power as its processor which is especially from Samsung. The Gorilla Glass II is also used but in a version larger than the previous one. 2 GB of RAM is provided with the memory, stretching ability up to 32 GB.

Release date TBA

Google Nexus Smartphone

Coolermaster Wake Up Folio Mini Helping you glam up your iPad Mini, this upholstered case-cum-stand-cumsmart cover is made from a carbon texture and will help you interact with your small Apple tablet from all angles. It gives your iPad mini full protection, on the back and (when closed) on the front. The rubber coating on the sides prevents your iPad from being harmed by scratches and scuffs. It also has a special feature that allows your iPad mini to turn on the screen automatically, just by opening the folio.

Out now on coolermaster.com

This is a 4.8 inch smartphone that appears with the tagline ‘be the change’. It has a single unbibody factor of its form designed with titanium steel. The 4.8 incher screen is a Puremotion display and the rest of the insides are Windows Phone 8 OS, 2 GHz quad core Snapdragon CPU and Adreno 320 GPU. It packs 2 GB of LPDDR3 RAM with dual Dolby speakers.

Its concept features are of Android Key Lime Pie as its Android factor with AMD CPU (quad core AMD Piledriver 1.7 GHz processor) is at the top of its power. The camera is a dual 2 megapixel clickers at the front which is fit for 3D calls. The other surprises are Airplay to stream video on the screen from any nearby device and featuring an Rfid sensor to bring up some new potentiality to the device. Other hardware specs are Nvidia Tegra 4 GPU, 4.9-inch and 1600 x 840 pixels screen and 2 GB of DDR3 RAM. There is a 13.1 megapixel primary shooter camera with its Carl Zeiss Varo Tessar technology.

Releasing in winter 2013

Release date TBA

Nokia Lumia 950

6

wish list WEEK 23, june 6 - 12, 2013

Get them now These fun gadgets will make your geeky friends jealous

SmartBot With all the power our smartphones possesses, there’s little reason they can’t become the brains behind a full-blown robot. SmartBot is the first step towards that goal, connecting with your phone via the headphone jack and NFC and letting apps control its built-in wheels, internal speaker and buzzer, and front lights.

Myo Gesture Control Armband Forget camera-based gesture controls, if you want complete control wherever you are, you need something like the Myo Gesture Control Armband. This innovative new input device communicates with your Mac, PC, phone or tablet over Bluetooth 4.0, and uses proprietary muscle sensors as well as a 6-axis motion sensor to track your movement.

Price: Approx.

USD175(RO90+S&H), Overdrive Robotics

Price: USD150(RO71+S&H), Myo

Sun & Cloud Camera Never worry about battery life again with the Sun & Cloud Camera. On the technical side, it sports a 3-megapixel CMOS sensor that’s made interesting by the inclusion of 15 built-in filters, three shooting models, high-power LED lights for nighttime shooting and a built-in mic for video recording.

Price: USD200(RO103+S&H), Sun & Cloud

Wacom Bamboo Stylus Mini The Wacom Bamboo Stylus Mini should alleviate most of your problems. It features a small solid brass body wrapped in soft-touch rubber, a smooth rubber nib and a built-in tether that attaches to your device’s headphone jack. All you have to figure out is which of the six colours you like best.

Price: USD15(RO8+S&H), Wacom

Monster iSport Victory

Textile iCables Sure, we adore our techie toys, but most of the time the charging devices aren’t as savvy.

Ugly white cords and chargers clutter up our workspace. Well, that’s where Eastern Collective Textile iCables come into play.

Not only will these satisfy any design enthusiast’s or textile lover’s tastes, but for $14, affording one isn’t going to throw a wrench in your gadgetbuying budget.

Price: USD14 (RO7+S&H), Eastern Collective

Yes, these are pricey, but in our view you get enough features to warrant the extra investment.

The tangle-free cord actually lives up to its billing and while the sportclip design has been modified from the previous model, it still offers a secure fit even when worn under a cycling helmet. Sound is even better than before, keeping the excellent noise isolation and deep, intense bass of yore, but with added detail and clarity.

Last but not least, with a hygienic, anti-microbial coating and sealed housing, they’re easy to keep clean and sweat free.

Price: USD100 (RO51+S&H), Monstercable

To order these gadgets, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

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cover story TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

7

Forceful titan The Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 is the next challenger from the green corner

T

he GTX Titan for gamers or the Titan’s little brother, call it what you like, the new GTX 780 is the top of the GTX 700 series tree and contains nearly all the goodness that made the GTX Titan such a desirable graphics card.

chip with up to two more failing modules. That’s not to say every GTX 780 is housing a chip not strong enough to make it into the top two cards, but if it’s true that Nvidia could sell every Titan it makes, it’s not that ridiculous a conclusion to make.

Nvidia has taken the plunge and opted to drop its new generation on the market. The new GTX 700 series is essentially still using the same technology that got us through the last generation, except this time around it is reaching higher up the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) ladder and pulling the tech down into different price points.

One other change to note from Titan to GTX 780 is the fact Nvidia has disabled the double precision units in its GK 110 chip. The reason it’s done this is fairly obvious - a good many of the people buying a Titan were amateur/smallscale/renderers who wanted the performance of a professional class Tesla K20X without having to fork out a lot of money for the privilege.

Many of the Titans weren’t playing games.

Though really all it’s doing is throwing a high-priced graphics card, which has no real competition, into a space where it’s going to surely generate huge margins for the company.

We know we shouldn’t keep on using that name, but apparently, it really does fit the impressively powerful GTX 780 perfectly. The GPU is still the same GK 110, though this time with 2,304 CUDA cores as opposed to the 2,688 unified shaders that made up the Titan’s chip.

With the GTX 780 then, Nvidia has something to do with any GK 110

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The top-end graphics cards of a new generation have always been expensive but generally they have some competition, something to fight against. The GTX 780 has nothing. It’s been priced so that it stands alone in a no-man’s land between the ‘normal’ graphics cards of the existing generation.

As good as this little Titan-lite card is, it’s phenomenally expensive.

And the staggering thing is you can drop USD650 and still not be able to claim you’ve got ‘the fastest’.

Conclusion When it comes to pricing the Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 can be picked up online for USD650 (RO250). This is a good price, but keep in mind this is a high-end gaming graphics card aimed at those gaming above 1,920x1,080. Nvidia is designing these high-end cards for Ultra HD gaming, so think 2560x1600 or 5760x1080 with an Nvidia Surround setup. This card would also be well suited for 4K gaming, for those that can afford a 4K display setup of course.

6/1/13 6:44 PM

SELECTION

This section showcases our selection of electronics in the market today. Let us know if you have any favourites on tech@deenarmedia.com

Smartphones

RO248

RO80

RO180

RO72

RO272

Blackberry Z10

LG L5 E612

Nokia Lumia 920

Intex Aqua

Samsung Galaxy S4

Blackberry 10 OS, Dual Core 1.5GHz, 2G/3G/4G, 8MP primary and 2MP secondary camera, 16GB storage, available in black and white

Android V4.0.3 OS, 800MHz, Qualcomm MSM7225A Snapdragon, 4GB storage, 3G, WiFi, 5MP camera, GPS

MS Windows 8 OS, Dual Core 1.5GHz Krait, 8MP camera, Dual LED flash, 32GB storage, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS, NFC

Android V4.1.1 OS, Quad Core 1GHz, 5MP camera and 1.3MP secondary camera, 4GB storage, 3G, WiFi

Android V4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS, Quad Core 1.6GHz Cortex-A15 & Quad Core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7, 13MP camera, 16GB storage up to 64GB, 2GB RAM, 3G, WiFi, A-GPS

Tablets

RO100 RO285

RO250

Surface – Microsoft Windows

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (GT N8000)

10.6-inch screen, MS Windows 8 OS, Quad Core 1.3GHz, Intel Core i5, 2GB RAM, 32GB HDD, NvidiaTegra 3, WiFi, Bluetooth, 8MP camera

10.1-inch 1280x800 screen, Android 4.0.4 OS, Samsung Exynos 4 Quad Core 1.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 5MP camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, A-GPS

RO200 Asus TF-101 10.1-inch 1280x800 screen, Android honeycomb OS, NvidiaTegra 2, Dual Core, 1GB RAM, 16GB Storage, Bluetooth, 5MP camera

RO90 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7-inch 1280x800 screen, Android 4.0 OS, 1.2GHz Dual Core, 16GB storage, WiFi, Dual Speaker Dolby, HD camera

HCL G1 9.7-inch screen, Android 4.0.4 Cortex A9 OS, 1.2GHz Dual Core, 1GB RAM, 3G, Bluetooth, 16GB storage, 2MP camera

Computers

RO560 Sony Vaio SVD11215CAB 11.6-inch, Windows 8, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Intel Core i53317 1.70 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.60 GHz, 128GB Storage, 4GB RAM

RO330 HP 11-g0003 11.6-inch display, Windows 8, 1.8 GHz Intel Atom Z2760, 2GB SDRAM, 64GB SSD Hard drive, WiFi, 8MP Camera, 1080p HD Webcam

RO300

RO315

30

RO240

Samsung XE500T1C-A01

Dell Inspiron 5523 0395

Acer Aspire V3 571G 5324G

11.6-inch LED HD, Windows 8, Intel Atom Z2760, shared graphics, 2GB RAM, 64GB SSD, WiFi, Bluetooth

15.6-inch TN glossy LED, Windows 8 Pro, Intel Core i5-3317u 1.8GHz, 6144MB DDR3SDRAM, 128GB Hard disk, 1.3MP webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth

15.6-inch HD LED screen, Windows 7, Intel Core i5-3210M 2.3GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, Webcam, WiFi, Bluetooth, Nvidia GeForce GT 640M Graphics

Compact cameras

RO80

RO290

Sony WX80

Sony RX-100

16.2MP, 10FPS, 8x optical zoom, 16x clear image zoom, 2.7-inch LCD, Full HD movie, CMOS Sensor, Wifi

20.2MP, 10FPS, 3.6x Optical zoom, Exmor CMOS sensor, 3-inch ‘White Magic’ LCD touch screen, Full HD movie

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RO170

RO120

Samsung Galaxy camera GC100

Canon PowerShot SX240

16MP, 21x optical zoom, 4.8-inch LCD touch screen, Full HD movie, Android, WiFi

12.1MP, 20x optical zoom, 1/2.3 CMOS, 3-inch screen, Full HD movie, image stabilizer

RO180 Olympus TG 810 14MP, 5x Optical Zoom, 5-25mm lens, 3-inch LCD touch screen, Full HD movie, GPS, 10m Water Proof

6/1/13 6:44 PM

N New

Disclaimer: Prices quoted in this tabloid may be subject to change. Please check with your local dealer for the current costs. Lists are not in any particular order.

Prices as of May 31, 2013.

Updated

Pro cameras

RO822

RO560

RO500

RO640

RO550

Canon 7D

Fujifilm X-E1

Canon 650D

Nikon D7100

Sony Alpha NEX7

18MP, 8FPS, APS-C CMOS sensor, 3-inch LCD screen, Full HD movie, 19-point AF system, Eye-level Pentaprism viewfinder, 63-zone SPC TTL metering exposure, 30 seconds to 1/8000 shutter speed, 18-135mm lens

16.3MP, 6FPS, 2.8-inch LCD screen, Full HD movie, 1920x1080p, ISO 200-6400 and 100-25600 expanded, Ultra Sonic Vibration, Single AF / Continuous AF / MF Distance Indicator, 1855mm lens

18MP, 5FPS, 22.3x14.9mm Hybrid CMOS sensor, 3.2-inch LCD screen, Full HD movie, 9 cross-type AF points, Pentamirror viewfinder, 30-1/4000 seconds shutter speed, 8 Custom Functions, 18-135mm lens

24.1MP, 6FPS, 23.5mmx15.6mm CMOS sensor, 3.2-inch LCD screen, Full HD movie, 51 auto AF-S/AF-C selection, ISO 100-6400, Eye-level Pentaprism viewfinder, 1/8000 to 30 seconds shutter speed, 18-105mm lens

24.3 MP, 10FPS, 23.5x15.6 mm Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor, 3-inch LCD screen, Full HD movie, ISO 100-16000, WiFi, 25 point contrast AF, 30 to 1/4000 seconds shutter speed, 18-55mm lens

Televisions

RO400

RO370

RO300

RO600

RO1,400

LG 47LM5800

Samsung UA40F6400

Sony KDL40EX650

Sharp LC-60LE630

Samsung UA55ES8000

47-inch LED 3D, 2MP Full HD, 3HDMI PC in/AV in, USB port, DIVX HD, 200Hz True Motion, Intelligent sensor, Energy Saving

40-inch LED 3D, 1920x1080 Resolution, 2MP Full HD, 4 HDMI, 400Hz clear motion rate, 3 USB Ports, Voice Controle, 3D Sound Dolby Digital sound

40-inch Edge LED TV, Motion Flow XR 100, X-reality Picture Engine, Wifi, Dolby Digital Plus, 3D combo filter

60-inch LED TV, 2MP, full HD, USB movie playback, 3 HDMI, XGEN Panel with UC2A Technology, Low power consumption

55-inch 3D LED Smart TV, 2MP, Full HD, Smart interaction (face, voice, motion), Smart evolution and content, micro dimming ultimate, built-in camera, 800Hz, Dual Core processor

apple

Courtesy: Gadgets, Muscat Grand Mall

RO128

RO259

RO119

RO65

RO499 iPad Mini WiFi

iPhone 5

iMac MD093

iPod Touch

iPod Nano

32GB, 7.9-inch LED-backlit, multi-touch with IPS technology, 1,024x768p, Dual-core A5, Bluetooth, built-in 16.3-watt-hour rechargeable lithium-polymer battery

16GB, 4-inch, 1,136x640p, Retina display, 8MP iSight, 1.2MP Facetime, Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Bluetooth, WiFi

21.5-inch screen, Intel Core i5 2.7GHz Quad Core, 8GB DDR3 RAM. 1TB HDD 7200RPM, GeForce GT 640M 512MB GDDR5 Graphics, one Thunderbolt, one Fire wire 800 port, SDXC Card Slot, OS X Lion

4-inch widescreen Retina display, Multi touch IPS, 32GB, 5MP iSight camera, LED flash, HD video recording (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio, with Apple EarPods

2.5-inch display, 16GB, VoiceOver gesture-based screen reader, accelerometer, Nike+ support, Bluetooth 4.0

TECH RECOMMENDS Canon LV-7290 Multimedia Projector

Samsung SDC3K801 Condenser Dryer

The Canon LV-7290 is a highly affordable portable LCD projector. With 2200 lumens and XGA resolution, it provides bright, clean and sharp images, whether displaying video, text or graphics. An impressive image depth can be seen with crisp blacks thanks to the 2000:1 contrast ratio delivered by the auto iris. It is designed to maximize ease of use and maintenance with longer lamp life, up to 6000 hours in Quiet Mode and a newly designed air filter to withstand 5500 hours of use in ECO Mode.

The Samsung SDC3K801 features unique Diamond Drum TM technology, which replaces the typical washing drum with one covered in deep, diamond-shaped depressions. This revolutionary texture keeps fabrics safe from snags, while creating the perfect environment for gentle but effective washing. Other features include a water tank indicator - easily readable from outside, interior lighting, wrinkle prevention, child-proof display lock system and wool course.

RO220

RO215 Seen at Emax, Muscat City Centre

TECH SELECTIONS 47.indd 9

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10

mobilezone WEEK 23, june 6 - 12, 2013

Colossal smartphone Big in every way, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is finally here, but does it pack enough of a punch?

T

he Samsung Galaxy S4 is the most hotly anticipated smartphone ever from the Korean brand and with a glut of top end features, it’s the most powerful and desirable device Samsung has created yet. One of the most impressive things about the phone is the fact the size hasn’t changed from its predecessor. The Galaxy S4 comes in at 136.6x69.8x 7.9mm, meaning there’s no extra heft to try to work with in your palm.

Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Screen Size: 12.7 cm (5”) Multi-SIM Supported: No Rear Camera Resolution: 13MP Weight: Approx. 130.0 g Maximum Memory Card Size Supported: 64 GB Built-in Memory: 16 GB Operating System: Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean

Samsung Galaxy S4 RO272 (approx.)

However, despite this fact, the screen on the S4 has been increased once more, to a whopping 5-inch display with Full HD resolution. Let’s not pretend that Samsung is a pioneer in the smartphone arena: like a great many features of the Galaxy S4, the phone borrows a lot from the other top smartphones of the moment.

Both the Sony Xperia Z and the HTC One have screens that rock the same resolution, but neither of them have the jaw-dropping power of the Super AMOLED HD screen on offer here.

Main Screen Type: OLED, capacitive touchscreen Dimensions: 136.6x69.8x7.9mm

Aesthetics With respect to design, it’s impressive in its form factor, thanks to the sub-8mm thickness and at 130g it manages to still be light without shaving off so much heft that you feel like you’ve got a flimsy piece of plastic.

That’s probably the biggest compliment we can pay the Samsung Galaxy S4, where its predecessor felt a little bit cheap in the hand, the S4 manages to bring a much more solid build and better construction to boot. So while the pseudo metal band makes a comeback on this model, it looks a lot more premium. And there’s very little flex in the chassis when you hold it tightly, which was another problem with the Galaxy S3 at times.

That doesn’t mean that the phone is completely remodelled from the S3; it’s very similar in appearance. The polycarbonate chassis remains, but that brings with it the faithful battery cover, which conceals a removable battery and microSD slot. We’re not so impressed about the battery being removable as so few people carry around a

spare battery and nowadays portable charging blocks are becoming so cheap and light that they make much more sense too.

We’d almost prefer something like the Sony Xperia Z, which has a refined and packaged chassis but doesn’t need a removable battery.

It makes use of a slot instead for the memory card. This integrated nature would make for a slightly more premium feel to the phone.

However, it’s a small complaint with the S4, as while the cover feels flimsy, it’s better than it was on the S2 and the S3, and they both sold like hot cakes.

We had the pleasure of fiddling with a friend’s S4 as we were unable to source a piece from Samsung for a hands-on review. In the hand, the Samsung Galaxy S4 feels much better than any other Samsung phones we’ve held.

It might look very similar to the S3, but when you take the Samsung Galaxy S4 up close, you really start to appreciate its nuances. That’s no criticism, as the device is well built too and has a similar rounded feel.

Features The plastic used on the home key has been upgraded too, with a more solid feel under the thumb when you press down to get back to the main home screen. The two buttons flanking it give you access to menus or take you back from whence you came, and while both are easily hidden, they light up nicely with an even glow when called into action.

There are loads of sensors on the front of the phone above the screen, including cameras to track your eyes, a 2MP camera for HD video calling and a proximity sensor for knowing where the phone is in relation to your ear. On the white phone, their presence looks rather unpleasant, but on the darker models this is less of an issue.

Available at SARCO, Ruwi, 24593025

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Verdict Although we have always loved the simplicity of Apple, the Samsung Galaxy S4 has a plethora of features to offer. We aren’t sure if an average person uses all these features, but at that price,

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dashboard TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

11

One of Excess

It’s not every day that a team gets to create something unique that would take the supercar to a different level

C

alled the McLaren X-1 and based structurally on the company’s groundbreaking carbon MonoCell but with a totally unique body, it has been created for an anonymous car enthusiast.

The styling took 18 months to sign off but the result is a design that in a few decades time will be hard to pinpoint exactly when it was created.

It has a whole new body made of advanced materials. Everything is bespoke, even down to the lights and wheels, necessitating new testing and homologation meaning the car took two and a half years to build, a process that began before the styling was signed off. Components

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were tooled exclusively for the car. They even include unique head and taillights, inspired by the McLaren Speed Marque logo.

The brightwork itself is all machined from solid aluminium, and then nickel finished to give the same hue throughout. Even the McLaren Speed Marque badge in the nose is machined from solid aluminium, then nickel plated.

Perhaps the most unusual styling feature is the enclosed rear wheels, an upshot of the owner’s desire to have a car reflecting ‘timeless elegance’.

The wheels are accessed by carbon panels using, as Stephenson explains, ‘some of the most gorgeous

hinges you’ve ever seen’. The styling, too, is in no way compromised by the opening rear wings.

After its debut, on the Monterey Peninsular, the X-1 will return to MSO headquarters in Woking and be carefully checked over before it takes a place in the owner’s collection.

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12

Tablets WEEK 23, june 6 - 12, 2013

Iconic tab This new tablet with a plethora of features is a great budget tablet

A

cer has unveiled the second generation Acer Iconia B1 with a new pure and simple design, increased performance and additional 3G data connection option, setting a new standard for a tablet targeted at young or new users or families looking for an additional tablet for their children. The Iconia B1 is also ideal for busy individuals seeking a convenient mobile companion.

At 17.8 cm, the same size as standard book page, the display is comfortable for e-reading, web browsing, playing games and watching videos. The Iconia B1 joins forces today with the launch of the Iconia A1 to offer a uniformed look

and feel when searching for a tablet solution for all members of the family.

Responsive fun To take your experience to the next level, this tablet combines a 1.2GHz dual-core or quad-core processor or quad and 1GB of memory for fast and smooth gaming, web browsing and video watching with Android’s Jelly Bean operating system to get quickly precise answers to your search queries and seamless browsing. For many search queries performed through VoiceSearch, you can now hear a spoken answer quickly.

Fast and free media Over 500 free online magazines from hundreds of publishers and top web sites are always at your fingertips thanks to Google Currents. The recently updated smart mobile app allows you to discover, read, and share your favourite new outlets, blogs and online magazine on the 17.8 cm WSVGA (1,024x600) capacitive display – even when offline.

If you are into playing, you have more than 700,000 games and apps from the Play Store to choose from.

Capture and share To top off the rich experience, the Iconia B1 comes with a front-facing camera to engage in live chats with your friends. The camera is on the top right corner and works also when in landscape mode, allowing your friends to get into the picture during a video chat.

Apps this week 1

Your weekly dose of fun

2

Anthill: Tactical Trail Defense

3

eBoo – space adventures

Spooky Sound Machine

You’re immersed in 50 levels of Lunar Lander-style shenanigans, helping an alien hero to carefully nudge his craft past obstacles and into switches

Obsessed with scary music and movies?

This is the app for you because it is essentially a collection of freaky effects to scare your family and friends

FREE

USD2

A fast, fun yet ultimately simple strategy game with brilliant controls Platforms: iOS

4

2 Sugars

5

Classic Songs Piano Songbook

Platforms: Android, Windows Phone, iOS

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Decibel Meter USD1

The decibel meter is as simple as it sounds, telling you how loud your surroundings are with an easy to read speedometer design

Platforms: iOS

8

It is a deceptively simple game, which works best on smartphones, where you have to track a star constellation with your finger

6

It includes 14 classic popular tunes, ranging from Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water to The Kinks’ Waterloo Sunset, via Sonny & Cher’s I Got You Babe

Platforms: iOS

FREE \

Platforms: Windows Phone, Blackberry

USD5

A simple interface that enables you to customise drink orders with a quick tap on an icon representing tea, coffee, sugar, milk, sweetener or other drinks

Galaxy

USD1

Platforms: iOS

USD1

7

Available with WiFi or 3G data connection as 8GB or 16GB version with the option to add 32GB via via microSD, the Iconia B1 is the ideal easy companion for tablet newbies or children while adults use their own.

Platforms: Android, Windows Phone, iOS

9 Metro Wall USD1

An application that takes all the artwork of your music and turns it into a tiled picture you can set as wallpaper Platforms: Windows Phone

Sense the Color USD1

Turn your pictures into veritable works of art by taking a simple snap, making it black and white and then deciding which bits should be in colour Platforms: Windows Phone, iOS

6/1/13 6:46 PM

PHOTOGRAPHY TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

13

Impressively compact As an entry point to the world of compact system cameras, the Lumix GF5 is a nifty little performer Compact system cameras are still toddlers compared to their mature SLR brethren, yet Panasonic’s GF range is already starting to feel like a familiar friend. The GF5 is the fourth incarnation, but differences to last year’s Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 are relatively minor. The screen resolution is up from 460,000 to 920,000 dots. The handgrip is more substantial and its textured rubber design is easier to hold. The buttons are made of metal rather than plastic and there’s an additional one marked Display for toggling onscreen information on and off.

Additionally, the maximum ISO speed

has doubled to 12,800, but the resolution remains 12 megapixels.

As before, most functions are accessed via the touchscreen. It’s one of the better systems we’ve seen, having a physical Quick Menu button that reveals five commonly used functions across the screen. These can be customised if they’re not the ones you want, and a second page of five functions can be added. The touchscreen makes it effortlessly quick to move the autofocus point.

Wrap up

Otherwise, this is a superb point-andshoot video camera. The 1080p videos are extremely sharp and clean, even in low light, although the 16Mbit/s AVCHD files sometimes displayed compression artefacts in fast-moving clips. The lens’s zoom and focus motors are virtually silent, and the motorised zoom function arguably gives smoother results than a mechanical lens ring would. The biggest change over the GF3 is the availability of a new kit lens that provides a 3x zoom function and collapses down to 31mm when not in use. The GF5’s compactness is, for us, its strongest attribute.

Panasonic Lumix GF5 RO260

Product Type: Mirrorless Camera Maximum Video Resolution: 1,920x1,080

Features: Face Detection, Live View, Orientation Sensor, Selftimer, Serial Shot Mode Video Formats: AVCHD, MP4 Weight: 225.0g

Touchscreen: Yes

Maximum Frame Rate: 60fps

Effective Camera Resolution: 12.1MP

Image Sensor Type: Live MOS

Digital Zoom: 4x

Image Formats: MPO, JPEG, RAW

Screen Size: 7.6cm, LCD

Aspect Ratio: 16:9

Dimensions: 66.5x107.7x36.8mm

Available at OMASCO, Qurum, 24564310

Moviezone

Now You See Me Magicians are all the rage; the new heist-thriller from Incredible Hulk director Louis Leterrier, involves mischief-making illusionists

T

he newest look at Louis Leterrier’s first helming effort since Clash Of The Titans shows a group of Vegas illusionists pulling off a trick that leaves their audience in the money; unleashing June, 6th in Oman.

The first Now You See Me trailer teased the premise of the flick: A group of illusionists pull a heist while seemingly performing on stage at the same time – leaving some very frustrated FBI agents trying to crack the case, by cracking the trick. The super team of the world’s greatest illusionists call themselves the ‘The Four Horsemen’ and pull off heists against corrupt business leaders during their performances, showering the stolen profits on their audiences while staying one step ahead of the law. True to the voice over, the more we see, the less we understand.

TABLETS + APPS + PHOTO + MOVIE 47.indd 13

Initially it seems like the ‘Ocean’s 11′ as magicians’ comparisons are going to be as inevitable as they are accurate. However, the new trailer actually does intrigue with its unique visuals and sequences that seem to suggest some facets of science-fiction or even supernatural could be at work. Then again, it could all be just one big scheme that Michael Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) and his crew have planned out.

Now You See Me has a pretty eclectic cast, including Esienberg (The Social Network), Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers), Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers), Dave ‘Little James’ Franco (21 Jump Street), Common (Hell On Wheels), Woody Harrelson (Hunger Games: Catching Fire), French actress Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) and of course, veteran icons Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman.

Director: Louis Leterrier Genre: Crime, Thriller Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo

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14

GAMING WEEK 23, june 6 - 12, 2013

Techland’s new instalment of the saga with its arcadestyle shooting is wonderfully thrilling and fast-paced fun

C

great replay value. While Gunslinger is quite linear and pretty much never rises beyond being a shooting gallery, it works in its favour. This is ‘old-school’ arcade FPS action at its finest. As you gain XP, you can level up your character’s specialty trees based on your play style (dual-wield weapons, long range weapons and such).

all of Juarez: Gunslinger pays homage to legendary Wild West tales with a charming satirical undertone and beautiful semi cell-shaded graphics.

You play as head-hunter Silas Greaves who tells of his encounters with infamous outlaws Billy The Kid, The Dalton Brothers and many more.

Each chapter is dedicated to a different bandit and John Cygan ties the narrative with hilarious narration that oftentimes throws jokes at the gaming industry and its clichéd trends. Silas tells his story to a kid and a bartender who’ve only heard the tales through their dime novels and hearsay. As you shoot your way through hordes of enemies, the game sometimes pauses, rewinds and lets you replay areas ‘as they really happened’ according to Silas. It’s gimmicky for sure but it works really well with the game’s light hearted and silly tone.

Where Gunslinger truly earns the series’ respect back is in the gameplay. The shooting feels tight and precise and the emphasis on score points gives each level

Once you’re done with the story mode (which consists of a solid 14 missions), you can jump into the arcade mode where it’s all about scoring the most points in the fastest time. It’s a wonderful addition giving the overall package tremendous replay value.

Visually, the game has received a breathtaking facelift. Environments radiate with vibrant colours and sharp textures and everything has a unique semi-cell shaded look to it. Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is a spectacular return to the Wild West. Techland should be applauded for listening to their fan’s (and critic’s) feedback and making their latest entry in the Call of Juarez saga the best one yet. It looks fantastic, controls nearly flawlessly and for a meagre $15 offers a ton of replay value.

Publisher: Ubisoft Genre: First person shooter, Action Developer: Techland Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC ESRB Rating: Mature Score: Plot..................... 8.5/10 Gameplay ..........8/10 Visuals............. 8.5/10 Overall...................... 8.5

WEBZONE www.wonderhowto.com

What a wonder...

W

onderHowTo was launched in 2008.

With professional backgrounds in television programming, software development, motion graphics and textile design, the site loves contributing to, interacting with and organising the disparate voices who create downright wonderful tutorials and unselfishly share their idiosyncratic knowledge with the world.

Initially they focused on searching and indexing every single great video tutorial on the web as the Co-Founders had come from television. But within a short period

TW47 WEEK 23.indb 14

The answer to all the random, secret things we have ever puzzled over

of time, they allowed members to contribute original articles, recognising that some topics are better read than viewed.

Human curation remains central to their relentless focus on quality.

Today, WonderHowTo provides more than 170,000 how-to videos and articles from more than 17,000 specialized creators, spanning 35 vertical categories and 424 sub-categories. From arts, science and tech, lifestyle to gaming; the site has things of interest and wonder for everyone.

Their strategy for growth is to empower our intellectually-curious community and it works.

6/1/13 6:47 PM

special TECH@DEENARMEDIA.COM

15

Gadgets from the galaxy of your favourite epic space opera franchise: Star Wars Lightsaber Desk Lamp

The R2D2 USB Hub

The path of the Jedi is an illuminated one. Star Wars Lightsaber Desk Lamp has the hilt of a saber and each lamp has the corresponding insignia laser-cut into the shade. You can choose from Anakin (Jedi insignia), Vader (Imperial insignia) or Obi-Wan (Jedi insignia). It uses a 100W bulb or less.

This R2D2 USB Hub should get any Star Wars fan’s heart racing! Complete with 4 USB ports and life-like R2D2 sounds, it has great detailing to make any Star Wars fanatic proud and is a great desk accessory whether at work or home. You can plug him in using the USB cable provided and there are no batteries to worry about either.

Price: USD65 (RO40+S&H), thinkgeek.com

Old Republic Gaming Headset

Price: USD26 (RO13+S&H), amazon.com

Hear the ambient noises of the chaotic explosions in battle on Alderaan or the iconic buzz of a lightsaber powering up behind you, thanks to the positional Dolby 7.1 surround sound power of this headset. Included gold-backlit faction emblems of the Sith Empire and Galactic Republic can be fitted into the sides of the headset’s ear cups, along with customizable multi-colour LED lighting.

Tie Fighter Webcam This webcam is a fantastic 300,000 pixel camera in the form of Darth Vader’s Tie Fighter Ship. It clips to the top of your monitor and the gun illuminates when the camera is activated. A built-in microphone is included and it supports most of the instant chat softwares.

Price: USD42 (RO22+S&H), amazon.com

Price: USD50 (RO26+S&H), amazon.com

To order, email techtoys@deenarmedia.com

Enter to win two Panasonic portable chargers.

Please send in your entries by June 3

TW47

Fax: 24693569 / Email: quiz@deenarmedia.com

1 What is the name of Microsoft’s popular database program?

commonly called?

A

Access

A

Voids

B

Excel

B

Bugs

C

Word

C

Traps

3 Which of the following might be measured in Kbps?

TW45 Winners:

2 What are the errors in software programs

4 What type of data is sent via SMS?

1. Vatsal Mehta

A

Hard Drive Rotational Speed

A

Email

2. Hoor Kothari

B

Processor Clock Speed

B

Text Messages

Last week’s quiz answers: 1 – B, 2 – C, 3 – A, 4 – A

C

Download Speed

C

Facebook Messages

NOTE: Employees and family members of Deenar Press and Publishing cannot participate in the quiz. Judge’s decision is final. Please email the answers to tech@deenarmedia.com or fax this page to 24693569 by the deadline. Correspondence after the deadline will not be entertained. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY. Incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified.

Winner must provide valid ID to claim the prize. Allow up to two weeks to process.

TW47 WEEK 23.indb 15

Full Name _________________________________________ Age ______ Mobile __________________ Email ______________________________________Occupation _________________________________ Company ______________________________________________________________________________

6/1/13 6:47 PM

Pointing

Voice

Gesture

Wheel

The 2013 LG Smart TV

is NOW available at a store near you.

Unlimited Entertainment

*Applications & features may vary for each model & country of purchase.

For more info visit us at: www.lge.com/ae, follow us on:

/LGGulfFanClub

/LGGulf

/LGGulf

Authorized Distributor:

TW47 WEEK 23.indb 16

6/1/13 6:47 PM